Interviews with Nicholas Colia and Everett Blunck

TV Interview!

 

Nicholas Colia and Everett Blunck of the movie "Griffin in Summer."

Interviews with Nicholas Colia and Everett Blunck of the movie “Griffin in Summer” by Suzanne 8/21/25

It was a lot of fun to chat with both of these guys. Nicholas is the brilliant mind behind the movie, and Everett is the talented young actor who stars as Griffin. It’s always great to enjoy a film and then pick the brains of the people in or behind it. They did not disappoint! Don’t forget to watch “Griffin in Summer,” which premieres August 29th in theaters everywhere.

Nicholas Colia

Everett Blunck 

 

Griffin in Summer posterMORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

VERTICAL PRESENTS:

GRIFFIN IN SUMMER

Written & Directed by: Nicholas Colia

Produced by: Juliet Berman, Bobby Hoppey, Camila Mendes, Rachel Matthews, Matthew Miller

Executive Produced by: Fred Bryant, Cullen Conly, Alex Tynion

Starring:

Everett Blunck (The Old Way)

Melanie Lynskey (“Yellowjackets”)

Owen Teague (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes)

Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret)

Kathryn Newton (Lisa Frankenstein)

RT: 90 minutes

Vertical Films logo

SYNOPSIS

Griffin Nafly (Everett Blunck) is the most ambitious playwright of his generation. He’s also fourteen years old and living with his parents in a humdrum suburb while dreaming of moving to New York City. When his mom (Melanie Lynskey) hires a handsome 25-year-old handyman (Owen Teague), Griffin’s life and his new play take an inspired turn. Also starring Kathryn Newton and Abby Ryder Fortson.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENTNicholas Colia, director/writer of "Griffin in Summer"

On March 13th 2020, I left Brooklyn, moved back home to Massachusetts for what I thought would be a couple weeks. I ended up staying for several months, and like a lot of people, found myself languishing. A year out of NYU Graduate Film School, I had come to the end of the road on various script collaborations I had spent the past couple years working on and was generally adrift. So, with seemingly nothing certain in the future, I decided to look backwards, digitize all our old home movies. Amongst the endless baby videos, the now colorless weddings of relatives since divorced, I found dust-covered VHS tapes of the various plays and films I had directed out of my parents’ basement as a teen but hadn’t really revisited since. Watching them back as an adult, I was finally at a place where I was able to see the unintentional absurdity of these productions.

While Griffin is not my exact autobiography (he loves writing new dramas, I preferred directing old comedies. Think Neil Simon), these shows were still all a bunch of young teens in bad wigs, with wrinkles drawn on their faces, sipping fake martinis as they discussed their divorces. I became obsessed with this notion of kids playing adult. And, more than anyone onstage, with the overzealous teen at the center of it all, choosing to spend the bulk of his pubescent years striving for theatrical professionalism whilst avoiding his actual impending adulthood. I combined these themes with a handyman crush element from a short film of mine, and the journey of Griffin in Summer began.

Five years later and we are finally releasing Griffin into the world, it’s taking on a life of its own. Part of this has been seeing the phrase “queer coming-of-age” attached to our film. While not inaccurate, it still feels surprising for me as this was never really something I thought about. Griffin’s queerness is not incidental, but it’s also not the source of the central conflict in the film. Ultimately, I just wanted to make a comedy that felt wildly personal and actually got made. In terms of what I hope audiences will take away from the film, I’d be pleased if they picked up on any of the more thematic elements described above. But truly, I just hope they fucking laugh. Thanks! – Nicholas Colia, 2025

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

NICHOLAS COLIA (Writer & Director)

Nicholas Colia is a Brooklyn based filmmaker. He received his MFA from NYU Graduate Film School where he was the recipient of the Martin Scorsese and Maurice Kanbar Scholarships. His award winning short films include Alex and the Handyman and Untitled Short Film About White People. His first feature, Griffin in Summer, premiered at the Tribeca Festival where it received awards for Best US Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, and the Special Jury Mention for New Narrative Director. Since then, it’s played over twenty additional festivals across the US and Europe and was acquired for distribution by Vertical Entertainment. He was recently nominated for the Someone to Watch Award at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards.

JULIET BERMAN (Producer)

Juliet Berman is a film and television producer with experience working in both the independent and studio/streamer space.

Since forming Spiral Stairs Entertainment in 2023, Berman has produced two features, a remake of the 1991 cult classic DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD which was released wide theatrically in April 2024 before streaming on BET+ and independent comedy GRIFFIN IN SUMMER, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2024 where it won the Founders Award for Best US Narrative Feature as well as Best Screenplay and a jury mention for Best New Director.  She is currently in post-production on DEAD LETTERS, an independent drama starring Margo Martindale, Cole Sprouse, Stephen Root and Yalitza Aparicio.

Previously, Berman was the Head of Production for Treehouse Pictures where she built a film and television slate from the ground up and managed an in-house fund for independent development/production financing.  During her ten-year tenure at Treehouse, she brought in and oversaw a diverse range of films, including the Italian drama MEDITERRANEA written and directed by Jonas Carpignano which premiered at Critics Week at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, Iraq war film SAND CASTLE, starring Nick Hoult and Henry Cavill and the romantic comedy SET IT UP starring Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch, which was developed based on her original idea and was Netflix’s top-performing movie in over 200 territories in the summer of 2018.

Prior to Treehouse, Berman worked at New Line Cinema, Summit Entertainment and Anonymous Content. She grew up in Los Angeles and graduated with honors from Columbia University.

BOBBY HOPPEY (Producer)

Known for championing talent, Bobby Hoppey has over a decade of experience in film and television development. Bobby’s executive experience includes indie finance shops Complementary Colors, Valparaiso Pictures, and Echo Lake Entertainment where he oversaw their respective in-house project slates. His most recent producorial credits include Neon’s PIG starring Nicolas Cage (streaming on Hulu), and the LGBTQ rom-com STRAIGHT UP (streaming on Netflix) – both Independent Spirit Award nominees. Bobby currently has a number of feature projects in development through his new production shingle, Coveside Films. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Corporate Communications from Elon University.

RACHEL MATTHEWS (Producer)

Rachel Matthews is an actress and producer, and a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is known for her work in Disney’s Frozen II, Universal’s Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2U, Lionsgate’s The Duel, CW’s Batwoman, Hulu’s Looking for Alaska, Netflix’s Do Revenge, and Upgraded, which reached #1 worldwide on Prime Video. She is also the co-founder of Honor Role, a production company she launched with Camila Mendes. Honor Role produced Griffin in Summer, which won the Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival and will be premiering in theaters this summer and most recently produced Idiotka which premiered at SXSW and has been acquired by Utopia for a theatrical release.

CAMILA MENDES (Producer)

Camila Mendes is a Brazilian American actress and producer best known for her role as Veronica Lodge on the CW’s hit series Riverdale. In 2020, she appeared in the critically acclaimed sci-fi/comedy Palm Springs,followed by Netflix’s Do Revenge in 2022. After wrapping her seventh and final season of Riverdale in 2023, Mendes launched production company Honor Role alongside her fellow NYU Tisch graduate Rachel Matthews. Mendes and Matthews previously collaborated as executive producers on Upgraded, a romantic comedy in which they also starred. The film premiered on Amazon and remained the platform’s number one film globally for several weeks. Their latest project, Idiotka, which also stars Mendes, premiered at SXSW to glowing reviews and was acquired by Utopia for a theatrical release. Mendes also served as an executive producer on Amazon’s critically acclaimed Música, in which she starred opposite director Rudy Mancuso. Next year, she will star in Mattel’s live-action film, Masters of the Universe,portraying the character of Teela alongside Nicholas Galitzine, Alison Brie, and Idris Elba.

MATTHEW LEE MILLER (Producer)

Matthew Lee Miller is the co-founder and owner of Vanishing Angle, a critically acclaimed production company known for championing innovative independent films. A Spirit Award and Critics Choice Award-nominated producer, Matt has produced over seventeen feature films and has executive produced, co-produced, or line produced over ten others. His work also includes more than thirty short films, several digital series, and numerous music videos and commercials. His projects have premiered and won awards at top festivals worldwide, including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes, and Berlinale. Before shifting his focus to producing, Matt spent years working in production as an assistant director and set PA, gaining hands-on experience under some of the industry’s most respected filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Noah Baumbach, Gus Van Sant, Clint Eastwood, and Sean Penn. These experiences shaped his approach to fostering a collaborative and supportive production environment. Through Vanishing Angle, Matt continues to support emerging talent while maintaining long-term collaborations with filmmakers. Recent projects include Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead which recently won the audience award at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, and The Edge Of Normal, starring Chloë Grace Moretz and Rupert Friend, which recently wrapped production. For more, visit www.vanishingangle.com.

FRED BRYANT (Executive Producer)

Fred is a Richmond, Virginia-based serial entrepreneur. Over the past decade, he has founded, built, run, and exited businesses across various industries. Before his private sector career, Fred served as a decorated officer in the United States Army, where he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He currently oversees several companies he has founded and serves as a Board Member and advisor to several privately held businesses. Fred is a University of Richmond graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

CULLEN CONLY (Executive Producer)

Cullen Conly is a literary manager and producer at Anonymous Content. Among his clients are Academy Award winner Sian Heder (CODA),  Cory Finley (Bad Education), Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) and Tony Award winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge! The Musical). Prior to Mosaic, he was a Motion Picture Literary agent in the New York offices of ICM Partners.  Before representation, Conly was the Manager of the Feature Film Program of the Sundance Institute, where he worked in the Screenwriter and Director Labs. Among the filmmakers he supported in that program are Ryan Coogler, David Lowery, Marielle Heller, Sara Colangelo, Sean Durkin, Benh Zeitlin, Lena Dunham and Ry Russo-Young.   Before Sundance, Conly worked in development and production at Paramount Vantage and began his film career in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency.

BETSY FIPPINGER (Casting Director)

Betsy Fippinger has trained under some of the best casting directors in New York, including Meredith Tucker, Ellen Lewis, Ellen Chenoweth, and Shayna Markowitz. As a casting associate and assistant, she worked on projects directed by Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Bo Burnham, Greg Mottola, and Lynn Shelton. She won an Artios Award for her work as the casting associate on the pilot episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. As a casting director, Betsy cast the pivotal youth roles of ‘Margaret’ and ‘Nancy’ in “Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret” for Lionsgate. Her upcoming films include Jane Weinstock’s “Three Birthdays”, Patrick Clement’s “Bury Me When I’m Dead” and Sarah Friedland’s “Familiar Touch”. Before entering casting, Betsy worked at HBO and the William Morris Agency and graduated with a BFA in Film from Wesleyan University in 2003.

 

MEREDITH TUCKER (Casting Director)

Meredith Tucker is a New York-based casting director. Credits include THE WHITE LOTUS (Emmy Win), BOARDWALK EMPIRE (Emmy win and nomination), VEEP (Emmy win and nomination/New York Casting) and WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS, all for HBO; UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT (Emmy Nomination) and the upcoming THE RESIDENCE for Netflix; GODFATHER OF HARLEM for MGM+ and DEFENDING JACOB for Apple TV+. Recent film highlights are EIGHTH GRADE, BRAD’S STATUS, BEATRIZ AT DINNER, IRRESISTIBLE, and SET IT UP.

Prior to breaking out on her own, she worked for Walken/Jaffe Casting on THE SOPRANOS from Season 3 on, and co-cast Seasons 1 & 2 of ENTOURAGE (Emmy nomination). She also worked for Casting Director Howard Feuer on films helmed by directors including Jonathan Demme, Alan Parker, Tom Hanks, Peter Weir, Barbet Schroeder, Harold Ramis and Gus Van Sant.

FELIPE VARA DE REY (Director of Photography)

Felipe Vara de Rey is a Madrid-born, LA-based director of photography.   After obtaining a Fulbright Scholarship, Felipe moved to New York City to pursue NYU’s Graduate Film program, where he has now served as an adjunct professor for the cinematography department for the past seven years.

Felipe’s body of work as a cinematographer includes commercials, music videos, documentaries and long-form narrative projects. He’s recently shot the sci-fi thriller BREATHE, directed by Stefon Bristol and produced by Thunder Road Pictures; the film FIRE ISLAND, directed by Andrew Ahn for for Searchlight; the four-part HBO documentary series ‘NYC Epicenters’, directed by Spike Lee; and the rom-com LONG WEEKEND, directed by Steve Basilone and distributed by Sony Classic Pictures.

                                                                        ABOUT THE CAST

Everett Blunck of the movie "Griffin in Summer."EVERETT BLUNCK

Everett Blunck was the breakout star of GRIFFIN IN SUMMER, from filmmaker Nicholas Colia, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024 where it took home the festival’s top prize for Best Narrative Feature. The film will release in theaters later this summer. He was most recently seen in the lead role in Charlie Polinger’s directorial debut, THE PLAGUE, which had its premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Everett is currently in production on Jonathan Glatzer’s upcoming AMC series, THE AUDACITY, with Billy Magnussen, Sarah Goldberg, and Zach Galifianakis. Additional film credits include OUTLAW POSSE (dir. Mario Van Peebles), BLOOD FOR DUST (dir. Rod Blackhurst), and THE OLD WAY starring Nicolas Cage (dir. Brett Donowho).

Everett Blunck Owen Teague of the movie "Griffin in Summer."OWEN TEAGUE

Teague’s range and versatility as an actor is robustly captured on both big and small screens, as witnessed in his numerous television, theatrical, and streaming credits. Teague’s performance in 20th Century’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is earning him high praise with film critics worldwide and opened number one at the box office during its first weekend.  2023 was a busy year for Owen, the widely-praised actor with co-starring roles in two films which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival: writer/director Nicole Holofcener’s comedy “You Hurt My Feelings,” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies released by A24 in January; and “Eileen,” a mystery-thriller directed by William Oldroyd, starring Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie released by Neon in December. In 2022, Teague received unanimous praise for his role in the critically acclaimed drama “To Leslie,” as Andrea Riseborough’s son, James, which debuted at SXSW Film Festival and was released by Momentum Pictures in October (and resulted in an Oscar® nomination for Riseborough as best actress). He also starred in “Montana Story” opposite Haley Lu Richardson, released by Bleecker Street in April of that year. Additional film credits include “The Empty Man” and “Every Day.”

Melanie Lynskey and Owen Teague of the film "Griffin in Summer."MELANIE LYNSKEY

New Zealand-born and Emmy Nominated actor Melanie Lynskey has become an industry staple, having amassed a plethora of thought-provoking roles in television and film over the course of 30 years.

Most recently, Melanie starred opposite Christina Ricci and Tawny Cypress in the 10-time Emmy-nominated Showtime series Yellowjackets, which had its season 3 finale on April 13th to much acclaim. She plays Shauna Sadecki, a player on a team of wildly talented high school soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the Ontario wilderness. Melanie has received high praise for her performance, including two Emmy Nominations, a Critic’s Choice Award win for Best Actress in a Drama Series and a Gotham Award nomination for Outstanding Performance in a New Series.

Upcoming, Lynskey will lead Pike River as Anna Osborne, opposite Robyn Malcom and directed by Robert Sarkies. The film is centered around the 2010 Pike River tragedy and captures the profound impact of one of the worst mining disasters in New Zealand’s history.

Lynskey was seen in the film Griffin in the Summer alongside Everett Blunck, which premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. In this coming-of-age story, ambitious fourteen-year-old, Griffin Nafly, is putting on a dramatic new play when his attention begins to drift toward Brad, a handyman working at his house, his life will never be the same. The film won three awards at Tribeca Film Festival, including Best Screenplay.

In 2024, Lynskey starred in Peacock’s limited series The Tattooist of Auschwitz alongside Jonah Hauer King, which premiered May 2nd. She portrays Heather Morris, the writer of the heartbreaking true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov’s time in Auschwitz Birkenau.

Lynskey recently starred in HBO’s critically acclaimed The Last of Us, a series adaptation of the widely popular 2013 PlayStation video game of the same name. Written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckman, Melanie stars alongside Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsay, Gabriel Luna, Anna Torv, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman. The first episode premiered on January 15, 2023 and drew4.7M viewers across linear and HBO Max, marking the second-largest debut for the network since 2010.

Lynskey picked up a Guest Actress Emmy nomination for her role, which was one of the twenty-four the show was nominated for.

Lynskey’s career began in 1994 with the release of Peter Jackson’s acclaimed film Heavenly Creatures, which earned her a New Zealand Film Award for Best Actress. Subsequent film credits include Adam Mckay’s Don’t Look Up, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Steven Soderbergh’s TheInformant, Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Megan Griffith’s Sadie, Billy Ray’s Shattered Glass, Sam Mendes’ Away We Go, Jason Reitman’s Up in The Air, Justin and Christian Long’s Lady of the Manor, Andy Tennant’s Ever After and Sweet Home Alabama, Jamie Babbit’s But I’m A Cheerleader, Clint Eastwood’s Flags Of Our Fathers, Joe Swanberg’s Happy Christmas, Angus MacLachlan’s Goodbye To All That, Macon Blair’s I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, for which Lynskey was nominated for a Gotham Award for Best Actress, and Clea Duvall’s debut feature, The Intervention, which earned her the US Special Jury Prize for Individual Performance at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

In 2012, Lynskey played the lead role in Todd Louiso’s film Hello I Must Be Going. The film opened the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was rated one of the Top Ten Independent Films of the Year by the National Board of Review. Lynskey’s performance earned her critical praise and a nomination for a 2012 Gotham Independent Film Award in the category of Breakthrough Actor.

On the small screen, Melanie starred in Hulu’s crime thriller Candy opposite Jessica Biel. The series tells the true story of Candy Montgomery, a Texas housewife who infamously murdered her friend Betty Gore, played by Lynskey, with an ax in 1980. She received a Critic’s Choice nomination for her performance in the series. Additional television credits include: Hulu’s Mrs. America opposite Uzo Aduba and Cate Blanchett and Castle Rock, opposite André Holland, Sissy Spacek and Bill Skarsgård; Netflix’s Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later and Girlboss; the Duplass brothers’ critically acclaimed HBO show, Togetherness in which she was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award for her performance in the series. Lynskey voiced the character Beatrice in Cartoon Network’s Over the Garden Wall, which won the 2015 Emmy for Best Animated Program; and from 2003-2015, Lynskey had a popular recurring role as Rose in the hit TV show Two and A Half Men.

Melanie currently resides in Los Angeles, with her partner, actor and producer, Jason Ritter and their daughter.

 ABBY RYDER FORTSON

Abby Ryder Fortson recently starred in the title role for Lionsgate’s feature adaptation of Judy Blume’s beloved novel, ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET, opposite Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie.

In addition to her work in MARGARET, she can also be seen as ‘Cassie Lang’ in Marvel feature films ANT-MAN and ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, where she earned widespread praise for her scene-stealing performance opposite Paul Rudd. Abby also played Kara in GRIFFIN IN SUMMER an indie film that recently got accepted to the Tribecca film festival.  Prior to that, Abby starred as ‘Young CJ’ opposite Betty Gilpin in the DreamWorks and Universal feature, A DOG’S JOURNEY.

Abby is also active in TV and reoccurred in the Golden Globe winning Amazon series, TRANSPARENT. She can be seen in the Amazon series TALES FROM THE LOOP and as a series regular in the HBO series, TOGETHERNESS. Additional credits for Abby include Spielberg’s ABC series, THE WHISPERS, and the Duplass Brothers’ HBO show, ROOM 104.

Entertainment Weekly named Abby “One of TVs Most Valuable Kids” and “One of the Top Child Actors to Watch.” She was also awarded RISING STAR OF THE YEAR at CinemaCon in April 2023, and nominated for Critic Choice Awards, Best Young Actress in 2024.

 KATHRYN NEWTON
Kathryn Newton most recently starred opposite Cole Sprouse in Zelda Williams’ directorial debut, LISA FRANKENSTEIN, which was written by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody and will be released by Focus Features on February 9. She will also be seen opposite Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis in WINNER, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and Universal’s ABIGAIL alongside Giancarlo Esposito, Dan Stevens, and Angus Cloud.

Newton recently starred in Marvel’s ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA, in which she stars as ‘Cassie Lang’ opposite Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer – the film made almost $500 million at the box office and was nominated for a 2024 People’s Choice Award for “Action Movie for the Year.” Upcoming, she will be one of the few new actors that will lead Marvel’s next iteration of the MCU in Phases 5 & 6.

Newton is well known for starring in HBO’S Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series, BIG LITTLE LIES, for which she was nominated for a SAG Award as part of the ensemble. She also starred in Netflix’s popular series, THE SOCIETY; Kay Cannon’s BLOCKERS, which made almost $100 million at the box office and was the highest earning R-rated comedy of 2018; and POKÉMON: DETECTIVE PIKACHU opposite Ryan Reynolds, which made $450 million.

Newton’s other film credits include Amazon’s THE MAP OF TINY PERFECT THINGS; THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI for which she was nominated for a SAG Award as part of the ensemble; Universal’s FREAKY opposite Vince Vaughn; Greta Gerwig’s LADY BIRD; and Peter Hedges’ BEN IS BACK.

Newton is also an extremely accomplished golfer, having played in some of the most prestigious international golf tournaments including the Celebrity Ryder Cup. She is a champion for women in the sport and was recently named as the newest ambassador for the R&A.

