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Stars: Zack Andrews, Bobby Roe, Mikey Roe, and Brandy Schaefer
Synopsis
Looking to find an authentic, blood-curdling good fright for Halloween, five friends set off on a road trip in an RV to track down these underground Haunts. Just when their search seems to reach a dead end, strange and disturbing things start happening and it becomes clear that the Haunt has come to them.
I sat down with Zack Andrews, Bobby Roe, Mikey Roe, and Brandy Schaefer to discuss their new film, “The Houses October Built.”
They were known simply as “The Lost Boys.” Orphaned by the brutal Civil war in Sudan that began in 1983, these young victims traveled as many as a thousand miles on foot in search of safety. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort would bring 3600 lost boys and girls to America. In “The Good Lie,” director Philippe Falardeau, (“Monsieur Lazhar”) brings the story of their survival and triumph to life. Sudanese actors Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, and newcomer Kuoth Weil, many of whom were also children of war, star alongside Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon and Corey Stoll.
I sat down with The Good Lie writer Margaret Nagle (Red Band Society, Boardwalk Empire) and stars Arnold Oceng and Kuoth Wiel to discuss life changing choices, how we can help the South Sudanese children, and much more.
I really did love this film, I wasn’t prepared for how emotionally affected I would be. I do wish I had had some tissue. But I have to say it was so well written, and you two were fantastic in it.
Kuoth, Arnold, Margaret: “Awe, Thank you!”
So a lot of the characters are faced with some tough choices in this movie. What’s the biggest decision you guys have had to make so far in your life; either career wise or just a life changing decision in general?
Margaret: “Ask them because my life is just…”
Kuoth: “Um, I think that this film itself for me was a decision that I had to make. Because at the time I auditioned for it, I was in college. And it was my last semester. So the casting director had told me that if you’re going to do the film you’re going to have to give up school because we’re going to be filming for about two months and there’s a lot of travel in between. And so I gave up my school taking the opportunity of doing the film because of the script itself. Because I felt that I needed to be a part of it because this was the history of my country. And so, knowing that I took the opportunity, obviously, hoping for the best (laughs).”
Arnold: “Same, same, exact same to me. It was a big decision to be part of this film, a decision that I had to make. And it has changed my life being part of this film. It’s changed my life immensely. I’ve learned about my people, I’ve learned about my culture. Things I didn’t know. Coming from my father, my father is from South Sudan and I came to the UK. So being a refugee myself, and not growing up to know my father. I had to be part of this film to grow and to mature into a man. You know there’s a great saying, ‘you don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.’ And I didn’t know where my father was from or what he’s been through, or where he’s been. So this was an emotional journey for me and a big decision, and I’m happy I was part of it.”
The whole time while I was watching this movie I kept thinking, I have to do something. I just wanted to help out in some way, because the film makes you feel that way when you’re watching. And I was so happy that you (Arnold) mentioned thegoodliefund.org because once I got home I donated…
Margaret, Arnold, Kuoth: “Oh, yay! Thank you!”
It’s really rare that a movie can have that effect on the audience. Is there another movie for you guys that after watching it you got inspired to help out for a good cause?
Kuoth: “I always feel like you have that effect with documentaries. And that’s why this film was also special too. Because Philippe has that special thing where he makes you feel like this is something that’s in a way very authentic, but it feels real to people.”
Margaret: “But I also think film is this emotional language. It’s a language that the whole world can speak. We can all watch a movie and get a certain value from it. That someone in China or someone in, you know, Argentina; we can watch the same film and we get it. We all get it. And so I always believe that unlike a documentary, and this is what always kept me going, is I know this film can break down barriers for all of us. It’s funny, it’s entertaining, and it’s an intimate epic. But also that you can understand and so could someone a world away could understand it too and want to give that 5 dollars to the Good Lie Fund. We’re asking people to think about South Sudan. We’re going to try and make a difference.”
There’s also a lot of humor in here, too. One of the funniest parts was when the guys were thanking God for the miracle food that is pizza. I think pizza is amazing as well, but do you guys have a favorite food that you would also say is worthy of that title?
Arnold: “Ha-ha, yeah, I’m telling you for this film I had to loose so much weight. So now that I’m allowed to eat the food I want, I’d say steak! (Laughs)…”
Margaret: “Steak, the ‘Lost Boys and Girls’ love steak and orange juice. And then the Cheerios, that’s my favorite. I’m an obsessive Cheerios eater. And I also love; I personally feel pizza is a miracle food. I feel like that’s sort of a universal, like everybody feels like pizza is you know? That’s why you laugh at that. Because you know in any language airplane food is bad, pizza is good.”
