Posts tagged TV
Actress Sammi Hanratty Talks About Her Roles In Film & TV
Sammi Hanratty is a face you may have seen a lot in Hollywood and that’s because the young up-and-coming actress has been on your television and movie screens for nine years, and she’s only eighteen years old. Her latest projection, Lifetime’s “Seeds of Yesterday,” will be premiered this last month where she stars alongside James Maslow and Jason Lewis in the fourth installment of the cult book series by V.C. Andrew (the first of which was “Flowers in the Attic” with Kiernan Shipka).The 2nd season of WGN “Salem” is back too. Sammi stars in the Crackle web series “Chosen” with Milo Ventimiglia and Chad Michael Murray in the suspense/horror series about a game in which families are pinned against each other to the death.
Art Eddy: You have a new film called “Seeds of Yesterday” that premiered April 12, 2015 on Lifetime. Tell me a bit about the film and your role.
Sammi Hanratty: It’s the fourth film from Flowers in the Attic. At this point, it’s a twisted family coming to the end. My parents are brother and sister, and I have a very twists brother Bart. Bart is crazy, mentally unstable. I also fall in love with him, which is also interesting. I play this very sexually flirtatious girl that throws herself at every guy. It’s how she copes with what goes around her. My other brother, Jory, becomes paralyzed and his wife starts to sleep with my other brother Bart. There’s just something constantly going on with this family, something completely off. But at the same time it makes sense for this family, coming from where they come from.
AE: What was it about this role that appealed to you?
SH: I think it’s such an interesting thought processes. What would happen if you were locked up with your brother for so long? You probably would fall in love. This story is endearing to me; it puts the audience in an uncomfortable place they wouldn’t think about otherwise. It’s very interesting and different which is why I love it.
AE: How did you and the rest of the cast buildup chemistry before you started shooting the film?
SH: We just kind of hung out a bit, not much though. Anthony and I we have this dance scene that goes on, we prepared for that and got to know each other. It was kind of instant chemistry for a lot of us and it was nice to be in a film where this happened.
AE: The second season of “Salem” is back up. You continue the role of Dollie. How excited are you to have this fantastic series back on for another season?
SH: I am very excited for the audience to see what’s happening to the characters and in the season. As a fan of the show and as acting for it, I can’t wait to read the scripts for this season.
AE: What can we expect from your character this season?
SH: In this season Dollie is starting to have feelings for Isaac, and now Mercy has captured him, and Dollie is kind of going against her by questioning her (Mercy’s) desires. It’s creating friction between the two.
AE: What are most excited for fans of the show to look out for in the next few episodes?
SH: I think just the dynamic between Dolly, Mercy, and Isaac. The last thing the audience has seen is Mercy beating Isaac, and Dolly speaking up and getting beat up. This goes somewhere pretty crazy.
AE: You have good following on social media. Do you interact with fans while “Salem” is airing?
SH: Yea, I love to talk to people during the show. I love when people ask questions. I love doing fun little hashtags such as #salemsundayhosts.
AE: You have a lot of projects on your plate. How do you balance your different shows and films?
SH: One of my favorite parts is being someone who can change it up all the time. It excites me more when I’m super busy with different roles and characters. When I was younger, I would record three shows at ones so it helped me. I think because I grew up in the industry, I’m used to it now.
AE: As you look back at last year and now move forward in 2015 what did you learn about yourself as an actor?
SH: I’ve learned so much about myself. It’s interesting being a child actor growing up in this industry. I learned what I’m comfortable with and what I’m not comfortable with, and accepting that. I’m at the place of realizing why I’m an actor. I think God has allowed me to be in a career where I can have a voice and I should use that voice for the charities I work with, to use my passions in the best ways possible. In the last year it hit me why I have the passion and drive to act and to be in this art, and it’s because it allows me to speak up for charities I adore.
AE: What is the next project you would love to tackle in your career?
SH: I love doing it all. I would love to play a transgender role. I think it is so fascinating and it would be so different from what I’ve played in the past.
