Hollywood The Write Way

USA Upfronts

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:02:00 +0000

In case you don't remember, USA won me over... with White Collar after I was lucky enough to be invited to a set visit back in 2009 before the series premiered. Now, I'm also a huge fan of Covert Affairs, a fan of Royal Pains, and a supporter of the network in general. The love is mutual since I was invited to attend the Upfront Presentation late last week where I took a ton of photos from the end of the press line (a few are on my Twitter feed, my favorite seven from the red carpet are below) and after the presentation (right below) until I had to return to real life. So check out the premiere dates below for your favorite USA shows this summer and some info on new series coming to the network!

Myself, Matt Bomer (White Collar), and Accidental Sexiness

Peter Gallagher (Covert Affairs), Myself, & Chris Gorham (Covert Affairs)

Summer Premieres:

Royal Pains - Wednesday, June 6 9/8c

Necessary Roughness - Wednesday, June 6 10/9c

Burn Notice - Thursday, June 14 9/8c

Suits - Thursday, June 14 10/9c

White Collar - Tuesday, July 10 9/8c

Covert Affairs - Tuesday, July 10 10/9c

New Programming (Also includes POLITICAL ANIMALS and the pilot for GRACELAND)

BANG BANG – – An unlikely partnership is formed when veteran hitman Danny is saved by rival novice hired gun Marco, while executing a target. This dynamic duo pair up to execute contracts, if they don’t kill each other first. Based on the French film, “Doom Doom.” Writer/executive producer is Tim Schlattmann (“Dexter,” “Smallville”). Executive Produced by Pierce Brosnan & Beau St. Clair of Irish DreamTime Productions. From Fox Television Studios.

RARE – “Tour” is San Francisco’s hottest new restaurant – an exciting fusion of world cuisines that’s drawing crowds across all demographics in the Bay Area. Part of its allure may be the chef, a mysterious ex-special forces captain who’s good with a knife both inside and outside the kitchen. Even if he tries to resist his old violent life, he will be unlikely to keep it entirely outside his new establishment. Writer/executive producer is Larry Golin (“Cross Bronx”) with Cory Concoff executive producing. From Fox Television Studios.

MIND FIELDS – At MIT, the pranks (or as they’re known there, “hacks”) are truly legendary. After one particularly striking graduation hack goes awry, a legendary prankster is dumped by his girlfriend and goes underground for many years, his only public gesture a series of grand romantic stunts he constructs with a lovestruck fellow alumni. MIND FIELDS explores the fusion of science and creativity as these three geniuses reunite amidst the upstairs and downstairs of New York society. Helmed by writer/producers Lisa Joy (BURN NOTICE, graphic novel “Headache”) and Bryan Fuller (“Pushing Daisies,” the upcoming “Mockingbird Lane” and “Hannibal”), with executive producers Howie Mandel and Mike Marks. From Universal Cable Productions.

FALLEN – After an accident, a gruff, macho cop -- known for his "act first, ask questions later" approach -- develops the rare condition of synesthesia and suddenly finds himself seeing "emotions." His partner doesn't quite understand this "touchy-feely" approach to solving crimes, but there's no doubt that this new insight is helping clear cases. Based on the novel "Fallen" written by T. Jefferson Parker. Ed Decter & John Strauss (“There’s Something About Mary,” IN PLAIN SIGHT) are adapting for Sony Pictures Television.

WE COUNTED YOUR KNIVES – An Army medic returns home and becomes a pharmaceutical sales rep in the hopes of finding the elusive American dream. Along the way he helps those who cannot afford medical services while pushing the drugs his company sells. Writer is playwright Michael Batistick ("Ponies"). Produced by Doug Liman, David Bartis (executive producers of COVERT AFFAIRS and SUITS) and Gene Klein and Lindsay Sloane of Hypnotic for Universal Cable Productions.

UNTITLED DICK WOLF PROJECT – An insurance investigator who works at a traditional firm takes an untraditional turn – he gets divorced and marries a trophy wife, who happens to be a man. Project is from Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski (creator of “Law & Order,” LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT.

New Reality TV Programming:
USA Network is also diving into the reality genre! I still haven't decided how I feel about that so I'm open to all of these shows at this point and will watch at least the first episode of each. I am especially intrigued by The Moment.

BRIDE OR BEST MAN (working title) – A "bromantic comedy" with a twist, this series highlights a trip down the aisle that goes completely wrong when the Groom and his Best Man are left in charge of planning the ‘big day.’ Shed Media produces.

ROMANCING THE GLOBE – A new spin on the relationship format, this series takes participants on a globe-trotting search for love that leads to the potential of ultimate betrayal. Executive produced by acclaimed executive producer Mark Burnett and his One Three Media.

THE CHOIR – Series follows accomplished UK choirmaster Gareth Malone as he embraces various American communities and assembles a choir made up of the most unexpected mix of individuals. Malone believes in the transformative power of music and uses choirs as a way to bring people together, raise morale, and restore a sense of pride in community. The journey is both comedic and emotional with each episode culminating in an orchestrated choir performance. Malone began his career leading choirs for the London Symphony Orchestra and since then, has gone on to win an International Emmy and numerous BAFTAs as well as recently having an album top the UK pop charts. Shed Media produces.

THE MOMENT – Each week the show’s host, Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, will give someone a second chance to pursue the career they’ve always wanted. From race car driving to orchestra conducting to deep sea diving, everyday people will leave behind the comforts of home and leap into a whirlwind of training under the expert guidance of world-class mentors who will help them prepare for the audition of a lifetime. If they succeed, they will either accept the job that will change their lives forever - or return to their loved ones, realizing that they've been living the dream all along. Warner has had an equally triumphant personal story, famously going from bagging groceries to being named Super Bowl MVP in just 18 months. Justin Hochberg and Charlie Ebersol of The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company) produce.

Which new shows are you looking forward to and what returning shows are you counting down to?

Don’t forget to head over to the USA Welcome Summer site to check out the latest photo and video content of your favorite summer series!

Tia Mowry Signing in NYC

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:13:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon was one of the highlights of my Spring. It was about 10am when my train arrived at Penn Station and I found myself walking through the city, passing time until an event later in the day.

Since I watch the final hour of The Today Show whenever I am home, my mind immediately went to stopping by the studio to see what was going on. You know, be one of those fans outside of the studio and in the background of all of Hoda & Kathie Lee's shots. Ha. Well, I got side tracked. I never found my way to that area as I stumbled upon a sign at the NBC Experience Store promoting an autograph signing taking place in just three short hours. Tia Mowry, who we all love from Sister, Sister had tweeted about an autograph signing in the city earlier this week. I didn't really pay much attention to the details because I did not want to be let down if the setting was far and the timing overlapped with the reason why I was in the city to begin with. But when I saw that sign and put the pieces together, I went straight to the staff and security to ask questions. Do your events typically start on time? How crazy are the lines? How much is the book? I received satisfying answers, so I bought Mowry's book, Oh Baby!, hopped in line (I was about seventh in line) and waited.

I had no idea that Mowry's book was about pregnancy until I picked it up. If anyone I knew saw me with a book titled, Oh! Baby!: Pregnancy Tales And Advice from One Hot Mama to Another, no matter who the author, they would be stupefied. It's no secret that I was never that kid who dreamed of being A) married and B) married with kids (or a kid, period). I'm just not there. But it is Tia Mowry and I do love to read, so I chuckled to myself as I made my way to the register to purchase the book. I started reading the book in line and was immediately hooked. I made it to chapter 4 (there are 12 chapters in all) before the signing began. There are quite a few handfuls of fun tidbits from Tia's pregnancy journey that Tia & Tamera (Style Network) did not show plus an abundant amount of tips (organized wonderfully) that expectant mothers will cherish and even people like me, family/friends of those expecting will see in a new light. From any angle, there's something to learn here and I knew that would be the case, which is why I was not at all hesitant to purchase and read this. Thanks for shedding the light and doing so in such an entertaining way! Best of all, at 232 pages, this is a quick read. Even a slow reader who is multi-tasking could finish this within six hours, I'd say. Who doesn't love a day read?

Props to the NBC Experience Store for having such a FRIENDLY staff and security crew and letting the fans actually soak in the moment with the talent. One of the reasons why I don't often go to signings is because far too often, the staff and security are super aggressive and there is usually a "you can take photos of _____ but you can't take a photo with them" rule. You see, I'm more of a photo snob than I am an autograph person, so that doesn't really work for me. Time management, that's all I'm saying. Anyway, with time to spare and having never been to a signing at the NBC Experience Store, I was open to learning how they best conduct these things. Happy to say that I will gladly go to more signings here after this experience. I took a handful of photos and when it was time to take a photo with Tia, one of the staff members was there to take the photo for you on your camera/phone/etc. How nice!

I didn't want to bring up Sister, Sister (even though that's why we were all there, really) because I'm sure she hears praises for her work back then every day. The same may now be said for Tia & Tamera and The Game, so my brain zeroed in on her film, Seventeen Again which I watched over and over and over and over again over the years, years ago. I don't know why I don't own the DVD but I'm kind of glad that I don't because I know that it would be a time-suck. I seriously could crack up along to that movie all day every day. I'm sure if I played the movie right now, I'd still know all of the dialogue, body language/mannerisms of all of the characters, etc.. You get my point. So I told Tia that I loved her in Seventeen Again and then she brought up Twitches which, Oh my God, I love too! (We all know that my favorite show of all time is Charmed and I love me a good witch show/movie). She said that Twitches was one of her favorite things to work on, because who doesn't want to play a witch with their sister? Something along those lines. I was just so excited that I was talking to her about Seventeen Again and witches. I dreamed of the day! I'm so not kidding.

I wanted to say, "Outie 2000," part of a line from Seventeen Again, but I didn't want to be too much of a fan girl, especially if she didn't recognize the line and I was left standing there like an idiot. Ha. The whole one on one time couldn't have been more than two minutes but it was a long two minutes and the best two minutes of this entire week! I really don't know why but there's just something about seeing someone in person who you've seen on the small screen all of your life that's so incredibly exciting. To be able to say "Thank you" and "I love your work" in person, it may seem like a small thing but those few words really mean, "Thank you so much for working fifteen, twenty hours on set practically everyday for months on end to make me escape for a half hour/hour of my day and just laugh and relax (and be enlightened...because under every laugh, there's a message)." That exchange of gratitude, it's not to be taken lightly. Anyway, long story short, I had a great time at the signing and learned quite a few things about pregnancy in my reading (my oh my, the things they don't tell you!) that have really made me even more understanding of and compassionate to the preggers journey. So thanks Tia Mowry for an unforgettable signing and thought provoking book!

