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Tenant Spotlight: Baily/Thomas Casting

IMG_8658This month’s Tenant Spotlight feature is Baily/Thomas & Associates. This highly sought after casting agency have been long time tenants at our Gower location. You will find their casting prowess on Hulu’s critically acclaimed The Handmaid’s Tale, AMC’s Better Call Saul, AMC’s heavy hitter The Walking Dead and Fox’s hit show Gotham. Ariana caught up with co-founder Sharon Bialy on a warm Friday morning to talk about the agencies beginnings and everything in between.

  • Walking Dead Question: Which are you: a survivor or a walker? Survivor
  • You ladies receive all sorts of gifts, does that ever help with making or breaking a decision? We get really weirded out or uncomfortable when we get a gift from an actor we interview. It absolutely does not help, it might hurt because it’s not appropriate. But we are comfortable when an actor wants to say an extra special thank you, if it’s a huge role or if they know we went out of our way to help them.
  • Have you received anything that was strange? Oh yeah, we got a bloody bat in the mail when we were casting “Negan” for The Walking Dead we were at Sony at the time and Sony took that very seriously. They called the police and it was pretty scary.
  • In the lobby we get a lot of actors who drop off their headshots and resumes for you two. Do you ladies every look at those? And have you ever cast someone who’s dropped those off? I look at every piece of mail that comes in and I appreciate when they drop them at the front with you ladies ::chuckles::

But yes we have cast from drop offs, more than once.

  • Do you accept actors that don’t have proper representation? What could or should an actor do to get through to you two. We’ve hired actors that don’t have agents but if they want to get through, they should be in a play or be in a web series. The reality is there are thousands of actors so you can’t focus on getting into our office. They should stop worrying about that and go out and start doing work – we read the trades, we read the reviews on plays. We’ll find you.
  • Is there a movie that inspired you to be a casting director growing up? I have a lot of movies that I loved growing up and they’re so diverse. From Revenge of The Nerds to James Bond movies to Gone With The Wind. When I was young it was Gone with The Wind. When I was an adult already casting, it was Shawshank Redemption, that was a perfect film.
  • How did you meet Sherry Thomas? Sherry and I met through Debi Manwiller  – a former partner and still a best friend. I was looking for an associate after I was on my own for about six months. I called Debi to see if you she knew of anyone because I had a big job and needed an associate. She recommended Sherry Thomas who had worked with her on 24. We met at a Starbucks and I had four people lined up to meet with and she was the first one and I canceled the others. I was like, ‘That’s it, we’re on!’
  • You have two have worked together for over 16 years. The first two – three years she was my associate and then I made her partner.
  • Why do you think you two work so well together, what clicks with you guys? Complete and utter respect and trust in each other. No competition ever.
  • What are some of the ways studios and showrunners, convey what they’re looking for? At beginning of a project we’ll get on a concept call, and really discuss the character with the creator. Sometimes with the studio or network people involved but usually with the creator of the project because it’s their vision that we’re serving. That’s where it starts – sometimes they will mention an actor that they have in mind. But really, we don’t like to work that way. It’s more so, what are the qualities they’re looking for in a character, so that you we a complete blank slate to really use the casting process the way it should be used –  to really find something exciting.
  • Do you have a database you use? Yes we have a database, we have these books ::points to a wall of five tiered bookcases packed with big binders with shows labeled on the spines::  that I’ve been compiling since I’ve started, with notes on all the actors we’ve ever seen. We use a service called Breakdown Services, where we send out to all the agents and managers and we get ideas and we go through them all.
  • Some actors on your shows, I don’t see or hear of them coming in, do you interview remotely? Well some people self-tape because they’re not in LA, so we’ll get their tape and Skype with them. If it’s a big role, we’ll have to do a test at the studio. It also may be someone that we’re offering to, or maybe for example- Elizabeth Moss came on The Handmaid’s Tale before we did.
  • I’ve spoken to some of the parents that come in for casting for other agencies in the building and they’ve expressed that their kids may or may not get cast based off their social media following. Does Bialy Thomas practice this? It’s definitely very common, but we do not do that at all. Someone’s social media following is not a factor in our casting decisions.
  • You don’t have to tell me who it was obviously… But what was the most horrific casting session you’ve ever had? I’ve had a knife pulled on me once. We were in session and this actress had a knife and got really close to me. This was for a feature, so the next actor, I asked if they had a knife or gun and I said OK you need to go put that back in your car! That was the most horrific.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale has been nominated for 13 Emmy’s. Congratulations! How did you two find out about the nominations? I was at home and Sherry text Russell and I. She told us and I couldn’t find it, so I think Russell text her back asking “Are you sure??”::laughing:: But yes, Sherry told us the great news.
  • Is there a show on air right now that you watch and think I could have done that better? Not better, but more of, I wish I could have cast that, it’s more out of respect. The Night Manager was so well cast and I’m like, damn I would have loved that job!
  • Where do you see Bialy Thomas & Associates in the next 3 years? I think I can speak for Sherry and myself. We’d like to continue to do work that we really believe in and we’re really passionate about- like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Last Tycoon, Barry, or Alan Ball’s Here, Now. When the work really resonates with us, we do better work. We want to work with the people that respect what we do and keep our incredible staff in this beautif
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HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight: Sarkis Daldumyan

Sarkis is the CEO of Oakridge Capital Advisors Inc., which is a commercial mortgage brokerage firm. They find their clients the very best possible commercial real-estate financing.

 

How long have you been with the company and what is your title? I have been the CEO for this particular company for 4 years however my career in finance began in 2004.

 

How did you get involved with your industry? This is going to be a lengthy answer… I started at the early age of 18 doing processing of residential mortgages, after 3 years there I went into Real-estate sales as a real-estate agent, shortly after I found I hated it!  So that lead my into what I believe was what I was destined to do, a colleague suggested that I explore the commercial finance world. I took that advise and upon exploring the filed I realized for my skill set and personal this seemed to be the perfect fit.

 

What are you currently working on? In a extremely competitive and extremely hot market I am currently focused on finding the absolutely best scenarios for a long list of clients.

 

What makes you so driven to succeed? Fear of failure and passion of winning.

 

What do you enjoy most about your job? Thinking outside the box and finding creative innovative solutions to meet my clients needs.

 

Do you have any shout outs for your employees? I don’t have employees, I believe in the concept of teams and collaborations, that being said  I would like to say a BIG Thank you to my team Greg, Vartan, Edward, Allison, Myles, and everyone else that assists us in our daily efforts… Najmeh for making our work place so pleasant and Tina for all her all her support and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

 

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HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight: P3 Post

  • p3post logoExplain what P3 Post is to our readers.

P3 Post is a turnkey post production company and it encompasses anything that has to do with post. Whether it’s a production company starting a project, P3 Post helps from the ground up. Starting with offices, we then work with companies like HPC to provide the space. By giving our clients’ options of available floor plans, we then rent our editing equipment and set it up in those offices. We provide the offline work flow. Once they finish their offline editorial, we provide finishing. So that’s color correction, VFX, audio mix. We do full mix – 5.1 stereo or 7.1 stereo for theatrical and television. In addition, we do final deliverables. Every network has their technical specs and we work with all major networks. We also provide 24/7 tech support for our equipment rentals either over the phone or on site. At one given time we have 100 systems in the field. We primarily look for clients to rent equipment to and also do the final finishes for.

 

  •    How did you start in the post production world?

I’ve been in the business for 21 years and I started when I was 25. I worked with a company that was one of the top production and post production equipment rental houses in Hollywood – Steady Systems. When Steady Systems sold, one of the owners started his own small company and he asked me to join him. We were basically doing sub post. Following that, about 7 years ago, I was 50% owner of another company called Fortitude Editorial where Chainsaw currently is. We were doing commercial work- scripted TV, as well as unscripted and theatrical.

 

  • Who are some of your major clients? Discovery Studios is a big one, ABC, Disney, FOX, and some theatrical work. Right now we are doing a lot of work with FOX Sports. Also, with Greetings Media, which is more on the rental side. Greetings Media is a big client and they are currently doing Battle Bots Season 2. They have about 20 systems tied up on a server. We have had a similar system set up with ABC.

 

  • When you walk into P3 Post there is always a kung fu movie playing at the end of the hallway – what is the title of that film and is there a particular reason why you play it? [laughs] We play some Bruce Lee films. It’s multiple kung fu and martial arts related type films. Growing up I was in classes and even as an adult I still practice. I do think my work ethic and discipline is in part because of my martial arts training. All of us at P3 Post try to follow a certain discipline when it comes to delivering what the client asks. There are no excuses, our job is to deliver and whatever we have to do to make that happen, we make it happen.

 

  • What project is P3 Post most proud of working on? I gotta say, it’s the finishing we’ve done for Discovery. One show in particular called Man Hunt, was shot in multiple continents, the color finishing was fascinating. The atmospheric color in Scotland which is gloomy and then the polar opposite in countries where the colors were vibrant. It was just so much fun for us to work on and be part of that. Aside from that, in general we take pride in the details. For example, we think from the editors’ standpoint. We realize that these editors are working 10-hour days. So we make sure that the mat they’re standing on is ergonomic, that the monitors are properly positioned on the table. Our tables are custom made for P3 Post. We have a guy that creates tables out in Northridge in the San Fernando Valley. He is in charge of making these awesome tables and it makes such a huge difference. Whatever it takes to make the editor comfortable and to make their work space desirable. If the editor is comfortable, we have done our job and we take pride in that.

