Aunque no goza de un reconocimiento generalizado en los tiempos modernos, Gran calor Sigue siendo una de las mayores historias de venganza de la pantalla grande de todos los tiempos. Publicado en 1952, Gran calor Es una famosa película negra protagonizada por tres nombres importantes de Hollywood: Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame y Lee Marvin. Glenn Ford, el actor que ayudó a encabezar algunas de las mejores películas de cine negro de todos los tiempos, interpreta el papel principal del detective Dave Bannion, el tema de la película. gran calor Una novela de venganza.
La venganza es uno de los temas más comunes en las películas de Hollywood, y los westerns y los thrillers policiales lo han utilizado regularmente durante décadas. A lo largo de los años, las sangrientas cruzadas para corregir el mal han proporcionado todo tipo de aventuras emocionantes, que van desde… Vagabundo de las Altas Llanuras a Juan Wick. Las películas más antiguas, incluso aquellas con numerosas restricciones de contenido, también consiguieron que la búsqueda de venganza fuera el foco principal de la historia. De hecho, la venganza es un elemento común en el cine negro, un género asociado principalmente con las décadas de 1940 y 1950. Una película de la década de 1950 lo utilizó tan bien que rara vez ha sido igualado.
La configuración de Big Heat para la historia de venganza de Bannion es sorprendentemente oscura
Cuando se trata de cine negro, existe una expectativa natural de pesimismo. Pero a pesar de eso, Gran calor Todavía se las arregla para sorprender con lo lejos que está dispuesto a llegar. La película comienza con un suicidio y la consiguiente investigación, pero esto difícilmente define la naturaleza del género de la película. Gran calor será. En cambio, presenta lo que parece ser un thriller de misterio y asesinato en el que el héroe, el detective Dave Bannion interpretado por Glenn Ford, molesta al inframundo criminal y a sus colegas policías cuando comienza a hacer demasiadas preguntas sobre por qué un oficial de policía se suicidaría. A medida que sigue los movimientos, la historia de Bannion parece normal dado el género, pero eso es lo que hace que la configuración real de la trama sea tan fascinante.
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Si te gustan Humphrey Bogart y Lauren Bacall, mira este dúo de cine negro con 4 grandes películas juntas
Al estilo de Humphrey Bogart y Lauren Bacall, estas dos estrellas de Hollywood produjeron en los años 1940 una serie de cuatro películas negras imperdibles.
La película ocasionalmente intercala la investigación de Bannon con algunos momentos familiares tranquilos cuando regresa a casa del trabajo e interactúa con su esposa e hija. En una de estas escenas, aparece leyéndole un cuento antes de dormir a su hija mientras su esposa se va a hacer un recado. La cámara permanece enfocada en Bannon y su hija cuando de repente ocurre una explosión. Al subir al coche de Bannion, su esposa detonó sin darse cuenta una bomba que claramente estaba destinada a él. En seguida, Gran calor Se convierte en una película completamente diferente, ya que ahora está claro que el deseo de encontrar al asesino de su esposa siempre fue el verdadero punto detrás de su historia.
Dave Bannon es el héroe de la gran película de venganza
Antes de la explosión, podría haber sido difícil distinguir a Dave Bannion de todos los demás detectives del cine negro dispuestos a cabrear a las autoridades si eso significaba llegar a la verdad. Sin embargo, no pasa mucho tiempo Gran calor Convertir a Bannion en un verdadero gran héroe del cine negro. Ford retrata hábilmente a Bannion como alguien singularmente concentrado en derribar a Lagana, el jefe criminal al que culpa por la muerte de su esposa. El odio de Banyon hacia lagana (y todo lo asociado con ella) ayuda a Ford a realizar algunas declaraciones brillantes e incendiarias, que incluyen “No tocaría a la chica de Vince Stone ni con un palo de tres metros.“
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Las 10 mejores películas negras de Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum dejó una huella asombrosa en el cine negro, ya que era una de las pocas estrellas que podía interpretar a un héroe guapo o a un villano despreciable con la misma fuerza.
Bannion es retratado como un personaje que desprecia tanto a los criminales que no tolerará que nadie lo asocie con este mundo. A lo largo de la historia, Gran calor Gradualmente pinta un cuadro de las opiniones de Bannion sobre la moralidad, presentándolo como alguien que cree que las personas que cometen crímenes son menos que humanas y, por lo tanto, libres de atacarlos en su cruzada de venganza. Esto se muestra cuando amenaza físicamente a la Sra. Duncan, la viuda de la víctima del asesinato original y la persona a la que se le paga para que guarde silencio sobre el crimen.
