Hollywood on the Hudson Blog presents its Golden Lady Liberty Film Award for the "Best Documentary Film 2008" to Bill Maher's "Religulous" for best expression of truth, liberty and freedom of speech in film, combined with excellence in film making, directing, editing, sound track and film production.

Congratulations Bill and thank you for bringing us your intensely thought provoking film "Religulous" - it's everything you always wanted to know about religion but were afraid to ask and a masterpiece film. I sense that Our Creator God would want us to ask questions as we are given free will to choose what to believe (or to not believe). I am grateful that Bill Maher asks people and religious leaders the most challenging questions about their religious beliefs in a very amusing way.

I found myself laughing at that which I could never imagine myself finding hysterically funny.

On a whirlwind spiritual journey, a few of the places that "Religulous" and Bill Maher takes us to are the real Holy Land in Jerusalem, the "Holyland Experience" theme park in Orlando, FL and the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Surprisingly, a Vatican Priest that Bill Maher speaks with was in agreement with most everything that Bill talked about. Maher not only speaks to the religiously inclined but also interviews a neuroscientist for his views on the religious mind.

"Religulous" makes it clear that we don't have to wait for the Armegeddon at the "End Times" that Scripture speaks about because mankind has developed the ability to annihilate civilization as we know it with nuclear weapons.

"Religulous" is a highly entertaining and informative film not to be missed, but it's not for the religiously faint of heart. Run to see it now!

Marla LaRue, Hollywood on the Hudson Blogzine, editor

October 1 - 5, 2008: The 9th Annual Woodstock Film Festival Has Landed!

Beginning today, the Woodstock Nation plays host to the 9th Annual Woodstock Film Festival, October 1-5, 2008 blending film, music, and art-related activities that promote film artists, film culture, and diversity. We are told that on October 1st, tickets are only available at the box office in Woodstock.

The film fest will feature concerts and more than 150 films --- and you get a chance to see new films by Colin Farrell (Pride and Glory) - and Kevin Smith (Zack and Miri). Living Legend folk singer and song writer Donovan Leitch performs LIVE in concert at the Colony Cafe on Oct. 04, 2008 @ 8:00PM, details on the website. And if you hurry, you might be able to catch the WFF Silent Auction, bid on some fun items and support the fest: http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/auction/auction.php

This year the Woodstock Film Festival Awards Ceremony is open to the public and will take place Saturday, October 4th, 9:00 PM, at Backstage Productions in Kingston.

Special Honorary Awards will be presented to legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler, renowned writer / producer / studio executive James Schamus, and maverick filmmaker Kevin Smith (Clerks and Dogma). Smith's latest movie (Zack and Miri Make a Porno starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, about two friends who produce their own porn film) will be shown on the closing night of the festival.

The awards will be presented in the categories of Feature Narrative, Documentary Narrative, Best Cinematography, Best Editing in Documentary and Best Editing in Feature Narrative, Animation Shorts, Short Documentary, Short Film, Student Shorts. The awards will be presented and juried by Actors, Directors, Film Critics, Producers, and distinguished members of the industry. A party follows the ceremony, sponsored by 120db Films Beverages and provided by Barefoot Wines. All details at the Woodstock Film Festival website.

Sept. 17 - Sept 19, 2008: "Hollywood on the Hudson" - Film Making in NY

The Museum of Modern Art [MOMA] is hosting The Hollywood on the Hudson Film Festival from September 17 to September 19, 2008.
Don't miss this event inspired by Richard Koszarski's book, Hollywood on the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff.
For complete information, visit the Museum of Modern Art's website:
http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/film_exhibitions.php?id=10043&ref=calendar#screenings

The forth coming screenings for 10 original Hollywood on the Hudson Films include:

