Keanu Reeves initially tried the role in the 2005 movie, and now Matt Ryan (Criminal Minds) gives John Constantine a shot with the NBC series Constantine.
Executive produced by David S. Goyer (Da Vinci’s Demons), Constantine is based on the popular DC Comics series Hellblazer. Although John Constantine isn’t a hero blessed with the powers of Superman, he does have a knack for communicating with spirits that inhabit our all too human world.
“There’s obviously a lot of pressure when you’re doing such an iconic character,” says Ryan. “What’s great about it is that there’s such amazing source material and at any time I feel a loss for anything I can always pick up a comic book. Which is great fun.”
Check out the video below as Matt Ryan explains the popularity behind Constantine.
Constantine premieres tonight on NBC (10 pm et/pt)
Leigh Whannell, the screenwriter (and co-star) behind the first two Insidious movies, is now the man behind the camera for Insidious: Chapter 3. Whannell’s Insidious collaborator James Wan has been busy shooting and editing Fast & Furious 7, so it’s great to see Whannell finally directing one of his scripts.
Insidious: Chapter 3 features franchise stalwart Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), but this time we follow the psychic’s adventures before the events of the first two movies. The prequel has Elise using her ability to make contact with the dead to help a teenager (Stefanie Scott) who is being terrorized by a malevolent entity.
Opening May 29, 2015, Insidious: Chapter 3 co-stars Dermot Mulroney and Angus Sampson.
Leigh Whannell will take part on a Facebook Q&A on the film’s official Facebook page at 4 pm pst. Check out https://www.facebook.com/InsidiousMovie for the live Q&A.
My only gripe with The Voiceis that some artists get the short end of the stick when it comes to the blinds and battle rounds. Team Adam member Rebekah Samarin has suffered such a fate, but her composure, gratitude, as well as her innate talents can’t be denied.
A Berklee College of Music student blessed with a standout voice (during her blind audition, Adam Levine described her voice as a “super fast sports car”), Samarin’s television time on The Voice has been montaged throughout this season. Hopefully we’ll be able to see a full performance during the Knockout rounds (during the Battles, she performed “Will You Still Love Me” with Clara Hong).
During our chat, the California nativediscussed her lifelong love for such singer/songwriters as Joni Mitchell (her audition song was “A Case of You”) and also elaborated on a new venture she’s working on with Berklee and Emerson students (you can follow its progress under the Twitter handle @Noviproductions). Due to a phone snafu, we only had six minutes to chat, but it was a good talk nonetheless.
Can you talk about this ambitious project you’re working on and what it’s about?
Yeah absolutely. It’s called NOVI. It is a branch (that features) music, videos. and photography. It’s pretty much a bunch of artists grouped together to create something really huge. This is just the start of it. You can go on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – all of our pages – we have tons of amazing music and videos coming your way soon so we’re really, really excited about it.
How has Joni Mitchell and other singer/songwriters that surfaced in the 1970s inspire your music?
I grew up listening to Joni Mitchell so I’ve known the song for a long time. I was so excited to perform it for the coaches on The Voice. She’s been a big inspiration for me ever since I was little. I love the classics – I love Stevie Nicks, Elton John, and Joni Mitchell. To perform (that song) on The Voice was so special for me.
Clara Hong, Carson Daly, Rebekah Samarin – (The Voice, NBC: Tyler Golden)
Working on ‘The Voice’ – has it given you a different type of education than what you’re learning in Berklee?
Usually a lot of the music on The Voice is popular music. For me to branch out and do folk stuff was really exciting for me. It was very cool and different than what is normally done.
But yeah, I love singer/songwriter music. At Berklee, I do a lot of that. With the NOVI collective that we’re doing right now – it’s a bunch of musicians too and it’s a lot of singer/songwriter stuff mixed with R&B and alternative music. It’s a little mix of the old and the new, (and) that’s kind of what I like to portray myself as.
I really am influenced by the classics and the greats, but I’m trying to do a modern spin on it. The Voice really helped me do that. It was really an amazing learning experience.
Along with the learning experience from The Voice, you’ve probably befriended artists that will support you throughout your career.
The show really provides lifelong friends. We also have to work with each other for a very long time. Everyone is so amazing and so talented.