Follow Sammi on Twitter @SammiHanratty1
May 1st
Have The VIKINGS Found Their “Breaking Point?”
Believe it or not there are only two episodes left of VIKINGS Season 3! HISTORY’s hit drama series premieres episode 309 titled “Breaking Point” on Thursday, April 16 at 10 p.m. In “Breaking Point” the Vikings go all out for a second assault on Paris. Recognizing the desperate state of affairs for his city, Emperor Charles must make a difficult decision. In Wessex, Judith is compelled to make a difficult decision of her own.
Here is preview for this week’s show.
Apr 14th
Check Out A Sneak Peek Of This Week’s Vikings Episode
This Thursday, March 12th Vikings will air is episode called “Scarred” at 10 p.m. on History.
The victorious Wessex/Viking forces return to Wessex but there is rancour in the Viking camp – Floki is angry over the alliance with Ecbert and is resentful the influence that he feels Athelstan has over Ragnar. Princess Kwenthrith makes some calculating political moves following the battle at the Hill of the Ash in Mercia. Visitors from the past arrive in Hederby, at Kalf’s invitation.
Mar 9th
Sync Up All Your Devices Pronto
A new device popped up in the tech field that allows you to control all of your entertainment devices with your iPhone. It is called Pronto. It allows control of all entertainment devices such as your TVs, set-top boxes, DVDs and Blu-ray players from your iPhone. It pairs up with the free Peel Smart Remote app and offers customized viewing recommendations based on your interests and viewing habits.
I like the fact that it includes optional IR extension cable that allows me to store away multiple entertainment devices and still control them. The Pronto doesn’t take up that much space in your house either. It is palm-sized and lightweight. I was able
to put the Pronto next to my TV in my entertainment center and you could barely see it. Plus with its size it allows for easy mobility to take it with you.
We all know that there is a TON of gadgets and electronic gizmos other there. So rest assured that the Pronto can work for you since it is optimized to control more than 3,000 entertainment devices, including all major TV brands. You don’t even need to worry about batteries since it comes with 4AA batteries.
The Pronto is compatible with iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPod Touch. You can control up to 8 devices per room using those compatible devices. Besides TV’s and satellite boxes, streaming media players, DVD and Blu-ray players you can also use the Pronto for A/V receivers and air conditioners. The remote can control more than 50 devices total.
The Pronto will make your life easier to control all your gadgets. For more info and to purchase check out their website here!
Mar 6th
Boomer Esiason Chats With MANjr
Boomer Esiason played 14 great years in the NFL. He played for a total of three teams, the Cincinnati Bengals, the New York Jets, and the Arizona Cardinals. In 1988 the four time Pro Bowler won the NFL MVP award. Even after retiring from the game, Esiason is still making an impact on the NFL.
Boomer can be seen during the football season on CBS breaking down the game. He also is on the radio as a color commentator for Monday Night Football. He even has a morning show on a New York sports radio station called “The Boomer and Carton show.”
Yet if you ask Boomer what he is most proud of, he would probably say all the work he does through his organization, The Boomer Esiason Foundation. The foundation looks to support and improve the lives of those who have Cystic Fibrosis. His son, Gunnar was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in 1993. Boomer used his popularity to raise awareness for the disease to not only help his son, but other children who have CF.
I had the great pleasure of talking with Boomer about his foundation, his time in the NFL, and more.
Art Eddy: You played 14 years in the NFL. What sticks out the most to you from your great career in the league?
Boomer Esiason: Well for me and I think most of the players will tell you the same thing. It is really the relationships that you develop when you play for different teams. Now for me I played in three different cities, in Arizona, New York, and Cincinnati. You develop these close relationships with coaches, players, and front office people. Those are the memories that you hold on to for a lifetime. Even when you are going through tough times Art. Whether it be a bad season with the Jets or Bengals or going to the playoffs and Super Bowl, or throwing for over 500 yards in a game with the Cardinals I always say the positive memories always outweigh the negative ones.
