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Keith David Birthday June 4

Jun 042010

Keith David

Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956), better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, and voice actor, and rapper. He is perhaps most known for his live action roles in such films as Crash, There’s Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work. He has also had memorable roles in numerous cult favorites, including John Carpenter’s films The Thing (as Childs) and They Live (as Armitage), the Riddick films Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick (as the Imam), the General in Armageddon, and as King in Oliver Stone’s Platoon. David is also well known for his voice over career, primarily his Emmy winning work as the narrator of numerous Ken Burns films. Goliath on the Disney series Gargoyles, the Arbiter in Halo 2 and Halo 3, David Anderson in Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, the Decepticon Barricade in Transformers: The Game, Julius Little in Saints Row and Saints Row 2, Sgt. Foley in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and as Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog.

Trade Mark

Deep, commanding voice, very reminiscent of Orson Welles.

Often plays hot-tempered, irritable characters.

His big smile, with a gap between his teeth.

Trivia

Following the 1986 film Platoon (1986), Charlie Sheen — who starred in the films — did a TV interview and credits Keith David with saving his life. While shooting dailies in an open-doored Huey gunship, the helicopter banked too hard, and Sheen was thrown towards — and would have gone through — the open door. David grabbed Sheen by the back and pulled him back in.

Very popular voice-over actor.

Took over as narrator for the show “City Confidential” (1998) after the death of Paul Winfield.

Nominated for Broadway’s 1992 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role – Musical) for “Jelly’s Last Jam.”

Frequent voice collaborator with fellow voice-actor Ron Perlman. Computer games: Fallout: A Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game (1997) (VG), Lords of Everquest (2003) (VG), Halo 2 (2004) (VG), Halo 3 (2007) (VG). Animated series: “Aladdin” (1994), “Fantastic Four” (1994), “Justice League” (2001), “Teen Titans” (2003). And they have both had a guest appearance on the TV series “The Outer Limits” (1995).

His ex-wife attended Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY) with Lisa Nicole Carson where they both appeared (and worked backstage) in theater department productions.

Studied acting with Michael Howard in New York City.

In February 2010 he became the first actor to provide his voice for two films nominated for Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature. He played the part of The Cat in Coraline (2009) and the villain Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog (2009).

Spacehunter: Adventures in the Fobidden Zone released May 20, 1983

Adventure, Sci-fi, Science Fiction No Responses »

May 202010

Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone is a 1983 pulp, action-comedy, science fiction film. The movie stars Peter Strauss, Molly Ringwald, Ernie Hudson, Andrea Marcovicci, and Michael Ironside. The film’s executive producer was Ivan Reitman, (producer of such films as National Lampoon’s Animal House and Ghostbusters), and it was directed by Lamont Johnson. The film had an adventurous music score composed by Elmer Bernstein.

When the movie came out in theaters, parts of it were shown in 3-D and the film became part of the 3-D movie revival craze of the early 1980s.

The movie is about a bounty hunter who goes on a mission to rescue three women stranded on a brutal planet and meets a vagrant teenage girl along the way.

Trivia:

The “tape machines” were on loan from Brainstorm (1983), which was being filmed on an adjacent set.

While it was common for 3-D movies to also be released simultaneously in flat versions, the two versions of this movie were shown at different ratios. 3-D prints were projected at 2.35:1, while flat prints were only 1.85:1. Thus, the flat widescreen DVD version from Columbia TriStar is correctly presented at 1.85:1 and not 2.35:1, as erroneously listed on the DVD case.

Alec Baldwin Birthday April 3

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Apr 032010

Alec Baldwin

Alexander Rae “Alec” Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage and television.

Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing, which aired on CBS from 1984 to 1986. He has since played both leading and supporting roles in films such as Beetlejuice (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Aviator (2004) and The Departed (2006). His performance in the 2003 film The Cooler garnered him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination.

He currently stars as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. He has received two Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He is the oldest of the Baldwin brothers working in Hollywood.

Trivia:

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#80). [1995]

Daughter, Ireland Eliesse (aka Addie Baldwin), born on October 23, 1995.

He and his wife Kim Basinger owned a total of eleven dogs, seven cats and a wolf.

Education: George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (majored in political science), New York University, New York, New York (majored in drama; BA, 1993).

As part of his preparation for The Hunt for Red October (1990), he was trained to drive a Los Angeles-class attack submarine at the New London Submarine Base in Connecticut.

Brother of William Baldwin, Stephen Baldwin, Daniel Baldwin, Jane Sasso, and Elizabeth Keuchler.

Cousin of Charles H. Baldwin

Dated Michelle Pfeiffer, Janine Turner and Ally Sheedy.

Brother-in-law of singer Chynna Phillips and Kennya Baldwin.

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1990]

Cousin of actor Joseph Baldwin.

Originally wanted to be a lawyer.

His father was not only a social studies teacher in Massapequa, but also the football coach. It was his father who coined the nickname for Massapequa: Matzoh-Pizza.

