Born in Iowa, Brandon Routh is probably best known for his portrayal of the Man of Steel in “Superman Returns.” Though the film made over $400 million it was deemed a “disappointment,” which to me was a slap in the face to the fans that loved the film and Routh. In my review of “Superman Returns” I noted that “Routh certainly has large red boots to fill…and he fills them admirably.”

Since then he has worked steadily, appearing in such films as “Scott Pilgrim vs the World” and “Fling,” which he also co-produced. This week Routh returns to theatres as Native American lacrosse coach Joe Logan in the film “Crooked Arrows.” Routh recently sat down with Media Mikes to talk about “Crooked Arrows,” going behind the camera and how “Superman Returns” still has its benefits:

Mike Smith: What attracted you to “Crooked Arrows”?
Brandon Routh: A couple of things. The fact that it’s about lacrosse, which is a sport I’ve been interested in learning more about. And the story. The script had a lot of passion…a lot of heart…in telling the true heritage of the sport of lacrosse, the Native American people and the sport’s origins.

MS: You’re obviously an athletic guy. Did you play lacrosse growing up?
BR: I didn’t. Growing up in Iowa there wasn’t any lacrosse. (NOTE: I grew up in Florida and we didn’t play lacrosse either. It wasn’t until I moved to Baltimore in the early 1980s did I see the game being played. It’s regionally popular in the mid-Atlantic states and is slowly growing a nationwide following) I grew up playing soccer. I would have loved to have played lacrosse but there wasn’t any to be had. That’s what made this role cool….I got to learn how to play.

MS: As you’re playing a Native American, did you do any special research to bring an authenticity to your character?
BR: I didn’t have to do a lot of research because I had access to Neal Powless, who was the cultural adviser. He’s from the Onondaga Nation as well as a producer on the film. He also was my lacrosse coach! (NOTE: Powless is a former professional lacrosse player and was a three time All-American in college). I was so fortunate to haveaccess to him for any questions I may have had.

MS: You were a co-producer on “Fling,” which was filmed here in Kansas City. Do you have any desire to go back behind the scenes? Either back into producing or even behind the camera as a director?
BR: I used to think I wanted to be a director. I’m not sure if that will happen or not. It would certainly have to be something that I wasn’t acting in. The job of a director is so challenging. You have so many people that you have to please. I think I’m a few years from that. But it is a thought. A thought for down the road.

MS: I want to preface this question by saying that I was 17 when “Superman the Movie” came out. I loved Chris Reeve as an actor. I thought you did a brilliant job in “Superman Returns.” You truly did the character, and Christopher Reeve’s memory, proud.
BR: Thank you.

MS: I preface that because, even though the film made $400 million, it was looked at in some parts of Hollywood as a failure. Do you think that kind of thinking…where a film is first judged by how much money it makes in its opening weekend rather than whether it’s a good film or not…will eventually hurt the chances of smaller films like “Crooked Arrows” even being made?
BR: No. I mean me being in “Crooked Arrows” is only because of “Superman.” And this is a much different kind of film…an independent film. It follows a completely different release schedule…we’re able to do so much more with promoting it. So I don’t see that kind of thinking effecting smaller filmmaking in any way.

MS: What are you working on next?
BR: A pilot I shot just got picked up by CBS. It’s a sitcom called “Partners.” So hopefully I’ll be seeing you on Monday nights in the foreseeable future starting in the fall.

If you’ve been a fan of some of television’s most popular shows the past few years then you’ve certainly seen Chelsea Ricketts. From “CSI: Miami” to “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Hot in Cleveland” to the current cult hit “The Killing,” she has built a solid body of work in a short time. This week Chelsea stars in the drama “Crooked Arrows,” the story of a Native American lacrosse team and the challenges they face as they try to win a prep school tournament. Chelsea recently sat down with Media Mikes to talk about the film:

Mike Smith: What drew you to the project?
Chelsea Ricketts: It was really something different to me. One thing I look for is something that is new and adventives. Something I haven’t already seen or heard or read about. “A,” I had never seen a lacrosse film before, so that was interesting to me. And “B,” to have the Native American aspect…to show how Native Americans invented the sport, was really intriguing.

MS: Tell us a little bit about Nadie Logan, the character you play in the film.
CR: She is Joe Logan’s (Brandon Routh) sister. He’s the coach and I’m the assistant coach. I’m actually a player on the team but I later become a coach. She’s a really cool, passionate girl. “Passionate” is definitely the right word to describe her. She absolutely lives and breathes the sport of lacrosse. She loves what she does. But she’s also a really cool, tough girl who can hang with all the guys. But they all still like her and have crushes on her…so she’s kind of awesome! (laughs)

MS: Were you athletic growing up? Did you have to learn to play the game?
CR: I knew what lacrosse was but I didn’t grow up with it. I grew up in Houston, Texas and when I was in school it just wasn’t as big there. Now it’s pretty widely spread all over Texas. I was athletic. I played other sports. But lacrosse was new to me.