The Good Lie opens in theaters October 3.
*If you would like to help South Sudanese children in crisis and “Lost Boys and Girls” communities by please donate at thegoodliefund.org
Erin Richards (The Quiet Ones) stars in the highly anticipated new drama, Gotham. Set to make its debut on FOX this fall, Richards plays Barbara Kean, who is engaged to a current Comissioner James Gordon. I sat down with Richards to discuss her role, what scene comes to mind when she thinks of Batman, how she lightens her dark days, and much more!
Side note: After watching the Gotham pilot at Comic Con this year, I can guarantee this is the MUST-SEE new series of the year!
It’s no surprise that big studio production companies are quickly grabbing hold of the rights to as many young adult novels as they can. The fan base is already there. Give them a “best-seller” and a good looking lead, and you may just have the next Twilight or The Fault in Our Stars.
Tweens are thirsting for romance that they can live vicariously through, and Chloe Grace Moretz’s latest drama will quench every young girl’s desire.
If I Stay is an adaptation of Gayle Forman’s 2009 best-seller. The film centers on Mia Hall (Moretz), a straight-lace, gifted cellist who lives in Oregon with her ultra-hip parents, Kat (Mireille Enos) and Denny (Joshua Leonard), and her little brother, Teddy (Jakob Davies). One day while Mia is practicing in school, Adam (Jamie Blackley), an up-and-coming rock star, passes by and it’s love at first listen. Be warned now, if you’re in theater with any teenage girls, Adam will cause swooning and sighing. The two go through a jagged relationship, proving that classical and rock doesn’t make for a smooth mix.
Priorities shift for Mia when she is invited to audition for Julliard but, her music and Adam become the least of her worries after a horrific car accident has caused her to fall into a coma. Anxious to know the fate of the rest of her family, Mia has an out of body experience. Her spirit roams the hospital halls and she eavesdrops on her loved ones as they try to cope and pray for her to make it through surgery. As her future begins to be uncertain, Mia is faced with a choice. She must decide if the life she’s waking up to is one worth living.
Call me a cheesy romantic, but I enjoyed this film. I am fully aware the one liners, “I see you,” and “why me?” will have plenty of people rolling their eyes. But there are certain qualities in a teenybopper romance that can always salvage the movie. The key element is your lead. Chloe Grace Moretz is a thriving young talent, and since I first saw her in 500 Days of Summer, she has only flourished in her career. Whether it’s a success like Kick-Ass or a flop likeCarrie, Moretz masterfully performs in all of her projects.
Of course, what’s love without believability? Moretz and Blackley’s chemistry is hardly that of comparison to Hazel and Gus (The Fault in Our Stars), but it translates well here. Mia and Adam’s relationship isn’t forced, we get to watch them grow as a couple and care for their story, a missing quality from many recent love stories.
There is more to If I Stay than just the romance. The film also touches on how some people in your life don’t necessarily need to be blood related to be your family. If I Stay may pull at your heartstrings and shed some tears, but think of this film as more of a “doesn’t-hurt-to-see” versus a “must-see.”
When the Game Stands Tall is inspired by the true story of celebrated football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel), and the personal trials he endured while leading the De La Salle High School Spartans on a remarkable 151-game winning streak. But, this film isn’t about a high school football team wanting to win. It’s about being able to accept their losses and learning that there is much more to life.
I got a chance to sit down with director Thomas Carter (Coach Carter) talk about his new movie, his fears, and the other films that have given him inspiration.
There’s a great part when the Spartans play Poly and the quarterback, Chris Ryan, gets injured. And he tells his team mate, “The only way I’m leaving this game is on a stretcher.” What’s something for you that you would have to be practically dying for you to miss out on it?
“(Laughs) You know that’s a big if, I mean I love film making and just being involved in filmmaking is just something I care about that much. You know I would never want to not have been able to do what I get to do in my life. I made a choice to be in film, first to be an actor and then to be a director. And I’ve been able to that, so I’ve been very lucky.”
There’s a great message in the film, “it’s about the man next to you.” Can you kind of discuss the meaning behind that quote?
