Dani de Waal talks about touring with Broadway hit play “Once”

Dani de Waal is an English actress, who recently joined the touring cast of the Broadway hit “Once”, playing the role of ‘Girl’. Her previous achievements on stage include “Picnic” on Broadway and “Mamma Mia!” for the role of Sophie Sheridan on West End. Media Mikes got a chance to chat with Dani about “Once” and her role as she was kicking off the 29 city tour which runs until October 2014.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us what made you want to be a part of “Once: A New Musical” for its North American tour?
Dani de Waal: I saw the movie years ago when it came out, I was England at the time then. I loved it and the music and thought it was a beautiful story. I ended up seeing the show on Broadway also when I came to New York on a holiday. I remember saying to myself and secreting it to the universe that I would love to be in this show [laughs]. As it turns out, I ended up moving to New York the following year. I got an audition and it sort of happened from there. It really has been a dream come true. It is one of those shows that I wouldn’t [laughing] mind being in it for free every night. It is so incredible and doesn’t feel like a job at all.

MG: What made you connect with the character, ‘Girl’?
DDW: She is very interesting. She has this sort of cold exterior, I guess you can say. She’s hard to read. She has these walls up to protect herself. She also has a very warm and inquisitive side about the world and about people. She really believes that music can save us and change us. I share that as well in fact. Music is a universal language that can touch anyone no matter what we speak. I love how she expresses herself through the music and playing the piano. I have played piano most of my life but never have done it in a job. So that was an amazing thing for me to explore. Also singing with everyone on the stage as a band, I have never done that before either. It all has this kind of magical quality to it in playing her for this show.

MG: What is your most challenging aspect of the role?
DDW: When I first came to the part it was the piano. It was getting over the nerves of playing in front of people. So that was it initially, but now being that we are on stage pretty much the whole show once you are in it you are in it. I quite enjoy that. Stamina wise that was quite a challenge to get going but now it is something that I really love about it. You step up on stage in the beginning and sort of don’t breathe until curtain call. In a way it is a challenge but it is a great thing as well.

MG: The music is so amazing, which song is your favorite to hear and/or sing?
DDW: I have to say my favorite is “Falling Slowly” but the reprise version, which is at the very end. The song is beautiful anyway but the reprise in particular has everyone joining in and singing. It has that swell moment that is just incredible. So that one to listen to and also play, it is just such a highlight for me. Also since it comes at the end of the show, there is this great build up and then you have that moment.

MG: How you had a chance to meet Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová?
DDW: No, we haven’t met that yet. I know they were very involved with the show’s process when it first started. I am pretty sure at some point within the show’s run we are going to get to meet them. But we only recently just started touring, so hopefully soon.

MG: Is there a city that you are looking forward to visit most on the tour?
DDW: I haven’t been around America at all, so I just very excited to see all of it really. I have never been to the West Coast and we hit there next summer, so I am really looking forward that. We are currently in Chicago and it has been amazing so far, so I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Here is the rest of the tour schedule! Check it out when it comes to a city near you!

Chicago, IL (Oriental Theatre)
Oct. 9 – 27, 2013

Philadelphia, PA (Academy of Music)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 10, 2013

Cleveland, OH (Playhouse Square)
Nov. 12 – 24, 2013

Toronto, ON (Royal Alexandra Theatre)
Nov. 26, 2013 – Jan. 5, 2014

Boston, MA (Boston Opera House)
Jan. 7 – 19, 2014

Durham, NC (Durham Performing Arts Center)
Jan. 21 – 26, 2014

Orlando, FL (Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre)
Jan. 28 – Feb. 2, 2014

Miami, FL (The Adrienne Arsht Center)
Feb. 4 – 9, 2014

Tampa, FL (Straz Center)
Feb. 11 – 16, 201

Fort Myers, FL (Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall)
Feb. 18 – 23, 2014

New Haven, CT (Shubert Theater)
Feb. 26 – March 2, 2014

Atlanta, GA (Fox Theatre)
March 4 – 9, 2014

Pittsburgh, PA (Benedum Center)
March 11 – 16, 2014

Rochester, NY (Auditorium Theatre)
March 18 – 23, 2014

Buffalo, NY (Shea’s Performing Arts Center)
March 25 – 30, 2014

Minneapolis, MN (Orpheum Theatre)
April 1 – 6, 2014

St. Louis, MO (The Fox Theatre)
April 8 – 20, 2014

Des Moines, IA (Civic Center of Greater Des Moines)
April 22 – 27, 2014

Tempe, AZ (ASU Gammage)
April 29 – May 4, 2014

Denver, CO (Buell Theatre)
May 6 – 18, 2014

Las Vegas, NV (Smith Center for the Performing Arts)
May 20 – 25, 2014

Seattle, WA (The Paramount Theatre)
May 27 – June 8, 2014

Portland, OR (Keller Auditorium)
June 10 – 15, 2014

San Francisco, CA (Curran Theatre)
June 17 – July 13, 2014

Los Angeles, CA (Pantages Theatre)
July 15 – Aug. 10, 2014

San Diego, CA (Civic Center)
Aug. 12 – 17, 2014

Costa Mesa, CA (Segerstrom Hall)
Aug. 19 – 31, 2014

Charlotte, NC (Blumenthal Performing Arts Center)
Sept. 30 – Oct. 5, 2014

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Filed Under: Art/Theatre, Interviews Tagged With: broadway, dani, de, hit, play, talks, ...

