December 2011
96 posts
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Keira Knightley Discusses Sex Scenes and...
There are no pirates or Jane Austen romances to be found in A Dangerous Method (2011), a film about the relationship between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, the fathers of psychoanalysis. Jung has a romantic relationship with his patient Sabina Spielrein played by Keira Knightley, who is brought to the mental institution where Jung works.
When asked by Yahoo! if she had ever considered studying...
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Are You Allergic to Structure?
Written by Dallas Travers, CEC
The life an actor can be quite unpredictable. You might have your whole day structured perfectly and then a last minute audition throws your planning out the window. Most actors can agree that flexibility is crucial when it comes to your day job, your rehearsal schedule, and even your down time with family and friends, but flexibility can also create a major...
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Q & A: Jamie Pressly and Katie Finneran talk 'I...
Jamie Pressly is back on TV with the new FOX sitcom, I Hate My Teenage Daughter. She’s joined by Katie Finneran, who you may have seen in the filmed version of Company (starring Neil Patrick Harris) and last season’s Broadway revival of Promises, Promises.
The two play best friends who were bullied in high school and now, as single moms, have found out that they are raising daughters to be just...
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'Venus In Fur' Star Nina Arianda Details Her...
Many would assume that Nina Arianda, the 27-year-old actress who stars in David Ives’ latest play Venus In Fur, might not realize how lucky she is to not only star in a play written by famed playwright Ives but to be earning such rave reviews for her part.
But once you understand her preparation process for her audition as she outlined for the Los Angeles Times, you’d understand that...
November 2011
116 posts
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Interview: Paul Ben-Victor 'Should've Been Romeo'
Paul Ben-Victor epitomizes the definition of a working character actor. He’s got that familiar mug and depending on the role people have seen, that’s usually how they’ll treat him.
He’s been approached by producers at Hollywood restaurants who start pitching him potential franchise projects, thinking he’s the man who green-lit Aquaman (from his role on Entourage) and he’s had...
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8 Clips from 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'...
Here are 8 clips from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The movie stars a handful of the best British actor’s working today; Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch.
I think I’m embargoed on telling you what I thought of this so I please don’t ask me to tell you how much I enjoyed it. Wait…oops!
The movie opens December...
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Jack Huston on 'Boardwalk Empire' Role: "Taking...
Much of the Boardwalk Empire ensemble cast is like a who’s who of actors who are becoming increasingly famous with every episode — and perhaps the most impressive of the whole lot is Jack Huston, who plays Richard Harrow, a World War I veteran who lost half his face in battle.
Harrow might be the most compelling character on the show, especially since he has become one of the main...
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Watch Jason Momoa's 'Conan the Barbarian' Audition
I know this movie was a total flop but I actually enjoyed it and I thought Jason Momoa was a great Conan.
Here’s a Blu-Ray extra that MTV posted that show’s the audition video Momoa made to snag the part. Â
The studio didn’t want the former Baywatch actor in the role but the director, Marcus Nispel, was big on him for the part.
So, the two went to the wilds of…...
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Sir Laurence Olivier's Advice to a Young Kenneth...
Let’s be honest: what current actor would you pick to play fifty-year-old Sir Laurence Olivier in a movie? There’s really only one logical choice to play such a significant Shakespearean actor: Kenneth Branagh, also fifty, who is likewise known for his Shakespearean roles.
Branagh, who appears as Olivier in My Week With Marilyn, which chronicles a period during the time when Olivier...
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Jim Parsons to Star in the New Broadway Production...
How cool is this? Jim Parsons will star as Elwood P. Dowd in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Harvey.
Here’s the synopsis: “Elwood P. Dowd, Charming and kind, Elwood has only one character flaw: an unwavering friendship with a 6-foot-tall, invisible white rabbit named Harvey. In order to save the family’s social reputation, Elwood’s sister Veta (Jessica Hecht)...
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The Stars of London's 'Ghost The Musical' to...
The producers of Ghost The Musical announced today that Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy will reprise their roles as Sam and Molly, which they originated in Londonâs hit West End production, when it premieres this Spring on Broadway.
The show will also star Bryce Pinkham as Carl Bruner and newcomer DaâVine Joy Randolph as Oda Mae Brown.Â
Preview performances will begin on March 15th, 2012...
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Jeremy Renner: "Not every actor gives their life...
By the end of 2012, Jeremy Renner will find himself as the center of three possible franchises: as the comic book superhero Hawkeye in The Avengers (who Renner already appeared as in Thor), as Brandt in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, and as Aaron Cross, the new action lead of The Bourne Legacy.
Renner, who has been nominated for two Oscars in The Hurt Locker and The Town, seems to...
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Mickey Rourke Talks About His "Mistake" Filled...