 

ALIVIA BELLAMY

Alivia Bellamy, a talented young actress, has quickly made a name for herself in the world of film, theater and TV. She recently starred as Pam Vanderworm in Griffin in Summer, directed by Nicholas Colia, which is set to world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival June 2024.

Alivia honed her craft through rigorous training at Richmond, Virginia’s Cadence Theatre Company, where she studied under esteemed instructors such as Laine Satterfield and Jana Ferrell. Her dedication to the art of acting was evident from an early age, participating in various theater productions such as Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Black Girl Magic, and Heathers: The Musical, all of which have helped shape her into the skilled performer she is today.

Born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, Alivia’s passion for acting was ignited at a young age by watching classic films like the 1934 classic Imitation of Life and theater productions like Diana Ross’s The Wiz with her grandmother. Her commitment to her craft and ability to bring depth and authenticity to her characters have earned her praise from peers and mentors alike.

Looking ahead, Alivia aspires to explore diverse and challenging roles that push her creative boundaries. She is particularly interested in memorable characters and hopes to continue to work with visionary directors and writers who share her passion for storytelling. Outside of acting, Alivia enjoys watching movies, singing, listening to old school music, and collecting vintage albums, all of which she believes enrich her performances and provide a well-rounded appreciation of the arts.

JOHANNA COLÓN

Johanna Colón first entered the spotlight at the age of 6 when her dance recital video to Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT went wildly viral earning more than 80 million views world wide. After appearances on NBC’s Little Big Shot and The Ellen Show she began acting in television on TBS’ The Guest Book (2017) and HBO’s Euphoria (2019) and in film as Smash in Troop Zero (2019) on Amazon and as Lucia in Feel The Beat (2020) on Netflix. She made her voice over debut as Becky in Little Ellen (2021) making her dream of becoming a cartoon a reality. Johanna is of Puerto Rican and Italian descent and loves singing, dancing and performing improv with her troop.

 MICHAEL ESPER

Michael Esper plays a supporting role in the recently released film THE CREATOR, for writer/director Gareth Edwards, and starred opposite Rebecca Hall in RESURRECTION (dir. Andrew Semans). Other features include BEAU IS AFRAID (dir. Ari Aster), BEN IS BACK (dir. Peter Hedges) starring Julia Roberts, RUNNER, RUNNER (dir. Brad Furman), FRANCES HA (dir. Noah Baumbach), THE DROP (dir. Michael R. Roskam), ALL GOOD THINGS (dir. Andrew Jarecki) and A BEAUTIFUL MIND (dir. Ron Howard).

Esper has a Recurring Role in the new Amazon series, FALLOUT and a Guest Starring Role in the recently released series, THE GIRLS ON THE BUS for HBO Max. He recently starred in FLORIDA MAN opposite Edgar Ramirez, currently airing on Netflix. He was a Series Regular in TRUST (FX) starring opposite Donald Sutherland and Hilary Swank. Recurring Roles include THE OUTSIDER (HBO), RAY DONOVAN and NURSE JACKIE (Showtime), THE FAMILY (ABC), SHADES OF BLUE (NBC), PERSON OF INTEREST, THE GOOD WIFE and BRAINDEAD (CBS) and has Guest Starred in JULIA (HBO MAX), PRODIGAL SON (Fox), REPRISAL (Hulu), ELEMENTARY (CBS) and HALT AND CATCH FIRE (AMC). Esper is currently in the Tony nominated Broadway hit, APPROPRIATE with Sarah Paulson (Belasco Theater). He has originated several Leading Roles on Broadway and Off including Sting’s THE LAST SHIP, the Tony nominated production of THE LYONS, the multiple Tony award winning musical, AMERICAN IDIOT, and Roundabout Theater Company’s critically acclaimed production of A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. Other New York Theatre credits include CATCH AS CATCH CAN (New Ohio Theatre), LAZARUS (NYTW AND LONDON), THE AGONY AND THE AGONY, AS YOU LIKE IT (The Public), SLANTED! ENCHANTED!, PAVEMENT, THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL’S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES (The Public Theatre), BIG BILL (Lincoln Center Theater), ASSISTANCE, CRAZY MARY, MANIC FLIGHT REACTION (Playwrights Horizons), THE FOUR OF US (Manhattan Theatre Club), and subUrbia (Second Stage Theatre), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (LONDON WEST END) Regional credits include LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (The Druid Theatre Company & the Dublin Theatre Festival) and ME, MYSELF, AND I (The McCarter), TALES FROM RED VIENNA (MTC) .

IAN HERNANDEZ-OROPEZA

14 year old Puerto Rican actor, Ian Hernandez-Oropeza, started his journey in 2020 through the IMTA competition where he won the Most Sought Out Talent award. He filmed his first short film in Los Angeles, “The Last Human Person on Earth,” directed by Ryan Hoskins and went on to work on the feature film “Over/Under” from Director, Sophia Silver that premiered in the Deauville American Festival in France.

Ian plays the principal role, alongside Jason London and Robert LaSardo on Danny LeGare’s “Blood Harvest”, currently streaming on Prime Video. In 2023, he worked alongside Melanie Lynskey, Owen Teague, Abby Ryder Fortson, and Everett Blunk on “Griffin in Summer” directed by Nicholas Colia, now premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival and nominated for the Best US Narrative Feature Award.

Ian is proud of his heritage and continues to honor it by bringing Latinx characters to life through bilingual (English/Spanish) voiceover work for video games and audiobooks, as well as in his choice of acting roles.

Ian is very active on and off set. He is an outstanding student, plays competitive baseball and loves other sports such as golf, basketball, and table tennis. Ian lives at home in Florida with his parents, grandma and four dogs.

GORDON ROCKS

Gordon Rocks is an American actor who was born on December 2, 2009, in Sydney, Australia, to a family of Russian immigrants. Due to his father’s job (an airline pilot) Gordon spent the first years of his life in Miyazaki City and Tokyo (Japan). When he was 4 years old, his family moved to Southern California, where he began acting at the age of 10.

Gordon’s first onscreen appearance was as The Boy in Rene Perez’s western Righteous Blood (released on DVD and being streamed on Amazon since August 2021), where he played most of his scenes with Michael Paré.

Gordon is best known for his lead role of the Son in the short film Lemon Tree, directed by Rachel Walden, which had its World Premiere at the Directors Fortnight Division of Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, got qualified to be considered for Academy Awards, and is now streaming on MUBI.

CREDITS

Written & Directed by Nicholas Colia
Produced by

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starring

Juliet Berman
Bobby Hoppey
Camila Mendes
Rachel Matthews
Matthew MillerEverett Blunck
Melanie Lynskey
Owen Teague
Abby Ryder Fortson
Kathryn Newton
Executive Produced by Fred Bryant
Cullen ConlyAlex Tynion
Edited by

 

Sam Levy
Jon Higgins
Cinematography by Felipe Vara de Rey

 

 

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Interview with Louise Sorel

TV Interview!

 

Louise Sorel - 2023 from her Facebook page

Interview with Louise Sorel of “Days of Our Lives” on Peacock by Suzanne 7/19/25

It was so great to speak with Louise! She’s such a legend in the theater and in daytime soaps. She worked for many years in primetime TV and movies as well.  She’s most known for playing Augusta Lockridge on the daytime soap “Santa Barbara” 1984-1991 and playing Vivian on “Days of Our Lives” since 1992 (off and on). She plays a great villain with a lot of humor and style.

She’s not only an outstanding actress, but she’s quiet beautiful. “Star Trek” had no shortage of beautiful guest stars, but she stood out in the third season episode “Requiem for Methuselah” as Rayna, the woman that Lazarus/Methuselah/Flint created to be his companion.  She made the mistake of falling in love with Captain Kirk (like so many women did) and couldn’t choose between them, which destroyed her.

Louise has a book coming out August 6th that is part memoir and part poetry. It sounds like a lot of fun. Pre-order it now!

You can hear the audio of our interview here, and the transcript is below. She was very entertaining as we walked down memory lane.

 

Suzanne:  Well, anyway, so you’ve got a book coming out in August. What made you decide to write it?

Louise: Well, actually what it is, is I’ve been journaling for years. I’ve had a rather odd and interesting life, and so I have all these journals and poems and observations and things, and friends of mine – once in a while I’d. say to a friend, “Oh, can I read you this?” And they say, “Oh, for God’s sakes, why aren’t you putting that somewhere?”

Suzanne: Right.

Louise: So, it just was in my head, and I thought, last September I went, all right, I have no excuses. So, I thought, maybe I could actually do that, because it feels productive, and I like to be productive. So, I found a brilliant editor who offered to – First of all, he was interested in the writing, which made me feel good. Some editors will say, “Are you kidding?” But he liked the work.  So, that’s how it happened, and I’m so thrilled with myself, because I can’t even believe – Even now, I can look at the book in my head and say, “Who did that?” I’m so impressed with myself for doing it, because I think a lot of people I know would like to do it, and they often they say, “Well, I’m so impressed that you did that, because I’ve always wanted to, and I just haven’t done it.” So, I encourage people to do that, if they want.

Suzanne: So, the title is, If There Were No Dogs: Musings and Mutterings. What does that mean?

Louise: Well, first of all, I’m a dog advocate. I’ve had nine to ten dogs in my life, and I can’t be without. I don’t understand – I mean, I do understand; a lot of people don’t, but for me, I would be bereft without a dog.

So, the title came from a poem I wrote, which is in the book. And it started out to be, the cover was Musings and Mutterings, and I was showing it to a PR person out in LA, who’s on Days; she’s sort of their person, and she saw the other title that I had, which was If There Were No Dogs, and she said, “I like that title better. I like that.”

I thought about it. So, I reversed it so, that it’s, If There Were No Dogs is the title, and of course the picture. The cover is with a dog. And then the Musings and Mutterings were sort of like a reference to what goes on in the book.

Suzanne: Okay, and how many dogs do you have right now?Nicolas Coster, Louise Sorel and her dog, 2019 (photo from her Facebook)

Louise: Oh, I only have one. I’m not in a position to – believe me, I would have a hundred if I could and every other animal on the planet.

Suzanne: There’s a lot of work and cost and everything.

Louise: Well, so are children, and so is life and everything else, so why not?

Suzanne: Right, right. I can’t handle more than one myself.

Louise: No, I only have one. At one point I did have two, briefly. I saved a Dobie and a little dog that I had, but I thought that Dobie deserved more than living in Westwood, Los Angeles. So, I found a farm for him that I thought he’d be happier. So, somebody took him, yeah, so he got freedom.

Suzanne: Right, but about two years ago I was walking my dog and another dog that was very skinny, it turned out to be a puppy, but it was a big puppy, came bouncing up next to us, very friendly, and followed us home. So, we kept that dog for about a week, tried to find a home for it, fattened it up because it was starving, took it to the vet and all that. It was a really sweet dog, really sweet dog.  And we fortunately found a sanctuary place that not only took it in and trained it to be a service dog for a retired firefighter in Los Angeles.

Louise: Oh, how fabulous.

Suzanne: Yeah, it turned out really well and she is thriving now. So, we get pictures of her once in a while.

Louise: Oh, that’s great. And your dog is wonderful.

Suzanne: Oh, thank you. She’s a sweetie. Everybody loves her.

Louise: What a great looking dog.

Suzanne: Thank you. Yeah, my husband calls her the star of the internet, but she’s not really, but…

Louise: Well, you know, I was going to – I have a thing. I’m thinking of doing. It’s a one-woman show, and it’s called My Life with Dogs and Other Men. [laughs] Which sort of made me laugh when I thought about it. And I visualized the opening of it, which just the opening alone I think would be worth it. I would have a stage, and it would be a cutout of every dog I’ve owned, every shape, size, color, done by an artist. And when people came into the theater, they’d all be barking. Then, I would come out on stage with a little wagon filled with all kinds of paraphernalia and memories and tell them all to be quiet, and one by one they would stop barking. I thought, I think that’s a great opening for a show, and then maybe that’ll be it, and then I’ll say, “Curtain!”

Suzanne: Where do the husbands come into it, though?

Louise: Oh, yeah, well, you know. Well, quite frankly, they’re dead. But it was just a thought. I think it could be a very funny entertainment. But at any rate.William Shatner (Captain Kirk) and Louise Sorel (Rayna) in "Star Trek" (photo from her Facebook)

Suzanne: So, yeah, I remember that you’ve done a lot of different movies and TV shows, but I remember you playing Rayna in the original Star Trek, and I was looking at your IMDb, and I see that you also co-starred with William Shatner, or [rather], guest-starred with William Shatner, in an episode of “Route 66,” and on his show “Barbary Coast” in the 70s, which I loved (that show). So, you worked with him quite frequently?

Louise: Yes, we got on well. You know, he was a horseman. So, I used to ride with him. He did horse shows out in the valley, Los Angeles, and I did some of that with him. We just, you know, he’s one of these people if you have a sense of humor, and you look right at him, and you just start laughing. I mean, maybe not with anybody anymore, but we always had this, I don’t know what it was, it would trigger something, and we would just start giggling, because he looks like he’s going to burst into laughter.

Suzanne: He’s a funny guy.

William Shatner (Captain Kirk) and Louise Sorel (Rayna) in an episode of "Route 66" (photo from IMdb)Louise: Yes, he is. And so, I mean, we got on very well, even on “Star Trek.” There’s a picture in my book that I – You know, you have to put some pictures in. So, there’s a picture of me dancing with Bill, because we did a waltz or something. And I just put a notation under that saying, “Excuse me, what did you say?” That’s sort of our relationship. He’s 90-something now. I haven’t seen him in a long time.

Suzanne: Right. Well, he’s still doing horse shows and is active on Twitter. Yeah, whatever they let him do, he does.

Louise: Yeah, that’s how you keep going.

Suzanne: Yeah, I think so. So, you’ve had a great long career in daytime, primetime, and movies. Do you have a favorite genre that you prefer?

Louise: Theater.

Suzanne: Theater, right? That’s where you got your start, right?

Louise: Yes, yes. To me, it’s the purest form. I mean, once in a while, you’ll find, oddly enough, when I was on a show called Santa Barbara, there were a lot of theater actors. So, I’d never done a soap or seen a soap, and I wasn’t sure I was going to want to do that. Then I saw we had Dame Judith Anderson talk about the theater, and then Nicolas Coster. Nicky was in England in theater and all over the place, and we both had worked together before. And there were a couple others, Lane Davies, who does Shakespeare all the time now in Prague. So, you know, it was quite amazing to walk onto a soap opera and have that kind of group to work with. And we did work like we were in theater. So, you know, that was nice. Although, yeah, it was as close to theater for me, doing that. It ended up not being so close, because it ends up you have to get the show in the box, and you have to get it done, and everybody’s looking at their watch, and that makes it a different experience. However, it was a very good experience, I must say.

Suzanne: Plus no live audience.

Louise: No live audience, no. But, you know, I did a show with Don Rickles, and we did have a live audience. So, it was sort of like theater.

Suzanne: When was the last time you did theater?

Louise: Last, let’s see… Oh my God, I hate to say this. It was about, really seriously, about ten years ago here in New York with a transport group. We did “I Remember Mama,” and it was an absolute huge hit. And every actress in it was a theater – I call them theater rats, because they’re devoted to the theater. Wonderful actors all the way down the line. Everyone was a theater actor, and we got rave reviews here. It was supposed to move to Broadway but financially they couldn’t do it which was really a shame, because it was so unusual. I don’t know if you know the movie…

 

Suzanne: I’ve seen it, but a long time ago.

Louise: Yeah, well, it’s a lot of different characters. We were ten women doing the men, the children, and the adults. So, we were all playing – I played a younger sister. I played this very older woman who was a writer, a very arrogant sort of woman. Heather McRae played a man. I didn’t play any men, but several actresses played men as well as women, and Barbara Berry was wonderful. She played the lead character, so it was a great group of women with very unusual experience

Suzanne: Wow, that sounds great. Yes, you last appeared on “Days of Our Lives” in April. Do you know if you’ll be back again soon?

Louise: Yeah, I’ll be on in September.

Suzanne: Oh, good.

Louise: Now it’s sporadic, because I live in New York, and they have to fly me out and put me up, which is nice. And then they’ve got new writers, so I don’t know what they’re doing. I don’t know what direction it’s going in, but they might not want to just continue putting me in there unless they were to do a really interesting storyline, because Vivian’s up to cause havoc, and I don’t know if there’s anybody left for her to care about in terms of her storyline, so I have no idea, but I know I will be back. I’ve done them – I can’t remember what date, March I think, and they’ll be on in next September

Suzanne: Oh, good. I know you have a lot of fans out there who always enjoy Vivian coming on and causing trouble.

Louise: It’s kind of fun to do that. You never want to be – who is it? BIlly Wilder or something [said], “Don’t be a victim.” You don’t want to play those roles.

Suzanne: Well, I think Vivian plays the victim in her mind, but nobody else agrees.

Louise: Yes, exactly.

Suzanne: Exactly. I’ve watched Days off and on since the 90’s. I’ve seen a lot of your work. I think my favorite was when Vivian buried Carly alive. Do you have a favorite Days storyline?

Louise: Well, that was fun, because we committed to that. I’ve been very lucky, because the writers… I don’t know what possessed them, but they wrote me some pretty funny stuff. I mean, I was Elvis Presley. I was a French woman. I had something put in my teeth so that I was being operated [on] by – I mean there were just so many

Suzanne: Controlled by Stefano…

Louise: That’s right. I mean it was always surprising. I remember walking in one day to the wardrobe department there was a wonderful man doing the wardrobe there, Richard Bluer just fabulous, and he said, “Do you want to know what you’re wearing tomorrow?” And he said “Maybe not. I don’t think I’m going to tell you that.” So, I walk in, and there is a large box of french fries. I mean, large – you know 6 feet high or not quite 5 something. I said, “Richard please tell me.” He said, “Yep, that’s you.” I was a box of french fries, and Ivan, my butler, was a hamburger. So, you know, as much as I thought they were out of their minds, when I reflect on it, I thought, “Thank you.” I had such a fun time to be quite insane, so it makes it much more fun than doing a mournful dreary victim storyline where you’re crying all the time and wondering who did what to you. I’d much rather do it to somebody.

Suzanne: I always loved Vivian and Ivan’s relationship

Louise: Oh, so did I. I’m sad they didn’t bring that back, because we talk once in a while. He used to come into work and say “Madam” – he called me madam – “do we have any lines today?” Ivan, we’ve got 20 pages. I mean it would drive me nuts. I mean, he knew the work, but we had that kind of relationship, and I thought it was a very good one that worked well in the show

Suzanne: What is he doing now?

Louise: He lives in Santa Fe on a really lovely piece of property. He also does go to work. He’s from Prague, and I think he goes and works there once in a while. I haven’t spoken to him in a while, but I’d like to say “hello.” I was very fond of him. I mean to have that kind of person to work with was just – I actually got a T-shirt that said “madam feels like shit today” [laughs] because that would be sort of our relationship. Yeah, we had a great time.

Suzanne: Yeah, they definitely should bring him back, too.

Louise: Oh, yes.

Suzanne: So, you’ve appeared in so many plays, tv shows and movies…Which character, that you’ve played, do you have a favorite?

Louise: You know, I can’t say that I do. I wonder when people say they have a favorite that you don’t spend that much time with these characters. There’re so many of them. I had more of an enjoyment of being able to play a Greek girl, because I do dialects, or a gypsy. I was thrown into a lot of those roles – a French girl on “Rat Patrol” – and that was so enjoyable for me, but it wasn’t any one specific, because they don’t last that long.

Suzanne: Sure, especially back then…

Louise:  Right, and Broadway shows – I mean, I did several, but I can’t really say that any one particular thing was more a favorite than another. I just enjoyed doing it whatever it was.

Suzanne: Well, you probably played Vivian longer on the screen than anyone else.

Louise: That’s true. I do love the character. You know, at first I was very intrigued, and then there was a point where I was doing really silly things, but now I realize that that was part of the charm of the character. I would balk at certain things they ,wanted for instance the burying alive of Carly. When it said, “Vivian does a jig,” and I said “What are they talking about?” So, I marched up the stairs and said, “Excuse me; I don’t jig.” I had a tendency to make statements or ask questions. I’m very loving of my character, and I always want to protect them. So, he said – mortified – he said “What is it you want to do?” because of course he couldn’t come up with anything, one of the producers. I said, “I have no idea, but I’m going to a lunch hour, and I’m going to work on it,” which I did. So, I came up with – don’t ask, I don’t know where it came from, maybe Shakespeare – she loves me; she loves me not. I did this strange wandering around the grave and the crew was in shock, because they just pulled the camera back, and they said, “We don’t know what she’s going to do. Okay, shoot it,” and then it was dead silence when I finished, and a couple of people said it gave them chills, but whatever. You know, it’s sort of fun to create those things.

Suzanne: Well, it was definitely memorable for sure, even though they kind of repeated it a little bit later on with other characters.

Louise: Yeah. I didn’t get anything to cover to make sure they couldn’t steal it, but anyway…

Suzanne: Was there anything that you wish that you could have done on Days or any of the other soaps that you didn’t get to do?