 

  • What is the most challenging part of what you do? The toughest thing – even though it’s a great thing, being busy is always great. We never complain about being busy. The toughest is juggling all aspects of a certain project and having the project run as smoothly as possible. Finding a harmonious balance with everything. Having said that, it’s easy when you work with great people and have a great team with you. P3 Post is the post house that really makes your project better because we are always looking at ways to make it better, all the while, getting done what the client wants. Finding the balance in that is where our success and reputation come from.

 

  • What three things do you need to be successful in your industry? Clients. [laughs] And being on top of today’s technology. Technology is changing everyday and it’s a matter of being most efficient. Some clients are not familiar with the most recent technology. So we are also educating clients and letting them know there is an easier and more direct way to accomplish what they’re looking to accomplish. There are other clients who are well versed in the latest technology, which is great. Another aspect is marketing, that is also huge for us.
  • Have you ever walked away from a project? Absolutely. We’ve walked away from projects when a client requests a certain workflow that we know from experience is just not going to work. We don’t want to agree to something that we feel collectively will fail. We take on projects with care because we as professionals care about our clients.

 

  • I’m going to loosely quote you from a conversation we had a few months back. In context of your day-to-day operations, you said that you do things your way because if a mistake was made on something, at least it was your mistake. On your dollar. For some reason that resonated with me. Do you still feel this way now? If we are familiar with a work flow or a way of how to get a project done, we stick with it. Unless we’ve researched and tried a different route, we can’t go to a client and 2nd guess ourselves. If in the middle of a project a client wants to experiment while there is a deadline, we are not going to do that. Not to say we are close minded and we won’t try different routes, we just don’t do that at a critical time when a time line has been set and we are responsible to help you get there.

 

  • I saw your before and after color correcting reel on Vimeo. When I was watching the 4-minute video, I thought about how much the industry has changed in the last 2 years since it’s posting. How do you keep up with the latest technology? We adapt. We change. We grow. The clients or networks may have new requirements and we change based on the direction they need to go. We are so involved in our industry that it’s part of who we are. If Avid came up with a new version or fixed a bug on something, we hear about it quickly. We live and breathe what we do so knowledge finds us. That’s what passion is, this is our craft and we love it. That is at the core of P3 Post.

 

  • What aspect of the industry is peaking your interest the most right now? Right now we’re looking at servers. With technology changing and clients looking for 4K – higher resolution means that we need more storage capabilities. There are a lot of big manufactures coming up with great solutions. So we’re always looking for the greatest ways to serve our clients.

 

  • There are some heavy weight post facilities in this town, what separates P3 Post from the rest? We are turnkey and centrally located in Hollywood. Our clients’ walk in the door, we have their space and equipment ready to go. They can walk down the hall to our studios and we can do the finishing touches and deliver to network. They don’t have to go across town and deal with traffic or deal with getting all of the services P3 Post provides at different facilities. For example a production office is housed at one part of town, then they go across the street for post, then they go to another place to do their final coloring and then they’ll go to another location for audio and so on. It is such a waste of time and money and it all adds up. We at P3 Post take care all of those needs under one roof. We are also quick to respond to our clients needs, we are just down the hall or a phone call away. As a matter of fact, you can go to our website and have a live chat and get a response immediately. We are very flexible and that is huge in this town. You can work with our editors closely and have direct control and contact with your project. Our talent includes Grammy and Emmy award winning editors and they all have so much experience in different aspects of post production. From scripted television to theatrical- our team is well rounded and have great skill and are passionate about their profession.

 

  • Where do you see P3 Post in the next 5 years? We have been around for 2 years. We have done very well, we have our finishing suites here at HPC in Hollywood, we have our warehouse downtown, we have equipment rentals all over Los Angeles. We are now going to move from offline editorial to doing more creative editorial. We’ll possibly go to promo and possibly more into production as well. In the next 5 years P3 Post will be creating more of it’s own original content. And partnering up with some of the companies we have been working with.

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HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

Tenant Spotlight: Scott Mauro

Scott Mauro Playbill

Scott Mauro’s career spans from the late 1970’s when he first landed his job working on the hustling bustling Broadway circuit as a press assistant. Scott’s career flourished as he worked his way up Broadway’s hottest shows, where Disney eventually recruited him. We caught up with Scott at our Gower location where he has been a tenant for 4 years, to ask about his latest projects and to see what his Valentine’s Day plans are.

You started your career working on Broadway in the late 1970’s. You were a press assistant. Tell us a little bit about that position and who you worked for.

I started my career as a publicist for Broadway shows and then I wound up doing advertising for Broadway shows. That was for the original production of Barnum, Betrayal, among others, there were so many I can’t even think right now. But it was really exciting. I attended opening nights, went to incredible parties, I had so much fun. All the things you can imagine.

How did you land the initial job?

I literally knocked on doors. I knew what I wanted to do very early on when I was a kid. I grew up in New York, and attended Broadway shows. I knew my calling, so after I graduated from college, I sent out a 180 cover letters and resumes. We had to type them out in those days! I did not have a copier; none of that. I networked and I was able to have Liza Minnelli as a client when she was white hot. I had Frank Sinatra and I had Diana Ross, David Bowie. I suddenly was doing advertising for not only Broadway shows, but with various artists when they were out on tour and I did album releases.

You established your production company in 93’, how did that come about? What motivated you to do that?

Well it was very simple. I was head of TV specials for Disney. Disney recruited me out of New York. So because I was working with all of these stars in advertising, the stars would take me along with them to do these TV shows. From that I became a producer. I started producing shows like Night of 100 Stars for ABC and the Tony Awards. I was working with great executive producers who took me under their wing. This was all because of my advertising career. I ended up doing four TV specials for Disney, which aired on NBC. Then I received a phone call from Cher’s team. Cher was going to go out on tour: If I Could Turn Back Time was first tour since Sonny passed away. It was an 15 month job and on top of that I was doing the TV special with CBS. So I was able to leave my job with Disney and have a little bit of security to open up my own production company.

How has the advertising industry changed from 93′ to now?

The biggest change is digital and I love it. Vine, Periscope, Instagram, Snapchat. I was ahead of the pack when it came to the transition into the digital age. I was the first person to put a Broadway show on the Internet. It was a Rodgers and Hammerstein revival and It was primitive in that we put up reviews and pictures, it was very static, but we were the first ones to have a website for a Broadway show. At the time, I didn’t think it was ground breaking, I just knew that we should do it and it was all part of the advertising/marketing strategy.

If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?

[laughs] No one has ever asked me this before. I don’t know, let me think about this one. I’m thinking maybe Zachary Levi, yes Zachary Levi. I’ve worked with him before and I can see him playing a good father and I see some similarities. But wait, I think I’m changing my answer, I pick David Schwimmer. Yes, because David has the right personality traits and the audience can relate to him.

What is the biggest headache during the process of producing these live shows and events?

It’s always budgets. It always comes down to budget. You want to do the best show you can. Some people don’t want to see the bigger picture and they want to be penny pinchers. It doesn’t always take a lot of money; it just takes money wisely spent. So you must have good venders in place, people who are on the same page. You must work with the same people for the most part. Yes, I have had the same team for 20 years both in New York and in Los Angeles. With very few replacements and I’ve really put together a great team. In fact on a show I recently did with UNICEF with Mariah Carey and Elton john, somebody from UNICEF came up to me and complimented me on the people that work for me.

Favorite actor/performer you worked with? Oh boy, there’s several. Hugh Jackman was great. We collaborated very closely on the Museum of Moving Images Salute to his work. He was great fun. I got to know him and his wife and we hung out a little bit. But for the most part I pretty much have good experiences with most people. The one that I am in most awe of that I worked with is Frank Sinatra. I was part of his team for 18 years and that was quite an experience because he was truly larger than life.

What three things do you need to be successful in your industry? What are deal killers for you?

You have to be passionate, you have to be persistent; you’re going to get a lot rejection. For every yes, you’re going to get 30 no’s and you have to know how to be diplomatic when handling people. I have a reputation for being tougher than most, and that’s fine with me. I’m tough but fair. I’m fair but I’m tough when I need be tough and sometimes whether it be a huge creative team or talent, they may push over the boundary and you have to know when to say enough. But being tough but fair is very important. And what is a deal killer for you? Arrogance. Absolute arrogance. You meet some people who have absolutely no qualifications who are just full of attitude to make up for it. This could be off the record, who has been difficult to work with? No I don’t care, you can put it out there. It’s interesting; I had a really hard time with Sean Connery. No matter what we did we couldn’t make him happy. But then I met him a couple of months later and he absolutely loved my work, loved the evening. He not only became a fan, but he agreed to come to another one of my shows. It’s the most unbelievable story, he turned out to be a pussycat.

On February 9th you’re going to be holding the 13th Annual Woman’s Red Dress Awards 8 years is a long time doing this, what is going to make this year different from the past?

I actually created it; it used to be a cocktail party in a bar where they handled out these little statues. But Larry King who is committed to fighting heart disease because of his cardiac foundation, he brought me in and recommended me to turn it into what it is today. I made it into a show. So we booked the Lincoln Center and then we brought in musical acts and we give out 4 or 5 awards during the event. Over the years we’ve had CeeLo Green, Colbie Caillat, Elvis Costello, Sara Bareilles. There’s a pre-show with photo ops, step and repeat, red carpet, passed hors d’oeuvres. Then we do the show, which is 90 minutes, no intermission, theatre seating. Finally, there’s a 2-hour party with a live DJ and more food and more drinks and all the women wear red. It’s actually one of the most fun events that I do and I’ve very proud of it because it’s for a great cause. Who is on this years lineup? This year we’re going a little country with The Band Perry. We have a woman who is an impersonator; she’s going to be singing “Natural Woman” in 17 voices. So from Britney Spears to Bernadette Peters to Celine Dion straight through, it’s exciting.

