Tony Curran: 'Defiance' and 'Labyrinth' behind the scenes info and updates

Defiance - Syfy Video Featurette: Making of Defiance Chapter 5: Vehicles

Despite the knicks, scratches and bullet holes, the Dodge Charger really holds up in the rugged world of Defiance. Check out how these vehicles were created in the latest Defiance Making Of: Vehicles.
Defiance premieres April 15, 9/8c only on Syfy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz4YwoWBn7U&feature=player_embedded


In Defiance™, the future is a dangerous place. Starship wreckage is raining to Earth in massive "Arkfall" events that transform the landscape. Experience one first-hand as countless other players -- and a star from the Syfy series -- battle to survive and profit. Watch Ark Hunters wield the weapons of tomorrow against alien-hybrid horrors in a dynamic, scaling encounter, then travel seamlessly through a unified world into the weekly TV series. This -- Defiance -- is the future of transmedia entertainment.

The first of its kind, Defiance is the quintessential media property created with Igniters in mind— sparking their imaginations while encouraging them to truly open their minds to what is possible.

Set on Earth thirty years in the future, Defiance is a story of courage and survival on a new frontier where humans and aliens must band together to defend their very existence. United they stand. Divided they fall. It’s do or die in the small town of Defiance.

Defiance airs on Syfy on Monday, April 15, 2013 at 9/8C with a two-hour premiere episode.
Defiance cast includes Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Graham Greene, Jaime Murray, Tony Curran and Stephanie Leonidas.
Source (including image and video): Antipodal Arapaima


Behind the scene of Defiance
Welcome to Behind the scene of Defiance just a place for all Picture you can find in Twitter Twitterd from the People from/with #Defiance
http://btsdefiance.wordpress.com/

Actor Tony Curran speaks onstage at the "Defiance" panel discussion during the Syfy portion of the 2013 Winter TCA Tour- Day 4 at the Langham Hotel on January 7, 2013 in Pasadena, California.
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Tony+Curran/2013+Winter+TCA+Tour+Day+4/yKnv__8E-1L
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Tony+Curran/2013+Winter+TCA+Tour+Day+4/5wG6tLRuFZd
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Tony+Curran/2013+Winter+TCA+Tour+Day+4/BYscw7CGH6S

... and more Tony Curran's photos
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Tony+Curran





Miniseries Review: Labryinth (2012)
Whether or not you believe in a religion, let alone the grail stories, this two part story will hold you spellbound.

Based on the book by Kate Mosse (who has a small cameo and acts as consultant), the story switches between the town of Carcassone in 1209, when the crusaders have arrived, and present day, 2012.

Jessica Brown Findlay, is at the centre in the 13th century story as Alais Pelletier, who let into the grail secret by her father, and is in even more danger as a result. The lord of the town, Viscount Trencavel, portrayed by an almost unrecogniseable Tom Felton, is a close ally to the family.

In present time, Alice Tanner, portrayed by Vanessa Kirby, is a PhD graduate working on an archeological dig. All hell breaks loose when she wanders into a nearby cave and finds a ring and a skeleton.

John Hurt and Tony Curran have a small role each in the present and past parts, respectively. Both are excellent as always.

This is a really well made production, the switching between past and present is seamless, which helps keep the story coherent.
Source: Fun Film TV


Labyrinth photoshow
http://www.kino.de/kinofilm/das-verlorene-labyrinth/fotoshow/140253/759969
http://www.kino.de/kinofilm/das-verlorene-labyrinth/fotoshow/140253/759956
http://www.kino.de/kinofilm/das-verlorene-labyrinth/fotoshow/140253/759982

 

Alan Cumming: new concert date, fashion video appearance, Richard III audio

Extra show added for Liza and Alan Cumming!

 

From The Village Voice:

Last year in Cherry Grove, Daniel Nardicio presented Alan Cumming and special guest Liza Minnelli in concert, and it became the buzzy event of the whole gay summer.
Those two were pretty delectable together. (And there was that Cabaret connection, so seeing them do a cabaret act made "duh" kind of sense.)
Well, they're coming back as a duo, this time to Town Hall on March 13--a day after Liza's 67th birthday.
And Liza's added a full band, and she and Alan are working on new material so it's not going to be a replica of the Fire Island shows.
The formula totally clicks.
In fact, Nardicio tells me that tickets flew so quickly that he's added a second show for the next night!
And suddenly the sound you hear from certain neighborhoods is "Maybe this time, I'll get tickets. Maybe this time, I'll win...."

Source (including images): The Village Voice



STAGE TUBE: Alan Cumming makes appearance in HAPPY TEARS film
These so called "Happy Tears" shoot through our veins like free flowing dopamine and leave us comfortably cringing. The prints, cuts and materials from this collection are reminiscent of the feeling of coming home and at the same time letting go. This intimately familiar laugh echoes through our memories and seizes us suddenly and unexpectedly - whether we want it to or not. This power is reflected in Zigerli's collection. The harmonic assortment surprises with its practicality, details and colors that make ones pulse race.
Since his first collection, Julian Zigerli has produced new collection videos for every season. In collaboration with new directors for each video, the idea is to use the video as a creative output to translate the concept and idea of a collection on a visual and more experimental level.

The concept behind the collection video was to develop a true cross-border collaboration between not only different artists, but also between different film genres. While staying true to the fashion video essence of creating an intense aesthetic experience, the aim was to be as narrative and cinematic as possible. Testament to this ambition is the stunning cameo of actor Alan Cumming who agreed to back this project and bring his own twist to the look and feel of this beautifully shot short film.