The Big Heat muestra cómo hacer bien las películas de venganza
Glenn Ford ofrece una actuación convincente que ayuda a hacer de Big Heat una joya del cine negro
Gran calor Es un ejemplo perfecto de cómo hacer una película de venganza adecuada. Al ser una película de los años 50, estaba limitada en la cantidad de violencia que podía mostrar en la pantalla, pero eso no hace daño. Gran calor Porque no es una película de acción basada en brutales escenas de lucha y tiroteos. En cambio, la película se preocupa más por el elemento personal y psicológico de la historia.
En el centro de cualquier historia de venganza está el odio, que es, en última instancia, la emoción que la impulsa. Gran calor
En el centro de cualquier historia de venganza está el odio, que es, en última instancia, la emoción que la impulsa. Gran calor. La hostilidad hacia los villanos de la película alimenta las acciones tanto de David Bannion como del personaje femenino principal interpretado por Gloria Grahame. Gran calor Explora las complejidades emocionales de lo que están pasando los dos personajes, los límites que están dispuestos a cruzar y las consecuencias de seguir este camino.
Tus cambios han sido guardados.
The Big Heat es un clásico del cine negro dirigido por Fritz Lang y protagonizado por Glenn Ford como un detective dedicado que busca justicia contra una ciudad corrupta. La película profundiza en temas de venganza y ambigüedad moral, y cuenta con sólidas actuaciones secundarias de Gloria Grahame y Lee Marvin. Por su cinematografía cruda e intensa narrativa, The Big Heat sigue siendo una entrada importante en el género.
fecha de lanzamiento
14 de octubre de 1953
tiempo de funcionamiento
89 minutos
el calumnia
Glenn Ford Gloria Graham Lee Marvin Janet Nolan Alejandro Scorby
Samsung is showcasing its display technology prowess through a new collaboration with Amazon that revolves around its latest addition to its entertainment business portfolio: Culver Post. The latter is a state-of-the-art theatrical post-production studio located in Los Angeles.
Samsung says it has partnered with 424 Post and Harbor to provide advanced display technologies for Amazon’s post-production studio. As a result, Culver Post takes advantage of a 34-foot 8K Samsung The Wall LED (IWA-series) display and DCI-certified 4K Samsung Onyx LED displays.
The right equipment for the job
Culver Post is a full-service post-production studio that should bring unparalleled HDR and SDR mastering capabilities. It offers five stages of theatrical color grading and sound mixing. The first and second stages are outfitted with the Samsung 8K IWA-series The Wall and Onyx LEDs, respectively.
Although both solutions are based on LED technology, The Wall (IWA series) is ideal for both HDR and SDR color grading, whereas Onyx is a cinema LED display ideal for HDR color grading and mastering.
Onyx is the world’s first DCI-certified cinema LED display, and over the past few years, it was adopted by dozens of theaters in more than 120 countries. In January, it finally arrived in Germany for the first time and debuted at the Lamm-Lichtspiele cinema arthouse cinema in Erlangen.
As for Amazon’s Culver Post in Los Angeles, Samsung’s LED solutions ensure that filmmakers and creators can have the best editing and viewing experience. Each Culver Post stage also features Meyer Sound Ultra Reflex sound systems with Dolby Atmos. In addition, each stage has enough room for roughly 50 guests, including cinematographers, colorists, and editors.
These technologies combined allow entire production teams to experience a cinematic working environment and bring the spirit of collaboration to mastering and post-production.
Image Credit: Samsung
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We really like physical photos around these parts. Our guide to the Best Instant Cameras has a collection of modern gadgets that print out pictures that you can stick on your fridge or pin on your walls. But what about the ones that started it all? Polaroid cameras have been fumbling around attics, garages, and storage closets for decades. And if you found one or just bought a cheap used one, there’s good news: You just need some film.
The better news is that, despite huge difficulty in the past, it’s now easier than ever to get film for your old Polaroid cameras. However, despite it being easy to find cheap film on Amazon, there’s a bit more nuance to choosing film than randomly picking whatever shows up first. If you’re not sure what kind of film your camera uses, read on.
A Brief History Lesson
Finding film for older Polaroid cameras can be simple and tricky at the same time. Today, if you come across a vintage camera manufactured by Polaroid—which went bankrupt and shut down in 2001—you can still buy film for that camera from a newer, mostly unrelated company: Polaroid.
Confused yet? Stick with me and it’ll make sense.
When the Polaroid Corporation went out of business, its assets, including the production line for its film and cameras, were sold off or licensed to various investors over the next several years. Film was still produced using the Polaroid brand, until the companies that owned Polaroid’s assets decided to abandon the instant camera business entirely in 2008. Not coincidentally this happened less than a year after the original iPhone came out.
