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The Twilight Saga: New Moon Interview with Kristen Stewart

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Robert Pattinson Interview

A Q&A with Russell from UP! Find it on DVD and Blu-Ray November 10th!

2009 NEW YORK CITY HORROR FILM FESTIVAL FEATURED FILM SELECTION ANNOUNCED

Win a copy of FUNNY PEOPLE on DVD from IESB!

Win a copy of FUNNY PEOPLE on DVD from IESB!

IESB has got three (3) FUNNY PEOPLE DVD prize packages copies to give away to three lucky readers! Critically-acclaimed writer, director and producer Judd Apatow takes audiences on a hilarious and revealing look at the world of stand-up comedy with the story of George Simmons, a famous comedian who is given a second chance at life in FUNNY PEOPLE, which comes to Blu-ray and DVD November 24th, and features more heartfelt laughs with both the original theatrical movie and a never-before-seen unrated film! This Thanksgiving, acclaimed filmmaer Judd Apatow brings you the two-disc DVD and Blu-Ray Hi Def release of FUNNY PEOPLE starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann. Own the home entertainment release loaded with exclusive extras and featurings the original theatrical movie plus an unrated version not seen in theaters on November 24, 2009. IESB has got your chance to win one of three FUNNY PEOPLE DVD prize packages that includes a copy of the DVD and a Magnetic Comedy Kit below! Critically-acclaimed writer, director and producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) takes audiences on a hilarious and revealing look at the world of stand-up comedy with the story of George Simmons, a famous comedian who is given a second chance at life in Funny People, coming to two-disc Blu-RayTM Hi-Def, two-disc Collector's Edition DVD, single-disc DVD and digital download on November 24, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. All versions deliver even more heartfelt laughs with both the original theatrical movie and a never-before-seen unrated film. The two-disc Blu-ray and DVD versions are also packed with bonus features created especially for home entertainment audiences by Judd Apatow and his entire production team, including actual footage of Adam Sandler's and Apatow's personal prank phone calls, additional stand-up comedy performances by the cast, and in-depth video diaries chronicling the filmmaking process. With two versions of the movie, and an incredible array of hilarious bonus features crafted just for fans, Funny People on DVD and Blu-rayTM promises to be the ultimate comedy experience and a must-have gift this holiday season. In Funny People, Adam Sandler (You Don't Mess with the Zohan, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry) leads an all-star ensemble cast including Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express, Knocked Up), Leslie Mann (17 Again, Knocked Up), Jonah Hill (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Superbad), Eric Bana (Star Trek, The Time Traveler's Wife) and Jason Schwartzman (The Darjeeling Limited, Rushmore), along with special cameo appearances from some of comedy's greatest legends including Paul Reiser, Ray Romano, Sarah Silverman, Norm Mac Donald, Dave Attell and Charles Fleisher, among others. Funny People on Blu-rayTM is presented with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available, as well as Universal's acclaimed BD-LiveTM Center, which allows fans access to a world of interactive and exclusive content via their Internet-connected player. Film critics from coast to coast have given Judd Apatow's Funny People great reviews for its smart, touching and comedic take on the life of George Simmons. "Apatow's richest movie yet," said David Denby of The New Yorker; "hilarious" raves Peter Travers of Rolling Stone; and "uproariously funny!" according to Sonny Bunch of The Washington Times. BONUS FEATURES Throughout the production of the film, Judd Apatow and his entire production team were mindful of home entertainment audiences, gathering exclusive footage of the filmmaking process and creating special features that they knew fans would love. Accordingly, both the two-disc Collector's Edition Blu-rayTM and DVD come loaded with exclusive bonus features, including: Hilarious gag reels Deleted & Extended / Alternate Scenes Line-O-Rama: Re-watch some of the movie's funniest scenes, but this time with alternate punch lines Feature Commentary with director Judd Apatow and stars Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen Documentaries: Funny People Diaries: A documentary in four parts which takes audiences inside all aspects of the filmmaking process from early cast table reads and joke brainstorming sessions, to the various filmmaking techniques employed throughout the production. Judd's High School Radio Show Raaaaaaaandy!: This mockumentary takes fans on the road with Aziz Ansari's Randy character from the film. Music from Funny People: Listen to music from and inspired by the film from James Taylor, Adam Sandler, Jon Brion and RZA From the Archives: Watch Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow on a 1990 episode of The Midnight Hour with Bill Maher; Sandler's first appearance on David Letterman; and Seth Rogen doing stand up at 13! The Films of George Simmons: Watch footage from George Simmons' greatest films including Sayonara Davey and Merman Prank Call 1990: Watch Sandler as he performs an actual prank phone call, in this archival footage from Judd Apatow's personal video library "Yo Teach...!": Go "behind-the-scenes" of "Yo Teach...!", the television show featured in the film Funny People Funny People on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def includes everything on the two-disc