Carice van Houten to Play Leni Riefenstahl the beautiful actress, singer and Pioneer Film Director

Leni Riefenstahl

Carice van Houten

Berlin, Germany—I first talked about this last February when there was a tease article in Variety Magazine.

The Jessie Owens story is coming to the big screen.  The film titled, Race is starring Stephan James as Owens and he is joined Jeremy Irons and William Hurt in this film.  Stephen Hopkins is directing the film.  Shooting began this week in Berlin.

The multi-talented Dutch actress, Carice van Houten who happens to be my personal favorite has signed on to play the legendary German film director Leni Riefenstahl.

Van Houten was cast in the once in a lifetime role of the accidental Dutch resistance hero, Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries in Paul Verhoeven’s film, Black Book (2006).   That’s still is my favorite film of all time!

Today, van Houten graces the Game of Game of Thrones cast as the Red Priestess, Melisandre.

Riefenstahl was a gorgeous dancer and actress and genuine contemporary of the late great Marlene Dietrich.  The events of 1933 in Germany would change her life. 

Riefenstahl was an incredibly talented woman who took advantage of an opportunity within Adolf Hitler’s emerging Third Reich to make films with virtually unlimited budgets.

Riefenstahl was not anti-Semitic or any kind of a racist.  She was an opportunist that simply rose to the occasion when she got her chance.

One of her trademark masterpiece films, Triumph des Willens or in English Triumph of The Will is banned today in Germany.  It’s filled with amazing camera shots both static and aerial that had never been done before in cinema.  

That film was an epic propaganda piece designed to make Germany love their new leader who promised them hope and change and during a very bleak period in German History.  

Riefenstahl matched her stunning images with music and the film became an undeniable hit.  Nazi propaganda aside Riefenstahl did exactly what film directors are supposed to do.

Riefenstahl’s greatest epic was her documentation of the 1936 Olympics. Hitler decreed that Blacks and Jews could not take part in this event but relented when Germany would not be allowed to host the event

We all know what happened with that legendary African-American track star Jessie Owens, to Hitler’s chagrin defeated all of the world’s greatest runners.

Riefenstahl’s spectacular film of Owens' victory has been seen millions of times and it’s still being shown today nearly 80 years later! Riefenstahl created the template that sports photographers everywhere still follow today.

Riefenstahl invented camera movements using aircraft, sliders, dollies and jibs that are being used by filmmakers everywhere today.  Imagine what she would have done with the multi-rotor camera drones in use today.

Riefenstahl was sought after by Walt Disney but her alliance with Hitler spoiled that.  She was nearly tried as a war criminal and found herself punished and precluded from doing what she preferred in Hollywood.

Riefenstahl became a documentary film maker that made groundbreaking films of African tribes and oceanographic scientific films until her death at age 100 in 2003.

Riefenstahl was also known for having a boyfriend some 40 years her junior! 

Okay i admit that I’m in love with van Houten’s amazing talents. I know this woman is exactly what the Oscar’s Best Actress Award is all about.  I love her singing too! I often listen to van Houten’s album, See You On The Ice as I drive around L.A.

I only hope that van Houten is able to book more of the blockbuster films she deserves.  If I was somehow van Houten’s agent, I’d make that happen!

Will Carice van Houten Finely Make the Hollywood “A” List?

Los Angeles, CA— My favorite film of all times is Paul Verhoeven’s, Black Book.  It’s a subtitled German/Dutch film primarily in the Dutch language that’s based on a true story.  The principal protagonist is a sexy Jewish nightclub singer, Rachel Stein that fled the Nazis in Berlin for the Netherlands during the war.  She somehow winds up in the Dutch Resistance for some incredibly dangerous adventures.  It’s also a love story.

The leading lady playing that character is my absolute favorite actress, Carice van Houten who won this role of a lifetime.  The role required acting in different languages, singing and some dancing.  Van Houten was magnificent.  This was Verhoeven’s best film ever and the entire cast and crew were absolutely awesome. 

Van Houten was jaw dropping terrific! There was no emotion she did not absolutely own in this thriller film.  That kind of talent takes years of serious discipline and hard work to develop and master.   

