Interview with Brad Neely & Daniel Weidenfeld

Brad Neely & Daniel Weidenfeld are the guys behind Adult Swim’s new show “China, IL”. Brad is the writer, producer and star of the show and Daniel is the executive producer. The show just started airing on Adult Swim every Sunday, be sure to check it out. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with the guys about the new show and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about the journey for “China, IL” starting as web series to airing on Adult Swim?
Daniel Weidenfeld: I had worked with Brad on the shows at Super Deluxe. We had been talking about doing a four part episode. We wanted to do a television show however Super Deluxe wanted it to be a web series. We had this super complex story where we had a  four part show but in each part there were three acts. It was a very confusing. About a year and a half later, Adult Swim came to Brad about doing the show. I came on a short time after. Together we did a pilot titled “Professor Brothers”. The show ended up being picked up for series and Adult Swim wanted to develop it further. We made the show more about the world and added pupils to the characters which gave them a little more life. We also changed the name to “China, IL” and that’s where we are today.

MG: Brad, you not only write and produce the show but also voice the main character, How do you juggle those roles?
Brad Neely: It’s fun! You have to just put on different hats. Of course it’s not all just me either. While I am in doing voicing, Daniel is on the other side of the glass directing me. We have a lot of people working on the show that have editorial input.
DW: The crew here adds a lot to each frame of the show. It’s really great and we are very lucky.

MG: How did you get involved with Titmouse and Tommy Blanca who voiced the Mayor?
DW: Shannon and Chris (Prynoski) have been friends for a long time. They have done a lot of work with Adult Swim. There was a time when it looked like the show was going to be picked up just based on the written scripts. They were the first people we called.
BN: They were actually the first people I ever met with. I couldn’t imagine doing the show elsewhere. They presented a studio that had a booth in house. They were also able to do revisions and pickups on the fly. We were able to make everything run like a well oiled machine.
DW: With Tommy for the episode “Dean vs. Mayor” we had initially wanted to get Macho Man Randy Savage to go head to head with Hulk Hogan. However we couldn’t find him at the time and that was prior to him passing away. The next person we called was Tommy who used to be the head writer for the WWE. We knew he could bring that spirit to the episode. The voice he brought killed it! You’re going to be seeing a little bit more of the Mayor in the future.

MG: Tell us how Hulk Hogan came aboard to voice The Dean?
DW: It was tricky but we got him. We had to appeal to him in a way where it wasn’t about the money. He cares about doing awesome stuff! We sent him the script and he told us it was the weirdest thing he had ever seen in his life and  he wanted to be a part of it. It took some massaging and to this day we are still massaging.
BN: He has a comedy personality in him. He doesn’t just come in and do his lines. Hulk is a funny performer.

MG: Any other guest voices to keep an eye out for this season?
DW: Oh yeah!
BN: One of our favorite things about the show is the voice talent. We have Jason Alexander doing a voice in episode four.  We have Jeffery Tambor playing Baby Cakes’ dad.
DW: We also have Natasha Leggero and Chelsea Peretti doing voices. We are trying to stack the deck as much as we can. It’s been awesome!

MG: How long does each episode take from script to screen?
BN: It’s different with each as the writing process is unique for each episode.
DW: We started production in October of 2010.
BN: Right now we are finishing the tenth episode. While everyone is working on the first episodes we are writing the second half.

Interview with Rachel Federoff

Rachel Federoff is known best for working with Patti Stanger at her The Millionaire Club and the reality series “The Millionaire Matchmaker”.  Rachel is married to Destin Pfaff, who is the COO of The Millionaire Club and also writer and producer of upcoming film “Sushi Girl”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Rachel about working with Patti Stanger and also what else she has planned.

Mike Gencarelli Did you have a role in helping your husband, Destin Pfaff on his upcoming film “Sushi Girl”
Rachel Federoff: I did a little bit. I was originally going to do a lot of the make-up on it but I didn’t get to do that much because our son was really sick. I was at home taking care of the little guy. I did write some fun little extras that I am hoping will be put on the DVD. It will be my writing debut because I am also a writer. Destin and I are like the Jack and Jill of all trades. What do we not do? We do everything [laughs]. That was my little addition to the film but my biggest part though of “Sushi Girl” is just being a supporter for them. I will be helping in any way I can. It is an AMAZING movie. It is awesome and no words can describe it.

MG: Tell us how you became involved with Patti Stanger, The Millionaire Club and “The Millionaire Matchmaker”?
RF: Well at the time I was dating Destin Pfaff, who was already working for with Patti at The Millionaire Club. I was really interested in matching couples and when I finally met Patti, she said I should come on board. At first Destin thought it was a terrible idea but it would be great as did Patti.I had already been doing some matching on the side with my friends, so it was something I really enjoyed. She gave me a board and I learned how to match for the club and eventually I became the VP of Matching. I really love it.

MG: What is the hardest part on your job as the VP of Matching?
RF: The hardest part is probably taking care of the girls that cause trouble. Sometimes we are left with girls who needs us to play mommy for them. We have strict rules in our club and all we ask is that people follow them. Some people just do not follow the rules and need to be taken care of. Patti is great though she just tells it like it is. We are not trying to be mean to some girls. We are honestly trying to help them and

MG: What is one of the biggest perks getting to work on “The Millionaire Matchmaker”
RF: The best for me is the end result and the success stories. I love when we have couples come back saying that they decided to take it to the next level and/or continue dating. That is really why I enjoy doing this. The show does show some of that but reality TV works better when you have more drama then happy endings. But we do get quite a few of the success stories and that is my favorite part.

MG: After co-starring in the show, do you actually watch the show when it airs?
RF: Oh yeah, we watch it all the time. Destin and I also blog about it on the Bravo website. We watch them and blog and also have been doing live tweeting during episode which has been really awesome. It is almost like a chat room. People can do to our twitters which is @RachelFederoff and watch the show with us. We talk smack on the show, the characters and ourselves. We answer peoples questions and it is really a lot of fun.

