Comic-Con 2011: Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe Panel

San Diego Comic-Con International got started this year with a wave of panels focused on some of the hottest series on TV right now. One of the the most popular though was USA’s Burn Notice, which came to the Con to herald in the home video release of their made-for-TV spinoff/prequel film Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe featuring fan favorite Bruce Campbell in his latest scene-stealing role.

Campbell himself and series creator/executive producer, Matt Nix, took to the stage to talk a little bit about the making of the film and what it was like expanding the character of Sam Axe into his own full-fledged story. Nix, dressed casually and well prepared to discuss the creative process, was a great sparring partner for Campbell who came out with the comedic flair expected of the man who became famous for chopping through his adversaries with a chainsaw in the popular Evil Dead series. Wearing bright green pants and a pink shirt under a pristine white jacket made it look like he just strolled in from a bar at the beach but he was armed with a barrage of jokes at the expense of Comic-Con attendees despite his obvious love for the event and his fans.

The biggest news to come out of the panel happened right away when Campbell announced that Burn Notice would in fact be coming back for a 6th season on USA much to the delight of the crowd. He also briefly addressed the coming remake of Evil Dead and his possible participation in it by saying, “If I’m in it I’ll just be the old guy at the end.” Serious or not, it’s hard to fathom an Evil Dead movie without him and the twinkle in his eye led me to believe that he’ll somehow be involved.

The crowd was treated to an extended trailer for the spinoff movie (which originally aired on April 17 of this year) and without a doubt the biggest response came from seeing shots of the scene where Campbell’s character, Sam Axe, wields a chainsaw and tosses it into an enemy vehicle. Series creator Matt Nix admits that he’s had a desire from the age of 17 to be the one to put a chainsaw into Campbell’s hands so, clearly, dreams sometimes do come true. I got a chance to ask Nix later if he was on set for the monumental day and as fate would have it – he wasn’t! But he stressed that due to his intense involvement in the writing, editing, and creative process he still felt very much a part of it but looks forward to getting another opportunity in the future to see it first hand.

Much fun was also had at the expense of Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan who took the reigns to direct the spinoff movie. Panel attendees were treated to a comedic segment from a documentary on the DVD special features showing fellow cast and crew members trying to paint Donovan as a tyrant on the set while shooting down in Columbia. It was a hilarious clip and will likely be a great addition for fans of the movie eager to own it on disc.

When asked to to think about his characters and if there is a common line throughout all of them, Campbell referenced his most famous by saying that Ash (from Evil Dead) represents him on his worst day while Sam Axe is just basically him right now – only with darker hair and less weight. I asked him who would win in a fight – Ash or Axe – and his pitch-perfect response was “Well, they’d both cheat so neither of them would win!”

Finally, I got the chance to ask both Campbell and Nix if there was hope for more Sam Axe movies in the future and both seemed hopeful thanks to the large ratings for this first film. So if you’re a fan avid for more, it’s time to start petitioning USA Network because from what I can tell, there is a lot more Sam Axe to give and Bruce Campbell is ready to give it!

Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe will be released on DVD July 26, 2011.

