Blu-Ray Review “The Hour: Series 1”

Created by: Abi Morgan
Starring, Dominic West, Romola Garai and Ben Whishaw
Original channel: BBC Two
No. of episodes: 6
Run Time: 360 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I have not heard of this show until it showed up on my door to review. The only program I watch on BBC is “Doctor Who” but boy, I am glad I had the chance to review this series. The only problem I had with this series is that it is only a six part series like most shows on BBC. I would have loved to see more of this show but don’t worry it is confirmed for a second series. The combination of music, acting and fast dialogue makes this show very interesting. Not only that but it is also funny, it is romantic and it is suspenseful..you can expect that and more within “The Hour” (pun intended).

The series is a period drama set in 1956, it generally follows three people Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw), Hector Madden (Dominic West) and Bel Rowley (Romola Garai) as they set out to start a news program called “The Hour”. Hector is the face of the show, Bel is the producer and Freddie is the heart and its driving force. Freddie is trying to investigate the mystery behind the death of his friend, which delves a lot deeper into government conspiracies that he expects.  The trio are also involved in this love triangle is starts subtle and then explodes as the series goes on.  They push the limits with their news as they are under constant watch from the government since they are in times of war.  How far will they go to report the news and who/what will get in their way?

The cast is so phenomonal lead by Ben Whishaw, which is just stunning to watch on the screen and captures you with every word spoken.  Dominic West is such an amazing actor and really shines in this role.  I had the pleasure of meeting him in over 10 years ago before he hit it big with “The Wire” and he is just such a lovely person. Romola Garai is also fantastic playing the strong woman, yet in dire need of love, producer.  She is just so emotionally charged in this series and especially with the events from the finale, I can’t wait to see where her character goes.

Also a must to note is the music, it is so fantastic. It has a noir feel and helps with pacing each episode so well. The picture is fantastic and the sound is superb on Blu-ray. I wish I could say the same for the extras though since they are in SD not HD and there are only two features. The first is a behind the scenes, which runs about 10 minutes and takes a look into the making the series for i.e. it’s production design and cinematography. I did really enjoy the extra “Creating The Hour”, which runs about 20 minutes, which is also a behind the scenes making-of feature. It focuses a lot of the concept of the show and its characters.

Official Site: http://bit.ly/noJs2Z

Synopsis:
Set behind the scenes of the BBC newsroom, just as an investigative news program is launched, the drama plots the personal lives, professional interplay and jealous ambition between aspiring but renegade journalist Freddie Lyon (Whishaw), the beautiful ambitious young producer Bel Rowley (Garai) with whom he is in love, and his handsome rival Hector Madden (West), the face and lead anchorman of this rising television news team. The Hour plays out as a riveting thriller set against the backdrop of the Cold War.

Viewers witness the decade on the threshold of change – from the ruthless sexual politics behind the polite social façade of the ‘50s to the revelations that redefined the world for a new generation. Over the six episodes, the interplay and intense ambitions between the rising news team plays out against the backdrop of a mysterious murder and Freddie’s controversial and dangerous investigation.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 1, bluray, hour, review, series

Interview with Dave Foley

Dave Foley is known best for his TV work in “The Kids in the Hall” and “NewsRadio”. He is currently co-starring with Kevin Dillon and David Hornsby in CBS’s new comedy “How to Be a Gentleman”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dave about his new show, his work with “The Kids in the Hall” and what he has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role of Jerry in “How to Be a Gentleman”?
Dave Foley: The show is created by David Hornsby.  He was the writer, producer and performer in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. He writes a column for men in a Maxim style magazine and I play Jerry his editor.  Jerry is a man around 50, who is scared of losing his job and trying to stay relevant to his 25 year old boss.

MG: You are no stranger to comedy, how do you feel this show differs from your other comedy work?
DF: It’s actually has more similarities to shows like “NewsRadio” or “Kids in the Hall”.  It is a really strong ensemble of great performers.  Everyone in the cast is really funny. Behind that just like “NewsRadio”, it has a great writing staff.  To me I have been very fortunate to be able to continue working with great actors and writers.

MG: Switching to sci-fi, tell us about your work on the season finale of “Eureka”, any plans to come back?
DF: I was hoping to come back but they just announced they have already shot the rest of the episodes for their final season.  I was a big fan of that show and was good friends with Matthew Hastings, one of the producers and directors on the show.  I kept bugging him to get me a part in the show. I really wanted to be on it because I was such a fan.  So about a year later, we finally made it happen…he had a script and I wasn’t busy.  It was really fun.