That same year, a company called the Impossible Project was founded to take up the mantle Polaroid was leaving behind. The company bought some of Polaroid’s old equipment and developed new instant film modules that could be used in existing Polaroid cameras. Throughout the following decade, Impossible often worked with whatever company currently owned Polaroid’s assets to manufacture cameras, film modules, and other accessories.
That is, until 2017, when the Impossible Project’s largest shareholder bought the entirety of Polaroid’s assets and intellectual property. Like reforging a sword that had been broken, Polaroid had become whole once again, and in 2020, Impossible rebranded itself as Polaroid.
Which brings us to the situation we have today: Polaroid once again makes Polaroid cameras and film for Polaroid cameras. If you search Amazon for “polaroid film,” you’ll find film made by Polaroid for Polaroid cameras. Convenient, right? However, there are still a few details about the various types of film you need to know.
What Type of Film Do I Need?
Polaroid cameras use a few different types of film, and they’re not generally interchangeable. The first step is to look up what model of camera you have. For example, I have a Polaroid Spirit 600 which takes (surprise) 600 film. Below we’ll go over each type of film, and the special considerations you should keep in mind for each.
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
If you have a picture in your mind of what “a Polaroid” looks like, this is probably what you’re thinking of. Early Polaroid cameras had low sensitivity to light, and thus were only really good for outdoor photography—unless you had a really bright flash. Polaroid 600 film was created to be more sensitive than previous film types, so you could take photos indoors or in low light and still get a usable photo.
These modules also had a small battery in them to power the camera, which didn’t have power on its own. This means, among other things, that any film manufactured by the original Polaroid Corporation prior to 2008 is probably dead by now. If you hunt for vintage film on sites like eBay, there’s a good chance that the film cartridge won’t work in your older camera. Fortunately, the new Polaroid makes 600 film manufactured this decade that will work just fine.
The Polaroid 600 cameras were popular in the ’90s, but if you have a Polaroid camera from the ’70s or ’80s, it’s more likely to use Polaroid SX-70 film. These have a square shape similar to the 600 film, but they’re much less sensitive to light. Most cameras that use this type of film will struggle to take a good picture indoors unless you have a flash—which many models didn’t come with.
When Impossible Project started making its own cameras in 2016, it made a small change to the film cartridges traditional Polaroid cameras use. Rather than putting a tiny battery in each and every film cartridge, the cameras would provide power themselves. This not only made it possible for film cartridges to last longer, it was better for the environment overall. This new format is the I-Type film.
A comparable pack of I-Type film is sometimes slightly cheaper than more traditional 600 film. However, you’ll need one of Polaroid’s new I-Type cameras to use it. These newer cameras can accept both 600 film and I-Type film, but you’ll usually be better off with the I-Type film, since it doesn’t require a built-in battery like the 600 film does.
MGM Plus – the streaming service known as EPIX before Amazon completed its takeover of MGM in 2022 – provides viewers with a wealth of entertainment for a very reasonable fee.
Given that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the streaming platform’s namesake, has been around for a 100 years now, film buffs and telly addicts get to enjoy an impressive library of hit movies and TV series both old and new.
There are more than 2000 films to stream, ranging from Oscar-winners such as American Fiction to iconic comedies, Hollywood epics, documentaries, and franchise favorites, alongside recent blockbuster releases (Top Gun: Maverick).
The platform is also home to dozens of binge-worthy shows such as the Emmy-winning Godfather of Harlem.
Unlike a lot of VOD services, MGM Plus doesn’t bother viewers with ads, so members can enjoy on-demand entertainment and four, 24/7 live streaming channels without interruption – making it an very attractive proposition for film and TV fans.
What is MGM Plus?
MGM Plus is a premium linear cable and satellite television network and streaming service. Formerly known as EPIX, it was rebranded as MGM Plus in January 2023. It offers a wide range of movies, classic and contemporary TV series, music specials, documentaries, and four live channels (like MGM Marquee) with 24/7 programming.
How much is MGM Plus?
It costs $6.99 for a monthly subscription to MGM Plus. Alternatively, it’s $58.99 currently for the service’s annual plan, which is billed every 12 months.
Is there an MGM Plus free trial?
Yes! If you’re a first-time subscriber to MGM Plus, then you’re eligible for its 7-day free trial. When the trial period ends, you’ll be billed every month until you decide to cancel.
What’s the cheapest way to get MGM Plus?
