Remains of the Day: Ambrosino takes LA Shorts, Webb Takes on Jesus, Scott Takes on Aliens

IONCINEMA.com’s Remains of the Day (Monday to Friday) is a look at eight and 1/2 news items that we didn’t have enough time to cover but are worth mentioning here. For July 31st we have Justin Ambrosino grabbing an award from LA Shorts, current “it” director of the moment taking on “Jesus” and Scott coming back for more “Aliens”.

1. One of Our Own
Former IONCINEMA.com writer Justin Ambrosino takes the 2009 LA Shorts Fest award for “Best of the Fest” for The 8th Samurai. This also qualifies his to be eligible for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award consideration. Way to go Justin! See more winners below.

2. Tales From…Constantin Popescu
Popescu one of the directors in the sharp, short-film collage of works from Romanian filmmakers in Tales from the Golden Age, has just completed post prod on Portrait of the Fighter as a Young Man and is starting pre-production on Principles of Life – the story of a father who loses his wife’s and son’s respect without noticing it, taking place in the course of one day.(Via Filmneweurope.com)

3. 500 Days A.D. 
Marc Webb, helmer of Sundance hit/Fox Searchlight summer audience pleaser 500 Days of Summer is looking towards remaking Jesus Christ Superstar for Marc Platt and Universal. Nothing is signed yet. (Via Riskybusinessblog.com)

4. Che in Havana 
Benicio del Toro accepts an award in Cuba. You heard right. The Cold War is over, finally? 

5. Jon Spaihts is Not Alien to Hollywood
Had the Blacklist’s third top ranked script last year (Keanu Reeves sci-fi vehicle Passengers), and he’ll write the prequel to Alien with Ridley Scott already agreeing to direct. (Via Variety)

6. A Look Back 
Roger Ebert – “the most respected poll, the only one I participate in, is the vote taken every 10 years by Sight & Sound” … Read More

7. Follow Friday
And it’s a wrap for Father of Invention (Status updates galore from producer Dana Brunetti’s twitter feed – (click here)

8. From Gangsters to Pirates
Rob Marshall is in talks to take on the closing chapter of Pirates of the Caribbean. (The Hollywood Reporter)

1/2. Not Short in Stature
The 2009 LA Shorts Fest award winners are: Best Music Video: MAN-SIZED WREATH, Directors: Crush Toronto, Gary Thomas, Best Creative Commercial: FREE DORITOS!, Directors: Joe and Dave Herbert and Best Documentary: WE LOVE YOU, Director: Jonathan Kalafer

Special Recognition Awards:
THE DEVIL’S WEDDING, Director: Dan Cadan
THE TAXIDERMIST, Director: Bert & Bertie

Best Independent Filmmaker Award: I’M NOT MATT DAMON, Director: Jim Rothman

The following LA Shorts Fest ’09 award winners are automatically eligible to be submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award consideration.
Best Experimental: SKY PEOPLE, Director: Shanti Thakur
Best Animation: ALMA, Director: Rodrigo Blaas
Best Comedy: BOUTONNIERE, Director: Coley Sohn
Best Drama: HOTEL, Director: Tim Conrad
Best Foreign Film: SIDNEY TURTLEBAUM, Director: Tristram Shapeero