Comic-Con 2011: Games, Thrones – Xplay Panel

“Kristen Adams, will you go out with me?” From out of the mouths of babes, or to be more specific, one ballsy 11 year old boy who inadvertently set the tone for what is sure to be one of the more charming, hands-on panels of the convention this year. Entering from the back of the room, on the wings of the “Imperial March” and flanked by members of the 501st, the cast of X-Play greeted their ardent fans with a swath of tongue-in-cheek nerdisms. X-Play is one of G4s flagship shows and also one of the longest running of the network’s history. Anchored by core co-hosts Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb, the show has recently brought aboard fellow G4 personalities Blair Herter and Kristen Adams. All four were on hand to field questions from the audience and to break down that seemingly impenetrable invisible wall between panel dais and audience rows. The panel started immediately with a Q&A session, where discussions immediately got into the minutiae if video games and gaming culture, a dead language for some, but not for this ravenous crowd. “What are you looking most forward to- Gears of War or Resistance,” was asked by not just a fan, but Rod Fergeson, Executive Producer of Gears of War. Taking it in the chin, the panelists couldn’t muster up a straight answer and they quickly moved on to the oh-so-different question, “What is better Gears of War 3 or Battlefield 3.” Seriously, Guys? Shit. Mercifully splitting up the Q&A was a timely spoof-trailer called “Cowboys and Pokemon” in which the X-Play cast dressed in their best shit-kickers and primed themselves to take on an onslaught of, you guessed it, Pokemon. Pressing forth with the entertainment, Webb and Adamsbecame team leaders for “Project Cosplay”, which pitted teams culled from the audience in a make-shift cosplay fashion show. Webb’s team of a heroed-up Rastafarian and a few hastily prepped surgeon-types just couldn’t hack/slash it against Adams’ team of garishly costumed fanboys and girls that looked like Priscilla Queen of the Desert got lost beyond Thunderdome. The best team won, and there was much rejoicing (yay…) The hands-on panel continued with a spelling bee (yes, a Spelling Bee) in which participants tested their third-grade mettle against words and phrases like “ganondorf” and “World of Warcraft Cataclysm” (pronounced Catak-a-lizim). Sadly, each contestant ended in fail, which would have led me to believe that they were another fine product of the California public school system, but sadly no; America is much worse off than we thought. Despite the epic fail of the audience, I was happily greeted by the articulate and verbose hosts of the show after the panel, where I asked them questions that their fanbase may not have been able to wrap their heads around. Perennially, the latter half of the year is loaded up with major releases from publishers, this year being no exception. The upcoming games on Sessler and Webbs must-lists? Skyrim and Arkham City. “I’m more excited to see how well it does because it could become a massive blockbuster hit,” noted Sessler. The rumors of Skyrim’s monumental gameplay experience also seem to ring true, as the duo’s time with the demo build suggests. I proposed that gameplay couldn’t go over 150 hours, which Adam was quick to veto, “I’ve heard rumors upwards of 300 hours.” Which, by the way, is TOTALLY NUTS. Noting that games is the rare industry in which sequels get even better than the original (compared to movies) Webb points to iteration as the primary means of success, “it’s a real function of the medium. You’ve created all these art assets, you’ve created a lot of gameplay mechanics, now you have so much more time to refine and improve on everything. And with improving games comes the uniqueness of a game design. In an industry where the Call of Duty’s and World of Warcrafts are king and hack/slash, blow-shit-up tenants rule the roost, a game like L.A. Noire in which you seek out clues and speak to people tends to be met with less enthusiasm despite its innovations. “Anything that feels very out of the ordinary is very refreshing.” Pros of the convention circuit, I ask them if they have any advice to help me avoid Nerd Flu and, without hesitation, Morgan pulls out a small sptrizer of hand sanitizer and gives my mitts a good once over. Now why didn’t I think of that?

Comic-Con 2011: The River Press Room, X-Files Meets The Amazon

If you saw the trailer to The River, it would undoubtedly have sent chills up your spine. ABC brings this new suspense thriller that feels a little reminiscent to that other show set in a jungle…just kidding! The comparisons being made to Lost have already started because of the location (though The River takes place in the Amazon) and supernatural element. Executive producers Zack Estrin and Michael Green assure us though that they do know where the story is going and ultimately what their end game is.

The suspense on this show is clearly up a notch and is something we don’t normally see on network TV. This is no surprise though as the creative force behind The River is none other than Paranormal Activity writer/director Oren Peli. Peli says the goal is not to shock audiences with gore but to frighten people with scary stories. ABC has surprisingly not given him any restraints on how far he can push the envelope.

The story begins as a missing person scenario, but soon it will become apparent that is just the tip of the story. In this way Peli feels that they have the potential to last for a long time because of the many different stories that they can tell. Each episode will also be an individual story in itself, that way if you miss the previous week’s you won’t be lost.

“We’re X-Files meets the Amazon,” said Estrin.

The X-Files was able to pull off giving audiences self-contained episodes and still move major story arcs forward and if The River can accomplish that then they could definitely get picked up for a full season in the future. The only risk of course is having the inevitable filler episode and even those can be good if written well.

Casting was a hard process for the show but they were lucky in finding people with the background that completely fit their characters. Tess Cole, the wife of Emmet Cole (the missing explorer), is played by actress Leslie Hope and she has actually traveled to jungles as a documentary filmmaker. The story begins with a Steve Irwin-ish character going missing in the Amazon with his film crew. People believe he’s dead but then a distress beacon goes off and his wife and son go off to find him with their own film crew in tow.

Joe Anderson talks about how the farther they go up the river, the more everything breaks down. He plays Lincoln Cole, prodigal son of Tess and Emmet. He rejects his childhood going off to exotic locations with his parents to go to medical school and live a more stable life. Anderson believes that throughout the season his character might try to fill his father’s shoes, but that it certainly won’t be an easy journey to get there.

The producers explained that they will be using as many real legends in The River as possible. A big aspect of the show includes magic. Emmet goes searching for it in the Amazon and now his wife, son, and a film crew will be experiencing it up close and personal. After speaking with and listening to the actors, Peli, Estrin and Green speak about the story with so much passion and excitement it’s hard not to get pumped for this as well.

