MTV Geek – Interviews

Interview: Filmmakers Andrew Matthews And Katie Graham Roll The Dice On D&D Drama 'Zero Charisma'

Posted 2/12/13 5:19 pm EST by Charles Webb in Interviews, Movies

Zero Charisma IndieGoGo Trailer from Andrew Matthews on Vimeo.

First off, you should know that "Zero Charisma," the indie drama about the weird power dynamics at play around the D&D table is more or less finished. The film was recently accepted into South By Southwest after a couple of years of development thanks to the help of a successful Indiegogo campaign back in 2011 which sought $15,000, ultimately raising $25,000. Filmmakers Andrew Matthews and Katie Graham are simply passing the hat around a second time for completion funds for the feature which they co-directed based on Matthews' script.

While the duo need your help reaching the finish line with the last of post-production, consider this recent conversation we had as more of a primer for indie filmmakers looking to go the crowdsourcing route.

| Permalink

Interview: Dolph Lundgren, Elder Statesman Of Action In 'Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning'

Posted 2/7/13 3:30 pm EST by Charles Webb in DVD and Blu-ray, Interviews, Movies

They had to drag Dolph Lundgren back to the "Universal Soldier" franchise with "Universal Solder: Day of Reckoning." After working on the 2010 sequel, "Regeneration," the 55-year-old actor wasn't thrilled to be returning to the world of undead soldiers spawned by the first film in the 20-year-old franchise. In that film, he and co-star Jean-Claude Van Damme were Vietnam vets killed in action and resurrected by a secret government program. Dolph played Andrew Scott, the crazy one who was happy to keep cutting and shooting his way through bystanders as Van Damme's Luc Devereaux began regaining his humanity. Read More...

| Permalink

Interview: Jeff Lemire And Scott Snyder Talk The 'Rotworld' Finale

Posted 2/7/13 9:53 am EST by Eddie Wright in Comic Books, DC Comics, Interviews

Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder have reached the climax of the epic, Red and Green crossover "Rotworld" with issues 18 of both "Animal Man" and "Swamp Thing." As the frequently grotesque, nature-based story comes to an end, Snyder steps away from Swampy, handing to vines over to "27" writer Charles Soule. I spoke with Lemire and Snyder about upcoming finale, how Buddy Baker and Alec Holland will separate now that "Rotworld" is over, and what the central theme of the crossover has been.

| Permalink

Interview: Jordan Hart On The Rules Of Hair Metal In 'Steel Rainbow'

Posted 2/6/13 4:00 pm EST by Eddie Wright in Books, Interviews

"Steel Rainbow: The Legendary Underground Guide to Becoming an '80s Rock Star" is the only how-to guide you need if you plan on strapping on some spandex, teasing up your hair, smearing on some eye shadow, and shooting a music video complete with scantily-clad ladies, Ferraris, and debauchery. Jordan Hart, the writer and illustrator of the book lays out exactly what an aspiring musician needs to survive in a rockin' Hair Metal band...other than a time machine dialed up to 1985 that is. I chatted with Hart over email to find out what exactly went into creating a book like this, and which 80's Hair Metal band is truly the greatest.

| Permalink

Interview: 'Ultimate Spider-Man' Associate Producer Harrison Wilcox On The Series' First DVD

Posted 2/6/13 3:32 pm EST by Charles Webb in Animation, Interviews, Marvel, TV

With "Ultimate Spider-Man: The Avenging Spider-Man" out this week, the series' Associate Producer Harrison Wilcox spoke with MTV Geek about teaming up the wall crawler with Earth's Mightiest heroes across the first season of the Disney XD series. Find out how it feels for a Spider-fan to work on the character's hit animated series, and how this disc ended up as a selection of episodes instead of a complete season.

| Permalink

Interview: Grant Morrison On His Exit From 'Action Comics'

Posted 2/6/13 9:01 am EST by Eddie Wright in Comic Books, DC Comics, Interviews

"It's a kind of war against a world where art is ruled by accountants, so I still believe it should be art. For me, art may come across as trying to complicate things, but it's really just about looking at things from a lot of different angles."

With "Action Comics" #18, Grant Morrison says goodbye to Superman by tying up his multi-dimensional tale of the legend of the Man of Steel with a throwdown between the Big Blue Boy Scout and Lord Vyndktvx. Morrison is shifting his focus from monthly superhero comics to more creator-owned work. He's not entirely parting ways with superheroes, he's just stepping away from the monthly grind so he can tell stories that are more appealing to him, and therefore more appealing to readers. I spoke with Morrison over the phone about his ambitious storytelling, his feelings about superhero comics, and why he thinks he's such a heavily scrutinized writer. Plus, get a look at never before-seen art from "Action Comics" #17.

| Permalink

Interview: Rather 'R.I.P.D.' With Writer Peter M. Lenkov

Posted 2/5/13 6:00 pm EST by Charles Webb in Comic Books, Dark Horse, Interviews, Movies

"The obstacles," writer and producer Peter Lenkov chuckles when I ask him about the challenges of getting his comic "R.I.P.D." to the big screen. "Being in development hell for ten years."

Lenkov, who has a list of credits going back 20 years has worked steadily in film and TV (he's the mind behind "Demolition Man," and don't think I didn't ask him about that), but "R.I.P.D." was for the longest time that elusive project, tied up in the not uncommon snarl of delays, budgetary concerns, and false starts since Universal first set eyes on the concept.

| Permalink

Interview: It's Not The End Of The F***ing World For Charles Forsman

Posted 2/4/13 2:01 pm EST by Eddie Wright in Comic Books, Interviews

"I try my best to not hold anyone's hand. Anytime I feel like I am beginning to explain the plot or characters too much my stomach churns."

