On this day in music history:

Cheap Trick by Cheap Trick (1977)

The Ice Queen by Sue Foley (2018)

Cheap Trick

Album by Cheap Trick,

released February 3, 1977.

Track list: ELO Kiddies (Single Version); Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School; Taxman, Mr. Thief; Cry, Cry; Oh, Candy; Hot Love; Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace; He’s a Whore; Mandocello; The Ballad of TV Violence (I’m Not the Only Boy); Lovin’ Money; I Want You to Want Me (Early Studio Version); Lookout (Studio Version); You’re All Talk (Early Studio Version); I Dig Go-Go Girls (Outtake - 1977).

The Ice Queen

Album by Sue Foley,

released February 3, 2018.

Track list: Come To Me; 81; Run; The Ice Queen; The Lucky Ones; Gaslight; Fool’s Gold; If I Have Forsaken You; Send Me to the ‘Lectric Chair; Death of a Dream; The Dance; Cannonball Blues.

On this day in television history - Altered Carbon (2018 TV series & books):

Altered Carbon

Based on the Altered Carbon novel series by Richard K. Morgan.

All 10 episodes released February 2, 2018.

Music by Jeff Russo.

Season 1. Episode 1.

Episode entitled: Out of the Past.

Directed by Miguel Sapochnik.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Byron Mann, Waleed Zuaiter, Antonio Marziale, Olga Fonda, Daniel Bernhardt, Paul Lazenby, Jane Hancock, John Emmet Tracy, Tahmoh Penikett, Troy Rudolph, Elfina Luk, Glynis Davies, Howie Lai, Kwasi Thomas, Joel Montgrand, Nicole Anthony, Zahf Paroo, Shayn Walker, Cory Chetyrbok, Jay Cardinal Villeneuve, Morgan Gao, Riley Lai Nelet, Dario de Iaco, Fraser Aitcheson, Amitai Marmorstein, Simon Chin, Alyson Bath, Lisa Chandler, Leonie Bennett, Kat Pasion, Jason McKinnon, Tina Grant, Richard Ian Cox, Nickolas Baric, Nigel Brighton, Peter Brown, Jim Eliason, Matt Frewer, Sean Kohnke, Will Yun Lee, Sarah Porchetta, Scott Corban Sikma, Celeste White Steele, Linley Subryan.

Season 1. Episode 2.

Episode entitled: Fallen Angel.

Directed by Nick Hurran.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Steve Blackman, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tamara Taylor, Waleed Zuaiter, Lisa Chandler, Stephanie Cleough, Marlene Forte, Teach Grant, Hiro Kanagawa, Hayley Law, Sean Amsing, James R. Baylis, Vern Bevis, Aaron Collett, Maddie Dixon-Poirier, Jillian Fargey, Alika Autran, Garfield Wilson, Eddie Flake, Vivian Full, Joshua Jorssen, Ken Kramer, David James Lewis, Tim Perez, Jesse Redmond, Sukh Singh, Andre Tricoteux, Sheila Tyson, Nalani Wakita, Celeste Ziegler, Justin Fortier, Guy Christie, Philip Cabrita, Michelle Clarke-Brown, Vanessa Richards, Gaalen Engen, Amro Majzoub, Natascha Schulmeister, Shawn Bordoff, Chris Loubardeas, Naomi Simpson, Lauren Overholt, Peter Brown, Jessie Fraser, Will Yun Lee, Lionel Marye, Courtney Richter, Kristi Taylor.

Season 1. Episode 3.

Episode entitled: In a Lonely Place.

Directed by Nick Hurran.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Brian Nelson, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tamara Taylor, Waleed Zuaiter, Morgan Gao, Hiro Kanagawa, Hayley Law, Antonio Marziale, Riley Lai Nelet, Anna Van Hooft, Michael Adamthwaite, Mauri Bernstein, Nikohl Boosheri, Kai Bradbury, Stephanie Cleough, Demord Dann, Michael Eklund, Toby Hargrave, Wolfgang Klassen, Yukari Komatsu, Michelle Lee, Chris McNally, David Will No, Zahf Paroo, Yuichi Saito, Christian Sloan, Andre Tricoteux, Fiona Vroom, Bree Woodill, Charles Zuckermann, Peter Brown, Jim Eliason, Will Yun Lee, Derek Schnobb.

Season 1. Episode 4.

Episode entitled: Force of Evil.

