Starring: Marton Csokas, Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington
Directed by: John Madden
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 54 mins
Miramax

Our Score: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

The year is 1997. The place is Tel Aviv, Israel. The occasion is a book launching party for Sarah Gold (Romi Aboulafia). Her book is the story of how three young MOSSAD agents infiltrated East Berlin in 1966 and captured and killed Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen), better known as “The Surgeon of Berkenau,” a place more commonly known as Auschwitz. Two of the agents involved attend the party, mostly because they are Sarah’s parents. But as the tale unfolds, we learn that what we believe to be true often isn’t.

Based on the 2007 Israeli film “Ha-Hov,” the majority of the film deals with the operation to kidnap and return Vogel, who is working in East Berlin as a fertility doctor, to Israel to stand trial. The three agents given the assignment are Stephan (Csokas), Rachel (Chastain) and David (Worthington). Rachel and David are pretending to be a young married couple who cannot conceive, causing them to visit Vogel (now referred to as Doctor Bernhardt). Though there seems to be some chemistry between the two, it is Stephan and Rachel who make beautiful music (both physically and literally in a bit of piano-playing foreplay). As the plan proceeds we think we know the outcome but, as I said, don’t believe everything you see (or read).

Skillfully directed by John Madden, who earned an Academy Award nomination for the Oscar-winning Best Picture “Shakespeare in Love,” “The Debt” is a thriller that keeps you guessing up to the end. It also boasts two talented groups of actors. While Csokas, Chastain and Worthington give life to their characters in the flashbacks, the characters are played in later years by Tom Wilkinson, Helen Mirren and Ciaran Hinds, all veterans at the top of their game here. All six give strong performances and it’s a relief to see Worthington not standing in front of a green screen and doing some actual emoting. The story flows nicely for the first ninety minutes or so. It’s only at the end, when 66 year old Mirren goes into her “RED” mode, that the film feels forced. It’s as if the filmmakers felt they needed to take the story PAST the logical ending just to prove they weren’t making a conventional film.

The set decoration by Jim Clay is outstanding, capturing the look of Cold War Berlin perfectly. Thomas Newman’s score helps drive the action as well.

Directed by: Henry Selick
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Ken Page
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 76 minutes

3D Blu-ray Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

I have been a fan of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” since the first time I saw it in the theaters in 1993. Since then it has captivated audiences and became a major cult classic. In 2006, it was put back into theaters with new added 3D technology…I was in heaven. Since then it was also released in 2007 through 2009 in 3D during the Halloween season. So when the news was announced that Disney was releasing this film on its pristine Disney 3D Blu-Ray, I was out of my mind. I have to say, I have seen this film probably 100 times but watching it on 3D Blu-Ray was like it was the first time again. I was seeing new things that I have never seen before and hearing things I have never heard before. The picture quality was so clear and bright (despite the fact that most of the film is dark and black). The music was so fantastic in glorious 7.1 surround sound, which Disney never fails to include. I think my neighbors windows shattered for sure with the volume I watched it at. Let me just say that since I received this Blu-Ray, I have in fact watched it 5 times and it is not even September yet. I might need to go out and purchase a new one before Christmas due to wear. If you do not have a 3D TV or Blu-ray, now might be the time to start things about it because this is a release that you do not want to miss.

The extras on this disc are jam packed and are similar to the 2008 release. First there is audio commentary by producer Tim Burton, director Henry Selick and composer Danny Elfman from 2008 and it was actually recorded separately. Christopher Lee reads “Tim Burton’s Original Poem”, which inspired the film and is backed by animated concept art. “The Making of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a six-chapter 1993 television special that covers the development, overall production and of course the music of the film. “The Worlds of The Nightmare Before Christmas” focuses on its three production settings “Halloween Town”, “Christmas Town” and “The Real World” with concept art and character designs. There are three deleted storyboards, “Behemoth Singing,” “Oogie Boogie with Dancing Bugs” and “Alternate Identity of Oogie Boogie”. There are also four fully animated deleted scenes, “Jack’s Scientific Experiments,” “Vampire Hockey Players,” “Lock, Shock and Barrel” and “Oogie Boogie Shadow Dance.” Next up is a feature called “Storyboard to Film Comparisons” it is a short comparison, nothing special. “What’s This? Jack’s Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour” shows how The Haunted Mansion attraction gets a “Nightmare Before Christmas” redux. Fans of Time Burton will be happy to have the “Frankenweenie” and “Vincent” shorts, even though they are not in HD. Lastly there are the film’s teaser and theatrical trailers and a gallery of “Nightmare” posters. These are some amazing special features even though nothing is new for this release.

