Peter O'Toole's Most Iconic Movie Roles, From 'Lawrence Of Arabia' To 'Ratatouille'

December 15, 2013, 11:49 am

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Hollywood lost one of its legends on Sunday when Peter O'Toole died at age 81. Best known for the titular role in 1962's "Lawrence of Arabia," O'Toole was the most-nominated actor in Academy Award history to never won a trophy. His eight recognitions were complemented by 11 Golden Globe nominations, an Emmy Award and four BAFTA Award nods.

O'Toole was blunt about his frustrations with the awards process. "No, it’s not," he told The New York Times in 2011 when asked whether simply being nominated was enough of an honor. "It’s a bore. I'm fed up. Second prize is no prize, thank you very much indeed."

The actor did earn an honorary Oscar in 2003, but O'Toole wasn't backing down. "Yeah. Honorary. Yeah. I don’t want to be honorary anything. I don’t mind earning something," he told the Times. "Come on, it’s a joke. It’s the biggest joke. Eight times? It’s impossible."

Still, O'Toole was graceful in his appreciation for the business as whole. He retired from acting last year, saying, "I bid the profession a dry-eyed and profoundly grateful farewell."

The actor's words echo our sentiments in his passing. O'Toole's last years were quiet, but that doesn't detract from his stalwart presence throughout much of the 20th century. Here's a look back at a handful of his most iconic roles.

"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)


"Becket" (1964)


"How to Steal a Million" (1966)


"The Lion in Winter" (1968)


"Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969)


"The Ruling Class" (1972)


"Man of La Mancha" (1972)


"The Stunt Man" (1980)


"My Favorite Year" (1982)


"The Last Emperor" (1987)


"Troy" (2004)


"Venus" (2006)


"Ratatouille" (2007)


What's your favorite O'Toole movie? Let us know in the comments.

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'The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug' Box Office Dominates With $73.7 Million

December 15, 2013, 12:08 pm

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Undaunted hobbits trumped princess power at the multiplex.

Per studio estimates Sunday, Warner Bros. "Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" was No. 1 at the weekend box office with $73.7 million, besting last weekend's No. 1 film, Disney's animated fable "Frozen." Melting down to the No. 2 position, "Frozen" earned $22.2 in its third weekend, bringing its impressive overall domestic ticket total to nearly $164.4 million.

Despite its first place position, "Hobbit" fell short of topping its prequel's debut. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," which opened this same weekend last year, gained $84.6 million.

"'Hobbit' rules this date and Warner Bros. has linked this brand to this time of year very effectively," said box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak.

"We had an excellent weekend," said Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. "Of course, it could have been a little better, but the weather back East was really tough last night and probably took a couple million dollars out of my pocket. But our box office will survive. We are right on target to do very similar numbers to the last 'Hobbit,' which grossed a $1 billion worldwide (overall)."

Lionsgate's holiday-themed "Tyler Perry's a Madea Christmas" came in third place with $16.2 million.

"All of the Tyler Perry movies have done in that $20 million plus range, but the weather was a factor in some of the performances of these films," said Dergarabedian.

Another Lionsgate film, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," earned $13.2 million for the fourth place slot. To date "Catching Fire" has grossed $739.9 million, surpassing the worldwide box office total for "The Hunger Games," which brought in $691 million.

Disney's super hero sequel, "Thor: The Dark World," continues to thrive as it remained in the top five with $2.7 million, bringing its domestic total to $198.1 million.

In its second weekend, Relativity Media's redemption drama "Out of the Furnace," starring Christian Bale and Casey Affleck, dropped to the sixth place position with $2.3 million after opening in the third place slot.

Disney's comedy "Delivery Man," with Vince Vaughn as the lead, dropped in at No. 7 in its fourth weekend at the box office with $1.9 million, bringing its domestic total to $28 million.

