The hilarous new Australian comedy That’s Not My Dog is in cinemas this weekend and Dave Griffiths sat down and had a chat with the director Dean Murphy to find out how the idea came about for the film and how it was put together.
You can listen to our Dean Murphy interview right here.
Listen to “That’s Not My Dog – Dean Murphy Interview” on Spreaker.
The bad boys of pop are back!!! With East 17 about to make a long-awaited return to Australian shores, Dave Griffiths caught up with founding member of the group Terry Coldwell. Terry chats to us about what it is like performing their greatest hits these days, their brand new album and whether or not they really were the bad boys of pop like everybody labelled them.
You can listen to or download our Terry Coldwell interview right here.
With sensational new Australian cult film Red Billabong currently out in cinemas Dave G decided to catch up with the film’s director Luke Sparke to chat about how hard it was to put the film together on a tight budget and just who come up with the incredible creature.
You can listen to or download our Luke Sparke interview right here.
With brand new film Tri being released in Australia on VOD Dave Griffiths sits down and has a chat to the film’s director, Jai Jamieson. He chats about how difficult it is to make a film about triathlons and what his poor cast had to go through.
You can listen to or download our Jai Jamieson interview right here.
With Innuendo getting a cameo screening at Cinema Nova on November 3rd Dave G caught up with one of the stars of the film – Brendan Bacon. Brendan chats to us about how he became involved with the film and about the challenges of playing his character – Ben.
You can listen to or download our Brendan Bacon interview right here.
Some actors, for one reason or another, are forced to direct films outside of their personal interests or preferred genre. Have you been lucky enough to only work within the genre, and your preferred type of film?
I wouldn’t say I have a preferred genre in terms of film. I love drama, because you have a lot of emotional rope to play with. I love comedy because it’s so much fun – I trained at UCB and the Groundlings and I like playing and improvising and making people laugh. And the last few features I’ve done, Like Phoenix Forgotten, have happened to be horror films, or at least had a horror element to them. It just worked out that way – and I also happen to be a horror fan, both as a viewer and as an actor. I love movies like Peter Jackson’s early film Dead Alive. Shaun of The Dead is another favorite, and I loved this year’s Get Out and Ingrid Goes West (which I would totally describe as a horror movie though I realise that’s contentious!). In horror movies the stakes are heightened – and that’s a really fun world for an actor to work in. And I think the best horror movies have moments of both comedy and drama – so you get the best of both worlds.
How soon before filming did you get involved?
I had worked with Justin Barber (our director) and T.S. Nowlin, our writer, on some other projects prior to this one, so I was lucky enough to be involved with this movie right from the initial test shoot. I didn’t know if the project was going to get to be made into a feature, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to even audition for the role I ended up playing, there are always so many variables in the process of making a film. Obviously in the end I did get to audition and it worked out for me! I’m very grateful I got to be a part of the film from beginning to end, that was a really special part of this experience for me.
How long has it been since it was completed? Was it an anxious wait for the release?
Going into this project the goal was for it to feel like you’re watching a documentary my character, Sophie, has made about her brother’s disappearance. So we had a great script that our director Justin Barber co-wrote with our writer, TS Nowlin (who also wrote The Maze Runner Trilogy). But going into pretty much every scene we also improvised a version of it – so it felt like real moments from real people. This meant that the film changed a lot as we made it – because obviously in improvising you’re not planning what you’re saying, and you’re finding new stuff on the day. In a documentary you never know exactly what you’re going to get – you shoot all your stuff and you sift through and it all comes together in the edit. However, with a real documentary you just have to use whatever you end up with after you film – if you are making a narrative feature you get to go back and shoot anything you feel like your story is missing later on! So we had a couple of re-shoots right up until right before the release date – I think it was a month or so. I had already seen a couple of cuts of the film so I wasn’t anxious – just excited to see it come out.
Did it turn out as you envisioned it would?
Because in a way we were approaching this film as you would a documentary, that set a really high bar for our acting. Approaching this role I felt really committed to being grounded and subtle and making sure Sophie felt three dimensional and believable. One of the things I think is so cool about this film is that we weave fact and fiction together – there are actual real people in the film who we interview about some of their real experiences. So personally my goal was to live up to the example set by the wonderful moments we got out of our real interview subjects. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a great cast and I think everyone did an amazing job – so yes, in that sense I think what came out of that is a movie that feels like the real doc my character would have made, and that’s what I had hoped for and envisioned going in.
Were any scenes of yours lost in the editing room? Any moments you remember filming?
My character initially had a love interest, who was the brother of one of the other kids who goes missing. Dan still made it into the movie but he and Sophie didn’t end up getting their walk off into the sunset together – which was the ending of an earlier edit! Sorry Sophie!
