If you read my recap of this week’s True Blood, you’re aware that I’m less than impressed with the strippers in Bon Temps and Jackson. I think perhaps Eric needs to take the stage. Below, watch a video of Alexander Skarsgard dancing behind the scenes of the comedy Beyond the Pole (not a stripper film, unfortunately, but a mockumentary that follows inexperienced adventurers to the North Pole). He playfully molests, licks (!), and strums one of his co-stars. Notice all the bottles of alcohol in the background. Hilarious and kinda hot (my vote), or a tad disturbing?
P.
P.
- 7/12/2010
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW.com - PopWatch
Can you imagine a world without the joy that is Alexander Skarsgard? Because we certainly can't. Behold, this newly unearthed video of the True Blood stud stripping down to the waist and practically molesting Rhys Thomas, his co-star in the arctic comedy Beyond the Pole. Beyond the Pole? More like beyond the pale, are we right? But don't worry, it's all in good, relatively clean fun. Click the video below to witness Skarsgard and Thomas' unique bout of male bonding.
- 7/9/2010
- by Celebuzz
- Celebuzz.com
Plus The Today Show says "We Will" to same-sex couples, Miraculous Year has a miraculous cast, and Doma goes down!
The good news is that GLAAD met with The Today Show bigwigs and now same-sex couples will be able to participate in that wedding contest. The bad news is that if you enter, you have to have your wedding on ... The Today Show.
We reached out to Chris Colfer about his Emmy nomination and he gave us this exclusive statement: ""I am shocked and thrilled and just feeling so many emotions at the same time! It's been such an amazing year for us, I could never have wished for more! It feels like a dream and my alarm clock should be going off any minute now..."
Not only has Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle used the "what's next, incest marriages?" argument in defending her decision to veto the Civil Unions Bill,...
The good news is that GLAAD met with The Today Show bigwigs and now same-sex couples will be able to participate in that wedding contest. The bad news is that if you enter, you have to have your wedding on ... The Today Show.
We reached out to Chris Colfer about his Emmy nomination and he gave us this exclusive statement: ""I am shocked and thrilled and just feeling so many emotions at the same time! It's been such an amazing year for us, I could never have wished for more! It feels like a dream and my alarm clock should be going off any minute now..."
Not only has Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle used the "what's next, incest marriages?" argument in defending her decision to veto the Civil Unions Bill,...
- 7/9/2010
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Beyond the Poletells the story of two friends’ epic journey to the top of the World. It’s done in a mockumentary style (a bit like The Office) with a fake camera crew (led by Helen Baxendale’s character) who follow the two friends in their quest to walk to the North Pole as the first unsupported, carbon neutral, vegetarian, and organic expedition in history – already you can see the movie is rather amusing!
Beyond the Pole is directed by David L. Williams and has a great cast which includes Stephen Mangan, Rhys Thomas, Helen Baxendale (who also serves as the film’s Executive Producer), Mark Benton, Alexander Skarsgård, Rosie Cavaliero and Lars Arentz-Hansen.
The idea for the movie came from a radio series which was cut short by Radio 4. When David Williams heard this, he approached the writers to see if they would be willing to make a film...
Beyond the Pole is directed by David L. Williams and has a great cast which includes Stephen Mangan, Rhys Thomas, Helen Baxendale (who also serves as the film’s Executive Producer), Mark Benton, Alexander Skarsgård, Rosie Cavaliero and Lars Arentz-Hansen.
The idea for the movie came from a radio series which was cut short by Radio 4. When David Williams heard this, he approached the writers to see if they would be willing to make a film...
- 7/7/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The mockumentary format has crept into most areas by now and instigated a hyper realism that has taken cinema to some very dark or very funny places. It has provided exquisite observational comedies, dramas and some hardcore horror films.
With the release next week of Beyond The Pole; a mockumentary (available to own on DVD and Blu-ray from 5th July) that follows the story of two inexperienced adventurers (Stephen Mangan and Rhys Thomas) as they attempt to become the first carbon-neutral, vegetarian and organic expedition to reach the North Pole, we decided to celebrate this fine aesthetic and put together a list of its greatest examples.
The War of the Worlds
Although not a film, it had a great impact upon what would one day become the mockumentary in cinema form. Mr. Orson Welles’ fictitious public service announcement regarding imminent alien invasion sent 1950s America in to something of a tither.
