Charlie Chaplin to be animated by DQ

DQ Entertainment has brought the rights from the Chaplin Family (and Method Animation and MK2) to created an animated Charlie Chaplin television series and movies. Business Standard says:

"An Indian animation and special effects company, DQ Entertainment, headquartered in Hyderabad, has acquired the animation remaking rights of Charlie Chaplin from the Chaplin family, in collaboration with two French companies, Method Animation and MK2.

The legendary comedy show will be produced by them in animated format, as a television series and as movies.

While a formal announcement is expected in this week, the production is already reported underway. Tapaas Chakravarti, the Chairman and CEO of DQ Entertainment was not available for comment.

Sources say DQ is also in talks with multiple channels internationally to telecast the animated series worldwide, including Europe, Japan, Australia, UK and China. The telecast rights in India are yet to sold." - Business Standard, January 7, 2010

We will watch to see how this one develops.

Sketching Charlie Chaplin

My video pick for the day is sketching Charlie Chaplin, in under 9 minutes. I'm not good at translating this and don't want to add the wrong name for the artist. Anyone who could help, please do. The video is from Portugal.



Link to large screen. (I don't know how long it really took, but the video was sped up some.)

Stolen Moments 'A Kiss for Mary Pickford'

Stolen Moments
A Kiss for Mary Pickford
Donna Hill interviews documentary filmmaker Hugh Munro Neely

If you missed it during the holiday season, you can catch it now.

January 2010 'Month of fun in Niles'

If you live in the San Francisco Bay area, check out the silent film happenings in Niles! In Fremont, California, you usually can find something happening each weekend during the year. Check this LINK for the current showings. You can download a schedule and/or get on their mailing list.

Now while I did a little 'just for fun' video on my October trip, here is another video I found on web showing a bit more about Niles.

Charlie Chaplin: The Great Londoner Exhibition

Starting January 5, 2010

London, England
The London Film Museum
Permanent Exhibit

Charlie Chaplin: The Great Londoner

An exhibition devoted to Chaplin's history in cinema.
Watch for more from The London Film Museum

Update: Special Website page about the exhibit

"Chaplin biographer David Robinson, who collaborated on the project, said: "We thought it was really interesting to stress that Chaplin was a London boy. "The museum is bang in the middle of the territory where he grew up, with all the music halls where his parents came from and where he trained." - This is London, London Evening Standard

William S. Hart to Calvin & Hobbes on 2010 stamps

Silent film star William S. Hart and Tom Mix, join comic strip 'stars' Calvin and Hobbes, on the 2010 US Postal stamps. Movie star legend, Katharine Hepburn and cartoonist, Bill Mauldin are also included in the 2010 releases. Release dates vary, so check this link for more details and stamps planned for release.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2010!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Lovely and unique artworks for a donation

To start 2010 at Edna's, here is a lovely drawing by comic artist, Rachel Dukes. In addition to her normal work load, Rachel is currently doing individual commission works for a donations of $10 or more. (The donations helps her with on going medical cost.) To learn more and see more of her drawings, check out this link. Rachel will create an unique drawing, just for you. Lovely job, Rachel!

(Chaplin is a copyrighted image with Roy Export. Rachel's drawing is an 'one off,' not met for re-sale.)

Happy New Year's to our Friends in the UK & Europe!

Library of Congress 2009 National Registry

25 films were added to the 2009 Library of Congress National Registry, including silent films with Mabel Norman 1914 "Mabel's Blunder," 1927 film directed by Karl Brown "Stark Love," and the 1911 live action animation work of "Little Nemo" by Winsor McCay.

Here is a little tribute to all of them. More about the list at this link.

Charlie Chaplin's 'White Elephant'

My cartoon pick for the day and it might disappear, since I can't find the copyright on it.



UPDATE: Here is a PDF with more from BFI about this and other Chaplin 'Clones.' I will keep this cartoon up, as long as allowed. Note: BFI is currently working on the DVD collection of the Chaplin Keystone films.

Slapstick 2010 Program

The current Slapstick 2010 program in Bristol, England is now available in a PDF download. LINK TO PDF.


Update: BBC Breakfast report on Slapstick 2010

Amazon UK link for the DVD Chaplin Keystone

Amazon UK has the link for the Chaplin Keystone Collection from BFI Video Publishing, up and running. You can currently sign up for an email alert when the collection goes on sale. The BFI PAL edition, are in 2 discs and according to the latest information, does not include outtakes as extras.


UPDATE August 25, 2010 - The USA Flicker Alley release of the 4 DVD set of Chaplin at Keystone will release in Oct. (either on 26th of before). Pre-order special with free shipping on now at Flicker Alley. LINK

The USA version will be released through FLICKER ALLEY, but it currently doesn't show any Amazon links on the USA site. So we are getting closer to having these being available! I can see lots of these under the tree next some year! (Note - Keystone ASIN: B002EAKWDO)

Checkout FLICKER ALLEY site for bonus clips of several currently release silents films, including the Valentino Collection, J'Accuse and Douglas Fairbanks. Also, check out the BFI site for more about the restoring of the Keystone films.

See comments for more information on this long awaited collection.

1916 - Charlie Chaplin's Own Story, online

"Christmas came and went and I did not have an offer of a place on the stage." - from 'Charlie Chaplin's Own Story', 1916 on Internet Archives

Looking for some online reading this Christmas? Internet Archives has the 1916 book 'Charlie Chaplin's Own Story.' It was the first book published about Chaplin, but this controversial book, cause a legal battle when it was published. This rare book is now available online. It is available for download or to read online.

Update on Chaplin The Keystone Films

I learned today from our loyal European fan, that The Keystone Films will be released worldwide under different labels. In the UK, it will be under BFI and in the USA it will be under Flicker Alley. It is currently still on schedule for sometime in 2010.

Honorable Mention for Miss Edna

The Sea Gull author just learned we have received a HONORABLE MENTION for BEST NON-FICTION AUTHOR from the Beverly Hills bi-weekly publication called The Beverly Hills Outlook.

Meanwhile, we are still sorting out details with a possible new printer for the book. Christmas holiday season for the book company and a load of personal business work for us, does slowdown the process.

We do have a growing list of people interested in buying The Sea Gull. Currently, we are sold out of good copies, so hoping to get this all worked out. If you are interested in the book, you can add your name to the list by contacting us.

In case you didn't know, our current printer basically quit doing the job this fall, so we had to look for another printer who can produce quality work. I will email the list on any major developments, but in the meantime, just watch Edna's websites for updates.

Note: The Sea Gull is about Edna Purviance's lost film, produced by Charles Chaplin, and directed by Josef von Sternberg. Book by Linda Wada, published by Leading Ladies.