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About: Matt

Has an old soul, and has been caught singing in the shower on more than one occasion. Performs standup comedy on a regualr basis all around Hollywood. Is a working background actor Served proudly in the U.S. Air Force, now retired. Has yet to reach the tender age of 30. Enjoys all things motorcycle related. Love's entertainment, and has already made plans to attend filmschool, Look out Speilberg. Background in Martial Arts include's Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do.

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    Rant: Refried Scripts

    June 11th, 2008 Written by: Matt · 3 Comments

    129288025_bce2fe5191.jpgHEY HOLLYWOOD, STOP SCREWING WITH MY CHILDHOOD! That is what I now scream everyday when viewing the new and upcoming movie releases.

    As a kid growing up in the Eighties it was sheer madness and fun all rolled into one. New technology was starting to take off, movies were becoming more action packed, and the cartoon series toys had a Hulk Hogan chokehold on our young minds. God help us, we loved it. So why is it that twenty some odd years later, Hollywood can’t come up with a single new script idea. It seems as though this town is perfectly happy to repackage all our old favorite tv shows, cartoons, videogames and toys, and bring them to the Big screen.

    With great sadness, I must informed you that GI Joe, He-Man, The A Team, Thundercats and even The Smurfs, will soon be getting the Tinstletown treatment. Does anybody else see a recurring theme here?

    [Read more →]

    → 3 CommentsTags: Editorials · Film

    Movie Review: Enter the Panda

    June 10th, 2008 Written by: Matt · No Comments

    kung_fu_panda_poster.jpgThere is an ancient legend that has long foretold of a summer animated blockbuster. A movie that would not only live up to it’s marketing hype, but also be enjoyable for both adults and children alike. Well grasshoppers, that movie has arrived. Bow with respect, to Kung Fu Panda.

    Po, voiced by Jack Black is a larger than life Panda bear who works in his father noodles shop. While he more than enjoys the food, his secret desire is to become a Kung Fu master. With an evil Tiger Ian Mcshane on the loose, the local townsfolk are seeking a hero called, “The Dragon Warrior.” The Furious Five, a Monkey (Jackie Chan), Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Lui), and Crane (David Cross) are the top five hopeful students trained by Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), to become said warrior. However, much to there dismay it is Po who is chosen to save the day. With time of the essence, it seems highly unlikely that this flabby panda has even a long-shot of becoming a martial arts master. But don’t loose hope, this bear has heart. Which as we come to find out in the end, is all you really need.

    You have to hand it to the guys and gals at Dreamworks, this film looks absolutely amazing. The attention to detail and movements of the characters is fantastic on all levels. Having seen a lot of CG animated movies, this one will definitely be going in my top three. Also, big props to musical genius Hans Zimmer for giving us a soundtrack that doesn’t overwhelm, but more than compliments this cartoon feature.

    [Read more →]

    → No CommentsTags: Film · Reviews

    Movie Review: Mongol

    June 8th, 2008 Written by: Matt · No Comments

    426px-mongol_poster.jpgLike to eat meat, kill your enemies, and plan total world domination. If so, then you and your new-found friend Ghengis Khan will get along just fine. Unless you decide to kidnap his wife, turns out he sort of takes offense to that.

    Instead of giving us a complete retrospective on the great ruler, director Sergei Bodrov gives us a never before seen look at his early life. In the film we see a kinder more gentle Khan, you know before he got all “badass” and conquered half the known world. From loosing his father and having to choose a wife by the age of ten, to becoming a slave hunted by his own former bodyguards, and then onto battling his own brother for control of the land, its clearly evident that Genghis had some serious emotional issues to work out. Tadanobu Asano has the title role as Khan and plays it with such eerie calmness that you have no doubt he’s plotting something huge the whole film. Also special nods to Tegen Ao who plays Charkhu, Khan’s brother. The dialogue that is spoken without words between these two is remarkable.

    [Read more →]

    → No CommentsTags: Film · Reviews

    Movie Review: The Foot Fist Way

    May 31st, 2008 Written by: Matt · No Comments

     foot_fist_way.jpgI’m going to start out with a bold statement. There will be no in between for viewers of the new film, The Foot Fist Way. You will either love it and start quoting it, or hate it and want your money back.Danny Mcbride plays Fred Simmons, an unapologetic and hilariously self absorbed Tae Kwon Do instructor. His days mainly consist of berating his younger students, putting on low quality Martial arts demos, and driving around in his Magnum PI Ferrari. But when his busty blond wife played by Mary Jane Bostic cheats on him not once but twice, his seemingly inpenatrable macho man world is thrown into a downward spiral. His only chance at redemption is to regain the respect of his students by challenging his favorite Hollywood B movie Action star (Chuck The Truck Williams) Ben Best ,to a final Tae Kwon Do showdown.Technically this isn’t a new film. Originally released in 2006 at Sundance, it was deemed a hit with audiences but no big studios decided to back it for wide release. Enter Will Ferrell and Adam McKay with their own company Gary Sanchez Productions. In association with Paramount Vintage, they’re hoping that a wider audience will pick up on what they consider “one of the funniest movies ever.”  [Read more →]

