The Entertainment Corner

California Pictures Attends 2012 Cannes International Film Festival With the Sci-Fi Action Thriller "Scavengers"

2012-05-18T18:16:00.000-06:00

California Pictures will unveil the trailer to their upcoming sci-fi action thriller SCAVENGERS at the 2012 Cannes International Film Festival. SCAVENGERS, which is currently in final post-production, stars Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints, Powder), Jeremy London (The CW's "7th Heaven" and "Party of Five"), and Roark Critchlow (ABC's "V"). Steven Istock, President of California Pictures, made today's announcement at Cannes.

"We're very excited to be unveiling SCAVENGERS here," commented Istock. "We've already got strong interest from North American distributors and plan to ink foreign territories while here as well. What better place to do this in the world than at the Cannes Film Festival."

Directed by Travis Zariwny, SCAVENGERS follows two rival space crews that battle to obtain superior technology known as the Chaos Generator that threatens the balance of the known universe. Hotly pursued by their rival, one crew must fight through the deepest reaches of space to protect the life-altering device.

Previously, California Pictures produced and distributed A Warrior's Heart, which made its debut at the 2011 Cannes International Film Festival, and stars Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene (of Twilight fame), as well as Chord Overstreet (Fox's "Glee"), Gabrielle Anwar (Burn Notice), and Adam Beach (Flags of our Fathers). A Warrior's Heart was released theatrically by Xenon Pictures and on premium VOD by Warner Brothers. The film was also distributed on DVD across North America, as well as sold internationally. The film was ranked the #1 independently produced film on iTunes earlier this year.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA PICTURES California Pictures was founded in 1944 by Howard Hughes and producer/director/writer Preston Sturges. The two joined forces and created an independent production company, which allowed California Pictures to welcome the rise of independent producers during the late 1940s.

California Pictures was reincorporated in 2008 by Steven Istock. Earlier this year, California Pictures signed on to produce and package After the Storm, a drama from writer-director Cole Wiley that has Wendell Pierce (HBO's "The Wire") attached to star. The company's upcoming production slate includes the action film The Golden State, the comedy 1978, and the upcoming Scavengers prequel. Mr. Istock and his team are currently writing two family films and a British epic mini-series that will be produced by California Pictures as well.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sue Procko / Julie Siegel for California Pictures SPPR, Inc. 310.836.6200 323.719.8141 at Cannes sue@spprinc.com julie@spprinc.com

Folklore Film By Writer-Director Justin Calen Chenn - Review

2012-05-03T22:55:00.002-06:00

Folklore, written and directed by Justin Calen Chenn, is a comedy Sci-Fi microfilm.

The film’s premise is unconventional and yet simple enough to make it work very well for a micro budget film. The two main characters Collins, and Merle work for Quartz Agency, a Government agency that monitors ‘Folklore’ characters. It is Collins, and Merles job to interview an android, a water nymph, a time traveler, a couple aliens, and a vampire, amongst other mythic beings.

Folklore stars Laura Waddell (Torchwood: Miracle Day), Paulie Rojas (The Witches of Oz), Maria Olsen (Percy Jackson, Paranormal Activity 3), Napoleon Ryan (Disney's The Suite Life on Deck), Brad Roller, Paris Benjamin, Rachel Rath, Sherill Turner, Ruth Connell, Larry Purtell, Sarah Lynn Dawson, Tracy Alexandra Bjelland, Roy Ying, Garrett Liggett and Elizabeth Knowelden. It is fairly uncommon to have a large cast working on a film with such a limited budget.

With no special effects, no elaborate locations, costumes, or make-up, Chenn’s script is brought to life by the devotion of the actors to believable portraying their zany characters. A testament to all the actors work is their win for Best Acting Ensemble at the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival.

The film’s entire budget of thirteen thousand dollars was raised on Kickstarter. I am impressed with what Chenn accomplished with such limited funds, also by the fact that he took less than a year to write, cast and film Folklore. Folklore would be well received not only at film festivals, but also very likely at comic book conventions and other events that celebrate Folklore like characters.

Visit Folklore’s website to learn more about the film: www.folklore-film.com

My Big Break - Interview

2012-05-03T05:59:00.000-06:00

My Big Break- Filmed over ten years, this controversial documentary follows five roommates trying to make it in Hollywood who face the unexpected consequences of fame.

When Tony Zierra, an aspiring filmmaker with no money, stars or crew, resorts to filming the lives of his four struggling actor roommates, he never imagines the incredible twists of fate he would end up capturing on camera. Things take an amazing turn when three of the actors, Brad Rowe (Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, Shelter), Chad Lindberg (October Sky, The Fast And The Furious) and Wes Bentley (American Beauty, The Hunger Games) defy astronomical odds and quickly hit it big. Meanwhile, the fourth actor, Greg Fawcett, is nearly driven insane watching the others get rich, famous and showered with attention.

Director Tony Zierra, Actor Chad Lindberg, and Producer Elizabeth Yoffe recently took time to chat with us about the documentary My Big Break:

My Big Break Weblinks:
www.mybigbreakmovie.com
Twitter: @MyBigBreak
Facebook: MyBigBreakFanPage

Actor Chad Lindberg on Twitter: @ChadLindberg

MEMAH INTERNATIONAL FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

2012-04-22T21:10:00.001-06:00

MEMAH INTERNATIONAL FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Celebrating independent film and music

Working on behalf of Music Saves Lives

The next Memah industry pre-party is slated for Saturday, May 19th at Barnsdall Arts Park - Gallery Theatre in Hollywood. The April pre-party was a great success. Memah International Film and Music Festival will take place in Agoura CA September 29-30, 2012. Memah Fest is working in conjunction with Music Saves Lives, which is to begin its Warped Tour in June. Their focus is on blood drives and bringing awareness to the community about diseases such as Leukemia. One of their spokespeople, a young girl named Jessica, is in remission due to the efforts of Music Saves Lives. Memah Fest, wanting to focus on a charitable aspect, felt this organization was the perfect choice for their first year, especially since one of the organizers just lost a cousin to Leukemia. Industry guests from all walks are expected to be in attendance: producers, directors, actors, agents, casting directors, musicians and more.

Memah Fest came about when Craig Wilson, CEO at Mental Eclectic, Andrei Sporea, producer at Mafiotto Films and Cheryl Whitman Dubuque, head of Angel Hawk Productions (along with Australian actor/singer Cameron Daddo, an Angel Hawk affiliate), all got together to form the M.E.M.A.H. International Film and Music Festival believing it’s the first of its kind in the Los Angeles area where one festival focuses equally on both independent film and music. Collectively they bring their knowledge and creativity to help others get exposure, while giving the audience an enjoyable experience in a relaxing atmosphere. The festival will be a mix of genres even though it is taking place in the old west town at Paramount Ranch/Santa Monica Mountain Range in Agoura CA. Tickets will go on sale to the general public in the near future. Preceding the festival will be a series of pre-parties as well as an ‘invite only’ Red Carpet affair held at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on September 28th.

May 19th will be a screening of Doonby, written and directed by Peter Mackenzie, starring John Schneider, Jenn Gotzon, Ernie Hudson, Joe Estevez and Robert Davi. Here’s what Peter Roff of the News and World Report had to say: “Doonby is a movie that will make you think and make you feel. Entertaining from start to finish it packs a special punch that is sure to make it one of this years most talked about films.” Doonby’s “Walk On” was written and sung by B.J. Thomas. Mark Joseph, producer, along with cast members will be available for a panel. Panels will take place before and after the film.

The festival is now accepting both music and film submissions from independents in various genres. Memah supports individual expression.

Complete information is on the website at: www.memahfest.com

Live music on May 19th will be provided by Australian singer/actor Cameron Daddo & Buds and California band Madd Dogs. Media and industry can RSVP to memahfest@yahoo.com

Master Your Audition By Benson Simmonds - Review

2012-04-22T20:38:00.001-06:00

Master Your Audition, by Benson Simmonds, is a 90-minute audio video program designed to help actors (and singers) audition at their best.

Benson Simmonds has been coaching actors for over fifteen years throughout the United States and Canada. He was hired as an "on set" acting coach for Sony, and has coached many actors from series leads to regulars. Acting coaches, Ivana Chubbuck and Roy London, inspired many of the tools suggested in the audio video program.

