screen Archives - MediaMikes

BEHIND THE SCREEN: 93rd Annual Academy Awards – A Night to (NOT) Remember

Well, thank God that’s over. The final film award ceremony of 2021 is over, and not a minute too soon.

Viewers who tuned in to the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony (guilty, but I have a website. What’s your excuse?) were treated to un-enthusiastic presenters, amazingly long speeches (I’m guessing Questlove wasn’t told he could play people off) and an “In Memoriam” segment that looks like it was thrown together at the last minute. And can someone tell me how a show with no host, opening monologue and zero musical numbers – unless you count the embarrassing “Oscar Music Trivia” game that featured Glenn Close shaking her ass to E.U.’s “Da Butt” – ran almost 3 1/2 hours??

On a positive note, there were some great achievements rewarded. A woman of color (Chloe Zhao) was named Best Director, only the second time a woman has won that Award. Think about that. Out of 465 nominees only SEVEN women have been nominated: Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion, Sophia Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow (who won), Greta Gerwig, Ms. Zhao and Emerald Fennell, who with Ms. Zhao was nominated this year. Which means such female directors, like Penny Marshall and Barbra Streisand, have been totally ignored, even though in the past they had directed films nominated for Best Picture!

Daniel Kaluuya and Youn Yuh-jing took home the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards, respectively, putting a slight dent into the #OscarSoWhite reputation.

Frances McDormand became the second actress to receive (3) Best Actress awards when her name was announced last night, putting her right behind the immortal Katherine Hepburn, who won (4). Meryl Streep does have (3) Oscars, but one was for Best Supporting Actress. Ms. McDormand picked up a 4th Oscar as one of the producers of the evening’s Best Picture, “Nomadland.” And whose idea was it to give the Best Picture award out early? Normally it’s the last award of the night, but on this night it was awarded before Best Actress and Actor were named. My hunch is that the producers assumed the late Chadwick Boseman, who was nominated for his final performance in the film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” would win, which would have made for a nice emotional way to end the evening. Instead, Joaquin Phoenix sheepishly announced Anthony Hopkins as the winner of the Best Actor award, and that was a wrap!

My beef with the “In Memoriam” segment was that, for some reason, the Academy figured if you were watching you knew who everyone was and what they did. An introduction that took u 1/3 of the segment, no film clips and, while known talents like Christopher Plummer, George Segal and Wilford Brimley got a few seconds of screen time each, others – among them Marge Champion (a great dancer), Shirley Knight (a fine actress), Kelly Preston (same) and Michael Chapman (an amazing cinematographer whose credits include “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and “The Fugitive”) whizzed by in a blink.

The fact that only nominees and presenters were allowed to be in the venue also made for dull television. Smatterings of applause signaled that the guests in the theatre were apparently as bored as the ones at my house.

Blame it on COVID. Blame it on the fact that none of the films nominated were “NAME” films – no “Titanic,” “Avatar” or “Lord of the Rings” in the bunch. Blame it on bad television. There’s plenty of blame to go around.

For those of you who went to bed early, here is a list of the winners:

Best Picture – Nomadland

Best Actor in a Leading Role– Anthony Hopkins (The Father)

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Frances McDormand (Nomadland)

Best Director – Chloé Zhao (Nomadland)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Youn Yuh-jung (Minari)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Adapted Screenplay – The Father, Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller

Best Original Screenplay – Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell

Best Animated Feature Film – Soul

Best International Feature Film – Another Round (Denmark)

Best Sound – Sound of Metal, Phillip Bladh, Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés, Carolina Santana

Best Costume Design – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth

Best Makeup and Hairstyling – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Matiki Anoff, Mia Neal, Larry M. Cherry

Best Live Action Short Film – Two Distant Strangers

Best Animated Short Film – If Anything Happens I Love You

Best Documentary Feature – My Octopus Teacher

Best Documentary Short Subject – Colette

Best Original Song – ‘Fight for You,’ (Judas and the Black Messiah)

Best Visual Effects – Tenet, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott R. Fisher, Mike Chambers

Best Cinematography – Mank, Erik Messerschmidt

Best Production Design – Mank, Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale

Best Film Editing – Sound of Metal, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

Best Original Score – Mank, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Commentary, Film Headlines, TV Headlines Tagged With: 93rd, academy, annual, awards, night, remember, ...

Behind the Screen: Here Comes the Strangest Oscar Ceremony Ever!

THIS COULD BE THE STRANGEST OSCAR CEREMONY EVER

In its 93 years the Academy Awards have seen some strange occurrences.

In 1973, Marlon Brando, who was announced as the winner of the Best Actor Award, sent an actress pretending to be a Native American up to the podium to refuse the award, citing the way Native American’s were portrayed in films.

The next year, David Niven was startled when freelance photographer Robert Opel decided to “streak” across the stage behind them. I always thought that this was a set-up. The camera angle was such that none of Mr. Opel’s nether-region was shown and Mr. Niven was awful quick and his quip: “The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is from stripping off and showing his shortcomings!”

And, of course, who could forget the 1989 ceremonies when Rob Lowe and Snow White engaged in a musical number? Only months before a sex-tape with Lowe and two women (one underage) had been released, which I’m sure upset the folks at Disney, who were already upset because they hadn’t given their permission for the character to appear.

But this year could be the strangest and most unpredictable ceremony ever.

Tonight, for really the first time since last year’s Oscars, nominees have been encouraged to be in attendance. In the past year, shows like the Emmys have had a minimal crowd (usually first responders) and the awards have been “delivered” to the winner via Zoom. Tonight we could actually see people walk across the stage to give their acceptance speeches.

Tonight also notes the first time that a streaming service has received more total nominations than any of the established studios. NETFLIX leads the way with 35 total nominations, followed by Amazon with 12. The highest number of studio nominations is 8, shared by Warner Bros. and the Walt Disney Company.

Streaming has been the thing this year. Though theatres are now open again, very few people are going. The one closest to me, and 18 screen mega-plex, is showing films that range from current (GODZILLA vs KONG, MORTAL KOMBAT) to titles that are months old. They are even trying to fill their screens with Bollywood features.

In the past year, I have seen three films in a movie theatre. The aforementioned GODZILLA vs KONG and MORTAL KOMBAT, both in the last 2 months. Before that, the last film I saw on the big screen was TENET. And I LOVE going to the movies.

With the exception of TENET, every other Oscar nominated film or performance I have seen this year has been either on a streaming platform or a DVD screener. A nice way for a critic to binge on what they need to see but also a way that takes the fun out of the movies.

I enjoy going to the theatre. Getting my popcorn and sitting in a room with 250 strangers who are about to share an experience with me. I like hearing others laugh along with me and I like sitting in the silence and hearing if anyone else is crying at the incredibly sad scene I just witnessed. And I like talking to people as we exit the auditorium, discussing what we saw and whether or not we liked it.

I should note that there were no more than four other people in attendance at the three films I have seen in a theatre. Which makes for a lonely exit conversation.

Hopefully after the awards some of the winners will be released to theatres. That is how Hollywood makes a little more money off of their films – re-releasing them to theatres after the awards to get a post-Oscar push at the box office. I, for one, would love to see MANK on the big screen. It’s impeccable recreation of 1940s filmmaking would be glorious to take in on a screen 40 feet high.

However, there are also good reasons to watch the Awards this year. Many of the nominees are a “pick-em” – there are no such things as “Titanic” nominated tonight. But my fingers are crossed for two awards and the reaction they will receive.

The late Chadwick Boseman is nominated as Best Actor for his amazing performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” It is his last film performance and it is brilliant. A victory here would not only honor a talent gone much too soon but will surely bring the house to it’s feet.

Secondly, tonight Glenn Close is nominated (for the eighth time) for her Supporting turn in “Hillbilly Elegy.” Not only is she the best thing in the film, she is so overdue for a win. Should she not win tonight, she will tie the late Peter O’Toole as having the most acting nominations without a win. O’Toole did receive an Honorary Oscar in 2002. A win by Close would surely trigger and emotional standing ovation. It certainly will at my house.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Commentary, Film Headlines, TV Headlines Tagged With: ceremony, oscar, screen, strangest

Behind the Screen: Why Does the “Rise of Skywalker” Trailer Make Me Cry?

