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Here's all the Archived News items for April-July, 2007. Back to Current News.
09/07/07
Marsters Offers Insights On 'Torchwood' Role
By ROBIN BROWNFIELD
Last weekend, James Marsters talked briefly, though somewhat cryptically, about his guest spot in the upcoming second season of "Torchwood" at the Fangoria convention in New Jersey. The actor best known to genre fans as Spike in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," said he did a preliminary screening of the episode he shot in Cardiff, Wales, but since then the writers have rewritten the script which means he's heading back across the pond to finish filming his episode. What should fans expect of Marsters, as he takes on the adult spinoff of "Doctor Who"? His role is "going to offend some, titillate others - to the point where they would need to finish themselves off afterwards." He also said that Brits are more liberal in their approach to sex and sexuality than Americans, but wouldn't spill the beans on what exactly we'll happen during his stay. However, there were implications that something "omnisexual" was going to happen in the episode. "Torchwood," an anagram of "Doctor Who," is a secret task force that deals with alien encounters. John Barrowman plays ageless omnisexual time agent Captain Jack Harkness, who leads the Cardiff-based team. The series was created by Russell T Davies, who is responsible for reviving the series "Doctor Who." "Torchwood" Season 1 will air on BBC America beginning Sept. 9.
09/07/07
FEARFUL FEATURE
Me and My SHADOW PUPPETS By ABBIE BERNSTEIN SHADOW PUPPETS stars James Marsters and Tony Todd have a few things in common: diverse careers spanning all genres in film, TV and stage, being best-known for horror roles—and being unafraid of getting pigeonholed in fright fare. “I understand genre, as opposed to an actor who’s just showing up but doesn’t really respect it,” says Todd, star of the CANDYMAN franchise and the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD remake, on SHADOW PUPPETS’ set. “Maybe that’s why I get hired.” “My concern is playing too many British guys, or playing too many guys with extra-human powers,” Marsters says, referring to his seven years as Spike on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ANGEL. “The role on SMALLVILLE [as artificial intelligence being Brainiac] was more worrisome for me than SHADOW PUPPETS. If I were to say I can’t do anything that’s science-fiction-oriented or thriller-oriented or monster-oriented, I’m going to cut out about 45 percent of the films that are made these days. So I don’t think [doing them is] such a bad thing,” he laughs. In SHADOW PUPPETS, written and directed by Michael Winnick, Todd and Marsters play Steve and Jack, mortal men with total amnesia, who find themselves trapped in a strange building with a small group of others (including Jolene Blalock of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE), where they are stalked by a malevolent supernatural force. The film is playing in an exclusive theatrical run June 22-29 at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA; there will be a Q&A session with Winnick following the June 22 7 p.m. showing. Starz/Anchor Bay will release SHADOWN PUPPETS on DVD July 24. “The characters wake up not knowing who they are,” Marsters explains, “not knowing where they are or how they got there, and they’re trying to figure out those questions and to survive. We are instinctually afraid of not knowing things, so I loved the script. This is an interesting role, someone who is afraid and vulnerable and very human. [Because director Winnick] wrote it, he knows what he wants it to be, and that’s all I’m about as an actor: just to find a good script and serve it. I’d like to work with him again. I haven’t had many directors like him. I’ve had apathetic directors who don’t really know or care what’s going on and let me do whatever I want, and I love that; I’ve had directors who know exactly what they want, but I feel like a puppet and I don’t like that, although most of the time, those are the better projects. To have both is a rare combination.” Todd says that both his manager Jeff Goldberg and his 16-year-old son advised him to do SHADOW PUPPETS. “My son is the final barometer. He liked this [script] particularly,” says the actor, who adds that Winnick turned out to be another plus. “He’s a smart guy. He graduated number one from USC in ’92, which isn’t bad. I met him for the first time at a wardrobe fitting. I was in a snarly mood that morning, kind of like Steve, so [Winnick] loved it. Steve is afraid of showing his fear, but he may be the most afraid of everybody, deep down. It was very important for me that we were on the same page about him. On first look, you think Steve has violent tendencies…” Production designer Kristen Ridgway chimes in about Todd from the makeup trailer doorway, “He’s a sweetheart, we all love him.” “Aww,” says Todd, touched. “For a guy who plays such tough guys, that’s pretty good to hear.” Ridgway isn’t done. “He’s not a tough guy—he’s a teddy bear.” Todd feigns alarm at this threat to his image. “Don’t tell them that!” For the scene where we first see Steve, real shackles were employed to attach Todd to the wall. Makeup FX supervisor/prop master Mark “Red Dog” Fenlason, whose friendship with Todd goes back to their days on CANDYMAN, had to apply the restraints, and says he felt uncomfortable chaining the actor up. Todd notes that he understands why. “Any time you’ve got a black man in chains, this is America, it brings back historical connotations. I knew he would let me out, but of course [he was uncomfortable]. Anybody who’s not affected by that, there’s something wrong with their humanity. The