Rex Sikes' Movie Beat

Nick Mancuso Pt 1 In 1982 he won the Genie for his performance in the cult classic "Ticket To Heaven" Three of his films have been inducted into the National Film Review in Washington D.C. as one of the Ten Best Pictures of the Year. The legendary critic Walter Kerr of the New York Times called Mancuso’s performance in Merchant of Venice at Stratford Ontario one of the best interpretations of the role of Bassanio in 250 years.

In 1983 he was invited to become an associate of the Actors Studio by co-chairman, actor, Martin Landau. During that period he was submitted for a Golden Globe and Oscar consideration. He starred in Tri-Star’s first motion picture "Blame it On the Night" executive producer, Sydney Pollock and in the late 80's worked for Oliver Stone in the miniseries "Wild Palms" opposite Jim Belushi, Angie Dickinson and Robert Loggia. In 1985, after working with Kim Bassinger in the film "Motherlode" he was invited by then president Charlton Heston to become a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which he refused on philosophic grounds.

John Mendoza acts in movies, on TV, he writes, and performs comedy. He has produced television shows and he tours regularly with other funny man Howie Mandel. In his own words: "Recently, I was told I needed a bio. I never understood the reason for it but I sat down and started to reflect on the last 40 years. There have been so many great moments. There have been moments in the last few years of traveling with Howie Mandel that have been fun, not just on stage and in concert halls but also with him as a friend. I don’t remember which made me more excited the phone call form Jim McCally or the frightening moment on the last week of the Johnny Carson show when my hands had a mind of their own. I remember the time when NBC offered me my own TV show (The Second Half). This is what I have worked so hard for and it was a lot of fun until the day it got cancelled. That stung.I remember getting a SHOWTIME Special and combing the southern California area looking for a location. It was so cool! In 1986 I was lucky to land the 10th Anniversary Young Comedian Special on HBO. I was the only comic from NYC. I thought I had arrived. That same year I came to L.A. to do my first TONIGHT SHOW with Johnny Carson. I was so nervous I did the same laundry 5 times. One afternoon I received a phone call asking me if I wanted to be on the Dave Letterman show. That was one of my better wake up calls. To get an audition at the IMPROVE in NYC you had to get in line early Sunday morning and brave whatever weather the day brought you in hopes of getting a 5 minute spot that night. I have stood in the rain, the snow and a hot August day. I remember the manager telling me I passed. I walked home that night stunned .Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Michael O'Keefe, as an actor, has garnered both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. He's appeared in the films Michael Clayton, Frozen River, The Pledge, Ironweed, The Great Santini and Caddyshack.

Television audiences will remember him as "Fred" on Roseanne. Other TV appearances also include The West Wing, Law and Order, House M.D., The Closer and Brothers and Sisters.

He's appeared on Broadway in Reckless, Side Man, The Fifth of July and Mass Appeal, for which he received a Theater World Award.

As a writer his lyrics were in the Grammy winning song, “Longing in their Hearts”, which was composed and sung by Bonnie Raitt. He's also written with Irish singer songwriter Paul Brady and numerous other composers.

His writing has appeared in BOMB, Lake Affect and Chaparral. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Bennington College.

Currently, Michael has authored a book of poetry “Swimming From Under My Father” of which the American Poet and editor Ed Ochester says “Michael O'Keefe's poems are agreeably cosmopolitan and witty, and his voice is authentic/contemporary. I'm particularly impressed by a sequence of father poems which is both unusual in its compositional strategies and very moving.” Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Kevin Sorbo Pt 2 shoots straight from the hip, he pulls no punches, one could say Kevin Sorbo tells it like it is. He was so popular for his candid comments Movie Beat is fortunate to have him return to converse some more.

You know him as Hercules in the show that surpassed “Baywatch” as the most watched show in the world “Hercules, the Legendary Journeys” and as Captain Dylan Hunt in Gene Rodenberry’s “Andromeda” The series, based upon writings from the late “Star Trek” creator’s archives, debuted as the number one hour show in first run syndication and held that spot throughout it’s five year run from 2000-2005.? Electronics Media Magazine named Sorbo TV’s third most bankable star behind Oprah and Regis. In 1997, Sorbo made his feature film debut in “Kull, the Conqueror”, a prequel to “Conan, the Barbarian”. Other films include, “Walking Tall, the Payback”, “Walking Tall, Lone Justice, “The Last Chance Café”, “Something Beneath”, “Clipping Adam”, and most recently, “The Avenging Angel” which aired on Hallmark summer of 2007 and was the third highest rated movie in the history of Hallmark. “Meet the Spartans” just wrapped principal photography for a January ’08 release from New Regency and 20th Century Fox. Sorbo also finished shooting another western for Blockbuster called, “Prairie Fever”. Another ’08 release for Sci Fi cable network is “’Fire From Below”. “The House Next Door” is an independent film to be distributed by The Weinstein Company in ’08 as well. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Scott Rosenfelt Pt 4 We will discuss post production, distribution and Scott's comment that the "movie is made in editing". So tune in and listen to Scott Rosenfelt one of Hollywood’s most successful independent producers. On the strength of such films as Smoke Signals, Home Alone, Mystic Pizza, Teen Wolf and Extremities, Scott has garnered international acclaim and recognition. Home Alone is one of the highest grossing films of all time, and has generated over $1 billion worldwide. Smoke Signals was the winner of the Audience Award and the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, Mystic Pizza launched the career of Julia Roberts and went on to critical and commercial success, while Teen Wolf, starring Michael J. Fox, was the highest grossing independent film of 1985. Extremities garnered international critical and commercial acclaim as well. Mr. Rosenfelt is in post-production on Coming & Going, an independently financed film starring Rhys Darby, Sasha Alexander and Fionnula Flannagan, written and directed by Edoardo Ponti. He is also in production on the documentary, The Evil Tongue. With his production company, PicturePlay Films, Mr. Rosenfelt is is developing City of Angels, to be directed by Barry Levinson and written by Larry Gelbart, and Admissions starring Meg Ryan. Gospel Hill, produced by Mr. Rosenfelt, directed by Giancarlo Esposito and starring Samuel Jackson, Angela Bassett, Danny Glover and Julia Stiles was released in February, 2009 Mr. Rosenfelt is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com