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Saturday, July 29, 2006

Johnny Weissmuller, Jr (1940 - 2006)

Johnny Weissmuller, Jr.
I'm sorry to say that another Star Wars alum has passed away. Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. passed away on July 27, 2006 after a long and hard battle with terminal cancer.

Details are few at this time. This information was passed to me from Geoff who runs Mr. Weissmuller Sr.'s official site.

I'd give a short bio but my time is extremely limited right now. Please, visit the link above and read Mr. Weissmuller Jr.'s biography and credits there.

Sad to hear of this passing.

Leah

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

My Little Boga



My Little Boga
Hey!
Just a heads up...My Miss Boga will be published in The Star Wars Insider, issue #90 scheduled for release in September.
Leah

Edit: added pic of the SW Insider page.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Lord of the Rings Sketch Cards


Lord of the Rings Sketch Cards

I've been invited to do sketch cards for the series that will be released this fall. I'll be making a few updates as I go but the deadline is super tight.
Here's some info on the series:
"On October 4th, Topps will release Lord of the Rings Masterpieces. This 90-card set will feature art from production paintings, costume designs, EA's XBox360 The Battle for Middle-Earth2 game, caricatures, and newly commissioned art. Insert sets will include Silver Foil Art cards from the end credits of the Return of the King (plus Hobby Exclusive Bronze, Gold, and Refractor Parallel sets), Hobby Exclusive One-Of-A-Kind Hand-Drawn Artist Sketch cards"

Thank you!
Leah

Post from the Blogs.StarWars.com:
Hey everyone,

I'm still recovering from Comic Con but feeling pretty good, I had a very good time and hung out with some great people. More about that later.
I was invited to be a sketch card artist for The Lord of the Rings Masterpiece collectible card series coming up this fall. I'll be holed up for a while but will try to update here and there and assure everyone that I've not fallen into the abyss of hand-cramp hell.
God speed to me Leah

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

The Origin of Anakin

Did you ever wonder where George Lucas came up with the name Anakin? Look no further than director Ken Annakin.

Annakin, who will turn 92 in August, has directed a host of films, the most recent was Ghengis Khan, but he is probably best known for The Longest Day and The Battle of the Bulge.
The short of itm as Annakin himself tells, is when George Lucas was filming Star Wars in 1976 at Pinewood Studios he told Alec Guinness that he was looking for a name. Guinness suggested the name Annakin, which he'd seen on Ken Annakin's office door earlier. Obviously it stuck...missing one 'n'.
The name is of Russian origin but Annakin was born in Yorkshire, UK.

Interesting to note that one of Annakin's films, The Pirate Movie, has two Star Wars references...
The first is from a song in the film based on the Pirates of Penzance's Major Modern General, it is sung by Stanley (Kerr):

'I comprehend contemporary culture North American. / I straighten more piratical erections than Bo Derek and, / I'm in to EST and all the rest, I've undergone analysis, / I've jumped beyond the gravitude to permanent paralysis. / My muse is into music, but my credit I'll not trouble you, / From R&B to S&M / , cross over C&W, / To groovin' with the Doobies in my Malibu white-souling tones. / Man, I'm older than the Beatles, but I'm younger than the Rolling Stones. / (He's older than the Beatles, but younger than the Rolling Stones.) / My military knowledge for I'm plucky and adventure-y. / Embraces M*A*S*H and Star Wars and the 22nd century. / Yes sir in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, / I am the very model of a modern major general. / (In short in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, / He is the very model of a modern major general.)
The second, Frederick hears "Use the Force, Frederick" in his head, at which time his sword turns into a lightsaber, and he wins his duel.

Leah

Tim Condren (1926 - 2006)

Tim Condren
I'm very sorry to say that Mr. Condren passed away at 3:05 pm (London time) today, July 19.
His niece emailed me this morning to let me know and to thank everyone for the support. The London Stunt School also wanted to thank everyone for their kindness, the letters of encouragement did lift Mr. Condren's spirits.
I'm sure Mr. Condren was surprised by the outpouring of support the Star Wars fans sent his way.
I now implore all of you to take a little bit of time, get out your extra postage and send your condolences to his family and London Stunt School where he had been teaching for years.
Ms. Boyd, Mr. Condren's niece, let me know just now that the funeral will be on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 and anyone who would like to send their condolences, wishes or anything else can send it to either one of these addresses (preferrably the latter):

The Condren Family
c/o London Stunt School
Sudbury Primary School
Watford Road
Wembley
Middlesex
HA0 3EY
UK

OR

The Condren Family/Miss Z L Boyd
12 Kingsley Court
Penhale
Fraddon
Cornwall
TR9 6PD

Thank you all very much for helping.

