Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts

Monday, September 21, 2009

Ali Larter Talks about Heroes

We know Ali Larter best in the following forms: blown to bits, brought back from the dead, and fixated on man-stealing. The Heroes actress’s role on the NBC show, Tracy Strauss, endured being reduced to literal smithereens before seeing exhumation in time for the show’s fourth-season premiere next Monday. Meanwhile, in Obsessed, Larter ignored a key voicemail from Beyonce and opted to persevere in her quest to, shall we say, win over Idris Elba. Larter spoke with Movieline about these cult phenomena, how Heroes plans to change, and the response one gets after being named one of cinema’s nine elite crazy white bitches.

In Heroes’s fourth season, which NBC has hailed as a return to form, Larter told us her character’s relationship with H.R.G. [Jack Coleman] becomes more profound.

“The scripts are so tight,” Larter said. “They’re bringing together characters you haven’t seen coming together before. For me, one of the things I think is so much fun, we’re going back to what really grabbed the audience our first season. You’ll see a lot of human connection and a lot of feelings and emotions, but also, we’ll answer some of the questions about what really happened to these people while they’re experiencing these powers. You’re going to see more of Tracy, and how she and H.R.G. are coming to deal with things in their own life. Sometimes they’re having experiences with other people, and that helps them learn about themselves.”

Heroes returns on Monday night.

Source : movieline.com

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

An Interview with Greg Grunberg

When we last saw Matt Parkman on Heroes, he had used his psychic powers to help vanquish Sylar. The preview of Vol. 5 suggested that Sylar is already starting to emerge from the body of Nathan Petrelli, despite Parkman's best efforts. As season four, Vol. 5 continues, Sylar lingers on in Parkman's mind, too, said actor Greg Grunberg.


(Warning: Spoilers ahead.)


"When we come back in season four, you see that this transfer of brains or whatever didn't go smoothly, and remnants of Sylar are left behind in me," Grunberg said in an exclusive interview on Aug. 5 in Pasadena, Calif., as part of the Television Critics Association fall press tour. "He's in my subconscious and I can't control him. Then he starts to control me, which is very, very cool."

Sylar's already got Nathan's body. Does he get Parkman's, too? "Well, he's in my head," Grunberg explained. "No one else can see him but me, so he's in scenes with me. It's very cool."

Zachary Quinto continues to play Sylar, in Parkman's vision of Sylar's presence. Grunberg also revealed some of Sylar's dirty deeds. "[He] kidnaps my child to get his body back. It's that kind of stuff, and it's very personal and much more relatable, I think."

That must mean Sylar uses Nathan's body to kidnap Parkman's daughter, right? No, said Grunberg. That's a separate thing while Sylar plays the brain game with Parkman. Don't worry about following the complicated storyline. Grunberg said it all makes sense.

"It's very easy to follow, actually, my storyline," Grunberg said. "It's cool how it's done. I love it because it's more character-based. The show became all about saving the world, and it's very abstract. It's kind of hard to grasp that. What does that mean? It's very spectacular, and it's fun, but then if you do it every week, it doesn't mean anything. And if everybody has powers, it doesn't mean anything. So this year it's kind of getting back to season one, where it's all about the characters just wanting to be real and normal. I don't want this power, I don't use it, and I'm forced to use it because Sylar's doing anything [he can]."

Grunberg has been enjoying the team-up with Quinto so much that he hopes Sylar never gets out of Parkman's head. "I went to the writers, I was talking to them tonight, and I was like, 'Guys, please don't end this. Don't resolve this, because we're having so much fun.' What's cool is that my powers evolve, and I start this year so regretting what I did last year that I have absolutely cut it cold turkey. I refuse to use my powers, and Sylar wants me to, so he's constantly on my shoulder going, 'Use your powers, you p-ssy.' It's great. It's really cool."

Too bad Parkman doesn't have a good angel on his shoulder telling him not to listen to Sylar. "No, that's me, but I'm not strong enough. It's pretty great."

