Category Archives: Movie Interviews

We Talk Fast & Furious 6, The Lone Ranger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and More With Stunt Driver Robert Nagle

Posted on by

(We are repairing from a Site Hack and Doing Updates. Please Excuse The Mess)

 

Recently I spoke with Robert Nagle, who is a veteran stunt driver. His work includes Fast Five, Drive, The Dark Knight Rises, Jack Reacher, and A Good Day to Die Hard. He is also set to appear in the highly anticipated Fast & Furious 6 and The Lone Ranger.  Robert was kind enough to speak with us about his work and what we can expect from Fast & Furious 6 and hinted about what is to come in the Captain America Sequel

How did you get your start in the business and what was your first big break?

 

I met a very good friend of mine, Steve Kelso, a road racer who was already very well-established in the stunt world. We traded paint often and became good friends.  He offered me one of my first jobs. Around the same time I met Michael Mann and developed a close relationship with him as well.  I don’t think I had a “big break” per se, but rather a steady growth of performing on camera well and building relationships.

What type of prep do you do for each film and how much advance work goes into each stunt?

It really depends on the project and stunt. We often show up on set, go through what’s needed on the day of the stunt, and break down the details. Once everything’s sorted out, we shoot. A more complex stunt might require a complete rehearsal and test days or weeks ahead of time to sort out all the elements involved.

How has the digital age affected your work?

I think, if anything, it has made me more creative in developing ideas to deliver an action piece that is not CGI. I strongly believe your eye can tell the difference between live action and CGI—this can really take you out of the story. I do think CGI can be used very well to enhance certain elements, or in the case of “Total Recall,” build the world around us but keep the action real. Len Wiseman was very adamant about shooting the hover car chase with real cars and then adding the world around them—I applaud him for doing so.

How do you decide what is digital and what is a real stunt?

Ha! I wish I had a say in that decision. I’m very much in favor of combining both real and CGI elements.

With car chases being such a standard in films, how have you managed to keep the action in the Fast films fresh and original?

That accolade goes to Justin Lin, the director, and Spiro Razatos, the Second Unit Director (Action Director).  Both of them have asked us to raise the bar.

What are the most dangerous stunts you have done and how many times have you been injured?

The most dangerous stunt I’ve done, besides battle LA traffic, was in Fast & Furious 6. We shot a scene on the Canary Islands along a mountain road that is basically closed to the public because of how precarious it is. On one side, the edge of the road drops off almost 1000 feet into the ocean. On the other, there’s a mountain with randomly falling rocks. They have these small stone blocks along the edge of the road that would probably only slow the car down enough for you to get a great view of the rocks and ocean below.

I had to chase Mark Higgins, a World Rally car Champion, and Ben Collins, the former STIG from Top Gear, several times over. Mark and Ben had been driving that road for a couple of days already. I was in a purpose-built high speed chase car with cameras mounted on the front. I had never driven the road or the car. Needless to say, I had to very much bring my “A” to run these guys down and make it look exciting on camera. We got that piece in one take.

I’ve been fortunate in that I have only broken my thumb in a stunt.

What were your biggest challenges for the film and the greatest triumphs?

I think the biggest challenge was understanding exactly what the director wanted to see and offering options or ideas that were meant to enhance what he was looking for. Walking away at the end of the day with a great piece of action on film is quite rewarding.

 Did working on location present any new challenges?

We work on location 90% of the time these days. It can be hard on family life.

Since the Fast films have  involved cars, guns, fights, and jumps Which type of stunts do you prefer and which are you least favorite?

I’m a complete car nut and I’m very handy with firearms as well. 95% of what I do is car related.

 What do you have coming up that viewers can look forward to?

I just finished filming “Prisoners” with Jake Gyllenhaal. Denis Villeneuve was the director.  Now we are in the early stages of preparing for “Captain America 2.”

 If you had no restraints what is the one stunt you would love to do?

Actually we are in development of something that has never been done, it’s still pretty early but I will reach out to you once it’s a go – it will be really amazing!

 

Lance Broadway Talks About Going From Baseball To “Olympus Has Fallen”

Posted on by

As part of our March Magazine which you can get at the link below, we have posted a selection of our interview with Lance Broadway.

March Magazine
LANCE BROADWAY, first known as the all-American Major League pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, will be making his big-screen debut in one of 2013’s most-anticipated action thrillers “Olympus Has Fallen.” Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day).

In this Die Hard meets the White House style drama, a former Secret Service agent works to save the President after he is captured in a terrorist attack. Broadway stars as a secret service agent working directly with Gerard Butler’s character as they scramble to retake the capitol.

What can you tell us about your character in Olympus and what attracted you to the part as well as the casting process?

Agent O’Neil is a young secret service agent who looks up to those ahead of him and is determined to protect the President anyway that he can.

I auditioned for the role out of Dallas before I really knew anything about O’Neil. I only had the sides to go on. At this point in my career, I do not have the luxury to become attracted. It was, “here is your audition, go”.

How did you get into acting from baseball and can you compare and contrast the two?

I fell into acting by accident really. It was the end of the 2010 season and I wanted to learn improv but the class I enrolled in did not start for a few months so I was advised to enter an acting class in hopes that I could gain some confidence performing in front of others. It was a month into that that my teacher told me to get head shots and think about doing this during the off season. I fell in love with it over the next few months and decided I was done with baseball. Plus, my numbers from the previous season were leading me down a future path of unemployment so I thought now is as good a time as any to hang them up. Baseball and acting both require an extreme amount of dedication and hard work. There is too much talent in both careers salivating for the opportunity to bypass any who are not prepared to give it everything they have. In contrast, the one thing that I do miss about baseball is the camaraderie you have with your co-workers. Once on a team, you spend most of your waking hours with guys who you end up developing wonderful relationships with. In acting, you get to develop friendly relations with people but it is only for a short time and once filming wraps everyone sort of goes their own way.

What sort of research did you do for the role and how did it compare and contrast with past roles?

I watched “In the Line of Fire” starring Clint Eastwood. I originally only had a few lines in Olympus but once on set I was blessed with more opportunities with my character. I then made sure to pick the brain of a former secret service agent who was on set to make sure I was following proper protocol. He was invaluable.

What do you look for from a director to help you give your best performance?

What were some of the more memorable moments on set and how was working with the cast?

I loved every minute working on this set. I was blown away with how warm and comforting everyone was. That goes all the way from the crew to the actors. The first day stands out to me most. The first day of shooting was in a small cafe and it was extremely hot and humid. Everyone was sweating profusely and due to weather delays it ended up taking two days to complete the scene. What I remember most was the lack of complaining. Everyone remained positive and determined to finish the scene no matter what the situation was. It was a wonderful learning experience to see veteran actors go about their business in such a professional matter. No surprise they are all so successful.

Final question, what is the one thing about acting that most people are shocked when you tell them?

Quite simply the fact that I am an actor now is what shocks people the most. Most people have known me as a baseball player so to hear that I quit baseball in order to pursue an acting career comes as quite a shock to many of them.

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 Interview With Rami Malek and Andrea Gabriel

Posted on by

By Tracey Barrientos

With the Blu-ray release of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”, Tracey got to speak with Rami Malek and Andrea Gabriel about making the film.


How does it feel to be a part of the saga and what did you do when you found out you had a role in the film?
Andrea: Well I had scene the movies before and I really didn’t know a lot about the last book and so once I got it everyone was like “oh my God, your a part of that coven and oh it’s a huge thing” and people were telling me basically what I was going to be doing in the movie before I even picked up the book. It was really exciting and I was just imagining going to go off to vampire camp for the next couple months of my life and meet a bunch of people I didn’t know before and it was just this chapter I look back on and it was awesome.

Rami: I remember getting the audition and wondering if it was something I really wanted to do and being kind of worried about it because you never know what’s going to happen when your part of a Twilight film. I still don’t know what’s going to happen, but in the end I remember being really excited when I got the phone call that I got the job and that I was going to be a part of film history. Good or bad.

What sort of things did you do to research your characters?
Andrea: I actually didn’t do a lot about it until I got there, the part of the book about the Egyptian coven doesn’t tell you a lot. Once we were on set Stephanie was actually there like every day and I was really intimidated at first but everybody said she was cool and that I should go up to her. Me and Omar who plays my mate came up with a little back story. Once we were on set I went to Stephanie and asked her about it and it turns out they were actually pretty similar. My history was a little more violent then hers though.

Rami: Stephanie was pretty invaluable and so was Bill Condon. We had to do a very early camera test where you come in and they put you in costume and they put you in makeup and they parade you in front of a camera and I got to talk to Bill during that about the character and Stephanie gave us a lot about what she thought was their story and her door was always open. She told me that he would have been a street performer back in the day and I remember in New Orleans I saw this little kid on the street doing magic tricks. I remember thinking that’s what I need, that kind of energy that kind of mischievous thing going on inside. I remember that I just kept giving him money so he would keep showing me tricks. I remember having Renesme’s hand in a scene and I was doing something and it was one of the things I learned from him. I ended up giving him like a hundred dollars and asking him “if you were to create this whirlwind in someones hand, how would you do it” and he showed me.

Did anything get trimmed out of the movie that involved your characters that we didn’t see?

Andrea: As a matter of fact yes. Me and Amun don’t fight as you know we take off and we actually filmed this entire sequence where Amun goes up to Aro and says “we didn’t come to fight we came to witness” and a whole sequence of me deciding if I was going to leave with him or go with the coven. It was a little moment that was wonderful to film. It would have pulled focus though because when you look at it, there is already so much going on.

Is the transition from television to film difficult?

Andrea: I actually enjoy it because even though I wasn’t playing a huge role in this film you just get to focus so much more time on the characters and the story. When you have an episode or two episodes or even a finale your going to be working on that for maybe two to three weeks and you just don’t get the time and you also don’t know what’s coming. With a film you get the entire script and you really feel more like a part of a story with a beginning a middle and an end. In a TV series they don’t even know what’s going to happen or how long it will go for or if it will get canceled and it leaves things open ended which can be a little frustrating for an actor because you don’t know what direction your headed and what your character is anticipating.

Rami: I don’t differentiate you know; acting is acting weather it be on stage, television or in a film I just like it all. Some things may require more subtlety than others and you could do crazy things in a sitcom that you may not be able to do in film but then again it depends on the character.

Out of all the locations in the Twilight films where would you most likely want to visit and why?

Rami: I have to say Rio right off the bat. I would want to go for the beaches and the food and the beautiful people.

Andrea: I’d want to go to Egypt, Italy and France. They had a french coven with two vampires that was not part of the book and was supposed to be in the movie but sadly it was cut.

What has been your strangest reaction with a Twilight fan?

Rami: There has been some blood curdling screams that we get sometimes at huge events like at Comic Con. I also have had to sign a pregnant woman’s belly once and it was kind of odd.

