http://www.filmmonthly.com/ en Copyright 2012 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:29:16 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss THIN ICE – February 17 On behalf of ATO Pictures, we are pleased to release the all new trailer and poster for the dark-comedy Thin Ice, starring Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup! The film hits theaters on February 17. Mickey Prohaska (Greg Kinnear) is a small-time insurance agent looking for a way to jump-start his business, reunite with his estranged wife (Lea Thompson) and escape the frigid Wisconsin weather. This self-proclaimed master of spin believes that salesmanship is about selling a story — all he needs is a sucker willing to buy it. He hits pay dirt with a lonely retired farmer (Alan Arkin) who is sitting on something much bigger than an insurance commission. But Mickey’s attempt to con the old man spins out of control when a nosy, unstable locksmith (Billy Crudup) with a volatile temper dramatically ups the stakes, trapping him in a madcap spiral of danger, deceit and double-crossing. Blending dark comedy and delirious Midwestern noir, THIN ICE reaches a breaking point that no one — least of all Mickey Prohaska — could ever see coming. TOWER HEIST– February 21 Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star cast in the year’s most hilarious action-comedy Tower Heist. Own the special edition Blu-Ray™ combo pack that includes DVD, Digital Copy & UltraViolet™ and features two hilarious alternate endings and exclusive bonus. A wealthy Wall Street swindler gets his just desserts at the hands of the employees he stiffed in the year’s most uproarious action comedy, Tower Heist, coming to Blu-ray™Combo-Pack with UltraVioletTM, as well as DVD, Digital Download and On Demand February 21, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star comedy cast in this hilarious tale of sweet, sweet revenge. The film’s stellar ensemble cast includes Casey Affleck (Ocean’s Eleven trilogy), Alan Alda (The Aviator), Matthew Broderick (The Producers), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Law and Order), Judd Hirsch (A Beautiful Mind) Téa Leoni (Fun with Dick and Jane), Michael Peña (Battle: Los Angeles) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious). The film is produced by Academy Award® winning-producer Brian Grazer (8 Mile, A Beautiful Mind, American Gangster). The Tower Heist Blu-ray™ Combo Pack delivers the film in perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound and features over an hour of bonus features including two alternate endings, deleted scenes, a gag reel and exclusive behind-the-scenes features on the making of the film. For more info, visit www.TowerHeist.net GOOD DEEDS – February 24 Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds opens in theaters everywhere on February 24. The film stars Tyler Perry, Thandie Newton, Brian White, Rebecca Romijn, Jamie Kennedy, Eddie Cibrian, Jordenn Thompson, and Beverly Johnson with Phylicia Rashad and Gabrielle Union. A successful, wealthy businessman, Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry) has always done what’s expected of him, whether it’s assuming the helm of his father’s company, tolerating his brother’s misbehavior at the office or planning to marry his beautiful but restless fiancée, Natalie (Gabrielle Union). But Wesley is jolted out of his predictable routine when he meets Lindsey (Thandie Newton), a down-on-her-luck single mother who works on the cleaning crew in his office building. When he offers to help her get back on her feet, the chance encounter with someone so far outside his usual circle ignites something in Wesley. This one good deed may finally spark his courage to exchange the life that’s expected of him for the life he’s always really wanted. A moving, uplifting drama about coincidence, courage, and the defining choices we make on our paths to happiness, Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds is written, produced and directed by Tyler Perry. www.hopmovie]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/news_1.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/news_1.html Interviews Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:13:03 -0600 http://chicagofilmmakers.org/cf/content/chicago-digital-media-production-fund. For more information, call Chicago Filmmakers at 773-293-1447, or email productionfund@chicagofilmmakers.org. ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newchicago_digital_media_production_fund_accepting_proposals.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newchicago_digital_media_production_fund_accepting_proposals.html Interviews Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:55:42 -0600 Travels with Charley in Search of the American Dream, the filmmakers' realized that this is a story worth addressing for the current age. "The American Dream is such a strange creature," says Schmeckpeper. "It used to be something clearly defined. Nowadays... not so much." James Adams defined the American Dream in1931 as the belief that "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement", regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. "Clearly, that's not happening," says Schmeckpeper. "Look at the protests of the 99%: these people feel that the American Dream has been robbed from them by the greed of those that would be described as upper-class." But even if the financial elite of this country are responsible for the ever-widening rift between the haves and have-nots, Schmeckpeper believes that the dream is still alive in the hearts of Americans. "There's a reason people are angry and protesting in the dead of winter. It's because they believe that they have the chance to succeed on a level playing field, and are tired of being taken advantage of by those that have rigged the game." Schmeckpeper, a life-long Idaho resident and filmmaker, will be joined in this documentary by Tate McCullough and Calico Cooper. "I'm a behind-the-lens guy, so I need people that can engage those we meet on the rails and get them to tell their stories. Tate's a farm boy from Montana. He brings a sensibility to a number of issues that I don't have, and can speak to people from the experience of hard, blue-collar work. And Calico...Calico's a rock star." Literally, Calico Cooper is the daughter of Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame member Alice Cooper. "Calico and I have worked on two films together in the last two years, and believe me when I say she's the single most enthusiastic, genuine, funny, down-to-earth person I've met in my ten years of filmmaking," says Schmeckpeper. "Her involvement in the film is multi-faceted, but I'll keep it simple: First, she's an engaging person that can get people to honestly talk about their hopes and dreams. Second, she has no fear. Dealing with pyrotechnics and crazed fans every night for eleven years will do that to a person. Third, she knows a lot of people that have achieved a level of success finding their personal version of the American Dream, and their stories are just as important to this documentary as those of people not so fortunate." With this team in place, Schmeckpeper hopes to finance this project through crowd-sourcing and private donations. "I don't want to feel obligated to tell the story that a corporate sponsor wants me to tell. I want to go and find what Americans are truly feeling, and then give voice to their beliefs and concerns. I can't do that if I'm beholden to a company like CNN or FOXnews and their political agendas." Budget for the film is set at just under twenty thousand dollars -not much for an investigative documentary - but more than enough of a challenge for an independent filmmaker. "We need help meeting our goal," says Schmeckpeper, "But that's part of what makes this project so interesting. In trying to make this film, we are - on many levels - trying to achieve our own American Dream. That proves that the hope is still alive in this country. Sometimes all it needs is a helping hand." To get that help, the filmmakers have established a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds and provide updates about the project. Information can be found at the following web address: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/walkingtojungo/finding-the-american-dream-with-calicocooper ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newsidaho_filmmakers_on_quest_to_find_the_american_dream.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newsidaho_filmmakers_on_quest_to_find_the_american_dream.html Interviews Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:47:27 -0600 FROM YOUR GARAGE TO GRAMMY® LIVE!” CBS launches From Your Garage To Grammy® Live! online contest, which gives aspiring bands the chance of a lifetime. Through January 2, 2012, bands can visit CBS.com/band to submit their videos for a chance to be featured online during Grammy® Live! From your garage to Grammy® Live is a contest* that gives aspiring bands across the country the chance of a lifetime – to be featured during Grammy ® Live, a three-day online live streaming event starting Feb. 10, 2012, covering all the best Grammy-related events. Bands can go to CBS.com/band to upload a video, which can be voted on by music fans from around the world. Submissions will be initially divided into the following regions: Pacific, Mountain, Midwest, Middle Atlantic, New England, South Atlantic and South. The voting will begin on Jan. 3, 2012 and close Jan. 16, 2012. From the uploaded bands, a finalist will be picked from each region for the second round of voting, which will start Jan. 17, 2012 and close Jan. 23, 2012. A final winner will be chosen on Jan. 24, 2012. “In the spirit of music’s biggest night, we want to give locally known musicians a national platform that would allow them to be discovered by the music industry and fans across the country,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “The music business is a notoriously difficult industry to succeed in, so this contest is a way for us to help give a talented, undiscovered band the chance to break through and potentially become music’s next big act.” Grammy® Live will feature three days of live coverage of the VIP events leading up to music’s biggest night®, accompanied by exclusive, pre-taped and archived Grammy moments. The Grammy Live real-time, online broadcast will include live video, photos, blogging, tweets and retweets, official news reports and personalized updates from four mobile Grammy hosts. The three-day online event includes exclusive Grammy cams located at Grammy Week events such as MusiCares Person of the Year, Special Merit Awards & Nominees Reception, Pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icon, and the 54th Annual Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast including red-carpet and behind-the-scenes telecast. For more information on the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, please visit: CBS.com/grammys. *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest is open to persons who are: (a) legal residents of one (1) of the Fifty (50) United States or District of Columbia; (b) who are at least 18 years old or age of majority, whichever is older in their state of residence, or older at the date of entry into this Contest; (c) and who are members of a band. Void where prohibited by law. Entry period ends on 1/2/12. Contest ends on 1/24/12. See Official rules for details at CBS.com. PARIAH In the Life Media spotlights new African-American lesbian coming-of-age film Online short features interviews with cast, crew of critically acclaimed film Pariah In The Life Media, producers of the award-winning documentary series In the Life, recently announced the release of Pariah: A Closer Look, an online-exclusive video featuring interviews with the director, producers and stars of the critically acclaimed new film Pariah. A Focus Features release, Pariah is one of the first mainstream coming-of-age films to feature an African-American, lesbian protagonist. It follows 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye) as she discovers her sexuality and identity while struggling with the sense that she doesn’t belong. In the five-minute video, stars Adepero Oduye (Alike), Kim Wayans (Audrey), and Pernell Walker (Laura), along with director Dee Rees and producer Nekisa Cooper, discuss how their own experiences relate to the characters and themes of the film, which opens in select theatres on December 28. Watch Pariah: A Closer Look here: http://www.itlmedia.org/clips/entry/paraiah-a-closer-look Pariah: A closer look is available now, exclusively online. To stream it, embed it and find out how you can share your “pariah story,” go to: http://www.itlmedia.org/clips/entry/paraiah-a-closer-look To receive the latest updates about In The Life Media, follow @ITLMedia and use the hashtag #ITLMedia. About In the Life Media: For 20 years, In The Life Media has been a leading media organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement. One of the nation’s most honored and influential LGBT groups, In The Life Media creates social and political change by examining issues critical to LGBT individuals and providing audiences with powerful ways to advance equality within, and beyond, their communities. Produced by In The Life Media, the Emmy-nominated series In The Life was the first—and remains the only—LGBT issues-oriented show on public television. In The Life is a two-time Emmy Award nominee, a Lambda Legal Liberty Award honoree, a Seigenthaler Award recipient from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and a Ribbon of Hope Award recipient from The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: www.ITLMedia.org. DEATH RACE 3 The stakes are higher than ever for the ultimate road warrior in an all-new deadly race currently filming in South Africa. Death Race 3, the latest heart-pounding entry in the high-octane franchise, is currently filming in and around Cape Town, South Africa. In this all-new original feature film from Universal 1440 Entertainment, hardened criminals race for their freedom in vicious new vehicles and face-off in the ultimate blood sport, when the popular Death Race is transported across the globe to the unforgiving and rugged terrain of South Africa. Forced against his will to participate in this global TV spectacle, Frankenstein- the greatest Death Race driver of all time - takes on this ultimate challenge to not only save himself, but his pit crew as well. Inspired by Roger Corman’s cult classic thrill ride, Death Race 3 marks the return of Luke Goss (Death Race 2, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Blade 2), Danny Trejo (Death Race 2, Machete, “Sons of Anarchy”), Ving Rhames (Death Race 2,Mission: Impossible franchise, Pulp Fiction), Fred Koehler (Death Race 1 & 2, Lost), Robin Shou (Death Race 1 & 2, Mortal Kombat)and Tanit Phoenix (Death Race 2, Femme Fatales). Also, joining the action are Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible II, Heist) and Hlubi Mboya (How to Steal 2Million). Convicted cop-killer Carl Lucas, aka Frankenstein, is a superstar driver in the brutal prison yard demolition derby known as Death Race. Only one victory away from winning freedom for himself and his pit crew, Lucas is plunged into an all-new competition more vicious than anything he has experienced before. Pitted against his most ruthless adversaries ever, Lucas fights to keep himself and his team alive in a race in South Africa’s infernal Kalahari Desert. With powerful forces at work behind the scenes to ensure his defeat, will Lucas’ determination to win at all costs mean the end of the road for him? “Universal’s first two Death Race films have garnered an ardent global following that is eagerly awaiting a new chapter in this riveting saga,” says Glenn Ross, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Universal 1440 Entertainment. “Death Race 3 will exceed their expectations with even more explosive action, elaborately outfitted cars, inventive weaponry and death-defying stunts that have made the franchise such a huge fan favorite.” Director Roel Reiné (Death Race 2, Scorpion King 3) once