Ashley and Rob to be on Jimmy Kimmel Next Week

Ashley on Monday, Rob on Wednesday
Mo 8/20: Tom Arnold, Ashley Greene
Tu 8/21: Gordon Ramsay, Jordin Sparks, Andy Grammer
We 8/22: Robert Pattinson, Rick & Corey Harrison, Polica
Th 8/23: Kyra Sedgwick, Nick Prueher & Joe Pickett, Josh Doyle
source
xoxo
Carrie

First poster & trailer of "The Apparition"

Well now. This was worth the wait. Warner Bros. has unleashed the very first trailer for Todd Lincoln's new fear flick The Apparition, and being the paranormal junkies that we are, we completely approve. Check it out along with the first artwork!
Look for the flick in theatres on August 24th, 2012.
Directed by Todd Lincoln, the flick stars Ashley Greene (Twilight), Sebastian Stan (Black Swan, The Covenant), Luke Pasqualino, Julianna Guill (Friday the 13th, Altitude), and Tom Felton (Rise of the Apes, 13 HRS, The Disappeared).
Synopsis
When frightening events start to occur in their home, young couple Kelly (Ashley Greene) and Ben (Sebastian Stan) discover they are being haunted by a presence that was accidentally conjured during a university parapsychology experiment. The horrifying apparition feeds on their fear and torments them no matter where they try to run. Their last hope is an expert in the supernatural (Tom Felton), but even with his help they may already be too late to save themselves from this terrifying force…

--dreadcentral.com

~Robstenfan

Still: Ashley Greene in The Apparition

Via twilightfeverr
~Robstenfan

MTV: Ashley Greene Haunted By New Supernatural Flick

This is an exciting year for actress Ashley Greene. She just shot a pilot for ABC called "Americana," which revolves around legendary fashion designer Robert Soulter. Greene plays Alice — coincidentally the same name as her "Twilight Saga" character — who joins Soulter's business. Her film "Butter," following a small town and their butter-carving contests, will be released in October.
Plus, she stars alongside Miley Cyrus in "LOL," a remake of the 2008 French comedy — not to mention the highly anticipated final "Twilight" installment, "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," in which she'll reprise her role of Alice Cullen for the final time.
Before Greene dons the cropped locks and golden contacts, she'll fight for her life to escape a supernatural presence alongside Sebastian Stan in this summer's thrilling horror flick "The Apparition."
For Summer Movie Preview Week, MTV News spoke with Greene about being haunted as opposed to haunting, the injuries she sustained on set and the scene she's most looking forward to in "Breaking Dawn - Part 2."
MTV News: What's it like to be on the other side of the haunting in "The Apparition," as opposed to playing the vampire?
Ashley Greene: I didn't think of it like that, but you're right! [My character] Kelly is very ... human. Death is knocking at her door, and she is fighting for her survival. It was a different experience than playing an — almost — indestructible character like Alice Cullen. I had to take on a lot more loss, betrayal and vulnerability when playing Kelly.
MTV News: You worked with "Harry Potter" star Tom Felton in this movie, and you've both been in huge film franchises. Do you guys talk about your experiences?
Greene: Tom's a really great, grounded guy. We did trade some stories about our experiences, out of mutual curiosity. He feels similar to the way I do: blessed, grateful and utterly in awe of our fans.
MTV News: How was the vibe on set? Did you joke around with the other actors, or was it more serious because of the content?
Greene: There were moments of both. We did have dance parties every Friday in the makeup trailer and made the most of our weekends, but there are times and days where it's a little difficult to disconnect from the character and darker scenarios.
MTV News: Did you have to do any stunts?
Greene: The stunts on this were much different then something like "Twilight." No wires, but lots of scenes requiring agility. I think I injured myself more on this film because of the intensity of the scenes. You get wrapped up and don't realize how hard you're pounding your hand or that you've hurt your ankle until the end of the scene.
MTV News: Is there CGI work involved with the spirit?
Greene: Yes, there is amazing CGI work in the film. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say the visuals are very compelling. Also, it's important to note that this film is a supernatural thriller that really keeps you guessing. The fear is built through suspense and fear of the unknown, rather than the blood or gore of a horror film.
MTV News: Have you ever felt like you had a supernatural experience?
Greene: Supposedly, my building in L.A. is haunted. One time, my dogs woke me up, barking, and my front door was open. I had set my alarm before I went to sleep that night, and it hadn't gone off. That was scary.
MTV News: How did you psych yourself up for filming those scarier and more thrilling scenes?
Greene: I just try to make the situation as real as possible. I put myself in my character's shoes and experience what she's experiencing as she's experiencing it. 

-- mtv.com

~Robstenfan

The Notable Films of 2012: Volume One

Back for its fourth year in a more truncated and concise form, today kicks off the first in a ten-part look at the various cinematic releases hitting the U.S. in 2012. Each volume contains an analysis of twenty five films set to hit both the big multiplexes and the small art houses next year with the remaining volumes to go up between now and late January.

Last year's ultimately incomplete attempt was simply far too ambitious for one already overextended person to assemble in the time allotted. As a result strict guidelines were put in place this year with my analysis kept short, sharp and most of all manageable.

I've confined my list to films that have either set a 2012 release date or have begun/completed production, and only films that have a good chance of getting some kind of theatrical release. Work on the next two volumes is already well underway, and each individual volume should hit within 2-3 days of the previous one.

The Apparition
Opens: August 24th 2012
Cast: Tom Felton, Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Julianna Guill, Luke Pasqualino
Director: Todd Lincoln

Analysis: Dark Castle's horror entry for this past September, this PG-13 sci-fi meets haunted house tale was delayed a full year - so something could well be reshot. It was filmed in Berlin, but set in a part of the San Fernando Valley where houses go unfinished though with no obvious reason, unlike say Réunion Island where it's for tax purposes.