With the release next week of Beyond The Pole; a mockumentary (available to own on DVD and Blu-ray from 5th July) that follows the story of two inexperienced adventurers (Stephen Mangan and Rhys Thomas) as they attempt to become the first carbon-neutral, vegetarian and organic expedition to reach the North Pole, we decided to celebrate this fine aesthetic and put together a list of its greatest examples.
The War of the Worlds
Although not a film, it had a great impact upon what would one day become the mockumentary in cinema form. Mr. Orson Welles’ fictitious public service announcement regarding imminent alien invasion sent 1950s America in to something of a tither.
- 7/2/2010
- by Alex Wagner
- FilmShaft.com
Yesterday I put up our interview with the Director of new British movie Beyond the Pole, David L. Williams and today we get to hear from not only one of the stars of the movie but also it’s Executive Producer, Helen Baxendale. Helen is probably most famous for her role as Ross’ English girlfriend in Friends and also starred in long running British drama, Cold Feet alongside James Nesbitt. She took some time to answer some questions for us which you can view below.
Thanks to Helen for her time and for also providing the two photos used in the post exclusively to us. Beyond the Pole is released on DVD and Blu ray this coming Monday 5th July. You can pre-order it here and don’t forget to you can enter click here to enter our competition to win the Blu Ray.
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You obviously had your Executive Producer...
Thanks to Helen for her time and for also providing the two photos used in the post exclusively to us. Beyond the Pole is released on DVD and Blu ray this coming Monday 5th July. You can pre-order it here and don’t forget to you can enter click here to enter our competition to win the Blu Ray.
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You obviously had your Executive Producer...
- 7/2/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
We chat to Beyond The Pole co-star Rhy Thomas about biscuits, polar bears and freezing cold temperatures…
In the second of our Beyond The Pole interviews, we spoke to its co-star Rhys Thomas about the film’s ten-day shoot, and how to fake the death of a polar bear…
How did you prepare for the role, and what attracted you to it initially?
I did very little preparation other than grow a beard, actually. The character of Brian is unprepared and naïve so I though that less I did, the better. Maybe I’m just lazy. What attracted me to the part was the fact the script was good, it was funny, moving, adventurous and also a bit of a challenge. I’m used to writing and performing my own material, doing someone else’s is refreshing. Also I want to show off a bit and prove I could act!
In the second of our Beyond The Pole interviews, we spoke to its co-star Rhys Thomas about the film’s ten-day shoot, and how to fake the death of a polar bear…
How did you prepare for the role, and what attracted you to it initially?
I did very little preparation other than grow a beard, actually. The character of Brian is unprepared and naïve so I though that less I did, the better. Maybe I’m just lazy. What attracted me to the part was the fact the script was good, it was funny, moving, adventurous and also a bit of a challenge. I’m used to writing and performing my own material, doing someone else’s is refreshing. Also I want to show off a bit and prove I could act!
- 7/2/2010
- Den of Geek
We caught up with Helen Baxendale to discuss her film Beyond The Pole, out on DVD and Blu-ray this week…
Beyond The Pole is the story of two hideously unprepared men and their well-meaning but shambolic trek to the Antarctic. We spoke to actor Helen Baxendale, who co-created the film with partner and director David Williams, about the casting, production and promotion of the film.
What first made you want to make Beyond The Pole?
God knows why, because it’s been a nightmare from start to finish, and we’ve not seen a penny reward! Only joking!
We thought the radio series was funny and could film it with two leads and a cameraman following them and make it cheap and sell it for a million dollars. Unfortunately, lots of crew insisted they were absolutely vital and they probably had a point as we were floating on sea ice in polar bear territory.
Beyond The Pole is the story of two hideously unprepared men and their well-meaning but shambolic trek to the Antarctic. We spoke to actor Helen Baxendale, who co-created the film with partner and director David Williams, about the casting, production and promotion of the film.
What first made you want to make Beyond The Pole?
God knows why, because it’s been a nightmare from start to finish, and we’ve not seen a penny reward! Only joking!
We thought the radio series was funny and could film it with two leads and a cameraman following them and make it cheap and sell it for a million dollars. Unfortunately, lots of crew insisted they were absolutely vital and they probably had a point as we were floating on sea ice in polar bear territory.
- 7/2/2010
- Den of Geek
Beyond The Pole is an ace new British comedy starring comedians Rhys Thomas and Stephen Mangan. They play two hapless but idealistic young men who decide to be the first to walk to the North Pole unaided, vegetarian and carbon free.
