Jan Rabson is a voice actor known for his working with Pixar and Disney. He has worked on “Toy Story 3”, “Up”, “Cars Toons” and “Finding Nemo”. Jan also voiced Tetsuo in American dub of Japanese cult classic “Akira”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jan about his voice work and his films.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background as to how you got involved with Disney and Pixar?
Jan Rabson: Basically I got involved originally through Mickey McGowan and went in with a loop group doing background voices for the original “Toy Story”. After I got back from that session I told my now wife that I had just worked on what “Steam Boat Willie” was to 1920’s this film was animation for the 90’s. I could tell that this was going to be fantastic and it was really exciting. We worked with John Lasseter himself. With Pixar we don’t just act like a normal loop group – we get to do real individual characters (Axel, great death scene in “A Bug’s Life”, Sparks in “Toy Story 3”, etc) We improvise and they choose what they like in the editing room. It’s a fun creative process. It was a fantastic time. They are great people to work for.

MG: What is the process for being brought on a set to provide additional voices?
JR: Usually it happens through a wonderful woman by the name of Mickey McGowan. They call her and generally will ask for a certain person. I have been lucky that Pixar has chosen to bring me back each time. I have done most of their films with the exception of 2. Those couple films were shot out of the country and they needed specific voices for those shoots. I also have been lucky to do a lot of their shorts as well such as the ones with Mater from “Cars” and those for “Toy Story 3”. I have just been very lucky. I have been riding this wonderful train and having a ball until it stops.

MG: How did your involvement in “Akira” come about and what was that experience like?
JR: “Akira” was interesting. It was so long ago that I don’t remember it 100 percent but I do remember I had worked with Wally Burr once or twice before and he had this reputation for being a real man eater. Frankly I thought he was wonderful and it was great working with him. When I got cast I had no idea how big of a film it was or it was going to be. It was the biggest film in Japanese anime at the time and was like 60,000 frames per film which was unusual at the time. It was just myself, Wally and the engineer in the studio. We worked about three or four days and on one of those days a group of Japanese business men came in and sat stoned faced watching me. We had taken a break and if you saw what happened in a film you would think it was phony but all of a sudden these guys just started smiling and busting out cameras to take pictures. Wally said breaks over and the guys went right back to the way they were before. (Laughs) I also remember we were working on the big metamorphosis scene and it ended up being like 20 takes of me screaming and begging for tea and honey.

MG: Can you tell us about being credited sometimes under a different name?
JR: That’s my pseudonym. I once got a Los Angeles public library card under the name Stanley Gurd, Jr. because my card had run out and they wouldn’t give me a new one so I made up a name. Years ago a lot of anime was done under the table so people used different names. Stanley is actually the name of a nerd character I created similar to Pee-Wee Herman. I love doing the character of Stanley Gurd, Jr

MG: What is your inspiration when doing multiple voices on a project and how do you distinguish each one?
JR: It really depends on the character and what kind of personality he has. I grew up in East Meadow, Long Island and my father worked in Brooklyn so I had a wide variety of characters to choose from. My dad owned a small business and a lot of different types of people would call him some who were really weird. I also have relatives from all over the world so I borrow a lot from them and from people who I grew up with.

MG: How did you get the role of Larry Laffer in the “Leisure Suit Larry” video game?
JJR: That was another one that I auditioned for and had no clue really what it was. People told me it was a big gig and I guess it was in the fact that the game was well known but I was getting paid in those days scale or a little bit above so I didn’t make much off those cd-roms at all. I had a ball working with Al Lowe and he and I are still good friends. Al would let you ad-lib and I would just go crazy! Al would have to tether me down to stop me because you would just adlib your ass off! My wife likes to say she’s married to “Leisure Suit Larry” (Laughs)

MG: What was your involvement with “Jaws: The Revenge”?
JR: I was in the only “Jaws” film that didn’t make more than $10 at the box office! (Laughs) That was a looping gig. I don’t really remember what I did on it but, you look at a film after you have finished and you can tell if it’s going to be good or not. You could tell that one was going to tank. (Laughs) Another one I did which was actually my last gig in front of the camera was on “Baywatch”. They had a fake shark in that and they had a fake shark on that and it didn’t work half the time. They would say “ah it’s no big deal it’s just Baywatch.” (Laughs)

MG: Can you tell us about any current projects you are working on?
JR: I still go down and do work for Pixar and DreamWorks here in Los Angeles. I do a lot of commercial stuff lately. I also do a lot of work in Vancouver where I just did “My Little Pony”.

Starring: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan and Chris Carmack
Directed by: David R. Ellis
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 31 mins
Rogue Entertainment

Our Score: 0 out of 5 stars

A young woman is swimming alone, left in the water by her boyfriend. Suddenly she is pulled violently back in forth until she disappears. Sound familiar? This is the opening scene from “Shark Night 3D,” a film that tries, on several occasions, to steal from “Jaws”…a feat it fails at miserably.

The story: a group of college students from Tulane decide to spend the weekend at the home of rich girl Sara (Paxton). While stopping for booze they meet some of the unsavory characters that Sara grew up with. Why has it been three years since she’s come home? And really, who cares? Once at the house they begin to disappear, one by one, in a series of shark attacks. Scared yet?

What a horrible film. The plot, as it is, is lame enough without all of the inconsistencies the story holds. When the teens decide to call for help we are told that there is no cell phone reception. But surely that won’t affect the land line based telephones in the house?

