Sunday, November 21, 2010

The AMAs: Another Awards Show's Excuse for Fashion Success and Suicide

From NKOTBSB's explosive performance to Bieber and Usher's leather jacket partnership, the American Music Awards' nominees and/or legendary stars have reinvented their own list of "do's" and "dont's." And, no, Lady Gaga wasn't responsible for ANY of this!


Not only does Avril look a little constipated here (I'm assuming everyone reading this knows what that means, because I really don't want to explain it), but she reeks of bad zebra print judgement. Better luck next time, Avril.


New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys (sans Kevin) reunion(s) = totally awesome! Their matchy costume attire and looked-good-when-they-could-move-like-youth choreography? = Ehh, not soo much :)


Katy Perry brings out her famous pearly whites, porcelain glow, and full decolletage recipe in this iridescent, pastel pink diamond-and-flower-like strapless frock.


As for Kesha....well, she shocked with sexy-messy hair, glitter&glam, and cut-out fabric - as per usual.


Oh Miley, I prefer you with your more slutty punk-dominatrix-whatever get-ups, though I surprisingly like the cashmere toilet paper dress in that commercial (What? It's soft, easy to slip out of, and makes for an inexpensive wedding gown), and I applaud Miley for emulating it.


Nicki Minaj, I may not be able to see majority of your outfit, but I have decided - that's because this is probably your entire outfit (you predictably don't leave much to the imagination), and you look like a pink dragon here. Sorry, next!


As much as I can see through (literally and metaphorically) Rihanna's classic Whitney do and JLo-inspired lace gown, I do appreciate the flashback. Thank you, Rihanna.


Not sure if the full bangs are too harsh for Taylor Swift's cute little face, but the shiny disco ball she's wearing sure is groovy. Get it? Groovy? No? Anyone?


Hi, my name is Will.I.Am, and I'm soooo cool and creative, because I'm sporting an exclusive lego-covered hat. That's right - lego! I can finally reach out to a younger audience and entice my older one. Oooh, ahhh.
Ok, it's over. Jokes, Willz, I love you :)


I feel bad for picking on someone so young and I acknowledge her risks all in the name of being fashion-forward, but come on, Willow Smith - what the H-E-double hockey sticks are you wearing? (Remember, PG-rated language here, even though it spells out to be...oh well....).

Sunday, November 14, 2010

INSIDE A TAURUS' PERSPECTIVE OF THE 25TH ANNUAL GEMINI AWARDS SHOW "FASHIONS"

Yesterday evening, shining Canadian stars - like Glee's Cory Monteith and Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev - took the time to revisit their roots and celebrate their culture at the 25th Annual Gemini Awards (right here in Toronto). Shaking awards and embracing old friends and co-stars victoriously, the following Canuck-born-or-raised celebs not only stood out to prove that the Great White North has inherited some extraordinary talent but extraordinary fashion sense as well. Check it out:


Anna Silk is svelte and pretty in pink, wrapped in this floor-length, a-line number topped off with a Greek Goddess-like, scrunched one-shoulder.


Dragon Den's Arlene Dickson may show us who's boss in this appropriate yet snappy off-the-shoulder purple piece, but should nix the awkward lighter purple criss-cross for another dress.


Alice's Caterina Scorsone looks super-cute in this youthful, strapless, shiny purple top and waist-cinching, patterned, poufy skirt/bottom combo.


All the Degrassi: The Next Generation alums here look great here, but credit is due to Cassie Steele for her neon pink 80s-style frock and Adamo Ruggiero for his geeky-trendy glasses-and-bow pull-up.


Grace Park (The Border, Hawaii-Five-0) flaunts her sleek, toned silhouette in this clingy, futuristic, foil-like silver minidress - with an intricate slit and delicate fabric design at the ends.


Degrassi: The Next Generation graduate/Vampire Diaries right-hand woman Nina Dobrev accentuates her naturally long limbs and lean physique in this dark blue, satin-y halter gown with an opposing longer back and shorter, frilly, ruffled front.