1. The Green Goddess (1923) - Sidney Olcott, director; play by Willima Archer; acting by George Arliss. Filmed at the Bronx Biograph studio. Screening courtesy UCLA Film and Telelvison Archive. Silent with music accompaniment.
2. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (1920) - John Robertson, director; based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson; acting by John Barrymore. Filmed at Paramount's Amsterdam Opera House studio on West Forty-fourth Street; from the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection. Silent, with musical accompaniment.
3. Love 'Em and Leave 'Em (1926) - Frank Tuttle, director; based on a play by John Weaver & George Abbott; with Evelyn Brent, actress. Paramount Astoria Studios.
4. Enchantment (1921) Robert Vignola, director; based on a story by Frank R. Adams; with Marion Davies acting. Screening courtesy The Library of Congress. Silent, with musical accompaniment.
5. While New York Sleeps (1920) - Charles Brabin, director. Filmed at the new Fox studio on West Fifty-fifth Street and various New York locations. Silent, with musical accompaniment.
6. The Letter (1929) - Jean De Limur & Monta Bell, directors; based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham. This is the first talking feature film made in New York. Courtesy The Library of Congress.
7. Way Down East (1920) - D. W. Griffith director; based on a play by Lottie Blair Parker; with Lillian Gish, actress. Griffith abandoned Hollywood in 1919, to film this at his new studio in Mamaroneck. Silent, with musical accompaniment.
8. The Struggle (1931) - D. W. Griffith., director (his last film); written by John Emerson & Anita Loos; with Hal Skelly, actor. A NY indie production filmed at the old Edison studio and on the streets of the Bronx.
9. Janice Meredith (1924) - E. Mason Hopper, director; with Marion Davies, Harrison Ford and others. Courtesy The Library of Congress. Silent, with musical accompaniment.
10. Monsieur Beaucaire (1924) - Sidney Olcott, director; based on the novel by Booth Tarkington; with Rudolph Valentino, actor.

This event is co-organized by Laurence Kardish, MOMA Senior Curator, Department of Film, and Richard Koszarski, on whose book, ("Hollywood on the Hudson: Film and Television in New York from Griffith to Sarnoff"), the exhibition is based.
For ticket information goto http://www.moma.org/visit_moma/admissions.html#filmtickets

Marla LaRue, editor

In Case You Missed the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival - here's the highlights

Today' was the last day of the Tribeca Film Festival, the SuperBowl of NY Film Festivals, but you can catch up on all of the best films and happenings in case you missed it. http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/filmguide/

Enjoy the Tribeca Film Festival Trailers here: http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/videos/?mCat=193671

Tina Fey's "Baby Mama" red carpet Premiere and highlights photos here:
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/videos/Baby_Mama_Red_Carpet.html
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/photos/Baby_Mama_Premiere.html

Who Are the Tribeca Film Makers? Meet them here:
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/videos/?mCat=193666

Follow discussions, and events with Randy Astle, "The World's Biggest Film Junkie". http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/tff/filmjunkie/blog/

Tribeca Film Festival Awards Recap is featured here : http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/videos/Tribeca_Film_Festival_Awards_Recap.html

The Tribeca Film Festival is More than Just Movies and you can see the photos from the Tribeca Breaking the Band concert and free events like the Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge, the Family Festival Street Fair, and Tribeca ESPN Sport's Day. http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/photos/More_Than_Just_Movies.html

TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES 2008 MEDIA ARTS FELLOWSHIPS - 22 Filmmakers and Media Artists Receive $715,000 for Artistic Excellence. New York, NY April 29, 2008] Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) today announced the recipients of its 2008 Media Arts Fellowships; the Fellowship program was founded and is supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. This year, TFI awarded $715,000 to 22 innovative filmmakers and media artists. Tribeca Film Institute CEO Brian Newman along with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Alan Berliner (Nobody’s Business, Wide Awake), awarded the Fellowships at a ceremony at the New York Academy of Art. http://news.renewmedia.org/2008/04/30/2008-fellows/

Announcement: Banff Mountain Film Festival - March 4-5, 2008 @ NYC

Here's something special for NYC film lovers who also love mountain beauty: "Banff Mountain Film Festival".

I just heard that Chris and his NYC Film Lovers MeetUp Group (for local Movie Fans) will be getting together this week to attend the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Chris's MeetUp Group gets together twice a month to plan movie outings and discuss the hot movies of the month. This week you can join Chris and his meetup group to attend the Banff Mountain Film Festival and if you hurry and join Chris's group you might be able to get-in-on a discounted group ticket for the film fest - so surf on over and goto:

http://movies.meetup.com/261/

What: Banff Mountain Film Festival - New York

When: Tuesday, March 4 and Wednesday March 5, 2008 - 7:30 PM

Where: at the Peter Norton Symphony Space

2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York , NY 10025
2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York

Different films will be shown each night. See the film menu here:

http://www.chestnutmtnproductions.com/banff/nycfilms.htm

"Who should come: Whether you are an experienced mountaineer or an armchair adventurer, come celebrate, share and find inspiration in these mountain experiences, ideas and visions."

Marla LaRue, editor "Hollywood on the Hudson BLOG"

Did you observe the High Holy Feast of Saint Oscar?