Besides the opening “Jaws” rip-off scene, the film also steals from “Jaws 2” (waterskier), “Jaws 3” (horrible 3D) and even pulls a “flying” shark out of “Jaws the Revenge.” We learn that there are 46 different kinds of sharks in the lake yet apparently no one has ever been attacked until now. Trying to tie the attacks into an attempt to make money off the people who enjoy “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel each year is equally absurd. More unbelievable are the various sharks. They come off as cartoony rubber toys. And to my understanding, most of the lakes I’ve come across are fresh water, which would not be conducive to sharks. But when this fact is brought up on screen we are informed that this is a salt water lake. Whatever.

The direction is pedestrian at best. Director Ellis seems keen on two things: speeding up the film to make everyone travel around fast and bikini clad back sides. The scares, if you want to call them that, are telegraphed minutes ahead. And the 3D is almost non-existent. Apparently Hollywood thought they would ass-rape the movie going public one more time before the summer ended and charge an extra three dollars! My advice is to take that money and go rent “Jaws.”

Colin Egglesfield recently co-starred in “Something Borrowed” with Kate Hudson, John Krasinski and Ginnifer Goodwin.  He also currently guest starring as Tommy in TNT’s hit show “Rizzoli & Isles”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Colin about his working on “Rizzoli & Isles” and “Something Borrowed”.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background about your work on TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles”?
Colin Egglesfield: My first episode was called ““Don’t Hate the Player” and my character Tommy is just getting out of prison after hitting a priest with his car while drinking and driving. My mom played by Lorraine Bracco and my sister played by Angie Harmon were attempting to have a welcome home party for me. However prior to my release my character gets into a fight and has to stay a few weeks longer. When I finally get out I don’t tell anyone that I am coming. Dr. Isles lets me stay at her place as I had no other place to live. This comes as a shock to my sister and makes her a little suspicious of what I am up to. We see very quickly in the vet’s office as I am screaming about Dr. Isle’s dog needing to put on Prozac. My character is a bit of a loose cannon. The next episode I will be in is called “Gone Daddy Gone” and it airs Sept. 5th and we start see some sexual chemistry begin between my character and Dr. Isles. My third episode will air this winter and we might be seeing Tommy getting into some more trouble.

MG: Have you enjoyed the role so far?
CE: The role has been a lot of fun! To play someone who is kind of unpredictable and mischievous has been a lot of fun.

MG: How has it been working with such a great cast?
CE: It’s has been one of the best shows I have worked on. There is never a dull moment as Angie Harmon is like a cheer leader always clapping and hyping everyone up. She is like a big cheerleader! Sasha Alexander is also great as the two kind of balance each other out. When Angie gets too amped up Sasha is there to calm everything down. To also work with Lorraine Bracco and to play her son has been awesome and funny. It’s almost hard to work sometimes because prior to takes we are always sitting around cracking jokes. Jordan Bridges is another person that is a lot of fun to be around.

MG: How was your experience working on “Something Borrowed”?
CE: It was awesome and such an amazing experience. It is one of those dream roles that when I started acting 12 years ago you would dream about having one day. Working with people like Kate Hudson, John Krasinski and Ginnifer Goodwin was just an absolute dream come true. It’s definitely helped me with getting some other jobs. I just finished a movie with Andy Garcia and Juliette Lewis called “Open Road” which we hope to submit to Sundance.

Ian Glaubinger is the man behind Doodles from My Noodle. He mixes his cartoons with pop culture. He has created some really fun and interesting pieces from various films, video games, etc and even specific characters, including “Willy Wonka”, “The Big Lebowski” and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ian about this art and what he calls his “Doodles from My Noodle”.

Mike Gencarelli: What is your process when you start working on a project aka doodle?
Ian Glaubinger: I would actually say my process has been pretty much the same for a long time now. First, I come up with the idea and as of late I like to have some kind of ‘catch’ or ‘gimmick’ rather than just drawing the character or subject matter ‘as is’. After I have my idea, it’s always the same. I start with traditional pencil and paper just like when I was drawing dinosaurs in kindergarten! However, my sketches typically aren’t a complete illustration but actually just separate elements that I combine digitally later on the computer. I draw most elements by hand but there are some that I draw directly on the computer. After I scan my image(s) I redraw (or for lack of a better word; trace) my pencil sketches in Adobe Illustrator. After I have redrawn everything I create all of the elements that I didn’t draw by hand such as text, background elements, etc. After all of this is done I start to move all of them around until I am satisfied with the layout. After the layout is set I then start to color everything and add any special effects like rough edges, patterns, etc. Oh and for anyone who cared to know, I am strictly a PC guy!

MG: What are some of your favorites films and cartoons?
IG: Favorite movies… oh boy. Too many to count but my all time favorite is definitely Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Some others are the Back to the Future trilogy, The Shawshank Redemption and anything Pixar except Cars. I love the old Looney Tunes and Hanna Barbera cartoons, the old Simpsons seasons, Mission Hill (all time favorite) and my current favorite one is a show called “Dan Vs.”.

MG: When you attend conventions, what are some of the requests you have received?
IG: I always get the typical Batman, Spiderman, Wolverine, etc. But sometimes I get more obscure ones like Steve Zissou from Life Aquatic, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Green Lantern wearing a NY Rangers jersey making the Stanley Cup from his ring and one time Johnny Depp playing a piano with a candelabra.

MG: Have you ever done any doodles for celebrities?
IG: My one claim to fame is I drew Captain Nemo (from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) for Scott Adsit from the show “30 Rock”.

MG: Which do you prefer digital or hand drawn?
IG: I will say, for me, you cannot have one without the other. Some days I prefer the look of a good hand drawn illustration, guidelines, imperfections and all. And some days I prefer the look of completed digital piece. So I really do not have a preference.

