Tag Archives: featurette

‘Wet Hot American Summer’ featurette takes you back to the summer of ’81

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We’re only four days away from the launch of the Wet Hot American Summer revival on Netflix! To celebrate this momentous occasion, travel back in time to 1981 in this nearly three-and-a-half minute Wet Hot featurette. In it you’ll go behind-the-scenes and witness the sheer excitement taking place during the first day of shooting when the entire cast from the 2001 cult comedy reunited for the 8-episode streaming series. Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks and all the rest return to play younger versions of themselves since the new Wet Hot takes place during the first day of camp at Camp Firewood (the movie took place on the last day of camp). You’ll hear from the returning cast, as well as some of the newbies including John Slattery (Mad Men), Chris Pine (Star Trek), Jason Schwartzman (Bored to Death), Jordan Peele (Key and Peele), and Lake Bell (Childrens Hospital).

“Working on this just feels like when we shot Wet Hot—it’s really cold, we’re moving really fast and, you know, everybody’s having sex with each other,” says Poehler.

Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp is out this Friday, July 31. Watch the official trailer here.

‘American Crime’ creator & composer discuss the series’ powerful score

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If you watched ABC’s midseason entry American Crime, then you know just how vital a role music played in its critical success. In addition to setting the tone at the top of nearly every episode with its signature, speedy strings, the composition also helped define the flawed characters and their relationships.

As originally shared by Deadline, here is an American Crime featurette with commentary by series creator John Ridley and his talented composer Mark Isham. You’ve got to love how Ridley describes his show: “American Crime is really about the cascade effect that crime has on people. It’s not a procedural, it’s not an investigation, it’s really an examination of human nature.” He gets teary-eyed in the clip when he likens Isham’s composition to an “emotional freight train.”

American Crime will return for a second season with a new cast of characters, a new story, and hopefully a starkly different yet equally impactful score.

Update: Ridley Scott gives TVLine clues about American Crime season 2. “[In Season 1] we dealt with race and faith; in Season 2 we want to deal a lot more with class. We want to deal with gender issues, sexual orientation and sexual identity.” He went on, “It’s going to be a whole different set of circumstances. We’re hoping that we can not only make it provocative, but humanize people as well. If there’s one thing that American Crime did very well, it took issues that are generally just a headline and put faces on them. I’m hoping we can do that in the second season.” The setting is moving from Northern California to the midwest, and as far as the cast is concerned, he “would love to get as many of [season 1’s stars] back for the second season as I can.” So far, Timothy Hutton and Felicity Huffman are confirmed to return.

Update 2 (6/16): Regina King has been confirmed as a season 2 regular. “Regina is phenomenal in all regards, and is going to be at the center of a story that deals with physicality, sexuality, and societal boundaries with the same urgency as our first season dealt with race and faith,”  said Ridley. “We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to speak on subjects as no other show does, and a cast which can do so with such a high degree of emotional honesty.”

Sneak a peek at the new Disney short ‘Frozen Fever’ [Update: trailer inside!]

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Frozen directors Christopher Buck and Jennifer Lee introduce Frozen Fever, a spinoff short that will screen in front of Disney’s upcoming live action adaptation of Cinderella. The short takes place “just a few months since we’ve last seen the gang,” explains Buck. “It’s Anna’s birthday,” Lee says, “and Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf are throwing her a giant party.” The inciting incident? Elsa’s got a cold and “that’s complicating things,” teases Buck. Watch the featurette after the break.

Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad all return to reprise their signature roles. Plus, Frozen song writers Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez have invented an all-new original tune for the short. Cannot wait to hear that!

Frozen Fever comes to theatres with Cinderella on March 13.

Update (2/25): Disney’s released a Frozen Fever teaser trailer and it contains actual footage from the anticipated short! Plus, you’ll hear a brief snippet of the Lopez’s new song! Don’t delay–hop after the break and click play! Continue reading Sneak a peek at the new Disney short ‘Frozen Fever’ [Update: trailer inside!] →

Go inside ‘Game of Thrones’ season 4 with juicy 15-minute featurette

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We are less than two months out from the season 4 premiere of Game of Thrones. To help pass the time between now and then, watch this nearly 15-minute featurette that is a behind-the-scenes preview of the upcoming season. You’ll hear from EPs David Benioff and D. B. Weiss as well as the majority of the expansive cast. The stars answer fan questions and a new character, Oberyn Martell, is discussed. You’ll also get an inside look at King Joffrey’s wedding to Margaery Tyrell. A few choice quotes follow.