The River will be coming soon to ABC.

For more Comic-Con coverage, click here.

Images courtesy of Poptimal.com

Comic-Con 2011: Wilfred Screening

Elijah Wood plays Ryan, a delusional young man with a trash-talking alpha dog as a best friend in the new show Wilfred, airing on FX. Screening an upcoming episode with guest star Jane Kaczmarek, the producers and stars of the comedy showcased their crude, ballsy series to an eager, adoring crowd in a packed room at Comic-Con on Thursday evening.

Jason Gann plays the anthropomorphic Wilfred, the canine he co-created as part of the original Australian version of the program. He’s a dog in every sense of the word, continually tempting Ryan into acting on his animal impulses in all situations. At the panel, Wood diplomatically described his character as “troubled,” adding that Wilfred is “certainly there to help guide Ryan” through personal crises, but it would almost be fair to call it a simple case of insanity (At least Calvin was still a child when he engaged Hobbes in philosophical discussions.). Viewers see Wilfred as a man-sized animal, having a very real effect on objective reality as he accompanies Ryan on daily tasks, often causing simple events to take a turn for the worst. In the screened episode, Ryan accidentally hits the car of a middle-aged corporate woman (Kaczmarek) and is forced to seduce her so that Wilfred can have a go with a stuffed animal he spots in the back of her vehicle after the crash. It’s probably the most explicit sex involving a man in a dog suit and a large, plush giraffe that you’ll see all year.

Wood reported that he “fell in love with” the script immediately upon reading it for the first time, went straight to Youtube to view episodes of the original, and made fast friends with Gann while filming. Gann admitted that being in a stuffy dog costume all day “can turn pretty crap pretty quick,” and it’s nice having Wood (whom he now refers to as “E.W.”) at his side, performing his role “with honesty” and offering continual support through the process. The chemistry between them is effortless and charming onscreen, but its ridiculous and oddly whimsical nature creates an altogether unique dynamic, and it’s something we haven’t before seen in a buddy comedy.

I wasn’t familiar with the source material for this show, and I hadn’t been watching the FX series this summer. I was missing out. Wilfred is refreshingly new stuff; it looks and feels like nothing else on American television. It’s time for audiences here to embrace the sort of bizarre, absurd comedy that’s so ubiquitous in Australia and Great Britain. Those in the Comic-Con crowd who were similarly unfamiliar seemed thrilled and surprised by everything that transpired onscreen; Kaczmarek couldn’t have been more entertaining if she tried (and she hardly has to try).

Catch Wilfred on Thursdays at 10pm on FX. Be ready for plenty of casual drug use, semi-frequent swearing, crude jokes of all sorts, and more than its fair share of gratuitous fake animal sex. Rest assured, no laugh is unearned, and you won’t be sorry you tuned in.

Images courtesy of Frank Ockenfels and Michael Becker.

Comic-Con 2011: The 20th Century Fox Panel: Foxy Lady

With as much pomp and circumstance as their iconic fanfare suggest, 20th Century Fox has unleashed what could end up being the surprise panel of Comic-Con. Billed as a very vague “come see our new shit” event in Hall H, the panel was jam-packed with exclusive videos and special guest panelists that brought their trademark enthusiasm to the convention.

First up was the long awaited first look of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, a prequel in-spirit to his film that redefined cinematic Science-Fiction, Alien. The presentation did not disappoint, in which a video ran designed as a make-shift EPK of a lengthy interview with Scott intercut with some absolutely breathtaking footage from the film. Though little remains known about the main narrative of the movie, the footage alone was enough to convince anyone on the fence that this will be the movie to beat for 2012. Scott and Co. have effortlessly recreated the tone, ambiance, and unnerving feel of Alien with an expert hand. The color palette, lighting, costume design, and set design all speak to the original film as if the past 30 years never even happened. Intriguing hints of another Sci-Fi classic, The Thing (which also has a prequel dropping this fall), echoed in other scenes in which crew members writhed in agony and in one scene in particular that found Charlize Theron lighting a fellow crew member ablaze via a ferocious looking flamethrower. Of her character, Theron was ready and willing to tackle someone unlike anyone she has ever played. “She’s a suit. She’s the machine…that comes across very cold…but in the third act, you really see what she’s all about and what she’s really doing there, which is really interesting.” All signs point to Ridley Scott once again taking the genre that he made his own and turning it on its ear for an entirely new generation of film lovers. Following the video presentation, Theron took the stage to answer some questions about the movie and, in one of the best surprises of the Con, Ridley Scott appeared via satellite from Iceland where he was on location, still shooting, for a lengthy Hall H interview. Prometheus is shooting in native 3D and although the technology has come under fire recently due to shitty conversions, Sir Ridley champions the good ‘ol Z-Axis. “I’ll never work with anything other than 3D again, even for small dialogue scenes,” he declared. “I love it. It opens up the universe to even something like a small dialogue scene.” Hey, if it’s good enough for Ridley Scott, it’s good enough for me.

