During our time at San Diego Comic-Con, we got the chance to sit down with the directors of the Lego Brickumentary and a Lego brick artist. Come inside to check out the interviews!
When I was contacted by their PR rep I immediately jumped at the chance to interview Oscar-Winning, Daniel Junge and Oscar-Nominated Director, Kief Davidson. As an added bonus I also got to speak with Lego brick artist, Nathan Sawaya.
In the past Daniel Junge has worked on documentary such as Iron Ladies of Liberia, They Killed Sister Dorothy, Saving Face and Fight Church to name a few. Co-director, Keif Davidson is best known for his work on The Devil’s Miner, Kassim the Dream and Open Heart. Check out my interview with them below.
As aforementioned, I also spoke to former former lawyer turned award-winning brick artist, Nathan Sawaya. Not only does he work on his own...
When I was contacted by their PR rep I immediately jumped at the chance to interview Oscar-Winning, Daniel Junge and Oscar-Nominated Director, Kief Davidson. As an added bonus I also got to speak with Lego brick artist, Nathan Sawaya.
In the past Daniel Junge has worked on documentary such as Iron Ladies of Liberia, They Killed Sister Dorothy, Saving Face and Fight Church to name a few. Co-director, Keif Davidson is best known for his work on The Devil’s Miner, Kassim the Dream and Open Heart. Check out my interview with them below.
As aforementioned, I also spoke to former former lawyer turned award-winning brick artist, Nathan Sawaya. Not only does he work on his own...
- 7/15/2015
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Mike Petty)
- Cinelinx
The Academy has announced the new class of invited members for 2014 and, as is typical, many of which are among last year's nominees, which includes Barkhad Abdi, Michael Fassbender, Sally Hawkins, Mads Mikkelsen, Lupita Nyong'o and June Squibb in the Actors branch not to mention curious additions such as Josh Hutcherson, Rob Riggle and Jason Statham, but, okay. The Directors branch adds Jay and Mark Duplass along with Jean-Marc Vallee, Denis Villeneuve and Thomas Vinterberg. I didn't do an immediate tally of male to female additions or other demographics, but at first glance it seems to be a wide spread batch of new additions on all fronts. The Academy is also clearly attempting to aggressively bump up the demographics as this is the second year in a row where they have added a large number of new members, well over the average of 133 new members from 2004 to 2012. As far as...
- 6/26/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 271 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2014.
“This year’s class of invitees represents some of the most talented, creative and passionate filmmakers working in our industry today,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “Their contributions to film have entertained audiences around the world, and we are proud to welcome them to the Academy.”
The 2014 invitees are:
Actors
Barkhad Abdi – “Captain Phillips”
Clancy Brown – “The Hurricane,” “The Shawshank Redeption”
Paul Dano – “12 Years a Slave,” “Prisoners”
Michael Fassbender – “12 Years a Slave,” “Shame”
Ben Foster – “Lone Survivor,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”
Beth Grant – “The Artist,” “No Country for Old Men”
Clark Gregg – “Much Ado about Nothing,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”
Sally Hawkins – “Blue Jasmine,...
- 6/26/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong’o of 12 Years a Slave were two of the 271 artists and industry leaders invited to become members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which determines nominations and winners at the annual Oscars. The entire list of Academy membership—which numbers about 6,000—isn’t public information so the annual invitation list is often the best indication of the artists involved in the prestigious awards process. It’s worth noting that invitations need to be accepted in order for artists to become members; some artists, like two-time Best Actor winner Sean Penn, have declined membership over the years.
- 6/26/2014
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
Pop quiz: What do Chris Rock, Claire Denis, Eddie Vedder and Josh Hutcherson all have in common? Answer: They could all be Oscar voters very soon. The annual Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences invitation list always makes for interesting reading, shedding light on just how large and far-reaching the group's membership is -- or could be, depending on who accepts their invitations. This year, 271 individuals have been asked to join AMPAS, meaning every one of them could contribute to next year's Academy Awards balloting -- and it's as diverse a list as they've ever assembled. Think the Academy consists entirely of fusty retired white dudes? Not if recent Best Original Song nominee Pharrell Williams takes them up on their offer. Think it's all just a Hollywood insiders' game? Not if French arthouse titans Chantal Akerman and Olivier Assayas join the party. It's a list that subverts expectation at every turn.
- 6/26/2014
- by Guy Lodge
- Hitfix
With "The Lego Movie" already turning into a big hit, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Kief Davidson should have no trouble finding an audience for his and co-director Daniel Junge's latest documentary. "Beyond the Brick: A Lego Brickumentary" explores the immense fan base of the classic children's toy, while depicting its awe-inspiring and endless possibilities that are used to create what can only be viewed as art. Tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in Brooklyn when rent was still cheap. While studying for some degree at school, I was fortunate enough to land my first job as a comedy and music video editor at a post-production facility. I then moved into editing documentaries, which then inspired me to make my own films. Some of them include "Open Heart," "Kassim The Dream," "The Devil’s Miner" and "Beyond The Brick." What was your biggest challenge in completing this project? The...