Directed by Alex Graves.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Will Yun Lee, Waleed Zuaiter, Matt Biedel, Adam Busch, Alika Autran, Stephanie Cleough, Michael Eklund, Marlene Forte, Teach Grant, Tahmoh Penikett, Katie Stuart, Fiona Vroom, Garfield Wilson, Mauri Bernstein, Hector Borderas, Melanie Chan, Nada Cosovic, Isabella Farrier, Hesham Hammoud, Juana Lerma Juarez, Chad Krowchuk, Enrique Dante Miles Lopez, David Milchard, Muhumuza Mushega, Jody Racicot, Alex Rockhill, Andre Tricoteux, Francisco Trujillo Avalos-Davidson, Seth Whittaker.

Season 1. Episode 5.

Episode entitled: The Wrong Man.

Directed by Uta Briesewitz.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Byron Mann, Waleed Zuaiter, Matt Biedel, Adam Busch, Dario de Iaco, Michael Eklund, Marlene Forte, Matt Frewer, Hiro Kanagawa, Antonio Marziale, Fiona Vroom, Nyla Alleyne, Asia Au-Yeung, Jesse Downs, Camille Martinez, Zahf Paroo, Anoop Randhawa, Trevor Roberts, Winson Won, Brett Chan, Lisa Chandler, Glen Ferguson.

Season 1. Episode 6.

Episode entitled: Man with My Face.

Directed by Alex Graves.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Steve Blackman, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tamara Taylor, Byron Mann, Waleed Zuaiter, Matt Biedel, Adam Busch, Marlene Forte, Antonio Marziale, Hayley Law, Hiro Kanagawa, Matt Frewer, Fraser Aitcheson, Paul Cheng, Eddie Flake, Hyuma Frankowski, Dario de Iaco, Lillian Lim, Chris McNally, Zahf Paroo, Arnold Pinnock, Colleen Wheeler, Benjamin Wilkinson, Brett Chan, Glen Ferguson, Muhumuza Mushega, Trevor Roberts, Celeste White Steele, Linley Subryan.

Season 1. Episode 7.

Episode entitled: Nora Inu.

Directed by Andy Goddard.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Nevin Densham, Casey Fisher.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Will Yun Lee, Alika Autran, Daniel Bernhardt, Teach Grant, Katie Stuart, Garfield Wilson, Morgan Gao, Riley Lai Nelet, Arnold Pinnock, Michael Adamthwaite, Jojo Ahenkorah, Primo Allon, Maddie Dixon-Poirier, Jessica Garcie, Chelsea Gill, Darcy Hinds, Anna Van Hooft, Yuvraj Kalsi, Yukari Komatsu, Veda Maharaj, Eijiro Ozaki, Glen Ferguson, Chelsea Mainwaring.

Season 1. Episode 8.

Episode entitled: Clash by Night.

Directed by Uta Briesewitz.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Brian Nelson, Nevin Densham, Richard Morgan.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tamara Taylor, Adam Busch, Cliff Chamberlain, Hiro Kanagawa, Hayley Law, Anna Van Hooft, Antonio Marziale, Fiona Vroom, Sean Amsing, James R. Baylis, Bruce Blain, Maddie Dixon-Poirier, Zahf Paroo, Arnold Pinnock, Alika Autran, Lisa Chandler, Glen Ferguson, Will Yun Lee, John Specogna, Celeste White Steele, Katie Stuart, Linley Subryan.

Season 1. Episode 9.

Episode entitled: Rage in Heaven.

Directed by Peter Hoar.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Russel Friend, Garrett Lerner, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Adam Busch, Cliff Chamberlain, Lexi Atkins, Lisa Chandler, Marlene Forte, Hiro Kanagawa, Hayley Law, Francisco Trujillo Avalos-Davidson, Hector Borderas, Toby Levins, Enrique Dante Miles Lopez, Hannah Rose May, Peter Woodward, Jim Eliason, Glen Ferguson.

Season 1. Episode 10.

Episode entitled: The Killers.

Directed by Peter Hoar.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis, Nevin Densham.

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, James Purefoy, Martha Higareda, Chris Conner, Dichen Lachman, Ato Essandoh, Kristin Lehman, Trieu Tran, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tamara Taylor, Adam Busch, Cliff Chamberlain, Marlene Forte, Hiro Kanagawa, Hayley Law, Antonio Marziale, Chris McNally, Morgan Gao, Riley Lai Nelet, Zahf Paroo, Fiona Vroom, Francisco Trujillo Avalos-Davidson, Alison Araya, Nikohl Boosheri, Hector Borderas, Edward Dalmas, Darren Dolynski, Rob Hayter, Toby Levins, Enrique Dante Miles Lopez, Courtney Richter, Hannah Rose May.

