Paso Robles Entertainment – Jan. 14-20
Russ Troutt
By Russ Troutt
Well, we are two weeks into the new year and I hope yours is off to as great of a start as mine is. Entertainment is off to a really great start here in Paso Robles and and SLO County as well. Hopefully if you were looking for something to do this past week we were able to help you out by introducing the entertainment section here. It is my goal to keep you informed as best as I can of all the awesomeness happening in our area from week to week. Also, new this week is a little feature called ‘Celebrity Spotlight’. The spotlight this week is on Dan Yeager, who plays Leatherface in the new “Texas Chainsaw 3D”, which just happens to be this weeks Park Cinemas Picture of the Week.
Celebrity Spotlight: Dan Yeager
Dan Yeager
I drove down to Hollywood on Friday and got the honor of watching the new “Texas Chainsaw 3D” with Dan Yeager, the man who plays Leatherface in the movie. I just want to start off by saying Dan is a real stand up guy and it was a pleasure to meet him. He has already begun to embrace all that comes with wearing the mask and welding the chainsaw and he loves his fans. Afterwards, we sat around and talked about the movie for awhile. He shared some great stories and insight into the film, took some pictures, and signed a couple of autographs for me and a few others. He was generous enough to answer some questions for me to print here in Paso Robles Daily News, so without further adieu, here is my interview with Dan Yeager aka Leatherface:
Russ: How did you go about getting the role for Leatherface?
Dan: I never went about getting it. It was gifted to me by a friend, the Producer. He knew I’d kill myself to do the job.
Russ: After watching the movie twice now, I can honestly say I think you’re the best Leatherface since Gunnar Hansen; who played Leatherface in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I’m sure you used Gunnar and the original film, but is there anything or anyone else you used for inspiration going into this role?
Dan and Gunnar
Dan: Once I absorbed everything Gunnar did and said about the character, I worked on it myself to put him through the filter of the story and what had happened to him. The character has changed. he’s older, riddled with aches and pains, very angry at the world, but still fundamentally frightened by everything and everyone.
Russ: Every man who has donned the famous skin mask and welded the chainsaw has stamped their own insignia on the character. What do you feel you did new with the character?
Dan: I ripped Gunnar’s character off as completely as I could, adding the effect of his life since then. I hope people can accept them as the same character.
Russ: When we were talking you told me about the casting of Alexandra Daddario, who plays the lead female Heather in Texas Chainsaw 3D. You were kind of responsible for her being cast, is that right?
Dan: I was not. I observed the process as it unfolded. She was suggested to the Prouducer one evening by a woman whose name I can’t recall. We were sitting around talking about the movie and the Producer described what he wanted. She said she knew who he wanted and pulled up Alexandra’s IMDB page on her iPhone.
Russ: What was the biggest challenge for you, if any, taking on the role of Leatherface in this movie?
Dan: Hanging Kenny. He was 160 pounds of unconsciousness, lying on a table. Pam was alive and able to stand. Gunnar said she weighed about 95 pounds.
Russ: On the flip side of that, I’m sure lots of good times were had on set. Is there one memory that stands out above the rest?
Dan: I just posted a picture on Facebook of it. It was meeting Gunnar and walking the Sawyer house with him.
Russ: You’re now part of horror movie history, has that really sunk in yet?
Dan: Nope.
Russ: Up until the making of this film, were you a big horror movie fan? If so, what is your favorite horror movie?
Dan: I’ve always loved horror movies. Famous Monsters was alway a purchase when I could scrape up the dough. I love: Frankenstein (1931) Nosferatu, Bride of Frankenstein, King Kong (1933) From Beyond, NOTLD, Hellraiser, Der Golem, The Old Dark House, Dracula (1931) and I’ll alway love Count Yorga Vampire because of Robert Quarry.
Russ: I know “Texas Chainsaw 3D” just came out, but have there already been talks of the next installment and where they would like to go with the story next? I don’t want to give any spoilers for those reading this that haven’t seen the movie yet, but I loved how this one ends and opens the door to a whole new world of Leatherface and the Sawyer’s.
Dan: We’ve been talking sequel since this one was still a script. Maybe this Summer if the box office continues.
Russ: Lastly, do you have any other projects in the works you can talk about? Or any planned convention appearances planned yet?
Dan: I’m writing a pilot for a TV show with a friend, Greg Philippi. It will be dark.
