A quick question answered by Matthew Fox

Q: Did you love Speed Racer when you were a kid?

A: I didn’t know Speed Racer at all. Again, getting back to that thing about how directors are very important, when the Wachowskis asked to meet with me, I guess they’re fans of Lost and they had an idea that I might be Racer X, and I went into the meeting never knowing anything about Speed Racer. I wanted to work with the Wachowskis. That meeting went great and I went home with a script, and I got the source material and watched a lot of Speed Racer, and the script blew me away and then I went after that role. I went back to L.A. and I really went after that role, I wanted it, and it took like six weeks. Working with the Wachowskis and the cast on this particular film, and what this film is going to be like, how much it’s a game-changer in my opinion, was an extraordinary experience, it was amazing.




Q: How do you keep your children grounded when their daddy is a big star?

A: Well they don’t have any contact with the business part of it. They really don’t get to see any of the things I’m in. Speed Racer that’s one of the things that I was just so excited about as well was that I knew that my kids – it’s a PG film and a family movie, and they came to Berlin and they came on set and saw me in the full Racer X thing, and I didn’t want to scare them so I was like, ‘Hey,’ and they were like, ‘ Daddy?’ ‘Yeah, yeah, it’s me,’ and I walked on set and my little boy turned to my wife and he goes, ‘I want to be Race X next Halloween.’




Check out www.pacificrimphotopress.com for more photos from the Los Angeles Premiere of "Speed Racer"

Zoom zoom zoom for Speed Racer

Okay, I'm hooked on the Speed Racer theme song. But I think I may be hooked on the movie itself. Can't wait to see it in IMAX. Enough about that. Let's move on to the premiere.


Emile Hirsch stars as Speed Racer.

As the warm sun beat down on the media, across the street from the Nokia Theater complex were fans and protesters. Protesters you say? Yes. It looks as if there are a few people who are irritated by the remake of this movie for which I do not know why. Seeing signs being waved stating, "No more monkey business.


Matthew Fox plays Racer X.

Oh well. As for the rest of the crowd, it was made mostly of fans of Korean heart throb Rain. These die-hard fans stuck out the heat for more than three hours just to get a glimpse of their beloved Rain. He acknowledged them a few times with a wave but unfortunately, no crossing streets to greet the fans.


Rain waves at his fans.


Was there drama on the carpet? Perhaps. It seemed like John Goodman and Susan Sarandon kept their distance from each other. I can't say for sure as I didn't get a glance at either when they first arrived on the carpet. Even when event photogs yelled for them to take a two shot. They did not acknowledge each other on the carpet.



Susan Sarandon behind sunglasses.


John Goodman poses solo.


Christina Ricci looking fabo...She plays Trixie in the movie.

Emile Hirsch seemed like he had a surreal look on his face. As he finished the photo section of the carpet, he started on the video section. Half way through, we were trying to get him to pose with the race car. At first, his publicist or could be his manager was waving no. But alas, with the help of our trusty photo rep at Warner Bros and finally the publicist gave us a quick opportunity to shoot Mr. Hirsch with the Mach 5 car.


Emile Hirsch in front of the MACH 5.

Overall, the premiere was a nice overload. Being the first major movie premiere to be held at the new Nokia Theater complex in Downtown Los Angeles, you got the feel of the movie with the theme song music video playing on video screens and music piped throughout the complex. Go Speed Racer!

Speed Racer cpming down the tracks

We were baking in the warm California this past Saturday as us photogs were waiting for the World Premiere of "Speed Racer" to commence. The excitement of the cult cartoon classic heading to the big screen was intensified with new "Speed Racer" theme and music video playing throughout the new Nokia Theater complex in downtown Los Angeles. So while I gather the words and visuals to help enhance your premiere experience, come check out the music video from the movie:

Go Speed Racer Go Music Video

The Papaya Dance on the Red Carpet?

Okay. So as I mentioned earlier, the red carpet film premieres have been slow this week that I've been hooked on this new dance called the Papaya Dance from the Philippines. It's easier than the Macarena so I wanna see you get up and dance.

The song was originally a 1974 disco song from Polish singer Urszula Dudziak. All of sudden a Philippine Game Show host incorporated the song into his show and added simple dance moves.

Maybe it will hit the red carpet.

