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May 31st: The Book of Will. I've put together some of the photos and text from the Van Helsing 'making the movie' book which are specific to Will's character. The book is a great collector's item and I highly recommend it. I've also got a couple more premiere photos for your viewing pleasure. The Media page on the official website has now been updated to include interview clips and movie clips. The movie clips appear to be the same ones we've seen over at Yahoo!Movies. But there are two interview clips with Will that you won't want to miss. May 28th: Dorchester Group Magazine - Cover Star. A little Mindhunters tease from the German film site, Tobias. The 'Van Helsing: Making of the Legend' book is now available at bookstores. It's pretty good, including sections on each character, creature creation, makeup, costumes, stunts, special effects and the entire screenplay. I will have some photos and text up for you later next week. Thanks to Teri and to Alan. To everyone - a great weekend. May 27th: Dorchester Group Magazine - Photo Three. Tomorrow, the magazine cover and the article. May 26th: Dorchester Group Magazine - Photo Two. May 25th: The Ultimate Will Kemp........ The Dorchester Group Magazine features Will in its latest issue, cover and all. It is so breathtaking and so disarmingly insightful that I literally can't think of anything to say except thank you Dorchester Group and thank you Will. It is not my style to comment on Will's looks much beyond my occasional nod that yes he is good looking or he's a stunner in this or that photo. But I have to say that the photographs in this article nearly blew even me away. Better than the photographs, believe it or not, is the interview which finally sheds a little more light on a side of Will we really haven't had a chance to see much of until now - his private side. The article includes bits about his childhood, his family life and he even talks about his New Year's Eve wedding party, which you may recall, was held at the Dorchester Hotel. Still for me, I think the most interesting part is when he talks about his work, his creative process, his drive. And to our good fortune, he does do that as well. So about now you are foaming at the mouth wondering when I am going to stop talking and start sharing these photos and the article. Well, the article has to be transcribed - it's not something that can be scanned. This will take me two or three days due to my schedule. So, I will give you one photo today and another tomorrow. Friday the latest for the article. Sorry about that. But hey, trust me, it's worth the wait. I've been collecting articles on Will for nearly five years. This is hands down the best. Dorchester Group Magazine - Photo One. By the way, if you are a Matthew Bourne fan, that site has just been updated as well so check 'er out!! May 24th: Fan Helsing. So you think you are a big fan of the film? Check out VanHelsingFan.com, a comprehensive fansite dedicated to all things Van Helsing. Nice job. Thanks to Nic for the link. On the box office end of things, Helsing has now pulled in over $155million worldwide. On the spinoff end of things, NBC has decided to pass on 'Transylvania'. Other networks, however, are interested in developing the series. For more details check out comingsoon.net. The upcoming spring issue of 'newfriends' will feature an article on Will's big premiere night. And I've heard it is written by none other than his dad, who along with Will's mom (or mum depending on which side of the Atlantic you reside) were there to share Will's red carpet moment. How great is that? The newsletter will come out early June. May 22nd: Saturday night special. After a few long days without news, I managed to come up with a couple more photos to hopefully tie you over for a bit. Plus, one other item of interest. I am sure you all have your very own Velkan action figure by now. Mine sits on my computer at work and still makes me giggle now and then. There were the initial raised eyebrows when I first brought it in. But then everyone saw the movie and now I have to guard it with my life. In any case, Will not only merits his own action figure, he also has his own trading card. His first movie released and he is not only a hot Hollywood commodity, but he is a franchise as well. You've just gotta love it, don't ya? And thanks Will! May 17th: A little fun and games. Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula (the new adventure ride) had its own little premiere last week. Check out the article and photos, plus Universal Studio's press piece with photos on the film's premiere as well. I don't know, maybe I have a warped sense of humor, but I found some of the 'Emergency Procedures' on how to battle and beat 'Transylvania's Terrors' pretty funny. Ouch!! Poor Wolf Man. May 14th: Dancing to a different tune. In a couple of weeks it is back to the stage, and not the sound stage, for Will. Rehearsals should begin about then for the highly anticipated William Tuckett production of 'The Soldiers Tale' which will open on June 15th at the Royal Opera House. ROH2 has put up a synopsis of the production which features Matthew Hart as the Devil, Adam Cooper as the Soldier, Zenaida Yanowsky as the Princess, and Will as the Narrator. The set design and costumes are by Lez Brotherston, who does much of Matthew Bourne's productions, so you know they will be stellar. I've got some international release dates for the elusive Mindhunters - which may only be elusive for those of us living in the States and the UK. Please note I have no confirmation these dates are accurate, so if you live in one of these countries, be on the watch: Thailand (07May - yep last week), Germany (24June), Austria (25June), Netherlands (08July), Belgium (21July), France (21July), Australia (29July), Iceland (30July), Israel (30September), and Brazil (01October). These dates were obtained through IMDbPro. Creeping and crawling its way to completion, the Van Helsing Official Site has updated part of the Media section by adding 3 TV Spots. Finally, to send you off into your weekend, I've got a photo of Will from the May issue of Movieline's Hollywood Life. He's mentioned in the Break Through Kids feature which states: "They're young, they're hot and they're ready for their close-ups. Hollywood's new guard - from the already verging to the just emerging." You may recognize that photo of Will - it's a variation of one done about two years ago for the London Sunday Times magazine. Thanks again Alan. Happy weekend all. May 13th: What is Will's affinity for fur and feathers? USA Today asks our lad that question as they poke about Van Helsing's monsters trying to pry loose some secrets. Will remains on the West Coast for a bit longer, no doubt wowing directors, but also enjoying himself in Tinseltown. WireImage caught up with him at the Belasco Theater in L.A. for the 'Play Station 2 Offers a Passage into "The Underworld" party. In a couple of the photos you will note he is pictured with Clifton Collins Jr., one of his 'Mindhunters' buddies. Speaking of 'Mindhunters', a German website shows a release date of 24June for the film. But exactly what countries that includes or if that is still a correct date, I still can't get a firm answer. In any case, there continues to be the odd screening here and there. Check out this recent review from the website Arrow-in-the-Head. Don't let the name scare you. The review is kind of funny, covers all the bases, and Will gets a 'very charismatic in his role' vote. Of course, we already knew that much. What went behind the marketing of Van Helsing? Hollywood Reporter gives you a crash course in Film Marketing 101. Finally, I've got a few more screen shots of Will from 'The London Assignment' and I also have some fabulous shots of Shuler being made up all nice and purty. My thanks to Carol, Teri, Alan and Heather. May 12th: Next day photo service. I've got screen shots from The London Assignment: Behind the Screams. The DVD is worth the purchase for that segment alone. One of the most interesting features is Shuler Hensley in the make-up chair being transformed into Frankenstein's Monster. It's a neat process to watch. I will have some shots of that and other parts of the DVD later this week or next. And if you haven't yet raced out to buy your own DVD, there is still a chance to win one over at The Movie Vault. Van Helsing is a visual feast no doubt about it. Moviehole has an exclusive interview with the film's cinematographer, Allan Daviau. May 11th: Van Helsing: The London Assignment hits stores today. Congratulations are in order: To Hugh Jackman for his much deserved Tony nomination for 'Boy From Oz'. Hugh is also hosting the June 6th event. To Shuler Hensley and wife Paula for the newest addition to their family. Welcome to the world little Grayson. To Kate Beckinsale who tied the knot with 'Underworld' director Len Wiseman this past Sunday. All best and congratulations to all of them. May 10th: Monster Madness. Van Helsing topped the box office this weekend with an estimated worldwide gross of 107.2 million. Check out The Hollywood Reporter for more details. And congratulations and thanks to cast and crew for a thoroughly entertaining movie. I thought it was a blast, but yes, I will spare