Where do you see Scott Mauro Entertainment in the next 5 years?

I want to do more TV specials and more Broadway shows. I would love to bring together a great cast. You look at The Sound of Music Live and it wasn’t critically acclaimed but the ratings were phenomenal. Now we have Grease coming up on FOX, which is going to be great. I have one or two good TV specials in me. Maybe more.

If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be? “New York, New York” I was born in raised in New York. I’m a die hard New Yorker. I’m not a singer but the song swings a little bit and I could fake it.

How are you going to be celebrating Valentines Day this year?

Valentine’s Day is a hugely important holiday for my wife and I. This is our 40th Valentine’s Day. Not married, but 40 years since we have been celebrating Valentine’s Day together. We knew there was something going on between us 40 years ago on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a very special day for us. Our first date was the week after Valentine’s Day and in college we used to give each other cards. My wife and I will have brunch that day, she’s picking the place and you better believe I’ll be coming home with chocolates and flowers.

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HPC News Glendale News Celebrity News

Tenant Spotlight: JIG Reel Studios

jigreelJIG Reel Studios is owned by Justin Galindo who was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Having a strong aspiration to start his own business he decided to leave Ohio and make his way to Los Angeles. From there, through hard work and determination he started what is now JIG Reel Studios. The company is known for creating actor demo reels, but is also a full-time production company that creates music videos, commercials, shorts, web series, and new features.  For more information  head to: www.jigreelstudios.com

If there is one person to thank for your success who would it be and why?

There isn’t just one person to thank. Every  person that has worked in this company has helped it to become what it is today. We have all grown together and we are still growing.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

That we get the chance to create NEW projects with our clients. We help to make their visions, a reality. Plus, it is gratifying to see even our own crews dreams and projects come to life.

 

Who are your biggest influences?

Mark Walhberg. Mainly because of how focused he is about business.

Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions?

To expand and become bigger and better than 2015. We also want to finish our feature film that we have been working on for over a year. We’re super excited about this project and can’t wait to get it in Sundance. Crossing fingers. 🙂

What was your favorite part of 2015?

That the company has grown so much and created a really strong team. The coolest part was meeting ROB FREAKING DYRDEK. Growing up and watching him on TV to actually meeting him in person was awesome. I’m a huge fan!

2015 seemed to be a good year for you business wise, is there anything new in store for 2016? 

We have a new feature coming out and we hope to collaborate with some new people.

What’s in the future for JIG Reel Studios?

We are going to be working with Disney on some new projects. Be on the look out!

 

 

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Movies/Television Celebrity News HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight: Byron Balasco creator of Direct TV’s hit show Kingdom

Kingdom

In this Halloween edition of Tenant Spotlight, Ariana caught up with writer/producer Byron Balasco on a warm fall day in Hollywood. Byron is the creator of Direct TV’s hit show Kingdom and is currently writing Season 3 while Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on the Audience Network October 14th at 9/8c. Kingdom is set in Venice Beach and focuses on a family’s mixed martial arts gym and the relationships and addictions of the characters. Kingdom Stars Nick Jonas (Singer/Songwriter) and Frank Gillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier and The Purge: Anarchy).

 

Wow, Byron you are just cranking out these episodes. What can fans expect in Season 2? The theme of season 2 is the painful ascent. So the gym is on the rise, some of the fighters are on the rise but with that success comes some shifting dynamics with the characters. Not everyone gets dragged along at the same pace and so, many tensions arise.

 

How did the idea for Kingdom come about and how did Venice, California come into the shows setting? I’ve been a fan of MMA for a long time; I really wanted to dive into the MMA world in a way that is different than how the sport itself is marketed. The more and more I got to learn about these fighters and got to know them personally, their lives are filled with the same struggles as anybody else’s but often times a little more extreme. They don’t have a safety net, it’s very dramatic, very risky, there is a lot of high stakes so it was a great place to set a family drama. A lot of things these guys and girls struggle with, mirror what everybody does, so there is universal themes in their lives. But distilled down to a more visceral level.

 

And Venice? Venice came into the setting because there is a ton of MMA in LA so it’s an organic place to have it. Venice is a very interesting setting, where you have a little bit of the glamour of LA but you still have the grit and sort of the danger. It’s sort of all mixed together which is a lot of how the world of MMA is.  

 

The show is centered on Mixed Martial Arts, do you have onset trainers and is craft service a donut free zone? We do have a lot of trainers, professionals on set at all times. All of our background in the gym are real fighters. We have a guy named Joe “Daddy” Stevenson who is a very famous UFC legend and coach who is on set with us every day. He is our onsite technical advisor and he trains all the actors one-on-one, together and while we’re shooting. Joe is on the show a lot. We also have another technical advisor by the name of Greg Jackson. He is a legend in the sport and is the top trainer in the world right now. Greg is based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico but he is the guy I talk to on a regular basis. He and I go through all the scripts. I always go out and spend a couple of weeks with him before every season starts.  

 

One of your fans, Julie Plec, who has tweeted about Kingdom, her writers take daily walks as a group around the facility. What sort of daily rituals do your writers do to get the creative juices flowing? When we come in, we all have coffee and then we beat the shit of Johne Frye, who is our writers assistant. [Laughs] So we beat him around for a while and then when we tire, we’re ready to go.

 

Which character do you most identify with? This isn’t a copout, but really and truly, they all are my favorites in that… As a writer, a little piece of you is in everything, so they each kind of have a thread running through them that is personal or at least interesting. If it’s not the literal thing that they’re dealing with it still has an emotional resonance to me. All of these guys.

 

Ronda Rousey is killing it in the UFC world and has a little feud with Floyd Mayweather. Who do you think would win that fight? Ronda versus Floyd… I think if Ronda could get a hold of him, get him on the ground, she might be able to beat up on him. If it’s stand up, I think he’d probably smoke her. But if she can get a hold of him, who knows.

 

More and more woman are creating a lasting impression in the MMA world, will you have more women in Season 2? We definitely have that this coming season. It’s a huge part of the sport, it’s an incredibly fast growing side. I think Ronda Rousey has been amazing for it and she is dominating and I think in the future the talent pool will become a lot deeper. There will be more rivals for people like Ronda and a little more parody. Right now, she’s just a superstar and everyone else is kind of new.

 

Do you think there is anyone that can beat Ronda right now? No, I don’t think she really has a challenger. But I think it’s great for the sport, it’s happening at every gym you go to. There are women training all the time.

 

Nick Jonas plays Nate Kulina and in Season 1 he battled a lot with his sexuality. Will Nick’s character continue to battle with his sexuality in Season 2? Not only Nate’s character, it’s sort of everyone trying to figure out their identity and who they are and where they fit in. So Nate’s struggle will continue, it’s not so simple. He’s not in a theatre troupe he’s in a fighting family and a very aggressive testosterone driven world. His family loves him, his immediate family of course, but also the family at the gym and the world. They love him. But I think he’s scared and afraid of how his sexuality might re-contextualize him in relation to those people. Even if he is accepted, he doesn’t want to be thought of as other, you know, different.  

 

Mark Consuelos will be guest starring in this coming season as a friend from Alvey’s past. Tell us a little bit about his character. He plays a guy named Sean Chapas, who was a guy who fought with Alvey back in the day. They were contemporaries. They haven’t really seen each other in several years. But in the meantime Chapas has gone off and become very successful. He comes back to see Alvey and I think they both feed each other’s dark side.  

 

What kind of drinking game should Kingdom fans play while watching the Season 2 premiere? Take a show of tequila every time somebody says “fuck”. You’ll get pretty drunk by the time you get out of the teaser.

 

What shows are you binge-watching at the moment? I’m not really binge watching. Well, what’s your go-to when you get home? College football. [laughs] Project Greenlight has been pretty good. I love Veep. I think Veep is such an amazing show. I really like Fargo.

 

What advice would you give to some of our readers who are currently trying to produce a dramatic series? I say, number one, there’s a lot of different ways to do it. I don’t like to know exactly where I’m going. I mean, I like to know the kind of global truth of what I’m going towards. But I don’t like to know plot wise exactly what I’m heading towards. I like to be able to kind of discover as you go, and that’s just how this show works. Not all shows can work that way. But for me, I don’t like to get slaved to a premise or like a hook for the show. I really like it to be about the characters because that’s really what I think, in my opinion, is what people come back for: falling in love with the people populating the show. Versus the hook or the gimmick which, you know, I think you have to have in a lot of ways to sell a network show. But for me, it’s find a great world that you could put your characters in. A world where the premise doesn’t swallow up the characters.   

Last question, it being our Halloween edition, what are you going to be for Halloween? Oh man, a fern.

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HPC News

PAND Mixer

On Wednesday, September 9th, 6-9 PM we will be hosting the PAND Mixer. The Persian American Networking Development Association is proud to team up with Hollywood Production Center for a night of networking and mingling! Flyer

This event is hosted by Hollywood Production Center in Glendale, on the 2nd floor patio. Wine and wonderful snacks from Porto’s Bakery in Glendale will be provided.

Categories
Movies/Television HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight: Craig Bartlett

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Craig Bartlett, creator and exec producer, “Ready Jet Go!” and “Dinosaur Train”

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Seattle when it was still a scrappy frontier town, and moved to LA right before it became “cool” with the Grunge movement and the arrival of all the dot-com billionaires. I’m not moving back until it’s “not cool” again.