MG: What are your feeling about Kevin McDonald and Scott Thompson going on tour this year?
DF: It’s a great show and I actually opened for them when they did the show in L.A. They are both doing stand up but then they come together throughout the show and do bits.  It goes back and forth. It is hilarious.

MG: Do you ever see yourself working again under “The Kids in the Hall”?
DF: Yeah I would love to.  We were trying to get a tour together for this Fall as well, but now I got this job with “How To Be a Gentleman”.  But we want to keep touring with each other for as many years as we can and also more smaller “Kids” projects down the road.  We definitely want to keep “The Kids in the Hall” part of our creative lives.

MG: I really enjoyed the mini-series feel for “Death Comes to Town”.
DF: It started out we were trying to come up with movie ideas. So this idea came up and Kevin (McDonald) and Bruce (McCulloch) were developing it. They came back and said it would work better as a mini-series.  We had no plans of ever doing television together again, since we already did a pretty good sketch show.  So we figured a mini-series with a narrative was the way to go and thought it would be fun.

MG: How do you compare doing voice work to live action work, do you prefer one over another?
DF: There are different challenges.  Working with voice work it is all in your head and your relying very heavily on your director in order to know what the other actors have done, what the story is and the what are the visuals.  They paint the scene in your head for you and then you have to act the best you can and make it seem real.  In my case, make it funny.  Unlike when you are on a movie set, you have props, other actors and sets.  So it can be very different.

MG: Tell us what you like most about working on “Dan Vs.” and what can we expect from season two this October?
DF: It is really fun.  A lot of the time I get to be in the studio with Curtis Armstrong and Paget Brewster.  The three of us get to work together and that doesn’t usually happen with animation.  I think as the show goes along Dan becomes increasingly sociopathic and dangerous [laughs].  I think some of the scripts are getting a little weirder and absurd as we go along, but it is keeping to the same tone.  I enjoy it quite a bit.

MG: Any plans upcoming for another “Prep and Landing” special?
DF: Yes in fact, there is going to be a new “Prep and Landing” special this Christmas. Rob Riggle is going to do a voice on it also.  It is a new story and it is going to be on this Christmas, so it is really exciting.

MG: You have been involved with Pixar before with “A Bug’s Life”, any truth to your involvement with “Monsters University”?
DF: Yes I am doing once of the voice, that is correct.  I have already been up to San Francisco to record, so I am very excited for that.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: dave, foley, interview

Interview with Mary Lynn Rajskub

Mary Lynn Rajskub is known best for her role of Chloe O’Brian in the TV series “24”.  Mary Lynn is currently co-starring in “How To Be a Gentleman” with David Horsnby, Kevin Dillon, Rhys Darby and David Foley.  The show premiere’s September 29th on CBS.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Mary Lynn about her now show and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: How is it working with a primarily male cast on “How To Be a Gentleman”?
Mary Lynn Rajskub: I don’t mind it. Men can be exciting sometimes. We have a lot of women on the crew and there also is Nancy Lenehan, who plays our mother on the show.

MG: How was it working with Kevin Dillion, who is fresh from “Entourage”?
MLR: It’s great! He is a super nice guy and he is very funny. I think this show gives him more to do and we get to see more of him than on “Entourage”. He really had no break as once that show ended he started work on this one. We are shooting episode number five right now. It’s been pretty fun so far.

MG: What can we expect from the first season?
MLR: The idea of the show was created by David Horsnby. He had this book that I think his mom gave him on how to be a gentleman. The book has all these archaic rules about politeness and things a gentleman should do. David loosely based the show on a guy who lived his life by every rule in that book. I play the sister who tries to get this guy into the real world. Kevin Dillon plays the guy who used to be the bully in high school and wants Andrew the main character to get laid. It’s really a story about a guy attempting to change his life.

MG: How does it feel going from a show like “24” to a comedy like this one?
MLR: It’s been interesting. It’s been a lot different and I don’t have to worry about who is getting shot or if the bomb went off yet. This show still has high stakes overall but its more about the relationships. I get to be a girl and wear sexy outfits. It’s a lot lighter.

MG: How do you feel this show differs from other television shows?
MLR: I think every show is different. What I like about our show is that the characters are very likeable. I think everyone on our show is really good at comedy and each character is endearing in their own way.

MG: What was it like working with Fred Savage?
MLR: Fed Savage is super sweet and very high energy. He is like a little kid as he has so much fun directing and with his job. Fred is just a great guy that has grown up in the business and loves directing. He has a very infectious personality.

MG: Any word about the rumors circulating in relation to a “24” full length movie?
MLR: I haven’t heard anything but it is something I would love to see. I am not sure how they would handle the countdown but I haven’t heard anything yet. I hope it is still in the works.