When you play 14 years there will be all sorts of emotions that you are dealing with. For me I always think back to all the great relationships that I was fortunate enough to make. It wasn’t just for what the NFL did for me as a player, but as a person too. In my world now with broadcasting I don’t think I would be doing what I am doing if it wasn’t for the 14 years I spent in the NFL.
AE: From watching you on the field and now hearing you breakdown the game on TV and the radio I know that you have a team mindset, but winning the MVP in 1988 had to be up there as one of the all-time greatest moments for you right?
BE: It was, but it was also a little bit embarrassing. I used to say back then and I say it today. An MVP award in an ultimate team sport like football really doesn’t make any sense.
I am a voter for the MVP award now that the AP gives out. I take that vote pretty seriously. This year it happened to be Peyton Manning. He would be the first to tell you that he wasn’t able to accomplish the things in his five MVP seasons without the teammates and coaches he goes to work with every day. That is how I felt when I won my MVP. While it is certainly displayed proudly in my home I will tell you that I owe a lot to the players and coaches in 1988 when I did win that award.
AE: Not that many people get a chance to play quarterback in the NFL. I think the role of the quarterback is one of the hardest positions in all of sports. As a fan of the league can you walk me through what you experienced as a quarterback?
BE: It is an amazing responsibility. I take the upper echelon of the quarterbacks today like (Tom) Brady, Manning, (Drew) Brees, (Aaron) Rodgers, and (Ben) Roethlisberger. They are on a different plane than the bottom half of the league.
The reason that they are on that plane is that they not only understand how the game is played on the field, but how to carry themselves in the locker rooms and in the meeting rooms. Not only do the put accountability on their shoulders, but they hold their teammates accountable. They do that by more with their actions than words.
When the team wasn’t doing well the last thing that my team wanted to hear from was me. So I would go out and practice harder. I would try and challenge players on the practice field. Hopefully that would turn up on Sunday or Monday night when we were playing into a winning football game.
I always say that about quarterbacks. It is certainly about how you can communicate verbally, but it is really your ability to communicate through your actions. That is when you don’t need words to describe what you are doing or what you are trying to get done. Other players will react to that. That to me is the genius of one Peyton Manning.
AE: During your career when the game was on the line did you have a go to guy that you knew would deliver?
BE: Well yeah you do. It is somebody that you really, really feel comfortable with. For me I had a couple of those guys. It was Cris Collinsworth and Rodney Holman back in my days in Cincinnati. When I was with the Jets it was with Rob Moore. Fortunately for me I had Rob Moore as a receiver in Arizona too.
When I went back to Cincinnati there were younger players that I really didn’t know that much about. I knew that I could have a profound impact on their careers by doing what I just said. I would show them how to prepare and how to use that preparation on the field and turn it into a success.
When I think back about my last year in the NFL I had a running back who was a rookie that year. He had a phenomenal rookie year. That rookie was Corey Dillon. I think about how Corey Dillon became a great running back in the NFL. I hope in some small way that I helped him become a success in the NFL. After I retired Corey continued to have a great career and even won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots.
That is what I think quarterbacks are known for by helping players become great. Hopefully when people think of me that they will say that I had an impact on their career to make them successful in the league.
AE: During football season people can see and hear you pretty much everywhere. You are on TV, the radio for Monday night football, and you have a morning talk show on the radio as well. You do a great job breaking down the game. With that you are very busy during the NFL season. I do have to say though you must have great time management skills.
BE: (Both laugh) I guess so, but I love the fact that people feel good about me to employ me in such high profile jobs. I will never ever take for granted the opportunity to speak about something that I love so much. The NFL has been great to me.
Covering the NFL is the ultimate for a football junkie like myself. I don’t have to coach. I don’t have to be a general manager. I don’t have to make those fourth and one decisions that a (Bill) Belichick or a Tom Coughlin have to make. Then on Sunday or Monday I can sit in judgment about those decisions and be able to sleep at night and not worry about it with any repercussions. (Both laugh.)
