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Quote of the Day: Vin Diesel on Voicing Groot

Vin Diesel and Groot, of 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

"It was the month after the accident happened with my brother Paul Walker and it was the first time I had worked since. Although it was challenging, just to get back to work was therapeutic — especially as Groot. There was an innocence about the character that was just refreshing — and it may have been more challenging under other circumstances, but at that time, it was very therapeutic."

- Vin Diesel shares how voicing the role of Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy helped him get over the death of his friend and Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker.

(Make sure to check out other notable quotes.)

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Philip Seymour Hoffman Will Not Appear via CGI in ‘Mockingjay’

Philip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour Hoffman will not be digitally recreated to appear in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.

The actor tragically died in February of a heroin overdose before he could complete the sci-fi film and director Francis Lawrence is determined to include the star in the scenes he couldn't complete, but will not settle for digitally enhancing his image into the movie.

"We finished the majority of his work. I think he might have had eight to 10 days left on our schedule. In most of those scenes, Phil didn't have any dialogue. We are going to put him into those scenes, but we're only using real footage. We're not creating anything digital or a robotic version of him," he said.

Shortly after his passing, studio Lionsgate, who is making the movies, said Philip would be recreated for scenes using CGI effects. Producer Nina Jacobson said they may give some of the star's character, Plutarch Heavensbee's, lines to other characters, but said that would happen "only in circumstances that we are able to do that without undermining the intent of the scene."

Click to continue reading Philip Seymour Hoffman Will Not Appear via CGI in ‘Mockingjay’


‘Alien’ Artist H.R. Giger Dies

H.R. Giger working on 'Alien'

Surrealist artist H.R. Giger - one of the driving creative forces between 1979's Alien - died today in Zurich after complications from a fall.

The 74-year-old Swiss was known for his dark but brilliant fascination in humanity's relationship with machines. Having been brought to Hollywood by El Topo director Alejandro Jodorowsky to work on his unrealized Dune, Giger went on to work in sci-fi films like Alien, for which he won an Oscar (it's worth noting that his designs for Jodorowsky's Dune were still used in David Lynch's 1984 film adaptation).

Click to continue reading ‘Alien’ Artist H.R. Giger Dies

Read More | NPR

Harold Ramis Dies

Harold RamisGhostbusters star Harold Ramis has died at the age of 69.

The actor and director - best known for his role as Egon Spengler in the 1984 comedy, which he also wrote, with Dan Aykroyd - passed away in the early hours of yesterday morning after suffering autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis for a number of years.

Although he is best remembered on-screen for his roles in Ghostbusters and its 1989 sequel, Harold had been a leading figure in comedy since the 70s, directing Caddyshack, Groundhog Day and National Lampoon's Vacation. He also co-wrote the iconic 1978 film National Lampoon's Animal House, and later 1999s Analyze This and 2002s Analyze That, starring Robert De Niro, which he also directed.

Harold continued to act in recent years, with parts in Knocked Up, Airheads and Oscar-winner As Good As it Gets and he had also directed episodes of the US version of The Office for network NBC.

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Kurt Russell: ‘Fast and Furious 7’ Ending Has Changed

Kurt RussellKurt Russell says the whole ending of Fast and Furious 7 is being changed in the wake of Paul Walker's death.

The film franchise's star was killed in a horrific accident on November 30 when the car Paul was traveling in careered off the road and smashed, which has led to his final film - which was incomplete at the time - being significantly altered.

"They're having to rewrite, they're having to do whatever they're having to do to deal with the situation. Listen, it's catastrophic. It's the worst thing that could happen to a movie, but it's not as bad as what happened to Paul. So everything is in perspective. He was a terrific guy. And life is full of curveballs," Kurt - who is joining the franchise playing a father figure to Vin Diesel's character - told ETonline.com.

The 62-year-old star added the fate of his own character may now change in the new ending. "Whether or not this guy dies off in the movie, we don't know, and that may have changed now significantly, too," he added.

Click to continue reading Kurt Russell: ‘Fast and Furious 7’ Ending Has Changed


Paul Walker’s Brother to Take Over ‘Fast & Furious’ Role

Cody and Paul WalkerPaul Walker's younger brother has reportedly been asked to help complete Fast & Furious 7.

