Year: 2012

A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV

A Conversation With Actress Ashley Watkins
Ashley Watkins

Ashley Watkins has arrived. The Hollywood newcomer has already made her mark in the horror genre by playing the lead role in the Richard Swindell film, “Pelt“; her first feature film.

Ashley plays the role of Jenny, a level-headed girl whose instincts are put to the ultimate test when a camping adventure goes horribly wrong.

From the film’s website: Sudden, gory, death, hides behind every bush. When beautiful Jennifer and her friends embark on a backpacking excursion deep into the woods, they come chest to chest with an evil as old as the trees. Listen…above the crackling of the campfire…is that the sound of a twig snapping or your best girlfriend’s neck? The interlopers discover that when the locals warn you not to trespass, it’s a warning you should heed.

I recently spoke with Ashley and discussed her character as well as what she enjoyed the most about her experiences filming “Pelt”.

goJimmygo (gJg): I love your role in this movie. Your character is so dramatic and level-headed.

Ashley Watkins (AW): Thank you! Jenny was the smart one. If they would have listened to her, they would have survived. <laughs>

gJg: How did the role come about for you?

AW: The casting director gave me a call and told me about the audition. She didn’t have much information and the audition was that very night. I almost didn’t go because it was so last minute. But I went in, auditioned and got a call back. To this day, it’s still one of the best shoots I’ve ever been on.

gJg: Did you originally audition for the role of Jenny?

AW: I originally auditioned for the role of Debbie and actually got a call back for that role. Sarah (Zurell) was the original choice for Jenny. During the table read, the two of us along with Richard (Swindell) decided that something just didn’t seem right. So, Sarah and I wound up switching roles and it worked out awesome for both of us.

gJg: What did you like most about playing the role of Jenny?

AW: It was a fantastic role to start off my feature film career with. I am a huge Wes Craven fan and “Scream” is one of my all-time favorite movies. Neve Campbell is one of my inspirations.

This was kind of like that role for me; the lead in a horror film. Jenny is smart and intelligent but she’s not being a superhero; she’s normal.

As a female actress starting out in Hollywood, it’s very rare to find good, strong female roles. Jenny was not only the latter, but intelligent as well. One thing that Richard did great was create all of Pelt’s characters as fighters, including the women.

Nobody just “accidentally” tripped over a log or instantly got killed. Every character went down with a fight!  So, it was great to experience that level of empowerment for the entire cast, and especially as a female. They didn’t just give up or give in!

gJg: What did you like most about making the movie?

AW: I remember how excited I was during pre-production when Richard was explaining his vision of Pelt to me.

Richard is a fan of Judd Apatow and I’m a big Wes Craven fan, so when he said he envisioned it to be a “Scream meets Superbad!” I smiled REALLY big! I knew right off the bat; this was going to be great! It’s a horror cake frosted with comedy!

I’m also a nature freak so for me, getting out of the city was a lot of fun. Then of course, we had such a great cast and crew. We were out in a remote area where there was limited cell phone service and contact with the outside world. 

The location scouting was also amazing. I remember the tower scene, it took us 45 minutes just to get there and pretty much everything you see inside was already there.

gJg: What’s the story of Pelt?

AW: Pelt is the story about seven young friends who go out exploring the uncharted territory of the woods and unfortunately, begin to get knocked off one by one. It quickly becomes the process of survival. For me, it was more of a mind game. It’s a horror story with over the top goriness but also has some funny moments mixed in as well.

gJg: Were you always involved in the arts while growing up?

AW: I figure skated competitively & danced here and there for many years during my childhood. I then transitioned fairly easily into dance during college because of my skating background. When I moved to LA, I started with a few small dancing gigs, which eventually lead into a full professional dance career. 

I have been blessed to make a living as a dancer for the past three years, while pursuing acting. I get paid to work out and enjoy losing myself in the moment to music!

gJg: You’ve also done some TV work as well. What would you say are the differences between filming a feature like “Pelt” as opposed to “Entourage”?

AW: It’s cool to be on set for television, but unless you’ve got a specific role, it’s only a one day taping. For Entourage, I was a featured dancer. As far as films go, you become more like a family when you make them. You develop as a character, as an actress and a person.  But most of all, as is the case with Pelt, you also make great friends for life!