Collector's Edition DVD, plus more exclusive content and interactive features, including: Enjoy more hilarious laughs with two more Line-O-Rama's Watch additional Deleted, Extended and Alternate Scenes Additional music and an extensive look at James Taylor on the set Over an hour of stand up performances by the film's cast Additional archival material including Sandler's second Letterman appearance, Sandler at Los Angeles' famed Comedy & Magic Club and Judd Apatow performing on The Dennis Miller Show Hilarious prank calls from Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow Adam Sandler and Judd Apatow's appearance on "Charlie Rose" U-ControlTM: Funny People music: Universal's exclusive signature feature puts the viewer just a click away from additional insights into the music in the film without ever leaving the movie. BD-LiveTM: Access the BD-LiveTM Center through any Internet-connected player to download more exclusive content, the latest trailers and more! My Chat: Using any Internet-connected player, host a text chat with friends while watching the movie in synchronization My Funny People Commentary: Create play-by-play video, audio or text movie commentary and share it with friends through UniversalHiDef.com and the BD-Live Center My Scenes Sharing: Bookmark favorite scenes from the movie to share with BD-Live buddies! The Funny People single disc DVD includes a gag reel and feature commentary with director Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT IS OFFERING UP A $100,000 CHANCE OF A LIFETIME TO CELEBRATE THE BLU-RAYTM HI-DEF & DVD RELEASE OF FUNNY PEOPLE THIS HOLIDAY! Beginning October 28th, you could live like a movie star by winning $100,000!* With this much cash, create the experience of a lifetime by taking a first-class comedy tour in Los Angeles. While there, you could take advantage of VIP access to top comedy clubs or even buy and cruise Hollywood Boulevard in a brand new luxury ride, like the ones seen in Funny People! Over 200 additional prizes will be awarded, including HDTVs, Netbooks, Blu-rayTM players and more. Each winner of these additional prizes get 2 - one for themselves and one to give away this holiday. (*$100,000 prize will be awarded in the form of a check to the winner.) SYNOPSIS Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann star in this seriously funny film from writer-director Judd Apatow, (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up). When famous comedian George Simmons (Sandler) is given a second chance at a new beginning, he and his assistant, a struggling comedian, Ira (Rogen), return to the places and people that matter most... including the stand-up spots that gave him his start and the girl that got away (Mann). Co-starring Jonah Hill, Eric Bana and Jason Schwartzman, it's the film critics cheer is "uproariously funny"(Sonny Bunch, The Washington Times). www.funnypeoplemovie.com CAST AND FILMMAKERS Written & Directed By: Judd Apatow Produced By: Judd Apatow, Clayton Townsend, Barry Mendel Executive Producers: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jack Giarraputo Director of Photography: Janusz Kaminski Production Designer: Jefferson Sage Edited By: Brent White, Craig Alpert Co-Producers: Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O'Brien Costume Designers: Nancy Steiner, Betsy Heimann Music By: Jason Schwartzman, Michael Andrews Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza, Rza, Iris Apatow, Maude Apatow TECHNICAL INFORMATION TWO-DISC BLU-RAYTM HI-DEF Street Date: November 24, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment Selection Number: 61106315 Running Time: Theatrical: 2 hours 26 minutes; Unrated: 2 hours 33 minutes. Layers: BD-50 Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1 Rating: R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality / Unrated Technical Information: Blu-ray Hi-Def Disc One: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS DD 2.0, English SDH Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, Spanish subtitles French DTS Surround 5.1, French Subtitles Blu-ray Hi-Def Disc Two: English Dolby Digital 2.0 English, Spanish and French subtitles TECHNICAL INFORMATION TWO DISC DVD Street Date: November 24, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment Selection Number: 61106313 Running Time: Theatrical: 2 hours 26 minutes; Unrated: 2 hours 33 minutes. Layers: Dual Layers Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Rating: R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality / Unrated Technical Info: Standard Definition Disc One: English Dolby Digital 5.1/DVS DD 2.0, English SDH Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish subtitles French Dolby Digital 5.1, French Subtitles Standard Definition Disc Two: English Dolby Digital 2.0 English, Spanish and French subtitles TECHNICAL INFORMATION SINGLE DISC DVD Street Date: November 24, 2009 Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment Selection Number: 61106320 Running Time: Theatrical: 2 hours 26 minutes; Unrated: 2 hours 33 minutes. Layers: Dual Layer Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Rating: R for language and crude sexual humor throughout, and some sexuality Technical Info: Standard Definition Disc One: English Dolby Digital 5.1/DVS DD 2.0, English SDH Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish subtitles French Dolby Digital 5.1, French subtitles Enter to win a FUNNY PEOPLE DVD prize package from IESB, includes a copy of the DVD plus a Magnetic Comedy Kit, by filling out the form below! Winners notified by email. Contest ends November 27th! Good luck and thanks for playing! Name: Address: City, State: Zip: Email Address: Incomplete entries will be disqualified, one entry per person

