QuickFLIX: Are You The Next Great Film Director?

Are you an aspiring filmmaker? Perhaps you don’t think of yourself that way, but you like to shoot goofy videos with your camera phone. Well, whether your an iPhone auteur or a budding Bergman, you only have have four more days to submit a movie to the QuickFLIX filmmaking contest–CLP-Teen Services one and only movie competition.

As we wrap up the second year of free QuickFLIX filmmaking workshops (all led by talented Pittsburgh Filmmakers artist, Sarah), I’d like to urge all of our readers to step up and submit a video. Don’t be shy–all you have to do is send us a movie (3 minutes or less) to teens@carnegielibrary.org. (You can also upload to YouTube and send us a link, or use a free file sharing site like sendspace if the file is too large.)

What could you win? I’m glad you asked:

Grand Prize: $100 iTunes gift card
2nd Prize: $50 iTunes gift card
3rd Prize: $25 iTunes gift card

You have until Friday at midnight to submit your movie. Need inspiration or want to see what you’re up against? Check out this year’s submissions on the CLP-Teens YouTube channel:

For more details on the contest (rules, how to submit, etc.), click HERE.

Happy movie-making!

- Corey, Digital Learning Librarian

OMG: The Amazing Spider-Man!

© 1941-2012 Marvel Characters, Inc.

I’m not gonna lie – I’ve stockpiled the bulk of my summer movie anticipation/excitement for a certain nocturnal hero who, they say, is going to rise.  That said, The Amazing Spider-Man, which opens today, has been something of a wild card for me ever since the first trailer was released way back when.  As a comic fan of the webhead, I’d had a hard time swallowing the prior theatrical entries.  Thus, I was relieved upon hearing the news of a reboot… for about five seconds… when I saw that said reboot was going to be sandwiched in between the behemoths: The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises!  ‘Seriously?  Poor Spidey’s gonna get eaten alive,’ I thought.  BUT(!), having seen some hard footage, I’m pretty confident that everyone’s favorite teen science geek turned wisecracking crime-fighter will hold his own this summer (the bridge and car thief scenes in the super preview…  A-MAZ-ING!)

© 1941-2012 Marvel Characters, Inc.

With a new cast, some fresh characters and what looks to be a legit CGI Lizard, The Amazing Spider-Man aims to present a more modern and realistic interpretation of this iconic mythos.  The inclusion of Gwen Stacy, Peter’s quest for info on his parents, and the hints that Peter’s dad is somehow mysteriously tied to Spidey’s abilities all point towards the Ultimate Spider-Man comics being a key influence on the new film.  So… gonna check it out?  I personally guarantee that it’ll be better than this.

Some Spidey Awesomeness:

                    

Jon : CLP Carrick

Pittsburgh: Everyone’s Favorite Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

Courtesy of http://www.retronaut.co

In 1868, the journalist James Parton described Pittsburgh as “hell with the lid off.”

Fast forward a century, as well as a complete reinvention from a smoggy steel town to a revitalizing medical research center, and you know what people think of when they think of Pittsburgh?

The end of the world.

No, really. Over the last few decades, Pittsburgh has been the focal point of a number of different apocalyptic wastelands, each more dire than the last, and it seems that filmmakers and video game programmers have striven to see how far they can envision Pittsburgh’s urban enclaves of abandoned buildings into a hopeless, desolate place. Warning: the end of the world is not, as you can imagine, a pleasant place. The following clips might contain curse words or reasons to be scared of ever venturing into the tunnels.

For instance, thanks to George Romero and his 1978 movie Dawn of the Dead, the world bore witness to a world in which hordes of zombies, rapidly overtaking the living, surrounded a ragtag group of hapless survivors taking refuge in… Monroeville Mall.

Trust me. These people aren’t banging down the doors looking for a sale. They’re looking for your brains.

Another couple of decades later, and Pittsburghers who played Fallout 3 were treated to a dystopian Pittsburgh in which the rivers became irradiated by nuclear fallout, causing genetic mutations, social upheaval, and a grimy industrial slave trade.

Not long after, Pittsburgh and the Western PA area debuted as a place where dread and desolation reign, and where cannibals run amok as the setting for the film version of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. You might even recognize a number of shots from the film from this stretch of abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Finally, enter Naughty Dog’s upcoming game for PS3, entitled The Last of Us. The Last of Us features a world in which the Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani fungus, which infects ants’ brains and forces them to climb up to places where it can shower its spores onto the rain forest floor, has somehow found its way into humans. Players play as a man who, along with a 14-year-old girl, must match brutality for brutality as they attempts to survive in a world turned upside-down.

