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| News from August, 2004 to - September, 2004 |
| Oz in peril- Seth Green involved in stunt trouble. Seth, who played werewolf Oz in Buffy, had a near-death experience while filming the comedy Without a Paddle, reports the imdb website. While filming a scene involving his character getting knocked out of a canoe, Seth found himself plunged into Class Five rapids. Recalling the incident, the film's director, Steven Brill said, "Seth is kind of fearless. He jumped into a tide pool that he couldn't get out of and almost got sucked under a rock. The safety guy jumped in to save him on a WaveRunner, but that guy fell off the WaveRunner, and it sank and also got sucked into the tide pool." Seth survived to tell the tale, and has shrugged off suggestions his life was ever at risk: "It was just a matter of holding my breath and acting the whole time," he said Seth stars in the movie alongside Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard. Link to Official movie website: Without A Paddle |
| He May Be Up a Creek--but Not Without Opinions on Will Ferrell, Aliens and Revenge of the Sith
- by H.W. Fowler | Aug. 11, 2004 Seth Green has played a cursed teenage werewolf on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a cursing Evil brat in the Austin Powers movies. Now he has beaten the kid-actor curse, and his latest venture, Without a Paddle, sends the diminutive comic actor off--with Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed costar Matthew Lillard and Punk'd's Dax Shepard--on a white-water adventure that gets hairier around each bend. Funnier, too. "I'm real particular about the work I do," Green proclaims, and the same can be said for the film buff's moviegoing tastes, as you're about to see. You're out in Middle of Nowhere, New Zealand, shooting a movie called Without a Paddle. How many days did it take before the "up s--t creek" jokes got old? They still haven't stopped. From the second I saw it, I said, "We've gotta beat that title." We never did. You did most of your own paddling, didn't you? The laws are a little different, as far as what they'll let you do, in New Zealand. All the stunt guys were like, "Aw, you can do that, mate," so we were, "We're good!" And the stuff that we didn't do, guys got really hurt doing. Like the guys who did the class-five rapids in the canoe got fractured skulls and blown-out eyeballs. It was really ugly. You've got three action figures. Yeah, and a fourth on the way. Listen, man, for a toy geek, getting yourself immortalized by one of the top-tier companies is better than winning a statue. It's more impressive to the legions; you know what I mean? The other kids are like, "I can't believe that you have an action figure. And you're a dork like me. That's not possible!" And I'm like, "Check it out, buddy. I wear sunglasses inside." You must have your own idols. Learned anything from the comedy greats you've worked with? Mike Myers gave me a good piece of advice when we were doing the second Austin Powers movie, and that was to not overthink it. The more you preplan, the worse off you'll be. You have to trust yourself in the moment--and you don't always hit. Sometimes you throw out a lot of s--t, and maybe just one piece of it sticks, like, That's a good turd, I'm gonna put that in the movie. You know what I mean? You can't censor yourself. Let's play guest critic for a minute. What made you laugh the most this summer? Without a Paddle excepted, please. I thought Anchorman was really, really funny. Getting to see Will Ferrell be a big movie star is so gratifying. I feel guys like him are my peers, if I can be so bold as to claim that. I love seeing great work come out of my generation. Favorite big summer action movie? Again, don't say Without a Paddle. I really loved Spider-Man 2. It was great. Everything that wasn't great about it was made up for by how great everything that was great about it was. Does that make sense? So, you rushed right out to Catwoman, too. No. Catwoman has nothing to do with anything that happened in any comic book ever. Except for the fact it's called Catwoman. I have no interest. Anything coming up that you're looking forward to? I'm so in for AVP [Alien vs. Predator]. I love summer event movies. I'm always first in line, midnight screening, go with the crowd. That's the crowd; you see the best stuff. People go bananas at those. How about your old Buffy mate Sarah Michelle Gellar's Japanese horror flick? The Grudge. I'm all over it. We were in Tokyo at the same time. It just sounded supercool. And I trust her to make good decisions. Let's jump ahead to next summer. Is Revenge of the Sith a lame title for the last Star Wars movie? Did you think Return of the Jedi was a good title? Now it's awesome. Empire Strikes Back, didn't that sound stupid? Now it's awesome. Looking into your own future, let's see: You've been in one spy movie franchise; you do your own stunts...You've heard they're looking for a new James Bond, haven't you? It's not me. It'd be a different movie. |
| The 2003-2004 Tubey Awards - Best Returning Show of the 2003-2004 Season 1. The Amazing Race 2. Angel 3. Scrubs "Dead Before Its Time" Award for the 2003-2004 Season 1. Angel 2. Futurama 3. Wonderfalls Most Improved Show of the 2003-2004 Season 1. Chappelle's Show 2. Gilmore Girls 3. Angel Show with the Most HoYay from the 2003-2004 Season 1. Smallville 2. Angel 3. The O.C. Most Unwelcome New Cast Addition of the 2003-2004 Season 1. Lauren, Alias 2. Oliver, The O.C. 3. Eve, Angel Best Performance by an Inanimate Object in the 2003-2004 Season 1. Puppet Angel, Angel 2. Captain Oats, The O.C. 3. Drywall, The Apprentice Best Finale of the 2003-2004 Season 1. Angel 2. Gilmore Girls 3. Joan of Arcadia The recap highlight the best and worst moments of the season: Angel's final season was chock full of memorable moments. Some good: Lindsey's return, Wesley's death, ghostly Luchadores, and the standoff in "Origin." Some not so good: Lindsey's hair, Lorne's Hulked-out id, Spike's inexplicable resurrection, and Angel's adventure on a Nazi submarine. Nonetheless, the clear winner in this category is nearly any part of "Smile Time," where our hero was turned into a puppet while investigating a demonic children's show. Angel was never as comfortable with comedy as its sibling Buffy, but maybe they were saving up five years' worth of jokes for one burst of remarkable insanity. It's hard to pick a single moment out of an episode that includes abusive puppets, a puppet-Angel beating up Spike, David Fury as a perky Jim Henson-ish puppeteer, puppets that "bleed" stuffing, Lorne's reaction to seeing a werewolf-shredded Angel, and fiendishly catchy educational songs. But the power-shot of the MoG striding out of the office to do battle, with teeny puppet Angel leading them with a sword slung over his shoulders, sums it up as well as anything. It almost makes me wish for another season, just so I could see that shot in the credits and giggle every week. Almost. Oh, that bit where everyone died in the finale was groovy, too. And did I mention Wesley's death? I did? Cool. -- Strega |