MG: What is your favorite doodle that you have done?
IG: Hmmm… that’s a tough one. As most artists will tell you, they almost can’t stand the look of any artwork that is old which I tend to agree with. So currently I have a couple of favorites until I don’t like them anymore. My current favorites are a Pee Wee Herman piece titled “Prehistoric Pee Wee” for an upcoming show at Gallery 1988 in Venice, CA and a Back to the Future piece from my “Part of This Complete Breakfast” series.

MG: What is the coolest commission project that you have received?
IG: That would actually have to be the piece mentioned above; the Back to the Future piece from my “Part of This Complete Breakfast” series. I did a set of 3 pieces for a show a while back called 3G where we had to create 3 unique pieces of art for Goonies, Ghostbusters and Gremlins. I created 3 pieces that all had fictional breakfast cereals on them and a gentleman bought the whole series and later commissioned me to do a 4th for his (and one of mine too) favorite movies, Back to the Future in the same style. I had a blast doing it and may end up doing more in the future.

MG: Can I beg you to do a “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Jaws” doodle?
IG: I’ve had a hankering to do a “Jaws” piece for a while but the thought of “Fear and Loathing” never crossed my mind. Make me an offer I can’t refuse *wink wink*. There are so many characters and movies I have in my head that I want to do I just haven’t had the chance to start them yet.

Sean Patrick Flanery is known best for his role of Connor MacManus in “The Boondock Saints” series.  Sean starred last year in “Saw 3D: The Final Chapter” and also the recently released “InSight”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Sean about his new film “insight” and his reflection the “The Boondock Saints” craze.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about how you became involved with your latest film “InSight”?
Sean Patrick Flanery: Richard Gabai, the director sent me the script. I liked it and that was pretty much all she wrote. I mean it was good script. I liked him and we decided to go forward with it.

MG: How do you prepare for a role once you come on board a film?
SPF: It depends on the film really. Somethings are so perfectly written that all your preparation is set for you. I am the least method cat you will ever meet. My preparation takes place between the title page and fade out. I am not one of those cats that believe that I have to go live in gutter for a week to play a homeless man. I do not believe that, nope. Unless you are in a situation where you are playing an equestrian, then obviously you will need to be able to ride a horse…so specific things like that. For character works, I think all the information is provided in the script itself.

MG: You seemed to have good chemistry on screen with Natalie Zea, how was it working with her?
SPF: It was cool. She is a real sweetheart. She is a professional and very talented. I had a good time.

MG: Tell us about the production, where was it shot?
SPF: We shot it in L.A. but it was in some weird parts man. We shot in part of L.A. that literally you have no idea that you are in L.A. Some places I didn’t even know existed man [laughs]. It was cool as far as that goes.

MG: I hear it was shot in only 16 days was that rushed at all for you?
SPF: Yeah it was 16 day shoot. If everyone comes to work prepared than that is ample time to shoot a film. Barring any weird special effects shots or crowd scenes of a thousand, that is plenty of time to shoot a material character driven film.

MG: You recently went back to “The Young and the Restless”, do you enjoy working on soaps and switching it up?
SPF: I enjoy switching it up like that. It was a medium I had never explored before. It is a different kind of break.

MG: Can you reflect on the fans reactions and supports to “The Boondock Saints” series?
SPF: I’m truly in awe of their support. Having said that, I would be a fan myself
had I not been it the film as it suits my sensibilities.

MG: How was it returning to play Connor MacManus in “The Boondock Saints II: All
Saints Day”? Any plans for a another installment?
SPF: We didn’t miss a beat & it was great to be back filming with good friends. I hope so. They are a ball to make.

MG: How did you get involved with working on “Saw 3D: The Final Chapter” and was it a difficult shoot?
SPF: I read the script and really liked the character. It was no more so than any other stunts I have done. It went fairly smoothly.

MG: Tell us about working with director on “Scavengers” and “Mission Park”?
SPF: Working with Travis Zariwny was killer man…really killer. I had a great time working with that guy on that film. “Mission Park” just wrapped this week. My part was already completed. It was killer, I really had a wonderful time on that film also.

http://www.hollywoodbjj.com
http://www.seanflanery.com

Director:Jeff Santo
Stars: Troy Duffy, Nick Nicholson, Sanel Budimlic, David Della Rocco, Keith Jackson, Bob Rubin, & Jeff Santo.
Santo Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 96 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Off The Boulevard” is not only an entertaining film and but also a very informative documentary. It shows how is to be independent in the entertainment business or in life in general. The film follow seven artists: two musicians (Keith Jackson, Nick Nicholson), two filmmakers (Jeff Santo, Troy Duffy), two actors (David della Rocco, Sanel Budimlic), and one comedian (Bob Rubin). It shows that no matter what you are trying to accomplish in life, it is a struggle especially when working independently. It is definitely aimed to inspire people out there to keep trying in their careers and doing what they love.

The director Jeff Santo is known best for his film “Liar’s Poker” but he also has been burned many times by the system. Troy Duffy, the creator of “The Boondock Saints” is the same way. He had has many struggles after making the first “The Boondock Saints” and his side is told here. The musicians in the film Keith Jackson, Nick Nicholson, strive in the business to get their music heard. Bob Rubin is a comic that just want his jokes to be heard. We visit the life of David della Rocco, who is a struggling independent actor. Sanel Budimlic escaped the Bosnian War to come to America with hopes to live as an actor. Besides the seven artists, the film also reaches out to other industry well-knowns such as: Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), Peter Fonda (Easy Rider) and Sonny Barger (Hell’s Angels). They give advice and life lessons about the meaning of being and working independently.

