26 November
By
On
In Interviews

IN CONVERSATION: CHRIS BERNARDI FROM PIXAR’S “COCO” Chris Bernardi began working for Pixar Animation Studios in November 2000 as a shading technical director on Finding Nemo. Since then, he has served in a variety of roles, including sets shading supervisor, sets shading technical director, senior shading artist on many of their films like Cars, WALL•E, Toy Story 3, Monsters University, and Inside Out. As he mentions throughout the interview, being the set supervisors has Bernardi working with other supervisors, directors of photography and the production designer. Long before his days working for Pixar his path was quite different. He studied biology and physics at WashingtonRead More →

19 November
By
On
In Interviews

IN CONVERSATION: NADJI JETER ON THE POWER OF “WONDER” Nadji Jeter is a young star on the rise who is probably best known for voicing Miles Morales in the animated Spider-Man series for Disney XD as well as the Grown Ups movies alongside Adam Sandler and Kevin James. Now he gets to call Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson co-stars in the new family film Wonder. It was quite apparent how proud he is of this movie and why he think every kid and their parents should see it. Paul McGuire Grimes (PMG): Tell us a little bit about Wonder and your character, Justin Nadji JeterRead More →

24 October
By
On
In Interviews

IN CONVERSATION: RUTH MARAMIS “HEARTS WANT” The Twin Cities Film Fest is currently in its eighth year showcasing a variety of films over a ten day period. Whether you want Oscar worthy features and independents to short films and Minnesota-made movies, there is something for everyone at the Twin Cities Film Fest. Ruth Maramis is the resident blogger for the Fest, but this year she wears the title of writer and producer. Hearts Want is her first film and is making its debut in the “The Ties That Bind Us (a Relationships Shorts Block).” I sat down with Ruth to discuss her transition from writingRead More →

16 October
By
On
In Interviews

AMERICAN ASSASSIN PRESS INTERVIEWS Here are the videos from the American Assassin press junket. it’s the new government/spy action thriller based on the best-selling book series by Vince Flynn. Michael Keaton “Stan Hurley” & Dylan O’Brien “Mitch Rapp”   Taylor Kitsch “Ghost”   Shiva Negar “Annika” Currently playing in theaters On BluRay/DVD/Video On Demand December 12, 2017 click HERE for my review of American AssassinRead More →

13 August
By
On
In Interviews

IN CONVERSATION: THE FILMMAKERS BEHIND “AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL” with Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk In 2006, Vice President Al Gore made the documentary An Inconvenient Truth to shed light on the issue of global warming and the climate crisis at hand. It has been the major focus of his career since leaving politics. It led to the Oscar for Best Documentary and has now spawned a follow up film looking at the work he has done, what we’ve accomplished, and what it all could mean with a Trump presidency. I had the chance to see the film and sit down with the filmmakers, Bonni CohenRead More →

22 November
By
On
In Interviews

IN CONVERSATION: MARLON WEST, Heads of Effects Animation on Disney’s Moana When you think of animated movies, it’s safe to assume Disney is the first thing that comes to mind. Many of us grew up watching Disney movies and that love has carried on into adulthood. For me, movies like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, or even something older like Pinocchio never get old. Walt Disney Animations Studios was in a bit of a slump in the early ‘00s but over the last few years, films like Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6, and Wreck-It Ralph have garnered acclaim from audiences putting them rightRead More →

11 April
By
On
In Interviews

LINKLATER, A DREAM COLLABORATOR: A Conversation with the Cast of “Everybody Wants Some!!” It’s not hard to watch a Richard Linklater film and fall in love with his style and characters. Whether he’s making a romantic trilogy, following a bunch of stoners on the last day of school, or taking twelve years to show a young boy grow up, Linklater presents that slice of life that we can all relate to in some fashion or another. His new film, Everybody Wants Some!!, is considered the “spiritual sequel” to his breakout cult film Dazed and Confused. It’s a wonderful look back at those three days leadingRead More →

22 December
By
On
In Interviews

A CONVERSATION WITH TODD HAYNES AND CHRISTINE VACHON ON “CAROL” Director Todd Haynes and his producing partner Christine Vachon have been working together for twenty years now through her production company Killer Films. Their films, including Far From Heaven and Velvet Goldmine, have been celebrated by critics and moviegoers for their depiction of gay and lesbian themes. They were recently in Minneapolis when the Walker Art Center presented a retrospective of their work together. It opened with a special screening of their new film, Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. It’s based off the book The Price of Salt, the second book by Patricia HighsmithRead More →

18 November
By
On
In Interviews

AN INTERVIEW WITH CRAIG SCHULZ AND STEVE MARTINO FROM “THE PEANUTS MOVIE”                       To help celebrate the release of The Peanuts Movie, it was declared Charles M. Schulz Day here in Minneapolis on October 20, 2015. Steve Martino, the director of the film along with writer Craig Schulz and various cast members were on hand to celebrate. I had a chance to interview Martino and Schulz along with fellow film bloggers Ruth Maramis from www.flixchatter.com and Emmylou Barden from www.donnahup.com Paul McGuire Grimes: What inspired you to bring it back, rejuvenate it, and bring itRead More →

02 September
By
On
In Interviews

        An interview with John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle by Paul McGuire Grimes The original version of this was first published in City Pages on September 1, 2015 It was a welcome return home to Minnesota for John Erick Dowdle and his brother Drew as they made an appearance at the advanced screening of their new film, No Escape, starring Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, and Pierce Brosnan. They hail from the Highland Park area of St. Paul, and it was very evident they were excited to be back among family and friends who came out to support their new film. TheyRead More →