You can knock $2 off your monthly bill when you opt for the annual plan through MGM Plus. So, if you like what MGM Plus is selling, you can currently save 30% by paying the annual $58.99 fee once every 12 months (which works out at a reduced rate of $4.92 a month) rather than the monthly $6.99 price tag.
Sling TV is also comparable it terms of cost effectiveness, when adding MGM Plus to that service as a Premium add-on. We’ll explain this in more detail below.
Is MGM Plus only available in the US?
MGM Plus is restricted to US markets-only right now. However, plans have been announced to expand the service into territories in Europe, such as Austria, Germany, Italy, and The Netherlands.
How to watch MGM Plus
There are multiple ways to sign-up for MGM Plus: through your cable or satellite provider; directly to MGM Plus via your web browser; as a Premium add-on through an MVPD platform like Fubo or Sling TV; and via apps on Android tablets, phones and Android TV devices, Apple iOS and Apple TV devices, and Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
Sling TV offers one of the cheapest ways to watch MGM Plus. You’ll need to pick a base Sling Orange or Sling Blue plan (from $20 for the first month, from $40 thereafter) and then add MGM Plus (under Premium channels) for an extra $5 a month. There’s no free trial available, but the Sling TV price is undoubtedly one of the best value out there.
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There are free trials available on offerings from Fubo, YouTube TV, Philo, and DirecTV Stream. These tend to range from 5 to 7 days long. Philo offers both great value and a free trial for both the base plan and the MGM Plus add-on. Once each of those 7-day free trials expire, the monthly cost will set you back $25, plus $7 for MGM Plus.
Along with Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream on the more expensive end of the spectrum. You’ll pay $79.99 a month for the entry-level Entertainment package (after your 5-day free trial). MGM Plus and other premium add-ons are complimentary for the first three months after registration, however, and cost $5.99 a month extra thereafter.
Alternatively, you can keep things simple. Subscribe via your Roku, Amazon Fire TV device, or through the app. You can add the service to your Amazon Prime Video, Google or Apple TV accounts too, or sign-up directly through the MGM Plus website. Each route gifts new MGM Plus members a 7-day free trial. Once that trial period ends, subscribers are charged the basic $6.99 per month rate unless they decide to cancel.
Watch MGM Plus from anywhere in the world
Geo-blocking makes it tricky to watch MGM Plus when you’re away from home but you can get round that problem with a VPN. A VPN can make it appear as if you’re in any country you choose.
That means you can watch your streaming service MGM Plus from anywhere, and there’s a great deal currently available with one of the best VPNs around.
What are the best MGM Plus shows?
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon is the latest acclaimed series to join the MGM Plus archive. The platform also hosts TV classics alongside exciting original programming, so viewers can enjoy throwbacks Cagney and Lacey and The Outer Limits, alongside MGM Originals like the Emmy-winning Godfather of Harlem, sci-fi thriller Beacon 23, Billy the Kid, and From, the gory, gripping horror series starring Harold Perrineau.
And, if that’s not enough, MGM Plus boasts a number of rock docs, unscripted stand-up shows, and dozens of unmissable movies past and present to suit every mood (The Silence of the Lambs, Mean Girls, Top Gun: Maverick, and Oscar-winner American Fiction, to name a few).
Analog photography’s not dead – not if Pentax has anything to do with it. Announced at the end of 2022, the Pentax Film Project has one goal: to develop and launch a new 35mm film camera for the TikTok generation.
Bold as that idea might sound, there’s evidence that Pentax is onto something. With the viral hype around the sold-out-everywhere Fujifilm X100V, interest in retro-style cameras has never been higher.
Two years after the project’s launch, we’re now on the cusp of that camera breaking cover. According to Pentax – or its parent company, Ricoh Imaging – its new film camera is due to be revealed in summer this year.
Thanks to a series of video stories charting the model’s development, we know that it’s aimed at entry-level photographers who are new to the world of film. We also know that it will feature manual elements as a nod to classic analog cameras, including hand-winding film advancement.
To give you a full overview of what Pentax’s new film camera could have in store when it hits shelves, we’ve rounded up all of the information that’s currently available online. From potential release date to price and design, you’ll find all of the latest Pentax film camera news below.
We’ve also given our verdict on which features are most likely to make it into production.
Pentax film camera: Release date and price
Neither the name nor the price of the new Pentax film camera have been officially revealed, but we can draw a few clues from what Pentax has said about the camera’s target market and development process.
We know from Pentax that the new film camera is designed for “younger photographers to fully enjoy taking photos as they enter the world of film photography.” We also know that the camera will shoot half-frame vertical photos (see below), in part as a way to address the high cost of film in 2024 by maximising value from each frame.
