Yesterday, we brought you onto the set of ABC Family’s 10 Things I Hate About You, premiering next Tuesday at 8/7c. Tomorrow, highlights from breakfast with Ethan Peck, who plays Patrick.

Today, though, here are the highlights from the interview with writer and executive producer Carter Covington.  Carter not only directed the set tour, but also provided some interesting insight toward the show and its direction.

(On what made him want to work on 10 Things)

[W]hat drew me to this project is I kind of felt like both of the sisters in high school – you have one sister who is dying to be popular and one who’s like, “Oh, my God, high school is such a stupid lame rite of passage.”  And that’s how I felt about it.  On the one hand, I [really wanted to be accepted] and then on the other half I was like, “God, I can’t wait to get in college and get out of here and leave this behind…”  I really wanted that feeling in the series just like that you’re at high school, and it can be the best of times and it can feel like the worst place on earth.  And that’s kind of what we’re going to play with in the series that it is kind of this place of many feelings.

Read the rest of this entry »

I know we don’t cover Politics on EM, I’m a flaming liberal looking for a party to believe in, I despise the Republican party and don’t like the Democratic Party either. But I just had to sing, “Oh, Happy Day…” or maybe “Ding dong, the witch is dead…” Sarah Palin shocks everyone today by resigning her Governorship. She gave one of her classic, jumbled, rambling speeches justifying her reasons using some dumb sports analogy. Can we please ban Politicos (reporters, pundits, all of them) from using stupid sports metaphors to “explain” stuff to us?  But here’s where she’s brilliant and gets to stick it to the pundits one last time. She makes the announcement on a major Holiday like today when all the pundits are on their vacations. So we don’t have to here an idiot like Chris Matthews trying to turn this into some dumb boxing analogy, “Is she knocked out of the arena?” Blah, blah.  But she’s politically dead, there’s no amount of spin that could justify her quitting when she built this image as being a tough as nails “fighter.” Someone as egotistical as her doesn’t simply quit, there’s another shoe waiting to be dropped.

Point Pleasant was a quirky little horror/fantasy series that was snuffed out too soon. Tomorrow, July 4^th, beginning at 11/10C, Chiller will run the entire series – including the five episodes that were never aired. If you miss the fun because of Independence Day celebrations, but are too adrenalized from the day’s activities to get to sleep right away, the entire marathon will be rebroadcast beginning at midnight/11C. A complete listing of the episodes follows:

Read the rest of this entry »

Over the years, there have been countless reimaginings of Shakespearean plays.  With stories being retold in every possible setting and time period, Baz Luhrman popularized the concept for a young adult audience with his 1996’s Romeo + Juliet, complete with guns instead of swords and a Miami-esque setting in place of familiar fair Verona.  In 1999, Gil Junger’s 10 Things I Hate About You took the same idea a step further, bringing Shakespeare to an even younger audience: high schoolers.  Largely remembered as the late Heath Ledger’s breakthrough performance and with characters that were simultaneously relatable and iconic teen movie stereotypes, 10 Things I Hate About You became an instant classic for Generation Y. 

Now, ten years later, ABC Family has resurrected the film with a TV show by the same name.  I recently had the opportunity to have breakfast with lead actor Ethan Peck, as well as visit the set of the show, where I was able to observe production and participate in interviews with writer and executive producer Carter Covington (Greek), actors Larry Miller (10 Things I Hate About You, Boston Legal), Lindsey Shaw (Aliens in America), and Meaghan Jette Martin (Camp Rock, Dear Lemon Lima).

Over the next few days, I’ll be posting the highlights of breakfast with Peck, as well as the highlights from interviews with Covington, Miller, Shaw, and Martin.  After the jump, my experience on set and observing production.

Read the rest of this entry »

According to Variety.com, Sci Fi is developing a new take on Alien Nation, the 1988 feature that previously spawned a spinoff series on Fox.

Tim Minear – a veteran of sci-fi TV, having worked on The X-Files, Firefly and Strange World – is developing the pilot and series bible for the series, which is built upon the relationship that develops between a human cop and one from the ranks of the alien “Newcomers” whose ship crashed on Earth twenty years earlier.

Read the rest of this entry »

On Tuesday, July 7^th, the SCI FI Channel rebrands itself as Syfy and celebrates by premiering its new sf/fantasy series, Warehouse 13 [9/8C] – the adventures of a pair of Secret Service agents whose job it is to track down exotic, potentially dangerous objects worth unique powers and, as Artie, Warehouse 13’s supervisor, puts it, “Hunt down whatever is threatening to ruin the world’s day and snag it, bag, and tag it.” I recently had the opportunity to sit in on a teleconference with the show’s leads, Eddie McClintock [Stark Raving Mad, Bones] and Joanne Kelly [Vanished, Diamonds], showrunner/executive producer Jack Kenny [Titus, The Book of Daniel] and executive producer David Simkins [Blade: The Series, The Dresden Files].

