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Exclusive Interview with Michael Ironside: The Bannen Way

Froman — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:47:58 +0000

AfroJacks.com hot celebrity reporter Dani T recently sat down with Movie and Television star Michael Ironside (“Terminator Salvation,” Total Recall,” “Smallville”) to discuss his new project: Sony Pictures Television’s The Bannen Way, which premiered on Crackle.com.

THE BANNEN WAY is the highly-anticipated, sexy, fast-paced series starring Mark Gantt (“Ocean’s Eleven”); Vanessa Marcil (“Lipstick Jungle,” “Las Vegas”); Gabriel Tigerman (“Supernatural”); Michael Ironside (“Terminator Salvation,” Total Recall,” “Smallville”); Academy-Award® nominee Robert Forster (“Jackie Brown,” “Heroes”); and special guest star, Academy-Award® nominee Michael Lerner (“Entourage,” “Elf,” “Barton Fink”).

From Crackle: 1: The Criminal Lifestyle

The high-octane, slick new series follows Neal Bannen (Mark Gantt), a charming con-man and thief with a police chief for a father (Michael Ironside); a mob boss for an uncle (Robert Forster); and a penchant for fine women – like Madison (Vanessa Marcil), who wants to turn his life around and leave the criminal lifestyle once and for all. All Bannen has to do is complete one more job in order to pay off his debt to a notorious gangster…which just doesn’t work out as easily as he’d hoped.

Afro- You’ve had hundreds of roles throughout your career ranging from TV to Movies and more recently from Video Games to the Internet. Out of all of the characters you played which type are the hardest to prepare for?

Michael – Some of the unhealthy characters over the years especially the sicker ones. I did a film called Visiting Hours way back in the early 80’s where I played a violent serial killer. I see violence as a mental illness because it isn’t natural to people and I had to play that character for 42 days in a row, mostly night shoots and it was difficult because when you are doing something like that you really can’t shut the motor off… you kind of are just in neutral at night and try to stay to yourself. I don’t mean you are going to go out and kill somebody I mean these are very sad, unhealthy, uncomfortable, frightened people. It was hard to do that but the end product was cool.

Afro – Are there any roles you passed up on that you wish you didn’t?

Michael – I have, there have been about 2 or 3 but I really don’t want to talk about them because I think they are doing justice to the people that did them. It is kinda unfair…it is like saying yeah, but what if? And if I had to do it over again I would probably do the same thing.

Afro- What is the worst script you’ve ever read?

Michael – There are some things that really just don’t work and I get a lot of scripts sent to me and it is so hard to find a good one. I get about 3-4 a week sent to me. You find 1 out of a hundred that you want to do and probably one out of five hundred that breaks your heart when you don’t get to do it.

Afro – How did you get involved with The Bannen Way?

Michael – Well The Bannen Way was one of those scripts that I was reading. A friend of mine from my agency sent it my way and said I should really have a look at this. I read it and it was absolutely charming, well written, witty and clever. After 99 scripts that don’t work it is such a pleasure to read something that does. I actually read it twice to make sure I wasn’t out of my mind. So I met with them and they were just as charming, witty and talented as the script was.

Bad scripts…I just read one and I just said ugh… and I have this tendency to feel bad if I don’t read at least half of it before I realize it is as bad as it really is. I find I fall asleep when reading bad ones because it takes so much effort to follow a bad story.

Afro- Can you tell us more about The Bannen Way and the character you play?

Michael –The story is based around Mark Gantt’s character (Neal Bannen) who is kind of a con man. He is a flashy guy/ladies man who is into fast cars and gambling that sort of thing. I play his father the chief of police (Chief Bannen) and Robert Forster plays his uncle (Mr.B) who is the head of the local crime family. He (Neal Bannen) is caught between the two of us. We are kind of like the ying and yang of his life. He owes the mob a lot of money and I’m trying to get him to turn evidence over on my brother, his uncle. So the there are numerous conflicts for Mark Gantt’s character. It is a very very clever piece and I had a great time doing it.

Afro – With The Bannen Way premiering on Crackle.com Do you think more movies and shows will premiere on the internet first…what are your thoughts on this new way of releasing a project?

Michael – I see it as a sign of the times. Money is very very tight these days. It’s the same as television and movies back in the 50′s had to find a way to coexist I think the internet is working its way in there too. And with money being tight they need to find more than one delivery system. This project (The Bannen Way) is an example of something that first starts off as a web series. Then is can become a Movie of the Week or a DVD release and then it’s also acting as a pilot for network television. I think the days of shooting a pilot for network television and if it doesn’t work out just throwing it away are gone.