Alec’s daughter is often called “Addie” by family members.

During the Bill Clinton impeachment trial went on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (1993) and said to a cheering audience that the head of the trial, Henry Hyde and his family, should be stoned to death. He later apologized and said it was just a joke.

A fan of novelist James Lee Burke, he owns the rights to a number of books featuring his character Dave Robiceaux. One of these, Heaven’s Prisoners (1996), was released in 1996.

Wrote “Tabloid,” an episode of “Law & Order” (1990), based on his own experiences with tabloid reporters.

Turned down the chance to reprise the role of Jack Ryan in Patriot Games (1992) in order to play Stanley Kowalski in a revival of Tennessee Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” on Broadway.

Told brother Stephen Baldwin that doing Bio-Dome (1996) could be the single most career ending decision he could possibly make.

Loves Cuban cigars.

At George Washington University, Baldwin ran for president but lost by two votes.

Taught “Master Theater Workshop” in summer 2002 at Southampton College, New York where friend James LaRocca is Dean.

Is only the third person in history to be nominated for both Best Supporting Actor from the Oscars, for The Cooler (2003), and Worst Supporting Actor from the Razzies, for The Cat in the Hat (2003), in the same year.

Jokes that he “stole” his performance in The Cooler (2003) from Ben Kingsley’s in Sexy Beast (2000).

Replaced Alan Rickman as the voice of Leonardo Leonardo in the 2000 cartoon based on Kevin Smith’s film Clerks. (1994).

Received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Montclair State University at their 2004 Graduation.

Like ex-wife Kim Basinger, he is also a vegetarian. He claims she was the one who convinced him. Since their divorce he has continued to be an advocate for animal rights.

In 1995, he played the role of Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (1995) (TV), a role originated by Marlon Brando, who went on to play Vito Corleone. On “Saturday Night Live” (1975), he has played Robert De Niro, who played the young Vito Corleone to Brando’s older Don Corleone, in The Godfather: Part II (1974).

His A Streetcar Named Desire (1995) (TV) castmate, John Goodman, played Marlon Brando on “Saturday Night Live” (1975).

Has done voice-over work in television ads for both General Electric and Subaru.

Was nominated for Broadway’s 1992 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for playing Stanley Kowalski in a revival of Tennessee Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a performance he recreated in a television version of the same title, A Streetcar Named Desire (1995) (TV).

Is of Irish and French descent.

Is one of only two people with a standing invitation to host “Saturday Night Live” (1975) every year (schedules allowing). The other is Christopher Walken.

Has impersonated Robert De Niro on “Saturday Night Live” (1975) a few times, and now he will be in The Good Shepherd (2006), which is directed by De Niro.

He was willing to voice his own puppet in Team America: World Police (2004) (despite the movie’s unflattering portrait of him and other film stars, but was turned down by producers Matt Stone and Trey Parker, because all of the other celebrities were voiced by impressionists in the film. The role went to impressionist Maurice LaMarche.

In 1979, he auditioned for the New York University Undergraduate Drama Program on a dare (and was accepted).

No relation to actor Adam Baldwin.

Son of Carol M. Baldwin.

Was considered for the role of Dr. Curtis McCabe in Vanilla Sky (2001).

Has declined two roles that later went to Harrison Ford. First, he declined to reprise the role of Jack Ryan in Patriot Games (1992), then he turned down the lead role in The Fugitive (1993).

Was considered for the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman (1989).

Did a skit on “Saturday Night Live” (1975) in December of 2005 in which he spoofed himself delivering the same speech he did in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) to a couple of Santa’s elves. Only some of the words were changed to apply to the elves rather than salesmen. He slipped though when saying the line, “Always Be Cobbling” instead he said the original line, “Always Be Closing”. This made the other cast members break out in laughter on the live show.

He is frequently referred to as Irish-American and, although both of his parents have Irish heritage, he is not entirely Irish. His father was half-English and his mother’s side is primarily French (only one-quarter Irish).

Caused a scandal by leaving an expletive filled voice mail for his daughter Ireland, calling her a “thoughtless little pig”, which later was revealed to the media (11 April 2007).

Revealed during an appearance on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (1993) that he suffers from OCD.

Wrote “Tabloid” episode for the television show “Law & Order” (1990) which was part of the 1998 season because of his own experience with tabloid reporters.

Caused a major uproar in the Philippines when he made a joke that he was interested in buying a Filipina wife. As a result, Philippine senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., (also an actor) blasted Baldwin and even swore to personally beat him up if he ever visits the Philippines. Despite apologizing for the joke, Baldwin was effectively banned from visiting the Philippines.

He has tied long-time reigning champion, Steve Martin, for hosting “Saturday Night Live” (1975) the most times. Both have hosted 14 episodes to date. They were chosen to co-host The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (2010) (TV) together.

