Sunday 6 November 2011

New interview with Sasha Roiz and the weekend monster update

Let's start the weekly round-up with Grimm.

Grimm's ratings dropped a little this week, but the show still won the 18-49 demo in its timeslot, finishing ahead of CSI: NY, Fringe and Supernatural, and rising by a full frakking ratings point (1.8) after Chuck (0.8). Wake up, Chuck.

Hitfix visited the set in Portland recently and posted a lengthy report. Here is a snippet:
Sasha Roiz on how his character will develop later in the series: "I’m not a Grimm descendent, but I'm a descendent of a long line that dates back just as Grimm does and we have a bit of a history and a past, so my line is a royal line and that will slowly unfold throughout the series."
Collider has a longer interview with Sasha and Reggie Lee (more at the link):
It’s nice to see your character – like the main character – has the duality.
ROIZ: My character’s more seasoned in the fantastical world, a bit of a player, and he’s aware of the Grimm, but no one seems aware of who I am, except the people I want to be aware. It’s fun, and as we continue, there are always new things that are being developed. We don’t know where they’re going. We have a sense of the character, he comes from royal descent, his family has had ties for centuries and so on, and with every episode a little bit more is added to that story.

It feels like there’s a greater universe that will be fun to explore, but the show’s also a procedural.
LEE: It is that more than anything else, and you’ll see as we go on it remains a procedural, so the mythological elements are backburnered. I think they’ll come out eventually.

ROIZ: From what we’ve been told if there’s a back nine, that’s something we’ll explore but for now it’s more self-contained episodes.
The teaser for next week's episode, "BeeWare" (Friday, 9 pm, NBC), is embedded below. Nana Visitor (Deep Space Nine, BSG, Torchwood) guest stars.



And on other fronts:

Luciana Carro mentioned on Facebook today that she has landed a recurring role on Falling Skies. Ryan Robbins will also be appearing in at least two episodes. Susan Gittins says that he was on the set for episode 2x02.

We can add Michael Hogan to the list of Caprica and BSG actors who will be appearing on Arctic Air, along with Carmen Moore, Leah Gibson, Brian Markinson, and Aleks Paunovic. Hogan was also spotted on the set of Fairly Legal the other day.

Two Caprica actors had films premiering on Lifetime last weekend.

Jill Teed was in Possessing Piper Rose, which is now available on Hulu.

Synopsis:
Joanna and Ben Maxwell's dream of adopting a child comes true when a sympathetic but mysterious agent places with them a darling four-year-old girl named Piper. But these new parents are plagued by a series of inexplicable and unnerving occurrences, including visions of Piper’s long-dead birth mother, and the chilling truth of Piper’s past comes to light. Even more horrifying is what the future holds for the little girl and for her new family as they are all drawn into the chilling secrets of the dead... and beyond.

And Brian Markinson was in The Killing Game. You can find the trailer and upcoming air dates on Lifetime's site.

Based on the bestselling crime novel, the Lifetime Original Movie Iris Johansen's The Killing Game follows forensic sculptor Eve Duncan (Laura Prepon Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea) when, 10 years after the disappearance and murder of her seven year old daughter Bonnie, she is contacted by a man claiming to be her killer. Taunted by the man’s mysterious clues about Bonnie’s case, Eve becomes involved in his sadistic game when he threatens to kill another little girl that he targeted because she resembles her precious daughter. Memories haunt her as she is caught in a web of deceit and gambles with her own life tracking down the deadly serial killer in the hopes of saving the girls life and discovering Bonnie’s final resting place. Naomi Judd also stars as Eve’s mother “Sandra Duncan.”

