Interview with Bridgit Mendler

Bridgit Mendler is known best for here role of Teddy Duncan on Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie”.  She also starred in Disney Channel’s recent hit movie “Lemonade Mouth” and also appeared on “Wizard of Waverly Place”.  Bridget is currently promoting her role of voicing Arrietty in Disney’s “The Secret World of Arrietty”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bridgit about voicing the character and she also revealed some update for this coming season of “Good Luck Charlie”.

Click here for our Film Review “The Secret World of Arrietty”

Mike Gencarelli: What did you enjoy most about voicing Arrietty in “The Secret World of Arrietty”?
Bridgit Mendler: I really enjoyed voicing that character. It’s always fun to play a character that is different from you. Arrietty is really fun to explore because she is so small and has a different perspective of the world. I wasn’t physically in any of her world I was able to use my imagination to be able to do that.

MG: Have you seen the Japanese version of the film and how do you feel it translates to US audiences?
BM: I have. I think there is a good chance for this film as Studio Ghibli has released some other films in the states. The film has a really great Japanese style to the animation and storyline however the characters are voiced by American actors. In this case a lot of comedic actors are doing the voices which I think lightens the movie and makes it more accessible to American audiences. This is really fun because you get something visually that you may not be accustomed to but the voices are familiar.

MG: What was the most challenging part of doing the voice work?
BM: I would have to say the dubbing. It was a fun challenge though and it really wasn’t that bad. We had to just match up our lines with the animation which was already there but with Japanese language. They sometimes had to adjust what we were saying so that everything matched up. It was a fun challenge overall.

MG: How long did it take to record your work on the film?
BM: I finished the movie in just three days.  Yep, those are the benefits of working on an animated film.

MG: I am a big fan of the film’s music, like “Arrietty’s Song” by Cécile Corbel. Since you are no stranger to music, tell us about your song for the film?
BM: The interesting thing about the song I did in the movie, called “Summertime”, was that I had worked on it prior to starting on the film. It was already there and was something they listened to and saw potential for. It was really thanks to the producer for how it fits in with the movie. I was very happy to include the song and they did a great job matching up the sound.

MG: You worked again with “Wizard of Waverly Place” co-star David Henrie, did you record together?
BM: We weren’t. I didn’t get to work with anyone else from the cast. It was kind of a bummer because the cast is really cool. It’s an interesting way to go about the project as it allows for a lot of imagination and personal attention for each actor.

MG: Are you a fan of any other Studio Ghibli films?
BM: Of course! I think the most popular one would have to be “Spirited Away”. When I was younger I was a big fan of their films as well. “Kiki’s Delivery Service” was one of my personal favorites.

MG: When can we expect your debut album through Hollywood Records?
BM: I am telling people it will be out around June or July. The challenge is I am shooting “Good Luck Charlie” at the same time. The album isn’t able to be my primary focus because I have other commitments. But the album will be out this year and I am very excited for everyone to hear it.

MG: What can we expect from the third season of “Good Luck Charlie”?
BM: For those who have followed the show, in the recent “Good Luck Charlie” movie there is a pregnancy. In season 3, you are going to see her dealing with the pregnancy. We actually just shot the episode where the new baby arrives. It’s an exciting time for the Duncan family and we are glad to share it with the viewers.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: bridgit, interview, mendler

Interview with The Crystal Method’s Ken Jordan

Ken Jordan is one half of the musical team know as The Crystal Method. The group recently appeared in the documentary film “Re:Generation” and is currently working on a new EP. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Ken recently about the groups products.

Adam Lawton: How did you first get involved with being in “Re:Generation”?
Ken Jordan: Sometime after the Coachella Festival last year we started talking about the idea. We like to jump on any opportunity that shows what we do and helps get our music out to people who might not normally discover it. The chance to be in what looked to be a really good film was very appealing to us. We were comfortable with doing the collaboration as R&B, Funk and Soul has always been a major influence to us. We were very excited to work in those genres. Working with Martha Reeves was really exciting for us.

AL: Was it hard working with the camera around all the time?
KJ: You get your little microphone attached to you and after awhile you forget about it. They were as un-intrusive as they could be. Eventually we got comfortable with them. We weren’t acting or anything so we just focused on making a good song.

AL: Did you find working on the different material changed your writing style at all?
KJ: It was different working with Martha in that way. We had originally thought we needed to deliver the song with completed lyrics and Martha would sing those. However she was not interested in doing that. We were sort of late to deliver the lyrics as we wanted to travel around Detroit and let the lyrics take on a shape of their own. We sprung them on her at the last minute which caused a little bit of conflict. Really all she wanted to do was protect Detroit and didn’t want to sing anything she wasn’t comfortable with. Over all it was a really easy process working with her. I think if we had to do it again we would work out all the lyrics ahead of time with Martha. I do think though that the way things worked out was for the best.

AL: What did you enjoy most about working on the project?
KJ: The whole experience of getting to know Detroit was great. Some of the things we saw during that time we will never forget. When they were tearing down the Ford Theater some of the crew got chunks of the black facade and we all signed each others chunk. We all have a nice souvenir from that. Getting to know Detroit through Martha’s eyes is something we will always keep with us.

AL: Can you tell us about your upcoming EP release?
KJ: The new EP is going to be titled “Sling the Decks” and it should be out this spring. We currently have one tracked titled and are working on the others. We also are working on a single that incorporates elements from a rock super group. That project is still in the early stages but it will be out this year as well.

 

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: crystal, interview, methods

Interview with Lola Blanc

Lola Blanc is a singer, songwriter, actress and model. Lola has appeared in videos for many bands such as Interpol and Lifehouse. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Lola recently about some of her past work as well as what she has planned for 2012.