again takes the wheel of the explosive, action-thrill ride. Death Race 3 is produced by Mike Elliott (Death Race 2, Smokin’ Aces 2:Assassins Ball), with Paul W.S. Anderson and Jeremy Bolt serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Tony Giglio (Death Race 2). The film is an official South African/German Co-Production between Universal Pictures Productions GmbH and Moonlighting DR3Production (Pty) Ltd, shot in South Africa and co-produced by Genevieve Hofmeyr, Marvin Saven, and Ralph Tuebben. The film’s stellar production team includes director of photography John Shields (The Last House on the Left). www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ2dr89sXoA THE FLOWERS OF WAR We are pleased to announce the new theatrical trailer of internationally acclaimed director Zhang Yimou's new film The Flowers of War, starring Christian Bale and introducing Ni Ni. Flowers of War tells an epic story of love and sacrifice. The film, set during the Japanese invasion of China, is told from a young girl's point of view, not as a history lesson, but as an intimate, elemental and paradoxically universal celebration of the human spirit. Bale stars as a dissolute Westerner who seeks refuge in a Catholic Church. There he meets a beautiful Chinese courtesan who helps him rescue a group of schoolgirls from a terrible fate at the hands of the Japanese. The film represents one of China's most ambitious productions, involving the recreation of 1937 Nanking built from scratch over a one-year period and the collaboration of one of Hollywood's most sought after leading men (Christian Bale). WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN Oscilloscope pushes up theatrical release date for Tilda Swinton starrer We Need To Talk About Kevin Awards momentum and strong Oscar qualifying run built demand for the January 13th and January 20th release New York-based distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories recently announced that the company has pushed up the New York theatrical release for the Tilda Swinton starrer We Need to Talk About Kevin. Set to play at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and Angelika Film Center, the picture will now open in New York on Friday, January 13th, 2012 and at the Arclight Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles on Friday, January 20th, 2012. A suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller, Lynne Ramsay's We Need To Talk About Kevin explores the factious relationship between a mother and her son. Swinton, in a bracing, tour-de-force performance, plays the mother, Eva, as she contends for 15 years with the increasing malevolence of her first-born child, Kevin (Ezra Miller). Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the film explores nature vs. nurture on a whole new level as Eva's own culpability is measured against Kevin's innate evilness. "We had an amazing one-week qualifying run in December where the film's attendance exceeded even our highest expectations. The reviews were stellar and the word of mouth is only growing. It's an intense psychological thriller that audiences feel the need to talk about afterwards. By definition this is an ideal "word of mouth" film," said David Fenkel, President of Oscilloscope Laboratories. "Theaters are excited to have a quality art house genre film to bring in younger audiences." We Need To Talk About Kevin has already garnered several accolades and nominations this awards season, including numerous Best Actress recognitions for its lead star Tilda Swinton. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcFCJnGPudg THE LION KING 1 ½ Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa are back for a limited time; includes a new Timon and Pumbaa bonus feature available March 6, 2012 on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Hilarity reigns in the motion picture comedy-adventure that takes you waaay back to the beginning before Simba’s tale began…now more fabulous than ever for the first time in a 2-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack! From their uniquely hysterical perspective, Timon and his windy pal Pumbaa—the greatest unsung heroes of the savanna—reveal where they came from, how they helped Simba save the Serengeti and what really happened behind the scenes of The Lion King’s biggest events. This essential chapter of The Lion King trilogy features your favorite characters voiced by the original cast (Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Ernie Sabella plus Julie Kavner and Jerry Stiller) and music by Elton John and Tim Rice. You’ll feel the love for every outrageously funny moment. http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/the-lion-king-1-1-2.html ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/from_your_garage_to_grammy.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/from_your_garage_to_grammy.html Interviews Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:10:05 -0600 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL NAMES FREDERIC BOYER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Veteran leader of Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight arrives as TFF starts preparations for its 11th Edition in April 2012 The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) announced that Frederic Boyer, a veteran executive who most recently ran the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, has been named Artistic Director of TFF. Boyer will report to Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of TFF, and Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises. Gilmore will take on a more active role in overseeing the Festival program, while maintaining his existing responsibilities across Tribeca Enterprises’ other businesses. Boyer, 52, has served as Artistic Director and Head of Programming for the Directors’ Fortnight since 2009. From 2004-08, he was Head of its Film Selection Committee. He is the Artistic Director for Les Arcs European Film Festival at Les Arcs ski resort in the Alps. Before joining the Directors’ Fortnight, he created and managed Videosphere, a renowned video store in Paris with a library of some 60,000 titles, including a wide range of arthouse films. “The Tribeca Film Festival has always been a platform for a wide spectrum of filmmaking, and Frederic shares our passion and curiosity for film and storytelling,” said Tribeca co-founder Jane Rosenthal. “We know he will make our festival team even stronger, and enhance the Tribeca experience as we enter our second decade.” Other changes to the executive structure include the promotion of Genna Terranova, former Senior Programmer, to Director of Programming. Boyer added, “I could not be more honored and excited to begin this new chapter at Tribeca. This Festival has matured and developed so impressively from its origins, but there are many more frontiers to explore while keeping the core focus on discovering new voices in filmmaking. I am grateful to Jane, Geoff, Nancy and the entire team for giving me the opportunity to help lead that exploration through the medium of film.” The 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival will be held April 18-29, 2012, in New York City. About Tribeca Film Festival Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture. The Festival’s mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. Since Tribeca’s founding through 2011, the Tribeca Festival has screened over 1200 films from over 80 countries and it has attracted an international audience of more than 3.5 million attendees and generated an estimated $725 million in economic activity for New York City. THE INCREASINGLY POOR DECISIONS OF TODD MARGARET, SERIES 1 With Series Two about to begin on IFC, the initial run of breathtakingly funny episodes is coming to DVD from MPI on December 27 Todd Margaret (David Cross, Arrested Development, Mr. Show) is an office temp who lies his way into becoming the UK sales director for North Korea-made Thunder Muscle energy drink, despite not knowing the first thing about England....or sales. With his assistant Dave (Blake Harrison, The In betweeners) only encouraging his bungled efforts and his brash boss Brent Wilts (Will Arnett, Arrested Development) breathing down his neck, Todd’s one bad decision after another causes his future in sales to look grim. But just maybe he’ll be able to sell himself to café owner Alice (Sharon Horgan, Pulling) before his career and life fall into ruin. Cross and Shaun Pye (Extras) created and co-wrote this delightfully awkward series where things for Todd Margaret just get worse and worse and worse. Series 1 DVD will be released December 27 From MPI Home Video with bonus features, including commentary, cast Q&As, deleted scenes and bloopers Series 2 of the IFC original comedy premieres Friday, January 6, 2012 @ 10:30 PM REAL STEEL DreamWorks Studios’ Action-Adventure With Heart, Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, enters the Home Entertainment Ring on Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand January 24, 2012 DreamWorks Studios’ Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, muscles its way into the Home Entertainment arena on Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand on January 24, 2012. This visually stunning action-adventure filled with heart and soul is a "must-add" to every home movie collection, delivering a premium in-home experience complete with knockout bonus materials that dive deeper into the action. The Blu-ray Combo Pack, with its perfect picture and sound, delivers the ultimate punch, offering viewers a variety of supplemental bonus features that take them ringside with Director Shawn Levy on the making of the film. Exclusive features include a bare-knuckled exposé of the life story of Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), deleted and extended scenes that go deeper into the film and storylines, and a riveting profile with legendary boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard. Plus, the revolutionary Real Steel Second Screen app lets viewers sync their iPad™* or computer with the Blu-ray movie to peel back layers of effects with progression reels, check out 360-degree turnarounds of the robots, explore seamless branching pods that delve into the cutting-edge technology used to create the fights, and much more. The #1 movie in the country for two consecutive weeks during its theatrical run, Real Steel is directed by Shawn Levy (Night At the Museum franchise, Date Night and What Happens in Vegas), produced by Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List), with a screenplay by John Gatins (Coach Carter, Summer Catch). Set in the not-so-distant future where boxing has gone high-tech and 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots have taken over the ring, the film stars Hugh Jackman (X-Men franchise, Australia) as Charlie Kenton, Evangeline Lilly (TV’s Lost, The Hurt Locker) as Bailey Tallet, Dakota Goyo (Thor) as Max Kenton, Kevin Durand (I Am Number Four, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Ricky, and Anthony Mackie (The Adjustment Bureau, The Hurt Locker) as Finn. For more info, visit www.steelgetsreal.com ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newstribecathe_increasingly_poor_decisions_of_tood_margaretreal_steel.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newstribecathe_increasingly_poor_decisions_of_tood_margaretreal_steel.html Interviews Sun, 04 Dec 2011 11:25:28 -0600 The Descendants, which opened on Friday in New York and Los Angeles. "It’s nice to be here talking about something you’re genuinely proud of," Bridges says right from the outset. High praise indeed for an actor who has appeared in over 400 films and television episodes spanning some six decades. A very youthful 69-year old Bridges plays cousin to George Clooney in the film, a character that has two vital scenes. Bridges says he was aware of making an impression from the beginning. "For me, always, the play’s the thing, as Shakespeare said, so I recognized this as a wonderful story, aptly told, and I saw as one of a fascinating bunch of characters. One of Alexander’s strengths is that all of the characters in all of his movies are very multi faceted and complex. As an audience member you think you understand them at first they do something totally surprising, much like life." Based on the critically-acclaimed novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, The Descendants follows self-titled 'back-up' father-of-two Matt King (Clooney) as he frantically tries to keep his family together following a boating accident, which has left his wife Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie) in a life-threatening coma. Faced with the proposition of single-handedly reigning in his wayward daughters - 10-year-old Scottie (Amara Miller) and 17-year-old Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) - preparing his wife's friends and relations for the worst and also finalizing a significant sale of prime Hawaiian real estate that could have far-reaching consequences for the entire community, Matt seemingly has it all to do. Bridges plays cousin Hugh, a family patriarch desperate for Matt to make the family wealthy, without caring for the consequences. While Bridges only appears in two scenes, for the actor, the fun part was in figuring out who this guy is. As he explains it: "One of the fun things about doing any character, especially one who only has a couple of scenes in the movie, is to develop the whole back-story, so I started to talk to Alexander about that and then just got together with George and started to talk about who we are. I’ve probably known George’s character all his life. So we just started talking and maybe I figured I taught him to surf, and drew some parallels about my own nephews, now in their thirties whom I still think of as little kids. I wanted to bring that to this role." While this was not the first tome he had worked with star Clooney, he had never worked with Payne before and gives him genuine high marks. "He’s wonderful, very soft spoken, very economical in his use of words and the way he communicates. He’s very well prepared, has a real strong vision and his main focus in the beginning is to make sure you’re comfortable." There is a genuine sense of joy in Bridges’ approach to his work. An actor since childhood, Bridges loves the process of acting, loves to "figure out who the character is in the scheme of things. That remains my favorite part in the process. It’s a fascinating journey to create a part." Asked if he plans to re-team with his Oscar winning brother in the future, Bridges smiles. "We keep pitching The Baker Boys go to Hawaii. We do love working together and we’re always throwing ideas around." In the meanwhile, the fabulous Bridges brother is heading to Broadway to take over in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Asked how he feels about appearing on Broadway, Bridges is succinct. "I’m scared shitless."]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/exclusive_interview_beau_bridges_on_the_descendants.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/exclusive_interview_beau_bridges_on_the_descendants.html Interviews Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:16:45 -0600 Scream and the family hit Scooby Doo. The now 40-year old Michigan native plays a character integral to the journey of George Clooney’s Matt King in The Descendants. Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, Clooney plays a Hawaiian lawyer whose wife is in a hospital, having suffered a severe head injury after a motorboat crash. As a result, King is forced to come to terms with his family life, which involves two daughters that he hasn't connected with much and a marriage that has fallen even further into neglect. On top of that, King is involved in a massive property deal that will make millions for him and his cousins if he accepts one of many bids to transform the family plot from a rural idyll into a commercial holiday resort. His life takes an unexpected and obsessive turn, when he discovers that his comatose wife had an affair with real estate broker Lillard's character Brian Speer. Lillard's performance looms large as his character becomes a catalyst for Matt King’s subsequent journey. As we chat in a Beverly Hills hotel room, the actor says, "For me, the challenge was there is such a build up to the character. They talk about him throughout the whole movie and he becomes this kind of central theme in the movie by this guy who’s on this journey. Then you have this big confrontation." For Lillard, playing a character who appears in a few scenes towards the end of the movie "is about being prepared. You can only do what you can do and with the people involved with, you want to be in your best game. So as an actor you want to walk in and be as prepared as possible and available for whatever happens on that day. You can’t think about doing too much in a moment. As a young actor I tried to do as much as I could with whatever little time that I had, because I wanted to be special. I wanted every moment to shine. Then I realized as I’d gotten older I realized it’s the less we do sometimes that’s the more powerful." On his character in The Descendants, Lillard disagrees that he is one of the least sympathetic characters in the movie. "I actually feel bad for Brian. I think he’s a good guy who’s done a bad thing." And rather than not judge him, as many actors tend to do, Lillard takes the opposite approach "by judging him on his positive attributes. Even Captain Hook has a good reason for why he's right and everyone else is wrong. So you have to be your own advocate for the character you play. He’s just a guy who fell into a situation and made a bad choice." The Descendants comes at a time in Lillard’s own journey where he has evolved as a young movie star to an actor, director and even teacher. Lillard was born in Lansing, Michigan, but grew up in Tustin, California. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California, with fellow actor Paul Rudd, and later, the theater school Circle in the Square in New York City. While still in high school, he was co-host of a short-lived TV show titled SK8 TV. After high school, he was hired as an extra for Ghoulies 3: Ghoulies Go to College. But his big break came in 1996, when Lillard was cast in the horror slasher, Scream as Billy Loomis's friend, Stu Macher. Lillard was then cast as Shaggy Rogers in the 2002 live-action Scooby Doo film, a role he later reprised in the 2004 sequel Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. It has been quite the journey for the actor trying to work in a difficult, ever-changing industry. "It’s a difficult time in our industry," Lillard says. "We’ve gone from 10 studios making 10 movies a year to maybe three studios making maybe three big tentpole movies that unless you’re number one and two actors, you’re only going to make scale 10, which is like $1500 before taxes, agents, managers and lawyers. So you’re clearing $500 a week and you have to raise kids. But like so many industries in this country, we’ve been decimated and it’s a really interesting time right now." So what does he do then to stand out from the pack? "I’m always going to stand out from the pack," Lillard confesses. "I’m not like everybody else, inherently by who I am." Yet Lillard is diversifying. "I’m teaching, I’ve directed my first movie and I’m back on the stage. You just have to reinvigorate and continually work on your craft." At 41, Lillard has perspective on his career. "I now have a different sense of awareness. I think when I started out I wanted to be really famous and wanted to be huge. I’ve kind of given up on that and so it’s not my dream any more. I just want to be around, to act and do stuff I’m proud of." That includes his directorial debut, Fat Kid Rules the World, starring Billy Campbell. And Lillard teaches acting to many young hopefuls at the Vancouver Film School. Asked if Lillard gives his young students the kind of advice he wishes he would have received as a young actor, Lillard pauses. "When I teach about career or business, I teach about longevity, about the last year where I haven’t worked. I teach about getting through that and how do you get through that ebb and flow. And in my work, as an actor, you teach best what you love least, so I try to teach simplicity and connection. And I teach what I do well, which is bringing energy to a part." For Matthew Lillard, it seems his own journey is just beginning as audiences see him in a new light sharing the screen with George Clooney in The Descendants.]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/exclusive_interview_matthew_lillard_on_the_descendants.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/exclusive_interview_matthew_lillard_on_the_descendants.html Interviews Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:56:22 -0600 THE LAYOVER lay•o•ver :n. A short stop or break in a journey, usually imposed by scheduling requirements. Anthony Bourdan turns travel misfortune into opportunity in Travel Channel’s New original series premiering Monday, November 21, at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT Hour-long weekly travel log explores how to make the most out of 24-48 hours at an unexpected destination Anthony Bourdain, contemporary cultural anthropologist, best-selling author and host of the Emmy-winning series, “No Reservations,” turns the travel genre on its head in Travel Channel’s newest original series, “The Layover.” Beginning Monday, November 21 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT , Bourdain is back like never before with a high octane series that gives him just 24-48 hours to explore an unexpected destination. Viewers get a ringside seat as Tony goes on the hunt for local intel and explores the essential “must see” places, people and foods in locations throughout the U.S., Asia and Europe. His itineraries, completely off the beaten track and all completed within a matter of hours, are mini-trips of a lifetime. No nonsense and budget friendly, Bourdain reveals insider tips that only the most seasoned travelers would know. In each hour-long episode of the 10-part series, Bourdain explores a different jet-setting hub proving that layovers are opportunities for travelers to mingle with locals, crash parties, dine on local cuisine, and explore cultures. From New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami to Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Rome, Montreal and Amsterdam, viewers learn where to go, where to stay and what to eat, to maximize their enjoyment no matter how much or little time they have in that city. "’The Layover’ is a fast, busy and content-filled hour,” comments Bourdain. “We go to spots that I personally think are cool and fun for all budgets. In every case, these are places where I either did go, or would visit even when the cameras are off. ‘The Layover’ is a reflection of what I’ve learned over time. It’s about telling a story that viewers can recreate themselves.” Travel Channel has partnered with the award-winning production company, Zero Point Zero to produce “The Layover” series. They also produce the network’s critically acclaimed and Emmy award winning travel series, ‘Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations’, which is now in its seventh season and recently earned four 2011 Emmy nominations. Chris Collins, Lydia Tenaglia and Anthony Bourdain will serve as executive producers for Zero Point Zero, and Stone Roberts will serve as the executive producer for the Travel Channel. Anthony Bourdain is a 28-year veteran of professional kitchens, having worked as a dishwasher, line cook and chef in places good, bad and horrible -- most of them in New York City. In 2000, he published a memoir of his experiences in the culinary underbelly. “Kitchen Confidential” became an unlikely, but enduring, international bestseller. He has since milked that lucky break for everything it's worth, following up with the gonzo-travel diary, “A Cook's Tour”; a historical account of the notorious turn-of-the-century cook and disease carrier, "Typhoid Mary"; the crime novels "A Bone in the Throat," "Gone Bamboo" and "The Bobby Gold Stories"; "The Les Halles Cookbook"; a collection of essays entitled “The Nasty Bits”; and the companion book to the Travel Channel series, ‘No Reservations’. His recently released, “Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook”, is the long-awaited follow-up to “Kitchen Confidential”, and is an insider’s perspective on the changes in the restaurant business. Since embarking on a round-the-world trip for "A Cook's Tour," he has continued traveling for ‘No Reservations’ (now in its seventh season), for various publications, for public-speaking engagements and because he likes it. He lives in New York City with his wife, Ottavia, and his daughter, Ariane. KILLER ELITE Available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack with UltraViolet™, DVD and Digital Download January 10, 2012 A pulse-pounding, punch throwing, action-packed thrill ride starring Jason Statham, Academy Award® nominee Clive Owen and Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro Based on a shocking true story, Killer Elite is a gritty battle between guns-for-hire that has been hailed as “one of the best action thrillers of the year!” by Richard Roeper, ReelzChannel. Pitting two of the world’s most elite operatives against the cunning leader of a secret military society, Killer Elite stars Jason Statham (The Transporter, Death Race), Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro (The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull) and Academy Award®-nominee Clive Owen (Children of Men, Closer). Directed by Academy Award®-nominee Gary McKendry (Everything in this Country Must), Killer Elite is available on Blu-ray™Combo Pack with UltraViolet™, DVD, On Demand and Digital Download January 10, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Open Road Films. Featuring unstoppable action and a tremendous cast – including Dominic Purcell (“Prison Break,” Straw Dogs), Yvonne Strahovski (“Chuck”), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (“Lost,” “Oz”), Aden Young (Sniper, “The Starter Wife”) and Ben Mendelsohn (Trespass, Knowing) – Killer Elite is “a classic action thriller that will keep you guessing till the last scene.” (Patrick Carone, MAXIM). With the Killer Elite Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, consumers will get an all-new UltraViolet™ copy of the film. UltraViolet™ is the revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows, put them in the cloud and stream instantly to computers, tablets and smart phones and soon, consumers can download to devices of their choice too. The Killer Elite Blu-ray™ Combo Pack also includes a Digital Copy of the film which is compatible with iTunes®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod™ touch, Android or other retail partners. So now, consumers can truly enjoy their movies and TV shows anytime, anywhere, on the platform of their choice! For more information please go to www.killerelite.com GLADIATORS returns to STARZ in 2012 SPARTACUS renewed for Season Three Green Light Comes Months Ahead of “Spartacus: Vengeance” Premiere The most celebrated STARZ Originals franchise, “Spartacus,” will continue to wow audiences worldwide with a renewal secured for a thrilling and bloody third season. The green light comes well in advance of “Spartacus: Vengeance,” which will debut exclusively on STARZ - Friday, January 27, 2012 at 10 PM ET/PT. As yet untitled, production on the third season of ‘Spartacus' is expected to begin in New Zealand in early 2012. Starz Media Managing Director Carmi Zlotnik commented, “There is no denying the impact ‘Spartacus' has had in the marketplace with fans across the globe thirsting for the continuation of the epic tale. “Vengeance” brings unparalleled action and drama to STARZ viewers in January. We are thrilled to come to an early agreement that allows the writers and talent to get right back to work in preparing for season three.” “Many surprises are in store for ‘Vengeance‘ viewers this year, but rest assured the multi-layered plot and richly developed characters will continue to be a trademark of this series,” said Rob Tapert, executive producer. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see how the story has resonated so well with viewers worldwide.” “The executives at Starz have been extremely supportive in giving us creative freedom and allowing us to tell the story in a rich, yet bold way that leaves an indelible mark on its fans,” added Steven S. DeKnight, executive producer. The most recent chapter of “Spartacus” was the prequel, “Gods of the Arena,” which ran in January 2011 and averaged an estimated 6.2 million total viewers per episode across all linear channels and on-demand viewing. Australian actor Liam McIntyre (Ektopos, Radev, “Neighbours,” “The Pacific”) assumes the title role of Spartacus in “Vengeance.” McIntyre is joined by returning favorites: Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Battlestar Galactica”) as Lucretia; Peter Mensah (Avatar, 300, The Incredible Hulk) as Oenomaus – once known as Doctore; Manu Bennett (The Marine, 30 Days of Night), as Crixus; Dustin Clare (“Underbelly,” “Satisfaction”) as Gannicus; Nick E. Tarabay (“Crash,” “CSI: Miami”) as Ashur; and Katrina Law (“Third Watch”) as Mira. Season two also brings the return of “Blood and Sand” cast members, Craig Parker (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) as Gaius Claudius Glaber, the Roman commander who condemned Spartacus to slavery, and his alluring and cunning wife Ilithyia played by Viva Bianca (Accidents Happen) . Actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson (“Dirt”) joins the series as Naevia, the former body slave to Lucretia who was banished from the Ludus for engaging in a love affair with Crixus. Premiering exclusively on STARZ, “Spartacus: Vengeance” is produced by executive producers Rob Tapert (The Grudge, “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys”), Steven S. DeKnight (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man and The Evil Dead), and Joshua Donen (The Quick and the Dead). “Spartacus” is distributed internationally by Starz Media Worldwide Distribution. Katsuhito Ishii’s REDLINE and Award-Winner FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH This winter is sure to be cool with Anchor Bay Entertainment’s release of two of the coolest animation titles ever! In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, Anchor Bay Entertainment’s Manga brand is set to release two of the most highly anticipated animated films. On January 17, 2012, Katsuhito Ishii’s REDLINE and award-winner FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH will be released on Blu-ray™ and DVD. REDLINE will also be released in theatres prior to January 17th. Ranging in themes from World War II to futuristic surreal car races, Manga continues to release high-end artistic animated films. Both films tout accolades from critics and the festival circuit worldwide. REDLINE won the Audience Official Selection Award for Animation at Fantasia and the Outstanding Achievement in Feature Filmmaking – Animation Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. It has received rave reviews even from those admittedly not anime fans. From its premiere at Fantastic Fest, Harry Knowles said “REDLINE should not be missed, everyone came out smiling and happy. FANTASTIC!” He called it the “…coolest Speed Racer ever…and that counts the Wachowski film.” AnimeNewsNetwork.com called REDLINE “… the most insanely exciting, visually exhilarating anime film you've seen in decades. Incredible fun!” FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH has received several awards including the Asteroid Award for Best Feature at the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival and Kommersant Newspaper’s Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. Additionally, FIRST SQUAD was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Written by Katsuhito Ishii (director of The Taste of Tea, Funky Forest, Shark Skin Man & Peach Hip Girl and the anime segment of Kill Bill Vol.1) and directed by the up-and-coming Takeshi Koike, who participated in the “World Record” segment of Animatrix (2003), REDLINE was seven years in the making and proudly demonstrates the new possibilities of 2D animation, amidst the current prominence of 3D animation. REDLINE is a racing film created by studio Madhouse (Paprika, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars). REDLINE is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including JP, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car - all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends. Amongst the other elite rival drivers in the tournament, JP falls for the alluring Sonoshee - but will she prove his undoing, or can a high speed romance survive a mass destruction race? Directed by Yoshiharu Ashino, FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH is set during the opening days of World War II on the Eastern Front. Its main cast of characters is a group of Soviet teenagers, each with extraordinary abilities. The teenagers have been drafted to form a special unit to fight the invading German army. They are opposed by a Schutzstaffel (SS) officer who is attempting to raise from the dead a supernatural army of crusaders from the 12th Century Order of the Sacred Cross and enlist them in the Nazi cause. FIRST SQUAD: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH was produced by Eiko Tanaka, Misha Shprits and Aljosha Klimov. THE SCORPION KING 3: BATTLE FOR REDEMPTION From the producers of The Mummy, a legend returns in an epic adventure for glory starring Ron Perlman and Billy Zane Available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download on January 17, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment A once-powerful warrior king takes on a new life as an assassin for hire in the DVD Original ™ The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download January 17, 2012. The latest chapter in Universal’s enormously popular The Mummy franchise, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption brings the heroic, larger-than-life saga of the dethroned king Mathayus to face some of his fiercest demons and most vicious rivals—both real and supernatural—ever. In a dangerous, action-packed battle to regain his glory and reclaim the empire, Mathayus’s journey is steeped in intrigue, sorcery and romance, fueling this new film that spawned from the billion-dollar The Mummy film franchise. The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption tops the series once again, featuring even more of the heart-stopping action, mind-bending stunts and astonishing plot twists that have earned the series millions of fans the world over. The film’s spectacular fight scenes, choreographed by renowned stunt experts Kawee “Seng” Sirikanerut (Ongbok, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Civilization) and Supoj “Jimmy” Khaowwong (Batman Begins), are showcased within enchanting ancient palaces, against a backdrop of breathtaking desert vistas. The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption stars Golden Globe® winner Ron Perlman (“Sons of Anarchy,” Hellboy II: The Golden Army) as Horus, the powerful King of Egypt and Billy Zane (The Roommate, Titanic) as the villainous Talus. Directed by Roel Reiné, the film also stars Victor Webster (“Castle,” Surrogates) as Mathayus and UFC star Kimbo Slice (Locked Down), Bostin Christopher (Unbreakable); six-time WWE World Champion Dave Bautista (House of the Rising Sun), and Temeura Morrison (Green Lantern, Stars Wars: Episode 3 — Revenge of the Sith), Selina Lo (Shanghai) and Krystal Vee (Streetfighter: The Legend of Chin-Li). With lavish production values, including an army of warrior elephants and astounding battle sequences featuring a myriad of martial arts and swordfight sequences, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption is an ambitious and spectacular DVD Original™ release from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production division of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Since his triumphant rise to power in the original blockbuster The Scorpion King, Mathayus’ kingdom has fallen and he’s lost his queen to plague. Now an assassin for hire, he must defend a kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power and glory he once knew. Starring Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Billy Zane (Titanic), and featuring 6-time WWE champion Dave Bautista and UFC star Kimbo Slice, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption takes The Mummy phenomenon to an all-new level of epic action and non-stop adventure! http://www.the-scorpion-king.com/]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/news_the_layoverkiller_elitegladiatorsspartucusand_more.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/news_the_layoverkiller_elitegladiatorsspartucusand_more.html Interviews Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:28:10 -0600 Femme Fatale After her role in Brian De Palma's film she was picked by director Tom Ford as the exclusive worldwide face of Gucci. At the age of 24 she directed her first short film, Thinning the Herd which she also wrote and acted in. Thinning the Herd nominated for a Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival 2004. She opened Taormina film festival with her second short film 'Il Vestito' which she also wrote and appeared in. Shot on location in Palermo, Sicily as a black and white homage to Italian Neo-realism. In 2005 she was cast as the lead in Luc Besson's Angel-A a French speaking black and white fairytale set in Paris. Human Zoo her first fe ature which she wrote, directed and produced was officially selected at last years Berlin Film Festival and was the opening night Panorama presentation. The film opened in the New Beverly cinema in Los Angeles before making the rounds around the country. The non-linear film casts the director as young Serbian-Albanian Adria Shalam an illegal immigrant traumatized by her past. Every now and then Adria recalls her life in Kosovo, when she was saved from rape by a deserter called Srdjan Vasiljevic in 1999. They move to Belgrade where Srdjan becomes a gangster, dealing weapons and becoming an assassin. Adria learns how to shoot and helps Srdjan with his work at first, becoming his mistress later. The film switches back and forth between Marseilles and Kosovo. The former supermodel talked to PAUL FISCHER in this exclusive chat about her life and work, as only the outspoken filmmaker can. Paul Fischer: Where did the desire to become a filmmaker come from, given your background? R.R: My life is a living testament to filmmaking. I was born in Denmark and it was quite the opposite of your lovely country. It was dark, rainy not much of a promise of anything and escape. Then there are Hollywood movies and that is where you go. Also I had a weekend father who had me every other weekend. So you get a bunch of videotapes, get some burgers and that was how I learned all about the movies and directors such as Sergio Leone, Kurosawa, Scorsese, Woody Allen you know, everything. So that's what I did: I escaped from the dreariness of Denmark and discovered cinema at a very young age. P.F: So what is realistic for you to become a filmmaker as you're growing up given walked you're going through as a child? R.R: That reality came about when I went to California. I'm also a graphic illustrator and I wanted to be a Disney animator when I was younger. And at15 I came to America, New York city, and I had a vague concept that films more like one fluid piece of art. I followed a surfer boy to California and what kind of stuck in that community was kind of making hi eight videos and that kind of shit. By the time I was 18 I was at the Hollywood film Institute. And learned hands on 35mm cameras Learned how to load film I'm from that point I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I could do my own storyboards and by then I was fucking around writing my own stuff. I already have this very eclectic traveling background ready but then I decided LA stories we're not the stories but I was going to tell. I was going to tell International stories and so I ended up in Paris like Henry Miller living little crazy painting hot girls late at night and doing a bit more than just painting the girls if you know what I mean. But hey I'm an artist in Paris so what can I say? Then I was cast in Brian de Palma's film, Femme Fatale, which was really massive. There was nothing cooler than Brian de Palma. Then the head of Gucci was the one who hired me to be the face of Gucci. That was crazy to be honest with you. Tom Ford wanted to make movies and subsequently has now and that's what we connected on and that's how happened. I was only in it for two years and then I worked with all creative geniuses and it did some pretty cool art. Two years after I'm making my first short film in 35 mm and 8 months later it’s opening at the Cannes film Festival. P.F: Did you use all those modeling and fashion experiences impact your writers or goals as a filmmaker? R.R: No I didn't yet. Human Zoo is very autobiographical meaning my first year in America like a young girl at 15 launched into this different kind of mentality culture and society. And you know there was this alpha male dominated violence skateboarding community that I made it into so there was this whole parallel as to how I told Human Zoo. I mean this is a girl fighting for her own femininity at the same time learning the game. This was all very autobiographical and straight up what happened in my life. I haven't integrated the fashion stuff into my writing as yet because it has to be a story for itself because of there is a fantastical element to it that had no roots in a story that is about the human zoo of life , the invisible borders that surround nationalities and cultures that are being discriminated against , of this ovarian lottery that we either win or lose. This is a story about raising a girl or raising a planet of people that accept each other. And because of fashion has no relevance in political schemes in the world it just didn't fit in there at all. P.F: Why the idea of exploring the Bosnian period of history with its brutality? R.R: it was after Sarajevo and after Bosnia we have Kosovo. There is an amazing immigration conclave in Serbia that's been there since the 70s and following Tito the communist leader at the time the Serbians took over. It was terrifyingm which is why Bill Clinton obviously came in. So, there was this pocket of ethnic cleansing and discrimination that was going on. Everything was weeded out and this was a massive political event even in American history And it was really awesome place to take this young girl out of and to put this sociopathic monster in there who's not really a monster but who just fits in when there is anarchy in the social structure. I just loved the alpha male pointing out the humanity in the rest of us. That's what I'm trying to tell the entire world like why are we separating from each other; it's just so terrifying with Visa bloody borders around us. P.F: Did you always intend to act in the movie? R.R: No I felt maybe I can play a small part and that will be interesting and we went back and forth a zillion times but in the end it was just easier for me to do it. First it cost less when you have the director the writer and the actress as one person under the other guy Sean the American actor was a good friend and we've been creative partners for years. For me it was a very economical decision and an easy one. P.F: There are some very graphic sex scenes in this movie. Was very important for you cannot make the sex scenes as realistic as possible? R.R: Yes it was important because I always wanted to go and see a really good sex scene. God I was so tired of them cutting to the open mouth cut to the hair on the shoulder someone goes down but out of frame. No, no he is going down on her. This is what's happening, this is sex and of this is how it should be and I want to see sex scenes that are better than real life. We got it all in one take and though it was a m*therf*cker of a scene to shoot it ultimately looked awesome. P.F: And what’s next for you? R.R: I have a script that I've just been attached to that one of my best friends called Nicolas Constantine wrote. It's his first script and I can't even believe how good it is. I'm actually really jealous of him. But now I get to direct it so I'm happy. Basically its a story about are we born evil or do we learn evil? Is it societal or is it genetic? It's based on Philip Carlo's book The Night Stalker about serial killer Richard Ramirez. And once I read the script I just couldn't believe this f*cking story. This script is really fantastic. P.F: I take it you won't be in it? R.R: No I will not be that I am not Hispanic. THE HUMAN ZOO IS CURRENTLY SCREENING AT THE NEW BEVERLY CINEMA IN LOS ANGELES. ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/paul_fischer_exclusive/exclusive_rie_rasmussen_and_the_human_zoo.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/paul_fischer_exclusive/exclusive_rie_rasmussen_and_the_human_zoo.html Interviews Paul Fischer (Exclusive!) Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:29:10 -0600 DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME Graphic novel contest as a lead up to the film’s street release on December 13 Graphic novel voting runs through November 14 at 12 AM EST Cast your vote at www.Facebook.com/DetectiveDeeFilm On the heels of the international success of the critically acclaimed wuxia epic, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame and in celebration of the DVD/Blu-Ray/Digital/On Demand release on December 13, Independent Film and Distribution Company, Indomina Media, Inc., has created an exclusive contest featuring two notable graphic artists – Melissa DeJesus and Andy Belanger. The contest will run between November 1 to November 14 at 12 a.m. EST, where fans can visit www.Facebook.com/DetectiveDeeFilm to vote for their favorite comic. The winning artist’s graphic novel will be converted into a motion comic book as part of a bonus feature for the DVD and Blu-Ray release, as well as a grand cash prize. The artists will face off in a battle between which comic book style works best – American or Manga style. DeJesus will represent the Manga Comic Style and Belanger will represent the North American Comic Style. The contest will give both artists the opportunity to create a digital graphic novel based on a Detective Dee treatment, which was provided by Indomina. The artists completed their artwork between October 7 and October 28 (which includes pencils, inks and lettering) before voting started. Once the voting ends on November 14 at 12 a.m. EST, the winner will be announced on Facebook. About The Artists: Melissa DeJesus (representing the Manga comic style) Mel was born and raised in Queens, New York. She studied cartooning in Art & Design High School and animation at The School of Visual Arts. Mel also taught cartooning to children for several years at a local community college in Queens, teens at Hostos Community College in the Bronx, and substituted a senior portfolio class at The School of Visual Arts. While not slaving over her desk buried in work, Mel likes to play video games and paint model kits...which isn't very often. Websites: http://estrigious.com/mel/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/melissadejesus1 Andy Belanger (representing the North American comic style) Andy Belanger works as a freelance cartoonist/illustrator out of the Toronto-based Royal Academy of Illustration & Design. He does work in the mainstream and children’s comic market, plus a wide variety of work for the Canadian Film and Television industry. In the mainstream comic market, Andy has worked for such comic publishers as D.C. comics, Wildstorm, Devil's Due, and Boom! He is currently the artist on IDW’s new title Kill Shakespeare. For D.C. Comics' Andy is the creator of the digital comic series, Bottle of Awesome, which is launching its second season. In the web collective ‘Transmission-X’, Andy is the writer/artist on Raising Hell. Websites: www.andybelanger.