MacGruber Interview At the SXSW IFC House

Here is the MacGruber interview I sat in on at the IFC House at SXSW.

14 Acting Tips From Jeffrey Tambor’s SXSW Workshop

Jeffrey Tambor gave his annual Acting Workshop at SXSW this year and no matter what, I was not going to miss it.

I arrived an hour early and was the 5th person in line. When Tambor got on stage, he brought out  the stars of Bryan Poyser’s Lovers of Hate – Chris Doubek and Heather Kafka. The idea was to have them do a scene from the film and he would direct it.

Over the next 90 minutes, he would have them act the scene in different accents, make Doubek act like a child, sing their lines and finally do the scene as an opera.

And it made the scene better once was all said and done. His idea is to destroy the scene before you can build it.

Tambor has acting classes in Santa Monica and from what I saw, his style totally inspired me. Watching him is one of my SXSW highlights. I highly recommend taking his class. Click here for the website.

I took a massive amount of notes and below are the best of the best.

1. “In Meet Joe Black, they gave me size 13 shoes. I’m a size 12. I was on my way to do a scene with Anthony Hopkins and I was walking to the set from my trailer. Walking and I just started to sway a little bit. I had been working on the role for a couple of months. On that, maybe, 1 minute walk, he became a lush. And by the time I hit the set, I said to Marty [Brest - the director], “Lets make him about 5 drinks into this, shall we? [Pretending to be the Director, he puts his thumb and gives the 'OK'] That came, literally, from some kinetic thing that I learned to listen to.”

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Nathane Lane and BeBe Neuwirth talk ‘Addams Family’

South By Southwest: The Good, The Great

I’m back from South By Southwest (SXSW) and let me tell you, it was an experience! If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know what I mean.

In five days, I saw 10 movies and interviewed 19 actors and directors.

And now, I’m exhausted!

I interviewed:
Edward Norton and Tim Blake Nelson for their fun and incredibly entertaining film, Leaves Of Grass.

Kyle Gallner and Brittney Robertson for coming of age story, Cherry.

Jon Foster and Director Will Canon from the great film, Brotherhood. How good was it? Well, it won the SXSW Award for Narrative Feature.

Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer, Chloe Sevigny and Director Chris D’Arienzo for the hilarious, Barry Munday.

John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill and directors Jay and Mark Duplass for the also hilarious, Cyrus.

Lee Turgensen, Paul Fitzgerald and director Joe Infantolino for the incredibly acted, Helena From The Wedding.

Ashley Green and Shiloh Fernandez from Skateland. I loved this move… what more can I say?

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Headed to SXSW and some site updates

Hey guys,

I’m headed to SXSW tomorrow for the Film portion of the festival. I’ll be interviewing some fantastic actors (huge names!), directors and casting directors. I can’t wait to tell you who they are (follow me on Twitter or join the Facebook group if you want to know at the time I’m doing them).

If you’re going to be there, let me know. I’d love to meetup with you!

Site Updates:

The Photographers page is done! I’m sure I haven’t included all the headshot photographers but I think I’m off to a great start. If you have time, take a look and see if your favorite is in the list. If its not, let me know and I’ll add them.

Also, I’m making some changes to the Casting Director portion of the site. I had been taking the notes of workshops I was attending and put them up for everyone to read.  I was contacted by one of the casting directors and was asked to take it down.

I immediately did and after thinking, I took them all down. I should not have put up this information with out prior permission.

But, don’t worry. When I get back, I have some great casting directors that I’m going to interview!

Thanks for reading!

Lance

RIP Corey Haim

Here’s a scene from Lost Boys:

The first 10 minutes of Lucas:

Screenplay: “Alice in Wonderland”

Want the screenplay to Alice in Wonderland?

Sure you do!

Click here for the script

Thanks to script collector

Sandra Bullock: Oscar® Thank You Cam and Backstage Interview

Q. I was wondering if you had any advice for students out there, acting students or just people who want to be in the entertainment industry who want to be in your shoes tonight

A. Well, don’t aspire to be in these shoes. You know, walk in your own. I mean everyone’s really good at telling everyone else how to live your life or how to be or how to do it. Just don’t listen. My mother beat it into our heads to be original, and I didn’t understand that until later on and just everyone’s unique and that’s what makes people exciting to watch, I think, so just savour what you are and not what everyone else wants you to be.