Adam Lawton: What was it that made you want to pursue the music side of the entertainment business?
Lola Blanc: I have been writing since I can remember but when I was 9 I was really into the group Hanson. We had this closet growing up that my brother would use as a chemistry lab. I would go in there and listen to music by myself. I listened to the Hanson song “Thinking of You” and it made me cry. That was the first song to ever move me in such an emotional way. Hanson combined with the Spice Girls really changed my life and made me want to do music for the rest of my life.

AL: What has it been like working with people such as Brian Lee and David Gamson?
LB: Initially it was a little intimidating. I was thrown into this world with people who had done all these big things. It was however very exciting and overtime I felt like I was an equal as I was able to contribute creatively. It was truly a great experience.

AL: What is your favorite part working on music videos?
LB: It’s fun to play dress and play a character in someone else’s world. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other artists and see how the whole experience goes down. It has prepared me for working on my own music videos which is something that I am really looking forward to doing.

AL: Can you tell us about your work on “Repo: The Genetic Opera”?
LB: I was friends with someone who worked for Yoshiki and they needed people for some background vocals. I went in one night and did some yelling into a microphone which was a lot of fun. I eventually ended up working for Yoshiki as an assistant later on.

AL: What was it like working for Yoshiki?
LB: It’s interesting. Girls cry and scream when they are around him. They will actually bow down at his feet which I thought was kind of bizarre. It was fun and Yoshiki was really great. I was one of many assistants that he has and things are very hectic around there.

AL: What upcoming plans do you have for 2012?
LB: My main focus right now is getting prepared to shoot music videos. I am really excited as it’s a culmination of all the things I do. The videos are really a way for me to express myself on all levels. I get to show my fashion, personality and music all together. This is probably going to be the most fun I have had in my career. I also have plans to play some shows which I will get do the same thing and showcase all my talents.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: blanc, interview, lola

Interview with Jason Neulander

Jason Neulander is the creator of “The Intergalactic Nemesis”, which is a live-action graphic novel production tour.  Jason and his team will be performing “The Intergalactic Nemesis” with Conan O’Brien and Andy Ritcher on “Conan” on February 14th, 2012.  Media Mikes got a chance to ask Jason a few questions about the origin of “The Intergalactic Nemesis” and performing it live.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you come up with the idea for a live-action graphic novel production tour, called “The Intergalactic Nemesis”?
Jason Neulander: The project started as a radio play back in the ’90s when a few friends and I decided to try our hands at a no-budget tribute to Star Wars and Raiders. Over the years, the project developed a big local following (and we did our share of revisions and rewrites) until I was invited to bring it to the 2,400-seat Dell Hall in Austin, where we’re from. I felt that venue was too big for the intimate experience of a radio play and in a flash had a vision of comic-book artwork projected on a huge screen to create a visual spectacle. It took about 15 months for Tim Doyle to create that artwork and then we premiered the show to 2,100 people. Ten days later, we started booking tour dates and, well, here we are!

MG: The Intergalactic Nemesis will be performing on live on “Conan”, how did this come about?
JN: I landed us a story on NPR’s All Things Considered. Meantime, my agent had been working on the Conan thing. When the NPR story aired, that was the catalyst for the Conan folks to give the green light.

MG: Are you nervous performing with Conan O’Brien and Andy Ritcher?
JN: A little, but mainly really excited.

MG: Tell us about the character you play “Mysterion the Magnificent”?
JN: The story of “The Intergalactic Nemesis” takes place in the 1930s. Mysterion is a world famous magician and stage performer who has secret plans to take over the world (with the help of an invading force of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon).

MG: What is the biggest challenge in performing this live?
JN: Remembering the lines!

MG: What can expect from the sequel entitled “Book Two: Robot Planet Rising”?
JN: Lots and lots of robots. Adventure. Danger. Excitement. Book Two is actually the second of three, so, like any good part 2, it’s a little darker, a little more complex, and we get to meet a bunch of really awesome new characters.

MG: Where can people find out about this tour and your upcoming dates?
JN: http://www.theintergalacticnemesis.com/tour

 

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Filed Under: Art/Theatre, Interviews Tagged With: interview, jason, neulander

Interview with Kevin Tostado

Kevin Tostado is the producer and director of new documentary “Under the Boardwalk: The MONOPOLY Story”. The film focuses on the =history of the game and World Championship of Monopoly. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Kevin about his new life, his love for Monopoly and what he has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your inspiration behind “Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story”?
Kevin Tostado: As a kid growing up, MONOPOLY was a game that always present in my house. It’s probably one of the first games that I played in which I had to handle cash as well as have to negotiate trades with my opponents. By the time I was 12, I could no longer get my family to play with me as they felt I took the game too seriously. It even got to the point where I was studying The Monopoly Companion written by Phil Orbanes, to try and prepare myself to be able to compete at the next US Monopoly Championship. “Under the Boardwalk: The MONOPOLY Story” arose out of my passion for the game of Monopoly as well as my desire to capture and create compelling stories to share with audiences.

MG: When was the first time you played the game Monopoly?
KT: It goes hand in hand with the first answer, but I can’t actually remember my first game as it was a game I just remember playing all the time. I imagine I started with Monopoly Jr, but think I was playing with the real game by 5 or so. It wasn’t until I was in my early teens that I started really learning all the strategies behind the game.

MG: Have you ever considered competing in the World Championship of Monopoly yourself?
KT: Most definitely! After I first read The Monopoly Companion, I started trying to train, but my family didn’t appreciate the game quite the way I did, so it was always difficult to find folks to play with. My senior year of college, I started training for the 2009 US Championship until I burnt out my suitemates on playing. I put my championship dreams on hold in order to make the film, but now since completing production, I’ve begun playing at local tournaments, and last April I won my first local tournament, beating several prominent players including Ken Koury and Lee Bayrd.

MG: How long did the project take to complete from concept to completion?
KT: I started initial research in Summer 2007 but you could argue that I started engrossing myself in the material when I was a teenager. We finished filming in early 2010, and was screening it at film festivals starting in September 2010. We then spent the next year playing at film festivals and running a limited theatrical release in a handful of cities around the country.

