Must Watch: Actors Roundtable

The Hollywood Reporter gathered some incredible actors for another one of their fantastic roundtable interviews.

James Franco, Ryan Gosling, Colin Firth, Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg and Robert Duvall talk about their careers, how they got stared in acting and so many more things. There are 3 clips but you really should watch the whole video (at the end of this post). It’s over an hour-long but I promise you, you’ll love every minute of it.

In this clip, Jesse Eisenberg talks about how he would do 50 takes on for a scene in The Social Network and only like 2 of them. And keep an eye on Duvall in the beginning. He’s totally not paying attention. But then he takes over the clip and rocks, basically saying that 50 takes is ridiculous.

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Mark Wahlberg: “I didn’t want to look like an actor who could be believable as a boxer”

Mark Wahlberg talked with The Hollywood Reporter about the making of “The Fighter,” his 10 hours a day of training and his friendship with his real-life counterpart, boxer Mickey Ward.

Clip: Dexter (This weeks episode)

This season of Dexter is quickly coming to an end and I can’t wait to see how it plays out. Do you think Deb will find out about Dexter?

Here’s a quick clip of this Sunday’s episode.

Episode synopsis: As Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Lumen (Julia Stiles) methodically exact their revenge on Jordan Chase’s maniacal band of brothers, their secret alliance is uncovered by Liddy (Peter Weller). Looking to get back into the good graces of Miami Metro, Liddy’s part-time surveillance job could potentially bring down Miami’s most prolific serial killer and make him a local hero. With all eyes on Dexter, how will he be able to fend off Liddy and Quinn, while moving in on Jordan for one of his most complicated and meaningful kills?

Darren Aronofsky, Natalie Portman and the cast of ‘Black Swan’ discuss the making of the film

Black Swan comes out tomorrow and the more I think of the film, the more I’m loving it.

Here are a set of really good videos featuring most of the cast and Director Darren Aronofsky (minus Mila Kunis) discussing the film. These are some really great interviews so check them out if you have a chance!

Natalie Portman
In this video, she reveals the rigorous year-long process of training that shaped her dancing so that she could realistically portray a ballerina.

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Q & A: Kenny Johnson (Sons of Anarchy)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:42 — 10.0MB)

Kenny Johnson plays ‘Kolzik,’ the ex-Marine who makes his way in the world with brute force, in the FX series, Sons of Anarchy.  He was also on The Shield and Saving Grace and has a résumé a mile long.

Kenny also has dyslexia and the process he goes through to memorize his lines and work on his character are incredible.

I talked to him in a conference call where he talked about that process, the show and watching Ron Perlman crash his motorcycle.

For the full interview, click the audio link above or download from iTunes.

When you first get a script, what’s your process of going through it?

Kenny Johnson: My process of going through it, I’ll read the script.  I’m a slow reader.  I have dyslexia so it takes me quite a while to read a script.  I take notes on it.  I then I will read it again and again and again.  I just start taking notes of things I really need to know to follow exactly what Kurt is trying to say in the entire episode.  Then from that point, I have somebody help me memorize it and I do a ton a character work on my own.  I’ll spend hours writing little freebased thoughts about my character and my points of view towards all the other people and build a complete back history.

I will constantly write every day to keep that kind of alive for me.  That way whatever he writes for me as a character, I have at least in the back of my mind, I’ve filled it up as much as I can.  It helps me to memorize that way.  The more I know my character, the easier it is to memorize it and know exactly how you fit in and your point of view for each scene and each character.

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2 Clips from ‘Rabbit Hole’ starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart

Rabbit Hole just got four Independent Spirit Nominations including  John Cameron Mitchell for Best Director,  David Lindsay-Abaire for Best Screenplay, and Nicole Kidman for Best Female Lead and Aaron Eckhart for Best Male Lead.

I’ve read the script and it’s terrific – I can’t wait to see it.

Here are 2 clips from the upcoming film which opens December 17th.

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Independent Spirit Awards 2010 Nominees

The Independent Spirit Awards announced their nominations the other day.

I love this awards ceremony; its low-key and just plain fun.

Looking them over, I can’t argue with any of the choices…except for one in the Best Feature category. I won’t tell you which – you’ll have to guess.

Watch the awards on Saturday, February 26th!

After the jump is the full list of nominees!

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Q & A: James Roday (Psych) and Sheryl Lee

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:06 — 9.7MB)

If you’re a fan of Psych, then you already know that series star, James Roday, is a huge fan of Twin Peaks. And you probably also know that he’s wanted to have a Twin Peaks centered episode since the first season.

