Category Archives: Actor

Actor, Actor Profile, international Talent, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

CHERNYSH SHOWS HIS DARKER SIDE IN MULE

September 10, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

In 1984, a film buff who was working at a video store in Manhattan Beach, California wrote a script with a friend. Three years later, that same video store employee would turn that script into a film. The budget was a miniscule $5,000 but that film (My Best Friend’s Birthday) and the screenplay would become the basis for the film True Romance. Quentin Tarantino and his story have inspired legions of filmmakers and their work; filmmakers like Angus Bell Young. This Director/Writer/Producer and his award-winning film Mule are exactly the kind of gritty black drama/comedy that Tarantino is so fond of in his productions. There is something sad and funny about the foibles of humanity and their shortcomings. You can choose to cry or laugh and these filmmakers want to laugh. These filmmakers need a particular type of actor for their productions; someone whom audiences can both admire and hate. Very often they embody the anti-hero. Quentin’s films have given actors like Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Madsen the opportunity to play previously unexplored areas of their abilities and given light to the depth of their range. In Young’s Mule, he provided the same opportunity to Australian actor Caleb Chernysh. Mule won the Certificate of Excellence at the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival. It’s highly unusual for a foreign film to be recognized with the Certificate of Excellence at this festival; it’s an achievement which is a testament to Chernysh and the entire production.

Caleb plays Martin in Mule. Martin is not the kind of man who is destined for success or even making the most of his opportunities. In fact, he’s not even the kind of guy that Caleb would want to hang around with or befriend in real life even though the actor feels sorry for him. Martin is a “Fryboy” at a local takeaway, not that there is anything wrong with that…it’s an honest living. What is not so honest or endearing is the fact that Martin only does this job as a way of allowing him to eek by some type of earnings and focus on his heroin addiction. Sadly, this situation is the way in which many addicts struggle for as long as they can hold their lives together with some sense of normalcy. To inspire him for the role, Chernysh turned to the performance of one of today’s most celebrated actors and an early role of his. Caleb confirms, “I watched Leonardo DiCaprio in the Basketball Diaries. It’s one of my favorite movies from Leo. I emulated his character’s drug addiction traits, and used it in my performance. His character in the movie has so much potential and yet he is throwing it all away. It’s the kind of story and performance that makes you upset because you can see how everything is controlling him.” This 1995 movie, based on the book of the same title from the 1960’s and published in the 1970’s displays how this story is timeless…being found just as relevant in the mid 2010’s.

Chernysh (known for his film roles in Fractured, The Gap, Life Lesson, and TV shows like Quite Frankly) is proud of Mule’s recognition and his part in it. Caleb’s performance as Martin is frustrating, depressing, angering, and comical. That’s quite a range for one film and one actor. Martin is a lonely man, working as a burger chef. Because of his heroin addiction, he has a debt to his dealer “Frenchy.” Typically, Martin dodges Frenchy because he owes her money but after shooting up, he loses his inhibitions and finds her at her trading location…which is when things start to go wrong. Caleb describes Martin stating, “He’s a loner who has basically lost hope for life and only lives for heroin. I don’t do drugs or associate with people who do, so I couldn’t really use that knowledge to help me understand Martin. One thing everyone has experienced is pain. Heroin is really just a way to avoid that pain, whether it be a bad experience, a sense of loss, or even physical pain. It’s an overwhelming loss of hope that things will improve. Channeling that feeling helps you to feel what motivates a drug addict.”

The experience of making Mule was unusual for Chernysh in just about every way, including the casting audition. He recalls, “Angus posted an audition notice on Starnow. I applied for the role of Martin and he sent me a script. We had an initial meeting in a coffee shop, which, at first, I found unusual as I’m used to an audition room. After talking to each other about the script, I was given the part on the spot. Angus is an amazing guy to work for and I can’t wait to work with him again. He is very edgy and also very funny. When I read the script the first time, I was certain that the writer was influenced by Quentin Tarantino. We all know with Quentin’s movies ..its mainly crime/comedy. I saw the dark humor that Angus was trying to portray, and that’s why I was cast…because I understood the script. I think that is one of the things that people don’t always consider. Filmmakers want a great performance but they really need someone who understands the way in which they are trying to communicate the story. That perspective or reference point is so important.” Mule’s director/writer/editor Angus Bell Young agrees with Caleb commenting, “Caleb’s resume came to me whilst I was casting for Mule and I noticed he studied at the Actor’s Centre, which is the same school that Hugh Jackman attended. That impressed me, along with his credits, and I decided to meet him. I met him at a café and had a chat about the character and gave him the part straight away. I wanted the character Martin to also be a comic relief in this project, which meant I needed an actor who understood the character and their place in the story arc. During the shoot he went above and beyond. I added some scenes on the spot and some new directions throughout the shoot, and Caleb had no trouble keeping up and delivering the exact type of performance I needed.”

Technology and the public’s support of Indie films has made productions like this award-winning film possible with smaller production teams. The art of storytelling and the means by which high quality presentation meets intriguing and compelling storylines has become much more commonplace than ever before, resulting in great films and entertainment for the viewing public. Caleb Chernysh agrees, noting, “You get to know each crew member during breaks when it’s a small production. Sometimes in larger production, you don’t get to have the same personal relationships as you do with the smaller ones. With independent productions, you are part of a family and the film is everyone’s baby.”

Actor, Actor Interview, Actor Profile, Film, international Talent, Interviews & Features!, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

Exclusive Q&A With “Love By Chance” Talent Vishal Arora

September 7, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

“Love By Chance” star Vishal Arora has been appearing in stage plays, music videos and television series’ for several years. Much of Arora’s work has appeared on India’s well-known channel Bindass, a famous youth channel known for programs targeting the country’s younger generation.

Recently, Arora played the character of a Customer Care Executive on one of Bindass’s hit television series titled “Love By Chance.” Just this week, I had the chance to sit down with Arora and discuss the details of his character’s storyline within the episode, all outlined in our exciting interview below.