“Well this is a team that won 151 games straight. A 151 winning streak over 12 years, never lost a game, you know, how do you do that? The truth is, in high school, when you have different teams coming through, you have different students coming through, and you’re not doing that just because you’re teaching X’s and O’s on the field. You’re doing it because you’re instilling in those kids what you know is a life lesson that is something that lasts forever, that’s permanent, and that’s what Bob does, you know. What he teaches is not football, but who are you to your fellow player? A sense of brotherhood, a sense of love, a sense of responsibility that you have that he wants you take not just on to the field but off the field as well.”
The film is also about facing your fears, the Spartans certainly do that when they play Poly. What is a fear of yours that you maybe have already faced or hope to face someday?
“(Laughs) Well I’ll tell you, my biggest recent fear in the last year was that I would make this movie and Bob Ladoucer would not be happy with it. That was the biggest challenge for me, that was the most important thing for me, and luckily he’s blessed the movie and given it his stamp of approval. And I think that’s something that’s just really gratifying to me more than any other kind of approval that I have gotten, so I’m glad that happened. It’s a movie, it’s really good I hope, and I’ve seen people respond, so I know it’s emotional, I know it’s inspiring to people. I’ve seen them react to the football action, so I know people are responding, but you know we only really tipped the iceberg of what they really do at De La Salle. The kind of training, the kind of love, the kind of commitment that the coaches show to these kids and the kids show to each other, so I wanted the audience to just have a taste of that, so hopefully we’ve given them a good taste of it.”
Yeah for sure, this is one of those movies that while you’re watching, it’s both uplifting and inspiring. So, do you have another movie that also gets you in that inspiring mood?
“I have movies that I really like because I’m inspired by the artistry of the film, not necessarily that it’s an inspiring story. You know watching The Godfather, one and two, is inspiring to me as a filmmaker. So my inspiration as an artist, I think, comes from watching people work at a really, really high level. But, I am a fan of other sports movies. I’m a fan of Remember the Titans and I cried three times every time I watched that movie, I think so many things are really effective in the way that movie is done.”
I had some great laughs during my interview with Nicola Peltz & Jack Reynor for the blockbuster hit, “Transformers Age Of Extinction“. A couple weeks ago we discussed their first impressions of each other, which animated series they would want to see turned into a live action film, and what movie inspired them to become actors.
Jenny Slate gives a breakthrough performance in an authentic romantic comedy that touches on the daring topic of abortion.
Brilliantly written/directed by Gillian Robespierre and based on her feature short from 2009, Obvious Child tells the story of, Donna (Slate), a twenty-something stand-up comic who seems to be perfectly content with her life. But after her boyfriend dumps her to be with one of her “good” friends, she learns that when it rains, it pours. Within a week she has not only lost the man in her life, but also her job. So like any woman who is going through an emotional crisis, she decides to indulge in a careless night of drinking. That night she meets Max (Jake Lacy), a straight-laced honest to God good guy. They engage in a one-night stand that was never meant to be anything more. However, three weeks later Donna discovers she is pregnant and plans to get an abortion. But she is conflicted when Max reappears in her life and wants nothing more than to take her out on a “proper date.”
Though Obvious Child deals with a sensitive subject that most people have strong opinions on, it is important to understand that there is so much more to this story. It’s about finally facing the reality of being independent for the first time. Donna must make tough decisions that she would otherwise avoid. Like the film quote says “creative energy can sometimes come at the lowest point your life.” Regardless of the circumstances, audiences can relate to this film when remembering a dark time that forced you to start over.
Slate is best known for SNL, Parks and Rec, and many more comedic roles. Once audiences watch this film, Jenny Slate will be remembered for this incredible, uplifting performance that will make you laugh and ache. She shares a refreshing on-screen chemistry with Jake Lacy, as the two portray a awkwardly genuine relationship.
Donna doesn’t go through her troubles alone. She is supported by loving friends and family that chime in with advice and counsel. She has her English professor mother (Polly Draper), her puppeteer father (Richard Kind), and her best friend/roommate (Gaby Hoffman).
This story is not meant to offend anyone and it doesn’t try to change your beliefs on the topic at hand. The film just shows the point of view of a woman who solely handles the decisions of a serious situation in a light manner. I highly recommend this movie, as it is my favorite of the year so far. Obvious Child is smart, witty, hilarious, and unlike anything you’ve seen before.
I got a chance to sit down with Shailene Woodley, Nat Wolff and author John Green for the most talked about love story, “The Fault in our Stars”. We talked about falling in love, deal breakers when dating, meeting our heroes, and more! Easily one of my favorite interviews ever.
The interview originally aired on ICTN’s arts and entertainment magazine show, About Towne.
