Zachary Quinto talks about his big reveal in “American Horror Story: Asylum”

Zachary Quinto is known best for playing the roles of Sylar in the fan-favorite series “Heroes” and also Spock from the “Star Trek” franchise reboot. He plays the role of Dr. Oliver Thredson in the FX hit series “American Horror Story: Asylum”. In a recent episode of the show it was revealed that Ounito’s character is in fact the serial killer known as “Bloody Face.” Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Zachary recently about the role and how it has differed from that of his role in season one of the show.

Adam Lawton: How has playing this seasons character differed from other characters you played?
Zachary Quinto: I think any time an actor revisits territory that they’ve been in before, it can be a source of trepidation, as it was for me. But part of the reason that I loved what the opportunity stood for was that I got to know, going in what/who my character was going to be and I got to really build something. With “Heroes” that character was built before I was ever attached to it. There were eight episodes of anticipation that were built before you met “Gabriel Gray” I had no participation in that. So for me, it was really exciting to get to go in having all the information, and actually be part of the process of creating a character. That, to me, was a difference. This role/character is self-contained and it was an immersion that I’m not going to be repeating or carrying on for an extended period of time. It was something I got to go do and contribute and benefit and grow and learn, and then be on to other creative pursuits and that, I think that is an environment in which I thrive. So I was really excited about all those elements.

AL: Were there meetings where you actually talked about the direction of your character?
ZQ: Yes, I had a few conversations with Ryan and Brad before we started. Ryan and I had a couple of connections about what he was thinking and I had some questions and had a chance to contribute to what I would like to see. But once they got going, it’s like their engines just drive them and all of us forward in such surprising and unexpected ways, so the vast majority of that comes from them and actually bring it to life. That’s how I see it.

AL: How do you prepare mentally to play this dark, demented kind of role, and do you enjoy it, or find it more of a challenge?
ZQ: It depends on the scene. There are different levels of preparation for different scenes in different kinds of work. So I have a combination of things that I do. I usually just find some solitude and some quiet in a little corner of the set where there’s not a lot of traffic and not a lot of people around and do what it is that I need to do. I listen to music a lot, if I need to get into a particular emotional space, I use that and just other sort of stretching, just breathing, taking time to mostly be quiet and find that kind of stillness. I think that’s important. I love playing characters that go to extreme places and I love to explore different kinds of psychological landscapes, so it is ultimately a kind of fun, but it’s also complicated and colored by the depth of the nastiness of it at certain times as well. That can be a challenging part.

AL: Did your friendship with Sarah Paulson have any effect on how you reacted in the scenes with her?
ZQ: I have a respect for Sarah as an actress, but it’s a rare and unique opportunity to show up to work with a really good friend. Oftentimes, friendships are formed on set and through these kinds of experiences. It’s even a richer experience when you already have that foundation of friendship. So there’s an implicit trust and sensitivity to each other and our needs and our instincts and our individual process. It’s really a remarkable gift in a lot of ways. We also are able to have more fun, I think, and laugh at a situation a little bit more. There’s less awkwardness to cut through. I think it strengthens the connection that the characters share, whether it’s friendship or torture or hostage, whatever it may be. I love going to work anyway, no matter whom I’m working with, but in particular with Sarah, I think she’s doing such wonderful work on the show that I also just love watching her character and the journey that she’s taking. She’s gone to so many extreme and challenging emotional places, and done it so beautifully and dynamically. I just think her work is so incredible, so it’s been a joy for me, really, this whole experience.

AL: We have seen “Bloody Face” in a few present day scenes. Will we find out whether present day “Bloody Face” is also “Thredson”?
ZQ: Wouldn’t that be cool? Yes, you’ll find all that out. It was pretty freaky and cool. I mean it’s really driving to a point. The storytelling structure of “American Horror Story: Asylum” I think is really going to pay off in a really big way. So I think all of the questions that people have, and that the episodes that are airing right now are generating, will definitely be answered. That’s my instinct, at least, having read up through almost the end now.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: american, asylum, big, horror, quinto, reveal, ...

Orgy’s Jay Gordon talks about new single “Grime of the Century”

Jay Gordon is the lead singer of the band Orgy. The group recently released a new single titled “Grime of the Century” and is set to embark on a western U.S. tour.  Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Jay recently about the band and its new release.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some background on the bands new single “Grime of the Century”?
Jay Gordon: I chose this song because it was the one the band pulled together the quickest. Everything for the song just came right together. There is so much going on in our other songs that we felt this one was the simplest of the group. Releasing this song seemed like less of a gamble. I wanted to mainly get people familiar with the bands new line up through this song.

AL: Are there any plans to shoot a video for the song?
JG: Yes! We actually just finished it. I don’t know when it will exactly be released but it will be coming out soon. The video is going to be very interesting and cool. I think it is different for an Orgy video.

AL: Are there plans for a full-length release? and how does working on an album now compare to when the band first hit it big?
JG: Yes, a full length album is in the works. There is a lot less money now to make records with than when we started. Bands aren’t getting record deals like they did back in the 90’s however the process in which we work is the still the same.