Directed by: Panna Rittikrai
Starring: Gitabak Agohjit, Speedy Arnold and Supakson Chaimongkol
Distributed by: Magnolia Pictures
Running time 105 minutes

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

Right off the bat since this film is directed by Panna Rittikrai (“Ong Bak” Series & “Born To Fight”), it immediately has my attention. Unfortunately once they try and introduce a ridiculous plot into this film, they lost my attention. I understand that in these films you are really only suppose to focus on the fighting but I had a hard time with the terrible sub-plot. The film definitely contains some amazing death-defying action and a huge range of martial arts techniques from Muay Thai to Kung Fu to Tai Chi. Fans of martial arts film and specifically the “Ong Bak” series, check this out but only for the fighting and not the story.

The story focuses on a group of friends who are in a fight club who are trying out for a TV show but it turns out to be a life or death game. The game is that people are bidding against them to win or lose and they are left fighting for their life. They must join forces and fight for their lives and also rescue their kidnapped friend in the process. Of course there is twists and turns but overall all you really need to care about is the fight scenes. The sub-plot is so cheesy and laughable that I had a hard time focusing on the action.

The Blu-Ray presentation is one of the best parts of the disc. The picture is crisp and clear. The sound is bone-breathtakingly good. I mean you literally hear the fighting like it is in your living room. The extras are lacking a bit but include “The Making of BKO: Bangkok Knockout” and “Behind the Scenes”. These two features are essential for an action film because you get to see how they did all these amazing stunts and fights scenes. Also included is a trailer to the film. Overall worth at least one watch but repeat value is just not there.

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Directed by: Nick Tomnay
Starring: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford
MPAA Rating: R
running Time: 93 minutes
Distributed by: Magnolia Pictures

Film: 3.5 of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 of 5 stars

I would categorize this film as a dark comedy and its quite dark but also quite funny. David Hyde Pierce gives one of the best performances of his career. He is funny. He is creepy. He just is perfect for the role. He even has this fantastic walk throughout the film. The Blu-ray presentation is top-notch. The picture is great and the sound plays perfectly between the music and dialogue.

The story focuses on John Taylor (Crawford) a criminal that is on the run after committing a major crime. He face is all over the news and he decides to hide out in the house of Warwick Wilson (Pierce). When things get out of control, John takes things to the next level but finds out that he might be in well over his head.  The story is spaced very well until the end when it switches gears and gets a little lost.  It tries a little too hard to be smart then it needs to but overall it succeeds on most accounts.

The only real special feature on the disc is “Making of The Perfect Host”. It runs about 10 minutes and features writer/director/editor Nick Tomnay talks about his 26 minute black-and-white short that he expanded into this feature-length film. Also included is “HDNet: A Look at The Perfect Host”, which is basically an extended trailer with a few short interviews. Lastly there is the trailer attached. Overall good movie, disappointing extras.

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MOVIEMIKES.COM TO HIGHLIGHT ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AS WWW.MEDIAMIKES.COM

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Chris Carmack is playing the role of Dennis in the 3D thriller “Shark Night 3D”.  Besides acting, Chris also has a passion for music and even contributed songs to the film “The Butterfly Effect 3”. “Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Chris about working on the film “Shark Night 3D“.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on your character Dennis in the film?
Chris Carmack: Dennis is a local dive instructor that is a bit off his rocker. He is one of those backwoods guys who rides around on four wheelers shooting guns. Dennis’ ex-girlfriend comes up to the lake for the weekend to relax not knowing Dennis would be there.  The same goes for Dennis since he was not expecting her there either. It’s clear though that they have some unfinished business.

MG: What do you look for when you approach a character?
CC: It tends to be there in the script. If you respond to the script then you’re responding to all the characters. If you are responding to all the characters then you can definitely respond to one character. When I read the script I thought it was a lot of fun and it looked like a great movie. The characters we really drawn out and identified and I loved the role of Dennis. I love playing bad guys.