| Rest In Peace-
A Tight Crew Helped Buffy Knock ‘em Dead By Iain Blair Now in its seventh and likely final season, with lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar quitting the show, UPN’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer has a well-earned reputation for witty tales of the undead, sophisticated special effects, and even the odd musical number. What’s less widely celebrated is its status as one of the smoothest-running shows in the business. “It’s the best-oiled machine I’ve ever been a part of,” reported associate producer Denise Pleune, whose credits include stints on The X Files and who was “a big Buffy fan” before she joined the show. “And that is due in part to the fact that so many of production team and crew on this show have been with it since the very start. Everyone knows exactly what they’re doing, and in the high-pressure world of TV production and deadlines, that gives you a big advantage.” The show is shot on soundstages in Santa Monica, with additional location work done all over the L.A. area, and then posted at Hollywood Digital. “It’s always been shot on 35mm, which we then transfer to Digibeta,” noted Pleune. “It used to be that we could just transfer 4x3, but we have to make room for 16x9 safeties now that HD is in play. They need a widescreen version as well.” The production rotates around an eight-day-per-shoot schedule for the first unit. The film is then processed at Deluxe, transferred at Hollywood Digital and edited here at the show’s Santa Monica production office. “We have a regular team of three editors: Peter Basinski, our lead editor, and Louise Innes and Josh Charson,” says Pleune. “Some shows are a bit tighter than others in terms of schedules, but they usually get about two weeks to work on their cut and then the director also comes in during that time and does his cut before we have to lock it.” The final cut is onlined at Hollywood Digital after the show’s extensive visual effects shots have been added during the editing process. “As soon as we get approval of certain shots and how long they’re going to be, we send them over to Zoic, our visual effects house,” explained Pleune. “They’re based in Culver City, which is convenient for us, and although Zoic is a new company, it began life as Radium, which did all the effects work on previous shows. So again, it’s all the same people who’ve been working on Buffy since the start, in addition to doing the effects work on spin-off shows like Angel. So there’s a lot of experience and continuity there, too.” Over the years, the show has seen many changes, particularly in terms of new technology. “For instance, audio has always been a key ingredient in the show, and now we can use OMS audio files which really helps shorten the editing time,” she noted. “You used to have to give a list, and they would then assemble it from DATs. But now we load it into the Avid and after they’re done with the cut they just send an OMS drive over to Todd-AO in Santa Monica where they add in all the effects.” Again, the show relies on a team that has worked on Buffy for years that includes sound supervisor Cindy Rabideau. “She’s the one who, during the spotting sessions with the producers, makes sure that certain notes get addressed, whether they’re fights with special sound effects or visual effects that are described,” said Pleune. “So overall, the audio side has become much quicker and more efficient, which is a big plus as that is key in post-production. Everyone wants to save money there.” The show’s effects work has also greatly benefited from recent advances in technology. “We use at least 10 to 15 visual effects shots for every show — and sometimes a lot more — which is a lot for a TV production, and so much more is possible now,” Pleune noted. “We can model a person or creature if we need to or if a certain visual effect can’t be done by a stuntperson. And then we can also do a lot of enhancing of existing effects, and the entire process is much faster and more flexible than it used to be.” The Zoic post team, headed by visual effects supervisor Patti Gannon, uses a mixture of Inferno and Maya for 3D imaging, and Maya and some Lightwave for CG work to create and polish Buffy’s extensive eye candy. “We have a team of six artists, including a rotoscoper, a morphing expert and a 3D guy,” she said. “So depending on what each show calls for, we let them know what we want, and that then goes through a series of approvals and notes, and then we get the final effect shot back.” Looking back, much of the effects work on the earlier shows “definitely looks a little crude compared with what we can do today,” conceded Pleune. “This season we’ve been bringing back some of the older characters, and after looking at many of the older episodes, we quickly realized that we can do a lot of stuff far better. Green screen work is so much better now, and you can’t see the green glow around people anymore, whereas there was always a slight green tint there before. That’s really improved a lot and we don’t allow for any imperfections now. We want a scene to look like it’s actually happening for real.” The shows legions of fans have also played a role in the team’s quest for excellence. “They’re far more picky and demanding now,” said Pleune. “We have a Web site and we check out all the comments about visual effects and story lines as well as characters, and so do the writers and actors. Fans are the number one priority on this show, because it’s got such a huge, loyal following. So they’re a definite influence on the end result.” Pleune’s duties include coordinating and supervising all aspects of the post production process, “so I’m back and forth between our offices, Zoic, Todd-AO and Hollywood Digital,” she noted. “And after working on a show like The X Files I’ve really been able to help streamline the process on Buffy. We worked through a lot of different visual effects issues and problems on The X Files, so now I can offer a lot of suggestions about other ways of doing things that might be easier and more efficient. But ultimately it’s a very collaborative process. Luckily, everyone really cares about the show and what they’re doing, which is why so many have been here since the very start. We love the characters, we love the writing, we love the way the show looks and sounds, and we want each show to be as good as we can make it.” |
| Buffy takes on religion
