Recently in Festivals Category

A big shout-out to my pals at the wonderful Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, Kansas. I wish so much I could be there with you this year. The line-up looks sensational, including "Serious Moonlight," directed by "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Cheryl Hines and starring Meg Ryan, with a screenplay by the late Adrienne Shelly, who wrote "Waitress," and "Reach for Me," starring Alfre Woodard, Adrienne Barbeau, LeVar Burton, and the festival's Ad Astra award winner for 2009, independent film star Seymour Cassel. The theme for this year, the seventh of the festival, is "Roadside Attractions," and the schedule includes a wide range of features, shorts, and documentaries.

I am a huge Eric McCormack fan and enjoyed his retro sci-fi movie Alien Trespass, so it was a special treat to get a chance to talk with him and writer/director R.W. Goodwin (of "X-Files") at Comic-Con about the DVD release. Goodwin emphasized that the film is not a parody of cheesy 50's sci-fi movies or even a tribute; his intention was to create a film that would look and feel as though it had actually been made half a century ago and had just been re-discovered. He loves the "great, sweet, really earnest" films of that era and wanted to "put ourselves in that space."

I asked McCormack what he thought about in creating the character of Urp, an alien who inhabits the body of an Earth scientist, and he said that the image he held in his mind was when Urp has to drive a car for the first time. "He's obviously intelligent," McCormack said. "He piloted a rocket ship to get to earth. But everything is new to him. So I thought of him as more child-like than robotic. Ted's body is a stolen car he is learning how to operate." Here he talks about his favorite scene.

And it was a lot of fun to talk to Clifton Collins, Jr. and Julie Benz about their upcoming film, "Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day." Benz said she seems to be doing nothing but vigilante stories -- "Rambo," "The Punisher," "Dexter," and now this sequel to the cult favorite about two brothers who take the law into their own hands and famously end the film asking whether they are good or evil, saint or vigilantes. Collins and Benz join the returning cast of the 1999 original, including Billy Connelly, Norman Reedus, and Sean Patrick Flannery as the father and sons who go after the bad guys.

Collins is one of my favorite actors, most recently seen as the number two bad guy in Star Trek, but I have been a fan since he appeared in The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit in 1998. He told me that he was "not in the first film but was around it," knew writer/director Troy Duffy's journey from bartender to film-maker (as documented in the movie Overnight) and "once I read it, who didn't want to be a part of 'Boondock Saints?' Everybody did."

The Joker was still very popular this year, and of course there were plenty of Jedis and Klingons and characters from anime and games. Watchmen were up-and-coming, especially Silk Spectre. Here I am with a special friend.

And here are some of my other favorites.

The 40th anniversary Comic-Con hosted some of the biggest Hollywood stars (Denzel Washington for "The Book of Eli" and Robert Downey, Jr. for "Sherlock Holmes" and "Iron Man 2") and first peeks at some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters (James Cameron for "Avatar"). But the heart of Comic-Con is still the passionate fans, irreverent without being snarky. I loved taking pictures on the exhibition hall floor and attending some of the special interest panels like the one on "Christian Comics" (which met Sunday morning and began with hymns and a sermon) and the one on monsters (where the moderator noted with spirit that "there's no reason the monster has to be the bad guy." I overheard one attendee asking another, "Are you going to the Klingon wedding?" Attendees could have a zombie makeover or sit in a replica of an electric chair to watch clips from a new horror movie.

I heard comic strip legend Leonard Starr talk about Mary Perkins On Stage, Kelly Green, and Thundercats. I saw Seth Green on a panel about "Robot Chicken" and the creators and talent from Chowder and Flapjack.

And I got a sneak peek at the brilliant second episode of Glee with stars Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, and Dianna Agron.

Every week I review movies on the Jeff and Jer Show and one of the best parts of visiting San Diego is the chance to visit them in the studio. Many thanks to Jeff (and hope Jer is feeling better!), Laura, Delana, and of course my special pal Tommy for a wonderful visit and a sensational dinner at Trattoria Fantastica.

Two more posts coming -- with some of my favorite costumes and my interviews with Eric McCormick of the delightful "Alien Trespass" and Clifton Collins, Jr. and Julie Benz of the upcoming vengeance action drama "Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day."

One of the highlights of Comic-Con was the time I spent with Brianna and Brittany Winner, 14-year-old identical twins who are cuter than a box of kittens and more fun, too.

When the girls were in fourth grade, they became discouraged because their learning disabilities made reading and writing difficult. They told their parents they thought they were stupid. But their parents knew that the girls were exceptionally intelligent and imaginative. Their father suggested something almost unimaginable -- that the girls who found reading and writing such a challenge should write a novel. Once they completed the first chapter, they were excited to see what would happen next and had the confidence to finish the book. They have since finished a sequel, a comic book supplement, and a soundtrack CD. And they say that the best part has been the way it has brought their family closer together and given them an opportunity to speak to more than 45,000 students about overcoming challenges and achieving their dreams.