Sara Morton may pull off this dramatic (unforgiving-on-many), long, silver design that hugs every curve, but I'm not too sure about the black gloves and furry white (wait, is that a coat or shawl?)


Last but (certainly) not least, rightfully-chosen host/Glee star Cory Monteith dresses to impress in this mature light grey suit and dark-pattered tie.

Friday, November 12, 2010

IF I WROTE FOR "LAKE SHORE"....


...This is how it would go.

When Lake Shore released its 8 cast members to the media Monday night, major media channels - like PerezHilton.com, Access Hollywood, and CTV News - scrambled to spread news about the first (Canadian) television program to compete with the notorious MTV hit Jersey Shore. Now, Lake Shore's a hit, before its pilot. Can't say the same about Jersey Shore, now, can we - America?

Being Lake Shore's first exclusive blogger EVER, I have decided to create authority - and the predictions - to write my own hypothetical synopsis of the new Lake Shore episodes. If anyone would like to insert their own predictions for Tommy, Arber, Salem, Joey, Sibel, Robyn, Karolina, and Anni Mei, please don't hesitate to post them under here or my Facebook statuses. Enjoy :)


Who will get together? Sibel and Tommy - after a drunken night of fist-pumping and grinding at the club.

Who will get into a fight? Sibel and Robyn - after Sibel calls her a stereotypically racist Jewish name, and Robyn smashes her to the floor. Joey, Arber, and/or Tommy will accidentally slaughter one or each other in a playful decking match game, or purposely slaughter each other after an unexpected "creepy" visit from "grenades."

Who will hook up? Hmm, let's list all the combinations: Sibel and Anni Mei, Anni Mei and Karolina, Karolina and Robyn, Karolina, and Sibel, Robyn and Joey, Anni Mei and Arber, Sibel and Tommy, and - finally - Salem and a spicy Latino man. Yeeee

As for individual storylines...


Anni Mei - She loves to go-go dance, which is awesome, because Arber gets her some more (modeling) gigs through his various club connections. But, can she keep up?


Salem - Speaking of career demands, Salem is further expanding himself in the fashion industry, which means he's super busy. Will Lake Shore interfere with - or improve - his success?


Karolina - is struggling with her sexuality. Does she like women or men - or both? Rawr :)


And if Lake Shore is "real"-ly anything like Jersey Shore...

Karolina and Anni Mei want to tell Sibel about Tommy and his cheating ways - but through an email (not in 19th century letter format, ahem, Jersey Shore).

Anni Mei develops some self-esteem issues, as she grows more involved in the modeling industry.

Robyn talks &*%^ about Sibel - and then Karolina and Anni Mei. Tsk tsk, Robyn...

Anni Mei soon discovers or reveals her obsession with lemons.

The guys pull out girls from the club, and - guess what - they're from the US. Nutella - I mean, oranges - anyone?

Monday, November 8, 2010

"LAKE SHORE" TOP 8 OFFICIALLY REVEALED!


Ok, so the highly-anticipated announcement of the Lake Shore cast members has been leading up to this very moment. If you refer back to my list of who (I think) should be on Lake Shore, my top 8 were: Vonny, Kali, Karolina, Persia, Tommy Hollywood, Easton and Dana (the twins), Manuel Deon, and Robby Simpson.

Who ended up making it? Joey, Arber, Salem, Tommy (correct), Sibel, Karolina (correct), Robyn, and Anni Mei - which means I got 25% right on my predictions.

If you read my analysis - along with my previous chosen Top 8 - you most likely caught my wishy washiness - or lack of confidence - in the selections. For that reason, I believed the top 25 were all somehow equally capable of contributing their own authentic X-factors that would give the show that pizazz? - again, hence my not taking one side of just one or many potential contestants.

But, the key word here is "authentic." The initial purpose of Lake Shore was not just to include people of different ethnicities, races, or religions but to bring people of different cultures and personalities together as one - to not separate people into their little cliques or minorities and put them against each other (unless it's in the "fake drama" way), but to shape them into one multicultural family, country, society - world, even (as cliche as it sounds). Lake Shore could've been seen as a means of battling racism and glamourizing positive acceptance (as it should be, like one would glamourize Angelina Jolie and Madonna's rescuing and adopting poor kids from Africa), but now, I'm not so sure.