The obvious influence here is "Paranormal Activity" but with a proper budget and a desire to beef up the number of scares, yet Twilight scene-stealer Ashley Greene and the still under-rated but always fun Sebastian Stan probably won't be able to salvage the material.

Bait 3D
Opens: 2012
Cast: Julian McMahon, Xavier Samuel, Sharni Vinson, Lincoln Lewis
Director: Russell Mulcahy

Analysis: A freak tsunami traps shoppers at a coastal Australian supermarket inside the building ... along with a pack of aggressive and very hungry tiger sharks.

You're not supposed to take this $20 million creature tale seriously, which already makes it more fun than this past year's god awful "Shark Night 3D". The cast is mostly former local soap actors who've had some U.S. success like Julian McMahon, Xavier Samuel and Sharni Vinson - perfect fodder for the beasties swimming along aisle three.

Director Mulcahy made his name with one of the all time great Aussie B-movie creature features - "Razorback" - before finding Hollywood success with "Highlander," "The Shadow" and "Resident Evil: Extinction". He should ensure a cheesy fun time which a leaked promo trailer earlier this year seemed to confirm.

Bel Ami
Opens: 2012
Cast: Uma Thurman, Robert Pattinson, Christina Ricci, Kristin Scott Thomas 
Director: Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod

Analysis: Though it shares the same name as Europe's most prestigious hardcore gay porn studio, this is an adaptation of French author Guy de Maupassant's much beloved 1885 novel about a young former soldier who screws his way up the social ladder of Parisian high society.

Recent trailers show a period faithful film that's pretty to look at but oddly inert in emotion, a not unexpected sign considering the author's legendarily efficient and involving prose is very difficult to translate on screen. As a classic French tale, if this English-language adaptation proves anything less than adequate it will likely get torn apart by European critics.

darkhorizons for the rest
xoxo
Carrie

The Apparition Synopsis

THE APPARITION

In theaters on August 24
(Warner Bros. Pictures/Dark Castle Entertainment)

Director: Todd Lincoln
Writer: Todd Lincoln
Producers: Joel Silver, Andrew Rona, Alex Heineman
Executive Producers: Steve Richards, Sue Baden-Powell, Daniel Alter

Cast: Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Tom Felton

Supernatural Thriller. When frightening events start to occur in their home, young couple Kelly (Ashley Greene) and Ben (Sebastian Stan) discover they are being haunted by a presence that was accidentally conjured during a university parapsychology experiment. The horrifying apparition feeds on their fear and torments them no matter where they try to run. Their last hope is an expert in the supernatural (Tom Felton), but even with his help they may already be too late to save themselves from this terrifying force…

This film has been rated PG-13 for terror/frightening images and some sensuality.

collider
xoxo
Carrie

Ashley Greene & 'The Apparition' Pushed Back All The Way Till Next August

Dark Castle's horror flick 'The Apparition' was sadly slammed with an undetermined 2012 release date earlier this year. And it appears that we still have quite the wait on the new Todd Lincoln horror flick. The supernatural chiller stars the likes of gorgeous 'Twilight' star Ashley Greene (below), Tom Felton ('Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'), Julianna Guill ('Friday the 13th', 'My Super Psycho Sweet 16'), Sebastian Stan ('Black Swan') Rick Gomez, Luke Pasqualino, Anna Clark, Suzanne Ford, Meena Serendib, Melissa Goldberg and Marti Matulis. And we'll just have to kick our heels until 24 August 2012 before we can enjoy all the spooky action from the Warner Bros release.

"When frightening events start to occur in their home, young couple Kelly (Ashley Greene) and Ben (Sebastian Stan) discover they are being haunted by a presence that was accidentally conjured during a university parapsychology experiment. The horrifying apparition feeds on their fear and torments them no matter where they try to run. Their last hope is an expert in the supernatural (Tom Felton), but even with his help they may already be too late to save themselves from this terrifying force."

--horror-asylum.com

~Robstenfan

Interview With Suzanne Ford from The Apparition

One of your latest projects, The Apparition, is in post-production. Can you fill us in on the story line and tell us a little bit about your character?

Well, the story is terrifying, and is supposedly based on a real event, which in my opinion makes it even scarier. It’s also filmed (by director Todd Lincoln) very realistically, so people should be prepared to be freaked. In a nutshell (and trying not to give away any plot twists) the young couple Kelly and Ben, played by Ashley and Sebastian, are horrified to find out that they are being haunted, and hunted, by a supernatural force – an ‘apparition’ that was apparently accidentally conjured during a college parapsychology experiment. They turn to a guy who is an expert in the supernatural named Patrick, played by Tom Felton, who they hope can help, but it might be too late. Terror ensues.

My character, the flamboyant Mrs. Henley, appears briefly at a veterinarian’s office in an obscure desert town where Kelly is living in an attempt to evade the apparition. Mrs. Henley is an overtan, over madeup, bejeweled and talkative desert-denizen cat lover, and was a lot of fun to play. (I understand, however, that due to editing necessities my scene was almost entirely cut out of the film, so unfortunately you may not get a chance to see much of Mrs. H., as she was more comic relief than plot-driven.)

The three primary cast members come from other projects that have strong fan bases, (Ashley – Twilight, Tom – Harry Potter, Sebastian – Gossip Girl) were there any issues with fans interrupting shooting or waiting around to see them?

