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2006 TV - Science Channel "How It's Made" episode "Artificial Bonsai" |
In the third segment of this particular episode, a bonsai-zoke of an unspecified manufacturer is shown being assembled by a Caucasian artisan. Wire, floral tape, plastic needles (from China), weathered driftwood, styrofoam, modeling clay, rice paper, and assorted mosses are used over a period of 4 to 6 days to create a 17-1/2"H specimen placed in a shallow tray. Its market value will be $50 to $800. Episode 66 also covered 3-wheel vehicles, wooden baseball bats, and the trombone. Original air date of January 4. | ||
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TV - 20th Century Fox "American Dad!" episode "Finances With Wolves" |
Hayley (daughter of CIA Operative Stan Smith) is being told by _____ to make out with a tree to prove her dedication to the "Save the Big Trees from the Mall Developers." Oh, NOT with him, as he is standing there without a shirt but up to his waist in a very large flower pot. "But my friend here thinks you're really cute," as he leans over to the right and lifts up a small bonsai in a 2-tone gray rectangular pot with faux Oriental characters in white on the ends of the pot and a built-on wooden stand. The tree has a thick two-tone brown trunk which curves to the right and sharply back to the left. There are two foliage sections, round on top with flat bottoms. Haley looks incredulous. "What's wrong?" he asks. "Is it because he's Asian?" Original air date January 29. (Brought to RJB's attention by son Kenny.) | ||
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TV - NKTN "Kappa Mikey" episode "Mikey Impossible" |
This Nicktoons episode's plot is described as "Mikey destroys Ozu's bonsai tree." He deactivates the security alarm around the raised platform to one side of the indoor room on which sits the subject tree. He partly defoliates and breaks some branches on the deciduous tree. We see the leafless tree in a double-decker tan rectangular pot. Near the end of the episode the tree miraculously becomes regenerated and all is well. Original air date February 26. (RJB caught the last portion of the episode showing the above -- there is probably a little more storyline which I missed.) | ||
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Ambush Entertainment, AV Club, and Cold Iron Pictures movie the OH in OHio |
Near the beginning of the film, in the shot after Priscilla (Parker Posey)
is on her way to work in downtown Cleveland, we see her standing behind a flatscreen computer monitor. To the
immediate right and front of it is a bonsai: sinuous trunk with several branches thinly foliated, no distinct layers,
thin brown trunk rising out of a coarse mulch mix above the edge of the dark blue glazed rectangular pot with slight
flared lip. The shot alternates a few times with a close-up of Posey and another shot looking at her assistant
Sherri (Miranda Bailey) sitting to the left of the computer desk, close-up so that the slightly out-of-focus foliage of
the tree takes up most of the front right 1/3 of the screen. Much later in the film when Priscilla is in her
office afterhours and is looking at various backgrounds on her screen, the edge of the tree can be seen to the far
left side. A little later when Priscilla is with Sherri in the former's office, the top of the tree is
teasingly seen at screen right bottom -- definitely not shaped or styled. Editor's Note: This film is rated R. THIS IS NOT A FAMILY FILM. Yes, there is a non-descript bonsai in this independent comedy, but it's not necessary to see this movie to learn more about this art. Released in USA 30 March at Vail Film Festival, and then at several other festivals until limited release on 14 July. |
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Dimension & Miramax Films movie Scary Movie 4 |
Inside the doorway of the Norris
Japanese house is a medium-size juniper in a black rectangular pot on a dark
brown plank, which rests on a bamboo mat. This is on a dark brown counter/shelf
right next to a window. The first shot of it is overhead as Cindy Campbell
(Anna Faris) enters (perhaps 15 minutes into the film?). She asks "Mr. Koji?"
and takes her purse off her shoulder. The tree is seen behind her, partly
obscured by the end post of the stairway railing. The soil cover is possibly
a pale blue moss. The tree is briefly seen again five or so minutes later, now at
night from above. Shortly thereafter it is seen as Cindy goes up the stairs.
