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Katherine Heigl Crisis Continues at ‘Grey’s Anatomy’

2008-07-15T16:30:06Z

Image details: Premiere Of Universal Pictures’ "Knocked Up" - Arrivals served by picapp.com And, yes — the title is meant to be taken with a huge helping of sarcasm. According to E! Online, which has it according to those ever-elusive sources “from the set of the ABC hit,” Emmy-winning actress Katherine Heigl remains in deep doo-doo with Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes. Apparently, Rhimes still hasn’t gotten over Heigl’s perhaps too honest, at least for Hollywood types, remarks last month explaining why she was withdrawing herself from Emmy consideration this year. The 29-year-old reportedly said: “I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination and in an effort to maintain the integrity of the academy organization, I withdrew my name from contention. In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.” Well, she’s nothing if not direct, right? How can I complain about a woman like that? Rhimes isn’t complaining — publicly — either, but gossip has it that she’s “pissed” enough to consider actually killing Izzie off the show, or, as a source says with much more dramatic flair, “They [Rhimes and her Grey’s writers, I suppose] want Izzie dead.” Is Heigl a marked woman now? Are her Grey’s days truly numbered? Or is all of this incessant speculation about the supposed fallout from her comments just grist for the rumor mill? Better yet, does/should Heigl even care, considering her recent feature film successes with 27 Dresses and Knocked Up? I know if I were her, I probably wouldn’t (which is why she probably said what she said in the first place). As far as I’m concerned, what’s done is done, and you can’t take it back. Maybe people should try just moving on, already. I don’t know — go count the zeros at the end of your bank account balance or something… Tags: abc, dramas, Grey's Anatomy, Katherine Heigl, Shonda Rhimes, summer 2008, television, tvShare This

New on DVD: July 15, 2008

2008-07-15T16:30:06Z

Penelope (2006). Due to a family curse, Penelope (Christina Ricci) is a sweet-natured heiress who sports a pig snout instead of a normal nose. Since surgery isn’t an option, her parents (Catherine O’Hara and Richard E. Grant) hide her from the world for 25 years. Penelope can only break the spell through “one who will love her faithfully.” Until she meets musician-turned-gambler Max (James McAvoy) Rated PG for thematic elements, some innuendo and language. Gecko Review & Trailer * Buy It College Road Trip (2008). Chicago cop James Porter (Martin Lawrence) is a loving, but overprotective father, who wants his daughter Melanie (Raven-Symoné) to attend nearby Northwestern College. When she’s called for an interview at Georgetown in Washington, D.C., James gets more than a little nervous and decides to take a road trip with her to check it out. Rated G. Gecko Review & Trailer * Buy It * Gecko Giveaway More after the jump… The Bank Job (2008). A small-time crook takes on a bank heist when an old friend offers him an inside track to the vault. Along with his hastily assembled team of low-rung criminals, Terry (Jason Statham) finds himself deep into this real-life heist and quite suddenly the target of ruthless mobsters, the cops, and even the royal family. Rated R for nudity, violence and language. Gecko Preview & Trailer * Buy It Step Up 2 The Streets (2008). When rebellious street dancer Andie (Briana Evigan) lands at the elite Maryland School of the Arts, she finds herself fighting to fit in while also trying to hold onto her old life. When she joins forces with the schools hottest dancer, Chase (Robert Hoffman), to form a crew of classmate outcasts to compete in Baltimore’s underground dance battle, The Streets, she ultimately finds a way to live her dream, while building a bridge between her two separate worlds. Rated PG-13 for language, some suggestive material and brief violence. Official Site * Buy It * Gecko Giveaway Shutter (2008). When newlywed Joshua Jackson takes his bride Rachael Taylor (Transformers) for an ill-advised honeymoon, they hit a woman standing in the middle of a spooky road, after which all sorts of ghosts seem to emerge from Jackson’s camera (he’s come to Japan for a fashion-photography gig). Rated PG-13 for terror, disturbing images, sexual content and language. Official Site * Buy It Meet Bill (2007). Bill (Aaron Eckhart) is a doormat if ever there was one. A man reduced to a mere accessory to his family by working a dead-end job at his father-in law’s bank and arguing about his overindulgent love for chocolate with his wife Jess (Elizabeth Banks) who is loathe to explain her “friendship” with the local news anchorman (Timothy Olyphant). But Bill’s fate begins to change when he becomes mentor to a self-assured boy (Logan Lerman) who engineers Bill’s recovery with the help of a cute lingerie sales girl named Lucy (Jessica Alba). Rated R for language, some drug use and sex-related material. Official Site * Buy It Final Approach (2007). The action thriller follows FBI hostage rescue specialist Jack Bender (Dean Cain) aboard a domestic flight that has been hijacked by a radical organization called the People’s Separatist Movement. On ground, Jack’s ex-wife, an FAA employee, discovers that the terrorists motives are tied to visions of nuclear grandeur and there’s only way to stop them–by blowing the airliner out of the sky. IMDB Site * Buy It Monsieur Vincent (2008). An Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, this film chronicles the journey of St. Vincent De Paul (Pierre Fresnay), who rose from slavery to become a trusted advisor to queens and princes. IMDB Site * Buy It Images: Penelope, Summit Entertainment, 2006; The Bank Job, Lionsgate, 2008; Meet Bill, First Look International, 2007. Technorati Tags: new on dvd,now on dvd,new on dvd july 15 2008,Penelope,College Road Trip,step up 2 the streets,the bank job,meet bill,final approach,monsieur vincent,shutter,film gecko,jane boursaw Share This

