Benedict Cumberbatch: Behind the Scenes as Smaug
Posted on October 26, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Here is a fascinating glimpse of Benedict Cumberbatch’s full-on performance as Smaug in “The Hobbit” series.
Interview: “Avatar” Villain Stephen Lang on Playing a Good Guy Coach in “23 Blast”
Posted on October 24, 2014 at 5:56 am
Stephen Lang is best known for playing the villain in “Avatar.” But in “23 Blast,” based on the real-life story of Travis Freeman, a high school football player who lost his vision but stayed on the team, Lang plays a good guy, the coach who encouraged and supported him. I talked to Lang about acting and what it is like to play a real-life character you know will be watching.
I’ve seen you play a lot of bad guys and a lot of guys from other eras and it was really nice to see you playing just a regular nice contemporary guy. What was that like for you?
I didn’t give it a whole lot of thought, being nice or not nice, you know when I was still making this film, but when I watched the film I was like, “ Huh, what is it about this that…oh yeah, I am actually sympathetic. Wow.” And I realized, gee it’s kind of a while since I played someone who is not doing things bad things to people, so it is really quite a pleasure to watch.
From the very first scene, when you’re coaching the little kids, we see how decent and honorable your character is.
I love that scene. This is one of my favourite scenes in the movie. You know if you recall in this they were really little kids, you know. And the bench was kind of high and their feet didn’t even touch the ground; they all were in football uniforms. And we only had this one bench and it really was not a very long bench. And we had like eight or nine kids crammed down to the bench, right and I was kind of at the end of the bench. So if you were the kid furthest away from me you had to lean far out so we could see everybody. And there was a kid who leaned far back, he just tumbled off and fell on his head. Once we made sure he was okay, it was very funny, a kind of slow motion dance. It was what we would have called precious.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Dylan Baker last week, so I got his take on what it was like to be a first time director, but tell me about what it was like to work with him.
I’ve known Dylan and have really a lot of respect for him as an actor – as an actor’s actor. I was pleased to be asked to be part of his effort and I suspected that he would do a good job. I knew he would do a good job with the actors. And in fact, he did. And you know, he was well supported, I think from the technical side. I think he came into it knowing a certain amount but until you have actually directed, I mean so what. But he was really up to the task in that movie, it looks quite splendid. And I enjoyed working with him very much. We worked to fine-tune it together. He was very open to what I brought to it, and it was always very clear about stepping in and saying, “How about if we tune this, try this and everything.” I worked in concert with him. And I know that when I deal with him, I’m dealing with somebody who is intimately familiar with the whole process. So it was an altogether pleasurable experience.
When you take on a role like this, how much is what is on the page and how much is based on meeting the real person?
It really would depend on the project. If you were playing Bear Bryant for example, a coach who is nationally renowned, it would be really a wise thing to study very, very hard, understanding that the audience already has an expectation of the character. But Coach Farris is a wonderful guy, he is physically quite different from me and I met him during the filming and enjoyed meeting him but I felt there was enough on the page for me to work with and to create my version of who this coach was and hopefully he is satisfied. There are no historical imperatives for me to be concerned about. When I played Stonewall Jackson, you want everything dead on accurate as you can be or if you are going to make an alteration, you want to know you are doing it because it is a choice, maybe because dramatically it may better than the truth. There is a tremendous amount written and said about Jackson so we know. The same cannot be said of Coach Farris. Although down in Portland I think he is quite well known and anyway, a nice guy.
Did you play high school football?
Yes, and I was a center, like Travis in the movie. I had a coach who was a really good man and a really good coach, for football and lacrosse.
You have done a lot of theater. Can you tell me a little bit as an actor about what it is that you can do in a film role that you can’t do on stage?
I would say in film very often it is a question of mastering mechanical skills, whether it be hitting your mark while you are riding a motorcycle or jumping off something. Not that that doesn’t occur on stage but theatre is that experience that you shared that you’re having and it is there and it is gone. Film is just this recorded out of sequence moments.