MG: What was the most challenging aspect of this documentary?
KT: It’s hard to narrow it down to just one challenging aspect. Obviously, getting one of the largest game companies in the planet to trust an unknown independent filmmaker with one of their prized games and allow us to film at the championships was a long road for us. Finding financing for a documentary about “a game that never ends” during a recession certainly wasn’t a cakewalk, and neither is negotiating complex world of international travel with film equipment and crew. But all of those struggles that we overcame gave us the motivation to see the project through and to get it out into the world for folks to enjoy.

MG: Tell us about bringing on Zachary Levi to narrate the film?
KT: We were able to attach Zac Levi to the project through our executive producer, Stephen Nemeth, who is one of the producers on this year’s Sundance hit The Surrogate. Steve has been a key player in Hollywood for the last 20 years (he produced Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas amongst many other notable films) and made the connection for us to get Zac!

MG: Tell us about what you have planned next?
KT: I’m helping produce a webseries called Research. starring Gabriel Diani and Barry Bostwick which we’ll be shooting in March and premiering online in the late Spring. You can learn more about that project at ResearchSeries.com. I’m also helping produce an 80’s rock star comedy called Todd Lucas: Singer/Songwriter which we are shooting in June, although we still have a big Kickstarter campaign coming for that in April to help us finance the film. Interested folks can follow me on Twitter (@Tostie) for the latest on my projects.

 

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: interview, kevin, tostado

Interview with Meagan Tandy

Meagan Tandy started off in the business co-starring with Denzel Washington in “Unstoppable”.  Megan is currently co-starring in the TV series “Jane by Design” and will be in the upcoming film “Piranha 3DD” as well.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Meagan about “Piranha 3DD” and also what else see has planned for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: What was it like getting to work with such a great cast on your first film “Unstoppable”?
Meagan Tandy: People were shocked that my first feature film was going to be a Fox feature with Tony Scott and Denzel Washington. I never thought my first feature film was going to be a studio film. I had the time of my life and it was so much fun getting to meet and work with everyone.

MG: Can you tell us about your next film “Piranha 3DD”?
MT: I was in Atlanta shooting for a show called “Single Ladies”. I was just doing my thing and my manager came to me and said I was being asked to read for the role of Ashley in what was being called “Piranha: The Sequel” at the time. I made a tape and sent it in not really knowing what I was auditioning for. Within about a week they notified me telling me I was the girl and they wanted me to be in Wilmington, NC the next day. I literally had no time to breathe. When I got there the entire cast was just so much fun.

MG: What can you tell us about the production?
MT: I can’t give away too much of what my character does but one day I was in the water filming a scene where I jump from a van into the water. We ended up only doing takes of this scene as during one of the takes I jumped and cut my foot. I had to go to the hospital and get stitches. Of course that’s the take I think they are going to be using. I have a lovely scar on the bottom of my foot and will always remember this film.

MG: Were you familiar with the first film?
MT: Absolutely! I did see the first one and the film did really well. I love a good horror film and being able to say that this is my first scary movie I am not complaining at all. I am very excited!

MG: What can you tell us about your upcoming role in “Jane by Design”?
MT: That will be my very first series. I play Lulu who is the exact opposite of my real personality as Lulu is the mean girl. The show is based around fashion and how the character of Jane balances the world of fashion and school. My character really likes to give Jane a hard time. I believe the show will be coming out January 2nd or 3rd.

MG: How did you become involved with the show initially?
MT: I auditioned for it in November of 2010. We shot the pilot and then waited quite awhile to find out if we got picked up or not. I found out that we did get picked up the same time I was getting ready to go to Wilmington. I really had no time to celebrate.

MG: How do you feel working on film and television differs from each other and do you prefer one over the other?
MT: I have always wanted to be an actress and I absolutely love movies and television. They are both great and I hope to get to do more movies in the future.

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: interview, meagan, tandy

Interview with Carla Renata

Carla Renata has appeared in dozens of television shows and commercials. She also has voiced several video game characters. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Carla recently about some of her previous work and what she has planned for 2012.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your recent appearances on “Raising Hope” and “Up All Night”?
Carla Renata: The episode I was on of “Raising Hope” aired a week or so ago. I played a shopper who basically made fun of one of the characters that was talking about how smart his baby was. My character asks the question of how smart is he? (Laughs) On “Up All Night” I play a TSA Agent who is not under any circumstances letting Christina Applegate and Will Arnett through so they can catch their flight.

AL: How did working on these two shows compare to some of the work you have done on other shows?
CR: On “Shake It Up!”, I play a mom and on “Hart of Dixie” I play a hairdresser. These roles are much different than the ones I recently played. The TSA agent is a real hard-nosed character with no sense of humor. On “Raising Hope” my character was empathetic with a slight bit of sarcasm. My hairdresser role is a fun role where I sit and do hair while getting all of the town gossip even though there isn’t a lot of gossip to get. On the Disney show I play a mom where I am the support for my children. My recent roles are quite different.

AL: Do you find it harder working on a set as a guest star rather than as a series regular?
CR: It depends on the show. I have been on some shows where they treat you like gold. They make you feel like you are a regular cast member that is coming back next week even though everyone knows you are not. I have also been on some sets where there was almost a click with the regular cast. You have to know how to feel the room and know when you can be friendlier or when you should just stay in your trailer till they need you. (Laughs)

AL: How did you get involved with doing voice over work?
CR: I was living in New York at the time and had agents that booked me for television commercials.  I would stop by their office quite often as a lot of the auditions I went on were in the vicinity of the office. I would stand around and talk and tell jokes to the people there.  The guy who was running the voice over department at the time heard me talking and asked me if I had done voice over work before. I told him no but he said he wanted to send me out for some voice over jobs. I ended up booking all the ones he sent me to.

