Is 'Harold & Kumar' sequel a hit?

We probably won't know the answer until it's released on DVD. So far, the movie's doing much better business than its predecssor. In 2004, "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" grossed $18 million at the box office (during its entire run). Its sequel took in $14.9 million on opening weekend on 2,500 screens and will likely surpass $18 million by Friday. USA Today provided some great background.

The movie's real test, however, will come on DVD. The first earned $60 million on DVD. Yes, that's right. Don't adjust your screen: "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" earned $60 million on DVD.

Given just how unrestrained the sequel is with nudity, profanity, gross-out jokes and its shock-inducing bottomless party, you can pretty much guess the DVD is going to deliver lots of extras. While interviewing the directors in Austin, I learned that one of the extras will offer viewers to opportunity to change the bottomless scene into a topless scene.

I'd make a joke about their commitment to high art, but it's too easy.

Jim Carrey movie to splash into wave tank Friday

"I Love You, Phillip Morris" will shoot for a day at the Louisiana Wave Studio on Friday. The dark comedy stars Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor.

The facility's 750,000-gallon wave tank was built in late 2005 for "The Guardian," the U.S. Coast Guard action drama starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. That the facility is being used again is a good sign for its investors. Learn more here.

* A controversy is brewing this morning regarding a now former home in the St. Paul Bottoms Historic District. Makers of the series "True Blood" used and destroyed the city-owned home for one of their episodes. Read John Prime's reporting here.

'Harold & Kumar' sequel lands at no. 2

According to Box Office Mojo, the Shreveport made flick made a bit more than $14.5 million this weekend. More on the significance tomorrow:

1. Baby Mama $18,271,000
2. Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay $14,570,000
3. The Forbidden Kingdom $11,230,000

Did you see it? What did you think? Are you still eating sandwiches?

'Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay': Let the uncomfortable laughter begin

Both hilarious and remarkably offensive, Ed Helms (left) stars as the Interpreter and Rob Coddry (right) stars as Ron Fox. (Jaimie Trueblood/New Line Cinema)

Both fans of the absurd, Kal Penn (left) stars as Kumar and John Cho (right) stars as Harold. (Jaimie Trueblood/New Line Cinema)

Both nuts, writes and directors Jon Hurwitz (left) and Hayden Scholssberg (right) pose on the set. (Jaimie Trueblood/New Line Cinema)

Both, well, loving, Mark Munoz (left) stars as Cyrus and John Cho (right) stars as Harold. (Jaimie Trueblood/New Line Cinema)

'Harold & Kumar' sequel reviewed, opens today

Well, well, well, The Shreve's day of crowning glory has finally arrived. "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay," quite possibly the most entertaining and offensive comedy of the year, opens today in theaters. Even if you've seen the first movie, I guarantee you're not prepared for this jaw-dropper.

Here's my review. I'd love to hear your thoughts when you see it today. (And don't you dare take your mother.)

'Streets of Blood' needs extras

Just got this note from Glorioso Casting. They're trying to fill needs for "Streets of Blood" (aka "Microwave Park") that starts filming in May and stars 50 Cent, Sharon Stone and Val Kilmer:

We are currently in need of the following:

Males:
18-30 LATINO Gangmember Types (Latin Kings) MUST LIVE IN OR NEAR SHREVEPORT!

Females:
18-30 LATINA Gangmember Types (Latin Kings) MUST LIVE IN OR NEAR SHREVEPORT!

Females:
18-30 AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALES, Skinny Crackhead Types / These parts will work TOPLESS! and Wearing a G-String MUST LIVE IN OR NEAR SHREVEPORT!

Males:
18-30 AFRICAN AMERICAN Gangmember Types MUST LIVE IN OR NEAR SHREVEPORT!

Please EMAIL Pictures and Contact Info ASAP to: staff@gloriosocasting.com

What do you think of the 'Sordid Lives' promo?