MG: Over all was the job pretty intense physically?
CC: It was. Anytime you are working with water you are going to up the fatigue factor. Working in the tank had its own difficulties. There was a lot of chlorine in the water burning everyone’s eye’s but at the same time it was a controlled environment making it easier to shoot. When we got into the lake the water is easier to swim in but you’re dealing with waves and wind. There is no winning with water.

MG: Did you get to do a lot of one on one with the animatronic sharks?
CC: It didn’t seem like there was a lot of one on one. When they were on set they were the stars of the show. They were really cool awesome creatures and there is a whole team of people working them. I think the person who got the most face time with the sharks was Sara Paxton.

MG: Did you have a lot of creative freedom working with David R. Ellis?
CC: David was a lot of fun and he gave me a lot of room to work. You also had the reassurance that if something was going in the wrong direction, he would pull you back. David was definitely a blessing when we got around to the action stuff as those scenes can sometimes grind to a halt and cause some headaches. David is an expert and we sailed through stuff pretty smoothly.

MG: On the film “The Butterfly Effect 3” you wrote and performed a few songs. How did that come about?
CC: (Laughs) I’m a musician as that’s my other passion even though I don’t make a living at it. I always have my guitar with me on set and always happy to perform for those interested. I was working with director Seth Grossman and he had mentioned he wanted to put some bluesy type tunes in the background of some of the bar scenes. He asked if I had any music he could use and I told him I did and that he could use any of my songs but I wanted to have a guy I play with sing on one of the songs as he has a really great voice. I sent Seth a recording and he loved it.

MG: Do you have any other upcoming projects?
CC: There are always some balls being juggled in the air. I can’t really say too much until things are 100%

The newly released one-sheet from DreamWorks’ REAL STEEL has been released, check it out below:

‘Like’ REAL STEEL on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/realsteelmovie
REAL STEEL opens in theaters everywhere on October 7th!

If you travel to the city of my birth, Cleveland, Ohio, you will find many great things to see downtown. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Progressive Field. Cleveland Browns Stadium. New York City.

You read that right. Smack dab in the middle of downtown Cleveland the new Disney/Marvel Films production of “The Avengers” is going full force, with Hollywood doing it’s best to turn “C-Town” into the Big Apple.

From what I can tell, parts of New York City have been badly damaged. Piles of rubble and vehicles, including a city bus, are strewn across East 41st Street (one quibble with the production if I may – the “East 41st Street” sign was large and purplish – not what you’d normally see if you visited Times Square. If these scenes are, in fact, set in New York City – the bus and taxi cabs bear New York state license plate – let’s be accurate).

“The Avengers,” starring, among others, Robert Downey, Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Renner, is scheduled to open on May 4, 2012.

A vacant city bus rests against a pile of rubble.

Note the New York State license plate.

 Taxis stacked liked pancakes.

More destruction.  Note the sign on the Parking Garage reads “Premium
      Parking for Grand Central.”

On Set.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALLIED FAITH & FAMILY CELEBRATING 1ST ANNIVERSARY

Unique Faith & Family Marketing Division Builds on Its Success with Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures, and Accelerates into its Second Year with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

HOLLYWOOD, August 25, 2011 – Allied Faith & Family (AFF), the division of Allied Integrated Marketing dedicated to serving the faith & family audience, is marking the first anniversary of its launch with new projects and new clients, expanding beyond theatrical releases into home entertainment.

AFF’s co-founders, Tom Allen and Kellie Barnes, believe the division’s success has been driven by its unique approach and capabilities. “AFF focuses on the higher values and messages contained in quality films, while also encouraging greater communion between Hollywood and the faith community,” explains Allen. Barnes added, “With faith-based representatives in 21 offices nationwide who interact with religious leaders and communities in each market, we bring a unique mix of relationships, expertise and integrity to our campaigns that has really resonated with both our clients and the faith community.”

Allied Faith & Family has been retained by Lionsgate to design and execute a major promotional campaign for its upcoming motion picture WARRIOR, slated for nationwide release on September 9.

AFF was also recently signed by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to market several of that studio’s DVD/Blu-ray/digital releases to the faith audience, including the hit animated feature film RIO and the family dramas BREAKING THE PRESS and THE 5TH QUARTER.