Oh! Baby!: Pregnancy Tales And Advice from One Hot Mama to Another by Tia Mowry with Sheryl Berk is in stores now.

The Write Finds Across the Web

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:50:00 +0000

Hey guys! I've been fairly absent for some time now but I will get back into the swing of the things next week. There's BEA coming up, San Diego Comic Con in July, a website makeover in August, and so much more, so stay tuned!

Every Friday, "The Write Finds Across the Web" showcases my favorite book links (for readers & writers) that I come across throughout the week in list form. If you have any suggestions, let me on on Twitter!

Book Links
* 20th Century Fox Acquires Rights to Self-Published E-Book, Wool by Hugh Howey
* How A Book is Born
* When You Wish You Were Another Writer

Non-Book Related Link of the Week
*Doctor Who to Release Mini-Episode Next Week /p>

Happy Reading!

The Write Finds Across the Web

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Book Links
* Book Writing Competition = Reality TV Show? (EW's Shelf Life)
* AwkwardFlail FTW
*Ready Player One, Still Loading; Casting Speculation Begins
* Author Interview with Marie Lu (Legend) conducted by Author, Beth Revis
* YALL Fest Lineup Announced!!
* What Writers Do All Day (At Least Me) (Author, Kami Garcia)
* Original Harry Potter Manuscript Will Be Exhibited
* An Indie Bookstore Saved by a Tweet
* Author Interview: Cynthia Hand
* Amazon Licenses Right To Lend ‘Harry Potter’ E-Books To Amazon Prime Members
* Legend Blog Tour – Marie Lu Guest Post & Giveaway
* USPS To Stop Delivering iPads And Kindles Overseas On May 16
* My answer, yes! -> Can a fictional character take you over?

Non-Book Related Link of the Week
*Joss Whedon's Letter to the Super-fans

Happy Reading!

Blu-ray Review: New Year's Eve

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:54:00 +0000

Release Date: May 1, 2012 Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 118 minutes

Director/producer Garry Marshall brings together an stellar ensemble cast to celebrate love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, in intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year.

Having enjoyed Valentine's Day so much, I was very much looking forward to New Year's Eve and am happy to say that my expectations were met for the sequel! This star studded film kept me on my toes as I was anticipating in every moment what big star would pop up next. Aside from the fabulous cast, the characters were engaging. Not as compelling as the characters in Valentine's Day since they were all over the place in story. New Year's Eve represents new beginnings for everything and anything. Valentine's Day just focuses on love (and lust, let's be honest) so I found that with so little time, it was hard really fall in love with all of these characters on such very different paths. I fell in love with a few but others I could have done without. Essentially, Valentine's Day is more bright and has more laugh out loud comedy than this film. For me, the former trumps the latter since there was more stress among the characters and their journeys in this film but less depth if that makes any sense at all. That said, I still very much enjoyed the film as the different stories were interwoven in such a clever way and it was so much fun trying to put the pieces together, watching what became of these characters. New Year's Eve brings for pleasant viewing, especially on a rainy day. So be sure to pick up your copy today.

Bonus Features:

Commentary - The commentary is conducted by director, Gary Marshall. What I love about listening to this commentary, what I love about Marshall is that he gives credit where credit is due. He's clearly a people person and great supporter of the work that the people he works with have done/are doing and that is wonderful to see. He also has a great love for New York City which is made evident from the very beginning. Marshall mostly narrates the story with commentary interwoven but it works because it's Marshall. If you enjoyed the film, a commentary viewing is definitely in order!

The Magic of Times Square (Approx. 7 minutes) - The cast and crew of New Year's Eve share their love for New York City and celebrating the New Year in Times Square. This feature could have been merged with the next feature if you ask me. Between the two, I'd say watch the latter.

New Year's Eve Secrets of the Stars (Approx. 6 minutes) - The stars, director (Gary Marshall), writer (Katherine Fugate), and producers of New Year's Eve share memories from their favorite New Year's Eve and whether or not they actually make and keep their resolutions. It's a fun feature but not necessary viewing.

Jon Bon Jovi & Lea Michele Rock New Year's Eve (Approx. 6 minutes) - This feature takes viewers behind the scenes as Jon Bon Jovi records his three numbers for the film. There's fun back story told of how Jon Bon Jovi became attached to the film before the feature turns to Lea Michele recording her part of one of the songs in California. Aside from learning how Marshall snagged Jon Bon Jovi, this feature is a pass. Director, Gary Marshall and Music Producer, Don Was also appear in this feature.

Deleted Scenes (Approx. 8/18 minutes) - The deleted scenes come with introductions by Gary Marshall (optional). The first scene includes John Stamos. As big of a star that he is, this scene had to be included on the Blu-ray of course. It simply could not have been cut never to be seen again! But his character and scene was useless so it came as no wonder why this scene was cut. The second scene seemed like it belonged in the gag reel but Marshall says it as cut because of the setting, which I can definitely understand. There were10 weak cameos from athletes and about seven other scenes, one of which I found especially engaging as people around the city shared their new year resolutions. If you enjoyed the film, you'll enjoy the deleted scenes so be sure to watch!

*Gag Reel (With introduction by Gary Marshall, Approx. 10 minutes)

Own New Year's Eve on Blu-Ray and DVD today.

Concert Review: Jeremy Camp & Francesca Battistelli

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:22:00 +0000

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of catching Jeremy Camp & Grammy nominated, Francesca Battistelli on their South Jersey stop on the "We Cry Out" Tour. The tour takes its name from Camp's acclaimed worship album, We Cry Out: The Worship Project. As I was more familiar with Battistelli than Camp, I was in for quite a treat as I have officially become a Camp fan!

The concert began at seven, at least according to the website tour info though by the time that I arrived, 6:30pm Battistelli was already on stage. This detail was, I'm not going to lie, disappointing since I was especially looking forward to seeing Battistelli's entire set. This is not a joint tour, moreso Camp's tour that Battistelli is opening for so if you want to see B, get there early! The venue was sold out and was essentially to capacity by the time that I arrived but it was easy slipping in and getting to watch Battistelli live in such an intimate venue. I loved the way that she went acoustic and slowed down "Hundred More Years" and loved hearing the crowd sing along to "Constant," one of my favorite songs from her album, Hundred More Years. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Album Chart and No. 16 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart! While I listen to and was anticipating more from her sophomore album significantly more, the majority of the songs that she performed by the time I made it into the venue were from her debut album, My Paper Heart. Battistelli did not work the stage since she is eight months pregnant but she sure had no problem belting out my favorite hits. What a talent! She closed out with "Free to Be Me" which I never would have thought would have been the song to end her set so that was a refreshing surprise.

Battistelli exited the stage at 7:03pm, making way for intermission and a brief word about Compassion International before Camp made his way to the stage. Camp is a Compassion International artist so there is not only a brief word about the program from 49ers' David Akers, but a booth by the merchandise as well, where you can begin to sponsor a child in need from around the world. I have begun sponsoring a little girl named Erika from El Salvador! Thank you Camp for being such a light and helping us find ways to be a light! Akers also led a great message that left the audience with the question, "What are you going to do to be a game changer?" It was a great message and the perfect lead in to Camp's set which began at 7:40pm.

I was especially taken with Camp's songs, "We Cry Out," "Everlasting God, ""Right Here," and "There Will Be A Day" which I am sure I will be playing around the house quite a bit. In between songs, I discovered that Camp is quite the talker! He has an incredible message to share and is so passionate about Christ like faith and being a light, so there's definitely plenty to say. If you can't make the tour but want to hear his story, buy his book, I Still Believe which released last fall. You will be blessed! I was blessed Sunday night and cannot wait for Camp to come back to Jersey and minister some more in concert. What an uplifting night!

Camp has sold over three million albums and is Billboard’s No. 3 Christian Artist of the Decade for a reason! He's definitely worth catching on tour so visit Jeremy Camp and also Francesca Battistelli for more information.

The Write Finds Across the Web

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:58:00 +0000

It is time to get back to incorporating weekly posts! Every Friday, "The Write Finds Across the Web" will showcase my favorite book links that I come across throughout each week in list form, so stay tuned for my favorite finds on Fridays! If you have any suggestions, let me on on Twitter!

Book Links
* Sarah Healy on Chick Lit
* How to Write a Perfect First Draft
* Book Deal and Publishing Talk with Lindsay Cummings (Girls in the Stacks Podcast)
* Target Will Stop Selling Kindles This Month
*Microsoft Teams up With BN
* Writer's Digest Conference West Info Announced (Oct. 19-21, 2012)
* Children’s & YA Hardcover Sales Up 72%
* Harper Lee Makes a Surprise Appearance at an Alabama Literary Luncheon
* 7 Ways to Write a Stand-Alone Book (With Series Potential)

ICYMI Link of the Week
* LiFactor has been born! I'm in love!

Non-Book Related Link of the Week
* Disney | ABC Writing Program Submission is Open!

Happy Reading!

Blu-ray Review: We Bought A Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:21:00 +0000

Release Date: April 3, 2012 Rating: PG Running Time: 124 minutes

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents an inspiring adventure based on a true story of one man who brought a zoo back to life and family back together in WE BOUGHT A ZOO, arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download April 3. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) and starring Matt Damon (Contagion, True Grit), Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Thomas Haden Church (Easy A, Sideways), WE BOUGHT A ZOO is “a sweet-natured tale…that you’ll want to see with your kids” (Liz Braun, Jam! Movies).

Benjamin Mee (Damon) is a Los Angeles newspaper columnist and adventure writer who, as a single father, faces the challenges of raising his two young children. Hoping that a fresh start and a new life will restore their family spirit, Mee quits his job and buys an old rural house outside the city with a unique bonus feature: a zoo named the Rosemoor Animal Park, where dozens of animals reside under the care of head zookeeper Kelly Foster (Johansson) and her dedicated team. With no experience, limited time and a shoestring budget, Mee sets out with the support of his family and the local community to reopen the zoo. Now, Benjamin is no longer reporting an adventure story; he’s living it in his own backyard.

We Bought A Zoo is one of my favorite films of 2011. I was hesitating as to whether or not I would say that because I have not read the book from which the film is based on and as a book lover, I am hoping that the film did the book justice. After viewing the film, I can say that I am looking forward to reading the book even more. But I had a feeling even before hearing that the film was based on a true story that the film would do the story justice because Cameron Crowe, who directed Almost Famous directed this project and his vision is magnificent. And between Crowe and Aline Brosh McKenna, the screenplay was in good hands. The dialogue was wonderful, the pacing was perfect, the characters had depth (though it was clear that so much of that depth was not able to be explored, so I am especially looking forward to the book for this reason), and the balance of drama and comedy is so clever. At times, the comedy slips in and other times it's front and center... and it works.

