Where Are They Now?

Actors of 'Game of Thrones'

FYI: If you are not completely caught up on the show, then I suggest skip reading this post

Tomorrow is a new episode of 'Game of Thrones.' Fans of the show know that they cannot get too attached to a character because there is a decent chance that he or she will get killed off. Let's take a look at what some former 'Game of Thrones' actors are up to these days.

Sean Bean (Ned Stark)

Ned Stark was a great character. It's hard to believe that he was killed off way back in season one. Sean Bean has been busy since he departed the show in 2011. He appeared in the miniseries 'Missing' and acted in several films. Where can you see him next?

'Jupiter Ascending'

On July 18 you can see Bean act alongside Channing Tatum in the highly anticipated movie 'Jupiter Ascending.'

Richard Madden (Rob Stark)

Some viewers who didn't read the books were very shocked when the handsome Robb Stark was murdered in the Red Wedding episode in season three. After Richard Madden left the show, he starred in 'Klondike,' Discovery Channel's first ever scripted mini-series. What will the British actor appear in next?

'Cinderella'

In 2015 you can see Madden in 'Cinderella,' directed by Kenneth Branagh. Check out the teaser trailer for the movie above.

Michelle Fairley (Catelyn Stark)

I miss watching the beautiful Michelle Fairley play Lady Stark. Her character was also killed off in the Red Wedding episode last season. However, Fairley kept busy after she was written off 'Game of Thrones.' She had a small part in the Oscar nominated movie 'Philomena' and guest-starred on the TV show 'Suits.' Can you guess the show in which she currently portrays a villain?

'24: Live Another Day'

Fairley now plays a terrorist on the Fox drama '24: Live Another Day.' The first five episodes of the series can be streamed on Hulu.

A Look Back at '24' Actors

The 197th episode of the Fox show '24' aired tonight. A lot of actors have appeared on the long-running program. The series is like 'Law and Order' in the sense that a lot of established actors have had a part on it at some point in their career. Let's take a trip down memory lane of the cast of '24.'

Fun Facts About Maya Rudolph

'The Maya Rudolph' show premieres tonight on NBC. Maya Rudolph is one of the funniest women in comedy. She is one of my all time favorite cast members from 'Saturday Night Live,' a show she worked on for eleven years. Since departing 'SNL' in 2011, she has appeared in hit movies like 'Bridesmaids' and 'Grown Ups 2.' She returns to the small screen with her own variety show that will air tonight at 10 PM EST. Let's take a look at some facts of the talented actress.

Although they are not married, Maya Rudolph has been in a relationship with film director Paul Thomas Anderson since 2001. She has a part in his new movie 'Inherent Vice,' which hits theaters this December.

Maya Rudolph has been friends with actress Gwyneth Paltrow since childhood. They talked about their past when Paltrow hosted 'SNL' in 2001. Funny enough, Paltrow acted in the movie 'Hard Eight,' which was Paul Thomas Anderson's first feature length movie. Hollywood really is a small world.

Although Maya Rudolph is better known for her work in television, she has appeared in movies that were directed by big names in the industry. Can you match up the movies belonging to the directors pictured here that she had a part in? Answers below.

top: Sam Mendes directed 'Away We Go'

bottom left: James L. Brooks directed 'As Good As it Gets'

bottom right: Andrew Niccol directed 'Gattaca'

Favorite Moments of the 2013-2014 Season of SNL

Last night marked the season finale of 'Saturday Night Live.' A lot of great cast members (Seth Meyers, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen) left the show in 2013. However, season 39 had some hilarious sketches, monologues and videos. Let's take a look at my five favorite moments from this past season. 

Career Spotlight: Personal Assistant to Actor/Director

When I hear stories about people who work as full-time personal assistants to important people, I get nervous for them and think about the horrors that Anne Hathaway's character endures in the movie 'The Devil Wears Prada.' Many people in the entertainment industry have hectic lives as assistants to producers, actors, and other high profile workers. My friend, who chose to be anonymous for this interview, discusses his work life as a personal assistant to an actor/director.

photo blurry on purpose

How long have your worked in your position?
Two and a half years.

How did you get this job?
I heard about it through the UTA job list.