image itself is a powerful one.” Marsters and Todd had never worked together before, though Todd guest-starred on ANGEL a few years before Marsters’ tenure and both have appeared at different times on SMALLVILLE. On SHADOW PUPPETS, Todd reveals, “James and I hit it off right away, because we both are gamers, so we’d pull out our portable PlayStations and there we’d be battling at each other.” Playing with Todd—both on the PSP and in scenes—has been great, Marsters reports. “Damn, that guy can act. He’s from stage, like I am. He does not want to spoil [a scene], he does not want to go rehearse it too much, he wants to keep it on the day, but he just owns his character. It’s frightening, and it’s very, very good to play off of. He’s a totally cool guy, professional, laid-back, but when he turns that shit on [for the camera],” Marsters snaps his fingers for emphasis, “he’s got a real anger, and it’s very scary.” If Steve is not the single most primal character Todd has ever played, the actor maintains, “He’s right up there. You’re going to like Steve because, for example, we go to a room where there’s a two-way mirror, and they start f**king around about, ‘How are we going to get through the mirror?’ and I just say, ‘Like this,’ and take a gun and shoot it.” Dealing with the mirror was easier for the fictional Steve than it was for the SHADOW PUPPETScrew, Todd adds. “The first time we shot it, it didn’t shatter. We did this shot of me firing the blank, so that was covered. But then Red Dog shot it and it just blew a hole in it. So they set it up again. The gun misfired before action was called. The third one, half the mirror was still there. I said, ‘Well, I’ll just kick it out.’ They [padded] my leg. But then the producers were concerned about a shard of glass dropping down on me. I wasn’t worried about it, but we had to make an adjustment in the script where I picked up a nightstand that had already been established as being bolted down. So with my adrenaline fully pumped, I ripped the nightstand out and threw it through the glass. And even then it didn’t break completely, but it broke enough.” The actors handled much of their own fighting work in SHADOW PUPPETS. “There’s not a lot of pads you can use when you’re only wearing underwear,” Marsters laughs. “The stunt choreographer is able to keep it safe, but it’s fighting on concrete and I’m just going to have to live with that.” In this area, he praises co-star Blalock: “She’s a trouper. She doesn’t care if she’s bleeding. I’ll be trying to hammer away at a lock and I’ll start bleeding, so she’s like, ‘Wait! Wait!’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, let’s keep going.’ We’re exactly alike. She’ll only try to hold the [camera] roll if I’m hurt, and I’ll only try to hold the roll if she’s hurt.” “Because we like each other, it’s all very cool,” Todd concludes. “I enjoy working with people I like and respect. Most sets that you’re on, everybody’s going to say they like what they’re doing. But here it’s going good.”
09/07/07
Burbank Creation Con Q&A Sunday April 15, 2007 Read this also huge Q&A @ http://www.jamesmarsters.com/burbank.html
09/07/07
PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY WITH JAMES NEW songs and old favourites will be getting the whole of Atlanta rockin' when James appears at Dragon Con in August. He will be staging a concert special at the Center Stage Atlanta on the Saturday night. The venue at 1374 W. Peachtree Street is part of an arts complex and is fitted with 765 plush raked seats and 171 temporary seats at the front of the stage. Please note all seating is unreserved. The popular venue is less than two miles from the convention site and within easy access. For further venue information go to http://www.CenterStage-Atlanta.com Tickets go on sale at 10am (Eastern Standard Time) on Saturday, June 23 and cost $30 in advance (plus booking fee) from http://www.ticketmaster.com or via http://www.centerstage-atlanta.com Tickets can also be purchased in person from the Center Stage box office. The box office cannot handle phone bookings. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the concert at a cost of $35. Doors to the venue will be open from 7pm and a full bar will be available. Doors to the auditorium open at 8.45pm. The venue is open to all ages and the concert will be followed by a charity auction and the chance to party until late. The bar remains open until 2am. *** JMLIVE MESSAGE *** Due to overwhelming interest the jamesmarsterslive.com website has taken a temporary siesta. We are aware of the problem (please send coffee) and hope to be back with you shortly. Tickets for James' concert in Cardiff on Saturday 21 July can still be purchased directly from http://www.thepointcardiffbay.com/gigdetail.php?id=399
09/07/07
Daffodils, Dragons and Demons James will be playing a one-off concert in Cardiff on Saturday, July 21. He will be appearing at The Point in Mount Stuart Square in Cardiff. Tickets cost £20 (subject to booking fee) and are now on sale from The Point. Full details of the concert are available here. James is in town filming for the second series of UK sci-fi television favourite Torchwood. He will be appearing as a guest star alongside leading actor John Barrowman in the BBC's adult spin-off of long-running television series Doctor Who. Torchwood - an anagram of Doctor Who - is a secret task force that deals with alien encounters. John Barrowman plays mysterious multi-sexual time agent Captain Jack Harkness, who leads the Cardiff-based team. Series creator Russell T Davies, winner of the 2006 BAFTA Dennis Potter Award for Outstanding Writing for Television, has also written Casanova, Dr Who and Queer As Folk. The episode will be broadcast in the UK by the BBC early next year.
