Clancy Brown Joins Cast of Dennis Quaid-Zac Efron Film

Clancy Brown, immortalized as the Kurgan in in 1980s cult classic Highlander, has joined the cast of the untitled Ramin Bahrani project starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron. Killer Films is producing the pic, formerly titled Heartland, which centers on a farmer and sales seemdman (Quaid), who tries to deal with his racecar-driving son who refuses to follow in his footsteps. Brown will play a rival farmer. The pic is shooting in Illinois with a cast that counts Heather Graham and Kim Dickens, among other actors. Brown, repped by ICM and Pop Art Management, most recently appeared in Cowboys & Aliens and was the voice of the Parallax in Green Lantern. Related Topics Clancy Brown Dennis Quaid Zac Efron

Watch X-Men: First Class Movie Online

Why Podcasts Are Comedy's Second Coming: Adam Carolla, Marc Maron and Greg Proops Weigh In (Q&A)

This piece appears in the new issue of The Hollywood Reporter. Clickhereto see the cover.our editor recommendsMelissa McCarthy Working on Comedy with 'The Help' Director; How 'SNL' Made Her CryModern Film & Television ComediansThe Comedy Roundtable Podcasts have been compared to television in the 1940s, and for good reason: The medium is entering uncharted territory but has the potential to rival terrestrial radio. PHOTOS: Modern Film & Television Comedians During the past two years, while the radio industry has obsessed over formats and a flawed ratings system that often fails to accurately gauge audience numbers or demographics, podcasts of the comedic variety have flourished. Adam Carolla and Marc Maron lead the pack, following the pioneering path cleared by Kevin Smith, Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Pardo. The numbers tell the story: Carolla, who bid farewell to 15 markets when his syndicated CBS Radio morning show was canceled in 2009, has amassed an audience 10 times as big with his daily podcast. The Adam Carolla Show has logged more than 50 million downloads in a year; Maron's twice-weekly WTF is at 20 million and counting. Both are offered for free, while archived episodes (like Maron's intense 2010 interview with Robin Williams) cost $1.99 at iTunes (no money changes hands between the programs and Apple, but server space is the responsibility of show producers and can get pricey at about $10,000 a month). Cash starts flowing when listenership hits certain benchmarks and advertisers come calling, which, according to Carolla, they have -- big time. VIDEOS: The Comedy Roundtable "A lot of it is performance-based, and our audience performs," says Carolla, the former Man Show and Loveline host who spent about $125,000 of his own money in the podcast's nascent days and whose advertisers include ProFlowers.com and Nissan. "It's more accurate than radio, where there's so much BS about cumes, time spent listening, people filling out Arbitron diaries with golf pencils. ... With podcasts, you can tell how many shows have been listened to, down to the click. That's better for the sponsors and for us." The beauty of the podcast is its simplicity: Anyone can purchase a microphone and mixer, and the cost is nominal compared to a traditional radio program. "With an investment of $700 to $1,000, you can make a show," says Maron, whose podcast regularly charts in the iTunes Top 10 and charges $1,000 to $15,000 per sponsor. The comedian conducts interviews from the garage of his Los Angeles home, but he's rarely there these days as demand for his stand-up shows (which often double as podcast-recording opportunities) has jumped by 50 percent. "I'm now performing in rooms," cracks Maron. "When I started WTF, I was a marginal character who couldn't get booked -- a respected but acquired taste, not a seller of tickets. Now, I can sell pretty good." STORY: AOL Launching Late Night Block With Kevin Smith, Adam Carolla and Kevin Pollak "As a singular business, a podcast might not be profitable, but if you look at other revenue streams that can grow from it, it definitely is," says Judi Brown-Marmel, partner at Levity Entertainment Group, which manages such comedians as Jim Breuer and Hal Sparks. "Who it serves best are the people that don't fit a traditional broadcast model. Like, if George Carlin were 22 today, what would he be doing? Probably a podcast." Beyond the spoken word, the ripple effect can bring revenue from merchandising, book deals (Carolla's NY Times best-seller In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks was released in 2010, and Maron is working on his first book for Spiegel & Grau), iPhone apps (after Apple and Google take 10 percent, revenue is split 50-50 with the developer) and sales of comedy albums. Maron, in an ironic twist after being told in 2009 to ride out his contract at the now defunct Air America, has returned to terrestrial radio through NPR, which pays to air edited versions of WTF.Currently, 13 public radio affiliates carry the PRX version. Of course, not all podcasts are created equal. Greg Proops, who hosts cult favorite The Smartest Man in the World, says what he makes from his Proopscast "is not even gas money. I do it because a couple hundred thousand people will hear me, which is more than all my gigs combined." Maron says his initial goal was to "make an honest buck" and pay his mortgage. And now? "I'm making a living because I've been able to book more work, but it's still just me and a guy in my garage." In contrast, Carolla also works from his garage -- "He's got a bunker!" mocks Maron -- but he employs 18 people, from "$10-an-hour guys" to those "making six figures." "It's a business," he says. "Madison Avenue and corporate America are already involved. I don't know how to define success, but I can tell you that 18 months ago, companies like Nissan or LegalZoom didn't exist in our podcast world. Now they're in it in a big way, and other companies are coming on board." ReadThe Hollywood Reporter's Q&A with Maron, Carolla and Proops after the jump. Related Topics Adam Carolla Marc Maron Greg Proops 1 2 next last