Recommended reading:

Altered Carbon

Three-book Takeshi Kovacs novel series by Richard K. Morgan.

Filmed as:

Two-season TV show Altered Carbon (2018–2020).

&

The movie Altered Carbon: Resleeved (2020).

Altered Carbon

By Richard K. Morgan

Published by Del Rey.

Published by 2002.

ISBN-10: 0345457684

ISBN-13: 978-0345457684

Description:

In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person’s consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or “sleeve”) making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.

Ex-U.N. envoy Takeshi Kovacs has been killed before, but his last death was particularly painful. Dispatched one hundred eighty light-years from home, re-sleeved into a body in Bay City (formerly San Francisco, now with a rusted, dilapidated Golden Gate Bridge), Kovacs is thrown into the dark heart of a shady, far-reaching conspiracy that is vicious even by the standards of a society that treats “existence” as something that can be bought and sold.

Broken Angels

By Richard K. Morgan.

Published by Del Rey.

Published 2003.

ISBN-10: 0345457714

ISBN-13: 978-0345457714

Description:

Cynical, quick-on-the-trigger Takeshi Kovacs, the ex-U.N. envoy turned private eye, has changed careers, and bodies, once more . . . trading sleuthing for soldiering as a warrior-for-hire, and helping a far-flung planet’s government put down a bloody revolution.

But when it comes to taking sides, the only one Kovacs is ever really on is his own. So when a rogue pilot and a sleazy corporate fat cat offer him a lucrative role in a treacherous treasure hunt, he’s only too happy to go AWOL with a band of resurrected soldiers of fortune. All that stands between them and the ancient alien spacecraft they mean to salvage are a massacred city bathed in deadly radiation, unleashed nanotechnolgy with a million ways to kill, and whatever surprises the highly advanced Martian race may have in store. But armed with his genetically engineered instincts, and his trusty twin Kalashnikovs, Takeshi is ready to take on anything – and let the devil take whoever’s left behind.

Woken Furies

By Richard K. Morgan.

Published by Del Rey.

Published 2005.

ISBN-10: 0345499778

ISBN-13: 978-0345499776

Description:

Once a gang member, then a marine, then a galaxy-hopping Envoy trained to wreak slaughter and suppression across the stars, a bleeding, wounded Kovacs was chilling out in a New Hokkaido bar when some so-called holy men descended on a slim beauty with tangled, hyperwired hair. An act of quixotic chivalry later and Kovacs was in deep: mixed up with a woman with two names, many powers, and one explosive history.

In a world where the real and virtual are one and the same and the dead can come back to life, the damsel in distress may be none other than the infamous Quellcrist Falconer, the vaporized symbol of a freedom now gone from Harlan’s World. Kovacs can deal with the madness of AI. He can do his part in a battle against biomachines gone wild, search for a three-centuries-old missing weapons system, and live with a blood feud with the yakuza, and even with the betrayal of people he once trusted. But when his relationship with “the” Falconer brings him an enemy specially designed to destroy him, he knows it’s time to be afraid.

After all, the guy sent to kill him is himself: but younger, stronger, and straight out of hell.

Wild, provocative, and riveting, Woken Furies is a full-bore science fiction spectacular of the highest order – from one of the most original and spellbinding storytellers at work today.

Altered Carbon: The Art and Making of the Series

By Abbie Bernstein.

Published by Titan Books.

Published 2020.

ISBN-10: 1789092183

ISBN-13: 978-1789092189

Description:

Indulge in the fantastic world-building and compelling characters brought to vivid life – SYFY.

Go behind the scenes of Altered Carbon in this exclusive collection of art. Packed with concept art, final designs, and artist commentary plus previously unseen storyboards.

Awaken into the cyberpunk world of Skydance's Altered Carbon. Stacks - implanted chips that store human consciousness - have made death obsolete. When Envoy Takeshi Kovacs finds himself sleeved in an unfamiliar body and assigned to investigate the murder of a wealthy businessman, he begins to uncover the seedy underbelly of a society where death is no longer permanent.

This richly detailed and beautiful coffee table book takes readers from the glittering Aerium to the gritty streets of Bay City. Featuring development art, stills, set photos, storyboards, and VFX builds from the first two seasons, plus interviews with cast and crew. Altered Carbon: The Art and Making of the Series will bring readers into this visually stunning futuristic world where technology has transformed mortality.

