British actor Edward Woodward dies

Starred in the TV series ‘The Equalizer’

By STEVE CLARKE

British actor, Edward Woodward, star of the U.S. TV series “The Equalizer,” died Nov. 16 near Cornwall, England. He was 79. He had been suffering from several ailments including pneumonia.

In a long and distinguished career spanning seven decades Woodward was well known for his role in the 1973 cult horror film, “The Wicker Man.”

He first came to the attention of U.K. TV auds playing seedy secret service agent Callan in the eponymous show which ran on Blighty’s ITV network from 1967 to 1972.

The part won Woodward a Bafta for best actor in 1970. “Callan” was subsequently made into a feature film. Woodward also won an news Emmy for for the documentary series “Remembering World War II.”

He was a prolific TV actor, starring recently in the BBC’s flagship soap, EastEnders. His final appearance in the skein was earlier this year. He also appeared in the recent British feature comedy “Hot Fuzz.”

In 1983 he said: “I think I’ve probably done more television than any actor living. I’ve done over 2,000, could be 3,000 now, television productions.”

In “The Equalizer,” shown by CBS in the U.S., Woodward was cast as the avenging Robert McCall, a sharply dressed government agent turned private detective.

While the show brought him a hefty following and critical acclaim in the U.S. ­ — Woodward won a Golden Globe for the part in 1987 and was nominated five times for an Emmy — he suffered a heart attack when he returned to Blighty after finishing “The Equalizer.”

A subsequent U.S. series “Over My Dead Body” was less successful.

Woodward, who came from a blue-collar background in the south London suburb of Croydon, made his first professional stage appearance in 1946 at the Castle Theatre, Farnham, England, having earlier gained a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Prior to working in TV, he had forged a successful career in legit working in both the West End and Broadway on a range of shows. Among the latter was a production of “High Spirits,” a musical version of Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit.”

After the play bowed on Broadway Coward described Woodward in his diary: “One of the nicest and most co-operative actors I have ever met or worked with. He is the only one who has given me no trouble at all.”

Woodward is survived by his second wife, the actress Michele Dotrice, and four children.

TV writer Ron Sproat dies at 77

Scribe wrote for serial ‘Dark Shadows’

By KATIE KRAVIT

Ron Sproat, who wrote hundreds of episodes of serial “Dark Shadows” in the 1960s, died of a heart attack in his Manhattan apartment on Nov. 6. He was 77.

Sproat wrote for “Dark Shadows” starting at the series’ creation in 1966, continuing for three years as the creator of characters including vampire Barnabas Collins.

Sproat graduated from Hamilton College, the U. of Michigan and the Yale School of Drama.

After college, he began his career in TV, writing for the anthology series “United States Steel Hour” and “General Motors Presents.” He later worked on TV shows such as “Love of Life,” “The Secret Storm,” “The Doctors,” “Where the Heart Is” and “Strange Paradise.”

Under his mentor, Charles L. Jackson, Sproat wrote his first plays for TV “Rachel’s Summer” and “The Great Gold Mountain,” which were both based on Jackson’s books.

Sproat later joined the BMI Musical Theater Workshop and wrote librettos for the musicals “Back Home,” “Abie’s Island Rose” and “Ravenswood.” His works were performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse, The New Hope Peforming Arts Festival, The Spirit of Broadway Theatre, The York Theatre and Musical Mondays Theatre Lab.

He also contributed articles to New York magazine and Paris Match.

Sproat is survived by his partner, Frank Evans, and a sister

And the Oscar goes to… B-movie king Corman

By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer David Germain, Ap Movie Writer

LOS ANGELES – Roger Corman, memorably dubbed “the Orson Welles of the Z-Movie” and “the Pope of Pop Cinema,” never expected the words “Academy Award recipient” would accompany his name.

The man, whose 350 movie credits include such low-budget fare as “The Masque of the Red Death” and “X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes,” is receiving an honorary Oscar for a lifetime of achievement that includes mentoring such filmmakers as Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron and Ron Howard.

AP – In this photo taken Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, film producer and director Roger Corman poses for a portrait 

Corman, 83, said he was aware the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was considering him for the honor. He felt certain he would not make the cut, though.

“I predicted that I would not win because I make low-budget films, and I felt the academy would not give an award to someone who made low-budget films. I was truly surprised when I got the call,” Corman said in an interview at the offices of his production and distribution outfit, New Horizons Pictures.