Watch Transformers 3 Movie Online

AMC Launches Walking Dead Webisodes

Walking Dead Ever desired to begin to see the evolution of the zombie? Prior to the second season from the Walking Dead premieres, you'll get the opportunity to discover. On Monday, AMC will launch a number of six webisodes that explore the rear story of Hannah (Lilli Birdsell), also known as "Bicycle Girl," whom Ron Grimes (Andrew Lincoln subsequently) wiped out from whim within the series' first episode. Walking Dead's New Boss: I am not Frank Darabont and that i should not play the role of Directed through the Walking Dead's Greg Nicotero, the webisodes will illustrate Hannah's existence prior to the zombie apocalypse, her tries to survive and her eventual evolution right into a zombie. The 2nd season from the Walking Dead premieres Sunday, March. 16 at 9/8c on AMC.

New Dragon Tattoo Trailer Lands

Lisbeth speaks!While it's possible that David Fincher's version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will forever be more closely associated with that pulsing, hypnotic teaser scored with Trent Reznor and Karen O's cover of Immigrant Song, Sony was always going to need to release a more comprehensive promo to get some of the plot across. And it's now online for your viewing pleasure - take a look below. <a href='http://video. uk. msn. com/?mkt=en-gb&vid=711ed3f0-7b20-9609-c37f-de9511616b9a&src=SLPl:embed::uuids' _fcksavedurl='http://video. uk. msn. com/?mkt=en-gb&vid=711ed3f0-7b20-9609-c37f-de9511616b9a&src=SLPl:embed::uuids' target='_new' title='The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Exclusive Trailer'>Video: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Exclusive Trailer</a>For the three people who still don't know what's going on here, Daniel Craig stars as investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist, a man reeling from legal action after his latest subject sued the pants off him. He's approached by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), patriarch of a family with some very deep and very dark secrets. Vanger wants Blomkvist to investigate the decades-old murder of young Harriet Vanger, a case that is slowly driving him nuts. Vanger recommends that Blomkvist works with ace computer hacker/researcher Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a distinctly unconventional young woman with serious issues of her own. Together the pair digs into the mystery and starts to realise that it's even more complicated than they thought...It frankly seems unfair that we have to wait until December 26 to see this, but it's true! Call it a late Christmas present.

Watch The Hangover 2 Free

R.I.P. Dolores Hope

Dolores Hope, the widow of Bob Hope, died of natural causes at her La home today. She was 102. Born in Harlem in NY on May 27, 1909, Dolores DeFina will be a singer at Manhattan’s Style Club when she met Bob Hope in 1933. The happy couple married the year after after which adopted four children. She frequently supported her husband on his USO shows. At 84 she sang “White Christmas” to Operation Desert Storm troops in the rear of the truck inside the Saudi desert. Although she put her singing career on hold after her marriage that you should she labored for numerous charitable groups. From 1969 to 1976 she offered as leader in the Eisenhower Clinic in Palm Desert, Calif. Funeral services will probably be private.

Charlie Sheen, WB near dismissal of legal fight

SheenOn exactly the same evening that "2 . 5 Males" switched the page around the Charlie Sheen era, word appeared the lengthy-running dispute between your actor and "Males" studio Warner Bros. is approaching an finish. At war since Feb over Sheen's behavior -- peaking with Sheen's March 7 termination in the show -- Warner Bros. and Sheen are becoming nearer to an offer that will dismiss the pending lawsuit between your sides and can include a payment called at about $25 million. The payout would largely cover distribution gold coin from "Males" that Sheen has already been owed. The studio stopped making all obligations towards the thesp after he was fired and also the legal fight started. While Warner Bros. stated no deal have been arrived at, sources near to the situation confirmed that discussions were advancing toward an armistice that will incorporate some mixture of money owed to Sheen which have been withheld throughout the conflict, along with a lump sum payment parting-of-the-ways payment. Sheen filed a $100 million suit against Warner Bros. and "Males" professional producer Chuck Lorre over his termination and lack of earnings on March 10, in the height from the craze all around the actor, who made a number of highly promoted, bigger-than-existence rants by which he trashed nearly everybody and everything getting related to "Males." That situation has since been at the disposal of an arbitrator, after Sheen lawyers unsuccessful to convince a court to maneuver the situation to some jury trial. As opposed to his belligerent stance in last spring's "My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat isn't a choiceInch live tour and the bravado about getting "tiger bloodstream," Sheen now seems to become set on attempting to rehabilitate his acting career. A week ago came a mea culpa on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," then his brief, no-joke remarks like a presenter Sunday's Primetime Emmys, forwarded to the "Males" cast and crew, that appeared a minimum of partly calculated to exhibit he was prepared to color within the lines again -- and employable. From the foot of my heart, If only you only the very best for that coming season," Sheen stated onstage in the Nokia Theater. "We spent eight wonderful years together, and that i know you will keep to create great television." Even that moment were built with a behind-the-moments debate, with Lorre's camping and Warner Bros. brass stated to become incensed that Sheen was handed the chance to airbrush his status in an event on the face dedicated to honoring excellence in television. Obviously, just like Sheen's camping is moving to place the chaos of history seven several weeks behind him, his meltdown is in the spotlight as attention turns to Ashton Kutcher's debut on "Males" as well as with Monday's "Roast of Charlie Sheen" on Comedy Central. Sheen vowed to resurrect his career separate from "Males," but to date, the outcomes happen to be mixed. He's toplining a Lionsgate-created TV adaptation from the 2003 feature comedy "Anger Management," a project that's just getting off the floor and it has not really been looked to purchasers. Around the feature side, Sheen continues to be cast opposite Jason Schwartzman within the approaching Roman Coppola film, "A Glimpse Within the Mind of Charlie Swan III" (Variety, Sept. 8) which involves a once-effective artist whose existence spirals out. Contact Jon Weisman at jon.weisman@variety.com

