Probabilities of Winning in Computer Games

We all know that when we’re playing our favorite video game, all that we want is to win. When we’re playing our favorite strategy games, fighting games or RPGs, winning rests on our skill and knowledge of the game. However, casino games are another thing altogether – here the rules of probability can help us a bit when we’re trying to win. But how does probability work in different casino games?

It isn’t called gambling for nothing you know – of course there’s never a guarantee, or else casino or bingo sites would never make any money!  Although this is the case – there are definitely some probabilities that if you are aware of could tip some of the bets in your favor!

Bingo Probability

Online bingo fans, we all know you have asked yourselves how much you could win whilst playing your favorite bingo and slot games, right?  At an established online bingo site – the average return to a player is somewhere between 40 and 50%.  Essentially that should tell you that bingo should be played as a pastime rather than as a way to win money.  As the probability of you leaving a bingo site with a profit is low – it’s a good idea for you to spend only what you can afford.

Dice Probability

When playing a dice game it’s definitely a good idea to try and figure out the probability of each throw to allow you to make an informed decision when betting.  There are a total of 36 combinations and the probability ranges from 2.78% up to 16.67% – as you can see there is quite a difference there – so it’s best to swot up!  What is also handy to calculate is the “House Edge”. For example in Craps the field bet is even money, however on the next throw if a 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 comes out – it would double the bet on a 2 and treble the bet on a 12. The average probable return for craps is quite low as for every $1 a player spends – they can expect to lose 28 cents – and of course whatever the player loses – the house gains.

If you think that this is complicated, think about the different probabilities in D&D games, where the dice have up to 20 sides. This article offers more information regarding the probabilities when dealing with such dice. You can also use an online calculator.

Casino and Table Games

A common technique used when playing Blackjack is what is known as card counting. It tends to be very experienced gamblers that do this and it’s a way for them to try and gauge the probability of a winning card coming out the pack.  The object is to get your hand as close to 21 as possible without boing “bust”.  To count cards – you would need to keep track of the cards that are already dealt – to see what could be coming next.  This could be useful as the probability will change depending on the cards that are dealt.

Roulette is completely different.  There are 38 spaces and after the wheel is spun a ball will be dropped into one of them.  You can bet on colours, numbers, combinations, odd and even and ranges.  The safest bet would be to bet on a colour or odd and even as they are evens.

One thing both video games and casino games have in common is the ability to find help online. There are hundreds of thousands of sites out there that give you cheats and walkthroughs of the video game you’re obsessed with. Maybe you’ll be surprised to learn that there are similar casino and bingo sites, that offer advice on your favorite games. You can check this out on bananasforbingo.com, for instance. Good luck, and remember that playing online games isn’t all about winning – it’s also about enjoying the game.

 

Related Content

• Importance Of Online Plagiarism Sites
• Why Foosball Never Gets Old
• How to Get the Best Deals on Gaming Consoles
• Feel your Spidey Senses tingling? Spot the 6 signs you’re a superhero
• Moorman: The Inside Story of the Most Successful Online Poker Player of All Time – a review

Beware, horror fans: Famous names and faces from “The Exorcist,” “The Addams Family,” “Child’s Play” and “The Walking Dead” are coming to Central New York this fall.

Scare-A-Con 2013 is set for September 12-15 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino Event Center in Verona, N.Y. Previously known as Scare-A-Cuse and hosted in Syracuse, the growing horror and sci-fi convention relocated in 2012 and was officially renamed Scare-A-Con this year.
This year’s celebrity guests include former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, “Exorcist” actress Linda Blair, ex-WWE wrestler Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, “Candyman” star Tony Todd, “Starship Troopers” actor Jake Busey, original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” scream queen Marilyn Burns, and Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane to Christopher Reeve’s Clark Kent in “Superman” and “Superman II.”

The lineup also boasts small screen icons like Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster on “The Munsters,” Lisa Loring and Felix Silla, the original Wednesday and Cousin Itt on “The Addams Family,” and Priscilla Barnes, the controversial replacement for Suzanne Somers on “Three’s Company” in the ’80s. Younger TV fans will also recognize Kylie Szamanski, who played the Governor’s zombie daughter Penny on “The Walking Dead.”

The four-day event will also feature several reunions, including “Ghost Hunters” paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Britt Griffith, “Mystery Science Theater 3000” funnymen Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff, “The Blair Witch Project” stars Heather Donahue and Michael C. Williams, and “Human Centipede” actresses Ashlynn Yennie and Ashley C. Williams.

The 2013 convention also is launching the first-ever R.I.P. Awards for “Recognition of Inspired Performance,” and the creation of a Scare-A-Con Horror Hall of Fame. Fans will vote on annual nominees and awards will be presented during the event.
For tickets and more information, visit www.scareacon.com.

www.scareacon.com

NEW YORK, NY – June 26th, 2013 – Star Wars™ fans are preparing for yet another epic journey this year as the 2nd annual Course of the Force lightsaber relay prepares for its launch July 9th through the 16th. This time, Her Universe™, a leader in female genre merchandise, and founded by actress and voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ashley Eckstein, will be the apparel merchandise partner for the event. Her Universe will be selling this brand new merchandise for both men and women at the COTF “conival” events in San Francisco, Santa Monica, Huntington Beach and Oceanside Pier as well as at the Her Universe booth at San Diego Comic-Con International where the relay concludes. $5.00 from the sale of each shirt and $10.00 from the sale of each hoodie will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Course of the Force is an Olympic torch-style relay that all aspiring Jedi Knights can take part in. The week long journey, which begins in San Francisco and ends in San Diego, benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundations of California. Renowned artist Russell Walks designed the 2013 look for Course of the Force that is featured on the merchandise.