How much say did you have in how the film was marketed?
I can take zero credit for that – that was not my department.
Do you get to approve stills that you feature in?
I think so? That wasn’t a huge issue for me on this one.
Have you been lucky enough to work with a filmmaker that involves you in the entire process – right up until release?
Well this project was an especially collaborative one. Not only with all the research and preparation we all did separately and together, and the collaboration and improv on set, but usually you don’t get to see initial edits and stuff on a project like this. With this film I got to see several cuts before the final version, which I actually love. Some actors don’t like watching themselves but I kind of feel like it’s like an athlete watching tape of themselves swimming or playing football or whatever – I like watching it with an analytical eye and seeing what went right and where I can do better. I’m a weirdo like that! I will say though, I also like seeing the film by myself first, before I watch my giant feature film sized face in a theater in front of everyone I know. Just so if something didn’t come out how I wanted I can work through it in my alone time and then watch it in public without feeling traumatized.
VOD or theater. Where, if you had your choice, would you prefer your movies – not just this latest one, but all of them – be seen?
I love the accessibility of VOD, and I think in terms of movie watching, it means I’m more open to watching something I maybe wouldn’t necessarily risk trying out in the theater. But you can’t beat going to the movies. To me there’s nothing like sitting in the dark with your buddies, with your popcorn, all experiencing the same thing. I think VOD encourages a solo viewing experience, and I think going to the movies makes it a group experience, so that’s the difference for me. I think there will always be a place for movie theaters, for just that reason.
Where do you think the future is headed as far as film distribution is concerned?
It’s no secret less people are going to the movies, so it looks like it’s headed in a digital direction. I can see moviegoing becoming more of an event-movie only thing – we only go see the big budget marquee movies in the theaters and we save the little indies, and the smaller comedies, and the more subtle dramas for watching at home. But that does make me sad. I think seeing films on that big screen with great sound – no matter the movie, that’s the environment the filmmaker was hoping you’d see it in – you’re seeing it at its best.
Do all these extra channels and platforms open doors for actors? More work?
Well it seems like VOD has ushered in this amazing time for television we’re experiencing now. I think shows that might previously have a more niche audience or might not have rated well on Network Television – the audience for that stuff now has easier access to it. So yeah there are new outlets, which means new shows, and I also think shows have the potential to stick around longer, which is all good for actors. And my theory is that it’s good for filmmakers too – there’s far less cost associated with digital distribution than there is with a theatrical release. So this is by no means based on expert knowledge perhaps it becomes easier for a “riskier” film to get made – you can make it for less money and there’s also less pressure for it to succeed at the physical box office.
If your movie was an answer to a question in a trivia contest what would you like the question to be?
What was that great found-footage alien movie that famous actress Florence Hartigan was in? 😉
Over the past twenty years comic book fans have had the immense pleasure of being able to watch nine films set in the X-Men universe (if you include the stand-alone Wolverine and Deadpool movies). For a generation of film goers now Australian actor Hugh Jackman is Wolverine while acclaimed actor Patrick Stewart has shared the role of Professor Charles Xavier with James McAvoy, who has played the younger version of the fearless leader in the newer films.
Now as the curtain falls on this world of mutants and heroes for Jackman and Stewart they team up with director James Mangold (who dipped into the franchise in 2013 with The Wolverine). The film has a much darker tone and this time is more graphic than its predecessors… something that has earned it an R-Rating from the classification board.
That ‘different’ tone is something that the man himself Hugh Jackman is only too happy to talk about. “I think the whole film feels different,” he says shifting his chair. ‘Tone, character wise it’s different to any of the others. And that was our goal, I didn’t want it to feel like the final chapter of a saga I wanted it to feel like a whole new, fresh thing. I wanted to stake some new ground. Logan in this film is more human… hence the title… he’s sick, his powers are dwindlering, he’s vulnerable, he’s also looking after an aging father-figure in Charles Xavier and hiding him out. He’s also under stress, he doesn’t have money – he’s a limo driver trying to earn enough bucks to get by and to buy the meds that Charles needs and he’s got a lot of very mundane, everyday stuff going on. But clearly he has checked out, he is at the bottom and so want James Mangold and James Frank did was kind of create a world for a character whose biggest fear is love and intimacy, because that only brings pain, but now he is surrounded by a family that is forced upon him.”
