Tag: 2012

In spite of a career that is approaching three decades Clancy Brown’s biggest fans may still be in elementary school. Known for his roles in such films as “The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the Eighth Dimension,” “Highlander” and the much loved “Shawshank Redemption,” Mr. Brown also appears in one of the most popular animated programs of all time. Or at least his voice does. Brown gives voice to Mr. Krabs on “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Other animated roles include Raiden in “Mortal Kombat” and Lex Luthor in no less than six different projects. But it’s not all Krabby Patties and the Man of Steel on the small screen. He’s also had roles in such films as “Dead Men Walking,” “Starship Troopers” and will soon be seen opposite Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig in “Cowboys vs Aliens.” In spite of his busy schedule Mr. Brown took the time to answer some questions for MovieMikes.

Mike Smith: Your given first name is Clarence. Where did Clancy come from?
Clancy Brown: My Dad, Clarence, Jr, picked it. “His name shall be Clarence, III and we shall call him “Clancy.” Something like that.

MS: Both your father and grandfather were successful politicians. Did you ever think of pursuing a career of public service?
CB: No.

MS: What made you decide to make acting a career?
CB: I enjoyed it from a very early age. When I had to make my own living after college, I decided to give doing what I enjoyed most a shot as a profession. It worked out and I’ve never had to “work” for a living since. If I hadn’t gotten so lucky, there were plenty of options open to me being, after all, a young educated white male in America.

MS: Your first big screen appearance was as Viking opposite Sean Penn in “Bad Boys.” How did that come about?
CB: Long story. The short version is that the show came through Chicago casting a couple supporting roles. Jane Alderman made sure they saw everyone remotely appropriate for the roles. A young man was cast (and he was the best choice) but ended up withdrawing when his family objected to the script on religious grounds. They came around again and settled for me.

MS: You appeared as Rawhide in “Buckaroo Banzai.” Are you amazed that, a quarter century later, the film is still considered a cult classic?
CB: Almost everything about that film is amazing, but not that it is a cult classic.

MS: Your first starring role was as Viktor in “The Bride.” How did you prepare for a role that was completely different than anything you had done before?
CB: Read and Read and Read about the Frankenstein mythos. Honored now to be a small part of it. Boris Karloff became one of my heroes.

MS: You’re often cast as the villain or the authority figure (and sometimes both). Do you consciously pursue those roles?
CB: No. I would cast myself much more creatively. I would be an awesome Blanche DuBois.

MS: You played Captain Hadley in “The Shawshank Redemption,” which, according to over a half million users of the Internet Movie Database, is the greatest film ever made. Did you realize when you were making it that it would be so well received?
CB: No. We all loved the script and thought it would be good if we just didn’t fuck up too much, but none of us expected the love the film has inspired over the years. It’s nice.

MS: You’ve provided character voices in over a dozen animated programs and features along with a similar number of video games. Any favorite character?
CB: Mr. Krabs, Dr. Neo Cortex, and, of course, Lex Luthor.

MS: How many times have you been asked to call someone’s child as Mr. Krabs?
CB: Many. Always pleased to oblige.

MS: Can you tell us about your role in “Cowboys and Aliens?”
CB: His name is Meachem. He’s big and fuzzy. Got a deep voice. Good guy. Does the right thing. Baffled by what happened to his town but sure about how to respond. Not looking for trouble but not afraid to step in and end it…peacefully. Folks should like him.

MS: Thank you again for your time.
CB: Thanks for asking

Angell Conwell is currently has a recurring role on “The Young and the Restless”, playing the character Leslie Michaelson.  She has also has co-star in the following movies “Baby Boy”, “Soul Plane” and “The Wash”.  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Angell to chat about how she enjoys playing a lawyer in the soap opera.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you prepared for your character Leslie Michaelson in “The Young and the Restless”?
Angell Conwell: I started out by searching the internet for characteristics of lawyers. I also watched a lot of movies where actors or actresses I admire played lawyers. I then added my own spin on it which I think is very important. I had been a fan of the show, so I had an idea of the role. But thank goodness for the internet (Laughs)!

MG: Can you tell us how your role came about and how you enjoy working on “The Young and the Restless”?
AC: I auditioned for the show because my entire family watches the show. Also the character was one that I really wanted to play. When I went to the audition, I just really felt it and I think it came off in the audition. I really enjoy working with the cast. They are such great actors which I don’t think a lot of people realize. The whole experience has been just great!

MG: Can you compare what working on TV and movies is like verses working on “The Young and the Restless”?
AC: From my experience so far working on soaps is much faster. I was used to coming from movies where you have lots of rehearsals and preparation. In soaps you don’t have nearly as much time. I have learned that you have to be prepared and ready to go at anytime.

MG: Can you tell us about any upcoming episodes or story lines for your character?
AC: With my character being a lawyer there always seems to be something going on in the city so Leslie is out there tending to her business. I really can’t say too much other than I want everyone to keep their eyes open!

MG: What has been your favorite role to work on so far?
AC: I really enjoy playing Leslie on “The Young and the Restless” this role is the first time I have played this type of character so it’s growth for me. I have done a bunch of comedies which were all really great. Working on “Baby Boy” with Jon Singleton was wonderful and I also really enjoyed “Soul Plane”. I think it’s a tossup between those three.

MG: Do you have any other upcoming projects?
AC: There always seems to be something in the works but, right now most of my time is taken up doing “The Young and the Restless” I also have my website www.allangel.com which will have all my up to date info.

Frances Fisher is known for her roles as Strawberry Alice, the madame prostitute in “Unforgiven” and Ruth DeWitt Bukater, the mother of Kate Winslet’s character in “Titanic”. This year Frances has been featured in “The Roommate” and upcoming “The Lincoln Lawyer”. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Frances about her roles and her love for what she does.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role in the recently released “The Roommate
Frances Fisher: I play Leighton Meester’s mother. It was a really fun film to work on but sadly they cut quite a few of the scenes i had done. My character is pretty much there to ask a question and to move the plot of the story along. The question that my character asks is an important plot point of the movie.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming role as Mary Windsor in “The Lincoln Lawyer”?
FF: Mary Windsor is the mother of Ryan Phillippe’s character and is a woman who has raised her son on her own since he was very young due to the passing of his father. Mary’s son is really the apple of her eye and would do anything for him.

MG: How was it working with such a great cast?
FF: It was terrific. Everyone on the cast was very professional and fun. I really enjoyed going to work each day. My first day of work was actually one of the bigger scenes in the film and each person had their part down and really nailed it. I really was just a great experience working with such high caliber actors and actresses.

MG: Tell us about your experience working on the film “Titanic”?
FF: I will never forget the view of the ship the first time I got to see it all lit up. It really looked like a ship had just docked. I was very spectacular. No one knew what that movie was going to do or how big of a success it was going to be when we were shooting it. I don’t think there will ever be another movie that will be number 1 for 14 weeks at the box office.

MG: What has been the most challenging project for you to work on?
FF: For me it seems to be whenever I have to play a cross examining lawyer role. I find it very challenging just because I have so much material. There is usually a lot of technical dialogue that can be tough. My role on “Eureka” is one that stands out to me. It probably didn’t seem very difficult but there were a bunch of technical terms that I had to remember.

MG: You have done quite a bit of stage work, what is your process one you get a role?
FF: I prepare the same whether I am doing stage, movies or television. I usually try to find out where the character is coming from. I try to create a back story for the character so I am not duplicating something I had previously done. I try to come up with everything from what the character is wearing to how they walk and talk.

MG: Any future plans to return to stage?
FF: I don’t have anything in the works right now but I am always looking! I am always open to anything good that comes my way.

Mindy Sterling is known best for her role of Frau Farbissina in “Austin Powers” series. Mindy is currently starring as The Supervisor, the villain, in Disney’s latest film “Mars Need Moms”. Movie Mikes had a chance a chat with Mindy about her new film as well as her other films.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your role as the Supervisor in “Mars Needs Moms”?
Mindy Sterling: Well she kind of looks like a take off on “E.T”, people have been saying. She is old. She is pruney and irritable. She also runs all the aliens lives. All of the hatchings, the babies that pop-up from the ground, are raised by robots who are really cold. Basically though, they are missing a lot of nurturing. She wants stronger tools to raise they little babies. All the alien men do is hug [laughs]. She goes on a search to find the perfect earthling mom to use as a tool in how to bring up these babies. She picks Milo’s mom, who is a great mom. She loves her son but at the same time she has structure and rules. My character sees that and grabs her for Mars. Milo doesn’t want mom to leave so he goes after her.

MG: How was it speaking in an alien language the whole movie?
MS: Oh my God! It was sooooo much fun for me. I didn’t have to memorize anything. In my mind, I would say certain things for particular scenes. So not intentionally but it would just come out in this martian gibberish. We actually had a recording session where we tried different things out, like sounds and tried to form some kind of martian dialogue. There were certain words that were chosen that meant these things throughout the course of the film and then we used them over and over.

MG: Your role was not just a voice role though, how was it shooting the film with performance capture?
MS: I gotta tell you and everyone that is a part of it will tell you the same, it is so freeing, liberating and magically. You do not have to worry about hair, makeup, props and sets. You wear this suit with all these reflecting balls that captures everything you do. You have these dots all over your face and your also wearing a helmet. They have like 200 camera that’s are surrounding you in a very open space, called The Volume. It was just great. All you thought about was the acting and what you needed to do. I think all the actors and myself thought that it was incredibly freeing. If you stay during the credits, it shows the behind the scenes and it is great to watch what we did and how it was transferred into this technologically amazingly well produced film.

MG: How was it working on the “Austin Powers” series as Frau Farbissina?  The role is so funny and so classic.
MS: Oh thanks Mike, I can’t say enough wonderful things about that experience, it was so great. I loved working with Mike (Myers), he was so generous. I loved coming back each time and working with the cast and working with Seth Green, he is an amazing actor and wonderful friend. It was just so much fun. We get to watch those films now over and over and laughs. They were so much fun to make and do, we constantly had to retrained from laughing during filming. It was like silly playtime.

MG: Tell us about working on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”? Was it difficult with the makeup?
MS: The makeup was difficult, but that was one of the good things about “Mars Needs Moms”…you didn’t have to sit in a chair for three hours. Absolutely magically and fun to see how everyone changes working on that film. When you put on that kind of facial prosthetics and the wigs. You really do become a Dr. Seuss character.  It is a lot of fun.

MG: Do you find that makeup retricted your performances at all?
MS: Your body is your body, but facial maybe. I think that is why they chose people that are more animated and flexible. It is not that I did anything different, I am just a very physical actress. It works for that style.

MG: Tell us about your roles Mitzi Kinsky in “Desperate Housewives”?
MS: Oh that is just so much fun. They throw me in and I am just one of the women on the block. She is abrasive, inappropriate and say what is on her mind. She is a like a little brat. What is so great is that they pop me into a scene and I get to do my little bit. You wonder why anyone have anything to do with her. I haven’t found one redeeming quality in her yet, but that is what makes it so fun for me [laughs].

MG: What else do you have planned upcoming?
MS: I have a new Disney show that is coming out called “Ant Farm”, which I have a recurring role in. I play the school principal. I love kids to death. I love work with kids. I love playing with kids. I love watching them create and find who they are. I really enjoy my job. Being a mom for me is number one, I have a 16 year old and acting for me is number two.

Leslie Easterbrook got her first big screen break playing the character of Rhonda in the hit television series “Laverne and Shirley.” Leslie is probably best known for her role as the buxom blond Sgt. Callahan in the ever popular “Police Academy” franchise. More recently Leslie has appeared in Rob Zombies “Devils Rejects” and ‘Halloween.” Movie Mikes had a chance to speak with Leslie about her career along with some of her upcoming projects.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell me about your experience on “Laverne and Shirley”?
Leslie Easterbrook: It was really an amazing experience that I finally got to be a part of the show, playing the Rhonda character. Just as I got the part, there was a SAG strike. Then when the strike was over, I got a call telling me I needed to audition again for the part I thought I had already gotten. It wasn’t until six auditions later that I finally got the part and was able to start working. I felt like I had won the lottery! “Laverne and Shirley” was actually my first real on screen role as I had mostly done theater work up until that point. For three seasons, I just absorbed everything and kept on learning the whole time while I was working on that show. That cast was amazing to work with and I was able to learn so much from all of them. I really loved being on a national stage and people kind of knowing who I was. I remember my family braving the Nebraskan winter to come watch me. I just have so many wonderful memories from that time.

AL: How did you become involved with the “Police Academy” franchise?
LE: Just after I finished my role on “Laverne and Shirley” I received an amazing opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XVII. After that I had wondered to myself if a job would come out of someone seeing me perform. It just so happened that one of the “Police Academy” producers saw the performance and became interested in me. I had to learn some really tough material for that audition. I prepared for about two days straight on one scene, where I was just screaming the entire time. It was very exhausting. I went in and auditioned with the director and writer of the film and did this very intense scene that I had been working so hard on. As I was going through the scene, I could see both of the guys slowly moving away from me towards the back wall (Laughs).  I knew I couldn’t stop mid-scene so I just kept going and by the time I was done both guys were hugging the wall. I thought I had blown it because I was too strong. Six weeks later I received the call saying I got the role of Callahan.

AL: What were your thoughts when you first read the Pool Scene?
LE: I was a little horrified! However I knew that I would have to risk a little more with the Callahan character. After I justified it to myself it wasn’t a big deal. I thought the scene was actually really funny I looked forward to it. The thing I remember most was there was just the oddest assortment of extras there that day for that scene. In some of the copies of the film you can actually hear me say “Shit” which was my actual response once I saw all the guys diving in. I really didn’t want them to get me! (Laughs) Some of the regular cast members came out and watched that scene just to see if I was real!  I thought that was the biggest insult but at the same time really funny. I still am close with everyone from that film.

AL: Can you tell us how you ended up working with Rob Zombie in “Devils Rejects” and “Halloween”?
LE: That is a huge mystery to me, however I am very grateful to Rob. I would love to work with him more! Rob really has an eye and knows what he wants when he is directing which makes working for him very easy. I had originally auditioned for the role of Gloria Sullivan in “Devils Rejects” even before I knew Rob was attached. The only thing I knew was the title of the film. I read two scenes and loved the way they were written. I felt that everything really made sense. I left the audition feeling really happy and full of myself. A short time later, I started really thinking about the audition. I figured there was no way I was going to get the role as I thought it was really hard to picture me playing the part of a victim mainly because of my size. I ended up getting really depressed on the ride home. I was in New York working on another project when I got a call from my manager telling me to get to a fax machine. What ended up coming through was a fax from Rob Zombie. I still had no idea he was involved in the project up to that point. What he had sent me was the script for the jail scene featuring the character of Mother Firefly. I read it and thought it was brilliant! Mother Firefly definitely wasn’t the victim! (Laughs) I had to take a subway to a different section of the city and as I was riding the train I just kept reading and yelling those lines (Laughs).  I flew back to Los Angeles and auditioned for the role and got the part. Being a part of “Devils Rejects” and then being asked back by Rob for “Halloween” really changed my life. Both experiences were just wonderful.

AL: You mentioned singing at Super Bowl XVII can you tell us more about that?
LE: That was quite an adventure in many ways (Laughs).  Pete Rozell, the commissioner of the NFL at that time, had no idea who I was nor did he know if I could actually sing. I had been singing the anthem at Angel’s games due to my 1^st husbands need for free baseball tickets, especially when the Yankees were in town. At one of these games unbeknown to me was the Head of Entertainment for the Los Angeles Rams. This woman had also been picked to choose the entertainment for that year’s Super Bowl. I guess she really enjoyed my performance. At the same time word got around that the Yankees were asking for me to sing at their next away game in Los Angeles as they really liked my singing at previous games. Finally all this stuff gets brought to my attention and my name gets entered in as a candidate for the Super Bowl. I guess Pete Rozell wanted to hear me sing in person before making a decision, so it was set up for him to hear me sing at the next Angeles game. On the way to the game my husband and I get into a fender bender and I miss the game. Pete then asked me for a tape of me singing which he liked and I finally got the gig. They gave me a nice hotel room and I brought in my own hair and makeup people. I even bought a really nice pink dress to match that year’s theme. The limo comes to pick me up and on the way there the driver gets lost! We finally get to the Rose Bowl and they won’t let us in because my manager had gone in ahead of me and said I was with them. I had to run in high heeled boots all the way to another gate carrying my dress. After they let me in I found a tiny trailer to change in. As soon as I was done I took off running down the tunnel which led to the field.  I saw my microphone and actually slid to a stop right on the field. I couldn’t even catch my breath at the time. Just before I began to sing I turned to the honor guard behind me and said “If I mess up shoot me”.  They laughed a little and after that everything went fine. Some of the players actually patted my back side as if I was one of them! (Laughs)

AL: At one time you made a comment about a movie you weren’t proud of and that you hope it never see’s day light. Can you tell us anything about that?
LE: (Laughs) I think I made that comment a while ago because I can think of several now that I am not particularly proud of. (Laughs) The film in questions had to be “Private Resort” with Johnny Depp. Working with Johnny was great however in one of the scenes I was asked to wear a slightly see thru negligee. I had no problem with this when I was first asked. It wasn’t until I went to a screening of the film with a guy friend and my minister and his wife, did I find out that the room was extremely over lit and you could see everything! I think I dug a hole in my hand with my finger nail while trying to hide in my seat!

AL: Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?
LE: I have quite a few projects that are in post production right now such as “Black Water Transit” which is directed by Tony Kaye. Another film that we have been doing a lot of post production on has been “The Afflicted” which was directed by Jason Stoddard. I have a roll in that film as well as being one of the film’s producers. There is a script that I am going to be doing in a few months called”Find Me” that I am really excited for. I also have a film I am doing in July called “Night Lights.”

Sam Huntington is the star of Syfy’s new hit show “Being Human”.  Based on the British series of the same title, Sam stars as Josh who happens to be a werewolf living with a vampire (Sam Witwer) and a ghost (Meaghan Rath).  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Sam about working on the show and playing a werewolf.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you got involved with playing Josh in “Being Human”?
Sam Huntington: It was a really traditional audition process. I got to read the first two scripts and I fell in love with the character and the project from there.  I went in almost a dozen times for this show.  It was an extensive audition process.  After that, I was mixed and matched with Sam (Witwer) and Meaghan (Rath) and we all fell instantly in love.

MG: Since the BBC series already had a built in audience, did you feel nervous to live up to the original?
SH: No [laughs]. Not at all actually. I was unaware of the original show when I first auditioned. So going into it I had zero pressure. Beyond that, people have asked this to me a bunch and my answer is I think if I worry about that then I am worrying about the wrong thing. I think I am always worried I am not going to live up to my own expectations. I am honestly trying to make the show the best possible. I can’t worry about that kind of stuff.

MG:Tell us about the process that you go through for the werewolf transformation?
SH: It is pretty crazy. The makeup process is all in about eight hours depending on what we are putting on, on any given day. It is badass and looks really cool, even though it is long hours in the chair often times really early mornings or really late at night. It is definitely hardcore. We have really amazing designers and artists workingon it. Basically, we have three or four different stages of the makeup, in varying degrees of severity. CG takes you through the in between stages and subsequently from the most hardcore stage we get in makeup to the full wolf. The final wolf will be CG and I am still waiting to see that myself. It will be in the episode airing on March 7th. I am really pupped up to see it.

MG:How do you feel that you have the most physical role of any the main cast?
SH: It is fun but also extraordinarily hard. I worked my ass off this year on this show but at the end of the day it is worth it. I love the show and I love the end product. I really do believe in the show. It is one thing if you are working you ass off and are kind of miserable with the product [laughs]. It makes it a lot easier when you know what you are doing is great.

MG:How has it been to work with Sam Witwer and Meaghan Rath?
SH: Amazing. We are literally so close…like siblings now. It is truly bizarre how fast we got as tight as we are. We just got back from a week long vacation in Hawaii together, because we love each other so much [laughs]. So it is a big love fest [laughs] and it kind made it even more so because we have such tremendous mutual respect for each other. We really trust each other as performers and almost know what to expect from each other. For me, looking at them, I know they are going to make great choices and do great work.

MG:What has been your favorite episode to work on this season?
SH: Episode seven for me so far, I haven’t seen eleven through thirteen in finished state yet. Actually though I also haven’t seen eight through ten even close to finished either, so it would be a really hard choice. I do believe though that they are getting better and better each episode.

MG:Can you give us a sneak of what is the come in the rest of season one?
SH: I will say, if you are a fan of the original show…don’t think that we are going to follow their exact plot line. We are going in different directions and will keep doing so. It becomes it own beast. That is why I like episode seven so much because that is where it goes on it own and comes alive and continues that trend.

MG:Do you have anything else planned after shooting season one?
SH: Well I have been finishing up a writing project that I have been working on for a long time. I will probably write another script hopefully before we go off to shoot season two. Which I am hoping we will find out about pretty soon as well. I have been looking for the right thing to fill this little void as far as acting in between the show. There is not much because anything that is casting now will probably conflict with “Being Human” if it gets picked up for a second season. Right now though, I am just enjoying my family, I have a year and a half old son. I just spending as much time as I can with them, since I may not see them as much as I like if/when the show gets picked up again.