On today's show:
Mendes And Deakins Pull Off A Camera Trick
(Starts at 7:45)
The new film, “1917,” is an ambitious WWI drama, co-written and directed by Sam Mendes ("American Beauty"). To pull off his idea for how to shoot it, he turned to famed cinematographer Roger Deakins. He’s been nominated for 14 Oscars and won the last time he was in competition, for “Blade Runner 2049.” For “1917” he and Mendes set out to do something novel: filming the movie in a single, continuous shot. Mendes has a background in theater which helped him when making the movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZjQROMAh_s
Will 'Cats' Snuggle Up To Moviegoers?
(Starts at :45)
John talks with Steven Zeitchik of The Washington Post about his story on the movie version of "Cats": "As the Universal Pictures musical seeks to become a holiday blockbuster beginning Friday, even experts do not know what to expect. In this age of hyper-audience tracking, extreme marketing spends and close monitoring of social media, 'Cats' has become the most peculiar of corporate entertainment products: an enigma."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNTDoOmc1OQ
Songwriter Kathryn Bostic Is A Rare Bird
The 15 songs on the short lists for the musical Academy Awards categories were announced this week. They will be narrowed down to five finalists. One of the artists in the best original song category is songwriter Kathryn Bostic. She wrote and performed the end title song from the documentary, "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am." Bostic also composed the score for — and produced — the new Alfre Woodard movie, "Clemency," which opens Dec. 27. The Frame contributor Tim Greiving has this profile.