On this day in movie history - The Guilty (2018):

The Guilty

directed by Gustav Möller,

written by Gustav Möller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen,

was released at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States on January 21, 2018.
Music by Carl Coleman and Caspar Hesselager.

Cast:

Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage, Omar Shargawi, Johan Gotthardt Olsen, Jacob Lohmann, Katinka Evers-Jahnsen, Jeanette Lindbæk, Simon Bennebjerg, Laura Bro, Morten Suurballe, Guuled Abdi Youssef, Caroline Løppke, Peter Christoffersen, Nicolai Wendelboe, Morten Thunbo, Maria Gersby, Anders Brink Madsen, Tommy Bach, Jan Christensen, Christian Lassen, Michael Rud, Jørgen Niclasen, Helena Malmros, Axel Christensen, Libby Brien, Matt Fowler, Philip Hersh, Christopher John Karr.

On this day in television history - Electric Dreams (2017 TV series & book):

Electric Dreams

Anthology series based on short stories by Philip K. Dick.

All 10 episodes released January 12, 2018.

Previously shown on Channel 4 from September 17, 2017 – March 19, 2018.

Theme music by Harry Gregson-Williams.

Season 1. Episode 1.

Episode entitled: The Hood Maker.

Directed by Julian Jarrold.

Written by Matthew Graham.

Music by Ólafur Arnalds.

Cast: Richard Madden, Holliday Grainger, Noma Dumezweni, Richard McCabe, Anneika Rose, Chris Mayo, Remmie Milner, Tom Mothersdale, Ian Pink, Richard Rowe-McGhie, Paul Ritter, Sarah Vevers, Darcey Brown, Hilary Agostini, Raj Awasti, Tom Blount, Janine Catterall, Nick Davison, Laraine Dix, Shawnah Donley, Jade Francine, Ricardo Freitas, Charlotte Jo Hanbury, Juke Hardy, Lana Ish-Muhametova, Danielle Kingston, Nina Mangold, Stephanie Moore, Joshua Neil, Elsa Nori, Axel Nu, Tom Ogg, Jacqueline Ramnarine, Sarah Sharman, Tony Way, Latesha Wilson.

Season 1. Episode 2.

Episode entitled: Impossible Planet.

Directed by David Farr.

Written by David Farr.

Music by Bear McCreary.

Cast: Geraldine Chaplin, Benedict Wong, Jack Reynor, Bekka Bowling, Justin Butcher, Georgina Campbell, Annes Elwy, Malik Ibheis, Christopher Staines, Steven Dutton, Nicholle Hembra.

Season 1. Episode 3.

Episode entitled: The Commuter.

Directed by Tom Harper.

Written by Jack Thorne.

Music by Harry Gregson-Williams.

Cast: Timothy Spall, Anthony Boyle, Rudi Dharmalingam, Rebecca Manley, Tuppence Middleton, Anne Reid, Hayley Squires, Nicole Agada, Ann Akinjirin / Ann Akin, Rebecca Birch, Tom Brooke, Lauren Carse, Brodie Jouxson, Matthew Jure, Naveed Khan, Marko Leht, Matthew Raymond, Roy Beck, Justin Cosh, Karl Farrer, Michael Haydon, Gilbert White.

Season 1. Episode 4.

Episode entitled: Crazy Diamond.

Directed by Marc Munden.

Written by Tony Grisoni.

Music by Cristobal Tapia de Veer.

Cast: Steve Buscemi, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Julia Davis, Lucian Msamati, Joanna Scanlan, Michael Socha, Isis Davis, Sophia Del Pizzo, Gina Gangar, Lauren Hobbs, Scott Karim, Kerri McLean, Abraham Popoola, Adam Riches, Ross Carter, Olga Docheva, James Henri-Thomas, Hyo Won Kim.

Season 1. Episode 5.

Episode entitled: Real Life.

Directed by Jeffrey Reiner.

Written by Ronald D. Moore.

Music by Bear McCreary.

Cast: Terrence Howard, Anna Paquin, Rachelle Lefevre, Lara Pulver, Guy Burnet, Jacob Vargas, Sam Witwer, Christian Isely, Anton Bassey, Anu Bhatt, J. Salome Martinez, Karin Anglin, Dominic Capone III, Jason Singer, Lisa Greene, Chris Nolte, Jonathan Posthuma, Rekkhan.

Season 1. Episode 6.

Episode entitled: Human Is.

Directed by Francesca Gregorini.

