SciFiAndTvTalk

Motherland: Fort Salem's Victor Webster - Silver Lining

Victor Webster as U.S. Vice President Blanton Silver in Motherland: Fort Salem. Photo courtesy/copyright of Freeform.

He turned in an electrifying performance as human dynamo Brennan Mulwray in Mutant X, played Coop Halliwell a.k.a. Cupid/The Messenger of Love and married the bewitching Phoebe Halliwell in Charmed, and, as Vancouver Police Detective Carlos Fonnegra, risked his life helping fight Liber8, a group of anti-corporate activists from the Earth year 2077 in Continuum. Having worked pretty much non-stop as an actor for almost 25 years, the handsome, talented. and congenial Victor Webster has amassed an impressive body of work on the small as well as big screens and breathe life into dozens of characters. Besides the three previously mentioned shows, the actor’s other TV credits include Days of Our Lives, Becker, CSI: Miami, NCIS, Lincoln Heights, Bones, Castle, Workin’ Moms and Matchmaker Mysteries, while he has appeared in such feature films as Gangland, Bringing Down the House, Heart of a Dragon, Surrogates and Dead Rising: Endgame.  

In 2021, Webster was cast in the recurring role of United States Vice President Blanton Silver in Freeform’s Motherland: Fort Salem. The series takes place in an alternate America and a female-dominated world where the U.S. ended persecution of witches 300 years ago during the Salem witch trials with the passage of the Salem Accord. This agreement allowed for the conscription of witches into the military where they are trained to use their abilities in the form of powerful spells to defend the country. There are those, however, who oppose what they feel is the exploitation of witches, including a terrorist group called the Spree. VP Silver makes his debut in Motherland: Fort Salem’s second season opener Of the Blood, which sets the vice president up to fight a moral as well as emotional tug of war between his personal life and political obligations. Webster was immediately welcomed into the fold and happily took on the creative challenges associated with this new role.

“One of the things I love about working in Canada is that everyone is so nice,” says the actor. “I’m from Canada, I was born there, and I’m always reminded whenever I step onto a Canadian set how friendly and welcoming everyone is. That’s what I felt on Motherland: Fort Salem with the cast as well as crew. I’d worked with some of them before, including Amanda Tapping, who’s a producer/director on the show, and she’s wonderful. I also really enjoyed the writing on the series. I wasn’t told too much at the start about my character, but I was given enough information to form sort of a roadmap for myself and basically understand where Blanton was headed. Subsequently seeing how all the details unfolded made it a fun journey to go on.

“When it comes to specifics about Blanton Silver, I’d describe him as strong-willed, very driven and someone who has a reason for what he’s doing. For Blanton, it’s a very noble crusade, and not based on trying to be just an evil dictator. He’s basing his decisions on the fact that he believes very strongly that witches are one of the abominations that have been created, and the world would be better off without them. Blanton is not a bad guy. He does bad things depending on what lens you look through. If you’re a witch, he’s the bad guy. If you’re a human who hates witches, then he’s a good guy.

“I can’t play Blanton as a stereotypical bad guy. He’s not a serial killer or villain in an action film. Again, he does what he does because he truly believes it’s in everyone’s best interest and needs to be done. My character is conflicted, though, because of what he’s experiencing with his daughter Penelope [who Blanton discovers is a witch] and some of the backstory that audiences aren’t aware of. Blanton walks a fine line between wanting to do what’s best for the country and its people, and his own personal beliefs. Sometimes I play the charming leading man in a drama or romantic comedy, which I enjoy, but I also enjoy playing darker characters because I feel it’s a departure from who I am as a person. I’m able to further stretch myself an actor and live in someone else’s skin. That’s much more interesting than playing a variation of myself,” he enthuses.