MG: Can you tell us about your upcoming film with Kristen Bell titles “Safety Not Guaranteed”?
MLR: I got to work with Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson who is super funny as well as Jeff Garlin who I have known for a long time. It was one of those scripts that were sort of odd and sweet but kind of dark. It was good timing and was just a few days of work. I play a boss of a magazine that is very cold and rude. The film is based on a personal add about a guy that wants to time travel.

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Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: interview, lynn, mary, rajskub

XBOX 360 Game Review “Dead Island”

Developer: Techland
Distributor: Square Enix
Publisher: Deep Silver
Platform: Xbox 360
Mode: Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating: ESRB: M

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

First, and above all foremost, this is NOT your “Mom’s” Zombie game. This game is bloody, gory, creepy, and fun as all hell. I wanted to play it the first time I saw the official announcement trailer, watch below. This game has the “scare” feeling you get from BioShock, coupled with good music and sound effects. The scare factor is what I loved the most. If you want to really get into the game, play at night, in the dark, using a Ear Force X41 headset, which I absolutely love. You can hear all of the little details in the background, not just the ones close to you. My roommates had a particularly joyful time sneaking up on me. The game is set in an absolutely spectacular island setting, with blue skies filled with puffy white clouds, and crystal blue waters. The fact that a zombie apocalypse begins here of all places is ironic.

Now before you just punch the heck out of the start button to jump in to the game, make sure you watch that intro. For one thing the song “Who Do You Voodoo, Bitch?” is addictive, but mainly because it sets up the story for you. For example, it explains why you start out by waking up on the floor in a hotel room. You also want to pay close attention to your mini map and the “bread crumb trail” in the beginning or you will find yourself dying several times before you get off the floor of your hotel room.

Game play is smooth and easy to catch on to changing weapons and setting skill points. Just make sure you are in a safe place when you set those skill points because live mode is still live when you go into your inventory, map and skills section. The tutorial is short, and sweet, getting you into the fray pretty quickly. There are loads of places and things to loot, from the numerous luggage left all over the island, to refrigerators, cupboards, phones and even computer towers give you items to sell, modify your weapons; even the zombies sometimes give out health packs!

Health is regenerated from eating fruit, energy bars, and drinking energy drinks, or using med kits which are given like an injections. Several friends and I have joked that the med kits are more akin to taking an insulin shot after the number of energy drinks and energy bars one consumes to stay alive. Dying doesn’t kill you in the XP section like most games, or the loot, but it will make a nice dent in your wallet. Sadly returning to the site of your demise doesn’t replenish that wad of cash either, you just want to make sure you loot when you can, especially zombies and safe’s as they give really good handfuls.

You have an option of playing in either Co-Op Mode or Multiplayer Mode and in either mode you play through the story line. The difference is with Multiplayer Mode you can join random other peoples games or they can jump into your game depending on the settings you have changed. I particularly enjoyed the Multiplayer mode because anyone could just jump in your game at any time and help you out. You also learn a lot of tips and tricks from them. Then again if they just annoy you you do have the option to boot them out of your game.

With all games there are of course some issues. For instance trying to take a shortcut over a large hill rather than going around it will sometimes find you stuck, or that gap between the fence and stairs will send you suddenly to your death. I find the game play was so much fun that the little things that annoyed me were very pale in comparison. There are some other little glitches, some of them so easy you can’t help but wonder if the programmers did it on purpose. For instance, with an especially expensive or all around awesome weapon equipped, holding down your left trigger, then holding down Y and then holding down right trigger (so they are all held down at once at the end) you drop your weapon, and a duplicate of it. This is a particularly nice “glitch” when you need more money (duplicate, sell, repeat) or when you want to save on the costly price of repairing your weapons (duplicate and save weapon that is at 100%).

All in all I absolutely LOVED this game. The story line is terrific, even including a rather unique reason how the whole zombie thing began. But I suggest you play yourself and try it out. This is definitely a game I recommend to anyone over 18 (there IS a lot of blood and gore!)

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Filed Under: Game Reviews Tagged With: 360, dead, game, island, review, xbox, ...

Official Poster from Spielberg’s “War Horse”

Above is the official one sheet for DreamWorks Pictures’ WAR HORSE.

