Envelope Music Producers Roundtable: Does genre matter in pop music anymore? [video]

 Last month at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles, Times pop music critic Ann Powers sat down with three of the world's most successful music producers of 2010 for a conversation on hit making. The producers, all of whom are nominated for Grammys this year, included Alex da Kid, best known for Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie" and B.o.B.'s "Airplanes"; Ari Levine of the production trio the Smeezingtons, whose 2010 smashes include Cee Lo Green's "[Forget] You" and Bruno Mars' (also a Smeezington) "Nothin' on You"; and RedOne, who's riding high as Lady Gaga's go-to producer ("Bad Romance," "Poker Face," "Alejandro") but who also hit this year with Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It" and Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor."

In front of a sold-out crowd at the Clive Davis Theater, Powers and the producers participated in a fascinating, lively talk that touched on the characteristics of their music and the paths that led each of the three to nab Grammy nominations and chart-topping songs. In the clip above, Powers discusses the notion of genre in the artists' music and whether their international pedigrees have affected their sounds.

Check back daily from now until the Grammy Awards on Feb. 13 to see more of this fascinating conversation on pop music.

— Randall Roberts

Oscar nominations: Surprises and snubs [video]

Now that the Oscar nominations are out, what to make of it all?

"The King's Speech" leads with 12 and looks poised to duke it out with "The Social Network" for best picture, but "True Grit" proved a bit of a surprise with 10 nominations, including nods for best picture, directors Joel and Ethan Coen (who also are in the running for adapted screenplay), actor Jeff Bridges and supporting actress Hailee Steinfeld. Perhaps an even bigger eyebrow-raiser is "Winter's Bone," which premiered at Sundance a year ago and walked away with four top nominations Tuesday morning.

Among the snubs: Although "Inception's" Christopher Nolan is up for original screenplay, he didn't get a nod for director, leaving him with a career shutout in that category. Also left in the cold were the documentaries "Waiting for Superman" and "Client 9."

For more surprises and snubs, watch the video above as Times film reporters Nicole Sperling and John Horn analyze the Academy Awards.

-- Scott Sandell

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Thursday Roundup, Part 1: Oscar secrets, 'Ghost Writer' trailer, 'Avatar' accusations and Johnny Depp's statue

Hush-hush and Strictly on the QT Dept.: Hitflix has revealed a fistful of scoop in regard to the upcoming Oscar telecast. Reportedly, the theme to the Bill Mechanic-Adam Shankman show is "team" -- as in hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, and to underscore that idea, they've cooked up an opening number by musical director Marc Shaiman that will introduce the dual hosts. There are a few other tidbits (a tribute to John Hughes that will stand apart from the regular In Memoriam segment, which seems sorta silly to me), but the key ingredient for 2010 Oscar success? Taylor Lautner. Yep, the "New Moon" star is who Mechanic and Shankman have in their back pocket to lure the broadest audience possible to the telecast. I raise an eyebrow at such thinking, but then again, I possibly doubt the collective power of the "Twilight" faithful.

Speaking of Oscars, will charges of plagiarism cast a pall over James Cameron's inevitable trophy collection at this year's ceremony? The Guardian is reporting that Russian critics are noting similarities between his blockbuster "Avatar" and a popular series of 10 novels written by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky in the mid-1960s (the Strugatskys may be best known to stateside audiences for Andrei Tarkovsky's "Stalker," which was based on their novel "Roadside Picnic"). Like "Avatar," the "Noon Universe" cycle takes place on a lush jungle planet called Pandora, which is inhabited by an indigenous race called the Nave. Cameron's CGI creatures are called the Na'vi. The global success of "Avatar" has sparked considerable debate in the Strugatskys' native country, with one paper devoting an entire page to the similarities. Cameron -- who is no stranger to charges of plagiarism, having dealt with them in regard to "The Terminator" (which bore a strong resemblance to stories written by legendary author Harlan Ellison for "The Outer Limits") -- has denied all allegations, and appears to have an ally in Boris Strugatsky (brother Arkady died in 1991). The 76-year-old writer has dismissed any carbon claims, as well as the notion that he is seeking legal action against Cameron. None of this is likely to have any impact on box-office results for "Avatar," which is now past the $1-billion mark worldwide.

