A self-proclaimed polite “pirate”, Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) with metro-sexual tendencies has his eye on the prize of winning a local annual contest to be named “Pirate of the Year”. Only things getting in his way are his lack of assertiveness resulting in not producing the required booty and the competition that consists of a cut-throat woman pirate, Cutlass Liz (Selma Hayek), and a self-absorbed cocky pirate, Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven).

Pirate Captain with his "parrot" Polly, Dodo bird.

Ardman Animations was created in 1972 and is co-founded by Peter Lord and David Sproxton. A 40-year partnership has brought audiences top-notch stop-motion story-telling with their latest, “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” as no exception. A quirky group of characters fills-out the imaginative story based om the book “The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists: A Novel” by Gideon Defoe whom also wrote the screenplay for this movie.

In a recent press conference and clips screening, Sony’s President of Digital Productions, Robert Osher gave an introductory speech. He stated, “we view animation as a technique rather than genre”. Osher also said that Ardman is most famous for stop-motion with their latest being “Arthur Christmas”. “You can’t take your eyes off it and it pulls you in” he said referring to Ardman’s stop-motion craft.

Directed by Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt, Lord was also on-hand for an introduction of movie clips and questions. Lord said that Ardman came to Sony five years ago with one half page of sketches with the pitch that it’s not your standard Pirates film. The clips from “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” that followed were telling of an extremely detailed and imaginative one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

One piece of trivia from the set is that the pirate ship that was built for the film was completely hand-crafted and was made up of 44,569 parts. It took 5,000 hours of development and ended up weighing 770 pounds at 14 feet long and 20 feet high and made out of wood. The designer of the ship also worked on the movies, Time Bandits, Brazil, and Hook.

Two particular scenes that were unforgettable had the movie’s hero, Pirate Captain, in uncompromising positions. The first had him placed in a daunting and intimidating bar situation that grouped him with his pirate competitors where they showed-off their enormous troves of booty as they filled-out their entries for “Pirate of the Year” contest. The second was a hilarious scene that included Charles Darwin where Pirate Captain had to present his parrot, which in reality is a Dodo bird, to a Scientist Symposium. One invention that proceeded his was the hot-air balloon. The inventor explained the purpose as “to see down women’s shirts”.

"Mr. Bobo" inspired by silent film chimp.

A very impressive character featured in this movie is Mr Bobo, Pirate Captain’s monkey who does not speak, but communicates through incredible gestures and facial expressions. We asked Key Animator, Ian Whitlock who acts-out each characters scenes while animating them, if he got any inspiration for this character by watching silent films. Whitlock said, “we did initially starting-out to get an idea. There’s a really strange chimpanzee. I have no idea who he is”, Whitlock may have been referring to either Snooky the Chimp, or Jiggs who appeared in “Tarzan” films as well as “Laurel and Hardy”.

“The Pirates! Band of Misfits” is said to be Ardman’s most ambitious film to-date, employing 320 animators compared to their past project Wallace & Gromit that required 240 animators. When a reporter asked, why stop-motion?, his response was because “it’s what we do best…we’ve evolved this amazing team that does it so well”. The other reason he stated is because “the audience kind of knows that it’s real. They feel the reality and they can feel how much care and love has gone into everything. Most movies now are in CG which is fine and wonderful but there’s no wonder in it because everyone from a four year old to an eight year old, can see something amazing and say great design, great special effects. But, you don’t believe it. In our world there’s a sense of wonder. People like puppets and Muppets. They believe it’s alive. It’s a mystery, it’s magic.”.

Whitlock agreed and said that adults get to be a kid again and get to play with it. As for puppets, this movie used 6,818 puppet mouths created for all the characters. Unlike past projects, this Ardman stop-motion project combined visual effects and computer animation because, Lord stated, “one thing you can’t do in stop-frame animation, it’s the sea”.

“The Pirates! Band of Misfits” opens in 3D in theaters April 27, 2012. www.ThePirates-Movie.com

Set Report EXCLUSIVE!
During a recent taping of reality court show “Judge Judy” a case was driven with reality drama, and Judge Judith Sheindlin wasn’t having it.

A Plantiff and Defendant brought their case in front of Judge Sheindlin this week where the show films in Hollywood at Sunset Bronson Studios. Their case was so quick, we can’t even report what it was about. Because as soon as the former couple starting to argue about their past relationship and not aimlessly skirting the details of the case, Judge Sheindlin dismissed them stating to the effect of ‘we don’t encourage reality television personal drama on this show, and if you want to make spectacles of yourselves, “get on another program!” as she stepped off of her bench, not even hearing their case.

“Another program”…she may have been talking about a number of other feuding court shows that deal with more personal drama than law such as: “Judge Joe Brown”, “Divorce Court”, “Judge Alex”, and sometimes “The Peoples Court” have all been found guilty of this reality show practice all in the vain of “good television”.

