Adam Fendelman

HollywoodChicago.com Podcast, Episode 2: ‘WALL-E,’ ‘Wanted,’ ‘The Love Guru,’ ‘Get Smart,’ Top 100 New Classics

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:37:06 -0700

Interview: ‘Favela Rising’ Director Jeff Zimbalist

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:58:51 -0700

CHICAGO – This interview with “Favela Rising” director Jeff Zimbalist is being published on Feb. 29, 2008 in relation to the similar film “City of Men,” which opened in theaters on Feb. 29, 2008. Adam Fendelman’s interview with Zimbalist took place much earlier in March 2007.

“Favela Rising” documents the journey of a who man emerges from the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to lead the non-violent cultural movement known as Afro-reggae.

Similarly, “City of Men” documents two best friends – about to turn 18 – who make discoveries about their missing fathers’ pasts that will shatter their solid friendship. The film takes place in the middle of a war between rival drug gangs from Rio de Janeiro’s favelas (slums).

Interview: ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Writer Holly Black

HollywoodChicago.com — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:00:28 -0700

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com publisher Adam Fendelman has interviewed “The Spiderwick Chronicles” writer and co-executive producer Holly Black about her first feature-film fantasy adaptation, why she loves fairies so much and how she developed the film’s unique characters.

Click here to listen to the Holly Black interview!

“The Spiderwick Chronicles,” which opened on Feb. 14, stars Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, David Strathairn, Seth Rogen and Martin Short.

Click here to see our huge “The Spiderwick Chronicles” image gallery!

“The Spiderwick Chronicles” writer Holly Black.
Image courtesy of Holly Black

Freddie Highmore in “The Spiderwick Chronicles”.
Image credit: IMDb

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Audio: Interview With John Cusack on ‘Grace is Gone’

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:34:47 -0700

On Oct. 12, 2007, I interviewed Chicago native John Cusack along with first-time Chicago actresses Gracie Bednarczyk and Shélan O’Keefe on “Grace is Gone,” which opened in theaters on Dec. 14.

John Cusack in Chicago on Oct. 12, 2007 at the
Chicago International Film Festival for “Grace is Gone”.
Photo credit: Joe Arce
In our interview, Cusack speaks on the film as a whole, cell phones, sister Joan Cusack and his views on the war. Cusack opines his views loudly in a soft-spoken voice. Here’s just one quotable:

I knew I wanted to do the film when the Bush administration banned photos of the dead coming from the coffins. That’s the most disgraceful, political, cowardly act I’ve seen in my lifetime.

These soldiers are making the ultimate sacrifice and we’re censoring it. There’s no draft, yet you’re willing to pay mercenaries more than our soldiers and not give them body armor.

You want to send them over there and deny this is happening or let FOX News tell us how we should view the war? I said: ‘All right. I’m going to do a story about one of these coffins coming home.’

My full, 23-minute audio interview with John Cusack is below.

(alternate link for full download)
My full, 14-minute audio interview with first-time Chicago actresses Gracie Bednarczyk and Shélan O’Keefe is below.

(alternate link for full download)

John Cusack and Shélan O’Keefe in Chicago on Oct. 12, 2007 at the
Chicago International Film Festival for “Grace is Gone”.
Photo credit: Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com

First-time Chicago stars Gracie Bednarczyk (second from the left) and Shélan O’Keefe (second from the right) in Chicago on Oct. 12, 2007 at the Chicago International Film Festival for “Grace is Gone”.
Photo credit: Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com

John Cusack in “Grace is Gone”.
Photo credit: IMDb
Here’s the plotline for “Grace is Gone”:

There was a time when Stanley Phillips (John Cusack) could see his entire life clearly. He dreamed of patriotic service and was destined for a military career.

He came close to that dream until it was cut short simply because of his poor eyesight. Now he’s serving customers at a home-supply store while his sergeant wife is fighting in Iraq.

Equally as awkward at home as he is at work, he’s raising Heidi (their 12-year-old daughter) and her 8-year-old sister (Dawn). Though a loving father, Stanley is unable to conform to a more affectionate role and the girls miss their mother deeply.

