LENSING OF ‘GHOST DOG ADDY’ PART 3 THIS THURSDAY AT HAUNTED BEACH

"Ghost Dog" Addison Rathbone to star in installment three on the beach ©Mike Cartel

Carny, mercenary Mike Cartel, auteur of the first straight-to-video masterpiece Runaway Nightmare (1982) has come out of retirement to finish the long-awaited Ghost Dog Addy trilogy.

As a combat soldier, LAPD cop, carnival midway fighter, middleweight boxer, movie stunt man, LAUSD high school teacher, newspaper owner-editor, sideshow barker and target of failed filmmakers who have become hateful film critics, Cartel is no stranger at ducking punches or being shot at says, “Now that filmmaking is dirt-cheap and the new crop of startlets are more ‘friendly,’ I’ve decided to jump back into what I once considered a very expensive hobby.”

Through the magic of CGI, Mike Cartel has taken 40 years off his mug shot

Cartel, who invented the Cinema Alley Cat school of no-budget filmmaking says that he saves even more money by holding the video camera in his teeth, thus eliminate the arrogant cameraman from his crew budget.

He also prefers using non-professional actors to direct. “They actually think you know what the hell you’re talking about, so they don’t talk back,” Cartel says with a vampirian grin. “They don’t whine about eating and politics and they actually perform better because they don’t try to act.”

Asked by Entertainment Heartbeat why Part 3 of Ghost Dog is being shot before Part 2, Cartel says that he’s still scaring up financing to be at the Salem, Massachusetts location.  His deadline to fill the Web with Addison is this week, so he gazed ten miles to the west where he conveniently found a spooky beach with an actual ghost legend.

Why not just substitute the Salem forest with the nearby Big Bear look-alike location?  “I have gas money to go to the beach, not to that damned endless, one-lane medieval trail to Lake Arrowhead,”  Cartel says, his voice getting angrier with each word.  “What the new filmmakers won’t ever understand is that you need five things every time you film something; a crew, actor(s), equipment (including everything charged up the night before), a location (that you aren’t going to get moved off by a property owner or the cops).”

And what’s the fifth thing?  “A sucker to invest,” Cartel says, laughing so hard you can see his gold inlays.  “That’s by far the hardest part; it takes carny showmanship to pull it off without going to jail.  30 years ago, indys only talked about ‘how do you distribute?’ But the Internet got rid of those lazy, thieving parasites (distributors).  Also, because of electronic video editing, the biggest expense, the bloodsucking film lab has also died a screaming death.  I still have the Movieola that I used to cut my 35 mm films and I just laugh about that out-of-business Getty Lab now.”

If the video/Final Cut/Web revolution allows Cartel to make his films for free all the way to the answer print, why does he still need an investor?  “You still need gas money and you still have to feed the crew or actors,” Cartel says, as if explaining something simple to a fool.  “Because the actors will get sluggish and titty-baby, and the crew will mutiny.”

So how many more episodes of Ghost Dog will there be?  “As long as the cow keeps giving milk for free and until some studio idiot pays me to put the thing on cable,” Cartel grouses, shaking his head while staring at his empty wallet.  “You know, even more than pit bulls, pawn shops, loggers-truckers-fishermen, cops and little people, the most popular reality theme are ghost shows that pretend to be real.  Well, as a carny at 13 I ran a Pepper’s box ghost illusion tent show that the marks all thought was the real thing, so my rigged Ghost Dog Addy will fit neatly with all those other shams.  But my hook isn’t just the two dogs (the other is Daisy, the chihuahua cadaver dog), but also the on-screen ghosts, not just the dark rooms with garbled voices and the actor’s silly screams.”

Cartel will be cruising the beach this Thursday morning to find a location with few people and fewer cops.  And how many days will this shoot take when he plants his tripod in the sand?  “About two hours,” Cartel says, thinking about everything that can and usually does go wrong.  “I’ve sketched out some shots, then I just make it up as I go along.  Everything is done in one take and we shoot it first and rehearse it later.  With amateurs they only get worse with more takes, where they start thinking.  Then we lose the sun.”