Both of these factors suggest that the new Pentax film camera will be priced in a way that’s accessible to younger photographers. But defining entry-level is easier said than done in a camera genre that’s been relatively dormant for more than a decade – particularly when Pentax has spent a full year developing and prototyping the new model.
As noted in an interview with Digital Camera World, Pentax faced several hurdles building a film camera from scratch. Ricoh’s own press release from March 2024 notes that the Film Project team had to “overcome a broad range of difficult and complicated issues,” including the need to procure parts.
Whether this will have an impact on the retail price for the camera remains to be seen. We’ve love to see a $250 / £200 / AU$375 price tag that puts the new model within genuine reach of many new photographers. In reality, we think it will cost significantly more. Arguably its closest rival is the Polaroid I-2 – one of the best instant cameras – which, like the Pentax, features manual controls. It retails at $599.99 / £599 / €699.99, which might be a more realistic ballpark for the Pentax.
Pentax film camera: Design and interface
The Pentax K1000 film camera in shadow (Image credit: Zigmar Stein / Shutterstock)
Pentax has confirmed that the new model will be a “35mm-format compact film camera”. As reported by Digital Camera World, Takeo Suzuki (Product Planner and Designer) has also stated that they want, “people to carry it around like a smartphone.” Both statements suggest that the model will be tidily packaged, with compact proportions that make it easy to travel with.
Beyond this, we know precious little about the styling of the Pentax film camera, although we can surmise from certain references – and the wider context – that it will adopt the kind of vintage look that has made models like the Fujifilm X100V such a huge hit with Gen Z.
According to Pentax, the lens design has been inspired by the Ricoh Auto Half, which launched in 1962, and the Pentax Espio Mini, launched in 1994. Both bear the ‘retro’ hallmarks of their respective eras and, while the styling itself won’t necessarily take cues from those cameras, the signs are promising for photographers in the market for nostalgia.
As for the interface, we know from Pentax that the film camera will offer a hybrid of automatic and manual functions, combining ease of use for novices with the tactile satisfaction of analog inputs. Pentax has confirmed that the camera will have automatic aperture and shutter speed control, allowing users to operate the camera as a point-and-shoot.
But it has also referenced the ability to “manually change some settings”, potentially via “dial control”. Pentax hasn’t elaborated further on what shooting modes might be included on such a dial, but it suggests that the film camera will offer room for manual creativity beyond the default automatic setting.
The element that’s arguably made the most headlines is the camera’s “hand-wound film advance mechanism”. This manual lever harks back to the origins of SLR film photography. Together with the crank that will be used to rewind film when you’ve finished shooting on a roll, it fulfils Pentax’s promise of a genuine analog shooting experience. Pentax itself has admitted that a motorized unit would have made assembly easier, but it wanted users to “enjoy the action and sound of winding/rewinding operations.”
Pentax has also acknowledged that concerns about reliability and repair costs give people pause for thought before purchasing vintage analog cameras, particularly when the cost of a ruined film roll is higher than ever. This suggests that Pentax has considered the robustness of its new camera, something backed up by the inclusion of a full manufacturer warranty.
Pentax film camera: Format and focal length
One of the key features of the Pentax film camera is that it will shoot half-frame images, meaning it will capture two shots per standard frame of 35mm film. This isn’t a new concept: it’s been used on classic cameras like the Ricoh Auto Half mentioned above, as well as more recent experimental models like the Lomography Diana Mini.
Traditionally, the half-frame format has been posited as a way of telling stories by contrasting different scenes and subjects across a composite image. While Pentax references this as one reason for using the format, its other motivations for reviving half-frame photography are very much rooted in 2024.
One is cost: shooting two photos per frame doubles the number of photos you get from a roll of film. That means you’ll get 48 stills from a 24-exposure roll, or a generous 72 on 36-exposure film – assuming none are lost in processing. Given the current price of film, the half-frame approach reduces the cost-per-shot for new photographers, making the experience more accessible.
(Image credit: Ricoh)
Pentax’s other justification is just as prescien. While its new camera might be analog, Pentax knows that its audience is primarily digital, which means most users will, in one way or another, want to share the resulting photos online. And online, a vertical aspect ratio is king. By shooting half-frame, all images will come out portrait. So however photographers choose to digitise their film prints, they’ll be proportioned correctly for social media.
As mentioned above, the optical design of the camera’s lens is inspired by both the Ricoh Auto Half and the Pentax Espio Mini. The former featured a fixed-focus 25mm f/2.8 lens, while the latter deployed a 32mm f/3.5 prime.
(Image credit: Ricoh)
It’s easy to see why Pentax would choose a focal length and aperture combination somewhere between the two.