Leah


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While I know very little of his personal life I can give you a little bit of information about his professional life.

Tim Condren always had an interest in the physical and made a good career being physical over the last 40 or so years.Condren worked with legends such as Roger Moore, Charles Bronson, Sean Connery, Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Robert Mitchum to name but a few, and created stunt work for many popular movies including several Bond films, Star Wars, Superman I & II, Labyrinth, Willow and others. He also played a smattering of on-camera roles, one of which was one of the original Stormtroopers for Star Wars.

His very first stunt work in film was in the 1962 David Lean film Lawrence of Arabia (my favorite film) Sir Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) was also in this film.

Condren's work took him to the US, Australia and to other film locations around the world and also had him gainfully employed in the UK (his home) for all of his adult life.

Condren was experienced in archery and horses and incorporated those skills into his stunt work, generally both together. While in the US he made several westerns (I'm still working on finding which films these were), usually involving horse work, many times playing an Indian (Apache and Sioux, of course), all of which were filmed here in Southern California or in Arizona. He also participated in several rodeos as a trick rider/guest performer. I believe that he did the same in Australia too.
Many years ago Condren made appearances in circuses (he had a strong acrobatic background) and also made good of his fencing and sword-fighting skills by working the show at the Tower of London (The White Tower) as a Knight...these shows are still presented now and are held in August.

Condren spent many of these past years teaching at the London Stunt School with Alasdair Monteith and others preparing scores of young stunt hopefuls for film, TV and other productions. This was his last position before his death and I do believe that he was teaching up until he became ill.

I don't know how he died (what he died of) but I do know that his family and friends were there to support him through all of it and that he was glad to hear from fans he no doubt had little idea existed until 3 days ago.

Leah

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Site Update!

Hi there.

While I'll be a little late to Comic-Con this year, only going Fri - Sun. I will, with hope of course, be bringing you a few photos from the event. I really do say "hope" because inevitably I get caught up in talking to people and don't get as many photos of people/things I want. We'll see what this year brings.

I must be busy because I could have sworn that the update I brought you last time was just last week but I see that it's from June 26!
Summer's generally seem to move so slowly even when I'm working but for whatever reason this one is blazing a trail.

As you know from my two previous blog entries Tim Condren (Stormtrooper in ANH) has fallen ill and has been in a hospital in London since Sunday. I'm told I'll be updated if anything changes.

Remember to try the TRIVIA CONTEST!!!
Thank you!
Leah

No time for the little news items on the actors, but I did want to share one:
Corey Burton does the voice of Abe Lincoln in The Amazing Screw-On Head. The entire pilot episode is online now HERE.
Watch it, very funny. Made by Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and based on the comic of the same name. Funny.