Well, tonight he get’s his wish. Titled ‘Dual Spires,’ the show features former Twin Peaks stars such as Sherilyn Fenn, Dana Ashbrook, Robyn Lively, Ray Wise, Catherine Coulson and Sheryl Lee.

I talked to James and Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer!) in a recent conference call where they were both raving about the episode. They talked about how they chose who would come back  from Twin Peaks, why the series meant so much to both of them and what it was like for Sheryl to reunite with her former co-stars.

For the full interview, click onto the audio link above or download from iTunes.

Sheryl, I wanted to know, how did it feel when you walked on set and saw a lot of your castmates from Twin Peaks?

Sheryl Lee: Well, I keep telling everyone it was s such an incredible gift that James and everyone that’s a part Psych gave us, because some of us hadn’t seen each other from Twin Peaks in years and years.  And it’s such a wonderful group of people and it’s such a wonderful group of people at Psych as well that it was truly, truly a gift to – it’s hard to believe that 20 years have gone by, but to be able to see these people who have such a special place in my heart.  It was really wonderful.

James, we know you’re a huge Twin Peaks fan, so what was it like to work with the real Laura Palmer?

James Roday: It was crazy.  I was like, I think there are Twin Peaks like fan boys out there who actually go to sleep and dream about what I got to do.  It was remarkable.  And like Sheryl said, it was like three experiences in one.  It was – you know, it was them getting to see each other for the first time after all these years and us getting to watch them.  And they were getting emotional, which made us emotional and then, you know, on top of everything it was the closest I’ll ever come to being in an episode of my favorite show, so it was ridiculous.

Only in our line of work do we get to do thing like this and call it work.

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LA: DreamWorks Studios Casting Call for Young Male 11-13

CASTING CALL FOR LEAD ROLE IN UPCOMING “WELCOME TO PEOPLE”

MOVIE STARRING CHRIS PINE AND ELIZABETH BANKS

DREAMWORKS STUDIOS LOOKING FOR YOUNG MALE ACTOR (AGE 11-13)

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 30, 2010) – DreamWorks Studios has launched a casting search to fill a lead role in its upcoming movie “Welcome to People,” it was announced today by DreamWorks Studios.

Actors interested in the role are invited to attend an open casting call on Saturday, December 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. No acting experience is necessary for interested actors, nor are they required to prepare anything for the audition.

Role to be cast is ‘Josh’: Male, 11-13 years old, Caucasian, athletic, independent, and confident. Interested actors should be able to memorize lots of dialogue. Film will be rated PG-13 and actors should be comfortable with dialogue reflecting that rating.

Details on the open call audition are as follows:

Saturday, December 4, 2010

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Denise Chamian Casting

Sunset Gower Studios

1438 N. Gower St.

Building 35, Suite 270

Hollywood, CA 90028

(323) 315-9445

(Street Parking Only)

Welcome to People is a drama about a young businessman (CHRIS PINE) who returns home after his estranged father’s sudden death, only to uncover a devastating family secret, which sends him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Film is the feature film directorial debut of Alex Kurtzman (TRANSFORMERS, STAR TREK) with a script written by Kurtzman, Roberto Orci (TRANSFORMERS, STAR TREK) and Jody Lambert (OF ALL THE THINGS). In addition to Chris Pine (STAR TREK), Elizabeth Banks (THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) has also joined the cast. Film is scheduled to begin production in January in Los Angeles.

About DreamWorks Studios

DreamWorks Studios (www.dreamworksstudios.com) is a motion picture company led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The new company is a continuation of DreamWorks Studios which was formed in 1994 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. The company expects to put into production 5 to 6 films per year that will be distributed by The Walt Disney Studios.

DreamWorks Studios can be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.

For publicity inquiries contact:

Kristin Stark

(818) 733-9685

For additional information contact:

Denise Chamian Casting

(323) 315-9445

Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal talk about their work on ‘Love and Other Drugs’

I really liked Love and Other Drugs, mostly because of the chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal – I wish it did better at the box office.

Here’s a video of the two stars discussing how they worked with director Ed Zwick, developed their individual character arcs and how they rehearsed for 2 weeks before filming.

Gyllenhaal also talks about how he would tag along on auditions with the director: “I sat in with Ed on everything. Anywhere I could. When he would fly to LA or New York to audition people. I would go with him and sit in on stuff. Sitting in on auditions with every actor; even the ones who don’t get it. Even for the small roles. People come in and they are amazing and they bring ideas to you. Even in the audition process.”

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