Hotel Swooni (Swooni)

A Kinepolis relieve an Eyeworks Film & TV Drama production in co-production with EEN with support within the Flemish Audiovisual Fund, Bruxellimages, Belgian Tax Shelter for Film Investment, Just Bridge Entertainment, Kinepolis Film Distribution. (Worldwide sales: Delphis Films, Montreal.) Produced by Peter Bouckaert. Co-producers, Jean-Philippe p Tender, Elly Vervloet. Directed by Kaat Beels. Script, Annelies Verbeke, Michel Sabbe, Beels.With: Sara P Roo, Geert Van Rampelberg, Natali Broods, Viviane P Muynck, Vigny Tchakouani, Issaka Sawadogo, Wim Danckaert, Stijn Van Opstal, Maaike Neuville, Enrique P Roeck, Tibo Vandenborre. (Nederlander, French dialogue)"Hotel Swooni" might be the fashionable The town venue where the lives of six troubled, yearning figures intersect for 20-four several hours within a summer season warmth wave inside an excessively familiar, formulaic drama so contrived, it's tough to suspend disbelief and be moved by their plights. Undertaking a nearby arthouse release, Belgian helmer Kaat Beels' feature debut will segue into home-viewing formats. Adulterous wife Anna (Sara P Roo) arrives on her behalf sister's wedding along with sex-starved policeman husband Hendrik (Geert Van Rampelberg) and teen boy Jens (Enrique P Roeck), whose repeated refrain of "boring" audiences will certainly understand. Violette (Viviane P Muynck), the extended-estranged, cancer-stricken mother of hotel maid Vicky (Natali Broods), assessments in, likely to reconcile along with her daughter. Meanwhile, Vicky, who longs for any kid, decides to shelter youthful Joyeux (Vigny Tchakouani), an illegal immigrant within the Ivory Coast who's looking for his extended-suffering father (Issaka Sawadogo). Despite the fact that narrative is stuffed with absurd loose finishes, a bad tone uneven as well as the thesping overdone, the solid widescreen lensing makes visceral the twinkling warmth beating lower round the hotel roof as well as the awesome half-light in the rooms.Camera (color, DV, widescreen), Frank van family room Eeden editor, Philippe Ravoet music, Wim p Wilde production designer, Hubert Pouille costume designer, Catherine Marchand. Examined at Toronto Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema), Sept. 12, 2011. Running time: 89 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Emmys 2011: Those who win Revealed

