“I think for Bob, it has always been, what really gets him going is figuring out a way to do something in traditional storytelling. Perhaps it can turn into making Fords and Chevys. You can be on the factory line, and you can make a hit movie. But to get him going, to get him excited about a project, I think he has to see something in it that pushes him and what he does to another level.”
Contact is a tremendous movie. 27 years after its release, Robert Zemeckis’ film remains awe-inspiring. The Carl Sagan adaptation is emotionally, intellectually, and viscerally engaging science-fiction. It’s the full-package. For cinematographer Don Burgess, it is the most challenging film he’s shot. Which is saying a lot considering he just made Here with Zemeckis, in which the two explore the passage of time from one angle.
AFI Fest wrapped its 38th edition this Sunday as the last of the major festivals in the fall preceding awards voting. AFI is an amazing institution in the heart of Hollywood, the festival echoed its mission statement as a leading institution that supports filmmakers, promotes film culture, and preserves film heritage. The AFI Fest showcased many of the best festival films to Los Angeles audiences. It debuted several films with Red Carpet Premieres, hosted documentaries, and shorts, and had some interesting Q&As with filmmakers.