Teaches a theater class at The Ross School in New York, which actress Aimee Muschamp attended.

Has announced plans to retire from acting and pursue other interests when his contract for “30 Rock” (2006) expires in 2012.

Good friends with actress Meryl Streep.

Is five years younger than his ex-wife, Kim Basinger.

Quentin Taratino Birthday March 27

Birthdays 1 Response »

Mar 272010

Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s he was an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and aestheticization of violence. His films include Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill (2003–2004), Death Proof (2007) and Inglourious Basterds (2009). His films have earned him an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Palme d’Or Awards and he has been nominated for Emmy and Grammy Awards. In 2007, Total Film named him the 12th-greatest director of all time.

Trivia:

Together with Lawrence Bender founded record company called A Band Apart Records. It will focus on film soundtracks and its releases will be distributed through Maverick Records, owned by Madonna. [30 July 1997]

Was planning to direct an episode of “The X Files” (1993) but refused to join the Director’s Guild of America. The Guild refused his request for a waiver so that he could direct the show. [November 1996]

Claims that Tarantino acted in the film Dawn of the Dead (1978) or the film King Lear (1987) are incorrect. Quentin falsely listed these credits years ago on his acting resume to compensate for his lack of experience and these incorrect credits have subsequently been attributed to him in such places as Leonard Maltin’s Movie and Video Guide and the Cinemania CD ROM.

First noted screenplay was titled “Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit,” which was written in 1985.

Tarantino claims that James Best taught him how to act.

Collects old board games having to do with TV shows like “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965), “The Dukes of Hazzard” (1979), “The A-Team” (1983), etc.

In all of his original screenplays, the name of a police detective named Scagnetti is referred to at least once. Most of the times the particular scene was cut out of the final versions.

Is widely reported to have helped to write Tony Scott’s Crimson Tide (1995).

As of the year 2001, he wanted to begin filming the film Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) with Uma Thurman. Production was delayed because of Thurman’s pregnancy.

Is a big fan of The Three Stooges.

His father, actor/musician Tony Tarantino is of Italian descent, and his mother, Connie McHugh, is half-Irish and half-Cherokee.

Although he uses both elements in his films, he strongly detests violence and drugs.

Is listed in the acknowledgments of actor Ethan Hawke’s novel, Ash Wednesday.

Two of Tarantino’s favorite films are _’Manos’ the Hands of Fate (1966)_ (which he owns a 35mm copy of) and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982), which he references in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003).

Was the head judge at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, where Pulp Fiction (1994) won the Palme D’or, the top honor, only ten years earlier.

Considers Ride in the Whirlwind (1965) one of the finest Westerns ever made, even writing an extensive article about it for Sight And Sound magazine titled A Rare Sorrow. The article was featured in the Pulp Fiction (1994) Special Edition DVD as an extra and also appears in Paul A. Woods’ Film Geek Files (pgs. 129-132). Interestingly, the director of Ride in the Whirlwind, Monte Hellman, was the executive producer of Reservoir Dogs (1992).

Has an IQ of 160 despite dropping out of high school.

He is a good friend of Robert Rodriguez.

He has called Uma Thurman his muse.

Named after the Burt Reynolds character Quint Asper from “Gunsmoke” (1955)

Was at one point in his life considering to become a novelist. He said that he tried writing two chapters of a novel about his experiences working at the Video Archives in Hermosa Beach. As can be immediately seen, novelistic narrative techniques bear a strong influence on his distinct filmmaking style.

In 1994, before Pulp Fiction (1994), in an interview with Charlie Rose, he cited his three favorite films as Blow Out (1981) (directed by Brian De Palma), Rio Bravo (1959) (directed by Howard Hawks) and Taxi Driver (1976) (directed by Martin Scorsese).

In the last Sight & Sound Greatest Films Poll (2002), he listed his Top Ten films as: Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966) (aka “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Leone), Rio Bravo (1959) (Hawks), Taxi Driver (1976) (Scorsese), His Girl Friday (1940) (Hawks), Rolling Thunder (1977) (Flynn), They All Laughed (1981) (Bogdanovich), The Great Escape (1963) (J. Sturges), Carrie (1976) (De Palma), Coffy (1973) (Hill), Dazed and Confused (1993) (Linklater), _Tian xia di yi quan (1973)_ (aka “Five Fingers of Death,” Chang) and Hi Diddle Diddle (1943) (Stone).

Considers two of his best friends to be Paul Thomas Anderson and Sofia Coppola.

His mother was only 16 when she gave birth to him.

Once a vocal proponent of celluloid-over-digital film-making, Tarantino got his first experience with the latter technology by directing a segment of the film Sin City (2005) with his friend ‘Robert Rodriguez’ (I) . Rodriguez, who lauds the technology at every opportunity, made it his mission to convert Tarantino as well. At the end of shooting, Tarantino is reported to have said simply, “Mission accomplished.”

