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Hill Valley (Back To The Future)
Hill Valley is a fictional town in California that serves as the setting of the Back to the Future trilogy, ''Back to the Future'' trilogy and its Back to the Future: The Animated Series, animated spin-off series. In the trilogy, Hill Valley is seen in four different time periods – 1885, 1955, 1985, and 2015 – as well as in a dystopian Back to the Future Part II, alternate 1985. The films contain many Visual gag, sight gags, verbal innuendos and detailed set design elements, from which a detailed and consistent history of the area can be derived. The city name "Hill Valley" is a joke, being an oxymoron. However, an early script for ''Back to the Future Part II'' mentioned that Hill Valley was named after its founder, William "Bill" Hill. Production For ''Back to the Future'', the producers considered filming the town square scenes in the real city of Petaluma, California, but soon realized it would be prohibitively expensive and impractical to alter a real place to suit the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Universal Studios Lot
Universal Studios Lot is a television and Film studio#Typical components, film studio complex located at 100 Universal City Plaza in Universal City, California, and is part of the entire Universal Studios complex, which also includes the adjacent Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. It is the production site of Universal Studios, Inc., Universal Studios and is owned by Comcast through its subsidiary NBCUniversal. The Backlot, lot officially opened the gates of Universal City on March 15, 1915. The lot began offering its Studio Tour, modern studio tour in 1964, which eventually evolved into the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. Today the Universal Studios Lot is made up of 400 acres, which includes more than 30 sound stages, the KNBC, Brokaw News Center and 165 other separate structures. Background On March 15, 1915, Carl Laemmle opened Universal Pictures, Universal City Studios on a 230-acre ranch in the San Fernando Valley and called it Universal City, California, "Uni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oxymoron
An oxymoron (plurals: oxymorons and oxymora) is a figure of speech that Juxtaposition, juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction (other), self-contradiction. As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. A general meaning of "contradiction in terms" is recorded by the 1902 edition of the ''Oxford English Dictionary. The term ''oxymoron'' is first recorded as Latinized Greek ', in Maurus Servius Honoratus (c. AD 400); it is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek word ' "sharp, keen, pointed" Retrieved 26 February 2013. and "dull, stupid, foolish"; as it were, "sharp-dull", "keenly stupid", or "pointedly foolish".. Retrieved 26 February 2013. "Pointedly foolish: a witty saying, the more pointed from being paradoxical or seemingly absurd." The word ''oxymoron'' is autological, i.e., it is itself an example of an oxymoron. The Greek compound word ', which would corre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Garden Grove, California, in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Dexter Holland, Bryan "Dexter" Holland, lead guitarist Noodles (musician), Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy, and drummer Brandon Pertzborn. The Offspring is often credited (alongside fellow Punk rock in California, California punk bands Green Day, NOFX, Bad Religion, Rancid (band), Rancid, and Pennywise (band), Pennywise) for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock during the mid-1990s. During their -year career, the Offspring has released eleven studio albums and sold more than 40 million records, making them one of the best-selling punk rock bands. The Offspring's longest-serving drummer was Ron Welty, who replaced original drummer James Lilja in 1987. He was replaced by Atom Willard, Adam "Atom" Willard in 2003, who was replac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sneakers (1992 Film)
''Sneakers'' is a 1992 American caper thriller film directed by Phil Alden Robinson from a screenplay co-written with Walter Parkes and Lawrence Lasker. It stars Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier and David Strathairn. In the film, Martin (Redford) and his group of security specialists are hired to steal a black box but soon realize the job has nefarious and far-reaching consequences. Lasker and Parkes first conceived ''Sneakers'' in 1981 during pre-production on '' WarGames'' (1983). Redford was the first actor attached to the project, and he helped recruit the remaining cast members, as well as Robinson. Several of the characters were inspired by members of the hacking and national defense communities, and the actors improvised several scenes during filming. Principal photography took place on location across California, with filming taking place in San Francisco, Oakland, Simi Valley, and the Courthouse Square ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bye Bye Birdie (musical)
''Bye Bye Birdie'' is a stage musical with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, based upon a book by Michael Stewart. Originally titled ''Let's Go Steady'', ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is set in 1958. The play's book was influenced by Elvis Presley being drafted into the US Army in 1957. The rock star character's name, "Conrad Birdie", is word play on the name of Conway Twitty. Twitty later had a long career as a country music star, but, in the late 1950s, he was one of Presley's rock 'n' roll rivals. The original 1960–1961 Broadway production was a Tony Award–winning success. It spawned a London production and several major revivals, a sequel, a 1963 film, and a 1995 television production. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions due to its variable cast size and large proportion of ensemble numbers. History Producer Edward Padula had the idea for a musical initially titled ''Let's Go Steady'', a "happy teenage musical with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gremlins
''Gremlins'' is a 1984 American black comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante, written by Chris Columbus and starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday and Frances Lee McCain, with Howie Mandel providing the voice of Gizmo the ''Mogwai''. It draws on legends of folkloric mischievous creatures that cause malfunctions—"gremlins"—in the British Royal Air Force going back to World War II. The story follows Billy Peltzer, who receives Gizmo as a pet, who then spawns more of his kind that evolve into the titular imp-like monsters that wreak havoc on Billy's hometown during Christmas Eve. The film was accompanied by a large merchandising campaign and juxtaposes black comedy with a Christmastime setting. Steven Spielberg was the executive producer, with the film being produced by Michael Finnell. ''Gremlins'' was theatrically released on June 8, 1984, by Warner Bros. to critical and commercial success. However, it was heavily criticized for some of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bruce Almighty
''Bruce Almighty'' is a 2003 American fantasy comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac and written by Steve Koren, Mark O'Keefe and Steve Oedekerk. The film stars Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan, a down-on-his-luck television reporter who complains to God (played by Morgan Freeman) that he is not doing his job correctly and is offered the chance to try being God himself for one week. It co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Philip Baker Hall and Catherine Bell. The film is Shadyac and Carrey's third collaboration, after '' Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'' (1994) and '' Liar Liar'' (1997). When released in American theaters on May 23, 2003, ''Bruce Almighty'' received mixed reviews from critics but was a box-office success and grossed $86.4 million in its opening weekend, a Memorial Day record at the time. The film surprised the industry's pundits when it beat ''The Matrix Reloaded'' the following weekend. It went on to gross $484 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2003. ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Where Is Everybody?
