Posts Tagged ‘Eliza Dushku’

Watertown, MA. native, the lovely Eliza Dushku is  purrrrrfect as Catwoman in Batman: Year One. We won’t actually be seeing Dushku, as she provided her voice for the animated original movie from DC Universe being released today.  At New York Comic Con last weekend,  the East Coast’s seminal pop culture convention, Dushku was part of the DC Universe panel.  The group, including producer/writer/animator Bruce Timm and Voice Director Andrea Romano discussed the film and premiered the animated short, Catwoman also starring Dushku.  Timm told hollywood.com that the animated short is  “ten minutes of sex and violence we didn’t get to do in Batman: Year One.” Fans can purchase Batman: Year One on Amazon today.

Photos: Screenrant.com and Hollywood.com

As the summer days keep us daydreaming, we need to stay tuned into important networking events.  The entertainment biz can be a roller coaster ride no matter what side of the camera you’re on. When you’re up it’s awesome but when the ride slows to a stop, it gets tough.

So in this crazy upside down, edge of your seat profession, it’s important that we continue to promote ourselves by finding new ways to shake hands in our community.  On Thursday, August 11th, the ever so swanky Boston Park Plaza invites us to Coast to Coast Job Fair, a free networking event.

It was just a couple of summers ago when Watertown native, Eliza Dushku was filming inside the posh Whiskey Park at the Park Plaza in the movie Valediction. Now you will have the opportunity to be with in those walls exposing yourself to, and talking face to face with multiple organization in all different fields.

In this biz we know you need a flexible schedule to keep your craft alive but we also need a paycheck to survive. An acting career can be a full-time or part-time gig depending on your success. If  you have a base of money to fall back on or streams of residuals you probably don’t need a day job. But in case you’re looking for some steady money, this event may be for you.

As actors, we have acquired many tools in shaping our craft over the years.  One thing we should do best is selling ourselves to future employers.  Register for this free Coast to Coast Job Fair at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and then the companies involved will be revealed. Who knows what kind of doors will open for you at this event. You may not be interested in some of the employers that pop up at the posh Park Plaza but at least you’re out there networking and getting ready for your next audition!

On Friday, September 17th, the 26th Boston Film Festival will kick off at the Stuart Street Playhouse, with 6 world premieres and 24 other films for movie fans and the press to enjoy.

On opening night, two world premieres will be happening. The film To Be Friends starring Todd Stashwick and Joelle Carter will be showing. Writer/director Jim Eckhart, and his brother, Aaron Eckhart, the executive producer of the picture will both be in attendance. The locally-shot psychological thriller Locked In, will also be shown. The

movie stars Ben Barnes, Sara Roemer, and Watertown’s Eliza Dushku. Roemer and Dushku will also be in attendance that evening for the screening.

During the opening weekend of the festival, there will be a 35th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg’s legendary film Jaws, which was shot on Martha’s Vineyard.

That Saturday and Sunday will also feature a shorts program of a variety of short form films. Other genres of film that will be featured include a documentaries and animated features.

Other famous faces that have promised to be in attendance include Ed Burns, Sam Rockwell, and Wade Williams. The Boston Film festival provides audiences with the opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions with actors and directors following the screening of their films.

During the closing night film and special events, Ernie and The Automatics will perform along with a special appearance by James Montgomery.

Tickets for all movie screenings are available for purchase at the theater’s box office or online via TicketLeap on the Boston Film Festival web site. The festival will run until the 23rd.

While the proverbial NBA battle of Hollywood East versus west may be over, we saw a plethora of celebrities and other famous faces packing the stands, cheering their favorite team on.

So which stars cheered for which team? On the Boston Celtics side, “Access Hollywood”  cohost, Medford-born Maria Menounos, a graduate of Emerson College, Cambridge-born comedian Dane Cook, retired New England Patriots linebacker (and recent Health Expo attendee) Tedy Bruschi, Boston-born actor Mike O’Malley, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, Red Sox owner John Henry, Everett’s Ellen Pompeo, Watertown’s Eliza Dushku, and Dorchester’s Donnie Wahlberg. Chief executive of DreamWorks Animation and film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, who donated $1.25 million to Boston University in 2006, was also assumed to be cheering for the Celtics.