Article first published as A Conversation With Actress Ashley Watkins on Technorati.


A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV

CUT! : A Conversation With Filmmaker David Banks
David Banks – Actor, Writer, Producer

David Banks is forging his own path. The actor, known mostly for his comedic side, isn’t one to sit idle and let opportunity pass by.

Instead of just waiting for roles and auditions to come along David, together with longtime friend David Rountree, decided to take a more “aggressive” approach. The team wrote and developed “CUT!”, an upcoming horror film with a unique storyline.

While indirectly paying homage to the original “The Hills Have Eyes” movie by casting Suze Lanier-Bramlett and Gabrielle Stone (the daughter of legendary actress Dee Wallace); Banks and Rountree have also created a horror film within a horror film.

With a release date of Halloween 2012, it seems likely that the stars are aligned for a new horror classic!

I had the chance to speak with David Banks and get his thoughts on the movie and why it’s so unique.

gJg: Is CUT! the first collaboration for you and David Rountree (Actor/Director)?

DB: David and I have actually been friends for a long time and we’ve written quite a lot of comedy based stories together. CUT! is the first time we’ve collaborated on a genre outside of comedy.

gJg: What’s the current status of the film?

DB: With the film near complete, we are beginning to shift our focus toward getting a trailer for the fans to see. Our film is tentatively scheduled for a Halloween release and we’re really excited about it!

We were looking for the ideal person to “cut” a trailer for us that would really convey our film best, and put it to life, and we found gold with Ryan Thompson from Britain! We were searching YouTube late one night for hours and came across this guy, wrote him and told him we were instantly a fan and could he work his magic. It was a real blessing to find him.

gJg: What made you decide to write a horror movie like CUT!?

It always sparks my interest to see that something is “based upon true events.” That adds an immediate element of realism and credibility to a story. One of our biggest complaints; however, is that with traditional horror movies, they don’t quite grasp that natural element of being as raw as what the real thing may be. We’ve all seen those moments where we stop and say “Aww come on, that would never happen!”

For CUT!, we decided to play on that fact by having a horror movie within a horror movie. Two people actually decide to kill people for real and capture it on film, yet market it as a film with just great raw acting.

gJg: You and David both wear multiple hats in this movie (acting, producing, writing, directing). Why did you decide to go that route?

DB: A casting director once told me something very interesting. She said, actors can always wait around for the right role and audition to come along, but what better way to shine then to do your own thing. Write your own project that’s catered to you and do it as only you can do. For us, CUT! is the end result of that.

gJg: What was the casting process like?:

DB: The whole casting process wasn’t your typical one where we held auditions. We didn’t want to do that. What we did was find really great talent who can deliver. People like Sam Scarber, William McNamara and Dahlia Salem.

Gabrielle Stone & David Banks

We also found out about this “new” girl: Gabrielle Stone. We already knew about her Mom from “The Hills Have Eyes” and “ET” but when she sent her reel over we were completely blown away.

She was so good and I remember telling David right then and there: “We need to get her, RIGHT NOW!” She’s going to be huge someday!



gJg: You also have another “Hills Have Eyes” connection with Suze Lanier-Bramlett!

DB: Suze is amazing. We were always a big fan of hers and the original film. It just so happens that David and I both share the same manager (Eileen O’Farrell) as she does so it really worked out for us!

gJg: Tell me about you character, Lane Hayes and the CUT! story:

My character, Lane Hayes, is an ex con with an addiction to drugs and violent tendencies towards women. Rountree plays Travis Simon, a guy who spent years in film school trying to become a director, but has only managed to find work renting out equipment to other filmmakers.

With access to everything we need to make a movie, the idea is born to just scare people and capture the footage. However, something goes horribly wrong and the first person in this attempt is killed for real.

After reviewing the video to help cover our tracks, it is decided that we have such shock value in the real kill, that maybe that is what we need to do. The story takes off from that point as every gut wrenching authentic death “scene” is captured on film and I do all the dirty work.

gJg: What’s next for you?

DB: David and I have another project we wrote called “Mr. Reality”. That’s going to be a lot of fun and we’ve already got people in mind for casting.

When David and I get together and write, good things happen.

 

Article first published as CUT!: A Conversation With Filmmaker David Banks on Technorati.

A Conversation With, Interview

Inspirational People: Lisa Jey Davis

Every so often, fate has a funny way of introducing you to some really amazing people. Such was the case for me when I met Lisa Jey Davis.

Lisa is role model for people who want to live their dreams. After going through a rough divorce, she made the decision to travel to Los Angeles and start a career in the production end of the entertainment industry. Through hard work and perseverance she became talent coordinator on the production crew of The Billboard Bash, a pre-show for the Billboard Music Awards. She hasn’t looked back since.

Today, Lisa owns her own successful public relations firm, Jey Associates Marketing and PR. She’s also an award-winning writer, a fitness instructor and a regular blogger/vlogger, both as herself and as her “alter-ego”, Ms. Cheevious.

As a blogger, she regularly documents and videos the adventures of her life. From the satisfaction of trying out for the Lingerie Football League with girls half her age to having to make a difficult decision when diagnosed with the BRCA 2 genetic mutation; Lisa is truly an inspiration.

Her latest project, a book entitled: Ms. Cheevious In Hollywood – Adventures & Mishaps of an Accidental Hot Mamma promises to be a guilty pleasure for anyone interested in learning what really goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood. It’s also a must-read for women who’ve recently experienced life trauma, such as divorce, and want to regain the confidence and courage to change their lives for the better.

I had the pleasure of speaking with this amazing woman and find out what makes her tick.

goJimmygo (gJg): You are one busy lady. How do you find time to do all this?

LJD: Not sleeping.

Actually, it’s because I love what I do. But I must admit, as I get older I more often find myself thinking, “Hmm, that couch over there is looking kind of nice to sit on”. <laughs>

Lisa and the cast from her “show” and blog: Bear, M.C. Nugget, Fred the Wonder Chicken and Bear.

gJg: Tell me a little bit about your book.

LJD:  It’s the story about my post-divorce enlightenment. About jumping into the world with both feet and saying, “It’s my turn to do what I’ve always wanted to do”. For me, it was pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. It’s the story of the whole process from divorce to pursuing the dream and all of the funny things that happened along the way. There will also be some stories about the celebrities I’ve met. It will be fun.

gJg: Tell me a good Ms. Cheevious Story from the book:

LJD: In 2002, I was working for MTV on a show called ICON.  Aerosmith was picked as that year’s ICON. What MTV would do was bring other popular artists and bands in to perform the “ICON’s” songs.  I remember we had Train performing “Dream On” and Pink did “Janie’s Got A Gun”.  The members of Aerosmith were all part of the audience. It was similar to an awards show and my job was to work with the band’s wives and kids  – as the kids were participating in one of the numbers.  

I remember at one point where there were two guys I had to take somewhere. So I was taking them back to their seats via the front row when all of a sudden everyone stopped. I suddenly realized that I was standing right next to Pink. What I didn’t know was there was also film crew there filming her while she was dancing. So I literally just stood a foot away from Pink and stared at her while all of this was going on.

All of sudden, she realizes that I’m standing there staring at her and she looks at me a little nervously like ‘Who is this crazy girl and why is she staring at me?’

But I swear to you, I am not a Pink stalker. Honest! <laughs>

gJg: Another dream you followed was trying out for The Lingerie Football League. How did that come about?

LJD: When the Saints went to the Superbowl a few years ago, my boyfriend (who is a huge Saints fan) and I bought tickets to Miami. At the time, we didn’t know if we would even be able to get into the game (we didn’t) but we went for the experience and had a great time. While we were there, I was able to get us into the Lingerie Football League’s Superbowl (the eve of Superbowl), as well as the after-party.

Initially, I thought it might have just been girls running around in g-strings but they were actually playing in bra tops, workout shorts and pads, and I loved it! It inspired me. I felt I was in pretty good shape so I thought I would try it. When I found out that they were holding tryouts here in LA the following year,  I signed up and it was so much fun.