Ok, so we have Turkish (Sibel), Italian (Joey), Vietnamese (Anni Mei), Czech (Tommy), Jewish (Robyn), Polish (Karolina), Lebanese (Salem), and Albanian (Arber). Therefore, we have some Asian, some European...but how about the African Americans? Sure, excluding - or just not including - at least one black person into the mix may spark up debates as to how they chose the Top 8 (it wasn't necessarily based on who attained the highest votes). Of course, it may just be a coincidence that they didn't think any of the coloured individuals who auditioned were cut out - or so we think.

I happen to know many Facebook "friends" of Lake Shore - or I - disagree with many of the choices the team has made. Of course, they took the time to thoroughly assess each parameter and combine a group of people who would influence just the right type of drama and dirtiness, but would the viewers - the people who also must want to watch the show to propel the program's success - consent? Again, if Lake Shore's intention was to create diversity, and they didn't note the diversity of an African American person - who should be recognized for their historical significance, for their fighting justice and molding the world into the less legally prejudiced world it has become today - by including them in the Top 8, then the cast isn't exactly as diverse as they wanted it to be. Then again, concentrating on just one race's elimination overshadows the fact that there are more than just 8 ethnicities or cultures in the world, and Lake Shore shouldn't be expected to confront all of them.

Not to say Lake Shore is being racist. However, simply inserting a comment Sibel made in the Lake Shore series premiere sneak peak is a bit daunting and representing Lake Shore as a whole being racist. Sibel says "I'm not racist. I hate everyone equally, especially Jews." Hmm...is she being racist, or did she have a negative experience with more than one Jewish individual that has caused her to believe all Jewish people fall into a specific stereotype? Who knows? I guess we'll find out on the show? P.S. Looks like there's some tension between her and Robyn (who is a Jew). Coincidence?

Guys like Tommy, Arber, and Joey "love to party" every night of the week. In fact, there's no such natural force as daylight for them (metaphorically, not literally, speaking) - even so far as to say that some of them might even be somehow connected - or work - in the club promotions industry. This way, the "party" compensates for both their work AND play. Which begs the question? How many "Situations" does it take to screw in one light bulb? I mean, we need at least one Situation, Pauly D, Vinny, or Ronny to make the show like a "Shore" reality thing, but in this case, it just proves my point: the Situation, Pauly D, Vinny, and Ronny are all somehow synonymous to another. They're all hot and bothered, pumped up, GTL - in their hair gel, wifebeaters, and sick cars - conventional modern day guidos. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but again, the diversity here? Hmm...

One guy that doesn't fit that recipe? Salem - who is as career-driven and fashionably late as they come. He's "blunt, forward, and beautiful" (his words, not mine). As for Anni Mei and Karolina (even the rest of the girls)? Kind of the estrogen-y version of the guys: smexy, smart (business-wise?), and snappy. A Snooki vs. Angelina-esque catfight in the works here? I think so.

The catch? This Top 8 video "accidentally" slipped out of the Lake Shore YouTube womb well premature before its due date. Pardon my pun...everyone thought it'd be a girl, except it was a boy?

Friday, November 5, 2010

THE TRUE CANADIAN "HOUSE BUNNY": PLAYBOY'S "MISS NOVEMBER" SHERA BECHARD COACHES US ON HOW TO LOVE OUR MIND, BODY, AND SOUL

                                               Courtesy of Playboy

You know the story. Cinderella magically swirls from timid housekeeper into confident princess just in time for the Prince to find her glass slipper, take her hand in marriage, and - most importantly - supply her with the courage to leave her evil stepfamily (and just be happy).

Now, the tale of Cinderella has been altered and tweaked to tell for different time periods, cultures, and mediums. So, it makes sense to conclude that in this day and age, the evil stepfamily would probably be technology (not-so) friendly schoolmates, and the Prince (or Fairy Godmother) would most likely be Playboy. And in the midst of various Cinderella stories, this specific one would crown Shera Bechard a proud owner of the classic "Miss November" title.