So many people apply to postings on the UTA job list. Were you surprised that you even got a response to your application?
Yes. When I first moved to Los Angeles I applied to countless online postings. I kept a spreadsheet that organized how I found each job, which resume I used, and when I sent in my application. But for this job I forgot to put the information on my document. So when I got the initial phone call regarding my submission I was confused because I couldn't remember which posting the woman on the phone was talking about. It's interesting because just a few days prior to that telephone call, I had actually accepted a job at a reality production company. The job at the reality company was not something I really wanted. It was very low pay and  long hours, but I had accepted it because I was unemployed at the time. However, the woman who called me about the personal assistant job agreed to meet with me anyway. I met her at a coffee shop at 7 AM on a Wednesday, which was my first day at the reality company. The interview with her went well, but nothing was final because I still had to meet with the actor/director. However, I felt good about the meeting and quit the reality company that morning. They were not pleased.

You made a risky decision to quit so quickly.
Yes, but it paid off. I met with the director that Friday, and started working for him the following Monday.

So the whole hiring process took about a week?
Yes. It was pretty fast all things considered.

How long did the person who had your job before you last?
The person whom I replaced only worked for eight months in the position. Most personal assistants in this industry last around a year. However, I do know a woman who has been working for the same man for thirty years. She is what we call a 'career assistant.'

What are your hours like?
We are currently shooting a movie here in LA. Right now I clock about 60 hours a week. However, before the movie started I worked usually between 40 to 50 hours.

What have you learned about being a personal assistant?
I have learned that this job involves a lot of listening and remembering how certain people operate.

What is your favorite aspect about what you do for a living?
I like having access to some of the most interesting crew and cast members in the entertainment industry.

What are some challenges that you have faced?
When I first started out, I was stressed and wondered if what I was doing would ever amount or lead to anything. I was worried because when I began the job I knew I didn't want to become a lifelong personal assistant. I originally gave myself a two-year deadline for the job. As that mark approached, things changed a little bit because it was near the end of pre-production for the movie. Once there was an actual start date for the movie, I decided to stick around longer because I wanted to have that experience under my belt. It will be interesting watching the film go into post-production and then to see what happens when it gets released. It is unclear how the movie will be promoted since it's an independent project.

What job do you think you will take after this one?
I don't know for sure. Once the film is over I will be in a good place to determine if I will want to move on to something new or stick around a little longer. I'm not interested in jumping into something else that will be the same level of insanity. Either I will need to take a break and develop my own projects, or find something at a studio that has regular hours.

What are some of your life ambitions and goals?
I kind of want to do it all. I want to write, direct, produce and maybe act a little bit.

Movies That Made a Huge Impact

It was announced yesterday that Bernie Tiede, the man who is the basis for the 2012 movie 'Bernie,' was released from prison on Tuesday. In 1999 he was convicted of murder and has been incarcerated ever since. However, a judge decided that his original sentence was too harsh, and that he can be released on $10,000 bond. How did Bernie get such a lucky break? A lawyer, who saw the movie at a film festival, was inspired to help Tiede reduce his original life sentence. What other movies have made a difference somehow? Let's take a look at a few of my favorites.

This 1988 documentary, which is now streaming on Netflix, is a great movie that discusses the murder of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. The film suggests that the wrong person was sent to prison for the crime. 'The Thin Blue Line' presented such strong evidence about the case that a hearing was held in 1989 for Randall Adams, the man convicted of Wood's murder. He was released from prison and wrote about his ordeal in the 1992 book 'Adams V. Texas.'

This 2006 documentary, which is also streaming on Netflix, is a really intriguing story about a woman, Becky Fischer, who runs a summer Christian camp for children in North Dakota. It's creepy watching little kids being brainwashed by the pastor. Fischer was forced to close the place down after the movie came out. Concerned people contacted Fischer by writing letters and sending emails. Some even harassed Fischer, making her feel unsafe. I don't condone what some vandals did to the campground, nor do I think it's OK that some people made disturbing phone calls to Fischer, but it's probably for the better that the camp no longer exists.

It's no secret that some liberties were taken with a handful of the facts presented in this 1991 film, but what historical drama or biopic doesn't do that? 'JFK' is probably my favorite Oliver Stone movie. It has an exciting plot and the movie's cinematography is really impressive. It's also one of the many movies in which Gary Oldman plays a part so convincingly that you don't realize it's him until you see his name in the credits. He's really the modern day Laurence Olivier, just disappearing into his roles. Kevin Costner was also perfectly cast as Jim Garrison. I still get stressed out thinking about his long courtroom monologue that he had to memorize. So, how does this example fit into this blog post? In 1991, Stone showed the movie to Congress. As a result, this led to the President JFK Assassination Records Collection Ace of 1992 and the formation of the US Assassination Records Review Board. In 2017, all existing assassination-related documents will be made public. Last year, Warner Bros. released JFK: 50 Year Commemorative Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray).