Please describe the industry you’re in.

I make cartoons for kids, mostly for PBS these days, so cartoons for kids with an educational curriculum. The two shows we’re doing here are “Ready Jet Go!,” a kid’s first space show, and “Dinosaur Train,” which, if you’re 4, is like when chocolate met peanut butter.

How long have you been with the company and what is your title?

I started working for the Jim Henson Company (“Dinosaur Train”) in 2007, and for Wind Dancer (“Ready Jet Go!”) last year.

What got you interested in animation?

I studied Fine Art in school, but found it to be too serious. I was always trying to make art that was funny and told a story, which naturally led me to comics, and then to animation.

How did you get involved with the entertainment industry?

Once out of school I found the only animation job in the Northwest working for Will Vinton studios, the Claymation people. Will’s studio became Leica Animation, but by then I had moved to LA, first to direct the Penny cartoons for “Pee Wee’s Playhouse,” then over to Nickelodeon, story editing and directing for “Rugrats,” which led to my own Nick series, “Hey Arnold!”

What are you currently working on?

I’m producing 40 half hours of “Ready Jet Go!” And 10 half hours of “Dinosaur Train,” both for PBS. I also hope to bring more “Hey Arnold!” work to HPC if I can.

You have accomplished so much in your career, what makes you so driven to succeed?

I really love the work – at this point, I get to work exclusively on stuff that I created. So it’s never boring to me. And there’s always something new about it to learn. So I keep at it.

If there is one person to thank for your success who would it be and why?

I would thank both my parents, who were very creative and driven, hard-working people. They set the bar high, and then turned me loose as soon as I was grown, and told me to make my own way.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Cartoon making is great, because you get to make up your whole universe from scratch. That includes the stories, the look, the voices, the sound design, and the music. And the PBS shows really feature a lot of songs, so I get to write and play songs as part of my job. I’m getting better at music every decade, which is great, because I’m sure not getting better at, say, basketball.

Do you have any shout outs for your employees?

I’m working with lots of great new people, like Producers Rusty Tracy and Blanca Uribe on “Jet” and Melanie Pal and Kadi Rodriguez on “Dinosaur Train,” but I’m also still working with old friends Joe Purdy, Rachel Lipman, and Christie Insley, writing on “Jet,” who’ve been with me for more than 15 years. And with Karl Toerge and Terry Izumi, who’ve been drawing with me 7 years now on “Dinosaur Train.”

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight: Pentagon Records

tn-gnp-americana-at-brand-becomes-target-of-cr-001Please describe the industry you’re in.

Pentagon Records is a record label, specifically Hip Hop. They created a movement spawned from R-Mean’s song “Open Wounds” where they use the resources they have built to build awareness for the Armenian Genocide of 1915, #OpenWounds1915. With the centennial of the Armenian Genocide coming up they are currently focused on this movement, utilizing Hip Hop, Fashion, and Social Media. They are all about Hip Hop music with a positive, inspiring message. You can find out more information and support the movement at www.shop1915.com

How did you get involved with the entertainment industry?

Our artist R-Mean and his manager Alex Kodo turned their passion into a business and created this independent Hip Hop label to be able to properly release music to a specific core fan base.

How did Pentagon Records get established?

Pentagon Records was established we decided to take the music industry and everything that makes it, including producing, music videos, distribution, and marketing, and make it what we want it to be, pure uninfluenced music, basically no corporation telling us what songs to make to sell to the masses, we prefer to have our fans listen to genuine artist created music.

Open Wounds 1915 was established because we were able to do what we love, and make sure to support our community who has supported us! We use the platforms we create to make an impact on society!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Making music is what we love to do. Making a living off of your passion is a true blessing.

What’s in the future for Pentagon Records?

We are currently focused on heavily marketing the “Open Wounds 1915” movement. We have many upcoming events, from LA to DC to New York and Toronto, we will be representing our people and the music we create in raising awareness about the Genocide of 1915.  The Open Wounds 1915 Tour includes The Official Open Wounds 1915 Concert on April 18that Beyond The Stars Palace in Glendale. R-Mean’s new album ‘7 Deadly Sins’ will be released this spring followed by a tour throughout the summer. We plan on this being the year where we get to the next level!

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight: Neptune Post

 

nep

What does Neptune Post do, and how did it get established?

Neptune Post is a Post Production company, specializing in Color Correction, for the entertainment industry. We use DaVinci Resolve to color feature films, shorts, music videos and commercials. We started the company after both working at the top Color Correction post house in the world. We were freelancing so much on the side, that we decided to form our own company.

Please describe the industry you’re in.

We work in the entertainment industry, and are usually one of the last people to work on a film or video. After editing is complete, the project will usually go out to color and sound to both finish the project.

Tell us about any current projects you are working on.

We’re currently working on a few feature films, one of which is a Kobe Bryant documentary, airing on Showtime Feb. 28th. We’re also working on the next New Found Glory music video. We’ll be traveling to the SXSW and Cleveland International Film Festivals this March to support a handful of feature films in competition that we colored.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The great thing about post production is that we get to work on so many projects. It’s like painting on video. There’s such a wide variety of projects and tastes that nothing is ever the same. Every project is unique, so it never get’s dull.

What is a day like for your team?

It’s usually a 6-7 day work week at Neptune Post. We have sessions booked with clients throughout the week, so we’re usually sitting in a dark room all day. Music videos, commercials and shorts usually just take a day or less. Features generally take at least 5 days. If we don’t have sessions booked, then we’re working on finishing features films for unsupervised sessions. At any point, there’s always at least 3 or 4 features going through the company.

What’s in the future for Neptune Post?

We’re currently building a small theater with a 16 foot screen in one of our offices so we can color feature films in there as well. That should be complete by the end of March. We’re also bringing on a couple of employees, as well as hiring another colorist to work in our third room.

 

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight: Cynthia de Petris and Edgar Pease

tenant

In this Valentine’s Day edition of Tenant Spotlight we caught up with Cynthia de Petris and Edgar Pease on a cool winter’s day in Hollywood. Cynthia and Edgar both practice law over at our Gower location and they happen to be one of the cutest couples ever! We wanted to know more about how they started out individually as well as what it’s like working together.

Cynthia and Edgar are happy to give a free consultation to anyone in the building with legal issues. Suite 254. (323) 785-2131

Cynthia, I read you passed the bar in 1993. What were you doing before you decided to take the big test?

Cynthia: One takes the bar exam following law school. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be an attorney when I graduated. I had always been a teacher, so I set up my own law school tutorial service and spent two years tutoring law students and bar candidates.  Meantime, Ed passed the bar and needed my help because the practice became very busy, so we decided I would take the test as well. I have been practicing since 1993.

Cynthia, what type of law do you practice?

Cynthia:  I am a family law attorney and deal with civil litigation.  Many of my clients are in the entertainment field and I deal with their divorces, custody, support and business disputes.

Edgar, How has your approach changed towards representing artists during the time you’ve been practicing law? What kind of services do you typically provide as an entertainment lawyer?

Edgar: I developed an approach to musical and theatrical artists based upon my 20 plus years as a professional musician prior to becoming an attorney which allows me to speak the language of the artists I am dealing with since I was once looking at issues as a composer and writer instead of just an attorney. I provide contract analysis, deal memos, copyright and intellectual property litigation and representation, trademark and domain name protection, writer and composer protection from infringers and general entertainment consultation.

Edgar, do you represent any artists that are just beginning their musical career?

Edgar: Yes. I represent a rock band by the name of Acidic who has just concluded a 10 month US Tour known as “Warped Tour 14.”  I also represent producer Angel Chen who is a first time major motion picture executive producer. Long time clients I currently represent include Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson’s Heal the World Foundation, Carlos Santa/John Ryan, Bobby Womack who recently passed away, Continuim Records (Keith Richards), Academy Award composer David Shire, Emmy Award winning composer James D’Pasquale, Academy Award nominee Carol Connors (Theme from “Rocky” and “Rescuers Down Under – Disney), Misty Copeland/San Pedro Ballet Co., Football Hall of Fame Athlete Eric Dickerson, Screen Writer Jerico Stone, Rock/Metal Bands “The Turtels,” Rare Earth, White Snake, Thin Lizzy, Stanley Clarke (famous Jazz musician), Janet Jackson, Jessie J/Loomis and the Lust federal copyright litigation, currently consulting on copyright infringement issues related to 12 Years a Slave/Desperate Housewives, among others.

Cynthia, what do you like most about working with Ed in the same practice?

Cynthia: He’s extremely creative he never says no to a client. And he’s extremely loving and compassionate with every client. It’s inspiring to watch that.

Edgar, what do you like most about working with Cynthia in the same practice?

Edgar: We have been married 24 years now. First of all, she’s such a good attorney; she’s really good at her job. We went to law school together. Between the two of us we make a lawyer. [Laughing] Judges and lawyers see us together all the time. People say when you hire one of us, you get two.

What are you two doing for Valentine’s Day?

Cynthia: We are going to Pupukae which is on the North shore of Hawaii. We have a little place there that overlooks the ocean.

 

Categories
HPC News

Tenant Spotlight: Hovelstay

Picture4Hovelstay is a vacation rental site for anti-luxury accomodations. The more unique and adventurous the property for short-term vacation rental, the more they want it. They even have patches of dirt for nightly rent in Seattle.

How did you get the business idea for Hovelstay?  

