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April 13, 2011

We say "just in," but in fact, it's last weeks news. Hmm, perhaps "This recently in?" This is quite a chatty excellent interview with "TRON: LEGACY" director Joseph Kosinski about the film, on the occasion of the Blue-ray/DVD release. There is one brief mention of James Frain below, which is highlighted by italics. So, if you are here just for the Frain fix, that'll be it. If movie making chat and the film itself are of interest to you, give it a read.

from MovieWeb.com:

Tron: Legacy is one of the most highly-anticipated home video releases this year, with the DVD, two-disc Blu-ray/DVD, four-disc Blu-ray/DVD/3D Blu-ray, and Tron: Legacy/Tron: The Original Classic five-disc Blu-ray all arriving on April 5. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment recently held a "virtual roundtable" session with director Joseph Kosinski to discuss his experiences in working on this project, these new home video titles and much more. Here's what he had to say below.

Were there any concepts you planned but weren't able to realize in Tron: Legacy?

Joseph Kosinski: Yes, there are always limitations. For instance, Sam was initially supposed to battle four sentries on his way to get his father's disc. Unfortunately we ran out of time and weren't able to shoot that sequence.

What were the biggest challenges in directing this movie?

Joseph Kosinski: I think the biggest challenge on Tron: Legacy was the same as on any other film -- creating a compelling story and characters you care about.

How much pressure did you feel in not only making a sequel to Tron, but also in continuing the story?

Joseph Kosinski: A lot. The first film was ambitious in so many ways -- visually, conceptually, and technologically. I wanted this film to be just as ambitious in all of those respects.

There's a poster of Tron game in Flynn's house. Why is there no movie poster?

Joseph Kosinski: The Tron movie does not exist within the fiction of our story. ENCOM was a game developer in the 1980s and Kevin Flynn used the experiences he had in the first film as the foundation for the ENCOM Tron game that he created upon his return to the real world.

How much of a burden was the "Legacy" part in Tron: Legacy?

Joseph Kosinski: The 28 years of backstory was certainly a challenge from a script writing point of view. However, it was important to me that our film did not require prior knowledge of the first film.

Since the original Tron was not considered a hit, what do you think made the difference this time around?

Joseph Kosinski: The first film was conceptually decades ahead of its time. Now the notion of 'cyberspace' and a digital avatar is almost second nature. Also, our story is more than anything a father son (or sons) story, which hopefully appealed to those who normally wouldn't go see a 'sci-fi' film.

Was Jeff Bridges flattered to see himself as a young man again?

Joseph Kosinski: I think he found it to be a bit strange as you would imagine. He described it as feeling like the first moment you ever hear your own voice on tape -- not exactly what you would expect.

Before you started to shoot the movie, did you draw a story board?

Joseph Kosinski: My sketching abilities are pretty limited, but I did have a small team storyboard about 90% of the movie.

How did it feel to work on a project for so long and then finally see it in all its glory on the big-screen?

Joseph Kosinski: It was a 3.5 year process so it took me awhile to realize it was actually finished. I am very proud of the film and particularly all of the thousands of people who worked on it.

Was there ever any thought of setting the world of Tron: Legacy in cyberspace instead of making it a place of its own?

Joseph Kosinski: From the beginning I was not interested in making a movie about the internet. I liked the idea that this world had been sealed off since 1989 and had evolved on its own, like the Galapagos Islands.

How are you planning to expand the Tron Universe?

Joseph Kosinski: Disney is currently developing an animated series that takes place in the Tron universe before the events of Tron: Legacy. I am currently brainstorming with my team of writers and producers on what the next chapter of our story would be.

On the big screen Tron: Legacy was visually pure magic. Do you think it works on normal TV?

Joseph Kosinski: I find that the quality of movie theaters out there can vary widely, particularly for a 3D movie. For me, seeing the movie on Blu-ray on a nice HD plasma screen is about as good as it gets.

Can you tell us how it was working with Jeff Bridges?

Joseph Kosinski: A wonderful experience, everything you would hope for. I learned a lot from him.

Few directors make their feature debut shooting in the new style 3D, was that a particularly daunting task?

Joseph Kosinski: I knew this film had to be shot in 3D from the very beginning. There certainly are a lot of challenges it presents. The cameras are more cumbersome and prone to more technical issues. They slow down the shooting process a bit. And they make the visual effects process much more difficult, particularly on a film like this. However, in the end I'm glad we went the way we did.

Is it more challenging for a director to manage a sci-fi movie rather than the usual drama/comedy/thriller genres?

Joseph Kosinski: The biggest challenge of a movie like this is that there is no location you can go to shoot it. Everything has to be created from scratch. I spent a year designing this world with my team before we even began shooting.

Cillian Murphy only briefly appears in Tron: Legacy. Would it be fair to assume his appearance here is only a primer for possible involvement in a potential sequel? Joseph Kosinski: Yes that would be fair to assume.

What advice do you have for aspiring directors?

Joseph Kosinski: Go out and make something that reflects your interests, your taste, and your ideas. No one will pay you to make something until you have a few things you can show that you've directed. I got my start by making short films on my own.

Can you tell us how much impact the Comic-Con presentation trailer made on the final movie?

Joseph Kosinski: That teaser test was designed to show the studio what the look and feel of the movie was going to be as well as a hint of the narrative. What the Comic-Con presentation showed was that there was still a strong interest in this property and it gave them the confidence to push forward with the production of the film.

How much of Tron: Legacy was computer animated?

Joseph Kosinski: The Light Cycle Battle and the Light Jet Battle are almost 100% computer animated. The rest of the movie is a blend of live action and digital backdrops.

On the subject of things you weren't able to put into the movie, are there plans to release a director's cut?

Joseph Kosinski: Almost everything I shot is included in the movie, there is very little on the cutting room floor.

What memories do you personally have of Tron 1?

Joseph Kosinski: I remember watching it on VHS sometime on the mid-80s and that it looked and sounded like nothing I had ever seen before. With a wardrobe budget of $13 million, you had some issues with the LED lights on the suits. Why the reliance on practical suits over digital?

Joseph Kosinski: Actually the suits used an illuminated fabric. It was important to me that the characters would illuminate their environment and each other. That would be something that would be incredibly difficult to simulate in post-production.