On “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (1992), he stated his all-time favorite James Bond film is From Russia with Love (1963).

Hates product placement hence, the use of the fictional cigarette Red Apple and now-defunct cereal Fruit Brute in his films.

Dropped out of Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California, at the age of sixteen to pursue film making.

Six of his movies are mentioned in FHM’s (DK) 100 Best Male Movies Ever (7 October 2004 issue): True Romance (1993) at #75, From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) at #73, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) at #26, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) at #25, Reservoir Dogs (1992) at #11, and Pulp Fiction (1994) at #1.

Was offered the role of the President of the United States of America in Batoru rowaiaru II: Chinkonka (2003) but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.

Has stated that he would like to direct a James Bond movie at some point in his career.

Has named Rio Bravo (1959) as one of his favorite films.

Named his production company, A Band Apart, after the Jean-Luc Godard film Bande à part (1964) (Band of Outsiders).

Often references numerous attributes of the works of Jean-Luc Godard, particularly in Pulp Fiction (1994). The disjointed structure of Pulp Fiction (1994) may itself be an homage to Godard’s use of jump cuts in À bout de souffle (1960) (Breathless), the film that launched the French New Wave of cinema.

Is a huge fan of the Half-Life computer game series, and has considered possibilities of directing a movie adaptation.

Ranked #81 on Premiere’s 2004 annual Power 100 List. He was unranked in 2003.

Cites his influences as Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, Sergio Leone, and Jean-Luc Godard.

Ranked #8 in Empire (UK) magazine’s greatest directors ever 2005 poll.

Was the spokesman for SkyperfecTV, a Japanese based satellite TV network, a competitor to the now locally defunct DirecTV endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Was guest director for one scene for Robert Rodriguez’ Sin City (2005).

Eli Roth wanted to have the world premiere of Hostel (2005) at the 2005 Iceland Film Festival. During the festival, Roth and Quentin Tarantino were made honorary vikings at Viking Village, in a ceremony arranged by Eythor Gudjonsson. Roth’s Icelandic name is Eli Sheldonsson, and Tarantino’s Icelandic name is Quentin Conniesson.

His all-time favorite director is Howard Hawks.

Each of his movies, with the exception of Death Proof (2007), features someone from the cast of Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets (1973). Harvey Keitel from Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994), Robert De Niro from Jackie Brown (1997), David Carradine from Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), and David Proval is in Four Rooms (1995).

Was originally offered the chance to direct Men in Black (1997), but turned it down.

Was originally offered the chance to direct Speed (1994/I), but turned it down.

Is godfather to two of Michael Madsen’s sons Hudson and Calvin Michael. Michael and his wife DeAnna joked in OK! magazine about naming Quentin godfather to their newest son Luke Ray as well.

Is spoofed in the short film Let’s Get Real! (1999), which contains several satirical references to Pulp Fiction (1994).

Has stated that he would like to make and star in a film telling the story of John Brown, the abolitionist.

Named his favorite films of 2005 as Sin City (2005), Domino (2005), Hustle & Flow (2005) and The Devil’s Rejects (2005).

Has named My Bloody Valentine (1981) his all-time favorite slasher film.

During his stay in the Philippines, Tarantino got trapped in traffic due to flooding as he was traveling to Malacanang Palace to meet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and receive a lifetime achievement award. Refusing to give up, he and his partner Tikoy Aguiluz got off their limousine and took a pedicab each to reach the palace. After arriving, Tarantino stated “It was a lot of fun. It just took a long time but it was not bad at all”.

Has two sisters and one brother: Tanya Marie Tarantino (b. Pasadena, California, 4 Oct 1964), Ronnajean Tarantino (b. Arizona, Phoenix, 22 June 1969) and Edward James Tarantino (b. Simi Valley, California, Simi Valley, 3 Oct 1974).

His father was born in Queens, New York, and has a sister named Diane. Their parents are Dominic Tarantino and wife Elizabeth.

His mother was born in Tennessee on September 3, 1946. She is the adopted daughter of Ellis and Elizabeth (Betty) Shaffer.

After his parents divorced, his mother married Curtis Zastoupil.

As a child, one of his favorite movies was Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). He credits the film with helping him learn genre distinctions.

Wrote the forward for the book Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi”.

Was offered a chance to direct Westworld (2012), but turned it down.

Was ex-girlfriend Mira Sorvino’s date the night she won her best supporting actress Oscar.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was raised in Los Angeles.

Close friends with Jennifer Beals.

Is of Italian, Irish and Cherokee descent.

