Category: Home Entertainment

In Conversation with Glenn Taranto of the New Addams Family

Glenn Taranto loves the cinema from the Golden Age of Hollywood and the stars that emerged from it.

Glenn Taranto

(On Examining the appeal of the Addams Family Franchise)

by Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Glenn Taranto loves the cinema from the Golden Age of Hollywood and the stars that emerged from it. During that time, many genres like German Expressionism emerged, and from that, film noir. The influences date as far back as the silent films, but it was the comedic greats that this actor/writer revealed an affinity for. He grew up watching a lot of them on television and film with his brother, and it’s no small wonder that the passion has influenced him in kooky ways that Charles Addams, the creator of the Addams Family comic approves of. Taranto is very familiar with the source material and it helped him prepare for the role of Gomez Addams when production for the New Addams Family began. This program ran on multiple networks (YTV in Canada and Fox Family in the United States) from 1998-1999.

These days, Taranto spends his time in Los Angeles, the entertainment hub of the world. The roles he often plays can be attributed to the fact that “it’s a family business.” To know the quirks needed to play these parts effectively only came naturally for him and he made use of this experience when he crafted his first feature-film debut as a screenwriter with the movie, Stolen.

“I say write what’s in your heart and don’t let your imagination be stifled. Never say ‘That can’t be done’ or ‘I can’t do that’. Just get it all out,” advised Taranto.

Continue reading “In Conversation with Glenn Taranto of the New Addams Family”

In Conversation with the New Addams Family Coming Soon!

New-addams-family-1

From The New Addams Family, Gomez (played by Glenn Taranto) and Uncle Fester (Michael Roberds) are coming over to Victoria, BC for Island Fantasy Convention (IFCon) this Halloween weekend! Both cannot be any more thrilled. The actors are just as excited for what’s to come because Roberds expects a lot of laughs as they share some of their behind the scenes stories. “The cast of our show [The New Addams Family] is very lucky in that we quickly became good friends and have all stayed in touch over the years,” said Roberds, the actor behind the mask.

The same rule applies for the original Addameses (Lisa Loring and Felix Silla). Who knows, maybe some strange shenanigans will happen outside of the convention. “When we were filming the New Addams Family, Ellie and Mike kidnapped me for my 40th birthday,” Taranto recalled.

“I have to give Ellie Harvey full credit on that,” said Roberds. “She came up with this idea of saying well we’ll go to Victoria. We told a bunch of the cast and crew what’s up. We took him out for a seafood lunch down in Tsawwassen cause he didn’t know the area. It worked pretty well, we got him all the way to the island before he realized what’s going on. That was a great weekend and we all had fun.”

Roberds even considered moving to this garden city. The only thing that really kept him from doing it is the fact that most of the acting gigs took place in Vancouver. Nowadays, that’s a different story but the issue is being able to commute to where the auditions and locations are. He has a friend living on Bowen Island and it was a pain for him to come over and go back; it was really costly. More details will be coming about his work as a Vancouver-based regular when his interview publishes in a few days.

Both this actor and Taranto have plenty of stories to tell when fans of their series visits this garden city too. There’s plenty of creepy and kooky sites to see in the days leading up to All Hallow’s Eve, and they are going to be the spotlight for this show that is trying to emphasize a Halloween theme. For those people coming over more than a weekend stay, there’s more than a few Victorian styled architecture to get inspired by too when touring the sites after the firework filled day. In the next two days there will be full interviews with the two about their work that looks into and beyond the Addams Family world.

[Victoria, BC] Unofficial Changes to IFCon’s Guest List

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

ifconhalloweenThe news of this shuffling of guests is not official at time of press, but Claudia Christian (TV’s Babylon 5/The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) and Ari Lehman (Friday the 13th and frontman for musical act First Jason) will not be appearing.

Regarding the matter of the convention, the administrator of Claudia Christian’s FB made a post on the morning of October 22nd. In that post the admin states:

“We’ve got a bit of bad news for anyone hoping to see Claudia at IFCon Victoria on Halloween weekend. Sometimes conventions find they need to shrink their guest list at the last-minute and unfortunately that means Claudia will NOT be at the con. While we are sure this will be disappointing to those of you looking forward to meeting Claudia at this event, please know this was not her choice.”

Continue reading “[Victoria, BC] Unofficial Changes to IFCon’s Guest List”

[Victoria, BC] In Saanich for Evil Acres — Take 2015

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

1607035_386482928176879_630313543971803379_nfrom 7 to 11pm daily
continues to Oct 31st
10375 Wilson Rd.
North Saanich, B.C.

In the month of October, some residents of Victoria, BC make a ritual out of going to Evil Acres, a haunted attraction located near Victoria Airport. Part of the joy is in entering the Slaughter House. This spooky abode has changed from what I remember last year. There’s a room that is truly dark, and you have to feel around to find the way out. There’s no joy in going through this home alone (although you’ll get the best experience out of the ‘solitude’ of the situation; some of the best horror stories involve divide and conquer) and I had to wait until two buddies of mine had time so we can go to this spookfest together.

I’m rarely disappointed, even though my stoicness is tough to break. When my writing partner James Shaw is tough to entertain in a concert, I’m harder to freak out when it comes to these walk-through tours. Yes, I can be startled but to get that creeped out feeling, it better be 100% real. That’s just one of the many reasons why I became a paranormal investigator. Although I know most ghosts can not harm you, the feelings you get when something happens and your logical mind can’t figure out, the spine-chilling feeling will just not go away!

Continue reading “[Victoria, BC] In Saanich for Evil Acres — Take 2015”

The Man Behind the Cigarette, William B. Davis

Where There's Smoke cover hi res

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

presenting at
SchoolCreative
Institute of the Arts
210 – 112 East 3rd Ave
Vancouver, BC

Sunday, November 15th at 7pm

William B. Davis is not just the Cigarette-Smoking Man (CSM) from FOX TV‘s cult hit, The X-Files (due to return in a mini-series next year). He is a well-respected veteran of the Canadian theatre scene. He directed A Man for All Seasons for United Players of Vancouver and he has plans for new productions. Anyone who has followed his career may recall his work with Sherlock Holmes, Stuff Happens, and The Ecstasy of Rita Joe.

But for those more familiar with his work in X-files, he can’t say too much about what’s to come. The cigarette smoking man is back, for a very enigmatic character, the man behind the veil of smoke is a gentle soul. His life prior to X-Files is written in the aptly named memoir, Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man.

This book looks at his life from his youth to getting the role as the CSM (with some thoughts on the production) to a chapter that deals with life after the series. The book was published in 2011, and its information is still relevant today; It very nicely details how Canadian theatre evolved. Davis’ involvement is huge. He also recaps what X-Files is all about. If fans want a quick way to get up to speed before the new series, this book does the job.

Continue reading “The Man Behind the Cigarette, William B. Davis”

Transformers: Robots in Disguise DVD is Set to Roll Out Oct 20th!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

unnamed

The next chapter in the Transformers saga is set to arrive on DVD October 20th, courtesy of Shout! Factory Kids and Hasbro. Transformers: Robots in Disguise follows after the events of Transformers: Prime, and with the focus on Bumblebee, viewers can learn about whether he has what it takes to become a leader like Optimus Prime.

This little yellow vehicle who could seems to have difficulty with accepting the fact that he’s now a leader. One aspect of this series’ charm is in seeing him trying to find that catch phrase that improves upon what Optimus Prime, who makes cameo appearances, often says. Bee has to lead a rag-tag team on Earth looking for escaped Deception prisoners.

Continue reading “Transformers: Robots in Disguise DVD is Set to Roll Out Oct 20th!”