Currently, you’re living in Los Angeles, California. Where were you born and raised?
VA: I was born and raised in Ambala Cantt, Haryana north part of India. After completing my bachelor’s degree in computers, I moved to Mumbai where I started my acting career. I did theatre in the beginning and began getting work in TV Serials a year after. Since then, for the past four years, I have been working TV, music videos and commercial jobs.

For how many years have you been acting? Where did you initially get your start?
VA: It’s been 5 years now since I started initially. I began with theatre roles and from there began booking commercial projects.

Who and what inspired your acting career early on?
VA: My love of acting stems from my childhood; I love to live different lives, which is possible through this art form. In my school days I performed on stage. Whenever I perform on stage, it gives me a type of freedom we mostly don’t get in real life because of society rules and regulation in addition to rituals in my country. When I act, I’m living my dream. When I was younger, the stage was a great platform to begin with. From there, once you get started professionally, getting work helps you make a name for yourself and your family, which is exciting when you have the whole world watching your work.

“Love By Chance” is an episodic show that airs on Bindass TV where you played the character of a Customer Care Executive. What more can you tell me about the show’s plot? More so, what can you tell me about your character?
VA: It’s a fun filled story about a character named Joshi meeting a character named Ishita one day at work. My character and Joshi work for a glue manufacturing company. He is a door-to-door salesman for this brand glue and I work in the customer care back office called Lo Chipak Gaya where we work together. It is his 31st day at work and he has failed to meet the monthly sales target. He is under great pressure to perform. That’s when he steps out for some hard selling and meets Ishita. As soon as Ishita buys the glue – Joshi asks for a high five. Accidentally, some glue had gotten on to their hands as the glue bottles were faulty and then he calls me for a solution because I am his close friend and always he relies on me to solve his problems. Their hands get glued together and Ishita has a whole day of tasks planned ahead. From being an irritating sales man stuck with her to solving her problems throughout the day, Joshi eventually gets fired, but my character still motivates him while he’s leaving. In the end, Joshi charms his way to Ishita’s heart and they both decide to give a relationship a chance.

How did you initially become connected to the show? Did you have to audition for the role?
VA: I initially got connected through a casting director whom I had auditioned for with some other role. He sent me to this particular role, which was dependent on the character requirements.

What was the audition process like?
VA: Since I auditioned for something else that was also an episodic show, the process was fairly unique. I was given a script to perform and it took 1 hour for the whole process to conclude. Then, after few days, I got a call for “Love By Chance.” I was a bit surprised because I wasn’t expecting it at all.

Who are some of the other actors you collaborated with on “Love By Chance?” What was it like working with them?
VA: Joshi who is played by Rahul Sharma, and Ishita who is played by Huzan Mevawalla. It was fun working with them we had a good time on set. We got to know one another while working together. It was a great experience and we had many fun moments while shooting.

Can you tell me about a favorite memory or experience from the time you spent working on “Love By Chance?”
VA: It was when I was shooting for my particular scene where I had to act over the top like grandma’s do in Indian daily soaps. It was fun for everyone watching me doing that and was good experience for me to be able to play around and act so dramatically.

How would you say that “Love By Chance” allowed you to showcase your talents as an actor?
VA: It is always a good way to explore your skills and showcase your talents whenever I played characters like this the one I played on “Love By Chance.” My character was dramatic and over the top, which is totally different from how I am in my personal life. It gave me a means of showcasing my skills by being totally different from who I am in real life.

What’s next for you in the world of entertainment? What are your future career goals and aspirations?
VA: I am looking forward to working in film and TV in Hollywood because it’s a platform where I can really showcase my skills and also explore the things I’ve always wished to do with my acting. This type of art is unimaginable and everyday I explore something new personally. It’s a process, which can never end; it just gets better by working more everyday. My goals are to just do good work and entertain people with my skills and when I make someone laugh, that gives inspiration that I am doing something unique in life. It makes me feel like I am living for myself.

For more information on Vishal Arora, please visit: vishal-arora.branded.me

Actor, Canadian Talent, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

Canadian actor Philip Moran stars in feature film Adam’s Testament

September 6, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

Starring in a movie is every actor’s dream. To see their name in the lights and roll past their eyes at the top of the credits at the end of the movie, is often the end goal. However, it is easy to picture the end without the challenges of getting there. Actor Philip Moran had a challenge like no other.

Moran is the star of the film Adam’s Testament. The film is about an out of work ex-detective named Joseph Gable, played by Moran, who loses his wife to a fatal accident. His son also goes his own path, which turns out to be the wrong one. One day, Joseph decides he is going to make good out of all the bad he has done. He is confronted with many obstacles and demons, but simultaneously he has the support of angels. Joseph seeks absolution and allows himself to receive God. Through all this, Joseph contemplates suicide, has a heart attack, dies and resurrects.

The film is Moran’s first lead in a film, and quite a lead it was, as he alone had to memorize 65 per cent of the script.

“This film also pushed me in ways I have never experienced and made me a better actor. Being the star of this movie has been the greatest achievement to this day in my film world. I did my best and it worked effectively. I realized that I could be trusted with a big role responsibility and when faced with the obligation, I decided and conquered, something I never even fathomed before the time,” described Moran. “I am expecting bigger projects and success, and fear and doubt has left. I have the maximum 5000 friends on Facebook with people interested in following me and telling me how my success has inspired them to go after their dreams.”

This month, it was announced that Adam’s Testament has become an official selection for the Kingdom Film Festival, which has hosted films such as War Room and Miracles from Heaven. The film also had private TIFF Theater Screening in October of last year, and acquired a distributor in December. The film is expected to be screened to the public this November.

This is hardly Moran’s first venture to success. He was cast in the blockbuster film Total Recall in 2012, starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel. His work in Total Recall allowed him to connect with studio-head Rafael Kalamat, who is the producer of Adam’s Testament.