AL: Are you doing any production on the new Orgy material? And has being involved with producing changed your approach to songwriting in any way?
JG: We are all capable of doing that type of work. Everyone in the band has their hands in the production aspect of things. As far as writing goes these days I think I am much faster at it now. I am however very picky. I don’t like to just jump on the first thing that comes to mind. I may be at first but when I take a second to slow down and look at everything sometimes my opinion changes.

AL: How do you go about balancing your work as a producer and as a singer?
JG: You just have to find/make time to do both. I wish there was a more glamorous answer but that’s the most direct. I wear a lot of hats.

AL: Can you tell us about the bands current lineup?
JG: I have known this group of guys for a long time. Carlton Bost and Ashburn Miller come from the band Deadsy. Jamie Miller came from the band Snot. Those guys are all really talented and were people I had wanted to play with for a long time. Nic Speck was a guy I met along the way and just ended up asking him to come down one day and he did.


AL: Can you tell us about the bands upcoming tour?
JG: We will be doing a quick tour of the west side of the United States during the fall and possibly after the New Year we will be heading over to Europe for some shows there as well. We are thinking about a lot of different things and are open to suggestion. I just want to get out there and do it again.

AL: Besides your work with Orgy what other projects are you working on right now?
JG: I am currently working on some songs for the band Escape the Fate. I did some really cool dub step tracks and programming for a few of there songs. I also am producing a song with the band and another guy named Future.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: century, gordon, grime, jay, orgys, single, ...

LAIKA’s Travis Knight & Arianne Sutner chat about creating “ParaNorman”

Travis Knight is the CEO/President/Lead Animator of LAIKA, which is the animation studio behind films like “ParaNorman” and “Coraline”. Arianne Sutner is the producer of “ParaNorman”. “ParaNorman” is the latest film from the studio and will be released on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on November 27th, 2012. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Travisa and Arianne about their work with stop-motion and what they have planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: Arianne, you’ve been working in stop-motion since “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, what is it that draws you to this medium?
Arianne Sutner: When I was starting out I was always a fan of animation and family movies. I was working in the Bay area and the movie that was happening around that time was “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Part of it also was that you get to work on the project for a long time and it was still very new at the time and very exciting. When I started working in that environment, I just love that you create everything by hand. There were these fantastic stages that you get to work on and also the fact that it was this collaborative process. You really get to feel everything and get very involved. I really fell in love with it. I worked at other places like Pixar, in their beginning and they are making fantastic movies. But it is the experience of working on these movies that I love so much and the kind of people that are drawn to them. I always say that it is really fun and Travis says that I am crazy, which is true. You really get your hands dirty and get to collaborate and with some real great artists.

MG: Travis, How does the LAIKA President & CEO also end up being the lead animator on projects like “Coraline” and “ParaNorman”?
Travis Knight: I have been an artist my entire life. I fell in love with stop-motion, since I was child. Ultimately, I wanted to figure out how it was done before the internet or animation schools etc. So I was just learning by practice. It is something that has been a part of my life for 30 years now. I was an artist long before I was an executive. I have described myself as an artist trying to find his inner-executive. As I have been trying to move the company forward, it was always important to me as I began the process of building the company that I never lose the direct connection with the work because it’s what it is all about. It is why we do this. It is why we got drawn to creating something of great beauty. It is something that is critical to me. I think also to have the head of the studio in the trenches with all the other artists and filmmakers, rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty and being a part of the creative process helps to define the sensibility of what the company is all about. We really are all about finding a beautiful way of telling these classic stories in this extraordinary art form of stop-motion.

MG: Arianne, You took on the role of producer in “ParaNorman”; what was your most challenging aspect?
AS: I think it is to make sure that the script we got was so beautiful, so well picked, so ambitious and overall something that was really special that had various different layers. Also that it was at the same time entertaining and had certain messages that we believed in. We wanted to make sure that it brought to life the way that Chris (Butler) intended it. While also making sure that we met Travis’ standards and to have the best stop-motion animation in the world. I think that was my biggest overall challenge that I was reaching for everyday.
TK: Arianne is fairly humble. She really is like a little marvel. She held the entire production on her shoulders. Every day some new crazy challenge was thrown her way and she handled all them with this amazing grace. The fact that we brought this extraordinary film on time and under budget is a testament to her leadership.

MG: Travis, How does the production on “ParaNorman” differ to “Coraline”?
TK: With “Coraline”, it was the first film that we had done from the ground up. So everything was new. We were forging new ground. In some ways we didn’t know better. We had really grand ambition and wouldn’t accept the fact that we couldn’t do certain things with conventional stop-motion, in the sense of what you can do in this medium. So that meant incorporating technology that wasn’t done before. The natural enemy of stop-motion, this age old craft, is technology. We decided to embrace technology and to bring that forward as part of the process with digital capture systems, 3D photography, laser cutters and rapid prototyping. That way we were able to embrace the machine in a way that hasn’t been done before. It allowed us to expand the scope of the movie. We built on that to an incredible extent for “ParaNorman” and we took it even further than we could have imagined for “Coraline”. I think that process of innovating to tell incredible stories in this medium by fusing those two aspects together, art craft and technology, led us to a place where we can really seize our ambitions and see them realized on the big screen. When you look at the evolution in the visual stylization in the technical execution between “ParaNorman” and “Coraline”, it is fairly remarkable that it happened in only three years.