We, Michael Womack and I, worked for years in the luxury vacation rental industry and thought it would be funny to go in the opposite direction, down-selling places to stay.  We didn’t realize we were tapping into a previously untapped travel demand.

When did Hovelstay officially launch?  

July 18th was our formal launch day, for students only.  Since getting slammed with emails from all over, specifically baby boomers wanting to stay in inexpensive and fun places, we relaunched our site on October 18th, opening it up to everyone.

What would you say is the most interesting listing on your site?

There are too many to list.  I highly recommend a visit to the site itself.

What was your initial reaction when you received many inquiries from non-students about opening it up to everyone?  

Amazing.  We are continually surprised at how many people love what we are doing and want to be a part of it.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Meeting so many cool and interesting people, and of course, creating something that has some real teeth in the market.

Are there any big future plans for your company?

We are expanding overseas, opening an office in London as we speak and signing some big partnership agreements.  It’s pretty great.

 

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight: Flying Mollusk

Nevermind_TeamPhoto

Flying Mollusk is an independent video game development studio who makes “edgy games for good.” By that, we mean that we make games that, first and foremost, are just as fun and thrilling as any “traditional” video game out there – but also give back to players by surreptitiously teaching them a new skillset, exposing them to new ideas, or simply inspiring them in the process. Right now we’re a plucky team of four full-time members who collectively have over 30 years of game development experience across all aspects of the game industry

What does Flying Mollusk do and how did it get established?

I have always been very passionate about the potential of “positive games,” but have struggled to find existing studios that make games that are fun, beneficial to the player, and developed for adult audiences (as opposed to many of the “edutainment” games created primarily for children). Ultimately, I realized that the best way to pursue my dream of making these “edgy games for good,” would be by establishing my own studio dedicated to creating high-quality, fun, and beneficial virtual experiences. At the end of 2013, I left my job at a larger, mainstream studio to create Flying Mollusk and focus on our first title, Nevermind.

Describe Nevermind and the inspiration behind it.

Nevermind is a biofeeback-enhanced horror adventure game that reacts to your fear and stress. While you play this mystery thriller, the game is constantly reading your anxiety levels. As you start to become a little scared, the game will dynamically respond by becoming harder. The longer you stay scared or stressed, the harder the game will become – so the trick is to learn how to manage your fear and stress in intense situations on the fly.

The big picture idea with Nevermind is that by learning and practicing stress management techniques through playing the game, you will start to habituate the mindfulness and stress management techniques that you need in everyday life. For example, in Nevermind, you may find yourself practicing deep breathing to bravely cross that foreboding bridge into the darkness unscathed – in real life, you may find that that same deep breathing technique will help you calmly get through rush hour traffic on the freeway, prepare to give a nerve-wracking speech, or keep a clear head when you’ve misplaced your keys and are running late for a meeting.

Nevermind started as my Master’s thesis project at the University of Southern California – where the proof of concept was developed back in 2011-2012. I went into my thesis year knowing that I wanted to make a “positive game” that used biofeedback input (technology that I had experimented with a few years prior). As a longtime fan of a darker aesthetic, I also really wanted to try my hand at the horror genre. With those three goals in mind, the seeds for what Nevermind would ultimately become were planted.

What made you want to make a horror game as opposed to any other genre?

I’ve always been a huge fan of the horror genre. As a toddler, I watched the Alien VHS tape so many times that it fell apart. In highschool, I had almost every episode at that time of the X-Files and Millenium memorized. My personal art style has always trended toward the creepy and macabre. In many ways, the horror genre has always been in my blood and making Nevermind a horror game was clearly a natural fit given my goals and ambitions for the project.

What was your initial reaction when Intel reached out to you about Nevermind?

It was incredibly exciting and validating to have Intel reach out about Nevermind. The Intel® RealSense™ camera technology is such a perfect fit for our long-term goals for Nevermind – as it allows us to seamlessly capture the biofeedback data we need and gives us new tools for creating an immersive experience. It has been wonderful working with Intel and the future of Nevermind is brighter than ever because of it!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Video game development is one of the coolest jobs ever – not only because you get to make video games (my inner 12-year old still can’t believe this is my actual job), but because everyone you work with has such a diverse background of skillsets, interests, and experiences. The video game industry can sometimes get a bad rap, but  – in my experience – it is one of the most interesting and supportive communities I’ve been a part of. It is a fertile field of innovation and exploration – and waking up every morning knowing that I’m part of something that can make people happy and help improve their lives is a privilege that never gets old.

What’s in the future for Flying Mollusk?
We’re currently focused on developing Nevermind and are planning to launch the full version around October 2015 (with some content being released via Steam Early Access between now and then). After Nevermind, we’ll continue to make edgy games for good leveraging the coolest technology out there to make unforgettable experiences that will also, in ways small and large, make the world a better place.

 

 

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News Glendale News Movies/Television Celebrity News

Tenant Spotlight with Rob Thomas

If you have ever seen Dawson’s Creek, 90210 (2008) or Veronica Mars. You have Rob Thomas to thank in part for your television viewing pleasure. We caught up with Rob on a busy Monday here in Hollywood- who is finishing up CW’s soon to be hit- iZombie. If you’re a Veronica Mars fan we have some exclusive information for you.

You are known for many literary works including bestselling novels and hit television shows. When did you begin writing fiction and who influenced your style and genre? What do you like most about young adult fiction?

I started writing my first novel when I was 27, finished it when I was 28. I’m sure I was influenced by John Hughes, Chris Crutcher, Paul Zindel. I think there is inherent high-drama in teenagers’ lives. There are so many firsts, everything seems so important, every failure is absolute tragedy, every romance feels like it’s the one.

There is such a big Veronica Mars following. What can fans expect in the future? Will there be another Veronica Mars feature or the possibility of continuing the TV show?

There will be at least one more novel that will come out in early 2015. We also have episodes of Play It Again, Dick, the Veronica Mars spinoff webseries, coming out for the next six weeks. We all hope there will be another Veronica Mars movie but there’s nothing in the works yet on that front.

We dug up a fun fact about you… You played in a few bands back in Texas. What instrument did you play and who were your biggest influences in your music?

I played bass guitar because it had the fewest number of strings. And I had never played an instrument before joining the band. It seemed like the quickest path. I wanted to play like Tommy Stinson of The Replacements because it wasn’t very complicated. It felt like you could have a six pack before the show and you could still deliver.

How has your love for the Texas music scene play out in your writing and have you gone to SXSW yet?

My band played the first few years of SXSW back when you could be a mediocre local band and make it into the festival. Most of my friends back in Austin played in bands in the 80s and 90s and I still use a lot of music from that time and from those musicians in the shows I write.

What are some songs that are currently in heavy rotation in your car or mp3 player?

The new Spoon album. The new Tom Petty album. The last Okkervil River album. And the last Mark Lanegan album.

iZombie is gaining a lot of momentum on the social media front. What are you most excited about with this project? And when will iZombie air?

Because we’re midseason, we’re unsure when we’re going to air. But I’m starting to see cuts of the first episodes and I’m really proud of how they’re turning out. This one has a good feel to it.

What advice do you have for some of our readers in regard to focusing and honing in on a writing style.

Blood on the page. Don’t be too easily satisfied. It’s easy to write a scene that sounds like it could be on television. It’s usually an arduous journey to actually get something down that will be special or memorable.

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

Cinespia: Summer Movie Screenings

Hollywood Production Center visited Cinespia for the 'Jaws' screening earlier this summer.
Hollywood Production Center visited Cinespia for the ‘Jaws’ screening earlier this summer.

Summer is coming to an end, so it’s time to go into speed-mode in checking off those things from your summer bucket list that you promised yourself you’d finish. One thing that should be on your bucket list is Cinespia. Ever wondered what it’s like to watch a movie in a cemetery? Well obviously Hollywood thought about it, and then there was Cinespia. Cinespia is a series of movie screenings that are held outdoors on Fairbanks Lawn, a grassy field inside Hollywood Forever Cemetery during the summer months. During these screenings, large crowds of people come out with their blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy a classic movie under the stars.

 

 

 

Are you sold? Check out the calendar for the remaining 2014 screenings:

Saturday, September 6
Purple Rain

Saturday, September 13
The Matrix

Saturday, September 20
Rosemary’s Baby

Find more information about tickets and movie times at cinespia.org.

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight with Courtney Solomon

We chatted with Courtney Solomon of After Dark Films at HPC in Hollywood.
We chatted with Courtney Solomon of After Dark Films at HPC in Hollywood.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Courtney Solomon of After Dark Films and Cinelou Films from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Hi Courtney, tell us about yourself.

I am a producer, writer and director.

 

What does After Dark Films and Cinelou Films do, and how did it get established?

I started my first production company in 1995 called Sweetpea Entertainment. In 2000 Sweetpea released DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, which I produced and directed. Then in 2005 myself and Allan Zeman founded the production company, After Dark Films. I wrote and directed our first release, AN AMERICAN HAUNTING, starring Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland.

My other company and new business venture is called Cinelou Films, which my partner, Mark Canton and I started this year. We completed our first film, CAKE, earlier this year starring Jennifer Aniston and we are excited to announce that it will have its world premiere in Toronto at the Toronto Film Festival next month.

 

Please describe the industry you’re in.

The industry I am in is very interesting and fast paced. We take scripts that we get from reputable agencies and package them from the ground up. Sometimes they may come to us with a director or A-list star already attached and then we start casting other roles, we start looking at the budget, where we can shoot it, when we can start, etc.

 

How did you get to where you are now?