Next up was In Time, the new film from Andrew Niccol, who presented an exclusive trailer for his film in which people stop aging at 25, but only have one year to live after reaching that age, setting up a world in which the rich “buy” time and live forever and the poor die before their time. Also on hand to talk up the film were stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. “I was a huge, huge fan of Gattaca,” said Timberlake, “and I really just wanted to work with Andrew with whatever crazy movie he was doing next.” And like Gattaca before it, In Time presents some fascinating social questions (as the best Sci-Fi does) that become blinding when society is split dramatically between those that die and those that do not. When Timberlake “inherits” a large span of “lifetime” that isn’t his, he is suddenly a fugitive, both from the police who think he killed his provider, and from criminals who want to kill him for the time he has. The concept is uber-high to be sure, but so was Gattaca at the time of its release and even though that movie didn’t set the world ablaze, it still stands as one of the great Sci-Fi films of recent years and “In Time” looks to follow in its footsteps.

Last but not least was an early look at Rise of the Planet of the Apes, set to release in August. The presentation, hosted by panelist and star Andy Serkis, gave a great deal of insight into a film that looks flimsy and superficial based on its trailer. Opening up the narrative, we got a chance to see John Lithgow as James Franco’s father, debilitated by a severe case of Alzheimer’s, which is what motivates Franco to create the serum that sets everything into motion. Once scene in particular shows how Ceasar, the main ape, defends Lithgow’s character from an unruly neighbor and is quickly chastised for it- a small hint that fuels the fire of Caesar’s ultimate Che-eqsue simian revolution. Here, the emotional core of the movie is exposed and that, coupled with the elegant and nuanced performance from Serkis, aided by Weta’s photo-real CGI and Rise of the Planet of the Apes makes for a late, if not must-see, entry in this summer’s big movie season.

With a bevy of surprise guests and a very strong list of films, Fox’s panel packed a serious punch and definitely had the most welcome surprises thus far of all the major panels this year at Comic-Con, showing that the studio, when sticking to its guns, is a force to be reckoned with.

 

Comic-Con 2011: Psych Panel and Press Room: Don’t You Forget About Shawn and Gus

Before this year’s Psych panel at Comic-Con, executive producer Steve Franks promised a surprise big surprise to outdo last year’s. During a video introduction by Dule Hill and  James Roday, the promised big surprise was delivered: William Shatner, holding the omnipresent pineapple. Comic-Con’s captains’ captain is going to be a guest star on the upcoming season of Psych. After the video, Steve Franks came out with the Friendly Indians to perform the insanely catchy theme song, which I of course sang along to. That was, until they introduced the secret, never-before-uttered second verse and had the rest of the cast come out on stage to sing along. The surprises keep coming at Comic-Con, and Psych definitely had their share.

The perpetual “hey-it’s-that-guy-from-that-one-thing” Kurt Fuller, who reprises his role as Woody the Coroner,  moderated the panel that included James Roday, Dule Hill, Timothy Omundson, Corbin Bersen, Maggie Lawson, and Kirsten Nelson. The cast shared some really juicy spoilers for their sixth season and you better believe there will be a lot of pop culture references for your viewing pleasure. A vampire episode? Check. A Hangover episode? Check. A baseball, superhero, or a board game episode? You get the idea. Also expect a surplus of guest stars this season. It won’t just be William Shatner (spoiler: he’s playing Juliet’s father) but also Danny Glover, Jason Priestley, Malcolm McDowell, Kristy Swanson, Corey Feldman, Wade Boggs, Anthony Anderson, Tony Hale, Cary Elwes, Jaleel White (yes, that Jaleel White) and Keenan Thompson. That is a lot of guest stars, and a lot of commas.

A clip reel gave the audience a sneak peek at the new episodes but ended on a cliffhanger, with Lassiter questioning Shawn as he is hooked up to a lie detector. The last question he asks Shawn is “Are you really psychic?” To the fans’ disappointment, the scene goes black before Shawn can answer. I definitely let out a groan. I later found out this happens in the season premiere and I now can’t wait for the fall.

Here are some highlights from the panel:

James talked about how his character Shawn has changed over the years, kind of. “Shawn hasn’t changed too much. He has changed in baby steps. Not human baby steps, tiny baby bird steps.”

