REB BEACH ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ALBUM “A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE” DUE NOVEMBER 6, 2020

FIRST SINGLE, ‘INFINITO 1122’ OUT NOW

Reb Beach has announced that his long in the works instrumental solo album will now see the light of day. “A View From The Inside” is slated for a November 6th release via Frontiers Music Srl. A new single and video, ‘Infinito 1122‘ is out today. See the video HEREhttps://youtu.be/cN_m-jz772k

Pre-order/save “A View From The Inside” HEREhttps://orcd.co/rebbeach

An album that showcases the dynamic talents of the guitar virtuoso, hard rock fans will be transported back to the days when giants like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani dominated the mainstream consciousness (and airwaves), while also simultaneously being shown a guitarist ever pushing himself forward into the future. 

Reb Beach is one of the indisputable guitar giants of the current hard rock scene. His resume with ‘80s/’90s mega-stars Winger alone would earn him this distinction, but his legacy is cemented by his current membership and work with the legendary Whitesnake, his past efforts with Dokken, and his recent release with supergroup Black Swan, also featuring Jeff Pilson, Robin MacAuley, and Matt Starr. 

Influenced by the legendary hard rockers of the ‘70s, Reb spent his teen years jamming along with the greats of that era like Aerosmith and Montrose, but it was when he discovered more progressive players like Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth, and Larry Carlton that his musical world really opened up. The complexity and the speed of the more prog style of playing was a unique challenge compared to the blues-based playing of most musicians of that era. The discovery of these players was ultimately the catalyst that drove his playing to the level he is now so well known to music fans the world over for. Beach eventually graduated from his home practice space to the Berkeley School of Music, but after a couple of semesters he moved on and soon became one of the most sought-after session players in the music industry, working with such all-time great talents as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey, Chaka Kahn, Howard Jones, and Twisted Sister. 

While living in NYC, he hooked up with his future bandmate, bassist and frontman Kip Winger. Reb and Kip formed the band Winger and the rest is history. The two proved to be incredible writing partners, crafting multiple platinum records that featured no less than six Top Forty singles. with music that was commercial yet complex. 

After Winger went on a hiatus in the ‘90s, Beach’s career continued thanks to collaborations with Alice Cooper, Dokken and Night Ranger and he debuted as a solo artist in 2002 with the album “Masquerade”. 

Following the Winger reunion in the ‘00s, Reb heard that David Coverdale was looking for a new guitarist for Whitesnake. He reached out to him and since 2003, Reb has toured the world with the band as well as released multiple albums with them, including “Good to Be Bad,” “Forevermore,” “The Purple Album,” and the recent “Flesh & Blood,” plus a number of live albums.

Reb Beach will now release his first instrumental album, but this is not a mere exercise of self-indulgence. It is the culmination of over 30 years of study and extremely hard work on his craft. Fans of Steve Morse and Joe Satriani will find a lot to love in the 11 songs on offer here, but while there is certainly a lot of ear candy for the musician types, fans of hard rock in general will find a wealth of melodies and transcendent moments where the songs simply make you forget there are no vocals.

Tracklist:

1. Black Magic

2. Little Robots

3. Aurora Borealis

4. Infinito 1122

5. Attack Of The Massive

6. The Way Home

7. Whiplash

8. Hawkdance

9. Cutting Loose

10. Sea Of Tranquility 

Line-up:

Reb Beach – guitars, bass on 4, 9, keyboards on 4, 6, 11, strings on 10

David Throckmorton – drums (except on 6)

Robert Langley – drums on 6

Michele Luppi – piano on 3, 10

Phillip Bynoe – bass on 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11

John Hall – bass on 5, 6, 7

Paul Brown – keyboards on 1, 2, 5, 7

Trafalgar Releasing Debuts Trailer for ‘Roger Waters Us + Them’ Film – in theaters worldwide Oct. 2 & 6

TRAILER UNVEILED FOR ROGER WATERS
US + THEM
FILM COMING TO CINEMAS AROUND THE WORLD
ON OCTOBER 2ND & 6TH
FEATURING SONGS FROM HIS LEGENDARY PINK FLOYD ALBUMS AND FROM HIS LAST ALBUM, IS THIS THE LIFE WE REALLY WANT?

TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT ROGERWATERSUSANDTHEM.COM

London, July 17: Trafalgar Releasing are excited to unveil the official film trailer for Roger Waters Us + Them, filmed in Amsterdam on the European leg of his highly successful and critically acclaimed 2017/2018 world tour, US + THEM. The film will be screened in 2500+ cinemas across 60+ countries around the world on October 2 and 6 only. Tickets to see the film are on sale now from rogerwatersusandthem.com.

Roger Waters, co-founder and creative force behind Pink Floyd, with visionary director, Sean Evans, brings to the screen the live story of Us + Them to inspire you with its powerful music and message of human rights, liberty and love.

The film features songs from Waters legendary Pink Floyd albums, The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall, Animals, Wish You Were Here, as well as his last album, Is This The Life We Really Want?

The tour saw Waters perform a total of 156 shows to 2.3M people throughout North America, Australia & New Zealand, Europe, Russia, Latin America and Mexico.