Written by Jessica Mecklenburg.

Music by Cristobal Tapia de Veer.

Cast: Bryan Cranston, Essie Davis, Liam Cunningham, Khalid Abdalla, Ruth Bradley, William Gaminara, Nathalie Armin, Ronan Vibert, Jamie Wilkes, Marc Danbury, Fode Simbo, Dean Ashton, Jessica D'Arcy, Ntiarna Xavier Knight, Lee Admassie, Gintare Beinoraviciute, Dilyana Bouklieva, Debbie Cameron, Alan Cassidy, Bern Collaço, Rene Costa, Vaslov Goom, Juke Hardy, Adam King, Adam King-Sekera, Sarah Sayuri Leung, James Pepper, Darren Tassell, Penni Tovey, Michael Yates.

Season 1. Episode 7.

Episode entitled: The Father Thing.

Directed by Michael Dinner.

Written by Michael Dinner.

Music by Harry Gregson-Williams.

Cast: Greg Kinnear, Jack Gore, Shannon Brown, Alana Arenas, Terry Kinney, Marc Grapey, Jack Lewis, Zakk Paradise, Mireille Enos, Cole Keriazakos, Philip Ghantous, Brian Boland, Ryan Evans, Andrew Rothenberg, Eric C. Lynch, Steve Johnson, Tyler Evans, Vaslov Goom, Sarah Sayuri Leung, David Lowenthal, Paul A Munday, Russ Panzarella, Devito Parker Jr., Delphine Pontvieux, Corinne van den Heuvel.

Season 1. Episode 8.

Episode entitled: Autofac.

Directed by Peter Horton.

Written by Travis Beacham.

Music by Ólafur Arnalds, BT.

Cast: Juno Temple, Janelle Monáe, David Lyons, Nick Eversman, Jay Paulson, Maximiliano Hernández, Rebecca Jordan, Roberto Mantica, Desmond Laurent, Jeff Dlugolecki, Pretty Rickey PR.

Season 1. Episode 9.

Episode entitled: Safe and Sound.

Directed by Alan Taylor.

Written by Kalen Egan, Travis Sentell.

Music by Mark Isham.

Cast: Annalise Basso, Maura Tierney, Connor Paolo, Alice Lee, Algee Smith, Martin Donovan, Emily Rudd, Mari Marroquin, Emma González, Jordan Vintryst, Randall McDonald, Mike Geraghty, Terence Sims, Sam Straley, Matthew Chappelle, Aidan Traynor, Lindsay Stock, Pamela Jones, Aurora Adachi-Winter, Sarah Lo, Jeremiah Garcia, Andy Stout, Erica Geiger, Matthias Kocur, Deano Bugatti Mitchison, Lily Paige, Dylan Rogers, Ashland Thomas.

Season 1. Episode 10.

Episode entitled: Kill All Others.

Directed by Dee Rees.

Written by Dee Rees.

Music by Bear McCreary.

Cast: Mel Rodriguez, Sarah Baker, Jason Mitchell, Glenn Morshower, Louis Herthum, DuShon Monique Brown, Vera Farmiga, Kathy Scambiatterra, Kylan Conroy, Dale Rivera, Bassam Abdelfattah, Joe Caballero, Joe Yau, Gabriel Ruiz, Tim Heurlin, Terry Berner, Richard Perez, Cindy Chang, Desiree Ballesteros, Lia D. Mortensen, Shaz Campbell, Marsha Estell, Karissa Murrell Myers, Bryan Christopher, Michelle Bester, Brian Bianchi, Joette Waters, Daniel Craig Baker, Michael Corsale, Clarence E. Davis, Vaslov Goom, Peter S. Kim, Freddy Moyano, Rafaela Ochoa, Bryan C. Ordman, Russ Panzarella, Darren Sheehan.

Recommended reading:

Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams

By Philip K. Dick.

Published by Gollancz.

Published 2017.

ISBN-10: 1473223288

ISBN-13: 9781473223288

Description:

The stories that inspired the original dramatic series. Though perhaps most famous as a novelist, Philip K. Dick wrote more than one hundred short stories over the course of his career, each as mind-bending and genre-defining as his longer works. Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams collects ten of the best. In “Autofac,” Dick shows us one of the earliest examples (and warnings) in science fiction of self-replicating machines. “Exhibit Piece” and “The Commuter” feature Dick exploring one of his favorite themes: the shifting nature of reality and whether it is even possible to perceive the world as it truly exists. And “The Hanging Stranger” provides a thrilling, dark political allegory as relevant today as it was when Dick wrote it at the height of the Cold War. Strange, funny, and powerful, the stories in this collection highlight a master at work, encapsulating his boundless imagination and deep understanding of the human condition.

