Hollywood.GreekReporter.com

John Stamos Staying in Shape With Pilates

Diane Karas — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:35:42 +0000

Many women would be interested to discovered John Stamos’ new fitness routine; the world-famous Hollywood actor has turned to…pilates!

The famous actor is certainly known for his looks, and apparently he’ll do anything to keep his physique and maintain his youthful appearance.

John has recently opened up about finally taking on pilates, despite the fact that the whole experience is a bit awkward and silly for him, due to the exercise positions he has to practice… Yes…we can only imagine!! As a matter of fact, he stated that ” They plot before I get there…How can we make John look ridiculous? Because every exercise involved my legs up, like I’m in the stirrups or something.”

Putting aside his discomfort, he actually discovered the high of the class…”..the good thing is, I have a beautiful woman’s body now, I have a great ass now.”

We bet that with supporters like him, women everywhere now will be queing up to join their local gyms and enroll in the next available pilates class, in order to achieve results like his.

Maria Menounos Strips Down to a Bikini for Losing Super Bowl Bet

areti — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:22:31 +0000

Greek-American Extra correspondent Maria Menounos kept her word and stripped down to a bikini after a bet she lost against her co-host AJ Calloway, who was rooting for the winner of the Super Bowl, the Giants. Maria braved a cold morning in New York City where she unveiled a Giants bikini and presented the show wearing it. Menounos, 33, who’s from Massachusetts, is a die-hard Patriots fan.

Maria kept her end of bargain and stripped down to the delight of Mario Lopez and many other onlookers. A.J. stated with glee, “God is a Giants fan!” Lopez tweeted, “My girl @mariamenounos lost a Super Bowl bet & had to wear a NY Giants bikini! Big props..Look great.”

Watch Maria presenting Extra in her bikini below:

The Lead in Zalman King’s Final Film Reveals the Erotic Maestro’s Personality

Anastasios Papapostolou — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:49:31 +0000

Christos Vassilopoulos with Zalman King on the set of "Kamikaze Love"

Erotic cinema maestro Zalman King, known for “Nine 1/2 Weeks” and “Red Shoe Diaries”, had just completed his latest film a few months before his death. In his final movie, titled Kamikaze Love, the lead actor is Christos Vassilopoulos.

Vassilopoulos came to Hollywood a few years ago from his native Greece, and had the luck to work with Zalman King but also the misfortune to lose one of the best directors he ever worked with, just a few weeks after the completion of their collaboration on the film. King was impressed with Vassilopoulos’ work and there is a high chance the two would have worked together again.

The late director had written an e-mail to Christos a few weeks before his death:

“Your performance was everything I could have wished for. You are a serious talent. I’m writing some new stuff that I think you’ll like. Can’t wait to work with you again.”

Unfortunately this had to be the first and last movie they would ever shoot, but as Vassilopoulos says in an exclusive interview with the Greek Reporter, “Zalman will always stay in my heart, as he will also stay in every person’s heart who had ever met him.”

When did you first learn about this wonderful director and how?

I never knew who Zalman King was. But I knew as a young boy the super sexual 9 1/2 weeks, Wild Orchid and many more of Zalman’s films.Everybody, even my parents were talking about all these sexual scenes and I would dare to say, that a lot of us as teenagers fantasized with Zalman’s films. In my opinion, he changed the definition of sexuality, worldwide! Especially in the era of mid 80′s.

How did you meet Zalman King and how did he select you for his last film?

I had an audition for the film and I was going for a smaller part in the film. I had no idea how Zalman looked, much less who he really was. When I entered the production company, he approached me and asked me if I was there for the audition and I said yes. We had an amazing talk for 30 minutes and finally I asked him “what about the casting”? He replied “this is the casting my dear”. He talked to me about himself and what he had done so far, but I couldn’t understand what was going on in the room. He was a magician. His intense look and the style of a gentleman were combined in his personality. Zalman was the Poet of Eroticism! When we finished our conversation he told me that he would send me the script, and that he wanted a quick answer if I would like to be part of his movie. Two days later I got a callback. Three days after the callback, one of the producers, Shane Stanley, called me directly and told me that Zalman wanted to give me the lead in his film. I was so surprised that I answered to Shane “but the lead is an American guy” and Shane replied”but Zalman wants you”.