Shot on location and with the kind support of The Empire Hotel New York.
Read more at BroadwayWorld 


Alan Cumming puts meat on the bones of Richard III in upcoming audio release Acclaimed actor delivers the King’s speeches and other Royal Men from Shakespeare.
Close on the heels of the stunning archaeological find of King Richard III’s bones in Leicester, England, the infamous monarch’s speeches from Shakespeare will be released on CD and as a digital download performed by acclaimed stage, screen and television actor Alan Cumming. The recording entitled The Head that Wears a Crown: Speeches for Royal Men was recorded last month in New York City and features Cumming (“The Good Wife”) in the roles of several of Shakespeare’s most famous monarchs and is set for release this Spring 2013 it was announced this week by the producers, GPRrecords.
An accomplished actor, Cumming is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic’s Choice and NY Drama Critics award for his work and has been nominated for Screen Actors’ Guild and Emmy Awards for his supporting role in the acclaimed CBS drama, The Good Wife.
Cumming’s command of Shakespeare was spectacularly demonstrated by the 2012 recording of Macbeth, for which the actor won a 2012 Audiophile Best Voice of the Year award.
The newest audio recording, a compilation of several of the bard’s royal speeches will be released worldwide by GPRrecords through NAXOS. An audio clip of Cumming as Richard III is posted on GPRecords Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GpRrecords?ref=hl.
Source: PRWeb

Billy Connolly: 'The Man Live Tour' in Ireland

'The Man Live'
Ireland 2013

Fri 3 May & Sun 5 May, 8pm
Tickets on sale Fri 15 Feb at 10am
Billy Connolly, the greatest stand-up comedian of his generation, brings his “The Man Live Tour” to Ireland this April & May!

Billy Connolly is a stand-up comedian, actor, musician, TV presenter and artist.
After an apprenticeship as a welder in his hometown of Glasgow, he became a professional performer in 1962, forming “The Humblebums” band with Gerry Rafferty, before pursuing a solo career as a comedian.
Aside from starring in numerous films and TV series, Billy has toured worldwide continuously for the last 50 years, performing to an audience of over 10,000,000. Billy was awarded a CBE in 2003, was given the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in 2010 and received the BAFTA in Scotland Outstanding Contribution to Television and Film Award in 2012.

Perhaps best known for his moving performance as the loyal servant John Brown in the highly acclaimed MRS. BROWN, Connolly’s other film credits include GULLIVER’S TRAVELS, THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE, FIDO, GARFIELD 2, LEMONY SNICKET: A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, THE LAST SAMURAI and TIMELINE. His previous film credits include Peter Kosminsky’s WHITE OLEANDER, Troy Duffy’s THE BOONDOCK SAINTS and the sequel ALL SAINT’S DAY, Stephen Metcalfe’s BEAUTIFUL JOE and Barry Levinson’s AN EVERLASTING PIECE, Stanley Tucci’s THE IMPOSTORS, CROSSING THE LINE with Liam Neeson, the Muppet movie version of TREASURE ISLAND, GABRIEL AND ME, GENTLEMAN’S RELISH and THE MAN WHO SUED GOD, as well as the acclaimed BBC productions DOWN AMONG THE BIG BAD BOYS and THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DEACON BRODIE. His voice is also featured on the animated films POCAHONTAS, OPEN SEASON and the Disney Pixar animation BRAVE. He has recently appeared in QUARTET, directed by Dustin Hoffman, as well as the three-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s THE HOBBIT, directed by Peter Jackson.

On television, Billy featured in HEAD OF THE CLASS, which was later spun off into his own series, BILLY. He hosted BILLY CONNOLLY’S WORLD TOUR OF SCOTLAND, a six-part series documenting a tour of his homeland, a theme continued later in his World Tours of New Zealand, Australia and England, Ireland and Wales. More recently, Billy has hosted television series JOURNEY TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLD and ROUTE 66. Other specials include PALE BLUE SCOTTISH PERSON, A SCOT IN THE ARCTIC, THE BIGGER PICTURE and AN AUDIENCE WITH BILLY CONNOLLY. Connolly has also made various television guest appearances, most notably in the U.S. series HOUSE M.D. as well as COLUMBO, THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN and VERONICA’S CLOSET.

Please note there will be no support at this gig.
Tickets €50/€55* limited to 4 per person.
On sale Fri 15th Feb at 10am.
*Booking fees may apply

Source: Cork Opera House

Gerard Butler: New Poster for OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN

Watch the just-released trailer for the upcoming action thriller from the director of the hit film Training Day. Olympus Has Fallen will be released in theaters this March.

When the White House (Secret Service Code: "Olympus") is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President, and avert an even bigger disaster.

Olympus Has Fallen is directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Ashley Judd, and Rick Yune. FilmDistrict has scheduled it for theatrical release on March 22nd, 2013.



Source (including images): The Daily Blam!

John Barrowman: 'Bone Quill' interview

John & Carole E. Barrowman ('Bone Quill') interview 

Out this week, Bone Quill continues the story begun in Hollow Earth, the first book for children written by Torchwood star John Barrowman and his sister Carole E. Barrowman.

Twins Matt and Em Calder are Animare - which means they can bring their drawings to life - and they will need all their powers to stop mysterious forces bent on releasing an army of beasts from Hollow Earth.
The twins travel in time to the Middle Ages to hunt the mysterious bone quill and protect it from those who seek to abuse its power. Can they, their family and friends, the Animare of previous eras and the faithful monks of Era Mina avert the threatened disaster?