Louise: Well, I don’t know, because each of them was so different. The characters were so different. You sort of go along with what they write for you, and the things that I would do that may not have been appropriate for the character, I did have an idea about something which I went and told one of the producers, and I won’t say who, but another character ended up doing what I had suggested, and that was as annoying as hell, but, you know, nothing you can do about that. I did have an idea of playing a character that was my twin sister who is a Brit coming over and being my conscience, and the other character saying, “Vivian, what the hell do you think you’re doing? Stop it!” You know, a conscience sort of character. It didn’t happen, but you think about those things.

Louise Sorel (Vivian on "Days of Our Lives") photo from her Facebook PageSuzanne: You were on “One Life to Live” as a judge, And “Port Charles”…

Louise: No, I think on One Life I was a lawyer. I was a lawyer on that, and judge on “All My Children.”

Suzanne: And you were a fashion designer on Port Charles briefly.

Louise: Very briefly [laughs] very very briefly, yes.

Suzanne:  So, would you do any of the other soaps that are on now if they asked you to? “General Hospital,” or “Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and The Beautiful?”

Louise: Well, you always want to work. I think what’s happened, and I don’t know if I could work that way anymore, and it’s nobody’s fault… but the rapidity now of getting things done, which I experienced on Days last time, is the rush to finish, and the lack of time to really delve in and make them the best. You know, they try their best, but everybody is under the clock, and that’s a very difficult thing for everyone to work with. I mean, if it was some wonderful character for a brief thing, I think that would be fun, but there are only four shows left, and I think they’ve got enough people. I don’t think they’re looking for anything.

 

Suzanne: Well, actually, there’re five now.

Louise: Five… oh, right, [Beyond] The Gates.

Suzanne: “Beyond The Gates”, yeah… a couple of actors from the other soaps have gone over there for [more] work. I’m just glad people have work…I think everybody that works on soaps is happy that there’s a new one, just because it means it’s [not] all ending.

Louise: Yes, I mean they dwindled from twelve to four.

Suzanne: Yeah.

Louise: That’s really a lot

Suzanne: Tell me about it. When I started my site there was like nineteen, I think. (I was wrong about this, oops!)

Louise: Oh, when did you start?

Suzanne: Well, in the late 90’s

Louise: There were nineteen soaps?

Suzanne: I think there were. I’d have to go back and look. There were a lot, I know that.

Louise: I didn’t know there were that many.

Suzanne: I’ll have to go count and let you know, but yeah, just to see them go down, but you know all of TV is having that problem, not just daytime, unfortunately. And worldwide, even the British shows are having [problems] because of streaming and everything. I mean, there are more parts for actors because of streaming, but it’s hard to get people to watch so many shows. So, it’s difficult, and then all the financial problems, so, yeah… don’t mean to be doom and gloom, though…

Louise: No, but it’s true. Financially, it’s a lot of pressure, just huge, and sometimes I feel bad that sometimes I have to stop shooting a scene, and I want to correct something or make it better, and I feel sort of guilty, because I’m stopping them ,and they’re looking at their watches, but you can’t help it. If you care about something, you just want to make it the best you can.

Suzanne: Yeah, definitely. Are you still close to or in touch with any of your favorite cast mates besides Ivan?

Louise: Ivan… Well I’ve maintained a friendship, because I’m living so far away. I don’t really see them. There’s a wonderful girl on Days of Our Lives, Judi Evans, and she is an angel from heaven, that’s all I have to say. I have never met anyone like her and [with] the loss that she’s had, you would never know anything other than full love respect for everyone. She’s like a bundle of joy. I was just so overwhelmed by her generosity of spirit. We’re not close friends, but we sort of became friends when I went back on Days a couple of times. You know, you lose lots of time, because I live in New York, so I really feel like you go to do your work, and if something happens it comes out of it, like Judith McConnell.

Transcribed by Jamie

Book cover of "If There Were No Dogs": Musings and Mutterings by Louise SorelMORE INFO:

If There Were No Dogs”: Musings and Mutterings Paperback – August 6, 2025

The book is a collection of prose pieces and poems by actress Louise Sorel drawn from her life, childhood, and career. Her father was a Hollywood movie producer and her Egyptian-born mother an actress and musician. Louise Sorel began her career on Broadway with actors such as Art Carney, Charles Boyer, and Rita Moreno, and toured with George C. Scott, Walter Pidgeon, and many others. She guest-starred in dozens of TV shows and movies such as Bonanza, Route 66, Kojak, Medical Center, The Flying Nun, Airplane 2, Plaza Suite, Star Trek, and many others. She appeared as Augusta Lockridge on the show Santa Barbara, and has starred as the iconic character Vivian Allemain on the show Days of Our Lives for many years. Louise’s life and adventures from which this book comes have been motivated by her love of the theater, her devotion to dogs and other animals, and her many travels.

A flashy, aggressive, cold and calculating villainess and eternally hopeless meddler on a number of daytime soap operas, Louise Sorel has given her opulent, show-stopping characters major doses of humor and grit that have allowed her to become one of daytime’s more popular figures for over six decades.

Of Jewish heritage, Louise, whose roots are in theatre, was born on August 6, 1940 in Los Angeles to entertainment professionals. Studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, she made her Broadway debut playing a teenager in the 1961 comedy “Take Her, She’s Mine” starring Art Carney and also had subsequent roles in “Lorenzo” (1963) and “Man and Boy” (1963). Her initial interest obviously was sparked by her actress/concert pianist mother Jeanne Sorel, and father Albert J. Cohen, who produced films in the 1940s and 1950s. Louise went on to co-star on Broadway with Rita Moreno in “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” in 1964 and appeared with George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst as Princess Alais in the 1967 Bucks County Playhouse production of “The Lion in Winter.”

Given a bit part (billed as Jacqueline Sorel) in the exploitation teen film Eighteen and Anxious (1957), Louise, in 1964, married comic actor Herb Edelman, best known for his recurring role of Bea Arthur‘s ex husband Stan in The Golden Girls (1985). Around this time, she began setting her sights on TV drama, appearing on various dramatic shows including “Dr. Kildare,” “The Defenders,” “The Trials of O’Brien,” “Route 66,” “The Rat Patrol,” “The Virginian,” “Run for Your Life,” “Star Trek,” “The Big Valley,” “The Fugitive,” “Night Gallery,” “The Bold Ones,” “Banacek,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Owen Marshall,” “Kojak,” “Hart to Hart,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Ironside” and several episodes of “Medical Center,” as well as a recurring part on the short-lived nighttime soap opera The Survivors (1969) starring Lana Turner and George Hamilton. In a change of pace, Louise turned to comedy as Don Rickles‘ wife on his poorly-received series The Don Rickles Show (1972).

Though she divorced Edelman in 1972, Louise nevertheless co-starred with him again in the failed sitcom Ladies’ Man (1980). She met second husband actor Ken Howard in 1972 while appearing with him in a Philadelphia stage production of “Volpone.” They married a year later but divorced a couple of years later in 1975.

Appearing in support in the films Plaza Suite (1971), Every Little Crook and Nanny (1972), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Where the Boys Are (1984), and Crimes of Passion (1984), Louise moved quite steadily ahead not only with a regular role in the short-lived comedy series Ladies’ Man (1980), but with co-star/featured roles in the TV movies The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped (1974), The Mark of Zorro (1974), When Every Day Was the Fourth of July (1978), Mazes and Monsters (1982), Sunset Limousine (1983) and A Masterpiece of Murder (1986).Vivian (Louise Sorel) and Victor (John Aniston) on "Days of Our Lives" (photo from Days of Our Lives Fandom Wiki)

Various daytime soap operas reinvigorated Louise’s career tenfold in the late 1980s. She began her road to sudsy infamy in 1984 as the eccentric archvillainess Augusta Lockridge for the entire run of Santa Barbara (1984). From there she was given recurring roles as Judith Sanders on One Life to Live (1968) and as Donatella Stewart Port Charles (1997). In 1992, Louise joined the cast of Days of Our Lives (1965) as the manipulative Vivian Alamain. By the time she left in 2000, she had won five Soap Opera Digest Awards.

More recently, Louise has had devilish fun in the quirky soap Passions (1999) and in a recurring role on the political drama Beacon Hill (2014). Bio from IMdB

Vivian Alamain is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera (that aired on the NBC network for multiple decades until its September 2022 switch to streaming via Peacock). Created by head writers Richard J. Allen and Beth Milstein, and introduced by executive producers Ken Corday and Al Rabin, the role is most recognized as portrayed by actress Louise Sorel. In addition to Sorel, the role has been portrayed by Marj Dusay, Robin Strasser and Linda Dano. (From Wikipedia)

Days of our Lives is the multi-award-winning daytime drama that has weathered and reflected political and societal shifts without pause since 1965. Featuring drama, romance, mystery, and suspense, “Days” follows the lives, loves, and conflicts of the Horton, Brady, DiMera, Kiriakis, and Hernandez families and their many friends and colleagues. As one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, it is enjoyed in many foreign territories including Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, and Australia. Peacock is the exclusive home of Days of our Lives. Audiences can access the past season and new episodes every weekday. Days of our Lives is Nicholas Coster and Louise Sorel in "Santa Barbara" (from her Facebook page)produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television. (From the NBC/Uni site)

Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera that aired on NBC from July 30, 1984, to January 15, 1993.[2] The show revolves around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California. Other prominent families featured on the soap were the rival Lockridge family, and the more modest Andrade and Perkins families.

The serial was produced by Dobson Productions and New World Television, which also served as distributor for the show in international markets. Santa Barbara was the first series for New World Television.

Santa Barbara aired in the United States at 3:00 p.m. Eastern (2:00 p.m. Central) on NBC in the same time slot as General Hospital on ABC and Guiding Light on CBS and right after Another World. Santa Barbara aired in over 40 countries around the world.  It became the longest-running television series in Russia, airing there from 1992 to 2002. Santa Barbara won 24 Daytime Emmy Awards and was nominated 30 times for the same award. The show also won 18 Soap Opera Digest Awards and various other awards.  (From Wikipedia)

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Interview with Brandon Routh and Joseph Kahn

TV Interview!

 

Houston premiere of "ICK" with star Brandon Routh and writer/director Joseph Kahn July 19th (photo from Kahn's Instagram)

Interview with Brandon Routh and director Joseph Kahn of the movie “ICK” Suzanne 7/22/25

I’m not exaggerating when I say that I was ecstatic to interview Brandon because I’ve been a fan of his since 2001 when he started on “One Life to Live” as Seth! Then he soared to great heights with “Superman Returns”, and showed us what he was really capable of with the character of Ray Palmer (AKA The Atom) in all of the CW superhero shows (especially “Arrow” and “Legends of Tomorrow“). I grew up with 3 older comic-book loving brothers, and Superman was always my favorite superhero, so you can imagine how thrilling it was to also meet one of the few actors to have portrayed him on screen.

I also enjoyed speaking to Joseph, who co-wrote and directed the film. I always love interviewing directors and writers because I can ask them more interesting questions about the development of the movie itself. He has done quite a few films already, but I think we will see him go on to even bigger and better films in the future.  Both of them were very kind and down-to-earth in our interview.

Routh stars in this film, which is a comedy-horror movie. It’s funny, surprising, scary and a little gross (but not TOO gross) and just fun to watch and laugh with. Anyone who’s a horror or comedy fan should love it!   They do a great spoof of many different horror films, as well as make some humorous commentary on America. Go see it for yourself!

It premieres in local Los Angeles theaters today, July 24th, and it can be seen in theaters nationwide starting July 27th.  It also has a great soundtrack of songs from the early part of this century. Enjoy this video and don’t miss this movie!

 

"ICK" movie key artMORE INFO: Official Site • Trailer

ABOUT “ICK

From acclaimed director Joseph Kahn (Torque, Bodied) comes his latest film, ICK, the pulpy horror comedy bursting with splatterly bedlam starring Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, Scott Pilgrim), Malina Weissman (Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events), and Mena Suvari (American Beauty, American Pie).

For almost two decades, a viscous vine-like growth known colloquially as “The Ick” has benignly crept into every nook and cranny of American life while the residents of small town Eastbrook remain blasé about its existence. The exceptions are former high school football star-turned-hapless science teacher Hank (Routh) and his sardonically perceptive student Grace (Weissman) who are thrown together by Grace’s mom Staci’s (Suvari) closely-guarded secret and a mutual suspicion that the Ick is about to unleash some monstrous mayhem. A wild ride driven by a power punk spirit, ICK is a dizzyingly fun and hilariously grotesque homage to throwback PG horror flicks, as well as an ode to Millennial nostalgia manifested in soundtrack needle drops by American Rejects, Paramore, and Blink 182.

Director: Joseph Kahn

Starring: Brandon Routh, Malina Weissman, Harrison Cone, Debra Wilson, Taia Sophia, Zeke Donovan Jones, with Jeffrey Fahey and Mena SuvariBrandon Routh and Mena Suvari star in the movie "ICK" in theaters July 27. (Still from ICK PR team)

Screenwriters: Samuel Laskey, Joseph Kahn, Dan Koontz

Producers: Steven Schneider, Joseph Kahn, Peter Trinh, Joe Heath, David Kang, Adi Shankar

Cinematography: David C. Weldon Jr.

Editor: Chancler Haynes

ComposesS: Brain Mantia, Melissa Reese

Music Supervisor: Budd Carr

Rating Not rated by the MPA

Run Time: 87 minutes

Houston premiere of "ICK" with star Brandon Routh July 19th (photo from Routh's Instagram)Brandon James Routh (pronounced like “south”) was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and grew up in nearby Norwalk. He is the son of Catherine (Lear), a teacher, and Ronald Routh, a carpenter. He has English, Scottish, and German ancestry. Brandon attended the University of Iowa and starred in many productions at the Norwalk Theater of Performing Arts. His first professional acting role was in the ABC television series Odd Man Out (1999), and he went on to guest star in the series Gilmore Girls (2000) and Undressed (1999). He came to fame with Superman Returns (2006) and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (2016). In his spare time, Routh enjoys playing soccerand basketball, swimming, biking and reading. (from IMdB) More at Wikipedia

Joseph Kahn was born on October 12, 1972. He is a director and cinematographer, known for Bodied (2017), Detention (2011) and Torque (2004).

One of the biggest and most respected music video directors working today. Has directed dozens of videos for such varied top artists such as U2, Sisqo, Moby, DMX, Backstreet Boys, Brandy, Monica, Destiny’s Child, Enrique Iglesias, Foxxy Brown, Ice Cube, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Eminem. – from IMdB. More at his official site

Thanks to Jamie at SciFi Vision for some video editing

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Interview with Jackie Dallas

TV Interview!

 

Jackie Dallas of "The Hunting Wives" on Netflix

Interview with Jackie Dallas of “The Hunting Wives” on Netflix by Suzanne 7/10/25

It was great to speak to Jackie! She’s had an interesting life and has acted in a lot of TV shows that I’ve seen. She has a small part in the upcoming Netflix series, where she plays the campaign manager for Jed Banks (Dermot Mulroney).  I saw a few of the upcoming episodes of “The Hunting Wives,” and it’s trashy fun as well as being a good whodunnit. She’s a good addition to the cast, which features Brittany Snow, Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Malin Akerman and more. Jackie also has a recurring role as a doctor on “The Bold and The Beautiful” weekdays on CBS. Enjoy the video and don’t forget to watch the show, which premieres Monday, 7/21 on Netflix!

 

"The Hunting Wives" key artMORE INFO:  Official Site  Trailer

Brittany Snow will co-lead the upcoming drama series “The Hunting Wives,” alongside previously announced co-lead Malin Åkerman. STARZ ordered eight episodes of the addictive, twisty thriller, which will begin production this Spring in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Following the spin-off of Starz Inc. into an independent company separate from Lionsgate Studios, Lionsgate Television acquired rights to The Hunting Wives back from Starz. In June 2025, Netflix licensed U.S. rights to the series for a year, with the series scheduled to premiere on the platform on July 21.

Snow will portray Sophie O’Neil in the series based on the novel by May Cobb, which tells the story of Sophie and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Malin Åkerman) irresistible charms – and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction, and murder.

Snow can currently be seen in the 2024 Academy Award®-nominated live-action short film Red White & Blue. She also debuted her directorial feature debut film Parachute at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and earned two awards including the Thunderbird Rising Special Award. Parachute is set for a 2024 release. Snow will also be seen in the upcoming feature The Good Half which debuted at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.

The Hunting Wives” is executive produced by Rebecca Cutter (“Hightown”), who will write and serve as showrunner, Erwin Stoff (“The Serpent Queen,” The MatrixEdge of TomorrowJulia) for 3 Arts Entertainment and Cobb. The series is produced by Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About 3 Arts Entertainment
3 Arts Entertainment is a talent/literary management and production company, with 33 years of experience. We have offices in Beverly Hills and New York and have clients in the TV and Film Lit world, acting world, hosting world, branded areas, digital media and more. 3 Arts has produced hit films such as The MatrixAustin Powers: Thy Spy Who Shagged MeThe Devil’s AdvocateEdge of Tomorrow and 13 Hours and more. We currently executive produce over 30 shows on the air. Some of our series include: “Julia,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Master of None,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Insecure,” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world. The Company’s film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a 20,000+ title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.Jackie Dallas of "The Hunting Wives" on Netflix

Jackie Dallas stars in Netflix’s “The Hunting Wives” (July 2025) and is known for her sharp, grounded performances across television and film—from her breakout role in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” to action thrillers alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and Juliette Binoche.

Raised in Florida in a family of doctors, Jackie initially pursued a medical career, studying microbiology at the University of Florida and attending medical school with a focus on surgery and pathology. However, her passion for performing began early, sparked by a childhood role as a dancing forest nymph in a summer theater camp production of “The Chronicles of Narnia”—a spark that never faded.

After meeting her husband during residency, Jackie relocated to Northern California and made the bold decision to leave medicine behind and pursue acting full-time. She immersed herself in the San Francisco indie film scene before moving to Atlanta, where she landed a role in the first season of “Stranger Things” as ‘Jen,’ the science teacher’s girlfriend—kickstarting her on-screen career.

Since then, Jackie has become a familiar face in some of television’s most-watched series. She delivered a memorable guest performance as ‘Nancy,’ a flight attendant caught in a human trafficking conspiracy, in a gripping episode of “Magnum P.I.” Her additional credits include “Criminal Minds,” “The Resident,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “13 Reasons Why,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “NCIS: Hawai’i,” and more.

Her feature film work includes starring opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kristanna Loken in James Cullen Bressack’s action thriller “Darkness of Man,” and Anna Gutto’s crime drama “Paradise Highway” with Juliette Binoche, Morgan Freeman, and Frank Grillo. She also played ‘Ivy,’ the straight-talking best friend of ‘Armeka’ (Jennifer Sears), in Booker T. Mattison’s thriller “Twisted Marriage Therapist.” Additional film credits include “Hunting Season,” “The Pining,” “Devil’s Revenge,” and “The Free Fall.”

Her passion for performing is rooted in a deep love of storytelling and a fascination with the human experience. Throughout her life, she’s held a variety of jobs that placed her alongside people during some of their best and most challenging moments—experiences that deepened her interest in the human condition and make it especially meaningful for her to bring those stories to life on screen.

Outside of acting, Jackie remains connected to her medical background as a philanthropic patient advocate for women’s health. She collaborates with a female urogynecologist to improve access to educational content around pelvic floor health and related disorders, while also advocating for increased research, funding, and awareness. Her dedication to this work stems from her time in residency, where she published 20 clinical research papers focused on surgical outcomes, including disparities in race and age.

Visit Jackie’s website!

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Interview with Kendyl Berna, Paul de Gelder and Kinga Philips

TV Interview!

 

Kendyl Berna, Paul De Gelder and Kinga Philips of "Shark Week" on Discovery

 

Interviews with Kendyl Berna, Paul de Gelder and Kinga Philips of “Shark Week” on Discovery by Suzanne 7/16/25

I don’t watch too many non-fiction shows, but I enjoy “Shark Week” every year.  They do a good job of keeping a balance between entertainment and education.  The programs this year are really fun. I interviewed some of the “Shark Week” stars about their programs. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Don’t miss “Shark Week” starting Sunday, 7/20/25.

Paul de Gelder

Kendyl Berna

Kinga Philips

 

"Shark Week" key artMORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Discovery Shark Week logo

DISCOVERY’S ANNUAL SHARK WEEK KICKS OFF 

JULY 20, 2025 AT 8PM ET/PT

About Shark Week 2025:

Summer’s most-anticipated television programming event, Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” returns for its historic 37th year on Sunday, July 20 at 8PM ET/PT. The network previously announced the upcoming Shark Week special Dancing with Sharks and today released the first official promo clip for the 2025 celebration.

Promo Clip 1 HERE  Promo Clip 2 HERE

BIOS

Kendyl Berna of "Shark Week" on DiscoveryKendyl Berna studied Environmental Science with an emphasis in Ecology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. While in college, she took a semester off to work at Discovery Channel and realized that she loved the media side of environmental science and the outreach that it could have. From here, she began her career in documentary filmmaking, particularly specializing in nature, marine, adventure and wildlife and producing shows for networks such as Netflix, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, A&E and others.

While producing a marine-based show for Travel Channel in the British Virgin Islands she met Chris Juredin and his team at Commercial Dive Services. Two years and two Category-5 hurricanes later, they teamed up to create Beyond The Reef. Kendyl handles the creative side while Chris handles the logistics and engineering of actually building and sinking a ship.

