Quentin Tarantino first worked alongside veteran actor Steve Buscemi in his debut feature film Reservoir Dogs. But before the two linked up, Buscemi already left an unforgettable impression on Tarantino with his acting alone.
Steve Buscemi didn’t think Quentin Tarantino was the writer behind ‘Reservoir Dogs’ when he first talked to him Quentin Tarantino | Massimo Insabato/Getty Images
Buscemi was already one of Hollywood’s most prolific and versatile actors before starring in Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. He built up a nice career for himself in the mid to late-80s, and was maintaining momentum in the beginning of the 90s.
Tarantino, however, was a very small name in the world of cinema while Buscemi was reaching new heights in his career. Buscemi only first heard of the filmmaker when he was given the script for Reservoir Dogs. But the actor formed an impression of Tarantino based on the...
Steve Buscemi didn’t think Quentin Tarantino was the writer behind ‘Reservoir Dogs’ when he first talked to him Quentin Tarantino | Massimo Insabato/Getty Images
Buscemi was already one of Hollywood’s most prolific and versatile actors before starring in Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. He built up a nice career for himself in the mid to late-80s, and was maintaining momentum in the beginning of the 90s.
Tarantino, however, was a very small name in the world of cinema while Buscemi was reaching new heights in his career. Buscemi only first heard of the filmmaker when he was given the script for Reservoir Dogs. But the actor formed an impression of Tarantino based on the...
- 4/9/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
You may remember the titles of two seminal films that came out of the 1992 Sundance Film Festival. There was Alison Anders’s film, “Gas Food Lodging” which achingly depicted the longing and wants of teenage girls born to a barren community. Then, of course, there was a little film called “Reservoir Dogs” by Quentin Tarantino, a precursor to the wild success he was going to have in only two years upon the release of 1994’s, “Pulp Fiction.” However, along with what must’ve been plenty of other worthy titles, there was “In the Soup,” the independent comedy from Alex Rockwell that ended up walking away with the Grand Jury prize that year.
Continue reading Help Save ’90s Sundance Hit ‘In The Soup’ Starring Steve Buscemi at The Playlist.
Continue reading Help Save ’90s Sundance Hit ‘In The Soup’ Starring Steve Buscemi at The Playlist.
- 8/3/2017
- by Ally Johnson
- The Playlist
While its opening salvo, in which Quentin Tarantino’s legacy is rated against four other directors — three of whom are still fondly thought of here at Filmmaker — is a bit harsh, Evan Puschak’s video appreciation of Reservoir Dogs, Qt’s first feature, digs into some of the aspects that make it a still-compelling watch a quarter of a century (!) later. And after you watch, check out Alex Rockwell’s interview with Tarantino upon the film’s release. (Ht: Kottke.org)...
- 5/5/2017
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The comeback of celloid continues. After facing extinction two years ago, dozens of A-list directors, from J.J. Abrams to Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino, are leading a charge that has Hollywood once again choosing to shoot on film versus digital. Now this celloid resurgence includes one of America’s most prestigious film schools: Nyu.
Thanks to a new pilot program launched in collaboration with Kodak and Paris-based post-production laboratory Film Factory, six Nyu graduate students will receive film, film processing and post-production services as an incentive to shoot their thesis projects on film. Kodak will donate 10,000 feet of 35mm film, which would normally cost students close to $7,000; while the Film Factory’s post-production grant will cover the cost of processing and digital conversion.
“I think if you give students the opportunity to shoot in film, they’ll stay in film and want to support film,” said Alex Akoka, the Lab Director at Film Factory.
Thanks to a new pilot program launched in collaboration with Kodak and Paris-based post-production laboratory Film Factory, six Nyu graduate students will receive film, film processing and post-production services as an incentive to shoot their thesis projects on film. Kodak will donate 10,000 feet of 35mm film, which would normally cost students close to $7,000; while the Film Factory’s post-production grant will cover the cost of processing and digital conversion.
“I think if you give students the opportunity to shoot in film, they’ll stay in film and want to support film,” said Alex Akoka, the Lab Director at Film Factory.