- Book looks at 'most moral show' on TV By Joseph Lord Jana Riess liked watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- a lot. She liked the television show's witty dialogue and demon butt-kickings. But there were other reasons she was drawn to the one-hour comedy-drama, which had a seven-season run. Riess, the religion book review editor for Publishers Weekly magazine, said she was having conversations -- serious, deep conversations -- with friends and colleagues, stemming from the spiritual and ethical aspects of Buffy and its characters. The show, which still runs in syndication, featured Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) as "The Chosen One," a young woman on a mission to rid the world of vampires. "They were always pushing the envelope," she said of the show's writers. "It's funny, it's smart. It's also very creepy." Riess wanted to look past the show's violence, scantily clad characters and other controversial portrayals that drew criticism. So she wrote a book combining her key interests, calling it What Would Buffy Do? Religion, meet Buffy. In the book's 183 pages, Riess explores spirituality and underlying religious messages found in the show's 144 episodes. "It's the most moral show on television," said Riess, who lives in Winchester. The book bears chapters with titles such as "Be a Hero, Even When You'd Rather Go to the Mall" and "Redemption Is Hard." The book ponders friendship, forgiveness, self-sacrifice and several other tidbits of deep-thinking and spirituality that Riess says she found in Buffy. She notes that the show made reference to or drew inspiration from Christianity, Buddhism and other faiths. But Buffy, created by a self-professed atheist, often dismisses organized religion. Buffy and her friends are similar to characters in religious texts, Riess said. "Buffy is a Messiah figure," Riess said. "She is the one individual in her generation who is charged with saving the world." Riess did her research. She watched every Buffy episode, most of them multiple times. She read critical reviews of the show and books on vampires. The show's last episode aired in 2003. Yet Buffy has reached cult status, said David Lavery, an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University. By the end of this year, 12 books will be available exploring the nuances of Buffy, said Lavery, co-editor of Slayage, an online academic journal devoted to "Buffy studies" (www.slayage.tv). And What Would Buffy Do? is on the forefront of that academic pursuit, Lavery said. "It's really, really smart, but it's also very readable," he said. Riess' book was released in May to coincide with the Slayage conference in Nashville, where 180 presentations on Buffy were made by college professors and other academics. Riess blended well into that crowd. She has advanced degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Columbia University. The book's publisher has shipped 20,000 copies since the May release, publicist Kelly Hughes said. And Reiss has already received e-mails from Buffy buffs who have found omissions in the book's text. Said Reiss: "It shows how passionate people are about Buffy." |
| "Grudge" Match- Japanese Horror Teams With "Buffy the Vampire Slayer's" Sarah Michelle Gellar to Take on American Fright Fans By Christine James It's after midnight when a phone rings. A young woman tentatively picks it up, nervously wondering who could be calling at such an hour. She puts the receiver to her ear, only to scream and slam down the phone at what she hears. At the sound of the dialtone, Sarah Michelle Gellar is grinning wickedly, having successfully freaked out her friend. It wasn't heavy breathing, a menacingly whispered "Are you in the house alone?" or a taunting "Do you like scary movies?" (how very last millennium) that incited telephonic terror. Gellar's friend had just seen an advance screening of the "Buffy" star's newest film, "The Grudge," and so the one-time Vampire Slayer thought she'd have some fun by imitating the film's signature sound effect that's going to thoroughly creep out America this Halloween. It's a preternatural, creaking, croaking noise that means death for anyone unlucky enough to hear it. ---- |
| Obsessed, Vocal and Organized: A Whedonverse Revolution What happens when a Joss Whedon show is cancelled? It starts with an unprecedented campaign to bring it back, but that’s only the beginning – there’s a revolution in the works. In support of all things Joss, a new site called Mutant Boosters is not only heeding Whedon’s call to “keep making noise,” but vows to do so while making a difference. (PRWEB) August 11, 2004 -- The WB Network’s decision to cancel the Joss Whedon created TV series ANGEL ignited a fuse that refuses to go out. Rather than fade away, fans recognize the need to continue to be vocal and organized in order to protect the kind of programming they love. With “save our show” campaigns becoming commonplace at the end of each television season, fans of Joss Whedon believe its time for the audience to more vigorously assert what they want from the entertainment industry with a long-term approach. Earlier this year on KROQ’s Kevin and Bean morning show, Joss Whedon encouraged fans to “keep making noise” in support of ANGEL. Angel’s Food Drive (www.angelsfooddrive.com) chose to make noise while making a difference. The group is raising money for the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank to pay tribute to the show’s theme of helping the helpless. Organizers launched the campaign in support of renewing ANGEL and are still fighting for the continuation of the show in the form of a movie or spin-off series. Wanting to do more, organizers created Mutant Boosters. Mutant Boosters (www.mutantboosters.com) is making noise in support of all things Joss, from his Mutant Enemy projects and productions to Mutant Enemy alumni. The site provides resources for fans to coordinate positive, proactive campaigns for all aspects of the Whedonverse allowing fans to pick and choose what projects, writers, actors and production crew they wish to support. Charitable campaigns are particularly encouraged and Angel’s Food Drive will be incorporated into the new site. Current campaigns on Mutant Boosters include: * Whedonverse Multimedia Project – donating books and DVDs to public libraries. * Support the Books – promoting the sale of Whedonverse based novels. * Big Screen Angel – promoting a feature film based on the TV series Angel. * A Spin-Off Series – promoting the creation of a new TV series based on the worlds of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS) and Angel the Series (AtS). * Welcome Janollari – make the new leadership at The WB Network aware of what we expect in terms of quality television. * Support Firefly/Serenity – promote Firefly and show support for the new Serenity movie. The site will feature a monthly contest or prize give away relating to one of its existing campaigns. As a nod to the Support The Books campaign this month visitors can enter a drawing to win a prize package consisting of five novels: two BtVS/AtS crossover novels, Cursed by Mel Odom and Heat by Nancy Holder; two Angel novels, Dark Mirror by Craig Shaw Gardner and Nemesis by Scott and Denise Ciencin; and one Buffy the Vampire Slayer novel, Wicked Willow I, The Darkening by Yvonne Navarro. It’s time for a revolution to take place in the entertainment industry. If audiences remain passive, industry executives will continue to feed us programming that fails to capture our imagination. Mutant Boosters seeks to demonstrate the power of a passionate, loyal, organized and vocal fan base. We don’t have to accept things the way they are. We can make a difference! |