Inga Cadranel talk about her role in BBC America’s hit show “Orphan Black”

Inga Cadranel is currently playing the role of Detective Angela Deangelis on BBC America’s “Orphan Black”. She is also know for her roles of Aoife in “Lost Girl”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Inga about her TV roles, her love of sci-fi and her turn to start producing movies.

Mike Gencarelli: What drew you to the role of Detective Angela Deangelis on BBC America’s “Orphan Black”?
Inga Cadranel: The thing that drew me to the project was the creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson. I happened to work with both of them before on different series here in Canada. John Fawcett was the producer/director for another cop show I did called “The Bridge”. That was were I got my chops as the detective type actor and we did a lot of cool research for that show. So when this part of Angela Deangelis came up for this show, it seemed for me to be a perfect fit for me to work again with John. He was really stoked to have me reprise another hard-ass female detective, which is a role I love.

MG: Tell us about the character and what you like most about her?
IC: Well, I can say that she is not the most likable character. She is the one that never seems to get what she wants, which is Beth’s partner Art (played by Kevin Hanchard).  She is gunning for her partner because he is really high up in the precinct. She is a pit of a keener and very by the textbook. But soon enough this will change and she will get more out of it then she wants. I think she is a tight ass. She doesn’t have as many redeeming qualities than other characters I have played. She is good at what she does and is very tough. She is layered, which I was told they are going to explore more of those in the second season and that makes it more fun for me. At this point it is just about her drive to chase after the Beth/Sarah character. So I look forward to getting more into the nitty-gritty of her character.

MG: Compared to your other roles; what was your biggest challenge?
IC: It is really fun and it is hard to think of a challenge. It is a great set and awesome actors to work with. Maybe the challenge is that I have to play against myself in being a bit more of a kiss ass. Her choices wouldn’t necessarily be the ones that I would make. She is not as cool [laughs]. But otherwise, I wouldn’t say any major challenges. I had a great time on the set from every department. It was like a big family.

MG: How was it acting along side Tatiana Maslany?
IC: She is really great. She had such a wild challenge of doing different accents and voices. It was very impressive. The whole show is that actress, so thank God that they picked Tat because she is amazing and I have nothing but good things to say about her.

MG: Tell us about what you like most about playing Bo’s succubus mother, Aoife in “Lost Girl”?
IC: That is a whole other thing. That role is super fun for me. To play a bad guy that everyone hates. You don’t know what her motives are and she is just creepy. I have never played a part like that before. I can play her with more of a character aspect than in “Orphan Black”. It is a really fun part and great show.

MG: What do you like most about working in the sci-fi genre?
IC: I love sci-fi. I am a huge fan. It just gives you such freedom. I have always been fan of thrillers and mysteries as well and that really plays into the sci-fi aspect. The possibilities are endless since it is so broad and out of the realm. You can play out these great stories. Like the cloning in “Orphan Black”, it is not that far from what is happening right now. We are able to clone sheep. It is here. It is exciting, scary and to make to show that it can actually happen in real world is what makes sci-fi cool. My father-in-law, Michael Hogan, also worked in the sci-fi genre with “Battlestar Galactica”. It is funny we keep saying that we are going to run into each other at conventions.

MG: Besides acting you are also an accomplished musician ranging from Opera to touring with punk rock band, Battlestar; tell us about that side of Inga?
IC: It is really different but it was also more of mine passion before I became a mother. I have two kids now. I played in a punk band for many years and then I had my son, so it is just such a different lifestyle. I couldn’t do it anymore. But music is still a real passion of mine. I have been writing some stuff at home with my guitar still but I haven’t tried to do anything with it just yet. But I always see myself getting back to music.

MG: You are also currently producing two feature films and developing a 30-minute comedy series; tell us about those?
IC: My brother, my partner and myself wrote and are developing a 30-minute comedy series about a neighborhood here in Toronto called Kensington Market, the show is called “The Market”. I lived there for 10 years and wanted to do a series about it. Every city has a neighborhood like this. We are in the stage of trying to get our pitch package developed and start shopping it around to networks. The other two features are being optioned and we are in the process of attaching names to them right now and gathering funding. This is a whole new side of the business for me with producing. I see this as a great way to get behind the other side of the camera. I am going to start doing both and I see myself in 10 years focusing solely on producing and possibly directing.

 

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: americas, bbc, black, cadranel, hit, inga, ...

James Murray talks his role on truTV's "Impractical Jokers"

James Murray is star of truTV’s hit practical joke reality series “Impractical Jokers”. Better known as Murr, on the show he is with his best friends Joe Gatto, Sal Vulcano and
Brian “Q” Quinn. The show is just finishing its second successful season and building up a lot of steam behind the show. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Murr about being a joker and his favorite moments on the show.