The couple left discouraged and still heated. Judge Sheindlin made it clear that her show does not indulge in promoting reality show drama for the sacrifice of getting to the core of the court cases and doesn’t use the forum of the legal system to do it, proving that she is still the most legit judge on reality court television. Just the facts please!

We expected that the litigants would return later that day, but the did not. Perhaps on a future show.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER “WHEEL OF FORTUNE” SALUTES MILITARY SPOUSES, REUNITES soldier and wife
Sony Pictures/CBS PRESS RELEASE:

Message from Michelle Obama on "Wheel of Fortune".

The themed episodes air February 6-10, 2012, and features a welcome message from First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as information about “Joining Forces,” her initiative for the benefit of military families.

“Military Spouses Week is not just about the men and women serving,” said Pat Sajak, Wheel of Fortune Host. “It’s about the wives, husbands and kids behind the scenes, who are making sacrifices as well. It’s a way to honor them and to remind all of America that there are a lot of people behind this effort. ”

Military spouses move from place to place when their loved ones are reassigned and make sacrifices on the home front when our troops are deployed. “Military Spouses Week” is full of touching and timely stories, including an emotional reunion for a contestant who thinks her husband is on the front lines in Afghanistan, but finds out he is, in fact, waiting backstage to surprise her.

“Being Human” actor Sam Huntington (Josh) who plays a werewolf out of the trio that lives together and consists of a ghost and vampire joined the reality show cast of “Face Off” as a guest judge in upcoming episode airing on the Syfy channel Wednesday, February 8th.

Huntington judged the VFX contestants on their skills based on his knowledge of playing a caveman in his early career on ABC sitcom “Cavemen” and his current “Being Human” role as a werewolf, during the Foundation challenge which is the first challenge of every “Face Off” episode resulting in the winner receiving immunity from getting cut on the final challenge.

During a phone conference call interview with Huntington on his guest appearance, he commented on his first experience on the set of a reality series. He said “I enjoy the world of reality television from being on Face Off. It’s cool to see these people that are just doing their work that they are passionate about”. Huntington said he has been a fan of “Face Off” since it’s first season and suggested the cross-promotion of his show “Being Human” with “Face Off” to the president of production Mark Stern who loved the idea.

HOLLYWOOD JUNKET asked Huntington if the tables were flipped and he was being judged on his acting, what would he be cited for? Huntington jokingly responded that he couldn’t tell us because then we would know what to watch for and he’d have to kill us. He then went on to say “when you don’t know what you’re doing you have these fall-back things that you do. Every actor has them and the really, really good actors can mask them very well.. Luckily I’ve got cast mates who call me on it and help me when I need motivation or I need direction.”

This season of “Being Human” has more digital CG effects than the show’s previous season which results in less time in the makeup chair for Huntington to transform into a werewolf. During the show’s filming schedule, Huntington stated that the production shoots two episodes at the same time. They skip around in the schedule and are able to shoot multiple scenes of him in makeup within the same time frame if similar locations permit. “Obviously it depends on what I’m prepared for and what. If (the scene) it’s something way, way, way in advance and I don’t know really what I’m doing then that’s difficult.”

The one thing Huntington said he was inspired by the most by the makeup artist contestants in “Face Off” was what they were able to achieve in an hour and a half and that their perseverance is inspiring.

The tips that he was able to share with them as a judge and actor were valuable. Huntington stated that while shooting the series “Cavemen” he was in full-on prosthetics every day for months. He advised the “Face Off” contestants whose task during their Foundation Challenge was to create wounds that could have been caused by a werewolf attack, on what esthetics move well on the face. “And so looking in the mirror everyday and figuring out what works on your face and what will hold up and what moves well with your face and what’s natural, what materials they use and everything. I think I was able to at least give a little bit of perspective from an actor’s standpoint for each makeup”, said Huntington.

Viewers can watch Sam Huntington’s guest appearance on “Face Off” Wednesday, February 8th at 10/9 c on Syfy. “Being Human” airs also on the Syfy channel every Monday at 9/8 c.

Jose Canseco with girlfriend talked "Moment of Truth".

HOLLYWOOD JUNKET got the chance to ask Canseco about “The Moment of Truth” episode that he was on during a “Toys For Tots” Hollywood Christmas drive. Thanks to World Monitor TV, we were able to capture the full video interview and now bring it to you below.

Canseco stated that he didn’t know why his episode never aired. “It would be one of the most interesting episodes because they asked me a lot of questions on Major League baseball and if I did certain things with certain players. Also a lot of questions that pertained to the Congressional Hearings, how I testified, how the players testified and what I said in my first book Juiced. So, I’m very surprised that the episode hasn’t aired yet,” said Canseco.