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Exclusive Photo Gallery: Red Carpet Premiere of 2012

The red carpet premiere for Roland Emmerich's latest disaster flick 2012 was held in Hollywood last night. Stars from the film plus celebrity guests were in attendance including John Cusack, Roland Emmerich, Amanda Peet, Adam Lambert, Amy Pascal, Beatrice Rosen, Camilla Belle, Candis Cayne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Crystle Stewart, Dania Ramirez, Danny Glover, Estella Warren, Gavin B. Keilly, Howard Stringer, Jason Biggs, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Johann Urb, Kelvin Brown, Lauren Graham, Mark Gordon, Matt Tolmach, Michael Lynton, Mickey Rooney, Oliver Platt, Shannyn Sossamon, Sofia Vergara, Thandie Newton, Vail Bloom, Woody Harrelson and many more! Check out IESB's exclusive photo gallery from the event courtesy of IESB photographer Rick Chavez by clicking on the image below!

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Enter to Win a Special THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS Prize Package!

In a comedic look at real life events that are almost too bizarre to believe, a reporter discovers a top-secret wing of the U.S. military when he accompanies an enigmatic Special Forces operator on a mind-boggling mission. Reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is in search of his next big story when he encounters Lyn Cassady (Academy Award® winner George Clooney), a shadowy figure who claims to be part of an experimental U.S. military unit. According to Cassady, the New Earth Army is changing the way wars are fought. A legion of "Warrior Monks" with unparalleled psychic powers can read the enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and even kill a goat simply by staring at it. Now, the program's founder, Bill Django (Oscar® nominee Jeff Bridges), has gone missing and Cassady's mission is to find him. Intrigued by his new acquaintance's far-fetched stories, Bob impulsively decides to tag along. When the pair tracks Django to a clandestine training camp run by renegade psychic Larry Hooper (two-time Oscar® winner Kevin Spacey), the reporter is trapped in the middle of a grudge match between the forces of Django's New Earth Army and Hooper's personal militia of super soldiers. In order to survive this wild adventure, Bob will have to outwit an enemy he never thought possible. The Men Who Stare at Goats was inspired by Jon Ronson's non-fiction bestseller of the same name, an eye-opening and often hilarious exploration of the government's attempts to harness paranormal abilities to combat its enemies. The film stars George Clooney (Burn After Reading), Jeff Bridges (Iron Man), Ewan McGregor (Angels & Demons), Kevin Spacey (Moon), Robert Patrick ("The Unit"), Stephen Root (The Soloist), Stephen Lang (Public Enemies) and Rebecca Mader "Lost"). It is directed by Academy Award® nominated Grant Heslov (Good Night, and Good Luck) from a screenplay by Peter Straughan (How to Lose Friends & Alienate People) from the book by Jon Ronson. The Men Who Stare at Goats is produced by Clooney, Heslov and Paul Lister. Director of photography is Academy Award® winner Robert Elswit (There Will be Blood). Editor is Tatiana S. Riegel (There Will Be Blood). Costume designer is Louise Frogley (Quantum of Solace). Production designer is Sharon Seymour (Gone Baby Gone). One (1) lucky IESB winner will receive an official "No Goats, No Glory" T-shirt and copy of the book! Enter to win IESB's THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS sweepstakes by filling out the form below to enter the random drawing! Winners will be notified by email. Contest ends November 13th. For more info on the film head over to the official site themenwhostareatgoatsmovie.com U.S. Residents Only Name: Address: City, State: Zip: Email Address:

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Press Conference: The World is Coming to an End on 2012....Thanks Again to Roland Emmerich