CultBox caught up with John and Carole to find out more...
Were you pleased with the reaction to Hollow Earth?
CB: “We were and still are! We especially love hearing from teachers who are using Hollow Earth in their classes and enjoy it when their students then send us questions.”
JB: “And send their art. We love to see the pictures that children are inspired to draw after reading Hollow Earth.”
Bone Quill is the second of three planned books. Has the story turned out how you originally imagined when you first envisioned the trilogy? Did you find it easier writing the second book?
CB: “I think we know the main characters and their world much better now, and so when I take our notes and outline and come home and write, I’m more willing to let the characters go off into uncharted territory if they decided they need to.”
JB: “Oh, I love those moments, especially because for some reason they always happen in the middle of the night and then she wakes me up because she’s forgotten the time difference! The last one was about something Simon was about to do…”
CB: “Quiet! No spoilers. Let’s just say that we’ve gotten pretty attached to these characters and in Bone Quill one of them does something we didn’t really plan when we originally plotted the key events for the trilogy. As a result, I think the next book will be different from our original outline.”
Could the series run beyond three books?
CB: “It could.”
JB: “I feel like we’re just getting started exploring the twin’s adventures in the world of Animare and Guardians.”
Does the series follow the Harry Potter model of getting progressively darker?
JB: “Our intention wasn’t to follow Rowling’s model (although we’re flattered by the comparison), but you’re right Bone Quill did end up darker than Hollow Earth. There are some lighter moments though–like the jester, the monks and the puffin poop.”
CB: “From the beginning, it was important to follow Matt and Em’s emotional development as much as their supernatural developments and since one of the critical conflicts of this book hinges on a terrible choice a character makes, having that kind of arc turned things darker.”
JB: “Who’s dropping spoilers now... We also like to read books where the heroes have to get themselves out of dark places.”
CB: “I’m also a fan of the original Grimm’s fairy tales so their tone may have slipped into our story.”
Did you enjoy the historical research on the Middle Ages?
CB: “I love that part of the process.”
JB: “Carole loves that part of the process.”
Any news on a possible film/TV adaptation of the book series?
CB: “This is John’s territory.”
JB: “These things don’t move quickly, but it’s moving forward. We’re working on some of the pre-production decisions that need to be worked out, including finding the right people to be part of the project’s creative team as directors, writers etc.”
Who would be your dream casting for Matt and Em?
CB: “We really haven’t talked much about the specifics of casting. That said I think Maisie Williams would be a terrific Em. She’s good on Game of Thrones.”
JB: “One of the girls playing Matilda on the West End would be great too. As for Matt… there are a lot of great young actors in the UK right now.”
CB: “Oh, but John’s playing Simon. He’ll be a perfect dad.”
There has been lots of demand from Torchwood fans for there to be an adaptation of Exodus Code. Is this something you’d be up for as a movie, TV series, webisodes or comic?
JB: “We’d be up for all of those things, especially a movie or another series.”
John, you’ve said that there are currently no plans for Captain Jack to appear in the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special. Aside from Jack, who else would you personally as a fan like to see in the special?
JB: “Davros, Donna, and my Doctor [David Tennant]. I love the whole Doctor Who universe. I’m excited for all the celebrations.”
Do you miss the UK while working on Arrow? Are there any UK cult shows you’d like to appear on?
JB: “Of course I miss the UK, but working on Arrow does mean I get to spend a bit more time with my mum and dad in California. I’d dress up for Downton if I were asked.”
What else have you both got coming up?
CB: “We’ll be in the UK at the end of February early March for our book tour with Bone Quill. During that time we’ll flesh out the final parts of the next book. Then we have the paperback release of Exodus Code in the summer and the US release of Bone Quill around that same time. We hope to tour in the US with Bone Quill too.”
JB: “We’re working together on a series for television from a story Carole wrote a while ago with a character I’ve always thought would be brilliant to play. He’s a very damaged detective haunted by a kind of Sophie’s Choice that he’s made while solving a case. The character would be a departure from anything I’ve played before.”
Have a brilliant 2013 and we’re looking forward to Book 3!
JB: “We hope yours is dazzling too.”

Source (including images): Cult Box

Weekly schedule for The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 2/11: Julie Andrews, Grace Park
Tu 2/12: Ted Danson, Teresa Palmer
We 2/13: Russell Brand, Allison Williams
Th 2/14: George Lopez, Sutton Foster
Fr 2/15: Mario Lopez

David Tennant: project news and updates

 

Penguins - Spy In The Huddle
David Tennant narrates the three part nature documentary Penguins - Spy In The Huddle which will be broadcast on consecutive Mondays from 11th February at 9pm on BBC One. The programme uses state of the art camera techniques to film penguins in their natural environment in Antarctica and Peru.
More information here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

The Escape Artist
The BBC have confirmed that David Tennant will star in The Escape Artist, a series of three one hour programmes which will air during 2013 on BBC One. Written by Spooks writer David Wolstencroft, it is about a junior barrister who gets a notorious prime suspect acquitted in a murder trial with chilling results. Ashley Jensen, Toby Kebbell & Sophie Okonedo will also star in the drama.
Filming started on Thursday 31st January and is expected to last until March.
More information here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Also reported by Radio Times

Red Nose Day 2013 trailer
See the trailer here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Every Seventh Wave
The BBC Media Centre website now has a page about Every Seventh Wave which premieres on BBC Radio Four at 2.15pm on Thursday 14th February.
More information here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter


Richard II
The Royal Shakespeare Company have announced that they will soon release an iPad app which will feature their Winter Season 2013 including Richard II (starring David Tennant).
More information here
Source: David Tennant on Twitter  

Doctor Who
David Tennant was interviewed throughout the BBC America programme Doctors Revisited: The First Doctor which premiered on Sunday 27th January. The video is now available to view worldwide on YouTube (see here).
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

A photo of David Tennant is on the cover of The Doctor Who Quiz Book (50th Anniversary Edition) which can be purchased from this link for a kindle. David is also on the cover of The Doctor Who Quiz Book (The 10th Doctor edition) which can be purchased from this link also for a kindle.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Diary Dates
Wed 6 Feb - Winner of the Best Preschool Animated Series in the Kidscreen 2013 Awards will be announced in New York. Tree Fu Tom is nominated.
Thurs 7 Feb - Booking opens for Shakespeare's Circle Members (membership is £100+) for Richard II in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Fri 8 Feb - David Tennant's episode of Shakespeare Uncovered will have its first US broadcast on PBS at 9pm.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter 

Greg McHugh: 'Gary Tank Commander' won't be back.. for now

Scots actor Greg McHugh: Gary Tank Commander won't be back.. for now
Greg McHugh says writing the hit show on his own is draining and now he's taking a break from it as his acting career takes off in other directions.

Gary Tank Commander set

Gary: Tank Commander creator Greg McHugh is putting his hit comedy creation back on civvy street – because his acting career has taken off like a rocket.
Three months after the end of the gaffe-prone squaddie’s third campaign, the show’s writer and star has admitted there are no plans for any more military manoeuvres.
The Edinburgh actor said: “There are no plans from me or the BBC for another series of Gary at this stage. I’d say it was unlikely.
“I’m busy with Fresh Meat and the possibility of working with other companies. And I am keen to explore other people’s work and writing for a while.
“When you’re writing a series like Gary by yourself, you write for three-quarters of the year. It’s draining.”

Gary Tank Commander

Greg has been making waves in Channel 4 hit Fresh Meat and offbeat BBC4 comedy Bob Servant Independent, which stars Brian Cox.
He’ll also be on screens this spring in a new Channel 4 comedy drama.
And Fresh Meat has won praise from Friends producer Jeff Greenstein after being shown on US station Hulu. While it’s all good news for the 32-year-old, it’s bad news for fans of his daft soldier.
And Greg admitted that poor treatment at the hands of BBC3 bosses – who grudgingly aired Gary in late-night double bills – holed his high hopes for the show.
Greg said: “If we had done what Mrs Brown’s Boys has done and we were taking over the world, maybe I’d have more enthusiasm for it.
“If you don’t break through, your motivation is going to dip.
“I still love Gary and have enjoyed writing for it. I don’t think you can ever do everything you want to, but I have made it known that I’d like to do a Christmas special. That’s up to the powers that be.”
Meanwhile, Greg will take part in a masterclass with two of his Fresh Meat co-stars at Glasgow’s GFT for the city’s film festival next Friday.
Bob Servant Independent is on BBC2 tonight at 10pm and on BBC4 on Wednesday at 10pm.
Source (including photos): Daily Record

Ewan McGregor: 'Jack The Giant Slayer' set visit, and 'Wild Scotland' narration news

SET VISIT: Jack the Giant Slayer with Ewan McGregor and Nicholas Hoult

 

From Movie Web:
We travel to London to speak with Ewan McGregor, Nicholas Hoult, director Bryan Singer, and more on the set of Jack the Giant Slayer
There's just something very special about arriving on a location and seeing a massive castle set right before your very eyes. Actors are riding into a courtyard on horseback, in full medieval armor, that unmistakable sound of horses galloping on soft earth permeating the atmosphere around us. These are the first images and sounds I took in on the set of Jack the Giant Slayer back in August, 2011. I had traveled from the urban jungle of Los Angeles across the pond to Longcross Studios in Surrey, U.K., just an hour or so outside of London, but it felt like much more than an hour outside of London. It felt like centuries outside of the city, and it would get even better once we went inside this enormous castle set.

The scenes we first saw being shot takes place towards the end of the movie, when the warriors of Albian are gathering in Cloister Castle to prepare for their epic battle with the giants. This isn't an everyday occurrence for these fine citizens. The giants were thought to be creatures of myth for years, when, one day, Jack (Nicholas Hoult) unwittingly unlocks the gateway between the land of giants and our world. Naturally, a battle ensues, with the 25-foot-tall giants, who want to reclaim the land they lost centuries ago. During a break in the production, Nicholas Hoult spoke about how his character isn't quite your typical hero, with several obstacles he has yet to overcome.

"He's a dreamer. He's a young farmer. He hasn't had an easy upbringing and then he's kind of catapulted onto this epic mission and falls in love with a princess. He's an average hero - well, average guy who becomes a hero. He's a good guy, which is nice, playing a good guy for once, but he's fairly laid back. He has to overcome quite a few of his fears of heights and thunder and all these sorts of things along the way. But, yeah, he's just an average guy."

Since Jack isn't our typical hero, the princess he falls for (and tries to save from the giants), Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson), is not your garden-variety symbol of royalty. The actress explained how Isabelle isn't a conventional princess, how she was born into this life she didn't exactly want.

"She's definitely not typical. That's kind of what I love about her. She has this side to her, which is really fiery. She didn't want to be a princess. She was just born into this life. As amazing as it is, it's not necessarily what she wants. She feels a bit trapped, I think. Her relationship with her father, after her mother died, is coming under a lot of pressure, because he's the king and he doesn't understand her. She just wants to be a normal girl. She wants to fall in love for love, not for the kingdom. She's got that temper, that spark about her, which is different from other fairy tales, I think."

Nicholas Hoult as Jack in Jack the Giant Slayer

 

After watching several takes of the riders coming into the castle, we were taken inside this enormous exterior set, which may have been the most immense set I've ever been on in my five years of visiting movie sets. We walked past these big vats of molten lava, that the archers use for flaming arrows. We also saw another set extension past the castle set, that shows us some of the giant's homeland. Naturally, everything was bigger, including a huge net that Jack gets captured in.

We also got to see a more humorous scene with Nicholas Hoult and Eleanor Tomlinson that pokes a bit of fun at the dynamic between the humans and the giants. Both Jack and Isabelle are seen coming out of two fake kings robes inside the castle. While it may just be a simple shot, it's fun to see little bits of humor sprinkled throughout such an epic adventure.

Our assembled press corps also got to speak with is Ewan McGregor, who plays Elmont, the leader of the elite soldiers known as the Guardians. Dressed in an elaborate costume with spiky hair (I'm not sure what they used for hair gel in these days...) and an intricately maintained mustache, Ewan McGregor seemed to exude the pomp and circumstance that comes with such a regal character. Given Jack's peasant nature, Elmont doesn't quite know what to make of young Jack when they first meet. The actor described Elmont's first encounter with Jack, during a scene where the townsfolk are enjoying a pantomime based on the giant's legend.

Ewan McGregor as Elmot in Jack the Giant Slayer

"He's a bit dubious about Jack to begin with, I think. My character's main job is to look after the princess, during peacetime, that's my main lookout. It strikes me, and I've never discussed it with anyone, but the Guardians are the kind of royal soldiers, the top knights. But during the peacetime at the beginning of the film they're in charge of the security and safety of the royal family. So, myself and Eddie Marsan's character, it seems that we are in charge of looking after Isabelle, the princess. She's a very reluctant princess and she's always trying to slip off into the kingdom and have a life. She wants her freedom, in a way. She's a bit of a reluctant princess, so she's quite difficult to look after. And so my first encounter with Jack is when she's given us the slip. We find her at the beginning of the film, there's a pantomime going on about this fable of the giants who live in the sky. It was really nicely put together by Warwick (Davis) who has an agency of small and very big people, so he used all his actors and he directed this pantomime that we shot in this lovely, old circus tent. We find Isabelle there, she's watching the show. At that point, when we come into the tent, everyone bows down because we represent the king, except for Jack, who doesn't bow down because he's taken by surprise. So my first introduction to him is that he's somebody who's not very respectful to us and I'm a bit dubious about what he's after with the princess as well. But as the story unfolds and, once the beanstalk has appeared and the princess has disappeared, he comes along with us, with the Guardians, the kind of search party for her. Slowly, he keeps proving himself over and over."

