Entries Tagged 'Behind the Scenes' ↓

Unconfirmed rumors are swirling around LA that George Clooney has stolen the role of “The Lone Ranger” away from Nic Cage in Disney’s next big Bruckheimer franchise picture. Johnny Depp has already signed on to play Tonto, from a script by Pirates scribes Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. This would be great move for all parties involved and give George the opportunity build off an otherwise fine performance as Bruce Wayne in the dismal Batman and Robin.

Pirates fans left wanting more at the close of At World’s End have reason to celebrate. Walt Disney Chairman Dick Cook welcomed Johnny Depp to the stage of Wednesday, during the studio’s yearly showcase presentation. Decked out as Captain Jack with a Lone Ranger mask, signaling both his return to the mega-billion dollar franchise and his upcoming role as Tonto in Jerry Bruckheimer’s re-imagining of The Lone Ranger. The studio also announced a third installment in the National Treasure franchise, moved up the sequel to Pixar’s Cars to coincide with the unveiling of the new Radiator Springs (my verbiage, not theirs) area at Disney’s California Adventure, gave updates on many other projects including Oprah’s vocal participation in The Princess and the Frog, and screened an unfinished print of the new 3D animated feature Bolt for the assembled masses at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.

You can catch all the gory details over at ( ).

Oh, and the teaser for The Princess and the Frog — set in 1920s New Orleans, complete with music by the one and only Dr. John — can be found after the jump. Continue reading →

Sony is reportedly close to signing a deal with director Sam Raimi and actor Tobey Maguire for two additional Spider-man films. If all goes according to plan, the films would be shot back-to-back in 2009, with Spidey 4 seeing a summer 2011 premiere and Spidey 5 in 2012.

Source ( Hollywood Reporter )

That long rumored third Ghostbusters film just got juiced by Sony-Columbia. Variety is reporting Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnisky, staff writers and producers on NBC’s The Office, have been tapped to write the new script. No casting will be pursued until script is in hand and approved, but the plan is to have Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson back in uniform twenty years after there last adventure.

Source: ( )

Judge Clark Douglas: We’re joined today by composer Lalo Schifrin. Mr. Schifrin has written many film scores over the course of his career, including music for such films as The Cincinnati Kid, Cool Hand Luke, Bullitt, Dirty Harry, Enter the Dragon, Tango, and the Rush Hour films. He has also written a great deal of music for television, including the memorable theme for Mission: Impossible. In addition, Mr. Schifrin has also worked extensively in the fields of jazz and classical composition. He has just released his autobiography, entitled Mission Impossible: My Life in Music. Lalo, thank you so much for taking the time to join us today.

Lalo Schifrin: Oh, it is a pleasure.

CD: Let’s begin with your new autobiography. It’s a very enjoyable read, filled with fascinating stories and memories. Have you been collecting these and writing them down over the years, or did you decide to put together this book somewhat recently?

LS: No, I collected them in my mind, but didn’t put them down in paper until I started to write the book.

CD: It’s a really fascinating collection of anecdotes. How did you go about deciding how you wanted to put this book together?

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Prior to its release on DVD, Chief Justice Michael Stailey had the pleasure of sitting down with Scorpion King 2‘s co-stars Michael Copon and Karen David about their training for the film, the experience of shooting in South Africa, working with Randy Couture (Redbelt) and director Russell Mulcahy (Highlander), and just how many scars they picked up from this project.

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The energy surrounding a highly anticipated franchise film not yet released is like Christmas Eve, filled with childlike, unbridled optimism. But as is often the case, these expectations are rarely met. Such was the case with the second X-Files feature film at this year’s LA Film Festival.

Previewing The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Sunday, June 22
Majestic Crest Theatre, Westwood, CA

Panelists: David Duchovny, Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz

It was a rabid female-centric fan base that descended upon the Majestic Crest Theatre the night of June 22, as Fox teased us with two extended clips from The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Given the closely guarded nature of the script, neither revealed much more than we already knew from the theatrical trailer, with Billy Connolly front and center, helping the FBI track a missing person in the snow packed wilderness of the Northeast United States. What we did get was a bit of dialogue between Mulder and Scully and, despite the years that have passed between these two characters, some of the same issues still seem to persist.

