Last night I went to see Stephen Moyer star in “The Barrens” at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA. It was the film’s first day of it’s week long engagement at this theater right on Hollywood Boulevard. Me and my fellow Billsbabe, Filmchick truly demonstrated how dedicated we are to Stephen’s work by attending this particular night. For those of you who don’t know it, there is a major freeway closing going on this weekend, here in LA and we had to cross over it to get to Hollywood. As a result, we almost didn’t get to the theater in time, but luckily we managed to get into our seats just as the film was about to begin. Also in the audience was the director Darren Lynn Bousman who was sitting with several people who must be involved in the making of the film.
Darren took this photo and tweeted it from his Twitter account after the movie last night. It was taken right outside the front of the theater. The photo shows the poster from the film as it is displayed on the front of the theater located right on Hollywood Boulevard. It was great to see Stephen’s photo on display in such a prominent location for the world to see.
photo credit Darren Lynn Bousman
As the movie began, when Stephen’s name came onto on the screen, Filmchick and me both clapped as did many of the audience did for him and for others. The audience seemed to be made up of mostly Darren Lynn Bousman fans, but we were content to fulfill the Stephen fan contingent. Filmchick took the following photo of the poster displayed outside the screening and added her ticket admission stub.
photo credit Filmchick
The film lasted for about 1.5 hours and it kept my attention the whole time, and not just because Stephen was in almost every scene.
I fully admit that I’m not normally a big fan of horror films. While there are exceptions for such films as Carrie, Psycho, etc., generally, just like Stephen has told his fans, I too, never see them. And, although Bousman is known for his horror films, such as the SAW series, this film really wasn’t what I would consider as a true horror film. There were some quite graphic scenes in it, but you never saw the murders taking place or were shown the violence. Instead you saw the aftermath, and I kind of liked that. I much prefer suspense, a la Hitchcock and this filled that bill for me.
The story is about a typical family who go to the Pine Barrens in New Jersey for a vacation. The father (played by Stephen) went there as a boy with his father and he wants to recreate the magic he felt when a child. It’s obvious right away that Stephen’s character, Richard Vineyard is anxious for the family to get away together to have some quality time and bond. We learn throughout the film though that there are other reasons for the trip, but I won’t mention them here because I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone. Quite quickly things start to happen, which scares Richard and soon after, the rest of the family. Even so, Richard is convinced that the family should go deeper into the forest to get away from all the other campers. So, just like most horror films, that’s what they do. This seemed a bit irrational to me, but when you learn what is going on with Richard, you can almost find it understandable.
The rest of the drama revolves around Richard being convinced that he has seen the creature known as the Jersey Devil. We published an article earlier this year by one of our guest writers that explains all about that myth. To learn more about it go to her article: Secrets of the Barrens and the New Jersey Devil.
The drama mostly revolved around the monster, the Jersey Devil and Richard’s perceptions. For me, the ending was very satisfying and the best one. There is an alternate ending shown on the DVD, but I agree this one worked much better. But, for me, the best thing about this film was Stephen’s performance. The range of emotions that he was required to portray in the film is incredible and he did an exceptional job of evolving into madness. I felt for him throughout the whole film and can understand why his family didn’t, making the film fulfill it’s premise. So, after seeing this and last year’s “The Double,” I am longing for more from Stephen because I know he has the ability to do truly profound work.
Below are a few screen-caps from the advanced copy of the DVD that we received from Anchor Bay, no copyright infringement intended:
I strongly suggest that you see this film if you can in theaters. However, due to its limited release, I know that may not be possible, so why not get the DVD or Blu-Ray. You can purchase them by clicking on the image below:
The Barrens is now showing simultanously in Los Angeles and Orlando, FL. The film is being shown in both cities with a full theatrical schedule of several viewings a day from September 28 – October 4 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles and the Cobb Theater in Orlando, FL. Check your local newspaper or boxoffice for times.
The rest of the American fans who would like to see The Barrens on the big screen in their hometown will have to request a screening on TUGG.com.
