Great Directors, directed by Angela Ismailos, features conversations with ten of the world’s greatest living directors: Bernardo Bertolucci, David Lynch, Liliana Cavani, Stephen Frears, Agnes Varda, Ken Loach, Todd Haynes, Catherine Breillat, Richard Linklater and John Sayles.

The film traces the influence of cinematic movements and iconic directors on these directors’ work-from the role of Neo-Realism in Bertolucci’s evolution to the influence of Federico Fellini on David Lynch, Ingmar Bergman on Catherine Breillat and Rainer Werner Fassbinder on Todd Haynes.

Harvey Pekar, * October 8, 1939, † July 12, 2010.

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Frank Giering, * November 23, 1971, † June 23, 2010.

At a press conference Tuesday, 89-year-old Rose Biggin, a grandmother from the Camden Town neighborhood of North London, announced that she was in fact the internationally renowned artist known only as Banksy.

Sigmar Polke, * February 13, 1941, † June 11, 2010.

Keith Elam, * Juli 17, 1966, † April 19, 2010.

See also Part 2.

Corey Ian Haim, * December 23, 1971, † March 10, 2010.

DARE TWS / Sigi von Koeding, * 1968, † March 6, 2010.

Although there isn’t an official statement yet, confirmations from second hand sources reveal that Guru has fallen into a coma after suffering cardiac arrest. Godspeed and all the best.

Have you ever been watching TV or a movie and pointed to the screen and said, “Hey! It’s that Guy!”? Well, here is where you’ll find him – All “That Guys!” on one page.

Dennis Stock, * July 24, 1928, † January 11, 2010.

Dennis Stock joined Magnum in 1951 after receiving magazine LIFE’s young photography award. He became famous thanks to his memorable James Dean pictures as well as his jazz musicians ones, taken between 1957 and 1960.

A beautiful but sad video by Eliot Rausch for PhosPictures about an ex-con and his dog. Via

While people all over the world are marking the 75th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley, we would like to give a big shout out to a treasure who is still with us – University of Cambridge professor emeritus Stephen Hawking, who turned 68 years old on January 8. Hawking is a theoretical physicist who is regarded as one of the most intelligent men alive.

An evening with spoken words – January 10, 2010 at the Astra Kulturhaus.

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Everyone needs a day off from time to time.

Patrick Swayze, August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009.

Christoph Rehage is the man: One year on foot walking 4.646 km through China from November 9th 2007 to November 13th 2008. Via

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Andy Kessler, pioneer skateboarder in NYC and member of the original Zoo York crew, died yesterday in Montauk, reportedly from an allergic reaction to a hornet’s sting.

A great hommage to Josef Müller-Brockmann. Thanks Smatik.

The band has canceled its summer tour plans and delayed the release of its forthcoming album in order to allow time for his recovery. MCA was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his left salivary gland last week, and while it is localized to that area and is treatable, immediate surgery is required. He is expecting to make a full recovery. God speed!

Snow died of a drug overdose on the evening of July 13, 2009 at Lafayette House, a hotel in lower Manhattan.

The empire declines because “The urban kid is not loyal to any brand or any store”. Read more.

This year Venice is hosting the 53rd Biennale, which includes an international art exhibition, an architecture exhibition and festivals of contemporary music, dance, and theater – as well as the Venice Film Festival. Official site.

Michael Jackson, * August 29 1958, † June 25 2009

David Carradine: * December 8 1923; † June 4 2009.

On February 7, 2009, 24 years old Jeremy Lusk, winner of gold and silver medals at the 2008 X Games and member of the Metal Mulisha team, crash landed in a freestyle motocross competition in San Jose, Costa Rica. He sustained head injuries, severe brain damage and a possible spinal cord injury. On February 10, he entered into cardiac and respiratory failure. He is survived by his wife, Lauren.