Do they make it? You’ll have to watch the film to find out. Produced by Friends star Helen Baxendale and directed by David L. Williams, Beyond the Pole is unique, funny and often totally mad. Rhys Thomas recently caught up with FilmShaft to talk about filming in freezing temperatures and his debut role.
How did you get involved in the project?
I was offered the part – first time ever. The director David had seen me in a few things over the years and thought I had the naïve charm he was after.
The lads’ preparation is a bit slapdash. What training and prep did you do?
Sadly, no...
Do they make it? You’ll have to watch the film to find out. Produced by Friends star Helen Baxendale and directed by David L. Williams, Beyond the Pole is unique, funny and often totally mad. Rhys Thomas recently caught up with FilmShaft to talk about filming in freezing temperatures and his debut role.
How did you get involved in the project?
I was offered the part – first time ever. The director David had seen me in a few things over the years and thought I had the naïve charm he was after.
The lads’ preparation is a bit slapdash. What training and prep did you do?
Sadly, no...
- 7/2/2010
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Beyond the Pole is a new British movie which I watched yesterday and really enjoyed (my review will come soon) and is scheduled for release on Blu Ray and DVD this coming Monday. We were given the chance to interview a few of the people involved in the movie and the interview for your viewing pleasure is the director, David L. Williams.
If you haven’t already, click here to enter our competition to win Beyond the Pole on Blu Ray.
Did you always want to adapt the radio show to the big screen or did the idea come as a surprise?
Well I loved the radio series and was amazed when I heard the BBC hadn’t optioned it. I jumped in immediately as I knew the writers well, had worked with them many times, and was confident that we could make it work. I was also probably excited...
If you haven’t already, click here to enter our competition to win Beyond the Pole on Blu Ray.
Did you always want to adapt the radio show to the big screen or did the idea come as a surprise?
Well I loved the radio series and was amazed when I heard the BBC hadn’t optioned it. I jumped in immediately as I knew the writers well, had worked with them many times, and was confident that we could make it work. I was also probably excited...
- 7/1/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The multi-award winning ‘Beyond The Pole’ will make it’s highly anticipated U.K. DVD and Blu-ray debut on 5th July 2010. You can pre-order it here.
Brian Tongue (Rhys Thomas – Bellamy’s People) and Mark Bark Jones (Stephen Mangan – Green Wing) are setting out on the first Carbon Neutral, Vegetarian, and Organic expedition ever to attempt the North Pole. As a world first they have high hopes of getting into the Guinness Book of Records and, if all goes well, of saving the planet from Global Warming.
Unfortunately they have never done anything like this before, and they hadn’t reckoned on the polar bears, the cocky gay Norwegians, played by True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgård and Lars Arentz-Hansen, or on Mark’s rapidly loosening grip on reality.
Packed full of sidesplitting adventures, Beyond The Pole is certainly a film not to be missed this summer and to celebrate its...
Brian Tongue (Rhys Thomas – Bellamy’s People) and Mark Bark Jones (Stephen Mangan – Green Wing) are setting out on the first Carbon Neutral, Vegetarian, and Organic expedition ever to attempt the North Pole. As a world first they have high hopes of getting into the Guinness Book of Records and, if all goes well, of saving the planet from Global Warming.
Unfortunately they have never done anything like this before, and they hadn’t reckoned on the polar bears, the cocky gay Norwegians, played by True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgård and Lars Arentz-Hansen, or on Mark’s rapidly loosening grip on reality.
Packed full of sidesplitting adventures, Beyond The Pole is certainly a film not to be missed this summer and to celebrate its...
- 6/25/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The multi-award winning Beyond The Pole will make it’s highly anticipated U.K. DVD and Blu-ray debut on 5th July 2010. Brian Tongue (Rhys Thomas – Bellamy’s People) and Mark Bark Jones (Stephen Mangan – Green Wing) are setting out on the first Carbon Neutral, Vegetarian, and Organic expedition ever to attempt the North Pole.
As a world first they have high hopes of getting into the Guinness Book of Records and, if all goes well, of saving the planet from Global Warming. Unfortunately they have never done anything like this before, and they hadn’t reckoned on the polar bears, the cocky gay Norwegians, played by True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgård and Lars Arentz-Hansen, or on Mark’s rapidly loosening grip on reality.