MS: You appeared in several episodes of “The Killing” this season. The show has a very
loyal fan base. Were you a fan of the show before you joined it?
CR: I was a huge fan of the show. That wasprobably my favorite thing I’ve ever done. To be such a big fan of the show and then get to create a character on it was like a dream come true. I was so nervous on that set…walking on I was like, “Oh my gosh!” It was just so surreal. It was awesome. Awesome.

MS: What are you working on next?
CR: I have a film coming out in the fall (“Chasing Shakespeare”) with me, Danny Glover and Graham Greene. And I’ve just started working on the ABC-Family show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”

Hector Jimenez and Kevin Farley star in the upcoming film “Cellmates”, which was written and directed by Jesse Baget. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with both Kevin and Hector about the film and what it was like working with Tom Sizemore and Stacey Keach.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us a little bit about the film?
Kevin Farley: It is a film about Leroy Lowe which is a character played by Tom Sizemore. Leroy grew up in the south during the 70’s and is a member of the Klu Klux Clan. Leroy ends up in prison with my character Bubba who also is a member of the clan. Over the course of the movie as Leroy becomes involved with Hector’s character Emilio he starts to have a change of heart.

AL: Can you each describe your characters in the film?
Hector Jimenez: I play the chatty Emilio Ortiz who ends up in jail after trying to start a migrant work riot.
KF: I play Bubba who is a lifelong member of the Klu Klux Clan. I first meet Tom in our prison cell and we are like brothers. Our characters get along really well.My character really likes potatoes and doesn’t mind being in jail. I am kind of a lethargic,simple guy.

AL: How did you both become attached to the project?
KF: I knew the script was going around and Jesse had me read for the role of Bubba. I guess he ended up liking what he saw.
HJ: The role of Emilio was one that was written specifically for me.

AL: What was it like working with Tom Sizemore and Stacy Keach?
HJ: It was a great experience working with such good actors. It was really great to just be able to watch them work. They are legends.
KF: I totally agree with that. For me it was such an honor just to be on set.

AL: Do you guys have any funny behind the scenes stories?
KF: (Laughs) everyone pretty much behaved. The scene where I choke on the potato, I have to say really hurt. Tom has a lot of great Hollywood stories. He would spend most of his down time telling all these different stories. I think he is actually coming out with a book which will have a bunch of things in there.

AL: Can you tell us what the release plans are for the film?
KF: The film is premiering in New York and Los Angeles on June 1st. Things are still being working out for further release plans.

HJ: I am set to start shooting a film in Porte Vallarta.
KF: I am going to be starting work on a film starring Hayley Duff titled “A Love/Like Ours”. I also am going to be working on another film with Jesse Baget.

Oren Peli is known best for his working on the “Paranormal Activity” series. Oren also produced last year’s amazing horror film “Insidious” and recent TV series “The River”. His latest project is being released on May 25th called “Chernobyl Diaries”, directed by Brad Parker (click here for our interview with Brad). Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Oren about not only producing this film but also co-writing.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some of the films origin?
Oren Peli: I was killing time one day by browsing on the internet. While I was looking around I came across a link posted by someone who had gone to the city of Prypiat which is near the Chernobyl site. I guess in the last few years the town has been opened up as a tourist site. People can go there with a tour guide and walk around and take pictures. I had always known about the Chernobyl disaster but it never occurred to me that there was an abandoned town right next to it. The town was evacuated over night and left empty for 25 years. I thought it was sad but also fascinating. It was a great setting for a scary movie.

MG: How did this films writing differ from your previous work?
OP: In some aspects it was fairly similar. You start with a grain of an idea which you develop. You have to come up with the characters and the setting. Because it’s a horror movie you also have to think about what would be scary and how to put those scares into the movie. For me it was the whole idea that you are in an abandoned town where there is not supposed to be anyone or thing around. You become stranded in the middle of the night and you hear what you think could be a human scream from a distance. You now know that you are not alone. That is the core scare factor of the film.

MG: How did Brad Parker become attached to the project?
OP: After meeting with my producing partner we decided we were going to make the movie. We then joined forces will Phil Mason who financed the movie. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to direct the movie because my schedule would just not allow it. We met with a lot of directors that were very talented but some of them were not available and some we didn’t think were right for the genre. When we met Brad we were very impressed with his visual sense. We got along great and luckily he was the right guy for the job.

MG: What is your biggest challenge when working with a smaller budget?
OP: Low budget generally means you don’t have two months to shoot. You have to work in a smaller time frame. In this particular film one of the most important characters is the city. We had to make sure that we portrayed it accurately. We didn’t have an infinite budget for visuals and set building. We had to be very creative and smart in order to maximize our budget. It’s a challenge all around.

MG: Are you concerned at all about the film opening up against “Men in Black III”?
OP: I am sure “Men in Black III” will do very well but it’s a different audience. That film is more of a family film where ours is an R-rated hardcore horror film. The tradition of opening films on Memorial Day weekend has been very strong so I think all the films will do very well.