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndyBelanger About Indomina The Indomina Group is a vertically integrated independent studio launched in 2008 by Vice Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann. Operating in Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic, Indomina takes a transmedia approach to collaborating with content creators around the world to bring innovative entertainment properties to the market. The company’s global operations include the production and distribution of motion pictures, television, music, interactive games, and the ownership of world-class studio facilities and production services. A BETTER TOMORROW AND HELLDRIVER A Better Tomorrow debuts on DVD/Blu-ray November 8. Helldriver debuts on DVD/Blu-ray November 22. A Better Tomorrow - From Executive Producer John Woo comes the stylish action drama starring Jin-mo Ju and Seung-heon Song, Debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 8 The accent is on action when Jin-mo Ju (A Frozen Flower, The Warrior) and Seung-heon Song (So Close, Ghost) star in the remake of John Woo’s 1986 cult classic A Better Tomorrow, debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 8 from Well Go USA. Double-dealing among rival Thai and Korean mob syndicates provide the fuel for this fast-paced crime thriller that also stars Kang-woo Kim (Marine Boy) and Han Sun Jo. Bonus materials include deleted scenes, a photo gallery, behind-the-scenes interviews with director Hae-sung Song and the film’s actors, and a 30-minute interview with executive producer John Woo. A Better Tomorrow will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack for $29.98 SRP and on DVD for $24.98 SRP. HELLDRIVER Japanese Splatter King Yoshihiro Nishimura Delivers a Blood-Soaked Gore Fest on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 22 From director Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police, Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl) comes the epic, apocalyptic Zombie-fighting road movie Helldriver, featuring non-stop, over-the-top splatter action debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD November 22 from Well Go USA. The latest cult film from the prolific Japanese production company Sushi Typhoon, Helldriver takes place in a Japan where half the population has become not-so-sexy flesh eaters and the economy has gently withered away ... until Kika (Yumiko Hara) arrives. A stunning high school girl armed with an artificial heart-powered chainsaw sword, she leads a motley crew of desperados on a secret mission into the zombie-infected wilds to exterminate zombie queen Rikka (Eihi Shiina, Tokyo Gore Police) and put an end to the plague of the living dead. A CHRISTMAS WEDDING TAIL premieres on Hallmark Channel November 19 It takes two passionate pooches to show their owners the true meaning of family. Jennie Garth, Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox star with Tom Arnold, Brad Rowe and Emmy® nominated actor Catherine Hicks in A Christmas Wedding Tail. A pair of passionate pooches fall head-over-tails in love and conspire to get their owners to fall for each other in A Christmas Wedding Tail, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere, Saturday, November 19 (6p.m. ET/PT, 5C). Jennie Garth (“90210,” “Accidentally in Love”), Tom Arnold (“Rosanne”), Brad Rowe (“General Hospital”) and Emmy® nominated actress Catherine Hicks (“7th Heaven”) star in one dog of a tail. Jay Mohr (“Suburgatory,” “Ghost Whisper”) and Nikki Cox (“Las Vegas”) lend their voice talents to Labrador Rusty and Poodle Cheri. Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas features more true holiday-themed programming than any other network. Susan (Garth), an unemployed Los Angeles museum curator and widowed single mom temporarily lives in a small California town with her three sons. Jake (Rowe) is a single dad of two tomboys who owns the local winery. When Susan’s Labrador Rusty (Mohr) and Jake’s Poodle Cheri (Cox) fall for each other, these canine matchmakers help their owners fall in love too. Now with a Christmas Day wedding to plan – and major complications threatening to unravel it all – the two mismatched broads must find a way to make one happy family. A Christmas Wedding Tail is a Hybrid Production in association with Landom Television. Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley, Jeffrey Schenck, Zelma Kiwi, Barry Barnholz, Jess Sagansky and Jennie Garth are executive producers. Duane Poole is the co-executive producer. Michael Feifer is the producer and director. Screenplay by Peter Sullivan. Story by Jeffery Schenck, Peter Sullivan and Jeff Sagansky. For more information, please visit www.HallmarkChannel.com Magnolia Takes U.S. rights to Fernando Meirelles’ 360 The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Pictures recently announced they have acquired U.S. rights to 360, the sweeping new film from two acclaimed artists: director Fernando Meirelles (City of God, The Constant Gardener) and writer Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon). With a stellar international cast that includes Rachel Weisz, Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, Ben Foster, Jamel Debbouze and Moritz Bleibtreu, 360 is a moving and exciting dramatic thriller that dazzlingly weaves together the stories of an array of people from disparate social backgrounds through their intersecting relationships. 360 was produced by Andrew Eaton and David Linde with Chris Hanley, Danny Krausz and Emanuel Michael. The European premiere for the film took place earlier this month when it received the prestigious honor of being chosen as the Opening Night Gala Film at the BFI55th London Film Festival. A truly international film, 360 was shot on location in Vienna, Paris, London, Bratislava and Rio de Janeiro. Jude Law plays a travelling businessman who is contemplating a liaison with a prostitute; Rachel Weisz, a married woman who is breaking off a relationship with a younger man; Anthony Hopkins, a man searching for his missing daughter; Ben Foster, a sex offender recently released from prison. "Fernando Meirelles and Peter Morgan are two exceptional talents that have crafted a unique and truly special picture," said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. "360 is a stunningly well made film, and a fantastic showcase for some of the most talented actors from around the world." Said producers Andrew Eaton and David Linde: “From the beginning, Eamonn and his team expressed an immense amount of commitment, both creative and financial, to the film. We’re thrilled that this truly global film has found its American home at Magnolia.” Magnolia plans a theatrical release in 2012 in all major US markets, bolstered by a prominent film festival presence leading up to release. 360 will be distributed through Magnolia’s successful Ultra VOD program. The deal was negotiated for Magnolia by SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Head of Legal and Business Affairs Chris Matson, with UTA Independent Film Group for the filmmakers. SOUTHLAND Cast and crew of Southland hit the streets of L.A. as production begins on fourth season of acclaimed TNT Drama Series The cast and crew of Southland are back on the streets of Los Angeles this week as production begins on a fourth season of the acclaimed TNT drama series. The intensely personal, first-person look at cops and detectives on the beat stars Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie, who will be joined this season by special guest star Lucy Liu. TNT’s Southland is set to launch its new season Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Redefining the police drama with its raw, authentic look at the lives and work of Los Angeles detectives and beat cops, Southland centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper (Cudlitz), a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman (McKenzie), who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams (King), who seems to take every case personally; and Sammy Bryant (Hatosy), a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner. This season on Southland, Detective Adams will take on another new partner, this time a former Marine, while also facing a major upheaval in her personal life. Cooper will be back on the job after surgery to repair the back problems that led to his drug addiction. He will be teamed up with a new partner, Jessica Tang (Liu), who will bring her own set of emotional baggage to their patrol car. Cooper’s former trainee, Sherman, is now a full-fledged cop, partnered with Bryant, who continues to struggle with the trauma of the past. Shot on location in the streets and neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Southland captures a realistic, natural environment where similar situations can and often do occur in real life. The series comes to TNT from Warner Bros. Television and Emmy®-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing). Created by Emmy winner Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue, Public Enemies), the series is executive-produced by Emmy winners Christopher Chulack (ER, Third Watch) and Wells. Chulack is also a primary director of the series, while Andrew Stearn (Shameless, The West Wing) and Jonathan Lisco (The District) serve as co-executive producers. To launch the start of production, cast members will provide Twitter updates using the hashtag #tntbackontheset. DEAD POETS SOCIETY graduates To Blu-ray™, January 17, 2012 Robin Williams return to Blu-ray™, Carpe Diem – Seize the Day! Academy Award® Winner for Best Original Screenplay! Academy Award winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, Good Will Hunting, 1997) delivers one of his most memorable performances in Dead Poets Society –digitally restored and presented for the first time ever in breathtaking Blu-rayTM High Definition. For generations, Welton Academy students have been groomed to live lives of conformity and tradition – until new professor John Keating inspires them to think for themselves, live life to the fullest and “Carpe Diem.” This unconventional approach awakens the spirits of the students, but draws the wrath of a disapproving faculty when an unexpected tragedy strikes the school. With unforgettable characters and beautiful cinematography, Dead Poets Society will captivate and inspire you time and time again. It’s been 25 Years since its release…GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM, and it finally lands on Blu-ray™, January 17, 2012 For the first time in stunning Blu-rayTM High Definition, Academy Award winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, Good Will Hunting, 1997) delivers a tour-de-force performance in the 25th Anniversary Edition of the hit comedy Good Morning, Vietnam! Enjoy the unsurpassed digital sound quality of Blu-ray High Definition as Army deejay Adrian Cronauer (Williams) spins a red-hot soundtrack of ‘60s hits. His sidesplitting comedy and rapid fire wit make him a hero to the troops, but quickly get him in hot water with his by-the-book superiors. Featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Williams’ hilarious radio monologues, Good Morning, Vietnam remains the quintessential Robin Williams comedy. ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/indomina_media_creates_exclusive_detective.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/indomina_media_creates_exclusive_detective.html Interviews Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:21:16 -0600 Big Trouble and Snatch, I responded promptly to "snatch" the interview. Farina's latest film, The Last Rites of Joe May, puts the actor in a role that he was born to play. Finding out that his apartment has been rented out after an extended stay at the hospital, small-time hustler Joe May must now share his tiny living space with a mother and daughter. With money low and age catching up to him, Joe is presented with one last big break to finally make it. Here is Dennis Farina and I talking about The Last Rites of Joe May! FM: Hi Dennis, great to be speaking with you. I've been a long time fan. Even more so after seeing the film. How did director Joe Maggio approach you about playing Joe May? Dennis Farina: Well, there was this company called "You're Faded Films". Stephanie Streigel and her production partner, Bill Strauss, brought the script to me. I loved it. My only concern was that the film was set in New York. With Chicago being my hometown, I spoke to Joe about possibly changing locations. It'd been a long time since I had the chance to act there and felt the film would only benefit. Being the great guy that he is, Joe was able to change the location to Chicago. FM: Very nice. I'm sure shooting in your hometown brought back some great memories? Dennis Farina: For me, returning to those neighborhoods brought back a familiar feeling. The weather in Chicago, as you know, is very temperamental. Joe wanted to make the weather another character in the film. And it worked, because that was a very cold shoot. Believe it or not, the weather worked with us. When we wanted it to snow, it snowed. Everything you see in the film is natural. FM: Well, you usually don't hear the weather working for film crews often, especially in Chicago! The mother and daughter, played by Jamie Anne Allman and Meredith Droeger, work wonderfully together and with you. How was acting alongside them? Dennis Farina: Very well. As you know, a major part of the film is the relationship between Joe and young Angelina. The casting people informed me that Meredith was really wonderful. True to their word, when I met Angelina, we got along famously. And Jamie is a known commodity. Very professional and very nice. Great to work with. The apartment really helped our dynamic as well. Joe May was one of those films where everything seemed to work. FM: That is always good to hear. I've heard the film described as a throw back to "70's tough guy" films, but I actually felt Joe May was more of a film-noir. How did you feel when you were filming it? Dennis Farina: When Joe would talk about the film, he'd bring up The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Robert Mitchun plays a boss. Great stuff. But, I think making comparisons is hard. I'm not naive enough to say we invented something new, but I think the film stands on it's own. People can make these comparisons, but when I playing Joe May, I was Joe May. FM: And it definitely does. Thanks a lot Dennis and hope to see more of your work soon! ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/dennis_farina_and_i_talk_about_the_role_he_was_born_to_pay_in_the_last_rites_of_joe_may.