Almost ten minutes later, Cindy runs into the house and talks to the boy at the top of
the landing. Following a bizarre and inspired Japanese language conversation, a close-up
of her shows the tree behind her. We see the twisted trunk with branches and roots
wrapped around. (The tree is also seen in a deleted scene of Cindy at the stairs,
and in the Visual Effects extra feature.) Note: This is a parody of The Grudge (see 2004, Oct. 22 entry above) but has its tree in a different style and completely different setting. Released in USA April 14. (Brought to RJB's attention by son Kenny.) |
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Paramount Pictures movie
Mission Impossible III |
There is an "old man with japanese maple near the end." Released in USA May 5. (Per Andy Wilson in posting to bonsaitalk.com on 8 Nov 2007) | ||
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TV - BHG "Australian Better Homes & Gardens" |
"When it comes to Bonsai, it doesn't get any better
than this -- Japan's most renowned Bonsai Master, 91 year-old Saburo Kato-san,
and his masterpiece, a 2000 year old [sic] Shimpaku Juniper. Presenter Graham Ross has
travelled to Omiya, just north of Tokyo, to bring you this amazing insight into the ancient living artform of Bonsai
and see the biggest and best collection in the world, before taking you through the basics of producing your own
treasured tree at home." Air date June 16. |
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Universal Pictures movie You, Me and Dupree |
About eleven minutes into this film, when Carl (Matt Dillon) meets with his new father-in-law and boss Mr. Thompson (Michael Douglas) in the latter's office, a bonsai is seen on the left. It has a single trunk with branches starting perhaps halfway up the trunk. It is in a tan pot whose top flares wider than the footed base. There are four quick shots with the tree. Thompson also has a samurai sword on a stand on his desk and a large Buddha in the koi pond garden just outside his window. At about the fifty-five minute mark, we see a tree with a long trunk that slightly curves with a handful of foliage pads. Not sure if this is a conifer or not. In two quick shots we see that this is now actually a second tree, on the right side of Thompson's desk. This is a twin-trunk, wired, and the left trunk is smaller. Released in USA July 14. | ||
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TV - SciFi (NBC Universal Production) "Eureka" episode "Many Happy Returns" |
About 25 minutes into this episode, a small three-pom foliage juniper in a slightly deep rectangular blue-glazed pot resting on a matching drip dish is seen. It is right of center on the desk of Nathan Stark (Ed Quinn) as he dictates a memo to himself and the camera focuses on him during a wrap-around shot. The left side of the surface are a couple of small low light-colored rocks; the right side is moss. The tree's trunk curves to the right from the base and then sharply back to the left. It is the only organic decoration to be seen. There are two or three long shots that include the tree on the desk in this second floor office whose walls are of glass. The last long shot shows a standing Stark knocked-out by an electrical incident -- but the tree is unhurt. Episode 1.2 airdate July 25 in the USA. (Brought to RJB's attention by son Andrew.) | ||
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TV - DSN "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" episode "A Midsummer's Nightmare" |
In one section of this Disney Channel show, in an effort to improve the feng shui of the hotel lobby, the decor was orientalized. Perhaps 7 or 8 bonsai were set up there, smaller ones on a table and larger ones on the floor. Episode 48 airdate August 11. (Brought to RJB's attention by daughter Raechel and wife Shirley.) | ||
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Beijing Film Studio / Rogue Pictures movie Jet Li's Fearless (Huo Yuan Jia) |
There were "several nice bonsai in it. ...one was a cedar and the other was flowering cascade azalea." Released in USA September 22. (Per theeImboy in posting to bonsaitalk.com on 6 Dec 2006) | ||
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Internet - YouTube video "Blossom Trees and Bonsai" |
A variety of trees indoors and on outdoor benches are seen after the three minute mark of this four minute video by Moshihino. (RJB saw this November 5.) | ||
| TV - "Nintendo Wii"® commercial | On Nov. 23 we saw the following: For the game Red Steel, there was a bonsai to the right of the TV behind the young man -- when he is looking at the game panel and the wise old master is talking to him. Possibly a small/medium informal upright in a bluish oval pot. Very briefly seen two or three times. Also, another bonsai is briefly seen in the Red Steel game on a low table against a wall. | ||
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2007 TV - FOX "MadTV" Season 12, Episode 13 "Aren't Asians Great?" |
One particular skit during this episode
was a Gwen Stefani spoof. The lyrics include
"...and I love my green tea [as she points to a small
four-sided cream-colored ceramic cup], and my small bonn-sai tree [a small very thin-trunked mall-sai
juniper in a rectangular cream-colored ceramic pot], and any movie that is made by Ang Lee..." The
bonsai is seen many times on the outer edge of the glass and metal end table to the left side of the
white-covered bed with gold pillows that is the main set piece for the generally positive-themed song.
