From the San Jose Mercury News:
"Imagine a movie that actually depends on cell-phone interruptions and loud, incessant chatter.
For many, that will sound like a reel nightmare, the cineplex equivalent of the Tower of Babel.
At ZeroOne, San Jose's inaugural high-tech arts festival, such a confluence of media represents the future. You, however, can experience it Wednesday night at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library -- or rather, on the library.
``Specflic 2.0'' -- a speculative discourse on the future of libraries -- utilizes MLK's walls and courtyard, multiple projection systems, live sound mixing, radio and Internet feeds, and a cast of five, including Allison Janney, who plays a book searcher in an InfoSphere, where ``book objects'' are accessed telepathically.
Janney, who co-stars with fiance Richard Jenik, said she still has trouble wrapping her mind around the mind-blowing concept.
``Do you understand it? Because I don't,'' said the former ``West Wing'' regular, only half joking.
The idea is to create viewing spaces -- or ``story zones'' -- that envelop the viewer, explained director Adriene Jenik, Richard Jenik's sister and an associate professor of computer/media arts at the University of California-San Diego. Director Jenik's largest images -- almost 40 feet wide by 30 high -- will rival some IMAX screens. Her ``near-future fiction'' unfolds in the year 2030 and brings to mind Aldous Huxley's ``Brave New World.''
``I call it `distributed' or `distracted cinema' because it utilizes cell phones, laptops, radio -- and other popular distractions,'' the director continued. ``It's an alternative to the traditional way of watching movies, where a group of people who are quiet face the same direction and watch something that's linear, time-based . . . has a beginning, middle and end.''
As passersby or those seated in the library courtyard view the unfolding drama, they will be encouraged to ``watch'' in new ways, using devices and various media that have traditionally been anathema to film-going. This interactive cinema, Jenik explained, will ``come at the participant from many directions at once'' and create ``a spectacular story world'' where we can reflect on how our culture is changing and what we are losing and gaining.
Janney, who spent much of a recent San Jose shoot telling her director, ``I have no idea what you just said,'' now senses she's part of something weird and exciting.
``In `Specflic,' I go around talking to this InfoSpherian person, who tells me to look for a book,'' said the actor. ``As I understand it, we're trying to create an environment in which the audience is surrounded by the art. It's terribly visionary, this wild interactive thing. You really have to see it to understand it.''
Janney -- who apprenticed in experimental off-Broadway theater and appeared in Jenik's earlier ``Specflic 1.0'' -- is obviously a whole lot more in tune with cutting-edge cinema than she lets on. She essentially volunteered her time on the new production -- for airfare and the price of a room at the Sainte Claire Hotel.
``It doesn't matter that I get paid nothing as long as I stay stimulated,'' she said. ``After the cancellation of `West Wing,' it was like being dropped off at a bus stop: I had no idea where I was going. So, instead of waiting for the next perfect thing, I decided to try something strange and challenging.''
What ``Specflic 2.0'' has to say about the end of the library as we know it is more prophetic than cynical, director and star agree. In the age of Google and Web surfing, libraries are not being used as they once were. Indeed, director Jenik and her crew couldn't remember the last time they'd visited a library.
``Libraries as we knew them growing up are not going to exist in the future,'' predicted the director. ``The librarians I've interviewed know this; they know that there are new ways to access information.''
Janney's return to a library left her feeling both exhilarated and nostalgic. ``Just being around the books, feeling them and looking at them, made me sad that I hadn't been in a library for so long,'' she said. ``I'm not sure how I feel about doing research now on the computer. In some ways I wish we could go back.''
Showing posts with label Allison Janney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allison Janney. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Photos of Richard Schiff and Allison Janney....
on Wireimage from the opening of the Hotel Angeleno. By clicking details, you can register for free to view somewhat enlarged versions of the photos for 30 days.
Allison Janney was also at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
From Calendar Live:
"West Wing" cast member Allison Janney, a Los Angeles Film Festival veteran whose feature film "Our Very Own" was screened last year, was named honorary co-chair this year. She said she felt gratified to be a part of Hollywood's hometown film fest, an 11-day event expected to draw 80,000 attendees with a mixture of studio films with theatrical distribution and shoestring indies looking for buyers.