Website and Mobile site: warhorsemovie.com
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/WarHorseMovie

Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/warhorsemovie

Genre:  Drama
Rating:   PG-13
U.S. Release date: December 28, 2011
Cast:  Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Kebbell
Director:  Steven Spielberg
Producers:  Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy
Executive Producers:  Frank Marshall, Revel Guest
Screenplay by:  Lee Hall and Richard Curtis
Based on the book by: Michael Morpurgo
and the recent stage play by Nick Stafford, produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain and directed by Tom Morris and Marianne Elliot

DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse,” director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is currently on Broadway. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

DreamWorks Pictures’ “War Horse,” director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War.

 

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: horse, poster, spielbergs, war

“How To Be a Gentleman” Interview Series

CBS’ new show “HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN”, inspired by the book of the same name, is a comedy about the unlikely friendship between a traditional, refined writer and an unrefined personal trainer. Andrew Carlson (David Hornsby) is an etiquette columnist whose devotion to ideals from a more civilized time has lead to a life detached from modern society. Infectiously optimistic, Bert Lansing (Kevin Dillon) is a reformed “bad boy” from Andrew’s past who inherited a fitness center, but can still be rude, loud and sloppy. When Andrew’s editor, Jerry (Dave Foley), tells him to put a modern, sexy twist on his column or be fired, he hires Bert as a life coach in the hopes of learning to be less “gentle man” and more “real man.” Andrew’s mom, Diane (Nancy Lenehan), and his bossy sister, Janet (Mary Lynn Rajskub), support the plan, as would Janet’s husband, Mike (Rhys Darby), if he was allowed to have an opinion. Though Andrew and Bert’s views may be centuries apart, they may find they’re each other’s missing link. David Hornsby (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), Adam Chase (“Friends”), Ted Schachter (“The Invention of Lying”) are executive producers for CBS Television Studios.


Dave Foley
Mary Lynn Rajskub
Rhys Darby
Sheila Shah

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Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: gentleman, interview, series

Interview with Rhys Darby

Rhys Darby is known best for his role of  Murray Hewitt in “The Flight of the Conchords”.  He is currently starring with Kevin Dillon and David Hornsby in CBS’s new comedy “How to Be a Gentleman”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Rhys about his new show and also his stand up work.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your new show “How to Be a Gentleman”?
Rhys Darby: It is basically about the ultimate gentleman Andrew, played by David Hornsby. He is in his mid-30’s and bit of a loaner. He is obsessed with gentlemanly etiquette and old fashion values. He ends up befriending an old school chum, Bert, who is played by Kevin Dillon, who used to give him hell at school and bullied him. Bert is running a gym and these two end up being friends when Bert takes Andrew on as a client at the gym. They form this odd couple kind of relationship since they both have something the other one needs. One doesn’t have any idea about gentlemanly etiquette and the other needs a good kick up the ass when it comes to being a man.

MG: Give us some background on your character Mike?
RD: Andrew’s sister Janet, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub, has hooked up with me and married this New Zealander. We met in the Chicago Technology and Science Museum, without giving too much away. She falls for my charm. Don’t ask me why I am working in the Chicago Technology and Science Museum [laughs]. I guess I came all the way to America since New Zealand have limited resources with museums. It is a young country and anything in the museum are only about 10-15 years old [laughs]. So I am living the dream and end up in there family. It reminds me of “Happy Days” a little bit since every week we have dinner with Andrew’s mom. My wife Janet is the domineering wife and I am put in my place a bit. Since it is the first season we are exploring the relationship and how things fall into place. In the pilot, I am a little brough beaten but I find my place and get a bit of balls and that is helped out by Kevin’s character. I sort of piggy back off Andrew’s advice and ends up helping me out as well.

MG: How is the production going so far? Any notable moments for the first month of shooting?
RD: It has been going really well. The first thing that we noticed that not only did we have a really good cast but we all got on really well. It really did feel like a family. I just love the cast. From there we are like seven episodes in now and we are just enjoying it. Our relationships are getting stronger and it has been a real blast. The easiest thing about it is that the writing is really good. So hopefully we are going to have a little hit on our hands here.

MG: How does working on a show like this differ from “The Flight of the Conchords”?
RD: It is very different for me. It is a big studio sitcom with lots of sets and multi-camera situations. I am sort of more used to run by the strings of your pants, one camera, making it up as you go along situations. But I bring that background that I have to this and I do a bit of ad lib here and there.  They actually let me do it, so I am rejoicing that. I got the advantage because I am playing a character from a different place and only I know how I would say some things [laughs]. It has been cool.

MG: What do you look for in a character that makes you want to jump on board?
RD: Well, definitely something challenging for me. Comedy is my forte. I like to do what is on paper but then be able to take it even further. I am all about making something as funny as it can be. I come from a stage background where I do physical comedy and stand-up. In “Conchords”, we didn’t have an audience and no one was allowed to laugh on set. It was all about the awkward moments and pauses. Coming into this show now, there is laughter and we have to pause for jokes, it is new for me.

