All Articles by Christina Radish

Producers Don Hahn and Allison Abbate Talk FRANKENWEENIE, Working with Tim Burton, the 3D Conversion, and How Kids React to Black and White

Posted: May 9th, 2012 at 9:00 am

The black and white, stop-motion animated 3D film Frankenweenie, from director Tim Burton and based on the ideas in his 1984 live-action short, is a heart-warming tale about a boy and his beloved dog. After unexpectedly losing Sparky, young Victor (voiced by Charlie Tahan) sews him back together and harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life, but quickly faces unintended and sometimes monstrous consequences for his actions. The voice cast also includes Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Atticus Shaffer and Winona Ryder.

During an early press day for the film, in which we got the chance to preview nearly 30 minutes of footage from the October 5^th release, executive producer Don Hahn (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) and producer Allison Abbate (Iron Giant, Corpse Bride) talked about collaborating with Tim Burton, the audience that they’re hoping for with the film, the decision to do this in black and white, converting it to 3D, what makes stop-motion so endearing to people, what happens to all the dolls once they’re finished shooting, the opportunity to get to see some of the sets at Comic-Con, and how the heart of the film is truly a love story about a boy and his dog. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Eva Mendes Talks GIRL IN PROGRESS, Playing a Mom and Filming a PBS Documentary in Sierra Leone

Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 4:01 pm

In the drama Girl in Progress, actress Eva Mendes plays single mom Grace, a woman who is too busy juggling work, bills and her very married doctor boyfriend (Matthew Modine) to give her teenage daughter, Ansiedad (Cierra Ramirez) the attention she desperately needs and craves.  Fed up and frustrated, Ansiedad is inspired to skip adolescence and get an early start on her life without her mother, but quickly learns that, in trying so hard to grow up, she just might end up exactly like the woman she’s trying so hard not to become.

At the film’s press day, Eva Mendes talked about playing such a damaged and complicated character, how she sees herself as a work in progress, her own difficult transition from girl to woman, working with her young co-star, and having no hesitation about playing a mom.  She also talked about her recent trip to Sierra Leone, for an upcoming PBS documentary.  Check out what she had to say after the jump.

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton Talk DARK SHADOWS, Pulling from the TV Series, Deleted Scenes, a Sequel and More

Posted: May 8th, 2012 at 8:13 am

The cult classic television series Dark Shadows is hitting the big screen in the bizarrely twisted and humorous way that only the partnership between director Tim Burton and actor/producer Johnny Depp delivers.  In the year 1770, the rich and powerful playboy Barnabas Collins (Depp) has the world at his feet, until he falls in love with the beautiful Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote) and angers Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green), a witch who turns him into a vampire and then buries him alive.  After being inadvertently freed, two centuries later, Barnabas emerges into the very different world of 1972 and vows to restore his family name to its former glory.  The film also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Gully McGrath and Jackie Earle Haley.

At the film’s press day, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton talked about being fans of the quirky TV show, the elements that they wanted to carry over to the film, portraying a vampire that looks like a vampire, finding the physicality for Barnabas Collins, what the fangs and nails were like to wear, how it was to have the original cast on the set, the deleted scenes that could end up on the DVD, and that there was no conscious decision made to leave the ending open for a possible sequel.  Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Tim Burton Talks BEETLEJUICE 2 and BIG EYES

Posted: May 4th, 2012 at 4:59 pm

Doing early press for the black and white, stop-motion animated 3D film Frankenweenie, due out on October 5^th, questions for director Tim Burton naturally turned to what he might decide to focus on next.  While we will post that portion of the interview on May 9^th, I can say that the nearly 30 minutes of footage that we saw was as adorable, twisted and witty as you would expect, and I can’t wait to see the full-length feature.

When asked about whether or not he’s started to think about what his next film will be, Burton said that he’s going to take a break because he thinks it’s embarrassing that he has three movies coming out this year.  He also talked about the fact that Seth Grahame-Smith is working on writing Beetlejuice 2, and that he might be interested in getting involved depending on what he thinks of the script, and that Big Eyes is in the works, but that you never know what will be ready to go next.  Check out what he had to say after the jump.