Corman does not just make low-budget movies. He’s a maestro at it, creating plenty of schlock with titles such as “Night Call Nurses” and “Galaxy of Terror” but also cult hits with staying power. Among his productions are “Death Race 2000″ and “The Little Shop of Horrors,” shot in just over two days for $30,000, featuring a young Jack Nicholson and a creepy, campy story line that later spawned a stage show and Hollywood musical remake.

Along with Nicholson, those who got acting breaks from Corman include Robert De Niro (1970’s “Bloody Mama”), Charles Bronson (1958’s “Machine-Gun Kelly”) and Sylvester Stallone (1975’s “Capone” and “Death Race 2000″).

Corman is receiving his award at a ceremony Saturday along with fellow honorary Oscar recipients Lauren Bacall and cinematographer Gordon Willis.

Keeping budgets tiny and shooting quickly, Corman has made a profitable career defying the Hollywood maxim that you never put your own money into a movie. He still finances his own films so he can make them his way, without interference from studio backers.

His memoir is titled “How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime” — though the book’s title is wrong on both counts, Corman said. He’s made far more movies, and he acknowledges a few have lost money.

Sex and violence sells many of Corman’s movies, but he also has peddled social commentary — racism with 1962’s “The Intruder” starring William Shatner, and mental illness with 1977’s “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.”

From his initial success in the late 1950s and early ’60s, Corman set out to nurture young talent.

“I’d made a little bit of money, and I felt I should invest this money, and I don’t really know anything about real estate or the stock market,” Corman said. “But as a young filmmaker around town, I socialized with and knew other young filmmakers, and I thought, ‘I think I know the ones who are the most-talented and who haven’t had their chance yet.’”

So he invested his profits in people. Corman gave early directing shots to Coppola (1963’s “Dementia 13″), Scorsese (1972’s “Boxcar Bertha”), Howard (1977’s “Grand Theft Auto”), Jonathan Demme (1974’s “Caged Heat”) and Joe Dante (1978’s “Piranha”).

Cameron did effects work on early 1980s Corman productions such as “Battle Beyond the Stars,” while others who got a start in Corman’s stable include John Sayles and Peter Bogdanovich.

Corman said he’s never envied his proteges for the acclaim and box-office success they achieved later.

“I’ve admired them and actually, I take pride in what they have done,” Corman said. “I know that they all would have achieved the same level if they had never met me, but I think what I was able to do was to give them a start and help them a little bit in their careers, and I take great pride in that.”

Corman himself has a distinctive awards history. His office is wall filled with Oscar nominations for foreign-language classics he distributed in the United States. Corman’s former company, New World Pictures, was a U.S. home for films by Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, Francois Truffaut and Akira Kurosawa.

Though he has had films at prestigious festivals such as Cannes and Venice, Corman jokes about the acclaim he’s earned from lesser events.

“I’m the great winner of awards at minor film festivals,” Corman said. “I’ve got a shelf at home filled with awards from festivals you never heard of.”

Where will he put his Oscar?

“It’ll go in front,” Corman said.

Michael Jackson – The Man becomes A Legend

Watching this movie brought tears to my eyes, made me smile, made me dance, made me sing,part documentary, part concert the whole experience makes you feel like you get to be in the creative process and enjoy all the excitement of a live event. It’s far better than I had hoped. Indeed, it surpasses all reasonable expectations. That’s coming from a moderate Michael fan,he rocked it all over again! The 3-D effects were marvellous and exciting. He was still healthy and exhuberant. It was amazing to see Michael sing on the big screen. I loved every minute . He was intelligent, compassionate and very loving — both as a performer and as a human being. Watching his dream come together was exhilarating and its very sad that he could not finish it into a concert. The scenery and dance moves were fantastic. An awesome movie about an awesome man. He really was all about L.O.V.E. We will never forget him. This man was one of a kind.Still, I feel that the movie definitely should receive consideration for the Best Documentary Oscar. It’s that good. This movie about the King of Pop is really “the king of pop-music documentaries.”

If your not a Michael Jackson fan – go see this film. You might have a change of heart towards him.

Grant Hart of Hüsker Dü To Tour In Support Of “Hot Wax”

Con D’or Records and MVD Audio are proud to announce the tour of Grant Hart in support of his latest release Hot Wax on both CD and vinyl for worldwide distribution.