Kendyl’s Shark Week 2025 Show: “Black Mako of the Abyss” premieres Tuesday, July 22nd at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery  When Shark Tagger Keith Poe saw the shark for the first time, he knew it was different. It was aggressive, 13-feet long and had very dark skin. Now, a group of experts lure the beast up from the abyss to determine if the creature is a mako, or mutant, or possibly, a mako and great white hybrid.

More about Kendyl Founder of Beyond The Reef

Paul de Gelder of "Shark Week" on DiscoveryPaul de Gelder, a former Australian Navy diver, is a shark conservation advocate and motivational speaker recognized for surviving a 2009 bull shark attack in Sydney Harbour, which led to the amputation of his right leg and part of his right arm. He educates the public about sharks and advocates for their conservation, primarily regarding overfishing and shark finning. Since 2013, de Gelder has frequently appeared in Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” specials , engages in motivational speaking, and authored the book “Shark: Why We Need to Save the World’s Most Misunderstood Predator”.  More at https://www.pauldegelder.com

Kinga Philips In 2021 Kinga became the first female host in 33 years of her own show on Discovery’s SHARK WEEK Kinga Philips of "Shark Week" on Discovery Channel.with Tiger Queen. Filmed in Turks and Caicos Kinga investigated a mysterious population of never before studied tiger sharks coming face to face with these magnificent apex predators. In 2022 Kinga created, hosted and executive produced Sharks in Paradise, one of Shark Week’s first shows to ever be filmed in Tahiti. Both shows rated among Shark Weeks top shows. Kinga is currently in production on three upcoming 2025 Shark Week shows.

In her free time, Kinga explores a singular fascination with the ocean, free diving (see below), scuba diving (she is advanced open water, nitrox and dry suit certified), surfing, spearfishing to harvest her own food, exotic travel and sharks (those are her two friends from Guadalupe Island, MX swimming up top)… followed just slightly by a love of solo adventure travel, charity work, exotic foods and action sports.

Kinga is a board member of the nonprofit environmental group, Shark Allies, dedicated to changing the image of sharks and conserving our oceans. Kinga is a regular advocate for sharks on platforms like NOW THIS, Forbes, BEOND TV, The Artie Lange Show, Inside Hook and more. She is also an ambassador for Waves for Water, an org committed to providing clean water to those in need.  More at https://www.kingaphilipps.com

 

Shark Week 2025 Full Slate:

Sunday, July 20

“Dancing with Sharks” premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery

Hosted by Emmy® Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron, Dancing with Sharks is a competition show unlike any other. For the first time ever, five divers compete to put together an amazing underwater routine with their toothy partners. From hammerheads to tigers and nurse sharks, each shark has its own signature dance moves.  At the end of the show, a winner is crowned – if all the competitors make it that far.

“Air Jaws: The Hunt for Colossus” premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery

A 20-foot great white breaches in New Zealand, sparking a hunt for Colossus – the legendary flying shark who went missing 10 years ago from South Africa’s waters. Could he still be alive and lead researchers to a secret colony of lost great whites?

“Great White Assassins” premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery

Shark expert Alison Towner teams up with Shark Week legend Dickie Chivell to decode how killer whales take down great whites with ease. To get answers, the team travels to New Zealand and goes to the extreme, sending Dickie underwater posed as an orca to see how the great whites react.

Encores run at 11PM ET/PT on Discovery.

Monday, July 21

“Great White Sex Battle” premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery

In a Shark Week first, male and female great white sharks compete in a series of challenges to determine which sex is the superior predator in the waters off the coast of New Zealand.

“Jaws vs Mega Croc” premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery

Using data gathered in new experiments, Tristan Guttridge, Rosie Moore and Dr. Sora Kim construct a CGI fight to the death between two of the biggest and baddest apex predators in the water – the Great White Shark and Nile Crocodile.

“In the Eye of the Storm: Shark Storm” premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery

In the summer of 2024, dozens of cameras capture a rare outbreak of shark attacks along America’s gulf coast. Told exclusively through first-hand accounts of victims and eyewitnesses, nobody has seen all these perspectives unfold in real time until now.

Encores run at 11PM ET/PT on Discovery.

Tuesday, July 22

“Great White Northern Invasion” premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery

Great white sharks have found a new home off the shores of Nova Scotia, Canada. With the waters now frothing with great whites, interactions with humans are on the rise. A team of scientists tracks down and tags the biggest sharks to uncover the sharkiest locations before there’s a fatal attack.

“How to Survive a Shark Attack” premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery

Shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder attempts the unthinkable – getting attacked by a shark, again. Under the supervision of experts, Paul provokes sharks to attack him in multiple scenarios, where they bite and tear off prosthetic limbs to teach life-saving tactics for surviving an encounter with nature’s deadliest predators.

“Black Mako of the Abyss” premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery

When Shark Tagger Keith Poe saw the shark for the first time, he knew it was different. It was aggressive, 13-feet long and had very dark skin. Now, a group of experts lure the beast up from the abyss to determine if the creature is a mako, or mutant, or possibly, a mako and great white hybrid.

Encores run at 11PM ET/PT on Discovery.

Wednesday, July 23

“Expedition Unknown: Shark Files” premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery

Global adventurer Josh Gates solves some of the strangest and most disturbing shark mysteries of all-time, including the real-life bloody inspiration for the movie Jaws and the gruesome case of the Tiger Shark who vomited an arm while living in captivity and ultimately helped police solve a murder mystery.

“Expedition X: Malpelo Monster Shark” premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery

Josh Gates sends Phil Torres and Heather Amaro on their most perilous mission yet – tracking a legendary monster shark that lurks in the eerie waters of Malpelo Island, 300 miles off Colombia’s coast. After terrifying footage of this monster is brought to Josh, he sends his fearless team deep into the ocean to unmask the true identity of this 20-foot-long predator.

“Alien Sharks: Death Down Under” premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery

Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante injects himself with shark venom after diving down under into Australia’s dangerous waters, home to some of the weirdest, alien-like and deadly sharks.  He hopes this risky and potentially lethal experiment will bypass years of red tape to finally discover the potency of the venomous Port Jackson Shark and Ghost Shark.

Encores run at 11PM ET/PT on Discovery.

Thursday, July 24

“Surviving Jaws” premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery

Fifty years ago, Jaws changed the beachgoing experience forever – striking fear into millions of Americans who vowed to never go in the water again. Now, marine biologist Tom “Blowfish” Hird and predator ecologist Michelle Jewell re-examine the movie and dive with Great Whites to separate fact from fiction, answering questions like: does skinny dipping really attract great white sharks? Could a monster shark chew through a boat’s hull?

“Caught! Sharks Strike Back” premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery

This year has set a record for shark encounters captured on camera, from a hilarious moment when a shark slaps a fisherman in the face to the intense 10-minutes a great white stalked a kayaker… these are craziest moments of when sharks strike back.

“Frankenshark” premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery

Shark expert Tristan Guttridge and his team use CGI to create the ultimate apex predator. Pulling from a variety of shark species, they build the deadliest, weirdest shark on the planet and put it to the test in a high-stakes showdown against a killer orca.

Encores run at 11PM ET/PT on Discovery.

 

Friday, July 25

“Great White Reign of Terror” premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery

In South Africa, two people are killed by great whites near the eastern cape, an area that hasn’t seen an attack in decades. Scientists worry it could be the start of a series of attacks eerily similar to Black December in 1957, when six people lost their lives. Ryan Johnson, Gibbs Kuguru and Andy Casagrande head out to investigate the cause behind the spike in attacks before there’s another fatality.

“Florida’s Death Beach” premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery

The numbers are in, and once again, Florida – specifically New Smyrna Beach – has earned the title of “The Shark Attack Capital of the World,” accounting for 30% of global shark attacks. But why has the popular spring break, party beach become so deadly?  Forrest Galante and his team investigate before even more blood ends up in the water.

“Bull Shark Showdown” premieres at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery

The most vicious and insane populations of bull sharks from Australia and America faceoff in a no-holds-barred showdown beneath the water. Bull Shark-attack survivor Paul de Gelder contends that his Aussie sharks are the toughest, while American shark biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell attempts to find the meanest sharks Florida has to offer to take the crown.

Encores run at 11PM ET/PT on Discovery.

Saturday, July 26

“Attack of the Devil Shark” premieres at 8PM ET/PT on Discovery

A rogue Tiger Shark attacks and kills a person in St. Martin. Weeks later, it strikes again. Locals fear it could be the work of the legendary Devil Shark – a massive and ruthless tiger shark who’s haunted their shores for decades. When a team sets out to track down the shark responsible for the attacks, they uncover a seismic force that may be triggering aggression in sharks.

“Battle for Shark Mountain” premieres at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery

Off Mozambique’s coast, sharks swarm a hidden peak, hunting Giant Trevally in a once-a-year feeding frenzy. But when 5,000 Trevally fight back, the hunters become the hunted in one of the ocean’s wildest showdowns.

Encores run at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery.

Dive into Shark Week across Social:

Follow @sharkweek on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads and follow @Discovery on TikTok and YouTube to keep up with the latest. Be sure to use the hashtag #sharkweek to join the conversation. To learn more, please visit www.sharkweek.com.

**Shark Week 2025 starts Sunday July 20th on Discovery**

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Interviews with “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” cast

TV Interview!

 

Some of the "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" cast at our press day (photo from Jess Bush' Instagram)

Interview with Rebecca Romijn, Jess Bush, Martin Quinn, Celia Rose Gooding, Babs Olusanmokum and Melissa Navia of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” on Paramount+ by Suzanne 7/12/25

I was very excited to speak to these actors because I love this show. To be honest, I’ve been a “Star Trek” fan since I was a little girl in the 60’s, and I love the entire franchise, but this is the only current Trek show, as well as arguably the most popular one in a long time.  Unfortunately, star Anson Mount (Pike) had a personal emergency, so we didn’t get to speak to him. I think Christina Chong (La’an) was also called away (both were originally listed for the press day).  Still, it was great to speak to the wonderful actors on this show who play Number One, Christine Chapel, Scotty, Uhura, Dr. M’Benga, and Erica Ortegas. This was a roundtable, and there were quite a few journalists there. You’ll hear many voices on the interview, asking the stars questions. I hope you enjoy it, and the upcoming season, which begins July 17 on Paramount+. Hit it!

Rebecca Romijn

Jess Bush and Martin Quinn

Celia Rose Gooding, Babs Olusanmokum and Melissa Navia

 

VIDEO CLIPS! 

EPISODE 301

EPISODE 302

  • 234

    • Featured Cast: Spock, Scotty, La’an, Chapel, Korby

Key art for "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" season 3 on Paramount+.MORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Paramount + logo

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS SETS COURSE FOR SEASON THREE PREMIERE ON THURSDAY, JULY 17 ON PARAMOUNT+

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Is Produced by CBS Studio

Paramount+ today announced season three of its hit original series STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, July 17, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. The series will also stream on Paramount+ in international markets where the service is available. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on Thursday, September 11. Paramount+ previously announced the series has also been renewed for a fourth season, which is currently in production.

In season three, when we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Pike, they face the conclusion of season two’s harrowing encounter with the Gorn. But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters’ grit and resolve. An exciting twist on classic Star Trek, season three takes characters both new and beloved to new heights, and dives into thrilling adventures of faith, duty, romance, comedy and mystery, with varying genres never before seen on any other Star Trek.

The series is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment and stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun and Martin Quinn, along with guest stars Rhys Darby, Patton Oswalt, Cillian O’Sullivan, Melanie Scrofano and Carol Kane, plus special guest star Paul Wesley.

Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serve as co-showrunners. Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Dana Horgan, Davy Perez, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Chris Fisher, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers.

"Star Trek" Strange New World additional key art from Paramount+

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS is available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan. The series is also available on Paramount+ in Canada. It streams on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

The STAR TREK franchise on Paramount+ also includes STAR TREK: SECTION 31, the original movie with Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh, and the new original series STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY. All seasons of the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS; the award-winning original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, starring Sonequa Martin-Green and the critically acclaimed original series STAR TREK: PICARD, starring Patrick Stewart reprising the iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard, are also available to stream.

@StarTrek

#StrangeNewWorlds

About Paramount+

Paramount+, part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment and news brands, is a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combining live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment™. The streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, the service’s cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME® content, including scripted hits and critically acclaimed nonfiction projects and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more. All Paramount+ subscribers have streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com, and follow @ParamountPlus on social media.

About CBS Studios

CBS Studios is one of the world’s leading producers of entertainment programming, with dozens of globally popular series for broadcast and streaming. The Studio’s expansive portfolio includes a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed programming which includes genre-defining franchises such as NCIS and the STAR TREK universe, fan-favorite comedies such as The Neighborhood and Ghosts, the newly reimagined Matlock, and buzzy international co-productions such as COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS and upcoming King & Conqueror.

@ParamountPlus

@PeakParamount

#ParamountPlus

Rebecca Romijn Number One is an American actress and former fashion model, best known for her role as Mystique in the X-Men film series. She was born on November 6, 1972, in Berkeley, California. Romijn began her career as a model, appearing in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition and hosting MTV’s House of Style. She transitioned to acting, gaining recognition for her portrayal of Mystique and also starring in films like The Punisher and Femme Fatale. Romijn has also had notable roles in television series like Ugly Betty, The Librarians, and Star Trek: Discovery. She is married to actor Jerry O’Connell and they have twin daughters.

Jess Bush Christine (born 26 March 1992) is an Australian actor, model, reality television personality, and visual artist. Her television work includes competing on the seventh season of the reality television series Australia’s Next Top Model, and playing Nurse Christine Chapel on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Celia Rose Gooding Uhura (born February 22, 2000) is an American actor and singer. They rose to prominence for their Broadway debut as Mary Frances “Frankie” Healy in the rock musical Jagged Little Pill for which they won a 2021 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and received a nomination for a 2020 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest nominees in the category at age 20. Gooding plays the role of Nyota Uhura in the Paramount+ original series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present).

Babs Olusanmokun Dr. M’Benga is a Nigerian-American actor best known for playing Dr. Joseph M’Benga in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present) and Jamis in Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024). He also appeared in the video game Max Payne 3 as Serrano, a role that he both voices and performs motion capture for.

Melissa Navia Erica Ortegas is a Colombian-American actor and writer. Born and raised in New York, she has portrayed a myriad of singular characters on both the stage and screen, including guest star appearances on Billions, Dietland, and Bull. Navia stars in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as Lt. Erica Ortegas, helmsman of the USS Enterprise. She also plays the banjo and is trained in martial arts and sword fighting.

Martin Quinn Scotty (born 1994; age ~31) is a Scottish actor joins the cast of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” as Montgomery Scott (the first Scottish actor to play Scotty). At 18, he won the lead role of Oskar in the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Let The Right One In, adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne and directed by John Tiffany. The play opened at Dundee Rep in the summer of 2013 before transferring to the Royal Court Theatre in London the following December and then onto the Apollo Theatre in the West End in 2014, with Quinn reprising the lead role on both occasions. He then attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since graduating he has performed in London’s National Theatre and Old Vic as well as various Scottish theaters including a national tour of “Oor Wullie”- The Musical, where he played the titular role.

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Interview with Steven Ogg

TV Interview!

 

REVIVAL -- “Run “Along Little Lamb” Episode 104 -- Pictured: Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel -- (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY)

Interview with Steven Ogg of “Revival” on Syfy by Suzanne 6/23/25

It was fun to speak to Steven about his role as the antagonist Blaine Abel. He’s a very interesting actor and person.  If you watch the show, you’ll see what excellent work he does as Abel. He’s very intense. Even in our interview, he was very animated. Don’t miss “Revival” Thursdays on Syfy!

 

"Revival" Key Art from SyfyMORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Series Premiere June 12 on SYFY (10 pm ET/PT)

On one miraculous day in rural Wisconsin, the recently deceased suddenly rise from their graves. But this is no zombie story as the “revived” appear and act just like they once were. When local Officer and single mother Dana Cypress is unexpectedly thrown into the center of a brutal murder mystery of her own, she’s left to make sense of the chaos amidst a town gripped by fear and confusion where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.

The series stars Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott, and Andy McQueen.REVIVAL -- Season:1 -- Pictured: Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel -- (Photo by: Denis Duquette/Laviver Productions/SYFY)

The series is created by Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce, who serve as showrunners and executive producers. Lance Samuels, Daniel Iron, Samantha Levine, Neil Tabatznik, Daniel March, Melanie Scrofano, Greg Hemmings, Stephen Foster & Amanda Row also serve as executive producers.

“Revival” is produced by Blue Ice Pictures and Hemmings Films.

Steven Ogg (born November 4, 1973) is a Canadian actor and writer. Ogg is best known for playing Trevor Philips in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V, Simon in The Walking Dead, and being a spokesman for the American brand of male grooming products Old Spice.

He has also appeared in the Breaking Bad spin-off, Better Call Saul, Westworld, Snowpiercer, and many indie/short films. – From Wikipedia

REVIVAL -- "Triage" Episode 105 -- Pictured: Steven Ogg as Blaine Abel -- (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY)

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Interview with Judah Lewis, Nina Bloomgarden and Rachel Israel

TV Interview!

Juda Lewis, Nina Bloomgarden and Director Rachel Israel of "The Floaters" movie

Interview with Director Rachel Israel and actors Judah Lewis and Nina Bloomgarden of the film “The Floaters” by Suzanne 6/18/25

This is a sweet and fun summer movie that anyone should enjoy. I had a great time speaking with these three! The film is premiering today at the Bentonville Film Festival and will be playing in other venues soon. You don’t want to miss it!

Rachel Israel

Judah Lewis and Nina Bloomgarden

 

Jackie Tohn and Aya Cash star in the movie "The Floaters" (key art)MORE INFO: Official Site  Exclusive Clip

Welcome To Camp

Freshly ousted from her rock band, Nomi takes a last-resort job from her best friend Mara at their childhood Jewish summer camp. As camp director Mara contends with a busted septic system, she tasks Nomi to supervise a group of outsider teens called the floaters.

When their rival camp—led by Mara and Nomi’s nemesis Daniel—issues a high-stakes challenge with prize money on the line, Nomi pushes the limits and loses Mara’s trust.

Now, Nomi and the Floaters must overcome their differences and outperform their rivals to keep the camp alive.

Framed through multigenerational perspectives, this offbeat comedy captures the rich diversity of a Jewish summer camp and explores the conflict between leaving one’s mark and building connection.

Directed by Rachel Israel, this spirited film celebrates authenticity and warmth, painting a vibrant portrait of modern Jewish life.

It’s about bonds forged in shared struggles, identity discovered in unlikely friendships, and strength found by embracing exactly who you are.

The Floaters showcases K180’s commitment to storytelling that resonates, steering clear of clichés to offer something memorable and deeply meaningful.

Credits:

Director: Rachel Israel

Screenwriter: Brent Hoff and Andra Gordon & Amelia Brain

Story: Becky Korman, Lily Korman, Shai Korman, Brent Hoff

Production Companies: K180 Studios, Athena Pictures

Producer: Becky Korman, Lily Korman, Shai Korman, Andra Gordon

Co-Producer: Amelia Brain, Nick Page, Aaron Levine

Cinematographer: Danny Vecchione

Production Designer: Jordan Janota

Costume Designer: Ava Hama

Editor: Chelsea Taylor

Casting: Stephanie Holbrook, CSA

Choreographer: Maud Arnold

Music Supervisor: Matthew Hearon-Smith

Music: Erik Desiderio, Jacob Bloomfield-Misrach

Original Songs: Dan Bern & Orit Shimoni, Jackie Tohn & Dan Henig, Taali, Jacob Bloomfield-Misrach, What Does It Eat

Also Featuring Songs By: Shira Margalit, Kosha Dillz, Tony Shevlin, Cayucas, Cheap Fabric, DiToro, Cake Without Candles, Dara Ackerman, and more Seth Green, one of the many stars of the film "The Floaters." Photo from the press site for the movie.

Principal Cast: Jackie Tohn, Sarah Podemski, Aya Cash, Seth Green, Judah Lewis, Nina Bloomgarden, Jake Ryan, Steve Guttenberg, Jonathan Silverman, Jill Kargman, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Dan Ahdoot, Ben Krieger, Max Samuels, Jim Kaplan, Jacob Moskovitz, Thani Brant, Jillian Jordyn, and Bekah Zornosa

Rachel Israel is a New York based writer and director. Her feature debut Keep the Change (2017) world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won Best U.S. Narrative Feature, and Best New Narrative Feature Director. It also won Best Debut Film and the FIPRESCI Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Keep the Change opened in theaters internationally in 2018 as a NY Times Critic’s Pick, which described it as “a landmark motion picture” which “deserves to be widely seen”; it was critically acclaimed for being a fresh take on the romantic comedy, and an authentic and nuanced portrayal of characters on the autism spectrum. Rachel has taught both screenwriting and directing actors at Columbia University’s Graduate Film Program and Rhode Island School of Design. She is represented by Verve Talent & Literary Agency.

Judah Lewis is an American actor, best known for his roles in the films Demolition (2015), The Babysitter (2017), its sequel The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020), The Christmas Chronicles (2018) and its sequel The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020). Lewis is the son of Hara and Mark Lewis, who are acting teachers.