Andrea: For me nothing crazy Twilight related, at the premiere I was with my sister and we were going to the party and I guess because I didn’t have an escort the guy didn’t know I was part of the movie. I told my sister you know don’t worry nobody ever recognizes me but all of a sudden this guy comes up with a bunch of my pictures and then all of these people came up to me with my pictures and it was kind of weird but flattering.

Actor Philip Martin Talks To Us About Working With Al Pacino On Thier New Film Phil Spector

Posted on by

Rising talent Philiop Martin was kind enough to speak to us about his new film, “Phil Spector”. The movie will debut on HBO and stars starring Al Pacino, Helen Mirren and Jeffrey Tambor.


Photo credit: Richard Wright

What can you tell us about your character and what attracted you to the part as well as the casting process?

I play James Lee, who is a young lawyer on Phil Spector’s defense team. He also Bruce Cutler’s (Jeffery Tambor) protege. What attracted me to this part was undertaking , researching, getting to the meat of what drives a person to chose and dedicated themselves to becoming a Lawyer. I found it fascinating to seeing the exact parallels of becoming a trained actor and the language and the use of it to create perceptive or a strong point of view/ case.

How did you get into acting and what was your big break

I got into acting when I was 16. I was a bit of troublemaker, confused overweight kid looking for some purpose in this world. When I stumbled on to acting the bigger picture of life started to make sense. Most of all, it made hard work, determination and passion have purpose for me. First big break was getting in NYU Tisch School of the Arts. The school give me an understanding, tools and opportunity to learn how to be the best professionally trained actor I can be. Second Big Break (industry wise), HBO’s Phil Spector. I’m very grateful to say that because of my work at NYU and getting the opportunity to show my work to David Mamet I am not able to show my work to the world thanks to “Phil Spector.” A dream come true which I will be forever grateful to David for.

What sort of research did you do for the role and how did it compare and contrast with past roles?

I decided I wanted to really research what drives a human being to defend other human beings. So, I did a few days of shadowing my friends who are lawyers in LA. I took the time to understand the long process of discovery, how 99% of the work is paperwork, and that being specific in aspect of the case is essential to the outcome for your client. The way lawyers speak to one another in a rapid spitfire pace, while having three other arguments loading in their brain ready for launch and the readiness to counter every point the other team present, all while projecting an air of calm, cool and collected persona was something I learned that helped me take on the character of a lawyer as well.

What do you look for from a director to help you give your best performance?

Well, first off the director is the Captain of the ship and as an actor I’m just the sailor who is doing my best to be of service to the Director/writer’s vision. So I ask my self, ” How can I bring my best performance to the director, so he can shape, tweak and adjust my character to fit his vision of the story”. It’s about being of service to others. That’s my goal.

What were some of the more memorable moments on set and how was working with the cast?

Having the opportunity to work such high caliber cast is a dream come true for my first job. As a newcomer, I really learned a lot from Al , Helen and Jeffery. They taught me, through their actions, how to be a professional, support your cast mates and how to dig deep to bring the truth to the screen. I also learned that I had something to very special to offer to the mix.

My most memorable moment was doing my first professional close up with the lovely, gracious and amazing Oscar winner Helen Mirren. It was like I was daydreaming back in school expect I could have never of predicted this. Then, of course I dropped into character and I was dealing with Linda Kinney Baden who came to my territory and is trying to make a fool out of James Lee. Not on my watch. LOL. That’s what’s great about film-making.

If given carte blanche, who would be your ultimate cast and director to work with and in why type of project?

I would love to work with Paul Thomas Anderson and Joaquin Phoenix . PT is one of the best directors out there and should have an Oscar for his work on Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood or The Master. Joaquin’s work in The Master and Walk The Line inspired me to keep moving forward and I think it would be fun to act with him on screen. Lastly, Robert Downey Jr and Terrance Malick. RDJ has always been someone I look up too and learned from. Malick, he just understands actors, life and the power of cinema.

Do you have a preference to comedy, drama, or action and why?

Drama and Dark Comedy. I love real life and bringing that to screen has always been my motivation. Why? I think the power of cinema to engage an audience and teach a lesson through characters and conflict is important. It is essential to gain a new cultural perceptive that we are connected to and have to ability to have peace within ourselves and the world around.

What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

Right now, I’m working hard for the next opportunity. I have strong desire to return to stage in New York. Off broadway, Broadway. Also to work with HBO again would be pleasure. I grew up on HBO and their TV shows. To be on Broadwalk Empire, The Newsroom , Girls or Game of Thrones is a goal of mine. Also Film is why I am an actor, the opportunity to work with a great directors again like David Mamet or David O’Russell or the next upcoming Sundance star director would be a dream. Really finding those artists you flow with and love to create with is what make this tough journey of story telling worth it.

What do you like to do in your free time and which movies are on your to watch list?

I love to surf, cross fit, play basketball and help others. Spiritual work always keeps me grounded. On my watch list right now, two films this month are Spring Breakers and a Place beyond the Pines. Harmony Korine is one of the most engaging voices in current modern cinema and his films always seem to have the pulse of my generation. Ryan Gosling, is one of the best actors of this current generation and to watch his raw, organic and truthful performance inspires actors like myself to dig deep. Combined with director Derek Cianfrance’s unique vision and direction makes The Place beyond the Pines is a must for any artist.

Final question, what is the one thing about acting that most people are shocked when you tell them?

It takes 10 years of hard work , persistence, passion and faith…. atleast, that is my experience.


Photo credit: Richard Wright

We Talk Thor: The Dark World and More With Adwale Akinuoye

Posted on by

By Christopher Daniels

***Special note from the interviewer: The audio didn’t turn out as well as we had hoped, and some statements were omitted due to lack of proper recorded sound volume to hear what Adwale was saying. Rather than guess, some sentences were just left out. Our apologies to our fans, and also to Adwale, as he was a great person to talk to, and we hope that we, as accurately as possible, captured the essence of his feelings on these films! As a result, we have also included links to the original audio files.

SKNR: I’m here with Adwale who has major parts in three upcoming films, Thor: The Dark World, Bullet to the Head (which I’m really excited about), and The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete. So lets start with Bullet to the Head. Adwale, please tell us about your character, and also how you got involved with that particular film.

Adwale : It was a process like any other, I read for it, the director responded, and thats how I got the part. The character I play is slightly different than what people have seen me play, in that he is less physically involved in the action, and uses more brain. But never-the-less he is extremely ruthless. He is a character that originated from Africa, moved to the states, to exploit the post-Katrina situation. He is extremely sophisticated and has this very polished veneer. He is a very political and ruthless man who deploys his henchmen to execute his orders. He is a cripple, but he does not let that, in any way, shape or form, impair him, In fact he uses that to prove that he is more able than a normal individual. So he is a slick guy, but he is definitely ruthless.

SKNR: It sure sounds that way! Let me ask you a more on the point question. Often times, actors go through great pains to no only prepare for the role, but also in the actual filming. Can you tell me about one particular instance where during the filming, where it was challenging, in a good way, that made you say “this is a good hard-day’s work today”.

Adwale: Yea I mean we were shooting in New Orleans, and the challenges first of all is that the character has an accent, and he is crippled, walking around with a cane on top of that. Then we were shooting in a hundred degrees, and after every scene, and sometimes every take, I’d have to change my shirt, And so all of those three layers made for a real challenge to actually perform, but ya know I used them to perform, and thats when you knew what you were gettin paid for. It was a hard day’s work, and you wanted to get on with it. But I think the heat was the biggest challenge; it was just no joke. I was sweatin so bad that after every take I either had to change the shirt, or go off and blow dry it, and but it back on. It was a real challenge, and ya know, walking around with a cane. But ya know its just part of the job.

SKNR: What are you most excited about, as it relates to bullet to the head?

Adwale: I think ya know, just being the audience reaction. Because, I think [the movie is] a very interesting animal, in that its a throw back, but its contemporary, and I think the combination of the subject and Walter Hill, who is legendary in his own right. I think that what we have here is a vehicle that pays homage to the old school genre, but is also has the hard-hitting reaction. And I think what your getting is, picture the character, which quite hard to pull off in that genre, so I’m really looking forward to the audience reaction, but I think they’re going to enjoy it. Bullet to the head is stylish, but also makes fun of itself.

SKNR: Lets move on to The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete. Tell me about your character and also what you really liked about the script that drew you in.

Adwale: I mean you know its really about a relationship. Its a gritty coming-of-age story. What I love about the story is that it focuses on two children trying to survive in New York with out family, during a hot New York summer, and what they have to go through, and how they bond, and learn to support each other. And the characters they come across in their journey is where I come in. I play a law enforcement officer, Officer Pike. He is really bent on taking stray kids off the street and putting them in homes for their own good. Now he is extremely ruthless in the pursuit of his job, but he feels that the means are justified in a well-intentioned end. So without giving away the plot, ya know, hes just on the job, and he wants the kids off the street. I think this film is going to be really nostalgic for some americans and the people of New York. Its going to pull on the heart-strings. When you see these kids, you can not help but feel for them.

SKNR: In my mind, any time we are going to have a film that draws that kind of attention, it can, in addition to entertain, it can also educate that this kind of stuff is actually going on, and I’d imagine that is what you are saying is the message of the film.

Adwale: Yea, I mean it happens, and its real. The great thing about this project is that I’ve covered the spectrum, from him impact action Marvel to real low-budget-coming-of-age. It goes from the surreal world of Asgard, from Marvel, to the ghetto, and I just love that. Not only the main characters, but also the message. People will be able to relate to [this film] because its home, and its the truth of whats happening today, but most of all I think, that what you’ll get out of it is the friendship, and how thats the main main message of the movie.

SKNR: One last question – I was looking at your filmography history, and 2013 marks 20 years, 2 decades, of film making. As you look back on two decades of entertainment and story telling, What do you reflect on? What are you happy and/or disappointed about?

Adwale: Well, first of all, its that I’ve made it this far, and I’m still going strong. And its clear now that my career is blossoming into something that justifies my talent. I mean in two decades I’ve seen a range of difficulties, and different characters. But I’m really happy, like I said, because it can be a huge pit fall to be in only independent films. So that, upon reflection, I’m really happy about. That my career is getting stronger. I’m happy for looking back, at the huge fortune to have stepped on the path of certain shows that are so iconic. I’ve had the opportunity to be apart of some real iconic shows that have survived, and even some movies that have real identity. Ya know, in a career like this, your lucky to get one, but to then have a handful of projects that people revere, and will remember for a long time. Its trippy, and its an honor to be apart of those. And I just think that, looking back, the choice I made to come away form my old profession into acting {laughs} is the right direction I’m headed for writing and developing material, and pushing things forward with the acting. I’m kinda happy with the new direction that I’m headed. Regrets? No I think I don’t have any real regrets. I may have made some difficult decisions, but I think I played it…. I think I played it good, man.