“Since I began working as an artist with Lucasfilm, a lot of my childhood wishes have come true,” said Walks. “Designing the key art for the Course of the Force relay allowed me, in a very small way, to help some kids realize THEIR dreams, through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and I consider myself very lucky to have been asked to help.”

In addition to providing the apparel for this year’s Course of the Force, Eckstein is also returning, for the 2nd year in a row, as co-host with The Nerdist’s Chris Hardwick and other talent for the exclusive coverage of the relay.

“It’s an honor to return as a co-host and merchandise partner for Course of the Force,” said Eckstein. “This is truly a magical and Force-filled event. It was also a pleasure to work with Russell Walks. We are so lucky that he donated his time and talent to create this amazing design!”

You can still sign up for Course of the Force, the lightsaber relay from Skywalker Ranch to Comic-Con International in San Diego July 9-16, 2013 benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation, by clicking here:

About Her Universe
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Russell Walks
Illustrator Russell Walks began drawing before he could speak. He lives in Montana, where he spends his days drawing, painting and counting himself lucky that he actually gets paid for doing what he loves. twitter.com/russellwalks russellwalks.tumblr.com

STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

 

This amazing Course of the Force design, created by artist Russell Walks, is available for both Men and Women. For every t-shirt purchased, $5.00 will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

$10.00 will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation with the purchase of every hoodie. This super comfortable sweatshirt features the new Course of the Force crest created by Russell Walks on the back and logo on the front.

Related Content

• Visit Dunkin’ Donuts 7/22 To Support Florida’s USO & “Captain America”
• “Mortal Kombat: Legacy” Interview Series
• “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory” Interview Series
• “Monsters” Interviews Series with Gareth Edwards, Jon Hopkins, Scoot McNairy & Whitney Able
• 2013: The Year in Comics

James Gandolfini, whose performance as mob boss Tony Soprano in HBO’s seminal series “The Sopranos” earned him multiple Emmy Awards, has passed away in Rome after an apparent heart attack. He was 51.

The New Jersey born actor first made an impression when he made his Broadway debut in the revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1992. I was fortunate to see the show during it’s limited run and Gandolfini more than held his own against top billed stars Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange. Film fans will remember him as the hit man assigned to kill Patricia Arquette in Tony Scott’s adaptation of Quentin Tarantino’s “True Romance.”

Memorable supporting performances in films like “Get Shorty,” “A Civil Action” and “Fallen” led him to what would be the role he will most be associated with, Tony Soprano. His work earned him six Emmy nominations (and three awards) as well as four Golden Globe nods (with one win). He took advantage of his new popularity by getting lead roles in such films as “The Last Castle,” “The Taking of Pelham One, Two Three” and last year’s Best Picture nominee “Zero Dark Thirty.” He also gave an amazing performance (my words) giving voice to the character of Carol in the film adaptation of “Where the Wild Things Are.” He also returned to Broadway in 2009, earning a Best Actor in a Play Tony Award nomination for “Gods of Carnage.”

He was seen on screen earlier this year in the Steve Carell comedy “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” and, according to the Internet Movie Data Base, has two more film projects being released posthumously.

 

Related Content

• A Friend Remembers Ray Harryhausen
• Clark Gregg’s “Trust Me” Premieres at Tribeca
• First Look at “Snow White and the Huntsman” Characters”
• Quentin Tarantino picks his Top 10 films of 2013…so far
• COCO-MoCA Presents: The Fine Art of The Flaming C

Spending all day texting, on your computer, or gaming over time can lead to the dreaded “Blackberry Thumb” or carpal tunnel issues. To relieve stiffness and pain naturally try Arnicare.

Arnicare Gel by Boiron, world leader in homeopathic medicines, works with your body to help reduce muscle aches and pains. Arnicare doesn’t mask the underlying problem, but works with the body to relieve pain naturally. It is made from Arnica Montana, Latin for Mountain daisy and is unscented, non-greasy and absorbed immediately. It doesn’t interact with any other drugs.
Arnicare is safe for all ages and is the ideal solution to the aches and pains your body is feeling from an overuse of technology.

To learn more about Arnicare visit http://www.arnicare.com/

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 13th, 2013 – The Force is back at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park as Star Wars Weekends returns May 17th through June 9th. Fans from all over the world come to share their love of all things Star Wars and Disney during this special event. Returning for the fifth year in a row is actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and founder of the popular sci-fi merchandise line for fangirls, Her Universe™. As with previous years, Eckstein will be bringing an all-new, unique range of Star Wars by Her Universe designs to the month-long event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including fashion tops, tunics, tanks and dresses located in Darth’s Mall. Eckstein will be meeting fans and signing autographs every day during the event and she will also be returning as host for Behind the Force: Star Wars Voices each weekend.