So You Think You Can Dance 4: Jessica Gives Up

2008-07-15T16:30:05Z

According to the news storming the Internet yesterday (which is why I’m only writing about it now — I like to wait until the other gazillion websites get these so-called “breaking news flashes” out of their rush-to-be-first system), So You Think You Can Dance contestant Jessica King has suffered an injury so major, she must leave the show right now, just days after earning a spot as a finalist in the coveted Top 10. Observant viewers know otherwise, however. The real news is that Jessica has finally buckled under the constant criticism she received each week after every performance because she had the great (mis)fortune to be paired with William Wingfield, a male dancer who is clearly much more accomplished than she is. There’s no shame in that, though, because there are no rules that require a certain amount of training to get on the show. In fact, the only rule is basically if you think you can dance (hence the title), try out, and if the judges don’t ridicule you off the stage and keep moving you along, you might eventually end up on TV. Now that the remaining dancers have made it through several exhausting preliminary stages, they will no longer have regular partners. Instead, partners will be assigned at random, which means nobody will have the safety net of a familiar partner any longer. Methinks Jessica was probably — and correctly — afraid that her luck of the draw wouldn’t prove as lucky as her steady match-up with William was, which would expose her to even more soul-shattering abuse from the judges when her shortcomings inevitably become even more visible. Jessica’s replacement is last week’s loser Comfort Fedoke, a stronger individual made that way by having to endure being in the Bottom Three week after week after week. I’ve always said the dancers who never experience disfavor are actually at a disadvantage because they lose out on some very important lessons, such as learning how to cope with rejection and being forced to make the best of a difficult situation. Viewers and Comfort know she’s not the best dancer this season. But she also knows when to jump at the opportunity to have another go at performing since the competition’s more about artistry and self-improvement than winning and having everyone like you. Apparently, Jessica doesn’t realize that yet, which is too bad … for her. I hope she recovers from her “injury” quickly and goes on to have a successful dance career. Photos: Joe Viles/FOX Tags: comfort fedoke, fox, injuries, jessica king, round four, season four, So You Think You Can Dance, summer 2008, sytycd, television, tvShare This

J.J. Abrams Tackling "Fringe" Scuttlebutt

2008-07-15T15:10:05Z

Showrunner J.J. Abrams has shared some Fringe good news recently. Some critics have wondered from the beginning if it was Fox’s intention to create a new “X-Files” via Fringe. After all, FBI agents plus weird science usually reminds us of a few things! Abrams says the plan was more to create something fans would really like to see. Executive producer Robert Orci revealed that although The X-Files series was an inspiration, he has “always wanted to do a show with geniuses solving problems“. Another revelation is although many of us (myself included) believe Fox intentionally released the Fringe episode online, Abrams says he was “disappointed” in the release, saying what viewers saw was unfinished, and not what we’ll see in the fall. Abrams gave some of the best news I’ve heard all summer about a new fall show, which is Fringe will not require us as viewers to invest the same commitment level as watching Lost. I’m a fan of Lost, but I have to admit it did require work. Will it be a “monster” of the week type thing? We’ll have to see. Check out the rest of the report at The Live Feed. I’m hoping the character interaction will provide us with lots of FBI drama between the three main characters. Even if it’s a little like X-Files, it’s not a huge problem if you liked the show, right? Image ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Lavine/FOX Tags: Fringe, j.j. abrams, The X-FilesShare This

The Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer will be attached to The Mummy 3

2008-07-15T17:10:04Z

OMG, you guys. Oh. My. GAWD. For like the bazillionth time, we’re hearing “confirmed” reports about the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer. First we heard it was going to be on “Get Smart” (great movie, by the way), then on “Dark Knight”, and NOWWWW, we’re getting reports that it’s going to be attached to “The Mummy 3″. Here’s more: The Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer will be arriving with The Mummy on August 1st in the United States. This information came to them from Warner Brothers Mexico. While this is by no means an official confirmation (an official one would be from Warner Brothers’ US offices), it lends credibility to Mummy reports we received last week from a couple of movie theaters. - source ARGH. Okay, so which movie do you think the teaser is actually going to be attached to? Which movie will the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince teaser be attached to? ( surveys) Tags: harry potter & the half blood prince trailer, harry potter 6 half blood prince, harry potter and the half blood prince trailer, harry potter half blood prince trailer, harry potter movie half blood prince trailer, harry potter nad the half blood prince trailer, new harry potter and the half blood prince trailer, new harry potter half blood prince trailer, the half blood prince trailer, trailerharry and the half blood prince trailerShare This

DVD Giveaway: "Fool’s Gold"

2008-07-15T23:30:14Z

The DVD: Fool’s Gold, a fun, no-brainer starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson as two ex’s in search of treasure. Read my review and watch a trailer here. (Yeah, I know I didn’t give it a great review, but those two are fun to look at anyway.) The Giveaway: I have TWO DVDs of “Fool’s Gold” to give away. To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday, July 19, 2008. Be sure to include a valid email address. A winner will be drawn randomly. I’ll email the winner for their snail-mail address after the contest ends. Good luck! Image: Fool’s Gold, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2008 Technorati Tags: fool’s gold,fool’s gold dvd,fool’s gold dvd giveaway,romantic comedies,DVD Giveaways,Internet Contests,Internet Giveaways,Bloggy Giveaways,Blog Giveaways,Bloggy DVD Giveaways,Film Gecko DVD Giveaways,Film Gecko Giveaways,Jane Boursaw Giveaways,film gecko,jane boursaw Share This

The Bill Engvall Show: ‘Bill Talks a Good Game’ Spoilers (7-17-08)

2008-07-15T23:30:15Z

Very special guest star Cynthia Watros is indeed back on the The Bill Engvall Show for at least two episodes, including this one, July 17’s “Bill Talks a Good Game.” The main plot revolves around poor Bill, who is dismayed to discover that his middle child Trent can beat him at baseball. Of course, the reality sends him into a funk over his increasing age. Meanwhile, Susan experiences a little jealousy of her own when her best friend AJ (Watros) bonds with Lauren. As a result, Susan becomes determined to bond better with her daughter, too. The sneak peek below features Tim Meadows, who also makes an appearance on the episode. He’s really showing up a lot this season, which is a good thing, in my opinion. Bill Talks a Good Game - Sneak Peek The Bill Engvall Show airs Thursdays on TBS at 9pm EST. Photo: TBS Tags: Bill Engvall, comedies, comedy, cynthia watros, nancy travis, Sitcoms, situation-comedies, Spoilers, summer 2008, tbs, Television, The Bill Engvall Show, tv, VideosShare This

Miley Cyrus on the Cover of TV Guide

2008-07-15T18:10:06Z

Miley Cyrus is on the cover of the July 21st issue of TV Guide (which hits news stands July 17th in a special double issue) and inside she talks about her new album Breakout, the 3D movie and the seven things she can’t live without. The issue also includes a pair of free 3D glasses so that you can watch the Disney Channel premiere of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds 3D Concert movie on July 26th! Miley talks to TV Guide about the success of Hannah Montana. In March 2006, it became the number 1 cable show for kids and tweens. “It was insane,” Cyrus recalls. “All of a sudden I woke up one day and went to Macy’s and saw myself on a T-shirt.” She adds, “I feel empowered when I see my face on a T-shirt. A girl wouldn’t be wearing a shirt with me on it just because she liked my show. She must look up to me.” Be sure and pick up your copy of TV Guide on July 17th and find out what Miley has to say about the Jonas Brothers purity rings as well as the seven things she can’t live without! Image used with permission by TV Guide Tags: best of both worlds movie, breakout, miley cyrus interview, miley cyrus tv guideShare This