~~
Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Obba Babatundé (update - Film)
Jeff Glen Bennett (update - TV)
David Birney (update - Theatre; pic: Merchant of Venice)
Clancy Brown (update - Video Games)
Keisha Castle-Hughes (update - Film: pic from The Nativity Story)
Gilda Cohen (update - character pic) (Thanks to Scarrlott!)
Tim Condren (update - all)
Seb Dewing (update - bio pic) (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ayesha Dharker (update - Theatre)
Tracey Eddon (update - Film: Death Wish 4)
Joel Edgerton (update - Film pic: Kinky Boots)
Carrie Fisher (update - Film)
Jamie Glover (update - pic: Waterloo Road)
Julian Glover (update - Film)
Laurie Goode (update - bio pic) (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
David Alan Grier (update - Film)
Jennifer Hale (update - TV)
Mark Hamill (update - Film; TV)
Stephen Hoye (update - Audio Books: bottom list)
Celia Imrie (update - TV; Theatre)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - Film; CDs)
Martin Jarvis (update - various pics; Film; Live Appearances: 2004)
James Earl Jones (update - Film; Live Appearances)
Tom Kenny (update - TV)
Julian Khazzouh (update - bio pic; Basketball)
Keira Knightley (update - Film; various pics)
Phil LaMarr (update - TV)
Denis Lawson (update - Theatre; Awards: Emmy)
George Lucas (update - Miscellany)
Jason Marsden (update - Film)
James McBryde (update - bio and bio pic; character pics)
Hilton McCrae (update - Theatre)
Ewan McGregor (update - TV; Theatre)
Steve McPartlin (update - bio pic; TV; TV Producer; Radio; Miscellany)
Liam Neeson (update - various pics; Film; Albums)
Ray Park (update - Film; TV)
Siân Phillips (update - various pics; Live Appearances: 2004)
Michael Ralph (update - bio pic; Commercials; Video Games)
Kevin Michael Richardson (update - Film; TV)
Rino Romano (update - TV)
Sebastian Shaw (update - various pics; various credits: look for Susanna's entries; TV: A Midsummer Night's Dream~1968; Miscellany)
Marc Silk (update - Live Appearances)
Jimmy Smits (update - Live Appearances)
Terence Stamp (update - Film)
David Warner (update - TV: A Midsummer Night's Dream~1968)
Lucy Wilson (Lucy Autrey Wilson) (update - bio pic; Books; Miscellany)
Masa Yamaguchi (update - Theatre)

~~
Newly added actors to the SWAD:
Zac Kohen (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ted Berg (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Mauy Chaykin (Thanks to Tom MacNeill!)
Ron Conrad (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Giles Melville (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ian Roberts (Thanks to Arf Maul for the alert!)

~~
Actor Deaths
None

~~
Actor Connections
STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
Death Wish 4: The Face of Death (Film)
Lawrence of Arabia (Film)
Sword of Valiant (Film)
Class of 3000 (TV)
Guardians of Luna (TV)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (TV)
The Stars Shine for Autism (Live Appearances)
All Tomorrow's Parties (Film)
A Love Letter to Dan: A Tribute to Dan Crawford (Theatre)

~~ References
Main Page
FILMS A-C
American Pie (Thanks to Colton!)
American Pie II #2 (Thanks to Colton!)
FILMS D-F
Detroit Rock City (Thanks to Colton!)
Detroit Rock City (images!)
Failure to Launch (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
FILMS R-Z
Robots #2 (Thanks to Chris Brown!)
GAMES
Atari 2600 Catalog (correction by John at Obroa-Skai!)
Jak II (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memory - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Second Sight - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
World of Warcraft (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
TV A-C
Attack of the Show (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
Celebrity Death Match #3 (Thanks to Colton!)
TV K-RMy So Called Life
TV G-JGilmore Girls #1, #2 (Thanks to Ekasra for #1!)
Jimmy Neutron #4
TV S-Z
Step By Step (Thanks to Tom!)

REVERSE REFERENCES

Enjoy!!
Leah

Tim Condren - Stormtrooper

Fellow fans.

I received word just now that Mr. Condren is not getting any better but is fighting hard.

His niece and the head coach/director of the London Stunt School send their sincerest thanks and have said that the email letters have lifted his spirits so please, keep them coming.

Albin Johnson, founder of the 501st Legion, will be inducting Mr. Condren into the 501st as an honorary member.

Thanks for your support!

Leah

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Seriously Ill Stormtrooper

Hello everyone.

Just moments ago I received news of Tim Condren (Stormtrooper ANH; Stuntman). A relative of his says that he is seriously ill in a London hospital and is not expected to leave. I'm hoping that I can enlist anyone here to help send messages to him.

Either you can post them here and I can gather them up or you can email them to me directly (click the email button to the left) and I will pass them along to the person who contacted me.

Thank you.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

The Heat is On

I always come closer to understanding what Tatooine, er Tunisia, was/is like during their hot months.

The air quality is pretty poor today too, of course normally it's not wonderful during the summer but there is a huge fire not far from here that is spreading smoke all over the valley.

It's a little warm outside today.
It was two degrees cooler yesterday...not that it matters much at those temps. I'd gone out yesterday to run some errands and one of the stores I visited had a power issue the day before and their A/C compressor had gone out, it was nearly as hot in the store as it was outside and much more humid...yuk.