“As a lifelong Disney fan, it’s a dream come true for me to return to Disney’s Star Wars Weekends and debut my new Her Universe merchandise,” said Eckstein. “It’s been an honor to work with Disney to create designs for this event. We have an assortment of new items for female fans of all ages, including our new exclusive Return of the Jedi necklace in honor of the 30th Anniversary!”

Her Universe has only made 1,250 necklaces to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of this beloved movie. This extremely limited edition piece will come with an autographed certificate by Eckstein and will only be sold at select Her Universe events debuting at Star Wars Weekends. Only 500 necklaces will be available for sale at Disney starting on May 17th. They are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Also debuting at the event will be will the highly anticipated Rogue Squadron dress and X-Wing Pilot tank top. Other items premiering will be matching youth and adult R2-D2 tunic tops, an adorable youth Princess Leia tunic top, retro women’s fashion tops and a limited edition Asajj Ventress costume top.

Photo credit: – Kelsey Edwards Photography- http://www.kelseyedwardsphoto.com/

About Her Universe
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by actress and entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica and with BBC America for Doctor Who and with CBS Consumer Products for Star Trek. You can learn more about Her Universe and purchase the current line of fangirl apparel and accessories by going to www.heruniverse.com and by following Eckstein on Facebook (facebook.com/HerUniverse) and Twitter (twitter.com/HerUniverse).

About Disney’s Star Wars Weekends
Running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 17th through June 9th, Disney’s Star Wars Weekends is an annual event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park celebrating all things Star Wars. In addition to offering fans a unique opportunity to join Jedi Masters, Sith Lords and Star Wars celebrities for special shows, presentations, memorabilia and the all-new Star Tours attraction: Star Tours –The Adventures Continue. For more information on Star Wars Weekends, visit: disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends or disneyparks.com/blog.

STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of you are familiar with the name Bruce Crawford because Media Mikes helps promote his benefit classic film screenings. Bruce was blessed to have been able to call the great Ray Harryhausen a friend. Here is a brief tribute he composed for him:

I am still dealing with the fact that I will not hear his booming baritone voice again, and his puckish sense of humor.

I know it isn’t common at all for someone to have been a childhood fan of such an artist, and then become such close friends. Even Ray would comment on that. When I would stay at his house in Kensington I would get the mail for them at the front door and, my God, there would be letters for him from around the world. And this for a special effects filmmaker, not Tom Cruise!

We would walk to the grocery store and pick up brook trout that his wife would prepare and was it ever good! I have dozens of stories I could share, but he was so much more than a great and legendary filmmaker to me. We had so much fun together. He would jokingly call me his illegitimate son! At my “King Kong” event, he addressed me as “Sid” Crawford, after the greatest showman in Hollywood history, Sid Grauman. Praise from Caesar.

We went on a dinosaur dig in Canada with paleontologists… how amazing is that? Digging dinosaur bones with Ray! And he taped it on his hand held video recorder. I still have that tape today. Only a handful of people in the entire world had the kind of relationship I had with Ray and his wife and daughter and I knew it at the time. It seemed so normal and actually expected…like I always knew, even as a kid, that this would happen the way it did.

One of the most influential filmmakers in history…an artist, genius and for me someone who has been a part of my life…. all of my life…. and will always be so.

Based on Matthew Jones’s 1996 novel of the same name, A Single Shot stars Sam Rockwell as a down and out hunter who accidentally kills a young woman. Having found money in her camp, he decides to hide what he’s done and use it to try and put his life back together leading to an escalating cat-and-mouse game with the owners of the money. Having made its debut at the Berlin International Festival, the film held it’s US premiere at Tribeca on Friday April 26^th.

Actress Heather Lind plays Mincy in the film whom she describes as a “free spirit, impulsive woman that tries to befriend Sam’s character and bring him out of his funk”. Lind is a familiar New York face coming from Boardwalk Empire as well as a long list of Broadway credits, I asked her what it meant to have the Film Fest in the city:

Heather Lind: “It’s a great question, I’ve been in New York for about twelve years, I grew up up in Albany but I’ve been in the city for twelve years. I just love this city, I think anything that happens, that appears in the city is a good thing. Working on this film was kind of surreal enough and then getting to come to the premiere here in New York was, you know great.”

The atmospheric film, though set in West Virginia, was shot in Vancouver, Canada. Director David M Rosenthal discussed this choice:

David M Rosenthal: “I was looking for a place to shoot that had, you know this kind of gray weather and that provided this fog layer and this mist layer. And there’s not that many places where you can find that and Vancouver has it in spades and also has great crews and great secondary actors. It seemed to make a lot of sense.

Rosenthal went on to praise his ensemble cast: “It was so wonderful for me to get all of these people together because you know, there’s so many actors in this movie that I got to work with who I absolutely revere. I’m not even talking shit, I really revere these actors like Sam Rockwell and Jeffrey Wright and Bill Macy and Jason Isaacs and Kelly Reilly. Really I just walk around feeling just blessed about the fact that I got to work with them.”