Miley Cyrus to be Guest on Radio Disney

2008-07-15T18:10:05Z

Image details: Z100’s Zootopia 2008 - Show served by picapp.com Good news Radio Disney lovers! Miley Cyrus will be a guest on Radio Disney live for seven weekdays, Monday, July 14 – Wednesday, July 23 (5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT). Miley will call Radio Disney’s DJ Ernie D. to update listeners and fans on her new album, her upcoming Hannah Montana movie and the third season of Hannah Montana…something we have all been waiting for. Be sure and tune in so you don’t miss a thing! In other Radio Disney news, they are launching the 2nd annual Move It! Mall Tour, a celebration of movement and music that inspires kids, tweens and families to be active. The events are dance-themed and are scheduled for 34 cities at Simon Malls across the country. The event begins July 19th and continues through August 30th. Event dates and places are below, so mark your calendars! July 19 Cleveland Great Lakes Mall 7850 Mentor Avenue Miami Miami International 1455 NW 107th Avenue Norfolk Chesapeake Square 4200 Portsmouth Blvd San Antonio Ingram Park Mall 6301 NW Loop 410 Tulsa Woodland Hills Mall 7021 S. Memorial Dr July 26 Pittsburgh Ross Park 1000 Ross Park Mall Drive West Palm Beach Boyton Beach 801 N. Congress Ave Richmond Virginia Ctr Commons 10101 Brook Road Dallas Irving Mall 3880 Irving Mall Kansas City , MO Independence Ctr 2035 Independence Ctr Dr August 2 Philadelphia Oxford Mall 2300 East Lincoln Highway Tampa Tyrone Square 6901 22nd Avenue North Charlotte Concord Mills 8111 Concord Mills Blvd Houston Katy Mills 5000 Katy Mills Circle St. Louis St. Louis Mills 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd August 9 New York Ocean County Mall 1201 Hooper Ave in New Jersey Orlando Melbourne Square 1700 West New Haven Avenue New Orleans Esplanade Mall 1401 Esplanade Avenue Los Angeles Westminster Mall 1025 Westminster Mall Minneapolis Southdale Center 10 Southdale Center August 16 Hartford Crystal Mall 850 Hartford Turnpike Jacksonville Orange Park 1910 Wells Road Little Rock McCain Mall 3929 McCain Blvd San Francisco The Great Mall 447 Great Mall Drive Indianapolis Greenwood Park Mall 1251 US 31 North August 23 Providence Emerald Square Mall 999 S. Washington St Atlanta Mall Of Georgia 3333 Buford Drive Wichita Towne East Square 7700 E. Kellogg Drive Denver Colorado Mills 14500 West Colfax Avenue Milwaukee Southridge Mall 5300 South 76th Street August 30 Boston South Shore Plaza 250 Granite Street Albuquerque Cottonwood Mall 10000 Coors Blvd NW Seattle Tacoma Mall 4502 S. Steele Street Chicago Orland Square 288 Orland Square Tags: miley cyrus appearances, miley cyrus radio disney, radio disney eventsShare This

‘Army Wives’ Third Season a Go

2008-07-15T16:30:06Z

Boy, did Lifetime recently deliver some great news for fans of its megahit Army Wives! If you haven’t already heard, the basic-cable network has made the wise decision to extend its popular military drama for a third season. I think the sky-high, record-setting ratings the series has enjoyed druing the first five episodes of its current sophomore season may have had a little something to do with the swift renewal. Season Three will contain a total of eighteen episodes, the same amount as the present season, that will begin airing in 2009. Now that’s how you thank the people involved with a series that has become your most successful program ever — show your love by letting them know they’ll be around for a whole lot longer. Photo: Newscom Tags: Army Wives, dramas, lifetime, Renewals, summer 2008, television, tvShare This

Milo Ventimiglia to Propose to Hayden?