This past Spring, Allied Faith & Family teamed with another Allied division – Allied Hispanic – in marketing the theatrical release of the comedy-adventure RIO to families across North America. From the creators of the top-grossing ICE AGE series, RIO has taken in over $143 million at the domestic box office and became available on DVD, Blu-ray Disc and Digital Copy on August 2, setting a home entertainment record as the biggest-selling family title ever for an August release as well as remaining No. 1 on DVD and Blu-ray charts for its second and third weeks.

Starring Drew Waters (“Friday Night Lights”), BREAKING THE PRESS will arrive on DVD on September 20 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, and the street date for THE 5th QUARTER, starring Andie MacDowell and Aidan Quinn, is August 30.

Starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte, Lionsgate’s WARRIOR speaks directly to both the faith and military markets, where AFF sees considerable overlap. The intense family drama explores the themes of redemption and reconciliation against a backdrop of a mixed martial arts tournament involving two estranged brothers who must face their recovering alcoholic father, their troubled early home life, and each other.

“These are precisely the kinds of movies we seek out,” states Allen. “We are advocates for the faith and family audience who encourage the Hollywood studios to produce more films like this to enrich the culture.”

AFF co-founder Kellie Barnes describes WARRIOR as one of the best action-dramas she has seen in many years. “It’s a great family story told from a Judeo-Christian worldview. It represents the best of what Hollywood can be and respects our audience with its high-level artistry.”

Allied Faith & Family made headlines earlier this year for conceiving and executing an original campaign of prayer support and Christian advocacy for Justin Bieber, which contributed to the box office success of Paramount’s JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER. The acclaimed campaign covered 30 markets and accentuated the film’s clean, wholesome nature while engaging the faith press with compelling stories about the actual faith lives of Justin, his mother and his manager.

Other recent Allied Faith & Family projects include a campaign targeting mega-churches nationwide for Sony Pictures’ JUMPING THE BROOM, which opened as the top comedy at the box office on Mother’s Day weekend 2011, and a groundbreaking campaign for the Broadway musical MEMPHIS, which won four Tony Awards in 2010, including “Best Musical”.

About Allied Faith & Family
A dynamic marketing group, Allied Faith & Family serves the increasingly media-engaged market known as “Religious America” as well as the broader family marketplace through a network of 21 field offices. Dedicated to reaching and activating faith- and family-based communities, Allied Faith & Family has to date brought motion pictures as diverse as RIO, JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER, JUMPING THE BROOM, Tyler Perry’s WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO? and BABIES to faith & family audiences across North America. Allied Faith & Family is a division of Allied Integrated Marketing, a full-service integrated marketing firm focused on the entertainment industry and consumer brands. For more information, please visit http://www.alliedim.com.

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF “BORN TO FIGHT” COMES “BKO: BANGKOK KNOCKOUT”

Only The Strong Will Survive In This Action-Packed Movie Kicking Its Way To Blu-ray Disc And DVD August 30 From Magnolia Home Entertainment Under The Magnet Label

“The action is extreme, extremely dangerous and extremely fun.”
– Twitch Film

“Bangkok Knockout is everything director Panna Rittikrai markets it to be.”
– Rotten Tomatoes

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – When a group of old friends come together they end up doing more then talking about the past in BKO: Bangkok Knockout, arriving on Blu-ray Disc and DVD August 30 from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet label. From Director Panna Rittikrai (Ong Bak 2, Ong Bak 3, Born To Fight), Thai action cinema legend, action superstar and mentor to many of today’s top martial arts legends including Tony Ja (Ong Bak), Dan Chupong (Dynamite Warrior) and Jija Yanin (Chocolate), BKO: Bangkok Knockout takes fight sequences to a whole new levelwith its “wham-bang succession of grueling, no-rule fights” (Hollywood Reporter).

A group of marital arts students attend a reunion party to reminisce about their ‘fight club,’ but this reunion is not all fun and games when some of the members are kidnapped by a group of deadly assassins, leaving the remaining members to save their friends in the ultimate battle for survival. Packed with death-defying action and highlighting a range of martial arts disciplines from Muay Thai to Capoeira, Kung Fu to Tai Chi, the BKO: Bangkok Knockout Blu-ray Disc and DVD features explosive bonus materials including behind the scenes, making-of and trailer. The Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $29.98 and $26.98, respectively.

