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scarynikki12

By scarynikki12
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lemotomato
lemotomato

So excited and happy for Josh Segarra. I hope he's playing a big role.   

Featherhat
Featherhat

Mia (and Ray and Damien) are returning for the Flash "5 episode event". Hopefully this might mean we at least hear she rescued William from his forever kidnapping.  This also makes me wonder if t

shantown
shantown

Is he trying to pick fights just to pick fights now? Or is this his harshly critical sense of "humor" coming out? I thought it was funny, and it was nice to see the Arrowverse having a small bit of cu

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ICK (USA; 2024) TIFF Q&A w/ Joseph Kahn, Brandon Routh, Malina Weissman, Melina Suvari, Jeff Fahey
Coolestmovies   Sep 8, 2024

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Q&A from the North American premiere of the American horror-comedy ICK with (left to right) producer Steven Schneider, director and co-screenwriter Joseph Kahn (second from left), and actors Malina Weissman, Harrison Cone, Taia Sophia, Debra Wilson, Mena Suvari, Zeke Jones, Jeff Fahey, Diya Rao, and Brandon Routh. Recorded at the Toronto International Film Festival, Midnight Madness, on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

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BACK AGAIN
LegalDispatch 108
Marc Guggenheim   Sep 13, 2024
https://marcguggenheim.substack.com/p/back-again 

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In rummaging through my hard drive in search of something for this newsletter’s “From the Vault” section, my eye caught the “Saga Sell” folder in my Arrow directory.

For the uninitiated, a “Saga Sell” is the brief (and now almost extinct) narration at the start of an episode of television that tells new viewers what they need to know about the show. For example, Star Trek’s saga sell informed viewers that they were about to watch “the voyages of the starship Enterprise [whose] five-year mission [is] to explore strange new worlds.” Another example, The A-Team. I can do this one from memory: “In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. They promptly escaped to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… the A-Team.”

Anyways, here’s the very first draft of the saga sell that I wrote for Arrow.

Quote

My name is Oliver Queen.  To the world I am a billionaire playboy, but I’m not what I seem. 

5 years ago, everything change.  Most of all, I changed. 

Now I’ve returned with a clear mission.  To save a failed city. 

To protect those closest to me, I must be someone else.  I must be something else. 

Some will try and destroy me.  Some will help me bring justice, to a world gone wrong. 

I mean, the unintentional rhyme in the first line is disqualifying all by itself.

Here’s the second draft. Slightly better:

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My name is Oliver Queen.

In an instant…my life changed forever.

For the next 5 years…I had to survive.

I had to get home.

I had to honor my Father’s dying wish.

Now I have returned.

Not the boy who was shipwrecked…

But the man…who will save a failed city.

But to do that without endangering those closest to me…

I must become someone else.

I must become someTHING else.

And I won’t stop…until Justice is Done.

That last line makes me cringe.

Here’s the finished product courtesy of YouTube:

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Greg Berlanti’s 20 Best Shows, Ranked
By Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Andy Swift, Dave Nemetz, Rebecca Iannucci   September 14, 2024
https://tvline.com/lists/greg-berlanti-best-shows-ranked/ 

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04  Arrow
...
It was the show that launched a whole universe. First out of the gate, Arrow immediately made an impression with its more gritty and realistic take on the superhero genre — remember, no one had superpowers when the series first launched — and then paved the way for an entire franchise. Over the course of its run, Arrow introduced indelible villains (Slade!), shocked with memorable twists (Ra’s Al Ghul stabs Oliver and sends him tumbling down a snowy cliff!) and gutted us more than once with a heartbreaking death (R.I.P., Tommy). Oliver Queen & Co. set a high standard for all the CW superhero shows that would follow it. — V.G.

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David Rapaport and Lyndsey Baldasare Talk Casting for ‘You’ and Share Audition Tips
Neil Turitz   September 17, 2024
https://www.castingnetworks.com/news/david-rapaport-and-lyndsey-baldasare-talk-casting-for-the-cw-and-share-audition-tips/ 

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They are the brains behind the casting of all of the DC Comics shows you might have seen on the CW, giving actors like Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist and Tyler Hoechlin, just to name a few, the chance to be superheroes....
*  *  *
That leads me to another question, about the casting of all those superhero shows. I remember very specifically as a comic book geek when Grant Gustin was cast and seeing the trouble you got because Barry Allen in the comic has blonde hair, and Grant’s is brown. I’m curious about dealing with the inevitable fan reaction, as well as the added pressure of people already having an idea of what the character looks like. Seems like a very unique problem to have.

DR: I like that question because it sort of evolved. A lot of the stuff that we worked on, whether it be Gossip Girl, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Arrow, The Flash or Riverdale, were adapted from previous material, so a lot of fans already had an idea of what these characters look like, sounded like, things like that. I think our approach to it was that we’re not necessarily making a live-action version of these things. We’re doing a reinvention of these stories. 
*  *  *
It has allowed us to cast a Latina Veronica on Riverdale, a black Batwoman, a trans superhero [in Supergirl] and things that weren’t necessarily written into the previously existing material, but have allowed us to evolve these characters. You’re never going to make everybody happy. That’s an impossible task. Our job is really to focus and find the best person for the role, essence-wise, Sometimes, that may mean that someone who has blonde hair in a comic book is going to have brown hair on the TV show. 

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Stephen Amell did another podcast interview with Michael Rosenbaum recently - interesting tidbit...

-- SA auditioned in person for Suits: L.A. "just once." At the time, his focus was not so much on Suits: L.A., but more on another audition he had earlier that week, when he auditioned to play the younger version of Gibbs on NCIS: Origins. He got "great feedback" from that audition and got "good intel" that they were going to move forward with him, but then all of a sudden it was "dead" and he felt like someone had "blocked" him. So he felt frustrated. He then sat down and ran lines with his daughter for the Suits: L.A. audition and she thought it was funny. After his Suits: L.A. audition, he got an offer conditioned on a network test and he was told that he was the only one being considered at that time. After being vetted by the network, he got the Suits: L.A. offer unconditionally.

STEPHEN AMELL: Ditching a Toxic Lifestyle, Suits: L.A. Outlook & Pro-Wrestling Miscalculations
Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum   Sep 17, 2024


Podcast link:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-amell-overcoming-toxic-lifestyle-blind-auditioning/id1256754097?i=1000669791854 

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Katherine McNamara 2024 Step Up Inspiration Awards Red Carpet
MaximoTV   Sep 20, 2024

Katie Cassidy 2024 Step Up Inspiration Awards Red Carpet
MaximoTV  Sep 21, 2024

Katie Cassidy On Black Canary, Bringing Back Character To Arrow:"Fans Are Powerful!" I ARROWVERSE
Young, Bold, and Regal   Sep 22, 2024

-- KC: "In fact, uh, Season 4 of Arrow the producers, they made the choice creatively to kill my character off, which fans were not happy about. They were very upset, so much so they made a huge, you know, so much noise about it on social media that it got the showrunners to bring my character back. And they realized they made a little bit of a mistake."

-- KC: "I've really been focused on directing. I directed a short during, uh, 2020 that's actually going around the festival circuit now, um, as a spoof on American politics. It's called America's Next Best President. Um, it was - I wrote and directed it, produced it... And yes, I am directing my first feature. I'm not going to say what yet because it hasn't been announced, but, um, I will be doing that quarter one in 2025 and I'm very excited about it."

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Recorded on Aug. 25...

