Stacey Nelkin is known best for her role of Ellie Grimbridge in “Halloween III: Season of the Witch”. She was also cast in “Blade Runner” as the the infamous “Sixth Replicant” but ended up being cut.
Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Stacey about Halloween III as well as her work with the Monty Python gang in “Yellowbeard” and working with Tony Danza and Danny DeVito and the orangutans in “Going Ape”.
Terry Dale Parks has appeared in numerous television series and films. Some of his work includes appearances on “Homeland” and “Prison Break” to “Thor” and “Olympus Has Fallen”. Terry recently just finished work on “Terminator Genisys” and “Maze Runner: The Scorch”. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Terry recently about his work on the two films as well as some of his other upcoming work.
Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about your work on “Terminator Genisys”?
Terry Dale Parks: That started off kind of funny. I had started out thinking I was going to New Orleans to work as that’s where a lot of the film was shot however at the last minute I ended up going to San Francisco. I do some stunts in the film as well as playing a character. The role I play is actually that of a guy who is in charge of one of the cybernetic research facilities. This was such a great film to work on. The thing Director Alan Taylor wanted to do was to make this film feel like the original James Cameron “Terminator” films. The film is sort of picking up where the originals left off. Having Arnold back in the film and getting to work around him was really a treat for me.
AL: What was your take on the “Terminator” series prior to working on it and how do you feel it fits in with the previous films?
TDP: I grew up with “Terminator” and the first 3 movies are really what I consider to be it for me in the series. Growing up in the 80’s and with that classic “I’ll Be Back” phrase that’s really where I see this new film fitting in. It really goes back to the originals. There’s a lot of heart in this film and it’s not just constant CGI effects. That’s the thing I loved about the original films was that all the characters had these dynamic relationships. Genisys has some great surprises and I think people are really going to like the film.
AL: You also are going to be appearing in “Maze Runner: The Scorch”. What can you tell us about that project?
TDP: I had never really heard about the first film. I ended up going to see the film one day not knowing what to expect and ultimately I found the film to be really interesting. What I loved about it is was how the relationship between the kids in the film developed. As the film went on it felt like they were this little family. So literally the next day after seeing the first film I got a call from my agent asking if I would be interested in reading for the film. I actually read for several different roles when I went in. I ended up landing a role where I am in charge of a facility where the kids are taken. I can’t really say much more than that. “The Scorch” literally picks up where the first film ended and it’s almost like watching your favorite Sci-Fi series and this is the next episode. What I found with working on this project is that the kids in the film have such a great relationship off screen that it seems to carry over to on screen. They are all great kids and it was a real pleasure working with everyone.
AL: You have a pretty extensive television resume as well. Do you find it difficult to transition between television and film roles?
TDP: There are long hours and hard work that go into both. Sometimes when you are working on a television show you might be working on 4 different scripts which are being shot on a couple different sets all in one day. With a film you’re working on one thing so you are only focusing on certain scenes each day. With the television stuff I have to spend a little bit more time making sure I have everything set and am on the right page so to speak for each shot as like I said before a lot of times were working on multiple episodes at one time.
AL: Since were on the topic of television can you tell us about working on “Astronaut Wives Club”?
TDP: That was such a great and fun cast to be around. The show is going to be a 10 part mini-series on ABC. I think people are going to find this show very appealing as I think it has something that appeals to all demographics. For the guys the astronaut angle I think will be very interesting. At times the show also has a “Desperate Housewives” feel to it as it showcases a lot of the drama that these guys went through. When the ten episodes are up I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t order more. It’s based off of a series of books so there are more options if they choose to continue on with it.
AL: Are there any other projects you have in the works that you would like to mention?
TDP: I did a project with Kyra Sedgwick titled “Big Sky”. That’s should be an interesting film that I think people will like. It’s definitely a thriller and also stars Bella Thorne and Frank Grillo. I am very excited for that to come out.
