Ryan Gosling hit the red carpet Thursday night at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C for the premiere of First Man in which he plays Neil Armstrong. In the interview, you realize how humble a person Gosling is and how much respect and honor he has for Armstrong, it was very Tom Hanks like.
About the film: On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost-on Armstrong and on the nation-of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
Guy Toubes is the Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and creator of hit Amazon kids TV show Stinky and Dirty about two friends, a dump truck and a backhoe loader, figuring out the world together.
Monkeys Fighting Robots spoke with Guy about his work on Stinky and Dirty, what’s inspired him to be a TV show creator for pre-schoolers, and find out a little more about this thing called T.O.T.S.
Guy Toubes … Roll Out!
Before Stinky and Dirty, pop culture geeks will recognize a show Guy worked on just a few years ago, Transformers: Robots in Disguise. “It’s so funny because I kind of missed Transformers and that era.”
So, what was it like to step into the world of sentient, shape-changing machines? “When I came onto the show, I knew there was all this backstory. It was really important that we write Optimus Prime to fit in with the character’s history. I learned a lot. But I saw my role as the guy who could gauge if anybody could come to this show and enjoy it.”
Lore is precious though, but there’s something that’s slightly more important “We tried to make sure that we were following the lore. But it also all comes down to the audience, seven or ten-year-olds, are they going to enjoy what’s happening on screen.”
Guy is a nerd himself and fan of Star Wars “I understand when something doesn’t feel the right way. I want to stay true as much as possible to the original way something was done. But you can’t be too precious.”
About Stinky and Dirty
Stinky and Dirty is a kids show starring two somewhat unlikely friends. Stinky is a garbage truck, and Dirty is the backhoe loader; together they navigate a beautifully-rendered CG world “We have a fundamental goal on our show. Our curriculum is about resourcefulness. It’s not about facts or figures or learning about things. It’s more about learning a way of thinking.”
Stinky and Dirty hopes to give young viewers the tools to think through things “The goal of being resourceful is not just about how to think but think with whatever you have around you. Limited resources.”
The show promotes other valuable ideas too “When you make a mistake, that’s a learning opportunity. So, we have this consultant on the show who wrote a book called ‘The Gift of Failure.’ It’s by Jessica Lahey. Her message is all about ‘Let your kids fail. Let them try hard and fail and try again. Let them make mistakes. That’s how they learn.’”
The optimism of failure “You’ll see that in our show Stinky and Dirty fail over and over again. They don’t care. They say ‘that didn’t work’ and try something else.”
Writing for Kids
Guy has a filmography filled with a broad range of genres and styles of storytelling “I’ve worked all over the industry. I attribute that to a good story is a good story. I feel like I can feel in my gut whether a story is working or not.”
Of all the genres he’s worked on, Guy thinks “The hardest in my experience, and perhaps least respected, is writing for pre-school. It’s the most responsibility. You have to be extra-extra careful of what you’re putting in front of our precious boys and girls.”
Guy elaborates “For instance, pre-schoolers don’t have a great concept of time. So the idea of creating tension with the proverbial ‘ticking clock’ goes out the window. So writers have to re-think how to do certain things. Even veteran writers sometimes struggle with it.”
The process for creating any story starts with the spark “It all starts with what’s a good idea. What’s a great idea for our show. In particular, pre-school animation, we’re heavily involved with a curriculum expert who really understands what kids are watching and what they’ll gain from watching. Our show is geared toward two to five-year-olds. So we have to understand what’s cool for a three-year-old to watch and be able to follow.”
Wrapping Up
Guy’s next project is for Disney, and it’s called Tiny Ones Transport Service “T.O.T.S. is basically the storks. A penguin and a flamingo want to join the storks and deliver babies. Of course, the penguin can’t fly, and the flamingo is constantly lost, but together they make the perfect team.”
Inspiration comes from all sorts of sources that don’t often inspire a direct line. “I would love you to know how I got into making kids TV. I grew up on Spielberg movies. All those movies where kids were the main character. I always thought ‘that guy knows what it’s like to be a kid’ and that was a huge influence on me.”
Spielberg was a spark, the big bang of inspiration if you will “Then I became a dad. And for about five years I was a stay at home dad. I made a point to sit down with my kids and watch shows with them. I didn’t like much of it. In my brain, I thought ‘if I ever do this I’m coming at it with a Steven Spielberg point of view. That wonderment.’”