The director was particularly excited to see Sam Rockwell take on the part of John Moon: “Sam Rockwell is one of the most versatile actors in America. He’s maybe one of the very best actors of his generation. I don’t think many people could argue with that. So the list gets short when you’re thinking of someone of a specific age, it’s like ‘okay, maybe we could get x, maybe we could even get this guy, maybe we can get this guy, maybe we can get Sam Rockwell. Let’s get Sam Rockwell.’ ‘Sam Rockwell read it, he likes the script.’ ‘Really?’ Fantastic!”

British actress Kelly Reilly plays Rockwell’s wife in the film and added to Rosenthal’s enthusiasm for their lead: “I had probably six days on this movie, all-in-all and I just remember working, just having a blast with Sam. He’s such a fun down-to-Earth man. So I really enjoyed working with him.”

Considering the film begins with John Moon carrying out a murder, I asked writer Matthew F. Jones if he could see John Moon in a sympathetic light:

Matthew F Jones: “I always look to John as a very noble, upright guy in a very tough situation and part of the, I think part of the interesting of this movie…was that anyone of us could put ourselves in John situation. The life he was living and then what happens to him in a single shot and the decisions that he had to make and so…I don’t look at him as a shady character, I look at him as a noble guy in a tough situation.”

Sam Rockwell was in agreement with Jones regarding his character: “I do sympathize with him, but you know, that’s–I hope that everybody does. I think he’s really isolated and a lonely guy, he’s trying to reconnect with his family and stuff.”

Lauren Damon: Are you drawn to isolated characters like John?

Rockwell: Well, I don’t know, maybe. I’m drawn to those guys for some reason but I like them all.

LD: A lot of this movie is physically grueling, how was that?

Rockwell: Yeah, a lot of cramps! Waking up in the middle of the night with a lot of cramps and stuff.

Rockwell was also on the red carpet at TFF this year supporting other films he was in, Trust Me and A Case of You.

LD: Was it by accident you wound up with three films premiering at Tribeca?

Rockwell: Well, that was a fluke. That was a fluke.

 

You can read our review of A Single Shot here!

 

Related Content

• Six Hollywood Movies to Watch
• “Birdman” Dominates 2014 Media Mikes Awards
• Keep An Eye On Your Friends, Family, And Enemies
• 2016 New Jersey Kiss Expo Review
• How Betting Became Popular In The UK

The 12th annual Tribeca Film Festival is being held from April 17-28 in New York City. The festival’s mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. The Festival has screened over 1400 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than 4 million attendees and has generated an estimated $750 million in economic activity for New York City.

Check out the following link for the 2013 film schedule

A Single Shot: The writer and director join stars Sam Rockwell, Kelly Reilly and Heather Lind at the thriller’s TFF premiere. Rockwell stars as John Moon, a man caught in a tense cat-and-mouse chase after stealing money from a woman he accidentally shot while hunting in rural West Virginia. Check out our review here!

Lil Bub and Friendz : Documents the rise of cat videos on the internet as both a subculture and in some cases, a potential goldmine. Bub and owner Mike Bridavsky joined doc directors Andy Capper and Eisner on TFF’s red carpet.

Trust Me: Clark Gregg’s second directorial effort after 2008’s Choke finds the actor also starring as Howard Holloway a down on his luck agent to child stars. The film’s premiere at Tribeca included Gregg, newcomer Saxon Sharbino, and co-stars Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”) and Paul Sparks (“Boardwalk Empire”).

V/H/S 2: Follow-up to last year horror film, which is an anthology film that is comprised of horror shorts by different directors strung loosely together by a framing story. Click here for our review.

What Richard Did: Director Lenny Abrahamson joined star Jack Reynor to talk about their Irish drama which made it’s Stateside debut at Tribeca. Check out our review here!

Click each poster below for our red carpet coverage from the following films:

..

Related Content

• Is Live Music Dying?
• David Bowie, “The Thin White Duke”, Dead at Age 69
• “American Hustle” and “Gravity” Lead This Yeas Academy Award Nominations
• HIGHER OR LOWER!
• How much do you know about the most famous cartoon family in history?

Clark Gregg is known the world over for acting as bad ass Agent Phil Coulson in the Marvel cinematic universe, however five years ago the actor added directing to his resumé with his wonderful first feature, Choke, based on the Chuck Palahniuk novel. This week he returns to directing as well as writing and starring in Trust Me. Described as a Hollywood Neo-noir, the movie follows Gregg as Howard Holloway, a onetime-child-actor-turned-Hollywood-agent, who allies himself with a talented rising star, Lydia (played by Saxon Sharbino). Sharbino and Gregg are joined in the cast by Felicity Huffman as a fierce producer and Paul Sparks as Lydia’s drunken father. They premiered the film at the Tribeca Film Festival on Saturday night to an audience that included Michael J Fox and Gregg’s wife, actress Jennifer Grey.