A few weeks ago, I traveled to a small town near Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole in Wyoming. Beautiful little town in one of the greatest states in the lower 48. But instead of going for a mountain bike or ski trip, the press was flown in to chat with John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet and the man who loves to destroy large cities and the White House, Roland Emmerich, to discuss their upcoming feature film 2012. I am sure by now you've seen the trailers and film clips and know that in Roland Emmerich's 2012 the world as we know it will come to an end. The big question is, how cool will the destruction be on the big screen? The 2012 phenomenon has become very popular in the last few decades, from black holes, to planet collisions, to polar shifts, there isn't a shortage of theories of what will happen on December 21, 2012. The IESB along with other members of the press where able to chat with the cast and director of 2012 to get their thoughts on the making of this blockbuster but also their thoughts on if we are just a few years away from the end of the world. What are your personal thoughts of what will happen in 2012? Roland Emmerich: It is peculiar how 2012 is this date that there are a lot of ideas about it, and we chose the destructive one. I think destruction works better in the movie. The preparations, well, I will go ski. It is December 21st, which is skiing season. I will chose the highest mountainthere is. If the world ends, you know, what can I do? If not, I will skidown. John Cusack: I will try to get on Roland's trip to be on that mountain. Amanda Peet: Yeah, can I come? John Cusack: Do you know the book, The Return of Queztacoatl? That book, I think, is a little more in line with what I think will happen; a shift in consciousness. That seemed to be more of what I think will happen rather than an actual end of days. Chiwetel Ejiofor: I don't ski, so I can't join them. Unfortunately. Besides, I think avalanches are something to worry about, so I'll just spend it kind of quietly with family and friends and hope for the best. I don't have a real opinion about 2012. I think it is, like John said, a shift inconsciousness. It feels like things are converging and that something has to change, and maybe it will center around that time. Amanda Peet: I am kind of a hypochondriac, and I worry about a lot of things, so I'm really going try to not worry about it too much. How much scientific research was done for this script? Emmerich: From the beginning, there was the Earth's crust displacement theory, which we found was a theory that was big enough, in a way, to cause all this flooding. That was the main reason why I chose this one. Before we started writing the script, we actually met with a professor of science at USC, in Los Angeles, and asked him how it could all unfold. He told us first that he doesn't believe in the displacement theory. We asked him if he couldgive us some insight, and he said the only way this could work is if a molecule mutated into another kind of particle. He said from that moment, all bets are off. No scientist would say that this could not happen because this has never happened before. That was the concept we chose. I also believe that there has some sort of feeling of believability in the movie. Is this the most physical movie you have ever done, and what was it like working in front of a green screen? Cusack: Yeah, this was pretty action packed for sure. It wasn't any different than a lot of films, in a way, because of the production design. Usually, you have the entire set built, and then in back of the set would be a green screen. There was a massive production design team working on the set. When we were on the mountain at the end, there would be a huge glacier field and there would be blue screens in the background, so we were alwaysacting with regular sets; it was the backgrounds that were being digitally enhanced...Yeah, a lot of running, jumping, and tumbling. You got to stay stretched out or you could pull a hamstring, for sure. Ejiofor: I got off pretty lightly being in the government. Yeah, I had a couple of days of fun work, but that was it. I was slightly envious not to be able to work on the shaky floor. It looked pretty cool. What would you like audiences to take away from this film? Emmerich: I liked it because what you really are doing is celebrating life and what are the most important things in life. It is about survival and regular people becoming heroes, and I think people can identify with that. They will ask themselves if they would be as brave as Jackson Curtis. That is what I hope they take from it. Emmerich: Yeah, it was intentional because we cannot make a movie like this and end it badly. It would be kind of sad. They have to figure it out. In a sense, this is modern retelling of Noah's Ark. You know, in Noah's Ark there were survivors and if you look at the end there is hope. That is exactly what we wanted to convey. John, what was the hardest thing for you to do in this movie? Cusack: I thought it was pretty fun actually. It was a great group of people, the story was great, and the studio was great. Roland has done this so many times before. What would be a crushing technical process for other directors, he seems to do very effortlessly, so he just focuses on the characters. I got to work with Amanda again. It was a great part. It waskind of a good gig all the way around. Roland, what are you going to destroy next? Emmerich: Actually, I destroyed the image of Shakespeare. Are you done with the disaster