Modern Family began from the 63rd Primetime Emmy Honours inside a large way, winning the very first four honours from the evening.our editor recommendsEmmys 2011: Complete Those who win ListEmmys 2011: Charlie Sheen Turns Up towards the Emmys (Video)Emmys Fashion 2011: Giorgio Armani Dresses Two Large Hollywood StarsEMMY FASHION 2011: Gwyneth Paltrow's Dress Dissed By FansEmmys 2011: Jane Lynch Sees Double in Musical Honours Open (Video) Emmys Survive THR's The Race: Tim Goodman Blogs All Of The Action -- In fact EMMY FASHION 2011: Giorgio Armani Dresses Two Large Hollywood StarsEmmys 2011: Jane Lynch Jokes About Losing to Julie Bowen'Modern Family's' Steve Levitan States Early Emmy Sweep a 'Little Surreal'Related Subjects•Emmys 2011 PHOTOS: Emmy 2011 Nominees Julie Bowen won the very first Emmy passed out in the show, for supporting actress inside a comedy series. Minutes later,Ty Burrell, who plays her husband on the program, won supporting actor inside a comedy. In the speech, he compensated tribute to his later father, whom he stated could have been happy with him but asked why he decided on a profession by which he needs to put on a lot makeup. STORY: Emmy Those who win React "He'd say, why the makeup?" Burrell quipped. "I understand he'd maintain awe of my mother, who supported me enough for any dozen oldsters ... and ultimately, i believe he'd seem like, couldn't you simply put on just a little powder? Why is it necessary to seem like a harlot? and that i'd say, 'Dad, just think about me like a very masculine lady, and that he'd say, 'I do, boy.'" PHOTOS: Emmys Red-colored Carpet Fashion Furthermore,Michael Alan Spiller won the award for comedy series pointing for that "Halloween" episode, whileSteve Levitan and Jeffrey Richman required the comedy series writing Emmy for that "Caught in the process" episode. Levitan, who's also the series co-creator with Christopher Lloyd thanked the cast and crew and the family, including his "three traumatized children." Complete Listing of Emmy Those who win Upon coming back in the commercial break, host Jane Lynch quipped: "Welcome to the current Family honours." Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen required happens to hands the award for lead actor inside a comedy: "my old category," he noted. PHOTOS: Emmy Nominations 2011: Snubs and Shockers He didn't mention his former 2 . 5 Males co-workers by title, but he did say: "From the foot of my heart If only you only the very best.Inch He then introduced the Emmy champion: Jim Parsons, from the Large Bang Theory.It's Parsons' second consecutive Emmy for lead actor inside a comedy. "I had been assured by many people people during my existence this wasn't happening, however i'm so grateful it is occurring,Inch he stated in the speech. THR's Ultimate Emmy Roundtable and Gallery Guide from the 2011 Honours Season Meanwhile, Melissa McCarthy of Mike & Molly won best lead actress inside a comedy series. Within the drama groups, The Great Wife star Julianna Margulies won the award for the best lead actress. In her own speech, she thanked the "stellar cast" and also the "beautiful crew -- you're like family in my experience.Inch Friday Evening Lights star Kyle Chandler won his first Emmy, for lead actor inside a drama. He made an appearance without words because he required happens, saying he hadn't prepared an address while he didn't be prepared to need one. Amongst others, he thanked the folks "who filled the arenas and introduced the show to existence" although it was shooting in Texas. VIDEO: Emmy Roundtable: Drama Showrunners Martin Scorsese won best pointing towards the pilot episode of Boardwalk Empire, whileJason Katimswon for writing the "Always" episode ofFriday Evening Lights. A noticeably overjoyed Margo Martindale won best supporting actress inside a drama series for Justified. Boardwalk Empire's Peter Dinklage won best supporting actor inside a drama. The Astonishing Race won the Emmy for outstanding reality competition program. PHOTOS: David Strick 2011 Emmy Nominees The Daily Show With Jon Stewart won its ninth consecutive Emmy for the best variety, music or comedy program. Additionally, it won for the best writing. Don Roy King of Saturday Evening Live won for pointing for any variety, music or comedy series. Downton Abbey would be a large champion within the miniseries, movie or dramatic special groups. John Percival won for pointing, whileJulian Fellowes won for writing. The Gosford Park writerthanked the American entertainment sell for the win. THR's Full Emmy 2011 Coverage "10 years ago you kick-began my career by having an Oscar tonight you've nurtured it," he stated. Downton Abbey's Maggie Smithand The Kennedys' Craig Pepper won best actress and actor within the miniseries, movie or dramatic special category but weren't give accept their honours. The show is airing survive Foxfrom the Nokia Theatre in La. Related Subjects Modern Family Justified Mike and Molly The Large Bang Theory Boardwalk Empire Saturday Evening Live The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Jon Stewart Jane Lynch Jim Parsons Julie Bowen Martin Scorsese Emmy Honours Emmys 2011 Primetime Emmy Honours

Toronto: Where Do We Go Now? Wins Audience Award, The Raid Gets Madnight Madness, Island President Wins Docu Prize

The 2011 Toronto Film Festival is drawing to a close, and the festival just handed out its prizes. The winners: Cadillac People’s Choice Award: Nadine Labaki-directed Where Do We Go Now? Cadillac People’s Choice Award For Documentary: Jon Shenk-directed The Island President Cadillar People’s Choice Award For Midnight Madness: Gareth Evans-directed The Raid City of Toronto and Astral Media’s The Movie Network Award For Best Canadian Feature: Philippe Falardeau-directed Monsieur Lazhar Skyy Vodka Award For Best Canadian First Feature Film: Nathan Morlando-directed Edwin Boyd FIPRESCI Prize For Special Presentations Section: Gianni Amelio-directed The First Man FIPRESCI Prize For Discovery Programme: Axel Petersen-directed Avalon (Sweden) Best Canadian Short Film: Ian Harnarine-directed Doubles With Slight Pepper

The Hangover 2 Watch Online Free

Tareq Salahis Attorney Says Hes Relieved Michaele Is OK, But Devastated

FRONT ROYAL, Va. -- An attorney says the husband of Real Housewives of D.C. cast member Michaele Salahi is relieved that shes OK but devastated that shes apparently left. Tareq Salahis attorney, David Silek, told ABCs Good Morning America on Thursday that its premature to say if the couple would get a divorce. Sileks statements came amid reports that Michaele Salahi was with a member of the band Journey. Warren County Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron said Wednesday Tareq Salahi called Tuesday afternoon to report his wife missing. In a statement, McEathron said a deputy spoke with Michaele Salahi and she assured himshe had left the residence with a good friend and was where she wanted to be. The Salahis burst onto the scene in 2009 when they crashed a White House state dinner. Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Watch Online X-Men: First Class

Wrestling With the Challenges of 'The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity'