I must acknowledge that Jeff Santo sure did a great job directing this documentary.  The editing is fantastic and the film is well paced. Since the film is focusing on two musicians, one punk rock and the other country…you know the film is going to have some kick ass tunes in it for sure. If you are into film-making, especially independent then this is a must see for you. Click here to support being independent and pick up a copy of this film. Spread the word!

Directed by: Kevin Smith
Starring: Michael Parks, John Goodman, Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, Melissa Leo, Stephen Root
Distributed by: Lionsgate
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 88 minutes

Out score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Man, I really wanted this movie to be freaking amazing. Ever since I heard about Kevin Smith doing a “horror movie” I was really psyched. Well firstly let me clear the air saying that this is not a horror film. It features the horror from the actions of a religious cult, but it ends there. It has a lot of tension and action it in so I think it falls more on that genre. I honestly couldn’t write this review right after watching it because I wasn’t sure what I thought about the film overall. I have been a fan of Kevin Smith since ’94 and I have been a fan of his work up to “Jersey Girl”, that’s right I liked that film. I was not a fan of “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and I never even saw “Cop Out”. I was hoping that this was going to be a turn for the better. But like Kevin Smith said in the behind the scenes for “Red State”, he is retiring and doesn’t care about his film career. So why should we? Does this mean that Kevin Smith sucks as a director…hell no. Don’t get me wrong, I think that this is prob his most smartly directed film since “Clerks” but I just didn’t dig it.

The story follows three boys who go out one night looking for sex and end up the prisoners of a cult religious group, the Five Points Church. This group of religious followers we find out are more like terrorists with an bunker under the church and a room full of guns. They have prisoners locked up awaiting judgement and they are mission is to punish them for their crimes of being homosexuals. There is a lot of preaching and then all hell breaks out when the cops and the government gain wind on this operation. The group let by Pastor Abin Cooper as they fight the law in pursuit of their holy mission.

I have to say one thing is that the acting in the film is really intense and notable. Michael Parks as Pastor Abin Cooper gives one heck of an profound performance and leave you with your mouth open. John Goodman as Special Agent Keenan kicks some ass with his serious and troubled character. It was not a mistake that Melissa Leo won the Oscar for “The Fighter” this year, the woman knows how to act. Even though it is directed well by Kevin Smith, it is shocking…it is controversial…it is intense, but overall I just didn’t get into it. The film jumps from religious blabbering to intense thriller to all out action film…just too much to process in one sitting. If I would have written this review immediately after watching it my score would have been a lot lower…so maybe it is not as bad as I say it is but either way disappointed. Could I watch it again?…maybe but I wouldn’t be jumping on that train anytime soon. Fans of Kevin Smith, might want to check it out since it is like nothing he has ever done but otherwise interest in this film is probably going to be scarce.

Juliet Landau is known best for her role of Drusilla from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”. Juliet is in the new film “InSight”, directed by Richard Gabai. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Juliet about her role on “InSight” and her TV and film career.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you got involved with the film “InSight”?
Juliet Landau: I worked with the writer Aaron Ginsburg on a staged reading that he was directing. He’s very talented and he asked me if I would do the film.

MG: Tell us about your experience working on the film?
JL: It was a lot of fun. The director, Richard Gabai is wonderful to work with. I liked playing the straight doctor role. It was a change of pace from Drusilla and some of the characters I’ve played recently who were schizophrenic or in extreme emotional circumstances. I was the calm, reassuring, empathic, reasonable character in this one. The odd thing was that we shot in an active hospital. From the entrance if you went left, that’s where our “base camp” was. But if you went to the right, they were admitting people. Folks being wheeled in kept asking me questions. I was after all, standing there, wearing a lab coat and had to explain that I wasn’t a real doctor!

MG: You are well known for your role of Drusilla on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”, what did you like most about playing her?
JL: Working with Joss Whedon was incredible! I loved the writing. Drusilla was such a rich character, rife withdimension. There was a lot of pain in her, but she was also capable of boundless love. She was diabolical but eternally childlike. She was mercurial, incandescent and moved to her own drummer. She was an incredibly powerful, forceful creature.

MG: Do you have any plans to write more “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” comics?
JL: Scott Allie at Dark Horse and I have been chatting about the possibility.

MG: How was it getting to work with your dad in “Ed Wood”?
JL: It was amazing. Tim Burton makes the most creative, fluid environment. It was a dream set. I think we all fell in love with the characters we were playing.

MG: What can you tell us about your web series “Naught for Hire” and when can we expect it?
JL: Jeffrey Berman has created and written the web series. It is funny, stylish and unique. I am excited to start working with him on it soon.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “The Yellow Wallpaper”
JL: It is based on the short story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1890. I play the title character. I would say the feeling of the film is a bit akin to “The Others” with Nicole Kidman.

MG: Any other projects in the works and do you have any future plans to direct again?
JL: I just wrapped on a film called, “Dark Hearts” directed by Rudolf Buitendach. Gorin Visnjic, Kyle Schmid, Lucas Till, Rachel Blanchard and Sonja Kinski are in it. I play a beatnik-inspired artist and gallery owner, who is always a bit stoned. I have a lot of other projects in the works, which include acting, producing and directing. Also, I just signed with a UK agent and have my British work visa, so I am currently in London taking lots of meetings.

Sara Paxton is the star of the 3D thriller “Shark Night 3D”, directed by David R. Ellis.  Sara is also know for her role in 2009’s “Last House on the Left”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Sara about starring in “Shark Night 3D” and about working up close with the sharks.

Mike Gencarelli: What drew to the “Shark Night 3D” project?
Sara Paxton: Around this time last year David Ellis called me and told me he was a big fan of another film I did called “Last House on the Left”. He sent me the script and after I read it, David asked me if I would like to go to a lake house in Louisiana and spend the summer with some cool young people while also training with Navy seals and riding jet skis. I said it sounded awesome to me! David being a fan of mine so to speak and his feelings towards the project is what really got me interested.