MG: What do you like most about producing films over directing?
OP: I think the main thing is directing islike a full time job. You are working on a film for a year at a time. When you are producing you are able to juggle several things at once. If I was directing “Chernobyl Diaries” I wouldn’t be able to do it because of all the other things I have going on. As a producer you are able to over think projects.

MG: What other projects are you working on next?
OP: I actually have a policy of not discussing any projects that I have in development. Sorry.

Brad Parker is making his directorial debut with the new film “Chernobyl Diaries”. The film is co-wrote and produced by Oren Peli, known for the “Paranormal Activity” series. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bradley about working on the film and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us why you chose “Chernobyl Diaries” for your directorial debut?
Brad Parker: There were two things really. The idea of working with Oren Peli who is a great guy and sort of a master of suspense was very exciting. The other thing was the city itself. It was a place I had been aware of and had collected photos of the location thinking that someday I would shoot a film there. When we first met we hit it off and were instantly able to start talking about the city as a character. We got right into the nuts and bolts of production. The place and the man were the two main elements.

MG: So you had knowledge of the area prior to starting?
BP: Yes I did. I had sort of learned from my friend Mark Romanic that as I came across fascinating photos I should save them on my computer. I created an archive for when I needed a specific look for something. I was able to pull from the knowledge of the place through a photographic sense.

MG: What do you think was this projects biggest challenge?
BP: The biggest challenge I think was the amount of time we had to do the film. I met theproducers of the film about a year ago. I had a rough treatment of the film at that time and we were set to start shooting not too long after that meeting. We really got into production very quickly. We shot the film in about 20 days so that was probably the biggest challenge. It was a lot of fun but very hard at the same time. Some of the locations were challenging and there were a number of things going on in a few of the scenes.

MG: Your background is in visual effects. Did you get involved with any of that for this film?
BP: I did. I got involved by deciding where not to use visual effects. I have being doing visual effects work for so long that I have become aware of where effects work and where they do not. I had a limited budget so I had to figure out how to use that appropriately. I worked with my friend and former co-worker Mark Forker on the visual stuff. It was great to be out there with a friend and an ally. We are very like minded and I trust him. He and I see eye to eye when it comes to visual aesthetics.

MG: What do you think you were able to take from this shoot that you will be able to use in future projects?
BP: The experience of working with this group of actors. It’s kind of semi-improvisational which I really liked. I found it very liberating and it was a great way to work. Working on long takes was another thing I loved. That was a great way to shoot and get natural performances. I think I will be taking that with me for future shoots.

MG: Are you at all nervous about the film opening up against “Men in Black III”?
BP: It’s hard to say. I don’t know what to expect being this is my first film. I am a big fan of the “Men in Black” series. I hope people respond well to the film. I don’t know how we will do but I hope people like it.

MG: Do you know what your next project will be?
BP: I am in development right now with Bad Robot. My friend Matt Reeves is producing the film and it is being released by Paramount. I can’t really say too much about it just yet.

Emma Fuhrmann stars opposite Morgan Freeman in the upcoming Rob Reiner film “The Magic of Belle Island”. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Emma recently about her role in the film.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the film “The Magic of Belle Island”?
Emma Fuhrmann: The film is about Morgan Freeman’s character Monty who moves in next door to where my family lives. My character becomes very intrigued by Monty and seeks his help with a few things. In the end our lives are changed by happens over the course of the summer. It’s about our journey together.

AL: Can you tell us a little more about your role?
EF: My character’s name is Finnegan O’Neil. She is the middle daughter in a family with three girls. She is sort of the tom boy type and likes to be outside.

AL: What was it that interested you in the role?
EF: My agent had sent me the script and after reading it I thought the character would be cool to play. I live in Texas so I ended up doing a video audition. Around 2 or 3 weeks later I got a call from my agent saying that Rob wanted to see me. I flew to New York and a couple hours after the audition while waiting in the airport I found out I was offered the role.

AL: What was your first response when you found out you had gotten the role?
EF: I wanted to scream but I couldn’t scream because I was in the airport. I just started crying.

AL: What was it like working with Morgan and Rob?
EF: It was such an amazing experience. Everyone was so nice. I remember one day Rob and Morgan were singing all these songs together and it was really funny. They were actually really good singers.

AL: Was there anything difficult about the role?
EF: I had to yell at Morgan in one of the scene and it seemed kind of weird that I was yelling at Morgan Freeman. The rest of the scenes were pretty easy as I am a little like my character.

AL: What do you think you learned from working on this film?
EF: I learned a lot from watching Morgan. He would stay in character all of the time even when we weren’t shooting. He played his character so well. I learned that it’s important to always stay in character. It’s help a lot. It was really fun watching those guys work.

Max Charles is only 8-years old but is having on heck of busy year. He is co-starring in “The Three Stooges” and even playing the role of a young Peter Parker in this summer’s reboot “The Amazing Spider-Man”. He is also voicing Sherman in the upcoming animated film “My Peaboy & Sherman”. Max took our sometime to chat with Media Mikes about this busy year and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about experience on the film “The Three Stooges”, must have been a fun time?
Max Charles: “The Three Stooges” was so much fun to film. We were in Atlanta all summer and since my scenes are with Will (Sasso), Sean (Hayes) and Chris (Diamantopoulos), I got to hang out with them in the green room. They are so funny and we were always laughing even in between scenes.