On this day in movie history - Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018 documentary & book):

Be Natural:
The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché

a documentary directed by Pamela B. Green,

written by Pamela B. Green and Joan Simon,

based on the book by Alison McMahan,

was released in the United States on December 7, 2018.
Music by Peter G. Adams.
Narrated by Jodie Foster.

Recommended reading:

Alice Guy Blache:

Lost Visionary of the Cinema

by Alison McMahan.

Filmed as Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (2018), documentary directed by Pamela B. Green.

Published by Continuum Intl Pub Group.

Published 2002.

Hardcover.

ISBN-10: 0826451586

ISBN-13: 978-0826451583

Description:

The time has arrived, so it would seem, when woman must take her place beside man in the majority of arts and professions in the business world. In women of the caliber of Madame Alice Blaché it has also been demonstrated that there is a possibility of their doing so without being shorn of that most desirable of womanly qualities, femininity. – The Moving Picture News, 1912.

It has long been a source of wonder to me that many women have not seized upon the wonderful opportunities offered to them by the motion-picture art to make their way to fame and fortune as producers of photodramas. Of all the arts there is probably none in which they can make such a splendid use of talents so much more natural to a woman than to a man and so necessary to its perfection. – Alice Guy Blaché, 1914.

Over a hundred years after she started making films (which was considerably earlier than D.W. Griffith, Mabel Normand, and Lillian Gish began their careers), the life and work of Alice Guy Blaché is still shrouded in myth and controversy.

Only a fraction (111) of the approximately one thousand films that she directed still exist, and almost half of these have been found very recently. The films are spread out in archives all over the world. Not all of them are available for viewing, even to scholars, and many of them are in desperate need of conservation and preservation.

It is widely agreed that she was the first woman filmmaker but there is considerable debate as to whether she made the first ever fiction film. She played a key role in early sound film production, and yet this part of her career is almost always ignored. She is, to this day, the only woman ever to have owned and run her own film studio. And yet she made her final film in 1920, at the age of 47, and died in New Jersey in 1968, unacknowledged, unheralded, almost totally forgotten.

Ten years of painstaking research has enabled Alison McMahan to piece together the career of this extraordinary woman. What results is the first full-length treatment of Alice Guy Blaché’s work, the debunking of several long-standing myths about her and, ultimately, the emergence of a feminist figurehead of the filmmaking industry.

"McMahan s book is an obsessively detailed history of a true motion-picture pioneer." – American Cinematographer, July 2002.

"The author provides intriguing information about Guy s life, the early days of film production, and Guy s independent film company (Solax)." – Choice, November 2002.

"A fascinating book that will interest scholars and general readers alike." – Richard Abel, Drake University.

"Monumental...a daunting achievement." – Los Angeles Times, August 15, 2002.

On this day in movie history - Bohemian Rhapsody (2018):

Bohemian Rhapsody

directed by Bryan Singer,

written by Anthony McCarten,

based on a story by Anthony McCarten and Peter Morgan,

was released in the United Kingdom on October 23, 2018.
Music by James Newton Howard.

Cast:

Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joe Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers, Aaron McCusker, Meneka Das, Ace Bhatti, Priya Blackburn, Tim Plester, Dermot Murphy, Dickie Beau, Jack Roth, Max Bennett, Neil Fox-Roberts, Michelle Duncan, Adam Lambert, Luke Deacon, Emily May.

On this day in music history - Where Night Never Comes, by Olivia Belli (2018):

Where Night Never Comes

Album by Olivia Belli,

released October 19, 2018.

Track list:

Your Morning’s Sweet; Sea Scales; Quiet White Sky; Spiderwebs of Clouds; The Secret Vein; February Never Dies; Butterflies Danced; Invisible Pain; Inside the Perfect Circle; The Usual Road; Old Roots; In Dry, Glassy Air; Salt Sea Wind; Happy Sand; Along a Wall; Wheeling Stars.

On this day in television history - The Rookie (2018):

The Rookie

created by Alexi Hawley

was released in the United States on October 16, 2018.

Opening theme Kings & Queens by ChinChin.

Series music by Jordan Gagne.