Less than 2 minutes in length, this first aired on February 10. (Brought to RJB's attention by wife
Shirley.) |
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Warner Brothers movie Music and Lyrics |
In a few shots early on of Alex
Fletcher (Hugh Grant)'s apartment kitchen near the window is what could be a small bonsai. It is seen
always out of focus, green foliage, a bowing crescent-shape over a triangle of light brown thin branches into
the trunk. (Think : a parachute.) It is in a thin pot, probably with some black round rocks on top
of the soil. During the closing credits we finally see the tree in focus behind the two main characters sitting at the kitchen table. The tree is a little larger than we initially thought. In the Deleted Scene "Colin Calls," we see the tree briefly at the right edge of the scene that takes place in the kitchen and then between Alex and Sophie (Drew Barrymore). The tree is revealed to be a bright green juniper in a blue glazed pot. (Released in USA February 14.) |
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TV - ING Direct Commercial
"Adventures on the Road to Happiness (Yoga TV)" |
In April on the History Channel we saw this ad.
On the outside patio of a spa -- as seen from the inside and behind the spokesman -- there is a zig-zagging conifer
bonsai in a deep, dark blue pot. The tree has at least five foliage pads. The last shot of the tree is
from above. |
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TV - FOX "House" episode "Resignation" |
In an opening sequence of this May 8 episode, Addie (Lyndsy Fonseca) is sparing with someone in a martial art's dojo. Behind her and mostly out-of-focus is a small possibly juniper bonsai in a relatively large square blue pot resting on a shelf next to a picture (of the dojo's sensei/founder?). | ||
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TV - A&E "Criminal Minds" "No Way Out, Part II: The Evilution [sic] of Frank" episode |
In a scene near the end of this episode which originally aired 16 May, there is an intense discussion between Agent Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) and the psychiatrist Erin Strausss (Jayne Atkinson). "Hotch" is making observations of her office and includes this line: "The bonn-zai you obsessively nurture is to compensate for feelings of failure..." as we get a brief view of a small juniper on the corner of her desk. The tree is very briefly seen in one final scene. | ||
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TV - Priceline.com Commercial "The Iron Hand Hotel Rate Chop" |
This ad was seen on June 18. At least one bonsai is to the back left behind William Shatner, who is performing exaggerated martial arts moves in an Asian garden setting. | ||
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Universal Pictures movie Bourne Ultimatum |
"About 10 minutes into the movie, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) visits a guy in an apartment in Moscow, on the right side of the screen was a large 'S' shaped tree in a blue pot...." Released in USA July 25 (Los Angeles premiere), and then August 3. (Per nclivingwaters in posting to bonsaitalk.com on 18 Aug 2007) | ||
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TV - Kids' WB "Tom and Jerry Tales" "Zent Out of Shape" episode |
In the first of three
stories for that day, Tom is a practicing Zen Buddhist monk in Japan, where he seeks to
achieve inner peace in a Japanese monastery near the sea. However, he's constantly
disturbed by Jerry's loud activities. This prompts Tom's anger and Tom tries to
eliminate Jerry out of the monastery. Jerry's drumming shatters Tom's calmness
shaping his bonsai. Airdate, September 29. Details in the following attached
link. (Brought to RJB's attention by Robert Sirota's Jin
and Tonic video "HOLLYWOOD BONSAI
CRITICS Episode 1 - Tom and Jerry Tales Zent Out of Shape," July, 2023.