"It's exciting to get behind this festival and make it the hottest one in the United States," Janney said. Reminded that the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, holds that title, she said: "L.A.'s not the hottest one and there's no reason it shouldn't be…. This is the film capital of the world!""
There are also photos of her there at Wireimage.
Allison Janney can currently been seen in "Strangers with Candy" in cinemas.
Allison Janney was also at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
From Calendar Live:
"West Wing" cast member Allison Janney, a Los Angeles Film Festival veteran whose feature film "Our Very Own" was screened last year, was named honorary co-chair this year. She said she felt gratified to be a part of Hollywood's hometown film fest, an 11-day event expected to draw 80,000 attendees with a mixture of studio films with theatrical distribution and shoestring indies looking for buyers.
"It's exciting to get behind this festival and make it the hottest one in the United States," Janney said. Reminded that the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, holds that title, she said: "L.A.'s not the hottest one and there's no reason it shouldn't be…. This is the film capital of the world!""
There are also photos of her there at Wireimage.
Allison Janney can currently been seen in "Strangers with Candy" in cinemas.
Martin Sheen Still Active On Screen and Off
Last Month, Martin Sheen showed his support for the South Central Farm project in Los Angeles.
There is a short personal video clip of his appearance here.
Getty Images has photos of Martin Sheen at the Cannes Lion Advertising Festival and a Celebrity Golf Tournament.
At Wireimage, you can additionally see photos from "Sober Day USA". By clicking "Details" here, you can register to have access to enlarged photos for 30 days.
Reuters reports he will have a role in the new film "Talk to Me":
"Martin Sheen is returning to the Beltway.
he former "West Wing" president has landed a role in director Kasi Lemmons ("Eve's Bayou") mid-1960s real-life story "Talk to Me" for Focus Features.
Sheen will play E.G. Sonderling, the owner of a D.C. radio station that employs controversial black on-air personality Ralph Waldo "Petey" Green (
Don Cheadle).
As the radio station's owner, Sonderling gives Green his big break, thereby helping the outspoken commentator become an iconic radio personality in a turbulent era distinguished by vibrant soul music and shifts in social consciousness.
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Green's radio producer, Dewey Hughes, who runs interference with Sonderling on Green's behalf. "Talk" began shooting in Toronto this week. The supporting cast includes
Keith Sweat, Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson."
Martin Sheen also recently narrated the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car".Allison Janney was at that film's premiere.
And Martin Sheen is counselling his son Charlie Sheen on his new relationship with Brooke Mueller.
There is a short personal video clip of his appearance here.
Getty Images has photos of Martin Sheen at the Cannes Lion Advertising Festival and a Celebrity Golf Tournament.
At Wireimage, you can additionally see photos from "Sober Day USA". By clicking "Details" here, you can register to have access to enlarged photos for 30 days.
Reuters reports he will have a role in the new film "Talk to Me":
"Martin Sheen is returning to the Beltway.
he former "West Wing" president has landed a role in director Kasi Lemmons ("Eve's Bayou") mid-1960s real-life story "Talk to Me" for Focus Features.
Sheen will play E.G. Sonderling, the owner of a D.C. radio station that employs controversial black on-air personality Ralph Waldo "Petey" Green (
Don Cheadle).
As the radio station's owner, Sonderling gives Green his big break, thereby helping the outspoken commentator become an iconic radio personality in a turbulent era distinguished by vibrant soul music and shifts in social consciousness.
Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Green's radio producer, Dewey Hughes, who runs interference with Sonderling on Green's behalf. "Talk" began shooting in Toronto this week. The supporting cast includes
Keith Sweat, Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson."
Martin Sheen also recently narrated the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car".Allison Janney was at that film's premiere.
