Walter Chaw

Chris Miller: Some clarification here: "no green screen" doesn't mean "no VFX". There were, in fact, thousands of VFX shots in the film (2018!) Green screen is sometimes used in lieu of building sets or figuring out locations/lighting in advance, which can be noticeable if not done carefully, and is something we didn't want to do. We built the entire interior of the Hail Mary ship - but within the ship, there were still wire and puppeteer removals and ceiling replacements, etc. When Ryan is outside on the hull of the ship, we shot him in front of a black background for space and a shifting hue background when he was up against the aurora of a planet which allowed for truer interactive light on him than a green screen would. The wide space exteriors and spaceship shots were entirely digital and beautifully done by ILM. Rocky was a seamless blend of puppetry and animation from Framestore. And other great work from many more. It really does take a village and we had the best of the best on our side.

you can all stop asking me to comment now

"Project Hail Mary" (2026)

My dear friend @luckymckee.bsky.social zooming into my class this morning.

Trans rights are human rights. This isn't a tough one.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I lost my mom to the same malady. Fuck cancer, as they say.

The upcoming @filmsradiance.bsky.social 4K UHD release of CUTTER'S WAY--arguably the greatest/bleakestneo-noir ever made--features contributions from such killer hitters as @jordanharper.bsky.social, @meganabbott.bsky.social, @christinalefou.bsky.social, and more (including an essay by me).

GET IT.

After your splendid blitz of generosity, I am down to the last *3* of each of these prints! I can't thank everyone enough for welcoming my work into your homes, sharing it, and generally being cool.

Just in case you'd like to help get those numbers to zero:

www.brianna-ashby.com/new-products

Once, in another lifetime, I was going down the street in Toronto and heard big bellowing voice say, "Billy!" I looked up, and it was Bruce Campbell. He said,"'member me?" (I had interviewed him.) Forever grateful to feel like I was pals with Fonzie for a couple of minutes.

What stage of syphilis is this?

prayers up for an all time great

The only people who need to be "cured" of what they are is Republicans.

You're gonna send me again.

RIGHT???????

Another rough month. Searching for my mojo & negotiating w/the new normal. 65 films in Feb for a 2026 total of 105. So exhausted now, all the time. Best first time watches: Borzage's MORTAL STORM, Kon Ichikowa's BURMESE HARP, Catherine Breillat's BLUEBEARD, Kiarostami's CLOSE-UP.

a hello kitty holding a sign that says love you ALT: a hello kitty holding a sign that says love you

Holy fuck.

Happy anniversary to my bro fro ano mo @mangiotto.bsky.social, who started at Film Freak Central a whopping 25 years ago this month.

Gave CATCH ME IF YOU CAN a rewatch tonight. Still a masterpiece.

Are you feeling confused today about whether or not it is OK to bomb a school or hospital that actually has kids and patients in them? Regardless of what race or religion of people those kids and vulnerable people belong to?

I can’t help you. Please unfollow and delete your account.

In actual time.

SCREAM 7 is like an SNL gag: Interminable. One-note. Obvious.

Satrapolis: FFC Interviews Marjane Satrapi - FILM FREAK CENTRAL April 13, 2008|I sat down with Iranian writer/cartoonist/columnist and now filmmaker Marjane Satrapi at Denver’s Hotel Monaco, right off 16th Street Mall–just a few minutes from the Convention Center,...

I interviewed the brilliant Marjane Satrapi once: filmfreakcentral.net/2008/04/satr...

congress sounds cool i wish it was real

We are all of us trying to hide who we are. Those the least honest about that are the ones you need to worry about the most.

Western trans women under the age of 35, prepare your hearts

It's sooooooooooooo good

City On Fire (1987) 4K UHD + Blu-ray SteelBook + Hardcover Booklet in Limited Edition Hardbox - Imprint Asia #36 | Via Vision Entertainment City On Fire (1987) 4K UHD + Blu-ray SteelBook + Hardcover Booklet in Limited Edition Hardbox - Imprint Asia #36 City On Fire (1987) is the first Golden Pri ...

I wrote an essay for the hardbound book included in this release, too. viavision.com.au/shop/city-on...

Farewell My Concubine (1993) 4K UHD + Blu-ray Limited Edition Hardbox + Hardcover Booklet - Imprint Asia #41 | Via Vision Entertainment A breathtaking opus of intimate passion, unbridled colour, and the timeless frailty of love

I wrote an essay for the hardbound book included with this release. viavision.com.au/shop/farewel...

About to get a really really good folk in person, too...

All the President's Men (1976) - 4K Ultra HD + Digital Code - FILM FREAK CENTRAL Please note, the film and Blu-ray portions of this review were originally published on October 7, 2012.-Ed. ****/****BD – Image A Sound B Extras A4K UHD – Image A Sound A Extras A-starring Robert Redf...

FFC review: ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN - 4K ULTRA HD, by Walter Chaw (@mangiotto.bsky.social)/Bill Chambers. filmfreakcentral.net/2026/02/all-...

@rianjohnson.bsky.social , deep in thought. Tonight with my students. @cudenver.bsky.social