SKNR: Thank you for your time, and I wish you the best for 2013!


Link to Part 1 of the Audio Interview


Link to Part 2 of the Audio Interview

The Marine 3 Interview and Contest With The Miz & Ashley Bell

Posted on by

Liz and Antonio were at the Wizard world Convention in Portland last weekned and got to speak with WWE Superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin and actress Ashley Bell. In our two part interview, Liz and Antonio cover the upcoming movie “The Marine 3″ and so much more. As a Bonus offer, we have a Blu-ray copy of the movie up for grabs. How do you enter? Simply send us an e-mailwith the answer to the question in the press release below….


Marine3_BD_Spine

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and WWE Studios unveil a brand new chapter in one of the most action-packed film franchises of all time with The Marine 3: Homefront. The third installment starring WWE Superstar, Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin and rising star Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism Part II), throws down on Blu-ray and DVD on March 5.

WWE superstar Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin delivers a knock-out performance in the most explosive, action-packed Marine adventure yet. After returning to his hometown on leave, Sgt. Jake Carter learns that his sister has been abducted by a band of violent extremists. To save her, Carter launches a daring one-man assault on their base of operations only to discover the group's ruthless leader is plotting a deadly terrorist strike. With time running out, Carter realizes he's the only man who can stop the impending massacre − but this American hero may have to make the ultimate sacrifice to save thousands of innocent lives.

A must-have for fans of war films, action movies and the WWE, The Marine 3: Homefront is a thrilling drama of explosive proportions.

The Marine 3: Homefront special features include:

• Shipwrecked: Breaking Down the Boat
• The Miz Rocks the Boat
• The Miz Declassified
• Casting Call: Ready to Enlist
• Miz Journal

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt

In order to win your very own copy of The Marine 3: Homefront on Blu-ray, simply answer the following question:

Which wrestler is the male lead in The Marine 3: Homefront?

• The Rock
• The Miz
• The Great Khali
• The Undertaker
• Jack Swagger


The Interviews are below, click the links and they will take you to the player so you can listen and enjoy.

Interview Part 1


Interview Part 2

Actress Ashley Bell Talks To Us About The Last Exorcism: Part II

Posted on by

During The wizard world Comicon In Portland Liz Putney spoke with Actress Ashley Bell abouot her upcoming movie “The Last Exorcism Part II”. The movie opens this Friday and you can read what the talented actress has to say below.

Liz: Can you tell us about your character, for those who have not seen the first film?

Ashley Bell: Part 2 can be a standalone film, which is one of the things I think is really awesome about it. I play Nell Sweetzer, who is a very sheltered character. She comes from a strict religious background (no music, no makeup) and she hasn’t really left the home where she grew up- and she is possessed by a true devil. Part 2 begins where Part 1 left off. We’re seeing Nell raw; she’s shell-shocked and doesn’t remember what happened to her. She’s thrown into New Orleans and Mardi Gras, where there’s temptation everywhere. And she has to choose between good and evil.

Liz: What kind of research did you do for your role?

Ashley Bell: Physically, I did take a lot of ballet to prep for it. If you take a dance class to prepare for doing your own stunts, you are less likely to get hurt. Unless you just break in two (in the panel she discussed how she fractured her lower back during a backbend stunt in the movie). The ballet also helped with that levitating backbend I did. Nell’s been through a traumatic event- she’s anxiety riddled so I also did a lot of ballet because I wanted that very gaunt look that she had.
I love doing research because it allows me to tie into another character. I read every single book on exorcism that I could find. I watched exorcism videos. I listened to a lot of audio, because some of those rooms were too dangerous to bring in a video camera or the footage would get messed up or the equipment wouldn’t record. I talked with a lot of people about the religious part of it. They would begin to talk about an exorcism and then stop because they were so scared it would come back or whatever room they saw someone become possessed in they wouldn’t return there. That religious fear is so real and that was what Nell was raised in so I need to be true to that.

Liz: What is different about working on a horror set versus other genres?

Ashley Bell: The amount of blood! (laughs)

Liz: What was the most memorable part of the film for you?

Ashley Bell: Definitely that levitating backbend. That alone a full day. I taught myself how to levitate (laughs). In doing that backbend there was a whole stunt team on set. They said I could do it 8 times and I think I did it about 20 times. Each time something more and more got added to it and Ed (the director) was kind of conducting it like a swell of a musical piece. It was incredible and at the end of the day I got to say “I flew! That’s what I did for my job today.”

Liz: What kind of direction does the director give you for scenes like that? What sort of things does he say?

Ashley Bell: I saw the film for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I scared myself! I gave myself nightmares! I was jumping! It’s PG-13 so it very much has that fun scare and I actually saw it with a bunch of girls. We were all jumping onto each other and they were grabbing each other- but loving getting scared. In watching it, what was scary is the sounds and the music. So many of those scenes are me and Ed (the director) is talking off camera, leading me through what’s going to be added in during post. So what kind of noises are going to be happening or what music is going to be playing or if something tips over suddenly. Many times I’ve had to react to tape on the wall. They are like “This wall is going to come at you.” and I’m like “Ok? Cool!” So then to actually see it happen on screen I’m like “Oh my god! That’s horrifying!”
Liz: Reacting to something that’s not really there must be really challenging.

Ashley Bell: That’s why I’m so grateful for my training at NYU and Cambridge and the Groundlings for improv training. Having that in my background is so helpful.

Liz: What was it like working with Eli Roth?

Ashley Bell: Incredible! Eli is a master of horror. He’s a horror magician! I think what’s so impressive about him is that he knows the genre so well and he’s so versed. Like a painter, he knows all the rules and then he can break them- and break them in a cool way. He can completely innovate and find something that hasn’t been seen before and that’s the whole love story with the devil in this film.

Liz: What was the most challenging part of being in this film?

Ashley Bell: I always say that the most challenging part of a film is after they yell “cut” at the end of that last scene. For me working is like a vacation and it’s the time in between that’s challenging as an actor. Being on set is just awesome.

Liz: Do you like watching horror movies?

Ashley Bell: I love horror movies! My summers were spent watching horror movies with my dad. Like Suspiria, Pumpkin Head, Poltergeist, Aliens, and Predator. I love those movies!

Liz: How did working on this film differ from working on the first one?

Ashley Bell: That would be working with the camera. This film was not found footage which was a tremendous shock to people. I think it’s telling for the shocks that the audience will see when they see this one and the turn at the end that’s trademark Eli Roth. For the first one the camera was a character- you could play to the camera to hint at something or intentionally tell a lie, or be quiet too long or share a smile with the camera that wouldn’t be caught by anyone else. That
was fun to break the 4th wall and break the rules we’re taught as actors to forget that there are hundreds of people watching you- to be intimate and personal.

Liz: What is one thing about acting in horror movies that surprises people when you tell them?

Ashley Bell: It’s where the whole horror genre is right now. What was so great about part one was the characters and the great story. That’s what made Nell such a compelling character. When I first read her I was like “I will do whatever I need to do to get this role!”. It’s an experimental genre now and it’s really gone above and beyond because it keeps on surpassing itself. It forces you so far outside of your comfort zone as an actress both mentally and physically. They compete against each other so much to be groundbreaking. When you are that far out of your zone- that’s really where the fun happens for both the audience and the actors.

Liz: What other project do you have going on that we can look forward to?

Ashley Bell: “The Marine 3” which is out March 5th on DVD is a straight action, cars blowing up, Mike (The Miz) is going through windows and I’m going through windows (with no glass so I don’t get hurt). I also have a romantic comedy called “The Bounceback” and a romantic epic called “Chasing Shakespeare” coming out on South by Southwest. My movie “Sparks” based on the graphic comic which will be premiering at the Cinequest Film Festival.

Liz: In your panel, you discussed your chance to be on the other side of the camera when you filmed your documentary. Can you tell us a little bit more about that experience?

Ashley Bell: A very close friend of mine runs the Cambodian Wildlife Sanctuary. They’ve been trying to rescue elephants to bring there for over 10 years. When I finally got the email that they succeeded I said

“This has to be filmed because the story is so exquisite.” I’m working with Change for Balance productions to film it. We were there in January filming and it’s called “Love and Bananas”. There’s a hard fast rule that no bullhooks are used on the sanctuary, but you can guide an elephant with love and bananas.

Liz: Did you get to be around elephants?

Ashley Bell: Yes two! If you check out loveandbananas.com it talks about the issues and our goal for this documentary. Also there’s a trailer there and a bunch of photos of me with the elephants.

Madison Moellers Talks About Showtime’s Shameless and Her Career

Posted on by

We recently spoke with Madison Moellers who appears on the new Showtime show Shameless. We talk about her career and what is to come from this rising talent.

What can you tell us about your character and what attracted you to the part?

Molly is a very crazy, crazy girl but he doesn’t come off that way first. One word I can use to describe is a “cat. I’ll tell you why. Because when you first meet a cat, they’re extremely shy and distant, but then once they get to know you, they are all out. What attracted me to the part it’s extremely outside of the box, and I love those kind of roles.

What sort of research did you do for the role and did you have any real life inspirations?

Ohhh, I can’t tell you that or I’ll give away the role. But I can tell you that I have some hilarious stories about my research. There is one inspiration but again, I can’t say it. Love to talk to you after it comes out. :)

How would you compare/contrast working on television with movies and which do you prefer and why?

I haven’t worked on any feature film sets YET but with the shorts I’ve been on and one won at Cannes I can say that the difference is with a tv show you get to know everyone a lot better and it’s a longer period of time. With a short film, it’s the opposite of that.

What did they do on set to keep everyone tense and lighten the mood? I bet there were some great jokes played.

Some of the actors on set do isolate themselves before a very intense scene. Not too many funny jokes from that – sorry (evil laugh). We kids played pranks all the time on the set with the others.

Who would be your ultimate cast and director to work with and in why type of project?

Ohhh, I’m staring at my hands – blood, blood. You’re trying to get some blood on my hands. It’s hard to pick favorites but I would love to work again with Patrick Warburton again, and Emmy Rossum.

I would LOVE to work with Kathryn Bigelow. Love, Love. Jodie Foster is my mentor. I would die to work with her. But not literally because then I wouldn’t be able to work with her if I was dead. Sitcom would be awesome although I’d love to do feature film.

What do you like to do in your free time and which movies are on your to watch list?

I recently learned to ski and I love my cats who are at home in Estes Park, Colorado, so here I like to volunteer Star Paws Rescue on Sundays to help homeless dogs get homes. I dance and sing a lot even in the car…… Ugh. Some of the movies I want to see are R but let me give them to you anyway. IDENTIFY THIEF, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, FRUITVALE, THE BLING RING, ELECTRICK CHILDREN, ZERO DARK THIRTY. My mom let me watch SILVER LININGS while she edited out a few moments. It’s so sad they’re R when it could have been PG-13 and just said “very strong language”. It did not deserve an R when it was just lots of language.