"Sordid Lives" was shot in Shreveport at Mansfield Studios and elsewhere. The TV series will debut soon on MTV's Logo channel. What do you think?

Millennium has broken ground on new studio, and these dudes aren't my bodyguards

Ahoy, readers! I've survived a two-week plunge into the belly of our new news website and am back at the blogging keyboard. Sorry for my absense, but I've been doing tech support for users almost 24/7 (OK, 14/7). More on that below.

If you didn't hear (I know you did), Nu Image/Millennium Films broke ground on its $10 million studio for the Ledbetter Heights neighborhood. It's a major development for the local industry on many levels.

One, Millennium's an L.A.-based company who's decided to "bank on Louisiana," according to executive producer Michael Flannigan. They've made six films here since 2006 and are currently prepping number seven ("Streets of Blood" aka "Microwave Park"). Deciding to set up a permanent production facility here is a signal to the rest of the country that Louisiana's production climate is stable and cost effective, even as other states continue to step up their tax incentives.

Two, the studio, once built, will employ between 100 and 500 at any given time. Adding another stable employer to the local film economy will continue to build the crew base. More crew, more movies.

Three, it's another symbol that the entire state of Louisiana is open for production. The Shreve's booming. New Orleans is booming. Pace is picking up in Lafayette. Producers are continuing to discover that the entire state can work for what they need.

My job

My duties at The Times have grown to include social media, and I have all of you to thank for that. You've made my blog fun to write and a great place to interact. Based on LaMovBlog's success, I've been recruited to champion user-content on the shreveporttimes.com.

If you've visited our new site lately, you'll see a wholesale redesign to the pages (I can't take credit for that).

Long story short, as the new "Social Media Champion," I'm in charge of user-generated content. If you become a member of our site, you can blog. You can post photos. You can network with friends. You can set up communities. And you can comment on almost anything. If you're in to the social networking thing, I encourage you to sign up and play.

We're looking to feature voices on the new site who have local expertise, a passion for debate and an interest in leading community conversation. If you'd like to chat about it, just give me a ring at 318.459.3256.

We're planning on a wholesale redesign of this blog, too, and it will incorporate some exciting new changes. Stay tuned, and let me know what you think the changes.

TOP PHOTO: Michael Flannigan from Nu Image/Millennium Films and Dink Adams from Cinelease attend the groundbreaking. Nice suits, fellas. Leave the cannoli. (Alexandyr Kent/The Times)

BOTTOM PHOTO: Studio and city officials lift those golden shovels through the soil of Ledbetter Heights. (Alexandyr Kent/The Times)

I'm officially embarrassed to be a voter

Harold & Kumar go to South by Southwest

While I was in Austin last month, I had a little interview fun with the boys from "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay." The stoner sequel was shot in The Shreve in early 2007 and opens nationally on Friday. Oh, and the stoner sequel makes "Superbad" look like a family film.

PHOTO: Kumar (Kal Penn, left) and Harold (John Cho, right) drop in on President Bush (James Adomian) at his Crawford, Texas, ranch in "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay." (Special to The Times)

50 Cent's rules for the set

• MTV


• Music Videos


• MTV Shows


• Entertainment News

50 Cent recently chatted with MTV News about "Streets of Blood," which will be filmed in Shreveport. "I play a police officer right after Hurricane Katrina. It's me, Val Kilmer and Sharon Stone," he told MTV News. (I will check to see if this project will shoot in New Orleans, too, which is implied by the article.)

In the above video, he also talks about not bringing his clique onto a set. "I keep them away from me," he told MTV News. "I don't want too many of them there because they'll start laughing while I'm doing sh--. They see me doing something that's so not me that they're laughing. It's too much of a distraction so I keep them away."

It's OK. You can call me 'Number 2'

The Robinson Film Center, which opens May 3, is getting ready to send out its fancy-pants membership cards. RFC's Chris Jay assured me that they are going out within the next couple of weeks. (Hold your horses, members! It's opening soon enough and you'll get your cards in time.)