09/07/07
Daffodils and Dragons James will be appearing in a one-off concert in Cardiff on Saturday, July 21. Tickets are now on sale for the gig at The Point on Mount Stuart Square. If you'd like to know what he's doing in Cardiff next month and also buy tickets for the concert, go to http://www.jamesmarsterslive.com for more information.
09/07/07
Superman: The Animated Series - Doomsday (Lenticular Cover)
Release Information:
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Buying Information: (support the site by using these links)
Description: Utilizing the vast history and tradition of DC Comic's classic comic book stories along with a more provocative and action-packed story line for avid comic fans as well as kids and their parents, Superman Doomsday features the voices of Adam Baldwin ("Independence Day") as Superman, Anne Heche ("Men in Trees") as Lois Lane and James Marsters ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") as Lex Luthor. Produced by Bruce Timm (Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animated Series) and written by Duane Capizzi (The Batman, The Batman vs. Dracula), Superman Doomsday is inspired by the best-selling graphic novel of all time, DC Comics' The Death of Superman. When the intergalactic serial killer Doomsday is unearthed, Superman meets the creature head on in the battle to end all battles. Going punch for punch, Superman finally ends the threat of Doomsday as he throws one last punch and collapses forever - making the ultimate sacrifice to save Metropolis and all those he once loved. Features:
09/07/07
June
A very talented person told me he felt that knowing peace would inhibit his art. Being in the arts myself, I tend to seek it. In your opinion, what influence and effect does either “feeling pain” or "knowing peace" in one’s life have on an individual's creativity?
Song or album that an "ex" ruined?
Are there any tricks to help you memorize vast volumes as you did in your recent Macbeth in "Words and Music"? The language of Shakespeare's time is beautiful and full of meaning, but is not the easiest to memorize.
What can you tell us about your Lex Luthor voicework for the “Superman Doomsday” DVD project?
In Buffy Season 6, when Spike endures the trials to win his soul back, he says the line "here we are now, entertain us" which is a line from "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. You've said you are a Nirvana/Kurt fan - was that written in the script or was that your idea?
Do you do your own housework? If so, what is your least favorite chore?
Favorites:
Either/Or:
Next session: July 17
09/07/07
Q & A Collectormania - Sunday, 6 May 2007 Read the huge Q&A @ http://www.jamesmarsterslive.com/collect_qanda.shtml
11/06/07
ARE YOU A SPRING SNAPPER? Fancy the chance of winning a front row ticket to one of James' upcoming concerts? Then send in your favourite photographs from James' recent trip to England. All photographs must be your own and you can enter one or more. The best entries will be shown on the JMLive website and the winner will be contacted after the closing date of June 30. For further information on how to enter please go to http://www.jamesmarsterslive.com
11/06/07
From DragonCon to Doomsday: James Marsters news James to appear at DragonCon 2007 Announcing James' latest US appearance at DragonCon 2007 in Atlanta, August 31st - Sept. 2nd (http://www.dragoncon.org/) where he will be doing autographs and a Q&A session. More details to follow - stay tuned.
Superman Doomsday, available exclusively on DVD, will be released September 18, 2007 featuring James as the voice of 'Lex Luthor'. Also, the world premiere of Superman Doomsday will take place on July 26, 2007 at Comic-Con in San Diego at 8:30 PM in the main theatre (4,000 seats) of the San Diego Convention Center. There will be a panel discussion with the filmmakers and a few of the cast members. James is not confirmed at this time.
11/06/07
Shadow Puppets DVD available for pre-order Shadow Puppets is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com. The DVD will officially go on sale July 24, 2007.
11/06/07
May Q&A
Describe a perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
You have mentioned times when you felt you did not fit in and times when you felt you belonged to something bigger, connecting with others. Is one feeling necessarily better than the other? Are such moments especially something which artists tend to experience?
