Disney Plans Film on Kasparov ‘Deep Blue’ Chess Battle
Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
US entertainment giant Disney has acquired the screen rights to a play about Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov’s 1997 match against the IBM computer Deep Blue, a milestone battle between the human brain and artificial intelligence, the show business website Deadline.com reported Friday. British playwright Matthew Charman will adapt his play about the match, “The Machine,” for Disney-based Mandeville Films and Television, Deadline.com reported. The play, which was staged in New York City this month, centers around the clash between Kasparov and the Deep Blue team led by Taiwanese-born computer scientist Feng-Hsiung Hsu.
He defeated Deep Blue in 1996 but lost a rematch the following year in a watershed moment for the development of powerful chess computers that have revolutionized the game, as well as symbolic turning point for the development of artificial intelligence.
After the loss, Kasparov accused Deep Blue’s programmers of intervening during the games, which was not allowed under the rules of the match. Deep Blue was subsequently dismantled despite Kasparov’s demand for a rematch. (RIA Novosti)
Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013
Hi everyone,
Here is a nice video of scenes compiled from ten movies on chess. These are quite popular movies in English, French and Spanish that have chess as a central motif. Enjoy and don't forget to send us your favourite chess videos.
'Computer Chess' Movie Impresses at Sundance Film Fest 2013
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone, Screencrave.com has a very nice review of a chess film that is creating waves at the Sundance Film Festival 2013. Their reviewer has given the film 'Computer Chess' an 8/10 which is great for any chess film being showcased alongside films from several genres.
Christie Ko writes, "This film by writer/director Andrew Bujalski took me by surprise. I was expecting a relatively straight-forward reflection on a fictional, but realistic, 1980s computer science competition to develop a chess program that can beat a chess master. I was shocked and delighted to discover that Computer Chess is much more like a mockumentary, in the tradition of Best in Show, with a strange, sci-fi element reminiscent of Primer. This film is intelligent to its core, testing its limitations with brave camera work and a Lynch-worthy meta-narrative." The Players:Writer/Director: Andrew Bujalski Cinematographer: Matthias Grunsky Production Designer: Michael Bricker Starring: Patrick Riester, Myles Paige, James Curry, Robin Schwartz, Gerald Peary, Wiley Wiggins
Synopsis:The 1980 computer chess competition brings together the best and brightest computer programmers to pit their programs against each other in the hopes of developing a program capable of beating a human chess master. The eccentric competitors find themselves in awkward conversations and social situations that reveal their underlying similarities, as well as their essential differences of opinion about chess and life. Overlaid with an examination of technological innovation in the modern world, Bujalski’s film is funny, poignant, and forward-thinking.
Ko writes: This film is MY kind of weird. Its mixture of straight-faced humor and surrealist mini-vignettes manages to be both believable and fantastical. One thing that makes that possible is the look of the film, which takes a little getting used to. Shot using early PortoPak video techniques in [mostly] black and white and with an impeccably detail-oriented production, the work has a striking retro look that had me thinking it was found footage for the first five minutes. The combination of the aesthetic, the time period in which it is set, and the strangeness of the events manages a kind of equilibrium that wouldn’t have been possible had it been shot in high-def... Overall: This has been the best surprise I’ve had at Sundance so far; I walked in, was confused for a few minutes about what I was seeing, and then was positively swept away by the comedy and the strangeness that had me grinning from ear to ear, all the way through to the twisted ending."
As for us, we love chess movies. You watched Brooklyn Castle right? Check out all Chess Blog posts on Brooklyn Castle here.
Ian McDonald is a sports sociologist and documentary filmmaker. Having always used the camera to support his research on sport and physical culture in UK and India, Ian’s move to documentary filmmaking, benefits from a seemingly effortless ‘way of seeing’ that has resulted in documentaries with a difference on art and sport, especially of the ‘sporting outsider’- the one who is seen as ‘different’ by a ‘normal’ society. His documentaries have been screened at film festivals, conferences and campaign meetings around the world. Ian is based at the University of Brighton, UK.
ALGORITHMSIndia | 2012 | HDV | B&W | 109 mins English, Hindi, Tamil, Odiya with English subtitles
In India, a group of boys dream of becoming Chess Masters, driven by a man with a vision. But this is no ordinary chess and these are no ordinary players. Algorithms is a documentary on the thriving but little known world of Blind Chess in India.
Filmed over three years, Algorithms travels with three talented boys and a totally blind player turned pioneer to competitive national and world championships and visits them in their home milieu where they reveal their struggles, anxieties and hopes.
Going beyond sight and story, this observational sport docu with a difference moves through the algorithms of the blind chess world challenging the sighted of what it means to see. It allows for the tactile and thoughtful journey that explores foresight, sight and vision to continue long after the moving image ends.