It’s just an insane, crazy experience just to be surrounded by 100 amazing musicians. To be able to narrow it down and get to know everyone . . . I’ve definitely made lifelong friends and they are people I would love to work with in the future.
http://youtu.be/3uX6PtVN07Y
I interviewed Griffin the other day and he was talking about how he becomes a different person when he’s on stage. Is that the same for you? Especially since you have an ethereal and resonant approach to your singing.
Oh thank you. That’s so funny, because Griffin‘s one of my very good friends. I feel the same way as him. I definitely go into my own space, especially on the show when I got two great songs – ‘A Case of You’ and ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.’ They both really took me to a special, surreal place.
To be able to perform (the songs) on stage I kind of got lost in my own head and closed my eyes, but the songs I performed definitely were songs that were emotional. I definitely had to sing from the heart, for sure.
So what does the future hold for you? Are you going to finish your studies at Berklee?
I’m still at Berklee. I’m a Music Business major and (we’re launching) the NOVI collective. (It’s) Berklee musicians and Emerson videographers, photographers, and graphic designers. Right now we’re focusing the collective in Boston, not only to create a band but to create a brand. We want to make NOVI a brand and just get it out there.
So we have a lot of amazing music and videos coming your way – so everyone stay tuned!
Rebekah Samarin – The Voice (NBC: Tyler Golden)
As much as you love Boston, do you miss Cali?
(laughs) Absolutely. I really do. It’s starting to get really cold here and I miss the California sun and my family, but it’s the best of both worlds. I get to go home to the sun and I get to enjoy the winters here.
Directed by Gregg Araki, White Bird in a Blizzard centers on Kat Connors (Shailene Woodley), a 17-year-old whose mother Eve (Eva Green) disappears from the family. After returning home on a break from college, Kat is confronted with the reality of her mother’s disappearance.
Along with the chance to collaborate with director Gregg Araki (Mysterious Skin, The Doom Generation), Woodley also had the chance to play an emotionally complex character. “(Kat is) extremely mature and strong and confident in a way you don’t often see in coming of age films,” says Woodley, whose previous credits include The Spectacular Now and Divergent. “Part of that lends itself to the fact that her parents weren’t emotionally available for her when she was a child and so she had to age herself quickly and realize for her own survival she had to be her own parent.”
During the White Bird in a Blizzard press conference, Shailene Woodley said the screenplay is the main criteria on how she selects her films: “It’s sort of an instinctual decision when I read a script – I either get butterflies or I don’t.”
Click on the media bar below to hear Shailene Woodley give her full answer on why the old Hollywood adage of “story first” definitely rings true:
Based on the Laura Kasischke novel, White Bird in a Blizzard is now available On Demand and opens in select theaters October 24.
Actress Maria Bello, last seen in the Sony Pictures Classics drama Third Person, narrates her first audiobook with the November 25, 2014 release of Betrayed.
The upcoming novel, penned by Lisa Scottoline, centers on Judy Carrier, an attorney employed at the all-women Philadelphia law firm Rosato & Associates. Carrier investigates the seemingly natural death of Iris, an undocumented worker and friend of Carrier’s aunt. While looking into the woman’s death, Carrier uncovers a dangerous underground world as well as discovers secrets about her own family.
Of Bello, the Edgar Award winning scribe says the following: “she has a genius for portraying smart and strong, yet vulnerable, heroines like the ones I write. She sounds incredibly wonderful in the audiobook of Betrayed, and she understands these characters as women, professionals, and even mothers and daughters. I couldn’t be more honored to have her record the audiobook of this novel, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how great it turned out!”
Bello also starred in A History of Violence, The Cooler, Coyote Ugly, Prisoners, and one of my personal Johnny Depp outings – the overlooked thriller Secret Window.
Scottoline’s prolific work includes 21 novels with a total of 25 million copies of her books in print.
Alessandra Castronovo, a 21-year-old singer who’s on Team Adam, had a memorable battle round last week versus Joe Kirk thanks to their spot-on rendition of the Rihanna hit “Stay.” During our phone interview, Castronovo talked about her experiences on The Voice and discussed her decision to move from New Jersey and pursue her singing career in Los Angeles.
A lifelong R&B fan, Castronovo was praised during the battles by new coach Pharrell, who noted, “You just see a diva on the stage.”
How has your experience on The Voice been thus far?
It’s been a really good experience. It’s been really cool, and I’ve learned a lot.