Tron surprised us with groundbreaking special effects. Tron: Legacy did the same and even added impressive 3D technology. What do you think will shock us in Tron 3, assuming it happens (we're all rooting for it of course!)?

Joseph Kosinski: I think the final scene of Tron: Legacy leaves open some very interesting possibilities. If Quorra can cross over into our world, what other elements from the Grid could do the same?

How specifically did you make Jeff Bridges look so younger?

Joseph Kosinski: We used Jeff's performance of Clu and remapped it onto a digital version of himself at 35 years old. I used the movie Against All Odds as a reference for Clu's appearance.

Can you please talk about the transformation of Tron into Rinzler and back again? If he could return to being Tron then why did it take him so long to do it? Did he survive?

Joseph Kosinski: Only once Rinzler saw the face of Kevin Flynn again did he recall his true identity. As he sinks into the depths of the Sea of Simulation, you can see that his lights turn from orange to white -- back to the colors of Tron. He still remains there, alive but dormant.

There are lots of fans of the 1982 Tron movie. Did you fear their opinion?

Joseph Kosinski: Since we decided to embrace the mythology set out by the first film, I felt that fans of the original would generally be supportive of this film. Of course there are always exceptions but opinions are not to be feared.

People know Olivia Wilde from the House M.D. TV series. Why did you choose her to play Quorra's part?

Joseph Kosinski: I felt that she embodied many of the qualities that I wanted Quorra to have -- she's smart, strong-willed and has a very striking look. She is actually the first actress I met for the part and I think she gave a fantastic performance.

While you come from a visual background and have said the film was 90% storyboarded, what did cinematographer Claudio Miranda bring to the table?

Joseph Kosinski: Claudio and I had done over a dozen TV commercials together before I asked him to join me on Tron: Legacy. From the beginning I told him I wanted this to be an "uplit" world, light had to come from the floor whenever possible. That was a huge challenge for him in that he had to coordinate with the production designer in order to incorporate lighting into the architecture. We also pioneered a ceiling mounted motion control rig for the End Of Line club which was another "first" for our movie. The thing I love about Claudio is that he is not only an incredible artist, but a brilliant technician.

From a special effects standpoint, what was the most challenging scene to create?

Joseph Kosinski: Probably the Light Cycle scene due to the complexity of the choreography. It was like 4 dimensional chess.

What was key to making the story relate-able for young people today now that video games are so far removed from arcade games of the 80s?

Joseph Kosinski: At its core the movie is about a son trying to reconnect with his father which is something I think almost anyone can relate to, regardless of how old you are.

How much input did Jeff Bridges add to the script or story?

Joseph Kosinski: Jeff was involved from the very beginning. The Buddhist qualities that Flynn has taken on since being trapped in the Grid was something that Jeff brought to the table. There are a quite a few lines in the film that Jeff came up with or adlibbed in the scene. Many of the best video gamers are women. Did you consider the possibility of Flynn having a daughter instead of a son?

Joseph Kosinski: We did briefly, but in the end we felt that Quorra (the last of the remaining ISOs) would be a more interesting female character.

If someone hasn't seen the original Tron, would you recommend they watch it or Tron: Legacy first?

Joseph Kosinski: Although not required, I would recommend they watch the original Tron first as it will help them understand the backstory of Legacy.

The marketing for this movie has been very intense all throughout production. How much influence did you have over the way Disney presented Tron: Legacy to the masses outside of the actual viewing experience?

Joseph Kosinski: I was very involved, in fact Disney allowed me to cut the first two trailers.

How open was original Tron creator Steven Lisberger to updating and adapting the Tron universe for the 21st Century?

Joseph Kosinski: He was very open and an essential part of the creative team. He thought of himself as the "spiritual advisor" to the project and helped us all keep an eye on the big picture.

Were you always adamant that the movie would focus entirely on The Grid? Could future Tron adventures focus more on the Grid's relationship with reality?

Joseph Kosinski: Yes, the focus of Tron: Legacy had to be on the relationship between Sam, Flynn, and Clu in the world of the Grid. I think as the last scene of Tron: Legacy hints, the future lies in blurring that line between the Grid and our world.

What aspect of the upcoming Tron: Legacy Blu-ray's are you the happiest with?

Joseph Kosinski: After Tron: Legacy opened theatrically, I was able to go back to Skywalker Sound and fix approximately 100 different aspects of the sound mix that bothered me. So, the domestic Blu-ray contains that completely remixed and remastered 7.1 audio track.

The IMAX presentation was flawless and amazing. Can you explain working in this format?

Joseph Kosinski: Because they are so precisely calibrated and maintained, I found the IMAX presentation to be the best reflection of the movie I wanted to make. I spent a lot of time working with the folks at IMAX to make sure we delivered that experience. I was happy to see that we were able to include the IMAX version on the Blu-ray.

Some viewers criticized CLU's face - they say it was unreal, a little bit fake - do you think there is some truth in this criticism?

Joseph Kosinski: Clu was certainly the most technically and conceptually ambitious aspect we chose to tackle on this film. There is nothing more difficult than creating a realistic human face, especially if it is someone we know like Jeff Bridges. I do hear the criticism, but I think I speak for the whole team when I say that we would rather be criticized for trying something new rather than for not trying at all.

Why couldn't Flynn just reprogram Clu to accept a less than perfect existence? I'm not sure how Clu grew more powerful than the Creator. Can you explain?

Joseph Kosinski: Clu represents a copy of Kevin Flynn at an age when he was at his most ambitious and one could say most egotistical. Over the last 20 years, Kevin Flynn has wizened with age and learned the hard way that his priorities were out of balance. Unfortunately, Clu does not mature in the same way; he is essentially frozen in time. Flynn's battle with Clu is in a way a battle with the man he used to be and Sam is caught in the middle.

What do you want people to remember from your film 20 years from now?

Joseph Kosinski: Hopefully it will be seen as an ambitious film for its time and inspire some young kid out there to dream, as the first one did for me.

Tron: Legacy has an interesting digital relationship with real technology in our lives. Science-fiction can sometimes be an outline for our technological growth. Was there anything in Legacy that you modeled from real-life?