Miraculously enough, there weren’t crowds of fans – at least during my time on the set, which luckily was in an out-of-the-way location on the outskirts of Los Angeles, so the fans and the paparazzi seemed not to have discovered it, although I was surprised to see some photos taken of Ashley on that very set, even though at the time I was completely unaware of any photographers lurking around. I must say that everyone on the crew was prepared, vigilant and very efficient at making the shoot run like clockwork, so I’m sure they had a master plan designed to avoid such eventualities.

Do you like scary movies?

You know, it’s weird – I loved them as a kid, and then after puberty I just got too scared. There’s probably a scientific explanation for that, but at this point I really find it difficult to watch a really scary movie, even though I know the genre is wildly popular. My favorites these days are films like “Crazy, Stupid Love.” Life is hard enough without adding the supernatural!

You have had the opportunity to play many different characters in popular shows, such as Friends, House and How I Met Your Mother. Is there any one character in particular that you really liked the best?

I loved my character, Marsha Sullivan, on “That 70s Show,” (the episode is called “Good Company”) because she was an unapologetic cougar who was also really funny. And underneath her sort of blatantly sexual exterior was a smart cookie, which was a hoot to play considering that the 70s marked the beginning of modern women’s liberation. I liked that idea, which was why I suggested to the hair and makeup people that we copy the great feminist Gloria Steinem’s hairdo and makeup from the mid-70s. That was fun, and it was a thrill to play with those great young actors at the beginning of their careers.

You have tread the boards in over 100 stage productions. Was the process of filming, re-filming and editing odd to you at first?

Oh, my, yes. In my very first movie (“The Deadliest Season” with Michael Moriarty and Meryl Streep) I was so young and naive that once my short scene was captured the first time, I figured I was all done and I could go home! I soon realized that the scene would be shot over and over again for hours, from several points of view, including the master shot and close ups of all the main characters. I also learned fast that movie and television work is largely about waiting. Unlike theatre acting, which is a little like boarding a fast-moving train and hanging on for dear life until it gets to the end of the line, on-camera acting really demands even more energy, because you have to stay at a creative simmer for hours, ready to go on as soon as the lighting and setup are done, or when lunch is over or the latest emergency is taken care of, and the  director finally says “action.” Because of that, shooting one small scene can be even more exhausting, strangely enough, than doing a leading role in a two-hour play. On the other hand, in film and television, if you blow a moment or need another chance to make the scene better, you can usually get it. And nobody ever has to see the rotten take.

Do you have 1 particular project that you are most proud of?

I think I am most proud of doing the role of Emma in Harold Pinter’s brilliant and complex stage play, “Betrayal.” It was endlessly fascinating, and throughout its six-month run (at Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, CA) I continued to discover new and wonderful things about both the character and the story.

Do you have any other projects coming up?

I just finished shooting (guess what?) a supernatural thriller that will be released next year called “Monika” that was a total ball to do. I got to scream, cry, crumble to the floor in grief, be shot and covered with blood, go hysterical and generally have a great time. The very gifted writer/director, Steven R. Monroe, was fantastic to work with and the other cast members and the whole crew were superb at their work as well as being lovely people. Who could ask for more?

networkedblogs
xoxo
Carrie

Ashley Greene Talks Breaking Dawn, LOL, THE APPARITION, Bill Condon & More at Comic-Con

At Comic-Con, shortly after some very crowded press conferences and showing fans the first footage from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, I was able to sit down with Ashley Greene for an exclusive interview.  We talked about being at Comic-Con, working for director Bill Condon, what was it like to make the final two Twilight films, what kind of projects is she looking to do next, her other upcoming movies (Butter, LOL, and The Apparition), and, of course, I asked what’s her karaoke song.  Hit the jump to either read or listen to the interview.

Click here for the audio (not the best quality as we were outside), or the full transcript is below.
Finally, if you missed our Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn coverage from Comic-Con, here’s the press conference with Elizabeth Reaser, Greene, Nikki Reed, Julia Jones and BooBoo Stewart.  Here’s the press conference with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and director Bill Condon.  And here’s our recap of the Hall H Twilight panel.

Read the FULL article over at collider.com

~Robstenfan

Tom Felton Talks About Ashley

Tom Felton Feels 'No Competition' With Dan Radcliffe For 2012 Ghost Movies

'I'm really excited for them both,' Felton says of his 'Apparition' and 'Harry Potter' co-star's 'Woman in Black.'

Tom Felton's "Apparition" was originally slated for a fall 2011 release, but Warner Bros. shifted the debut back to 2012, lining up a bit of a box-office face-off between Felton and his "Harry Potter" pal Daniel Radcliffe.

That's because both actors will have ghost-centric supernatural tales coming out next year. "The Apparition," co-starring Ashley Greene and Sebastian Stan, focuses on a haunting presence conjured up during a college parapsychology experiment. Radcliffe's "Woman in Black,"meanwhile, is a dark period piece in which a scorned woman's ghost begins to haunt a small town.

But just because the two friends will have competing supernatural projects opening at the box office in 2012 doesn't mean they'll be competing with each other.

"No competition!" Felton laughed in an MTV News interview. "That's true, they're coming out next year. That could be interesting to see how that turns out. But I'm really excited for them both."

So too, it seems, is Radcliffe, who has already shared footage with Felton. "He actually showed me a trailer on his computer a while ago," Felton said. "It looks awesome. There's lots to look forward to. He's very excited."

Of "Apparition," which Felton previously told us was nothing short of a "dream role," the 23-year-old said, "It was so great for that film to be one of my first outside Hogwarts. Ashley and Sebastian are so talented. I learned so much from them, even though I was shooting for only six weeks. I'm very excited for that."

