JICHA Q&A

From:SouthFlorida.com, FL
Date:May 29 2005
By Tom Jicha


Q. Could you tell me what has become of Simon Baker of The Guardian, which was one of my favorite shows? -- B.S., Coconut Creek

A. The Australian-born actor has not let the cancellation of The Guardian ruin his day. Since the CBS series ended, he has done four movies -- The Ring Two, Land of the Dead, 42.4 Percent and Book of Love -- not all of which have been released yet.

From SouthFlorida.com, FL

Zombies hungry for more

From:yourmovies.com.au
Date:May 26, 2005


The zombies are rising again... and again.

Hollywood is plotting a remake of George A Romero's 1985 cult classic, "Day of the Dead".

The original film was a sequel to Romero's 1968 "Night of the Living Dead" and 1978 "Dawn of the Dead", set in a world overrun by zombies intent on destroying a group of humans hiding in an underground facility.

Romero is currently working on "Land of the Dead", a new zombie thriller that continues the story established in his original films. Dennis Hopper and Australian actor Simon Baker headline the movie.

Last year, audiences were treated to a remake of "Dawn of the Dead" starring Ving Rhames and Sarah Polley.

"Land of the Dead" hits cinemas on August

From yourmovies.com.au

Romero's Zombies Hit Vegas

From:Zap2it.com
Date:Tue, May 10, 2005

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com)- "George Romero's Land of the Dead," the latest zombie epic from genre godfather George Romero will close the CineVegas Film Festival in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 18.
The screening of the film will mark its world premiere and will be attended by the director and some of his stars. The Universal Pictures release is scheduled to hit theaters around the country on Friday, June 24.

"George Romero's groundbreaking films fused un-dead terror with social commentary to create an entirely new genre --- 'The Zombie Movie," says Trevor Groth, the festival's director. "They have inspired some of the greatest horror directors of all time and have garnered him a rabidly devout fan base. CineVegas is truly honored to be able to present the world premiere of his newest film that is destined to become another classic."



In addition to screening Romero's new opus, CineVegas will present the director with the Vanguard Director Award, which "celebrates a director whose compelling visions and groundbreaking style challenge convention and whose distinctive films are at the forefront of cinematic innovation." David Lynch and Julian Schnabel are among the previous winners.

A follow-up to Romero's classics "Night of the Living Dead," "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead," "Land of the Dead" stars Asia Argento, Simon Baker, Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo. The film is currently in post-production.

From Zap2it.com

Rosenberg Talks 'Weeping Willows'

From:CSI Files
Date:April 29, 2005
By Carolina

TV Guide recently sat down with Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows) and husband Alan Rosenberg to discuss the episode that will pair the couple on screen.

In "Weeping Willows", Catherine's job is put at risk when the mysterious man she meets at a bar turns out to be a murder suspect. Tensions flare between Catherine and Grissom as her former boss attempts to keep her away from the case. Helgenberger revealed the storyline was her idea. "It's my effort to explore her desires," said the actress in the latest issue of TV Guide. "What does this woman do after throwing herself into death and decay for hours on end?"

Executive producer Carol Mendelshon loved the idea - and the prospect of getting Marg's husband to play her on-screen love interest. "We thought, 'Wouldn't it be fun if the first person she kisses on the show is her husband?'" As for the Warrick/Catherine relationship that began brewing earlier this season, Mendelshon revealed it was put in the back burner for a while. "It's something we'll deal with next year."

Rosenberg, who was first reluctant to accept the role, admitted the scenes were "different". "I've never approached her with that kind of energy before," the actor said. "We don't do any role-playing games in our relationship – you know, she's the cop, I'm the naughty boy. But after seeing how it went with this, maybe we should."

The same issue of TV Guide touched lightly on Miami's May sweeps period and what to expect in regards to character Calleigh Duquesne, who is rumoured to quit ballistics after being assaulted at a crime scene. Without giving much away, executive producer Ann Donahue explained the storyline was an attempt to make things more realistic. "While we can't imagine CSI: Miami without Calleigh, sometimes you have to follow the drama where it leads you."

"Weeping Willows" is set to air on May 5th, 2005.

SIMON SAYS-HOLLYWOOD LIFE

From:HOLLYWOOD LIFE
Date:April 2005
By Sorina Diaconescu

As far as first-time forays into the Hollywood fray go,
Aussie thesp Simon Baker nailed a pretty spectacular one:
"I was the actor who ended up getting his throat slit in L.A.
CONFIDENTIAL," he notes. "The HUSH-HUSH magazine cover boy."

Though dispatched early on in that 1997 Oscar-winning pic,
he nabbed Hollywood's attention and spent the following years
steadily inching his way up to stardom, including a three-year
run as the lead on the CBS drama THE GUARDIAN, which was
cancelled last May. Baker -- off-screen an unpretentious,
soft-spoken and athletic man with a perpetuall dreamy
_expression -- now makes his home in Malibu, where he remains
somewhat removed from L.A.'s industry-town ambience.
"It's a little bit quieter out there. Occasionally I'll go
into town and shake my tail feathers, but then I come back
and retreat into a normalcy of sorts."

He may prefer to stay low-key, but with major roles in two
high-profile genre pics this year, the 35-year-old actor might
just find himself thrust into the limelight. In the sequel
to the enormously successful thriller THE RING, he explores
disturbing darklands with fellow Aussie actress (and chum)
Naomi Watts. "I play a character in the new town that
[she and her son] move to who sort of ... embraces them."
In the fall, he joins Asia Argento and John Leguizamo in
zombie movie pioneer George A. Romero's LAND OF THE DEAD.
"I never imagined myself doing a zombie movie, ever!
But I like the idea of not limiting myself. The aim is
to mix it up and have fun."