TNT has released the trailer for its mystery movie night lineup in November and December. From the press release:

Scott Turow's Innocent - Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) - Tahmoh Penikett
Bill Pullman (Independence Day, Torchwood) stars as Rusty Sabich, a judge charged with the murder of his wife, a situation that comes 20 years after he was cleared in the death of his mistress. During this latest trial, a secret affair from Rusty's recent past threatens to hamper his defense and fracture his relationship with his son. Oscar(R) winner Marcia Gay Harden (Pollack, Damages) plays Rusty's wife, while Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, Law & Order: LA) is his friend and defense attorney. Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica, Dollhouse) is hot-headed prosecutor Jim Brand. Emmy(R) winner Richard Schiff (The West Wing, The Lost World: Jurassic Park), Callard Harris (Glory Daze, Intermedio) and Mariana Klaveno (True Blood, While the Children Sleep) also star. Scott Turow's Innocent is a sequel to Turow's bestseller Presumed Innocent. The movie is written and directed by Mike Robe (TNT's HawthoRNe, Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King), with Robe and Frank von Zerneck (We Were the Mulvaneys, Miracle on Ice) serving as executive producers.

Good Morning, Killer - Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) - Genevieve Buechner
Adapted by April Smith from her own novel, this thriller stars Catherine Bell (JAG, Army Wives) as FBI Special Agent Ana Gray, an undercover operative tracking down a serial kidnapper. As Ana develops a rapport with the kidnapper's latest victim, the suspect suddenly changes his pattern. Now Ana must race to find him before he strikes again. Good Morning, Killer co-stars Cole Hauser (Chase, K-Ville) as Detective Andrew Berringer; William Devane (Knots Landing, 24) as Everett Morgan "Poppy" Grey, Ana's grandfather; Titus Welliver (The Good Wife, Lost) as FBI Special Agent Mike Donnato, Ana's partner; and Suleka Mathew (TNT's HawthoRNe) as FBI Agent Barbara Sullivan, Ana's best friend at the bureau. In addition to writing the screenplay, Smith is set to executive-produce Good Morning, Killer with Frank von Zerneck (We Were the Mulvaneys, Miracle on Ice). Maggie Greenwald (Songcatcher, The Ballad of Little Jo) will direct.

Deck the Halls - Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) - Hiro Kanagawa and Luciana Carro
Based on the first book in Mary Higgins Clark and daughter Carol Higgins Clark's series of holiday mystery novels, this warm-hearted story brings together two of the authors' most popular characters: Cleaning-woman-turned-private-eye Alvirah Meegan, played by Kathy Najimy (Sister Act, Franklin & Bash) and Detective Regan Reilly, played by Scottie Thompson (Star Trek, Skyline). The women investigate the kidnapping of Regan's father and a young female driver just before the holidays. The race is on to rescue the pair and get them home in time for Christmas. Two-time Emmy(R) winner Jane Alexander (Testament, Warm Springs) plays Regan's mother, famed mystery writer Nora Regan Reilly. Ron Underwood (Tremors, City Slickers) will direct from a script by Howard Burkons (John Q, TNT's The Ron Clark Story), who also serves as executive producer with Brenda Friend (Joan of Arc, TNT's The Ron Clark Story) and Frank von Zerneck (We Were the Mulvaneys, Miracle on Ice).



Panou tweets that he is working on My Funny Valentine, a movie of the week with Eric Mabius and Brooke D'Orsay, directed by Mark Griffiths, and currently in production in Vancouver.

Michael Rymer's Face to Face has won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the Macao International Digital Cinema Festival.

Born to Race with John Pyper-Ferguson finally has a DVD release date for the US: February 28, 2012. It can already be pre-ordered on Amazon.

Disney has released the character descriptions and some fun facts about John Carter. Here is some info about Polly Walker's character:
SARKOJA (Polly Walker) — “Sola can take the little white worm.” — Sarkoja is the ideal Thark; calculating, cold and cruel. Like Tal Hajus, she believes that only the strong should survive, and she has survived a long time. She targets Sola at every opportunity for she has no patience with Sola’s humanity, which she perceives as weakness.
More at Stitch Kingdom.

Amazon Falls with Zak Santiago and William B. Davis will be released on DVD on November 29. It is available for pre-ordering on Amazon.