Mickey Rourke, nominated for an Oscar for his performance in The Wrestler (2008) and recipient of the Saturn Award for his supporting role in Sin City (2006), has had a rocky career. The actor now in his late fifties opens up to Newsweek about the trials he put himself through as a younger actor.
While filming The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), Rourke explains that he was pushing the limits of...
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How To Make A Great Acting Resume Through Graphics...
Written by Sean Pratt
Understanding the concepts of “The Gutenberg Diagram” and “Highlighting” will help you create an eye-catching resume.
The majority of actors think of the resume as simply a collection of information on their stats, work history, education and skills, etc. Now while thatâs factually true, itâs functionally wrong. The resume is a piece of...
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Win a Copy of 'Another Earth' on Blu-Ray!
Winners!
Congratulations to Leah Falls and Ron Oliver!
Thanks for all the entries and keep checking back here for more contests.
____________________________________
Win a combo pack of Another Earth!
If you missed your chance in the theaters now is your chance to catch this great indie sci-fi film that won the Special Jury Prize & Alfred P. Sloan Film Prize at the Sundance Film...
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5 Clips from 'The Sitter' starring Jonah Hill and...
Here’s 5 clips from the upcoming Jonah Hill movie, The Sitter. Or as some people are calling it, the remake to ‘Adventures in Babysitting But With a Guy’.
Yeah, it totally looks like a remake of that film - which is still funny to this day - but I’ll admit that I want to see it. Looks pretty funny to me.
And you can never go wrong when you have Sam Rockwell playing the...
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Viggo Mortensen: "Sometimes it’s good to be put in...
Viggo Mortensen, who became a superstar after his role as Aragon in The Lord of the Rings movies, has won additional acclaim for his roles starring in A History of Violence and Eastern Promises, both directed by David Cronenberg.
He has teamed with Cronenberg again for A Dangerous Method, which was nominated for the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, but in an interview with the Wall...
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Nick Offerman on 'Parks and Rec': "I Didn't Think...
Before he was cast as anti-government, mid-level city employee Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, Nick Offerman’s career was just how Swanson prefers his: unnoticed and unassuming.
Until a couple of years ago, the 41-year-old earned his keep as a journeyman actor in Los Angeles and Chicago, never aspiring for more and always leaving time for his woodworking – again, just how Swanson makes it...
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Kermit, Miss Piggy, Jason Segel and Amy Adams...
You’re going to see The Muppets this weekend, right?
The movie had me smiling from start to finish. That’s not to say that I didn’t have some problems with it, mainly: Not Enough Miss Piggy! Other than that one complaint, it’s great to have the fuzzy, felt gang back. They sing, they dance and Fozzie wears fart shoes. What more could you ask for?
Courtesy of Moviefone,...
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Q & A: Denis O'Hare on 'American Horror Story',...
Up until 2 years ago, Denis O’Hare had a terrific career; moving seamlessly from TV (Brothers and Sisters, CSI: Miami), Film (Michael Clayton, Baby Mama, Milk) and Broadway (Cabaret, Assassins, Sweet Charity). But once he was cast in True Blood, his career went to another level.
As Russell Edgington, he made the show 10 times more fun to watch with his portrayal of the Vampire King of...
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As Actors, Babies-R-Us
Written by Anthony Meindl
You gain thirty pounds. Your essential nature is the same.
You get dumped. Your essential nature is the same.
You turn 30. Your essential nature is the same.
Your agent drops you. Your essential nature is the same.
Your essential nature â who it is that we all are â transcends our age, social status, accomplishments, physical appearance, successes or failures.
...
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Watch Patton Oswalt Remain Completely Motionless...
This past weekend I caught an advanced screening of Young Adult, which features comedian Patton Oswalt in a career-making performance. Oswalt has mostly had a career of bit parts, voiceovers, and cameos, so it was fantastic to see this very funny comedian in a lead male role, albeit one that maintains Oswalt’s nerdy personna. One of those past smaller parts was Spencer Olchin on King of...
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Mila Kunis talks about How She Got into Acting and...
Whether you realize it or not, you’ve probably been hearing from Mila Kunis more often than you realize. That’s because Kunis stars in television, film, and does voice work. Probably best known for her role as Jackie Burkhart in That ’70s Show, Kunis also voices Meg Griffin, the daughter of Peter and Lois from the hilarious animated series Family Guy.
Kunis, who is currently...
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Yo Adrian! 'Rocky: The Musical' Is On Its Way
The Rocky film franchise might be my all-time favorite series of films. Sure, there are some that are better than others, but overall the series has a fantastic rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches narrative arc that anybody who’s ever persevered for something can relate to. I was even happy to see star Sylvester Stallone return to the franchise for the series’ swan song, Rocky Balboa,...
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Trailer: 'A Warrior's Heart' starring Kellan Lutz,...
We have another entry into the Awful Trailers Award category. Watch. Enjoy.