Director Gregg finished the film extremely close to the start of the festival. “Nobody’s seen the film,” he said of the impending screening, “Nobody’s seen the film and you kind of, you hope it works! And this is a lot of people in a very public way to see it. You know it’s like you’re going to the edge of the high dive, you’re kind of praying some water’s down there.” As for taking on multiple roles in the film making process, Gregg doesn’t have a preference. “No, it’s funny I love them as a whole, I don’t see them really as different. I see them parts of different jobs on the same ship. And to me there’s something about making a film that’s my voice, that I wrote using actors that I love and am comfortable with–there’s just nothing better.” Comparing acting in last summer’s mega-blockbuster Avengers to helming Trust Me, he added “You have a lot less responsibility. It feels like a lot more channeled and focused. I knew what I had to do on The Avengers and I was very glad I wasn’t Joss! And in this case, this was something that, I don’t know, I just had a deep personal connection to the script that I wrote.”

..

For actors Paul Sparks and Felicity Huffman, that script was a major factor  in attracting them to their parts.

Paul Sparks: “I really like the script. I’m like a script person. I was fascinated by the tone of the movie because it’s very funny. It’s funny and then it kind of really turns at one point and I think that’s really brave.”

Felicity Huffman: “What attracts me is good writing and good storytelling what you want to be saying, at least what I want to be saying when you read the script is ‘oh my god, what happens next?’ And that’s indeed what I was saying while I was reading this and so I loved this story. It was compelling and unique. I don’t think this story has been told.”

Relative newcomer Saxon Sharbino wasn’t familiar first with Clark Gregg as a writer-director. “I watched him in The Avengers but I didn’t really like know him really…it was really cool meeting him” she told us. As for working with all of these veteran actors–the cast also includes Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell and William H Macy–Sharbino said she learned “just to stay grounded and know who you are.”

 

 Of course, audiences can next expect to see Gregg back at it as Agent Coulson on ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” despite his death last summer at the hands of Avengers villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston). At a recent Tribeca press day, he referred to the God of Mischief as the “Asgardian bastard” who ran him through. When I brought this up on the red carpet, Gregg was quick to reply “I don’t think I’m stepping out on a limb when I say that. I feel like a billion people saw it!” So how would a resurrected Coulson react to being reunited with his murderer? “Oh…if Coulson actually turns out to be alive in this new show, I think he and Loki have some business to settle.” And apparently not with Coulson’s trademark dry humor, “I think we’ve gone beyond snarky comments–the impaling thing kind of takes it to a new level of rancor.”

 

By Popular demand, Trust Me has added additional screenings at Tribeca. For further info, you can check out the TFF Film Guide’s page. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is expected to debut on ABC this fall.

Having played in the UK,  the phenomenal Irish drama, What Richard Did, received its United States premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on Monday April 21st. Actor Jack Reynor, who plays the titular Richard, joined director Lenny Abrahamson to talk about the film on the red carpet.

The director summed up the story of the film: “It’s based on a book called Bad Day in Blackrock by an Irish writer called Kevin Power which is a book set in the world of privileged South Dublin teenagers. In Ireland they’re a well-known group, they’re very you know, urban, very well-heeled, attractive and this film focuses kind of on the boy at the center of this group. Kind of Alpha Male, beloved by his fellow team mates but also by all the girls. Liked by the parents and teachers as well, so it’s about that kid. And one of the reasons I was interested in making it is that films about teenagers tend to focus on the kid on the outside of the group. I mean that’s who most of us identify with  and therefore often the ones in center are often pretty caricatures so I was interested in taking a character at the center of the group. The one who appears to have the least complex life, the most blessed life, and look at what it’s like to be inside that person. And what it’s like particularly for what it’s like for a character who’s not used to failure or self-criticism to deal with both. You know most of us have a lifetime to come to terms with…our own failings, the things we don’t like about ourselves and the ambitions that we didn’t achieve. But with Richard we took him and we made him face, to deal with a lifetime’s worth of disappointment in the course of like a couple of weeks. ”

What’s it liked to be picked up by Tribeca Film Fest?

Abrahamson: It’s great! I mean…it’s brilliant to have distribution in the States and especially with Tribeca and for Imagine because it’s such a name that people understand and they associate with really interesting cinema so for me it’s really great. I’m delighted that it’s up in the festival and particularly the way it’s going to go on release.

 

Jack Reynor: “Oh my god, it’s just amazing to be here, it’s great. I mean to get recognition from the festival

and for them to host our film here it’s amazing. I mean it’s Tribeca!”

What was the most difficult scene for you?

Reynor: “Probably I think the most difficult and the most rewarding scene at the same time is the scene outside on the bench where Richard and his father were having that conversation on the bench. We

changed the entire film that day. We made some very critical decisions while we were on set that day and it actually shaped the movie. But that was by far the most difficult to do in a truthful way because that’s where you get your performance.

 

How did you develop your on screen relationship with Roisin Murphy as Lara?

Reynor: “We spent a lot of time together, we workshopped, we were great friends–still are. And yea, we just invested a lot of time. And we spoke–Roison and I knew eachother before the film, we knew each other from school actually so yea, I mean in that sense it was kind of natural enough.”

 

Both men were happy to talk about their exciting upcoming projects as well.

You’re in the next Transformers movie?

Reynor: That’s right!

Can you tell us anything about it?

Reynors: It’s gonna be awesome.

Can you say anything about your next film, Frank?

Abrahamson: “Yea, Frank is a comedy about a band lead by a very strange band leader called Frank–the name of the film–played by Michael Fassbender.