Synopsis
Panna Rittikrai is a legend in Thai action cinema. With credits as director of
Born to Fight and stunt coordinator for such classics as Ong-Bak and Chocolate, he was also the star of many action films in the 70s and 80s. Rittikrai is well known for being a famous mentor to some of the top action superstars working today including Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak), Dan Chupong (Dynamite Warrior) and Jija Yanin (Chocolate). BKO features a range of martial art disciplines at its best when a group of “fight club” friends, whose styles vary from Muay Thai, Capoeira to Kung Fu and Tai Chi, must join forces and fight for their lives in a daring rescue of a kidnapped friend.

Bonus Features
The Making of BKO: Bangkok Knockout
Behind the Scenes
Trailer

DVD Basics
DVD Price: $26.98
Street Date: August 30, 2011
Running Time: 106 mins
Catalog: 10416
MPAA Rating: R

Blu-ray Disc Basics
Blu-ray Price: $29.98
Street Date: August 30, 2011
Running Time: 106 mins
Catalog: 10417
MPAA Rating: R

David R. Ellis is the director of the upcoming 3D thriller “Shark Night 3D”. He is no stranger to action as he directed the films “Snakes on a Plane” and “The Final Destination”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with David about working on “Shark Night 3D” and what we can expect from him next.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you originally become attached to “Shark Night 3D”?
David R. Ellis: I had done “The Final Destination”  in 3D which ended up doing really good. Those attached to the “Shark Night” project wanted to make this film in 3D as well. I had been attached to the project for some time prior to the film being made. I was the only person out there that had done a full live action 3D movie. They brought me in to meet with the producers and I pitched to them what my vision for the film was. They immediately attached me to the film and from there they started to pitch the film for funding with my name attached to it.

MG: What can we expect from the film?
DRE: There is a lot of comedy and fun in this film. It’s not a horror but it is a scary. The film is rated PG-13 however we really pushed the envelope with what we could get away with. The film plays like an R rated movie but we just don’t cuss or have boobs in it. We don’t really need that to make a scary movie. I don’t think boobs are that scary. Maybe some are. (Laughs) During our test screenings we made people jump and scared them but they also had a lot of fun with the movie. We spent time developing the characters and we have a great young cast. I like finding young actors and giving them a shot such as Chris Evans who I had in “Cellular”. I think everyone in this film are going to be big stars in their own right and I was very lucky to get them before they broke out.

MG: There has been rumors, can you tell us if Ving Rhames will be in this film reprising his role from “Piranha 3D”?
DRE: Ving Rhames is not in the movie. There have been a lot of rumors that he was going to be in the film but those are all not true.

MG: We have spoke to the whole cast and they have been telling us that you are one of the best directors to work with and you have this unique approach to directing; can you tell us about that approach?
DRE: Well I pay them to say that [laughs].  No seriously, when I cast actors I cast people who have the ability to adopt the part and who can get into the role. I like to then give them free reign in designing that character from what they want to wear and what props they may want to use. Making a movie is not brain surgery so my sets are a lot of fun to work on. I come very prepared and we have fun while getting our work done. At the end of a movie it’s sad because we made a new family and you have to leave that. Keeping everything light is key. Appreciating everyone working on the film for what they contribute and not yelling and or screaming is important as well because at times we were shooting in miserable conditions but by keeping it fun everyone stepped up to the plate and did a great job.

MG: How much of the film features animatronic sharks and how much was CGI?
DRE:  It’s probably 40% animatronics and 60% CGI. We used the animatronic sharks when they had to interact with people. When a scene was really difficult we used the CGI sharks.  The CGI has really come a long way and looked great, especially since I was directed the second unit on “Deep Blue Sea”.  The technology from then to now is amazing. The sharks look great!

MG: How do you “Shark Night 3D” differs from your other 3D film “The Final Destination”?
DRE: This one was more difficult because we were shooting on the water. When you are using 3D cameras you have one camera for the left eye and one for the right. They are very bulky and underwater they are very big so it’s technically tough for the crews. I think 3D films need to be shot in 3D nd not converted in post production, as I feel you don’t get the depth. I call that ‘2 and a half D’. What they have now that we didn’t have for “The Final Destination” are 3D monitors. You get to watch everything in 3D as its being shot. Before you had to shoot then put it into a computer and watch it in a trailer later on.