What’s the best advice you ever heard about acting?
Hit your mark and tell the truth. One actor did say to me years ago something which I have thought of over the years, because you know it is a tough business, right? In the best of careers there are disappointments, things that you think are going to turn out great don’t turn out great – and along with the moments of joy and the actor said to me right at the beginning, forty years ago, he looked at me, he says, “Hey, remember this; get angry but don’t ever turn bitter.” That’s pretty good advice in a way, you know. And keep getting better, keep learning all the time because if you are standing still then you’re petrified in this business. That is why I have to play a role like this. It was cool for me because I can be the authority thing, the bad guy thing, I can be that. It is nice to get an opportunity to work with little kids or to play a more sympathetic role now and again.
What are you most proud of with this film?
It is a true story. And I think the thing that is most outstanding about it is that it is a film that could have been done in a less sensitive, way it could have come very perilously close to a kind of a cloying sentimentality. And I think that was avoided totally, completely. It is told simply and at times it is charming, at times it is highly emotional, at times it is quite funny. And it is told literally with an authenticity and an honesty and a simplicity that is very, very moving, a real testament to the filmmaker, to Dylan and to his editors and the choices that they have made.
Interview: Courtney Baxter, Actress, Producer, and Just Out of Her Teens
Posted on October 11, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Pennsylvania native Courtney Baxter attends Pace University in Manhattan as a double major in Economics and Film Studies. In her early teens, Courtney filmed over a dozen national commercials and also appeared in television shows such as Gossip Girl, 30 Rock, and Criminal Minds. At 16, Courtney became an Executive Producer/lead in the drama “Reco” which garnered many festival nominations and wins.
She has received widespread recognition for her character “Meghan Cleary” on the Onion News Network, leading her to become the backstage host at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards. As an 18 year old, she Executive Produced and starred as Eve in the horror feature film “Hallow’s Eve” which was recently picked up by eOne for 2013 US and Canadian distribution. 2012 brought other feature and short film acting and producing opportunities in films such as Night Has Settled, ImagiGARY, and Parallax.
In 2013, Courtney appeared as “Serena” in the reboot of “All My Children” and will appear as a guest star in the new MTV show “One Bad Choice” this fall. Courtney produced and starred in the independent feature “Chasing Yesterday” in the fall of 2013 before filming the cult-phenomena Sharknado 2 in early 2014. Sharknado 2 premiered on SyFy on July 30th 2014 and has since become to the most watched SyFy movie ever! With “Sharknado 3” in the works for 2015, Courtney is eager to end 2014 strong with the production of “Donny Brook!” Many thanks to Courtney for taking time for an interview about what it means to be a producer and what she’s learned.
People are often confused by all the different producers listed in the credits. Why did you want to become a producer at such a young age and what exactly do you do?
The role of a producer can vary under different titles and for different projects. A lot of time when I am on set solely as an actress, I do not get the full experience of making a film because my responsibility was simply to show up, and act! I found myself wanting to make projects of my own, and producing came very naturally to me. In the most basic explanation, a producer puts the film together. Producers find financing, hire the crew, scout locations, handle contracts and insurance, manage the budget and make sure everything runs smoothly on set. Right now I am an associate producer on the upcoming feature Donnybrook.
Why do you think people love the “Sharknado” movies so much?
For one thing, the word “Sharknado” is super fun to say! I think the Sharknado phenomenon found success by being commercially appealing, ridiculously self-aware, fun, and super entertaining. Undoubtedly, much of the Sharknado’s success comes from the crazy amount of social media attention. Sharknado is everywhere, you couldn’t avoid it if you wanted to!
How do you think the phenomenon of tweet-watching has changed the way we look at television? Do you have a favorite “Sharknado 2” tweet?