MG: Why do you think that stop-motion films tend to deal with darker subject matter?
TK: That is an interesting question. We can’t fully appreciate what that means until we see how the thing plays out in the fullness of time. I think when you look at the history of stop-motion film; there is a very small amount of films made in this medium. You can attribute about half of them to two guys, Tim Burton and Henry Selick. They have this dark gothic sensibility. When these guys make the films they want to make…they make them. I think you can look at our films and they don’t have that sensibility. They have this warmer sensibility that is distinctly British but is all very entertaining. So I think you need to look at those two things and see that there is nothing inherently creepy or dark about stop-motion. I think also when you have an inanimate object that is brought to life by the hands of an animator; there is something weird about that. They move is this weird jerky kind of way, which does gives a certain creepy feeling. One of the things that we have been trying to do at LAIKA is to really take the performances in the animation of these stop-motion puppets to an entirely new level and make them feel very human. So that people can connect with these emotional characters on the screen. It is really difficult to do that in stop-motion. I think it was important us to get over that hurdle of making these things creepy. I think you can certainly see with “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” they share some DNA in common. Moving forward, I do think that it is important for us at LAIKA to expand what we do and that is telling different kinds of stories in different kinds of ways. So when you see the next handful of films from our company hopefully they will not look or feel like anything we’ve done before.

MG: What’s next in the cards for LAIKA?
TK: We are very selective on the project that we take on. Currently we do have about ten projects in various forms of development. It is a combination of things that are adaptations of literature and original projects. “Coraline” was an adaptation of a Neil Gaiman novel and “ParaNorman” was an original idea. These things take a long time to make since the pace is graceful. There was about three years between “Coraline” and “ParaNorman”. There will be about two years between “ParaNorman” and our next film. We are trying to truncate the time period, so ultimately we are on an annual release schedule and releasing a film every year. It is a challenge and is difficult to do that but it is something that we are shooting for. But that is path that we are aiming for.

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: arianne, chat, creating, knight, laikas, paranorman, ...

Larry Hagman, television legend, dies at 81

Larry Hagman, who will forever be remember for his portrayal of one of television’s best loved (and hated) characters, died earlier today (November 23) after a bout with throat cancer. He was 81.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Hagman’s parents were Benjamin Hagman, a local district attorney, and his wife Mary (nee Martin). The two had met in high school and Benjamin convinced Martin’s parents to allow them to marry when she was seventeen. His parents divorced when Hagman was five and he and his mother moved to California, where they stayed with his grandmother. It was while in California that Mary was signed to a contract with Paramount. In later years she would become a star on Broadway, originating lead roles in musicals like “The Sound of Music” and “South Pacific.”
Hagman attended several schools as a young man, including the Black-Foxe Military Institute. While his mother went off to New York he remained with his grandmother until her passing, then was sent to boarding school. It was at these schools that he developed a liking for drama classes. He graduated from high school in 1949 and, on the advice of his mother, decided to give acting a try professionally.
While attending Bard College he took some time off to appear in a New York City production of “The Taming of the Shrew,” then spent the summer traveling the country in a variety of musical road shows. In 1951 he joined his mother in the London production of “South Pacific,” remaining with the show for over a year. In late 1952 he was drafted by the United States Air Force and spent four years in London entertaining troops stationed there. After his discharge he returned to New York City where he appeared in several plays, both on and off-Broadway, and the occasional television program. In 1961 he joined the cast of daytime soap opera “The Edge of Night,” playing Ed Gibson for two years. He made his film debut in 1964 in the comedy “Ensign Pulver” and later appeared opposite Henry Fonda in “Fail Safe” that same year.
In 1965 he was cast as Captain Anthony Nelson in the hit television series “I Dream of Jeannie.” The show featured Hagman as the “master” of Jeannie, a beautiful blonde he discovers when he finds an old bottle on the beach. The two eventually married and the show ran until 1970. For years after the show was canceled Hagman refused to associate with anything connected to it, refusing to appear in the two subsequent made for television movies. Although Eden did make an appearance on “Dallas” it wasn’t until 1999 that he agreed to appear with Eden and fellow co-star Bill Daily for a reunion on “The Donny and Marie Show.”
In 1977 Hagman was cast as J.R. Ewing in the nighttime soap opera “Dallas.” As the oldest son of Jock Ewing, J.R. was the bad guy you loved to hate. His scheming and conniving ways came to a head at the end of the second season when J.R. was shot. That summer the phrase “Who Shot J.R.?” became a business in itself, with T-shirts and bumper stickers popping up all over America. That summer also saw Hagman asking for a large raise. The story I was told goes like this:
The producers called Hagman’s agent and asked him and Hagman to come to their office on Monday morning. When they arrive they are taken to a screening room where they are shown the last scenes of the last episode. They see a body being put into an ambulance and the ambulance speeding away. Suddenly another vehicle hits the ambulance, which bursts into flames. The screen goes black and the words SIX MONTHS LATER flash across it. Fade in on a face heavily bandaged. Off screen a voice says, “Because of the extensive plastic surgery we had to do you may not look the same Mr. Ewing.” The bandages are removed and there in the hospital bed is Robert Culp.
A deal was finally made and on November 21, 1980 (ironically 32 years ago this week) the world discovered who had shot J.R. The show ran until 1991, earning Hagman multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations as Best Dramatic Actor. In 1995 Hagman underwent a liver transplant. He had acquired a drinking problem as far back as high school and was reported to drink up to four bottles of champagne a day on the set of “Dallas.” He also quit smoking that year, becoming a spokesman for the American Cancer Society in later years.
After “Dallas” he continued to work, appearing in such films as “Nixon” and “Primary Colors” as well as recurring roles in such television shows as “Orleans” and “Nip/Tuck.” In the summer of 2011 Hagman made two major announcements about his life and his career: “As J.R. I could get away with anything — bribery, blackmail and adultery. But I got caught by cancer. I do want everyone to know that it is a very common and treatable form of cancer. I will be receiving treatment while working on the new Dallas series. I could not think of a better place to be than working on a show I love, with people I love.” He revealed to the world that he had stage one throat cancer while also announcing his return to the role he loved in the updated version of “Dallas.” The show debuted earlier this year to great success, brought about, no doubt, by the presence of the irascible Larry Hagman. A true television legend who will be sorely missed