What role/performance are you least happy with and why? What did you learn from that experience?
What are three things that you absolutely cannot leave the house without?
Are you big on traditions and celebrations when it comes to Christmas, birthdays, New Year's and such?
If you end up doing multiple takes of a scene, do they come out pretty much the same each time, or do they come out quite different? Do they come out much different if you break for lunch, and come back in a somewhat different mood?
I know that you are an astute citizen with strong opinions about our government. If you were given the power to create or change any one existing law, what would it be?
Next session: June 15
11/06/07
NEWS
May 15: Director talks SHADOW PUPPETS release SHADOW PUPPETS depicts a nightmarish situation—a group of people who don’t know where or even who they are, locked in a strange facility and menaced by a homicidal supernatural force—but its release is a dream come true for writer/director Michael Winnick. Most horror films in SHADOW’s $1.2-million budget range go straight to DVD, but Winnick’s movie is hitting the big screen at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA June 22-29 (for showtimes and advance tickets, go here), with the possibility of expansion/extension before its DVD release via Anchor Bay July 24. The cast (see pics of ’em below) includes BUFFY’s James Marsters, CANDYMAN’s Tony Todd and STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE’s Jolene Blalock. Winnick believes those names helped get SHADOW onto the big screen. “Because of all the fan support, we just knew we had to get it playing somewhere for at least a week. Especially after the James Marsters and Friends convention on the Queen Mary, where we showed about 10 minutes of footage and they seemed to like what they saw. James’ fans really took the film under their wings and have been promoting it, the Tony Todd fans have picked it up, and we believe Jolene [Blalock’s] STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE fans are about to come on board.” Executive producer Morris Ruskin of Shoreline Entertainment, the company that made SHADOW PUPPETS, adds, “A lot of fans seem to be researching this film [on the Internet]. It’s phenomenal. Every film you make, you have a hope that it’s going to break through on a certain level. You don’t know until you know, but there’s a sense of excitement on this project, so my feeling is that we genuinely have a winner here.” Lensed in 24p hi-def, SHADOW PUPPETS has special requirements for optimal theatrical projection, and the Fine Arts is one of the few that qualify. After meeting with Winnick, the theater’s owners decided to take a chance on the film. “They really liked the movie and said, ‘We just want to play this,’ ” Winnick says. Anchor Bay picked up the DVD rights at last year’s American Film Market; “We had a few bidders,” Winnick notes, “but they really had the best game plan.” As for the disc contents, “There’s a commentary track by myself and cinematographer Jonathan Hale, and a behind-the-scenes [featurette]. It will be in 5.1 Surround sound and widescreen. The shadow creature gets the full audio treatment—it’ll be all around you.” It’s hoped there will be a Q&A session at the June 22 opening-night show at the Fine Arts, and in any case, Winnick says, “I will definitely be there.” In the meantime, check out the movie’s MySpace page here and look for more on the film in Fango #265, on sale in July. —Abbie Bernstein
11/06/07
Greetings and thanks from James
5-8-07
Finally a special thanks to Claudia, who won the charity auction at Rich Mix, and Susan, who also donated generously to the Terrence Higgins Trust. James Wesley Marsters
11/06/07
EXCLUSIVE ONE WEEK THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENT JUNE 22-28 IN BEVERLY HILLS, CA. PRESENTED IN FULL DIGITAL SURROUND SOUND!
Fine Arts Theatre
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS! (Select date and showtime)
11/06/07
HU Marsters Sanctuary Creation TV BROADBAND CONNECTION RECOMMENDED!
What Happens at a Creation Convention?
Grand Slam Sci-Fi Summit 2007
Or watch James' interview @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1W1y3Hvjqk
11/06/07
HU Peck @ Marsters Sanctuary Alcon just wrapped the Richard LaGravanese-directed "P.S. I Love You," which stars Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. WB releases the film Dec. 21.
11/06/07
"The Little Dog Laughed" Update: The play "The Little Dog Laughed" that James was to have starred in this summer has been permanently cancelled. The financial backers have decided to pull out at the last minute. We are all extremely disappointed with this turn of events. James is disappointed of course, but fine - he knows there will be many other opportunities on the horizon for him. We appreciate all the excitement and support many of you have expressed at the prospect of seeing James on stage. Thank you.