We have just uploaded over almost 200 photos taken by AllStephenMoyer staff during the True Blood Comic Con Panel which took place last Saturday, July 14, 2012 in San Diego, CA.
We were permitted to go up front and real close to Stephen in order to take these photos during the event. Below are just a few samples of the photos.
There are many more photos featuring Stephen in every one, at the link below.
At the age of 24 Stephen Moyer played the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet with the Oxford Stage Company directed by John Retallack. Tara Woodward played Juliet and other cast members included Sam Bond, Helen Cotterill, Walter Hall, Leader Hawkins, Richard Henry, John Higgins, Michael Higgs, Carol Redford and Tony Tarrats.
The production ran from July 28, 1994 to December 3, 1995 in various British theatres and included a Japanese tour to Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo from 7 – 26 November.
Stephen Moyer and Tara Woodward in a promo photo
The Shakespeare Survey Vol. 49 mentioned that it’s “a fast-moving production, reduced to two hours’ playing time, which developed the theme of lack of communication between youth and age.”
According to the Herald Scotland Retallack’s Romeo and Juliet was “very attractive and sexy”.
In a York newspaper clipping from 30 September, 1994 Stephen Moyer says about Romeo and Juliet:
“The Capulet and Montegue feud means you can play it black and white, set it in Bosnia or Northern Ireland, or have Catholics versus Protestants, because there is that resonance in the hatred between two families. But the other aspect you notice is that it’s so ridiculous that adults still still won’t listen to their kids. There’s a simple message in this play, and that’s the need for communication. That message hasn’t changed over the centuries.”
Stephen Moyer
Another review comes from the Independent and can still be found online here, you can also read the complete article in the below document.
Stephen Moyer’s Romeo is quick to disdain the weakness of love. Enraged at his own folly in trying to make Tybalt and Mercutio see sweet reason, he tears out the most heartfelt line of the evening: ‘O sweet Juliet, / Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, / And in my temper softened valour’s steel]’ That type of manhood, however, is not one this tremulous Romeo can long sustain. After the murder of Tybalt, he blubbers desperately at the Friar, clutching his sleeve and hiding his face in it. As Juliet, Tara Woodward is a bit self- regarding in the love scenes, but gains power as doom closes in.
The Independent
Click on the white arrow top right to view the review of The Independent in a new window. AllStephenMoyer has obtained an original theatre programme of Stephen’s Romeo and Juliet, which contains information about the show and several photos of the main actors.
These are the photos in the programme featuring Stephen Moyer.
Romeo and Juliet Programme cover
Rehearsal photo. Can you pick out Stephen?
Leader Hawkins and Stephen Moyer
See the complete Romeo and Juliet programme.
Click on the white arrow top right to view the programme in a new window.
This file might take a little while to load.
The production included a Japanese tour to Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo from 7 – 26 November.
Takayuki Ando, Professor of Chukyo University, wrote the following about one of the performances in the land of the rising sun.
Oxford Stage Company Performance in Japan
“Romeo and Juliet”
produced by John Retallack
In the autumn of 1994 the AAC mini theatre was filled with the enthusiasm of young people!
The Aichi Arts Center is not only an opera house. Do you know the first authentic experimental theatre in Aichi? The Oxford Stage Company, which is a popular stage company in England, Attracted a full house for days, and the masterpiece “Romeo and Juliet” strongly captured the hearts of young people.
Opening in dim light. A large lace drape is drawn quietly. The expression of the nobility, lined against the background of a long wall, is dark. The chorus composed by Karl James begins. The pathetic structure is mindful of the 19th century artwork of the Romantics.
This completely captured the eye and the mind of the audience. Faultless juxtaposition, powerful sword fights, natural conversation and above all, a beautiful scene structure. Fifteen scenes are created by combining one lace drape and 12 wood panels. The producer Retallack said Shakespeare wrote his works on the assumption of a travelling performance. This is the answer for the mysterious “two hours” in the prologue, and my own reason for the simple stage devices. Retallack has returned to the original beginnings of Elizabethanperformances and is truly a producer that England can be proud of.