Joseph Kosinski: The idea of 'genetic algorithms' and 'quantum teleportation' are real concepts current Tron: Legacy being researched right now. We met with scientists from CalTech and JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) to make sure that the science in our film was accurate.

How do you think 3D helps draw viewers further into the world of the movie?

Joseph Kosinski: I think when used correctly it can create a more immersive experience. It should never be a distraction.

Who came up with the idea to name the barkeep "Zuse"?

Joseph Kosinski: I asked the writers to pull together a list of computer pioneers. Konrad Zuse created one of the first functional computers.

I'm a big fan of your supporting cast from James Frain to Michael Sheen. They're such marvelous actors, were they a joy to direct?

Joseph Kosinski: Yes, they were both fantastic to work with. Both brought unexpected aspects to their characters which as a director is exactly what you hope for.

After making Tron: Legacy, do you feel that society should be concerned about technology or should it be embraced?

Joseph Kosinski: Both. I think that technology can be an incredible tool. We wouldn't be able to create a movie like this without it. However it needs to be watched so that it doesn't interfere with our personal relationships.

If Kevin Flynn's body was transported into Tron and he seemingly sacrificed himself at the end of Tron: Legacy, does that mean he is no longer alive, or has he transformed into something else?

Joseph Kosinski: Reintegration is a mysterious thing. Flynn's code is still in there, fragmented....

How much virtual time *did* Flynn spend on the Grid? I believe the writers mentioned something about 28,000 cycles...?

Joseph Kosinski: The ratio of Grid Time to Real World time is about 50:1. So 21 years would be over a thousand years on the Grid.

What is your favorite shot in Tron: Legacy?

Joseph Kosinski: I always liked the shot of Sam and Quorra in the dark hallway, illuminating each other only with the light coming from their suits. It's a shot you can only have in Tron.

If it's up to you, would you want to helm Tron 3?

Joseph Kosinski: If we can come up with the right story, then absolutely.

Could you talk a little bit about Daft Punk's participation? Their score was awesome, who had the idea to involve them with Tron: Legacy?

Joseph Kosinski: I have been a fan of theirs for a long time so I set up a meeting with them back in 2007, before I had even shot the test piece. I told them I wanted to create a classic film score that blended electronic and classical music in a way that hadn't been done before. They were amazing collaborators and I am very proud of the work they did.

Which character in the film is most like you in your real life?

Joseph Kosinski: Well when I started working on this film I would have said Sam, but now I feel more like Flynn.

You're also developing The Black Hole remake. What can you tell us about that?

Joseph Kosinski: We are currently working on a script with Travis Beacham. I am very excited about the potential of this project.

How exactly was it possible for Quorra to materialize into the real world? What impact will she make on the real world?

Joseph Kosinski: Quorra was reconstructed from the Carbon and Water stored in the Shiva laser from Flynn's teleportation. If you look closely, you'll see the various canisters arranged around its base.

In your opinion, which was the most difficult effect to make/ pull off for this movie and why?

Joseph Kosinski: I wanted to make it so that the audience had no idea what was real and what was virtual. I've always been interested in blurring the lines between the two.

With 3D booming and only getting better, how do you think Tron: Legacy translate to home 3D with the 3D Blu-ray?

Joseph Kosinski: I was impressed with the Blu-ray 3D. It holds up well even on a smaller screen.

Any final thoughts on Tron: Legacy?

Joseph Kosinski: Thanks for all of the great questions, hope you enjoy the Blu-ray!

Joseph Kosinski's Tron: Legacy will be released on DVD, two-disc Blu-ray/DVD, four-disc Blu-ray/DVD/3D Blu-ray, and Tron: Legacy/Tron: The Original Classic five-disc Blu-ray all arriving on April 5.

Tron: Legacy was released December 17th, 2010 and stars Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett, Michael Sheen, Anis Cheurfa. The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski.

We thought we'd like to share the last episode of "The Cape" since NBC was so kind to provide the video. It is most likely (though never say never) our final chance to see James Frain as Peter Fleming.

A HUGE apology for neglecting our dear AJF site of late! We've been a bit frozen in time watching the outcome of NBC's brutal flogging, then flagging of this potentially wonderful series. As in all things on U.S. television, you pretty much need to be the best of the best of the best from day one now, instead of being supported and given time to develop. The first season of the series was supposed to film and air 13 episodes. NBC pulled the plug on filming after the tenth episode and only televised nine. We just found the news on Facebook that the tenth episode, (now being confirmed as the series finale), is airing online beginning tonight on NBC.com.

So, thanks NBC for trying, and BOO for not trying well.

It was great to see James Frain be able to develop a character over these weeks. We will miss seeing the prisms of this villian and the promise of more to come.

Mar 11, 2011 12:02 PM ET
by William Keck

We've got HUGE news! The finale will be available TONIGHT (3/11) at MIDNIGHT on NBC.com! TV Guide has a preview of it at the bottom of the article (WARNING: A little spoilerish)!

Several months ago, The Cape's creator, Tom Wheeler, clued me in that he planned to kill off a series regular in his first season finale. Then ratings fell, NBC cut the show order from 13 to 10 episodes, and now the season finale appears to be the series finale. But for those loyal Cape fans out there, there will still be a significant death before the Cape hangs it up for good.

The concluding chapter will be available for viewing at http://www.nbc.com/the-cape/ beginning at midnight tonight, Friday, March 11.

Besides the death, the finale will find Police Chief Marty Voyt (Dorian Missick) behind bars, in the hands of ARK Corporation. Vince's "widow" Dana (Jennifer Ferrin) will take on Marty's case — and ARK, in hopes of learning more about her husband's disappearance. And The Cape/Vince (David Lyons) will find his double identity blurred when Max (Keith David) and the carnival of crime attempt to protect Dana, Marty and his family.

Who will survive the hour? Well, sadly none of them on NBC. But who knows? Maybe the characters can find new life in comic form.

So, there we have it. For now, The Cape is over, at least on NBC. As we know, other series have found new life with other networks or on cable, so who knows? We may get to see James Frain as "Chess" yet again?

January 11, 2011

Before sifting through the variety of reviews on the premiere of "The Cape" to share with you, we've woken up today to find a voice of reason from LaLa land. It's this lovely snippet from WENN.com regarding James Frain and his sensible parenting choice when it comes to not having to explain to the kids that Daddy's been a vampire and a baddie and just what all the weirdness in L.A. is about. Good on you James! You're not just a pretty face.