I have to admit here that I wasn’t as anxious to see “Star Wars” as many of my friends were. We were 16 when the film came out and I was more than a year into my love affair with “Jaws.” Like my friends, I wrote away for, and received from 20th Century Fox, a very nice, full color campaign book. Four decades later, I still have it. I liked the film the first time I saw it but, as it got closer to edging out “Jaws” as the most successful film of all time, I began to dislike it. I wanted to see it again but I didn’t want my $2,50 to be the money that put “Star Wars” on top! Of course, like the rest of the world, I ended up seeing the film several times that summer. Like “Jaws” it is an important part of my youth. Something I could, and still can, share with my friends. So when they first released the trailer for the upcoming ninth episode – “The Rise of Skywalker” – I watched the live stream so I could be among the first to see it. And a funny thing happened. When it was over, I noticed that I was crying. Not sniffling but CRYING! Maybe there was something in the air. So I watched it again. And I cried again. I just watched it 10 minutes ago – four months after having first seen it – and guess what? The tears began to flow. Was there something wrong with me? Had I hit some point in my advanced age where I couldn’t control my emotions. Was this payback for bringing Richard Dreyfuss to tears when I moderated his Q & A?

I’ve gone back and tried to analyze this. I think what sets me off are the words “THE SAGA COMES TO AN END.” That and the shot of Lando in the Falcon, which proceeds those words, trigger so many great memories for me. Like the time we drove to Orlando to see “The Empire Strikes Back” in 70 mm. We were so stoked when we left the theatre that we circled the shopping center and informed all of those waiting in line over the car’s CB/PA system that (SPOILER ALERT) “Darth Vader is Luke’s father!” OK, yes, it was a dick move. But we were kids. Sue us.

I have a lot of great “Star Wars” memories. Chief among them is being asked to moderate a Q & A a few years ago with a panel that included Gary Kurtz, Alan Dean Foster and Charles Lippincott. I was honored to be asked to host this event and I brought the campaign book I had received in 1977 with me to get autographed. When I opened it I was surprised to find a letter inside, telling me about how exciting “Star Wars” was going to be. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that the letter had been signed by Mr. Lippincott. He basically introduced the film to me and now, 40 years later, I’m helping him and the others introduce it to a new generation. This memory makes me smile. So why the waterworks?

I think it’s the shots of Carrie Fisher that have an effect on me. Our Princess was taken from us way too soon. “No one’s ever really gone,” Mark Hamill tells us in the trailer. But Carrie Fisher is and that will continue to make me sad. I commented on a friend’s Facebook post about this the other day and it finally hit me. This film will officially put an end to my childhood. I still, and always will, have the memories I’ve shared with friends while we sat in the dark and took on the Empire. Sadly, many of those friends are no longer with us. But when I leave the theatre after seeing “The Rise of Skywalker” I’m going to imagine that those friends, like Obi-Wan, Yoda, Qui Gon and Annakin, will be standing in the lobby and smiling as our 42 year journey comes to an end.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: cry, rise, screen, skywalker, trailer

New Found Glory Announces From The Screen To Your Stereo To Your Town Tour

New Found Glory Announces
From The Screen To Your Stereo To Your Town Tour
With Support from Real Friends, The Early November and Doll Skin

Pre-Sale Tickets and Super Fan Bundle Packages Available Now at newfoundglory.shofetti.com

All Other Tickets On-Sale
Friday, February 1st

Upcoming Album
From The Screen To Your Stereo 3
Due Out May 3rd via Hopeless Records

New Found Glory fans are celebrating today after the band has announced The From The Screen To Your Stereo To Your Town Tour!! They will be joined by Real Friends, The Early November and Doll Skin for a stacked lineup that will be taking off across the United States beginning on May 30th. Pre-Sale tickets and Super Fan Bundle Packages are available now at newfoundglory.shofetti.com with general tickets on sale Friday, February 1st.

As if this wasn’t enough of a reason to celebrate, New Found Glory also finally announced the release date of From The Screen To Your Stereo 3. Due out May 3, 2019 via Hopeless Records,the album is the third installment of their fan-favorite nostalgic movie cover records. From The Screen To Your Stereo 3 will feature very unique NFG versions of movie themes like “The Power Of Love” from Back to The Future, “Let It Go” from Frozen and “Eye Of the Tiger” from Rocky 3 as well as 4 more theme song hits! Pre-order details have not been announced yet.

From The Screen To Your Stereo 3 Track Listing

Cups
This Is Me
The Power Of Love
Let It Go
Accidentally In Love
A Thousand Years
Eye Of The Tiger

The From The Screen To Your Stereo To Your Town Tour will include a very special stop in Franklin, TN for the second annual BreakFEST, a full day festival showcasing not only music, but the most important meal of the day – breakfast. Taking place on June 2, 2019, the event will be held inside The Factory. Bringing together both old and new friends in the music scene like Mae, Hawthorne Heights, Microwave, Jetty Bones, Love You Later, Doll Skin, H.A.R.D. and tour mates Real Friends and The Early November, BreakFEST is just another way that New Found Glory continues to find unique ways to connect with their fans and their local communities. For more information, please go to http://breakfest.net/.

A full list of tour dates can be found below.

UPCOMING NEW FOUND GLORY TOUR DATES
May 30 – Charleston, SC – The Music Farm
May 31 – Atlanta, GA – Heaven at The Masquerade
June 2 – Franklin, TN – Liberty Hall at The Factory*
June 4 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
June 5 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
June 6 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
June 7 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
June 8 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
June 9 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
June 11 – New York, NY – Playstation Theater
June 12 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
June 14 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
June 15 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall**
June 16 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
June 18 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
June 19 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
June 21 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
June 22 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
June 23 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
June 25 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
June 26 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
June 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union Event Center
June 29 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
June 30 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
July 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco Theater
July 3 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
July 5 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
July 6 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
July 8 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Live!
July 9 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin
July 10 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
July 11 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
July 13 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
July 14 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live

– BreakFEST
** – No The Early November

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: announces, glory, screen, stereo, tour, town, ...

Behind the Screen: Remembering Burt Reynolds

I’m a little late to the party, I know, but I really needed a day to gather my thoughts before I wrote my tribute to Mr. Burton Leon Reynolds, Jr., who passed away yesterday at the age of 82. Cause of death was listed as a heart attack.

I grew up in Tampa, and if there’s one thing that Floridians were always proud of it was that Burt Reynolds was one of us! Yes, he was born in Michigan but at age 10 he and his family made their way to the Sunshine State, so he’s one of ours!

Burt became an actor by accident. He attended Florida State University on a Football Scholarship (in high school he had been named both ALL STATE and ALL SOUTHERN as a fullback). In his sophomore year, he injured his knee. He later injured the other knee, and ruptured his spleen, in an automobile accident. These injuries hampered his ability and, seeing his dreams of playing professional football dashed, he decided to look for a career. After hearing him read Shakespeare in English class, his professor convinced Reynolds to try out for a play he was producing, called Outward Bound. Reynolds won the lead role and, for his performance, was given the Florida State Drama Award.

With the award came a summer at the Hyde Park Playhouse in New York. There Burton met actress Joanne Woodward, who introduced him to agents in the area. This lead to his first appearance on Broadway, in the play Look We’ve Come Through, earning good reviews. He went on the road with the show but soon found himself out of work. However, he soon found himself in the company of Mister Roberts, with Charlton Heston in the lead role. The play’s director got Reynolds an audition for the film Sayonara, but that film’s director, Joshua Logan, informed Reynolds he couldn’t use him as he looked too much like the film’s star, Marlon Brando. Logan did encourage Reynolds to go to Hollywood, where he soon found himself in small roles on television.

His big break came when he starred on the television show Riverboat. He gained more fame when he joined the cast of Gunsmoke as Quint Asper, a “half-breed” blacksmith. As his success in television grew, he began doing films, including Angel Baby and Navajo Joe. Reportedly producer Albert Broccoli asked Reynolds to be George Lazenby’s replacement as James Bond, but Reynolds turned him down, being unable to imagine an American playing the British secret agent.

“Deliverance” made Reynolds a star

Reynolds ascended to star status with his role in the film Deliverance. The film, coupled with Reynolds appearing as the centerfold of “Playgirl” magazine began a run of success that would, by the end of the decades, see him named as the most popular actor in Hollywood.