I think that live tweeting is an awesome way for people to communicate and connect. It is one thing to hear that 3.9 million people that watched Sharknado 2 on its premiere night, but it is absolutely incredible to see the millions and millions of people who not only watched the film, but took the time to write something about it. As for my favorite tweet, I tweeted a picture of the scene when Kelly Ripa kills a shark by stomping on it with a stiletto, and she retweeted it. Made my night.
How has what you have learned in your economics classes helped you as an actress and producer?
One thing that is cool about studying economics is that everyone can benefit from understanding how the economy works. We are all consumers, and it is really interesting to look at the economic choices we make, and feel confident in making fiscally responsible decisions. The film industry has a major impact on the US and global economy, and when it comes to making a film, a lot of choices must be made. By grounding my studies in business economics, I can produce films with good quality with a reasonably lower budget.
If you could go back in time to star in one favorite movie, what would it be?
Well I don’t know how this would work out, but I think it would be really cool to have starred in Forest Gump…and not as Jenny. I would want to be Forest. Then, of course, the obvious answer would be starring in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or just about any Alfred Hitchcock movie.
What’s the best advice you ever got about acting?
One life lesson that I always stand by with acting, is that no one can work harder for yourself than you. The best acting advice, is to listen to whoever you are interacting with, and if it is just you in a scene, then listen to yourself. It keeps you present, and helps you take in each moment.
Which director you’ve worked with taught you the most?
Oh that is a tough one! There are two directors who have not only taught me lot about acting, but also how to communicate effectively. I think the relationship between a director and an actor is a really incredible thing because as an actress I put all my trust in the director. Steve Clark is a brilliant artist and filmmaker; I worked with him on Night Has Settled and I was amazed at how he could pull out such raw emotions in each actor’s performance. Joe Pernice directed our feature film, Chasing Yesterday and I was able to be there with Joe for every step of the way. When Joe is directing, he knows exactly what he needs out of myself and out of the scene, and he knows how to finish a film right.
You have been involved in several different initiatives to help your community. Is one of them closest to your heart?
Absolutely, The Andrew L Hicks Jr Foundation was started in August of 2010 after Andrew, one of my classmates at Henderson High School in West Chester PA, was killed in a tragic accident. Andrew had an infectious nature and dedicated his short life to helping others. Upon Andrew’s passing, his incredible family started the foundation with the goal of connecting the underprivileged youth of Chester PA with the youth of West Chester PA in an effort to build relationships, create service opportunities, and help unite the two communities. I have been working with the foundation since 2010 and have loved every second of it! My favorite tradition is being a chaperone at Camp Paradise.
Tell me about “Chasing Yesterday” — what is it about and what do you hope audiences will enjoy most about it?
Chasing Yesterday (formerly known as Running on Empty) is a coming of age story about a former college track star, who has fallen into a dangerous cycle of drinking and self-prescribed depression medicine after his girlfriend dies in a car accident. My character, Jenny, comes into the picture and convinces Junior to get his life back on track by entering a half marathon. Chasing Yesterday is a movie that people of just about any age can enjoy. There are lots of laughs and some tender moments that stay grounded in my good friend (and lead actor) Eric Nelsen’s performance.
Robert Downey Jr. Pays Tribute to His Mother
Posted on October 9, 2014 at 4:42 pm
In a sad case of life imitating art, Robert Downey, Jr., lost his mother just before the release of “The Judge,” in which he plays a brash lawyer who must return home for his mother’s funeral. Downey’s tribute to his mother is heartfelt, devoted, honest, and deeply touching.
As promotion for “The Judge” kicks off this weekend, I feel the need to run the risk of over sharing…..
My mom passed away early this week….I wanna say something about her life, and a generic “obit” won’t suffice…
Elsie Ann Ford was born outside Pittsburgh in April of 1934, daughter of an engineer who worked on the Panama Canal, and mother who ran a jewelry shop in Huntingdon, where they settled….a bona fide “Daughter Of The American Revolution.”
In the mid ’50s, she dropped out of college and headed to NY, with dreams of becoming a comedienne. In ’62, she met my dad, (who proposed at a Yankees/Orioles game). They married, had my sister Allyson in ’63 and me in ’65…
There was another “revolution” of sorts going on at that time, of underground counter-culture film and theatre…and with her as Bob Sr’s muse, they jumped in wholeheartedly…
“Chafed Elbows” (a man marries his mother and goes on welfare), “Greaser’s Palace” (a woman relentlessly persecuted by God who never utters a word), and “Moment To Moment” AKA “Two Tons Of Turquoise To Taos Tonight” (in which she played 17 characters) were the stand outs.
By the mid ’70s, the downside of drug culture caught up with many artists. She was an alcoholic…
As the marriage suffered, she continued to work, but not for long. A recurring role on “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” (’76-’77) was her last paying job…not that she cared, she’d have done it for free.
I remember living with her and her boyfriend Jonas, (who became a second father to me) in a 2 room 5 story walk up in Manhattan after that…Bunsen burner for a stove, cockroaches, broken dreams…
By 1990, she’d had enough, went to treatment, got sober. Just in time to enjoy several decades of heart disease, bypasses, you name it….
While I strived to have the kind of success that eluded her, my own addiction repeatedly forbade it.
In the summer of 2004, I was in bad shape. She called me out of the blue, and I admitted everything. I don’t remember what she said, but I haven’t drank or used since.
Eventually, when finances allowed, we were able to move her out to LA. She had a special affinity for my firstborn son Indio, and really got a kick out of Exton. Got an iPad, pictures, videos, the whole 9….
Her doctors basically titled her a “Medical Incredible,” said there was little they could do, and were frankly amazed she was up and walking….
Many fond memories of her in the last few years…holidays, kid-stuff, her strutting around with a walking stick. I knew it was difficult, and understood as the visits got shorter.
In March, she suffered another cardiac arrest and was put on life support.
Her wishes were to be left to die if there wasn’t a reasonable chance of recovery, which for some time there was.
I returned from filming the “Avengers” sequel in June, went straight to see her.
To my amazement, she was completely lucid, interactive, mugging + pulling faces.
We couldn’t speak ’cause she had a tracheal tube. I wondered if she might just beat the odds once more.
Another set of seizures answered that, and we brought her home for hospice.
She died @ 11 p.m., September 22nd, survived by her extremely loving and tolerant partner of 37 years, Jonas Kerr.
She was my role model as an actor, and as a woman who got sober and stayed that way.
She was also reclusive, self-deprecating, a stoic Scotch-German rural Pennsylvanian, a ball buster, stubborn, and happy to hold a grudge.
My ambition, tenacity, loyalty, “moods,” grandiosity, occasional passive aggression, and my faith….
That’s all her…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If anyone out there has a mother, and she’s not perfect, please call her and say you love her anyway…
Elsie Ann Downey. 1934-2014
Here you see Robert Downey Jr and his mother (and sister) in clips from a film directed by Robert Downey, Sr., a pioneer of experimental and independent film in the 1960’s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66i6w7lwT7I
Interview: Bill Smitrovich
Posted on October 7, 2014 at 8:00 am
Bill Smitrovich appeared most recently in “The November Man” with Pierce Brosnan as a CIA official with some secrets even his colleagues did not know. He has had an extensive and varied career in theater (“Of Mice and Men”), television (“Life Goes On” and “The Last Ship”), and film (“Independence Day,” “Ghosts of Mississippi,””Iron Man”). He talked to me about creating a character and why his all-time favorite costume included a helmet made from a colander.
You’ve played a lot of law enforcement types. And what do you think it is about your look that makes you so suitable for those roles?
It’s not all about the look but sometimes it’s just about how to deliver the role. If you look a little further into my career, I played everything from a garbage man to the President of the United States. So it’s always kind of weird to think that. And even when I play policemen n they were all different characters in a uniform. It may seem the same to you or the public that I play a lot of characters in uniforms, but each of those men are different men. They are not all the same is what I think.
In “The November Man,” you play a character who personally and professionally keeps a lot of secrets. How do you approach a character like that?
Well, that’s a delicious part of it, playing a character who has a lot of secrets and conflicts. He’s a wonderful actor. And the best compliment I get from the movie is when people will go, “When you turned around in the chair and you were the bad guy was a real “aha moment.” It’s fun playing the perception of the character and then changing it and maybe possibly even changing it back again. People told that they thought that I was a bad guy from the get go and then they didn’t think I was a bad guy then I was a bad guy. So it was just delicious to do that.
It’s like the Vice President in “The Event.” All those secrets that he was keeping and doing it for what he thought was for the greater good. And he might be absolutely off his rocker. I don’t judge my characters. I don’t say they’re off their rocker. But I can’t judge them. All I can do is try to figure out their pure motive for doing what they do and to investigate that and to feel like I am involved with them. I take them on and sometimes a look is certainly helpful. I’ve been working on this a while and I think my experience, my life experience makes a difference because I didn’t get into acting until professional acting until I was like 32 or 33. So I was at a starter theater company. I have a Masters and I did a lot of theater but I never had a equity card or a SAG card or an AFTRA card. I think my life experience nourishes what I do and hopefully colors it and gives me some experience and gravitas in certain situations. But I think that is what comes with each actor that plays a role. You can only bring what we can imagine to the role.
Do you create a back story for your character and try to understand him that way?
In “November Man” the back story was also a part of the movie. They were in the agency together and so they had a back story. And the book helped in defining what that backstory was the ambitions, the risks they took and things of this nature. And then you embellish that. I mean then you look at that past and it enriches and informs what you’re doing in the moment because they had a history. There are things going on inside of each of their minds, especially being in the game, who is going to betray who? But there was a real moment there in their lives where they really trusted one another and got through. And then you have Devereaux’s relationship with Mason, Which is another kind of father-son thing. So it was pretty rich. I mean in terms of relationships, there were high stakes relationships, all of them; wife, Mason, his relationship with Devereaux, my relationship with Weinstein. There was a heart to it because these people did share so much. Not like Bond films, which are just action and sex and the drugs and fast cars.
What’s the best costume you ever had to wear?
In “Life Goes On,” we had a Halloween episode where space aliens came down and was a really funky crazy little kind of Buck Rogers show that we had and it was a lot of fun. And the prop guy made up these costumes. They helmets made out of a spaghetti colander. They had flashing lights on the front and wires coming out the top. And it had a chinstrap – I still wear it at Halloween all the time. I just love it. As far as theatrical costumes are concerned, when I played a garbageman in the theater, I had quite a costume and after a while they had to close the show, it stank so much.
Which director has taught you the most?
Michael Mann I would say. He gave me the opportunity to learn what I had to learn. Great guy, he was very loyal to me, helped me in my career immensely. Roger Donaldson for sure, we’ve done some things together. I think it was more about relationships. But what I learned most was from a teacher and the director of his own little community theater in Stanford Connecticut, his name is Al Pia and he directed me in college and it was my epiphany. It was where I discovered I was an actor. Al taught me how to read a play, how to break it down into beats and scenes and how it moves along. My favorite quote is “All art aspires to music.” And so we talk about beats and the rhythm of a play. It’s all connected and when we speak like that, we can call it a play.
What’s next for you?
I just got done with “Ted 2.” I was in Boston filming for 10 days and it should be coming up probably in July next year, sometime around there I would say. And the TNT show “The Last Ship;” I’ve just done the last couple of episodes for their finale and I’m waiting to see what is going to happen along with everybody else but I will be back.
And what’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten about acting?
If you don’t want to work 9-to-5, you’ve got to hustle 24-7.