MG: What is it like working with David Ellis?
SP: David is like a big kid! We would be shooting these really serious shark attack scenes and all of a sudden he would stop and ask everyone to gather around. I thought I was getting fired but then he would yell “Donut eating contest!” He had like over 100 Krispy creams driven in and while we were sweating our balls off, David is having a donut eating contest. It was so awesome!

MG: How did you prepare for your role?
SP: Basically I did a lot of swimming, which I had been familiar with due to working on other swimming type movies. We also trained with the Navy seals in order to be fully prepared for our underwater fight sequences. It was really amazing to work with those amazing guys who not only catch Osama Bin Laden but also train actors for a shark movie. It was great!

MG: What was it like working with the sharks?
SP: The sharks were definitely divas. They were super heavy, life size mechanical sharks that could swim like 40 miles an hour. They had real shark’s teeth and due to their size they were kind of unpredictable. People were actually getting attacked by fake sharks. It was pretty crazy and I didn’t expect anything like that to happen.

MG: Did the film being shot in 3D pose any additional challenges for you?
SP: Not really. It was already kind of difficult with the water and sharks, so I didn’t really notice much. The crew was very skilled at handling the cameras. Everyone was totally capable and everything went smoothly.

MG: Would you consider this role one of your more difficult?
SP: Definitely! Even though I have worked with the water before and done a lot of swimming shoots this underwater, holding your breath fight scene stuff was something that even though we trained for it you’re not fully prepared until your actually in the water and doing it. It was crazy! I have never had to do something like this before. It took a lot of energy and I spent a lot of time underwater with just a regulator and no mask.

MG: Can you tell us about your experience at Comic-Con this year?
SP: Comic-Con was great. I wish I could have stayed longer and gotten more pictures with people who dressed up. If I was going to Comic-Con as a fan I would totally go all the way and dress up as one of my favorite characters. We were somewhat confined to our “Shark Night” group but I wish I could have wandered around more and seen stuff.

MG: How would you compare your work on “Last House on the Left” to your work on “Shark Night 3D”?
SP: I would say challenging in different ways. “Shark Night 3D” was very demanding physically as was “Last House on the Left” but Last House was more emotionally draining. Both movies I had a really good time and I still keep in contact with people from both films.

MG: Can you tell about the other projects you have been working on?
SP: I just finished a film called “The Boys of Abu Ghraib”, which is a comedy about the whole Abu Ghraib controversy that happened a short time ago. I have a small part where I play the main characters girlfriend back home. I love the horror genre but I am excited to get to do a project where I can break away and do something more serious. The cast was really great on that shoot.

General Audiences Can See The Film On Labor Day Weekend, In Advance Of Its September 9th Release

Santa Monica, CA, August 30, 2011– LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today announced a special sneak preview screening program for the inspirational sports drama WARRIOR.  The screenings will be held on Sunday, September 4th at 7:00 pm, at theaters nationwide.  The announcement was made by Lionsgate’s co-COO and Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake.

To promote the sneak previews, Lionsgate has partnered with Twitter to designate the hashtag #WARRIORMovieSneakPreview, which Lionsgate has also sponsored as a Promoted Trend, allowing Twitter’s powerful user base a direct link to buy tickets and continue to spread the tremendous word of mouth the film is receiving.

Moviegoers interested in seeing the film, which Rolling Stone’s chief film critic Peter Travers calls “fiercely moving,” can purchase tickets in advance at www.warriorsneakpreview.com and use #WARRIORMovieSneakPreview on Twitter to share information about the movie with friends.

“We are in a fortunate position in that the best promotional tool for this incredible film is the film itself,” explained Drake of the motivation to allow general audiences this special advance access.  “This is truly a movie for everyone, and as we’ve screened it, people in all demographics- even those who might not have otherwise sought the film out- have been enthralled by its blend of triumphant, inspirational sports storytelling with poignant and powerful family drama.”

Adds David Spitz, who heads Distribution for Lionsgate, “Critics and private screening guests have shown extreme enthusiasm for this film in advance of its release, and we are honored to be able to share the experience earlier than promised with audiences everywhere, especially on a patriotic, family oriented weekend like Labor Day that fits so well with the themes of this particular film. We can’t wait to read the sneak preview audience’s tweets as they become the first consumers to share their reactions with the world.”

About Warrior
Rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton command the screen as two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime­ in Lionsgate’s WARRIOR, a moving, inspirational action drama from acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor (Miracle).

Haunted by a tragic past, Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton), an ex-fighter-turned teacher, returns to the ring in a desperate bid to save his family from financial ruin.  But when Brendan’s unlikely, underdog rise sets him on a collision course with the unstoppable Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront each other and the forces that pulled them apart, facing off in the most soaring, soul stirring, and unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed.

A rousing ode to redemption, reconciliation and the power of the human spirit, WARRIOR is also a moving testament to the enduring bonds of family.   WARRIOR stars Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom, Star Wars: Episode III), Tom Hardy (the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Black Hawk Down), Jennifer Morrison (“House”, Star Trek) and Nick Nolte (Tropic Thunder, The Thin Red Line).  The film is directed by Gavin O’Connor; screenplay by Gavin O’Connor & Anthony Tambakis & Cliff Dorman and story by Gavin O’Connor & Cliff Dorfman. Lionsgate and Mimran Schur Pictures present a Lionsgate / Mimran Schur Pictures production. A Solaris Entertainment and Filmtribe production.