“COSMO” made him a legend!

His meteoric box office run included such films as The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, White Lightning, Gator, The Longest Yard, Lucky Lady and the second most popular film of 1977: Smokey and the Bandit (damn you, Star Wars!) 1978 gave us all a double shot of classic Reynolds, as both Hooper and The End are released.

As the 1980s rolled in, he continued his streak with roles in Smokey and the Bandit 2, Cannonball Run, Best Friends and Paternity. He also took more interest behind the camera, directing several of his films, including Sharky’s Machine, which was both a box office and critical success. Having released an album in the early 70s, Reynolds was a natural to star opposite Dolly Parton in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He later went on to star on the long running television series Evening Shade, earning an Emmy as Best Actor in a comedy.

Burt sings! One of the prizes on my record shelf!

Though he has played many an iconic character, Reynolds also turned down many roles that made other actors stars. Besides James Bond, he turned down the role of Han Solo in Star Wars, Michael in The Godfather and John McClain in Die Hard. The one role he regrets turning down was one written especially for him, that of former astronaut Garret Breedlove in Terms of Endearment. Citing a promise to his friend Hal Needham to do the film Stroker Ace, Reynolds turned the role down. The part was given to Jack Nicholson, who would go on to win the Academy Award as Best Supporting /Actor for his work. The one role he’s glad he turned down? Edward, the lonely businessman played by Richard Gere in Pretty Woman. Reynolds actually repeatedly turned down the role that would bring him his only Oscar nomination, that of Jack Horner, the adult film director in Boogie Nights.

We at Media Mikes have many fond memories of Burt Reynolds. Both Mikes (and our wives) met up in New Jersey, where Reynolds was scheduled to be a guest at the Chiller Theater convention. Due to scheduling reasons, Reynolds could not attend, but we spent the weekend making each other laugh as we all tried to impersonate Reynolds classic, high pitched “Ha-ha!” laugh. In 2011, Mike G. got the envious job of getting to interview Reynolds for the site. You can read that interview HERE

And if you want to hear that classic laugh, click HERE.

Breaker, breaker to the Bandit. Keep those wheels spinning and the beavers grinning. R,I.P. sir.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Featured, Film Headlines Tagged With: burt, remembering, reynolds, screen

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Emerge from the Shadows onto the Big Screen and into Fans’ Hands

Playmates Toys to Introduce New Toy Line Based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Film

El Segundo, CA – June 18, 2014 – Playmates Toys, the creative force behind the successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line over the last three decades, is set to introduce a new product line inspired by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies’ summer blockbuster film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, directed by Jonathan Liebesman, written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec and Evan Daugherty and produced by Michael Bay, hitting theaters August 8. The movie line of toys will include an assortment of products for Turtles fans, including action figures, vehicles and role play gear.

“We are proud to introduce an all-new line of toys that reflect the personalities and distinctive look of the Turtles in the movie,” said Karl Aaronian, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Playmates Toys. “The range of toys will provide kids and fans of all ages with a one-of-a-kind ninja play experience that brings their favorite characters from the film to life.”

“Playmates has outdone themselves yet again, with an incredible product offering for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie,” said Manuel Torres, SVP Global Toys and Publishing, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. “These products – from action figures to role play toys – will provide hours of play, collectability and deepen our fans’ connection to the beloved brand.”
The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie toy line from Playmates Toys will feature the following action figures, group vehicle and role-play gear:

Action Figures
The action figure collection will include basic action figures, 11-inch figures and deluxe feature figures. The action figures are highly detailed, fully articulated and uniquely sculpted to reflect the Turtles’ appearance in the movie. In addition, each figure comes equipped with unique accessories. The basic action figures vary in heights from 4.0 inches to 5.5 inches. The collection includes Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael, as well as Splinter, The Shredder, Foot Soldier, April O’Neil and Raphael in Disguise. The 11-inch figure collection includes the four Ninja Turtles.

The Combat Warrior Deluxe Figures are highly detailed, fully articulated and uniquely sculpted, with heights ranging from 5.25 inches to 6 inches. The Turtles’ legs can be squeezed to trigger battle actions. The collection includes Leonardo with quick cut katana action, Donatello with smack-down spinning staff action, Michelangelo with triple terror twist nunchuck action and Raphael with serious slashing sai action.

Vehicles
The Turtle Assault Van is packed with ninja action features, allowing kids to drive the Turtles into their next battle and recreate their favorite scenes from the movie. Features include a spring-powered Turtle torpedo, launching luge assault vehicle, pop top hatch and side attack ramp. The control cabin holds the basic Ninja Turtles action figures.

Role Play Gear
With the Ninja Combat Gear, kids can transform themselves into one of their favorite heroes in a half shell from the film. Each set includes the Turtles’ signature weapon and bandana, allowing kids to see if they have what it takes to become a Ninja Turtle. The collection includes Leonardo with katana sword, bandana and two hand guards, Michelangelo with Nunchuck, bandana and two hand guards, Raphael with two Sais and bandana and Donatello with Bo Staff and bandana.

About the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie
In this modern-day iteration of the popular franchise that has captivated audiences of all ages for decades, the Turtles must work with fearless reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett) to save New York City and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan. Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec and Evan Daugherty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is produced by Michael Bay (director and executive producer of the blockbuster Transformers franchise), Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Galen Walker, Scott Mednick and Ian Bryce, and directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans).

About Playmates Toys
With a history of over 40 years, Playmates Toys is today among the most well-respected and innovative marketing and distribution companies in the global toy industry with a proven history in the creation of imaginative products as well as the development and management of profitable, long-term brand franchises. Key brands include TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, HEARTS FOR HEARTS GIRLS and WATERBABIES. From its offices in Hong Kong and California, Playmates designs, develops, markets and distributes its products in over 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.playmatestoys.com or http://facebook.com/playmatestoys

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years.

About Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Toys Tagged With: big, emerge, fans, hands, mutant, ninja, ...

1984’s “Silent Night, Deadly Night” Returning to the Big Screen

Christmas is coming early this year for horror fans. Starting December 4th, Screenvision and Fangoria Presents will unwrap Charles E. Sallier, Jr’s cult horror classic “Silent Night, Deadly Night” in theatres all across the country.

The story of Billy Chapman, a young man who, at age five, witnessed the murder of his parents by a madman wearing a Santa Claus suit, the film was a hot bed of controversy upon it’s original release due to it’s story line, drawing the ire of parent associations and film critics, most notably Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

For a list of dates and theatres currently booked for this event go to www.fangoriaonscreen.com

See the Original “House on Haunted Hill” on the Big Screen in Tampa! [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

One of the best things about retro-cinemas is having the chance to see classic films on the big screen where they belong. This month Media Mikes has teamed up with the Tampa Pitcher Show to send one lucky reader and a guest to the November 23rd Horror Matinee presentation of William Castle’s 1958 classic “House on Haunted Hill,” starring Vincent Price, Richard Long and Elisha Cook, Jr.

The presentation will be hosted by nationally known horror host Wolfman Mac Kelly. Kelly is probably best known as the host of the long running syndicated television program “Chiller Drive-In.” The screening begins promptly at 1:00 p.m. For more information go to www.tampapitchershow.net

All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know what classic horror film you’d like to see again on the big screen. One random comment will be chosen and the winner will be notified by email. This contest ends at noon on Thursday, November 21st. Good luck!

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: big, haunted, hill, house, original, screen, ...

Mike’s Behind the Screen: “JawsFEST: The Tribute”

On a movie scale, if the original 2005 “JawsFEST” was the fan equivalent of “Jaws” then the recent “JawsFEST: The Tribute” was more like “Jaws: The Revenge!”