A 28mm lens would give a natural perspective that’s versatile for framing in the kind of point-and-shoot scenarios where most people are likely to use it, while an aperture of around f/2.8 will nail the shallow depth of field effect that has captured the hearts and minds of Gen Z.
Pentax film camera: Features and performance
As for the mechanics of shooting with the Pentax Film Project camera, Pentax has already revealed a fair amount about how the camera will operate. At its core is an electronic shutter, with automatic aperture and shutter speed to make shooting simple for first-time users.
According to Pentax, the electronic shutter has been customized for use in a film camera, with a view to eliminating the exposure issues that might be faced by someone new to manual photography, therefore limiting the number of wasted frames.
As above, Pentax has confirmed there will be some degree of manual control, although it’s not clear yet how much freedom users will get. Given Pentax’s comments about under/overexposure, we think manual modes may be limited to shutter speed and aperture priority. This would allow users a degree of creative flexibility, while automating the remaining settings to ensure that results remain broadly usable in most conditions.
The focus setup also highlights this hybrid of electronic and manual. Users of the Pentax film camera won’t get the benefit of modern autofocus; instead, they’ll have to master the ‘zone focusing’ technique. Manually adjusted using a ring around the lens, this traditional system sets the focus based on the distance of the subject from the camera.
This pre-set approach works particularly well at focal lengths of 35mm and below, in the kind of street and party settings where the Pentax film camera will presumably be popular.
Pentax has also confirmed that it would like to give new users a helping hand, by way of “a mechanism that tells you the selected focus zone at a glance when you look into the viewfinder.”
This feedback element should flatten the learning curve for beginners, while still leaving room for the happy accidents that result from zone focusing. These happen when subjects become softly defocused at the boundary between one zone and the next, an effect replicated by countless digital filters across Instagram and TikTok.
Pentax film camera rumors round-up
Pentax has been relatively transparent about what we can expect from its upcoming film camera. A compact 35mm model designed with young photographers in mind, it encompasses both analog and electronic features. Taking inspiration from the Ricoh Auto Half, it will shoot half-frame images on standard film rolls, doubling the number of potential exposures while delivering vertical stills that are better suited for sharing online.
Aperture and shutter speed will be controlled automatically, while the film-advance will use a manual lever and rewinding crank. Instead of autofocus, the camera will rely on traditional zone-focusing, with some kind of indicator in the viewfinder to provide extra clarity.
The specifics of some of these features are less certain, such as the degree of manual control, the focal length of the lens and the actual look of the camera. While the model will be targeted at beginners, we don’t have any firm word on pricing – nor do we know when exactly in summer 2024 we’ll get to meet it.
(Image credit: Kodak)
What’s clear is that, when it does finally break cover, the Pentax film camera will aim to inspire a new generation of analog photographers. While some enthusiasts will be disappointed by the lack of interchangeable lenses, the new model is intended to capture the current enthusiasm for vintage photography. If successful, it could prove a gateway to a wider revival of the genre and, potentially, lead to the introduction of other film camera projects by Pentax.
This isn’t the first film camera to hit the market in recent years. But where models like the similarly half-frame Kodak Ektar H35 favored total simplicity with fixed focus, aperture and shutter speed, the Pentax Film Project offers something altogether different.
On the one hand, you have an accessible, hybrid reimagining of an analog camera, designed to ride the retro trend that enjoys viral popularity among Gen Z. On the other, you have a modern half-frame film camera with quality optics, an electronic shutter and zone-focusing, as well as a degree of manual control – all of which should see it appeal to enthusiasts, too.
Midjourney, the Generative AI platform that you can currently use on Discord just introduced the concept of reusable characters and I am blown away.
It’s a simple idea: Instead of using prompts to create countless generative image variations, you create and reuse a central character to illustrate all your themes, live out your wildest fantasies, and maybe tell a story.
Up until recently, Midjourney, which is trained on a diffusion model (add noise to an original image and have the model de-noise it so it can learn about the image) could create some beautiful and astonishingly realistic images based on prompts you put in the Discord channel (“/imagine: [prompt]”) but unless you were asking it to alter one of its generated images, every image set and character would look different.
Now, Midjourney has cooked up a simple way to reuse your Midjourney AI characters. I tried it out and, for the most part, it works.
Image 1 of 3
I guess I don’t know how to describe myself.(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Things are getting weird(Image credit: Future)
In one prompt, I described someone who looked a little like me, chose my favorite of Midjourney’s four generated image options, upscaled it for more definition, and then, using a new “– cref” prompt and the URL for my generated image (with the character I liked), I forced Midjounrey to generate new images but with the same AI character in them.