Ms. Cheevious Does Lingerie…. Football, That Is

In 2011, Lisa had to make a very difficult decision when diagnosed with the BRCA 2 genetic mutation.

From her blog: In 2010, my beloved, beautiful sister Mimi lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer. Her illness prompted my gynecologist to begin a personal campaign to get me to the genetic specialists at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. And when she passed away, my doc turned up the heat. She REALLY wanted me to be screened for Ovarian / Breast Cancer (they are related) gene mutations. So I succumbed. I went in for the screening, and more to the shock of the genetics counselors than to myself, I tested positive for the BRCA2 Gene Mutation.

There were a few choices available but having already had children and seen what my sister had gone through, I opted for the most aggressive approach to eradicating my elevated risks. I underwent a double prophylactic mastectomy (with breast reconstruction and implants) and at the same time, had them remove my ovaries and tubes.  

Click Here For The Full Story * Click Here For Video

I am so glad that I connected with Lisa and her “multiple personalities”. She is one of the most fun and inspirational people I’ve ever met. Someday I hope I get to tell her that in person. In the meantime though, here are some of Lisa’s / Ms. Cheevious’s Greatest Hits:

Fun Ms. Cheevious Blog Posts:

Ms. Cheevious Videos
Goofy Ms. Cheevious * Delve into Twelve * Pretty Folded Thongs * Mammoth Mountain Moments I

Lisa Jey Davis Vlog videos:

Thoughts for the Day:
Never Give Up * Be Magnificent
Article first published as Inspirational People: Lisa Jey Davis on Technorati
1980's, Childhood Memories, Music

A Reunion With Lita Ford
Me, John, Lita Ford, Mike

Once upon a time, back in the 1980’s if you really must know, there were three kids who used to hang out together on the south side of Easton: James, Michael and John.

For the most part, these three friends would spend summer days playing Dungeons & Dragons, reading comic books, shooting basketball or occasionally, making Spiderman home movies.

Music was also a huge part of their lives. The boys loved buying the latest albums, wearing out the vinyl while playing state of the art video games on the Atari 2600, and attending concerts. Sometimes in pairs but rarely as a trio.

As time wore on these three people (let’s just call them “The Trio”) kind of lost touch with each other and went their own separate ways. Michael started college and entered the world of finance, John put down his imaginary +2 sword in favor of an army rifle and James entered the health care field and continued to play guitar on the side.

Prelude over….

Through fate, and the social networks, the three of us were able to reconnect a year or so ago. We had always talked about getting together for a drink and reminiscing, but of course talking about something and actually doing it are two different things. Work, families and other commitments tend to get in the way. Days quickly turned into months and although I’d see John at the gym every so often or receive a text message from Mike when our football team was playing, we never pulled the trigger and made The Trio reunion happen.

Then one day, a few weeks ago something really cool happened. I was offered concert tickets to see Lita Ford at Penns Peak. Now, readers of my blog already know of my admiration for Lita. Heck, I walked for miles in the summer heat with my guitar to lesson to learn how to play her songs. But, as I thought about the opportunity of seeing Lita some more, a huge smile came across my face. What better way to reunite The Trio than with the one thing we all had in common: our love of music?

So, instead of texting Mike I decided to do it “old school” and actually call him. You know, just like if it were the 1980’s. Mike and I had seen plenty of concerts while teenagers back in the day. From the first concert we both ever saw: The Scorpions and some new band named Bon Jovi to REO Speedwagon, Survivor, Cinderella, RATT, Poison, Night Ranger, Ace Frehley… the list goes on. Mike checked his schedule, and it was a go.

Next, a quick message to John, who also was also immediately on board. “Dude” he said, “I haven’t been to a show with you since we saw Stevie Nicks and Frampton back in ’86. You KNOW I’m there!”

Wow! I knew John and I had seen Stevie Nicks in Philadelphia, but had completely forgotten that Peter Frampton was the opening act. But that’s what’s cool about seeing concerts with friends; they help remind you of these things.

So…..

At approximately 6:10 pm on July 12th, 2012 The Trio were officially reunited in the parking lot of Penns Peak. The first time the three of us stood together in probably 25 years. In between handshakes, hugs and pats on the back was a bit of sadness too. How was it possible that the three of us all still lived within 30 minutes of each other and never got together?