Cool Chess Austin, Texas Short-Film: Call for Auditions!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012 Hi everyone,
This looks like some fun. There's a casting call for Austin, Texas Student Short Film 'Rematch'! (For fun sake: Photo on left is chess scene from Harry Potter!)
Project Type: Short Film Production Location: Austin, Texas Production Start Date: October 31, 2012 Shooting Schedule: TBD Producer: Nicolai Sinyakov Writer: Nicolai Sinyakov Director: Nicolai Sinyakov
Synopsis: “Rematch” is fun little short film. A young middle school aged boy plans to trick his grandfather during a chess game over the phone. It’s the nephew’s way to get revenge after loosing to several friendly chess games in the past. His plan is to use a simultaneous chess-game with a pro, online, against his grandfather.
Character Breakdowns: JERRY, grandfather around the age of 60, keen, smart, playful. He loves kids especially his grandson, Bradley. He loves playing chess and he loves a good challenge. BRADLEY, average middle school aged boy, likes video games wants to win against his unbeatable chess playing grandfather. PRO-CHESS PLAYER, plays chess against Bradley online, unaware of who/how old Bradley is. In reality he is playing against Bradley’s grandfather, Jerry. Bradley uses his grandfather’s moves against the Pro-chess player.
Paid/Non-Paid: Non-Paid
Other/Additional Compensation: Film Credit, DVD Copy Meals/Lodging/Transportation Provided: Snacks and Beverages
Production Company: A.V. Club Productions Film/Production Company Website: http://avclubproductions.com
*Email Your Casting Submissions To: nicolai.vs@gmail.com
Audition Date: October 14, 2012
Audition Start Time: 10:00 Audition End Time: 05:00 Audition Location/Address: McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine Drive Austin, TX 78756
The Chess Movie That's Must-See: Brooklyn Castle Releasing Oct 19
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
It's never too early to speak about a nice chess thing. Here's the official trailer of the chess movie Brooklyn Castle that we are waiting for. It will be in theaters October 19. You can read all about it in our previous Chess Blog post.
Ultimate Chess Video Montage: 101 Checkmates in Film, TV
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Here's a chess video montage of 101 checkmates in film and television. Hats off to all those who love chess and do creative things with their love of chess. We thank Chess Blog friend @swakilki for sending us this video via @chessblog twitter feed. You can share your favourite chess videos with us as well.
Movies featured in the chess video: The Luzhin Defence (1), Bicentennial Man, New York (2009), Knights of the South Bronx, Mr. Holland Opus, Wonderful World, Beat the Devil, Anastasia, The Luzhin Defence (2), Charlie Chan at the Olympics, Yentl, House of Frankenstein, Sailor Moon (Ep. 71), Schachnovelle (Brainwashed), Jack the Bear, Criminal Minds (1x2), Friday the 13th - Part 2, The Invisible Boy, Black Knight, Seinfeld (7x1), Psych (2x7), Queen to Play (Joueuse), The Incredible Hulk (3x9), D.C. Sniper, Uncovered, The Three Musketeers (2011), The Other Man, Revolver, Letters From a Killer, Shadowheart, Der schweigende Stern (The Silent Star), Harlem Nights, In Enemy Hands, K-911, Das Wachsfigurenkabinett (Waxworks), Columbo (3x6), Saturn 3, The Great Mouse Detective, Out of Reach, X-Files (5x20), The Crow: Salvation, Star Trek: The Next Generation (3x24), The Whistle Blower, Siren of Atlantis, Fresh, Righteous Kill, Rocky 4, Wuthering Heights (1939), The West Wing (3x14), Seeking Justice, That 70's Show (4x1), Whatever Works, Python, Lost (4x13-14), Harrison Bergeron, Laputa, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, The Black Cat, Cube Zero, Phenomenon, Harum Scarum, Sugar Hill, Numb3rs (4x14), Bobby, Companeros, Leap of Faith, Columbo (2x7), Knock on Any Door, Balls Out: The Gary Houseman Story, Ravenous, Flashback, The President's Man, From Paris with Love, Final Move, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1x18), Independence Day, E la nave va, Dirty Dozen - Next Mission, Gargoyles (2x18), Hardware, Who'll Stop The Rain, Headspace, White Water Summer, Waiting For God (2x4), Blazing Saddles, The Simpsons (6x21), Frankenstein: The True Story, Spin City (4x9), Monk (7x2), Bandidas, Seinfeld (3x9), The Contract, An American Werewolf In London, Get Smart (1x22), Time After Time, RoboCop: Prime Directives (Ep. 1), The Left Hand of God, 2001 - A Space Odyssey, Searching for Bobby Fischer, La Diagonale du Fou, Donald in Mathemagic Land!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Chess is a lifelong love affair with its surprises, twists and excitement. We continue our series of chess videos from around the world. This is a short chess film. A middle aged woman finds herself in an undefinable, black room without any walls. Suddenly, she's startled by a mantled creature that challenges her to a unique chess game...