Wrestling With the Challenges of 'The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity' By Dany Margolies September 12, 2011 A play about racism and commercialism, brightly wrapped as a high-energy extravaganza set in the world of professional wrestling, has begun its smackdown run at the Geffen Playhouse. Kristoffer Diaz's unusual, thought-provoking play, directed by Edward Torres, premiered in 2009 at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago before moving to Second Stage Theatre in New York and now to Los Angeles. Desmin Borges, with the show since Chicago, plays Mace, a Puerto Rican fall-guy wrestler. Usman Ally, likewise a veteran of the production, plays VP, an Indian-American Brooklynite recruited by Mace. Terence Archie, who joined the cast in New York, plays Chad Deity, the African-American champion. The three perceptive actors spoke with Back Stage during preview week.Back Stage: How did you show everyone involved in casting this play that you were right for the roles? Desmin Borges: Very rarely do you see a Puerto Rican playing a Puerto Rican. That's one thing Kris [Diaz] and I talked about, that it was just like a little match made in heaven. Right off the bat, we had very similar childhoods. So in this play, when I started the monologue about my brothers: I don't have them, I had cousins, Kris doesn't have brothers, he had cousins. We both ate not-brand-name frosted flakes. We used to practice doing elbow drops off the couch, on our cousins. So, very early on, we just clicked. Usman Ally: The character of VP, when I was talking to Kris about him, it was like, a very large amount of it is my own lifestyle. I was involved in hip-hop and being South Asian and wanting to play a South Asianbut not a South Asian who's got an Indian accent and is a cab driverbut being able to play something very authentic. So it was evident for us in that room that we all vibed together very well. And Des and I seemed to hit it off pretty much very quickly in terms of our rhythm and how we speak onstage in the roles. Terence Archie: I joined the production in New York. My agent sent me a breakdown looking for a physical actor who could possibly look like a wrestler. Now, back then, I was probably 25 pounds lighter. But I still had an aptitude to put on muscle if I needed. So I started going through the audition process. I took a picture of myself as Chad Deitywhat I thought Chad Deity would look like. I Photoshopped it, and I gave it to the director during my audition. I said, "This is Chad Deity right here." It was a picture of me in [strikes an exaggerated muscle pose]. I would tear my shirt right in the middle of the audition.Back Stage: Tell us about bringing a newcomer in to a cast that was tight and chummy and had its way of doing things. Borges: From the very first time I met Terence, it was very easy. We were at the table [read], and we got done with the first act, and I remember just looking at us and feeling the energy in the room, and it was like, "We found it. We found an amazing fit." All of us are pretty much from the Midwest: [Usman] is a transplant to the Midwest, I'm originally born in Chicago, Terence was born in Detroit. Kris has spent a lot of time coming back there, being a resident writer with us. We had this Midwest "We do it for the art." I remember at first talking to Us, being like, "Man, Terence is quiet when he's offstage." 'Cause onstage he's a monster. He's like charismatic as all hell, taking it all over the place; you can't help but smile and watch this guy, especially when his pecs are dancing all over the place. And then one day we were in the dressing room, and I said something about Aaron Neville, and all of a sudden I got the best Aaron Neville impression I've ever heard in my life. Would you give us a little bit of it real quick? Archie: [Sings a commercial jingle in Neville's voice.]Borges: From that point forward, there was no stopping Terence. Man was dancing, singing, everywhere, always coming around in his robe. Ally: It was interesting, because you do think about those things when you've got a show and a cast and then it changes. You're like, what's going to happen? Moving from Chicago to New York, you're suddenly, like, what if they get a big star in there? Terence is a big star. But it became evident in that first reading that Terence brought an experience to the role, and that's exactly what Chad Deity is. He's an experienced guy; he's been in the business for a while. [To Archie] Not to say that you're old. But here's somebody who as an actor really understands the craft of how to dissect this role. And that became very evident, like Des was saying, the first reading. Back Stage: What were some of the character choices you made early on that have stayed with you, and what were some you discarded? Ally: There's a scene towards the end when I abandon Mace; I kick him in the face and I tell him that I don't want to do this anymore. When we did it in Chicago, it was a very emotionally gut-wrenching scene. I would be in tears sometimes because I would feel itthe conflict. And now, just thinking about it more, doing the show in New York, seeing what Carroll Gardens [in Brooklyn] is like, coming here, and also being olderit's only been two and a half years, but a lot has happened, and the way I respond to it is also based on how I've grown up a little bit. I can sort of separate myself a little bit and understand that not everything has to be as emotionally driven. There is a separation the characters can have from emotions and just do things based on what they want. Borges: This play is sort of therapeutic, 'cause my father passed away when I was 15. So when I go through [the play], I hear my father's voice all the time. And before we ever did the first reading, my grandmother died the day before we did the first professional reading. So the connection that I have with my family is somehow embedded into this script. Man, I don't like to think about seeing my father and my grandmother in a casket all the time and all the sh** that they taught me, but it helps me go all the way through the story, and if I don't do it, I lose something from it. So there's where I shut my brain off and I'm not going to go there, and I don't tell the story the correct way. And the nights when I do have it, the story just flies from me. Archie: All I feel I need to know these