Blanton’s relationships with some of his fellow Motherland: Fort Salem characters have greatly impacted his onscreen growth and development as well as given Webster some memorable acting moments. “Of course, his main relationship is with his daughter Penelope, who’s played by Mellany Barros,” he notes. “Mellany has such a great kind of natural innocence about her, so it’s very easy for me to look at her as my daughter and someone who needs some direction and guidance. It’s been terrific to see her blossom on this show and watch her character develop. There’s a scene from the end of last season that I particularly enjoyed shooting; it’s where Blanton hugs his daughter, knowing it’s the last time that he’s ever going to see her. Having to hide those feelings and be so conflicting about the decision that he’s made, and, ultimately, having to go through with that decision, is such a powerfully nuanced place for an actor to put himself in. Emotionally, you’re pulled in so many directions, and, again, you have to try to hide that while at the same time show audiences what you’re going through. It was a great acting challenge for me, and, I think, a very moving scene.

“I also love Blanton’s relationship with Sheryl Lee Ralph’s character of U.S. President Kelly Wade. Not only is this character a powerful one with a great deal of gravitas, but Sheryl Lee is also such an impressive actor. Working with her is not only a lot of fun, but humbling and a great learning experience, too. Then there’s Alban Hearst, played by Bob Frazer, whose character is really creepy, but Bob is such a nice guy when you’re sitting there on-set chatting with him. I have such a good time working with Bob and watching him turn into this bigger than life, overly dramatic evil doctor in front of the camera. I find myself in scenes with him and thinking as I watch him, ‘Oh, this is awesome,’ and then suddenly I remember, ‘Oh, wait, it’s my line,’” says the actor with a chuckle. “Last but not least there’s Kara Brandt, played by Emille Ullerup, who’s such a professional, super-sweet and a pleasure to work with. As an actress, Emille walks the fine line of her character being in the presence of these witches, while at the same time knowing she’s trying to help bring about their ultimate demise. Kara is sort of waving this in their faces a bit and putting on an act to hide her true motives.

“Honestly, I could go on and on talking about all the different people on this show that I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and the colorful characters that they’ve played, all of which have been very well-written.”

Besides his work in Motherland: Fort Salem, Webster co-starred earlier this year opposite Alison Sweeney in the Hallmark made-for-TV movie The Wedding Veil Legacy. “That was a lot of fun,” he says. “Alison and I were on a TV show together 22 years go and although we were in a few scenes together, we never had an opportunity to really work with one another. In The Wedding Veil Legacy they allowed us to improv as well as adlib, and because Alison is so talented, when I said anything, she would come right back with her own adlib or improv, and usually in a comedic sense. We had the chance to really riff off each other and play with the scenes. Things weren’t super-structured, so I think it allowed us to show a great deal of chemistry and connection between our two characters because we weren’t stuck in a box, so to speak.

“As far as upcoming projects. I just finished another show for Freeform called Everything’s Trash. It’s a single camera comedy starring Phoebe Robinson, who wears all the hats – producer/director/writer/actor/star – and once again I had the chance to adlib and improv with someone like Phoebe who has such great comedic timing.”

Steve Eramo

Living With The Walking Dead Exhibition At the Museum of the Moving Image

The centerpiece of the Living with The Walking Dead exhibition features nine mannequins costumed as key characters, including Rick, Morgan, Negan, Carol, Daryl, Maggie, Michonne, Father Gabriel, and Jadis. Photo courtesy/copyright of AMC and MoMI.

Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) and AMC Networks have partnered to present Living with The Walking Dead, a major exhibition devoted to the groundbreaking series The Walking Dead as it enters its final season. Having opened Saturday, June 25, 2022, at the Museum in Astoria, Queens, the exhibition explores key aspects of the show’s origins, production, and impact. The exhibition is accompanied by multiple screening series and other public events over a six-month span, closing on January 1, 2023.

“It’s wonderful to be partnering once again with AMC Networks, this time to present an exhibition devoted to the long-running original series The Walking Dead,” said Carl Goodman, MoMI Executive Director. “More than just a television show, it is a cultural phenomenon that is adored by legions of fans, who celebrate the innovative, engaging, and immersive world that its makers have built, and for its diverse cast of characters. The exhibition will bleed outward from our temporary exhibitions gallery and into our theaters, classrooms, and other public spaces.”