2008-07-15T16:30:06Z

In Touch is reporting that Milo Ventimiglia may be shopping for an engagement ring for his Heroes co-star and girlfriend Hayden Panettiere. They report that Milo confided in a friend that he’d like to propose to Hayden some time this year, despite the fact that Hayde in is only 18 years old. Image details: Comic-Con 2007 - Day 3 served by picapp.com The report indicates that Milo was looking at engagement rings in June, and really likes Cartier. They expect his budget for the ring to be around $200,000. Hat tip: SuperheroProfiles Tags: milo ventimiglia, hayden panettiere, heroes, engaged, ring, engagement ring, propose, celebrity couples, gossip Share This

New Love Awaits ‘Ugly Betty’

2008-07-15T16:30:06Z

Image details: The Belvedere Luxury Lounge In Honor Of The 80th Academy Awards - Day 1 served by picapp.com Well, if you were still wondering which guy sweet Betty Suarez would end up with on Ugly Betty — Christopher Gorham’s nerdy Henry Grubstick or Freddy Rodriguez’s persistent Giovanni “Gio” Rossi — keep wondering because a recent cast development has made the answer all too clear … which guys she won’t end up with. It seems all of the recent rumbling about Gorham not wanting to relocate with the award-winning series from California to New York were true. So true, in fact, that Gorham is officially leaving the show, allegedly never to return, in order to star on CBS’ upcoming midseason horror drama Harper’s Island. Let me just say I’m thrilled. Don’t get me wrong — Gorham’s Betty gig was great. But I first got to know the actor well during the earlier stage in his career when he was tackling roles on short-lived but interesting science-fiction series like Jake 2.0 and Odyssey 5. Sure, he’s an actor of many talents capable of working in many genres, but I look forward to seeing him on a show in one of my preferred genres. Apparently, Betty won’t have the chance to hook up with Gio, either, since in-demand Rodriguez is reportedly slated to return for only one episode next season. Instead, Betty will have a shot with new character Jesse, played by new recurring cast member Val Emmich (Cashmere Mafia). If history is any guide, however, the relationship will be rocky and filled with lots of angst, or at least enough to drag it out for as long as possible while Betty fans rehash every detail. Tags: abc, Cast News, christopher gorham, dramedies, freddy rodriguez, harpers island, summer 2008, television, tv, Ugly Betty, val emmichShare This

Desperate Housewives Spoilers for 5.01

2008-07-15T13:10:09Z

Image details: Chanel Boutique Opening - Red Carpet served by picapp.com A new Desperate Housewives spoiler has come out for episode 5.01, which is still untitled. It has something about several of the characters. Here it is: A newly married man comes to Wisteria Lane to buy a house. He offers money to an old man if he and his wife can move in asap. One of the new couple is composed of Charles, a busy business man, and his wife Lila. They have a young daughter named Julia. Charles is away on a business trip and his way back home is delayed by snow. Two moms gossip about how Gabrielle can’t say no to her kids and the fact that Juanita is eating a lot. The latter overhears the conversation and confronts the two moms. Bree is at a photoshoot for the cover of her first cookbook. She and the photographer don’t agree on her facial expression when taking a pie out of the oven. The crew of “What’s Cookin’ Fairview?” drops by her house for an interview. During the interview, she introduces her staff, which includes Katherine. Mike drops MJ at Susan’s house. Source: SpoilerFix.com [Note: Some people believe that the newly married man is going to be played by Neal McDonough and that his new wife is Edie.] I can totally see Bree arguing about a facial expression! I wonder how her and Katherine work together. I can’t see Katherine being “under” Bree, but maybe the whole ordeal with her ex from last season softened her up a bit. Nah, I can’t see that! It would be very interesting to see Edie come back married. I definitely would not put it past her! What do you think about these spoilers? Tags: 5.01, 5x1, desperate housewives spoilers, dh season 5 spoilers, dh spoilersShare This

A Wrath of Khan parody for Family Guy?