The books are about a "super-hero with no super-powers," a brilliant scientist who discovers that accelerated evolution is producing predators who are about to put the entire human race at risk. He uses science to develop tools to help him understand and defeat the creatures. The books ae vivid and exciting, grounded in reality (it opens at the White House), rich in fantasy, but focused on character. The girls say that they want them to be fun to write so that they will be fun to read. They sometimes disagree with each other about what to write, but say that it is only temporary and makes the books better. They bring a creative energy to everything they do, including two books (so far), a comic book, a CD, and even their attire and the strings of pearls in their hair.

The girls are bright, creative, and enthusiastic, but what makes spending time with them so much fun is their endearing curiosity and courtesy. They are fully engaged in everything that goes on around them and deeply committed to helping others through their new non-profit and their work to encourage other kids. As exciting as their book series is, the next installment I am most looking forward to is what they will do next.

To arrange for the twins to make a no-charge visit to your school or other group, contact Ilene at 714.396.7685 or at ilene@strandprophecy.com.

There may be red carpets and glamor and great big movie stars in great big movies, but at it's big, beating, heart, Comic-Con is still about passionate fans of the popular arts, whether of the most arcane and all-but forgotten...

"I really like your fangs!" This is not a comment I had ever anticipated I'd be making, but at Comic-Con it seemed perfectly natural. As did her response: "Thanks! We make them ourselves!" Some things are different at this 40th...

The 40th anniversary of Comic-Con is this week and I am thrilled to be attending. It long ago expanded its range from the original gathering of comics fans and now includes sneak peeks at everything that is going to be...

Silverdocs is now the biggest documentary film festival in the United States. It opens tomorrow in Silver Spring, Maryland, with an outstanding line-up of documentaries -- old, new, long, short, funny, sad, domestic and international. Some of the highlights include...

It took me nearly 48 hours to get home due to weather and other delays, but I am back with some more from the Ebert festival. I was on a panel called "Film Criticism and the Web," with 10 critics...

I won't be able to post pictures until I get home, but here is a quick update on Roger Ebert's festival at the University of Illinois. Unlike many festivals, which have a dozen or more choices of events every minute...

I am honored that Roger Ebert has invited me to his Ebertfest (formerly known as the Overlooked Film Festival). I will be presenting the gorgeous adventure film "The Fall" appearing with its talented young star, Catinca Untaru . If you're...

The 2008 Washington Jewish Film Festival has released its schedule. Opening night is a film I have really been looking forward to, Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger. The festival, now in its 19th year, will have 59 features, documentaries &...

Many, many thanks to Susan Moneypenny and everyone at B98 for a sensational trip to Wichita and the Tallgrass Film Festival. I had a blast! Opening night was the work-in-progress screening of What's the Matter with Kansas, a documentary from...

I am thrilled to have been asked to attend the Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, Kansas, later this month and especially looking forward to spending time with my beloved B98 buddies, Brett and Tracy and am forever grateful to...

Franklin Indiana will be hosting the Second Annual B Movie Celebration September 26th thru 28th, 2008. The Celebration will feature screenings of over 50 classic B movies, 20 educational seminars and the world's largest beach party, featuring the music of...

I had a private interview with Chris McKenna, screenwriter of an animated release due out this fall called "Igor." It is the story of a hunchbacked lab assistant to an evil scientist who wants to be more. Voice talent...

More highlights, observations and pictures from Comic-Con 2008 Most of the presenters mentioned that their name cards had a cautionary note on the back reminding them that they should be careful about what they said because there would likely be...

An Elvis impersonator in a "Star Wars" storm trooper outfit with a lot of bling (think "This is Elvis" vintage) was about to introduce Superman surrounded by a bevy of Princess Leias in the harem girl outfit. I love Comic-Con....

I'm getting ready for one of my favorite events of the year, Comic-Con in San Diego. It began in 1970 with a few dozen comic collectors swapping comics and stories. This year, all 125,000 passes were sold out long before...

Slapsticon, the international film festival of classic slapstick, starts today in Arlington Virginia. This annual, four-day film festival -- scheduled in July of every year -- features screenings of rarely seen comedies from the silent and early sound eras. It...

Jeremy Sisto at the red carpet premiere of "Ball Don't Lie" Melissa Leo at the red carpet premiere of "Ball Don't Lie" More movies...."Bart Got a Room" stars William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines in a story of a...

I began with a press-only screening of a documentary called "Waiting for Hockney" about a man who spent 8 years and five months drawing one picture with the dream that some day he could show it to David Hockney. Then...

I am on my way to the Tribeca Film Festival and will be providing updates about my adventures there. Tribeca is the neighborhood of Manhattan that was literally in the shadow of the World Trade Center. The name stands for...

Pangea Day is an ambitious effort to bring the entire world together in one conversation about connection and unity through the power of film. On May 10, for four hours, people all over the world will gather to share their...

The 2007 Washington Jewish Film Festival included nearly 60 films. Some highlights: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox A documentary telling the story behind the toiletries sold in health food stores and follows Bronner's son as he carries forth his father's message...

The Washington Jewish Film Festival has announced its 2007 schedule from November 29-December 9. The Washington Jewish Film Festival, presented by the Washington DCJCC's Morris Cafritz Center for the Arts, seeks to create multiple dialogues about a variety of issues...