Photochemical Comeback

Michael Bloomberg recently said that like coal, film was not coming back, to make the point both have long reached their market peak. Part of the analogy was also to make a political point and both still are out there being produced and purchased, yet despite all the cheap, common and omnipresent digital and HD video, it looks like film is set for an interesting sort of rebound.

Of course, it never went away. Fuji still makes it, Kodak continued to do so through the bankruptcy they just survived, Ferrania in Italy (once owned by 3M and also issued under names like Scotch Chrome and Imation film) just relaunched after a decade with a classic black & white film (with color to follow), Ilford, ORWO, Adox, legendary camera manufacturer Rollei (from Agfa-Gevaert's Belgian factory) and Foma continue to make black & white film as they have for decades. Fuji's instant camera/camera film Instax system has been a steady hit, while the company called The Impossible Project did so well in supporting and reviving Polaroid instant film, they just bought Polaroid!

So why the strong embracing of film? Simple. The thrill of waiting for hard copy photo results or instant ones are like nothing else. Plus, film has a look HD will never have because they are and will always be aesthetically different, which is a great thing. Why not have both? It only increases the possibilities for the arts and for commerce, but too many in Hollywood missed that point, helping to explain why box office is so bad lately and new competitors are challenging them like nothing in a very long time.

Yet, many independent feature films and big Hollywood films like Dunkirk and Wonder Woman are being shot on film. 70mm (65mm negative, including real IMAX), 35mm and 16mm movie film is still available all over, along with Super 8 film, which Kodak is relaunching further with new cameras for the digital age and a revival of Ektachrome film. Movies and visual media need all the help they can get, so know we'll keep you posted on further developments from this front as they happen.

4K Ultra HD Blu-rays continue to grow...

In only a matter of months, 2160p Ultra HD 4K Blu-rays have picked up faster than the regular Blu-ray format (and not just because regular Blu-ray had brief competition a decade ago) and faster than DVD (the industry took a while to embrace that format, as few recall these days) now in its second calendar year with second-generation players hitting the market.

The High Dynamic Range/HDR feature that enhances the 2160p image has been joined by 12-color bit Dolby Vision staring with the original Despicable Me in 4K and the HDR group is about to introduce HDR10+, expanding its 10-color bit capacity. So far, regular Blu-rays have been included with the 4K versions in the following releases so far, which we were listing on this homepage until the list became too long. Now, you can consult the ever-growing listing at this link...

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/essay/14939/4K+Ultra+HD+Blu-ray+Reviews.

There is an illustrated anti-bullying book called DIFFERENT WORLDS, BEST OF FRIENDS that you should know about and we are very proud to bring to our readers, especially in light of recent political and mass killing events, so please check out more at this link....

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/essay/14255/New+Book+Against+Bullying

Thank you for visiting (and in many, many cases, returning) to our ever-expanding independent coverage of film, music & TV on Blu-ray and DVD, plus older formats like CDs, Super Audio CD, Blu-ray 3D and newer ones like 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray; a site that is 14.5 years old thanks to all of you. Your input is always appreciated and we thank you for your support. For 3D fans, here is the link to our ever-expanding list of Blu-ray 3D titles in the format (well over 120 now for us & counting) and most of them so far have offered pleasant surprises:

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11274/Blu-ray+3D+Reviews+List

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Art, Ike C, Charles Constantino on 56th Grammy Entry List

'Around the World' appears on the 56th Grammy Entry List in the categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Best Rap Song.

Friday, November 15, 2013 - The Recording Academy has selected the original version of Around the World, the rap/sung collaboration by Art featuring Ike C, for inclusion on the 56th Grammy Entry List in four categories. Around the World appears in the entry categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Best Rap Song. Members of the Recording Academy vote from the 56th Grammy Entry List for the nominees for the 2014 Grammy Awards.

Click here to listen to a clip of Around the World.

The Grammy Award for Record of the Year recognizes the artist; the tracking, mix and mastering engineers; and the producer. Chaz Peacock tracked Around the World. Charles Constantino and Chaz Peacock mixed the song. Garrett Haines mastered the Charles Constantino production of Around the World.

The awards for Song of the Year and Best Rap Song recognize the songwriters. Steven "Art" Williams wrote the rap lyrics for Around the World. Isaac "Ike C" Cummings and Charles Constantino wrote the sung lyrics. Charles Constantino wrote the music for the song. The Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration recognizes the artists.

Charles Constantino Publishing--a member of ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers--is the exclusive publisher of Around the World. CoreCre8, a division of Core Media House L.L.C., released the song. Core Media House cofounder and chief creative officer Charles Constantino produced and co-wrote the Somerhill recordings of Free Your Mind (Tara Na) and Today or Tomorrow. Both of the Somerhill recordings appeared on the 52nd Grammy Entry List in the categories of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Rock Song.

The original version of Around the World is available at Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and other Internet retailers. The song is available in FLAC, MP3-320 and MP3 file types at CD Baby. On March 17, 2013, Around the World reached number two on the list of the bestselling MP3 songs in neo soul at Amazon.

Click here to request additional information.

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Click here for a PDF version of the preceding press release,

“Art, Ike C, Charles Constantino on 56th Grammy Entry List.”

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Besides our constantly changing sidebar highlighting the best new discs available, we have a master list of key Blu-ray titles we originally updated often, but will now use as a guide to the best early releases so fans and collectors can catch up. Also, the prices are great on many of these titles now. The link to these highlights can be found at this link:

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4249/Highlights+of+software

You can also put "Blu-ray" in our search engine for the latest coverage of software releases, at well over 4,000+ titles alone (including many single texts with more than one Blu-ray release, the new hit 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format and the Blu-ray 3D format as noted above) and counting including import titles you will not hear about or read about anywhere else and likely would want to add to your collection. Keep checking in (and on our sidebar) for exclusive analysis of all the latest releases, including many that most other sites and magazines have not covered!