    → No CommentsTags: Film · Reviews

    LA’s Easiest Job Ever (Part 2)

    May 28th, 2008 Written by: Matt · 1 Comment

    839080860_e992d4d9ee1.jpgAfter reading “LA’s Easiest Job Ever (Part 1)” you’re aware that you can get free swag, make a little extra cash, possibly meet someone you can hook up with, and gain a little insider TV knowledge all while doing Audience work. Now comes the information you really need to know. Be warned, the following facts are all true and may convince you not to get into this shaky business.

    The Bad

    1. If you come with your friends don’t count on being able to sit together. More often than not the “audience assistants” need to place the pretty people in front of the camera. So if you happen to look like Adriana Lima and your buddy is more kin to Grover from Sesame Street, guess who probably won’t be sitting together.

    2. Don’t count on being provided with a meal or cold beverage either. Most shows have what they call a walkaway lunch. This means that the audience members are left to go fend for themselves while the cast and crew enjoy whatever the catering truck has brought to set. Think you can sneak in with the crew? Don’t bet on it. Certain Security guards are hired strictly for this purpose alone.

    [Read more →]

    → 1 CommentTags: Editorials · TV

    LA’s Easiest Job Ever (part 1)

    May 23rd, 2008 Written by: Matt · 1 Comment

    500155636_693a3b0711.jpgDon’t like regular jobs, hate the normal everyday grind, wish you could just sit back be entertained and make money? Well folks your dreams have come true, welcome to the “unique” world of Audience work. Or as though of us in the know call it, CSG. Clap, Smile, Get paid. Sound to good to be true, well Yes and No.

    In and around Hollywood there are at least 30 or more new pilots, game-shows, and reality shows being taped every week. The one thing these shows need that they don’t have immediately on tap, are people to fill the seats. Watching TV you must have wondered where do all those audience members come form. They can’t all be friends and family of the contestants or ticket holders can they? Indeed they are not. In fact, some of the biggest Primetime shows you can think of wouldn’t be able to stay on the air without paid audience members. While there are a small number of Casting agencies who cater to these shows, most of the work is freelance. Craigslist, Audience hotlines, and semi crooked casting companies all make up the driving force behind wrangling up audience members for your favorite TV shows.

    [Read more →]

    → 1 CommentTags: General · Local LA

    Film Review: War, Inc.

    May 21st, 2008 Written by: Matt · No Comments

    warincposter.jpgRemember when you were in college, and there was that one professor who had really funny and interesting stories, but at the end of the class you never really learned anything? Such is the case with the new movie War, Inc.

    (John Cusack) stars as Hauser, a hitman with a troubled past who likes to calm his nerves with a straight shot of hot sauce. Given the alias of a trade show producer he is hired by Tamerlane, a war profiteering company headed by (Dan Aykroyd) that now occupies the battle scarred country of Turaquistan. Hauser’s target is Omar Sharif , Tariquistan’s oil minister who wants to build a pipeline through the country. This of course would cause a million dollar revenue loss for Tamerlane, so he has to go. Sent to help Hauser is Marsha Dillion, (Joan Cusack) a temperamental executive who has the inside info on all of the cleverly disguised tradeshow booths and show numbers.

    If things weren’t strange enough already, along come two lovely young women who complicate Hauser’s life even further. The first is Natalie Hagelhuzen, (Marisa Tomei), a feisty left wing reporter who just wants to unravel the truth behind whats really going on. Then there’s Yonica Babyyeah, (Hilary Duff) a extremely flirtatious central Asian pop star who’s Celebrity wedding is the icing on the cake of the trade show. Torn between doing his job, falling in love, and haunted by memories of his past including a clearly psychotic boss (Ben Kingsley). Hauser sets out to make things right. But in war, nothing ever turns out the way you expect it to.

    [Read more →]

    → No CommentsTags: Film · Reviews

    The Chronicles of Narnia:Prince Caspian Review

    May 18th, 2008 Written by: Matt · 2 Comments

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    Evil tyrants, Exotic lands, danger and mystery around every corner, it’s Indiana Jones right? Nope, it’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Price Caspian. And from what I’ve just seen, even though Indy will rule the Box office next week, it won’t be a landslide victory.

    For those of you not familiar with The Chronicles of Narnia, thank goodness for Google. Because there simply isn’t enough time to go into all the details, characters and backstory of the first film, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. If you want to do some quick homework I’ll wait……………. all caught up? Or if you’re lazy, here’s a clip.

    [Read more →]

    → 2 CommentsTags: Film · Reviews

    LA Opinion: Rant on Rent

    May 13th, 2008 Written by: Matt · 3 Comments

    110109976_bf134a019f.jpgIt’s not very often that I burst into huge fits of laughter. Being a comic, I’m usually to busy making other people do that. However when the following notice appeared on my apartment door, it just couldn’t be helped.

    (Effective 60 days from today the rent will be increased from $1300 a month to $1900). Curiously, I searched for a second page to this notice that should have read something along these lines. The reason for this insanely dramatic increase in rent is due to the following. We will be installing a heated pool, state of the art fitness center, and every Tuesday you will have the option of receiving a blow job from a supermodel. Strangely enough, it turned out that there was no second page. After contacting many different local housing authorities the answer to my question came back the same each time. Since the apartment was on a month to month lease this was actually “legal.”

    [Read more →]

    → 3 CommentsTags: Editorials · Real Estate

    Box Office Predictions: Heavy Hitter, Break Even, or Wild Card

    May 9th, 2008 Written by: Matt · No Comments

    1145531913_05c9d30e93.jpgJust in case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s a little update. Last weekend Iron Man dropkicked the box office off to a $100 million plus opening weekend. This signalled what movie execs were hoping for, the start to a huge summer movie season.

    However, with America in a recession and gas prices on the rise 200px-hulk_poster.jpg200px-hulk_poster.jpgwill the masses be able to pack the multiplex like we did last year? Yes Why? Escapism. If there is one thing we Americans love, it’s our movies. No matter how bad things get you can always go to a theater and escape your troubles even if just for a few hours. Sure we should be paying attention to more important things. Like the fact that Obama is now the Democratic front-runner in the race for the White House, but lets be honest, we are all a little burnt out from politics.

    Now I’m not a trend follower nor do I keep up with certain film genres over others. But, the summer movie season always interests me in a way that nothing else does. So with instinct and careful calculation as my guide, here are just a few safe predictions for opening weekend box office grosses.

    [Read more →]

    → No CommentsTags: Editorials · Film

    Movie News: The Art of Movie Backgrounds on Display

    May 6th, 2008 Written by: Matt · No Comments

    462692635_40ccc2dfc5.jpgIf you’ve ever seen an Alien landscape, downtown New York city, or a busy airport in a film, chances are you were tricked. Since we can’t actually visit Alien planets and airports and city’s are often further away than producers would like to let the crew travel to get the shot; there have always been Matte paintings.

    Long before CGI and Green screen technology became readily available, Matte paintings have been used to tell the story and set a location in Cinema and on TV. From as far back as early Chaplin films to the more recent I Am Legend; these paintings of Cityscape’s and various locales provide directors and their audiences with a look that is just as real as actually being there. Never seen one up close?  Well LA, here’s your chance. From now until May 31st, The Linwood Dunn Theater (1313 Vine St in Hollywood) has some of these great masterpiece on display for free viewing to the public. Open Saturdays only from noon till 6, Playing God: The Art and Artist of Matte Painting has featured artwork from such great films like Spartacus, The Wizard of Oz, and North by Northwest.

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    → No CommentsTags: Film · Upcoming events

    TV Review: American Gladiators Muscle Up

    April 29th, 2008 Written by: Matt · No Comments

    american_gladiators_logo.pngIf you’ve been watching NBC or any of its related sister stations, you have no doubt seen the previews for Season 2 of America Gladiators. If you didn’t catch it’s rebirth last season let’s get caught up.

    Set to air on May 12th, this updated and repolished version of the original show which aired from 1989 -1996, picks up right where it left off. I recently had the opportunity to be part of the audience while they taped an entire episode. Which for those of you not aware of TV editing, actually takes about 5 days. Aside from being a huge hit, the original show created spin-offs, spoofs, and inspired countless folks to come get their brains beaten out by larger than life individuals. Not to worry, protective padding was included. So what has changed in twelve years? To put it simply, nothing and everything.

    (Warning, possible spoilers ahead)

    [Read more →]

    → No CommentsTags: Reviews · TV