The legendary ALICE COOPER will be returning and signing at the Chiller Theatre Expo Spring 2012 edition is coming up on Friday April 27th, Saturday April 28th, & Sunday April 29th.
This years event has many first time convention appearances by some great guests like Dean Cain, Robert Loggia, Parker Stevenson, and Cathy Moriarty!! More info at: http://
April 27-29, 2012
Friday – 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday – 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday – 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
After two days of packed panels and costumed fans, Kansas City’s Planet Comicon 2012 came to a close this past Sunday.
Not even unseasonably warm weather or the fact that the University of Kansas’ basketball team was playing for a spot in the Final Four (they made it) could keep fans away from the Overland Park Trade Center in Overland Park, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City.
Drawn to the show by such celebrity guests as Edward James Olmos, Billy Dee Williams and a trio of stars from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” Planet Comicon 2012 may have been the best attended show in the history of the convention.
Buck Rogers himself, Gil Gerard, remarked to me, “this is the busiest Sunday I’ve ever seen at one of these events.” Gerard and fellow “Buck Rogers” actors Erin Gray and Felix Silla spent the weekend meeting and greeting their fans. Other guests included Robin Thorsen and Amy Okuda from “The Guild,” graphic artists like Bernie Wrightson and Blair Butler, star of G4’s “Attack of the Show.”
ROD STEWART & STEVIE NICKS | HEART & SOUL TOUR
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2012 | 7:30PM
AMWAY CENTER | ORLANDO, FLORIDA
ON SALE: SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 | 10:00AM
ORLANDO, FLORIDA [February 23, 2012] – Legendary rockers Rod Stewart & Stevie Nicks today announced plans to reunite this summer and reprise their highly acclaimed, co-headlining “Heart & Soul Tour.”
“I couldn’t be happier to be back on board with Stevie this summer,” Rod Stewart said. “We had fantastic fun on the road together last spring and I’m thrilled at the chance to bring it to new cities and fans this summer.”
Celebrated by both fans and critics alike, Rod and Stevie first joined forces in the spring of 2011 for their acclaimed “Heart & Soul Tour.” The 18-concert arena tour was highlighted by two sold-out shows at both New York’s Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The 3+ hour show featured individual heart-pumping sets loaded with all of their biggest hits – opening with Stevie’s and closing with Rod’s – with a few rousing duets in the middle. US Weekly called the show “magical,” with a set list that “sparked non-stop cheers from the sold-out masses,” and the Boston Globe declared “Stewart & Nicks make a classic combination” delivering sold-out audiences a “hits-packed night of crystal visions and reasons to believe.”
In a career spanning five decades, Rod Stewart has amassed an estimated 250 million in album and single sales and an incredible 16 Grammy nominations. In April, he will join the elite list of artists who are 2x Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (as a solo artist and soon as a member of the seminal 60s rock band, the Faces). On March 24, he will return to Las Vegas for an 8-concert-run of “The Hits” – part of his immensely popular first residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Stevie Nicks is a multi-Grammy Award Winner as a solo artist and member of the legendary Fleetwood Mac and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her new CD “In Your Dreams” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and has received glowing reviews from numerous outlets, including US Magazine who declared it “the best album of Nicks’ four decade career.”
TICKETS: $45, $85 & $145. Buy tickets at amwaycenter.com, Amway Center box office, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com. All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges. For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Amway Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.
ABOUT AMWAY CENTER
The Orlando Magic served as the developer of the Amway Center, which hosts major national events, concerts and family shows. Opened in the fall of 2010, the facility is owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida community. The Amway Center was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The building’s exterior features a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one facade. A 180-foot tall tower serves as a beacon amid the downtown skyline. At 875,000 square feet, the new arena is almost triple the size of the old Amway Arena (367,000 square feet). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design and unmatched technology, featuring 1,100 digital monitors, the tallest high-definition video board in an NBA venue and multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building. For more information about the Amway Center, visit www.amwaycenter.com.
Planet Comicon, one of the largest pop culture and comic book conventions in the Midwest, opens it’s 2012 edition this weekend, March 24 and 25, at the Overland Park International Trade Center in Overland Park, Kansas. The show runs from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturday the 24th and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday the 25th.
As usual, actors and artists from every area of pop culture will be appearing live to meet and greet their fans. Major attendees at Planet Comicon 2012 include Oscar nominated actor Edward James Olmos (“Stand and Deliver,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Miami Vice”) and Billy Dee Williams (“The Empire Strikes Back,” “Batman,” “Brian’s Song”).
Other guests appearing include Jake Lloyd (young Anikan Skywalker in “Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace”), Gil Gerard, Erin Grey and Felix Silla from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” and Amy Okuda and Robin Thorsen from “The Guild.”
There will also be a plethora of comic book artists as well as a jam packed dealers room. Admission is $20 for an Adult Weekend Pass, $15 for a one day Adult Pass and $5 for kids ages 7-14. Kids under 7 are admitted free.
For more information head to http://www.planetcomicon.com/
March 2, 2012 – The New York Public Library was filled with Truffala trees this morning in celebration of the kickoff of Read Across America 2012 and the release of The Lorax on Dr. Seuss’ 108th Birthday.
Three hundred NYC public school children, dressed in bright orange Lorax shirts and his trademark yellow mustache, were treated to a reading of the original Dr. Seuss classic by the film’s stars Danny DeVito and Zac Efron at the event hosted by the National Education Association (NEA).
Since 1998, Read Across America has motivated kids of all ages to continue reading every day as research shows those children who do so wind up becoming better students at school. DeVito, who plays the Lorax himself, spoke at the event about the importance of reading at home, “We should encourage youngsters and their parents, and their aunts, their uncles, grandfathers, to read to them. And let them read to you. It’s a really great way to broaden your horizons and it’s a stepping stone to a better life.”
In addition to a reading of The Lorax, the audience got a sneak peak at the film which opened today. In it Efron plays Ted, a 12-year old boy who sets out to impress his dream girl Audrey (played by Taylor Swift) by finding her a real live tree. There are no more where they live, and in flashbacks we learn of the Lorax who had fought to save them. DeVito recalled another one of his movies when talking about the story’s positive environmental message: “I did a movie called Death to Smoochy and Smoochy was a very big environmentalist and he used to say when they were commercializing him, ‘You can’t save the world,’ one person can’t save the world, ‘but you could make a dent!’ You know? You can really start it. So one boy or girl or adult or anybody who just clicks in and thinks, ‘I can make a difference, I can shut the lights in the house, I can plant seeds, nurture the garden. I could take care of other people…’ You take from the Earth, you take from each other, but you give back. It’s a two way street.”
The curious students at the library were also given the chance to ask questions of the two cheerful actors, such as:
Third Grader: How do you make the characters look so real?
DeVito: Okay, well the first thing we do is we read the script. Zac and I read the script…and we perform in front of a video camera the way we read the lines.
Zac Efron: Then they take all the crazy things that he does when he reads his lines–
DeVito: And he does!
Efron: He gets really crazy when he reads his lines.
DeVito: And then they use those to draw with the computer and they try to capture the movements of the actors in the movie, so it looks real.
Third Grader: How do you think Dr. Seuss came up with The Lorax?
DeVito: Well I think that Dr Seuss wrote this book forty years ago and it’s still current and going on today because he probably–I’m just guessing now–he probably was looking around at what was going on in the world and saying a lot of people are doing certain things like taking the rain forests down and wasting things…and what he was looking for was a champion. The trees can’t speak, they have no voice, so he was looking for somebody to be the speaker for the trees and a champion for the trees…I think that’s where it all comes from, The Lorax. And then he just figured it couldn’t be a Lorax going out speaking for the trees, but it needs to be a human being…who cares enough for the trees.
Third Grader: Why is the Lorax so hairy?
Devito: Well the thing about it, in the forest even though it looks like it’s always summer, sometimes it gets a little cold. And that’s why he has the mustache and all the fur on. He also does live down underground, under that stump, so it’s pretty chilly at night down there. Especially when he’s eating, he likes to keep his mouth warm!
At the conclusion of the event, all of the students recited the NEA’s Read Across America Pledge and the costumed Lorax character joined NYC’s PS 22 chorus in performing the song “Let it Grow.”
You can read more about Read Across America, including the NEA’s Lorax Student Earth Day, at their website: www.nea.org/readacross
All article photos by Mike Sonesen
The 2012 Grammys were held on Sunday, February 12th 2012 at the Staple center in Los Angeles California. Though the night may have been overshadowed by the death of Whitney Houston the show continued on. Performances by Bruce Springsteen, the reformed Beach Boys, The Foo Fighters, and a touching rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” performed by Jennifer Hudson were definite highlights of the night. A heavily religious themed performance by Niky Minaj left people either scratching their heads or highly disturbed. LL Cool J did an ok job as the host for the event however his segues were kept very brief. Chris Brown made several appearances over the course of the evening as he has seemed to have earned his way back into the good graces of the music community. The big winners of the night were Adele who brought home 5 Grammy’s including one for Record of the Year and Album of the Year. The Foo Fighters also took home 5 Grammy’s which included Best Rock performance and Best Rock Album. Other noted winners were Bon Iver who beat out the likes of Skrillex and The Band Perry for Best new Artist while Lady Antebellum took home the award for Best Country Album beating out the likes of Jason Aldean and country staple George Strait. As with any awards show there will be high points and low points. Sadly I think the 2012 Grammy’s had more lows than highs but to end on a positive there are some really big releases slated for this year that will hopefully catch the attention of the right people.
2012 Grammy Award Winners
Record of the Year- “Rolling In the Deep” – Adele
Album of the Year- “21” – Adele
Song of the Year- “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
Best New Artist- Bon Iver
Best Pop Solo Performance- “Someone Like You” – Adele
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance- “Body And Soul” – Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
Best Pop Instrumental Album- “The Road From Memphis” – Booker T. Jones
Best Pop Vocal Album- “21” – Adele
Best Dance Recording- “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites” – Skrillex
Best Dance/Electronica Album- “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites” – Skrillex
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album- “Duets II” – Tony Bennett & Various Artists
Best Rock Performance- “Walk” – Foo Fighters
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance- “White Limo” – Foo Fighters
Best Rock Song- “Walk” – Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
Best Rock Album- “Wasting Light” – Foo Fighters
Best Alternative Music Album- “Bon Iver” – Bon Iver
Best R&B Performance- “Is This Love” – Corinne Bailey Rae
Best Traditional R&B Performance- “Fool For You” – Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
Best R&B Song- “Fool For You” – Cee Lo Green & Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)
Best R&B Album- “F.A.M.E.” – Chris Brown
Best Rap Performance- “Otis” – Jay-Z & Kanye West
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration- “All Of The Lights” – Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Best Rap Song- “All Of The Lights” – Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
Best Rap Album- “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” – Kanye West
Best Country Solo Performance- “Mean” – Taylor Swift
Best Country Duo/Group Performance- “Barton Hollow” – The Civil Wars
Best Country Song- “Mean” – Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
Best Country Album- “Own The Night” – Lady Antebellum
Best New Age Album- “What’s It All About” – Pat Metheny “Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6” – Zamora
Best Improvised Jazz Solo- “500 Miles High” – Chick Corea, soloist
Best Jazz Vocal Album- “The Mosaic Project” – Terry Lyne Carrington & Various Artists
Best Jazz Instrumental Album- “Forever” – Corea, Clarke & White
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album- “The Good Feeling” – Christian McBride Big Band
Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance- “Jesus” – Le’Andria Johnson
Best Gospel Song- “Hello Fear” – Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
Best Contemporary Christian Music Song- “Blessings” – Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
Best Gospel Album- “Hello Fear” – Kirk Franklin
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album- “And If Our God Is For Us…” – Chris Tomlin
Best Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album- “Drama Y Luz” – Maná
Best Regional Mexican or Tejano Album- “Bicentenario” – Pepe Aguilar
Best Banda or Norteño Album- “Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends” – Los Tigres Del Norte
Best Tropical Latin Album- “The Last Mambo” – Cachao
Best Americana Album- “Ramble At The Ryman” – Levon Helm
Best Bluegrass Album- “Paper Airplane” – Alison Krauss & Union Station
Best Blues Album- “Revelator” – Tedeschi Trucks Band
Best Folk Album- “Barton Hollow” – The Civil Wars
Best Regional Roots Music Album- “Rebirth Of New Orleans” – Rebirth Brass Band
Best Reggae Album- “Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life” – Stephen Marley
Best World Music Album- “Tassili” – Tinariwen
Best Children’s Album- “All About Bullies… Big And Small” – (Various Artists) James Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers
Best Spoken Word Album- “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t)” – Betty White
Best Comedy Album- “Hilarious” – Louis C.K.
Best Musical Theater Album- “The Book Of Mormon” – Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells, principal soloists; Anne Garefino, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin & Matt Stone, producers; Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media– “Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1” – (Various Artists)
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media- “The King’s Speech” – Alexandre Desplat, composer
Best Song Written For Visual Media- “I See The Light” (From “Tangled”) – Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)
Best Instrumental Composition- “Life In Eleven” – Béla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones)
Best Instrumental Arrangement- “Rhapsody In Blue” – Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist (s)- “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” – Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah)
Best Recording Packaging- “The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story” – Dave Bett & Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen) “25th Anniversary Music Box” – Matt Taylor & Ellen Wakayama, art directors (Danny Elfman & Tim Burton)
Best Album Notes- “Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s” – Adam Machado, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Best Historical Album- “Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition)” – Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (Paul McCartney & Wings)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical- “Paper Airplane” – Mike Shipley, engineer; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical- Paul Epworth – “Call It What You Want” (Foster The People) (T); “I Would Do Anything For You” (Foster The People) (T); “I’ll Be Waiting” (Adele) (T); “Life On The Nickel” (Foster The People) (T); “No One’s Gonna Love You” (Cee-Lo Green) (S); “Rolling In The Deep” (Adele)(T)
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical- “Cinema” (Skrillex Remix) – Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi)
Best Surround Sound Album- “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)” – Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner, surround producers (Derek & The Dominos)
Best Engineered Album, Classical- “Aldridge: Elmer Gantry” – Byeong-Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
Producer Of The Year, Classical- Judith Sherman – “Adams: Son Of Chamber Symphony; String Quartet” (John Adams, St. Lawrence String Quartet & International Contemporary Ensemble); “Capricho Latino” (Rachel Barton Pine); “85th Birthday Celebration” (Claude Frank); “Insects & Paper Airplanes – Chamber Music Of Lawrence Dillon” (Daedalus Quartet & Benjamin Hochman); “Midnight Frolic – The Broadway Theater Music Of Louis A.
Best Orchestral Performance- “Brahms: Symphony No. 4” – Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
Best Opera Recording- “Adams: Doctor Atomic” – Alan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
Best Choral Performance-“Light & Gold” – Eric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King’s Singers, Laudibus, Pavão Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)
Best Small Ensemble Performance- “Mackey: Lonely Motel – Music From Slide” – Rinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird
Best Classical Instrumental Solo- “Schwantner: Concerto For Percussion & Orchestra” – Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony); Track from:
Best Classical Vocal Solo- “Diva Divo” – Joyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L’Opéra National De Lyon; Choeur De L’Opéra National De Lyon)
Best Contemporary Classical Composition- “Aldridge, Robert: Elmer Gantry” – Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein “Crumb, George: The Ghosts Of Alhambra” – George Crumb; Track from:
Best Short Form Music Video- “Rolling In The Deep” – Adele; Sam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer
Best Long Form Music Video- “Foo Fighters: Back And Forth” – Foo Fighters; James Moll, video director; James Moll & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
Artist: Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
Date: February 4th, 2012
Venue: Amway Center- Orlando, FL
Tour: Welcome to Fin Land
Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars
I have been a fan of Jimmy Buffett for at least the past 15 years or so but I am embarrassed to say that I have never attended a live concert. Now if you are Buffett fan or a Parrothead as they are called you know that it is the only way to party and listen to his music. Let me tell you one thing, FL knows how to party. It was quite an experience and I have to say Jimmy Buffett and his band, The Coral Reefers, really know how to put on a performance. There was so much energy in the Amway Center, it was extremely infectious.
You know you are going to have a great time that before the concert even begins within the audience there is probably around 50 beach balls flying in every single direction. When Jimmy and the band takes the stand you just couldn’t help but shoot up out of your seat and scream! For someone like Jimmy Buffett that has been touring since 1976, you would think that this was his first time out. He sang his songs, barefoot, and did not stop smiling and grinning the entire time. You can just tell when someone is enjoying themselves and it definitely translates into the audience’s participation as well.
About 30 minutes into the 2+ hour concert, my wife turned and looked at me and said “what songs is he going to sing for an encore, he is playing all the good ones now”. It just a small reflection of how the night was going to pan out. The set list was absolutely fantastic, totaling 24 songs and 3 in the encore. He kicked it off with all of my favorites songs and didn’t let up for one single second. It was just song after song and hit after hit. After years of listening to the concerts live on SiriusXM Margaritaville, I am very happy that I finally got the chance to experience the wonder that is Jimmy Buffett. I think there might be only one small problem…I might be hooked. Until next time Mr. Buffett…
DEMIÁN BICHIR RECEIVES NOMINATION
FOR 2012 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD
Mexican Actor Up For Best Male Lead In “A Better Life”
LOS ANGELES, CA – Mexican Actor Demián Bichir has been nominated for Best Male Lead for his role in “A Better Life” at the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards. This is the first nomination for a Spirit Award for the actor.
“A Better Life”, from Oscar nominated director Chris Weitz (“About a Boy”), tells the story of an undocumented immigrant and hardworking single dad Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir), who embarks on a physical and spiritual journey in order to reconnect with his teenage son and keep him from getting pulled into the local gang life. “A Better Life” is a touching, poignant, multi-generational story that critics call “compelling”, “intelligent” and “heartfelt”.
The film was written by Eric Eason based on a story by Roger L. Simon. Set in a Hispanic community and shot entirely in Los Angeles, the film features an almost entirely Hispanic cast and explores the culture and geography of Los Angeles. “I feel honored to be a part of this movie, and to be nominated for this award. I am in debt to Chris Weitz, for having trusted me with this amazing character. Nothing that is on the screen could have been done without Chris’s direction”, stated Demián Bichir.
Chris Weitz, also known for directing “Twilight: New Moon”, and “American Pie”, stated “Demián gave his heart and soul to give a voice to the voiceless, and I am delighted that the independent film community is recognizing his performance for this film.”
Winners will be announced at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, February 25, 2012. The 27th annual awards ceremony will be held as a daytime luncheon in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, and the premiere broadcast will air later that evening at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IMedia.
WE’RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER ISLAND JAWSFEST: THE TRIBUTE PLANNED FOR AUGUST, 2012
October 26, 2011. Martha’s Vineyard, MA – In 2005, thousands of fans of the Universal Studios’ movie JAWS flocked to the island of Martha’s Vineyard to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the blockbuster movie at JAWSFEST ‘05. Since the day the inaugural event ended, fans have been clamoring for more. In August 2012, JAWS fans will get what they’ve been asking for at JAWSFEST: The Tribute. An event in the making for nearly seven years, JAWSFEST: The Tribute will honor the talent, dedication and determination of the men and women behind the making of JAWS and celebrate how Steven Spielberg’s telling of Peter Benchley’s story has forever made Martha’s Vineyard ‘Amity Island.’
For the first JAWSFEST, fans traveled from as far as Australia for the event and media outlets from around the world flocked to the island to cover the festivities. “Our 2005 event was incredibly successful and had a much greater reach than we ever anticipated with fans showing up en masse from around the world—many in character,” said Susan Sigel Goldsmith, event co?director from 2005 and producer of the 2012 event. “As JAWS continues to entertain new generations of audiences around the world, we’re thrilled to give fans a unique event experience in Martha’s Vineyard that they will never forget.”
JAWSFEST: The Tribute will take place August 9?11, 2012 and will explore how the making of JAWS impacted the lives of those who came to Amity in 1974 and how the blockbuster film they created continues to impact fans and the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Preliminary event plans include:
“The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce is delighted to support JAWSFESTTM: The Tribute in August 2012. We look forward to welcoming JAWS fans from throughout the world to explore ‘Amity’ and all that the Vineyard has to offer,” said Nancy Gardella, MV Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.
Event planning is underway. For event updates or travel information, please visit www.jawstribute.com. The event schedule will be posted when attendance confirmations are received from invited participants.
Sailcloth shares the poignant story of an elderly widower, played by Hurt, as he sets in motion a series of events to hide his disappearance from a nursing home. After gathering necessities he heads to the local pier where a beloved companion awaits him – ready to take their last great journey.
John Hurt, one of the UK’s most legendary actors, stars in this emotional film portraying the widower with a natural ease that effortlessly pulls you into. Hurt, a two time Academy® Award Nominee, has won countless accolades during his extensive career, including three BAFTA’s and a Golden Globe.
This Oscar worthy film is written and directed by Elfar Adalsteins (www.elfaradalsteins.com) and produced by his company Berserk Films. Elfar’s began his career as a producer, working on feature films such as ‘Country Wedding’, the Oscar® longlisted ‘Mamma Gógó’ and ‘Black Rabbit Summer’ he developed in collaboration with Ruby Films. Elfar’s directorial feature film debut is currently in the final stages of development and is scheduled to move into production in 2012.
With John’s wonderful portrayal of the widower and Elfar’s expertly realized vision, it is no wonder that this emotional story of love and courage is causing such an Oscar Buzz.
Leslie Odom Jr, Michael B. Jordan, Nate Parker, Kevin Phillips, David Oyelowo and Elijah Kelley portray some of the heroic Tuskegee Airmen in a scene from Lucasfilm’s epic action film Red Tails, in theaters January 20, 2012.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (July 29, 2011) – A high-flying action epic inspired by the heroic exploits of the first all African-American aerial combat unit, the Lucasfilm Ltd. production of Red Tails will launch on January 20, 2012, released by Twentieth Century Fox. Produced by Rick McCallum and Charles Floyd Johnson, the gripping WWII actioner is directed by Anthony Hemingway (“Treme,” “The Wire,” “Battlestar Galactica”).
“I am humbled and honored to direct the story of the Tuskegee Airmen – heroes who have paved the way so others could have the opportunity to pursue their dreams,” said Hemingway. “To be selected by George Lucas and Rick to direct this film was more than my wildest dreams come true. It’s been a blessing to work with them, along with the amazingly talented artists at Industrial Light & Magic. I’ve grown a lot on many levels from this experience. As director, I had the fortune to work with a highly skilled crew from the Czech Republic, U.K. and the U.S., along with a remarkably talented group of actors. The resonant beauty, strength and dedication of our heroes is reflected in the powerful ensemble cast.”
Red Tails stars Oscar® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire), Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (Crash), Emmy® winner Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Nate Parker (The Secret Life of Bees, The Great Debaters), David Oyelowo (The Last King of Scotland, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Tristan Wilds (“90210”), Grammy® Award winner Cliff Smith aka Method Man (“The Wire”), Kevin Phillips (Pride), Rick Otto (“The Wire”), Lee Tergesen (Monster), Andre Royo (“Heroes”), Grammy-Award winner Ne-Yo (Stomp the Yard), Elijah Kelley (Hairspray), Marcus T. Paulk (Take the Lead), Leslie Odom Jr. (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Michael B. Jordan (“Friday Night Lights,” Chronicle) and Daniela Ruah (“NCIS”).
“I’ve wanted to do this film for a great many years,” said George Lucas, executive producer of Red Tails. “So it is especially gratifying to see it all come together. It has been a real pleasure to work with Anthony and the extraordinary cast on a project that we all passionately believe in. The Tuskegee Airmen were such superb pilots that it was essential for us to create visual effects that would live up to their heroism and put audiences in the cockpit with them. They were only in their early 20s when they performed these amazing feats,” Lucas added. “They became the best of the best—the top guns. It is an honor to bring to the screen a story inspired by their heroics.”
A trailer for the film will appear on www.Yahoo.com at 10am PDT Friday.
SYNOPSIS:
1944. As the war in Europe continues to take its toll on Allied forces, the Pentagon brass has no recourse but to consider unorthodox options – including the untried and untested African-American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training program. Just as the young Tuskegee men are on the brink of being shut down and shipped back home, they are given the ultimate chance to show their courage. Against all the odds, with something to prove and everything to lose, these intrepid young airmen take to the skies to fight for their country – and the fate of the free world.
Burt Reynolds is a true Hollywood legend. He has been in almost 100 feature films and has over 300 television episodes credits to date. He is known for his roles in “Smokey and the Bandit”, “Deliverance”, “The Longest Yard”, “The Cannonball Run” and “Boogie Nights”, just to name a few. This month Burt is attending and doing a Q&A at TCM’s Road to Hollywood screening of “Smokey and the Bandit” on Wednesday, March 23th at the Tampa Theater in Tampa, FL. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Burt about him working on “Smokey and the Bandit” and dug up some good stories from the film.
Mike Gencarelli: “Smokey and the Bandit” is loved by many generations, how do you feel it holds up with audiences today?
Burt Reynolds: It holds up great. I was worried about that myself. I thought how is the new audience, cause they have seen it all…heard it all…done it all now, going to go back to this time…which is the age of innocence. For some reason, it is kind of like when you watch “Stagecoach”. They have gotten a more sophisticated way of shooting a western. but you still know when you are watching that film, that were are watching something that has never been done before. When you watch “Smokey”, you are watching people do things with a camera inside of car, that nobody has ever done before. It is like having a baby in a taxicab, it was amazing.
MG: In 1977 you began a long professional partnership with Hal Needham with “Smokey and the Bandit.” Did you know while making it that you had a hit on your hands?
BR: We had no idea. How could you know the proportion of what it was going to do in terms of box office…the slice of the pie. You had “Star Wars” and then “Smokey and the Bandit”. The car chases that we were going to spawn. The fact that Gleason’s career was coming to an end as Mr. Television on one side and starting again in movies. Obviously, there were many other films he did that were just as good or better. His career didn’t jump start with us but it helped it in another direction. Sally was on her way to becoming one the greatest actresses of our time, I think and Jerry Reed was just phenomenal.
MG: Did you find it difficult working with the improv on the set?
BR: No, because I was born and raised under that. I came from that whole second city kind of working. I loved the improvisation. With Jerry, you had to be ready to spin off in every direction. In every single take he never matched and it drove the script girl crazy. He couldn’t remember anything that fast and she couldn’t keep up with him anyway. By the time she had written down what he had done with his hands…he was doing something with his feet. Between that, Gleason and a little tardy everyone now and then…it was pretty insane. The only person that could do all that and keep some kind of sanity and control was Hal. He had been used to juggling those life and death situations. Even though this wasn’t life and death…if was pretty close to it, in terms of comedy and stunt.
Q: How was it working with Dom Deluise and Jackie Gleason?
BR: They were the best and can’t be replaced. Everyday was wonderful. I do not remember a single time that they didn’t make me laugh. They were easy marks too to make them laugh. Then when we all got the giggles…it was a wrap. The entire crew was finished for the day. We had so much fun. Usually that doesn’t transfer to the screen when you are having that much fun. This was one of those rare times, we all knew we weren’t making “The Conversationalist”. We thought that if we could pull it off, then the audience might have as much fun as we did and could twist a few funny bones.
Q: Did you do a lot of your own stunts for “Smokey and the Bandit”?
BR: I did a lot of things that were insane and crazy. Not for the money though, it was mostly for the fun.
Q: Do you feel that any of today’s car films capture the magic of “Smokey and the Bandit”?
BR: Well I would hate to think that we spawn the entire idea of a car case. I think before “Smokey”, it wasn’t an entire three act play about the car chase. In that particular film, we were never out of the cars. It was kind of amazing that they were able to do that and make it work. You can’t reinvent the wheel…but we did a pretty good job of it. In terms of what they do now, what happens is that they are taking more and more chances…dangerous chances. It never translates to the screen…the danger. Usually the more dangerous the stunt, you can’t see it on film and nobody really gets it until you have 138 edits to bring it together. If you really are that good, they you are Hitchcock and you are not conscious of how many edits there are. That is the difference between someone that really knows action like Hal (Needham). Hal has been the highest paid stunt man in the world and had done every great stunt picture up until then. He knew how to make that work and then the other ingredients were (Jackie) Gleason, Jerry Reed and Sally (Field), of course.
Q: What was it about Hal Needham that appealed to you to work together so much?
BR: I think what Hal has, that I think everyone feels when they meet him, is this sureness. Howard Hawks had it and obviously all of great directors who had the power had it. He also had, there was a sense of danger about Hal, not to be cliched about what he did. He really did laugh it off. Men, women, children…everybody found him fascinating. He lived life right on the edge and I found that fun to be around. Also there was a certain cockiness, like a quarterback when you have no time on the clock…he is looking at your smiling and saying “Yeah, we are gonna score”. He has this feeling about him and I liked that feeling. I liked being around it and the whole sense of we are all going to do this together whether we crash and burn or not.
Q: Was there any issues during the production for “Smokey”?
BR: Not one. Not a hitch in the giddy up anywhere. In fact we kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, we thought it was going too well. I mean I remember the first day of shooting, Hal and I looked at each other at 2pm in the afternoon and he said “Well, we already have all the shots” and I said “Yeah, I know partner…let’s go home”. We did that every other afternoon. Everybody was scratching there heads but after a while, you can only shoot so many shots of highway going by. You have to move on.
Q: What is your opinion on the action genre today? Is it getting too overproduced and is it losing its emotional attachment it once gained with audiences?
BR: That is a good question, I think what we have almost forgotten how to do is act with our gut…gut and a little cerebral. We have discussed it to the point where we need to stop discussing it. We are going to talk ourself into getting laid and then talk ourselves right out of it. Just do it and roll it. That is the thing about Needham that we were attracted to and that is what makes those kind of films work. They put you right on the edge. I remember him during the rehearsal, “Gleason…what is he going to say…oh Christ he is having another drink…oh shit…here we go…is Sally ok?..Sally is ok…Jerry is crazy…here we go…ok let’s do it”. We are shooting in a car for Christ sake for 90% of the movie, how do you pull that off? Well some people can, but nobody gets credit for it until the movie is over. You know it works on the film in a gut level, but you don’t know why it works. Nobody is going to give anybody credit for it on that level anyway. On that level, it is just works so don’t try and figure it out… just enjoy it.
Q: What would you say is your biggest accomplishment in your career?
BR: Well, I think my major accomplishment is that I am still here. It is pretty scary when you think about it. The chances of my being around now 50 years ago were zero and none. Now that I am around and we are talking in a civilized manor here, we are not talking about “The Conversationalist”, we are talking about “Smokey and the Bandit”. We are talking about a tiny sliver of the pie of what encompasses the entire canvas of film. It is a sliver. But in that sliver that film has had it effects on everyone, in the sense that it bumped up against “Star Wars” and it did alright! It took on the big boys and never once bitched or complained. It just took them on.
Q: Do you still have any of the Trans Ams that Pontiac gave to you?
BR: Yeah I do…I got one right downstairs in fact. I think in the middle of night of me and car driving around town and having people say “Look at that poor bastard, he has really gone over the edge” [laughs].
Bert I. Gordon is the legendary director of “The Amazing Colossal Man”, “Empire of the Ants”, “Earth vs. The Spider” and so many other classics. When you think 50’s creature feature sci-fi…you should be thinking about Bert I. Gordon. He is known for using “Rear projection effect” in his films to create his monster effects. Bert was given the nickname “Mister B.I.G.” which refers to his initials and to his love for making movies about giant creatures. Movie Mikes had the privilege with chatting with Mr. Gordon about his films and his amazing career.
Click here to purchase Bert’s autobiography and his films
Mike Gencarelli: Have you always been a fan of the sci-fi genre?
Bert I. Gordon: No. I’ve always been a fan of watching movies on the screen.
MG: Working with the original monster films of the 50’s, what was the hardest task for you?
BG: The creatures were fun. They gave me a little problem at the beginning when we started to train them! But we finally got to be friends (laughs).
MG: “The Amazing Colossal Man” is one of my favorite films. How was it working on that film and the special effects?
BG: I enjoyed making that. But self appointed critics criticized my effects by saying I used rear projection on my films. On all of the films I made I used rear projection maybe a dozen times. On “The Amazing Colossal Man” I used some blue backing, some matting and also some split screens. One nice effect is at the very beginning when he is hit by the atom blast. And what I did was I had some powerful fans blowing little particles to block out the screen. Then we’d cut the cameras and I had my special make up people put on the make up, which took a long time. Then, with the cameras in the same position, I started the fans and hit him with the little white specks again to block out the screen. We slowed down the fans until there he was, all “burned” up.
MG: Are you aware that “The Amazing Colossal Man” trailer is on a constant loop in the Sci-Fi Dinner in Walt Disney World?
BG: Yes I am. How is it being presented?
MG: It’s a 1950’s themed diner and they have a large screen that shows a lot of the 50’s sci-fi trailers.
BG: That’s terrific. Disneyland here in California has also run several clips of my films.
MG: What inspired you to write your autobiography “The Amazing Colossal Worlds of Mr. B.I.G.?”
BG: I had been approached in years past but I didn’t really want to write it. Then I attended a film festival called Monster Bash in Philadelphia in 2004. In going there I was so pleased to find out that I had so many fans, both from the period when I made the films and the younger fans who had seen them on television and DVDs. So I decided that I would write the book.
MG: Tell us about working on “Earth Vs. the Spider”. Was it a difficult production?
BG: Not at all. It was actually one of the easier films. It appears to be shot in the Carlsbad Caverns and I wanted to film all of the caverns there. So I contacted the people in charge from the state (New Mexico) and they invited me down. They took me through and it was fantastic. Beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. I told them that I wanted to film a movie there. They said fine…BUT…you can’t use your lights. The lights they have there are all indirect to bring out the beauty of the rock formations in the caverns. There’s no way without lights that you could shoot a movie down there. So I was unhappy because I thought without some nice caverns…what was I going to do? Then I got the idea to come back and shoot still photos with a long timed exposure, because that is what it took because the lights were so dim. They said that was fine. I went back with my camera and my tripod and some assistants and they took me through some different caverns. I set up the camera and took the photos. They lasted many, many minutes because of the time exposure. I took those photographic plates and split screened many of them and that’s how I put the people and the spider in the Carlsbad Caverns. As for the spider yes, I used a real spider in the film…as I did on many of my films. I used some nice tarantulas that were very friendly. I put some in with split screen and some with blue screen travel mattes.
MG: “Empire of the Ants” is such a cult classic. Can you tell us about working on that film?
BG: We shot the film in Florida in an area that was very much like Africa. We had a boat on the river and the film called for Joan Collins to fall into the water where there were real alligators. They were all around and we had to have the grips hold them back. I know Joan made a comment in one of her books that it was the roughest picture she had ever worked on. The ants I shot down in Panama. A lot of the so called critics complained that I used stock footage of the ants but I never used stock footage at all. I went into the jungle with an entomologist from UCLA and we filmed the preface for the film in the jungles of Panama. For the ants that were in the story I had the entomologist collect a lot of the them. The ones I wanted to use were poisonous but they had fuller bodies. He collected them and in my hotel room I had a blue backing and lights and we shot the miniature stuff with the ants. We shot all the ant stuff down there…didn’t want to bring them back! In “The Beginning of the End,” when we needed grasshoppers, I didn’t want to use the ones we had in California. At that time there had been almost a plague of locusts in Texas and I saw them in the paper. They were perfect….just the kind I wanted. I thought I would contact an entomologist there and have him ship me a bunch. But the state of California said no, you can’t bring them into the state. They were afraid they would mate and create another plague. So I asked if I could just bring in the male locusts, no females and they agreed to that. So I had an entomologist in Texas collect hundreds of them, put them in crates and ship them to me. When they arrived at the airport the state of California had their own entomologist examine each one to make sure it was a male. I forgot to ask them how they tell if it’s a male or a female.
MG: Can you tell us about how you seemed to always take the role of director, producer and writer on your films?
BG: And I also did my own visual effects! From the time I was a very young kid I didn’t want to do anything but make movies the rest of my life. My aunt gave me a movie camera when I was 9 and I started to make home movies…not family stuff but movies…I’d write the stories. My family and friends would act them out and I would film them. When I got to university I started a campus newsreel, shot on 35 mm and the theatres in the town would play them. After that I started making television commercials and industrial films. I thought I was happy because I was making movies. But one day while shaving I looked in the mirror and said to myself, “Hey…you’re not making movies…movies are made in Hollywood.” So after three months I closed my business and moved to Hollywood. It wasn’t easy, of course. But in all those years, while growing up, I learned all kinds of methods to do visual effects. To answer your question…why I did everything…I liked doing it all! (laughs) What can I say?
MG: What was your favorite film that you made? Least Favorite?
BG: I’ve been asked that before and I always say that my next film is my favorite. (laughs) But I’d have to say that “Food of the Gods” is my favorite. My least? I love them all. I love all my children.
MG: How do you feel about the horror films being made today?
BG: I’m currently working on a screenplay that takes a look at all of my films and the genre’. It will be like “Airplane.” I like some of the sci fi and horror films made today but too many of them rely on digital effects, even when they’re not really called for. One film I really liked was “Avatar.” That’s my favorite of the recent films.
Click here to visit Bert’s official website
Click here to purchase Bert’s autobiography and his films
DeVaughn Nixon has been acting since a very young age. He has appeared in film alongside Hollywood heavy weights Danny Glover, Kevin Costner and Arnold Schwarzenegger…to name just a few. DeVaughn is also starring in the upcoming Disney film “Prom”. Movie Mikes had a chance recently to speak with DeVaughn about “Prom” and his experiences in the film industry.
Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your upcoming film “Prom”?
DeVaughn Nixon: “Prom” is really going to exciting! The movie is a story about High School and kids finding their emotions. It’s a very organic film that I think will register with both parents and kids. I play the character of Tyler who is one of the most popular guys in school and has the answers to everything. On the outside Tyler looks as though he has everything together but as the story unfold you start to see Tyler has some insecurities. Tyler is the type of character that sometimes you will love him and sometimes you hate him.
AL: How did you become involved with the film?
DN: I had heard about the film through a friend of mine and he thought I should audition for it. I brought it to my managers at the time, who then got me an audition. I went in and auditioned and that same day I got a call back to meet with the director the following day. After that I did some screen tests with other prospective cast members and a short time later I got the call to be in the film.
AL: You have been acting since you were very young. Was acting something you had always wanted to do?
DN: My dad was a professional basketball player and I had kind of grown up wanting to follow in his footsteps. I was playing basketball all the time but I was also acting. Acting was something that was always on the back burner for me. It wasn’t until I got my first real job that I knew I wanted to act full time. I just couldn’t picture myself in a 9-5 job where I wasn’t being creative. By the time I was 23, I knew that I wanted to act full time.
AL: How was it working with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston on “The Bodyguard”?
DN: That was a dream come true! We filmed half of the film in Los Angeles and the other half in Lake Tahoe. That was the first time I had ever seen snow which was an experience in itself. Working with Whitney was really great and she became like a mother figure to me on set and still is to this day.
AL: Can you tell us about your experience working on “Terminator 2”?
DN: That was awesome! I had gotten that job after the producers saw my work in “The Bodyguard.” I had a little bit of buzz going for me and I went in and auditioned and got the part. It was really great getting to work with Arnold. The cast was all really great! I remember Arnold was always picking me up with one arm. That movie was great. James Cameron is a genius.
AL: Do you have a role that sticks out as a favorite?
DN: “The Bodyguard” is something that I will always remember as it really is a classic film. However from my adult career I would have to say “Prom”. There is just such much going on in that movie. The whole set was just full of excitement and that really added to the experience. We have formed somewhat of a “Prom” family and we all hang out with each other.
AL: Can you tell us about some of your other upcoming projects?
DN: I just finished work on season two of “The Hard Times of RJ Berger” which was really great to be a part of. I had a cameo in an episode from season one and they brought me back for season two and I shot seven episodes. I really enjoy that role as I get to play a character that is totally the opposite of me. I have a small part in an upcoming film with Justin Timberlake titled “Now”. The film is a sci-fi thriller based in the near future where time is money. I think this film will be coming out shortly after “Prom”.
Tommy Davidson is one of the funniest comedians in the business. He started his career with “In Living Color” and has since started in many films ranging from “Booty Call” to “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” to “Black Dynamite”. Tommy is currently touring the stand up circuit and took some time to chat with Movie Mikes about his roles and his tour.
Mike Gencarelli: Going back to the “In Living Color” days, how it was working on that show?
Tommy Davidson: It was the best! It is like being with the Pittsburgh Steelers and like every other team is like boring. I learned everything I know about TV from that show. To this day I can still say it is a staple in my career.
MG: Did you have a favorite character you played on the show?
TD: I did this karate teacher, Sweet Tooth Jones who was pretty funny. But I would have to say it would be my major impressions, like Michael Jackson and when I did Spike Lee. It is pulling those things off that were the best for me on the show.
MG: When did you realized that you were able to impersonate various celebs ranging from Michael Jackson to Sammy Davis, Jr.?
TD: I didn’t until I got out to California and started in the business. Someone told me that was I was doing was impressions. I said “That is what I have been doing all that time”? [laughs]
MG: “Black Dynamite” was such a fun movie, was it fun to play Cream Corn in the film?
TD: It was a piece of cake. I was running around being half pimp. I got to come up with all kind of different ideas. It was great because that was the kind of stuff I did on “In Living Color” and you can’t beat that.
MG: You worked with the late Bernie Mac on various projects, how was it working with him?
TD: Wow…it was great. Bernie would let me do what ever I wanted man. Bernie really loved me sincerely. All I had to do is show up to the set and he would say “Just do what you want”.
MG: How did you get involved with “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” as The Tiny Warrior?
TD: Oh yeah man! Jim called me to come on and do it and I felt very special.
MG: Tell us about working with first time director, Cedric the Entertainer on “Chicago Pulaski Jones”?
TD: He was very good. He really knew what the hell he was doing man and I wasn’t surprised. I started in the business before him but that is the way things turn out. He definitely has paid attention over the years.
MG: You are currently touring doing the stand-up circuit, how do you enjoy doing stand up?
TD: I love it man. I am out there all the time doing stand-up comedy. I am not rusty at all. In fact, I am at the best and even getting better. It’s like if you compare a professional martial artist to some people who get into a street fight once in a while [laughs]. On this tour, I am doing a lot of observation material. I will probably also do a couple of impressions maybe a few new ones. But for the most part, I will just stand there and just do what comes to me.
Click here to find out where Tommy’s is appearing next.