I work really hard and succeeding is a promise I made to myself. I’m extremely passionate about what I do and I love filmmaking.  I love directing, it will always be a love of mine. And when I’m producing, I’m still a filmmaker. I’m always on set and hand-ons with the director and crew, as well as the cast.

 

How did you get involved with the entertainment industry?

My mom, Fran Solomon, was in the business in Toronto. I grew up on movie sets and truly loved the world of filmmaking.

 

What other films have you worked on in the past?

Directed  DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, GETAWAY, wrote and directed AN AMERICAN HAUNTING.

 

You have accomplished so much in your career, what makes you so driven to succeed?

I just think it’s either within somebody or not within somebody, that’s a personal choice.

 

If there is one person to thank for your success who would it be and why?

My mother, Fran Solomon.

 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Filmmaking / directing.  I also love seeing the final product after putting so much time and energy into it. It’s a great feeling.

 

What’s in the future for After Dark Films and Cinelou Films?

Cinelou Films is my main focus now. After our first film, CAKE, premieres in Toronto, we will get ready to move forward and start production on our next film, an Iraq war drama called YELLOW BIRDS starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tye Sheridan and Will Poulter. We are in talks on a few other wonderful projects that I am very excited about and will be able to share soon

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to interview with us, Courtney!

 

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight with Chip Mosher

We chatted with Chip Mosher of comiXology at HPC in Glendale.
We chatted with Chip Mosher of comiXology at HPC in Glendale.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Chip Mosher of comiXology from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Chip Mosher is the VP of Communications and Market at comiXology. ComiXology is a revolutionary digital comics platform that lets customers around the world buy and read comics, graphic novels and manga in their Guided View reading technology. They feature over 50,000 titles available from more than 75 publishers.

 

Hi Chip, tell us about yourself.

I’m an ex-patriot Texan living in exile in California.

Describe the industry you’re in.

I work in the comic book industry.

How did you first get your start in this industry?

Comic books have been a life long passion and have been working in the industry off and on since I was a teenager.

How long have you been with comiXology and what is your title?

At comiXology I am the VP of Communications and Market. I’ve been with the company for three years – two of which have been as part of the HPC Broadway family.

What does comiXology do, and how did it get established?

ComiXology is a revolutionary digital comics platform that let’s customers around the world buy and read comics, graphic novels and manga in our Guided View reading technology. We have over 50,000 titles available from more than 75 publishers.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Making people happy by selling them comics they love!

What do you see in the future for comic books?

The comic market in the U.S. has been artificially constrained because of distribution problems. There was never a Tower Records for print comics. So the industry has grown both print and digital as digital has raised the visibility of the medium. Comics is a 870 million dollar industry in the U.S. but it can be way bigger than that now that the distribution issue is solved.

What’s your favorite comic book?

The Walking Dead.. .of course!

When did comiXology move to Hollywood Production Center?

Twenty-five months ago Gina gave me a tour of HPC. She and Tina have lived to regret that day ever since. Seriously, I love it over here at HPC and am very happy with my office. It’s a joy to come to work everyday.

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to interview with us, Chip!

 

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight with Christopher Montgomery

We chatted with Chris Montgomery of Prodigy Talent at HPC in Glendale.
We chatted with Chris Montgomery of Prodigy Talent at HPC in Glendale.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Christopher Montgomery of Prodigy Talent from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Chris Montgomery is the Managing Member at Prodigy Talent. Prodigy Talent is a full service talent agency representing actors in television, film and commercials. They additionally  represent producers and financers for independent feature films. Chris has been extremely proud of his clients’ work this year, with them appearing in several Super Bowl commercials, HBO’s True Blood and more.

Tell us about yourself.
I was raised in the metro area of Denver, Colorado. I graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and then did my graduate work there, as well getting my JD (law degree) from there as well.

How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
After having several years in the political arena serving in the US House, the US Senate, a Governor and in the White House I was given a great chance to work with my best friend open a production company in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Soon, I found myself missing campaigning. And, talent representation is the campaign that never ends.  Where they say “DC is Hollywood for Ugly People” (my previous career) I figured working in real Hollywood would be more for me. Plus, this is the campaign that never ends!

What is Prodigy Talent?
We are a full service talent agency representing actors in television, film and commercials. Additionally we represent producers and financers for independent feature films.

When did Prodigy Talent come about?
After owning Prodigy Pictures for a while in Las Vegas, I found myself missing the campaign trail. But, I knew returning to politics was just not for me. Working with great and talented people in the field of representation allowed me to work in a campaign that never ended!

Are there any cool projects your clients have starred in recently?
This year we have had a lot of actors in commercials for the Super Bowl, we had actors on True Blood, on a variety of television shows and in major advertiser spots. This has been a great year for us. We have been truly blessed in 2014.

What’s your favorite part about your job?
Building a strong solid relationship with my actors and seeing them grow, seeing them go from a struggling actor to a booking and working actor.

You have accomplished so much in your career, what makes you so driven to succeed?
For me, I think it was just always instinctual. I have always been driven. We built a production studio, and released a film, during the Great Recession.  We opened the agency just as the economic recovery began.  Succeeding became the only choice during the recession!

If there is one person to thank for your success who would it be and why?
I have to say that there are two (2). First of all, my dad has been incredibly helpful to this endeavor.  I am very grateful to him. Secondly, to my late Grandmother who just passed.  She was a major influence to this.

What’s in the future for Prodigy Talent?
We are continuing to focus on our core beliefs.  We fundamentally believe that we can all do more together than we can apart. The film making process is synergetic, it is a mutual aid society. It takes so many of us working to a common goal to succeed. We want to continue to focus on our actors, our producers, and our team to keep doing what we do well. We have been so blessed this year, we want to stay on that path of gratitude and never forgetting why we are all here.

When did Prodigy Talent move to Hollywood Production Center?
We first moved into HPC2 in 2012. We came here at the suggestion of one of the producers we represent.  We found it to be the perfect home for us because there is so much of a community here. From production to casting.  Agents cannot be based “on lot” but here we have the feeling we are. To know that some great TV shows, movies and projects are just  down the hall, or on another floor really gives us such an advantage and gives us such a sense of community I cannot honestly think of us being anywhere else.

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to interview with us, Chris!

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News Music/Concerts

Tenant Spotlight with Marrsha Sill

Chicago Music Library's Executive Marrsha Sill.
We chatted with Chicago Music Library’s Executive Vice President, Marrsha Sill.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Marrsha Sill of Chicago Music Library from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Marrsha Sill is the Executive Vice President at Chicago Music Library. Marrsha Sill began her music library career as an Account Executive at APM Music, where she spent many years becoming an expert at promoting and growing APM’s business in the areas of film, television and advertising. Then became Vice President of Film and TV Music at Megatrax and Opus 1 music Library. Marrsha is now a proud member of the “Chicago Music Library” team where she retains her outstanding industry-wide reputation for “representing the artists.”

Marrsha, how did Chicago Music Library (CML) come about?

The Chicago Music Library was the dream child of Robert J. Walsh (veteran film composer and creator of the Hollywood Film Music Library) and James E. Moore (Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur). On a flight back from Chicago to LA, both decided that there was a future for a new boutique online music catalog with unique, pristine content. They then were very fortunate to find the multi-talented Nicholas Castelli (VP – Operations), Marrsha Sill (Executive VP), Jason Jamison (Sales Manager), and Renee Dawes (Creative Manager). And POW! a diverse and talented team was born!

How is Chicago Music Library making its mark in the entertainment industry?

Look, we know music is everywhere so we must separate ourselves by being known as a reliable resource and service – focusing on providing the best content efficiently and affordably, no email goes unanswered. If we have what you’re looking for you will get it ASAP, usually within the hour, and if not we can create it on spec, and done with a smile.

Who is your typical client and how are most of their licenses used?

Our typical client is a studio music exec/creative and/or an independent music supervisor, independent filmmaker, or online content creator, who use “Trusted Sources” such as CML to acquire the music that they need for their production. Some clients score their entire production with library music, or a variation of custom and library music. And some peeps use us for everything the composer does not do (needle drops).

Any notable movies or shows?

Well, over the years we’ve had hundreds of placements, however, some recent feature films would be The Butler, Runner Runner and Paranormal Activity 5. Further, we’ve had several placements on TV such as, ABC’s Revenge and Warner Brothers’ Shameless, and several placements in Sony’s shows Justified and Community, to name a few.

Your company was founded in 2011. What key changes have you seen the industry take since then?

Wow, well since 2011 we just like all industries have felt the economic changes, everything from decreased budgets to music sources giving away music for free. Most notably would be the increased requests for indie bands by music creatives and, subsequently, the demand for independent music libraries such as CML to carry this content. In essence we are becoming the new record industry!

What’s in the future for Chicago Music Library?

The Chicago Music Library is constantly growing and innovating – offering it’s diverse catalogs at moderate industry rates in many unique ways; constantly featuring new catalog expansion, and the best possible service to our clients in the Film, Television, Advertising, and Online world. Most importantly, we feel it is our duty to educate others and take the lead in moving the industry forward. We are constantly on social media engaging with others and have actually just launched our Face the Music Blog Series (#FTMBS) on our website, where we will offer unique industry insights and news.

The Chicago Music Library team would like to extend a neighborly offer to all HPC tenants, which includes 25% off all annual and per project blankets!

 

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to interview with us, Marrsha!