Executive Producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman Talk FRINGE Season 4 Finale and Season 5

Posted: May 4th, 2012 at 2:30 pm

Much to the happiness of its devoted fanbase, Fox recently picked up the sci-fi drama Fringe for a fifth and final 13-episode season, allowing the series to provide the climactic conclusion that it’s been heading towards.  The two-part finale, airing on May 4^th and 11^th, will see the Fringe team pushed to their breaking point, as they face off against David Robert Jones (Jared Harris) and desperately attempt to prevent a catastrophic event that threatens the lives of everyone.

During this recent interview to discuss the remainder of this season, showrunners/executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman talked about how much the fan and social media support has meant to them, the impact the final episodes of this season could have on Season 5, their hope that they’ll get Leonard Nimoy back for the final season, that contrary to what has been reported there was no alternate ending that was shot in case the show didn’t get picked up, what they were doing when they found out they would get a final 13 episodes to finish telling this story, that they definitely know where and how the series is going to end and what they’re saying with the final season, and that they hope to continue the story with some comic books, once all is said and done.  Check out what they had to say after the jump.

Jordana Brewster Talks FAST AND FURIOUS 6

Posted: May 4th, 2012 at 10:56 am

At this week’s press day for the upcoming return of the drama series Dallas, premiering on TNT on June 13^th – and starring original cast members Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Grey, along with a whole new line-up of actors – Jordana Brewster took some time to speak with Collider about what drew her to television and this show and character, in particular.

While we’ll post what she had to say about being a part of Dallas closer to the show’s premiere, we did want to share what she had to say about her involvement in the Fast and Furious franchise.  Although she hasn’t yet gotten to read the script for the next installment (tentatively called Fast and Furious 6) , she was able to speculate a bit about how Mia might deal with motherhood, possibly getting to shoot the film in the UK, her hopes that she’ll get to be more active, and that even though there is pressure for each film to be as good as the one before, she trusts the filmmakers because they don’t take the fans or their expectations for granted.  Check out what she had to say after the jump.

Marc Webb Talks New THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Trailer, Running Time, the 3D, the Lizard, and More

Posted: May 3rd, 2012 at 4:00 pm

Yesterday afternoon, Collider was invited, along with a handful of other outlets, to see the new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man, due out in theaters on July 3^rd.  With summer movie season ramping up and so many highly anticipated blockbusters closer to their release dates, movie lovers are anxious for any glimpses they can get, and the spectacle in this re-imagined tale certainly promises a fun thrill ride.  The cool thing about the trailer is that it also showcases the humanity, humor and romance while clearly having been designed for 3D.

After the trailer, director Marc Webb took some time to answer questions about the footage in the trailer and the film, overall.  He talked about how much better the point of view looks now, the process for bringing The Lizard to life, balancing the spectacle with the humanity, finding the humor, playing the 3D as depth, whether he felt pressure to deliver another iconic kiss, that the final cut of the film is locked at about two hours (regardless of what’s been reported), and that he hasn’t been involved with anything having to do with a sequel, at this point.  He also shared his thoughts on The Hobbit being shot in 48 fps.  Check out what he had to say after the jump.

Lara Pulver Talks Season Two of SHERLOCK, Making Her American TV Debut on TRUE BLOOD, and More

Posted: May 3rd, 2012 at 12:39 pm

The second season of the fantastically witty and fabulously acted series Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson, returns to PBS on May 6^th with three more 90-minute installments – “A Scandal in Belgravia,” “The Hounds of Baskerville” and “The Reichenbach Fall.” Set in 21^st-century London, the updated duo battle the worst that modern criminality has to offer, including the unassuming mastermind of evil, James Moriarity (Andrew Scott), who wants to rule the world.