Shera, a 27-year-old small-town girl from Kapuskasing, Ontario, may gracefully flip long blonde tresses and strip down from the curvaceous, little body Playboy is most famous for now, but she wasn't always this sure of herself. In an exclusive interview with the Toronto Sun, Shera revealed that growing up, she was constantly tormented by both male and female schoolmates, even to the point that "one summer, when she was seven, mean girls dumped her in a garbage can."

Then, not too shortly thereafter, she ditched Kapuskasing and rode to Toronto, taking jobs as a model and club hostess for the next 8 years. Then, finally, Longtime Playboy cartoonist Doug Sneyd finds this Cinderella at a Toronto comic show. “I don’t say this to every girl..." he says to Shera. And then - boom! The glass slipper fits. Shera poses for Playboy and has her happy ending.

But, the "Happily Ever After" isn't coming just yet. Actually, the story has barely begun. Here, Shera takes me through the pages of her own Cinderella story, vividly describing her most crucial characters, climaxes, and downfalls. Now, all girls - big or small - can be inspired to go after their unique "happy endings."

                                               Courtesy of Playboy

V.B. You hail from Northern Ontario, specifically from a small, elusive town called Kapuskasing. What's the lifestyle like up there?

S.B. Kapuskasing is a great little town. It's primarily a logging town with a population of about 9,000. Like most Northern Ontario towns, it's bilingual, so I grew up with French as my first language. Being 8 hours North of Toronto the summers there are short, and the winters are long. But, it's beautiful! You're guaranteed snow every Christmas!

V.B. According to the Toronto Sun, you have a religious mother. If you don't mind me asking, where did her - or your overall family's - religious beliefs stand? What's your take on God and religion? What do you believe?

S.B. Growing up, my mother was more religious than she currently is now. She still has her beliefs, but she's mellowed down quite a bit. She's actually pretty liberal now and has been very supportive of my decision to pose for Playboy, but I did tell my stepfather about it first to see what he thought her reaction would be. As for myself, I guess you could say I'm agnostic. Religion isn't currently a part of my life.

V.B. You were bullied constantly by girls and guys alike throughout school. How did you end up dealing with that? What lessons have you learnt from your own experience that you can offer to anyone - children, teenagers, etc. - who is being tormented?

S.B. Well, I never really dealt with it back then - I just got through it. I was always very shy and timid growing up. I guess that made me a target, but I've overcame a lot of that shyness now. The one thing I would say to people who are going through it themselves is to know that it will end eventually, and it will get better with time. Thankfully, high school is only a few years of your life.

V.B. What made you decide to pack your bags and move to Toronto when you were 18? Have you always wanted to become a model? How did Toronto "toughen you up"?

S.B. As much as I like Kapuskasing, there was nothing there for me; I had no job or friends/boyfriend holding me there. I always had people telling me I could be a model, and I had done a photoshoot with a local photographer up in Kap, so I thought I might as well pursue it. Clearly, I couldn't do it there, so I came to Toronto. Toronto was good in the sense that I got to do a lot of shoots with great photographers, and I found out I was quite good at modeling, so that was good for my confidence. But yeah, Toronto toughens you up; coming from a town of 9,000 to a city of 2 million will do that.

V.B. Were you hoping for or expecting this type of fame? Do you project the "Playboy" achievement as a metaphorical "middle finger" to the guys and girls that used to tease - and who probably now want to be or be with - you?

S.B. I certainly wasn't expecting this, but you do hope to achieve it. But it's not even the fame I was hoping for - just the success. I've never wanted to be famous; I just wanted to be good at what I do, good enough to make a living off of it. And yeah, it's also nice knowing that I've achieved more with my life now than most of those people who once tormented me, so I guess I got the last laugh :)

                                                  Courtesy of Playboy

V.B. You described your younger self as "geeky and scrawny" and also indicated that your curves weren't appreciated by the high fashion modeling industry in Toronto. The struggle to looking "perfect" in the industry - or society, in general - is constant. What's your take on body image issues regarding young girls and women, and how can you apply that perspective to your own life?