- 4/15/2014
- by Ziyad Saadi
- Indiewire
It actually had a limited theatrical run in 2009, but it's only now getting a DVD release, 3 years later. Titled Kassim The Dream, the story centers on World Champion Boxer, Kassim “The Dream” Ouma - born in Uganda, kidnapped by the rebel army and trained to be a child soldier at the age of 6. Further... while a soldier, he discovered boxing and realized the sport was his ticket to freedom. After 12 years of warfare, Kassim defected from Uganda, leaving Africa, and arrived in the United States. Homeless and culture-shocked, he quickly rose through the boxing ranks and became Junior Middleweight Champion of the World. Kassim seemed to have...
- 7/10/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
A former child soldier in Uganda, the boxer Kassim continues to wrestle with the effects of the violence he witnessed and committed.
"He's on the big stage because people know what he brings. He brings excitement." As Espn Sports writer Dan Rafael sees it, Kassim Ouma is a light middleweight boxing star because he hits hard. It helps too that he's quick on his feet, photogenic, and visibly grateful for all the attention paid to him. As he first appears in Kassim the Dream, the young fighter is training in the desert, heat rising around and seemingly…...
"He's on the big stage because people know what he brings. He brings excitement." As Espn Sports writer Dan Rafael sees it, Kassim Ouma is a light middleweight boxing star because he hits hard. It helps too that he's quick on his feet, photogenic, and visibly grateful for all the attention paid to him. As he first appears in Kassim the Dream, the young fighter is training in the desert, heat rising around and seemingly…...
- 12/3/2009
- by Cynthia Fuchs
- PopMatters
More Holiday Preview: [Theatrical Calendar]
[Repertory Calendar] [Anywhere But a Movie Theater]
On Demand
IFC Films (with whom, full disclosure, we obviously share a parent company) will be delivering new films all holiday season to homes across the country through their Festival Direct and Sundance Selects labels. These include the cross-cultural romantic dramedy "I'll Come Running" (Nov. 4), Josiane Balasko's farce "A French Gigolo" (Nov. 6), the Inuit tribal drama "Necessities of Life" (Nov. 11), the Brit crime thriller "Adulthood" (Nov. 18), the Indian love story "Return to Rajapur" (Nov. 25), the Christopher Masterson-Bijou Phillips celibacy satire "Made for Each Other" (Dec. 2), "Harry Potter" helmer David Yates' gritty two-part drama "Sex Traffic" (Dec. 2 and 9), the Korean comedy "Night and Day" (Dec. 23) and "The Ghost" (Dec. 30).
Meanwhile, in the newly launched Sundance Selects series, there's a pair of harrowing documentaries VOD premieres: Kief Davidson's coming-of-age boxing doc "Kassim the Dream" (Nov. 27) and the unvarnished biopic "Nick Nolte: No Exit" (Dec.
[Repertory Calendar] [Anywhere But a Movie Theater]
On Demand
IFC Films (with whom, full disclosure, we obviously share a parent company) will be delivering new films all holiday season to homes across the country through their Festival Direct and Sundance Selects labels. These include the cross-cultural romantic dramedy "I'll Come Running" (Nov. 4), Josiane Balasko's farce "A French Gigolo" (Nov. 6), the Inuit tribal drama "Necessities of Life" (Nov. 11), the Brit crime thriller "Adulthood" (Nov. 18), the Indian love story "Return to Rajapur" (Nov. 25), the Christopher Masterson-Bijou Phillips celibacy satire "Made for Each Other" (Dec. 2), "Harry Potter" helmer David Yates' gritty two-part drama "Sex Traffic" (Dec. 2 and 9), the Korean comedy "Night and Day" (Dec. 23) and "The Ghost" (Dec. 30).
Meanwhile, in the newly launched Sundance Selects series, there's a pair of harrowing documentaries VOD premieres: Kief Davidson's coming-of-age boxing doc "Kassim the Dream" (Nov. 27) and the unvarnished biopic "Nick Nolte: No Exit" (Dec.
- 11/4/2009
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Kassim the Dream:
Behind the charm, smile and power of boxing champion Kassim 'The Dream' Ouma lies a unique and tragic story: at age 6, Ouma was kidnapped into the rebel army in Uganda and forced into life as a child soldier. Over the next 12 years, he discovered his pugilistic talents in the army's boxing team, which led to his defection to the U.S. at age 18. Despite the culture shock, Ouma quickly became Junior Middleweight Champion of the World. Filmmaker Kief Davidson happened upon Ouma's remarkable story while watching HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, and knew he had found his next project: 'What struck me immediately was the big smile Kassim always seemed to have on his face, even though he was talking about being a child soldier. I wanted to find out what was behind that grin.' What Davidson, a two-time Tribeca filmmaker (The Devil's Miner, Tff '05), found was...