“I’m so looking forward to the launch of the movie in October. US + THEM is not standard rock and roll fare, some in the audience may ‘yee haaaa!!!’ Which is ok, but many will weep. That is what I hope for. US + THEM is a call to action. Homo Sapiens stand at a crossroads, we can either pool our love, develop our capacity to empathise with others and act collectively for the good of our planet, or we can remain Comfortably Numb, and continue, like blind lemmings, on our current omnicidal death march towards extinction. US + THEM is a vote for love and life.”
Roger Waters, 11th July 2019

Director, Sean Evans added: “This is a great film – an amazing performance delivered with care, emotion and meaning. Didn’t think it was possible, but I believe we’ve outdone The Wall…”

The event will be screened in cinemas around the world on Wednesday, October 2 and Sunday, October 6 (in Dolby Atmos where available). More information can be found at rogerwatersusandthem.com, where fans

 

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6 Hard to Believe Facts About Popular Gambling Movies

Hollywood has always been in love with the world of gambling. The result of this affection is a large number of gambling-related movies that have been made to date. We don’t blame them as we understand this entirely.

A large number of movies that explore this topic have turned into classics that people watch again and again. These pieces of art are appreciated both by those who enjoy placing a bet or spinning the reels from time to time and by those who have never entered a casino or a sportsbook before.

Regardless of which group you fall into, we’ve collected a list of hard to believe facts about popular gambling movies that will certainly spark your interest. Check them out!

1.  Casino Royale: The Most Expensive Gambling Movie

Gambling movies do not have to be very expensive to make. However, the producers and directors usually reserve a large budget to present the luxury and the opulence of casino resorts. If you also add James Bond to that story, you get the most expensive gambling movie ever.

According to this infographic, the production cost ended up being $150 million.

2.  250 Gambling Movies Filmed in Las Vegas

As you can assume, Las Vegas is the most popular destination for making gambling movies. In the past 70 years, more than 250 movies have been made in Sin City. This does not surprise us as Las Vegas is basically one huge casino resort.

The most popular destination for filming in Vegas is the Strip, where all of the most luxurious casinos are located.

3.  Gambling Movies Are Bad for Business

Many people are against movies about gambling because they believe this is a way to promote another vice. However, that’s far from the truth as these movies often promote negative images about gambling as a whole.

For example, the typical Hollywood gambler is run down, addicted, in debt, with little support from his loved ones. Gamblers are also shown as cheaters and immoral individuals, and the Hollywood gambling world is ruled by the mafia.

4.  Six Gambling Movies Made Between 1908-1930

Did you know that gambling movies only became popular after WW2? In the infant years of filmography, gambling was not at all an important topic. In 22 years between 1908 and 1930, just six gambling-related titles were made in the whole world. However, today, we can choose from hundreds of awesome movies that were filmed around the world. 

5.  Gambling Movie Stars Love Gambling

A lot of popular movie stars who played significant roles in gambling movies have started to like gambling in real life as well. Some of the biggest names in Hollywood include George Clooney, Edward Norton, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and so on.

Some of them, like Clooney, for example, have become entrepreneurs and opened their own casino resorts. Others, like Affleck, have ended up struggling with gambling addiction for a time.

6.  Gambling Movies Are Not Realistic

Hollywood is generally not always trying to be as realistic as possible. That’s true when it comes to gambling movies as well. If you come from the gambling world and you watch one of the popular movies about this topic, you will notice a lot of scenes that are not at all realistic.

Such scenes include those where gamblers are able to make consistent wins and earn millions. This is something that does not happen in real life. You could get lucky a couple of times in a row, but luck will not stand by your side all night long.

Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival Expands To Two Days At Doheny State Beach April 6 & 7

Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival
Powered By Gringo Bandito
Expands To Two Days At Doheny State Beach In Southern California
Saturday, April 6 & Sunday, April 7

With Performances From The Offspring, Flogging Molly,
Bad Religion, Descendents, Good Charlotte, Black Flag & More

Plus Unlimited Tastings From Over 150 Craft Beers,
Gourmet Tacos, Lucha Libre Style Wrestling & More

Tickets On Sale Friday, February 1 At 10:00 AM PT

Now in its sixth year, Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival powered by Gringo Bandito has announced its biggest event yet. After selling out its flagship date in Dana Point, CA for two years in a row, this year’s Southern California festival expands to two days on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 at picturesque Doheny State Beach, with additional tour dates for early 2019 to be announced soon.

Produced by premier music festival production company Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc. (SGE) and California’s most successful and respected craft beer festival producer Brew Ha Ha Productions, Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival will feature performances from The Offspring, Flogging Molly, Bad Religion, Descendents, Good Charlotte, Black Flag, and more, with craft beer tastings (until 4:00 P.M.) from some of the best breweries in the country. Delectable tacos from the region’s top chefs and restaurants will be available for purchase, and attendees can enjoy Lucha Libre style wrestling, lawn games, contests, and more.

Dexter Holland of The Offspring says, “Sabroso is now a WEEKEND of our favorite things: tacos, craft beer and great bands!”

CEO of Synergy Global Entertainment and Sabroso co-producer John Reese, says, “We couldn’t ask for a more perfect lineup and a more perfect location inside of California State Parks…The Offspring, Flogging Molly, Bad Religion, Descendents, Black Flag, and all of the other great acts we have over the weekend… it really doesn’t get better than this. Between the music, unlimited craft beer tastings, tacos, wrestling and more, Sabroso is a can’t miss weekend!”