His hunch is that maybe because “there were some intricate, delicate questions in there that came up that I was completely honest and I don’t know if Major League baseball wants that to come out,” stated Canseco

Since being on NBC’s reality competition show, “The Celebrity Apprentice” he spent four months managing and playing for baseball team “The Scorpions”, and is currently working on some more reality shows, acting and speaking engagements.

Oprah's OWN enters game show territory!

According to the post, the new game show is titled “Are You Normal, America?” and the requirements that the contestants they’d like to see should be “fun, relatable, outgoing and a great talker”. Also, do you have an opinion about everything and “never shuts-up?” Then, they’d like to meet you too.

The description is said to be a “trivia” show where “strangers” will be paired up to “solve riddles” and make a good team. At this point, I’m thinking, sounds like “The Money List”, except, the main difference is – “intimate details” on contestants’ personal lives will be revealed! So, ‘Money List meets ‘Moment of Truth type of game show perhaps.

No monetary amount has been announced yet. The casting department simply stated, “We want fun, energetic, quirky and big personalities who want the chance to win big money!” To sign-up, email casting your name, age, the city you are originally from, the city you currently live in, contact phone number, why you’d be perfect to play the game, with a photo of yourself attached to: casting@venertainment.com. If that email isn’t working, try:
ayncasting@gmail.com. They are also casting for a panel for either the same game show or a different one.

HOLLYWOOD JUNKET is expecting more details on OWN game shows soon and will keep readers updated.

Casting season 6 now!

HOLLYWOOD JUNKET received a casting notice today from the team of casting who puts it all together, “The Casting Firm”. They stated the following: “If you know any single, successful men and women who are legitimate millionaires and would make a great addition to the show, email us to submit them!”.

People who may know someone to suggest, or want to submit yourself may fill-out an online form here: http://thecastingfirm.com/MillionaireMatchmaker/

In a casting call posted today on website “craigslist”, a third season of reality makeover show, “RuPaul’s Drag U” in under way where fashion-challenged women get made-over by queens from RuPaul’s other popular reality competition show titled “Drag Race”.

The casting team from “World of Wonder” productions is looking for women 18-49 years of age who are: stuck in a fashion rut from another decade (70′s, 80′s, or 90′s), lost game in relationships, always in a uniform, not one to wear color, recently lost weight, need help embracing curves, look 10 years older than true age, don’t dress age appropriate.

They listed some possible prospects as the following: sister, housekeepers, nannies, pageant moms, ex-beauty queens, female boxers, pastry chefs, etc..

The casting call states, “If you have a compelling story, and need a makeover shoot an email. Really tell us why you DESPERATELY need a makeover. Include a brief bio of who you are with your name, age, and occupation. Tell us your story and why you need a makeover. Attach recent photos. Don’t forget a phone number. Must live in LA Area.”

Email: job-fxm6b-2817602624@craigslist.org

USA NETWORK- PRESS RELEASE:
NEW YORK –USA Network announced today the pickup of the original reality series THE MOMENT (working title). The 9-episode series, set to premiere third quarter, will be executive produced by Charlie Ebersol and Justin Hochberg and hosted by NFL Star and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner. The announcement was made today by USA Co-Presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel.

MVP Kurt Warner

“Everyone has a ‘what-if’ moment in their life — a decision or path they could have taken – but rarely do they get a second chance to explore what could have been,” said Justin Hochberg and Charlie Ebersol, Co-Founders, The Hochberg Ebersol Company. “We created a format that taps into this emotion, and proved so powerful that it attracted Kurt Warner – the guy who got his own second chance – to his first reality hosting gig. USA is the ideal network for this innovative brand of reality entertainment.”

Each week, someone will be secretly nominated by a loved one and surprised by our host with an unbelievable offer: the opportunity to pick up where they left off and pursue the career they’ve always wanted. From race car driving to orchestra conducting to deep sea diving, they will leave behind the comforts of home and leap into a whirlwind of training under the expert guidance of a world-class mentor who will help them prepare for the audition of a lifetime. But if they succeed, will they accept the job and change their and their family’s life forever – or will they realize that they’ve been living their dream life all along, and go back home to their loved ones?

In a time where the recession has hit many unexpected adults forcing many to move back home with their parents, comes a movie with what looks like an inside-peek to the story behind one young man whose circumstances may or may not be related to the economy but who questions fate and life’s coincidences in Paramount Pictures film titled “Jeff, Who Lives at Home”. Staring Susan Sarandon who plays Jeff’s mother, Jason Segel as Jeff, Ed Helms (“The Office”) as Pat, Jeff’s brother. The film also stars Rae Dawn Chong as Carol, and Judy Greer as Pat’s wife. Watch a sneak-peek trailer below: