Summer of Johnny: Rolling in the Depp

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Summer of Johnny: Rolling in the Depp

Updated: August 20, 2012

All good things must come to an end... so mix yourself a DEPP FINDER and relish the remaining moments...

It's true - the Summer of Johnny draws to a close this Friday with the final featured film of the festival ED WOOD.

Released in 1994, Depp once again teams with Tim Burton for this mostly true, slightly askew biography of filmmaker Edward D.Wood Jr. aka 'the world's worst director'.

Johnny Depp earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal Edward D. Wood Jr. that he said was a mixture of "the blind optimism of Ronald Reagan, the enthusiasm of the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz and Casey Kasem." source

Depps co-stars include Sarah Jessica-Parker, Bill Murray, Patricia Arquette and Martin Landau who won his third Golden Globe and first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor with his portrayal of Hollywood legend Bela Lugosi.

The film also won the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Makeup that that year.

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It's said that this film cost more to produce than all of Edward D. Wood Jr.'s combined. Check out the flaming space ship in the trailer above and you'll get a good sense of where Mr. Wood saved on his production budgets.

Those attending alFresco filmFesto are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort and a cash donation of $5. Concessions will be available on site.

Gates open at 8 p.m. and screenings start at 9 p.m. or at dusk. In the case of rain, films will screen the following evening. Please click here for check for rain date updates.

SABS While You're Here....

Be sure to check out "The DEPP Finder" - our brand new recipe for an original cocktail created in celebration of the Summer of Depp! Click here for that.

AND... as #AFF superstar Mark Flindall reminded me - I should post "The MURRICANE" since last year's alFresco filmFesto star BILL MURRAY co-stars in this week's film ED WOOD. Cheers!

Updated: August 13, 2012

The Summer of Johnny plays on this Friday with what could easily be categorized as the most touching of the five festival flicks – What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

Filmed in 1993 the movie features Depp in the title role along with Oscar nominated actress Juliette Lewis as Becky and Leonardo DiCaprio who scored his first Oscar nomination playing Gilbert's mentally challenged brother Arnie. Directed beautifully – as always - by Lasse Hallström who would go on to cast Depp again in 2000 Chocolat... Have I mentioned I loved Johnny in that one?!

Okay, back to this Friday's feature...Hallström picked Johnny Depp to play Gilbert Grape "because of the way he can express so much emotion through his face and eyes" source. Ain't that the truth!

What's Eating Gilbert Grape? has something for everyone – drama, romance, laughter, tears...oh and Johnny Depp! Have mercy!!!

Those attending alFresco filmFesto are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort and a cash donation of $5. Concessions will be available on site.

Gates open at 8 p.m. and screenings start at 9 p.m. or at dusk. In the case of rain, films will screen the following evening. Please click here for check for rain date updates.

Updated: August 6, 2012

The Mad Hatter: "Have I gone mad?"
Alice Kingsley: "I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."

In this Friday's feature – Johnny Depp transforms into Tim Burton's Mad Hatter for the 2010 Sequel to the Lewis Carroll classic. The story goes like this... “19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.” source IMDB.com

Depp along with his co-stars Mia Wasikowska (Alice), Helena Bonaham Carter (Red Queen) and Anne Hathaway (White Queen) spent most of their 40 days in principal photography in front of a 'green screen' - which Johnny admitted was "exhausting" – saying he felt "befuddled by the end of the day".

You can get a real sense of it by watching the “Progression Reel” - amazing to see what little surrounded the actors on the day and what the CGI teams were able to create. Click here to watch that.

Those incredible Visual Effects earned the film an Academy Award nomination in 2011, but it was for both achievement in Art Direction and Costume Design that Alice in Wonderland took home the Oscar.

While Depp is barely recognizable in this film – his brilliant acting is unmistakable. You might find it interesting to note that Dwayne Johnson was considered for the role... hmmmmm.

Those attending alFresco filmFesto are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort and a cash donation of $5. Concessions will be available on site.

Gates open at 8 p.m. and screenings start at 9 p.m. or at dusk. In the case of rain, films will screen the following evening. Please check for rain date updates at: http://www.atlanticfilm.com/alfresco/.

Updated: July 30, 2012

The Summer of Depp continues this Friday with the 2005 remake of the 1971 classic Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

This updated version - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - was Depp's fifth collaboration with Tim Burton and his second with young actor Freddie Highmore (the two had worked together previously in Finding Neverland).

It was also the second movie in which Depp appeared in a movie with 'Chocolate' in the title.... technically the other movie was Chocolat - pardon my French

I must say I enjoyed Johnny's gyspy ways in Chocolat over his wild character of Willie Wonka - but the movie was a hit grossing almost $495 million world wide.