Sure is pleasant at 3am though.

Last year we had the same record heat only over the Comic Con weekend, thankfully we left here to go there. San Diego was, at 75°, 43° cooler and it's only 2 ½ hours away. It would be nice if it weren't so hot for the drive to San Diego this year. We'll cross our fingers.

LM

Trivia Contest with a Prize!

Hey all!

Who is this woman?

I'm holding a small, one-question, visual trivia contest.
A winner will be chosen at random from all the correct entries.
Contest ends on Monday July 24th, 2006.
Winner receives a personal sketch (non-color, penciled, 2.5" x 3.5") of their favorite Star Wars character (films only, no EU).
International entries welcome.
Winner will be announced after the 24th of July, 2006.

Prize to be delivered 6-8 weeks after confirmation of winner.
ENTER HERE

Good luck, Leah

PS - There is a Star Wars connection.
LM

A Little About Lucy Wilson

Lucy Autrey Wilson added a little "walla" to Star Wars (1977) for the Cantina scene. But she's also been the longest employed person at Lucasfilm (besides The Flanneled One himself) at 32 years...and counting.

I found this article that speaks a little of Ms. Wilson and her career but also mentions the book Cinema By The Bay (by Sheerly Avni) that was recently published by George Lucas Books where Ms. Wilson is now the director of publishing.

Here's the OS article.
Leah

Thursday, July 13, 2006

THX 1138:4EB

Hello.

Thought I'd share this.
I'm sure some of you have already seen this short made by The Flanneled One in 1967 but for those of you who have not...here it is, THX 1138:4EB

Enjoy!
LM

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Maul turns Vampire

Did anyone see this? I totally missed it.

Ray Park who was the physical presence of Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace plays twin vampires in Slayer. The production was a remake and update of the cheesy 80's film Hawk the Slayer and premiered on the Sci-Fi channel on July 8th.

John Terry played the original Hawk, if anyone remember the poster he's dressed a bit like Han Solo.
Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) and Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman) also starred.

Park's also playing a security guard in the film Fanboys.

LM

Monday, July 10, 2006

Star Wars and (ahem) San Diego Comic Con

San Diego Comic Con appearances of SW alum and other Star Wars related persons...
Samuel L. Jackson (Snakes on a Plane promotion and his first ever appearance at CC), Wally Wingert, Kevin J. Anderson, Stan Winston, Greg Bear, Karen Traviss, Jess Harnell, John Jackson Miller, Billy Dee Williams (Hood of Horror promotion), Lorne Peterson, Mark Cotta Vaz, Dan Wallace, Steve Sansweet, Grey DeLisle, Aaron Allston, Troy Denning, Pablo Hidalgo, Genndy Tartakovsky (with Brian Froud at the Power of the Dark Crystal panel), Phil LaMarr, Gregg Berger, Michael Bell, John Knoll, April Stewart, Bonnie Burton, Brian Ching, Michael Atiyeh, Dustin Weaver, J. W. Rinzler, Abel G. Peña, Charles Martinet.

Not to mention the SW artists and autograph guests:
Joe Corroney, Randy Martinez (Drawing instructor!), Cynthia Cummens, Justin Chung, Grant Gould, Tom Hodges, Matt Busch, Otis Frampton, Adam Hughes, Russell Walks, Cat Staggs, Brian Rood, Dan Parsons, Monty Moore, Jeff Moy, Mike Lilly, Paul Gutierrez, Jan Duursema, Doug Wheatley, Brandon Badeaux, Dustin Weaver, Michael Atiyeh, Alison Sohn, Matt Busch, Jerry Vanderstelt.

Any more? Let me know. R.A. Salvatore, Carrie Fisher, Amy Allen, Daniel Logan, Temuera Morrison, Dave Prowse.
Guests that are mildly related...Aaron McGruder (creator of Boondocks which have numerous SW references), Steve Troop (Melonpool creator...SW refs), Triumph The Insult Comic Dog (remember his spoofing of the fans in line?), Kevin Smith (promoting Clerks II), Scott Kurtz (PvP, more SW refs in online comic strip), Chris Gore (SW fan and Indie film director and promoter).
Don't forget Star Wars Day is on Friday the 21st of July! Let me know if you have any more!