What is one thing that he taught you as a director, that you will always remember about him?

I asked Zalman once on the set, what he wanted to create through his films. Zalman said “I want to create idols. I want to create a hero that every woman will remember forever.” Zalman taught me to perform through my own personality. He picked me up for that role because he believed that I was the role. He showed me tricks on the set that nobody else had showed me till then, as far as how erotic cinema was performed, created, and executed. His way of dealing with actors on the set was like a second skin. Nobody on the set felt embarrassed or uncomfortable, even though we shot A LOT of sexual scenes.

He had been sick for some time now but he chose to shoot a movie. Did his sickness show on set?

Zalman never showed any kind of sickness on the set. He was always super energetic, full of passion about every scene we were about to shoot. Always on time, with a great sense of humor and really willing to do the best he could. I felt that for his age, he was amazingly energetic on the set. He was the KING of the shooting!

Did he talk about his health condition?

Never! He never mentioned anything about it, never complained. He was a proud man, he was a proud KING!

Since you are Greek, did he ever talk to you about Greece? Maybe he wanted to go, or had been and shared an experience?

We shared a joke when we disagreed for a couple of scenes. He always came to me and he was telling me “We are both Mediterranean darling, I am Jewish and you are Greek! We share the same temper”. He also mentioned that he would love to have a nice theatrical premiere in Greece for K-Love. He loved Greeks and Greek food.

What was the relationship he had with the actors?

Zalman treated his actors with respect, professionalism, and much love. I felt while working with him that I was a part of the family. The family he had created on the set. He always knew what he wanted on the set and he was always pushing for the best.

What is one thing that you remember from shooting with him?

I will remember a lot of things that Zalman said while working and sharing moments on the set. Once I asked him what was the biggest mistake he had made so far in his long career. “One of the biggest mistakes, not the biggest, but probably one of the biggest, was that I was casting for a movie 25 years ago and I had to pick between 2 actors at the final casting. The role was a teenage high school boy. One of the 2 actors was Brad Pitt. And I never picked him up. That was a terrible mistake.” Zalman, the Maestro of The Erotic Cinema,was so intelligent and so genuine ,that he could confess his mistakes through out the years. And that made him even more attractive and interesting.

Do you think that he expected that his end will come so soon?

As I said, never showed any fear or said anything.

How do you feel that you are the actor who starred in his last film ever?

I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to work with him before he departed our world. I feel that I had an amazing experience, with an incredible director! He will always be in my heart cause Zalman knew how to get your attention, he knew how to transform the sexual scenes into the most atmospheric scenes your eye could devour. All together wrapped with endless sensuality! Thank you King!

Superbowl XLVI: The Greek “Players” of the Game

areti — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:20:59 +0000

Kelly Clarkson sang the national anthem and John Stamos starred in the half time commercial for Dannon at the Superbowl XLVI.

Clarkson, backed by a children’s choir, belted a capable and lyrically-correct version of the song. Prior to Clarkson’s Super Bowl performance, country music power couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert paired up for a duet of “America the Beautiful.

She is the third and youngest child of Jeanne Rose, a first grade English teacher of Greek descent and Stephen Michael Clarkson, a former engineer of English descent.

Watch Kelly Clarkson’s performance below:

John Stamos was the face of the first ever yogurt commercial to air during the big game. Dannon decided to collaborate with the Greek-American actor, in order to promote their Oikos Greek Yogurt brand. The funny commercial aired during the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XLVI. Watch it below:

Giants won the Super Bowl XLVI beating the Patriots 21-17.

Hanks, Berry & Cruise to Present at the 84th Academy Awards

Anastasios Papapostolou — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:42:11 +0000

Tom Hanks

Two-time Academy Award®-winning actor Tom Hanks, Academy Award®-winning actress Halle Berry and three-time Academy Award®-nominated actor Tom Cruise will be among the presenters of the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced.

Tom Hanks is also a governor of the Academy and has won consecutive Oscars® in 1993 and 1994 for his lead performances in “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.” He was also nominated for his leading roles in “Big,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Cast Away.” Hanks can currently be seen in the Best Picture-nominated “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.” His other film credits include “Larry Crowne,” “Toy Story 3,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “The Terminal,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Road to Perdition,” “Apollo 13″ and “A League of Their Own.”

