"Leslie had a little "machine" — nobody really knew about it in Hollywood then, but now everyone does. It became legendary. It was a little thing he put in his hand and squeezed, and it was basically a fart machine. It was like a handheld whoopee cushion, and he just played it like a maestro. Your eyes would be watering, you're laughing so hard."

First, yes there are still great films being made before you touch that keyboard- but overall the industry is experiencing an abundance of something that never existed this much in the past:

Which is movies drawing upon movies as the main influence and inspiration. Back in the day there simply werent as many movies back then, or movies that covered a specific genre, or theme. There was no blueprint or existing roadmap and as a result much of what influenced film was other mediums: Theater, plays, Photography, Art, painting and more.

I believe the heavy influence of outside mediums were a primary driver for what made many films successful. You could argue Disney animateds entire legacy was built off of Broadway style theater.

Much of old cinemas greatest films were deeply inspired by painters, art and photography with a deep knowledge of how light can shape a world and give it form.

Now it feels like films simply see what works from other films and copy that, leading us to a kind of ourosbouros type of reductive film making technique that doesnt lead to anything groundbreaking.

Just a gripe but I wish more filmmakers would train more within other arts and mediums.

The training provided by Gould and other veterans is credited with the high level of realism in the film's gunfight sequences, particularly Kilmer's tactical magazine reload.

Hello, I'm a museum curator currently developing a film exhibition, and I'm hoping to source a specific object: the full-body conceptual clay maquette for Amphibian Man, sold by Heritage Auctions in 2025.

In my experience, auction houses are typically willing to act as intermediaries and forward inquiries to a winning bidder on a museum's behalf. This particular house, however, will only do so if the inquiry is a purchase offer. I haven't encountered this policy with Christie's, Sotheby's, or other major houses I've worked with previously.

If anyone has information on the buyer's identity, or a lead on how to reach them, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.