MG: Can you tell us the story behind the issues with the film’s title?
DRE: The working title of the film was “Shark Night 3D”. We were always hoping that we would come up with something that was catchier. On a weekly basis we had production meetings where I would try and get the crew to suggest different titles. Ultimately when the film was bought after we were done there was some research to change the title but in the end the film is what it is and the title was fitting.

MG: Do you prefer shooting in 3D or do you find it more difficult?
DRE: I love 3D and its depth. I think a lot of films use the really gimmicky type 3D that throws stuff into the audience. We didn’t do that. We used the 3D to put the audience inside the world of the shark and to have the sharks in the audience. The gimmicks work for some movies as 3D is an interactive experience. I think 3D is a great application and it’s going to be around for a long time. It may not be for every film but for the right film if it’s used correctly it’s an awesome experience.

MG: You just cast Milla Jovovich in “Bad Luck”. Is this going to be your next project?
DRE: I don’t think that is going to be my next project. We had Milla on board at one point and she really loved the part however her schedule and my schedule didn’t line up so she doing some other things right now. I really like her and want to work with her in the future. I have several projects that I am attached to that are in various stages so I am waiting and taking a break for things to develop more. I have taken on a Universal film titled “R.I.P.D” which stands for Rest in Peace Department. I am going to direct all the action on that film and we are in Boston prepping for that film that starts shooting Sept. 9. I like going back and working on second unit because you don’t have all the headaches or pressure but you get to shoot all the fun stuff.

Joshua Leonard is known best for his role in “The Blair Witch Project” and his recent breakout role in “Humpday”. Joshua also spends his time writing and directing. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Joshua about his work on “Shark Night 3D” and also his upcoming projects.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on your role in “Shark Night 3D”?
Joshua Leonard: I play Red, who is a bad guy. I have some top secret shark like teeth that I fashioned for the role and he is just a backwoods redneck. Its type casting. (Laughs) I also have this cool neck tattoo that reads “Trust no Bitch”.

MG: How long did the process of shooting take?
JL: I was in Shreveport for about a month working off and on. Luckily for me I’m a bit of a poker player and we were close to some casinos.

MG: How do you feel this film compares to other recent 3D films?
JL: I haven’t seen any of the recent 3D stuff. I’m sure I will end up seeing this one at some point and evidently the sharks in this film are killer!

MG: How was it working with Vera Farminga in “Higher Ground”?
JL:  It was one of the better filming experiences of my life. Vera is someone who I esteem highly as an actor long before we made the movie together. I was very lucky that she had seen something I had worked on and liked it. We met one day in Los Angeles and I think it was the first time I had ever been hired in the room. It was the easiest meeting of all time. She and her husband are really salt of the earth people. I feel people do press and always say how people are nice and great to work with because that’s what we are obliged to do. You never really know when some is not the greatest. Vera is one of the most genuine people I have ever met in my life. It’s very rare that you find someone that is both talented and genuine. I think normally a person has one or the other but very rarely do they have both. Vera really took to directing like a fish in water. She knew what she wanted and the story was not only something she had been working on for quite some time but it was very near to her heart. I think every note she gave any of us as actors was about finding more humanity and depth in the characters that we were playing. It was like summer camp as an actor.

MG: Can you tell us about your other film “The Lie” which you star in as well as co-wrote and directed?
JL: Unfortunately for audiences this film is the Josh Leonard show. (Laughs) It’s a passion project of mine based on a TC Boyle story that I fell in love with that I read in the New Yorker and ended up optioning it for a film. It was something that was coming right on the heels of the film “Humpday” that I did. I was looking for something of mine own that I could invest myself in and I found this one.  I sent the story to my producing partner who really dug it. From there we went about assembling what I think is the best crew and the greatest most talented cast. A lot of them are friends and/or people I have worked with before so it was very much the antidote to something we do quite a bit and that is waiting around to make a movie. This wasn’t a big movie but it was something we knew we could pull together quickly as we had a lot of the resources and the talent at our finger tips. Shooting took about three and a half months. The film is a dark comedy that we put a lot of heart into. The premise may be somewhat off putting to some as it’s about a guy who is experiencing a premature mid-life crisis. One day in an effort to get out of work the main character creates a horrible lie which becomes the catalyst for all the other events which happen throughout the films progression. Co-starring with me is Jess Weixler and Mark Webber along with Jane Adams and Garry Bednob. The cast is really cool and very indie. The film should be out late October or early November.

