Rihanna is soldiering into 2012. The 23-year-old singer just posted an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at her upcoming, action packed film Battleship on her official YouTube channel. Rih plays resident weapons officer Raikes in the film, and says she learned the ropes for it by shadowing an actual member of the United States Navy. “I watched her and I just really lived and breathed in her mindset and tried to really get into her character,” Rihanna says. Check out the video below: Rihanna – Battleship Behind the Scenes
When James Franco took to the blogosphere to pledge his awards season support for Rise of the Planet of the Apes co-star Andy Serkis and his performance-captured turn in the film, Serkis was the one person who probably appreciated the gesture most, precisely because it did what he couldn’t do himself: Provide an argument in favor the art of performance capture as a mode of legitimate acting, from an outsider’s perspective. Serkis rang Movieline to chat and expressed appreciation for Franco’s open letter. “I thought it was extraordinarily bold and honest, and quite frankly I was thrilled that James had written it,” Serkis told Movieline. “It just goes to show that an actor who is in pursuit of creating drama isn’t prejudiced against live-action or performance capture or any method of performing,” Serkis continued. “He sees it as one thing.” In his open letter, Franco extolled Serkis’s turn as Caesar the chimpanzee as the heart and soul of Rise of the Planet of the Apes . “There is no question that [Serkis’s] character arc is much more dynamic and fascinating…” he wrote, calling for Serkis to get awards recognition “for the innovative artist that he is.” Franco admitted to being hesitant about what performance capture meant for the future of acting before he realized, acting opposite Serkis in Apes , that the medium is an enhancement tool rather than one that threatens to replace human actors with digital ones. “Performance Capture actually allows actors to work opposite each other in more traditional ways, meaning that the actors get to interact with each other and look into each others’ eyes,” he wrote. Beneath the “digital make-up” provided by WETA’s artists, according to Franco, “the thing that was so compelling about that film came from Andy, and the way he rendered that soul is of equal importance, if not more important than the photo realistic surface of the character.” Having a non-performance capture actor speak in support of the emerging craft gives the “Serkis for Oscar” campaign a key proponent – one who’s not necessarily invested in the medium, or in a Serkis Oscar nomination, who can speak to the greater benefit of the technology. “We’ve talked about it a lot, and he totally gets it,” said Serkis. “He is one of the first actors who have been bold enough to really state, and in such a humble way, that the weight of the movie lies in Caesar’s hands. I thought it was incredibly articulate.” Serkis continued: “Sometimes for me it’s very difficult because sometimes it sounds like I’m tub-thumping, like I’m the sort of the spokesperson for performance capture, and to have another actor lend their voice in such an articulate way means a lot — not only to me, but to the acting profession. Because part of the problem in accepting performance capture as acting is borne out of the fear and unknowing of what the process is, and to have that explained by a fellow actor is terrific.” The actor’s first performance capture role came in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings , almost by happenstance, when what was originally intended to be a voice performance for the role of Gollum inspired Jackson to try filming Serkis in the character; the resulting experiment paid off handsomely for both Serkis and the film, and the actor went on to blaze a trail with the quickly advancing technology in films like Jackson’s King Kong , Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin , and the forthcoming The Hobbit . But Serkis was a traditional live-action actor long before Gollum, and he still takes on live-action roles when he’s not involved in various WETA -aided projects with colleague Peter Jackson and Co. (See: Mike Leigh’s Topsy-Turvy , Michael Winterbottom’s 24 Hour Party People , and Tom Hooper’s Longford , which earned him BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations.) And to Serkis, nothing about his process as an actor is any different, whether he’s suited up in mo-cap wear or in a character’s tangible costume. “In the 11 years that I’ve been involved in it, I’ve never drawn any distinction in the acting process between live-action acting and performance capture acting,” Serkis said. “In fact, performance capture acting is merely a misnomer; ‘performance capture’ is more of a technology, it’s a set of cameras that record an actor’s performance in a slightly different way to a 35mm camera or a digital camera recording a live action actor’s performance. But in terms of the actor process — getting into character, working on a scene with the director, engaging with other actors and