What type of video games do you like and what are you looking forward to?

MOSHI MONSTERS, JUST DANCE, and MINE CRAFT. I’m looking forward to having my own room and own bathroom.

What do you look for from a director to help you give your best performance and what type of characters do you tend to be drawn to?

The directors normally go through the scene with whoever is in it and give you little pointers. Most directors should do that. I believe a director will tell you what he wants if you’re not giving it to her (or him). Outside of the box characters are my fave.
When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements tend to draw you in and make you want to work on that film?
The people who are in it, the main plot, what type of project is it (comedy, drama, etc.) and the way it’s written. I’ve noticed it’s easier to remember the lines when they actually know how kids talk.

What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

I’m coming out in SHAMELESS and MISTRESSES along with some voice work on MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS, and I have Sue Naegle whose the President of HBO Entertainment posting on my Influential Women of Hollywood blog this weekend.

Final question, what is the one thing about acting that most people are shocked when you tell them

How rich most of the parents are. Meanwhile, me and my mom are living in an 8 x 10 room together. Seriously, I’m not over-exaggerating. Most people think the best thing about acting is getting to be someone else, but I think that it’s not so much becoming someone else as finding a new part of yourself. Everyone has a little shy, everyone has a little cheerleader and everyone has a little psychopath….but most of the time you shouldn’t show that part (laugh).



Check out the latest issue of our new magazine at Barnes and Noble Here for the Nook, Tablets, and Smartphones.
Barnes and Noble Link

We Talk G.I. Joe: Retaiation, The Smurfs 2, and Iceman With Special Effects Makeup With The Legendary Todd Tucker

Posted on by

Even with CGI being all the rage in movies, the skills of a makeup artists are essentioal. Todd Tucker is a legend in the industry and he was kind enough to speak to us about his work.

How did you get your start in the business and what was your first big break?

I was an only child who spent every weekend at the movies. As a teen I started learning how to sculpt, mold, fabricate and paint my own masks, puppets and prosthetic make ups. I put together a portfolio of my best work, then moved to Los Angeles and started working professionally. My first big movie credit was Steven Spielberg’s Hook.

What type of prep do you do for each film and how much advance work goes into each creation?

Every time Illusion Industries starts on a new film I include the two key artists of our creative team, Martin Astles, Joe Colwell, and we always research as much information and visuals as we can find that relates to the project. It gives us a starting point for creating the designs of the creatures or characters that are in the script.

How has the digital age affected your work?

Computer Graphics has defiantly taken over a lot of what use to be practical effects. Because of my involvement on The Passion Of The Christ, I was educated in how to combine practical fx with C.G. enhancement to get an amazing finished result. I now often interact with the digital company on a feature film, to come up with ideas that help bridge the gap for the effects.

When you are first given a script, can you walk us through how the creation process happens?

When we get a script for a project the first thing we do is read it and do a breakdown of what the makeup effects are needed. We then do a budget to present to the production company. Once selected for the project, we have in-depth talks with the director to understand their vision or the final looks so we can create designs in that realm . Once the designs are approved we bring in, or even go to the actors to do head, body and teeth casts as needed. We then sculpt, mold and fabricate the finished make up prosthetics and then, usually with a team, I go on set and apply the make ups for the run of the filming.

How do you manage egos in your line of work as it must be so hard to put so much effort into creating something and have a Director or Producer shoot down your idea?

When it comes to designing a creature or character for a production, we always listen to the director’s and sometimes the producer’ vision so we can present them with different design options, usually ones they hadn’t thought of. Of course you sometimes deal with egos but they soon learn that we are there as part of the team, working with them and production to give them the best possible results. It makes the creative process exciting and inspiring for them as well as us.

How would you compare and contrast working on film to that of television?

The main difference between working on a film as opposed to television is time and money. Television budgets are small and the turn around time is very fast. On a feature film we usually get between 1 to 3 months for the build. With television we usually get between 2 to 10 days for the build. The trick is knowing how to cut the right corners so you don’t lose the quality of the finished product.

Who were you idols growing up and when you started out and whose work do you admire in your industry?

As a special effect make up artist, my idols were my two mentors Matt Rose and Steve Wang. Both are friends of mine who helped train me and got me my started in the industry.
As a film maker my idols were Steven Spielberg, Jim Henson and George Lucas. I really enjoyed movies that took you to another world.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from an over active imagination and my obsession for the cinema. I completely amerce myself into the story and journey of a good movie, then to be involved in the creative process of a production and see the finished product is my ultimate rush.

What were your biggest challenges on a film?

One of the biggest challenges on current films is creating make ups that are flawless when they are being shot with the new ultra High Definition digital cameras. The new cameras are like a magnifying glass that sees everything. It is more important than ever that the sculpted appliances, make up application, and coloring is absolutely perfect.

What can you tell us about your work in Iceman, G.I. Joe: Retaliation and The Smurfs and the challenges they presented?

For the film The Iceman, we created period looks for some of the actors along with the trauma and blood gags. I saw the film at the Toronto Film Festival ant it was intense. The performances were great and the over all film was really well made.

On G.I.Joe Retaliation, we did a number of different types of make up effects. I can’t go into any details until the film comes out, but I can tell you that it’s gonna be a fun ride and the action scenes are amazing. The cast and director Jon Chu did a great job and the fans are going to enjoy it.
With the Smurfs 2, we re-visited the Gargamel makeup for on Hank Azaria. We used a combination of prosthetics , hair pieces and dentures to help transform Hank into the hilarious bad guy. Hank, director Raja Gosnell, and the other cast and production team at Sony are a pleasure to work with.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Any free time I get I try to spend with my family. I am often asked to work on location for months at a time, so family time becomes very valuable.

What do you have upcoming that we can look forward to beyond what was mentioned?

My business partner Ron Halvas and I also have an in-house production division here at Illusion Industries and we recently produced and I directed a film called Monster Mutt that just premiered on Direct TV, iTunes and Vudo. The DVD can be purchased at Wal-mart. com, Target.com and Amazon.com. Monster Mutt is a PG family comedy made for kids 5-10. We are currently in pre-production on two new in house projects. One is a PG 13 supernatural creature film and the other is a PG 13 dark fantasy film.
See pictures and video of some of our work at Illusion INdustries

Director Vlad Yudin Talks Generation Iron and Bringing The Graphic Novel HeadSmash To The Big Screen

Posted on by

Vlad Yudin is a very busy man. He is currently completing “Generation Iron” which is a remake/update of the classic “Pumping Iron”, and he is also working to being the graphic novel HeadSmash to the big screen. Those are but two of his many projects, and Vlad was kind enough to take some time to speak with us about his work.

What can you tell us about the film and what attracted you to create it?

In ‘Generation Iron’ we explore the world of professional bodybuilding. Most of us don’t know much about it, even though the sport grew tremendously in the late 70’s with the rise of Arnold and of course the Pumping Iron film. It’s hard to explain what bodybuilding is. It’s a combination of sport, art and science… Bodybuilders are very complex characters and I wanted to explore them in detail and understand the movement.

What sort of research did you do for the film and how does it compare and contrast with the original?

I did a lot of research for this film. I read a lot about the sport, its history and had long conversations with the filmmakers of the original Pumping Iron, about their experience of making the film. The common perception was that today’s bodybuilders don’t have the charisma and personalities as the ones from the 70’s, like Arnold and Lou Ferrigno. But after I spent time meeting with the guys from the modern sport and had long and detailed conversations I realized that was not true. They are real characters with complex personalities and captivating stories.

Have you spoken with Arnold or been given any feedback from him about the project?

Sorry, I can’t reveal anything about Arnold yet. But very soon…

Who would be your ultimate cast to work with and in what type of project?

I think that each project is different and requires a unique cast and execution. It all depends on the role and the characters. But it only works if it looks authentic and if the actor is one hundred percent committed. I’ve seen a lot of films where great actors simply didn’t look right in the roles.

What do you like to do in your free time and which movies are on your to watch list?

I love thrillers and sci fi films. I like foreign films as well. Once in a while I like to watch Hitchcock films, like Vertigo, Rope, Rear Window. Those are some of my favorites of his work. I love the suspense, the intensity and the camera work in those films. Classics…

What would you say was your big break and what would you say to people looking to get a start in the industry?

I would say one of my first films called ‘Last Day of Summer.’ It was a film that told a story about a tormented employee of a fast food restaurant, who gets a gun and decides to go on a brutal rampage revenge against his employer and pretty much everyone else at that place. As he’s about to do it, he notices a girl inside the place and that pretty much throws a twist into his plan. That film is important to me. It deals with some pretty important subjects that unfortunately we hear about a lot these days.

As far as what I would say… Only do it if you truly love it and you have passion for it. A lot of people love the film industry for its image etc… But you have to love the actual work and the process, in my opinion.

Compare and contrast making movies in the states and abroad and do you have a preference?

I think it’s great to make films all over the word. There are so many amazing locations outside of US. And I would like to explore that more and find all that the world has to offer. Many times it’s easier logistically to film in US because of the diverse locations.

Where do you find your inspirations as going from Head Smash to a Historical and Body Building film is a diverse lineup?

It’s true, Generation Iron is completely different from Head Smash. Even the genres are completely different. But it’s exciting though. I draw interests from various sources and always focus on the story. I love to be able to work in various genres. That keeps me interested and motivated. But I give 100% effort to each project and get 100% support from my team.

When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements tend to draw you in and make you want to work on that film?

It has to grab my interest and bring out emotions. I am not too keen on the genre. It has to provoke some type of a feeling. It has to make you think and keep you engaged. The characters have to be dynamic and colorful. It’s very difficult to find a truly unique script. So much has to be done. Execution is always key.

What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

Well, I am very excited to be working on ‘Generation Iron’, which will be released in the early Fall. And our Graphic Novel titled ‘Head Smash’ will be in stores this summer. We have something special planned for Comic-Con in San Diego this July.

Final question, what is the one thing about directing that most people are shocked when you tell them?

As a director you have to be brave and truly believe in what you are doing. You have to be confident, because if you are not then everything falls apart. That doesn’t mean that you can’t take advice. But you have to believe in the material and know it, because you will be questioned and maybe even challenged at times.

Actress Sara Lindsey Talks Promised Land and Working With Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher

Posted on by

Recently I got to speak with the lovely and talented Sara Lindsey. Sara appears in two high profile movies that are coming soon, “Jack Reacher” with Tom Cruise and “Promised Land” with Matt Damon. I want to thank her for taking the time to speak with us.

Photos by Sierra Prescott?