| Joss Whedon on X-Men 3, Buffy & Angel- ComingSoon.net got a chance to talk to Joss Whedon about the rumors that he may be interested in taking on X-Men 3, now that Bryan Singer is out of the picture. Whedon says that nothing has been offered to him for "X3," but if offered, he would LOVE to do the third film (hint, hint Fox!). On the comics side, Whedon is writing "Astonishing X-Men" right now for Marvel. Whedon has been an online fan favorite to replace Singer in the director's chair. Singer is directing Warner Bros.' new Superman adaptation instead. 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios still have X-Men 3 scheduled for a May 3, 2006 release date. Also, Whedon tells us that he is interested in doing a "Buffy/Angel" film as well, but he knows that Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz wouldn't want to participate in the feature. He adds that the "Buffy" animated series is still in the planning stages. Whedon is currently directing Serenity, an adaptation of his Firefly TV series, for Universal Pictures. |
| Buffy Movies Still Possible-
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel creator Joss Whedon told SCI FI Wire that he's ready to return to the Buffyverse with television films once he receives a green light from The WB, home of Angel, or another network. "We haven't really heard anything," Whedon said in an interview. "Obviously, there's been a regime change at The WB. The fans are interested. I'm interested. I don't think either [Buffy star] Sarah [Michelle Gellar] or [Angel star] David [Boreanaz] would want to do it. But I think there's about 10 other characters I could name who would be totally worthy of movies. And I'm just waiting for somebody to say yea or nay." As for a proposed Buffy animated series, Whedon said, "A presentation is being made. It hasn't been bought anywhere, but it's still in the creating stages, so it's still a possibility." Beyond Buffy, Whedon said he'd readily return to series television. "I had some ideas," he said. "I'm sort of trying to look at the marketplace and say, 'What kind of idea will actually go?' Because I'm not really interested in making things that don't. … So I'm not sure if what I have is what the world wants right now." But, Whedon added, "I am totally prepared to go back to TV. Not 24-seven, as I did with the first years of Buffy. But now I've learned about surrounding yourself with the right people and delegating so that I can actually run a show without ruining my life. And TV is, you know, … a medium that I love in a very different way than I love movies. The things that I can't do in [a] movie are things that I mourn: the smaller moments. The … protracted interactions. The things that make TV really fascinating. Watching characters change over the years. You know, I've waited my whole life to make movies, but movies don't do that. … You either write novels that are way too long, or you make TV if you want to do that. And … I can't write novels that are long." |
| Joss Whedon Talks Buffyverse Movies- Possible TV movies for Buffy and Angel As the fall TV season gears up, Buffy and Angel fans await news of TV movies based on their beloved series. Even Joss Whedon hasn’t heard anything official, but rest assured he would be able to produce movies in the “Buffyverse” even if Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz would not return. “I haven’t really heard anything,” Whedon said. “Obviously, there’s been a regime change at WB. The fans are interested, I’m interested. I don't think either Sarah or David would want to do it but there’s about 10 other character I can name who would be totally worthy of movies. I’m just waiting for somebody to say yay or nay.” Whedon could not commit to writing or directing such a project, but said, “I would certainly be involved. I would never let one of those stories be told without overseeing it.” The long-rumored Buffy animated series may still have life too. “A presentation is being made. It hasn’t been bought anywhere, but it’s still in the creating stages so it’s still a possibility.” |
| Christophe Beck Composing Elektra Score -
Christophe Beck looks to be composing the music for 20th Century Fox's Elektra... According to IMDB, Christophe Beck is going to compose the score for the new Elektra movie. You can hear his work in Little Black Book which is out right now and Without a Paddle which is coming out soon. Jennifer Garner, formerly known, as the artist of Alias, is going to play the leadrole. Hope Beck composes more good stuff. Stuff like our beloved Buffy and Angel Theme or melodies like 'Loneliness of Six' or 'Remembering Jenny' |
| JOSS WHEDON Q+A
Buffy Creator and X-Men Scribe Joss Whedon dishes the dirt at Wizard World Chicago Guest of Honor Joss Whedon delivered. Not only did fans at his Q+A get to see an exclusive trailer of the upcoming Firefly based movie 'Serenity' (named after their ship on the show) but the fan-fav spoke about his run on Marvel’s Astonishing X-Men and creating “Buffy” and “Angel.” to a packed crowd at Wizard World Chicago. His panel ended mere moments ago, and here's some of the highlights. Right off the bat, the Q& A provided fans the opportunity to ask their beloved creator anything and everything under the sun. After answering a few questions about 'Serenity' Joss mentioned to the crowd that he brought a trailer of 'Serenity' with him and spontaneously decided to show it. Fans were wowed at the action packed preview, featuring characters not seen since two falls ago. The entire cast from the series is in it, and Joss promised that this time around the film would be marketed to its fullest potential and not fall to the wayside the way Fox did to the show in his opinion. Buffy and Angel were the hot topic of the panel with a lot of insightful questions asked. The most poignant one was Joss regretting his inability to resurrect the deceased character Tara, played by Amber Benson (who is also signing autographs all weekend at the show coincidentally) The fans were moved when he told them how he had planned to bring her back. Towards the end of the final season Joss intended star Buffy (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) to be granted one, as he puts it, "get out of jail free card" and change one thing in her life she'd like to have back. Rather than the obvious choices of having Angel or her mother back in her life she would instead choose to make her best friend’s life complete again, bringing back Willow's lover who was killed off at the end of season 6. Angel questions revolved mainly around the, "Don't call it a cliffhanger" ending to the series and the death of Wesley (played by Alexis Denisof). Joss wrestled with the decision to kill off the character not only because he was one of his favorites but also because Alexis is a close personal friend. But as Joss told the audience at the end of the panel, "Killing people is my job." |
