When a musician is firing on all cylinders, it can be a thing of beauty. Time and again, we’ve been in awe of the raw power and supreme control of soloists, bands or even a full orchestra. How they elicit emotion and really move the mercury is attributed to their skill, and in many cases they can become immortal with just a single note. When they’re on, they’re on, and you’ll remember the sound forever. That brings us to our guest today. With lightning fast fingers, Ultraboss (the moniker for Austria-based PJ D’Atri) is one of the best shredders on the planet. However, his compositions are even more lethal and…
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Interview…Writer/Director Dante Briggins on Authenticity, Work Ethic, and “Who Dat” The JT Money Story’
As film fans, we are always rooting for an underdog. Whether it’s a movie about sports or academia, anyone who fights and then rises against the odds has our full attention. It’s a very universal story when you gain something rather than being gifted it. We’ve been running this site for 15+ years, and understand that it takes knocking on a lot of doors to get any traction or attention. I’ve written several editorial posts to talk about how lucky we are (after a lot of work), to bring home some amazing interviews and entertainment opportunities. I would never say that we were a success, but have been happy with…
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Interview…Director Simon West on Character, Action and Excitement
Simon West knows a thing or two about action. More importantly, he’s proficient at capturing engaging performances set against explosions galore. His latest is a grounded affair, one where the jokes are good but the bullets are real. Compared to the likes of Con Air and The Expendables 2, it’s a quieter film that does less to glamorize assassins, and more to humanize them. In the film, Christoph Waltz plays Danny Dolinski, the titular “old guy” who is asked to train a young protege, any story about a hitman (of any age) will certainly have its fair share of sizzle, snark and a sniper rifle. Enjoy this chat with Simon…
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Interview…Composer Jared DePasquale on Deep Dives Into Audio Soundscapes
For nearly thirty years Jared DePasquale has composed the musical scores for some of Western culture’s most celebrated stories and iconic characters. The recipient of numerous awards and critical acclaim, his work is widely recognized for its ability to musically capture complex characters amidst stories that are rich in texture and meaning. Early in his career, Jared apprenticed under Emmy and ASCAP Award winning composer Joseph LoDuca. With LoDuca, Jared learned the business of composing for A-list projects including the globally syndicated television shows Xena: The Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Immediately following his apprenticeship, Jared scored several horror films for Full Moon Pictures and Rapid Heart Pictures…
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Interview…Composer Aaron Zigman on the Compelling Compassion to ‘Six Triple Eight’
American composer and pianist Aaron Zigman has written more than 70 Hollywood film scores. Firmly established as one of Hollywood’s go-to composers, his film career was launched in 2000, when director Nick Cassavetes heard his work and asked him to collaborate on six films, including the romantic cult classic The Notebook, for which the composer’s score sold a record number of albums. Other box-office hits include Bridge to Terabithia, The Proposal, For Colored Girls, The Company Men, Wakefield,and the Sex and the City franchise. Similarly distinguished in television, Zigman has penned songs for shows including the popular series Fame and the Showtime TV movie Crown Heights, for which his setting…
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Interview…Director Mika Simmons on the Color, Comedy and Character of ‘My Week With Maisy’
As the year winds down, we’ve been trying to catch up with those creatives whose stories have surprised, entertained or delighted us. In the realm of short films, 2024 featured so many personal endeavors and original tales that shine a light on the human experience. And what more universal story can you ask for, especially this time of year, than a narrative about someone finding their heart thawing? It can be as satisfying for the characters as it is for the audience, and such is the case with Mika Simmons‘ latest directorial effort. In My Week With Maisy, we are introducing to Mrs. Foster (played by Dame Joanna Lumley) as…
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Interview…Director Martin Campbell on ‘Dirty Angels’ and Favorite Action Scenes of His Career
Whenever we enter the holiday season, I tend to think of the many amazing opportunities the site has been offered over the years. It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the release schedule, and I for one am so thankful for experiences on the press tours. And since 2011, we’ve spent time with numerous creative talents talking about their craft on projects big and small. Some are our heroes, others are bucket list gets, some may be totally new territory, but all are welcome. At the very least, they are fun and informative. At best, they have become industry friends with whom we’ve chatted on several…
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Interview…Composer Andrew Lockington on the Inspiration and Sonic Theatricality of the ‘Landman’ Series
Whether it’s a studio action film or an indie festival film, Composer Andrew Lockington‘s music demonstrates his approach to scoring each project in a unique way by finding a musical language to communicate the relationships and elements of the story that visuals cannot. Andrew’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of film scoring has inspired him to record in places such as the jungles of Papua New Guinea, the tropics of Costa Rica, an ancient temple in Northern Japan, a volcano in Polynesia, and an abandoned subway station beneath central London. His recent projects include the epic Sci-Fi feature Atlas starring Jennifer Lopez with longtime collaborator director Brad Peyton, as well as several…
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Interview…Frank Grillo on ‘Werewolves’
Calling all you action junkies. Do you love bombastic films? Do you love running and gunning? How about being afraid of the full moon lest it turn you into a 9-foot tall Lycan hungering for human flesh? Ok, that one may not be for everyone, but the other two should grab your attention. But on that note, we got the rare chance to speak with Frank Grillo about his foray into all of the above-mentioned cinematic buckets. To date, Frank has been in nearly 100 projects. While most of them involve guns, explosions, and tense action scenes, there’s also some high points on his resume that have some real gravitas.…
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Interview…Jasmin Mozaffari on the Real Life Inspiration for ‘Motherland’
Set in 1979, at the height of the Iran Hostage Crisis, writer-director Jasmin Mozaffari’s Motherland follows a young Iranian immigrant (played by Behtash Fazlali) who calls into question his future prospects in America after he embarks on a trip to meet his fiancé’s parents. But that’s just a small aspect of the greater story at hand. Bobak struggles being a foreigner in a post-Vietnam America, and things spiral into heartbreaking situations of xenophobia, isolation, and desperation. Jasmin Mozaffari is an award-winning Iranian-Canadian writer/director, and her eye for detail and framing are exceptional. There’s so much depth, competence and composition to the short, this seems like it was plucked from the…