18/04/07
DAN AKIO We are delighted to announce Dan Akio Sherwood as the support act for James Marsters at the Union Chapel on Friday May 4. A newcomer to the London music scene, this singer/song writer pens soulful ballads about falling in love, falling over and coffee (and yes, he's extremely cute). For more information please go to http://www.jamesmarsterslive.com __________________________________________________________________________ CIVILIZED MAN CD While there may not be any tickets left for May, you can still hear the dulcet tones of James on his debut album 'Civilized Man', which is available at http://www.jamesmarsterslive.com/shop.shtml for only £7.50 per album. We ship globally. _________________________________________________
James Marsters Live
18/04/07
April
What book do you have on your bedside table at the moment?
Derek Jacobi has said that "To be or not to be..." is not a soliloquy but Hamlet speaking to Ophelia, partly because what he describes happens to her. What are your thoughts on this interesting view?
Do you have to hunt for your keys every day or are you one of those people who always put them in the same place when you come in?
What's better: old friends, or new friends, and why?
Spike's wardrobe was strongly associated with your formation of his character; yet in your recent Macbeth production, you brought Macbeth alive in black jeans and teeshirt. How important, then, is wardrobe in storytelling? Don't clothes help you find a character or are you totally floated by the words alone?
What's the first thing you think about when you get up in the morning?
Of all the people you have worked with during your career so far, who are the three most interesting or inspiring people you have worked with?
Next session: May 15
18/04/07
James Returns to the Stage James Marsters will return to his roots and first love in the San Francisco production of the hit play "The Little Dog Laughed" fresh from its Broadway run. James will appear in the production in a limited engagement starting June 13, 2007 and running through September 9, 2007 (he will continue to appear at his previously announced convention appearances as well). The production will take place at the Post Street Theatre in the heart of San Francisco. Ticket details to follow shortly. "The Little Dog Laughed" by Douglas Carter Beane is a witty, biting look at what could happen if one of Hollywood's hottest leading men decided to come out of the closet! James will play the leading male character of 'Mitchell'. James is incredibly excited about the opportunity to return to the stage. Joining him will be Julie White who originally created the role of 'Diane' both off-Broadway and on Broadway. The production will be directed by Scott Ellis.
13/04/07
INFORMATION REGARDING MAY 4 UNION CHAPEL CONCERT To all those attending James Marsters' concert on May 4 at the Union Chapel in London, please go to http://www.jamesmarsterslive.com/may_union.shtml for important information regarding the concert.
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13/04/07
lilycat
downloads in case anyone couldn't get it: http://download.yousendit.com/6BD19C325AB4431E or http://www.box.net/shared/628x9ankdc or http://www.megaupload.com/?d=A51ESH70
This may have mistakes and is not word for word...but is the best I could get from writing down what everyone (and mostly James) was saying:
Interviewer: The movie "Shadow Puppets" is getting a remarkable buzz at film festival at Brussels....as a quintessential BTVS fan I noticed from the cast list that James Marsters was starring in it....James is joining us from LA. Thanks for being in Canada.
Nadia calls in:Really loved the Civilized Album. It inspired me to pick up my guitar after 3 years.
Interviewer says:How do you get Shadow Puppets into theaters? Bob Crowe who runs Angel Productions (lawyer from Saskatchewan) says:
Logan calls in: My whole family loves you. We are happy to have you in a Saskatchewan movie.
Bob Crowe: James would sit on the steps of his trailer on the set of SP and play his guitar for anyone who would listen...or for himself. he made the atmosphere on set so relaxed. James laughs...well,that could be a good thing or not.
Interviewer asks about a release of SP.
They thank James for being there.
Feel free to repost but please credit me and CDS.
13/04/07
Thursday, April 12, 2007 SHADOW PUPPETS NEWS April 11th, 2007/JAMES MARSTERS on Talk Radio Writer-director Michael Winnick is on his way to Belgium to represent "Shadow Puppets" at the 25th Annual Brussels International Film Festival (BIFFF). The movie is closing the festival the night of April 16th. Joining Michael in Brussels is Shadow Puppets Director of Photography Jonathan Hale and actor Marc Winnick. James Marsters will be appearing on Canadian talk radio tomorrow morning (Thursday April 12th) at 9am PST to talk about Shadow Puppets. He will be joined on the show by Producer Bob Crowe. Even if you don't live in Canada, you can listen to the program LIVE on-line: the link is www.newstalk650.com and it's under "Listen Live". James will also be appearing this weekend (April 14th and 15th) at the "Grand Slam" Sci Fi Convention in Burbank, CA at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel. Tony Todd will be appearing this weekend (April 14th-15th) in New Jersey at Chiller Con! Thanks to all of our fans for their support! There will be more news coming soon... 12:26 PM
The Don't Kill Spike Club is owned and operated by Jamie Marsters.
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