MTV
xoxo
Carrie

The Apparition Gets a New Release Date

Release Dates for A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS and TED; THE APPARITION Moves to 2012

Finally, Warner Bros. has kicked The Apparition off its September 9th release date to sometime in 2012.  The film stars Ashley Greene (The Twilight Saga) in a “true story” about a college couple who are haunted by a supernatural presence unleashed during a college experiment. [Box Office Mojo]

Collider
xoxo
Carrie

New/Old fanpic of Ashley Greene on set of The Apparition

@247Greene
xoxo
Carrie

Tom Felton Talks Ashley and Apparition in 11 for 11

Tom Felton Has 'Lots To Look Forward To' In 2011

'Harry Potter' star branches out with 'The Apparition' and 'Rise of the Apes,' making him one of MTV News' 11 for '11.

Over the past week here at MTV News, we've been highlighting 11 people you'll be hearing about in 2011. From Kim Kardashian's plans to take over the pop world to self-proclaimed future "best artist of the year" Wiz Khalifa, we've selected a wide variety of folks who will be making waves and headlines this year.

Now, MTV News is proud to recognize Tom Felton. Yes, he had a lot going for him in 2010, with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" and everything that comes along with promoting a billion-dollar film franchise. He also picked up his first Golden Popcorn trophy at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, where he was named Best Villain.
When we caught up with Felton recently, we chatted about why this year will be even bigger than the last, what to expect from his performances in "Apparition" and "Rise of the Apes," as well as an update on his budding music career.
MTV: Have you seen any finished scenes from "Rise of the Apes" or "Apparition" yet?
Tom Felton: They have been very, very tight with both films. I've seen maybe half a scene of "Apparition." We were doing some [audio work] for that, and it looked great. It looked really beautiful, the way it was shot. "Rise of the Apes" they're keeping very much under lock and key, so I'm exceptionally excited. When I was there [during filming], I experienced so many fantastic performances around me. I'm excited to see it come to life onscreen. It's going to be a great film.
MTV: What about the "Deathly Hallows - Part 2" reshoots for that heavily hyped epilogue?
Felton: Believe it or not, I got left off the hook. Apparently, the shot setup didn't require my presence, so I was let off the hook at the last minute. I got all excited about going back, but I heard everything went swimmingly and everything is looking fantastic.
MTV: You once mentioned a brilliant potential scene between you and Dan Radcliffe where you, as Draco and Harry, run and hug. You should make that happen.
Felton: [Laughs.] I may get Dan around here one day this weekend and we may just shoot that ourselves and send it in. It needs to be seen, doesn't it?
MTV: Obviously, we here at MTV News have been fans of yours for quite some time, but it seems like a lot of other people have jumped on the Felton fan bandwagon. Do you feel a sense of that at all?
Felton: I've been exceptionally lucky, with lots of aspects of my life. The people around me have been fantastic, and I feel we're in a great position with some really exciting films to come out this year. I'm enjoying L.A. when I go there as well. That was a bit of a foreign town for me at first, but I'm thoroughly enjoying my time out there, so I'm looking forward to getting out there at some point next year. There's lots to look forward to.
MTV: What's the latest with your music?
Felton: It's all going very well. We're currently in development with a few artists that we're hoping to get out next year and just promote this idea that low-key music can be some of the best. I'm hoping to do some other recording later on in the year. It's a massive passion project of mine, and the fans' response has been fantastic, and MTV has been good to me there as well. I thoroughly appreciate that.
MTV: What can you tell us about working with Ashley Greene (who is also one of our 11 for '11)?
Felton: I was hugely excited about working with her [on "Apparition"], and her talent was exceptionally easy to notice very quickly. One of the first scenes I saw her do, she was in a very sort of panicky state and she jumped straight into it after lunch. It was amazing to see. I thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone on "Rise of the Apes" as well. Andy Serkis to me is one of the most memorable people I worked with this year. He's truly amazing to watch and an absolute gentleman offscreen as well, which is always nice. I've been very lucky in working with nice people.
MTV: Are you still playing golf with your "Potter" co-stars, Rupert Grint, James and Oliver Phelps?
Felton: Yes, most certainly. We haven't teed up in a while, but I'm definitely on for that. We occasionally swing the clubs. It's always nice to get the Weasleys out for a quick round of golf.
MTV: You guys should film that sometime. I'm sure fans would want to see it.
Felton: It's very funny you should say that. I don't want to speak ahead, but we have actually done that, and I'm not sure if James is putting together a little video or if it's going to end up on something — I haven't seen anything yet — but I have a feeling that one day that video may make it to air.

MTV
xoxo
Carrie

New/Old Pic of Ashley with fan during The Apparition shoot in Palmdale,CA

gossip-dance
xoxo
Carrie

Sebastian Stan Talks Ashley and Apparition in 11 for 11

Sebastian Stan Talks 'Captain America' Casting And His Year Ahead

With a role alongside Ashley Greene and Tom Felton in 'The Apparition,' the 'Gossip Girl' alum is one of MTV News' 11 for '11.

Sebastian Stan spent much of last year abroad, first shooting "The Apparition" opposite "Twilight" star Ashley Greene in Germany than shifting west to the U.K. for "Captain America: The First Avenger." The 27-year-old returned to the States in December and promptly began 2011 with an astounding bit of personal and professional insight: His life is about to change in a big way.