Categories
Hollywood News Movies/Television HPC News

Tenant Spotlight with Bryan Grant

Brant Grant is the CEO and Creative

We had the opportunity to catch up with Bryan Grant of Bryan Grant Studios from our Hollywood Production Center location…

Bryan Grant is the founder and Executive Creative Director of Bryan Grant Studios. BGS is globally recognized for their work in broadcast, theatrical and digital Motion Graphics, Branding & 3D Animation. With over 20 years’ experience they’ve had the fortune of working with clients across the country including leading networks, studios, agencies, celebrities, & producers like David Copperfield, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Universal Pictures, HBO, Nike, JWT, DDBO, Lexus & T-Mobile to name just a few. The full list can be found at bryangrantstudios.com. The studio’s work can be screened HERE.

Tell us a little about yourself, Bryan?
I went to Seaholm High school in Birmingham, MI & Columbia College in Chicago, IL. I studied film production and had the fortune of working with some incredible DP’s and film directors. In high school I was asked to teach the television production class, which was wild because a lot of my friends were my “students”. I later taught an animation course in college to help pay for my schooling. Most notably, I’ll never turn down some incredible BBQ.

How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
It’s funny.  I started at 14 when I opened my own video production company in Birmingham, MI. We became the #1 video production company for weddings & bar mitzvah one year later. I feel blessed to have always known what I wanted to do at a very early age.  Many years later after moving to Los Angeles my first client through BGS was Disney where we helped them animate one of their largest entertainment properties at the time.

Do you enjoy what you do?
I love what I do!  I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I especially love what happens when we combine the latest technology in VFX & 3D with our creative vision to help produce one-of-a-kind creative for our clients.

Who would you say is your biggest client that you were you like, “whoa!”
I would say David Copperfield.  He was an idol of mine growing up.  In fact I would tape all of his television specials every year and watch them a million times over.  So when he approached me later in my adult life it was totally surreal and an amazing experience. I was tasked to brand his new production company Red Safe.  The branding premiered in Variety magazine 2 months later and we couldn’t be happier.

Where do you see the future for BGS?
It’s important for me to promote the company’s core values, which are integrity, loyalty and accountability. Our client’s value that along with our strong creative output.  I see BGS growing into one of the most influential design and animation studio in Los Angeles within 2 years.  Staying humble, innovative and inspiring will get us there.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to sit down with us, Bryan!

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Tenant Spotlight with Jack

Tenant Spotlight with Jack
We chatted with Jack from iFone Repair Service, who has been servicing Apple products since 2008.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Jack of iFone Repair Service from our Hollywood Production Center 3 location…

Jack is the founder of iFone Repair Service. He is a proud small business owner and long-time Glendale resident, and we’ve been lucky enough to have him with us at our Hollywood Production Center 3 location since 2011. Jack is a true ‘Apple Fan Boy,’ and he continues to spread that Apple love through iFone Repair Service…

Hi Jack, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a 25+ year Glendale resident who grew up in Glendale. I received my BA in Technology Operations Management at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I am a proud small business owner putting smiles on the faces of every-day cellular phone users who fall victims technological incidents.

When did you first get the business idea for iFone Repair Service?  
Being in the cell phone industry since 2003, I had put together the idea of iFone Repair Service in 2007, around the time of the release of the first generation iPhone. With iPhones dominating the cellular phone market, I soon realized the demand and need for repairs on these sophisticated handsets.

When did iFone Repair Service officially open?
I officially started the company in 2008.

What’s your favorite part about coming in to work every day?
I would have to say, my involvement in the solutions to
someone’s bad day after damaging their iPhones is what I look forward to everyday. I truly get a kick out of offering my expertise and helping customers out. After all, every customers who walks out of my office, has a smile on their face.

What’s the best part about being your own boss?
The best part of being my own boss is the benefit of having a flexible work schedule that I can easily arrange my personal life around.

How long have you been with the Hollywood Production Center?
I have been a tenant with the Hollywood Production Center (Broadway building) since 2011.

Do you have any guesses as to what the next big Apple product will be?
My speculations are for a release of the 6th generation iPhone this upcoming fall with possibly a larger screen. The technology market has also hinted to Apple enthusiasts about an “iWatch” that is to be released in the near future.

Would your friends consider you an ‘Apple fan boy’?
Oh yeah! From the computers in the office to the carry bag at home, I can proudly say that I own most all apple products. Even the Apple sticker on my fridge says so…

Are there any big future plans for your company?
I am looking to expand the services provided at iFone Repair Service throughout the Los Angeles area, with possibly multiple locations to open soon.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
Our company is recognized and still remains as the #1 5-Star Rated Service shop for cellular phones in all of Los Angeles. Our stellar reviews speak for themselves.

Most common services provided: Screen repairs, water damage repairs, and customizations.

I’d love to offer all tenants, and families of HPC tenants discounts on the services provided if they are in need. Whether you’re in trouble with your Apple iDevice or not, Stop by our office in Suite 102B (at Hollywood Production Center 3, 225 E. Broadway, Glendale, CA) to say hello and don’t forget to checkout our great accessories for the devices. Make iFone Repair Service your one stop shop for all your iPhone & iPad needs!

Visit them at www.iFoneRepairService.com or call them at (818) 639-3009.

Categories
HPC News Glendale News Movies/Television

Tenant Spotlight with Bob Fisher

We chatted with Bob Fisher whose new television series 'Sirens' airs on USA this Wednesday!
We chatted with Bob Fisher whose new television series ‘Sirens’ airs on USA this Thursday!

We had the opportunity to catch up with Bob Fisher, who many of you may know as the writer for Wedding Crashers (2005) and We’re the Millers (2013). Bob has an upcoming television show this month that will be airing on USA called Sirens, which he co-wrote and co-executive produced with Denis Leary. We were lucky enough to have Bob as a tenant at our HPC 2 building, so we were excited to interview him before his big series premiere of Sirens, which airs Thursday, March 6* at 10/9c.

Hi Bob, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I grew up all over the place, but mostly in New Jersey. I first moved to California as a teenager, and went to school at UCLA, but surprisingly, didn’t study film.

How did you get started in the entertainment industry?
I was bartending after college, and one day I was watching The Wonder Years and had recently read an article about how television writers get paid pretty well, so I decided to call up an old friend from high school and college, and we got to work from there. I had always wanted to write a movie, so I was excited.

You have worked seamlessly in both the TV world and the feature side. Do you prefer one over the other?
I have been fortunate enough to work in both, and if I had to leave one I would really miss it. Growing up, I was always more a fan of movies. I grew up on multi-camera sitcoms, but now with the switch to single-camera, I grew more of an interest in television and have really enjoyed being a part of a constantly changing scene. Plus, in TV you can be a lot more involved with the project and see it through until the end. I’ve written tons of scripts for movies, but have only had two made – if you write something for TV it usually gets made.

You have Sirens premiering this month on USA, congrats! Can you tell us a bit about it and how it came about?
It is a comedy about 3 EMTs that embark on ridiculous escapades together, meanwhile dealing with the real life issues going on around them. Sirens leads with comedy, and surprises with drama. I also really like the tagline that USA came up with, which is “A Life or Death Situation Comedy.” We did the majority of writing and post production at your HPC 2 location. Denis Leary, my writing partner on this, and I found inspiration for the concept of the show from M.A.S.H. the television show, and especially the movie, which we watched as kids.

What project are you most proud of?
Sirens. It’s a great comedy and drama with a fun, loose and unexpected 70s feel. I’m really proud of it and can’t wait to see how it does.

What other big projects have you worked on?
I worked as a co-writer for Wedding Crashers and We’re the Millers. I also worked as a writer and executive producer on Fox’s Traffic Light.

When did you first feel like you “made it?”
Being able to make the first call to the people in your life to tell them that you got your job, is the best call you’ll ever make.

What’s next for you?
Hopefully a second season of Sirens! But for now, my future writing partner, Rob Greenberg, and I are writing a movie we recently sold to Sony called Gondoliers.

Thanks for the fun interview, Bob!

*Correction from previous post: Sirens premieres on Thursday, March 6.

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News

Tenant Spotlight with Jonathan Skogmo

Jonathan Skogmo is the CEO of Jukin' Media Inc.
Jonathan Skogmo is the founder and CEO of Jukin’ Media Inc.

Jonathan Skogmo is the founder and CEO of Jukin’ Media Inc. Their content has been seen on Bravo, MTV, and FOX, among other networks. Fans love the popular video “Husky Says No To Kennel,” which depicts a beautiful defiant husky laying down and literally saying “No!” to his masters at every command (watch here). Jon is currently a tenant at our flagship location in Hollywood, and we’re so proud to have witnessed his success and growth.  We recently caught up with Jonathan to learn what Jukin’ Media Inc. is all about and his vision for his company’s future…

Jon, please describe the industry you’re in.
We’re in the digital media industry. And, more specifically, our focus is on-line video.

How would you describe your company in one sentence?
We reward viral-style video creators by monetizing their video content and bringing it to a larger audience.

Your company was founded in 2009. What key changes have you seen take place in the industry since then?
The industry is moving so fast that the changes from year to year are immense, let alone a five-year span. One thing that’s definitely changed is that on-line video consumption has exploded!  Viewership continues to rise and brands and advertisers are shifting serious ad dollars into digital media.
What’s in the future for Jukin’ Media?
Bigger rewards for our members. We are developing new business relationships and strategic partnerships that will be an enormous boost to our member community. Our list of media partners continues to grow, so our members are seeing their videos on more and more media outlets, TV shows, and ad campaigns.

Categories
HPC News Glendale News

Trivia Night at HPC

Hollywood Production Center hosted another trivia night for tenants this week.
Hollywood Production Center had a blast hosting another Trivia Night for the office.