MG: Besides acting you have a stand up routine, what do you enjoy most about it?
RD: Definitely the instant laughs you get and if something is an instant hit. You can think on your feet more and that is something I like to do. Rather than just having a few lines…by that I don’t mean coke [laughs]…I mean script [laughs], learning them two days prior and then doing them once. I rather learn the lines just before hand, have it fresh and have the ability to add to it. In stand up, the way I write my material is to write it out word for word like it is a novel, then read it over once and just go out there. It is very organic, it goes brain to paper…to paper to back to brain…and then out to the ear. It is a three-step process. Things evolve when you are doing stand up man and I really love it.

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Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: darby, interview, rhys

Tweet to Decide Who in the World Sees “Paranormal Activity 3” First!

TWEET TO DECIDE WHO IN THE WORLD SEES “PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3” FIRST!

Paramount Pictures Launches First Ever Global “Tweet To See It First” to Kick Off the Eagerly Awaited 3rd Installment of the Thriller Franchise

 Movie Will Premiere in 20 Cities Worldwide on October 18th

HOLLYWOOD, CA (September 28, 2011) – In an unprecedented move, Paramount Pictures will debut PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 exclusively in cities where the most fans “Tweet To See It First”. This first ever of its kind campaign launched today at 8:00 a.m. PDT and is open to fans worldwide. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 will premiere on October 18th in the top 20 cities with the most tweets, 3 days before the film’s global release.

“The support of this franchise from the online community is phenomenal. We again look to reward them for that support by offering them the chance to see it first, this time expanding our reach globally,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures.

To vote, fans can go to www.ParanormalMovie.com and select their city from a global map, which will also serve as the point of entry to create a tweet with a special set of hash tags that link directly to twitter. Once a tweet posts, it counts as a vote. A leader board will show the top 20 global markets in real-time.

The “Tweet To See It First” competition is available to audiences worldwide and ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Thursday, October 13th. The top 20 cities will be announced on Friday, October 14th.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 is produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Steven Schneider and directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman from a screenplay by Christopher Landon. Follow PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TweetYourScream for audience reactions and important announcements.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.  The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies.  PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Television & Digital Distribution.

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Filed Under: Featured, Film Headlines Tagged With: 3, activity, decide, paranormal, sees, tweet, ...

Interview with Sheila Shah

Sheila Shah is set to appear in the new CBS comedy “How to Be a Gentleman” with Kevin Dillon, Dave Foley and David Hornsby.  She is also in two upcoming films “Mafia” opposite Ving Rhames and “Crossroads”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Sheila about her work and also performing her own stunts.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role as the bartender in the new CBS comedy series “How to be a Gentleman”?
Sheila Shah: I had gone in for an audition which was on a Tuesday. I got a call on Wednesday that I got the part and was on set the very next day. I was just playing the hot bartender [laughs].

MG: Is this going to be a recurring role for you on the show?
SS: A lot depends on the how the ratings of the show go if I will end up being a reoccurring character. Be sure to twitter that you liked my character and hopefully the will be bringing me back.  The show does need a bartender [laughs].

MG: How was it working with Kevin Dillon, Dave Foley and David Hornsby?
SS: Everyone on set was really nice. I got to work one scene with Kevin and the David’s. They had really good energy and were fun to watch. It was my first time being on a TV set so it was great. It was really fun to be the hot bartender and do some sensual moves with the martini glasses.

MG: How does playing Special Agent Cowan in “Saw V” compare to your other work?
SS: The shoots for television are much faster. When you are on a movie set you get a lot more time to spend with the other actors because you are shooting for a longer period. When you go on a show as a guest spot you shoot for a day or two and that’s it. Things just move a lot faster especially when you are doing a comedy. I would love to do more television in the future.

MG: Tell us about your experience in “Mafia”, opposite Ving Rhames, Pam Grier and Robert Patrick?
SS: That movie is going to be amazing and it is currently in post production. My first and last scenes were with Pam Grier which was great being with such a talented actor. Ving Rhames is a very talented actor and getting to be his right hand man in the film was great. I really learned a lot.

MG: Tell us about your role in “Crossroads” and about how you also performed your own stunts?
SS: Because of my role in “Mafia” I took up boxing in an effort to look a bit tougher. I also got to learn how to shoot guns and things so for “Crossroads” I was all set to do my own stunts. There were some really talented actors involved on the project and I was honored to be a part of that production.