Being the egomaniac I like to think I am, I challenged Chris to an imaginary Rubik's Cube faceoff. I won, of course, and demanded he pony up my Dual Membership cards ($100/year) for press preview.

He unearthed these little treasures from his underground safe. The cards come in Denzel Washington, Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe forms. When Chris told me they were numbered, I of course asked him if I was getting "Number 1." Nope. I'm "Number 2." Robert Wagner be damned.

P.S.: Number 1, I know you're out there, and I will be throwing popcorn into your wineglass when the two-screen arthouse opens. Consider this my friendly, completely harmless, "Please don't arrest me for being a smartass, SPD" warning. Punk.

Millennium Films pushing forward with new studio, new movie

Millennium Films continues to be busy in The Shreve. Did you catch this story in the paper this morning? On Tuesday, after about about 9 months of planning, Millennium will break ground on a $10 million studio in the Ledbetter Heights neighborhood. This has been a big, big deal ever since the project was announced, and can be interpreted as a sign as the company's continued commitment to the area. To make a long story short, Millennium is going to continue to hire lots of local folks and make many movies.

I also found out a little bit more about their current film project. Formerly "Microwave Park," it is now called "Streets of Blood" and will star Val Kilmer, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Sharon Stone. It's slated for a May start.

PHOTO: 50 Cent appears on stage during MTV's "Total Request Live" on Sept. 11, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)

Two casting calls for the price of one (which is, of course, free)

Bam Casting will host extras casting call for the movies “W.” and “Goodie Two Shoes” on Saturday at the Louisiana Boardwalk. The casting call will last between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. is open to persons 18 and older of all ethnicities.

“W.” is a biopic of current President George W. Bush. Slated to begin filming May 12, the movie will be directed by Oliver Stone and will star Josh Brolin. Bam Casting seeks persons to play college seniors, fraternity members, military men, admirals, reporters, oil rig men, people of Mexican descent, cowboys and cowgirls. The production also needs cars from 1950s through present day (and car owners should bring photos).

“Goodie Two Shoes” is a spoof comedy starring Carmen Electra and Vanessa Minnillo. Bam Casting seeks persons to play college marching band members, hip-hop dancers, little people, cowboys and college students. The company also need bikini-model males and females, plus many look-alikes to play: Miranda and Charlotte from “Sex and the City,” Kanye West, Teddy Roosevelt, Octavius, Sacajawea and the movie’s stars. “Goodie Two Shoes” begins filming April 28.

All applicants should bring a nonreturnable photo of themselves, no larger than 4x6 inches.

The casting call will be held in front of the Louisiana Boardwalk’s fountain near the main foot entrance to the parking garage. For more information, log on to www.bamcastingla.com or www.louisianaboardwalk.com.

'Microwave Park' is back on The Shreve's radar

The movie "Microwave Park" will film in The Shreve beginning May 6, according to the Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development. More than a year ago, this project was set to start filming here but delays pushed it back. I'll check it out today. It was set to star Robert De Niro and 50 Cent, but I can't be certain if they are still attached. When I confirm who's in it, I'll let you know.

Meanwhile, here's the latest update from the state office:

Welcome to (225) 342-FILM, the official hotline of the Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development. Here’s what’s happening for the third week of April 2008:

The CW network reality television series 13 will shoot in the New Orleans area beginning in late May and is currently seeking experienced PA's, a Talent Coordinator, and a Talent Manager. Please send résumés to Newrealityjob@gmail.com.

The Nu Image/Millennium feature film Microwave Park is in pre-production in Shreveport with shooting scheduled from May 6 through the second week of June. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at microwaveparkfilm@yahoo.com.

The Sci-Fi Channel television movie Lightning Strikes is in pre-production in Baton Rouge with shooting scheduled for May 5 through end of the month. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (207) 433-2972.

