Entries Tagged 'Interviews' ↓

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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A couple weeks back, director Jon Turteltaub was kind enough to sit down and discuss the making of National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets with an assemblage of us media types, in anticipation of the film’s DVD and Blu-ray release. We found him to be extremely open and forthcoming, as you will soon see. Enjoy!

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Jonny Favreau’s big budget blockbuster stunned a star studded London audience Thursday night, as IRON MAN hit the big screen. We have exclusive interview clips with Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jon Favreau. Raw footage provided by our friends at Image.net.

Robert talks about taking the film in a different direction than recent superhero adaptations.

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Gwyneth gets caught in a TMZ-like question from one of the UK press. Although, with that accent, everything sounds polite.

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Jon is still adjusting to his star status, but hasn’t lost his trademark sense of humor.

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We recently had the pleasure of visiting Amalgamated Dynamics, the design studio of Academy Award winning creature effects designers Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff. While Alec was off on assignment, Tom was nice enough to spend some time talking about his career and more specifically the latest film in the Alien / Predator franchise — Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem — better known as AVPR. What does is take to craft these creatures from scratch? What was is like working with HR Giger? And what does the future hold for the Alien, Predator, and AVP franchise? Tom answers these questions and more.

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