The Weinstein Co.'s "Philomena," starring Judi Dench, who received a best-actress Golden Globe Awards nomination for her performance as a nun in search of her son, landed in the No. 8 spot at the weekend box office with $1.8 million.

In its sixth weekend at the box office, Fox's Nazi Germany-set "The Book Thief," starring Emily Watson, Geoffrey Rush and Sophie Nelisse, held the ninth position with $1.7 million.

Coming in at No. 10 was the Jason Statham and James Franco-starring Open Road crime thriller "Homefront," which gained $1.6 million in its third weekend. Its total domestic gross is now $18.4 million.

Opening in limited release in just six locations, David O. Russell's con artist tale, "American Hustle," scored $690,000 over the weekend. This aces the success of his Oscar-winning film "Silver Linings Playbook," which saw $27,687 during its opening weekend in December of 2012. "American Hustle," featuring stellar performances by Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence, has been nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards and two Screen Actors Guild nominations.

With just a few weeks left in the year for moviegoers to populate the multiplex, the wide selection of impressive films fares well for eclipsing 2012's $10.8 billion box office record, said Dergarabedian.

___

The top 10 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Monday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Rentrak, are:

1."Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," $73.7 million.

2."Frozen," $22.2 million.

3."Tyler Perry's a Madea Christmas," $16 million.

4."Hunger Games: Catching Fire," $13.2 million.

5."Thor: The Dark World," $2.7 million.

6."Out of the Furnace," $2.3 million.

7."Delivery Man," $1.9 million.

8."Philomena," ''$1.8 million.

9."The Book Thief," $1.7 million.

10."Homefront," $1.6 million.

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Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

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Follow AP Film Writer Jessica Herndon on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/SomeKind

Connie Britton Is OK With No 'Friday Night Lights' Movie

December 15, 2013, 1:14 pm

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The endless back-and-forth regarding a possible "Friday Night Lights" movie was put to rest this week, and while fans may be disappointed, Connie Britton is sleeping just fine at night.

“I think that the decision needed to be made, and there’s been so much going back and forth about it now for so long," the actress told Vanity Fair. "And I feel like the only way that was ever going to work is if it just fell into place beautifully, and if everybody was on board, because we couldn’t do anything to risk what 'Friday Night Lights' has already been.”

Britton, a.k.a. fan favorite Tami Taylor, echoes what various cast members were apparently saying about the project. Peter Berg, who directed the 2004 film and developed the TV series, told Collider that some weren't on board with returning for more action with the Dillon High School Panthers.

"There's not gonna be a movie," Berg said. "We talked about it, some people thought it was a good idea, some didn't. I've come to believe it's probably not a good idea, and I seriously doubt it's gonna happen."

Taylor Kitsch, who played Tim Riggins, was more definitive when Vulture asked him recently whether he's interested.

"I'll just say no," Kitsch said. "No, period. I'm not doing it. I'm never gonna be in that movie. There was already a movie! And the show ended f--kin' spot-on. We're good."

Still, Britton -- who once blamed Emmy winner Kyle Chandler on the holdup -- at one point was in possession of the potential movie's script, and producer David Hudgins did carry on the notion that it was in the works when the cast reunited at June's ATX Television Special.

"I think it’s just a matter of finding a time when everyone can do it," Britton told Ladies' Home Journal at the time.

Dave Ware's Jimmy Fallon Lego Mosaic A Hit With Comedian (PHOTO)

December 15, 2013, 2:20 pm

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Calgary Lego artist Dave Ware is a fan of Jimmy Fallon's work, and a recent photo shows Fallon just might be a fan back.

The late-night show host and comedian posed with a Lego portrait of himself earlier this week that was made by Ware.

The Alberta artist says he spent just over a week making the mosaic and then mailed it to Fallon's office. Ware explains he has a friend working on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," and the two came up with the idea to make the portrait.

"He likes to do creative things on the show," said Ware, making him a good candidate to illustrate.