Leah

SW Alum in the News & Site Updates

SW Actors in the news...and other updates.

~~Bai Ling - an impromptu photo session at the airport.

~~Kenny Baker - As mention in my previous post HERE. His Rolls Corniche is up for auction.

~~Jeff Glen Bennett - will voice Dr. Hamsterviel in the straight-to-video sequel Leroy & Stitch with Kevin Michael Richardson reprising his role as Captain Gantu.

~~Clancy Brown - voices a villain in the new video game Saint's Row.

~~Hayden Christensen - summer plans: "I'm re-landscaping my parents' backyard" ...I know that's really big news. :P

~~Oliver Ford Davies - review of the stage production Life of Galileo in which he plays a rather bad Cardinal very well.

~~Peter Dennis reads Winnie the Pooh - only a casual mention.

~~Julian Glover - though it's just a mention of his credit for the film Scoop -

~~Mark Hamill - Part of the cast of the animated Danger Rangers.

~~Kelly Hu - Will be taking part in a poker tournament.

~~Samuel L. Jackson - cast in the upcoming sci-fi thriller Jumper. SLJ will also be appearing in this years Comic-Con promoting his film Snakes on a Plane (which has just got to draw loads of fans), also...Dominic West's 300 will be sneak peeked at CC.

~~Julian Kazzouh - was signed by the West Sydney Razorbacks (basketball) he is 20 years old.

~~Denis Lawson - Received an Emmy nomination for his role as John Jarndyce in Masterpiece Theatre's Bleak House.
Lawson also starred in special live reading, A Love Letter to Dan with Celia Imrie and Ewan McGregor.

~~George Lucas judges a car competition

~~Hilton McRae - stars in the stage production Marrying Meg at the Highland Quest in Scotland. No more details than that so far.

~~Ralph McQuarrie - limited edition Raiders "Ark of the Covenant" print (the one from the massive old bible) available.

~~Natalie Portman - The super-rumor persists...this time out of the mouth of Raiders alum Karen Allen...

~~Kevin Michael Richardson - will have a small part in the upcoming Kevin Smith sequel Clerks II. He'll play a cop.
KMR also has a TV show coming out which hadn't yet been titled until now...we think. The new show will be called Knights of Prosperity and will air this fall.

~~Alan Rosenberg - claims a victory in getting actors their due residuals at least for two years.

~~Terence Stamp - will star in the film These Foolish Things with Angelica Huston and Lauren Becall starting next year.Site Updates

~~ Updates to existing actors in the STAR WARS ACTORS DATABASE
Jeff Glen Bennett (update - Film)
David Birney (update - Theatre; pic: Merchant of Venice)
Guy Boyd (update - Theatre)
Clancy Brown (update - Video Games)
Keisha Castle-Hughes (update - Film: pic from The Nativity Story)
Gilda Cohen (update - character pic) (Thanks to Scarrlott!)
Joel Edgerton (update - Film pic: Kinky Boots)
Jamie Glover (update - pic: Waterloo Road; Audio Books)
Julian Glover (update - Film)
Mark Hamill (update - Film; TV)
Stephen Hoye (update - Audio Books)
Celia Imrie (update - TV; Theatre)
Samuel L. Jackson (update - Film)
Martin Jarvis (update - various pics; Live Appearances: 2004)
Julian Khazzouh (update - bio pic; Basketball)
Keira Knightley (update - Film; various pics)
Denis Lawson (update - Theatre; Awards: Emmy)
Toby Longworth (update - Audio Books)
George Lucas (update - Miscellany)
James McBryde (update - bio and bio pic; character pics)
Hilton McCrae (update - Theatre)
Ewan McGregor (update - Theatre)
Kevin Michael Richardson (update - Film; TV)
Rob Paulsen (update - Film)
Siân Phillips (update - various pics; Live Appearances: 2004)
Marc Silk (update - Live Appearances)
Jimmy Smits (update - Live Appearances)
Terence Stamp (update - Film)
Susan Zelinsky (update - pic: Chivalrous Deeds)

~~Newly added actors to the SWAD:
Ron Conrad (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Giles Melville (Thanks to Convention-Guests!)
Ian Roberts (Thanks to Arf Maul for the alert!)

