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…
-
-
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…
-
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…
-
Interview…Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis on Season 12 of ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’
The creative minds behind one of Adult Swim’s 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. They’re not out to…
-
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…
-
Interview…Eugenio Derbez and Christopher Zalla on the Honesty and Connections in ‘Radical’
Take a minute to think about this question: who inspires you? For many, there are different answers and several of you can probably cite a laundry list of individuals who fit the role. No matter who helps motivate you – be they real or fictitious, young or old, familiar or not – just one small change can affect the trajectory of our life. It’s probably safe to say we all are and have been inspired by someone in a special or important way. In an era where superheroes dominate pop cutlure, there is another kind of hero we are happy to call attention to in this post: teachers. There are…
-
Interview…Composer Fernando Velázquez on the Sophistication and Simplicity to ‘Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow’
I don’t know if anyone else has been keeping track of what’s hit screens in 2023, but we’ll just count down a few extraordinary or otherwise noteworthy releases. We got Barbie, The Flash, a new Ninja Turtles, the next Mission: Impossible, the last Indiana Jones, and before the end of the year, we’ll get a Dune sequel, a Willly Wonka prequel and a…wait for it…a David Fincher film, a Ridley Scott film, a Martin Scorsese film, annnd a Hayao Miyazaki film. Let that sink in as this is just a hint of the callbacks to a year that really and truly had it all. But one kind of film that…
-
Interview…Director Conor Allyn on Themes, Identity, and Location Shooting on ‘In the Fire’
We spoke with writer/director and former Dallas native Conor Allyn about his work on this captivating new feature from Saban Films. In the Fire is an affecting story, one that walks more than one direction; it’s a spiritual movie, heavy on drama/suspense, and even touches on horror so it will certainly keep you questioning it until the end. But it’s also surprising how captivating the film can be with just three leads. One element which elevates the intensity of the film is the cinematography and set design. Set in and amongst some gorgeous and nearly otherworldly backdrops of Italy and South America, Conor talks to us about location shooting as…
-
Interview…Jasmine Myra on Spiritual Jazz, Personal Journeys, and ‘Horizons’
As an art form, music does what it does best when it moves you. But just what does it move us to do? Do we climb a snow-capped mountain because we listened to Vince DiCola‘s music for Rocky IV? Do we enlist in the military after hearing “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood? What about when the music is so mellow, you just want to have a coffee with the person who made it and get to know them better? Well, that last one is why we’re here today. Jasmine Myra is a Leeds-based composer, saxophonist, and bandleader – while she may look incredibly youthful, make some no mistake,…
-
Interview…’Jessica’s Big Little World’ Co-Creators and Star on Inspiration, Messages and Growing Up
Ask any kid what’s the biggest challenge about being a “kid”, and they’ll probably say it’s not being big. So enter a highly creative and adorable show from Cartoon Network about that very thing. From the creators of Craig of the Creek comes a show all about Craig’s lovable little sister, the one-and-only Jessica. Jessica’s Big Little World hooks you quickly, and it’s because of the material. Sure, it’s a kids show, but it’s about relevant topics to very young kids. With touches of fantasy and lots of fun it deals with role models, responsibility, and then the biggest hurdle for any kid: doing things themselves. It’s not about geography,…
-
[Fantastic Fest Interview]…Director Francis Galluppi on ‘Last Stop In Yuma County’
I sat down with Francis Galluppi to discuss his first feature film, a neo-noir (do not call it a western) pressure cooker that I really loved. How can you not be intrigued by this log line or the clever poster below? “When a traveling knife salesman is forced to wait for fuel at an isolated rest stop, violence erupts around him when two bank robbers arrive during their getaway from a big heist.” We discussed his unexpected inspirations, the injury that kickstarted his filmmaking career, and the amazing cast he collected for this film.
-
[Fantastic Fest Interview]…’Spooktacular!’ Documentary Team
Long before Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, there was Spooky World. Spooktacular! tells the story of America’s first Halloween Theme Park and the people behind it. This includes employees, guests, and horror icons that played a part in the park’s history including Tom Savini, Linda Blair, Kane Hodder, and Robert Englund. I sat down with the team behind the documentary to discuss the process and the passion involved: Quinn Monahan (Director), Gail Jorden (Writer), Anthony Landry (Halloween Event Historian/Producer), and David Bertolino (Hauntrepreneur/Founder). This makes for a great Halloween season watch and will join the list of past Fantastic Fest haunt documentaries such as American Scream, and Haunters: the Art of…
