Shoots and Ladders, Los Angeles, CA (2025)

05/15/2023

“[Dunkirk] was one of those parts that I treasure because I like going to those places psychologically. It was quite humbling to play that part, when you think what all these men had to go through, and to try to represent their experiences. I think the best thing that happens from re-collaboration is that you get this level of trust. I think that's allowed us to continue to make interesting work. To me, that's the most important thing. If you trust the director, you can really go out on a limb, and be vulnerable, and expose yourself emotionally.” To read more from Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan’s conversation with Entertainment Weekly, check out the article here: https://ew.com/movies/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-cillian-murphy-in-conversation/. knows .

Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan look back on their 20 years of making movies together, from Batman to the upcoming 'Oppenheimer," where Murphy plays the father of the atom bomb.

05/04/2023

"[Beau Is Afraid] feels nakedly personal, which may fuel Aster’s reluctance to overexplain. The movie stretches the silliest, dirtiest jokes into baroque art-house set pieces and makes a supervillain out of a demanding Jewish mother. 'Will [audiences] relate to Mona? Will they find her to be born out of a sort of pettiness? I don’t know,' Aster said. 'I wrote the first version of this when I was in my early 20s, and there’s something about me wanting to preserve the spirit of that even in my mid-30s.'" To read more about Ari Aster's newest cinematic offering, check out this article by The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/04/ari-aster-beau-is-afraid-hereditary-midsommar/673811/. knows .

The director of the horror films "Hereditary," "Midsommar,'" and now "Beau Is Afraid" just wants to make you laugh.

04/19/2023

“When projected on the screen, analog film has a three-dimensional, pointillist texture called ‘grain,’ a product of its synthetic makeup. There is more grain in 16 millimeter than in 35 millimeter, resulting in a fuzzier, flickering picture. In the 20th century, that was a drawback for professional filmmakers seeking crisp, theatrical images. But today, as high-definition media saturate our lives, some directors choose 16 millimeter precisely for its rougher look. It reminds us that what we’re watching is not the world as is, but filtered and transformed, with great creativity, through a chemical process.” To read more about how 16 mm film revolutionized cinema over the last hundred years, check out this wonderful article from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/movies/16mm-film-anniversary.html. knows .

The format was initially a boon to amateurs. Now, with moviemaking gone digital, it’s the choice of auteurs like Darren Aronofsky and Kelly Reichardt.

04/16/2023

“At the end of 1922, the Warners filed for a new trademark: ‘Warner Brothers’ Classics of the Screen.’ Harry said the trademark was meant to set the brothers apart from other film production companies, which were too numerous to count. Harry assured audiences that Warner films were ‘distinctly individual in production and story value, and in excellence of screen players.’ The studio was incorporated on April 4, 1923. The Roaring ’20s would define the Warners as fearless innovators, social crusaders and solidify the brothers as titans of this iconic American industry.’ To read more about how the Warner Brothers built their cinematic empire, check out this article from The Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/warner-brothers-studio-history-origins-1235366885/. knows .

An origin story of the siblings who incorporated a studio 100 years ago today, overcoming obstacle after obstacle before finally finding an entertainment venture they could excel at together.

03/18/2023

"I always thought [film preservation] was more important," Scorsese replied. "I guess I was more of a teacher than a filmmaker. I particularly enjoy younger people seeing these films. And whether their reaction is, 'I reject it completely, I hate it,' or they become inspired and make some beautiful works of art that enrich the lives of the whole world, this is what we're here for, to enrich each other's lives through art." To learn more about Martin Scorsese's preservation efforts with the Film Foundation, check out this article and video from CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/martin-scorsese-on-the-importance-of-film-restoration/. knows .

The Oscar-winning filmmaker helped create the Film Foundation, dedicated to helping studios and archives preserve motion pictures for future generations, as well as restore classics in danger of disappearing forever.

03/15/2023

“When [Jessica Chastain] looks at 'A Doll’s House', she doesn’t consider it a tale of a woman who is a helpless victim. Instead, she sees Nora as a woman who, by acting childlike for the men around her, has actively enabled her own oppression. They put her in the cage, but she outfitted it, and herself, to be beautiful. 'I like [Amy Herzog's] version because everyone is responsible… The reality is sometimes when you're being oppressed, you're participating in it, because you're trying to find some sense of freedom within it. But we can also be brave enough to say, what if I just decide not to play this game? What if I risk someone not listening to me, someone not seeing me? Because now I'm going to show you who I really am. And that is very, very exciting to me—examining Nora from this modern lens of what a woman in today's society is.’” To read more about this sure-to-be exquisite production of Ibsen’s classic, check out Playbill's article here: https://playbill.com/article/jessica-chastain-and-amy-herzog-bring-a-female-perspective-to-dolls-house. knows .