“There is so much to be excited about this year at Sabroso!” adds Sabroso co-producer Cameron Collins of Brew Ha Ha Productions, which celebrates its 10th year in 2019. “There will be more tacos than ever before, with an even greater variety offered…we’re talking carne asada, grilled fish, fried fish, shrimp, lobster, chicken, al pastor, and more! In addition to the crazy amount of insane tacos, we have some of the most sought after breweries and beers on the planet participating! It’s literally a brewery lineup that craft beer fanatics dream about: Russian River Brewing (Santa Rosa, CA), Burgeon Beer Company (Carlsbad, CA), MadeWest Brewing Co. (Ventura, CA), The Shop Beer Co. (Phoenix, AZ), Modern Times (San Diego, CA), Artifex Brewing (San Clemente, CA), Chapman Crafted (Orange, CA). This year’s brewery lineup is possibly the strongest we have ever had – it’s going to be absolutely incredible!”

The music lineup for Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival is as follows (subject to change):

Saturday, April 6: Flogging Molly, Bad Religion, Good Charlotte, Lagwagon, Strung Out, The Suicide Machines, and D.I.

Sunday, April 7: The Offspring, Descendents, Black Flag, Face To Face, Plague Vendor, Red City Radio, and Orange Blossom Special

Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival kicks off at 1:00 PM each day (with doors for Early Entry and VIP guests opening at Noon, to allow for an added hour of tastings). During tastings (available until 4:00 PM), craft beer lovers 21+ can choose from over 150 craft beers from the finest breweries in the nation. Tastings will feature tons of local favorites, with an initial list of breweries including: Artifex Brewing Company, Burgeon Beer Co., MadeWest Brewing Co., Chapman Crafted Beer, Fall Brewing Company, Modern Times Beer, Docent Brewery, Noble Ale Works, Russian River Brewing Company, and many more to be announced.

Attendees are also invited to sample all flavors of Gringo Bandito—Dexter Holland of The Offspring’s top rated hot sauce—during the event.

This year will mark the 9th Annual Gringo Bandito Chronic Tacos Challenge, where professional eaters from around the world compete for cash prizes and the highly-coveted title of Chronic Tacos Eating Champion. World-champion competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi, from Nagano, Japan returns to defend his 2018 Gringo Bandito Chronic Tacos Eating Champion title, where he devoured an astonishing 154 tacos in 10 minutes.

Additionally, taco creations from food vendors will compete for the coveted Sabroso “Best Of Show,” awarded by a panel of food judges.

Lucha Libre style wrestling stars from across the globe will take to the ring battling for the title of Sabroso Champion, as multiple qualifying wrestling matches take place throughout the weekend, with one final championship match. Renowned Mexico City luchador Cesar Gonzalez (Silver King)—who is more widely known for his role as Ramses, the villain wrestling champion in the film Nacho Libre (starring Jack Black)—will return to Sabroso this year to defend his 2018 title of “King Of The Ring.”

Tickets for Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival go on sale Friday, February 1 at 10:00 AM PT at www.SabrosoTacoFest.com,with Single Day tickets starting at $59.50 (plus fees), Single Day Early Entry tickets starting at $69.50 (plus fees), and Weekend tickets starting at $89.50 (plus fees), while supplies last. For this family-friendly event, kids 7 and under get in free with an adult ticket holder.

Single Day and Weekend VIP Lounge tickets will also be available for purchase and include: One VIP admission ticket (Single Day or Weekend) to Sabroso Festival; a dedicated VIP entry lane into the venue; one hour early entry for up to 4 hours of craft beer tastings (Noon – 4:00 PM, 21+ only); and access to the Sabroso VIP Lounge, which includes: exclusive craft beer tastings (Noon – 4:00 PM, 21+ only), a view of the Main Stage, comfortable areas to sit and relax, a VIP bar, private restrooms, convenient food options available for purchase, and a dedicated merchandise stand for convenient shopping.

At last year’s sold out Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival powered by Gringo Bandito at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA, 8,500 attendees gathered under the California sunshine for an afternoon of complimentary craft beer tasting with over 40 of the best breweries from Southern California and beyond, gourmet street tacos and more, and Lucha Libre style wrestlers competed throughout the day as the waves of the Pacific crashed behind their beachside ring.

A portion of the proceeds from Sabroso will be donated to the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association (DSBIA), the non-profit cooperating association of Doheny State Beach, dedicated to the protection of the park’s beaches, facilities, marine refuge and its historical, cultural and social stories. Sabroso will also partner with Big Brother Big Sister, who are known for providing strong and enduring, one-to-one, professionally supported mentoring relationships for youth facing adversity.

Doheny State Beach is easily accessible by car from Los Angeles County, San Diego County, the Inland Empire, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, the San Joaquin Valley, and via flights to Orange County’s John Wayne Airport.

The festival producers encourage attendees to drink responsibly.

Sponsors for Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival include: Rockstar Energy Drink, Milagro Tequila, Wienerschnitzel, Takis, Chronic Tacos, Del Real Foods, Jarritos, Gringo Bandito, and many more.

For more on Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival powered by Gringo Bandito, visit: 
www.SabrosoTacoFest.com

 

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6 Best Poker and Gambling Movies to Watch

There are countless movies about poker and gambling related storylines. Likewise, casinos have been popular prime locations for making these movies since the very beginnings of a silver screen. In case you are interested in learning some tips and tricks while watching such films, then our selection of carefully selected gambling movies will be of a great interest to you. Another place to get try your gambling skills would be supercasinosites.com/online-casinos and play while watching these great movies.

  1. Rain Man

A selfish businessman called Charlie Babbit (Tom Cruise) discovers his father left a fortune to his savant, autistic, brother Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). After meeting his older brother for the first time, Charlie takes Raymond to Las Vegas with the idea of using his brother’s gift to win big while playing blackjack. “Rain Man” resembles everything from family bonds, mental insight, to even crossing the legal boundaries.