"Over 11 seasons and 177 episodes, The Walking Dead has built a vibrant and massive global fan following, becoming one of the most beloved franchises in television,” said Dan McDermott, President of Entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. "We’re delighted to work with MoMI on an exhibition and lineup of events to commemorate this beloved series’ historic run, the immensely talented creative team, cast, and crew who brought it to life, and give this incredible fanbase a new and exciting way to experience their favorite show.” 

The exhibition Living with The Walking Dead, in the Museum’s third-floor changing exhibitions gallery, will probe the issues at the heart of the series: the related threats of the murderous undead and the collapse of the social order. It will explore the cinematic and literary antecedents of The Walking Dead, including its origin in Robert Kirkman’s comic book series, and present the unique innovations that the AMC Networks series has contributed, with its wide-ranging story of survival, diverse cast of characters, and devoted legion of fans. The exhibition will include original costumes and props, concept art, storyboards, scripts, and a wealth of prosthetic makeup material. Created by Special Effects Makeup Supervisor and Executive Producer Greg Nicotero and his team at the award-winning KNB EFX studios, the special effects makeup transformed legions of cast members into vividly realized undead walkers, largely using practical effects. Tickets are available here: https://movingimage.us/event/living-with-the-walking-dead/

The Serpent Queen - Coming In September (STARZ)

STARZ released today the trailer (see below) and key art (see above) for the wicked new drama series The Serpent Queen set to premiere on Sunday, September 11th at midnight on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms and internationally on the STARZPLAY premium streaming platform across all territories. On linear, it will debut on STARZ at 8:00 ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada. The new series stars Golden Globe winner, two-time Academy Award and two-time BAFTA Award-nominated actress, Samantha Morton (Minority Report, Harlots, The Walking Dead), as the nefarious Catherine de Medici, who, against all odds, became one of the most powerful and longest-serving rulers in French history.

An historical drama with an edge, The Serpent Queen puts a contemporary spin on conventional storytelling to tell the tale of Catherine de Medici’s (Morton) rise to power. In the series premiere, “Medici Bitch,” Catherine’s tale unfolds through flashbacks as she defends her actions and imparts the lessons she’s learned to her new servant confident, Rahima (Sennia Nanua, The Girl with All the Gifts, Frankie). At 14, the young, orphaned Catherine (Liv Hill, Three Girls, Jellyfish) marries into the 16th-century French court. Despite her commoner status, her uncle Pope Clement (Charles Dance, Game of Thrones, The Crown), has negotiated a large dowry and a geopolitical alliance in return for the union, and with it comes the expectation of many heirs. However, on her wedding night, Catherine learns that her new husband is in love with Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier, Lupin, The Young Pope), a beautiful lady-in-waiting twice his age. With her future suddenly uncertain and with little hope of conceiving, Catherine must quickly learn who she can trust - both within her personal entourage of courtiers and the members of the royal court - while outmaneuvering anyone who underestimates her determination to survive at any cost. 

The series also stars Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Tolkien), Kiruna Stamell (“The New Pope,” Moulin Rouge!), Barry Atsma (The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Bad Banks), Alex Heath (Suspicion, Boiling Point), Amrita Acharia (Game of Thrones, The Good Karma Hospital), Enzo Cilenti, (Free Fire, “The Last Tycoon”), Antonia Clarke (Anna, Magic in the Moonlight), Adam Garcia (Coyote Ugly, Murder on the Orient Express), Beth Goddard (Manhunt, Des), Raza Jaffrey (Homeland, Code Black), Ray Panthaki (Away, Colette), Nicholas Burns (Emma, Harlots), Danny Kirrane (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Don’t Forget the Driver), and Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Adult Material).

The Serpent Queen is based on the book Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda and is from writer and executive producer Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road, Red Sparrow, The Lone Ranger). Stacie Passon (Transparent, Dickinson, Billions) directs multiple episodes, including the premiere episode and serves as executive producer. The series is executive produced by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2) and Erwin Stoff (The Matrix, 13 Hours, Edge of Tomorrow). The eight-episode series is produced for STARZ by Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment. 