Successful Movie Reboots

Yesterday it was announced that director Andy Muschetti dropped out of being a part of 'The Mummy' reboot. I actually totally forgot that this franchise was being brought back to life by Universal. I have no problem with studios remaking certain series. I like seeing what a new director and cast can bring to a movie. Also, as time goes on, technology improves. It's cool watching how new and improved visual effects can add to familiar story. Let's take a look at popular movie reboots.

'Batman Begins' (2005)

Christopher Nolan is the superstar director that he is today because of how he successfully rebooted the Batman franchise for Warner Brothers. Tim Burton directed two movies about the caped crusader: 'Batman' (1989) and 'Batman Returns' (1992). Joel Schumacher was then hired to reboot the story of the masked vigilante. Val Kilmer played Bruce Wayne in the 1995 film 'Batman Forever.' George Clooney replaced Kilmer in 'Batman and Robin,' the 1997 sequel.  Nolan however was the first to make a trilogy out of the franchise. His three movies were not only financial hits, but they were critically acclaimed.

'The Amazing Spider-Man' (2012)

I remember being a little surprised when Sony Pictures announced in 2010 that they were rebooting Spider-Man with a completely different director, cast and crew. After all, 'Spider-Man 3' had only come out in 2007. However, Sony's decision to start a new franchise of the comic book hero made sense. First off, Tobey Maguire was getting a little too old to continue playing Peter Parker. The original plan was to make a fourth movie that would film in 2009, but Maguire would have been 34 years old during production. Second, Sam Raimi, who directed the original trilogy, didn't have a strong script to validate moving forward with the planned sequel. It really was time to put a close in that chapter of Spider-Man. But why did Sony rush to reboot the series? Well, money is obviously the biggest factor. There have been rumors that Sony made the new movie so quickly because they didn't want to lose the rights to Spider-Man.' I can't find an article to prove this, so it's merely speculation, but it's possible that if Sony didn't put out another Spider-Man movie within a certain time frame, the rights would go to Marvel.  Whatever the real reason for the rush to reboot Spider-Man, it was definitely not a bad decision. 'The Amazing-Spider Man' (2012) grossed $752, 216,557 worldwide. The sequel, 'The Amazing-Spiderman 2,' which came out just last Friday, has already made $380, 512, 318 worldwide. The third movie will be released in 2016.

'Man of Steel' (2013)

God did I fall in love with Henry Cavill when I saw this movie. The British actor does a great job playing Clark Kent. I also really loved watching Russell Crowe play Jor-El. Michael Shannon was also awesome as the villain. You know what, the whole cast is fantastic. It's not exactly hard for a studio to get top actors to be in a superhero movie. After all, it's a big paycheck and probably a lot of fun to shoot a comic book movie. 'Man of Steel' was a reboot after Warner Brothers decided not to make a sequel of  the 2006 movie 'Superman Returns.' 'Superman Returns' made a little over $391 million worldwide. Studio heads were not thrilled with this return, especially because the movie's production budget was a whopping $270 million. Also, the timing just never worked out for a follow-up. The original writers left, director Bryan Singer went on to direct 'Valkyrie,' and then the writers strike of 2007-2008 happened, further delaying a possible sequel. In the end, Warner Brothers decided to reboot the franchise with a whole new cast and director. The decision to do that paid off, because 'Man of Steel' grossed $668, 045,518 worldwide. Its sequel, 'Batman vs. Superman,' is currently in production.

Career Spotlight: Post Production Assistant 

The entertainment industry is filled with production assistants who are eager to work their way up in the business. Many production assistants here in Los Angeles are college-educated people who are working very long hours with very little financial reward. Base-camp PAs typically work with the actors, helping them coordinate with first AD's, wardrobe department, and others on set. Background PAs are in charge of the extras, and usually interact with the second AD's throughout the day. My friend, who chose to be anonymous for this interview, currently works as a PA in post. She was kind enough to discuss her work life with Some Like it Filmed.

How long have you been a post PA?
One year.