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms.  The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with  the comedy “Blue Mountain State, ” the upcoming drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spinoff “Meet The Browns”,  the upcoming “For Better or Worse,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueled by such successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

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LIONSGATE^® AND AMC THEATRES^® SCREENING PARTNERSHIP A SUCCESS

Advance Screenings of WARRIOR for AMC Stubs™ Members Received Enthusiastically Nationwide

September 1, 2011- LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, and AMC Theatres (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company, are thrilled to jointly announce the unprecedented success of the AMC Stubs rewards program screenings of the inspirational sports drama WARRIOR. The screenings, which took place at 90 AMC theatres in 47 markets nationwide Wednesday, Aug. 31, marked the first time AMC has offered a free advance screening to members of its AMC Stubs rewards program. Tickets were claimed quickly after they became available to AMC Stubs members on Aug. 12, and over 17,000 people attended the screenings, which were filled to capacity in the majority of their locations.

AMC’s Facebook page has exploded with positive feedback from fans about their experience.  Comments offered raves for the film, with one attendee describing WARRIOR as a “Great flick! Crowd was cheering, laughing and crying; often all at the same time” and another adding, “Intense moments!  Everyone in their seats cheering!  Made me feel like I was there ring side and not at the movies!  GREAT film!”  The film also surprised many attendees with its broader than expected appeal.  One AMC Stubs member explained “I usually don’t like sports films but this one truly was special.  A must see.  Thank you,” while another emphasized how much his girlfriend loved the film.  Along with their gratitude to AMC for offering the free members screenings, many fans underscored that they wouldn’t have otherwise seen the film, and that they plan to attend again on opening weekend and will recommend the film enthusiastically.

Said Lionsgate’s EVP of Exhibitor Relations and Operations, Mike Polydoros of the partnership, “We’ve known for some time that the best tool we have to sell the movie Warrior is the movie Warrior, but these particular sneak preview screenings have so many added benefits for all involved beyond the positive word of mouth that we know the film will generate: we love working with our partners in exhibition to add value for their customers in creative ways and drive people to their theaters, and this was a great example of that.  And we got a great marketing boost from this collaboration as well; the invitation was extended to more than 1.5 million AMC Stubs members, which helps raise additional awareness for the film.”

“Lionsgate shared this special film with us a while ago, and we agreed the story was one worthy of providing to our AMC Stubs members as an incremental benefit,” said Sun Dee Larson, Vice President, Film Marketing and Communications at AMC. “Our members were overwhelmingly receptive to the offer and thanked us personally at the screenings for adding this benefit to the already rich rewards we offer. We also received positive feedback on our Facebook page and Twitter feeds.”

About AMC Stubs

• AMC Stubs members receive a $10 AMC Stubs reward for every $100 spent at AMC, including  tickets, concessions, gift cards, and more
• Members receive free upgrades on popcorn and fountain drinks every day– pay for a small, get a medium; pay for a medium, get a large
• Online ticket purchase fees are waived on Movietickets.com and Fandango.com
• Members have access to an online ticket stub collection to keep their moviegoing memories
• AMC Stubs costs $12 a year

About AMC Entertainment Inc.

AMC Entertainment Inc. delivers distinctive and affordable movie-going experiences in 360 theatres with 5,128 screens across the United States and Canada. The company operates 24 of the 50 highest grossing theatres in the country, including the top three. AMC has propelled industry innovation and continues today by delivering premium sight and sound, enhanced food and beverage and diverse content.

www.AMCTheatres.com

About Warrior

Rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton command the screen as two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime­ in Lionsgate’s WARRIOR, a moving, inspirational action drama from acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor (Miracle).

Haunted by a tragic past, Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton), an ex-fighter-turned teacher, returns to the ring in a desperate bid to save his family from financial ruin.  But when Brendan’s unlikely, underdog rise sets him on a collision course with the unstoppable Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront each other and the forces that pulled them apart, facing off in the most soaring, soul stirring, and unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed.

A rousing ode to redemption, reconciliation and the power of the human spirit, WARRIOR is also a moving testament to the enduring bonds of family.   WARRIOR stars Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom, Star Wars: Episode III), Tom Hardy (the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Black Hawk Down), Jennifer Morrison (“House”, Star Trek) and Nick Nolte (Tropic Thunder, The Thin Red Line).  The film is directed by Gavin O’Connor; screenplay by Gavin O’Connor & Anthony Tambakis & Cliff Dorman and story by Gavin O’Connor & Cliff Dorfman. Lionsgate and Mimran Schur Pictures present a Lionsgate / Mimran Schur Pictures production. A Solaris Entertainment and Filmtribe production.

www.warriorthefilm.com

About Lionsgate 

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms.  The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with  the comedy “Blue Mountain State, ” the upcoming drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spinoff “Meet The Browns”,  the upcoming “For Better or Worse,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueled by such successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

www.lionsgate.com

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LIONSGATE JOINS SCRIBD, DONORSCHOOSE.ORG, AND SCHOLASTIC, FOR THE HUNGER GAMES NATIONAL LITERACY MONTH CAMPAIGN

Innovative Collaboration Allows For ‘Social Reading’ Of Book Content

Sweepstakes Winner Will Receive Library Of Books To Donate To School Of Choice

 SANTA MONICA, CA (September 1, 2011) – This National Literacy Month, LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), in cooperation with Scholastic and Scribd, is thrilled to announce that new fans of The Hunger Games can read a never-before-released sample – the entirety of Chapter 2 – from Suzanne Collins’ bestselling book.