The casting was also very smart. At first, it may be offsetting to see Matt Damon in this role that he is in, not a stud, I'll say. But soon after, you'll forget all about that and the characters will engage you more than the well known actors on screening engaging you. Back to the characters for a moment... the relationship between Ben and his son was full of so much tension. It led up to one big blow out which was one of the most powerful scenes in the entire film. This kid was so relatable and reminded me of myself in so many ways when I was younger. It was frightening in that way but also very much necessary to show for these individuals to be heard and appreciated. We see over time how this family grows closer together and what a wonderful, uplifting story that is. We don't see that enough these days. Each relationship explored in this film has a distinct conflict added onto the overall conflicts that come with Ben buying a zoo so there's plenty to engage the viewer. As a big fan of characters, I was pleased to find that the characters really made the story here. Yes, Ben bought a zoo not long after becoming a widow, taking on a financial burden having faith that things would turn around. But the people (and the animals that we will all fall in love with) along the way, that's the journey that really connects the viewer and the story. We Bought A Zoo has heart and I'd say is a joy to watch for all ages. I can see myself popping in this Blu-ray quite a lot this summer (it's got that kind of tone) and I encourage you to get your copy to do the same. You will not be disappointed.

Bonus Features:

Deleted & Extended Scenes - There are 20 deleted and extended scenes. If you enjoyed the film, spending an extra 45 minutes to watch these scenes is definitely worth it. The first scene, "Elevator Empathy" made me laugh out loud and will certainly make you laugh out loud. People are so funny in these situations. Hysterical. "Quick Learner" also brought a bit of a laugh. How did the cast not laugh during the scene, "Just Can’t Get a Handle On It?" "Disaffected Youth" among others will also make you chuckle. "We’re Living The Story" has one of my favorite line exchanges in the film so I was thrilled to see the extended scene on here, get as much as possible out of this scene as I can. I can only imagine that "Buster is Loose" was cut because of time because I cannot find anything wrong with this scene. Which brings us to the scenes that I am actually satisfied with being cut. I was glad that "Life is Elemental" was cut because it would have changed the emotions leading up to Ben giving the okay to put down the tiger. "Thank You, Rhonda" also was a great scene to cut because it would have confused viewers as to what to think about Rhonda. I did like how Rhonda was portrayed in the final scene, "Opening Day." Too bad that wasn't in the film!

Featurettes - There are three behind the scenes featurettes included on the Blu-ray; “We Shot a Zoo (1 hour 15 minutes)," “Their Happy is Too Loud (17:29 minutes),” and “The Real Mee (28:35 minutes)." The first is a great origin story from Benjamin and Katherine Mee's vision to scouting locations, casting, working with Cameron Crowe, the animals, and more. What I love about these featurettes is that they are narrated with and the interviews are on location and used as voice over narrations which is rare. It brings a great feel to the featurette, because you can listen to the cast and crew while watching what happened on location rather than just watching and listening to them talk about it with brief behind the scenes looks. The first featurette is a bit time consuming but worth watching. The second featurette is dedicated to making the score and what a beautiful featurette it is. The final featurette is for those who want to hear it straight from Benjamin Mee. If there's one featurette to watch, it would be this one and it's only 28 minutes long so you have no excuse not to watch it!

Commentary - The commentary is conducted by Director Cameron Crowe, Actor J.B. Smoove and Editor Mark Livolsi. What really brings this commentary to life is the inclusion of comedian/actor, J.B. Smoove. This brings for quite a hysterical commentary... probably the most entertaining commentary of 2012 so far. Smoove takes over the commentary even though his part in the film is actually rather small. But his chemistry with Crow and Livolsi is great and it works very well. Along with the laughs, there are still plenty of technical bits shared and it's intertwined in a very engaging way. If you have time to catch one commentary this Spring, let it be this one.

* Gag Reel (7 minutes)

* Photo Gallery

Own We Bought A Zoo on Blu-Ray and DVD today.

Please Support Kira's Mission Trip to Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:45:00 +0000

Two years have passed since a 7.0 earthquake engulfed Haiti and destroyed the majority of Port-au-Prince and still recovery is needed, necessary for this nation to survive and one day possibly thrive more than it ever has. Half a million people are still living in makeshift shelters, homeless and displaced with sickness and disease running rampant.

So this year, for my lovely sister's June birthday, she has decided to shower this nation with love instead of having the typical birthday outing with her girlfriends. "I want to be a blessing to these heartbroken people, brighten their day, and spread the light, the hope that we are so familiar with here in America," she explained. But she cannot do it alone. Kira needs your help for safe travels back and forth and supplies to bring to Haiti. So please, any (tax-deductible) donation that you can give is very much appreciated, no gift is too small. Click here to donate. Thanks for your support & please pass it on!

For more information, visit Kira's Tumblr which is dedicated solely to the mission trip, updates and all!

DVD Review - Jane by Design: Volume 1

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Release Date: March 20, 2012 Rating: TV-14 Run Time: Approx. 430 min

When mistaken for an adult, sixteen year-old Jane (Erica Dasher) finds herself working for a high-powered executive (Andie McDowell) at a hip fashion house. From classes to couture, relive all the drama, romance and non-stop excitement as Jane juggles her life as a regular teenager and her job in the cutthroat world of fashion…all while trying to keep her true identity a secret. Bring home ABC Family’s Jane By Design: Volume 1, available on DVD March 20th, just two weeks after the season finale!

Jane by Design: Volume 1 brings fans the first ten episodes of ABC Family's latest original series. Fashionistas everywhere will find this series to be a bundle of fun and if you're not a fashionista, there is still plenty to enjoy! The fashion world is the perfect groundwork for a series as it's a playground that anybody would be fascinated to step foot on and explore. And it's not all about the fashion. There's more to Jane than that, thankfully. But Jane is torn between two worlds, her high school, suburban life and fashion forward city life. They had me as soon as I was aware of the premise. That said, while the execution is satisfying, I must admit that Jane by Design is not nearly as engaging for me as Switched at Birth, MIOBI, and The Lying Game. This is funny since the show incorporates Jane's home life, there is competition, and she is lying to those around her to keep both worlds afloat.

Yet all of these aspects in one show, not to mention all of the other aspects that go into each episode, might just be too much at once. While a great reflection of Jane's double life, there is such a thing as being overly ambitious executing that point. This mixed with the combination of relationships (love triangles specifically) that we've all seen played out before, may hold this show back from its full potential. When Jane is forced to babysit a model in one episode and ends up bringing her to school, even the model points out the typical high school movie/TV show characters in Jane's world. So the characters definitely need not feel so paper thin in future episodes. We're following Jane but give some depth to the supporting characters.

Still, there is enough to love about these characters and enough conflict going on in Jane's life to keep viewers on their toes, wondering how Jane will achieve all that is on her to do list with the least amount of problems. Cue the comedy! You'll laugh just as much as you'll cringe as Jane jumps hurdle after hurdle... sometimes her naivety being the cause of those hurdles. Jane's naive quality is one thing that I love this show does not shy away from. She doesn't have it all together, she's in high school. There's so much that Jane has to learn about the working world before she can move on from being an assistant, that is for sure. Thanks for not shying away from this and showing the young viewers that you don't have all of the answers, it is a learning process long after high school. Very refreshing this is. Plus, if you follow fashion, you'll be able to appreciate the cameos by Betsey Johnson, Patricia Field, and Nanette Lepore to name a few. Jane By Design will either turn out to be another ABC Family Original that you add to your watch list or another ABC Family Original that you make it a point to watch live each and every week. Either way, you'll enjoy Jane by Design so be sure to pick up Volume 1 before the second half of season two airs!

Unfortunately, there are no Bonus Features on the DVD. Considering all of the promotion that was put into this show months before it premiered, I find it unbelievable that there was no care put into this aspect of the DVD. There's no inside look here. Pick up The Devil Wears Prada DVD for that, fashionistas.

Own Jane by Design: Volume 1 on DVD today. Jane By Design returns Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 9/8c on ABC Family.

Blu-ray Review - FernGully: The Last Rainforest

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:08:00 +0000

Release Date: March 6, 2012 Rating: G Running Time: 76 minutes

Starring a talented voice cast including Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Christian Slater, Samantha Mathis, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, FERNGULLY: THE LAST RAINFOREST is an enchanting story about taking care of the environment and the power of friendship, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. There's magic in the rainforest and it's called FernGully! Deep in the heart of the forest awaits a paradise filled with tiny sprites, winged fairies and tree spirits who all live in joyful harmony. But when their home is threatened by humans, one courageous sprite gives her all to save it! FernGully is a fantastical adventure into a world you’ll want to visit again and again!

For many, Ferngully: The Last Rainforest was a staple in the home. As a kid when this movie came out, I remember this being one of the small handful of films that was in rotation once the VHS released. A large VHS collection we had, but there were really on a few that we played all day, everyday. This was one of them. You can imagine my delight when Ferngully came to Blu-ray! Looking back on the film now, it's still as entertaining and heartbreaking as I remember. What a clear and positive message this film still is able to give about conserving the forest and being green among other messages. Where are these kinds of movies for kids today?

All of that said, my memory seems to have blocked out Robin Williams's character because it was so annoying. While a fan of Williams, sometimes he can be too much. In this instance, it definitely is. Aside from this aspect of the film and the observation that Hexxus might be too scary for some kids, the film was very easy to enjoy two decades later. You'll be in for quite a laugh when the musical numbers make their way on your screen. I cannot believe I used to know the words to these songs and jammed out to them! As for the picture quality, I'd say job well done. The audio was a little low at my television set's normal level but there are no major issues here. Nostalgia beats out any minor issue here, making Ferngully: The Last Rainforest fun for the whole family twenty years later. What are you waiting for? Go get your copy!

Bonus Features:

Commentary - The commentary is conducted by Director, Bill Kroyer, Art Director, Ralph Eggleston, and Coordinating Art Director, Susan Kroyer. The trio jumps right in, telling the viewers how the film came together which is a great way to lead in, especially for viewers who were young when this film came out and did not give the making of this film a second thought. I don't think any four or five year olds were thinking about how this film was financed during their viewings. There's so much information to soak up in the commentary if you are interested in what brought all of the aspects to this film together, including the research done in Australia, animation, and so on. Chances are, if you own this Blu-ray or DVD, this film holds a special place in your heart. The commentary will only give you a greater appreciation, so I'd recommend a viewing of the commentary for sure. The commentators might seem a little dry at first, but that blows over as they begin to talk about some really interesting things. Check it out!