Ah yes, the beanstalk. Part of me was hoping to see a massive, 100-foot tall beanstalk on the set, but, alas, it was not there. Nicholas Hoult described shooting the sequence where Jack's uncle's house shot up into the sky after the beanstalk sprouted.

"That sequence is really cool. They built Jack's uncle's house in the studios and then had it on a rig where the whole house would shake and the floorboards would explode. There was like a ram in the floor. I would be running to try to get to Ellie and it hit me in the stomach, lift me up and then I get thrown out through the roof. It was a lot of fun to do all that and there's a bit of dialogue in that scene as well. So that was that sequence and then the princess is trapped inside the house with the beanstalk growing and lifting up into the sky, so Jack's trying to get in to save her and help her. I'm giving away quite a lot of the story."

Nicholas Hoult as Jack and Eleanor Tomlinson as Princess Isabelle in Jack the Giant Slayer

 

Nicholas Hoult also spoke about working with Ewan McGregor and Eddie Marsan, and how Jack has always looked up to their Guardian characters.

"I kind of become, not part of them, but on the mission with them and obviously this is an exciting thing for Jack because they're the lead soldiers that he looks up to and wanted to be at a young age. It's a lot of fun doing those things with those guys. Eddie's like one of the funniest people, and Ewan as well. They're very relaxed on set and easy to get along with. We have fun. There's some funny scenes. Yeah, so it's lots of fun those days, we're all climbing the beanstalk."

Ewan McGregor also shared an intriguing scene where a giant attempts to cook Elmont into a form of pastry.

"There's another moment where a giant rolls me in pastry to put me in the oven. The actual rolling in pastry was a technical challenge for the special effects team. They made a body mold of me and then made the back mold that I could lie in and then the front mold clamped over me, Velcroed over me, so I was held in place on an arm. Then, that was lowered onto the pastry. As the giant rolls me over like this, the rig rolled over and then the pastry wrapped around me."

Perhaps my favorite part of the entire visit was getting to spend a considerable amount of time with director Bryan Singer, who I've been a fan of since his critically-acclaimed 1995 drama The Usual Suspects. First off, there are several set visits I've been on where we don't even get to see or talk with the director at all. Not only did we get to speak with the filmmaker at length, but he showed us a lot of very cool bits of footage, including a few items that will likely make its way onto the Blu-ray and DVD special features.

Director Bryan Singer holding court on the set of Jack the Giant Killer

 

While the director was rather eager to show us footage, the method in which this footage materialized was, initially, somewhat bizarre. He would just start talking to no one in particular ("Can I have the pre-vis? Back it up to right there. Play the sound.") and, seconds later, his wish would be presented on the monitors in front of his. It took me a minute (probably more) to realize that he had a PA speaker nearby, and everything he was saying was going to someone else, who would play the footage he requested on our monitors. After showing us some pre-vis (a.k.a. pre-visualization) footage of a giant, the filmmaker explained how he is using Simul-Cam technology on the set.

"We pre-cap, or performance capture all the giant's action earlier and then we have all that information of what the actors did and put it in the computer and then we actually project the actor's performances on the set, which is called Simul-Cam. James Cameron used a little in Avatar in some of the scenes that involve humans and those other characters together. We use a lot more of it because we more humans interacting."

Eleanor Tomlinson also spoke about how using the Simul-Cam technology, which allows the actors to see the CGI giants they are acting against on the set, is a a very helpful tool.

"It's hard work. It's really hard work, but it's really interesting. We have this camera, I think it's called a Simul-Cam, and when you play it back, you can see the giant in the scene you just shot. It's incredible. You're reacting to a tennis ball that's way up there, then when you watch it, it's this huge giant's face on it. Wow. That's cool. I just can't wait to see it when it's all edited together and the special effects are all crystal clear. It's going to be, hopefully, amazing."

Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ewan McGregor, and Ian McShane
prepare to battle the giants in Jack the Giant Slayer

 

Bryan Singer explained how Simul-Cam helps him frame these huge CGI shots the right way, by seeing these virtual creations through his monitors on the set, instead of months later in post-production.

"I think it's helpful. In the old days they were just putting the camera there and having actors act to tennis balls and hope that they're framing up. What's helpful is I know what to do with the camera because I see the giant in the camera, I'm operating it live on the set. The actor's can't, they see tennis balls, but I can through the lens, I know to tilt up like that if I want to capture that. When I'm shooting it, I'm seeing a giant chasing them, yeah I pan up to the giant, I know my plates will be usable, because then I have the giant."

While the filmmaker is quite accomplished, Jack the Giant Slayer represents a lot of firsts for Bryan Singer, which he candidly revealed, along with his disdain for a certain pet.

"First 3D, first fairy tale, first movie with fully rendered CG characters, creature characters, first movie that takes place in a time before there was electricity, first movie with horses, third movie with cats. They're very difficult to direct. They look everywhere but where you want them to look."

Bryan Singer shared the difficulties of shooting his first 3D movie, how he has to control the camera motion, and much more.

"In 3D, it changes the way you shoot, in a way, I mean if, especially when you're shooting live action 3D elements. I mean for James Cameron, he's in the virtual world with a movie like Avatar, so you have a lot you can, you can adjust those things. But when you're dealing with shooting a lot of live action, in 3D, you're committed to your, your interaxial. How much 3D you're giving the audience and also, if the camera's moving around too much it strobes. If you get people too much into the side of the frame here, they look like a blob that's sort of there and it's kind of aggravating. It's compositional. I can't just pop two cameras in. I have to be more committed to the shots."

One of the slain giants in Jack the Giant Slayer

 

Despite the changes that need to be made behind the camera when shooting for 3D, Ewan McGregor didn't have any problems with the 3D setup.