Katie Cassidy Celebrity Panel Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2024
MR.GEEKMEOUT   posted Sep 28, 2024

-- Fan: "Are you as mad as I was that Oliver and Laurel didn't end up together?"
KC: "That's a funny question. (Pauses) Kind of? But what's interesting is that I spoke - Marc Guggenheim, uh, one of our showrunners and creators, he - I was on the phone with him at some point during Season 4. And I said to him, you know, I think Laurel is in love with Oliver and I think Oliver is in love with Laurel or loves Laurel but is actually in love with, uh, Felicity, and I think she - he loves Laurel but he's not in love with her. And I think that they can never be together. And then, lo and behold, I - they killed me off... But honestly, to - to the original, you know, to the comic books, yeah, I think they -they should have ended up at some point at the end of it all together, in my opinion."

-- Mod: "I heard that you actually were able to help create your costume. Is that true?"
KC: "That is true... So basically Maya, our, uh, costume designer, had called me and I, you know, was so excited - finally they were, you know, I was going to be turning into the Black Canary. And we talked about it and Caity Lotz, you know - first of all, we shot in Vancouver, Canada. Um, it's freezing there. We, you know, shot a lot at night... and overnight. Um, I brought that up and I was like, you know, I understand the fishnets and the leotard, but I'm going to be really cold, um, and she was like, no, no, no, I got you, I got you... I also wanted to make her a little bit edgier, I guess, um, and so the fishnet thing, you know, I don't know if it read necessarily as much as I would have liked it to, but we implemented the fishnets on the sort of the leather biker, um, gloves and this - the top, the bodysuit that I wore underneath the leather jacket, um, and so the two of us, you know, just collaborated and - and that's what we came up with. ... And then when we did the makeup and the mask, I also had asked, you know, everybody, they were blacking out their eyes underneath the mask. And so, because my - my costume was more masculine, I - I suggested, you know, why not just keep my - in terms of like makeup - my eyes open a bit more and the red lipstick. So I tried to keep my makeup a little bit more feminine, um, and hair as well. And that's - that's what we came up with."

-- Mod: "Were you familiar with the [Black Canary] character before you were cast in the role or, uh, did you learn about it after?"
KC: "I was familiar with the - so I met with The CW and I told them specifically that I wanted to do action-packed, I wanted to do an action-packed show. Arrow came my way. I knew exactly who the Black Canary was, un, but I didn't really dive into her and, you know, the comics until my character was actually turning into a superhero, just to keep it as, um, authentic, you know, as possible... Once my character turned, I did do my research, but I still wanted to keep my own sort of take on her."

-- Fan: "What's overall your favorite role you've ever done?"
KC: "I mean, definitely Laurel. Um, Ruby again was so fun, but Laurel has my heart. I just - I gave my blood, sweat and tears into - into that character and, um, you know, I got to play her for eight years. So I - I definitely would say that character."

-- Fan: "So I was running the character progression [for] Laurel through the Black Canary. How did you feel about that and did you have much creative input on it? "
KC: "Well, first of all, when I - I actually at first did not realize and they did not tell me, um, that I was going to have a sister who was going to be the Black Canary or Canary first. So when Caity Lotz came, I mean obviously I was - I was upset, but I am a professional and I was like, okay, my time will come. Um, and Caity Lotz is so great, and so I literally the first time I met her, I like went up to her and gave her a giant hug. And I was like, you know, 'cause I think she thought maybe there was going to be tension, but, you know, like I said, my time will come. Um, but the second I put on the jacket, I was in tears 'cause I was so happy. Um, and I think the way they - honestly, like the writers, the way they wrote my character and the arc they gave me was really wonderful in Season 2. Talking about throwing yourself into a character, in Season 2, you know, they wrote my character, she turns to drugs and alcohol and eventually hits rock bottom, um, and then obviously comes out on the other side and becomes a superhero. But I was crying, like, they had my character crying quite a lot, um, and I would really throw myself into those scenes. And when you're on set for so many hours, I ended up - like - just you can see in me physically, like I lost weight not intentionally. It just happened when you're sad... It can happen when you're sad. And so I actually - though, like looking throughout - looking at the character and looking at the show over eight years, I think they did a really wonderful job and really wrote for my character, even though certain circumstances, you know, I wasn't necessarily pleased with, like when they killed me off. Um, but, you know, what was also cool was the fan base and you guys like really spoke up and spoke out about it on social media, so much so that they brought me back, um, the following season and realized they made a mistake."

-- Mod: "How did they let you know that your character was going to be killed off?... Were you blindsided by that fact?"
KC: "This is a great question... So I was living with - Danielle Panabaker was my roommate actually in Vancouver...  at the time. And she - at the beginning of the Season 4, I think Flash at that point was on Season 2, she said to me, she's like, someone's in the grave and I was like, no one is in the grave. This is television. Like, there's probably no one's in the grave. And she's like, all right, well, okay. But - and I was like you guys and some people were like worried - like other characters' actors were, you know, worried that it was going to be them in the grave. And I was like, no, it's fine, you guys don't - I didn't really think too much about it. And then one day I got a text message and it's not that it was - he would text me a lot from - Marc Guggenheim, he was our showrunner, and it was - or from his assistant or something. And it was like Wendy and Marc would like to have a - would like to have a meeting with you next week. And this was on a Friday. And when I read this - it was either a text or an email - when I read it, I just knew. Like, my - my - I - my stomach just dropped. And so I texted - I think it was an email - so then I texted Marc Guggenheim and I was actually going to a convention that weekend. But on Friday I texted Marc Guggenheim and I was like, hi, I know we're supposed to have this meeting next week, but I - I don't feel right and I - please don't make me wait the weekend, don't make me wait till Monday. What is this meeting about? And he was like, wow, you've got really good instincts, I'll call you in 10 minutes. And so he called me. It was - or I called him, I don't know. It was like during lunch and he told me and obviously I was crushed, um, but then I also had to go to these conventions and stand on the sound stage with my cast, entire cast. Like we went to a convention that weekend and, you know, when everybody was like, who's in the grave, I just was like, I don't know, you guys, who's in the grave, we don't know, maybe no one. Yeah, you know, dying inside. But, you know, that's fine. ... Yeah, it was really sad, but, you know, again like a team player, I was like, okay, nope, I got - I will take one for the tea. I really believe in the show. And then when we were shooting my death scene, Marc Guggenheim was there and he was like, would you ever come back and play with us, like, if we wanted to have you back at some point, you know, in an episode or something. And I was like, absolutely. Like, I love this show, I believe in this show, I would love - you know, whatever you guys have planned, I hope that I am involved in those plans in some capacity. Um, and so, yeah, it all turned - it all worked itself out."

-- Mod: "Did you tell the other people in the cast though after... when they're at the convention?"
KC: "The only other person who knew was Stephen and he actually called me. After they told me, they called and they told him. And then he called me and he was like, are you okay, I'm so sorry, I did not want this, this is not right, it doesn't feel right... It doesn't go with the story of Oliver and Laurel in the comics... He was really kind and sweet about all of it. And he was like, let's not tell anyone. Let's just - you and I can know. And, you know, when the time cones, you can tell the cast when you're ready."

-- Fan: "What was it like working with Stephen Amell? Like, was he like your best friend...?"
KC: "He's kind of like a brother. Um, because, you know, when you're on set for so long, five days a week, for 12 to 15 hours, these people become your family. Um, and that's how I really think about the other cast. They're like family to me. It was great. He's definitely a professional... I was pretty impressed with him because I think there was - not one day did he ever show up late to set, which after eight years, is very, very impressive. Like not - not one time was he one minute late. Like that guy was like very - he's very professional, which is great."

-- Fan: "What was your favorite Laurel to play?"
KC: "I like Laurel, I would say, before they killed my character off. Uh, she had, you know, been in fight training, turned into a superhero, playing a lawyer and then the D.A.... I think it was probably - I think that was Season 4, the beginning of Season 4 probably, um, and then they put an end to that."