And Martin Sheen is counselling his son Charlie Sheen on his new relationship with Brooke Mueller.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Emmy Nominations For "West Wing"
From the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences:
"The West Wing" was nominated for Best Drama together with "Grey's Anatomy", "The Sopranos", "24" and "House". This is the "The West Wing"'s 7th Best Drama nomination. It has won 4 times, and it holds a record for most Emmys won in a first season.
Martin Sheen was nominated in the Lead Actor category together with Cristopher Meloni, Denis Leary, Peter Krause (also on "Sports Night") and Kiefer Sutherland. This is his 6th Emmy nomination for "The West Wing".
Allison Janney was nominated in the Lead Actress category together with Kyra Sedgwick, Geena Davis (from the now cancelled one season "Commander in Chief"), Mariska Hargitay and Frances Conroy. This is her 6th Emmy Nomination, she was four times.
Alan Alda was nominated in the supporting actor together with Oliver Platt ( for "Huff", also played Oliver Babish), Michael Imperioli, William Shatner and Gregory Itzin. This is his second nomination for "The West Wing".
Mimi Leder was nominated for Best Direction for Election Day Part 1 together with "Big Love", "Lost" "Six Feet Under" and "The Sopranos" (2 episodes). She has on Emmys in the past for "E.R." and "China Beach."
The Live Debate episode was nominated for in the category Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series Or Special together with "Two and a Half Men"
Other nominations:
Stockard Channing was nominated for her role in CBS's cancelled one season long "Out of Practice" in the category for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Stockard Channing has previously been nominated six times for "The West Wing", and won once. Also nominated in this category was Jane Kaczmarek, wife of Bradley Whitford, for Fox's now cancelled long-running "Malcolm in the Middle". Lisa Kudrow, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Debra Messing are also nominated in this category. This Jane Kaczmarek's seventh nomination.
Martin Sheen was also nominated for his guest appearance on Two and a Half Men, on which his son Charlie Sheen stars, together with Ben Stiller, Patrick Stewart, Alec Baldin and Leslie Jordan. Charlie Sheen is nominated in the category Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, together with Larry David, Tony Shalhoub, Kevin James and Steve Carell.
The Emmy Awards will be broadcast August 27 at 8PM ET on NBC.
arcadia215 posted at Television Without Pity:
"Allison [Janney] was just on CNN (by phone). She totally took the anchor to task (when the anchor clearly didn't watch the show or know anything about it)- the anchor made a comment like, Let's face it, not "The West Wing"'s best season, most critics said it had fallen a lot this past season and Allison Janney says, "Um, well, I totally disagree with that. Actually, most of the critics said this season the show reclaimed its crown" (or something to that effect). They cut away to the anchor's face which looked ready to shoot the segment producer who briefed her."
Cecily writes in an e-mail:
"I happened to be watching CNN this morning and they were talking to AJ on the phone about her nomination and she said was was surprised and excited, in addition to being happy about the other nominations for the show. The CNN person commented that this season wasn't as good as others, but allison came right back to say that it had made quite the comeback and then the CNN person admitted she didn't actually watch the show, she had just heard that. They also discussed that now she was worried about what to wear and they showed many clips of the last season in in the background while they were talking."
Thanks, Cecily!
Transcript from CNN.com:
" The Emmy award show airs on August 27the.
One nominee joining me on the phone now from California, "The West Wing's" Allison Janney.
Allison, good morning and congratulations.
ALLISON JANNEY, ACTRESS: Thank you, Daryn. Good morning to you.
Daryn KAGAN: Well, with all of your success with Emmy, we could almost make it Allison Emmy. You could be going for number five here.
Allison JANNEY: I know. It's completely overwhelming.
Daryn KAGAN: It doesn't get old to see your name pop up on the screen there?
Allison JANNEY: No, it doesn't. And I have to say, everyone has been the same amount of shock and surprise and excitement. It doesn't -- it doesn't get old.
Daryn KAGAN: Were you watching at 5:30 this morning there in California?
Allison JANNEY: No, I really -- I mean, I was asleep, and the phone rang. And I -- my first thought was, who died? I was very -- you know, because the phone never rings that early, and I completely forgot the nominations were being announced this morning. So I was kind of -- my mindset was not at all about the Emmys. And now, of course, it's wonderful.