finding the drama within a scene — on day to day basis on set, it’s exactly the same.” So how much will a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination matter to Serkis and Co., given that their awards campaigning has, in the least, advanced the conversation and challenged preconceptions that have historically reduced performance capture to the wayside? If Serkis prompts his fellow actors and the Academy members to rethink the medium as legitimate acting, will that be enough? “I think, unfortunately we live in a world whereby we have to set a precedent,” Serkis admitted, addressing his Apes campaign. “It’s the way people think, and it sets a precedent to say ‘This is acting, and this goes into an acting category’ — then that shows a marked understanding of what it is. It’s not just about awards, no, of course not. For myself what’s most important is that actors begin to engage with it, and with the process of using it, and invest in it… I think it’s hugely important to keep talking about it, but also to have it recognized for what it is — which is, at the end of the day from an acting point of view, it is no more than acting.” Stay tuned for Movieline’s full interview with Serkis, discussing Apes ’s Oscar hopes, The Hobbit , and the struggle to legitimize performance-capture acting, later this week. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
From Eva Green’s witch, Angelique, to what’s really up with Dr. Hoffman, here are the top things we’re itching to see. By John Mitchell Tim Burton and Johnny Depp on the set of “Dark Shadows” Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures We are just five months away from the release of the hottest vampire movie that doesn’t sparkle in the sunshine, and we’re starting to get excited. Very excited. But unlike the other major movies that have earned themselves a column here at MTV — “The Avengers,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Hunger Games” and “The Twilight Saga” — we are still waiting for a trailer for “Dark Shadows.” And, well, we’re starting to get pretty impatient. So far, director Tim Burton has kept a tight lid on his vampire soap opera — only a few official pics from the set (and one much-discussed paparazzi shot of Johnny Depp in character as Barnabas Collins) have been released. But the new year should bring fresh blood. We know filming has wrapped and that things apparently went so well on set that Michelle Pfeiffer told MTV News while promoting “New Year’s Eve” that working on “Dark Shadows” was “a dream job.” Pfeiffer, who plays family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, added that she hopes the film does well so “we can do a bunch of them, because it was such a fantastic, creative group of people.” Whether that on-set camaraderie will translate into the campy big-screen spook-fest we’re hoping for remains to be seen, and while we hope the trailer doesn’t give too much away, here are a few things we’re hoping to see when it arrives. 1. Eva Green in action as Angelique Angelique Bouchard is the witch who turned Barnabas into a vampire in the late 1700s after their affair went sour. She’s a woman with an axe to grind and has been haunting and cursing the Collins family ever since. So far, the only image we’ve seen of Green in character is the full cast shot, in which she stands in the background wearing modern clothes. We hope the trailer gives us a taste of how the “Casino Royale” Bond girl is going to play the over-the-top villainess. This is a scenery-chewing role that any actress worth her salt would have a field day with. We have faith that the super sexy starlet will do it justice, but a little advance evidence would be nice. We want to see corsets, blood and maybe a voodoo doll or two. 2. A little insight into what Dr. Hoffman is up to For us, one of the biggest mysteries of the film is exactly what role Helena Bonham Carter’s Dr. Julia Hoffman will play in the shenanigans at Collinwood Mansion. The actress has described her character as “an alcoholic psychologist,” and screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith told Entertainment Weekly that Hoffman “has been there for years, working with David [Collins] but not making any progress. He still claims he sees ghosts and talks with his dead mother.” Grahame-Smith goes on to describe the character as “a woman with a lot of secrets herself” who is “interested in Barnabas in more than one way.” What no one has mentioned is Hoffman’s role, in the original series, as a blood disorders specialist who attempts to cure Barnabas of his vampirism. We’ll be watching this trailer very closely to see if HBC is carrying more vials than she is notepads. 3. Collinwood Mansion We got a glimpse of the manor in the cast shot, with its Gothic windows and ancient-looking rugs, but we’re excited to see the rest of the haunted mansion. Overlooking the Atlantic from Collinsport, Maine, the house contains a room that is a gateway to a parallel time, for goodness’ sake. Given that so much of the action of the series takes place within the walls of the mansion, we’re really hoping that Burton and his first-class team of art directors, set designers and cinematographers got it right and captured the regal horror of the place. What will you be looking for in a “Dark Shadows” trailer? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me at @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! Check out everything we’ve got on “Dark Shadows.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
