Muppets!

If you’ve seen our work, it’s no secret that we’re fans of the Muppets. So, we were not only happy to hear that the beloved franchise was given a reboot but completely thrilled to be a small part of it.

Craig re-created the famous backgrounds that were a huge part of the show but were damaged or lost in the years since the show was on.

Here’s Fozzy’s backdrop that Craig re-created.

And a frame-grab from the trailer.

Here’s a brick wall gag from the trailer

And the original file that Craig created.

And finally the iconic Muppet Show sign tweaked for a Telethon in the film.

Go see the film.  It perfectly captures the spirit of the Muppets, with catchy songs, funny gags and lovable characters. We have no problem saying that it’s a great and enjoyable film for audiences of all ages.

Curiosity

We here at the Shoppe are big fans of the space program. So yesterday, when NASA launched a rocket to search for life on Mars and named it Curiosity, we were pretty stoked. We’ll be paying close attention over the coming months and hope there’s a lot of knowledge gained from a little curiosity.

The drafthouse rules.

With a recent string of incidents at other theaters where texting and talking is the norm, I’m seriously grateful for the Alamo Drafthouse’s no talking/texting rule. This policy is the only one of its kind (that I know of) and these days and I count myself lucky that they’re in my city.

By disregarding “the customer is always right” philosophy and instead focusing on a smarter and more loyal class of patron, the Alamo Drafthouse provides the best possible viewing experience not only in Austin but anywhere in US.

But enough of my preaching, check out this hilarious new PSA they made featuring an angry texter.

http://cf.drafthouse.com/she_texted_we_kicked_her_out2.html

Fader Fort by Fiat

Fiat USA brought in talented designers, artists and musicians for their Fader Fort during SXSW 2011. We were there with a 5D MKII and a 7D to document it.

In case you haven’t seen the videos we produced, check them out:

Music

Art

Overview

Directed by Curiosity Shoppe

Produced by Stuart Mydlow

Photographed by Andrew Barrera & Dan Brown

Edited by Brad Hughes

DAN’S FAVORITE FILMS OF 2010

01. Exit Through the Gift Shop

I went to see a documentary about street art and I got so much more. It’s a hilarious and well-crafted critique of the current state of the art world. Even if what happens in the film is actually a giant hoax (and I’m not saying that it is) it doesn’t change the overall appeal and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

02. The Social Network

I’ve been a huge Fincher fan since I worked for him in the early 90’s but was put off (like most people) with the idea of a “Facebook movie”. But thankfully everything comes together in this film: the acting, the direction, the cinematography, the music and especially the writing. It’s another film that’s really stayed with me.

03. Animal Kingdom

This Australian film had my favorite trailer of the year. It’s a very taught thriller with gorgeous photography, menacing performances and a script that keeps you guessing. Seek it out.

04. Four Lions

This film takes a taboo subject (terrorism) and delivers big laughs. At the same time we actually care for this ragtag group of not-so-bright terrorists (don’t worry, you never sympathize with their mission). I’m so happy Tim League was able to distribute the film theatrically in the US. I’m looking forward to more films from the great folks at Drafthouse Films. 

05. True Grit

The Coen Brothers have made a crowd pleaser with their adaptation of Charles Portis’s novel. The acting is spot-on, the photography stunning and the direction makes the Oscar-winning John Wayne film look like a TV movie.

06. Black Swan

Aronofsky really knows how to do creepy. Even though the themes of the film are so simple, he makes it wonderfully complex. It’s another well-made art film that seems to have broad appeal. 

07. Thunder Soul

This documentary was my favorite film from SXSW. It chronicles the Kashmere Stage Band, a high school band from Houston that just happened to be one of the best funk bands of the 70’s. They put out hit records, toured the globe and are now, 30 years later, reuniting to pay tribute to their band director Conrad O. Johnson, who taught them much more than music.

08. Toy Story 3

It’s Pixar doing what they do best. Enough said.

09. Winter’s Bone

I don’t understand why John Hawkes isn’t getting any Oscar love for his work in this dark gothic tale of a teenage girl’s quest to find her father is the meth-soaked hills of Missouri. It’s a shame… and he’s not the only amazing actor in this film.

10. Jackass 3D

I love all the Jackass films and even though this one is a little bit sadder than its predecessors, it made me laugh till I hurt. The 3D is actually pretty great as well.

Honorable Mentions: Marwencol, Lovers of Hate, 127 Hours, Tiny Furniture, Carlos, Please Give, Restrepo, Kick Ass, Scott Pilgrim, Mother, Shrek Forever After (go Mike Mitchell), Inception

Haven’t yet seen: The Kings Speech, The Fighter, Rabbit Hole, Never Let Me Go, Enter The Void, Blue Valentine

Scary Movies

A friend recently asked me to give a list of recommended scary movies to watch for Halloween. I thought I’d share them with all of you. Just for reference, I usually prefer horror of the mind rather than cheap and easy scares or blood and gore.

THE CLASSICS - These are some of the best scary films ever made in my opinion. All still easily hold up to today’s standards.

1. The Exorcist - Oh you devil. Scares and shocks me every time I see it. I saw it on the big screen during it’s re-release a few years ago and it not only holds up, it’s the scariest movie ever.

2. The Shining - Every time I watch this movie, I’m half freaked out and half in awe of Kubrick’s masterful storytelling. So much of this film has seeped into pop culture but still there’s nothing else like it. 

3. The Thing ( John Carpenter)- A very cool movie with great creature effects and startling twists. Kurt Russell is amazing and the mood is tense.

4. Rosemary’s Baby - What is it about the devil in the 70’s? The tone of this movie is just plain creepy. Great cast and one of Polanski’s best films. 

5. Jaws - It’s a classic and created the summer blockbuster but it’s a really solid piece of filmmaking. It’s not wall to wall scary but when the shark is nearby, you know it.

There are many more that hold a place in my heart but a lot of them don’t hold up nearly as well over the years.

MORE RECENT FILMS

1. Let the Right One In - This was my favorite film from two years ago. Such a beautiful story about childhood friendship but filled with some awesomely frightening moments. The best vampire film ever and some of the most effective sound design in recent years.

2. Dog Soldiers - What 28 days later did to Zombie films, Dog Soldiers does for werewolves. This is a pretty realistic look at a platoon of soldiers, training in the Scottish forest, who are attacked by dozens of fierce and hungry werewolves. It’s not very well known but a lot of fun.

3. The Orphanage - A Spanish ghost story that builds suspense the old fashioned way. A really well made film with an effective story.

4. Battle Royale - The Japanese government tries to cure overpopulation by sending a class of eighth graders to an island, giving them weapons and telling them that only one can leave alive (the last one standing). Great social commentary with very frightening and gruesome death scenes. 

5. House of the Devil - Low budget and slow spun but when the shit hits the fan, it hits it hard. Ti West’s well-crafted throwback to the eighties has many fans around the world and though it takes it’s time, the scares deliver.

Honorable Mentions: The Host, 28 Days Later, Funny Games (original), Martyrs, Poltergeist, Audition, Drag Me to Hell.

Also to note: Be sure to check out AMC’s The Walking Dead premiering on Halloween night. The books are amazing (even if horror’s not your thing) and it seems they’ve done an excellent job in capturing the mood and story of the original.

-Dan

Soup’s On!

Be sure to tune in to The Soup Friday (tonight) on E! at 9:00pm CST. Curiosity Shoppe helped produce this week’s episode from Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas. Spoiler alert: It’s funny!