I took some time off between the end of the Fest and writing this because I wanted to make sure that other fans shared some of my feelings about the event. Some did. Some didn’t. Some were pleased. Some were pissed. Some were downright angry. The quotes that I include in this piece are real. And before I list the Top 5 Reasons “JawsFEST: The Tribute” was not well received I want to point out that this is not an indictment of the people behind the event. They did what they could with what they had. In my opinion (and a majority of those I spoke with) there just weren’t enough hands to go around. There was some fan input (mine included) but a lot of things were either dismissed at the beginning or fell off during the planning stages. The people in charge were nothing but great to deal with, both as a fan and as a member of the media. I was proud to have some of my memorabilia on display and even prouder to host one of the “Location Bus Tours.” That being said, here we go:

EXPENSIVE! (Part One)

If you’ve ever been to Martha’s Vineyard you know things are just a little bit more expensive than elsewhere. Never is that statement truer than during the month of August, the busiest (and most expensive) time of the season. Like the fictional town of Amity, the island needs summer dollars. The same hotel where I’ve stayed in early June for $145.00 a night was renting for $450.00 a night during the Fest. My wife and I were lucky to have found a nice 1BR studio to rent for the time we were there, averaging $225 a night. A little more than what we were used to but it had a kitchen where we could make breakfast before we headed out for our day. Even still, we spent almost as much on food as our airfare from Kansas City and back cost. Lunch and dinner routinely came to $30-35.00, including tip. And this was for what I would call “simple” food: sandwiches and such. We did have one “nice” meal which came to about $100 with tip but if you can’t splurge on a romantic dinner while overlooking the water on Martha’s Vineyard when can you?

EXPENSIVE (Part Two)

From the $295.00 VIP bracelets to the $20.00 programs, it seemed that every time you turned around you were opening your wallet. Let me be up front here and inform the reader that because of my assistance with the Fest, the fact that I was also there as a member of the media and that I had actually won a free general admission for winning a contest describing my best original 2005 “JawsFest” memory, neither myself or my wife had to pay for our bracelets. Those that did were disappointed to find that not everyone was checking them. “I feel so bad for people who paid for the gold bracelets,” said one fan. “People with red bracelets got into things meant for gold bracelets, people with no bracelets got into things meant for people with bracelets period. Things were sold at outrageous prices and then just handed out for free on the same day. I’m pretty sure my $50 red bracelet wasn’t worth the free keychain (that wasn’t even like…given to us… we had to go find them) and the foam fin hat that Discovery channel pushed at us.” Said another, “gold bracelets basically got nothing for their money. I had an absolutely amazing time but it had nothing to do with “JawsFest.” If anything, it was in spite of it. The screening was a disaster. I can’t imagine people that paid $75 for the kayak to the movie + gold bracelet and they had to leave because the movie was bounced. Just seems like everything was very disorganized and very poorly laid out. You want to say ‘Well it was a labor of love, they did what they could.’ Then you realize people were dropping hundreds of dollars on bracelets and then the sympathy goes out the window. It’s not hard. Clearly define what you get for the bracelets and then make sure people get it. One worker said gold (bracelets) got free bags. Other worker said they didn’t but got a special bag. A third worker said the special bags were for special bracelets above gold. No one had a clue what you got and the answer was really nothing. Red bracelets got a free key chain bottle opener that can’t open bottles. That’s it. $50 for a $1 key chain? You could say they got to see the movie in the park but IT WAS IN THE PARK and I was sitting next to people without bracelets.”

In my opinion, the Fest was a cash grab. Autographs were $20.00 each. They were free at the 2005 JawsFEST. Having done many celebrity events in my lifetime I’ve always tried to include the guests signing fee in their appearance fee. Maybe limit autographs to (2) per person per guest so as not to take advantage. I have no problem with the celebrity guests charging for their autographs. For some of them that is how they make their living and I certainly don’t fault them. For a brief time they were charging $10.00 for admission to the memorabilia display, even though it was advertised as free. . One woman told me, “the red bracelet got me nothing but $50.00 lighter…it almost seemed like it cost money to breathe the air!” One of the main problems I saw was that “JawsFEST: The Tribute” was NOT sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce as 2005’s event was. It was put on by a private promotional company and the goal in putting on an event is to make money.

One of the questions I’ve been asked constantly is “where did the money go?” I really don’t know. I know that money put in the donation cans is earmarked for the SHARK SAVERS organization and that money will continue to be raised into September. I’ve sent out a couple of emails but haven’t heard if any of the proceeds from the sale of bracelets, T-shirts, etc was going to anything but to offset the cost of the event. Perhaps if there is a profit some of that money will go to SHARK SAVERS.

WHERE WAS AMITY?

Another complaint registered by many of the fans who had attended the 2005 event was that Edgartown looked exactly like…Edgartown! Unlike the original Fest, the sign on the city hall still read “Edgartown,” there were no welcoming banners (Amity Island Welcomes You) and several of the businesses that still had their “Amity” business signs neglected to hang them.

THE GUEST LIST

Though a final confirmed guest list was posted on line in early June, several earlier promoted appearances never occurred, including Brenda Scheider (widow of Roy) and Virginia Shaw (widow of Robert) and their children. As I was working on a charity event in Roy Scheider’s memory and had wanted Brenda’s input I was informed that she would not be attending. But even though these family members were originally listed as attending nothing was posted to say they wouldn’t be. In fact, if I hadn’t overheard “The Shark is Still Working” director Erik Hollander speaking with her I never would have known that Mr. Shaw’s sister, Joanna, was in attendance. She was included on the V.I.P. list but it was virtually unknown to “Jaws” fans that she was indeed there. One fan had hoped to share a tragic coincidence with Brenda Scheider. Sadly, her father had not only passed away from the same cancer that took Roy Scheider from us all too early, he had been under the care of the same physician and passed away in the same hospital as Roy had. Tragic, yes, but a tragedy that had touched both of them similarly and one she’d hoped to share.

THE TRIBUTE?

What happened to “the Tribute” part of “JawsFEST: The Tribute?” Fans were promised a “multi-media tribute to Peter Benchley, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw.” Due to my past relationship and association with Roy Scheider I had asked to be a part of whatever tribute was being prepared for him. My understanding was that “the Tribute” was to be presented prior to the outdoor screening of “Jaws.” The original screening planned for Saturday evening was moved inside the Old Whaling Church due to the threat of rain that evening. It was re-scheduled for Sunday evening at the park in Oaks Bluff. Again, from a fan, “there were two guys playing some weird instruments and a poet laureate from the island read a poem about sharks and Wendy Benchley spoke for two minutes. No “tribute” whatsoever.” Another asked, “(you mean) they couldn’t find some college kid to ‘intern’ and edit together some sort of tribute montage of people who had passed away?” And a final comment on the screening pretty much summed up the event in total: “A large group of obnoxious full grown adult men and women were sitting WITH NO RED BRACELETS AT ALL next to us at the film screening. When they were asked to leave the VIP area by the soccer mom security JawsFest 2012 representative, they basically started yelling at her that (and I quote verbatim) “We ain’t goin’ no place!” So what did the JawsFest 2012 rep do? She GAVE them (for FREE) a handful of red bracelets (that I had to pay $50 each for) and told them to “just flash these if anyone else asks to see your bracelets”. We literally sat there and witnessed this first hand. If that wasn’t a kick in the balls to those of us who played by the rules and trusted that the event planners had this all under control, I don’t know what was. If it matters to anyone, the woman who gave away the red bracelets (that we had to pay $100 for) was walking around the film screening wearing the JAWSFEST 2012 banner over her shoulders like it was James Brown’s cape. She was also the person I heard yell to the angry fans who DID pay to sit in that area that “Hey, I told them (the non-payers) to leave. What more do you want? Call the police if you want to.” This was the level of professionalism our hard-earned dollars got us. It was essentially an “Amateur Night at the Apollo” free-for-all and we (the fans who actually paid) were footing the bill.”

Ouch!

On the positive side, many of us who have been “Jaws” friends for years got to spend time with each other. Old friendships were rekindled and new ones fostered. Which makes sense because Amity, as you know, means friendship. I was able to put a face to so many people I had only known via the computer and I began new friendships that I hope will last forever.

So where do we go from here?