Later, I described a character with Charles Schulz’s Peanuts character qualities and, once I had one I liked, reused him in a different prompt scenario where he had his kite stuck in a tree (Midjourney couldn’t or wouldn’t put the kite in the tree branches).
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An homage to Charles Schulz(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
It’s far from perfect. Midjourney still tends to over-adjust the art but I contend the characters in the new images are the same ones I created in my initial images. The more descriptive you make your initial character-creation prompts, the better result you’ll get in subsequent images.
Perhaps the most startling thing about Midjourney’s update is the utter simplicity of the creative process. Writing natural language prompts has always been easy but training the system to make your character do something might typically take some programming or even AI model expertise. Here it’s just a simple prompt, one code, and an image reference.
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Got a lot closer with my photo as a reference(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
While it’s easier to take one of Midjourney’s own creations and use that as your foundational character, I decided to see what Midjourney would do if I turned myself into a character using the same “cref” prompt. I found an online photo of myself and entered this prompt: “imagine: making a pizza – cref [link to a photo of me]”.
Midjourney quickly spit out an interpretation of me making a pizza. At best, it’s the essence of me. I selected the least objectionable one and then crafted a new prompt using the URL from my favorite me.
Oh, hey, Not Tim Cook (Image credit: Future)
Unfortunately, when I entered this prompt: “interviewing Tim Cook at Apple headquarters”, I got a grizzled-looking Apple CEO eating pizza and another image where he’s holding an iPad that looks like it has pizza for a screen.
When I removed “Tim Cook” from the prompt, Midjourney was able to drop my character into four images. In each, Midjourney Me looks slightly different. There was one, though, where it looked like my favorite me enjoying a pizza with a “CEO” who also looked like me.
Midjourney me enjoying pizza with my doppelgänger CEO (Image credit: Future)
Midjourney’s AI will improve and soon it will be easy to create countless images featuring your favorite character. It could be for comic strips, books, graphic novels, photo series, animations, and, eventually, generative videos.
Such a tool could speed storyboarding but also make character animators very nervous.
If it’s any consolation, I’m not sure Midjourney understands the difference between me and a pizza and pizza and an iPad – at least not yet.
Midnight is a film adaptation of a classic by the Father of Manga. Photo: Apple
Osamu Tezuka’s Midnight manga gets adapted to live action in the latest “Shot on iPhone” project. It’s an action film about a mysterious late-night taxi driver.
Apple also released a “making of” video to show how the movie was produced with an iPhone 15 Pro.
Osamu Tezuka’s Midnight adapted in ‘Shot on iPhone’ film
The capabilities of iPhone cameras have increased dramatically over the years, and have become a strong selling point for the devices. To demonstrate their potential, Apple periodically releases a “Shot on iPhone” film.
The latest entry is Midnight, an adaptation of a manga that Tezuka released in 1986.
Apple’s official description says:
“Director Takashi Miike brings to life Midnight, a manga by Osamu Tezuka. All shot on iPhone 15 Pro. A mysterious taxi driver lends a hand to Kaede, a young girl chased by assassins.”
Osamu Tezuka has been called the Father of Manga, and some people consider him the Japanese equivalent of Walt Disney as he also made animated series and films. He’s credited with taking manga mainstream, first with children’s stories and later with offerings for adults.
Behind the scenes
The point of any “Shot on iPhone” film is to show off the capabilities of Apple’s handsets, and that requires a “making of” film. Of course there’s one for Midnight.
It includes commentary by director Takashi Miike, who is no stranger to action films.
A new film trailer had been released by Lionsgate Movies for the upcoming new movie Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare which will premiere in a few months time during April 2024. Step into the shadows of the past, where the silent heroes of World War II executed missions that were as daring as they were secretive. On April 19, a new film titled “The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare” will bring to the screen the gripping story of Britain’s first special forces unit, a group whose bold actions played a pivotal role in defeating Nazi forces. Starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González, and Cary Elwes, this movie is set to captivate audiences with a blend of suspense, action, and a touch of humor.
The film draws upon top-secret files that have only recently been made public, shedding light on the covert operations that helped to turn the tide of the war. Under the direction of Winston Churchill and his aide, Ian Fleming, this special forces unit employed unconventional tactics that were critical to the Allies’ success. The narrative delves into the dangerous missions these men undertook and the remarkable bravery they displayed, a bravery that went largely unrecognized for many years.
The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare film
Audiences will not only be entertained by the thrilling action on screen but will also gain insight into the significant impact these commandos had on the outcome of the war. Their legacy is profound, influencing the creation of elite forces like the British SAS and the covert Black Ops teams that operate today.