you my review. However, I must make one brief comment on Will's performance. Even with limited screen time, Will did what he does best; harness emotional physicality and then release it back at you with tremendous intensity. And that is whether he is perfectly still in the scene or literally ripping himself to shreds. The transformation scenes were brilliant. It's also easy to see why he had so much fun creating that role. Will, you never, ever cease to amaze. What does amaze me, however, are the number of unfavorable reviews. What a bunch of party poopers. I've decided to link you directly to two of the positive reviews first off. I chose Roger Ebert's (Chicago Sun Times), who is one of the icons of the film critic world (does 2 thumbs up ring a bell?). And I chose Harry Knowles, who is lord and master of Ain't It Cool News. The reason I chose Harry's review is I think it best expresses an opinion of the mood and feel of the film Sommers wanted to make. And I think did make. Plus, it is just plain fun to read. Somewhere between Ebert and Knowles lies my own impressions of the film and the experience of watching it. Probably closer to Harry's review, but I might have used, oh I don't know, maybe one less expletive than he did. *grin* As for the rest of the reviews, you can check them all out over at Rotten Tomatoe, which is the net's best one stop source for film reviews. I've started you off on the positive review page and you can meander your way around from there. There are still some Van Helsing articles to share with you CHUD finished off their week long coverage with Hugh and Kate kind of Heckling and Jeckling each other. FilmStew spoke with the cast and crew of the film during the NYC junket; including Will who was more than happy to climb the walls for director Sommers. Will gets wolf whistled and it's not just for the Dolce & Gabanna suit he wore at the premiere. Please note there are two other Van Helsing articles linked from that story, so check those out as well. And as it turns out, Will not only attended the Saturn Awards, he was a presenter! The article includes premiere photos but look no further. I've got the pics of the glamourous Kemps right here. So, we will all go out and see Van Helsing a few more times and then anxiously wait for the DVD to come out. But, good news, it's not that long a wait. How about October 12th - and that would be this year. So says comingsoon.net. Excellent. Finally, who IS that guy? As expected, this site has had a hurricane of hits since the film opened. Welcome to all new visitors. Let me just say this. If you think ten minutes of Will Kemp was pretty impressive, well, you ain't seen nothing yet!! Enjoy the site. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. My thanks to Peter, Ashley, Carol and Nic for contributions to today's update. May 7th: Next stop Transylvania. Before you scoot out the door this evening or weekend for the movie event of the year, here are a few last minute notes to be sure you are absolutely primed - as if you weren't already nearly over the edge as it is.... Know your monsters past and present. E!Online has a field guide to these iconic beauties - from their first fabulous B-movie origins to today's 'jump off the screen at you' high-tech creations. Meanwhile, Empire Online interviews the monsters with some interesting results. Dracula spills the beans on vampire procreation; Frankenstein's make-up tip for the day - lip gloss; and Wolf Man finds a way to one-up Dracula. Vamping and 'camping'. CHUD talks with Roxburgh, Colloca, Maran and Anaya. How'd they do that? Fangoria gives us a crash course on how to create a digital monster; which includes something called 'Sommersizing' a digital Will. Hugh Jackman will be on Dateline tonight as Katie Couric giggles and blushes her way through an interview with his Hughness. There will certainly be talk about Van Helsing and hopefully a nice size clip of 'Boy From Oz', especially for those who haven't seen it yet. Well, maybe more for those who have! Grab a cold one for this 'bit' of reading. MovieWeb has fifty pages of production notes on the making of Van Helsing. You will need Adobe Reader to download. Finally, Will takes in the Saturn Awards held this past Wednesday. Great suit, not to mention great way to end today's news. Now, let's all go to the movies......have a fabulous weekend. Thanks to Nic, Carol and Winnie. May 6th: Beauty and the Beast. Some nice publicity shots of Will as his Velkan goes from princely werewolf bait to Dracula's scruffy and most unwitting mate. You gotta love the guys at CHUD - they know how to interview. Here's another one for you. This one with