  1. The Sting

One of the most stylish movies of all times, “The Sting”, takes place in Chicago, in 1936. A young con man Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) teams up with an old pro Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to revenge for his murdered partner responsible, Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). In this finely-crafted story, things don’t go according to plan, so there is some ad hoc improvisation by the undaunted duo.

  1. Casino (1995)

Full of violence and tragedy, “Casino” is Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece where Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci are the main characters. The movie is all about greed, dishonesty, power, and a rivalry between the two best friends – a mafia underboss and a casino owner, over a trophy wife and a gambling empire.

  1. Two for the Money (2005)

After suffering a career-ending knee injury, a former college football celebrity Brandon (Matthew McConaughey) decides to keep working in the sports gambling business. His knowledge and skills qualify him to choose winners which is how why he catches the eye of one of sports-betting’s consultants Walter (Al Pacino) who takes Brandon under his control. “Two for the Money” is a famous  American drama about the world of sports gambling.

  1. Casino Royale (2006)

Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) is a shady financier who attends a high-rollers poker tournament in Montenegro, where he tries to recoup his money back in order to stay safe amongst the terrorists. Secret agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) is sent on a mission to prevent Le Chiffre from winning the money and escaping. Altogether, “Casino Royale” is a classy casino film which became highly popular among movie lovers.

  1. Louis Theroux: Gambling in Vegas (2007)

“Louis Theroux: Gambling in Las Vegas” is a TV documentary which is created by Louis Theroux who goes to Las Vegas in order to reveal the world behind the curtains of a casino culture. Among many people, he meets interesting individuals such as high-rollers and a worker who looks after them, and also a retired doctor who tells she has gambled millions of dollars in seven years.

The Conclusion

These are top 6 must-see gambling movies. Certainly, some of the titles are better than the others, but they all have one thing in common – to keep you entertained and eager to visit the casinos and try your luck.

Shallow Side set to release 6 song EP titled “One” on Jan. 13 w/ Tour kicking of Feb. 1st

Rock is dead, they say? Hogwash. Don’t even bring up such an idea with the four-piece Cullman, Alabama-bred rockers Shallow Side, who have taken it to be their personal holy mission to spread the glory of modern rock & roll as far and as wide as they can to anyone who will listen. “The energy and excitement of rock & roll is missing nowadays, and we need it now more than ever,” believes Shallow Side’s frontman, vocalist Eric Boatright. “Our goal is that we want to revitalize that entire genre and remind the world how rock & roll can be such a strong force in everyone’s lives.”

The proof of Shallow Side’s pure rocking prowess can be found within the deep grooves of their new EP titled ONE, which is being released by Thermal Entertainment on January 13, 2017. ONE is one tight, ass-kicking affair from the get-go, from the wham-bam all-out jam of the opening track “We Roll” to the fist-waving defiance of “Rebel” to the put-up-or-shut-up manifesto of “Fight or Flight” to their all-guns-a-blazing modern-day take on a well-loved rock classic, Styx’s “Renegade.” (Oh, mama!)

Ultimately, Shallow Side is creating new music that fuses the best intentions of classic rock with modern crunch by planting their flag at the intersection of where Shinedown meets Styx and Journey meets Daughtry. One song Shallow Side fans will be grooving along with right from the start is the current single from ONE, “Fight or Flight,” which unifies the ideas set forth with the one-two punch of “Rebel” and “Renegade,” the EP’s initial radio hits songs. “That’s the heaviest song on this EP,” Boatright clarifies. “It tips the hat to the rock & roll market that exists today and also says, ‘If you guys want to run heavy, we’ll run heavy with you. We can do that — and we’re not scared of it, either. We’re very good at it.’”

Shallow Side’s main message is one of unity. “When we first started, rock & roll wasn’t for us,” Boatright concludes. “We wanted to go to a concert, enjoy the music, sing along, and be a part of the overall song and dance. We’re now looking to bridge that gap to bring the family together to where rock & roll was at one point. The mission since we began was to take the wheel and steer it back into a direction where everyone from all walks of life could enjoy a good rock show.”

Considering the band’s all-in philosophy, it appears that ONE is most definitely the best name for this raucous EP. Let’s all join together and revel in having Shallow Side show us the ONE true way to the future of great rock & roll.injuries while touring and it hasn’t slowed us down enough to lose momentum.”

The band just received their highest honor to date being selected Loudwire’s Best New Artist of the Year (past winners included Saint Asonia and Baby Metal).

The new 6 song EP is a prelude to a full length release to come out later this year.

Shallow Side are:

Eric Boatright (Vocals)

Cody Hampton (Bass/Guitar)

Seth Trimble (Guitar/Keyboard)

Heath Fields (Drums)

WEBSITES

http://shallowside.net/

http://www.facebook.com/ShallowSideBand/

http://twitter.com/ShallowSideBand/

http://www.youtube.com/user/shallowsidemusic

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

01-13-17 in Cullman, AL at Cullman Civic Center (CD Release Show & Kick Off)

02-01-17 in Knoxville, TN at The Open Chord

02-02-17 in Johnson City, TN at The Hideaway

02-03-17 in Spartanburg, SC at Ground Zero

02-04-17 in Jasper, AL at Jars 64

02-08-17 in St Louis, MO at The Firebird

02-10-17 in Junction City, KS at The Devils Tail

02-11-17 in Omaha, NE at Shamrocks Pub

02-12-17 in O’Neil, NE at The Chesterfield West

02-13-17 in Sioux Falls, SD at Bigs Bar

02-15-17 in Colorado Springs, CO at Sunshine Studios

02-17-17 in Las Vegas, NV at Radio Contraband Convention (performing awards night – private)