days, from acting as long as I have, which is about 15 years, I just need to know the exposition, I need to know what people say about me, and what I say about myself. That's really the basic information. If I have that, I know I always have something to fall back on. I have a repertoire of choices I can make because I'm confident in my exposition, I'm confident what my history is. I always try to impress myself every night. I try to surprise myself. That's what makes it fun for me. Back Stage: What is your most physically challenging moment and your most actorly challenging moment? Archie: The most physically challenging moment is whenever I pick these guys up and throw them down on the floor, or whenever I hit [Usman] with a chair, because I'm such a softie; I don't want to hurt these guys. So any time [Usman] falls, I'm like, "Oh, I hope he's okay." Or any time I drop Desmin on his back, from like 5 or 6 feet in the air, I'm like, "Oh, I hope this guy's okay." Acting in between the moments, that's something else; that's not as hard as making sure I know these guys are okay.Borges: The most difficult thing for me physically is finding time to breathe. We got to New York, and it's a whole different theater audiencehow fast New Yorkers talk and the way New York sort of moves, we realized I could tell the story faster and take like 10 minutes off the show. But we needed it in order for me to stay ahead of the audience. [In L.A.] I'm able to start taking some breath in places. Not that L.A. audiences aren't intelligent or don't know what's going on or that things fly over their head, but just the atmosphere of Los Angeles is a little bit more laid-back, and we can actually let moments land and sit there and let them think about them. I'm finding these moments of where I'm actually able to breathe again; however, there still are moments in the play, specifically the very last monologue I have, where I basically fight everyone onstage and deliver a three-page monologue at the same time. By the time I get to the point where [Terence] picks me up in the air and power bombs me, I couldn't be happier to have my back on the mat, having nothing else to say, because I finally get a chance to just lay there. I think physically and actorwise it's the same thing: finding places to breathe so I don't interrupt the story and that I continue the pace of the show and that I don't pass out onstage.Ally: VP exists a lot onstage sometimes, especially in Act 2, without saying anything, but he's there taking in a lot of things, and a lot of the character development is not in the lines; I have to find it in myself and figure it out. The first act, I do a lot of talking, and then at the end of the second act, I have a big monologue again. Right before the end of Act 1, I jump from speaking about Chad Deity and wrestling to Puerto Rico and mandated sterilizationwhich is great because I understand where it's coming from, because I do that all the time when I'm going off on a rant with my friends and I'm talking about the ills and the vices of this world. But it is still hard to do that and keep the audience with me on my side so that I'm not talking at them. Physically, for me, all the kicks are tough. But there's one in particular, when I kick [the character] Old Glory in the face: Even though it's very satisfying kicking somebody with an American flag all over his body, it is difficult because in Chicago we had an instance where I did the kick and Christian Litke took the kick, and I made contact and gave him an orbital blowout. He had to get a bunch of stitches, and there was a lot of blood. For me it was a very traumatic experience, 'cause I'm not a wrestlerI'm an actor. So every time I get into that position, I have to take a few breaths and think, "Okay, he's going to be fine." Back Stage: What do you do to warm up before the show, and what do you do to cool down? Borges: It started in Chicago: The very first two hours of rehearsal is us at the gym, working out, building up muscles which we have to fall on, and our, just, vanity. We get back to the rehearsal room, we do a whole group warm-up before we do fight call, then we do fight call to make sure everything is in place. Then we do the show, and the show by itself is a frickin' workout. And then, after that, I just kind of sit in a chair, sometimes I take a little swig of bourbon. I have to eat something very quickly. I have about 90 minutes after the show in which I'm on a high, and then I crash, and I usually sleep for 10 hours after the show. It helps me recoup physically but also vocally. When I don't get nine or 10 hours, I can feel the difference the next night that we do the show. Ally: We all have to hit different things in the play. For me, I have to make sure I'm stretched out in the legs for all those kicks. The show is exhaustingthe fight stuff, but then the "entrances." Those entrances are tiring, man, running down those aisles and jumpin' in the ring and then getting straight into some lines, as well. Once the show's over, I'm on a little bit of a high, but then within an hour, my body just wants to shut down.Archie: In addition to working out, I don't do a lot of preparation before the show, besides just warming my voice up, listening to some music that puts me in a positive state of mind, and I just try to get in touch with myselfmake sure I feel like I'm my best self that night. That's ultimately what I'm putting out on the stage: a heightened, manic version of myself, so I try to make sure I'm not off-center.Ally: Music is huge backstage. Every single one of our dressing rooms has music blaring out of it.Borges: In New York, since the spaces are so small, all five of us were in one dressing room. I think before every show, we listened to "No Diggity." I haven't yet [in Los Angeles], because I feel like I'm cheating on us. We have our own dressing rooms now, so I'm not gonna throw "No Diggity" on because the doors are closed. I'm not gonna rock "No Diggity" by myself. "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" continues at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A., through Oct. 9. (310) 208-5454. www.geffenplayhouse.com. Wrestling With the Challenges of 'The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity' By Dany Margolies September 12, 2011 A play about racism and commercialism, brightly wrapped as a high-energy