That's because after winning fans for his appearances on "Gossip Girl" and expanding into films as diverse as "Hot Tub Time Machine" and a small role in the Oscar darling "Black Swan," Stan is set to attain breakout Hollywood status. First comes "Captain America," the high-profile Marvel adaptation in which he plays sidekick Bucky Barnes. Then he teams with Greene and "Harry Potter" star Tom Felton for "Apparition." It's safe to say that when the year comes to a close, he'll no longer be best known as Carter Baizen from "Gossip Girl."
Where he goes from there is anybody's guess. All we know is that he's someone to pay attention to, which is why we named Stan as one of MTV News' 11 for '11. Stan recently called us up to talk about winning the "Captain America" role, bonding with co-star Chris Evans on set, and how "Apparition" is similar to "Black Swan."
MTV: You're coming off "Black Swan" and have "Captain America" and "Apparition" coming down the line. Has it hit you at all that 2011 is going to be a big one for you?
Sebastian Stan: I hadn't thought about it too much until recently, but you're right. Last year was a great one. Both "Apparition" and "Captain America" were in Europe. There were huge chunks of time that they required, and now it seems like time just flew by. I set some goals for myself with work, and now these films are coming out, and it's exciting.
MTV: What sort of goals did you set?
Stan: I want to continue to work more extensively in films. I set a goal for myself that I was going to work in three movies this year that would continue to help me become a better actor and learn more about filmmaking, which is obviously different than TV and stage. I've had experience in all of that, but I'm more attracted to movies. And there's just the particular aspect of having a job. I know what it's like not to. Just to get a job is always really exciting to me. I do feel there's a lot left for me to learn about movies, the subtleties of acting. That's what I want this year.
MTV: Your profile is only going to rise this year. And if you've been feeling that spotlight on your personal life, your professional life, it's only going to amp up. Have you learned anything in the last few years about how to deal with that attention?
Stan: Absolutely. You know, I live in New York and I love it, because it doesn't make me feel like my life is always just about acting and that world of acting. I don't have expectations. I just deal with it as it comes. I try to remain present and in the now. With the life I've built here and having close friends here, I feel like that keeps me grounded and it won't change.
MTV: Tell me about the casting process for "Captain America."
Stan: It was interesting, because I was in Germany, so I was making tapes [for an audition]. One thing about living in New York is I always end up making tapes. I read this article about Vera Farmiga, and apparently she used to do these incredible tapes, and that really encouraged me. Sometimes in an audition room, it's hard to get there. I like making tapes. Anyway, I was in Germany and I made a tape before I left New York in early January, and then I made about two or three other ones from Germany. I got a good response. I'm originally from Romania, and after I finished "Apparition," I was going to go to Romania but I had this feeling that I needed to go to L.A. And thank God I did, because I went into the room with the guys — at the time, I was auditioning for the actual Captain America role — so I screen-tested for that role. Usually with screen tests, you can be very nervous, the stakes are high. But this one was actually really chilled out. I think a lot of that had to do with [director] Joe Johnston, because he brings such a good atmosphere on set. I felt very calm. I wasn't nervous. I felt like, for four or five hours, I was just playing. It was fun. Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard over at Marvel asked me to sit down with them and they talked about the comic books and Bucky and his entire arc, and I was really attracted to that. I thought there's a lot to play with, so I was very happy.
MTV: There have been many different versions of Bucky over the years. What can you say about your Bucky?
Stan: I didn't know anything about the comic books. Even when I auditioned, I didn't. And I liked that, because I didn't want to have particular ideas. I wanted to find the characters and connections naturally. And I did. Steve Rogers and Bucky are both orphans and kind of like brothers. They kind of grow up together and look after each other. It's a very human, relatable thing. And growing up in the Army is a very specific thing. There's a certain way these guys carry themselves, there's a certain etiquette, a certain body posture, the way that they interact. So I went back and read the comics and watched a lot of documentaries on World War II. "Band of Brothers" was very helpful. I wanted to make sure I respected the themes in the comics that people related to about Bucky. But at the same time, in my head, we were shooting a movie that takes place in 1944 and it is about a bunch of guys going to war and how they're going to look out for each other. Bucky always protects and looks out for Steve Rogers. I also wanted to look out for how their relationship changes once Steve Rogers becomes Captain America. There's always a competition and they're always one-upping each other. I paid attention to how Bucky is affected by Steve's change and suddenly Steve is this leader.
MTV: How'd you handle the action scenes?
Stan: There's a lot of CGI stuff and working with a green screen. I hadn't done that too extensively before. That was very challenging, because you're just there surrounded by green walls, but there's explosions going off around you, so you have to factor that in and maintain that in your imagination. It helped to go back to the monitor or to check out the boards with pictures of what it was going to look like. Also, the stunts were challenging. You want to do the stunts yourself, so you feel like you accomplished it. But sometimes it's important to step back and let the real professional guys do it because you don't want to hurt yourself.
MTV: Let's talk "Apparition" for a minute.
Stan: It was amazing, We were all included creatively in the process. Todd Lincoln, who wrote and directed it, wanted that. We had rehearsal time when we could come together and sometimes rewrite things for the better. We had time to improvise and see what we were missing. We discovered a lot of stuff that way. Both Tom and Ashley are coming from such huge franchises themselves, they've sort of experienced every corner of celebrity or hype, so I kind of felt like I was more on the sidelines to that.
MTV: Don't sell your time on "Gossip Girl" short!
Stan: Oh no, never! I'll always be grateful for that show. The exposure for me has been huge.
MTV: Where does this one fall in terms of tone?
Stan: To me, it was a mixture of "The Strangers" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Poltergeist." Todd had a huge list of movies he wanted us to watch. We saw how horror was done in the '70s, '80s, '90s into today. It's definitely more psychological than just "get scared!"
MTV: That's kind of like "Black Swan." There are horror elements, psychological-thriller elements.
Stan: Yeah, I think a lot of "Apparition" is similar to that. As an audience, you're trying to figure out if something is happening or if you're a witness in somebody's dark thoughts.
MTV: Most people are used to seeing Ashley in her "Twilight" world. What are people going to be surprised about when they see "Apparition"?
Stan: It's different than how anybody has seen her before. Both of our characters are very simple, relatable kids. Just to finally play somebody who's more relatable rather than a vampire, somebody with flaws and dreams and goals and is struggling with life — that's amazing. These kids don't know what they want to do with their lives, just that they want to start living a simple life. There are great arcs in the characters and the story lines, and it's going to be great for people to see her play that out.