"I don't think it's as slow as people think. This film has been very slow, but I couldn't blame the 3D for it. Early on maybe there was more problems with it. Though sometimes there are problems because each camera is, in fact, two cameras and sometimes the 3D, like one eye will go out. I don't pretend to understand it all completely, but each camera represents our eyes so it's a slightly different angle on the scene. They have to play with the perspective of that, so there's the focus but also the convergence, I think it's called. Occasionally, one of the eyes will go out, but really not that much. I haven't found it to be that slow. In actual fact, that seems to be the nature of it. Again, I've never discussed this with anyone, but it seems to me that we do less coverage on a scene. The 3D has more of a sense of everybody in the scene, so if there's a shot with 4 or 5 people in it, you're already sort of in your own shot because of the 3D feel. It seems to me that we've had less close-ups and less coverage. So if this 3D is slower, which I don't think it is really, then we save time with the lack of coverage."

Read more at MovieWeb
 

 

Ewan McGregor to narrate new series 'Wild Scotland'

Ewan McGregor is to join Sir David Attenborough for a series of programmes about the wilderness and wildlife of Scotland.
The show Wild Scotland will feature programmes on the Hebrides and the Scottish midsummer.
Executive producer Neil McDonald said the programmes celebrate "the televisual gift of the Scottish scenery and wildlife for viewers and for the people, behind the camera, that it inspires".
The BBC Scotland programme will feature basking sharks and white-tailed eagles, as well as red deer stags battling to win their mates and seals struggling to protect their newborn pups.
In a recent tweet, McGregor wrote: "2 days narrating #BBCHebrides. It's one of the most beautiful films I've seen.
“Should be seen in Scotland in May. What a treat!"
Another series called Wild Cameramen At Work reveals how the Scottish landscape has inspired a generation of world-class cameramen.
Narrated by Sir David, each week looks at a different theme, ice, land, sky or sea, to illustrate the challenges faced by those behind the camera.
"Scottish viewers will just not have seen Scottish scenery and wildlife reflected in such cinematic majesty before as we have in Hebrides - Islands On The Edge.
"This is the flagship for a season of programmes, which celebrates the televisual gift of the Scottish scenery and wildlife for viewers and for the people, behind the camera, that it inspires.
"Across the season, we are also delighted to have such star names as Ewan McGregor and Sir David Attenborough involved as well as some of the top names behind the camera alongside the main attraction: the landscape and wildlife."
Source: STV

James McAvoy: Comic Relief, 'Welcome to the Punch' and 'Trance' news

James red-dy for Comic cash bash

Red-dy ... James McAvoy in Stella McCartney designed T-shirt

Movie star James McAvoy nose how to do his bit for charity — backing this year’s Comic Relief. The Last King of Scotland actor teamed up with designer Stella McCartney to show off her new range for the fundraising drive.
And 33-year-old Shameless star James posed in a T-shirt featuring comedy legend Tommy Cooper — complete with oversize specs and the charity’s famous red nose.
The range, on sale at TK Maxx, also includes images of The Beatles and Marilyn Monroe.

Read more at The Sun 

Welcome to the Punch Photos with James McAvoy and Mark Strong
IFC Films has provided us with four new photos from Welcome to the Punch, writer-director Eran Creevy's drama that takes us inside the London crime underworld. James McAvoy portrays Max Lewinsky, a detective who has missed every chance to put away notorious criminal Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong). When Jacob pops back on the grid during a bank robbery, Max springs into action to lock him up for good. Take a look at these photos featuring Mark Strong, Johnny Harris, and Peter Mullan.





Welcome to the Punch comes to theaters March 15th, 2013 and stars James McAvoy, Andrea Riseborough, Mark Strong, David Morrissey, Peter Mullan, Daniel Mays, Johnny Harris, Steve Oram. The film is directed by Eran Creevy.
Source (including photos): Movie Web

According to Indie Wire ...

James McAvoy's Welcome To The Punch gets U.S. theatrical & VOD release In March
IFC Flims has given the picture a March 27th limited theatrical date with a VOD bow to follow three days later on March 30th.

Read more at Indie Wire



First Look: James McAvoy in ‘Trance’

Danny Boyle’s Trance stars James McAvoy as an art-auctioneer who nicks a painting but forgets where he put it – so he hires a hypnotherapist, played by Rosario Dawson, to find clues hidden in his brain.
It’s due out 27 March 2013 in the UK and Ireland and will have a limited release in the US from 5 April 2013.
Source: Showbiz Geek

WorstPreviews has all three posters here

Gary Hollywood: interview

Mrs Brown's Boys star Gary Hollywood: My agent told me NOT to do the show
The Scot says being in the hit show has changed his life, but admits that, despite the sitcom attracting millions of fans, the critics hate it and his former agent told him not take the role.

Gary and Brendan in TV show

It's the show millions of telly viewers love – and the critics love to hate.
But for Gary Hollywood, Mrs Brown’s Boys has given him a role that changed his life.
The popular Scot had just seen a theatre job fall through when he took a role in a panto alongside jobbing actor Brendan O’Carroll.
Gary struck up a firm friendship with Brendan, who was just starting to write a show for theatre starring Agnes Brown.
Twelve years, 11million viewers and five major TV awards – including a Bafta last year– later, the pair have conquered the showbiz world with a project many critics insisted would never work.
The success of Mrs Brown’s Boys has taken it from stage to small screen and now to LA.
With a Universal Studios movie and a cartoon series on the way, their bid for world domination – the show is also a hit in Australia, Canada and Iceland – is nearly complete.
Gary first appeared in the stage show in 2001 but even his then agent wasn’t convinced.
The 33-year-old actor said: “It’s true. My agent said I should be concentrating on film roles, not touring theatres with Mrs Brown.
“Needless to say, not long after she uttered those words, that particular lady was no longer my agent.”
She was not the only critic who has failed to understand the massive popularity of the foul-mouthed Irish matriarch and her boys.
Gary said: “It’s hard to believe now, given the global success of the show.
“But along the way, we’ve been continually panned by critics who hated poor old Agnes.
“In the early days, we’d get upset about what the critics said.
“But Brendan sat us down and told us, ‘Listen, it’s not the feckin’ critics who pay your wages, it’s the audience.’ Our overnight success  has taken 13 years of hard graft, touring theatres across the country, doing two shows a day, away from home for months at a time.