The House, also with Zak Santiago, is getting screened at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival on Sunday, Nov. 6. Some details about the film, from The Province, and the trailer:
The House (5 p.m. Sunday) is a Vancouver-filmed ghost story by director Desiree Lim, starrring Natalie Sky as a money manager who retreats to an old house where she starts writing a book, and finds out she’s not alone. Zak Santiago, Emilie Ullerup and Alex Zahara co-star.



Beyond the Black Rainbow with Eva Allan (who played STO recruit Devanna in the Gemenon episodes, starting with "Blowback") is getting screened at AFI Fest this week. Info and tickets here. Here is the synopsis, from Screen Daily:
Set against a backdrop of the Reagan-era Cold War, the story, such as it is, has a creepy scientist (played by Canadian veteran Michael Rogers, from The Assassination of Jesse James) holding a young girl with dangerous mental powers (Eva Allan, from sci-fi series Caprica) captive in a isolated laboratory.
And the trailer:
BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW: An intense and hallucinogenic sci-fi film set in 1983, director Panos Cosmatos’ BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW is a one-of-a-kind film experience. DIR/SCR Panos Cosmatos. CAST Michael Rogers, Eva Allan, Scott Hylands, Marilyn Norry, Rondel Reynoldsen. USA.


Calum Worthy (who also appeared in "Blowback" as one of the STO recruits) has a new show, Austin & Ally, that premieres on the Disney Channel on Sunday, December 4 at 8 pm. The first episode will be available on iTunes on Tuesday, November 22. More details at TheFutonCritic.com. Synopsis & trailer:

Opposites rock in "Austin & Ally," a new comedy series about an unlikely friendship, singing, songwriting and the adventures of trying to achieve one's dreams, premiering SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. The series follows polar opposites - an extroverted musician/singer, and a brilliant yet shy songwriter - who combine their talents in an attempt to create a true musical tour-de-force. Starring are newcomer Ross Lynch as Austin, Laura Marano ("Without a Trace," "Back to You") as Ally, Raini Rodriguez (Disney's "Prom," "I'm in the Band") as Trish and Calum Worthy ("Psych," "Good Luck Charlie") as Dez. Prior to the premiere of "Austin & Ally," music sensation Justin Bieber performs "Mistletoe" from his upcoming holiday album, in an all-new episode of the hit series "So Random!"

Shock Till You Drop has a bunch of new production stills from The Divide, with Michael Eklund.

The Day, another new post-apocalyptic thriller with Eklund playing one of the leads, has been picked up by Entertainment One for distribution in the U.K., France, Scandinavia and South Africa. Some info, from World Screen:
The Day stars Shawn Ashmore (X-Men trilogy), Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism), Michael Eklund (The Divide), Cory Hardrict (Battle Los Angeles, Gran Torino), Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings, Lost) and Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight's Tale, Rules of Attraction, 40 Days and 40 Nights). Set during a war against humanity, five survivors must fight or die.
Here is an early teaser:



BSG, Caprica and Blood and Chrome visual effects supervisor Gary Hutzel will attend the panel "VFX Minds" on November 10 at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood. Details:

NewTek invites you to join us for a very special evening hosted by actress Jeri Ryan with special guest Dick Van Dyke at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences - Leonard H. Goldenson Theater. The evening is a celebration of the achievements of Emmy® Award-winning artists, supervisors, designers, actors, and producers in the television industry.

The evening will include an informative "VFX Minds" panel of industry insiders moderated by David Cohen, features editor for Variety magazine. The discussion will cover the current challenges of producing high-end, award-winning visual effects for television, under the constraints of increasingly limited budgets and reduced production schedules.

The top level participants on the panel include industry legend Ron Thornton, the "godfather" of contemporary television VFX, Chuck Comisky, visual effects supervisor and stereoscopic expert and stereo supervisor for Avatar, Gary Hutzel, head of Universal Studios in house visual effects department, along with Eric Hance, Supervising Artist on the hit Steven Spielberg series Terra Nova. The panel will share advice on how they create award-winning shows that entertain millions of viewers every week, as well as discuss the latest workflows and trends that allow them to complete projects, on time and on budget.


And Bear McCreary has posted a video from the first rehearsal for his Freddie Mercury tribute concert:

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