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Happy Anniversary Stargate SG-1

I could not let today go by without wishing Stargate SG-1 a very happy 25th anniversary! The popular long-running Sci-Fi TV series’ first episode, Children of the Gods, made its Showtime premiere on July 27th, 1997. Little did I know the impact that this show would have on me professionally and personally. I had the privilege of spending countless happy hours on the SG-1 set as well as the sets of Stargate Atlantis and SGU: Stargate Universe. I wrote hundreds of articles for TV Zone, Starburst, Cult Times, Xpose and The Official Stargate Magazine, and was always thrilled to open up the latest issue of each magazine and see my pieces in print (yes, the internet is forever, but print will always be the best, at least in my eyes). Each of the show’s casts, crews, and creative teams always made time to talk with me; no one was ever too busy, and everyone went above and beyond to make me feel part of the Stargate family. During those years of set visits, I met so many amazingly gifted and genuinely kind people, many of whom to this day I have the honor of calling my friends. I’m fortunate to have so many wonderful memories, including my cameo as "SG-1 Gate Room Tech" in the fifth season story The Tomb. Those were, indeed, the days! Many, many thanks and lots of love to my Stargate family, and, again, happy anniversary to SG-1!

Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion's J.R. Villarreal - Sting of the Scorpion

J.R. Villarreal as Cruz de la Vega in Ultra Violet and Black Scorpion. Photo courtesy/copyright of The Disney Channel.

While some people might think that “Nice guys finish last,” there are, thankfully, many, exceptions. The extremely affable and very talented J.R. Villarreal has succeeded in carving out a successful career for himself in the entertainment industry. Since childhood, the native Texan has been a huge movie aficionado – especially films starring Jim Carrey – and was inspired to pursue an acting career after discovering that was an actual option. “I didn’t understand what an actor was, but then my father explained it to me, and I thought, ‘You can have a job where you pretend to be other people. That’s amazing,’” recalls Villarreal. “As I got older, I wanted to play football, learn how to fly a plane, do all sorts of stuff, but at the end of the day, I fell in love with this business. I love acting, filmmaking and storytelling, and I feel so grateful as well as blessed to be doing what I’m doing.”

Black Scorpion (J.R. Villarreal). Photo courtesy/copyright of The Disney Channel.

Currently, Villarreal is starring as Cruz de la Vega a.k.a. Black Scorpion in the Disney Channel’s live-action superhero action-adventure series Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion. To his family, friends and ordinary citizens, Cruz is the owner of a wrestling gym, but criminals know and fear him as Black Scorpion. This costumed do-gooder possesses super-strength and the ability to teleport through shadows, both of which are extremely useful tools in his crime-fighting arsenal. Our macho and muscular dynamo is surprised when, in the show’s opener, The Violet Behind the Ultra, a new superheroine named Ultra Violet bursts onto the scene. She is, in fact, Cruz’s 13-year-old niece, Violet Rodriguez (Scarlett Estevez), who has been chosen by a magical Luchador mask (part of the costume worn by professional wrestlers in Mexico) that transforms the teenager into a super-speedster. Being a newbie to helping fight crime and uphold the law, Violet looks to her Uncle Cruz for guidance. Villarreal chuckles when asked to describe his onscreen personas of Cruz de la Vega and Black Scorpion.

“Our showrunners, Leo Chu and Eric Garcia, described both Cruz and Black Scorpion to me in one word – curmudgeon,” says the actor. “It’s funny, because in real life, I’m pretty much a happy-go-lucky guy, but Leo and Eric said they were feeling a curmudgeon-type vibe, and then went on to explain themselves. They said that Cruz and Black Scorpion are the same person, only different sides of them are magnified. Cruz is very protective of his family, and that translates into Black Scorpion and how serious he takes being a superhero. He has a responsibility to protect this family; that’s the most important thing to him, so I’d say that the heart in both characters really connects them to what they’re doing. However, Black Scorpion is far more intense. He doesn’t want to hurt the criminals, but if they leave him no choice, he will. Meanwhile, Cruz has other things on his plate other than the superhero side of his life, including how to keep his gym afloat and take care of his family.

Ultra Violet (Scarlett Estevez) and Black Scorpion (J.R. Villarreal). Photo courtesy/copyright of The Disney Channel.

“Then, of course, he takes on the responsibility of helping his niece Violet and showing her the superhero ropes. Cruz realizes this is his destiny and fully accepts that. At the same time, he’s experiencing some [life] changes and learning much more from Violet than he ever imagined As Black Scorpion, Cruz is, again, teaching her the ways of a superhero, while Violet is teaching him how to better deal with this responsibility and not be so cut off from his family and the people he loves. In Cruz’s mind, his number one priority is protecting them, and as a result, he’s sacrificed a lot of beautiful things in his life, like hanging out with his family, and the idea of a romantic relationship. However, as the season goes on, Cruz starts to open up a little bit and take chances, including perhaps, when it comes to his love life,” teases Villarreal. “I can’t give anything away, but I can say for sure that Cruz learns how to work with others as opposed to being a solo superhero and discovers the huge advantage of having a team on your side.”

Besides using his brains as well as showcasing his acting chops playing Cruz and Black Scorpion, the actor also demonstrates plenty of brawn when performing his onscreen heroic feats. “The show’s physical aspect is one of the things I most enjoy,” says Villarreal. “I love working with the cast and crew, and the on-set family we’ve created, but the physical stuff made me feel like a kid in a candy store. I was in heaven getting to work with the legendary stunt coordinator and stunt performer James Lew. I have a Martial arts background and did gymnastics as well as played other sports and did some wrestling when I was growing up. So I already had a bit of a foundation and was willing to learn. I think James and everyone else involved appreciated that, and he tried to teach me everything he could.

The cast of Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion - (L-R): Juan Alfonzo, Marianna Borelli, J.R. Villarreal, Scarlett Estevez, Zelia Ankrum, Brandon Rossel, and Bryan Blanco. Photo courtesy/copyright of The Disney Channel.

“We had these Lucha [wrestling] consultants, and I’ll never forget my first day of work and filming Cruz’s opening scene. It involved this awesome wrestling move called a hurracaña, and they asked me, ‘Do you think you can do this?’ I said, “Well, I’ll try it,’ which I did, and they were like, ‘Holy cannoli, you can really do this stuff!’ I have an incredibly talented stunt double, Matt Unkeya, who helped me feel confident and comfortable with the things I was able to do. Black Scorpion is very acrobatic in his moves, and there are these complicated Lucha grandiose moves that I could never do or look as convincing as Matt does. However, there were certain choreographed fights and other sequences that they did let me do. I was so grateful to Disney for having such confidence in me, and it really was like a dream come true for me.”

Violet (Scarlett Estevez) gets some superhero tips from her Uncle Cruz (J.R. Villarreal). Photo courtesy/copyright of The Disney Channel.

Without a Trace, House, Strong Medicine, Ghost Whisperer, CSI: Miami and High & Mighty are among Villarreal’s other TV credits. The actor’s first big job was playing Javier Mendez in the 2006 feature film Akeelah and the Bee. “Kiki Palmer was the lead, and I had the opportunity to work with her as well as other such amazing actors as Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett,” he says. “This was a great story about an African American girl growing up in Los Angeles who earns a place in the National Spelling Bee. I was just a kid at the time, so I didn’t really understand the filming process. To me, it [acting] felt ‘normal,’ and I just wanted to do my job and have fun. It felt good to just be in the moment, enjoy the work, and be free of any judgement. Working with Scarlett Estevez on Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion reminded me of that; we had a lot of fun finding our characters, and there was no judging yourself or being hard on yourself.

“That feeling I had as a child on Akeelah and the Bee and learning from actors like Kiki Palmer and Laurence Fishburme, who gave me some wonderful advice, left me with these amazing memories that I will hold on to forever. Then, of course, there was also [the 2007 movie] Bobby Z and working with Paul Walker. That was probably the most significant experience I had as a child, and I was just so moved by Paul’s kindness and watching how he connected with and treated everyone around him, including me and my dad. That’s something else I will never forget, and I aspire to be that. What Paul was for me as a child, I want to be for the kids on Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion and the younger actors I’m working with. I want to spread that love and pass it on.”