“As a director, it’s ‘safe’ to work with friends. However, it’s never easy. You can work with them and ‘get away with it’ because they possibly know you will always make them look good. But with Philip it was a pleasurable and professional relationship. He had an Olympic work ethic and was more focused then some of the top talent in Canada that I have worked with. It can be very intimidating working with ‘real actors’ because they start asking difficult questions. What’s my character’s spine? Where is the arc in the scene? What is my emotional state when delivering these lines? Scene intention? Although the cliché, ‘what’s my motivation’ sounds like actor nonsense, it’s certainly not with Philip Moran,” said Kalamat. “Trained actors like Philip desperately need this information to create a competent performance. His role in Adam’s Testament as Detective Joseph Gable is complex to say the least. As an alcoholic-faith-driven-father that dies and is resurrected, takes a lot out of you, lol. Not to mention he was on sixty-two of the one hundred-plus pages of the screenplay. He gave myself and co-director Jason Barbeck his 100 per cent every day, even on an off day. Now that says a lot about Philip as an actor and as a person.”

Moran impressed so many of the people on the set of the film, including executive producer Todd Yuill, and the writer, director, and producer Jason Barbeck

“Philip Moran was an extraordinary actor to be around while he was acting and most of all it was amazing, but he was able to stay in character for the entire time the movie was shot,” said executive producer Todd Yuill. Yuill shared the role of executive producer with his mother Elva Yuill, who passed away just after the film was completed.

“Philip was very dedicated to the role of Joseph and came to set each day ready and willing to work,” said Barbeck. “He was diligent with the script and the enormous amount of lines he had to memorize, being that he was the lead and was in pretty much every day of the shoot. Many people try to speculate as to what makes a good actor. In today’s world it seems that the audience dictates what that is. In my opinion a good actor is someone who is emotionally available and willing to go places most people would rather not. It’s the willingness to be uncomfortable and still keep going. To trust the directors vision and go with him on that journey until the end. There are of course many degrees of this and it is a lifelong pursuit and a marathon but Philip was able to see the role of Joseph through to the end. For his first leading role I would say he did an outstanding job.”

For Moran, one of the best parts about being in the film was the people he got to work alongside with. These include Nick Mancuso, Art Hindle, Sebastian Mclean, Zoe De Grand Maison from Orphan Black, and Degrassi’s Luke Bilyk,

“Adam’s Testament provided me the opportunity to work with other great actors in a much bigger capacity than other projects I worked on previously,” said Moran. “I learned so much from these actors, having done over 100 movies. They led me to grow and push boundaries unlike what I have ever done. The directors allowed for the actors’ input. We all worked in harmony to finish effectively”

Despite the success that is expected to come for the film, Moran still believes the film was a learning experience, and a great achievement.

“I learned that it’s just practice and planning your journey, and in a short while a person can live their dreams,” he concluded. “I definitely learned that I am becoming lead-actor ready.”

Actor, Actor Profile, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

Pushing His Craft to the Limit, Actor Leandro Simozza Shines in Drama

September 3, 2016 Scott Prewitt Leave a comment

Actor Leandro Simozza shot by Lishabai Yi

For some, the drive for creative expression is instinctive. Just as a person may inherit their father’s eyes or their grandmother’s nose, so too can they inherit a passion for the arts. That couldn’t be more true than it is for Venezuelan-American Leandro Simozza, who comes from a family rich with creative talent. His incredible skill as an actor is due in no small part to the inspiration and encouragement he’s received from his mother, an accomplished painter, and his uncle, a virtuosic musician.

Simozza has been acting on screen and stage his entire life, and the combination of that experience and his innate gift for performance shines in every one of his roles. Moreover, the impact of his work is made all the more powerful by his penchant for frequently addressing social issues in his projects.

“I like to make something that has a strong message to society and the world,” Simozza says of his wide range of roles. “It is so important to do something one feels passionate about and I am grateful to have been able to portray many different kinds of roles.”

To call Simozza’s list of credits diverse isn’t an exaggeration, but an understatement. The Venezuelan tour de force has embodied everything from a family man struggling with alcoholism in “Regrets” and an American crack fighter pilot in “The Second Coming of Christ” to a modern day cartel mobster in “The Head of The Mouse.”

In addition to being the writer and editor of the film “Regrets,” Simozza also starred in the tragic drama as Emiliano, a father determined to drink himself to death after the loss of his daughter.

“He tries to destroy his life, but thanks to his nurse and professional help he realizes all the damage he’s caused and tries to overcome the situation,” Simozza said. “He wants his daughter to be able to look down on him and be happy about the fact that he’s changed his life and quit drinking.”

Because he was so thoroughly involved in every part of the production, Simozza went to great lengths studying and researching both the subject matter and the script. That research even included attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and hearing the true stories of real people who have lived the similar substance abuse nightmares as his character Emiliano in the film.

When he wrote the script for “Regrets,” Simozza was determined to shine a light on the iron grip of alcoholism and on the life-shattering toll this insidious disease can take on not only the afflicted, but on their families and loved ones.

Leandro Simozza (left) & Christos Tsiloglanidis (right) in “Beaten” shot by Domingo Santay

That drive to tell compelling stories with powerful messages is what led Simozza to play the racist antagonist in the film “The Murder of Tasneem Ali.” The film follows the titular character Tasneem, a young Muslim girl, as she is relentlessly harassed and derided by Simozza’s character. Filmed in black and white, “The Murder of Tasneem Ali” is a gripping examination of Islamophobic abusers and their victims.

Simozza once again portrayed an addict in “Escaping the Gang Life.” His character, Luke, is a criminal hardened by years of drug abuse. Audiences soon see that beneath the surface of his sordid lifestyle lies a good, albeit flawed man. Luke’s friend and fellow gang member Luan, played by Klement Tinaj (“Furious 7”), struggles to leave the gang alive.

“His exit is violent, and the surviving gang members will not allow Luan to get away without a massive blood bath,” Simozza said. “My character is one of the members of the PMW Gang and he helps Luan find out who killed Luan’s sister, Angela, and get revenge for their loss.”

Whether explosive and action-packed or heartfelt and dramatic, Leandro Simozza’s works are almost always centered around issues of social strife. Like his mother and uncle, he recognizes the uniquely powerful role of the arts as a mirror for humanity. Addiction, prejudice and violence are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the scope of subjects examined in Simozza’s work. Brilliant and unrivaled not just as an actor but as a writer, editor and producer, Simozza’s long and ever-growing list of credits continues to amaze critics and audiences alike.