AE: Your son Gunnar was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in 1993. You and the many great people at your foundation have done so much for the CF community. For those who don’t know too much about your foundation can you give an overview? 
BE: I was actually exposed to Cystic Fibrosis in 1989 by Frank Deford. Frank was speaking at a banquet that I was at. He had lost his daughter Alex to Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetically transmitted disease. My wife and I didn’t know that we carried the recessive gene trait.
The disease itself involves the lungs and the digestive system. The lungs are marked with bacterial infection. Saying all of that when Gunnar was diagnosed in 1993 at the age of two when I became the quarterback of the Jets the second phone call I made was to Frank Deford. He was just as shocked as I was that destiny and irony had found our family when Gunnar was diagnosed with the disease that ultimately killed his daughter.
He said that this was God’s way of saying that we have an opportunity here. To use your celebrity in New York to raise funds and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis. I have never ever not taken that piece of advice as seriously as it deserved to be taken. I feel really strong after 20 years of watching Gunnar grow up and graduate from Boston College that we have taken Frank’s ideas and trying to create a world for Cystic Fibrosis patients to live a healthy, normal, and productive life as any child in the world.
I can say that watching Gunnar fight this disease every day that I am most proud as a dad of what he has already accomplished in his young life. I want him to become a father himself. As any father can attest to that there is nothing more fulfilling and greater than becoming a father. So for me we are trying to make a difference in the lives of Cystic Fibrosis patients. Gunnar is a prime example of that. I think we have accomplished our mission, but the ultimate goal is to cure this disease but we are still a ways from that.
AE: How has research and medicine evolved since the early 1990s?
BE: Well a number of things have come to fruition. First and foremost if people want to find out more about Cystic Fibrosis they can go to our website at Esiason.org or they can go to the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website, which is CFF.org.
In the past 20 years we have raised the median age. The average lifespan with Cystic Fibrosis was from 19 to now 37. Which in a greater understanding of the disease there are better ways to handle the symptoms of the disease. Lung transplants are more commonplace than ever before. We ask people and beg people to become organ donors because you never know when you can have the positive impact on somebody else’s life. You can give them a second chance at life, which I have seen and lived through many times over in the world of Cystic Fibrosis.
The drug from the patient to the test tube has been fast and furious over the last 20 years. There have been at least six or seven new therapies that Gunnar and all Cystic Fibrosis patients have been benefitting from. There is a better understanding of the disease, the symptoms of the disease, and the drug delivery in terms of the types of infections these kids are dealing with.
Even though it is not easy living with Cystic Fibrosis as Gunnar has proven and many young adults like him have proven it is an attitude that you have to have. You got to be positive. You got to be realistic. You got to be aggressive in dealing with the disease. That is one of the reasons that we are seeing kids live a lot longer. We are seeing female CF patients being able to deliver their own babies and becoming moms themselves. It is really becoming quite the story.
We have a number of CF patients that run in marathons. The story of triumph in the world of Cystic Fibrosis has really been nothing short of a miracle thus far. We continue to see miracles each and every day. We are going to continue to fund the research, college scholarships, lung transplant grants, and every other aspect of Cystic Fibrosis that we can improve we will continue to do.
May 5th
Titus Welliver Interview
Titus Welliver is starring in one of the first Amazon Studio’s series pilot called “Bosch.” He plays the lead role of a Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective named Harry Bosch. The series is based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling Harry Bosch book series.
Welliver is no stranger to being in critically acclaimed films and TV series. He was known as the “Man in Black” in the TV series “Lost.” He also played the role of Glenn Childs in the TV show “The Good Wife”.
Last year, Welliver was in both films “ARGO” and “Promised Land.” Titus didn’t stop working hard this year either. He finished wrapping up filming of “Transformers 4: Age of Existence” which is set to be out in theaters this summer.