Nina Bloomgarden is An American actress, born in New York, USA. She is the granddaughter of theatrical producer Kermit Bloomgarden. She studied acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, Wales. She is known for Body of the Mined (2021) and Jane (2022).

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interview with Laurence Leboeuf

TV Interview!

 

Laurence Leboeuf of "Transplant" on NBC (photo from her Instragram)

Interview with Laurence Leboeuf of “Transplant” on NBC by Suzanne 6/9/25

It’s so nice to interview Laurence again. I just love this show, and she’s the lead female star. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her a little in these short chats, over the years. She’s an amazing actress. I will miss the show after this final season! Make sure to tune in on Thursdays on NBC.   This week’s show, “Heart” is a pivotal episode. Next week’s episode, “Fever Dream” is a mind-bender.

 

TRANSPLANT -- Pictured: "Transplant" Key Art -- (Photo by: NBCUniversal)MORE INFO: Official Site  season 4 Trailer  episode “Heart” trailer

Laurence Leboeuf

Dr. Magalie “Mags” Leblanc

Laurence Leboeuf is an award-winning actress from Montreal who stars as Dr. Magalie “Mags” Leblanc in NBC’s “Transplant.”

The bilingual actress (French and English) has been acting professionally since she was 10 and rose to stardom with multiple award nominations and wins. She won the 2024 ACTRA Montreal Award of Excellence and has continuously booked leading roles in both television and film of French-Canadian and English-Canadian productions.

On the film side, Leboeuf recently starred in Chloé Robichaud’s latest feature, “Two Women.” The film premiered at Sundance as part of the festival’s exclusive World Cinema Dramatic Competition and won the Special Jury Award for Writing.
Leboeuf won Best Drama Actress for her work in “Transplant” at the Canadian Screen Awards for 2022. Additional award wins include the Gemeaux Awards (French Canadian Emmys) for Best Actress in the series “Les Lavigueur,” Best Supporting Actress for her role in the series “Musee Eden” and Best Actress for her role in the series “Marche A. L’ombre,” which also won her the Best Leading Actress Award at the French Festival Séries Mania.

She also won Best Actress for “Human Trafficking” (featuring Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland) at the ACTRA Awards. For her film work, Leboeuf won at the Prix Iris Awards (previously Jutra Awards) for Best Supporting Actress in “My Daughter, My Angel.” Her indie action-comedy film “Turbo Kid” was widely received at the Sundance Film Festival.

Leboeuf was born to actor-parents and grew up surrounded by creative arts. Her dad owned a stage theater for 18 years, which allowed Leboeuf to explore the behind-the-scenes of the craft. She’s driven by the passion of acting and the need to be creative with plans to produce and write. Leboeuf enjoys reading and staying active with running, snowboarding and loves to travel.

 

Laurence Leboeuf as Dr. Magalie Leblanc, Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir Hamed, on "Transplant" on NBC (photo from CTV Instagram)NBC

Transplant

Transplant Season 4 Premieres Thursday, May 22 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) 

Season 4 of “Transplant” finds Bashir “Bash” Hamed on the precipice of finishing his residency at York Memorial and officially requalifying as a doctor. With his future uncertain once again, Bash and his sister, Amira, are Canadian citizens now, but are still trying, with everything they have, to build a life in their adopted country.

The series stars Hamza Haq, Laurence Leboeuf, Ayisha Issa, Jim Watson, Rekha Sharma, Sirena Gulamgaus, Torri Higginson, Kenny Wong.

Joseph Kay is the creator, showrunner and executive producer. Bruno Dubé, Jocelyn Deschênes, Josée Vallée, Rachel Langer, Stefan Pleszczynski, and Sarah Timmins also executive produce.

Thu, Jun 12, 2025

Sat, Nov 18, 2023

Sat, Jan 6, 2024

Fri, Jan 12, 2024

 

Fri, Jan 19, 2024

Transplant (2020)

Video Edited by Jamie

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Our past “Transplant” interviews

Hamza Haq and Joseph Kay 5/20/25 and 5/21/25

Rekha Sharma 2/2/24

Joseph Kay 10/10/23

Hamza Haq 7/12/22

Laurence Leboeuuf 3/29/22

 John Hannah and Hamza Haq 3/1/22

Laurence Leboeuf 10/30/20

Hamza Haq 10/9/20

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Interview with Aaron B. Koontz

TV Interview!

 

Aaron B. Koontz of "Revival" on Syfy (Photo from his Instagram)

Interview with co-creator, co-showrunner and executive producer Aaron B. Koontz of “Revival” on Syfy by Suzanne 5/29/25

It was fun to talk to Aaron about this show. He seems to really enjoy working on it. I’m sure it must be great to be involved with creating something like this and seeing your project come to life.  He’s a very down-to-earth guy that grew up watching and reading about fantasy, scifi and horror, so he’s just a geek like me and most of my friends and family (which I hope he doesn’t mind my saying).  This series grabs you right away, getting you invested in the characters and their town. You don’t want to miss it if you love horror. I will say that, although it has some gross scenes, it’s not as bad as any of the “Walking Dead” shows.

 

REVIVAL -- Pictured: "Revival" Key Art -- (Photo by: SYFY)MORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

SYFY

Revival

Series Premiere June 12 on SYFY (10 pm ET/PT)

On one miraculous day in rural Wisconsin, the recently deceased suddenly rise from their graves. But this is no zombie story as the “revived” appear and act just like they once were. When local Officer and single mother Dana Cypress is unexpectedly thrown into the center of a brutal murder mystery of her own, she’s left to make sense of the chaos amidst a town gripped by fear and confusion where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.

The series stars Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott, and Andy McQueen.

The series is created by Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce, who serve as showrunners and executive producers. Lance Samuels, Daniel Iron, Samantha Levine, Neil Tabatznik, Daniel March, Melanie Scrofano, Greg Hemmings, Stephen Foster & Amanda Row also serve as executive producers.

“Revival” is produced by Blue Ice Pictures and Hemmings Films.

Aaron B. Koontz of "Revival" on Syfy (Photo from his Instagram)Aaron B. Koontz

Executive Producer, “Revival”

Aaron B. Koontz is the co-creator, co-showrunner and an executive producer on the new SYFY drama series “Revival.”

An Indie Spirit Award nominee, he’s the CEO and founder of the genre production company Paper Street Pictures.

Koontz has produced more than 20 feature films, including “Blood Relatives,” “Old Man,” “A Creature Was Stirring,” the SXSW-winning “The Artifice Girl” and the upcoming “Shelby Oaks,” which is scheduled for release in 2025.

REVIVAL -- "Don't Tell Dad" Episode 101 -- Pictured: (l-r) David James Elliott as Wayne Cypress, Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress -- (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY)Outside of producing, Koontz is also an award-winning writer and director, creating “The Pale Door,” “Camera Obscura” and is the creative force behind the “Scare Package” franchise for Shudder.

Koontz’s unprecedented output has led to him being named one of the 10 most influential horror filmmakers of 2023 by Horror News Network and Paper Street being named the Best Production House of 2022 by the Austin Chronicle. In 2025 Koontz was inducted into Full Sail University’s Hall of Fame.

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Interview with cast of “Resident Alien”

TV Interview!

 

Alan Tudyk, Chris Sheridan, Sara Tomko, Alice Wetterlund, Meredith Garretson, Corey Reynolds and Elizabeth Bowen of "Resident Alien" on Syfy (banner)

Interview with Alan Tudyk, Chris Sheridan, Sara Tomko, Alice Wetterlund, Meredith Garretson, Corey Reynolds and Elizabeth Bowen of “Resident Alien” on Syfy by Suzanne 6/2/25

It’s always wonderful to speak to these actors, and showrunner Sheridan. They’re so gracious with their time. I’ve been lucky to speak with them many times in the past 4 years. I love this show, and I hope it gets another season. Joining me in these chats is my dear friend Jamie Ruby of Scifivision. We had a fun time picking the brains of the stars of the show. Please enjoy season 4, premiering June 6, 2025 on both USA Network and Syfy.  We’ve only seen the first four episodes and can’t wait to see the rest!

Star Alan Tudyk and executive producer Chris Sheridan

Stars Sara Tomko, Alice Wetterlund and Meredith Garretson

Stars Corey Reynolds and Elizabeth Bowen

 

RESIDENT ALIEN -- Pictured: "Resident Alien" Key Art -- (Photo by: SYFY)MORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Resident Alien

Premieres Friday, June 6 on USA & SYFY (11 p.m. ET/PT)

Based on the Dark Horse comics, “Resident Alien” follows a crash-landed alien named Harry and his life on planet Earth. The fourth season starts with Harry (Alan Tudyk) and his baby Bridget stuck in prison on the Grey Moonbase, while a shape-shifting Alien called a Mantid (also Alan Tudyk) has taken over his body on Earth passing himself off as the real Harry Vanderspeigle. Harry manages to escape the Greys and arrives back on Earth for a showdown with the Mantid Alien, but soon finds he may not have what he needs to finish the job. Asta (Sara Tomko) and D’arcy (Alice Wetterlund) struggle to keep a secret from Ben (Levi Fiehler) and Kate (Meredith Garretson), who are both desperate to find answers to what has been happening to them. Sheriff Mike (Corey Reynolds) and Deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen) attempt to solve some mysterious deaths in Patience that Sheriff Mike is beginning to think aren’t caused by anything human.

From UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group in association with Amblin TV and Dark Horse Entertainment, “Resident Alien” was adapted to television by executive producer Chris Sheridan. Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Entertainment, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank of Amblin TV, Robert Duncan McNeill and Nastaran Dibai also executive produce.

Alan Tudyk

Harry Vanderspeigle, “Resident Alien”; Devil, “Devil May Care”

Alan Tudyk stars in the SYFY drama “Resident Alien” as Harry Vanderspeigle, an alien who crash lands onto Earth and must pass himself off as a small-town human doctor.

He also recently voiced the role of Devil in “Devil May Care,” which also aired on SYFY. In addition, Tudyk voices the maniacal Joker in DC Universe’s “Harley Quinn” animated series on HBO Max. Tudyk also voiced Tuk-Tuk in the Oscar-nominated film “Raya and the Last Dragon” as well as Pico the Toucan in Disney’s hit film “Encanto.”

In 2016, Tudyk appeared in Lucasfilm’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” as the scene-stealing security droid, ‘K-2SO.’ Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film grossed over $1 billion at the global box office and was the first live action Star Wars spin-off. He also voiced characters in two Academy-Award nominated animated films, playing the ‘Duke of Weaselton’ in Disney’s “Zootopia” and the rooster ‘Hei Hei’ in Disney’s “Moana.”

Tudyk is also the creator, executive producer and star of the Emmy nominated series “Con Man,” which was funded via Indiegogo with a record-breaking $3.2 million donation from over 46,000 fans. “Con Man” debuted at Lionsgate’s Comic Con HQ in 2015 and later aired on SYFY. Loosely based on Tudyk and Nathan Fillion’s experiences starring in “Firefly,” “Con Man” centered on the post-show life of ‘Wray Nerely’ (Tudyk) after “Spectrum,” a sci-fi TV series canceled before its time that later became a cult classic. In 2016, Tudyk, along with Fillion, also launched “Con Man: The Game” based on the series which allowed players to build and host their own comic book conventions.

Tudyk has shown audiences wide versatility in numerous television shows and a plethora of feature films. Recently, he co-starred in the Jay Roach 2015 SAG Award nominated feature “Trumbo,” opposite Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren and John Goodman as well as 2014’s “Welcome to Me” with Kristin Wiig. In 2013, Tudyk co-starred in the well-received Jackie Robinson biopic, “42,” opposite Chadwick Boseman as former Philadelphia Phillies manager ‘Ben Chapman.’ He made his feature film debut in 1998, when he first appeared opposite Robin Williams in “Patch Adams.”

Tudyk’s role in the Disney animated feature, “Wreck-It Ralph,” garnered him an Annie Award for his role as ‘King Candy.” He can also be heard in its sequel, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” as ‘KnowsMore.” Tudyk has also loaned his voice to ‘The Duke of Weaselton’ in Disney’s Academy Award-winning film “Frozen,” ‘Alister Krei’ in “Big Hero 6” and ‘Ludo’ and ‘King Butterfly’ on the Disney Channel series, “Star vs. the Forces of Evil.”

His additional film credits also include: “28 Days,” “A Knight’s Tale,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” “Death at a Funeral” (the original UK version), “Knocked Up,” “Tucker and Dale vs Evil,” “3:10 to Yuma,” “Serenity,” “Premature,” “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter” and “Transformers 3.” Additionally, Tudyk motion performed the lead robot, ‘Sonny,’ in “I, Robot” opposite Will Smith.

In television, Tudyk can currently be seen in DC Universe’s “Doom Patrol” and season three of Netflix’s “Santa Clarita Diet.” He was a series regular on the critically acclaimed ABC comedy, “Suburgatory” as well as on NBC’s workplace comedy “Powerless” and BBC America’s “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. His work on Joss Whedon’s “Firefly,” has been highly lauded by fans and has gained him a strong cult following. Tudyk also appeared in “Strangers with Candy,” “Dollhouse,” “Frasier,” “Justified” and “Arrested Development.” He also was the host of “Newsreaders,” written and produced by Rob Corddry and David Wain, on Adult Swim.

Tudyk attended the prestigious Juilliard School in New York and has starred on Broadway opposite Kristin Chenoweth in “Epic Proportions,” played ‘Lancelot’ with the original cast in Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” as well as the lead role of ‘Peter’ in “Prelude to a Kiss” opposite John Mahoney.

Chris Sheridan, Executive Producer of "Resident Alien" on SyfyTudyk grew up in Plano, Texas and currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife.

He is represented by The Coronel Group and Gersh.

Chris Sheridan

Executive Producer, “Resident Alien”

Chris Sheridan serves as executive producer of SYFY’s “Resident Alien.”

Five-time Emmy nominee and BAFTA nominee, Sheridan has been a television writer and producer for 26 years. He has produced more than 400 episodes of television, including 17 seasons on the Fox Network animated hit, “Family Guy” where he acted as co-showrunner from 2004 to 2009. He remains a consulting producer on “Family Guy,” and has a feature film in development with Josephson Entertainment.

Sara TomkoRESIDENT ALIEN -- Season:1 -- Pictured: Sara Tomko as Asta Twelvetrees -- (Photo by: Brendan Meadows/SYFY)

Asta Twelvetrees, “Resident Alien”

Sara Tomko stars in SYFY’s “Resident Alien” as Asta Twelvetrees. Strong and sarcastic, she works with Harry at the town’s health clinic.

Tomko is known for her recurring roles on “Sneaky Pete” and “Once Upon a Time,” as well as her appearances on “The Leftovers” and “The Son.”

She started her career in experimental theatre and musicals in Virginia, later moving to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue film. Her first independent film roles aired on SYFY, and she is thrilled that her TV career has brought her full circle. She is an actor, singer, producer, poet an artist.

Tomko is represented by Bohemia Group and KMR Talent.

 

Alice Wetterlund

D’Arcy Bloom, “Resident Alien”

RESIDENT ALIEN -- Season:4 -- Pictured: Alice Wetterlund as D'Arcy Bloom -- (Photo by: Brendan Meadows/USA Network)

Alice Wetterlund stars in SYFY’s “Resident Alien” as “D’Arcy Bloom,” the charismatic bartender at the local pub who, as a former Olympic snowboarder, is also a part of the avalanche control team.

Wetterlund has performed her non-yelling brand of comedy nationally at colleges, clubs, and festivals such as Just for Laughs, Bridgetown, Moon Tower, Women in Comedy, SF Sketchfest, RIOT LA, Bonnaroo and more.

She is known for her character “Carla” on HBO’s “Silicon Valley” and played “Kelly Grady” on TBS’ “People of Earth.” She can also be seen in the movie “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” as “Cousin Terry.” She has performed her stand up on “Conan” and currently co-hosts the popular podcast “Treks and the City” with Veronica Osorio. She recently wrapped “Search & Destroy” for Hulu, produced by Carrie Brownstein. Wetterlund can currently be seen on the latest season of Netflix’s “Glow.” Her hourlong stand-up special premiered on Amazon in August.RESIDENT ALIEN -- Season:4 -- Pictured: Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne (Photo by: Brendan Meadows/USA Network)

Meredith Garretson
Kate Hawthorne, “Resident Alien”
is a theater, television and film actress based in New York and Los Angeles. She received her MFA from NYU’s prestigious Graduate Acting Program. She also trained for two years in Meisner Technique at the Maggie Flanigan Studio. In 2021, she starred as Ali MacGraw in the acclaimed limited series THE OFFER on Paramount Plus. She plays Kate Hawthorne in the hit series RESIDENT ALIEN on Syfy and Peacock. RESIDENT ALIEN -- Season:4 -- Pictured: Corey Reynolds as Sheriff Mike Thompson -- (Photo by: Brendan Meadows/USA Network)She is a founding member of SOCIETY Theatre Company in New York City.

Corey Reynolds

Sheriff Mike Thompson, “Resident Alien”

Corey Reynolds stars in the SYFY drama “Resident Alien” as Mike Thompson, the local sheriff who runs the town with a chip on his shoulder, a cowboy hat on his head and an iron fist.

Reynolds is best known for his role on “The Closer,” which he starred on for six seasons. He will next be seen as a guest star in Apple’s “The Afterparty.” He’s recurred on “All American,” “Red Line,” “Criminal Minds,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Masters of Sex” and “Murder in the First.” He has guest starred on “Seal Team” and “Chicago P.D.”

On the film side, he was last seen on screen in “Straight Outta Compton” and also appeared in “Selma,” opposite David Oyelowo and Common.

Reynolds was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Broadway’s production of “Hairspray.”RESIDENT ALIEN -- Season:4 -- Pictured: Elizabeth Bowen as Deputy Liv Baker -- (Photo by: Brendan Meadows/USA Network)

Elizabeth Bowen

Deputy Liv Baker, “Resident Alien”

Elizabeth Bowen plays Deputy Liv Baker on the hit SYFY series “Resident Alien.”

Bowen was raised on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, British Columbia. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts – West before moving back to Canada to work on improv comedy while pursuing film and television roles.

Bowen credits her role in season two of FX’s “Fargo” as a career turning point. Bowen’s other credits include recurring roles on Amazon’s “Upload” and Hulu’s “Woke,” as well as the Freeform holiday movie “Angry Angel.”

She is based in Vancouver, B.C.

OUR PREVIOUS “RESIDENT ALIEN” INTERVIEWS

Sara Tomko, Alice Wetterlund, Corey Reynolds, Levi Fiehler and Meredith Garretson 2/6/24

Chris Sheridan, Alan Tudyk, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Corey Reynolds, and Elizabeth Bowen 8/8/22

Corey Reynolds, Sara Tomko, Alan Tudyk, Alice Wetterlund and Chris Sheridan 1/11/22

Corey Reynolds and Alan Tudyk 1/10/22

Corey Parker and Alan Tudyk 3/23/21

Sara Tomko and Chris Sheridan 2/22/21

Alan Tudyk 2/2/21

Sara Tomko, Alice Wetterlund and Elizabeth Bowen of "Resident Alien" on Syfy

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

Back to the Primetime Articles and Interviews Page

Interviews with Dean Devlin and Olivia Morris

TV Interview!

 

Dean Devlin (showrunner) and Olivia Morris (Lysa) of "The Librarians: The Next Chapter" on TNT

Interview with Dean Devlin and Olivia Morris of “The Librarians: The Next Chapter” on TNT by Suzanne

I always enjoy chatting with Dean Devlin about his shows. This was a roundtable, so they didn’t give me video. It was a very fun one, but I’m not sure if that really comes over in the audio. Anyway, we had a great time. I made my own video, using the audio, so I hope you enjoy it! It was very nice to meet and chat with Olivia Morris, who plays Lysa on this new series. She is a busy and amazing actress. I hope the series runs for many years! I’ve enjoyed it so far.  It begins Sunday, 5/25/25 on TNT. More info below!

Dean Devlin 5/20/25

Olivia Morris 5/22/25

 

Key art for "The Librarians: The Next Chapter" on TNTMORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

TNT SETS TWO-NIGHT PREMIERE EVENT FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ADVENTURE SERIES “THE LIBRARIANS: THE NEXT CHAPTER” STARTING MAY 25

TNT

The Librarians: The Next Chapter

April 10, 2025 – TNT will launch “The Librarians: The Next Chapter,” the spinoff of the acclaimed original television and film franchise which followed the adventures of the custodians of a magical repository of the world’s most powerful and dangerous supernatural artifacts, with a two-night premiere event starting on Sunday, May 25 following NBA Playoffs coverage. The next episode premieres on Monday, May 26 following NHL Playoffs coverage and subsequent episodes will continue to air on Monday nights.

Produced by Electric Entertainment, “The Librarians: The Next Chapter” centers on Vikram Chamberlain (Callum McGowan), a “Librarian” from the past who time traveled from 1847 and now finds himself stuck in the present. When Vikram returns to his castle in Belgrade, Serbia and discovers that it is now a museum, he inadvertently releases magic across the continent. With the help of a new team of eclectic heroes, including a savant in world history, a scientific genius, and a highly skilled Guardian, Vikram has only six months to clean up the mess he made.