AL: What do you like most about that type of acting?
CR: You can do it in your pajamas! (Laughs) When I first started there were very few people who had home studios as they were really expensive. Now it’s so much easier because of technology and the internet. You can just plug a microphone into the computer and click a few buttons. I love voice over work. I will roll out of bed, walk down to my office, record a couple tracks and then go back to bed. I am getting paid while in my pajamas. (Laughs)

AL: What was it like working on “Elvira’s Movie Macabre”?
CR: That was a lot of fun! What I didn’t know at the time and I probably should have was that Elvira and a couple other girls on the show all came from The Groundlings improv school. I had studied there as well. I never knew that Cassandra had created the Elvira character while studying there. I found that really amazing. Our shoot was all improv. It was scripted originally but none of us stuck to it. (Laughs) I think that’s what really made it fun. You couldn’t pay for that kind of acting class.

AL: Do you prefer an improv type script over one that is more rigid and strict?
CR: It depends. I come from a theater background where if you mess up your lines you have to say something. You can’t just stand there in the middle of the stage waiting for someone to give you your lines. I will just make stuff up if I have to because I have that ability.(Laughs) It really depends on the situation and what type of characterization you are going to bring to that piece of script.

AL: Do you have any other projects coming out that we can be watching for?
CR: I am taping a new episode of “Shake It Up!” next week but I‘m not sure when it will air. The episodes of that show we have previously shot air all the time. It looks like I am always on the Disney channel even though I am really not. (Laughs) I haven’t shot a “Hart of Dixie” episode in some time so that should be coming around shortly. Pilot season is coming up so you never know. I could be popping up anywhere. I do have some commercials for Progressive Insurance, Tidy Cat Kitty Litter and Hunt’s Tomato Sauce that will be airing around the country so people can definitely see me on those.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: carla, interview, renata

Interview with Jeffrey Reddick

Jeffrey Reddick is known best for creating the successful horror “Final Destination” series.  Jeffrey also was involved writing the 2008’s remake of “Day of the Dead”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Jeffrey about the series and also what else he had planned for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: You created the very successful horror franchise, “Final Destination”, tell us the origin of how to created it?
Jeffrey Reddick: The idea stemmed from a strange real-life incident. I was on a plane, flying home to Kentucky. I read an article about a woman who was on vacation, in Hawaii, I think. On the morning of her flight, her mother called her and told her not to take the flight she was booked on because she had a bad feeling about it. The woman changed her flight and the plane she was supposed to be on crashed. This story got me thinking…what if she was meant to die in that crash? What if she cheated Death? At the time, I was working at New Line Cinema and was trying to get an agent. I was told to write a spec script for something on TV. “The X-Files” was my favorite show and it was really hot at the time. So, I came up with an episode where Scully’s brother had the premonition. The script got me an agent. Mark Kaufman, a colleague at New Line Cinema, really loved the script and convinced me to try and turn it in to a feature.

MG: Why did you leave “Final Destination” series after the second film?
JR: After the first film, I thought I had a really clever way to expand on the original movie, without just rehashing the first one. It’s interesting, I’ve done two of films, James Wong and Glen Morgan did two, as did David Ellis and Eric Bress. But the studio decided to go with completely new folks on the last one. But I didn’t leave the series. Each movie is its own animal and the studio always waits until the last film does theatrically, and on DVD, before deciding if they’re going to make another one. So, it’s really their call. But I’d only want to do another one if I could bring something fresh to the table. Just redoing the formula doesn’t interest me.

MG: After your departure from the series, how do you feel the the series continued through the latest fifth film?
JR: I always remember how fortunate I am to have created a horror film that’s had such a long life, so I’ve found things I’ve enjoyed about all of the films. But when you get to a part 5, sequel fatigue always sets in. The studio doesn’t want to mess with the formula, so the movies tend to blend together and feel repetitive. But each of the films has managed to be a fun ride.

MG: I feel the fifth film did a nice touch are related to the first film, do you think the franchise still has steam left?
JR: I think the fifth sequel was great. I feel they really made that one for the fans and not just to cash in. They brought Tony Todd back and added some real depth, and twists, to the story. I think part 5 is a great way to go out with the current formula. But I think if they want to keep the series vital, they should do a reboot. Death is a crafty mother…and can always come up with a new design.

MG: You took on the task of writing the screenplay to the 2008 remake of “Day of the Dead”, what was you most difficult task?
JR: Steve Miner’s involvement was the main reason I signed on. The hardest task was trying to craft a film that was reverent to the original. Because of the rights, we could only use the basic story and characters from “Day of the Dead.” We couldn’t reference any of the other movies, so it had to be a standalone story. But the treatment I wrote, which got me hired for the job, was much closer to the original film. I really feel it paid tribute in a respectful way, while creating a fresh new story. But after I got hired, the studio started making me change things…and strip out everything related to the original. There were many arguments, but at the end of the day they usually win. So, watching the film turn in to something other than what I intended, was the hardest part. At the end of the day, I think it’s a fun film…but it shouldn’t be called Day of The Dead.

MG: Any truth to the rumor of a 3D follow-up to “Day of the Dead”?
JR: They just announced they’re releasing the remake on Blu-ray in 3D. I’m excited to see it.

MG: What do you have planned next in the works?
JR: I’ve got several irons in the fire, but nothing I can report right now, as you never know if, and when, things will pan out. But I can say they’re all genre projects and I’m hoping to direct one of them. I’ll keep you posted.

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: interview, jeffrey, reddick

Interview with The Twilight Saga’s Booboo Stewart

Booboo Stewart is known best for his role of Seth Clearwater in “The Twilight Saga”.  He is co-starring in the final installment of the series “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2” this November.  Booboo took out some time to sit down with Media Mikes during his press tour for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1” Blu-ray and chatted about his role in the series and what else he has planned upcoming.