-- Mod: "What was your audition process like for Arrow?"
KC: "So I had - I had been on The CW multiple times in multiple roles and I had a great relationship with them. And knowing I wanted to do action, my manager and agent came to me. Uh, I read the script and I was like, I - this is the - this is - I want this show. This is the - this is pilot season so you get a bunch of scripts. And I was like, I'm not going out for any pilots except for this one. And my manager was very upset by that because she was like, well, you know, what if - what if - and I was like, I'm telling you, this is the show I want and I'm going to get. Um, and then they were like, okay, but you have to - you have to test. And I wasn't necessarily thrilled about it, but I was like, okay, fine, 'cause testing is really stressful when you - it's - it's different from when you're testing than auditioning. When you're auditioning, you go in a room in front of people. It's awkward. You read. They stare at you, nod, and then you leave. When you're testing, you have a contract in place first and they are seeing other girls, but probably like two or three. In this case, because they wanted me, they actually didn't see other girls, but they still said, you have to test. So there was a contract in place. And then the thing is, it plays out a little bit similar to auditioning, but you're usually on a stage or on a platform, and it's a - it's way more intense than an audition. And the night - so they got everything in place and the night before my - my test, David Nutter, the director, called me and he was so sweet, 'cause I was - I was a little nervous. And he was - he had called me and he said, I just want you to know, you have - I know all the guys from Supernatural, um, and the producers, and they sing your praises and talked about and told me... word has gotten around how professional you are and how you don't even have to hold your sides during a rehearsal and how - because I was - it was my first series and I am like, I take my job seriously. Um, and he was like, and I just - you are this character, so I just want you to come in and - and do what you do... Show Greg Berlanti that you are Laurel Lance, because I believe that you are and I don't want you to be nervous or worried. I just want you to know this is a part of the process, um, and you're going to have a great audition tomorrow - or test tomorrow. Um, so there he was like, I - I want you for this. And so knowing that made me feel a lot more safe, I guess. And he was in the room. And I definitely thought that I blew it, though. I don't remember exactly why. It was so long ago. But I remember not hearing anything afterwards for a few hours, because you find out pretty quickly. And knowing there's no other girl, it's not like they have to go look at other girls or review any other tapes or something. So I was really stressed out 'cause it was a while. And then finally at like 7:30 my agent called me and told me and, you know, celebrating."

-- Fan: "So how did it feel going into Laurel Earth-2, a complete 180 at the beginning from what we've experienced from Laurel the first four seasons and just exploring that character again and that development?"
KC: "Well, I did a lot of work because I wanted her - I wanted a different version of her. And - and coming back as Black Siren. And I wanted - I just looked at my - looked at my work and development on Laurel Lance and what I had done and I kind of just did a 180, uh, like what you just said. Like, I almost did the opposite. But then I did what I do as an actor and I built - I built a back story - another back story for her that would - I would obviously would want to come through, so that it was sort of like yin and yang, as I was her exact opposite, if that makes sense."

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I forgot about how fluent KC is in word salad. That first response makes it sound like she was talking MG’s ear off about Oliver and Laurel and he answered her by killing Laurel off. I get the impression that MG called SA after giving her the news cause he needed to make sure she wouldn’t get upset and say something at the con.

It’s still weird to me that unless directly asked she treats Laurel and E2 Laurel as the same character. 

Edited by Chaser
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The 10 Best Superhero Origin Story Shows, Ranked
Kelsey Berish   Oct 1, 2024
https://collider.com/superhero-origin-story-shows-best-ranked/ 

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2
'Arrow' (2012-2020)
Developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg
...
Stranded for five years on the island of Lian Yu in the North China Sea after his family’s yacht goes down, billionaire Oliver Queen learns very quickly what it takes to survive. In a series of flashbacks, viewers watch as Oliver goes from being the life of the party to a vigilante known as ‘The Hood’ to the superhero known as the Green Arrow, all thanks to his training from Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett) and others who become allies on the island. He becomes a fast, deadly archer and, with the help of his father’s book of names, goes back to his city to take down those who have wronged the people of Starling and to stop a conspiracy known as ‘The Undertaking.’

Of course, Oliver becomes so much more than a vigilante. Throughout Arrow, viewers watch as he makes friends with other superheroes who show him there is another way to go about justice. He becomes a leader and someone who will do whatever it takes to keep his friends and family safe. As far as hero origin stories go, Arrow is one of the darker, grittier tales. But it is also one of the best and most fun to watch as Oliver’s character development is so well written it is hard not to binge-watch the entire eight seasons of Arrow.

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From L.A. Comic Con on Oct. 5 - there's more than what I've transcribed below...

Arrowverse EP on Revival, Superhero Fatigue (Marc Guggenheim Interview)
Brandon Davis   posted Oct 8, 2024

-- MG: "That first season of Arrow was the hardest - hardest, uh, season of my career... In large part it was because we didn't realize at the time, but we were trying to do television kind of for a - superhero television for a new era. And there were a lot of things that David Nutter established in the pilot that really were groundbreaking - the action, the scope, the camera work. And to do all that on a network schedule, a network budget, no one had ever done that before. So there was no playbook for us to copy off. And episodes 2 through 8 - so a huge trunk of Season 1, um, all those episodes, required reshoots and that is not like - it's not like features where you build in reshoots into the process. Like, oh my God, that's a huge big deal to have to do that in addition to our regular shooting schedule and everything. When we watched episode 9, which was the midseason finale of Season 1, Greg and I like - Greg Berlanti and I turned to each other and we were like, oh, thank God, we don't have to do reshoots. Like, we were just thrilled to get to that step. ... There were certain episodes in Season 1 that I can sort of point to that as going like, okay, we - we - we raised our game, we figured something out. Like, you know, there was episode 9, then there's episode 11, um, then there's like episode - I think it was like 16 or 18, and then, uh, 22 and 23, where we just felt like we were raising our - we weren't just getting by without reshoots. We were actually raising our game up."

-- On any Smallville influences, MG: "Well, certainly, um, in terms of comics, the - you know, it was Mike Grell's, uh, Longbow Hunters and Andy Diggle and Jock's Green Arrow Year One. Um, in terms of shows, Lost actually was a huge influence, um, in part also because, you know, I had this experience on Flashforward where I always say Lost wore out our welcome. Um, you know, after Lost, people just were impatient. You know, they - they didn't want to wait six seasons or seven seasons to get answers. They wanted answers immediately. So like on Arrow Season 1, we just burn through story at like what I say a reckless pace, in part because that was a reaction to, you know, how the audience was feeling after, you know, after Lost, and also because Greg Berlanti and I had done another show called Eli Stone where we were always on the verge of getting cancelled. So because of that, we didn't like wait for - like we were - like you can't wait till Season 2 because there might not be a Season 2. You can't wait till Season 3 because there might not be a Season 3. So it's like you got to do it now like so you just - just keep turning cards over."

-- MG: "I think the biggest gamble that was taken was, um, Greg's decision to cast Grant because - because of Ezra Miller, we all now think of Barry as a skinny, brunette, neurotic, you know, dork... But if - if you remember, prior to Ezra Miller, prior to Grant Gustin, Barry was a blond-haired, blue-eyed - like he looked like a jock. Yes, he was a police scientist, but he was cool and jacked. Um, so Greg's decision to actually go in a completely different way with the character of Barry Allen, I think, that was the biggest risk."

-- On DC movies' effect on Arrow, MG: "Basically, the way we had it arranged with DC Entertainment was, we would have a plan for like, we're going to use a certain character or a group of characters, and they would give us the thumbs up or thumbs down. And sometimes it would change. So like - like you'll notice, if you look over the run of Arrow, you know, over eight years, Slade Wilson is in and out of the show... And that's because there were some times when there was a Slade Wilson movie in development. There were other times when there wasn't. So depending upon what was happening on the feature side of things, that would either open or close certain doors for us."

-- On fans' influencing the creative process, MG: "Look, I love the fans. I always say, there's no shows, there's none of these movies without the fans, right? But, you know, Stan Lee, I think, said it best: give the fans what they need, not what they want. And, you know, it's as - it is - there's a whole group of fandom who - who already thinks they're in charge, you know. ... Like, on Arrow, for example, we were always asked, like, oh, you did this in reaction to that. And I'm like, do you understand how television works, like especially network television? We are so far ahead of you - we are so far ahead of Twitter - that like, even if we wanted to respond to the online feedback, we couldn't. We have a tanker truck - an oil tanker that we are trying to slowly turn her... It's impossible to react."

-- On how they got feedback and knew what was or was not working before anyone (in the public) saw the episodes, MG: "Honestly, it was us, the studio and the network... That was the audience.... It's scary, but honestly like in a lot of ways it's very empowering and exciting, because what you get to do - and this is different from streaming where you're basically, you know, you - you - you're shooting scripts that are already written, everything's written ahead of time. What is nice, uh, about network television and the cadence - the production cadence you're on is that you get to see dailies and respond to them. Like, you know, when Dolph Lundgren was only supposed to be in two episodes of Arrow in Season 5. But we saw his first day of dailies and we were like, oh my God, this is amazing... Let's find out how much money we have and get him for as many episodes. Same thing with, you know, Emily Rickards as Felicity. You know, her - her first day dailies on Arrow 103 were so good, we're like - and we just started writing towards her. ... I couldn't imagine the show without her, number one. Number two, we literally - if - if it was done the way streaming is done, we would not have known to write Felicity into more episodes because we wouldn't have seen her dailies, um, when we, you know, we're working on, you know, that - that show. So it - it's having the ability to respond to what you're seeing on, you know, from the actors is really the best thing."

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EBR's new film, Queen of the Ring, will have its world premiere at the 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival (in California) on Oct. 19 at 5:30pm PT...

https://nbff2024.eventive.org/schedule/66c4bd77c2ef7a005f92e8f3

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Queen of the Ring
Saturday, October 19, 2024 5:30 PM PDT
Lido Theater
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Cast and crew will be in attendance for post screening Q&A


From EBR's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/emilybett/p/DA_kbS7yN3P/ 

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emilybett I’m proud to introduce Mildred Burke and her incredible story, Queen of the Ring! Premiering October 19th at the Newport Film Festival.

I had the honor of embodying this remarkable woman, and even a year later, thinking of her gives me goosebumps. Mildred Burke had an unyielding drive to achieve her dreams without compromise, making her story not only a feat of strength but one that transcends time.
When I reflect on my own dreams, I feel her in my muscle tissue, and if I ever consider sacrificing them, I sense her in my backbone, reminding me to get back in the ring! She’s someone we all need in our corner, and I’m grateful to have her in mine.
Please come say hi at Newort! I’ll be there—maybe not as jacked as in this photo, but just as in awe of this woman as I was when I first encountered her story. ??
Stay tuned for more pictures, behind-the-scenes moments, and endless thanks to our incredible cast and crew.

QUEEN OF THE RING - In a time when women’s pro wrestling was illegal nationwide, a small-town single mother embraces the challenge to change the culture, dominating America’s most masculine sport to become the first million-dollar female athlete in history.

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MG will also be representing DC in this new panel at NYCC on Oct. 20...

https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en-us/experiences/panels/panel-information.html?gtID=867868&panel-name=Popversus-DC-vs-Marvel 

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Popversus: DC vs. Marvel

Sun, Oct 20, 2024
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Room 406.3
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For our first event, Popverse Video Producer Ashley V. Robinson will act as host (and referee) in the eternal debate of Marvel vs. DC. On one side we have Deadpool co-creator Fabien Nicieza speaking on behalf of Marvel, and Arrow and DC's Legends of Tomorrow co-showrunner Marc Guggenheim representing DC. We're calling for a fair fight and a bit of fun, as some of your favorite celebs playfully defend their side and ultimately the audience deciding the winner.

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Posted on EBR's Instagram account on Oct. 14...

GaBcbQfW8AEb6Ma?format=jpg

https://www.instagram.com/emilybett/p/DBHaeQyzjds/ 

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emilybett This photo was taken during our first camera test for @queenofthering - Tests are essential for all departments to finalize their “looks” before we go to camera. Everyone involved in the story has to prep in their own way, and for me, that included adding these biceps—biceps I didn’t fully realize I had until I saw this picture!

When @ashavildsen and I first discussed the possibility of me playing Mildred, I was in Vancouver, living off California rolls and yoga, and I had most definitely NEVER stepped into a wrestling ring. I immediately called the baddest heel at @boom_pro_wrestling , @bradymalibu: “Hey, can you show me some moves?” Next thing I knew, @always.adventuring and I were running the ropes on a pop-up ring inside a beer infused legion on Main Street.

The next call was to my pal @t3athletics : “I need to get stacked.” His prescription? No kickboxing, just weights “heavier and slower than you want to”. He also introduced me to @dr_botezelli , who created a personal exercise and meal plan for me/Mildred; teaching me all about macros, nutrition, and the necessity of carbs—lessons that will last me a lifetime.

As all of this was starting, Riley and I were embarking on a road trip through the U.S., so the first month of “stacking” happened on the road—something Mildred knew all about. I hit gym after gym across America while Ophie and Ri patiently cuddled in the van, waiting for me as I worked(out).

I love acting. I love discovering who someone is at their core and how they move through the world because of it. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to transform. I’m so grateful to know Mildred Burke’s story, I hope she will inspire us all. 💪

P.S. I highly encourage anyone who wants to change their relationship with food, learn about longevity, or improve their health and strength, to deepen their knowledge about nutrition. This knowledge has changed the way I live my life, and it tickles me every time I learn more. Much love xx

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‘Queen Of The Ring’ Film Festival Screenings Announced
By Matt Black   October 16, 2024
https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1512584-queen-of-the-ring-film-festival-screenings-announced#:~:text=Queen of the Ring has,Fest WORLD PREMIERE with Cast 

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This week, an official press release was issued to announce that Queen of the Ring starring Emily Bett Rickards, Josh Lucas, and Walton Goggins will play at select Film Festivals this Fall.
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Queen of the Ring has been announced for the following film festivals in 2024:

  • October 15 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo International Film Fest
  • October 17 – Portland, OR – Portland Film Fest
  • October 19 – Newport Beach, CA – Newport Beach Film Fest WORLD PREMIERE with Cast
  • October 19/20 – Indianapolis, IN – Heartland International Film Festival
  • October 25 – Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities Film Festival
  • October 27 – Wichita, KS – Tallgrass Film Festival
  • November 8 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Cast Q&A
  • November 10 – Coronado Island, CA – Coronado Island Film Festival
  • November 16 – St. Louis, MO – St. Louis International Film Festival


Queen of the Ring - SCREENINGS:
https://www.queenofthering.movie/screenings 

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Portland Film Festival
Thursday, October 17, 2024
6:30 PM  8:45 PM
McMenamins Kennedy School Main Theater (map)
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Heartland Film Festival (Indianapolis)
Sat, Oct 19, 20242:15 PM  Sun, Oct 20, 20242:45 PM
Landmark (map)
TWO Showings (Saturday & Sunday).
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Newport Beach Film Festival
Saturday, October 19, 2024
5:30 PM  8:05 PM
Lido Theater (map)
World Premiere w/ cast and crew Q&A session.
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Twin Cities Film Festival (Minneapolis)
Friday, October 25, 2024
8:15 PM  10:05 PM
Marcus West End Cinema (map)
FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE!
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Tallgrass Film Festival (Wichita, KS)
Sunday, October 27, 2024
2:00 PM  4:30 PM
Century II Peach 201 (map)
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Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
Friday, November 8, 2024
7:00 PM  9:30 PM
Seminole Hard Rock (map)
Cast & Crew in attendance for Q&A.

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Starting at around the 2:27 mark, the following network news show's movie host talked about Queen of the Ring as one of her fall movie picks...

Cin-Emma Extra: 'Saturday Night,' 'Queen of the Ring,' Portland Film Festival
KOIN 6   Oct 18, 2024

-- KOIN 6's Emma Jerome: "The Portland Film Festival kicked off this weekend. I got to go see the opening night film last night. It's called Queen of the Ring, starring Emily Bett Rickards and Josh Lucas as Mildred Burke and Milly Wolf - or Billy Wolf. Milly Burke becoming the matriarch of women's performance wrestling. She began her career in the 1930's. It's such a cool story because she was working as a stenographer at the time. She wanted to be a female wrestler and this was very not common. Women wrestling was illegal in many states. So she started her career at carnivals, jumping in the ring and challenging men to take her down. They couldn't. She then became a huge name in WWE Wrestling. She's now in the Hall of Fame. ... When you are going to be able to catch this movie is when it eventually does roll out in either theaters or streaming. But it was so cool to see because it's kind of that biopic movie. ... Like I said, she started as kind of a carney... Billy Wolf, also a WWE wrestler in his own right, took on the role as her manager. He was her husband for a while there, too."


Stars of “Queen of the Ring" talk about making the movie and the storyline
KCAL News   Oct 18, 2024

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Actors Emily Bett Rickards and Tyler Posey discuss “Queen of the Ring,” a real-life story of the first female pro wrestler Mildred Burke, who wrestled over 200 men.

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Emily Bett Rickards learned to wrestle for Mildred Burke biopic
By Fred Topel   Oct. 19, 2024
https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Movies/2024/10/19/Emily-Bett-Rickards-wrestling-Mildred-Burke-movie/1381729268138/ 

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Burke wrestled from 1937 to 1956 and launched her own World Women's Wrestling Association after leaving the National Wrestling Alliance. Rickards portrays Burke, covering her training through the wrestling organization's creation.

"Mildred was a pioneer in this arena," Rickards said. "She really brought women to wrestling."

Rickards began to train three months before filming began and continued working at it during the 10-week production. Dr. Diego Botezelli, who specializes in weight loss and muscle building, created her workout and diet, which included "lots of protein, so much protein."

She also had to give up cardiovascular exercises like kickboxing and running to focus entirely on muscle building.
*  *  *
Rickards became strong enough to lift her co-stars who played Mildred's opponents. While learning wrestling techniques, Rickards said she was impressed by the attention paid to the wrestler taking the bumps, terminology for falling on the mat.

"Wrestling is a lot about safety," Rickards said. "To take the bump, you spread out."

She was a quick study on taking bumps, too, thanks to childhood gymnastics practice, in which she learned how to protect herself when falling.
*  *  *
Stunt double Kelly Phelan performed many of Burke's falls in the film, but Rickards wanted to perform as much of the on-screen wrestling as she could.
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Though they are antagonists on screen, Rickards said [AEW's Kailey] Farmer helped coach her in wrestling.

"If you see us wrestling on-screen, she's leading," Rickards said. "She brought me into that trust as someone who is an actor, not a wrestler but was doing my darndest."

Rickards said her favorite part of wrestling was the showmanship. Burke and her husband, NWA promoter Billy Wolfe (Josh Lucas), determined the outcomes of matches, but it was up to the performers to tell the story.

"This ability to weave story and have it be structured but improvised -- there's an essence there that is so beautiful," Rickards said.

Even her less physical performances draw on the same ideals, she said, relating the emotional connection between any actors to the physical one shared by wrestlers.

"I'd say acting actually is all contact," Rickards said. "Maybe it's not punching each other all the time, but it is really about affecting the other person."

Queen of the Ring wrapped filming in July 2023, and Rickards said she still incorporates some aspects of the resistance training and nutrition she learned for the role. She said she did not wish to keep up the muscle mass she gained to portray Burke.

"I love being that strong," Rickards said. "It's just not me. It's her."

Rickards said it still took a year to return to a shape with which she was comfortable, adding that now "when I hold my sides, I don't feel like a tree trunk."

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James Melzer (MovieWeb) interviewed EBR and director Ash Avildsen at the Newport Beach Film Festival - I only transcribed a few of the comments...

Queen of the Ring Star Emily Bett Rickards & Director Discuss Their Mildred Burke Wrestling Biopic
MovieWeb   Oct 20, 2024

-- Melzer thought Queen of the Ring was the best wrestling biopic or wrestling movie since Mickey Rourke's The Wrestler.

-- Melzer: "Emily. Fantastic performance in this. Um, I loved your - I love the way you brought Mildred to life. Um, dare I say, it's on par right up there with Hilary Swank and Million Dollar Baby. I don't like to make those comparisons, but it was that good. It was so good. So kudos to you."

-- Melzer: "Who was the first person you called when you got the role? And why wasn't it Stephen Amell?"
EBR: "Well, yeah, I guess - yeah, well, my friend Brady is the only person I knew who was a wrestler... Brady Roberts goes by Brady Malibu. He happens to be in the same town that I am in. It was all, you know, Ash and I have spoken to sort of the synchronicity of this role. But I'm not sure if you know this, Ash, there's no wrestling in Vancouver besides this one company that was starting at the time, um, sort of getting itself off the ground at the time I got the script. And I asked him - I was like, hey, can you show me some moves. And he goes, there's actually a pop-up ring on Friday. It was like Wednesday. It's the only time. It'll be there for 24 hours. So that was like - it was just like, wham, bam, you know."

-- Melzer: "The world deserves to see Mildred's story and Emily's performance. Kudos to you guys once again for making a fantastic movie."


Also, here's a video interview with wrestling commentator Jim Ross who was an executive producer for Queen of the Ring:

JIM ROSS: The Queen of the Ring Mildred Burke Story is AMAZING
Grilling JR with Jim Ross   Oct 21, 2024

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Recorded on Oct. 19...

Star City Saviors: ARROW Panel HIGHLIGHTS w/ David Ramsey and Willa Holland - Dallas Fan Festival
APlus Hero Report   posted Oct 21, 2024

-- DR: "You guys had such a great response to John Diggle that DC actually listened and was like, all right, he's in the New 52."

-- On Green Lantern teases throughout Arrow's series run, DR: "We only teased it for six years. But again it's, you know, there's so many things going on behind the scenes, particularly some - those - those properties were so important. They still are. And, you know, obviously Warner Brothers went through some changes and so we got 'yes' and 'nos' and 'nos' and 'yes' and 'nos.' So all the teasing was really legit. We really did feel as if this was going to go some place. But again, it was just a very - I mean, the - Hal Jordan and John Stewart was - I think they wanted to first do a TV show that didn't mention Hal Jordan or John Stewart at all. I think it was supposed to be a period piece originally. I don't know where they were going to put the Lanterns in the '60s... Then that fell apart. There was to be a movie. And then that fell apart... I get it. I'm actually, you know, happy that there's a Gunn - a James Gunn taking over DC. Because I remember being in 2012 - we were all just like, why aren't the universes connected?.... And we would see Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and when they talked about Thor, they were talking about that Thor... So they had this kind of cohesive universe. We're like, where is our cohesive universe? ... Not they finally have it. We're not there in it, but at least they have it."

-- When asked if there were any characters on Arrow that bugged them:
WH: "I mean, I was a little annoyed the 37th time Thea got kidnapped... Really, did she have to do that one again? Thea, you silly girl." 
DR: "Oliver. Oliver irked the hell out of me... He's pretty broody."

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Recorded Oct. 20....

Icons of the ARROWVERSE Panel HIGHLIGHTS - Ladies Unite from Arrow, The Flash, Legends and Superman
APlus Hero Report   posted Oct 22, 2024

-- When asked what they wanted to do in terms of storytelling for their Arrowverse characters versus how they ultimately ended up:
Caity Lotz: "I don't know. I was along for the ride... Um, I think, you know, just the - the biggest transition was kind of having a character that was on, uh, Arrow, which was a very dark, dramatic show, and then going over to Legends and all of a sudden I'm reading the writing and it's like cracking jokes and it's like - I'm like, who is this character? ... By the end of it, we were like full on like parody, comedy, yeah. Um, but even in the beginning it was like... this is stuff I would never say originally. So finding that dynamic was really interesting. And then to go from being like kind of the outsider lone wolf, like troublemaker, to like the - the mom of the group was like - so she - she had a lot of interesting, you know, shifts - and to becoming a happy wifey, you know, and everything at the end. It was quite a journey."
Willa Holland: "Like myself, clearly, there's been a lot of iterations of, uh, Thea, Speedy, Red Arrow, Mia Queen, all of those. So it was really cool to do something that I felt was unique and maybe new to that kind of character or that specific arc... I mean, it did take a little bit longer than I thought it would, but the transition from just Thea to actually Speedy was probably my favorite part, um, and getting to just do justice to that arc and how the character developed was really, really fun."

Men of Steel: A Superman Legacy Panel HIGHLIGHTS w/ Brandon Routh, Dean Cain - Dallas Fan Festival
APlus Hero Report   posted Oct 22, 2024

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QUEEN OF THE RING brings glitzy, gritty Americana to wrestling history 
Carmen Paddock   October 21, 2024
https://www.moviejawn.com/home/2024/10/21/queen-of-the-ring-brings-glitzy-gritty-americana-to-wrestling-historynbsp 

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While the entire cast embraces period accents and mannerisms, fully immersing Queen of the Ring in nostalgic Americana without sugar-coating its shortcomings, Emily Bett Rickards’ performance as Burke is the film’s mercurial beating heart. In her hands, Burke’s fearless pursuit of her dream balances alongside her vulnerabilities and flaws, making her a woman of her age rather than an aspirational heroine. Rickards is particularly adept at observation, letting Burke absorb the many worlds in which she moves and calibrate her responses – in character and out – to her needs and her audiences’ and promoters’ expectations. 
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There is nothing in Queen of the Ring that breaks the biopic formula: there are flashbacks, a Campbellian hero’s arc, and references to other historical movements that give perhaps undue credit for influencing turns of events. However, Mildred Burke’s life is too little known, so this somewhat formulaic approach is a great introduction to her world without ever over-explaining her times and industry. Likewise, as a wrestler whose life melded seamlessly with kayfabe, this almost-mythic framing of a very human story does not feel out of place. 

The grit, glamour, and endless grafting required to succeed in pro wrestling makes for an endlessly captivating story, all the more so for how much unfolds behind the scenes and storylines fans love to follow. Queen of the Ring gives Burke full credit as a force who changed women’s wrestling forever and is well worth seeking out for wrestling fans and newcomers alike. 

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Go to Instagram link if you want to watch this interview...

Instagram link:
https://www.instagram.com/thecherrypicks/reel/DBb5A2fSr-v/

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thecherrypicks Emily Bett Rickards talks about her new inspiring film ‘Queen of the Ring,’ based on the true story of professional wrestler, Mildred Burke. Emily shares her powerful journey portraying Mildred and honoring her legacy. @queenofthering is currently making the festival circuit!

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Live - 10/23/24
Stephen Amell   Streamed Oct 23, 2024

-- SA announced the relaunching of his YouTube channel. He said that right now he's posted videos of some of his "superhero workouts."

-- SA is in Toronto "right now" filming a Crave streaming series called Underbelly (see Deadline article below). Then he's "getting ready to shoot" Suits: L.A. in Los Angeles, staring in November, which will premiere on NBC (on undisclosed date)..

Stephen Amell, Minnie Driver, Hamza Haq To Star In Crime Series ‘Underbelly’ For Canadian Streamer Crave; Shaftesbury Producing & Fifth Season Across Sales
By Stewart Clarke   October 22, 2024
https://deadline.com/2024/10/minnie-driver-stephen-amell-hamza-haq-crime-series-underbelly-crave-shaftesbury-fifth-season-1236120820/ 

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EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Amell, Minnie Driver and Hamza Haq will star in Underbelly, a crime drama set in the 1000 Islands region, home to a picturesque river that serves as a border between Canada and the U.S. The series was created by Saving Hope’s Graeme Stewart and will be an original for Canadian streamer Crave. Tamara Podemski also stars.
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Amell, soon to appear in Suits L.A., plays Officer Henry Roland. He finds evidence linking a case of missing illegal substances to his childhood best friend, Tommy Hawley, played by Haq. As Henry embarks on a mission to save his friend, a ruthless British crime family, led by matriarch May Ferguson, played by Driver, is also looking for the missing contraband and Tommy.

underbellyaa.jpg

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Emily Bett Rickards Talks Queen Of The Ring, WWE Hall Of Famer Mildred Burke Biopic
BY KEVIN TALL   OCT. 22, 2024 
https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1694753/emily-bett-rickards-talks-queen-of-the-ring-wwe-hall-famer-mildred-burke-biopic-exclusive/ 

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[Kevin Tall:] ... Thanks for taking a little bit of time to talk to me, let's get to it. How did you become attached to the Queen of the Ring, and what about it caught your interest?

[Emily Bett Rickards:] Well, I had got the script, arrived in my inbox and my team had said, "Give this a read. We think it's interesting. The director would like to meet with you." I read the script written by Ash, our director, adapted from Jeff Leen's book on Mildred's life. And I had never heard of her, but the script was emotional and definitely had a throughline of a real story. The fact that she was a real person too, only piqued my interest more.

So after speaking with Ash, the conversation was, "Have you had any wrestling experience?" "No, not really." I did feel like I was physically capable of learning. I've always been quite athletic and I felt like I had the potential, so there was something in me that was clicking for that. But mostly, I just connected to her heart and who she was and the fact that she had this huge dream that seemed well, unattainable to not only her of the time, but women of the time, and how she against all odds went after that. So the rest is history.
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How do you approach bringing to life a real person on screen as opposed to a fictional character? Is there any added pressure in doing so?

Yeah, you want to do the character justice and you want to honor the character as well as honor the script and story that your collaborators and yourself have signed on to tell. So I think the honesty in which you want to portray this, in my case, woman, you want to come out with a real honest perspective. And then there's a ton of research, luckily enough, on someone like Mildred. She was during the era when publication was apparent and when TV was starting to happen, she was just in the mix of that. She didn't get too large into that, but the fact that that type of media was around her era made it a lot easier to find photographs of her and research.

There was a book done on her by Jeff Leen, which the script is also based off of, and we definitely, Ash specifically, encourages everybody to read the book because there's so much in there, so much more than our story could hold in the format of the timestamp of our movie. So yeah, you really have to do your best to honor the person and embody that spirit. I really hope that we did Mildred proud.

You had mentioned her heart. Do you think that would be the most important trait of hers to bring to your portrayal?

Yeah. Yeah. I think I would almost say that about every character, but I'm not sure if that will change going forward. I think that we all relate to different organs in our body in a sense, but she really lives in the heart. This dream starts in the heart, mothering is in the heart. She has something that is in here and churning all the time and this want for love and to share love in a way that is part of her place and was part of her place on this earth.
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We've gotten into your character; what kind of training did you go through for the in-ring work in the film?

Yeah, so when I arrived in Louisville, we were trained at OVW in Louisville, which Al Snow and Dougie Basham headlined that for us. Our stunt coordinators, Heath and Jeff, as well as my stunt double Kelly, were there as big leaders as well in that. And then all the wrestlers at OVW too, who let me slam them incessantly for practice and who shared their stories with me about wrestling and who let me come to watch some of their shows and their matches. All of that was education that you can't get without getting shared with, without people sharing it with you. I was really lucky to have that.

So yeah, a lot of wrestling rehearsals, a lot of learning choreography, a lot of learning about the history of wrestling, why persona is so important, what persona means to certain people, how people choose their names, even what they wear, those kind of things are all creating this character, which creates the storyline of why we fall in love with wrestling. Getting welcomed into that world was so fun and it's definitely started to turn it up all the way to a hundred percent when I arrived in Louisville.
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Alrighty. Kelli [Berglund], of course, has appeared in "Heels" alongside your "Arrow" co-star, Stephen Amell. Who do you think out of the rest of the Arrowverse would be most likely to next step into the ring?

Juliana. Let's get Juliana [Harkavy]

Any particular reason?

I could see it. I don't know. I feel like she could crush it. I feel like she could do it really well.

Stephen's also actually wrestled some legit matches as well. Did you ask him for any pointers?

No, I didn't. I had forgotten. I called my friend Brady and that was my first reach out.
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Where would you rank this film in your body of work?

Well, I don't know if I would rank my work. Interesting question though. I'll have to say that as an actor, it was a real privilege to be able to transform in this way and it has changed and created a hunger in me to want to transform more deeply and give characters that I play more justice and more honesty and it's a craft that evolves. And she Mildred taught me specifically that there is capacity to do that, and that's something I'll take with me for the rest of my life.

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Review: ‘America’s Next Best President’ short film by Katie Cassidy
By Markos Papadatos    October 22, 2024
https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/review-americas-next-best-president-short-film-by-katie-cassidy/article 

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This short movie written, directed and produced by Katie Cassidy is a spoof on American politics told from the standpoint of a game show, where America’s votes are in, and they are down to the final five contestants.
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Her script is witty, clever, quirky, and at times, downright hilarious. It is the feel-good escapism that we need during these trying times that the world is going through (especially at a time when there are so many disagreements over politic beliefs).

It has the potential to become a mini-series or a full-length comedy feature should Cassidy decide to explore it further. It reminds us not to take things too seriously.

“America’s Next Best President” is doing well in the festival circuit (winning accolades and awards), and rightfully so.

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Detailed movie spoilers in rest of this article...

Queen of the Ring
By Ethan Padgett | October 24, 2024
https://filmthreat.com/reviews/queen-of-the-ring/ 

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NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! ...
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Emily Bett Rickards brings spunk and raw energy to her performance as Mildred Burke. Due to Avildsen’s excellent direction, she delivers a fine balance between toughness and vulnerability. This can be incredibly difficult for an actress to get right, yet Rickards nailed it. The rest of the cast had moments to shine as well. Francesca Eastwood stole the show as Mae Young, and her character brought the most laughs from the audience.

For period piece fans, Sofija Mesicek’s costume design is a gorgeous visual feast. Andrew Strahorn’s cinematography is creative, switching between natural lighting, black-and-white, and Technicolor-inspired imagery. All these stylistic elements have a narrative purpose and are not just there to dazzle the eye.

Ash Avildsen’s Queen of the Ring is a must-see for lovers of sports films, biopics, and period piece media. It also introduces audiences to the world of wrestling in the early 20th century in a compelling underdog story.

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Emily Bett Rickards and Director Ash Avildsen Talk 'Queen of the Ring'
Jami Philbrick   October 24, 2024
https://www.moviefone.com/news/queen-of-the-ring-interview-emily-bett-rickards-and-more/ 

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Ash Avildsen: ... Then we got lucky that Emily was interested and available because I can't imagine anyone else. I think people are really going to love her performance.

MF: Emily, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and learning of Mildred’s story, and your approach to playing her?
Emily Bett Rickards: When I first read the script, I was immediately hooked. I had to know more about this woman. I also was so touched that the script was written with such heart as well as in this world of wrestling that I didn't know anything about. So, to have that immediate empathy on the page is sort of what we go to the movies for and what you hope every script will have. It's a delight when you get a gem like that. Then diving deep into her life, there was no turning back. We're lucky enough that there's so many photos of her, which I think are important. She wanted herself to be seen, and you can kind of see the gentrification of who she became in a sense, and who she was driving her persona to become, which as an actor is like candy. It's just such a treat. Then, once we started filming, I don't know, I feel like she's here. It was like she had arrived in a sense. We very much wanted to tell this story in a way that she'd be proud of and would do her story justice. There were moments where I felt like she was with us. So yeah, it was a true honor.
*  *  *
MF: Emily, can you talk about how you prepared physically for this role and was it difficult learning all the wrestling moves?
EBR: When I arrived in Louisville, I think we had about three weeks of wrestling training, wrestling rehearsals strictly, which pretty much is, get in the ring as much as possible. Learn not only choreography, but be around this wrestling world, which was everybody at OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling) who sort of took me under their wing, shared their wrestling stories, and their love for wrestling with me, which was also helpful. It wasn't just about what was on the mat, it was about why do we fall in love with this? Why do you personally fall in love with your persona and what that means to you and what is this performance behind the physical aspect of this stage work? Then before that, I was at home in Vancouver and I was training with my trainer Thomas Taylor, as well as Dr. Diego Botezelli, who created a workout and meal plan for me for the rest of the shoot as well as while I was away. So, it was about six months of weightlifting and eating a lot of chicken breast, having chicken at the ready and pumping weights at the ready at any chance I could get.
*  *  *
MF: Emily, can you talk about Mildred’s complicated relationship with Billy Wolfe and what it was like working with Josh Lucas?
EBR: Me working with Josh is, it's an honor. From the moment we met over Zoom to read through the first maybe five or six scenes of Billy and Mildred, I was very aware that I was in the presence of someone who was going to be able to share this experience with me. Not only that but strengthen it and deliver what was on the page. Their relationship, I think we even toned down to a certain extent from their real lives. But from that perspective, there's abuse and manipulation and Mildred's drive for her dream is really where she got her strength from to keep going. As a woman of the time, I think we at least show her in the light of strength and show her going after what she wants. Though she is making sacrifices for that, she is choosing to hopefully go after this dream of what she wants and for the betterment of women and women today.

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Edited by tv echo
  • Like 1
Featherhat

Featherhat

On 9/22/2024 at 2:04 PM, tv echo said:

SA auditioned in person for Suits: L.A. "just once." At the time, his focus was not so much on Suits: L.A., but more on another audition he had earlier that week, when he auditioned to play the younger version of Gibbs on NCIS: Origins. He got "great feedback" from that audition and got "good intel" that they were going to move forward with him, but then all of a sudden it was "dead" and he felt like someone had "blocked" him. So he felt frustrated. He then sat down and ran lines with his daughter for the Suits: L.A. audition and she thought it was funny. After his Suits: L.A. audition, he got an offer conditioned on a network test and he was told that he was the only one being considered at that time. After being vetted by the network, he got the Suits: L.A. offer unconditionally.

Not sure I can really imagine him as young Gibbs, not that I've been watching it anyway. 

I feel like SA often has a bit of a victim complex going about things like this. Like the only reason he didn't get the part is that someone blocked him. It might be true but it's also possible that Austin Stowell had an audition later that week and blew everyone away. 

Chaser

Chaser

11 hours ago, Featherhat said:

Not sure I can really imagine him as young Gibbs, not that I've been watching it anyway. 

I feel like SA often has a bit of a victim complex going about things like this. Like the only reason he didn't get the part is that someone blocked him. It might be true but it's also possible that Austin Stowell had an audition later that week and blew everyone away. 

I watched the Gibbs show pilot and he 100% would have been a miscast. I have a hard time believing he was that close to getting it. In a fun sort of Arrowverse connection, CL’s husband is the best thing on the show. 

  • Like 1
tv echo

tv echo

Olicity is still on the list...

TV’s 35 Best First Kisses
By Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Kimberly Roots, Dave Nemetz, Andy Swift   October 27, 2024
https://tvline.com/lists/best-tv-first-kisses-photos-video/oliver-felicity-arrow/ 

Quote

Oliver and Felicity, Arrow
...
How do you make amends for busting up Olicity’s first date with the arrival of a shoulder-fired missile? By later interrupting Felicity’s “Don’t Give Me Maybes” lament with the sweetest, cupped-face kiss — and for good measure, have Oliver then say, “Don’t ask me to say I don’t love you.”

tv echo

tv echo

(edited)

Interview: Emily Bett Rickards on playing America’s first million-dollar female athlete in wrestling biopic Queen of the Ring
Peter Gray  October 29, 2024 
https://www.theaureview.com/watch/interview-emily-bett-rickards/ 

Quote

I didn’t know who Mildred Burke was, so I loved going into this film not knowing anything and being taken on a journey to learn about her.  Was she someone that you were aware of when the film came about?
I had never heard her name.  I didn’t know who she was.  I mean, I got a very quick education on her life, and once I started it just snowballed.  I couldn’t get enough.  It’s surprising that we don’t know who she was.  I was grateful that the script was adapted from Jeff Leen’s book.  It was a very great piece of writing on her life, so it was already easy to digest, easy to follow.  It was entertaining and honest.  It was very helpful to have that in a pair with the script.  And there’s always Wikipedia and the photos, oh my gosh, the photos are just endless.  She loved to be in front of the camera.  There’s this incredible journey of seeing her evolve.  And there’s nothing like an old timey photo.  This moment just frozen in time.
*  *  *
Mildred is a “face” in the wrestling ring, but obviously the “heels” have more fun in getting out there to talk shit.  What role would you personally want to take?
I mean, everyone says they’re so fun.  I haven’t gotten to play a villain as an actor.  I can do it in my home or in class, no problem, so I should say I haven’t been paid to be a villain yet (laughs).  But there’s a freedom to it.  I think all characters are worth exploring.  We all learn something from them.  And a heel or a villain, you know, they wake up trying to have a good day, too.

On the mention of villainy, I found it interesting to watch the dynamic between yourself and Josh Lucas’ character.  She’s so confident in the ring, but then when Mildred’s at home, as much as she’s confident as a mother, that marriage exposes that weakness that she still has.
The mental gymnastics of it all…I mean, manipulative relationships and what’s in ourselves that we’re trying to fulfill for someone else.  In this time in Mildred’s life, her business was so linked to being married to this man.  And it was an impossible task to accomplish this dream and go through a divorce without money and without the education around business.  And she was forcefully on purpose kept out of the business side.  But it wasn’t for any lack of want.  I think that was part of the manipulation.

Edited by tv echo
tv echo

tv echo

(edited)

Exclusive Interview: Filmmaker Ash Avildsen and Star Emily Bett Rickards Talk ‘Queen of the Ring’
BY KEVIN   NOVEMBER 2 2024
https://pop-culturalist.com/exclusive-interview-filmmaker-ash-avildsen-and-star-emily-bett-rickards-talk-queen-of-the-ring/ 

Quote

PC: It’s so believable on screen. Emily, there’s a beautiful moment at the start of the film where Mildred attends a wrestling match and you see and feel that spark that ignites within her. From that moment, I was hooked on this story. For you as a storyteller, what’s been that equivalent on set when you knew this was your path and purpose?
Emily: There’s some sort of throughline in there that Mildred and I do share in reaching for this dream and this calling. I’m not sure when it started. I loved watching TV and movies growing up. I’ve always loved fiction. I’ve always loved being able to say words that I might not necessarily say, and it’s not only about dictating them, but feeling what they mean for that person. There’s this alchemical thing that I don’t get to do unless there are 200 other people with me helping me do it, which is similar to Mildred. She needs a scene partner. She needs a ring. She needs a coach. She needs the platform to be able to do it. She’s like, “This is my dream. I’m going to need a village.” It’s that drive that people gravitate toward. She has those women as friends, teammates, and confidantes. She creates a community because of her dream. It’s so interesting how much she got out of that life. She has her son with her the whole time. She not only wants to be a wrestler, she wants to be a mother and a leader. She wants to break down barriers in the world. She has high-level women around her who also want to do that. That’s what she’s attracted.

PC: When Mildred was making her mark on the world, it was during a time where societal norms didn’t believe women could be tough and feminine at the same time. Emily, you did such a brilliant job portraying this woman who defied those expectations. For each of you, could you talk about how you ensured that contrast was reflected not only in the script, but also in the performances?
Emily: That’s me, that’s Ash, that’s Mildred. The script was an honest script. There wasn’t a flowery aspect to covering up who this woman was. You were able to see who she was and who were were representing on the page. When you have that clarity, as an actor, you feel safer to explore what that is. You don’t have to decode things. There was also such an extensive amount of research that we got to do on her and for her. Jeff Leen’s book is incredible. It’s well-written and a joy to read. There’s a ton on the internet as well. I’ve talked about this a few times, but those pictures on the internet were so important to show who this woman was. The strength and femininity in that is shown in who she was back then and who she was always going to be. In an alternate reality if she had stayed in that diner, she would have always been feminine and strong, and a single mother. I don’t think that’s something she grew into. That’s who she was.

Ash: That was another thing that drew me to the story. In the current era of society, fit women are really being celebrated, which is amazing and beautiful. Back then, it wasn’t accepted. If women had real physiques, it was considered to masculine and it wasn’t embraced. It wasn’t considered beautiful and attractive. The girls all really committed, especially Emily as the lead, to getting their bodies in the right shape to reflect that. It comes across on screen. But that was another thing. As a reader, I started looking at her story and I thought it was so timely because it’s really just now that that’s changing. Mildred was the first person to bring that into pop culture, which is a story that people should know.
*  *  *
PC: I think “magic” is the perfect way to describe this film. Emily, like any profession, there are highs and lows. Mildred’s story really highlights the importance of getting back into the ring. Now that you’ve wrapped the project, what impact has portraying her had on you and how you navigate your own career moving forward?
Emily: She taught me a lot about propelled momentum in oneself and not getting wrapped up in any type of self-doubt. She has a strength to keep going and, innately, I think that we both have that. This constant cheering yourself on and believing in yourself is something that’s so strong in her. It’s something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life. Maybe in my weakest moments is when I’ll need her most, but she’ll always be there. I’m grateful for that.


Video of above interview:

Edited by tv echo

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