Seed of the Story - This featurette is a comparison of script and screen with optional commentary by Screenwriter, Jim Cox. Unfortunately, this feature would not play on my Blu-ray player, even after multiple plays over time, so there is no review for this bonus feature.

From Paper to Tree: Making Of (Approximately 30 minutes) - This making of featurette opens up with Author of the FernGully Stories, Diana Young and continues on with interviews (not from this decade) from the cast and crew as they talk about the message behind the film, the characters, development, animation, etc... as art from various stages in the process is shown and footage from the recording studio as well as research trips in Australia is shown. It's quite fascinating to see all that went into this film. It's so much more than my younger self could have ever imagined. As mentioned in this feature, "We never could have made the movie if we hadn't been there...we couldn't have conceived this story." This is another great feature worth watching, so don't skip this!

*Behind the Voice: Toxic Love - Multi-Angle Scene Study

*Original Featurette (1992)

*Music Video - "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody (It Might As Well Be You)"

*Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots

Own FernGully: The Last Rainforest on Blu-Ray and DVD today.

Interview: Charlene Amoia Talks American Reunion

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:46:00 +0000

You've seen her on How I Met Your Mother, Days of Our Lives, and The Young and the Restless, soon you'll see Charlene Amoia on The Finder, and this holiday weekend, you can see her on the big screen playing Thomas Ian Nicholas' wife in the much anticipated flick, American Reunion.Here to talk about the much talked about flick, Amoia talks Reunion, her own high school reunion, LA, and more! Check it out!

Can you talk about your character Ellie in American Reunion and how she feels about Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) and Vicky's (Tara Reid) past?(laughs) I think that Ellie and Kevin have a very strong marriage. She's very trusting when he goes off to the reunion. I think she's okay with their relationship. The way that the film is written, Ellie & Kevin love each other very much and have a very healthy relationship. I don't think she's worried about them at all.
What would you say is your favorite moment from this film and from a past American Pie film?

I think that my favorite scene from American Reunion is with Jennifer Coolidge and Eugene Levy. Their meeting was pretty ingenious. I love Alyson Hannigan's character and the very famous scene with her ad the flute is hysterical, so it would have to be that.

When reunions take place, people always think about all that have have accomplished since the last time they've seen the people now around them. What would you say has been the achievement you are most proud of and would love to talk about at a reunion?

Wow. I think that I am pretty proud of sending myself out to LA and pursing this career, not having a clue what I was doing or knowing anybody at all. I have always had the belief system that if you go after something and people that you can attain it, it is possible. Everybody told me that I'd be back in three to six months and it was more possible to become the president, so to come out here and be able to sustain a career has been awesome.

Having grown up in both New York and Las Vegas but now living in Los Angeles, what would you say is your favorite and least favorite aspect about living in LA?

My favorite thing about LA is the incredible terrain. There's a mountain fifteen minutes from my house and the beach is thirty minutes away. I like to spend a lot of time outdoors so I love that the weather is always beautiful. And there's always something exciting to do, a show to watch or screening to go to. The thing that I miss about home is the feeling of community that I feel LA really lacks. I really miss that. People are very genuine, nice, and warm while making friends in LA takes a little bit longer because it takes time for people to let down their guard.

So have you ever been to your high school reunion?

Yes, I went to a reunion very recently but it was put together very last minute so it was very small. I didn't remember a lot of the people. When you're in high school, it's your world. But when you leave... the five people that I was really good friends with in high school, I am still friends with. Everybody else, it just doesn't make a difference. American Reunion was a lot more fun than that reunion. (laughs)

Are you interested in writing, producing, or directing in the future?

Yes, I am. I really feel like I have a director's eye, so I think it's really just about finding the right project. It's definitely an interest of mine at some point.

I know that you love to cook and be outdoors, so getting ready for the summer, do you have any tips you want to share for those trying to get and stay fit and healthy?
Something that was really easy for me to do and I think that it makes a huge difference is to substitute that extra food intake with water. Drink water instead of soda and juice. As much as possible, drink water. It's so much healthier for you and everything just seems to work better when you're hydrated.

Finally, where can we see you next on the screen?
You can watch me on the season finale of The Finder on Fox on May 11th!

American Reunion is in theaters now.

Kirkpatrick Needs Your Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Donations!

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Exciting news! One of my dear PR friends, Erin Kirkpatrick is a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Capitol Area Chapter 2012 Woman of the Year candidate! Congratulations Erin!

Her team (Team Cure) is one of 19 DC-area men and women who have joined efforts to work tirelessly to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and its mission to find a cure for blood cancers. The National Chapter goal this year is $1.1 million in 10 weeks while Team Cure's goal is $100,000 in 10 weeks, so we're going to need your help to get there before June 16th!

"My campaign is dedicated to the caregivers of patients. I truly believe that without excellent care and support for caregivers, the patient him/herself does not stand the best chance for survival," says, Kirkpatrick. "Additionally, I am in a unique demographic pertaining to cancer: Young adults ages 18-39, is the only age group where the mortality rate of cancer has not decreased. It is so incredibly important to me, and Team Cure, to spread awareness for young adults my age, our peers, to take an active approach to cancer prevention and screening, and to dedicate research funds to young adult cancers and support groups."

Blood cancers are the second most fatal form of cancer, second only to lung cancer. Every four minutes someone new is diagnosed with a blood cancer. New hope to find a cure for blood cancers has never been greater. Because of research funded by organizations like LLS, nearly 90% of children diagnosed with leukemia will survive today, as compared to just 53% in 1975.

With your support of a tax-deductible donation, LLS can continue funding critical research in the fight against blood cancers as well as provide outstanding patient services. For more information and to donate online (deadline: June 15th) to the Society, please visit Team Cure. Please pass this along to your friends and family - every dollar counts!

For Team Cure Updates, find us on Facebook or Twitter.

Zoe Soul On Being Vegan

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:04:00 +0000

Zoe Soul currently stars as ‘Kaci’ on Reed Between The Lines (BET) opposite Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Tracee Ellis-Ross. But behind the scenes, this 16 year old actress, dancer, and model (signed with the best, Ford Models) is all about making maintaining her healthy lifestyle a main priority. Her route along the healthy path has slightly shifted as Soul recently made the switch from vegetarian to vegan and is loving every moment of it. So much so that this PETA supporter was more than happy to share a bit about her lifestyle and give some tips to those considering being vegan as part of Young Insight. Check it out:

Turning Vegan:

I knew that I wanted to become a vegan around twelve years old. I was dancing really hard at that age so I told myself that since I still needed protein, I'd become a pescetarian, which is somebody who eats fish but no chicken, meat, only fish. I did that for a couple of years and then decided to become a vegetarian. I did that for a couple of months but I was so anxious to become a vegan so I did that kind of right away when I was fifteen. I've been a vegan for about six months now. I just don't think that it's right to eat anything that is an animal. It definitely translates into the products that I use and the things that I wear. I don't wear any fur. Even when I wasn't a vegetarian, I didn't wear anything with animal skin and use anything that was tested on animals.

Favorite Places To Eat:

I have one favorite place to eat, Cafe Sunflower in Atlanta. I love that place, it's so amazing. Out here, I just go to Whole Foods and make my own food, I love that!

Getting Support:

I live with my mom and my brother who aren't vegan or vegetarian but they are so supportive. Sometimes they'll cook separate dishes for me and them which is a lot of work and sometimes they'll eat what I like and like it. My friends are so supportive as well.

When I was on set for Reed Between the Lines, I wasn't a vegan yet but I was vegetarian. It was pretty easy to find things to eat. But when I became a vegan, it became a whole different diet plan and craft services thought it was really cool, so they bought vegan butter right away and made all of the sauces with that. They were so supportive and made separate meals. All of the people on set probably don't know that they were eating food with vegan butter. (laughs)

Health & Fitness Advice:
I would say really look into this, make sure you have a good plan. Especially if you're exercising and staying active, really do your research and talk to other vegans to collect as much knowledge as you can. Otherwise, your body will not respond correctly. I know people who became vegan and vegetarian and got sick because they weren't taking in enough protein and stuff. So really do your research.

Being healthy is a big part of my life and being vegan definitely does not mean that you are healthy at all. As a vegan, you can still eat a lot of candy and you can over-eat which is not good. Really, what stops me from things like that is knowing what is good for me and knowing what isn't. Even though I don't take in animal products, I still have cravings. You just have to look at the calories and stuff like that because it's not about "I want to be skinny," it's about, "I want to be healthy." You really have to pay attention to what you are putting into your body, vegan or not.

As for fitness, I do kickboxing but I think that anything you are doing when you are moving your body is helpful. You could walk on the beach for an hour or so and that's really helpful. As long as you're moving. I'm not big on running on the treadmill as I get antsy and bored...dance is a great way to get in shape. When you're dancing, you're having so much fun that you don't even think of it as exercise. Along with dancing, there's Zumba and yoga... anything like that is the perfect thing to do. Going into the summer, just go for it! Have fun with your friends and go to a class. The weight will come off like that because you're having fun and not even thinking about it. Look at your meal plan too. What I'm going to start doing is keep a food journal to see what I ate, even the stuff that I am not proud that I ate and I'm going to cut back. And if you can walk to the store, don't drive to the store, walk. Walk to the coffee shop. As long as you're moving.

Catch Zoe Soul on Reed Between The Lines on BET and stay tuned for news as she begins to record and put together her debut album.

Goodbye One Tree Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:23:00 +0000

One Tree Hill is one of my favorite television series ever and longtime readers know this. I balled my eyes out watching the series finale and for about two hours afterwards just thinking about the journey that the characters have been on and I have been on over nine seasons. I don't have the words right now to express what this show means to me... well, I do but I really don't want to start crying again. Especially since I just finished writing my review of the series finale over at Buzz Focus... so I encourage you to read the review and feel free to share what the finale and/or the show as a whole means to you over there or in the comments below.

Also feel free to check out my interviews with Joe Manganiello, Kate Voegele, Bevin Prince, Amy Kuney, Jackson Brundage, and Robbie Jones.

One Tree Hill lives in my heart always & forever. Thank you Mark Schwahn, cast, and crew for everything. It means more than you'll ever know.

