Posts Tagged ‘The Fighter’

If you know NACHO, then you know every day is extreme with this guy. Reality sells and so does “Nacho Extreme”. Nacho got his 15 minutes on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” with the former Calvin Klein eight-pack, Mark Wahlberg who recently thanked Kimmel for dipping Nacho live.

Nacho confirmed the powers of his “lead” stomach on Kimmel that night by casually eating two wasabi balls and swigging back three cups of Tabasco! Now that’s some heartburn. Can you feel it Nacho? What a good vibration involving Nacho, Wahlberg,  Fuel TV, and celebrity guests.

This new reality series, “Nacho Extreme” is eating up his extremities. The craft was digested as a kid so we don’t suggest you cooking this up at home. As much as Nacho wanted to spill the beans with HEC and all his Nachettes. He could only confirm that, “Nacho Extreme” is gobbling up Boston right now and will be traveling across the coast.

This isn’t Nacho’s first BBQ either. “The professional movie industry eater” has sizzled on hot sets like The Fighter and spoiler alert, TED which premieres this weekend.  We can’t wait!

Next weekend, if you’re in the North Conway area, look for deets on Nach judging a RIB-OFF! We love reality and Nacho is so tasty! “God Bless”. We will layer you up with more Nachos soon. GO NACHO!

★ Rock legend and Massachusetts resident, Steven Tyler graces the cover of People magazine.

★ Will Ferrell shears Conan O’Brien’s beard on TV.

★ Donnie Wahlberg helps find a fan a kidney donor while Mark Wahlberg will soon take a break from shooting Ted to visit the Boys and Girls Club of Lower Merrimack Valley.

★ Connecticut-made film, Rio, comes in number 1 at the box office for 2 weekends in a row.

★ Alice Ward, real life mother of Mickey, as portrayed in The Fighter, passes away.

★ Massachusetts residents tune in to watch the royal wedding.

★ Donald Trump gets trumped in New Hampshire.

It took years for Hollywood homeboy Mark Wahlberg to get the green light to shoot The Fighter and only months after its Oscar nods, the flick is still vibrating.

With seven Oscar nominations, how could we be surprised about a  rumored Fighter II this summer?!

“I got bit by the bug, and now I’m trying to plant the idea in everyone’s head that we should do — not five or six ‘Fighter’s like ‘Rocky’ — but one more because the big thing that Micky Ward was famous for was his three epic battles with Arturo Gatti. So we’re talking about possibly taking one more run at it,” Mark Wahlberg told Entertainment Weekly’s Inside Movies.

There was even no hesitation from the acclaimed director of The Fighter, David O. Russell. Russell hooked-up with MTV News and told them not only that he is he interested in working on the sequel but that he wants to take a crack at penning the script. “I think that would be awesome,” the director said of the possibility of a sequel. “I just love those characters and I think we could do a lot of fun and interesting stuff.” The Fighter is the only feature Russell directed without writing it as well.

We can’t confirm if Bale, Leo or Amy Adams will be punching in for the sequel but The Fighter sistah’s are, “I would love for there to be a Fighter 2,” the lovely Melissa McMeekin aka Little Alice tells HEC. “I think if we had everyone on board and David O Russell were to direct, that magic would once again happen. The story is there, we are all even more familial now, and we have the benefit of seeing what the audience responded to and loved about the first, so we could punch that up even more. If done right a sequel could be epic and even better than the first,” McMeekin adds.

“If there were to be a sequel to The Fighter,” the pretty Erica McDermott aka Tar tells us, “I think the next part of Micky Ward’s story would make your heart pound…The Ward vs Gatti fights are legendary!!”

Wahlberg has put his boxing gloves aside at the moment and holds a teddy bear these days in Ted, which is being filmed in Mass right now.  Although, a close source from a North Shore hotel tells us that, The Fighter crew have confirmed reservations for this summer! It just may be lights, camera, action here in Hollywood East for Fighter fans!

Late last month, film crews surprised residents of Norwood by arriving in town to shoot Mark Wahlberg’s next movie, which costars current “it-girl”  Mila Kunis, Giovanni Ribisi,  and Connecticut native, Seth MacFarlane.

The comedy, called Ted which is set to be released sometime in 2012, follows the story of a man whose teddy bear comes to life as the result of a childhood wish. MacFarlane, the talented creator of the super-popular “Family Guy” series, will be (presumably) playing the role of the teddy bear, as the actor is listed as just a voice talent for the picture. “The Soup” host Joel McHale is also rumored to be appearing in the film.

While there was still plenty of snow on the ground in February, scenes were filmed on Albemarle Road in Norwood using older model cars for what are to be flashbacks to Christmas-time in the early 80s. Crews spent days decorating several of the split-level homes in the area with bright holiday decorations. As per polite movie crew conduct, residents of the neighborhood were sent letters in advance informing them of the project and their intentions to film in the area.

Wahlberg is obviously no stranger to the Greater Boston area, being brought up in Dorchester, and most recently filming and starring in his Oscar nominated picture, The Fighter.