The Disney television series Imagination Movers is in pre-production in Harahan and will shoot fourteen episodes from April 22 through July 18. An intermediate camera crew is currently needed for three weeks. Resumes and inquiries are being accepted by fax at (504) 818-3840.

The Prescott Productions feature film W. starring Josh Brolin and directed Oliver Stone is in pre-production in Shreveport with shooting scheduled from May 12 through July 12. Resumes addressed to the attention of Lucie Bourgeau are being accepted by fax at (318) 603-9556.

The independent feature film Print is in pre-production in Baton Rouge with shooting scheduled for April 14 through May 2. Resumes are being accepted by fax at (225) 610-1664.

The Lionsgate feature film Goodie Two Shoes is in pre-production in Shreveport with shooting scheduled from April 28 through June 6. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (318) 682-5644.

The independent feature film I Love You Phillip Morris starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor is in pre-production in New Orleans with shooting scheduled from May 5 through June 30. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (504) 596-3221.

The A&E Network reality television series Billy the Exterminator is shooting in Shreveport through late June. Resumes and inquiries can be sent to lindam@septemberfilmsusa.com.

The Bullet Films feature film The Darkest Evil is shooting in Lafayette through April 26. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (337) 706-8971.

The television pilot The Mike Epps Comedy Mixtape Volume 1 is shooting in Baton Rouge through April 26. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by e-mail at jarred@redpictures.org

The Weinstein Company feature film Patriots starring Forest Whitaker is shooting in Metairie through June 1. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by e-mail at patriotsmovie@yahoo.com.

The Universal Pictures feature film Cirque du Freak starring Salma Hayek and John C. Reilly is shooting in New Orleans through June 1. Inquiries are being accepted by fax at (504) 571-2023.

The WWE feature film 12 Rounds starring John Cena is shooting in New Orleans through May 12. Inquiries are being accepted by e-mail at torossi@earthlink.net. For casting information, please visit www.couloncasting.com.

The independent feature film Chess is shooting in New Orleans through May 16. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (504) 821-7867. For casting information, please visit www.couloncasting.com.

The Crystal Sky feature film Robosapien is shooting in Harahan with shooting through April 25. For casting information, please visit www.ladavidcastingcom.com.

The New Line Cinema feature film Final Destination 4 is shooting in Harahan through May 29. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (504) 734-3403. For casting information please e-mail fd4casting@yahoo.com.

The Screen Gems feature film Mardi Gras is in pre-production in New Orleans with shooting scheduled to begin May 15. Resumes and inquiries are currently being accepted by fax at (504) 566-8384.

Louisiana Media Services in Baton Rouge is looking for an editor with Final Cut Pro expertise, knowledge of HD picture, color, and all aspects of the picture online process. For more information, please contact Jason Chauvin at (225) 927-9000.

And for more information about the film and television industry in Louisiana please visit us online at www.lafilm.org.

'Billy the Exterminator' offering cash for good tips

"Billy the Exterminator" is shooting in northwest Louisiana through June and needs your help. The pest control reality show is currently offering 100 bucks for good tips on critter problems.

If your home or business, or one you know, needs to banish snakes, roaches, mice, bats or an uncle who just won't leave, give Vexcom Animal and Pest Control a ring at (318) 965-5357. Speak with Donnie.

If your tip leads to filming and an aired episode, you'll get your cash. If it's your own problem at your own house, they'll also do the job for free.

"Billy the Exterminator" focuses on Vexcom and the daily exploits of its fearless leader, Billy Bretherton. He has been featured on Discovery Channel's series "Dirty Jobs."

PHOTO: Billy Bretherton of Vexcom.

(And of course, I'm fibbing about the uncle thing. ... But you can ask Donnie to make sure.)