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Filed Under: TV Headlines Tagged With: 81, dies, hagman, larry, legend, television, ...

Jordan Galland talks about his new film “Alter Egos”

Jordan Galland is the writer/director and producer of the new superhero indie film “Alter Egos”.  He is also known for his film “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead”.  Jordan took out sometime to chat with Media Mikes about the new film and what we can expect next.

Mike Gencarelli: How was it going from vampires in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead” to superheros in “Alter Egos”?
Jordan Galland: It’s really fun to work in such a specific genre (Superheroes, vampires) where the rules are so defined that they can have an almost biblical or religious rigidness to them, so that any impulse towards realism, or a deviation from the conventions of that genre results in finding something new, or at least a quirky, comedic take on it.

MG: How did you end up with most of the same cast from “Rosencrantz” in “Alter Egos”?
JG: I wrote the parts for those actors, having met them on the set of my first film. I really wanted to work with them again, and was betting on the fact that maybe they wanted to work with me again too, even if the budget was small and we’d all be sleeping in the same bed. I lucked out, on both accounts.

MG: Having this been your second time directing, what was the biggest challenge this time around?
JG: Biggest challenge was the action sequences, where we didn’t have the time or budget to do it the way I envisioned it. We made compromises, which work, but still. Another big challenge was trying to make the body (in the opening sequence) sink into the ocean. It kept floating back up.

MG: Tell us about the music in the film by Sean Lennon, who appears in the film as Electric Death?
JG: He did the score for Rosencrantz, and I wanted to work with him again. We met through having bands in NYC in the 90’s and ended up playing music together a lot. And in our musical collaborations we often went to film scores as a reference. So we had a certain short hand vocabulary and a familiarity with each other’s tastes… as well as both being fans of the Sci-Fi fantasy genres. Sean’s soundtrack is also out and available now on iTunes, FYI!

MG: How did Kevin Smith end up getting involved with Smodcast Pictures?
JG: Phase 4 films has a deal with Smodcast, where they look for films that they think are suitable to Kevin’s taste; often comic-book type stuff, or comedy that has a conversational naturalism like Clerks. All low-budget, a way for films to get a little extra attention in this cluttered, over-saturated market.

MG: What do you have planned next whether it is music or directing?
JG: I am currently finishing up a new solo record to be released in the late winter / early spring, being produced by Charlie Klarsfeld. And I’ve got two films in development. One’s a new take on a demon possession story. It starts where exorcism films end and is about a girl who’s recovering from demonic possession. The other one is also kind of a horror thriller… like misery Psycho meets Misery, and has an almost a reverse Misery plot where the writer takes the fans hostage. So I’ve been working on those, but not sure when they’re going to get filmed. Hopefully 2013!

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: alter, egos, film, galland, jordan, talks, ...

Blu-ray Review “The Apparition”

Actors: Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Tom Felton
Directors: Todd Lincoln
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Run Time: 82 minutes

Film: 2.5 out 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“The Apparition” was given virtually no chance to succeed in theaters.  It was dropped into only a few screens with little to no push.  The film has a decent cast including Ashley Greene (“The Twilight Saga”), Sebastian Stan (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) and Tom Felton (“Harry Potter” series). It is kind of sad since neither Ashley or Tom has really yet to make it on their own outside their now-ended respective franchises.  I thought this film had a few decent spooks but their is no payoff.  I feel like it plays it way to safe with its PG-13 rating and never gets a chance to reach stretch its wings out.

When frightening events start to occur in their home, young couple Kelly (Greene) and Ben (Stan) discover they are being haunted by a presence that was accidentally conjured during a university parapsychology experiment. The horrifying apparition feeds on their fear and torments them no matter where they try to run. Their last hope is an expert in the supernatural, Patrick (Felton), but even with his help they may already be too late to save themselves from this terrifying force.