Daryn KAGAN: What are you going to wear?
Allison JANNEY: Yes, exactly.
Daryn KAGAN: And then there's that.
Allison JANNEY: What am I going to wear, what am I'm not going to eat.
Daryn KAGAN: All of that kind of stuff. JANNEY: Yes.
KAGAN: Bittersweet this time? Because C.J. Craig one for the history books and "The West Wing"?
Allison JANNEY: Yes. It's such a lovely honor and a tribute to a lot of -- I haven't memorized the whole list of nominees, but it seems like the Emmy voters decided to honor a lot of these great shows. I mean, I really truly feel that I was, you know, honored -- blessed to be on one of the greatest shows -- greatest dramas in television.
Daryn KAGAN: And, of course, "The West Wing" getting a nomination, too. And a time, a season, let's be honest, people said not the strongest, not the best ever.
Allison JANNEY: This -- actually, I disagree with you.
Daryn KAGAN: I'm just saying what people have said.
Allison JANNEY: People were saying, what an amazing season this has been for "The West Wing".
Daryn KAGAN: So nice to have it wrap up with a nomination for the show as well.
Allison JANNEY: Oh, absolutely.
Daryn KAGAN: Let's look at your competition coming up. Some fabulous women actresses.
Allison JANNEY: Wonderful women.
Daryn KAGAN: Yes. OK. Kyra Sedgwick, for "The Closer." That's hot.
Allison JANNEY: I love her.
Daryn KAGAN: Yes.
Geena Davis, you got that presidential thing working as well for "Commander In Chief."
Allison JANNEY: Yes.
Daryn KAGAN: Mariska Hargitay with -- she just had a baby. Now she gets an Emmy nomination.
Alliosn JANNEY: Beautiful -- I mean, amazing actresses. And I'm excited to be there with them all.
And Geena Davis, of course, because I won't be -- I won't be able to look her in the eye.
Daryn KAGAN: Is it -- speaking of being tall, because I ask you as a fellow tall girl here, is it true that when you first started acting you couldn't get an agent because they told you were too tall and you would never make it? JANNEY: Oh, yes. You know, people always love to discourage you from acting, and they love to pick out the one thing that's, you know, obvious about someone, and say, well, you're not going to make it because of that. You know. But ha-ha.
Daryn KAGAN: Ha-ha. Ha-ha, times six for all the Emmy nominations.
Allison JANNEY: Exactly.
Daryn KAGAN: Besides the Emmys at the end of August, what's next for you now that "West Wing" has wrapped up?
Allison JANNEY: I'm looking for the next thing. I've been fortunate enough to feel like I can be a little picky right now. I'm looking for the right thing, whether it be on the stage and television again, or movies.
I'm really trying to find the right thing. And I'm also a little burned out in enjoying the time off.
Daryn KAGAN: Good for you. And that time off, do you ever tune into CNN midday or, I guess, morning in California and catch the actual White House briefings? Do you ever watch...
Alliosn JANNEY: Yes, I have watched them before. Not so much anymore. But it's just depressing. I can't bear it. But I have watched the briefings before on CNN.
Daryn KAGAN: And, of course, Tony Snow, the new guy with the job.
Allison JANNEY: Yes.
Daryn KAGAN: We wish you well. August 27th, good luck finding the dress.
Allison JANNEY: Thanks, Daryn. I appreciate that.
Daryn KAGAN: I know you'll look tall and fabulous and wonderful.
Allison JANNEY: Thank you.
Daryn KAGAN: Congratulations.
Allison JANNEY: Thank you.
Daryn KAGAN: Allison Janney, nominated once again. She's won already four times for the role of C.J. Craig in "The West Wing".
Emmy nominations coming out earlier this morning.
OK. Getting to the real West Wing,..."
The nominations for the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced at 5:39AM PCT, 8:39AM ET. The nominations will be webcast on the official Emmy site. They will also be broadcast on E!, and possibly also on E! International, although they are not currently listed there.