Q. So last time I asked you a question at the SAG Awards I suggested you were the favorite for the Oscars and you shushed me.

A. I’m going to shush you again.

Q. What does this mean to you and did you sort of think you were the favorite?

A. Are you joking? No. It’s as I said up on that stage, you know, I questioned did I win it or did I just wear everyone down? It’s if you hang in there the longest, it’s, you know you know, I didn’t aspire to this. I was in awe of it. I admired it. I got to watch it like everyone else did or present, but it wasn’t something that I said, One day when I get the Oscar.

I didn’t think it was something that was the opportunity would ever present itself for me to rise to that occasion. And I was okay with that and I was very happy working and this came out of left field, every pun intended. Sorry. I think everything’s going to be a metaphor tonight and I apologize. This is the film I said “no” to. If I thought this was going to be my, you know, golden ticket. It just was such odd circumstances and things came together in a way that I just didn’t see coming. No one saw coming. And I think that’s what makes it so overwhelming and unexpected. I look at the company I keep in this category and you can’t pick. There’s not one that rises above the others, and I love these women that I got to spend this time with so much for who they are. So I feel like I share it equally in five parts because we ladies need to stick together.

Q. And then this picture as well there’s a tie in there. I just want you to talk a little bit about what draws you to these projects that are youth oriented that are to do with

A. It’s not that I consciously draw I’m drawn to them. You know, we’re presented with the opportunities we’re presented with in this business, and you’re able to make some of your own opportunities. I didn’t it’s not conscious, but I think it makes a great inspirational story when you can see it work, when you see what someone can rise to the occasion and do. And you know, I’ve seen it happen day after day in New Orleans and that’s why I love that town so much, and it’s the people and the perseverance and the love of each other that makes that work. And I think that’s what works so well in stories like that. I love stories about passion and love. Love of country, love of people. Love of sport. It’s just it makes a good film. But I don’t think I’ve ever consciously been drawn to it. I just I just end up, I guess, maybe loving it the most.

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The Best Oscar® Speech From Last Night

Michael Giacchino has created some of the best scores in movies (and TV – Lost) in recent years.  The scores to both Star Trek and Up were just beautiful.

Last night he won for Best Original Score for his work on Up.

Here’s the speech… the best one of the night:

“Thank you, guys. When I was… I was nine and I asked my dad, “Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8 millimeter camera that was in your drawer?” And he goes, “Sure, take it.” And I took it and I started making movies with it and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, “What you’re doing is a waste of time.” Never.

And I grew up, I had teachers, I had colleagues, I had people that I worked with all through my life who always told me what you’re doing is not a waste of time. So that was normal to me that it was OK to do that.

I know there are kids out there that don’t have that support system so if you’re out there and you’re listening, listen to me: If you want to be creative, get out there and do it. It’s not a waste of time. Do it. OK? Thank you. Thank you.”

©AMPAS

Jeff Bridges: Oscar® Thank You Cam and Backstage Interview

Q. You were talking about sitting on the bed, your dad giving you all the pointers of being an actor. From that day to this moment, what kind of ride has this been? And did you ever see this happening?
A. Well, you know, ups and downs, what does the Dude say? Strikes and gutters, man. That’s about it. That’s about it.

Q. What part of Bad Blake do you most identify with personally, and also, will you and Colin Farrell please form a country band?
A. The music, that’s what I most identified with Bad. I have been writing music, playing music since I was a kid. Unlike Bad, I have you know, I didn’t think he had great parents. Certainly didn’t have he had four, probably, great wives that he got rid of, you know.

But I have a very strong marriage, you know. Bad didn’t have that. There’s a lot of stuff he didn’t have. But the music, I don’t know about forming a country band. Sounds like a good idea. I’ll talk with those guys, maybe.

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