Titus was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to talk to me about “Bosch,” “Transformers 4: Age of Existence,” fatherhood, “Lost,” and more.
Art Eddy: First off let’s talk about the new Amazon series called “Bosch” that you star in. Tell me about the series and your role.
Titus Welliver: “Bosch” is based on the Hieronymus Bosch novels written by Michael Connelly. In the pilot episode we combined two of the novels, “The Concrete Blonde” and “City of Bones” into the storyline. Harry is an LAPD robbery homicide detective. In the pilot he is on trial in a civil lawsuit.
He is being sued as well as the city of Los Angeles for a wrongful death shooting of a suspect. In the interim, because he is taken off the duty roster and since Bosch is such a driven character downtime is not something he does well with. He switches rotation with two other detectives. In that process a dog discovers a bone in the Hollywood Hills and brings it back to the owner.
They discover that it is a shallow grave with the remains of a child. Bosch then catches this case. It is his pursuit of this cold case since it is over 20 years old. It is some compelling storytelling that we got here.
AE: Like you said “Bosch” is based on the Michael Connelly’s book series. Did you read his books even before you started preparing for this role?
TW: I read one of his books a few years back. In preparation to shoot this above and beyond the script I read the two source books, “The Concrete Blonde” and “City of Bones” to get into the mind of Harry. Michael’s characterization since it is the source material is invaluable. Obviously you can’t tell and show everything. You got about 50 minutes per episode to do that.
The script is super tight. A large percentage of the dialogue has been lifted directly from the books. It is very true to the books because Michael is an executive producer and a writer with Eric Overmyer. The integrity of the books are there, which I think is really important. Often in the translation of these things the industry for whatever reason feels the need to cook it up or change it. That really alienates people. You are never going to please everybody. I am sure that there is a percentage of people saying Titus Welliver is Harry Bosch?
I understand that as a person who loves to read. Even with historical characters we have this preconceived idea in our heads about the physicality of the character, what they should sound like, and what they should look like. It is hard because you do want to please everybody, but that is a fool’s errand. There is no possible way.
AE: You are working with a great cast. How did you guys all come together to get the chemistry right for the series?
TW: I have been shooting “Transformers” for months and months. Every time I tried to meet with these guys something came up and I wasn’t able to meet up with these guys. I was really getting frustrated because I really knew that I wanted to do it. I just couldn’t get with them.
So when I finally did it was pretty fast. I had to go to Hong Kong to finish shooting “Transformers” and I was back for like 48 hours and started shooting. We were able to get Jamie Hector and I together. I am a longtime fan of his work. I wasn’t a stranger to his work, but I never met him before. Jamie and I were able to spend some time together with Jim McKay, the director, and talk about the dynamic of those characters and their relationship. They are partners and we sort of have to jump in there.
When we got to the table read, which I think is always interesting, I have to say looking around to see who was there I was just kind of knocked out. These are all people whose work I really, really respect. So I got really excited at the table read and just couldn’t wait to get started.
It was kind of fast, but I always feel that when you assemble a group or people, which directors and producers have a way of putting people who will complement each other, it will work. That is also the difficulty. You want to assemble a group of talent, but you also need to bring people together who can complement each other and work well together. That is tricky. There is always that social aspect of it. Will personalities clash? It is an interesting recipe.
AE: This series airs online at Amazon Prime. Are you happy with the way media is now being housed not just on cable anymore?
TW: It is a whole new ball game. I also think that realistically it is the future. The structure has always been when you do a network pilot is that you shoot the pilot and then they test it. Then we re-edit, we sometimes re-shoot, and even re-cast. Then it is left up to the decision of the executives and not even so much the producers. You are at the mercy of that.
Whereas with this you are still at the mercy with people who will ultimately have the decision to see if this project will move forward, but I think it is also very smart. People are paying for it. If you walk into a butcher shop you don’t ask for the cheapest cut. People want quality. If you are paying for something you want it to be good, quality programming. It is just a different time. There is so much more access now with the internet. People are able to express their opinions. It is kind of interesting.
