IAE Magazine

I Am Entertainment Magazine Covers Iconic Artist Peter Furler

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:06:17 -0500

The journey from the "land down under" to the top of the charts in the "land of the free" was no walk in the park for GRAMMY nominee and 5x Dove Award winner, Peter Furler.

The Australia born singer/songwriter/musician/record executive was raised in a Christian household and stayed true to his roots, going on to write/co-write 25 #1 hits in the CCM genre.

Here, Peter took time out to share how artists can be successful without compromising their integrity, and to discuss his latest album release on Sparrow Records titled, "on fire."

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what influenced you to pursue a career in music?
PF: I was born in a place called Adelaide, which is located in Australia and I was raised as a pastor’s kid. When I was about 10 my parents got me my first drum kit. We’d have the 10am service and then after that I would stay in the church all day just practicing in drums. My parents would come back to begin the 6pm service and I was still there playing drums. I had a love for music mainly because of the radio and when I was about 14 years old I met, George Perdikis, and he was a really great guitar player. He was instrumental in me getting into pursuing a music career.

Afterward, I formed the group called the Newsboys and was with them for 20 years. Some of the guys in that group left because they had ideas and illusions of grandeur and they thought there was going to be private jets and playing for sold out arenas. Eventually, it did become that, but it took about 20 years. [laughs] In the meantime, it was traveling around in a van with no air conditioning, no heating, not getting paid for gigs. I remember going out of the back of Burger King trying to find food out of the dumpster. You have to be in this for the right reasons or you’ll end up chasing some fantasy; and if that doesn’t appear you’ll give up or be disheartened.

Exclusive Interview: Person of Interest Screenwriter David Slack

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:21:06 -0500

David Slack  (Person of Interest, Teen Titans) interviews with I Am Entertainment Magazine.  David gives screenwriters tips on how to make it in the business and what a typical day is like for a television writer.

IAE:         Please tell us where you’re from and what influenced you to pursue a career in screenwriting?
DS:         I’m from Dallas [TX]. Initially, I started out as an actor and got a degree in Theatre from Southern Methodist University. I did a little writing in college but didn’t really get serious about it until after I graduated and some friends and I were trying to make an indie film. Along the way, I discovered that we don’t just do what we’re good at we do what we can stand. [laughs] I can be in a room for 12 to 16 hours straight, by myself, messing around with the way a couple of lines of dialogue go; something most people couldn’t stand doing. I realized that having that kind of control over the story was really important to me. Plus, it’s the cheapest art form. A couple of dollars can get you a pen and paper and nobody can stop you. So writing became my focus and my identity; I love what I do enormously. Even on my worst day as a writer I still enjoy what I do.

IAE:         What made you decide to take off the acting hat and pursue a screenwriting career?
DS:         For me it was a pretty organic transition and it had everything to do with where I was seeing results and success. When I was 22 (years old), I took a long hard look in the mirror and realized that I was not Brad Pitt. Now that I’ve been writing for a while, I couldn’t see myself doing what actors do. They’re incredibly patient. Actors sometimes wait 5 hours for everybody else to get everything right; from lighting to make-up and wardrobe. Then you get to work for ten minutes before someone interrupts you. I don’t have that kind of patience.

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Exclusive Interview: ABC's Body of Proof Screenwriter Corey Miller

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:15:31 -0500

As one of the creative minds behind some of our favorite television crime series, Corey Miller has proven his consistency and passion for entertaining us all. From hit shows like "CSI: Miami," to the new ABC hit series "Body of Proof," this television writer/producer is not only talented, he’s polite and fun.

Here, Corey shares some very valuable tips and insight from the desk of a television producer/writer who has been in the trenches and knows what it takes to make it as a writer in Hollywood.

IAE:         Please tell us where you’re from and what influenced you to pursue a career in screenwriting?
CM:         I’m from the Los Angeles area, but didn’t have any family members in the movie business. From a young age I was really fascinated with how movies and TV shows were made, and my parents fostered my interest. When I was a kid my dad would take me out to Hollywood to TV show tapings, and drive me around to show me the studios, and that really excited me. I didn’t really know that I wanted to be a writer at that point, but I knew that I wanted to be involved in the entertainment business somehow.

I went to college locally and got a film degree. But while I was in school I got my first internship with Oliver Stone. Being able to read scripts that came in and getting the chance to meet all of these interesting people just solidified everything for me.

IAE:         How did you get the internship with Oliver Stone?
CM:         This will sound overly simple, but it actually was, believe it or not. I picked up the Hollywood Creative Directory and I made a list of people I had admired and wanted to work with. Oliver was one of them, his company was looking for an intern, and I got the job. They also gave me my first real paying job in the industry.

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Iron Man 3 Will Film At EUE/Screen Gems - Wilmington

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:32:20 -0400

Iron Man fans get ready because the 3rd installment to the franchise is set to start filming early 2012 in Wilmington, NC. The announcement was made today from EUE/Screen Gems Co-owner and COO Chris Cooney. I Am Entertainment has confirmed that the production will be utilizing Stage 10, one of EUE/Screen Gems - Wilmington's key stages, however, they will use all ten stages by the end of production. Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle are set to return while Shane Black will direct.

Press Release from EUE/Screen Screens:

Today, EUE/Screen Gems Co-owner and COO Chris Cooney confirmed that the Marvel Studios production of “Iron Man 3” will shoot at EUE/Screen Gems in Wilmington, NC for the majority of the production. North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue joined Cooney at a press conference at the studios this afternoon. The major motion picture is scheduled for release in 2013. Marvel executives considered locations in Los Angeles, Michigan and New Mexico before deciding the right mix of space, talent, and incentive were available in the North Carolina coastal city.

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Exclusive Interview: Sasha Roiz From NBC's Grimm

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:18:05 -0400

Breaking into Hollywood wasn’t something Sasha Roiz (Caprica, Warehouse 13, Extracted) thought would happen. Starting out the Israel-born / Montreal-raised actor had a strong passion for theatre. "I didn’t get into acting until later in life. I entered acting school when I was about 25 and studied for about 4 years. Acting was something that I always wanted to do but didn’t have the courage to really pursue it early on. I was looking to become a classically trained theater actor initially."

Sasha’s road to success in film and television was his destiny, and here he shares how he got started, and how he made it through the rough spots along the way.  He discusses his first major feature film The Day After Tomorrow with Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid. Sela Ward, and Emmy Rossum and now his new series Grimm that premiere's October 21st on NBC.

IAE:      When did you move to Los Angeles to pursue your acting career?
SR:         I moved to Toronto and lived there for a while first, then about 4-½ years ago I relocated to Los Angeles. I’ve been enjoying this whole adventure.

Exclusive Interview: Keegan Allen From ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:09:02 -0400

When I Am Entertainment asked those on social media who follow us, which actor they would like us to interview, an overwhelming number of our young followers ages 12-18 said "Keegan Allen from the show PRETTY LITTLE LIARS."

So in this interview, Keegan not only talks about his career and his role on the hit ABC Family series, he also shares his love for those fans who support the show and give the writers great story ideas.

IAE: Where are you from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
KA: I grew up in LA off of the Sunset Strip. I grew up in the business and the business grew up around me. My dad is actor and my mom is a painter/artist. I didn’t come into the business as an actor, I was more into editing and doing things behind the camera. While in high school and college I was really interested in video production and I wanted to know how the cameras and cinematography worked.

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Exclusive Interview: Jeff Davis Creative Genius Behind Teen Wolf and Criminal Minds

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:25 -0400

Creating a hit television show is not an easy feat, but successful birthing two hit shows makes you somewhat of a creative writing genius, and that’s exactly what Jeff Davis has done.

In this I Am Entertainment exclusive, Jeff shares how one comes up with shows like CRIMINAL MINDS and MTV’s TEEN WOLF, and why he chose writing for television over film.

IAE: Where are you from and what led to your interest in a career in the film business?
JD: I’m from Connecticut and I started writing in high school. I used to say if I had a social life I probably wouldn’t be a writer. [laughs] I started by writing short stories and even a novel in high school. I remember clicking away on the keyboard of an old Brother Word Processor that my step-father bought me. When I began screenwriting I started reading William Goldman’s "Adventures in the Screen Trade," a book every screenwriter should read. That really inspired me to start writing scripts. Also, like Quentin Tarantino, I worked in a video store and I was able to get every movie I could get my hands on for free. I watched everything that I could find. I went to USC for grad school and got my Master’s in screenwriting.

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Exclusive Interview: Adam Hicks Star Of Disney's Lemonade Mouth and Zeke & Luther

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:12:42 -0400

Tells Us How He Broke Into Acting and Shares His Plans To Conquer The World of Hip-Hop

When you’re from Las Vegas it’s not hard to envision your name in "lights." It’s also easy to find yourself in some type of entertainment related career path like Adam Hicks (Lemonade Mouth, Zeke & Luther) did.

"I’m from East Las Vegas, and grew up there. In my elementary school I took a couple of classes and was always involved in drama. The guy who taught my drama class had a radio station where he would announce auditions on the air. So when I was about 7 or 8, I went down to the MGM Grand and did this 5 second commercial audition and was picked by 3 or 4 local agents for representation. I chose one and started going out on local auditions."

But Adam’s path to success in film and television was not short. It’s been a long journey for the young star, one that helped him recognize that this is no overnight business. "I’ve been doing this for 11 years now and it has definitely been a learning process. This was not an instant fame thing for me at all."

Also influenced by the hip-hop scene in his native Vegas, Adam honed his skills at an early age on local stages. "Growing up in Vegas has a lot to do with my love for hip-hop. In 4th grade, for my D.A.R.E. essay on "Don’t Do Drugs," I made a rap and my D.A.R.E. officer made me perform it in front of the school." [laughs]

Here, Adam shares his journey to becoming a household name and gives us some insight into the life of a superstar on the rise.

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Exclusive Interview: Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci of Garfunkel & Oates

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:49:34 -0400

Garfunkel & Oates, Riki Lindhome (Fun Size, Million Dollar Baby, United States of Tara) and Kate Micucci (Raising Hope, When in Rome, 'Til Death), give I Am Entertainment Magazine a close look at how they used social media to build their fan base which led to inking a deal with HBO.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re both individually from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
Riki: I’m from Portville, NY and Kate’s from Pennsylvania. We both have been writing, creating, and performing for most of our lives.
Kate: Yea, we had similar upbringing in a sense of performing in school plays. We both ended up moving out to LA and getting involved in stage plays. We booked some commercials and things of that nature, and ironically, we both attended the same music camp when we were about 10 years old and just figured that out about 2 years ago.

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Twilight Star Chaske Spencer Rise In Film Was Everything But Overnight

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 13:42:04 -0400

Being a movie star seems a bit out of reach for most kids who live in small, remote parts of the world far from the bright lights and cameras of Hollywood and New York City.

But for Chaske Spencer,(Twilight, Breaking Dawn, Winter in the Blood) growing up outside of Tinsel Town and The Big Apple wasn’t a barrier, but rather motivation to pursue his dreams.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue an acting career?
CS: I’m originally from Montana and Idaho. I grew up on 3 different Indian reservations. My parents finally settled in Idaho and I attended college for one semester there. I dropped out because I really started taking an interest in acting and photography. So I moved in New York with $100 and a one way ticket. I was sleeping friends couches and floors. I started studying with David Gideon out of The Actors Studio. Before moving to New York I thought it would be a fun job but when I finally made it there it turned into a serious craft.

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MTV Teen Wolf Star, Holland Roden, is I Am Entertainment Magazine's Cover Girl

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:32:36 -0400

Meet Holland Roden,(Memphis Beat, The Event, Lost) one of Hollywood’s most talented and brightest young actresses. While most actors with starring roles in new hit television shows become too comfortable, kicking back sipping on the latest cocktails, this superstar in the making is doing press rounds and red carpet events, building up her name. The only issue is that girls are expected to wear high heels to these outings, something Holland detests. "Unfortunately, I’m 5’3 and until the social stigma changes, those things will have to be stuck to my feet. Even if I was 6 feet tall and 100 pounds, I don’t think I could be a runway model because I fall all the time in heels. I can’t walk in those stilts! I’d be a terrible circus performer." [laughs]

The truth is, Holland doesn’t need any "stilts" to be a great performer, just watch her on MTV’s TEEN WOLF series and you’ll know she’s got the chops of a 7-footer. "Jeff Davis is my knight in shining armor because not only is he talented, but he took a chance on all of us (Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Dylan O'Brien, Colton Haynes, Tyler Hoechlin, and the rest of the cast). At the end of the day, when I go to sleep at night I get to do what I love to do and professionally that’s what makes it all worth it. I love the cast that I work with and I really do believe in this project (Teen Wolf)," said Holland.

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GEORGIA FILM & TV INDUSTRY TAKES OVER BIG AND SMALL SCREENS

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 10:15:53 -0400

This weekend the state of Georgia’s film and television credits were on display as two of the industry’s top productions, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS and MTV’s new television series TEEN WOLF, were both watched by millions of people everywhere.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS topped the box office with an estimated $56 Million opening weekend, while MTV’s TEEN WOLF made a strong debut after the MTV Movie Awards Sunday night. ‘X-Men’ starred several very talented actors, including Atlanta-native Lucas Till (Battle: Los Angeles, Hannah Montana: The Movie) who appears in a hefty role as the mutant "Havok." TEEN WOLF will also showcase some of Atlanta’s top actors, including Jeff Rose (Drop Dead Diva [Lifetime], Army Wives [Lifetime]) who plays the father of actress Holland Roden on the series. Roden is set to grace the cover of I Am Entertainment Magazine’s June/July issue releasing on Friday, June 17th.

Perhaps best known for producing some of music’s most successful acts, like Ray Charles, James Brown, Usher, Cee-Lo Green, R.E.M., Lady Antebellum, and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Georgia has now become a literal hotbed for movie and television production thanks to the state’s extremely appealing tax incentives program which has boosted the number of films and TV shows being shot there.

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Book Review: Produced By Faith by DeVon Franklin

Thu, 26 May 2011 17:35:47 -0400

The entertainment business can be like high school, where the "cool kids" rule and your level of popularity (success) is
influenced by who you’re associated with. Those who want to fit in with the most influential people at some point will have their
faith and morals tested.

Some will succumb to the pressure and completely alter their standards to advance their careers "finances" and social status, while others become conflicted and struggle to attain their desired level of success because they can’t find a balance between their career and their convictions.

Margaret Thatcher once said, "If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you will achieve nothing."

It takes courage to stand up for what you believe in and that’s exactly what Columbia Pictures Vice President of Production, DeVon Franklin, has done throughout his entire career.

In his book, PRODUCED BY FAITH, DeVon (with Tim Vandehey and publisher Simon & Schuster) shares how you too can ‘Enjoy Real Success Without Losing Your True Self’.

At just 32 years of age, DeVon Franklin has achieved a great deal of success in his career, starting out as an intern for Overbrook Entertainment (Will Smith & James Lassiter), then progressing to a junior executive position at Edmonds Entertainment (Tracey Edmonds) which led to a studio executive spot at MGM and ultimately to his current position with Columbia Pictures where he has helped bring successful films like THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS and THE KARATE KID remake to the box office.

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Interview With Top Hollywood Casting Directors, Deb Aquila and Donna Morong

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:27:18 -0400

Donna Morong Deb Aquila

We had the pleasure of speaking with Deborah Aquila (I Am Number Four, Underworld 4, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters) and Donna Morong (Gone Baby Gone, A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song, The Princess Diaries), two of Hollywood’s top Casting Directors. As the central hub of the film and television industry, Hollywood is the gauge for who’s hot in the business. Deb and Donna have played a strong role in helping top filmmakers understand who’s hot, and who’s next.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re individually from and what inspired you to pursue careers in film and TV?
DM: I’m from Long Island (NY) and I grew up in a nice middle class Jewish family who came from a progressive, political background and loved the arts. My second cousin is Alan Menken, my father’s cousin is a dancer, and I have a cousin who is a violinist. The arts were really important to my family and I would say that was my primary influence. I became very interested in theater and in the idea of artists collaborating. Having a community of artists working together was a dream of mine from the time I was very young.
DA: I’m from Red Hook, Brooklyn (NY) and grew up in an Italian-American family. My father was a military man while my mother was a stay-at-home mom/housewife. My dad believed in education and in the arts. He sang like an angel and had a fierce passion for opera. My brother also had this amazing talent in music when he was quite young and he auditioned for Juilliard and got in. From there, my father started saving whatever he could to make sure we were in one theater or another every weekend...

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Interview With Top UK Casting Director, Amy Hubbard

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:15:43 -0400

Amy Hubbard of London based Hubbard Casting took time out of her busy schedule to discuss her amazing career casting films like LORD OF THE RINGS and HOBBIT, with her family.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into film?
AH: I’m from London and I was inspired by a huge dose of nepotism and the brilliance of actors. Those are still my guiding lights!

IAE: Tell us about Hubbard Casting and how long it’s been around?
AH: Hubbard Casting is a family business. My parents Ros and John Hubbard set up the company in the 1970s and my brother Dan and I used to file the model cards. Now, all four of us cast with a wonderful team around us. You could say that between us, we have 100 years of experience!

IAE: What types of projects do you fall in love with and really get excited about casting?
AH: I get really excited by find¬ing someone brand new, and that can be for legendary filmmaker Peter Jackson who...

DirecTV To Offer New Theatrical Releases

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:46:48 -0400

According to Variety, DirecTV has been working with Warner Brothers, Fox, Universal, and Sony studios on putting together a nationwide plan to launch a new premium Video On Demand (VOD) option that will allow customers of the satellite company to view movies as soon as 60 days after their theatrical releases.

DTV has reportedly spent months working with studios to set up the details of the plan, and could cost customers up to $30 for the VOD service.

Derek Chang, DirecTV’s EVP of Content Strategy and Development said that his employer hopes to see Disney and Paramount become a part of this premiere VOD service.

For families of 4 or more, who subscribe to DTV and don’t want to spend $50+ per movie at their local cinemas, this new VOD service could save them a lot of money if they’re willing to wait 60 days to see new films. This service will make DTV an even stronger competitor in the cable marketplace, as the company already boasts 4 - 3D channels, while its top satellite competitor Dish Network offers none.

Seinfeld Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus To Play Vice President

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:15:12 -0400

The New York Times reports that former SEINFELD star Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been attached to play the U.S. Vice President in a new HBO comedy series that is expected to debut in the fall of 2012, titled VEEP.

The show's creator, Oscar nominated writer Armando Iannucci, said that Dreyfus' character, 'Selina Meyer', a U.S. senator who gets elected to the office of the Vice President of the United States, was not based on anyone who has ever held a White House position. "I wanted to precisely say that this person isn't an existing person in high office. It's not a satire on Biden. It's not a satire on Cheney. When people talk about who are the presidential contenders for two years' time, there are so many female politicians there, that actually nobody bats an eyelid about it now..." Iannucci said.

Dreyfus who has a well established track record in comedy will also join Christopher Godsick, Simon Blackwell and Iannuci as a producer of the show.

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RIO Grabs $55 Million At The International Box Ofice

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:07:47 -0400

According to Box Office Mojo, the international markets received a surge at the box office as 20th Century Fox’s cartoon flick, RIO, pulled in an estimated $55 million over the weekend. Another positive sign for RIO is that it opened 20 percent higher than last Spring's HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. "Dragon" ultimately finished with over $277 million in foreign earnings.

If this past weekend is any indicator, April 15th will be an interesting weekend when RIO and SCREAM 4 roll into theatres in the U.S. RIO could outperform Paramount Pictures’ RANGO, which brought in $38.1 million domestically on its opening weekend six weeks ago and is currently the #1 film in the U.S. this year, so far.

BOM also reports that Universal’s family feature, HOP, maintains its currently held top spot domestically for the second week in-a-row with an estimated $21.7 million over the weekend, and a total domestic gross of $68.2 million.

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ABC President Fires Executive In Hopes of Reviving Ratings

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:12:16 -0400

If you’re an ABC executive you have to be a bit nervous today since the news broke that the network’s prexy, Paul Lee, has let go of one of his executive staff members.

According to reports today, Suzanne Patmore-Gibbs, ABC’s Executive VP of Scripted Creative will be leaving the network after Lee decided to eliminate her position from the network’s book of executive titles.

Patmore-Gibbs’ removal comes after ABC’s total viewership dropped 4% compared to the same time last year. More damaging for Gibbs is the 10% decrease among the 18-49 demographic, which is a major problem when your advertisers’ primary target is the same demographic.

In addition, if you take a look at Zap2It.com's TVByTheNumbers "Renew/Cancel Index," which offers some insight into how likely it is that certain shows will return or not, you get a better view of what is going on in Paul Lee’s mind.

The index indicates that new shows brought in this 2010-2011 season under Patmore-Gibbs’ direction have struggled to find an audience. For example, Detroit 1-8-7, No Ordinary Family, and Off The Map could be getting the ax, while shows like The Whole Truth and My Generation have already been cancelled.

As a result, Lee wants to take a more active role in the development of ABC’s primetime scripted content, and his track record qualifies him to do so. Under his direction, ABC Family birthed several top rated shows viewers 18 and under, such as Pretty Little Liars and Huge.

Paul Lee took over control of ABC Entertainment Group back in July 2010 when the network’s former chief, Stephen McPherson, resigned from his post.

IAE Interviews Head of A&E IndieFilms, Molly Thompson, About Helping Indie Filmmakers Succeed

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 12:30:02 -0500

Documentary filmmaking can be described as, the art of documenting true life events in moving picture format without limits or boundaries. Unlike what we see in the reality TV world, most documentaries serve a real purpose and deliver substance, awareness, and help to change how we view the world we live in for better or worse.

Molly Thompson, Head of A&E IndieFilms, is a true champion of this art form. Molly’s passion for true storytelling is unmatched and clearly evident in this insightful interview.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
MT: I’m from Trenton, New Jersey. Both my father and grandfather were newspaper reporters, so I thought that I was going to do that. But somewhere along the way I decided that I wanted to make documentary films. Getting paid to tell true stories on film was the most exciting thing I could imagine doing professionally.

Call of Duty Black Ops Composer, Sean Murray, Talks About Making Award Winning Video Game Soundtracks

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 14:59:00 -0500

Film and television composer Sean Murray defines the sound of CALL OF DUTY once again with BLACK OPS, the biggest entertainment launch in history. His dark symphonic score is enhanced by an 80-piece orchestra that features the talent of leading Hollywood musicians and was recorded at the famed Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage in Los Angeles. Sean's scores have hit on every musical genre from the gothic horror of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER to hip-hop action in the successful video game TRUE CRIME: STREETS OF L.A. by Activision. Among his scoring credits are the controversial television series GOD, THE DEVIL AND BOB with James Garner and Alan Cumming, for Carsey-Werner and NBC; and the deeply disturbing psychological-thriller JUNKYARD DOG starring Vivica Fox.

Sean grew up in Santa Barbara, California where he learned the craft of film composing by scoring dozens of student movies for the Brooks Institute Film School. He made his professional debut as composer for the action film SCORPION. Sean is the son of actor Don Murray, whose performance with Marilyn Monroe in BUS STOP was nominated for an Academy Award. Sean lives in the Hollywood Hills, close to the film studios and post-production houses.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what got you interested in the entertainment business?
SM: I come from an entertainment family background. My father is an actor, Don Murray, and his first film was BUS STOP with Marilyn Monroe. My dad’s parents were also entertainment professionals. My grandfather, Dennis Murray, was a stage director on Broadway, while my grandmother, Ethel Murray, was a Ziegfield girl [a dancer].

Charlie Sheen Gets His Own Special On Spike TV

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 20:37:05 -0500

Despite all the losses that the self proclaimed "winner" has experienced, Charlie Sheen’s insanity pays off. According to Hollywood Reporter, the former ‘Two and a Half Men’ star is going to be turned into an animated character in his own special on Spike TV.

The show, titled, CHARLIE SHEEN’S WINNINGEST MOMENTS will premiere on Wednesday, March 9th at 10:30pm (EST), Spike TV announced on Friday. It will be a half-hour animated special that will count down Charlie’s top 10 or 12 most insane moments.

So we can expect to see animation re-creating the time when Charlie wrecked the New York City hotel room a few weeks ago, or when Charlie tries to become the new Hugh Hefner by filling a rented mansion with porn stars.