S.B. Yeah, my curves and height (I'm 5'6") weren't good enough for the Toronto modeling industry. But, thankfully, that didn't hold me back. Personally, I've never bought into that whole struggle to look perfect. I think that if you eat well and exercise, things take care of themselves.

V.B. You were (indirectly) discovered by Playboy cartoonist Doug Sneyd at a Toronto comics book show, then suddenly (it seems), you were in. How exactly did the whole process go down?

S.B. Well, as I said, I went there to meet a friend. My friend said Doug was there, and he thought it'd be fun to have him draw my picture, since he was a fan of Doug's work. So as Doug was drawing me, we got to talking, and, long story short, Doug said he had met a lot of Playmates over the years and felt that I was better looking than all of them. So he said he was willing to do something he had never done before, which was to send my photos directly to Hef. So I sent my photos to Doug, he sent them to Hef, and - within a week - I was asked to come down to L.A. to do the test shoot. I met Doug May 8th and was in L.A. shooting my test shoot by the end of the month.

V.B. So, now, you're adjusting to the "Playboy" lifestyle. You say there's no "orgies" but is there anything about the Playboy Mansion or brand that only the models know, that outsiders wouldn't foresee?

S.B. I think most people would be surprised with how laid-back and friendly and non-sexual it is there. Hef is also the warmest and sweetest guy; so are the friends who hang out with him. I miss it when I'm not at the Mansion - the grounds are beautiful, whatever food you want is available 24/7, Sunday is "Fun in the Sun" day where all Playmates - past and present - are allowed to come and hang out by the pool. On weekend nights, we watch movies in the Mansion's theatre - so being there is like being on vacation.

V.B. You portray a "mute stripper" in Sweet Karma. Can you clue us in to your character or the plot of the story?

S.B. I actually don't play a mute stripper. I play a mute Russian girl who comes to Toronto to infiltrate a sex ring, in order to get revenge for the death of her sister. So, in one scene, she poses as a stripper to get her revenge on one of the guys. The film was actually based on true stories about sex rings in Toronto and how they operate. Obviously, the whole revenge thing is fiction, but the world that the film takes place in is very real - which most people are quite shocked to learn.

V.B. What's coming up for you in the nearby future?

S.B. I have nothing concrete coming up; I've had a couple more film offers, and I'm certainly looking into doing another film soon. I also just finished doing the Playmate Review photo shoot, which comes out in the January issue of Playboy, so that people can vote for Playmate of the Year. And hopefully, with any luck, that will be my next big photo shoot :)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

TO THE ACTOR WHO CAN PLAY A CHEATER, PSYCHO, AND JOSH HARTNETT'S NEMESIS ALL AT ONCE: NIKITA'S SEBASTIEN ROBERTS TELLS US HOW "GOOD OF AN ACTOR" HE REALLY IS!



“Thanks for calling. Talking to you actually made time go a lot quicker.” Static and sounds of the road cloud over my phone’s quality; Sebastien Roberts is bravely taking on a 4 hour drive to his hometown of Montreal simultaneously while answering my many interview questions (using headsets, of course! He believes in safe driving!) But, his cutting yet soothing voice still prove to be comprehensible. He pronounces every word accurately – without thee Encyclopedia dictionary arrogance or suspicions of over-rehearsal. He stammers and stops like everyone else, but builds enough rapport to carry on conversation - to tell his story so fluidly. And, boy, does he have a story... Not bad for the 37-year-old Montreal native who is now most memorable for playing the (dead?) fiancĂ© of the character-titled, reborn Toronto-filmed CW series Nikita, boasting a cast of a bevy of stars like The O.C.’s Melinda Clarke, Young & The Restless’s Lyndsy Fonseca, and A Walk to Remember’s Shane West. Surrounded by an all-celebrity cast, Sebastien’s raw yet versatile talents stand out, circling his own spotlight. Here, Sebastien opens up about his twin sister’s death, playing tough characters – like an in-the-closet homosexual, incestuous rapist, and Josh Hartnett’s enemy – and conceiving a son with the “biggest heart” (Aww.) Check our personal Q&A here.

