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I’ll Film Ya T-Shirt

The New T-Shirt Design

View shirt here

Using your imagination sometimes takes you in a unique direction, one that was not a part of the original plan. My new t-shirt design I’ll Film Ya, falls into this precise category, an unexpected but welcomed creative endeavor.

The shirts were inspired by all those that are grabbing their camera’s and telling stories, submitting them to film festivals or sharing them online. From the Vlogger’s to the independent film maker’s and everyone in between. The visuals that are inspiring masses of people to pick up a camera and shoot.

Turning a phrase often heard to some degree or another in a film, “I’ll shoot ya” into a positive “I’ll Film Ya”. Thank you for all the support, good luck on your journey.

Chris Bonafede. @ChrisBonafede

Sports Movies I’d like to see made

Occasionally, compelling sports movies are created that inspire and entertain theatergoers throughout the world.

The four movies below have not been made yet, only my personal wish list for future films to come.

Next to each athlete are the men and women I’d prefer be attached to the project, main actor, director and writer.

Let me know in the comments section which professional athlete you’d love to see made into movie.

Enjoy

1. Gordie Howe – Played by Ryan Gosling
Director – Bennett Miller
Writer – Paul Haggis

Brief Gordie Howe History (Mr. Hockey) – Considered one of the best Hockey players to ever play in the NHL. Born in Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada .

– Played from 1946 to 1980, 26 seasons. 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The first 25 seasons were spent with the Detroit Red Wings.

– A 23-time NHL All-Star, he held many of the sport’s career scoring records until they were broken in the 1980s by Wayne Gretzky. He continues to hold NHL records for most games and seasons played.

Ryan Gosling – Canadian Actor, both Howe and Gosling are around the same height. Besides being able to fulfill the physical requirements, Ryan and Bennett Miller joining forces most certainly equates to a film that withstands the test of time.

Bennett Miller – A director of two sports movies already, Moneyball and Foxcatcher. A talented storyteller that clearly has a deep appreciation for athletes.

Paul Haggis – Another Canadian, born and raised in London, Ontario, Canada. A writer responsible for memorable scripts such as Crash, In the Valley of Elah, Million Dollar and Quantum of Solace to name a few.

2. Bo Jackson – Played by John Boyega
Director – Spike Lee
Writer- David Benioff

Bo Jackson Brief History:

– Born Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson November 30, 1962. A professional baseball and football player.

– Tragically a football injury on the L.A. Raiders in 1991 caused early retirement from the NFL, focusing all of his energy on baseball. He is the only athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both baseball and football.

– In the late 1980’s a series of advertisements by Nike referred to as “Bo Knows” catapulted his fame in the sports world. The promotional campaign featured a cross training athletic shoe. The ad ran from 89 – 90, starring Bo Jackson and musician Bo Diddly.

John Boyega – A prominent actor that showcases depth in his performances along with physical endurance, starring in action movies Star Wars and Pacific Rim.

Spike Lee – An experienced filmmaker who frequently displays deep passion for sports. Spike’s vision would undoubtedly reveal a side to Bo Jackson that no one thus far has witnessed.

David Benioff – The screenwriter behind Troy and 25th hour, David’s writing style would complement the drama and action scenes required for a Bo Jackson feature.

3. Joe Namath played by Jake Gyllenhaal
Director – Danny Boyle
Writer – Steven Zaillian

 

Brief Joe Namath history:

– Born Joseph William Namath, May 31, 1943. Referred to as “Broadway Joe”
– A former American football quarterback during the 1960’ and 70’s. An athlete as well as actor, appearing on The Brady Bunch TV series and The Waverly Wonders.

– His overall record is 68 wins, 71 losses, and four ties, 64–64–4 in 132 starts. Completing 1,886 passes for 27,663 yards, threw 173 touchdowns, and had 220 interceptions.

– One Super Bowl victory over the Baltimore Colts in January 1969.

– In 1985 he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jake Gyllenhaal – Physical transformations fill Jake’s filmography with movies like Jarhead, Nightcrawler, and Southpaw. I think the additional demand of bringing to a gregarious personality to the big screen would entice the seasoned actor.

Danny Boyle – Director of 127 hours and Steve Jobs, two non-fiction films that not only held the audience’s attention but portrayed a memorable realism. The Hollywood persona that Namath lived would unquestionably be unedited and factual with a director notorious for never holding back.