An image of the original Japanese play bill was conserved online.
Last night, two friends and I drove to the set of the night’s shooting of True Blood and we were lucky enough to see our favorite vampires, Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman) and Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton). Both men were so wonderfully nice to us and we are very grateful for the attention. Read our story below.
It was a cold and dark night and we had no idea who might be at the set, but we decided to go because, since it was a night shoot, we thought it might include our favorite vampires, Alexander Skarsgård and Stephen Moyer. For most of the night we were cold and sad because it was an extremely closed set and we feared we wouldn’t get a chance to even know if they were there or, if they were there, whether we would even get an opportunity to see them or not.
We arrived to find an extremely industrial, unfriendly site at about 6pm. We drove around looking for sightings of our vampires or to see what might be happening. We knew early on that we probably wouldn’t see any filming because the security was too tight. We spoke to a guard and were permitted to see part of the shooting, but only from far away. I won’t give away any spoilers here guys, because we really didn’t go there to get any secrets, but I can tell you what we saw included a big “Kaboom“. After that, at about 10:30 or so, we walked back to our car trying to decide what else to do since we weren’t permitted to get close enough to see any of the filming properly.
It was late now, after 11pm and we had been sitting in our car for a while, which was parked by the stars trailers trying to decide what to do next. We sat debating whether to leave or stay and just then, Christy spotted Alexander Skarsgård coming out of his trailer. OMG, we all ran out of her car and went up to the fence calling to him. He immediately saw us and came right over. Christy had a poster from Straw Dogs that she wanted Alex to sign and he was more than willing to do so. However, there was about a 15 foot high fence between them. She asked him if he wouldn’t mind walking down to the catering trailer where she knew there was a gate where she could slide the poster through. We ran down there and met Alex. Christy slid her poster in the slit between the gate and the fence, but luck would have it, the gate was unlocked so we opened it and we therefore were able to talk to him and get photos. Alex was so nice and happily signed the poster in Swedish writing, Kram Christy! (Hugs Christy!). Then, they asked if he would pose for a photo and he gladly did.
We all noticed that Alex, our vampire Sheriff, had a beard. We all thought that was rather strange because we all know that vampires can’t “grow hair”, or can they? Are we to see a bearded Eric in Season 5?
I managed to film most of this, see photos and my video below.
Then, Alex left to get his dinner and go back to his trailer. We walked back to the car with Christy and M’Lou very jubilant that they had seen Alex, gotten autographs and photos.
One vampire down, but still one to go. If Alex was on set, Stephen must also be there. I decided that drastic measures were necessary as it was now getting pretty late. I decided to break my rule and took a chance and texted Stephen saying that we were on the set and had just seen Alex. I asked if he was on the set, too and, if so, I’d love to say “hi”. If not, we wouldn’t stay. He immediately wrote back and in no time we were back at the gate seeing Stephen Moyer live in a Henley, no less.
Stephen chatted with us, posed for photos and signed a True Blood script for Christy. He and I spoke about Bertie and James who are the two men of Facing the Atlantic, one of our charities. Stephen’s best friend, Bertie Portal and his friend, James Cash took off earlier this week for their two man row across the Atlantic Ocean, but after two days out they had to be towed back to the island to repair their boat’s broken power supply. We discussed that they were back in La Gomera, but that they were hopeful that once the boat was repaired to set off again soon. This morning, we learned from them that indeed they will start again tomorrow morning. Read more about it here. By this time, the makeup people were calling Stephen so he had to leave, or I think he might have stayed and chatted even longer.
Below are photos of Christy and M’lou with Steve.
I joke all the time about not being able to take a good photo and so after Christy realised that my eyes were closed in the first photo she took of me with Steve, we posed for a second one. This time both she and M’Lou were shouting to me, “keep your eyes open” and I sure did. So, now I have one photo with Stephen where my eyes are closed and one where I look all “bug eyed.” However, I like the photos and we all had a good laugh about it.