The 40-year-old actor was on a break from the upcoming movie when he tragically lost his life in a blaze when a car he was traveling in crashed into a pole in Santa Clarita, California on November 30, and his lookalike sibling, Cody Walker, who has worked as a stuntman, has been asked to step in to help filmmakers finish the movie as a tribute to Paul.

"Producers had a string of meetings right after Paul's death. They soon realized they needed someone who looked like Paul to finish the movie and that's when they approached his nearly identical brother, Cody. They can shoot Cody from behind and at distance and if it's a shot they need Paul's face in close up they can CGI it later on. If Cody agrees it's because he wants to honor his brother's memory. There are many details that still need to be worked out, but right now the family and cast and crew are all still grieving," a source said.

Click to continue reading Paul Walker’s Brother to Take Over ‘Fast & Furious’ Role


Cinecast: Christoph Waltz for ‘Horrible Bosses 2,’ Antonia Bird Dies

Antonia Bird+ Even though Christoph Waltz bears no resemblance to Chris Pine, there are few to no outcries over the Austrian actor being cast in the sequel to Horrible Bosses considering the fact that ever since his hosting stint on Saturday Night Live, everyone has been dying to see him do a straight-up comedic film.

+ Though there were only speculations and initial reports, the official news is out about True Blood newbie Luke Grimes winning the role of Christian Grey's brother in the much talked-about film adatpation of Fifty Shades of Grey. Is it just me, or is he well on his way to securing the hunkiest TV and film parts of 2014?

+ British film director Antonia Bird has passed away at the age of 54 in London due to illness. Bird is best remembered for helming films Priest, Mad Love, and Face.

Click to continue reading Cinecast: Christoph Waltz for ‘Horrible Bosses 2,’ Antonia Bird Dies


John Travolta Considered Retirement After Son’s Death

John TravoltaJohn Travolta considered retiring after his son died.

The Grease! actor and wife Kelly Preston were left devastated when son Jett passed away in 2009 and he admits it was only the support from his fans, loved ones and faith in Scientology which prevented him from turning his back on his career in the aftermath of the tragedy.

"I lost my son a few years ago and I had been having quite a time of that. And after three years of getting a lot of support from the church and a lot of support from people - fans and family - I decided that it was OK to go back to work. Because I even thought of retiring at one point, because it just felt like too much."

John - who is making his acting return in new movie Savages - admits he is still impressed by his "extraordinary" career achievements. "Grease! and Saturday Night Fever were the number one and two records in history until Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' came along. So for five years we held the crown for one and two! It was pretty extraordinary. And still I think that 'You're The One That I Want' [from Grease!] is the biggest duet in history," he added.


Ann Rutherford Dies

Ann RutherfordGone With the Wind actress Ann Rutherford has died.

The Canadian star died at her home in Beverly Hills, California, last night aged 94. Ann's close friend and fellow actress, Anne Jeffreys, said she had been in declining health with heart problems.

Ann was best known for playing Scarlett's younger sister, Carreen, in 1939 film Gone With the Wind, and was one of its last surviving cast members. Ann was initially refused the chance to be in Gone With the Wind by MGM boss Louis B Mayer, who called her role a "nothing part," but after she burst into tears and told him what a huge fan of the novel she was, he reconsidered.

"I just wanted to watch the book come to life," she told the Los Angeles Times in 2010.

Speaking at the 70th anniversary of the film in 2009, she said, "That 'nothing part' turned my golden years into platinum."

Click to continue reading Ann Rutherford Dies


Anjelica Huston Finds Filming Cathartic

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Drama, Comedy, Celeb News, Filmmaking,

Anjelica HustonAnjelica Huston liked appearing in 50/50 as it allowed her to "legally cry."

The actress took time out from her career following the death of her husband Robert Graham from a rare blood disease in 2008, and she admits she was glad to work on the comedy movie - about life and death and cancer - because she could get tearful.

"It was extremely cathartic. Every day I could legally cry, which was important to me. I was living it the way I lived it. My work has always reflected my life," she said.

Following his death Anjelica - who is also known for her relationship with Jack Nicholson - left Los Angeles and she thinks it helped her begin to get over her grief: "It takes me away from the pain I was going through in the last few years, with death and being in a house that I knew at some point I would have to move away from. Change is sometimes very painful. A new person emerges from the chrysalis of who you were and you go from feeling vulnerable to feeling that something brilliant has changed your life for the better."


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