Rooting for the Lakers, as always, was Jack Nicholson, singer Justin Timberlake, Sylvester Stallone, director Spike Lee, Sean P. Diddy Combs, Snoop Dogg, actor Leonardo DiCaprio who spent some time in Boston in 2008 while filming Shutter Island, Kevin Connolly, and Andy Garcia. Stars of the E! reality show, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” Kris, Kim, and Khloe Kardashian, wife of Lakers forward Lamar Odom, attended the games in L.A., but were absent on the east coast. Khloe did, however, find herself the target of some unique taunting by Boston fans at the TD Garden; fans were seen waving cardboard cutouts of her in hopes of distracting Odom.

Others famous faces that have been spotted at some of the games, included, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, singer Christina Aguilera, Olympic gold medalist from Jamaica, Usain Bolt, musicians Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh of the Eagles, “Saturday Night Live” performer Seth Meyers, singer Anita Baker, and comedian Will Ferrell. Actors Chris Rock and Adam Sandler, who have been heavily promoting their movie, Grown Ups, throughout the games, also spent time in Boston last summer filming their new flick, and were spotted sitting courtside in L.A.

The stars in the stands weren’t the only TV and film personalities in attendance. Lakers star Lamar Odom has been featured numerous times alongside his wife on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” as well as its spin-off “Khloe and Kourtney take Miami”. Celtics star Ray Allen, who began his college career at the University of Connecticut, has also starred in a number of films, including Spike Lee’s He Got Game, and Harvard Man. At a press conference after game 4, Celtics players Nate Robinson and Glen Davis even likened themselves to characters from the popular Shrek movies. Perhaps we’ll see them on set at the next film shot in Hollywood East during their off season!

★ Denis Leary appears at the 10 year anniversary ceremony honoring those lost in the cold storage warehouse fire in Worcester, Mass.

★ Commercials reap tax benefits by filming in Massachusetts.

★ More bad news for Emerson grad Jay Leno; DVRs are eating up his audience.

★ Gisele gives birth to a little Brady Boy, thank goodness she put off her helicopter pilot licensing exam until after the birth.

★ Celebrity connections, HEC exclusive: The day before she played the Wang and delayed her stage time in order to Skype into interviews on the West Coast after her 5 Grammy nominations, Lady GaGa’s make-up artist was spotted shopping at the Sephora in the Prudential Center.

★ Well that didn’t take long; Connecticut’s James Van Der Beek has a new lady friend.

★ Joss Whedon talks about why Fox show, “Dollhouse”, starring Watertown’s Eliza Dushku, failed.

★ Do you know your Massachusetts connections? Take this Boston Globe quiz and find out!

The fall television season is upon us, as both new shows and old favorites will soon be taking to the airwaves across the networks. While many of these shows are shot in California or Canada, nevertheless, New England is well-represented in a variety of ways. Whether it’s stars who originate from the area, or the shows themselves being set here, let’s check out where we can find Hollywood East on the fall 2009 line-up.

New Shows:

“Eastwick” on ABC, Wednesdays at 10 starting September 23, is inspired by the 1987 movie starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Susan Sarandon. This incarnation of the John Updike novel follows the story of 3 women (including Rebecca Romijn) whose everyday lives get thrown for a loop when a mysterious man arrives at their small, fictional New England town.

Connecticut born Seth MacFarlane’s “Family Guy” spinoff, “The Cleveland Show” is set to premiere September 27 on Fox. The animated comedy will air Sunday nights, along with MacFarlane’s other long-running series–”American Dad!” and “Family Guy”.

Old Favorites:

AMC’s surprise hit, “Mad Men” got a head start, with its season 3 premiere episode airing on August 16. Boston native, and recent Improper Bostonian cover model, John Slattery, will reprise his role as advertising executive Roger Sterling.

Everett’s Ellen Pompeo will be appearing less towards the start of the perpetual favorite “Grey’s Anatomy” with her real-life pregnancy pulling her away from an otherwise heavy workload. The season 6 premiere airs Thursday, September 24, and also stars Maine native Patrick Dempsey.

The second season of Fox’s “Fringe” coincides with production being moved to Vancouver, Canada, despite the fact that the series is set in Boston. Beantown’s own Leonard Nimoy will make several appearances throughout the season of the sci-fi show.

Fox’s other eccentric enterprise, “Dollhouse”, starring Watertown, MA’s Eliza Dushku will be returning for a second season after an uncertain beginning. The first episode will air September 25, as it returns to 9 PM time-slot on Friday nights.