Fans can read and share the previously released first chapter along with the exclusively released second chapter of The Hunger Games using a new application built in partnership with Scribd, the world’s leading social reading platform. The app enables users to read the chapters from directly within Facebook and share them with their friends on Scribd, Facebook and Twitter.

Both the content and the application are part of Lionsgate, Scholastic and Scribd’s efforts to promote reading and books during National Literacy Month. To that end, the three companies have joined with DonorsChoose.org, a non-profit organization that was named one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies,” to create a sweepstakes.   Throughout the month of September, any fan that reads The Hunger Games in the Scribd social reader application will be entered in “Read a Chapter, Win a Library” for a chance to win a classroom library of books for one of the public schools served by DonorsChoose.org.

All four companies are supporting the program with their full online weight, including website promotion, social media support including Facebook and Twitter, email blasts, blog posts and in-app featured placement on iPhone and iPad apps.

Said Lionsgate’s Chief Marketing Officer Tim Palen of the four way collaboration, “People who read The Hunger Games adopt a must see attitude to the film – the story is so gripping and urgent that fans of the book literally can’t wait to see it translated to the big screen.  We are so lucky to have the partners we do at Scholastic, who have recognized from the beginning how momentous the synergy between the book and movie could be.  This is a great joint marketing initiative for the books and the film, and we’re very excited that it was made possible in such an innovative way by Scribd.  The fact that we are also able to partner with the ingenious charity DonorsChoose.org to donate an entire library of books to a school is a true honor.  The Hunger Games is an incredibly powerful book- the experience of reading it is exciting enough to turn people of all ages onto books with a new fervor, so the National Literacy Month connection couldn’t be more fitting.”

Lionsgate is releasing the feature film adaptation of THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23, 2012.

About the film THE HUNGER GAMES

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games.  Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy.  If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, from a trilogy that has over 12 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23, 2012.

About Lionsgate 

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms.  The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with  the comedy “Blue Mountain State, ” the upcoming drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spinoff “Meet The Browns”,  the upcoming “For Better or Worse,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueled by such successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

About Scribd

Scribd is the largest social reading and publishing site in the world with more than 75 million readers each month. We’ve made it incredibly simple for anyone to share and discover informative, entertaining and original written content on the web and mobile devices. Our mission is to liberate the written word, to connect people and organizations with the information and ideas that matter most to them. Our innovative HTML5 document reader technology has lowered the barriers to publishing by enabling anyone to easily upload and share their work in any file format. Scribd is a venture-backed company based in San Francisco. For more information, please visit http://www.scribd.com/about.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org (www.donorschoose.org) is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need.  Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom requests, from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class.  Then individuals can browse and fund projects that speak to them. After completing a project, the donor hears back from the classroom they supported in the form of photographs and teacher thank-you letters. To date, 212,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $86 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 5.1 million students.

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality books, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The Company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

Dustin Milligan co-stars in the 3D thriller “Shark Night 3D”.  The film is directed by David R. Ellis and co-star Sara Paxton, Chris Carmack, Chrisk Zylka, Sinqua Walls and Joel Moore.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dustin about his role in the film and also working with the sharks

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with “Shark Night 3D”?
Dustin Milligan: Oddly enough, I was circling more than one Shark movie at the time (pun fin-tended), but “Shark Night 3D” was by far the best-paced and most fun. So after talking with David Ellis about the shoot and the crazy (and totally new to me) action/stunts I’d get to do down in the Louisiana bayou, I was sold.

MG: Tell us about the 3D filming process, was it difficult shoot?
DM: The team we worked with were old pros when it came to 3D, and more specifically underwater 3D.  So as actors all we had to do was remember to act in that additional dimension, which was new to almost all of us as the majority of us had only been on 2D projects.

MG: David R. Ellis obviously knows action and knows 3D, how was it working with him?
DM: With David, you know you’re in good hands because of his stunt/action background, and his prior work has allowed him to hone-in on what to do and not to do with 3D. Most importantly, though, he’s a really fun guy to work with. He shut-down set one day, pretending to be all angry and serious, then busted out four dozen Krispy Kremes and held a donut eating contest! I wanted to participate but couldn’t because of the high-cramp potential due to eating prior to working underwater.

MG: The film has such a great young cast, tell us about working with Sara Paxton, Joel Moore and everyone else?
DM: One of the coolest parts of this shoot was how great the entire cast got along, despite not being allowed to look at or speak directly to Ms.Paxton or ride in Mr. Moore’s double-wide stretch Hummer to/from set [laughs]. We all ate together, went to movies together, there were basketball games– It was really nice to see everyone drop the ego at the door and just get down to have fun.

MG: Tell us about working with the sharks in “Shark Night 3D”?
DM: Terrifying. The mechanical sharks were equipped with real shark teeth! It was nuts being in the water with them while they’re thrashing around because if your hand got too close to their mouth it would undoubtedly end up bleeding. The realism the shark team was going for paid off though as all the mechanical sharks look really awesome.

MG: We interviewed Richard de Klerk, tell us about your film “Repeaters” and when can we see it?
DM: “Repeaters” is on sale now! Please go check your local DVD-buying source and buy the DVD. It was a blast working on such a dark and twisted story with such hilarious and dark and twisted Canadians. I’ve also got another film with director Carl Bessai going to TIFF this year called “Sisters & Brothers” which I am very excited about. It’s entirely improvised and I shot my whole sequence with my buddy Cory Monteith in one day! It sounds insane but I promise it will be good.

MG: What do you have planned next?
DM: Like, after this interview? I dunno, probably put some pants on. Make an omelet [laughs].