My self-imposed depression was short-lived as we made our way to the bar (yes, it’s good to be an adult sometimes). It was there that we ate, drank and talked about how great it was to be together again and do something we all loved.

As we watched the concert, much like we always did back in our heyday, Mike and I would constantly look over at each other, nodding in approval of Lita’s performance. It was just like the days of yore and the three of us basked in the glory of metal. Lita was supporting her brand new album and never sounded better.

After rocking together at the show, we actually had the opportunity to meet Lita backstage. Of course, I already know that she’s the “Queen” so it was one of the coolest things ever for me to meet her personally. But for some reason, having the three of us there together at that moment bumped it up a notch in cool.

As we stood there for a group picture, another smile came across my face (this now seemed to be a recurring trend). I kept thinking that Lita was part of something really special and had absolutely no idea about it.

Afterwards, we made our way out into the late summer night, the last ones left in the now empty parking lot. We stood there for fifteen minutes absorbing what had just taken place.

“Jimmy, I KNOW you want to wait here and follow her bus!”, John said. I laughed out loud thinking that was probably something he would have said after we saw Stevie Nicks, and in both cases my answer would still the same: “Hell, yes!”

After a final handshake, high-five and promise to keep in touch we all went our separate ways again. Brothers in music, hoping the time between now and our next reunion isn’t quite so long.

1980's, Stories and Writing Prompts

After School
by Mark A. Hicks, illustrator

Here’s a little writing prompt. Would love to hear your thoughts:

It’s Wednesday afternoon and I’ve just gotten home from another ruined day of high school. By ruined, I mean having been told in the lunch line that “Johnny Marzetti”, the name given to a Hamburger Helper wanna be, was replacing pizza as the main entree.

Pizza day was something high school students looked forward to. When you saw “Pizza” on the lunch menu you knew that it was not a day to ditch school or go out for lunch. Pizza was THAT important. And being told at the last-minute that it would not be served was equivalent to telling a child there was no Santa Claus.

After dropping my books onto the kitchen table, I slowly made my way upstairs to my bedroom, a ritual I’ve been following since my scholastic career began.

I sit down at the foot of my bed and untie my sneakers, my white stocking feet now relishing in their new-found freedom. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the black electric guitar sitting on the stand in the corner. The only thing that has been the outlet for my teenage angst during senior year. The instrument I’ve put so many hours of practice into and one that will eventually lead me to bigger and better things, that being: rock stardom!

It was going to be a few hours before my brother got home from work and invade his half of the bedroom, plenty of time for me to work on guitar scales and the Mel Bay book. But first, there was another matter that needed my attention.

I opened the top drawer of my dresser and shuffled behind pairs of socks and underwear until my fingers felt it, the spiral bound notebook. The secret journal I had been keeping all year, this most important final year of school. The last year of my high school career and my last chance at any kind of romance.

You see, when you’re going to be eighteen and have yet to find any semblance of true love, writing is the only therapy you have. I’ve never so much as gone on a date, let alone kissed a girl, so almost every day since last November, I’ve been writing.

It’s not that I never wanted to find love or anything like that. It just, well, it just never happened for some reason. And the strangest part of all was, I would write about anything and everything that was going on in my world, everything of course, except for the one thing that wasn’t: Love.

My writing ritual was always the same: right after my brother fell asleep and before my own head hit the pillow I would write about my day. Nothing long or drawn out, just something to remind me of what was going on in my life. And the entries would always be the same too: A quick refresher on what was going on with me musically followed by an update on homework assignments, car trouble or some other teenaged obsession.

Certain details of my day I always kept hidden, even to myself. Some things were better left unsaid. But today would be different. Today, aside from the fact that I was going to be writing in broad daylight, was the fact that today’s entry was going to be a doozy. One for the books. So with pen in hand I feverishly began to write:

3/18/1987:

I’ve gotten close to three hours of guitar practice in yesterday and hope to accomplish the same today. Pit band rehearsal at school seems to be going well. I’m going to master that part of “Leader of The Pack” even if it kills me. Not too much else happening….

