Diesel Wants 'Kojak' Role

Savalas as Kojak

Universal Pictures has put the TV adaptation of the popular 1970's NYC cop series, 'Kojak' on the green list.  The series starred Telly Savalas as Theo Kojak a tough, no-nonsense cop that TV Guide has ranked as number 18 on its Greatest TV Characters of All Time.

Vin Diesel

Vin Diesel has been pushing Universal to make the movie since 2012 and doesn't want to go the comedic route but be true to the role Savalas developed over the 6 years the show aired and topped the TV charts. Savalas had a long movie and TV career and was cast in over 56 movies and numerous TV shows. He was a graduate of Columbia University and was nominated for a Best Supporting Oscar for his role in 'The Birdman of Alcatraz'.

Universal is sold on the idea and has aims of developing 'Kojak' into a franchise with Diesel, which will add to his 'Fast and Furious' and, to a lesser degree, 'Riddick' franchises.  Diesel will have some say as to who will direct the first movie - his first choice is Ang Lee. However, a script still needs to be written and approved so it will be awhile before we can see 'Kojak' on the big screen. "We love ya, baby".


Light and Magic

Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) the pre-eminent special effects company founded by George Lucas and now owned by Disney Studios is about to set on a mission to develop a virtual reality experience for movies.

Lucas originally developed ILM (which has 16 Oscars to its credit) to create the then state-of-the-art special effects for the 'Star Wars' films. ILM is now the go-to company for any movie director looking for the best in effects.

ILMxLab is the new name of the entity that will combine the technical skills of ILM, with Skywalker Sound, and LucasFilms to create immersive experiences that will allow users to participate in their favorite movie worlds.   Although video games take a step to a virtual reality experience ILM's new technology will be different - the experience will be non-competitive and will use photo-realism rather than animation.

"It's the new frontier. Technology is looking for content. We can bring an emotional experience to that technology.  The bar needs to moved up as the current movie-making technology is available anywhere in the world", says Lucas.

ILMx's new technology will allow movie fans to enter scenes of a movie and navigate through them at will.  The aim is to open the two-dimensional world of movies and allow fans to walk into those worlds.  The use of Oculus-Rift virtual reality goggles will be used to provide the true-to-life experience. The difference between a video game and the ILMx created world is that the goal is not beating a foe but to put the viewer inside the movie to explore the story - it's about stepping into an alternate reality.

The ILM technology will be another way of viewing films.  Whether or not the masses will go for it is something else. Surely it will be used but, to me, this technology offers much more value in being able to delve into more useful realities than movies.  Lets wait and see.

Hobbit House

Peter Jackson in doorway of his Hobbit House - 'Bag Ends'

Speaking of virtual reality - how about living in your fantasy.  Well, that's exactly what Peter Jackson, the director of Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' franchise movies has done.

Jackson has built an exact replica of Bilbo Baggins' Hobbit house, which is part of his residence in New Zealand.  The house is exact in every detail, but unlike the movie house, this one is livable - it is a real home.

Jackson purchased a 1930s built mansion in Masterton, NZ and employed the same team which worked on the films to turn part of the residence into the Hobbit House (called Bag End).  According to Jackson, "other directors and friends have come and stayed at Bag End, including Spielberg and Lucas, it is a playhouse but for real".

From Russia To Hollywood - No More Free Lunch

The Russian Minister of Culture, Vlad Medinsky, is calling for a new tax on cinema admissions to U.S. films screened at Russian cinemas.  The money generated by the tax to be used to promote and fund local movie production. The tax would add 100 roubles ($1.80) per admission.

'Viy' - Biggest grossing Russian film of last year

The problem is that 80% of the Russian box office is from U.S. made films and that reality will continue to be the case.  Now, many developed countries subsidize their national film industry but with very limited success - Russia will not be different.  However, it should support local movie-making for films that depict Russia in a positive light and be inspirational. Thing is, moviegoers, worldwide, crave the mega-budget, Hollywood produced high-impact, action, superhero, and fantasy films.  The highest grossing film in Russia last year was 'Transformers: Age of Extinction'  The highest grossing Russian film was 'Viy- 3D', a fantasy, special effects driven film, and very well made, it grossed $34 million. 'Transformers' generated $45 million.

If Russia wants to compete it will have to subsidize more films like 'Viy' because the average Joe knows all to well when they are being shown 'fluff' and they will not support it.