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Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Kill The Irishman Premiere 3-7-2011
I got a wonderful surprise this morning when I received a call from WRXP-FM with the news that I would be attending the premiere of "Kill The Irishman" tonight at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema on East Houston Street on the Lower East Side. I arrived at the theater at 6 PM after walking around my old neighborhood and snapping photos outside before the sun set.
After I checked in at the table inside the lobby, I treated myself to some free popcorn and water provided for attendees and sat in the lounge area, waiting for the film screening to begin at 8 PM.
I stepped outside just after 7 PM as the actors began to arrive and I saw Vincent posing for photos in front of an antique green Chevy Bel Air Nomad station wagon. I figured it was a movie prop, since the film "Kill The Irishman" is set in the 1970's. Actor Steven Schirripa arrived right after Vincent and was swarmed outside the theater.
After Vincent entered the lobby I saw that he was with Joe Vinciguerra and Joe's wife. They remained in the lobby very briefly but did stop at the counter for popcorn before realizing that there was free popcorn nearby. Funny!
I wanted to take more photos while Vincent was there, and the sight of him dressed all in black again was mesmerizing. Wow! Unfortunately, the photos I ended up with were too blurry, so I made a short video instead. I wished he had stayed longer, but I lost sight of him as other celebrities were arriving. He was upstairs posing for more photos with the rest of the cast on the second floor. The screening room for "Kill The Irishman" was on the third floor. Later I saw Joe and his wife in theater 5 taking their seats, but I did not see Vincent.
The film was introduced by director Jonathan Hensleigh, who praised the cast, especially Ray Stevenson, for their outstanding performances. The 1970's period details, from the cars and clothes to the music and attitudes, were on point. The film is based on a true story about Danny Greene, an Irish-American longshoreman who muscled his way into the Mafia and made many enemies, and some friends, along the way. Danny comes across as a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners type who's so tough, he even survives numerous attempts on his life throughout the movie. He also shows that he's human in his relationships with his wife and children and people he befriends, including John Nardi, a local mobster portrayed by Vincent. At one point, "Kill The Irishman" kind of becomes a buddy film, but not for long. Not with all the explosions and gunshots and other assorted violence that ensue in Cleveland. Boom! Pow! Wham! Actual news footage from the 1970's in interspersed with scenes depicting the more violent episodes of the mob war during that time. There's one death scene, in particular, that was heartbreaking, but I can't tell you who dies. You'll have to see the film to find out. Suffice it to say, there's a high body count here!
Many of the featured actors appeared for the premiere, including Christopher Walken, Steven Schirripa, Tony Lo Bianco and Ray Stevenson. Val Kilmer, Paul Sorvino and Linda Cardellini were not present, though.
I did get to meet Ray Stevenson after the film ended, and he was such a gentleman. Not to mention, gorgeous! He posed for a photo with me and signed an autograph, too. The fellow who took the photo pressed the video button by mistake and filmed me and Ray by accident, so I had to show him the correct way to use the camera/camcorder. That's OK, I ended up with a nice video and pic.
I stepped outside just after 7 PM as the actors began to arrive and I saw Vincent posing for photos in front of an antique green Chevy Bel Air Nomad station wagon. I figured it was a movie prop, since the film "Kill The Irishman" is set in the 1970's. Actor Steven Schirripa arrived right after Vincent and was swarmed outside the theater.
After Vincent entered the lobby I saw that he was with Joe Vinciguerra and Joe's wife. They remained in the lobby very briefly but did stop at the counter for popcorn before realizing that there was free popcorn nearby. Funny!
I wanted to take more photos while Vincent was there, and the sight of him dressed all in black again was mesmerizing. Wow! Unfortunately, the photos I ended up with were too blurry, so I made a short video instead. I wished he had stayed longer, but I lost sight of him as other celebrities were arriving. He was upstairs posing for more photos with the rest of the cast on the second floor. The screening room for "Kill The Irishman" was on the third floor. Later I saw Joe and his wife in theater 5 taking their seats, but I did not see Vincent.
The film was introduced by director Jonathan Hensleigh, who praised the cast, especially Ray Stevenson, for their outstanding performances. The 1970's period details, from the cars and clothes to the music and attitudes, were on point. The film is based on a true story about Danny Greene, an Irish-American longshoreman who muscled his way into the Mafia and made many enemies, and some friends, along the way. Danny comes across as a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners type who's so tough, he even survives numerous attempts on his life throughout the movie. He also shows that he's human in his relationships with his wife and children and people he befriends, including John Nardi, a local mobster portrayed by Vincent. At one point, "Kill The Irishman" kind of becomes a buddy film, but not for long. Not with all the explosions and gunshots and other assorted violence that ensue in Cleveland. Boom! Pow! Wham! Actual news footage from the 1970's in interspersed with scenes depicting the more violent episodes of the mob war during that time. There's one death scene, in particular, that was heartbreaking, but I can't tell you who dies. You'll have to see the film to find out. Suffice it to say, there's a high body count here!
Many of the featured actors appeared for the premiere, including Christopher Walken, Steven Schirripa, Tony Lo Bianco and Ray Stevenson. Val Kilmer, Paul Sorvino and Linda Cardellini were not present, though.
I did get to meet Ray Stevenson after the film ended, and he was such a gentleman. Not to mention, gorgeous! He posed for a photo with me and signed an autograph, too. The fellow who took the photo pressed the video button by mistake and filmed me and Ray by accident, so I had to show him the correct way to use the camera/camcorder. That's OK, I ended up with a nice video and pic.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Meet the Director Part 8-November 22, 2010
Vincent gave an amusing response to the next question about his influences re:directing films. Although Vincent played Orson Welles in Tim Burton's 1994 film "Ed Wood," he explains that Ed Wood himself was not one of the people who inspired him as a director. Of course, we know that the late Ed Wood Jr. is legendary for being the worst film director ever-LOL! That's why Tim Burton made a film about him. We also know that Vincent would also go on to write and direct his very first short film, "Five Minutes, Mr. Welles" in 2004.
Law and Order CI Rehearsal with Gameela Wright-March 2, 2011
Murder, she wrote! It was hysterical watching this scene being rehearsed on Wednesday afternoon, especially when the "dead body" kept getting up between "takes" to have his makeup touched up. Gameela Wright is so cool in person. I look forward to seeing her again and to the new season of LO:CI.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Law and Order: Criminal Intent Filming on 3-2-2011
I took photos of this afternoon's rehearsal of a scene from "Boots on the Ground" featuring actress Gameela Wright. This scene is the aftermath of the murder of Terrence Brooks, and the Major Case Squad detectives must investigate. The LO:CI set was located at 23 East 10th Street, across the street from La Petite Coquette, where an interior scene with Goren and Eames was filmed this morning. Unfortunately, I missed that shoot but arrived in time for the exterior shoot on E. 10th St. I spoke to a LO:CI crew member who told me another scene at La Petite Coquette would be filmed tonight, but without Vincent. Another shoot on Wall Street is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 8.
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