Afro – What are some of your favorite websites you go on?

Michael – I’m a bit of a Luddite…some favorite sites would be online poker, sports sites especially hockey being I’m Canadian, it is in my DNA.

Afro- We’ll just say you also love AfroJacks.com and Crackle.com for good measure.

Afro - What are your thoughts on the growing popularity of gossip sites and celebrity blogs?

Michael – I stay away from all of that stuff. My grandfather use to stay “don’t trust anything you read and only half of what you see” and I think that is pretty good advice. It is so easy to damage somebody’s personality with the wrong information.

Big thanks to Michael for taking the time to speak with us and we wish him the best with The Bannen Way. It is a great series full of action and hot chicks but more importantly shows that the internet is becoming the go to place for new releases so be sure to show some love and check it out.

From Crackle: 2: The Offer

An Exclusive Interview with Patton Oswalt

Froman — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:27:57 +0000

Patton Oswalt has been headlining at comedy clubs all over the United States since 1996, as well as appearing in his own standup specials on Comedy Central and HBO. He was chosen as Entertainment Weekly’s “It” comedian in 2002. You’ve seen him on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Seinfeld and NewsRadio and films “Starsky & Hutch,” “Man on the Moon” and “Magnolia.”

Oswalt recently completed filming in an upcoming drama titled Big Fan, written and directed by former The Onion editor-in-chief and The Wrestler writer Robert D. Siegel. Oswalt portrays Paul, an eccentric parking lot attendant and a “big fan” of the New York Giants, who attempts to follow and meet his favorite player but ends up dealing with consequences after a violent confrontation between the two.

Also, earlier this year, Patton recorded his third comedy album and a new Comedy Central special at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C. It will be called My Weakness is Strong and will be released on August 25, 2009.

A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH FROMAN (without the fireside). . .

FROMAN: Big Fan is your first lead role in a film, how does it feel to carry a film on your own, especially in such a dramatic dark comedy directed & Written by Robert Siegel who’s hot off the success of the Wrestler?

PATTON: Like I’ve got a sack of walnuts on my back and they each weigh as much as ten battleships. But they sing to me, so it’s okay.

FROMAN: I’ve seen you play NYC a couple years ago (at the late Mo’pitkins, RIP) and your stand up routine is one of the best. I also love when you pop up in movies and shows because you often steal the scene. What do you like better, acting or stand up?

PO: Acting has better craft services, but stand-up usually has better mixed drinks.

FROMAN: Big Fan is about a die hard Giants fan who has his life ruined after his favorite player beats him up. I met you at the bar after your stand up show and you were super nice but have you ever had your love of something completely tainted after you found out the artist/actor/director/etc was a douche bag?

PO: Angela Landsbury stabbed me when I tried to get her to sign my Bedknobs and Broomsticks poster. Otherwise, everyone’s been very sweet.

FROMAN: You’re one of my favorite guests on Doug Benson’s I Love Movies pod cast, partially because you’re such a movie nerd. Where did your love for movies come from and what are you excited to see coming out soon? Whats the one DVD you own and couldn’t live without?

PO: It comes from an ancient gypsy curse that can only be removed if I defeat ten false men in punching combat. And I could not live without my “How to Operate Your Sanyo DVD Player” instructional DVD.

FROMAN: Most comedians draw from their past whether it be good or bad for inspiration in their stand up, what got you into comedy and what are some of your inspirations?

PO: Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ got me into comedy. And I am inspired by my complete lack of any sort of faith.

FROMAN: Have you had any horrible hecklers at your shows? How do you typically deal with that, and if you have any, whats your best heckler story?

PO: Every single one my my shows has ended within five minutes of me starting by people screaming at me to stop. I deal with it through alcohol consumption.

FROMAN: Whats the one joke/situation you wish you could take back because it just bombed (on stage or in real life)?

PO: Some well-intentioned but tasteless limericks at my grandfather’s funeral.

FROMAN: How did you get your start as a comedian/TV Show writer and what advice would you give kids out there that want to get started?

PO: I applied at the TV Writer Store. Drop by — they’ve got free coffee!

FROMAN: What bands are you listening to right now and who’s putting on a kick ass live show?

PO: I’m enjoying S.O.S.O.S., which is a band from Spain which covers Erasure covering Abba. Best live performer is still Leon Redbone, but I wish he’d cut down on the pyrotechnics and lasers.

FROMAN: You’re a married family man now, but as women like to lie and say they are attracted to a man with a sense of humor, back in the day did you ever score some ladies from the crowd after your shows?

PO: If I did, it’s been stricken from the fossil record.

BIG FAN HITS THEATERS 8/28

Jim Breuer shouts out The Fro (and promotes his DVD of course)

Froman — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:40:05 +0000

“Let’s Clear The Air” highlights topics ranging from his Long Island childhood experiences, things he finds funny with his own family, parental responsibility, and anecdotes about his experiences with other comedians (like Dave Chappelle and Tracey Morgan). Needless to say, this ish will be hysterical.

Stand up performance premieres on Comedy Central Saturday, July 25 at 11:00 pm. Then, on the following Tuesday, July 28th Breuer will release the DVD version of the special that included over 25 minutes of unaired material, photo shoot footage, and a “Fireside Chat With Dad”.

DVD arrives in stores nationwide on Tuesday, July 28 and will also be available HERE . Oh also, check out some DVD clips HERE.

Afrojacks Exclusive: A discussion with Scottie Pippen

Froman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:08:58 +0000

Scottie talks about his cameo in Midgets Vs. Mascots, dunking over Ewing and more . . .

Froman: So how did you get involved with this project?
Scottie: Man, my marketing guy sorta tricked me into this movie. He did not really tell me everything, like the first scene was real normal with my family talking to some mascots, real professional. Then the second scene, they said it was improv with the little people. So they told me some things to say, and that the little guys were pissed about something, and for me to do this or do that depending on what they do when they come up on me. So…we start rolling and this team of little people just start goin off on me, and one of them is gary coleman, which sorta was crazy, ya know…having Arnold yell at you. I can’t tell you the whole thing, but these little guys pulled some bs on me, actually starting hitting me…stupid stuff. It almost gut uglier than anyone wanted…I’ll say that. But all and all, it was cool. Everyone is talking about how funny it is, that it’s the next borat. I never saw borat, so I hope that’s good. Crazy. The name is crazy, “midgets vs mascots?

Froman: Have you acted before and is this a new a career path for you?
Scottie: I’d like to do more acting, since none of these nba teams seem willing to hire me as coach. I did a bunch of stuff like guest spots on er, and I’m attached to a tv show if it gets picked up this fall. People always tell me I’d make a good bad guy because of my presence and voice, so I’m with that if it happens. Maybe voiceover stuff, that seems like stealing money.

Froman:Did you ask P. Ewing how your balls tasted after that famous dunk in his face which is why they gave you the T?
Scottie: patrick and I are friends. I didn’t say anything at the time. I did have a few beers with Patrick way after it and I might have asked him how my…….naw, I’m not gonna say that. (laughs).

: my trip was cool. The thing is they are just as competitive, but they don’t have the best players. That’s what makes the nba the nba. I’d go back though. , china, japan, ….all were cool. –>

Froman:Why do think Jordan retired in ’93 being you still had a good team going on? Were you upset about it?
Scottie: I was never pissed at him for retiring, just disappointed, ya know, we still had so much upside as a team. But it gave me a chance to show my leadership and develop as a player, so all good.

Froman:Jordan/Pippen is to what dynamic duo today?
Scottie: I don’t really see it right now, at least not one that has any longevity.

Froman:Many athletes have extensive involvement in the making of their signature sneakers, how much final approval did you have on the Nike Pippen I’s or IIs? Do you still own a pair?
Scottie: I liked working with nike on the pippen shoes. I was way involved in the early stuff, like concept and design and some marketing ideas. Then nike puts the machine in motion and some amazing stuff happens. I might still have a pair of my favorites, but I don’t wear them.

Froman: So who wins in a fight: midgets or mascots?
Scottie:I have not seen the movie. I hear its way crazy, like all sorts of racial slurs in it, and some guy tried to wrestle a huge alligator, lots of fights, that sort of stuff. I don’t know who wins, or what, but those little guys are mean enough to win. I found that out. Makes me want to pull a prank on my marketing guy just thinking about it. You have any good ideas?

Check ou the World Premiere of Midegts vs. Mascots at the Tribeca Film Festival

Sat April 25th; 9:00PM
Sun April 26th; 2:00PM
Thurs April 30th; 11:00PM
Sat May 2nd; 11:30PM

AMC Village 7 (66 3rd Ave, NYC)

For more information and to purchase tickets visit http://www.midgetsvsmascots.com/