Interview with Joanna Sotomura

Joanna Sotomura is starring in the new horror film “Madison County”. She also recently appeared on the TV series “Criminal Minds”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Joanna about her new film and what she looks for in a role.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with “Madison County”?
Joanna Sotomura: I got an audition for the part of Jenna. I had seen that Ace Marrero was a producer on the film.  I have known Ace for quite some time. I went into my audition and Eric England felt I would be a better fit for the role of Brooke. I went back for a second audition this time for Brooke and, I fell in love with the character. I don’t think I had ever wanted a part that bad. We shot the whole month of September 2010 and it was a great experience.

MG: Can you give us some background on your film and character?
JS: The film was something the director Eric England had wanted to do for quite some time. It’s about a group of kids who go to Madison County, Arkansas to interview an author about a book he wrote. My character Brooke is the bubbly, social butterfly type that is kind of scared to go into the town but she thinks it will be a fun time. Brooke is sort of the tie that brings the group together.

MG: What do you think was the most challenging aspect of the production?
JS: Having to snap into a horrified moment for a second and then having to stop go back to normal and do it all over again. That jump was a bit challenging. In order to get to that place you really have to put yourself in that terrifying situation. Running for your life to laughing with your friends was a bit difficult.

MG: What was it like working with Nick Principe and the rest of the cast and crew?
JS: Nick came to shoot his scenes a few weeks after the rest of us. He was fantastic! We didn’t get to talk to Nick or see his mask prior to the scenes so there was an element of surprise. I remember one scene where he let out this yell and we were truly scared.

MG: Can you tell us about working on “Criminal Minds” and how does it compare working on film and television?
JS: I booked “Criminal Minds” a few weeks after I wrapped “Madison County”. It was night and day. We went from shooting this independent film in the woods to a beautiful set in Burbank. T was definitely a change. I got to work with Janeane Garofalo who was a childhood idol of mine.

MG: What other projects do you have coming up?
JS: We are gearing up for the premier of “Madison County” which is being held on Oct. 17th. Besides that I am shopping around looking for some other great roles. I would love to work with Eric again.

MG: What do you look for when choosing a role?
JS: I like the character to have depth. I would have a hard time playing a one dimensional character. I like to do comedic things as well. I tend to fall more towards the bubbly girls.

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Filed Under: Film Interviews Tagged With: interview, joanna, sotomura

Interview with Gil Gerard

Gil Gerard is most know for his  role Capt. William “Buck” Rogers in “Buck Rogers in the 25h Century”.  The show is still loved by fans everywhere even after 30 years.  Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Gil about his role in the show and his upcoming projects.

Click here to purchase “Buck Rogers” merchandise

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get the role of Capt. William Rogers in “Buck Rogers in the 25h Century”?
Gil Gerard: I received the opportunity and turned it down three times.  Finally my agent told me to read the script.  I read it and it was pretty great.  So, I decided to do it.  I turned it down because I didn’t want to do a cartoon character.  I have seen the old Batman series and didn’t want to that type of show.  “Buck Rogers” was based on a cartoon.  I thought that Buck had a great sense of humanity and a great sense of humor.  That is what attracted me to the role.

MG: Have you ever seen any of the original television show or movie back in the 30’s?
GG: Yeah, I saw it when I was a kid.  I preferred the westerns to the serials.  I watched “Buck Rogers” and I also saw “Flash Gordon”.  I got to tell you it was pleasure to meet Buster (Crabbe) when he guest starred on the show.  We became great friends and remained friend until he died.

MG: Do you have a favorite episode from the series?
GG: Yes, it from my least favorite year…which is the second.  I liked ‘The Satyr’.  It gave me a chance to do some character acting.  It also reminded me of what I would have like the show to do for season two.  Which was basically stay on Earth and have adventures on Earth.

MG: 30 years ago, did you have any idea that this show will still be holding on with fans?
GG: No, If I did I would have saved all the props and wardrobes.  I could have had all that stuff.  It was just a job for me.  I did it, the show ended and I did other things.  It is amazing that after 30 years people still remember and love the show.  It is incredible.

MG: Did you get to keep any of the props?
GG: I did.  I have the star fighter from all of the fight scenes.  It was the Buck Rogers’ star fighter.  I have it here in my house.

MG: You have you blog and you frequent the convention scene, do you enjoy keeping in touch with fans at conventions?
GG: Yes very much.  It is very gratifying that people still remember it and it is a really nice things.  I enjoy meeting the fans and talking about the show.  It is nice thing to be remember for something like that.

MG: Tell us about your two upcoming projects “Blood Fare” and “Lost Valentine”?
GG: In “Blood Fare” I play a professor.  It is like a civil war horror film. It relates to the old legends.  It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it.  It was very low-budget independent film.  I love to deal with people that are creative, young and trying to get things started.  I just love the energy.  “Lost Valentine” is with Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt.   I play Betty’s son.  She is a woman who is widowed in World War II, her husband was MIA.  Jennifer plays a TV reporter who is doing a story on her.  The whole thing revolved around the fact that he said goodbye to her on Valentine’s day back in the 40’s.  Jennifer ends up finding what happened to her husband and the lost valentine becomes the found valentine. It is a really a nice story.  It will be on the Hallmark Channel probably around Valentine’s day.

Click here to purchase “Buck Rogers” merchandise

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Filed Under: Film Interviews Tagged With: 2010, 2headed, angel, attack, bluray, creatures, ...

Interview with Tyne Stecklein

Tyne Stecklein, who made her memorable debut starring alongside one of her greatest mentors in Michael Jackson’s documentary film “This Is It”, has spent her life dedicating her mind, body, and soul to the art of dance. November 24th all of her hard work will pay off when she co-stars in the star-studded film “Burlesque” along with such greats as Cher, Kristen Bell, and Christina Aguilera. Movie Mikes had a chance to chat with Tyne about her love for dancing and her upcoming roles.

Click here to purchase “This Is It” on DVD/Blu-Ray

Mike Gencarelli: Have you always wanted to be a dancer?
Tyne Stecklein: Yeah, I started dancing when I was three. My mom was a dance teacher. I have done it my whole life. I think by the time I was twelve that I knew it was what I wanted to do professionally.

MG: How did you end up mentoring with Michael Jackson?
TS: Well that was a dance audition I got through my dance agent. The audition was by request only. There was dancers from all over the world there. I think there was like 400 girls auditioning for it.

MG: How was it working on the film “This is It”?
TS: It was really amazing working with Michael (Jackson). While we were working with him, we knew that he was filming but it was originally just suppose to be for his own personal collection. We never thought it will be made into this giant feature film. He was great to everyone. He was really just such a nice guy, very professional and knew exactly what he wanted. He was very hands on with all of us working on the show. Just getting to work around him was just amazing.

MG: Tell us about your role of Jesse in this fall’s “Burlesque”?

TS: I play Jesse, she is one of the lead dancers at the “Burlesque” club. My character is pretty sweet and innocent but me and the other girls that work there are not a big fan of Christina Aguilera’s character when she arrives. We do not like her being a new person there. But the club is going downhill at this point so she ends up having this hidden talent that could help the save the club. One of my funny traits is my character wears big frame glasses throughout the movie, even when I am dancing so that was fun.

MG: What was it like working with Cher and Christina Aguilera?
TS: Yeah, it was amazing. I actually had worked with Cher before for a year in Vegas. I danced at her show in Caesar’s Palace. It was really cool for me to work with her again but in a different setting. That was her as an artist and this is her as an actress. She is incredible at both. It is really inspiring because I would also like to be an actress. It was really cool to be around such amazing talent like that. I had a little scene with her and Stanley Tucci, which was awesome to be apart of. Christina is talent is so many different areas as well and this is her first acting role. She is such a great job with it. That was really inspiring to be around as well.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “Friends with Benefits”?
TS: In that film, I play the role of Victoria. Aston Kutcher is one of the leads, he works on the production set of television show. The TV show is has a high school setting and my character is the head cheerleader. She is the brat of the group. I actually auditioned for that as a dancer and then the director Ivan Reitman asked me if I would read for a role as role. I got to do both things, which was really cool.

Click here to purchase “This Is It” on DVD/Blu-Ray

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Filed Under: Film Interviews Tagged With: angel, callies, chats, deputy, disney, fishfood, ...
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