The audio video program takes the auditioning process and breaks it down into clear and straightforward steps, which makes it easy to follow. Simmonds first talks about the psychology of the actor going into the audition with what he calls "ego pattern", which is explained. He then coaches viewers on the correct mindset in which to approach the auditioning process.

Simmonds gives examples for figuring out the characters objective, using body language, how to approach auditioning with more than one person, developing chemistry with the other characters, and making the process more organic.

Each segment is further divided in order to examine each step of what Simmonds recommends actors should do before, during and after the initial audition. Two separate and successful audition videos are analyzed in order to provide viewers with comprehensible examples of Simmonds' methods.

Simmonds coaching is clear and interactive and is also supplemented by useful side notes and comments that are displayed on screen. He also shares auditioning tips based on his own experiences and on conversations he has had with directors and casting directors.

Master Your Audition audio video program includes some bonus material, which focuses on what Simmonds terms "soular power" by way of four tools that can be used to further build upon the affirmation section and the instructions given throughout the video.

Check out the following website to learn more about Benson Simmonds Master Your Audition audio video program: www.masteryouraudition.com

Review: My Big Break - A Documentary by Tony Zierra

2012-04-21T16:09:00.002-06:00

It could happen to you ... are you ready?

My Big Break is a documentary film by Tony Zierra featuring his former roommates and actors: Wes Bentley (American Beauty, The Hunger Games), Chad Lindberg (October Sky, The Fast And The Furious), Brad Rowe (Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss, Shelter), and Greg Fawcett.

My Big Break is a documentary over ten years in the making, and is actually Zierra's second attempt to put to use hundreds of hours of footage he took of his former roommates.

Zierra's initial film was entitled Carving Out Our Names, which had been shown at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival on the night of September 10, 2001. Carving Out Our Names emphasized the friendship among the roommates and their personal relationships with the women in their lives. After facing numerous challenges and rejections by agents, due to fear that the documentary would hurt the careers of the actors, the documentary never received distribution. Zierra ultimately ended up destroying all copies of Carving Out Our Names and left Hollywood.

"Are you ready", is the question that is put forth to all those seeking fame in Hollywood, and to viewers of My Big Break. It is clearly evident, at least based on how Zierra edited the footage together, that not one of the actors was prepared to deal with success (or failure). They had no concept of the true implications of fame, nor did any of them seem to have a back-up plan in the event their success was fleeting, or if they never got their "big break".

We are witness to the actors "partying" (a refined euphemism for alcohol and drug use), and their inexperience with developing careers that could ultimately enjoy longevity and stability.

I would now like to share with all of you the comments from one the actors, Wes Bentley. An excerpt from the February 2012 issue of Details magazine highlighting Wes Bentley's response when asked about if he has seen My Big Break...

Wes Bentley: No, but I've been interested in seeing it lately. There are lots of reasons to be nervous about that—I was young and stupid, I didn't really know how to deal with success, and it's all caught on camera.

Read the full Details magazine interview with Wes Here

My Big Break is not a feel good documentary, it will not make you pack up your car and move out to become a big movie star. Nor will viewers be given mapped out strategies on how to succeed in Hollywood. What the tale of these five former roommates does is give a heedful warning of what not to do.

Hollywood is about 'the bottom line', and if an actor is not producing big box office hits or they do not meet the expectations of casting directors and agents, they are easily disposable. That aspect of the business is ugly and should not ignored.

At the very least I hope viewers of My Big Break will take away an understanding that actors are very much human beings just like everyone else - no worse or better. It is ok to admire the work people do, but do not have unrealistic expectations of anyone. Be appreciative for what you have and what you could have... "Appreciate every moment" - Chad Lindberg.

Interview With Casey Ryan: Film Enthusiast, And Creator Of The Internet Radio Show The Cutting Room Floor

2012-04-20T18:22:00.001-06:00

Casey Ryan is the creator of The Cutting Room Floor, an Internet radio show. Casey has built a solid reputation for his passion and dedication to help independent filmmakers and other entertainers promote their projects. If you are among the few who have not already acquainted yourself with Casey and his work, I highly recommend you do so.

I was fortunate enough to arrange an interview with Casey to discuss The Cutting Room Floor, his new blog, and other projects he has in the works.

Have you always been interested in the entertainment business?

Yes – absolutely. I’ve loved movies for as long as I can remember. The “business” side of the house interests me as much as the movies themselves. There are lots of great stories behind how some of the legendary studios were started and evolved over time.

What was the mainspring for The Cutting Room Floor? Was there a defining moment that inspired the shows creation?

Part of me likes to think that I’ve been doing the show in some form or another since my late teens. In college I had a short-lived segment for the campus TV station. I also used to write little movie reviews to entertain my family and friends.

About 3-4 years ago, I first met 2 people that convinced me to take a serious run at podcasting. The first was Ian Richards. For the past several years, he has co-hosted a very popular French-language show about video games called “Radio Talbot”.

I saw how much fun he was having putting together his episodes every week. It wasn’t exactly a “moment of inspiration” but, it certainly gave me the urge to start hunting for a creative outlet.

A few months later I met Dan Coleman who would ultimately get me started and act as my producer during the first few shows. Dan operated a site for indie musicians that has since been dismantled called My Real Broadcast (hence the MRB in my Twitter handle).

In addition to acting as a hub for artists to post music, the site also operated a podcast called “The Future of the Music Business” which showcased indie bands and shared best practices. Dan is also a big movie fan and when I approached him about creating an analogous show to promote filmmakers, he was willing to give me a shot.

Who in the entertainment business inspires you?

George Stroumboulopoulos is my single biggest influence. He’s a Canadian TV and radio talk-show host who, in my opinion, conducts the best celebrity interviews out there. What I enjoy most about his show is that he looks like he’s having so much fun doing it and his enthusiasm is contagious.

George has interviewed some of the biggest names in the movie business. Regardless of how famous his guest is, the format stays the same. He asks interesting/relevant questions in an informal setting – making it sound like he’s known them for years.

Is there a particular artist or group of artists that would be your “dream” interview?  

Quentin Tarantino is up toward the top of a very long “wish list” of people I’d love to interview. I’ve enjoyed every last one of his films – even those that he wasn’t crazy about himself. Ciaran Hinds is one of my favorite actors and I’ve often thought that it would be fun to speak with him too.

I’d also like to interview George Stroumboulopoulos and get his opinions on what it takes to put together a truly great interview.

Cutting Room Floor is flourishing; how has social media influenced the shows development? Were there any prior business experiences you had that served to help you as well?

Social media has been fundamental to the expansion of the show – especially Twitter.

I initially started by interviewing friends and local filmmakers. After those first attempts had gone well, Dan suggested that I broaden my reach by setting up my own social media channels. What started as a show that I was doing once a month morphed into one that I was doing at least twice a week.

Another component to the equation is my work experience. I’ve spent over 10 years in corporate sales. Researching and qualifying leads; highlighting the benefits of products for promotion purposes; and diligent follow-ups are all skills that are critical to a successful sales rep – and for that matter a podcaster.

Joining Toastmasters was also a smart decision. It’s a public speaking club that operates local chapters internationally. Through them I was able to practice my presentation skills in a small, informal setting. In some respects it also acts as a bit of a lab for my show. I can find out what works and what doesn’t in terms of humor or the kinds of questions to ask. The episodes are a little more “polished” since I started attending those meetings. It’s certainly helped in terms of my self-confidence.

How important is collaboration to you in terms of augmenting the success of The Cutting Room Floor?  

Collaboration is extremely important to anyone within the indie entertainment community. You don’t get very far unless you’re able to connect with good people that are willing to give you a hand and that you can help in exchange. One of the best examples that I have is doing cross-over episodes with other podcasts. It was a big thrill to be a guest on: Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat; Film Snobbery; The Indie Book Collective Show; and Horror Quest. Interviewing the hosts of those shows in return was every bit as much fun and solid exposure for everyone.   I’ve especially enjoyed getting to work with the gang at the Sweet Feathery Jesus podcast. They’re a comedy group that occasionally does “movie club” shows where they rant about the worst in a particular genre. I find the guys hilarious. Doing the show is a great change of pace.  

Who and what have been invaluable resources for you?  