There was a pause. Actually, there WAS a lot happening. My hand began to shake and my heart began to beat faster. What I was about to write was going to be something I’ve never written about before. Oh sure, I’ve thought about it many times but never put it down in words. And for a moment, I began to think about the consequences of my actions if my brother were to ever discover the journal and the words that would soon adorn the page.

You see, there are a two unwritten rules every boy follows on his journey to manhood. The first being never, ever keep a diary or a journal. Those things are for girls to draw rainbows on and write down school crushes. Boys should be more concerned about Michael Jordan and Ozzy.

The second, but just as important, never, EVER show your sensitive side. The fact that I was about to break both commandments at once should have raised the red flag for me. I was risking eternal ridicule, but in the end, I knew this was something I had to do:

I’m still after her. Yep, I think just sitting two tables away from her at lunch and moving my chair near her in choir class isn’t enough. Even though I know she looks at me and smiles, there are times when that Bon Jovi lyric comes to me:

If only she would look my way (Hey Hey)
But, “She don’t know me. She don’t see me
She can’t hear me. Heaven help Me!”

Somehow I wish she would notice me. Deep down, I know she’s right for me. In all of my seventeen years I’ve never felt this way before. Maybe time will tell.

A Conversation With, Interview, Music

A Conversation With Artist and Choreographer Bobby Newberry
Bobby Newberry

As an in-demand choreography powerhouse, Bobby Newberry has spent years crafting innovative stage material for the likes of Missy Elliot, The Pussycat Dolls and Eminem. His work has been featured on such show as X-Factor, America’s Got Talent and Dancing With The Stars to name just a few.

He’s also been impressing audiences with his seductively soothing vocals on an acoustic rendition of La Roux’s “Bulletproof” , a duet with former Pussycat Doll, Melody Thornton.

Now, combining his love for dance and passion for music, Newberry takes center stage for the very first time with his debut single and music video: “Dirrty Up”, featuring Jessie & The Toy Boys.

In my interview with Bobby, we’ll discuss the making of Dirrty Up, his collaboration with the amazing Melody Thornton and how, through hard work and never losing sight of his goal to inspire others, is making his dreams come true.

goJimmygo (gJg):Bobby, congratulations on your video and all of your success so far.

Bobby Newberry (BN): Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!

gJg: The video for “Dirrty Up” is amazing. How tough was it to make?

BN: It was intense. I’ve done a lot of videos before but this was the first video with me as an artist. It was an eighteen hour shoot day, throwing ourselves on the concrete floor over and over again.. <laughs>

gJg: Is “Dirrty Up” a song you had written?

BN: It’s a song that I co-wrote with The Invaders. We’ve just released it on i-Tunes!

gJg: How did the “Bulletproof” collaboration come about with Melody Thornton?

BN: That was interesting. I had originally recorded a version of that song a while ago. After I played Melody my version of it, she came up with the idea of re-recording it as a duet!

Afterwards, she wanted to put it on her mix-tape. It’s gotten a lot of great exposure.

gJg; What was it like working with Melody? She’s phenomenal!

BN: I’ve known Melody from working with The Pussycat Dolls. We’ve been great friends for a long time. I’ve always known she was an incredible singer and was honored that she wanted to work with me on this song.

gJg: What’s the message of the video?

BN: We wanted the video to have a very cold, stoic feeling but yet be beautiful at the same time. The finished product really captures the desperation.

gJg: Where was it filmed?

BN: The middle of the Mojave desert! <laughs>

It was definitely interesting dealing with the elements but, it was worth it in the end.

gJg: Was singing and dancing a big part of your life growing up as well?

BN: Yes, I started singing and dancing at a very young age. I grew up watching Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna videos and teaching myself the choreography. Then, I’d invite my family over and put on shows for them in the living room.

From there, I started entering myself in talent shows and choirs. Eventually I received a scholarship from The Edge, one of the biggest dance studios in LA, and really started seriously training. I still sang in the choir but made dance my priority because it’s really difficult and takes years of training to be a strong dancer.

gJg: Tell me something most people don’t know about you.

