On this episode of The Weekend Take, we sit down with Creature Actor for Film and Television, Performer, and Contortionist as seen on America's Got Talent, Troy James (https://www.instagram.com/twistytroy).

You may recognize Troy from his audition and performances on Season 13 of America's Got Talent (as well as his appearances on France's Got Talent, Italy's Got Talent, Australia's Got Talent, World's Got Talent, and others), but this once mild-mannered Human Resources employee is also the man beneath the mask of a number of your favorite Horror or Comic Book characters. 

Troy is also known for portraying Pretzel Jack on Season 4 of SyFy's "Channel Zero" Anthology Series, as well as Baba Yaga in 2019's "Hellboy", Ragdoll on CW's "The Flash", and The Jangly Man in 2019's "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark", among other roles.

We talk with Troy about his childhood and not knowing his talent made him different from the other kids, how their reaction would cause Troy to hide his ability until High School, and how a simple cell phone video with co-workers after clocking out going viral would send him on a whirlwind adventure that would take him all the world and make him a figure in the public eye.

Stemming from his work as a Creature Actor in Film and Television, Troy would branch out into live performance and with his equally flexible performing partner Ess, would perform at the world famous Moulin Rouge and earn themselves the Golden Buzzer on France's Got Talent.

We also chat about the public figure of Troy James mashing up with his creature work and being a Super Villain in the DC Universe as he begins to get invites to both Horror and Comic Conventions and what that sense of "celebrity" feels like to Troy.

All this and more on this episode of The Weekend Take!

S2 Ep. 21: Troy James; Creature Actor for Film and Television and Performer

On this Quick Take episode of The Weekend Take, I am joined by Producer and Director Norman Berns ( https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0076967 and https://www.facebook.com/ncberns ) as we discuss his journey in the film industry leading up to his current project, the feature length documentary "A Place to Dance" about Builder, Philanthropist,  and driving force behind bringing the arts to the Capital Region of New York, Lewis A. Swyer. 

We discuss Norman's beginnings in the industry and how some peer pressure to day play on some passion projects got him hooked on working in film. 

We also discuss Norman's journey in the documentary world from his tenure with New York Metropolitan Opera (which includes a funny story about sending an Opera legend out to get coffee), to creating documentaries for PBS including "The Human Language" and "The Writing Code" looking at the origins of our spoken and written languages, and also his work in narrative feature films, including a stint under Martin Scorsese and an eye-opening opportunity working on 1971's "The Hospital" under Arthur Hiller and alongside the likes of Patty Chayefsky (who become Norman's kindred pipe smoking spirit), George C. Scott, Diana Rigg, and more.

A major point of conversation also tackles the production of "A Place to Dance", exploring and digging to find the story, allowing it to become more than a job and become a personal passion project, and learning all there is to be learned about the pillar of the arts and humanities that was Lewis A. Swyer.

All this and more on this episode of The Weekend Take!

S2 Quick Take Ep. 7: Norman Berns; Director and Producer of "A Place to Dance"

On this Quick Take Episode, we are joined by Cinematographer and Digital Image Technician, Sam Gove ( http://www.samuelgove.com/  and  https://www.instagram.com/samuelwilliamgove/ ) as we clear the air on some misconceptions of what a Digital Image Technician does and also discuss the medium of film, it's benefits from an image and archival standpoint, but also it's image integrity in a world progressing towards exclusively digital acquisition. 

We also discuss Sam's current work in furthering the projection and exhibition of media alongside Douglas Trumbull, the man responsible for the visual effects in such classics as Stanley Kubrick's Magnum Opus "2001: A Space Odyssey" and Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner".

Aside from the film vs digital discussion, we also discuss Sam's upbringing in the world of film and why a film school curriculum was not in the cards for him.

This and so much more on this episode of The Weekend Take!

S2 Quick Take Ep. 8: Sam Gove; Cinematographer and Digital Image Technician

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