MG: What did you enjoy most about playing the young orphan Peezer?
MC: Peezer is the Three Stooges little buddy so that was fun!! I really like the character because he seems like a nice and fun kid. He really cares about his friends especially his best friend Murph. Peezer also encourages the Stooges to do the right thing and try to save the orphanage.

MG: How was it working on the upcoming “The Amazing Spider-Man” and playing a young Peter Parker?
MC: Amazing!! I still can’t believe I am Peter Parker and got to work on this film! The Amazing Spider-Man was my first feature film so it will always be REALLY special to me. Whenever I saw Andrew on set he would come over and sit with me and we would talk about the movie and acting. I thought that was really cool. When we were in New York filming we saw him riding his bike when we were walking in our hotel and when he saw me he rode over to talk to me. Nice is cool!

MG: Was it exciting to play such a notable superhero?
MC: Spider-Man has ALWAYS been my favorite superhero! When I was like three years old I was even Spider-Man for Halloween! I think I wore that costume ALL YEAR! I had NO idea I would EVER get to be Spider-Man in a movie!

MG: You are set to voice Sherman in the upcoming animated film “My Peaboy & Sherman”, tell us about that?
MC: Sherman is a GREAT character and SO much fun. He has a big heart but he seems to accidentally get in a ton of trouble. Mr. Ty Burrell plays Mr Peabody who is a very smart Dog who is always getting Sherman out of the trouble he makes. It’s awesome because they get to travel in a time machine and go to fun places. Sherman would be a fun kid to be friends with!

MG: What do you like most about voice work?
MC: Voice work is great because you can get crazy with your voice and acting. I like getting into the character when we are recording a session instead of just standing there saying the words. They said they are getting some pretty funny behind the scenes footage too.

MG: What other projects do you have planned upcoming?
MC: I play Max Weaver in an ABC comedy pilot called “Down To Earth”, so we hope that gets picked up for Fall. It’s a really funny show. I’m working on “Peabody and Sherman” right now and doing several voices for other tv shows like “Family Guy”, “American Dad” and “Robot Chicken”. I have a movie called “Unstable” coming out soon that I am one of the leads in and I did a guest spot on “Scent of The Missing” for TNT and I got to play the missing. I’m also working on some music with my brothers.

Selene Luna has appeared in variety of television series and movies such as “The Cho Show” and 2010’s “My Bloody Valentine”. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Selene about her career and what she is currently working on.

Adam Lawton: What made you decide to go into show business?
Selene Luna: I have a very specific answer for that. Being the only little person in my entire family I didn’t grow up around anyone else that was like me. For that reason I always understood that I would be stared at and or treated differently. By the age of 5 I decided I would be an entertainer. I just thought that it would be a good platform for people to stare at me on my terms. I figured I would give them something to look at. Everything kind of snow balled from me having that attitude.

AL: Being involved in both standup comedy and acting is there one type of performance that has been more of a challenge than the other?
SL: I will do whatever I can get my hands on. To be honest it’s all equally challenging. As far as gratification goes I get the most gratification from performing live on stage. I love theater and live performance. That is my number one passion. Both types of performance are challenging and require tenacity and leather skin.

AL: Do you ever find it hard to get people to break out of the idea that you can only play certain roles because of your stature?
SL: That is probably my greatest challenge. It is something that has always been there and will probably never go away. That is something that attracted me to being a standup comic. I feel likethat is the only place where I have control of the material and I can do what I want. I am able to give whatever impression I want to give. As far as scripted television or films go that is just not an option for me. The only person I can think of that has been able to break through this type of thing is Peter Dinklage. He is one in a million. Just to be clear my philosophy or take on this type of thing is that Hollywood equally discriminates against everyone. I don’t think little people are special in this department. Transgendered and or gay individuals are often discriminated against as well. You never see a film where the next door neighbor or someone just happens to be bull dyke. That is something you just don’t see. Everyone gets it at a certain level. Someone like me might get it a little more amplified but its show business. We are all equally warned. I think it happens to everyone and it’s brutal. You really have to be into it. It’s also really important I think for performers to create their own material regardless of what they want to do in life.

AL: You have appeared in a number of horror films. Is this a genre you are a fan of?
SL: I love horror. I am a big chicken but I love to get scared. It’s fun for me. From the work I have done horror movie sets are hands down the most fun to work on. If a horror offer comes along I take it and run with it. It’s like being a little kid and it’s a lot of fun. You get to scare people and play around. It’s hilarious! I have never seen a death scene where the entire crew is not fighting to crack up. It’s just so ridiculous. Horror has also been the only genre that will embrace someone like me. The casting for these types of films is more about the freaky and unusual. Call it what you will but it gives me opportunities that I would not have otherwise.