genre? Emmerich: I think so because I had a hard time convincing myself to do it. I actually only did it because it was such an incredible idea. Then I said to myself, if I do it one more time, I would do it in the biggest way it could possibly be done. So, hopefully, I have it out of my system. I also say, "Never say never." You tend to add in a lot of humor with the disaster films, and this film had a lot of funny dialogue. Did you intentionally try to insert the funny dialogue to offset the catastrophic events? Emmerich: Yeah, it was a little like that in a way. I had this discussion with, Harold, my co-writer. We kind of asked ourselves what the tone of the movie should be. I always believe that when such an extreme thing happens, and it is about survival, you have to give the people release. If they cannot laugh once in a while, they will not enjoy the movie. We went for the tone of Independence Day, which is similar. For The Day After Tomorrow, Ididn't want to do that because I thought with the theme of the movie, andwhat I wanted to tell, it was too serious. John, can you talk a little about your film, Hot Tub Time Machine? Cusack: Yeah, well that is set in the past. It is about four losers who get stuck back in the 1980s. John, what attracted you to this film? Cusack: I think it was the combination of the project, director, and the actors. It was nice to be wanted...I got the call, and they told me, "Roland Emmerich's movie, they want you to do it, and we'll send you the script." I said, "Great!" Then I read the script and it was a real page-turner. I thought it was very surprising. By the end of the film, I actually got quiteemotional and very tense. I just thought it was a really good, big, epic movie all the way around. As you read it, interesting things would happen because they have this scene where Rome burned and Paris fell. How do you shoot that? Then the story got bigger and bigger. The catastrophes got bigger and the geography, of the characters and the places where they were safe, got smaller and smaller. The movie actually got more intimate as it went along...I haven't seen that with most action films. Usually once the explosions start, the characters stop. These were reverse engineered so it got more intimate. I thought that was really clever, so it was a terrific script and I was happy to do it. Do you think of this film as a sort of cautionary tale? Emmerich: I don't think the film is to warn about anything, so it is not a cautionary tale. It is a cautionary tale in a way, maybe in a way of if this is going to happen, what is important in life and what is savable, and how should we save things. For me, I am always a little suspicious of governments, so it is also an expression of that. Then I always think movies have to be fun. If a movie is not fun, I don't want to do it. Cusack: I think it also taps into the paranoia around the world. Ejiofor: People tend to in tragedies. Obviously, in the tragedies we see in the world now. People tend to find great unity in that. I think that is one of the things this story talks about. I think you have to have a lot of optimism in humanity and people. I think that is part of this story and what it is getting at. There is an inherent good and these things bring them outsometimes. In earlier versions of the script, did you ever have a stronger focus on the cosmology or was that already figured out and get to the disasters? Emmerich: We discussed that too. We said we wanted a little bit of that at the beginning. First of all, there are so many theories and so many different ways to do it. We just felt it has to be over relatively fast. At the end, it is not only a story about 2012, but it is a modern retelling of Noah's Ark. How did you go about casting this film? Emmerich: Well, fortunately we had a very strong script. Pretty much everybody that we went to immediately wanted to do it. It is a very rare thing when this happens. I always say that 80 percent of directing is having the right cast, so I was very happy and fortunate to have that cast. It was also interesting because it is a more somber piece and we discussed which actor we wanted for what part. It was more like how people fit together and I felt that Amanda and John have a good chemistry, which they did. I was lucky that it worked. Do you like to choose which place you will destroy in your films? Emmerich: Well, it is not like I walk around and I think, "Well I could destroy this or I can destroy that." It is like a world tour, "Why did you destroy our city?" It is just the fact that it has to come out of the story.Jackson Curtis lives in LA, and I live in LA. You know, everyone in LAconstantly talks about when California will sink into the ocean, and then wejust decided to do that. It was like a starting point. Yellowstone Park was kind of intricate in the story too. Yes, we knew in the beginning that we wanted to have certain events and then we kind of followed that. Then sometimes it is born from something quite interesting. For example, at one point, we discussed some part you could not save. For example, the SistineChapel and the famous painting where God and Adam touch fingers. I said, "Oh great, we have to show how this gets destroyed." Then we said, "Well we are already there, why don't we have the church fall on people's heads?" I am against organized religion so that is how we thought of it. Cusack: You have to be careful if you are standing outside the church. Emmerich: The message is never pray in front of a big church. Pray by yourself. Then there is this funny thing, where we had one angle