Actor, Featured Actress, Film, international Talent, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

ANA ROZA CIMPERMAN IS THE DEFINITION OF A DREAM GIRL IN EIGHT AND A HALF CIRCLES

September 2, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

Eight and a Half Circles is a movie which makes the viewer disoriented in an intriguing way. For filmgoers who prefer not to have the action spoon fed to them, this passion piece by filmmaker Gregor Kresal is premiering at the Teplice nad Metuji film festival in the Czech Republic and screenings at the Poprad film festival in Slovakia and at the Spotkania film festival in Poland. The female lead of Eight and a Half Circles is Slovenian born actress Ana Roza Cimperman. Cimperman’s performance as Cat is luminous and yet ethereal, which is exactly the reason Kresal states that she was the very first actress he thought of when he created the role. This film which defines the term psychodrama, allows viewers to enter the altered state of reality of a man who is grasping feverishly to understand what is reality and what his life has meant to those around him. Eight and a Half Circles delivers with a great surprise ending but keeps you guessing about what is fact and what is self-fulfilling/desired reality until the very end.

Actress Ana Roza Cimperman is proof of two things in film; the film community is global now more than ever, and Hollywood still attracts the elite from across the planet. Cimperman has amassed a number of film and TV credits in the past few years (Jefferson, Nympho’s Diary, Rayven Choi, The Man Van, etc.) and is the female lead in Eight and a Half Circles. The fact that this Slovenian born and educated actress exhibits not even a hint of an accent in her role as the American “Cat” in this film, gives profound credit to both her acting as well as her focus on the language of the film. Ana confirms that this was paramount to her approach as Cat stating, “The most difficult part was probably the fact that this was my first film in English. At first, it is really hard to be relaxed and natural in a language that is not your mother tongue, but with enough rehearsal you can get past it. There is also this pressure of sounding as American as possible to not seem out of place in a movie where everyone else is American. After a while you have to let go of that and just focus on the scene and the present moment.” Certain scenes were framed in ways which excluded Cat’s face, in order to portray Omm (the male lead role played by New York actor Joey Maida)’s sense of confusion and disorientation. This required Ana to focus on how to communicate with her body rather than facial expressions or dialogue, creating yet another challenge for her role. Her commitment to reaching for the new places that the role of Cat brought is exactly the reason Eight and a Half Circles creator/writer/director chose Ana. As a grantee of the David Lynch Foundation, Kresal not only experienced filmmaking in the US but also struck a harmonious chord with Lynch. Both artists enjoy the psychological approach to storytelling. Kresal used his experience as an Alpinist to convey the mind altering states that these adventurous mountaineers are subject to experiencing. This is the core of Eight and a Half Circles. Gregor describes the film as an Alpinist’s reflection of Dante’s Inferno. As Omm (the male lead) is preparing for a climbing expedition in Pakistan, he gets the feeling that something might go wrong; which he shares with his girlfriend Cat. He is agitated. Every night he wakes up restless and feels he is drifting further away from Cat. He then wakes up in a hospital room and is told that he has already gone on his expedition, fell ill and was transported to the hospital. In that moment he realizes that Cat is really the woman nursing him while he is recovering from surgery and that his whole relationship with her was just a fragment of his imagination. Kresal comments, “Eight and a Half Circles is extremely important to me as it is essentially my life story. When I completed the script, I immediately thought of Ana Roza who I had met a few years prior in Ljubljana, Slovenia. She plays the role of Cat, Omm’s girlfriend who turns out to be just a fragment of his imagination that his mind creates when he is recovering from surgery in the hospital. Her character had to be grounded but it still had to possess a dream-like quality which Ana managed to pull-off perfectly.” Ana recalls, “Gregor knew me from my work on the feature film Tomorrow in which I had the lead role. I see some similarities between the character of Mojca, who I played in Tomorrow, and Cat as they are both gentle, thoughtful and sensible women so perhaps that made the decision to cast me easier. I was only familiar with Gregor’s work on the documentary Sfinga (The Sphinx) so I was not sure what the tone and the story of the movie would be. I knew it was going to feature mountaineering so I was expecting more of a dynamic, action-based film. I was pleasantly surprised when I read the script which has many layers and depth. It features interesting multi-dimensional characters so it took me several readings to figure out what was really going on. This was a good sign for me as it meant there were many ways to approach this character.”

The viewing audience is often required to contemplate what is reality in Eight and a Half Circles as well as the true motivation and actions of the characters in the film. This makes the surprise ending even more gratifying…SPOILER ALERT. The surreal nature of Cat necessitated contemplation from Cimperman who states, “In the movie there is the real Cat who is a nurse and also the imaginary one, which Omm’s brain created based on the brief moment when they met for the first time. The imaginary one was definitely more mysterious and inquisitive while the real one was more supportive and caring. At first, I almost fell into the trap of playing her in a dreamy and angelic way… which would have been completely wrong because it is important that she is a real and grounded person. It is what keeps the viewer interested in their story and the loss at the end greater when you realize none of those intimate moments between her and Omm really happened.”

Eight and a Half Circles is a film which appeals to the audience in many different ways. The action and adrenaline of mountain climbing with its potential dangers, the inner workings of the human psyche as a way to deal with threats, and the intrigue of the unknown; all are present and accessible in this production. The anticipation at many film festivals, based on word of mouth alone, are proof of film’s ability to peak interest. Cimperman is just as excited about the public’s reception of this film, which she considers to be a major achievement. She is excited to take on more English speaking roles but admits to being drawn to the cerebral aspect rather than daredevil influenced roles. Cimperman reveals, “Joey Maida (Omm) is a very talented and hardworking actor based in New York. I admired the way he dived into the role although it dealt with a sport he was not that familiar with. He was not afraid of challenges and even traveled to Europe to shoot the second part of the movie in the Italian Alps. I have done adventurous sports in the past and I enjoy the rush but, as a working actress, being injured means you cannot work. Acting is my true passion which means that anything which keeps me from acting is not worth giving that up.”