Specifically, what have you learned from Adam Levine that you will carry with you past the show?
He taught me a really good tip – just to make sure when you sing that even if it comes out easy, you still have to remember you’re a performer. You have to get into it, even if the note isn’t hard for you to hit. Throw your head back, use your arms, use your body because you want to entertain people. You don’t want to bore them with just standing there and singing.
How emotional was that battle round between you and Joe Kirk?
Oh my gosh. It broke my heart that he had to go home. He was crying and we were crying together because you work so hard and you want it so bad. He reminds me a lot of my younger brother. It just really killed me that he had to go home.
What is it like balancing your own life and your time on The Voice – how surreal has this been for you?
It has been a dream come true. Now I’m just focusing on doing my music and I’m actually staying in L.A. So it’s great that I can actually focus on what I love and what I need to do for myself.
Did it take much convincing for you to come to Los Angeles and pursue your career?
It didn’t take a lot of convincing – it took a lot to convince my parents! I did the whole New York scene with singing and going there for years – I just wanted to try and go out to L.A. and see what happens. Then The Voice happened and it’s been a really positive thing so far. I don’t plan on going home anytime soon.
When did you know you wanted to pursue music?
I’ve been singing since I was four. I’ve always loved singing, but I remember when I was 14, (I thought that) this is what I wanted to do forever.
Were there specific artists that inspired you along the way?
Growing up there wasn’t a day when music wasn’t playing at my house. Music was on from morning ’til night. I listened to more music than watching TV or playing with toys. Mariah Carey was always on. Luther Vandross. Stevie Wonder. Celine Dion. Andrea Bocelli. All good music, and that’s what inspired me to love music and sing.
Is there a specific music genre you want to record in? Since your voice sounds so diverse, I’m sure it can fit into many different genres.
Thank you. I love to sing a little bit of everything. But my heart, what I love singing the most is R&B music. That’s my favorite.
Are you working on music right now?
I am working on my own original music, (and will) hopefully release an EP with my own stuff. It’s just a whole mix of music so far, and it comes down to narrowing it down. But yes, there’s going to be some R&B in the mix because that is what I love the most.
What advice would you give singers who want to purse a career in the music industry?
Well, it’s not easy. Especially if you have stage fright like me and that makes it ten times harder! But you just have to push through it and just remember why you’re doing it. You just want to touch people with your gift and if you could touch one person’s life, then you’re job is done. And that’s what I always keep in mind.
How gratifying is it to know that you have fans who have supported you on the journey?
Oh my gosh, it is so amazing. I smile all day long with my Twitter (@Alessandrafans) and my Facebook (feeds) and see these beautiful comments. I’ve had fans that have been following me for years. I’ve never really done that much besides singing locally. They have stuck by my side – supporting me since back then. Now on The Voice, they are so proud and supportive. They tweet me all day long and it’s so amazing.
Thank you for your time Alessandra, good luck moving forward.
Thank you so much.
THE VOICE — Season: 7 — Pictured: Alessandra Castronovo — (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
As for her aforementioned stage fright, Castronovo didn’t show it during the Battle Rounds. Check out the “Stay” performance with Joe Kirk below:
My financial acumen is nonexistent, but today’s launch of We The Economy 20 Short Films You Can’t Afford To Misswill surely help in that education, albeit in an entertaining fashion.
The 20 shorts, which features work from such filmmakers as Ramin Bahrani (At Any Price), Barbara Kopple (Harlan County USA), Mary Harron (American Psycho), and Adam McKay (Anchorman), take a look at various subjects about the U.S. Economy. All of these videos are free to watch and are available for streaming on over 50 cable, mobile and digital (including Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon) platforms.
Filmmaker Miao Wang (Beijing Taxi, Yellow Ox Mountain) traveled to South Carolina for her short Made By China In America. Running over eight minutes, the narrative takes a look at how China’s economic growth has positively impacted the lives of Americans who are working in South Carolina’s textile industry.
Made By China in America – We The Economy
“A lot of that film work I do is about engendering that cross-cultural understanding,” said Wang, who grew up in the China but now resides in the U.S. “I understand both cultures and it puts me in a position where I really feel a responsibility to make both sides understand each other a little more.”