Halle Berry won an Oscar® in 2001 for her lead performance in “Monster’s Ball.” She was recently seen in “New Year’s Eve” and will be seen next opposite Tom Hanks and Hugh Grant in “Cloud Atlas.” Berry’s other film credits include “Frankie & Alice,” “Things We Lost in the Fire,” “Die Another Day,” “Swordfish,” and the first three “X-Men” films.

Tom Cruise was nominated for his lead performances in “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Jerry Maguire.” He also was nominated for his supporting role in “Magnolia.” Cruise was recently seen in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and will be seen next in “Rock of Ages.” His other film credits include “Tropic Thunder,” “War of the Worlds,” “Collateral,” “Minority Report,” “A Few Good Men,” “Rain Man,” “The Color of Money” and “Top Gun.”

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

Jennifer Aniston’s New $21 Million Mansion

areti — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:24:59 +0000

Jennifer Aniston is the proud new owner of an 8,500 square foot mansion in the affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood of Bel Air according to Daily Mail. And she got it for a steal.

With an original listing price of $24.9 million, it seems that the Emmy Award-winning actress, who sold one home in Beverly Hills and rented another this past year, got quite the bargain on the mid-century mod designed by architect A. Quincy Jones.

Built in 1965, the completely remodeled 8,500-square-foot property features the quintessential modernist features; post-and-beam architecture with flowing lines and symmetry, vast interior spaces and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass open the home to ocean and city views.

Besides the home, Aniston’s new private estate includes a tranquil koi pond and garden, pool and a detached guest house, while the rear of the property is lined with rows of grapevines.

The 3.5 acre property, perched on the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains, is in a gated community which is home to stars including Nicholas Cage, Hugh Hefner and Lauren Bacall.

The house features a swimmers' pool, a spa and a guest house

The timing of the purchase will do nothing to dampen rumours that she is expecting a baby with boyfriend Justin Theroux.

Constantine Maroulis Lands ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ Lead

Anastasios Papapostolou — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:16:36 +0000

“American Idol” veteran Constantine Maroulis will star in the upcoming Broadway musical “Jekyll & Hyde.”

Maroulis — who placed sixth in the fourth season of the show — has landed the starring dual role in the upcoming production of “Jekyll & Hyde.” Maroulis will play both Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in the musical based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story, which begins a 25-week national tour at the Civic Theatre in San Diego, Calif. on October 2 before beginning a limited Broadway run in Spring 2013.

The show, which bowed on Broadway in 1997 and played for four years, was written by Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, with a book by Oscar and Grammy winner Leslie Bricusse. Jeff Calhoun, whose credits include “High School Musical: On Tour!” and “Big River” on Broadway, will direct and choreograph the revival. Nederlander Presentations will produce.

Maroulis made his Broadway debut in “The Wedding Singer” and is currently in the title role of “Toxic Avenger” at the Alley Theatre in Houston. His debut album, “Constantine,” was released on his own label, Sixth Place Records.

Maroulis is no stranger to musical theater: the 36-year-old belter, known for his dark, untamed mane, received a best actor Tony Award nomination for his performance in “Rock of Ages” (he’ll also play a small role in the upcoming big-screen version, starring Tom Cruise), and has performed on stage presentations of “The Wedding Singer” and “Rent.”

(With information from Reuters)

“Thank you for changing my life, Theo Angelopoulos”

guest — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:34:57 +0000

Theodore Angelopoulos died on January 24th after being hit by a motorcycle in Athens

By Alexis Varouxakis*

I never really got a chance to properly thank you. Thank you for ‘Ulysses Gaze’, for ‘Landscape in the Mist’, for ‘The Travelling Players’ and for Eleni Karaindrou. On a more personal level, thank you for changing my life.

I was 19 when I came to work for a few months on the set of ‘Eternity and a Day’. It was the first time I was on a film set, the first time I met an actor. It was the first time I saw a production designer take a derelict house and transform it into a luxurious 19th century villa. And it was the first time that I got to work with a producer, a path I was to follow a few years later. The minute I set foot on the set, I felt at home. You and Mrs Phoebe made me feel welcome, you were both so gracious. ‘Eternity and a Day’ went on to win the ‘Palm d’Or’ at the Cannes Film Festival.

