[Video Interview] Lenny Mesina (Manny)
[This interview was part of our SXSW 2014 coverage. It is being reposted to coincide with Manny's wide release.]
Manny Pacquiao is one of those sports icons that transcends the sport that he comes from. As a Filipino, he carries The Philippines on his shoulders every time he steps into the ring for a match. For those familiar with Pacquiao, you all know that the country literally shuts down to watch Pacquiao box, from government officials to guerrilla rebels to everyday citizens. To say Pacquiao has become a true Filipino icon is an understatement. Away from the ring, away from Congress, away from the spotlight and the cameras, Manny Pacquiao is still just a man.
In Ryan Moore's documentary, Manny, it was up to amazing film editor Lenny Mesina, known to most as the editor behind Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, to help craft a cohesive narrative that not only traces Pacquiao's rise as an undersized boxer into the pound-for-pound best boxer in the sport, but also to illuminate Pacquiao's humanity beyond the ring.
Watch the SXSXW interview above in which we talked with Mesina about how he joined the crew for the documentary, the production process, any difficulties editing all of the footage together, and his own personal feelings about Pacquiao. Enjoy!
[SXSW Interview] Shawn Christensen and Paul Wesley (Before I Disappear)
[Ruby Hornet will be covering SXSW from March 7th to March 16th. Follow along as we bring you exclusive film reviews, photos, daily features, and interviews with filmmakers, actors, and musicians!]
Before I Disappear was a huge hit at SXSW 2014, winning the SXSW Film 2014 Audience Award in the Narrative Feature Competition category. This doesn't come as a huge surprise, considering the film is based on the short film Curfew, which itself won the Academy Award for Best Short Film - Live Action in 2013.
In our interview with triple threat Shawn Christensen (director/writer/actor) and Paul Wesley (producer/actor), we discuss what it was like adapting the aforementioned Curfew into the full-length feature, Before I Disappear, including story elements that had to be expanded upon and altered, working with returning actress Fatima Ptacek, the feeling of success over winning an Oscar for Curfew and any worries about making Before I Disappear because of it, and much more.
You can watch the full interview with Shawn Christensen and Paul Wesley below. Also, be sure to check out our previous Before I Disappear interview with Emmy Rossum and Fatima Ptacek.
[SXSW Interview] Emmy Rossum and Fatima Ptacek (Before I Disappear)
[Ruby Hornet will be covering SXSW from March 7th to March 16th. Follow along as we bring you exclusive film reviews, photos, daily features, and interviews with filmmakers, actors, and musicians!]
Before I Disappear was a huge hit at SXSW 2014, winning the SXSW Film 2014 Audience Award in the Narrative Feature Competition category. This doesn't come as a huge surprise, considering the film is based on the short film Curfew, which itself won the Academy Award for Best Short Film - Live Action in 2013.
Returning for the feature-length film was Curfew actress Fatima Ptacek. Joining her this time around is Shameless star Emmy Rossum. During SXSW, we had the chance to interview the duo about their roles in the film, as well as what it was like to adapt such a successful short into an equally successful feature length film.
Watch the full video interview with Emmy Rossum and Fatima Ptacek below, and expect more from Before I Disappear later this week. Enjoy!
Chance The Rapper: "Interlude (That's Love)" Live
Back in November, Chance The Rapper took a few days off of his headlining "Social Experiment" tour to play a pair of sold out shows at The Riviera in his hometown of Chicago. The dates, sandwiched around Thanksgiving were a milestone in the young artist's career, a full year almost to the day since he had first played his first sold out show at The Metro in support of his upcoming Acid Rap tape that eventually launched him into rarified air. The performances at The Riv were a quintessentially hometown experience that oozed Chicago from the get-go with Stunt Taylor opening things up with a run through of his street banger "Fe Fe on the Block" before turning the show over to Chance and his band, made up of Donnie Trumpet, Nate Fox, Greg Landfair and the tour's Music Director Peter CottonTale who re-arranged the tracks from Acid Rap to fit subtly into a live atmosphere. 2013 was the craziest year to date of young Chancelor Bennett's life, and he wrapped it up appropriately, as you can see in the video below, shot by Bryan Lamb (FragDFilms) and myself at the first show. It's a little late, but these days who can get enough Chance?
[Sundance Video] The Raid 2: Berandal Q&A, Iko Uwais pencak silat demonstration
[Ruby Hornet will be at Sundance Film Festival 2014 providing coverage of the festival's 30th year. Keep it tuned to Ruby Hornet this week as we share reviews, interviews, photos, and more at one of the country's largest film festivals.]
In a festival full of film premieres, The Raid 2: Berandal was arguably one of the biggest films to screen at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The first film in the franchise, The Raid: Redemption, was a sleeper hit introducing many to the wonderful martial art, pencak silat, as well as a new style of action film that is actually prioritizes action over narrative. Following the film's premiere last week, the cast and crew of The Raid 2: Berandal gathered together to answer a short fan Q&A, as well as a pencak silat demonstration by the film's star, Iko Uwais. Enjoy the videos, and keep it tuned to Ruby Hornet as we wrap up our Sundance Film Festival 2014 coverage throughout the week!
[Video] Add-2 Interview with FUSE
Chicago's Add-2 and recent JAMLA-signee Add-2 slid through the FUSE offices earlier this week to sit down and talk about the whirlwind of an end to 2013 he had. Add chats about signing with 9th Wonder and what it was like working with the legend himself while crafting his latest mixtape, Between Heaven & Hell, with fellow JAMLA artist Khrysis. While touching on the different aspects of his latest project, Add gets into the inspiration for the title and songs on it like "The Ugly Side Of Beautiful", "Club Church" & "Death Of Chicago". Since 9th put him on the team, this has been one of the most exciting collaboration-signings I have seen in a long time, not to mention one that makes almost too much sense for all parties involved. Add worked hard last year to get where he is now, check out the interview below as he prepares to do it all over again in 2014.
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[Video] Jay Dot Rain: "How I Do"
We've been following the musing of young Alabama hip-hop artist Jay Dot Rain for a minute now, since getting to know him earlier this year as part of the RH First Look series. Newly graduated and with a degree, Jay Dot Rain has been on his grind, traveling the country and building his name outside of his native 'Bama. His latest, "How I Do" is a furtherance of that building, as the video follows Jay Dot and co. around the streets of New York City, an ode to that critical next step in any artist's career. Check out the latest from Jay Dot Rain, streaming here below.
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[Video] Add-2 Toca Tuesday Freestyle
Chicago's own Add-2 has been consistently adding to the great year he's had already and the other day continued to do so, stopping by Shade45 to spit a freestyle on Toca Tuesdays. Riding over a beat set down by Tony Touch, the witty lyricist mashed together a healthy helping of rhyme scheme and wordplay to prove why he got a look from legendary producer 9th Wonder, who signed Add to his JAMLA imprint back in October. It's been exciting to see Add get his due, and to add another Midwest product to the larger hip-hop landscape. Check out the video of Add-2 going in streaming below and be sure to pick up his latest project, and his first as part of JAMLA, Between Heaven & Hell with Khrysis.
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