In the 2008 Empire Magazine poll of the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, Tarantino listed his favorite films as: 1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), (Sergio Leone), 2. Rio Bravo (1959), (Howard Hawks), 3. Blow Out (1981), (Brian De Palma), 4. Taxi Driver (1976), (Martin Scorsese), 5. His Girl Friday (1940), Howard Hawks), 6. 5 Fingers of Death / King Boxer (1972), (Chang-hwa Jeong), 7. Pandora’s Box (1929), (‘Georg Wilhelm Pabst’), 8. Carrie (1976), (Brian De Palma), 9. Unfaithfully Yours (1948), (Preston Sturges), 10. Five Graves to Cairo (1943), (Billy Wilder), 11. Jaws (1975), (Steven Spielberg). Choices #2, 3 and 4 are marked as “interchangeable”.

Lived with Jennifer Beals while getting his first films produced.

Directed 5 actors in Oscar nominated performances: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Robert Forster, and Christoph Waltz. Waltz won for his performance in Inglourious Basterds (2009).

His three favourite Alfred Hitchcock movies are; Suspicion (1941), Sabotage (1936) and Torn Curtain (1966).

Jason Sarayba is a huge fan of his.

He is mentioned in the cartoon “Courage The Cowardly Dog” as the zombie director Quintin Tarantella in several episodes, the first being “Everyone Wants To Direct”.

He screens Rio Bravo (1959) for potential girlfriends as a test of their compatibility.

Thanked by Nirvana in the liner notes of their album “In Utero”.

David Cronenberg Birthday March 15

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Mar 152010

David Cronenberg

David Paul Cronenberg, OC, FRSC (born March 15, 1943)is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter, and occasional actor. He is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror or venereal horror genre. This style of filmmaking explores people’s fears of bodily transformation and infection. In his films, the psychological is typically intertwined with the physical. In the first half of his career, he explored these themes mostly through horror and science fiction, although his work has since expanded beyond these genres.

Trade Mark:

His films generally involve the horror caused by a mutation, by a parasite, or by particular medical conditions.

Uses dark backgrounds.

Films often include explicit carnage.

Frequent references to the Flesh or the New Flesh.

Frequently uses the music of Howard Shore.

Frequently casts Robert A. Silverman.

Movies about crime families.

Frequently casts Viggo Mortensen.

Trivia:

Costumes in his films are usually designed by his sister Denise Cronenberg.

Was set to direct Total Recall (1990). He even wrote a few drafts of the script before Paul Verhoeven took over.

Brother of costume designer Denise Cronenberg.

Father of Caitlin Cronenberg and Brandon Cronenberg.

Uncle of Aaron Woodley

Is of German / Dutch descent

John Carpenter paid homage to him in Escape from New York (1981). One of the United States Police Force guards is on the line with Hauk, then adds that Cronenberg is on the line for him. Another person paid homage to in the movie was George A. Romero, who had Isaac Hayes’s right-hand man named after him.

President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999

Directed an episode of “Friday the 13th” (1987), The Services, called Faith Healer. 13 years later, he appeared in the Friday the 13th film (unreleated to the series), Jason X (2001).

Was offered the chance to direct Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) but he declined.

His crew referred to the final Brundlefly monster seen in the climax of The Fly (1986) as the Space Bug.

Father was a bookstore owner and sometime columnist for the Toronto Telegram. Mother was a piano rehearsal accompanist for the National Ballet.

Father died at age 61.

Deferred his own salary to make Spider (2002).

Father of Assistant Director Cassandra Cronenberg.

Cites Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) as his inspiration for becoming a filmmaker. It was screened at the University of Toronto when he was a student.

Has admired bugs and insects since childhood. This fascination has lingered on, and can be felt through many of his films.

At one point, Cronenberg was in line to direct the film “The Singing Detective” (2003), with Al Pacino in the lead.

Turned down the chance to direct “Top Gun” (1986).

Turned down the chance to direct RoboCop.

His regular cinematographer until 1988 was Mark Irwin until Dead Ringers (1988), on which Irwin was unable to work because of his commitment to The Blob (1988). Cronenberg then hired Peter Suschitzky, who became his regular cinematographer, and Cronenberg and Irwin have not worked together since then.

His father was a journalist and his mother played the piano. These roles are reversed in The Fly (1986), in which Jeff Goldblum plays the piano to impress Geena Davis, who plays a journalist.

Has often referred to The Brood (1979) as his own twisted version of Kramer vs. Kramer (1979).

Sir Michael Caine Birthday March 14

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Mar 142010

Michael Caine

Sir Michael Caine, CBE (born 14 March 1933) is an English film actor. Caine has appeared in more than 100 films and is one of only two actors to have been nominated for an Academy Award for acting (leading or supporting) in every decade since the 1960s (Jack Nicholson being the other).

He became known for several notable critically acclaimed performances, particularly in films such as Zulu (1964); The Ipcress File (1965) and others as Harry Palmer; the womanising title character in Alfie (1966); The Italian Job (1969); The Battle Of Britain (1969); Get Carter (1971); The Man Who Would Be King (1975); Educating Rita (1983); an Academy Award–winning performance for supporting actor in Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999); as Nigel Powers in the parody Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); and more recently as Alfred Pennyworth, the butler from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

Caine was knighted in 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II, actually as Sir Maurice Micklewhite, in recognition of his contribution to cinema.