Also taking part were: Steve Eramo, TV Zone Magazine; Bryan Cairns, Sci Fi Wire; Troy Rogers, Deadbolt.com; Alex Davies, Flash News; Julia Diddy, Fancast.com; Blaine Kyllo, Cinema Spy; David Martindale, Hearst Newspapers; Brian Truitt, USA Weekend Magazine; Mike Hughes, TD America; Jamoe Ruby, Media Blvd, and Michael Hinman, Airlock Alpha.

Read the rest of this entry »

Activision.  Bioware.  EA Games.  These are the big names that you think of when you think of video games, at least in North America.  There’s another big name currently on the rise, though, and that’s 1C Company.   On June 25th, I had the opportunity to attend their press event, held at the Russian consulate.  Why the Russian consulate?  Because 1C is one of the largest independent game developers in Russia, with over a thousand outlets in Eastern Europe.  That night, as North American representative David Trachtenberg told us, we were all Russian.

Read the rest of this entry »

Company of Angels (CoA), which was co-founded in 1959 by actor Leonard Nimoy, one of the renowned stars of Star Trek, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as Los Angeles’ oldest non profit professional theater now headquartered at the historic Alexandria Hotel in downtown LA.

CoA is readying to celebrate this milestone in the history of Los Angeles Theater – with a prestigious Charity Awards Gala slated for October 17, 2009 which will honor actor Leonard Nimoy for his role as a founding member as well as veteran actor Robert Ellenstein. The Award Gala is produced by actress Marlene Forte who sits on the board of CoA as Artistic Director. Marlene Forte was recently seen on the big screen beaming people away as the first Latina Chief Transporter in JJ Abrams’ blockbuster film “Star Trek”.

The award -The Leonard Nimoy Angel -  named after actor Leonard Nimoy, is an award bestowed on individuals and/or organizations that have made significant contributions to theater in Los Angeles, and to Company of Angels, in particular. 

“I’m looking forward to celebrating Company of Angels’ 50th Anniversary Award Ceremony and Gala.” Nimoy says of this special event in which he is proud to be a part of.

Always dedicated to the exploration of a diversity of perspectives, COA is uniquely multi-cultural with members reflecting the various ethnic groups that make up the City of Angels. As the first repertory company in LA, it was originally incorporated by legendary entertainment attorney Bertram Fields and included actors Richard Chamberlain and Vic Morrow – it also had veteran actor Robert Ellenstein as its first artistic director. Other notable current members include actress Marlene Forte (JJ Abrams Star Trek), Armando Molina, Justin Hueng and acclaimed playwright Oliver Mayer (Blade to the Heat).

Check out the official website to learn more about The Company of Angels

Public Enemies is definitely a Michael Mann film. Every shot [every shot selection] is beautifully composed and designed to pull the audience through the story. The production design, set design, costuming – all are amazing. Marion Cotillard makes Billy Frechette, John Dillinger’s last girlfriend, an engaging character with whom we can empathize. And that it!

For a film that moves along as briskly as Public enemies, it seems to be otherwise bereft of heart. Johnny Depp’s performance as the PR savvy bank robber, John Dillinger, is so introspective that it’s hard to believe that he could charm Frechette, let alone the press. Christian Bale’s Special Agent Melvin Purvis is even relatable than Depp’s Dillinger. I guess we’re supposed to figure out his distaste for some the tactics that were used to make associates of Dillinger to talk by his infinitesimally deeper squint.

Read the rest of this entry »

A week and a half ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a teleconference for NBC’s new drama, The Philanthropist, which follows Teddy Rist, a somewhat reformed playboy billionaire who has decided to use his funds for good, rather than novelty.  The Philanthropist premiered June 24th on NBC and will be airing this summer on Wednesdays at 10/9c.

Available for the Q&A were Tom Fontana, executive producer, and James Purefoy, who plays the lead character, Teddy Rist.  Joining me for the Q&A were Joshua Maloney [Niagara Frontier Publications], April MacIntyre [monstersandcritics.com], Troy Rogers [thedeadbolt.com], Abbie Bernstein [IFmagazine.com], Amy Amatangelo [Boston Herald], and Monica Garsky [Flash News].

Read the rest of this entry »