J.K. Simmons BAFTA 2015 Winners Interview
J.K. Simmons won the BAFTA for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the ferocious music teacher bullying Miles Teller towards drumming greatness in Whiplash. He spoke about working with director Damien Chazelle, young co-star Miles Teller and future projects including King Kong reboot Skull Island. Read a full transcript of his winners press conference interview below:
This is your tempo I would imagine?
Yes it’s a Very Good tempo. Yes an acceptable tempo.
How does it feel to win a BAFTA? Is it still sinking in?
Yes it is, It’s brilliant to be thought of on this side of the pond as well.
Tell us about the connection between this feature and the original short with director Damien?
Well the feature was actually written first. The short was made as a proof of concept actually, because oddly nobody in Hollywood wanted to throw millions of dollars at a guy who had no track record and a script about a Jazz Drummer. So yeah he distilled the short film from the feature script. It came in that order and obviously he’s force to be reckoned with.
Did you perception of the character change between the short and feature?
No not really it evolved a little bit. It solidified. But I had read the whole script before I shot the short so it was a character that was so clear on the page that it was just about doing my best to lift it off.
How important do you think Miles Teller was in helping your performance and the success of the film?
I was so glad to see Miles on the list of nominees here tonight and in my view he’s not getting his due in his award season. But I think we can chalk that up to youth and maybe the perception that he hasn’t paid his dues yet, but he’s a brilliant young actor.
How much has the success of this role affected you?
There are more offers coming my way. More interesting offers and more significant roles. Just bigger parts. So that’s been a big plus for this experience. I’m certainly not trying to look to repat Fletcher so I’m looking of things that are different.
Where you nervous about working with a director with comparatively little experience?
I suspected that it might but he’s such a complete filmmaker despite his lack of youth and real hands on experience. That was one of the great parts of doing the short film that I very quickly felt that was in really good hands. Having worked with masterful directors like Sam Rami, Jason Reitman and the Coen brothers I’d definitely put Damien without hesitation in that category.
How pleased are you to see so many indie films triumphing this awards season?
Well I think anything that is at all untraditional is a tough pitch in Hollywood. It’s a business and there’s money at stake but I think the fact that so many films that are thinking outside the box are getting so much awards attention this year will help to broaden the horizon of movies that can get made. I’ve heard the quote several times recently that making a movie is really pretty easy compared to getting a movie made and hopefully this will open the doors for other interesting films.
You’re making King Kong film Skull Island next what made you say yes to that project?
Honestly it never would have occurred to me directly. But then Spider-Man wouldn’t have occurred to me either. I will say again in all candour when the idea was presented to me that there’s a new version of King Kong being made my response was “Why would anyone do that?” But having met with our director and knowing that Tom Hiddleston was already attached. My meeting with the director just convinced me that there was a good chance that this could be a really wonderful film.
Are you looking forward to the Oscars?
I’m just really pleased to be here and to be holding this mask with one eye blinking. If there are more to come then that will be delightful as well.
Finally, what do you see as the biggest challenges facing the film industry now?
There are always gigantic challenges facing Hollywood and the film industry elsewhere as well. I think Hollywood has spread across the state and sort of across the globe. There are ever present challenges and I think for Hollywood the biggest form a business perspective is really just making sure the interesting, intelligent, challenging movies just get a chance to get made.
New Pitch Perfect 2 Trailer
Check out the latest official trailer for musical comedy sequel Pitch Perfect 2. The new adventure finds Becca and A-Capella singing sensations The Bellas leaving the comfort zone of inter-collegiate sing-offs to step up to the daunting big leagues of the world championships. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow lead an eager returning cast as the girls once again find themselves outcast underdogs thanks to the fact the rest of the world conveniently hates America…
New trailer below features even more euro trash banter, Anna Kendrick cuteness and Rebel Wilson going full frontal:
Spider-Man Joins Marvel Cinematic Universe
In a surprising statement Sony and Disney have confirmed that after years of fan speculation and studio negotiations Spider-Man will finally join the Marvel cinematic universe. Marvel Studios will produce the next Spider-Man movie now set for a 28th July 2017 release date, although Sony will continue to finance, distribute and own the franchise. Before that, the ‘new Spider-man’ will appear first in another of Marvels forthcoming releases. This reference to a ‘new’ Spidey has lead many to assume this will prove to be yet another big screen reboot for the franchise, with Andrew Garfield being replaced as Peter Parker. Although not yet officially confirmed this does seem likely, with strong indications that Garfield has indeed worn his spadex Spidey suit for the last time.
The new deal will also at least delay the release of Sony’s planned Spider-Man spin offs like Siniser Six and Venom. As the new deal significantly gives Sony the opportunity to involve characters from the wider Marvel universe in future Spider-Man films, it seems very likely that they may entirely rethink their plans for the franchise, given the obvious wealth of new material and ideas at their disposal.
Full official Press statement below:
SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT BRINGS MARVEL STUDIOS INTO THE AMAZING WORLD OF SPIDER-MAN
New Spider-Man Will Appear First in an Upcoming Marvel Film Within Marvel’s Cinematic Universe
Marvel’s Kevin Feige to Produce Next Installment of the Spider-Man Franchise with Amy Pascal
(Culver City, California, and Burbank, California February 09, 2015) – Sony Pictures Entertainment and Marvel Studios announced today that Sony is bringing Marvel into the amazing world of Spider-Man.