★ Charlie Sheen to bring his one man show to Boston and Wallingford, Connecticut on tour.

★ Celebrity connections, HEC exclusive: Spotted at the Boston Harbor Hotel on the morning of March 15; Venus Williams and Apollo Anton Ohno, in town for a charity event. Spotted at the TD Banknorth Boston Garden, Matt Damon taking in the Lady Gaga concert.

★ Dlisted honors the ladies who played the Ecklund sisters in The Fighter, while the movie’s Oscar win bring pride to Lowell. Is it enough to garner a sequel for The Fighter?

★ Yale paper gets told off by James Franco after publishing an article about his poor performance as host of the Oscars.

★ Red Sox fan Jimmy Fallon gets his own flavor of Vermont’s finest ice cream.

★ Former State Rep. in New Hampshire buys local TV station.

★ Matt Damon criticizes President Obama, while his buddy, Ben Affleck is busy, first teaming up with Cindy McCain, before appearing at the House Foreign Affairs committee hearing.

★ Tyra Banks reveals she’s enrolled at Harvard Business School.

★ Kim Kardashian contemplates bringing her Dash store to Beantown.

★ Berklee alum and successful movie score composer of films like The Polar Express and Forrest Gump returns to Boston to conduct Back to the Future concert.

The 83rd Academy Awards on Sunday night were chock full of New England connections from start to finish. While many were preoccupied with evaluating the skills of first time hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco, who recently admitted to only rehearsing the show on the weekends because of his course load at Yale, or checking their watch to see how long the show went over, those of us in Hollywood East were anxiously keeping tabs on the awards tally for films made in New England.

Boston’s Maria Menounos worked the red carpet arrivals in the official pre-show. On the E cable network, Ryan Seacrest talked to Mark Wahlberg, producer and star of The Fighter.

“It exceeded my expectations. We were fortunate to make the best possible version of the film, we just had so much support. I promised Mickey and Dicky I would get the movie made,” said Wahlberg.

Melissa Leo, who won her first Academy Award in 2 nominations for her role in The Fighter, secured her own quirky point in the history of the awards–uttering the F-word during her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress. Though the word was bleeped by the censors for the telecast, Leo later apologized for her inappropriate choice of language.

Her award counterpart, and costar, Christian Bale also picked up his first Oscar for his supporting role in The Fighter.

Harvard grad Natalie Portman completed, as expected, a whirlwind awards season, picking up her first Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her turn in Black Swan.

The Social Network, which was partially filmed in Boston and Cambridge, picked up a number of awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Score, and Best Film Editing. The film, of course, follows the story of the creation of Facebook by Harvard grad Mark Zuckerberg.

The New England connections weren’t limited to the Oscars telecast; commercials for the Rhode Island shot “Body of Proof” TV show aired during the breaks, as it will be premiering on the alphabet network in March.

Good vibrations continue to linger in twenty eleven for homeboy Mark Wahlberg even with the recent snub from the Academy Awards for his role in The Fighter. Wahlberg, who didn’t get knocked down by the news, did get a punch for Best Picture, Wahlberg co-produced The Fighter, which banged out a total of seven Academy Award nods.

With the end of his HBO flick “Entourage”, Wahlberg has a new fling this Spring, hooking up with CBS as an executive producer of “Home Game”, inspired by the life of three-time Super Bowl champion and NFL pro Mark Schlereth. The plot will focus on a retired NFL player who returns home to his family.

The vibrations don’t stop there either. The hot to trot producer/actor will return to Mass this month to start shooting the flick Ted.  “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane will direct the estimated 65 million dollar budget film. This will be the first big-budgeted flick to hit the Boston scene in 2011.  Let’s keep it rolling!

Wahlberg will be putting his boxing gloves aside and picking up a teddy bear in this upcoming role. He is rumored to be playing a man from Boston whose bestie is a talking teddy bear that came to life because of a childhood wish. “Family Guy” character Mila Kunis and “Parks and Recreation” cast Adam Scott will be co-staring with Wahlberg.

Despite some of Wahlberg’s hits and misses at the box office over the years, the Dorchester native says the most important role in his life is as a father. Wahlberg has four children with his wife Rhea Durham. “I want to give my kids the world, but I also want them to appreciate everything, to succeed, to be good people, to enjoy life,” he told Boston Common. “This is my most important role. If I fail at this, I fail at everything.”

★ Amy Poehler (above) visits fellow Mass-hole Conan O’Brien.

★ Boston set “Fringe” moves to Friday nights–not a good sign.

★ Kennedys miniseries rejected by the History Channel will air on Reelz Channel instead.

★ 2010’s “Best and Worst Movie Posters” feature movies made in Massachusetts, as well as New England stars and story lines.

★ Lowell police officer stars as himself in The Fighter.

★ The formely red-hot Mass. movie industry may be showing significant signs of decline but Mass. economic secretary plans a pow pow with LA studios, NBC-Universal, Walt Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, FOX, Paramount, and others to pick up the pace.