The show’s animation will be handled by Next Media Animation, a company that has done online spoofs of some of the world’s most famous celebrity breakdowns.

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Vince Vaughn To Star In THE INSANE LAWS

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 14:26:20 -0500

Funnyman, Vince Vaughn, is set to star in the Universal Pictures romantic comedy, "The Insane Laws." Vaughn is the perfect candidate to do the film since he has a plethora of them on his resume.

The film will be loosely based on the life of the script-scribe, Jeremy Garelick, who will also direct the movie. The story focuses on a couple of best friends who must learn to adapt to the fact that their adult children have fallen in love with one another and are expecting a baby.

This won’t be the first time Garelick and Vaughn have worked together. In 2006, Vaughn starred in one of Garelick’s previous hit films, "The Break-Up."

Johnny Depp Steals The Box Office As RANGO

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 14:20:32 -0500

Johnny Depp does it again; but this time as the hilarious little lizard, ‘Rango’. Set in a western theme, the story centers around a domesticated chameleon named ‘Lars’ who winds up stranded in the desert after his fish tank home falls off the back of his owner’s truck.

Having spent his life impersonating an actor, with lifeless toys as his cast members and friends, Lars must learn to adapt to life in the Mojave Desert.

He first encounters ‘Roadkill’ (voice of Alfred Molina), an armadillo was hit by a vehicle and convinces Lars to help him make it to the "other side" (of the highway). Roadkill’s tells Lars to journey into desert to find his destiny.

As seen in the film’s previews, Lars encounters a hawk who wants to eat him, but he escapes and falls asleep in a dried out viaduct where he stumbles upon his destiny. He’s awakened by a rush of water that lands him at the feet of Beans (voice of Isla Fisher), an iguana who is out looking for water to save her father’s ranch.

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Film Director, Jenni Gold, Talks About Making Meaningful Movies

Thu, 3 Mar 2011 16:08:15 -0500

Director, Jenni Gold, knows what it takes to be a success in the movie business as a director and she’s proving it from her office on the Universal Studios back lot in Hollywood.

If you want to learn how to become a director the right way, check out Jenni's interview.

IAE: Could you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in film?
JG: I was born in Ohio, but grew up in Miami (FL) from the time I was three years old. Because I have Muscular Dystrophy and participated as one of the kids on the Jerry Lewis Telethon, I got to see a lot of the behind the scenes and how things were done. That played a part in my wanting to become a filmmaker early on. I went to the University of Central Florida where I double majored in Radio/Television & Film. While I was at UCF one of my short films won a 'Student Emmy Award,' and that was the catalyst for getting my first feature film going. In 1997 I became a director member of the Director’s Guild of America. When my first feature went into post (production) I came out to Los Angeles and started getting some work out here. That’s when I realized that if I wanted to be a filmmaker and learn from the best, I had to be where those opportunities were available. So in 1998 my husband, Jeff Maynard, and I relocated to Los Angeles and in 2001 we opened up our office for Gold Pictures on the Universal Studios back lot, and have been building our company since.

Disney/ABC's, Johnna Bond, On "How To Get A Job In The TV Biz"

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:04:26 -0500

A positive attitude will take you very far and Johnna Bond, Assistant to the Director of Post Production at Disney/ABC Networks Group is proof of that. Having gone from a Production Assistant, to Production Coordinator, and her current position at Disney/ABC Networks Group, Johnna knows what it takes to be successful in the TV business.

IAE had the pleasure of speaking with Johnna about her awesome career in TV, and we were much better off after we spoke with her. Johnna Bond ROCKS!!!

IAE: Could you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
JB: I’m from Naperville, Illinois and I always had an interest in television. While the rest of the world was heavily into film, I was really big on sitcoms, so TV was something I always had a desire to get involved in. But being from the Midwest, working in television seemed so far fetched, almost like a dream that wasn’t quite possible.

So when I got to college, I entered Bradley University as an undeclared major because I didn’t know if I wanted to go the safe route and become a Biology teacher, like I had planned, or if I actually could work in television. So I went to the Communications Department on campus, which is huge by the way (Comm. Dept.), and I found out that they do a lot involving television. So I declared my major as TV/Radio, but I think they’ve since changed it to TV/Film. So, I got really involved in the program, and was able to get into a class over winter break where I had the chance to travel to California for 2 weeks. During that time, I got to actually see....

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Disney Records VP of Artist and Repertoire Speaks

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:03:35 -0500

Brian Malouf is a true music industry veteran. With a resume that reads like a Grammy Awards Who’ s Who list, Brian has produced and/or mixed hits for Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Queen, on down to some of today’s most successful acts like Pussycat Dolls, Hannah Montana, and Pink. What’ s more impressive is that Michael Jackson, when Thriller was at its peak, enlisted Brian to help him record his Grammy winning, chart topping smash hit "Bad."

Aside from his monumental accomplishments of 53 Gold, Platinum and multi-platinum album credits, Brian has also established himself as one of the industry’s most respected record company executives. His history as a top music industry A&R has placed him at some of the most successful record companies in the business, including Disney Records where he currently holds the title of Vice President of A&R.

IAE had the pleasure of speaking with Brian about his amazing track record in the music business. All of you aspiring music professionals should get out your pads and pens.

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Big News From Actors Cory Hardrict and Tia Mowry-Hardrict

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:29:12 -0500

Today is a big news day for Cory Hardrict and Tia Mowry-Hardrict. Not only has the couple announced that they are pregnant with their first baby, Tia stopped by the set of BET's 106th and Park to talk about the new season of her hit TV show 'The Game' which begins airing tonight on BET (01/11/11 at 10pm EST).

As for Mr. Hardrict, he got some much deserved face time in today's newly released Columbia Pictures movie trailer for the upcoming blockbuster film, 'Battle: Los Angeles'.

IAE spoke to the dad-to-be and asked if the couple is expecting a boy or a girl. Says Cory, "Tia and I are very excited about our first child. We are only praying for a healthy baby. Whether it's a girl or boy, we're blessed either way."

Cory's excitement about his role as "Corporal Lockett" in ‘Battle: Los Angeles’ was also evident, telling IAE, "...this movie is going to be epic, and I can't wait for opening weekend."

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WTM Insurance, Lynn Mathis Tells Filmmakers To Protect Themselves With The Right Coverage

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:40:55 -0500

Too many filmmakers attempt making a movie with no kind of insurance coverage to protect their production. Is that you? If so, Lynn’s got some advice for you.

IAE: Please tell us how you got started with insuring filmmakers and their projects?
LM: Over 20 years ago one of our personal lines clients who was active in the film community, Fran Burst advised us of the potential growth she anticipated in the Georgia film market. She knew of no local agents who were focused on that industry and suggested we consider it as an option. I met with her to discuss the specific needs of the film industry and then went to the insurance marketplace to find companies that would fill that need.

IAE: What types of insurance do you offer to film productions?
LM: We offer most all lines of coverage: Full production insurance which includes general liability, equipment coverage – both owned and non-owned, negative and faulty equipment, hired and non-owned automobile coverage, cast coverage, extra expense, and third party property damage. We also have workers compensation and errors and omissions. We can even assist with completion bond coverage if needed.

IAE: At what stage of production should a filmmaker contact you?
LM: As soon as you can. Many times I’ll get a call in the preliminary budgeting process and I can give ranges of premiums to expect . Once the production company has some production dates in mind it is time to get to the market and shop the coverage. Obviously the larger the budget, the number of special effects and stunts etc impact the quoting process.

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Entertainment CPA Angela J Henry Shares Financial Management Principles

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:32:22 -0500

Making money to do what you love to do is every entertainer’s dream. But very few consider money management as an equally important dream. Without the assistance of a Professional Certified Public Accountant like Angela J. Henry of Alegna Financial Management, Inc., all the money in the world won’t keep you out of financial peril.

In this interview, Angela shares some extremely valuable financial management principles that every entertainment professional should know.

IAE: Please tell us where us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment from an accounting aspect?
AJH: I’m from the Bronx (NY), and I have been a singer since I can remember. You know when you’re a kid and you see all of your icons on TV and you say, "I want to be a singer or an actor one day." Well, you get to high school and reality starts to creep in and your parents tell you, "No, you’re going to be a doctor or a lawyer or something, because being a singer doesn’t pay the bills." So you give up that dream and go off to college to pursue a degree in something corporate. Well, for me, I literally looked into being a doctor but quickly realized I didn’t want to be in school for 12 more years (laughs). So I went down a list of careers and said, "What can I do to get out of here in 4 years?" No one ever sat down and told me what career options were available to me. So I decided to be a Systems Analyst and pursued Computer Science with a minor in Business Management.I got about two years into that and transferred to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga since they offered me a full scholarship because of my GPA. When I got there they told me that based on my current credits I would need to do an extra year to get my Computer Science degree. So I said, "What can I do to get out of here on time, within 4 years?" and they said Accounting. I really didn’t like that option but I decided to just go with it and get my degree.

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Brandon Egerton Knows What Makes An Artist Successful In Today's Music Industry

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:30:47 -0500

Former A&R Manager at EMI Gospel and current President of Sideman Music Consulting, Brandon Egerton, has logged a decade in the business. With a resume full of hit recording artists, Brandon knows what it takes to make an artist successful in today’s music industry.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what got you interested in the entertainment business?
BE: I grew up in a small town just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. Throughout high school & college I was an avid fan of groups like Boys II Men, Jodeci, and Mint Condition, so I always found myself putting together singing groups like those, which in essence was where I started developing my A&R skills. But back then, I had no clue what an A&R was.

IAE: So what was your first professional job in the music business and how did you get the job?
BE: Well, I attended college at Elizabeth City State University, which was one of the few schools in North Carolina that offered courses on the music industry. During my final year at ECSU, I needed an internship, so I applied to LaFace Records, EMI, and a few others. I ended up receiving a call from EMI and did the internship for about 4 months. After that, they offered me a job in their Gospel division doing radio promotions. The most gratifying part of that job was being able to build relationships with people from different areas of the business.

But I also had a great passion to be involved with the creative side and my boss at the time, Ken Pennell (President of EMI Gospel), was aware of that. Ken is great because he looks at each individual person and wants to help develop their career, whether it’s for EMI or not. He moved me over to the A&R department and mentored me.

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Radio veteran, Jack Silver, Gives The Talk

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:22:33 -0500

Radio veteran, Jack Silver, recently took over the position of Operations Manager and Program Director at one of LA’s top talk radio stations, KABC 790AM.

In his line of work, being creative and smart are imperative to one’s success, and Jack has proven he possesses those gifts. If your goal is to become a success in broadcast media, whether it’s radio or television, you can count on the Silver bullet’s advice to take you there.

IAE: So can you tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in broadcast media?
JS: Basically, I grew up in Chicago and attended college at Bradley University (Peoria, IL) where I graduated in 1980. So I’m old (laughs). I always tell the story that I went to college pre-‘Animal House’ (the movie), so I didn’t know much about fraternities, and just pointed myself toward the campus radio station. I worked at Bradley’s radio station my first semester and then ended up working at a rock radio station in Peoria the last 3-1/2 years I was there (Bradley). When I graduated, I started this career that has taken me to St. Louis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, and now back to LA. (laughs)

IAE: You really got around huh? (laughs) So what was your first paid job in broadcast media and how did you land that gig?
JS: When I was at Bradley working for the college station, they didn’t pay and so my friend came to me and said that WWCT in Peoria was looking for a weekend disc jockey. So I gave them my tape, which led to me working there as the weekend DJ throughout the rest of my college years. I would go to school during the week and then work on the weekends.

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Celebrity Stylist Hellin Kay Talks Fashion, Photography, and Filmmaking

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:40:39 -0500

Hellin Kay - Former Fashion Director for Russian Vogue shares her passion for fashion, photography, and filmmaking. She has styled celebs like Taryn Manning, Chaske Spencer, Brendan Fraser, Mischa Barton, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Rachel Bilson, Nora Zehetner, Mark Salling, Kellan Lutz, Zach Roerig, Christoph Waltz, Estella Warren, Jesse Williams to name a few.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what got you interested in the entertainment business?
HK: I was born in Moscow Russia , emigrated to Baltimore Maryland at age 7 and moved to New York at 18. I’ve always been obsessed by the visual and wanted to be a filmmaker in high school so went to Bard College to study film & photography.

IAE: What was your first official job in the entertainment business?
HK: I was a production assistant on a very bad short film when I first moved to NYC... I guess that counts as the first? After that I worked as a design assistant at Calvin Klein before spending a lot of years as a fashion editor/stylist and photographer.

IAE: At what point did you decide that being a stylist was going to be your niche in the world of entertainment?
HK: After going to Moscow, Russia when I was 24 to shoot my first feature film and running out of money I went to the Russian edition of Marie Claire so I could pay my actors what I owed them. The magazine hired me to style a few pages knowing I had worked with Calvin Klein in NY and they liked what I did and asked me to continue styling for them. For me, styling felt very similar to directing film so I kind of fell in love with it immediately. But I have always loved playing with clothes and fashion. I used to subscribe to the newspaper edition of W magazine years ago when it was an insert in WWD and I collected every issue.

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Celebrity Booking Agent Mike Esterman

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:30:01 -0500

This is the man to call when you need to book some of today’s hottest celebrities for your event. Mike Esterman's client list reads like a "Who’s Who of Entertainment"; from Kim Kardashian to Fergie, Ne-Yo to Snoop Dogg, the cast of True Blood to Boris Kodjoe. You name’em Mike can get them; IF the price is right.

IAE: How did you get into the business of booking talent for events and clubs?
MIKE: I kind of fell into it. I was a spotlight dancer for like eight months on "American Bandstand", and then for about six months I was on "Dance Party USA." I spent a lot of time developing my nightlife and learning the nightclub business. So I ended up working for a local nightclub owner in Washington (DC) as a VIP host for the different celebrities who did shows at the club.

Well, from there, people started coming to me asking could I book the people that I was around and they offered to pay me to do it. So I didn’t plan to do this, it just happened.

IAE: So what’s the difference between what you do as a talent booking agent and what a manager does?
MIKE: Well, a manager oversees the direction of someone’s career and is much more involved in the client’s
daily business affairs. But I don’t do that. As the booking agent, my niche is handling personal appearances for
celebrities who are household names.

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Fitness Trainer Katie Barnes Helped Celebs like Gwen Stefani Get In Shape

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:38:08 -0500

Los Angeles-based professional fitness trainer, Katie Barnes, is certified and professionally trained to help you get in shape and start the New Year off right. Katie’s client list consists of a wide range of people, from celebrities like Gwen Stefani to housewives, and each of them learns the same lesson; that the work it takes to change your body remains the same. In the world of fitness consistency, specificity and commitment rule!

IAE: Please tell us where us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in fitness training?
KB: I’m from New Zealand, and I didn’t plan on a fitness career in the beginning. I took classical ballet at the age of 4, and I turned out to be really good at it. By the time I was 15, I received a scholarship to the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company. I spent about 2 years at there but I struggled with anorexia all throughout my dance career, so it got to the point where it didn’t seem worth it to keep dancing if it meant endlessly battling in my mind and body over so many things.

As much as I loved it, classical ballet is super-competitive and dancers get to the professional level through many years of teachers using negative reinforcement and ideas of perfection, like "great" is never great enough. I think you have to have a certain personality to withstand that kind of thing, regardless of your talent. So I moved to Australia to start over and while I was there I became an aerobics instructor. I didn’t feel like I had very many career options coming out of professional ballet, and I wanted do something that kind of made me feel normal and it kept me active. I also wanted to try and live outside of the "elitist" world of ballet. Down the road, I found that being an aerobics instructor grounded me and helped me develop as a person, rather than just a dancer or an athlete.

After I obtained my certification and started teaching fitness classes, I discovered people really liked what I did. I was doing old things in a new way, always something different. Many of my first clients approached me about private training after taking one of my classes. For me, teaching felt more worthwhile than performing did.

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Top 2011 New Years Resolutions

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:26:46 -0500

It’s that time of the year again when everyone makes their infamous pledge to do,or not do, something in New Year. While some are family or finance focused, most people’s pledges tend to be health related. No matter what your resolution is, the key to success is to simply make one realistic pledge that you can focus on and set clear goals over an extended period of time in order to achieve the ultimate end results you’re seeking.

So here are the top four resolution that I’ve heard people make already, and some helpful hints for success.

LOSE WEIGHT/GET IN SHAPE

This is usually the number one resolution that most people make, and ultimately the top failed New Year’s pledge. The reason this happens is because most people get their motivation from some fitness magazine that uses photos of someone who’s washboard abs make everybody feel self-conscious. While those photos may provide temporary motivation, they won’t sustain you once the treadmill and dieting kicks in. So the best way to keep that resolution is to find yourself a professional fitness instructor, if you can afford one. If you can’t afford a personal trainer, then try proposing a 4 month fitness challenge with co- workers you like and can work out with. This way you have a common purpose/goal and can motivate one another when the going gets tough. Or ask someone who is serious about fitness, but understands you’re not where they are, to help you get into a routine and hold you accountable. (See our interview with certified Private Fitness Trainer, Katie Barnes, in this issue of IAE Magazine)

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Ring of Fire's Jerry Spivack

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:20:39 -0500

Visual effects are crucial to the story, appeal, and success of many movies and TV shows. Many people don’t understand differences between Visual and Special effects. Visual Effects are designed and edited in Post-Production, and are created with the use of graphic design, modeling, and animation software. Special Effects, on the other hand, are made on set; things like explosions, car chases and so on.

Without talented and intelligent VFX professionals like Jerry Spivack, Co-Founder and Visual Effects Supervisor/Creative Director at LA based 'Ring of Fire' studios, to carefully plan and choreograph this phase of a production, we couldn’t experience the full entertainment value in many of today’s movies Commercials and TV shows.

IAE: Could you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
JS: I grew up in Chicago (IL) and became interested in the television industry early on. I took a class in high school that had a little three camera TV studio with a small editing bay that allowed us to do music videos, and some audio and video editing. That was really fun and interesting to me and from then on I was hooked. Well, when I went to college at Bradley University in Peoria (IL), Channel 47 (local TV station) was there on campus so my sophomore through senior years I ended up working full time with the TV station and going to school full time. Because of that, I got to learn almost every aspect of TV production. We did everything from baseball, hockey, and basketball games, to producing little magazine segment shows. So I was able to work my way up the "ladder" there; starting as a Production Assistant (P.A.) all the way up to them allowing me to go out and
produce and edit segments on my own. It was a big deal because not very many people got that opportunity.

IAE: What was your first job after college and how did you get it?
JS: Well, about six months before my graduation from Bradley I began to pursue the job market.

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Tom Malloy Tells How You Can Finance Your Next Film

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:10:54 -0500

So you have a script you’re excited about putting into production, and you’re absolutely sure that any financier who reads it is going to almost immediately fund your movie. Then you start pitching it to people only to find out that everyone else isn’t quite as excited about your script as you are. Well, you’re not alone.

Raising capital to shoot a movie can sometimes feel like you’re trying to split atoms. But thanks to Tom Malloy, filmmaker/actor and author of the bestselling book "Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films," your script can be made into a movie.

In this interview, Tom tells us how he has been able to raise more than $15 Million in the past four years to shoot a number of independent films.

IAE: So how did you get your start on this journey of making movies?
TM: From as far back as I can remember I wanted to be an actor. So I was in a restaurant in the late 1990’s with my uncle in the Little Italy district Manhattan (NY) and the waiter came up to us and said, "What can I get you?" My uncle jokingly said back to him "What can I get you?" and the guy says, "How about some money to shoot my movie?"

Well, six months later I was starring in the waiter’s movie, which was called ‘Gravesend.’ We shot that film on a $5000 budget. We literally walked up to a gang of thugs on a street corner in Brooklyn and asked if they wanted to shoot a fight scene for a movie. They were like "Yeah!" (laughs) I know it sounds crazy but that’s what we did. It turned out to be a great film, we got great reviews, and it was actually in theaters. It had this cult-like following and the movie actually inspired some people to get into the film business. That being the case, I thought I would become a household name. When that didn’t happen, I started to dig into filmmaking and really learning the movie business.

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Alcon Entertainment's SVP of Physical Production Yolanda T. Cochran

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:00:29 -0500

Ever heard of the hit movie ‘The Blind Side'? If you have, then you saw what happens when a project is overseen by Alcon Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Physical Production, Mrs. Yolanda T. Cochran.

Yolanda’s story is very interesting, inspirational, and flat out cool. She is proof that it doesn’t matter what your background is, you can be a success in whatever you want to be if you stay focused and make the right choices.

IAE was able to speak with Mrs. Cochran about her unconventional path to a successful career in film, at one of Hollywood’s brightest and history making film companies.

IAE: Could you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
YTC: I grew up in Houston (TX) but moved to LA to attend college at the University of Southern California (USC). My major was accounting, and I interned in Houston during the summers at a major public accounting firm because I was a part of a national minority internship program called ‘In-Roads.’ My full intention was to go back to Houston and work as a CPA when I graduated; so most of my clients would have been oil and gas companies, which is a far cry from what I do now.

But since USC is a big cinema school, I ended up meeting several people, including my now husband, who were in the film school there. So even though my major was accounting, I found myself running around helping my friends shoot student films. Because of that, I became very interested in the entertainment industry.

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Cory Hardrict Talks About His Career & Filming Battle: Los Angeles

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:05:39 -0500

From Chi-Town to Tinsel Town, film and TV actor, Cory Hardrict has been making his mark on the big and small screens. As a young professional, Cory’s journey to Hollywood success is anything but typical. Hardrict’s story embodies what every actor needs to make it in entertainment: talent, intelligence, training, heart, and thick skin.

In this interview, Cory’s words will motivate and educate those who aspire to become working film professionals. He also shares a little about his character "Corporal Lockett" in the upcoming blockbuster, "Battle: Los Angeles," and what it was like working with director Jonathan Liesbesman.

IAE: So tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in acting?
CH: I’m from Chicago Heights (IL) and what inspired me to get into acting was my mother. She took me to an open call in Chicago for this Oprah Winfrey movie called "There Are No Children Here," and there were about 2,000 kids in line waiting for like 5 hours just to be in this movie. I finally got in there and filled out my sheet and gave them my headshot, and about a week later they called and said I was going to be in the movie. Once I got hit with that bug, from then on I just felt this was what I’m meant to do. Just to see Oprah in the distance on set was an awe inspiring thing to me.

IAE: So what kind of training did you get after that, in order to prepare yourself for a career in
acting?
CH: I just started doing plays all over the city of Chicago. I did them all through high school, both at school and at various local theatre companies. My family was full of actors, so I would learn from them. My uncle is a character (laughs), so I would think back on things he did when I was growing up, or just things my other family members did, and I used those memories as reference points when approaching different characters I played. But I never went to any acting classes when I was growing up. I did, however, take classes once I got to LA.

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How Amro Salama Booked A Role Next To Denzel Washington Without An Agent

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:55:28 -0500

The steel walls of Hollywood can be some of the toughest to scale. Very few actors work consistently enough to call themselves "working actors," while even fewer become recognizable faces, and even fewer become recognizable names. But Amro Salama hasn’t let that deter him. He shares how he booked his first ever movie role next to Denzel Washington, without an agent.

IAE: Could you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in film and TV?
AS: I was born in North Africa, Egypt to be exact, but moved to London when I was only 4 months old, spent the first five years of life in three continents before landing in Springfield, Illinois. So I’m an American first and pride myself as the Midwestern-Mideasterner, growing up watching Growing Pains, Family Ties, The Cosby Show and the like. I then, moved to New York to pursue my acting career after I graduated college from Bradley University. I currently reside in Los Angeles. As far as what inspired me to film and TV? Well, I’ve always wanted to act. Doing Musical Theater, Plays both in High School and Community Theaters in Illinois and Iowa is where I got bit by the Acting Bug.

IAE: What was your first major role as an actor and how did you land that gig?
AS: When I moved to New York, right out of College, I spent lot of time working odd jobs to pay the rent and doing some theater all around town. It was when I was living off of Ramen Noodles a couple of years later, that the first major role I booked came along. In ‘The Siege,’ opposite Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, and Bruce Willis. Believe it or not, it was listed in Backstage, that was before they even had a web-site and we had to wait every week for it to hit the newsstand. They were looking for Middle-Easterners to audition. It wasn’t called ‘The Siege’ at the time though.