Made By China In America – We The Economy 20 Short Films You Can’t Afford To Miss
During my interview with Miao Wang, she talked about traveling to South Carolina to make the short:
All of the films are available to view for free at WeTheEconomy.com. Made By China In America can be seen below:
When The Game Stands Tall(115 minutes, PG), the football story inspired by coach Bob Ladouceur’s (Jim Caviezel) storied run with the De La Salle High School Spartans, heads to Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD December 9 via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and AFFIRM Films (it hits Digital HD on November 25).
The De La Salle High School Spartans’ 151-game winning streak still hasn’t been shattered, and the picture deals with Coach Ladouceur and his team’s attempts to bounce back when they encounter their first lost in over 12 years. The project also stars Michael Chiklis (American Horror Story), Alexander Ludwig (Vikings), and Laura Dern (Citizen Ruth).
Blu-ray and Digital HD owners will receive these exclusive special features:
Scene commentary with director Thomas Carter and Coach Bob Ladouceur
Six deleted and extended scenes
The featurette “Undefeated: Making When The Game Stands Tall“
The featurette “Gridiron Action” which takes a look at the film’s thrilling football sequences
“The Heart and Soul of a Program” takes a look at Coach Bob Ladouceur and the De La Salle High School Football program.
Blu-ray and DVD Special Features include:
Commentary with director Thomas Carter
“Undefeated: Making When The Game Stands Tall” featurette
As a fan of the tried and true standard, Griffinis a personal favorite on The Voice. Initially a member of Pharrell’s squad, Griffin is now being coached by Blake Shelton.
Last week’s battle round had Griffin and Luke Wade duking it out over “Maybe I’m Amazed,” and their two varying styles (Wade has a soulful voice while Griffin reaches for notes most singers can’t imagine) led to one of this season’s more memorable performances (Gwen Stefani described his voice as “butter”).
I spoke with Griffin, a Greenville, South Carolina native and current Nashville resident, about his journey on The Voice.
When did you know you had what it takes to pursue a career in music?
Music, for me, started at a really young age when I was first introduced to artists from the ’50s and ’60s like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. We visited our grandparents every Christmas and my grandparents would get out all their old records and play them. I listened to so many of those different artists and sort of had this desire to be them one day.
I grew up in church. I started singing there and once I was old enough to realize that music is something I wanted to do, which was right around freshman year of high school, I started writing a lot of music and playing at different coffee shops and small little music venues in Greenville, South Carolina – which is where I’m originally from.
I always had this desire to move to Nashville, and about a year and a half ago I did that. I’ve been there ever since trying to pursue my dream.
THE VOICE — “Battle Rounds” Episode 706 — Pictured: (l-r) Griffin, Luke Wade — (Photo by: Tyler Golden/NBC)
What are some of your favorite standards and why?
That’s a good question.One of my favorite artists is Frank Sinatra. I love so many of his songs, so it’s hard to pick a specific one. But what I really enjoy from music back then is just the way – the genuineness of it. These were some of the most amazing singers – they had true talent and they really valued music.
When you listen to those records, you hear the some of those live bands and you get to hear the real horn sounds and the symphonies. So many different instruments were showcased on these songs.
I’ve really tried to dissect that music and incorporate that into the type of music that I endeavor to do now.
http://youtu.be/j1nBqkqM_bM
What are some of the lessons you’ve learned while at Nashville?
Living in Nashvillehas been the opportunity of a lifetime. I immediately got to work on writing tons of music, going to bars and music venues. And trying to connect and meet with people.
Nashville is a big city, but it has such a small city vibe and feel to it. I think it’s important for any artist to have a really good work ethic and to do a great job of connecting with people on a personal level and on an artistic level.
Just from the connections I’ve made on The Voice so far – they’ve been great and I’ve been able to become friends with some really cool artists.
Learning from Pharrell and now Blake Shelton must be a huge blessing.
It really is. I started on Team Pharrell and I have learned so much from him. Pharrell is one of those guys who is extremely genuine and humble. He had so much advice to give. I remember when my battle partner Luke and I were practicing (“Maybe I’m Amazed”), Pharrell came over and just started talking to us about being nervous before you go out on stage. (He was) just encouraging us to be in the moment as much as possible and soak in everything that these moments have to offer us. That’s something I’ve really taken to heart as I’ve progressed on the show.