Playwright Amy Herzog is the first woman to adapt Ibsen's protofeminist play for Broadway.

03/11/2023

Can’t wait for the Oscars? Check out Vogue's collection of forgotten photos of Hollywood royalty from past Academy Awards. Who will make history tomorrow night? We'll be watching: https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/forgotten-photos-from-oscar-nights-past. knows .

Ahead of Oscar night 2023, immerse yourself in vintage photographs that capture the magic of Hollywood’s biggest night—from Cindy Crawford in full bombshell mode as Richard Gere’s date, to a red-carpet appearance from an 11-year-old Lily Collins.

03/10/2023

“[Directing] makes me feel like Bob Fosse. And I do mean on speed. I like having an orchestra. I like being the conductor. And I think that my weirdo life has set me up well, to really enjoy watching the intensity of the situation. And it’s very natural for me, since I’ve been on sets since I was five, to feel very in control of all the elements. I love actors. I am obsessed with aesthetics. I’m such a major cinephile that I really understand shots and blocking. Watching all of it come together, it brings my soul a deep, deep joy. I feel like my feet are in the right place. And no matter how stressful it is, or people are freaking out about the lights or whatever, I’m genuinely having so much fun. And I feel for the first time fully occupied — like it’s an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. And I come home and I’m tired. I like that it demands of your brain to be using it at full capacity, in so many directions at once. I find that very soothing, and like a white noise feeling comes over my body.” To read more from Rolling Stone's interview with the one-of-a-kind Natasha Lyonne, check out this link: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/natasha-lyonne-poker-face-accent-tripping-acid-new-york-city-rian-johnson-1234659240/. knows .

The star and producer of the new Peacock series Poker Face dishes on her singular vibe, why her accent changes, and how the industry struggled to find a place for her in the Nineties

03/08/2023

“The complexity of a Damian Anderson [from Creed III], the pressure of folks who have been incarcerated [and are] watching that film… The inspiration was really my stepfather. His name is Joe Young. We called him Mighty Joe Young. He was incarcerated for fifteen years before he became my stepfather. I understand what that ankle monitor life is like. I understand what it feels like when the probation officer comes to the crib. I watched him be misunderstood and judged… With Damian Anderson, I get the opportunity to write a love letter to my stepdad.” For the last few years, Jonathan Majors has been making waves in Hollywood with his charismatic, shapeshifting, deeply-human performances across both film and television. To learn more about Majors’s inspiration and artistic process for some of his latest projects - including Creed, Ant-Man, and "Magazine Dreams” - check out NPR's excellent interview here: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/26/1159528562/jonathan-majors-creed-ant-man. knows .

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with actor Jonathan Majors, who has been busy. He's in a superhero movie, the Creed boxing franchise, and an art film that has critics buzzing about a possible Oscar.

03/03/2023

“I have worked with some of the most forward-thinking, innovative directors, and I remembered at that time they would send me the script and say, ‘Well, actually it’s written for a man, but look at it with different eyes.’ And for me, that’s how it should be. The characters, if they’re full, it can be reversed. Subtleties, of course, nuances would have to change, but the core of the message, ‘Love is love’ — whether you’re a man or a woman, it’s still love, right? Compassion is still the same thing, right? These kinds of emotions are not only for a certain group of people. It is universal.” For more from the Los Angeles Times's interview with the exceptional Michelle Yeoh 楊紫瓊, check out this article: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-02-07/michelle-yeoh-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-oscar-interview-evelyn-wang. knows .

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Michelle Yeoh discusses tokenism, aging, her dangerous early-career stunts and why she prays every night for an Oscar.

03/01/2023

“Tell your story and get out. Know when to pull the curtain. Know when the bear has had that last rampage.” To read more about what Co***ne Bear, Succession, and “Better Call Saul” have in common, check out this excellent article by Linda Holmes from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/26/1159244762/co***ne-bear-succession. knows .

There's an art to knowing when a story is over. The creators of the film Co***ne Bear (just 95 minutes long) and the show Succession (which will end after the upcoming fourth season) understand this.

02/27/2023

"In all of these almost 60 years there is not a day that I don't feel quietly thrilled to call myself an actor,” said Sally Field while accepting the Life Achievement Award at last night’s SAG Awards. To read more about all of the extraordinary nominees and winners, check out the BBC News's article here: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64781317. knows .

