Actor Doug Jones has often been referred to as the Boris Karloff of our time. This in-depth feature length documentary seeks to find how this actor/mime went on to become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors when it comes to creating fantastic creatures in full body make-up/costumes. From his early start in projects like Buffy The Vampire Slayer to major motion pictures like Hellboy and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer to Oscar winning and nominated films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape Of Water. His performances, mannerisms and physicality is so well-known, you could spot Doug a mile away. We’ve taken to calling him Lean Chaney. Directed by William Conlin, the doc gives us a reverent look…
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Interview…Bruce Davison and Madison Lawlor on the Family Ties and Legacy in ‘Casa Grande’
Written and directed by Juan Pablo Arias Muñoz, Casa Grande is a neo-Western with a story that plays out like an intimate chess match. Yet this game is played at high speed with such dangerously high stakes, you can feel the grit right though the screen. Helping convey the emotion, the tough choices, and the heart of the story are the legitimate and well-crafted characters. Sure, they feel like familiar archetypes, but once they are on the board the moves they make will be highly unexpected. That’s where the magic happens. Muñoz offers up juicy complex family dynamics that exist between two ranching families. The back and forth in a…
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Interview…CEO Michael Fisk on Navigating Legal Waters of Sports Intellectual Property
One of the most important aspects of the creation process is ownership of the original idea. The industry term for that is “Intellectual Property” (or IP) and it has been the subject of countless discussions. Determining who owns what is one of the most crucial and hard-fought battles in legal waters. Sometimes just knowing where to start – to avoid any copyright hurdles and land mines – is the smartest and most helpful move for the company/brand and the end user. Some individuals have built beacons to help light the way, and one company helping benefit all participants is Callandor Group. Spearheaded by Michael Fisk (former Executive Vice President of…
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Interview…William Sadler on Acting From Experiences and Maintaining Surprise on Stage
William Sadler is not just a fantastic character actor, he is a main stay in the Stephen King cinematic universe, he’s able to pull you in to the story, he can even take the zaniest and craziest villains and by putting his own special sauce on it, you’ll find that they stick with you like chewing gum. His acting chops have taken him from the stage, to Broadway, to movie sets great and small, and his earnest portrayal casts a tangible and believable light of humanity on all his layered and nuanced performances…even in VFW which says a lot. An entertainer at heart, and someone who is best described as…
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Interview…Brittany Allen on Charisma, Composition and Courageous Acting Choices
With so much fantastic and noteworthy stories, music and films out there, it’s possible that we take for granted just how hard it is to be an entertainer. The trick, as they say, it to make it look easy. When there’s a great performance, spellbinding novel or a perfect song/album, it can seem like it all came together without any stress. That’s where any creative would tell you that their main goal is to not let you see them sweat. They are determined to impress, and when they do you’re bound to remember them. Speaking of grit and determination, one such individual is Canadian-born actress and musician, Brittany Allen. This…
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Interview…Henry Jackman and Kevin Olusola on the Cornucopia of Chaos in ‘The Bluff’
Composer Henry Jackman is on the short list of seasoned composers who can concoct and deliver an elevated musical palette. Whether the story is about mutant, vigilantes, pirates or the mighty Kong, his work serves as more than the backdrop to the narrative. It is the jet fuel that courses through the picture and literally makes characters fly. We’ve spoken to him a handful of times over the years and his approach to composition and the ideas he manifests live on long after you’ve left the theater. To help make his latest cinematic confection oh so sweet, he enlisted an equally talented and courageous musician to try things that, as…
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Interview…Martin MacPhail on the Sound of Adventure in ‘Deathstalker’
We had a fun chat with composer Martin MacPhail. to talk about their work on the ultra rad reboot of Deathstalker. If adventure has one name, then music for the adventure needs two…BLITZ//BERLIN. We spoke to this highly talented and ultra prolific group last year to talk about their career and the trio of genre titles. This time, we dug deep to get into the nitty gritty (and the fun) of the Deathstalker reboot. From the mind (and hands) of Steven Kostanski, this fun throwback film is full of action, humor, excitement and some of the best practical effects & gore since, well, his last film. Herein, he has a…
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Interview…Luke Hemsworth on Elevating the Writing and Character Acting in ‘Beast’
Tyler Atkins’ Beast is full of heavyweight talent, brilliant acting and dialogue exchanges that leave you speechless. The jabs that hit you in the heart and make your jaw drop don’t just happen in the ring. It’s the back and forth between Luke Hemsworth, Dan MacPherson, Russell Crowe and the rest of the exceptional cast that will make this an instant classic. Today, we got a true thrill to talk with Luke about his experiences in this masterfully moving MMA themed drama. He and MacPherson have a long working relationship and are some of Australia’s best and brightest. While they don’t square off against each other (trading fisticuffs anyway) they…
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Interview…Daniel MacPherson on the Heart and Intensity of ‘Beast’
Sports movies are usually about overcoming the odds, redemption, etc. and sometimes a love story finds itself woven into the world of pastimes, pugilism, double headers or championship bouts. So it’s a rare feat when a story or film can pull off a win in multiple categories and please all the crowds. As such, Tyler Atkins’ Beast does just that. It also covers themes and topics that are deeper yet more unique and universal than we’re used to seeing. Dan “there is no fear in MacPherson” MacPherson commands the screen in Beast as he and the rest of the exceptional cast create something with TONS of heart. The film’s punches…
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G-S-T Review…The Pout-Pout Fish’s Big Screen Adventure is Blub Bluub Bluuub
This year, Deborah Diesen’s The Pout-Pout Fish makes its way from the stout cardboard pages to the big screen. Despite all the colorful scales, bubbles and iridescent colors, there’s something missing in this feature-length underwater adventure. Considering this animated feature comes from a children’s book (and series) that has less than 30 pages, credit where it’s due, the trio of writers created a more impacting tail, err tale than the eponymous fish turning his frown upside down. Living on a rundown shipwreck, Mr. Fish discovers a hyperactive young sea dragon Pip – who had mistaken his home for a junkyard – pilfering his belongings. The heated argument that ensues leaves both their…