AL: Can you tell us about your role in “Girls Will Be Girls”?
SL: The people involved in that show are friends of mine and they have been doing it for awhile. I happened to be visiting a friend who owns the studio where the show was being shot. I was walking by and one of the producers pulled me aside and said I would be a perfect fit for a role they were looking to cast. I love everyone involved and it was a lot fun. I got to play an 8 year old kid who is kind of like the neighborhood brat. She lives next door to one of the main characters who I harass to the point of them kidnapping me. It’s super funny.

AL: You have worked with Margaret Cho quite a bit in your career. How did you two start working together?
SL: We have known each other for quite a long time now. We first met through a mutual friend at one of Margaret’s birthday parties. I had gone as this friends date and that’s wherewe met for the first time. We bonded from there. I had actually already known Margaret’s husband through the art and burlesque scene. I had been doing burlesque for many years by this point. Sometimes Margaret and her husband would come to the shows and participate. We have a lot of mutual friends and it was just a matter of time before our worlds collided. The first work I did with her was the off Broadway burlesque show that Margaret put together. We ended up touring with that show and we really bonded during that time.

AL: Do you have any other projects in the works?
SL: Starting in May I will be doing a tour with Dita Von Teese. I have toured with her before but we will be starting out by doing some west coast shows and we will be announcing more dates as the tour progresses. I am very excited about this. The burlesque world is really where I learned my chops. It is still a great passion of mine and I have a lot of fun doing that. I will also be doing some more stand-up dates with Margaret.

Max Landis is the writer of the recent found footage superhero film, “Chronicle”. Max is the son of John Landis (“An American Werewolf in London” & “The Blues Brothers”) and he is taking after his father for being extremely talented. The script for “Chronicle” is so original and fresh, which is really fresh in busy Hollywood of remakes and sequels. Max took some time to chat with Media Mikes to discuss the new film and what else he has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: Your script for “Chronicle” is so original, tell us about the evolution of the project?
Max Landis: Josh (Tranks) and I knew each other from high school. We didn’t talk for about 10 years and then I ran into him at a party and we started talking. He said he had directed a couple of shorts and I told him I had written some scripts. At this point I had a script on the radar and I was slowly becoming a writer people knew of. He had edited and directed second on a movie called “Big Fan”. I saw his shorts and I love them. He said he read my scripts and said they were amazing. He said “I have this idea for a viral web video about kids doing pranks with superpowers”. I said “What do you mean?”. He said that “They are viral web videos but as they go on they start to get darker as they begin to abuse the powers.” I said like a “POV superhero movie” and he said “Yeah!”. I said “Can it be a POV super villain movie?” and told him to give me two weeks. So I went home and made up Andrew, Matt and Steve and all their troubles and two weeks later I returned to him with a script. I told him that if I took this film to the studios that I wanted him to direct and he screamed “Holy Shit!”.

MG: You have written scripts for TV before, was it difficult to do a feature film?
ML: “Chronicle” was actually my 58th feature script. I started writing when I was 16 and I am up to 68 scripts right now, “Chronicle” was 10 scripts ago. So, lucky number 58. It started the streak that I have been on since then of selling everything. Googling me has been really fun recently [laughs].

MG: Any particular issue during writing this script for “Chronicle”?
ML: No, it was great. “Chronicle” was a really great experience for me. I wish I had more pathos about it. Writing the script was super fun. Figuring out how to write from the POV first perspective was a ball. Fox was really a dream working on the project. The development process did not go the way these things usually go. The movie you see is really Josh’s wonderful version of my original script. There were a few changes here and there but it is really a reflection of my script.

MG: When you wrote the script, tell us about the scale of the film you were planning?
ML: The game of “Chronicle” from day one…from the moment I opened my Final Draft document, I was going to trick people into thinking this movie was going to be small. I wanted it to be exactly what it is. I wanted it to be a character drama about friendship, trust and dealing with tragedy and loss…expect at the end we throw buses and destroy helicopters. So we get to that superhero level but I like to think that we take a more honest and compelling road. You know, I want to earn my flying bus.

MG: After seeing the film, there is definitely room for sequel, any plans?
ML: What do you think? [laughs]. YES! Yes of course! The way that movie ends, do you think there is not a sequel…come on. Hopefully the next one will have to do with aliens.

MG: What can you tell us about working with Shawn Levy’s “Frankenstein” project?
ML: Yeah “Frankenstein”! That was a pitch I sold to Fox that reinvents Frankenstein as a character drama. Again it makes it a story about trust, friendship and the isolating nature of genius.

MG: Tell us about working with Ron Howard on “Amnesty”?
ML: “Amnesty” is something the public hasn’t seen in a mainstream big movie before. It takes place in a modern fantasy world but I don’t want to get too far into what that means. But imagine if the wizards in “Harry Potter” weren’t secret [laughing] and it is set in the present, things would be pretty interesting for spies and secret agents…would they? A dragon fights a tank…it is pretty baller!

MG: Do you plan on following in your father’s path of both writing and directing films?
ML: That’s what people keep telling me…we’ll see!

Tom Hiddleston is known best for his role of Loki in “Thor” and the upcoming “The Avengers”. Media Mikes was able to attend a recent press conference and got a chance to ask Tom a few questions about the role and also what we can expect from “The Avengers”.

Mike Gencarelli: Loki traditionally doesn’t have as cool of a signature weapon as most of the super-heroes out there. What prop or weapon from the “Avengers” were you jealous of?
Tom Hiddleston: Well, if you’ve seen the new trailer, I do get to play with a rather wonderful toy in the film. But there was one day on the set when I managed to get a hold of Captain America’s shield and I went parading around with it. One of the producers stopped me and asked, “What are you doing with that?” (laughs)

Q: If you could put together your own team of super-heroes – let’s say – super-villains, who would be your evil super friends if you could choose from any characters in literature, comics, movies, etc
TH: Hmmmmmm (thinking) A little bit of help from Darth Vader, if I might. Hans Gruber from “Die Hard.” Scar from “The Lion King.” Robert Patrick from “Terminator 2” – the T-1000. Probably Schwarzenegger from “Terminator.” Iago, absolutely. That’s a pretty awesome group of people

Q: Since you brought it up, what was the “rather wonderful toy” you eluded to that you get to play with?
TH: It’s a kind of evolution of the staff that he played with at the end of “Thor.” But that’s Odin’s spear. So at the end of “Thor,” it’s Odin’s spear – this is his own makeshift staff of destruction.

Q: Will Odin be in “The Avengers?
TH: Odin won’t be in “The Avengers.”

Q: In the trailer it looks like all of the action takes place in New York. Is Loki coming to destroy New York or is he here to do damage on a global scale?
TH: Well, no…it’s not just one city. But inevitably Manhattan becomes the focus point, partly because that’s where Tony Stark lives. There’s one shot in the trailer where you can see, I think, the Quinjet flying towards Manhattan and in the middle of it is Stark Tower, which is in the fictitious world of the comics. Tony Stark has a huge interestingly-shaped tower opposite the Chrysler building, which is his base of operations. That’s where Stark Industries works out of. And so Stark Tower becomes a focus point for lots of reasons.

Q: What is Loki’s relationship with Stellan Skarsgård’s character in this movie?
TH: (laughing) This is where I can sense the red dot forming on my forehead. (laughs again) And the Marvel sniper in the corner on the roof over there — he’s got his eye on me. Working with Stellan…he’s amazing. He’s someone I’ve long admired as an actor. I really do think he’s an exceptional, exceptional actor and is really capable of bringing a level of complexity and truth to roles and performances which in another actor’s hands could seem dry or slightly invisible. So I loved working with him — he’s a real actor’s actor. He’s been doing it for so long. He plays the same character in “Avengers” that he played in “Thor”… Erik Selvig, who is a scientist. He’s employed by S.H.I.E.L.D. after his encounters with S.H.I.E.L.D. in “Thor,” to do some work for them. That’s all I can say.

Bruce Campbell is one of my favorite actors of all-time. His films like “The Evil Dead” series have such a cult following behind them. Bruce is also a series regular on the hit show “Burn Notice”, entering its six season this summer. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bruce again about the upcoming “Evil Dead” remake to “Burn Notice” to hanging out on Twitter.

Mike Gencarelli: We are all anxious for a sequel to “My Name is Bruce”, what is the current status of “Bruce Vs. Frankenstein”?
Bruce Campbell: On hold. Not sure if I want to make another “meta” movie. I think fans want real action, not “fake” action.

MG: You mentioned it would be the “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World of horror”, can you let us know who are looking to get in the film?
BC: If we make it, I would try and get as many old/new horror icons as possible.

MG: Season 6 of “Burn Notice” is expected to begin Summer 2012, what can we expect from Sam Axe?
BC: More of the same bad ass action. I don’t know the upcoming plots, but the basic stuff I have been told is really cool.

MG: Anymore spin-off movies planned after “The Fall of Sam Axe”?
BC: Not sure. None planned now, but the ratings were great, so…

MG: Tell us about your experience working on “Cars 2” voicing Rod ‘Torque’ Redline?
BC: It was very enjoyable working directly with John Lasseter, but very short. I just did one session since, technically I get killed off early.

MG: We all know that “Ash” isn’t going to be in the “Evil Dead” remake, why did you decide to assist in producing the film?
BC: I’m a producer on all the Evil Dead films, so it’s only natural. This way, we can stay involved and make sure the fans dig the end result.

MG: Will you having a cameo the film in any sense?
BC: Can’t say.

MG: Since joining twitter as @GroovyBruce, what do you enjoy most about using the social network?
BC: It’s a great way to see who’s out there, what they like, what they want to know – and it’s also a way to let them know what’s coming up.

MG: Tell about your involvement with Oregon Cultural Trust?
BC: I’m just a big fan of Oregon and a big fan of culture, so it seemed like a good fit.

MG: Can we expect you to make a cameo in Sam Raimi’s latest film “Oz: The Great and Powerful”?
BC: Heck yeah – filmed it last fall. Stay tuned on that!

Amy Sorlie is the writer of the new shark thriller “Dark Tide”, which stars Halle Berry. “Dark Tide” was the first screenplay from Amy and she took out some time with Media Mikes to discuss working on the film.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about the origin of the project “Dark Tide”?
Amy Sorlie: From a very young age, I was always very fascinated with sharks, especially Great Whites. They’re extremely mysterious creatures and provoke a fear unlike anything else. Like so many others, I was deeply affected by Spielberg’s JAWS and wanted to try and tap into the fear and write a really authentic shark film.

MG: What did you do in order to research sharks?
AS: Halle Berry plays a shark biologist who studies Great Whites. Through knowing their mannerisms and behavior, she has cornered the market on being able to swim outside the cage with them. I did quite a bit of research in the first initial drafts, but it was fun research for me and something I’ve always been interested in. I did a cage dive at the Farallon Islands and that was an amazing experience. I already had a lot of shark knowledge, so most of the research was in dealing with the locations and setting of the film.

MG: This was your first script, what was your biggest challenge?
AS: I think the biggest challenge was just taking it all in when Halle came on board and wrapping my head around the movie actually happening. The ramp up to production was really difficult because it fell apart a number of times and then everything happened so fast. That age old saying is true – once they pay you, they can do whatever they want. I think something that’s hard about the first one is that you’re trying to please everyone while attempting to protect the script, which is a balancing act. In the end, you just have to let go because some things are just out of the writer’s control.

MG: How do you feel the script was represented in the film?
AS: Ya know, this is a tough one. On one hand, I ‘m happy the film got made, but on the other, it’s always really difficult to see your work changed. It’s something every screenwriter will experience in their career and it would be dishonest to say I’m 100% happy with the final script. I think it had a lot of problems and the writer they brought in to do the production rewrite really didn’t have a strong understanding of the material. And unfortunately, some of the financial people involved were making creative choices and that’s always kind of a recipe for disaster. That said, it’s my first produced movie and I learned a great deal of what to do, what not to do and what’s out of my hands. I get compliments on my original screenplay all the time, so at the end of the day, that makes me really happy.

MG: What do you have planned next?
AS: I’m about to hit the market with a new script I just finished. It’s a really fun heist in the vein of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I’m also shopping a cable pilot and working on a wilderness thriller with producer Matt Baer.

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Peter Cilella stars in the upcoming film “Resolution” which will be part of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Media Mikes talked with Peter recently about his role in the film.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the film “Resolution”?
Peter Cilella: This film is about a guy who goes out to a cabin in the middle of nowhere to get his friend clean from drugs. My character takes drastic measures to get him clean. Throughout the course of the movie we each deal with personal demons and without giving too much away there is something else out there. The movie is about different controls in our lives. I think this is something everyone can relate to even when it veers off onto an odd path.

AL: What drew you to the role?
PC: I am friends with Justin Benson who wrote and co-directed the film. I had done a bunch of short projects with him and I had also worked previously with Vinny Curran who is the other lead actor in the film. We felt that we had a good chemistry and everything worked. Justin had wanted to do a feature and I suggested to him about setting this film out in the middle of nowhere. A couple months later he had the script and money. It’s really nice to get to work with people who actually walk the walk. I am very fortunate to have such a good friendship with these guys.

AL: I know you have done a lot of stage work in the past. Did you find it difficult transitioning from stage to screen work?
PC: I think the length of time we were away on location was the hardest part. We shot the film in about 20 days. Being immersed to that degree was different. I had done shorter commercial shoots and short film shoots but nothing like this. We had a pretty lengthy rehearsal process for the film which was pretty unique. Usually that doesn’t happen. I found there were a lot of great skills I could take from theater and apply them to film. It’s really a work ethic. The more you do it the better you get. If you are going to be a professional actor you have to do your training and work at it.

AL: Are there any other plans to take the film to more festivals after Tribeca?
PC: This is just the beginning. However I don’t know anything that is really concrete of where or what the film will be doing next.

AL: What other projects are you working on?
PC: I have co-written an action comedy with one of my good friends. We are shopping that around right now. I am also working through my first solo full length script. That has been a challenging process. I am actually trying to finish the first draft before the Tribeca Festival. Writing is really challenging but also very rewarding.

AL: Do you see yourself going more towards writing than acting?
PC: I would love to balance both. That is when I am the most happy. If I am only doing one or the other I feel like I am neglecting a side of me that needs to be fed. When I started writing years ago it was more out of frustration. I needed a creative outlet. I was between jobs and I had some down time. I needed to express myself and I really got into writing. I love story telling and it’s something that I don’t think I would ever want to abandon.

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Terrance Zdunich is known best for playing the Graverobber in “Repo! The Genetic Opera”, his first collaboration with Darren Lynn Bousman.  The duo recently re-teamed on their new film “The Devil’s Carnival”.  Media Mikes has a chance to chat with Terrance about the film, it’s music and their city tour.