Ironically Johnny Depp was alergic to chocolate as a child and to this day prefers the taste of Easter Bunny chocolate over high quality and dark chocolate who knew?!

Those attending alFresco filmFesto are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort and a cash donation of $5. Concessions will be available on site.

Updated: July 23, 2012

Get set for SUMMER to start this Friday, July 27th.... The Summer of Depp that is - with the first of 5 Johnny Depp feature films.

First up EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990). Johnny Depp stars as Edward - the soft spoken creation of 'The Inventor' played by Vincent Price who sadly for Edward dies before he finishes his work... thus leaving him with his scissor hands.

As fate would have it, this was Vincent Price's last film and his death scene in the movie was his last scene on the silver screen ever. Whoa....

Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Alan Arkin, Anthony Michael Hall and Kathy Baker make up the principal cast and do most of the talking because in this Tim Burton movie Johnny Depp only says 169 words. Who knew???

Nominated for an Oscar for Achievement in Make Up Edward Scissorhands is as 'kitschy' and quirky as it is funny and moving. I LOVED IT!!!

Those attending alFresco filmFesto are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort and a cash donation of $5. Concessions will be available on site.

Updated: June 26, 2012

"Halifax musicians come together for alFresco filmFesto 2012. Oh, and for Johnny Depp. Big kisses for Rich Aucoin, Cory Bowles, Margot Durling, Jenn Grant, Daniel Ledwell, Jon Mullane, InFlight Safety, Mo Kenney, Natasha Peach, Gabrielle Papillon, Stewart Legere, Gordon Campbell, Luckas Cardona + Halifax for being bright and beautiful. xo"

alFresco filmFesto team

Click here to watch that

Posted: June 20, 2012

Have mercy!!!!

After weeks of speculation and a contest to guess the #SummerOf... our friends at the Atlantic Film Festival have finally unveiled their focus for the 12th Annual alFresco filmFesto. Ladies and gentleman.....................

JOHNNY DEPP!!!!

(give me a minute)

Okay then, where was I...

Ah yes, one of my favourite events of the year presents “Summer of Johnny: Rolling in the Depp” - with 5 classics from the 3 time Oscar nominee and 3 time Sexiest Man Alive (People) from July 27 - August 24.

Picture it.... warm summer nights on the Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk with Johnny Depp. Projected on a 30 foot inflatable screen - you can enjoy his amazing movies alFresco! Sweet.

The schedule runs as follows....

Friday, July 27: Edward Scissorhands - Director Tim Burton, 1990, 105min (Rated PG)
Friday, August 3: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Director Tim Burton, 2005, 115min (Rated G)
Friday, August 10: Alice in Wonderland - Director Tim Burton, 2010, 108min (Rated PG)
Friday, August 17: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape - Director Lasse Hallström, 1993, 118min (Rated PG-14)
Friday, August 24: Ed Wood - Director Tim Burton, 1994, 127min (Rated PG-14)

"So, how do you follow-up on the runaway success of last year's Summer of Murray?" said Lia Rinaldo, Festival Director.

"I really wish I could give you a behind-the-scenes snapshot of what happens in such a creative office environment as we try to narrow in on the focus and theme for the season. It's pretty funny stuff. Ultimately, we looked to the fans on this one and Johnny Depp & Tim Burton came up consistently in the requests, and it just made perfect sense to us. Johnny Depp, what's not to love?"

Those attending alFresco filmFesto are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort and a cash donation of $5. Concessions will be available on site.

Like alFresco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/summerofjohnny and Twitter @thefilmfest #summerofjohnny

MORE…

In addition to “Summer of Johnny: Rolling in the Depp”, alFresco filmFesto is proud to also present the following movies in HRM this summer.

Friday, June 29: Puss in Boots - Director Chris Miller, 2011, 90min (Rated PG) at Kinsmen Park as part of Sackville Days (film begins at dusk)
Monday, July 2: Megamind - Director Tom McGrath, 2010, 95min (Rated PG) at DeWolf Park as part of Bedford Days (film begins at 9:30 p.m.)
***Admission is free

As part of Tall Ships celebrations also on the Halifax Waterfront:

Thursday, July 19: Master and Commander - Director Peter Weir, 2003, 138min (Rated PG-13)
Friday, July 20: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Dir. Gore Verbinski, 2003, 143min (Rated PG-13)
Saturday, July 21: White Squall - Director Ridley Scott, 1996, 129min (Rated PG-13)
Sunday, July 22: The Bounty - Director Roger Donaldson, 1984, 132min (Rated PG)

For more information on alFresco filmFesto screenings, visit: www.atlanticfilm.com/alfresco
For more information on the Atlantic Film Festival, visit: www.atlanticfilm.com

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