Under the deal, the new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on July 28, 2017, in a film that will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger. Sony Pictures will continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films.
Marvel and Sony Pictures are also exploring opportunities to integrate characters from the MCU into future Spider-Man films.
The new relationship follows a decade of speculation among fans about whether Spider-Man – who has always been an integral and important part of the larger Marvel Universe in the comic books – could become part of the Marvel Universe on the big screen. Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes in the MCU.
Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company said: “Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s great characters, beloved around the world. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Pictures to bring the iconic web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which opens up fantastic new opportunities for storytelling and franchise building.”
“We always want to collaborate with the best and most successful filmmakers to grow our franchises and develop our characters. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Amy, who helped orchestrate this deal, are the perfect team to help produce the next chapter of Spider-Man,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. “This is the right decision for the franchise, for our business, for Marvel, and for the fans.”
“Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios share a love for the characters in the Spider-Man universe and have a long, successful history of working together. This new level of collaboration is the perfect way to take Peter Parker’s story into the future,” added Doug Belgrad, president, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group.
“I am thrilled to team with my friends at Sony Pictures along with Amy Pascal to produce the next Spider-Man movie,” said Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. “Amy has been deeply involved in the realization on film of one of the world’s most beloved characters. Marvel’s involvement will hopefully deliver the creative continuity and authenticity that fans demand from the MCU. I am equally excited for the opportunity to have Spider-Man appear in the MCU, something which both we at Marvel, and fans alike, have been looking forward to for years.”
Spider-Man, embraced all over the world, is the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures, with the five films having taken in more than $4 billion worldwide.
BAFTA Film Awards 2015 Winners List
Here is the full list of winners for the Bafta Film Awards 2015 as announced at the star studded ceremony last night at the royal opera house in London. Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore, JK Simmons and Patricia Arquette took home top acting honors. Richard Linklater indie hit Boyhood won best film and director in addition to best supporting actress. While Whiplash, The Theory of everything and The Grand Budapest hotel largely divided up the other categories. The Lego Movie also picked up the best animated BAFTA in consolation for the film’s inexplicable snub by the American Academy for the animated Oscar nods. Finally Mike Leigh received the BAFTA fellowship in recognition of his lengthy and often praiseworthy career.
Best Film: boyhood
Outstanding British film: The Theory of Everything
Actor: Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Actress: Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Supporting actor: JK Simmons – Whiplash
Supporting actress: Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Director: Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Adapted screenplay: The Theory of Everything – Anthony McCarten
Original screenplay: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson
Animated film: The Lego Movie
Documentary: Citizenfour
Foreign film: Ida
Cinematography: Birdman – Emmanuel Lubezki
Costume design: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Editing: Whiplash – Tom Cross
Make-up and hair: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Frances Hannon
Music: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Alexandre Desplat
Production design: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Adam Stockhausen, Anna Pinnock
Sound: Whiplash – Thomas Curley, Ben Wilkins, Craig Mann
Visual effects: Interstellar – Paul Franklin, Scott Fisher, Andrew Lockley
British short animation: The Bigger Picture – Chris Hees, Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka
British short film: Boogaloo and Graham – Brian J Falconer, Michael Lennox, Ronan Blaney
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer: Stephen Beresford, David Livingstone (writer and producer Pride)
Rising Star award: Jack O’Connell
Chris Pratt Is Hasty Pudding Man of The Year
The Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the oldest theatrical organization in the United States, celebrated Chris Pratt as the recipient of its 2015 Man of the Year Award. The Pudding is excited to honor a performer who became a bona fide Hollywood heavyweight in the past year. Pratt joined his Parks & Recreation co-star Amy Poehler, who was feted on January 29 as the Hasty Pudding’s 2015 Woman of the Year.
The Man and Woman of the Year Awards are presented annually to performers who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment. The Man of the Year award was established in 1963. Its past recipients include, among others, Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Robert de Niro, Harrison Ford, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake, James Franco, and most recently, Neil Patrick Harris.
After an early morning visit to Christopher’s Haven to make good on his Super Bowl bet with Chris Evans, Chris Pratt took a tour of the Hasty Pudding Clubhouse, had lunch at Harvest, a local restaurant, and participated in a private Q&A with the members of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. At 8:00pm the Hasty Pudding Theatricals hosted a celebratory roast for the actor, led by HPT producers Zoe Rosenthal ’16 and Josh Friedman ’16, and presented him with his Pudding Pot at Farkas Hall, the Hasty Pudding’s historic home in the heart of Harvard Square since 1888. A press conference followed the roast. Afterwards, the Pudding staged the opening night performance of its 167th production, ¡Oops!… Madrid It Again!
The Man of the Year festivities are presented by The Related Companies and Beacon Capital Partners. In addition to his Pudding Pot, Chris Pratt received gift basket including products from local businesses; T-shirts from the Hasty Pudding’s newly launched licensed apparel line (available for purchase at the Harvard COOP and at the box office of Farkas Hall until March 8th); and a one-of-a-kind, bespoke “Chris Pratt Hasty Pudding MOY” slippers by the Hasty Pudding’s footwear licensee Stubbs & Wootton.
