STACK NZ Aug #65

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CARO TO JOIN THE
HOLLYWOOD ELITE
06 AUGUST 2015 JB Hi-Fi
visit NEWS EXTRAS
The director of Whale Rider is one of 322
artists and executives who have been invited
to join the prestigious movie organisation,
which is open to those who have distinguished
themselves by their contributions to theatrical
motion pictures. As well as Caro, two other
Kiwis have been invited to join the academy
this year: sound editor Jason Canovas and
Weta Digital animation supervisor Dan Barrett,
both of whom have been nominated for
Oscars.
AMPAS does not disclose its full
membership but it consists of around 6,000
actors, directors, writers, producers and other
industry professionals, who
all get to vote on the Oscars
each year. Caro is currently
working on a biopic about
the legendary opera singer
Maria Callas, which is set to
star Noomi Rapace in the
title role, and her most recent film McFarland,
USA, premieres on DVD and Blu-Ray this
month. The film is based on the true underdog
story of a teacher in a small Californian town
who transforms a team of mainly Hispanic
athletes into cross country champions.
Kevin Costner plays the coach and
Caro relished the chance to work with the
Hollywood icon. “We had a very close
relationship even before we got to set,” she
says. “He’s such a gift to this movie, such a
great actor but an equally fantastic collaborator
and a really generous man.
“I think he really brought not just strength
to the role but also his tenderness and
vulnerability and his care with the boys. He
really mentored them.”
For the full interview with Caro, check out
the digital edition of this month’s STACK.
McFarland, USA is due out on August 19.
Kiwi filmmaker invited into Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
R’n’B trailblazerTheWeeknd returns on
August 28 with his eagerly-anticipated third
album Beauty Behind The Madness, which is
set to cap off a stunning year for the artist.The
latest single from the new album Can’t Feel
My Face debuted at No. 2 in the New Zealand
charts, as well as achieving similar results in
the US and Australia.TheWeeknd has also
enjoyed chart success with a track from the
Fifty Shades Of Grey movie, titled Earned It.
Kiwi actors are certainly making a name for themselves in the TV
sci-fi and fantasy stakes in the US; As well as Rose McIver in iZombie,
both Cliff Curtis and Marton Csokas have now landed leading roles in
two upcoming fantasy series: the spinoff Fear The Walking Dead and
the futuristic martial arts show Into The Badlands , respectively.
Another expat quietly establishing himself Stateside is Grant
Bowler, whose sci-fi show Defiance makes its DVD debut this
month. Set in 2046 on an Earth which is now home to a host
of alien races, the former Outrageous Fortune star plays the
enigmatic hero, a former soldier turned wanderer who arrives in
the titular town and helps defend it against aggressive invaders,
hostile creatures and criminals. Now in its third season in the
US, Defiance also features familiar faces such as Julie Benz
( Dexter), Jaime Murray (Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena) and
T ony Curran (The Pillars Of Earth ).
Defiance: Season One is due out on August 5.
BOWLER ON A ROLL WITH DEFIANCE
CARTOON LAND
READY TO ROCK
They rock and roll all night – and solve
mysteries every day! Yes, KISS are teaming
up with Scooby and the gang for a brand
new feature length mystery due out this
month. In Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock
and Roll Mystery, the Mystery Inc. crew
travel to KISS World amusement park for a
special Halloween concert headlined by the
legendary rock group.
As well as a number of KISS songs –
including an original performed just for the
film – there are guest voice performances
from Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Penny
Marshall and Jennifer Carpenter. Scooby-
Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery is out
on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Meanwhile, another
iconic rock band is
following in the footsteps
of KISS by being
immortalized in a new
Archie comic book.
The release of Archie
Meets Ramones will
coincide with the
75th anniversary of
Archie Comics and
the 40th of The
Ramones.
Scooby-Doo! And KISS
Niki Caro
McFarland, USA