2008-07-15T18:10:09Z

Image details: 2008 Summer TCA Tour - Day 7 served by picapp.com Now this would be ultimately cool; in fact, I’m more excited about the possibility of Family Guy doing a Wrath of Khan parody than I am about them doing Empire Strikes Back. Here’s more from Slashfilm: Seth MacFarlane revealed at a Television Critics Association panel that he would like to take on Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan “if Paramount would let us”. He doubts they would give permission but admits that if the Empire parody does well, “they might be willing.” Would you like to see this happen? I think they could do a really, really good job, and the material is practically BEGGING to be parodied. Just that false chest that Ricardo Montalban wore alone would be worth watching it for, don’t you think? Would you like to see Family Guy make a Wrath of Khan parody? ( polls) Tags: star trek 2 wrath of khan, star trek ii the wrath of khan, star trek wrath of khan, the wrath of khan, wrath of khan poster, wrath of khan quotes, wrath of khan script, wrath of khan sounds, wrath of khan soundtrack, wrath of khan wavShare This

CSI: Vegas - Post-Grissom Cast Plans

2008-07-15T23:30:05Z

I know, I’m still trying to digest the news that William Petersen is leaving the cast mid-season. So now I guess it’s important to find out how the writers & producers plan to handle all the big changes to CSI: Vegas’ cast in season 9. Executive Producer for the show, Carol Mendelsohn, told the plans for the show to Michael Ausiello over at EW.com. Last season, Sara (Jorja Fox) left the show, then the finale saw the brutal shooting of Warrick (Gary Dourdan.) Now with Grissom (William Petersen) leaving, they have a lot of changes in store for us! Here’s the run-down of what we will need to expect in CSI season 9: We’ve already been told that Jorja Fox will be back for the season premiere, but now we find out that she will be in several of season 9’s episodes. I’ll report the details to you as they are released. Gary Dourdan will be back for the premiere only. According to Mendelsohn, “We’re not saying whether or not Warrick lives or dies, but we will say that the premiere may be the last time our loyal fans see the entire original CSI cast together.” Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word) joins the cast in the third episode as new CSI Riley Adams. Carol Mendelsohn: “She has a very distinct personality… a very wry sense of humor. She doesn’t take herself too seriously.” Executive producer Naren Shankar: “This is a person who, unlike the rest of our gang, has not had Grissom as a mentor. So there’s a very different relationship between Riley and Grissom.” A new male CSI, a professor of pathology will enter the cast sometime during the season. We don’t know the actor who will play this Grissom replacement yet, but the show has considered the likes of John Malkovich and Laurence Fishburne. This CSI may not be a supervisor like Grissom, but will fill the hole in the cast left by him. The character is said to also have “a very rare genetic abnormality,” whatever that means. Liz Vassey (lab rat Wendy) and David Berman (coroner David) will become regulars each week and Hodges (Wallace Langham) will have a more integral part in the cast. Somehow, the Miniature Killer will make another appearance and Grissom will be involved with that. (Very cool!) I’m worried about the future of the show, but know that major cast changes were inevitable at some point. Hopefully, the integrity of the show will remain and we will come to love the new CSI as much as before. But don’t worry, as more information is released, I’ll report it here. [Photo: © CTV] Tags: Carol Mendelsohn, csi, David Berman, Gary Dourdan, John Malkovich, Jorja Fox, Lauren Lee Smith, Laurence Fishburne, Liz Vassey, Michael Ausiello, Miniature Killer, Naren Shankar, Wallace Langham, William PetersenShare This

Interview with Ross Partridge of "Baghead"