Entertainment TV

By WENN.COM
Last Updated: January 11, 2011 4:45am

Actor James Frain has yet to tell his kids he's an actor - because he wants to "preserve their innocence" before they learn all about life in Hollywood.

The True Blood star has two young children with American actress Marta Cunningham, but he refuses to take them to see one of his movies.

And the Brit admits he'll hold out as long as possible before explaining his career - in a bid to give the youngsters a normal childhood.

He says, "They're still too young to know what it is that I do for a living. My three-year-old daughter still thinks people on the TV can see you.

"We're trying to preserve their innocence for as long as possible because they are going to be L.A. kids and everyone is in the business here. Besides, they haven't seen anything I've done because it's all been so inappropriate."

January 9, 2011

Don't forget to watch the special two-hour premiere of "The CAPE" tonight on NBC at 9:00 (EST). Meanwhile, here is a look at the nice graphic opening credits to "The Cape" (via Zap2it) plus an interview from this week with James discussing his characters (Peter Fleming/Chess) on the new series.

from Star Telegram:

Posted Wednesday, Jan. 05, 2011

By David Martindale
Special to the Star-Telegram

If James Frain, one of the stars of NBC's The Cape, could be a real-life superhero, with a unique power of his own choosing, the world would definitely be a better place. But you'll never guess what special ability Frain would select for himself.

Not super strength. Or the gift of flight. Or incredible speed.

"I quite like the idea of a man who gives the perfect gifts to people," he says. "We could call him Christmas Man. He buys the gift that you always wanted but never realized you wanted. "He is the perfectly satiating Christmas present giver."

Alas, Frain suspects that Christmas Man might be too much of a squeaky-clean do-gooder over the long haul. "I would have to discover some character flaw to keep him interesting," he says.

Or better yet, let's forget altogether about being a good guy and turn to the dark side.

That was the winning formula for Frain last year on HBO's True Blood, in which he played Franklin Mott, a sadistic, love-crazed vampire. Villainy is keeping him thoroughly engaged now as well in The Cape, which premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday.

Frain plays Peter Fleming, a billionaire businessman who moonlights as Chess, a masked madman who controls almost all criminal activity in Palm City. As his name suggests, Chess is a master strategist, 20 moves ahead of everyone else in his endeavors, like an evil Bobby Fischer.

He will prove to be quite a test for the up-and-coming superhero known as The Cape (played by David Lyons).

Frain has played all kinds of roles, from heroes to villains to victims.

"But it is fun to be bad," the English-born actor, 42, says. "Although I try to see the character as he sees himself -- and everyone tends to see himself as the hero of his own story." As Fleming, the character is elegant and charismatic, like a regular guy, or at least as regular as a power-hungry billionaire CEO can be. But then, in the blink of an eye, he's a wild man, flashing a maniacal grin and gazing out through creepy chess piece contact lenses.

"What does it do to a person when you split off a side of yourself like that and you create a mask and a second, secret personality?" Frain wonders. "What could compel you to do that? And what is it doing to you? Are you running it or is it running you? The writers have decided to take Chess into that territory, which I think is very interesting."

Frain also is intrigued by the notion that, even though Chess and The Cape are mortal enemies, Chess ultimately needs a white knight to keep him in check.

"It's important that he has an equal to play against," he says. "Because it's really not much fun to play against someone who's no good. If you're at the top of your game, you want real combat. You still want to win, but you want it to be challenging."

Speaking of challenges, when playing roles like Chess and Franklin the vampire, there's no opportunity for the actor to research the role by meeting and studying his real-life counterpart.

"That would be really cool, though, wouldn't it?" Frain muses. "To be able to say: 'Yes, for this role, I actually tracked a serial killer. I observed him closely in the field and he taught me many tricks of the trade during our long bike rides together.' There was none of that.

"But that's OK. I've got a good imagination."

January 6, 2011

In just a few days, on Sunday January 9, NBC debuts "The Cape" at 9:00 PM (EST) in a special 2-hour premiere. The show will then be aired in it's regular time slot of 9:00 PM on Mondays. For all kinds of photos, interviews, clips and all assembladge of fan fun, see NBC's official site for "The CAPE." For a look at photos from the programs premiere party go here - Premiere of NBC's The Cape.

We are looking forward with glee to see the pilot and hope that it is both well done and finds a great fan base. It's a bit odd to be rooting for the villian before the thing even starts, or at all really, but there you have it. We love our bad guy James Frain, because he's just so good!

The following clip is a short one of a cast photo shoot, with James Frain popping up at the end posing as Peter Fleming. This clip was obtained courtesy of Spoiler TV and the lovely Carol of Facebook Fans of James Frain. You can find a number preview clips and interviews for the new program there as well.

And here, thanks again to our Carol and G4tv.com is a delightful interview all about the Cape with James Frain. Woo who!!

December 21, 2010

HAPPY WINTER all! James Frain has started off the last season of 2010 being on the local L.A. news/chat show "Good Day Los Angeles." The interview is mainly about "TRON: Legacy" with quick mention of The Cape, True Blood and The Tudors. Very nice. The man's doing a solo TV publicity appearance. We knew this day would come. Well done James! Thank you Carol and everyone, please enjoy!

Here's one of the many many interviews James did with his press junket partner Bruce:

Senior henchman in the visually explosive 'Tron,' James Frain is now on board to play the villain in NBC's new series "The Cape." Hear why he thinks he makes such a good bad guy and what his villainous laugh may sound like. Hosted by Oliver Trevena. Click photo below to access the interview.

December 17, 2010

A wonderfully comprehensive and entertaining interview with James Frain appearing in the December 2010/January 2011 issue of the Indonishian based fashion magazine "Da Man:" Thanks Carol!!

December 17, 2010

Photographs: Mitchell Nguyen McCormack
Styling: Lindsay Zir
Interview: Dino Moriartie

As an aspiring young actor, you know things are going well when you are walking down the road and none other than Sir Richard Attenborough stops you to offer a part in his project. That indeed happened to the young James Frain some 17 years ago in London while he was a student at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Now he lives in Hollywood and is known as one of the best pure actors of his generation. He also revealed himself to be somewhat of a fashion maven, casually dropping names like Varvatos, Dolce & Gabbana, Simon Spurr and Endovanera.