Here's how to do it from the people at "Good Morning America"



Even the U.S. Ambassador for the Philippines gets into the act:

A touchdown on the carpet with "Leatherheads"

It was a field day last March 31, 2008 at the Grauman's Chinese Theater as the stars of George Clooney's "Leatherheads" showed up for the Los Angeles Premiere of the film by the same name.

After a while, us event photogs thought we were at a premiere for "The Office" with various stars from the showing coming on down the red carpet to support cast member John Krasinski. Krasinski stars as a young college football star who is recruited by George Clooney's character Dodge Connolly to become the first major football star named Carter Rutherford, a war hero, in the budding beginning of professional football we know today.


John Krasinski makes it pass the guards onto the carpet.


But is finally stopped close to the ending carpet by video crews.

Along with Krasinski, Renee Zellweger stars as Lexie Littleton, a spitfire of a news reporter trying to crack the story of the new football playing star.

As in any threesome, a budding romance begins with Lexie Littleton, Carter Rutherford, and unassumingly Dodge Connolly. George and Renee definitely had great connection with their fast talking banter with each other like Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn back in the day.

Back to the present, Renee arrived to greet her fans taking the time to walk from one end of Hollywood Blvd to the other and back signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. Not to be outdone, Mr Cloone also took his cues and did the Hollywood autograph walk through the throngs of fans.

However, once on the carpet, it was another story. Mr. Clooney was hard to catch on the carpet with eye contact as he posed for the event photographers.

George Clooney lead his girlfriend to the finish line of the carpet.


George smugs up to the cameras.

Ms. Zellweger faired no better as she seemed a bit dazed by the craziness of it all. I think she turned away from the cameras for a quick minute to wipe her eyes. The flashes must of got to her.


Renee looking lovely in her blue dress. Thank Goodness she wore blue. We hate black dresses as it throws off the white balance and can overexpose a person. Hello celebrities!!! Please wear something other than black!!!


Renee huddles with George and girlfriend on the carpet.


Renee smirks for a video crew.



There was point when one e-photog was so frustrated that she didn't get her full length shots of Renee that she almost started crying. I guess being a event photographer is a bit harder because our photos aren't as unique as the paparazzi chasing down the stars. So we have to work a bit harder with taking our shots with the hopes of the various celeb rags picking up a photo or two.

For the freshman of the bunch, John Krasinski was the best red carpet poser of the day. He made eye contact with the majority of the photogs which included mine.



Christian Oliver, star of the upcoming "Speed Racer" film, points at me to make sure I got his shot and for to be ready for the "Speed Racer" premiere.


Kid Rock makes a last minute entrance on the carpet. No poses, just a quick walk through to get into the theater. Boohoo Kid!!!

Until next time, "Over The Shoulder!"

Go Speed Racer Go!!!!

In the meantime while I recover from this flu, Check out the hot new Speed Racer movie trailer from Warner Bros. I'm taking Matthew Fox's word for it that the Wachowski Bros has something going good for us this coming May...




I've also included the retro old school theme and closing from the original Speed Racer cartoon. Enjoy!!!!

Matthew Fox's Vantage Point of his career

As promised, here is my Q&A on Matthew Fox. Such a personable guy. Glad he warmed up to me while interviewing him....

Q&A: Matthew Fox
February 13, 2008

By PETERSON GONZAGA
Entertainment News Wire
HOLLYWOOD _ When Matthew Fox began accepting movie roles in addition to his work on the ABC show "Lost," he thought he might have taken on more than he could handle. But after his experience shooting the action feature "Vantage Point," he doesn't feel so lost anymore.

In "Vantage Point," Fox plays Kent Taylor, a secret service agent who is responsible for protecting the president (played by William Hurt). During a global summit meeting in Salamanca, Spain, someone attempts to assassinate the president while he's making an appearance in a town square. The film presents eight distinct points of view of the assassination attempt _ but only one holds the key to the situation. The film also stars Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver and Edgar Ramirez.

On a warm and sunny Friday morning at the Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica, Fox walks down the stairs of a duplex hotel suite and sits down to offer his own point of view on a growing TV and movie career.



Q: Your character, Kent Taylor, has an interesting twist to who he is. Is that one of the reasons you wanted to do "Vantage Point?"