MTV
xoxo
Carrie

Ashley is one of the 11 to Watch in 2011

Ashley Greene Talks 2011, 'Breaking Dawn' And Miley Cyrus Fans

With roles in 'LOL,' 'Skateland,' 'The Apparition' and more, the 'Twilight Saga' star is one of MTV News' 11 for '11.

Ashley Greene has spent the first days of 2011 doing martial-arts training. If we didn't know she was gearing up for some vampire fisticuffs in "Breaking Dawn," we might say the 23-year-old is getting ready to kick, punch and otherwise pound into submission the next 12 months. Because after years spent as a beloved supporting player in the "Twilight" franchise, Greene is set to take her turn in 2011 as one of the series' breakout stars.

The year begins with the debut of the Sundance indie "Skateland," an '80s coming-of-age tale. Then it's on to"LOL," a comedy in which she stars as a bad girl opposite Miley Cyrus. And don't forget about "The Apparition," a supernatural thriller that brings "Twilight" together with "Harry Potter" (Tom Felton) and "Gossip Girl" (Sebastian Stan), and the ensemble comedy, "Butter." Oh, yeah — plus the first part of "Breaking Dawn."
Yep, it's going to be a big year for Greene. That's why we've named her as one of MTV News' 11 to Watch in 2011. During a break from the "Breaking Dawn" set in Louisiana, the actress answered some questions via e-mail, hitting on subjects like working with Cyrus, her most anticipated "Breaking Dawn" scene and what it was like to see Kristen Stewart as a vampire.
MTV: 2011 is shaping up to be a big year for you, coming off all the "Twilight" exposure and now having some prominent roles in "The Apparition," "LOL" and a bunch of other projects coming down the line. Does 2011 feel like it's going to be a particularly big year?
Ashley Greene: Definitely. I'm very excited for it. While it will be sad to finish filming the last installment of "The Twilight Saga," I'm grateful to have so much to look forward to. There's so much going on and so many wonderful opportunities popping up for 2011, and somehow I feel very Zen right now — I'm in a good place!
MTV: Do you have any goals for the year beyond what you're already doing? What would you like to look back on at the end of the year and say, "I'm glad I accomplished that"?
Greene: "Twilight" and my upcoming projects have given me an amazing platform. I'm looking forward to doing as many diverse projects and roles as I can fit in this year! I'm also looking forward to continuing to make strides with mark's m.powerment campaign; it's important to me that I use my voice to inspire my young, female fans to pursue their dreams, just like I did. I'm so thankful for everything in 2010 and am extremely optimistic and excited about how much more can be accomplished this year.
MTV: Let's talk "LOL." We saw a lot of photos of you guys filming on location in Europe. Between "Twilight" fans and Miley fans, did you guys have to deal with a lot of paparazzi and people hanging outside set?
Greene: Miley is a phenomenon — she's accomplished so much in the movie, TV and music worlds that it's not surprising how much attention was attracted during filming. But we're both professional and understand that we're there to do our jobs. Work was our number-one priority, and everything else was background.
MTV: You've become a fashion icon in young Hollywood, and your "LOL" character certainly has a distinctive fashion style. Did you get to pick out any of your outfits? Keep anything? Become inspired by any of those looks?
Greene: I definitely have a say in them, but it's more about what fits my character than me personally. In "LOL," my character, Ashley, wears some pretty outrageous and provocative outfits that I'd never wear in real life! With Alice Cullen, we got to draw on Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O inspirations, which is a bit more me.
MTV: While filming "Apparition," did you and Tom Felton ever compare notes about "Harry Potter" and "Twilight" fans?
Greene: Not so much comparing the fans as acknowledging how incredible they are. We are both so lucky to be a part of franchises that have ignited such a passion in young people. Very few actors get to be a part of that experience, so it's humbling.
MTV: What "Breaking Dawn" scene are you most excited to film?
Greene: Most excited to film and see would be the big fight sequence against the Volturi. As a cast, we like to do as many of our own stunts as possible, so it's fun and challenging to shoot those scenes. Jeff Imada, the stunt coordinator, is such a blast to work with as well. I'm learning so much from him.
MTV: Tell us about Bill Condon's style on set. How does he differ from prior "Twilight" directors?
Greene: "There's no way to describe what it's like working with Bill Condon except incredible! He is so professional, patient and a fantastic leader. I get excited going to set every day knowing I get to work with him. Each director has brought such a different energy and perspective to the films. Bill is very relaxed and authoritative, in a good way. I feel very comfortable working with him.
MTV: Kristen Stewart said at the People's Choice Awards that she filmed some scenes as a vampire. What was your reaction to seeing Kristen as a vamp?
Greene: Glad to have her officially join the Cullen family!

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

MTV
xoxo
Carrie

The Notable Films of 2011: Part One

Back for its third year (see the 2010 edition) and bigger than ever, today kicks off the first in a fifteen-part look at the various cinematic releases hitting the U.S. in 2011. Each 'part' contains brief descriptions and editorial opinion/analysis of varying length covering twenty films. Expect the remaining ones to go up between now and the first major releases in mid-January.

Like all cinematic lists set within a timeframe, there's some overlap. Some films here have already opened worldwide but have yet to hit the U.S., some upcoming films you'd expect to be here aren't because they're either still in development or have already announced 2012 release dates, some were on last year's list but got delayed so have been included again (but with all new analysis).