DA MAN: Is it true that while studying in London, you were discovered by Richard Attenborough who immediately cast you opposite Anthony Hopkins?
James Frain: Yes, Richard Attenborough was looking for an unknown to play Anthony Hopkins' rebellious student in Shadowlands, and I was in my final year of drama school when I was cast.

DA MAN: When did you make it over to Hollywood to begin this current phase of your career?
James Frain: I moved to Los Angeles in 2003.

DA MAN: You studied acting and drama from a young age in England, at what point in your life did you decide that was the direction you wanted to take with your career?
James Frain: I was 22 when I decided to give it my best shot. I figured if it didn't work out after five years, I'd have to do something else.

DA MAN: What can you tell us about current projects like Tron: Legacy?
James Frain: Tron: Legacy is a total three-dimensional immersion experience that is going to blow your mind.

DA MAN: What other projects?
James Frain: Top secret!

DA MAN: With your background in drama, film and acting, do you have any other serious talents?
James Frain: I love drawing, painting and taking photos.

DA MAN: After some 15 years in showbiz, do you feel you are finally getting your due?
James Frain: I feel really fortunate to have the career I'm having.

DA MAN:How do you continue to get energized and excited about a role?
James Frain: If the writing's good it's always energizing.

DA MAN: Are you into the whole Hollywood scene or do you get back to England as often as possible to keep grounded?
James Frain: There are scenes the world over! I like going out to gigs, galleries and plays, but my favorite thing is to hang out with my kids.

DA MAN: Who would you really like to work with?
James Frain: I'd like to work with a lot of people—Joe Wright, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, Danny Boyle, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Jason Reitman, Paul Greengrass, Sidney Lumet and Fatih Akin, are a few that come to mind.

DA MAN: As you may know we are a high-fashion magazine, so we gotta ask: How do you describe your style?
James Frain: Not easy to answer! I guess I like structure, comfort and a little edge, in addition to clothes by John Varvatos, Costume National, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Simon Spurr, Endovanera.

DA MAN: Who are your style icons?
James Frain: Jack White and Marcello Mastroianni.

DA MAN: Which person's wardrobe would you most like to own?
James Frain: John Lennon's.

DA MAN: Do you have a healthy motto?
James Frain: Taking yourself too seriously can make others ill.

DA MAN: What would you save if your house was on fire?
James Frain: Any artwork I could grab.

DA MAN: What has been your proudest moment in your acting career?
James Frain: Getting my first paycheck.

DA MAN: What ambitions do you have?
James Frain: I would like to do some directing.

DA MAN: Who have been your favorite cast-mates to work with and why?
James Frain: Ben Affleck, because he's funny and smart, and Jeff Bridges, because he really is The Dude! [his character in The Big Lebowski]

DA MAN: What types of projects/roles attract you the most?
James Frain: I like characters who are full of contradictions, and who have a sense of humor.

DA MAN: Do you have any strange or wonderful anecdotes from behind the scenes?
James Frain: None that I can share legally.

DA MAN: What can you tell us about some of your favorite roles over the years?
James Frain: Scheming politician Thomas Cromwell in The Tudors was a fascinating, complex character, but playing Franklin Mott, the psycho vampire in True Blood, was the best fun ever.

DA MAN: You've worked with some of the biggest A-listers, including Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Natalie Portman, Ben Affleck, Cate Blanchett and others, who has had the most influence on you and/or your craft?
James Frain: Every actor you work with teaches you something, but watching Anthony Hopkins up close had a major impact on me at the start of my career.

DA MAN: What are some of the projects we can look forward to seeing you in? We've heard about an anticipated TV show called The Cape.
James Frain: The Cape will air on [USA-based network] NBC in January 2011. It's the story of a lone superhero fighting a corrupt world. I play his nemesis—a twisted genius set upon world domination.

DA MAN: Who would you have at your dream dinner party (living or dead)?
James Frain: I'd have Will Ferrell, Richard Pryor, Missy Elliott, Dorothy Parker, Pablo Picasso, Howling Wolf and Billie Holiday.

DA

December 16, 2010

from Mother Nature Network:

James Frain talks 'Tron: Legacy,' 'True Blood,' 'The Cape' and green living

Frain's been playing the villain a lot lately, this time as a henchman in 'Tron: Legacy.' At home, his wife helps keep things green.

By Gerri MillerWed, Dec 15 2010 at 2:30 PM EST

"We recycle everything we can, we're careful to monitor our miles and share cars when we can. My wife is a member of a lot of ecology groups and is especially mindful in that area," says James Frain ("The Tudors," "True Blood"), whose latest role is Jarvis, henchman to Clu, Jeff Bridges' character Kevin Flynn's evil young doppelganger, in "Tron: Legacy," opening Dec. 17. He'd never seen the 1982 "Tron" prior to getting cast, but points out, "You don't need to know anything about the original" to appreciate the souped-up new version.

As Jarvis, Frain sports a bald head and "a floating kind of visor, like a glass Mohawk — or sneeze guard, as [director] Joe Kosinski called it," he says, noting that it took an hour and a half to get into costume and makeup each day. Since Clu, a younger version of Bridges, was created with motion capture and CG, Frain had to interact with both the actor in a rigged helmet and a body double. "The challenge was trying to stay consistent while not knowing who I was in the scene with," he says. "You have to work off your imagination and you don't know how it will turn out until you see it, like two years later."

The role is the latest in a string of villains that includes the nemesis in the NBC midseason series "The Cape," premiering Jan. 9, in which he plays a billionaire with a secret life as a maniacal killer. "He's a rather charming rogue, very sociable and witty and debonair kind of guy who has the unfortunate habit of dressing up in the evening and being rather psychotic. We all have our flaws," allows Frain, who made a chilling impression as vampire Franklin this season on "True Blood," a role he calls "a gift" and his favorite to date.

"I think I'm kind of on a roll right now, on the evil tip. That's what's coming my way, and that's fine. There's lots of ways of being bad, I've discovered. It's kind of fun." He also plays the villain in the crime drama "Transit," opposite Jim Caviezel (with whom he'd worked in "The Count of Monte Cristo"). Not surprisingly, Frain, who also has a small role in April's "Water for Elephants," would like to play a good guy next for a change of pace. Off camera, "I would like to have more time to devote to drawing," he says, though doesn't call himself an artist. "I wouldn't use the A-word, but I love it."