Mike Gencarelli: Where did you come with the idea for this film?
Terrance Zdunich: After Darren and I collaborated on “Repo! The Genetic Opera” 4 years ago, we knew we wanted to do another musical project. We looked around for awhile and eventually came up with this idea that really stuck with us. We knew that this was something we were now going to invest the next few years of our life creating and promoting. As far as the concept for I think it came out of a love for amusement park dark rides. Rides like Disney’s The Haunted Mansion where you get a really cool immersive experience. I thought of how cool it would be to create a world where it felt like you’re moving through one of those rides. That was the emphasis and “The Devil’s Carnival” grew out of that.

MG: Can you tell us about your character Lucifer in the film?
TZ: Who doesn’t want to play the devil [laughs]? I think it’s a character I sort of sympathize with in some ways. He is the ultimate rebel. He was punished for questioning authority and as an artist that kind of spoke to me. I wanted to do a take on the character that maybe has not been done before. I thought that what if hell tries to do what heaven does and offer redemption. That would be the most rebellious act of the dark world. Put heaven out of business.

MG: Can you give us some background on the soundtrack?
TZ: Like with “Repo”, you can listen to it and get one experience or idea of the world. When you see the songs attached to the imagery they will take on new and hopefully better doings. When you are doing a film where music is part of narrative it comes down to what are the stories, which are the characters and what is the heart of what they are doing? We then try to put all that to music. We had to distill what a song would sound like for each element in the film. The song “Trust Me” takes the theme of the Aesop’s Fable story “The Scorpion and the Frog”. We knew that character had to be seductive in gaining ones trust.

MG: Can you tell us about the song “In All My Dreams I Drown”?
TZ: That song is one of the last ones we wrote. Up until about two months before filming there was only going to be nine songs on the album. We had originally envisioned a world where only the carnies sang. Darren and I thankfully changed that idea. It was a challenge to write a song for the Tamara character to where it seemed like she was singing in a dream. We came up with the idea of Lucifer representing all the men in her life. He really is the ultimate bad boy. We did a lot of research when writing that song.

MG: How do you feel this film compares to your work on “Repo! The Genetic Opera”?
TZ: We knew that this was going to get compared to “Repo” no matter what we did. On one hand we wanted to live up to what fans love about that film. While on the other hand we really wanted to do something new. With “Repo”, the music was really a futuristic industrial sound. We used a lot of modern instrumentation and sounds. With “The Devil’s Carnival”, we decided to make everything sound like it was from the past. We used no electronic instruments. Everything is acoustic. I think tuba is the main instrument featured on the songs.

MG: Is there any truth to this film being the first in a series?
TZ: That is absolutely true. This film is a little over an hour. Even though this film is a contained story we left it open to grow. The second film is actually already written. This story just continues to grow. The fact that we are using something like Aesop’s Fables gives us some 600 story lines to use. If the tour ends up being successful and the people respond we are chomping at the bit to do another one.

Darren Lynn Bousman is known for directing films like “Saw II, III & IV” and “Repo! The Genetic Opera”. Darren is reuniting with Terrance Zdunich from “Repo” on his newest film “The Devil’s Carnival”. They are also currently touring with this film to over 30+ cities. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Darren about the film and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us about the origin of “The Devil’s Carnival”?
Darren Lynn Bousman: Terrance and I have been trying to find another project to work on since “Repo! The Genetic Opera”. We just couldn’t find the right one. We knew the project had to be great and not just good. We threw ideas back and forth but nothing struck us as being great. All of a sudden this idea hit and we knew this was what we had to do. When you know you know and we jumped on this immediately.

MG: What do you feel is the hardest part of shooting a horror musical?
DLB: Every aspect. This is a self funded thing. We actually received funding from Empire Film and Entertainment Group in Florida. I met them through one of the producers and they are great guys. There was no studio behind us. It was basically just us doing this thing. We had a real lack of support. This was just a bunch of friends making a movie together. It’s sounds awesome but it was really hard because there was no infrastructure. Doing everything from the soundtrack to the posters was the hardest part. We recorded an entire album without the help of any outside system. We shot the film which should have taken a month in just seven days.

MG: How do you compare this production with that of “Repo! The Genetic Opera”?
DLB: This production I think is a little more mature. I will always love “Repo” as it is one of my favorite things. I just feel “Devil’s Carnival” is more mature and accessible. This film is equally bad ass and out of the box as “Repo”.

MG: Can you tell us about the cast?
DLB: It’s as extremely diverse and equally crazy as the Repo cast. Emilie Autumn, who is my favorite person in the world now, plays the painted doll.  Clown from Slipknot, Nivek Ogre, Sean Patrick Flanery and Paul Sorvino to name just a few. This cast just is extremely diverse. I think that makes it awesome! It gives the film that “What the fuck” factor. To me that’s my favorite thing about this movie. It is just so crazy and out there. This casting on this film was very unsafe.

MG: Can you tell us about the 30 city tour you currently have going on?
DLB: It’s fucking insane! I am in a van right now with seven other people and it smells like feet and farts. It’s punk rock film making. The good people at Empire Film and Entertainment Group are funding this and we are doing this on the cheap for the art. Hopefully when people come out to the shows they see something they have never seen before. We want to make going to the movies and experience. This is a rock and roll concert in a movie theater.