If you’re in high school, you’ve probably spent a lot of time imagining how you’d survive a variety of different apocalypses, from natural to zombie alike. Well, if the last few years of entertainment are any indication, you’re going to have a lot of people doing the imagining for you.

~Joseph
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main

The Last Day of School…the Movie!

The end of the school year….  Ahhhhh….  It’s so close, you can taste it, right?  Soon the public pools will open, Extravaganza and Teen Summer Reading will be in full effect, the Pirates will be crushing the competition (well…. hopefully….), and you’ll be homework free for a solid two or three months.  When I think back to my school days, I remember those last ones the fondest.  The summer held so much anticipation and so much promise!  I almost didn’t even mind attending school, because I knew my days there were numbered.  The school days were short, the tired teachers showed films instead of- well- teaching, and the only writing we students did was in yearbooks.  Turns out many others have found inspiration in those last days of school, so much so that there are entire movies dedicated to those last days of school.  Teens of Pittsburgh- you are almost there!  Join us at CLP Main- Teen on your last day of school- Wednesday, June 13 at 3 pm- for a screening of a classic of the genre.  Until then, you’ll just have to experience the excitement the last days through film.  Below are some of the best and they are all available to check out from the library.

Can’t Hardly Wait

Dazed and Confused

I Love You Beth Cooper

Rock ‘N’ Roll High School

Say Anything

Summer School

The Wackness

Feel inspired to make your own last day of school film?  Check out CLP’s QuickFlix 2012 contest and free digital filmmaking workshops!

A Night in Panem: Hunger Games Movie Anticipation Party @ CLP Main

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have probably heard of the ultra popular “Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins and upcoming film release.  If you haven’t read the books yet, then get thee to the library this very instant and pick up a copy!  Everyone and their mother and their mother’s mother seems to be riding the wave of “Hunger Games” super fandom these days.  And for good reason too!  The books are action packed and full of heart, with characters that are completely fleshed out- including a strong female lead, and the dystopian setting seems eerily too close to full realization.  The highly anticipated film version of the first novel in the series will be opening Friday, March 23rd.  In anticipation of the film’s release, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Main Library will be hosting “A Night in Panem”, an after-hours event for hard-core fans of all ages on Thursday, March 22.  Test your Hunger Games knowledge in trivia, train like a tribute for the battle in the arena, enjoy baked goods and cookie decorating in honor of Peeta, make a bow and arrow like Katniss’ and Gale’s, experience a Reaping with prizes instead of imminent death, and so much more!

A Night in Panem: Movie Anticipation Party
May the Odds be every in your favor

Thursday, March 22
8:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main
4400 Forbes Ave.
412.622.3114
teensmain@carnegielibrary.org

Hunger for more?  Check these books out:

The Girl who was on Fire: Your Favorite Authors on Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Trilogy

edited by Leah Wilson

The Hunger Games: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Kate Egan

The Hunger Games Companion: The Unauthorized Guide to the Series

by Lois H. Gresh

The Hunger Games Tribute Guide by Emily Seife

Jennifer Lawrence: Star of the Hunger Games by Katherine E. Krohn

Hunger Games: Katniss Madness!

After finally reading the Hunger Games a few weeks ago, I am totally hooked!

With the release of the Hunger Games movie on March 23nd, this blog post is a guide to all the wonderful Hunger Games related titles and upcoming library events!

First, it is not too late to read the book. And don’t forget the Hunger Games is a trilogy!

Have you already read the complete series? Check out the recently released Hunger Games Tribute Guide!

The Hunger Games starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen is going to be released at the stroke of midnight on Friday, March 23rd. Have you seen the trailer yet?

Before you head to the theater for the midnight release come to the library for a night of trivia, crafts and a chance to win two free movie tickets! You simply cannot miss A Night in Panem: Movie Anticipation Party at Main Library, March 22nd, 8:30-10:30 PM! Open to teens and adults!

The Teen Kindle Book Club at the Hazelwood Library will be reading and discussing the Hunger Games every Tuesday at 5:00 PM for the rest of March! Open to all middle and high school students!

Last but not least, Carrick  and West End Library also have special events planned for March!

-Michael (CLP Hazelwood)

Winter Break Boredom.

Happy Winter Break!

It is now December 23rd and winter break has just begun. Once all the eating and gift giving subsides you will definitely be looking for some free or low-cost fun! Here are my top five suggestions!