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• Gary Owen talks about his new film “Think Like a Man” and his comedy tour

Gary Owen is an actor/comedian who is currently filming the Screen Gems comedy “Think Like A Man” based on Steve Harvey’s best-selling book “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man”. He is one of the headliners on the upcoming “Shaquille O’Neal All-Star Comedy Jam” which begins this September. He is taping his own one-hour comedy special on Sept. 2nd at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Besides movies and stand-up, Gary also co-stars as “Zach” the barber on Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne” TV series.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Gary about his comedy and also his films.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on your current tour?
Gary Owen: I just finished shooting a movie titled “Think Like a Man” with Michael Ealy and Jerry Ferrara, so I have been off the road for about six weeks. I am in Miami this weekend then during the first week in September I will be shooting my hour long special from Mandalay Bay. For the rest of the fall, I am on the “Shaquille O’Neal All-Star Comedy Jam” which puts us in a different city every Friday and Saturday. I will be working through the rest of the year…so it’s good.

MG: What can you tell us about working on “Think Like a Man”?
GO: The film is a romantic comedy about six friends who are all at different stages in their relationships. I play the happily married guy. What happens is the girlfriends/wives of these six guys get a hold of a book title “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man”. In the book are all these different tests to put a guy through to find if their guy is the right one for them. One night while hanging out the guys start talking and realize that their ladies are putting them all through the same tests. We find a way to get the book and we jump the gun and start doing what they think they want us to do.  However we aren’t actually doing the things and that’s when chaos ensues. It’s a really funny film and I can’t wait for it to come out.

MG: How did you land the spot as a headliner on “Shaquille O’Neal All-Star Comedy Jam”?
GO: About a year ago I did the Mike Epps comedy special which aired on Showtime. Cole Black who puts on all the “Shaquille O’Neal All-Star Comedy Jam” saw that and put me on the tour. However prior to the tour starting, they have me doing my own hour long special.. then it’s on to the tour. I am very excited!

MG: What can we expect to hear about in your set?
GO: A lot of my comedy is about my life. I am married to a black girl and I married real black! I didn’t go Hillary Banks. My wife is from Oakland and went to public school. I couldn’t break up with her if I wanted to because I am sort of scared of her [laughs]. I said if I was going to this and marry a black woman I was going to be in it to win it.  I wanted one that was inner city black! [laughs]

MG: You are filming the special on Sept. 2 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, do you know when and where it will be airing?
GO: We don’t just yet. I know they are going to be doing some creative cross promotions as they want the special to air about a month before the movie comes. By doing that out it allows them to promote the movie while my special is airing. I can’t say right now but we have received word that one of the networks is interested in buying the special.

MG: How does if feel to be named by Ebony magazine “Black America’s Favorite White Comedian”?
GO: That’s unreal and it was like Dirk Nowitzki in the finals! Who knew? When I first got on television I was on BET and couldn’t get on another network. BET liked me and kept airing me and they were the ones who gave me my first job. Most of the stuff I have been on like “House of Payne” and the films I have appeared in have black lead actors. I love black people and they love me back!

MG: How do you feel doing stand-up differs from when you are acting?
GO: It’s a natural transition. When you’re doing stand-up you hope it leads to doing sitcoms and then onto movies and in the same token with sitcoms and movies you are trying to build you stand-up base. The more people you can reach the better. I am always going to do stand-up. It’s my drug!

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Chris Zylka is co-starring in “Shark Night 3D”, playing the character Blake.  After this film Chris is going up against piranhas in “Piranha 3DD”.  Next year he is gearing up to play Flash Thomspon in Sony’s reboot for “The Amazing Spider-Man”.  Chris took out a few minutes to chat about role in “Shark Night 3D” and what we has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about playing Blake in “Shark Night 3D”?
Chris Zylka: Blake is a college student and a football player.  He is best friends with Malik in the film, who is played by Sinqua Walls.  He is a corky guy but has high self-esteem and also a bit cocky.  He has a passion for his friends and it really show a different side of him.

MG: What would you say was the challenging part of working on the film?
CZ: I would say the most challenging part was sitting in the middle of a lake on a boat…in the summer…in Louisiana [laughs].  It tends to get pretty hot down in the South.

MG: So from what I am told, David R. Ellis is the coolest director ever; is that correct?
CZ: Oh my goodness, he is like a friend from home.  He is just a chill cool guy that knows how to make action movies.  I think everyone is going to be really impressed with what he has done with this.

MG: You are also in “Piranha 3DD” this Fall, how was it going from sharks to piranha?
CZ: Well piranhas are a bit smaller [laughs].  It was a different experience and it has a different storyline.  I would say it is a bit of a different genre also, even though it seems similar.  “Piranha 3DD” is that campy movie where you want to go to the movies, have fun and watch people be torn apart [laughs].  Where as “Shark Night 3D” is a bit more character driven and you care for each character.  You want them to win rather than the sharks.

MG: Tell us about your role Kyle in the film?
CZ: Kyle is the local deputy sheriff.  He recently broke up with his high school sweetheart due to college and she comes back into town. After that havoc starts.

MG: Tell us about your role of Billy on The CW’s new show “The Secret Circle”?
CZ: Billy is a newcomer and you have to watch and find out [laughs].

MG: Next year your playing Flash Thompson in “The Amazing Spider-Man”, how was that experience?
CZ: I can tell you it was an amazing experience working for Mark Webb.  Ari Arad is the king of comic book films.  Andrew (Garfield) and Emma (Stone) are just a pleasure to work with.  They are bringing stuff to the table that people are going to really become attached to and really love.

MG: What do you particularly look for when you take on a role?
CZ: First off, I look at what I have done in the past.  Is it too similar?  You do not want to be typecast in a specific role. What is the biggest challenge?  You always want to challenge yourself to grow as an artist.

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