"The West Wing" was nominated for Best Drama together with "Grey's Anatomy", "The Sopranos", "24" and "House". This is the "The West Wing"'s 7th Best Drama nomination. It has won 4 times, and it holds a record for most Emmys won in a first season.
Martin Sheen was nominated in the Lead Actor category together with Cristopher Meloni, Denis Leary, Peter Krause (also on "Sports Night") and Kiefer Sutherland. This is his 6th Emmy nomination for "The West Wing".
Allison Janney was nominated in the Lead Actress category together with Kyra Sedgwick, Geena Davis (from the now cancelled one season "Commander in Chief"), Mariska Hargitay and Frances Conroy. This is her 6th Emmy Nomination, she was four times.
Alan Alda was nominated in the supporting actor together with Oliver Platt ( for "Huff", also played Oliver Babish), Michael Imperioli, William Shatner and Gregory Itzin. This is his second nomination for "The West Wing".
Mimi Leder was nominated for Best Direction for Election Day Part 1 together with "Big Love", "Lost" "Six Feet Under" and "The Sopranos" (2 episodes). She has on Emmys in the past for "E.R." and "China Beach."
The Live Debate episode was nominated for in the category Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series Or Special together with "Two and a Half Men"
Other nominations:
Stockard Channing was nominated for her role in CBS's cancelled one season long "Out of Practice" in the category for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Stockard Channing has previously been nominated six times for "The West Wing", and won once. Also nominated in this category was Jane Kaczmarek, wife of Bradley Whitford, for Fox's now cancelled long-running "Malcolm in the Middle". Lisa Kudrow, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Debra Messing are also nominated in this category. This Jane Kaczmarek's seventh nomination.
Martin Sheen was also nominated for his guest appearance on Two and a Half Men, on which his son Charlie Sheen stars, together with Ben Stiller, Patrick Stewart, Alec Baldin and Leslie Jordan. Charlie Sheen is nominated in the category Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, together with Larry David, Tony Shalhoub, Kevin James and Steve Carell.
The Emmy Awards will be broadcast August 27 at 8PM ET on NBC.
arcadia215 posted at Television Without Pity:
"Allison [Janney] was just on CNN (by phone). She totally took the anchor to task (when the anchor clearly didn't watch the show or know anything about it)- the anchor made a comment like, Let's face it, not "The West Wing"'s best season, most critics said it had fallen a lot this past season and Allison Janney says, "Um, well, I totally disagree with that. Actually, most of the critics said this season the show reclaimed its crown" (or something to that effect). They cut away to the anchor's face which looked ready to shoot the segment producer who briefed her."
Cecily writes in an e-mail:
"I happened to be watching CNN this morning and they were talking to AJ on the phone about her nomination and she said was was surprised and excited, in addition to being happy about the other nominations for the show. The CNN person commented that this season wasn't as good as others, but allison came right back to say that it had made quite the comeback and then the CNN person admitted she didn't actually watch the show, she had just heard that. They also discussed that now she was worried about what to wear and they showed many clips of the last season in in the background while they were talking."
Thanks, Cecily!
Transcript from CNN.com:
" The Emmy award show airs on August 27the.
One nominee joining me on the phone now from California, "The West Wing's" Allison Janney.
Allison, good morning and congratulations.
ALLISON JANNEY, ACTRESS: Thank you, Daryn. Good morning to you.
Daryn KAGAN: Well, with all of your success with Emmy, we could almost make it Allison Emmy. You could be going for number five here.
Allison JANNEY: I know. It's completely overwhelming.
Daryn KAGAN: It doesn't get old to see your name pop up on the screen there?
Allison JANNEY: No, it doesn't. And I have to say, everyone has been the same amount of shock and surprise and excitement. It doesn't -- it doesn't get old.
Daryn KAGAN: Were you watching at 5:30 this morning there in California?
Allison JANNEY: No, I really -- I mean, I was asleep, and the phone rang. And I -- my first thought was, who died? I was very -- you know, because the phone never rings that early, and I completely forgot the nominations were being announced this morning. So I was kind of -- my mindset was not at all about the Emmys. And now, of course, it's wonderful.
Daryn KAGAN: What are you going to wear?
Allison JANNEY: Yes, exactly.
Daryn KAGAN: And then there's that.
Allison JANNEY: What am I going to wear, what am I'm not going to eat.
Daryn KAGAN: All of that kind of stuff. JANNEY: Yes.
KAGAN: Bittersweet this time? Because C.J. Craig one for the history books and "The West Wing"?
Allison JANNEY: Yes. It's such a lovely honor and a tribute to a lot of -- I haven't memorized the whole list of nominees, but it seems like the Emmy voters decided to honor a lot of these great shows. I mean, I really truly feel that I was, you know, honored -- blessed to be on one of the greatest shows -- greatest dramas in television.
Daryn KAGAN: And, of course, "The West Wing" getting a nomination, too. And a time, a season, let's be honest, people said not the strongest, not the best ever.
Allison JANNEY: This -- actually, I disagree with you.
Daryn KAGAN: I'm just saying what people have said.
Allison JANNEY: People were saying, what an amazing season this has been for "The West Wing".
Daryn KAGAN: So nice to have it wrap up with a nomination for the show as well.
Allison JANNEY: Oh, absolutely.
Daryn KAGAN: Let's look at your competition coming up. Some fabulous women actresses.
Allison JANNEY: Wonderful women.
Daryn KAGAN: Yes. OK. Kyra Sedgwick, for "The Closer." That's hot.
Allison JANNEY: I love her.
Daryn KAGAN: Yes.
Geena Davis, you got that presidential thing working as well for "Commander In Chief."
Allison JANNEY: Yes.
Daryn KAGAN: Mariska Hargitay with -- she just had a baby. Now she gets an Emmy nomination.
Alliosn JANNEY: Beautiful -- I mean, amazing actresses. And I'm excited to be there with them all.
And Geena Davis, of course, because I won't be -- I won't be able to look her in the eye.
Daryn KAGAN: Is it -- speaking of being tall, because I ask you as a fellow tall girl here, is it true that when you first started acting you couldn't get an agent because they told you were too tall and you would never make it? JANNEY: Oh, yes. You know, people always love to discourage you from acting, and they love to pick out the one thing that's, you know, obvious about someone, and say, well, you're not going to make it because of that. You know. But ha-ha.
Daryn KAGAN: Ha-ha. Ha-ha, times six for all the Emmy nominations.
Allison JANNEY: Exactly.
Daryn KAGAN: Besides the Emmys at the end of August, what's next for you now that "West Wing" has wrapped up?
Allison JANNEY: I'm looking for the next thing. I've been fortunate enough to feel like I can be a little picky right now. I'm looking for the right thing, whether it be on the stage and television again, or movies.
I'm really trying to find the right thing. And I'm also a little burned out in enjoying the time off.
Daryn KAGAN: Good for you. And that time off, do you ever tune into CNN midday or, I guess, morning in California and catch the actual White House briefings? Do you ever watch...
Alliosn JANNEY: Yes, I have watched them before. Not so much anymore. But it's just depressing. I can't bear it. But I have watched the briefings before on CNN.
Daryn KAGAN: And, of course, Tony Snow, the new guy with the job.
Allison JANNEY: Yes.
Daryn KAGAN: We wish you well. August 27th, good luck finding the dress.
Allison JANNEY: Thanks, Daryn. I appreciate that.
Daryn KAGAN: I know you'll look tall and fabulous and wonderful.
Allison JANNEY: Thank you.
Daryn KAGAN: Congratulations.
Allison JANNEY: Thank you.
Daryn KAGAN: Allison Janney, nominated once again. She's won already four times for the role of C.J. Craig in "The West Wing".
Emmy nominations coming out earlier this morning.
OK. Getting to the real West Wing,..."
The nominations for the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced at 5:39AM PCT, 8:39AM ET. The nominations will be webcast on the official Emmy site. They will also be broadcast on E!, and possibly also on E! International, although they are not currently listed there.
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