where you see the Pope in the background, and these shots were done in England by the same guys who did Angels & Demons. They conveniently left out the Pope, and I said, "We have to see a little bit of him. He is the Chairman after all." What about the JFK Aircraft carrier destroying the White House? Emmerich: Again, Harold said, "If you don't destroy the White House, you will be asked about that." I said, " I cannot destroy the White House again." He said, "Well, just do it in a different way." At that time, I was reading a lot about the Kennedys. As a kid, maybe about twelve and a half, I visited these old war ships in the Chesapeake Bay and they had justinaugurated JFK there. I was really excited as a kid. It was about a wave, and then you know JFK comes back to the White House. I thought it was kind of clever. I told Harold, "Let's go for it!" How are you planning to work with the characters for Foundation because they are separate stories? Emmerich: I was quite interested working with it like in I Robot. That pretty much changed everything, and the fans hated the movie, so I didn't want to do that. On the other hand, Foundation it has a similar problem; these are short stories that were later combined into a book...Bob Rodat came to me and told me he was a fanatic reader of the Foundation. He said, we have to consolidate the characters, and that's what we did. It has worked really, really well in the context...I think in spirit it is totally Foundation, but it is has consolidated characters that go through it. Have you read the script yet? Emmerich: No, but he keeps calling me and saying, "It is fantastic Roland! I have never read such a good script!" I said, "Well maybe you should send it to me!" He is a great guy. I think I will get it soon. He promised me before 2012 comes out. How much did you learn from the experience of making Endgame? And what is the importance of helping young filmmakers? Ejiofor: I had a really interesting time on that project. I didn't know anything about the talks at all. I knew that Thabo Mbeki had been exiled to London...I knew that they were being hunted down by the secret police in South Africa, but I didn't know that William Young had organized these talks between the Africans. When I read the script and got involved in theproject, I was really amazed by how quiet the story was, how accurate the film is, and how much those talks did progress the movement for the release of Nelson Mandela. I think it is an amazing period of history and a real indication that these negotiated talks can really bring extraordinary results. John, you tend to play a flawed, yet kind-hearted characters who find redemption. Do you relate to that type of character? Cusack: I don't know. I think it is a combination of people of what people see me as, or the type of role they want to give me, and there isn't much drama in people that are happy and well-adjusted; not a lot of conflict there. I am definitely flawed so I'm sure it comes through my curtain. It is kind of the human condition. Amanda, can you talk about you saw your character's relationship with John's character when you read the script? Peet: John's character was my true love and I was really hurt by different things. I kind of chose a different path. That's the end of the story. I think that's how I saw it and obviously. Roland, you previously mentioned that you are against organized religion and we see these Christian monuments destroyed. Why not do something really controversial and do another Islamic site? Emmerich: I wanted to do that, but my co-writer, Harold, said, "I will not want to have a [target] on my head because of a movie." He was right. In the Western world, we have to think about it. Did you have any visual references of the destruction to know how to react properly? Peet: Tommy. Emmerich: It was a Scottish accent. Peet: Do it John, come on. Cusack: It was a mascot for me. Does Scottish accent. He is screaming. He is the most fantastic guy in the world. Peet: You have a camera this close to you, and obviously you are looking at nothing. He would have to narrate, basically bit-by-bit, what tragic [event] we were responding to. Emmerich: When it comes down to the scene, you want to do it in one take because you cannot ask the actors to do it in pieces. You have to figure out how to do it. Tommy came to me and said, "Okay, give me the key points." Then we wrote them down and he was just reading them off a piece of paper with great emotion. Everyday he was as enthusiastic as it gets. Peet: It was hard for us new people to know how to calibrate our responses to this incredible destruction. Cusack: He had it all rigged out, almost like a video game. You wouldn't really see it in all it's detail, but you knew that you were going to be flying through these two buildings with a train going over your head, so you knew the sequence. The planes and the cars were all on hydraulics. When I come to pick them up, there is an entire city block with white picket fences and houses and the whole thing was on hydraulics. A whole city block with cars on it was pulsating, so it was like walking onto a pretty wild set. It wasn't all green screen and imagination. You tend to have a lot of melodramatic elements in your films, why do you add in these elements as opposed to just action? Emmerich: When you tell stories about human beings, some people call it melodramatic. I call it heartfelt and true. I think when you make movies like this, you have to make people laugh, cry, and scared. I try to do that. 2012 opens in theaters everywhere on November 13, 2009.