And now being on Team Blake, I’ve learned so much from him as well. Blake is one of those guys who’s just very genuine and he’s had so much success on the show, as well as so much success as an artist. He just wants his artists to go out each week and to just give a genuine performance. He’s not into gimmicks and he’s not into trying to create an artist that isn’t true to themselves.
I’ve learned so many valuable lessons from them that I’m going to be able to take with me past the show.
Regarding taking things past the show, how gratifying has it been to communicate with fans on the show?
It has been the best feeling in the world. The biggest reason for me doing music is because it’s my passion. It’s what I love to do. I grew up listening to so much different genres and one thing I love about music is when I’m listening to a song, I feel the song and I feel the emotion. That has been something that The Voice does really well at.
The artists that come on the show and give these really good performances and they feel the emotion of the song and it comes across to America.
Just having done the Battle Round portion of the show with Luke was such a great feeling. We just got great feedback from so many people. Our battle was showcased on the Today Show twice as well as on Fox News. So many people on Twitter have been commenting on how awesome the song was. It’s such a good feeling.
Where did you get that strength to perform on stage? Does part of that strength come from your family’s support?
Yes. I have so much support from my family and they’ve been there with me from the very beginning.But once I get on stage, it’s sort of like I become this new person or someone I’ve always wanted to be. I get on stage and this confidence takes over. I’m normally really, really nervous before I get on stage and sometimes I can be even pretty shy.
(But) once I get on the stage, it’s like something takes over and I just go into this whole different world. That to me is the most fun when it comes to performing songs.
Griffin, thank you for your time and good luck moving forward into the competition.
Thank you so much for your support. I appreciate it.
They say the best things in life are free, and the new film series We The Economy 20 Short Films You Can’t Afford to Miss has different directors offering up their entertaining takes on various economic issues. Viewing the shorts won’t cost you a single penny, as the program simultaneously launches October 21 in over 50 digital, cable, TV, and mobile platforms (including YouTube, Netflix, AOL, Amazon).
One of the shorts, The Unbelievably Sweet Alpacas!, is directed by Adam McKay, the filmmaker/writer behind Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers and The Other Guys. Running close to six minutes, the animated piece has multi-colored, lollipop loving Alpacas yearning to find a job, only to find income inequality pervading their rainbow filled land. The voice cast includes Amy Poehler, Andy Richter, Billy Eichner, Maya Rudolph, and Sarah Silverman.
The Unbelievably Sweet Alpacas! – We The Economy
Part of the inspiration for McKay’s involvement with We The Economy comes from his love for Michael Lewis’ book The Big Short. McKay penned the screenplay adaptation and will direct the film.
I was just adapting the Michael Lewis book The Big Short, and I’ve always been kind of just interested in it. Any time you start getting into politics and why things are the way they are, you always end up at economics as one of the big ones . . . It’s fascinating, and I really give Michael Lewis a lot of credit for really getting me excited about it.
Below is Adam McKay’s director’s statement on taking part in We The Economy:
“At least a dozen times as an adult I’ve found myself saying ‘Why the hell didn’t we have an economics and finance class in high school?’ Whether it was being ripped off on credit card rates or not knowing my rights when it came to paying back student loans or even what the Federal Reserve is, I’ve always marveled at how the one subject we all should know, economics, is the subject most of us are completely illiterate about.
Through the years I’ve read a dozen or so books, watched all the documentaries and asked a fair amount of questions. And as I learned the rudimentary basics of macro and micro economics I was amazed at how simple the world actually is once you penetrate the language and jargon. But still, most people act as though advance degrees and tweed jackets are required to even discuss compound interest. Or worse yet, most people treat the subject as a complete bore. But as a fan of pop culture I know there’s nothing boring about the economy, who runs it and who profits from it. In fact, it’s the juiciest subject there is. So when I heard about the WTE project and the fact that Morgan Spurlock was curating it, I knew I was in. I truly hope it’s the beginning of a movement to popularize economics. Lord knows our country needs it.”
I’ll be posting more on The Unbelievably Sweet Alpacas! and We The Economy tomorrow (I also interviewed documentary filmmaker MIao Wang), but the audio below has Adam McKay talks about his future projects, which includes The Big Short, a Seth Rogen project, and his work on Ant-Man.
For more information on We The Economy 20 Short Films You Can’t Afford To Miss, please go to: https://wetheeconomy.com/