Fans of Tyrion, beware:  “This is definitely the most dangerous season for Tyrion. It seems like almost every episode he’s in jeopardy of getting his head removed from his shoulders,” warns Benioff.

Benioff on Danyrs’ dragons: “With each season they grow and become more dangerous,” he says. And now? “They’re not babies anymore.”

How does season 4 compare to previous ones? “It’s more thrilling throughout than season 3 was,” says Jon Snow’s portrayer Kit Harington. “There are more climactic events in season 4 than there ever have been before,” shares Weiss. And Benioff adds, “Some of the most shocking and mindblowing scenes of the entire series come at the end of this coming season.”

Game of Thrones returns to HBO on April 6.

Movie trailer round-up: ‘Man of Steel’ & ‘Pacific Rim’ behind-the-scenes featurettes, plus new looks at ‘Machete Kills’, ‘Monsters University’ & ‘Planes’

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Before you dive into the trailers, check out these two behind-the-scenes featurettes for Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot Man of Steel and Guillermo del Toro’s robots versus monsters action film Pacific Rim. “Our approach was not a comic book Superman; it was just to be a more realistic Superman, a Superman that exists in the real world,” says screenwriter David S. Goyer. The three-and-a-half minute Man of Steel clip includes some never before seen footage and you’ll hear from Goyer as well as Snyder, producer Deborah Snyder, production designer Alex McDowell, actress Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Kevin Costner (Jonathan Kent), Russell Crow (Jor-El), and star Henry Cavill (Clark Kent). Man of Steel opens June 14.

Jump after the break to view the Pacific Rim featurette and this week’s selection of trailers.

Update (5/3): A lengthier Man of Steel behind-the-scenes featurette was uploaded to the Internets today; watch all 13 minutes of it after the break. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘Man of Steel’ & ‘Pacific Rim’ behind-the-scenes featurettes, plus new looks at ‘Machete Kills’, ‘Monsters University’ & ‘Planes’ →

TV reminder: ‘Girls’ season 2 premieres tonight (1/13) at 9PM on HBO (trailers inside)

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The (mis)adventures of Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna continue when the critically acclaimed HBO series Girls from creator/executive producer/writer/star Lena Dunham returns for its second season tonight (1/13) at 9PM. The season 2 poster features Dunham up-close-and-personal with the perfect tagline “Almost getting it kind of together.” In an interview with EW Dumham said, “If you loved what we were doing last season, then we’re speaking right to you. If you hated it, then I’m afraid things aren’t going to change.”

After the break, get a taste of what’s in store and watch two trailers containing new material from the upcoming season. There you’ll also find a “Girls on Guys” featurette, or a primped Dunham conducting a fun conversation with Girls guys Adam Driver, Alex Karpovsky, Christopher Abbott, and Andrew Rannells (who is performing double duty this year working on this show and Ryan Murphy’s The New Normal).
 Continue reading TV reminder: ‘Girls’ season 2 premieres tonight (1/13) at 9PM on HBO (trailers inside) →

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ is out this Friday, go behind-the-scenes one more time

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Though the first movie in the Hobbit trilogy hasn’t even come out yet, it already feels like we’ve been on one unexpected and wild journey. Since April 2011, director Peter Jackson periodically dropped production video blogs that brought Lord of the Rings fans behind-the-scenes on the making of his next foray into Middle Earth. Each one explores a different aspect of filmmaking–from the logistics of location shooting to lessons in shooting in 3D–that culminates in an inside look at the grueling yet rewarding post-production process. Taken as a whole, the nine vlogs show just how much effort and sheer amount of hard work went into the making of the Hobbit movies.

And with just a few days until The Hobbit lands in theatres in the States, Mr. Jackson was able to slip one more massive video into our hands. A new 13-minute featurette, embedded above, takes us behind the scenes one more time before the adventure begins. In addition to Jackson you’ll hear from many of the actors, producers, and other creatives behind the making of the film. You’ll also be introduced to new characters, get a better sense of the story, and witness colorful concept art and new footage.

Return to Middle Earth this Friday, December 14 when The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey makes its grand debut.