Actors: Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck, Gemma Arterton, Anthony Mackie
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes
Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars
“Runner Runner” seemed to have a lot going for it. A list cast including Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, who both are very hot right now. When I first saw a trailer for list I was just extremely disinterested. I think they had the right idea but it was just poorly executed. The script is quite poor and probably should take most of the blame here because our actors do their best to save this film with their performances. Since I am sucker for poker films, I could probably recommend this to fans of Timberlake and Affleck but just keep expectations very low.
Official Premise: Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck star in this high-stakes crime thriller where the lure of easy money is the riskiest bet of all. When Princeton grad student Richie Furst (Timberlake) believes he’s been swindled by an online poker site, he heads to Costa Rica to confront gambling tycoon Ivan Block (Affleck), the man he thinks is responsible. But Richie will soon face the ultimate power play as he finds himself caught between Block’s promises of unlimited wealth and the zealous FBI agent (Anthony Mackie) trying to bring him down.
“Runner Runner” does get a solid Blu-ray, thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The 1080p high-definition transfer is quite beautiful and really shows off Costa Rica quite well. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works as well especially with Christophe Meck’s score. The special features are another let down though. “House of Cards- The Inside Story of Online Poker” take a look into the world the film is based around. Besides that there are about 10 minutes of deleted scenes and a Theatrical Trailer included.
Actors: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Daryl Hannah, Sean Young
Director: Ridley Scott
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Run Time: 117 minutes
Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars
“Blade Runner” has been labeled with “The #1 Sci-Fi Film of all time” and it damn well deserves it. The film is so epic and even though it is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, it looks like it was made yesterday. This release comes stocked with a 4-Disc Blu-ray/ DVD + Book + UltraViolet Digital Copy Combo Pack. I am particularly psyched about the streaming digital copy. How does that sound in terms of ass-kicking? What since the film is celebrating its birthday, there should be gifts right? This one comes packed with goodies, including an all new concept spinner car replica, an action Lenticular and a 72 page art production book with never-before-seen Ridley sketches, poster art and photos. All that is fantastic and should satisfy any fan of the film. This commemorative gift set also includes all 10+ hours of bonus content from the equally amazing 2007 Ultimate Collector’s Edition, as well as all five feature film versions – The Final Cut, ‘92 Director’s Cut, Domestic and International Theatrical versions and the rare Workprint.
Also like the 2007 Ultimate Collector’s Edition, the video includes a really sharp pristine 1080P transferred from the newly minted 4K master. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is simply remarkable for the “Final Cut”. I have seen this film so many times and yet it still never managed to impress me. I should also note that the Vangelis’ score is also perfectly showcased on this TrueHD track. The rest of the versions are presented in standard Dolby Digital and the rare Workprint is presented in Dolby 2.0 stereo. If you are looking for the special features from the 2007 edition, look no future. There is over 10+ hours of extras included here as well spread out over the five disc, which seem to cover every aspect of the film’s production that is imaginable from commentaries to featurettes.
The first disc houses the film’s audio commentary tracks. Disc two holds the amazing must-watch documentary, “Dangerous Days” and runs over 3.5 hours itself. Disc three is baren of extra but don’t worry disc four is jam-packed. There are numerous featurettes, including “The Electric Dream: Remember Philip K. Dick”, “Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel Vs. the Film”, Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews, “Signs of the Times: Graphic Design”, “Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling”, “The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth”, “Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art” and “Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard”. There is also some vintage featurettes and screen tests for Rachel & Pris, as well as various deleted and alternate scenes. Lastly the extras are wrapped up on the fourth disc with theatrical trailers. The fifth disc sums up this amazing collection of extras with yet another audio commentary track and a great featurettes “All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cuts”, which covers every possible aspect of the various cuts.