In other international news, a trailer has been released for Roman Polanski's latest film, "The Ghost Writer." It's nice to finally get a glimpse at the thriller, which stars Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Kim Cattrall and Tom Wilkinson, which has been completely overshadowed by Polanski's legal woes. No word on when it'll reach our shores, but it's slated to play the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, which runs from Feb. 11 to 21.

You know, Europe is lovely this time of year, so let's stay there for our final item. Polanski's "Ninth Gate" star, Johnny Depp, was in Serbia this week -- why, you ask? To attend the third International Kustendorf Film and Music Festival, of course, and to unveil a statue of himself as part of the opening ceremonies. The statue (which looks an awful lot like Keanu Reeves, if you ask me) depicts Depp in his 1993 film "Arizona Dream," which he made with director Emir Kusturica in 1993. The two-time Palm d'Or winner ("When Father Was Away on Business" and "Underground") is reunited with Depp for his next feature, "Seven Friends of Pancho Villa and the Woman with Six Fingers," which also reportedly stars Salma Hayek. Here's a shot of Depp, his wooden likeness and director Kusturica, for your viewing pleasure.

 

-- Paul Gaita
 

Top photo: Taylor Lautner. Credit: Getty Images.

Bottom photo: Johnny Depp and Emir Kusturica. Credit: Getty Images.

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Oscars for 15 sci-tech achievements

Fifteen scientific and technical achievements, ranging from performance capture systems to photorealistic digital imagery and a host of 3D technology (a lot more developed than as depicted at left), will receive Scientific and Technical Academy Awards. The 46 individual recipients will honored at the annual awards presentation Feb. 20. 

Though the winning achievements may seem a bit like complex algebra to all but those in the industry who utilize them, each has made an impact on the entertainment business; Industrial Light and Magic's Imocap system brought to life the human-crustacean hybrids in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," while cutting-edge visual effects companies such as the Oscar-winning Weta Digital have sung the praises of the ARRISCAN film scanner. 

The 2010 winners differ from their predecessors in that they were not required to have been developed and introduced in 2009; instead, they had to show a proven track record of contributing "significant value" to the business of moviemaking.

The list of winners, along with a (much-needed) explanation of their workings, is after the break.

— Paul Gaita

Tuesday roundup: Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' to premiere at Berlin Film Fest; Ebert, Auteurs debate best movie posters of the decade; holiday movies for the 'discerning' viewer

First, the news: While Roman Polanski, under house arrest in Switzerland, awaits word on his possible extradition to the United States, his latest film, "The Ghost Writer," will premiere at the 60th Annual Berlin International Film Festival. The pic was announced as one of seven films competing for Golden and Silver Bears in the fest's main program; Martin Scorsese's period thriller, "Shutter Island," will also screen, but out of competition. More titles in competition (26 in total) will be announced in January; the Berlinale runs Feb. 11-21.

Now, on to lighter subjects: The onset of the new decade means that the lists of best and worst (insert debatable topic here) of the decade will snowball over the next few weeks; most will be highly subjective and, as such, interesting only to the compiler of the list. However, over at The Auteurs, there's a swell collection of movie one-sheets that writer Adrian Curry has compiled, and it's a pleasure to view, both from an aesthetic standpoint and for his reasons for choosing them. Michael Haneke's American remake of "Funny Games" tops his list, and he's quiet eloquent in detailing both the uncomfortable feelings and quiet beauty evoked by the image (nice call-out to Godard's "Vivre sa vie" too). His other choices are equally eclectic but no less appealing: the Chris Ware poster for "The Savages" flows nicely into the glaring goofiness of "The Forty-Year-Old Virgin," which seems entirely right next to the poster for Wilco's "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." 

Curry's list apparently struck a chord with Roger Ebert, who was inspired (his word is "inflamed") to put together his own list. Oscarologists will note the inclusion of "Precious," "The Queen" and "Man on Wire," while others will appreciate his broad spectrum of choices, which include everything from "Zoolander" to the indie horror pics "The Abandoned" and "Grace." Curry and Ebert have a lively and polite debate in the comments section, which is full of other intriguing picks from readers. The best part of this exchange is that it might encourage a few people to seek out the films behind the images that engage them, which can never be a bad thing.

Speaking of eclectic choices, a panel of contributors at The L Magazine offer up alternatives to the standard holiday TV and DVD fare. The title is a little smug -- "The Discerning Person's Guide to Underrated Christmas Movies" sounds like smart-guy talk for "You're Dumb If You Love 'Miracle at 34th Street'" -- but the choices are both imaginative and all-encompassing in terms of genre and subject matter. Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" gets a few votes for its evocation of holiday madness at its most fever-pitched, but there are also nods to "The Shop Around the Corner," "The Apartment," "The Royal Tenenbaums" and even "Gremlins" and "Bell, Book and Candle."

I was pleased to see Whit Stillman's lovely "Metropolitan" get a few votes, and Stillman himself is among the contributors; he picks Bill Forsyth's "Comfort and Joy," while his acidic muse, Chris Eigeman, shows his affection for the Rankin-Bass stop-motion TV specials. You may not love all the films in this list, but you have to admit that with suggestions like these, there's simply no reason for you to sit through "Jingle All the Way." Again.

-- Paul Gaita

Image: "Funny Games" Credit: Warner Independent 

Video: New red carpet hosts Chris Harrison and Carrie Ann Inaba gear up for the Emmys

The 2009 Emmys are only days away, and although most of the focus is -- naturally -- on the ceremony itself (who will win, who will lose and who will say what), "The Bachelor" host Chris Harrison and "Dancing With the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba are a lot more worried about the pre-show on the red carpet. Understandably so because the Emmys will mark the pair's first time as red carpet hosts for TV Guide Network.

Harrison and Inaba have worked together only once before, co-hosting the 2008 American Music Awards. However, judging from our footage, these two TV personalities already have a strong rapport in addition to their extensive experience to make sure Sunday's broadcast go as smooth as live TV can go.

In this first of four clips, the duo talk about how they came to be TV Guide's new red carpet hosts and Harrison talks about the new side of Inaba viewers will see Sunday.

L.A. band looks to win big at Blues Music Awards

As a child in Los Angeles, Randy Chortkoff had a visitor to his house who would later influence him in ways he could never imagine. Jazz great Louis Armstrong was friends with Chortkoff's dad and stopped by for food and jam sessions that filled Chortkoff's home when he was about 6.

Now, decades later, he is a musician and the head of Delta Groove Productions, whose artists have garnered 18 nominations at the 30th annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis. Chortkoff, 59, plays the harmonica and is the emcee of his label's group the Mannish Boys, who hope to take home prizes for album of the year, band of the year and traditional blues album of the year.

The awards, to be held Thursday, will feature performances by Irma Thomas, Taj Mahal, Bettye LaVette and more. B.B. King will also take the stage, bestowing the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award named after himself, at an event that shows off blues music's finest.

“We don't have a Grammys or a Country Music Awards,” Chortkoff said. “But when we all get together, we just see people we have known for years and years and it's like a big congregation, a secret society sort of. We hope that this year will put these awards and this event on the map.”

The Mannish Boys, who debuted in 2004 with the album "That Represent Man," is a fraternity all its own with nine band members ranging in age from mid-30s to 70s. The band name comes from the Muddy Waters song of the same name, in which the singer brags youthfully that he is a “full grown man.” It inspired Chortkoff because he says the guys are all “kids at heart,” who love the blues.

“Blues music is the foundation of all music. It came from the cotton fields of the South and translated into jazz and rock 'n' roll and other forms of music,” he said. “I just know that there is a niche throughout society and throughout the world that is just touched by blues music.”

As for the Blues Music Awards, Chortkoff is quick to note that the festivities would be nothing without the Blues Foundation, a group that aids ailing blues musicians, as well as those getting their start in the artform.

“The Blues Foundation does a lot to increase awareness [of blues music],” he said. “It's a great organization.”

The Blues Music Awards will be held at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Other nominees include B.B. King for traditional blues album of the year, Etta James for soul blues female artist of the year and Buddy Guy for contemporary blues male artist of the year, contemporary blues album of the year and album of the year.

– Lora Victorio

VIDEO: Oscars red carpet, exclusive clips and more

 

 

 

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