As I was watching Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" I smiled as I heard Catherine Ohara say, "You have to observe the high holy feast of Saint Oscar". But most high holy feasts are probably not as entertaining as the Academy Awards and probably not as elaborate. Who carried home an Oscar was sometimes surprising. And I heard that some people were disappointed because many of the Oscar "bests" were won by foreigners - but perhaps that was just coincidence? Well, "That's Show Biz". There's always next year!! --- Marla LaRue.

What Was Hot in Hollywood 2007?

GOTO Cinematical for insight on what was hot in Hollywood 2007: the best actors, actresses, films and which films made the most money & Hollywood's hottest trends in entertainment: my favorites listed were:

# 17 - "Film Bloggers" (Hollywood's listening after all)

# 13 - "Viral Marketing Campaigns" (why can't they call it "Laughter Marketing" - laughter is contagious too!).

# 7 - Beowulf in IMAX 3D (gives new meaning to 'bigger than life')

#2 - WGA (why the Writers Guild is on strikehttp://www.cinematical.com/2007/11/23/yay-for-solidarity-actors-speechless-for-wga-strike/ )

#1 - Year of the Geek (who'da thought being geeky would be a Hollywood Hot?)


Anyone ready to predict Hot Hollywood Trends for 2008?

~ Marla LaRue ~
http://www.cinematical.com/2007/12/10/cinematicals-25-hottest-of-2007/

Frank D. Gilroy, Living Legend and Pulitzer Prize winning author, playwright and screenwriter

Photo & Story by Marla LaRue.

Hollywood on the Hudson NEWS - Goshen, New York: May 6, 2007:
If you knew that you could have lunch in the same room with Frank D. Gilroy, New York's own "The Subject Was Roses" Pulitzer Prize winning playwright - would you want to be there? - absolutely! - so when I learned that "The Friends of the Moffat Library" (Washingtonvile, NY) was hosting their "First Annual Meet the Authors" luncheon at the Limoncello restaurant (historic Goshen, NY) - and that Frank D. Gilroy was to be the keynote speaker - then I knew I must be there. It was a great honor to meet this wonderful playwright and author (thank you Friends of the Moffat Library).

I am happy to report that Frank D. Gilroy is very much alive, happy, healthy, vibrant, mentally sharp and youthful for his 81 years. I never met him before today and I would describe him as a cheerful, captivating, eloquent, caring, friendly and sincere author with intriguing stories to share. I had many questions to ask him and I only wish that he could have continued speaking on into the evening as this may have been one of his few key note speaking engagements and the rare opportunity to learn about the genius inside this great writer's mind.

What has Frank Gilroy been up to lately?
Frank Gilroy is still an active playwright and a journal of more than forty years of his life will be published later this year. [Note of an interest to film students: on Amazon.com I found a book that Frank wrote on film making: "I Wake Up Screening: Everything You Need to Know About Independant Films Including a Thousand Reasons Not To"].

"When I won the Pulitzer Prize, I got a check for $500 and a wall plaque," said Frank modestly, as he told what it was like to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1965 for "The Subject Was Roses", his first Broadway play which in 1968 was also adapted into a film starring Patricia Neal and Jack Albertson. This same play also won the Critics Circle Award and a 'Best Play of 1965 Tony Award'.

What Inspires Frank D. Gilroy and his plays?
Frank Gilroy was in General Patton's Third Army during World War II (his one act play "Getting In" 1957 tells this story. [reference: Frank D. Gilroy Vol II: 15 One-Act Plays]).

Frank shared that he often writes drawing from some of his own experiences and would often get ideas for his plays from family dinner conversations.

If you might be wondering where this brilliant prize winning playwright author was educated then you won't be surprised to learn that Frank was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Dartmouth College and the Yale School of Drama. When I asked Frank Gilroy if he writes his plays with the idea that it could be made into a film - his reply was "no, I haven't ever done that". When asked which writers perhaps inspired him, Frank mentioned that he admired great playwrights such as Eugene O'Neill and Thomas Lanier Williams III (aka Tennessee Williams). Frank had a career as a writer for television in the 1950s, writing for Kraft Theater, Playhouse 90 and Studio One.

What Frank D. Gilroy works are Hollywood on the Hudson history?
Frank told me that 2 of his plays were filmed in New York: "The Gig" (1985) and "The Luckiest Man In The World" (1989). I am told that he had his directing debut with the Manhatten filmed movie "Desperate Characters" (1971). I wish you continued success Frank and I'll be watching for your new book when it's published.
[posted by Marla LaRue, Hollywood on the Hudson, editor]