Tag Archives: entertainment

June 7, 2009 · 8:02 am

‘Dances With Wolves’ writer attending this year’s Reno Film Festival

Michael Blake

Michael Blake is best known as a behind-the-scenes guy, but the “Dances With Wolves” novelist and screenwriter stepped in front of the camera for “The American West: On the Road With Michael Blake.”

In the documentary film, showing June 21 at the Reno Film Festival, Blake takes viewers on a journey through great moments in U.S. history, especially as they relate to American Indians. He will be at the Reno screening to talk about the film, which was inspired by his first non-fiction book, “Indian Yell: The Heart of an American Insurgency.”

Click here for full story: http://rgj.com/article/20090607/ENT/906070305/1056/+Dances++writer+presenting+documentary+of+the+West

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Tagged as books, Dances With Wolves, entertainment, film, Forrest Hartman, Michael Blake, movies, Reno Film Festival, The American West

June 7, 2009 · 6:07 am

Reno Film Festival: Indies and more

Actress Stella Stevens will appear at the Reno Film Festival this month

During its nine years, the Reno Film Festival has seen its share of change. It debuted in October 2000 and served as an outlet, primarily, for classic movies. In the early days, screenings of great films were paired with appearances by beloved stars and directors, including Rod Steiger, Tony Curtis and George Sidney.

Since, the festival has morphed, moving first to November, then May and finally this year to June. It also has shifted from showing mainly classics to include an increasing number of independent pictures. Also, organizers have placed less of a focus on celebrities.

“If Kevin Costner wanted to come, we would certainly have star power, but it’s always difficult for us to get them (stars) lined up and everything,” said festival spokesman Bob Alessandrelli. “We actually have, the last few years, morphed more into the indies.”

This year’s festival, running June 17-21, isn’t free of classic films or stars. For instance, actress Stella Stevens will be in town June 20 to sign autographs and talk about her 1970 feature “The Ballad of Cable Hogue.”

Click here for full story: http://rgj.com/article/20090607/ENT/906070304/1056/Reno+Film+Festival+focuses+on+indies++American+West+and+free+flicks

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Tagged as Bob Alessandrelli, entertainment, film, film festivals, Forrest Hartman, movies, reno, Reno Film Festival, Stella Stevens

June 2, 2009 · 6:32 am

Video Verdict: New DVDs for June 2

Leonardo DiCaprio, left, and Kate Winslet play Frank and April Wheeler in the drama "Revolutionary Road."

It’s a good week for movie lovers because the latest DVDs include two of the finest dramas released into theaters in 2008.

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Tagged as Daniel Craig, defiance, DVDs, entertainment, Forrest Hartman, He's Just Not That Into You, Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Liev Schreiber, movies, revolutionary road

May 29, 2009 · 4:13 pm

‘Mamma Mia!’ heading to Reno

Mama Mia Michelle Dawson says you needn’t love ABBA to have a blast at “Mamma Mia!”

“Once you’ve seen it, you become an ABBA fan,” said Dawson who stars in the touring production of the musical, opening Tuesday at the Pioneer Center. “I mean the songs are incredible. “I don’t think people realize how popular and famous these songs are if they’re not an ABBA fan.”

“Mamma Mia!” is mostly a showcase for the music of the Swedish pop group. But that doesn’t mean it’s plot-free. Dawson plays Donna Sheridan, a freewheeling single mother who runs a hotel on a Greek island, and the show begins as her daughter, Sophie, is about to get hitched. Trouble is, Sophie wants her father to walk her down the aisle and Donna doesn’t know who the Daddy is. After some investigation, Sophie invites three men from Donna’s past to her wedding, convinced she’ll be able to figure out who is who. Add the arrival of two of Donna’s longtime girlfriends, and the stage is set for a wild musical comedy and a whole bunch of ABBA tunes.

Click here for full story: http://www.rgj.com/article/20090528/ENT/305280004/1056/ENT/You+needn+t+love+ABBA+to+love++Mama+Mia+

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Tagged as ABBA, entertainment, Forrest Hartman, Mama Mia, Michelle Dawson, music, musical theater, theater

May 29, 2009 · 1:15 pm

Juilliard grad returns home for concert

Molly Carr

Molly Carr is excited to be returning to Reno, if only for a few days.

The 22-year-old violist grew up in the Biggest Little City before moving to New York City to study at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School and will perform Sunday to benefit the Suzuki Music Association of Reno/Tahoe.

“I’m always excited to come home,” she said. “I didn’t think twice.

Click here for full story: http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905290414

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Tagged as arts, classical music, entertainment, Forrest Hartman, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Molly Carr, music, viola

May 26, 2009 · 6:48 am

Video Verdict: New DVDs for May 26

Renee Zellweger plays businesswoman Lucy Hill in the romantic comedy "New in Town."

It’s a slow week on the DVD front, with only one major theatrical release making its way to home video.

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Tagged as DVDs, entertainment, Forrest Hartman, Harry Connick Jr., movies, New In Town, Renee Zellweger, reviews, Video Verdict

May 24, 2009 · 10:00 am

‘Up’ avoids gimmicky 3D

Carl Frederickson launches his house into the sky in the movie "Up."

Don’t go to Pixar Animation Studio’s first 3-D feature expecting things to fly out of the screen and hover in your face. That’s not going to happen.

“Our job is to make the audience forget they’re at the movies, as opposed to reminding them they’re watching a movie,” said producer Jonas Rivera. “We treated the screen more like a window looking in, you know, almost like a diorama. That just felt right.”

In other words, the 3-D version of “Up,” opening nationwide Friday, gives the action extra dimension, but it isn’t filled with typical 3-D gimmicks.

Click here for full story: http://rgj.com/article/20090524/ENT/905240337/1056/Directors%20knew%20just%20who%20to%20turn%20to%20for%20%20Up

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Tagged as 3D, animation, entertainment, film, Forrest Hartman, Jonas Rivera, movies, Pixar, Up

May 24, 2009 · 9:55 am

Ed Asner helps ‘Up’ soar

Actor Ed Asner, left, and producer Jonas Rivera work on the vocal track for "Up."

When it came time to cast the lead voice actor for “Up,” Pixar filmmakers didn’t look beyond veteran actor Ed Asner.

The animated movie, opening Friday, tells the story of Carl Frederickson, an embittered elderly man who attaches hundreds of helium balloons to his home and floats to South America. Asner, said producer Jonas Rivera, was perfect for the role.

“That line between curmudgeon and sweet, old man was very blurry, and that was Carl,” Rivera said. “We had to make Carl appealing “» and no one doesn’t like Ed. “» He was electric to us, and we couldn’t imagine it without him, really.”

Click here for full story: http://rgj.com/article/20090524/ENT/905240336/1056/Directors+knew+just+who+to+turn+to+for++Up+

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Tagged as animation, Bob Peterson, Ed Asner, entertainment, Forrest Hartman, Jonas Rivera, movies, Pete Docter, Pixar, Up

May 19, 2009 · 6:36 am

Video Verdict: New DVDs for May 19

Tom Cruise plays Col. Claus von Stauffenberg in the World War II drama "Valkyrie."

This week’s DVD releases include a World War II thriller starring Tom Cruise, a goofy comedy featuring Kevin James and the first season of an excellent television drama led by Anna Paquin.

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