V.B. You were born in the great metropolitan city of Montreal, Quebec. What made you decide to relocate and pursue a career in acting?

S.R. Actually, I was born in Montreal then I grew up in Sarnia (a town located approximately 2-3 hours away from Toronto). I moved back to Montreal, when I was about 20-21, because I just had my son. Now that my son is turning 17 and so grown up, I have more time to pursue acting. I just sold my house in Montreal and got an apartment in Toronto, because I spend more time here now (to film Nikita). I go back and forth. I never dreamt of becoming an actor really early on, but I was on an improv team in Ontario that travelled and performed in a few plays in high school. I had a child so early, so I needed a job. I worked in the pipe centre/industry – plumbing, oil plants, etc. – that sort of thing. If I didn’t have my son (Jesse), I would probably be one of those struggling actors who bartended or served to pay his bills. I didn’t go to theatre school until I was 28.

V.B. You were a regular on Providence, playing character Francois Berthier. Would you say you grew with your character throughout your duration on the show? What kinds of issues and behaviour shifts did your character experience that you would like to address or advise your viewers on?

S.R. I played a Phys Ed/Nature teacher on the Providence for 3 years. I’m very grateful for this, because it was my first big role. When you’re on a show with a million viewers for 3 years, you get recognition for other opportunities. I’m used to playing sociopaths or other multi-dimensional characters, but he (Francois) was too perfect – too boring. He fell in love with one of his student’s mothers who was having a hard time with her husband. But then it became more interesting, when after 2 years, they (the writers) made my character have an affair with a man. You never actually saw the affair on the show; you only heard about it. The affair supposedly happened 10 years before that. The man I had a “fling” with told everyone, and my wife (on the show) found out.

V.B. Were you comfortable playing a gay character?

S.R. Yes. You didn’t actually see the character being gay. It was simple, not based on a whole bunch of research. There was no confusion, bisexuality, or struggle with his character (to come out, understand his sexuality, etc.)

V.B. In 2006, you made appearances on shows like Naked Josh and G-Spot. Those seem like pretty racy shows, judging by their names :) Where do you draw your line in what you're willing to perform as an actor, and why? For example, would you consider doing (more) nude or sex scenes?

S.R. On Naked Josh, I played a handicapped character (in a wheelchair) who cheated on his girlfriend. Of course, it was hard moving in certain positions utilizing – and being in – a wheelchair. That was the first and only time I played someone handicapped. It really gave me a view of what handicapped people have to go through, day in and day out. In G-Spot, I only did one sex scene, and there I showed my chest. In Lucky Number Slevin – a movie where I acted with Josh Hartnett – I actually had sex with his girlfriend behind his back, and he found out. Of course, they cut the dialogue and not the sex scene. People tease me for that; this was actually done earlier on in my career. That’s how good of an actor I am. They cut my lines and kept my ass (laughs)! I wouldn’t do that again, unless I were the lead or it depended on the movie – not for a one-liner, especially when you’re just starting out and you’re the “pretty boy.” One of my more controversial roles called for my playing a rapist on One Way, a movie we filmed in Germany? We find out in court as a teen, I raped my sister when she was only 14. I tell people “I love playing a rapist,” because as an actor, you go down to these dark places with your character, and it’s really interesting. Of course, it seems real when you see a lot of nudity and sex – and you ask yourself, “Is she really doing this?” – but (you have to remind yourself that) it isn’t real.


V.B. Speaking of "sex," many Canadians especially consider you to be a sex symbol. What do you find "sexy"?

S.R. I’m more known in Quebec than in English-speaking parts of Canada. I’ve never seen an article where they mention me as a sex symbol. I’m not 25 anymore; I’m a Dad, and I couldn’t be more proud of my son. My son has the biggest heart; I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such a great kid. So, I’d rather be in a magazine saying that I’m a great – and hot – Dad. The sexiest thing – without a doubt – is self-confidence. That’s a clichĂ© but it’s true – it’s the walk, the look, how someone holds their Starbucks coffee (laughs). Sexiness is seen through behavior and as actors, we study human behavior. It’s not so much how a person dresses or appears. I’ve seen models who probably have less self-confidence than girls who aren’t models (or model-types). And the smile – a smile shows your personality.