Mike Gencarelli: What would you say has been the coolest thing that has happened to you since joining “The Twilight Saga”?
Booboo Stewart: Well there has been some really cool things…but I think the best part has been the fans.  They make you these really cool handmade bracelets and in my room, my mom put these hooks up and I’ve got a bunch of them.  Fans are able to send them to me via my PO Box and I’ll wear them in magazines and stuff like that.  They are able to see me wearing them and I think that is really cool.

MG: I was watching some of the special features on the “Breaking Dawn- Part 1” Blu-ray and what was you say was the most challenging aspect of that shoot?
BS: The beach scene was soooooo cold.  Everyone was wearing these huge jackets and I was sitting there with my shirt off freezing.  I remember that any of the shots that were above my waist, I had blankets, sweatpants, shoes…it was freezing.

MG: What can we expect from “Breaking Dawn- Part 2”?
BS: I can’t give too much away obvious, even though its a book and all.  You get to meet a lot of new characters in the second movie.  During filming actually, it very hard to tell who was in which film.  I can’t imagine for the AD and makeup people trying to figure out who was who.  There were so many cast members on set at the same time, since they were filming two movies.

MG: “Breaking Dawn- Part 2” looks to amp up the action from “Part 1”, how was the production?
BS: Since I starting with “Eclipse”, I think just having the different directors on set changes the whole vibe.  For the short time I was there for “Eclipse”, David Slade was very technical and he knew what he wanted.  When I got to work with Bill Condon, I worked with him a lot more and more personally as well.  He was more of an actor’s director.  He would talk to you and figure out what you are thinking in a scene and what you character was going through.  This was also with everyone, didn’t matter the size of your role.  So that was really different.

MG: Besides acting you also take roles in stunts and composing, tell us about that side?
BS: I have been involved with music since I started out.  Music is a really cool thing to record.  I think it is really fun and I figure I am in the movie, so why not do a song or something [laughs].

MG: You also created and illustrated the comic book “Millennium Man”, tell us about that?
BS: I love comic books and I love drawing.  I am drawing right now, as you can see.  I created this character a really long time about called “Millennium Man”.  He uses electrical force as his power. It is cool to see an idea that I had come to paper.  We will see what happens with it. Right now it is still being developed.

MG: How did you prepare for your role in the new film “White Frog”?
BS: I play a character named Nick Young who has Aspergers, which is a a form of autism. It was the most intense thing I have ever done but it was also the most fun I have every had. I was able to be very close with every crew member.   I am happy to get a chance to play a different character and not just playing the same ones every time.  Acting is fun because you get to play different characters. I did a lot of research by watching YouTube videos. I tried to get characteristics but everyone with Aspergers is so different.  Some can mild, some can be severe and there can be a mild case and severe case in one person. It was definitely challenging but also very rewarding.

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: booboo, interview, sagas, stewart, twilight

Interview with Barry Bostwick

Barry Bostwick is known best for his role of Brad Majors in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”.  The film has become timeless over the years and it is been ranked as one of the biggest cult classics.  Besides “Rocky Horror”, Barry is also known for his role of the mayor Randall Winston in the TV series “Spin City”. He is currently appearing in the TV series “Cougar Town”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Barry about “Rocky Horror”, his TV work and also his busy plans for 2012.

Mike Gencarelli: How does it feel – because of “Rocky Horror” – to be known as an “asshole” for the past 37 years?
Barry Bostwick: It’s an honor to be an asshole! In fact my father, when he was alive, used to say “I am the father of Asshole!” He was very proud of the fact that I was asshole. He was a Rotary member because he was in business. He used to get fined a lot. Apparently the Rotary Club does funny things and they would fine the members if they thought something funny. Every time “Rocky Horror” was on television at Halloween my father lost money. (laughs) He was o.k. with it.

MG: Which cut of “Rocky Horror” do you prefer: the UK version that includes the song “Super Heroes” or the US version that cuts it?
BB: I like it complete. I like it with “Once in a While.” (NOTE: “Once in a While” was a song sung by Mr. Bostwick’s character, Brad Majors, in the original theater musical. For fans of the film, it would occur immediately after Brad has been seduced by Frank-n-Furter. The song was recorded for the film but was cut before it was released. In 1995, for the film’s 20th anniversary, the footage was finally shown. “Super Heroes” is a song that appears at the end of the film in the British theatrical version. The song comes immediately after the house lifts off. The footage was cut from the American version but the song itself was included on the American soundtrack album). It was one of those bizarre, explanatory kind of scenes…I’m not quite sure why they cut it in the first place. I understood why they cut it after my “thing” with Frank-n-Furter because it just slowed the movie down. It was the wrong time for somebody to sit down, smoke a cigarette and sing a ballad.

MG: Movie remakes have become quite prevalent within the past decade or so. If “Rocky Horror” were to be remade, do you think it would resonate with audiences as much as the original 1975 version did?
BB: Well, it’s a fantasy film. It’s a comedy. It’s like the movie “42nd Street.” Highlighting old musicals. And it’s also an old musical from its time. And the spoofiness of it makes it timeless. There’s really nothing you could update. I don’t think anyone should try to re-film it. It would be like doing the black version of “The Rocky Horror” show…like “The Wiz” from “The Wizard of Oz.” I don’t know how you’d do it. You basically have to do the show and it’s already been done. I don’t even like it when it’s done on stage now because the audience feels they can talk back to the actors on stage. To me that crosses the line of entertainment. I can understand that in a movie theatre because it’s “their” thing. But if you pay a hundred bucks for a seat at the theater you don’t want to be interrupted by some kids trying to out-shout the people on stage. I also don’t think the show works very well on stage. There’s a real dead part about two-thirds of the way through. I’ve seen it a couple of times on stage and it doesn’t really work. It’s a one-off. It’s a bright, colorful, kitschy…it’s a great movie of it’s time. I actually thinks it’s a really good movie. Not just a sensation…not something that was found and brought out of the gutter. It was actually a very well made movie that didn’t happen to click because of the subject matter when it came out. It was certainly ahead of it’s time. But if you ever go watch it without the audience participation I think you’ll see what a tight film it is.