Silent Chess Movie - A Chess Dispute (1903) - Robert W. Paul
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Sit back and enjoy this silent chess film this weekend. However, we won't suggest you get into what the characters in the film get around to after the game! If you have a chess video to share, send it to us.
Award-Winning Chess Film - In the Mind of a Chess Player!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
It is difficult to fathom what goes in the mind of a chess player. We found this very interesting video. It's a trifle long, but watch it till the end. Viewer discretion required for kids.
This is Navarro's second short film, created in 2010 for his University Degree Program.
Jan learns that staying in an asylum can make anyone crazy. He challenges his evaluator to a game of chess to prove that he should be released. The stakes could not be higher in this tense battle of wills. Principal cast: Gergo Danka, Shakyra Dowling, Daniel Wiltshire, Sibel Unver, Alex Murphy, and Adam Cunningham.
The film has won/nominated/screened at the various festivals:
Born in Istanbul, raised in London, Navarro Aydemir is a young award-winning director, growing up he has been bred into a director who synthesizes strong visual flair with bold ideas.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
The Tribeca Film Institute has listed Austin filmmaker Andrew Bujalski's 'Computer Chess' as one of three awardees of its Sloan Filmmaker Fund. TFI, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, grants funds to narrative film projects that "dramatize science and technology themes in film or that portray scientists, engineers, or mathematicians in prominent character roles."
Bujalski's 80s-themed movie centers on a chess tournament featuring chess players and computer programmers. Of his movie about man-versus-machine, Bujalski says on the United States Artists website, "I'm trying to make a very odd movie indeed, about computer chess programmers circa 1980, and perhaps deep down it's my attempt to vicariously peek into the fantasy braniac life I ought to have pursued as a kid. It happens to be a fascinating era for the field."
In addition to the monetary prize, Bujalski ("Mutual Appreciation," "Beeswax") and other grant recipients receive year-round mentoring from science experts and members of the film industry.
Bujalski raised more than $50,000 for his film via the United States Artists website and received a grant from the Texas Filmmaker Production Fund.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Another chess film has won awards - this time at the The New Paper's FiRST Film Fest (FFF) 2012 last night. And it was a double delight for the winning entry, titled 64. Not only did the short film win the Best Short Film award, it also won the Favourite Male Performance award for its protagonist, assistant editor Louis Law. But director Woo Wan Fong's leading man on the night wasn't Law - it was 64's director of photography, Mr Matthew Yang, 21. Read the full story here.
Canadian Chess Comedy Film 'Ivory Tower' Out On DVD
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hello everyone,
Ivory Tower is a Canadian feature film and the directorial debut of Adam Traynor, a musician from the German-based hip-hop group Puppetmastaz. The film is just out on DVD. The film was co-written by Canadian pianist and rapper Gonzales and French director and screenwriter Céline Sciamma.
It stars a variety of Canadian-born musicians, including Gonzales himself, Peaches, Feist and Tiga. Additionally, Gonzales' mother appears in the film. Here is the official promo. Enjoy. You can access the official website at http://chillygonzales.com/
Chess movie with everything - love, romance, murder and tournament!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Time for a chess movie - "Knight Moves" (1992) by Carl Schenkel...(Diane Lane , Christophe Lambert, Tom Skerritt , Daniel Baldwin...) A chess grandmaster is in a big tournament, and when his lover is found painted up and the blood drained out of her body he becomes a chief suspect.
'Chess Fever' film ('Shakhmatnaya goryachka', 1925) by Vsevolod Pudovkin and Nikolai Shpikovsky
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Sit back and watch this fun Russian chess film. Don't worry even if you don't know Russian. (Because it's a silent film ha ha!)
Script: Nikolai Shpikovsky Cast: Vladimir Fogel, Anna Zemtsova, Boris Barnet, José Raúl Capablanca
Though not his first film, Russian director/cinema theorist V. I. Pudovkin's 'Chess Fever' was the first to be released. Essentially a comedy, this 2-reel exercise in montage manages to make the game of chess seem thoroughly cinematic. Illustrating his theory that "The foundation of film art is editing", Pudovkin uses apparently unrelated images to fashion a smooth, well-integrated unified whole. He goes so far as to rabbet in shots of legendary chess master José Raúl Capablanca so that his film will have a 'star'. Other grandmasters to be seen in this movie: Ernst Grünfeld, Frederick Yates, Frank Marshall, Richard Réti, Rudolf Spielmann and Carlos Torre (all playing in the 1925 Moscow International Tournament ).
Brooklyn Castle - the lovely chess film about junior high with highest rated chess team in the US!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
We have an update about a nice chess documentary - Brooklyn Castle. It’s a great film about a low-income junior high school in Brooklyn that has the highest rated chess team in the whole country. Wow.
Here's the trailer from www.BrooklynCastle.com. They are also rolling out our outreach campaign (which will focus on getting more chess programs in schools throughout the country).
Brooklyn, New York’s I.S. 318 is a junior high school where over 65% of students are from homes living below the federal poverty level. It also has the best junior high school chess team, bar none, in the entire country. They win nearly every tournament they play in – and regularly beat out schools, and other students, with a lot more resources. Despite being underfunded and underserved, I.S. 318 is home to some of the highest ranked students in the country. In fact, if Albert Einstein, who was rated 1800, were to join the team, he’d be fifth best. We followed the lives of five of these amazing kids – Alexis, Justus, Patrick, Pobo and Rochelle – for a year and saw their triumphs and struggles, both on and off the chessboard, and marveled at how they handled both.
Brooklyn Castle is a documentary that is as much about the ability for public schools to do great things when they have the resources as it is about these five young lives. In 2003, I.S. 318 was listed as a “school in need of improvement.” Today, it’s one of New York City’s best, and its students matriculate to some of the most prestigious high schools in the country. The chess program has led the school to create a vibrant and varied afterschool program which John Galvin, assistant principal, credits with creating the “culture of success” at the school. But what we learned in making this documentary is that even with a staff that cares and students that work hard, a lack of resources can undermine even the most hard-won achievements. Budget cuts now seriously threaten the very existence of I.S. 318’s afterschool programs. The demise of these incredibly necessary programs is certain to have serious consequences for both I.S. 318 and its students.
WHERE WE ARE WITH THE FILM, AND HOW WE’RE USING IT:
Brooklyn Castle is near completion. We're raising these funds, partly, for the finishing touches that make a film look, feel and sound like a movie, and they include final music scoring, final animation, sound mixing, sound design and color correction. Once accepted into a film festival, we are launching a robust audience engagement and outreach campaign that has three goals: 1) to get people talking about how incredibly important afterschool programming 2) to inspire the creation of more afterschool programs in schools across the country and 3) to influence the resources that are allotted for these programs – a really timely goal, because in recessionary periods like the one we’re in now, these programs are the first to go. We’ve partnered with education organizations like the Afterschool Alliance, as well as chess organizations like the United States Chess Federation to mention just a couple. But we still have a lot of work to do. With the help of our partners, who know a lot more about this stuff than we do, we’re going to do a 10-city screening campaign which will target principals and administrators of underserved schools to inform them how to create and maintain chess and other quality afterschool programs at their schools. We’ll also give them tangible tool kits – including success stories, testimonials, and step-by-step guides – and discussion guides and DVDs for screenings at their schools and/or local community spaces. We’re designing a mobile app that will let people donate directly to schools in need of funds for their afterschool programs. And we’re working with local programs in cities throughout the country to get administrators and funders in rooms together, so they can talk about how incredibly important these programs are.
We are seriously and earnestly committed to the idea of having Brooklyn Castledo more than just tell a story – we really want it to have a genuine, positive impact, and we feel confident that if we work with people and organizations that share our goals, it will.
THE ASK:
You knew it was coming…
The thing is, all of this takes money. Not only the finishing touches to the film, but to pay for campaign materials – the paper, the printing, the DVDs – and travel to host these community screenings. We’ve done a lot so far with our own resources in order to start building this campaign and we’ve gotten help from people like the Fledgling Fund. We plan to use Kickstarter funds to keep the momentum of our campaign going strong – up until and extending beyond the premiere of the film. We would appreciate any help, at all, you would be willing to provide us. And thanks so much for your time!
Super chess film on one of the most feared Soviet chess masters - Nezhmetdinov
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
Here is an excellent film on Nezhmetdinov sent by Ray Kappel. The Soviet Chess master Rashid Nezhmetdinov was one of the most feared attacking players in chess history. Although not well known in the west, he won many brilliancy prizes and defeated most of the best players of his era, including Mikhail Tal, Boris Spassky, David Bronstein, Efim Geller, Lev Polugaevsky, Isaak Boleslavsly, Salo Flohr, Andor Lilienthal, Gideon Stahlberg, and many other strong grandmasters.
Written by Jessica Fischer Narrated by Richard Dewoskin Researched by Jessica Fischer, Annie Kappel, Larry Crawford, Chancho, and Thanh Phan.
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,
When you have lost your heart (in love and in chess) nothing else matters. Nothing else can. Beautiful music adds to the pain - the sublime pain - the priceless pain. We loved this feature film. You would too for sure. We present to you feature film 'Capablanca' sourced via www.chess-news.ru and Marat Gismatullin's post. It's about 90 minutes and more... so sit back, switch off your phone and enjoy.
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Best chess wishes to you! Alexandra Kosteniuk
12th Women's World Chess Champion
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