Mindblowing Footage of Cranes Flying Over Venice: VIDEO

A new show called Earthflight is premiering tomorrow night on the BBC One in the UK which attempts to show what it's like to fly with birds, and it looks positively stunning.

Write the filmmakers: "Common cranes have been hand-reared to fly alongside a microlight to capture these images. Earthflight uses many different filming techniques to create the experience of flying with birds as they reveal some of the greatest natural and man-made monuments of the planet."

Check out the gorgeous footage, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via reddit)

Madonna Does Not Want Your Loathsome Hydrangeas: VIDEO

At the Venice Film Festival, a worshipful fan makes the mistake of bestowing a gift of hydrangeas on Her Madgesty.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

James Franco Carves Brad Renfro's Name into His Arm for Art

The L.A. Times reports on an art installation produced for this year's Venice Biennale featuring contributions from James Franco, Douglas Gordon, Harmony Korine, Damon McCarthy, Paul McCarthy, Ed Ruscha and Aaron Young. The installation is based around James Dean's Rebel Without a Cause.

Franco, who had a hand in the other artists’ projects, also made work for this show in homage to the actor Brad Renfro, who died in 2008 at age 25 of a heroin overdose. He had Renfro’s name carved into his right arm with a switchblade, documenting the carving in photography and film. (The carving itself could be seen as one of the show’s more permanent artworks.)

Above, Franco and Renfro in a detail from a still from the 2002 film, Deuces Wild.

(via dlisted)

'En El Futuro' Wins Queer Lion Prize at Venice Film Festival

Argentinian director Mauro Andrizzi's film En El Futuro has won the Venice Film Festival's Queer Lion prize.

The Hollywood Reporter:

"En el futuro," which screened in the festival's re-vamped Orizzonti sidebar, won the Queer Lion prize over more heralded nominees including Darren Aronofsky's thriller "Black Swan," which was the festival's opening film. The Queer Lion jury, which selects a winner based on the way the film portrays gay characters, said the film won the prize for "portraying and displaying, in short episodes, spontaneous and solid love, regardless of whether it is straight or gay."

Watch a trailer for the film, AFTER THE JUMP...

Tom Ford Wins Queer Lion, Colin Firth Wins Best Actor for A Single Man at Venice Film Festival: Watch Trailer

Tom Ford won the Queer Lion for his directorial debut, A Single Man, at the Venice Film Festival. The Queer Lion award is presented independently of the official awards. However, Colin Firth walked away with the festival's offical award for Best Actor:

"The 49-year-old actor, who celebrated his birthday at the 66th festival two days before the awards, has never won a major award before, despite Bafta nominations for his parts in Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones's Diary. But his sensitive and touching portrayal of a gay man plunged into a mid-life crisis after the accidental death of his lover could see him secure an Oscar nomination."

More details about the film, which is an adaptation of the Christopher Ishwerwood novel of the same name, HERE.

Watch Tom Ford and actors at a press conference for the film, as well as the film's trailer,
AFTER THE JUMP...

George Clooney Gets Gay, Shirtless Proposal at Venice Film Festival

UPDATED: WITH VIDEO

At a press conference at the Venice Film Festival for his new film, The Men Who Stare at Goats, George Clooney was reportedly hit on by a man stationed among reporters.

 Reuters reports: "Today’s press conference involving George Clooney and Ewan McGregor, who star together in the comedy 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' was more embarrassing than usual, however. After tactfully avoiding a question about his sexuality, Clooney then looked on while a man, announcing he was gay, proceeded to take of his shirt and trousers while declaring his love for the actor and asking him for a kiss. To make matters worse, he had not even seen the film. Clooney’s response? 'There’s a little ambulance on its way.'"

Another account: "The man, wearing only a black tie around his neck, asked Clooney whether he and Ewan McGregor, his co-star in the film The Men Who Stare at Goats, had intentionally played 'queer' roles. He then shouted: 'Because I'm gay George. I want you George! Come with me George!' amid laughter and boos from other conference participants. Clooney smiled wrily, and remarked how some people take a 'big chance' only that 'it doesn't really work.' Then addressing the man he added: 'But that's a very good tie.' Earlier at the news conference, which had been billed as open only to accredited media and film industry personnel, Clooney drew admiring comments from several female participants."

Video, AFTER THE JUMP...