Mike Gencarelli: Let’s start with the origin of “Impractical Jokers”?
James Murray: The four of us all went to high school together, so we’ve been friends for over 20 years. We went to an all boys Catholic high school. So there wasn’t a way to be distracted besides playing pranks on each other. For as long as I can remember we have been doing that. I met Joe freshman year in religion class. Every time the teacher would walk down the aisle he would drop his nose on her without her realizing. We ended up doing that in the first season of the show also. A few years ago, we came together and decided to come up with an idea for a TV show. We have been performing together for years doing sketch comedy as The Tenderloins. We came up with the idea for an upside down prank show, where the jokes on us basically.

MG: Does it ever get too embarrassing for you to do what the guys tell you?
JM: I am sure. In the show we reject things all the time because it is too embarrassing. I think the fun of the show is seeing what our breaking points are and what we simply won’t do. My mother raised me to be a gentleman, there is just somethings I will not do or say [laughs]. And of course my best friends know every single one of the things that I won’t do or say.

MG: The show must be filled with outtakes, any cool off-camera moments?
JM: I will tell you, there are some challenges we film that never see the light of day, for reasons we cannot anticipate in advance. Sometimes things seem funnier on paper then reality. Perfect example, last year we were filming this challenge and the idea was funny. We had to go to a children’s park where kids are playing and parents are pushing kids around in stroller. You know how parents baby talk to their kids? The challenge is you have to go to a parent pushing a kid in a stroller and baby talk to the kid and then baby talk to the parent and get them to do the same back to you. Seems funny on paper…but guess what happens when four middle age men with no children on their own attempt this. It was funny, a S.W.A.T team descended on the park in minutes and told us to get out [laughs].

MG: What has been the highlight joke for you this season?
JM: I think my favorite/most embarrassing moment was when I was getting punished and they secretly took me back to our old high school. They called a general school assembly, which is like 600 students called into the auditorium. They then strapped me to a lie detector test and asked me questions you can only imagine. The first was “Is your name James Murra?y”. The second was “Do you get your back waxed?” Which I do since I am hairy Italian but I just don’t want America to know that I do [laughs]. But now they do.

MG: When you started with this did you ever see it being as popular as it is, especially with the truTV Impractical Jokers app?
JM: The app is pretty sweet. You can actually call us up directly. We were each given a phone and if we are available we will pick up and chat with a random fan. I think we always hoped it would be popular and do well. It is good to see that people like it and the word is spreading.

MG: How do you feel about all the International spin-offs of this show?
JM: We love that. I get to travel around and consult on the different versions. It is pretty sweet. It is amazing to think that the guys and myself have created something that is spreading around the world. So original productions of the show are on the air in the UK, Quebec, Brazil, Belgium, Holland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Lebanon and a few more. It is just pretty damn cool.

MG: With season two ending this month, any world about a third season?
JM: We will see. I will leave that up to the networks to decide. The show is doing well and I feel that there is an appetite for more. So hopefully we will have the privilege and honor to give it to them.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: hit, impractical, james, jokers, murr, murray, ...

Eric Kripke talks about creating new hit series NBC’s “Revolution”

Eric Kripke talks about creating new hit series NBC’s “Revolution”, which airs Mondays 10pm EST. Kripke also created and executive produced “Supernatural,” now in its eighth season. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Eric about the show and what we can expect from the first season.

Mike Smith: Can you talk just a bit about how you came up with the whole concept for the show?
Eric Kripke: Yeah, sure. Really for me it was about, I’m a huge fan of Star Wars, I’m a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, I’m a huge fan of really that kind of Joseph Campbell classic, mythic, heroes journey storytelling, you know those big grand adventures. And those are the kind of stories that are more often serviced in movies than they are on television. But, I think TV is actually a perfect format for that kind of storytelling because if so many – you know those are such big sprawling stories and you have so many more hours in TV to really explore all the different facets of a world and the characters that live in that world. And that you could give it, you know really epic scope, but very intimate character focus. So for me, it was always – I was always really interested in kind of taking that sort of big sprawling adventure format, that big quest format and putting it in television when you can really explore it episodically, and so that’s really kind of where the idea started. And, you know I’m a huge fan of Star Wars. I’m also a huge fan of Stephen King’s The Stand, and I really like the idea of rather than setting it in some fantasy kingdom to set the story line in some kind of transformed America, which is very – you know in a very strange way relatable and familiar to your audience, because it’s things that they’ve seen before, but just transformed overgrown with vines and all that. It kind of started from the idea of just where can we create this mythic quest, and then from there it was working, you know J.J. and his whole team at Bad Robot and we were sort of talking about like, “Okay, what would transform America, and would it be nuclear war, would it be disease?” We all sort of felt like we’ve seen that a million times before. And they had been kicking around an idea of, “Like what would happen if there was a global blackout?” I jumped right on that idea. I’m like, “That’s perfect. That’s the way to kickoff the show.” That’s really interesting and provocative and I think a really relatable concept, because I think everybody feels how over-reliant we are on technology, and so it becomes sort of interesting commentary to explore what would happen if we removed all technology overnight.