Packed full of sidesplitting adventures, Beyond The Pole is certainly a film not to be missed this summer and to celebrate its release we’re giving away...
As a world first they have high hopes of getting into the Guinness Book of Records and, if all goes well, of saving the planet from Global Warming. Unfortunately they have never done anything like this before, and they hadn’t reckoned on the polar bears, the cocky gay Norwegians, played by True Blood’s Alexander Skarsgård and Lars Arentz-Hansen, or on Mark’s rapidly loosening grip on reality.
Packed full of sidesplitting adventures, Beyond The Pole is certainly a film not to be missed this summer and to celebrate its release we’re giving away...
- 6/25/2010
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Beyond the Pole, the comedy feature film from Actress/Producer Helen Baxendale (Friends, Cold Feet), yesterday picked up Best Comedy at the London Independent Film Festival. Directed and produced by Helen’s partner, David L Williams, and currently in UK cinemas, Beyond the Pole has now won 8 awards in European and American Festivals, at least one in every competitive festival entered.
“It’s so rare for British comedies to win over fans and critics but Beyond the Pole seems to be doing just that. Critics have compared it to a cross between The Office and Touching the Void, which is very flattering, but in all honesty I don’t think there’s been a film like it. It’s funny, moving, very dark in places and the performances from the actors are career bests. I think the industry is gradually waking up to the fact that they’ve got a...
“It’s so rare for British comedies to win over fans and critics but Beyond the Pole seems to be doing just that. Critics have compared it to a cross between The Office and Touching the Void, which is very flattering, but in all honesty I don’t think there’s been a film like it. It’s funny, moving, very dark in places and the performances from the actors are career bests. I think the industry is gradually waking up to the fact that they’ve got a...
- 4/26/2010
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
The star of the cult comedy on working with True Blood star, Alexander Skarsgård, his quiet personal life and why he doesn't regret those Barclaycard ads
Stephen Mangan lives in Primrose Hill, a plush north-London neighbourhood where most of the shops sell sushi, cupcakes or premium bathroom fittings. He calls his favourite deli, Melrose and Morgan, Melrose and Mortgage ("the finest food known to humanity but eyewateringly expensive"). Half the locals are paparazzi fodder – it's not unusual for a fleet of mopeds to stream past the stucco terraces in pursuit of Kate Moss. But generally, he says, his patch of 18 years is pretty quiet, despite tabloid legend. "The cocaine-fuelled, dwarf-chucking parties, I really don't know where it happens. I've never been invited."
It's not exactly a byword for frugal, hairshirt living, though. Outside one of the smarter pubs, next to an unlit patio heater, Mangan is considering his carbon footprint...
Stephen Mangan lives in Primrose Hill, a plush north-London neighbourhood where most of the shops sell sushi, cupcakes or premium bathroom fittings. He calls his favourite deli, Melrose and Morgan, Melrose and Mortgage ("the finest food known to humanity but eyewateringly expensive"). Half the locals are paparazzi fodder – it's not unusual for a fleet of mopeds to stream past the stucco terraces in pursuit of Kate Moss. But generally, he says, his patch of 18 years is pretty quiet, despite tabloid legend. "The cocaine-fuelled, dwarf-chucking parties, I really don't know where it happens. I've never been invited."
It's not exactly a byword for frugal, hairshirt living, though. Outside one of the smarter pubs, next to an unlit patio heater, Mangan is considering his carbon footprint...
- 3/26/2010
- by Tim Lusher
- The Guardian - Film News
After eight weeks at the top, James Cameron's epic has been toppled by the ensemble romcom, but the real winner was Bollywood's Shahrukh Khan vehicle My Name Is Khan
The winner
Reviews were scathing, but ensemble romcom Valentine's Day has finally ended Avatar's lock on the box-office top spot in the blockbuster's ninth weekend of release. Avatar won the battle for bums on seats on Saturday, but was behind the challenger on Friday and especially on Sunday, which was of course Valentine's Day.
Films usually experience their best result on Saturdays, but this was far from the case with Valentine's Day, with takings surging by 49% from Saturday to Sunday. And the day of romance proved a boost to box office across the board, with even The Wolfman seeing an uptick from Saturday to Sunday – 10% in its case. Teen dark comedy Youth in Revolt rose 31% from Saturday to Sunday.