DVD Review: Titanic The Complete Story

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Release Date: March 13, 2012 Rating: NR Running Time: Approx. 5 hrs

The “unsinkable” Titanic was a dream come true: Four city blocks long and a passenger list worth 250 million dollars. But on her maiden voyage in April 1912, that dream became a nightmare when the giant ship struck an iceberg and sank in the cold North Atlantic. More than 1,500 lives were lost in one of the greatest disasters of the 20th century. Now, as the 100th anniversary of the sinking approaches this April, the complete sensational history of the premier liner is recounted in TITANIC: THE COMPLETE STORY, now repackaged and re-priced for ultimate collectability.

Using newsreels, stills, diaries, and exclusive interviews with survivors, TITANIC: THE COMPLETE STORY charts the fateful history of the ship and its passengers as well as providing an overview on the popular culture phenomenon that this tragedy has become. The complete story is recounted across three 3 feature-length programs: DEATH OF A DREAM, which brings viewers to the christening of the largest ship ever built, before a cheering Irish crowd of 100,000; then, witness the disaster this trek becomes as numerous iceberg warnings go unheeded and the ship sinks in the icy North Atlantic; THE LEGEND LIVES ON chronicles the stunning sinking, as over-crowded lifeboats edge away from the crippled liner and futile SOS signals flare into the night, leaving 1,500 passengers to a watery grave; and, TITANIC’S ACHILLES HEEL, which follows elite divers as they explore the explosive theory that the doomed liner may have had a fatal design flaw in this doc that utilizes advanced CGI technology, archive documents and photographs, as well as footage from modern-day expeditions.

In time to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, A+E and HISTORY have released Titanic The Complete Story on DVD. Three feature length programs are included in this DVD set, two of which are programs first aired in 1994 with the final program having first aired in 2007. The difference between the first two features and the final are vastly different. The first two programs tell the history of Titanic, all the way back to the creation of the ship and people involved in supporting the building of the ship. Survivors are on hand to share what they've witnessed among other things, which is a great highlight of the first two programs. It's one thing to watch the movie, Titanic but it's another thing to put a real face to the tragedy. Still, there's an awful lot of information to soak in here and with a 1994 look (remastered what?), this is not a DVD that I would recommend watching back to back.

"Titanic's Achilles Heel" follows people of our time who are on a mission to find out why exactly Titanic was so weak. The work that these men do on their expedition is astounding, their theories all leading to the same heartbreaking result and while insight given is definitely helpful in efforts to prevent a similar disaster... we may never know exactly all of the things that could have been done differently to prevent this tragedy. Because of that, I actually surprisingly found the first two programs to be much more engaging and worth watching than the last. I'm drawn to the stories of the people, so this may not come as a very surprising note for some. No matter what draws you into the story of Titanic, you'll find this DVD to be a great resource in your research of this piece of history. I would not be shocked if any of these programs are shown in schools when the topic of Titanic comes up. Is this worth a buy? Probably not, unless you are a collector of all things Titanic and need to have this information standing by. But it's worth the watch, so be sure to check these programs out this April.

Bonus Feature:

*Timeline of Critical Events from 1867-May 1912 (Format of Text & Background Pictures, No Autoplay or Slideshow Feature

Own Titanic The Complete Story on DVD today.

DVD Review: A Lonely Place To Die

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Release Date: March 20, 2012 Rating: NR Running Time: 99 minutes

A group of mountaineers make a grim discovery in the Scottish Highlands: an eight-year-old girl trapped amid the peaks, terrified, dehydrated and unable to speak a word of English. Alison (Melissa George, Grey’s Anatomy, 30 Days of Night, Mulholland Drive), the group leader, and her fellow hikers and climbers try to take the girl to safety. But they become involved in an elaborate kidnapping plot and soon must fight for their lives as they’re pursued by both the girl’s kidnappers and a group of mercenaries hired to return the girl to her war criminal father. With danger all around them and mountainous terrain to navigate, Alison and her party are in for a grueling ordeal in order to save both the girl and themselves.

A LONELY PLACE TO DIE, which showcases heart-pounding climbs up sheer mountain faces, won Best Action Film, Best Cinematography and Most Thrilling Film at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. Writer-director Julian Gilbey’s film is “a deeply satisfying entertainment filled with energy and made with savvy and cinematic wit” (Shawn Levy, The Oregonian).

A Lonely Place To Die was not exactly what I was expecting or hoping for but it wasn't dissatisfying either. The film takes off without much tension but quickly picks up the pace as the chase begins and element of danger comes alive in full force. If you're not a fan of violence that can get a bit gory, this is not the film for you. The violence is senseless and unforgivable and the worse part is that we never do find out what the cause of the kidnapping and violence was for. It's a sad story within itself but also because it brings up one perfect example of why people are so hesitant to help those in life or death situations.

A Lonely Place To Die is wildly thrilling but the jumbled ending may not make the film worth watching for some. There was actually a point in the film when a fellow viewer and I thought that the film was ending and felt that after the film actually did end, that place would have been a much more satisfying place to conclude the story. But once you're in for the ride, even if you want to turn away, you won't be able to. The cinematography sucks you in at the very beginning and the action grips you until the very end. And even though I am always more satisfied with stories that have characters with actual depth, I found the urgency in these individuals fighting for their lives to be enough. Imagine my surprise. What's more gripping than the fight for survival? If you can handle the grittiness of this thriller and you don't mind spending the time watching this film which had a great idea but may not have exactly used its potential to the fullest in all aspects of story and character development... I am not going to recommend this film but you feel free to give A Lonely Place To Die a chance if you really feel the need to do so.

There are no Bonus Features on the DVD.

Own A Lonely Place To Die on Blu-Ray and DVD today.

Blu-ray Review: The Descendants

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:57:00 +0000

Release Date: March 13, 2012
Rating: R
Running Time: 02:42:28

From director Alexander Payne creator of the Oscar® winning Sideways comes one of the Best Pictures of the year, THE DESCENDANTS, featuring a stunning cast including Best Actor nominee George Clooney (Ides of March) and Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) in her Golden Globe nominated and Independent Spirit Award winning role. Take home this wonderfully warm and witty film and go behind the scenes of THE DESCENDANTS with all-new exclusive content on Blu-ray Disc Combo Pack and DVD March 13 from Fox Searchlight and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Based on the best-selling novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings and set in Hawaii, THE DESCENDANTS is a sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic journey for Matt King (George Clooney) an indifferent husband and father of two girls, who is forced to re-examine his past and embrace his future when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki. The event leads to a rapprochement with his young daughters while Matt wrestles with a decision to sell the family’s land handed down from Hawaiian royalty and missionaries.

Nominated for five Academy Awards® and winner for Best Adapted Screenplay, THE DESCENDANTS is a must-have on Blu-ray and DVD. The release is packed with must-see deleted scenes, behind the scenes extras and exclusive featurettes to bring you even further into the story.

The Descendants is without a doubt one of the best films of 2011. The Descendants exceeded my wildest expectations touching so many different emotions, evoking tears, overflowing laughter, anger and so much more. This story is heartbreaking and hilarious all at the same time… something that is not easy to execute but they hit the nail on this one. The twists and turns this drama takes will definitely encourage you to read the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings from which this film was adapted to get more of this craziness that ensues! As long as this film is, you’ll want more without hesitation.

Watching Matt (George Clooney) come to the realization of the reality happening around him, making his latest decision to sell the land of his descendants a much more difficult decision was actually much more entertaining than it sounds. This is not a drama about family fighting over land. While there is a hint of that at the very beginning and end of the film, this story is not about that. Infidelity has found its way into a much bigger hole than anyone could have imagined. Turning a story of infidelity on its head like this and involving not just an entire family but a people’s history and sacred land, that’s a story worth watching.

Matt’s reaction to his ailing wife’s affair, leading him to scope out the home wrecker with his oldest daughter brought some great laughs. Shailene Woodley shined brighter than I’ve ever seen her shine in this film and really gave us a character here to at first be very frustrated with but then come to love, root for, and rely on for comedic relief. Never knowing what to expect from this character made each and every scene with her a moment worth anticipating. And who would have guessed that her boyfriend was noting at all like Haley’s on Modern Family? What beautiful characters have been crafted here! Who else would love to follow them forever? Every actor has their moment to shine and every character has their moment to be, Too often, the truth is glossed over but these characters are honest, brutally honest… sometimes uncomfortably honest. And that honesty translates so beautifully into all other aspects of the film. Once the wall comes tumbling down, it is down and what a wild journey it is moving forward. Director, Alexander Payne captures the heart of these characters, the setting, and everything in between perfectly. Everything about this film is truly brilliant. It’s not wonder this film was showered with award recognition. I can say with certainty that this is one film I can and will watch over and over again and never grow tired of.

Bonus Features:
Deleted Scenes - The two deleted scenes on the Blu-ray come with introductions by the director, Alexander Payne... but not video introductions. These are notes that you must read prior to the scene being shown. If you're a slow reader, you do not need to keep the remote in your hand to press pause because you are given enough time to read the paragraph shown. As far as I can tell, there is no option to view the deleted scenes without the introductions but it is a nice touch and there are only two deleted scenes rather than say a dozen so the introductions don't get tiring. Readers may be disappointed to find only two deleted scenes while those who haven't read the book may be encouraged more to do so.

Everybody Loves George (7:27 minutes) - This feature is for all of you George Clooney lovers. What's a bonus feature set on a George Clooney movie with a featurette dedicated to praising this professional, goofball, and all around joy to be around man?

Appearing in this Feature:
Cast Members, Nick Krause, Shailene Woodley, Judy Greer, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel, Matthew Lillard, Amara Miller
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager, George Parra
Director of Photography, Phedon Papamichael
First AD, Richard Fox
Author, Kaui Hart Hemmings

Working with Alexander (13:34 minutes) - What's marvelous about this piece is that while various members of the cast and crew do talk about what it is like to work with Payne, Payne himself takes the time to introduce his co-workers and give them credit for their work. Not often do we see that. Perhaps the most charming of this featurette is watching Payne make breakfast. You'll see when you watch the feature.

Appearing in this Feature:
Producer/Director/Writer, Alexander Payne
Cast Members, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Mary Birdsong, Matthew Lillard, Rob Huebel, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Judy Greer, Matt Corboy, Todd Bradley
Producers, Jim Burke, Jim Taylor
Author, Kaui Hart Hemmings
Director of Photography, Phedon Papamichael

The Real Descendants (12:06 minutes) - President of Kualoa Ranch, John Morgan gives us a history of the land, including how this land has impacted Hollywood. Patsy Sheehan, a descendant who's great, great grandparents, Abner & Lucy Wilcox came to Hawaii in 1837 also has plenty to add but really this is just a peak into the history that I would love to dive into one day. This is definitely worth the watch but should be just the beginning of what you search for in your pursuit to learn more about Hawaii.