What does a post PA typically do?
We go on a lot of runs, mainly we make sure the kitchen is stocked, take lunch orders, make sure office supplies are abundant and the shuttle drives make it to and from the different post facilities on time. We also deliver DVDs of each cut to the network, studio and sometimes we do home deliveries to Execs. But mainly my job is to make sure the executives are happy, which in the scripted realm means I make sure their stomachs are satisfied. 

By executives do you mean just the executives in post production?
No, we take care of everybody, including the writers, the creators, the associate producer, all the way down to the post coordinator. We make sure the smaller details are completed, so the executives can focus on the bigger picture. 

What did you do for work before being a post PA?
I was a story associate producer in reality television. I helped build the skeleton to each show. I went through the footage and found the moments that I felt the audience would want to watch, then built a string out of these moments for the Story Producer to edit even further. I had a lot of creative control at my old job.

What has been the biggest change from your last job as a story associate producer to your current work as a post PA?
Starting at the bottom again has been hard. Also, money has been a big change. I went from having a decent salary to the exact opposite. I currently have no benefits in my job. I pay for my own health insurance, and no 401K is offered. There is no union/guild that covers production assistants, nor post coordinators in this industry. Because of this we usually get screwed over if we work more than 12 hour days, or holidays. 

What has been some perks in your job?
I get to go inside major studios, for free. I grew up watching tv and movies, so to be able to see where they shot some of my favorite tv shows and movies is awesome. I also get to see some cool celebrities while on the job, and try my best not to be star struck. Also, a lot of the people I have worked with, have worked on some of my favorite tv shows and movies. So I have tons of questions for them, and they're all really nice, which is surprising because I've heard horror stories about Post egos. 

What is usually the next step after working as a post PA?
It really depends on your interests, but assuming post is where you want to be, becoming a post coordinator is the next step. After doing that, many then move on and work as supervisors, then AP's, Co-producers, Producers, etc. The higher the title you get, the harder it is for you to move up. Some never make it past being an AP before they get burnt out and join the corporate side. 

When you were studying film production in college, did you have the intentions of working in post production after graduation?
No, not at all. I originally had the intention of working in production. I loved being on set and operating a camera. However, the hours are a lot better in post. 

How did you even fall into working in post?
I interned at a reality company when I first moved to Los Angeles. I asked the Executive in Charge if they had any production jobs available, and she told me that I have more of a "post personality", shy and reserved, doesn't mind being on my own for long periods of time. In the moment I was a little offended, but now I'm like yes, my personality definitely meshes well with post. The EIC offered me a vault coordinator position, which meant that I maintained a tape library. It wasn't production work, but I was fresh out of college and really needed a job. Afterward, I got promoted to a post production coordinator. I always wanted to get into scripted television, so when my previous company laid me off, I jumped at the opportunity to work as a production assistant on the set of a drama series. From there I got hired to be a post production PA on a different show, and once you get your in, you usually don't have any problems finding your next job (if you're smart and good).

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
Hopefully within the year I will become a post coordinator. After that I hope to just continue moving up the ladder.

What advice can you give to those who are interested in breaking into the entertainment industry?
It's all about networking. Everyone seems to know everyone in post production, so it's all about your connections. Make sure to be nice to everyone, because that intern or PA you're shitting on, could be your boss one day. Also remember that things take time in this industry. I first started out in reality television in 2010. It wasn't until 2013 that I got my foot in the door working in scripted television. Things will happen, when they happen, but you still have to be very proactive in getting what you want. 

TV Shows That Were Brought Back

Today marks the return of Fox's drama '24.' Well, it's sort of a return. The show will be back for only twelve episodes, instead of the normal 24 that were in each season. Premiering in 2001, the series ran for eight seasons and also had a TV movie called '24: Redemption' that aired in 2008. After '24' went off the air in 2010, Fox planned a feature length movie based on the show. When the film got canned, loyal fans assumed that that was the end of Jack Bauer. But Fox did decide to reboot the popular show. '24: Live Another Day' premieres at 8 PM EST. Let's take a look at other shows that were cancelled and then brought back to life.

'Arrested Development'

Cancelled in 2006

Returned in 2013

'Arrested Development' is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. Like many fans of the series, I discovered it later on DVD and did not watch it when it originally aired on Fox. 'Arrested Development' is one of those series that you need to watch every episode in order, starting from the pilot. There are a lot of inside jokes from episode to episode. The show premiered in 2003, years before young audiences caught up on programs online using Hulu or Netflix streaming. Critics loved 'Arrested Development,' but the hilarious series suffered low ratings. The network cancelled it after three seasons, upsetting loyal fans. However, the show developed a cult following after it went off the air, and cast members expressed interest in reviving their roles. Netflix brought the show back for a fourth season, delighting fans globally. On May 26, 2013, Netflix released fifteen new episodes on its streaming platform.

