In October 2011, I was lucky enough to visit the set of Jonathan Levine‘s Warm Bodies.  The film follows R (Nicholas Hoult), a zombie who falls in love with the non-zombie Julie (Teresa Palmer) after eating her boyfriend’s brains.  Judging by the trailers, it looks like Levine has crafted a sweet, funny rom-zom-com.

In addition to getting zombified on the set, I got the chance to interview Palmer.  We talked about the scene they were filming that day, why R doesn’t eat her, working with John Malkovich (who plays Julie’s father), her favorite zombie movie, the influence of Romeo and Juliet, playing against actors who have a restricted range of emotions since they’re playing zombies, and much more.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.  Warm Bodies opens February 1st.

In October 2011, I was lucky enough to visit the set of Jonathan Levine‘s Warm Bodies.  The film follows R (Nicholas Hoult), a zombie who falls in love with the non-zombie Julie (Teresa Palmer) after eating her boyfriend’s brains.  Judging by the trailers, it looks like Levine has crafted a sweet, funny rom-zom-com.

In addition to getting zombified on the set, I got the chance to sit down and talk with Hoult.  During out conversation, we spoke about eating brains, zombie school, influential zombie movies, playing an unconventional hero, communication without words, and much more.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.  Warm Bodies opens February 1st.

In October 2011, I was lucky enough to visit the set of Jonathan Levine‘s Warm Bodies.  The film follows R (Nicholas Hoult), a zombie who falls in love with the non-zombie Julie (Teresa Palmer) after eating her boyfriend’s brains.  Judging by the trailers, it looks like Levine has crafted a sweet, funny rom-zom-com.

In addition to getting zombified on the set, I got the chance to speak with Levine during a break in filming.  During our conversation, we talked about influential zombie films, creating their own rules, working with his largest budget to date, what he learned from 50/50, balancing the horror and romantic elements, and much more.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.  Warm Bodies opens February 1st.

In October 2011, I was lucky enough to visit the set of Jonathan Levine‘s Warm Bodies.  The film follows R (Nicholas Hoult), a zombie who falls in love with the non-zombie Julie (Teresa Palmer) after eating her boyfriend’s brains.  Judging by the trailers, it looks like Levine has crafted a sweet, funny rom-zom-com.

In addition to getting zombified on the set, I got the chance to interview producer Bruna Papandrea.  We talked about how she got involved with the project, working with Jonathan Levine, trying to appeal to fans of the zombie genre, getting inside R’s head, how zombies get it on, and more.  Hit the jump to check out the interview.  Warm Bodies opens February 1st.

One of the actors I had the privilege of interviewing during my visit to the set of Texas Chainsaw 3D last August is Louisana’s own Paul Rae. While his name may not immediately standout to those in the peanut gallery, Rae’s previous work includes turns in a number of films including Joel Coen and Ethan Coen‘s True Grit remake and Oliver Stone‘s W. just to name a few.

During the interview, the ultra down-to-earth Rae discussed a number of topics including his excitement in playing a character that “nobody will like very much”, how he expects fans of the franchise to react to this latest iteration, how one of the scenes is “the most disturbing thing” he’s ever seen, and more. Check out the full interview after the jump.

Anytime you have the opportunity to sit down with Leatherface himself in full, bloody costume (save for the mask & chainsaw) on the set of a Texas Chainsaw movie it’s a pretty good day. That’s exactly the situation I found myself in last August while visiting the Louisiana set of Texas Chainsaw 3D. The man behind the mask, Dan Yeager, is physically imposing to say the least. Even now, I’m having a hard time believing that the clean cut guy pictured above is the same blood/dirt covered man I met over a year ago.

All of this in mind, Yeager was undoubtedly a great interview. Soft-spoken, eloquent, and personable, he is the antithesis of everything his chainsaw-wielding character embodies. During the sit down, Yeager covered a range of topics including how he initially landed the iconic role, the undeniable power associated with wearing the mask, the influence Gunnar Hansen‘s original performance has on his own, avoiding his fellow cast mates when the cameras aren’t rolling, and more. Hit the jump for the full interview.

In Texas Chainsaw 3D, Alexandra Daddario stars as Heather Miller, a young woman who unexpectedly learns that she has inherited a house/estate in Texas from a recently deceased grandmother she’s never met. When she and a group of friends travel to claim her inheritance, though, things take a turn for the worst as she discovers that beneath the veneer of a Victorian mansion lies a grizzly secret that involves a chainsaw and masks made of detached human faces.

During my visit to the Shreveport, Louisiana set of Texas Chainsaw 3D, a group of journalists and I had the opportunity to talk with the young actress about working in the unforgiving Louisiana heat in August, the pressures of starring in an iconic franchise, how this film differs from Tobe Hooper‘s original and more. Check out all Daddario had to say in the full interview after the jump.

Taking over the reigns of a franchise the stature of Texas Chainsaw requires a unique combination of confidence and thick skin. Irrespective of your own creative vision, your film will inevitably be compared against Tobe Hooper‘s classic original. For director John Luessenhop, several have come before him and, in the eyes of most, several have fallen woefully short of capturing the magic of the original.

All of this said, Luessenhop doesn’t seem to carry the weight of someone tasked with creating the first direct sequel to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. In fact, during my set visit interview with the director, I felt a sense of excitement. Both astutely aware of the standard his film will be judged by and confident in the direction of his own take, Luessenhop seems intent on creating something that is, in part, homage and, in larger part, his own extension of the original Chainsaw story. To read what the filmmaker had to say about Texas Chainsaw 3D including the process of shooting the film in 3D, picking out his favorites scenes from the original, and more, continue reading for the full interview.