BN: I love to eat! I secretly love eating more than anything. I love going to restaurants and trying everything. Sometimes I’ll even order three desserts. <laughs>

gJg: What’s next for you?

BN: To keep growing as a choreographer and artist. I also want to keep releasing new music. The plan is to release a new song and video every six weeks. I start shooting again at the end of July.

gJg: Where do you see yourself a few years from now?

BN: I see myself as an artist that continues to grow and one that people can find inspiration from. For me, the best feeling in the world is when people tell me they’ve been inspired by listening to my music or watching my videos.

Article first published as A Conversation With Artist and Choreographer Bobby Newberry on Technorati.

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Ted

I proceeded with caution while making my way to the movie theater to see “Ted”, the new movie starring Mark Wahlberg about a teddy bear that comes to life.

The reason for my heightened awareness of the situation had nothing to do with physically getting to the local multiplex. Hardly.

No, the real reason for my hesitation was because I’ve been burned by Mark Wahlberg in the past. I still lament the hours of my life lost and the money I am out from enduring films like “Rock Star” and “The Happening”, the latter of which ranks #3 on my list of Worst Movies Of All Time.

But “Ted” is neither of those two bombs.

The story of “Ted” begins in 1985 when a friendless John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) makes a wish that his beloved Teddy bear (voiced by Seth McFarlane) could come to life. With the wish granted, Ted immediately becomes the talk of the nation, even appearing on The Tonight Show.

But soon, the novelty of Ted wears off on the public and John and Ted both “grow up”. As adults, they enjoy each others company (in between repeated viewings of the 1982 Flash Gordon movie and taking bong hits, of course). Mila Kunis plays Lori Collins, John’s girlfriend who wants him to give up living with Ted so that they can take their relationship to the next level.

What I Liked:

1. The humor. Quite a bit of it was laugh out loud funny. Particularly good was when Ted tries to get a job as a cashier at the local supermarket and meets a girl.

2. The “Guest Stars”. There are quite a few people you’ll recognize in this film that really add to the humor.

3. Mila Kunis. I mean, what’s not to love? She’s HOT!

4. It wasn’t “The Happening”.

What I didn’t like:

I have to admit, there really wasn’t much I didn’t like about Ted. Ok, if you want me to be nit picky: Mark Wahlberg’s arms looked a bit too big for his body. Perhaps a few less hammer curls in between takes would have helped.

Final Verdict: Go see it. Especially if you’re into crude jokes, sexual innuendos and watching a teddy bear engaging in recreational drug use.  I liked it.

1980's, Movies and TV

The Wait Is Almost Over!

It’s almost like Christmas eve! The day before my home boy, Spiderman returns to the big screen.

To help honor this milestone event, it gives me great pleasure to present to you my post from last year on Spidey along with all four of my 1980’s Spiderman home movies!

If this doesn’t get you excited to see the wall crawler beat the crap out of Lizard tomorrow, NOTHING will!

Oh, and if you happen to be looking for me in the darkened theater tomorrow – I’ll be the one who snuck in a box of Count Chocula to go along with the popcorn.

Me and Spidey

A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV, Music

A Conversation With Multi-Talented Singer and Actress Elly Stefanko

Multi-talented singer/songwriter Elly Stefanko is making her mark in the music world. A true, natural singer since the age of eight, she’s been working hard performing in theater and releasing her own music without the need of auto-tuning or robotic accents.

Elly’s also begun to forge her own path as an actress as well and if the results of her first endeavor are any indication, the future looks bright indeed.

Elly’s first major film role is “HUFF“,  a twisted take on the story of “The Three Little Pigs” and a film that’s already generating a lot of buzz at festival screenings throughout the US prior to its official release this fall.

In “HUFF“, Elly plays the role of Shay, the youngest of three step-daughters who must escape the wrath of their brutal stepfather, HUFF (Charlie O’Connell) when one of his drug deals goes awry. The film also stars scream queen Elina Madison as the matriarch, Lorelei and Marie Bollinger (Pelt) and Jenna Stone (A Haunting in Salem) as Shay’s sisters Brixi and Styx respectively.

Elly recently attended The Texas Frightmare Convention along with the rest of the cast and crew to view the completed film for the very first time.