Okay, again, there is SO much publicity every day now for both the TRON film and NBC's The Cape, that James Frain is popping up EVERYWHERE! Oh, we're not complaining, mind, it's just a bit difficult to keep up with. We're adding this lovely little vid now and hope to add more of the wonderment from the past day or three perhaps in the next day or three! Meanwhile, thank you Carol for the mention of this delightful bit of Cape plug from Mr. Frain. It seems he also wants to try his hand at playing a villain, (says he's never done that before haha) in a planned remake of Judge Dredd. We could find a few folks to sign that petition!

From My l____l Videos (Anybody remember MySpace?):

December 13, 2010
Another great interview with Mr. Frain, this one appearing on Collider.com

The big bad in Tron: Legacy is Clu, a master program created in Kevin Flynn's (Jeff Bridges) image to help oversee the expansion of the digital domain, but who has gone rogue and seized control of the Grid and its inhabitants. And, since every big bad needs assistance in carrying out their evil, nefarious plan, Clu has a main henchman and chief intelligence officer named Jarvis (James Frain), a program proficient in intelligence-gathering.

In this recent exclusive interview with Collider, actor James Frain talked about how surprised he was to see how much of the film he's actually in, how much he enjoyed working with director Joseph Kosinski and that he would love to work with him again, how he wishes he could have kept Jarvis' helmet to display in his own living room, and how playing the villain can be really fun. He also shared some details about what viewers can expect from the much-hyped NBC superhero drama The Cape (premiering on January 9, 2011), in which he plays the fun-loving billionaire Peter Fleming, who also happens to moonlight as the psychotic killer Chess. Check out what he had to say.

Now that you've finally had a chance to see Tron: Legacy, how did it most surprise you and in what ways did it exceed your expectations?
JAMES FRAIN: I was surprised by how much of it I was in. I thought the character was just going to register as a smaller figure because most of what I did was with a body double, and then I would do the stand-in with Jeff [Bridges] and he would be just wearing his regular clothes. They had this special kind of head rig that they put on for that, for the Benjamin Button effect. But, it seemed very casual and there always seemed to be not that many people there. Even the scene that I do, where I'm addressing this vast crowd of thousands of programs, that was just me, on my own, with a couple of people in the background and a big blue screen. So, it was quite startling to see myself in the world that I had imagined, but didn't really know what it was going to look like. I was amazed by that.

I also thought the music was a huge contribution, in terms of creating the scale of that. And, I was impressed with just how natural and fluid the world looks. The world is so artificial and it requires so much work to make all the different pieces add up together, but when it comes together, it just looks effortless. It's amazing. The costumes, the light rigs and the effects are seamlessly joined. I'm kind of bummed that I don't get the experience that you get with just watching it cold. By the time we'd seen all the visuals put together, I'd sort of become used to that world. It's still pretty impressive.

Was there a point where you realized that you were a part of something that held so much interest for so many people, or had you always been aware that this was going to be as big as it is?
FRAIN: You know, what I didn't know was how many people in the tech world the original movie had such an impression on. That's really interesting to me because a lot of the people who created this technological revolution that we're all living through were kids when Tron came out, and they saw Tron and it impacted them. That was one of the things I hadn't really put together. Since the first movie and this movie, the rest of us have been living that revolution, largely engineered by people who were Tron fans. That's pretty deep, man.

Looking back, what will you remember most fondly from having been a part of this entire experience?
FRAIN: Working with Joe [Kosinski], definitely. I loved working with Joe. For a guy who doesn't really come from the fiction world – he comes from advertising and architecture – he's extremely easy-going and very calm. He's extremely detailed, but a very generous and fun director to work with. He really encouraged me to find the fun in the part and to have fun with it. For all that Tron wanted to be, it ultimately had to be a fun ride for the audience and I was going to be one of the comic characters, and he was really on top of that. He was having such a good time doing it. That's my memory of it. I'd love to work with him again. I think he's great.

Did you get to take anything home from the set, as a keepsake or a memento? Would you have liked to have kept Jarvis' helmet, or were you happy to never have to put that on again?
FRAIN: Oh, both. I would want to keep that in a little glass sphere, perhaps in the corner of my living room, lit up. But, I think that's an extremely expensive rig. The costumes were crazy expensive, beyond anything they could afford to give you, to take away. They're going to be in a museum of some kind, on display until they get the go for Tron: Legacy 2. It would have been awesome to keep, though. I don't think there was anything that they could afford to let go. I probably would have been arrested.

Since you've done it a few times recently, in playing villains, do you prefer to play characters who quite enjoy the evil that they're doing, as opposed to being angsty about it?
FRAIN: I don't know. There's no hard and fast rule. Evil is a broad church. There are so many different ways to be evil. Sometimes it's fun to be the guy who doesn't know that he's bad, like the character I played in True Blood. He was pretty angsty about it, but he thought he was doing the right thing. And sometimes it's fun to be the guy who just really enjoys it, like the guy I'm playing now on The Cape. He's more that. He's much more flashy and debonaire and devil may care-ish. He just loves doing bad in the world. That's real fun to do.

Is there a specific moment or cause that makes your character on The Cape act the way that he does?
FRAIN: We haven't put together a very specific backstory. It's all up for grabs right now. There's a lot of big storytelling on The Cape, and there's a lot of things that they're throwing up in the air, to come back to in later episodes. It's very open. What happens is that, in doing a show like this, you find out who the character is as they write it, and they're finding out as well. It's an ongoing thing. I have my own sense of who he is. I don't think people who behave this way come from very loving families. But, I'm not bogged down in that, necessarily.

What can you say about the show and how your character fits into the story? How is this superhero show different from others?
FRAIN: I'm not particularly an expert on the genre. Correct me if I'm wrong, but usually you see most of the super-villain in his villainous role. He's the Green Goblin, or whatever various bad guys in Batman, or something like that. It's the excessive, larger than life, cartoon-ish, costumed character that is the personification of evil and has to be destroyed. With my guy, every now and then, he puts on a mask and does that, but he isn't that. Most of the time that we see him, he isn't that. Most of the time that we see him, he's fun to hang around with. I think that's unusual, to that extent.