- 8/2/2016
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Sleep With Me screens Saturday November 7th at 9:15pm at The Plaza Frontenac Theater as part of this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival. Director Brian Juna will be in attendance. Ticket information can be found Here
Writer/Director Brian Jun’s Sleep With Me is a dark suburban drama focusing on Paul (Cliff Chamberlain) and Gabi (Danielle Camastra), a young couple unsuccessfully striving to start a family. Paul lives in the shadow of his overbearing father (played by veteran character actor Raymond J. Barry), and Gabi copes by engaging in risky activities that threaten to break up their marriage. Helmed by acclaimed regional filmmaker Brian Jun — whose previous features include “Joint Body” and Sundance competition film “Steel City” — this ensemble drama explores themes of sex, infidelity, and black-market drug use.
Brian Jun took the time to answer some questions about his film for We Are Movie Geeks...
Writer/Director Brian Jun’s Sleep With Me is a dark suburban drama focusing on Paul (Cliff Chamberlain) and Gabi (Danielle Camastra), a young couple unsuccessfully striving to start a family. Paul lives in the shadow of his overbearing father (played by veteran character actor Raymond J. Barry), and Gabi copes by engaging in risky activities that threaten to break up their marriage. Helmed by acclaimed regional filmmaker Brian Jun — whose previous features include “Joint Body” and Sundance competition film “Steel City” — this ensemble drama explores themes of sex, infidelity, and black-market drug use.
Brian Jun took the time to answer some questions about his film for We Are Movie Geeks...
- 11/4/2015
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Sleep With Me screens Sunday, July 19 at 6:30pm at The Tivoli Theater as part of this year’s St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase. Ticket information can be found Here
Writer/Director Brian Jun’s Sleep With Me is a dark suburban drama focusing on Paul (Cliff Chamberlain) and Gabi (Danielle Camastra), a young couple unsuccessfully striving to start a family. Paul lives in the shadow of his overbearing father (played by veteran character actor Raymond J. Barry), and Gabi copes by engaging in risky activities that threaten to break up their marriage. Helmed by acclaimed regional filmmaker Brian Jun — whose previous features include “Joint Body” and Sundance competition film “Steel City” — this ensemble drama explores themes of sex, infidelity, and black-market drug use.
Brian Jun took the time to answer some questions about his film for We Are Movie Geeks in advance of its screening at the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase.
Writer/Director Brian Jun’s Sleep With Me is a dark suburban drama focusing on Paul (Cliff Chamberlain) and Gabi (Danielle Camastra), a young couple unsuccessfully striving to start a family. Paul lives in the shadow of his overbearing father (played by veteran character actor Raymond J. Barry), and Gabi copes by engaging in risky activities that threaten to break up their marriage. Helmed by acclaimed regional filmmaker Brian Jun — whose previous features include “Joint Body” and Sundance competition film “Steel City” — this ensemble drama explores themes of sex, infidelity, and black-market drug use.
Brian Jun took the time to answer some questions about his film for We Are Movie Geeks in advance of its screening at the St. Louis Filmmaker’s Showcase.
- 7/16/2015
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
In Bones season 10 episode 17, "The Lost in the Found," Booth and Brennan investigate the death of a private school student who was bullied. Plus, Brennan's in denial about how pregnant she is and Daisy wonders if she's ready to start dating. Then, in episode 18, "The Verdict in the Victims," Brennan becomes determined to prove Alex Rockwell is innocent hours before his execution, and Angela and Hodgins contemplate a move. For more on what happened, read the recap.
- 5/8/2015
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
The first of two back-to-back Bones episodes addresses the murderous consequences of bullying at a prep school for girls. Bones tackles the nature of bullying and the extent to which one victim was willing to go to rid herself of the devastating antagonism she was subject to on a daily basis by her peers. The B storyline of "The Lost in the Found" addresses a situation that's had the Bones cyber universe abuzz ever since Emily Deschanel (Dr. Temperance Brennan) announced her second pregnancy.
"The Verdict in the Victims," the second half of the two hour Bones bonanza, revisits a seven-month-old open and shut case of killer Alex Rockwell whom Booth and Aubrey apprehended and the Jeffersonian team successfully provided enough evidence to convict for his heinous crimes. Rockwell's final 48 hours of life before execution are imminent, causing Brennan to reexamine all of her notes to confirm that Rockwell is,...