Over the course of the last 18 months, I’ve had the proud privilege of working with some first-rate publicists including: Lynette Carrington, Kimberly McMichael, Kathy Horn, and Marie Hunt. They represent a large number of extremely talented clients many of whom I’ve been able to interview. They’ve also created a sense of awareness for the show that I never would have thought possible when I first started podcasting.  

We understand that you will be starting a new project in cooperation with Dragonfly Digital Music. What can you share with us about this new endeavor?   

Dragonfly Digital Music has assembled an extensive community of indie rock and metal bands working together to create greater awareness/support for their various projects. Through Twitter, I ended up speaking with one of their lead publicists and agreed to interview one of their bands. I quickly realized that there was a lot of potential for us to help each other out on a larger scale and offered to make “Dragonfly Sundays” a monthly feature on my show. Starting in April, I’ll be interviewing a different “Dragonfly Rockstar” the third Sunday of each month and posting links to the band’s site on my blog. One of the pieces of feedback that I’ve received fairly consistently is that my listeners like the shows where I interview musicians and this exercise will allow me to do more of it.   

You’ve recently branched out from Internet radio into writing a blog. What inspired this move? Do you have specific aspirations in terms of the new blog? 

The blog is intended as an extension of the show. I’ll be posting links to the projects that I promote on air and jotting down short reviews and other stories or observances that may come up. I’ve wanted to get more writing done for a long time so a blog was pretty much inevitable. The ultimate trigger behind the launch, however, was Scottish filmmaker Paul Reeves.

  Paul was one of my very first regular listeners and has been a supporter of mine since the beginning. A couple of months ago, he was facing a tight deadline and asked me to write a review for his short film “Gameboyz” which he could include in his press kits. He also said he needed an actual website to direct people toward as a valid reference point. His asking me for this small favor was the catalyst that I needed. That same night, my blog was up and running. 

Authors Rachel Thompson and Eden Baylee were also major factors. I learned a lot from them about what it took to run a good blog consistently and how to make the most effective use of the content.  

Rachel in particular was a big help. She invited me to write 2 guest posts for her blogs. It allowed me to use other skills, which up to that point I hadn’t, and expand my reach in a whole new direction. Rachel is the single best social media consultant I’ve ever met. I’d recommend her “Bad Redhead Media” services to anybody.  

What are your future goals? Any other projects or mentions you’d like to share with our readers?  

I still hold to the promise that I made to my wife when I started podcasting – I’ll keep the show going as long as I’m having fun. The Cutting Room Floor is strictly a hobby at this point but one that I take seriously. In the short term, my plan is to do a few less shows and a few more articles. I’ve even played around with ideas for some creative pieces including a novella and a one-act play. It would be interesting to see what one of them might look like if I were able to get it finished. Making a cameo in an indie film is also on my “bucket list”. It’s fun to daydream.

Casey Ryan on Twitter: @CuttingRoomMRB

Casey Ryan's blog: http://cuttingroomfloorpodcast.blogspot.com

The Cutting Room Floor Internet Radio Show: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/81947

Applaud Or Die, Short Comedy Film - Review

2012-04-15T23:13:00.002-06:00

"Sometimes all it takes is one desperate act”

Sam Weston, played by Benson Simmonds, is a professional actor who is desperate for the opportunity to act in front of an audience. So desperate in fact that he abducts a random woman, played by Fiona Hogan, from the street, pulling her into an alley at gun point, and forcing her to be a captive audience.

The woman naturally assumes that Sam wants her money and valuables. When he frantically tells her he doesn’t want her money or valuables, she assumes the worst-case scenario only to have him say “What I want … what I want is to act! This is a theatrical mugging”.

Humorously Sam even hands her his resume with headshot included! Dumbfound by Sam’s proclamation the woman questions him “You’re mugging me so you can act?”

Applaud Or Die has an unconventional story concept that works very well because of the level of depth and believability that Benson brings to the Sam character.

The viewing audience is taken on a bit of a tour of Sam’s various emotional characterizations, and are unsure of what to expect next.

Ultimately what plays out towards the end of the short film is unexpected and gives Fiona Hogan’s character a chance to exact a bit of accidental revenge on Sam.

Applaud Or Die is worth a watch for its interesting concept and worthy execution.

About Benson Simmonds

Benson Simmonds is an award-winning actor, award-nominated writer/filmmaker and a celebrated acting teacher and coach. Benson, originally from Canada, first appeared on television at age 7. New York beckoned and upon graduation from college, Benson left for New York. Benson was one of the top students at the Sonia Moore Stanislavski School but was fascinated by the Meisner technique and was accepted to the two year Meisner program with Kathryn Gately. Benson also studied with world renowned acting teacher Ivana Chubbuck. He won the coveted LEO AWARD (Western Canada's version of the Oscars) for best actor in a short drama. Benson also was nominated for best writer and best short film.

Benson moved to LA, within his first 3 months in LA, Benson shot and booked a pilot, began teaching and shooting his third short film, which he is currently editing. He continues to book work both in the US and in Canada. Benson continues to teach and coach in LA and has just completed his "Master the Audition" DVD for purchase.

Short Film Look by Director Ryan Pickett Wins Silver Lei Award at 2012 Honolulu Film Awards

2012-03-27T13:17:00.000-06:00

Short film Look by director Ryan Pickett of Nashville, Tennessee wins its fourth accolade The Silver Lei Award at the 2012 Honolulu Film Awards.

Look has earned some prestige with several film competition awards, including the Best Shorts Competition Award of Merit, Accolade Competition Award of Merit, and the Gold Award in the California Film Awards. Pickett is currently profiled in the 2012 Vol. 7 No. 1 edition of Student Filmmaker Magazine, which shows photos from Look as well as Pickett’s tips for successful filmmaking. Pickett utilizes visual poetry to show that the desire for beauty reveals an unsettling emptiness.

While attending Watkins College of Art, Design and Film, Pickett shot Look on the RED One 4K. Pickett has worked in the entertainment industry for over ten years when he held positions at companies that include Filmhouse, Ascent Media, Henninger Media, Washington Redskins and Playboy Enterprises. When Pickett studied at Stella Adler, he played the Young Oscar Bluth in television series Arrested Development. Pickett made an earlier film You Only Loved Me Twice that helped earn him a top 5 finalist spot in the showcase event in the USA for Global Entrepreneurship Week film entrepreneurship competition The Race to BE hosted by media mogul Russell Simmons at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. Pickett was profiled in Nashville Business Journal, and he was voted The Best Filmmaker in the Nashville Scene.

The 2012 Honolulu Film Awards will be held May 12, 2012 along the pristine shores of the world-famous Waikiki Beach at the beautiful and world-famous Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa. The Honolulu Film Awards is a crossroads of the world, bridging the gap between East and West and held annually on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. Surrounded by the sparkling Pacific and spectacular scenery, the Honolulu Film Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in filmmaking from around the world. The mission of Honolulu Film Awards is to recognize and celebrate the finest independent cinema the world has to offer while helping to advance the careers of promising filmmakers by providing a platform through which their talents can be recognized.

Written/Directed/Edited/Produced by Ryan Pickett. Cinematographer Shane Bartlett. Score by The Other Deepak. Cast Theresa Meeker Pickett.

To view Look visit http://www.ryanpickettproductions.com/

Critical Mass Interactive invites “The Boondock Saints” to SXSW!

2012-03-08T06:08:00.002-07:00

Arcade Stage: Critical Mass Interactive invites “The Boondock Saints” to SXSW! http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_OE01527

Stars of the cult classic film The Boondock Saints will be participating in a panel discussion (http://www.facebook.com/events/168399959943459/) at the Palmer Events Center in conjunction with a teaser trailer reveal of a new Boondock Saints video game. Stop by the Arcade Stage (http://sxsw.com/interactive/screenburn/arcade), presented by IGN, at 3PM on Sunday, March 11 (http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/events/event_OE01527) to see Sean Patrick Flanery (Connor MacManus), Norman Reedus (Murphy MacManus) and David Della Rocco (Rocco) along with a special video message from director Troy Duffy.

Matt Scibilia, president of Critical Mass Interactive (http://www.facebook.com/CriticalMassInteract), will also be on hand with the film cast to discuss the game development.