2015 will mark the 40^th anniversary of the release of “Jaws.” This gives the powers that be, if they are so inclined, to start planning. One of my friends on the island stated that the original “JawsFest” had “caught lightning in a bottle.” And he was right. Everything fell together perfectly. Maybe it was because the people in charge weren’t planning on a huge turnout. My understanding is that they had hoped 500 fans would show up, not the 3,000 plus who came from literally all over the world. And I mean ALL OVER THE WORLD. I shared a house with fans who had traveled from New Hampshire, California, Kansas, Great Britain and Australia! Many of us have held our own “Fests” since the first “JawsFest.” 50 of us spent a week at Camp Amity for the exciting “NOFest” of 2006.” A Tom (“Smallville”) Welling sighting was one of the highlights of RestFest in 2007.” Even as I write this many fans are already talking about getting together unofficially next year in Amity. Should the island undertake another “Official ‘Jaws’” event, I’m hoping the Chamber of Commerce will not only be involved but will invite some fans to help plan some of the events. And hopefully it will be in June, the month the film originally opened and when the rates are a little more reasonable. It will give us a chance to not only celebrate our favorite film but to celebrate our friendships. Which is really what “JawsFEST” should be about.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Commentary, Featured Tagged With: jawsfest, mikes, screen, tribute

Mike’s Behind the Screen: Remembering John Belushi

READERS: The following is an expanded version of a “Behind the Screen” I did last year on the late John Belushi. March 5, 2012 marks the 30th Anniversary of his passing. I have included my list of Belushi’s best performances as well as an excerpt from my interview with Tim Kazurinsky, who was a close friend of Belushi and his wife, Judy.

I was very fortunate to have been around when Belushi’s star began to rise and very unfortunate to hear the news when it finally burnt out. As I do every March 5 I began thinking about what might have been and I came up with the following thoughts:

1. He was truly one of a kind.
In 1978 John Belushi starred on the number one show on television (“Saturday Night Live”), had a number one movie at the box office (“National Lampoon’s Animal House”) and added an album that also went to number one (The Blues Brothers “Briefcase Full of Blues”). I can’t think of any performer, past or present, who has been able to achieve that feat. Belushi was at the very top of the entertainment world before he was 30.

2. He was growing.
After his breakout role as Bluto in “Animal House” I’m sure Belushi could
have had a full career of playing slobs. But instead he pursued other roles. A small supporting role in “Goin’ South” opposite Jack Nicholson. A hilarious cameo as “Wild” Bill Kelso in Steven Spielberg’s underrated comedy “1941.” When he and “Blues Brothers” partner Dan Aykroyd were cast in the film “Neighbors” they switched their original roles, with Aykroyd now playing the crazy neighbor who moves in next to Belushi’s suburban house owner. His final complete role was as a Chicago reporter in “Continental Divide.” It is here that Belushi gave us a look at the future. His performance was spot on and fully developed.

3. What we missed.
Belushi’s last filmed performance was planned for use during the opening of
an episode of “Police Squad.” As Belushi died before the episode ran the footage was removed and replaced. In later years, when looking for extras
to put on the series DVD, the footage was no where to be found. Aykroyd had written at least two roles for his friend, parts that would be taken by other “SNL” alum. The first role was of Emmit Fitz-hume in “Spies Like Us,” a role that later went to Chevy Chase. The second was that of Dr. Peter Venkman in “Ghostbusters,” played in the film by Bill Murray. Rumors also have him turning down the title role in “Arthur” and the part of Billy Blazejowski in “Night Shift.” Billy Blaze made Michael Keaton a star. I’m convinced that Belushi could have gone on to have a career similar to Robin Williams, who coincidentally was with Belushi the night he died. In a bit of irony, Belushi starred in a short film on “SNL” called “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” In the film he mourns the fact that he is the last living survivor of the original “Saturday Night Live” cast. Sadly, he was the first to go. Belushi was scheduled to present the Best Visual Effects Oscar with Aykroyd at the 54th Annual Academy Awards but died three weeks before the ceremony. As he stood alone at the podium, Aykroyd honored his friend by saying, “My partner would have loved to have been here tonight to present this award,
since he was a bit of a Visual Effect himself.”

Last year I had the great fortune of interviewing Mr. Tim Kazurinsky. Where I could go on and on about John Belushi the performer Mr. Kazurinsky was able to talk about Belushi the person. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Mike Smith: Speaking of talent taken way too soon, you worked with the late John Belushi in “Neighbors” and “Continental Divide,” which were both very different roles than Belushi fans were used to? What are your memories of working with him and how do you think his career would have played out had he lived? (NOTE: A visible sadness comes over Mr. Kazurinsky’s face and
his voice lowers)
Tim Kazurinsky: One of the great tragedies of my life was losing John. John got me hired at “SNL.” I never auditioned. He just told Dick Ebersol “ you should go to Chicago and see this guy. He should be the den mother of the next troupe.” That’s what got me hired. Ebersol came…saw the show…and hired me on the spot. I wasn’t even aware I had gotten hired for the cast. I thought I was being hired as a writer. He asked me for my AFTRA card (NOTE: the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is the union for television actors and radio broadcasters). I asked him why and he said I needed an AFTRA card to be in the cast. I said, “What do you mean be in the cast. I thought you just hired me as a writer.” He looked at me and said, “You write?” I loved John dearly. He and his wife, Judy, were so kind to me when I got to New York. They looked after me. They were my guardian angels. (Mr. Kazurinsky’s voice gets even quieter). My birthday is March 3. The three of us were going to have dinner but Judy called me up and told me we’d have to cancel dinner on my birthday because John was still in Los Angeles. I could tell she was crying and I asked her what was going on. “I think he’s in trouble out there.” John had a bodyguard named Smokey, who had been a body guard for Elvis Presley. That week it was also his daughter’s birthday so Smokey went back to Tennessee. And of course a horrible confluence of things happened. (NOTE: On March 5, 1982, John Belushi died from an accidental drug overdose. He was 33.) And now, as of March 5th next year, John will have been dead 30 years. Where did it go? 30 years? He was such a totally misunderstood artist and man. That awful book by Bob Woodward did not serve him well. (NOTE: known for helping break the story that inspired his book “All the President’s Men,” in 1984 Woodward released the book “Wired.” The book, and the film later made of it, were critically slammed. In 1991, Judith Jacklin Belushi released the book “Samurai Widow,” a book that gave John Belushi the respect and honor he certainly earned). That book was nothing but character assassination. John felt he was being “labeled” as a performer. It’s like when the Rolling Stones, influenced by the Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” and “Sgt Peppers,” did “Their Satanic Majesties Request” album. It was full of psychedelic music and their fans went, “No!” John felt his fans were thinking, “you can’t do Mike Royko in “Continental Divide”…you can’t do “Neighbors”…you’re Bluto with the mashed potatoes.” But John was really smart. He was a great improviser. And he kept asking “do I have to be THAT guy for the rest of my life?” I think it really depressed him. Billy Murray was having success with “Stripes” and…I don’t really know what was going on inside John’s head but I know he wasn’t happy. He was self medicating himself and…I look at that book “Wired” and I ask “where’ is the man I know…he’s not here.”

My Top 5 John Belushi Performances:
1. “Saturday Night Live” In four short years John Belushi introduced the world to some of the most memorable characters and impersonations ever featured on “SNL.” From Jake Blues of the Blues Brothers to Samurai Mutaba to Matt Cooper in the many “Jaws” parodies, Belushi made those characters come to life. His impersonations are almost too numerous to mention, but a few of the classics include Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Beethoven, Henry Kissinger, William Shatner and Joe Cocker. To see him on stage next to Cocker is truly a classic moment:

2. “National Lampoon’s Animal House.” As Bluto, the hard drinking leader of Delta House that would go on to become a United States Senator, Belushi gave a performance worthy of an Oscar nomination.

3. “Neighbors.” As straight-laced suburban homeowner Earl Keese, Belushi played against type with his long time partner Dan Aykroyd. Here Aykroyd was the crazy guy while Belushi played it straight. His performance here and in the same year’s “Continental Divide” was just a glimpse of the career
he could have had in front of him

4. “1941.” Steven Spielberg’s outrageous comedy has it’s detractors but there is no argument that Belushi is the funniest part of the picture. Take a look at the teaser trailer featuring Belushi as Wild Wayne Kelso (later changed to Wild Bill Kelso in the finished film):

5. “Goin’ South.” As Deputy Hector, Belushi scored plenty of laughs in Jack Nicholson’s underrated comic western.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: belushi, john, mikes, remembering, screen

Behind the Screen – 84th Annual Academy Awards Wrap Up

Despite an early showing by top nominee “Hugo,” “The Artist” surged ahead and took home it’s anticipated Best Picture award at the 84th Annual Academy Awards tonight. Both films ended up with the lion’s share of awards, each of them taking home five trophies. “Hugo” took most of the technical categories it was nominated in, including Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects. “The Artist” scored for Costume Design, Original Score, Director for Michel Hazanavicius, Actor for Jean Dujardin and, of course, Best Picture. Meryl Streep won her third Oscar for her portrayal of British Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” Supporting awards went to Christopher Plummer for “Beginners” and Octavia Spencer for “The Help.” Plummer’s win made him, at age 82, the oldest winner of an acting award in Oscar history.