“The Apparition” comes in a combo pack with a Blu-ray, DVD and Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. Overall the film looks good with its 1080p transfer and its 2.4:1 aspect ratio. It is quite dark but still manages to deliver in high definition. There is also sharp DTS-HD Master Audio 5,1 track, which works with the success and gets a few good jumps. The special features are decent but not overly impressive. “The Dark Realm of Paranormal” looks into the reality behind the supernatural events. Ghost hunter Joshua P. Warren shows us real-life paranormal locations in “Haunted Asheville”. “The Experiment of The Apparition” shows how Warren attempts to show where the movie and the real-life horror meet. Lastly the film’s stars take a look at the experiment from the film in “The Apparition: A Cinematic Specter”.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: apparition, bluray, review

DVD Review “The Ancient Egypt Anthology”

Channel: The History Channel
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 9, 2012
Run Time: 540 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to learning about our past, I immediately think about The History Channel.  They always deliver impressive programming and nice DVD releases.  Though this release is not that impressive. Basically out of the 6 discs included, there are only two discs of new programs.  “Planet Egypt” was produced in 2012 and contains four 45 minutes episodes.  This four-part miniseries explores Egypt’s technology, culture, religion, wars and peace over 3,000 years. This is the star of the release and puts the others to shame.  Luckily this release is very cheap running for under $17 dollars on Amazon and it is worth it just for these two discs.  The rest of the extras are still informative and I will hold them as a bonus feature.

Next up on disc 3 and 4 is dated back from 2001, “Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids”.  This four-part series takes the viewers inside Egypt for (then) first-ever-filmed look into sites such as Tomb of Ramses II, the Abydos Boat Graves, and the skeletons at Mendes. Overall this series is decent but feels aged.  Disc 5 includes “Egypt: Engineering an Empire” from 2006, which runs 90 minute. Decent and includes some good information. The sixth disc is basically the dumping ground from the rest of the old specials. “Ancient Egypt: Modern Medicine” is the worst quality of the three but has this certain vintage charm.  “Egypt’s Great Queen” delivers some interesting information about Hatshepsut. “The Great Pyramids of Giza and Other Pyramids” is the oldest dating back to 1997. Lastly, we have the aging special “Ramses’ Egyptian Empire”.

Official Premise: From its unification in approximately 3100 B.C. to its conquest by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C., ancient Egypt was the preeminent civilization in the Mediterranean world. This special 6-disc collectible set headlined by HISTORY’s best-selling programs; including the acclaimed Egypt-focused episode of the Emmy®-winning series ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE, and the highly-rated mini-series PLANET EGYPT, THE ANCIENT EGYPT ANTHOLOGY pays homage to this rich and complex culture and explores it from its very beginnings as a land of disparate peoples, through its dynastic zenith and to its ultimate decline.

 

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: ancient, anthology, dvd, egypt, review

Steve-O talks about his new show on truTV called “Killer Karaoke”

Steve-O is best known for his work on the TV series and film franchise “Jackass”. He is taking a different route with his new show on truTV called “Killer Karaoke”, which he is hosting. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Steve-O about this show, what we can expect and touched on the “Jackass 4″ rumors”.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your new show “Killer Karaoke” on truTV?
Steve-O: The premise of the show is very simple. It’s people singing karaoke while awful things are happening to them. It is just hilarious. For me it is extra exciting since it is a big opportunity to get to work as a comedian host, rather than just the guy that hurts himself. It allows me to be faithful to my brands and yet still evolve and broaden my horizons. It is a real step in the right direction for me in having a meaningful career beyond “Jackass”.

MG: So do these contestants have a background in singing?
Steve-O: I think everyone has some level of passion for singing and that is why they are there. I do not think that anyone is getting a record deal out of it. I think it is funnier the more incompetent the contestants are. When you go into a karaoke bar, you think the people singing are somewhat competent. So I think the average karaoke bar talent is what spills out onto our set of “Killer Karaoke”. I think that is where the experience bar is at.

MG: Give us an idea about some of the interruptions planned for the contestants?
Steve-O: There are dog attacks. We electrocute people as they are signing. We’ve done snakes all over them. We made they run through a maze of cacti. We just scare the crap out of them and torture them in many different ways. It is really hilarious.

MG: You are no stranger to extreme stunts, is it different for you thought being on the other side and not having to deal with these situations?
Steve-O: For me, simply observing stunts rather than performing them, I would explain as an erection lasting four hours or more. It felt great but it was a little unnatural for me [laughs].

MG: Is there any kind of rehearsal prior to the taping?
Steve-O: Not at all. We are really careful to make sure that the contestants go into it with as little of an idea of what will happen as possible. Obviously, when you have as guy and you’re putting him into a dog attack suit, I think he gets an idea. But for the most part, they have no idea what is going to happen. I think it makes it a lot better.

MG: What has been your most challenging aspect hosting a reality TV series?
Steve-O: It all came pretty natural for me. The key to doing a good job is to make sure that you are enjoying yourself. I definitely enjoyed myself. I feel that the pleasure aspect in the show will be contagious.

MG: I read the announcer of the show is Twisted Sister’s Dee Snyder; did you get a chance to meet him?
Steve-O: No. They recorded Dee Snider after the fact. But my first concert I ever went to was Twisted Sister, so I am a big fan.