MG: Tell us about the PSA you recently did for mylifemypower.org and SFK (Success For Kids)?
RF: Being a mom now and a child and a victim of bullying pretty much my entire life, it is really crazy intense and horrible bullying has become. It went from me being followed home and threatened and now people are being beat up until they are dying or in the hospital. It is really horrible. It goes back to me being a people person. I am such an advocate for the gay and lesbian community and anti-bullying. I am a big supporter for the organization that help fight cancer for kids and illnesses. I have a child and God forbid something happens to him, I wouldn’t know what I would do. I think it is really important to help kids and let kids know that you are not alone especially with the bullying. I think it is a big deal. I think it is awesome that I can use my celebrity status to really promote it. It is a really important thing for me.

MG: Tell us about your role in “Deader Living Through Chemistry”?
RF: Well I was in it when we did the short for George Romero’s film “Diary of the Dead”. We are looking into making the short into the feature. Besides being on a reality show and a matchmaker…acting has always been a huge passion of mine. Ever since I was little I was always a ham and putting on shows. “Deader Living” was my first taste and getting my feet wet. I was in that short before even “The Millionaire Matchmaker”. I love making movies and I love being in them. I love all the aspects from zombies to comedies to whatever. The short was fun. George Romero had the contest…we entered and won first place. So it is on the DVD for the film. We want to make it into a full length because it is such a cool idea.

Interview with Preston Strother

Preston Strother is currently appear in the Hallmark Channel film “Oliver’s Ghost”.  He also recently voiced a character on “Batman: Brave and the Bold”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Preston about his new film as well as what he has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some background on role as Tony in “Oliver’s Ghost”?
Preston Strother: I play the bully who picks on Oliver. Oliver is a kid that moves into a haunted house near Halloween. I play the ghost who lives in the attic. At first I try to scare Oliver and his family away but we become friends and I end up helping him solve problems.

MG: What did you like most about working on the film?
PS: It was a tone of fun. We shot it in California and I met a lot of good people. I filmed for a week and it was really great?

MG: When can we expect to see the film?
PS: The film is going to be shown on the Hallmark channel on October 22nd.

MG: How did you get involved with the game show “Brain Surge”?
PS: That was a show where they get a bunch of kids together and compete for a bunch of different prizes. I didn’t quite make it to the final round sadly.

MG: How did you enjoy doing voice work on “Batman: Brave and the Bold”?
PS: That was one of the best times I have ever had filming. I play Aquaman’s son. Everyone there has the coolest voice. It was a blast!

MG: What are your other passions outside of acting?
PS: I like to draw, play guitar and football.

Interview with Hayley Holmes

Hayley Holmes is known best for her role of Harper on “90210”.  This year she also recently appear in the film “Rubber” and the web series “The Guild”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Halely about her roles and also what she has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about experience working on “The Guild”?
Hayley Holmes: My manager submitted my reel for the audition. I love “The Guild”, I have been watching it since season one. I am huge fan of Felicia Day. When I had the opportunity to audition for it I was very thrilled. I was lucky to book the role and I got to meet everyone on set and it was all very exciting.

MG: How was it working with such a fun cast?
HH: It was amazing working on it. They are such great comedians. A lot of them also do writing as well. Every time you are on set someone is cracking a joke or coming up with a funny one-liner. It was just a great group of people.

MG: How did you become involved with the film “Rubber”? and what did you think about the film?
HH: Before I even auditioned I read the script for that and I thought it was such an interesting idea for a movie. It is something that has totally never been done. It was completed different from anything I have ever done. I was a fan of the director Quentin Dupieux and have seen his other work. I thought if anyone could do it Quentin could. When I was able to come on it was great. We filmed in Palmdale in the desert. We were almost living the circumstance that were in the film.

MG: You appeared on the show “90210”, how was working on that show? Any plans for this season?
HH: They just started filming season four but there are definitely plenty of options for my character Harper to come back. She likes to stir the pot with the other characters. It was so much fun and I love playing her. She is such a type-a nerdy person and I am so not that girl, so it was very fun to get on everyone nerves and push the envelope. Everyone on the set was so cool, laid back and fun. It was nice to see that coming from such a hit show.

MG: From teen to tween, how was it working on Disney Channel show “Good Luck Charlie”?
HH: It was great and such a different dynamic. The vibe is just so friendly and everyone is hanging out and having fun. It is also cool because you get to film in front of a live audience. It is almost like theater.

MG: Tell us about your work as a contortionist?
HH: Oh yeah. My mom enrolled me into gymnastics when I was 3. I started liking it. I would do backbends and my teacher told me it was amazing. I started to build upon it and practice and working the flexibility in my back. My parents didn’t think it was a skill that anyone would ever utilize but I have use it so much in so many different projects so far. It has been really cool.

MG: What else do you have planned next?
HH: I also recently learned that this McDonald’s commercial I was in was up for an Emmy this year, so that is really exciting. I am currently out auditioning and trying to get a TV show to work on and along those lines.

Interview with Mather Zickel

Mather Zickel is starring in ABC’s new comedy series “Man Up!”, along with Christopher Moynihan and Dan Fogler.  The show is one of the funniest new shows on television.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Mather about his new show and what we can expect from season one.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing Will Keen in “Man Up”?
Mather Zickel: I like the character because I think he is a decent honest guy. I like playing a guy with the struggles that he has. He is someone that likes the life he created. He works hard and I think he is just a responsible honest guy. I think the character doesn’t feel that he is a man in the more traditional sense. I think he has some lingering insecurity about himself. I think he is a guy caught between generations in a funny way.

MG: It looks like the show is a lot of fun to shoot, tell us about the production?
MZ: We have shot about seven episodes so far and we are about half through this shooting block. I have been very impressed with the scripts and I think they are very funny. I think they always take a premise for each episode that is very germane to the show and to the idea of the show. I think they are very relatable and share a common place but then think the writers expand on it in a very silly way. I think the jokes are just great. Every script takes a turn that I never see coming…which I like.

MG: We spoke with Amanda Detmer and she said the woman rule on the show [laughs], any comment?
MZ: [Laughs] Well I guess they think they do [laughs]. The thing that I love about all of the characters, both men and women, they are both always trying to get away with something. All of the characters have their weaknesses and all of the characters mess up. Everyone is vulnerable and everything it puts themselves inthese silly situations. Teri (Polo) and Amanda are very funny on the show. I think they calls the shots often but they then will get busted doing other stuff. It all comes around full circle. The thing I like most about my relationship with Teri s that I think the characters still love each other and they are a team. I think they like their lives together and they both kind of jockey in the position of who is calling the shots. I think that Will has to often pick his battles and  ask himself [laughs] “Is this worth sleeping on the couch or not?” I think they do sling stuff back and forth in a fun way. They are a real team.

MG: Since Christopher Moynihan created and stars in the show, do you guys have a lot of room for ad libbing?
MZ: No we don’t ad lib, if we do it is very little. It is very tightly scripted and we are kept to the page.

MG: What has been your favorite episode to shoot so far in season one?
MZ: Actually yes there is. There is one we just did [laughs]. I think it is called “Disciplining The Keens”, which I particularly liked. The premise is that our son is not showing up for his science club and I am upset because I think he doesn’t have a discipline to stick with something. If it was my father he would never let me quit something and would be on my ass. The truth is that we discover he has an allergy to gluten and he is actually getting stomach aches. The doctor tells him he has to quit gluten and I tell him it is all about will power and the whole family is going to go off gluten. I have no idea what gluten is or how many things it is in. Within days everyone is starving and going crazy. It is this whole episode about how the whole family is cheating trying to find ways [laughs] to get away with eating gluten. I think it is a very funny episode.

MG: How do you feel this comedy will stand out amongst other comedies on TV?
MZ: I think it is strike a good balance between something that feels naturalist, relatable and very silly. I think it is a very funny show and the jokes are really strong. I find all the characters very appealing. I have seen some of it and I think it looks like our director of photography did a really nice job. The lighting also feels natural and layered. I think it is going to be really easy and fun to watch.

MG: How did you get involved with playing Louis La Fonda in “Children’s Hospital” reprising from the movie “The Ten”?
MZ: [laughs] Yeah, Louis La Fonda. He came from “The Ten”, which was written by David Wain and Ken Marino. Marino is a regular on “Children’s Hospital” and David is a director and producer on “Children’s Hospital”. David loves just bringing characters back even when it totally doesn’t make sense. He created this bizarre universe with repeated characters and that is what happened with Louis La Fonda. I have have two episodes now and he just does what he does.

Interview wtih Amanda Detmer

Amanda Detmer is playing Bridget in new comedy TV series “Man Up!”. This show is easily one of the funniest new shows on TV this Fall. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Amanda about her role in the show and what we can expect from season one.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing the role of Bridget in “Man Up!”?
Amanda Detmer: Bridget is funny and quick witted. Dan Fogler, who plays my ex-husband on the show, has a very similar sense of humor as me.  When you see us on the show you can totally see why they were married but at the same time you can see why they got divorced. Henry Simmons is the most serene person I have ever been around. I think he is going to win an Emmy. Every time he finishes a scene I am always laughing and he asks me why and I tell him “Because you’re so frickin funny!” Terry Polo is really great to work with and I am looking forward to our first fight on the show [laughs].

MG: You start to see some relationship drama between Kenny and Grant. Can we expect more of that throughout the season?
AD: It takes some twists and turns for sure! At first the guys aren’t really sure what to think of Grant.  He ends up being so endearing that as the season progresses you see the other guys try to get Kenny to see that Grant is not that bad. It’s total man drama! [laughs]. It’s man love gone awry.

MG: What’s it like being one of the female co-stars in a man led show?
AD: You just wait! The women will rise. The guys think it’s always about them but I am just waiting for them to realize that’s totally not the case [laughs].

MG: Will the guys getting in trouble be a common theme throughout the season?
AD: There are many situations that the guys get themselves into it. This group of actors have all done other work and had some success are still coming into the project as people you haven’t met yet in a way. Each character is so distinct and different. Chris and the team of writers are so great! They really write for the characters rather than just writing something that as actors and actresses have to make work. It’s so fun which is what it’s supposed to be.

MG: Have you had a favorite moment from shooting yet?
AD: There was a scenario that didn’t get cleared by the network where Chris Moynihan is singing to a group of women. He wrote a certain song so he could get a reaction from them. The song spelled out vagina and I was like what are you doing singing a song like that! I didn’t know that he was going to sing to this group of lesbians. (Laughs) I just lost it. There was also a great scene with my character and Kenny where you see just a glimpse of them getting along.

MG: How do you feel this show stands out from other comedies on television right now?
AD: I think we are people who get to be introduced as our characters as opposed to being known from a previous role. I think it’s hard sometimes for people to see an actor or actress outside of previously popular role and who are now playing a different role. We are sort of being introduced and we haven’t really been known to well as anyone else. The show is genuinely funny and you just can’t help but laugh. I love that I get a bird’s eye into the guy’s world.

Interview with Melissa Cowan

Melissa Cowan is known best for her role of the Bicycle Girl zombie in season one of “The Walking Dead”.  Melissa became the poster girl for season one and her zombie is put on the same shelf as the greats. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Melissa about the role and what we can expect next.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you come to get the role of the Bicycle Girl zombie in “The Walking Dead”?
Melissa Cowan: I had been doing a lot of work for a casting company here in Atlanta.  They just randomly called me one day looking for pictures from me.  I sent the pics and two weeks later I got a called that Frank Darabont wanted me to come in and do an audition.  It pretty much took off from there.  At the time I didn’t know what it was for or what the role was about?

MG: Can you believe that with only one episode your character has had such an effect?
MC: It was something I wasn’t expecting but it is very exciting.  It is also somewhat of any honor that out of all the zombies on the show, they choose me.  The zombie that I did became the poster child for the show.  It became an iconic zombie and compared to Bill Heinzman from “Night of the Living Dead” and other classic zombies.  It is an honor and a blessing.

MG: Tell us about working with Greg Nicotero and Frank Darabont?
MC: I met Greg went I flew out to LA for the last casting process.  Greg is a good guy and he has a good vision.  He knows what he wants and knows how to do it.  I think the fact I got to work with Greg and Frank Darabont in the same project was mind blowing.  It was very cool.

MG: Tell us about the makeup process for that role?
MC: The actually day we filmed it took probably 4-4 1/2 hours and 2 1/2 to take it off.  I had a lot of people asking how did I sit there for that long?  You have anywhere from 2 to 7 people working on you, so we were just having fun with it.  It didn’t seem long at all.

MG: What did you think when you first saw yourself in full costume?
MC: I was like a child at Christmas when you got that giddy feeling.  It was like that.  I have this visual in my head of what I thought it was going to look like was nothing like it ended up.  You really can’t put words on it, you just stare and ask “Is that really me?”  That is when I realized that it was going to be more than just another role.

MG: How was it working on various episodes of “The Vampire Diaries”?
MC: I originally started doing full time extra work for the show.  Towards the end of the first season the casting director called and said we have some vampire roles coming up.  So I went in and did an audition and they hired me on the spot to be a vampire.  I was one of the tomb vampires and I was also another vampire later in the season when they go into the vampire house.  It was so dark and cloudy that you can’t really see me.  I am hopefully that when they are filming the third season that there is some opportunity for me to come back and have a bigger role.

MG: What else do you have planned upcoming?
MC: I got some other films I actually can’t talk about yet.  There are two guys from Orange County Choppers that are creating a clothing line called Rotten Layer and it is all zombie related.  I will be one of the head models for that.  That is pretty cool.

Darth Maul Returns for “Star Wars: Clone Wars” and First Poster for “Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D”

Darth Maul returns to the Star Wars Saga this spring!

Darth Maul, the sinister Sith Lord who amped up the dark side in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, returns to the Saga this spring in Star Wars: The Clone Wars!

Revered by fans for his striking red and black tattooed-face, graceful but lethal fighting style, and signature double-bladed lightsaber, Maul was believed killed by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of Episode I. In the Star Wars universe, however, one must never underestimate the power of the dark side!

“The decision to continue Darth Maul’s story was something that came directly from George,” says Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “We all agreed that his return needed to be unique, unexpected and revenge filled. We don’t know what his outcome will be, and as a fan – that’s exciting.”

While fans await Darth Maul’s return to The Clone Wars, they’ll soon be able to experience the excitement of his original introduction to the Star Wars Saga when Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is released in theaters on February 10, 2012 in spectacular 3D!

The trailer for Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3D will be attached to The Three Musketeers on October 21st and on select films throughout the holidays.

Interview with Tristan Wilds

Tristan Wilds is known best for his role of Dixon in “90210”. With the show entering it’s fourth season, Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Tristan about his role and what to expect from this season.

Mike Gencarelli: Leading into season 4 what has been your biggest challenge playing the role of Dixon?
Tristan Wilds: I think the biggest challenge now would probably be showing the growth. I think people get used to seeing a certain thing every year and, sometimes they forget that as human beings we are supposed to change and grow. For me showing how Dixon has grown from the likeable high school kid to a young adult who has made some problems has been definitely the biggest challenge.

MG: How do you feel that this season in general stands out from the past 4?
TW: From a character stand point I really like it. You get to see a different dynamic of the Dixon character. In the previous seasons, Dixon was always the clean cut kid but this season you get to see him in an element we are not used to.

MG: What will be the main issue with Dixon this season?
TW: I think there is going to be a couple pinnacle points for Dixon this season. Probably the biggest one will be the pressure that has been put on him to make his music work. Dixon is going to try and prove to everyone why he chose not to go to college. With that will come many different issues.

MG: Will there be any love interests that we can be watching for?
TW: So far I think there is going to be one. It’s going to get a little steamy so everyone will have to be watching.

MG: After working on a season of “90210” do you find yourself watching the episodes each week?
TW: Yes. I always do. I am a very tough critic about myself. I am always looking at how I can better my performance and my craft. I am constantly taking notes on how I might be able to do something in an upcoming episode. I’m a work in progress and by watching the stuff I am in help me get better.

MG: What are your interests outside of the show?
TW: I am doing music as well which is pretty funny since they chose to make Dixon get into that also.

MG: Can you tell us about any of your projects?
TW: I am working on an EP which I hope to release before the end of the year. I plan to have a full album release sometime next year.

MG: Can you give us some background on your role in “Red Tails”?
TW: My characters name is Junior. He is the youngest guy in the group and he is really trying to be looked at as a man. It’s going to be a really great film!

MG: How does working on “Red Tails” compare to your work on “90210”?
TW: It’s definitely different. “90210” is kind of like school. We are all friends and a very tight knit group. For me it’s all about the dynamics and the relationship aspect. “Red Tails” was like a fraternity. No one could mess with someone in that group without the rest of us being right there.

MG: Being involved in music, television and movies is there one you like the most?
TW: For a long time I thought it would be music. However a couple years back I found myself being just as excited about watch the Emmy’s and the Academy Awards as I was to watch the Grammys. It just hit me that nothing could come between me and acting. Both are a huge part of my life.

 

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Interview with Ashley Madekwe

Ashley Madekwe is co-starring in ABC”s new hit show “Revenge”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ashley about her new show, what to expect and also her upcoming film “Victim”.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your new TV series “Revenge”?
Ashley Madekwe: “Revenge” is a juicy drama set in the Hamptons. It follows the story of Emily Thorne who returns to get revenge on the people who wronged her father. It really reminds of the big soaps from the 80’s. Lots of drama!

MG: What do you like most about playing Ashley Davenport?
AM: Ashley acts as almost a narrator for the audience. Especially in the early episodes. She knows everyone and all their secrets.

MG: The show is loosely based on “The Count of Monte Cristo”, how do you feel it stands out from other shows?
AM: “Revenge” is a true prime time soap and it makes no apologies for that. We relish in the drama and it gets juicier with each episode!

MG: Tell us about the production so far for the show? How episode have you shot? Where is shooting happening?
AM: We’re just about to start shooting episode eight and so far we’ve had a big party or social event in each episode. I love these scenes because it’s a chance for a lot of the cast to be together at once. Those scenes start to feel like real parties.

MG: Did you enjoy working in the horror genre for “Bedlam”?
AM: I loved working on “Bedlam”. It’s fun to create the suspense of horror for the audience. I loved all the stunts. I don’t want to spoil the story for you but I have a great fire stunt towards the end of the season.

MG: How was it working with Billie Piper on “The Secret Diary of a Call Girl”?
AM: Billie is a fantastic actress so it was always a joy to go to work and film with her.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “Victim”?
AM: “Victim” was written by two friends of mine. The second I finished reading the script I knew I wanted to be involved. Its a really touching story about people escaping their circumstances, love and betrayal. We shot the entire thing on location in London which is my home town so it was a real treat for me.

 

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Interview with Laurent Bouzereau

Laurent Bouzereau is known for his documentary films.  He has worked for the almost 20 years with Steven Spielberg starting with his film, “The Making of Jaws”.  He has worked on various documentaries for Stephen King films and also films like “Avatar” and “Scarface”.  This month to celebrate Halloween, Laurent is introducing his latest film on TCM called, “A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat horror films with Laurent and also find out what it was like working with Stephen King.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell come up with the idea for “A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King”?
Laurent Bouzereau: A couple of years ago I started this series with Dreamworks TV, now called Amblin TV and TCM about the history of film genres.  We started with epic cinema, then thrillers and then we started to think about other genres for this year and I immediately suggested horror for Halloween.  I know the genre very well.  I said what would be different for this one, since with the others we interviewed a lot of people, what if I call Stephen King and ask JUST him to do it.  I knew I could get a lot of people from this genre and people that I have worked with over the years but I felt that we if can get “The Man”, Stephen King…I think he could speak for everybody.  So I reached out to him and he said “Yes”, so I was very excited.  We spent a couple of days in New York chatting about horror.  I have met him in the past, of course, but never had the pleasure and the honor to chat with him for so many hours on one subject.  He is so generous and so funny.  He is really like the everyday man and there is nothing you can’t ask him.  He has his own opinions and it was a really lively conversation.  I also think that he makes a really great point in the documentary about being the least respected genre in both literature and film.  I think he has elevated that genre to such an art form.  I think it was important that he was there to talk about his for this project.  The show is really his definition of horror.  It is really horror according to Stephen King.

MG: You are no stranger to working with Stephen King, what is your favorite piece of work by him?
LB: My favorite novel…well, I lived in New York at the time and a friend of sent me an advance copy of “IT”.  It is actually going to be 25 years old this year…aging myself [laughs].  So, I was walking around the streets of New York with this book, which no one had  yet, and people were stopping me in the streets.  I remember going to the beach and I was getting stopped left and right, I thought I was going to get mugged because of this book.  I swear to you that this is true.  It enhanced my experience of reading it because I not only had a great book but I had the most awaiting book.  That is where I realized Stephen King as a brand name, it was Stephen King’s book not just “that” book.  So I would have to say that that book is so epic and definitely one of my favorites.  If I can, I would say that “Pet Cemetery” is a close second for me as books go.  It is unfair though because overall I love everything he does.  In terms of film, I would have to say that “Carrie” for me is the best film.  Very close second is “The Dead Zone”.  I was very thrilled that Stephen King highlighted “The Dead Zone” in our film because I think it is somewhat forgotten as a film and  it is not as quoted as I feel it deserves to be.  It is a brilliant adaption of a very difficult book.  I think that his books really transcends the genre.  It really comes from the characters then coming from the effects of horror.  He comes up with an incredible character and then gives him a supernatural power or an edge.  That is the great gift he has a storyteller.

MG: What was the most difficult challenge in putting together this documentary?
LB: The most difficult challenge was really to condense the many hours we spend with Stephen to just one hour.  The thing that I was really proud of is that I came in extremely prepared for this.  I did much research for it and obviously I know his work very well. You never know we these things and what angle they are going to want to take.  I had a vague idea in my head for the structure and what I wanted to caputre.  I tried to always be ahead of him so there was no wasted time or energy on the subject.  That was a real challenge.  I didn’t have the opportunity for him to do pick-ups later on…I had one chance.  Of all the scripts that I have written for documentaries, this was the easiest and I was really proud of that.  I knew what I had and it was very fluent.  The only regret is that I wish the show could have been three or four hours long [laughs].  Sometimes though there is value in something that is shorter and to the point.  If it was four hours, it would be a discussion but within an hour it feels like a documentary…like a journey.

MG: You have worked on numerous documentaries, what drives you to continue in this field?
LB: Well, it is documentaries like this one.  First of all, I have to say that working with TCM, it is the only network that I watch aside from the news.  It is such an honor.  They are a dream come true for people like us that love movies.  I have to saw working with that team is pretty amazing.  They are so supportive.  Documentaries are difficult to produce, since they are very involved and  there is a lot of licensing involved.  I have an incredible team watching out for me and there are no compromises.  It is a great collaboration.  That is one of the reasons why I keep going because I work with great people.  Amblin, Steve Spielberg’s company, needless to say is extremely supportive also and always there for me.  With that kind of support you can only succeed…not fail.   The second thing is that I have been so fortunate, I started doing this in the early 90’s, I have always worked with great filmmakers.  I also have worked on really fascinating projects.  So it is subject matters really interest me and it is stuff that I have studied and I feel that I have spent my entire youth preparing for.  I think documentary filmmaking is really an art.  I have always aspired to do it.  As long as I can continue to tell stories in a non-fiction realm, I will continue to doing it [laughs].

MG: Tell us about your next project with TCM and “The World of Michael Crichton”?
LB: Around Christmas, I am working with TCM again for that genre about Christmas movies.  That is great fun and I just finishing that up in the next month or so.  It is completely different in nature.  I think there is a dark side of Christmas in some movies.  I included Joe Dante [laughs], since he made the ultimate dark Christmas movie, “Gremlins”.  It is a completely different hat to wear to go from Stephen King/horror to Christmas movies, it was almost shock therapy or something [laughs].  It is just great though since when you talk about horror, it is scary and here is a lot of darkness to it.  As a filmmaker to be able to jump into something much more light and this genre just has such amazing movies.  It sort of  counter-balances my fears and my nightmares.  I have Jingle Bells in my dreams now instead of axes and knifes coming after me [laughs].  Another project that was announced that I am executive producing a series on Michael Crichton for The Science Channel and that is just starting.  I knew Michael and his estate came to me and we are putting that together now.  It is a kind of a happy/sad project to me working on.  He was a genius and a great person.  I really cherished the moments I had with him.

Interview with Unknown Hinson

Unknown Hinson is plays the lead of Early Cuyler in Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies”.  The show just started its sixth season and its looks like it is its best season yet.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Unknown Hinson about his role in the show and also his music career.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about voicing the character Early Cuyler?
Unknown Hinson: As a voice actor, it is quite of a stretch for me.  I do it because it gives me a lot of freedom to improvise my lines.  I do incorporate a lot of myself into the character, which is a lot of fun. People get to know me through Early Cuyler and hopefully visa versa.

MG: How did you get involved with this show?
UH: Before the show took off, the creators got a hold of one of my CDs.  On that particular CD, there were sound clips of me talking and I guess they liked my voice.  I love cartoons and I was definitely interested. I have had a great time working on the show so far and hope to continue to.

MG: You are now into “Squidbillies” sixth season, do you feel that it has changed for you over that time?
UH: That is a good question Mike; I feel the character has evolved from season to season.  It is kind of like any character in any series, they get given a particular situation to deal with or react to.  It is really all about the days in the life of the character, one day might be good, one day might bad but you just react as it comes to you.  The main thing about cartoon characters is that they can get away with anything…obviously.  That is fascinating to me and gives me a lot of room, as I say, to be myself within the boundaries of the script.

MG: Do you ever improvise your lines during recording?
UH: Yeah, Jim Fortier and Dave Willis give me a lot of room to improvise and ad lib.  They let me put my own spin on it from time to time and I appreciate that.

MG: What has been your favorite episode of “Squidbillies” from this season?
UH: Well the season is just in process and I do not want to be partial to one particular episode.  I honestly like them all…I really do.  I do not have a favorite.

MG: How favorite episode about the show in general?
UH: I do remember an episode when Early and Lil had a litter of babies and there was one that survived.  Early took a liking to it and called it ‘Hershell Walker Cuyler Them Dawgs Is Hell Don’t They’.  I like that episode very much.

MG: You go from voice acting to musician, tell us about that side of you?
UH: Well I have been a musician all my life every since I was a little bitty boy.  That is the only profession I have ever done, it is my trade in life.  I am getting up in years but I am pretty sure I will do this till I die, I reckon. I have done for music from the show from time to time…a couple of songs. I have been able to lend some Unknown Hinson music to the show, which is a lot of fun.  I have gained a lot of new friends through “Squidbillies” and hopefully “Squidbillies” has gained friends through me.  I think one helps the other.  I enjoy playing music and doing the cartoon.

MG: Why aren’t there more musical episodes of “Squidbillies”?
UH: Well I do not know.  There is always the possibility we can do more.  The thing with me is I am always doing my thing, I have CDs to make and concerts to do.  I stay pretty busy.  But who knows may get into that more, I sure would like to.

MG: How do you find your unique sound for your music?
UH: I do not know Mike; I just write songs from my heart, sing them and play the guitar.  I record them, put them out and people seem to like it.  I am thankful to them because they come to see me play and buy my CDs. They seem to get something out of it and that is the main thing.

MG: Can we expect a new album anytime soon?
UH: Yes sir, a brand new Unknown Hinson album is due this Halloween. Yes! It will be available at UnknownHinson.com and my concerts.

Interview with Jim Fortier

Jim Fortier is the Co-Creator/Writer for Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies”.  Along with Dave Willis they have created one of the most unique shows on television.  With the show entering its sixth season, the series shows now signs of slowing down.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jim about working on the show and what to expect from this season.

Mike Gencarelli: How do you feel that the sixth season of “Squidbillies” differs production wise from the previous seasons?
Jim Fortier: I don’t know that the production really differs from the previous seasons. Our team is just better at making the show now. We are very happy with this season. We think that the episodes are as good as any and probably are strongest batch yet. Dave and I still primarily write the episodes with the help of Chris Kelly who submits scripts to us. We are a well oiled machine.

MG: What is the turnaround for an episode from conception to completion?
JF: Usually we can write an episode in a couple days. Recording takes another couple days and then we give in to an editor in the building for about 8 weeks where they will do the audio and the rough animation cut. From there our animation studio Radical Access will get another 6-8 weeks usually. So it takes around 5-8 months per episode. We generally will record an episode every couple weeks so at any given time we could have all 10 episodes in various stages of production.

MG: What is the most difficult task about working on the show?
JF: The most difficult thing about the show is also my favorite which is getting to do all the different things Dave and I do related to the show. We both have a big hand in each step of the shows process. It can be very demanding as we generally are working on 10 shows at a time.

MG: How do you feel “Squidbillies” compares to the other shows you have worked on?
JF: The production method on those other shows was different than that on “Squidbillies”. Even the audio cuts were done differently. “Squidbillies” is different for me because it’s the first show that along with Dave I have been solely responsible for. When I worked on “The Brak Show”, I was kind of the right hand guy and helped write scripts but everything was really Pete Smith. “Squidbillies” is sort of paired down a bit to something that works well.

MG: How do you go about developing the over the top/offensive content for “Squidbillies”?
JF: I look at as redneck squids saying what they say. They aren’t speaking for us. A lot of times we have to defend the content of the show. It’s not always a bad thing to have to explain what you are doing. I can’t speak for Dave but maybe he really is thinking those things? I doubt it though [laughs]. Early really is a buffoon and we like to use him as the brunt of all the jokes. Hopefully everyone gets the characters overzealous humor.

MG: With Unknown Hinson’s musical background why haven’t there been more episodes featuring Early  singing?
JF: He has done two episodes that I can think of where he has gotten to sing. We have actually asked Unknown to do a cover version of the theme song.  I think he is going to do it but he has just been tied up getting ready to release a new album on Halloween. Unknown is a very hands on guy.

MG: Can you envision doing a “Squidbillies” movie?
JF: I can imagine me being interested in doing that. I can also imagine being told that it will never happen from the network.  I think we could give it a stab and it would be fun to do but I just don’t think there has been a call for it. However if a million rabid fans signed a petition and included 1 dollar we would start production tomorrow. Hint…Hint!!

Interview with Christopher Moynihan

Christopher Moynihan is the creator, writer and co-star in ABC’s new show “Man Up!”. It co-star Dan Fogler, Mather Zickel, Henry Simmons, Teri Polo and Amanda Detmer. This show is one of the funniest new show this year. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Christopher about his new show and what we can expect from the season.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you end up coming on board for the show “Man Up!”?
Christopher Moynihan: I created the show as part of deal I had for two pilots with ABC. This is the first one I came to as it has been in my head for a few years. My grandfather was wounded on the beach of Anzio, Italy in WWII and my father was a cop in the Bronx during the riots of the 1960’s. I am just a different breed of guy! I sit around and play video games and talk about “Spider-Man”. I think that we have the luxury in this day and age where we don’t have to go off and fight and do those types of things. Instead we have a person that volunteer to do those things for us which then allows us to be sort of over grown children. I always wanted to do something reflecting this modern man that doesn’t have a lot of chances to do manly thing. Things moved pretty quickly after I pitched the idea to ABC. They bought script and I wrote the pilot. We got really lucky with casting and everyone worked well. From there it moved onto series and things are going well.

MG: How do you go about getting into character and is it directly based on you?
CM: I kind of think that all the guys have pieces of me to them. My guy Craig reminds me of the guy I was in my 20’s. The way I break the three guys up is Will is really a man, Kenny is too much of a child to be a man and Craig is too much of a woman to be a man. I always think Craig is more in touch with his sensitive side and its all in the writing. We spent the whole summer writing these episodes, so its always in my wheel house that Craig is more touchy feely than the other two guys. I think there is a big piece of me that is that so its not too hard for me to get there.

MG: Do you guys have a lot of fun on set?
CM: Yes we really do. I think these television shows live and die by the casting and we really got lucky. It feels like we know each of from when we were kids. We have a lot of fun on set with each other. I feel very fortunate that we all get along.

MG: How do you feel that the show stands out from other comedies currently on television?
CM: I think what you do is you hope your voice is unique and distinct. I have a lot of great writers and I have some bizarre things in my head that I want to get to the screen. I’m hoping that our stuff is different in the sense that it is a network sitcom and its in the vein of what’s working on ABC but you try and set yourself apart by taking different approaches on popular subjects. You have to find a way to put a unique twist on a classic storyline. I think that’s how you set yourself apart.

MG: How many episodes have you filmed so far and do you have a favorite?
CM: We are currently in the process of shooting episode 105 which would make this the fourth episode since the pilot that we have shot. I am really happy with everything we have done so far. Everything comes out of the scripts you write in the summer time. We had six scripts in pretty good shape even before we started shooting episode 102. Everything we have shot so far has been pretty good. I have only seen episode 101 and its really funny however its kind of like looking at your own baby. You think its cute but what do other people think. I really believe its funny and the network seems pleased.

MG: How many episodes have been green-lit?
CM: We have been green-lit the pilot plus twelve episodes. We are shooting number four right now.

MG: Can you give us a sneak preview of what we can expect this season?
CM: We have eight or nine scripts written and the other ones are loosely put together. When we come back Kenny’s ex-wife Brenda has brought a new guy into the group by the name of Grant. Our first episode back Craig and Will try to get Kenny to be friends with Grant as he found out that the other were hanging out with this Grant guy behind his back. The episode is called “Finessing the Bromance”. A lot of the first season is going to be the three guys getting Grant to be a part of their group.

Interview with Big Brother’s Adam Poch

Adam Poch was a contestant on season 13 of the reality television show “Big Brother”. Adam quickly became known to his house mates and viewers of the show for his love of Heavy Metal, Bacon and all things “Beverly Hills 90210”. Adam took a few minutes out of his day to talk with Media Mikes about his experience on the show as well as getting to meet Tori Spelling.

Adam Lawton: Were you familiar with the show prior to auditioning?
Adam Poch: I have been a fan of “Big Brother” since the beginning. Thank God around season 6 of the show I got my first DVR, which turned me from a big fan into a huge fan! I was then able to watch every episode. From there I started getting on all the blogs and watching the live feeds as well as the after dark stuff on Showtime. I really like the concept of the show as well. When I saw Evil Dick on season 8, I realized that they could have a rock and roll type guy on the show.  So I thought about trying out.

AL: Had you auditioned for any previous season of the show?
AP: Yes. I had auditioned prior to season 10, however I bombed my audition terribly. I went in and talked about everything but myself. I was too busy at the time to audition for season 11, so the next time I went in was for season 12. I walked in this time and just gave it to them as to what made me unique. My opening line was “My name is Adam and my three passions are heavy metal, bacon and Beverly Hills, 90210”. You could see everyone in the room kind of look at me a little different. I made it all the way to the finals however they ending up not choosing me but they told me to keep trying.  This year I went back and gave them me again. I had some changes in my life since the previous year such as losing a 100 lbs. and having a girlfriend. I think my confidence definitely showed more and they loved everything that had from the previous year but they loved it even more this year.

AL: Having gone through the audition process a few times what was it like?
AP: They have you jump through hoops and answering questions over and over. There were a couple rounds of interviews with different people. For me there were a lot of sleepless nights waiting for phone calls about whether or not I made it to the next round. Open auditions started in April and it’s not until July that the show starts. For someone who got so close last year, I could taste it and there were lots of nights dreaming about how cool it would be to be on the show.

AL: Did you ever become annoyed with having the cameras around literally all the time?
AP: When you sign up for the show you know going in that the cameras are going to rolling 24-7, you really have no place to hide. I was never annoyed with the cameras but I was annoyed that I could never just get away and have a luxury reward. We had the episode where David Hasselhoff came into the house and four people got to watch the show “Same Name”. I was just praying there would another similar competition to watch a movie or television show. It would have been nice to get out of the game for just a bit,as being in game mode all the time did take a toll on me.

AL: You guys are completely locked out from the outside world correct?
AP: I had no idea about anything going on outside of the house. I remember some of the cast wanting to know what was going on with the Casey Anthony trial. Personally, I wanted to know what was going on with the NFL lockout. I knew I would be getting out of the house in September and a Fall without football just isn’t Fall. I also knew I was missing a lot of great concerts while I was in the house. I really missed an entire summer of new stuff. Being blocked off from society is not always a bad thing but you do miss the connection with people.

AL: What was it like living in an elf suit for a week?
AP: For me it was a good time! People weren’t looking at me as a threat because I was an elf. I was just some goofy guy running around the house making people laugh and drinking syrup. I think the suit came at a good time for me because there were lines starting to be drawn deeper in the sand. No one really thought of me as a threat. I was able to stay under the radar and be entertainment for the house. If anyone in that cast had to get the elf suit, I was glad it was me because I feel I rocked it! I actually still have the suit. I saved it to use later in the game if tension started to get high, but I never did get back out as I was afraid it would make people upset rather than happy.

AL: What do you think was the hardest challenge you participated in?
AP: Probably the food competition from week two. Dominic and I were strapped together in an ant contest. The other guys all got matched up with girls who were pretty easy to carry. Dominic and I are not the smallest people in the house. You put the two of us together in an ant costume crawling over picnic items really tore us up. I have a few scars on my knees from that competition. I’m glad I will never have to do that one again. The ski slope challenge was pretty intense, as well as the first part of the final Head of House competition. We were on the beaters churning butter. I had to stand on this small platform with size 13 feet and about 15 minutes in my legs locked up and I was done. I ended up sitting in the pool for another 10-15 minutes because I just couldn’t move my legs.

AL: Did you guys have an idea as what each competition was going to be ahead of time?
AP: We could hear banging and things like that going on outside but we could never see anything. We had no idea what we were doing until the curtain goes up and we walk outside. We would often speculate what we thought we were going to have to do. At certain times we had a pretty good idea what was going to be coming up but we couldn’t be totally sure until we were out there.

AL: Can you describe the Tori Spelling meeting?
AP: Tori who? [laughs]…..I know that I didn’t win “Big Brother” but Tori Spelling came into the house and knew who Adam Pock was. Tori kissed me on the cheek while I was drinking an appletini! I would have blown through $500,000 so fast but the memories of Tori Spelling kissing me while drinking an appletini in the “Big Brother” house are worth way more than $500,000! It really was a dream come true being on the television show. I figured I would meet Tori one day at a book signing or something, but the fact Tori Spelling knows who I am! was the biggest thrill of the summer for sure. She was just as cute and sweet as I expected her to be. I fell in “love” with her character on the show and I watched her other reality shows and I just couldn’t have expected her to be any sweeter.

AL: Any chance we will see you on the show again?
AP: If people want me back on the show, write to CBS and tell them you want the elf/heavy metal teddy bear back on. Right now, I am back to my day to day life. I am back working at my job and have moved in with my girlfriend. I lost so much in three months that I am trying to catch up on things as much as I can. If I was called to be on the show again I would have to seriously think about it. The show was very draining both physically and mentally but I loved it. If things all worked out at that certain point in time I would probably go back. For right now though I am not knocking on any doors to have me put back in the show anytime soon. I give respect to those people on the show who have done back to back summers. It takes a special person to walk through those doors!

For up to date info on Adam head over to Twitter and follow him @heavymetalteddy

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