Since then you very kindly let me into your house and your family. I always felt welcome by you and the formidable Phoebe who I consider a second mother to me. You both gave me direction when I needed it. The most important thing you taught me, although indirectly, is to give back to the younger generation. Your door was always open for me, giving me advise, encouragement and guidance. It is a marvelous gift when someone who has reached the top takes the time to help the young.

I remember the conversations we had and with what intensity and focus you spoke. I always felt that you were never really present, or rather that you lived in two worlds. The material world had no meaning for you; you lived in the world of ideas, of dreams. It seemed to me that your body was only a vessel which allowed you to bring that other world, your real home, to this world. Your films, these images and moods you gave us, were part of that other world. And I know that there was so much more of that world that you wanted to show us.

I will never forget that summer day that changed me forever. You were setting up a shot on the beach. It was an ugly, deserted beach in the north of Greece. You put a few actors in the background and an actor with an accordion in the foreground and then.. and then you said ‘Action!’. Before my eyes something magical happened. This dead beach came to life. Out of nowhere you breathed life and color into something that was sad and void of life. Then time stopped. The sky opened and thunder struck me, electricity went through me and my hair stood on my body. It was at that moment that I said to myself: ‘I want to make films for the rest of my life’. It is to this day one of the most powerful experiences I have had. It is still what keeps me going today, that passion that was unleashed that summer day. For that and for everything else, thank you Mr Angelopoulos.

Alexis Varouxakis is a Hollywood based film producer

*Alexis Varouxakis is a Los Angeles based film producer. He is currently finishing post-production on ‘Dark Hearts’ a psychological thriller starring Kyle Schmid, Sonja Kinski, Lucas Till, Rachel Blanchard, Juliet Landau and Goran Visnjic. He has a number of films in development including ‘The Cure’ set in the Jazz world of 1950′s New Orleans. The film is inspired by the life of Chet Baker and Louis Armstrong.

“The Sting” Greek-American Actress Dimitra Arliss Dies in LA

Anastasios Papapostolou — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:42:56 +0000

Dimitra Arliss, the Greek-American actress who played a hired killer alongside Robert Redford and Paul Newman in the caper comedy “The Sting,” has died in Los Angeles.

Arliss was born in Lorain, Ohio, on October 23, 1932. Her acting career began at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. She first garnered attention after appearing in Arthur L. Kopit’s Broadway play Indians in the 1960s in which she played a Native American character who spoke with an Italian accent. She went on to appear in multiple stage, television and film productions including the 1973 classic The Sting.

Arliss died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, aged 79, from complications of a stroke. She is survived by a sister.

Filmography

The Sting (1973)
Rich Man, Poor Man Book II (1976)
The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
A Perfect Couple (1979)
Xanadu (1980)
Firefox (1982)
Eleni (1985)
It’s My Party (1996)
Bless the Child (2000)

Christos Vassilopoulos Talks about His New Film “Kamikaze Love”

Markos Papadatos — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:44:52 +0000

Photo Courtesy of Christos Vassilopoulos

Greek actor Christos Vasilopoulos just completed a new film called Kamikaze Love. The movie which was written and directed by Zalman King. Christos stars in the role of Jack, with Malena Morgan as Victoria.

According to Christos Vasilopoulos, “Kamikaze love is expected to be ready in four months, and it will be released on international DVD, as well as in theatres in Greece.”

He continues, “shooting with Zalman King, ‘the Maestro of erotic cinema,’ was a tremendous experience for me, considering the fact that I auditioned for a small part, and Zalman gave me the lead role in his film. He is known for directing such films as 9 1/2 Weeks, Wild Orchid, Two Moon Junction, Red Shoe Diaries and many others, so I felt honored to be in his last film. We worked for a little bit more than a month in Malibu, and I can assure you that this erotic thriller will look great!”

On working with Zalman, Christos states, “Zalman is a director that knows what he wants from his actors, and at the age of 72, he still has the best energy I had seen on the set. He is full of passion,and once I happened to be behind the camera to help my parntner with her take, I realized why they call him the ‘Maestro.’ That shot looked amazingly beautiful!”

For more information on Christos’ new film, check it out on IMDB.com.