MG: Are they going to get you to engage in the “Killer Karaoke”?
Steve-O: I don’t think I will ever sing on the show. I really doubt it. In the beginning of every show, I do a little stunt. Whenever there was a break in the filming, I would pick up the skateboard and do some circus tricks. So I think a lot of that will make it onto the show also, which will also make it more fun to watch.

MG: Can you give us any insight into the rumored “Jackass 4”?
Steve-O: There is a project in the works. It is not a “Jackass” movie but is a spin-off. I think that it is the studio’s intention to get the entire cast involved. But they haven’t done that yet, so it is a little too early to talk about.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: called, karaoke, killer, show, steveo, talks, ...

DVD Review “The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show: The Complete Series”

Created by Charles M. Shultz
Starring: Bill Melendez, Jeremy Schoenberg, Brad Kesten, Angela Lee, Victoria Vargas, Jeremy Miller, Brett Johnson, Heather Stoneman, Gini Holtzman
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: November 20, 2012
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 402 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love Peanuts?! “The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show” originally aired on CBS from September 1983 to October of 1985 for only two seasons. This DVD contains the complete series with all 18 episodes. A few of the episodes started to be released last year on various Peanuts DVDs but this is the first time that they have been released fully and complete on DVD, thanks to Warner Archive.  The episodes are presented in 4X3 full frame and their original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.  The audio included is a decent mono track, which works for the show. This is a nice flashback to the ‘ole Saturday morning cartoon days that I had growing up.

Season 1 consists of the following episodes: “Snoopy’s Cat Fight”; “Snoopy: Team Manager”; “Linus and Lucy”; “Lucy vs. the World”; “Linus’ Security Blanket”; “Snoopy: Man’s Best Friend”; “Snoopy the Psychiatrist”; “You Can’t Win, Charlie Brown”; “The Lost Ballpark”; “Snoopy’s Football Career”; “Chaos in the Classroom”; “It’s That Team Spirit, Charlie Brown”; “Lucy Loves Schroeder”. Season 2 consists of the following episodes: “Snoopy and the Giant”; “Snoopy’s Brother Spike”; “Snoopy’s Robot”; “Peppermint Patty’s School Days” and “Sally’s Sweet Babboo”.  Inside each episode there are numerous shorts, so you get quite of bit of Peanuts goodness throughout the series.  If you are a fan of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts crew then this release is a no-brainer.

Official Premise: Your favorite Peanuts stories come to life in this animated television series. Adapted from the popular comic strip created and written by Charles M. Shultz, “The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show” is no longer a cartoon relegated to Saturday mornings of the past — now you can watch the gang anytime! With short sketches featuring these classic and much-loved characters, it’s easy to “have a party with Charlie Brown and Snoopy,” as the theme song says. The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show originally aired in 1983 and 1985 and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1983

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Film Review “Alter Egos”

Starring: Kris Lemche, Brooke Nevin, Joey Kern, Danny Masterson, John Ventimiglia
Director: Jordan Galland
Distributor: Phase 4 Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 79 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

With a year jam-packed with superheros like “The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight”, “Alter Egos” is the counter-opposite of the spectrum. It is a fun quirky indie dark comedy. It started off and write away it make me think of “The Incredibles”, when the superheros are outlawed.  But this takes its own unique approach to the superhero genre. The film itself I would say lays more on the dark side of the comedy and less of the belly laughs. But there is some good material in this film to entertain.  Overall it might not best film ever but if you got nothing else to do for 80 minutes it is worth checking out.

“Alter Egos” takes place in a variation our world in which super heroes are real but not respected. They have taken care of all crime and since then lost government funding and public support. The film focuses around the superhero, Fridge (Lemche), who is going through his own emotional crisis and leans on his friend and fellow superhero C-Thru (Kern) and a new girl to assist. Though both of them have their own issues as well to deal with.

The film is very smarty written and directed by Jordan Galland, known for his Kris Lemche (“Final Destination 3”) and Joey Kern (“Super Troopers)” plays the main superheros – Fridge and C-Thru (respectively). Both of these get some decent laughs, especially when C-Thru is standing nose to nose with a brick wall. Danny Masterson steals the show though as the asshole cop/superhero reject Jimmy, who’s ability is to turn invisible for only 2.3 secods. The film also has music from Sean Lennon, who also has a quick cameo as well. The great casting overall is one of the main reasons why this film succeeds. The film is available now on VOD, check it!

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: alter, egos, film, review

CD Review: James Taylor “James Taylor At Christmas (Extra Tracks)”

James Taylor
“James Taylor At Christmas”
Label: Universal Music Enterprises
Tracks: 14
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Running Time: 50 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“James Taylor At Christmas” was released back in 2006 and it is being released this year with two new tracks.  The first track is Taylor’s French rendition of “O Christmas Tree” titled “Mon Beau Sapin”, which is only available on this collection. The second track isn’t really a Christmas track per se but it is Beatles cover for “Here Comes The Sun” with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Still a fantastic and moving track. Also appearing the album are talented guest starts including Chris Botti, Natalie Cole and Toots Theilemans. This album has always been successful in getting into the holiday spirit over the years and I am sure it will continue now with this expanded release.

