Variety’s website put up a picture of actor/comedian David Alan Grier with a caption meant for role model, Mr. T. It’s hard to say if it was a human error or something is wrong with their Geosites site or something. But still, catch those errors.…
Proudly Resents: The cult movie podcast Posts
The man that brought you “Slacker,” “Clerks,” “Thin Blue Line” and “Go Fish” comes on the podcast to talk about the golden age of indie film – the 80’s. John Pierson talks about negotiating, finding new films, dealing with film makers and more. He tells his story of making a place for himself in the indie film scene in his great book, “Spike, Mike, Slackers and Dykes.” This book is filled with great stories. Instead of having JohnPierson just repeat them, I tried to get him to expand and give a perspective 20 years later.
In the interview I might have slammed Michael Moore for making money on his message and I also might have gotten sucked into an internet scheme. You’ll have to listen to find out!
John Pierson wasn’t here just to indulge us! He’s got a great film festival to promote.
At the Cinefamily Theater on March 4 John Pierson is presenting Spike Lee’s first film “She’ Gotta Have It” and on March 5th he’s presenting “Roger & Me.” On both films Pierson was the “Producer’s Representative.” Find out what that means when you listen to the podcast.
The Cinefamily Theater in Los Angeles on Fairfax Ave, up the street from Cantor’s and down the street from Oakie Dog, is in the middle of the “Underground USA Indie Cinema of the 80’s film festival. There are great films like Repo Man, Blood Simple, Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer, The Evil Dead, Desperately Seeking Susan and more. That’s right, MORE!
John Pierson was born on April 30, 1954 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He has been married to Janet Pierson since 1983.
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“The Daily Show” co-creator, Madeleine Smithberg talks about her amazing career in TV. From Late Night With David Letterman to life after co-creating and running “The Daily Show.”
Madeleine give a lot of insight to the creative part of TV as well the harsh business practices. Talks about Jon Stewart changing the work atmosphere at “The Daily Show,” how she got David Spade to stop doing fat actress jokes and why Bloomberg TV rejected a very funny Julie Klasner.
She tells amazing stories about starting in live Italian TV, her one try at Reality to harsh and ridiculous network notes, to what she thinks of “The Daily Show’s” new host. Plus insights on her latest project “This Week in Black Twitter.”
Fans of TV and comedy will love her from a true insider.
We talked at her home in Valley with her son in the other room playing video games and her dog protecting us from lawn mowers and people taking out the trash.
In Madeleine’s living are her trophies for her years of work. A Peabody, an Emmy and a wax bust of David Letterman.
Madeleine Smithberg earned Peabody and Emmy Awards, and two other Emmy nominations, for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, which she co-created and ran as executive producer for seven years. During her tenure, she was directly responsible for the hiring/casting of performers such as Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Ed Helms, and Rob Corddry, Mo Rocca, Lewis Black, among others. She served as producer/show-runner for The Daily Show forerunner, The Jon Stewart Show, on MTV and later in syndication. She also brought her skills as executive producer and writer of The WB comedy/variety show Steve Harvey’s Big Time. She spent six years as a talent coordinator, then producer, for NBC’s original ’t Sleep! Hosted by T.J. Holmes.
If you want more, here’s another interview with Madeleine.
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While some out of work actors spend their days in coffee shops or on Playstation, Feikamoh Massaquoi is literally hitting the streets. I see him in front the entrance of the Warner Brothers Studio lot. Many people pass him everyday. Writers, producers, actors, accountants, set designers and most importantly casting agents. While we’ve never heard of an actor picketing for a role.
After looking him up, I decided to say hi and see what his deal was. I didn’t have too much time, I had to punch in at the TV mill. Watch his clips, they are impressive. Which shocks me because he’s standing in front of studios with a sign. Remember Dennis Woodruff? (Look it up. It’s too late at night to be looking him up and linking him. Seriously!)
So why is a good actor standing on the street and not working? He has what most people dream of, an agent and manager. He has a good look and a sense of humor. One thing he doesn’t have is a sense a monologue. You got to have one ready. A producer in my office told me he has a Shakespearean and a regular monologue ready at a drop of a hat.
I guess in LA it’s like having breath mints or an AAA card – you never know when it will come in handy.
If you’re at SONY Studios next week and you see Feikamoh, give him a smile or better yet, a role.
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Jimmy Pardo, Todd Levin (Conan) and comedian Sharon Houston (Punk’d) rip apart the worst Christmas movie ever made, “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas.”
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Boiler Room, the Vin Deisel/Ben Affleck sausage fest, is proudly resented by Shawn Marek (Sideshow Network hot shot). We talk about the movie, lots of nerd stuff, the best Batman show on TV and Shawn and I compare telemarketing stories.
I can’t remember the book where I read the interview with the director of this movie. I know I told you to come to the show notes for them. I ain’t got it. So sue me. (Please don’t, it will be a huge waste of both our times.)
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Dan Miles brings two films with him. He proudly presents his favorite movie, Christopher Guest’s “The Big Picture” and proudly resents his least favorite, “Bamboozled.”
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“Mr. Robot’s” Christian Slater is a skate punk who doesn’t give a crap! It’s like Repo Man without without the quality.
Rob Logan from “Geek Generation Podcast,” proudly resents “Gleaming The Cube.”
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Adam Sandler shoe horns a all of his bad film retreads and puts them through the NYC Indie Filmlook. Mike Spiegelman (best known as “Spiegs’ brother”) takes the movie and steps all over it.
Links from the show:
Mike’s funny book
There was a period in the 90’s when every movie had a more interesting back story. The way the movie was made was more interesting than the actual movie. The filmmakers shot the whole thing in a closed convenience store, it was paid for on credit cards, it cost $12.50 to make.