With her first film now under her belt, Elly has begun work on a brand new blues-inspired album of original music.

I had the opportunity to speak with Elly and get her thoughts on “HUFF” as well as her music career.

gJg: What was your experience like seeing “HUFF” for the first time?

ES: It was very cool! I remember feeling nervous right before the screening because I hadn’t seen it and no one else was really talking about it. But, having now seen it freshly for the very first time, it’s awesome! I love scary movies and the fact that this is a thriller on top of it makes it even more appealing!

There were a few moments during the film where I originally questioned what audiences might think of some of the biblical elements. It was a big risk to take but Cort Howell (Writer, Producer) took a leap of faith and it really turned out amazing!

gJg: When is “HUFF” going to be released?

ES: We’re all hearing September and I’m looking forward to it.

gJg: “HUFF” is actually your very first movie right?

ES: Yes it is.

gJg: How did the role of Shay come about?

ES: I initially had read for the role of Styx and afterwards was asked to also read for the part of Shay. The producers felt that the role of Shay would suit me better and I thought so too! Even though Shay is only 15-16 years old, she knows how to handle herself in certain situations because shes kind of been through a lot and she’s also seen her sisters go through a lot of bad stuff as well!

gJg: What are some of the things you like most about the movie?

ES: There were quite a few things that I thought were cool. I liked the way HUFF was testing the daughters but in different ways. I also remember that at one point, Brixi (Marie Bollinger) quotes a bible verse and to me, seeing that she still had faith after everything everyone had gone through was amazing. I loved the little moments like that.

gJg: What was the chemistry like?

ES: It was amazing. Even on my first day on set I remember asking: “Are all movies this easy?” <laughs>

It was a great first experience.

gJg: You were also able to work with Clint Howard as well, a real acting legend!

ES: He definitely is. Clint and I became good friends. He’s actually a musician as well. He saw my You Tube videos and called me up to tell me that I was doing the right thing with my music. That was very encouraging!

gJg: What was it working with Charlie (O’Connell)?

ES: Charlie is such a cool dude. He’s inspiring. I love meeting actors like him who are just so down to Earth.

gJg: What’s your favorite horror movie of all time?

ES: “The Devil’s Rejects”. I like the whole vibe of it and I’m a big Rob Zombie fan. He has his own little niche. I really like the comedy elements in that film. It’s so hard to add in little things like that but it worked. “HUFF” has a lot of those kinds of elements too!

gJg: What is the one thing you’d like everyone to know about “HUFF”?

ES: “HUFF” is not at all what you would expect to see from a typical horror movie. It’s something different and it’s a breath of fresh air!

gJg: Let’s talk about your music! How long have you been writing and performing?

ES: I’ve been singing since I was eight and I’ve been writing since 18. I also play piano and have released a few EPs.

gJg: Was music always a big part of your life growing up?

ES: It was. When I was nine I recorded a lullabies album called “Sing Me To Sleep” which was classical music with a huge fifty-piece orchestra.

I went to school at the Crystal Cathedral and did quite a bit of work with them as well. I met a lot of amazing people including the Schullers and Michael Crawford, an opera singer who performed as the original “Phantom of the Opera”. They needed a girl to sing a duet with him for a big Christmas event and I was chosen to sing with him!

gJg: Did you have formal training?

ES: Yes, I did have a lot of training. I was doing quite a bit of theater too at the time and learned how to protect my voice.

gJg: What kind of music do you strive to make?

I really love music where I can hear the purity of the voice. Where there’s no tampering and it doesn’t sound like a robot. I was so happy when Adele won all of those Grammys.

gJg: What projects are you working on now?

ES: I’ve been focusing a lot on writing songs for a new album. It has elements of blues, pop, jazz, a little bit of everything! Once I’m finished writing, I’m going to find a producer to deliver it. I really want to go into a studio and record it “old school”. That’s where all of the musicians are set up in one room and I’ll be in another. Then we’ll all record together at exactly the same time.

That’s the only way to capture the true essence of the moment and that’s my goal!

Article first published as A Conversation With Multi-Talented Singer and Actress Elly Stefanko on Technorati.