★A super-skinny Christian Bale shoots scenes for The Fighter in Boston.

★Mark E Mark makes a Mrs.–Boston’s Mark Walhberg marries his long time girlfriend in Beverly Hills.

★”Dollhouse” star and Bostonian babe Eliza Dushku shows some skin on the cover of FHM.

★The Food Network’s Guy Fieri takes a tour of some of Boston’s best food joints, including Bartley’s Burger Cottage in Cambridge.

★The Rhode Island International Film Festival starts this week and goes through Sunday. Celebrities are sure to attend!

Former FleetBoston investment banker Michael Bassick is attempting to raise a $100 million fund through his Boston feature film investment firm, MJB Ventures. According to the July 17 issue of the Boston Business Journal, Bassick will capitalize on the Massachusetts state tax credit by conducting pre-production—and not just film shoots—in the area.

“He’s figured out a way to monetize those tax credits before the filming starts so that they can be used to help finance these films,” reporter Lisa van der Pool explained on “NECN’s Boston Business Journal Report,” posted on Monday, July 20.

Currently working as a producer on the thriller Valediction, Bassick is hardly a rookie to the New England film community; the movie recently wrapped up shooting in Boston with actress Eliza Dushku—a Watertown, MA native. And the list of credentials goes on: in 2006, Bassick founded Markedia Worldwide LLC—a film investment and entertainment company that has funded seven film projects since its inception.

Bassick hopes that the $100 million fund will allow MJB Ventures to invest in about 20 independent, local films over the course of six years. Given the current economic climate, the ease of online movie piracy, and the likelihood of a box office flop, film is obviously a very risky business. But who can deny that taking a chance on beautiful actors and an enticing script is a glamorous way to gamble. Yuri Rutman, author of “A Film Investment Guide,” recently explained what Bassick called the “sexiness” of film investment: “… opportunity to spice up your wealthy but boring life.”

With box office boomers like Juno setting new indie standards, and the strength of the New England talent pool on his side, Bassick seems bound for (behind-the-scenes) silver screen success.

Despite being laid to rest more than 6 years ago, the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” TV series that spanned 6 seasons, 2 networks, 2 resurrections of the main character, 1 highly acclaimed musical episode and garnered 14 Emmy nominations, is still slaying fans. On June 19th, actress Amber Benson, also known as “Tara”, the lesbian witch who played girlfriend to actress Alyson Hannigan’s “Willow” during the show’s run, appeared at the Pandemonium Books and Games in Cambridge. The 32 year old has gained a cult following in her own right by penning comic tales and fantasy books.

This past Friday, she appeared at the popular book shop to sign copies of her latest paperback release, Death’s Daughter. The multi-talented starlet, who has 2 movies coming up in 2009, also performed on former fellow co-star Anthony Head’s (“Giles ‘the Watcher’”) solo CD in 2002. Benson has kept in touch with another former fellow “Buffy” alum, Eliza Dushku, or “Faith ‘the second slayer’”, as she was known on the show. Benson first met the Boston born babe and current “Dollhouse” star in 1995 as co-stars on the set of Bye, Bye Love, starring Paul Reiser, and directed by Sam Weisman, another Boston area native.

Fox announced this week what “Dollhouse” fans have been waiting to hear: its been renewed for another season. The Joss Whedon creation starring Boston’s own Eliza Dushku was picked up for at least another 13 episodes starting this fall. The show will remain on its Friday night spot. While the show has seen somewhat dismal ratings, Fox execs were reportedly impressed by Whedon’s 2nd season pitch, and adjusted ratings that accounted for DVR and online viewings, which were made up of mostly younger viewers. The show itself has developed somewhat of a cult following online, thanks in no small part to Whedon’s reputation for delivering unique shows with a slightly sci-fi slant. His “Dollhouse” star, Eliza Dushku, first worked with the writer/director on his long-running TV show, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

The 28-year-old starlet is probably most well-known for her run as the rebellious slayer, Faith, but made one of her first appearances as an actress in the movie True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger, which utilized the famous historical mansions in Newport, Rhode Island for filming. Dushku’s star is definitely on the rise, the brunette beauty was ranked #38 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list. Only time and ratings will tell us this fall if we can still call her a doll.