Stop by this FREE and open to the public event to meet the men behind the Boondock Saints (http://www.criticalmassinteractive.com/lowerlevel_posts/road-to-e3-2/) and get the first look at the forthcoming "full-on co-op shooter."

Following the panel discussion, there will be an **autograph session** with the actors and prize raffles.

** Fans can purchase merch on site: T-shirts ($15); exclusive game posters ($10)

***The signing session will last 30 minutes (first come, first served) The actors will be charging for their autographs as follows: Sean Patrick Flanery ($30) ; Norm Reedus ($30); and David Della Rocco ($25) Credit or cash accepted.

THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL - Interactive Musical Goes On Tour!

2012-03-06T20:17:00.002-07:00

Director Darren Lynn Bousman and writer/actor Terrance Zdunich invite you to join them on an exclusive nationwide road tour featuring burlesque, special personality meet and greets, Q&A forums, sing-alongs, costume contests, and a whole lot of devilish behavior. Audiences will get to enjoy never-before-seen REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA behind-the-scenes footage and bonus features, and, most notably, an exclusive viewing of THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL.

GET YOUR TICKETS: http://thedevilscarnivaltour.eventbrite.com

After collaborating on 2008's cult hit REPO! The Genetic Opera, Bousman and Zdunich had no where to go but down. ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HELL! Come experience their new musical series, THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL, staring Emilie Autumn, Dayton Callie, The Blessed Contessa, M. Shawn "clown" Crahan, Briana Evigan, Sean Patrick Flanery, Maggie "Captain Maggot" Lally, J. LaRose, Jessica Lowndes, Mighty Mike, Hannah Minx, Ivan Moody, Bill Moseley, Ogre, Marc Senter, Paul Sorvino, Alexa Vega, and Terrance Zdunich. For more info, visit www.TheDevilsCarnival.com

The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection Now Available For Pre-Order!

2012-02-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

The man with the hat is back – and looking better than ever! The world’s favorite globe-trotting archaeologist is, at long last, embarking on his greatest adventure – when "The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection" comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Media Distribution. The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection will be excavated in the fall of 2012 and will include all four of Indy’s thrilling adventures, using the highest possible high definition picture and audio presentation – along with a “best of” collection of documentaries, interviews, featurettes and a few new surprises.
Pre-order your Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection Now
Check out the trailer:

Beneath the White City Lights: The Making of an American Story Ballet, Broadcast Debut – Interview with Emmy Award®-winning filmmaker Christopher Kai Olsen

2012-02-15T05:46:00.001-07:00

L-R: Christopher Kai Olsen, Melissa Thodos, Ann Reinking

Photo courtesy of www.ckop.com

In early 2011, Emmy Award®-winning Chicago filmmaker Christopher Kai Olsen created nearly 50 minutes of original film projections for Thodos Dance Chicago's multimedia story ballet The White City: The Columbian Exposition of 1893. The ambitious original work – set against the backdrop of the famed Chicago World's Fair – was co-conceived and choreographed by Melissa Thodos and Tony Award® winner Ann Reinking

As part of the story ballet creative team, Olsen was afforded unprecedented access to the visionary endeavor, and in addition to his own artistic process, began documenting the making of the ballet, from concept, through rehearsals to its March 2011 premiere at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park. The result is the visually arresting half-hour dance odyssey Beneath the White City Lights: The Making of an American Story Ballet

Scene from: Beneath the White City Lights: The Making of an American Story Ballet

Photo courtesy of www.ckop.com

Christopher Kai Olsen took time to talk, in depth, with The Entertainment Corner about the making of Beneath the White City Lights: The Making of an American Story Ballet:

Kristine (K): Did you have the idea from the get go of making the documentary?

Christopher Kai Olsen (CKO): First off, I don’t consider myself to be a very traditional documentary filmmaker, but I knew going into this project that we were embarking on a very special and unique project, and it was important to me to record the journey.

As a visually oriented person, much of how I interpret the world is through observation and documentation, so it was important for me to immerse myself in the dance creation and rehearsal process as things were growing and being developed. Capturing all of this on film was critical to my projection design process, but also preserved some really fascinating events along the way. Editing these moments into a document of the experience was a very natural and rewarding extension of this process.

Mireille (M): Was it difficult to select which elements of the whole process you would include in the documentary, because there is so much there, there is such an experience. Did you find it difficult to say, “I have to fit so much in a certain amount of time”?

CKO: There are a couple main stars in this film. The music is one of them, the dancing is another, the physical actors, and their roles… but the lighting, the costumes, and of course the story are all essential to talk about as well. As the story ballet itself runs about an hour, trying to touch on every element just wasn’t doable, so I had to ride a fine line to showcase the experience.

Seeing THE WHITE CITY live is incredibly compelling, so once I began editing, my goal was for the film to be this really awesome companion piece. I was able to get a lot of the music in there, but only maybe half of the dances. There are entire numbers that had to get cut. As I began playing with the edit, I had to focus on the elements I thought best spoke to that part of the story.

For example, there is a fascinating “Killer’s Duet” duet featuring Prendergast and Holmes that we don’t touch on in the film. And there is another whole piece where we get to see even more of the Mayor, called “Sidewalk Strut”, which is just awesome. It’s really hard to try and not show everything, you only have so much time.

M: Did you go through several edits, how long did it take before you had the documentary down to half an hour?

CKO: The very first cut was probably two and half-hours, which obviously is far more than actual physical length of the piece. But there were just so many fantastic stories, and so many great things to talk about. There are also a lot of amazing people that were critical to the success of the project. For example, we have two brilliant designers on the film… Nathan Tomlinson who designed the incredible stage-lighting, and Nathan Rohrer who designed the beautiful costumes.

I really wanted to be able to touch on their stories as well, but the story ended being so succinct as told by Melissa (Thodos), Ann (Reinking), and the dancers in particular ... that’s what we ended up going with. I am sure there will be some little featurettes that are going to pop-up to focus on these other areas that went into “the making of”.

Thodos Dance Chicago, which is the dance company, is a very special company. They dancers are extremely talented hard working, and they’re some of the best I’ve ever seen and had the pleasure of working with. Every day they come to the table with such such determination, grace and intelligence. You couldn’t find a better group of creatives to want to work with and just being able to share their experiences was an honor on its own. So much of what I love doing is working with people who have that appreciation of what they’re doing, that it’s all about the work.

K: That really came through for me when I watched Jeremy Blair, who played John Root, talk about his experiences as the architect and having his vision. He describes how emotional it was every day to have to go through and do that dance and put him-self out there. When he got on stage and performed it and he finally got to see his vision realized, which is what you had projected on stage, and how he just started crying. I thought, wow, what a testament to what you contributed to his performance. How does that make you feel listening to him talk about that?

CKO: It’s pretty wonderful. This is an experience that gave back as much as everyone put into it, and everyone put their heart and soul into it. THE WHITE CITY gave us even more heart and soul back.

I think the key here is that is what happened to everyone on this project. Having the dancers perform at their best raised my game as a filmmaker, and most importantly, by the choreographers leading this entire process so creatively, openly and collaboratively it allowed all the individuals to raise their game. Everyone was doing better work because of the other person in the room.

K: It seemed to me like you stood on each other’s shoulders and where giving and supportive of each other.

CKO: When you collaborate creatively like this with someone and everyone is giving their all, it is so rewarding, so positive and so fulfilling. There is no better experience than being able to stand at the back of the room with everyone and look at a piece and know that everyone contributed to the success of this piece. Without everyone’s involvement it would not have been the same thing.

M: It is good that you can continue to feel that positive energy even a year after the start of the project. That it is still something that is rewarding and you are proud to talk about. It really shows through in everything you say and do about it.

CKO: So much of my work, my art, occurs on the sound stage or in the studio working with the other performers, working with the other collaborators ... that is where we are making the art.

What you see is the result, the painting on the wall or the dance on the stage is just evidence of all the art we made during that process. So the final film that you see is just the evidence of all the work that we did.

That’s why I am so excited to be able to share the actual art making process, because that’s where you have all the fun. That stage performance only lasts an hour, the film only lasts a half an hour, that experience we had was a year of our lives and boy was it good!

M: There is a very dark and horrific aspect to the story as well. Was there any apprehension about how much detail you would cover in your documentary? Or how you would go about not making that the main focus of it, because there certainly are many moments of light as well.