Dule Hill reminded James of the song they used to sing during the first season, that they titled “Stuck On You” because that is the only line in the song. Steve Franks can’t stand it, having heard it countless times.

Lassiter finds a love interest this season and Timothy Omundson shared what he thinks is the secret to the show’s success: “We’re making each each other laugh every day, and that translates into good television.”

Executive producer Steve Franks shared his recipe for writing a comedy about people who solve grisly murders. “Make sure there is always a joke right after revealing a body. If there is a death, make a joke as quickly as possible.”

Asked if they are going to do a musical episode, Franks said there won’t be one this season but we can expect the first episode of season 7 to be very musical. And also expect a tap dancing Dule in it.

At the end, they showed a shot for shot remake of the “Don’t You Forget About Me” music video that brought the house down. It was one of the best things in the Con that day.

In the frantic press room after the panel I found out that Dule sometimes doesn’t get all the 80s pop culture trivia. “After reading a script I’m like, ‘I have no idea what I just said. What am I talking about?’ and I have to Google it afterwards. James (Roday) is more into it. He always knows the references.” He also gave a hint about what board game is going to be the inspiration for a new episode. “I can’t tell you which game it is. But I can tell you it’s a very popular game, that’s already been made into a movie. I can’t give you any more clues than that.” After I continued pressing about it he said, again, “I am not giving you any more clues. Okay? It’s a fun episode but I really can’t give you anymore CLUES about what game it is. Get it? No more CLUES.” I guess we will just have to wait and see.

James Roday said that every year he comes to Comic-Con he never gets to tour the exhibition hall. “I would like to see the exhibition floor and all the costumes, but we get shuffled from one thing to the next when we are here. We just have no time.” James is very excited about an upcoming episode that involves cults. “Gus kinda gets involved with a cult and completely loses his brain for a while. It’s great.”

The sixth season of Psych looks like it’s shaping up to be one of the best.

Don’t miss the sixth season premiere of Psych, this fall on USA.

Stick with Poptimal for more coverage of Comic-Con 2011.

Comic-Con 2011: Dexter’s Dark Passenger Looms Over San Diego

The upcoming sixth season of Dexter promises to bring the hit Showtime series back to its roots as our titular antihero continues to balance the façade of normalcy with his proverbial dark passenger, now with his heartbreak officially behind him. The stars and producers were on hand at San Diego Comic-Con Thursday to discuss how Dexter’s recent hardships have enabled him to channel his dark side with more efficiency than perhaps ever before, despite a growing concern for the stability of his son’s future.

After the fifth season left Dexter brokenhearted upon Lumen’s departure, and still suffering from residual guilt and grief over his indirect part in Rita’s murder, producer Sara Colleton explained that the decision to have the sixth season fast forward in time was intended to give Dexter opportunity to recover.

“We decided to jump ahead a year so that we meet Dexter when he’s finished his year of atonement, and now he’s just back to his game: his dark passenger, his life as a blood spatter analyst and his own life as a dad,” Colleton began. “Every year we always just try to pick a theme for the season and then come up with a plot to illustrate that theme, and Dexter now knows that he will always have this dark passenger, and that he doesn’t want to pass that dark passenger on to his son. But he doesn’t know yet what he does want to pass on to his son. So, this year explores some things.”

Star and executive producer Michael C. Hall echoed this notion, saying that Dexter’s responsibilities as a father have altered his outlook on life, and given him the chance to consider new schools of thought he never would have seriously regarded before.

“He’s open to some things that he wouldn’t otherwise be open to, or interested in,” Hall said of the upcoming season. “Dexter himself is perfectly fine going along the way he’s been going along, but once he recognizes the obligation to not only keep things from his son but an obligation to give something to his son, he realizes that maybe he needs to open himself up for Harrison’s sake … and [begin] cultivating a spiritual life. That sort of, as things in Dexter’s world often do, becomes a magnet that attracts a lot of stuff.”

The concept of faith runs deep in Season Six, illustrated as a booming track of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” accompanied a preview clip to drive home the idea that Dexter may be expanding his theological horizons.

Along for the spiritual journey this season are several high-profile guest stars, including Colin Hanks (Orange County, King Kong) and Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), the former of whom made an appearance at Dexter’s Comic-Con press room and panel, only to reveal he was “legally” bound to say tight-lipped on the details of his character, anthropologist Travis Marshall.

“I can neither confirm nor deny any involvement in the Dexter television program,” Hanks coyly declared. “But I’m here, so I must be on the show.”

Despite being unable to discuss his involvement in detail, Hanks showed no restraint in expressing his enthusiasm for being an integral part of Dexter this season.