As a result of Black Book and other films Van Houten is a huge celebrity in Europe. She also won a coveted role in HBO’s, Game of Thrones playing Melisandre, The Red Witch.  She’s won five Golden Calf Awards in the Netherlands for her acting.  She also has a great music album on iTunes called, See You On The Ice.  Take a listen and you will like it.  I play it in my car as I drive around L.A.

Getting cast in what I’d call hefty roles in American films has eluded van Houten.  She was recently cast as the Female lead in a Blumehouse production’s low budget horror film, Incarnate.  She plays opposite of actor Aaron Eckhart.  The release date for that project has not yet been announced.  Blumehouse Productions has found serious box office success for their films and I certainly won’t miss this one.

This incredibly talented woman slips into L.A. and New York virtually unnoticed.  She quietly gets off planes taking the shuttle to a car rental agency like the rest of us and goes about her business.  She shops, goes to inexpensive L.A. health clubs to work out with little notice.  

If I have my way van Houten will have a major star’s entourage and bodyguards!  I want to see this woman on the Oscar Award's Red Carpet where she belongs! 

Twice in the last year, van Houten has walked Hollywood’s lesser Red Carpets.  Once for the Third Season Premier of, Game of Thrones.  The last time was at the SAG Awards where Game of Thrones was nominated for an award.  

As van Houten walked the Red Carpet alone and the reporters and photographers are clueless as to just who she is without her character’s huge red wig.   Thankfully my friend Frank Fastner from the German TV network RTL spotted van Houten grabbing her for the only interview (She gave it in the German language) that I’m aware she gave.  At least it was exclusive!

Somebody somehow failed to send an advance publicist on van Houten’s behalf to prepare for the press gauntlet.  This is routinely done for lesser known stars so when they arrive so the media members could ask her the right questions and give them proper face time on the entertainment shows.  Instead of seriously needed interviews van Houten had to settle for a few pictures.

Van Houten is represented by Tracy Brennan at the powerhouse, Creative Artist’s Agency and has a wonderful manager in Amsterdam, Janey van Ierland.   CAA should do better for van Houten before their competition snatches this major talent away from them.

Frankly I’m disappointed that this talented lady is not put up for the kind of roles we see given to Cate Blanchet or Sandra Bullock.  In case you were wondering van Houten’s English is flawless and when she’s acting she masks her accent really well.

I hope that on van Houten’s next trip to L.A. she will find the time to do a video interview with me for my blog.  I want my visitors to love her talent like I do.  More importantly I want every film producer, director and casing director to know that she really rocks! 

If you’ve not seen Black Book, you must!  Here is the trailer:

Mel Gibson Deserves Forgiveness and a Break!

Los Angeles, CA—We’ve all seen Mel Gibson at his best on the silver screen.

We’ve seen him at his worst when he was arrested for DUI and in a much over reported disastrous relationship with an unfortunate gold-digger.

Hollywood has blackballed this terrific actor and director.  Mel Gibson wants to work and he deserves the ability to create more blockbuster films.  Like it or not there is only one Mel Gibson.

Robert Downey, Jr. hit bottom and did a prison stretch too. Downey got out cleaned up but was unemployable.  He had more chapters to write in his interrupted career.  Downey was no longer insurable and despite his immense talent was through as an actor.  That was until Mel Gibson stepped in and covered the insurance for Downey.

Downey rebounded like a slingshot and film audiences and were never disappointed.  That was because of Gibson’s generosity and humanity. 

I know that Gibson is looking for new sources of funding for his film projects.  The door to Hollywood has been locked tightly but Gibson has moved on with good behavior for the last decade.  It’s time for the big talent agencies and producers to put this man back to work. 

Gibson has eight children to support and get through college.  Must Gibson’s  kids have to suffer too? At what point will Gibson’s social debt be paid?

It’s time for Hollywood to now show some kindness and faith to Gibson as he did Downey.  We all learn from example, and the Hollywood elite should now lead the way.   It should begin in the office of the head honcho, Ari Emanuel at Creative Artist’s Agency with an offer of representation extended to Gibson.

Frankly it would be a sound business practice.

YouTube, a Showcase for Stephanie Carrie’s Talent!

Stephanie Carrie will make you laugh for sure!

Los Angeles, CA—Most of my visitors know that among other things I’m an actor too. 

I met Stephanie Carrie when I attended Tom Todoroff’s Acting Studio here and made some other life long friends along the way.  Nearly every one of Tom’s students has some kind of TV or film credits but making the coveted A list is really tough.  