What can you tell us about your character in Promised Land and what attracted you to the part?

Well the film is set in the town of McKinley, Pennsylvania and opens with Matt and Frances’ characters who have come to lease land for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. I play a character named Claire Allen who is a single mom with a 10 year old son. I was immediately attracted to the role after reading the script; Matt and John did such an amazing job of creating complex, interesting characters with very full lives, and the details they invented add to the film tremendously.


What sort of research did you do for the role and how did it compare and contrast with past roles?

Every character or movie requires something different in terms of preparation and research. I tried to really familiarize myself with the process of fracking so I could understand exactly what happens from a technical standpoint. I spent as much time as I could with Max, who plays my son in the film, so that we could have an authentic relationship. He’s a really amazing kid.

What were some of the more memorable moments on set and how was working with Tom on Jack Reacher?

I was on set for one of the bigger group scenes when Hal and Matt’s characters meet and have the first initial debate. The scene was something like twelve pages long with a lot of scientific jargon and facts, and the two of them played the entire scene over and over without ever stopping or dropping a line. It was a complete master class in acting. I had a similar experience working with Tom…He is such a pro and works with this incredible drive and focus that was amazing to see.

Who would be your ultimate cast and director to work with and in why type of project?

I’m a huge fan of Wes Anderson and love the worlds he creates in his films. It’s hard to find complex, interesting and smart roles for women, so I’m always on the look out for those. And I would love to work with Kate Winslet or Marion Cotillard one day – they’re awesome.

What do you like to do in your free time and which movies are on your to watch list?

I love to watch movies in my free time and have a long list that I’m working through. Speaking of Marion, I’m really looking forward to seeing Rust and Bone. When I’m not working, I get to hang out with my dog, practice singing, play music, do yoga, go for runs, and spend time with my friends and family.

What do you look for from a director to help you give your best performance?

When a director has a very clear vision, it’s always easier and more fun for me to help make that happen through my performance. It’s harder when the director doesn’t know exactly what he or she wants. Also the way in which they communicate that vision – the specific words that are used – have a big effect on actors and it’s lovely to work with directors who understand that.

When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements tend to draw you in and make you want to work on that film?

I always try to identify a particular question or set of questions that a film or show is asking, and if those questions seem interesting and puzzling to me, it’s a good sign. I also think a lot about the particular character and how she fits into the story and the world, and whether or not that world feels authentic.

What can you tell us about your upcoming projects?

I’m collaborating with friends on a few projects in the next year, which is very exciting. I’m also looking forward to Promised Land and Jack Reacher coming out in theaters!

Final question, what is the one thing about acting that most people are shocked when you tell them?

My family is always shocked when I tell them how long everything takes. But I think the most shocking thing about filmmaking is also the simplest thing: it’s all pretend!


Sara Lindsey-Sierra Prescott 1

Monster Maker Interview with Creature FX Legend, Steve Wang

Posted on by

Got this from Stan Winston Studio

features the man who Guillermo del Toro calls “an unsung, or not-often-enough-sung genius,” creature designer, monster maker & film director, Steve Wang.

Award winning special effects character creation artist and respected monster maker, Steve Wang, was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States at the age of 9. His greatest inspirations were the Tokusatsu superhero TV shows ULTRAMAN and KAMEN RIDER, as well as Hong Kong kung fu films including MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE.

As a veteran special makeup effects artist and creature designer, Steve has worked with fellow veterans before him including Stan Winston, Rick Baker and Dick Smith. He collaborated and led makeup design on the iconic and original Abe Sapien character in Guillermo Del Toro’s HELLBOY for Spectral Motion, as Art Director for Patrick Tatopolous Designs he helped give life to the werewolves in Len Wiseman’s UNDERWORLD, and working with Miles Teves, helped design the dragons in REIGN OF FIRE.

Coming from Taiwan, there wasn’t really a tradition of celebrating Halloween. Steve’s first exposure to the world of monsters was the Halloween display shelf of latex masks at King Norman’s Kingdom of Toys—a legendary, independent toy store in Northern California. Steve says, “Up until that time, all the masks I’d seen were cardboard…so seeing a full head in latex, I didn’t know what that was, but, it changed my life.” He began collecting the masks, and amassed quite a few, “but,” he continues, “that wasn’t enough for me. I had to know how they were made.”

Steve’s first industry job was for Stan Winston Studio on INVADERS FROM MARS. Hired initially by Studio supervisor Alec Gillis while Stan was in London on ALIENS, Stan came back for the production and, impressed with Steve’s style, encouraged Steve’s work as a creature painter for the drone brains. On set Steve learned the value of communication with the AD’s—a skill that served him well for many, many more characters he’d take to set in the years to come.

It took a Halloween Costume Contest to let Stan trust Steve with the paint on one of Stan’s own designs, the Gill-Man from MONSTER SQUAD. According to Steve, he proposed a frog-like paint scheme that Stan vetoed. It wasn’t until he won a costume contest judged by Stan, Rick Baker and Dick Smith with a paint job much like the one he proposed for the Creature, that Stan let him follow through with his scheme.

Steve has received great praise for his two film adaptations of the manga superhero, Guyver (THE GUYVER and GUYVER: DARK HERO). Another project which drew attention to him was the direct to video movie, DRIVE, which starred Mark Dacascos & Kadeem Hardison. He also made independent films such as KUNG FU RASCALS, based on a series of 8mm short films he did years before. Steve and his brother Michael Wang, an award-winning commercials director, have recently been hired to work on KAMEN RIDER: DRAGON KNIGHT (an adaptation of KAMEN RIDER RYUKI), a second attempt at reviving the KAMEN RIDER series in the United States, after Saban’s MASKED RIDER of 1995. They write, produce, and direct as the “The Wang Brothers.”

“Of all the guys who were the masters when I got started,” says Steve, “Stan was really my mentor…The thing that I took away from Stan the most was how to appreciate what I do. I was more of the self-hating perfectionist, but Stan pulled me aside and said, ‘it’s okay for you to tell yourself you did good, to be proud’ and it made a lot of sense to me.”

Steve goes on to give some advice to those who might have aspirations in the effects field. “Stop texting, and pay attention!” Having the skills are important, but being a good sculptor or painter takes practice and hard work, but to be good means you have to work hard. “And you have to love it. If you don’t love it, you shouldn’t do it.” He leaves us with the repeated message, “Work hard. Work hard. Work hard.”

The Walking Dead | Interview with Sarah Wayne Callies (Lori Grimes)

Posted on by

AMC sent this to us after last night’s shocking episode. SPOILERS!!!!!!

AMC’s The Walking Dead) talks about her character’s final moments and a secret tradition of the cast.

Q: That was a powerful episode! What was it like to watch your character meet her end?

A: It was interesting because we shot [Episode 4] in June. There was a whole emotional process of getting it together and shooting it, grieving and saying goodbye to everyone. That process was more or less complete a while ago. And then I sat down and watched it! I was nervous because I was expecting it to hurt, but I was so proud of Chandler [Riggs] and proud to say I was a part of helping to build that show. I think Lori’s death did justice to that; she was a remarkable and powerful woman and she was given a remarkable and powerful death. Pride and gratitude were what I came away with.

Q: When did you find out that this season would be Lori’s last?

A: I was at a refugee camp in Thailand in February. I came back and got off the plane and basically did an interview right away. I got off of that call and got one from Glen Mazzara, who said we’re going to lose Lori. It was an interesting sequence of events because my mind was not on the show at all; it was wrapped up with issues about medical care and gender safety in this refugee camp. I think it put it in its proper perspective: which is that it’s very hard and very sad and it’s a television show. I’m grateful I got to do this for two and a half seasons.

Q: After you left the set in Atlanta, was it difficult to keep Lori’s death a secret?

A: Most of what I told people was true, which was that this season has such a big cast that it takes place in two locations — and every character has time off. But I was also deliberately misleading people…There have been a lot of questions that I’ve had to answer really creatively. I’m really relieved that I can stop doing that now.

Q: Did you do anything in particular to put your character to rest?

A: We started having death dinners for everyone who got killed off the show beginning in Season 1. After some one’s last episode, all the actors would go out to dinner together and raise a glass to them. Those dinners became a big tradition. We’re a bigger cast so we have to be a bit more private. Steven came up to me during Episode 1 this season and he said, “I don’t think you should have to do your own death dinner,” and he said he’d do it for me. And I said, “Wow, that’s incredibly sweet.” And he came up to me a week later and said, “How do you do it?” And I said, “You find a restaurant that has a private room and you tell them that you’re throwing a birthday party.” And he kept coming up to me, and was like, “But which restaurant?” It ended up being, adorably, twice as much work! The whole cast came though and I said a farewell.

Walking Dead’s David Morrissey Talks About The Governor and What is to Come.

Posted on by

This was sent to us from AMC.

British actor David Morrissey, who plays The Governor on AMC’s The Walking Dead, talks about some unexpected overlaps with his character’s tastes and explains how the role finally earned him some respect at home.

Q: This is your first season on the show. Was there a learning curve to get up to speed with The Walking Dead?

A: I was very nervous about joining the show on the first day, but once I got there it’s been a joy ever since. There’s an element about needing to know about the conditions: the heat and the humidity and the snakes and bugs and ticks. You have to have a little bit of an outward bound course before you start filming. Those things are different for me, because normally it’s like, “How do I get to the canteen.” But I do think those crazy brutal conditions add to the show — because the show’s all about that. It isn’t a comfortable place to be and that’s important.

Q: How much of the Governor’s backstory have you sketched out?

A: I feel that the Governor is someone who before the event was a pretty middle-management type guy. He didn’t have the status before, but now he’s walking that tight rope of leadership about what he needs to do as a leader. It’s all relatively new to him.

Q: As a British actor, is there anything you do to prevent lapsing back into your accent on-set?

A: I stay in accent as much as I can. We have a crew of locals, and whenever I go get my coffee or groceries I can hear the accent. So the accent is around me all the time and that’s been an advantage.

Q: Do you ever take the Governor home with you?

A: The Governor would be a pretty tough character to take home — I don’t think my wife would like that. He’s a pretty intense man to play and there is a darkness to him, which can get inside your head sometimes. Thankfully, I have quite a long drive from the location back here to Atlanta, so I often put on a bit of rock music on the way home — the Rolling Stones or whatever — and that tends to get the character out of my head.

007 Skyfall Interview With Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench and director Sam Mendes

Posted on by

The good folks at Askmen.com sent this interview to us to post. Enjoy and check out their site.


Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench and director Sam Mendes recently sat down with AskMen to discuss why after 50 years, James Bond is still the most influential man in the world. According to more than 500,000+ fans who voted Bond the top position on AskMen’s recent poll, his influence has transcended through generations.

Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench and director Sam Mendes Interview

Rick Yune Talks With Us About “The Man With the Iron Fist” and More.

Posted on by

Recently I got to speak with the talented Rick Yune, about his new movie “The Man With the Iron Fist” The films is produced by Quentin Tarantino and also stars Russell Crow, RZA and Lucy Liu.

Rick is also currently filming a lead role in the action thriller “OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN” with Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart.

What can you tell us about your character and what attracted you to the part?

My character is the son of a warlord that’s away in the mountain’s romancing his future wife. While away from his village he finds that his father has been assassinated so he leaves his woman and goes home to investigate the death of his father and avenge the murder. The fact that the character is not all right and wrong is what attracted me to the part. I have always been attracted to duality in my characters and love that he has to rise above given circumstances to become a better person.

What sort of research did you do for the role and did you have any real life inspirations?

The research I did was through Rza to get to know the character and understand his vision. Rza made it easy to get into the mindset of who the character was. I thought about the many heroes in movies and in life that had to sacrifice personal interests for a greater goal. Characters like Pvt Trip (Denzel’s role) in Glory and men like my father.

How was working with Tarantino and any fun moments from the set that you can share with the readers?

Though we worked HARD we had a blast making the film. During Chinese New Years. Russell Crowe, Rza, and I were at a Penthouse Club on the 40th Floor, which was one of the tallest buildings in Shanghai. We saw the fireworks and partied till dawn. On set I remember moments with Quentin, Russell, Lucy Liu, Rza around the monitors having a great time.

What drew you to acting and what would you say was your big break?

I have always loved movies since I was a kid and found solace in just being in the theatres. It was amazing seeing so many people that were strangers come together in the dark to share the same dream. My big break was my first film Snow Falling On Cedars. I was surrounded by the most amazing producers Kennedy/Marshall and incredible actors such as Max Von Sydow. It gave me a great start and was such a learning experience.

How would you compare/contrast working in film with your work on Wall Street?

I feel I use the same skill sets in certain ways The ability to understand a scenario, take risks, and commit to what you believe in. The biggest difference and most fulfilling as an actor is the opportunity to create in artistic expression.

Do you have a preference to comedy, drama, or action and why?

To me it’s all about the character and story. If I can find something interesting about the character, then I’m inspired to embark on the character’s journey.

Can you tell us about your training regimen and diet, and how difficult is it to maintain when filming and traveling?

When I am working, it is very strict and regimented. It’s all about high intensity training, eating according to your blood type, and doing your research. But when I’m not working I’m just like the next guy. Eat whatever I want. Pasta, drinking bottles of water, and eating at least a couple scoops of ice cream a day. I guess it’s about balance but I’ve found it challenging to stay on such a regimented diet all year round. Training is not the hardest part diet is.

You have managed to avoid being locked into the stereotype as a martial arts actor/action star. How hard was it to do this as I am sure at first you must have been given mainly action based roles.

I have been very particular about the projects I take on. Coming from another career has given me the option to pick and choose which projects I participate in. I have to believe in the project wholeheartedly and I don’t do a project until I’m able to commit 1000%. Till now I’ve only done a movie every year or year and a half.

If given carte blanche, who would be your ultimate cast and director to work with and in why type of project?

So many! I would love to have worked with the late Tony Scott. I met him a few times and he was the nicest guy. I loved what he did with True Romance and Man on Fire. Ridley Scott and James Cameron would also be amazing to work with. .

What do you like to do in your free time and which movies are on your to watch list?

I’m lucky I love my work. In my free time I’m watching movies, reading scripts, and generally doing what I would while working. Also I travel travel alot. I think discovering other cultures is essential for life.

What can you share with us about future projects we can look forward to seeing you in?

I just completed Olympus has Fallen, directed by Antoine Fuqua. I must have seen Training Day at least 20 times and it was amazing to work with him. It’s a mix of In the Line of Fire and Heat.

What do you look for from a director to help you give your best performance and what type of characters do you tend to be drawn to?

I come into a project having done the research for my character and have as much detail loaded in as possible. But when I’m on set I’m like a soldier. I like to be given orders and then free reign to accomplish the mission. So being directed is important to me cause I want to work within the vision of the director.

When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements tend to draw you in and make you want to work on that film?

When I was a kid I wanted to be Han Solo not Luke Skywalker because there was a transformation in him. He goes from just thinking about himself to thinking about other people. I feel it’s important for any artform to inspire people in some way. I’ve always loved films that have inspired me to become a better person. And I look for projects that may do the same for other audiences.

What would you say challenges and motivates you in your career and life?

Being able to give back what I got and then some.

Final question, what is the one thing about acting that most people are shocked when you tell them?

It takes a lot of work and skill. It’s not just showing up on set and stepping in front of the camera. There’s a lot of preparation. Russell Crowe’s been working on his craft since he was 6. And he did a tremendous amount of research on what some would think is a comic book character. And it shows in Man with the Iron Fist.

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Executive Producer Interview

Posted on by

Recently Chris Daniels got to speak wtih Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Executive Producers, Josh Feldman and Lydia Antonini. We want to thank them for answering our questions as well as DKC Public Relations for arranging the interview.

What intrigued you the most about the prospect of yet another addition to the Halo universe?

LA: The opportunity to work with an ensemble cast in a deep & rich scifi universe was super intriguing.

JF: Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn reflects everything that fans love about Halo, but it’s also something entirely new: it’s the longest live-action incarnation of the franchise, so it was really exciting to exploit the format to really flesh out characters and plot that will live in Halo 4. To that end, this is really an additive experience.

What do you believe this series brings to the table that will invigorate a tired Halo player base?

LA: I’m not sure I’d categorize the fan base as tired, they seem super active from all that we’ve encountered! I think that we provide a wonderful emotional, human experience that deepens the connection that the gamer will have with Game 4.

When does this story take place in relation to the Halo universe as already told?

JF: Our story focuses on the origins of the human/Covenant war.

Will this series bring closure to the story? —or is more already planned? — Is there a laid out story line with planned ending? (number of seasons)

JF: 343 was eager for Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn to be a satisfying experience unto itself, you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy it. That said, hardcore fans will find lots of mythology embedded into the DNA of the series itself.

Favorite aspect of the show?

LA: I love our ending, it is such a moment of quiet for our characters after such a long journey – they’ve earned it and the weight of the world sits on their shoulders just beautifully.

JF: I am particularly proud of our cast. They showed up everyday and gave authentic, raw performances.

What are the most important aspects of the game world that were cited as needing to be included?

LA: We had to be detail perfect on the armor and guns, and of course Master Chief’s suit.

JF: There were certain details that I think run the risk of being considered spoilers, but there are some key links to the future of the Halo franchise that were built into the narrative of Forward Unto Dawn.

What draws you to the Halo franchise in general?

LA: The incredible characters… at every turn are people who make extraordinary choices in the Covenant war. Its easy to get lost for hours in Halopedia reading about all of them.

JF: What I find fascinating about Halo is how multifaceted it is. The games represent the cutting edge of combat, action and game play. Whereas the novel Fall of Reach, in my humble opinion, is a serious work of literate science fiction. Hopefully Forward Unto Dawn is the next great notch in the indelible belt that is Halo.

What do you feel was your most important role in motivating the team towards the goal?

LA: We had a very hard delivery date, I think balancing the parameters of the schedule against the creative needs of the show and the team was the number one goal that we all had to keep our eyes on.

JF: Any answer as to how we motivated the team would just sound self-serving. The truth is our team was as thrilled to work on this project as we were. The fact that this is the longest, and most ambitious live-action Halo project to-date served as a pretty singular motivation for everyone to work their hearts out.

Is entire first season already in the can?
LA: Yes.

Whats next for you specifically?

JF/LA: We have a couple of really exciting original projects we are working on with the writer E Max Frye (Band of Brothers) and we’re shooting a pilot presentation towards the end of the year.

Director Kurt Kuenne Talks About His Film SHUFFLE

Posted on by

“SHUFFLE” is film about a man who spends every day living in a different era of his life. He has no idea if he will wake up as an old man, or his younger self. THe film has become a darling of the independant circuit and has earned much praise. We talk with Director Kurt Kuenne about his film.


What inspired you to choose a career in film/TV; do you have any advice for people who are looking to get into the television and or film industry?

The first film I ever saw in a theatre as a child was the original 1977 “Star Wars”, and from that moment on, I never wanted to do anything else. I promptly began banging out screenplays on a typewriter purchased at a neighbor’s garage sale and began using the technology of the time – Super 8mm film, then VHS – to shoot movies with my friends, then pounded out scores for them on the piano. I eventually studied both film and music at USC, and have kept writing, directing and scoring films ever since. My advice for people who want to do this is, simply, to do it; do not wait around for someone to give you permission to make a movie. If you want to write, write. If you want to shoot, shoot. Decide exactly what you want to do, then find a way to make it happen. Find people you trust to give you honest feedback. I found studying at a school like USC to be a great blessing, as it surrounds you with like-minded people who can inspire you and push you to be your best. You need to be around people who are supportive, brilliant and honest, who will help you make your work the best it can be before it goes out into the world. And once you’ve got a piece of work you’re proud of, get it in front of everyone you possibly can — and eventually, somehow, doors will open. It may take a long time, it may take several films or scripts before you’re recognized in any way, and you have to be okay with that; persistence and determination are required. If you give up or get discouraged easily, movies are not for you.

What inspired you to do “Shuffle” and how did the idea originate and develop?

The concept for “Shuffle” came out of a conversation I had with a development executive who had read my script “Mason Mule”, which won the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences several years ago; he noticed from that script that I liked playing with structure, was thinking of hiring me to write something for him, and we started chatting about ideas that were structurally playful. When the notion of “a guy who lives his life out of order” came up, I immediately sparked to it and came up with the initial outline for what became “Shuffle”. The project did not come to fruition at that particular company, so I went on to write it on my own. Unfortunately, right as I finished my first draft, a similar project about a man living his life out of sequence sold to a major studio (that film has never been made), so “Shuffle” sat around unread for years, until some friends who were huge fans of it got me to dust it off and re-write it. After I made a short film called “Validation” with my friend TJ Thyne (who lived next door to me when we were at USC) that proved popular at festivals and on line (it just passed 7 million views on YouTube), he and I started talking about doing a feature together. I quickly realized that “Shuffle” was a perfect vehicle for him, re-wrote it for him and we shot it on his summer hiatus from his TV show “Bones” that year.

Tell us about the casting and what each actor/actress brought to the film to make the perfect for their parts.

