Jan.

2012

The past, present, and future of

3D Films
Which upcoming movies to keep your eyes on

Jason Statham with his latest action shoot-em-up

The Mechanic

Find out if it will get you out of your seat or not

The fourth film in the series, how will fans take to this sequel?

Underworld Awakening

Adam Taylor
Edtior-in-chief

Mike Woodward
Art Director

Copy Editor

Chad Brown

Brice Roy
Staff Writer

Table of Contents
Page 3. - Letters to the editor Page 4. - Upcoming movie releases Page 5-7. FEATURE STORY:

Words from the editor

Welcome to Beyond the Screen. Whether youre a professional art critic, or simply an average Joe who enjoys a good flick, this magazine is for you. We help you explore the world of movies. From seeing whats coming out soon, getting the scoop on whats hot and whats not, or taking a peek behind the scenes to see how everything comes together, weve got something for you. We provide reviews on movies new and old, and are always happy to receive feedback and opinions from you the reader. We also explore the technology that is used in modern film making, as well as taking a look to the past to see where it all came from. Interviews with your favourite actors, directors and producers, as well as other important people from the industry. A movie cant be made without the person behind the camera. Thanks,

True Selection At your fingertips

EXPLORING 3D FILMS Page 8-9. - Reviews Page 10. - Goodfellas shot-by-shot

Adam Taylor

Letters to the Editor

Where BTS readers have their say

Upcoming movie releases

FEB: Chronicle 02/01/12
With a cast of virtual unknowns Chronicle looks to shake the super hero genre. Director and writer Josh Trank puts us into the world of three teens that acquire superpowers. Their lives take a turn for the worse and they find themselves testing their outlook of right and wrong.

Reubin J. Cogburn Toronto, ON.

Re: SOPA and PIPA Explained
I hadnt really heard a lot about the details of the bills before coming across this article. Your article was well researched and I really appreciate that your writers explained the concepts behind the bills in laymans terms instead of sticking to the legalese. I have every intention of keeping tabs on further developments in the news and I will be hoping that those two bills never go any further than they are now. Thank you for covering such an important legislation!

Madaline Ross Winnipeg, MAN.

Re: Not Just Kiddie Fare Anymore
I came across your comparison between childrens movies and family films over the last thirty years and I have to say, I was both impressed and entertained by a lot of the reviews. While its certainly true that a lot of childrens films contain more than a handful of jokes aimed more towards the grownups in the audience, I dont believe that the films themselves have suffered for the gain in more adult humour. The kids still enjoy the silly jokes while Mom and Dad share a grin over their heads at the subtle innuendo (for example, when Puss In Boots is busted for having catnip). Great article, I hope to see more like it in future!

What to look forward to in the first half of 2012

A remake of Johnny Depps 1987-1991 television series stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. Two less-thanperfect cops go undercover in a local high school to dismantle a drug ring.

MARCH: 21 Jump Street 03/16/12

The Woman In Black 02/03/12

Daniel Radcliffe appears in his first motion picture since the end of the Harry Potter franchise. This thriller is set in the early 20th century. Radcliffe played Arthur Kipps who is sent to deal with the estate of a recently deceased elderly woman. Turns out the woman may not be entirely passed.

APRIL: Chimpanzee - 03/20/12

The acclaimed Planet Earth filmographers Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield team up with Disney to give you the story of Oscar, a young chimpanzee who has been adopted by an unlikely candidate. The also explores life for a chimpanzee in the rain forests of Uganda.

Next movie night, pick up a pack of

The latest from comedic genius Sasha Baron Cohen should prove to be just as effective in the offensive department. Cohen plays a dictator who is willing to put his life on the line to conserve the oppression he has instilled on his people.

MAY: The Dictator 04/11/12

Enjoy a bowl of delicious potato chips!

Try them today in a variety of flavours!

MAY - CONT.: The Avengers - 04/04/12

Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye are brought together by S.H.E.I.L.D. super spy Nick Fury to create an elite team of super heroes who must save the world from Thors brother and nemesis Loki. This Marvel Comics epic has been in the works since the first Iron Man film and has managed to gather quite the buzz.

Director Ridley Scott returns to Sci-fi in a demanding way. Prometheus looks to mirror his Alien franchise. Shrouded in mystery and speculation Prometheus is one of 2012s most anticipated films.