MS: Just going back to the pilot when the blackout happened, it looks like it was very gradual over the whole Earth, should we be reading into that, looking for clues as to the origin of the blackout, or did that just look cool to have that sweep of darkness over the Earth?
EK: You should look for clues everywhere…is the short answer. The longer answer is, you know there was a phenomenon that, you know we have up our sleeve as to what caused the blackout, and that that it – what you saw in that globe shot is an accurate representation of what we are working on. And – but, you know right now we’re currently in the writers room. We’re talking dangerously about revealing that secret before the end of the first season. So again, it’s sort of my philosophy of not being too precious with anything. So, we may reveal the secret sooner than later.

MS: Can you talk a little bit about the decision to downgrade Maggie from series regular, and then eventually write her out.
EK: Yeah, sure. You know what it really came down to more than any other decision, Anna Lise is a wonderful actress and I love that character. I’m sort of have a bad habit in the shows that I run of killing off the people that I love, and I think Maggie was one of those. I think we decided internally that very early on that it was really important to show that this world had very real stakes, and that it was truly dangerous. And because, you know you’re not close to hospitals, you’re not close to paramedics, you’re not close to help, and we very quickly realized that the scariest thing we could do was to kill the doctor among them. So it was purely a creative decision about really putting a sharp – giving the world the real charge of danger, so that as we move forward in the series we want the audience to really understand that nobody is safe, including the main characters, and just bring that suspense as the series continues because we think that’s honest to the world we’re trying to create here.

MS: Can you talk a little bit about what we’re going to see, in terms of Neville’s backstory and who he was?
EK: Yeah. You know, Neville – what’s interesting about the blackout in the show and – which – you know where we like to explore and we want to explore more and more as the show goes on is what a transformative experience it was for so many people. And who they were in the old world has nothing to do with who they are now. And – I mean, there’s like a bit of that in the pilot, which you know we were always amused by the idea that he’s this kind of violent strong man post-blackout, but pre-blackout he was an insurance adjuster. So we were really interested in exploring that backstory more and seeing how his character, who before the blackout was pretty mild mannered and maybe a little submissive, and how did he transform into the violent psychopath that he is today? And then – you know, and then meeting his wife. And right now, basically, we’re planting Kim now, and then, you know we’re going to meet here in the present day and really explore her character a couple episodes down the line. And we’re going to see how, you know a very normal suburban wife before the blackout, post-blackout, transformed into a Lady Macbeth.

MS: Tell us about how you chose Giancarlo Esposito for the role of Captain Tom Neville?
EK: Giancarlo is just a world-class actor, and frankly we were shocked that he was willing to partner up with us because, you know we were sort of like – we felt like we were like kind of, “Like, why is such a classy actor want to hang out with such shady people?” And – but, you know obviously I was a – I’m a – I was a huge fan of his performance in Breaking Bad, but I’ve been a fan of his from long before that, and we’re just honored to have him be a part of the show. He brings so much heft and depth and emotion and – to Neville, who is not obviously the same character as that character, because you know Neville’s got, you know moments of vulnerability and moments of humanity. And he’s just a really interesting complicated character that Giancarlo makes so much better than what is on the page. But yeah, and it’s true because I mean he’s the – he’s exactly the type of actor you want to work with because you can write any dialogue and he makes it about five times better than it actually is. And I’m just – like I said, I’m just honored to be working with him. And then on top of that, he’s like the nice – it’s like the government actually has designated him the nicest man in America. He couldn’t be a sweeter, more gracious, more open-hearted collaborative guy, and someone who is that talented and that kind-hearted is just is really one in a million, and I just love working with him.

MS: Could talk a little about Rachel’s motivations and the direction her character’s going in?
EK: Yeah, sure. I mean, certain ones are a little mysterious, so I have to be a little cagey, because we reveal some things. But basically, what – you know Rachel is – you know she has – she’s obviously holding on to certain secrets about why the power went out, and we’ll reveal in the next episode on Monday exactly – we’ll reveal a little more about what she in fact knows about the blackout. Monroe’s been keeping her, in a gilded cage, kind of prisoner; although, with occasional torture, so it’s not so fun. But she’s strong and, we’re so smitten with what Elizabeth is doing with the character that we’re just writing more and more and more for her, because she’s just – she’s so good. And so, she’s a very strong character, but everything changes when Danny finally arrives in Philadelphia. So, now General Monroe has Rachel where he wants her, because she doesn’t really care about he own well-being, but of course she cares about the well-being of her son. And so, he’s really able to twist her arm and forced her to reveal things that she hasn’t revealed to him yet. But she, of course, is you know smart and heroic and is, you know desperately searching for a way out of the predicament that she’s in.

