Features

The Power of Film Podcast Episode 3
The Power Of Film Podcast #3: Samantha Shada, Director

In this third episode of The Power of Film, I spoke with the lovely Samantha Shada. She is a director, hosts the screening series Seeking Our Story, and she works at one of the big studios – a busy lady who has a lot of unique insights into the world of film! We spoke about a lot, from film in general and symbolism in film, the status quo of the studio system (and, very interesting, the current state of film marketing) to film preservation.

Film Inquiry Recommends: The Cinema Of Paul Schrader

Over at our official Facebook page, we are currently posting daily film recommendations, with each week being a different theme. This is a collection of those recommendations! This week’s theme is the cinema of Paul Schrader, highlighting both his writing and directing talents.

The Jungle Book
The Feral Child: What A Real Life Mowgli Would Look Like

Filmgoers have always been captivated with man’s primal nature. From the silver screen adaptations of The Wolf Man to the mysterious Creature from the Black Lagoon, the primitive side of these movie monsters has contributed to horror genre’s A-team roster. Upon viewing their animalistic nature, our minds are suddenly given a glimpse into the missing link between man and beast.

10 Gangster Films From Abroad: Part III

They say if two’s company, then three’s a crowd, but I like crowds, especially when they’re crowds of gangster movies from countries around the world. So this is our third outing (first here, second here), and if my editor doesn’t kill me, there might be a fourth. Yes, there’s crime in every country, and where there’s crime there are criminals, and when they get organized they become gangsters, and if said country has a film business chances are they will make gangster movies.

A Conversation With The Scream Queen Of The Midwest, PJ Woodside, About Her Latest Film, FRANCES STEIN
A Conversation With The Scream Queen Of The Midwest, PJ Woodside, About Her Latest Film, FRANCES STEIN

PJ Woodside and her partner, Steve Hudgins at Big Biting Pig Productions in Madisonville, KY are creating quite a stir in the independent horror scene. They’ve put out a film a year for the last decade. Their most recent film, Frances Stein, was recently released on Amazon Prime and has been getting a steady stream of five star reviews.

A Girl Escaped: Jailed Women In 21st Century Cinema
Positive Psychology And Film

You can improve your life by paying attention to how films use characters and themes to explore human values, virtues, and character strengths.

Making A Sex Scene With James Franco
Making A Sex Scene With James Franco

We all know James Franco as one of Hollywood’s top A-list actors and working artists who has his hand in various aspects of the arts, but a handful of film students and emerging talent in Hollywood know him as an instructor, mentor or college professor. In March 2014, he decided teaching at USC, UCLA and CalArts wasn’t enough, so he opened his own school, Studio 4. In October 2014, James taught his first class at his new school:

Film Inquiry's Best Articles Of April 2016
Film Inquiry’s Best Articles Of April 2016

Aaaaaaaand it’s May. Time to highlight some of the best articles we published last month! Last month we published over 60 articles, and among them many film reviews (like ones for Mr.

Film Inquiry Recommends: Female-Directed Horror Films

Over at our official Facebook page, we are currently posting daily film recommendations, with each week being a different theme. This is a collection of those recommendations! This week’s theme is female-directed horror films.

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY: Clubbing The Lower Animal
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY: Clubbing The Lower Animal

Stanley Kubrick’s classic sci-fi epic, 2001: A Space Odyssey, is a fictional transcendence of classic Greek mythos through the ubiquity of the motion picture camera. As the film’s title suggests, this is Greek philosopher Homer’s The Odyssey told on the grandest of scales and sparing no expense that 20th Century cinema had to offer.

Words vs. Moving Pictures, Vol. 2: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Words vs. Moving Pictures, Vol. 2: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

It’s been quite some time since my last volume of Words vs. Moving Pictures, in which I discussed Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird and compared it to the 1962 film. Since then, it has taken me a long time to try to find another book and subsequent movie adaptation that would be worthy of discussion.

Originality: Reboots, Sequels and How They Affect Modern Cinema
Originality: Reboots, Sequels & How They Affect Modern Film

The ideology of originality in modern day cinema is a debate that is frequently discussed and examined, comparing it to what was considered the ‘Golden Age of Cinema’ in the 1900’s. Particularly regarded are the similar story lines and plots that are overused and are becoming somewhat identical, which can comprise of reboots of existing features, superheroes, etc. Along with the sheer amount of sequels that reoccur frequently even when audiences may not particularly want them, leading to them being ignored or neglected.

JOE VS THE VOLCANO: Achieving A Heightened State Of Being
JOE VS THE VOLCANO: Achieving A Heightened State Of Being

Joe Versus the Volcano came out in 1990. It stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It’s full of camp, love, adventure, musical montages, and over-the-top acting.

Can Film Influence Reality?

It may be fair to first point out that the question of this article has always been a conflicting issue that continuously floats around in the film industry. People often perceive the growing medium of cinema as a device for entertainment or as a brief, escapist distraction from society’s painful realities. This experience has impacted on how people think and behave within society, and Hollywood continue to question the extent to which films influence reality.

The Man Who Knew Infinity Giveaway
Giveaway: THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY + 6 DVDs (AU Only)

I’m very happy to announce that we get to give away a super awesome prize pack! Valued at AU$140, you can win an in-season double pass to The Man Who Knew Infinity starring Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons (opening in cinemas Australia-wide on May 5), as well as six DVDs:  I’m Not There, Love & Mercy, Nowhere Boy, Slumdog Millionaire, The Motorcycle Diaries and The World’s Fastest Indian.