02-19-17 in Scottsdale, AZ at Rock Bar

04-29-17 in Las Vegas, NV at M Resort Spa Casino (Rock Into Spring)

05-27-17 in Madison, WI at Alliant Energy Center (Bratfest)

 

Atticus Shaffer talks about Season 6 of “The Middle”

Atticus Shaffer plays the role of the quirky yet loveable Brick on ABC’s hit sitcom “The Middle”. The series also stars actress Patricia Heaton and actor Neil Flynn and was recently picked up for a seventh season. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Atticus prior to the season 6 finale where he discussed his involvement with the show since its original pilot, his thoughts on the Heck Families changing dynamics and what he does to keep himself busy outside of the show.

Adam Lawton: What has it been like for you having been involved with the show since the original series and now going into the finale of season 6?
Atticus Shaffer: Even though this is the finale of season 6 going back to that first original pilot I have been with the show now around 7 or 8 years. This was one of those projects that from the very start I wanted to work out. I have hoped for the best from the very start. Even after the first pilot didn’t get picked up there was this lingering that it wasn’t over. After sometime a second pilot was put together and we got it that time. There was this energy on set where everyone where we were looking forward to the next episode and subsequently the next season. We always just kept moving forward. Now with season 6 over we are past the point of syndication so we were all thinking that this could potentially be it. To find out we got picked up for another season is a huge blessing. I am really excited not only for what the writers have in store for Brick but for the show as a whole.

AL: Having played the Brick character for so long now what type of things do you do to still challenge yourself as an actor in that role?
AS: You always hear about people getting stuck in a certain character and being unable to break away from that. It’s something that is very true. When you are playing a character eight months out of the year things almost start to become robotic. Some days you might be shooting scenes where you don’t have a lot going on so you’re just sort of going through the motions and then you go home. It’s great when the writers throw me a bone because I completely dedicate myself to what they have done. It’s me just focusing on portraying the character the best I can. Something that I think has helped from the very beginning is my voice over work which I do outside of the show. I love animation and fortunately a lot of those studios are in close proximity to where we shoot “The Middle”. I often will get done working on the series and then go down the street and get to do some voice over work.  For the first three years of the show I was also doing voice work on “Frankenweenie” at the same time. Starting during season two I was also doing “Fish Hooks” as well. I have what I like to call my “pallet cleansers” which keeps me fresh. I have done a lot of cool voice roles which has helped me during my in between times on the series. I just found out recently that I will be doing voice work for one of the main five characters on a new Disney series which will be announced in the near future. It’s a really great opportunity that I am very excited about. I have my live action series family and now I have my voice over series family. It’s really great to be a part of both.

AL: How has Brick in season 6 compared to the Brick we have seen in previous season?
AS: This season Brick has matured quite a lot both emotionally and mentally. Instead of being the eye in the storm character whose very matter of fact he puts more work into things now. It’s cool to be able to see Brick mature and now he of course has a girlfriend. Brick is now finding the people who understand him. While his family still of course understands him he has been able to explain to them more about his thoughts and feelings. But again Brick is also finding social circle to where he can talk about the same types of things outside his home. It’s interesting to see him mature but at the same time he’s still classic Brick.

AL: With Axl and Sue both being out of the house now going into season 7 how do you feel the family dynamics will change in the Heck household?
AS: With both of those characters out of the house I had been thinking of what that would mean for Brick and how the writers would approach things. This can be sort of a blessing and a curse. It certainly can open up the door for a number of different story lines however the family might not be as close of a unit with less people now so that can certain impact things. I think it would be cool if Brick continues to mature and keeps finding people he can relate to which ultimately helps him develop a really tight knit friend group that he can be with when he is not at home.

AL: Are you able to bring these types of ideas to the writers for consideration?
AS: In the very beginning the writers had specific story lines that they wanted the characters to follow. Around season 4 most of those lines had been used and they start looking for different ideas and input. Every year I sit down with the creators of the show and talk about the plans for the character. I like to be aware of what’s going on with Brick so we talk about some of the episodes and then I give my ideas of what I think might be a cool way to go with things. Most of the time they may not use the ideas but every once in awhile they give me something and I get really excited. It’s one of those things that can be tough but at the same time its fun to see what they come up with.

AL: Where do you feel fans will be left at the close of season 6?
AS: I think it’s one of those thing where if we hadn’t been officially picked up for a 7th season it would be very easy for people to panic thinking we left them on a cliff hanger. From here on out I think the episodes will include everything but the kitchen sink. I think the end of this season will certainly leave people with questions however they can sort of breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there is more to come next season.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Big Hero 6”

Actors: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, Jr. Damon Wayans, Genesis Rodriguez
Directors: Chris Williams Don Hall
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Run Time: 102 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I first saw “Big Hero 6”, I had high expectations from the film since Walt Disney Animation Studios has been really delivering some hits recently with “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph”. After a few viewing though (and quickly becoming one of my daughters favorites) “Big Hero 6” and the lovable Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit) has won me over. This film won the Oscar last night for Best Animated Film and looking back on the year, I couldn’t agree more. I did love “The LEGO Movie” but all around this was the best animated film of the year.  If you haven’t seen this film yet, I highly suggest it since it will definitely will you over! Fist bump!