Story continues after photo

In case you missed it yesterday, my #lego mosaic of Jimmy Fallon. pic.twitter.com/8rgXPx56vT

— Dave Ware (@Brickwares) December 15, 2013

"You never really know how people are going to take the Lego art. He seemed like a guy who would be into it," Ware told The Huffington Post Alberta.

While there has been no official response by Fallon, Ware's friend tells him he was impressed by the portrait and thought it was unbelievable that a Lego portrait was even possible.

The mosaic is 3D in nature, with the main portion of the bricks a bit higher than the rest.

This isn't the first time Ware has made a Lego portrait of a popular personality. He's been working on mosaics for over six years and created portraits of Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and the Dalai Lama among others.

An oil and gas software analyst by day, Ware says he's been a Lego fan "forever," and is still hoping to hear back from Fallon personally.

Here's a look at more amazing creations by Dave Ware:

Before The Internet, These Creepy 19th-Century 'GIFs' Mesmerized The Masses

December 16, 2013, 11:59 am

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GIFs are widely regarded as an Internet-age phenomenon. So, it might surprise you that more than 150 years before you saw your first "Mean Girls" GIF, people were also watching split-second, hypnotic and repetitive animations, also presumably to avoid doing their homework.


Credit: The Richard Balzer Collection



Creepy? Awesome? Creepy-Awesome.


These pre-digital GIFs were optical tricks, and were viewed on rotating devices called phenakistoscope and zoetropes. Wired Magazine reported last week on the man that has made it his mission to bring these seriously psychedelic animations to the Internet generation.


Credit: The Richard Balzer Collection



How many frogs can one guy eat?


Richard Balzer has spent decades collecting these fascinating, totally addictive toys of procrastinators past, and turning them into an online treasure-trove of vintage optic animation, dubbed The Richard Balzer Collection. Recently, he recruited Los Angeles animator Brian Duffy to transform some of his illustrated animations into modern-day Internet GIFs. The results are completely mesmerizing, and sometimes perhaps slightly disturbing:


Credit: The Richard Balzer Collection



We don't even know what's going on in this one.



Credit: The Richard Balzer Collection


Don't you hate it when people just show up at your place without calling?




Credit: The Richard Balzer Collection


So. Many. Faces.


You can see more of these mind-boggling animations on Balzer's Tumblr page.

The way these optical devices work is pretty simple. Most of these examples were viewed through a phenakistoscope, which contained one disk of sequential images:



The disk had equally spaced slots along the edge, and was attached to a 10-12 inch long stick. To view, you simply look in the mirror, spin the disk and watch the images rotate through the slots. This created the illusion of movement -- like a circular flip-book. (Read about zoetropes, another type of moving image device, here.)

Then, this adorably formal couple would flirt, over and over and over again:




Charmed, I'm sure!


And these shockingly nimble jungle animals would repeat the same gymnastic feat:




They nail it. Every. Single. Time.


These toys aren't the only early photography to have something in common with Internet memes. Eadweard Muybridge, who is credited as the first person to accurately capture a sequence of motion on camera, spent much of his time documenting the Internet's favorite topic: animals, as seen in split-second animated sequences. Check a couple of his image series below, with an Internet age face-lift.

Just a camel struttin' by:




Is this the first GIF of a buffalo you've ever seen?




So remember, next time you find yourself hypnotized by today's Internet GIFs, you're not wasting time, you're engaging in time-honored cultural tradition.

2014 Critics' Choice Movie Awards Nominees: '12 Years A Slave,' 'American Hustle' Dominate

December 16, 2013, 12:08 pm

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" and David O. Russell's "American Hustle" lead the 19th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominees with 13 bids each. Both films are nominated for best picture, actor, supporting actor and actress, acting ensemble, director, editing, costume design and makeup.