~~Actor Deaths
None

~~Actor Connections
STAR WARS ACTOR CONNECTIONS
All Tomorrow's Parties (Film)
Leroy & Stitch (Film)
The Stars Shine for Autism (Live Appearances)
A Love Letter to Dan: A Tribute to Dan Crawford (Theatre)

~~ REFERENCES
Main Page
FILMS A-C
American Pie (Thanks to Colton!)
American Pie II #2 (Thanks to Colton!)
FILMS D-F
Detroit Rock City (Thanks to Colton!)
Detroit Rock City (images!)
GAMES
Atari 2600 Catalog (correction by John at Obroa-Skai!)
Jak II (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memory - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
Second Sight - Pic (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
World of Warcraft (Thanks to John at Obroa-Skai!)
TV A-C
Attack of the Show (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
TV D - F
Failure to Launch (Thanks to RojoTrooper!)
TV - G - J
Jimmy Neutron #4
TV K - R
My So Called Life
TV S - Z
Step By Step (Thanks to Tom!)

~~New Art Work
See the ART BLOG

Thank you!
Leah

Saturday, July 08, 2006

R2D2 is selling his Rolls Royce

You have the chance to bid on Kenny "R2D2" Baker's 1982 Blue Corniche with only 63,000 miles driven. 1982 was the last year that the Corniche was made as a coupe (coupé if you like), only the convertible was available after 1982.
They expect the auction to yield about £11,000 - £13,000 ($20,000 - $24,000) which really is a bargain. Oh no...sorry, this just popped in the grey matter. "Excuse me, sir, but that R2 unit is in prime condition. A real bargain" (there's no hope for me *sigh*)

Here's the article.
And the link to the auction page.

I'm hoping that the car will fall to a lucky fan somewhere (not me, hehe)

Good luck!
LM

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Uncle Owen and The Operative

Two nights ago I went to see a film that I'd wanted to see for a while, Kinky Boots.

The film stars Star Wars prequel trilogy actor Joel Edgerton (Uncle Owen) and Serenity's "The Operative" *Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Charlie Price (Edgerton) grows up under the loving guidance of his father, a successful, third generation shoe manufacturer in provincial Northampton, who intends for Charlie to take over his position as head of the factory. But Charlie has different aspirations and wants to escape the small-town life so he moves to London with his girlfriend. Then the unthinkable happens, his father dies. The factory, by this time, is ailing and Charlie has to find a solution in order to save the jobs of his father's loyal employees and to reluctantly preserve (at first) his legacy. By a small twist of fate Charlie, in a drunken state, meets Lola (Ejiofor), a drag queen, and becomes inspired to make a positive and bold change for his factory.

Australian Edgerton gives a fine performance as Charlie Price who manages to convince as a Midlander and has some sweet scenes, but it is Ejiofor that absolutely steals this show head-to-toe. More so because Lola is larger than life but delightfully lacking the over-the-top caricatures so often seen in other films. Ejiofor offers an intelligent guilelessness, a subtle warmth and reality (humanity in other words) to the diva very much like Terence Stamp's award-winning performance as Ralph/Bernadette Bassenger in The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Even though this film is part of the typical British little-guy-against-the-odds genre it is set apart by one glittering special performance and is worth the effort to see for that alone.

To see this alone would be shorting Ejiofor his due as an actor with an exceedingly large range. Check out his **performances in Dirty Pretty Things, Amistad, Serenity, Four Brothers, Love Actually, She Hate Me, Melinda and Melinda (clearly the best thing about this film) and you'll see what I mean.

Leah

*Chewy to his friends.
** and all the Star Wars connections

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Discovery Health Channel

Three years ago I was part of a program called Babies: Special Delivery which was filmed by Discovery Health Channel. It's a series that focused on women with high risk pregnancies.

The small crew filmed the last week of the 18 days I spent in the labor & delivery section of the maternity ward at DRMC in Palm Springs.

The show only touches on what it was like at the end but doesn't even begin to tell the story of the worst summer of my life up to that point. What you will see on the video is me trying the best I could to be upbeat under the circumstances.

If you're brave enough to watch, don't worry they do NOT show any private areas but there is some intensity (it's got a PG rating), then please tune in on July 25, 2006.
Here's the page link you can check the box and have a reminder sent to you a couple of days before the show airs.

Leah