The Envelope In Print: The Oscar Preview Issue (Feb. 20, 2008)

February 20, 2008

OSCARS

Double talk

Whether it's actors with directors or directors with each other, the best filmmaking partnerships require a unique comfort level and shared vision to really flourish. It's a special language, one of emotion and instinct, interior processes and things so ethereal they are hard to put into words. So, it's rare when it all clicks, rare enough to make you sit up and take notice. As director Tim Burton describes it, "You don't get that many times in your life where you just connect with somebody and it's really simple . . . it's just there." We talk with some of this year's most interesting film pairings, who say, among other things, that the best place to start is with a safe environment for experimentation . . . oh, and that a little mental telepathy never hurts.

February 20, 2008

LIGHTS, CAMERA . . .

'Transformers'

Scott Farrar, visual effects supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic, on the final "Transformers" battle scene.

February 20, 2008

LIGHTS, CAMERA . . .

An inside look at 'Atonement'

"Atonement" cinematographer Seamus McGarvey on shooting the Dunkirk beach scene.

February 20, 2008

OSCARS

Jon, the Oscars need you now

DEARJON:

February 20, 2008

OSCARS

6 degrees of separation in Oscar race?

HOLLYWOOD -- bright lights, big city . . . small town? Apparently so, if you look at this year's Oscar acting nominations. The Screen Actors Guild may have some 120,000 members, but this year's nominees seem to be swimming in an awfully small bowl. So, in a tip of the top hat to the never-been-nominated Kevin Bacon, we went fishing for six or fewer degrees of separation among the class of 2008. Our goal: connect each lead actor contender with one of his actress counterparts, and each supporting actress with one of her supporting brethren. Mostly we used professional matchups, but personal entanglements were fair game too. Bacon even figured into a connection. Most interesting challenges: French newcomer Marion Cotillard and youngster Saoirse Ronan. Oh, and feel free to jump in any time . . .