Hard LA Fest w/ MIA + N*E*R*D + more

get tickets at hardfest.com 

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8th Annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Fest

If you're in the mood for some laughter check out the 8th Annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festivial this week (June 7th - 12th) at the iO West in Hollywood. The line-up includes Jimmy Kimmel, Danny Pudi (Community), Angela Kinsey (The Office), Matthew Lillard, Sam Levine (Freaks and Geeks) and many more!

For ticket info visit www.west-festival.ioimprov.com

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EVENT: Watch Pretty In Pink at the Drive-In (L.A.)

In the mood for a bit of 80s nostalgia? Catch Pretty in Pink on a big screen this Saturday night (May 22nd) as part of the Devil's Night Drive-In series in downtown Los Angeles. Bring your cars or lawn chairs to watch this classic John Hughes film.

The gate opens at 7:30pm and the movie starts at 9pm. The cost? $10.

Ticket info: www.devilsnight.com/drivein.htm

FAQs: www.devilsnight.com/pages/drivein.faq.htm

FB: www.facebook.com/devilsnightdrivein

And here's a video example of a previous event:

[via LA Snark]

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EVENT: Rashida Jones Comic Book Signing (L.A.)

This Saturday (May 22nd) Rashida Jones and her writing team will have a signing for Frenemy of the State at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles. The signing starts at 7pm but these type of events tend to draw a crowd so come early, buy a copy and browse around a bit.

Frenemy of the State is about...

Ariana Von Holmberg, an heiress with a secret. But what she's hiding isn't a sex tape or a drug addiction or an affair with a professional golfer—it's a new career as a CIA operative. Can Ari balance her high society obligations with her new role as a spy or will the weight of two worlds bring her dual lives to a violent end?

It's a cinematic idea and as previously mentioned a film adaptation is already in the works.

[HT BlackNerd]

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EVENT: Popcorn Mafia's 80s Movie Review Madness

If you're in the Los Angeles area and you're into 80s movies then check out Popcorn Mafia's 100th Show Celebration with special guest Diablo Cody. Expect fun commentary, prizes and other cool stuff. 8pm at the New Beverly Cinema.

Official Site: www.popcornmafia.com

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Wondercon 2010

DAY 1

First I went to The Book of Eli: From Script to Screen panel with screenwriter Gary Whitta. He talked about his writing process and the development of the film. Really informative stuff. He also mentioned he's writing Warcraft and Akira! Next is the The Art of The Princess and the Frog panel with directors Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), art director Ian Gooding, supervising animator Eric Goldberg, and effects supervisor Marlon West. They show a lot of development photos including their trip to New Orleans. Cool artwork and pencil tests. Being in the same room as those guys was crazy. Legends of animation. Then it's time for the famous Kevin Smith Q&A. He brings down the house. So hilarious.

DAY 2

Start things off with a hand-drawn animation demo with animator Eric Goldberg. He explains his latest character, Louis the alligator from The Princess and the Frog, showing us how to came up with the design and how he animated certain scenes. He then came up with a new character based off audience suggestions, Whose Line Is It Anyways style. He's that good.

Off to the ballroom for the Walt Disney Pictures presentation. First producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Mike Newell, Jake Gyllenhaal, and game creator Jordan Mechner talk about Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Clips looks like fun. Time rewind stuff looks cool.

[READ MORE...]

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Where to Watch the Oscars: Cinespace with the folks of Visual Communications

I just bought my ticket to watch the Oscars at the Visual Communications fundraiser. It's going to be fun to dress up, drink free Jinro sochu, and root for the Hurt Locker. Click here to buy your ticket!

To Get $5 off enter the promo code CY (thanks Clayton!) but you have to buy your ticket before Friday 5 PM

Tickets are:

$20 for students
$30 General Pre-Sale
$35 At The Door

Hope to see you there!

[Location: Los Angeles]

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Film Independent: Director's Close-Up

The Director's Close-Up is a great forum to listen to top-notch filmmakers discuss their experience in the entertainment business. I attended the session where Jason Reitman and his creative team talked about the art of collaboration. Eric Steelberg (cinematographer), Dana E. Glauberman (editor) and Rolfe Kent (composer) worked with Reitman on his previous projects Thank You For Smoking, Juno and his latest Oscar-contender Up in the Air.

John August moderated the discussion and they showed clips from Juno and Up in the Air to analyze and compare the beautifully directed conversation scenes where: A.) Clooney, Kendrick & Farmiga talk "love" in the airport and B.) where Juno and her dad  first meet her baby's soon to be adopted family.

Reitman said that his goal is to make a scene as good as possible before adding a soundtrack instead of fully relying on music to convey the intended emotion. He wants the songs to sneak up on the audience "like a ninja."

[READ MORE...]

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