Actor, Actor Interview, Canadian Talent, Film, international Talent, Interviews & Features!, Reviews, Interviews & Features!, Television

ACTOR MICHELLE ALEXANDER SHIFTS FROM HORROR TO COMEDY WITH HILARIOUS NEW SERIES ‘OVERACHIEVING UNDERDOGS’

August 31, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

To say that actor Michelle Alexander is versatile would be a thundering understatement. While the Vancouver Island-born performer is best known for her role as serial killer Alison on the innovative horror anthology series Darknet, Alexander’s current small screen incarnation, as Tess on web series Overachieving Underdogs, plays at the opposite end of the spectrum—it’s a fast, funny comedy centered on two young women living in Toronto—but for Alexander, the transition was simple.

““Both genres need to be 110% believable and authentic,” she said. “If a viewer can smell a ‘funny moment’ is being played for the joke rather than fulfilling the circumstances of that character, it feels false.”

Alexander’s keen grasp on the emotional mechanics of performance are impressive, and provide a fascinating insight in the actor’s modus operandi. “In terms of preparation, the two genres are not as different as people think,” Alexander said. “Drama is a tragedy with irrevocable consequences—death, heartbreak, loss. But comedy is tragedy without those consequences—your pants fall down in public; you fart during grace at your in-laws’ dinner party. The trick is to give the ‘comic circumstances’ as much importance as you would a dramatic tragedy. The comedy is there for the viewer, but the actor has to be invested in the circumstance.”

In Overachieving Underdogs, Alexander makes it look easy, and the results are hilarious. With equally gifted co-star, Sophia Fabiilli, the pair’s zany impulses, emotional vulnerability and unpredictable gags are deftly realized, and run the full comic route, from physical slapstick to razor sharp repartee

Together, the two make a formidable team. “Sophia is amazing,” Alexander said. “Everybody say that we have an onscreen chemistry that is rare. The series is all about our characters, Tess and Polly, individually as well as their relationship, so we share a lot of screen time. We know how to feed each other in the moment and riff on a joke together. Plus, like me, she’s determined to get an authentic funny moment rather than a ‘cheap funny moment’. We push each other to go further, to take bigger risks, to make each moment as funny and full as it can possibly be. She’s a joy to be on set with.”

The pairing has created a volatile, endearing and evident bond that provides a solid foundation for wild comic escapades, from irony laden observations on contemporary life to the pitfalls of dating and the unexpected twists which the two women face, as Alexander said, when “going after the dreams they never knew they wanted.”

“In terms of comedic performance, Sophia and I shine most in scripted comedy, rather than stand-up or sketch,” Alexander said. “Following on the success of series like Broad City and Garfunkel and Oates, we decided to put those skills to the test.”

“It’s been pure fun,” Alexander said. “The pilot shoot was peopled by highly skilled professionals both in-front of and behind the camera. We all believe so much in the potential of the series that we all brought our best work to the pilot. The set designer even made a “Tess and Polly shrine” in Tess’ apartment. I’m not sure if you ever see it on camera, but it’s a metaphor for how every tiny detail was attended to and cared for. “

Alexander also generates enthusiasm among her colleagues. “Michelle brings a great energy to set, always prepared, focused on the end game, willing to take risks,” director Patrick Hodgson said. “Directing her on Overachieving Underdogs was a fantastic experience. Her bright energy carried over to the crew and made for a genuinely fun time on the show. When we reached moments of conflict, or struggled with a scene, we put our heads together and worked out a solution that worked for both of us. No drama, no ego. She is a diligent, committed performer, who is keen to collaborate with her scene partners and director, always early to set and eager to make sure the cast and crew were all taken care of.”

The series’ wit and charm have an empathic appeal that’s bound to reach a larger audience. “We are currently in talks with some Canadian networks, one in Europe and one in the US, to produce a full 13-episode season of the show,” Alexander said. “And we’ve been overwhelmed by the popular response. Publications, both in Canada and the US, wanted to write about it, women from as far away as the UK tweeted at us that they “felt like you are making this series for me.”

The show’s success lies with Tess and Polly’s—and Alexander and Fabiilli’s—personal relatability, a genuine emotional quality that can’t be manufactured, but is instantly recognizable. As Alexander said, “Once Sophia and I, dressed as Tess and Polly, did a promo stunt in downtown Toronto during rush hour. We had two girls shout from the streetcar, ‘I’m a TESS!’ and ‘I’m a POLLY!’”

Actor, Canadian Talent

Canadian actor Cody Sparshu to star in upcoming film Overboard

August 30, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

cody 2 — Cody Sparshu will star in the upcoming film Overboard.

Despite being from a small town Cody Sparshu always had big dreams. He never let the lack of acting opportunities in Westlock, Alberta interfere with his plans to be in actor. His determination is part of why he has achieved what he has, and now the actor has been cast as the lead in the upcoming and anticipated feature film Overboard.

Overboard is a psychological drama about eight high school friends who bonded together over tragedy in their school. Ten years later they get together for a reunion aboard a luxury yacht and tragedy strikes again. The screenplay was written by writer/producer Mat Lo, and the film is set to be shot in Vancouver, Canada during the summer of 2017.

“The script is quite complex and I’m excited to play a character that has so much going on beneath the surface. His relationship to every other character in the film is so unique and dynamic that I feel there’s some real opportunity to dig deep and develop something interesting,” said Sparshu. “It’s going to be a lot of fun for me both artistically and because I love boats.”

The script for the film was written by Mat Lo. Sparshu says it’s already been quite fun throwing around ideas with him and talking about the characters.

“When I read Overboard I was really drawn in by the script. The characters are all quite interesting with really cool back stories which I think will make for a great dynamic. My character in particular is quite different from me, yet also hits close to home in a lot of ways. I’m really excited to dig into what makes him tick and really take it somewhere interesting,” he described.

Prospective director of the project James D. Schumacher has seen Sparshu’s work and finds him to be an impressive actor.

