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News on THE MUMMY, STUART LITTLE, DETENTION and FIGHTING GRAVITY

Published at:  Sep 11, 1998 1:06:06 AM CDT

The Oaknut proves to a nut worthy of cracking cause what you find inside is cool indeed. Bits on THE MUMMY make me get giddy, and the rest... well it just sounds like some cool stuff. Folks keep the independent news coming as well as mainstream. It's equally if not more important. Well, I'll let ya get on to the report...


I've been working in the industry for a while now, and been sitting on a
few tidbits, but I just can't keep 'em in anymore; AIC is FAR to
enjoyable for me not to participate! So let's get right into it:

Last week, you mentioned "The Mummy". I don't know if you had a chance
to see it, but I've recently had access to the work ILM has been doing
on creating the de-evolution of the man into the Mummy, and IT IS
AWESOME! Aside from a good, spooky story set in that incredible time
period (the 'teens), the FX on this pic should put the scream quotient
up VERY high. A lot of REALLY gross decaying body parts and deformities,
with all sorts of creepy bugs--the coolest rendering I saw as of The
Mummy, who can unleash a SWARM of black flies out of his mouth! Should
be a great blend of CG and real
actors.

There was also a mention of Sony's "Stuart Little", and the sets--I
assure you, they are AWESOME. Aside from being massive,
they also seemed to be bigger than scale, and meticulous--this one's
gonna look like a beaut. Even better, though, are the sets from "Babe
2". They recreated an amalgam of every major city into one "City" for
Babe to go to (as opposed to the "Farm"). And the creature effects are
second to none. There's also an EVIL clown in Babe 2--he goes toe-to-toe
with Babe and Mrs. Hodgett! Look for a HEAVY merchandise push SOON from
Uni on this one(they missed the boat the first time around, didn't
they?).

The studios have discovered the importance of quality kids films! Could
this have something to do with 12 year old girls and a big, sinking
boat? Hmmmm...I guess girls DO like FX!

Finally, you've put out the call for info on indies: here's two of 'em
for ya.

There's an indie out of Baltimore called "Detention" directed by a guy
named Darryl LeMont Wharton. I caught it at "Dances With Films",
and while the film itself isn't genius, the guy's got talent--and most
importantly, his heart and head are in the right place. He's made a
positive, uplifting urban Breakfast Club--with a budget and talent, this
guy will be for real--check it out, if you can.(There's another
"Detention" in production now--don't confuse the two!)

From Miami, there's an indie called "Fighting Gravity", put out by
Casting Couch Films. This film is hitting the mark with the 20-something
set as it slowly tools around town and is vastly entertaining, very
funny--there's a GREAT bathroom scene. Another great first pic by some
guys on the rise--they got CHOPS. With a budget, it's obvious these guys
can make big, funny things happen. It's also got a cool soundtrack--it
features A LOT of talent from the original cast of "Rent". See it if you
get the chance.

Call me OakNut



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    Readers Talkback

  • Sep 11, 1998 11:21:57 PM CDT

    FIGHTING GRAVITY

    by dylan

    Dear Harry,
    I am not quite sure how this works, but I would prefer to remain annonymous if you choose to include my letter in AIC...
    I am very close with the filmmakers of FIGHTING GRAVITY. I have been privy to all aspects of the making and post-production of this so-called "indie" film, and I can keep silent no longer...If there is anyone out there thinking of seeing this piece of shit, do not proceed any further!!
    It is simply the most sophomoric, offensive and uninspired film I have ever seen...and not sophomoric funny like THERE'S SOMERHING ABOUT MARY or "South Park." The worst offense theis freshman outing makes is that it is truly not funny. It aspires to make a statement about 20-something life in the '90s, and winds up only hammering the audience with cliches and situations from other films that were much better than this one. The writing-directing team of David Bruce and Keith Trailins have nothing to say and and they do it poorly. Now I hear the Ft. Lauderdale Film Fest is showcasing this travesty of a film. If Hollywood picks up on this and buzz starts to generate around the pic, we are all doomed. Stay away from FIGHTING GRAVITY!!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 12, 1998 7:19:31 PM CDT

    stop, person.

    by j lewis

    YOU ARE A JACKASS. STOP ATTEMPTING TO RALLY INTEREST IN SILLY FILMS.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 14, 1998 3:33:12 AM CDT

    Whose Mummy?

    by fiddler

    OK, I'm a bit unclear about this - is this Anee Rice's "The Mummy", or someone else's?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 15, 1998 11:43:10 PM CDT

    Fighting Gravity Retraction

    by simeon humphreys

    To: The makers of "Fighting Gravity" and the readers of AICN,

    I would like to to publicly and formally apologize to the filmmakers behind the independent film "Fighting Gravity." It seems that my internet account was used by someone other than myself in order to paint a negative portrait of this film, based on nothing but a very rough cut of the movie. While I am ultimately responsible for my own account, I personally had nothing to do with the letter, (posted at this site on 9/12/98) and neither I nor the person who wrote the letter am in any way affiliated with the making of "Fighting Gravity," contrary to what the original letter stated.
    My long-standing friendship with the people behind "Fighting Gravity" has been seriously damaged as a result of the letter, a fact which has caused me great personal pain. I can only hope that this public apology can somehow help to undo some of the damage for which I have inadvertently (and unbeknownst to me) been a cause of as well as repair the damage done to my close friendship with the filmmakers.
    Thank you,
    Simeon D. Humphreys

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 30, 2006 3:11:42 PM CDT

    Too Soon for Gravity!!!

    by kevinwillis.net

    Gravity hurt me when I tripped, once. Have you no sensitivity to me feelings?

    Reply to Talkback

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