| The Grudge - Review |
| Trio works hard, jokes harder
Young actors bond making comedy in rugged wilderness Original B.C. shoot was transferred to New Zealand They're somewhere between The Three Stooges and The Three Musketeers. Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard are the stars of the new comedy, Without A Paddle, which opens this Friday. It's the story of three buddies in their early 30s who take one more crack at realizing their childhood dreams about finding a long-lost fortune, deep in the Oregon wilderness. Each of the trio has a distinctive reputation and an easily recognizable style. Green is best known as Scott, the spawn of Dr. Evil, in the lucrative Austin Powers franchise. He's the one with the dry wit and the quiet zingers. Lillard has made his mark in quirky roles like the serial killer in the original Scream, or as Shaggy in the two Scooby-Doo films. He's the most seemingly serious of the three, but capable of some heavy-duty put-ons. And Shepard is the wild card, an improv comic who shot to fame with his stunts on the MTV series, Punk'd. He shoots from the hip as well as the lip. You can't picture these three guys even getting along for the time it would take to order a pizza, but they share a ready chemistry on screen that they've brought with them to a suite at the Four Seasons hotel, brightening up one of this summer's many rainy days. Green admits he and Lillard had a bit of a head start, since they had worked together on Scooby-Doo 2 in Vancouver. "We got along because we share the same work ethic. First to arrive, last to leave." "And believe me," interjects Shepard, "that made for some awkward moments at the end of each day." Green and Lillard spring into an ad lib routine about how neither one wanted to be the first one to depart. Green: "You gonna go home now, Matt?" Lillard: "Yeah, man, I'm leaving." Green: "You heading right home?" Lillard: "Well, I thought I'd just roll up some cable for the camera guys, first." Green; "That's cool, because I had to pass out these presents to the crew." Lillard: "Oh good, because I'm taking everyone for drinks later." Shepard, enjoying their shtick, quietly tops them. "Meanwhile, I was kicking back with some Jack and Diet Cs of my own. I have a good work ethic, too. A Detroit, blue-collar work ethic." It's a good thing they got along so well, because, in actuality, the film was an extremely tricky project to shoot. Filled with rugged scenery and action sequences where canoes crash over falls, it was originally supposed to be filmed in British Columbia. "But by the time we were finally ready to start," confesses Green, "the only place that had seasonable weather was New Zealand. And so, the home of Lord Of The Rings stood in for the Oregon wilderness. "A lot of the same crew worked on our film, too," volunteers Lillard. "Yeah," deadpans Green, "especially our costume designer. Our t-shirts and cargo shorts were quite a challenge for her after all those hobbits." "But once we actually got started," says Lillard, shifting gears, "it was a lot tougher than any of us had imagined. Working six days a week, 14 hours a day, traveling on our days off. Learning how to shoot the rapids, all that stuff." And when the cameras actually started rolling, each one had a different approach. "I'm not a method actor," insists Green. "I don't spend time off the set becoming the guy I'm playing. I find out who I am in the first few days of filming. That's it." "I work with acting coaches before each film," reveals Lillard, "tearing apart the motivation, trying to make some sense of it. Then, when we start, the big challenge is to just be simple." "At the end of the day," admits Shepard, "I'm just a laugh whore. If we've done three takes and everybody's chuckled, then I gotta change it next time around to keep myself interested." But the one place they all worked together was during the dangerous canoe sequences on the rapids. "We later found out," says Green, looking a bit pale, "that experts come from around the world to shoot the rapids we were filming on. Thanks a lot. Our stunt guys did the most dangerous stuff, and even they got hurt." Lillard chimes in, "We all had our scary moments. I remember almost losing it when I saw Dax getting pulled under." "You have to confront your fears," is how Shepard remembers getting through that frightening time. "You've just got to give up control to the river and knowing I had you guys there made me feel safer, somehow." Not all of the shoot was nerve-wracking and the crew, in fact, had a lot of fun at the guys' expense. "They kept trying to scare us," Green recalls, "by warning us about this giant eel and we were like `Sure guys, giant eel, tell us another one.'" "But then one night," adds Lillard, "it was right there, moving between us in the water. There actually was a giant eel and it scared the shit out of us." The film has its share of broad comedy and when asked if they could each recall an embarrassing moment, Shepard jumps in at once. "Yeah. I farted in front of the whole crew while climbing up a rope. What can you do? I said `Sorry, guys, that was me.'" Lillard blushes a little. "We were in our underwear for most of the movie and I suddenly was very worried about my body. That doesn't happen when you play Shaggy. I don't think I ate a carb for a month. That was embarrassing." But Green, the veteran of the bunch, smiles wisely and confesses nothing. "There's no shame in comedy." When asked if a fourth Austin Powers film is in his future, he shakes his head. "No one's said a word to me." But as for being recognized because of the three already out there, nothing pleases him more. "I love those movies and I loved being part of them. When people connect with something you do, it's great. I had fun doing it and you had fun watching it. What could be cooler?" |
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| Congratulations to Amy Acker! The ANGEL star revealed at the Metro Autographs signing on August 21st that she's five and a half months pregnant with a boy. We wish all the luck to Amy and James! Click here for some other Amy Acker News. |