Guy’s ultimate goal “When a kid and a parent are both laughing and responding to what’s on TV, that’s the best kids TV there is.”
I mentioned before that Guy is a Star Wars fan. Well, something magical happened for the showrunner. One of Stinky and Dirty’s most notable characters is Spacy a spaceship voiced by none other than Mark Hamill “It was the highlight of my life. He’s one celebrity I totally geeked out over. I had to get a photo.”
Thanks to Guy Toubes and Impact24 PR for making this interview possible.
Anyone who has ever used a ride-sharing app has probably questioned its safety. That is precisely the idea upon which the new film Ride is based.
The movie is about James (Jessie T. Usher, Independence Day: Resurgence), a driver whose night goes awry when he picks up the alluring Jessica (Bella Thorne, Midnight Sun) and the charming, yet manipulative Bruno (Will Brill, Slice).
The film is short, clocking in at less than an hour and twenty minutes. The story is very briskly-paced and to-the-point, economically delivering its thrills. Because of this, the movie never overstays its welcome and will quickly capture the attention of its younger target audience.
Unfortunately, the film ultimately feels disjointed. It is almost as if there are two separate movies in one. The first half of the film is practically a comedy, the characters exchanging playful banter and getting into hijinks. The transition into the thriller teased by the synopsis is abrupt and unsatisfying.
(L-R) Bella Thorne as Jessica and Jessie T. Usher as James in the thriller “RIDE,” an RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Rob C. Givens.
The first act is quite enjoyable. The characters are charming and likable, and the dialogue is solid enough. The second act, on the other hand, isn’t as successful. The changes in the characters were unjustified and far too sudden. The situation in which these characters found themselves in wasn’t believable. Additionally, the pacing in this section felt rushed. Even though the short runtime is ultimately to its advantage, the film could have added ten more good minutes at the climax and still been fine.
The movie also has a message about trust. It even markets itself as a cautionary tale. However, this message is lost in the shuffle, as the movie settles on fleeting references to the moral, opting instead to go for blind thrills. Much of the film’s mystery is unresolved, too. There is a brief news clip and a short monologue about the antagonist’s justification, but this is insufficient.
The cinematography and editing of the movie are both solid. The film’s visual style is sleek and modern, which works well given the movie’s thematic focus. Some very interesting editing techniques were used, particularly in the first half of the film, making it flow even better.
Bella Thorne as Jessica in the thriller “RIDE,” an RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of Rob C. Givens.
There were quite a few issues with the sound quality, though. The score is electronic-based. Though it fits the film nicely, it is very bass-heavy. As a result, there was a lot of reverberation with the sound. The dialogue also lacks clarity or has reverb at times.
The actors have great chemistry together, but the performances individually are nothing special. The best parts of the film are when any two of the three main characters are interacting together. The actors bounce lines off of each other well. Thorne is likable but had a hard time hitting the emotional beats. She often went too over-the-top. On the other hand, Usher is a little too subtle. It seems like he should be showing more emotion. Brill’s performance is the best of the three. He does an excellent job of capturing the character’s charm and mysteriousness.
Overall, Ride gets off to a strong start but falters towards the end. At the very least, it’s an amusing watch. Perhaps the film would have been better if the thriller elements would have been left out entirely.
Ride opens in theaters and is available on VOD October 5.
There is no way The Superior Octopus #1 should be any good. The character is a spin-off of a spin-off, clones are involved, the Brothers Grimm make an appearance, the book is set in San Francisco where Spider-Man spin-offs go to die. Yet, Christos Gage writes a compelling story loaded with heart, and as goofy as Doctor Octopus is, his arrogance is entertaining.
Sidebar #1 • I now want to cast Hugh Laurie as Doc Ock in the third Spider-Man film. Thanks, Gage!
The inside cover provides a solid recap to catch you up on Doc Ock’s previous adventures. Gage also points out several issues you can read for more on the character, but you can easily pick up this issue with only minor knowledge of the Doc Ock and enjoy the book without feeling lost.
With Mike Hawthorne’s art and the villains Gage uses in the book, The Superior Octopus feels like Spectacular Spider-Man from the 90s. The book doesn’t stay in the 90s long though, because Jordie Bellaire is a genius with colors. Bellaire adds a depth of field that early modern books can’t touch. Look at the breakdown of colors in the image below. Look at how round Bellaire can make Dansen MaCabre’s arm; it is almost 3-D.