Since it was a given that TJ was starring in the film, everyone else was cast around him. When Paula Rhodes came in – whom I cast as the female lead in the film – she made everyone in the room not only fall in love with her, but actually cry during her audition; I went back and saw her audition tape again recently when I was putting together the behind-the-scenes doc for the DVD, and was affected by it all over again. And it was amazing to see how many choices she made instinctually for the audition ended up being the choices she used in the actual film. This was the first time I’d ever cast multiple actors to play the same role at different ages, and I was fortunate to have a wonderful casting director in Pam Pearl who brought in so many amazing people. There are so many things to look for when matching multiple people to play the same part, but on top of that, you have to be sure you’re pairing actors at each age level that have chemistry. I was really fortunate with the discoveries of Dylan Sprayberry and Elle Labadie, who played young TJ and young Paula respectively, they were just wonderfully natural and had a terrific rapport with each other. (Dylan has since gone on to play Young Clark Kent in “Man of Steel”, the new Superman movie due out next year.) TJ suggested Tamara Taylor and Patricia Belcher, whom he’d worked with on “Bones”, for a couple of roles in the film, and they were perfect choices. A lot of the people in the movie, though, were people I’d worked with before, and it’s always fun to see where/if the people you’ve worked with in the past end up fitting into the new piece of material you’ve written. For example, Chris Stone, who plays TJ’s father in the film, was originally just producing the film with us, and I knew he was interested in the role of Orson, but it wasn’t until his audition – when he came in and blew everyone away – that we all realized that the perfect person for the role had been sitting across the table from us in production meetings every day.

When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements do you look for in the story and character and what types of projects would you like to do in the future?

I’ve written everything I’ve done, and I hope to continue to do so; I simply try to write the movie I would most want to go see if I were flipping through the newspaper deciding what to go see on a Friday night. I like stories that surprise me, that have mystery, that have characters I find fascinating and want to sit with for long periods of time, that have high highs and low lows, that make satisfying connections and that are ultimately exhilarating in some way. I went through some personal tragedy in the previous decade (if you’ve seen my documentary “Dear Zachary”, you know the situation I’m speaking about), and that experience made me decide that life is sad enough; I don’t need to invent fictional stories that make people feel worse. I lean towards the type of storytelling philosophies that Frank Capra is remembered for, where you look for the good in any circumstance.

What were some memorable moments from filming and what can we look forward to from you going forward?

One of my favorite moments in the shooting of “Shuffle” was the second to last day of shooting, which was when we shot all of the material where TJ was playing his character at 92 years of age. He spent 5 hours in the make-up chair of Barney Burman, the Oscar-winning genius who, along with his team, created all of the old-age make-up in “Shuffle”. And I’ll never forget the moment when Barney walked TJ onto the lit set; TJ entered in character, infirm and weak, and Barney helped lay him down onto the bed gently. The whole crew fell silent when they entered. Barney had done such a brilliant job aging him, and TJ was so inside the character at that moment, that there was a genuine sense of awe in the air. It was a magical night. In terms of what I’ll be doing going forward, I recently finished adapting the novel “The Looking Glass Wars” into a musical for the stage, writing the script, music and lyrics, so I’m hopeful that will be mounted sometime soon. I’m presently writing two new scripts, but it’s too early to talk about them. I can say that they both have fantastical/mysterious story hooks like “Shuffle”, but are totally different kinds of movies. I’m also assembling two short documentaries on the side; one is going to be a DVD bonus feature for my short film series (“Validation”, etc.) about its inception and reception, and the other is about the journey my documentary “Dear Zachary” made to change bail law in Canada in 2010. (So many people keep asking me what happened, so rather than keep telling the story over and over, I’m just going to put the short doc up on the web and be done with it. :)

As a follow up, what was working with your cast like?

This is a boring answer, but they were marvelous and everyone was a pro. When you cast the right people, you don’t have to do a lot of “directing”. You stay alert for when things are going off course, or find solutions for when things are not working…but I honestly don’t have many memories of moments like that. The biggest challenge was working with the animals! (We had over a half-dozen dogs, multiple rabbits and more on this film; American Humane was there almost every day.)

When you’re not filming, what do you like to do and which shows and movies are you looking forward to seeing?

When I’m not filming, I’m writing, editing, composing or thinking of something new to write, edit or score. My favorite pastime is to go see old movies on the big screen, preferably outdoors. (I made a documentary about drive-in movie theatres years ago, so I’m obsessed with outdoor movies.) Oscars Outdoors, which the Academy just started up this past summer, is the best outdoor movie venue I’ve ever seen. Living in Los Angeles is gold mine for revival cinema; for instance, I just saw a stunning restoration this week of Hitchcock’s “Dial M for Murder” in 3D, which has almost never been shown in 3D, remastered from the original “left eye” and “right eye” negatives. Where else are you going to find that? As far as new movies, my favorite director is Steven Spielberg, so I’m obviously looking forward to “Lincoln”. I can’t wait to see Robert Zemeckis’ return to live action filmmaking, “Flight”. And I’m extremely excited to see the touring company of “The Book of Mormon” here in Los Angeles this month.

If you had carte blanche, what type of film would you do, who would you cast, etc?

I’ve been dying to do my Nicholl-winning script “Mason Mule” for years, which is kind of a tonal blend of “Amélie”, “Ferris Bueller” and Monty Python; I originally thought I was going to be directing it during the summer we ended up shooting “Shuffle”, but then discovered the company that had it under option did not, in fact, have the money to do it at that time, so we put “Shuffle” together quickly instead. I’ve written numerous scripts across multiple genres that I’m itching to shoot — and have numerous other stories that I’m writing as time allows. And I want to do all of them. I can’t pick one.

We Talk Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, The Twilight Saga and X-Men With Daniel Cudmore

Posted on by

Daniel Cudmore is a very busy actor and he was kind enough to speak to us about voicing Master Chief in the new Halo series. He also talked to us about his work in “Twilight” and “The X-Men” series. This is a shorter version of the interview, the full interview will appear in our October magazine. You can subscribe for just .50 cents a month and get the latest issue at Barnes and Noble, simply click the link below.

August Magazine

Are you a fan of the Halo franchise and if so, what is your favorite game in the series?

It’s funny because when my wife and I were first dating she bought me a Halo game as a present. I had bought an Xbox and she wanted to impress me by getting the latest hot game and that’s what they recommended at the store. Halo was the only game I played front to back, all the others didn’t last long, but I’m not such a big fan that I’ve played all of them and have a favorite. I will say though, from what I’ve played of Halo 4, it’s pretty unreal.

Which games have you enjoyed recently and what are you looking forward to playing?

I got to play Halo 4 at Comic Con and was completely beat down by the guys at 343! I can’t wait to play the whole game. I did play a bit of Assassins Creed back in the day and would definitely like to play the newer versions.

What drew you to the role of Master Chief and what can you tell us about it?

It’s a very cool character; he’s iconic even though you don’t know much about him through the game. A lot more is explained in the fictional books. I was originally drawn to the role at first because Master Chief is the ultimate badass soldier, but the more I read in the books of his origins and who he really is, the more I like him as a character.


What character components are you focusing on when creating the role of Master Chief?

It’s hard because I’m in a suit, but I still have to act as this character for the other actors to get what they need out of the scenes. So for me, a lot went into the feeling of being battle hardend and trained at an elite level. I had to try and make him seem agile, precise and fast all the while wearing an amazing suit that’s not the easiest to move in.

What are some of the big difference for you in doing a web series versus major Motion picture, versus TV series?
It’s interesting because when you think of a web series, they don’t typically have the same resources as a major motion picture or TV series. However, this project had a much better budget and an amazing cast and crew, so at no point did it feel different than filming a major motion picture or a T.V series.

With Twilight coming to a conclusion, what are your thoughts on your character, the series, and the fandom associated with it?
I’m happy that I got to play Felix. Of course, like any actor, I would like to see him grow more in the series, but it doesn’t make sense in the story. He was a lot of fun to play, and it was such a great opportunity to be part of the Twilight craze. The fans are absolutely amazing and having people enjoy your projects as much as you do, is all you can really ask for.

As a follow up, any fun or bizarre fan experience you can share?

I’ve been pretty good, but I did have a grandma try and grope my stomach once..so that was weird

Looking back, what were some of your most memorable experiences from X-Men and what did you think of “X-Men: First Class”?

I think being in such a massive movie with amazing actors early in my career, just really blew me away. I do remember flying over to Victoria, BC for some filming and being in the rear of the plane with Sir Ian Mckellan, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, and just thinking “how did I get here?”

I thought “First Class” was great. As a moviegoer, it was a blast to watch

Our Audio Interview With Director Christopher Neil Talks Goats, David Duchovny and More

Posted on by

Thanks to Ricardo Valencia and Albert Valenzuela for covering the event for us.

You may not know the name at first glance but Christopher Neil has worked on films ranging from “Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith”, to “Priest”, and “The Virgin Suicides”. He was kind enough to speak to us about directing his new movie “Goats” with David Duchovny.

WS_10126- Chistopher Neil audio.WMA

David Duchovny Talks Goats, Californication,and The X-Files 3

Posted on by

Thanks to Ricardo Valencia and Albert Valenzuela for their great coverage for us.

Check out our latest magazine, coming soon to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Droid Phones and tablets.

Aug 2012 Magazine Featuring Iron Man 3

Recently we got to speak with David Duchovny and Graham Phillips about their new movie “Goats” as part of an round table session with the press. Duchovny also discussed the upcoming season of Califonication and future X-Files films.
This is such a weird character. What was it about him that appealed to you? Do you ever do a character that doesn’t gets stoned?

DD- Um…yeah, I don’t think I got stoned before…let me think about… X-Files I don’t think he ever took a drink.
But now…?

DD- well
That wasn’t serious, you don’t have to think about it
(laughs)
DD- Well, I’m sorry but those are the kinds of nincompoop questions I get (smiles) so I have to take them seriously when I get them I’m like ‘Oh my god’ (smiles). The question being the character was really interesting in that it was very different but it had nothing to do with the drug intake. It was just kind of the pace of the guy, the kind of poet philosopher stoner, but you know working him kind of a stereotypical character. We’ve seen that guy, but he was a little different and I wanted to make him not Cheech and Chong , but actually the philosophical center (one of them), of the movie. That was the challenge of the movie for me.

GP – I like my character, because despite the circumstances he never seemed to mope. He took it all in stride and despite being the most responsible person in the entire film. Despite holding his entire family together he never complains. It’s not until the very end that I think he realizes that through all of his life that he doesn’t have to be the only adult in his life. I really admire that about him.

David, can you talk about your relationship with goats?

DD- My relationship with the actual animal… I am an animal lover, I would say although I’m also from NYC, so I’m not Nature Boy, but…

Did they bite you?

DD- No, they did not bite they were not friendly, but their not unfriendly. They were very neutral with humans they are perfectly willing to hang out with you but it’s not like a dog- You don’t get the feeling that they are enjoying it they are just, they don’t have anything better to do. The baby goat was pretty sweet. The baby goat at the end of the movie… that was a sweet little creature.

