"The Good Wife" Creators Talk About The Series

matt-czuchry-good-wife.jpgMatt Czuchry (Logan Huntzberger on Gilmore Girls)’s new series, The Good Wife, (premiering on September 22 on CBS) held a special screening yesterday for the press. SFUniverse writer Cynthia Boris was on hand for the Q&A with The Good Wife creators Robert and Michelle King and has shared with us her notes from the panel.

Robert King describes the series as something about “what happens in the green room” after a public statement, in this case a politician (Chris Noth) admitting to both sexual and corruption scandals, as well as a “comeback mom” series, which follows Alicia (Julianna Marguiles) as she returns to practicing law after many years away. The Good Wife is therefore a procedural law show that has a bit of a spin, since Alicia is coming in at the bottom of the game, so to speak.

The interesting aspect to this is that the audience is left trying to play catch-up on the case, just like Alicia is as she’s handed the cast-off cases to try. There’s a lot of preconceived judgements against Alicia, and King says “we want to always have the personal not that far from the procedural.” Having herself experienced ‘bottom’, Alicia develops a talent for “understanding the psychology of the person who’s reached bottom.”

At this point, we’re introduced to Matt Czuchry’s character, Cary, who is Alicia’s biggest competition for the one full-time associate position that is available. However, Alicia doesn’t know there’s just one position! Cary accidentally tells her when he jokes “may the best man win.” Cary is not afraid to be aggressive for the position, even going so far as tying up their shared assistant with so many tasks that she has no time for Alicia. [Read more...]

Alexis Bledel Answers Your Questions

A couple of weeks ago, we gave YOU the opportunity to put together some questions for an interview with Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls). I chose 15 questions from all of those suggested and sent them on to be asked to Alexis. Michelle, the Post Grad intern, has talked with Alexis and asked her the 15 questions you put together!!

It looks like the interview was done by email, so your questions are being answered directly by Alexis! 14 of the 15 questions were answered, on topics that include Alexis’ aspirations in her career to her memories of working on Gilmore Girls. Check it out:

From “rk”: Best story you heard or piece of advice you picked up from working with Carol Burnett and Micheal Keaton in your new movie?

ALEXIS: rk,

I really noticed the way they both satisfied people’s expectations on set, and I think it’s something that only comes with years of experience in the business. So they both gave me great advice by example, and it had to do with learning to anticipate co-workers’ expectations, and uphold a level of friendly professionalism on set between takes.

From Julia: Alexis, you attended NYU before you got the part on Gilmore Girls. Did you enjoy your time there? How did you feel about leaving home and moving to New York?

ALEXIS: Hi Julia,

When I left home to go to school I was excited, nervous, was not sure what to expect, but mostly excited. I did, and still do love New York. When I initially went to NYU in ’99 I was a film student, and must admit I found myself feeling a bit lost in a class where many of the students had been making films since they were ten years old… I had just decided that film might be something I’d be interested in studying my senior year of high school. But yes, I absolutely loved going to NYU. I loved the experience of going to college in New York City where Manhattan is basically your campus.

From Chrissie: Since you are a Texan by birth, is there anything you miss about the great Lone Star State? – Chrissie, a fellow Texan

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Alan Loayza: Exclusive Interview

Alan Loayza starred in Gilmore Girls as Colin McCrae of the Life & Death Brigade. Since promoting his work in the Role Playing-based web series, GOLD, I’ve exchanged a few emails with Alan about his recent projects and his experience on Gilmore Girls.

Alan has a diverse creative background, including acting, music and photography. Most recently, Alan was in Paris doing a photo shoot that you can currently find featured at the top of his website. He also worked with Tanc Sade & Nick Holmes on the Two Straws short. His web series, GOLD, has now aired 5 episodes (see them here) with the Season 1 finale to air on June 26, 2009. Alan Loayza can be also be found online at twitter.com/alanloayza.

GilmoreGirlsNews.com: How did you get involved in the GOLD web series?

Alan Loayza: GOLD came about from David Nett who has a theatre company that I did a play with. The company is called Lucid by Proxy and I got involved through some old college buddies from CalArts. One day David said ,"I’m making a web series about D&D gamers and I want you to play the head of the British team." I didn’t know countries had D&D teams but the Lucid people always make great original work so I knew this wouldn’t be any different.

GilmoreGirlsNews.com: Could you describe your character on GOLD and how he evolves in the series?

Alan Loayza: Oliver Crane is a megalomaniacal self-proclaimed leader of his team. His only goal in life is to defeat the Americans at any costs using his fame and psychological tactics to set the Americans off. The funniest part about Oliver’s past is that he was the star of an old BBC show where he solved crimes with the ghost of J.R.R. Tolkien. This is one for the fantasy geeks through and through. The thing with Oliver that is a running theme with the show is that he’s not on his game as we are to believe he used to be, and that’s GOLD in a nutshell. An ensemble of characters loosing their grip of what they used to have going for them. [Read more...]

Tanc Sade: Exclusive Interview

tanc sadeTanc Sade payed the Life & Death Brigade eccentric Finn on Gilmore Girls. Tanc was born in Australia and had worked in several theatrical productions, as well as some tv and movie roles, before landing his role on Gilmore Girls.

Tanc and I exchanged emails recently, after I promoted one of his short films, Two Straws, which brought together 2 other Gilmore Girls Life & Death Brigade alumns, Nick Holmes (Robert) and Alan Loayza (Colin McCrae). This was Tanc’s second $20 short, after You Had Me at Hello, with a brand new short released just this week, A New Dawn. This latest film features Tanc wearing a Motion Capture Suit doing a little dance as the Hulk. The film ends with a message about Prop 8: “If the Green Man can loosen up a little, so can you. Support same-sex marriage.”

In the interview below, Tanc talks more about these $20 shorts, as well as some of his experiences on Gilmore Girls. Tanc can also be found on Twitter at twitter.com/giddyuptiger.

GilmoreGirlsNews.com: In homage to Twitter, tell us a little bit about yourself in 140 characters or less.

Tanc Sade: A lucky fella who gets to create art and still put food on the table and keep a roof over his head. It may be simple but it’s a good life…

GilmoreGirlsNews.com: What inspired you to start working on the $20 shorts?

Tanc Sade: Between the economy and the looming SAG strike work had slowed down. As an artist, if I’m not working as an actor, I need to be doing something else. I loved the experience of making Flowers and Weeds and thought it would be great to direct again. By giving myself the limitations of completing the films in less then 7 days and for less than $20, it meant I had to really push myself creatively. I think it has also made me a better director.

GilmoreGirlsNews.com: Where did the idea come for your latest short, Two Straws?

Tanc Sade: No idea. It goes something like this. I want to make a short. I want to work with Nick and Alan. I need to shoot it in one location. OK, two guys at a bar. 10 minutes later I had Two Straws. [Read more...]

Michael's Experience Meeting Lauren Graham

Earlier this week I shared with you Megan’s experience meeting Lauren Graham on April 17th, and now I have another great fan experience from Michael, who has been a long-time reader of GilmoreGirlsNews.com and is great at passing news tips!

Lauren Graham With Fan

Michael met Lauren on April 17th as well, after a production of Guys and Dolls. Michael was lucky enough to know someone on Broadway who got him backstage access!

I actually got to meet her, and she was SO sweet and nice! I got two pictures of me and her (excuse the zoom). We also told her that we came there for my birthday, so she signed my Luke’s hat Happy Birthday, and also signed my Playbill!!!!! It was incredible!!! While backstage, I saw some of her costumes,wigs, props, sets, and saw where she does some of her quick changes! The backstage is so small that in order to get to the other side of the stage, everyone has to go in a small narrow hallway underneath the stage with all of the tech rooms on either sides. My experience was amazing, and it is the highlight of my life!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Check out the other photos Michael has shared with us: [Read more...]

Megan's Experience Meeting Lauren Graham

Megan wanted to share with us her experience of going to watch Guys and Dolls in New York and meeting Lauren Graham. Megan shares that the theatrical production is a “really cute story” and that Lauren Graham did an amazing job with both the singing and the acting.

Megan went to see Guys and Dolls on April 17th and went to the stage door after in order to meet Lauren. She shares that the crowd outside started to freak out when Lauren came outside, but she managed to get some autographs and a hug from Lauren! Since Megan was only in New York for a short time, she went back a second time to see her again.

“she’s so pretty and nice in person and she’s halarious! she was making everyone laugh! and the second day i saw her, there wasn’t as many people so we were just talking to her like she was out friend or something!”

Fantastic experience! If you also have a chance to see Guys and Dolls and to meet Lauren Graham, email me with your experience and/or photos! [Read more...]

Keiko Agena & Ming Doyle Interview

Last month I mentioned that Keiko Agena (Lane Kim on Gilmore Girls) wrote a comic for an upcoming graphic novel anthology, Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology. I have had a chance to interview Keiko about her story, Learn to Share, as well as interview the graphic artist, Ming Doyle, who helped bring her story to life.


Preview of Keiko Agena’s story, ‘Learn to Share’, with art by Ming Doyle

Learn to Share is just one of the comic book stories in the Secret Identities anthology, each story telling the tale of Asian American superheroes. Check out the SI site for more about the editors, artists and writers behind these great stories.

Keiko Agena was paired up with Ming Doyle for their story, ‘Learn to Share’. This was their first time working together, which Ming calls an “honor” and Keiko saying Ming was “amazing throughout this experience.”

GilmoreGirlsNews.com – How did you get involved with the ‘Secret Identities’ anthology?

Keiko Agena: I’m good friends with Parry Shen who is one of the editors of the book. He approached me a few months ago and asked me if I was interested in submitting anything.

GilmoreGirlsNews.com – What was your inspiration behind writing Learn to Share?

Keiko Agena: When I first heard about the project this image of a young girl isolated from the rest of the world came to mind. I was attracted to this sense of her lonliness and separation.

GilmoreGirlsNews.com – What is your story about?

Keiko Agena: Sera is a young Thai girl who, due to her traumatic childhood, loses her sight. She discovers she can momentarily regain her sense of sight by “stealing” someone else’s. In those moments she can see both from her point of view and theirs. She becomes aware of a young girl who has gone missing and uses this “power” to see through the eyes of everyone in the city to find the girl. By the end, she’s happy and can see, but only by permanently borrowing it from someone else… [Read more...]