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Is Battle: Los Angeles The New Independence Day

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:46:47 -0500

Have you seen the recent trailers that are running for ‘Battle: Los Angeles’? The Columbia Pictures film is set for release on March 11, 2011 and looks to be our next box office smash.

Scribed by Chris Bertolini and directed by Jonathan Liebesman, ‘Battle: Los Angeles’ is a story about a Marine platoon that fends off an alien invasion. While the rest of the world is also under attack, the focus is on saving Los Angeles from annihilation. Michelle Rodriguez, Aaron Eckhart, R&B singer Ne-Yo, and Cory Hardrict each appear as members of the heroic platoon.

There are a number of similarities I see already between ‘Battle’ and the 1996 Will Smith blockbuster, ‘Independence Day.’ First, there’s the plot, aliens invade Earth and the military has to figure out a way to defend against the attack. Secondly, there’s a multi-ethnic cast which will appeal to a broader audience. Next there’s the extremely high budget. ‘Battle: Los Angeles’ was produced on a $100 Million budget, placing it in close quarters with ‘Independence Day,’ which had a $75 Million budget and went on to snag an Oscar and rake in $817 Million worldwide at the box office.

According to actor Cory Hardrict, "This movie is going to be a blockbuster all the way! This may be my opportunity to steal some of Will Smith’s shine (laughs)."

While ‘Battle: Los Angeles’ could very well be 2011’s top movie, I’m more interested in seeing if the film will accomplish what ‘Independence Day’ did.

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Young Hollywood Stars Take On "The Day"

Tue, 2 Nov 2010 08:51:14 -0400

THE DAY HAS COME....

Action/war thriller, "The Day," which is currently filming in Ottawa, Ontario, has successfully cast some of the film industry's brightest young stars. Cory Hardrict (Battle: Los Angeles, Gran Torino), Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism), Shannyn Sossamon (A Knights Tale, Road to Nowhere), Dominic Monaghan (Lost, Lord of the Rings), and Shawn Ashmore (X-Men) are working under the direction of Douglas Aarniokoski who recently worked on the set of 2010 successful film "Takers."

According to Bloody-Disgusting.com, "The Day" is an apocalyptic siege warfare film with moral depth. According to reports, the film will follow the actors as face a 24 hour long string of impossible circumstances. The screenplay was written by Luke Passmore and is being produced by Guy Danella of Gold Circle Films (My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Says Hardrict, "The Day is a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Everyone involved is awesome!"

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How Sara Tomko Won Over ABC Execs

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:28:40 -0400

Every actor’s dream is to land an audition with a top network exec, but when the opportunity comes, very few actors are able to shake their pre-audition jitters. Well, Sara Tomko shook the jitters and seized the moment. In this interview, she shares how she beat out 100’s of actors to become one of the 12 actors chosen to take part in ABC’s 2010 Diversity Showcase in LA.

IAE: How did you get involved in the 2010 ABC Showcase in Los Angeles and how many actors were you up against?
SARA: My managers [H&W Talent Management] contacted me in April 2010 and told me to check out the "2010 ABC Diversity Showcase." If I was interested, they encouraged me to send in my headshot. While I didn’t know exactly what ABC meant by "Showcase," I thought, "It’s ABC, sign me up!" About a month later, they called my managers and requested me to audition. One audition and two callbacks later, I found out that every year ABC gets around 7,000-11,000 submissions (although not that many people actually audition). The first cut is 600, the second is 150, and then the third is down to 30. I was in the top 30 by that third callback! Still I wondered what it all meant, and I noticed that a couple of the other actors around me weren’t too sure either. So we found out that the top 12 finalists would be chosen to put on a show, showcasing their talent to top ABC, CBS and NBC Execs, amongst other big networks and talent agencies. Not only was this a HUGE opportunity, but now, I actually had a shot!

IAE: What was the audition process like and how nerve racking was it for you, not knowing if you’d be chosen as a finalist?
SARA: The first audition was pretty awesome. I had never been to ABC so I was just happy to be invited. I wasn’t too nervous, just excited to be there and soak it all in. Seeing posters of Frank Sinatra and hit shows like "Lost" on the walls, I was kind of in a dreamland (laughs). I felt good about my audition, and got great feedback from the director. Even still, I didn’t want to get my hopes up, so I just walked away thinking "No worries, if I don’t get a callback I’ll never forget this audition! At least they liked me well enough to meet me." Then, after about two weeks my managers let me know I got a callback and I thought, "Oh man, NOW the pressure is on!" I was a huge ball of nerves for audition number two. I thought, "Now they’re really paying attention, so don’t mess it up!" I don’t think my second audition was a strong as my first because I was so nervous. But I obviously did something right, because they called me in for a third time. At this point, I didn’t know what to expect. I may or may not be a finalist, but I was having so much fun.

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The Walking Dead Actor IronE Singleton Gets Comic Booked

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:02:50 -0400

ComicBooked.com recently spoke with movie and television actor IronE Singleton about his upcoming role in the highly anticipated television series The Walking Dead on AMC, which promises to make zombies the new vampire. It premieres with a 90-minute episode, fittingly, on Halloween, Oct. 31.

Viewers may best know Singleton from his breakout performance as the manipulative drug dealer in the critically acclaimed film The Blind Side (2009), which nabbed star Sandra Bullock an Academy Award.

Now, as Singleton takes on a new challenge, playing a human named T-Dog living in the apocalyptic world Robert Kirkman created in his comic book series The Walking Dead. Director Frank Darabont, who was behind the camera in the powerful 1994 film Shawshank Redemption, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, is one of the latest big-time Hollywood directors to turn to the small screen to bring fans this zombie drama. Singleton talks about his new role, how TV inspired him to act, his passion for reading and of course, comics.

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Danny Jacob, the composer behind Disney's Phineas and Ferb

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:40:56 -0400

If you’ve ever watched Shrek, or Disney hits like Phineas and Ferb and Sonny With A Chance, then you’ve heard Danny Jacob’s work. The composer/musician has crafted music and songs for some of the top rated children’s shows and soundtracks over the past decade.

IAE was able to catch up with Danny and discuss his amazing career as a TV/Film Composer and a professional touring musician with legendary recording artists.

IAE: Could you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
DJ: I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I’ve been a guitar player my whole life. I started out playing in my neighborhood band, doing various social events and birthday parties. When I got to high school, I ended up playing in one of the top high school bands in LA. I attended Grant High School, where a lot of famous musicians and studio musicians and artists attended like Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather, from "Toto." Toto has sold over 30 Million albums worldwide to-date. I became a part of the LA session scene and grew up with those musicians who were first on the list of guitar players and drummers called to tour with major recording artists.

IAE: Being on tour with such iconic artists like Bette Midler, George Michael and Chaka Khan, what have you learned?
DJ: Before I got those gigs, I actually had a goal to be a touring guitar player. In the late 70’s and early 80’s I made a living playing in a lot of Top 40 nightclubs, 5 hours a night, 5 nights a week doing covers of the "hits." After doing that for a while, I felt that I had to get out of that scene because I wanted more for my life. Once I started auditioning for star recording artists, I realized that all that time spent in the Top 40 nightclubs played to my advantage because it was a training ground for me to quickly learn other artists’ material and break down the guitar parts. I did whatever I could for people to refer me to an audition, and I think the first audition I got was with Sheena Easton.

IAE: How did you make the transition from being a touring guitarist to composing for TV?
DJ: I officially made the switch to composing about ten years ago because that’s when composing began to overshadow my work as a touring and session guitarist. But I’ve always been into composing and coming up with my own material. I think it started when I began working with songwriters like, Al Kasha, who won Oscars for his work on The Poseidon "The Morning After" and The Towering Inferno "We May Never Love Like This Again" in the early 70’s. He would pay me to produce and arrange his songs, and that helped me hone my skills. Hans Zimmer would throw me songs to produce, and one of the bigger ones was the opening of DreamWorks The Road To El Dorado which Elton John co-wrote and sang. I would see Hans and other composers with their home studios, and they’d score with orchestras, which really sparked my interest. I would turn compositions in to Hans and he would critique it.. I would stay up all night until I finally did something that he liked.

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Actor Cory Hardrict Helps Save Los Angeles

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:33:32 -0400

Actor, Cory Hardrict, teams up with Michelle Rodriguez (Avatar, Machete), Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight), and R&B singer Ne-Yo (Stomp The Yard) to save Los Angeles in the upcoming Columbia Pictures film, BATTLE: LOS  ANGELES.  Hardrict will appear in the film as a young soldier named "Corporal Lockett."

For those who aren't familiar with Hardrict's work, he has an extensive resume that includes roles in successful films like Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino,"  and "He’s Just Not That Into You" which starred Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston.  In addition, Hardrict's television resume includes such shows as Dark Blue, Heroes, The Game, and Lincoln Heights.

Hardrict tells IAE Magazine that the film reminds him of a combination between INDEPENDENCE DAY + TRANSFORMERS + SAVING PRIVATE RYAN + BLACKHAWK DOWN.  Says Hardrict, "Once I read the script, I became overwhelmed by the desire to be a part of this movie. I had to be in it!"

BATTLE, which is set to hit the big screen on March 11, 2011, received a very positive response at the San Diego Comic Con and is expected to storm the box office and blast past its $100 Million budget.  Hardrict continues, "This movie is an event!  Fans of Sci-Fi, action, war dramas are going to go crazy over Battle: Los Angeles.  If you love real stories that touch your soul, but still keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the movie for you."

When asked about the audition process for the film, Cory told us, "I just took the approach Clint Eastwood told me to take when I did GRAN TORINO.  Mr. Eastwood said 'Show them what you got, don't worry about what you're going to get.'  So when I got in front of Debra Zane (casting director), that's what I did.  That approach worked, because it got me in to read for the Director of the movie, Mr. Jonathan Liebesman.  Once I got in front of Mr. Liebesman I just lived the moment and left it all out there.  I'm humbled that the people in charge felt I was the right guy for the job."

Cory Hardrict is represented by his managers, Yoni Ovadia and Joannie Burstein of Burstein Company, and his agent The Gersh Agency.

Exclusive Interviews With The Walking Dead Cast Members

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:54:37 -0400

I Am Entertainment (IAE) Magazine has teamed up with AMC TV for exclusive interviews of some of the cast members of THE WALKING DEAD television series on AMC, which is expected to be the most watched TV show on Halloween night (airing at 10/9c).

Among THE WALKING DEAD cast members who were interviewed by IAE are, Laurie Holden who will portray the character "Andrea," Steven Yeun whose character is "Glenn," and IronE Singleton as "T-Dog." Other cast members not interviewed are Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Jon Bernthal (Shane), Sara Wayne Callies (Lori), Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale), Emma Bell (Amy), Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes), Michael Rooker (Merle Dixon), and Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon).

3x Oscar nominee, Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Mist), is the show’s executive producer and director of the pilot episode. Gale Anne Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens) is also an executive producer.

THE WALKING DEAD, is an adaptation of the comic book series created by Robert Kirkman. The story is centered around an apocalyptic epidemic that sweeps the globe causing the dead to rise and feed on the living.

EA SPORTS BOOSTS GATORADE SALES BY 24%

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:13:18 -0400

Today, gaming behemoth, Electronic Arts Inc. revealed the results of a study conducted by The Nielsen Company which shows how in-game advertisements can boost real life sales.

EA commissioned the study on behalf of Gatorade, who had a variety of product placements within several EA SPORTS titles: NHL 09, NHL 10, NBA LIVE 07, NBA LIVE 08, NBA LIVE 09 and NBA Street Homecourt. Gatorade's products were strategically placed in arena signs, players' water bottles, score updates and other call outs.

The study, which was based on Nielsen's US Homescan panel of more than 100,000 households, showed that in-game advertising increased household dollars spent on Gatorade by 24%, and offered a return on investment of $3.11. In the study, Nielsen compared the households that purchased at least one of the studied games before and after Gatorade branding was integrated into the games (the test group), against households that didn't purchase one of the games (the control group).

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JAMES CAMERON TEAMS UP WITH 20th CENTURY FOX

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:06:26 -0400

(L-R: James Cameron and Sam Worthington)

According to Deadline, James Cameron (Avatar) is taking the 1994 action comedy film "True Lies" and turning it into a TV series. Rumors are circulating that Cameron’s company, Lightstorm Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox TV will join forces to bring the series to life.

Rene Echevarria (Castle, Medium, The 4400) who worked with Cameron on Dark Angel, is attached as the showrunner and writer of the series. Lightstorm’s Rae Sanchini and Jon Landau, will be executive producing with Cameron.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the original film, "True Lies" is a story about a computer salesman named Harry Tasker (originally played by the "Govern-ator" himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger) who is a loving husband and father that lives a double life as a government spy.  His wife, Helen Tasker (orginally played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is bored with her married life, and is contemplating having an affair.  Harry discovers his wife’s plans and accidentally involves her in the battle against Middle Eastern terrorists.

Many fans of the film are already placing their votes for who they would like to see cast in the TV series. One name that continues to pop up is Eliza Dushku, who played Schwarzenegger’s daughter in the original film.  Eliza Dushku is represented by Sr. UTA Agent, Louise Ward (CLICK HERE to  view Ward's interview with IAE Magazine).

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FENDER RELEASES NEW HOT ROD III SERIES AMPLIFIERS

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 13:41:16 -0400

According to Fender, they have released the new Hot Rod III series amplifiers, featuring several upgrades based on player feedback -- including improved speakers, enhanced circuits and revised cosmetic appointments -- making the world’s most popular tube amps even better. Notorious for their affordability, reliability and ability to cut through on-stage, the new Hot Rod III series includes the: Hot Rod Deville 410 III, Hot Rod Deville 212 III, Hot Rod Deluxe, Blues Junior III and Pro Junior III amps.

All Hot Rod III series amps include easier-to-read black control panels, new badges, dog bone handles, heavy-duty chicken-head knobs and LED jewel lights. Additionally, the Hot Rod DeVille and Deluxe amps feature graduated volume and treble pot tapers, and include new low-profile "pedalboard friendly" footswitches.

The Hot Rod DeVille 410 III is a 60-watt combo with a classic 4"x10" speaker configuration borrowed from the legendary Super Reverb® and ’59 Bassman® amps, offering the low-end headroom characteristic of 6L6 tubes, a versatile all-12AX7 tube preamp and an effects loop. It produces amazing clean and overdriven tones and luscious spring reverb, and is able to power an additional speaker cabinet thanks to its 8-ohm extension speaker output. The Hot Rod DeVille 212 III shares the same circuit, output and features as its 410 counterpart, with the exception of its classic 2"x12" speaker configuration borrowed from the legendary Twin Reverb® amp, courtesy of two 12" Celestion® G12P-80 speakers.

The ever-popular Hot Rod Deluxe is a 40-watt single 12" combo the standard for gigging guitarists worldwide, and features a 12" Celestion® G12P-80 speaker and new "tighter" overdrive circuit. Players wanting to add a little more output, fullness and stage coverage can add a matching 112 extension enclosure.

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A Second Season for AMC's The Walking Dead?

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:09:15 -0400

Thanks to FANGO, who has announced that the second season of THE WALKING DEAD will begin filming in February 2011.

Ever since AMC announced that it picked up THE WALKING DEAD pilot for 6 episodes, zombie lovers have been dying (no pun intended) to stay informed about new developments surrounding the show.

We also knew that a second season was going to be ordered by AMC, especially with all the hype circulating about the first season of THE WALKING DEAD, which doesn't even air until October 31st (Halloween). New, non-comic characters like, T-Dog (played by IronE Singleton), are also helping to fuel fans' curiosity about how true to the comic series the show will actually remain.

One thing fans of the comic series can be sure about is that there will be plenty of zombie fodder lying around to quench their thirsts for horror.

Join the IAE Magazine RSS Feed to make sure you stay up-to-date on new THE WALKING DEAD info.

Female Film/TV/Gaming Composer Penka Kouneva Makes History

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:54:44 -0400

Penka Kouneva is a rising Hollywood film composer who blends her native Eastern European influences with modern orchestra, medieval chant, rock, and electronica. Recently, she composed additional score for the video games like "PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE FORGOTTEN SANDS" (Xbox360/PS3/PC) and "TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN" working alongside TRANSFORMERS composer Steve Jablonsky.

The history making Composer was the first person to ever receive a Doctorate in Composition from Duke University. Penka has since been honored with WorldFest’s Platinum Remi for Best Score, the Aaron Copland Award, the Sundance Institute Composer Lab Fellowship and Meet the Composer Award.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
PK: I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. I began piano lessons at age 6 and when I was a teenager I started composing at a theatre for children; that’s when I started identifying myself as a composer. I continued to collaborate with theatrical companies all throughout my college years and have always loved film, especially Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Action/Adventure films. So when it came time for me to make a decision on a career path, it seemed only natural for me to pick composing for film.

In 1990, I came to the US with only $130 and entered Duke University’s composition fellowship. In 1997 I became the first person to graduate Duke with a Doctorate in Composition. In 1999 I moved out to Los Angeles. When I got to LA, I had to support myself so orchestrating was the way I survived while building up my resume as a film composer. At this point, I really enjoy the dual career I have as a composer and an orchestrator in Hollywood. Now, I’m excited about my transition into the world of video game scoring. I didn’t watch much animation as a child; most of my time was spent watching drama movies and war documentaries. So now that I’m getting into the video game business, I’m committing myself fully to this medium also, although I’m still busy composing for film and orchestrating.

IAE: Tell us what you like the most about composing and orchestrating, and what’s your signature sound?
PK: Even though composing and orchestrating are different, I enjoy each one equally. I’ve composed comedies, horror/suspense thrillers, and fantasies. I really like the variety of my composing jobs, and my unique voice (sound) tends to be a darker, Eastern European soulful sound, though I am versed in many diverse musical genres. While each project is unique, the one thing that doesn’t change in my approach is that I make it a point to understand the director’s vision for each job. When I’m orchestrator, I want the composer to feel that they are in caring hands, and that I genuinely wish to contribute to their success. My strategy has always been to over achieve and give more than expected.

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Director Tom Donahue Goes Behind-the-Scenes on Casting Film & TV

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:08:35 -0400

If you’re an actor or casting professional, or aspire to be one, then you should get to know Tom Donahue!

Why? Because his latest documentary film, "Casting By," is going to give you an in depth look at the history of the Casting profession. Tom has interviewed Marion Doughtery, Norman Lear, Lynn Stalmaster, Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Channing Tatum, George Lucas, Brooke Shields, Glenn Close, Deborah Aquila, Randi Hiller, David Rubin, Richard Hicks, Richard Donner, and a number of other casting directors, filmmakers, and actors for Casting By.

IAE caught up with Tom to not only discuss "Casting By" and his other documentary "Guest of Cindy Sherman," but also to learn more about his awesome journey as a filmmaker.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
TD: I was born in the Hudson River Valley of Upstate New York, in a town called Rhinebeck, but grew up about six miles north of there in a place called Red Hook. What inspired me was when I saw the movie 'Jaws,' in 1975 at a drive-in, and then two years later 'Star Wars' came out. Those two films sort of put me on the road to becoming a filmmaker, and in junior high and high school I would make super 8 movies, which helped me sort of get my feet wet.

IAE: Many people will say, "If you have a dream, then go for it..." but they hardly ever share a plan to survive the early struggles of pursuing that dream. As you were building your film career, how did you survive the tough times?
TD: I learned the craft early on, so while I was in film school I realized I had a knack for editing and when I got out of (film) school, I took up an apprenticeship as an editor. I could have made a lot more money as a commercial editor had I fallen back on that skill set, but that type of work also consumes your life, and I didn’t learn my craft so that I could make commercials. The question that I had to ask myself was, "Do I want to just make money, or do I want to do what I really love?" So I worked around the clock balancing what I wanted to do, with making a living in advertising. Four years after school, while working on commercials as a junior editor, I decided to take the leap and I began to freelance. Eventually, I phased out commercial editing and went into production, then directing.

IAE: What was your first job and how did it come about?
TD: My first job outside of commercials was editing a long form documentary for HBO called, "Naked States." It was about the artist/photographer, Spencer Tunick, who gets thousands of people naked across the U.S. and shoots really big photographs of them.

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APA Literary Agent, Ryan Saul, Tells Writers How To Get An Agent

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:00:47 -0400

From theater to film, APA literary talent agent, Ryan Saul, has seen the industry from a 360 degree perspective. Representing some of Hollywood’s best and brightest creative minds, Ryan knows a thing or two about the business of selling scripts and making movies.

IAE was fortunate to have caught up with Ryan to discuss his awesome career as a literary agent, and get some advice for aspiring screenwriters and directors.

IAE: Where are you from, what college did you attend, and how did you get into the film industry?
RS: I’m from a very blue collar, rust belt town called Youngstown, Ohio. As a kid, I was always into theater and sports. I ended up going to Bradley University on an acting scholarship and majored in Theater. After graduating from Bradley, I had to decide if I would attend the University of Indiana’s MFA program for Theater Directors, or enroll into Florida State University’s film school. In the end, film school won out and I spent two years at FSU in the graduate program.

While there (FSU), I produced a short film called, "Trinity," which was a story about the first atomic bomb to be transferred and dropped on Hiroshima (Japan), but the plane crashes in the Arizona desert. It’s very intense and the plane crash was pretty intense, but what I found interesting was the way we staged the entire plane crash sequence in miniature.

After finishing film school, I packed up the Chevy S-10 and drove out to Los Angeles with a buddy of mine. When I got there (LA) I secured an internship at Universal (Studios) and worked for this guy named Peter Scott. At the time, Peter worked for Perry Katz Productions, which did movies like Flipper and Mikhail’s Navy. From there, I went on to intern for Suzanne Patmore Gibbs who was at Daybreak (Productions), but is now the head of ABC’s drama development. I also briefly worked as a PA, where I was fired. Long story short, I wound up working for the Strategic Planning director, David Maisel,. David eventually became the Co-CEO of Marvel.

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Mark Turmell - The Man Who Set The Gaming Industry On Fire

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:26:30 -0400

Google the name, Mark Turmell, and you’ll find a sea of URLs taking you to a ton of websites that have covered this gaming guru. Mark is one of the gaming industry’s most recognizable and respected figures. He is the mastermind who not only created the insanely successful 1990s Midway arcade games, 'NBA Jam' and 'NFL Blitz,' but he is also the Senior Creative Director at EA Tiburon.

It’s no secret as to why Mark has been so successful, having acquired a college degree before the age of 16, we could say he is the "Doogie Howser" of the gaming world. If you don’t know who Doogie Howser is, then you should Google that too.

IAE got a chance to sit down and interview Mark about his amazing career, and to pick the brain of this gaming pioneer.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in the gaming industry?
MARK: I grew up in Michigan and started college at a really young age. Well, at the college they had a mainframe teletype computer that you could play games on. In those days, games weren’t on any sort of gaming console. So, if you played a football game, the computer would tell you that it’s "First and Ten at the 40-yard line. Press 1 for long bomb or press 2 to sweep right." It was a very simple gaming environment where you’d press the number corresponding to the move you wanted to make, and then you’d sit there and wait for the computer to chug through that play and then it would print out the results [laughs]. So that kind of got me hooked on the idea of games, and at the time I was around 14 years old. I still have the ‘Atari Pong’ gaming
system, which was the first gaming console available on the market. It’s in my office with the original price sticker on it [laughs].

So I bought an ‘Apple II’ computer and began learning how to write software. By the time I was 16 years old I started to get royalty checks in the mail every month, for the games I was working on.

IAE: Wow! So what was your first real job in the gaming industry and how did you get that gig?
MARK: I did this game called "Sneakers," on the Apple II (computer), which was the first game I created, and the company I was working with wanted to get into the Atari VCS (Video Computer System) cartridge business. So they invited me out to Sacramento to develop the Atari VCS games, and since I had already had one degree at that age and was already making good money, I dropped everything in Michigan and went to California to make the VCS games.

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Bow Wow Joins Tyler Perry In Madea's Big Happy Family

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 17:58:10 -0400

Bow Wow made an announcement via Twitter that he will be joining Tyler Perry on his next feature film, "Madea’s Big Happy Family." AOL Black Voices reported that Bow Wow and Loretta Devine will team up again and that they will play mother and son. Also, joining the cast is Lauren London. Tyler Perry is directing, writing, and producing "Madea’s Big Happy Family." This is a 34th Street Films and The Tyler Perry Company production, and Lionsgate will distribute and is currently set for an April 22, 2011 theatrical release.