Steve Zaillian – The writer behind MoneyBall, Gangs of New York and Schindler’s List has plenty of experience crafting scripts from a specific decade. Joe Namath’s ability to outperform his competitors despite severe knee injuries plus a Playboy life style, would present a compelling challenge for the veteran screenwriter.

4. Mia Hamm – Played by Ashley Greene
Director – Kathryn Bigelow
Writer – Mark Boal

Brief Mia Hamm History:

– Born Mariel Margaret Hamm- Garciaparra, March 17, 1972. An American retired professional soccer player, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and an overall well-recognized soccer icon.

– Played as a forward for the United States women’s national soccer team from 1987–2004.

– An elite college athlete for North Carolina Tar Heels women’s soccer team. Helping the team win four consecutive NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship titles.

Ashley Greene – An actress known for her roles in the Twilight series, she’s been quoted as describing herself as a self- proclaimed tomboy. A competitive taekwondo enthusiast, whose past accolades suggest her work ethic would satisfy the necessary endurance requirements to play an Olympic soccer player.

Kathryn Bigelow – The director behind popular war stories and crime dramas stemming from the early 80’s, Kathryn continues to develop movies that could be described as cerebral action films. Guiding a project that highlights a soccer all-star like Mia Hamm adds a sports feature to the filmography and one that potentially inspires millions of young athletes throughout the world.

Mark Boal – A writer whose resume includes iconic collaborations with director Kathryn Bigelow on movies like Zero Dark Thirty and Detroit. Mark’s journalist roots, I’d assume, would reveal a side of Mia’s life that only a few closely knitted friends were privy to.

Darkest Hour – Set Design, Wardrobe, Camera and Lighting!

A believable back drop to a period piece can make or break an audience’s overall experience. Each frame was a conscious choice for the team behind the feature film Darkest Hour, the best in set design, lighting and wardrobe, were in charge of creating a 1940’s England during a stressful period in time. Most likely you don’t have a clear memory of England in the mid-20th century, but the on screen version speaks a truth, starting with the opening shots of Winston Churchill, at work in bed.

The impression one gets is that the man never slept, work was his world, and everything else came second. A workaholics environment rarely changes, a few locations where deals are crafted then broken, translating into a work week that ends each day well after midnight. Bruno Delbonnel, director of photography, treated each room on set as his canvas; before any words are exchanged the audience is hooked. The colors on screen in a way play as Winston’s subconscious, bright and full of energy while at the same time afraid of a potentially devastating future.

In the end a Politician’s communication skills are the backbone to his success, an inability to clearly articulate ideas that have the potential to alter millions of lives, in this case, can lead to death. Since pressure is a constant theme throughout the film, each character possess the responsibility to find moments where they can smile, even laugh when hope is seemly lost.

Hey reader, you remember the last scene? I’m about to reference it. Are you reading this and still haven’t seen the film?

The last scene…….. The Prime Minister stands in front of Parliament, a ceiling window allows a narrow beam of light to shine through, highlighting Winston as he says the famous words “Our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet would carry on the struggle, until in gods good time, the new world with all its power and might skips forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old!” A stunning reenactment that director Joe Wright, along with cast and crew have cemented in film history.

MindHunter Review

It’s hard to imagine the magnitude of responsibility that rests on the shoulders of each FBI agent. NetFlix chose 2017 to be the year they pulled back the current on a specific time in the Federal Bureau of Investigation history, the late 1970’s. A time when the phrase serial killer was foreign to local law enforcement across the country. Leaving only a select group of government agents qualified to properly handle tracking down reoccurring murders with no apparent motive.

To the shows credit, the stress absorbed by both leads, Jonathan Groff and Holt MacCallany felt authentic as well as terrifying. Starting with Bill Tench, played by Holt McCallany. The senior partner’s family life from the beginning of the story is an upward battle. Combined with consent travel and a troubled son, the viewer can sense the relationship is in jeopardy. The true exposure of Bill’s taxing commute comes at approximately 19:33 of episode 3. The director of photography Erik Messerschmidt masterfully captures the actor in an almost completely dark hotel room. The expression, a picture tells a thousand words, rings true. As the scene unfolds you watch a man at the brink of exhaustion attempt to hold a conversation with his wife Stacey Roca.

Along with Bill, his optimistic partner Holden Ford showcases just how much his position has affected his psychic when he is unable to perform with his girlfriend, Debbie in season 7. The prison interviews finally took their toll, turning the once composed young investigator into an impotent boyfriend.