New 11/26/23
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TV - FX "Damages" various episodes |
In this TV series, "Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) has a bonsai on the sideboard in her office. It is shown many times throughout the series." (Contributed by Julie Bolton, Australia, in personal e-mail to RJB, Dec 3, 2007) | ||
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TV - Nine Network "The Garden Gurus" "Bonsai" |
In this 13 October espisode, Melissa King speaks with Lindsay Farr of The Bonsai Farm about how to create a bonsai using one plant example. | ||
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2008
DreamWorks Animation movie Kung Fu Panda |
At about the 3:05 mark into the film, when Po the Panda gets up and says the names of the five animal fighting types "Monkey, Mantis, Crane, Viper, Tigress, rooooar!" he is interrupted by the realization that he is being watched by the surprised close-neighbor lady pig. Using a colorful blue tea kettle, she is watering a dwarfed potted tree -- with pink five-petalled flowers and a curved trunk rising out of a narrow-necked bluish glazed bowl. There is a smaller potted houseplant to its right on the windowsill. Released in USA June 6. (Brought to RJB's attention by Mike Bruner.) | ||
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TV -- Reclast® commercial |
In the beginning of this bone density drug commercial, in a garden an aproned woman is using a spray water bottle on a curved trunk tree in a narrow pot. Possibly a bushy-foliaged pine, this is sitting on a tabletop. At one point the tree fills the entire screen. It looks real, and is a pretty nice tree too. (Per BarbaraM in posting to bonsaitalk.com on 27 Oct Nov 2008; Brought to RJB's attention by daughters Angie and Raechel 22 Jan 2009.) | ||
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MGM movie Quantum of Solace |
There is a brief appearance of a bonsai in the apartment of M's body guard. An S-curved "cookie cutter" Chinese elm, perhaps. Released in USA November 14. (Per NJF and Ginkooooo in postings to bonsaitalk.com on 4 Nov and 16 Nov 2008) | ||
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Beijing ShengShi HuaRei Film Investment & Management Co. movie Ip Man (aka Yip Man) |
"the movie is based on the life of great wing chun kung fu master yip man, in the scenes inside his house there are some potted flowers and bonsai or more so (penjing) also the scenes in his courtyard there is quite a few." Released in China 12 December, Indonesia, Singapore and New Zealand 18 December, Hong Kong 19 December, South Korea 16 April 2009, Philippines 13 May, Canada 9 July, UK 2 October, Germany 7 November, Norway 20 November, Netherlands 12 January 2010, Kuwait 17 June, USA 1 October 2010 (limited). (Per daniel walko in 21 Jan 2011 posting to ausbonsai.com in thread "Re: You saw bonsai where...!") | ||
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2009
Universal Pictures movie Duplicity |
This film "has a huge Pine Bonsai in several scenes, can't tell if its a black pine or not. Tom Wilkensen's character, Howard Tully the CEO of a consumer products company, has the Pine sitting on his desk. The bonsai is shown in several scenes -- one in which Tully is actually pruning the tree using high quality Japanese tools. The tree is used as a prop to show how powerful Mr. Tully is and as a metaphor for the company he runs as he is a meticulous CEO." Released in UK 10 March (London Premiere), USA 16 March (New York premiere), general 20 March. (Per Jason in personal e-mail to RJB 17 Mar 2010) | ||
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TV - Fox "Morning News" myfoxdc.com |
Originally airing May 1, the Channel 5 WTTG reporter Holly Morris did a group of segments about the May 1 - 3, 2009 Potomac Bonsai Festival at the National Arboretum. Here we have interviews with curator Jack Sustic, Dr. Tom Elias (partly about the over 300 varieties of landscape azaleas in bloom), Felix Laughlin, and Jim Hughes, and a brief talk with 92-year-young Harry Hirao "who rarely leaves the state" of California to work on a tree in Washington, D.C. that weekend. | ||
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movie Bonsai |
This short in Filipino/Tagalog by Borgy Torre is about "A large solitary man [(Richard Somes), who] tends a bonsai plant. Later, walking down a street, as he lights a cigarette, he sees a woman seated in a garden washing her clothes. He returns home and contemplates his size - he has a large belly. Does he stand a chance with her? He exercises. He sits and thinks, he smokes, he flexes. Is it time to try to seize the day?" (Plot summary written by jhailey@hotmail.com.) Released in Philippines, July 18. This won the award for Best Short Film in the 5th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. | ||
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Fox 2000 Pictures movie
All About Steve |
When Mary Horowitz (Sandra Bullock) comes downstairs from her bath, a tree is very briefly seen behind her mom (Beth Grant) who is sitting on the arm of her husband (Howard Hesseman)'s chair. It is in several shots, a couple showing most of the tree. Near the end of the film during the rescue, there is a shot of Mr. and Mrs. Horowitz watching the TV with joy. The tree is seen in the room behind them. A white column holds a glass top for a table, and on the table is a large squat dark rectangular pot with a tan-colored figure in the front right corner. The tree, possibly root-over-rock, is in the back left corner of the pot, mounded tan soil mix between it and the figurine. The tree has two thin trunks, the left one going up into a dark green foliage mass that somewhat resembles in shape a thin version of the continent of Africa with a tail into Madagascar (or possibly the foliage from a thin branch off of the right trunk), while the righthand trunk is capped as it splits into two sections with two smaller thin masses of foliage. A standard floor lamp provides the incandescent illumination a little behind and to the left of the tree. Released in USA 4 September. | ||
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TV - Russia Channel 1 "Other News" "Everything about the art of bonsai" |
An almost 8-1/2 minute long segment about grower Andrei Darusenkov, who first saw bonsai 15 years earlier and now has over 300 trees; Yuriy Blazenkin, who grows only tropical bonsai in his apartment; Julia Matushkuna, a landscape designer who prunes outdoor trees in similar styles as bonsai; and in-studio guest Vladimir Omelchuk, an Associate Professor of Horticulture who talked about hedge plants rather than bonsai(?). Original airdate 8 September. (Per Facebook posting by Andrei Darusenkov, 28 Oct 2012) | ||
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Warner Bros. Pictures+ movie
Ninja Assassin |
A bonsai is shown in the middle of the film, and one at the end. They are symbolic: they grow in the direction of the wire, which one student will not use. The non-wiring has a result at the end of the movie which is said to be very gory. Released in USA 29 September (Austin Fantastic Fest), 19 November (Hollywood, California premiere), general 25 November. (Per son Andrew the day after he had seen this film.) | ||
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2010
TV - CBS News "Sunday Morning" "Bonsai, Small Wonder" |
In an interesting but brief (4:25) segment on April 18, "China was credited for earliest practice, & Japan was credited for most recognizable practice. Among Japanese bonsai at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, the Imperial red pine & Miyajima (aka 'Hiroshima Survivor,' though the broadcast didn't note it) pine in training for ~400 years were shown. A Chinese penjing on a marble tray was discussed. Museum Curator Jack Sustic credited John Naka with introducing bonsai as something everyone could do with practice. There was a very nice section regarding John and focused especially on his forest planting titled Goshin. One of Chase Rosade's students noted that bonsai begins in plain dress which over time turns into a ball gown. Pat Morita was noted for his Karate Kid movie portrayal of bonsai practice. National Bonsai Foundation President Felix Laughlin was shown at his country home among several tables of trees. He briefly summarized his bonsai interest, which began at his wife's urging to choose a hobby 35 years ago." (Per Internet Bonsai Forum posting by Chris Cochrane, 18 Apr 2010) | ||
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Columbia Pictures movie
The Karate Kid |
The first trees are seen flanking the steps of the Beverly Hills Luxury Apartments in Beijing when Dre (Jaden Smith) and Harry (Luke Carberry) roll Dre's luggage up the front ramp. Dark blue deep bowls, large leaf tropicals, no definition, about 1-1/2' tall. Just inside, they pass by a gardener in a shortsleeve shirt working on either a persimmon or citrus pentsai. The tree is in a worn orange clay flower pot resting on a counter. Behind the gardener in a small deep dark brown pot is a small tree, possibly a Schefflera. As the camera moves ahead of the two boys down the hallway we see two more trees to the left of the first tree. One is in a shallow shiny blue pot with overhanging edge and the other is in a larger dark blue deeper square pot. On the window sill past the counter are a few more trees and a few other potted plants. As Harry leaves, the gardener is seen watering his charges with a lime green watering can. The front and hall trees are briefly seen later when maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) shows up to fix the plumbing when Dre is watching a martial arts training video. There are a number of potted plants later in Mr. Han's garden, but none appear to be penjing. Throughout the film there are many potted plants seen, but we could not distinguish any other pentsai or penjing. (This film is better than I had expected. It is a worthy update and more sophisticated version of the basic story. However, as far as its value HERE goes, this remake will NOT kindle interest in our hobby/art like the original. Why couldn't they have retitled this one appropriately The Kung Fu Kid? Released in USA 11 June.) | ||
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VOAvideo "400-Year-Old Bonsai Survived Hiroshima Bombing" |