Hawaiian Style (16:47 minutes) - The title of this feature may be misleading. I was looking forward to a feature about fashion but instead was given a feature about the culture and incorporating that in everything from the set design to the language in the dialogue. There's a lot to learn, love, and appreciate here. What a fun film this was to work on, clearly. The spirit of Hawaii is so strong in this feature. It's so lovely. Must watch!

Appearing in this Feature:
Hawaiian priest, Kahu Kordell Kekoa
Producer/Director/Writer, Alexander Payne
Associate Producer/Second Unit Direcor, Tracy Boyd
Production Designer, Jane Stewart
Cast Members, Judy Greer, Robert Forster, Beau Bridges, Shailene Woodley, Nick Krause, Amara Miller, Paul Merino, Matt Corboy, Matthew Lillard, Chad Kaheowa'anuiponili'ihoapa'inohohupa
Producers, Jim Taylor, Jim Burke
Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager, George Parra
Director of Photography, Phedon Papamichael
Author, Kaui Hart Hemmings

Casting (8:11 minutes) - Finding out how the cast came together for this film was actually much more intriguing than you'd think. Amara Miller's story in particular was pretty wild and hearing the message that director, Alexander Payne left to Rob Huebel was very cool. It's rare for moments like that to be shared and it's different to hear about something and have something tangible so that was a treat. Watch and enjoy!

Also Appearing in this Feature:
Producer/Director/Writer, Alexander Payne
Author, Kaui Hart Hemmings
Producer, Jim Burke
Cast Members, Matthew Lillard, Mary Birdsong, Patricia Hastie

Working with Water (10:58 minutes) - Ever wonder what it's like to film in the ocean? Well, it's no breeze. As mentioned in the feature, what the crew wants and what mother nature wants and does are two different things. This is a fascinating feature that's really eye opening as so many don't realize all that is involved in water/under water shoots. You'll have an even greater appreciation for the water scenes after this.

Appearing in this Feature:
Stunt Coordinator, Brian L. Keulana
Hawaiin Water Patrol, Todd Bradley, Paul Merino, Sparky Kane, Kimo Miranda, Terry Ahue
Associate Producer/Second Unit Director, Tracy Boyd
Underwater Cinematographer, Don King
Assistant to Don King, Jai Mansson
Cast Member, Laird Hamilton, Amara Miller

Waiting for the Light (2:52 minutes) - The things you never think about...waiting for natural sunlight to complete a scene. While I don't think we needed a featurette for this alone, it is a fun (though exhausting at the time) piece of film making.

A Conversation with George Clooney and Alexander Payne (11:58 minutes) - This conversation was especially entertaining for a few reasons. Just the other day, I had been conversing with someone about how many actors do not get enough credit for how smart they are, one example being their wide vocabulary. They learn new words everyday and for Clooney to bring up one word in particular that he'll never forget, it was pretty entertaining to hear and see after having that conversation. Also, because this is a one on one with Clooney and Payne, the director rather than say a press conference, it's so much more intimate and the questions have more depth. While a short piece, there's plenty to take away from here.

*The World Parade – Hawaii (Silent Film)

*Music Videos:
“Will I Ever See You Again”
"Postcards from Paradise"
"Honolulu’s Whisper"

Own The Descendants on Blu-Ray and DVD today.

Happy Endings Webisode 5 is Directed By Casey Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:28:00 +0000

If you're not watching Happy Endings, you are missing out on one of the most hysterical comedies on television today. The webisodes give a bit of a taste of what you're missing and the latest one is directed by Casey Wilson who plays Penny on the show. Check it out:

Also be sure to check out Webisode 4, directed by Elisha Cuthbert here.

Watch the Season 2 Finale of Happy Endings tomorrow night at 9:30/8:30c only on ABC.

The Cast of Glee Will Appear on Inside the Actor's Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Ryan Murphy and the cast of Glee will appear on Season 18 of Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio this Monday night at 8/7c, just one day before the much-anticipated return of Glee on Fox.

Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith will join Murphy and host, James Lipton in what I hope will be an hour of television that covers ground us Gleeks haven't already heard before. Lipton is great at achieving this with everyone he interviews but the promos above have me worried that I've heard it all before, so I will definitely tune in... but I am going in a bit skeptical about what new ground will be covered here. Will you be tuning in?

Talking To Morgan Spurlock & Holly Conrad of COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FAN’S HOPE

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:43:00 +0000

Release Date: April 5, 2012 (Select Theaters April 6, 2012 (VOD)
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour 34 minutes

Have you ever imagined a place where Vulcans and vampires get along? Where wizards and wookies can be themselves? Welcome to Comic-Con San Diego. What started as a fringe comic book convention for 500 fans has grown into the pop culture event of the year that influences every form of entertainment, now attended by over 140,000 strong.

COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FAN’S HOPE- a film by Morgan Spurlock explores this amazing cultural phenomenon by following the lives of five attendees as they descend upon the ultimate geek mecca at San Diego Comic-Con 2010:

Eric, an aspiring illustrator, is hoping to impress publishers and land a job;
Holly, costume and creature designer, hopes her creations will win the big prize; Chuck, a long-time comic book dealer, is looking for a big sale to pay off his debts; Skip, longtime amateur illustrator wants to be discovered at this year’s event; James, a young fan, hopes his girlfriend will accept a dramatic proposal. One on one interviews with Comic-Con veterans who have turned their passions into professions include Stan Lee, Joss Whedon, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Matt Groening, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth and others are shared throughout the film along with up close and up front coverage of all the panels, parades, photos, costumes, crowds and camaraderie that make up one of the largest fan gatherings in the U.S.

Presented by Stan Lee and Joss Whedon, COMIC-CON EPISODE IV: A FAN’S HOPE is directed by Morgan Spurlock; produced by Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, Matthew Galkin, Harry Knowles and Thomas Tull; and written by Spurlock and Chilnick.

"When people say the geeks have inherited the earth, I tend to say 'Stop calling me a geek...and how much of the earth do I get?" - Joss Whedon

Ever since it was announced that a Comic-Con documentary would indeed (and finally) be made, I have been counting down until the moment I would be able to see it. Now that I have seen it, I can tell you that my fellow Comic Con annual attendees will be very pleased with what Morgan Spurlock, Stan Lee, Joss Whedon, and their crew have put together from the 2010 San Diego Comic Con. Having sat in Hall H essentially all day the day that James Darling proposed to his girlfriend, it was especially exciting to see what led up to that moment. And having been so fascinated by Masquerade, it was such a delight to finally dive inside this world by following Holly Conrad who has such a bright future ahead of her in costume design.

"When a woman tells you to grow up that's God's way of telling you to get a new woman. Especially if she says to get rid of your comics. That's a load of crap. There's 3 billion women on the planet and not a lot of great comics so it's an easy choice." - Chuck Rozanski

Who I connected to the most however were the two artists the doc follows as they try to break into the comic book industry. My dad was that person once. And I later remember as a child, going to cons up and down the East Coast with my father, as well as sitting by his side in Artist Alley. It wasn't until 2005 when I went to San Diego Comic Con for the first time since 97/98 that I even realized there was more to the con then Artist Alley and the exhibit floor. There's a whole world to discover... well, worlds really and Morgan Spurlock did a great job capturing that fact, that every attendee's comic con experience is a unique one.

"If I go back in time and tell the 11 year old me 'One day not only do you go to Comic Con, you go to Comic Con every year, so much so that you get greeted by Stan Lee when you show up.' And the 11 year old me would be like, 'How did we get so fat?" - Kevin Smith

We don't just follow a handful of attendees here. Footage from the first convention in 1970 opens up the documentary and sets the tone beautifully to what we're about to see. It also must be pointed out that the music throughout the documentary is epic. But aside from the geeks we are introduced to, the geeks we've known for years (Eli Roth, Frank Miller, Seth Rogen, Seth Green, Guillermo del Toro, Kevin Smith, Robert Kirkman, etc...) are interviewed as they share what Comic Con means to them. What took me aback was the lack of Morgan Spurlock's presence in front of the camera. For those who follow Morgan Spurlock, you'll be disappointed to see that Spurlcok stays behind the camera... but you'll find yourself not as bummed as you thought in the end because it works. This is a story about the people of Comic Con, it's not an experiment. While a different undertaking, Spurlock does this experience justice. Everybody has a goal when they go to Comic Con. Whether it's to be in the first row of a panel, get an autograph, get a collectible, scare the crap out of people during the zombie walk, break into the industry, etc... and while I would not have minded an extra 20 minutes or so to get to see more pieces of the con acknowledged, we've got the DVD full of bonus footage to anticipate. Here to talk about the DVD and more about this love letter to the fans is director, Morgan Spurlock:

Biggest Challenge Shooting at San Diego Comic Con:
Morgan Spurlock: I think the biggest challenge for us was making sure we covered as much of the con as we could. So much happens over the 4-5 days, there's a lot to take in. We had a massive crew of about 150 people, 15 full time camera men, 10 producers that at any given moment could also start shooting a B camera. Then it was just about putting together a schedule where we bounced around to capture as much as what we consider to be the true essence of Comic Con as we could.

On Casting:
Morgan Spurlock: We put out a casting call through comic book shops, Comic-Con newsletters, Ain't It Cool News, and we got bombarded with about 2,000 submissions in total. Holly Conrad was one of the first people that we agreed to put in the movie. We (Joss Whedon and Stan Lee) all thought that she best represented a fan who let their passion drive their desire to find a place in this business. She represents a real heart and soul of what comic con is. Somebody like Holly who's going there to compete in the masquerade, it's her calling card to Hollywood and if I doesn't make it this time, I don't know what I'm going to do... that's a great story. Skip Harvey and Eric Henson who are going there to show their portfolios to break into the industry for the first time, those are great stories. James Darling and Se Young Kang who fell in love because of comic con, they are real stories that represent the heart of what it means to be a geek. It's not just having a passion for collecting. The biggest goal for me was to make sure we found characters that humanized the experience.

On the Lost Footage:
Morgan Spurlock: There's people we talked to on Artist Alley, there are extended interviews with the people that we talked to on sight... we shot 650 hours and dwindled that down to the DVD that is going to be released. We'll probably release an extended version on Blu-ray and DVD around Comic Con, at least that is the hope. We interviewed 74 people on sight and people said such wonderful things about being a fan, what Comic-Con means, and growing up in this world where being a geek is normal and accepted. We have plenty of footage that we hope to release soon.

The Hollywood Controversy:
Morgan Spurlock: There is so much press about how Hollywood has ruined Comic-Con and taken over Comic-Con. They haven't taken over Comic-Con. Anybody who's been knows that this is just not true. There's 6,000 people in Hall H but there are still 144,000 that aren't even in there. I think they dominate the media and the press, especially when Angelina Jolie who is one of the biggest stars in the world, comes. That's a much "better" story than Holly Conrad Makes Her Costume & Makes a Contest. What we're trying to do is tell the real story.

Is there anything that still surprises you about Comic Con?
Morgan Spurlock: I never thought of Comic Con as a job fair. The fact that people go there to show their creative talents in the hopes of breaking in, I was blown away by that. I never thought of it as a place to get your foot in the door.
Holly Conrad: When I first started going to Comic Con about eight years ago, I immediately thought that this was an opportunity because that was where the people that did what we wanted to do were going to show off their professional films and props. I remember going there and hoping I would run into people and I did. It was just a natural occurrence to try and get their attention in any way that I could. Even after the Comic Con shown in the film, it was still up in the air. I ended up moving to Los Angeles which is much more awesome. I get freelance jobs and do other things. It's off and on but it is steadily more awesome.

Is there time to sit back and relax at the con with all of the preparation for Masquerade?
Holly Conrad: What's really funny about that is that I have been to quite a few panels but what I really look forward to is wearing costumes on the floor. I think that's the part that I love about the con most because you meet people in costume and it's such a social adventure. It really is the most relaxing and most fun for me.

What are you looking forward to most at this year's Comic Con?
Holly Conrad: I'm definitely excited for the release of the film and seeing how everyone reacts to it. I've been waiting for the past two years so I am really excited for everyone to enjoy it as much as I have.
Morgan Spurlock: We are working on some screenings for the film. In a perfect world, we'd get to screen the film in Hall H which would be the greatest thing... to show this movie of fans, by fans, for fans in Hall H and then bring out the cast afterwards on that stage would be an epic moment. So I'm hoping to pull that off.

What would you say are your biggest pet peeves about Comic Con and your greatest memory?
Morgan Spurlock: My biggest pet peeve, there's got to be a better way to get some better food. I look at LA and there are all of these great food trucks all around town and there's really no way to get better food around town? (laughs) And make it a little cheaper. As for my greatest moment, in 2009 I met Stan Lee and that meeting is what led to making this film.
Holly Conrad: There are a few pet peeves... there are so many people there that it is just a madhouse. Trying to get a hotel room is probably one of the worst nightmares ever. My first experience at Comic Con, I got to see some of the props from Hellboy and other movies that I was a fan of. It was cool experience.

Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope hits select theaters April 5, 2012 and comes to Video On Demand April 6, 2012.

For my San Diego Comic Con Tips Guide, click here.

Blu-ray Review: Owl City Live From Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:30:00 +0000

Release Date: February 7th, 2012
Rating: NR
Run Time: Approx. 209 minutes

Owl City is one of the most creative artists of our time and you can figure that out never even knowing who he is and only hearing one song, any song. You can imagine our anticipation seeing just how he would translate his solo music, recorded alone on the computer in the basement to the stage with a band but he did it and he did it very well.

Filmed on July 21, 2011 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, CA, Owl City Live From Los Angeles is a must have for Owl City fans. Owl City is so pure and so complex... just magic. To see that come alive on stage, there's nothing like it.

After seeing this, I must go see Owl City live now. An Owl City concert wasn't necessarily a priority before specifically because I was concerned about how his work would fit on the stage. But I am satisfied with what I've seen and just want to soak myself up in his music live just as I do when I'm listening on my own. Hearing this young man's music is one thing but seeing his vision come to life, as Adam Young said during the concert, "I can't even begin to describe how humbled I am to be with you this evening." This really is a beautiful moment and I want everyone to make it their mission to go to an Owl City concert before they die.

Track Listing:
1) The Real World
2) Cave In
3) Hello Seattle
4) Angels
5) Swimming In Miami
6) Umbrella Beach
7) I’ll Meet You There
8) Plant Life
9) Setting Sail
10) The Bird And The Worm
11) Lonely Lullaby
12) Fireflies
13) Dreams Don’t Turn To Dust
14) Kamikaze
15) Meteor Shower
16) Galaxies
17) Alligator Sky
18) Deer In The Headlights
19) Yacht Club
20) How I Became The Sea
21) If My Heart Was A House

Bonus Features:

Extended Interview - On the Blu-ray, viewers have the options to watch the concert as is, watch the concert with an Adam Young interview intertwined, and watch an extended version of the interview on its own. The extended interview is not much longer and does not even begin as an interview but instead a behind the scenes look at putting together the performance for "Fireflies." Even if you do watch the concert with the interview intertwined, I recommend watching the extended interview because there is plenty of insight even within the few minutes added here. Don't skip out on watching this!

Own Owl City – Live from Los Angeles on Blu-ray & DVD today.

Blu-ray Review: The Killing The Complete First Season

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Release Date: March 13, 2012
Rating: NR
Running Time: Approximately 587 minutes

Season 1 of AMC’s critically acclaimed new show “THE KILLING” comes to Blu-ray and DVD on March 13 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. With exclusive Blu-ray and DVD features, including an extended season finale, loyal fans and new viewers alike will dive deeper into the captivating mystery and complex characters that garnered the freshman series six Primetime Emmy® nominations and one Golden Globe® nomination. Catch up on the show that everyone will be talking about when “The Killing” returns to AMC for season two this Spring.

From writer, executive producer and series showrunner Veena Sud (“Cold Case”) “The Killing” ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.

“The Killing” stars Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominated Mireille Enos (“Big Love)” as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective that investigates the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell (“Once and Again”) as Darren Richmond, Seattle's City Council President and now running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (“Snabba Cash”) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie's killer; Emmy® nominated Michelle Forbes (“True Blood”) as Rosie's mother, Mitch Larsen; and Brent Sexton (“W.”, “In the Valley of Elah”) as Rosie's father, Stan Larsen. The pilot was directed by Patty Jenkins (“Monster”).

The Killing is one of the most gripping crime dramas on television today and one of my favorite series period. I highly recommend everyone watch as soon as they can. Never before have I seen a series take on a case this way... one case, just one case and in a way in that it's not just about the case, it's about the people of this city. We're not just trying to find out how Rosie's last night played out but who killed Rosie and everyone's part in Rosie's life leading up to that fateful night. Following her family, the local politicians, and the detectives on her case... these characters have depth and that's really why I love AMC. Their shows have real people and they aren't afraid to explore and show us their journeys, their faults, their souls. It's so genuine. Rosie Larson's murder is not given to us as entertainment on a platter. Murder brings a heavy heart and heartache...and not particularly in that order but this series is not afraid to show how one murder affects so many. It's not something to be taken lightly, or mull over in one full swoop.

There's no rush! Solving a murder case takes time. At first, the pacing catches you off guard, especially since the tone of the show is so dreary in its own right, in a nonstop rainy Seattle. But once you settle in it by the beginning of episode two, you can kick back your heels and really relax in the show. Now that you know about the pace, you won't be disappointed to learn that we do not find out who the killer is at the end of the season. But what kind of show would it be had that happened anyway? Where's the longevity? I could honestly go another season or two before finding out who the killer is at the rate that season one went (time span of two weeks) and still be completely at ease where the show is going. Now that thinking is probably not representing the majority, but I am okay with the formula here. You think you have it figured out and then the writers throw crazy twists and turns into the mix, leaving you right back at square one.

The Killing goes far beyond a "Who Done It?" and they do it darn good. With season two nearing and plenty of television already on my plate, I was on the fence about continuing to follow the series but I promise you that you will be addicted to this series whether you want to be or not when that finale guts you. And I can't end without praising the cast who do a phenomenal job. I was truly rooting for each and every character. And then that curve ball was thrown and now I am lost. I love that mystery. Sneaky. Frustratingly brilliant. What an incredible series AMC has presented us. Let's hope this show goes nowhere anytime soon.

Bonus Features:
* Gag Reel

An Autopsy of The Killing (Approximately 17 minutes) - This featurette provides great insight into the world of The Killing, from the brief talk of casting and character studies as well as the relationship between Sarah and Holder to making this series respect the original Danish series while standing on its own and also respecting the people who have experienced the pain on this show in real life. What is so gripping about this series is that the storytelling is so authentic, so for Veena Sud to bring this up and acknowledge how much of a factor this was in bringing this story to life was very reassuring for the seasons to come. There is not an awful lot to take away here, so I'd recommend watching the commentaries for a more in depth analysis of this story and the characters, more specifically for the Pilot episode. The real "Autopsy" is there.

Appearing in this Feature:
Showrunner/Executive Producer, Veena Sud
Executive Producer, Mikkel Bondsen
Producer, Kristen Campo
Co-Executive Producers/Writers, Nicole Yorkin, Dawn Prestwich
Cast Members, Katie Findlay, Joel Kinnaman, Mireille Enos, Billy Campbell, Eric Ladin, Kristin Lehman, Michelle Forbes

Deleted Scenes - There are about two dozen deleted scenes here to watch, the most moving I think coming from the Larson family. There is one scene in particular where Mitch is sitting at the kitchen table appearing to have cut herself intentionally on her wrist that I found to be especially moving. I wonder why it didn't make the cut. Mitch preparing for the funeral in another season also almost brings me to tears. Michelle Forbes is phenomenal in this role. But aside from a small handful of scenes, there's nothing to see here.

Extended Season Finale - As I did not watch the season finale live, I decided to go straight for the extended cut on the DVD rather than the aired version since I was already so engrossed in this world and wanted as much as possible of it right then and there. I still do not know what the aired version is like, in fact, I cannot imagine what was cut from the extended edition. I love it so much! Please let there be an extended season finale on every season's DVD.

Commentary - The commentary on the Pilot is conducted by Creator/Executive Producer/Writer, Veena Sud. Typically, commentaries conducted by one person are not my favorite thing. The monotony of it all really takes the excitement out of following an episode in what is supposed to be a very enthralling journey. The perfect commentary has multiple people including both cast and crew members, not one or the other and has an even balance of technical notes as well as fun memories from off and on set. Sud does her best keeping the viewers hooked with both technical notes (i.e. story and production notes, the original Danish series and this series, etc...) and fun memories behind the scenes. As a big fan of characters myself, Sud pointing out how much this series is a character study was very important to me. Diving into what is so fascinating about all of these characters is what really reeled me into the series in the first place. Everybody has faults, secrets to keep, lies to tell, and a path to take or veer off from and watching them make those decisions... it's what makes the story. So once Sud really begins to touch on the characters that's when I really got sucked into this commentary. While it starts off as a less than thrilling commentary, in the end, this is definitely worth watching.