Cast:

Nathan Fillion, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Titus Makin Jr., Mercedes Mason, Melissa O’Neil, Afton Williamson, Eric Winter, Mekia Cox, Shawn Ashmore, Jenna Dewan, Tru Valentino, Mircea Monroe, Sara Rue, Currie Graham, Demetrius Grosse, David DeSantos, Zayne Emory, Michael Beach, Brent Huff, Angel Parker, Sarah Shahi, Matthew Glave, Harold Perrineau, Daniel Lissing, Ali Larter, Jasmine Mathews, Enver Gjokaj, Carsyn Rose, Madeleine Coghlan, Annie Wersching, Jeff Pierre, Hrach Titizian, Brandon Routh, Arjay Smith, Toks Olagundoye, Dylan Conrique, Camille Guaty, Lisseth Chavez, Danny Nucci, Shawn Christian, Joelle Carter, Niko Nicotera, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Beau Garrett, Sean Maher, Mario Lopez, Joel McHale, Michael Trucco, Jim Lau, will.i.am, Stephen Lang, Felicia Day, Mark Cuban, Mitch Pileggi, Seamus Dever, Jon Huertas, Lauren Tom, Eric Weddle, Robert Woods, Alan Tudyk, Michael Cassidy, Pete Davidson, Seth Green, Roselyn Sánchez, Bailey Chase, Don Swayze, Hannah Kasulka, Christopher O’Shea, Frances Fisher, Frankie Muniz, Skyler Samuels, Rainn Wilson, Molly Quinn, Katy O’Brian, Emily Deschanel, Kyle Secor, Joshua Malina, Brandon Jay McLaren, Kathryn Prescott, Piper Curda, Peyton List, James Remar, Flula Borg, Tamala Jones, Niecy Nash, Britt Robertson, Felix Solis, Kevin Zegers, Thomas Dekker, Bridget Regan, Kelly Clarkson.

On this day in music history - The Fire Within, by Jennifer Thomas (2018):

The Fire Within

Album by Jennifer Thomas,

released October 12, 2018.

Track list:

The Fire Within (feat. The Rogue Pianist); Awakening; Girl in the Mirror; Rise of the Phoenix; Ascension; Soaring (feat. Eurielle); Because of You; Believer; Time; Glorious.

On this day in music history - Acceptance, by Sherry Finzer (2018):

Acceptance

Album by Sherry Finzer,

released October 12, 2018.

Track list:

Ode to John (Adagio for Strings); Awakening Breath; The Moment of Acceptance; Reflection; The Beauty Lies Within; In the Light of Darkness; Love Wins; Reflections; Never Far; Breathe.

On this day in music history - A Magical Christmas, by Laura Sullivan (2018):

A Magical Christmas

Album by Laura Sullivan,

released October 2, 2018.

Track list:

The Bells of Christmas; Up on the Housetop / Ode to Joy; Ave Maria; The First Noel; Waltz of the Flowers - The Nutcracker; Silent Night; Jingle Bells; Canon in D / Deck the Halls; We Wish You a Merry Christmas; Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - The Nutcracker; Angels We Have Heard on High; The Gift of Peace; Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

On this day in music history - Rossini, by Cecilia Bartoli (2018):

Rossini

By Cecilia Bartoli,
released September 21, 2018.
21-disc boxset.

On this day in movie history - The Old Man & the Gun (2018):

The Old Man & the Gun

directed and written by David Lowery,

was released in the United States on September 20, 2018.
Based on the true case of Forrest Tucker (June 23, 1920 – May 29, 2004),

and the article The Old Man and the Gun, published in The New Yorker (2003).

Music by Daniel Hart.

Cast:

Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover, Tom Waits, Tika Sumpter, Ari Elizabeth Johnson, Teagan Johnson, Gene Jones, John David Washington, Barlow Jacobs, Augustine Frizzell, Jennifer Joplin, Lisa DeRoberts, Carter Bratton, Mike Dennis, Tomas Deckaj, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Patrick Newall, Daniel Britt, Leah Roberts, Elisabeth Moss, Alphaeus Green Jr., Keith Carradine, Kevin McClatchy, Todd Covert, Kenneisha Thompson, Robert Longstreet, John Wayne Hunt, Clara Harris, Jordan Trovillion, Derek Snow, Barry Mulholland, Annie Fitzpatrick, J. Todd Anderson, Torie Wiggins, Annell Brodeur, Toby Halbrooks, Christine Dye, Tom Lepera, Warren Bryson, Kelly Mengelkoch, Asher Parran, Kyndra Jefferies, Kay Geiger, Nathan Neorr, Dennis J. Barket, Cody Gilbert, Jack Michael Doke, Alexander M. Partridge, Larry Jack Dotson, Pam Dougherty, Atheena Frizzell, Marissa Woolf, Todd Terry, Sydney Benter, Krzysztof Abbas, Joseph L. Allen, Felicia Andes, Mark Angel, Michael Lee Bailey, Denise Barone, Judy McQueen Bauer, Anita Farmer Bergman, Laurie Bird, Rick Blodgett, John E. Brownlee, Michael W. Bunch, Alejandro Castillo, Austin Caudill, William Cross, Timothy Noah Curtis, Laura Dejean, Bobby Easley, Shawn P. Farrell, Alessandro Ferraris, Reese Foster, Tristan A. Garcia, Sammy Geroulis, Jason Gerrard, Jason Marcus Griffith, Chris Hahn, John W. Harden, Al Harland, Jennifer Henson, Ray Nicholas Hosack, Noah Jonson, Zach Kaltenbach, Susan Kile, Kenneth King, Traci Kochendorfer, Bryan Kruse, Paul Kulis, Daniel Lamont, Daniel J. Le Saint, Art Leung, Anita S Martin, Bryan Massey, Gleedis Mayfield, Joe Merritt, Brianna Moreau, Misty O'Bradovich, Barbara O'Connor, Warren Oates, Tammy Payne, Richard Phillis, David Pittinger, Derek Polen, Charles Poole, Michelle Poole, Aaron Pullins IV, Alec Reeves, Lare Roberts, Steven Schraub, James Siderits, Vince Hobart Smith, Carly Tamborski, Hickory Taylor, Robert P. Thitoff, Skyler Chase Thomas, Tom Vallis, Anthony W. Vickers, Steven Terry Walker, Allen Warchol, Victoria Watkins, Jan Duncan Weir, Dominick Wilkins, Amber Shana Williams.

On this day in music history - Broadway, by Renée Fleming (2018):

Broadway

Album by Renée Fleming,
released September 7, 2018.

Track list:

Rodgers: The Sound of Music - From The Sound of Music; Guettel: Medley: Wedding / Fable - From The Light in the Piazza; So Big/So Small - From Dear Evan Hansen; Rodgers: Medley: Children will Listen / You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught - From Into the Woods & South Pacific; Lay Down Your Head - From Violet; Porter: Down in the Depths on the 90th Floor - From Red, Hot and Blue; Kander: Medley: Winter / Love and Love Alone - From The Visit; Bock: Dear Friend - From She Loves Me; Rodgers: A Wonderful Guy - From South Pacific; Rodgers: Loneliness of Evening - From South Pacific; Unusual Way - From Nine; Till There Was You - From The Music Man; Sondheim: The Glamorous Life - From A Little Night Music; Rodgers: Something Wonderful - From The King and I; Lloyd Webber: Tell Me on a Sunday - From Song and Dance; Weill: September Song - From Knickerbocker Holiday; Kern: All the Things You Are - From Very Warm for May; Sumner: August Winds - From The Last Ship.

On this day in music history - A World Away, by 2002 (2018):

A World Away

Album by 2002,
released September 7, 2018.

Track list:

Dream of Life; Finding You; To Live Again; Butterfly; Memory of Tomorrow; Stars and Moon; We Are Always; Stars Will Guide Us; The Space Between; Strings of Your Heart.

On this day in movie history - Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (2018):

Women Make Film:
A New Road Movie Through Cinema

documentary directed and written by Mark Cousins,

was released at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on September 1, 2018.
Narrated by Adjoa Andoh, Jane Fonda, Kerry Fox, Thandiwe Newton, Tilda Swinton, Sharmila Tagore and Debra Winger.

On this day in movie history - Friedkin Uncut (2018):

Friedkin Uncut

documentary directed and written by Francesco Zippel,

was released at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on August 31, 2018.
Music by Costanza Francavilla.

Cast:

William Friedkin, Wes Anderson, Dario Argento, Samuel Blumenfeld, Ellen Burstyn, Damien Chazelle, Francis Ford Coppola, Willem Dafoe, Caleb Deschanel, Gina Gershon, Walon Green, Randy Jurgensen, Philip Kaufman, Matthew McConaughey, Zubin Mehta, Antonio Monda, Gianandrea Noseda, William Petersen, Michael Shannon, Quentin Tarantino, Juno Temple, Edgar Wright, Thierry Frémaux, Walter Hill, Fritz Lang, Orson Welles, Mark Kermode, Sherry Lansing.