Trivia:

His first American accent was in the film Hurry Sundown (1967). He was taught the Southern drawl by Vivien Leigh, who told him to say “four door Ford” all day long for weeks. (source – “What’s it all about?” Michael Caine’s autobiography – 1992)

10/87: Ranked #55 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list.

Co-owned top London restaurant Langan’s Brasserie.

1987: Awarded British Variety Club Award for Best Film Actor.

1993: Awarded CBE (Commander Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire).

Owns his own film production company.

Took his name from the film The Caine Mutiny (1954)

Shared a London flat with actor Terence Stamp early in his career.

6/17/00: Was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for his contribution to the performing arts.

11/16/00: Formally knighted at Buckingham Palace under his real name of Maurice Micklewhite. He will be known professionally as Sir Michael Caine.

He owns seven restaurants: six in London, one in Miami.

Father, with Shakira Caine, of Natasha.

Father, with the late Patricia Haines, of Dominique (aka Nikki).

The production offices of Mona Lisa (1986) were located in the disused St Olave’s hospital, the very hospital in which Caine was born.

Has two brothers. Younger brother Stanley Caine appeared in at least three of Caine’s films: Billion Dollar Brain (1967), Play Dirty (1968) and The Italian Job (1969). He did not know about his elder half-brother David until their mother died. David suffered from epilepsy and had lived in a hospital his entire life.

The role of Alfie was turned down by Anthony Newley and Terence Stamp before it was offered to him.

Lodged with composer John Barry in the early 1960s for a few months, after being forced to leave his own flat, penniless. He returned the favor in 1998 when agreeing to introduce the composer’s Royal Albert Hall concert – his first in the UK for 25 years.

“Michael Caine”, a top 10 song in Britain in the mid-’80s by the group Madness, had his “My Name Is Michael Caine” quote sampled into the song.

2001: Was voted fifth in the Orange Film Survey of greatest British actors.

Starred with Donald Sutherland in a 1964 TV production of “Hamlet.” Sutherland later starred in The Italian Job (2003), a re-make of Caine’s film The Italian Job (1969).

He and Quincy Jones were born on the same day.

Lobbied for the lead role in The Day of the Jackal (1973) but was rejected by director Fred Zinnemann, who felt that the character of The Jackal, who essentially is a cipher, should not be played by a movie star.

Upon meeting Laurence Olivier for the first time on the set of Sleuth (1972), he was unsure of how to address Olivier. Olivier told him that he should be called Lord Olivier the first time, and after that, he could simply call him “Larry.”

Three of his memorable films (Alfie (1966), The Italian Job (1969), and Get Carter (1971)) have all been remade.

1987: Was not present at the Academy Awards ceremony when he won best supporting actor for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) because he was filming Jaws: The Revenge (1987), for which he was nominated for worst supporting actor at the Razzie awards the following year.

Has stated that the character of Vichy war criminal Pierre Brossard in The Statement (2003) was his least favorite. He said that all the other characters he played in his career, whether good or evil, had a sense of humor on some level that he would try to convey in his performance. He felt that Brossard had no sense of humor whatsoever, in part because the character was such an intense man.

The soundstage at Shepperton Studios, in which he filmed Batman Begins (2005), is also the one where he filmed his very first film, A Hill in Korea (1956).

Is close friends with Sir Sean Connery, Sir Roger Moore, Sir Elton John and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Throughout the 1960s he was by his own estimation drinking two bottles of vodka and smoking at least eighty cigarettes a day. He quit smoking cigarettes following a stern lecture from Tony Curtis at a party in 1971, and finally quit smoking cigars shortly before his 70th birthday in 2003.

Was the first person to be nominated for an acting Razzie award for more than one title. He was nominated for Worst Actor of 1980 at the very first Razzie awards for his roles in the films Dressed to Kill (1980) and The Island (1980).

In 1957, at Brighton University, Caine appeared in a one-act play written by a fellow actor who went by the name of David Baron. It was Baron’s very first play. He later changed his name back to Harold Pinter, the name under which he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005.

Shares a birthday with Taylor Hanson, Mercedes McNab, Kylie Tyndall and Keaton Tyndall, Quincy Jones, & Chris Klein

He played Charlie Croker in The Italian Job (1969). His Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) co-star Seth Green appeared in the re-make The Italian Job (2003).

Superstar Swedish rock band Kent refer to him in their song “Palace and Main”

Near the end of The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), he passes by a store called “Micklewhite’s.” His real name is Maurice Micklewhite.

Allegedly did not get along with Steven Seagal while filming On Deadly Ground (1994).

Mike Myers said that he based the character of Austin Powers partially on Caine’s character in Alfie (1966). Caine would play Austin Powers father in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002).

Visited John Wayne several times when the veteran star was dying of cancer in hospital.