"The Verdict in the Victims," the second half of the two hour Bones bonanza, revisits a seven-month-old open and shut case of killer Alex Rockwell whom Booth and Aubrey apprehended and the Jeffersonian team successfully provided enough evidence to convict for his heinous crimes. Rockwell's final 48 hours of life before execution are imminent, causing Brennan to reexamine all of her notes to confirm that Rockwell is,...
- 5/7/2015
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Last night, Fox dropped the new promo/spoiler clip (below) for their upcoming "Bones" episodes 17 and 18, and it gives us new looks at some pretty interesting stuff as the team is in for 2, new cases with back to back episode, and more. Episode 17 is titled "The Lost In The Found," and episode 18 is labeled, "The Verdict in the Victims." In the new 17th and 18th episodes official description: "When the remains of a private high school student are discovered in a ditch, Brennan and Booth will surmise that bullying was a factor. When Brennan discovers similarities between her own teen years and the victim's, it will lead the team to question whether or not the girl's death was, in fact, a murder. Then, with only 48 hours before the execution of serial killer Alex Rockwell, whom Brennan and Booth helped convict, the Jeffersonian will have to race against the clock to...
- 5/1/2015
- by Chris
- OnTheFlix
Recently, Fox released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Bones" episodes 17 and 18. Episode 17 is entitled, "The Lost In The Found," and episode 18 is labeled, "The Verdict in the Victims." It turns out that we're going to see some pretty interesting stuff as a possible bullying homicide becomes the main focus for the Jeffersonian team, and more. In the new, 17th and 18th episodes press release: The Jeffersonian Team Investigates Two Deaths. Press release number 2: When the remains of a private high school student are discovered in a ditch, Brennan and Booth are going to surmise that bullying was a factor. When Brennan discovers similarities between her own teen years and the victim's, it is going to lead the team to question whether or not the girl's death was, in fact, a murder. Then, with only 48 hours before the execution of serial killer Alex Rockwell, whom Brennan and Booth helped convict,...
- 4/30/2015
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
"The Lost in the Found" and "The Verdict in the Victims" - In a special two-hour event of back-to-back episodes, the team must first solve the murder of a sixteen-year-old prep student. One of the suspects is the man who found the body, as well as the girl's parents. But when they discover that Molly was bullied, and Brennan discovers similarities between her own teen years and the victim's, it leads to even more questions about her mysterious death. Original airdate: Thursday, May 7 at 8:00pm on Fox.
In the second hour, with only 48 hours before the execution of serial killer Alex Rockwell, Brennan is double-checking the facts in his case. Rockwell, for his part, is not only calmly facing his fate. But when Brennan sees new x-rays of Rockwell that were taken in prison, she makes a declaration that shocks the rest of the team. Linda Lavin guest-stars as Judge Michael.
In the second hour, with only 48 hours before the execution of serial killer Alex Rockwell, Brennan is double-checking the facts in his case. Rockwell, for his part, is not only calmly facing his fate. But when Brennan sees new x-rays of Rockwell that were taken in prison, she makes a declaration that shocks the rest of the team. Linda Lavin guest-stars as Judge Michael.
- 4/29/2015
- by editor@buddytv.com
- buddytv.com
Recently, Fox served up the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Bones" episode 13 of season 10. The episode is entitled, "The Baker in the Bits," and it turns out that we're going to see some pretty interesting stuff as a dead, sliced up ex-con, prompts the team to run an investigation, and more. In the new, 13th episode press release: The Jeffersonian Team Investigates The Death Of An Ex-con. Press release number 2: When the body of an ex-con is found in pieces, the Jeffersonian team is going to investigate a local bakery known for employing former felons. But they will soon learn that the victim was involved in a robbery gone bad, and start targeting suspects from the ex-con's past. Meanwhile, "squintern" Arastoo Vazirir (guest star Pej Vahdat) will have to decide whether to return to Iran to visit his dying brother, which will cause friction between him and Cam.