As we always say, we offer a rich, alternative website for Blu-ray, DVD, book and film coverage that extends to music and television; we are in our seventh year and invite you to search for anything you are interested in. Based in the United States, we search for the best material anywhere in the world we can find it, so you can find it. At this point, you are likely to find something on just about anything you can think up.....

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We would like to thank all those who have been ordering products from AMAZON.COM because of the work on this site. We appreciate it, glad we are encouraging you to do it and want you to know it supports the site. All purchases are appreciated.

Thank you!

The Best Film Magazine On The Market!

Though it is hard to argue the importance of film publications like American Cinematographer, Indie Slate, Cineaste or Moviemaker and what they deliver, but so much of film history and production is not being covered properly or of key films that deserve whole new audiences. If you love film, you'll love the new hit magazine Cinema Retro, which is getting bigger and bigger. You may want to see about subscribing now while supplies last on the latest issue. You can visit their site at:

www.CinemaRetro.com

"CINEMA RETRO" IS THE NEW MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO CLASSIC & CULT FILMS OF THE '60S & '70S. WRITTEN ABOUT AND BY THE ACTORS & FILMMAKERS OF THE ERA. EVERY ISSUE A LIMITED EDITION COLLECTOR'S ITEM!

Their site offers film news you cannot even find on IMDb, Variety, Deadline Hollywood, The Wrap or The Hollywood Reporter websites. Then there is their amazing magazine, one of the best of its kind on the entire market and a must for any serious film fan, so good that many issues are selling out. One of the best issues yet, Issue #39 features a full 32 pages to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice", which starred Sean Connery as 007 and introduced Donald Pleasence as the immortal villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Why did we dedicate half of the pages in this issue to the film? Largely because of the outpouring of contributions from talented writers from around the world, not to mention esteemed names like composer David Arnold, actress Karin Dor, who played the villainous femme fatale Helga Brandt, Tsai Chin who played Bond's bedmate in the pre-credits scene, legendary lyricist Leslie Bricusse, assistant director William Cartlidge, future Oscar-winning production designer Peter Lamont and Nancy Sinatra, who recalls the nerve-wracking experience of singing the title song. Plus in-depth looks at composer John Barry, the cars of "You Only Live Twice", the inside story behind the Little Nellie autogyro, "now and then" photos of key locations and a Bondwagon full of rare photos and promotional art, some of which are published here for the first time - plus a look at all the accompanying international 007 collectibles.

The rest of the already amazing issue also concludes the celebration of the life and career of actress Susan George and examines the kinky little-seen crime thriller "Night Hair Child" (aka "What the Peeper Saw", reviewed elsewhere on our site) plus the obscure-but-worthy cult flick "Deadly Strangers" starring Hayley Mills - plus tributes to the late, great Sir Roger Moore.

Plus there is also Darren Allison's latest soundtrack news and reviews and the latest DVD, CD and film book reviews.

Contact the producers of this amazing publication and get any issue (still in print, that is, as they sell out quickly) to see for yourself. By the way, back issues are running out as the magazine expands and does so worldwide.

They also have an amazing one-shot limited edition issue on Dr. No, the underrated thriller Kelly's Heroes is available while supplies last (their amazing issue on Where Eagles Dare already sold out, but a new expanded edition is in the works) and an equally terrific second edition on the Sergio Leone/Clint Eastwood "Man With No Name" Trilogy (A Fistful Of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, The Good The Bad & The Ugly, being reissued on Blu-ray again with upgrades) with all kinds of rare stills, text and other items that make them serious collector's items, so be sure to check things out over there if you love movies.

In the meantime, FulvueDrive-in.com continues to be about providing the most direct, expert, detailed (without ruining anything for first time viewers and listeners, as we are not into spoilers), informative, fun, bold, vital information we can come up with. That fun, yet College-level and all accessible way in which we cover material here benefit all our readers. Some of them are getting the hang of our technical section, but others are starting to catch on. We are doing our best to stay on top of the latest releases and what is happening or being released that you may not have heard about. If it is something you know about, we will have information and observations you will get nowhere else.

Now for some other sites worth checking out...

Our writer Dante Ciampaglia's Crazy From The Heat blog is always worth checking out for comments on film, media and the world at large. You can read him up at:

http://danteaciampaglia.com

Daniel Johnson also has a solid movie blog. He is a fine writer and implores "For amazing movie articles, crazy cinematic lists, and riveting reviews go to Film Babble Blog!" The link is:

http://filmbabble.blogspot.com/

Continuing their winning ways is DVDBeaver, a site that covers Blu-rays, DVDs and films from all over the world like no other, and is one of the only other sites besides ours to do so. Their link is:

www.DVDBeaver.com

We believe that we are one of the few sites that manage to cover both the technical parts of filmmaking, as well as the content and form of the films themselves more thoroughly than you would usually find on other sites or in print. They have reviews as well, but our favorite section is their ever-growing Blu-ray/DVD Comparisons section, which features very technical details on several versions of a given film. Often, they are even from different DVD Regions and Blu-ray regions, but they are always accompanied by still images from each DVD covered. Gary W. Tooze's site is everything the net is supposed to deliver and we will be adding anything we can to contribute to their efforts as they do ours.

-- The Management