“It’s a treat. You always want to work with good people, and you always want to be on a quality show, and I think that Dexter is one of the, if not the best, show that’s been on television in recent years,” Hanks said, adding, “You’re gonna see some stuff this season that you have not seen in previous seasons. It’s going to be exciting, and I may or may not be a part of that,” he joked.

Producer Scott Buck also confirmed Mos Def’s guest-starring role as a “sort of street creature who crosses Dexter’s path.” Def later made a surprise appearance at the Dexter panel, posing as an audience member asking a question before fans caught on and erupted with delighted surprise as the rapper-turned-actor took the stage to join his co-stars and colleagues.

In the press room, Hall discussed how the show’s trend to focus on a new set of guest-stars among the regular primary cast each season helps him stay intrigued with the character as his progressive journey continues.

“That’s a huge part of what makes it fun and keeps it fresh for me,” Hall began. “That he’s newly challenged, that there’s some new presence in his life that brings out a new color or new experience for himself that he hadn’t anticipated experiencing.”

Above all else, Hall explained, is the importance of maintaining the undercurrent of Dexter’s primary battle of living a double life in the midst of new situations each season. As the nuances of Dexter’s dark passenger evolve, so do his methods of coping with life’s travesties.

“Dexter’s someone who we see, over the course of the life of the show, indulging in or playing at what it means to be someone in a love relationship, someone confronting his demons in front of a group of fellow addicts, whatever it is,” Hall said. “But what’s interesting about the character as he attempts those things, succeeds or fails at those things, lives through those things, we see him, and I think we see him pointedly do it at the end of the fifth season, he has this ability to unplug from that experience and somehow work it in his mind as something that didn’t humanize him as much as it made him a more effective killer. I think in the sixth episode he’s really put a lot to bed … he’s [now] killing more efficiently in a way that perhaps hearkens back to where he was when we first meet him. So, there is a great deal more water under the bridge now.”

Colleton brought the session full circle by presenting the connections between the sixth season’s primary themes to those of the series as a whole. “He starts this journey which then snowballs into this huge plot for the season, and it’s initiated by his desire to define faith, which is, by its very nature, indefinable. So, it presents him with a lot of different avenues that he explores and it’s done in true Dexter style, so it is a lot of fun, and is looked at through his prism, which is a very unique one.”

The stress of playing such a complex and psychologically draining character is certainly exhausting for Hall, who admits it’s hard to shake the persona off set. When asked how he gets Dexter out of his head at night, Hall chuckled, “I don’t,” before offering insight into the trickiest parts of Dexter’s psyche that really require the most energy. “I think it’s the days where I’m pretending  [to be normal] that are probably more stressful than the days where I can just be myself and kill people.”

Only Dexter could draw audience laughs from a line like that.

 

Don’t miss the sixth season premiere of Dexter, Sunday, October 2 on Showtime.

Images courtesy of Erin Biglow for Poptimal and Showtime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comic-Con 2011: Awake Screening and Q&A

Awake is an upcoming NBC drama that centers around a male police detective trying to figure out what part of his life is a dream. The Comic-Con screening of the show’s pilot on Thursday was heavily-attended and ostensibly well-liked, though the audience probably left the subsequent Q&A with lead actor Jason Isaacs and Executive Producers Howard Gordon and Kyle Killen more confused than before they entered. Here’s NBC’s feverish description of the convoluted plot:

“After Detective Michael Britten wakes up from a car accident with his wife and teenage son, he learns the devastating news that his wife died in the crash. Trying to put the pieces of his life back together, he wakes up a few days later to realize that his wife is very much alive and his son died in the accident! Did he lose his wife or his son? Or neither of them??”

It turns out that Michael has created an alternate universe as a coping mechanism, using his dreams to explore a world where either 1) his wife is still alive, or 2) his son is still alive, but never both at once. The one purpose for this conceit is to get us to try and guess which reality is real and which is the dream world, but our caring depends on how invested we become in the character of Michael as a loving husband and father. No one knows him yet, I don’t think the pilot gives us quite enough compelling reasons to form any opinions or desires in either direction.

Of what consequence is each possible reality? Sliding Doors worked because we accepted one of the realities as real and the other as an alternate one from the very beginning, and we’re rooting for the protagonist to come out on top in the end. We see what actually was, and we see what could have been. As humans, we hope the reality is better than the unknown alternative. In Awake, there’s no initial grounding in the real world; we don’t know what to think, and we don’t know what to believe. Maybe that sounds like it should be fun, but for me, it was disorienting and inspired only apathy. A few moments featuring Michael with his wife tempted me into thinking the story would become engrossing, and there’s a mildly interesting plot following his investigations as a detective, but again, we never know what’s happening and what isn’t, and dreams which aren’t dreamlike do not compel as powerfully as they should. As the producers admitted after the screening, Michael’s sleep fantasies are not unrealistic in the least; there are no flying unicorns (yet), so the illusion is as real as the actual. In that sense, the scenes are not intriguing, arresting, or creative, and the experience of dreaming is somewhat neutered. Besides, if I were to drive drunk and lose a member of my immediate family as a result, I think the alternative reality that I created as a coping mechanism would be one in which everyone is still alive.