JUNE: Prometheus 04/08/12

feature story

3d movies
A fad or the future?
By Brice Roy
Traditionally in the film world, the Christmas season is a time for Oscar bait and family fun films. However, this season there seemed to be a new genre or style trying to get a foothold on the lucrative season. That genre or style is 3D. Oscar Winning directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese released critically acclaimed pictures that featured eye-popping effects. The Adventures of Tintin was a box-office smash raking in more than $360 million and Hugo is a nominee for Best Picture. Leading to the question: Is 3D overtaking 2D as the new preferred method of filmmaking among the industrys elite much as talkies did silent film over 80 years ago? From a longevity standpoint, theres a lot more sense that it is here to stay. With digital cameras there are more tools making it simple to shoot, says John Helliker, an instructor with the Screen Research and Training Centre (SIRT). Having people like Scorcese and Speilberg involved in doing 3D is not just about a big name director. What youre getting is a director who has a real grasp on the use of film language and the different methods to tell a story through film. James Camerons Avatar was a huge blockbuster success but you have to be careful not over-do the effects when it comes to making 3D movies.

History of 3D: Those are goofy looking glasses

Ninety years ago when Harry K. Fairall first exhibited his remarkable new dual strip projection, it could never have been imagined where that technology would lead. Fairalls invention was then tweaked and altered until the invention of the Polaroid filters. Polaroids allowed the 3D technology to evolve into what we recognize today. The lenses of the now infamous goggles are each polarized differently allowing the each eye to view different projections on the same screen. 3D is basically seeing two images at once. When you wear the glasses one eye is seeing one image and the other is seeing the other image. They then blend together to form a 3D image, said Alex Broughton, a Canadian filmmaker, and 2011 Best Drama, Best Cinematography, and Best Screenplay winner for Annuit Coeptis at the York Region Film Festival. The early 1950s are considered the Golden Age of 3D. Between 1952 and 1955 we saw the release of several groundbreaking 3D films such as Bwana Devil, House of Wax, and Inferno. The improved technology brought the audience back into the theatres and gave them a glimpse into the future. This technology would

last another 30 years until IMAX films improved the quality of the 3D technology. In 2009 director James Cameron would release Avatar and completely change the possibilities of 3D and the way we see film. In Avatar the 3D effect is almost constant throughout the film. The effect is an attempt to bring the viewer closer to the film rather than surprise them. If you look at 3D now and the way its used like in the Avatar situation, its a more muted use of 3D, said Helliker. Earlier on, especially in the 1950s it was about something coming out of the screen to shock you.

3D in the present: Try not to overdo it

Since Avatars release, it has gone on to become the highest grossing film of all-time and inspired legions of 3D imitators and experimenters alike. The sudden flood of 3D films has led some people to question when the technology is appropriate. You want to make sure that if your doing something in 3D you have tested the type or material you have for 3D, said Helliker. If you have an action type project for release to theatres then you would probably look at 3D more seriously than something that was a

Films like The Adventures of Tintin and Hugo have seen 3D movies thrown further into the spotlight. 3D has been popular before, is it finally here to stay?

straight 2 or 3 person drama. The size of a 3D production also changes how a director would film certain scenes in their film. If Im going to shoot in 3D I realize that I may have to sacrifice or change how I want to shoot the film based on the size of the production, said Broughton. It comes down to story. There has still been no real drama that has come out in 3D. Theres no need. You still believe youre in the films world without the flash. Even television companies have jumped on the bandwagon and adapted their technology to allow 3D viewing at home. However, enjoying 3D at home depends on the viewer. Lots of times when people tune in a home to a television show or a movie thats when they might be on their laptop or checking their phone. Obviously, in a situation where your wearing the glasses and watching the different screens it makes it more difficult and uncomfortable, says Helliker. As far as the television viewing experience goes I still get immersed in the 3D aspect at home.

The future of 3D: Another flameout or continued success?

Thanks to digital filming technologies the 3D film-

ing process has gotten much easier. This has led to the belief among industry experts that the current flood of 3D titles is unlikely to subside anytime soon. From a longevity standpoint, theres a lot more sense that it is here to stay, says Helliker. The newer digital aspect, cameras and projection, has made it something that has a much higher potential to stay. While the new technology has made filming easier, directors are still finding the right way to incorporate it while not embellishing. Both the technology and the creative process of using it are going through an evolution, but theres a long way to go, says Helliker. There is real a learning curve thats happening as the technology is being integrated. For the next little while I think that just making sure its developed properly is the main concern. The astounding new technology has both its advocates and detractors. Ultimately, what both groups can agree on is that while eye-popping special effects are nice, how they are blended or added to a good story determines the enjoyment of the film. I think 3D will now always be here, but I think artistically 3D should depend on how it suits the story. Thats the most important thing, says Broughton. The medium of film is eventually going to die down and be completely digital, but not until digital animation creates the same effect as actual film.