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/dennis_farina_and_i_talk_about_the_role_he_was_born_to_pay_in_the_last_rites_of_joe_may.html Interviews Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:10:57 -0600 Ruben Rosario: The first thing that I wanted to ask was about something I read in the press release, you mentioned being inspired by Umberto D. That was something that I noticed while watching the film even before reading about it, especially in the way that you had photographed Chicago and having Dennis Farina walking around this big city. Were you trying to recreate a sort of Neo-Realist approach in making The Last Rites of Joe May? Joe Maggio: Absolutely. It's funny because Umberto D was one of the biggest early influences. I had been doing this Italian Neo-Realist little home film festival and I was just so blown away by Umberto D. It had felt so timely with this idea that here's a city where everyone's going about their business, it's very civilized and everyone feels as though they're removed from the wild. That they're living in a safety net by living in such close quarters in this city, but in fact for a character like Umberto D or Joe May, death in the wilds of the streets is just one step away. If you just loose one little thing or you get sick, you lose a little money, your car gets towed, your friends are gone, it's like suddenly, this city's not a safe place. The street that everyone's going down, that people are happily going down to meet friends...for Joe... it's like going around the corner may be RR: It's like death looming... JM: Yeah it's like the going down the road of some forbidden jungle. So it was very important for me to shoot this in the winter because that just adds a layer of seriousness to the situation, like a gravity you know. It's cold out and if you stay out too long, yes you can die if you've got nowhere to go and it's very possible that that can happen and it does happen a lot. So we did want to lovingly photograph Chicago because I think it's an amazing city and for me coming to Chicago with fresh eyes and seeing all the little back alleyways and it was very cinematic and it's something you don't really see it much in films. So I wanted to shoot it that way and even also during the color timing of the film, we wanted to give an edge of menace and show that this was not a very nice place, for certain people like Joe May. RR: One of the other things that I love about the film is this quirkiness that you portray Joe May. One of the early scenes of the movie is when Joe's on the bus and he gives up his seat on the bus for a woman to sit down. Right afterwards another woman just gets up and makes him sit down, to give us an idea of his mortality and his age. Was that something that you and Dennis always wanted to portray in order to make Joe a much more likable character and have Dennis bring his witty charm to such a tragic hero. JM: It's funny because Dennis just brings that charm and charisma to the table. The only directorial assertion that I made everyday was to just bring Dennis back from that. Because that guy, when he walks into the room, he just so warm and there's a charisma and he's very personable. He can just shake your hand and make you feel like you've been friends from the old days from the neighborhood for forever. So, I felt that it was important that we uncover other layers and not have Joe be this sort of...uh...I don't want to say sympathetic but that he's a guy in a very serious situation. He's been knocked down and he's scrambling and trying to get back on his feet and it's a desperate situation for him. With that being said, Joe May is a character from another age or era, where walking in a place, giving everyone the glad hand and kind of working the room is his bread and butter, so he is that... RR: Showing off his digs and his jacket. JM: Yeah man, he's a social animal and going to the bar to him isn't like me going to a bar and meeting up with some friends. That's work for Joe. You gotta go to this bar or go to that bar and talk to this guy and make sure that everyone knows that you're still around. You're still working, you've still got some goods and that's who Joe is. Dennis, by just being a cop for 20 years, knew those kinds of guys and really used that for the role. One thing also that Dennis would do would just approach it with a little comedy and he would just be like “This is really funny” from the very beginning. A guy like Joe gets himself into a bunch of these situations that are...not that you would laugh if you were in them...but it's just kind of pathetic, you know and you gotta have some sort of sense of humor about it. RR: I mean it's sad when you see Joe walking down that alley with a hunk of meat in his arms, but you can't help but laugh when the dog just runs up and snatches it out of his hands. [laughs] JM: Exactly! [laughs] That's exactly it. RR: Another moment that I wanted to address is that there's this moment between Joe and Jenny Rapp [played by Jamie Anne Allman] where she's asking him for this sort of warmth and comfort and Joe sets up a boundary between them and doesn't cross this line. Most films would have used this to sort of give the film a nice little romantic story and you never go there. Joe kind of stands there and tells her No, I will not fulfill this role for you. Why did you choose to approach this scene this way? JM: Well, I was coming from that scene from one angle and Dennis was coming at it from another and we both used those two different approaches to get to the same place. I think for Dennis, his character is from another age, he's got a set of rules and a code that he lives by and he's faithful to that code. RR: Absolutely, he's faithful to it till the very end. JM: To the very end and it's just that...he's holding devalued currency basically. Those rules no longer apply and guy's like Joe May have no place in this world. What's happened is that time has past him by. So, for Dennis, it was important for a guy like Joe to not have romantic feelings for this much younger woman. He lives there as an honorable man and he wasn't going to, like you said, step over these boundaries. Even if all she wanted was just a hug or just a connection between two human beings, he sticks to his own grounds and makes sure that she knows that, look I'm only here renting the room and nothing else... RR: and that's that JM: That's that and it is what it is. I was coming from the approach where Joe is one of these characters who is capable of incredible nobility at one moment and then in another, just becomes really petty. He's worried about what other people think about him. He's a guy who, as ill as he is, would risk getting even sicker, just to look good in his coat. There's a smallness there and it's endearing maybe and it's what probably drove his wife and his son away, so there's a smallness there, a pettiness and I think in that moment is a moment that Joe can control. He can deny someone something and he can be someone like Lenny and say “No, I don't think so” and in need as she is, he cannot help himself, it's the one opportunity to be in control and to deny someone something. I don't think he feels too good after it and I think that at that moment, a chapter is turned and we go somewhere else in the story. So there were two different approaches, but we ended up in the place we wanted to be. RR: It's such a strong scene in the film. JM: It was such a hard scene to do because its a weird thing that she asks him. We did not want for her to come off as if she was coming on to him. It could have gotten really awkward, we wanted some of that but we didn't want it to be that. So we were all coming at it from different angles, I think even Jenny was having a different approach to it as well. RR: I mean the way that Jaime delivers the line “Joe, can you please hold me?” never comes off as her coming on to him. It never comes off as inappropriate, it's more like, I kinda need your help right now I kinda need some human connection and the only real human connection she has is her daughter [Meredith Droeger]. Now Joe has sort of filled a role of a fatherly figure but he still let's her know, when he tells her that he can't do that, I'm not your father and I will not do this for your and its such a strong reaction and makes it such a powerful scene that was just so well executed. JM: Well, thank you so much. Thank you RR: Speaking of Meredith, how hard was it guiding her to get to the places that you wanted her to go? JM: Let me tell you, Meredith is one of the most professional people I've ever worked with. She showed up everyday fully prepared and had done so much work with her father so that when she'd get to set, she knew her lines and she'd know the other actor's lines. When she'd be in a scene with another actor, she'd be able to feed them lines if they'd stumble and she'd be able to always give me a number of options. Her father really really spent a lot of time working with her and you know, there's a lot of stuff that a 6 year old girl wouldn't necessarily wouldn't understand but he worked with her to come to some sort of understanding of the material and she'd act like a total professional. So, I worked with her just like I would any other actor on set and she'd be able to bring that level of professionalism but at the same time be a little kid. When we were auditioning these actresses, we were running three little scenes and when we had the call backs it was Meredith and a couple other girls. We had Dennis there and we were auditioning a few other parts, so we had to limit the initial three scenes down to two. So the scene that we left out was the one where Meredith is in the bird coop, Dennis finds her says “You scared the s#!t outta me!” and she says “You scared the s#!t outta me!”. So we finish the two scenes and we say thank you and she looks really concerned, so we ask her what's wrong. She looks at us and then says “Well....When do I get to say the word, S#!t?” [Laughs]. RR: [Laughs] JM: So we're all like “Oh no, we're not doing that scene today.”, but she came really prepared and she was really hoping she could say s#!t. So, Dennis got up and did the scene with her and again, she's a little kid but the upmost professional. [Laughs] RR: As far as the ending of the film is concerned, was the fact that Joe makes headlines in the newspaper sort of his last hurrah? JM: Well, the real repercussions most people will never know. People wont know that Jenny and her daughter are now free and that's why Joe does it. He also though does it in order to get to get his picture in the paper. There's always that bittersweetness to Joe and I wanted it to make an impression on the one man [Lenny played by Gary Cole] that he's been trying to impress throughout the whole movie, but it's only for a split second. I think Gary kills that scene and makes the most out of it. Just one second and then he just does the knock and then life goes on. RR: The page in the paper gets turned and then life just moves on. It really personifies his embodiment of that lifestyle of a low-level hustler. He gets this one big break and that's it. JM: Yeah it's not even 15... RR: 15 Minutes of fame [laughs]. JM: Yeah, it's not even 15 minutes, it's just 15 seconds [laughs]. Life goes on, he's forgotten and that's just the last rites of Joe May. [laughs] RR: I was really glad that I saw it and... JM: Were you there last night ?[The festival opening with the premier of The Last Rites of Joe May] RR: No, I was at the press screening the other day. It was the first time that I had encountered your work and I was really glad I did so. JM: Netflix! [laughs] RR: Thank you so much Joe and I hope you have a great time here at the festival. JM: Thank you, Thank you. ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/interview_with_joe_maggio_director_of_the_last_rites_of_joe_may.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/interview_with_joe_maggio_director_of_the_last_rites_of_joe_may.html Interviews Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:57:47 -0600 Haunted Sunshine Vlog There's a crud load of pretty young things all over the Internets, vlogging their miseries and joys, and occasional guitar strummings -- thanks lonelygirl15! And some of them have become quite famous -- no thanks Biebs! As usual, much of the stuff is pure nose goblins. So many people looking for stardom, and none of them with near enough talent to get on the local carpeting store's cable TV commercial. But then, sometimes you run across something that sticks out. Sunshine Girl (no real name given) is a 16 year old girl (now 17), who has decided to start a YouTube video blog (titled The Haunting of Sunshine Girl), to try and convince her Mom, and everyone else who will listen, that she has ghosts in her house. What follows is a list of video entries, totaling near 300 in a 10 month time frame, where Sunshine encounters a strange neighbor, Creepy Lady, who shows up unexpectedly with foreboding, eerie warnings; strange messages and photos of people with pillow cases over their heads; a Creepy Man who attacks her, while she investigates her estranged father's house; haunted house busting; and a cult-like sacrifice on a rainy, stormy night. But, let's not jump the gun here! This is no Blair Witch or Paranormal Activity. This ain't no creepy, scare the skinnies off you type of ghost story. It's really all quite unique. And that can be attributed to two factors. First, is show creator Nick Hagen (along with Sunshine's Mom) who has crafted an idea about a Gilmore Girls like mother and daughter, who are just so having some paranormal activity around their home unit. The show is primarily spun from the POV of Sunshine and her Flip-style phone. And what is genius about it isn't all the ghostly activity, but rather the relaxed pacing. It takes several episodes (all about 2.5 minutes in length, with some a bit longer) before we ever encounter anything remotely strange. And when Sunshine finally does share some of the activity with the viewers, it's all pretty much -- whatevs! It's like, hey there, I'm Sunshine, blah blah blah... This is my life, and stuff, and oh yeah -- I have ghosts. This is the second -- and key factor -- that Sunshine isn't your average TV show material. Yes, she's wonderfully adorable and very cute -- but she's not the latte chugging fashion slave (or a booze guzzling teen mom in the making), who is boy bait for the all the floppy-haired high school Casanovas (or rather, Troy Boltons) who we find on every other teenage show. No, Sunshine is holding to no one, but herself... and her Mom, who she adores. She's an individual. Strong, but flawed. And with a mind of her own. When she speaks to the camera (usually held at her own arm's length), she has a geeky, bubbly confidence, and a quick wit, that is endearing not just to the boys, but as well to the girls. She's like the protagonist in a Judy Blume novel, or that friend of the kid in those 70s After School Specials, who the boy has a secret crush on, but will never tell her, because she has no real interest in anything but having a good time with her friends. It's terribly refreshing to find a girl on a show that is just fine with who she is, with no need or desire to be defined by anyone else but herself (now, that's "girl power" for you Spice Girls!). The Haunting of Sunshine Girl is a gem of a show... and yeah -- it's a show. Part of the experience of watching and enjoying Sunshine Girl is the wild response it gets from some viewers. Like Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity, and the many caught-on-tape shockers, it doesn't announce itself as a fictional piece of work. It also doesn't announce that it's real, either. And this, of course, is by design. Part of the fun of these mockumentaries is the acceptance that they are not real, along with the giddy hidden desire that maybe, just maybe, they are!! Hell, no one went and saw Avatar and came out all steaming mad, because it looked so damn real, but was all animated. But, really, for a few good yucks, you should check out some of the, umm... non-fans of Sunshine Girl who work so diligently -- with blogs and other YouTube channels -- to "debunk" the fictional world of Sunshine. I had the brilliant opportunity to sit and chat with Sunshine and her Mom, to have a behind-the-scenes look at their little show (that I predict will blow up soon enough!!) We talk about ghosts, h8rs, Cheetos, and how to be a good role model... BadRonald – I know there are still a few people out there who have not seen your show. So, can you give them a tantalizing summery? Mom – The way we usually explain it is Paranormal Activity meets Gilmore Girls, with a little Easy A thrown in. It’s a girl who sets out to prove her house is haunted. And decides to record the videos and throw them up on YouTube, and low and behold, people are interested. BR – You know, I admire how you guys paced the show. You didn’t jump in, with the early episodes, with ghosts jumping out all over. It’s like a regular teen girl blog, and “Oh, yeah… I have ghosts…” Mom – Yeah, we rally wanted it to seem authentic, and very much like people would be watching a friend. We didn’t want to complicate it. We just wanted to keep it really simple, and that’s what are formula was. Nothing about it has been accidental. It’s all been very specific and on purpose. We like to call it “unscripted fictional reality.” It’s not scripted. It’s all ad-libed. There’s a story and plot lines, but Sunshine does not have (written) lines. Sunshine – Nope… I make everything up. BR – No dialogue is scripted? It’s all you? Sunshine – Yes. Mom – Yup. (to Sunshine) You’re a genius! She gives her a high-five. Then air-fives me. Mom -- A Skype high-five! BR—Ah! Skype five. Our timing is off so, I’m swatting at thin air. Mom – It’s all good. BR – So, the idea behind this all