Following the clips, Entertainment Weekly welcomed David Duchovny, Chris Carter (creator, director, co-writer), and Frank Spotnitz (executive producer, co-writer) for a moderated discussion. Given the amount of screaming and cheering going on, if felt more like a rock concert than film festival. For many fans, these three gentlemen are rock stars, giving them nine years of a television series that’s as vibrant today as it was 10 or 15 years ago. But how does one talk about a film that has not yet been released, and whose most minute story elements are more closely guarded than most NSA White House briefings? That was the challenge.

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As a lead up to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. has released yet another direct-to-DVD, DC Universe feature — Batman: Gotham Knight. This one takes The Animatrix approach with six loosely connected anime tales that feature characters from the highly anticipated blockbuster sequel to Batman Begins. Ana Ortiz, who most will know as Hilda Suarez on the hit ABC series Ugly Betty, gives voice to Detective Anna Ramirez of Gotham PD’s Major Crimes Unit. Unbeknownst to voice director Andrea Romano, she had originally auditioned for the same role in in the Nolan’s film, but lost out to Monique Curnen; so it was serendipitous that she should still land the part, in voice only.

Q: What were your impressions of your Gotham Knight segments?

AO: I loved them… and I wanted more! This was one of my first real voiceovers and, to do it for Batman, was quite an honor. My husband and all of his cartoony friends were really into it. They all watched my copy of the movie and dug it. I have to admit that it’s fun being in something that my guy friends could get into. So now I’ve got my macho cred, too.

Q: What did you think of the physical appearance of your character?

AO: I was thrilled. I’ve always wanted curly long locks, so that was so cool. And she’s super cute. I loved she wasn’t too stuffy. Sometimes with lady cops, they try to be too much like guys. She was foxy, she had jeans and a cute little blazer. It was fun to see her when we were doing the voices, but it’s really cool to see the film in its final form.

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WHERE WERE YOU IN ’79?: A CONVERSATION WITH WILLARD HUYCK & GLORIA KATZ ON FRENCH POSTCARDS

Many people may not remember the 1979 French Postcards. Those that do, however, look back on this little film with loads of affection and nostalgia. The filmmakers, Willard Huyck (director) and Gloria Katz (producer) wrote this indie charmer, which was picked up by Paramount Pictures and filmed in the romantic city of Paris on an extremely low budget. The husband-and-wife team — who were also the scribes behind American Graffiti and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom — and I recently had a wonderful phone interview. Join us as we discuss the Paris shoot, working with the young actors (including a young Debra Winger), and howling about their cult masterpiece Howard The Duck!

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On Mother’s Day weekend, I had the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with Carmen Electra at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas to discuss her career, the insanity of celebrity, and her experience shooting Twentieth Century Fox’s latest comedy spoof, Meet the Spartans.

Q: Did you study acting when you were attending Performance Art School in Cincinnati?

CE: Dance was my major and vocal music was my minor. I did take a couple acting classes here and there but I guess my main focus was on dance and that took up most of my time. So I was actually really surprised when different projects started getting me on camera. I don’t know… I guess growing up I had a lot of fears about that. And movement… dance and movement… felt like an easier way to express myself. I was really super shy. So even hosting or sitting here doing an interview… if I go back to my childhood, I can’t imagine getting over that shyness… and being that vulnerable. So it’s really interesting how much your life can change.

Q: So dance gives you a center and grounds you?

CE: Definitely. I mean, that is my love and passion and focus… so luckily I still get to dance a little here and there.

Q: With The Bombshells?

CE: Yeah! To me, that’s really fun… and it comes really easy… really natural. It’s what I studied to do, so I kinda know where to go with it. Whereas with acting, I feel a little more vulnerable… a little bit more in my head… but it’s fun! It’s challenging. Definitely way more challenging.

Q: Is it true you were a dancer at King’s Island amusement park when you were a kid?

CE: (She smiles) Yes… yes I was. When I was 16 – 17… that was actually the job that helped me save enough money to fly to LA. So it definitely had a strong meaning.

Q: And right after that move you had the opportunity to start working with Prince, who at the time was hitting his creative prime. What was it like being immersed in that environment?

CE: Well, I was 18 turning 19… and I felt like I was living in a dream. You know? I don’t know… I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed within a week. I mean, I still can’t. I still look back and think… wow… thank God for this person… this powerful person that’s so admired and listened to… who believed in me and gave me that much self-confidence to try and do this on my own.

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