Gary, Fiona Gibney and Brendan at the Baftas

 “On paper, the Mrs Brown concept really shouldn’t have worked. We have a man dressed as a woman, slapstick, old-fashioned jokes and a lot of swearing. But the fans loved us.
“So many of them turn up at the stage door, we spend at least an hour signing autographs after every show.”
Fate brought Gary love – meeting his wife Sharon, 40 – and the biggest break of his career all on the same day.
Gary said: “The luckiest day of my life very nearly didn’t happen.
“Another theatre job fell through so I said yes to panto at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre in 2000.
“I played Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island and the dame, Mrs Birdseye, was being played by Brendan.
“Sharon was at a loose end for a few weeks while touring in the Andrew Lloyd Webber show Starlight Express so she pitched up as one of the panto dancers and we immediately fell in love.
“By the end of the show, I’d got myself a wife, a life-long friend and mentor and the best job I’ve ever had.”

Gary with his wife Sharon and their sons Jack and Charlie

David McNie

Gary didn’t hesitate when Brendan asked him to join Mrs Brown’s Boys as Dino Doyle, the hairdresser boyfriend of Agnes’s gay son Rory.
With several Mrs Brown books based around his own Dublin childhood already under his belt, Brendan’s fearsome character was a theatre natural.
By the time television producer Stephen McCrum bought a ticket for the show at the Pavilion four years ago, Mrs Brown’s Boys already had millions of fans.
McCrum got it commissioned and now it is one of the BBC’s biggest ratings successes.
The show has sold out at the 6000-seater O2 Arena in London later this year, with tour dates for Canada, America and New Zealand lined up.
Brendan is writing the movie, which will be shot in Dublin and Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire later this year, and a fourth TV series is expected after 2014.
For Gary, the show is the pinnacle of an acting career which has seen him rewarded for decades of hard graft since starting as a kid. At the age of 12, Gary was plucked from Bellarmine School in Pollok, Glasgow, to play a role in Taggart with Mark McManus and James Macpherson.
By 14, he was on Scotland’s biggest soap, High Road, playing glue-sniffing teenager Dominic Ramsay.
Now Mrs Brown has boosted his career into red-carpet territory, and he has become a regular on the awards circuit, hobnobbing with stars such as Peter Kay, Hugh Bonneville and Keith Lemon as well as the X Factor judges.
Gary said: “It’s weird going on the red carpet, hearing people screaming your name.
“I’m still taken aback when stars such as Keith Lemon come up and want their picture taken with me.
“When we won our first Bafta, we were surrounded by the biggest stars cheering us on.
“It took several seconds for it to sink in that we had actually won.
“We all rushed on to the stage and the place went wild.
“But, thanks to my mum, my feet stay firmly on the ground.
“She’s still got an application form for me to collect Tesco trollies if it all goes horribly wrong. That’s mums for you.”

Source (including photos): Daily Record

Douglas Henshall: Douglas Henshall discusses his films on Twitter, and Shetland Updates

Douglas Henshall has been talking to fans on Twitter about his forthcoming TV drama Shetland and the films he has appeared in.
He said "Peter Mullan’s Orphans is my favourite."
He also recommended Thomas Vinterberg’s BAFTA nominated film The Hunt and said that Vinterberg’s It’s All About Love in which he starred with Claire Daines and Joaquin Phoenix "had its’ heart in the right place".
Henshall would like to do more films
"I would love to do more films but don't have any plans at the moment or should I say no (one) seems to have any plans to offer me one!’"
Of Shetland he said "Loved my time in Shetland and keeping my fingers crossed we will be back for more in the summer". BBC Scotland features Shetland in its latest video Compelling Stories, and Promote Shetland, the official site for Shetland tourism, has published a map to download on its website promoting the locations that inspired the Shetland series of novels by author Ann Cleeves.

Source: www.douglashenshall.com / https://twitter.com/djhenshall

Source: Douglas Henshall (Live Journal)

Greg Hemphill: "under lock and key"

From Och Aye The News at BBC Scotlandshire:

Greg Hemphill under lock & key after Twitter meltdown
By Ellenback Broadfud, Our SLAB Health Correspondent and Jackie Baillie's BFF

Hemphill "Sectioned not Separate"

Family and friends of Greg Hemphill last night voiced concern for the comedy genius following a Twitter separatist rant-a-thon meltdown that was directed, quite unfairly, at spoof broadcasting channel the BBC.Speculation grows that the 43 year old Greg Hemphill is under close medical supervision after a vociferous and highly unwarranted attack on the satirical BBC website, the iPlayer – a cheap knockoff of this channel's ayePlayer - closely followed by insane ramblings related to "independence".
The comedian said bosses were "stifling" Scottish culture by only showing English content on the network's world service. Hemphill claimed that BBC iPlayer does not allow audiences outside of the UK to watch any Scottish content, comparing the broadcaster to former Tory leader Margaret Thatcher.
Hemphill Tweeted for hours in a demented outpouring of rage against the BBC and its iPlayer, complaining that only material made in London was available outwith Scotland, having clearly failed to realise that the 'i' in 'iPlayer' stands for Ingerlund.

Examples of the madness tweeted at the height of his rant

In his deranged tweets, Mr Hemphill referenced the London BBC Blue Tick, which BBC Scotlandshire believes to be a small insect that attaches itself to grazing animals and tourists. Also known as the Clegg, it is very similar to, but not related to, the Deputy Prime Minister.It has been theorised that the Blue Tick's bite causes a medical condition called "Separatist Nutter Pandemic" in a small percentage of the population. The disorder is said to have symptoms which include pro-separation anxiety and rampant anti-English paranoia.
This BBC Scotlandshire reporter has learned Mr Hemphill was detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, thanks to an order signed by a Dr. Richard Simpson MSP, when it became apparent the comic was suffering from an advanced case of SNP. Apparently he was heard to scream, "You can section me, but you'll never take my freeeeedooooom!" as he was being locked up.
BBC Scotlandshire contacted Mr Hemphill's former comedy partner Ford Kiernan who immediately demonstrated the kind of concern we should all express for those suffering from SNP:
"That fanny bawz can stew in his ane shite fur aw ah care!"