MG: What do you look for in a role when you approach a project?
SS: Actions and thrillers are fun to do but I would like to get into a role that is more in depth so I can really get in there. I also want to do some more television work as well.

Official Website: http://www.sheilashah.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sheilashah2

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Filed Under: TV Interviews Tagged With: interview, shah, sheila

Interview with Carly Chaikin

Carly Chaikin is currently playing Dalia Royce on new series “Suburgatory”, which premieres on ABC on 9/28 at 8:30/7:30c.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Carly about her new role and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us what you like most about playing Dalia Royce on “Suburgatory”?
Carly Chaikin: The most exciting thing for me is that I have never played a character like this before. She is a legitimate character for me. I actually have to step into her, wear different clothes, put on fake nails and become her. I think that is the art of acting and that is why I enjoy it so much. I get to explore that and become someone else entirely.

MG: This is your first TV series, how do you feel it differs than working on film?
CC: It is my first anything TV and it took me by surprise that my career has landed me in the TV world. I think what is so exciting about doing a TV show vs. doing a film is that you have 13 episodes where you get to build and develop your character more and more. I get to go on the journey with her oppose to just having this one start line that we all know which we do for two months and it is done. I think it is also saying with TV we have no idea what is going to happen next. Today I just read the script for episode seven and I have never seen it before. It is just as exciting every time we get a new script.

MG: Since the show is a comedy, how do you prepare for your character?
CC: I am working with such amazing comedians that the second you set onto set you are already in that comedy vibe. For me my character is so comedic based on the things she wears, her facial experiences and the simplicity of who she is. For me the second I get into my wardrobe, put on my fake nails, get my hair straightened and my eye lashes on…I immediately step into the character and I am ready to go.

MG: Tell us about working with the rest of the cast i.e. Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines and Alan Tudyk?
CC: Working with them has been a dream. Cheryl and I are so incredibly close. I am sure you hear this all the time when you are working with people on set you kind of become a family. I started calling Cheryl mom off screen a lot [laughs]. Alan is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my entire life. Jeremy is an amazing person. In between takes when we are just hanging around we just have so much fun together. It is very natural and fun. I really do enjoy doing to work everyday because I get to see these people.

MG: How do you feel the show will stand out amongst new shows this Fall?
CC: I so firmly believe in our show. I think it is incredibly written and genuinely funny. I think it is an easy watch. It is fresh and new and something that people haven’t really seen. It is the kind of show that if I wasn’t in…I would want to watch. People that have seen the pilot all want to see what happens next and that is what makes the show important and good.

MG: How many episodes have you filmed so far this season?
CC: We just finished episode 5, which was our Halloween episode. Yeah as of right now we have 13 episodes. We are averaging about one episode per week in production.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “Escapee”?
CC: It was my first horror film that I have ever done. We filmed in Alexandria, Louisiana, which was definitely an experience especially from growing up in Los Angeles [laughs]. It is a fun and really good scary movie. It has been released in Alexandria and did incredibly well at the box office. Hopefully it will expand…so fingers crossed. It is definitely something I would like everyone to see.

 

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: carly, chaikin, interview

“Devil’s Playground” Invades Home Entertainment with Launch on DVD and VOD on October 11, 2011

“DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND” INVADES HOME ENTERTAINMENT WITH LAUNCH ON DVD AND VOD  ON OCTOBER 11, 2011

“…good old-fashioned zombie carnage.” – Dreadcentral.com

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 13, 2011) – Prepare for a bloodcurdling invasion as Indomina Releasing unleashes Devil’s Playground on DVD and Video on Demand on October 11, 2011.  When an experimental new drug treatment goes terribly wrong, the results are hair-raising as thousands of patients rapidly turn into insatiable killers.  Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, the DVD will be available at an SRP of $14.93.

SYNOPSIS

Flesh-eating zombies have taken over London, and humanity’s only hope for the future lies in one woman’s DNA.  Cole, a hardened mercenary who works for the pharmaceutical company responsible for the horrific disaster, is charged with bringing her in.  But, he’s already battling the demons of his violent past.  Can he take on an army of bloodthirsty creatures as well?  Find out-if you dare-in this terrifying sci-fi thriller filled with ravenous killers on a feeding frenzy.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Behind-the-scenes Featurette and Deleted Scenes
  • Aspect ratio: 16×9 2.40 Widescreen Version
  • Sound: Engligh 5.1 Dolby Digital, English Stereo
 INDOMINA RELEASING HAS HORROR COVERED

The critics are clamoring for Outcast, the gripping thriller about black magic and witchery that stars James Nesbitt (The Hobbit) and James Cosmo (Braveheart). Ain’t It Cool News calls it “an excellent film” to be seen “at all costs,” and Eight Rooks of TwitchFilm.com proclaims it “a genuinely menacing piece of horror.” Mary (Kate Dickie, TV’s “The Pillars of the Earth”) harbors a dark history, but must confront her past when a hunter with magical powers (Nesbitt) is assigned to capture her and kill her son. As the terrifying cat-and-mouse game continues, locals begin to die at the hands of an unknown life force and a deadly fear takes hold.  Currently available on Video on Demand.