MS: Are we going to see Nate and Charlie’s relationship develop more?
EK: The short answer, yes, but over the sweep of the season. He’s going to be spending some time in Philadelphia, we’re going to start to understand what his world is like within the world of the militia, but he’s certainly going to interact with Charlie again and he has a bumpy road ahead for him.

MS: Since the full season pickup mean that you were able to go ahead with some story ideas and arcs that you’d maybe put on the backburner in case NBC did cut the series short?
EK: Well, you know television showrunners are a foolishly optimistic bunch. I think we were designing our story lines in the hopes that there would be a full season pickup. And then, in my back – it was more that. It was more like I was, you know designing the story line for 22, and then in my back pocket I had a – I had like a nuclear failsafe that it really looked everything was going off the cliff I had an emergency contingency plan to wrap everything up very quickly. But obviously, I’m very thankful to the network that they gave us the opportunity to, you know be able to tell the story.

MS: You are also the creator of “Supernatural”. How much time are you being able to spend at that since “Revolution” is now also in production?
EK: Yeah, I don’t spend as much time over there as I would like, but – because this one’s got my hands full at the moment. But, I will say that, Bog Singer and Jeremy Carver, who are running that show are doing an absolutely incredible job and it’s like watching Supernatural go is like – is sort of like watching my child go off to college. I don’t necessarily have control over it, but I’m so proud of what they’re doing.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: creating, eric, hit, kripke, nbcs, revolution, ...

Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshows Hit Kansas City!


One of my favorite movie moments ever occurred in the summer of 2006. In Dyersville, Iowa, on the same corn surrounded baseball field used in the film, I sat with 3,000 other fans and watched “Field of Dreams” outdoors on the big screen, part of that summers Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow. As fall approaches, the new Alamo Drafthouse in Kansas City is sponsoring four different outdoor screenings. Imagine watching one of your favorite films under the stars. Now add the bonus fun

Alamo provides with it’s pre-show activities and contests and you’ve got a night to remember. Here is a schedule of the films slated to screen in the next few weeks:

September 14, 2012

Title: PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE
Location: City Market Park
20 E. 5th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106

Time: Gates open at 7:00PM / Movie at 8:00PM

For the young, and the young at heart, the Alamo Drafthouse presents “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.” When his beloved Schwinn bicycle is stolen, Pee Wee sets out on a zany cross-country journey to get it back. Come early and get in on the pre-screening fun by competing in the Pee Wee Dance Off before the film.

Facebook Event Page

September 15, 2012

Title: SPIRITED AWAY
Location: City Market Park
20 E. 5th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106

Time: Gates open at 7:00PM / Movie at 8:00PM

The Alamo Drafthouse invites you to a beautifully animated, yet mind boggling visual experience, as it presents “Spirited Away.” This Japanese anime cartoon captured the imagination of adults and children alike on it’s way to becoming a critically-acclaimed worldwide box office hit. We’ll re-create one of the film’s memorable moments when we invite audience members to compete in our noodle eating contest prior to the film. Come early and bring a big appetite for fun!

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October 12, 2012

Title: PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES
Location: National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial (North Lawn)
100 W. 26th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Time: Gates open at 6:00PM / Movie at 7:00PM

The Alamo is ready to tickle your funny bone as it presents the 1987 comedy classic “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” This powerhouse comedy about two strangers who share a three-day odyssey of road trip misadventures will have you laughing ’til it hurts. Especially when you realize, “Those aren’t pillows!” Well these actually are – if you compete in our pre-show pillow fight!

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October 13, 2012

Title: JURASSIC PARK
Location: National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial (North Lawn)
100 W. 26th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Time: Gates open at 6:00PM / Movie at 7:00PM

The Rolling Roadshow series wraps up with a pre-historic crowd pleaser as Alamo Drafthouse presents “Jurassic Park.” What could possibly go wrong at a theme park with real life cloned dinosaurs? Luckily for us, we get to find out! Come out for dinosaurs running amok and trying to take a bite out of everything and everyone in sight. You can take a bite out of the action by joining the Carnivore/Herbivore Eating Contest before the movie!

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To view the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow promo video click here:

 

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: alamo, city, drafthouse, hit, kansas, roadshows, ...

Film Review “Hit and Run”

Starring: Dax Shepard, Kristin Bell and Bradley Cooper
Directed by: Dax Shepard and David Palmer
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 40 mins
Open Road Films

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Charlie Bronson (Shepard) and his girlfriend, Annie, (Bell) lie in bed, making the kind of promises only people in love make. A loud car outside alerts them that they have company. The driver is Randy (Tom Arnold). A U.S. Marshal, Randy can best be described as “clutzy.” One more spilled coffee or accidental discharge of his weapon and he’s going to lose his gig guarding people in the Witness Protection Program. What? You didn’t think Charlie Bronson was his real name, did you?

