PROJECTOR

Battle begins at Liberty

Credits

* Directed by Jonathan Liebesman
* Produced by Jeffrey Chernov, Neal H Moritz and Ori Marmur
* Starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Will Rothhaar, Ram¢n Rodr¡guez, Bridget Moynahan and Ne-Yo

'Battle: Los Angeles' takes its cue from an actual event: On February 25, 1942 several unidentified aircraft were sighted off the Los Angeles coast. The events of that night remain an enigma to this day.

While Battle: Los Angeles, the film, opens at Liberty cinema on March 18, Battle of Los Angeles, also known as "The Great Los Angeles Air Raid," occurred when late-night February 24/early morning February 25, 1942 several unidentified objects were sighted hovering over the Los Angeles coastline. The upcoming film is, of course, fictional - but the story was, in part, inspired by the following actual events that took place almost 70 years ago.

In the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941, and less than three months into the United States' entry into WWII, people were understandably shaken, and naturally assumed that they were, once again, under threat of enemy fire.

In fact, the Japanese had returned to our shores the day before with a truncated submarine attack off the coast of Santa Barbara. The physical damage was minimal, but the psychological, severe. It inspired an invasion scare that would inform the events of the next night, and influence the decision to intern Japanese citizens of the United States during the war.

It was just past 2AM in the morning when the sightings began and authorities took swift and decisive action as soon as repeated reports of the unusual activity rolled in from the uneasy citizenry.

Air raid sirens were sounded, and a total blackout was ordered. At 3:16 am, the 37th Coast Artillery Brigade began firing 12.8-pound antiaircraft shells at the objects - more than 1,400 shells were fired over the next 58 minutes as the objects moved south, from Santa Monica to Long Beach.

Calling Cinemas movies

Vijaya studio which falls under the Cinemas Company was one of the main film restoring units in the country. However some of these past films produced by the company which had been stored in the studio were destroyed in July 1983.

Cinemas pioneer K Gunaratne brought forth many popular movies like Sujatha, Varada Kageda, Radala Piliruwa, Dostara, Duppathage Duka, Udarata Menike, Chandiya, Allapu Gedara, Sura Chauraya, Ataveni Pudumaya, Athma Pooja, Vanamohini, Sooraya, Sandeshaya, Veera Vijaya, Onna Mame Kella Panapi, Deevarayo, Adata Vadiya Heta Hondai, Apsara, Anguli Mala and others.

Cinemas is seeking the public's help to locate any copies of their past movies which might be in other's possession. They will be awarded a valuable gift in return said project coordinators Siripal and Arachchi Silva.

DreamWorks Animation for next three years

I don't know how animation studios do it. It's crazy to me how far in-advance they're able to plan their movies. And yet, here we are talking about what we're going to be seeing in 2014.

The good news is that only four of the nine announced films are sequels. The bad news is that we get three of them before anything original. The line-up is as follows.

* Kung Fu Panda 2 - May 26, 2011 - The better-than-it-looks original gets a sequel and it keeps in line with the tone and style of the original. It's almost Pixar and that's the best compliment I can give.

* Puss In Boots - November 4, 2011

* Madagascar 3 - June 8, 2012

* Rise of the Guardians - November 21, 2012 - It's about childhood icons who team up to battle an evil-doer bent on taking over the world. It features the voices of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman and Isla Fisher. .

* The Croods - March 1, 2013 - This one is set in a time when "nature was a work-in-progress" which basically means a bunch of dumb cavemen jokes until someone from the future helps them out. Again, one hell of a voice cast: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, and Catherine Keener.

* Turbo - June 7, 2013 - The story of a snail who wants to be the world's fastest snail!

* Me and My Shadow - November 8, 2013 - As previously reported, an ambitious shadow gets stuck with the world's most boring person until he decides to take things into his own hands. It'll mix traditional animation with CGI and sounds like the most ambitious of all the films.

* Mr Peabody & Sherman - March 21, 2014 - It's based on the old cartoon about the world's smartest person (a dog) and his time traveling adventure to set history back on its correct course with his "pet" boy. Robert Downey Jr will be supplying a character's voice.

* How to Train Your Dragon 2 - June 20, 2014 - The original cast returns for the sequel to the best animated movie of 2010 that didn't involve toys!

DreamWorks Animation.com

New face lights up the reel

Shamila Vijini shines on Pitasakwala Abhirahasa :

Ruwini Jayawardana

She remembers watching thespians like Vijaya Kumaratunga, Malini Fonseka and Gamini Fonseka dazzling the silver screen. That was what motivated her to join cinema. However her entrance was through an unexpected project because she never auditioned or enrolled for the part. The project and character chose her.

Her features may seem familiar. Posing in front of a camera is not alien to her. She had been featured in a number of commercials like Prima Kottu Mee and Black Knight but this is the first time she is asked to portray a role in a movie. Daily News 'Projector' met Shamila Vijini, the leading lady of Nirmal Rajapaksa's Pitasakwala Abhirahasa (The Mystery of ET), the local 3D animation movie which is screening at CEL circuit cinemas these days.

"Becoming an actress had been a part of my ambition but my entrance to cinema was quite unexpected. I was training for a dance competition with seven others when Lasantha Kamalsiri saw me. He is the lead actor of the film. He approached me and asked if I would like to portray a role in the movie," Shamila explained on how she entered the reel.

She says that acting Pumi's character was a challenge especially because she had never gotten into the skin of another person before. You cannot be yourself but have to take on another personality when you are acting a role which makes up the plot. You see the world and undergo emotions via another personality.

"It was a very difficult time. We hardly had the resources we need to shoot a film. However everyone was dedicated to the task. They knew how to play their roles well. I feel happy that I was able to contribute my bit to a worthwhile project," she smiled. Not many debutants are lucky enough to land a lead role in a film. Shamila agrees that lady luck had been by her side to be noted in her first cinematic venture. "It is a rare opportunity.

I was devoted to the project from day one. I believe that I gave it my best effort. I am satisfied with how it all tuned out," she noted adding that she welcomes viewer's comments. Apart from commercials she had also appeared in Randheer and Gamini Susiriwardena's music videos.

"Acting may be a new concept for me but I enjoy it very much. I believe that I have a flair for portraying diverse characters. I have already got several offers to portray roles in teledramas. I wish to excel in acting," she said.

Shamila had taken to dancing under Nalin Gunaratne. She believes that this talent will come in handy for her future plans. She is currently employed as a nurse but believes that she can balance the two professions.

Animated gnomes rock the screen

Credits

* Directed by Kelly Asbury
* Produced by Baker Bloodworth, David Furnish and Steve Hamilton Shaw
* Starring James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham, Maggie Smith and Ashley Jensen

As a child, did you ever fear that your toys came alive while you slept? Perhaps they were just playing or chilling out, having a beer, but what if they were up to something nefarious? What if they were romancing each other under your little sleepy nose? Gross. But, what if, instead, you had lawn gnomes and they came alive when you weren't looking? What if they're next-door neighbors who hate each other, except two sassy young gnomes who fall in love, with only a fence and a feud keeping them apart?

Monika Bartyzel reported on 'Gnomeo and Juliet back in 2008, noting that the project had been kicking around since at least 2006 with Kate Winslet and Greg Ellis attached. Gnomeo and Juliet are voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, and a more ungenerous writer might wonder if they had house payments or something that would compel them to take on these roles.

The other voice talent includes two knights (Michael Caine and Patrick Stewart), one Dame (Maggie Smith), one beefcake (Jason Statham) and one heavy metal god (Ozzy Osbourne). Elton John serves as executive producer and contributes music to the soundtrack. He also puts in a cameo as a gnome. This 3D flick will handily introduce youngsters to one of the greatest love stories ever told, although I seriously doubt it ends with a double suicide. The movie is unfolding at Majestic cinema.