1979: Left England for tax reasons, and did not return until 1987.

An ardent Thatcherite during the 1980s, Caine switched his support to Tony Blair’s New Labour Party shortly before the 1997 General Election.

Has been nominated for an Oscar at least once in five consecutive decades (1960s-2000s).

Turned down Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy (1972).

12/18/05: Attended the party at his close friend Sir Elton John’s Old Windsor mansion after the singer married David Furnish in a civil partnership ceremony.

While he uses “Michael Caine” professionally, he uses his given name in his personal life.

Originally had the lead role of Switching Channels (1988) but was held up by production delays on Jaws: The Revenge (1987).

Has appeared in the remakes of two of his films: Get Carter (2000) and Sleuth (2007).

Alfie (1966) and Sleuth (1972) were both remade with Jude Law taking over his role.

He is famous for the catch-phrase “Not a lot of people know that”, though he never actually said it.

His all-time favorite actor, his inspiration to become an actor and his hero is Humphrey Bogart.

Once said that he knew he’d made it as an actor when he started getting scripts to read that no longer had coffee stains already on them (meaning that he was the first choice for that role).

He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film culture.

In an interview with “The Sunday Telegraph” on 26 April 2009, Caine admitted that he is considering becoming a tax exile again if Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown increases taxes on high earners.

Chosen by GQ magazine as one of the 50 Most Stylish Men in the Past 50 Years.

Confirmed in an interview with “The Mail on Sunday” newspaper on 1 November 2009 that he has dropped his support for Labour and will vote Conservative at the next General Election.

The Bat released March 14, 1926

Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller No Responses »

Mar 142010

The Bat (1926) is a silent film based on the 1920 hit Broadway play by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood, directed by Roland West and starring Jack Pickford and Louise Fazenda. The story takes place in an old mansion, where people look for hidden loot while a caped killer (nicknamed “The Bat”) murders them one by one. The film was rediscovered after being thought to have been a lost film for many years.

One of Batman’s greatest trademarks is the bat signal. In the 1926 film, “the Bat” can be seen using the bat signal, although in the film, he uses it to frighten his enemies before he attacks. In later Batman comics, films, etc., the police use it to contact Batman, although modern innovation has taken the signal back to its roots in using it to remind and possibly terrify criminals as to the reality of Batman’s existence.

Trivia:

For many years this was regarded as a “lost film” with no known prints or elements existing.
This film was highly regarded for its visuals, especially for its cinematography, elaborate sets and special effects. Roland West could only top it by remaking it four years later as The Bat Whispers (1930) with sound and in an early 70mm process.
Filming took place almost entirely at night.

Linda Fiorentino Birthday March 9

Birthdays No Responses »

Mar 092010

Linda Fiorentino

Linda Fiorentino (born March 9, 1958) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films such as Dogma, Vision Quest, Men in Black, After Hours and The Last Seduction.

Trivia:
Won her part in Men in Black (1997) in a poker game from Barry Sonnenfeld. Besides the part, she won around $1200.
1995: Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the “100 Sexiest Stars” in film history (#66).
Graduated from Washington Township High School, in Sewell, NJ. Is a graduate of Rosemont College, in Rosemont, PA (just west of Philadelphia).
Director Kevin Smith said in his DVD commentary for Dogma (1999) that Linda wouldn’t even speak to him some days and, in retrospect, he wishes he had given the part of Bethany to Janeane Garofalo instead.
2000: Donated $1,000 to the New York Senate Campaign for Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
She is one of 8 children. Her mother’s name is Clorinda Fiorentino and her sisters include Rose Fiorentino, Catherine Fiorentino, and Terry Fiorentino Christie.
1980: Earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Rosemont College in Pennsylvania at 22 years old.
She has been an active photographer since 1987 and has studied it at the International Center of Photography in New York City.
She has optioned the film rights to Colin Patrick Lynch’s play, “One Eyed Jacks and Suicide Kings”.
She has optioned rights to the Jim Curtis’ screenplay about Russian poetess, Anna Akhmatova, in July 2007.

Rachel Weisz Birthday March 7

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Mar 072010

Rachel Weisz

Rachel Hannah Weisz (born 7 March 1970) is an English actress and model.She gained wide public recognition after her portrayal of Evelyn “Evy” Carnahan-O’Connell in the films The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. In 2001, she starred opposite Hugh Grant in the hit About a Boy and continued to garner leading roles in Hollywood productions. Her performance in The Constant Gardener (2005) won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, along with other major motion picture awards.

Trivia:

She pronounces her last name “Vice.”

Studied English at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University.

Dated director Sam Mendes. [2001]

Studying English at Cambridge University, Weisz formed the Talking Tongues theater company and at 1991′s Edinburgh Festival won a student drama award for a play she wrote and acted in.

Lives in a US$450,000 London apartment and drives a Jaguar.