I confined my list to films that have either set 2011 release dates or had begun/completed production, and only films that have a good chance of getting some kind of theatrical release - even then its come out just shy of 300 titles at present. So, away we go:

Abduction
Opens: September 23rd 2011
Cast: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs 
Director: John Singleton

Summary: Nathan Harper (Taylor Lautner) comes across a picture of himself on a missing persons’ web site. Setting out to uncover his real identity, Nathan quickly learns his parents are far from who they say they are. When the police, government agents and shadowy figures start to pursue him, Nathan goes on the run.

Analysis: Taylor Lautner's first leading man role since the "Twilight" craze made him a household name, the box-office fate of this young-skewing Bourne-esque thriller will be watched closely to determine how much pulling power the 18-year-old has on his own. His co-star Robert Pattinson has taken the 'serious actor' route with roles in indie films and period dramas like "Little Ashes," "Bel Ami" and "Water for Elephants". His pull alone managed to turn throwaway romance drama "Remember Me" into a decent little $55 million grosser. Lautner on the other hand is trying to maximise his star power while he has it, setting up potential franchise features like "Stretch Armstrong," "Incarceron", and this.

While Lautner's involvement will certainly pull in the younger crowds, it's the other elements of the production that are actually more impressive. Musician Shawn Christensen penned the script on spec and Lionsgate won a bidding war for it back in February. The mini-major made it a priority, quickly getting Jeffrey Nachmanoff ("Traitor," "The Day After Tomorrow") to do some rewrites before locking down a shoot in Pennsylvania in July. The high concept story actually sounds quite interesting and could have a lot of potential if executed properly.

John Singleton is directing, his first time since 2005's "Four Brothers", and the rest of the cast is excellent though female lead Lily Collins is still essentially an unknown. Supporting turns from great veterans like Alfred Molina, Jason Isaacs, Sigourney Weaver, Maria Bello and Swedish "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" star Michael Nyqvist could hold promise. How the tone of this will come off is anybody's guess at this point, the mystery and action angles will hopefully be played up and give us at least an entertaining diversion in the early Fall.

Anonymous
Opens: September 30th 2011
Cast: Rhys Ifans, Rafe Spall, David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave
Director: Roland Emmerich

Summary: A political thriller about who actually wrote the plays of William Shakespeare-- Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford-- set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Essex Rebellion against her.

Analysis: Having destroyed the world countless times over in big-budget disaster epics like "Independence Day," "The Day After Tomorrow," "Godzilla" and "2012", filmmaker Roland Emmerich is trying a change of pace with this "political thriller" exploring the Oxfordian theory that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the real author of Shakespeare's plays. That authorship issue is set against the backdrop of the failed coup by Essex and the political turmoil at the end of the Elizabethan age.

"Band of Brothers" and "A Mighty Heart" scribe John Orloff actually penned the script for this back in 1998. While it received strong reviews, the project never took off because "Shakespeare in Love" had just been released. Then back in 2005 Emmerich read the script and the pair did further research and revision before finally getting the green light to go ahead and film it this year. Emmerich himself says his past financial successes allowed him essentially carte blanche on this $30 million project in terms of letting him cast whom he wants and being able to film the script without studio interference.

Emmerich's FX work has come in handy as all but one of the many exterior shots in the film is being done entirely with green screen and a computer-animated late 16th century recreation of London to be used throughout. Interiors were shot in Berlin on seventy hand-built sets and Orloff claims in an interview that while the movie "takes it as a given that he [Shakespeare] did not write the plays", the film is "stunningly accurate" in terms of historical events and the period recreation.

Yet "Anonymous" also incorporates the far more dubious 'Prince Tudor' theory that de Vere was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth I. Emmerich himself says in an interview that "When Shakespeare wrote 'Henry V', he made things up and we’re making things up too." Orloff says in the same piece "there is a point where you have to go with the emotional truth, not the literal truth, because the drama is the primary concern." Stunningly accurate huh?

Given more serious subject matter in the past, Emmerich proved himself a robust director with "The Patriot". Whatever the quality of this, it has already sparked op-ed pieces and quotes from professors and actors alike - talk that will only grow in the lead-up to the film's release.

The Apparition
Opens: September 9th 2011
Cast: Tom Felton, Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, Julianna Guill, Luke Pasqualino
Director: Todd Lincoln

Summary: A young couple are haunted by a scary ghost-like form, apparently brought into existence by students testing a whole new form of science. Who will help them escape the terrifying apparition?

Analysis: Dark Castle's horror entry for this year is a sci-fi meets haunted house tale that takes its inspiration from "Paranormal Activity," "Poltergeist" and "Flatliners" - with the plot following a couple being terrorised in their home by something unleashed after a university parapsychology experiment goes awry. Producer Joel Silver says that despite being shot in Berlin, the setting is around a cul-de-sac in LA's San Fernando Valley in an area where a lot of houses didn’t ever get finished (an unformed neighbourhood of sorts). Their aim is to be "really, really scary", taking the setup of films like 'Paranormal' and then pushing it beyond into something darker.

Filmmaker Lincoln is an unknown, this marks his screenwriting and directorial debut. The young cast though is surprisingly pretty good, the best actress of the "Twilight" films, Ashley Greene, makes her debut in a leading role here opposite one of my favourite young actors Sebastian Stan ("Kings," "Gossip Girl," "Hot Tub Time Machine," "Black Swan") who'll hopefully hit it big this year as the sidekick of "Captain America". Brits Tom Felton, best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" series, and "Skins" star Luke Pasqualino are also good choices to have onboard.