V.B. The French language is also pretty sexy. Do you speak any French or know any funny or effective pick-up lines (in French or English)?

S.R. I’m pure French-Canadian, so I speak better French than I do English, though it’s pretty equal. No pick-up lines! Pick-up lines are for people who don’t have much self-confidence. When you’re prepared, it just happens…but to have a pick-up line? How does that work? It has to be truthful, pertaining to the moment…
V.B. You play Daniel on the renowned TV series Nikita, which is filmed right here in Toronto. What's it like working with celebrities like Melinda Clarke, Lyndsy Fonseca, and Shane West? Anyone you have become close friends with?

S.R. I play Maggie Q (Nikita)’s fiance. I’m not a regular on the show, but I was killed off right at the beginning, so you see me in flashbacks. Writers can change that very easily though, so I might not be dead? We’ll see…I’ve only done 3 episodes. They’re talking about bringing me back more and more in flashbacks though; I hope they do. Great cast – very talented – great directors, great crew. I love working there; the cast is very nice. I’ve been in and out of town since they shot the pilot, so I haven’t been able to go out with them. Hopefully, the more I’m on the show, the more I get to meet with them.

V.B. Faces in the Crowd (where you portray a stranger/lurker) and Hellraiser: Revelations will be released sometime next year. Have you acquired opportunities in those films to explore controversial or different personalities and storylines?

S.R. Faces in the Crowd is probably one of the best scripts I’ve ever read in a long time. Milla Jovanich’s character falls off a bridge and gets this condition where she cannot recognize other people’s faces – including her own – and sees different faces on the same identities everywhere she goes. I thought it was fiction at first – that there was no such condition where you cannot recognize your own face – but it’s true. There are little things that doctors recommend to help patients with this condition, like noting moles or other special features to distinguish people’s faces from anyone else’s faces and their identities. And there’s this killer. Because of her condition, she doesn’t know who the killer is. Every single scene had a different face (actor) for the killer, so every actor had one scene in the movie. It’s kind of confusing to follow. I can’t wait to see that movie. That’s why I did it. With Hellraisers – well, I don’t like horror movies. I don’t like the feeling of getting scared. In that particular film, the plot works with issues like dimensia. I can’t get into too many details.

V.B. Would you like to add in anything else? What are your dreams (acting or non-acting) for the new year or nearby future?

S.R. Well, I wanted to say this at the beginning. The reason why I graduated so late was because at the age of 26, my twin sister passed away. The goodness that came out of the tragedy gave me the strength to do it – to pursue acting. What if I never got the chance to live my dream again? I had the money, I got the proper training. I went from being a pipe fitter to an actor – and I did it.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

GET BETTER SOON, DEMI!!!


Demi Lovato - a Disney star famous for her "Camp Rock" and "Sonny With A Chance" starring roles - checked herself into a treatment centre for "emotional and physical issues," her representatives revealed in a statement yesterday night.

The statement did not thoroughly explain the 18-year-old's issues, but claimed Lovato checked herself into a facility to help alleviate those problems.

An insider knowledgeable of the situation recently told The Associated Press that Lovato began treatment for problems including an eating disorder and self-mutilation.

Provided this opportunity of discussing the issue further - whether you're a celebrity or not - we all have stress in our lives. Some of us attempt to cope with the stress and take "control" over our lives utilizing dangerous methods, like anorexia, bulimia, drug/substance abuse, cutting, and more. If you are considering - or are already - participating in any of these behaviours, please stop immediately. Realize you have people around you that love you, and that there's always another way out. Surround yourself with positive influences and attain professional help, if needed.

If you need help NOW, please contact KIDS HELP PHONE at 1-800-668-6868 or refer to their website at http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/ - Thank you.