We've all learned that even the best talent does not translate to fortune and fame.  It’s more about having a very effective agent.  It also boils down to the agent selecting the you as their talent and not then other way around. 

Carrie is an actress, singer, writer and comedian.  Like everyone she struggled and paid her dues.  She also recently started a web series.  

Carrie has a YouTube channel and put something up yesterday that caught my eye. 

It’s a satirical parody of the crisis in the Ukraine and that thin-skinned Russian fellow, Vladimir Putin.  Carrie has obviously payed attention and also just happens to fluently speak Russian.  I just hope that she does not wind up in the Gulag like some members of Pussy Riot over this offering.

I hope Lorne Michaels of SNL spots Carrie and put her in his lineup where she belongs! 

Sit back and enjoy, Let It Go, Putin!

Filmmaking is Slowing Becoming Democratized Through Technology

Hollywood, CA—As I prepare to both act and crew in an independent film things are quickly changing in terms of power.

The current system is awash in criminal racketeering, restraint of trade and anti-trust activities. There are about five talent agencies that currently determine what films will be made and who will act in them.

Actors hire agents to represent them and get them work. However, the agents have somehow reversed this to them hiring the actors. The talent agencies tell the studios what films they can make and just who will act, direct, shoot or write.

Massive amounts of money are gathered in what’s considered risky investments to make films. The talent agencies seem to control the cash flow. More importantly they control the movie theater owners and just what films will hit the big screen. The Agencies had the ability to intimidate, bully and control the screen owners and exactly what films will see the light of day.

However this system is changing at the talent agents can’t do anything about it. The large flat screen TVs are here with fabulous sound systems. They are in homes with the best snacks, and that important pause button for bathroom runs.

In our home theaters we don’t have to deal with traffic, parking, rude theater patrons, or the noise of others. Americans are waiting for Blu-Ray disks rather than go out to the theaters and pay through the nose for popcorn, candy and sodas.

The only thing that keeps people going to the movies is the Hollywood hype selling the films and the fact that if anyone wants to see a film quickly they can’t buy, stream or rent them until after they grow hair in the movie houses.

The film theater is an endangered species. It’s only a matter of time and they will be no more. The industry has tried to pump life into them with novel concepts of serving dinners with a movie. That idea quickly fizzled with crappy and over-priced food.

It will be impossible for the talent agencies to control Amazon.com, Netflix, Wal-Mart, Costco and the others that rent, stream or sell films to the public.

Currently half of the cost to make each film spent on advertising and publicity. With the Internet filmmakers are learning they can create their own buzz to inform consumers of their films. YouTube, is loaded with trailers today and it’s the best place to learn about available films.

In days gone by a film would be produced, hyped and shown in a theater for a limited time. Television would buy them for their commercial driven programming and that was the end of a film’s life.

Now every film made can be reproduced cheaply and be available for any consumer at any moment. That means by simply sending out reminder advertising motivates people to rediscover films they enjoyed in the past. What that means is a film now can generate income from now until eternity.

Adding to this mix is the reality that quality films can be made with cheaper equipment and that filmmakers can no longer be controlled by the talent agencies means there will be more, not less films to enjoy.

Belgium Star, Noemi Schlosser Shines Over Chicago!

Los Angeles, CA—Most of my blog visitors know that beyond my day job as a PI and investigative TV news Producer, I’m also an actor.

Somehow I developed a new friend on Facebook who is a gifted actress/comedienne fresh from Antwerp, Belgium. Noemi Schlosser has recently been in some projects put up in Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue Theater District.

I was hoping to grab an interview from this gal in Chicago but it just didn’t happen. The good news is she paid a visit to Hollywood and I snagged an exclusive interview with the stunning thespian.

Additionally I had the good fortune to show her around town. I took her to places like Marilyn Monroe’s grave, The Screen Actor’s Guild and the Los Angeles Art Museum for an entire day.

Any time spent with a stunning woman who’s half my age is indeed quality time!

Noemi is working out the details for a performance at Chicago’s Palmer House as I write this. I predict big things for this gal that you all will be seeing and hearing about in the future.

Sit back and check out the exclusive interview Noemi granted to Crimefile News at the Los Angeles Bat Cave.