Curio: Carole Bayer Sager's Friends

Alexa here. Carole Bayer Sager is best known as a songwriter. Anyone who came of age in the 80s will know the songs she helped create with the likes of Marvin Hamlisch and her ex-husband Burt Bacarach. Many of these figured prominently in film, like "That's What Friends Are For" (I remember Rod Stewart's version being used in Night Shift, although Dionne Warwick's version with her friends is more famous) and "Nobody Does It Better" (one of the best Bond songs). Carole won an Oscar alongside Bacarach and Christopher Cross in 1981 for the indelible "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)".

These days, less excited with songwriting, she has turned to oil painting.  She discusses her new work, mostly of large-scale abstractions and macro-like images of food, in October's issue of W magazine. While her abstractions are stronger, she has also painted portraits of her famous friends, many of which reveal an intimate side of figures we often don't get to see.  Here are a few from the film world she has captured. You can see all her work here.

Steve Martin and his wife Anne StringfieldNicole, Sunday Rose, and KeithStephen Spielberg

Curio: Recycling Celluloid

Alexa here.  The arrival of The Master, possibly the last film shot in large format film, has many lamenting the turnover of most theaters from celluloid to digital. Next year 20th Century Fox isn't even distributing film prints of its movies, and the other studios will likely follow soon. Digital is cheaper and easier, but the magical grain and glow of film are certainly unique.  The projectionists are being cast aside along with the reels (see The Last Projectionist for a great trip through that lost craft).  

And what of all those soon-to-be useless reels? Fox's Latin American division announced that they would be sending all that celluloid away to be manufactured into polyester fabric.  Rather than create more flammable clothes, here are some crafters and artists putting all that leftover film to more creative ends.

Collapsible bookshelves using recycled film by VU35.Portraits of Audrey and Marilyn using recycled 8mm film by Erika Iris Simmons. 

Click for more creations, and for how to get your hands on some film stock yourself...

Click to read more ...

Curio: Elaine Hanelock's Psychedelia

Alexa here. I've been on a bit of a redecorating jag lately, most likely because I'm pregnant and somehow that comes with the territory. In my searches for some upgraded artwork I came upon these vintage posters from 1968 designed by Elaine Hanelock.  I've had trouble finding any information on the artist, but her work looks to be a part of, or at the very least influenced by, the San Francisco poster art scene of the time (exemplified by artists like Bonnie Maclean). While this type of style is usually in the service of a gig poster, I love that these instead celebrate Golden Age film stars.  If mod is your thing you can find some of Elaine's original prints for sale on ebay and etsy at a reasonable price.  Here's a sampling.

Charlie ChaplinJean Harlow and Clara Bow

Click to read more ...

Actress a Day: Amanda Seyfried

It occurred to me yesterday that no one ever speaks of Amanda Seyfried when they speak of Les Misérables, it's always 'Hugh this' and 'Hathaway that' and 'can Barks act for the big screen?' and so on. So for today's "Actress A Day" here's a little Seyfried, she of the flaxen hair, wide spread eyes and vaguely inexplicable career choices.

Gone... Really?

I can't say I fully get Amanda's career but I can tell you that she is super difficult to draw. I went through so many sketches and she always ended up looking more like Goldie or Reese or Lindsay until I finally gave up because this project is meant to be quick sketches and if I'm going to do it I can't be a perfectionist! 

What's your favorite Amanda Seyfriend performance.  I'm still most fond of the early ones: Mean Girls and Big Love. Will Lovelace or Les Mis finally make good on all that endearing early promise?

Beauty Break: #Charbender

My thanks to JA of MNPP for the best hashtag ever. Tonight, I needed some beauty in my life so I was staring at these W Magazine pictures of Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender again. If Global Warming must destroy us all, let the heat come from sexually combustible celebrity couplings instead of mankind's stupid disregard for the environment.

These two could melt ice caps. More pics and hilarious Charbender exchange after the jump.

Click to read more ...