2008-07-15T23:30:06Z

Baghead is making the rounds at film festivals and stirring up plenty of interest. I had a chance to talk with Ross Partridge, who plays Matt in the film. Read on for his thoughts on film distribution, simple movies about humanity, and why it’s good to have a lot of irons in the fire. Jane: I haven’t had a chance to see Baghead, but it looks really cool. Ross: I hadn’t had a chance to get it to anybody because of the piracy issues with distribution. So they don’t really allow many copies to go around, but it’s been making its way around the festivals. Jane: So it was picked up by Sony Pictures? Ross: Sony Pictures Classics, yes. Jane: So, how does that work? I know it got rave reviews at Sundance, so then do the companies screen films there and decide which ones they’re going to pick up? Read more… Ross: Yes, pretty much. It’s anybody’s guess who’s going to buy what. The crunch of everything even infiltrated into the film business. We were fortunate to sell. We were the second or third narrative that actually sold. We were one of five films that were acquired at Sundance, and then over the past months, I think a few other films like Sugar got acquired, as well, which is a film from Ryan Fleck. Sony purchased a bunch of films this year. Jane: Yeah, I was thinking they picked up quite a few films. Ross: Yeah, they were in the forefront. They picked up The Wackness and a film that won the Grand Jury Prize called Frozen River. It’s a beautiful movie directed by Courtney Hunt. It’s a little stressful when you go there and you’re hoping to sell your movie. The first night of the screening of Baghead, we had a lot of distributors there and everyone was very excited about it. Then you have a couple of days where you don’t actually have a concrete deal in place. So the rest of your Sundance experience is a bit hairy because you’re waiting to hear. It’s kind of like waiting to give birth, I think. Jane: Tell me a little bit about Baghead. I’ve watched the clips, and I love movies that are a little offbeat. Ross: It’s so offbeat, and I’m so proud of it. It’s a genre bender, so it’s a hard movie to place into a specific genre. People say it’s like a horror movie, but if you go into it thinking that, you’re going to be very disappointed, because it’s also really funny. We like to think of it as a comedy with some tense moments that turns into a drama at the end. Baghead is about four disgruntled actors who are trying to break into the business and they go to a really bad film at a film festival. My character, Matt, is so desperate to try and be somebody, he kind of befriends the director, whom he knew from before. They’re like, if Jett Garner can make this crappy movie that everyone’s paying attention to, so can we. So let’s make our own great American screenplay. But we’ve never been in a major motion picture, so we have to do it ourselves, which I think is kind of fun in this day and age, because everyone has access to video cameras. So they go up to a cabin at Big Bear, owned by the uncle of one of the characters, and after some alcohol and everything that starts to transpire, we realize, oh my god, we have no ideas. We’re pathetic. One of the characters gets a little too drunk, and she stumbles outside and thinks she sees something in the woods. So she concocts this idea about a guy staring at her in the woods, and she couldn’t tell what it was, but it looked like he had a bag over his head. Of course, my character’s like, that’s a great movie, that’s the movie! Jane: And sometimes those ideas make the best movies. Like Jerry Seinfeld’s show about nothing. Ross: Life and its simplicity is always the most engaging, I think. It’s refreshing to look at the subtle, smaller things. Jay and Mark (Duplass, directors, writers and producers - Jay is pictured, right) have such a great eye for catching those great moments of life. Jane: I was trying to think of when these kinds of movies came into our consciousness, like Fargo… It seems like there’s a lot more movies like that now. Maybe we’re just enthralled by the basic things of life or something. Ross: I’ve always believed that the blue-collar blueprints for humanity are simple, but so right on. Like the Franny McDormand character in Fargo…her heart was just so well intentioned and misguided by other things. In Baghead it’s just taking a camera out and capturing people in their truest form. It’s almost very voyeuristic, very documentary style. Jane: That’s what I thought, too, that the clips seemed like a documentary. Ross: Yes, there’s something about it that’s immediate with these kinds of movies. Some movies feel very contrived, put together, and well assembled and it just doesn’t feel as real. Jane: Now I’m curious who the person with the bag over his head is, but don’t tell me because I don’t want to ruin the movie. Ross: I won’t tell you because it does become very scary. At Sundance, it was so much fun to watch people laughing all the way through and then all of a sudden screaming their heads off and then laughing at themselves for screaming. They’re like, I can’t believe I’m screaming at this. It’s a very active movie experience, for sure. Jane: I kept thinking, well here’s a guy with a bag over his head. Wouldn’t you be able to tackle him and take the bag off? Ross: Right, but you don’t know what else he’s carrying. Jane: Hmmm! Ross: Yes, there’s a whole other element of Baghead-dom. Jane: I was looking at your IMDB page, and you’ve done a lot of different things in the business. You’ve been around awhile! Ross: Yes, I have. I’m old. Jane: It’s good, though, right? What’s the alternative? That’s what I always say. Ross: I know. There’s not much of one for me. Jane: Do you have a particular thing you like to do in the film business, or do you prefer doing a lot of different things? Ross: I like to do a lot of different things. I just did another film with Mark and Jay called The Do-Deca-Pentathlon, and I’m a coproducer on that film. It’s hard when you’re an actor just to maintain. The filmmaking process can be so much fun, but you want to keep working all the time. I have a hard time sitting still, so I’m always trying to generate new things and create more work. I’ve written, directed, produced and acted. I love it all. Jane: What are you working on right now? Ross: I’m writing something that I’m hoping to shoot in early fall. Then I’m co-producing a documentary about a friend of mine whose father was diagnosed with MS, and then it’s discovered that his father was an assassin for the CIA. So, it’s about the two of them getting to know one another. I’ve just written a pilot that I’m trying to shop around, as well. I also have a theater company, so we’re always looking for new plays. Jane: Lots going on. Ross: Yeah, but it takes a lot of stuff to get something going. You have to have your hands in a lot of things. Jane: Anything else that you want to say about Baghead or anything? Ross: Mark and Jay are two of the most talented people I’ve worked with, and I just feel like their future is so grand. They have a real unique sensibility, being able to create a movie that crosses genres and do it in such a small and entertaining way. With the saturation of big movies this summer and a lot of them not doing as well as anticipated, Baghead is a great alternative. It’s just so much fun. Jane: Does it have a theater release date? Ross: Yes. It’s going to be released July 25 in New York and Los Angeles. They did a pre-opening in Austin, because that’s where Mark and Jay are from, and then it’ll start off in a few smaller cities but the main release date is July 25. After that, it should be in pretty much every state. Jane: Awesome. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for it and spread the word. Thanks for taking the time for me. Ross: No problem. Thank you. If you need anything from me, let me know. Images: Baghead, Sony Pictures Classics, 2008 Technorati Tags: baghead,baghead the movie,ross partridge,interview with ross partridge,jay duplass,mark duplass,steve zissis,greta gerwig,elise muller,jett garner,anthony cristo,film gecko interviews,film gecko,jane boursaw,sony pictures classics,sundance,sundance film festival Share This