Official Premise: With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy adventure that introduces Baymax, a lovable, personal companion robot, who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to Baymax and his diverse group of friends — adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred — who transform into a band of unlikely heroes. Bring From Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Frozen,” “Wreck-It Ralph”), Disney’s “Big Hero 6” introduces you to a lovable robot who will change your world. Join Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit)home Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” featuring comic-book-style action and hilarious, unforgettable characters — it’s fun for the whole family!

Disney is releasing this film on a Collector’s Edition combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy included. The 1080p transfer is beautiful but Disney is still slacking with neglecting to including a 3D Blu-ray of their films. I wish they would smarten up and start releasing 3D Blu-ray’s again. This film looked amazing in 3D and I would love to watch it in 3D again. Still though, I love the colors in this film, The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is outstanding. The action sounds amazing. Why Hiro and Bayamax are souring through the sky, it was a thing of beauty.

In terms of special features, Disney delivers here. First we have the Oscar Winning Theatrical Short “FEAST”. “The Origin Story of “Big Hero 6”: Hiro’s Journey” is hosted by Jamie Chung, voice of Go Go Tomago and takes us behind the scenes. “Big Animator 6: The Characters Behind the Characters” features the film lead animators talking about their creation. There are a few deleted scenes including two alternate openings with intros from Directors Don Hall & Chris Williams. There is also an Easter Egg included called “Big Hero Secrets” which tells you about the film’s secrets.

Nintendo 3DS Video Game Review “Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay”

Release Date: October 23, 2014
E10+ for Everyone 10 and older: Cartoon Violence
Genre: Platformer
Publisher: Game Mill Entertainment
Developer: 1st Playable Productions

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Right from the start, “Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay” was off to a bad start. I thought there was something wrong with my 3DS and it turned out the game isn’t presented with 3D effects. I mean come on, there are indie games that are coming out in 3D and a big game like “Big Hero 6” is not. Very disappointing. The game difficulty is extremely easy. The bad guys are no challenge at all, in fact I beat the first boss while checking my email on my phone. You play as each of the five main characters mixed up throughout the game’s 20 levels, which will take the average gamer about an hour or two to beat. The other main issue is that Baymax, who is the best character in the movie is merely background noise. Big miss here for sure.

Official Premise: Following on the heels of their super hero debut, the Big Hero 6 team has targeted a dangerous gangster named Yama and his legion of out of control fighting robots! Take control of the stars of the film in this action packed combat platformer! Send robot’s flying across the screen as Hiro with his electro-mag gauntlets! Zoom through levels at top speed as Go ! Slice and dice as Wasabi with his plasma blades! Smash and burn as Fred in his Kaiju monster super suit!

“Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay” features no spoken dialogue or cut scenes at all along with bland and repetitive sound design. One thing this game does have though to add slightly more game play instead of jump flying through each level is that there is some in-game collectibles. You can collect various hidden items in each level including a cat, a plus symbol consisting of five cubes and the word HERO spelled out. Finding these items will provide health upgrades as well as trophies, art work and more. Unless you are completely obsessed with “Big Hero 6” and need to have everything from the movie, this is a definite pass.

 

Film Review “Big Hero 6”

Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans, Jr., Génesis Rodríguez, T.J. Miller,
Daniel Henney, Maya Rudolph
Directed by: Don Hall, Chris Williams
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 108 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

For those that do not know “Big Hero 6” is inspired by the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, which was released back in 1998. In fact, “Big Hero 6” is the first Disney animated film to feature Marvel Comics characters. They aren’t well-known characters like “The Avengers” but still Marvel characters nonetheless. I have to admit, I was expecting a little more from this film. I enjoyed it overall but I didn’t walk away screaming “WOW!!” like I did with recent past Disney animated films like “Tangled”, “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen”. I absolutely loved those films but I only liked “Big Hero 6”.

Official Premise: “Big Hero 6” is an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax (Scott Adsit), a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter). When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago (Jamie Chung), neatnik Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), chemistry whiz Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez) and fanboy Fred (T.J. Miller). Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called “Big Hero 6.”

Let’s start off with the fact that I love Baymax. I love him. He is literally the main star of this film. He steals the show. Other than him, I really wasn’t in love with any of the other characters at all. It all felt a little generic to me. Luckily, the film had a lot of heart to it and it ended up winning me off in the third act. There was some quite intense moments in the film as well that I questioned “is this really a kids film?”. I have a two year old daughter and she has seen “Tangled”, “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen” numerous times each and I will NOT be showing her this film for many years. There are also some parts that are downright creepy with the Kabuki-faced villain.

I loved the fictionalized created city, San Fransokyo. It is very bright and quite beautiful especially during the flying scenes. The animation is great and no complaints there at all. Viewing the film in 3D, there are some great epic scale shots for the effect but I wasn’t very blown away with it anyway. There are no in your face gags either. If you want to see it in 3D though, check it out in theaters since Disney doesn’t release 3D Blu-rays anymore. The score is epic by Henry Jackson but nothing too memorable. I don’t really see myself listening to the score after seeing the film unlike “Tangled”, “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen”, which are all on my phone still today.

The voice cast is good but not filled with an all-star cast. Hiro is voiced by Ryan Potter, who is only known for the TV series “Supah Ninjas”. His older brother Tadashi is voiced by Daniel Henney (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine). The inflatable nurse robot turned superhero, Baymax, is voiced by Scott Adsit, known best for “30 Rock”. Tadashi’s college friends are voiced by T.J. Miller (“Transformers: Age of Exinction”) , Jamie Chung (“Sucker Punch”), Genesis Rodriguez (“Identity Thief) and Damon Wayans Jr. (“Let’s Be Cops”). Fun fact, co-director Chris Williams, voiced the fan-favorite character Oaken from last year’s “Frozen”.