From Eva Green’s witch, Angelique, to what’s really up with Dr. Hoffman, here are the top things we’re itching to see. By John Mitchell Tim Burton and Johnny Depp on the set of “Dark Shadows” Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures We are just five months away from the release of the hottest vampire movie that doesn’t sparkle in the sunshine, and we’re starting to get excited. Very excited. But unlike the other major movies that have earned themselves a column here at MTV — “The Avengers,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Hunger Games” and “The Twilight Saga” — we are still waiting for a trailer for “Dark Shadows.” And, well, we’re starting to get pretty impatient. So far, director Tim Burton has kept a tight lid on his vampire soap opera — only a few official pics from the set (and one much-discussed paparazzi shot of Johnny Depp in character as Barnabas Collins) have been released. But the new year should bring fresh blood. We know filming has wrapped and that things apparently went so well on set that Michelle Pfeiffer told MTV News while promoting “New Year’s Eve” that working on “Dark Shadows” was “a dream job.” Pfeiffer, who plays family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, added that she hopes the film does well so “we can do a bunch of them, because it was such a fantastic, creative group of people.” Whether that on-set camaraderie will translate into the campy big-screen spook-fest we’re hoping for remains to be seen, and while we hope the trailer doesn’t give too much away, here are a few things we’re hoping to see when it arrives. 1. Eva Green in action as Angelique Angelique Bouchard is the witch who turned Barnabas into a vampire in the late 1700s after their affair went sour. She’s a woman with an axe to grind and has been haunting and cursing the Collins family ever since. So far, the only image we’ve seen of Green in character is the full cast shot, in which she stands in the background wearing modern clothes. We hope the trailer gives us a taste of how the “Casino Royale” Bond girl is going to play the over-the-top villainess. This is a scenery-chewing role that any actress worth her salt would have a field day with. We have faith that the super sexy starlet will do it justice, but a little advance evidence would be nice. We want to see corsets, blood and maybe a voodoo doll or two. 2. A little insight into what Dr. Hoffman is up to For us, one of the biggest mysteries of the film is exactly what role Helena Bonham Carter’s Dr. Julia Hoffman will play in the shenanigans at Collinwood Mansion. The actress has described her character as “an alcoholic psychologist,” and screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith told Entertainment Weekly that Hoffman “has been there for years, working with David [Collins] but not making any progress. He still claims he sees ghosts and talks with his dead mother.” Grahame-Smith goes on to describe the character as “a woman with a lot of secrets herself” who is “interested in Barnabas in more than one way.” What no one has mentioned is Hoffman’s role, in the original series, as a blood disorders specialist who attempts to cure Barnabas of his vampirism. We’ll be watching this trailer very closely to see if HBC is carrying more vials than she is notepads. 3. Collinwood Mansion We got a glimpse of the manor in the cast shot, with its Gothic windows and ancient-looking rugs, but we’re excited to see the rest of the haunted mansion. Overlooking the Atlantic from Collinsport, Maine, the house contains a room that is a gateway to a parallel time, for goodness’ sake. Given that so much of the action of the series takes place within the walls of the mansion, we’re really hoping that Burton and his first-class team of art directors, set designers and cinematographers got it right and captured the regal horror of the place. What will you be looking for in a “Dark Shadows” trailer? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me at @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! Check out everything we’ve got on “Dark Shadows.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Despite trailer, Christopher Nolan’s Batman film is shrouded in secrecy. By Eric Ditzian Christian Bale in “The Dark Knight Rises” Photo: Warner Bros. The “Dark Knight Rises” trailer left the MTV News movie staff with a whole fresh set of questions: Is Robin really in the movie? Why is Bruce Wayne walking with a cane ? But in a way, there was something very familiar about our state of mind after checking out the new footage. That’s because, since the beginning of the year, we’ve been consumed with burning questions about Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film. And at every turn, we’d tried to get answers to those questions, hitting up the film’s stars time and time again. Sometimes, we came away with new insights. Sometimes, answers only led to another set of queries. There’s something exasperating about this whole endeavor — but also something awesome. And the movie doesn’t even hit theaters for another seven months. When it does finally arrive, will the film deliver a definite end point to the story line Nolan and his cohorts have been spinning since 2005’s “Batman Begins”? After all, Nolan himself promised us back in February, before production even began on the project, that it would: “We’re very much excited about really finishing a trilogy and giving a conclusion to our story,” he said. “And that’s what we’re doing.” By the end of the year, after shooting had wrapped, co-star Gary Oldman assured us Nolan had stuck to that promise. “There’s a conclusion,” he said. “[Nolan] brings and he touches on the first [film, ‘Batman Begins’] and he weaves it in, and it resolves. And I think it’s a trilogy, but it’s just great. The story is terrific. I mean, it’s just epic.” So, a tiny bit of confirmation there. Yet Oldman also laughed afterward, “I can’t say anything!” That was a theme we heard repeated again and again during the year. When we asked Joseph Gordon-Levitt if his character was Robin, he answered, “You know I can’t have this conversation!” When we pressed Tom Hardy about his role as the villain Bane, he exclaimed, “I can’t [talk about it], so let’s have another question!” And when we wondered whether Marion Cotillard was telling us the truth when she claimed her character, contrary to rumor, would not in fact turn out to be Talia al Ghul, the daughter of “Batman Begins” villain, Ra’s al Ghul, the actress responded with a sly smile, “I am!” We’re not sure what’s more impressive: Nolan’s oeuvre or his ability to keep his actors’ lips sealed. They would, however, say one thing without worrying about giving up a “Dark Knight Rises” spoiler: Everyone loves Nolan. “It’s genius, what he does,” Hardy shared. Cotillard told us, “It’s amazing to work on Christopher Nolan’s set,” while Nestor Carbonell added, “He’s one of these amazing storytellers.” If anyone could sum up the year in “Dark Knight Rises” news, though, it was Liam Neeson , who may or may not actually be in the movie (though we’re pretty sure he is) and who told us simply that he doesn’t have “a f—ing clue what it’s about!” Well put, Mr. Neeson. Us too. But we can’t wait to find out. Check out everything we’ve got on “The Dark Knight Rises.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos ‘Dark Knight Rises’: The Year In Review Related Photos On The Set Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
Brandy may be hard at work on her new album with the talented Frank Ocean, but that doesn’t take up all her time. The young songstress has explored acting roles in Tyler Perry’s “The Marriage Counselor” and “90210.” Now, she opened up to Billboard.com about her character in BET’s “The Game.” Mary J Blige Breaks Down “Mr. Wrong” For Her Fans [Exclusive] “[Chardonnay] has her goals and she’s always rolling her nick and snapping her fingers, and I just love that,” says Brandy, who is filming “The Game” in Atlanta and working on her album in the city concurrently. “I feel like she’s an alter ego, because I can be very sassy in my normal life.” Spotted @ BrandyDaily.com Brandy Lands New Acting Role In “90210″ Brandy’s “On My Own” Documentary Chronicles Her “Last Chance” At Music [TRAILER]
Actress plays a ‘practical, salt-of-the-earth’ character in ‘We Bought a Zoo.’ By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Scarlett Johansson in “We Bought A Zoo” Photo: Twentieth Century Fox Anyone who has followed Scarlett Johansson ‘s career will agree that she carved out a niche for herself early with several roles as “the fantasy girl.” Those looking for that side of Johansson might be disappointed to learn that there is nothing “forced sexy” about her character in her latest film, “We Bought a Zoo.” When MTV News caught up with Johansson recently, we asked if it was refreshing to play “normal” and not have to appear scantily clad at any point in “Zoo.” “Yes, that’s always refreshing. It means you can eat more,” Johansson joked about remaining fully clothed. “For me, one of the big draws of the film was exactly that. It was the fact that I was not playing the girl who is always bridesmaid never a bride, or looking for a husband, or the other woman — none of those things. She’s a very practical, salt-of-the-earth, rounded, motivated, independent woman. I find as I get older, it’s nice to move away from the ing
What kind of goodies were handed out at the early screening of The Dark Knight Rises prologue Tuesday night? How much does Emma Stone love the character of Gwen Stacy she’s playing in The Amazing Spider-Man? Which director has reportedly emerged as a favorite to direct Thor 2? What do the Alamo Drafthouse and Marvel have in common? How are superheroes helping battle Breast Cancer? Read about all of… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : /Film Discovery Date : 14/12/2011 11:58 Number of articles : 2