There's something attractive about my character. He's fun-loving. You can almost think, "Well, maybe he isn't a bad guy, after all. Maybe he does a few things that are bad, but maybe he could learn his lesson." But then, he has this unfortunate habit of dressing up as this crazy character and being completely psychotic. That is unfortunate, and I think he's probably not going to be able to kick that habit. What's fun in The Cape is that I think they're going to explore – with both the lead hero and with the bad guy – this idea that, once you start donning a disguise, whatever that means, what is that going to do to you and how much are you going to be in control of it, or is it going to be in control of you, and is that a crazy thing to be doing anyway. They're doing that. They're having fun with it and staying in the genre, but they're going to explore what that is.

Does Chess always wear the contacts with the chess pieces when he's in bad guy mode? Is there a reason for him doing that?
FRAIN: I don't know. We've not really pinned down where they come from or how that happens, but every time you see him as this bad guy Chess, he does have these chess contacts in, which is very effective at freaking you out.

What's it like to be on a show that's so heavily promoted? Do you worry about living up to the hype?
FRAIN: I think this is a big show, an expensive show and an ambitious show, and it has to launch big, and we have to go for it, as much as possible, so I think they're doing the right thing.

December 12, 2010

Thanks to the current fondness for sharing video coverage of oh-so-many things globally, we have a video or two from coverage of Tron: Legacy's Hollywood premiere to share as well as pictures. The El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles provided a beautiful setting and a blue carpet for the movie makers to strut their stuff. Thanks to Google, Carol, Teri and a good night's sleep for the latest update.

A little blue carpet cuteness from James via TVRealist.com:

Thanks Carol!

James Frain turns out with his co-stars for Hollywoods Tron: Legacy premiere from ITN:

Last update: Sun Dec 12 2010 10:57:31

Sun Dec 12 2010 10:57:31

Actors Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner have led the cast and creators of "Tron Legacy" down the blue carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the film.

Lasers and neon lights created a futuristic atmosphere ahead of the star-studded screening.

Bridges and Boxleitner were joined by their co-stars Michael Sheen, Olivia Wilde, James Frain, and Garrett Hedlund at the El Capitan Theatre to watch the final cut of the science fiction action thriller.

"Tron Legacy" is the sequel to the 1982 film "Tron." It tells the story of a man who is trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of his father two decades prior, a genuis once known as the leading video-game developer in the world.

While following a series of clues, he finds himself pulled into a digital world where his father has been trapped for 20 years. The two then embark upon a life-and-death escape across a visually stunning cyber universe.

Bridges, who won his first Best Actor Oscar earlier this year for playing the lead in "Crazy Heart," also shared why he thinks fans have been so anxiously awaiting the follow-up to "Tron."

"Well, it's that whole, you know, the computer culture was just starting up when we did 'Tron.' There was no internet. Nothing like that, so. I think it's guys who were raised on video games who have a fondness for it."

For Welsh actor Michael Sheen, landing a part in "Tron Legacy" was dream come true.

"Mainly just to be part of the 'Tron' world. You know, the first film just changed my life, really. And I was 12 when I watched it, and I was just a perfect age, and just ready to be completely blown away by a film. And so this was that film for me. So, when I got called up and said that they wanted me to be in this one, it was like that little 12-year-old inside going, 'Yeess!' And I haven't stopped screaming since."

The French electronic music duo Daft Punk scored the film, which will be released in theatres across North America on Friday

This is I'm guessing a brief view of the premiere night as taken by a fan. You can spot James being interviewed at the lower right hand side of screen, about 2/3 of the screen over from 5 seconds to 13 seconds or so:

A short view of James Frain on the blue carpet accompanied by his lovely wife Marta Cunningham.

As promised, a few photos...

A previous Maximo TV video from November of the Tron Pop Up Shop opening:

A video of an interview from press junket with James and actor Bruce Boxleitner

December 10, 2010

Greetings! Your AJF webmaster is reviving from having been quite under-the-weather for a solid month or so. We have many James Frain news tidbits to catch up on. They've been coming fast and furious as both Tron:Legacy and The Cape are about to debut. Here are a couple of items, the most recent and some not. We look forward to filling in the gaps. Meanwhile, be sure you'll find all the latest at Carol's Facebook Fans of James Frain.

from Access Hollywood via Carol:

November 21, 2010

With the premiere of Tron Legacy less than a month away, we have seen the publicity and anticipation revved to the max. Below are several snatches of appearances and interviews with James Frain beginning with one interview done during filming with James sporting his shaven head for the role. Thanks to Carol for the finds. The film is set to premiere on December 17, 2010.

from Trailer Addict:

Grab a cuppa for this one, almost 15 minutes of behind-the-scenes filming from Collinder.com:

November 16, 2010

November 15, 2010

From "Scene Louisiana".com

EXCLUSIVE: First look at Jim Caviezel in Transit

by Arthur Vandelay on November 15, 2010

In Transit, director Antonio Negret pits a family led by Passion of the Christ's Jim Caviezel against a gang of thugs led by True Blood's James Frain. It's first of five After Dark Originals from After Dark Films and Silver Pictures currently being produced in Louisiana.

Caviezel plays Nate, a father on a road trip with his family, played by Elizabeth Rohm, Sterling Knight and Jake Cherry. At a rest stop, Frain leads a group of criminals, played by Lost's Harold Perrineau, Ryan Donowho, and Diora Baird, who stash stolen money amongst camping gear in the family's car, hoping to get it across a road block set up to catch them. What the criminals don't know is that they aren't the only criminals: Nate has just been released from prison.

All photos are by Cook Allender, courtesy of After Dark Films.

As James Frain fans will know, he and Jim Caviezel have worked together before - in 2002 in Disney's Count of Monte Cristo. Thank you Teri for the great photo find!

According to this article from SuperHeroHype.com, "The Cape" will premiere with a two-hour episode on Sunday, January 9, 2011, from 9-11 pm ET), with an encore broadcast of that premiere the next night, and new one-hour episodes starting the following Monday night, January 17 at 9:00 pm. Everything about this looks like it'll be a lot of fun!! The following clip is the latest promo for the new series which aired during Sundays' football on NBC. It includes two ever-so-brief glimpses of James Frain in his arch nemesis guise as "Chess" Love the eyes!