'Family Guy'
Cancelled in 2001
Returned in 2005

'Family Guy' is currently in its 12th season, so it's hard to believe that the show was cancelled after its third season. However, the show did well in reruns on cable, and DVD sales for the first three seasons were high, so Fox brought the show back to its network. The show's creator, Seth MacFarlane, has found tremendous success with this animated comedy. In addition to doing voice work for the show and executive producing every episode, he has also directed the hit movie 'Ted,' and currently co-produces the television program 'Cosmos.'

'Futurama'

Cancelled in 2003

Returned in 2010

'Futurama' was another animated comedy that aired on Fox. The show had an erratic first season, switching from a Sunday time slot to a Tuesday one. Time slots were also moved around during season two and season four of the program. Fox eventually stopped buying new episodes, but Comedy Central picked up new ones. New 'Futurama' episodes ran for three years on this cable channel.

Upcoming Sequels

'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' opens here in the US today. Last weekend, the film was launched in theaters in some foreign markets, and it has already brought in millions of dollars in ticket sales for Sony Pictures, its distributor. The sequel will easily take the number one spot at the domestic box office this weekend. Let's take a look at other big sequels that will be coming out soon.

'X-Men Days of Future Past'

If you're a little confused as to where this new movie fits into the X-Men franchise, let me break it down for you. The first movie was simply called 'X-Men' (2000). The sequel was titled 'X-Men' 2 (2003). The third one was 'X-Men: The Last Stand' (2006). Then there was a spin-off in 2009 with 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine.' After that was the prequel 'X-Men: First Class' (2011). And then in 2013 was a sequel to the spin-off titled 'The Wolverine.' That brings us to 'X-Men Days of Future Past,' which comes out on May 23rd. This sequel to the prequel not only stars some of the cast (Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan) of the original movies and some cast members (Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy) from the prequel, this is the first X-Men movie that Bryan Singer has directed since 'X-Men 2.'

'How to Train Your Dragon 2'

Some years are just great movie years. A lot of iconic films are from 1994 ('Pulp Fiction,' 'Forrest Gump'), groundbreaking movies came out in 1999 ('The Matrix,' 'The Sixth Sense'), and 2010 had amazing features like 'Inception' and 'The Social Network'. 'How to Train Your Dragon' is also one of the most memorable movies of that year. This movie is one of the best examples of 3D technology that I have ever seen. I can't wait to see this sequel on the big screen when it comes out on June 13.











'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes'

The 2011 movie 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' is a prequel to the 1968 'Planet of the Apes.' 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' is a sequel to the prequel. Are you still with me? The 2011 movie was a surprise hit of that summer. 'Dawn' reunited director Matt Reeves with actress Keri Russell for the first time since the television show 'Felicity.' Will this sequel do as well as its predecessor? We'll see how audiences react to it when it hits theaters on July 11. 

Remembering Bob Hoskins

"I came into this business uneducated, dyslexic, five feet six inches, cubic, with a face like a squashed cabbage-and they welcomed me with open arms." -July 2009

Bob Hoskins passed away from pneumonia at age 71 on Tuesday. He was a talented and beloved actor. Let's take a look at some facts you might not have known about him.

'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'  (1988)

A huge aspect of my childhood was watching this movie on VHS over and over again. It really blew me away when I saw an interview of Bob Hoskins years later on television and saw that he was speaking with a British accent. He is so convincing as an American detective in this movie that I was shocked to find out he was actually born and raised in England. 

Although his cause of death has been cited as pneumonia, what people might not realize is that he also suffered from Parkinson's disease. In 2012 Hoskins announced his retirement from acting after his diagnosis of the degenerative disorder. 

Bob Hoskins might not have been a superstar, but he got to work with some of the most prestigious film directors during his career. Can you match up the movies belonging to the directors pictured here that Hoskins had a part in? Answers below.

'Brazil' (directed by Terry Gilliam)
'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' and 'A Christmas Carol' (both directed by Robert Zemeckis)
'Hook' (directed by Steven Spielberg)
'The Cotton Club' (directed by Francis Ford Coppola)