“I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with Cody. I first saw his work at the world premiere of Double Booked in Los Angeles, and when I met him in person at the event it amazed me how different he was from the character he portrayed,” said Schumacher. “Cody seamlessly transforms himself into the characters he plays and it will be a lot of fun to work with that talent and mould something unique together.”

The current plan is to film Overboard in the summer of 2017 which should make a release date around Spring 2018.

Sparshu is no stranger to success. He is in the film Double Booked, which premiered at Action on Film Festival in Los Angeles, and screened at the Northern Virginia International Film Festival and the Sunscreen West Festival in LA. The film was nominated by the Alberta Motion Picture Industry Association’s Rosie Awards for Best Feature Drama and Best Original Score.

“That movie was a lot of fun to shoot. I got cast as a last minute addition to the film, giving me just over a week to prepare around 60 pages of dialogue heavy, dramatic scenes. I locked myself at home for the week and dug in which was a pretty immersive experience. I pretty much lived as my character Jeff once we hit the cabin,” described Sparshu.

Sparshu appeared in CMT’s series Pet Heroes, and was also in the series Bluff. He was the lead of the acclaimed short In the Grip, and most recently appeared in Umbrella Collective’s feature Incontrol. That being said, he describes the highlight of his career as getting to act alongside one of his favorite actors Keifer Sutherland.

“I’m a huge fan of the show 24, it’s one of my all-time favorites. I was working on a film with Keifer and towards the end of the shoot they needed someone for a small character who he draws a gun on and tells to get out. Knowing I was also an actor they told me to go get into wardrobe. It’s probably one of the shortest moments I’ve had on screen but Keifer is so incredibly talented I instantly had the fear that Jack Bauer puts into a man,” Sparshu described. “It was a really cool experience and he’s a great guy.”

Sparshu first realized his love for acting at the age of six. He was a chatty kid, so his teachers decided acting would be a good outlet for him.

“I was cast as the lead in our first grade play The Greedy Green Goose. I went on to do drama through school, but being from a small Alberta town, film opportunities didn’t exist at the time. Once I graduated, I tried out some other things, but it was acting that drew me back in,” he said.

Despite his success, Sparshu still says there are challenges that everyone faces in the industry.

“Sometimes I’m my biggest challenge when it comes to really finding the truth in a scene. Sometimes I have personal stuff to overcome for it to really work, but doing the work causes growth,” he describes. “That’s not always easy but it’s always worth it.”

But above all, Sparshu genuinely loves acting, and it is this passion that brings him success.

“I love the opportunity to embrace all sides of who I am. My dark side, everything that’s within me, I have permission to let it out, to express it, to be real,” he concluded. “I get to play.”

Actor, Actor Interview, Actor Profile, international Talent, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

ORION LEE, SO TRANSFORMATIVE THAT EVEN HIS CO-STARS MUST MEET HIM TWICE

August 29, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

Orion Lee seems to have it all and yet, by looking at his history it seems that he can’t rest. This world traveler was born in Hong Kong but has resided in Zurich, Australia, Malaysia, London, and is steadily moving towards the US. While working in finance, he took an acting class to try something new and soon discovered that he not only enjoyed it but, was quite good at it. After relocating to study (and graduate in 2009) from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, he quickly began a career in television and film. Among many others, his film credits include; Fury (the 2014 war film starring Brad Pitt & Shia LaBeouf with 19 nominations and five awards including the USA National Board of Review win for Best Ensemble, grossing $208 MM worldwide), Skyfall (with 108 nominations and 71 wins including two Oscars, grossing $1.1 Billion worldwide), and many others. His roles range from military action characters to elderly Math instructors, exhibiting a wide range of personalities and physicality. Lee is an actor who is highly charismatic on camera but who sometimes opts for the more subtle aspects of a character in order to truly take on their visage. As a classically trained actor, Orion appreciates the challenges of the diverse spectrum of opportunities which he has been able to engage in his career. Two of his roles, Deng Loashi in A Brilliant Young Mind and Anderson in The Expert, perfectly present how this actor can take one idea and present completely incongruent performances.

Orion Lee’s performance as Deng Laoshi in A Brilliant Young Mind is one that allows him to set aside his marquee attractiveness and make a drastic physical transformation. Lee’s performance is somewhat heart wrenching for viewers as they witness a character who is both noble and yet has been passed over by some of life’s base rewards. Orion describes his character stating, “Deng is a man who has devoted his life to his career in math and teaching. He finds himself in a situation where he is unmarried and missing a family life so he overcompensates in his protectiveness of his niece and wanting her to succeed. I appreciate Deng’s loneliness and caring for family as well as his devotion to math and teaching. He works hard to improve his students’ lives and takes pride in heading the top team in the Math Olympiad.”

Lee used his own personal experience of growing up in an East Asian culture while living in a Western country to interpret and communicate the essence of Deng Laoshi. Playing a much older man with a similar yet different cultural experience from his own, Lee discussed ideas with wardrobe and makeup to arrive at a physical appearance that is completely transformative and unrecognizable. Orion confirms, “Changing the tempo, posture, movement and voice accent of my usual self allowed me to create a character who embodies this pride at the purity of math and teaching together with a parental over protectiveness. Conversations with hair and makeup and costuming completed the characters aging process. Deng has a certain lack of modern style due to age and growing up in Communist China. I’m proud of the creation of a character which is different from myself yet completely believable and natural on screen. This was exemplified by the fact that Alex Lawther, one of the actors in this film, introduced himself to me twice: once when I was myself (Orion Lee) and once when I was Deng the character before realizing he had already met me.”

A Brilliant Young Mind is a story about Math competitions but the actual subtext is about overcoming your own fears. The film was quite successful, with multiple nominations from the British Independent Film Awards, the London Critics Circle Film Awards, the Seattle International Film Festival, and wins at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival as well as the Palm Beach International Film Festival (winning Best Film). The story of an awkward teenage math prodigy who competes at an International Mathematics Olympiad resonates with anyone who has felt insecure and somewhat out of place, unaware of their own true strength.