Voice of America producer Zulima Palacio interviews curator Jack Sustic and NBF director Johann Klodzen c.Aug. 3. | ||
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TV - Nine Network "Hi - 5" "12x02x04" |
In this 3:33 min long segment of an episode of the Australian children's program, Casey tells/sings to Chats (a puppet, aka Chatterbox) about three bonsai ("tray gardens"): "miyogi," "sekijoju," and "yose-ue." (From before Sept 25, 2010. Link from tex048, 17 May 2011 in posting to ausbonsai.com in thread "Re: You saw bonsai where...!") | ||
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Magic Light Pitcures, CinemaNX, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment movie
Wild Target |
A bit into this British action cum
comedy, Victor Maynard (Bill Nighy) is seen at a plain wooden kitchen table in his house in the country working on
a small tree less than 12" tall that has what seems to be a double-twisted trunk. It is in a dark blue glazed
oval pot whose lip is cut-under. A set of multiple leaves is first seen on the table just past each end of the
pot. As the camera pans slowly around to the left we see he has a pair of scissors in his right hand and he
is intently studying the specimen -- somewhat large glossy dark green leaves and a brownish trunk that curves
sharply to the right from its base up to beneath the first branch area, and then upward and slowly to the left up
through the foliage. A short greyish multiple-peaked rock is in the left (to us) end of the pot. The
scene proceeds with just a classical-type instrumental music playing. A first edit goes to a further close-up
of Victor -- a professional assassin in a dark suit with patterned blue tie -- with raised eyebrows studying the
tree as he occasionally snips with the silver scissors. He snips the scissors a couple of times -- and the
next shot is from low on the table looking back at him sitting behind the now mostly denuded tree. The
lowest large branch is actually a pair of bar branches starting about 45% up from the base. He then puts
down the scissors, surveying his work with a slight exhaled breath. (The scene takes all of 35 seconds.)
In the next scene where he visits Tony (Rupert Grint), his apprentice, in the bath, Maynard confesses "I've been
distracted at work... and I've just over-trimmed my dwarf Ulmus. My favorite bonsai tree."
(Correct pronunciation.) A little further he then gets the idea "I could graft it onto the rubber plant." [As the elm and fig are classified as being in different families -- Ulmaceae and Moraceae, respectively) of the same order (Rosales or Urticales) -- long-term grafting would NOT be successful. However, the matter is moot because most elms, if healthy, will respond to complete defoliation by pushing out a new and often smaller complete set of leaves. Apparently even if Maynard was a talented professional in other areas, he was not a horticultural wiz -- or perhaps he was really distracted at work.] Several scenes later when Maynard is putting his pistols together while blind-folded, there are a couple of other trees seen behind him. Past his left shoulder in a blue glazed pot similar to the previous one is a squat wide-trunked tree with two distinct foliage-globes, as it were, the lower one the larger. Behind his head in the back is a more out-of-focus piece -- possibly a bare-bottomed trunk tree in a blue glazed pot with a polished black and gold upright stone in front of and slightly to the left of it? A few shots later after he has removed the blindfold, we get a wider shot and see that there are at least three behind his left on dark-wooded furniture case -- the farthest tree in a robin's-egg-blue rectangular pot, light tan trunk and foliage mostly to the top right -- and three behind his right. The black-and-gold is actually the base of a lamp on each side of him with a short tree behind each. Each of these trees are perhaps under 8" tall -- and, of course, away from decent window lighting. The foliage globes are actually two different trees, the bottom and closer one lighter green in color. In the brief DVD special "On Target With Emily Blunt," there is a quick clip of Maynard working on the first tree. (Released in USA 6 Nov 2009 (American Film Market), 29 Oct 2010 (Limited).) (Another DVD gotten from the library by wife Shirley without knowledge of the tree within.) |
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2011
Onion's Today Now! news Missing Teen's Friends Go On TV To Plead For Her Release, Gossip About Ugly Classmates |
Two teens visit Today Now! in the hopes of finding their kidnapped friend and letting her know that their classmate is totally knocked up. Behind and slightly to the right of the lefthand girl (Meghan Cleary) there is a bushy juniper at about head level. It has a somewhat thick dark trunk and a clump of dark green foliage needing shaping. A black rectangular pot with stark sides holds it. In some shots of the righthand girl (Katie Clements) we see just the right edge of the foliage. About thirty shots include the tree or parts thereof in the 3:12 segment which takes place in a perfectly captured chat news program set in this parody. Seen 05/18/2011. | ||