The Pack follows Charlotte (Emilie Dequenne), a beautiful but rough around the edges kind of girl, who drives a beat-up station wagon in the countryside of northern France. Her journey takes a turn when she picks up a mysterious hitchhiker (Benjamine Biolay), with whom she strikes an unusual bond. Stopping at a roadside diner, her new companion strangely disappears, and Charlotte finds herself knocked unconscious and held captive. She soon encounters a peculiar and disturbed woman (Yolande Moreau), and discovers that her blood is being used to feed a “pack” of flesh-eating ghouls. Available on Demand on September 27.

ABOUT INDOMINA RELEASING

The Indomina Group is a vertically integrated independent studio launched in 2008 by Vice Chairman and CEO Jasbinder Singh Mann.  Operating in Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic, Indomina takes a transmedia approach to collaborating with content creators around the world to bring innovative entertainment properties to the market. The company’s global operations include the production and distribution of motion pictures, television, music, interactive games, and the ownership of world-class studio facilities and production services.  For more information please visit www.indomina.com

ABOUT VIVENDI ENTERTAINMENT

Vivendi Entertainment is a full service independent film, television, DVD and digital distribution company operating in the United States and Canada. Representing a vast range of genres including action, comedy, urban, family, Latino, sports and stand-up comedies, Vivendi Entertainment has become a favorite distribution partner for independent content providers. The company has built an extensive catalog of over 3,000 titles, and its customer-centric business model was founded on the principles of collaboration and financial transparency. The company provides sales, marketing, and distribution services to many of the home entertainment industry’s most prestigious brands including: World Wrestling Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Shout! Factory, Classic Media, Big Idea, RHI, Code Black, National Geographic, Salient, Televisa, Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures and Nelvana. Vivendi Entertainment is a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, the award-winning sales, marketing and distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company.

For more information about Devil’s Playground, please visit indomina.com.

Street Date: October 11, 2011
Pricing: $14.93

Feature Running Time: 97 Minutes

MPAA Ratings: This film is not rated

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: 11, 2011, devils, dvd, entertainment, home, ...

“God Bless Ozzy Osbourne” Set For November 15 Release Via Eagle Rock Entertainment

“GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE’ BLU-RAY AND DVD SET FOR NOVEMBER 15 RELEASE VIA EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT

New York, NY (September 27, 2011) –Eagle Rock Entertainment are proud to announce the November 15 release of GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE on DVD and Blu-ray [MSRP $14.98 for DVD, $19.98 for Blu-ray].

Shot over the course of three years, GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE is an unrivalled look into the mind of legendary rock icon Ozzy Osbourne.  GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE tells the life story of Ozzy, as seen through the eyes of his youngest child, Jack Osbourne, who worked alongside directors Mike Fleiss and Mike Piscitelli.  During the documentary, Ozzy recounts his troubled youth, his early career with Black Sabbath and the impact of fame and addictions on his first marriage. Viewers will also witness the second chapter of his life as a family man with Sharon, during which his addictions grew to a frightening level, as well as hear Ozzy and his children explain his attempts at staying clean, ultimately resulting in more than five years of sobriety. Music fans will also see live performances from around the world, including rare behind the scenes clips of Ozzy on and off stage, in his dressing rooms pre-show, to his nights in a series of hotel rooms. Throughout GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE, audiences are given an inside look into the life of a rock star, from the good times to the bad.

The DVD and Blu-Ray of GOD BLESS OZZY OSBOURNE also features additional previously unseen footage not seen in the theatrical release including new interviews, classic archive footage of Black Sabbath and OZZY OSBOURNE, along with a Q&A with OZZY and Jack Osbourne and behind the scenes footage from the Tribeca Film Festival.

The New York Times (4-15-11) has described it as a movie that “unblinkingly chronicles the chaotic life and times of rock’s most notorious cut-up, from his miserable working-class childhood…to his latter-day sobriety.”

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Filed Under: Music Headlines Tagged With: 15, bless, eagle, entertainment, god, november, ...