Heroes returns Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Source : Greg Grunberg reveals more of Sylar's Heroes Plans

Saturday, August 29, 2009

An Interview with James Kyson Lee

Jim Slotek of Sun Media provided us with his interview with James Kyson Lee (Masi Oka's sidekick) of Heroes.

Read the complete article below.

Ironically, James Kyson Lee has spent most of three seasons on Heroes acting opposite one man -- this in an overcrowded series with arguably more super-powered characters than all the X-Men movies combined.

That one man would be Masi Oka, who plays the time-bending Hiro Nakamura, and to whom Lee's character, Ando Masahashi, has acted as exasperated-but-faithful sidekick since episode one.

Do they ever get sick of each other?

"Every day," Lee says with a laugh over the phone from L.A., where he's between scenes filming Season 4.

"Actually, we're fine. We're like brothers in a way," says the actor, who is a featured guest this weekend at the massive genre fest Fan Expo Canada at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. "I like to think of Hiro and Ando like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn -- how they get each other into trouble and are always saving each other's butts. It's been a fun ride."

Starring in one of the few U.S. network shows with international appeal, the Korean-born, New York-raised Lee and other castmembers have toured the world promoting the series. "It's quite fascinating when you see yourself dubbed in Spanish or French or German."

But the real acid test was Japan. Hiro and Ando spend most of their time speaking to each other in subtitled Japanese -- a language Oka speaks fluently, but which Lee initially didn't speak at all (in the context of the show, Hiro spoke virtually no English at first, and Ando often acted as his interpreter).

COACHED IN JAPANESE

But Lee took his Japanese seriously.

"I insisted on learning everything I say, all the vocabulary, all the grammar. I've had a coach since the beginning and I feel more comfortable every season.

"In Japan they dub everybody in Japanese, but a lot of people watch the show in its American version, and they know my family is from Korea. In the beginning, it was obvious to them I was still working on the language. They've noticed I'm getting better."

Despite playing second banana to Hiro, Lee started noticing a sizable presence of Ando fans almost immediately.

"I get called Ando on the street a lot, which always makes me do a double-take. I feel like he's always been a character people latched on to, maybe because he started out as a human being in the show, without powers.

"And a lot of people felt like he represented them. Now, of course, he's got a power of shooting lasers -- what we call the 'Ando Blast' or the 'Crimson Arc.' It's icing on the cake for me."

ANDO LINKED WITH SOMEONE

At season's end, the flying politician Nathan Petrelli (Adrian Pasdar) had been killed by the serial-killer Sylar (Zachary Quinto), who was then mind-controlled by Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg) into shape-shifting into Nathan's form and living his life as if nothing had happened, effectively making Sylar the one who died. (Got that?)

"We (Hiro and Ando) were there actually also when we burned Sylar's/Nathan's body. This season four (which debuts Sept. 21 as a two-hour premiere on NBC/Global) we start off in Japan.

"Ando is starting a new business with Hiro, which will thrust us into really unusual adventures. Also, Ando this season is going to be interlinked with somebody very unexpected, which is going to be a nice surprise for the audience."

In response to critics' and audience complaints that the show had become too complicated, Lee says, "The format this season is we're focusing on fewer characters per episode, and giving them deeper storylines. Maybe five stories per episode. You're not trying to track down 10 or 12 storylines in one episode anymore.

"I think that (over-complication) became a real issue, and we're kind of going back to what made the show take off in the first season. There were few enough stories then that we were able to somehow tie everything together every episode."

But Heroes will inevitably run out of steam, he says.

"Every show is going to have an end, and a show like ours obviously can't go on forever or it will get diluted. But I feel we have a few good years left."

Source : A Hero's welcome

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Deanne Bray Interview

On the 31st of July 2009 LotsofInterviews.com conducted an interview with Deanne Bray about her role in the new season of Heroes as Emma. We talk about how she became an actress, how she got her role on Heroes, if she had seen the show before she was cast, her character's relationship with Peter and her character's ability.

Read the full article below. WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!



You have a degree in Biology, how did this lead to you
becoming an actress?


