Randal Kleiser
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An ailing elderly woman is paid a perfunctory visit by her family while she sits despondently in a nursing home. Nobody can get through to her except for her young grandson, who talks to her about the happy times they shared between the two of them when she was well.
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Peege was one of 25 films added on Dec. 27, 2007, to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, which recognized this renowned production as “extremely moving.”
For many decades, film director Randal Kleiser has been drawing sketches of other fellow directors using a technique called blind contour drawing, where you trace the lines of the subject with your eye and simultaneously draw with a pen on the paper without looking down. The difficulty was that the subjects moved or changed positions in mid-sketch and many of the attempts were thrown away. This is a collection of the ones that worked.
With a foreword by Roger Corman, Drawing Directors pays tribute to Kleiser's favorite directors, including Steven Spielberg, John Singleton, Ron Howard, Guillermo del Toro, Robert Wise, and Billy Wilder. The author recounts their professional career and reveals anecdotes about them and his personal opinion about their work.
grease: The director's notebook
Grease: The Director’s Notebook features rare and never-before-seen imagery from the studio’s archives, as well as Kleiser's production notes, dialogue changes, and more.
The book’s heart is Kleiser’s own heavily annotated shooting script, along with his storyboards and sketches, including lines from the play that were added to the film’s script and new exclusive interviews with the key cast members and crew, including Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, and Stockard Channing.
George Lucas & Randal Kleiser in assocation with USC School of Cinematic Arts present The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors, a masterpiece culled from over 200 hours of footage from Academy Award nominee Nina Foch's legendary USC class.
This two set DVD is the perfect and MUST HAVE resource for any student of the performing arts and filmmaking as well as for any professionals involved in writing, directing, producing and acting.
SPEAKING & LECTURES
From the intricacies of personal filmmaking to the behind-the-scenes tales of Grease, and insights into directing actors, Randal's diverse topics cater to a broad audience, from seasoned professionals and aspiring filmmakers to film enthusiasts alike. These lectures promise to inspire, educate, and entertain.
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How to Start your Directing Career
An entertaining presentation filled with anecdotes, life lessons, and useful tips. From the first student films to directing independent and studio pictures, to the digital revolution and directing virtual reality. Recommended to film students and young filmmakers.
Making Personal Films
From the blank screen to the big screen. How the personal student film Peege made it into the Library of Congress and grossed over a million dollars. How the personal feature It's My Party chronicled the topic of AIDS patients dying with dignity and attracted Oscar winners Lee Grant and Marlee Matlin. How to create your own successful movie based on personal experiences. Recommended to film students and young filmmakers.
How to Direct Actors
A workshop designed to give a practical understanding of the director’s and actor’s crafts: how to break down a script, directing and acting techniques, casting tips, etc. Based on the lessons of legendary USC teacher and actress Nina Foch. Recommended for film students and young filmmakers.
The Making of Grease
A fascinating and uncensored behind the scenes of one of the most successful movie musicals of all time. From pre-production to present day: the cast, the musical numbers, the iconic costumes, locations, cars, and much more. Recommended for Grease fans and film enthusiasts.
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TESTIMONIALS
JEREMY KAGAN
Chair of Special Events
Directors Guild of America
Randal Kleiser is not only a remarkable filmmaker, he is also a leader in the newest cinema technologies and an enthusiastic teacher for beginners and professionals.
BARBARA BOYLE
Professor and Associate Dean
UCLA
I have heard hundreds of lectures about filmmaking and the rapid emergence of new platforms and technologies. No one is better, more knowledgeable, or more inspiring than Randal. He ranks with the best.
ROBERT BASSETT
Professor and Dean
Chapman University
Randal has an innate ability to simply and clearly articulate what makes a film work. His mentoring of eight students was invaluable to their senior projects during his semester as artist in residence.
SCOTT BILLUPS
Cinematographer and Author
"Digital Moviemaking"
Randal is an excellent speaker and his lecture was highly relevant and interesting. People came out of it feeling that they have been taken to the next level.
BIO
Randal Kleiser has been an internationally known film director since the release of his first feature, Grease.
His career began when his award-winning USC Master’s Thesis Peege was seen by executives at Universal who signed him to begin directing for television. In December 2007, Peege was selected as one of 25 films to be added to the National Registry of Congress.
Kleiser’s other directing credits include The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, The Blue Lagoon, Summer Lovers, Flight of the Navigator, White Fang, Honey I Blew up the Kid, Getting It Right, Lovewrecked, It’s My Party and the critically acclaimed play The Penis Chronicles.
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Working with Paramount and Intel Studios, he directed the Lumiere Award-winning project Grease XR; an augmented reality experience using 20 dancers captured volumetrically.
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In 2019, Harper Collins published his first book: Grease: The Director's Notebook. A retrospective look at the making of his first feature film.
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Kleiser has been at the forefront of experimenting with technology since featuring the first use of digital morphing in a film on Flight of the Navigator (1986).
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CREDITS
Grease XR (2020)
Defrost: The Virtual Series (VR Series) (2019)
Defrost - The Awakening (VR Series) (Pilot Episode) (2015)
The Nina Foch Course for Filmmakers and Actors (2010)
Lovewrecked (2006)
Red Riding Hood (2006)
Royal Standard (1999) (TV)
Shadow of Doubt (1998)
It's My Party (1996)
"New York News" (1995) TV Series
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1995) (uncredited)
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)
White Fang (1991)
Getting it Right (1989)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)
Summer Lovers (1982)
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
Grease (1978)
The Gathering (1977) (TV)
Portrait of Grandpa Doc (1977)
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976) (TV)
Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976) (TV)
"Family" (1976) TV Series
"Starsky and Hutch" (1975) TV Series
All Together Now (1975) (TV)
"Lucas Tanner" (1974) TV Series (two episodes)
"The Rookies" (1972) TV Series (one episode)
Peege (1972)
“Marcus Welby, MD” (1969) TV Series
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