We love trivia, and so do our tenants! Last night we hosted another Trivia Night for all our competitive tenants that wanted to know who the real trivia buff in the office is. We had such a blast with 5 teams that were on each others’ heels the entire game! We wanted to share some of our favorite trivia questions that we asked, so if you missed it, rest assured you can exercise your trivia muscles. Keep in mind that the entire night’s theme was “Best of 2013.” (Answers listed at the bottom in italics)

**Congrats to Universal’s “Team Monkey Love” for the win!**

1. In 2013, what artist dropped an unannounced, surprise album?

2. What is the name of the Notre Dame football player that dealt with an online hoax that spurned the now-famous term “catfishing?”

3. On July 9, it was announced that the 2020 Olympic Games would be held in what city?

4. What is the name of Vince Gilligan’s television drama, which came to an end in 2013 after 5 seasons?

5. Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World feature cameos by actors from other Marvel Studios franchises. Which actor did not appear in either film? a. Benicio Del Toro, b. Chris Evans, c. Mark Ruffalo, d. Scarlett Johansson

6. List the following films in order of highest grossing movie domestically to lowest grossing movie domestically (1 be highest, 4 being lowest): Despicable Me 2, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Iron Man 3 and Frozen.

 

1. Beyonce

2. Manti Te’o

3. Tokyo, Japan

4. Breaking Bad

5. d. Scarlett Johansson

6. 1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, 2. Iron Man 3, 3. Despicable Me 2, 4. Frozen

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

‘Looking’ to Premiere on HBO in January

HBO's new drama-comedy 'Looking' will premiere on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
HBO’s new drama-comedy ‘Looking’ will premiere on Sunday, January 19, 2014.

HPC News – Hollywood Production Center is once again happy announce that we have been joined by an exciting television project. Mission Street Productions has moved into the Hollywood Production Center offices, and they are currently working on a new series for HBO titled Looking. This half hour drama-comedy will follow the lives of a group of gay men living in San Francisco as they deal with dating in the digital age and growing older in the gay community. The three gay best friends will be played by Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez and Murray Bartlett.

The eight-episode series was filmed in San Francisco at the start of fall. Looking was created by Michael Lannen, who is also attached as co-executive producer, and is directed by Andrew Haigh. Haigh and Sarah Condon serve as executive producers. Looking will premiere on Sunday, January 19, 2014 on HBO.

HBO’s other popular drama-comedy Girls will premiere its 3rd season January 12, 2014. Other new television shows on HBO’s schedule is True Detective and The Leftovers.

Check out the trailer for Looking here.

View full story at The Hollywood Reporter.

Categories
Movies/Television HPC News Glendale News

HPC Welcomes Amazon’s ‘Bosch’

Titus __ will be starring in Amazon's newest television series, 'Bosch.' The new show will premiere in March fort
Titus Welliver will be starring in Amazon’s newest television series, ‘Bosch.’ The pilot will premiere in 2014 for viewer feedback.

HPC News – Another tenant at the Hollywood Production Center is the team for a new television drama pilot, Bosch. The pilot was ordered by Amazon Studios who is looking to quickly expand its original programming. After focusing mostly on comedies and kids programming, Amazon is moving towards drama with Bosch, a police procedural based on Michael Connelly’s books. Michael Connelly has created a character named Harry Bosch, a veteran Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective who is pursuing a killer, while also standing trial in federal court himself. The Bosch character has been at the center of 20 novels by Connelly, and will be played by Lost and Sons of Anarchy alum Titus Welliver. He will also be joined by Annie Wersching, Amy Price-Francis and Jamie Hector as costars.

The pilot was written by Connelly and Treme co-creator Eric Overmyer, who are executive producing with Fabrik’s Henrik Bastin and Mikkel Bondesen. Jim McKay is attached to direct.

The pilot will be available on Amazon Instant Video for viewer feedback in early 2014.

View full story at Deadline.

Categories
Glendale News Movies/Television HPC News

‘The Killing’ to Return for a 4th Season on Netflix

'The Killing' will be returning for a 4th season, but this time exclusively on Netflix.
‘The Killing’ will be returning for a 4th season, but this time exclusively on Netflix.

HPC News – The Killing cannot be killed. Hollywood Production Center’s longtime tenant will be continuing their work on their popular television series The Killing from our offices. The hit television show first aired in 2011 on AMC, and continued to air three seasons until the cable network announced the show’s cancellation earlier in 2013. However, Netflix recently announced that they would be picking up the series and continuing the 4th season. This 4th season will air 6 episodes and will be considered the “final season.” The series’ stars Joel Kinnaman (who plays Stephen Holder) and Mireille Enos (who plays Sarah Linden) will be returning to the show to explore a new police case.

The Killing has gained a lot of popularity on Netflix’s streaming service, which helped it grow its audience for three seasons. The show had originally been cancelled after two seasons, but Fox TV Studios later announced that it would be returning after all due to a unique deal with AMC and Netflix. In this deal the streaming service, which had already built up an audience from the first 2 seasons being on its service, would stream the 3rd season 90 days after the finale aired on AMC to offset costs. When AMC announced that they would be pulling the plug for good in 2013, Netflix stepped in to pick up a 4th season to be aired exclusively to Netflix users. The wildly popular streaming service believe this show is perfect for on-demand viewing, so they have given Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder the chance at a proper goodbye.

Production for the 4th season of The Killing  is set to begin in February.

View the full story at The Hollywood Reporter.

Categories
HPC News Hollywood News Movies/Television

HPC Welcomes After Dark Films

After Dark Films has moved into HPC to work on their latest project, 'Re-Kill.'
After Dark Films has moved into HPC to work on their latest project, ‘Re-Kill.’

HPC News – A new tenant has moved into Hollywood Production Center, and that is After Dark Films, a horror, original and action film production company and distributor founded by Courtney Solomon. The company is currently working on a horror film called Re-Kill, which is a found-footage zombie film. The footage is of the brave men and women of R-division who must find and destroy zombies. It is five years after the initial Outbreak and just as they begin to think they are almost clear of the disease, they see signs of a second Outbreak. They begin to worry that humanity may not be able to survive a second round of this epidemic. The movie is said to be shot in a wartime documentary style, and is in the vein of 28 Days Later.

Re-Kill marks Valerie Milev’s directorial debut. The film was written by Michael Hurst, who is also credited for House of the Dead 2 and Pumpkinhead: Blood Feud.

After Dark Film’s Courtney Solomon current work includes directing the 2013 film Getaway, starring Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez and Jon Voight. Re-Kill will be a collaborative effort between After Dark Films and Valerie Milev. The project was put on pause during post-production as the teams worked on different projects, but they are expecting a theatrical release early in 2014.

View full story at IMDB.com.

Categories
Glendale News Movies/Television Celebrity News HPC News

Wanda Sykes is Bringing Back ‘Last Comic Standing’

Wanda Sykes of Push It Productions will be executive producing NBC's 'Last Comic Standing,' which is set to air in summer 2014.
Wanda Sykes of Push It Productions will be executive producing NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing,’ which is set to air in summer 2014.

HPC News – Hollywood Production Center is currently housing Push It Productions, which is run by the powerful duo Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz. Following a three-year absence, NBC is bringing back Last Comic Standing, and Push It Productions is on board to produce the show. Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz are attached as executive producers, continuing Hurwitz’s relationship with the series as executive producer from 2006 to 2010.

The eighth season of Last Comic Standing, an unscripted comedic competition series is set to be aired on NBC in the summer of 2014. The show first started in 2003 and ran seven seasons until 2010. The show is being revived, and the network is once again bringing together top comedians from across the country to compete in a series of comedic challenges each week until one comedian is left standing with a development contract with NBC and a television special on Comedy Central.

Push It Productions inked the overall deal with Universal Television’s alternative studio in April. Wanda Syke’s credits include a long stand-up comedy career complete with three Emmy Awards and television work, such as HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Fox’s The Wanda Sykes Show, Comedy Central’s Wanda Does It. Hurwitz’s own resume includes work on OWN’s The Rosie Show and NBC’s The Marriage Ref.

View full story at The Hollywood Reporter.

Categories
HPC News Glendale News Movies/Television

MTV’s ‘Finding Carter’ Found its Home at HPC

U.K.'s 'Skins' star Kathryn Prescott will star in MTV's upcoming drama 'Finding Carter.'
U.K.’s ‘Skins’ star Kathryn Prescott will star in MTV’s upcoming drama ‘Finding Carter.’

HPC News – There are a lot of new faces at the Hollywood Production Center, and that includes New Remote Productions who is working on a new television pilot for MTV called Finding Carter. The new drama centers on a teenage girl, Carter who has the perfect life being the center of attention at school and living with her fun-loving single mother. Things take a dramatic turn when a police bust reveals that Carter’s supposed mother abducted her as a toddler. Carter now has to navigate the struggles of high school and boys while adapting to her recently discovered biological family, which includes a twin sister and police detective mother.

Kathryn Prescott, known as Emily on the U.K.’s Skins will star as Carter. Lost alumna Cynthia Watros recently announced her role as Carter’s biological mother, and Alexis Denisof from Much Ado About Nothing will play her father.

Emily Silver and Terri Minsky’s Finding Carter was picked up alongside cyber thriller, Eye Candy from the horror producer Jason Blum. These two drama pilot orders come just behind two comedy pickups, Faking It and Happyland, while a Scream series adaptation continues to be in the works. MTV is continuing to expand its scripted lineup, with past successes including Awkward and Teen Wolf.

View full story at The Hollywood Reporter.

 

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