MG: You also have another film titled “A Spectacular Regret”; can you tell us about that?
JL: That’s one of those films that I kind of mentioned earlier as we have been sort of waiting around for a long time to make it. The film has come together so many times and then fallen apart that I have no clue when that thing is going to get made. We just kind of stopped talking about it.

MG: You have been both in front of the camera and behind. Which do you prefer more?
JL: It all depends on the project. The great thing about being an actor is that no matter how much of your heart you put into the thing you are still just punching the clock. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want but also when you have a story you want to tell and you know no one else is going to do that it’s very exciting to be able to do that. I absolutely love directing and I am excited to do it again. That said it’s also great to go and do a gig like “Shark Night” doing a character role that I can have some fun with and then go play some poker when it’s all done. I feel really lucky that I am getting to walk in both worlds.

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• Interview with Damon Lipari

When you put the works shark and 3D in the same title, you immediately have my attention. “Shark Night 3D” is about seven people who spend a weekend at a lake house in Louisiana’s Gulf area where their vacation quickly becomes a nightmare of hellish shark attacks. The film is set to be released September 2, 2011. Media Mikes will be tracking this film a lot and had a chance to chat with a few of the cast members. We will be posting more cast interviews each day leading up to the films release.

Alyssa Diaz is co-starring in the role of Maya in the film “Shark Night 3D”. She is also currently co-starring in ABC Family’s TV series “The Nine Lives of Chloe King”. Also look for Alyssa later this year in the action film “Red Dawn”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Alyssa about working on “Shark Night 3D” and also her upcoming projects.

Mike Gencarelli: What drew you to the role of Maya in “Shark Night 3D”?
Alyssa Diaz: I have always been fascinated with sharks. They terrify me! I thought it would be a fun film to do seeing the film is based on all these different species of sharks and its 3D! It just seemed like a really fun project for the summer.

MG: Can you tell us what it was like working with David R. Ellis?
AD: I had a great time working with David! He is such a sweetheart and he really knows what he is doing. David is a genius when it comes to water. He is just so laid back and cool to work with.

MG: How was it working with sharks as your co-stars?
AD: They are tough guys but they work hard and at the end of the day all they want is a bloody mary [laughs].

MG: Did you work at all with the animatronics sharks?
AD: I did some of the work with those. They are amazing because they are free swimming and they work off a remote control. They have actual shark teeth in them which were cutting some of the stunt guys. They are so life like it’s crazy.

MG: Overall what was the most challenging part of the film for you?
AD: Getting into the swamp water in Louisiana! On my last day of shooting we started at 5am and I was in a boat with my stunt double and the water was like glass. I had said I wasn’t too sure about the situation and my stunt double asked why as she had thought it was perfect out. I told her this is when all the creatures come out. Just as I’m about to get into the water I start to hear all these gasp’s coming from the other boats. I looked out and I see this big huge thing floating on the water. I couldn’t really comprehend what it was because I grew up in Los Angeles, so I’m a city girl. All of a sudden the thing I thought was a log disappeared. Our stunt crews were all ex-Navy Seals so they rode out on Jet Ski’s to check everything out. All of a sudden one of the guys yells back “That’s a big motherf#$%@^” It ended up being a 14 foot alligator, so we drove to a different section and I got in the water and did my scene.

MG: Did the movie being shot in 3D pose any difficulties for you?
AD: Yes and No. The 3D cameras are huge, so the set up takes a little bit longer. There was also trouble mounting them to the boats because they were so heavy. By the end of the day the cameraman’s feet were in the water holding it. It was a really adventurous shoot.

MG: Can you tell us about your role as Jasmine in “The Nine Lives of Chloe King”?
AD: That’s a show for ABC family and Jasmine is the Morpheus to Chloe King’s world. She is Chloe’s mentor. Jasmine is a bad ass girl!

MG: Can you tell us about your upcoming role in “Red Dawn”?
AD: Working on that was fun and it was action packed. There was a lot of fun and interesting fight choreography. It’s a drama/action piece where these teens have to fight back after their parents are killed during a World War III type scenario.