Throughout the season, the team will embark on fantastical adventures, including a surprise reroute to a manor where Agatha Christie-styled murders take place, a time-travel back to the days of King Arthur at Camelot and even an encounter with the first-ever vampire.

“The original ‘Librarians’ was a top-rated series on TNT for four seasons and we are thrilled to bring ‘The Next Chapter’ home to our network, with all of the spellbinding adventures, legendary magic and mystique that fans love,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks. “This new entry in the beloved franchise reinforces our commitment to high quality scripted content that features the drama, adventure, and thrills our viewers expect from a TNT original.”

“The universe of The Librarians has expanded and we are so excited to present this exciting Season of The Next Chapter!” said Dean Devlin, Executive Producer and Director. “We’re confident the fans will fall in love with these new characters and that a whole new audience will be seduced into this wonderful and magical world.”

The 12-part series stars McGowan (Jamestown), Jessica Green (The Outpost), Olivia Morris (Hotel Portofino) and Bluey Robinson (Britannia). Caroline Loncq (Mammals) guest stars. Christian Kane will reprise his role as “Jacob Stone” in a Guest Starring role.

“The Librarians: The Next Chapter” is produced by Electric Entertainment. Dean Devlin serves as showrunner and executive producer alongside Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan-Wilson of Electric Entertainment. Noah Wyle serves as producer. Mark Franco of Electric Entertainment and Jonathan English of Balkanic Media also produce.


About TNT  

TNT, a Warner Bros. Discovery brand, is watched by more people than any other cable network and known for big, lean-forward television that takes viewers on a thrill ride of electrifying stories, dynamic characters and premium events. TNT is home to some of television’s most popular sports franchises and scripted originals including “The Librarians: The Next Chapter.” TNT also presents primetime specials and sports coverage, including the NHL, NBA and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships. Website: www.tntdrama.com

About Electric Entertainment:

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Electric Entertainment is an independent film & TV studio headed by veteran producer Dean Devlin and his partners Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan-Wilson.

Electric is most known for the fan-favorite franchises “Leverage” and “Librarians,” as well as the hit TV series “The Ark,” “Almost Paradise,” and “The Outpost.” In addition to serving as a domestic distributor in partnership with Amazon, SYFY, TNT and more, Electric also operates a worldwide sales arm for their original and acquired content. The company’s newest feature film “One Big Happy Family,” starring Linda Lavin, will debut in theaters this Fall.

Electric also runs its own premium streaming app and FAST channel, ElectricNOW, which features Electric’s original content and over a thousand hours of third-party films and TV series. ElectricNOW is also the home of the exclusive live broadcast of the annual Saturn Awards. The channel is available on over 38 platforms and OTT devices including Roku, Amazon Prime, Samsung TV Plus, Plex, and Xumo.

 

Dean Devlin has produced and co-written some of the most successful feature films of all time — Independence Day, Stargate, and Godzilla — which collectively grossed more than 1.4 billion dollars worldwide. In May of 2001, he founded Electric Entertainment, where he serves as chairman and CEO. The full-service film, television and worldwide sales and distribution company also houses Electric Post, a state-of-the-art digital effect and postproduction facility.

Electric is rapidly expanding under Devlin’s leadership. The company recently launched its OTT app and FAST channel, ElectricNOW, which is a one-stop shop for fans to enjoy all their favorite shows free, also available in a 24/7 live streaming broadcast. ElectricNOW hosts Electric’s newly launched podcast network, Electric Surge, and is available on numerous platforms including The Roku Channel, Plex, STIRR, Local Now, Sling TV, TiVo Plus, IMDb TV, Redbox, XUMO, Distro TV, and Select TV.

Electric Entertainment is in production with several highly anticipated films and TV series. Devlin recently served as executive producer, writer, and director on the smash hit reboot of “Leverage”, “Leverage: Redemption”, which is now streaming on Amazon’s IMDb TV. He also serves as co-showrunner, co-creator, and writer for “Almost Paradise,” starring Christian Kane, which aired on WGNA spring 2020 and is available on IMDb TV. He is executive producer of “The Outpost”, which aired its fourth season on The CW in July 2021.Olivia Norris (Lysa) of "The Librarians; The Next Chapter" on TNT (photo from her Instagram)

Devlin executive-produced five seasons of the action-packed TNT series, “Leverage,” three “The Librarian” movies of the week for TNT, starring Noah Wyle, which led to four seasons of “The Librarians” series starring Wyle, Rebecca Romijn and John Larroquette. In 2005, he executive produced, along with Bryan Singer, the Emmy-winning SyFy project, “The Triangle”.

Devlin directed and produced Bad Samaritan, which stars David Tennant and Robert Sheehan, and was released on 2,000 screens through Electric’s distribution arm. Also, under the Electric banner, Devlin produced the upcoming full-length feature, The Deal, the dystopian drama directed by Orsi Nagypál.

Prior to forming Electric Entertainment, Devlin produced the Mel Gibson period drama, The Patriot, which was nominated for three Academy Awards® and earned Gibson a People’s Choice Award for Best Actor.

Olivia is a London based actor born in Kingston-upon-Thames. She trained with National Youth Theatre and went on to complete a BA Hons in Acting at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama before landing her first professional job as the female lead in Oscar & Golden Globe-winning feature RRR for Netflix along side Alia Bhatt and Ray Stevenson. Olivia has since gone on to build a varied screen career.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Interview with Freddy Macdonald and Calum Worthy

TV Interview!

 

Freddy Macdonald and Calum Worthy of "Sew Torn"

Interview with director Freddy Macdonald and actor Calum Worthy of the film “Sew Torn” by Suzanne 4/30/25

Talking to these two was a lot of fun. Freddy is an amazing young guy directing the film he co-created and co-wrote with his dad. They made a short film first. It’s quite exciting to meet such a young talent who created this fantastic film, and I look forward to what else he’ll bring in the future. Don’t miss this movie, which premieres May 9th in theaters. Calum plays a small but important role in the film, so it was great to speak with him, too.

 

MORE INFO: Trailer!

Sunrise Films Presents Sew Torn a film by Freddy Macdonald

"Sew Torn" poster

SUNRISE FILMS WILL RELEASE ‘SEW TORN’ IN THEATERS ON MAY 9

DIRECTED BY

Freddy Macdonald

WRITTEN BY

Freddy Macdonald & Fred Macdonald

PRODUCED BY

Fred Macdonald, Barry Navidi, Sebastian Klinger, Diamantis Zavitsanos, Socratis Zavitsanos

FEATURING

Eve Connolly, Calum Worthy, John Lynch, K Callan, Ron Cook, Thomas Douglas, Werner Biermeier, Caroline Goodall

Run Time: 95 min.

Genre: Thriller, Dark Comedy

SYNOPSIS

Barbara Duggen, ‘The Mobile Seamstress’, is struggling to keep her fabric shop alive. After a botched sewing appointment sets her on a quest to replace her client’s lost button, she unexpectedly stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad. Faced with two downed motorcyclists, guns, and a briefcase – Barbara is completely torn. She is forced to pick between three choices: commit the perfect crime, call the police, or drive away.

The narrative presents the repercussions of all three decisions, and the deadly confrontations that result from each as she gets entangled with the case’s owner. Using thread to free herself, Barbara stops at nothing to save her store.

FREDDY MACDONALD ON MAKING THE FILM

A film about the choices we make is my story to tell. I’ve always been drawn to narratives that explore decision making, and Sew Torn is the culmination of this interest; a layered feature that depicts how actions define your path, ultimately shaping you – for better or worse.

Set in and around a quaint Swiss town, Sew Torn is a thriller / dark comedy that takes place over the same afternoon, three separate times. It’s a film about loneliness and home. About grief and redemption. About revenge and love.

With twists and turns driven by an undercurrent of humor, the plot is all but impossible to predict. And with a dexterous seamstress protagonist, liberation from a tangled past is finally achieved… …with thread.

ABOUT THE CAST

EVE CONNOLLY | BARBARA

Eve plays the lead role in the indie feature Sew Torn. It premiered at SXSW to rave reviews, with Eve being described in the reviews as “undoubtedly a star”, a “captivating leading lady” and with “the gravitas of a younger Claire Danes!”

It’s releasing internationally this year.

She also plays one of the leads in Netflix/Universal’s The River Wild, starring opposite Adam Brody and Leighton Meester.

Her feature credits include Meet Me By The Sea opposite Charlotte Hope, Irish feature film The Other Lamb which premiered at TIFF, a series regular role in AMC/Netflix’s Into The Badlands and a great role in Vikings.

 

CALUM WORTHY | JOSHUA

Calum Worthy is an actor/writer (Hulu’s Golden Globe winner The Act, Disney’s Austin & Ally, Netflix’s Peabody winner American Vandal, Hulu’s Reboot). Beyond his work in entertainment, he is a passionate advocate for climate education and gender equity, with a particular focus on advancing women’s economic empowerment in developing countries. He will next be seen in Sew Torn and Cliff Dorfman’s 86.

He has collaborated closely with Vice President Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project, and for the past five years has partnered with the ONE Campaign to drive international investment to girls’ education and women-led economic initiatives in East Africa. His advocacy has also extended to working alongside the Gates Foundation to promote global gender equity.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS FREDDY MACDONALD | DIRECTOR, CO-WRITER, EDITOR

Freddy Macdonald is a Student Academy Award winner, and the youngest Directing Fellow ever accepted

to the AFI Conservatory. His feature film debut, Sew Torn, will premiere at SXSW 2024. Freddy’s AFI admission film, the Sew Torn proof of concept short, was acquired by Searchlight Pictures. It received an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release nationwide alongside Ready Or Not. Freddy’s AFI thesis film, Shedding Angels, won a Student Academy Award and was shortlisted for a student BAFTA. Freddy also directed 4 music videos for 3x Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito (including his performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), and 3 viral documentaries following hardware hacker Joe Grand. Freddy is represented by UTA.

FRED MACDONALD | PRODUCER, CO-WRITER

Fred Macdonald is a writer, producer, and founder of several entertainment and media companies. Over the years his companies have partnered with The Walt Disney Company, DreamWorks Animation, Lionsgate / Summit Entertainment, and Viacom. Macdonald was CEO and Chairman of Olive Jar Studios, a film production company with studios in Los Angeles and Boston. While helming the company, Macdonald creative directed theme park media (The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios), and

television commercials (Levi Strauss & Co., Samsung Electronics, and a Coca-Cola CLIO Gold winner that Macdonald creative directed with Spike Jonze).

Cast

Barbara EVE CONNOLLY

Joshua CALUM WORTHY

Hudson JOHN LYNCH

Ms. Engel K CALLAN

Oskar RON COOK

Beck THOMAS DOUGLAS

Melvin  WERNER BIERMEIER

Rosie VERONIKA HERREN-WENGER

Grace CAROLINE GOODALL

Mom / Young Barbara PETRA WRIGHT

Taxi Driver VIKTOR HOJAS

Dog Walker JUDITH PFISTER

Dog  ZOEY MACDONALD

Diner Guests MARGRIT JENNI

ROMANO GEES

RITA JÄGER

HILDEGARD SPRECHER

MAX BUCHLI

 

Crew

Directed by FREDDY MACDONALD

Written by FREDDY MACDONALD, FRED MACDONALD

Produced by FRED MACDONALD

BARRY NAVIDI

SEBASTIAN KLINGER

DIAMANTIS ZAVITSANOS

SOCRATIS ZAVITSANOS

Co-Produced by TIMOTHY ROSS

ALEXANDER STRATIGENAS

Executive Produced by RONNIE LOTT

JOHN ZAVITSANOS

MICHAEL ZILKHA

BAIRD CRAFT

TRISTAN AUFIERO

ELENA KOURKOUMELIS

JOHN DILLON POWELL

AMY LIN

WILLIAM LIN

DIDI WONG

GARY MACDERMID

OLIVER KELLER

Eve Connolly stars as Barbara Duggan in the movie "Sew Torn"

The characters and events depicted in this motion picture are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

This motion picture is the property of Sew Torn, LLC and is protected under the copyright laws of the United states and other countries.

Unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.

Filmed on location in Vättis and Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Interview with Rico Rodriguez

TV Interview!

 

Rico Rodriguez of the animated movie "Sneaks," out in theaters April 28, 2025.

Interview with Rico Rodriguez of the movie “Sneaks” by Suzanne 4/14/25

I enjoyed this fun animated movie, and it was great to speak to Rico, who plays the sneaker name “Ice” in one memorable segment. You may remember that Rico played young Manny on “Modern Family,” where he grew up before our eyes.  Sneakers (AKA tennis shoes, kicks, gym shoes, running shoes, etc.) have been very popular (particularly in the black community) with the advent of hip-hop music and celebrity endorsements by Michael Jordan and others, since the late 80s.  This movie taps into those emotions and culture with its wonderful story and music. I think everyone should enjoy it because it has clever dialogue and well-crafted characters. It also boasts an all-star cast, including Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, Keith David, Chloe Bailey and Macy Gray. It premieres tomorrow, April 18th in theaters nationwide.

 

"Sneaks" key artMORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Featuring New Music from Grammy Winner Mustard

Starring Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Swae Lee, Chloe Bailey, Macy Gray, Roddy Rich, Ella Mai, Quavo with Keith David, Chris Paul, and Laurence Fishburne

Additional Cast Include Young Miko, Amirah Hall, Kiana Ledé, Bobbito Garcia, Sam Jay, Jonathan Kite, Amari McCoy, Donovan Louise Bazemore, Sky Brown, Rayssa Leal, Rico Rodriguez, Will McCormack, Michael Govier, Andrew Hawkins

____________________________________________________________________________

Synopsis: SNEAKS follows the adventures of Ty, a misguided designer sneaker who doesn’t know life outside the comforts of his velvet-lined shoe box. After his sister is stolen by a shady collector, Ty must venture into NYC to find and rescue her. In his adventure, Ty meets a rag-tag group of footwear friends from all walks of life who help him find the courage to step outside of his shoe box and find his “sole-mate.”

Genre: Family/Animation

Directed by: Rob Edwards and Chris Jenkins

Written by: Rob Edwards

Cast: Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Swae Lee, Chloe Bailey, Macy Gray, Ella Mai, Mustard, Roddy Rich, Quavo, Young Miko, Amirah Hall, Kiana Ledé, Bobbito Garcia, Sam Jay, Jonathan Kite, Amari McCoy, Donovan Louise Bazemore, Sky Brown Rayssa Leal, Rico Rodriguez, Will McCormack, Michael Govier, Andrew Hawkins with Keith David, Chris Paul, and Laurence Fishburne

Produced by: Len Hartman, Gil Cloyd, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland, Robyn Klein, Jeremy Ross, Meko YohannesMacy Gray, Martin Lawrence and Rico Rodriguez of the movie "Sneaks" (photo from Rodriguez's Instagram)

Executive Music Producer: Mustard

Distributed by: Briarcliff Entertainment

Release Date: April 18, 2025 in theaters nationwide

MPA Rating: PG

Rico Rodriguez (born July 31, 1998) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Manny Delgado on the ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020). He received several Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance. He has also appeared in numerous other television shows and movies—both as himself and other characters—before, during, and after the show’s run, such as Epic Movie, Endgame, El Americano: The Movie, and Nickelodeon‘s The Substitute and Unfiltered. (From Wikipedia)

 

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Interview with Titus Welliver

TV Interview!

 

Titus Welliver, star of "Bosch: Legacy" on Prime Video. Photo from his Instagram.

Interview with Titus Welliver of “Bosch: Legacy” on Prime Video by Suzanne 4/10/25

“Bosch” and “Bosch: Legacy” are wonderful shows that I’ve always loved. I read the books about Harry Bosch (by Michael Connelly) years ago and devoured them. They did an excellent job of transferring the stories from the books to the TV, and they couldn’t have done any better than Titus Welliver for playing Bosch. Everyone who’s connected to the show or watches it regularly is sad that the show is ending. It’s such a shame because there are more Bosch stories to tell.

This is a roundtable interview, which means there are 5 of us on the interview. We each had at least 2 questions for Titus, and he answered them in great detail. I’m very honored to have been included. He’s an amazing actor, and not just because of his work with “Bosch.”   The series finale for “Bosch: Legacy” airs today. It’s two episodes that not only finish the series but introduce Maggie Q, who will star as Rene Ballard in the new spinoff series “Ballard.”

Unfortunately, Bosch will only make a couple of cameos in the new series. Please enjoy this video roundtable interview and the series finale!

 

"Bosch: Legacy" season 3 key art - photo from Amazon press siteMORE INFO: Official Site Trailer

Season Three of Bosch: Legacy is based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling novels Desert Star (2022) and The Black Ice (1993). The murder investigation of Kurt Dockweiler brings dangerous secrets to light and threatens to ruin the lives of our three principal characters. The disappearance of a family haunts Harry Bosch and forces him to confront the limits of justice. In a hotly contested race, Honey “Money” Chandler is poised to become the next District Attorney of Los Angeles. And Maddie Bosch gets entangled in a series of violent follow-home robberies.

 

 

Titus WelliverBosch: Legacy Season 3 Credit: Tyler Golden/Prime Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC Description: Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in BOSCH: LEGACY Photo Credit: Tyler Golden/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC - photo from Amazon press site

Harry Bosch

Titus Welliver is a veteran of film, television, and theater. The son of a famous landscape artist Neil Welliver and fashion illustrator Norma Cripps, Welliver originally pursued painting at art school but eventually fell in love with acting and the theater. Welliver’s theater credits include David Mamet’s production of American Buffalo, as well as performances in Naked at the Coast Theater and Shakespeare’s Henry IV. Welliver has also appeared in Riff Raff, written and directed by Laurence Fishburne, which was performed at Circle in the Square Downtown in New York City.

Welliver has also enjoyed a successful collaboration with legendary television producer David Milch, appearing in several of Milch’s shows, including the critically acclaimed HBO episodic, Deadwood. Some fans will always connect Welliver with his portrayal of The Man in Black in the cult favorite ABC series Lost. Welliver also notably played the part of Glenn Childs, Julianne Marguiles’ foil in The Good Wife, and the very dangerous Jimmy O’Phelan in Sons of Anarchy. Welliver’s other television credits are too numerous to list but include Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.SuitsThe Last Ship, The Mentalist and Chicago PD.

Welliver may now be most identified by his iconic performance as Harry Bosch, the lead character in the hit Amazon Original series Bosch. The show is based on Michael Connelly’s immensely successful book series, currently numbering 21, soon to be 22 novels, about a relentlessly dogged Los Angeles homicide detective.

In addition to Bosch, Welliver has been in every one of actor/director Ben Affleck’s big-screen, directorial outings, including Gone Baby GoneThe TownLive By Night and Argo. In addition, he has given extremely memorable performances in Michael Bay’s Transformers 4: Age of Existence and opposite Frances McDormand as her love interest in Gus Van Sant’s Promised Land. Welliver will next be seen in the reboot of the 1970’s action classic, Shaft, opposite Samuel L. Jackson.

 

Credits

Executive Produced By
Michael Connelly
Eric Overmyer
Tom Bernardo
Henrik Bastin
Pieter Jan Brugge
Titus Welliver

Bosch: Legacy Season 3 Credit: Tyler Golden/Prime Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC Description: Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in BOSCH: LEGACY Photo Credit: Tyler Golden/Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC - photo from Amazon press site.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Interview with Arielle Prepetit

TV Interview!

 

Arielle Prepetit (Naomi) of "Beyond the Gates" on CBS (photo from her Instagram)

Interview with Arielle Prepetit (Naomi) of “Beyond the Gates” on CBS by Suzanne 4/11/25

I had a fun chat with Arielle, who seems very sweet and full of joy. She plays Naomi on BTG, and she’s been great on the new series. It’s a soap, so there’s a lot of drama.  Naomi is Dani and Bill’s daughter, and Bill cheated on her mom with her best friend, Hayley, and then he divorced her mom and married Hayley. She disowned her dad for that.  Now Naomi is suing Bill’s law firm and his slimy partner for sexual harassment. She is a force to be reckoned with, and Arielle shows that strength and fire every day on the show.  Arielle is also an amazing singer and dancer. Watch her on YouTube.

Watch “Beyond the Gates” Monday through Friday on CBS every week and later on Paramount+. Check your local listings to see when it airs. It usually airs sometime after “Bold and Beautiful.”

 

CBS Presents BEYOND THE GATES ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.MORE INFO:  Official Site  YouTube Playlist

BEYOND THE GATES is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States. Here you’ll find a posh gated community with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions to call home. At the center of this community are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family that is the very definition of Black royalty. But behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered. And those who live outside these gates are watching closely. These are the places where our characters live, love, work and play. Those who have “made it” and those who haven’t are all trying to navigate life … and some with more grace than others.

Arielle Prepetit (Naomi) of "Beyond the Gates" on CBS. Photos by Michele Martuscello and Aimee Santos of Paramount; from Paramount Press Site.

Arielle Prepetit is a passionate dancer, actor and theater performer. She currently stars as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne in BEYOND THE GATES.

Her television credits include the Starz crime drama “BMF” and the NBC procedural drama “Found.”

Her film credits include “Bull Street,” written and directed by Lynn Dow and starring Loretta Devine and Amy Madigan; “The System,” opposite Tyrese Gibson and Terrence Howard; and “About My Father,” with Robert DeNiro and Kim Cattrall.

