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November 3, 2017

All the Times ‘Stranger Things’ Referenced Movies and TV Shows


From “E.T.” to “Commando,” these are the movie and TV references from “Stranger Things.”


For as much as Stranger Things is a show about alternate dimensions and the terrifying Demogorgon, it’s also a show about nostalgia. To give it that realistic, wistful feel, the show is packed with popular music, food, and video games from the 1980s, effectively transporting you back to a time when a BMX bike and a backpack full of bologna sandwiches could take you anywhere. However, Stranger Things also reminds us of the iconic films of the 80s as well through stylized shots and sequences that match the originals almost perfectly. In this video by Fandor, we get to see all of show’s movie and TV references that pay homage to a bygone time in cinema.





Okay, calling some of these shots references might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s definitely clear that Stranger Things is not shy about paying homage to films like The Goonies, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Alien, and of course, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 3, 2017

‘A Gray State’: How Erik Nelson Unraveled a Triple Murder Conspiracy in His Herzog-Produced True Crime Doc


Director Erik Nelson calls his film ‘The Shining’ meets ‘Grizzly Man.’


In a sea of recent true-crime docs, Erik Nelson’s A Gray State stands apart as a truly riveting psychological drama, complete with widespread conspiracy theories, political currents, and penultimate tragedy.



The story revolves around an Iraq War vet and aspiring filmmaker named David Crowley, who went from patriot to skeptic during his two tours in Iraq, and made a DIY trailer for an ambitious dystopian feature film about a not-that-far-from-reality future where the government has trampled all over civil rights and the people are in armed revolt. Unsurprisingly, this trailer spread wildly via internet conspiracy theorists and tea party activists. Suddenly, Crowley was becoming the voice of a movement and his film was poised to receive real Hollywood funding.

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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 3, 2017

Watch: The Cartoon That Started Internet Animation


Sometimes, a simple idea can start an entire movement.


Why do certain things have staying power, while others do not? In some cases, it’s because of their simplicity. If an idea is smart enough, it doesn’t have to be super-complicated or have lots of bells and whistles to gain popularity. Internet animation, by now an entertainment staple, is a good example. Its beginnings were modest indeed, but clever.




If you don’t like the rules, make your own game.




This new video essay by Alex Myers tells the story of the roots of phenomena like Bojack Horseman—which lie with a simple cartoon called Homestar Runner. Check out the video, and our takeaways about the keys to the cartoon’s success, below.



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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 3, 2017

Logitech Bridge lets you use your keyboard inside a VR experience

A new project from Logitech, the Logitech Bridge, will make it easy for developers to accurately represent and track a user’s keyboard in a virtual reality experience, using the Vive Tracker peripheral from HTC.

The post Logitech Bridge lets you use your keyboard inside a VR experience appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR

November 3, 2017

The Daily Chord Weekly Recap – Friday, November 3

Topics to be pondered after reading The Daily Chord this week: Industry-wide sexual harassment revelations continue, ticket scalpers are bad, streaming services are making all the money, and decades later, Bob Dylan’s ‘gospel’ period still confounds. Subscribe to our email blast for an inbox reminder of the top music stories each weekday.

Monday, October 30

Tuesday, October 31

Wednesday, November 1

Thursday, November 2

Friday, November 3

The post The Daily Chord Weekly Recap – Friday, November 3 appeared first on SXSW.

Source: SxSW Music

November 3, 2017

Still photographs spring to life

New software makes it possible to breathe life into still photo portraits.<p>The project was developed in Israel with the help of a leading social network.<p>It has the potential to become the net’s next viral hit, but also has more serious long-term uses, as one of its creators explains.
Source: CW’s Flipboard Feed

November 3, 2017

You can’t beat HTC’s new bundle packing Vive, the GTX 1070, and ‘Fallout 4 VR’

HTC’s latest promotion for its Vive headset kit for VR includes bundling it with the GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card for PC, and Fallout 4 VR. The game doesn’t arrive until early next month, but you’ll get a pre-order code now.

The post You can't beat HTC's new bundle packing Vive, the GTX 1070, and 'Fallout 4 VR' appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR

November 2, 2017

25 Years of SXSW Film Festival – Lena Dunham

To commemorate the 25th edition of the SXSW Film Festival, we continue our weekly alumni spotlight on careers launched, artists discovered, powerful performances, and more with actress, writer, and filmmaker Lena Dunham.

Dunham’s first feature as writer, director, producer and star, Creative Nonfiction premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2009. She returned in 2010 with Tiny Furniture where it won numerous accolades including the Narrative Feature Jury Award and the SXSW Chicken & Egg Emergent Director Award.

Dunham next teamed up with Jenni Konner and Judd Apatow to produce the HBO series Girls. SXSW presented the world premiere of the first three episodes in 2012. The show was an instant triumph earning numerous awards and nominations. Dunham received two Golden Globes for the series and her performance, she was also the first woman to win a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series. Girls ran from 2012-2017 and played for six seasons.

A creative powerhouse, Dunham was an obvious choice for one of the inaugural SXSW Film Keynotes in 2014. That same year she released her book Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned,” which went on to become a New York Times Bestseller. In 2015, Dunham and Konner created the feminist online publication, Lenny Letter, which covers an array of topics from politics to culture.

We are thrilled to share her #SXSWFilm25 story with you.

“Janet Pierson is my champion. From the beginning, she has believed fiercely in both my work and the work of so many others who might have given up had they not been illuminated by her true and generous passion for anything new, exciting, and uncelebrated. If I hadn’t found a home at SXSW (and a true home it was) for my film Creative Nonfiction in 2009, I never would have met the producers, actors, and collaborators who helped me make Tiny Furniture in 2010. I also never would have been lucky enough to meet Janet. She is a treasure hunter, an artist, a fighter, an ally to women in film, and a friend. We should all be so lucky to have Janet on our side.”

Stay tuned to SXSW News each week for more 25th edition stories.

Join Us For SXSW 2018

Grab your Film Badge today for primary access to all SXSW Film events including world premieres, roundtables, workshops, and parties. Register to attend by Friday, November 17 and save. Book your hotel through SXSW Housing & Travel for the best available rates.

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See you in March!

2014 Lena Dunham Film Keynote – Photo by Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW

The post 25 Years of SXSW Film Festival – Lena Dunham appeared first on SXSW.

Source: SxSW Film

November 2, 2017

How to take a screenshot in VR with the Samsung Gear VR

Taking a screenshot in virtual reality sounds like science fiction, but is actually a lot simpler than you may think. Here is our step-by-step walkthrough of how to get a good screenshot taken in VR on the Samsung Gear VR.

The post How to take a screenshot in VR with the Samsung Gear VR appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR

November 2, 2017

The ZephVR blows air in your face, which might actually make VR better

ZephVR is an accessory for virtual reality headsets that blows air on your face when you experience the wind in a game. Claiming it has a dramatic effect on in-game immersion, the developers have made it available on Kickstarter.

The post The ZephVR blows air in your face, which might actually make VR better appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR