Leni Riefenstahl Carice van Houten Berlin, Germany —I first talked about this last February when there was a tease article in Variety Magazine . The Jessie Owens story is coming to the big screen.   The film titled, Race  is starring  Stephan James   as Owens and he is joined Jeremy Irons  and William Hurt in this film.     Stephen Hopkins is directing the film.  Shooting  began this week in Berlin. The multi-talented Dutch actress, Carice van Houten  who happens to be my personal favorite has signed on to play the legendary German film director Leni Riefenstahl . Van Houten was cast in the once in a lifetime role of the accidental Dutch resistance hero, Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries in Paul Verhoeven’s film, Black Book (2006).   That’s still is my favorite film of all time! Today, van Houten graces the Game of Game of Thrones  cast as the Red Priestess, Melisandre . Riefenstahl was a gorgeous dancer and...

Los Angeles, CA — My favorite film of all times is Paul Verhoeven’s, Black Book .  It’s a subtitled German/Dutch film primarily in the Dutch language that’s based on a true story.  The principal protagonist is a sexy Jewish nightclub singer, Rachel Stein that fled the Nazis in Berlin for the Netherlands during the war.  She somehow winds up in the Dutch Resistance for some incredibly dangerous adventures.  It’s also a love story. The leading lady playing that character is my absolute favorite actress, Carice van Houten who won this role of a lifetime.  The role required acting in different languages, singing and some dancing.  Van Houten was magnificent.  This was Verhoeven’s best film ever and the entire cast and crew were absolutely awesome.  Van Houten was jaw dropping terrific! There was no emotion she did not absolutely own in this thriller film.  That kind of talent takes years of serious discipline and hard work to develop a...

Los Angeles, CA —We’ve all seen Mel Gibson at his best on the silver screen. We’ve seen him at his worst when he was arrested for DUI and in a much over reported disastrous relationship with an unfortunate gold-digger. Hollywood has blackballed this terrific actor and director.  Mel Gibson wants to work and he deserves the ability to create more blockbuster films.  Like it or not there is only one Mel Gibson. Robert Downey, Jr . hit bottom and did a prison stretch too. Downey got out cleaned up but was unemployable.  He had more chapters to write in his interrupted career.  Downey was no longer insurable and despite his immense talent was through as an actor.  That was until Mel Gibson stepped in and covered the insurance for Downey. Downey rebounded like a slingshot and film audiences and were never disappointed.  That was because of Gibson’s generosity and humanity.  I know that Gibson is looking for new sources of fundi...

Stephanie Carrie will make you laugh for sure! Los Angeles, CA —Most of my visitors know that among other things I’m an actor too.  I met Stephanie Carrie when I attended Tom Todoroff’s  Acting Studio here and made some other life long friends along the way.  Nearly every one of Tom’s students has some kind of TV or film credits but making the coveted A list is really tough.   We've all learned that even the best talent does not translate to fortune and fame.  It’s more about having a very effective agent.  It also boils down to the agent selecting the you as their talent and not then other way around.  Carrie is an actress, singer, writer and comedian.  Like everyone she struggled and paid her dues.  She also recently started a web series.   Carrie has a YouTube channel and put something up yesterday that caught my eye.  It’s a satirical parody of the crisis in the Ukraine and that thin-skinned Russ...

Hollywood, CA —As I prepare to both act and crew in an independent film things are quickly changing in terms of power. The current system is awash in criminal racketeering, restraint of trade and anti-trust activities. There are about five talent agencies that currently determine what films will be made and who will act in them. Actors hire agents to represent them and get them work. However, the agents have somehow reversed this to them hiring the actors. The talent agencies tell the studios what films they can make and just who will act, direct, shoot or write. Massive amounts of money are gathered in what’s considered risky investments to make films. The talent agencies seem to control the cash flow. More importantly they control the movie theater owners and just what films will hit the big screen. The Agencies had the ability to intimidate, bully and control the screen owners and exactly what films will see the light of day. However this system is changing at the talent age...

Los Angeles, CA —Most of my blog visitors know that beyond my day job as a PI and investigative TV news Producer, I’m also an actor. Somehow I developed a new friend on Facebook who is a gifted actress/comedienne fresh from Antwerp, Belgium. Noemi Schlosser has recently been in some projects put up in Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue Theater District. I was hoping to grab an interview from this gal in Chicago but it just didn’t happen. The good news is she paid a visit to Hollywood and I snagged an exclusive interview with the stunning thespian. Additionally I had the good fortune to show her around town. I took her to places like Marilyn Monroe’s grave, The Screen Actor’s Guild and the Los Angeles Art Museum for an entire day. Any time spent with a stunning woman who’s half my age is indeed quality time! Noemi is working out the details for a performance at Chicago’s Palmer House as I write this. I predict big things for this gal that you all will be seeing and hearing about in t...