Stephen Sommers and Bob Ducsay, which includes a nice bit on how they came to cast Will as the Wolf Man. A one-two interview punch takes us over to FilmForce and a little chat with Richard Roxburgh and his 'vampirettes'. On October 6th, 2002 Variety posted the first story about Will signing on to a movie called 'Van Helsing'. It's been a year and a half since then. Now it's down to only 24hours for most of us. Tomorrow some last minute primers to get you through those final hours of waiting for Will's big screen debut. My thanks to Lauren for the photo heads-up. *mmwwaa* May 5th: From the Red Carpet. Three very lovely photos of Will and Gaby. Red Carpet Pictures have several premiere photographs and bless them, they do sell to fans at a very reasonable cost. Type 'Kemp' into their search engine. If you purchase, please consider doing so through Jackman's Landing, as they are an affiliate and a small proceed goes towards one of Hugh's very worthy charities. Will and Shuler discuss finding the monsters within them, playing icons, working with Stephen Sommers and their love of the theatre. Check out this terrific interview over at CHUD. There is a fabulous interview over at IGN FilmForce with Hugh and Kate who also talk about working with Sommers, working with their names above the title and what new work lurks next in their futures. A lot of working there. Mindhunters. Well, it's been taken off the release date schedule yet again. No word on a new date, but the rumors of 2005 or it going direct to video are not correct according to Miramax, at least at this writing. Thanks again Winnie! May 4th: At the Premiere. I've got just a few early morning links for you - WireImage, DailyCeleb, Globe Photos, all have mini pics - you have to be registered to get a look at the larger versions. Stay tuned for more. Hopefully we will get at least a couple nice size photographs from the event. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, here are some stunners of Will as Velkan and also the first screen shots from the SciFi special. The LA Times had a brief chat with Will about his rising star, presidential treatment and those infamous loose fit jeans. SciFiWire finds out Richard Roxburgh is no ordinary vamp. The gang at CHUD begin week long coverage of the film. Yahoo! News has the Variety review for the film and hollywood.com has a mini video interview with some of the cast. You better be as handy with the remote as Van Helsing is with his weapons because there is likely to be some premiere coverage on the various entertainment channels beginning this evening, i.e. E!Online, Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood. Thanks t Carol and to the girls at JL. May 3rd: From introverted boy to matinee idol. The London Times talks with Will about his early artistic leanings, his leap from the stage to the screen, and keeping grounded as his career gets set to take off in dramatic fashion. A second Times article talks about a 'rock'n roll vampire hunter, Frankenstein's Elephant Man complex and Wolf Man's penchant for falling off the rails. Van Helsing is a stunner. So says the Hollywood Reporter in this recent review which includes the NBA, disco music and Mr. Hyde's butt crack - ahem. As mentioned last week, Will and some of the Helsing cast took in Hugh's show while in New York. Here's a bit of proof thanks to one lucky Kemp fan who just happened to run into them at the stage door after the show. Thanks a mil Winnie! A tonnage of Van Helsing articles featuring the irrepressible and irresistable Hugh Jackman came out over the weekend. The girls at Jackman's Landing must feel like air traffic controllers at JFK trying to deal with the stack up. As these articles are 'Hugh heavy', I will direct you over to their friendly confines to check out their 'reading list' throughout the week, as you won't want to miss any of it. I am hoping most of you have the SciFi Channel and saw their one hour television special, 'Van Helsing: The Man and the Monsters' which aired last night. It was fantastical and included a couple interviews with Will as well as his transformation into a werewolf. He was outstanding (well, of course). If you missed the special, it will be repeated on May 7th and 8th. Check the link above for more info. By the way, I did record it and if I can get any decent screen grabs from the program, I will post them shortly. This movie is going to be some kind of fun judging by that special alone. Speaking of fun, I'm sure all of us wish Will a great time as he strolls down that red carpet tonight. Have a blast Will. We are all cheering you on! |
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