The new story brings about a whole new relationship between Logan (Wolverine) and Charles Xavier with Jackman explains precisely. “Charles has dementia,” he explains. “Charles Xavier has been a father figure and mentor and probably understands him the best because Logan is a closed book. He quips and he is tough and all that but Charles knows where he comes from and knows his background – he knows the demons that he is fighting. So he knows him and but in this one the tables are turned a little bit because he has dementia, so he is confused and he is vulnerable and he’s angry and he is many, many, many different things. At times he is child-like and then at other times he is abusive and Logan is just in that carer role, that role of taking care day and night day in and day out, he also has to keep him hidden from authorities so it is a great dynamic and it was a lot of fun to play. And it was even better because it was with a great friend and one of the greatest actors I have ever met.
But then a quick look at the poster and of course trailer and fans of the series will notice that there is another potential relationship for Logan in this film as well. “Yes, then there is a young girl that has been created from DNA,” Jackman says almost teasingly. “And that DNA may very well resemble my own, and that was stolen so it wasn’t like he chose to have a daughter, which she may be, but he is confronted with genetics that are very similar to his own and a task to rescue/protect/save her. He doesn’t want that task and he pushes it away for as long as he can but that relationship between those two characters, that father/daughter relationship, is very strong, and this young girl Daphne that plays that part is absolutely astonishing.”
So what does Jackman hope that fans will take away from this film? “My hope for fans with this film and I talk to them every day, maybe every second day, over the last seventeen years is that they say that this is ‘the Wolverine movie that they have always wanted to see,” he says smiling. “That is my hope and dream and that was my guiding star while making this movie.”
The other actor also farewelling the series here is Patrick Stewart and he says audiences will also see a very different side to his character, Charles Xavier. “Not only will you see a different side to Charles you will see a transformed Charles,” he explains. “The controlled, intelligent, sensitive intellectual has been replaced with a scatter-brained, crazy, physically-fragile and highly dangerous individual. No one could ever imagine that Charles Xavier could become a dangerous being in society, it’s unthinkable, but here he is putting the world at risk.”
He to explains how this changes his relationship with Logan. “From the very beginning Charles has had a very caring relationship with him. He knew everything about Logan – his past, how he came about, what had been done to him, the misery and agony of that. He always felt a protectiveness towards him. Logan has always been a difficult personality – independent, sometimes aggressive, sometimes mean-spirited, hostile even, but essentially he has always had his heart in the right place. Now there has been a turnaround and the carer is Logan and the vulnerable, weak, fragile one is Charles. And as I said not only vulnerable but also very dangerous.”
“Our primary duty is to entertain,” says Stewart talking about his hopes for the film with fans. “But entertaining can have very different aspects to it. There are themes within this film which some people have already identified as being a contemporary commentary on present day society, particularly in Europe and the United States. I don’t think that was the overt intention of the producers and the writers of this movie but I think that has unfortunately come about that way. But yes there is some instruction in this movie. There are warning contained within this movie and if they are listened to in any way whatsoever then not only have we entertained then perhaps we have also been a benefit.”
Of course fans have also been very excited to see director James Mangold return to the franchise so what was it like for Stewart to work with him and the rest of the cast. “I had only ever done one days work with James previously,” explains Stewart. “Ian McKellan and I shot a one day short movie scenes as a fill-in for the first Wolverine movie, but I met with James very early on in the process and I enjoyed that two/three hour conversation that we had about the screenplay and about the character of Charles and particularly about his disintegration. I love working with James, he is a craftsman and he knows filmmaking so well. He knows on the one hand exactly what he wants, but I have never before worked with a director that is so open to other possibilities and to input from his cast, even bringing up the unexpected and at times even inviting us to improvise which is something that always appeals to me and some of those little improvisations even made it into the movie. With the cast – well the X-Men are reduced down to two in this film and to have such a close relationship with Logan being Hugh Jackman has been a delight as it always has been for seventeen years.”
So it seems that both cast and fans alike are sad to see Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart leaving the franchise, but at least they all have one last film to savour before the curtain-call.
Logan is out in cinemas right now.
French death metal outfit Doctor Livingstone have just released their brand new album Triumphus Haeretici so Dave Griffiths sat down with Rel and Reverend Prick to find out a little more about the album and what the band thinks about the hardcore scene in France.
You can listen to or download our Doctor Livingstone interview right here.
Buzz Magazine’s Dave Griffiths caught up with recently crowned Miss Asia USA Ashley Park and chatted to her about her title and her upcoming role in Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter. So here it is our Ashley Park interview.
First of all, Ashley, thank you for taking the time to do this interview for us and congratulations on your recent crowning.
Thank you very much! I’m happy to do the interview.
Ashley, first of all can I ask you tell us a little bit about how you became Miss Asia USA and what do you have to do while you are the reigning queen?