Shreveport directors get into Newport Beach Film Festival

It’s a good week for the Shreveport indie scene. Gregory Kallenberg’s competitive eating documentary, “Eating Levi,” got into the Newport Beach Film Festival. So did Jeffrey Goodman’s crime drama “The Last Lullaby.”

For both directors, the screenings are big. As Goodman remarked in a recent email, “This festival will mark our West Coast Premiere and the first opportunity to play in close proximity to Los Angeles.”

Hear that distributors? All you LaMovBlog fans in L.A., get your tickets and support The Shreve!

“Eating Levi” debuted the Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in November 2007. “The Last Lullaby” debuted at AFI Dallas on March 28.

SCREENINGS
“The Last Lullaby”
3:15 p.m. April 28
Get tickets here.
Official website here.
Get updates by registering here.
Read the reviews and coverage here, here, here (scroll down), here (page 8) and here.

“Eating Levi”
12:30 p.m. April 29
Get tickets here.
Official website here.

PHOTO: "Eating Levi."

Ted Ferguson's auditioning motto: No fear

Somewhere along the drive from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, the script changed on Ted Ferguson. The Shreve actor recently visited the capital city to audition for “Mike Epps Comedy Mix Tape Vol. 1,” a sketch comedy show. Ferguson thought he was going to read for two “moderator” parts.

Though he’d done his prep work, the roles no longer existed when he stepped in front of the producers.

“Oh, those two roles? We don’t need those anymore,” the producers told him. “Can you be a psycho killer?”

Ted, who’s landed a baker’s dozen worth of roles though 60 auditions, said yes. In a matter of seconds, he came up with his take on the emcee of a Louisiana State Penitentiary Christmas Show Extravaganza.

“Let’s give it a go, hah?” said the producers, according to Ferguson. “Oh by the way, here’s the script.”

Since Ted’s game for improv – and he loved the script – he went for it. And he believes his psycho killer killed ’em.

His message to local actors who encounter script changes during auditions?

“Don’t give in to your fears,” he said. “Just go for it.”

What audition surprises have you encountered?

PHOTO: Ted Ferguson.

Oliver Stone's 'W.' holding extras casting call April 19

Bam Casting is handling all the extras casting for "W." On April 19, they'll be dropping by the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City. Oliver Stone is directing and Josh Brolin is starring in this biopic of our current president.

Details are below.

WHERE: Louisiana Boardwalk, Bossier City. Head to the parking garage's main mall entrance, right new to the trolley garage and fountain.
WHEN: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. April 19.
COST: free.
BRING: a clear 4x6 self-photo.
NEEDED: extras 18 and older, all ethnicities. Specifically needed are college seniors, fraternity members, military men, admirals, real reporters (know any?), oil rig men, people of Mexican descent, two-steppin' cowboys and cowgirls. Anyone who has cars from the 50s-present day should bring pictures (of the cars, that is).
QUESTIONS: www.bamcastingla.com.

And P.S.: Should I lobby to play Bob Woodward? I think I have his eyes.

Voicing acting course coming to LSUS

An instructor from Voice Coaches, a national training company, will offer a one-night class on voice acting at LSUS on April 24. The two-and-a-half hour “Getting Paid to Talk” course will offer registrants an introduction to the field.

Mike Massa, a professional voice actor who has worked with CBS and MTV, will lead the course and also discuss strategies for landing work.

David Bourgeois (pictured), president of Voice Coaches, said the field of voice acting is much more diverse than perceived. More than simply voicing commercials, he says talent can find work in cable television, Web site media content, educational training videos, audio books, and even electronic gaming.

Actors need not have the stereotypical radio voice, either. Sincerity and believability are key factors in success.

“People respond to people who they feel they can trust and are like themselves,” Bourgeois said.

Before the class ends, participants will also record a mock commercial under Massa’s direction.

The course begins at 6:30 p.m. Registration costs $95 through Thursday (April 10) and $99 thereafter. To register or for more information, call LSUS continuing education at (318) 798-4177.