CKO: From the beginning, this is something that Ann was very aware of; it is a dark story, but it is a very true story. The goal is to not glorify it.

I love that in the stage version we kind of show his (H.H. Holmes) comeuppance. The truth is he did these horrific things, but he was caught and hung. It was important to me to echo from the original stage play within this piece is that story that he was a very, very bad man and yes he was a very dark character and yes justice occurs.

The actual story, and the choreography is just enthralling how Ann wove that piece together. She was very drawn to these specific story elements. Again it was a very collaborative effort, Ann and Melissa were feeding into each other all the time and working in tandem.

You can begin to identify, once you get to know them, which dance might be more in Melissa’s style or more in Ann’s style, but there are a lot of pieces that are truly a blend of the two.

That being said, Ann had some very specific visions about the dances with Dr. Holmes and the victim; the music is some of the most haunting, and the dances are so compelling. It is really important to be able to show the dynamic that beget them.

They are just fascinating to me; I will get very emotional watching these on stage and watching the performers, because the dancers are giving 100%. It’s not about being a dance anymore, that’s what’s so wonderful about this work and what draws me in my own work is the same thing. Using the most primal of instruments, your own body, to tell a story is a lot of what my work is about. To be able to be involved in a project this scope and scale with others who have the same ideology is remarkable.

M: At one point in the documentary Jessica Miller Tomlinson uses her scarf to get Holmes (Brian Hare). She talks about having fun and being sassy on stage; it’s her way at getting back at him for being such a bad character. Her partner, Brian, is very much into the role. You can see that they are dealing with something very serious, but it doesn’t have to be “heavy” and weigh everything down. You highlighted that very well in the documentary.

CKO: I am glad to hear that come through. Dance is about trust. When you are partnering with someone like this, it is so intimate, you have to be trusting and open yourself up. You get very vulnerable, if you don’t have a partner that you can trust with, it doesn’t work.

I don’t know if you would have noticed this, Brian Hare and Molly Mock, who plays the female architect, they were the leads characters in Fancy

K & M: That’s why they looked really familiar!

CKO: I worked with them originally on Fosse Prelude, and really enjoyed working with them. Worked with them on Fancy again. I love everyone in the company, but it’s been fun to be able to on other projects continue to work with these dancers because they are just remarkable people with talent.

Being able to do a third piece with them almost right away, working on White City, was just phenomenal. They’re just cool and Brian (Hare) is just funny!

It’s remarkable the chemistry that Brian and Jess (Jessica Miller Tomlinson) have on stage and how the Holmes character woos this woman and entraps her. In the end she comes back and as Jessica says, “really kicks his butt”.

It’s one of my favorite pieces in the doc how it sort of plays out. You get a real sense of who they are and how they made these roles happen. And how it would not have happened again if they hadn’t both been there, working together so tightly and being so trusting and knowing they could trust each other.

Beneath the White City Lights: The Making of an American Story Ballet, premieres Thursday, February 23, 10:30pm on Chicago's WTTW11

The week immediately following the broadcast, The White City stage performance returns to Chicago as the centerpiece of Thodos Dance Chicago’s 20th anniversary concerts. Performances are Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3, 8pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 East Randolph Drive, Chicago. Tickets, $25-$60, are available at (312) 334-7777, or online at harristheaterchicago.org

Scene from: Beneath the White City Lights: The Making of an American Story Ballet

Photo courtesy of www.ckop.com

CUPID’S ARROW - Review

2012-02-11T17:56:00.002-07:00

Guest Review By: MICHELLE HASSENSTAB

Cupid’s Arrow is a dark comedy about a strange college Professor named Grimes (C.Thomas Howell) who plays Mother Nature and creates a love potion called (Cupid’s Arrow). This potion controls the brain’s love gland to make a person to fall in love with another of who he or she truly desires. One of his female students Samantha (Najarra Townsend), who wants to be an intern and decides to help the professor him with his secret scientific project. But, she doesn’t know that she’s the secret research.

Samantha’s boy friend Alan (Chandler Rylko) starts seeing changes in her. He notices that the professor and her are spending too much time together in the lab. Alan investigates the Professor Grimes and what he is up too. He finds out about the professor’s love drug and the dangerous side effects. He now knows why his girlfriend was acting so strange, which lead to their break up. Now, it’s up to Alan and three other scientists to save her from Grimes control, and to see which one she truly loves. You just got to watch the movie to find out what happens. This movie also stars Aris Alvarado (Billy) and Cassidy Gard (Erika). I found that this movie was a good film to watch and I haven’t seen C. Thomas Howell in a movie for a long time. Cupid’s Arrow is now on DVD.

MICHELLE HASSENSTAB is a writer for MovieVine.com - Michelle started writing when she was eleven years old and it has been a passion of hers ever since. She enjoys writing short stories, poems, articles, and reviews.

Actor Chandler Rylko, Talks About "Savanna”, "Cupid's Arrow" And More - Interview

2012-02-07T20:15:00.001-07:00

Chandler Rylko is an up and coming young actor who has demonstrated his ability to handle various film roles with ease. He portrayed Tyler in Sanja Banic's 2009 short drama "Savanna". I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Chandler about his career and his newest movie, "Cupid's Arrow" which is now out on DVD.

What or who inspired you to become an actor?

I grew up watching movies with my father, who has a huge movie collection. I kind of burned up a lot of my childhood watching a lot of movies starring such greats like Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Johnny Depp. I watched all kinds of movies, everything from "Star Wars" to "The Godfather". I was about 13 when my dad took me to see "Braveheart". That movie struck a chord in me. Mel Gibson's performance in my opinion was devastatingly real. I could never get over the magic of that movie. Even at a young age I appreciated the storytelling and the power of amazing acting.

You starred in director Vincent Grashaw’s 2009 short film "Savanna”. How did that project come to your attention?

A couple years before that, I had auditioned for another project that Vince was directing. One day out of the blue, he asked me if I would like to be in this short film he was directing for someone. At the time I did not know anything about the project but really wanted to work with Vince. I knew he would make something worthwhile.

"Savanna" deals with a heavy, yet very relevant topic. How did you prepare for the role, and was it a daunting task?

My character, Tyler, was a guy who was in a relationship that wasn't working and had to deal with a really difficult situation that he couldn't control on his own. Tyler and Savanna made a decision and they suffered the consequences. I basically tried to tap into what that might be like and how could I find the will to keep on trekking into the darkness of our doomed relationship. The shoot was physically and emotionally draining and I'm glad it was a short.

What was it like working with the cast and crew on "Savanna"?

I really enjoyed working with everyone on set. The cast consisted of Sanja Banic, Jessica Remmers and myself. It was my first time working with the Coatwolf Team, who are the mastermind geniuses behind the indie cult hit "Bellflower". The uber talented team mainly consists of Vincent Grashaw, Evan Glodell, and Joel Hodge. Vincent is a great director with promising talent. Very easy to work with. Evan Glodell is just a genius because he built the camera that we shot "Savanna" on and it is the same camera that was used in his directorial debut "Bellflower". The camera was homemade, looking like something out of "Star Wars" with wires running all over the floor from it to the macbook computer that sat across set. I was blown away by what I saw onscreen. Evan built a camera that just made what the actors do, look so much more powerful. Dramatic art. Every one brought their A game and because it was such a well oiled machine, it was one of my favorite projects to work on yet. I look forward to the day when I can work with the Coatwolf Team again.

One of your next projects, was a comedy called "Cupid's Arrow". It had you working alongside C. Thomas Howell. Please share with us a bit about the movie's premise and what was it like working on set.

The film is about a young college couple that fall in love, only to have their happiness wither away because of a creepy college professor, who is doing scientific experiments on his students. In the film I play Alan, who is dating Samantha played by Najarra Townsend. Its the classic story of boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy must get his girl back from the bad guy. It is also sort of in the vein of Sandra Bullock's "Love Potion Number 9". I had worked with the director, Dan Peterson, on another feature a couple years back, so working with him again was an easy decision. It was a pleasure to work with C. Thomas Howell. I had grown up watching "E.T." and "The Outsiders", so for me it was pretty cool to work with someone whom had been around for so long and had worked with such great talents. It was great working with everyone involved and I really I enjoyed making the film.

