lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014

Music & Movies Amid economic crisis, a silver lining for Greek filmmakers

he economic crisis that has devastated Greece has also in the 1990’s. “The crisis has helped in an unexpected way. It taries and short films were crippled for lack of funding. This spurred the country’s filmmakers onto a prize-winning has brought together very creative people and it has com- acted as a wake-up call to the industry, unlike the past when Trenaissance in a rare success story from the eurozone pelled them to work together,” says George Corraface, one of many were content to wait for the next state payout. “Before nation. The same recession that brought misery to tens of Greece’s best-known international actors with a 30-year career the crisis, Greek filmmakers wanted 300-500,000 euros thousands of families since 2009 has fueled demand for tales in Europe and the United States. “People do amazing work ($200,000-$360,000) to make a movie,” said an industry source out of Greece-prompting the nation’s filmmakers not only to with very little money, and this has a huge effect. It creates a who declined to be named. adapt to the new economic realities but also rack up awards in buzz all over festivals,” he told AFP. “Now they do it with 100,000 euros,” he said, adding that the process. movie production is now better targeted too. “When the mon- Last year, 36-year-old Alexandros Avranas picked up a best Turmoil an inspiration ey was flowing, 15 Greek movies would be made in one year director prize at the Venice Film Festival with ‘Miss Violence’, a Social turmoil has traditionally inspired artistic expression, but only two would be shown in cinemas. The rest would nev- movie about a girl’s hushed-up suicide that also won a best said Karantinakis. In Greece, the economy has shrunk by a er see the light of day, and some of their creators didn’t even actor award. Two years earlier, ‘Dogtooth’ by 41-year-old quarter and unemployment shot up to over 27 percent. The care,” the source said. With less domestic funding, Greek film- Yorgos Lanthimos-a film about a dysfunctional Greek family- youth have been particularly hard-hit, with more than one in makers have been searching for new contacts and sponsors was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars, the first two without a job. “The younger generation of filmmakers abroad. Zois said most films in Greece are now done on a such accolade for a Greek film in over 30 years. “The crisis has feels the need to say things ...and urgently so,” says Yorgos shoestring budget, or are European co-productions. And put the spotlight on Greece, and this has spurred Greek film- Zois, an award-winning short film director now preparing his Greek directors have learned they need to move audiences if makers,” said Gregory Karantinakis, general manager of the first feature movie. “There are a lot of things simmering under they want to surmount problem of language, a barrier which Greek Film Centre, the state-supervised body supporting the surface in Greek society-existential, economic-so it is traditionally limited distribution of Greek-language films. Greek cinema. urgent for people to take a stand,” adds the 33-year-old, who “There’s very little room for Greek films,” said Corraface. “So it’s A flood of international media coverage of anti-austerity originally studied applied math and physics. necessary to make films that are a bit shocking, that wake protests, many of them violent, has paradoxically helped But while a source of inspiration, the crisis, unsurprisingly, people up. And I think (Greeks have caught onto that),” he pique interest. “People outside Greece have sought to discov- has also has ravaged finances. Before all fell apart, the industry added. — AFP er what is happening in the country,” he said. “Dogtooth” relied on state funding from the Greek Film Centre (GFC), and director Lanthimos also won best screenplay at Venice in 2011 ERT, the state broadcaster. But over the past five years, the with ‘Alps’-a movie about an underground organization that GFC’s funding has fallen by 35 percent while domestic ticket helps mourners by impersonating the deceased. He is now sales-another key money source-are down 45 percent. And directing his first English-language feature, ‘Lobster’, starring last year, the government axed ERT. The shutdown was Greek award-winning short Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz. The film is a dystopian love dra- designed to trim the state payroll-one of Greece’s obligations film director Yorgos Zois ma set in the future. under its multi-billion EU-IMF bailout-by more than 2,000 jobs. poses at the Greek Film Overall, Greek cinema is riding a wave of success unseen A downsized state broadcaster was set up to replace ERT, Archive premises in Athens since the European glory days of director Theo Angelopoulos but in the interim, scores of productions including documen- yesterday. — AFP ‘Believe’ review: A good girl in need of Darth Vader

elieve” is a great villain away from being a show I’d keep watching. Expectations “Bcouldn’t be much higher for the NBC drama, premiering tonight. It comes from Oscar- winner Alfonso Cuaron, the brilliant mind behind “Gravity,” and J.J. Abrams, who co-created “Lost” and now rules both the “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” universes. You know why people like “Star Wars” more than “Star Trek”? Because of Darth Vader. He was so ruthless, so composed, that you couldn’t help but root for anyone going up against him. When the prequels made Vader good, the saga lost all momentum. In lieu of a Vader, “Believe” has Kyle MacLachlan, whom, I’m sorry, I can’t stop loving. He earned a Beyonce, Garner want lifetime of goodwill playing Dale Cooper on “Twin Peaks,” and he’s delightful as the sturdily compe- tent mayor of “Portlandia.” I even liked him in to ban the word ‘Bossy’ “Showgirls.” It’s hard to root against him, and that’s on’t let Beyonce hear you using the word “bossy,” because a problem for “Believe.” The show went through she’s joining Lifetime in its mission to ban the label from two showrunners before settling on Jonas Pate, Dour vocabulary. “Being labeled something matters. By mid- which suggests it struggled to find its direction. dle school, girls are less interested in leadership than boys, and Hopefully it does in the next few episodes, because that’s because they worry about being called bossy,” Beyonce it has plenty going for it. helps a number of other successful women - and men - say in the It’s about a little girl, Bo (Johnny Sequoyah) who Lean In PSA. “We need to tell them it’s okay to be ambitious. We has Christ-like powers that may save the world. need to help them lean in. Words matter. Let’s just ban the ‘bossy,’ After her parents are killed in a horrifying opener - This photo released by NBC shows Sienna Guillory, left, as Moore, and Johnny Sequoyah as Bo, and encourage girls to lead.” Cuaron directs it as spectacularly as you would in the pilot of the new NBC television series, ‘Believe. — AP Jennifer Garner, Jane Lynch, Condoleezza Rice and Diane von expect - she falls into the care of a former death Furstenberg appear with NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson, US row inmate, Tate (Jake McLaughlin). The mysterious Bo are nefarious? We also kind of admire his main aren’t even allowed to shoot her. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Girl Scouts USA CEO Anna Milton Winter (Delroy Lindo) breaks him of prison. apprentice, Moore (Sienna Guillory), for bringing Okay, granted: Bo is not a normal child, as we Maria Chavez in the #BanBossy campaign spearheaded by Winter leads a mysterious group dedicated to pro- some gender parity to the male-dominated assas- see in the show’s second big set piece. But her Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who also takes a stand in the 60- tecting Bo, but not willing to use guns, because sin’s game. It’s also kind of endearing that she’s so strength makes us even less invested in her fate. It second spot that airs on Lifetime. that would make things too easy. bad at assassinating. feels like she’s going to be just fine, whether we The commercial for Lean In and Girl Scouts’ Ban Bossy move- Winter is wise, Bo is adorable and sweet, and Sure, she’s involved in killing the parents. But watch or not. So I’m hoping the show can make ment, which is supported by Lifetime and a number of other part- Tate has kind of an Owen Wilson thing going. We we’ve known the parents would die since the first Skouras a little more scary. Or Moore a little bit ners, aims to raise awareness for raising girls’ self esteem during like them all. And the no-guns thing, foolish as it is, preview for “Believe” months ago. Moore is one of faster. Or the Christlike orphan a little more of a early adolescence - a pivotal moment in their development. “I’m should make them feel even more like a ragtag those TV killers we’re told is relentless and unstop- martyr. Is that asking a lot? Yes. But Cuaron and not bossy,” Beyonce concludes. “I’m the boss.”— Reuters group of lovable underdogs. But I’m not totally pable, even though she’s always just a step or two Abrams can handle high expectations. — Reuters invested, because again: The Empire is run by the behind, even though her main opponents are a charming dude I can’t stop liking. MacLachlan is dude fresh out of jail and a small child. And they named Skouras here, and are we sure his plans for ‘Grand Budapest Hotel’ books record limited box-office opening es Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Budapest played at the Arclight Cinerama Dome Hotel” posted one of the best limited in Hollywood and at the Landmark in LA; in Wopenings ever this weekend. The quirky Manhattan, it played at the Regal Union Square ensemble comedy brought in a stunning and the AMC Lincoln Square. $800,000 for Fox Searchlight, from only two the- The plan for next week is to expand into 17 aters in New York and two in . That’s more markets and up the theater count to 65 or an eye-popping per-screen average of more than 70 theaters, Fox Searchlight’s distribution chief $200,000 per screen. That’s easily the best open- Frank Rodriguez told TheWrap. “We knew the ing weekend ever for writer-director Anderson, opening would be very good, but this perform- whose last film “Moonrise Kingdom” became a ance is really above anyone’s expectations. This sleeper hit in 2012 after opening in four theaters really seems to have come together because of a with $522,000. That one went on to take in $68 collaboration. Wes and his team have worked million worldwide. really hard to promote it, the theater owners “Grand Budapest” blew past the standard set embraced it and our publicity and marketing by “The Master,” the Phillip Seymour Hoffman people hit it out of the park,” Rodriguez said. “All drama which averaged $147,000 on five theaters that and the great reviews added up to terrific in 2012, and is among the top ten limited open- weekend for us.” Fox Searchlight was also cele- ings of all time, according to Box Office Mojo. brating “12 Years a Slave,” its Best Picture Oscar “Grand Budapest” focuses on an urbane winner that returned to theaters and cracked the concierge in Europe between the two World top ten with $2.1 million despite its release on This CD cover image released by RCA Nashville shows Wars, and features Bill Murray, F. Murray DVD last week. — Reuters “Slow Me Down,” the latest release by . —AP canceled Abraham, Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Willem ‘’ Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan and Tilda Swinton. It’s a hit Review: Sara Evans’ new by Fox after 4 seasons with critics and has a sterling 89 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. ox has canceled “Raising Hope” after four “Getting to know and love the Chance fami- Word-of-mouth clearly helped “Grand is worth the wait seasons. The sitcom’s last episode will run ly on ‘Raising Hope’ has been a sweet, hilarious Budapest,” which was up 14 percent from its strong first-night showing Friday. “Grand Fas a two-part, one-hour finale on April 4. ride,” Kevin Reilly, chairman of entertainment he cover of Sara Evans’ new album depicts her in The night will kick off at 9 pm, with the episode and Joe Earley, chief operating officer, Fox front of a giant clock above the title “Slow Me Down” “How I Met Your Mullet,” in which guest star Broadcasting Company added. “Thanks to the - an ironic statement for a country star releasing only Lesley Nicol (“Downton Abbey”) plays Jimmy incredibly talented cast - along with Greg, Mike T her second album in nine years. But taking her time bene- (Lucas Neff) and Sabrina’s (Shannon Woodward) and the entire crew - for making us laugh for fits Evans in one way: “Slow Me Down” ranks with such past new maid. four fantastic seasons.” gems as 2005’s “Real Fine Place” and 2000’s “,” Then, in separate a half-hour titled “The “Raising Hope,” created by Garcia (“The two of Evans’s best, and most successful, . She also Father Daughter Dance,” Virginia’s (Martha Millers”), premiered in the fall of 2010. Starring profits from working with one producer, Mark Bright, who Plimpton) dad (guest star Jeffrey Tambor, Emmy Award-winners Plimpton and Cloris also co-produced “Real Fine Place” with Evans, a move away “Arrested Development”) returns to Natesville Leachman - along with Garret Dillahunt, Neff, from the multiple producers found on Evans’ disappointing with a surprise for her and Burt (Garret Woodward and Gregg Binkley - the series fol- 2011 release, “Restless.” Dillahunt), including a musical performance by lows a lovingly dysfunctional family as they Bright adds particularly inventive and engaging Kenny Loggins (guest-starring as himself). raise an adorable yet unexpected addition to arrangements to such standout cuts as “Sweet Spot” and “On behalf of myself, and the family: a little girl named Hope. In 2011, especially “You Never Know,” with its clever use of strings as ‘Raising Hope’s’ amazing cast and crew, I would Plimpton and Leachman were both nominated a rhythmic element set against drums, bass and guitars. like to thank our audience for tuning in and for Primetime Emmy Awards for their leading Evans’ maturity also informs her new songs, especially the supporting us over the last four seasons,” execu- (Plimpton) and guest (Leachman) roles on the title cut, the equally compelling “Better Off” (a duet with tive producer Mike Mariano said in a statement. show. — Reuters ) and “A Little Revival.” Judging from the strength “We planned our Season 4 finale with this possi- of her new work, Evans should ignore her own advice and bility in mind, and hope our loyal fans enjoy the speed up recording efforts on the next round. — AP way we’ve chosen to say goodbye to the Chances and to Natesville. Thanks again, and we’ll see you in syndication.”