| The Ascendance of Firefly- A firefly is a creature given to metaphor. Short-lived, dazzling, and surprisingly bright, it conveniently mirrors larger occurrences in history and allows us to essentialize and encapsulate them in one convenient image. When Joss Whedon gave his FOX show the moniker Firefly, I don’t think he did so with the foresight that it would so closely mirror the actual lifespan of the little bug. I’d like to think, rather, that he knew (given the right creative freedom) he could make the show sparkle and delight like its namesake. Happily, he was right, and I was utterly delighted. Firefly is a series centered around nine very unique characters living, working, and traveling on a “Firefly-class” spaceship set some 400 years in the future. True, the future is apocalyptically grim — a totalitarian state exists in the form of the far-reaching Alliance, reminiscent of Darth Vader's troops in demeanor and attire. Our heroes, however, manage to eke out an exciting if meager existence on the cusp of illegality by running a smuggling operation in their cleverly designed vessel. Always railing against the stifling control of the state, they fly from planet to planet encountering various scenarios, forging close bonds among one another and slowly unveiling the mysteries behind their characters for the benefit of the audience. Firefly is a science-fiction show dressed as a western and written as a drama with some of the sharpest, cleverest riposte on TV. Written and directed by Joss Whedon of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Toy Story fame, it is easily the best work he has done to date, and the work which least resembles the current staid fare the networks present. It wasn’t until I saw the show extras on my DVD set that I came to a more complete understanding of why this series was so good. The narrated sections took me through the concept, set design, camera/FX/CG work, and musical score — I saw how each element was controlled by people with a deep understanding for their craft and a genuine love for the show. The series was run in a “fly by the seat of your pants” experimentation mode, and in watching the narrative I heard the phrase “You simply don’t do that” many times. As someone fascinated by business process, I love to hear that kind of thing — it’s usually the way innovations and breakthroughs happen. To me, Firefly is primarily an example of what happens when a talented group of people come together and give their best to a project which is itself led by someone talented giving his best. To read more of the review by Monica White click here |
| James had his 42nd birthday on the 20th of August. Happy Birthday James! Here is a personal message from James Marsters to his fans which can be found on his official site: “I had an awesome birthday and want to thank all of my fans who sent me so many good wishes and gifts (you shouldn’t have!). I think this is going to be an amazing year and all your love and support certainly is the best way to start it. You all rock!” -James |
| Want Official Anthony Stewart Head information and news? Click here. |
| Catching Up with Seth Green- Buffy TV movie rumors, Austin Powers 4 and dealing with fame Have you been approached for any of the Buffy TV movies? No. It’s funny because I get discussed on the internet and in the ether about that stuff and it’s never official. There was a great rumor that went around at one point that they were doing a Halloween special and I was a rumor going to be on it, and this rumor lived and died on the internet. It never existed in reality. I had to call Joss [Whedon] and say, “Hey Joss, I had to call you because I’m hearing you guys are writing this stuff.” He’s like, “We’re doing what?” He had no idea about it, but they had said that not only had I been approached, but the script was written and had to be rewritten because I couldn’t do it, and then it came down that I didn’t want to do it because there was infighting and then I was going to do it because they were going to pay me enough and then it was contractual for me to do it... it was like a whole big thing that never existed outside [of rumor]. That’s why you can’t believe a word you read. You really can’t. How about Austin Powers 4? There has been absolutely no discussion by anybody legitimately involved with the project at any time. I have heard that not only is there a plot but there are two films in the works, but I’m very excited for that. What is the next step in your career? I really don’t [plan]. I think that’s unhealthy. I try really hard, I’m in a financial position where I don’t have to jump at work, so I’m very specific about what I choose, and I feel like we’ve got a good record. In the last five years it’s been something that I believe in, something that you guys like, something that you understand why I did it, you know what I mean? That’s all I’m trying to do, is make good stuff. I’m in a position to say no, and I say no to things that I don’t think are worth my while. I’m not interested in becoming a bigger star, I’m not interested in being the wealthiest guy in the world, I’m doing fine, I love acting and I want to do it for the rest of my life. So that’s where I see myself in ten years. Still working. How do you deal with fame? Hold on just a sec, [laughs], because that’s kind of like asking Gary Coleman how his foray into politics compares with John Kerry’s. Oh don’t get me wrong. I’m famous, man. I can’t walk down the street without somebody yelling out my name. I live my life normally. I do my own thing. There’s certain things I avoid because it’s smart to avoid, you know, hanging out at public schools or going to the mall in the summertime. I’ve tried to avoid things that I know are stupid, but if I get approached, it’s usually a pretty comfortable approach. It’s manageable. We’ll see if it maintains that, but for the last few years it’s changed and evolved and I’ve changed and evolved with it. It’s manageable. Any weird encounters? Every once in a while, like I was in Atlanta this week promoting the movie there, and there were a bunch of people waiting to meet us and a girl just started crying, and that just put me into nurturing mode. I just grabbed her hand and said, “Hey, it’s okay, come here.” We took a picture together and I was like, “What’s your name?” and I signed something for her and was like, “It’s so nice to meet you.” They have an emotional reaction, it gives me an emotional reaction. How do you catalogue that? And at the same time, I don’t take it personally. I really don’t, because what they are reacting to has almost nothing to do with me in my day to day personal life. It has to do with something I did that connected with them in some way that I can’t define, so I just try to be sympathetic to that. Part 1 of the article |
| Conventional wisdom-
