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Can Digital Filmmaking Get The Gold?
The Academy has for long snubbed low-budget films because it felt that they did not have the lavish production design of let's say a Titanic or an English Patient. Of course there have been instances of surprise nominations and wins (i.e. Billy...
Choosing a Satellite TV Provider
The satellite tv industry has made huge gains on the cable tv industry in the past several years. With the price of cable tv skyrocketing every year, many cable subscribers are making the switch over to satellite tv. Okay so you've decided to...
High Definition – When?
High definition will inevitably become a widespread if not universal television broadcast format. However, it’s not yet clear when that will happen. So it’s also not yet clear when high definition camcorders will be routinely required for...
How to manage self consciousness
Self consciousness is an essential part of being human, but it can make social situations really tricky sometimes. Here's what you can do about it if it happens to you.
First, let's look at what mean by self consciousness. Here's an...
The Fantastic Power Of Film
There was those days of Sunday prayer when you could feel the love and belonging inside the church as the choir song uplifted everyone from their chairs and had them singing and cheering along. While those days may still exist in churches, our...
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Tofu Prayer
I decided something last year, and seeing In Good Company this past week only solidified it. I like Topher Grace. A lot. He’s like a young Tom Hanks, only with a softer, gooier center. To see it, you’ve got to get past the sarcastic weaponry he waves in front of him for protection; an armor of irony and affectation to wrap around a humble, everyman center.
Recent rumor has him fully abandoning “That 70’s Show” in favor of trying a full on movie career. I’m all for it. Ashton Kutcher, who decided to stay with the show despite growing film success, is naturally pissed. But then Ashton never had any actual talent to begin with. With Topher, we’ve only scratched the surface.
In Good Company is a huge step in the right direction for him, as a corporate asshole who’s not really much of an asshole. He’s thrown into a position of wealth and authority far too young, and can’t think of anything more creative to do with his newfound success than buy a Porsche. He buries his emotional damage beneath a forced, congenial exterior as he’s barraged with personal and professional failures. It’s impossible not to like and sympathize with Topher, even when he’s playing the right arm of a faceless, life destroying, corporate monster.
He’s followed up his throwaway
appearance in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton by showing up in a smart, low-key, Hollywood film manned by a proven, respected director/screenwriter. For your next trick Topher, stay away from lame animated voice-overs (don’t answer your phone if you receive a call from Madonna), avoid buddy-cop comedies, and run like hell if you should bump into McG. Take a lesson from your In Good Company costar Scarlett Johansson and simply pick good projects. Don’t go for the money, at least not at first. If you need a paycheck movie, do that later, after you’ve proven your mettle. Scarlett waited until last year to show up in The Perfect Score. By then she’d already been in contention for an Oscar.
Besides, you’re coming from a successful, long running sitcom that after you leave will still be on the air in heavy syndication. You don’t really need more money, unless you plan to form some sort of massive, rapper-like posse. For you though, I don’t think an entourage is the right idea. Here’s a good way to handle your career: Don’t take advice from Ashton Kutcher and don’t hire Dax Shepard.
About the Author
Joshua Tyler is the Creator of CinemaBlend.com and a nationally published Film Critic. His reviews are available for paid syndication at http://www.cinemablend.com
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