This collection includes some really great holiday favorites performed within Taylor’s unique sound.  There is a jazzy renditions of both “Winter Wonderland” and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”.  “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) is really a perfect track for the holidays. Natalie Cole and Taylor deliver a wonderful duet with “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.  I have to say though my favorite track is the cover of Joni Mitchell’s “River” and my least favorite is still “Go Tell It On the Mountain”, which is the one I always skip. The album also ends perfectly with the New Year’s classic “Auld Lang Syne”. James Taylor’s voice is really a nice marriage with the Christmas season.  I personally am a fan of simple and quiet Christmas songs and there is something for everyone here.  This will leave you not only inspired and but also full-blown in the holiday mood.

Track Listing:
1. Winter Wonderland
2. Go Tell It On The Mountain
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Jingle Bells
5. Baby It’s Cold Outside
6. River
7. Here Comes The Sun
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Some Children See Him
10. Mon Beau Sapin
11. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
12. Who Comes This Night
13. In The Bleak Midwinter
14. Auld Lang Syne

 

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Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cd, christmas, extra, james, review, taylor, ...

CD Review: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John “This Christmas”

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
“This Christmas”
Label: Universal Music Enterprises
Tracks: 13
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Running Time: 44 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John are back.  It has been 35 years since their last duet “You’re The One That I Want” in “Grease”. The track in fact just became the best-selling duet in pop music history, so it is only right that they join forces again. “This Christmas” is a newly recorded album featuring some great Christmas favorites with guest appearances from amazing talent including Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Kenny G and James Taylor! So is this reuniting as sharp and hot as it was in “Grease”? Not really, but it is Christmas, so I have to give this duet some points for at least sharing their Christmas spirit.  It is a little cheesy here and there but that is what Christmas is about and this album really captures it and aims to deliver a smile to everyone listening.

The CD includes twelve classic covers of Christmas songs and even a brand new original track titled “I Think You Might Like It”.  It is composed by John Farrar and set as a sequel to their famous smash hit. I got to tell you the track is worth the price of the CD alone. It is a really fun up-tempo pop track.  Olivia Newton-John’s voice sounds great still. John Travolta is not at his prime since “Grease” but still sounds decent, though I can’t help but smirk a little when he comes on.   Other great tracks are “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” with Kenny G on horns. “Silent Night” is nicely paced and beautiful duet. Barbara Streisand joins in for the jazzy take on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”. “Winter Wonderland” is a real gem and big-band feel with Tony Bennett and the Count Basie Orchestra and of course the best Christmas duet is “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, it is a great album opener.

So this might not be the best Christmas album ever, but it does what it is suppose to.  With Christmas right around the corner, it spreads some great Holiday cheer. I also love the reuniting of John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, they are really cute together and seem to be having a lot of fun together. I have a feeling that this album will be a yearly revisit each year.  What makes this worth wild is that Travolta and Newton-John are donating the artist proceeds from the album equally to their respective charities, the Jett Travolta Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia. So not only is this a cheesy-yet fun collection of Christmas songs but it is also helping a good cause. I recommend this for sure!

Track Listing:
1. Baby It’s Cold Outside
2. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
3. I’ll Be Home For Christmas
4. This Christmas
5. Silent Night
6. The Christmas Waltz
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
8. Winter Wonderland
9. White Christmas
10. I Think You Might Like It
11. The Christmas Song
12. Deck The Halls
13. Auld Lang Syne/Christmas Time Is Here (Medley)

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Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cd, christmas, john, newtonjohn, olivia, review, ...

Blu-ray Review “ParaNorman”

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, John Goodman, Casey Affleck
Directors: Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“ParaNorman” is the latest film from Laika, the studio behind one of my favorite films “Coraline”. This is one of those films that really grow with you with each viewing. I really enjoy this film in 3D and though that it added a lot to the film but we only had the chance to review this in 2D. So I feel that it is still worth checking out but I would recommend this in 3D firstly. I would add a half a star to this in 3D, which is an improvement from my theatrical review. I still feel that some parts are a bit too scary for some kids. I love the little horror Easter eggs spread out all over the film.  Enjoy and see how many you can find?! Overall, this is a decent follow-up feature for Laika but it doesn’t come close to the charm of “Coraline”. I can’t wait to see what they are going to deliver next. If for nothing else, this film deserves to be seen just to dignify how much work was put into it.

Official Premise: From the makers of Coraline comes the story of Norman, a boy who must use his special powers to save his town from a centuries-old curse. In addition to spooky zombies, he’ll also have to take on unpredictable ghosts, wily witches and, worst, of all, clueless grown-ups. But this young ghoul whisperer will soon find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits. Featuring the voice talents of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Leslie Mann, Jeff Garlin and John Goodman, it’s a frightfully funny tale for the whole family.

This releases does come within a very nice combo pack with a Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy discs and even Ultraviolet Digital Streaming Copy. The 1080p transfer still looks sharp and really pops with the very colorful film.  Though I still feel that it works better in 3D.  The film itself is actually quite action packed and does comes with a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track.  The special features are good and worth checking out if you enjoyed the film.  Starting off, there is a very informative commentary track with Director Sam Fell and Writer/Director Chris Butler. Next we have, “Preliminary Animatic Sequences” again with commentary from Director Sam Fell and Writer/Director Chris Butler. “Peering Through the Veil” is a look into the world created for this film including the town and the characters.  Lastly there are seven short featurettes spotlighting Norman and his extraordinarily unusual costars.