From the beginning, stories of angels and men have captured our imaginations and have been etched into our history crossing all boundaries of culture, religion, and time. These two races have dominated the landscape of modern mythology for countless centuries, almost washing away the evidence that a third ever existed. This third race, born of smokeless fire, was called the jinn. Similar to humans in many ways, the jinn lived invisibly among us and only under dire or unusual circumstances were our paths ever meant to cross.
As humans became the dominant force on Earth, contact between man and jinn steadily decreased.
Modern man has all but forgotten the jinn.
“Jinn” is the new thriller set to make its theatrical release in Dallas on April 4. I got a chance to speak with the star of the film, Dominic Rains to discuss the movie, his character, and projects he hopes to work on in the future.
How did working on “JINN” compare to any other production you have worked on?
Well first of all it was the first time I was carrying a film the whole way through. It was by far one of the most physically exhausting experiences I’ve had which in turn was emotionally exhausting. I mean there were days where I was drenched in water in Michigan 30 degree biting weather, and that’s just one part of it. The majority of the shoots were night shoots so my hours were completely off. I also played three characters in the film which made it ever so interesting. But given the material at hand, the most challenging place was trying to find the arc of the character. Sometimes you’re shooting out of sequence, time is against you, you’re shooting on 35mm film so you’ve got to get it right or you’re just burning film, unlike digital where you can shoot endlessly, and you’ve got to focus all your energy to make sure that you know in the grand scheme of things, you’re giving just enough for the 180mm lens that’s focused on your eyes. One exaggerated expression here or there and it’s a 15 foot difference on the silver screen. AJ, the writer/director, loved to tell me, ‘its all in the eyes!’ haha… But learning to focus and harness that energy was important. And knowing what the scene was about was imperative.
What can you tell us about the character (Shawn) you play in this film?
Shawn is an automotive engineer living a quiet idyllic life with his wife Jasmine when one day it is interrupted by a package delivered by a sketchy dude that contains an encrypted message. It warns him of imminent danger and that this ‘thing’ the Jinn is coming after him. At first Shawn tries to disregard the message but weird things start to happen and after a number of events test his belief, his wife is kidnapped and Shawn is forced to face his fears and is tossed through a gauntlet of emotional, physical and mental tests. He is helped along the way by three men who aid him in what to do to fight and overcome the Jinn, but ultimately he’s the only one that can save himself and his family.
What was your favorite scene to shoot?
I had two favorite scenes in the film; the first was with his parents when he’s trying to piece everything together and the second was at the end of the film where he rises to the occasion. I won’t say anymore than that but that it’s a very cool scene and you’ll know what I’m talking about when you see it. Everything came together, AJ’s direction, our stunt performers, Ray Park, and the incredible genius of our VFX supervisor Joe Coleman. It was a test of many things that evening and it’s a testament to the work of a great team. On a personal level it was a test of the physical and mental for myself.
Why should audiences go out and see this film? How does it stand out above other mystery thrillers?
Well besides the fact that it’s based on an ancient mythology that over 2 billion people believe in around the world, it’s mentioned or alluded to in the books of the leading three religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Also, it’s a fun family film for all ages; it’s essentially a hero story of courage and the will to fight to overcome our fears. We see the slow rise of a man who finds it in himself to become the man he never thought existed.
You have worked on a variety of different TV shows and film. What genre of film do you hope to work on that you haven’t done yet?
I’d really like to go into more heavy dramas, dark comedies and twisted psychological thrillers. It would be a dream to work with filmmakers like Gasper Noe, PT Anderson, The Coen Brothes, Lars Von Trier. Very avant garde, art house, challenging character pieces. I love playing heavy character pieces. I enjoy the leading men as well but since they tend to be closer to me they’re more a naked vulnerability. With character heavy roles you get to be vulnerable as well but you get to funnel them through a lot more so you can indulge a bit more, it seems.
Who are some actors that you admire and hope to work with in the future?
There are so many actors I admire. So many actors of all ages that inspire me and push me to do great work that I don’t have enough space to say them all but in the meantime I’ll express a few. God bless Phillip Seymour Hoffman, he was a titan, he’ll stand as one of my all time greats. I would love the pleasure to work with Ethan Rains, Daniel Day Lewis, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Robert Duvall, Willem Defoe, Susan Sarandon, Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, JACK NICHOLSON for sure, Anthony Hopkins, Cate Blanchett and the list goes on.
I had some great laughs during my interview with Nicola Peltz & Jack Reynor for the blockbuster hit, “