The filming locations, split between the UK and Taiwan afforded A Brilliant Young Mind’s cast some fun and interesting opportunities. Orion recalls, “Part of the film was set in Taipei and the cast had a brilliant time visiting Taiwan and bonding over exploring a new city. Finding a noodle restaurant where the meals cost £2 and checking out the night markets (including eating novelty pastry’s shaped as genitalia!).”

A Diametric presentation of a similar character to Deng Laoshi would be that of Anderson in The Expert. In this film, Orion plays a man who might have a similar uncomfortability with others like Deng, but the delivery is with humor and relatability rather than a serious tone. Lee was heavily involved in The Expert early on. He explains, “The script was originally tested at a showcase for new work called the Constellation Creatives CoLab. The director altered the script to suit a stage version and we tested the material in front of a live audience before doing a final draft of the script and then shooting it.Constellation Creatives is a collective I founded of film, theatre, and television professionals. The Constellation Creatives CoLab is a not for profit showcase of work in film, theatre, and television in collaboration with and held at the private members club, The Hospital Club. The Hospital Club was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen through his investment company Vulcan Inc. and Dave Stewart (formerly of the band Eurythmics)/producer and Founder of Weapons of Mass Entertainment).

The Hospital Club’s main ethos is to support the creative industries by providing an inspiring environment that actively encourages its members to create, connect and collaborate. Members include designers, writers, creative entrepreneurs, performers, producers, musicians and film makers.”

Lee plays the lead role of Anderson, the resident expert at a company which produces geometric shapes for its clients. Rather than a tale centered on events and a climactic resolution, The Expert is a study on how certain professionals find themselves challenged to communicate and relate to others. The genius of The Expert is that many groups of professionals of varied vocations see themselves as Anderson. It was the comedic aspect of this storyline and role that enticed Orion to become involved. He comments, “The fun and challenging part of the role was to create a character whose responses and reactions are believable and yet funny: to tread the line of reality and comedy. Also Anderson needed to be someone that people recognized and related to. I learned a lot from being involved in The Expert; collaborating with the director to develop the script and source the actors for the other parts was a fun process and expanded my skill set in the industry. More than ever, I understand the importance of working with an excellent cast…working off them and with them to create the action and reaction of comedy.”

Orion Lee is an actor who seeks out varied roles to expand his character study. His extensive background in theater has empowered him with a perspective which respects the craft while he uses the vehicle of film and tv to reach a wide audience. He takes a traditional approach to performance in a modern society. With a multicultural background and a passport full of experiences, he endeavors to pursue new avenues to add colors to an already ample palette.

Actor, Film, international Talent, Interviews & Features!, Intetnational Films, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

Multicultural Roots Help Actor Ashley Tabatabai Take on Diverse Characters on Screen

August 21, 2016 Scott Prewitt Leave a comment

International actor Ashley Tabatabai has benefitted immensely from his worldly background and time spent in an array of countries, surrounded by exotic and varied cultures, languages and people. Born in the UK to parents of English, German and Iranian descent, he was raised in Spain, and picked up an American accent during his years in International school. All of this lends to Tabatabai’s mysterious aura enhanced by a grasp of dialects which make him an invaluable asset for casting directors. But it’s his raw talent as a performer that forms the keystone in the illustrious career he’s built for himself.

Tabatabai has been extremely active in the industry for years. First and foremost he is an actor, delivering powerful performances in several television series including “Color Me Grey” and “Have I Been Here Before?,” as well as in films such as “Digital You,” “Louis: Lost In Motion,” and the upcoming drama “Falsified.” His love of acting, however, stems from his passion for storytelling. That’s why the extensive list of credits he’s accumulated includes not only his myriad roles as an actor, but also his work as a writer and producer on an array of acclaimed projects.

“I operate on two fronts. One as an actor, auditioning for and booking great roles, and the other as a storyteller and producer who creates his own content. I believe the two to go hand in hand,” Tabatabai said. “I’m a huge advocate of creating original work and telling your own stories.”

Last year Tabatabai assumed the role of undercover cop Johnny Clemence in the first episode of the upcoming series “Color Me Grey.” Surrounded by mobsters and in too deep to get out, the constant risk that Johnny will be found out grows more and more imminent. As the suspense grows to a crescendo, viewers will find themselves glued to the edge of their seats. Though everyone in this series leads a double life, this is especially true for Johnny.

Ashley Tabatabai "Color Me Grey" — Scott Michael Wagstaff (left) & Ashley Tabatabai (right) in “Color Me Grey” shot by Adam Lyons

“Johnny is a really enigmatic character, quietly observant and always processing and calculating,” Tabatabai said. “This is a guy who has gone undercover to infiltrate a criminal organization, whose own members lead double lives to help do their underhand business. So in essence Johnny is operating multiple covers at all times.”

Another of Tabatabai’s films, the early 20th century period piece “Louis Lost In Motion,” blew audiences away in 2014 with its imaginative approach to storytelling. Filled with intrigue and mystery, the film focuses on two key figures in early filmmaking — Louis Le Prince and Thomas Edison.

“[This] is a film based on the conspiracy theory around Louis Le Prince, who is famed as the first person to ever record moving images on his single-lens camera. He mysteriously vanished after boarding a train, before ever getting to patent his invention,” Tabatabai said. “To this day, no one knows what happened to him or why.”

Often, it is particularly difficult for actors to play real people, contemporary or historical. When the opportunity to arose for Tabatabai to do so, he jumped at the chance.

“The period costume as well as hair and makeup really helped me to drop into the body of the character. Being immersed in the actual locations where he actually spent time was a great way to picture what his experience might have been like,” he said. “There is always a sense of pressure involved when portraying a real person, especially someone as iconic as this.”

Check out the trailer for “Louis Lost in Motion” below:

Most recently, Tabatabai stars as Javier Baena in “Falsified,” an upcoming film about the reunion between a father and the son who was stolen from him at birth. Tabatabai also wrote and produced the film, which is based on a frighteningly real epidemic of infant thefts that occurred over the course of 50 years.