I won’t be surprised if this show generates buzz and achieves a large, dedicated following. It’s a puzzle, and the creators have no intention of simplifying the process of piecing it all together. That would be fine if only the activity were a bit more fun and less of a chore, but some may enjoy the challenge.

Awake premieres Midseason 2012 on NBC.

For more Comic-Con coverage, click here and follow @Poptimal on Twitter!

Images courtesy of NBC.

Comic-Con 2011: Covert Affairs Panel and Interview

The espionage drama Covert Affairs follows the top-secret exploits of a young CIA operative as she struggles to retain her cover and her limbs while scaling buildings and dodging villains around the globe. Cast members and producers of the beloved USA show participated in a panel discussion and press room interview with Poptimal on Thursday. In attendance were producers Doug Liman, Chris Ord, and Matt Corman, in addition to actors Piper Perabo (Annie Walker), Christopher Gorham (Auggie Anderson), Kari Matchett (Joan Campbell), Peter Gallagher (Arthur Campbell), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Jai Wilcox), and Anne Dudek (Danielle). Oded Fehr moderated the candid discussion of the show, and fans were more than pleased to see their favorite double agents in person.

The show’s producers were effusive in their praise of Perabo, who is frequently seen doing death-defying stunts which she insists on performing, no matter how dangerous. While she may have laughed uproariously at the absurdity when a fan asked if she’s fluent in the foreign languages that Annie has mastered, she goes to great lengths to make her action scenes convincing, noting that she never has to visit the gym after work. The job takes it out of her, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “When you love what you do, you don’t know that you’re tired until you get home and fall asleep on the couch,” said Perabo. Adding guest stars to the mix, she explained, can sometimes get “pretty rocky,” leading the regulars to “have to talk them off the ledge.” As Liman explained, the rest of the cast has been emboldened by Perabo’s no-holds-barred attitude. “The other actors feed off of it,” he said.

Covert Affairs is a unique television show in that it frequently features elaborate sequences shot in foreign lands, adding an air of authenticity and a richness to the screen which would otherwise be missing. Liman, Ord, and Corman feel incredibly privileged to have been granted access to Jordan and Istanbul, and to shoot in locations like London, Paris, Venezuela, Zurich, and Sri Lanka. Season Two (airing 10 episodes this summer and finishing with six in the winter) has centralized exotic locations and missions; the producers were proud to point out how uncommon this is for a new show’s first few seasons. With continued fan support, they pointed out, they’ll continue to take their agents all over the world for thrilling new adventures in various cultural settings. To add to the realism and honesty of the work, they endeavor to get everything right, including their bad guys. “We don’t want to do any stock villains from any culture,” said Corman.

Fans of Covert Affairs who long for a romance between Annie and blind operative Auggie may be disappointed to learn that Auggie will be paired with another love interest this winter, though both Perabo and the woman she portrays want to pursue something more than a friendship with the tall, dark, and handsome fellow. The backstories and love dilemmas of the other characters will also be explored in-depth in upcoming episodes. Gallagher assured us that viewers would “learn more about Joan and Arthur” as they continue to navigate their complicated relationship. Marveling at the dedication and inventiveness of the writers as they determine to keep moving the story along, Gallagher exclaimed, “I was supposed to be gone last year!” before noting that storytelling requires an openness to evolution as the narrative machine chugs along. New developments and unpredictable twists will keep fans watching, no matter where in the world the action takes us.

 

For more Comic-Con coverage, click here.

Images courtesy of Poptimal.com

Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Panel: A Horrific Treat

I managed to get in to see the panel featuring members of the The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part 1) cast and their director this morning at Comic Con, even without sleeping outside since Monday. Thank you, Poptimal, for the press badge.

Director Bill Condon took the stage first and chatted a bit about how in his mind this fourth installment has more of a horror bent than the previous films. Obviously everyone wants to know about the birthing scene, and when Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner joined him on stage, much of the panel was spent discussing just that. They didn’t show any clips of that particular segment, but if you want to take Kristen’s word for it, they “didn’t pull any punches.”

I don’t know about you, but that statement scares me a little.