I have a BA degree in Biology (wanting to be a scientist but wasn't sure what field) and I'm almost done with my Masters in Education (Later on, I figured maybe teaching would be something I'd end up doing). Plus I am a semester away from getting my teaching credentials in teaching Deaf and Hard of hearing children. While I was studying as an undergrad, I worked with Deafwest Theatre and have grown into a professional stage theatre actress. Caught the acting bug. I also was one of the dancers of a Deaf dance group called Prism West. An agent, Sid Craig, saw my work in one of my performances and gave me a business card telling me that he can get me jobs on television. He did for the last 15 years. We're very excited about Heroes!

How is it you got your role on Heroes?

Deafwest Theatre sent out emails to as many Deaf actresses they knew of. Deaf actresses went to the audition. During callbacks, Heroes had two casting directors, two writers, producers, and Milo who plays as Peter in the room to do a chemistry test with Milo. Milo shared me when I came to set to rehearse one scene that he told the Heroes team that he felt good and real with me during the audition. I'm thrilled to own the role, Emma.

Had you seen the show before you got the role?

Actually it was Greg Grunberg that led me to put my remote control down. I have seen him in another tv show, Felicity and enjoyed his work. He seems genuine. Now he plays as a cop who reads minds and put thoughts into people's minds. I think his character's great and still loved his work as an actor. I have seen the show for two years now and got hooked. I love the concept and the writing. Also when I got to know the show,I enjoyed all of the other characters on the show. They do a fantastic job.

Are you aware that your character is not the first deaf one in the Heroes universe and one appeared in one of the show’s graphic novels?

I asked one of the writers about this question and he shared this, "We only know of one deaf character in the graphic novels. There was a deaf agent who could counter-act primal screams. He appeared in one graphic novel about a year ago. He wasn't a major character at all. The character of Emma is completely different and much more fleshed out."

Your character is going to be a love interest for the character of Peter, what has it been like working with Milo who plays him?

From what I understand from the writers, Emma is not necessarily a love interest for Peter. They will become close, but the relationship is really about establishing trust and honesty. They will learn from each other and grow together and figure out how to live in the world when you have unusual powers.
Milo is a gentleman and a professional. I really enjoy working with him on set and feel safe to work with him. He has zero ego and is considerate for others surrounding him.

Can you tell us how you and Peter meet?

So far I've learned that Peter and Emma work in the same hospital. Peter mistakenly takes Emma's power and they share the experience of discovery of that power together.

Can you tell us a bit about your character? Her job etc?

Emma works in the file room at the hospital, but we will quickly learn that her life used to be about so much more. She was studying to be a doctor, but a tragedy in her life took her off course. It disconnected her from the world. Emma's relationship with Peter will explore how she rights herself again.

Does your character have a power? If not, what power would you like her to have?

Emma has the power to see sound waves as colours. She will learn to manipulate what she sees to have impact on others. Her power can be very beautiful and very dangerous.

Have you had the chance to work with any of the cast apart from Milo?

I will work with the other regulars in the next episode. I can't reveal who. Stay tuned!

Do you know how many episodes you will be working on?

As of now, I am written in 5 episodes. I am in episodes 4, 5, 6 and I think 9 and 10, so far.

You are most well known for your role on Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, how is working on Heroes different from working on this show?

Doing stunt work with Milo. Milo grabbed me and carried me off to some place safe. It was fun shooting that scene a few days ago. Also working with special effects.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Interview with James Kyson Lee


On the 30th of June 2009 LotsofInterviews.com conducted an interview with James Kyson Lee, who plays Ando Masahashi. They talk about where he comes from, how he got into acting, his character gaining an ability, working with babies, the next season of Heroes and his other work.

In this interview, James Kyson Lee revealed some spoilers on the upcoming Season of Heroes.

1. He said that we will see a younger version some characters (previous casting call reveals that Heroes will be needing talents that will portray kid versions of Kimiko, Hiro and Ando)
2. He said that Ando and Hiro will have a new business (Is this the carnival business?)

Read the whole interview by clicking on the link.