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The film’s storytelling, enhanced by strong performances from the cast, brings to life the creativity and determination of these warfare pioneers. It highlights the innovative strategies they developed during the war and the birth of a new kind of military operation that would change the face of combat forever.
By portraying these trailblazing soldiers, the movie pays homage to their lasting effect on military tactics. It serves as a historical account that not only honors their courage but also illuminates the development of undercover warfare.
As the release date approaches, moviegoers can expect an engaging cinematic experience that honors the dawn of special forces and the bold missions that changed the course of history. “The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare” is more than just a film; it’s a tribute to the silent warriors of World War II whose stories are finally being told.
Filed Under: Entertainment News, Top News
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Get ready to be thrust back into the world of high-stakes barroom brawls as Amazon Prime Video gears up to bring a new version of the 1989 cult classic “Road House” to screens on March 21, 2024. This remake promises to capture the essence of the original while injecting it with a modern twist that will resonate with today’s audiences. With an impressive team behind the project, including director Doug Liman and screenwriters Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry, the film is poised to be a thrilling ride.
Doug Liman, known for his work on “The Bourne Identity” and “Edge of Tomorrow,” is at the helm of this project, ensuring that the film will have a blend of nostalgia and contemporary storytelling. The script, penned by Bagarozzi and Mondry, is designed to honor the original movie while making it relevant for current viewers. The story’s setting in the Florida Keys offers a stunning contrast between the natural beauty of the location and the intense action that the narrative promises.
Road House 2024 film
Taking on the role of Dalton, the ex-UFC fighter turned bouncer, is Jake Gyllenhaal, whose performance is anticipated to bring new depth to the character. The cast also includes Daniela Melchior, UFC star Conor McGregor, and Billy Magnussen, each expected to add their unique touch to the film. Their collective talent is set to create a dynamic and engaging viewing experience.
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Joel Silver, the producer of the original “Road House,” is back to lend his expertise to the remake. His return signals a dedication to preserving the film’s core elements while exploring new territory in the story. With Silver’s action genre experience, the remake is likely to be both a tribute to the original and a fresh take on the material.
As the release date approaches, fans in the United States can look forward to streaming the movie on Amazon MGM Studios. The upcoming “Road House” remake is shaping up to be a captivating update to a beloved film, inviting both longtime fans and newcomers to dive into its world once again. The anticipation for this high-octane adventure is mounting, and it’s clear that the team behind it is committed to delivering an experience that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
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The historical action epic Napoleon, an Apple Original Film directed by Ridley Scott, is set to be available for premium video-on-demand and digital purchase from January 9, 2024. This release marks a significant milestone in the film’s journey, following its successful global theatrical debut. The film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, will be available in over 100 countries in partnership with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, before streaming globally on Apple TV+.
“Napoleon” is a cinematic exploration of the life and career of the French emperor and military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte. The screenplay, penned by David Scarpa, provides an intimate look at Napoleon’s origins and his meteoric rise to power. The narrative is not solely focused on his military exploits and political maneuvers, but also delves into his personal life, particularly his relationship with his wife Josephine, portrayed by Vanessa Kirby.
Napoleon Apple Original Film
The film is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Apple Studios and Scott Free Productions. The production team, which includes Ridley Scott, Kevin J. Walsh, Mark Huffam, and Joaquin Phoenix, with Michael Pruss and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers, has brought forth a visually stunning and emotionally resonant portrayal of one of history’s most influential figures.
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Since its global theatrical debut, Napoleon has garnered critical acclaim, with many praising the film’s direction, performances, and screenplay. The film’s nuanced depiction of Napoleon’s life and career, coupled with the stellar performances of its cast, has resonated with audiences and critics alike. As a testament to its quality and impact, the film has been shortlisted for several prestigious awards, including the Oscars and the EE British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards.
The availability of Napoleon on premium video-on-demand and digital purchase from January 9, 2024, is an opportunity for audiences who missed its theatrical run to experience this cinematic tour de force. The partnership with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment ensures a wide release, making the film accessible to viewers in over 100 countries. Following this, the film will also be available for streaming globally on Apple TV+, further expanding its reach.
The release of Napoleon on premium video-on-demand and digital purchase is a significant event in the film’s journey. The collaboration between Apple Studios, Scott Free Productions, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has resulted in a film that not only provides a compelling depiction of Napoleon’s life and career but has also received critical acclaim and awards nominations. As of January 9, 2024, viewers around the world will have the opportunity to own or rent this remarkable film, experiencing the performances of Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, and the rest of the talented cast under the expert direction of Ridley Scott.
Filed Under: Entertainment News, Top News
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