He’s in a giant mask, was that difficult to direct through?

Abrahamson: “It was, I mean never mind directing, tough to act in! But he’s you know, you need an actor with real character, with real charisma to play through that limitation and he does that really well. So, hope to have that finished by the end of the year.”

What Richard Did has remaining Tribeca screenings listed on the TFF film guide with a limited NY engagement set for May 10th. Also be sure to check out our review here!

I’ll have to admit I was a little worried when promoter Chris Jackson moved the Kansas City Planet Comicon from it’s familiar Overland Park, Kansas location to the Kansas City Convention Center at Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. I needn’t have worried. The convention, which was held April 6 and 7, was a major success, establishing Planet Comicon as not only the best annual convention in Kansas City but one of the best in the entire Midwest.

Fans from all over packed the building to meet some of their favorite actors. This was the convention’s best line up of talent ever, led by George Takei, Adam Baldwin, Wil Wheaton and Lindsay Wagner. “Star Wars” fans were greeted by Chewbacca himself, Peter Mayhew, as well as Ray Park, who was so memorable as Darth Maul in “Episode One.” They also had what was sadly one of the last opportunities to meet Richard LeParmentier (Admiral Motti) who passed away earlier this week. Even Corey Dee Williams, son of Billy “Lando Calrissian” Dee Williams, was on hand. The young man shared some great stories of being with his dad during the filming of “Return of the Jedi” and even had a cameo as Klaatu, who ended up in the Sarlac pit when Jabba’s barge was destroyed.

Returning fan favorites included Lee Meriwether, Lou Ferrigno and Adrienne Wilkinson as well as Media Mikes favorites Tom Kane and Blair Butler. The autograph lines moved quickly, though I must say that I never saw the line end at Ray Park’s table. It’s amazing how less than 10 minutes of screen time made such an indelible impact on the fans. If meeting celebs isn’t your thing, there were plenty of dealers selling the very best in comics, toys and paraphernalia. My wife is tickled pink with her talking TED key chain (very “R” rated).

Overall, the convention was a hit, with fans already talking about next year as they were leaving. So am I.

For more information about the Kansas City Planet Comicon: http://planetcomicon.wordpress.com/

Photo credit: Dan Lybarger

George Takei signs for a fan A 70s dream come true: One of the “Mikes” and Lindsay Wagner A chip off the old block: Corey Dee Williams Setting up an interview that would never take place. R.I.P. Richard LeParmentier Just like in years past, fans went all out with their costumes.

KC Royals Hall of Famer George Brett

My first memory of Jackie Robinson is also one of my earliest baseball memories. Watching game 2 of the 1972 baseball World Series there was a ceremony held before the game, commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Robinson becoming the first black baseball player in the major leagues. Assuming that black players had always been around (heck, I was wearing a pair of Lou Brock model Converse sneakers that I had begged my parents for) I was surprised at the story my father told me about Robinson and his battle to play in the majors. Before signing a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League Robinson was the shortstop for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues. So it was only fitting that “42,” the motion picture that honors his life, premiere in Kansas City. The event, held at the AMC Barrywoods 24 theater, gave almost 1,400 fans the first opportunity to see the new film.

Linda Paige, daughter of Satchel Paige

The weather was as brisk as you would expect on an early April day. Dignitaries, including Kansas City mayor Sly James, mingled with past and current members of the Kansas City Royals, as well as other baseball greats from the past, including Hall of Famer Lou Brock! Also attending was Linda Paige, the daughter of Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige as well as Jackie Robinson’s son, David. Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro League Baseball Museum, which is also based in Kansas City, attended as did cast members from “42,” including Harrison Ford, Derek Phillips, Chadwick Boseman and Andre Holland.

Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett was amazed at the red carpet experience and the honoring of Jackie Robinson. “Being a baseball player also, people just assume that I know who Jackie was. But I don’t know all of the things he had to endure. It’s going to be an education for me tonight to watch this (film).” I asked Brett, who is a strong supporter of the Negro League Museum, what the benefit showing would do for the organization. “I hope it brings more awareness to it,” he said. Brett’s said his biggest regret was that Buck O’Neil, one of the best known former Negro League ballplayers, was no longer alive to enjoy this moment. Featured in the highly popular Ken Burns documentary “Baseball,” O’Neil was the first black coach in Major League baseball and a fan favorite. Brett also noted that if O’Neil were still alive tonight’s event would have been twice as big!

David Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s son

Best known for his work on television’s “Friday Night Lights,” Phillips talked about playing a different sport on screen. “I probably hadn’t played baseball since I was seventeen and to get the opportunity to do a film like this at thirty-five…to get out there and throw the ball around…was a great experience. We had a run-down scene that we shot in multiple angles…chasing the runner to third and back to second then back to third. It was 106 degrees in Atlanta and I got a little gassed, I’ve got to be honest.”

I asked Mayor James how important it was that this event was being held in Kansas City. “It’s huge,” he replied. “And it’s the appropriate place to have it when you think about it. But for the Negro Leagues there wouldn’t be a Jackie Robinson. The Negro Leagues started here…the Monarchs were a great team and Jackie was a part of that team. He was the person that was selected. He not only broke the color barrier in baseball but he also broke the color barrier in society. He was a high-profile African-American…something that many people in this country hadn’t seen before. He forced people to reexamine their thoughts and beliefs. The fact that it all started in Kansas City makes this event very special.”