AE: I can’t wait for “Transformers: Age of Extinction.” It comes out this summer. I saw the trailer. It looks awesome. What can you tell us fans about the film and what we can prepare for?
TW: It looks pretty cool, right?
AE: Yea.
TW: It is a reboot. There are some of the original Autobots. There are all new characters. Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, and Jack Reynor are the central characters. I think also it has been expanded to more of an adult audience. It still has its roots with the regular audience.
It is a little bit darker. It is a little bit rougher then what we have seen in the other films. For me the thrill of participating in a franchise that I have enjoyed, not only with my children, but also on my own. Michael Bay is someone I always wanted to work with. I always wanted to work with Wahlberg. Stan Tucci is in it. Kelsey Grammer is in it. It is a fantastic cast. Nicola Peltz and Jack Reynor are great.
There is a lot of new stuff. It is very different from the other films on a lot of levels. I will say to you that no one will be disappointed. You get yoked and it doesn’t let you go.
AE: You have been on so many great TV shows and films. Do you have an all-time favorite role and what character do fans bring up most to you?
TW: Well I certainly will say “Lost.” The irony is that I only did four episodes of that show. Because of the whole 
mythology of the show, the history of the character, and because of the smoke monster and all of that I get a lot of shout outs from people. They will call me Smokey. People also really love “Sons of Anarchy.”
The films that I have done that standout are the ones I have done with Ben Affleck. As far as a favorite character it is difficult to say. They all have different merits. They each brought me a level of joy and challenge in different ways.
I will say that Harry Bosch is a character that is very nuance, really compelling, and a complex character. It feels like this is something I have been working towards. There is some age and some maturity to have a character at this stage like Bosch at this juncture is really exciting. I love this character and I feel that we have barely scratched the surface. It is my hope that we will be able to continue because there are a lot of books. I get to work with unbelievable actors. There is nothing more exciting to be in the middle of a scene with another actor who is great at what they do.
Feb 13th
Kinivo’s HDMI Kit Cuts Your Cable Cost and Cord
I think it is safe to say that we are all looking to try and save a few bucks here and there. We are looking to cut costs, but not strip ourselves of certain things. One thing that I was looking to do in 2014 was to see if I could cut my cable TV subscription. I hear more and more that a lot of people are doing it. Not that I am conforming into peer pressure, but when it comes to saving money I will take a look at all the options.
There are some devices out there that just work for their programs that are just for their operating system. Then there are those trying to be a knockoff version and the quality is very poor. What I wanted was quality TV, but not paying an arm and a leg for it.
I found out about the Kinivo HDMI kit and wanted to see what they could offer. Kinivo is a producer of quality mobile device accessories. Recently they introduced the new WHD110 wireless HDMI extender kit, created for home audio and video to wirelessly stream content to your television in high definition. Kinivo’s WHD110 extends the wireless HDMI signal with a simple and convenient set-up process, eliminating cable clutter and streamlining your home’s entertainment system with this all-in-one solution.
The HDMI extender kit streams video and audio content up to 65 feet in open space or up to 40 feet indoors, depending on wall density, for a wireless connection between televisions, audio systems, laptops, gaming consoles, cable boxes, monitors and more. Kinivo’s WHD110 brings content from the small screen to the big screen and provides a simple way to wirelessly connect the Internet to your television.
Requiring no complicated set-up, users simply connect Kinivo’s compact transmitter to the output device and attach the receiver to the TV’s HDMI input to wirelessly stream audio and video over your home’s entertainment system. Kinivo’s WHD110 also brings the power of the internet to your living room with the ability to stream online content to your television screen.
It is perfect for cutting the monthly cable bill. You can wirelessly connect their television screen to a laptop or desktop and directly stream video instantly.