Alfonso Cuaron's space odyssey, "Gravity," starring Sandra Bullock, also tops the list with 10 nominations, including best picture, actress, director and visual effects. Bullock was also nominated for her comedic performance in "The Heat." "The Wolf of Wall Street," ''Her," ''Captain Phillips" and "Nebraska" received six bids each. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" logged five.

The awards will be held on Jan. 16 in Santa Monica, Calif. The show will air live on the CW Network and will be hosted by Aisha Tyler.

Damian Lewis On 'Downton Abbey'? 'Homeland' Actor Jokes About Heading To Masterpiece Series

December 16, 2013, 12:19 pm

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"HOMELAND" SPOILERS AHEAD!

Is "Downton" in Damian Lewis' future?

After last night's (Dec. 15) tragic ending for Brody, it looks like Lewis will have some free time in his schedule after his character was executed during the third season finale of the Showtime series.

When asked by the New York Times if his time on "Homeland" has led to a flood of offers, Lewis responded, "You finish a great job, and you take the best job that’s put in front of you. The whole point is to keep working on good material, with people who are brilliantly talented. I have no idea what will come my way."

Being from London, Lewis was also asked if the most popular British TV export right now, "Downton Abbey," had called him up yet. "No, no one’s asked me to put a top hat or a tailcoat on yet," responded Lewis. "Although I do know Julian [Fellowes, "Downton Abbey" creator] quite well. Maybe he’ll call, and I’ll play an American on 'Downton Abbey.' Maybe I could be Elizabeth McGovern’s American lover or something."

From Carrie to Mary? "Homeland" fans start your petition!

Guy Selling His Crappy Car Features It In Luxury Car Commercial

December 16, 2013, 1:21 pm

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If you were an Orlando-based filmmaker named Luke Aker, and needed to sell your 1996 Maxima GLE Sport Sedan, what would you do?

1. Put an ad on Craigslist, describing your "Luxurious 1996 Maxima GLE land-ship-yacht" ($900) in all its glorious detail:

"There is luxury in a Bentley, speed in a Ferrari, comfort in Bugatti. For everything else, there's this 1996 Nissan Maxima; aged 17 years...This pavement-yacht has a ride as smooth as a Pegasus' backside. Its such a massive and impressive land-yacht it requires the use of steering fluid that has been designed to leak out from underneath the car when it has been exhausted from the majestic work that it has done, released into the wild when the great Maxima when it has decided its time has come."

Read the full ad here, and yes it's real, and yes, he is still looking for a buyer.

2. Be the filmmaker you are, and feature your impressive land-yacht in a luxury car advertisement, complete with that perfect commercial voice (you know the one), Vivaldi and torn seats.

"This vehicle can guarantee it will get you from point A to point B... Most of the time."

See video above for evidence.

[H/T Tastefully Offensive]

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Muslim 'Last Supper' Photo Offers Interfaith Tribute To Da Vinci's Masterpiece

December 16, 2013, 1:22 pm

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Fatima Ali and her group of Muslim friends host an annual Friendsgiving, and this year they decided to commemorate the occasion in an epic way. For this year's family photo, shot by Atif Ateeq, they perfectly recreated Da Vinci's "Last Supper."



Ali told The Huffington Post, "For this year's photo, we wanted to do something that, in its own humble way, aimed to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western cultural and religious norms. We looked up the painting, assigned each person a character, and meticulously tried to mimic the image, while also making it our own."

The pictured group enjoyed the process of putting a different spin on the the iconic artwork. "Most of the people pictured in this photo have been active members of the Islamic Center at NYU, and I think one of the greatest values we all have shared is this overwhelming sense of community and religious unity," Ali said. "I don't mean just Muslim unity or Muslim community, I mean on a more universal level, being respectful and considerate of all faiths and religious communities."

She said that some Christians have commented on the photo to say that "this is probably what the people sitting at the Last Supper actually looked like (brown skin, darker features, etc.) instead of the alabaster faces that are strewn across Da Vinci's original work," while others took offense at their recreation of a sacred Christian moment.