One thing this thankfully won't be is overly gory. Greene mentioned in a roundtable interview earlier this year that "It's not going to be that slash-gore movie. It's that thing that just scares you to the core, and it's terrifying. The way that I can best explain it is that we do everything that a normal person would do. Everyone is going to watch it and say, 'Do this!' And that's what we're going to do. Unfortunately, it doesn't solve things, and we're still having to deal with them. I think that's the scariest part, is when you do everything that you should do and you still end up ruined." Sounds like good fun to me.

Atlas Shrugged: Part One
Opens: April 15th 2011
Cast: Taylor Schilling, Grant Bowler, Matthew Marsden, Graham Beckel, Edi Gathegi
Director: Paul Johansson

Summary: Dagny Taggart, a railroad heiress, tries to save her company and faces increasingly corrupt government, her incompetent brother, and the systematic loss of her best workers. She soon suspects a sinister force working against her as a country-wide helplessness is spurred by the phrase – “Who is John Galt?”.

Analysis: The first attempts at an adaptation of Ayn Rand's 1957 magnum opus began long before I was born. In 1972 Albert S. Ruddy wanted to film a version, Rand refused. Rand approved NBC's proposed eight-hour mini-series back in 1978 but the network scrapped it. Rand attempt to adapt her own work into a script in the early 80's, but died with only one-third of it complete. Her student was given the rights but knocked back one attempt. In 1992 he sold the rights to entrepreneur John Aglialoro who retains them to this day.

Aglialoro himself oversaw an attempted TNT mini-series in 1999 which fell through after the AOL/Time Warner merger, while in 2004 another film version fell apart - that version had the likes of Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron linked. Things changed earlier this year as Aglialoro realised the studios weren't going to get a film into production in time before the deadline on his ownership of the rights ran out. Thus in May this year came the announcement about this independently financed, first of a planned trilogy of films based on the property which would begin production on June 13th, literally two days before Aglialoro's deadline.

With a budget said to be around $10 million, only five weeks of filming and no major stars - the obvious concern is that of quality. Actor Stephen Polk was originally slated to direct but was replaced at the last minute by "One Tree Hill" actor Paul Johansson whose only directing credits so far include twelve episodes of that teen drama and the TV movie "The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie". The lead role of Dagny Taggart (a name that always conjures up the image of Dabney Coleman in my mind for some reason) ultimately went to little known but quickly rising Taylor Schilling, the female lead of NBC's short-lived hospital drama "Mercy" and the upcoming Zac Efron-led Nicholas Sparks adaptation "The Lucky One".

Aglialoro has indicated that one of the main reasons for doing this film independently is that he's keen on staying as true to the novel as he can, whereas studios wanted to make some obvious changes. Staying true in this case could be detrimental. For all its popularity and status, 'Atlas' is also a famously self-indulgent exercise in literary masturbation. Rand uses a flimsy narrative mixed with colourful prose to incorporate her passionate if misguided thesis for objectivism - essentially a form of unbridled and unrestrained capitalism where self-interest is the only real rule. Gore Vidal, a man far more wise than either you or me, famously called it "nearly perfect in its immorality" - and this is the man who penned the oft-banned "Caligula".

Getting people excited about a film that celebrates this philosophy could be hard, especially considering it asks people to sympathise and champion big business CEOs - those whose unrestrained greed caused the recent global financial crisis. The material is extraordinarily difficult on its own to adapt, for example the big climax is a speech over seventy pages long, and the man given the unenviable task is Brian Patrick O’Toole whose most notable work to date is as writer/producer on low-budget schlock like "Evilution" and "Cemetery Gates". O'Toole mentioned in a forum posting that this film adapts the first 336 pages of the book and he did his "best to stay true to the spirit of Ayn Rand's novel".

It's a noble sentiment but can't hide the fact that this is one project that probably should've stayed on the shelf a bit longer. A book of this scale and ambition deserves a film of equal size and balls, what we're getting is something that's been heavily compromised and rushed into production to meet a legal deadline. Aglialoro may yet surprise us, but what's not surprising is that with the low budget on offer, the first photos from the film are decidedly unimpressive and have a very TV movie feel to them. Whether this is seen as a bold vision or an absolute trainwreck, it'll be interesting to watch nonetheless.

Barney's Version
Opens: January 14th 2011
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Scott Speedman
Director: Richard J. Lewis

Summary: Barney Panofsky (Giamatti) is a seemingly ordinary man who lives an extraordinary life. Barney's candid confessional spans three decades and two continents, and includes three wives, one outrageous father and a dangerously dissolute best friend.

Analysis: After thirteen years of development, the film adaptation of Mordecai Richler’s final novel is finally making its debut in a few weeks following its premiere a few months ago at the Toronto Film Festival. Producer Robert Lantos reportedly went through several different writers, including Richler himself and two Oscar winners, with ultimately little known Canadian television writer Michael Konyves finally nailing a draft Lantos was happy with. "The book is extremely difficult to adapt. It’s sprawling in nature, [has] a huge cast of characters, with flashbacks and flash-forwards, and it’s narrated by this character who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s" said Lantos in an interview earlier this year.

Armed with a $28 million budget and a stellar cast, reviews out of Toronto were decidedly mixed with the performances in particular praised, but the rather straightforward and linear approach to the adaptation seen as a disappointment. Clocking in at over two hours with a rather despicable lead character and a tone that's all over the place apparently hasn't done the film any favours, the likely blame going on newbie scribe Konyves and TV director Lewis. This might explain why the film isn't getting much in the way of a big push for awards consideration beyond Giamatti's performance. Filmmakers David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan also make cameos which might be fun though.

darkhorizons for the rest
xoxo
Carrie