While “Big Hero 6” is not one of my favorite films of the year, it is still a fun time to be had. Like I said it has a lot of heart and even might be able to get a few tears out of you if you are feeling emotional. The visual effects are great. Baymax is easily one of the coolest and most lovable characters. I liked it but I do not see it being very memorable. In my house, we must watch  “Tangled”, “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen” each at least one a month at the least, I do not see many repeat viewings of this film. Be sure to get to the theater early to catch the short film “Feast”, which is nothing short of outstanding and easily outshines the film it precedes.

 

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  • Book Review “The Art of Big Hero 6”

    Author: Jessica Julius
    Hardcover: 168 pages
    Publisher: Chronicle Books
    Release Date: October 28, 2014

    Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

    If there is one movie that I am excited to see this fall it is easily “Big Hero 6”. Walt Disney Animation Studio has been delivering some of the best product recently including “Tangled”, “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Frozen” and even wiping the floors with Pixar’s lackluster recent films. “Big Hero 6” looks like yet another winner for Disney. The animation in the film is so colorful and vibrant. The book is a little heavy in character designs and less in the high-tech city of San Fransokyo the film is based in. If you are looking for a great behind-the-scenes look into this film, Chronicle Books has done it again!

    Official Premise: Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6 is the story of Hiro Hamada, a brilliant robotics prodigy who must foil a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. This new title in our popular The Art of series, published to coincide with the movie’s U.S. release, features concept art from the film’s creation—including sketches, storyboards, maquette sculpts, colorscripts, and much more—illuminated by quotes and interviews with the film’s creators. Fans will love the behind-the-scenes insights into Disney’s newest action comedy adventure.

    The author of the book Jessica Julius is also a creative executive at Walt Disney Animation Studios. She has worked on such films as “Frozen”, “Tangled”, “Wreck-It Ralph”, “The Princess and the Frog”, and “Bolt” aka all of my favorites in the last decade. So if you looking for a good inside look, she is definitely a trusted source for the topic at hand.  John Lasseter gives a great preface to the book. Co-directors of “Big Hero 6”, Chris Williams and Don Hall serve up a fantastic foreword as well. I really enjoyed reading this book and I have a feeling that I am going to enjoy it even more getting to revisit once I have seen the film.

     

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    “Boyhood” The Most Critically-acclaimed Film of the Year Debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack January 6, 2015

    DIRECTOR RICHARD LINKLATER’S 12-YEAR CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE COMES HOME

    The Most Critically-acclaimed Film of the Year Debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack
    January 6, 2015

    Buy it Four Weeks Early on Digital HD December 9, 2014

     HOLLYWOOD, Calif.  –  Hailed as “a moving 12-year epic that isn’t quite like anything else in the history of cinema” (Andrew O’Hehir, Salon), “a breathtaking achievement” (Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post) and “a profound viewing experience” (Manohla Dargis, The New York Times), writer/director Richard Linklater’s extraordinary  film BOYHOOD debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD January6, 2015 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  The film arrives four weeks early on Digital HD December 9, 2014.

    Filmed over the course of 12 years with the same cast, BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason.  A box office hit from IFC Films that has garnered universal critical acclaim, BOYHOOD achieved a rare 99% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, earned an unprecedented score of 100 on Metacritic and is the first film to receive an A+ score from Entertainment Weekly’s Critical Mass.  The film stars Academy Award® nominee* Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater and Ellar Coltrane as Mason.

     The BOYHOOD Blu-ray Combo Pack includes a look at the extraordinary work that went into making the film, as well as an in-depth Q&A with Richard Linklater and the cast.

     

    The Blu-ray Combo Pack available for purchase includes a Digital Version of the film that can be accessed through UltraViolet™, a way to collect, access and enjoy movies.  With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them—reliably and securely—to a variety of devices.

     

    The BOYHOOD Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description with English, English SDH and Spanish subtitles.  The combo pack includes access to a Digital HD copy of the film as well as the following:

    Blu-ray

    • Feature film in high definition
    • The 12 Year Project
    • Q&A with Richard Linklater and the Cast

    DVD

    • Feature film in standard definition

     

    The BOYHOOD DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English and Spanish subtitles.  The DVD includes the feature film in standard definition.

    Blu-ray Review “Duck Dynasty: Season 6”

    Starring: Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Kay Robertson, Phil Robertson
    Studio: Lionsgate
    DVD Release Date: October 7, 2014
    Run Time: 220 minutes

    Season: 4 out of 5 stars
    Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

    I know the gang of “Duck Dynasty” are quickly loosing their mainstream hype and mass audience of fans but I still love this show. I can’t get enough of it. I love the cast. They just crack me up. After a hard day at work something you don’t want to watch a intense fact-filling crime drama instead you want to watch something light and fun…and “Duck Dynasty” is definitely that. This season is a hoot just like the first five. I do not think that the appeal has worn off at all (of course I only started watching at season three in the prime of its popularity). Keep them coming A&E, when is season seven coming?

    Official Premise: There are goings-on with everyone, from the guys re-branding Duck Commander to the governor of Louisiana giving Willie an award to the return of the dreaded beavers! Watch as the elder Robertsons share their special brand of wisdom with the kids along the way: Phil teaches Bella more than Willie was hoping about nature, Willie and Si insist on helping John Luke with his speech introducing the governor and Jep and Jessica chaperone Lily’s first date. Jase takes Reed frog-hunting the night before his high school graduation-like he did before his own-and Jep and the ladies pull a senior prank by toilet-papering Missy and Jase’s house. Willie also sponsors a radio contest and finds himself competing against Si for a wood chipper. Somehow, it all comes together.