Jackie B from Dumbarton expresses her anonymous concerns

One minor acquaintance of a friend of a friend of Mr Hemphill, who has asked to be identified simply as Jackie B from Dumbarton, has expressed concern about the care available to sufferers of swivel-eyed separatism:"It is no coincidence that this separatist SNP disease has reached epidemic proportions under the lying scheming dictatorship of Wee King Eck the curry-muncher," said Jackie.
"Nicola Sturgeon failed to prevent the epidemic from starting when she was the Health Secretary and under Alex Neil's supervision it is now a public health disaster. Infection rates for SNP have never been as high as they are now, with Scotlandshire being the most likely place to catch SNP in the entire EU," she added.
"I'm shocked to have found out that the Scotlandshire Government has rewritten the waiting target guarantee rules to ensure SNP does not require treatment until after Autumn 2014," she chipped in.
After stalking the Scotlandshire Government's Health Secretary for a week – well you never know what other dirt can be dug up - this correspondent pounced to ask about Mr Hemphill and the spread of SNP.

Lady Zara Unpaid-Intern wetuhns

Mr Neil commented:"Let me assure you that having a pro-independence mindset is not a mental health issue."
"The Scottish Government takes mental health very seriously and is putting record levels of funding into services to help those affected by a range of mental health conditions."
Speaking off the record, he had the audacity to criticise the professionalism of this reporter. Here at BBC Scotlandshire we don't do "off the record" so here's what he said:
"Ellenback, is it no aboot time to stop just topin' and tailin' Labour Party press releases? Your big pal Jackie is takin' those lies too far, so just gonnae no dae it!"
We spoke to the controller of subtitles Lady Zara Unpaid-Intern about Hemphill's concerns. Her Ladyship told us:
"If we weah to allow pwogwams made in Scotchland for a Scotch audiance to be ay-ahd in mow-awh civilised pahts of the wuld, no-one would undehstand them, and this would give entiahly the wong impwession of the BBC and the Ingwish, pawticulawly to foweignehs.
"Scotch people have such stwong accints, and speak using stwange wuds. We should need to subtitle evwything, and most of the sense of the twansmisions would be lost in twanslation. In any case, theah would be no demand foh this sott of pwogwam outside Gwasgow.

Labour's Ian Davidson MP issues a dire warning

Ian Davidson MP, Govan's Big Man in Westminster and Chairchoob of the Scottish Home Affairs committee for Sad Wankers Eternally Dreaming of Getting Independence Nullified warned off Mr Hemphill when he growled:"Thur's only wan man big enough tae gie oot doins tae the BBC in Scoatlandshire and it's no that clown Hemphill! An, he'll be getting wan humsell if he disnae drap aw that Twee'erin' shite".
Johann Lamont-Davidson, Labour's leader in Scotlandshire, was unavailable for comment as she was busy cleaning up the fallout from member's affairs elsewhere in Glesgatoon City Cooncil.

Correspondent Request to Unionist Moaners

This correspondent is VERY interested in hearing from any SNP sufferer who has experienced problems getting to see a health professional within the Scotlandshire Government’s 18 weeks waiting time guarantee.
Please use the Moan form to contact me

Source (including images): BBC Scotlandshire

Tony Curran: 'Defiance' updates, and convention news

Image source: Twitter (@JaimeMurrayFan)

Exclusive First Look: Syfy's new 'Defiance' trailer explores a 'Brave' new world
Read more and watch the trailer at TV Line

Defiance | Coming to Syfy this April
Syfy has secured the UK premiere of Defiance, the epic new fantasy sci-fi drama. The series will make its UK debut on Tuesday, April 16th, 24 hours after its US launch.

Defiance is an epic fantasy drama combining the scope of a sci-fi blockbuster with the intimacy of a small-town drama. Set in the near future, the series introduces an exotically transformed planet Earth, permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races. In this unknown and unpredictable landscape, the newly formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully in a town called Defiance.

In an unprecedented approach to storytelling, marking the first-ever convergence of television and online gaming, the narrative premise of the serieswill also be depicted in a brand new open-world game, Defiance, developed in parallel by Trion Worlds. Viewers of the series will follow the action of the immersive character drama set in the boom-town of Defiance in St. Louis, Minnesota, and gamers will adventure in the new frontier of the San Francisco Bay area.

Whilst the series and the game feature an interconnected world and there are shared points of reference, they are powerful and complete stand-alone narratives and do not need to be experienced concurrently.

Defiance stars Grant Bowler (Nolan), Julie Benz (Amanda Rosewater), Stephanie Leonidas (Irisa), Tony Curran (Datak Tarr), Jaime Murray (Stahma Tarr), Graham Greene (Rafe McCawley) and Mia Kirshner (Kenya).

The series, produced by Universal Cable Productions, is executive produced by Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Caprica; Hellcats) & Michael Taylor (Battlestar Galactica). Kevin Murphy serves as showrunner. Scott Stewart (Legion, Priest) directed the pilot; Michael Nankin will serve as supervising producer/director on the series
Source: SyFy

Syfy UK acquires rights to ‘Defiance’
Updated: Syfy UK has closed a deal with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution to acquire the exclusive first run UK broadcast rights to Syfy’s upcoming multi-platform series Defiance. TVWise reported last June that Syfy UK was considering adding the series to lineup in 2013 given the “multi-platform appeal” of the series. The show’s first season is set to premiere on Syfy UK on Tuesday April 16th, just 24 hours behind the US premiere.
Source: TV Wise


Tony Curran: Convention appearance
Vincent van Gogh - 'Vincent and the Doctor' / 'The Pandorica Opens' (Doctor Who)
Crypticon Kansas City
Aug. 16-18, 2013
Venue TBA
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
www.crypticonkansascity.com

Source: Doctor Who Appearances