Thursday, November 5 – Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA – 10pm – 21+ – $6
                                               
Friday, November 6 - Record Bar – Kansas City, MO (supporting The Meat Puppets) – 10:30pm  - 18+ - $15   
                                               
Saturday, November 7 - Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS – 10pm - $3     
                                               
Sunday, November  8 - Hi-Dive - Denver, CO - 9pm - 18+ - $8    
                                               
Thursday, November 12 - Silver Lake Lounge – Los Angeles, CA - 8:30pm -   $8     
                                               
Friday, November 13 - Thee Parkside – San Francisco, CA (direct support to Dead To Me) - 9pm - $10    
                                               
Sunday, November 15 - Hemlock Tavern -  San Francisco, CA - 8pm - $7     
                                               
Tuesday, November 17- Dante’s - Portland, OR                          
                                               
Wednesday, November 18 - High Dive - Seattle, WA - 8pm - 21+ -$8    
                                               
Friday, December 11 – Darkroom – Chicago, IL                           
                                               
Monday, December 14 - Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON - 11pm - 19+ - $10.50 (adv) $12 (door)       
                                               
Tuesday, December 15 - Sale Rosa – Montreal, QC - 9pm                   
                                               
Wednesday, December 16 - Middle East (Upstairs) – Cambridge, MA                         
                                               
Thursday, December 17 -  World Cafe Live (Upstairs) – Philadelphia, PA - 9pm - $13    
                                               
Saturday, December 19 - 92Y (Tribecca) – New York ,NY - 9pm - $12    
                                               
Sunday, December 20 - Record Collector - Bordentown, NJ - 6:30pm - $10 (adv) $12 (door)   
                                               
Tuesday, December 22 - Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH -  9pm - $8     

’80s alternative rock has gone down in the history of music as one of the most fertile and influential musical movements ever – as judged by the amount of notable bands that would subsequently “follow the leaders.” And one of the leading lights of the movement was unquestionably Hüsker Dü. After the group’s split, drummer Grant Hart moved out front with guitar in hand, and also handled lead vocals on his solo releases. But Hart has spent the last few years working on Hot Wax.
 
Joining Hart on the disc is a diverse cast of musicians from Godspeed You Black Emperor, Silver Mt. Zion, and Rank Strangers with the tracks being recorded in both Montreal and Minneapolis. Hart explains:
 
“The song ‘Narcissus, Narcissus’ is my first attempt at combining ancient Greek mythology and American rock-a-billy. By merging those influences with an ice cream truck atmosphere I think I have found a style that defines this period of my career. ‘You’re the Reflection of the Moon on the Water’ is one of the most organic rock and roll songs that I have ever written. It’s style owes a lot to my devotion for Patti Smith. It was inspired by a comment made by a monk during the selection process to find the next Panchen Lhama, who said of one candidate, ‘He is the reflection of the moon on the water but he is not the moon’.”
 
As a member of Hüsker Dü (which also included singer/guitarist Bod Mould and mustachioed bassist Greg Norton), Hart played on such all-time alt-rock classics as 1984’s Zen Arcade and 1985’s New Day Rising, while constantly criss-crossing the U.S. with legendary explosive live shows. Since Hüsker Dü’s split in 1987, Hart has sporadically issued solo releases, and was also spotted as a member of the group Nova Mob. He has found a place and function in visual and dramatic art forms as well. Hot Wax will be Grant’s sixth solo release overall.
 

Barbara Windsor leaves EastEnders

Barbara Windsor has announced she is leaving EastEnders

Much-loved EastEnders star Barbara Windsor is to leave Albert Square after more than 15 years in the soap, it was announced today.

The 72-year-old actress, who plays the nation’s favourite landlady Peggy Mitchell, will call time on her life in Walford next year.

National treasure Babs, also known to generations for her roles in the Carry On movies, said she would be sad to leave but wants to spend more time with her husband – who is 26 years younger than her.

As Peggy, the actress has yelled “Get outta my pub” at many of the most famous characters that have walked through the doors of the Queen Vic since joining the cast in 1994.

Barbara Windsor – born Barbara Ann Deeks – said: “EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it’s no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago.

“I’ll be so sad to leave Peggy behind, she’s such a wonderful character to play. I have had the pleasure of working with a marvellous cast and crew and have made many lasting good friends.”