The level of stress that the two main characters endured did more than entertain, it raised several important questions. One being to what extent do traumatic childhood experiences, especially those involving their parents, affect the degree to which they can feel empathy as adults? Additionally, to what extent should society be educating their citizens about the potential long term damage of chronic stress? Questions I’m sure can only be fully answered by the men and women who have dedicated years to psycho analysis. None the less my interest in human psychology is heightened; creator Joe Penhall will certainly see the light of a second season.

Chris Bonafede

Stranger Things – Plus my predictions for Season 3!

The bar has been raised in the land of storytelling. The Duffer Brothers have arrived with the Netflix TV series Stranger Things. My initial plan for this blog post was simply to praise every aspect of the show, well deserved considering the attention to detail. Season 2 exceeded just about everyone’s expectations, the directing, acting, wardrobe, editing, set design, music it all formed together to make a near perfect 1 hour thriller. Instead I decided to hone in one aspect, where every show stems from, the writing.

As anyone begins studying writing they come across the topic of a character web. The basic idea revolves around not thinking of each character as a separate individual, but that each person, good and evil, are connected and define each other. The writing delivers on multiple occasions, showcasing relationships between family members that on the surface are inseparable as well as at times dysfunctional.

Throughout the first episode an abusive Dr. Martin Brenner, continues forcing his hospitalized daughter to perform mental experiments. The stakes are instantly high, as the audience watches a young girl struggle to survive. The two are connected, both aware of the powers Eleven possesses and existence of the upside down world. Everyone’s true identity, good or bad will be exposed by the challenges that lie ahead, forcing them to inevitably work together to survive.

One of the shows allures comes from episodes that introduce characters that are disguised as opponents that eventually reveal themselves as ally’s. The most satisfying was watching Doctor Sam Owens choosing to help Will Byers’s family escape the hospital as they were being attacked by the Demogorgon’s in season 2. We then watch as a new friendship emerges between Police Chief Jim Hopper and Dr. Owens, as they share a table for lunch at a local Hawkins diner. The near death experience that virtually everyone experiences forces them to become a stronger version of themselves, an attractive theme that continues throughout both seasons.

Although most made it out alive the current condition of Hawkins, Indiana leaves me asking several questions, the main one being how many more attacks from the Demogorgon’s can they survive? Moreover, what will result from the tapes Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byer’s mailed out, the same ones exposing Doctor Sam Owens? I’m sure all questions will be addressed soon enough, leaving the diehard fans patiently waiting for the announcement of season 3.

Until then I’ll leave you with one prediction, in the spirit of disguising opponents as ally’s. In chapter 7 Lost Sister, Eleven finds Kali, the girl with the tattoo 008 and her friends, all possessing super powers. In spite of the first introduction being positive, I believe that season 3 will exhibit a clash between Eleven and Kali. A battle that leaves Eleven questioning who she can trust.

Blade Runner 2049

The advancement of Artificial Intelligence raises a series of unanswerable questions, the essential one being will the benefits of obtaining superior technology out way the risk? In the film Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denise Villeneuve, the power is indeed difficult to manage. As the opening shots captivate the audience we watch as the character “K” (played by Ryan Gosling) is sent on a thrilling hunt to destroy an older model bio-robotic android referred to as a “replicant”.

I would recommend going to the theater to support the visuals alone. Roger Deakins, the director of photography showcases a mastery of his craft, with each shot displaying beauty in the seemingly hopeless future. Teamed with seasoned crew members, Roger creates a unique world that repeatedly examines the aftermath of replicants that refuse to obey.

The cast is an easy sell, filled with actors at the top of their game; Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto, Ana de Armas, Lennie James, Sylvia Hoeks, and the list goes on and on. As the story reveals itself the only main drawback with the star-studded cast was the lack of screen time for several A list actors.

Questioning ones existence is an underlying theme that writers Hampton Fancher and Michael Green examine in depth throughout the movie. A relatable idea that consumes the minds of all humans at some point in their life. The twists and turns keep you guessing as the true desire of the main characters comes to the forefront.

The Sci-Fi/Thriller is undoubtedly worth the time spent in the theater, but take note, it is pivotal that you pay close attention during the entirety of the film, each line of dialogue obtains value. In other words, make sure your cell phone is on silent.