Kristen also spoke about how the new mother aspect of her character really resonated with her, and also how easily she believes girls her age can relate. Bella is really pushed in this film, with wedding night scene, a baby, drinking blood, werewolf attacks, and everything else that is thrown at her in these two plus hours. I certainly hope we’ll see the character grow and gain the confidence she eventually found in the novels.

The initial clip they showed us was a scene derived from the book, but not necessarily in the book We saw Jacob deal with the consequences of his choice to stay at Bella’s side, to remain her friend even though she’s preggers with Edward’s half-vampire baby. We were treated to an intense confrontation with Paul and some others of Sam’s crew and we hear him announce his intention to murder Bella’s baby once it is born.

That’s probably not going to happen. Just saying.

The second clip gave us a glimpse into the oh-so-anticipated honeymoon on the deserted island. I have to say, it was different than I expected and I kind of like the way they handled it. The scene is awkward, and mostly we watch Bella freak out facing her “first time” as she figures out what to wear, frantically brushes her teeth, etc. It showed her in the vulnerable light of frightened young girl – which is, of course, exactly what she is. Fantastic clip that ended just as she stepped out onto the beach sans clothes…and I have to say. I wanted to see the rest.

After the clip Kristen talked a bit about how she loved playing a Bella who finally realizes how strong she is. Though the pregnancy is hard, and almost kills her, Bella is “stronger than most women because she has some of *that* (motions at screen) in her. Literally.”

That got quite a laugh and I must say, this panel is the most comfortable I’ve ever seen Kristen Stewart in front of a crowd.

According to director Bill Condon, “Kristen knows these books so well, she’s the biggest fan you will ever meet.” They answered questions regarding the adaptation, and how they decided the best way to bring the book onto the screen. Rob Pattinson added, “Having Stephenie Meyer on set was great” and Condon mentioned how hard they tried to really “get inside Bella’s head, since the stories are all from her point of view.”

Taylor, for his part, got the majority of the questions from the fans. I’m far too old to fawn over the boy but for those of you wondering, he looks in person exactly as he does on film. Which is to say, strikingly handsome and with a disturbingly white smile.

Several questions were lobbed regarding his role in the upcoming Abduction, but Taylor refused to pick one role above the other. He’s excited to explore new characters and new directions, but recognizes that the Twilight franchise has given him so much.

In fact, they all made mention of that fact more than once and as a whole the main three cast members came across as humble people trying to enjoy a ride they know will soon be over. They impressed me with thoughtful, articulate answers and a combined relaxed, good natured handling of the entire panel.

Taylor was asked which of the films was his favorite to make. He responded “The third book I loved, but this movie is my favorite. In this movie you’re really able to see all of the characters in different lights we’ve never seen before. We’re all mired in these really intense situations…it was a challenge but we had a lot of fun.”

These kids won my little pea-picking author heart by referencing their source material so often and with such reverence.

Someone asked Taylor if there’s anything about Jacob that is like him, and to that he said (with a rather disarming smile) “I love Jacob. He has a lot of good qualities. Jacob is loyal, he’s persistent…so if the people around me compared me to him, I’d be honored.”

Rob had very strange hair working, which you’ll hopefully be able to see from the pictures. That’s all I have to say about that.

The panel completed with the teaser trailer that’s available to everyone, though I hadn’t yet had the chance to view it.

I have to say, it looks fantastic. The trailer is dark, it’s intense, it utilizes all the right words that hit all the right nerves for fans of the book. The music sends chills up, down, and all around.

All in all, the panel made something happen to me that I didn’t think possible.

I’m kind of really looking forward to this film now.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part 1) is scheduled to open November 18, 2011 in the USA.

For more on San Diego Comic-Con 2011, click here.

Images courtesy of Poptimal.com

Twilight cast (left to right): Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Julia Jones, Nikki Reed, Elizabeth Reaser Twilight cast (left to right): Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Julia Jones, Nikki Reed, Elizabeth Reaser	Twilight cast (left to right): Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Julia Jones, Nikki Reed, Elizabeth Reaser Twilight cast (left to right): Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Julia Jones, Nikki Reed, Elizabeth Reaser	Kristen Stewart, Julia Jones (left to right) Kristen Stewart, Julia Jones (left to right)
Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed (left to right) Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed (left to right)	Robert Pattinson Robert Pattinson	Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson (left to right) Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson (left to right)
Kristen Stewart Kristen Stewart	Bill Condon, Director Bill Condon, Director	Robert Pattinson Robert Pattinson
Taylor Lautner Taylor Lautner	Taylor Lautner Taylor Lautner	Taylor Lautner Taylor Lautner
Ashley Greene Ashley Greene	Robert Pattinson Robert Pattinson	Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart (left to right) Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart (left to right)
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart (left to right) Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart (left to right)

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