SRK and Leonardo to play Don and cop

It is said that in the film SRK will be playing a Don while Leonardo will feature in a cop's role. According to the film's scriptwriter Mushtaq Shiekh, Xtrme City is a cross-cultural thriller designed for both Bollywood and Hollywood. He feels that if things fall in places then the film will be an attempt at a true global entertainment.

Talking about the film's story to sources, Mushtaq revealed that it's about an Indian (Shah Rukh) and an American (Leo) from radically different worlds, who both served in the UN peacekeeping force in Somalia during the 90's.

The American saves the Indian's life; in the aftermath they become indebted to each other then go their own separate ways. The American becomes a cop in New York, the Indian a 'bhai' in Mumbai.

Xtrme City will be produced under SRK's Red Chillies and Martin Scorsese's banner Sikelia Productions. The film's shooting is expected to start its shoot next year.

Allen to shoot in Rome

American film director Woody Allen will shoot his next film in Rome this summer, according to an interview published in the Repubblica daily.

"Don't ask me about the script or the cast, I'm superstitious," said the director, whose last film Midnight in Paris will open the 64th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on May 11.

"I'm still at the screenplay stage, it would be silly to say more." Allen compared Rome to his other favourite metropolitan cities, from New York to Paris, London, Barcelona.

"I love these sophisticated cities. It's fantastic to have the possibility to work there, like when I shot 'Manhattan' in New York, 'Match Point' in London and 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' in Barcelona," he said. "Each time, it's like a declaration of love for certain places. I project onto the big screen my feelings for places which count a lot in my life."

"I hope to do the same thing with Rome," said Allen, who is expected in the Italian capital with his jazz group on March 26.

AFP

Donovan joins J Edgar

Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan has joined the cast of Clint Eastwood's Leonardo DiCaprio starrer J Edgar as Robert F Kennedy.

The Warner Bros. biopic's in production in Los Angeles. Cast includes Naomi Watts, Ed Westwick, Damon Herriman, Armie Hammer, Ken Howard and Josh Lucas. Kennedy was U S attorney general under his brother, John F. Kennedy.

Hoover personally conducted the FBI's investigation into the president's 1963 assassination.

Producers are Brian Grazer and Ron Howard via Imagine Entertainment along with Eastwood and Rob Lorenz through their Warner-based Malpaso banner. Donovan worked with Eastwood on 2008's The Changeling. He revealed the casting in a tweet last week.

He's repped by Paradigm. Hollywood.com

Kumar enters Guinness Records

Veteran star Dilip Kumar recently bagged a prestigious entry into the Guinness World Records. He earned the honour for being the only living Indian actor to have won the maximum number of awards.

Said the 88-year old actor to sources, "Awards do mean a lot for any performer, writer or technician as it is the true reward for his cinematic creation. But I abhor the tendency to manipulate awards and play 'yes man' to jury members." Dilip Kumar will soon grace a special show produced by Guinness, where he will be interviewed by Preity Zinta.

While one would love Dilipji's performances in movies like Daag, Kohinoor, Mughal-E-Azam and Ganga Jumna, the actor feels that he gave his best in films like as Jogan, Footpath and Devdas, although they were not big successes. "Yet, the viewers of niche films remember them and that's what I have achieved as an actor," stated Dilip. Indiaglitz.com

Benchley's novel for silver screen

Novel Once Wicked Always Dead a romantic, suspense, and mystery T Marie Benchley will become a silver screen feature film.

The team will write and produce the film directed by Jim Fitzpatrick under the PacAtlantic Pictures banner. Fitzpatrick's PacAtlantic has relationships with all of the top Studios in Hollywood and currently the helmer has three projects connected with several for distribution, including MGM which will release the feature film A Fonder Heart, starring Daryl Hannah, James Brolin and Stockard Channing, due out this fall. Fitzpatrick stated during the interview that Once Wicked, Always Dead, "will be a romantic suspense-filled-mystery, that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and will give you mental whiplash! The film will be great, because the book is filled with love, loss, betrayal and murder."

PRWEB