10 Things You Don't know About "Oz the Great and Powerful"

By -
Theatrical release poster




I was introduced to the Wizard of Oz, when I dad brought home a VHS copy of the 1939 film starring Judy Garland.  I thought it was boring mainly because the initial scenes were in black and white.  But as soon as Dorothy arrived in Oz the film shifted to color and I knew I found another movie to add to my "All time favorite list".


After 31 years I get to experience the magic of the Land of Oz when Disney came out with "Oz the Great and Powerful starring James Franco, and "that 70's Show" star Mila Kunis as the Wicked Witch of the West.  It contains homages, allusions and technical parallels to the 1939 Classic


Here are some things that I learned about regarding the film that I would like to share.


1.  The film technically is a direct prequel to the 1939 Wizard of Oz film (starring Judy Garland), but Disney is unable to call it that because  The 1939 film rights is actually now owned by Warner Bros..  The producers hired a copyright expert to ensure that they did not go overboard and get sued by Warner Bros.  for copyright infringement officially it is known as a spiritual sequel


2.  Robert Downy Jr.  and Johnny Depp declined the role of Oscar and James Franco signed up for the 5 months before principle photography began. (I would to if I get 7 million dollar salary)
3. As in the 1939 film, the films starts in black and white and shifts to change full color when Oscar reached the land of Oz.


4.The audio switched from Mono when Oscar got caught in the tornado to stereo and then surround sound.


5.  The aspect ratio also changes from 4.3 Academy ratio to 2.35:1 widescreen


6. As in the '39 film, some actors in the Oz scenes make cameos during the black and white segments of the movie.  And if you're a fan of the 1939 classic. Dorothy's mother or at least I think it's Dorothy's mother is shown on the film names "Annie" who is about to accept a proposal from "John Gale".


7. The Scarecrow, the tin woodsman and the cowardly lion are all referenced in the film.


8. Danny Elfman and Sam Raimi declared that they will never work together again after having a falling out over Spider-Man 2


9. Sam Raimi and James Franco worked together before in the first Spider-man trilogy (starring Toby Maguire)


10.  The producers actually used a different shade of green for Theodora to avoid copyright issues.  They named the shade "Theostein" a combination of "Theodora" and Frankenstein".

Location: Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Discipline is the Key

By -
When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize that one cannot eat money. Plastic bags, plastic bottles, candy wrappers, cigarette butts etc. In most places in the Metro Manila in the Philippines, you will see these things scattered everywhere.  On the streets, the sidewalks, the gutter EVERYWHERE.  Most people doesn't even care.  They walk by it and some of them even add a thing or two to the filth.  Every thing is fine and dandy until the rainy season comes and what to they get?  Floods!  The one thing that I really hate during the wet season.  I have waded in 2 foot deep floods, waist-high and when I was living in Malabon I even experienced wading in chest high waters.  I even experienced being chased by a large rat while wading in chest high waters, maybe it thinks that I'm a raft or something.  I hit the showers as soon as I got home and stayed there soaking and soaping my self repeatedly for 2
Read more

So You Want to Work in a Call Center

By -
C all centers they are a dime a dozen here in the Philippines.  Most people prefer to work in the call center industry or BPO, because of better salaries compare to other industries.  The minimum wage in the Philippines since June 2016 is about Php 491/day or roughly Php 14,730 a month that already includes COLA or Cost of Living Allowance that is mandated by the government.  But if you apply and get accepted in a call center or BPO Industry you can get as low as Php 20,500 a month which includes a base salary of Php 16,000 a month plus Php 2,000 meal allowance plus Php 2.500 rice allowance (can be more depends on the company.  Not to mention cash incentives that the company may give to the employee depending on the account a part from the cast incentives there are gadgets, clothes and sometime motorcycles and cars.  Compare that to any other Industries and you know it's a better deal. So you like what you read and determined to join the BPO workforce.   All those p
Read more