“The WHD110 updates your home’s entertainment system by providing advanced features with hardly any set-up required,” says Kinivo VP of Operations Neeraj Srivastava. “Completely customize your home’s entertainment system with wireless streaming and connect with your favorite devices in an entirely new way.”
And that I did. I was very happy with Kinivo’s kit. It has a wireless frequency of 5 GhZ. It streams media in 1080p resolution and supports 3D. It has a 40 feet indoor range as well as 65 feet in open spaces. It comes with removable stands for transmitter and a receiver. It supports the following video formats for TV: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p; PC: up to 1920×1080. For audio you can use either PCM, DTS and DOLBY DIGITAL.
There are a ton of devices that it is compatiable with such as HDTVs, HD projectors, monitors, Blu-ray, DVD players, HD satellite and cable set top box, DVR systems, AV Receivers, Computers (Windows/Mac), HD output capable tablets and smartphones, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360.
So if you are looking to ditch the high cost of cable and stream TV and much more from your devices make you check out the Kinivo HDMI kit. For more info check Kinivo’s website.
Jan 29th
Benjamin Charles Watson Talks About Joining the Cast of AMC’s “The Killing.”
Benjamin Charles Watson recently joined the cast of AMC’s “The Killing.” Watson plays the character of ‘Rayna,’ an outspoken cross-dresser who longs to be loved and accepted for who he really is. He co-stars with actors Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman.
You might have seen Ben in the short lived, CW series “The L.A. Complex” that aired last year. He played the role of Tariq. Ben’s film credits include a lead role in “The Limits” and the short film “Pooka.” His other television credits include SyFy’s “Warehouse 13″ and the TV movie for CBS “Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost.”
Watson was nice enough to answer my questions about his new role on “The Killing” and his past TV experiences.
Art Eddy: You joined the cast of AMC’s “The Killing” this season. Tell me about your role and what your character brings to the show?
Benjamin Watson: I play ‘Rayna’ on this season’s “The Killing”. She’s an outrageous, full-of-life, transgendered teen trying to find acceptance and love in her world. What Rayna brings to the show is vital because she sees something she isn’t supposed to see, and ultimately could put her street credibility in jeopardy.
AE: Were you a fan of the show before landing the role of Rayna?
BW: Absolutely! I was a huge, huge fan of the show!! The writing is spectacular, I loved the clever bravado of the characters, and not to mention the story itself, plus the outcome of season two had me in tears.
AE: What type of research and preparation did you do this role?
BW: I read a ton of books and online journals to understand the psychological mindset of someone coping with being the wrong gender. I also watched several YouTube videos of individuals going through the same changes. They talked about the journey and how they were discriminated against, which was very important because Rayna had been hugely discriminated against and abused by her stepfather.
And let’s not forget that I had to walk in a lot of high heels, so that preparation resulted in lots of ice packs and soaking of my feet!
AE: How was it to build up a chemistry with the cast of “The Killing?”
BW: I found building a chemistry to be pretty easy, because being a part of the street kids felt like we were a family. We would also hang out and have dinner and movie nights together, which helped our bond show through naturally on screen.
Mireille and Joel are such talented and amazing actors, and actually make you feel as if you’re a part of the family. So from that aspect, it was like working with amazing old friends.
AE: We are a few shows into this season. Have you received any feedback from fans about your character?
BW: Everyone so far has said that they didn’t recognize me and that this character is so different from what they have known me to play. But so far all positive responses!
AE: You starred as Tariq Muhammad in the TV series “L.A. Complex.” Was that your first show as a regular cast member and if so what was that experience like?
BW: Yes, it was my first time being a series regular, and the experience was terrifying but also incredibly amazing and stimulating. It gave me the opportunity to grow with my character over a longer, sustained amount of time, and I understood and felt so much of Tariq and his desire to find love. It was truly a remarkable experience!
AE: Do you still stay in touch with the cast of “L.A. Complex?”
BW: When opportunity presents itself I do keep in touch, but with schedules and being in different cities it gets complicated.
AE: You also were on the SyFy’s “Warehouse 13″ which has a geek cult type following. What do you remember about doing that show?
BW: Wow!! I remember getting on set in downtown Toronto where we were transported to “Egypt” and I was simply amazed!
AE: Are you currently working on other projects?
BW: I’m currently working on a few of my own projects at the moment. I have been writing a script for the past 3 years that is close to my heart, and I’m getting closer to getting it on camera.
Jun 24th
Make Your TV Smarter!
If you were looking to upgrade your old flat screen TV with a new smart TV you might want to check out the SmartStick first. If your TV is still in great shape why not just spend $50 instead of $1500. A company called FAVI Entertainment can upgrade your TV for 50 bucks as long as your TV has an HDMI input.
SmartStick has a HDMI connector that is built right on the stick that looks like a flash drive and it plugs directly into your HDTV with no cables or confusing adapters. The DC power is supplied over a mini-USB port, and the included mini-USB to USB connection is just the right length, to reach the USB port on your HDTV.
The Interface application is great. The application lets you access apps, the web, and multimedia content. The SmartStick actually gets you! I am serious. This device adapts itself to present your preferred content first. The homepage will remain constantly updated to display your 6 favorite applications, and any two widgets of your choice.
There is a browser tab to search the web. A video tab that will search through your attached storage devices and present all of your video files. Plus there is a music tab that will look out for audio files no matter which folder they’re located in and present them for easy access.
It also works with Google Play, Android apps, Netflix, Hulu and more. I was able to stream shows from my Netflix and HBO accounts. All of these shows are in HD quality since it hooks up to a HDMI port.
With the included PLEX app, you can now wirelessly deliver saved content directly to your SmartStick enabled TV. Just host your computer’s media collection with Plex Media Server, open the PLEX app on your SmartStick and you are connected.
To even add more ease when using the SmartStick pick up the pocket sized keyboard with touch pad mouse. This keyboard lets you quickly respond to email and enjoy a complete web browsing experience. The keyboard setup is very similar to the Android hot keys that are located beneath the touch pad of the controller. If you like playing games on your Android devices then the touch pad will make gaming a lot easier and your gaming experience will be that much better on your flat screen TV. Whether you go with either the 4 GB or 8 GB of internal storage, the stick also has a microSD card slot that holds up to 32 GB. This is another way to watch movies on your TV.
Apr 15th
T-Shirts That Deserve a Double Take
As guys we tend to rock many different T-Shirts. There are the ones that support your favorite sports team, have a famous line from a film, or pays respect to iconic figure like Pac-Man. Then there are the shirts make people squint as they try to read or comprehend what your shirt means. For me I love these types of shirts. I have a stack of sweet T-Shirts that take a bit of thought to unscramble the message. Here is a list of shirts you can rock that will turn some heads.
One of these tees that I own gained popularity from the hit comedy show, “The Big Bang Theory.” It is the Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock shirt. Even though the show made the shirt famous the game was not invented by Sheldon Cooper and company, but two guys named Sam Kass with Karen Bryla. To me a shirt with only three hand signals is so 2000’s, but a shirt with five of them well now you are talking. Another good reason to own this shirt is that if you are bored well now you and a friend can play Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock and have the rules of the game guide on your shirt. It’s a win, win unless you lose to rock, or lizard, or…..
Going along with the geek theme is the Superhero Periodic Table T-Shirt. If you are into chemistry and comics well you might have to pick up this shirt at ThinkGeek.com. Just be prepared for people to have their eyes fixed at your chest trying to figure out if Batman is really the symbol for helium.
Another shirt you should have in your wardrobe is the Lannister/Lannister 2012 shirt. You can show your love for “Game of Thrones” by donning this political campaign style shirt. What is cool about this one is that people will wonder if the Lannisters were really on the 2102 ticket and if you are democrat, republican, or independent. I bet you the political junkies will check online to see who these political candidates are are affiliated with once they catch a glimpse of your shirt. 
Mar 10th