“It’s very much about the dynamic between a parent and child, and in particular a father and son,” Tabatabai said, describing the stirring drama. “On another level I feel it’s important to raise awareness of the scandal that happened in Spain.”

The vast range of roles he’s portrayed speaks volumes to his talent and reputation as an actor. Eager audiences can catch Ashley Tabatabai in “Falsified” later this year, and in the upcoming film “Digital You,” which is set for release in 2017.

Actor, Actor Profile, Canadian Talent, Film, international Talent, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

JAPAN IS A STATE OF MIND

August 10, 2016 pressva Leave a comment

Everyone knows that person; the one who goes on vacation and returns with an affect. It might be a foreign accent or a way of dressing, possibly even eating patterns or mannerisms. The trait is off-putting to most of us. It can however, be a source of amusement as in the film JAPAN. The film is the brainchild of Canadian comedy group Tony Ho. One of JAPAN’s stars is the affable and amusing Adam Niebergall. Adam plays Marty, a character that all of us know. Niebergall’s performance, along with that of Roger Bainbridge [Nolan] and Miguel Rivas [Pat Dunkling], remind us of the interplay amongst a key group of great comic actors. Whether watching Laurel & Hardy, The Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers, or modern teams like Adam Sandler and Kevin Hart, the joy is always in witnessing their overcompensation towards the mundane and reminding us to laugh at the reflection of ourselves. Comedic greats allow us to remove the weight of things off our shoulders no matter what the setting. Niebergall and his costars fully achieve this goal in a hilarious take on office politics and the idea that the Rolling Stones expressed, “You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometime you find you get what you need.”

Any fan of either the British or American versions of TV’s The Office will readily be amused by JAPAN. An overly eager, somewhat politically incorrect boss like Pat Dunkling will seem incredibly familiar to fans of either show. Pat is not derivative of David Brent or Michael Scott but he is an archetype of this manner. He is overly exuberant and we get the feeling that he very easily falls in and out of love with anything that he can take on as a persona to make himself more interesting, often to the discomfort of those around him. When Dunkling returns from holiday in Japan, he decides that he will have two interns compete for a paid position with the company via a karaoke battle. Rivas’s performance as Dunkling is well contained and not over the top, which is difficult considering his Japanese stereotype infused wardrobe, hair, and makeup. The true belly laughs are delivered courtesy of Marty and Nolan. While preparing for the competition, we see both men have a glimpse of their past as well as their future. The hyperbolic visions of both are there to tell us how we all invest a little too much of ourselves in every small event that occurs, or at least the ones we have deemed to be truly important.

Niebergall has shown a wide range in films, although all have comedy at their core. In films like WANDA he plays a man who is at times threatening and quick to become violent; passionate and somewhat menacing. In Dissection it was fear; in Giordano it was desperation, but Marty in this film is a genuinely likeable and harmless guy. Viewer’s get the sense that Marty wants to do well but doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes in the process…unless he is pushed, which happens in JAPAN. Niebergall (who won a Canadian Comedy Award in 2015) describes his character stating, “Marty is an unmotivated, classic privileged white male. He’s 25 years old and he’s never had anything to be afraid of except for maybe hard work. He comes from a long line of very successful men and he represents the apple that really did actually fall pretty far away from the tree, if trees could throw apples instead of dropping them. However, when Marty’s sedentary bubble is burst by Pat Dunkling’s offer of a potential promotion he is suddenly willing to put his all into winning the competition. He feels he can make up for his whole life by trying hard for the first time in this moment. He’s a great character because he reminds me of myself and a lot of people I know who don’t really know or appreciate how good they have it sometimes.” Marty shows us that he is willing to do things he would not normally do because of his fear of failure. This includes copying Nolan’s choice of a Sophie B Hawkins song for the Karaoke battle as well as a hilarious attempt at a very uncomfortable lap dance in the work place. As with other Tony Ho films, it is the chemistry even more than the premise of the film which makes it so amusing and entertaining. Miguel Rivas [Dunkling] gives a large amount of credit for JAPAN’s success to Adam’s approach and improvising commenting, “I had a blast working on Japan with Adam and I love working with him in general. He’s super creative, energetic, and really odd in all the best possible ways. I just love his choices. I remember a point in the movie when his character (Marty) gets embarrassed so Adam stuck his whole torso in a filing cabinet drawer like an ostrich would do in order to hide. That’s such a funny way to express his shame. He’s great at adding stuff like that; stuff that isn’t already in the script. Sometimes he would do even more subtle things, like the way he wears his tie just a bit too short. It all comes together to round out a really weird, funny character. He has a really vibrant personality and it shows in his work. And his singing?? Those high notes!?? I think I remember the main reason we used Sophie B. Hawkins in the Karaoke competition was because Adam would go around singing “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” all the time as if it were a normal thing to do. Then we thought it would be so funny if both songs were by Sophie B. Hawkins so we chose “As I Lay Me Down” for Roger.” Roger Bainbridge confirms, “Working with Adam on the movie Japan was awesome. His voice was crucial for the piece, because he’s excellent at playing sweet, confused oddballs. He completely nailed the Marty character, this child struggling to be a grown up. His performance helped to set the tone for the entire film. Japan was one we never seemed to stop writing. Adam came up with some of my favorites, like having the misinformed Pat Dunkling character thinking that ‘massages in Japan are just sex’. We had to cut one of his favorites from the movie about Marty and Nolan venturing a guess that ‘Saki’ was ‘soccer for babies.’

No spoilers here. Adam’s character Marty both does and does not win, you’ll have to go see JAPAN to truly understand. The film’s conclusion is not what the viewer takes away for the experience, rather it is Adams’s performance as Marty that endears you and causes you to hope for his success in spite of himself. It is easy to see the adult that is struggling to break through Adam’s stunted emotional growth. It’s the characteristic that Niebergall most enjoys about Marty. He reveals, “You can’t amuse someone if you can’t amuse yourself. I think the more personal you can make your comedy the funnier it will be. The best comedy often bares some horrible secret. If it draws people in because they are surprised to relate to something or it wakes someone up to how great it is that all people have something strange about them, it creates a feeling of sharing.”