This time next year how do they film it

Whether by accident or design, the ultra-low-budget Language Lessons feels like a definitive film for the Covid-19 era, as the two main actors never appear in the same shot together until the very end. Seemingly created on two computers, this exceedingly modest tale of a Spanish-language instructor and pupil who meet online becomes more genially engaging as it goes along, although it never aims very high other than as a technical experiment that more or less succeeds. It plays just fine on home equipment and it’s hard to imagine that there would be anything to be gained from experiencing this Berlinale Special world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on the big screen. The script by indie stalwart Mark Duplass and director-actress Natalie Morales is entirely restricted to the chats the two characters, Adam and Cariño, have in the course of online language lessons bought for the former by his partner — 100 of them, no less. Adam and his mate Will are … [Read more...] about Int’l Critics Line: Todd McCarthy On ‘Language Lessons’ – Berlin

Platonic love between virtual strangers helps ease the pain of grief in this tender first feature from Natalie Morales, who also stars opposite co-writer Mark Duplass. You have to wonder about the shelf life of all the compact film productions being stitched together around COVID pandemic restraints, particularly those in which the visual field is limited to computer desktops. When we finally escape the confinement of video calls for most of the social interactions outside our immediate circles, is anyone really going to hunger for the dulcet chimes of a Skype connection or the flat images of a Zoom meeting? That question aside, actress-turned-director Natalie Morales shows both resourcefulness and sensitivity in her touching first feature, Language Lessons , starring as a Spanish teacher drawn closer to her student in the wake of devastating trauma. Appearing alongside her co-writer Mark Duplass, Morales pulls off the difficult trick of fostering intimacy out of a long-distance … [Read more...] about ‘Language Lessons’: Film Review | Berlin 2021

British jazz artist Theon Cross will give the first 3D digital avatar performance at South by Southwest this year, with the annual festival going virtual due to Covid-19. Cross’ avatar experience will launch March 16th at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT, and will be available to watch on SXSW ’s online virtual platform. The show — which follows similar events like Travis Scott appearing as an avatar in Fortnite , or Lil Nas X performing virtually in Roblox — was produced by British Underground in conjunction with SXSW, with support from Arts Council England’s Future Art and Culture program. More info on the set is available here . A short behind-the-scenes clip offers a look at how the avatar performance came together as well. Cross, an acclaimed tuba player, and his band were outfitted with special motion capture technology before filming a live set at Abbey Road studios, which was then transformed into a wholly digital event. The performance will feature new music from Cross’ … [Read more...] about U.K. Jazz Artist Theon Cross to Perform as 3D Digital Avatar at SXSW