Bow Wow is currently doing his press tour for his new feature film, "Lottery Ticket" which will be released August 20th. Bow Wow plays Kevin Carson a young man living in the projects who has to survive the Fourth of July weekend before he can collect his prize. He has to deal with his opportunistic neighbors who find out he’s holding a winning lottery ticket worth $370 million.

Joining Bow Wow on screen are Ice Cube, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Loretta Devine, Keith David, Terry Crews, Mike Epps, Charlie Murphy, Bill Bellamy, Ghenga Akinnagbe, T-Pain, Chris Williams, Vince Green, Jason Weaver, Teairra Mari, and IronE Singleton. "Lottery Ticket" is directed by Erik White from a screenplay by Abdul Williams and story by Erik White & Abdul Williams. It is produced by Mark Burg, Oren Koules, Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson and Matt Alvarez. Ice Cube, Timothy M. Bourne and Steven P. Wegner serve as executive producers, with co-producers Brad Kaplan, Andrew Wilson and Yolanda T. Cochran. This is an Alcon Entertainment, Burg-Koules, Cube Vision Production. Warner Bros. Pictures handles the distribution.

Justin Bieber and Usher Rock The 2010 World Leadership Awards

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 05:21:33 -0400

(L-R): Usher, Michelle Wie, Nadji Jeter, Justin Bieber

IAE Magazine was in the house Friday (Aug 7) in Atlanta as Usher's New Look Foundation held its 1st Annual World Leadership Awards. Justin Bieber, Ciara and Usher each performed, along with the New Look Youth Choir which consisted of a number of teens who are a part of the New Look Foundation.

The event, which took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, boasted an amazing list of celebrities and global leaders who all came out to show their support and help raise funds for the R&B singer's non-profit organization.

Among those in attendance were former President Bill Clinton who received the Service Legacy Award, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Mayor of Port-au-Prince (Haiti) Jean-Yves Jason, Jermaine Dupri, Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Kandi Burruss, Atlanta Hawks Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams, LPGA golfer Michelle Wie, film and TV actors Irone Singleton and Jeff Rose, and former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson, to name a few.

Serving as the event's hosts were Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier and 14-year-old actor and Atlanta native, Nadji Jeter - who will also be featured in the Aug/Sept issue of IAE Magazine.

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Usher and President Clinton Unite For Charity Event In Atlanta

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 12:30:41 -0400

Tonight (August 6th) is a big night for Superstar R&B singer, Usher Raymond and his "New Look Foundation," as Raymond teams up with President Bill Clinton to host the 1st Annual World Leadership Awards, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.

The evening will be full of special surprises, celebrity guests and world-class entertainment produced by AEG Live. Emceeing the event will be Kevin Frazier, Entertainment Tonight's weekend anchor and correspondent, and Atlanta native, Nadji Jeter, 14-year-old New Look Alumnus 2005-2007 who has gone on to star in such successful films as Adam Sandler’s latest picture, "Grown Ups."

A host of celebrity guests are rumored to be in attendance, including: Ludacris, T.I., Big Boi from Outkast, Boris Kodjoe, actor IronE Singleton (The Walking Dead), actor Jeff Rose (Drop Dead Diva), and many more.

Recording artists, Justin Bieber and Ciara, will join Usher for a special performance at the event. Eight awards will be given throughout the evening to honor individuals and organizations, including President Bill Clinton who will receive the "Service Legacy Award."

Says Usher Raymond IV, "I am honored to share the stage with the individuals and organizations we are acknowledging for their recognition of youth as leaders. They share New Look’s understanding that youth are not merely leaders in waiting; they are ready to achieve greatness today."

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TV and Commercial Casting Director, Francene Selkirk, Gives The Scoop

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 22:33:45 -0400

The world of casting commercials and episodic TV shows is extremely fast paced. In a profession where turnaround time is half of what is allotted for motion picture casting, it takes an extremely organized and focused person to manage the chaos.

Veteran casting director, Francene Selkirk-Ackerman, has proven she’s the right person for the job. Having cast over 1000 commercials, some of them for film directors such as Ridley Scott, Greg Hoblit, Gore Verbinski, Barry Sonnenfeld and Amy Heckerling. Francene has also cast a number of TV shows and pilots. This includes recently casting pilots for NBC and MTV, while still continuing to cast docudramas, music videos, industrials, voice-overs and print.

In this interview, Francene shares her career successes in the world of casting talent, and gives actors a list of a few "Dos & Donts" in the process.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired your desire to get into film & TV?
FS: I am originally from Astoria, Queens, New York. I started out as an actress who could dance and play the ukelele. My father was a Ukelele Vaudeville performer and my mom was in the Miss America contest so I had a lot of show biz in my blood.

IAE: What college did you attend and what was your major?
FS: I went to the High School of Performing Arts for a year, and then attended Pace University in Manhattan. My major was Drama, so I studied and performed all the classical plays. After college I entered the world of avant guarde. I toured with the New York City Theatre Workshop doing various types of plays. Having wanderlust, I traveled all over the world, including Europe, South America, and Morocco. I performed African Dance with Olatunji and also played Ukelele with Tiny Tim.

IAE: What was your first job in the film and television business, and how did you land the gig?
FS: My first job in the film business was as an extra in the movie ‘Portnoy’s Complaint,’ when I was a young aspiring actress. My mother knew someone who worked in the wardrobe department and they helped me get an audition. I also was Ali McGraw’s double in a few scenes, so I shot for a week at The Delmonico Hotel and I loved every minute of it.

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Video Game Composer, Inon Zur, Shares His Success

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 22:19:12 -0400

Whether its music for a Hit TV Show like the super successful, ‘Power Rangers,’ or hit video games like ‘Prince of Persia,’ Inon Zur is the man behind the music.

Having been honored at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards and now nominated for "Best Audio" at the 2010 Game Developers Choice Awards for his composition of ‘Dragon Age: Origins,’ Inon took the time out to share his perspective of music composition for media.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what it was like growing up there?
INON: I was born in Israel. It’s definitely nothing like you would expect in the Western world as I grew up in a Kibbutz which is a small settlement, a collective community where basically everything is shared. So it definitely made for an interesting and unique childhood. Like every Israeli, I served 4 years in the Israeli army; I was an officer in the tank unit.

IAE: What college(s) did you attend and what was your major?
INON: After I was released from the army, I studied at the Tel Aviv Music Academy and later immigrated to LA and enrolled into the Grove School of Music. It was a really great school, and after graduating from Grove, I enrolled at UCLA and just worked my way into the industry.

IAE: What or who inspired you to pursue a career in composing music?
INON: It’s really hard to say, since very early on during my childhood, music was a major part of my life. I made up my mind when I was 8 or 9 years old that music was my thing. So I basically I did everything in my power to excel at music.

IAE: What was your first job as a composer and how did you land the gig?
INON: In 1993, two years after arriving in Los Angeles, I was working in a synagogue as a music teacher. I was really happy because it helped me on many levels. One of the members of the synagogue was in the industry and he asked if I could compose music for movies, and I hesitantly said, "I don’t know." [laughs] He said, "Why don’t you try?" Long story short, I ended up scoring a documentary he produced about the synagogue and he really liked it. Apparently he was a Producer at NBC at that time and they did a series called, "Valley of the Dolls." So he had me compose a few episodes of that show, and from there I got hired on as a Fox Family staff composer. I’ve composed hundreds of TV episodes for all the kids programs; from Power Rangers, Beetleborgs, Escaflowne, and also some movies of the week.

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Amy Janes Shares The World of Documentary Filmmaking

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 22:07:35 -0400

Amy Janes

IAE: Tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into the business?
AMY: I split the coasts, so I spent half of my life growing up in Philadelphia (PA) area and the other half in the San Francisco Bay Area. I went to Penn State University for 2 ½ years and then I found out that I was going to have to pay for my own education because of some family things that came up. During that intense period, I had a dream that I was at my own funeral and my mom came up to me and said,"Amy, what am I going to do without you?" I told her [in that dream] that I would make a movie so that anytime she’s sad, lonely, or missing me, she could just pop the movie in and see me. So I woke up the next morning and went to school [at Penn State] and headed straight to the film studies department and said, "sign me up." My parents thought it was a great idea, and I’ve never looked back.

IAE: So after Penn State what did you do?
AMY: I transferred out of Penn State and went to Boulder, Colorado to the University of Colorado at Boulder where I graduated with a BFA in Film.

IAE: So what was your first job after college and how did you get the gig?
AMY: I interned while I was attending UC-Boulder, at a small production company called The Garkie Group, which is no longer around in Boulder. The main business there was doing corporate videos, and I was just very persistent while there. I would take every opportunity to sit in with the lead editor, Izzie Jimenez, at Garkie. He took me under his wing and taught me the craft of editing. So when I graduated, Garkie offered me a job editing. I had my own editing suite, and I was editing tape to tape on some things for PBS and I did some local documentaries and so on. But after four years of that, I decided I no longer wanted to be the last person in line on a project because it seemed that there was never enough time to do my job. The amount of time they allotted to the Editor was cut in half, because they would run over on all the stuff that takes place before editing, and then it would be my fault if I didn’t get the editing done by the deadline. I knew right then that becoming a producer was for me, particularly in the documentary field, because I would be in charge. I decided that if I was going to get into producing films, I would need a Masters degree in order to be able to hold a teaching job to support my documentary habit/projects. So I came back to California and got into the UCLA’s Master program for producing film, and that’s how I got to LA.

IAE: Tell us a little bit about what you do as a documentary film producer?
AMY: I got into documentary films to make a difference. I believe that reality is much stranger than any fiction a writer can make, and there’s a lot of truth to share in peoples’ real life stories. My most recent documentary as a producer is called ‘As Seen Through These Eyes,’ which is a documentary narrated by Dr. Maya Angelou on the surviving art and artists from the Holocaust. But it’s much bigger than that, because it speaks to the human spirit and how art can become a tool for survival. That led me to another documentary that I directed called, ‘Kaziah the Goat Woman’ who is an amazing acclaimed artist who is creating these paintings of fallen war soldiers for the families. These types of films make a difference in peoples’ lives, and that’s what I’m here for.

IAE: You are also the Vice President of FilmIndustryBloggers.com, tell us a little about FiB and how did you get involved with that?
AMY: It started when the writer’s strike occurred here in LA. A group of us, all film professionals, got together to have a support group because a lot of us were facing unemployment and a very uncertain time in the business. We just felt it was a really good time for the film community to pull together. So we started out with between 8-15 people every Sunday for brunch talking about our issues/problems. So one day my husband and I thought, why not make a place for filmmakers to talk about their various problems and their experiences? So we spent time putting this blog together for the filmmakers who wanted to have an outlet. It started to just grow, and now we have a community of people from almost every aspect of the film industry, each blogging about their own personal trials and triumphs. There is a little bit of a process that you have to go through to qualify as a blogger on FiB, but it’s a fun place.

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FCC Law Threatens Film & Gaming Industries

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:38:59 -0400

We have all heard, and seen, what has happened to the music industry in recent years, due to the rise in music pirating and file sharing online.  While pirating has had some small effect on the film and gaming industries, it has not raised any “major” cause for concern.

Thanks to a new federal ruling passed on Monday by the U.S. Library of Congress, the film and gaming industries now have a reason to bite their nails.
According to new rules announced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), individuals now have more freedom to manipulate copyrighted material and modify consumer products without fearing any legal backlash.

So film professionals like Avatar creator, James Cameron, major film companies like Warner Brothers, as well as actors like Sandra Bullock and Johnny Depp, all share a reason to be concerned about their residuals from DVD sales.

The new FCC rules will allow the following:

COPYING DVDs -- Professors, students and documentary filmmakers are now allowed, for "noncommercial" purposes, to break the copy protection measures on DVDs to be used in classroom or other not-for-profit environments.

While it doesn’t go so far as granting everyday citizen the right to make copies of DVDs so we can watch the same movie in two rooms of the house (which is a poor excuse for copying, might I add), it’s still only one step away from being that way.

COPYING GAMES - People (meaning all of us) are now free to circumvent protection measures on video games; but, strangely, only to investigate and correct "security flaws" in those games.  Another odd thing is that, computer software is not part of this ruling, just video games.

JAILBREAKING - Owners of smartphones can "jailbreak"/unlock their phones (particularly iPhones) so they can be used on another network and run other applications that may not have been approved by Apple.  This practice has technically been illegal for years, but no one has been sued or prosecuted for the practice.  It’s estimated that more than a million iPhone owners have jailbroken their handsets.

The FCC disagreed that all of these forms of "copyright cracking" are not considered infringement and stated that it merely enhances the consumers’ ability to enjoy what they buy, and is thus legitimate under fair-use rules.

  All of this leads one to wonder if intellectual property is safe under new copyright laws?  Let’s just let everyone make money off of each others’ talent and great ideas.

Margie Haber Tells Actors To "Stop Acting & Live The Life"

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:44:48 -0400

Would you let a dentist work on your teeth if you knew he/she had no training? Then why should a film or television company trust an actor who has not received proper training? Just as a dentist must attend an accredited dental school, actors too must attend training with a reputable coach.

Meet Margie Haber, one of Hollywood’s most recognized and respected acting coaches. Margie has traveled the world, teaching actors to "stop acting and live the life." Responsible for helping develop such award winning actors as Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, and Heather Locklear, Margie took the time out of her busy schedule to have coffee with IAE Magazine and share her passion for teaching actors.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to become an acting coach?
MH: I’m from New York, I’ve been teaching for 194 years, and I color my hair and you’d never know it (laughs). I coach actors because I love teaching people to express rather than impress.

IAE: As one of LA’s premiere coaches, what are some of the things you teach actors about the craft of acting?
MH: Most actors live their lives through the song, (sings) "Oh God, I Need This Job," and they make it all about just getting that one job. But that actor may have 45 opportunities each year to get out on 45 different auditions. By the way, I don’t like to call them auditions, I prefer the term "slices of life." We shouldn’t think of them as auditions because the mere mention of the word makes most actors nervous. I also believe in replacing the word "perform" with the word "communicate," because when an actor performs it implies that they’re trying to impress someone. My perspective is that, "I am this person
and I’m living this person’s life" so my goal as an actor is to communicate that. It’s about me owning the life of someone else and bringing myself in to make it special. People come to me to learn how to audition, and instead I teach them to stop acting and live that life. You have to trust the homework you’ve done about that life, and when you go into the casting room, be available to see what happens in the now. If you come into the room only focused on your "idea," you’re not going to be able to lend yourself to anything that may happen in the room. If the director asks you to do something that doesn’t fit
with your rehearsed idea, you won’t be available to communicate what that person in that life would do in the situation.

IAE: Having coached such celebrities as Halle Berry and Brad Pitt, what is the most common mistake that actors make when preparing for an audition?
MH: Sometimes actors over-prepare. They set it so that there is nothing in the room that’s going to affect them. Most of them (actors) think they have to memorize their lines and they don’t. I tell actors not to memorize it, instead do the ‘Haber Phrase Technique,’ which means I can stay on the paper and still come up and communicate. The actor is allowed to stay on the paper as long as when I’m looking at the paper it’s the same as I’m delivering the message. Then you are more open to discovery. I think the common mistake that all actors make is that they feel the need to know everything that’s going on and they don’t give themselves a chance to embrace the unknown. Of course, you need to know whose life you’re in and the relationships involved, but you have to be willing to be in the unknown.

Bob Harter & Della Cole Owners of yourAct Studios Prepare Actors in Atlanta for Hollywood

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:27:24 -0400

In Atlanta’s growing film/TV industry, very few acting schools have been able to gain the respect of top acting coaches in Los Angeles. Husband and wife team, Bob Harter and Della Cole, of yourAct Acting Studios have done just that.

Offering various classes for all age groups, as well as hosting workshops with such esteemed Hollywood coaches as Margie Haber, Bob & Della understand how important it is for Atlanta-based actors to receive proper training. IAE sat down with Bob & Della at their Atlanta studios to talk about film and TV in the Southeast.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and how did you get your starts in film?
Della: I’m from Mobile, Alabama. I’ve always wanted to act, but I started my actual career in dinner theatre in my late 20’s. My first on-camera acting gig was a national commercial for Dollar General and I was pouring iced tea. I was so excited, and I think my pay was something like $50 (laughs). I wound up in Atlanta and was an understudy at the Alliance (theatre) on the production, ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ which lead to me replacing the lead actress in the show. The morning after the opening of the show, Kathy Hardegree at Atlanta Models and Talent called me and said they would like to represent me. That began my on-camera career.

Bob: I’m from Knoxville, Tennessee. After graduating college, I had no clue what I could do with a Psychology degree, so while working at the Hyatt (hotel) in Knoxville (TN) I decided I wanted to be a movie star (laughs). I had to get to Los Angeles, so I sent my resume to all the Hyatt hotels in California. I only got back one offer, and it was from the Westwood Hyatt (near UCLA) to be an "Assistant Food & Beverage Director." So I flew to San Diego, stayed with a friend and bought a car. I learned how to drive a stick shift on the freeway from San Diego to Los Angeles (laughs). Fortunately, when I got to LA I got a good acting coach and an agent. I got my agent with a fake resume (laughs), which I’d never do today, but I did it then. I stayed in LA from 1977 to 1988,
and while there (LA), I did 'Three’s Company' and a couple of other things but that was it in over 10 years. So I moved to Atlanta and took an improv workshop where I met an actress who introduced me to her agent. That agent was Kathy Hardegree from Atlanta Models and Talent, the same agent as Della.

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Osbrink Talent Agent Angela Strange Talks Commercial vs Theatrical

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:08:29 -0400

Angela Strange, is an Award Winning Talent Agent at Osbrink Talent Agency. Angela is the Vice President of Operations at Osbrink and one of LA’s top Adult Commercial Agents.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into film?
AS: I’m from Palm Springs, CA. Growing up, I saw the entertainment business from a different perspective because the celebrities came to Palm Springs to hide from everyone else (laughs). I was never star struck, and even then I had no idea this is what I would end up doing for a living. I just wanted to find something fun and enjoyable when I grew up. I was respectfully obsessed with the entertainment industry, so I got my degree in TV and Film.

IAE: How did you get started in your career as a talent agent?
AS: My degree required me to do an internship for actual credit, and a job at an agency wasn’t something you could take a class on. I knew that agents were important to the industry, but the profession wasn’t covered on the University level. So I felt that interning with an agency would be a great place to be a "fly on the wall," and get a clue about how things worked in TV and Film. By the end of the semester the agency needed a receptionist so they offered me the job.

IAE: How was the internship process for you? Was it as brutal as most people say?
AS: I wouldn’t say brutal, because it could have been a lot worse (laughs). It’s like being in the belly of the beast because it was a busy mid-sized agency. I was exposed to so many different types of things, mainly from a Literary and Theatrical representation aspect. I really got a chance to see how the industry really worked, and they had quite a few celebrities and some "on the brink of being a celebrity" talent. I was able to see the process of talent representation and the differences between the more TV based actors, versus those who were mostly Film. I got the chance to read scripts and see how agents won’t request a script if they don’t like the query letter (laughs). It was very educational and I had a lot of fun. It was part of the reason I knew I was
supposed to be in the entertainment industry. I didn’t look at the internship as if it were a bad thing, so I learned what I needed to learn in order to make a decision on whether or not to become an agent.

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The World of Casting Through Michael Testa's Eyes

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:14:45 -0400

As one of the casting director of some of TV’s most popular shows, Michael Testa has truly carved out a respected name for himself in Hollywood. Michael’s career in casting is proof that hard work and pursuing your dream the right way will pay off big for anyone who has the ability to persevere.

IAE sat down with Michael over coffee and a bagel to discuss his work on the hit TV series 'Cold Case,' and 'Make It Or Break It ,'and find out what he looks for when casting actors for roles on his shows.

IAE: Please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to get into film?
MT: I’m originally from New Jersey. I always knew I wanted to work in the entertainment industry in some capacity I just wasn’t sure what that would be. So I ended up studying film in high school and college.

IAE: What college did you attend and what was your major?
MT: I went to Northwestern and studied Radio, Television, and Film. It was a great experience for me. It was very theory based as opposed to production based, but I got a good understanding of film and television history. After college, I drove to LA with no job in place, but was determined to work in the film business.

IAE: What was your first job in the film business and how did it help you get your start?
MT: My first job in film was working as a PA on a film after I graduated college. The film was shooting right across from where I lived and my uncle, who was the Chief of Police, told the production company that if they wanted their permit, then they needed to give me a job opportunity (laughs). So that was my unofficial, official first job. It was a great learning experience and I recommend anyone who wants to learn anything about film, to go and be a PA because you can learn all aspects of the filmmaking process.My first official job in LA was working as an intern at Stephen J. Cannell Productions, the company behind such TV shows as '21 Jump Street' and ‘Hunter.’ I interned for 2 weeks and then I got put on staff as a casting assistant for the TV Show ‘Hunter.’

IAE: As the casting director for such hit TV shows as 'Cold Case'and 'Make It or Break It,' what are the top 3 mistakes most actors make when auditioning for a role?
MT: That’s really tough. I’d say that the first mistake most actors make is not really committing to what they’re doing in the room. I get a lot of nice readings, but I don’t want nice; I want something that is going to make me remember the actor and really see him or her in the role their reading for.

Number 2 on my list is when the actor doesn’t really understand what the scene is about. This goes hand-in-hand with not committing to the role. That’s why I recommend all actors take a really good scene study course because it will help them break the scene down and connect the dots.

Number 3 on my list, and one of the things I hate the most is when actors use props. Don’t do it, because it’s not necessary.

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Ambitious Film Producers Nicole Rocklin & Blye Pagon Faust On Getting Through The Red Tape

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:59:03 -0400

A great number of entertainment hopefuls want to be film producers but don’t quite understand the job. Most people have no clue of the amount of "red tape" and hoops producers have to jump through in order to get a film made. But in the case of film production partners, Nicole Rocklin and Blye Pagon Faust, the picture is crystal clear.

IAE spoke with Nicole and Blye to get a good understanding of what it takes to make movies in today’s market, through the eyes of two of Hollywood’s brightest young filmmakers.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
BF: Nicole grew up in Calabasas (California), but I’m originally from a small town in the state of Washington, called Monroe. I don’t think either of us actually knew we’d end up in the film business. I went to college in the San Francisco Bay Area and then came down to LA and entered law school at UCLA for Entertainment Law. I did some acting for about a year before law school, and during that time I met a lot of people in the entertainment business. A lot of them were in the film program at USC, so I got to work on various student films. Upon graduating from UCLA with my law degree, I got a job with a large LA law firm. While I loved law school, I didn’t like being an attorney; many of my friends at USC were established writers, producers, and directors and their jobs looked a lot more fun than mine (laughs).

Nicole attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and at that time she was considering the music business but hadn’t made any definitive decisions that she had to work in entertainment. After graduating college, she came back to LA and was considering law school so she took up a job at an entertainment law firm. She worked there for about 2 years because she wanted to be absolutely sure she wanted to practice law. She found that her heart wasn’t really into entertainment law, but she still wanted to be a part of the entertainment business so she got a job working at Jerry Bruckheimer’s production company. After working there for a short stint she decided to try it out on her own.

IAE: When did Rocklin/Faust form and what were the early on challenges in establishing your venture?
NR: We sold our first script to Alcon Entertainment (where we currently have our first look deal) like 4 years ago, so we have been unofficially working together for about 4 years. After doing our first project with Alcon we started putting more and more projects together. We felt that we had dated long enough, business wise, so decided to make it official in fall 2009.

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Michael Rooker & Norman Reedus Revealed As New Cast On The Walking Dead

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:40:42 -0400

The Walking Dead is a hit at San Diego’s Comic-Con. According to The Walking Dead blog on AMC, they have signed Michael Rooker (Jumper) and Norman Reedus(The Boondock Saints) to co-star in the series. Rooker will play Merle Dixon, a redneck ex-con, while Reedus will play Daryl Dixon his equally dangerous brother.

Pictures from the set have been released of Rooker with IronE Singleton (The Blind Side) who plays T-Dog. There has been much speculation among the fans of the comic book series that T-Dog is really Tyreese - but that has yet to be confirmed.