Best Animated Feature went to “Rango” while Iran’s “A Seperation” was named Best Foreign Language Film. Ludovic Bource’s score for “The Artist” faced some controversy earlier this month when it was revealed that director Hazanavicius had used a short snippet from Bernard Herrmann’s score for “Vertigo” in the finished film. Hazanavicius defended the sampling, pointing out that his film was a homage to the Hollywood of the past.

Hosted by Billy Crystal, the show flowed over an amazingly fast three hours and ten minutes. Below is a complete list of winners in order of presentation:

Best Cinematography: Robert Richardson, “Hugo”
Best Art Direction: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schavo, “Hugo”
Best Costume Design: Mark Bridges, “The Artist”
Best Makeup: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, “The Iron Lady”
Best Foreign Language Film: “A Separation”
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help”
Best Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
Best Sound Editing: Phillip Stockton and Eugene Gearty, “Hugo”
Best Sound Mixing: Tom Fleischman and John Midgley, “Hugo”
Best Documentary: “Undefeated”
Best Animated Feature: “Rango”
Best Visual Effects: “Hugo”
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Best Original Score: Ludovic Bource, “The Artist”
Best Original Song: Bret McKenzie, “Man or Muppet”
Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, “The Descendants”
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
Best Live Action Short: “The Shore”
Best Documentary Short: “Saving Face”
Best Animated Short: “The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore”
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Best Picture: “The Artist”

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: 84th, academy, annual, awards, screen, wrap, ...

Book Review “Sherlock Holmes On Screen”

Author: Alan Barnes
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Titan Books; Updated edition
Release Date: January 31, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Right now with the rebirth of the character Sherlock Holmes due to Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr., the world’s top detective is back in the spotlight. This book covers the complete film and TV history of Sherlock Holmes. The book is softcover and is packed with rare archive pictures throughout and they are presented in black and white. Honestly I was aware of how much Sherlock Holmes exists in pop culture but I had no idea how in depth and how much in fact. This book really gives great insight into the most famous detective in our time.

The foreword is given from the co-creator of BBC’s “Sherlock” with Benedit Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. It is clever and a great intro to this book. The books approach is an A-Z format listing episodes and films by title. It covers every single portrayals of Holmes, including Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, Peter Cushing, John Cleese, Roger Moore, Larry Hagman and of course the latest Robert Downey Jr. In each adaption, it covers “The Mystery”, “The Investigation” and “The Solution”. It covers overall a century of depictions ranging from the silent era to the present day.

Just because you think of the classic Basil Rathbone playing Sherlock, this book also shows the other side of the role in animated shows like Batman, Scooby-Doo and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If you are also wondering what is the new addition to this version, it is new research into the Sherlock’s silent film series. It is really interesting and especially with the new film “The Artist”, silent films are hot now and this definitely fits the appetite. Of course there is also new material for Guy Ritchie’s reboot of “Sherlock Holmes”. If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes than you will not want to miss this fantastic collection of every Sherlock Holmes work.

Behind The Screen: Everyone’s a Critic!

This past week brought a little notoriety both to MediaMikes and to me personally. With a click of the mouse I entered a favorable review of the new Adam Sandler film “Jack and Jill” and apparently, when I did this, I caused the end of the movie going world.

I’ve been writing film reviews since high school. And I’m sure since then people have disagreed with my opinions. But I was unprepared for the backlash I took from “Jack and Jill.” And it wasn’t the people that actually took the time to see the film and then comment. It was the people that not only HADN’T seen the film but had no intention of seeing it. The first three comments left for me on RottenTomatoes were simply, “F*** You!” In fact, out of the 169 comments left, the majority of them were critical. A lot of “How much money did Adam Sandler pay you” comments. Not a dime. We also received over 40 comments on MediaMikes. Thankfully only one dropped the “F” bomb. I made an attempt to explain myself but later on started getting as snarky as those commenting. For that I apologize. Mike G. and I appreciate the fact that you took the time to visit the site, even if it was for a couple of minutes. By far the nastiest comment I received was emailed to me. The entire comment consisted of: “YOU ARE A WORTHLESS F**!!!! WORSE THEN A N***ER. At first I thought to myself, “wow, Mel Gibson read my review.” But then I saw the return email address identified the writer as “tallmaninla.” Since Mel and I are the same height I wouldn’t consider him tall.

I won’t say I’m sorry that my review brought some attention to MediaMikes. That certainly wasn’t my intention, but we were featured on Sirius Satellite Radio, HLN television, MovieFone, The Huffington Post and I even had someone write an article trying to dissect my movie preferences. I would also like to point out that two other critics eventually liked “Jack and Jill.” And that out of almost 11,000 reviews from moviegoers who had seen the film, the average rating was 3 out of 5. My rating: 3 out of 5. Thank you average movie fan. I don’t write reviews for attention. I write them because I enjoy sharing my opinion of them. I’ve been a self-proclaimed movie nerd since 1975 (thank you Steven Spielberg) and will hopefully continue to be one until the day I die. If I ever lose my passion for everything cinema I’ll unplug my keyboard and go away.

I want to say a few things about what we do here at MediaMikes. First and foremost, we are two guys who like movies. That’s the job requirement. Same for our staff. We did not go to college to become writers nor do we think we’re writing the cure for cancer. OUR reviews are just that. We try to write for others who like movies. A lot of the negative comments I received also blasted me for not liking the film “Drive.” You know who also didn’t like “Drive?” The film critics for the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Leonard Maltin. And while I would NEVER presume to put my writing on the same level as theirs, I don’t think they received any comments telling them they had no business watching movies. One of my fellow critics here in Kansas City gushed all over “Drive” after the screening, comparing the director to Stanley Kubrick. He actually used the term “Kubrickian.” Really? After eight movies the guy’s Stanley Kubrick??? Kubrick’s eighth film was “2001: A Space Odyssey.” He’d already made “Lolita,” “Spartacus,” “Dr. Strangelove” and “Path’s of Glory.” And he still had “A Clockwork Orange,” “Barry Lyndon,” “The Shining” and “Full Metal Jacket” ahead of him. He WAS Stanley Kubrick.

I write reviews for people like me. People that want to be entertained for two hours. And if I’m blown away afterwards then that’s a bonus. I do have a pretty good knowledge of film history. If I were reviewing films in 1987 and had screened “The Untouchables” I could have told you that the scenes on the stairs of the train station were a homage to the Odessa Steps sequence in Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 film “Battleship Potemkin.” But would that make you want to see the film more? Besides, Brian DePalma is so often accused of ripping of Alfred Hitchcock that I wouldn’t want him to be known for stealing from a dead Russian as well. Kevin Smith included a scene in “Chasing Amy” that had his stars comparing body scars against a nautical backdrop. Do I mention that he’s “Spielbergian” in his work or do I just know that Kevin Smith loves the film “Jaws?” I’ve made a total of three films in my life. Even won a couple of awards. But I don’t portend to know everything about movies. I know what I like. And what I don’t. And so does anyone that goes to the movies. Believe me when I say it: EVERYONE’S a critic.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: critic, everyones, screen

Lionsgate Brings “Dead Island” to Life on the Big Screen

LIONSGATE BRINGS DEAD ISLAND TO LIFE ON THE BIG SCREEN

Feature Film Adaptation Of Deep Silver’s Zombie Sensation In Development At The Studio

Santa Monica, CA, September 27, 2011– LIONSGATE^® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today announced that it has optioned film rights from Deep Silver to develop a feature inspired by Dead Island, which became a viral media sensation when its haunting, artful trailer launched in February 2011. The announcement was made by Lionsgate’s co-COO and Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake.