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Win a copy of the 15th Anniversary Edition of STARGATE on Blu-Ray from IESB!

IESB has got five (5) copies of the 15th Anniversary Edition of STARGATE on Blu-Ray to give away to five lucky readers! Stargate, the film that spawned three television series, two movies and a galaxy of fans, celebrates its 15th anniversary with a special edition Blu-ray Disc! The film, written and directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day), boasts a critically-acclaimed ensemble cast that includes three-time Emmy winner James Spader, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Kurt Russell and two-time Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou. The Stargate: 15th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Disc contains both the theatrical and extended cuts of the film - for the first time on Blu-ray - in newly remastered 1080P High Definition 16 x 9 Widescreen with English 7.1 DTS-MA Audio and four hours of mind-blowing special features including three new featurettes, a never-before-seen gag reel, an interactive trivia track and more! The Blu-ray will be available on October 27, 2009, timed to coincide with the new television series "Stargate Universe" coming to SyFy this fall! IESB has got your chance to win one of five 15th Anniversary Edition of STARGATE Blu-Rays below! BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES New - "Deciphering the Gate: Concepts and Casting" featurette New - " Opening the Gate: The Making of the Movie" featurette New - "Passing Through the Gate: The Legacy" - featurette New - never-before-seen Gag Reel New - "Master of the Stargate" Interactive Trivia Challenge New - BonusViewTM Picture-in-Picture "Stargate Ultimate Knowledge" "Is There a Stargate?" featurette "The Making-of Stargate" documentary Audio commentary with Director Roland Emmerich and Producer Dean Devlin Enter to win a copy of the 15th Anniversary Edition of STARGATE on Blu-Ray below from IESB! Winners notified by email. Contest ends November 7th! Good luck and thanks for playing! Name: Address: City, State: Zip: Email Address: Incomplete entries will be disqualified, one entry per person