Additional new cast members of The Walking Dead include Andrew Rothenberg (Jim), Juan Pareja (Morales), Jeryl Prescott Sales (Jacqui), Melissa McBride (Carol) and Adam MInarovich (Ed); all of whom are members of the "survivor camp."

The Walking Dead is currently in production in Atlanta, GA. The network’s annual blockbuster marathon of thriller and horror films, Fearfest, will roll out the series premiere in October.

Michael Rooker is repped by Diverse Talent Group. Norman Reedus is repped by Don Buchwald & Associates and Affirmative Entertainment. IronE Singleton is repped by H&W Talent Management and Houghton Talent Agency (Southeast).

Producer/Line Producer Linda Burns Makes Movies The Right Way

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:47:00 -0400

Linda Burns is one of Atlanta’s most knowledgeable film professionals. Having worked on a plethora of film projects, Linda has helped ensure that the Atlanta film industry has properly trained professionals who can make sure a project is successful.

IAE was able to sit down with Linda to talk about her career as one of Georgia’s veteran filmmakers.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and how did you get started in this crazy business of film?
LB: I assume you want the short version [laughs]? I was born in Ohio but grew up mostly in Michigan. I had no interest in doing anything in this business. But when I got to college at the University of Michigan, I had roommates who made their own indie films, and I did an internship at the ‘Ann Arbor Community Access Station.’ Although I was a psychology major, I took a few classes in the arts for fun, but never had any intentions of really using it.

So after I graduated from U of M, I moved to Hawaii and lived out of my van for a year-and-a-half. I set net, cast net, and dove for lobster and squid. One day, I met with a guy who shot stuff for the hotel TV channels so the guests would know what amenities the hotels offered and also the various tourist attractions in the hotel’s vicinity. When the weather was bad for fishing, I went to work for him shooting videos. After a while, I decided to do my own thing and began shooting first birthdays for people. In Hawaii, first birthdays are a big deal. So I did that for a while, usually working for trade instead of cash, which was always interesting. Looking for a change, with sunny weather, I headed to Key West (Florida) next, where I wound up working as an on-air radio
personality for a few stations. After two years, with no prospect of advancement, I started looking around for a better city in the south to live in, so I checked out a few places but ultimately landed in Atlanta because I felt that it was the best place for me to be.

IAE: So once you got to Atlanta how did you happen to end up doing film?
LB: When I got to Atlanta, I went into WRFG and met "Dr. Love," [laughs], and he helped me cut my new demo reel. But at that time, the only good radio stations were the college ones, and I didn’t want to go back to college to get on the radio. One day, walking through Little Five Points, I ran into Dr. Love and his friend Bilogi Bailey. We talked about my history, Bilogi recommended the indie film scene as something I might enjoy, and we exchanged cards. Two weeks later I got a call from him and he told me about this guy he knew who was trying to do this TV pilot similar to "The Green Hornet," and he asked if I’d like to be involved.

Literary Manager/Producer Kailey Marsh Shares Her Passion For Creating Horror

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:19:14 -0400

Kailey Marsh is the creator of Hollywood's "The Blood List" & "Trackula."

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in film?
KM: I’m originally from Naples, Florida where I lived most of my life, but I also lived in New York, Georgia, and Maine as well. I’ve always been into movies and art. I would reenact scenes with my friends from our favorite films, mostly musicals and put on shows for the neighborhood. I would draw and make my own clothes from an early age. I spent several years performing on a professional water skiing team. As time progressed I started getting into singing and acting but discovered that I preferred working behind the scenes. Since I was about 3-years old, I’ve been watching Horror movies and I’ve always been into the genre. POLTERGEIST was the first horror film I remember watching more than once. My neighbor and I would have her dad drive us to Blockbuster to rent it. After we got our fill of the first one we started to rent the sequels. Looking back we should have probably just bought them we watched them so much!

IAE: What college did you attend and what was your major?
KM: I got my bachelors degree from The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles. While in high school I won $1,000 from a commercial contest I entered which gave me the chance to come to LA for the first time. When I visited the Art Institute, they took me around the school and then I was asked if I knew how to use Final Cut. I told them that I use it a bunch, so they had me color correct something right in front of them and I wasn’t even a student at the school. I opted for the biggest city in the world for filmmaking, and that’s what made me decide to go with the Art Institute of LA. My first day of classes there (Art Institute), I got to hold a DSR-250 and shot some things. It’s VERY rare you get to touch equipment the first year let alone the first day so it was all very exciting. My major was "Motion Picture & Television," and I learned more about physical production which allowed me to know how to do everything on set. Plus, I worked at the "video cage" so I got to loan out the equipment to everyone and show them how to everything worked. I think I’ve done every single job on set 90 times each [laughs]. I’m a kinesthetic learner so this was the perfect college for me. We were shooting every single day, from commercials to documentaries to fluid masters. We had to act, produce, direct, edit, write, grip, do production design etc.

IAE: Has your love of genre films helped create your career path?
KM: I interned at a company called OZLA Pictures, where they did the Japanese version of "The Grudge" (called "Ju-on") and "The Ring" (called "Ringu") and then brought them over here (the US) and remade them.

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Grown Ups Actor Nadji Jeter Helps Usher

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:27:05 -0400

Coming off the success of Adam Sandler’s film, "Grown Ups," Nadji Jeter has been given the tall order of assisting recording artist Usher Raymond with emceeing and presenting awards at Usher’s "New Look Foundation’s 2010 World Leadership Awards (WLA)" on August 6th in Atlanta.

WLA will raise funds and support for New Look’s mission to mentor youth as global leaders.  This event is being chaired by Mr. John Rice, Vice Chairman, GE Technology Infrastructure and Mrs. Cammie Rice, Usher’s New Look, Board of Directors, in collaboration with Honorary Chairs Mr. Usher Raymond IV and President William Jefferson Clinton.

Such celebrity guests include, Justin Bieber, Ciara, and actor IronE Singleton.  There will be musical performances by Usher, Justin Bieber and friends, produced by AEG Live.  NY Post reported Usher has challenged former President Bill Clinton to sing a duet with him.

Other host committee members include Governor Sonny Perdue and wife Mary; Ms. Ingrid Saunders Jones, Coca-Cola Company; former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin; Senator Samuel Nunn and his wife Colleen; Mr. Phil Kent, Turner Broadcasting System; Mr. Roger & Kathy Penske, Penske Automotive Group; U.S. Rep. John Lewis; and Ms. Laura Turner Seydel.

Sponsors include Coke, GE, Turner Broadcasting, Grey Goose, AEG Live, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Penske Automotive Group, Georgia Power Company, Creative Artist Agency, Elizabeth Arden and Sony BMG.

Usher and Justin Bieber is repped by CAA.  Nadji Jeter is repped by Osbrink Talent Agency. Ciara is repped by WME. IronE Singleton is repped by H&W Talent Management and Houghton Talent Agency (Southeast).

Letterman Comedy Writer Dave Drabik Shares His Jokes With America

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:29:36 -0400

If you’ve ever watched Jay Leno, David Letterman, or Saturday Night Live, then you’ve more than likely laughed at one of Dave Drabik’s jokes.

This Atlanta based comedy writer, and Founder of Fine Line Productions, is one of the funniest most down to earth people you’ll ever meet. IAE had the chance to sit down and talk with Dave about his awesome career as a writer on some of TV’s biggest shows.

IAE: Where are you from and what got you interested in entertainment?
DD: I grew up mostly in Virginia, but have lived and worked in New York, LA, and now Atlanta. I’ve always loved making people laugh. It’s all about comedy for me.

IAE: What would you say is your career focus?
DD: By trade I’m a comedy writer/director/producer and I like the ability to affect people positively. I was living in a small apartment in Silver Spring, Maryland when I sold my first joke to Jay Leno. All I could think was, "4 million people just heard that joke. How did that happen?" I did stand-up comedy for a number of years like most comedy writers, but when the writing got bigger than my own act, which was inevitable if you saw my act [laughs], it took over.

IAE: What was your first job in the entertainment industry and how did you get your start?
DD: I entered as a PA like most people in film and TV, and it’s a great way to start because you learn how this world (TV) works. One of my earliest jobs was getting donuts for the 80s rap group ‘The Fat Boys’ while working in Craft Services. I worked as a PA on a couple of their video shoots for MTV, and did some very long hours. I remember working from 5am to 2am the next morning, and I kept donuts on that table, just keeping The Fat Boys, fat [laughs]. I’ve also answered phones at Soap Operas and assisted on set. All those little things helped me because 20 years later I ended up using what I learned. For instance, I recently sold a comedic soap opera series to Adult Swim.

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Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter Aubrey Ashburn Sings Beautifully On Successful Fantasy Soundtracks & Epic Scores

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:13:40 -0400

Award-winning singer/songwriter Aubrey Ashburn is a classically trained vocalist who writes lyrics for and performs on a rich array of musical projects including studio albums, epic scores for fantasy soundtracks, and international live concerts. Aubrey's creativity as a prolific vocalist and collaborative spirit has propelled her career from independent music artist to working in the multi-billion dollar interactive entertainment industry on blockbuster franchises such as ALICE IN WONDERLAND (Disney), THE LORD OF THE RINGS (EA), DRAGON AGE (BioWare EA), DEVIL MAY CRY (Capcom), and LOST PLANET (Capcom). Receiving multiple accolades for her memorable vocal performances and songwriting contributions, Aubrey has established herself as a unique talent in this field while continuing to enjoy writing and recording solo albums.

IAE:          Can you please tell us where you’re from and what made you decide to pursue a career in entertainment?
AA:          I was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up west of the city, just off Lake Erie, in Lakewood.  My parents were young rebels, both talented artisans with a creative and musical sense, which they of course exposed my brother and I to.  It became evident to my mother that I enjoyed singing as a child and it was important to her that I be educated and well rounded in the arts.  I went on to sing in many choirs and ensembles, musicals and solo performances and also play violin, piano (self taught) and snare drum in the marching band (which I wasn’t very good at).  My acclaim in school and the local community is what gave me the boost to move to southern California after high school and pursue a career in the music industry.

IAE:       You have such a beautiful voice, what training have you had?
AA:        Thank you.  When I was 15, I started classical training with Joan Wheeler, a private voice coach in Ohio.  She gave me a foundation in classical voice performance and repertoire and exposed me to techniques that I still use today and in fact, teach to my own voice students.  I’ve studied briefly with other coaches along the way, including Jim Bedford, a well-known celebrity coach.  Then when I started working with music producer Jerry Merrill (Gladys Knight, Bonnie Raitt, Lisa Loeb) on my pop alternative debut album, he took on the role of voice coach.  He’s very knowledgeable about vocal technique and of course mic technique, which I wasn’t privy too at the time and it took some getting use to.  When I studied music at Ventura College, I didn’t major in voice because of my background.  Instead, I got a degree in music and chose piano as my instrument, in order to fill in the gaps of my informal experience.

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Bill Thompson Explains How Georgia's 30% Tax Credit Works

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:02:46 -0400

It’s no secret in the film, TV, and gaming industries that the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, signed in by the state’s governor, was revolutionary. Offering up to 30% in rebates, the tax incentives being offered are among the easiest to understand and is well worth being taken advantage of.

IAE sat down with Bill Thompson, the Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Film, Music, and Digital Entertainment Division, and his colleague Stefanie Paupeck to discuss his state’s amazing tax incentive and how it has helped such productions as the Oscar Nominated film ‘The Blind Side,’ successful impact the industry.

IAE: Where are you from and what got you interested in entertainment?
BILL: I was born in Washington D.C., and lived in Northern Virginia for about 3 years. Then my parents decided to move to Atlanta, where I’ve lived since then. Early on, my love for photography and music led me to playing drums in various rock bands and doing photography on the side. This was back when I could walk right into what is now the Philips Arena, with eight cameras around my neck and shoot anything I wanted [laughs]. I was exposed to black & white video production when I was a Senior in high school. When I got to college I entered the Communications program and got very involved in Video Production, as well as taking part in the Cinema Program the school offered. I had always wondered why I had this inclination to be involved in the arts, and later found out that one of my grandfathers was an amateur photographer who had his own darkroom with processing and printing equipment; one of my uncles was an amateur filmmaker when 16mm film first came out; and another uncle was a an amateur photographer. My brother is an artist and I have a cousin who was a filmmaker and went to film school. During my college years I was working part time in the industry and I said to myself, "This is the only thing that I’m going to do from now on; something that is Film or Television related." At that point, I shed myself from all other distractions and that’s when everything started to fall into place. I would advise anyone to take that approach if they can. I received my Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from Georgia State University in Film & TV Production.

IAE: What was your first job in the entertainment industry and how did that come about?
BILL: Fortunately, I’ve never worked in any other industry. My first real job was running an in-house TV production operation at Georgia State University. We had a small studio, cameras and an edit suite. I worked at a couple of large production companies in Atlanta, including a company called Threshold Productions, and I worked for 14 years at Crawford Communications, where I designed and ran the Production Services operation and later was Vice-President of Post Production. I’ve also owned a film & video production company and have worked as a production manager and independent producer. My career has taken me to 20+ countries; which was great by the way [laughs], and I’ve had a pretty long run in this industry. I’ve been with the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office for about 4 years now.

IAE: As the Deputy Commissioner of Georgia’s Film, Music, and Digital Entertainment Division, what do you do?
BILL: Our mission at the Georgia Film, Music, and Digital Entertainment Office is to attract entertainment productions to Georgia, as well as bricks and mortar entertainment companies to locate in our state. We’re trying to build an industry here and continue to expand our workforce and increase our infrastructure. We’ve seen some 30 companies locate or expand in Georgia because of the incentives.

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Entertainment Attorney Steve Weizenecker Protects Your Rights

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:39:11 -0400

Steve Weizenecker, the former Talent Manager, turned Entertainment Lawyer; helps drafts & negotiates Film, TV, and Music deals for some of the Industry's top companies and talent. One of the top film companies includes Thomas Tull's "Legendary Pictures."

IAE: Where are you from and what got you interested in the entertainment industry?
SW: I’m originally from Clearwater, Florida and while in high school I managed bands. After high school, I moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University and I fell in love with the city. While at Emory, I got the opportunity to witness Atlanta’s growth during the 1996 Olympics, which was held in Atlanta. After the Olympics, Atlanta became a part of the international scene because it showed that we (Atlanta) were a truly cosmopolitan city. Also, during that time, I was managing bands but decided that being a manager wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life (laughs). Managing talent, in my opinion, is a lot like being a babysitter and that wasn’t my passion. I still wanted to be involved in the entertainment business though, and I noticed that entertainment attorneys had normal work hours and didn’t have to do all the things that came along with being a manager.

IAE: So how did you get into entertainment law?
SW: After Emory, I left Atlanta and went to law school in Michigan for 3 years. For a guy from Florida, Michigan was the wrong place to be because of all the snow [laughs]. I didn’t have any cold weather gear and knew nothing about insulated snow boots [laughs]. After graduation, I came back to Atlanta and began working for various law firms who didn’t practice entertainment law. So I had to build a practice on my own.

IAE: A lot of people don’t understand that they need an entertainment attorney, and not just any type of lawyer, to negotiate contracts in this business. Can you share with us why this is important?
SW: Sure. For example; I met a client, who wasn’t my client at the time, at a film screening and he said, "I need some help. I have this film that’s almost done and I need to file a claim for my completion bond, and do all these other things." I asked him, "Why? What happened? You have the money and you were able to do all this production work." He said, "Well, I hired my next door neighbor who was a lawyer. He was a personal injury attorney. He told me he loves film and he wanted to help me out by only charging me X amount of dollars." In the end, the personal injury lawyer screwed everything up, and the client spent far too much money and didn’t know what to do. Even though he lost most of the money, he had this completion bond and ended up suing the
personal injury attorney.

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Drop Dead Diva's Jeff Rose Shares His Success & Insight

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:14:36 -0400

A skilled actor and producer, Jeff Rose has established himself as one of the industry’s most promising and top talents. With a clear vision for his future and conscious of the importance of family, nothing can break his focus now.

Few actors step on a set and garner attention like Jeff Rose. Already in 2010, the talented actor has won an award for "Best Actor" at the 168 Film Festival in LA, received critical acclaim in LA Times, and can be seen starring opposite veteran actress/Golden Globe winner Cybill Shepherd on the hit
Lifetime Channel series 'Drop Dead Diva.' Jeff is best known for his role as Major Ogden on Lifetime’s hit TV series 'Army Wives.'

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what influenced your decision to get into entertainment?
JEFF: Sure! I’m grateful to say I was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia (northwest suburb of Atlanta). "It’s a Wonderful Life" is - by far - my favorite movie of all time and, even as a young child, I was just like George Bailey. My dream was to break out of my hometown and "see the world."

Specifically, it was a classic TV series that influenced my decision to become an actor. When I was seven, my Dad was working a second job in the evenings. Every evening, my Mom and I would sit down to watch reruns of our favorite TV shows. One night, we experienced an episode of "The Rifleman" in which Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors) suspected his son Mark (Johnny Crawford) was guilty of some wrong-doing. Now, I don’t remember all the details, but when Mark finally revealed his culpability and shame, the music swelled and I was suddenly caught off guard by some very intense emotion.

I had been completely consumed by that black and white universe of North Fork (the show’s setting) and the lump in my throat was big enough to choke an elephant!

Not wanting to be caught crying - I was the man of the house at that moment, after all - I tried to hide my emotions from my Mom. I fought as hard as I could, but the grip of that show just wouldn’t let me go. Almost 5 minutes into the next broadcast, I simply couldn’t hold it in any longer. I burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably, which totally freaked my Mom out because so much time had elapsed since the show had ended. When I was finally able to explain to her that it was "The Rifleman" that moved me so strongly, she explained to me in seven-year-old terms that it took a team of people to bring that show to life - a team in front of AND behind the camera. She tells everyone to this day that I looked her in the eye that very night and said, "Mom, I want to be
a part of that team".

I enjoy and appreciate literally every aspect of filmmaking, but since the actors were the only players on the "team" with whom I could identify at that time, acting became (and remains to this day) my strongest passion.

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2010 ESPY Award Winners

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:09:22 -0400

The 2010 Espy Award was full of nominees and lots of hilarious moments.

This year's Espy's featured some of the sports world's most talented athletes.

To nobody's surprise, LeBron James was NOT a fan favorite this year thanks to his move to join the Miami Heat. But, on a more positive note The Blind Side won for Best Sports Film.

2010 ESPY Winners

Special Awards
Arthur Ashe Courage Award: Aplington-Parkersburg (Iowa) High School coach Ed Thomas' family
Jimmy V Award For Perseverance: George Karl, Denver Nuggets coach

Best in Sport
Best Female Athlete: Lindsey Vonn, Olympic skier
Best Male Athlete: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Best Comeback: Kim Clijsters, tennis player
Best Performance Under Pressure: Landon Donovan, soccer
Best Moment: Landon Donovan, World Cup soccer, U.S. vs. Algeria
Best Team: New Orleans Saints
Best Coach/Manager: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game: Canada vs. USA, Olympic men's hockey gold-medal game
Best Championship Performance: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Best Play: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings
Best Upset: Northern Iowa over Kansas, NCAA tournament
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
Best Record Breaking Performance: John Isner vs. Nicolas Mahut, longest match in tennis history at
Wimbledon
Best Sports Movie: "The Blind Side"
College Athletic Program: Duke men's athletics and Stanford women's athletics

Individual Sports
Best Baseball Player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Best NBA Player: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Best WNBA Player: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Best NFL Player: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best MLS Player: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Shaun White, skateboarding/snowboarding
Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Torah Bright, snowboarding
Best Bowler: Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Best Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Best Fighter: Floyd Mayweather
Best Male Golfer: Phil Mickelson
Best Female Golfer: Lorena Ochoa
Best Jockey: Calvin Borel
Best Male Tennis Player: Roger Federer
Best Female Tennis Player: Serena Williams
Best U.S. Male Olympian: Shaun White
Best U.S. Female Olympian: Lindsey Vonn
Best Track and Field Athlete: Usain Bolt
Best Male College Athlete: John Wall, Kentucky basketball
Best Female College Athlete: Maya Moore, Connecticut basketball
Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Steve Cash, hockey
Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Amy Palmiero-Winters, track and field

Screenwriter, Sonny Lee, Shares Why It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:17:25 -0400

Writing is an amazing gift that not everyone has. To be a great writer one must possess a number of character traits, some of them being a healthy appetite for reading, a great imagination, and an aptitude for creative writing.

In less than 5 years, Sonny Lee and his writing partner, Patrick Walsh, have worked on 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' 'Rob & Big,' and now have a one-year-deal with NBC.

Sonny Lee took some time out of his insanely busy schedule to talk to IAE Magazine about his awesome career and to share his expert advice with writers and other industry professionals.

IAE: Where are you from and what got you’re interested in entertainment?
SL: My family moved around a lot when I was younger. Every 4 years we were in a different state. We lived in Minnesota, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois. Not sure if my parents were big Mark Twain fans or what (laughs)? I eventually attended college at the University of Pennsylvania where I majored in Economics. By my senior year, I realized that I absolutely hated the track I was on so I decided to move to New York. Growing up in a home with traditional Korean parents, I thought the only options available to me were either to become a doctor, lawyer, or banker. I didn’t realize there were careers outside of that. While in school, I excelled in the creative courses, so there were always signs that I should have been doing something in entertainment.

IAE: So when did you decide to go for it?
SL: I started with the NBC Page Program which paid $10 an hour. At the Page Program we gave tours for the 'Today Show'and 'Saturday Night Live'; it’s pretty much like what Kenneth from '30 Rock' does. That was my first exposure to the entertainment industry, and also where I met my writing partner, Patrick Walsh. We wrote our first pilot about the Page Program called, ‘Pages’ - which we thought was a novel idea at the time because 30 Rock and Studio 60 hadn’t come out yet.

IAE: What was the next step for you?
SL: When we started writing, we were really doing it for fun and not necessarily looking at it as a career. We hung out for about 4 or 5 months piecing this script together, and we had no clue what we were doing. When we finished it, we decided to send it to some friends who worked at NBC. One of those friends used to be the assistant to the head of comedy at NBC. She told me that she would read it and if it was any good she would pass it on to the executive. She got the script on a Friday and literally the next week we started getting congratulatory emails from friends with a Variety article attached. It said something like, "NBC flips for Pages." It was the same premise, same title, and how a kid moved to New York and joined the Page Program. I called
Patrick and said, ‘I think this is us but don’t you think it’s weird that they wouldn’t call us and tell us first?’

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Vincent Cirrincione is Managing the Successful Careers of Some of Entertainment's Top Acting Talent

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:15:54 -0400

Ever heard these names - Halle Berry, Taraji P. Henson, or Julie Benz? If so then meet successful talent manager, Mr. Vincent Cirrincione, the man responsible for guiding the successful careers of these award winning leading ladies of film and TV.

Vincent took some time out of his insanely busy schedule to talk to IAE Magazine about his awesome career and to share his expert advice with actors and other industry professionals.

IAE: Tell us where you’re from and what got you interested in the entertainment industry?
VC: I’m very New York; born in Brooklyn and I’ve always wanted to be in entertainment.

IAE: When did you get into management?
VC: I got into management early on. I started out producing and managing jazz artists in the music business. As I hit my 30s, I decided that I wanted to work with actors and actresses but I had no mentor, and no one wanted to give me a job or an internship because I was older. I had no clue what I was doing, but I just went for it. I told a friend of mine that I wanted start a management company representing actors but I had no office space, so he gave me his closet to work out of, no joke [laughs]. One thing led to another and I ended up managing a lot of people in New York.

The thing is, I didn’t have a Plan B. In order to be successful in entertainment, I don’t believe you can have a Plan B. When I interview actors and they tell me they went to college just in case things don’t work out, it feels like they’re expecting failure. It’s my belief that if you have that "fall back" plan, as soon as the going gets tough, you’re going to fall back. If you have a family and can’t afford to not have a "Plan B," then those are real things to consider. But if you really want to be successful in anything in life, failure cannot be an option for you. It should be an all or nothing thing. Nothing in life is guaranteed, even your fall back plan has a chance of failing, so you why not give it your all if acting is what you want to do? Many of my clients, whether it’s Halle Berry, Taraji Henson, or Julie Benz; none of them had a Plan B because they got into the business knowing that this is what they wanted to do for a living.

IAE: What exactly do talent managers do?
VC: The best way I can explain it is - let’s say we have a football team. You have the Head Coach, Defensive Coach, Offensive Coach, and Backfield Coach; well I’m the Head Coach. I work with the client’s agents, publicist, and lawyers. I have to help make sure each player is sticking to the initial game plan and things are progressing in a positive way. I don’t wait around for agents to get opportunities for my clients; some of my clients have agents and some don’t.

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Paramount Pictures Amy Powell Explains How Interactive Marketing Works

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:55:38 -0400

The internet has afforded us all, including IAE Magazine, the opportunity to connect and interact with one another in the digital realm. Thanks to professionals like Amy Powell, EVP of Interactive Marketing and Film Production at Paramount Pictures, we are able to interact with our favorite films
in a whole new way on the web.

IAE was able to snag a few moments of Amy’s time and discuss her awesome career in the film industry.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what influenced your decision to get into entertainment?
AP: I’m originally from Boston, and I’ve always wanted to work in movies. So after attending college in Atlanta at Emory University, my twin sister and I moved out to LA to pursue a career in entertainment.

IAE: What was your first job in the industry and how did that come about?
AP: My first job was actually an internship if that qualifies [laughs]. I highly recommend interning to everybody who wants to get involved in the entertainment business. While in college, I interned at CNN [Atlanta] on the newsroom floor. While I didn’t necessarily want to be in news, I think it provided me with a great introduction into the entertainment world. I knew moving to Los Angeles was going to be necessary for me to get into movies, so I headed west as soon as I had the chance.

IAE: How did you end up at Paramount as the EVP of Interactive Marketing and what do you do in your current position?
AP: I started out at Sony Pictures and then came to Paramount about 6 years ago. Initially, when I got to Paramount, I held a position as the VP of Interactive Marketing which led to my current position as an EVP of Interactive Marketing and Film Production.

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Columbia Picture's DeVon Franklin is Making Movies & Entertaining The World

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:25:39 -0400

The film business is a place where interns can become executives and hopefuls can become A-listers. It is a business filled with opportunity, and it attracts dreamers from all over the world who are hoping to find success in making movies.

Meet DeVon Franklin, a young film professional who has taken his dream of making movies to the limit. IAE had the privilege of speaking with DeVon about his path toward becoming a successful filmmaker, starting off as an intern for Benny Medina at Handprint Entertainment and then an assistant for James Lassiter and Will Smith at Overbrook Entertainment. Learn how DeVon has worked his way up the "ladder" to become one of the industry’s leading film executives at Columbia Pictures.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
DF: I’m originally from the Bay Area; Oakland and Richmond to be exact. When I was a child I wanted to play football, but along the way I realized it wasn’t my destiny (laughs). I can recall watching the 'The Cosby Show' as a kid and wondering, how the actors on the show got that job. I also recall seeing 'The Color Purple' and remembering how powerful it was; it’s one of those films that just stuck with me. One of the first movies that I saw in a movie theater was ‘Rocky 3,’ and after that I was sold. I didn’t know how I would be able to have a career in film, but I knew I had to figure it out (laughs).

IAE: What college did you attend and what was your major?
DF: I applied to USC and UCLA and got accepted into both schools, but when I visited the campus at USC I felt that’s where God wanted me to be. I decided to major in Business, with a minor in Film. My interest in entrepreneurship is why I chose to attain a business degree, but the film minor provided a supplement that kept me focused on my dream. Attending USC was very instrumental to my success today because I don’t believe I would have been able to get an internship had I not been in school. I started interning my freshman year at USC, and if I wasn’t interning I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.

Both the internship and school were very critical because of the network of people I met, the relationships I built, and the experience I received. They were absolutely the foundation to who I am. In the movie business, it doesn’t matter what part of it you’re in, you are here to tell stories. The more life experience you have the richer your stories will be. I tell people all the time to enjoy your 4 years (of college) because when you graduate, the real world kicks in(laughs). As much as it may be a drag to go to class, when you’re in college its easy street compared to when you’re out of school and working every day. The internships I did throughout my college years gave me a real perspective on the business and how it ran, even before gaining my first official job.

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Traci Blackwell the VP of Current Programming at The CW Television Network Talks Fall Lineup

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:11:58 -0400

From hits like ‘90210’ to 'One Tree Hill,’ the VP of Current Programming at the CW Network, Traci Blackwell has helped successfully run some of America’s top watched TV shows.

Traci’s desire to help young writers and directors realize their dreams, while working to improve the quality and diversity of the TV industry is a true testament to her success. Fortunately, IAE was able to take up a few minutes of Ms. Blackwell’s time to discuss her amazing career in network television.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what made you decide to pursue a career in entertainment?
TB: I’m from Silver Spring, Maryland, and I’ve always had a love for television. I grew up a "latchkey kid," so I watched a lot of TV. While I was at Spelman I don’t recall knowing that I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment until my junior year.

IAE: What was your major while you were at Spelman?
TB: My major was English with a minor in Communications. At Spelman there is no Communications major, but in Atlanta they have the ‘Atlanta University Center’ which consists of Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, and Spelman; this allowed me to cross-register between the schools. Clark Atlanta has a Mass Communications program so I took all of my Communications courses there. While there, I became very fascinated with the entertainment business. I was one of those kids whose mom said, "You are either going to get a job every summer, or you’re going to intern, but you can’t sit at home and do nothing." I was always working or interning at a radio or TV station, even on Holidays. I always tell people that interning is very vital because it allows you to figure out what things you like and don’t like. Through those experiences I found out that I wasn’t really interested in music or radio specifically. However, I did figure out that I had a love for television, but more on the entertainment side of the business.

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Veteran Casting Director Fern Champion Shares Her Strong Love For Comedy & Finding New Talent

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:47:58 -0400

Ever watched any of these hugely successful films '‘The Police Academy' , '‘The Mask', 'Naked Gun’, or 'Mortal Kombat'? How about the super successful TV Show  '90210?' If you have, then you’ve seen Fern Champion’s amazing casting ability. Most recently, Fern has cast such films as 'Tekken,' based off the hit martial arts video game.

IAE visited Fern in her Beverly Hills office to discuss the profession of casting talent, from an A++ veteran in film.  Fern is the casting director who discovered Cameron Diaz and she share her strong love for comedy and finding new talent.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and how did you get into casting?
FERN: I’m a New York girl to the heart! I think I've been very fortunate in that I started my career with ‘Saturday Night Fever,’ which starred John Travolta.  Robert Stigwood(one of the producers of 'Saturday Night Fever') was the one who told me to come out to LA because he wanted me to do this movie with him. I told him, "No way! I hate LA!" I wanted to stay in New York because, not only did I grow up Brooklyn, but I also had a career in New York and lived in Manhattan on the upper west side.

IAE: So when you finally came to LA (laughs), what did you work on?
FERN: Well, as I mentioned, Robert Stigwood came to me and said he wanted me to do a movie out in LA. I thought, "If I have to come out to LA, it had better be a big movie." Because of Roberts background as a music and artist promoter for The Bee Gees, he wanted to do a musical called, 'Sg t . Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,' so that was my first major project in LA. We had a fantastic cast that included all these musical artists like The Bee Gees, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, and the great comedian George Burns. For the crazy character, Dr. Maxwell Edison, Robert (Stigwood) asked me if I knew of any comedians because he wanted a comedian for the role. So I told him about this really strange comedian that I saw the night before on ‘The Johnny Carson Show,’ and my husband really liked him (the comedian). I told Robert I would get this guy on tape. That comedian was Steve Martin.

IAE: You’ve had an amazing career where you’ve either discovered, or helped make many actors and comedians household names. What is it about your job that you love the most?
FERN: I love finding new people, it’s a high for me. I see so many folks who don’t like what they do, and I can’t say that I understand that, because I love what I do.

There are so many people who think that casting is boring because you’re constantly reading, but for me it’s the most exciting gig in town. First of all, the script is where it all starts. Let’s say you’re lucky enough to get a good script, now you have the chance to discover new faces.

So what's my job? It ain't a job; I'm being entertained. I love it!

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Frank Beddor the man behind "The Looking Glass Wars"

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:28:31 -0400

You never know where life is going to take you, and Frank Beddor can certainly be a testament to that. His life’s adventure seems like a well orchestrated movie with a lot of twists and turns. How else can one explain going from the US Ski Team to producing hit movies like, ‘There’s Something About Mary,’ and now a New York Times Best-Selling author?

IAE sat down with Mr. Beddor to discuss what’s next for the man who took Alice from Wonderland and brought her into our world as the real person, Alyss Hart in "The Looking Glass Wars."

IAE: Could you please tell us where you are from and what inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
FB: I have such a varied and unusual background to be where I am right now. I grew up in Minneapolis and was framed by my parents. My father was an impresario, very flamboyant character who had all sorts of very cool business ventures. He had the first traveling Water Ski show, and he even water-skied down the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to New Orleans dressed as Paul Bunyan. My mom was a theatre major and we lived near the ‘Old Log Theatre’ and the ‘Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.’ As for me, I had some abilities in sports at a young age, particularly skiing.

IAE: Early on, you were invited to join the Olympic Ski Team. How did that come about and what impact has skiing had on your overall career success?
FB: While attending the University of Utah I got invited to join the US Ski Team. I pursued my career in skiing with laser focus and it took me all over the world skiing about 200 days a year. I spent six (6) months out of the year in Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. The US Ski Team helped me expand my world view and helped me out of my previously isolated existence [laughs].

I did a lot of endorsements as the world champion skier. Northwest Airlines was one of my sponsors, as well as Juicy Fruit gum, Audi, Nikon. I did a lot of commercials for them; mainly Ski commercials. Occasionally, they would have me speak and it was through doing a Juicy Fruit ad that a movie opportunity was presented. The film was called, 'Hot Dog...The Movie,' and it was shooting in Squaw Valley [Lake Tahoe Ski Resort, California]. They needed some stunt men to do freestyle stunts that I could do. After doing stunts for that film, I went on to do stunts and doubled for John Cusack in a film called ‘Better Off Dead,’ directed by Steve Holland. While on the set another writer/director came up to me by the name of Ken Friedman and said, "I
want you to come to LA and read for a part in a movie I’m doing."

62nd Primetime Emmy Award Nominations

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 16:07:38 -0400

IAE Magazine is excited about the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. Many of the executives and talent who helped make a number of the shows being nominated this year such a success, have graced the covers and pages of IAE Magazine in 2009 & 2010.

Some of these individuals who have been involved on nominated shows in 2009 - 2010:

ISSUE 5 - JUNE/JULY 2010
David Drabik (Saturday Night Live, Letterman)
Vincent Cirrincione - Talent Manager (Clients featured on: Castle, Nip/Tuck)

ISSUE 4 - JUNE/JULY 2010
Francene Selkirk (The Wanda Sykes Show)

ISSUE 3 - FEB/MAR 2010
Louise Ward - Talent Agent (Clients Starred on: Nip/Tuck)
Eric Gotthelf - ADR Engineer (Men of a Certain Age, The Good Wife)
Ron Basile - Producer of 60th Annual Primetime Emmy's

VIEW NOMINEES - CLICK HERE

Jimi Hendrix & George Fullerton To Be Inducted Into Fender Hall Of Fame

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:20:19 -0400

Fender Musical Instruments Corp. (FMIC) is proud to announce that it will honor rock legend Jimi Hendrix
and founding employee George Fullerton at its fourth annual Fender Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 4 p.
m. to 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 13, 2010, at the Tempe Center of the Arts in Tempe, Arizona.

The Fender Hall of Fame was created in 2007 as an annual celebration of Fender® founders, artists,
leaders, innovators and other historically significant figures, and as an institution in which their contributions
to the company’s legacy are permanently commemorated.

Special guests at the 2010 induction ceremony will include Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, Geoff Fullerton,
Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Chris Layton. Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC, is the central
figure in preserving and protecting the ongoing legacy of her legendary stepbrother, Jimi Hendrix. As the
head of the Hendrix estate for nearly a decade, she will be present at the induction ceremony that afternoon
to accept the honor on behalf of Jimi Hendrix and the Hendrix family.

Over a career spanning nearly half a century, world-famous recording producer and engineer Eddie Kramer
is well known as the man who recorded Jimi Hendrix; playing an integral role in recording every seminal
Hendrix album from the 1967 debut Are You Experienced to 1971’s The Cry of Love. Kramer is
unquestionably one of the most renowned and well-respected producer/engineers in rock history; his work
has also included famous albums for the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Peter
Frampton and many other artists.

Fender’s own Geoff Fullerton is the son of George Fullerton, one of Leo Fender’s best friends, first
employees and key right-hand men during Fender’s original 1940s-1960s golden age. A generation later,
Geoff Fullerton has lent his own talents as a builder to the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California; he
remains there today and will be on hand at the induction ceremony to accept the honor on behalf of his
father and family.

The fourth annual Fender Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will also feature a musical performance by
noted blues guitarist/singer/songwriter Kenny Wayne Shepherd, ably backed by premier electric blues
drummer Chris Layton, formerly of Double Trouble and also known for his work with a variety of artists
including Storyville, Arc Angels, Doyle Bramhall II and many others.

George Fullerton reported to work at Fender on Feb. 2, 1948, after performing several years of side work for
Leo. He ran the small shop and supervised the crew during those first formative years, bringing a congenial,
family-like atmosphere to the feisty young company. He became vice president in charge of production in
April 1959, and from that early era through the 1960s, he remained both well liked by everyone at Fender
and steadfastly loyal to Leo, with whom he remained a lifelong friend and business partner long after both
men retired from Fender in 1970.

About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is the world’s leading guitar manufacturer, and its name
has become synonymous with all things rock ‘n’ roll. Iconic Fender® instruments such as the Telecaster®,
Stratocaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars are known worldwide as the instruments that
started the rock revolution, and they continue to be highly prized by today’s musicians and collectors. FMIC
brands include Fender®, Squier®, Guild®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, Charvel®, SWR®, EVH®, Tacoma®,
Olympia® and Brand X®. For more information, visit www.fender.com.

Gary Marsh Breaks Down Each Service His Firm Offers Actors

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 09:53:56 -0400

Gary Marsh is the Founder of Breakdown Services, one of the film & television industries most widely used service online. Mr. Marsh has created a system that affords actors the opportunity to be seen, heard, and hired by professionals in the film & TV business.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what it was like growing up there?
GM: I was born in England and immigrated to Canada, with my parents. Then, when I was 10 years old, we came to the United States. It was my mother’s desire to take advantage of my outgoing nature, so that I could pursue acting.

IAE: I know your mom was a talent agent, is that what inspired you to become an actor?
GM: It’s actually vice-versa, because my mother actually was inspired to get more into the business through my experiences. I did some modeling jobs while living in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada), so when we immigrated to Los Angeles, I started working in theatre. The first job I did was ‘Theatre in the Round,’ and from there, I did ‘Peter Pan,’ with Janet Blair and Vincent Price. One of my most memorable jobs was when I was 13, I got a role as "Tom of Warwick" in the play, ‘Camelot,’ which took my mother and I to a beautiful town called, Segovia, just north of Madrid, Spain. So when we got back to the LA, from Spain, my mother got a job working as a talent agent for a small agency.

IAE: What college did you attend and what was your major?
GM: I started at UC-Northridge, but my junior year I transferred to UCLA. Although my major ended up being History, I actually started out as a Communications major, with a minor in Journalism. But, in order for me to pay my way through college, when I was 18 years old, I started Breakdown Services. I had to switch my major [to History] when I found out that the available classes for the Communications degree required me to be in school during the middle of the day, and I couldn’t because I had a business to run. I was fascinated with history, and the fact that there was a preponderance of classes at 8 and 9 o’clock in the morning, it afforded me the ability to get out of class early enough to run Breakdown Services and still earn my college degree, which was a major goal of mine.

Here’s an interesting story. While I was at Northridge, I went to one of my Communications professors to explain that I couldn’t come to some of the labs because I was starting a business. He said, "You’re going to have to make a decision, either come to class or go to work, you can’t do both." Interestingly, I didn’t know it at the time, but he was an agent who eventually became a client of mine.

Casting Director Mark Fincannon of Fincannon & Associates Talks Film

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 09:32:29 -0400

Casting for film and TV can be an intense, yet rewarding, profession. With so many actors’ headshots, resumes, and sometimes even videotaped submissions to sift through, one has to be extremely organized and patient, while having a great eye for talent.

Mark Fincannon, Craig Fincannon, and Lisa Mae Fincannon have positioned themselves as one of the top casting teams in the US. Having assisted in casting acting talent for such TV shows as ‘One Tree Hill’ and major motion pictures like, Sandra Bullock’s ‘The Blind Side,’ and Channing Tatum’s recent film ‘Dear John’ it’s no wonder the team at Fincannon & Associates is at the top of the Film/TV casting business.

IAE had the opportunity to sit and speak with one of the members of this Emmy Award Winning team, Mark Fincannon, to get the scoop on how to successfully cast for major TV and Film projects.

IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what inspired your interest in the entertainment arts?
MARK: I was born in Greensboro, NC, but I grew up in Asheboro, NC. There is one high school, four elementary schools, and a couple of junior high schools, so it’s a small town for sure. My mother inspired me to get into the entertainment business. I have an older brother, Craig, and a younger sister, Nancy. Our mother wanted us all to have a cultural background, even though my father was a banker. So she put my brother, Craig, in piano lessons; and took my sister, Nancy, and I to tap, jazz, and ballet classes; I believe I was 6-years-old then. So I was the one boy with the twelve girls in ballet class when I was 6-10, and it was a lot of fun. The inspiration that my mother had given me to explore the creative side of my talent is something that I’m forever indebted to her for.

IAE: What college did you attend and what was your major?
MARK: My best friend, who I was blessed to have met when I was in the second grade; his father kind of encouraged me to attend a small college in Salisbury, NC called Catawba College, where he had attended. I was like, 'if they take me then I’ll go' [laughs]. So I headed off to Catawba, and my best friend called me 3 weeks before college and said he’d decided to go to the University of South Carolina. Here I was, being dropped off at this small school with a student body count of about 950; but it was exactly what I needed. Here’s an interesting fact about Catawba; it was named one of the top 5 Theatrical Musical Theatre Colleges in America. But those four years were some of the greatest years of my life. It was a small school, but it had a theater building that had a main stage theater with a magnificently large proscenium; the place seated 2,500 people. It boggled my mind to walk into a facility like that on such a small campus, I mean, my eyes were wide open and I thought, "Wow this is why I’m here; I’m home." So during my time at Catawba, I ended up being in the plays and also getting hired as a student technical director. So I was building sets throughout the day, rehearsing plays in the evening, and studying whenever I could. We did four main stage shows every year and created a "black-box theater" there called the, ‘Catawba Experimental Theater,’ that still thrives today. It’s a little black-box venue where students can put on one act plays, on the weekends, and be able to charge a couple of dollars and experiment with acting.

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas To Be Shot In 3-D

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 22:07:45 -0400

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas has begun filming on location in Michigan with their 3-D cameras.    John Cho (Star Trek, Flash Forward), Kal Penn (Superman Returns, House), and Neil Patrick Harris reprise their roles in the Christmas-themed comedy.

The new Harold and Kumar comedy picks up six years after the duo's last adventure. After years of growing apart, Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) have replaced each other with new best friends and are preparing for their respective Christmas celebrations. But when a mysterious package arrives at Kumar's door, his attempt to deliver it to Harold's house ends with him inadvertently burning down Harold's father-in-law's prize Christmas tree.

With his in-laws out of the house for less than a day, Harold decides to cover his tracks rather than come clean, and reluctantly embarks on another ill-advised but hilarious journey with Kumar, taking them through New York City on Christmas Eve in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

Kal Penn, who literally works for President Barack Obama's administration, took a leave of absence to shoot the film.

Also returning to the cast are Paula Garces (The Shield) as Maria; Danneel Harris (One Tree Hill) as Vanessa; Bobby Lee  (Pineapple Express) as Kenneth Park; and Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie, How To Make It In America) as Rosenberg.  New cast members include Thomas Lennon (Reno 911), Danny Trejo(Grindhouse), and a host of others.

This will be Todd Strauss-Schulson’s directorial debut; while Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg return as writers and co-producers.  Greg Shapriro (The Hurt Locker) and Mandate president Nathan Kahane are producing.  Samuel J. Brown and Carsten H.W. Lorenz are executive producers.  Nicole Brown will also be co-producing and overseeing the film on behalf of Mandate.

The film is scheduled for a 2011 release.   The film is a production of Mandate Pictures and New Line Cinema and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The Blind Side Nominated For 2010 ESPY Award

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 21:39:50 -0400

The 2010 Espy Award nominees have been announced and are available for the public to see at ESPN's website.

This year's Espy's will feature some very talented athletes. Talented sports players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and A-Rod are among this year's
nominees.

But in the "Best Sports Film" category are some of the year's most popular films. One of those films is the super successful film, "The Blind Side."

The film has already received over 14 nominations at various film awards ceremonies in 2010, including the 2010 Academy Award nomination for "Best Picture."

The film's lead actress, Sandra Bullock, has won multiple awards for her role in the film, including the 2010 Oscar for "Best Actress," and a Golden Globe award for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama".

Now, "The Blind Side" can add a win for itself on Wednesday, July 14th. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN at 9pm. IAE Magazine has interviewed one the writers for the Espy Awards, Dave Drabik, in the June/July 2010 issue of our publication.

Other actors in this film are Robert "IronE" Singleton (The Walking Dead), Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron.

Help the film win this year's Espy Award. Visit ESPN.comand cast your vote today.

Paula Abdul To Appear On "Drop Dead Diva" Season Finale

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 18:02:53 -0400

Get ready for the season finale of Lifetime’s "Drop Dead Diva." It has already been reported that Natasha Henstridge (Eli Stone, Species) will appear in the last two episodes of "Diva," but IAE Magazine has found out that the actress will play, Claire Harrison, a partner with the law firm of Harrison and Parker.

If you enjoyed Paula Abdul on the series, then you will be happy to know that she reprises her role as, Judge Paula Abdul.

Also returning to "Diva" for the finale is actor Jeff Rose (Army Wives), who will continue his role as opposing attorney Doug Resnick. Rose became a fan favorite since this season's second episode aired. Jaime Ray Newman (The Gauntlet, Eastwick) who plays Vanessa, Grayson Kent’s (Jackson Hurst) love interest also returns.

Season 2's finale will be sure to have some twists and turns. Alex Taub (Eli Stone) and Jeffrey Lippman (Head Cases) are the writers for the finale and Michael Lange(Greek) will direct.

Natasha Henstridge is repped by Paradigm and Mosaic Media Group. Paula Abdul is repped by United Talent Agency. Jeff Rose is repped by H&W Talent Management and Houghton Talent Agency (Southeast). Jaime Ray Newman is repped by Innovative Artists and Burstein Company.

Dominic Cooper To Be Howard Stark In Captain America: The First Avenger

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 13:52:12 -0400

On Thursday, Marvel Studios announced that Dominic Cooper will play Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger. Cooper will play the younger version of Howard Stark just as John Slattery who recently played Stark in Iron Man 2. Samuel L. Jackson will also appear in "Captain America" continuing his role as Nick Fury from Iron Man 2.

Chris Evans (Fantastic Four, Push, The Losers) is playing the lead role of Steve Rogers/Captain America. Other cast include Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, and Stanley Tucci.

Christopher Markus , Stephen McFeely , and Joss Whedon wrote the script that Joe Johnston is directing. Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, Victoria Alonso, and Stephen Broussard will produce; while Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel, and Louis D’Esposito will executive produce.

Paramount Pictures is distributing the film with a scheduled release date of July 22, 2011.

Dominic will soon be seen in upcoming films, "The Devil’s Double" and "Tamara Drewe." He was most recently seen in the Oscar nominated film "An Education," as well as "The Duchess."

Cooper is represented by CAA.

Scream 4 Having Problems

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 09:59:15 -0400

According to Zap2It, all is not well on the set of Wes Craven's "Scream 4" due to significant script changes being made by Ehren Kruger, who is not the creator of the franchise.

Zap2it reports that Lauren Graham's role was so reduced that she dropped out of the project, and now it appears that Hayden Panetierre's part has changed as well.