Dead Island is a global brand first introduced through a teaser trailer that told the story of a family on vacation at a tropical resort who is besieged by zombies. Told in a stark, non-linear fashion, the wrenching trailer captured worldwide fan attention and unanimous critical praise upon its debut, receiving over one million hits in its first 24 hours online, and nearly 10 million views by two days after its debut. Wired Magazine, College Humor and G4TV all called it the best video game trailer of all time, with G4TV adding “The Dead Island trailer is the best trailer I have ever seen in my life. The best video game trailer. The best movie trailer. The best anything trailer.” The trailer went on to win the Golden Lion in Cannes at the International Festival of Creativity, the advertising industry’s highest honor, and it was featured by Adweek on their annual list of the World’s Best Commercials.

The video game Dead Island was published by Deep Silver for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. It was released in the United States on September 6^th, 2011 and was the number one selling game both in the U.S. and the U.K. upon its local releases. The game has sold over two million units to date.

The game centers on vacationers whose island paradise becomes a living hell when a zombie outbreak quickly spreads. Cut off from the rest of the world, the survivors have only the available materials and the island’s natural “weapons” to protect themselves from the vicious and growing legions of the undead. In addition to the award-winning trailer and video game, the Dead Island intellectual property will be simultaneously developed by Deep Silver into forthcoming graphic novels, novels and other extensions.

Like the trailer that will serve as its primary creative inspiration, the film DEAD ISLAND will be an innovation of the zombie genre because of its focus on human emotion, family ties and non-linear storytelling. Said Drake of the property’s acquisition, “Like the hundreds of journalists and millions of fans who were so passionate and vocal about the Dead Island trailer, we too were awestruck.” He continued, “This is exactly the type of property we’re looking to adapt at Lionsgate – it’s sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love. It also has built in brand recognition around the world, and franchise potential.”

The film DEAD ISLAND is currently in the early development stage with producers attached. Sean Daniel (THE MUMMY, TOMBSTONE, DAZED AND CONFUSED) will spearhead production through his Sean Daniel Company. A veteran producer with global franchises under his belt, Daniel is to be joined in producing by Stefan Sonnenfeld, who has been a pioneer in the post production field, using the process as a platform to create a unique visual brand with directors including J.J. Abrams, Michael Bay and Gore Verbinski. Jason Brown of The Sean Daniel Company and Missy Papageorge for Sonnenfeld’s Sunny Field Productions are executive producing, with Sarah Perlman of Sunny Field Productions serving as co-producer.

Alli Shearmur, Lionsgate’s President of Motion Picture Production and Development is overseeing the project at the studio, with Jim Miller, SVP of Production and Development. Rob McEntegart, Senior EVP of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, negotiated the deal with Deep Silver’s U.S. attorney Ed Labowitz.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with the comedy “Blue Mountain State, ” the upcoming drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spinoff “Meet The Browns”, the upcoming “For Better or Worse,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueled by such successes as THE LINCOLN LAWYER, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY, THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY’S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company’s home entertainment business has grown to more than 8% market share and is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

For more information visit www.lionsgate.com

About The Game “Dead Island”

Dead Island™, the gruesome zombie action game with RPG elements by renowned developer Techland, combines first-person action with a heavy focus on melee combat, character development and customization of a vast array of weapons. All of these gameplay features are presented in a dark story inspired by classic zombie movies with a gritty and engrossing campaign that can be played with up to four players in co-op mode.

Set in an open world tropical island, hordes of different festering zombies await players around every corner while they embark on a variety of thrilling missions through the holiday resort. With firearms and ammunition being scarce the player must rely on discovering and utilizing items as weapons for self-defense and fighting off zombie hordes in intense melee combat. A diverse range of items can be collected and will later serve to transform the player’s ordinary makeshift weapons into serious instruments of destruction.

Dead Island was released worldwide for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

Official website: www.deadisland.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/deadislandgame

Twitter: http://twitter.com/deadislandgame

About Deep Silver

Deep Silver, a division of Koch Media GmbH, develops and distributes interactive games for all platforms. The Deep Silver label means to captivate all gamers who have a passion for thrilling gameplay in exciting game worlds. Deep Silver works with its partners to achieve a maximum of success while maintaining the highest possible quality, always focusing on what the customer desires. Deep Silver products are designed to equally appeal to pros and beginners, children and adults.

Deep Silver has published more than 100 games since 2003, including own brands like the action role-playing game Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, successful adventures such as the Secret Files series and Lost Horizon, the role-playing game Risen and well-known licenses like the Chernobyl shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and Prison Break: The Conspiracy, the action adventure based on the popular TV series. Deep Silver has announced more upcoming highlights such as Risen 2, the sequel to the hit RPG, and Sacred 3. For more information please visit www.deepsilver.com

Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe and the USA. The Koch Media group has more than 15 years of experience in the digital media distribution business, and has risen to become the number one distributor in Europe. It has also formed strategic alliances with numerous games and software publishers: Capcom, Codemasters, Kaspersky Labs, Paradox Entertainment, Square Enix, Tecmo-Koei, and System 3 etc. in various European countries. With Headquarters in Planegg near Munich/Germany, Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux and the USA. www.kochmedia.com

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Read Complete Article

Filed Under: Featured, Film Headlines Tagged With: big, brings, dead, island, life, lionsgate, ...

Mary Tyler Moore Honored With 2011 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award

Mary Tyler Moore Honored With 2011 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award

48th Annual Accolade to be Presented During the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Simulcast Live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 29, 2012

LOS ANGELES (September 8, 2011) – Renowned actress, producer and humanitarian Mary Tyler Moore will receive Screen Actors Guild (SAG)’s most prestigious accolade – the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. Moore created a new paradigm for female leads in television, won top honors for her courageous performances in film, television and on stage, produced some of the most lauded television programs of all time, and for thirty years, has served as a tireless advocate giving hope to all those afflicted with Type 1 diabetes.

Moore will be presented the Award, given annually to an actor who fosters the “finest ideals of the acting profession,” at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, which premieres live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. MT and 5 p.m. PT.

In making today’s announcement, Screen Actors Guild National President Ken Howard said, “Mary Tyler Moore won our hearts as Laura Petrie and Mary Richards, our respect as her production company became synonymous with quality television, our awe as she tackled difficult subject matter in film and on Broadway, and our admiration she turned her public recognition into a catalyst to draw attention to critical and deeply personal health and social issues. She truly embodies the spirit behind SAG’s Life Achievement Award, and we are honored to proclaim her as its 48th recipient.”

Holder of seven Emmys®, a Tony® and an Academy Award® nomination, among numerous industry and philanthropic accolades, Mary Tyler Moore first rose to prominence when she was cast at 23 as Dick Van Dyke’s wife in his eponymous sitcom, based loosely on the experiences of comedy writer Carl Reiner. Smart, feisty and down-to-earth in capri pants and fashionable tops, Moore’s Laura Petrie was new kind of television wife and mother. The audiences loved her and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded her two Emmys and a nomination during the show’s five-year run.

Following “The Dick Van Dyke Show’s” successful run, Moore combined her acting, singing and dancing talents in 1967 as Julie Andrew’s co-star in the 1920’s film musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” She was Elvis Presley’s final leading lady in 1969’s “Change of Habit” and the same year made her television movie debut in the drama “Run A Crooked Mile.”

When CBS beckoned with the offer to develop her own television series, Moore formed a production company, MTM, with her then husband Grant Tinker. Their groundbreaking comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” premiered on September 19, 1970. While other comedies had been set in the workplace, Moore’s chronicled the career, friendships and dating life of a single, thirtyish, spunky, independent, career woman, in the unseen world of local TV news. With a brilliant cast, the character-driven series redefined the meaning of ensemble comedy and of family. In its seven-year run garnered 29 Emmys, including four for its star. Nearly 25 years later Moore was present as TV Land dedicated a statue in downtown Minneapolis depicting the iconic moment in the show’s opening credit’s when a hopeful Mary Richards tosses her hat in the air.

Moore and Tinker’s MTM Enterprises continued to produce an impressive list of landmark comedies and dramas including “The Bob Newhart Show”, “Newhart, “WKRP in Cincinnati,” “Hill Street Blues” “The White Shadow” (starring current SAG president Ken Howard) and “St. Elsewhere,” Characters from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” became the focus for several successful spin-offs in the 1970s: “Rhoda,” starring Valerie Harper; “Phyllis,” starring Cloris Leachman; and “Lou Grant,” starring Ed Asner (SAG’s 38th Life Achievement recipient), which significantly took Asner’s gruff but soft-hearted journalist from TV newsroom comedy into a hard-hitting newspaper-set drama.