Heidi’s swimwear idea shut down by VS

2008-07-15T23:30:06Z

Image details: Heidi Klum Launches Her Collection With Jordache served by picapp.com Apparently Heidi Klum wanted to put all of those years of pouting on an exotic beach in a bikini to good use and design swimsuits. I can’t think of anyone better for the job, as she’s appeared in a swimsuit so many times I find it odd to see her clothed. Unfortunately, the powers that be at Victoria’s Secret thought differently, and shut down the idea. I guess it was a conflict of interests? The thing is, with Heidi becoming a household name AND brand, you’d think VS would jump at the chance to have the “exclusive” on the Heidi swimwear line. Would you wear a Heidi swimsuit? Let’s remember that Heidi’s killer legs are not included. Tags: Heidi Klum, Victoria's SecretShare This

William Petersen Leaving CSI

2008-07-15T23:30:09Z

A while back, the Sultan of Spoilers, Michael Ausiello left TVGuide.com and went to EW.com. Well, today he spoiled my appetite for dinner. He just released the news that William Petersen, aka Gil Grissom is leaving CSI after the 10th episode. I’m really sad. Grissom is my favorite CSI of all! This is truly bad news for the fans! “Billy is leaving,” confirms the show’s executive producer, Carol Mendelsohn. “But he will remain throughout the run of the series an executive producer. And he will, whenever CBS asks, come back. I don’t think you’ve seen the last of Gil Grissom.” Petersen also had this to say about the news: “I’m in a great place in terms of knowing that I’ll be more free to make choices. And I’m responsible enough to not do it in a way that would hurt [the show]. “I want it to work for the writers, I want it to work for the cast, and, most importantly, I want it to work for the audience,” he added. “I don’t want them to abandon the show.” Rumor has it that Grissom has a breakdown, of sorts, after Warrick’s death. He reaches a crisis in his life and: Helping Grissom through the crisis will be his true love, Sara, played by Fox, who is returning for multiple episodes, starting with the season premiere. While Petersen confirms that Sara will figure into Grissom’s final arc, he stops just short of saying the couple will ride off into the desert together at the end of episode 10. “I wouldn’t want to say exactly what we’re going do — I want people to watch, certainly,” he chuckled. “But Sara is involved… It’s often darkest just before the dawn.” How do you think this will affect CSI: Vegas? Will the show be like Law & Order and keep going strong with new cast members, or will the show start to decline? Leave a comment to share your thoughts! [Photo: © CTV] CSI, cbs, CSI las vegas, tv, Television, William Petersen Share This