Software for Cinema

UNM’s Continuing Education department is offering a free InfoByte lecture on “Making Movie Magic with Maya” on Thursday, Aug. 2, from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Autodesk Maya has become the industry standard software for 3D graphics. If you’re into computers and special effects, this lecture will give you a chance to see Maya at work. Multimedia developer and animator Laura Gutman will be there demonstrating how to build and animate a 3D character, from conception to finished movie scene. UNM Continuing Education is located at 1634 University NE. Visit their website at dce.unm.edu for more info.

Danish satire deconstructs office humor for devilish fun

Danish director Lars von Trier is something of a prankster. Although best known for drafting the “back to basics” film ethos Dogme ’95 and for creating controversial films like Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark, von Trier has always had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek. Occasionally, the joke gets too rancid (as it does in von Trier’s scabrous “USA trilogy” films Dogville and Manderlay); but make no mistake, von Trier does everything with a knowing wink. Nowhere has this been more evident than with the filmmaker’s latest effort, the seemingly light, self-mocking corporate comedy The Boss of It All.

The beat goes on (and on and on and on) in repetitive biopic of Latin idol

In his first above-the-title starring role in a feature film, Latin singing sensation Marc Anthony spends roughly 50 percent of his screen time on stage singing. Which is about 50 percent less than he probably should, given the musical segments of El Cantante are about the only ones that have a ring of truth to them.

“Code Monkeys” on G4

Television, as you may have surmised from the title of this column, is not the most intellectual of mediums. There’s nothing stopping it from being so; but it’s been the outlet of so much stupid crap for so long that stupid crap is pretty much its forte. When you think about it in those terms, TV does stupid amazingly well.

Week in Sloth