- 4/2/2015
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
[1] The upcoming film The Muppets unfolds around a world that's moved on and forgotten all about the once-famous gang -- but between that film, the documentary Being Elmo, and the enduring popularity of Sesame Street's parodies, it's clear that puppets in the real world are actually coming back in a big way. The latest company to jump on the trend is NBC, which has just closed a deal on a human-puppet hybrid script from the Jim Henson Co. called The New Nabors. While it won't feature Kermit and his pals, with the Jim Henson Co. on board it seems like a project worth keeping an eye on all the same. More details after the jump. Deadline [2] reports that John Hoffman (Afterlife) and John Riggi (30 Rock) are writing the script for The New Nabors, as well as executive producing with the Jim Henson Co.'s Alex Rockwell and Jim Henson's daughter Lisa Henson.
- 11/22/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Us network Sprout is to premiere Sixteen South Television's 'Pajanimals' tonight, Monday October 10th at 8.00pm Et. Co-produced by Sprout, The Jim Henson Company and Belfast's 'Sixteen South', 'Pajanimals' is a 52x11 pre-school series designed to help parents and caregivers with a bedtime routine. The show is produced by Colin Williams of Sixteen South (Big City Park, Sesame Tree), with Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford, Alex Rockwell, Jeff Muncy and Andrew Beecham executive producing. Series directs are Dez McCarthy (Dick and Dom's Funny Business) and Jack Jameson (Gigglebiz).
- 10/10/2011
- IFTN
Serving as the first joint feature production between Jim Henson Pictures and the Children's Television Workshop, "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland" is colorful, energetic, loud and something of a miscalculation as far as its target audience is concerned.
For while the parents of preschoolers might embrace the prospect of a big-screen Bert 'n' Ernie and Big Bird, this isn't the kinder, gentler "Sesame Street" of their childhood. Curiously, the filmmakers have opted for a tone thunderous rather than wondrous.
This "Sesame Street" is paved with an edgy brashness that will likely prove too intense for younger viewers -- as evidenced perhaps by the number of crying toddlers who took refuge in the lobby at a recent screening -- but will be better received by their older siblings.
Given the shortage of family-appropriate product out there, Elmo and friends could still generate a bit of business, but it's more likely that their future lies on video.
Elmo (voiced by Kevin Clash) embarks on his adventures after his beloved blue blanket gets away from him and ends up being sneezed into by Oscar the Grouch (voiced by Caroll Spinney), who promptly tosses it into his trash can.
Unable to wait for Oscar to return, Elmo decides to retrieve the blanket himself, but he ends up being sucked into a psychedelic, swirling tunnel that deposits him smack dab in the middle of Grouchland, the yuckiest place on Earth.
It turns out that Oscar's homeland is being terrorized by the evil, greedy Huxley (a very bushy-eyed Mandy Patinkin), who selfishly appropriates every children's possession he can get his hands on and stamps them "MINE".
With Elmo's blanket among those reclaimed items, the popular furry red monster goes on a quest to retrieve it, with a little assistance from his "Sesame Street" pals.
Although director Gary Halvorson, in his feature debut, and screenwriters Joseph Mazzarino and Mitchell Kriegman have seen fit to have Bert and Ernie stop the film for a discussion every time the on-screen happenings get a little too scary, the fact that those interruptions must occur at all provides an indication of the picture's more troubling aspects.
One wonders what the late Henson would have made out of belching Muppet characters or the giant chicken that is dispatched to peck Elmo to death.
As for the non-puppets, Patinkin's character, while certainly spirited, is just a bit overwhelming in the heavy department. Vanessa Williams, meanwhile, makes a musically entertaining appearance as the Queen of Trash who charges Elmo a trespassing fee of 100 raspberries, and we're not talking fruit here. Parents would be wise to have napkins on hand for the interactive bit that follows.
It's also fun to see such familiar faces as Bob, Gordon, Susan, Maria and Luis invited back, though they're relegated to the background.
Production values are bright and eye-pleasing, and the world beat production numbers, highlighted by the Stomp-esque "Take the First Step" and Williams' regal performance of "I See a Kingdom", are engagingly toe-tapping.