comes from the show’s creator, Nick Hagen. Mom—Yes, Nick Hagen. The genius behind the curtain. Sunshine – He’s Oz. Mom – He is Oz. And we were talking about this earlier, that he is totally cool with staying behind the scenes on this. You know, doesn’t feel like he needs credit for everything. Although, anyone who knows anything about the show, knows that… you now – it’s a show. So, he likes to let it be that. BR—Speaking of that it’s just a show (and not reality), some people have really gotten testy when they figure it out. Mom—Little bit. BR—Does that bother you – people who get mad when they discover that it’s fiction – but still need to debunk it? Or do you see it as part of the whole thing? Suddenly, Mom moves to the computer on another desk, and lets Sunshine take center stage. She taps away quickly on the keyboard, with Sunshine trying to peek over her shoulder. Mom—I’m gonna let Sunshine handle that. I actually have to delete something off the wall that somebody just said that’s… been posted (coincidentally) as we’re talking about this. Sunshine— Yeah, it’s just part of it. For me, it’s kinda like, I don’t get too invested in what people say about me, because they don’t know me as well – They think they do, but they don’t. BR—It’s very easy to be brave and write nasty things – like call you fake – while safely under the anonymity of the Interwebs. Sunshine— Exactly. Mom—We actually filter the comments, so Sunshine doesn’t see the really nasty stuff. She knows it’s out there, but you know – she’s seventeen. Let’s let her be seventeen a little longer. And honesty, we were shocked that anybody really believed it was real. We understand that very early, like maybe in the first five or so videos… But, since unicorn levitated…? Really? Really? They both have a chuckle at this. Mom—We never set out for people to think that it was anything other than Paranormal Activity. It’s the Blair Witch Project. So, when people started getting really angry about it… You know, we didn’t put it out there that we were actors or any of that. Nobody would have heard about Blair Witch if they had come out and said “This is just a story…” So, when it came down to people saying “This is fake,” and “You suck,” “You’re all liars,” -- we say -- hey we’re actors. We’re playing a part. BR—So, as actors, what then is next for Sunshine Girl? Mom—We have a ton of plans. Halloween is going to be busy for us. We have more channels. We just launched more channels. We’ve got Uncle Tommy’s YouTube Confessions. BR—I saw that. Good stuff. [Uncle Tommy is a recurring character from Haunting of Sunshine Girl, and friend of Mom and Sunshine] Mom—Yeah, it turned out that people really loved Tommy. Sunshine – I love Tommy! Mom—We were like – yes! We were thrilled! So we’ve got lots of big plans. Maybe, taking Sunshine to new mediums. Maybe see Sunshine in other forms… that’s all we’ll say about that. BR—Oh, no secrets revealed to me? Mom—Just a tease, there. BR—How about you, Sunshine. Would you, or are you, thinking of moving outside of Sunshine and maybe taking a try at other projects or possibilities? Sunshine—College is next year, so that’s exciting. But, with Sunshine, as far as that goes, we’re gonna keep going with that until people get tired of it. Mom—“Til their sick of Sunshine. Sunshine—Yeah, until they’re tired of me – which doesn’t seem to be anytime too soon, thankfully. BR—And you’ve been at this for nearly a year? Sunshine—This December it’ll be a year. BR—So, you’ve got another whole year to do this, and then it’s off to College? Sunshine—Yes. BR—A haunted college? Are there any? Sunshine—Yeah! I’ll have to look into that. Mom—The plan is to keep right on going. If the audience is liking it, then we’re having a great time. We love it. We’re having so much fun. We love working together. We’re best friends. We’re having a blast! BR --What’s the schedule like on your show – shooting wise. Do you come up with an idea, and shoot? Or do you block off a bunch? Mom – We usually go a couple times a month, and shoot somewhere between 15 to 30 episodes at a time. It depends on how complicated the scenes are. Like the sacrifice scene was all in one night. Kind of a big production – we actually brought in rain towers. We hired a special FX artist to come in – who was also the stunt guy -- that Sunshine hits with the car [In another episode]. We had a special FX makeup artist who came is, as well, to turn me into the demon. That was not a mask, but makeup. BR – Nice! Real production value! Sunshine – Yes. Mom—And that’s where all the money goes to. The money we get goes right back in, to pay for these people who are willing to come in and use their skills to make it all work. You know, it’s not easy to get a guy to let your 17 year old daughter hit him with a car. Sunshine – Yeah… Hadn’t even had my permit for a year. Mom – Hey Jerry! How’d you like to have my daughter, who hasn’t been driving yet for a year, hit you with a car? You cool with that? He’s like “yeah!” And we’ll pay you for it! “Yeah, wohoo!!” BR – How many times did he get run over? Mom -- Yeah. Exactly! We’re really proud that we’ve been able to pay all of our actors and our crew. That’s a big deal. That’s where all of our money goes. You know, people say it’s really cheesy, and over the top. But, whatever it is – we’re trying to make a good webseries that breaks out and entertains people, and gets people to watch. We’re not out to say, you know… ghosts are going to hurt you. Or, that cults are “good.” We’re not trying to lead any children astray. Sunshine – Well… maybe. Mom – Yeah! Sunshine was! BR – That’s one of the qualities I like about Sunshine – that it’s generally good clean fun. Mom – Yeah BadRonald! High five!! Yeah, we really try. We try at making this as family-friendly as it can be, while still keeping it creepy. You know… Sunshine here – she won’t even wear a tank top. I’ve tried. Sunshine – She does try… Mom – You know, if I could get her in a bikini – I would! Sunshine – She does… try… BR – There was even a time, on one of the trip episodes, where an OMG slipped out. And you called her on it. Mom – Mhmm! There’s a lot of people who watch the show, together, as a family. And we love that! We love that moms and daughters are sitting down to watch it together. BR – Do you, Sunshine, see yourself as a role model, at all? I don’t mean that you set out to, or that you have established yourself as one. But, do you accept the idea that you could be a role model? Sunshine – Me! I didn’t expect to be a role model. But, then, this happens and I’m like “Yeah! I’m okay with being a role model.” I’ll be like Lady Ga-Ga. I’ll be cool like that. Yeah. BR – Good. It’s good to see that, in this market that’s saturated with all the Disney stuff, or Nickelodeon stuff, that you’re doing some good straight forward… you know… girl power stuff. They both get a nice chuckle at that. Mom – It’s been a happy accident. And she’s become a good role model. She’s brave, and she’s out-going, and she’s… different. You know, what you see is this girl – Sunshine. And it’s not fake. The ghost? Okay… okay, there’s no ghost in her house – you don’t have to print that if you don’t want to! Actually – who knows! There may be a ghost in our house. There have been a couple EVPs that we did not put in. Sunshine – It’s been weird, yeah… Mom – Not gonna lie to ya. Yeah! So, it is actually very possible that house is haunted… But, the real people seem so drawn to (The Haunting of Sunshine Girl) is because Sunshine is so genuine. The relationship that you see on the show is really the relationship that we have. [Looking to Sunshine and joking] You know, we’d look at each other and wonder why a camera crew isn’t always following us around! Sunshine – All the time. Mom – We’re hilarious! We should have out own reality show. Sunshine – We’re so funny, it’s ridiculous. Mom – And modest. Sunshine – Yes. So humble. Mom – Yeah, humble. And you can see, we’re both so much alike. BR – I’m seeing the Gilmore Girls. You guys are fans? They both nod their heads delightedly, and pump fists. Mom – We love Gilmore Girls. And Veronica Mars. Sunshine – [sing songy] Veronica Maaaars! For three. Short. Seasons! Mom – Our two favorite comments we get a lot is that no mother and daughter has that relationship. And we’re like, yeah, none. Sunshine – Yeah… none. Smile... Oh, uh nevermind Mom – And the other is that – couldn’t you find actors that look more a like? To this, they put their heads together to demonstrate the point. Sunshine – Really. My mother. Mom – I am. Sunshine – She gave birth to me. Mom – Yeah… painful, too! Sunshine – Oh my god. I wasn’t even that big. I was 6 pounds. Mom – But I didn’t have drugs, though. Sunshine – Well, that’s not my fault you didn’t get there fast enough. Jeez. Mom – We tried. BR – Yeah, see… you guys are so faking it. Laugh. BR – What shows do you like now? Mom – [To Sunshine] Go! Sunshine – Oh! NCIS. Nikita. Project Runway. Mom – That’s just her, because I don’t watch NCIS or Nikita. Sunshine – Nikita’s so good! Mom – We like the new Pan Am. Sunshine – Pan Am!! BR – I agree! Mom – We’re loving Pan Am. We’re still trying to catch up on Friday Night Lights. Sunshine – We’re so behind. Mom – We’re busy. She’s busy. BR – Chasing ghosts. Sunshine – Yup. Howdy Neighbor BR – So… Cheetos or Cheez-its? Sunshine – I’m gluten free. So – Cheetos. They’re made of corn. So, Cheez-its, I can’t. Made with gluten, so… and Cheese Nips – the off brand. Same thing. Can’t eat them. BR – Forget Cheese Nips. Cheez-its are the way to go. How about Cheese Doodles? Sunshine – I’ve never heard of those. What are those? Mom – That must be a NY thing. Sunshine – Oh, NY… I want me some Cheese Doodles! BR – So, you guys are not Horror fans, I understand? Mom – No!! Not the scary stuff! Sunshine – I’ve watched one horror movie, and it scared the heck out of me. BR – Just one! Sunshine – Haunting in Connecticut. “There’s bodies in the wall! There’s bodies in the wall!” Mom – No, we don’t watch that stuff -- that scary stuff. Sunshine – She didn’t even see it. Mom – I didn’t even see it. I saw Sixth Sense. That was scary. Sunshine – No it wasn’t. Mom – Yes, it was! Sunshine – Like, three seconds of it was scary. Mom – No, it was scary. Sunshine – I didn’t even finish it. BR – Because you were scared. Sunshine – Because I got bored. Mom – You should’ve finished it. Yeah – really, we wouldn’t have watched our own show! Sunshine – No! No no. BR – Okay -- one thing we don’t know abut you? Sunshine – One thing you don’t know about me…? Hmmm… [time killing sing song] I got nuthin’ BR – How about school – what’s you favorite class? Sunshine – In school, now? Or favorite class I’ve ever taken? BR – Ever taken. Sunshine – Human Biology. Mom -- Isn’t she weird? Sunshine – It was so good! It was amazing. I loved that class. BR – Did you have to do frogs or anything like that? Sunshine – We did a sheep’s heart… A cow’s eye… BR – Wha! Sunshine – Yeah, it was really gross. We had to take apart all these animal parts. We did a cat… BR – Cat brain? Sunshine – Yes, I think that might’ve been what it was. I don’t remember, but loved that class. Such a nice lad... BR – How about Literature. You like reading? Sunshine – Love reading. Reading is super fun. BR – What books? Sunshine – Hmm… you see this is where – I like scary books! I like mysteries, and stories that twist and turn. Not necessarily like death and gore, but… yeah, I have a huge bookcase full of all my books. BR – You’re a Jane Austin fan, right? Is she your favorite? Sunshine – The movie Pride and Prejudice is my favorite. But, I love Neil Gaiman. He’s my favorite author. He’s amazing. Probably, Neverwhere is my favorite book. BR – So, how many viewers does the Haunting of Sunshine Girl have now? Mom – Over 11,000 subscribers. And, we also have a lot of viewers who don’t subscribe, but watch. It’s funny with that, because we think there may be sort of a secret shame for watching the show. We kinda think there’s a bunch a people who watch, but don’t tell, you know, their friends. Especially boys. Sunshine – Yeah… Mom – Oh, and speaking of boys… we’ve had a lot of trouble with boys hating Nolan [One of the newer teen characters, who helps Sunshine and Mom with some of the mystery and intrigue]. Boys of all age. Sunshine – Adult men! Mom – Yeah, so many will say “He sucks…” When the word they’re really looking for is jealous! The girls love him, though. BR – Safe to say, there’ll be more of Nolan. Mom – Yes, more Nolan. Also, more Uncle Tommy. We also have some great stuff coming up for Halloween. On the 29th (of October), we’ll have a special live event. Sunshine – I’m wearing a costume!! BR – You gonna tell me what it is? Sunshine – No! You don’t get to see until you tune in. Gotta tune in. Mom -- October 29. Noon PST to see Sunshine’s Halloween costume. And… Sunshine – And live Fan Appreciation Daaaay! Mom – Sunshine will answer your questions – live. And! At the end, when she’s all tired and we log off, there will be a special... very creepy… scary video. Sunshine – [Ghostly voice] Yup! Mom – People will be able to write in their questions, whether it be via FaceBook, YouTube or Twitter. And Sunshine will take the questions and record her answers… Like, Barny asks… Sunshine – Barny asks, from Jimmiestown, NY – what’s your favorite cereal? And I say -- whatever it is! BR – What is it? Sunshine – Oh! Corn Chex. I’m so lame… BR – Chex Party Mix at Christmas? Sunshine – Except you can’t eat Chex Mix, ‘cause half of it’s not even gluten free. Pretzels. Full of gluten. BR – How about substituting with something, like bagel bits. But no – Sunshine – Yeah, bagel bits. Gluten, too. So hard being me. Mom – I think you have the title of your blog post – Sunshine – “Can’t Eat That Chex Mix.” BR – Will there be any cross-over action with your other shows? Sunshine – Well, two of the three are me, so the other is Uncle Tommy’s. Mom – I’ve been on Uncle Tommy, But, we have some stuff planned that we can’t talk about yet, with some other channels. We’re starting to expand to outside of Sunshine’s universe, too. BR – Now, Coat Tale Productions – was that previously established, or did that spring from Sunshine Girl? Mom – When we decided that we were going to do more that Haunting of Sunshine Girl, Nick and I formed Coat Tale Productions. The idea behind it was that we wanted to do this and bring along all our friends along with us. Oregon film is a very tight knit group, and we have people who we love to work with. The reason we have Creepy Lady in our videos is because we love the actress Adrianne, who plays her. Sunshine – I love Adrianne! Mom – Originally Nick wrote Creepy Lady as an old woman. And I was like, “No You know who’s creepy? Adrianne. Adrianne’s creepy. Let’s put her in!” Uncle Tommy is a great friend in our lives, so we waited until we could bring him in, in a way that would work and we could keep him around. So, we saw Coat Tail Productions as more of a family thing. We formed an LLC and we’re looking to produce in new media. Sunshine – And… what about your seventeen year old? Mom – My seventeen year old? Sunshine – Your seventeen year old producer. You forgot. Mom – My seventeen year old is a producer, yes. She’s the third part of out little production group. She’s a producer – which is gonna come in handy when she’s applying for colleges. It’s gonna be like, “Yeah… producer. What’ve you done?” BR – “World’s youngest producer – what’up? What’ve you done?” Mom – “Four million views on YouTube – ba-da-doosh!” Sunshine – [soto] “Ba-da-doosh?” Mom – Yeah, this has been good for her. She’s learning a ton. She’s taken to it like a duck on water. She’s incredibly, incredibly professional. When we were at the creepy house location, with the Creepy Man – Sunshine – Not be confused with Creepy Lady. Mom – (At that location) it was the first time we had a crew, instead of just her and I and Nick. At one point, we were all sorta like goofing off, and we Sunshine here was like “C’mon, let’s get this shot!” She’s totally in this, making creative decisions. She helps with the casting. She’s definitely the one who had final call on casting Maxwell as Nolan – which wasn’t easy, to try and cast a boy who was cute and could keep up with Sunshine – Sunshine – It’s very hard keeping up with me. I’m very riveting. Mom – And could do the ad lib. Which, is not that easy. Oh! And to hold the camera!! Sunshine – Not easy… Sometimes you get half the face, and other times you can’t even hear them. They forget that they had the camera, and suddenly [gesturing holding the camera at arm’s length] the hold it out and nobody's there. No one’s in the shot. Mom – It’s interesting bringing in other actors, because we’ve been doing this on our own for 8 months. BR – Pros. Sunshine – Yeah! Mom – …At this style. Sunshine – But, nothing else. We can’t do anything else. Mom – I’ve been acting since I was a year old. Sunshine – I’ve been since I was six. Mom – So… we’ve been doing this for a while. She’s done a lot of modeling. Sunshine – Foot model. Mom – I’ve done a ton of voice over. Stuff for Nintendo – I’m the voice of Princess Rosalina, for Mario Cart and Super Mario Galaxy 1&2. Lot of film – What the Bleep Do We Know. Lots of local stuff – Oregon. BR – Famous last words? Mom – Thank you! You’ve touched on stuff that a lot of other people don’t get to. So… Please, everyone stick around for October 29th!! We’ve got some really cool surprises. Sunshine – Thanks! Tune in!! ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/interview_with_haunted_sunshine_girl_1.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/interview_with_haunted_sunshine_girl_1.html Horror Indie Interviews Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:33:44 -0600 MICKEY ROURKE New biography shows hard-man in new light, as actor’s new movie The Immortals is released, a fresh book about his life goes into more detail than anyone has before. He may have the image of a silver screen tough-guy; fearless, strong and powerful. However, one acclaimed author has written a biography that presents the real side of Mickey Rourke. The man behind the book ‘Stand Alone: The Films of Mickey Rourke’ is Saurav Dutt – an author who has become renowned around the world for his knowledge of the Golden Globe and Academy-Award nominated star of the hit movie The Wrestler. Saurav has previously written about Rourke for publications, including Time Out, Total Film and the Independent Film Magazine. Saurav Dutt tells us more, in his own words: “Mickey Rourke was a distinguished actor, screenwriter and producer – but, as with previous biographies on him, there was a large focus on tabloid-style scandal and gossip. Having spent many years studying his life and career in great detail, my new book places a special focus on his works, as well as exposing the reader to some of the more intimate interviews he gave in his life”, says Saurav. The book has only just been released, but is already selling well. Viral marketing has played a huge part in making it so successful, with plenty of discussion on Facebook that is exciting Mickey Rourke fans everywhere. Saurav Dutt believes the in-depth content has been the key to the book’s success. “The level of detail really is quite amazing,” says Saurav. He continues “This is the only book about Rourke’s life that takes the reader on a personal journey into some of the actor’s lesser-known works. It’s not just a collection of A-Z facts, but a journey that’s told with the aim of personally connecting with each reader. Even the most die-hard Mickey Rourke fans have new discoveries awaiting them within its pages”. The book can be purchased online, here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stand-Alone-Films-MickeyRourke/dp/1446746410/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318599818&sr=1-1 A video preview can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3ASNtQfB5U DINO DE LAURENTIIS honored at Cinema Italian Style (CIS) program Cinema Italian Style 2011 presents the U.S. premiere of Italy’s Academy Awards® entry – Best Foreign Language Film Terraferma Cinema Italian Style 2011 will kick off on November 11 with the U.S. premiere of Emanuele Crialese's Terraferma, Italy’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the 2011 Academy Awards®. Terraferma stars Donatella Finocchiario, Filippo Pucillo and Giuseppe Fiorello qho will join Crialese for the red carpet event at the Egyptian Theatre hosted by Vittoria Puccini, hostess of the 2011 Venice Film Festival, and Pierfrancesco Favino (Night at the Museum, Angels and Demons, The Chronicles of Narnia). Directed and co-written by Crialese, Terraferma garnered the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Venice International Film Festival. The 2011 edition of Cinema Italian Style (November 10-15) is dedicated to legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis. De Laurentiis’ work and contributions to the world of cinema will be remembered and celebrated at a special tribute preceding the premiere of Terraferma. Acclaimed director Terry Gilliam will also be presented with the CIS BVLGARI Award prior to the film’ screening. The Cinema Italian Style 2011 program and the De Laurentiis homage will be announced on November 10 during a special event at the De Laurentiis family residence. The Cinema Italian Style series is organized and produced by Cinecittà Luce and the American Cinematheque. The two organizations have worked side by side since 1995 to bring to Los Angeles the best Italian movies, as well as films that have received significant recognition at international film festivals. This year’s selection, assembled by film journalist, author and President of SNGCI (National Union of Italian film journalists) Laura Delli Colli, includes director Nanni Moretti’s Habemus Papam (We Have a Pope), Mario Martone’s Noi Credevamo, Cristina Comencini’s Quando la Notte (When the Night), Gianni di Greogorio’s Gianni e le donne (The Salt of Life), Paolo Genovese’s Immaturi (The Immature); Sergio Castellitto’s La bellezza del somaro (Love and Slaps); Francesco Bruni’s Scialla (Easy!), Giuseppe Gagliardi’s Tatanka, Alba Rohrwacher’s Corpo Celeste and Ricky Tognazzi’s Il Padre e lo Straniero (The Father and the Foreigner). Each film will feature an introduction and Q & A led by La Repubblica correspondent Silvia Bizio. The week-long Cinema Italian Style program includes a November 10 pre-opening event at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica with CIS Award recipient Terry Gilliam. Gilliam will meet the audience after the screening of his 1985 Oscar-nominated film Brazil and introduce his latest short film The Wholly Family , which was shot in the street of Naples. Further program highlights are a panel discussion on tax incentives for filming in Italy organized by A.N.I.C.A (Italian Association of Cinema Industries), the opening of Dress in Dreams’ new exhibition “Star Wigs” at the Italian Cultural Institute and film presentations at local universities and cultural centers to introduce the best Italian movies of the year to film students. Every year Cinema Italian Style bestows the prestigious Cinema Italian Style Award upon representatives of Italian cinema and US cinema industry representatives who have unique ties to Italian cinema. Past recipients include: George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Raoul Bova, Rick Nicita, Ed Limato, Anjelica Huston, Valeria Golino, Jo Champa, Dino De Laurentiis, Gabriele Muccino, John Turturro, Douglas Kirkland and Academy Award winners Vittorio Storaro (director of photography) and Milena Canonero (designer). For more info, visit www.cinecitta.com THE DESCENDANTS Meet Matt King (George Clooney) and his descendants and dig deeper into his family tree: Fox Searchlight will release in The Descendants in theaters November 18. From Alexander Payne, the creator of the Oscar®-winning Sideways, The Descendants is set in Hawaii and follows the unpredictable journey of an American family at a crossroads. Matt King (George Clooney), a husband and father of two girls, must re-examine his past and navigate his future when his wife is in a boating accident off Waikiki. He awkwardly attempts to repair his relationship with his daughters - 10-year-old precocious Scottie (Amara Miller) and rebellious 17-year-old Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) - while wrestling with a decision to sell his family’s land. Handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries, the Kings own some of the last priceless virgin parcels of tropical beach in the islands. When Alexandra drops the bombshell that her mother was in the midst of a romantic fling at the time of the accident, Matt has to take a whole new look at his life, not to mention his legacy, during a week of momentous decisions. With his girls in tow, he embarks on a haphazard search for his wife’s lover. Along the way, in encounters alternately funny, troublesome and transcendent, he realizes he’s finally on course toward rebuilding his life and family. Rated R - Running time: 110 minutes http://www.king-family-tree.com/ Watch the exclusive, new trailer for The Descendants at http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thedescendants/ FRIGHT NIGHT DreamWorks Pictures' Fright Night, starring Colin Farrell, arrives on December 13 “Colin Farrell really gets the blood pumping.” -- Alynda Wheat, People On Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand, December 13 Complete with never-before-seen, unrated bonus features that add to a bloody good time. DreamWorks Pictures’ Fright Night, starring Colin Farrell, arrives on December 13, just in time to take a bite out of the holidays on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand. Inspired by the 1985 gothic horror cult classic and directed by Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, Mr. Woodcock), all hell breaks loose when High School Senior Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) discovers his charming new neighbor Jerry (Farrell) is a Vampire preying on his neighborhood. Packed with un-rated bonus features, the Blu-ray release includes a fang-in-cheek mockumentary “Peter Vincent: Swim Inside My Mind,” a hilarious satirical look at David Tennant’s egocentric “rock star” anti-hero character, Peter Vincent; "The Official How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie Guide;” “Squid Man: Extended and Uncut;” “Frightful Facts & Terrifying Trivia;” "Deleted Scenes;” and a "Gag Reel.” Also included is the uncensored “No One Believes Me” music video directed by Fright Night’s director Craig Gillespie and performed by hip hop recording artist Kid Cudi. Proclaimed, “A Bloody Good Time” by Trey Alexander (Fandango.com), Fright Night features an all-star cast including: Colin Farrell (Horrible Bosses, Crazy Heart), Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Terminator Salvation), Toni Collette (Academy Award® nominee for The Sixth Sense, and Golden Globe® winner for United States of Tara), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Kick Ass, Superbad), David Tennant (Dr. Who, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and Imogen Poots (Jane Eyre, 28 Weeks Later). Charley (Anton Yelchin) is a high school senior who’s on top of the world—he’s running with the popular crowd and dating Amy (Imogen Poots), the most coveted girl in school. But trouble arrives when Jerry (Colin Farrell) moves in next door. He seems like a nice guy––at first. But there’s something not quite right, and no one else, including Charley’s mom (Toni Collette) seems to notice. After his classmates start to mysteriously disappear without a trace, Charlie discovers that there is more to his new neighbor than meets the eye. Now he must do all he can to protect his mom and girlfriend Amy from meeting the same fate as his best friend Ed Thompson (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Fright Night will be available to own and for in-home viewing as follows: 3-Disc Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray 3D + 1 Blu-ray + 1 DVD with Digital Copy) Suggested Retail Price: $49.99 U.S./$56.99 Canada Those who would like to stay connected with the exciting Fright Night release are encouraged to: *“Like” the Facebook page at http://ts.go.com/bk?bs=1&bj=84977208&bu=589054005&bt=172353073 *Follow us on Twitter at http://ts.go.com/bk?bs=1&bj=84977208&bu=589054005&bt=172353074 *Visit the website and mobile site: http://ts.go.com/bk?bs=1&bj=84977208&bu=589054005&bt=172353078# ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newshollywood_bad_boy_hollywood_pretty_boy_halloween_frights_and_more.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/newshollywood_bad_boy_hollywood_pretty_boy_halloween_frights_and_more.html Interviews Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:45:27 -0600 Ruben Rosario: How are you doing this morning? David Naughton: I'm doing alright, I'm feeling pretty good. RR: Have you come up to Chicago before? DN: Yeah, I've been there before, but not like this. RR: Is this your first time doing an event like this? DN: Well, I've done a bunch of horror conventions before and things like that but this is the first time that I've been a major guest of honor and it's the only thing that's different about this weekend. RR: Did you know then that it would be remembered as a cult classic horror film? DN: We were doing a lot a stuff that no one had done before and it was very interesting to be a part of that. I mean at the time, John Landis was really coming off of two movies that were pretty big and here we are in London shooting movie doing effects with Rick Baker, who at the time, had never done anything quite like that. Yet, here we are 30 years later talking about it. RR: Was getting into the make-up for the transformation scene pretty rough? DN: Oh man it was pretty grueling (Laughs)! For that entire scene in the film, which is only about 2 minutes of screen time, we shot for six work days just to get that on screen. It was really tough getting through all of that make up. RR: Was each day dedicated to a portion of the transformation? DN: Yeah, each day was sort of dedicated to a portion of the transformation. RR: How was it working with John Landis on the film? DN: It was a blast. John's a really great guy and he's got a real good sense of humor. He always kept things moving on set and it was fantastic to work with him. RR: One of the great things about An American Werewolf in London, it's got all of these great elements of comedy and extreme horror elements that John does very well. Was that difficult for you as an actor to balance these extreme tones in the film? DN: That was one of the things that we talk about in terms of David's character. He's this guy that has this enormous flaw, that ultimately becomes his downfall because he doesn't believe in it. Sometimes when we have to deal with some pretty scary things and we sometimes deal with them with humor and that's what John was trying to get across in the film. RR: How was it shooting in London? DN: I used to live in London for a while. I attended LAMDA [London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts] and studied acting there for a bit. It felt really good to come back though and be there to be working on a big film as opposed to being just some lowly drama student. RR: In terms of history, next to Lon Chaney playing The Wolfman, you're pretty much next in line to be remembered for your portrayal of a Werewolf. How does that make you feel about you're body of work? DN: I'm just really grateful to be a part of that history, you know. I mean Rick Baker won the very first Oscar in the make-up category. Even though I had to go through tough and long hours in the make-up chair, it all seems worth it. After going toe to toe with one of the best make-up artists in the business, any other person that I get to work with now it's like “Okay...Okay, this is nothing. This isn't the roughest it's been in this chair”. RR: Well, Thank You David for your time and I hope you have a blast this weekend in Chicago. DN: Thank You and I can't wait to be there. ]]> http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/an_american_werewolf_in_chicago_an_interview_with_david_naughton.html http://www.filmmonthly.com/interviews/an_american_werewolf_in_chicago_an_interview_with_david_naughton.html Interviews Wed, 19 Oct 2011 01:27:32 -0600