MG: Your career has included a wide variety of television work. Is there any particular project that stands out for you and is there any one behind-the-scenes story that you never grow tired of telling?
BB: I don’t have a lot of “behind the scenes” stories.  I don’t have a great memory for them.  I sort of just do the projects and forget them.  But there is one – – I did a mini series called “George Washington” in the early 1980s and people still come up to me and say they found it very influential.  Somebody stopped me yesterday while I was getting my car repaired.  He said, “you know, you were responsible for me teaching history at the high school level.”  And he explained that he had been a kid in a high school class where the teacher played all of the mini-series.  She made it so come alive for him – the movie and the discussions afterwards – that he decided to become a history teacher.  What an honor it is to be a part of that mans life.  It happens all the time to me.  People from a certain generation will come up to me and say how much they appreciated the ingenuity and the influence of that film.

MG: “2010: Moby Dick” was a fun film.  Talk about playing Captain Ahab.
BB: (laughs) That was one of those ten day jobs where I did it just to see if I could do it.  I knew there would be elements of the film that would be deathly under-produced and that the special effects weren’t gong to be that great, but the character was so interesting to me.  He was so off the charts.  He was so larger then life.  It was challenging to run the line between this very classical, archaic character and an actual modern day person who could run a submarine – someone who could have actually gotten the job.  It was a tightrope act for me.  In one hand, he’s so over the top and so nuts.  In the other hand, not having someone just shoot me in the head and say “he’s in the wrong place”…..(laughs).  One story about that movie.  You know the harpoon gun at the end?  Two days earlier they handed it to me and said, “here’s your harpoon gun.”  It was some bullshit little spear gun that they’d gotten at some yard sale.  And I said, “what are you talking about…this guys has to go fight a god damned WHALE!”  So I went home and in two days I made that gun.  I didn’t want to be embarrassed by the fact that they only had a dollar and a quarter, you know, to make that movie.  I still have that gun mounted in my workshop.  I felt the gun had to be something reflective of the character…much larger then life.   

MG: You’ll be playing Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the forthcoming “FDR: American Badass!”. Given the title alone, we’re curious about this one. Care to share?
BB:  That movie was fun!  I haven’t seen the whole thing but the movie is very subversive.  Somebody compared it to the old “Batman” television series.  Every character says “fuck” at least three times in every scene.  If you look at the teasers on YouTube, one begins “another fucking moment from another fucking blah.”  I’ve got a sixteen year old son and a fifteen year old daughter and I’ve been trying to teach them not to say the word “fuck” and they tell me “well everybody says it.”  It doesn’t really have any meaning anymore.  I fought with them for years on it.  Then I do this movie where every other word is “fuck.”  They haven’t seen the film yet but I’m not sure what my argument is going to be from this day forward.

MG: Any plans to return as Roger Frank on “Cougar Town” this year?
BB:  I did one two weeks ago and I’m supposed to do one this week.  I think it’s the last episode of the season. They had their order cut to 17 or 18 shows this season.  I’m just waiting to get a phone call to find out when I go back to work.  I’ve got one more episode.  My character is running for mayor…maybe they’ll wrap that story line up before the season is over.

MG: What else do you have planned for 2012?
BB:  I have three or four films that are about to be released…they’re playing the circuit.  One is called “Finding Joy,” which is a sweet movie.  I play a bizarre, very agoraphobic guy who kills people!  I think it’s one of the best films I’ve ever made.  It’s just being distributed now and playing festivals.  If you have a chance to find it somewhere please see it. It’s a dark, “Coen-esque” comedy.  Then I have another one called “Home Run Showdown,” which is a kids movie about Little League baseball.  I enjoy working with the younger talent coming up.  And I enjoy encouraging their work if I like it.  If I can get a small film into festivals by attaching my name to it, than I’m happy to do it.  I’ve also got a pilot coming out on TNT tentatively titled “BFF,” which would star Julie Haggerty and myself.  We play the parents of a couple of kids in their mid 30s who still live at home, while his best friend from high school moves back to the small town to raise his family in the small town environment.  Trying to recapture the youth he had.  Once again, I’m playing odd and bizarre.  Very odd and bizarre this year!

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: barry, bostwick, interview

Interview with Kaitlyn Dever

Kaitlyn Dever is currently co-starring as Eve Baxter on ABC’s new hit show “Last Man Standing” besides Tim Allen and Nancy Travis.  Kaitlyn took out some time during shooting to chat about the show and what we can expect from this season.

Mike Gencarelli: What do you like most about playing Eve Baxter on “Last Man Standing”?
Kaitlyn Dever: It’s a lot of fun. Eve is totally different from who I am in real life. I did play soccer when I was younger so we do have that in common. I love how she always has the smart comments. I have sort of a dry sense of humor so the comments seem sort of natural.

MG: What is the coolest thing about having Nancy Travis and Tim Allen as parents on the show?
KD: It is really cool. When I found I booked the pilot I was very excited. I loved Tim Allen in all of “The Santa Clause” movies. Nancy Travis is amazing. She is so funny and she feels like a second mom. They are a lot of fun.

MG: How is it working with Alexandra Krosney and Molly Ephraim as your sisters?
KD: They are awesome. In real life I am the oldest so I never had an older sibling to look up to. Alexandra and Molly give me advice and I have learned a lot from them. They feel like my sisters.

MG: What has been the funny thing to have off screen so far in shooting?
KD: There are too many to choose from. I am always cracking up. Sometimes Tim will just start laughing during the middle of a take. He likes to joke around a lot on set. I really can’t pick just one instance.

MG: Do you have a favorite episode so far in season one?
KD: Probably the Christmas episode. I got to have some really funny lines in the episode. Nick Jonas was in that episode as well so that didn’t hurt. I also like the music video episode. They are all good though.

MG: How is it juggling your time between “Last Man Standing” and “Justified”?
KD: I am mostly doing “Last Man Standing” right now and during season 2 of “Justified” I was only doing that. Now that I am doing both we are able to work it out to where I can shoot “Justified” while I am on hiatus. For me it’s always been really easy to bounce between drama and comedy.

MG: What can we expect from the rest of season one on “Last Man Standing”?
KD: We are going to be meeting some new characters/neighbors this season. You also will get to learn a little more about the characters through some surprising dream sequences. Those are going to be really funny.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: dever, interview, kaitlyn

Interview with Chronicle’s Alex Russell

Alex Russell is one of the stars of the recently released found footage superhero movie, “Chronicle”.  Alex plays the role of Matt Garetty in the film.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Alex about working on the film and his character.

Mike Gencarelli: What did you think about the script for “Chronicle”, when you first read it?
Alex Russell: Well when the script for “Chronicle” was sent to me, I didn’t even have an appointment scheduled.  It was just a read for interest.  I read about 20-25 pages…lost my mind, called my agent and said “Please please please, you gotta get me into this”.  Then I hung up read the rest of the script and called up again to make sure I stressed I had to get in for it.  It was an incredible script.  It was so tight and slick but at the same time it was so seamless and naturalistic in the dialogue.  The story was unlike anything I have ever read. I never read anything like this before. It was just so original.

MG: What drew you to the character of Matt Garetty?
AR: Well the boring answer is, what drives any of the three stars to their roles?…would be that it is teenage guys with telekinesis, which is incredible.  What makes it extra alluring and attractive is that it is this wonderful wish fulfillment.  You get to play someone with superpowers, something you wanted to do since you were 6 years old.  Teamed with these incredible powers are these characters that are layered with complex beautiful relationships.  It is everything that you can ask for an artist to sink your teeth into.

MG: What was your biggest challenge working on the film?
AR: The biggest aspect is that it is a found footage film and shooting in that genre means that the camera is always on you. You would have a scene that is 90 seconds long and you have to hit all of the beats from beginning of the scene till the end. You have to also make it feel naturalistic and hit the marks.  It is very difficult to have that kind of consistency in acting. It is like theater, there is no cuts to hide behind.  When you team that with special effects, wire works or having to fly off in the middle of your scene, it is a difficult combination.  So that was the most challenging for me keeping to keep those things together.

MG: Tell us about the flying scenes in the film?
AR: I thought they did such an amazing job.  The special effects are amazing. with the flying like every other special effect in the film, the motto from the crew was to be practical first and CG later. We had incredible wire work.  I was going to work in downtown Cape Town and getting hoisted up 10 stories…I get this incredible view then they call “Action” and I get dropped 4 stories in a few seconds.  That kind of thing was exhilarating for me as an actor but it is also that much less you have to act since it is already there for you.

MG: How was it working with Dane DeHaan and Michael B. Jordan?
AR: Man, those guys are legends.  They are just great.  They were wonderful to work with and wonderful to play with.  We had so much fun shooting in Cape Town.  We had a blast but when it was time to work, all of us worked.  Everyone involved in this production worked the hardest and worked 6 days a week. Everyone was on the same page and had the same goal.

MG: What else do you have planned for 2012?
AR: I got some things on the boil that I am pretty excited about.  I don’t want mention them because they are being locked in.  I am an actor though man, I can always do with more work.  I see this year panning out pretty great for me and I am ready to work hard.

MG:

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: alex, chronicles, interview, russell

Interview with Brett Davern

Brett Davern recently appeared in an episode of the new Fox drama “The Finder”. Brett also plays the role of Jake in the MTV series Awkward. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Brett about his appearance on the show as well as what’s in store for season 2 of “Awkward”.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your recent appearance on “The Finder”
Brett Davern: I played a guy by the name of Cooper Allison. He is in search of his father whose plane went down while he was flying for the Air Force. His body was never found so my character wanted to know where he was and if possibly he was still alive. He uses the help of the finder to help him out with this. While searching he starts to have feelings for the character of Willa. It was a fun role.

AL: How did working on this series compare to previous shows you have worked on?
BD: This one was a lot of fun. The whole cast on the show was really great. Everyone has great chemistry together. There was also quite a bit of energy on set as this was the first episode for everyone. Some of the other shows you guest star on may have been around awhile so some of the enthusiasm has worn off. Everyone involved with “The Finder” was full of energy.

AL: Is there one memory that sticks out from the shoot?
BD: Maddie Hansen who plays the character of Willa is so young in real life and I think this was her first big role. Our characters had quite a few scenes together so to be there and watch her experiences was really cool. It made me think back to some of my first jobs. Maddie is very talented.

AL: Can you tell us how you got involved with the series “Awkward”?
BD: I went through the normal audition process.  I initially auditioned for the role of Matty when it was still in the pilot phase. I went all the way to the screen testing phase which was about a month long process for the role of Matty. They liked me for the show however wanted to try me in the role of Jake. They brought on Beau Mirchoff to read with me and the people on the show thought we each fit the roles we are playing now better. We shot the pilot and then waited almost an entire year to shoot the next episode.

AL: With the cast all being pretty close in age what is the camaraderie like on set?
BD: It’s really great! Everyone gets along real well and that includes not just the cast but the writers and producers as well. I love going to work every day. Beau and I have become best friends in our outside lives. It’s pretty funny that he and I had never crossed paths before doing this show. Everyone makes each other laugh and I think our chemistry comes across really well on screen.

AL: What can we expect from season 2 of “Awkward”?
BD: The writers are very secretive and don’t really tell us anything. I remember for the season one finale they kept the last two pages of the script from everyone except for Ashley. Until it aired on television I didn’t even know how the season ended. The only thing I know about season two is that story line wise it picks up from where we left off with season 1. Hopefully Jake and Jenna will still be together at the beginning of the season but I am excited to read that first script.