Steve Eramo

Andrew Lincoln & Danai Gurira To Reunite For New Walking Dead Series (AMC)

The Walking Dead's Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). Photo copyright of AMC.

AMC Networks has announced that Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira will reunite for a new series in the expanding universe around The Walking Dead. The series will continue the journey and love story of the Rick Grimes and Michonne characters. Lincoln and Gurira, who have been actively involved in conceiving the creative and the continuation of their characters’ story, made the surprise announcement while appearing onstage as part of the final panel for The Walking Dead at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Scott M. Gimple, Chief Content Officer of The Walking Dead universe, will serve as showrunner on the series, which will begin with six episodes in 2023. Lincoln and Gurira are both executive producers.

“This is a moment fans of The Walking Dead have been waiting for since Rick disappeared in the helicopter early in season nine, and Michonne journeyed away on a quest to find him the following season,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “What a great surprise for the fans at this final Comic-Con for the series that launched this universe and made television history. We couldn’t be more excited for a truly epic series finale later this year and to see Andy and Danai return in a new series they helped create, one of three new series coming in 2023 that continue the stories of so many iconic and fan-favorite TWD characters.” 

“Rick and Michonne are two of my favorite people and Danai and Andy are two of my favorite people,” Gimple said. “Working with all of them continues to be a dream come true. The three of us, along with a terrific team of TWD all stars and incredible new voices, are crafting an insane love epic worth the long, long wait.”

“This has been the most extraordinary journey playing Rick Grimes for the best part of a decade. The friendships I’ve made along the way are deep and lasting, so it’s fitting that I finally get to complete the story with Danai and Scott and the rest of the TWD family. I’m so excited to be returning to the screen as Rick, reuniting with Danai as Michonne, and bringing the fans an epic love story to add to The Walking Dead universe.”

Said Gurira: “Michonne and this TWD family has meant so much to me, and to continue the journey of these beloved characters, alongside Scott and Andy, both creatively and in front of the camera, and bringing The Walking Dead fans something truly special is just glorious. I can’t wait to pick up the katana again.”  

This series presents an epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. By the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead... And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they've ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive -- or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?

Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire - Series Trailer and Key Art (AMC)

This weekend, AMC presented a panel for Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire at San Diego Comic-Con. The series will debut Sunday, October 2 at 10pm ET/9c immediately following The Walking Dead, with the series’ first two episodes available on AMC+ that same night. Check out the key art (above) and series trailer (below).

Based on Anne Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) and Claudia’s (Bailey Bass) epic story of love, blood, and the perils of immortality, as told to journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Chafing at the limitations of life as a black man in 1900s New Orleans, Louis finds it impossible to resist the rakish Lestat’s offer of the ultimate escape: joining him as his vampire companion. But Louis’s intoxicating new powers come with a violent price, and the introduction of Lestat’s newest fledgling, the child vampire Claudia, soon sets them on a decades-long path of revenge and atonement.

What We Do In The Shadows Vampire Night Club Makes Its Comic-Con Debut (FX)

(L-R): What We Do in the Shadow's Kristen Schaal, Harvey Guillen, Mark Proksch,  and Matt Berry arrive at Comic-Con's Vampire Night Club. Photo by Jerod Harris and courtesy/copyright of FX.

Last night, FX and The Hollywood Reporter hosted the World’s Greatest Vampire Night Club at San Diego Comic-Con with a star-studded party in celebration of FX’s Emmy-nominated hit comedy series What We Do in the Shadows.

Stars included Matt Berry (Laszlo Cravensworth), Harvey Guillén (Guillermo de la Cruz), Mark Proksch (Colin Robinson/Baby Colin) and Kristen Schaal (The Guide), as well as producers Paul Simms (Executive Producer/Writer), Stefani Robinson (Executive Producer/Writer) and Kyle Newacheck (Co-Executive Producer/Director). Bonus vampires included Danny Trejo (From Dusk Till Dawn) and Paul Wesley (The Vampire Dairies).