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TV - TNT
"Franklin & Bash" episodes |
"The lawyer TV show Franklin and Bash have bonsai almost in every episode. Their boss, played by Malcolm McDowell keeps Bonsai in his office. There is even one show where he's seen pruning his tree, and has real Bonsai tools (shears and concave cutter). Some props guy was paying attention! Also, I get miffed seeing Bonsai inside dark rooms like a vase. In this show, they're against a huge window in a sunlit office. The best was a large JBP [Japanese Black Pine](probably rented from a LA nursery), but lately they've been showing mallsai looking junipers." (Per posting on Internet Bonsai Club Forum by Joey McCoy, Sep 17, 2013, http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t14194p15-bonsai-movies#147039.) Pilot air date June 1. | ||
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Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation movie
Rise of the Planet of the Apes |
"[T]he head of the drug company has a bonsai in his office -- looked like a juniper. Released in USA 5 Aug. (Per posting on Internet Bonsai Club Forum by Rob Kempinski, Jan 26, 2012, http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t8987-bonsai-on-ncis#94378). | ||
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TV - NBC10 News Providence, RI "Rare bonsai trees stolen from nursery" |
Theft at New England Bonsai Gardens in Bellingham, MA, SW of Boston, near Rhode Island border, reported on a local news station on Aug. 16. Dan Jaehnig interviewing Teddi Scobi of NEBG. | ||
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Jirafa / Rizoma Films / Rouge International / Ukbar Filmes movie
Bonsái |
Bonsai first mentioned briefly at the 16:00 mark of this Spanish
movie with English subtitles. Several trees about eight months later in the story. We see the title Bonsái on the
typed manuscript just past the 58 minute mark. At about the 1 hr 30 sec mark, Julio (Diego Noguera) is sitting inside a café
of sorts, pulls out a small notebook and continues to work on a sketch of a tree he's been making. Blue ink, a flat rectangular pot
is on the left while the slant style trunk extends to the right, a top growing branch just left of center, the tree's apex on the same
level to the right of center. He then puts the sketch in the upper left corner of his bathroom mirror. Then he is typing on
his laptop computer, apparently looking up different wiring styles. A little later at the 1:02:20 mark he is an actual bonsai nursery, with close-ups if a number of trees. A teacher there explains and shows what bonsai is about. [Consultoria bonsái, Alexis Vidal, plays the señor bonsai.] Julio tries his hand at the art. Twenty minutes later, he is on the roof of his apartment building working on his tree in a brief scene. Almost two minutes later he briefly raises his blinds in his apartment to look at his tree outside. In a deep square pot which is undercut slightly and has a bit of a thin lip, the tree is maybe half as high as the pot is deep, and maybe 90% as wide as the pot's inside dimension. Its outline is two rough mounds. A quick close-up as Julio stares at it one night outside his open window, awakened by a party going on next door. The tree is a wired low double trunk with the first branch arising from low in front of the split, a small juniper with typical mixed rootage above the soil line. The next scene has Julio sitting in bed reading an issue of a Bonsai magazine. At the 1:24:12 mark, Julio is brushing his teeth in the bathroom, and the sketch of the tree is still there. The sketch bears little resemblance to the actual tree. In the next scene Julio moves the tree and pot closer to him on the rail just outside his patio door so he can pinch a few needles. After typing some notes combining bonsai care with writing, he again in close-up is working on a wired juniper with some thin curving jin. He's removing wire from some branches. Then pots up the tree in a shallower blue glazed oval: takes the tree out out of its deep pot, removes most of the soil, trims the roots, puts in soil mix, and waters it. It is now a windswept or strong slant style – perhaps moving towards the sketch. The tree is seen outside on the rail during a phone call. At the 1:32 mark with the tree again seen on a table on the balcony rail, there is a close-up. At the 1:35:54 mark in the closing credits, the Jardin Kyoto Bonsai logo is one of a dozen shown on that shot. Release dates: France 14 May 2011 (Cannes Film Festival), France 15 June 2011 (Cabourg Film Festival), Spain September 2011 (San Sebastián Film Festival), USA 2 September 2011 (Telluride Film Festival). Editor's Note: This film is about a young man in his college and beyond days, which includes some scenes of intimate relations and a couple of full frontal nudity shots (male and female). THIS IS PROBABLY NOT A FAMILY FILM. "Based on an internationally acclaimed novella, Bonsái is a subtly affecting examination of the lies we tell ourselves in order to get by." |
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Summit Entertainment movie
50/50 |