AL: Can you tell about your role in the film “The Culling”?
BD: That film is like a thriller/suspense ensemble type piece. We shot that in New Orleans for about a month and a half. I love that city. The film is about 5 friends who are heading to the South by South West music festival. Things take an interesting turn when they pick up a little girl at a local truck stop. Eventually the car breaks down and the story takes off from there.

AL: Do you have any other projects in the works this year?
BD: I shot another indie film in Seattle which is where I am from. The film is called “Junk” and hopefully that will start playing festivals soon. The movie is a movie about making movies. Getting to do little projects in between shooting “Awkward” has been a lot of fun.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: brett, davern, interview

Interview with Napalm Death’s Mark Greenway

Mark “Barney” Greenway is the vocalist for the legendary grind-core band Napalm Death. The band formed in 1981 and is set to release their 15th studio album in February. We had a chance to talk with Barney about the bands upcoming release and their plans for 2012.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the bands upcoming release “Utilitarian”?
Mark “Barney” Greenway: For this album we sort of spread out the recording process as we had so much material. It was quite a process to get everything together. The end result is really a continuation of where our last album left off. I have difficulty analyzing the material and comparing it to the rest of the albums. Our process of writing is very spontaneous and whatever comes out comes out. The real difference with the new album is I did some things differently with the vocals. There are some influences on there I have used before but not in this context. The influences are kind of alternative and not what you normally associate with grind core. I used a real ambient ballad type style and we worked that into the faster stuff. To be honest I wasn’t sure if this would really work. However it seemed to work quite well.

AL: What was it like working with producer Russ Russell?
MG: Russ is great! He is like a member of the band. His general approach to things is that as long as it songs good that’s all he cares about. He doesn’t mind if the recording techniques are unconventional or whatever. He is exactly the same as us in the band. It was nice having already known Russ as we didn’t have to go through that process of getting to know how each other works.

AL: Is there a particular song off the record you really want the fans to hear?
MG: The song “Everyday Pox”.  That track is also a personal favorite of mine as it’s really nasty! The track is pretty nuts and it just sounds really horrible and heavy. We of course are nice gentle people though. (Laughs)

AL: What do you think keeps the band fresh and current after being together for 30 years?
MG: We have always tried to go to places where bands have never been before. We have always kind of trail blazed in that way. We were the first band to play independently in the Soviet Union. That was pretty historic at that point. The band also has this chemistry where we never feel like we are just going through the motions. The band has gone through some pretty rough times and, we have weathered storms where other bands just fell to the way side. We have always had the drive to keep moving forward which is something that seems to come natural to us. There might come a time where things change and we might not feel as creative but that’s only natural. We take things month by month and year by year. We don’t want to do anything 50%.

AL: What other upcoming plans do you have scheduled for 2012?
MB: Well the album comes out in February and we have some shows scheduled overseas. The only thing we have scheduled here in the U.S. so far is the Bury Your Dead Festival. We are going to be doing more here in the states but we want to make sure that we get a good package of bands together. The days of going out with one support band I think are pretty much gone. We also want to make sure that the ticket prices are fair as well. It will take a bit of planning but we will get there.

 

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: barney, greenway, interview, mark

Interview with Josh Altman

Josh Altman recently appeared on season four of the hit Bravo series “Million Dollar Listing”.  Josh is not just a  Bravo TV Star but also one of LA’s Top Real Estate Agents. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Josh about the show and also his business.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved in the real estate business?
Josh Altman: I bought my first place when I was 22 years old with my business partner who is my brother. We ended up fixing it up within 3 months and put it back on the market as a joke. This was around 2002 in the time where you could buy anything, fix it up and sell it for more money. About 5 years ago I got more into the agent side of things and that is where we are now. Because of our early success and some of our celebrity clientele I had gotten called by bravo to be on “Million Dollar Listing”.

MG: How was it working on season four of the show, “Million Dollar Listing” on Bravo?
JA: It was great! I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. You never get to see what actually is being shot until its on television because it’s a reality show. I was very happy and doing the show was great for our business. The show in a way is a 9 hour infomercial for my business. Its nice people get to see the day to day work that goes into selling these massive homes.

MG: Was it difficult coming on to the show which was entering its fourth season?
JA: I hadn’t ever watched the show when I was first approached. I took a look at it and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it or not. I wasn’t sure how they were going to portray me on the show. After watching a few episodes I figured I could bring something fresh and different to it. From there I jumped in and took no prisoners.

MG: Tell us about your nickname “The Shark”?
JA: (Laughs) People call me that around town because I am the guy you want on your side when it’s time to sell or be represented. I am a ruthless negotiator. If I smell blood I am going to jump all over it. (Laughs)

MG: What is the most fun/challenging part of working on the reality show?
JA: I get to walk around and be recognized from the show. I was just in Italy and people recognized me there. That never gets old for me as I am a realtor and people know who I am. The difficult part was balancing the business and the show. With my brother as a partner that helped because some of that business was able to fall towards him. That balance was truly the hardest part and at the end of the day my business is more important than the show. When you see me with a phone in my hand on the show it’s because I am always working.

MG: Any word if you will be returning for season five?
JA: There will be a season 5 however they have not announced the cast yet.

MG: What is the largest listing that you have sold?
JA: We just sold a listing last week that was the most expensive listing ever for a condo in Santa Monica. The condo sold for 10.5 million dollars. It was pretty spectacular. We also sold a 16.5 million dollar home that was the 6th highest sold in L.A. county. Last year alone we sold over 60 million dollars in properties.

MG: When you are not selling houses, what keeps you busy?
JA: I would be doing this even if I wasn’t getting paid. This is something that’s fun for me. I do love spending time with my dogs and hanging out with friends though.

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Filed Under: Interviews, TV Interviews Tagged With: altman, interview, josh
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