Additional creatures of the night included: JD Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Sarah Bolger, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash, Lucky Yates, Darcy Fowler, Seth Kirschner, Kieran Valla, Dan Harmon, Lucy DeVito, Jake DeVito, Minnie Driver, Jack Quaid and more.

Highlights from the event included:

• Bartenders appeared in disguise as Jackie Daytona (complete with toothpick), and DJ Daisy O’Dell guided the music as The Guide.
• Specialty cocktails for the non-bloodthirsty included “Hot Vamp Summer” and “Bat Outta Hell,” a Shirley Temple re-named “Baby Colin Robinson,” and, of course, some human alcohol beer.
• Guests received branded What We Do in the Shadows mints to combat Bat Breath.

What We Do in the Shadows, based on the feature film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, documents the nightly exploits of vampire roommates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) as they navigate the modern world of Staten Island with the help of their human familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén).

Season three of What We Do in the Shadows recently earned seven Emmy Award nominations, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series. Season four airs Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT on FX, streaming the next day on Hulu.

Follow What We Do in the Shadows on:
@TheShadowsFX

@TheShadowsFX

@TheShadowsFX

https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/what-we-do-in-the-shadows

See - Official Trailer For Third and Final Season Released (Apple TV+)

Today at the “Storytellers of Apple TV+” panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Apple TV+ and See showrunner and executive producer Jonathan Tropper unveiled the trailer for the third and final season of the global hit, epic post-apocalyptic Apple Original series starring Jason Momoa. The eight-episode final season of See debuts with the first episode on Friday, August 26, 2022 on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday. Check out the trailer below!

See is set in a brutal and primitive future, hundreds of years after humankind has lost the ability to see. In season three, almost a year has passed since Baba Voss (Momoa) defeated his nemesis brother Edo and bid farewell to his family to live remotely in the forest. But when a Trivantian scientist develops a new and devastating form of sighted weaponry that threatens the future of humanity, Baba returns to Paya in order to protect his tribe once more. 

Starring alongside Momoa in the third season of See are ensemble cast members Sylvia Hoeks, Hera Hilmar, Christian Camargo, Archie Madekwe, Nesta Cooper, Tom Mison, Olivia Cheng, Eden Epstein, Michael Raymond-James, David Hewlett and Trieste Kelly Dunn.

Featuring cast and crew who are blind or have low vision, See has been honored for its inclusivity and representation of the visually impaired. Since its premiere, the series has received the Ruderman Family Foundation Seal of Authentic Representation in 2020. Additionally, “See” was recognized with an NAACP Image Award nomination for star Alfre Woodard in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category. See is executive produced by Steven Knight, Francis Lawrence, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Jim Rowe, Jennifer Yale, Anders Engström and Jonathan Tropper, who also serves as showrunner. The series is produced by Chernin Entertainment and Endeavor Content.

Following the third and final season of “See,” Jason Momoa will next star in the highly anticipated Apple Original limited series Chief of War. Starring, written by and executive produced by Momoa, and co-created by Thomas Pa'a Sibbett, Chief of War follows the epic and unprecedented telling of the unification and colonization of Hawaii from an indigenous point of view. 

Fans can catch up on the first two seasons of See, now streaming globally on Apple TV+.

Catching Up With Moonhaven's Ayelet Zurer

Ayelet Zurer as Maite Voss in Moonhaven. Photo by Christine Ramage and courtesy/copyright of AMC/AMC+

Growing up, Israeli-born actress Ayelet Zurer considered a few other career options before ultimately embarking on her true passion. “At one point, I wanted to learn oceanography,” she notes. “I also thought about going to Italy to make shoes, which was rather silly,” says the actress with a laugh. “I’ve always loved art, though. That’s a part of my life and, in fact, I have a second career as an illustrator.