1. Visit your local library for a free program! You can make a winter bracelet at Hazelwood or a party hat at Main on Wednesday. And all week long you can get your game on at you nearest library: East Liberty, Hill District, Allegheny, Hazelwood, Main, and Downtown.

2. Go ice skating! At Schenley Skating Rink, one session and skate rental is only $5.50 for those age 17 and under! The Rink at PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh or the brand new “Penguins Pond” in the South Side Works will each run you $9.00 with skate rental.

3. Bowling. It might sound lame but bowling with a group of friends are some of my fondest memories. At Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill there are all you can bowl deals for $10.00 a person including shoes! Check out teen friendly Rock ‘n Bowl and Pizza, Pop & Bowling at Arsenal Lanes on Butler St. in Lawrenceville.

4. Trip to the movies. Many local movie theaters have weekday discounts. Check out $5.00 Mondays or no 3D surcharge Wednesdays at the SouthSide Works Cinema. Shows before 6:00PM Monday through Thursday at the AMC Loews Waterfront are also discounted to $5.00.

 5. Last but not least… FIREWORKS on New Years Eve! Check out the website for the Cultural District’s First Night 2012 Celebration for information about the best places to view the fireworks! Hint: There are shows at 6:00 PM and Midnight.

Please have a safe and happy Winter Break! If you have anything to add please feel free to comment!

-Michael (CLP Hazelwood)

Take our poll: Do you like Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss?

It was announced today that actress Jennifer Lawrence has been cast as Katniss Everdeen in the super-very-exciting Hunger Games movie!

What do you think of Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) as Katniss?

(polls)

Director Battle Royale: Sweet 16

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main’s Film & Audio Department has begun their annual “March Madness” competition. But instead of voting on college basketball teams, you vote on the best movie directors of all time! If you’re really into films, you should check it out. And if you’re not, but you’d like to know more, stop by Film & Audio on the second floor of the Main Library in Oakland to find out more.) Here’s how it works:

Director Battle Royale

Who is the best movie director of all time? Help decide by voting in Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s March Movie Madness! We’re using the NCAA basketball tournament as a model, but our four divisions are The Legends, The Heavyweights, The Ambassadors, and The Eclectics.

Vote Online

How to Play

Vote in every round for your favorite picks in each bracket. You can vote online or use an official paper ballot available in the Film & Audio Department at CLP – Main. There are no prizes, just the fun of arguing with your friends.

Voting Dates:

Sweet Sixteen	March 9 – 13
Elite Eight	March 16 – 20
Final Four	March 23 – 27
Finals	March 30 – April 3

Winning Director Announced: April 5

Our Methods

We used a variety of resources, including 501 Movie Directors and a list of “Best Director” Academy Award nominees, to compile a list of possible contenders. Then Library staff then began the painful process of voting to determine the final list of directors. Seeding is based on year of birth. And yes, we know we left out a lot of really great directors and included some that would never have made your list. It’s tradition!

Fun Stuff

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh offers DVDs representing every director in the competition, so check them out before voting. For trivia, commentary and updates related to the contest, search Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Film & Audio on Facebook.

Hop to it! Vote online!

Corey W.
CLP - Main

Dance Fever

This Sunday I went to see Step Up 3D, and I have to say that it has all the elements that I require in a great summer movie.

1. No distracting plot.

2. Lots of energy without resorting to blowing things up…

3. Except for my MIND, of course.  The dancing was a little mind blowing at points (see: Madd Chadd, Master of Mechanical Movement)

You can read profiles of all the main dancers in the movie in this USA Today article.  But what I really want to talk about is: what do you do once you’ve gone to see Step Up 3D and are infected with dance fever?  YouTube videos will only exacerbate the problem.

Our librarians have already put together some resources that can help you with this dilemma.  Click here to see their collections of links to specific dance resources in the catalog, and links to lists of Pittsburgh based dance companies and recretational dance groups.

Or check out some of these DVDS for inspiration and skill-sharpening:

RIZE, directed by David LaChapelle, a super energy-packed documentary about Clowning and Krumping.

Singing in the Rain: The classic of the classics.  There’s a scene in Step Up 3D that is very reminiscent of the old musicals, and the dance here is exhilirating in its own right.

Any of these DVDs that can be searched for under the subject heading Dancers — Drama.

Or, these Dance Workout DVDS!

Dance Your Ass Off: The Workout

Dancing with the Stars Cardio Dance

Fat Burning Hip Hop Dance Grooves

Or, you could just get the soundtrack to one of the Step Up movies (here) and make your own choreography.    Just make sure to share it with your local teen librarian.  Who knows, we might hold our own Library Jam.