    The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio tracks are good but nothing special since the show is quite basic. It is still a great step up from cable TV. There is a massive amount of special features here with TEN behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Reinventing Duck Commander”; “Firefighter Academy: Robertson Style”; “The Governor Visits Duck Commander”; “Jep Meets Lily’s First Boyfriend”; “Rolling’ with the Robertsons”; “Willie the Joker”; “Godwin’s Rotten Pickles”; “Mother’s Day 2014”; “Si’s New Hobby: Couponing” and “Willie’s Day at the Dojo”. There are some a bunch of deleted scenes included rounding out the extras.

    Book Review “Big Hero 6: Hiro and Tadashi”

    Author: Brittany Candau
    Illustrated by Jeff Clark, Scott Tilley
    Age Range: 6 – 8 years
    Grade Level: 1 – 3
    Hardcover: 32 pages
    Publisher: Disney Press
    Release Date: September 23, 2014

    Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

    If you are digging this superhero take over of Hollywood like myself, then I am sure that you are looking forward to “Big Hero 6” like myself. It is Disney’s answer or as close as we are going to get for a while to an animated superhero. From the studio that has brought us films like “Wreck-It Ralph”, “Tangled” and “Frozen”, I have a feeling that this is going to be extremely epic! Counting down the day.

    Official Premise: This beautifully-illustrated picture book timed to release with Big Hero 6, focuses on tech-wiz Hiro and his older brother, Tadashi, as well as their unique styles and tastes in building robots! Readers will get a feel for their fun, compelling relationship, their mutual love for technology, and get to know the characters behind the super team, Big Hero 6!

    “Big Hero 6: Hiro and Tadashi” is a great setup to the film and gives you a chance to learn a little bit about the characters as we wait until its release this November. The style of the book really drew me in the cover since it has a certain fuzzy, 8-bit feel to it which I really dug. This is only the first and Disney should be releasing a great deal of books for “Big Hero 6”, so I can’t wait to see what else they have planned for this!

     

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    Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 6”

    Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis
    Number of discs: 6
    Rated: NR (Not Rated)
    Studio: Paramount
    DVD Release Date: June 24, 2014
    Run Time: 1175 minutes

    Season: 5 out of 5 stars
    Extras: 43.5 out of 5 stars

    The sixth season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” is easily one of my favorites. Each of the show’s characters have been developed so well by this point. This show was also airing the same time as “Deep Space Nine” but this season was still one of the most strongest of the series. Patrick Stewart really delivered some of his best performances with the following episodes “Chain of Command, Parts 1 and 2”. Also season six includes several well-known recurring characters, most importantly being Montgomery Scott, the Enterprise engineer from the Original Series, who is found alive and adjusting to the twenty-fourth century. This is also the second to last of the seasons, which means that most likely later this year this “Star Trek: The Next Generation” will be available complete on Blu-ray.

    Here is the episode list for this season: Time’s Arrow, Part II; Realm of Fear; Man of the People; Relics; Schisms; True-Q; Rascals; A Fistful of Datas; The Quality of Life; Chain of Command, Part I; Chain of Command, Part II; Ship in a Bottle; Aquiel; Face of the Enemy; Tapestry; Birthright, Part I; Birthright, Part II; Starship Mine; Lessons; The Chase; Frame of Mind; Suspicions; Rightful Heir; Second Chances; Timescape and Descent, Part I. Brent Spiner’s dual performance as Data and his father Dr. Noonien Soong in “Birthright” are fantastic. Of course like I said above, the two part episode “Chain of Command” is literally one of the best arcs. Also Riker (Jonathan Frakes) copes with a bizarre identity crisis that pits him against himself in “Second Chances”.

    Like the five seasons before this one, Paramount has consistently delivered this series with amazing releases. These episodes are newly remastered within their 1080p transfers.  The visual effects look better and overall the show just feels much sharper.  Since this show was shot on video and the special effects were set in their masters. They really went to town and delivered an impressive release yet again. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, which is a such a treat for this series. I literally just got a new 7.1 surround sound system and I couldn’t help but turn it up to 11.

    The special features are a step up again and deliver some great extras. There is are three audio commentary track included. The first is with Ronald D. Moore and Mike & Denise Okuda on “Relics”. Next is an audio commentary with Ronald D. Moore and Mike & Denise Okuda on “Tapestry”. Lastly there is an audio commentary with James L. Conway and Jonathan West on “Frame of Mind” . There are a few “Archival Mission Log” over first five discs focusing on “Mission Overview Year Six”, ” Bold New Directions”, “Departmental Briefing Year Six: Production and Dan Curry”, “Special Crew Profile: Lt. Cmdr. Data”, “Select Historical Data” and “Inside Starfleet Archives: Sets and Props”.

    There are brand new deleted scenes on the following episodes Time’s Arrow, Part II, Relics, True Q, Ship in a Bottle, Face of the Enemy, Tapestry, Birthright, Part II, The Chase and Rightful Heir. The real star of this release is easily the brand new, three-part documentary “Beyond the Five Year Mission – The Evolution of Star Trek: The Next Generation” featuring fascinating interviews with cast and crew. Lastly there are episodic promos on each on the six discs and a new gag reel included.