A collection of car chases and occasionally hilarious one-liners, “Hit and Run” is a promising sophomore project for star Shepard, who not only stars and co-directs but also wrote the script. As a former member of a bank robbery gang who turned state’s evidence for love, Shepard is an appealing lead. He gives a solid performance, as does Bell. Cooper, who apparently had his hair done at the same salon as the Simpson’s Sideshow Bob, has fun in a role much smaller than advertised. Think of him as Eddie Murphy in “Best Defense” – a strategic guest star. The always underappreciated Tom Arnold steals most of his scenes. Why he’s never had a bigger career has always amazed me. The man is funny. As are the various cameo performers, including Kristin Chenowith, David Koechner, Justin Bateman, Sean Hayes and Beau Bridges.

Shepard’s script runs the gambit from maudlin to outrageous. Some of the dialogue is pretty forgettable but a few comments hit dead center on the funny bone. The direction is fine though I did get tired of seeing cars doing donuts in parking lots over and over and over again. Kudos to whoever put the soundtrack together. A great assortment of Lou Rawls, Kool and the Gang, the Dazz Band and, if my ears didn’t betray me, a quick snippet of instrumental music from “Rocky.”

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, hit, review, run

Win Passes to an Advance Screening of “Hit and Run” in Kansas City [ENDED]

Open Road Films and Media Mikes would like to give you the opportunity to see the new comedy “Hit and Run” before anyone else in Kansas City. We are giving away (25) admit two passes to the film. All you have to do is tell us the name of your favorite classic movie car. Is it Greased Lightning from “Grease?” The time traveling DeLorean from the “Back to the Future” trilogy? The eerie title vehicle in “Christine?” Or one we haven’t named?

The first (25) entries will be given a special code to enter at GOFOBO.com for passes to the advance screening of “Hit and Run” on Tuesday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the AMC Town Center theatres. Additionally, three winners will be randomly chosen to win a “Hit and Run” prize pack. Once emailed the code, the tickets are first come first serve and does not guarantee tickets.

The film stars Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper and Kristin Chenoweth and was written and co-directed by Dax Shepard. The film is rated R and opens August 22 nationwide.

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Adam Busch talks about working on TBS’ hit show “Men at Work”

Adam Busch is currently co-star on TBS’ hit show “Men at Work”.  He co-stars along side Danny Masterson (“That ’70s Show”), James Lesure (“Las Vegas”) and Michael Cassidy (“The O.C.”).  “Men at Work” is one the best new shows on television right now and was already renewed for a second season next summer. Like myself Adam is also a Long Island, NY native who then moved to Orlando FL (also like myself) to pursue acting.  Media Mikes had a blast chatting with him about “Men at Work” and if you haven’t seen this show be sure to check it out on TBS.

Mike Gencarelli: What drew you to “Men at Work”?
Adam Busch: I have always wanted to do a sitcom. I started working for Nickelodeon on the show “The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo” and across the hall they were recording the sketch comedy “All That”. Our show was serious and we would hear this laughing and screaming next door whenever the stage door was opened. They were always having such fun and improving on the fly. I said myself that I wanted to do that.  Well, it took about 15 years later but I am finally making it happen. It was definitely as fun as I thought it would be.

MG: How do you prepare for the role of Neal?
AB: I like that it’s a place for Breckin (Meyer) and the writers to really explore relationship problems. You get heartache, you get serial monogamy and the pressure of a new dating system. Neal is the only chance to get the positives and negatives of being in a long-term relationships and the things that come up. I think it is a constant reminder to the other guys that things can be much better or much worse depending on the situation.

MG: The show is filmed in from of a live audience, does make it more difficult to shoot?
AB: That is the best part! If at all everything else is a challenge and that is where I feel the most comfortable and have the most fun. When you have been rehearsing a line all week long and right before you say it one of the writers or Breckin comes over and hand you a brand new fresh line that you haven’t had time to think about, you have no choice but just to commit to it. To hear the reactions from the crowd, that is so much fun. I love the studio audience. There is also a rhythm you can into like if the audience is laughing or Oooing and Ahhhing, you can tap into that and just go with it and make the audience happy.

MG: You find that their is a lot of room for improv?
AB: Well, yeah there is room for it and it certainly does happy sometimes. The really exciting thing is that it gives room for Breckin and the writers to come up with lines on the fly.

MG: Breckin Meyer seems like he is always there on set, huh?
AB: He is always there. Every day, after we rehearse with the director, we do a run through for him to hear it and see it. He is the one giving notes on our performance or walking around making sure everyone is cool or has questions before the shoot. It is a really lucky situation having a young actor as your boss. Also everything is ripped right from his life, so he has all the answers.

MG: The chemistry between you and the guys are great, you find it hard to stay serious while shooting?
AB: Yeah, I do…I do. But that is what is great about doing a show about four friends. Very often if I am laughing at something James (Lesure) is saying during the shooting, there it is right in the show. We are friends and he makes me laugh and that is it. I don’t have to remain serious. We enjoy the way we all interact. Our dynamic of us hanging out is actually a lot different than our dynamic on the show. In the show everyone makes fun of Neal but outside we all make fun of (Michael) Cassidy. He is so freaking pretty and you can’t resist [laughs].

