Category: LA and environs

Local to Los angeles and Southern California, news, thoughts and other tidbits

Spring Arrived in Southern California Today

The Pacific Coastline Venice CA
The Pacific Coastline Venice CA

Did you notice that spring arrived today in Southern California? I might not have known had it not been for the news, because there is not much that is different outside from yesterday – No snow that disappeared, no little spring flowers that suddenly decided to bloom, those are the signs of spring in the Northern parts of the world – here in Southern California we have to rely on the news to know when it arrives. At 15:45 today (that’s 3:45 pm in regular US time speak) we experienced the Vernal Equinox, the sun rises exactly in the East and sets exactly in the West and day and night are nearly equal in time. So today – go outside and rejoice that the long winter is over and that spring is finally here….

Spring Sunset over the Pacific Coastline Venice CA
Spring Sunset over the Pacific Coastline Venice CA

Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, 12 years in the making, crew of 400 and 2 hrs and 44 minutes of good filmmaking!

From left the moderator of the Q&A, Director Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring President IFC Movies and Producer John Sloss
From left the moderator of the Q&A, and then Director Richard Linklater, Jonathan Sehring President of IFC Movies and Producer John Sloss

The LosAngeleno went to a PGA sponsored pre-opening screening of Richard Linklater’s movie ‘Boyhood’ today. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Director Richard Linklater, IFC Movies President Jonathan Sehring and Producer John Sloss. During the Q&A we learned among other things, the following:

  • Shot over a period of 12 years with 39 scheduled shooting days. Potentially the longest lasting movie shoot ever.
  • A crew of more than 400 over the 12 years.
  • Shooting budget of around $200,000.00 a year.
  • ‘Only’ 2 directors of photography on the project.
  • The script was fluid, when the anticipated rocker-dream was replaced by an interest in photography by the actor  playing the boy, the script was changed.
  • Richard Linklater chose to shoot the movie on 35mm film because he likes shooting on film, and it seemed like the most enduring media at the time shooting started.

The movie stars Patricia Arquette as the Mother,  Ellar Coltrane as the boy Mason, Ethan Hawke as the ‘weekend’ father and Lorelei Linklater as the sister. The acting is overall very good, but without taking anything away from the grown-ups, the kids are really the ones that shines here. Ellar Coltrane is just perfect for the part. He was handpicked when he was just 7 years old, Richard Linklater really nailed that choice! He may also have had a little luck in that there were no real ‘mishaps’ in the growing up of the child actors that affected the making of the movie. Richard Linklater’s daughter Lorelei who plays the sister was also a very good choice. Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke gave such a convincing performance of the parents who had children when they were too young, and all the struggles that comes with, you felt like you were really a part of their struggles on all kinds of different levels.

I think this is a movie that anyone that has ever grown up, is about to grow up or has kids that will grow up should go and see, it may give you something to think about. Or maybe you just want to be entertained for a few hours – that will work too.

I can highly recommend it, it is indeed a very moving 12 year epic!

Release Date: July 11, 2014
Rated R for language including sexual references, and for teen drug and alcohol use
Running Time: 164 minutes
Website: www.boyhoodmovie.com