Did you think about or want to keep them?

DD- Yeah, I always… whenever I shoot with an animal, I want to keep it. Whenever I work on location, I want to move there. Then you stop and you forget and go …‘Oh, um…alright, maybe I don’t want to move there’.

When Image releases this on Blu-Ray/DVD in September, somebody is walking down the isle in Best Buy. Goats catches their eye, but they’ve never heard anything about it. One paragraph…

DD- That seems a very feasible (laughs)…

You know, they’ve never read any reviews what you would say to convince them to give this film a chance?

DD- Well…that’s the hard part trying to discuss or sell a movie like this in that… you can’t really distill it into…You can’t say ‘Ok, Batman you know- ok I get it. I understand what that movie is about’. Personally when I go into a movie theatre I just want to care about something. That’s what fun about seeing a movie for me, not so much explosions, but for caring about characters and going on a journey as cliché as that sounds. This is a movie without an explosion and with character that I think that you haven’t seen before, really.

They are in a vain that you have seen before like I said the stoner guy is of a ‘type’ that I am playing, but it doesn’t really give you many easy answers. It’s got a bunch of laughs I’m sitting next to Pam Adlon (of Californication), my friend and co-star and she was crying so, apparently it can make you cry as well. You see, I have already gone on for minutes and you’ve walked past it in Best Buy, you’ve now picked up Batman and you’re at the cash register paying for it.

GP- Madagascar 3…

DD- (laughs) Yeah, exactly.

How long was the shoot?

DD- I don’t know…8 weeks… it 10 weeks?

GP- I think it was 8 weeks. It was a little segmented. There was maybe a week break between filming in Albuquerque and filming in Tucson and our week shoot on the east coast for all of the exteriors which I thought were really beautiful.

DD- Yeah, they looked like money.

GP- Yeah

Was it a fast paced environment? Was it chill or relaxed?

DD-It wasn’t that fast. For a movie of that budget, it’s actually quite leisurely. I would think a movie like that might have to be shot in 5 weeks rather than 8 or 9. So, I think that there was a lot of time. Maybe they didn’t have a lot of time at the prep school.

GP- The prep school was very, very rushed especially because rain was coming and all sorts of good stuff. All of the Tucson portions of the film I never felt pressed for time.

DD- Neither did I

Was it a comfortable environment? Do you guys prefer that kind of quick pace?

DD- I like a quick pace. I find it makes you worry the stuff a little less, get a little less self conscious. If you have more time, I tend to just over-think things and I think I’m better when I’m not thinking. (laughs)

Is that the appeal of television?

DD- No, there’s no appeal to television or film. I mean the appeal is the character or the story or whatever it is that you are doing. I don’t distinguish between the acting in either medium and to me, they are exactly the same. It just comes down to the work as an actor. Personally you know, just temperamentally I’m more suited to work quickly…I like that. I’m not temperamentally suited to spend three day shooting one scene. I mean I’m not saying that is a bad thing, but I would tend to go crazy.

What about you, Graham? TV vs. film?

GP- I don’t have too much experience with film except for this experience. I would say I agree with David in the sense that the most important thing is the script and the story and whether or not you can connect with the characters and whether the characters come across as real… whether the story sheds light to anything that matters with you. I find that when you are working on a tv show and you’re working with the same crew and often times the same cast over and over and over often times in the same location, the pace does quicken. I find that you have to make a lot more decisions before you get to set because there is not a lot of time to work through-

DD- The discovery with the director

GP- Yeah, exactly. Where as on a film, you have a lot more times have more time to work through it with the other actors and directors.

David, I have a question about the preparation for this film. Like Californication you have nudity moment in this film and also your character has knowledge to grow weed. I think it is safe to say that your character in Californication there is an overlap with the preparation.

DD- You know, for me, my approach to any kind of nudity is that ‘Is it right? You know, ‘Does it make sense in this story’? In this film it’s the opening of the film you know and it’s a funny line ‘Naked men shouldn’t squat’ and it kind of encapsulates very quickly our relationship- his intelligence, his humor, my lack of taking offense. It’s just kind of a perfect start to the film. So, that all I look at. Whether or not my ass is showing I don’t care, just, does it make sense and it made sense.

DD- Less and less I believe as I get older. Then I will be talking to the horror people.
(laughs)
Did you train something knowing you were going to show…

DD- I tell you what was important to me was the tan of this guy. Because he works, he is a gardener, he is always working outside. So, I knew that I would be naked at one point, well I just thought ‘This guy would be really tan, but he would not be tan all over like they always are in the movies’. You know somehow, people are always naked sunbathing in the movies. They have a complete, all body tan I don’t know how that is realistic, but they do…
GP- You wore socks…

DD- Yeah, so when I went to the tanning bed, I made sure to wear shorts and socks so that: my feet would be totally white, my legs would be really tan, my ass would be totally white and everything else would be tan. So for me it was a great kind of character choice that I have never done before.

Graham your character kind of thought of you (David) as a father figure, and then he deserts you in the desert. Can you talk a little more about that? I mean you worried about him for months and he didn’t even try to contact you?

DD- Yeah…

GP- As Ty Burrel, who plays Frank Whitman says ‘Disappearing for a few months is a very Goatman thing to do.’ It is kind of dissatisfying just to write it off as ‘that’s just who he it’, but that is who he is. He’s not a responsible person and he does care, deeply, about Ellis, but he’s not someone who is good at putting himself in someone else’s shoes it seems. So, I don’t think he really gets that Ellis is…I mean he gets that Ellis is worried about him, but he doesn’t get it like a normal person would. I think when he sends Ellis with the dollhead filled with pot that says ‘sorry’ on it, that’s a much bigger gesture.

DD- Nothing says ‘Sorry’ like a dollhead filled with pot. That’s what my mom always used to say. (laughs) That’s how I was raised.

Ellis had no real parental figure. Is that why he became such a serious young man? Do you think he had no choice or do you think he just born that way?

GP- I think that he is a product of his own environment as I think we all are. He had to be responsible, and he had to be the parent in his life. He is the most responsible person in his life; he is more of a parent than his father and Goatman are. He has to take care of the bills on a more basic level and I think that it did sort of harden him a little. I think that’s why he is a little bit more serious. Then again, I think that Goatman does a pretty good job of keeping him relaxed and not…

DD- Parenting is a lot of different things. The kind of parenting that Goatman does is not the nuts and bolts of it you know. He is not writing the checks, he’s not making the money, he’s not driving him to school, but he is imparting some kind of philosophy to the kid trying to give him the best of what he think he (Goatman) has…what Goatman has learned or what Goatman knows. It’s unconventional for sure, it’s not the prevalent cultural norm, but he is a father to the guy and I think he takes that seriously.

The one thing about Goatman that I thought was interesting is – Here was the mother’s boyfriend, and Goatman caught him with a guy, and yet he was worried to go and clean up and go to Mexico and get drugs to sell because he thought he wouldn’t be able to stay there. Why doesn’t he just bust the guy?

DD- We were just talking about that with Chris (the director). He reference a line that got cut out that was in the film where in the scene where I get caught with the girl he(Ellis) is disappointed in me. He (Ellis) says ‘Frank is going to have a baby, should I tell Wendy?’ and Goatman says ‘ Never volunteer…

GP- He says ‘Never volunteer information, never withhold…’

DD- ‘Never withhold, never volunteer’. I wish that this was still in the movie because it shows that Goatman is kind of a philosopher in that way. So I think that if that is you philosophy, never volunteer, never withhold, I think that if she would have asked him ‘Did you see something?’ he would tell her the truth. I like that about him.

GP- He hates conflict.

DD- Well, it’s not only that, but it kind of a moral decision. Even though he hates this guys and he thinks he’s bad for Wendy, he’s not going to go tattle. It’s not a part of who he is or his code and I kind of like that code.

David, you have a great sense of humor. Any jokes on set?

DD- Graham and I would have a laugh a bit we had a good time…
GP- Occasionally
DD- (laughs) I can’t remember specifically a moment…
GP- Something about glochids…
DD- Oh, glochids! I forgot about the glochids. Are those the things that get in your fingers?
GP- Glochids are those little spiny…
DD- From the cactus…
GP- Marching around the Tucsonan desert…
DD- I was taken by the word.
GP- Got quite familiar with glochids. I think we would just call it out when glochids were up ahead.
DD- We got obsessed with the word
DD- (laughs) But, nothing specific. We always had a pretty good time.
GP- I going to pay a Russian to say glochid. I just want to know how they would say it?
DD- You probably don’t have to pay, you just have to ask.
GP- I don’t know any Russians.

How about what you have laughed at recently?

DD- What have I laughed about recently about. I don’t know, yesterday I watched the movie. I laughed, I thought Justin was very funny, Justin Kirk. I have seen the movie twice and last night I really…the movie played different. It’s almost like seeing a play. You see it at different times. It’s the same performance, but for some reason it just strikes you differently. Last night I thought Justin was really funny, he had a good night, Justin had a good night last night, he was on fire. I was enjoying him.

GP- I thought it was interesting seeing it for the second time because I could have sworn that there was bunch of little things that changed since Sundance. Really it was just seeing it for the second time I saw certain nuances that I didn’t see before. I think that the crowd was different. Sundance is such a competitive environment I feel that now the film is out, it is a very different crowd. It’s cool because what I thought were changes were really little gems in the film I didn’t notice the first time around.

One Californication question?

DD- Sure

So you are lying on the couch you are dying maybe..?

DD- Maybe…
From wine and pills of some kind, obviously there is going to be another season and they are going to rescue you so can you talk of what the first five minutes of the film are might look like?

DD- They are in Hank’s head as he’s unconscious so they have to do with his life previous to that and what’s important to him. Actually begins with him meeting Karen, you see them meet. I actually got to direct it. We got to do it in New York, got to shoot it in New York was faced with the fact that I was trying to shoot a scene that happened 18 years previous…

Right, so how do you make yourself look younger?

DD- We didn’t even try. We just decided ‘ Hey, it’s a dream’. I mean, what do you do? I’m sure on a Fincher movie you can figure out a way to spend the money to make it look decent, but we didn’t have the means at our disposal. We just made the decision ‘Ok, lets not try anything. Let’s make it exactly the same’.

Duchovny also shared his frustrations that there are not more X-Files films already in the works. He stated how Chris Carter has ideas for several films and that both he and Gillian Anderson would love to do “many more X-Files films.” He stated that the last film was given a small budget and made to go up against “The Dark Knight” when it would have been better suited had it been given a bigger budget or non-summer release.

Duchovny went on to say how that since FOX owns The X-Files, it would be smarter, cheaper, and easier to use their own proven franchise instead of investing so much trying to find others all the time.

Despite his frustrations, he holds hope that Carter and FOX will soon have another film in the series lined up.