So, as he left, we floated (and I mean floated) back to our car. By then, it was very late and we decided it was time to go. We were all so excited and thrilled by our adventure and went out to eat a well deserved meal before heading home late in the night.
My only regret is that I didn’t get a photo with Alex, but I know I will sometime!
A huge thank you to Alex and Steve for being so gracious and kind by spending time with us. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the True Blood people are simply awesome and I can’t wait for Season 5!
Thanks to Christy and M’Lou for sharing their photos and allowing me to include them in my story.
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Yesterday was a fine sunny day in the 70′s in Los Angeles, but instead of being in the sunshine, I spent my afternoon sitting in one of my favorite locations, a dark movie theater.
Stephen Moyer’s new film “The Double” opened in theaters here in Los Angeles yesterday and I was at the very first showing of the film at the Regent Theater.
Right off, I want to go on record to say that I liked the film a lot. It’s a tight, clean and neat, well done political thriller that kept you guessing throughout. Even though the trailer divulges one of the film’s secrets, it really didn’t give too much away because there are plenty more surprises to keep you guessing throughout about how the film is going to end.
I also truly enjoy this genre of films that makes your mind whirl while trying to solve the mystery and keeps you guessing right to the end, and so does Stephen Moyer.
During his press day this week Stephen said several times that he always chooses a thriller first when he’s looking for a film to see; I feel that way, too. I love Hitchcock’s thrillers the most, and how the classic director sends the viewer on a trip through the film to search for the “MacGuffin” such as in, The Thirty Nine Steps, Sabotage, North by Northwest, etc. Similar films like No Way Out, Charade, Eye of The Needle, just to name a few, are also favorites because they keep the viewer in suspense. The Double fits nicely into the genre and does it proud.
Topher Grace and Richard Gere are very good and their collaboration is quite believable. Topher, plays Ben Geary, the young, upcoming FBI agent, who has written his master’s thesis on the character being hunted, “Cassius” and is considered the expert on the topic. He does well in showing his obsession for the spy he wants to find. The twist with his character, which isn’t revealed until the end of the film, was unexpected on my part, but added much to the film’s reality.
Richard Gere plays Paul Shepherdson and does his signature calm and cool portrayal in the role of the retired CIA agent who has a secret. There is a quietness about Richard Gere that does well in these types of parts where we know there is more to his character which isn’t revealed until the end. I remember his portrayal of the husband in “Unfaithful” and he has brought the same stillness that hides a secret rage in that film, to this one.
However, as you all know I went to this film primarily to see our favorite actor, Stephen Moyer’s portrayal of Brutus, the Russian Spy. I can tell you all that his performance was the best in the film. Stephen completely inhabited his character and the good looking, charming and funny man we have learned to love is nowhere to be seen here. This is a real testament to his acting abilities since it must be hard to hide that contagious smile and lovely baby blues. Truly, there were also no hints of his previous roles, either. For example, we see no evidence of Bill Compton’s slow movement or southern drawl, no signs of the lost beach bum from The Starter Wife, or of the agoraphobic Andrew in Restraint, etc. This was a completely new characterization that Stephen captured perfectly. I really felt that this man had been locked up for 15 years and had no life. It also seemed to me (as a non Russian) that the Russian accent adopted by Stephen was spot on. My only regret was that there wasn’t enough of him in the film to see. He did a great job, with an excellent character part that he could really sink his teeth into, (no vampire pun intended). I can’t wait to ask him how he did the battery scene though, truly amazing!
It’s a shame that this film will not have a wider distribution preventing many from seeing it in the theaters, (click here to see where it’s playing) like I did (a perk of living in LA). But, it should be out on DVD soon, so if you’re unable to see it in the theaters, I highly recommend getting the DVD and watching it when it comes out at the end of January 2012. It’s worth viewing on its own, but a definite must see, just for the wonderful performance by Stephen Moyer!
~lynnpd
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