“If I hadn’t had the opportunity to pursue acting, then I probably would have done something in the fields of science and biology. As a teenager, I was part of a teen performance group, but after two or three years, I decided that wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to continue to study, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study. So like many young people, I got a job as a waitress, and one day I was offered a TV commercial. After that, I was offered a role in a TV show, and that’s when I finally decided that this [acting] might be for me. I studied in Israel as well as New York, and had a beautiful career in Israel, but then I started getting roles in Munich. That helped open the gate for jobs across the world. I’m a perfectionist and I work hard, but I have to say that I’ve been very lucky, too.”

Currently, Zurer can be seen playing Maite Voss in AMC/AMC+’s Sci-Fi drama Moonhaven. The series is set 100 years in Earth’s future and a time when the planet has become uninhabitable due to a variety of reasons. Humankind’s final hope for survival is Moonhaven, a lush, 500-square-mile colony built on the Moon and inhabited by humans calling themselves “Mooners” who are looking for ways to revitalize Earth. Over the past 30 years, they have made great strides with this herculean task thanks to IO, an artificial intelligence that has discovered solutions to just about everything from famine to human conflict. When the series opens, the Mooners are conflicted about the impending rollout of “The Bridge,” a plan involving the resettlement of Earth. Unfortunately, this coincides with the first murder on Moonhaven, which “detectives” Paul Sarno (Dominic Monaghan) and his partner Arlo (Kadeem Hardison) are tasked with solving. To their surprise, war veteran Bella Sway (Emma McDonald), who was on a routine mission shuttling Earth envoy Indira Mare (Amara Karan) and her bodyguard Tomm Schultz (Joe Manganiello) to the Moon, becomes involved in the murder investigation. Try as she might, Zurer’s character, who wears many hats, cannot help but also be pulled into events unfolding around her.

“Maite Voss is a spiritual leader, a scientist, a believer – which is a Moonhaven term – art collector, medicine maker and a keyholder of IO,” says the actress. “Unfortunately, she becomes entangled in politics. After I got the role, I approached our marvelous showrunner/writer Peter Ocko [series creator] and asked about my character’s journey. He explained her story to me, which was very exciting. I can’t reveal specifics, but I can say that Maite has a secret that unfolds and sends her in a direction that might surprise some people and make others suspicious of her.

“The first thing that attracted me to Moonhaven when I read the script was the poetic language that’s used, particularly with Maite. As an actor, the challenge for me was to make sure people understood what she was saying, and that her words lent themselves to the story. Maite knows a great deal, but she’s also inexperienced in the sense that, like most Mooners, she is trauma-less. Mooners treat trauma with respect; they accept the situation and where they’re at emotionally. One of the most important things about Maite is that, again, she is a keyholder of IO, and IO is what makes Moonhaven what it is. Only one other person holds a key, an Earther, Indira Mare. These two women are connected in that way and equally powerful. In the end, the big question for me was how to play someone who is inexperienced in life and humanly flawed, but very wise as well. There’s this Yoda-type quality to Maite, which I had to find, and I wanted to show that she has a sense of humor as well, so it was quite a juggling act.”

Legacies, Losing Alice, Taken, War Room and In Therapy are some of Zurer’s other TV credits, while her feature film work includes Milada, Ben-Hur, Last Knights, Last Days in the Desert, Vantage Point, and Angels & Demons. Prior to Moonhaven, the actress gained plenty of genre experience working on the TV series Daredevil and the big screen’s Man of Steel.

“Daredevil is one of my favorite jobs because of my character Vanessa, who was so cool, and the chance to work with Vincent D’Onofrio [Wilton Fisk],” she enthuses. “The latter was a highlight for me. Vincent and I became close friends, and we had such amazing scenes together. The two of us always had fun playing off one another, and I think the production values of the show were incredible as well. Season one is a particular favorite of mine. I loved how they broke down Vanessa and how she slowly but surely falls in love with that monster.

“With Man of Steel, I’ll never forget walking onto the sets for the very first time. There was no green screen; it was the real deal. It was one of the most exciting artistic experiences I’ve ever had because you felt like you were really living on the planet Krypton. Also, working with [director] Zack Snyder was a true gift. He’s such a fun man and a true artist. In some ways Zack is a non-conformist as far as his storytelling and the way he approaches things, both of which I love.”

Steve Eramo