Tag Archives: Amy Heckerling

Fast Times at Ridgemont High Criterion Collection!

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You heard that right. We’ve been working closely with director Amy Heckerling and Criterion on this release scheduled for May 11th on both DVD and Blu-ray. Here’s a list of extra features.

Special Features:

  • New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by director Amy Heckerling, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • Audio commentary from 1999 featuring Heckerling and screenwriter Cameron Crowe
  • Television version of the film from the eighties, featuring deleted and alternate scenes
  • New conversation with Heckerling and Crowe, moderated by filmmaker Olivia Wilde
  • Reliving Our “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” a 1999 documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew
  • Audio discussion from 1982 with Heckerling at the American Film Institute
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic Dana Stevens and, for the Blu-ray edition and a new introduction by Crowe

    New cover by F. Ron Miller

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Feb 12, 2021

Fast Times Celebrates 30 Years

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We asked Cameron to share a few words about the 30th anniversary of Fast Times at Ridgemont High. It was released in theaters on August 13, 1982.

On the last day of filming Fast Times at Ridgemont High there were high-fives and happy/sad goodbyes.  Amy Heckerling had powered through a tough schedule, and we’d snuck the movie through the studio system, in no small part thanks to our fiercely funny and protective producer Art Linson.   Sean Penn, who’d been in character the entire filming, arrived in a brown corduroy jacket and introduced himself.  “I’m Sean,” he announced.  We all felt instantly nostalgic for the blonde stoner we’d known and called Jeff for the previous three months.  I looked around, and saw one of the red trash cans that had followed us from location to location, from the Sherman Oaks mall to Van Nuys High.  It’s been in my writing room ever since.  Happy 30th Anniversary… and thanks to all the cast, crew and fine friends we still have from those bitchin’ summer days of not so long ago….

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Aug 13, 2012

Crowe’s Nest: Fast Times Book, IFC Zoo Interview & More!

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The Crowe’s Nest is a feature that collects random tidbits, etc. in one blog post. So let’s get started!

  • First off, glad you all enjoyed the Say Anything… deleted scenes. Don’t forget that we’ve already posted some Jerry Maguire and Singles deleted scenes.
  • The Bookfinder has released their 100 Most Sought After Out of Print in 2011 and the Fast Times at Ridgemont High book is ranked at #16. As we’ve previously discussed, Cameron owns the rights to the book, but has no plans to re-release the book at this time. Keep looking for a copy at your local thrift store, used book store or at a garage sale!
  • Cameron chats with Matt Singer over at IFC. The first interview focuses on We Bought A Zoo, Matt Damon and the holiday release date. Part 2 revolves around the Say Anything… sequel (that we’ve previously covered) and Part 3 highlights Jónsi, the music of Zoo and future film plans.
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Sep 1, 2011

Fast Times at Ridgemont High: 29 Years Ago Today…

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The Scene That Wore Out VHS Tapes…

Can you believe it? . . . 29 years ago today marked the theatrical release of Fast Times at Ridgemont High in North America. Hopefully you picked up the new Blu-ray earlier this week, but regardless, it would be a great time to celebrate the film in any format (VHS, Beta, LaserDisc, DVD, HD-DVD, iTunes, etc.). All those different formats just validate Fast Times and its staying power. Maybe someday, the outtakes and deleted scenes will show up in somebody’s garage, but for now, we can always watch them during those TBS showings, right?

Cameron Makes His Mark

To celebrate the occasion, I’m sharing this insightful L.A. Times article I recently came across from December, 1981. Writer Paul Rosenfield was invited on set (after midnight) as filming had just begun. He captures the excitement of all these relative unknowns making a feature film for the first time (Amy Heckerling, Cameron Crowe, most of the cast, etc.). You’ll find  some great quotes from Cameron and Art Linson and it’s an enjoyable read.

Cameron (with sweet mustache) plays “Doug” in a promo shot that wasn’t used in the film

Please share your memories about Fast Times? When did you first see it? Was it back in 1982 or more recently? Chime in with your thoughts!

 

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Aug 13, 2011

Available Now: Fast Times Blu-ray!

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Fast Times at Ridgemont High makes its blu-ray debut today. The high definition picture is certainly a step up from the DVD, but this movie is nearly 29 years old (more on that next week), so don’t expect a pristine transfer. The movie was shot in the early 80s and film stock back then was a bit on the grainy side. So the grain you see is supposed to be there. Maybe at some point Universal will do a frame by frame restoration, but I don’t think Fast Times has ever looked better. In addition to the old special features, you’ll find some new bells and whistles such as a Picture in Picture (PIP) feature that includes extended interviews and outtakes (from the previously seen documentary that’s also included). Shortcomings? I’d like a better cover (how about using the theatrical poster?) and the deleted scenes, but there’s always the 30th anniversary, right?

You can find more details over at the Fast Times blu-ray page. Pick up your blu-ray in you live in North America today. Overseas readers, don’t forget that the UK and Australian versions came out on late last month.

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Aug 9, 2011

Crowe’s Nest: Fast Times Reunion Pic, Peter Bart, John Michael Higgins

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The Crowe’s Nest is a collection of random tidbits, etc. in one blog post. Here’s the latest:

  • In case you missed the Fast Times reunion at the Guys Choice awards on Spike TV, here’s a pic. Pictured above is (L to R) Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, Sean Penn and Judge Reinhold. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a picture that also included attendees, director Amy Heckerling and Forest Whitaker all in the same shot…
  • If you want to learn a bit more about writer, producer Peter Bart (who Cameron recently did a Q & A with at the Harold & Maude anniversary screening), you might want to check out this interview over at Culture Map Houston.
  • New York Magazine interviews actor John Michael Higgins. Among the topics was his musical experience on the set of We Bought a Zoo. Here’s what he said:

Did you sing with Justin Timberlake on the set of Bad Teacher, or Scarlett Johansson on We Bought a Zoo, which you also have out this year?
Justin is a professional; I would never dare to sing in front of him! Although Jason Segel and I definitely crossed paths, and he’s a good singer. And Cameron [Diaz] and I would dance a bit, off-camera. We were always doing silly things half the time. We Bought a Zoo was a more musical set. Scarlett loves to sing — she’s like a Mynah bird, she can imitate anyone — so every now and then, we’d get a good pop vocal going on. We’d make up a lot of stupid songs, joke songs, like a little piece Scarlett would write to sing to Matt [Damon] and he would sing something back. Nothing serious. And that’s how we communicated. Scarlett would sing, “It’s a really hot day,” or “I’m hungry for lunch.”

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Jun 29, 2011

Crowe’s Nest: Fast Times Reunion, PJ20 Companion Book, Reader Art & More!

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The Crowe’s Nest is a feature that collects random tidbits, etc. in one blog post. Here’s the latest:

  • Many of the stars of Fast Times at Ridgemont High gathered for induction into the Guy Hall of Fame as part of Spike TV’s Guy Choice event. Cameron was unable to attend the taping on June 4th, but actors Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, Forest Whitaker, and director Amy Heckerling appeared together onstage in L.A. to accept.  You will have your chance to see it this Friday, June 10th on Spike TV. Check your local listings.
  • Contributors to the Pearl Jam Twenty companion book coming out on September 13th include Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Neil Young. Cameron is providing the foreword. The book was compiled and edited by authors Jonathan Cohen and Mark Wilkinson. It will include personal drawings, behind the scenes photos and much more chronicling Pearl Jam’s twenty years.
  • The Dallas Film Society will include Almost Famous as part of a free outdoor screening series. Almost Famous will screen on October 15th. More details can be found here.
  • Reader Jon Sholly dropped us a line to share his entry into a recent Indianapolis film festival. Local designers and artists are asked to create posters that reinterpret films from all eras. They are then sold to raise money for the festival. Jon choose Almost Famous and I thought you’d like to see his poster. Pretty cool, huh?

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Jun 8, 2011

Risky Business Returns

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riskyblu

Don’t miss the recently released 25th anniversary of Risky Business on standard DVD and Blu-ray. It’s never looked better with a gorgeous new remastered version of the film. Amongst the extras:

  • Commentary track with director Paul Brickman, producer Jon Avnet and star Tom Cruise.
  • A retrospective 25 minute documentary with thoughts from cast and crew (Paul Brickman, Jon Avnet, Tom Cruise, Rebecca DeMornay, Bronson Pinchot, Joe Pantoliano and Curtis Armstrong). You’ll also hear from Cameron Crowe and Amy Heckerling (director of Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless).
  • An alternate ending
  • Theatrical Trailer
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Sep 27, 2008

  • Almost Famous- Paramount+, AMC+
  • David Crosby: Remember My Name- Starz
  • Elizabethtown- FUBO
  • Say Anything...- Disney+, Hulu, AMC+
  • Vanilla Sky- Paramount+,Showtime
  • We Bought A Zoo- Disney+, Roku