MG: How does working on something like “Red Dawn” compare to working on “Shark Night 3D”?
AD: They both are so different but intense. “Shark Night”, I was training with ex-navy seals in the water and for “Red Dawn”, I was training with Marines. I’m going to be ready for the apocalypse.

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Damon Lipari is playing the character Keith in David R. Ellis 3D shark thriller “Shark Night 3D”. Damon is also working on another cool film called “Boggy Creek”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Damon about working on “Shark Night 3D” and his upcoming projects.

Mike Gencarelli: What was it like working with David R. Ellis?
Damon Lipari: David is one of those directors that you can tell really enjoys what he does. Everyday he’s on set he makes comments about how he has the greatest job in the world. When I auditioned I originally went for one of the leads but they didn’t think I was right, so David brought me back to play the role of Keith. The minute I met him I had this feeling that it would be so cool to work with him. You meet certain people that don’t have that movie star status and they are just so cool and chill.

MG: What can you tell us about your character Keith?
DL: I’m not going to sugar coat Keith’s character too much, so basically my character and his girlfriend Jess open the film and get you from point A to point B. Keith is a guy that lives in a camper along the lake and one day while swimming and…. well I am not going to give anything away but there are sharks.

MG: How was it working with Christine Quinn?
DL: Christine is awesome. The first time I met her was at the audition. She is such a pretty girl and once you get to know her you can see she has some acting chops and she can certainly scream. She did really well and she’s got a good head on her shoulders. She is from Texas and there’s something about those Texas girls that make you fall in love with them. When I met her during our call back we walked out together and Christine looked over at me and says “Oh we got that”. She was just so excited and celebrating like she had got the part already.

MG: How was it working with the sharks?
DL: I have done some stunt stuff before but never with sharks. I have been attacked by several different types of animals.  One of my first movies ever was called “Vampire Bats” where I was attacked by puppet bats and CGI created bats. In terms of the shark, they brought out some model sharks so you had something to look at but in one situation I had to pretend. I had to learn the movements from a guy they brought in to teach us how to move if we were jerked a certain way by a shark. Without giving anything away it wasn’t difficult but it was a learning experience in how these creatures move and pray upon things. I know David has some stunning experience as he started back in the 70’s and worked his way up to where he is now and that’s probably why he enjoys his job so much. That’s also why the studios feel comfortable giving him $30 million dollars because he knows action and how to make things look good.

MG: What can you tell us about another film you have coming out titled “Boggy Creek”?
DL: When I got the call for that film they told me we would be shooting in a place called Uncertain, Texas. The film gets posted on imdb.com that the location is unknown and people had to tell them that there is an actual place called Uncertain [laughs]. Back in the day in the Boggy Creek area, people had been going missing and animals were being found ripped to shreds. This is the town where they have the Annual Big Foot convention every year, so stuff has actually happened there and that’s where we filmed the movie. I had been working on “Shark Night” and they moved us to the location of a giant wave pool, which was the same one used in “The Guardian” which I had a role in. Once that was done they shipped us off to a new location which was none other than Uncertain, Texas. I never thought I would be back to that town ever again! “Boggy Creek” comes out on DVD September 13^th. I’m interested to see it as I haven’t seen any of the film what so ever. I kind of like it that way not seeing the films before they are done as I like to be surprised. Everything in this film was built from the ground up by Phil Nichols. There is no CGI at all. When we first left to go out and start shooting, my girlfriend in the movie played by Stephanie Honore asked the director for some reason if Big Foot had a penis. The director kind of laughed it off but came back and said he didn’t get any sleep that night thinking about if Big Foot had a penis or not. So they decided to put a penis on Big Foot. Each part of the costume was pieced on the actor’s one piece at a time. What you see is what you get in “Boggy Creek”.

MG: Do you enjoy working in the horror genre?
DL:It seems I have to like it as that’s what I usually end up getting. I get asked a lot what my next role is and they immediately say something along the lines of “oh you die again”. I seem to die in everything I ever book, which is pretty funny. Everything has been horror roles up until recently when I had a part on the series “Memphis Beat”. I get shot but I don’t die! They seem to be shooting a lot of horror movies here in Louisiana these days.

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