Actor Andre Holland

When I spoke to Negro League Museum president Kendrick I informed him of what Brett had said about mourning the absence of Buck O’Neil. I asked him how he thought Buck would enjoy this evening’s events. “He would be so excited,” he said, letting out a laugh. “He would own the red carpet. And he would be so proud. This is such a major accomplishment for the museum. And to be connected to a project of this magnitude…one that is shedding new light on one of the greatest American heroes ever as well as shedding light on the playing ground that allowed Jackie to play. The Negro Leagues. Because we don’t get Jackie if not for the Negro Leagues. I hope this film reminds people of just how special the Negro Leagues were and how much talent was there in the Negro Leagues.”

When I spoke to actor Andre Holland, who plays famed sportswriter Wendell Smith in the film, I noted that he was pretty much the only person in the movie that doesn’t get to throw a baseball. Did he ever just wander down to the field and start playing catch? “There were a couple of times, I will not lie to you,” he replied. “I played a lot of baseball growing up and sometimes when I was sitting in the stands…between takes I’d go down, grab a bat and take a swing or toss the ball around. It was hard to be in a baseball stadium and NOT be playing baseball.”

D23, the official fan club of the Walt Disney Company, stopped in Newark on Saturday for Fanniversary 2013. The Fanniversary is a presentation touring ten cities in the US celebrating the milestones of all things Disney that will occur in 2013. This year’s show highlights included rarely seen concept art from unproduced short “Mickey’s Toothache” as well as bringing along a pumpkin used in the production of Tim Burton classic The Nightmare Before Christmas (which is turning twenty this year.)

As well as discussing the anniversaries reached of major properties such as Peter Pan turning sixty, the show shined a light on some more obscure Disney features and attractions. For example, the D23 audience was shown concept art from Norway attraction, Maelstrom, which is turning thirty this year having opened in Orlando’s Epcot theme park in 1983. Given the scope of the company, it was up to a small team of Disney archivists to narrow down what makes it into this ninety minute show.

Enthusiastic hosts Justin Arthur, a Disney archivist, and Billy Staneck, web editor for D23.com and writer for the

D23 Magazine talked with MediaMikes after the presentation about what goes into making the show as well as the work of the Disney archives.

BILLY STANECK: “I love the Fanniversaries because we get to celebrate all these great shows and attractions that we don’t normally get to really talk about, you know? And that also gives us the opportunity to go into the archives and open up boxes that were stowed away back in the 1970s or 1980s or even you know, just a couple years ago. We’ll open them up and start going through them and looking for things that we think our fans might like. And so that’s where we come up with these old clips and concept art…Like the concept art for Mickey’s Toothache that you today.”

MediaMikes: Was there anything that had to get cut out of today’s show?
STANECK: “We had so much content for this presentation that we had to cut and cut and cut because there’s only so much we can do– we do about a ninety minute presentation, because it is a touring show that you know, we can’t do eight hours in each city. We have enough content to do that but we had to end up cutting quite a bit. We actually had some Pirates [of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, celebrating it’s tenth anniversary in 2013] stuff in there.”

MM: Was there anything that you thought must be kept in the show?
JUSTIN ARTHUR: “One thing we didn’t have in the original show was Maelstrom, the Norway attraction, and I think it is the most bizarre, wonderful ride. I originally said ‘We need to have everybody quote it!’ but the people on the west coast may not know it…That was one I was very adamant about. I know Billy and I were both very adamant both Roger Rabbit [turning twenty-five in 2013] and Nightmare Before Christmas having plenty of stuff to show people. Because those were two of our very very near and dear favorites. And sometimes too it depends on what we have that’s cool to show. Something might be a great movie or attraction and we may not have a great clip or a really great artwork to accompany it. So it kind of depends on what we have and what we want to get out there and show.”

MM: Besides D23 presentations, what is a day-to-day task of the Disney Archives?
STANECK: “Whatever movie they’re working on at the studio, the archives is there to help them make sure that information is accurate. Like Saving Mr Banks that they’re doing with Tom Hanks as Walt Disney that’s coming out for Christmas, they all came into the archives to do research with an archivist. So stuff like that. Disney Epic Mickey [for Nintendo Wii] they went into the archives, they did a lot of research…We also have a massive photo library where people are constantly requesting images from.”

MM: With Disney’s acquisition of Star Wars & Marvel does the archive suddenly get annexed?
ARTHUR: “It kind of depends. The films as they come along, we do take in more of those things, they are our films at this point. As far as the research side of it, the book side of it…we collect everything, it just adds on to all of things that we’re looking out for…I’m a huge geek of all those things, so for that I’m very thankful!”

MM: Important fan question, what is your favorite Disney ride or attraction?
STANECK: “I love Roger Rabbit’s cartoon spin at Disneyland, it’s one of my favorite attractions, it’s unique to Disneyland and it’s just such a cool, fun ride. I love that movie.”
ARTHUR: “Oh that’s a tough one, there’s so many! Um…I love the Indiana Jones Adventure.”