THE ADVENTURES OF ELMO IN GROUCHLAND
Columbia Pictures
Jim Henson Pictures presents
a Children's Television Workshop production
Director: Gary Halvorson
Screenwriters: Mitchell Kriegman and Joseph Mazzarino
Story: Mitchell Kriegman
Producers: Alex Rockwell, Marjorie Kalins
Executive producers: Brian Henson, Stephanie Allain, Martin G. Baker
Director of photography: Alan Caso
Production designer: Alan Cassie
Editor: Alan Baumgarten
Costume designer: Polly Smith
Music: John Debney
Color/stereo
Cast/voices:
Elmo: Kevin Clash
Huxley: Mandy Patinkin
Queen of Trash: Vanessa Williams
Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird: Caroll Spinney
Bert, Grover, Cookie Monster: Frank Oz
Ernie: Steve Whitmire
Count: Jerry Nelson
Bug: Joseph Mazzarino
Zoe: Fran Brill
Running time -- 77 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
For while the parents of preschoolers might embrace the prospect of a big-screen Bert 'n' Ernie and Big Bird, this isn't the kinder, gentler "Sesame Street" of their childhood. Curiously, the filmmakers have opted for a tone thunderous rather than wondrous.
This "Sesame Street" is paved with an edgy brashness that will likely prove too intense for younger viewers -- as evidenced perhaps by the number of crying toddlers who took refuge in the lobby at a recent screening -- but will be better received by their older siblings.
Given the shortage of family-appropriate product out there, Elmo and friends could still generate a bit of business, but it's more likely that their future lies on video.
Elmo (voiced by Kevin Clash) embarks on his adventures after his beloved blue blanket gets away from him and ends up being sneezed into by Oscar the Grouch (voiced by Caroll Spinney), who promptly tosses it into his trash can.
Unable to wait for Oscar to return, Elmo decides to retrieve the blanket himself, but he ends up being sucked into a psychedelic, swirling tunnel that deposits him smack dab in the middle of Grouchland, the yuckiest place on Earth.
It turns out that Oscar's homeland is being terrorized by the evil, greedy Huxley (a very bushy-eyed Mandy Patinkin), who selfishly appropriates every children's possession he can get his hands on and stamps them "MINE".
With Elmo's blanket among those reclaimed items, the popular furry red monster goes on a quest to retrieve it, with a little assistance from his "Sesame Street" pals.
Although director Gary Halvorson, in his feature debut, and screenwriters Joseph Mazzarino and Mitchell Kriegman have seen fit to have Bert and Ernie stop the film for a discussion every time the on-screen happenings get a little too scary, the fact that those interruptions must occur at all provides an indication of the picture's more troubling aspects.
One wonders what the late Henson would have made out of belching Muppet characters or the giant chicken that is dispatched to peck Elmo to death.
As for the non-puppets, Patinkin's character, while certainly spirited, is just a bit overwhelming in the heavy department. Vanessa Williams, meanwhile, makes a musically entertaining appearance as the Queen of Trash who charges Elmo a trespassing fee of 100 raspberries, and we're not talking fruit here. Parents would be wise to have napkins on hand for the interactive bit that follows.
It's also fun to see such familiar faces as Bob, Gordon, Susan, Maria and Luis invited back, though they're relegated to the background.
Production values are bright and eye-pleasing, and the world beat production numbers, highlighted by the Stomp-esque "Take the First Step" and Williams' regal performance of "I See a Kingdom", are engagingly toe-tapping.
THE ADVENTURES OF ELMO IN GROUCHLAND
Columbia Pictures
Jim Henson Pictures presents
a Children's Television Workshop production
Director: Gary Halvorson
Screenwriters: Mitchell Kriegman and Joseph Mazzarino
Story: Mitchell Kriegman
Producers: Alex Rockwell, Marjorie Kalins
Executive producers: Brian Henson, Stephanie Allain, Martin G. Baker
Director of photography: Alan Caso
Production designer: Alan Cassie
Editor: Alan Baumgarten
Costume designer: Polly Smith
Music: John Debney
Color/stereo
Cast/voices:
Elmo: Kevin Clash
Huxley: Mandy Patinkin
Queen of Trash: Vanessa Williams
Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird: Caroll Spinney
Bert, Grover, Cookie Monster: Frank Oz
Ernie: Steve Whitmire
Count: Jerry Nelson
Bug: Joseph Mazzarino
Zoe: Fran Brill
Running time -- 77 minutes
MPAA rating: G...
- 9/29/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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