While tolerating his job and stumbling through parenting, he is abruptly awakened when tragedy strikes. Ill-prepared to deal with it himself, he is at a complete loss about how to tell his children.

Desperate to delay telling the children, they embark on a spontaneous road trip. Grasping to give them their last moments of innocence, Stanley reveals a softer side as they travel to Dawn’s chosen destination: Enchanted Gardens theme park.

The further they drive, the closer they become. Still, Stanley knows he must face the inevitable task of changing their lives forever.

Audio: Interview With Gracie Bednarczyk, Shélan O’Keefe on ‘Grace is Gone’

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:33:49 -0700

This is related to this interview with John Cusack on the film “Grace is Gone”.

Podcast: On Chicago Keynote Address From ‘Star Wars’ Producer George Lucas

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:19:05 -0700

Legendary writer, director, editor and producer George Lucas (“Star Wars”) spoke in Chicago on Dec. 3 at the Economic Club of Chicago. In this podcast, Adam Fendelman and colleague Brad Spirrison discuss the keynote address and why industry change is in the air.

(alternate link for full download)

Samuel L. Jackson (left) and George Lucas on the set
of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Audio: 36-Minute Interview With First-Time Director Alison Eastwood on ‘Rails & Ties’

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:29:34 -0700

I am publishing my full, 36-minute audio interview with first-time director Alison Eastwood on “Rails & Ties” in unedited form from Oct. 8, 2007 in Chicago. Alison is the daughter of Clint Eastwood.

Click here for the Alison Eastwood interview.

“Rails & Ties” director Alison Eastwood in Chicago on Oct. 8, 2007.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
“Rails & Ties,” which stars Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden, opened in Chicago on Nov. 9 at Landmark’s Renaissance Place Cinema in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.

Audio: 33-Minute Interview With ‘Michael Clayton’ Director Tony Gilroy

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 17:22:02 -0700

I am publishing my full, 33-minute audio interview with “Michael Clayton” writer and director Tony Gilroy in unedited form from Oct. 9, 2007 in Chicago.

Click here for the Tony Gilroy interview.

“Michael Clayton” director Tony Gilroy in Chicago on Oct. 9, 2007.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
“Michael Clayton” was Gilroy’s directorial debut. He also wrote “The Bourne Ultimatum, “The Bourne Supremacy, “The Bourne Identity,” “Armageddon,” “The Devil’s Advocate” and “The Cutting Edge”.

Listen to Gilroy as he describes in my interview his 10-year effort that is “Michael Clayton”. My full review of “Michael Clayton” can be found here.

Audio: 10-Minute Interview With ‘Stardust’ Director Matthew Vaughn

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 01:19:58 -0700

I am publishing my full, 10-minute audio interview with “Stardust” director Matthew Vaughn in unedited form. The film opens everywhere on Aug. 10.

Click here for the Matthew Vaughn interview.

Claire Danes in “Stardust”
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
In this interview, it’s interesting why Vaughn has departed from producing violent films like “Snatch” and “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” to directing “Stardust”. He said it’s because he had children.

He also says CG effects are often a “get-out-of-jail card” for many Hollywood directors.

Vaughn says he worked closely on set with Neil Gaiman, who wrote the novel, and created with him a list of lots of candidates for the lead female role. They decided on Claire Danes.

This interview took place on July 24, 2007 at the Four Seasons in Chicago.

Audio: 17-Minute Interview With ‘Hot Rod’ Star Andy Samberg

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:42:11 -0700

I have published my full, 17-minute audio interview with “Hot Rod” star Andy Samberg in unedited form. The film opens in Chicago on Aug. 3. Here’s the plot outline:

Self-proclaimed stuntman Rod Kimble (Samberg) is preparing for the jump of his life.

Rod plans to clear 15 buses in an attempt to raise money for his abusive stepfather Frank’s life-saving heart operation. He’ll land the jump, get Frank better and then fight him – hard.

Click here for the Andy Samberg interview.

Andy Samberg in our Chicago interview
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com

Andy Samberg in “Hot Rod”
Photo courtesy of Paramount
This interview took place on July 11, 2007 at the Peninsula in Chicago.