First look: ‘Game of Thrones’ season 3 (video)

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It’s not an epic trailer, but here is our first look into the next season of Game of Thrones. The two minute clip takes you behind-the-scenes of production on the third season of HBO’s fantasy series based on a series of books by George R.R. Martin. In it you’ll hear from the series showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, as well as some of the cast including Richard Madden (Robb), Maisie Williams (Arya), and Emlia Clarke (Daenerys). Peter Dinklage also makes a brief appearance and you get to see how Tyrion’s permanent scar looks. With new locations, characters, and an upgraded wardrobe being introduced next year, the upcoming season of Thrones “is the season [we’ve] been anticipating from the very beginning,” says Benioff. Clarke will get your blood pumping with her closing remarks: “The game’s been upped. There’s so much more danger. There’s so much more risk.”

Game of Thrones returns March 31, 2013.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ 13-minute featurette

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In just over a week the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy hits theatres. To catch up on Bruce Wayne’s story thus far and get a glimpse into where the upcoming movie will take the character, watch this 13-minute featurette featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and plot and character insight from the stars, producers, and special department heads. You’ll hear from director Chris Nolan, stars Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman, Michael Cane, Morgan Freeman, Marion Cotillard, producers, Emma Thomas, Jordan Goldberg, Kevin De La Noy, screenwriter Jonathan Nolan, production designer Nathan Crowley, special effects supervisor Chris Corbould, director of photography Wally Pfister, stunt coordinator Tom Struthers, and visual effects supervisor Paul Franklin.

“What we’re constructing here is a very, very elemental conflict between good and evil,” Nolan says of his final venture into the world of Gotham City. “Every great story deserves a great ending, and we’re really trying to be true to that.”

All in all this flashy clip doesn’t include any major spoilers, so it’s safe to watch before seeing the movie. Unless of course you want to go into this thing having watched none of the previously released trailers and casting scoops.

Other things you can do to help carry the time: the official movie website has been updated with a new synopsis and additional cast and crew information; and you can stream the entire 15-track soundtrack from trilogy composer Hans Zimmer at Empire. Also, after the break you’ll find a brief recorded interview with Nolan courtesy of Nightline and a very funny parody clip from Above Average featuring Batman, Bane, and 60’s Robin.

The Dark Knight Rises hits theatres July 20. Continue reading ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ 13-minute featurette →

HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ returns in one week; here’s a 22-minute refresher course

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HBO has put together an extensive featurette that serves as a refresher course for potential and returning fans of the cable network’s highly rated fantasy series Game of Thrones. The video titled “You Win or You Die”, which clocks in at just over 22 minutes, tells the grand tale that was Thrones season 1 and it even journeys into season 2 territory to whet the appetite for those who just can’t wait any longer. Thankfully, this meaty overview and teaser should subside eager fans’ eager collective longing for Westeros. In the featurette you’ll hear from series showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, as well as many of the actors including a naturally brunette (and still stunning) Emilia Clarke who plays Daenerys.

Game of Thrones returns in one week: April 1 at 9PM on HBO.

Sneak a peek at ‘The River’ before watching tonight’s two-hour series premiere

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Go behind the scenes with the creators and cast of ABC’s The River before tuning into tonight’s series premiere. Creator Oren Peli, executive producers Michael Green and Zack Estrin, and stars Joe Anderson, Leslie Hope, Bruce Greenwood, and Paul Blackthorne do a fine job at hyping the show and gearing audiences for an “intense” and “scary” journey along the Amazon River in search of Greenwood’s character Emmett Cole. Peli says the network allowed him “to go as scary as [he wanted]” so you have been warned. Mash play and introduce yourself to the ensemble cast, the pedigree, and the intriguing story behind The River. Lost fans, with faint whispers and booming intangible mystical monsters lurking in the night, you should feel right at home. For the rest of you, let this extended trailer be a litmus test. If you are fully engaged the premiere is a must-see; if you are shrieking in terror throughout fiddling with the volume perhaps this isn’t quite your cup of tea. But even if you do fall into that latter category, give the pilot a shot and allow your imagination to run free…and terrified.

The River premieres tonight at 9PM on ABC.

“Meet Captain America” featurette

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We’ve already been privy to two explosive trailers for Marvel’s upcoming superhero flick Captain America: The First Avenger. Well, now here’s one more video for you to ogle before Cap comes to theatres on July 22. In this “Meet Captain America” featurette you’ll see flashes of new footage from the movie and get some insight into the making of it from director Joe Johnston and actors Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell.