auteurs in franchises

Hey guys,

Some new things:

1. I'm on a cosmic kick.
   

2. Well I'm glad I clicked on this one. It's rare that a date scene stands out anymore. Terrifically written. Completely recognizable characters, so well performed. And it's actually a promo for an album.
   

3. Rian Johnson is a supremely skilled filmmaker - and whether or not you liked Star Wars: The Last Jedi, you can't deny he made a lot of artistic technical choices -- things that felt directorial, rather than autopilot-by-committee. (It's almost like the 3rd Harry Potter film, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, where the storytelling elements are assembled in a more deliberate and thoughtful way than otherwise expected -- the choices always have a philosophy.) Hope this company initiative actually comes to pass and picks interesting projects and doesn't fail to gain traction.
   
   I don't yet have the same confidence in another auteur entering the Marvel franchise. Kevin Feige claims: 
   "We cut a little sample reel together, I remember, to show [Disney higher-ups]. And it was so beautiful, and I had to keep saying, 'This is right out of a camera; there’s no VFX work to this at all!' Because it was a beautiful sunset, with perfect waves and mist coming up from the shore on this giant cliffside — really, really impressive stuff."
   Is this what Marvel movies have come to? Surprise there's an actual landscape?
   

4. I haven't commented much on recent films/TV. This is partly because my mind/time has been busy elsewhere, and partly because of the boredom I feel from so much being released. I am watching some things, but find nothing much to say about them. I also scroll through entertainment news and rarely find much inspiring.
   
   I await the return of art that does for me what Synecdoche, New York did for Roger Ebert. That was over a decade ago, before most "important" films became thin ideological statements.
   
   In the meantime, I looked again at the 10-year-old documentary Kūmāré -- you can watch it here free. I admire it so much because I can admire it in many ways. 1) It's witty and silly and so very telling as a social experiment that successfully tricks its subjects (though there were a few comments about whether that was ethical -- watch and let me know what you think). 2) It's done very inexpensively. 3) It hones in on themes I frequently find myself digging into. 4) It pulls off a character change, a deepening, a realization that the thing being satirized may have its merits.
   

5. Also found it cool to know all the businesses Mark Wahlberg is involved in.

Feel free to share any of this with anyone you know who'd like it -- you can send the links -- or forward the email so they have the chance to subscribe.

If you’re seeing my scrapbook for the first time, you can subscribe here to keep getting it.

Chris