★ Newton’s Matt LeBlanc talks to Boston Magazine about his new TV show, and putting in a kitchen in Brighton.

★ Ben Affleck looks pissed–in a Bostonian sort of way…

★ Boston’s Maria Menounos shows her Patriots pride on the Golden Globes red carpet.

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, when most people were just starting on their journey to work, a number of local actors anxiously gathered together at the M Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Boston to watch the Oscar Nominations get announced live from LA (where it was even earlier in the morning). Actresses Melissa McMeekin and Erica McDermott, who played sisters in The Fighter, along with Jodi Purdy-Quinlan of South Shore Casting, and Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, who is currently starring in ArtsEmerson’s presentation of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” spoke live to WCVB’s Bianca de la Garza as the nominations came in about their feelings on the announcements during a “Coffee With Oscar” panel sponsored by the Ellie Fund.

McDermott said of waiting for the nominations, “I’m excited! I feel like a child on Christmas morning at the top of the stairs and I don’t know what Santa has left me.”

The local stars burst into cheers and applause for each nomination that The Fighter garnered.

McDermott, who had to wear prosthetic teeth for her character transformation while filming the movie, began to lose weight after she skipped enough meals during shooting in favor of not having to take them out between takes. After prompting from the wardrobe department, she began to eat more heartily as she was told they could no longer find vintage stone washed Gloria Vanderbilt jeans in smaller sizes for her.

“I just remember sitting in the make-up trailer, eating my BLT and spicy fries, and Christian was just sitting there, eating his handful of peanuts and half of an apple. He was so committed, he never complained,” said McDermott.

“They had a real feeling of company, of a gathered family, which is rare. If there was an Oscar for “Best Ensemble”, this movie would get it,” said Abraham of his thoughts on the movie.

Abraham, who won a Best Actor Oscar in 1984 for Amadeus, has gone on to star in a number of film and theater productions, and will be playing Shylock in ArtsEmerson’s upcoming presentation of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”, which will be running March 29-April 10, 2011.

“Its really one of the best things in this type of career, to be able to balance movies with theater,” said Abraham.

As for whether or not Abraham will be appearing in any future “Made in Massachusetts” films, particularly those that would require a certain sound, when asked if he could do a Boston accent, Abraham replied, “Of course, I’m an actor!”

In total, The Fighter and The Social Network were each nominated for 7 Academy Awards and will compete against each other for the title of “Best Picture” when the Oscars air on February 27th. The Ellie Fund, which provides support to women suffering from breast cancer, also sponsors the only officially sanctioned Oscar party in Boston, and all of New England, the night of the ceremony. For more pics from the Coffee With Oscar event, check out our Facebook page here.

“Made in Massachusetts” films nominated for Oscars:

BEST PICTURE

The Fighter

The Social Network

BEST ACTOR

Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christian Bale, The Fighter

Jeremy Renner, The Town

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, The Fighter

Melissa Leo, The Fighter

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Social Network, Jeff Cronenweth

BEST DIRECTOR

David Fincher, The Social Network

David O. Russell, The Fighter

BEST EDITING

The Fighter, Pamela Martin

The Social Network, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

BEST SCORE

The Social Network, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

BEST SOUND MIXING

The Social Network, Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick, and Mark Weingarten

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The Fighter, Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson;
Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

Here comes another project by MyTV New England, and it is set to launch February 5th. Rock Your Head Productions and Fat Foot Films in collaboration with MyTV New England are announcing the special theatrical premiere of a new indie film, Joy and the Apocalypse, at the Red River Theatre in Concord, NH at 3 p.m. Following the movie, there will also be a reception and Q&A session with cast and crew.

Part of new “Independent Film Series” that Keith Dorrington, Executive Producer and Writer for the Boston-made hit The Fighter, personally endorses, Joy and the Apocalypse is the first movie that MyTV New England Studios plans to release for a limited theatrical opening and also a subsequent broadcast premiere. Roughly 7.1 million people in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and parts of Maine could potentially tune in for the broadcast of the film on the MyTV New England channel on February 12th from noon to 2 p.m. The special will include a behind-the-scenes documentary, Filmmaker Q&A shot at the movie premiere, and more exciting features.

The film is unique because “we used state of the art camera equipment and it was produced in a film / tv hybrid type way,” says Christopher Murphy, Film and TV Development Executive for MyTV New England.  ”It lowered the cost of production, but still looks cinematic.”

Joy and the Apocalypse is truly a homegrown production, as it was shot in Boston and all members of the cast and crew are from the New England area. “Unlike most indie feature films produced in New England, there is a commercial TV advertising campaign beginning this week,” says Murphy. “We have a deal with Regal Cinemas to advertise their Hollywood movies in New England on our TV channel, but internally we’re also going to also advertise any indie feature film that we collaborate on.”

If you’d like to attend the exciting theatrical premiere on February 5th, purchase tickets for the event here!