Can 18-year-old up-and-comer top MTV News’ 2011 list? Vote now! By Rob Markman Lil Twist Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News You try standing out on a label headed by Lil Wayne and anchored by Drake and Nicki Minaj . That’s exactly what Lil Twist did in 2011 as he carved out his own identity in the omnipresent YMCMB machine. Twist appeared on the 2011 XXL Freshman cover at the top of the year and capitalized on that exposure by releasing a number of singles, including his cheater’s ballad “Love Affair” with Young Money boss Lil Wayne. From there the Mohawked Dallas, Texas, rapper released “New Money” with R&B crooner Mishon and then “Turnt Up,” a rapid-fire Busta Rhymes collaboration. The 18-year-old up-and-comer also hit the road this year, joining labelmate Tyga and R&B group Mindless Behavior on the Closer to My Dreams Tour. When he wasn’t out performing, Twist was busy putting the finishing touches on his upcoming debut album, Don’t Get It Twisted. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang General beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. This year, you can vote for Lil Twist (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, MTV News will spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC , an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs Related Artists Lil Twist
His Gus Fring is part of MTV News’ Top 10 TV Characters of 2011. By Kevin P. Sullivan Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring on “Breaking Bad” Photo: Ursula Coyote/ AMC “Breaking Bad” found itself in a unique position at the beginning of its fourth season. Critics and fans alike had heralded it as “the best show on television” for years, and heading into the most recent season, creator Vince Gilligan and the team behind the show had the seemingly impossible challenge of topping the three previous years of nail-biting episodes. So what did they decide to do? They made the main character, Bryan Cranston’s Walter White, into a weakling. His nemesis, the mild-mannered but perpetually dangerous Gustavo Fring, played by Giancarlo Esposito, beat him at every turn. The action slowed to the point where some fans declared it boring, but that was all part of the game. In the slow-down, we learned more about the characters, in particular Esposito’s Gus Fring, who had emerged after two menacingly quiet years on the show as a fan favorite. Each seemingly docile moment added up to what may go down as one of the greatest slow burns in the history of television. It all led to the most-talked-about moment in television this year — SPOILER ALERT! Gus Fring’s explosive death. MTV News spoke with Esposito about his character, why Gus caught on with fans like he did and filming the infamous “Face Off” scenes. MTV : Giancarlo, I think some congratulations are in order. You made it into the top 10 of MTV News’ Top 50 Television Characters of 2011 . Giancarlo Esposito : Oh, awesome! Really awesome. See our Top 50 TV Characters of 2011, 50 to 41, including a masked bachelor and dashing novelist/crime-fighter. MTV : What did you like about Gus as a character? Esposito : I had loved what I was reading in season four when the writing started to come down for each episode, and I realized I had the opportunity to do a couple different things. One was to play an extremely villainous character, but also to layer him with a lot of grace and kindness and make him a likable bad guy, in a way. The way I created Gus and the way I started to read it was I was very impressed he was someone who would work in his own restaurant and serve his own customers from the very beginning. I thought if I could play him with this very caring, sensitive attitude that it would go a long way. So I was a bit surprised when people got more wrapped around who Gus really was and started to like him, even though he had such deeply evil aspects to him. See our Top 50 TV Characters of 2011, 40 to 31, including a “hootie hoo!”-hollering chef and funnyman talk-show host. MTV : Did you see him becoming such a highly regarded character? Esposito : No, no I did not. I was just going about doing my work, and I had no expectations other than enjoying what I was doing in trying to create a full and measured character that I could enjoy and I would imagine the writers would love. I had no idea the audience would get so wrapped around what I was doing as an actor and what Gus was portraying as a character. Check out our Top 50 TV Characters of 2011, 30-21, including a depressed meth cook and a football coach with a heart of gold. MTV : What was your favorite part about playing him? Esposito : I think my favorite part was the idea that you could have a man hiding in plain sight, that here is the man who is not afraid to be gracious and kind and have a great amount of courage avoiding being found out. I think the smart part of Gus really appealed to me. I think it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a character so well put together and so intelligent