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Complimentary Passes to the Orlando, FL Screening for “Anna Karenina”

If you would like to enter for a chance to win complimentary passes to attend an advance screening at AMC Downtown Disney 24, please leave a comment below and let us know your favorite Keira Knightley film. Winners will be chosen on a RANDOM BASIS. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON/PER HOUSEHOLD PLEASE! OTHERWISE ALL ENTRIES WILL BE DISREGARDED. The winners will be will notified via email if chosen to win. Good luck and thanks for supporting MediaMikes.com

Focus Features will be releasing ANNA KARENINA November 30th.

Wednesday, November 28th at 7:30pm.
AMC Downtown Disney – Orlando, FL
Passes are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Below find a link to the film’s website and a brief synopsis.
http://focusfeatures.com/anna_karenina

The third collaboration of Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley with director Joe Wright, following the award-winning boxoffice successes “Pride & Prejudice” and Atonement,” is the epic love story “Anna Karenina,” adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (“Shakespeare in Love”). The story Unfolds in its original late-19thcentury Russia high-society setting and powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart, from the passion between adulterers to the bond between a mother and her children. As Anna (Ms. Knightley) questions her happiness, change comes to her family, friends, and Community

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Blu-ray Review “The Dark Knight Rises”

Actors: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy
Directors: Christopher Nolan
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: December 4, 2012
Run Time: 165 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Prior to the release of “The Dark Knight Rises”, there were many questions that were being asked.  Most importantly “Could it actually be better “The Dark Knight”? Well, the answer is no but it is still fantastic and easily one of the best films of the year.  “The Dark Knight” exists in a world entirely of it own.  It is by far the best superhero movie to date, yes even better than “The Avengers”.  “The Dark Knight Rises” does provide a very satisfying ending to a fantastic trilogy from Christopher Nolan.  I am sure some might disagree but I was left very happy with how the events came together in this film.  But I have to give Tom Hardy the coolness award since Bane was easily my favorite part of the film and no, his voice was not a problem for me at all.  In fact, his voice was one of the factors that I loved the most. Speaking of voices, I am also glad that Bale calmed down his Batman voice, so it is not so cowlI saw this film in IMAX and though it is a hard act to follow the Blu-ray presentation is extremely impressive as well.

This releases comes in a three-disc set including two Blu-rays and one DVD.  There is also a Ultraviolet digital  streaming copy included. Warner Bros’ 1080p transfer does look stunning, as I started to say above.  The most important factor is that the switch between traditionally filmed sequences presented at 2.40:1 and 70mm IMAX scenes presented at 1.78:1 are seamless. Though, I was impressed most with the audio on the film.  Literally my surround sound was pumping with this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. I wasn’t a major fan of Hans Zimmer’s score prior to this but I was really digging it on this Blu-ray.  I see myself revisiting this score again now. Overall easily, one of the best Blu-ray presentations of the year!

Before we get to the special features, I would like to quickly mention that Warner Bros has just released the new “The Dark Knight Rises FX” app, which is jam-packed with some really cool features including being able to shoot their own video and have the Camo Tumbler drive through it; put themselves in the Camo Tumbler in a photo. You can also impose yourself into The Dark Knight Rises “RISE” poster and also place the mask from Batman, Bane or Catwoman onto your own photo. This is highly recommended for all fans of the film. The app is free and available now from the App store and is compatible with 4th generation iPod touch devices, iPhone 4, iPad2 and the New iPad. Check it out, here.

The special features are impressive and a really step up from fellow-superhero Blu-ray release “The Avengers”.  Most of the extras of located on the second Blu-ray with the exception of “The Second Screen Experience”, which allows allows you to sync your device with the Blu-ray for additional content. The first feature on the second disc is quite the whooper filed under “Production”, running just over an hour.  It is consisted of twelve featurettes including  “The Prologue: High-Altitude Hijacking,” “Return to the Batcave,” “Beneath Gotham,” “The Bat,” “Batman vs. Bane,” “Armory Accepted,” “Gameday Destruction,” “Demolishing a City Street,” “The Pit,” “The Chant,” “The War on Wall Street” and “Race to the Reactor.”   They feature Christopher Nolan along with cast and crew as they dig deep into the film’s production. “Characters” are broken down in two three featurettes, totally about 30 minutes, including “The Journey of Bruce Wayne,” “Gotham’s Reckoning” (Bane) and “A Girl’s Gotta Eat” (Selina Kyle).  “Reflections” consists of two features including “Shadows & Light in Large Format” which focuses on Wally Pfister role and “The End of a Legend” looks into the end of this trilogy. “The Batmobile” is an awesome piece on of the coolest aspects of Batman…his car, it also runs just sign of an hour. Lastly there are four theatrical trailers summing up this release.

Official Premise: The Dark Knight Rises” is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

“The Dark Knight Rises” available on Blu-ray Combo pack, DVD and for download 12/4!
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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, dark, knight, review, rises
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