Charles Forsman is the creator of not only one of MTV Geek's best comic series of 2012, "The End of the F***ing World" (a.k.a. "TEOTFW") but also the driving force behind one of the most exciting micro-publishers in comics with his Oily Comics. "TEOTFW" is a "Badlands-esque" story of love on the run featuring a sociopath named James and his "in too deep" companion Alyssa. "TEOTFW" brings immense narrative and emotional depth with little information, which serves as a testament to the power of simplicity. Forsman has the ability to communicate more in a single panel of "TEOTFW" than most comics can in dozens of issues.

| Permalink

Interview: Kelly Hu's Ninja Bad Girl Joins Tonight's 'TMNT'

Posted 2/1/13 8:53 pm EST by Charles Webb in Animation, Interviews, TV

In many ways, the headstrong, 16-year-old ninja Karai who Kelly Hu voices in tonight's episode of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" bears striking similarities to the actress (no, really!). For instance, both know how to mix it up--Hu has been holding her own onscreen against regenerative, government-trained mutant assassins ("X2") and The Rock ("The Scorpion King").

And the Miss Teen U.S.A.-turned-model-turned onscreen tough lady knew what it meant to be headstrong and constantly fighting at 16: "When I was young, my mother would not let me get my ears pierced because I used to get into too many fights," Hu told me during a call today. "I came from a tough area. She told me I had to wait until I was 16 until I could get my ears pierced, but by the time I turned 16, I was still such a tomboy, that I decided myself not to get my ears pierced and still haven't done it since then."

Since her young and dangerous years, Hu has been in numerous film and television roles, most recently playing China White in CW's "Arrow" while taking on the part of another member of the extended Green Arrow family as the assassin Cheshire in "Young Justice."

| Permalink

EXCLUSIVE: Kevin Manthei Talks Composing For 'Ultimate Spider-Man'

Posted 1/31/13 12:51 pm EST by Charles Webb in Animation, Interviews, Marvel, TV

As excellent as it would be to have the Ramones' cover of the wall crawler's theme play over all of the musical moments in Disney XD's "Ultimate Spider-Man," the majority of viewers would probably enjoy something with a little more nuance. Enter composer Kevin Manthei, whose work has graced games ("TRON: Evolution," "Champions Online"), and some of your favorite animated series ("Invader Zim," "Johnny Test").

Listen to Manthei talk about his process composing for "Ultimate Spider-Man" in this exclusive clip.

| Permalink

Interview: Don Coscarelli On 'John Dies At The End'

Posted 1/24/13 11:30 am EST by Charles Webb in Horror, Interviews, Movies

"John Dies At the End" stars Rob Mayes (John), Chase Williamson (Dave), and Allison Weissman (Amy)

Writer-director and jack-of-all-trades indie filmmaker has been making some variation of "John Dies At the End" for 30-odd years now. Or, that's to say, the works of Coscarelli are imprinted in the DNA of David Wong's cult novel turned film. The man who created Phantasm, flying silver murder orbs, killer robed dwarves, and the seemingly immortal Tall Man was an obvious match for the material when the question of who would bring Wong's book to the screen.

| Permalink

EXCLUSIVE: Valiant Vanguard: Executive Editor Warren Simons On What's Coming In 2013

Posted 1/24/13 8:56 am EST by Charles Webb in Comic Books, Interviews, Valiant

2013 is the year that the newly-resurrected Valiant Entertainment goes to war. With events stretching across "Harbingers" and "Bloodshot" ("April's "Harbinger Wars") and the "Planet Death" arc spinning up in "X-O Manowar," it seems like this young universe might be a dangerous place to be for its espers, former government-trained killers, and Visogoths sporting alien suits of armor. Oh, and we can exclusively reveal that its newest addition, "Shadowman," is getting its first #0 issue as well, as we learn more about the strange legacy of hero Jack Boniface's alter ego.

Valiant Vice President and Executive Editor Warren Simons and I spoke recently about some of the big changes coming to the line in its second year.

| Permalink

Interview: Paul Giamatti Talks Classic Monsters, 'John Dies At The End'

Posted 1/23/13 4:00 pm EST by Charles Webb in Horror, Interviews, Movies

This Friday sees the long-in-coming national release of "John Dies At the End," the horror-comedy feature from Don Coscarelli. And one of the performers joining Coscarelli in his latest foray in indie horror is the award winning actor Paul Giamatti who also serves as executive producer on the film.

We've talked up "JDATE" quite a bit here at MTV Geek, but this was our chance to talk to the man who effortless occupied the Revolutionary era shoes of John Adams about hanging out in a grubby Chinese place as a reporter and hearing a story about meat monsters, killer botflies, and of course, Soy Sauce.

| Permalink

Interview: Andrew Kreisberg On 'Justice League of America's Vibe #1'

Posted 1/23/13 12:17 pm EST by Charles Webb in Comic Books, DC Comics, Interviews

It's weird to hear Andrew Kreisberg say he and Geoff Johns have "grand plans" for "Justice League of America" and that they'll involve Vibe.

You remember Vibe? Created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton a couple of DC Universe reboots ago, Paco Ramon was a member of the much-maligned "Justice League Detroit," a strutting ex-gang member who made his way onto the "JL" thanks to his sonic vibration powers? Many DCU readers might not remember Vibe, offering him a respite from the baggage of the mid-80's "Justice League," the accent, that costume--all of it.

Well "Arrow" writer Kreisberg and Johns have brought the character over into the new DCU with a major update in "Justice League of America's Vibe" #1, which debuts in February.