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” Sneak Preview of “Shadow Warrior” Episode

A Conspiracy from the Shadows of Naboo Threatens the Peaceful Planet

In “Shadow Warrior,” this week’s episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the peace and unity that followed the defeat of the Trade Federation blockade seen in Episode I are shattered as the Gungans inexplicably march towards war against the Naboo city of Theed. Padmé Amidala rushes to investigate, discovering that General Grievous and his droid army stand poised to invade the planet. An unlikely imposter standing in for an injured Gungan leader may help stop the growing conflict, while Anakin Skywalker’s search for answers takes him into the shadowy lair of the enemy. There, the Jedi hero enters into an epic battle against his sworn enemy, Count Dooku, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 23rd on Cartoon Network.

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Hallmark Channel Original Film “The Santa Incident” Dashes Onto DVD

UNLOCK THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON

THE SANTA INCIDENT

Ione Skye And Greg Germann Star In Hallmark Channel Original Film Dashing Onto DVD November 1 Just In Time For The Holidays  From RHI Entertainment And Vivendi Entertainment

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – The fate of Christmas is in the hands of two secret service agents, two children and a trio of elves when the all-new Holiday film The Santa Incident arrives on DVD November 1 from RHI Entertainment and Vivendi Entertainment. Starring Ione Skye (Fever Pitch, Say Anything) and Greg Germann (“Ally McBeal,” Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby), the fun-filled family adventure is a Hallmark Channel original film and originally premiered as part of the channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” programming.

When Santa’s sleigh is mistaken for a UFO, he is marooned in a small town. Luckily rescued by two children, he tries to prepare for Christmas while stranded far from the North Pole. Desperate to make sure Christmas isn’t ruined this year, Santa must find a way to take flight by Christmas Eve. Just in time for the holidays, The Santa Incident provides fun wholesome entertainment the entire family can enjoy together. The DOVE approved DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.93.

Synopsis:

After his sleigh is shot down while flying through restricted military airspace, an earthbound Santa is sought for questioning by a pair of overzealous Homeland Security agents. The fate of Christmas is now in the hands of the disbelieving by-the-book duo, unless their faith in Santa can be restored by two children and a trio of elves who have arrived from up North to help out a friend in need.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: channel, dashes, dvd, film, hallmark, incident, ...

Paramount to Host Exclusive Free Advance Screenings of “Footloose” on Friday, September 30th

PARAMOUNT TO HOST EXCLUSIVE FREE ADVANCE SCREENINGS OF “FOOTLOOSE” ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th

 “FOOTLOOSE FRIDAYS” To Be Held One Night Only in 25 Markets in Advance of the Movie’s Nationwide Release on October 14th

WHAT:  Two-weeks ahead of its October 14th release, Paramount Pictures will host exclusive advance screenings as part of “FOOTLOOSE FRIDAY” in celebration of the nationwide opening of Co-Writer/Director Craig Brewer’s new film.  Following the screenings on Friday, September 30th, fans of the film; starring Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Andie MacDowell and Dennis Quaid can tweet their reactions using #Footloose to join the conversation.

WHEN:  Friday, September 30, 2011 at 6 p.m. PT, 7 p.m. CT and 8 p.m. ET.

WHERE:  26 select theatres across the U.S. and Canada: Atlanta (Regal Town Center); Boston (Regal Fenway); Chicago (Regal Webster Place); Cleveland (Regal Crocker Park); Dallas (Rave Ridgemar); Denver (Regal UA Pavilions); Detroit (MJR Partridge Creek); Houston (Regal Edwards Marq*E); Kansas City (AMC Barrywoods); Los Angeles (AMC Century City and AMC Burbank 16); Miami (AMC Sunset Place); Minneapolis (AMC Southdale); New York (Regal Union Square); Orlando (Regal Winter Park); Philadelphia (Regal King of Prussia); Phoenix (Harkins Tempe Marketplace); Sacramento (Century Roseville); Salt Lake City (Gateway Megaplex); San Diego (Regal Mira Mesa); San Francisco (AMC Metreon); Seattle (Regal Meridien); St. Louis (Wehrenberg Ronnies); Tampa (AMC Veterans); Toronto (Cineplex Odeon Varsity Theatre); Washington DC (Regal Majestic)

 

HOW: Admission is free. Visit www.FootlooseFriday.com to RSVP for your exclusive screening now.

First come, first serve. No purchase necessary. RSVP does not guarantee admission.

For more information about FOOTLOOSE, go to:

http://www.Twitter.com/FootlooseMovie

http://www.FootlooseMovie.com

http://www.Facebook.com/FootlooseMovie

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