In his latest movie, Kellen Lutz gets to do his version of a Liam Neeson Taken movie. The man who has been a vampire, an expendable, even Hercules has had quite a roster of films and TV work since getting into the business less 20 years ago. And he really deserves credit for his emotional portrayal. He’s underrated and remarkably good at playing a character who is broken down, or has had his whole world taken from him. So much so that it would be good for him to land more roles where his character is in crisis. In 2016 he played something similar, albeit in an indie sci-fi opera, as…
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Interview…Production Designer Paul Cripps on Visual Depth, Creativity and Stories From the Set of ‘Ted Lasso’
I’ve often said that I think movie magic is actually music magic. Many times it is the film score that is the heart of the film. But a very close second would be production design. While film and TV are essentially a two-dimensional exhibition of a three-dimensional world, plenty of skilled craftsmen, artisans and stage hands weave their own magic to create a sense of place. Grand cinematic adventures from The Wizard of Oz to The Matrix to Oppenheimer doesn’t physically come through the screen, but visually you still feel the weight, density, and the depth that make those worlds believable. Some of the greatest production designers in history aren’t household…
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Interview…Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival 2023 Recap with Ryan Kennedy, Sam Siske & Aaron Bryan
The Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival celebrated its sixth year in 2023. The goal of the fest is to shine a light on talented, hungry, and up-and-coming filmmakers who are trying to get their name out in the world. The ASFFF shines a light on noteworthy (or otherworldly?) short films from directors/creatives who have something special to say. These creatives can use the short from format as vehicles for TV pilots, proof of concept, or a chapter/snapshot in a larger story. The fun part about Science Fiction is that anything goes, and things are never one-note. Bits of this and that are thrown into the mix in whatever amount the writer…
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Interview…Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis on Season 12 of ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’
The creative minds behind one of Adult Swim’s longest-running and most popular shows are back to make TV watchable again. For more than twenty years, Aqua Teen Hunger Force creators Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro have dialed into cultural irreverence to make us laugh. So it’s no surprise that they are equally fun to talk to…even if trying to stay in the conversation is like watching Winona Ryder do math. We chatted with Dave and Matt earlier this year for their movie Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm and while they appear to be straight nuts, they love their job, their work, and like seeing how much fun they can have in these junkets.…
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Interview…Alden Ehrenreich and Natalie Metzger on ‘Shadow Brother Sunday’
One of the most enjoyable perks in film journalism is getting to talk to creative individuals about their work. On this site we’ve been fortunate enough to meet with numerous storytellers; we love taking deep dives with the talent at hand to find what inspires them. Some of the best interviews are ones that yield behind-the-scenes stories, triumphs and lessons learned. All in all, the road to bring any production to the public is a long one – but it can certainly be fun. And that’s why people in film consider the work an all-or-nothing pursuit. Last week, we had a kitchen sink discussion with Alden Ehrenreich. He’s been working…