During this exclusive interview with Collider, actress Lara Pulver (who plays dominatrix Irene Adler) talked about how she came to be a part of the show, what attracted her to the role, the research she did to play a dominatrix, how anxious she was to be something of a love interest for Sherlock Holmes, filming the scene in which she is completely naked, working with her brilliantly talented co-stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, and how she would love to return for another episode, if they find something great for the character to do.  She also talked about her brief time on Season 4 of the HBO vampire series True Blood, what attracts her to specific projects, and how she would love to do a Broadway musical someday.  Check out what she had to say after the jump:

Kathleen Turner Talks THE PERFECT FAMILY and CALIFORNICATION

Posted: May 3rd, 2012 at 8:31 am

The Perfect Family, from first-time feature director Anne Renton, tells the story of suburban super-mom Eileen Cleary (Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner), the ultimate devoted Catholic who gets nominated for the coveted Catholic Woman of the Year Award at her local parish and will go to any lengths to prove she’s worthy of the title. But, needing the church board’s approval is proving to be a difficult task, with her non-conformist family that includes a gay daughter (Emily Deschanel), an unhappily married son (Jason Ritter) and her recovering alcoholic husband (Michael McGrady).

At the film’s press day, Collider spoke to actress Kathleen Turner, in both a roundtable and a 1-on-1 interview, about how she came to be a part of this indie film, the ways in which she identified with her character, the challenge of finding roles that are not so predictable, and how she hopes audiences will take away a sense of compassion that is reciprocal. She also talked about the roles that fans want to talk to her about the most, why Joan Wilder (from Romancing the Stone) is the only character that she’s ever returned to for a sequel, how her role on Californication made her blush, and that she has two stage roles coming up next. Check out what she had to say after the jump:

Director John Madden Talks THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, Capturing the Essence of India and Directing the Pilot for Showtime’s MASTERS OF SEX

Posted: May 2nd, 2012 at 7:18 pm

The dramedy The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, from acclaimed and accomplished director John Madden, follows seven retirees from the U.K. in need of a transformation, who find themselves spending their golden years at a rundown hotel that does not quite live up to the lush amenities pictured in the brochure.  The hotel’s naive young owner, Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel), inherited the once sophisticated building from his father, hoping to turn it into a high-end luxury hotel.  Instead, the water and electricity are iffy at best, and India’s overwhelming contrasts are both intoxicating and frightening for these seven newcomers, who are unsure about what the future might hold.  The film stars Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup and Celia Imrie.

During this recent exclusive interview with Collider, director John Madden talked about why this premise was so attractive to him, determining what aspects of India to capture, the fact that he didn’t anticipate quite how much this entire experience would change everyone involved with making the film, and assembling such an incredibly talented cast.  He also talked about what attracted him to directing the pilot for the Showtime drama series Masters of Sex, about Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), the pioneers of the science of human sexuality whose research touched off the sexual revolution.  Check out what he had to say after the jump.

Eddie Izzard Talks TREASURE ISLAND, Possibility of a Sequel, and MUNSTERS Reboot MOCKINGBIRD LANE

Posted: May 1st, 2012 at 1:32 am

In a special, one-night-only movie event, taking place on May 5^th, Syfy is airing the four-hour re-imagining of the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard (as Long John Silver), Elijah Wood (as Ben Gunn) and Donald Sutherland (as Flint). In this version, directed by Steve Barron and written by Stewart Harcourt, Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed has a fresh, new feel. The film also stars Toby Regbo, Rupert Penry-Jones, Shirley Henderson and Nina Sosanya.

During this recent interview to promote the film’s premiere, actor Eddie Izzard talked about how he got involved with this project, his inspiration for Long John Silver and how he made the role his own, finding the unique look for the character, the high and low moments during shooting, working with a real parrot, and that they’re already talking about doing another film. He also talked about being a big fan of science fiction and the imagination, his desire to continue doing dramatic work, and being offered a role in the Munsters reboot, Mockingbird Lane, from creator Bryan Fuller and with a pilot directed by Bryan Singer. Check out what he had to say after the jump:

Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton Talks PBS’ MASTERPIECE, SHERLOCK, DOWNTON ABBEY, ENDEAVOR, and More

Posted: April 30th, 2012 at 10:48 am

For nearly 40 years, Masterpiece on PBS has captivated audiences with the works of the finest classic and contemporary writers, interpreted by the world’s foremost actors.  In 1985, Rebecca Eaton took over the helm and oversaw the highly successful relaunch in 2008, with three distinct programs strands – Classic, Mystery! and Contemporary.  Under her watch, the series has presented such high-profile titles as Prime Suspect, Inspector Morse, The Complete Jane Austen, Wallander and the recent hits Sherlock (returning for Season 2 on May 6^th), Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey.  With 34 Primetime Emmy Awards, 17 Peabody Awards, a Golden Globe and two Academy Award nominations, her distinguished career has earned her the official recognition of Queen Elizabeth II.