Prepetit discovered her love of dance at 5 years old. During childhood, she appeared in local productions and commercials, including performances at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. At 17, she began studying acting with a focus on scene study and the Meisner technique, and later moved to Atlanta to pursue acting. Arielle Prepetit (Naomi) of "Beyond the Gates" on CBS. Photos by Michele Martuscello and Aimee Santos of Paramount; from Paramount Press Site.

Prepetit is a first generation Haitian American, born and raised in Orlando, Fla. Her birthday is April 2. Follow her on social media @arielleprepetit.

The series will premiere on Monday, Feb. 24 on the CBS Television Network, and is available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

BEYOND THE GATES is proudly filmed in Atlanta, Georgia.

ON AIR:

Weekdays (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00 PM-2:00 PM, PT)

ORIGINATION:

Atlanta, Georgia

FORMAT:

Daytime drama (HD)

START OF PRODUCTION:

Nov. 1, 2024

PREMIERE DATE:

Feb. 24, 2025

 

CAST:

Tamara Tunie

(Anita Dupree)

Clifton Davis

(Vernon Dupree)

Daphnee Duplaix

(Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson)

Karla Mosley

(Dani Dupree)

Alex Alegria

(Tomas Navarro)

Lauren Buglioli

(Vanessa McBride)

Brandon Claybon

(Martin Richardson)

Timon Kyle Durrett

(Bill Hamilton)

Sean Freeman

(Andre Richardson)

Ben Gavin

(Derek Baldwin)

Marquita Goings

(Hayley Lawson)

Jibre Hordges

(Jacob Hawthorne)

Jen Jacob

(Ashley Morgan)

Maurice Johnson

(Ted Richardson)

Trisha Mann-Grant

(Dana ‘Leslie’ Thomas)

Mike Manning

(Bradley ‘Smitty’ Smith)

RhonniRose Mantilla

(Chelsea Hamilton)

Ambyr Michelle

(Eva Thomas)

Colby Muhammad

(Katherine ‘Kat’ Richardson)

Arielle Prepetit

(Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne)

PRODUCED BY:

CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, led by Sheila Ducksworth, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

CREATOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/SHOWRUNNER

Michele Val Jean

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Robert Guza Jr., Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Kimberly Doebereiner and Anna Saalfeld.

BEYOND THE GATES Instagram

@beyondthegatescbs

Arielle Prepetit (Naomi) of "Beyond the Gates" on CBS (photo from her Instagram)

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Interview with Felix Wolfe

TV Interview!

 

GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY -- "Plant Parenthood" Episode 106 -- Pictured: Felix Wolfe as Ford -- (Photo by: Daniel Delgado/NBC)

Interview with Felix Wolfe of “Grosse Pointe Garden Society” on NBC by Suzanne 4/9/25

I really enjoyed speaking to Felix about his role as Ford on this fun show.  He’s young, but he’s been working since he was 2 years old!  Now, we’re only allowed to use the audio for this one, but I hope you can enjoy it, anyway.  Near the end of our chat, I noticed that he had a large mannequin with a Robin suit (as in Batman and Robin!), so I had to ask him about that, too. You can see the photo below in the “video.”  Don’t forget to watch the next episode of the series tonight! He has some juicy story in it.

 

Here’s the transcript, generated with Descript, but it hasn’t been fully proofread yet. I hope to do that soon.

 

Suzanne: How are you doing, Felix?

Felix: I’m wonderful. Suzanne, now that I’m with you, how are you?

Suzanne: Pretty good. Pretty good.

Felix: Good.

Suzanne: Suzanne: So, uh, I read on IMDB that you were born in San Diego. Did you grow up there too?

Felix: I, thanks for checking that out. That’s awesome. Uh, I did, I was born in San Diego. No, I, I really, all my fundamental years was, was la I moved to LA when I was like three.

Suzanne: Okay.

Felix: MFelix: y dad’s from la so, so it was like a. Cultural. It was an easy shift, but born and raised. SoCal? Yes, but not. ‘

Suzanne: okay. Well, I’m the opposite because I was born up in Northern California and grew up in San Diego, so that’s why I asked.

Oh, fantastic. Okay. Then you know how good the fish tacos are?

Suzanne: Oh yeah. Although actually they didn’t really have those back when I was growing up. Uh. It’s a more recent, like last 20, 30 years. I’m, I’m a lot older than I looked.

Felix: What you 23, 24?

Suzanne: Yeah. Right, exactly.

Felix: Yeah.

Suzanne: Yeah. Add about 40 years.

Felix: Good on you. You look fantastic.

Suzanne: Yeah. It’s funny. All the Mexican food, we didn’t have much Mexican food when I was growing up there. There weren’t like avocados everywhere, at least in my part of San Diego, but

Felix: Sure, sure. We, they shifted. They’re with us Up and up and up.

Suzanne: Yeah. So what’s it been like working on the show with Melissa Fumero and others?

Felix: I mean, it’s, it’s been fantastic. I mean, Melissa’s the a, a dream to work with. I don’t think it gets better than that. She’s just not only such a well-versed and extremely talented artist, that feels just so wonderful to get to, to play around with on screen. But, but, arguably in even more incredible human being and just such a wonderful, wonderful. I think personality to have on set. She makes everyone, you could just see it. She makes everyone feel so much better and smile and. She has this comforting warmth about her that I feel is so, nice, grateful to be around. So yeah, I feel very grateful. And obviously the rest of the cast is like, yeah.

Suzanne: But you worked with her more than, than anyone.

Felix: I did. Yeah. Yeah, I worked with her the most.

Suzanne: And you, uh, not to have any spoilers, but you have, in this upcoming episode, you have a very emotional scene with her. Was that, uh, challenging?

Felix: It was surprisingly easy, I think because we had spent so much time together and, and, and. Fo Foster. Such an honest, real, I think real life, uh, you know, kind of bond that I, I, I think it just, it translated so easily on screen it in so many ways. The words that I say in those scenes very much stem from a place of like imagining if I was really talking to just her and, um. You know? Yeah. How much I, I, I adore her. And so those sentiments, I think the emotions are stemming from a very real place and I think that makes it extremely easy just because she’s so wonderful.

Suzanne: Well, I’m sure her ears are burning. so your character’s been training to be a pitcher, and had you pitched or played baseball much before this?

Felix: Yeah, I grew up playing baseball. and it was something that when the writers found out, they were very excited about

Suzanne: Oh, good.

Felix: …Easily incorporated into the character. Yeah, I, I, I played baseball the way through high school and, uh, we were a pretty good team and I got to be captain and it was really fun. And Pitcher was one of the positions I, I primarily, primarily was shortstop and pitcher and, so pitching was, was something I grew up doing and, and

Suzanne: Oh, that’s nice.

Felix: It’s convenient. It worked out. It worked out.

Suzanne: Yeah. You didn’t have to work with somebody to look like you knew what you were doing or anything. You already did.

Felix: Yeah. Thank, thankfully, I was like, I don’t want to be on any of those, those edits. I please. So, no, that’s right. Tried my best. I don’t know how it turned out.

Suzanne: So you’re 23, but you’re playing a teen. Was that, uh, did that just come easily? ’cause you’ve been a teen or was, did you have to think about What was I like back then or,

Felix: Yeah. Uh, I mean, I. I mean, I’m, I’m 22 years old, but I feel very, I think I still feel very adolescent in so many ways. I think, I think I, I don’t feel understand people are disconnected from that. I wish I was like, oh, back then. But no, I think I’m in a lot of ways still very, very, rambunctious and, and very much, uh, but I think I’ve always just been a bit. Me, like, I don’t know. You know, I, I, even when I was little, I feel like the verse, whoever that kid was at, like eight years old, 17 years old now, 22, it’s kind of always been the same guy. Right? So same. Yeah.

Suzanne: So, but you’ve been in front of the camera since you were pretty young, right? Like five or six or something?

Felix: Uh, yeah. I, I booked my first part technically when I was two, and then I became. When I was six. and yeah, so I’ve been doing it a long, long time, that’s for sure. It’s been ingrained in my life.

Suzanne: That’s amazing.

Felix: Thank you.

Suzanne: I’m always surprised when I hear about some actor, actress that I’ve seen in the movies, and I go and I look at their, their history and go, oh my gosh, she’s been a child actor. Just like, I don’t know. It just always, it is like, why don’t I know that? It’s like I should all know that.

Felix: No, it’s, it’s, it’s totally understandable.

Suzanne: I’m always surprised if somebody does know that. I’m like, oh, wow.

Felix: Thanks.

Suzanne: So, anything, uh, that you can tell us about the, uh, upcoming episodes at all that you’re allowed to tell us?

Felix: Well, I’m very excited about it. I’ve heard great things, from, from people behind the curtain. They seem very excited about it. I remember when we shot it, it was, yeah, I think you kind of touched on it. It reaches some, some emotional places that I think are incredibly powerful. And I meant, I, when I first read it, and then obviously when we shot it, it meant so much for me as an actor to see that the, the creators and the writers were willing to let the character. go there. And I think let those, those relationships reach those kinds of places, for better or worse. So I, I, I’m extremely excited for fans to kind of see, the emotional depth that these characters will reach, especially forward. And I think it’s a big turning point. I think episode eight’s a, a big turning point for him, and, and I remember really enjoying,

Suzanne: And are you gonna, are you gonna have some emotional scenes with your, the foster parents as well?

Felix: Maybe who knows? Maybe can’t tell.

Suzanne: Okay. And, uh, do you have any other projects coming out or that you, or that you’re working on or anything you tell us about?

Felix: Nothing I can say right now. We, well, hopefully soon I can, but, but yeah, I’m, I’m, I will say this, I’m very excited for the future. I feel very honored. And this show is. It’s been wonderful to work on and, and, and, has introduced me to so many incredible new faces and new people. So I’m, I feel extremely fulfilled, uh, as an, as an artist and as a, as a human being. So, yeah, I’m, I’m excited to see what the rest of 2025,

Suzanne: yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I, I am just keeping my fingers crossed for season two. I don’t know if that’s a possibility or not, but. That’s your business. I know, but I’d like to think possibility.

Felix: If you believe in it. I believe in it.

Suzanne: Okay. Okay. Okay. Uh, I just wanna see some kind of closure for the characters if, if it doesn’t have a season two, and I don’t think I want to get that.

Felix: So maybe, I mean, I feel satisfied with, with the, the ending of season one, but that does not mean that I’m not exci incredibly eager for season two.

Suzanne: Right. Right, right. Well, it’s been a good dramatic show for you. You’ve done a lot of sitcoms and things. I know you’ve done some drama, but would you say this was more drama than you normally deal with in new shows?

Felix: Yeah, I would say that it’s, it’s the, the prolonged, I think the overarching storyline, you know, for, for a character. Uh, my characters had a substantial amount of time to really grow within a dramatic space. So I feel very, um. Grateful for that. Yeah. ’cause usually the more dramatic stuff has been more, you know, episodic or, or, you know, momentary kind of wrapped up in an hour or 30 minutes or less kind of a thing.

Suzanne: Right.

Felix: So this opportunity has, has allowed, you know, for me, for months to perform and then obviously over an entire season I character to really grow and reach a lot of different places within, within himself. And that’s been really fun to, to kind of get, to dig deeper within that. So yeah, it’s been, it’s been great.

Suzanne: Okay. Well, thank you for talking to me. I appreciate it.

Felix: Thank you, Susanna. I really appreciate it.

Suzanne: Which Superhero, is that behind you? Is that Robin?

Felix: That, that’s Robin, yeah. It gray. Okay. Yeah, I wanna be, uh, I’m, I’m aiming for, I know James Gunn’s cooking something up at d dc in the DCU, so I want be Dick Rayon, so we’ll see.

Suzanne: That would be great. I would love to see that.

Felix: I built, I built that. That’s mine.

Suzanne: Oh, wow. What is, I mean. Suit.

Felix: It’s a suit that you built.

Suzanne: Okay. Yeah.

Felix: Yeah. It’s like an armored suit. It’s like all the pieces are separate and everything. Wow. So, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I, I designed that and then I hired some people to be like, can we put this together? And then we’re that

Suzanne: neat. I like that. Do you go to Comic-Con.

Felix: I’ve been once once. Isn’t that crazy? Yeah. And I dress with Spider-Man ’cause he is my favorite.

Suzanne: Oh, okay.

Felix: Yeah, I haven’t busted this one out yet.

Suzanne: I have three older brothers and they were on the first San Diego Comic-Con, uh, committee, so I used to go a lot when I was a kid. I haven’t been in a long time though, because I don’t live there any more.. That’s Well, hopefully. Hopefully I’ll, hopefully I’ll be there. Honestly, I’d love to go for like. Roll if I’m doing, you know?

Felix: Yeah, that’d be great. Thank, hopefully I see you.

Suzanne: Thank you so much, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you to play, Robin.

Felix: Oh, thank you, Suzanne. I appreciate it.

Suzanne: And from season two of this show.

Felix: Thanks

Suzanne: both of them.

Felix: Let’s do it. I appreciate, I hope to see you at the Comic-Con.

Suzanne: All right. Bye-bye.

Felix: Cheers.

GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY -- Season: 2 -- Pictured:(l-r) Felix Wolfe as Ford, Alexander Hodge as Doug, Nancy Travis as Patty, AnnaSophia Robb as Alice, Ben Rappaport as Brett, Aja Naomi King, Matthew Davis as Joel, Melissa Fumero as Birdie -- (Photo by: Sally Montana/NBC)MORE INFO: Official Site  Preview

Felix Wolfe

Ford, “Grosse Pointe Garden Society”

Felix Wolfe plays Ford on the new NBC drama “Grosse Pointe GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY -- Season: 2 -- Pictured: Felix Wolfe as Ford -- (Photo by: Sally Montana/NBC)Garden Society.”

Wolfe booked his first role at the age of 2 with a gradual climb up the talent pool of young Hollywood. Since then he has honed his craft with roles in Ridley Scott and Michael Fassbender’s “Zero” as well as Disney’s “Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything” and “Raven’s Home.”

Other TV roles on Wolfe’s resume include “Bones,” “The Mentalist” and “House” as well as voiceover for “The Land Before Time – Journey of the Brave” and the Emmy Award-winning children’s series “Pete the Cat” on Amazon Prime.

Grosse Pointe Garden Society

Series Premiere Feb 23 on NBC (10pm ET/PT) 

“Grosse Pointe Garden Society” follows four members of a suburban garden club who find their lives intertwined by scandal, mischief and a shared secret – a murder no one wants to talk about. As dark truths begin to rot their lives under the surface, they struggle to remain as perfect as the flowers blooming in their garden above.

The cast includes Melissa Fumero, Aja Naomi King, Ben Rappaport, AnnaSophia Robb, Matthew Davis, Alexander Hodge, Nancy Travis and Felix Wolfe.

Grosse Pointe Garden Society is written and created by Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs. They serve co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Casey Kyber.

This week:

The garden clubbers wake to a perilous frost. Catherine hosts an unexpected guest. Alice vies with Patty for Doug’s favor. Connor’s support of Brett’s car business comes with strings. Birdie backs Ford’s baseball dreams, but faces heat from his mom.

GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY -- "Plant Parenthood" Episode 106 -- Pictured: Felix Wolfe as Ford -- (Photo by: Daniel Delgado/NBC)

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Interview with Melissa Roxburgh

TV Interview!

 

THE HUNTING PARTY -- “WonderCon Panel” -- Pictured: Melissa Roxburgh at the Anaheim Convention Center on March 29, 2025 -- (Photo by: David Yeh/NBC)

Interview with Melissa Roxburgh of “The Hunting Party” on NBC by Suzanne 4/3/25

I loved speaking to Melissa, even though it was only for about 6 minutes. We had a nice chat, and she answered all of my questions in a very thoughtful way. All of the cast and crew I’ve interviewed this season have been fun to interview.  I really hope this show gets a second season because I so enjoy its many twists and turns. The finale is quite shocking, with tons of cliffhangers. I hope we get to see them resolved!

 

MORE INFO: Official Site  Promo

The Hunting Party

Series Premiere Monday Feb 3 on NBC (10 pm ET/PT)

A high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators who are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that’s not supposed to exist.THE HUNTING PARTY -- “WonderCon Panel” -- Pictured: (l-r) Jake Coburn, Patrick Sabongui, Nick Wechsler, Melissa Roxburgh, Josh McKenzie, JJ Bailey, Executive Producer at the Anaheim Convention Center on March 29, 2025 -- (Photo by: David Yeh/NBC)

The cast includes Melissa Roxburgh, Nick Wechsler, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie and Sara Garcia.

Co-showrunners JJ Bailey (creator) and Jake Coburn are writers and executive producers. Thor Freudenthal is director and executive producer. Keto Shimizu is writer and executive producer.

“The Hunting Party” is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

THE HUNTING PARTY -- Season: 1 -- Pictured: Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson -- (Photo by: Lindsay Siu/NBC)Melissa Roxburgh

Rebecca ‘Bex’ Henderson, “The Hunting Party”

Melissa Roxburgh stars as Rebecca ‘Bex’ Henderson, a shrewd ex-FBI agent and savvy profiler on the NBC drama “The Hunting Party.”

She’s best known for her starring role on the NBC and Netflix hit series “Manifest.”

Among her film credits, Roxburgh recently co-starred in “Mindcage,” opposite John Malkovich and Martin Lawrence. She also starred in “I Still Believe,” which featured KJ Apa, Britt Robertson and Shania Twain.THE HUNTING PARTY -- Season: 1 -- Pictured: Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson -- (Photo by: Lindsay Siu/NBC)

Interviews with Josh McKenzie and Patrick Sabongui 3/3/25 and 3/7/25

Interview with JJ Bailey, co-creator/showrunner 2/20/25

Interview with Sara Garcia 2/14/25

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Interview with George Olson

TV Interview!

 

George Olson, creator of "SurrealEstate" on Syfy (photo from IMDB)

Interview with George Olson, creator/writer/showrunner of “SurrealEstate” on Syfy by Suzanne 4/1/25

This was my second interview with George, and he is always a joy to meet with on Zoom. I love his show, so it’s great to pick his brain and chat about this wonderful series. Don’t miss it, tomorrow, April 3, on Syfy; you can also watch it on Disney+ and HULU. Enjoy!

 

SURREALESTATE -- Pictured: "SurrealEstate" Key Art -- (Photo by: SYFY)MORE INFO: Official Site Trailer Sneak Peek

SurrealEstate

Thursdays on SYFY (10-11pm ET/PT); Season Premiere: April 3

“SurrealEstate” tells the story of real estate agents Luke Roman and Susan Ireland and an elite team of specialists that handle the cases no one else can: haunted and possessed houses that literally scare would-be buyers away. Researching, investigating and “fixing” the things that go bump in the night, the team works to create closure – and closings – even as they struggle with demons of their own. The series stars Tim Rozon, Sarah Levy, Maurice Dean Wint and Elena Juatco."SurrealEstate" cast (Syfy)

George R. Olson

Creator, Showrunner, and Executive producer

George R. Olson is a recovering advertising executive, having spent most of his career as writer/producer and chief creative officer at one of Colorado’s largest ad agencies. Recognized with over 300 creative awards, George turned to writing for film and television. One of his first original screenplays, a bio-pic of Nikola Tesla, attracted the attention of filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld, with whom he developed the script. George developed another award-winning original feature WHITEFISH with actor/director John Turturro, and the Jesse Owens Olympic saga MASTER RACE with Anthony Mackie attached to star. In television, George has developed several original pilots including BITTERROOT at USA Network, POISON COUNTY and GODSPEED with MGM Television, THE NATURE OF YOUR EMERGENCY with Keshet Studios, and RUTHLESS with the CW Network. George is just completing his third season as creator, executive producer and showrunner of SURREALESTATE on SYFY.

Interview with George Olson

 

"SurrealEstate" cast (Syfy)

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Interview with Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch

TV Interview!

 

Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch of the documentary 2 part series, "Number One On the Call Sheet" on Apple TV+. (photo from the Apple TV+ press site)

Interview with Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch of the documentary 2-part series, “Number One On the Call Sheet” on Apple TV+ by Suzanne 3/19/25

It was an honor to speak to these two filmmakers, especially after watching their series about all of the wonderful, successful, black movie actors that were interviewed. They were both very happy to be there and eager to speak about this project. They easily answered some of my tougher questions. Some of our most beloved actors from the past 50 years were interviewed in their doc. It was a joy to see some of my favorites share insights about their careers. I think you’ll enjoy our interview, and especially, the two-part documentary series, which debuts March 28 on Apple TV+.

 

Key art for the documentary 2-part series "Number One On The Call Sheet" on Apple TV+.

MORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Reginald Hudlin is unique in the entertainment business because of his success as a writer, producer, director and executive. To quote cultural critic Jimi Izrael,
“Hudlin is a modern-day Gordon Parks, a true monster in the game who totally re-did the blueprint: what some people used to call a renaissance man. I dig him because he made me think outside of the box. Hudlin writes and directs movies, pens a comic book, and he was running BET. That’s multi-tasking for your ass.” More

Shola Ayn Lynch is an award-winning American filmmaker best known for the feature documentary FREE ANGELA & All Political Prisoners and the Peabody Award winning documentary CHISHOLM ’72: Unbought & Unbossed.  Her independent film body of work and her other collaborative projects feed her passion to bring history alive with captivating stories of people, places and events. In 2024, Shola joined the faculty of Spelman College as the Diana King Endowed Professor in Film, Filmmaking, Television, & Related Media and the director of the documentary film program in the Department of Art and Visual Culture. Prior to this she spent over a decade as the Curator of the Moving Image & Recorded Sound division of the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. In 2016, Shola became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. More

About “Number One on the Call Sheet”:

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars reveal their journeys to game-changing leading roles. In candid interviews, they shine a light on the highs and lows of their craft, breakthrough moments, blueprints for success, and the next generation’s huge potential.

The women of "Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood" - photos from the Apple TV+ press site.

About Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.*

 

Cast & Crew

  • John Boyega
  • Reuben Cannon
  • Don Cheadle
  • Morris Chestnut
  • Ice Cube
  • Taye Diggs
  • Idris Elba
  • Laurence Fishburne
  • Jamie Foxx
  • Morgan Freeman
  • Kevin Hart
  • Dwayne Johnson
  • Matthew Johnson
  • Michael B. Jordan
  • Daniel Kaluuya
  • Martin Lawrence
  • Eddie Murphy
  • Robi Reed
  • Nina Shaw
  • Will Smith
  • Quentin Tarantino
  • Denzel Washington
  • Marlon Wayans
  • Angela Bassett
  • Halle Berry
  • Viola Davis
  • Cynthia Erivo
  • Vivica A. Fox
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Meagan Good
  • Tiffany Haddish
  • Taraji P. Henson
  • Nia Long
  • Ruth Negga
  • Gabourey Sidibe
  • Jurnee Smollett
  • Octavia Spencer
  • Tessa Thompson
  • Gabrielle Union
  • Alfre Woodard
Directors

  • Reginald Hudlin
  • Shola Lynch
Producers

  • Jamie Foxx
  • Kevin Hart
  • Datari Turner
  • Dan Cogan
Executive Producers

  • Reginald Hudlin
  • Byron Phillips
  • Diana E. Williams
  • Bryan Smiley
  • Candice Wilson Cherry
  • Liz Garbus
  • Mala Chapple
  • Angela Bassett
  • Halle Berry
  • Viola Davis
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Mishka Brown
  • Nanette Nelms
  • Bryan Smiley
  • Mark Monroe

More at the Apple TV Press Site

Actors from "Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood" on Apple TV+ (photos from the Apple TV+ press site)

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Interview with Jocko Sims

TV Interview!

 

Jocko Sims (Tucker) of "Grosse Pointe Garden Society" on NBC Sundays.

Interview with Jocko Sims (Tucker) of “Grosse Pointe Garden Society” on NBC by Suzanne 3/19/25

This was a fun interview. Jocko was very entertaining just to speak with. He’s an amazing actor as well. I hope this show survives, and that he doesn’t get killed. I want to see more of Tucker, Catherine’s husband!

Here’s an exclusive preview!

 

GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY -- Pictured: "Grosse Pointe Garden Society" Key Art -- (Photo by: NBCUniversal)

MORE INFO: Official Site Trailer

Grosse Pointe Garden Society

Series Premiere Feb 23 on NBC (10pm ET/PT)

“Grosse Pointe Garden Society” follows four members of a suburban garden club who find their lives intertwined by scandal, mischief and a shared secret – a murder no one wants to talk about. As dark truths begin to rot their lives under the surface, they struggle to remain as perfect as the flowers blooming in their garden above.

The cast includes Melissa Fumero, Aja Naomi King, Ben Rappaport, AnnaSophia Robb, Matthew Davis, Alexander Hodge, Nancy Travis and Felix Wolfe.GROSSE POINTE GARDEN SOCIETY -- "Pollination" Episode 105 -- Pictured: Jocko Sims as Tucker -- (Photo by: Daniel Delgado/NBC)

Grosse Pointe Garden Society is written and created by Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs. They serve co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Casey Kyber.

Jackie “Jocko” Sims III is an American actor, known for playing Anthony Adams in Crash and later playing Carlton Burk in the series The Last Ship. On the NBC TV show New Amsterdam, he portrayed Dr. Floyd Reynolds. More at Wikipedia

Another clip with Jocko Sims and Aja Naomi King!

Why You Recognize Jocko Sims

Our Previous Interview with Jocko Sims!

 

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

Jocko Sims and Aja Naomi King of "Grosse Pointe Garden Society" on NBC (photo from his Instagram)

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Interview with Paul Guilfoyle and Eric Aronson

TV Interview!

 

Actor Paul Guilfoyle and Director/Writer/Producer Eric Aronson of "Any Day Now," premiering March 21st in theaters.

Interview with Paul Guilfoyle and Eric Aronson of the film “Any Day Now” by Suzanne 3/13 and 3/14/25

This is a good indie movie about a real-life art museum heist that happened in 1990…but really, it’s about two (fictional) men (one older) that meet and get involved in a plot to steal the art. Marty (Paul Guilfoyle) ropes Steve (Taylor Gray) into helping him with the job. Marty is a career criminal with loads of bad advice for Steve, who is used to people walking all over him. The character studies and the acting are great to watch, and the basic story is unusual and enjoyable. Don’t miss this one! It premieres Friday, 3/21/25 in theaters – 35 years after the real-life museum robbery happened!

It was great speaking to both of these gentlemen about the movie. I’ve long-admired Guilfoyle’s work on CSI and other shows. Aronson not only came up with the idea for this movie, but he wrote, directed and produced it. Both he and Guilfoyle are from Boston, where the movie takes place (and where the real heist happened). See more info below. Enjoy the videos!

Paul Guilfoyle interview 3/13/25

Eric Aronson interview 3/14/25

 

Poster for "Any Day Now"MORE INFO: Official Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Trailer

*Winner – Audience Favorite Feature Award – 2024 Boston Film Festival**

Starring:
Paul Guilfoyle (L.A. Confidential)
Taylor Gray (Saturday Night)
Alexandra Templer (“Only Murders in the Building”)
Thomas Kee (Blow the Man Down)
Armando Rivera (Wolves)

Written and Directed by Eric Aronson
Produced by Eric Aronson, Mark Donadio, Dana Scott, Emily Sheehan
Executive Produced by Jan Egleson, Paul Guilfoyle

Steve (Taylor Gray) is a night watchman in his early 20s but his life is already getting away from him: his band is falling apart, he owes a ton of money, and he’s in love with his best friend’s girl. When Marty Lyons (Paul Guilfoyle) comes along and ropes Steve into a world of misfits, oddballs, and lost souls as dirty as the Charles River, Steve wonders if this is a change for the better of if he’s about to make the worst mistake of his life.

ABOUT STAR TAYLOR GRAY
Taylor Gray is a versatile actor, best known for his appearance as Al Franken in Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night as well as voicing Ezra Bridger in Star Wars Rebels. With Any Day Now, Gray is making his feature star debut.

Marty (Paul Guilfoyle) and Steve (Taylor Gray) of the film "Any Day Now"

ABOUT STAR PAUL GUILFOYLE
Paul Guilfoyle commands the screen as Marty Lyons in Any Day Now. Born in Boston, is best known for his role as Captain Jim Brass on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” His film credits include L.A. Confidential, Air Force One, and Spotlight, while his TV roles range from “Miami Vice” to “Star Trek: Discovery’s Guardian of Forever.”

ABOUT DIRECTOR ERIC ARONSON
Eric Aronson is a Boston-based writer/director with 22-years of experience as a Hollywood screenwriter. He’s written numerous high-profile projects for Warners, Disney, Miramax, Lionsgate, and has worked closely with the likes of Sacha Baron Cohen, etc. Any Day Now is not only a labor of love to Boston, but also his directorial debut.

RT: 81 Minutes (the exact duration of the robbery)

FBI Confiscated Stolen Rembrandt! ANY DAY NOW Unique Activation for Upcoming Heist Film | Directed by Eric Aronson

Based on a true-ish art heist of Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the thieves who walked away with hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of art – the single largest unsolved property theft in the world.
The team behind the upcoming heist film
ANY DAY NOW
staged a unique art gallery experience in NY

in a guerilla-marketing stunt that was captured by numerous influencers causing a social media commotion
leading to 6.8M+ views across platforms
Of these influencers, @davidwma shared his coverage to his 1.3M Followers and his video currently sits at 3M views. Similarly, @kaylakrasnow shared with her 27K Followers and her video is sitting at 1M views; @itsnickholiday 541K Followers and 76.9K views; @definitely_kai_13 16.9K followers and 19.3K views.

The gallery exhibition, which was titled “13 Masterpieces, An Exclusive One-Weekend-Only Exhibition in Chelsea”, appeared to the general art gallery crowd – who lined up outside for entrance and packed the space on opening night – simply as any other gallery.

However, it was be revealed that the art was in fact fake and the security protecting the precious artifacts were actually from Improv Everywhere who partnered with the film to set up this special event.

@davidwma

Happened 5.13.25 around 9pm, FBI stormed in and took the Rembrandt #fbi #artgallery #rembrandt

♬ original sound – David Ma

Special Boston Screening Tonight!
March 17th
*Tickets available upon request

Releasing In Theaters & Kinema Friday, March 21st

The cast at the Boston Film Festival (photo from Instagram)

**Marking the 35th-anniversary of the notorious Boston heist**

 

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Interview with Katherine McNamara

TV Interview!

 

Kat McNamara, director James Bamford and producer Steven Paul of the film "High Ground," which premieres 3/18/25. (banner)

Interviews with Kat McNamara, director James Bamford and producer Steven Paul of the film “High Ground” by Suzanne 3/10 and 3/17/25

Here are two interviews…one I did with James Bamford and Steven Paul on March 10th, and one I did with Kat McNamara on March 17.  I enjoyed speaking to all three of them.

Katherine (or “Kat” as she’s called) was great fun to chat with. I learned something today. She is not only beautiful and multi-talented, but she’s also very smart, kind and dedicated to making change in the world (as well as in her own life). I learned that from reading about her, as well as from speaking with her. I would have like to ask her about how she deals with actor’s disappointments (such as not getting the “Arrow” spinoff, or having her other show canceled after one season), but I’ll bet she handles them very well.

The director and producer have clearly been working on movies and TV shows for a long time. Bamford worked on “Arrow “, so he and Kat know each other very well. They also did some previous movies together.  They were both very good about answering my questions.

“High Ground” is an action-packed modern western, but I noticed that it was also similar to some horror movies I’ve watched.  Kat (“Arrow,” “Walker: Independence”) plays a local waitress, the girlfriend of the new sheriff, Jake (Charlie Weber, “How to Get Away With Murder”). Jake’s father, Ezra (Oscar-winner Jon Voight) is the old wise man who’s trying to help Jake become the great sheriff that he knows he can become. A stranger, played by Henry Thomas (“E.T.”, “The Fall of The House of Usher”) comes to town, arrested by the deputy for speeding. Some gangsters are hunting the stranger and are willing to do whatever’s necessary to get him. It’s an exciting movie, with amazing actors, and it’s worth watching if you like action films or westerns. It premieres tomorrow, 3/18/25, on various digital platforms and OnDemand. I prefer Amazon Prime, myself, but I’m sure it will be in other places as well.

Director James Bamford and Producer Steven Paul

Kat McNamara

 

Key art for the movie "High Ground"MORE INFO: IMDB Trailer

When a mysterious prisoner lands in his jail, a border town sheriff faces the wrath of a brutal cartel in this action-packed thriller starring Charlie Weber, Katherine McNamara, and Academy Award® winner Jon Voight.

RELEASE DATE: Available to Buy on Digital March 18, 2025
DIRECTED BY: James Bamford
STORY BY: Bill Sondheim
SCREENPLAY BY: John Thaddeus
PRODUCED BY: Steven Paul
EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY: Scott Karol, Charlie Weber, Bernard Kira
STARRING: Charlie Weber, Jon Voight, Katherine McNamara, Dustin Ingram, James Oliver Wheatley, Henry Thomas, Skyler Shaye
DISTRIBUTED BY: Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label)
GENRE: Thriller, Independent, Western
RATING: R for strong violence, and language
SYNOPSIS: When a mysterious prisoner lands in his jail, a border town sheriff faces the wrath of a brutal cartel in this action-packed thriller starring Charlie Weber, Katherine McNamara, and Academy Award® winner* Jon Voight.

SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/paramountmovies/
https://www.facebook.com/ParamountMovies/
https://x.com/ParamountMovies
https://www.youtube.com/c/paramountmovies
#HighGroundMovie
*1978/Best Actor in a Leading Role/Coming Home
“ACADEMY AWARD®” is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

 

Kat McNamara stars in "High Ground," which premieres 3/18/25 from Paramount.KAT MCNAMARA is a singer, dancer, songwriter, actress and producer.  Her first big role was in “Shadowhunters” on ABC Family. Then she was in the 2nd and 3rd Maze Runner movies.  She appeared in the last two seasons of “Arrow” on The CW as Oliver and Felicity’s daughter, Mia, from the future. Following that, she starred in the western spinoff of “Walker” on The CW, “Walker: Independence,” which, unfortunately, lasted only one season.  She’s been making movies, like “High Ground,” ever since.

JAMES BAMFORD, also known by the nickname “BamBam”, is a Canadian film & television director, who was the sole “directing producer” of the series Arrow and directed 17 episodes of the series including multiple premieres, season finales, crossovers and the series finale. He started his career in the film and television industry as a stuntman and fight choreographer with his martial arts experience as his entry skill set. He continued on in his career to become a stunt coordinator, 2nd unit director, then director, and directing producer/executive producer. (From Wikipedia)

STEVEN PAUL is a prominent independent film producer with credits including Marvel’s ‘Ghost Rider’ and the more recent ‘Ghost In The Shell’ for Paramount Pictures. Paul also heads SP MEDIA GROUP, made up of the leading independent film studio SP ENTERTAINMENT, international sales agency CRYSTAL SKY, worldwide distribution arm SP RELEASING, and home entertainment distributor ECHO BRIDGE. Most recently, SP MEDIA GROUP acquired a majority stake in the Atlas Comics library in partnership with Paramount Pictures. (From https://www.spreleasing.net)

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Interview with Candi Milo

TV Interview!

 

Candi Milo, actress who voices Petunia Pig in "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie" (photo from Candi's Instagram).Petunia Pig, voiced by Candi Milo in "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie"

Interview with Candi Milo of the film “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” by Suzanne 3/11/25

It was so much fun to chat with Candi about this movie, playing Petunia, and more. She was delightful! I hope you enjoy the video and you can see how she has so much enthusiasm, and we laughed a lot. If you grew up loving the Warner Bros. cartoons like Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny and the rest, you should love this new movie! It’s very funny, entertaining and zany, with a good story. It premieres March 13th nationwide in theaters.

 

The Day The Earth Blew Up from Ketchup Entertainment (key art)MORE INFO: Official Site Trailer

Ketchup Entertainment will release THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE in theaters nationwide on March 14, 2025

SYNOPSIS

That’s not all folks! From Ketchup Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, director Peter Browngardt, and the creative team behind the award-winning “Looney Tunes Cartoons” comes THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE, a brand new buddy comedy starring one of the greatest comedic duos in history–Porky Pig and Daffy Duck! This  richly-crafted, hand-drawn 2D animated adventure marks the first fully-animated feature-length film in Looney Tunes history, told on a scope and scale that’s truly out of this world.

Porky Pig and Daffy Duck venture to the big screen as unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. Faced with cosmic odds, the two are determined to save their town (and the world!)… that is if they don’t drive each other totally looney in the process."The Day The Earth Blew Up" key art

Featuring the voices of acclaimed actors Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol, Wayne Knight, and Laraine Newman with the laugh-out-loud gags, vibrant visuals, and beloved characters that make the Looney Tunes so timeless and iconic. Ketchup Entertainment will release THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE wide in theaters on March 14, 2025.

CREDITS

Director: PETER BROWNGARDT

Line Producer: MICHAEL BAUM

Supervising Producer: ALEX KIRWAN

Executive Producers: PETER BROWNGARDT, SAM REGISTER

Porky Pig and Daffy Duck in "The Day The Earth Blew Up!

Written By: DARRICK BACHMAN, PETER BROWNGARDT, KEVIN COSTELLO,

ANDREW DICKMAN, DAVID GEMMILL, ALEX KIRWAN, RYAN KRAMER,

JASON REICHER, MICHAEL RUOCCO, JOHNNY RYAN, EDDIE TRIGUEROS

Music By: JOSHUA MOSHIER

Edited By: NICK SIMOTAS

Art Director: NICK CROSS

Production Designer: AARON SPURGEON

Production Company: WARNER BROS. ANIMATION

Run Time: 91 MINUTES

MPA Rating: PG FOR CARTOON VIOLENCE ACTION AND RUDE

SUGGESTIVE HUMOR

 

Art Director: NICK CROSS

Production Designer: AARON SPURGEON

Production Company: WARNER BROS. ANIMATION

Run Time: 91 MINUTES

Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and Petunia Pig in "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie"

SOCIAL HANDLES

·    YouTube:

·    WB Kids

·    Ketchup Entertainment

·    Instagram:

·    @LooneyTunes

·   @warnerbrosanimation

·    @ketchupentertainment

·    Facebook:

·    @LooneyTunes

·    @warnerbrosanimation

·    @ketchupentertainment

·    TikTok:

·    @LooneyTunes

·    @warnerbrosanimation

·    @ketchup.entertainment

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Interview with Josh McKenzie and Patrick Sabongui

TV Interview!

 

Josh McKenzier and Patrick Sabongui with The Hunting Party key art; (Photo by: NBCUniversal)

Interviews with Josh McKenzie and Patrick Sabongui of “The Hunting Party” on NBC by Suzanne

I enjoyed speaking with both of these actors. I interviewed Josh a few times previously, for the show “La Brea,” also on NBC. He’s very popular due to his previous roles.  I’m very glad I got to speak with Patrick because not only is he doing a bang-up job on this show, but he was amazing in “The Flash” as Captain Singh (a small but notable role). I hope they get a second season!

Josh McKenzie interview from 3/3/25

Patrick Sabongui interview 3/7/25

 

THE HUNTING PARTY -- Season: 1 -- Pictured: (l-r) Josh McKenzie as Shane Florence, Patrick Sabongui as Jacob Hassani, Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca Henderson, Nick Wechsler as Oliver Odell, Sara Garcia as Jennifer Morales -- (Photo by: Lindsay Siu/NBC)

MORE INFO: Official Site  Trailer

Josh McKenzie

Shane Florence, “The Hunting Party”

Josh McKenzie stars as Shane Florence, former solider and current prison guard, on the NBC drama “The Hunting Party.”

He first broke out in native New Zealand in the acclaimed THE HUNTING PARTY -- Season: 1 -- Pictured: Josh McKenzie as Shane Florence -- (Photo by: Lindsay Siu/NBC)feature “Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell,” for which he won the Oscar equivalent for Outstanding Feature Film Debut.

He’s familiar to audiences for his starring role on the NBC series “La Brea.” Prior to that, he was featured in the Australian series “Five Bedrooms.”

Other credits include roles in the international series “Shannara Chronicles” and “The New Legends of Monkey” on Netflix. He can be seen in season two of the Australian series “The Twelve.”

Patrick Sabongui

Jacob Hassani, “The Hunting Party”

THE HUNTING PARTY -- Season: 1 -- Pictured: Patrick Sabongui as Jacob Hassani -- (Photo by: Lindsay Siu/NBC)Patrick Sabongui stars as CIA agent Jacob Hassani on the NBC drama “The Hunting Party.”

Sabongui’s most recognizable television credits include “Homeland,” “Shameless,” “Firefly Lane,” “Shooter” and CW’s “The Flash,” where he played Captain David Singh for nine seasons.

On the big screen, his credits include “Godzilla,” “300,” “Drone,” “Between Borders” and the upcoming feature film “In Cold Light,” with Oscar winners Helen Hunt and Troy Kotsur. Other films include Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen” and “Sucker Punch,” “Tron: Legacy” and “Interrogation.”

On stage, credits include the Canadian premiere of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Disgraced,” and, most recently “Art” by Yasmina Reza at The Guthrie Theatre.

Sabongui earned a BFA in drama for human development from Concordia University, Montreal; a collegiate degree in drama from Vanier College, Montreal; a certificate from the National Theatre Conservatory Intensive, Colorado; and a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from the University of California.

Sabongui is an advocate for underrepresented voices and professor of theater and head of the BFA acting program at CUNY: Brooklyn College.

The Hunting Party

Series Premiere Monday Feb 3 on NBC (10 pm ET/PT)

A high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators who are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that’s not supposed to exist.

The cast includes Melissa Roxburgh, Nick Wechsler, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie and Sara Garcia.

Co-showrunners JJ Bailey (creator) and Jake Coburn are writers and executive producers. Thor Freudenthal is director and executive producer. Keto Shimizu is writer and executive producer.

“The Hunting Party” is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.THE HUNTING PARTY -- "Arlo Brandt" Episode 106 -- Pictured: (l-r) Josh McKenzie as Shane Florence, Melissa Roxburgh as Rebecca 'Bex' Henderson, Patrick Sabongui as Jacob Hassani -- (Photo by: James Dittiger/NBC)

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