I still have (and cherish) my limited and numbered “Blade Runner”- Five-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition in the kick-ass briefcase. So this edition doesn’t top that one in terms of coolness but in my eyes but it is still absolutely amazing! I know this maybe be hard to believe but, YES!, it is definitely worth the double-dip. Warner Bros. is also releasing a solo three-disc Blu-ray Book edition. It will also deliver the five cuts of the film and all special features from the 30th Anniversary set. Though the Blu-ray Book itself gets chopped down to only thirty-six pages instead of seventy-two pages. It also cuts out the DVD disc, UV copies and of course the spinner replica and Lenticular hologram. So you decide which one you want but I highly recommend this release is a no-brainer if you are a fan!
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Joe Turkel is known best for his role of Lloyd the Bartender in “The Shining”. Joe also played the iconic role of Dr. Eldon Tyrell in Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”. Media Mikes had a rare chance to chat with this amazing actor, courtesy of C & V Promotions, to discuss his iconic roles and tell some great stories.
Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about how you originally get invovled with Stanley Kubrick on “The Shining”?
Joe Turkel: That was the third picture I did with Stanley Kubrick. He first saw me in a little picture I did called “Man Crazy”. He liked the work I did and said he would like to use me in a picture he did called “The Killing” in 1956. He said it was a little role but he had something better coming up. Little did I know then but he was talking about “Paths of Glory”. He changed my life.
MG: Having worked twice before with Kubrick; did his style change over 20 years later on “The Shining”?
JT: He took a lot of time then but a lot of time on “The Shining”. He had a lot of attority and he wasn’t afraid to use that attority. Like with “Eyes Wide Shut”, he had a rule that anyone like producers or related to the film will not be permitted on the set. He just had this attority.
MG: How did you prepare for this unique role of Lloyd the Bartender in “The Shining”?
JT: It was just another part for me. I approached it like I would any other and that was it.
MG: How was it working with Jack Nicholson?
JT: Jack Nicholson is just the greatest. I’ll tell you a story about Jack. I am responisble for his career. In 1961 he has just come out from the East Coast and I had been there for ten years. He was broke most of the time. One day I was at the race track with a friend of mine and I hit a daily double for $4,400 dollars. Now that is a lot of money in those days. As I was getting the money settled, my friend saw Jack and I told him what just happened. Kenny, my friend, told me he owed Jack $800 bucks. So I told him to pay him and I gave him the money. Jack said to me “You know something Turkel, I was going to go back to New York but it is too fucking cold. I will take this money and it will get me through the winter.” But during the winter, he got lucky got a role and the rest is history.
MG: With a role that is consists of two scenes, how can you reflect on the impact they had on the film?
JT: I was suprised they had such an impact. Stanley and I were talking on set about how good it was and I told him “Stanley, thanks but I don’t want to wait 25 years between pictures”. We were both New Yorkers so we had this special bond. He told me we would work together again but that was the last time I saw him.
MG: Since the films are so different; did the productions of “The Shining” and “Blade Runner” differ much?
JT: Ridley Scott three times during my filming and asked me how I thought Stanley Kubrick would approach certain scenes. He was completely enamored with his work. Steven Spielberg said he was “the grandmaster of filmmaking”. So for Ridley Scott to come over and ask me for suggestion it was amazing.
MG: How did you prepare for the such an iconic character, Dr. Eldon Tyrell?
JT: Well I mad it that way [laughs]. I played it that way. It was a nice role and I did well. I have had better roles. I have had worse roles. Everything I have done has been unique from the fucking ruler of the world to a bartender. They were all crazy. I also like to do
comedy, which I have done over years in television.
MG: How do you feel about Ridley Scottworking on a sequel after all these years?
It is not going to be as good as the first. Sequels never are. The first one is always the one looked at.
MG: What do you like most about meeting your fans at conventions?
JT: It’s amazing. Just amazing. They are so gratitous. They are so happy to meet me. When I did a Q&A, the house was completely packed. They were asking questions about Kubrick and “Blade Runner”. I was taking pictures at the bar in full costume as Lloyd The Bartender from “The Shining”, so that was really cool as well.