Oddly, we hear that the franchise's creator, Kevin Williamson, is no longer involved with the project, which could mean that the likelihood of a "Scream 5" being made is very slim to none.

Kruger's resume as a writer includes such films as "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "The Ring," and "Scream 3." While the first two "Scream" movies, penned by Williamson, were adored by fans and critics alike, "Scream 3" failed to live up to peoples' expectations.

Hayden Panettiere's role, which one source says "used to be really sharp" has now been "dumbed down significantly." The actress is "beyond frustrated with the changes." Another source says that Lake Bell, who had to drop out of "Scream 4" due to scheduling changes, "dodged a bullet."

In the wake of some of the cast dropping out of the production, Alison Brie, Marley Shelton, Erik Knudson, and Adam Brody have all signed on, along with Anthony Andersonwho was ironically cast in 2006's "Scary Movie 4," a spoof of the Scream franchise.

The CW's Fall Lineup Premiere Schedule

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 14:48:47 -0400

The CW announced their premiere dates for the fall lineup. IAE Magazine interviewed CW's Traci Blackwell (VP of Current Programming) for the June/July issue where she mentioned Hellcatsand Nikita being the new series added to the network.

On Wednesday, September 8, Cycle 15 of AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (8:00-9:00 p.m.) kicks-off the 2010-2011 season, followed by the series premiere of new drama HELLCATS (9:00-10:00 p.m.). HELLCATS is a drama about a young pre-law student (Aly Michalka) whose world is turned upside-down when she loses her scholarship and has to join the college’s competitive cheerleading squad. Ashley Tisdale also stars as a young woman who is totally committed to the cheerleading squad to realize her dreams.

On Thursday, September 9, the network’s #1 show, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (8:00-9:00 p.m.) returns for a second season and leads into new action-drama series NIKITA (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). NIKITA stars Maggie Q in the title role as a spy and assassin for a top secret U.S. government agency, who rebels against the system that created her and will stop at nothing to bring their powerful operation to an end.

On Monday, September 13, viewers will get the best of both coasts when the third season premiere of 90210(8:00-9:00 p.m.) leads into the season four premiere of GOSSIP GIRL(9:00-10:00 p.m.).

On Tuesday, September 14, two fan favorites go back-to-back when season eight of ONE TREE HILL (8:00-9:00 p.m.) leads into the second season of LIFE UNEXPECTED (9:00-10:00 p.m.).

On Friday, September 24, SMALLVILLE (8:00-9:00 p.m.) kicks-off its tenth and final season, followed by the sixth season of SUPERNATURAL (9:00-10:00 p.m.).

Following is The CW’s fall premiere schedule:

Wednesday, Sept. 8
8:00-9:00 p.m. "AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL" (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "HELLCATS" (Series Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 9
8:00-9:00 p.m. "THE VAMPIRE DIARIES" (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "NIKITA" (Series Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 13
8:00-9:00 p.m. "90210" (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "GOSSIP GIRL" (Season Premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 14
8:00-9:00 p.m. "ONE TREE HILL" (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "LIFE UNEXPECTED"(Season Premiere)

Friday, September 24
8:00-9:00 p.m. "SMALLVILLE"(Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "SUPERNATURAL" (Season Premiere)

Film Composer, Brian Tyler, Honored At ASCAP 25th Anniversary Awards

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:15:12 -0400

Film Composer, Brian Tyler, who was featured on the cover of IAE Magazine's Dec/Jan 2010 issue was recently honored at ASCAP’s 25th Anniversary Awards Celebration on June 24th in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton.

According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) website, Tyler joined a host of other composers of the top box office film music and the most performed television music of 2009 at the organization’s event.

Those honored in the Top Box Office Films category were past ASCAP Henry Mancini Award honorees Carter Burwell(The Blind Side, Where the Wild Things Are), John Debney (Hannah Montana The Movie, Hotel For Dogs), James Newton Howard (Confessions of a Shopaholic, Duplicity), Randy Newman (The Princess and the Frog), Alan Silvestri (A Christmas Carol, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian), and Hans Zimmer (Angels & Demons, It’s Complicated, Sherlock Holmes).

Also honored were Brian Tyler (Fast and Furious, The Final Destination, Law Abiding Citizen), Erran Baron Cohen(Brüno), Marco Beltrami(Knowing), Bruno Coulais(Coraline), James Dooley (Obsessed), Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens (Invictus), Michael Giacchino (Star Trek, Up), Elliot Goldenthal (Public Enemies), Alex Heffes (State of Play), Nicholas Hooper (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince), James Horner (Avatar),Henry Jackman (Monsters Vs. Aliens), Heitor Pereira (It’s Complicated), John Powell (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs), Trevor Rabin (G-Force), and Waddy Wachtel (Paul Blart: Mall Cop).

Read Brian Tyler’s IAE Magazine interview at http://www.iaemagazine.com/feed/vol1iss2/briantyler_composer.html

'Jumping The Broom' Adds More Cast Members

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:41:20 -0400

According to Hollywood Reporter, "Jumping the Broom," which is being distributed by Columbia Pictures, has added more actors to its cast.

Angela Bassett (What's Love Got To Do With It), Laz Alonso (Avatar), Loretta Devine (Death at a Funeral) and Romeo Miller (aka Lil’ Romeo) will join actress Paula Patton in the comedy.

"Jumping The Broom" is a story about what happens when two families from totally different socioeconomic lifestyles meet for the first time at a weekend wedding in Martha's Vineyard.

Bassett will play Patton's mother, an heiress who has is held in high esteem among Washington (D.C.) elite. Miller plays Patton's cousin, a senior at Yale. Alonso will play Patton's love interest. Shooting begins in early summer in Nova Scotia.

Arlene Gibbs wrote the script, which is undergoing a minor rewrite by Elizabeth Hunter. Bishop T.D. Jakes, Curtis Wallace, Tracey Edmonds, Glendon Palmer and Elizabeth Hunter are producing.

Bassett just wrapped shooting on "Green Lantern," playing Dr. Amanda Waller in the Martin Campbell-helmed Warner Bros. tentpole. She is casting her directorial debut, "United States," which is slated to go before cameras in the fall. She is repped by Gersh and Lighthouse Entertainment.

Alonso, who is repped by ICM and Thruline, appeared in the blockbuster film, "Avatar," as well as the recent box office release "Just Wright." Devine, repped by Innovative Artists, appeared in the April release "Death at a Funeral"; rapper-actor Romeo Miller, repped by Fortitude and Adam Robinson, is the son of famed rapper ‘Master P’ and toplined his own show from 2004-06 on the Nickelodeon network series, "Romeo!"

Footloose Finds Their Leading Man

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:46:31 -0400

Paramount Pictures has announced that newcomer, Kenny Wormald, will replace Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl) in the remake of the 1980s hit, 'Footloose.'

Originally Zac Efron, and then Chace Crawford, were each slated to play the role of "Ren McCormack," but ultimately chose not to do the film.

Similar to the casting process that took place on the original film in 1984 where both Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe were the film's first choices as the lead male, ultimately the part went to Kevin Bacon and the rest is history.

While Kenny may be new to the average film enthusiast, he isn’t new to the world of dance and on-screen acting. Most dance fans know him from MTV’s, ‘Dancelife,’ as well as the lead in the 2008 feature ‘Center Stage: Light it Up’ as "Tommy Anderson." Just in case you're unsure of Wormald's credentials as a dancer, you should know that he is a choreographer and has danced on tour with hit recording artists like Justin Timberlake and the Pussycat Dolls.

Craig Brewer is set to direct while Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, and Miles Tiller star. The production is scheduled to begin some time in the fall of 2010 in Atlanta (GA), and is scheduled for an April 2011 release.

Kenny is repped by The Kohner Agency and Caliber Media Company.

The Walking Dead Adds T-Dog

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:58:10 -0400

What a week it has been with casting news for AMC’s "The Walking Dead." Linda Edwards (Seed), Jim Coleman (American Gangster), and twelve-year old Chandler Riggs (Get Low) have been confirmed for the highly anticipated TV series. Now, IronE Singleton (The Blind Side) has been added to the cast as T-Dog, one of the survivors amongst the zombies. Currently in production in Atlanta (GA), "The Walking Dead" is scheduled to air in October 2010. Based on Robert Kirkman’s comic, Frank Darabont is the writer, director, and executive producer for the one-hour TV series. Gale Anne Hurd and Dave Alpert also are executive producing.

IronE Singleton has been busy in 2010. Most recently, he has worked on several major network pilots, including VH1’s "Single Ladies," TNT’s "Detroit 187," and ABC’s "Franklin and Bash" all scheduled for release in this year’s fall lineup.

Singleton is not only limited to TV as we saw in one of 2009’s top box office hits, "The Blind Side," which received an 2010 Academy Award nomination for ‘Best Picture’ in January, thanks to his contribution opposite Sandra Bullock as the menacing thug ‘Alton.’

Immediately following the Oscars, IronE went to work on another feature called "The Hungry Rabbit Jumps" as the character ‘Scar,’ alongside Guy Pearce and Oscar Winner, Nicolas Cage.

Also, he will appear in the upcoming feature, "The Lottery Ticket," opposite Bow Wow and Ice Cube which is scheduled to hit theaters August 20, 2010.

IronE Singleton is repped by H and W Talent Management and Houghton Talent Agency (Southeast)

Giovanni Hidalgo Honorary Doctor Degree of Music and 28 Musicians Win Scholarships at Berklee in Puerto Rico

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:04:36 -0400

Twenty-eight Puerto Rican musicians were awarded scholarships at the closing ceremony of Berklee in Puerto Rico, a weeklong workshop held at the Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina, in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest.Four students received full tuition awards to Berklee's Five-Week Summer Performance Program; 16 students received partial scholarships for full-time study at Berklee in Boston; 5 students won Berkleemusic.com free online courses; and 3 students won one semester of study at Conservatorio de Belles Artes del Caribe in San Juan. 179 students, ranging in age from 12 to 34, participated in this year's workshops.Over $3 million in tuition assistance has been awarded in the 15 years of the Berklee in Puerto Rico program.

A group of the program's top students played for thousands of people at the Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest, at the Tito Puente Amphitheater, in San Juan, on the final day of the festival. Following the performance, Berklee presented an honorary doctor of music degree to percussionist, composer, and bandleader Giovanni Hidalgo. A native of Puerto Rico, Hidalgo is considered one of the best conga players of his generation, and possibly the fastest. A former member of Dizzy Gillespie's United Nation Orchestra, he has performed or recorded with Tito Puente, Paul Simon, and Art Blakey, among others. Hidalgo taught in Berklee's percussion department from 1992-1996.

Berklee in Puerto Rico is a crash course in the Berklee method of musical instruction, encompassing theory, ear training, improvisation, ensemble performance, and instrument instruction. This year's faculty included Eguie Castrillo, island native and associate professor of percussion; saxophonist Greg Badolato, assistant vice president for international programs; Oscar Stagnaro, bass professor; Rick Peckham, assistant chair of guitar; drummer Ron Savage, chair of ensembles; pianist Rebecca Cline, assistant professor of ensembles; trombonist Bob Pilkington, professor of jazz composition; vocalist Darcel Wilson, ear training instructor; and trumpeter Christine Fawson, brass instructor.

Berklee in Puerto Rico is made possible by generous support from Berklee alumnus and trustee Luis Alvarez '83, vice president of Mendez & Company, Inc., and executive producer of the Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest. In addition to helping coordinate the program, Alvarez and his corporation will donate $20,000 for the Mendez & Company Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest Scholarship to be awarded at the end of the Berklee in Puerto Rico program. In the 15 years that the program has run, Mendez & Company has awarded over $150,000. Additional Berklee in Puerto Rico sponsors include Fundación Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (main sponsor); Triple-S; Fiddler González & Rodríguez; and Carrión, Laffitte & Casellas.

- Nick Balkin (Berklee University, Boston)

Robert De Niro Joins Jason Statham In 'The Killer Elite'

Wed, 26 May 2010 17:49:12 -0400

Inferno Entertainment is on a roll. Not only has the LA based film company recently picked up international support at Cannes for "The Lost City of Z," which has Brad Pitt attached to star, the company has more in the pipelines.

Inferno is currently filming an action thriller in Australia titled, "The Killer Elite," which is an adaptation of the book, "The Feather Men" by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Jason Statham will star as Danny, a Navy Seal who is forced out of retirement to save his friends. Robert De Niro has recently been added to the cast as Statham’s best friend and mentor. Gary McKendry is directing.

Inferno's Co-Chairman, Bill Johnson, was featured in the Feb/Mar 2010 issue of IAE Magazine and mentioned that the company has another guaranteed hit, "Arabian Nights," in the works. The $70Million film will be penned and directed by Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King, The Mask, Eraser) and distributed by Mayhem Pictures. Sir Anthony Hopkins is attached to play the evil sorcerer 'Pharotu,' while Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) will play the young commander who joins forces with Sinbad, Ali Baba, and the Genie from the magic lamp to rescue Queen Scheherazade.
by: C Freeman

50 Cent Loses 54 Pounds And Falls Apart

Wed, 26 May 2010 15:19:49 -0400

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has teamed with Ray Liotta and Mario Van Peebles for the upcoming indie drama ‘Things Fall Apart.’ The movie, which is currently filming in Michigan, will show 50 Cent portraying a star running back who finds out he has cancer in his senior year of college.

While many know Mr. Jackson as a superstar rap artist, many would not believe that he has committed himself to playing the role so much that he has lost a whopping 54 pounds. According to ThisIs50.com, 50 Cent has, "dropped from 214 pounds to an astonishing 160 with a liquid diet and three-hour-a-day treadmill walks for nine weeks."

Says 50, "I was starving, but I've been eating. I'll be back in shape in no time!" Good thing he’s back to eating, because starting Saturday, May 29th, 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew will be on a 25 city tour that will kick off in Detroit and close out in Goias, Brazil.

by: S Freeman

Legendary Pictures to bring Mass Effect to life

Wed, 26 May 2010 10:11:29 -0400

The world of 'Mass Effect' will soon be on the bigscreen. Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights of the video game and Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend, Thor) will be in charge of writing a draft of the screenplay.

Set in the year 2183, 'Mass Effect' takes us on a mission with Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy and his executive team to save humanity from the alien race looking to wipe them out. The video game has adventure, sci-fi, and a love story combined; which can be compared to Star Wars, Star Trek II.

Legendary Pictures’ executives, Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, have had success in the Action/Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre with such hits as The Dark Knight, 300, Clash of the Titans, and Watchmen.

Tull and Jashni will produce Mass Effect with Avi and Ari Arad, while BioWare co-founders, Ray Muzyka and Greg Zesckuk, and Casey Hudson will executive produce the anticipated blockbuster. Distribution will be through Warner Bros.

by C. Freeman

Is Paula Patton Jumping The Broom?

Mon, 24 May 2010 14:08:46 -0400

Paula Patton is off to a great year. Coming off the Oscar nominated film, "Precious"; she currently can be seen in the Fox Searchlight/Flavor Unit Entertainment film, "Just Wright" as Queen Latifah's sister, Morgan Alexander.

There are reports that Paula is in negotiations to play the lead in "Jumping the Broom," which is scheduled for a summer shoot in Nova Scotia and New York. The story is about two African American families from completely different socioeconomic backgrounds; who come together at Martha's Vineyard for a wedding.

Salim Akil (The Game, Girlfriends, Soul Food) is making his feature film directorial debut with the comedy. Arlene Gibbs (Traitor) wrote the original draft and Elizabeth Hunter (Beauty Shop) is credited for writing the screenplay.

Bishop T.D. Jakes, Tracey Edmonds, Glendon Palmer, Curtis Wallace, and Elizabeth Hunter are producing. DeVon Franklin (VP of Produciton, Columbia Pictures) really got behind the project and "Jumping The Broom" will be released through Sony. DeVon is on the cover of the April/May issue of I Am Entertainment (IAE) Magazine.

Patton is repped by William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment.

by C. Freeman

Law and Order Series Finale and Marathon on TNT

Fri, 21 May 2010 21:52:51 -0400

An end to an era, TNT's Law and Order series finale will air Monday, May 24th at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). TNT will celebrate the 20 year run of Law and Order with a 10-hour marathon the series most memorable episodes.

SCHEDULE:

Noon - Point of View - First episode feat. Jerry Orbach's character, Det. Lennie Briscoe.

1 p.m. - Sanctuary - Favorite episode of Michael Moriarity, who plays ADA Ben Stone.

2 p.m. - Competence - Episode in which Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) is shot.

3 p.m. - Pride - Last regular episode featuring Chris Noth's character, Det. Mike Logan.

4 p.m. - Terminal - Favorite episode of Sam Waterston, who plays ADA Jack McCoy, and Steven Hill, who plays DA Adam Schiff.

5 p.m. - Gunshow - First and favorite episode of Jesse L. Martin, who plays Det. Ed Green.

6 p.m. - C.O.D. - Final episode of Jerry Orbach''s Det. Lennie Briscoe.

7 p.m. - Burn Card - Final episode of Jesse L. Martin's Det. Ed Green.

8 p.m. - Illegal - Fan favorite.

9 p.m. - Zero - Fan favorite, with memorable ending in which Jack McCoy refers to Adam Schiff.

by C. Freeman

Jeff Rose To Co-Star With Cybill Shepherd On Drop Dead Diva

Wed, 19 May 2010 19:50:43 -0400

Jeff Rose will be joining the cast of Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" for the hit comedic drama's upcoming sophomore season. As the politely stern LA attorney, Doug Resnick, Rose will appear as the lead opposing attorney to Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott) and the rest of the staff at Harrison and Parker throughout the season. In addition, Rose will also be seen taking on Cybill Shepherd as Ellie Tannen, a world renowned and extremely mean-spirited fashion designer. Rose will share the screen with many of this season's notable guest stars, including Chad Lowe, Veronica Cartwright, and Ricki Lake.

Jeff is best known for his role as Major Bryce Ogden on Lifetime's "Army Wives", the highest rated series in the network's history. Initially cast as an integral part of the storyline involving the rocky marriage of Frank Sherwood (Terry Sperico) and Denise Sherwood (Catherine Bell). The writers and producers of "Army Wives" worked Jeff back into the drama after that arc was resolved by putting Major Bryce Ogden in the thick of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan with Colonel Joan Burton (Wendy Davis).

In March, Jeff won an award for Best Actor at the International 168 Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Jeff Rose is repped by H and W Talent Management and Houghton Talent Agency (Southeast Agent).

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Actress Lydia Blanco Shares Her Secrets On How To Book A Role

Wed, 19 May 2010 11:26:14 -0400

The life of an actor can be a tough road to travel. Many aspiring thespians find themselves relocating to Los Angeles from all over the world in search of fame, only to miss the mark. But some manage to find what they seek, and Lydia Blanco is one of those fortunate few. After seeing Lydia in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, we at IAE became instant fans of this talented young actress. Even though becoming a star isn’t Lydia’s focus, she’s headed for greatness.

IAE:Can you please tell us where you were born and raised and what it was like growing up in your household?

LYDIA: I was born in Albuquerque (NM), but when I was 3, my family moved to Corpus Christi (TX), where I was raised. Corpus Christi is a beautiful city, but aside from school plays and Community Theater, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for someone interested in acting. I definitely knew I wanted to leave as soon as I graduated high school, so that I could pursue my career in film and TV.

IAE: When did you move to LA and what do you know now about the film biz, that you wish you knew back when you first got to LA?

LYDIA: One thing I wish I knew was proper marketing. When I studied in college it was all about training and learning the craft of acting, it wasn’t about the actual business of acting. It wasn’t until I moved to Austin [TX] for 2 years, before coming to LA, that I realized this is a business. I have to think about marketing; I have to send out postcards, build relationships with Casting Directors, notify them [Casting Directors] about shows that I’ve booked, keep my website updated, and make sure my headshots and resume is updated. There’s so much more that goes into your career than just being a good actor. I wish I had taken more marketing and business classes in college [laughs], because everything I know, I’ve had to learn along the way.

IAE: How important is getting trained by a well known acting coach, and how did you find your coach?

LYDIA: I think it’s important, if you don’t have any training, to get yourself a great coach and start building your craft. Each person is different so you have to find who fits your learning style. It was a little different for me because I’ve worked, consistently, without a coach for 9 years. But that’s because I trained in college, which helped me hit the ground running, when I came to Hollywood. So I didn’t feel the need to go to an acting class, or get a coach. But after a while, I started feeling stale, like I wasn’t being creative;especially with the stereotypical roles that I was going out on auditions for. I kind of felt like I needed a creative outlet where I could push myself more as an actor, so I decided to audit everyone’s acting classes in town until I found somebody I felt comfortable with. In September [2009] I started training with Howard Fine, and I love training and working with him [Howard]; I believe he’s going to make me a better actor, and prepare me for bigger and better roles to come.

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UTA Talent Agent Louise Ward Tells Us How She Makes Film and TV Stars

Wed, 19 May 2010 11:19:10 -0400

UTA Talent Agent, Louise Ward, is handling Some of Film & TV’s Top Actors & Actresses This Agent Shares What It Takes To Make A Star Like Channing Tatum, Julian McMahon, Kali Hawk, and Eliza Dushku

IAE: Where are you from and what made you want to pursue a career in the entertainment business?
LW: I was born in Boston, MA. I got into the entertainment business by falling in love with a guitar player in an 80’s rock band that was very big in Japan, but,unfortunately, nowhere else. I eventually moved to New York to be with him, but then that relationship ended, shockingly [laughs]. To get over the break-up, I came out to LA to visit my old college roommate, and got into the business because it was the one factory in town. I didn’t move to LA to do this [work as an agent]; I do this because I moved to LA.

IAE: What college did you attend and what was your major?
LW: I went to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where I was a Liberal Arts [English] major. Of course, I read all of the classics, but I also had a healthy love for cinema. I would recommend to anybody interested in getting into the film business that they have a really strong background in the classics of literature, as well as what’s culturally relevant today. I think many of the most successful contemporary movies come from both the classics, as well as more modern sources, like video games, graphic novels, and current events.

IAE: What was your first professional job in the entertainment business, and how did you get the job?
LW: [laughs] Stuffing posters into tubes for a radio station. Does that count? I think my title was Vice President of Prizes, although I would have preferred CEO in Charge of Morale, or something [laughs]. But yeah, I was just stuffing posters into tubes, and answering the request lines when no one else would. I got my first big break when I was working as the Producer, which is a fancy word for assistant, to the morning drive time DJ; he would arrive at 5am, so I had to be there at 4am. But one night, he was delayed by a snow storm, and in order for the station to comply with FCC regulations, every 20 minutes or so they’d have to do something in the public interest, like, say the time or read a Public Service Announcement. So I was just supposed to give a weather update, but it was the middle of the night and there was nobody there to stop me [laughs], so I found myself back-announcing Judas Priest records into the wee hours, and found that I really liked it. I had a voice that worked for that particular station, so I was able to do that for a little while.

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The Blindside actor IronE Singleton joins the cast of Single Ladies

Wed, 12 May 2010 13:20:20 -0400

Having played, Alton, the Hurt Village thug Sandra Bullock threatened in the Academy Award Nominated film, The Blindside, IronE Singleton is bringing his handsome comedic charm to Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit/VH1 TV series Single Ladies. His character, Dion, will play opposite Lauren London, LisaRaye, and Stacey Dash.

IronE Singleton will also be on the big screen this summer in Ice Cube’s, Lottery Ticket. Later this year, you can catch him playing; Scar, a henchman who works with Guy Pearce in pursuit of Nicolas Cage in The Hungry Rabbit Jumps.

IronE is repped by HW Talent Management and Houghton Talent Agency (Southeast Agent).

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TV Producer, Ron Basile, Talks About Coordinating The Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:48:34 -0400

Every year, the music industry gathers at the Grammy Awards to celebrate those recording professionals who have topped the charts and kept us singing their songs. But many don’t give thought to the people who organize the entire event and make one of the music industry’s most important awards shows a success each time.

Thanks to Ron Basile, the Talent Executive of the Grammy Awards main show, recording artists are able to put on amazing performances for their fans and peers and give their acceptance speeches before the symphony cues them to exit the podium.