Behind the charm, smile and power of boxing champion Kassim 'The Dream' Ouma lies a unique and tragic story: at age 6, Ouma was kidnapped into the rebel army in Uganda and forced into life as a child soldier. Over the next 12 years, he discovered his pugilistic talents in the army's boxing team, which led to his defection to the U.S. at age 18. Despite the culture shock, Ouma quickly became Junior Middleweight Champion of the World. Filmmaker Kief Davidson happened upon Ouma's remarkable story while watching HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, and knew he had found his next project: 'What struck me immediately was the big smile Kassim always seemed to have on his face, even though he was talking about being a child soldier. I wanted to find out what was behind that grin.' What Davidson, a two-time Tribeca filmmaker (The Devil's Miner, Tff '05), found was...
- 6/1/2009
- TribecaFilm.com
Your guide to what's new in theaters this week: Offbeat foreign fare compliments star-studded domestic offerings, alongside some intriguing and inventive docs.
Download this in audio form (MP3: 08:58 minutes, 12.3 Mb) Subscribe to the In Theaters podcast: [Xml] [iTunes]
"Anaglyph Tom (Tom With Puffy Cheeks)"
Forty years after "Tom, Tom, The Piper's Son," his groundbreaking interpretation of Thomas Edison's turn-of-the-century short, experimentalist and paracinema pioneer Ken Jacobs returns to Edison's original print, this time with a mind to work his singular magic in gloriously vibrant 3-D. Employing digital technology to isolate actors and images and intermingle the themes of his 1969 film with present day footage of the economic crisis, Jacobs orchestrates a cinematic ballet where the past and the present literally dance together before our eyes.
Opens in New York.
"Angels and Demons"
Despite the fact that some viewers who turned out to see Ron Howard's lumbering, talk-heavy 2006 blockbuster...
Download this in audio form (MP3: 08:58 minutes, 12.3 Mb) Subscribe to the In Theaters podcast: [Xml] [iTunes]
"Anaglyph Tom (Tom With Puffy Cheeks)"
Forty years after "Tom, Tom, The Piper's Son," his groundbreaking interpretation of Thomas Edison's turn-of-the-century short, experimentalist and paracinema pioneer Ken Jacobs returns to Edison's original print, this time with a mind to work his singular magic in gloriously vibrant 3-D. Employing digital technology to isolate actors and images and intermingle the themes of his 1969 film with present day footage of the economic crisis, Jacobs orchestrates a cinematic ballet where the past and the present literally dance together before our eyes.
Opens in New York.
"Angels and Demons"
Despite the fact that some viewers who turned out to see Ron Howard's lumbering, talk-heavy 2006 blockbuster...
- 5/11/2009
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
Actor Forest Whitaker is hosting a special screening of the documentary "Kassim The Dream," based on the true life journey of a child from Uganda as he moved from a child soldier to a world champion boxer.
Kassim Ouma was the seventh of thirteen children in his family who was abducted by the National Resistance Army at the age of 6. Ouma was forced to become a child soldier, but also joined the army's boxing club.
Years later, he obtained a visa to the U.S. to fight in a military boxing tournament. He also defected, action that cost his father his life, but enabled him to later win a world title and help people back home in Uganda.
Ouma discussed the charity with New York Magazine saying, "There are a lot of groups out there really helping, like One Campaign. Celebrities like Oprah and Madonna have gotten involved in African problems.
Kassim Ouma was the seventh of thirteen children in his family who was abducted by the National Resistance Army at the age of 6. Ouma was forced to become a child soldier, but also joined the army's boxing club.
Years later, he obtained a visa to the U.S. to fight in a military boxing tournament. He also defected, action that cost his father his life, but enabled him to later win a world title and help people back home in Uganda.
Ouma discussed the charity with New York Magazine saying, "There are a lot of groups out there really helping, like One Campaign. Celebrities like Oprah and Madonna have gotten involved in African problems.
- 1/16/2009
- icelebz.com
- James Marsh's Man On Wire and Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir have tied for the International Documentary Association’s 2008 Ida Documentary Awards Best Doc of the Year award. The duel winners were in a final noms category with Kassim The Dream, Stranded and Young @ Heart. Other winners include Chris Taylor's Food Fight which picked up the Audience Award and Stefan Forbes picked up the Jacqueline Donnet Emerging Filmmaker Award for his docu Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story....
- 12/6/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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