MM: Another Disneyland one!
ARTHUR: “I grew up on the east coast so let me pick a Florida one too! I love Expedition Everest. I think it’s one of the coolest rides ever. It’s terrifying, it’s beautiful, it’s just kind of the perfect attraction.”

D23’s Fanniversary has two stops remaining in its tour: Seattle on Friday April 5th and San Francisco on Sunday April 7th. For more information check out D23’s official website.

Debuting on Blu-ray & DVD March 26th

Nothing says comedy like putting large families together for reunions or holidays, so here, we’ll count down the Top 10 funniest flicks about these clashing personalities, including Home Alone, Uncle Buck and of course Parental Guidance.

Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei prove that laughter is relative in this hilarious comedy that’s fun for the whole family!

Old-school grandparents Artie (Crystal) and Diane (Midler) get more than they bargained for when they get stuck babysitting their type-A daughter’s (Tomei) overprotected kids. But things go from hectic to hysterical when Artie realizes the kids are running the house with their newfangled technology. By playing by his own rules, which include sugary snacks, old fashioned games and tough love, Artie manages to outsmart the kids and achieve the impossible- bring the family closer together!

10. The Great Outdoors

The Craigs and the Ripleys couldn’t be more different! The Craigs’ patriarch is know-it-all investment banker Roman Craig (Dan Akyroyd) and fun-loving Chester (John Candy), better known as “Chet,” sits at the helm of the Ripley clan. When the Ripleys decide to explore the great outdoors on vacation and are spontaneously joined by the Craigs, hilarity follows.

9. Dark Shadows

Although there is no shortage of places to lay the blame for the drama within the Collins family, the most recent addition to the clan, Barnabas (Johnny Depp), is largely responsible for the family’s misfortune. He manages to bring the brood’s dysfunction to a boil in this enjoyable remake, when he rejoins the family after a 196-year absence and lengthy stay in a coffin following his torrid affair with a vindictive witch (Eva Green).

8. The Royal Tenenbaums

One would think that all would be well with a family as successful as the Tenenbaums, but nothing could be further from the truth. The impending divorce of family patriarch Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston) leads the couple to summon their children home; unfortunately for them, the children bring bizarre revelations of their own home with them.

7. Monster-in-Law

Surgeon Kevin Fields (Michale Vartan) falls in love with Charlotte “Charlie” Cantilllini, a temp, and can’t wait to introduce her to his mother, Viola Fields (Jane Fonda). Viola, still reeling for the loss of her job to a younger woman, detests Charlie immediately and is fearful of losing her son to a younger woman in the same way that she lost her job. Charlie, although initially none the wiser, grows tired of Viola’s attempts to sabotage her relationship and a hilarious battle between the two women ensues in this delightful comedy.

6. Johnson Family Vacation

When Nate Johnson (Cedric the Entertainer) is invited to a family reunion he seizes the opportunity with the hope of rekindling his relationship with his wife (Vanessa Williams). Showing up his successful and arrogant older brother Mack (Steve Harvey) at the reunion’s talent show is also foremost on Nate’s mind in this amusing film.

5. Bringing Down the House

When newly divorced father Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) finds himself in need of a little female company he turns to the internet and begins conversing with a woman known as lawyer-girl. Lawyer-girl turns out to be Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah) a wrongfully convicted bank robber who needs Peter’s legal assistance. Peter reluctantly agrees to help Charlene in exchange for her employment as a nanny to his two children. The arrangement works out better than either of them could have imagined for the family but Charlene’s addition to the neighborhood is not a welcome one and the hilarious reactions of Peter’s neighbors brings down the house in this raucous comedy.

4. Home Alone

In this classic, the night before his family is to depart for a holiday vacation to Paris, eight year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) gets into a fight with his cousins and siblings and is sent to the third floor of his family home. A power outage soon follows, causing the family to miss their alarms and rush to the airport, inadvertently leaving Kevin behind. As Kevin’s parent realize they’ve forgotten him and panic, he opts to leave well enough alone and resorts to eating all the ice cream he can hold and enjoying being home alone!

3. Uncle Buck

Following the heart attack of his father-in-law, Bob Russell (Garret Brown) enlists the help of his ne’er-do-well single brother Buck (John Candy). Although Buck hits it off immediately with his young nephew Miles (Macaulay Culkin), he has to work a little harder to win over his teenaged niece Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly). However, despite the initial challenges, soon everyone loves Uncle Buck!

2. Step Brothers

In this slapstick comedy, Brennan (Will Ferrell) and Dale (John C. Reilly), two unemployed middle-aged men still living with their parents, are forced to room together after their parents marry. To make matters worse, the two men are soon being mandated to find jobs or face eviction by their parents, in this sidesplitting coming of age story.

1. National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation

In the fourth installment of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, the Griswolds set out to explore Las Vegas, Nevada. While there they encounter their eccentric cousin-in-law Eddie (Randy Quaid) who introduces them to the Las Vegas scene. Soon Ellen Griswold (Beverly D’Angelo) finds herself being wooed by Wayne Newton; Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) becomes addicted to gambling; and the Griswold children find themselves in the midst of other mishaps, in this delightful comedy.