I was named Miss Korea USA 2015 by Virgelia Productions, which allowed me the opportunity to compete in the Miss Asia USA pageant this past November. After quite a bit of rigorous training and preparation, I was fortunate enough to win the pageant. As reigning queen, I will attend quite a few charity and red carpet events. It is the duty of every titleholder to represent the Miss Asia USA organization and Virgelia Productions with integrity, poise and elegance. I’m definitely excited for a busy and productive year as Miss Asia USA.
I read that your love for acting started at a very early age. Can you tell us how that love begun and what were the films that inspired you want to be an actress while you were growing up?
I would have to say that My Fair Lady stands out as the film that inspired me the most as a child. I memorized every song, and recited all of Eliza Doolittle’s dialogue (accents and all) to my family over and over again. I also owned every Disney Princess movie, and was quite obsessed with memorizing those as well.
Were you one of the students at your High School that was also cast in the school productions? If so what was your favourite character/production that you did?
You know, it’s crazy that I’ve never really done theater. I always wanted to! I remember hearing about auditions for school productions in high school, but I am extremely competitive and tend to only focus on one thing at a time. As much as I wanted to try out, I was on a very rigorous training regimen that required hours of practice every day. As a runner, my main goal at the time was to win every race and to earn a full scholarship to college.
How difficult was your decision to give up on a promising career as an athlete and go to Hollywood to pursue acting?
It was very difficult to give up cross country and track because it had been my life since I was 12. I didn’t really know much else. However, I also knew that it was time to move on because my heart was no longer in it. My only regret is that I wish I would have moved to LA earlier. It was the best decision I’ve ever made!
What was the first role were ever chosen for in Hollywood and how nervous were you when you turned up on set for the first time?
I think the first role I did was a project with some students at my very first acting program in LA. It was actually a very well done short parody video, and we got over a million views within the first week, I believe. I was probably a little anxious, but I mainly just remember having a great time. I recently did another viral video called Wedding Dresses Across Asia on BuzzFeed. These types of videos are always a blast to shoot.
You also got to play a role in the famous Days Of Our Lives, what was it like on set and were you nervous given the show’s popularity?
I was definitely a bit nervous, seeing as it was my first time on a network show. But the actors I met were so nice, and made me feel very comfortable on set. I really enjoyed being on such an efficient set with so many talented people.
One of the latest films you have worked on, Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter, is about to get released in Australia. Can you tell us a little bit about the movie and a little about your character, Rhianna?
It’s a desert sci-fi in the vein of Mad Max and Star Wars. It was actually shot in some of the same locations as Return of the Jedi. My character Rhianna was such a blast to play because she’s tough, but still girly. She has a lot of layers, and it was fun to play around with her many different character traits.
How did you first become involved with Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter and what was your first reaction after you read the script?
I was the first girl to audition for the role, and was thrilled to find out I’d been cast to play Rhianna. I absolutely loved the script! It’s so much more than just an action film. It has a truly in-depth story that follows Sienna (played by Tracey Birdsall), and her character’s journey to self-discovery.
How challenging did you find it to work on a big scale science fiction film like this?
I actually had a blast! Perhaps because I love a good challenge. We shot on location in the desert, so it was very hot, which was probably the most difficult part. But the cast had such great chemistry, and I loved the challenge of running and climbing all the sand dunes.
Are you a fan of science fiction? If so what movies have you loved over the years?
Of course, but I’m a fan of every genre, I think! I’m such a movie and TV show junkie. In terms of science fiction, I’d have to say Star Wars and Star Trek, of course. I also loved Avatar, Matrix and Her, to name a few. I’m a big fan of the shows Orphan Black, Continuum and Humans.
What was it like working with Neil Johnson, he has really developed a reputation of being one of the best sci-fi directors around at the moment?
Neil is wonderful! He is such a great director, and is so in tune with the actor. He was so relaxed on set, which I think really helps the actors and crew perform at their best level.
Lastly, Ashley, can you tell us about some of the other films that we will be seeing you in shortly?
Certainly. I worked on a feature film recently that will also be released soon, called Day For Night. It’s a wonderful film noir that stars the legendary Lin Shaye, Peter Bogdanovich and Sally Kirkland. My character’s name is Abelie, and I’m so excited to see this wonderful script by Guy J. Jackson come to life. I am also preparing to shoot another desert sci-fi soon, called Trapdoor. It’s a female-focused thriller in the vein of The Descent.
Ashley, thank you so much for your time in doing this interview for us.
UK street punk legends GBH ave been touring since 1978, and show on indication of slowing down, including playing in Australia in early 2016. With over ten studio LPs to their name, including 2010s Perfume and Piss, the show at the Bendigo on February 26 should be a ripper. Lead singer Collin was good enough to answer my lame questions. We did this via email, so I don/t know if me was really shouting when he answered these.
