Tag: disney

Tom Holland is well known in the horror industry for his work throughout this fantastic career. He wrote the script to for “Psycho II”, the sequel to one of horror’s beloved films. Tom has also written and directed such great films such as “Child’s Play” and “Fright Night”. Tom was recently featured in Robert Galluzzo’s must see documentary “The Psycho Legacy” which chronicles his work on “Psycho II” and celebrates one of horror’s greatest series. Movie Mikes was able to chat with Tom about his fantastic career and his return to acting in the recently released “Hatchet II”.

Click here to purchase “Hatchet”  merchandise”

Mike Gencarelli: You wrote the script for “Psycho II”, you must have been nervous creating a sequel to one of the most beloved horror films?
Tom Holland: I was a nervous wreak. I may have never been scared in all my life. I have also never worked so hard in all my life on a script. You knew walking in the reviewers were going to kill you no matter what. Everyone was saying at the time “How can you make a sequel to the greatest horror film ever made?”. I did everything I could to remain faithful to the original. I think that there is nothing in the sequel that doesn’t logical fit in with the original. We wanted to do something intelligent. It was based on creating a part for Tony Perkins that allowed Norman Bates to be sympathetic at the same time he was a serial murderer. We couldn’t have gotten it made without Tony. It started out as a cable movie for Oak Communication in San Diego.  Since we got Tony Perkins to say “Yes”, the worldwide publicity was so high it convinced Universal to make it into a feature film. This was done before they had all these sequels or remakes or anything like that. We were doing an original movie standing on the shoulders of the greatest film in the horror genre. It was an enormous success and spawned two sequels. It has grown and grown over the years on cable and DVD. It has really been an amazing experience.

MG: Tell us about revisiting “Psycho” in Robert Galluzzo’s “The Psycho Legacy” documentary?
TH: You have someone like Rob Galluzzo who comes along and has this amazing love for the “Psycho” series.  This is really a brilliant documentary. It is also an act of love on Rob’s part. I think he spent four or five years working on this film.  He really did such a beautiful job. The editing on the project is amazing, it was done by a guy named Jon Maus. It is a real labor of love.

MG: Most of the films you directed also came from your own scripts i.e. “Fright Night” and “Child’s Play”, did you find it easier to direct from your own scripts?
TH: Yes, if you write a strong script you have already taught yourself so much about what you will have to know to direct it.  You have already fought half the battle but it all depends on if the script is strong.  That is a key factor.

MG: How do you feel that “Fright Night” appeals to even non-horror fans?
TH: Fright Night is really an homage. It is a love letter to horror films. I think that people pick up the warmth, the good feeling and the humor from the film. I think it is a horror film about horror films.  I am glad that it is able to appeals to people outside the genre.

MG: How do you feel that your films “Fright Night” and “Child’s Play” are now being remade?
TH: OH, God bless them. What do I say at this point. I think it is terrific and I will take it as an homage. If not to be personally then to at least to my commercial instincts. On the other hand, I think it is bankrupt creatively. I would rather them do originals. This is where we are right now and this is how they lessen the risk. I feel that if you keep on doing these reboots or sequels, it doesn’t offer as much room for new guys coming up.

MG: You recently are in front of the camera in “Hatchet II”, how was it working on that film?
TH: Adam Green met and I became friends at the Mick Garris’ “Masters of Horror” dinners. Since the show went off the air, a bunch of us get together for an occasional dinner at Mick’s behalf. Adam asked me if I would want to act in “Hatchet II”. I was a fan of his work.  You could have knock me over with a feather. I started out as an actor, but I haven’t had a paying acting job since “The Winds of War” in 1982. I’ve done some cameos but this is the first time in 28 years that I had a real part. I had a ball doing it. I was terrified during the big dialogue scene but I had Danielle Harris to get me through it. I felt much more confident acting in the action scenes because as a director, I know what Adam needs to cut it together.

MG: Tell us about being honored at the 2010 Reaper Awards?
TH: I won a Grimmy for Lifetime Achievement. I want to thank Steve Barton, Dread Central and Home Media Magazine. They did a beautiful job at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. You go to a horror function and everyone is very supportive and wonderful, it is so different from normal Hollywood events. It was a really pleasant experience for me.

MG: Are you currently working on any projects now?
TH: Yes, I am currently working on “Tom Holland’s Twisted Tales”. I am actually working on it with Rob Galluzzo. In one story, we got William Forsythe and Danielle Harris. In another I have A.J Bowen, who is becoming a big genre star. I like casting within the genre. We are in production now and hope to have them distributed some time next year.
Click here to purchase “Hatchet”  merchandise”

Alan Ritchson is the star of Spike TV’s hit show “Blue Mountain State”, which is returning for season two this month. Alan also has a recurring role on The CW’s “Smallville” playing the character of Aquaman. Also little known fact, but he provided the facial image and movement for the title character in Robert Zemeckis’ “Beowulf”. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Alan about his roles and his love for what he does.

Click here to purchase “Blue Mountain State” DVD or Blu-Ray

Mike Gencarelli: Tell me about your role in Spike TV’s “Blue Mountain State”, you play Thad Castle?
Alan Ritchson: Thad Castle is the overzealous captain of the team. People think he is crazy when they watch the show. I find the character as somebody that has a different set of logic. He cares about the football team and leading them, just in a different way. That is where a lot of the hilarity ensues. It is funniest character I have ever had a chance to play. Before we even shot the pilot, I am reading the script and I thought this is the funniest thing I have ever read. I thought there was no chance they would be able to keep some of the stuff in the show that made it so funny. There is no way you are going to be able to have a cookie race with oreos in your butt-cheeks and running down field. But there we were shooting the episode and I asked “How are we going to do the cookie race?”. They told me “You are going to wear a jock strap and run down the field”, [laughs] I was shocked. We are waiting to get to the point where the writers come up with an idea that basically is a challenge for Spike’s standards department. We haven’t been able to get to that point yet.

MG: With the show entering its second season, what is in store for this season?

AR: Oh man, there is some good stuff. It is a more explosive season. Some episodes we did were just so epic. I do not want to give away what happens but some of the situations we get into are just so crazy. All I can say is it is a hard hitting season.

MG: What has been the hardest part of working on the show?

AR: That is a great question. I do not think anyone has ever asked me that. It is such a fun show. It has such a great cast and crew, it is such a collaborative effort. We have so much input in the show. If I were to complain about something on the show, I have to be the worst person alive because there is really nothing to complain about. As far as difficulty, there was a scene we did where we were tunneling out of a facility in the ground. We are shooting this scene where we are coming out of the mud. They built this giant mud stage. It was physically insane. I was wondering if I was going to die in this mud. I had no idea how I was even going to get out. The rain was like two degrees, it was freezing. It had to be the most physically demanding thing I have had to do on the show. It was still fun though. I slept like a baby that night.

MG: Tell about about working on the show “Smallville” as Arthur Curry/Aquaman?
AR: It has been a really cool run for me. I started out as a little guest star. It has been really well received. I mean a show that has been on for ten years, are you kidding me? It is so rare.  As far as coming back for this last season. I think this is where is it going to get really exciting. They are finally starting to take some of those layers off and you are really getting to the gritty stuff. That is exciting for me as an actor. It is going to be really cool.

MG: Tell us about your involved with the film “Beowulf”, your were the character model?
AR: What you were looking at on the screen that was me. I didn’t get to do the voice though.  I was fresh into LA and would have loved to have been a part of that though. You have someone like Ray Winston to come in and voice it, which is great. The main difficulty for them is that he was the only actor voicing the part who didn’t look anything like their character. They brought me in to be Beowulf. It was great for me since it was one of my first projects. Getting to work on a Zemeckis film and getting to be around all the great talent. It was a really cool start. The process is so insane. They are photographing you moving, not moving, with clothes and without clothes. It was unbelievable.

MG: What else are you currently working on?
AR: I have worked on a couple of projects that have yet to hit. There is a comedy called “Spring Break ’83”. I do not know exactly when it will be done. That was a fun project to work on. It was sort of a Thad-esque character but in the 80’s. It is like a throwback to “Animal House” and “Revenge of the Nerds”.

Click here to purchase “Blue Mountain State” DVD or Blu-Ray

Erin Gray is well known for her role in the short lived but cult classic sci-fi series “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”.  Erin also starred in the TV series “Silver Spoons”.  Movie Mikes had a chance to talk with Erin about her feelings on the shows popularity still after decades and what she is currently working on.

Click here to purchase “Buck Rogers” merchandise

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the show “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”?
Erin Gray: Where do I begin?  I have just made the transition from being a model in New York and moved to Los Angeles.  Within a couple of months, I started working with Universal Studios.  Shortly after, I was starring in mini-series called “Evening in Byzantium” with Glenn Ford.   Once I finished production on that I was asked to come in and do a screen test for a project called “Buck Rogers”.

MG: Although any lasting two seasons are you supposed that the show was such a cult classic, how do you feel about that?
EG: It absolutely amazes that it has become such a cult classic.  We certainly did not know at the time that it would resonate for so many more decades.  Obviously “Buck Rogers” had a great history to begin with.  A lot of fans were familiar with the comic books and the previous TV series.  We brought a new look, feel and humor to “Buck Rogers”.  It still blows my mind that after 30 years it is still in the hearts of minds of so many fans.

MG: How was it switching gears from sci-fi “Buck Rogers” to “Silver Spoons”?
EG: It was a major shift.  As a matter, I didn’t realize what a shift it was until I meet fans and they don’t put the two shows together.  It is the same girl.  I guess it is a bit different.  For me I guess the idea of learning comedy was different.  I am more of a method actor and more comfortable in the world of drama. Comedy has its own beat, rules and process.  I really loved it.  I loved the live performances.  I loved my cast and crew I worked with.  It was a really enjoyable 5 years of my life, a really enjoyable mix of work and family.

MG: Tell us what it was like working on the film “Jason Goes to Hell”?
EG: It was fun.  “Friday the 13th” was a fun to work on due to the exuberant feelings of the cast and the crew. Working with Sean Cunningham was great.  He brings a certain sense of humor and a ‘don’t take life too seriously’ attitude to the set as well.  He talked me into doing “Friday the 13th” by telling me it was a dark comedy [laughs].  I usually don’t go to horror film or act in them for the reason that I am so easy to scare.

MG: What can you tell us about “Buck Rogers Begins” and your involvement?
EG: Yeah, that project was put together by James Cawley.  He put together the “Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II” webisode series that has had a certain amount of success.  He got the rights to “Buck Rogers.  He raised enough money.  The wrote a  beautiful script but we were able to complete half of it.  They are trying to raise more money to finish it.  It was a wonderful opportunity.  It was fun for Gil and I to play Buck Rogers parents.  I also got to work with my daughter, who played Buck Rogers girlfriend.  This was a prequel to the TV series.  It leads up to the start of the comic book.  This is who Buck was in the late 1900’s before he went into the cave.  It is a period piece and it was great.

MG: What else do you have currently in the works?
EG: I just finished an independent movie called “Nesting”.  I play a business woman who owns real estate.  She gets annoyed by a couple that nests on her property, let’s put it that way.  That will be coming out shortly.  I also have a couple of television commercials floating around.  My primary focus is my talent agent company “Heroes for Hire”.  I also teach Tai Chi 5 days a week.

Click here to purchase “Buck Rogers” merchandise