Review:

underworld awakening

By Adam Taylor

Vampire warrioress Selene (Kate Beckinsale) leads the war against the Vampire and Lycan clans.

STAR RATING: 5 / 5
The latest installment in the Underworld series, Awakening gives us a glimpse of the world after humanity has become aware of the Vampire and Lycan populations. Humanity united against the monsters, and struck back. Amazingly enough, even though through the various Underworld movies, weve seen the incredible powers and super-advanced technology that the Vampires and Lycans have access to, they seem to have been given a proper beat-down by humanity. I suppose a movie about an eternal battle between vampires and werewolves requires a bit of acceptance. So that oddity aside, the movie was actually quite good story-wise. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is captured while trying to escape with Michael (Scott Speedman), who has a very brief role in this film. A research company runs a battery of experiments on Selene and Michael to try and use their abilities for their own purposes. Dr. Lane (Stephen Rea) is the man in charge, and leads the efforts to recapture Selene after her escape, 12 years after her capture, along with a young girl called Eve (India Eisley). Eve has the hybrid super-powers of Michael. Throughout the movie, we learn more about Eves origins, as well as how the world has changed since humanity has discovered the monsters in their midst. The story is given at a decent pace, mixed with some incredible fight scenes for which the Underworld series has become famous. The movie was designed for the 3D screen and it shows. Unfortunately, while the action might be breathtaking at times, it does hide some of the horribly written lines that crop up from time to time. Having Eve half-tearfully exclaim that Selene has returned for her, and hearing Selene respond with I told you I would in an emotionally tense manner, felt a little odd. Theres a brief pause after the line, making the viewer wonder if were supposed to be feeling something specific or if they just did some bad editing. There are a few such comments throughout the movie, which give some awkward pauses. But beyond those few instances, the movie does a very good job of delivering its story. However for those looking for a good sense of closure, you wont find it with this movie, as it ends on a rather blatant cliffhanger. Overall, if youre looking for another great action movie in the Underworld universe, you wont be disappointed. The acting isnt exactly award winning, but then thats not why you go to see an action movie. Underworld: Awakening delivers an action filled adventure that deepens the lore of the world its in, and leaves us wanting more.

Review:
By Chad Brown

The Mechanic
Attention action movie junkies. The Mechanic will fix you up. The Mechanic opened on Friday to much excitement from action movie fans. The remake held true to the Charles Bronson version with some much appreciated tweaking. The 38-year-old Jason Statham is back at it with his cool demeanor. The day he stops looking so clam and collected while doing some of the most intense stunts is the day I dont want to see him in movies. He pulls no punches with acts such as jumping off bridges, smashing up cars and scaling skyscrapers. He was probably happy about his decision to do all his own stunts when it came to the sex scene with the smoking hot Mini Anden. But dont expect 92 minutes of gun toting shoot em up action. This film also has a decent plot and good character development as Stathams character murders a weapons dealer in front of his apprentice Ben Foster. The end is a dead give away if youve seen the original but still leaves a lasting impression. Even though Statham is the main attraction, Foster blasts onto centre stage with a commanding supportive role. He literally killed it in the first and most exciting fight scene where he takes on a seven-foot, 300-pound monster of a hit man. If youre not one for blood and violence, you should go see No Strings Attached or something a little easier on the eyes because this is chalked full of explosive heads and bone crunching battles. Director Simon West took a classic display of Bronson and turned it into a cinematic experience. For the realist, you might want to suspend your disbelief just a little bit but this movie will make you cringe with its gritty fight scenes and squirm with the blood splatters.

Dissecting a scene: goodfellas

#1 From Martin Scorseses Gangster classic Goodfellas (1990) Henry (Ray Liotta) meets Jimmy (Robert Deniro) to talk about Henrys upcoming court case where Jimmy is worried that he may expose the entire mob . As they talk, Henry fears that Jimmy is going to have him killed. #2
After moving through the diner, the dolly ends when Deniro appears on screen as the camera pans slightly to the right.

Ben Foster (left) and Jason Statham take a minute to discuss the details.

#3

STAR RATING: 4.5 / 5

#4

Monumental shot of the scene. The camera is framed for a 2-shot with both Deniro and Liotta in profile. This change of perspective is achieved when the camera dollies back while zooming in, or vice versa.

#5

#6

As the interest in dialogue increases the camera moves to a medium close up, changing back and fourth as they both speak.

A cut away shot is used to put emphasis on a discrete movement. The camera tilts up to a close up to further intensify the drama.

#7

#8

#9

That technique is used again to capture the pivotal moment in the scene when Henry suspects he will be whacked.

The scene concludes with the same twoshot profile as the camera dollies out.

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