MALENE ARPE AND ROB SALEM TORONTO STAR WHO: Julie Benz WHAT: Eight years playing Darla on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. WHY YOU WANT TO MEET HER: Without her there would be no Angel, no Dru, no Spike. Nuff said. Benz mistakenly thought her first convention — in England about six years ago — would be no big deal. But, "it was insane ... I was really blown away by the whole experience." "I used to feel that people were slightly disappointed when they met me, because I'm not this dark, evil vampire from hell. I'm much sunnier and loopier," says Benz. "But I have to say that my fans know the difference between fantasy and reality. The fans of Angel and Buffy are a pretty intelligent group. "A lot of people want to know what it's like to kiss David Boreanaz. A lot of people want to know what it's like to work with the other actors. And they're really surprised that we had such camaraderie, that we really got along," says Benz. "I get presents. I get a lot of stuffed animals. I don't know why. I don't really see myself as that soft, cuddly stuffed animal type. I also get a lot of candy." Benz says one fan wanted her to sign his underwear. "That was a little creepy." Benz thinks her main role is to thank fans for their support, saying she is thankful "to be a part of a show where the fans are as passionate about it as we are. And even though it didn't work they made Hollywood sit up and take notice." "At the conventions I'm always fascinated when families come up to me — and especially parents with teenagers, and they will say that it was really the one show that brought them together as a family.... There are very few shows that cater to such a wide demographic and it's nice to know that somehow we helped bring families together and communicate through those difficult teenage years." |
| Rooty Tooty Spike and Fruity: Angel fans, you never cease to amaze me. Though the show is long gone, and we have nothing left but our anger at the WB to cling to, you've still managed to turn it around and do something positive. (Omarosa could learn a thing or two from you.)
. his week, I received my very first fruit basket from the fruitcakes (I say that lovingly) at Support Spike, along with a 12-inch-tall collectible doll that is making this a one-handed column as we speak--I cannot bear to release my kung-fu grip on wittle Spikey. The fan publicity kits were sent to the WB, Mutant Enemy (Joss Whedon's production company), Fox Studios and a few press types like moi. Their mission: stir up support for a Spike-centered event movie or spinoff series. And I have only one word to say about that--Please? Now, the good news. According to sources at the Frog net, WB boss Garth Ancier is still pushing for the WB to do at least one Angel TV movie this season, possibly a few, focusing on individual characters. Since David Boreanaz is not expected to sign on, I'm told James Marsters (Spike) is getting "the most buzz." More yumminess, though it's hardly an Angel movie, we fans may have another reason to tune into the WB this fall. A rep at the network confirmed that Angel expat Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) is indeed guesting on Charmed in the third and fifth episodes of the season, airing Sept. 26 and Oct. 10. She's filming right now, and I'm hoping to speak with her to get the full scoop. For now I can tell you she's playing a demonic seer (no connection to her role on Angel). According to the rep at the WB, there's a possibility Charisma could end up as a regular, but for now, it's just a guest appearance. |
| Amber's Back! Yes! She's back!- Click here to find out her latest news and click here too. |
| Oakland Convention- On the last weekend of August, James, Nicky, Tony and other Buffy stars attended the Slayer Con in Oakland. Slayerverse has some pcitures up on their site, click here to view them. |
| J. August Richards was interviewed about the end of ANGEL.. click here to read what he said. |
| Happy Birthday Clare Kramer for September 3rd! She turned 30! |
| Michelle and "Mysterious Skin"- Directly across the street from the DGA's headquarters on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, filmmaker Gregg Araki is sitting at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, discussing his latest film, "Mysterious Skin." Araki is not a member of the DGA; but, he notes, someday he might join. Working outside of the mainstream for much of his career, Araki has eight edgy, independently made films to his credit. In such movies as "The Doom Generation," "Nowhere," "The Living End" and "Splendor," he has explored characters living on the edge in story lines that have sometimes been odd and often intense, quite frequently sparking their share of controversy. Araki's "Mysterious Skin" is very much in that tradition, though it also marks a departure for the auteur. For one thing, it is the first time he hasn't worked on his own original material, instead choosing to adapt the critically acclaimed novel by Scott Hein. It tells the often unsettling, emotionally charged coming-of-age tale of two boys whose lives steer in opposite directions following one summer when, as 8-year-olds, they were molested by a baseball coach. The film, which is courting distributors, will be unveiled at the Venice International Film Festival in Italy and the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. The filmmaker acknowledges that the material as well as some of the scenes in "Skin" might be considered provocative and risky by some, but that isn't what excited him about the project. "When I read 'Mysterious Skin' years ago, it made me cry," Araki says of the book, which he brings to life onscreen with the assistance of potentially career-boosting performances by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Brady Corbet. "I understand that some of the film can be uncomfortable or hard to watch, but the reason I had to do the movie is because of the journey these two characters go through.." The film follows Neil (Gordon-Levitt) down a road of drinking, drugs and prostitution, while Brian (Corbet) blocks out memories by developing a whole alien-abduction fantasy -- hard-core Araki fans will know that it's not the first time aliens have figured into one of the director's movies. Casting "Skin" -- which also features Elisabeth Shue, Michelle Trachtenberg and Bill Sage as Coach -- convinced Araki that its subject, though often unspoken, is not uncommon in society. "What happens in the movie is so much more common than anyone can imagine," he says. "It sheds a light on something that should at least be talked about, but it doesn't offer any solutions -- there aren't any solutions. But for me, the story in the film is brave and confronts something that people would rather not talk about." Perhaps that's why he says he's more proud of "Skin" as a finished film than any of his other work, citing its "raw and authentic" feel. "People have always tried to accuse me of trying to be shocking for shocking's sake, but the shocking elements in, say, 'Doom Generation' came from a really sincere place," he says. "Same with this movie. It has elements that are unsettling, but the material transcends those darker elements. There is nothing gratuitous; it's all in the service of the story. And though I'm not afraid of controversy, I don't go actively to seek it out." Click here for the first review of "Mysterious Skin" |
| Emma's "Bandwagon"- Emma Caulfield`s independent film, "Bandwagon" was not accepted into the London Film Festival. Sites you can go to help it get into the festival etc. are: Festival site: http://www.lff.org.uk/ Petition link: http://petitiononline.com/bwlondon |
| A New Job For Alexis ?