MG: What has been your favorite episode so far this season?
AB: I don’t know if I have a favorite episode. But I certainly have a favorite scene, like when I smack Cassidy back into reality. That was really fun and it changed so much throughout the week. First it was him smacking me, then it was me smacking him and it ended with us both smacking each other. We decided we were just gonna do it, no blocking with camera to fake it. I said I gonna smack you and your gonna smack me and that’s it. I also loved meeting J.K. Simmons and working with him. It was really wonderful.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: adam, busch, hit, men, show, talks, ...

Re-imagined “Footloose” to hit Blu-ray/DVD on March 6


“Footloose,” the 2011 update of the classic 1984 film, will hit the shelves
this coming Tuesday, March 6th.

The “FOOTLOOSE” Blu-ray/DVD combo pack includes over an hour of bonus features such as deleted scenes, a look back at the original film, featurettes on the stars and their dancing, commentary by Brewer, music videos and more. In addition, all Blu-ray and DVD releases available for purchase will be enabled with UltraViolet, a new way to collect, access and enjoy movies. With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them – safely and securely – to a variety of devices.

FOOTLOOSE Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack
The FOOTLOOSE Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English
5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby
Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English
5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, French 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish 5.1
Dolby Digital Surround and English Audio Description with English, French,
Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The digital copy is presented in English
and is compatible with iTunes® and Windows Media. Bonus features on the

Blu-ray are as follows:
· Commentary by director Craig Brewer
· Jump Back: Re-Imagining Footloose
· Everybody Cut: The Stars of Footloose
· Dancing with the Footloose Stars
· Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by director Craig Brewer
· “Footloose” Music Video by Blake Shelton
· “Fake ID” Music Video by Big & Rich
· “Holding Out For A Hero” Music Video by Ella Mae Bowen
· Footloose Rap

FOOTLOOSE will also be available on a single-disc DVD presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, French 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround and English Audio Description with English, French and Spanish subtitles. The disc includes the following special features:
· Commentary by director Craig Brewer
· Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by director Craig Brewer
· “Fake ID” Music Video by Big & Rich

Read Media Mikes Blu-ray/DVD review of “Footloose” here:

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: 6, bluraydvd, footloose, hit, march, reimagined, ...

Disney Junior Orders Third Season of Hit Series “Jake and the Never Land Pirates”

Sails to New Heights as Disney Channel’s #1 Preschooler Series of All Time with 100 Episodes and New Consumer Products Line

Disney Junior has ordered a third season of “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” its #1 series and cable TV’s #1 series among Boys 2-5, bringing the episode tally to 100 thus far, it was announced today by Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide. The series revolves around a crew of kid pirates – leader Jake and pals Izzy and Cubby – and follows their Never Land adventures as they work to outwit two infamous characters, the one and only Captain Hook and Mister Smee, from Disney’s classic “Peter Pan.” The stories emphasize teamwork and features original pirate rock music performed by Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band.

Kanter said, “The series is connecting with kids on every level and brings them closer to characters they’re already familiar with and introduces them to new, original characters they have made their friends.” She continued, “The storytelling is adventurous and heartfelt and embeds the kind of learning that we know is important to parents. We’re pleased to be extending viewers’ experience with the stories, allowing them to play the ‘Jake and the Never Land Pirates’ experience.”

The memorable Disney stories and characters, both classic and contemporary, have connected strongly with kids age 2-7 and their parents, and that connection has also led to the creation of brand extensions in other Disney businesses. “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” is a prominent part of the popular Disney Junior Live on Stage! attraction at Disney Parks & Resorts, and is featured in a Disney Junior magazine from Disney Publishing, in a soundtrack and DVD from Disney Studios and a Disney Consumer Products line set to debut in stores nationwide in spring 2012. Included are multiple product categories: party supplies, apparel (sleepwear, daywear), room décor and plush. An exciting toy line releasing in June and showcased this week at American International Toy Fair, will feature plush, role play and accessories from Just Play and action-oriented play sets and figures from Fisher-Price, including Jake’s Pirate Ship, designed after Bucky, Jake’s ship in the series.

A hit since its premiere in February 2011, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” is cable TV’s #1 series among Boys 2-5 and Disney Channel’s #1 preschool series of all time among Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49.

The series airs daily during Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming block for kids age 2-7 and will have a major presence on the new 24-hour Disney Junior channel launching in the U.S. on Friday, March 23. The series stars Cameron Boyce as Jake; Madison Pettis as Izzy; Jonathan Morgan Heit as Cubby; David Arquette as Skully; Corey Burton as Captain Hook; Jeff Bennett as Mister Smee and Bones and Loren Hoskins as Sharky. Many of the key creative professionals behind Disney Junior’s Emmy-nominated series, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” are behind “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” including executive producer Rob LaDuca, producer/story editor Mark Seidenberg and director Howy Parkins. The series is produced by Disney Television Animation.

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior’s animated and live action series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network’s biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49 and increased by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels. On March 23, 2012 Disney Junior will add a basic cable and satellite channel in the U.S.