"Joseph Gordon-Levitt [stars] as a young man who finds out he has cancer. The rather cold doctor who gives him his diagnosis has several trees in his office -- all of which should be outdoors. Good looking specimens." Released in USA 30 Sep (12 Sep in Canada at Toronto Film Festival). (Per personal e-mail to RJB from Kevin J. Kohler, Jan 21, 2013). | ||
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TV - CBS
"NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" episode "The Penelope Papers" |
Penelope Langston (Lily Tomlin) "has a bonsai collection. It is seen twice, once with some 'students' taking pictures, etc. and later she is working on her trees, looks like a Juniper of some kind, maybe literati style." Original air date: 4 Oct. (Per posting on Internet Bonsai Club Forum by Billy M. Rhodes, Jan 24, 2012, http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t8987-bonsai-on-ncis#94149). | ||
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2012 Warner Bros. movie The Dark Knight Rises |
"The last Batman had some of my bonsai in it." (Per posting on Internet Bonsai Club Forum by Bob Pressler, Sep 5, 2013, http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t14194-bonsai-movies#146330.) "Towards the end there is a meeting in a big board room and the camera pans to show several large bonsai on white pedestals. The shot only lasts a couple of seconds at most which considering how much they spent to rent the trees, build the pedestals etc is pretty crazy but I don't mind. It does explain why movies cost so much though." (Per private message from Bob Pressler to RJB 30 Oct 2013) Release date July 16 (NYC premiere). | ||
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TV -- MIO commercial |
Seen in May, this 30-second ad titled "MIO Changes Everyhting" supposedly shows what happens when this flavored water enhancer is used. Between the 13 and 15 second marks, a bonsai is seen on the office desk to the right of the speaker, a now-beared gentleman with a captain's cap on. The tree appears to be a thick trunked juniper which forks to the left above the lowest right-hand branch which cascades down from about halfway up the tree. The top of the tree is a slightly rounded triangle of four foliage masses. The shallow pot is sharply elliptical (almost boat-like), orangish-tan with a slight lip -- the material might be plastic. There is a little good-sized nebrari coming out to the front. The tree is at least twice as tall as the off-white old-style rotary phone which is next to it. | ||
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TV - Nine Network "The Garden Gurus" "Becoming a Bonsai Master" |
In this 17 August espisode, Trevor Cochrane visits Bum-young Sung at his Spirited Garden on Jeju Island in South Korea. | ||
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20th Century Fox Film Corporation movie
Parental Guidance |
When the family arrives at the Healthy Tiger Pan-Asian restaurant, a modest penjing is seen in the entranceway. A deep, dark oval bowl with a lip, two vertical rocks (lower in front). White substrate and vertical tree across the middle, foliage extending out beyond both edges. A fan pile of menus is in the middle of the table and a small lamp with Chinese blue and white base is on the right. The composition is seen again after the manager (Gedde Watanabe)'s welcoming speech. Release date December 25. | ||
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2013 Paramount Pictures movie Pain and Gain |
This movie "had some really nice bonsai in it." (Per posting on Internet Bonsai Club Forum by Twisted Trees, Sep 5, 2013, http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t14194-bonsai-movies.) Release date April 11. | ||
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TV - TNT
"Rizzoli & Isles" episode "We Are Family" |
"Spotted a juniper on Maura [Sasha Alexander]'s the pathologist's desk." (Per posting on Internet Bonsai Club Forum by wabashene, Sep 11, 2013, http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t14194-bonsai-movies#146639.) Air date June 25. | ||
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TV - FOX5 News Washington, DC "Bonsai Trees Changing Colors at the National Arboretum" |
Beth Parker interviews assistant curator Aarin Packer, beginning with correct pronunciation, on a local news station c.Nov. 15. | ||
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TV Walbrzych, Poland Serwis Informacyjny |
Polish language segment for Dec. 27 begins with (to 4:36 mark) story of bonsai at the Palm House in Walbrzych, interviewing director Zbigniew Mudy and collection owner Piotr Czerniachowski. | ||
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Anyone who knows of additional TV, film, or theatrical uses of bonsai -- or corrections to any portrayal in these four parts -- is asked to please contact rjb@magiminiland.org . Contributor acknowledgment will be posted. Please include as many details as possible. We will be confirming and filling in some blanks by way of the various film and TV sites on the web (first choice being the The Internet Movie Database). Thank you! |
| Overview | Celluloid Bonsai I | Celluloid Bonsai II | Celluloid Bonsai III |