Everything Everywhere All At Once cements its status as a frontrunner following several major wins.

02/26/2023

“I put that pressure on myself [when playing icons like Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, or Tina Turner]. ‘Don’t be average.’ Study what you can about them, talk to who you can about them. Whatever footage you’re able to observe. You just want to be credible, respectful. Vulnerable, yet compassionate. Show the part of them that’s resilient and special, which is why we’re telling this story.” To learn more about the living legend herself, check out this excellent profile of Angela Bassett by The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/the-undeniable-royalty-of-angela-bassett. knows .

The actress talks about her student days at Yale, embodying Tina Turner, her Oscar nomination for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and her funny side.

02/23/2023

There might be nothing more delightful this Awards Season than the long-overdue return of Ke Huy Quan to the silver screen. Making waves since he was a child with charismatic performances in numerous film classics - including Short Round in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and Data in The Goonies - Quan has always been a joy to watch, but his mind-bending, jaw-dropping performance as Waymond Wang in Everything Everywhere All At Once has finally brought him the recognition he so rightly deserves... as well as an Oscar nomination. Check out this article by The Guardian on the wonderful Ke Huy Quan: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/feb/19/win-or-lose-at-the-baftas-goonies-star-ke-huy-quan-takes-award-for-best-hollywood-comeback. knows .

The former child star’s success in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once puts him back on the red carpet after years on the sidelines

02/22/2023

“This is stuff that dreams are made of.” After “All Quiet on the Western Front” took the BAFTAs by storm on Sunday, the acclaimed German film has rightly become a frontrunner in the Oscars race. Check out the Los Angeles Times's article on the extraordinary cinematographer James Friend to learn more about his journey to his first Oscar nomination: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-02-15/all-quiet-western-front-cinematographer-james-friend. knows .

James Friend recalls rolling around on the floor acting out battle sequences for the WWI film while planning shots.

02/19/2023

"‘I want to put on a show,’ [Rihanna] says. ‘I want to have fun. I haven’t done this in a minute and I’m doing this for the people that love my music, the people that have supported me and gotten me to this place in my career. And who miss me as a musician in particular. It’s me really just getting back onstage – a crazy stage to be back on – but I’m really doing this for my fans.’” Check out British Vogue's extraordinary profile of the living legend herself, Rihanna: https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/rihanna-british-vogue-interview. knows .

A new era begins – and for Rihanna nothing will be the same. As she emerges from her most seismic reinvention yet – becoming a mother – she talks to Giles Hattersley about her new confidence, her new music and her new life as a parent alongside A$AP Rocky.

02/15/2023

“If there's any one element that defines ‘cool’, it's perhaps a sense of calm confidence – a quality desirable enough to encourage emulation. This feels especially true in cinema, where films, filmmakers and performers labelled ‘cool’ over the years are heavily copied. From the films of Jean-Luc Godard to classic Hollywood stars such as James Dean and Marlon Brando, ‘cool’ in cinema has often been a mixture of fashion, flair and finesse. If considering what might constitute the ultimate example of cinematic ‘cool’, however, then it's not a stretch of the imagination to believe it would look something like Federico Fellini's 1963 masterpiece '8 1/2' – all of which brings us to a film director and a magician.” To read more about this cinematic masterpiece, check out the BBC's article here: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230207-is-federico-fellinis-8-12-the-coolest-film-ever-made. knows .

Now 60 years old, the Italian director's fantastical masterpiece is still the essence of cool. But it's endured because of the heart beneath its stylish exterior, writes Adam Scovell.

02/14/2023

Valentine’s Day is here, which means there’s no better time than now to revisit some of your favorite romantic comedies. Maybe the scenic shots of New York City and Meg Ryan's iconic diner scene mean “When Harry Met Sally” is the perfect pick for tonight. Or perhaps you’re looking for something with a little bit more ennui, in which case “Lost in Translation” is the obvious choice. Maybe you’re looking for something entirely new. If so, check out this article by Vogue, detailing their 70 favorite rom-coms: https://www.vogue.com/article/best-romantic-comedies-of-all-time. knows .

From “When Harry Met Sally” to “Working Girl,” an exhaustive list of the best romantic comedies for any and all occasions.

Shoots and Ladders

05/15/2023

05/04/2023

04/19/2023

04/16/2023

03/18/2023

03/15/2023

03/11/2023

03/10/2023

03/08/2023

03/03/2023

03/01/2023

02/27/2023

02/26/2023

02/23/2023

02/22/2023

02/19/2023

02/15/2023

02/14/2023

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