A: For me, that's never the first element. It's more about the picture. It's about the whole movie and it's about the whole story. The director _ his take on the whole story. It's really important to me to be a part of something that is good and has valid reasons for being made. And then the role that I'm asked to play is more the secondary issue.

Q: Speaking of directors, you'd mentioned you wanted to work with the Wachowski Brothers. Was their involvement the focus of your being part of the "Speed Racer" film?

A: Initially it was the main focus. I love the idea of innovation and raising the bar on yourself, and the Wachowskis believe that that's an important thing. They also take stories that have interesting subversive bends underneath. I really like that. But then, when I read the script I was utterly blown away, and the process of making the movie with them was extraordinary.

Q: With "Vantage Point," the various points of view had to be filmed over and over again. Was that hard for you?

A: Filmmaking is pretty much a tedious process, but when you are doing eight different points of view of the same events, it's eight times as tedious. It's a lot. I remember that podium sequence in which William gets shot and the team would swoop up in on him; I can't tell how many times we did that. Every single time, William Hurt was just so committed to what he was doing. He didn't care if the camera was 400 yards away and it was a perspective in which we were deep background. The way he was committed to each take and that professionalism is really something I respect.



Q: Watching the end of the chase scene seemed so emotional. Was it tough for you?

A: Oh God. That was definitely a tough scene. That was a long, long day. That was tough to shoot.

Q: In the chase scene, did you do any of your own stunts?

A: I did some of the driving, but not any of the real intense chase scenes. Stunt drivers did that. One of the only times I got a little frustrated with (director Pete Travis) was when he was asking me to do some close-up shots in the chase scenes. And it essentially had to be where the car was parked, and there were green screens around, and they had someone rock the car lightly because the whole scene is right here (puts his hand squarely framing his face). And I was saying, "This isn't going to work." Pete tells me (whispering), "Trust me. It's going to work. Trust me, Matthew, trust me." And (now) everyone is saying, "The car chase is the greatest car chase ever." I kept laughing to myself every time I would hear that because I was thinking of Pete saying, "Trust me. Trust me."

Q: And that's why you love directors.

A: Yeah. Hell yeah. That's why you want to feel like you're in good hands, because they have a take on it and it's really going to rip.

Q: Have you thought about becoming a director?

A: I've done a little bit. I directed an episode of "Party of Five" when I was on that show. It's a lot. I mean, the one experience I had in directing and acting in the same thing was difficult in itself.

Q: Who is your ultimate dream director to work with?

A: I have a list. A pretty long list. The Wachowskis are up there, I'll tell you that. But there is a bunch. Antoine Fuqua, Aronofsky, Ridley Scott, the Coen Brothers, Michael Mann.

Q: Has your film career affected your TV career with "Lost?"

A: I've had my moments where I thought I might be biting off more than I can chew. I think the summer I did "Vantage Point" and "We Are Marshall," I felt like that. When I committed to both films, I thought that I might not have the energy for this. What I found was quite the opposite. The work I do over the break rejuvenates me when I come back to "Lost." It rejuvenates my passion. It feels like I'm taking something new and bigger to the show and I'm excited. I feel like I'm re-energized. So far, it's worked out for me that way.

Q: You had viewing parties for "Lost" during the first year. Do you still do that?

A: We did for the first year. We don't have them anymore. I think it's the natural progression of the show that people stop socializing together. I mean, the beginning was important. We were all leaving somewhere and going to a new place and no one had any relationships in Hawaii. We're all transplanting ourselves and moving there and setting up camp. Initially, it was about us working together and socializing together as well. I also felt that it was important for us to bond and see the show together and support each other's work, as sometimes the storylines don't connect. We did that for the first year then people started making friendships outside of the show. Myself, if you have kids, you start making friends with your kids' friends' parents. Gradually it's the natural progression of things where we see each other at work then go and we have our lives outside the show.

Q: Going back to "Vantage Point," especially with the presidential primaries underway, do you see its theme of an assassination attempt as a political issue?

A: No. I mean the political part of the film is just a backdrop for an action thriller. It's an action thriller dealing with perspective. You can use a lot of different backgrounds. I'm glad we used the backdrop of a president in Salamanca, Spain, and in the town square, because it really works. But I don't necessarily believe it's a political movie.