However, Ali says, "For better or worse, we have genuinely appreciated everyone's comments. Our goal was to start a discussion, to open minds, and to obviously have a killer holiday card that would rival the Kardashians."

Mission accomplished.

h/t to Buzzfeed

'Wolf Of Wall Street' Under Fire From PETA For Animal Actor

December 16, 2013, 1:34 pm

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Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" may be receiving major hype with its star-studded cast and early whispers of Oscar buzz, but one group that does not stand behind the upcoming film is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The animal rights organization came out against the movie, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Matthew McConaughey, among others. PETA took issue with the inclusion of a monkey in the film, starting a petition on its official website reading, "Ask Leonardo DiCaprio Never to Work With Great Apes Again."

"The Wolf of Wall Street" features a brief scene with a chimpanzee named Chance, which PETA reports is owned by the Rosaire family -- a group which the animal rights advocates say is "notorious for operating a traveling circus with an exploitative show featuring chimpanzees riding horses and doing other unnatural tricks."

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Chance's exhibitor with repeatedly failing to provide chimpanzees with enough space, repeatedly failing to handle chimpanzees in a manner that ensured their safety and that of the public (for example, by putting a noose around chimpanzees' necks in order to control them during public exhibition and by allowing a chimpanzee to injure a child), and repeatedly failing to provide chimpanzees with environmental enrichment," PETA writes in the petition. "Furthermore, PETA has been told that while Chance was on set during the production of 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' the American Humane Association intentionally assigned a representative who is not experienced with primates, rather than its primatologist."

"Despite his reputation as someone who cares about the environment, DiCaprio didn't take the chimpanzee scene out of the movie and failed to respond to an appeal from PETA as well as thousands of other pleas from people and groups concerned about primate welfare," the petition continues. "By setting an example for the rest of Hollywood, he can help prevent more great apes from suffering the way Chance [has]."

DiCaprio has yet to comment on PETA's words. "The Wolf of Wall Street" is far from the first film that PETA has spoken out against. In the past, the organization has taken a stance against big-name features, including "Twilight" and "The Hobbit."

To read the full "Wolf of Wall Street" petition, head over to PETA's official website.

[via The Wrap]

11 Spectacular Photos That Make Microscopic Realm Look Enormous, Beautiful

December 16, 2013, 1:49 pm

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The world looks a lot different through a microscope. For instance, the trap of a carnivorous plant is truly terrifying. Baby box bugs are absolutely adorable. And who knew a bat embryo could play "peek-a-boo?"

Each of these images is a winner in the 2013 Olympus Bioscapes Digital Imaging Competition. The images were judged according to three criteria: the uniqueness of the specimen shown; the aesthetic beauty; how difficult capturing the image must have been. Here are the top 10 images in reverse order -- scroll down for the winner!

Have You Ever Seen Someone Surf, Sing And Play Guitar? Now You Have

December 16, 2013, 2:02 pm

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While it may be cold for many, this music video is sure to warm your heart and fill you full of sunny cheer.

Watch Canadian musician Chris Hau show some serious skills by -- wait for it -- surfing, singing and playing "Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay" on acoustic guitar.

Yeah, that's right... all at once. You seriously need to see this one to believe it.

Christian Pearson photographs Cromwell Manor, a former Australian brothel.

December 16, 2013, 2:06 pm

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Cromwell Manor in Melbourne, Australia, operated as a brothel for 20 years before closing in 2012. According to artsHub, the brothel was known for its themed rooms and was abandoned “in a hurry.” In early November, Christian Pearson was commissioned by the building’s new owners—who are planning to build a youth training facility that will include a bakery, boutique coffee roastery, and catering venue—to photograph it.

When Pearson arrived at the building, he found it almost frozen in time. Cigarettes were left in ashtrays, sheets lay dormant in dryers, towels were hung up, and mints were ready on pillows. “I guess that intensified the experience because it felt like the doors could be flung open at any moment and business could resume in a heartbeat,” Pearson said via email.