She has recently become a patron of The X Appeal, which is the official charity of the Royal College of Radiologists.

Her father invented respirators that supplied their own oxygen and machines that sense land mines.

1998: Named as one of European films’ Shooting Stars by the European Film Promotion Board.

She was awarded the 1994 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre) for Most Promising Newcomer for her performance in Design for Living.

Educated at the prestigious St Paul’s Girls School in London. Was in the same class as actress Emily Mortimer.

Lives in New York with director Darren Aronofsky (2004).

Ranked #30 in Stuff magazine’s 102 Sexiest Women in the World (2002).

Drives an old, black Jaguar 4.2 Sovereign with pepper-pot wheels.

Is the face of Revlon (2005).

Announced on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (1992) that she was five months pregnant and engaged to Darren Aronofsky. [January 6, 2006]

When asked who her idols were, she named Gena Rowlands, Katharine Hepburn, Jack Nicholson, Shirley MacLaine, Ingrid Bergman, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

Rachel and her fiancé, Darren Aronofsky, became the parents of a son, Henry Chance on May 31, 2006.

Invited to join AMPAS in 2006.

Replaced Kate Moss as the new face of the Burberry campaign.

Was a radical feminist at University.

Her favorite movie is Nicolas Roeg and Donald Cammell’s psychedelic 1970 masterpiece Performance (1970).

Good friends with fellow British actors Jude Law and Susan Lynch.

Is very good friends with fashion designers Narciso Rodríguez and Donna Karan.

Was offered a large part in the Richard Gere movie King David (1985) when she was only 14. Her parents wouldn’t let her do it.

She was offered the role of “Becky” in Clerks II (2006). She couldn’t do it because of scheduling conflicts. The role eventually went to Rosario Dawson.

Is of Hungarian (from her father’s side) and Austrian-Italian (from mother’s side) descent.

Divides her time between New York and London, where she has a home on the same street as fellow British actor and good friend Jude Law.

Is semi fluent in German.

While filming The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001), she formed a strong friendship with fellow co-stars John Hannah and Oded Fehr. They remain good friends.

Has a younger sister named Minnie Weisz.

Very good friends with the Fiennes family having worked with both Joseph Fiennes in Enemy at the Gates (2001) and twice with Ralph Fiennes in Sunshine (1999) and The Constant Gardener (2005).

Beat out Nicole Kidman for the role of Georgie Jutland in Dirt Music (2010).

Won her Oscar for playing a pregnant woman in The Constant Gardener (2005) while she was pregnant in real-life with her first child.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#37). [2007].

Had a role in the film Smart People (2008), but dropped out before filming began. As a result, Sarah Jessica Parker was given her role.

Ranked #85 on Askmen.com’s 100 Most Desirable Women in the World (2008).

Was originally considered for the role of Daisy in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) but later backed out due to scheduling conflicts. The part was then given to Cate Blanchett.

Ranked #44 on Glamour Magazine’s Most Glamourous Women in the World list (2009).

Her parents escaped to England from central Europe before the start of WWII.

Grew up a tomboy.

Voted #63 in FHM 100 Sexiest 2009.

Chris Weitz, who directed her in About a Boy (2002), was a classmate of Rachel when she attended Cambridge University.

Her part in Eragon (2006) made her one of the first actress in world history to have a leading role as a dragon.

The role of Hypatia in Agora (2009) was written with her in mind.

Good friends with Ian McKellan.

Returned to work four months after giving birth to her son Henry in order to begin filming My Blueberry Nights (2007).

Steven Weber Birthday March 4

Birthdays No Responses »

Mar 042010

Steven Weber

Steven Robert Weber (born March 4, 1961) is an American actor. Weber is best known for his starring role as Brian Michael Hackett on the sitcom “Wings” (1990). Brian Hackett was the looser, goofier more aimless half of the brotherly team who co-owned a one-plane, for a Nantucket-based airline. Tim Daly co-starred as his brother, Joe Hackett. Weber has also starred in television and films including, Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), “The Shining” (1997), “The Outer Limits”, “Masters of Horror”, and “Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King”.

Trivia:

Graduate of the prestigious State University of New York, Purchase. Other SUNY Purchase

Son Alfie James born on February 25, 2003.

Wife Juliette Hohnen is an interior decorator and a former L.A. Bureau chief for MTV.

Met ex-wife Finn Carter on the set of the soap “As the World Turns” (1956).

Mom was a nightclub singer; Dad was a manager of Borscht Belt comedians.

Began acting in commercials in the third grade.

First child, Jack Alexander Hohnen-Weber, was born on 15 January 2001, weighing 7lbs 1oz

In May 2007, he made a large profit on his 1,400-square-foot home on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, selling it for $3,820,000. He originally paid $2,849,000 for the house in April 2006.

Owns a six-bedroom, 5,200-square-foot house on 2.57 acres in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood. He purchased the house in late 2003 for an undisclosed amount.

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