Thanks to Teri for the heads up on the new promo and to Carol for the links! So, just as we're recovering from the holidaze, there's this to look forward to! Cheers!

Official site on NBC.com for "THE CAPE"

IMDb site for "THE CAPE"

The Futon Critic (a great source - thanks Teri) page for "THE CAPE"

November 10, 2010

from Hollywood Insider:

by Lynette Rice

Goodbye Franklin Mott from True Blood, hello super-villain on The Cape! EW talked to James Frain on a red carpet recently and the English actor had pretty encouraging things to say about NBC's upcoming drama involving a cop (Eat Pray Love's David Lyons) who makes himself into a masked hero after being framed for a crime. NBC has yet to schedule the drama, which is slated for a midseason release.

"It's a superhero show and I play the supervillain," Frain told EW. "It's not that big a stretch. No one has any real powers. It's about cunning and skill. It's very serious in its intent. But it's also light in the way it's played. It is closer to Batman in that the people don't have powers. Supervillain equals job security as long as people like the show and we get picked up."

Frain plays Peter Fleming in the drama that also stars Summer Glau and Keith David. "It is a completely new story. It is not based on a comic book or an old character. It is a completely new and inventive mythology. The show creator Tom Wheeler has the whole first season mapped out. He has the whole thing in his mind and he is slowly revealing it to us. And it's cool. I really hope people will give it a chance to reveal itself to them. We are in the thick of shooting and we are supposed to come on in January. Wish us luck."

Alas, Frain says he still mourns the passing of Franklin in the addictive HBO drama. "He's done. Dead. Gone. Once they goo you, there's no coming back from that. Goo equals gone. I can't tell you how many more doubletakes I get since doing that character. He was such a great character and he was the most fun to play ever but I think part of what made it so fun is that it was such a contained ride. When you've got someone that psycho, where is he going to go next? There's something cool about the fact that it was like a hit and run. But I do miss him. I have started to collect memorable death scenes."

- With reporting from Carrie Bell

And while we're at it, here's a recent appearance of photo portraits from the Cape. There's this lovely one of James Frain as Chess and, if you click the link, also two beauts of David Lyons as The Cape and Vinnie Jones as Scales at Ain't it Cool.com -

Ain't it cool?

November 6, 2010

Looking for something for a holiday gift for a loved one or perhaps yourself? Who doesn't love brunch?! This cookbook includes a recipe contribution by James Frain, a Broadway alum since 2007. On sale at Broadway Cares.com.

Product Description

Broadway production stage manager Roy Harris has worked with some of the most accomplished actors, directors, designers, technicians and atage doormen working in the theatre. For the past ten years, he has hosted brunches before the Sunday matinees in which the aforementioned artists shared their culinary gifts, thus adding "Chef" to their resumes. In his third book for BC/EFA involving theatre and food, Harris has compiled 88 recipes from these delightful brunches, adding anecdotes about the chef , the dish and the production, too. "Chefs" include Cynthia Nixon, John Lithgow, Jill Clayburgh, John Dossett, James Frain and Laura Linney. His previous cookbook, More Recipes and ReminiscenceM, is also available in our store.

Yum, thanks to Frain fan Jennifer for the link!

October 25, 2010

Courtesy of CBS, "Sudden Death," the episode of CSI: Miami in which James Frain appeared, is available at Internet Movie Database. Rave on....

October 16, 2010

We're happy to have this link from YouTube while it lasts. Thanks to our Carol of Facebook Fans of James Frain. See the link in our navigation column to the left!

August 30, 2010

On the same night that the Emmy Awards program showed it's Memorial montage of this year's recently deceased TV family, the True Blood Family has done us the same courtesy. We thought that since James Frain/Franklin Mott is no more, that we wouldn't continue to cover True Blood in a weekly way, but this tribute to the fallen - vampires, humans and werewolves just had to be shared. Thanks as always to HBO for the user friendly share of their video clips and especially for the tender [and gory] tribute to this crazy series' sacrificial characters, including one of our very favorites - Franklin Mott.

For other videos and discussion threads, please visit - HBO True Blood.

Having a quick gander at You Tube, we've found a couple of new uploads including Mr. Frain. This first is from the film "Rasputin", an HBO production from 1996. A 14 years younger Frain appears after the middle of the video and is the principal assassin of Alan Rickman's Rasputin.

One of the very many Franklin Mott tributes. Has the unavoidable "m-f" texting scene, so be warned ye of sensitive sensibilities. It's nicely done.

This one's fun. James has snagged a spot in this short, hot tribute. to some hot men. The video asks - Who's your favorite? We know who ours is.

Thanks to Carol at Facebook Fans of James Frain , we have this short piece from the UK site "Talk Talk" to share.

James Takes America By Storm
Wednesday 3rd February 2010

British actor James Frain is one of the hottest rising stars in Hollywood at the moment, with roles in FlashForward, Californication and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation boosting his profile.

He's already developed a firm fanbase thanks to his roles in 24 and The Tudors, and interest in him shows little sign of abating.

This summer James can be seen in hit American vampire saga True Blood, and later in the year pops up in small screen fantasy offering Crusades.

However, one of the Leeds-born star's biggest projects is Tron Legacy, a big screen sequel to the cult Disney offering Tron.

Recent Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges will reprise his role as Flynn, a seasoned computer games veteran who seems to have gone over to the dark side. Frain will play a new character called Jarvis in the multi-million dollar epic which is released in 3D this December.

We always find it amusing how someone who has been a professional in "the business" for many years (nineteen years for Mr. Frain) is about to become an overnight sensation! We do however completely agree that he has a firm fanbase ( Hello! Here we are! ) and that interest in him can only increase. Fair weather and full speed ahead James!

We found this lovely TV Guide widget to online videos and are trying it out.

We discovered this wonderful tribute video in 2007 on YouTube created by elenarosca who has used many pictures from AJF in the effort. We are delighted to be adding this video to our humble site. Well James Frain, I guess you've finally arrived. You've made it to a tribute on You Tube, and before turning forty!! Enjoy.