If the book were only focused on Superior Octopus conquering the world, it would be boring. His broken heart over Professor Maria Marconi is what gives the book an edge. No matter how smooth Elliot Tolliver has become, the awkwardness of Doc Ock creeps to the surface when Marconi is around. This plot thread will reach a boiling point, and the issue will be a must-read to see Marconi’s reaction.
The last third of the book had me thinking in one direction, and then the reveal elevates Doc Ock to a new status. It’s good to be caught off guard; it means Gage, Hawthorne, and the rest of the staff working the book did his or her job exceptionally well, as the reader can get wrapped up in the story.
Sidebar #2 • The only pet peeve I have is using the character’s logo as part of the lettering. Does this bother anyone else? Comment below so I don’t think I’m the crazy person.
The last page of the book is where the art peaks. Hawthorne’s pencils, Wade von Grawbadger’s inks, Bellaire’s colors, and Clayton Cowles’s letters create a powerful image of superiority that compels you to read issue two. Doc Ock’s internal battle of good and evil is going to be amazing.
Overall, The Superior Octopus #1 is a gem in the rough. Gage gets his emotional tentacles wrapped around you and won’t let go.
Did you pick up The Superior Octopus #1 this week? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
After eight years as one of Earth’s mightiest heroes, it looks like Chris Evans is stepping down as Captain America. At least, that’s the impression we get based on a message tweeted out by Evans earlier this afternoon:
Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.
The news isn’t a complete surprise to the actor’s fans. He mentioned plans to retire the role in a profile for the New York Times back in March. In the interview, Evans is quoted as saying “You want to get off the train before they push you off.” There’s also the matter of his contract expiring at the end of Avengers 4, though some fans may have hoped Cap would stick around for additional entries in the franchise. However, his tweet seems to confirm his earlier statement about saying goodbye the Marvel Universe.
Reactions from fans and fellow celebs have been passionate about the decision, to say the least:
I’m not crying. I’m weeping. There’s a difference.
Evans has been with the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2010, debuting in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. The character has dominated the actor’s career since, with Evans appearing in ten MCU films, including the upcoming Avengers 4.
Although he’s stepping away from the title of Captain America, Evans has no plans to slow down as an actor. Instead, he is reportedly focusing more on his burgeoning career on Broadway. Evans debuted as a dirty cop in a staging of Kenneth Lonergan’s Lobby Hero earlier this year. Beyond that, we’ll just have to wait and see what Evans has in store next.
On October 4th at 9 PM EDT, Canadian fans of Star Trek: Discovery will get a between-season taste of the popular Star Trek prequel when Space airs the first episode in the Discovery’s Star Trek: Short Treks mini-series, entitled “Runaway.” This first installment of the series will, reportedly, feature a story about Cadet Tilly (Mary Wiseman).
Star Trek: Short Treks – “Regulating the flow of content, eh?”
Space, apparently interested in stretching out its broadcast schedule of precious Star Trek content, will air part 2 of the Short Treks mini-series over a month later on November 8th with “Calypso,” which will feature an unknown character (Aldis Hodge) aboard a deserted ship.
Parts 3 and 4 of the Short Treks mini-series will air on December 6th and January 3rd, respectively. The third installment, “Brightest Star,” will feature a story about Saru’s (Doug Jones) pre-Starfleet life, and the final chapter, “The Escape Artist,” will feature the return of Rainn Wilson as Harry Mudd.
Star Trek: Short Treks – “This is nice, but when does Season 2 air?”
The Canadian cable science-fiction broadcasting overlords at Space seem intent upon regulating the flow of Star Trek content right up until the projected month of Season 2’s release. Let’s hope that the airing of Season 2 doesn’t suffer the same release date push-backs of the first season.
Archie Comics keeps pumping out the horror with two new titles. Set for release in 2019 are Blossom 666 by Cullen Bunn and artist Laura Braga, and Jughead The Hunger Vs. Vampironica by writer Frank Tieri and artists Pat & Tim Kennedy.
In Blossom 666, Cheryl and Jason Blossom seem like the wealthy, popular, and likable teens we know and love, but in this world, they harbor a deep, dark secret — one of them is the Anti-Christ! Both want the title, and no one in Riverdale is safe. As Cullen puts it, the new mini is “one part Omen, one part Cruel Intentions, all Archie!”
JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER VS. VAMPIRONICA teaser art by Pat & Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith, and Matt Herms
Jughead: The Hunger Vs. Vampironica will be an all-fangs-bared fight to the gory finish as each world’s dominant monster faces a brutal challenge to the status quo. As Frank says, we can be pretty sure that “all hell breaks loose (maybe quite literally).”
Both Blossom 666 and Jughead: The Hunger Vs. Vampironica are scheduled for release in early in 2019. What do you think? Are you excited for more Archie horror? Comment and discuss below.
Brian Michael Bendis is working on a line of comics for DC Comics with a teen-focus. The WONDER COMICS imprint which will be in-continuity will feature Impulse (Bart Allen) Superboy (Conner Kent), and Robin (Tim Drake).
Titled Young Justice, Bendis will work with Patrick Gleason. DC Comics also announced four additional WONDER COMICS titles.
NAOMI, which Bendis will co-write with David Walker, featuring art by Jamal Campbell
WONDER TWINS, written by Mark Russell with art by Stephen Byrne
DIAL H FOR HERO, an updated take on the Silver Age classic series from the team of writer Sam Humphries and artist Joe Quinones
The books will hit comic shops in early 2019.
Are you excited for the return of Impulse and Conner Kent? Comment below with your thoughts.
We are a little over two weeks away from the release of DaredevilSeason 3. To hold us over, Netflix has released a full-length trailer for the highly-anticipated show.
The footage ramps up the intense battle between Wilson Fisk and Matthew Murdock. The Man Without Fear will be facing his toughest test as the Kingpin is released from prison and is seeking vengeance. You can check out the trailer below:
The biggest takeaway from the trailer is the fact that there is a Daredevil imposter on the loose. It’s a safe bet to say that this mysterious figure is Bullseye, who is set to appear this season. Wilson Bethel will portray the iconic villain. Bethel is not a household name but has appeared in numerous TV series, including Bates Motel, How to Get Away with Murder, and Criminal Minds.
Plot details surrounding Daredevil Season 3 have been few and far between. It’s rumored to be following the iconic Born Again storyline, which sees Matt Murdock’s identity revealed to the world. This season will see the return of Vincent D’onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, who plays an integral role in Born Again.
To accompany the trailer, a bevy of HD images for the series hit the web. They include Matt in his Season One attire, Wilson Fisk in prison and more! Check them out below:
Here is the synopsis for the upcoming Netflix series:
Missing for months, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) reemerges a broken man, putting into question his future as both vigilante Daredevil and lawyer Matthew Murdock. But when his archenemy Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) is released from prison, Matt must choose between hiding from the world or embracing his destiny as a hero. Marvel’s Daredevil season three premieres worldwide October 19 on Netflix.
How quickly are you going to binge the third season of Daredevil? Let us know in the comments below!
Robin Hood starring Taron Egerton returns with a final trailer which shows off plenty of action, jokes, and Jamie Fox. The trailer hits a bullseye when it comes to teasing bits of the frantic set-pieces that Robin and his friends will face. Robin Hood hits theaters November 21, 2018.
About Robin Hood
Official Description: A war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown in a thrilling action-adventure packed with gritty battlefield exploits, mind-blowing fight choreography, and a timeless romance.
The trailer forRobin Hood fires a volley of action that doesn’t stop falling for the entire one-minute runtime. Director Otto Bathurst (epic name), who directed the first ever episode of Black Mirror, looks to be bringing a fun vibe to the prince of thieves. Jamie Foxx plays Little John, Robin Hood’s BFF alongside Eve Hewson as love-interest Maid Marian. From the looks of things, this updated version of Robin Hood is a part ninja, likely inspired some by Assassin’s Creed and Arrow.
Taron Egerton as Robin Hood
Jamie Foxx as Little John
Ben Mendelsohn as Sheriff of Nottingham
Eve Hewson as Maid Marian
Tim Minchin as Friar Tuck
Jamie Dornan as Will Scarlet
Paul Anderson as Guy of Gisborne
Josh Herdman as Righteous
Simon Mpuru as RraMaka
Björn Bengtsson as Tydon
Roughly every 10 years there’s a major Robin Hood reboot, and so it was about time the master marksman made a return. Unfortunately, they made him look a little too much like Green Arrow from the CW, right? It appears the film is taking the joke-infested action film route which is often more irritating than entertaining. The action looks fun, though, and it’ll be interesting to see what Jamie Foxx gets to do here. Also, Ben Mendelsohn as the villain sounds pretty awesome too.
Did this trailer get you excited for Robin Hood? Leave your comments below!