IAE: What are some of the things involved in prepping for an awards show?
RON: There’s a lot that goes into it, so this is going to be a long answer [laughs]. There are a lot of scenarios when you do the Grammys per se, because we also do the Grammy nomination show. For the Grammy nomination show, I produced that, but for the Grammys I’m the Talent Executive; even though the titles change, the meanings are almost the same. I’m a person that wears many hats; I’m a numbers person, so besides being on a creative end or on a numbers end, I know talent. For the Grammys I strictly deal with talent, I want nothing to do with numbers; that’s somebody else’s job. But for the Emmy’s, I do the numbers and the hiring and the firing; but I do very little talent.

The preparation process is: (1) what categories are we giving the awards in, (2) whose going to be there, and (3) whose getting nominated. At the Grammy nomination show, we don’t actually know who the nominee’s are, so I have to go out to all the labels and get the list from NARAS. Once I get the list, I decide on the types of awards we’ll give out; for example, Best Record, New Artist, and so on. Then what NARAS does is take from their pool of received submissions, which is basically who is being considered for nominations, and they give me 20 names. Of those names, I have to wait for the list of the 5 or 6 actual nominees which we only find out about the night before the nominations are read.

When you get to the award show portion of it, you’ve got to organize all the graphics, the packages, and what talent will be on the show. To make that stuff work, you need the proper staff and crew to help you prepare the stage lift, budgetary issues, and all the other stuff that is crucial to a show like the Grammys. Then you have the meetings with talent, which seems like an endless process. The whole rule, especially for the Grammys, is that your manager or the talent has to come in to us. We will get to you if need be, but we’re so busy that we can’t take hours out of our day to drive some place for an hour, meet you for an hour, finishing up for an hour, and then come back here. Will.I.Amcomes into our office all the time when The Black Eyed Peas are going to be on the show, and so does Kanye West.

Once the person is booked to perform, then it gets into the whole creative side, which is very big and crucial because everyone wants to have what they call the Ricky Martin effect [from the 1999 Grammys]. Everyone wants to outdo that Ricky moment, which is pretty tough because everyone remembers Ricky Martin’s Grammy performance, but no one else’s [laughs]. They want the glamour on stage, the fireworks, the props, the dancers, and the list goes on. You could probably remember back when we put Prince and Beyonce together. But do you remember any of the other performances? No one can remember 4 years ago when we had that limo roll out on stage before a certain artist’s performance; all people remember is the performance by the
Gorillas that had the whole screen effect that we did. Other than that, people don’t remember much of the glam stuff, unless you hit the mark. There are a lot of details put into these artists’ performances that nobody will ever remember, unless you were the person organizing it all [laughs]. The awards are just a given. We used to give 20 awards, but now it’s been cut down to like 12 or 13, with 2 of them only being mention that aren’t even given on-air.

Bill Johnson, Film Producer & Co-Chairman of Inferno Entertainment, Talks About Filmmaking

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:32:43 -0400

IAE: In 2002, you launched Inferno Entertainment with your partner, Jim Seibel. Could you please tell us what Inferno’s primary focus is, and what a typical day is like for you?
BILL: Inferno has evolved, because when we first started it was just a foreign sales company, and then it branched into financing and production. Right now my typical day is a combination of meeting with people who are pitching us ideas; or I’m talking to investors, bankers, or lawyers trying to figure out project financing. Much of my day is spent with the 20 employees here [at Inferno], whether I’m working with our international department, finance department, or our production team. It’s sort of across the board, because one minute I might be meeting with the Casting Director or talking to the Special Effects Producer about the shot on an upcoming movie. The next minute I might be dealing with some collection problem that comes up.

IAE: If my research serves me correctly, in 2007, Inferno and Sony Pictures inked a multi-picture co-financing and domestic distribution deal; then in 2008, Inferno and Magnet Media Group formed a two-year joint venture deal. How did those deals come about?
BILL: The deal with Sony came about based on a relationship I had with the executives over at their [Sony’s] studio. The deal with Magnet was something that was orchestrated by Endeavor. It’s a combination of taste and relationships.

IAE: How do you select the projects you want to finance and produce?
BILL: We take all of our experience of understanding what buyers all around the world are telling us, from domestic buyers to international buyers; then it’s what we think we can sell or what we think is going to get attention in the market place.

IAE: What projects are you currently working on?
BILL: We’re in post-production on a movie called, The Experiment, that we’re doing with, Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, and Cam Gigandet. And then we’re prepping an action movie with, Jason Statham, called, "The Killer Elite." We’re also prepping a movie called, "Arabian Nights," which is going to be directed by, Chuck Russell, and it’s a $70 million film.

Film Choreographer, Chuck Maldonado, Stomps The Yard and Jams at Camp Rock

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:28:05 -0400

Inspiration doesn’t always come from a likely source. In many cases, it comes when you least expect it, and in the most unexpected ways. This was the case for Choreographer, Chuck Maldonado, whose chance meeting with a superstar recording artist, led to an unbelievably successful career in dance.

During his break between filming and rehearsals, for the February 2010 box office sequel, Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming, Chuck sat down with IAE and shared how he went from corporate America to becoming one of music and film’s most sought after choreographers.

IAE: Tell us about some of the film projects you’re working on now?
CM: Well, currently I’m working on Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, which is my 19th movie, by the way. This is the movie that I’m most proud of because I’m bringing a lot of me with the dance. Like the characters in the film, I too attended an HBCU, joined a fraternity (Kappa Alpha Psi), so I understand the culture behind the movie's story. But I’ve also done other dance movies like You Got Served, and musicals like Disney’s - Camp Rock 2, Dreamgirls. I have also been fortunate enough to cross over into motion capture as the body of Garfield the cat in the movie Garfield, as well as choreography for the animated film Shark Tales. Not to mention films like Collateral, with Jamie Foxx, and Indiana Jones 4, a Spielberg film. All of this is proof that if dancers train hard and hone their craft, they can do a multitude of things outside of just music tours and videos.

IAE: How important is it for dancers who don’t live in LA, to establish relationships through networking, before moving to Los Angeles?
CM: It’s extremely important. The one thing I had to my advantage was the fact that I was able to work with a lot of music artists like Pink, Kelly Price, Left Eye, and Blaque. So they helped me meet and establish relationships with people in LA, through the various award shows and videos I did out there (LA). So when I got to Los Angeles, in 2001, it was an easy transition. Just like LA, Atlanta has a lot to offer dancers, because there are a ton of recording artists, film producers and directors, and the talent pool isn’t as big as it is in LA or NYC. Also, there are a lot of workshops for dancers in Atlanta, for example, Travis Payne (Michael Jackson’s choreographer) just came here (Atlanta) and taught a class at Dance 411. All of this creates a great opportunity to network and meet people who could help you advance your career.

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Atlanta Talent Agent, Joy Pervis, Discovered Dakota Fanning & Is On The Lookout For The Next Child Star

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:11:22 -0400

Discovering top talent is tough, but Joy Pervis seems to have a knack for it. She’s recognized in the film/TV industry for discovering, representing, and/or bringing to the forefront, some of today’s top child stars; Dakota Fanning, Raven Symone, Elle Fanning, Kyle Massey, and Lucas Till just to name a few.

IAE got an opportunity to sit and talk with Joy Pervis about her many successes, and how she has been able to break talent from Atlanta, into the Hollywood mainstream.

IAE: You’re known in the business for discovering some of film’s hottest young actors, like Dakota Fanning and Lucas Till; what’s the toughest part about helping actors make the transition between Atlanta and LA?
JOY: The only actors I suggest relocate to LA are the ones who are ready. LA is a tough market to work in and you have to be ready to compete with the best of the best. If you are just getting started in the business, I recommend working in a local market, get on-set experience, and build your resume. Adults wanting to relocate to LA must be at least SAG eligible and have a strong theatrical reel. In addition, I recommend having your finances intact. The cost of living is a lot higher in LA than other regions of the country. I suggest budgeting a minimum of $5000 per month for housing, food, transportation, acting classes (Yes, this is a necessity!), entertainment, and day to day necessities. In addition, if you are going to take the jump into the LA market, you should plan to go for a minimum of three to six months. Realistically, most people do not book during those initial months, which is why almost all of the working actors that I have placed in LA are ones that have made a permanent move.

IAE: I’ve heard a lot of talent say they’re going to LA for pilot season, and in many cases I know they don’t understand that they may be premature in their decision. What’s your take on that?
JOY: In past years, pilot season (between January and March) was the most popular and recommended time of year for new talent to go to LA with the hopes of landing a role in a pilot. In November 2007, the face of pilot season changed drastically when the writer’s went on strike. The three month strike went right through pilot season creating a halt on the creation and completion of pilot scripts. The strike virtually crippled film and television production. After the resolution, new televisions shows were being cast as straight to network with a 6-7 episode order. Versus spending millions of dollars on producing and testing numerous pilots, the networks put their money and energies into a select few. With this change, we are now seeing year-round pilot casting. With that said, January through March is still a good time to go, however, more people are choosing to go during episodic season which starts mid July through the end of the year.

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Film Director, Malcolm D. Lee, Has Proven His Worth & Has No Plans of Stopping

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:25:18 -0400

How many people can say they lived in the same house with, received guidance from, and got hands on experience being on-set with one of the most influential filmmakers of our day, Mr. Spike Lee?

We were fortunate enough to grab a few moments out of Malcolm’s busy schedule to give IAE readers a tour through the mind of a major film director.

IAE: So, tell us how you got your start in the film business?
MDL: It was Spike (Lee), who really gave me the entryway there. When he was in film school he lived with my family, so I got to see his growth up close. In the summer of 1987, before my senior year in high school, Spike gave me a job as a production assistant on the set of School Days. Pretty much every summer after that, I got to work for him (Spike Lee). I also took a semester off from my studies at Georgetown University, to work on the feature film ‘Malcom X.’ On that set I worked in multiple departments, such as Casting, set production, as well as post production. But my biggest boost was when I go to be his assistant on ‘Clockers,’ in summer of 1994. I got to be by his side while he was shooting, so I was working with the director of photography, the actors, etc. During that time I was already in film school and had done a couple of shorts, but it expanded my understanding of how he (Spike) worked, which was a very eye opening experience.

IAE: That’s really great because a lot of people don’t get to have that hands on experience. So, how has working with Spike Lee helped you develop into a director?
MDL: Well, Spike was somebody that really revolutionized the film and TV industry in a big way. Many of the African-Americans we see today in the entertainment industry are there, in some way, because of what Spike did in the business. Just trace Spike’s history. Even people who haven’t worked for him, have benefited from him being in the business and being the one who kicked down the door. Not to say that Spike gave everyone their start, but he was really vocal and demanding that Hollywood change its policies and ways. So for me personally, it was a certainly a tremendous gift for me to have worked under him and learned the artistry of directing film.

IAE: I’ve read a few articles where some of the new directors with big credits have said that film school is a waste of time, don’t go to film school. For those aspiring directors reading this interview, how important is film school?
MDL: It depends on the individual. For me, starting out, I needed the structure that film school offered. Not to mention, the degree that you get out of it, because...

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Atlanta Casting Director, LaQuanda Plantt, Spreads Her Wings & Proves That She Can Fly In The Hectic World of Casting Talent

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:21:45 -0400

Actors often wonder what makes a Casting Director tick, and how they determine who gets seen by the director on a project. Well, IAE sat down with newly established casting director, LaQuanda Plantt, to discuss what casting directors do and what she looks for when casting.

IAE: Where were you born and raised and what was it like growing up there?
LQ: I was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. I grew up in a single parent home with my mom and two siblings; I’m the oldest so I was the boss (laughs).

IAE: What sparked your desire to get into the film business?
LQ: When I was growing up I loved to watch television and movies. One of My favorite movies growing up was House Party. I loved Kid n’ Play because of the dancing. I remember my mom’s friend would bring his son over and my sister and I would get together with him and reenact the scenes from that movie. We would be the two girls in the movie and he would be Kid n’ Play by himself, and we were doing all the dances (laughs). But that’s how it got started, because I was a major couch potato, I loved the television and going to the movies every weekend. So when I was in high school, I just knew I wanted to work in the film industry. So when I graduated high school I wanted to go to film school.

IAE: So what college did you attend and what was your major?
LQ: I came to Atlanta and after a few years attended The Art Institute of Atlanta and my major was Video Production. I initially wanted to be a film director, but when I got to AIA, it was very technical and hands on. But I didn’t like it, so I took a screenwriting class and really enjoyed it. The back story on me writing is that, in high school I won this citywide contest and my essay was inducted into the Congressional Record. So I really considered being a screenwriter because I loved to write, but I just didn’t think I could have a career as a writer (laughs). So I ended up taking an editing class at AIA, and one of our projects was to work in a group and create a 15 minute short film. For that project, I did all of the casting for it. I’m sure the group thought I was going to ask some friends as the actors, but I went out and held auditions and got professional actors. It was my first time casting, and I fell in love with it.

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Elizabeth Hingley Has Gone From Film To Television & She's Got The Goods To Prove Her Worth

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:17:11 -0400

Elizabeth Lynn Hingley is one of the film industry's rising film stars. The proof is in the pudding, all you have to do is simply visit her IMDb.com profile, and you’ll see what we mean. The fact that she has landed 9 major TV and film credits in the past year, all from Atlanta, is a true testament to her talent and ambition.

Elizabeth sat down with IAE Magazine and shared her life as a successful actress.

IAE: Can you tell us a little bit about your childhood, like, where you were born and raised and do you have any siblings?
LIZ: I grew up with two brothers and two sisters, in a blended family on a huge chicken farm in Calhoun, Georgia. So I wore cowboy boots for the first 7 years of my life (laughs). But I was lucky enough to grow up in a town (like Calhoun) where the community arts were flourishing, so that’s how I got started. I had a really cool teacher who opened the door and I ran through it.

IAE: Where did you go to college, and what was your major?
LIZ: I graduated from high school early and moved to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where I studied voice and theater at a community theater for a year. After that, I came back to Georgia and decided to do all the conventional things like, change my major to Communications. Well, I got my real estate license and helped my mom sell real estate for a while, when I was about 20 years old I moved to Atlanta and bought a house. I enrolled into Georgia State University, and it was there that I decided to seriously pursue becoming an actress.

IAE: Tell us about some of the film and TV projects you have been involved with, and which one has been your favorite thus far?
LIZ: Well, the first one I did was Death Sentence, with Kevin Bacon. I would say that’s one of my favorites thus far because he (Kevin) was the coolest person. He was really laid back, and so I was able to pick his brain on how he got to where he is today; and he’s extremely comfortable with who he is which is kind of rare in this business. Another one I recently did was ‘Vampire Diaries,’ which is probably my favorite from a technical aspect, because there were so many different dynamics to my character. A few more that I recently did are, ‘Drop Dead Diva,’ ‘Battle Los Angeles,’ which was filmed in Shreveport (Louisiana); and I just completed ‘Life As We Know It,’ with Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl.

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Story Board Artist, Warren Drummond, Shares His Experience As 'The Man Behind The Scenes'

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:11:07 -0400

Storyboard artist, Warren Drummond has a resume that reads like a film almanac. Having worked with such film producers and directors as Ron Howard, John Singleton, Adam Sandler, and Denzel Washington, Warren has proven himself to be a reliable source of visual art. IAE sat down and spoke to Warren about the business of storyboard art and what it takes to become a master of vision.

IAE: Where are you from and what was it like growing up there?
WD: I’m from Jamaica Queens, New York. I grew up in an average working class family with my parents, and two siblings. I also have a couple of siblings through my dad. I love all of my sisters and brothers, they’re all very supportive. One of my heroes growing up was my older brother, John, who is 9 years older than I am and a prodigy of an artist. Also, when I was a kid, Kung-Fu movies had become very popular, so naturally Bruce Lee was a favorite of mine. I really took a liking to Bruce after reading his story and being made aware of the things he had to overcome in order to make it. So I found him to be a major inspiration both then, and now.

IAE: What inspired you to ultimately pursue becoming an artist?
WD: It was a combination of things because my siblings had the talent, as well as my father, so in our family it was heredity. But I also loved Spider-Man comics, and the original illustrator on Spidey was John Romita, Sr., who was major influence early on. His son, John Romita, Jr. is now a friend of mine and an amazing artist as well. I’m so motivated by other talented artists. So just being in an environment where my mom was always encouraging me to do what I loved to do, it really motivated me. Always having my brothers and sisters supporting me has been great.

IAE: What was one of your favorite films and why?
WD: 2 Fast 2 Furious, because I got to work with one of my friends, John Singleton, and also because it was shooting in South Beach (Miami). I had fun and met a lot of cool people working on that project. Also, though, I enjoyed working with Ron Howard on A Beautiful Mind, and that was great because Ron is such a wonderful person. You know, some people are cool, but Ron is just a great guy all around. So those are my favorites.

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Film Composer Brian Tyler Tells HOw He Became One Of Hollywood's Youngest Composers Ever

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:06:07 -0400

When we watch a movie, we hardly give thought to how the film’s soundtrack affects our emotional core. From the tension we feel while watching Eagle Eye and Law Abiding Citizen, or the adrenaline rush we get while imagining ourselves behind the wheel in Fast & Furious, Brian Tyler’s music stirs up the emotional highs and lows we experience while enjoying our favorite films.

Having scored some of today’s hottest movies, by some of the biggest names in film (Steven Spielberg for example), Brian has not only established himself as an accomplished musician, but also as one of the youngest film composers in Tinsel Town. So when he agreed to interview with IAE, it was music to our ears.

IAE: So your grandfather won several Oscars for his work, but you ended up in the same boat as most aspiring talent who had no connections. Funny thing is, you did what many people are too afraid to do, and that is, you went postal, and just started beating on doors literally, right?
BT: Absolutely I did (laughs)! It was very much cause of the score I did for Bartender, Robert Kraft who’s the head of music at 20th Century Fox heard it and liked it. It was cool that he picked up on my music. What happens is a lot of times, early on, you send out your work and people won’t even listen to your music. They won’t give it a chance because you haven’t done a big project in film yet. But I got lucky that Robert heard it, because he was the cool executive guy at 20th Century Fox because he was a musician and he was so cool. So Robert listened to my work on Bartender, with strictly musician’s ears. He thought it was really cool that I had scrambled my way into scoring a film without any connections at such a young age. So after we got to know each other, he introduced me to John Williams’ agent as a purely informational meeting. So when I went into The Gorfaine-Schwartz Agency, all the agents kinda looked at each other and decided to give me a shot. So I got introduced to a structure that was ahead of my years. But even still, I just kept doing what I had done before as if I had no representation, knocking on doors and such. Before I knew it, I had a handful of movies which led to other projects.

IAE: What’s remarkable is that you didn’t quit knocking on doors, even with such a great agency backing you?
BT: Yea, I think people get an agent and then sit back like they won the lottery or something? I don’t get that! No matter how great your agent is, you still have to work. Your agent is supposed to be your advocate and be in your corner, but it’s still up to you. Once I got a little crack in the door, I just started kicking the crap out of the door (laughs). But it paid off.

IAE: When it comes to composing a score for a project, how much time are you allotted to complete a film score for a film like Eagle Eye for Spielberg?
BT: It always starts off with a lot more time than you end up with. Back in the day, it was a rule of thumb to have 6 months on a score. Eagle Eye, for instance, I had to write 120 minutes worth of music for it in much less time than I would have normally been given to do it. But what happens is the studios place so much focus on opening box office weekend, that they want to capture and reserve weekends way in advance. So they’ll pick a date, say a year-and-a-half in advance because they think that date is perfect for the film. Since I’m the very last part in the process of finalizing a film, if the movie runs over schedule on everything before I get it, then my time is dramatically decreased and I typically end up having 6-8 weeks to do a score that should take me 6 months. So you’re really scrambling to get on the page with the director, get all the music done and get it approved by all the producers involved. A lot of times, the sheet music is literally coming out of the printers on the day I’m recording. It’s often times down to minutes at the end (laughs). Eagle Eye was massive, so we ended up using 108 minutes of the 120 minutes of music I wrote. When you have a 90 piece orchestra, not including the percussions that I do, it’s usually a few thousand pages of sheet music printed out on each movie because of all the instruments. So it’s a lot of work.

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Dallas Jackson Tells How He Got Samuel Jackson To Join Him In Remaking 1980s Classic Film 'The Last Dragon'

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:24:25 -0400

Dallas Jackson’s road to becoming one of Hollywood’s most successful screenwriters is one filled with inspiration. Any writer is happy enough just to sell a script, but to go through the many obstacles the film business can throw at a young industry hopeful and still come out on top, is enough to wow anyone with a dream.

After paying his dues, writing and selling multiple scripts, and spending time as a writer for a hit TV series, Dallas is now making his presence felt from the producer’s chair. With a new production company established, two major film projects underway, and several others in the works; Dallas Jackson sat down with IAE Magazine and shared his life as a successful Hollywood screenwriter and producer.

IAE: What was your first job in the film business?
DJ: My first job was in the mailroom at Savoy Pictures, here in Los Angeles. Savoy Pictures was a small movie company with a lot of financial backing in the mid-90s; so they did several major features like, "Tales from the Hood," "A Thin Line Between Love & Hate" which starred Martin Lawrence, and also "Circle of Friends" which was Chris O’Donnell’s first movie. So the cool thing about working in the mailroom at Savoy was that I got to learn everything! I got to meet producers, photo-copied all the scripts, read everything that they did and didn’t buy, how they marketed and distributed films; so it was like a really nice training ground for me when I got out of college.

IAE: Most writers out there struggle for years to get their first break, why do you suppose your situation moved so quickly?
DJ: Well it was a little bit of us being daring and bold, but we also wrote something that was different from the typical black movie. The unfortunate part about it was that Laurie Laken left 20th Century Fox in the midst of us developing the script, so we kind of lost momentum in getting the movie made. But the good thing was that they bought the script and it got us in the door, which kicked off my career as an official screenwriter, it got us into meetings with other producers and studios.

IAE: Ok, I understand that you are currently working on the remake of the classic 80s film, "The Last Dragon." How did you get involved in the writing and production of this film?
DJ: Two years ago I formed a company called DJ Classicz, with producer John Davis, who is the same person I sold three of my earlier screenplays to at 20th Century Fox. John approached me and said he’d like to form a company together where we focus on urban genre films that are big and that have crossover appeal. Because of his history as the producer of Dr. Doolittle, Daddy Daycare, I-Robot, and Fat Albert, he understands this is a big audience.

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The Actress Extraordinaire Tells Why Curiosity Fuels Her Passion For Acting

info@iaemagazine.com — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:50:40 -0400

Among the sea of talent in Hollywood, it is rare to find an actress who brings each character to life as effortless as Sara Tomko. Stating that, "With any part you play, there is a certain amount of yourself in it. There has to be, otherwise it’s just not acting, it’s lying." Words she adopted from one of her favorite actors, Johnny Depp, it’s no wonder Sara is so potent in her delivery on-screen.

Stepping over the murky waters of the film biz to find her own place, Sara shares with us why she feels no fear in pursuing her dream of becoming an "A-List" actress.

IAE: You were in a movie that aired on the Sy-Fy channel. As an up-and-coming film star, how did you feel when you first saw yourself on TV?
ST: I was elated. I called my family and sent out a mass email and had everyone tune into Sy-Fy that night. I, unfortunately, was working at the restaurant, so I missed my own premiere, but everyone saw it, and said how cool it was to see me on TV. And the following week, working behind the bar, someone sat down, had a drink, and said, "Hey, don’t I know you? Yea, you were on that Sy-Fy movie right?" Very cool.

IAE: You just did a movie in Denver, Colorado called "Pearman." What was your role in the film and what’s the most intriguing thing about that character?
ST: 'Pearman' is about making your small life matter, even in a small town. I play Julie, animated friend of Will, nicknamed Pearman, for the shape his body takes on due to his scoliosis brace. We are both stuck in this small town, trying to make sense of our lives, and finding solace in one another. The most intriguing thing about Julie is her curiosity. She doesn’t really like herself, so to distract her thoughts, she goes exploring into the unknown. This included poking and prodding into Will’s life.

IAE: I understand you had a blast on set filming 'Pearman.' How different was shooting 'Pearman,' versus any of the other films you have done?
ST: 'Pearman' was a unique experience because it was the first time I had left LA to do a movie, and it was the first time I wasn’t waitressing simultaneously. I felt like a star. Not only because my cast and crew made me feel this way, but also because, once I was in the mind of Julie, I got to stay there for three weeks. I discovered something new about her every day. She was fascinating.

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