Munster: How has 2015 treat GBH?
IT’S HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR FOR US .WE TOURED MOST OF EUROPE , DID A BIG U.S. TOUR , AND EVEN WENT TO MEXICO , WHICH WAS UNBELIEVABLE ,
Munster: You guys ave been Quiet on the album front, not releasing any LP since 2010, any plans on a new release?
COLIN: WE ARE IN NO REAL RUSH TO RELEASE ANYTHING , WE HAVE 99.9% OF THE NEW ALBUM WRITTEN AND ARE JUST WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO GO INTO THE STUDIO TO RECORD IT .
Munster: Perfume and Piss came out on Hellcat, how did that come about?
COLIN: WE HAVE KNOWN LARS (FROM RANCID) SINCE HE WAS 11 YEARS OLD ,I SENT HIM A DEMO OF SOME OF THE SONGS FROM” PERFUME AND PISS” , HE LOVED THEM SO PLAYED THEM TO TIM , THEN THEY SIGNED US UP
Munster: Considering GBH are constantly touring, is it hard to get time to write and record?
COLIN: NOT REALLY , BUT IT TAKES A WHILE TO FULLY CONCENTRATE ON A CERTAIN THING .
Munster: GBH play many places round the globe, which cities are your favorite to play in?
COLIN: I LOVE EVERYWHERE !!!, TOKYO IS ALWAYS SPECIAL, SO IS L.A. AND NEW YORK , BILBAO, BUT GOING TO NEW PLACES FOR US IS ALWAYS EXCITING AS WELL
Munster: What do you put down to staying together this long?
COLIN: I PERSONALLY THINK IT IS BECAUSE WE WERE FRIENDS BEFORE WERE WERE A BAND , WE HAVE TOURED WITH A FEW BANDS WHO HATE EACH OTHER AND ARGUE AND FIGHT ALL THE TIME , WE ARE QUITE A HARMONIOUS LITTLE OUTFIT .
Munster: which Bands did you look at as inspirations when GBH started?
COLIN: WELL OBVIOUSLY ALL THE PIONEERS OF EARLY PUNK , SEX PISTOLS ,THE CLASH, THE DAMNED, THE RAMONES, THEN YOU START TO FIND OUT WHO INSPIRED THESE BANDS , STUFF LIKE THE STOOGES , NEW YORK DOLLS , AND SLIGHTLY MORE OBSCURE BANDS LIKE DR FEELGOOD AND ALEX HARVEY .
Munster: in what way did you think GBH at the start stood out from all the other punk bands in the UK?
COLIN: WE WERE THE MOST HANDSOME BY FAR , FASTER, TIGHTER AND HOPEFULLY A BIT MORE ORIGINAL
Munster: What do you think of the current state of punk in the UK?
COLIN: IT IS FANTASTIC , EVERYWHERE SEEMS TO HAVE A GOOD LOCAL SCENE , THERE ARE SO MANY SHOWS ON , AND WITH THE INTERNET COMMUNICATION IS THE BEST IT HAS EVER BEEN
Munster: I was on a panel recently asking the question is punk still relevant, so i/ll ask you as well, is Punk still relevant?
COLIN: YES IT IS ,IT ALWAYS WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE , BECAUSE IT ENCOURAGES FREE THINKING , IT’S A VERY SOCIAL THING , IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP , YOU HELP THEM AND EVEYBODY LOVES A GOOD TIME .SIMPLES.
Munster: What issues in the world or in your lives make you pissed off and wanna write a song about it?
COLIN: YOU CANNOT CHOOSE WHAT AFFECTS YOU , IT JUST HAPPENS . I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY A FEW OF OUR NEW SONGS CONCERN WAR / TERRORISM , AND I THOUGHT , IM FED UP WITH WRITING SONGS ABOUT WAR. BUT THAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN IN THE WORLD TODAY .IT’S THE HEADLINES OF EVRY NEWSPAPER , THE LEAD STORY ON TV NEWS SHOWS ,WE DO HAVE A SONG ABOUT GETTING DRUNK , SO IT’S A BALANCE .
Munster: Whats coming up next?
COLIN: MORE LIVE SHOWS !!!!!!! WE HAVE A EUROPEAN TOUR BEFORE CHRISTMAS , THEN SOME U.K. ONES IN JAN AND OF COURSE WE GO TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND IN FEB .
IT’S ALL GO ……….BUT WE WOULD’NT HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY
GBH play the bendigo hotel Friday 26 February 2016. Tixs at http://www.thedrunkpromoter.com