 

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‘THE DOCTORS’ WILL ANSWER 50 NEW QUESTIONS YOU WERE AFRAID TO ASK

"The Doctors" pictured left to right: Dr. Andrew Ordon, Dr. Lisa Masterson, Dr. Travis Stork, Dr. Jim Sears.

On Wednesday, May 11, the Emmy® Award-winning syndicated series The Doctors (check local listings) shows the vast diversity across the world as they tackle 50 new questions from 50 different cities around the globe.

Nothing is off limits when it comes to topics ranging from how far can the human heart pump blood (Casper, WY), to what you can do to ease chronic dry eyes (Amsterdam, Netherlands) to whether germs really spread to the body by stashing money in your bra (Minneapolis, MN).

Find out if it’s true that natural redheads require more anesthesia for surgery (Bangor, ME), if penis size is hereditary (Hartford, CT) and if it’s possible for triplets to be born as identical twin boys and a girl (Chester, IL)!

Also, the doctors field phone calls, emails, post cards and video chats from viewers with plenty of questions.

For more information and to ask your own questions of The Doctors, visit www.thedoctorstc.com.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver Separate

Never expected to hear this news, but Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are separating after 25 years of marriage.

 

The couple made the announcement Monday and released this statement:

 

“This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for each of us. After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion, and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart, while we work on the future of our relationship.”

 

The statement went onto say they will continue to parent their four children together calling their kids “the light and center of both of our lives.”

 

The former Governor of California and Shriver asked for “compassion and respect from the media and the public.”

 

Schwarzenegger recently announced his plans to return to acting.

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REMAKE OF ‘THE THIN MAN’ HAS JOHNNY DEPP, ROB MARSHALL, JOHN DeLUCA

"The Thin Man" 1934 theatrical poster ©Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Rob Marshall and John DeLuca have officially signed on to the Warner Brothers planned remake of The Thin Man.

The pair will produce the film via their LUCAMAR Productions banner.

Award-winning director Marshall is also confirmed to direct. The film will reteam Marshall with Johnny Depp, who is attached to star in the project.

The two just worked together on PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES which Disney will be releasing on May 20.

Says Marshall, “John and I are overjoyed at the idea of working with Johnny again, especially on such a classy and classic project.  We are also thrilled to be partnering this time with such wonderful producers as Christi Dembroski and Kevin McCormick, and we are looking forward to working with Warner Bros. to create a reinvention of a beloved story.”

The Thin Man is a remake of the Oscar®-Nominated 1934 film starring William Powell and Myrna Loy.

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SUSAN LUCCI PLAYS HER OWN GHOST ON ‘ALL MY CHILDREN’

ALL MY CHILDREN - Susan Lucci stars as "Erica Kane" on ABC Daytime's "All My Children." (HARPER COLLINS/YOLANDA PEREZ)

Emmy® Award-winning actress Susan Lucci has been playing the legendary role of Erica Kane since All My Children debuted in 1970, in a wide variety of memorable story arcs that include winning a fight with a grizzly bear, staging a prison break, and becoming a world famous super model, cosmetics mogul and talk show host.

Beginning May 12, for the first time in All My Children’s history, Lucci will be playing the dual roles of Erica Kane and Jane Campbell, Erica’s doppelganger, who will wreak havoc in Erica’s life in every possible way.

All My Children celebrated its 41st anniversary on January 5, 2011.


 

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Simon Cowell’s The X Factor Nabs Paula Abdul to Judge

THE X FACTOR: Paula Abdul at the Los Angeles taping of THE X FACTOR airing on FOX. CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX.

Paula Abdul will be joining the judging panel on Simon Cowell’s upcoming reality competition The X Factor.

 

The former American Idol judge has been added to the rooster of other pros Cheryl Cole, Antonia L.A. Reid and of course Simon Cowell.

 

“This show would never have been the same without Paula and I can’t believe I am saying this – I have missed her a lot, and I am thrilled she’s on the show,” said Simon Cowell in a statement released by FOX.

 

 

“I am excited beyond words to be a part of The X Factor.  I couldn’t be happier to bring my love for cultivating talent and performance to such a wildly anticipated show,” Paula Abdul added in that same statement.   “I’m looking forward to being back with the FOX/FremantleMedia family and know that it will be an extraordinary journey — we’re going to have a blast.  I’m also delighted and grateful to be sitting next to Simon again…but you might want to check back with me in a week or two!”