She added: “I must thank the wonderful viewers for their support over the years. I’m looking forward to the future and I suppose when all’s said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man, as he’s not getting any younger.”

The BBC’s controller of drama production, John Yorke, said: “To most of the British public Barbara IS EastEnders, and it’s almost impossible to imagine Albert Square without her.”

Bits and Pieces of Note

TNT Greenlights George Clooney Pilot TNT is singing the Delta Blues, greenlighting a drama pilot executive produced by George Clooney. Delta, from Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures and Warner Horizon, was penned by Liz Garcia (Cold Case) and Josh Harto. It… [via The Wrap RSS]

 Short Circuit Remake Will Be Directed by Steve Carr Short Circuit – an original 1986 sci-fi comedy about a robot who’s started to think due to short circuit – will be directed by Steve Carr, who has been signed to the role by Dimension Films. Steve Carr, who might not be know to the general public, has directed Kevin James’ Paul Blart: Mall Cop… [via Sci Fi Scoop] 

Comedy Central Inks Two Talent Deals Comedy Central has closed a deal with comedian Ron White for an animated project titled Hounds. Meanwhile, Joey Kern (The Sasquatch Gang) has landed a lead in the network’s pilot Ghosts/Aliens. Blue Collar Comedy veteran Ron White… [via The Wrap RSS]

 Ricky Gervais to Host Golden Globes Ricky Gervais may have missed out on the chance to host this year’s Oscars, but he will be master of ceremonies at next year’s Golden Globe awards… [via Film | guardian.co.uk]

Fox sets plans for ‘Glee’ DVD Show’s first 13 eps out by end of year

Hoping to capitalize on early fan frenzy for new music-driven drama “Glee,” 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the show’s first 13 episodes on DVD at the end of the year.

“‘Glee’ Season One: Road to Sectionals” will hit stores Dec. 29, just weeks after Fox wraps up broadcasting the show’s first 13 episodes.

The home entertainment unit still plans to release another DVD containing the show’s full first season sometime in mid-2010.

To keep fans from having to buy the same episodes twice, the 13-episode set will include a voucher that can be used toward purchase of the full season box set.

Studio and net hope the 13-episode set will help placate fans of the show – who call themselves “Gleeks” – when “Glee” heads off the air at the start of the year. Show returns with its remaining original episodes in the spring.

Beyond “Glee’s” first 13 episodes, the DVD will include the director’s cut of the pilot episode, behind-the-scenes features, cast audition videos and music performances from the show.

Review: Evilution a Cut Above

A microscopic alien life form has been discovered with the ability to possess the living and resurrect the dead. The United States Army has tried to communicate with it but failed. Instead, the military has tried to create a genetically altered version of the alien in order to resurrect dead soldiers on the battlefield. The alien fights back, turning soldier against soldier. Young scientist Darren Hall kidnaps the last pure specimen of the alien, determined to the reverse the damage inflicted and learn the secrets of life. Hiding in a mysterious building named The Necropolitan, he continues his experiments. On one fateful night, the alien is set loose on the unsuspecting tenants resulting in a new evolution of apocalyptic horror as infected tenants attack the unsuspecting, turning them into a cannibal horde. Darren and a small group of survivors must now find a way to destroy the alien possessed before they can escape into the city and bring forth the end of the human race