During this exclusive interview with Collider, executive producer Rebecca Eaton talked about what her job at Masterpiece entails, the gut feeling that she goes with when it comes to determining programming, which aspects of her job she enjoys most and dreads most, and what keeps her coming back, year after year.  She also talked about the overwhelming success of Sherlock and Downton Abbey, why audiences have responded so strongly to the pairing of Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson, and why they only do three 90-minute movies per season.  Check out what she had to say after the jump.

Colin Ferguson and Neil Grayston Talk the Final Season of EUREKA, LIKE FATHER, WAREHOUSE 13 and More

Posted: April 28th, 2012 at 8:07 am

The fifth and final season of the popular series Eureka, currently airing on Monday nights on Syfy, kicked off by letting viewers know where the missing Astraeus and her flight crew has been and reinforcing the fact that things are rarely ever quite what they seem in this small, quirky town.  After premiering as Syfy’s most popular scripted series in 2006, it has gone on to generate numerous accolades and a devoted following that loves the secret community of geniuses who conduct top-secret research in a place where anything imaginable can happen.  The series stars Colin Ferguson (Sheriff Jack Carter), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Allison Blake), Joe Morton (Henry Deacon), Erica Cerra (Jo Lupo), Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo) and Niall Matter (Zane Donovan).

While at the recent NBC Universal summer press day, co-stars Colin Ferguson and Neil Grayston talked to Collider for this exclusive interview about what they thought of the final season, how they never could have imagined where the story and characters would end up, what the final day on set was like, the mementos they were able to keep, what they’ll miss most about their characters, and which Eureka gadgets they wished they had in their own life.  Ferguson also talked about his new pilot, Like Father, that was created by Bill Lawrence (Cougar Town, Scrubs), and Grayston talked about the possibility of Fargo returning to Warehouse 13, as well as doing a sci-fi movie with Greg Grunberg (Heroes), called End of the World, about two video store employees who have to save the world with their knowledge of disaster movies.

Candice Accola, Michael Trevino, Zach Roerig and Executive Producer Julie Plec Talk the End of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES Season 3

Posted: April 27th, 2012 at 12:23 pm

In the final episodes of Season 3 of The Vampire Diaries, things are ramping up in major ways and, as per usual with the popular show, everyone is in jeopardy.  Love triangles will come to a resolution, heroes and villains will be tested, some big mythology moves will happen, and there’s likely to be tears.

During this recent interview to discuss where things are headed for the end of this season, executive producer/writer Julie Plec and co-stars Candice Accola, Michael Trevino and Zach Roerig talked about the extraordinary changes that the characters will be going through in their own emotional lives, personal lives, romantic lives and supernatural lives, along with what to expect from the finale.  Julie Plec also shared that she and show co-creator Kevin Williamson already know how they would like the show to end, whenever that ends up being.  Check out what they had to say after the jump, and be aware that there are some spoilers:

Tony Goldwyn Talks SCANDAL, Directing JUSTIFIED and GREY’S ANATOMY, and a Drama He’s Developing

Posted: April 26th, 2012 at 4:00 pm

On the ABC drama series Scandal, from show creator/writer/executive producer Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice), actor Tony Goldwyn plays President Fitzgerald Grant, whose former communications director, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), left to open her own prominent crisis management firm. Revered and feared at the same time, Olivia was hoping to completely cut ties with her past (which includes an affair with the President) and start a new chapter in her life, but her former boss and his chief of staff (played by Jeff Perry) are never far from her beat.During this recent exclusive phone interview with Collider, Tony Goldwyn talked about how he came to be a part of Scandal, what he thinks of his morally ambiguous character, the challenge of always being so exact with such fast-paced dialogue, the presidents that he looked at for inspiration, what it’s like to work with his co-star Kerry Washington, and how the stakes will continue to get higher through the end of the season. He also talked about his directorial work, whether he prefers the style of film or TV, developing a drama series for AMC, and the shows he’d love to direct an episode of, if given the opportunity. Check out what he had to say after the jump.

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