extravaganza set in the world of professional wrestling, has begun its smackdown run at the Geffen Playhouse. Kristoffer Diaz's unusual, thought-provoking play, directed by Edward Torres, premiered in 2009 at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago before moving to Second Stage Theatre in New York and now to Los Angeles. Desmin Borges, with the show since Chicago, plays Mace, a Puerto Rican fall-guy wrestler. Usman Ally, likewise a veteran of the production, plays VP, an Indian-American Brooklynite recruited by Mace. Terence Archie, who joined the cast in New York, plays Chad Deity, the African-American champion. The three perceptive actors spoke with Back Stage during preview week.Back Stage: How did you show everyone involved in casting this play that you were right for the roles? Desmin Borges: Very rarely do you see a Puerto Rican playing a Puerto Rican. That's one thing Kris [Diaz] and I talked about, that it was just like a little match made in heaven. Right off the bat, we had very similar childhoods. So in this play, when I started the monologue about my brothers: I don't have them, I had cousins, Kris doesn't have brothers, he had cousins. We both ate not-brand-name frosted flakes. We used to practice doing elbow drops off the couch, on our cousins. So, very early on, we just clicked. Usman Ally: The character of VP, when I was talking to Kris about him, it was like, a very large amount of it is my own lifestyle. I was involved in hip-hop and being South Asian and wanting to play a South Asianbut not a South Asian who's got an Indian accent and is a cab driverbut being able to play something very authentic. So it was evident for us in that room that we all vibed together very well. And Des and I seemed to hit it off pretty much very quickly in terms of our rhythm and how we speak onstage in the roles. Terence Archie: I joined the production in New York. My agent sent me a breakdown looking for a physical actor who could possibly look like a wrestler. Now, back then, I was probably 25 pounds lighter. But I still had an aptitude to put on muscle if I needed. So I started going through the audition process. I took a picture of myself as Chad Deitywhat I thought Chad Deity would look like. I Photoshopped it, and I gave it to the director during my audition. I said, "This is Chad Deity right here." It was a picture of me in [strikes an exaggerated muscle pose]. I would tear my shirt right in the middle of the audition.Back Stage: Tell us about bringing a newcomer in to a cast that was tight and chummy and had its way of doing things. Borges: From the very first time I met Terence, it was very easy. We were at the table [read], and we got done with the first act, and I remember just looking at us and feeling the energy in the room, and it was like, "We found it. We found an amazing fit." All of us are pretty much from the Midwest: [Usman] is a transplant to the Midwest, I'm originally born in Chicago, Terence was born in Detroit. Kris has spent a lot of time coming back there, being a resident writer with us. We had this Midwest "We do it for the art." I remember at first talking to Us, being like, "Man, Terence is quiet when he's offstage." 'Cause onstage he's a monster. He's like charismatic as all hell, taking it all over the place; you can't help but smile and watch this guy, especially when his pecs are dancing all over the place. And then one day we were in the dressing room, and I said something about Aaron Neville, and all of a sudden I got the best Aaron Neville impression I've ever heard in my life. Would you give us a little bit of it real quick? Archie: [Sings a commercial jingle in Neville's voice.]Borges: From that point forward, there was no stopping Terence. Man was dancing, singing, everywhere, always coming around in his robe. Ally: It was interesting, because you do think about those things when you've got a show and a cast and then it changes. You're like, what's going to happen? Moving from Chicago to New York, you're suddenly, like, what if they get a big star in there? Terence is a big star. But it became evident in that first reading that Terence brought an experience to the role, and that's exactly what Chad Deity is. He's an experienced guy; he's been in the business for a while. [To Archie] Not to say that you're old. But here's somebody who as an actor really understands the craft of how to dissect this role. And that became very evident, like Des was saying, the first reading. Back Stage: What were some of the character choices you made early on that have stayed with you, and what were some you discarded? Ally: There's a scene towards the end when I abandon Mace; I kick him in the face and I tell him that I don't want to do this anymore. When we did it in Chicago, it was a very emotionally gut-wrenching scene. I would be in tears sometimes because I would feel itthe conflict. And now, just thinking about it more, doing the show in New York, seeing what Carroll Gardens [in Brooklyn] is like, coming here, and also being olderit's only been two and a half years, but a lot has happened, and the way I respond to it is also based on how I've grown up a little bit. I can sort of separate myself a little bit and understand that not everything has to be as emotionally driven. There is a separation the characters can have from emotions and just do things based on what they want. Borges: This play is sort of therapeutic, 'cause my father passed away when I was 15. So when I go through [the play], I hear my father's voice all the time. And before we ever did the first reading, my grandmother died the day before we did the first professional reading. So the connection that I have with my family is somehow embedded into this script. Man, I don't like to think about seeing my father and my grandmother in a casket all the time and all the sh** that they taught me, but it helps me go all the way through the story, and if I don't do it, I lose something from it. So there's where I shut my brain off and I'm not going to go there, and I don't tell the story the correct way. And the nights when I do have it, the story just flies from me. Archie: All I feel I need to know these days, from acting as long as I have, which is about 15 years, I just need to know the exposition, I need to know what people say about me, and what I say about myself. That's really the basic information. If I