The winner
Reviews were scathing, but ensemble romcom Valentine's Day has finally ended Avatar's lock on the box-office top spot in the blockbuster's ninth weekend of release. Avatar won the battle for bums on seats on Saturday, but was behind the challenger on Friday and especially on Sunday, which was of course Valentine's Day.
Films usually experience their best result on Saturdays, but this was far from the case with Valentine's Day, with takings surging by 49% from Saturday to Sunday. And the day of romance proved a boost to box office across the board, with even The Wolfman seeing an uptick from Saturday to Sunday – 10% in its case. Teen dark comedy Youth in Revolt rose 31% from Saturday to Sunday.
- 2/16/2010
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
Youth In Revolt (12A)
(Miguel Arteta, 2010, Us) Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Justin Long. 89 mins
How many more times can Michael Cera get away with his "I'm the type of guy who never gets the girl" shtick? He always gets the girl. That might offer hope to pale, skinny dweebs everywhere, but it's getting a mite predictable onscreen. So here he expands his range with the invention of a suave imaginary alter-ego, "François Dillinger", who encourages his cultured but meek virgin to be irresistibly bad and dangerous in order to get the girl (Doubleday) – which, of course, he does. As he's driven to commit increasingly ludicrous acts, the movie becomes more desperate and less romantic, but hey! It's progress.
Invictus (12A)
(Clint Eastwood, 2009, Us) Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon. 133 mins
Freeman was destined to play Nelson Mandela some day, but equally inevitable was that any resultant movie was going to be a stately,...
(Miguel Arteta, 2010, Us) Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Justin Long. 89 mins
How many more times can Michael Cera get away with his "I'm the type of guy who never gets the girl" shtick? He always gets the girl. That might offer hope to pale, skinny dweebs everywhere, but it's getting a mite predictable onscreen. So here he expands his range with the invention of a suave imaginary alter-ego, "François Dillinger", who encourages his cultured but meek virgin to be irresistibly bad and dangerous in order to get the girl (Doubleday) – which, of course, he does. As he's driven to commit increasingly ludicrous acts, the movie becomes more desperate and less romantic, but hey! It's progress.
Invictus (12A)
(Clint Eastwood, 2009, Us) Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon. 133 mins
Freeman was destined to play Nelson Mandela some day, but equally inevitable was that any resultant movie was going to be a stately,...
- 2/6/2010
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Wall-e was endearing and Avatar epic, but The Road is an eco-film we can more humanly relate to
There's an iconic scene in The Road, the brilliant film of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer prize-winning novel that hits cinemas today, involving a can of Coke. Viggo Mortensen's character, referred to simply as "the man", prises the beverage from a dusty, wrecked vending machine for him and his son, "the boy", to share.
They've been slogging their way across an equally dusty and wrecked landscape in the aftermath of an ambiguous environmental catastrophe. It's the first "food" they've had in days. As the boy takes his first ever sip of the fizzy drink, you can feel the audience tangibly empathising with him.
It's poignant as it's maybe one of the few scenes viewers can directly relate to in a world of bleak despondency turned horribly upside down: perpetually grey skies, the rumble of earthquakes underfoot,...
There's an iconic scene in The Road, the brilliant film of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer prize-winning novel that hits cinemas today, involving a can of Coke. Viggo Mortensen's character, referred to simply as "the man", prises the beverage from a dusty, wrecked vending machine for him and his son, "the boy", to share.
They've been slogging their way across an equally dusty and wrecked landscape in the aftermath of an ambiguous environmental catastrophe. It's the first "food" they've had in days. As the boy takes his first ever sip of the fizzy drink, you can feel the audience tangibly empathising with him.
It's poignant as it's maybe one of the few scenes viewers can directly relate to in a world of bleak despondency turned horribly upside down: perpetually grey skies, the rumble of earthquakes underfoot,...
- 1/8/2010
- by Ed Gillespie
- The Guardian - Film News
Ah, it’s good to have friends who care. My thanks to Colin Geddes - who shares a good deal of my obsession for certain British comedies - for passing along the trailer for Beyond The Pole, an upcoming moc-doc with Stephen Mangan from Green Wing. Mangan plays an environmental crusader determined to become the first vegetarian, carbon neutral explorer to make it to the North Pole in an attempt to draw attention to environmental causes. His partner just wants to make it into the Guinness Book of Records. Mangan’s pretty much a comic genius and this looks to be right in his wheelhouse ... check the trailer out below the break!
- 5/9/2009
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
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