For the most part I  like this film and the only real problems that I see with it have to do with some unanswered questions : Evilution the screenplay and some missing chemistry between two actors. Don’t let that discourage you from watching Evilutionjust go along for the ride, because both of these things don’t take away from the overall feel of the movie. Evilution is written by Brian Patrick O’Toole. It’s a good premise for a film but I have a few small issues with the screenplay. First, I am left  wondering how Captain Hall escaped from the research facility in the first place since the entire place is bombed and nobody else survived.  Second, I have been wondering about the origins of the alien contagion and maybe it would have been nice to have heard more about it and from where it came exactly. Other than those two quibbles I really don’t have any issues. The inclusion of the building’s resident homies brings in some comic relief and the spooky and strange building manager  adds an air of disquiet to the atmosphere . Chris Conlee, the director, does a good job so I have no problems at all with his direction of the film. He uses a lot of close ups to focus in on the action rather than wide shots which isn’t an issue since this film is very action based and oriented. The makeup effects in Evilution are very well done and I am very impressed by them! Kudos to Alex Noble for grossing me out several times, particularly with the very first scene. The gore used in this film really moves the story along since there are infected zombie like creatures tearing out throats and biting into chests. If the effects had been of a lesser quality then the believability factor wouldn’t be so high while watching it. The acting is pretty good, however I can’t quite believe the love story that takes place between Hall (Eric Peter-Kaiser) and Maddy (Sandra Remirez). There really is no chemistry between the two actors, which is a shame, so the whole romance subplot seems flat to me. The actors themselves are fine but they really do not click together. Some of the best acting comes from Tim Colceri who plays Sgt. Collins. He’s very believable as a member of the military trying to stop Hall from spreading the contagion, and I enjoy watching him a lot. One of the homies, Killa B, is played by Guillermo Diaz who you may recognize from the series Weeds, among other things. It has a pretty cool storyline, good effects and some believable acting. It comes out on DVD on Nov.17th.

ON THE WEB

http://mvdb2b.com/b2b/?site_id=watchlisten

Swank, Sidibe win as Hollywood award season begins

And they’re off.

A new crop of Oscar prospects crammed the red carpet at what is widely considered Tinseltown’s award-season starting gate: the Hollywood Awards.

“I think I was extremely naive when I showed up here tonight,” giggled New Hollywood Award winner Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, who plays the title role of an abused daughter in “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Saffire.”

“This is a big thing,” she said.

Among the other honorees walking the media gantlet Monday night: Hilary Swank (“Amelia”), Julianne Moore (“A Single Man”), Carey Mulligan (“An Education”) and Christoph Waltz (“Inglorious Basterds”).

Presenters included Sandra Bullock, Ewan McGregor, Kate Beckinsale, Morgan Freeman and “Juno” screenwriter Diablo Cody. “I first came to this show a couple years ago, and we won for ‘Juno,’” Cody said. “I think this is kind of like the first. There’s something in the air.”

“It’s a great festival,” commented Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, whose performance in “North Country” earned her the Hollywood Actress Award at the 2005 gala, and she went on to nab an Academy Award nomination that year. “It really does create a bit of noise.

Theron dropped by to present a Hollywood Breakthrough Actor Award to her “North Country” co-star and friend Jeremy Renner, honored for his performance in “The Hurt Locker.”

“You know, he’s been great in everything,” Theron said. “But he really shines in this film. This is really his moment.”

While the festival is 13 years old, only over the last few years has its gala emerged as one of the award season’s tentpoles. The fest’s chairs, judges and advisers include film critics, film-industry executives and film-festival chiefs from all over the world — making for one enigmatic voting group.

Christoph Waltz, the veteran German character actor who won the Hollywood Supporting Actor Award after stealing scenes from Brad Pitt as ruthless Col. Hans Landa in “Inglorious Basterds,” admitted to not knowing who the voters are. He said it actually “helps me get through it in a sort of relaxed, organic way.”

For at least some of the attendees, this likely marked the first of four constant months on the award-show circuit. “Four months of this?” asked British actress Carey Mulligan, sounding surprised.

Mulligan’s portrayal of a young student in a relationship with an older man in “An Education” earned her the Hollywood Breakthrough Actress Award, and has some Oscar pundits saying it’ll also lead her to the Kodak Theatre next March for the Academy Awards.

“Oh, I just met Hilary Swank. I’m in a little bit of a daze,” Mulligan continued. “This is exciting. The photo bit is a little scary. The lights flash a lot and they made my eyes water, which is terrifying. But it’s amazing.”

Four-time Oscar nominee Julianne Moore, honored with the Hollywood Supporting Actress Award for a blast of films including designer-turned-director Tom Ford’s “A Single Man,” said balancing life, work and award shows does present its challenges.

“Obviously, it’s all a lot easier if you do live in Los Angeles,” explained Moore, who lives in New York. “And the flying. I was just at the London Film Festival, so I came from the London Film Festival, right to here. So, that’s kind of exhausting. And I am anxious to get home to my kids.”

“I have to say it’s something very surreal,” noted Swank, the two-time Oscar winner who won the Hollywood Actress Award for her work in “Amelia.” “But to have your work recognized? At the end of it all is something that continues to leave me speechless.”

On the Net:

http://www.hollywoodawards.com