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SyFy Renews Hit Series “Being Human” for Third Season

SYFY RENEWS HIT SERIES BEING HUMAN FOR THIRD SEASON

Second Season-To-Date Delivers Double Digit Audience Growth Over
Season One in Key Demos and Total Viewers

New York, NY – February 8, 2012 – Syfy is ordering a third season (13 episodes) of its hit drama series Being Human, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. The announcement comes just four episodes into the 13-episode second season, which premiered on Monday, January 16.

To date, viewership for the second season has increased by an impressive +27% in Adults 18-49, +35% in Adults 25-54 and +15% in total viewers.

With newly-released Live +7 data factored in, the season two premiere of Being Human (January 16, 2012 at 9PM ET/PT) delivered a 1.7 HH rating representing 1.4 million Adults 25-54 (a series high for the demo and +18% over the first season premiere), 1.4 million Adults 18-49 (second highest ranking in the demo and +12% over the season one premiere) and 2.4 million total viewers (the second most-watched episode of any season and +3% over the season one premiere).

With women comprising 52% of the total audience for premiere episodes this season, Being Human remains Syfy’s most female-skewing scripted series ever.

“With the success of season two, ‘Being Human’ has become a premiere destination for Syfy viewers,” said Stern.  “Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke have taken this series to new heights this year and we’re excited to see where the third season will go.”

Being Human stars Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath and Sam Huntington as vampire Aidan, ghost Sally and werewolf Josh who share the creature comforts of home in a Boston brownstone.  Together the three roommates struggle to keep their supernatural secrets and resist individual temptations as they strive to live lives that are as near to normal as possible.

Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood) who are both writers/showrunners, Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes), and Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse. Irene Litinsky (Human Trafficking, The Phantom) is series Producer.

Being Human is a Muse Entertainment production in association with Zodiak USA. It is based on the acclaimed series, Being Human, created by Toby Whithouse and produced by Touchpaper Television, part of Zodiak Media.

Zodiak Rights hold worldwide rights to the new series.

About Zodiak USA
Zodiak USA is the North American operations for Zodiak Media, the leading independent in entertainment, factual, drama and kids programming. Zodiak USA’s credits include Secret Millionaire (ABC), Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC) and Hardcore Pawn (truTV).  Zodiak Media consists of 45 production companies operating in 20 countries including the US, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and Russia.  Zodiak Rights, the international rights business of Zodiak Media, boasts a growing catalogue of around 15,000 hours of content. For more information visit www.zodiakusa.com and www.zodiakmedia.com.

About Muse Entertainment Enterprises
Muse Entertainment is a leading film and television production company known for its well-crafted and high-quality productions. Since its founding in 1998, Muse has produced, co-produced or provided production services on more than 150 TV movies and mini-series, television series and feature films and has won 95 awards and garnered 299 award nominations!

Another of Muse Entertainment’s recent television series, Bomb Girls, has  been reordered for a second season. In 2011, its topical, 8-hr. historical drama, The Kennedys,  earned 10 Emmy Award nominations. Its Pillars of the Earth also won awards. Muse’s other award-winning programs are Durham County (Seasons 1,2,3), Ben Hur, The Last Templar, Impact, Human Trafficking, Answered by Fire, This is Wonderland and Tales from the Neverending Story.

The company’s head office and its Quebec production centre are in Montreal. Muse also maintains development and production operations in Toronto and Los Angeles.

About Syfy
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

 

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Filed Under: TV Headlines Tagged With: hit, human, renews, season, series, syfy, ...

TNT Summons Hit Series “Franklin & Bash” for Second Season


TNT has summoned Franklin & Bash back to the stand for a second season of the hit legal drama starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer. Currently airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), Franklin & Bash ranks as one of basic cable’s top new series of the summer. Franklin & Bash is produced by Four Sycamore Productions, Left Coast Productions and FanFare Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television, with Jamie Tarses, Kevin Falls and Bill Chais serving as executive producers. TNT has ordered 10 episodes for the second season.

“This summer, Franklin & Bash has broken out as a hugely entertaining series with great characters, sharp writing and a terrific cast,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming, for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. “We’re thrilled that the show has drawn such a remarkably strong following and look forward to bringing it back next summer.”

In Franklin & Bash, Gosselaar and Meyer star as two young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants street lawyers who cause a seismic culture clash when they join a legendary, button-down law firm. Malcolm McDowell plays Stanton Infeld, a Renaissance man and the patriarch of the law firm. Also starring are Dana Davis, Kumail Nanjiani, Reed Diamond and Garcelle Beauvais.

Since premiering on June 1, Franklin & Bash has drawn 3.9 million viewers in Live + 7, ranking it among basic cable’s Top 5 new series for the summer-to-date. The series is averaging an outstanding 1.8 million adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. Franklin & Bash scores a significant number of viewers through time-shifted viewing, including a boost of well over 50% among key adult demos.

 

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Filed Under: TV Headlines Tagged With: bash, franklin, hit, season, series, summons, ...
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