A Warrior’s Heart: Twilight’s Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene re-team in a story of young love and the true meaning of sportsmanship and life. Co-starring Glee’s Chord Overstreet.
Director: Mike Sears
Cast: Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Adam Beach, Gabrielle Anwar, Chord Overstreet, Aaron Hill, William...
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Josh Hutcherson on 'The Hunger Games' Audition...
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has become a sensation with readers and very quickly was poised for adaptation into film. The only problem of course with both fans and filmmakers is that the actors have to be right for the part. Casting is already a difficult process but it must be even harden when you’re dealing with finding the person that can live up to fan expectations.
Just...
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Carey Mulligan talks 'Drive', ‘Shame’ and playing...
Managing to step outside of her well known, but similar, roles in movies such as Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps as Winnie Gekko, and Never Let Me Go’s reserved Kathy, actress Carey Mulligan is really shaking things up and showing off her versatility as a performer with her latest appearances in both Shame and Drive.
Shedding the chains and shackles of typecasting, Mulligan shared in a...
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'My Week with Marilyn' Featurette
Michelle Williams is fantastic as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn, but did you expect anything less?
He performance is both a sad portrait and blissful homage to the actress who died way too young.
In this featurette, the cast members (Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Watson, Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh) are interviewed about their work on the film and all marvel at Williams’...
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Q & A: Sons of Anarchy's David Labrava on going...
On the FX drama, Sons of Anarchy, David Labrava stars as Happy, a brutal enforcer and one of the most feared members of SAMCRO.
Labrava has been working on the show since the beginning - but not as an actor; he was a technical adviser for before he was cast. And to add to his eclectic resume, he recently co-wrote episode 10 of the show, ‘Hands’, alongside Chris Collins and series...
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2 Clips and a Featurette from 'Mission: Impossible...
Here are 2 clips and a featurette for the upcoming sequel, Mission: Imposible - Ghost Protocol, starring Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner. Say what you will, but I really enjoy these movies. They’re fun, action packed films that don’t talk down to the audience.
I’m wondering though, why the first 2 clips that they release feature Renner and not Cruise. Does he die in this film so...
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Trailer: 'Rampart' starring Woody Harrelson, Ned...
Watch this trailer and tell me you don’t want to see this immediately.
Rampart: Los Angeles, 1999. Officer Dave Brown (two-time Academy Award(R) nominee Woody Harrelson) is a Vietnam vet and a Rampart Precinct cop, dedicated to doing “the people’s dirty work” and asserting his own code of justice, often blurring the lines between right and wrong to maintain his action-hero...
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Cast Members of Broadway's 'Godspell' Revival Took...
Who says Broadway dreams don’t come true? For some in the ensemble in the revival of Godspell, which opened earlier this month at Circle in the Square Theatre, appearing on Broadway was a distant dream that is finally being fulfilled.
Take George Salazar, an actor who was working at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Times Square this past summer when he received the call to audition for...
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Opportunity Maker: Jessica Remmers from the New...
I recently met up with actor Jessica Remmers at Millions of Milkshakes on Robertson in West Hollywood to talk about her new web series “The Vanya Show” (premieres November 22nd on YouTube) and the blurring of the lines between being the character and the actor.
In the vein of Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat and Bruno films, “The Vanya Show” follows a megalomaniac Russian immigrant( played by...
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Community's Yvette Nicole Brown Gives Her Advice...
Community star Yvette Nicole Brown attended the Next Gen 2011 event, hosted by Sherlock Homes star Robert Downey Jr., that was recently held at Milk Studios in Los Angeles. While walking the carpet, Brown had a few words of advice when it came to aspiring actors in the business.
“Save your money, be good to people on set, be professional,” she said. “I always heard, my mom said, when I was...
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'Super 8' Casting Director Kidnapped and Molested...
It was recently discovered that a Hollywood casting director involved with the placement of children in movies like Super 8, School of Rock and upcoming flick The Three Stooges once spent five years in prison for kidnapping and molesting an eight-year-old boy in the Seattle area 15 years ago.
Jason James, registered as a California sex offender under the name Jason James Murphy, has been working...
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How to Harness the Power of the Press
Written by Dallas Travers, CEC
Even in this age of Facebook, Twitter, smartphones and iPads, traditional media outlets still have a lot of sway. You can bet that a large portion of the news you read everyday comes directly from press releases crafted by publicists, media experts, and even interns. Thatâs how news happens.
Publicists use press releases to share current and compelling...
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Ellen Barkin: "You know what I want from a movie...
After three decades in the movie industry, Ellen Barkin is often recognized for two things – her big mouth and her “unconventional” looks. For evidence, just follow the outspoken star on Twitter (@EllenBarkin), where her PR team recently asked her to tone down her language, according to The Huffington Post.
At 57 years old, the movie vet is certainly not shy with her opinions. However, it has...