Yet another casting rumor is being spread, this time concerning Alexis Denisof. The rumor has been pointed out by people, who went to the Oakland Convention and is concerning Alexis Denisof, who has apparently accepted a minor role in Steven Spielberg's new film version of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds". By the time of the Convention Alexis wasn't working on any projects, but said that there had been offers. Please note, that the rumor has not been confirmed yet. |
| Joss directing X-Men 3?
By Dave Davis Contributing sources: Production Weekly, Jason B. If the industry newscatcher Production Weekly is to be believed (and I'm told they're rarely wrong, if ever), ears were indeed open, and wise decisions were made. According to them, Whedon is onboard to direct X3, with the production gearing up in Vancouver next June. Of course, there's currently no script, and to the best of my knowledge no major talent has actually signed for the movie (and we know Halle Berry has little interest in returning unless she's in the spotlight). But Whedon certainly has a handle on the characters judging by his excellent run on Marvel's Astonishing X-Men series, and we know from his remarkable television work that he can juggle multiple characters, so it probably wouldn't be too difficult for him to whip up a fine screenplay (especially considering he worked on the first film's script). s a massive Whedon fan I know I'd be first in line to see it, but he's currently putting the finishing touches on Serenity, the feature follow-up to his space western series Firefly, so we'll see if he's got time for mutant mayhem. Another interesting superhero note: Production Weekly also lists (as rumored) Jim Caviezel as starring in Singer's Superman movie (subtitled Unbelievable). Only time will reveal thier prognostication skills, and if Millar or Knowles wins their bet. |
| Greg the Bunny and Seth are back! IFC Boils Up More 'Greg the Bunny' -Zap2it.com LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) In a huge victory for fabricated Americans everywhere, Greg the Bunny is returning to television. The star of FOX's short-lived comedy "Greg the Bunny" will do a half-hour special on IFC. Fans will recall that Greg got his big break hosting a movie showcase on IFC in 2001 (after debuting on New York public access in 1999). The bunny's FOX series, which co-starred flesh-and-blood actors Seth Green, Sarah Silverman and Eugene Levy, was cancelled after only seven episodes, a decision that still rankles dozens of viewers. The IFC special, which could evolve into a new series run, will feature appearances by Green and Silverman as well as Adam Goldberg, Lou Ferrigno and IFC regular Jon Favreau, host of the channel's "Dinner for Five." The special will pick up two years after the end of Greg's series, finding the bunny humiliated and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, seeking solace with fabricated friends Warren the Ape and Count Blah in Las Vegas. "'Greg the Bunny' was this tiny thing on IFC that became this huge series on FOX," says Alison Palmer Bourke, IFC's vice president of development and production on original movies and specials. "We always kept up our relationship with the creators, so when the opportunity presented itself, we thought 'Why not?'" Bourke will join "Greg the Bunny" co-creators Sean Baker, Spencer Chinoy and Dan Milano in executive producing the special. |
| Toronto Convention Pictures- Julie, Robia and Mercedes at the Toronto SFX Con 2004. |
| David Boreanaz' tested for Superman
- The Angel actor was tested for the new Superman Film... The last few weeks there's been a rumour floating about David Boreanaz doing something with a 'Four' in the title. Everyone assumed he was talking about 'Jurassic Park 4'. Not So. The role Boreanaz was actually referring to was "The Fantastic Four". Apparently the "Angel" star came close to snagging the role of Ben Grimm/The Thing in the film, but Michael Chiklis was the winner at the end of the day. All is not lost for Buffy's beau. He's just tested for "Superman" and word is, Bryan Singer liked him. Whether he likes him enough to headline the pricey blockbuster is yet to be determined, but Singer did take to the former WB fave. Though he is quite known in Jossverse as TV's "Angel", Boreanaz is still a relative unknown, with next to no successful movie credits to his name. Might this work in his favour? |
| Vamp stars join in a night of living Dead Logic
- David and James go on tour with Dead Logic!!! LIVERPOOL's very own five piece band, Dead Logic, are going on tour for a second time later this year. But on this occasion they will not be alone. Stars from Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be appearing with them. David Boreanaz, who played Angel and James Marsters, who played Spike, will appear alongside the band at venues in Liverpool, Manchester and London. A spokesman for the band told The insider: "This is just fantastic news. Dead Logic is delighted and no doubt fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be equally, if not more, excited about this." Dead Logic, which formed three years ago, first met each other after performing at various gigs. |
| Happy belated Birthday J. August Richards! He turned 31 on August 28th! |