Follow James Kyson Lee on twitter.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

GSPN TV Interview with Brea Grant


GSPN.tv’s Heroes Fan Podcast!
Interview With Brea Grant

Fan Podcast Episode # 32. Click here to download.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Interview with Joshua Rush (aka young Sylar)

I found this interesting interview with Joshua Rush who portrayed young Gabriel Gray. Ryan Gibson Stewart conducted the interview last March 5, 2009. Young Sylar is a bookworm after all.

Young Gabriel Gray

Ryan: Hi Josh, how are you doing!
Josh: Great!

Ryan: So how do you like first grade?
Josh: It's really good, actually. I like the games we play—there's a lot of games involved. A lot of mathematics games.

Ryan: Do you like reading? Are you a good reader?
Josh: Yes, I do. I'm actually at a fourth grade reading level.

Ryan: What's your favorite book?
Josh: It's actually a series. I have two favorite series. I like Beverly Cleary and I like Magic Tree House. My favorite Magic Tree House book is Tonight on the Titanic, number seventeen. With Beverly Cleary, I like the Ramona books.

Ryan: Oh, I just read Ramona and Her Father last November! Have you ever read Ramona Quimby, Age 8? It won an award for the best children's book the year it was written.
Josh: I haven't yet. But I read Ramona and Her Father. That one won an award, too. It's really good.

Ryan: Sounds like you really like Beverly Cleary. You know, she's my second favorite author. You know who my first is? Roald Dahl.
Josh: I love him! He's my second favorite! I've read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Let's see: I just finished reading James and the Giant Peach. Oh, and Danny, the Champion of the World. I also read Matilda—it's my record holder for [the book I read with the most amount of] pages. It's 261 pages!

Ryan: That's a long book! Josh, tell me why you wanted to become an actor.
Josh: Well, I got to see my mom's videos—she's a documentary producer. So I always watched her. After I watched her a lot of times, I wanted to become an actor.

Ryan: Have you ever had any training to be an actor?
Josh: I worked with Mari Ferguson. I've also worked with Lisa Picotte. Those are my coaches. Right now I'm only working with one—Lisa Picotte. I'm not working with Mari right now.

Ryan: What do they teach you?
Josh: They teach you how to do cold readings, how to share the stage, how to cry if you need to.

Ryan: How do you cry if you need to?
Josh: It's a few things. There's a few different techniques. There's a trigger. There's stare techniques. There's a few. What works for me is a combination of both. On Heroes, I had to cry all the way at the end when I saw my mom dead. What they did was they used a special effect called "tear" and they squirted it in my eye. All it is is salt water, but it makes it look like it's a tear running down my face.

Ryan: What were you thinking about during that scene?
Josh: I didn't know how to cry then. I was trying to make myself cry, but I couldn't. So finally, the special effects person came over and put the tear in my eye that made it look like I had a tear.

Ryan: How did you get the job for Heroes?
Josh: I auditioned and I got a callback. That means that the casting director likes me. So I went to the callback, and then I got the part. And now here I am, on TV!

Ryan: Was that cool to see yourself on TV?
Josh: Yeah, it really was! [laughs]

Ryan: But you've been on TV before, right?
Josh: Yes, I've been on Private Practice.

Ryan: What was it like being on Private Practice compared with being on Heroes?
Josh: I shot on Private Practice for more days, and we were only in one location. And on Heroes, we went to two different locations. The first day I was on set. The second day I was on location. The inside scene was shot at the Heroes studio. It was really nice there—that was the diner. And then the second scene, on the outside where you see the Chevrolet truck, that was on location, sort of in the desert. There it was actually an abandoned restaurant. It was also a really good temperature that day.

Ryan: So tell me about the first part of the scene, when you were inside the diner. What were you thinking about?
Josh: Well, I didn't really have that much to think about. The director just told me to walk in with my dad. I go over and my dad points to a table. I sit down at the table and wait for him. Then I'm playing with my car, and I start playing with it on the railing. I don't notice it and it just runs along and it falls. I'm pretty sure there's some sort of tube. And that tube leads down into a cabinet where later you see Sylar open that cabinet-like thing and he finds the car. [The director] did ask me to be sad. I think the outside part was the harder part.


Source