Moore showcased her dramatic talent in her Emmy-nominated depiction of TV correspondent Betty Rollin’s battle with breast cancer in the 1978 CBS telefilm “First You Cry.” In 1980 Moore was nominated for an Oscar® for her riveting portrayal of Beth Jarrett, a bitter mother coping with the death of one son and the attempted suicide of another in the Robert Redford-directed drama “Ordinary People.” The same year she continued to explore painful subject matter onstage in the hit Broadway play “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?” which earned her a Tony for playing a quadriplegic sculptor fighting to determine her own destiny, a role originated by Tom Conti and rewritten for its female star in her Broadway debut.

Other feature films include: “Six Weeks,” opposite Dudley Moore; David O, Russell’s “Flirting with Disaster”; and Peter Calahan’s dark comedy Against The Current, opposite Joseph Fiennes and Justin Kirk, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Moore’s success in telefilms has continued across decades: In 1984, she delivered an Emmy-nominated performance in the ABC television movie “Heartsounds” opposite James Garner (SAG’s 41st Life Achievement recipient),; received a Cable Ace nomination for HBO’s “Finnegan Begin Again” opposite Robert Preston and Sam Waterson; delivered a stunning portrayal of disturbed first lady Mary Todd Lincoln in the 1988 NBC miniseries “Gore Vidal’s Lincoln;” and won her seventh Emmy in 1993 for her performance as a spinster trafficking in illegal adoption in Lifetime’s “Stolen Babies.”

Other telefilm credits include TNT’s “Miss Lettie and Me” and the CBS television films “Like Mother, Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes”; “Snow Wonder”; and “Blessings” based on the Anna Quindlan novel. She and Dick Van Dyke showcased their old spark in a PBS version of D. L. Coburn’s Pulitzer Prize-winning nursing home-set stage play “The Gin Game,” then reunited with a large number of their former cast mates in TV Land’s nostalgic “The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited.”

Moore’s television guest roles include: a recurring run as Tea Leoni’s mother “The Naked Truth,” an appearance as Ellen DeGeneres’s Aunt Mary in a Christmas episode of “Ellen,” a recurring stint as a high-strung TV host on “That 70’s Show” and a multi-episode arc in NBC’s “Lipstick Jungle.” This year, on the season premiere of “Hot in Cleveland,” Moore reunited onscreen with Betty White for the first time since “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” sharing a jail cell with White’s character, Elka, who was arrested in the season one cliffhanger.
.
Moore returned to the stage in 1987 to star opposite Lynn Redgrave in A. R. Gurney Jr.’s “Sweet Sue” and has performed numerous benefit readings of Gurney’s two-person “Love Letters,” starring opposite James Earl Jones to benefit, the Poughkeepsie Day School, Patrick Stewart to benefit the Ethical Culture School and Gene Wilder for the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center Association, as well as opposite Gurney himself.

Moore’s first autobiography, “After All,” published in 1995, was a frank exploration of her childhood, personal challenges and career. Her second book, “Growing Up Again: Life, Loves, and Oh Yeah, Diabetes” is a candid, humorous and illuminating detailing of her battles with the disease since she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (then called “juvenile diabetes” for its prevalence among children) in 1970 at age 33. The book includes conversations with remarkable people who live with the disease and those who work on the frontiers of medical research. Moore donated all her profits from “Growing Up Again” to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world’s leading funder and advocate for Type 1 diabetes science.

Moore has been JDRF’s International Chairman since 1984. She has also chaired JDRF’s biennial Children’s Congress since its inception in 1999, leading up to 200 children with Type 1 diabetes to Washington, D.C. to meet face-to-face with congressional representatives. Moore has been at the vanguard of JDRF’s visit on Capitol Hill, testifying before the House and Senate on behalf of increased National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for Type 1 diabetes, which affects as many as 3 million children and adults. Moore and her husband, Dr. S Robert Levine, have been generous supporters of JDRF’s research programs and in 2003 established JDRF’s “Excellence in Clinical Research Award” in recognition of outstanding diabetes researchers. She herself was honored by JDRF in 2007 with its Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Among many other accolades, Moore received the 1984 Women in Film Crystal Award, was immortalized in 1992 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was presented with the American Screenwriters Association first David Angell Humanitarian Award in 2002 and in 2009 was honored with the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award.

Moore co-founded Broadway Barks with Bernadette Peters in 1999. The annual event held in Broadway’s Shubert Alley promotes the adoption of shelter animals, seeks to end euthanasia of dogs and cats in New York City and fosters a spirit of community among the number shelters and rescue groups working throughout the city. New York Major Michael Bloomberg proclaimed this year’s July 9, 2011, event as “Broadway Barks Day.”

The Brooklyn-born daughter of George Tyler Moore and Marjorie Hackett, Moore, Moore had moved with her family to California at 8 and aspired to be a dancer. After graduating Immaculate Heart High School, she broke into commercials, then gained acting credentials in television, first as the only partially-glimpsed switchboard operator on “Richard Diamond, Private Eye” and in guest roles in more than a dozen popular series, such as ““Hawaiian Eye,” “77 Sunset Strip,” and “Wanted: Dead or Alive.”

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be produced by Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild Awards®, LLC. Jeff Margolis is the executive producer and director. Kathy Connell is the producer. JoBeth Williams, Daryl Anderson, Scott Bakula, Shelley Fabares and Paul Napier are producers for SAG. Gloria Fujita O’Brien and Mick McCullough are supervising producers. Benn Fleishman is executive in charge of production. Rosalind Jarrett is the Executive in Charge of Publicity. Jon Brockett is the Awards Coordinating Producer.

Screen Actors Guild is the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists’ rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents more than 125,000 actors who work in film and digital theatrical motion pictures and television programs, commercials, video games, corporate/educational, Internet and all new media formats. The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights. Headquartered in Los Angeles, SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama. Seen in 100.5 million households, the network is home to such original series as The Closer, starring Emmy® winner Kyra Sedgwick; Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander; Falling Skies, starring Noah Wyle; Franklin & Bash, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; Southland, from Emmy-winning producer John Wells; and Memphis Beat, starring Jason Lee and Alfre Woodard, as well as the upcoming series Major Crimes, Dallas and Perception. TNT also presents compelling original movies, including a slate of thrillers set to premiere this fall in The TNT Mystery Movie Night showcase. TNT is the cable home to powerful dramas like The Mentalist, Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order, CSI: NY, Cold Case and, starting next year, Castle; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; blockbuster movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. TNT is available in high-definition.

TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television’s top-rated comedy network and is available in 100.8 million households. It serves as home to such original comedy series as “Are We There Yet?” Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne,” Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and the upcoming Tyler Perry’s “For Better or Worse; the Emmy®-nominated late-night series “CONAN,” starring Conan O’Brien; hot contemporary comedies like “Family Guy,” “The Office,” and “The Big Bang Theory,” which begins later this year; special events, including star-studded comedy festivals in Chicago; blockbuster movies; hosted movie showcases and championship sports.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Tag: screen

BEHIND THE SCREEN: 93rd Annual Academy Awards – A Night to (NOT) Remember

Behind the Screen: Here Comes the Strangest Oscar Ceremony Ever!

Behind the Screen: Why Does the “Rise of Skywalker” Trailer Make Me Cry?

New Found Glory Announces From The Screen To Your Stereo To Your Town Tour

Behind the Screen: Remembering Burt Reynolds

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Emerge from the Shadows onto the Big Screen and into Fans’ Hands

1984’s “Silent Night, Deadly Night” Returning to the Big Screen

Related Content

See the Original “House on Haunted Hill” on the Big Screen in Tampa! [ENDED]

Mike’s Behind the Screen: “JawsFEST: The Tribute”

Mike’s Behind the Screen: Remembering John Belushi

Behind the Screen – 84th Annual Academy Awards Wrap Up

Book Review “Sherlock Holmes On Screen”

Related Content

Behind The Screen: Everyone’s a Critic!

Lionsgate Brings “Dead Island” to Life on the Big Screen

Mary Tyler Moore Honored With 2011 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award

Related Content