 

The X Factor, which debuts this fall, will accept singing contestants ages 12 and up – and will include both solo and vocal group artists. However, the catch is they’ll have to audition in front of thousands for the chance at a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

 

Singer/performer and former Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger and British TV personality Steve Jones will host the new series.

 

The final stop on the audition road is Dallas, TX, Thursday, May 26th. For more info on how to audition check out www.fox.com/theXfactor or call toll-free (855) 345-5678.

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“THOR” Crushes the Box Office Competition

Summer blockbusters have already begun to juice the box office this month. Thor, the big, splashy action-adventure based on the comic book character landed at number one this weekend and banked an estimated $66 million.

 

While last week’s top earner, Fast Five grabbed an additional $32.5 million between Friday and Sunday. That brings the total box office for Fast Five to $139.8 mil, well over the $125 million budget.

 

Jumping the Broom, the wedding gone awry romantic-comedy debuted in third place this weekend with $13.7 mil raised. The pic cost a modest $6.6 mil to produce so it has already recouped its cost.

 

Something Borrow landed in the number four position with $13.1 million. The film has quite a ways to go before meeting the $35 mil cost of the flick.

 

The animated feature Rio dropped from second to fifth place this weekend nabbing an additional $8.2 million. That’s a 44.5-percent drop, but Rio is still sitting pretty with $114.9 mil to date – well over its $90 million budget.

 

Rounding out the top 10:

 

6.    Water for Elephants $5.6 million

 

7.    Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family $3.9 million

 

8.    Prom $2.4 million

 

9.    Soul Surfer $2.1 million

 

10.  Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil $1.8 million

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MARGE SIMPSON (AND OTHERS) TELL WHAT MOMS WANT ON MOTHER’S DAY

Marge Simpson and the other animation moms on Mother's Day ©Fox

Still wondering what to get your mom for Mother’s Day? Take a tip from FOX’s animated moms – Francine Smith, Marge Simpson, Linda Belcher, Lois Griffin and Donna Tubbs – as they share what they would like to receive from their beloved husbands and children.

Marge: I just want to go to a restaurant that doesn’t have pictures of the food on the wall.

Francine: Honestly, all I want this year is for James Franco to stop pretending he’s a serious artist. James, if you’re listening. Enough. You’re killing my fantasy of you and me getting stuck in an elevator for two sweaty hours.

Linda: I want to do a dramatic reenactment of the births of my children. Except for Gene’s – that was gruesome.

Lois: A five-piece orchestra will wake me up in the morning, and then Peter will whisk me off to brunch and shower me with gifts. Eh, who am I kidding? We’ll probably just rent a movie.”

Donna: “What every Animation Domination mom wants: a second outfit.”

 

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“Lemonade Mouth” Sequel? Hayley Kioko and Adam Hicks Pucker Up

Lemonade Mouth has become a gigantic hit for the Disney Channel with 20-million viewers and growing. That makes the pic the number one original movie on cable for 2011. And the songs in the flick are also burning up the music charts landing at number one on iTunes and number four on the Billboard charts.

 

Today, the stars of the pic will be talking to fans via the Internet beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. You can submit questions in advance on the Disney website (http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/originalmovies/lemonademouth/livechat/).

 

The cast of participants includes Adam Hicks, Hayley Kiyoko, Bridgit Mendler and Blake Michael, and will be hosted by Radio Disney‘s Jake Whetter.

 

The success of the movie has been a long time in coming for two of the film’s lead actors Hayley Kioko and Adam Hicks, who were anxious for Lemonade Mouth to debut. Now that it has, the two stars are hoping to convince fans the group is real. It seems Disney went out and found musicians to perform in the film.

 

Both Kioko and Hicks are also ready and eager to re-team for a Lemonade Mouth sequel or even begin a music tour – but for now they’re still promoting their mega-hit musical at new locations throughout the U.S.

 

The extended DVD of Lemonade Mouth is set for release May 24th and will feature an exclusive music performance of Livin’ on a High Wire.

 

Click onto video for all the reasons why Hayley Kioko and Adam Hicks are excited to be part of the cast of Lemonade Mouth and why they’d love to star in a sequel.

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