have that, I know I always have something to fall back on. I have a repertoire of choices I can make because I'm confident in my exposition, I'm confident what my history is. I always try to impress myself every night. I try to surprise myself. That's what makes it fun for me. Back Stage: What is your most physically challenging moment and your most actorly challenging moment? Archie: The most physically challenging moment is whenever I pick these guys up and throw them down on the floor, or whenever I hit [Usman] with a chair, because I'm such a softie; I don't want to hurt these guys. So any time [Usman] falls, I'm like, "Oh, I hope he's okay." Or any time I drop Desmin on his back, from like 5 or 6 feet in the air, I'm like, "Oh, I hope this guy's okay." Acting in between the moments, that's something else; that's not as hard as making sure I know these guys are okay.Borges: The most difficult thing for me physically is finding time to breathe. We got to New York, and it's a whole different theater audiencehow fast New Yorkers talk and the way New York sort of moves, we realized I could tell the story faster and take like 10 minutes off the show. But we needed it in order for me to stay ahead of the audience. [In L.A.] I'm able to start taking some breath in places. Not that L.A. audiences aren't intelligent or don't know what's going on or that things fly over their head, but just the atmosphere of Los Angeles is a little bit more laid-back, and we can actually let moments land and sit there and let them think about them. I'm finding these moments of where I'm actually able to breathe again; however, there still are moments in the play, specifically the very last monologue I have, where I basically fight everyone onstage and deliver a three-page monologue at the same time. By the time I get to the point where [Terence] picks me up in the air and power bombs me, I couldn't be happier to have my back on the mat, having nothing else to say, because I finally get a chance to just lay there. I think physically and actorwise it's the same thing: finding places to breathe so I don't interrupt the story and that I continue the pace of the show and that I don't pass out onstage.Ally: VP exists a lot onstage sometimes, especially in Act 2, without saying anything, but he's there taking in a lot of things, and a lot of the character development is not in the lines; I have to find it in myself and figure it out. The first act, I do a lot of talking, and then at the end of the second act, I have a big monologue again. Right before the end of Act 1, I jump from speaking about Chad Deity and wrestling to Puerto Rico and mandated sterilizationwhich is great because I understand where it's coming from, because I do that all the time when I'm going off on a rant with my friends and I'm talking about the ills and the vices of this world. But it is still hard to do that and keep the audience with me on my side so that I'm not talking at them. Physically, for me, all the kicks are tough. But there's one in particular, when I kick [the character] Old Glory in the face: Even though it's very satisfying kicking somebody with an American flag all over his body, it is difficult because in Chicago we had an instance where I did the kick and Christian Litke took the kick, and I made contact and gave him an orbital blowout. He had to get a bunch of stitches, and there was a lot of blood. For me it was a very traumatic experience, 'cause I'm not a wrestlerI'm an actor. So every time I get into that position, I have to take a few breaths and think, "Okay, he's going to be fine." Back Stage: What do you do to warm up before the show, and what do you do to cool down? Borges: It started in Chicago: The very first two hours of rehearsal is us at the gym, working out, building up muscles which we have to fall on, and our, just, vanity. We get back to the rehearsal room, we do a whole group warm-up before we do fight call, then we do fight call to make sure everything is in place. Then we do the show, and the show by itself is a frickin' workout. And then, after that, I just kind of sit in a chair, sometimes I take a little swig of bourbon. I have to eat something very quickly. I have about 90 minutes after the show in which I'm on a high, and then I crash, and I usually sleep for 10 hours after the show. It helps me recoup physically but also vocally. When I don't get nine or 10 hours, I can feel the difference the next night that we do the show. Ally: We all have to hit different things in the play. For me, I have to make sure I'm stretched out in the legs for all those kicks. The show is exhaustingthe fight stuff, but then the "entrances." Those entrances are tiring, man, running down those aisles and jumpin' in the ring and then getting straight into some lines, as well. Once the show's over, I'm on a little bit of a high, but then within an hour, my body just wants to shut down.Archie: In addition to working out, I don't do a lot of preparation before the show, besides just warming my voice up, listening to some music that puts me in a positive state of mind, and I just try to get in touch with myselfmake sure I feel like I'm my best self that night. That's ultimately what I'm putting out on the stage: a heightened, manic version of myself, so I try to make sure I'm not off-center.Ally: Music is huge backstage. Every single one of our dressing rooms has music blaring out of it.Borges: In New York, since the spaces are so small, all five of us were in one dressing room. I think before every show, we listened to "No Diggity." I haven't yet [in Los Angeles], because I feel like I'm cheating on us. We have our own dressing rooms now, so I'm not gonna throw "No Diggity" on because the doors are closed. I'm not gonna rock "No Diggity" by myself. "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" continues at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A., through Oct. 9. (310) 208-5454. www.geffenplayhouse.com.

Watch The Hangover 2

How FaceBook Transformed The Planet The Arab Spring

The storyline of the way the Arab world exploded in revolution, like a new generation used the web and social networking to try and overthrow their hated leaders. Within the to begin this two-part series, Mishal Husain charts occasions in Tunisia and Egypt by meeting individuals who brought the revolts and showing the initial footage they shot.