Sunday Mornings

Happy Sunday! E and I recently saw Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. It was the third time this new 70mm print was screened and my first time to see it on the big screen. It was beautiful – and as strange as I remember. I was about 12 years-old when I watched 2001 for the first time thanks to my mom. It left an impression to say the least.

This new print was gorgeous. The colors vibrant and the darks deep. The second half of the film is always the best and most trippy. What was NOT enjoyable was the 30-something hipster gal in front of me instagramming most of the final 60 minutes (both photos and video). She “tried” to make it not conspicuous, but anytime a phone is out it’s a distraction. It glows. Especially in a film set in SPACE. By instagramming every two minutes, she was literally watching a 70mm print through her phone.

The absurdity of this was beyond me.

Besides the ‘gramming addict – and apparently Tom Hanks who was there that night and had his phone out too – a phone fell from the balcony above during one of the more climatic moments of the second half and landed (hard) on a man’s head in front of us. Startled, he yelled out, “Jesus Christ!”.

So, when the intro’er or programmer says to silence and put away your phones to enjoy the show… s/he is not doing it for their own health, but yours.

Another highlight of that night: HAL-9000 donuts!

And now, internet highlights for the last Sunday Mornings post of 2016:

• I enjoyed this thoughtful article on the continued rise of streaming films, in particular focusing on Film Struck. “Streaming makes viewers pay forever, and regularly, in order to maintain access to movies that they might otherwise have had at hand—if they were near their home-video collections and if the equipment to play their disks continued to exist.” 
  What do you think?
• Who wants to make Chocolate-Peppermint Fudge with me?
• Or Caramel Rum Banana Bread?
• 24-hours working at Franklin’s. I know, I know. I posted about Franklin’s last time, but this is a great piece to show you how much work goes into really amazing BBQ. There’s a reason why he’s the best.
• A nice reminder for those of you hosting any holiday parties this month: always treat your non-drinker guests equally. I’ve cut out most alcohol the past six months for health reasons and navigating the social drinking side of this industry alone can be tough.
• More “my generation is screwed” news.
• If you’re a fan of reading screenplays or an aspiring screenwriter, then be sure to grab Moonlight by Barry Jenkins (courtesy of A24).
• I’m weirdly fascinated with transportation logistics. The LA Times reflects on the future of FedEx. Check out Door to Door for further reading.
• The transcript from the final hours aboard the bridge of the El Faro cargo ship were released. I read parts of the 510 page-transcript and could see where someone like Paul Greengrass could create a script if approached.
• Kodak now has a website and app where you can search a location to find a movie that was shot or is being projected on film (as opposed to digital).
• A long, good read: My President Was Black.
• All I want for Christmas is breakfast tacos.

I hope you’re able to take a break from the holiday rush and enjoy a little sunshine today. Thanks for stopping by!