What aspect of the story appealed to you?

The film had a scientific element to it that caught my attention. The premise of the movie deals with something that seems actually possible due to the fact that the writer of the film is a doctor. He did lots of research on potential scientific theories and incorporated that into a fun, quirky script. I have never done anything science fiction related, so I thought it might be fun to explore this world, maybe even learn something.

How different is your process in preparing for an emotionally challenging role such as the one in "Savanna" compared to your process in getting ready for a role in a comedy like "Cupid's Arrow"?

Im still figuring out my process. But I guess with "Savanna" I knew I had to go to a dark place and stay there for the remainder of the shoot. Tyler, my character, goes through a pretty traumatic experience with his girlfriend and has to learn to keep going. I had to find the heart of the story and keep everything grounded. For "Cupid's Arrow", I would say things were tossed upside down for me from the get go. When I originally read the script, I envisioned the tone of the film to be much more dramatic. Sometimes you don't quite get a scene or get certain elements of the script when you're reading it off the page. Being on set with the other actors allowed me to figure out what I was missing. Sometimes you figure everything out when you get there. With "Cupid's Arrow" I kind of threw my homework out the window and went with the flow.

"Cupid's Arrow" has recently been released onto DVD correct? Where can people go to buy the movie?

Yes, the film is now on DVD. Folks can check out the film by going to http://cupidsarrowthemovie.com. There you can watch the trailer and there are links to buy the film off the distributor's website and Amazon. Friends of mine have been purchasing it off Walmart's website as well. It will also be coming to Netflix soon.

We understand that you are slated to work with director Todd Theman Pollakoff on a new project titled “Little Black Lie”. How did you become involved with the project and what can you tell us about it?

I had met Todd at the premiere of "Savanna" at the Beverly Hills Film Festival back in 2009. About a year or so later, I got an email from him asking if I wanted to read this script he wrote. I read it and fell in love with it. It's a dark, gritty drama that deals with relationships, love and the lies we tell. As an actor, this will definitely be my most challenging role to date. The roller coaster and journey my character goes on will most likely leave the audience with a very unsettling feeling.

Raiding The Lost Ark: A Filmumentary By Jamie Benning

2012-02-05T11:45:00.001-07:00

Back in December of 2011, I interviewed Filmumentaries creator, Jamie Benning (Read Interview Here).

Jamie's newest Filmumentary, "Raiding The Lost Ark" is now available for viewing. "Raiding The Lost Ark" is an unofficial audio and visual commentary on Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). The filmumentary gives unprecedented insight into the development and creation of the film and is a must watch for all Indy fans as well as any one who appreciates learning how films are made.

HOW DO YOU WRITE A JOE SCHERMANN SONG - Official Trailer

2012-02-04T09:52:00.001-07:00

Musical/Drama | 104 mins | 2012

Joe (Joe Schermann) dreams of hitting it big on Broadway. After landing an opportunity to write for an Off-Broadway musical, he is forced to cast either the love of his life Evey (Christina Rose) or his newly discovered muse Summer (Debbie Williams). The realities of show business prove to Joe that writing is easy, living is hard.

Starring
JOE SCHERMANN
CHRISTINA ROSE
MARK DiCONZO
DEBBIE WILLIAMS
DARYL RAY CARLILES
JENN DEES

Written, Shot & Directed by
GARY KING

Film Review: Sinners and Saints (2010)

2012-01-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

By: Kristine Orlob-Radford

Last week I was looking for a distraction from my current studies when I was reminded by my Facebook feed that ‘Sinners and Saints’ (2010) a film Written by William Kaufman and Jay Moses and Directed by William Kaufman was out on Blue Ray and DVD. So I headed out to my local video store with one mission…to procure this disk for a private afternoon screening at my house.

‘Sinners and Saints’ takes place in New Orleans and centers around two police detectives, Sean Riley, played by Johnny Strong, and Will Ganz, played by Kevin Phillips. These detectives come together to investigate several brutal murders, thought to be related to gang crime, but as the investigation moves forward they are led down another path leading to crimes of a more horrific nature.

The action in this film is fantastic. There are gun fights, cars, foot chases, knife fights, a little something for everyone and all of which are intense enough to keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire film. But what caught my attention was the dramatic element of the film.

William Kaufman was able to develop multiple story lines between and within the characters and capture the performances delivered by the amazing cast, which also includes: Costas Mandylor, Sean Patrick Flanery, Tom Berenger, Method Man, Kim Coates, and Bas Rutten, just to name a few. No character was too over the top nor was the action out of character for the film. It all complimented each other while moving the story forward. Not an easy job when you think about it. You may be thinking ‘why is this such a big deal?’ well it is a big deal because so many police dramas don’t get this far. The police drama sits on a precarious fence where it could get knocked off and land into two possible worlds. One being the over dramatic rent a cop movie the other a comedic super dudes flick. Only if the filmmaker can find the right balance of action and drama for their film can they land on the fence and maintain that edgy action filled realism needed to hold the audience in the police drama that ‘Sinners and Saints’ accomplishes.

William Kaufman combines great story telling with exciting action sequences and gives us a thrilling police drama. ‘Sinners and Saints’ an original film by William Kaufman…I recommend it.

Sinners and Saints on Facebook Here

Hostage - Official Movie Trailer

2012-01-19T17:51:00.001-07:00

The Paranormal has just become real

Synopsis:
A story about Eugene (Holt Boggs), a man dealing with a personal tragedy of his family’s death by living at the vacation cabin that they last stayed, only to discover he’s completely snowbound. During Eugene’s desperate attempts to dig himself out, he discovers he’s not alone.

Hostage
Starring: Holt Boggs, Liz McGeever, George Katt
Director: Mike Yurinko

Studio: Batpig Pictures

Fighter-Actress-Producer, Francesca Zappitelli - Interview

2012-01-17T19:03:00.001-07:00

Fighter-Actress-Producer, Francesca Zappitelli

Francesca Zappitelli is as a fighter and actress/producer. Francesca recently directed and produced and starred in a short called “Frankie”. She started under development with WWE, then did the Indie circuit; and New Japan - which combines pro wrestling with real shoot fighting. She also starred in an all female show - The Girlie Girl Cat fight Show. Francesca has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and she is also certified in teaching yoga. Francesca found the need to be constructively creative and started her own production company. She recently took time out of her busy schedule to chat with me about her career.

Who or what inspired you to become a fighter?

I've always been fiercely competitive and athletic. I was at a crossroad in my life where I felt really vulnerable and small. The thought of upbuilding myself with strength and skill was exactly what I needed and thus led me to pursue the training to be a pro fighter.

You have a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and extensive wrestling experience. Do you have a preference for one sport over the other? And, do you still practice BJJ?

I love BJJ because it's a physical chess game. Figuring out how to get out of one hold and what moves to set up in order to get your checkmate.

I also think every women should know basic Jiu Jitsu. If they're ever attacked, heaven forbid, they know how to get someone much larger off of them and run away to safety.

Presently I'm more into boxing. It's a great workout and a new skill set I'd like to sharpen.

What lead you to become an actress and producer?

I'm not the kind of person who sits around and waits to see how life unfolds. I much rather go make something happen. By becoming a producer, I've learnt the business of acting and have the power to make my acting dreams come true.

As for acting, since I was a little girl it was my favorite thing to do. I used to dress my brother up and we'd perform skits I wrote for my parents. To this day, acting is still my favorite thing to do. They say if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. That's my goal!

Do you consider yourself a fighter first and foremost or an actress/producer? Does one take precedent over the other in your life?

To live a successful life you've got to have a warrior spirit. I'll always be a fighter first because that mentality and discipline will help me win in acting, producing, and anything else I choose to do.

What do you think the public's perception is of female fighters? What would you like people to know about female fighters?

I think female fighting has come along way, yet it still has along way to go. I'd love to see equality in the pay rate between male and female fighters. In the fight game, women are still in the fifties; lucky to make a quarter of what their male equivalents make and that's just not right!

You worked on a project called “Ballerina I’m Not”. It’s the story of the journey of three women finding their way in a male dominated fight industry. Please share with us why you felt it important to make this project?

It's predominantly a boys club in the fight world. When I first started BJJ eleven years ago, I was the only girl in the Dojo, and the same thing at UPW- the University of professional wrestling. Women have to work harder to be taken seriously. I made 'Ballerina I'm Not' to show the world what it's like to walk a mile in the shoes of women who want to fight and shine a spotlight on them.

You recently directed, produced and starred in a short called “Frankie". What can you share with us about this new project?

It's a narrative story of a girl named Frankie and her journey to find herself. There's definitely a big part of myself in the story and a character that everyone can relate to.

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey thus far?

I've really become comfortable in my own skin and seeing myself grow is really rewarding. I'm living my dream; I'm one happy gal.

What other projects do you have in the works?

I'm in preproduction for a sci-fi Creature Feature, Embryo. It's X Files meets 24 in a nutshell. The alien in it is totally awesome!!!!

Francesca Zappitelli's Website: www.francescazappitelli.com

"Ballerina I'm Not" Website: www.ballerinaimnot.com

Actor Kevin Chapman - Truly "A Person of Interest"

2012-01-11T21:44:00.001-07:00

Actor Kevin Chapman

Photo Courtesy of Kevin Chapman's Official Facebook Page

I recently had the opportunity to chat with actor Kevin Chapman. Kevin's resume boasts diverse credits in both television and film. He was a series regular on the award-winning Showtime television series, "Brotherhood". Kevin also had recurring roles in "Lost", "Rescue Me", and "24". Among his numerous film credits are roles in "Ladder 49", "Sunshine Cleaning", and in the Academy Award-nominated films "Mystic River", "21 Grams", "The Cider House Rules" and "In The Bedroom".

Being a fan of Clint Eastwood's, I could not pass up the opportunity to ask Kevin about his experiences working on the film "Mystic River" with Mr. Eastwood. Kevin said that Clint is a professional who knows what he wants from a project and is also generous with his actors.

Kevin is currently starring in the CBS hit crime-thriller show, Person Of Interest (POI). The show is the brain child of two very talented minds, Jonathan Nolan and J.J. Abrams. POI follows the story of a presumed dead former-CIA agent who teams up with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes by suing their own brand of vigilante justice. Chapman plays Detective Lionel Fusco, a bad cop who gets a chance to make amends.

Kevin speaks of his fellow POI cast members with professional respect and describes them as unique individuals who bring a strong and varied back ground of work experience to the show.

I asked Kevin what appealed most to him about the character of Detective Lionel Fusco, he told me he enjoyed the complexity and dual nature of the character. Kevin does not define the Fusco character as either good or bad; his true nature is left to the interpretation of each viewer.

One of the things that interests me as a viewer is to know if an actor wants to see a particular storyline or situation develop for their character. Kevin says that as an actor he prefers to enjoy the journey and not know too much in advance about what will happen to his character.

There was no coaxing Kevin to divulge any information about the upcoming episodes of Person Of Interest. POI creator, Jonathan Nolan, had made it clear to the entire cast to keep all information strictly confidential. We will all just have to keep tuned into find out what happens next on Person Of Interest. Certainly not a difficult task as the show is engaging and faced paced enough to keep our interests going for a long time to come.

I asked Kevin if he has more fans recognize him and stop him on the street to ask questions or request an autograph. Also, did he have any unusual fan experiences. He said, thankfully no unusual fan encounters, just an amusing experience during the filming of "Ladder 49". During filming he went into a local dry-cleaners, the person behind the counter thought he was truly a firefighter. Once the person learned he was working on the film, they requested an autograph. Kevin was happy to oblige them, but they then clarified they wanted John Travolta's autograph instead. Kevin chuckled at the memory of the incident.

When asked about other projects Kevin has on the go, he replied that during filming POI there is not much time to take on new projects. However he has a movie he produced, called Lonely Street, that is now out in stores. Lonely Street stars Jay Mohr, Robert Patrick, Joe Mantegna, and is the story of a gullible private detective, who becomes the prime suspect in a tabloid reporter's murder after being hired to snoop on him by a mysterious celebrity.

We are delighted to learn that Person Of Interest was recently nominated and just won a People's Choice Award in the New TV Drama category!!

Love Person Of Interest, then sign-up at CBS' POI Ultimate Fan

Kevin Chapman's Online Outlets:

Official Website
Twitter @POIFUSCO
Official Facebook

Interview with Jamie Benning, creator of Filmumentaries; Star Wars Begins, Building Empire, Returning to Jedi, and Raiding the Lost Ark

2011-12-13T10:49:00.001-07:00

Jamie Benning is the creator of Filmumentaries - Star Wars Begins, Building Empire, Returning to Jedi and the soon to be released Raiding the Lost Ark. Jamie recently took time to chat with me about his filmumentary projects.

You are the creator of some fantastic filmumentaries about two iconic film franchises: Star Wars, and Indiana Jones. What inspired you to create these filmumentaries?

I always felt that DVD commentary tracks could be pushed in the visual as well as the audio arena. I felt that commentary tracks and DVD extras can sometimes be lazy and sanitized. For Star Wars I knew there was plenty of material out there to make something new and different. There was so much disparate material, which if drawn together, would make something that would at the very least be interesting.

Have you had the opportunity to meet and speak with George Lucas or Steven Spielberg? If yes, what are their thoughts on your work?

I haven't heard from the two masters. I hope they see my Filmumentaries for what they are though; love letters to their wonderful films.

Please share with us a bit about the process of making a filmumentary.

First of all, I lay the entire film on a Final Cut Pro timeline. Then I go about collecting and collating as much material together from books, DVDs, VHS, and online resources. It is then a matter of deciding which parts to use, and which parts to omit to create a story. With this project the narrative I wanted to create is about Lucas being at the top of his game and Spielberg trying to prove the point that he can shoot a film within budget and within time. He had quite a lot to prove to the studios after the cost of Close Encounters and the time spent on 1941.

Which software programs and/or computer gadgets do you use to collate and edit your material?

I use an Apple Macbook and iMac running FCP7. I also use MPEG Streamclip, Compressor, Photoshop and After Effects.

What do you consider to be the biggest challenge in making a filmumentary?

The challenge is to use material that is already available, to make something new and interesting, not only for the casual viewer but also for the avid fan. I have been accused of just ripping off other peoples work and putting it in a different order. But quite often that is how a documentary is made. The wonderful film Senna is an example of how a person can make an emotional and interesting piece by using only archive footage along with contemporary interviews. Obviously my Filmumentaries are in a different format. But I hope that with the combination of old and new material, some of which I will have created myself, that I can create a new way of looking at and enjoying a film. I also think the format can add life to films that have been parodied, copied and for want of a better phrase, done to death.

What are the most valuable things you have learned from undertaking your filmumentary-making journey?

I am pleased to say that whilst I really made the Star Wars one's for a small online forum and myself, I was so humbled to get such a huge amount of positive feedback from so many people. Since February 2011, not a single day has passed that I haven't had a kind email from somebody who has enjoyed my Filmumentaries.

Watch Jamie's Filmumentaries, read interviews, and more at: http://filmumentaries.com/

Sean Patrick Flanery: The Man Who Transforms On Screen

2011-12-10T08:58:00.001-07:00

By Lynn Tackitt
People who follow television shows or the movies almost always have their favorite actors or actresses that they enjoy watching and they follow their careers to see what they are doing next. Some of us follow what they do and where they go more closely by following them on Twitter or Facebook or go to see them at Comic Cons if they are doing an appearance. Is there anything wrong with that? I would say, no, if it is done respectfully and not to the point of needing a restraining order.

I have watched movies, with some of my favorite actors/actresses in them, just because they are in them. Sometimes I might be disappointed but I support them by going anyway. A lot of times I see that actor/actress playing that part, although believable in the role I don’t often see them “become” the role. I have also sat through movies with some actors/actresses I don’t care for, that the movies went on to be classic. To be truthful, those actors/actresses weren’t the reason they were a good film. The script carried it; the lines that were written could have carried a trained chimp.

Every now and then you will see a movie and realize that you have seen that actor before but it might take you a minute to remember where you have seen them and then a few more minutes to remember their name. Is it because of their acting? Is their acting so bad they weren’t memorable? I don’t think so. I think it’s because these are the few actors/actresses that actually become the role. You don’t see an actor in the role; you see the character that was written, in the film.

Sean Patrick Flanery is one of these actors. From the beginning small roles in “The Grass Harp” and “Frank & Jesse”, he’s not just an actor with a small role, he is the character in these films that you see briefly. When Mr. Flanery was in “The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones” I never saw Sean as Indiana Jones, I saw a young inexperienced, passionate young man becoming the man, Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr. I have watched him become “Powder” and wrap himself so much in that character that you can forget you are watching a film with an actor and feel what the character is going through and who that character is.

He can become a tormented person who has lost his love “Zack & Reba”, to a no nonsense business man who opens himself up to love in “Simply Irresistible” and a hopeless romantic in “A Crush On You” to a very bad man in “Citizen Jane” and “Sinners & Saints” and a corrupt politician in the series “The Dead Zone” and his most recognizable role as an Irish brother who seeks justice with his brother in “The Boondock Saints”.

Sean becomes these people in these films, where you believe the characters and believe in the characters.

Out of a career, which spans over 20 years, there have only been a few films that didn’t leave me wanting to see it over and over again but it was scripting not the acting. He puts himself into each and every role and you can see the work. Often, at the end of the film you will once again realize, that Sean, the actor, was in the film, because once the story begins it is no longer Sean on the screen, but the character that he brings to life.

I look forward to all his upcoming work to get the chance to see what characters and storylines adventures he will take me on, because to watch Mr. Flanery on screen is always a wonderful journey.

Old School New School - Documentary Film Review

2011-12-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

Poster courtesy Blue Dog Productions, Inc.

And Where A Great And Unique Man Speaks Small Men Should Keep Silence - Franz Xaver Kappus

Old School New School, by writer-producer Steven Fischer, is an educational short documentary which explores ‘an artist’s journey’. The documentary is comprised of three homologous themes: Finding your Own Voice, Security versus Risk, and Defining Success in the Arts.

Steven Fisher conducts engaging interviews with ten accomplished artists in order to chronicle each of their experiences and opinions in regards to each of the three stated themes.

The interviewees include Emmy®-winning actor Brian Cox (King Lear, X-Men, Manhunter), Tony Award-winning producer Emanuel Azenberg (Rent, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Lost in Yonkers), Oscar®-nominated cinematographer William Fraker ASC, BSC (Bullitt, Rosemary’s Baby, WarGames, Tombstone), Grammy-winning jazz pianist McCoy Tyner (My Favorite Things, Sahara, Illuminations), Accomplished actor Tomas Arana (CSI, 24, Law & Order, Tombstone, Gladiator), Renowned cinematographer John Bailey, ASC (The Big Chill, American Gigolo, The Accidental Tourist), Actor-turned-Congressman Ben Jones (Dukes of Hazzard), Acclaimed theater actor and professor Sam McCready, Distinguished poet James Ragan (Too Long a Solitude, In the Talking Hours), Award-winning improvisational dancer Kirstie Simson.

Some of the key points I distilled from watching the documentary are:

Be honest with yourself
Be willing to make sacrifices and take (smart) risks
There is not just one path to success
You are the person who defines your own success.

I asked the filmmaker about his choice of title for the documentary, not that I found the title to be incongruous, but I wanted a better understanding of how he thought it related to the content of his film. This was Mr. Fischer’s response to my query: “I felt it incorporated each aspect of the movie's overall idea of the younger generation going to the older generation for knowledge: younger, older, and schooling.”

Each interviewee speaks candidly and shares anecdotes that are easily relatable. Although the knowledge they share is not entirely new information to this reviewer; the sage advice is significant and beneficial to hear (whether it’s for the first time or the upteenth time).

Old School New School’s agenda is a well defined at the beginning of the documentary and is cleanly executed. It’s well worth the 33 minutes it takes to watch Old School New School, you will gain a positive insight into the journey of artists.

About The Writer-Producer:

Steven Fischer is a multi-award winning writer/producer noted for artistic and socially conscious storytelling. His credits include Freedom Dance (2007), featuring Mariska Hargitay, as well as documentaries and scripted stories commissioned by: Maryland Public Television/PBS, Nextel, National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, TimeWarner Cable, and AmeriCorps

To learn more about Old School New School, go to: http://www.stevenfischer.net

PATS CATS ETC Founder Chats About Her Upcoming Book About Celebrities And Their Pets

2011-11-24T19:03:00.001-07:00

As a person who holds the welfare of animals dear to my heart; I was pleased to chat with the founder of PATS CATS ETC ELDERLY ANIMAL RESCUE. PATS CATS ETC is an animal sanctuary based in Carmarthenshire, West Wales. The sanctuary is dedicated to the care and well being of all types of animals, with particular reference to elderly animals who may otherwise be difficult to home.

When did you first become involved with rescuing animals? 1986

How did Pats Cats Etc become to be, and what is the sanctuary’s directive?

I started with cat rescue founding a Cats Protection League group in Oxfordshire to help ferals and strays in that area but after six years wanted to expand to help any animal in need so went independently working from a small paddock at home. Eventually I needed much more room so sold up and moved to a 12 acre small holding in Wales. The main aim is to help old, sick or terminally ill animals since these are the ones who are always difficult to find placement for. If a new, forever home comes up then, following stringent home checks, neutering and micro chipping they can be adopted but, failing that, they have a safe home here for life. However, any animal in trouble is welcome if it is at all possible to find space. Being entirely voluntary there is no outside funding and it is essential to ensure there is sufficient backing for accommodation, food and veterinary care. I would like to stress here that any animal coming to Pats Cats Etc who is likely to remain for the rest of its life is given as near to a family environment as possible, not just permanently placed in a kennel or cattery.

How great is the need for animal sanctuaries such as Pats Cats Etc? Has there been an increase in the number of animals in need of a good home since you’ve started your rescue mission?

Absolutely. Animals needing help have increased and there is a massive need for sanctuaries. Far too many animals are put to sleep daily. As the economic situation and cost of living have expanded then so, too, very noticeably, has the dumping of animals.

Actor Richard Briers CBE (Doctor Who, Much Ado About Nothing) serves as patron to Pats Cats Etc. How did Mr. Briers become affiliated with the sanctuary?

Please check these productions, Richard is best known for the series The Good Life. We first met when I interviewed him to write a profile for Oxon Magazine many years ago. He had a wonderful rescued dog called Fred at the time. We kept in touch and this last year he agreed to become our patron. He has also helped by writing the foreword for my previous two books, A Cat in Every Corner and Sticky Dewi.

Funding for animal rescue and animal care comes from donations and the sale of books you have available on your website. You are currently working on a new book; what details can you share with our readers about this new book?

This new book is to focus on celebrities who have adopted rescued animals. The idea is to encourage people to do the same rather than buying from shops, breeders or puppy farms. There are far too many animals, particularly dogs, who are unwanted and so many put to sleep for lack of a loving home. The general public are often unaware of this and do not always realize the benefits to themselves as well as the animals, of helping to rescue. A rescued animal has so much love to give and what you see is what you get by way of behavior.

You already have some celebrity contributors lined up for the book, correct? Would there be any particular celebrity you would love to have contribute to the book?

Delving into this I have discovered an amazing and pleasing number of well known celebrities who do more than just adopting an animal but who actively support sanctuaries and animal welfare groups. It is quite difficult to single out one in particular. People do have their own favorites and like to emulate certain aspects of their life styles and that is what I am hoping the book will encourage more to do. I am delighted with the response received so far but need many more. I can only add that anyone, famous or not, who adopts a rescued animal is wonderful in my view.

If a celebrity wished to contribute to the book, what is the best way for them to connect with you/your sanctuary?

I do try to keep a low profile with regards to the specific location of the sanctuary to protect the animals in care and to avoid animals being simply dumped on the doorstep in the night, which has happened many times to myself and other rescues. Visitors are welcome but only by appointment.

However, if any celebrity would be willing to help by contributing to this book then there is the web site: patscatsetc.org.uk, Face book (click on the green logo), email; dixiesmum@btinternet.com or by telephone (appreciating that not everyone is computerized) 01558 669070. The time involved is kept to a minimum, appreciating how busy celebrities are, but I do hope more will come forward. Revenue from the book will go towards expanding Pats Cats Etc to enable more animals to be saved.

PATS CATS ETC ELDERLY ANIMAL RESCUE Website: www.patscatsetc.org.uk

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