This Katy Perry Lip Sync Fail Might Be The Most Awkward Thing You See Today

December 16, 2013, 2:21 pm

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Here is a video of Katy Perry obviously lip syncing at the 15th annual NRJ music awards in Cannes this past weekend. Her vocal track is completely out of alignment with her singing (and if it seems like maybe this video is just a little wonky, wait until one minute in).

At approximately 0:47, a tiny French man appears on stage, at which point Perry stops dancing/making mouth movements. He greets her and says, "If you don't mind, we can restart. We had a little problem."




It seems like that "little problem" refers to the fact that Perry's "singing" started without her. When the song restarts (at about 1:37), she at least appears to be singing for real.

[h/t Buzzfeed]

Farrah Fawcett Portrait Controversy Reaches Final Stages

December 16, 2013, 2:37 pm

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — A jury should honor Farrah Fawcett's wishes and force Ryan O'Neal to hand over a portrait of the late actress done by Andy Warhol to the University of Texas at Austin, a lawyer for the school argued Monday.

The Oscar-nominated actor's attorney, however, urged jurors to allow O'Neal to keep the portrait, citing numerous witnesses who testified that Fawcett told them the artwork belonged to O'Neal. The lawyers made their cases during closing arguments in the case that could go to the jury of six men and six women later in the day.

Fawcett's image was displayed throughout closing arguments by university attorney David Beck and O'Neal's attorney Marty Singer. For much of Singer's arguments, an actual-size copy of the 40-inch by 40-inch Warhol portrait was displayed within a few feet of jurors.

O'Neal contends the artwork was given to him as a gift by Warhol and did not belong to Fawcett when she died in 2009. The "Charlie's Angels" star left all her artwork to the university; her gift included another version of the Warhol portrait created in 1980 for a television special on his craft aired by "20/20."

O'Neal told jurors while testifying that his version represents an important connection to his longtime lover.

In his closing argument, Beck screened clips from Fawcett's reality show and the "20/20" broadcast and also showed Fawcett's trust and insurance documents that he said support the school's claim that it now owns the portrait.

"You've seen Farrah, you've heard from Farrah," Beck said. "Please, please, speak for her."

Jurors have heard nearly three weeks of testimony from Fawcett's former collaborators and numerous friends.

Craig Nevius, a reality television producer who collaborated with Fawcett on her reality show, testified that he believed O'Neal stole the portrait from the star's home days after her death.

However, several of Fawcett's friends and a former caretaker testified for O'Neal that she told them that one of the Warhol portraits belonged to the actor.

One of the Warhols hung in O'Neal's home from 1980 until 1998 — a year after Beck contended the couple's relationship changed when Fawcett caught the actor having an affair.

The lawyer reminded jurors that they had been shown evidence that the actress paid for insurance for both portraits from at least 2002 until the time of her death.

O'Neal testified that he brokered the deal for Warhol to make the Fawcett portrait in exchange for receiving one copy. Beck, however, pointed to "20/20" footage that showed Fawcett appearing onstage at a Houston party and telling the audience that the artist had agreed to paint her portrait.

Singer described O'Neal and Fawcett as being like a married couple throughout their nearly 30-year relationship, despite never exchanging marriage vows. He said the actor had permission from the trustee of Fawcett's estate to remove the portrait from the home of the actress.

He also argued that the university's case is about greed and the school should be satisfied with the one Warhol painting of Fawcett that it received from her estate.

School officials have said they intend to display the two portraits side by side in its Blanton Museum of Art if they win the case.

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New Disney Film 'Moana' In The Works

December 16, 2013, 3:06 pm

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For months, rumors have been swirling about Walt Disney Animation Studios' newest venture, "Moana." Bleeding Cool broke the first details of the new project back in October, saying "it’s an epic, or even mythic, adventure set around 2000 years ago and across a series of islands in the South Pacific," and stating that these story details were verified by sources associated with the project.

The film will reportedly revolve around Moana Waialiki, a Polynesian sea-voyager, navigator, and chief's daughter, who must embark on a journey to help her family. The film is also slated to incorporate demi-gods and spirits from real historical mythologies, much like "Hercules" did.

"Moana" will be directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, who have worked together on other projects including "The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Frog" and "Aladdin." Specific details of the art and animation have not yet been released, but "Moana" will be the pair's first computer-animated film. Rumors initially speculated that the animation style of "Moana" would resemble the hand-drawn/digital blend used in Disney's Oscar-nominated short "Paperman," but Musker told Indiewire that "it's far too early to apply the Paperman hybrid technique to a feature," stating that the technique still has many complications (including color use) to sort out before it can be used for a full-length film.

Several sources are currently reporting that the first piece of concept art for Moana has been released, but the image in question has been linked to independent artist Sue Nichols, rather than the Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Indiewire describes "Moana" as a "Polynesian musical" and Musker told the publication, "We both are fans of music and I think that animation and music go along together." Mark Mancina will reportedly serve as the project's composer.

"Moana" is expected to hit theaters in 2018, which is far in the future, but with the recent success of "Frozen," it's no wonder fans are already starting to clamor for details.

This Teacher's Classroom Rule Will Make Every Student Jealous

December 16, 2013, 3:19 pm

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It's no secret that most classroom rules are annoying: No texting, no gum-chewing, you can't go to the bathroom unless you have a hall pass -- you get the idea. But one teacher has instituted a rule that no one can object to.

Reddit user Squeezymo shared the following photos with the caption: "I have a rule in my classroom: If a student draws something on a quiz or assignment, I must add to it."

Now, this is a rule we can get on board with.

To see more of Squeezymo's awesome drawings, head over to Reddit.

[h/t Reddit]

Jason Seiler, Chicago Artist, Talks Creating The Pope Francis Portrait For TIME's 'Person Of The Year' Cover (PHOTOS)

December 16, 2013, 3:24 pm

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As media watchers waited to see who would be chosen as TIME Magazine's 2013 person of the year last week, artist Jason Seiler -- known for his hyper-realistic paintings and caricatures -- was celebrating.

The Chicago-based artist was originally contacted by TIME to make a painting of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, the man who would eventually be the runner-up to the winning pick, Pope Francis.

"[TIME] called me on speaker phone with three different art directors and said, 'We're really, really happy with the Snowden piece. Would you like to do another cover for us?'" Seiler, 36, told HuffPost by phone.

After he turned in the somber yet graceful painting of the Vatican's new pontiff, Seiler said TIME called him last Tuesday night and told him, "All we can tell is, you're going to want to watch the 'Today' show tomorrow morning."

(See steps from Seiler's 70-hour process of creating the TIME cover painting.)

A classically-trained oil painter who is self-taught in digital painting, Seiler's work has appeared in magazines like Rolling Stone, Mother Jones and Der Spiegel. With his only formal training being a two-year stint at Chicago's American Academy of Art, Seiler told HuffPost seeing his work on the cover of TIME for its "Person of the Year" issue has been nothing short of "surreal."

"For me personally, it feels like an Academy Award or something. And the fact that it's the Pope! The last time the Pope was on the cover as 'Person of the Year' was 1994," Seiler said.

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Almost a week after the issue's release, the Chicagoan added the impact is "still sinking in."

"It's a cover that's making history. No one can ever take that away. It's still sinking in, but I didn't realize it when I was working on it. I just wanted it to be a beautiful painting."

Capturing the essence of the pontiff for the high-profile cover wasn't easy.

Despite Pope Francis being heavily photographed since he was elected Pope in March, Seiler said it was tricky to find a photo that matched how he wanted to depict the Pope, who Seiler said he respects despite describing himself as "not religious at all."

"From what I've seen of him and read about him, he seems to be a really genuine person, he seems to be a very good person."

In order to capture that goodness, Seiler resorted to "making up part of his face" beyond the photos supplied by TIME.


The final version of Seiler's painting for TIME.


"It was like having to do surgery on his mouth," Seiler said of the photos. "All the references I had were with his mouth wide open and his teeth showing. I know that's how he looks, but I wanted to capture the emotion of how I think he looks. I was going for iconic."

"[The Pope] has this real special look in his eye," Seiler added. "These little creases. It looks like his eyes are smiling. That was really tough to capture."

Now that he's landed the cover of one of the most anticipated issues of the year, Seiler said his plan is to continue earning his living as a painter -- and hopefully continuing to work with TIME -- while also building support for a new Kickstarter campaign for a book aimed at helping young artists succeed in the creative industry.

From LA To Capetown, These Posters Are A True Tribute To Mandela

December 16, 2013, 4:03 pm

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Guerrilla street artist Robbie Conal is celebrating Nelson Mandela's life by recruiting volunteers to place some 6,000 posters of the hero across Los Angeles and Capetown.

One poster says "Dancing" and refers to what Conal called "the Madiba shuffle dance," which Mandela started doing regularly after he was released from his 27-year stint as a political prisoner, the LA Weekly reports.


Another poster says "Walking" and refers to Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, the Weekly reports.



Conal and volunteers, whom he calls art vandals, gathered for an "Art Attack" Friday night in Los Angeles. Even though the LAPD warned against the action because it's considered vandalism, hundreds of posters were distributed, along with brushes and buckets of glue, CBS reports.


Instagram/robbieconal

This week 4,800 copies of the posters are headed to South Africa's Capetown, Conal told the Weekly.

Mandela died at the age of 95 on Dec. 5. Coincidentally, Conal had tweeted this message about Mandela days before his death

"It is music--and dancing--that makes me at peace with the world...and at peace with myself." #Nelson… http://t.co/JhcvUX4Ndv

— robbie conal (@robbieconal) November 28, 2013

Jetta's 'Feels Like Coming Home' Is The Song In That Great Google Video You Just Watched

December 18, 2013, 6:49 am

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Google released a video to celebrate the highs and lows of 2013 this week, and while the clip's visuals are enough to moisten the eyes of viewers, it's the video's accompanying song that does so much of the heavy lifting. Called "Feels Like Coming Home," the track is performed by newcomer Jetta, and should basically score every HBO promo from here until forever. (Is there an equivalent of "Six Feet Under" on the air right now? If so, Jetta's song belongs on its finale.)



Who is Jetta? Here's her biography as listed on the Republic Records artist profile pages:

This former backing vocalist for Paloma Faith and Cee-Lo caused a ruckus late last year when she released Start A Riot. Inviting comparison to Solange, Florence and The xx, the Liverpool born, London living singer boasts soulful sounds that pack a lot of punch.

According to a personal note from Jetta on that same page:

My (abbreviated) life story is… I was bought up by an a capella singing mother and three other strong females. My father was a sound engineer and that has moulded me into the musician that I am today. People should listen to my music because… Melody aside, lyrically I have something that people can relate to.

My influences include…My parents, Annie Lennox, The Police, Bill Withers and Lykki Li. My favourite word is… Raw, because of ‘raw’ and lions ‘roar’. I like that. If I wasn’t doing this I’d be… An astronaut. 2013 is my year because… It’s the. year of the snake and I’m a snake in the Chinese zodiac.

"Feels Like Coming Home" was released this week. Jetta took to Twitter to thank Google for its inclusion in the company's "Here's to 2013" video:

What a year. It means the world to have my song be a part of this. Thank you @google Here's to 2014, and beyond. http://t.co/aHKdlFCqMA

— Jetta (@jettaofficial) December 17, 2013