"Where Is Everybody?" is the first episode of the American anthology television series ''The Twilight Zone'' and was originally broadcast on October 2, 1959, on CBS. It is one of the most realistic ''Twilight Zone'' episodes, as it features no supernatural elements and is based on fairly straightforward extrapolation of science. Opening narration Televised pilot The following narration was used in the later-released versions of the episode which had been dubbed over by Rod Serling as narrator, where the phrase "the sixth dimension" is replaced with "the fifth dimension" to fall in line with later episodes of ''The Twilight Zone''. ''The Twilight Zone'' Plot A man finds himself walking alone on a dirt road, with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He finds a diner and walks in to find a jukebox playing loudly, but nobody present; he lowers the volume and continues to call out. Eventually, he heads into the kitchen where he finds a hot pot of coffee on the stove and fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Twilight Zone
''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described as entering "the Twilight Zone". The episodes are in various genres, including science fiction, fantasy, Absurdist fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, Horror fiction, horror, Drama (film and television)#Fantasy drama, supernatural drama, black comedy, and psychological thriller, frequently concluding with a macabre or Twist ending, unexpected twist, and usually with a moral. A popular and critical success, it introduced many Americans to common science fiction and fantasy trope (literature), tropes. The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series), The first series, shot entirely in black-and-white, ran on CBS for five seasons from 1959 to 1964. ''The Twilight Zone'' followed in the tradition of earlier television shows such as ''Tales of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
An Act Of Murder
''An Act of Murder'' is a 1948 American film noir directed by Michael Gordon and starring Fredric March, Edmond O'Brien, Florence Eldridge and Geraldine Brooks. It was based on a novel by the Austrian writer Ernst Lothar. The film was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. It was entered into the 1949 Cannes Film Festival. It is also known by the alternative titles ''Live Today for Tomorrow'' and ''I Stand Accused''. Plot Calvin Cooke, a principled but stubborn judge, presides over a murder case in which lawyer David Douglas is unsuccessful in proving that his client's state of mind was a mitigating factor. Cooke's daughter Ellie complains to her mother Cathy about how unyielding her father can be; Cathy insists that he is a loving husband. Anyway, it is their 20th wedding anniversary and she is planning to celebrate with friends at their house. Cooke does not know that Ellie (herself a law student) and Douglas are romantically involved until Douglas arrives duri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
To Kill A Mockingbird (film)
''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a 1962 American Coming-of-age story, coming-of-age legal drama crime film directed by Robert Mulligan starring Gregory Peck and Mary Badham, with Phillip Alford, John Megna, Frank Overton, James Anderson (American actor), James Anderson, and Brock Peters in supporting roles. It marked the film debut of Robert Duvall, William Windom (actor), William Windom, and Alice Ghostley. Adapted by Horton Foote, from Harper Lee's 1960 in literature, 1960 Pulitzer Prize–winning To Kill a Mockingbird, novel, it follows a lawyer (Peck) in Great Depression, Depression-era Alabama defending a black man (Peters) charged with rape while educating his children (Badham and Alford) against prejudice. It gained overwhelmingly positive reception from both the critics and the public; a box-office success, it earned more than six times its budget. The film won three Academy Awards, including Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Actor for Peck and Academy Award for Best Adapte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
University Of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in California, and has an enrollment of more than 49,000 students. The university is composed of one Liberal arts education, liberal arts school, the University of Southern California academics, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and 22 Undergraduate education, undergraduate, Graduate school, graduate, and professional schools, enrolling roughly 21,000 undergraduate and 28,500 Postgraduate education, post-graduate students from all fifty U.S. states and more than 115 countries. It is a member of the Association of American Universities, which it joined in 1969. USC sponsors a variety of intercollegiate sports and competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big Ten Conference. Members of USC's sports ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