Producer Carl Mazzocone‘s name is often associated with the work he performed on the Saw franchise as part of Twisted Pictures. In fact, it’s probably not a stretch to say that, to this point, it’s his crowning cinematic achievement. For now, that is. After talking with him on the Louisiana set of Texas Chainsaw 3D, I get the impression that Chainsaw is the type of project he’s spent his entire career prepping for. This isn’t just another film for the producer. This is a longtime dream brought to fruition for which his passion and excitement is palpable.

Build up aside, during my on set interview with Mazzocone, the producer talked at length about his passion for the project, the film’s use of RED Epic 3D cameras, his role in the day-to-day operations of the film, how his goal is to “deliver the best 3D monster movie of modern day”, and much more. In all honesty, everyone I interacted with during my visit was incredibly inviting and willing to answer questions. That said, this interview has to be one of my favorites if for no other reason than Mazzocone’s willingness to lay it all out there without any reservation. Read on for the full interview.

Last August, on the Shreveport, Louisiana set of director John Luessenhop‘s Texas Chainsaw 3D, I had the opportunity to participate in interviews with several members of the cast including up-and-comer Scott Eastwood. While his last name alone may be enough to garner the attention of many moviegoers, the 26-year old actor (and, yes, son of the legendary Clint Eastwood) came across as someone who is dead set on blazing his own path in Hollywood.

During the interview, Eastwood talked about the excitement that comes with being part of an iconic film franchise, his character, the horror genre in general, future projects, and more. Hit the jump for all that Eastwood had to say in the full interview.

Guarded.  That’s the way I would describe Christian Bale when I participated in a group interview with him last August on the set of Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises.  Then again, when you’re making one of the biggest films of 2012, you probably don’t want to be the one who gives away any of the secrets.  While Bale was very careful with his answers, he was also in a great mood, which made for a fun back and forth with the visiting journalists.

During the interview Bale talked to us about filming in IMAX, if he’ll miss making Batman movies, his relationship with Anne Hathaway‘s character, if he’s happy with the way the story ends, what it’s been like working with Marion Cotillard and Tom Hardy, the fight scenes, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to the interview.

When Christopher Nolan first announced Bane as the villain of The Dark Knight Rises, many were nervous that whoever would take the role wouldn’t be able to come close to Heath Ledger‘s amazing performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight.  However, last August on the set of The Dark Knight Rises, I watched Tom Hardy as Bane walk onto Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and completely own the place.  It was during that hot and humid afternoon that I realized Bane was going to be a kick ass villain.

During a break between filming, I participated in a group interview with Hardy on set.  While he was very guarded about revealing too many secrets, he did talk to us about the costume, Bane’s mask, if he has more respect for Darth Vader now, Bane’s physicality, whether he had any apprehension about following Heath Ledger‘s Joker, what he learned working on Star Trek: Nemesis, and more.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to the interview.

On the set of Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises last August, I got to participate in a group interview with Anne Hathaway.  While all of the actors were extremely guarded with their answers, you could see how happy they were to be on set and part of Nolan’s final Batman film.  Here’s a few of the highlights from our interview:

• When she got the part, she didn’t go back to look at any of the older Catwomans for inspiration because this Catwoman is specific to Nolan’s Gotham City.
• Hathaway did most of the fight sequences wearing heels.
• When she first read the script, she couldn’t take it home with her.  She had to read it in a locked room.
• She took the sides home with her when she screen tested, and the producer had to hunt her down so the sides could be destroyed.
• Instead of a princess, Hathaway says she always wanted to be Catwoman when she was growing up.  She loved Catwoman’s sense of humor, how sly she was, and her independence.
• They filmed dialogue scenes with IMAX cameras, which sound like a cappuccino machine.  She likes the noise when filming fight sequences because it “keeps you out of your head.”

Hit the jump for more.

Last August, on the set of Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises, I was able to participate in a group interview with producer Emma Thomas.  Unlike the actors who were careful with every word they said, Thomas went into specific detail when talking about the movie.  Then again, when you’re married to the director, you know exactly what you can and can’t say.  Here’s a few of the highlights from the interview:

• For the Bane character, they’ve “retained what works for this universe and for our world. He’s definitely recognizable. But then there are some things that we’ve changed, because I think they wouldn’t have fit into Chris Nolan’s version of the world.”
• The Dark Knight Rises will have a different visual aesthetic than Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
• Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer drew from comic book elements for the script, but ultimately their plan was to complete the stories that were started in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
• They decided to shoot in Pittsburgh because they had shot “every inch” of Chicago for The Dark Knight and didn’t want to repeat themselves.  They wanted The Dark Knight Rises to feel like something no one’s seen before.

Continued after the jump.

I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to Robert Downey Jr. Ultimately, he’s the reason we’re getting an Avengers movie.  While it’s easy to look back with 20/20 hindsight and see why he’s perfect as Tony Stark, at the time he was a controversial choice and many weren’t sure he could pull it off.  Cut to now.  The first two Iron Man movies have made over $1.2 billion dollars at the worldwide box office and Iron Man 3 is already in pre-production.  Also, as a result of the first Iron Man, Marvel was able to expand their feature film library with Thor and Captain America, and now that they’ve been acquired by Disney, the future of comic book movies is brighter than ever.  So, like I said, a big thank you to Robert Downey Jr.

Last year, when The Avengers was filming in New Mexico, I got to visit the set with a few other reporters and participate in a group interview with Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.  They talked about what the film is about, how we finally get to see Tony Stark in New York City, the relationships between all the characters, improv versus sticking to the script, costume changes, working with Joss Whedon, and a lot more.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to the interview.