and so graceful, and he pulls it off. For me that was my favorite part of the character. I also loved that he had such great dominance over Walt, that he was an adviser, that he was trying to get Walt to do what he wanted to do, but he also wanted Walt to become a better person. I love that fact as well. He wasn’t just someone who was a bully. He was someone who was saying, “Your life will be better. You should provide for your family. This is what a man does. He provides.” In a way, Gus was a partner to Walt in many aspects of his life, not only economically through the business, but also advising him on how to live his life. I think that has to be the favorite parts for me. MTV : What was your initial reaction to reading the “Face Off” scene? Esposito : I knew we were going to kill Gus in that way, so I was a bit prepared for the possibility that it would be quite brutal and quite gruesome. What I loved about it was that it was a much more intimate moment than I had ever expected. Vince and I had talked, and he had asked me what Gus might be doing if this explosion happened. I said, “You probably observed me and what I do. I make sure my buttons are buttoned when I get up from a seated position and walk out of a room. I check my tie to make sure I’m completely put together and acceptable when I’m leaving space into another space,” and [Gilligan] chose to make the move the tie, and I was really honored by that, because it is something that I do. I was shocked because the way it was done was so absolutely perfect. You really don’t know. You’re held in suspense until the camera comes around and I turn a little bit and you realize, “Oh my gosh. He’s not going to make it through this. He really has lost half of his face.” To me, that was the most shocking moment, in the way that it was done, in the way that suspense was held at bay and in the intimate moment. It was a very intimate moment personally that [Gilligan] captured. I believe it was the right way to go. I was absolutely shocked! All I could think of was, “Can I render this believable?” Check out our Top 50 TV Characters, 20-11, featuring a sword-wielding 9-year-old and a Trouble Tones teen. MTV : What was it like watching the finished scene? Esposito : I was shocked. I was pleased that it came out so well, but always when I die a character death, part of that character death is a personal death as well. I was overwhelmed. I don’t often watch myself die on television, but in this case, it was important for me to see what the team put together. I watched it once, and I couldn’t watch it again, because it was so disturbing. MTV : What did the effects involve for you? Esposito : I got my head cast. That took about an hour to get all the stuff lined up in terms of how to create the mask on my torso. It took about two, two-and-a-half, three-hour makeup to get all that on me. After that, we had to also position dots to be able to add whatever we needed later on, so it was a quite extensive process. Not just a mask out of a store for Halloween. That was my only hesitation about the way all this happened in the end, that it might look cheesy. I didn’t want it to look like a Freddy movie. It had to be something where your mouth would drop and you would look at it and say “Oh my God. That is so real,” and that’s something we’ve never seen on television before. Don’t miss our Top 10 Characters of 2011, including a “Jersey Shore” guidette and a real daughter of New Jersey. MTV : What do you think of the choice to end Gus’ story there with so many questions still unanswered about his background? Esposito : I think it was really difficult for all involved to not have found out more about Gus. I know that the season really called for this showdown, that the town wasn’t big enough for Walt and Gus. For me, it was a little disappointing not to be able to get to some of what I had hoped they would get to, which was his background. In a way I was disappointed. In another way, Vince kept focus. The show is about Walt and what happens to him. Obviously, season four allowed Gus to excel and to see his story. It also gives me pause because there is an opportunity now to go back and find what about Gus that we didn’t know moved him to be as powerful as he is, as gracious as he is, and how did those building blocks come about in his character? I think we still have the opportunity to go back and find that out. MTV : Will that be in flashbacks or just other characters looking into his background? Esposito : I don’t know, but I know that it is an option for us to know. Flashbacks are an option, but I think there are a few other options which I haven’t thought of or, as time goes by, that are a possibility. I wouldn’t count Gus out. I’d also be very interested in seeing what this team does with this end of Gus and move toward the end of Walter’s character arc. I think Gus will be a part of that. MTV will reveal the best artists, songs and movies of the year. Come to MTV News each day to see more big reveals and check out more of MTV’s Best of 2011 music, TV, movies and news coverage. Related Photos Best TV Characters 2011