The commentary on the season finale extended cut, Orpheus Descending is conducted by Actress, Mireille Enos and Writer, Nicole Yorkin. Because of reasons stated above, right away, I knew that this would be my favorite commentary of the two. This is also my favorite episode of the season, so there's that. But commentary is really about your style preference within, so I can't really recommend one over the other if your style preference is different from mine. But there's nothing like getting the perspective from an actor and a writer together on the work that they helped bring to life. The talk of the pacing of this series was appreciated because as mentioned, it is something that really appeals to people, especially since we're not used to it here in America. The entire first season takes place over two weeks. And I thought that the pacing for The Walking Dead was slow. Slow as it may be, it's gripping and that's not as easy a task to complete as one may think, perfecting the pace. There's so much to learn and discover from this commentary whether it be about Mireille Enos's wardrobe or the fact that she was five months pregnant when the Pilot episode was shot. All of this said, come season two, there definitely needs to be a mix of female and male cast and crew members participating in the commentary. Make it a party!

Own The Killing on Blu-Ray and DVD today. Watch The 2 hour season 2 premiere of The Killing Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8/7c on AMC.

Blu-ray Review: The Town Ultimate Collector’s Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:55:00 +0000

Release Date: March 6, 2012
Rating: R
Running Time: Theatrical 125 Minutes, Extended 150 Minutes, Extended with Alternate Ending 153 minutes

Ben Affleck follows his acclaimed Gone Baby Gone directorial debut by directing, co-writing and starring in a taut thriller about robbers and cops, friendship and betrayal, love and hope and escaping a past that has no future. He plays Doug MacRay, leader of a Boston bank robber gang but not cut from the same cloth as his fellow thieves. When Doug falls into a passionate romance with the bank manager (Rebecca Hall) briefly taken hostage in their last heist, he wants out of this life and out of the town. As the Feds close in and the crew questions his loyalty, he has one of two choices: betray his friends or lose the woman he loves. Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite and Chris Cooper also star.

Ben Affleck is one of the most honest story tellers in Hollywood today and that translates beautifully on film. For someone who's not all that interested in crime dramas, The Town sure took me on a ride! the cast for one is brilliant. Those not from the area clearly soaked up all that they could in their research and are truly able to bring us into this world and feel for them, the good guys and the bad guys. These characters are troubled, so troubled that there's no room for hope for some of them. They're going to be stuck in that same predicament for the rest of their lives, out of habit, out of mindset, out of so many things. No matter how much money is stolen or "earned" the less than honorable way, their lives are still broken.

Doug finds love, discovers meaning for his life but is it too late? Going on that journey, it's a journey worth taking for sure. And the writing as well as directing were superb. You can feel every heart ache, every pain, every single emotion in every word and action. Not often do films like these come along where every moment is just as moving as the next. These are real people with real problems shown the real way and we have Affleck to thank for that. Imagine that! Well, Gone Baby Gone is one of my favorite films period, so I wasn't all that surprised to see Affleck do it again here.

The Town Ultimate Collector’s Edition includes 3 discs, two Blu-ray and one DVD. Blu-ray Disc 1 includes the extended cut with the alternate ending, commentary, and the special feature, "The Town" A Director's Journey." Blu-ray Disc 2 included the original theatrical version and extended cut, commentary, and the special feature, "Ben's Boston." The DVD includes the extended cut with the alternate ending. I would recommend watching Blu-ray Disc 2 first and then Disc 3 in regards to the film but reverse for the special features as there is a much better flow on Disc 1 than 2. For more on that, keep reading...

Special Features:

Extended Cut with Alternate Ending - You haven't seen an alternate ending until you've seen this one. What a wildly different take than the theatrical release! Death upon one of the main characters that you would least expect. Wow. While I prefer the ending from the theatrical release (even though I do have my issues with it), the extended version of the film, is truly phenomenal. As Affleck points out in the commentary and is clear once you watch, there are certain points that do not flow with how he wanted a certain character to be perceived, but that we get the chance to see so much more of these characters... thank you Affleck. As if the characters didn't have enough depth, Affleck gives us more to take in. Every moment of the extended cut will undoubtedly impact how you appreciate the theatrical cut. What a difference an extra 25-30 minutes makes! It truly does not feel like that much longer. It flows and it flows well. There's a reason that this version is Affleck's proudest version. If you enjoyed The Town, you will definitely love the extended cut. If you felt that you needed more from the film, this is it so don't miss it!

The Town: A Director's Journey (30 minutes) - As a larger fan of Ben Affleck the director vs. Ben Affleck the director, as so many are, it was very important to include such a feature to get inside this movie star's head who is at heart a story teller. Affleck dissects The Town in great detail and at such a perfect pace, it makes for a fun "documentary" and really is the ultimate behind the scenes analysis for the film. Affleck talks about everything you can imagine and the research that he did for this film sits front and center. Ben Affleck takes the business of making films seriously and personally and that is what makes his films so incredible. While my favorite work of his is Gone Baby Gone, this in depth featurette will definitely give you another level of appreciation for The Town.

Ben's Boston - Actor/Director/Writer, Ben Affleck takes us on the moviemaking process along with the cast and crew (including FBI consultants and more) as you watch the film. So you watch the film and throughout there are moments when you are prompted to press "Enter" for a brief featurette. For those disappointed with Affleck being the only person participating in the commentary for the film, this is a great substitute. But for hardcore fans, watch this and the commentary.

Commentary - The commentary is conducted by Actor/Director/Writer, Ben Affleck and Affleck alone. If you find Affleck's deadpan voice to bore you, please, don't be so quick to skip this commentary because you will be able to move past that for one of the best commentaries of the year. Affleck has plenty to share. It's clear that he put his heart and soul into this film and all of the details come out here in the commentary. I recommend that you watch the extended cut first without the commentary and then again with the commentary as there is rarely a moment that Affleck is quiet and you really want to hear the dialogue first before diving in as deep as Affleck does with his character analyses. The Town is a kind of movie that Affleck could talk about and dissect all day long, but the commentary is what we get and that will suffice. What an incredibly extensive look into The Town. Brilliant work on the film and the commentary, Affleck. Brilliant work.

Bonus Collectibles:
* 48 Page Photo Book (This is a wonderful resource for all things behind the scenes photos and production/filmmaker notes. While not extensive, the information here is worth reading as you'll find out about the cast, the chase, the training and more!)
* Director's Letter (Must Read!)
* Film Prop Reproductions: 15 Page FBI Report (Fascinating Addition to Collector' Edition), 4 Mug Shot Cards, Vericom Emloyee File, Rub-On Tattoo Sheet
* Poster Size Map of Charleston with Notes on Scenes from the Film (For everyone who doesn't undertsnad just how grounded in reality the world of The Town is... this is magnificent! Must Read!)

Own The Town Ultimate Collector’s Edition on Blu-Ray and DVD today.

THE 2nd Annual GLEE OFF AT RV

noreply@blogger.com (Melody Simpson) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 21:31:00 +0000

I had such a great time at last year's RVRHS Glee Off that I made it a point to return for the second year!

Imagine my surprise when I found out that the Glee Off would be changing auditoriums for the event! The second auditorium behind the school called "The PAC" is significantly larger and more updated when it comes to the sound and engineering department than the school's first auditorium within the school. Needless to say, I was disappointed when the audience was directed to the first auditorium. Why the switch? I'll never know. I do know that next year, the Glee Off had better return to the PAC because the sound problems this year were torturous.

Sound aside, four teams went head to head to win the second annual Glee Off, including two groups from last year, Dukes of Harmony and No Signal. I fell in love with the doo-wop group, Dukes of Harmony last year and had high hopes for them this year. My oh my what a year makes! These guys have matured so much, are tighter than ever in harmonies, and earned the big win this week easily. Congratulations to you boys! This quartet not only sang well but performed and that's something two of the other groups lacked big time. They brought comedy, personality, and their own fun rendition to "Blue Moon." They have character and know what it takes to win over an audience. You could tell that while the group had a goal to win, they were having so much fun in every single moment on that stage.

Also having quite a ball on stage were the members of No Signal who may have actually shocked the audience a bit with their booty shaking at what was supposed to be a family friendly event. Someone's been watching too much Glee. The group sang Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" and had the crowd engaged in every moment for both good and bad reasons. I think this year they may have zeroed in more on a shock factor rather than really creating their own interpretation of the song like they did last year with "Telephone." Plainly put, last year's performance was much better. It also must be pointed out that the best vocals in this group were provided by David Lopez.

New to the Glee Off were Chasing Trees and Changing Reflections. Chasing Trees was composed of four artists, one of which was female, Emily Cope who harmonizes beautifully. This group performed an original number which would have been beautiful had the sound problems not ruined the performance and one of the kids in the group kept his mouth shut. This kid, who was a Perez Hilton doppelganger while singing was grinning from ear to ear, like he knew he couldn't sing. It was hysterical and added onto the hot mess that was already created with the sound issues. What a hoot.

Changing Reflections had nine members in their group, eight of which were female. The male on the guitar had no rhythm and rhythm is something that is very much needed, especially when singing, "Landslide." Poor girls. The girls harmonized well but it would have been so much better had they not been distracted by this rhythm-less guitar player. Had the performance been acapella, it would have been my second favorite of the night.

As the votes were being tallied for the winner (again, congrats Dukes of Harmony!), the RV Chamber Choir performed three numbers, one of which included their own rendition of Katy Perry's "Firework" which dare I say was even more entertaining than the Glee version! And I love the Glee version. An encore performance of "Java Jive," you know, that "I love coffee, I love tea" song was presented. It looks like this could be the annual song at the Glee Off and that's alright with me! The band, Final Warning also returned to the Glee Off to see us out and what a great job they did! All in all, it was a great celebration of music and sound problems aside, that's what matters the most! I had a great time gathering with those who share this similar interest with me and will gladly go again next year. See you there!

*P.S. To those who attend RV, please stop calling the PAC "the PAC Center." You know who you are. PAC stands for Performing Arts Center so you're really saying "The Performing Arts Center Center" and you sound like a fool. That is all.