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Win a Prize Package from IESB's THE BOX Sweepstakes!

“The Box” is a thriller set around a deceptively simple moral dilemma. An average couple is offered an opportunity to get themselves out of financial difficulty: a million dollars, in exchange for the knowledge that their acceptance of this gift will result in the death of one person somewhere in the world – someone they don’t know. The big question is, “What will they do?” But writer/director Richard Kelly is also asking, “What would you do?” In setting up this premise, and the story that unfolds as the couple struggles first with their decision and then with its catastrophic consequences, the film poses larger questions about life, love, responsibility and human nature. Richard Kelly is best known for the sci-fi mystery thriller “Donnie Darko,” a provocative cult classic that earned honors at film festivals around the world and brought him two Independent Spirit Award nominations. “The Box” is based on a short story by master of suspense fiction, Richard Matheson, who also wrote the story behind the movie “I Am Legend.” “The Box” will appeal to fans of Kelly, fans of Matheson, and to anyone who appreciates a dramatic thrill ride of a story with an underlying mystery and lingering questions that will leave audiences with something to think about. Enter IESB's THE BOX sweepstakes for your chance to win some really cool prizes from the film! THE BOX In Theaters November 6th Check out the official site located at www.thebox-movie.com One (1) Grand Prize Winner from IESB will receive: Replica of ‘the box' prop!YOU ARE THE EXPERIMENT TeesYOU ARE THE EXPERIMENT Hats"The Box" Key Chains Two (2) Runners Up will receive: YOU ARE THE EXPERIMENT TeesYOU ARE THE EXPERIMENT Hats"The Box" Key Chains Pictures of Prizes are Below! Be the first to know! Receive exclusive Warner Bros. Movie News Updates! JAMES MARSDEN as Arthur Lewis and CAMERON DIAZ as Norma Lewis in Warner Bros. Pictures', Radar Pictures' and Media Rights Capital's thriller "The Box," a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Dale Robinette Winners will be notified by email! Contest ends November 9th! Name: Email Address: Street Address: City, State: Zip Code: Incomplete entries will be disqualified. Entrants must be over 18 and residents of the United States. Additional rules below apply - RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION: BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANTS RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND EACH OF ITS RESPECTIVE PARENTS, DIVISIONS, AFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, AGENTS AND ADVERTISING AGENCIES (COLLECTIVELY, WBEI) FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS, AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY SWEEPSTAKES-RELATED ACTIVITY (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE REMOVAL FROM THE SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY MATERIALS), OR RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: IN NO EVENT WILL THE WBEI BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY ACCESS TO AND/OR USE OF THE SWEEPSTAKES SITE, THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES SITE, THE REMOVAL FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY MATERIALS, OR THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF, OR ANY HARM RESULTING FROM THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF, OR PARTICIPATION IN, ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE SWEEPSTAKES, ALL PRIZES, AND ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

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