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Hugh Dancy: "For me, it does help to jump between...
Hugh Dancy may not be an actor whose name is familiar to most, but he has appeared in movies (this year’s Hysteria, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and Our Idiot Brother), television (The Big C), and New York theatre (Journey’s End and Venus in Fur).
One would imagine with all that experience that Dancy had wanted to get into acting from a very young age, but in an interview with Yahoo...
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Homeland's Damian Lewis: "I am pretty wedded to...
With fans reeling over the new hit Showtime series Homeland actor Damian Lewis, who plays Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, has found himself the center of attention once again. The Band of Brothers star plays the role of an Al Qaeda captive who returns home after an eight year-long torture session that has done some serious damage, possibly turning him against his own government.
While Lewis...
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What's In a Name? Ralph Fiennes Talks About The...
Shakespeare puts it best when he said, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
But why then do actors change their names or use stage names? Maybe it’s because an actor’s name is one of the ways in which they market themselves. I’m sure we still would have loved Western movies if they starred Marion Morrison, but it’s...
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Getting Your MFA: The Pros and Cons of Going to...
Written by Sean Pratt
Here are some questions to ponder when considering whether to go back to school for your MFA.
Every winter a new group of actors, both young graduates and those who have been out for a while trying to make a go of it, grapple with the question, âShould I or should I not go to graduate school to get my MFA.â Often, theyâll consult with their more successful peers,...
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Zooey Deschanel: "Working in TV means less free...
After a string of successful lead roles in films, including (500) Days of Summer, Yes Man, and Elf, it was a bit of a surprise to hear that Zooey Deschanel would be in the title role on the network television comedy series, New Girl.
After all, you often see television stars transition from small screen to big — not the other way around. But the show and Deschanel’s character Jess...
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Q & A: Joshua Gomez on Bad Morgan, Fight Scenes...
NBC’s Chuck, now in its fifth and final season, has pushed Chuck’s best friend, Morgan, into the spotlight as the Intersect.
Fans of the show know that the Intersect is what initially gave Chuck all of his super-spy skills. At the end of last season, Chuck lost the Intersect and Morgan, by accident, acquired it.
Joshua Gomez plays Morgan and he said he found out about the change his character...
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John Lithgow: "You do learn plenty from bad...
John Lithgow is an actor who has had success on stage, television, and movie screens, although he’s probably best known for his lengthy run as Dr. Dick Solomon on the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun or for his turn as the Trinity killer on Dexter.
Despite his success, in his memoir, Drama: An Actor’s Education, Lithgow focuses mostly on his beginnings as an actor, including how he learned how...
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Los Angeles Workshop: The Empowered Actor
Does your career feel stuck or need a make-over?
Not booking and unsure why?
Sometimes, the actor gets in the way of his or herself…
LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE BLOCKS THAT ARE HOLDING YOU BACK
Sign Up Today For An Empowered Actor Workshop!
Just Go To www.theempoweredactor.com and book your spot today!
Dates: Saturday, December 10th
Place: Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles,...
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Internal Blocks - What Every Actor Should Know
Written by Alicia Milstead
Some actors love to be a member of the “Woe is me Club,” which usually consists of wallowing in their lack of auditions and success, and dragging other actors down with them. They blame their lousy agent, their day job, or perhaps their dog! Hey, at least he’ll listen. He’s a captive audience, right?
Sure, commiseration feels nice for the moment, but this constant...
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Trailer: 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island'...
I know this is just the trailer but the CGI stinks. Check out when Dwayne Johnson picks up the mini-elephant, the cast rides bee’s and… you know, just watch it. It’s BAD.
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a...
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Kirsten Dunst: "When you reach an audience of...
Although it seems that Kirsten Dunst hit her peak of success with the three Sam Raimi directed Spider-Man films that she starred in alongside Tobey Maguire, it’s easy to forget that she is only twenty-nine years old.
That’s because Dunst has been appearing in films since 1989, in an uncredited role in the Woody Allen segment of the anthology film New York Stories and has since...
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Q & A: Emilio Rivera talks 'Sons of Anarchy':...
Emilio Rivera stars as Marcus Alvarez, the Founder of the Mayan Motorcycle Club on the FX drama, Sons of Anarchy. This season, as the Mayans and Sons team-up to run drugs for a Mexican cartel, Emilio’s part has grown even though he doesn’t know how the season is going to end, “I’m just hoping I stay alive,” he said.
Emilio has been acting for years. His first credit was on an episode of the...
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Trailer #2: 'Shame' starring Michael Fassbender,...
I love this trailer, particularily the one shot where Michael Fassbender is jogging through the city. It’s at the 41 second mark and only lasts for 4 seconds but it just looks beautiful.
It also features Carey Mulligan singing her rendition of ‘New York, New York’ which she talked about here.
Shame: Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a New Yorker who shuns intimacy with women but...