Once again, I think the movie is great and that you gave an outstanding performance as Leatherface. I look forward to seeing you welding the chainsaw again soon and wish you the very best success.
The Park Cinemas Picture of the Week: “Texas Chainsaw 3D”
Killing it at the box offices this past weekend, no pun intended, “Texas Chainsaw 3D” brought in $23 million to beat out “Django Unchained” for the number one spot. Well deserved too I might add. Whether you are a fan of the horror genre or not, you have to love a good story. If you are a fan of the horror genre then you know that a good story is what has been lacking in horror movies as of late. This movie definitely has it’s funny moments, isn’t chock full of gore, while it does have its gory moments, and is story driven.Written by Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan, Kirsten Elms and directed by John Luessenhop, “Texas Chainsaw 3D” is the best movie in the franchise since Tobe Hooper’s original “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was released in 1974. Taking the helm of the saw is Dan Yeager, who plays the best Leatherface since Gunnar Hansen. Also starring Alexandra Daddario(Percy Jackson) and Trey Songz(Step Up 2). For fans of the TCM franchise you will be pleased to see cameos from Gunnar Hansen, Bill Moseley, and John Dugan just to name a few.
“Texas Chainsaw 3D” picks up right where the original “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” left off and acts as a direct sequel to that movie. This movie wipes the slate clean from all other sequels and re-makes and starts a whole new chapter. At the end of the original TCM the survivor girl gets away and that is where this movie picks up at. Without giving any spoilers, let’s just say that her getting away leads to something very tragic for Bubba Sawyer aka Leatherface. We jump to current day, which is actually supposed to be just twenty years later, but there’s a small issue in the timeline which I’l touch on in a minute. Our survivor girl, Heather, finds out she had a grandmother she never knew about in Newt, Texas pass away; leaving Heather with her estate With this news Heather finds out she was adopted. Along with her boyfriend and a couple other friends, they load up in a van and head to Newt, Texas so Heather can take the keys to the Sawyer house and hopefully learn more about who she really is. Little does she know she has been left with more than just a house. She has yet to meet her cousin, Leatherface, who is locked up in the basement.
As the story unfolds, and friends begin to die, Heather begins to discover more about her family roots. Not only that, but we also discover there are bigger monsters in Newt, Texas that Leatherface. When you watch the movie, you will understand what I mean by that statement. There is one tiny flaw in the timeline of this movie that has a bunch of fans in an uproar and I want to take a moment to touch on it. The original takes place in 1974, in which Heather is just a baby. Judging by Heather’s age we jump roughly twenty odd years into the future, making it 1994 or so. Herein lies the issue. There is a scene where a local police officer is investigating the crime scene and he is using his smart phone to shoot a live video feed back to the police station where the sheriff and mayor watch on one of their phones. In the mid 1990’s there were no smart phones with live video chat. You take the cell phone out of that scene and you have one of the most solid horror movies in quite awhile, so that is a minor detail in the grander scheme of things in my opinion. The ending to “Texas Chainsaw 3D” was amazing! It puts everything into perspective and you even have a moment where you feel sympathetic towards Leatherface. How could you possibly have feelings for someone such as Leatherface you ask? You’ll just have to head over to Park Cinemas or your nearest theater and find out. This was such a well written movie and I really look forward to seeing where they go with it from here. Oh, and make sure to stay after the credits for one last surprise scene.
Also playing at Park Cinemas this week:
www.parkcinemas.com
Gangster Squad (R)
Zero Dark Thirty (R)
A Haunted House (R)
Promised Land (R)
Les Miserables (PG-13)
Django Unchained (R)
Parental Guidance (PG)
Jack Reacher (PG-13)
This is 40 (R)
Guilt Trip (PG-13)
Monsters, Inc. 3D (G)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (PG-13)
Playing at The Palm:
www.thepalmtheatre.com
Hyde Park on Hudson (R)
Not Fade Away (R)
Hitchcock (NR)
Life of Pi (PG)
Paso Playlist
San Luis Obispo Little Theater:
www.slolittletheatre.org
“Honk, Jr.” playing from January 11th – January 27th
The whimsical, witty retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Ugly Duckling’ is an enchanting comic musical for all ages.
Performing Arts Center San Luis Obsipo:
www.pacslo.org
“Brady Barr: National Geographic Live” on January 18th at 8PM in the Alex and Faye Spanos Theater
This host of “Dangerous Encounters” on the National Geographic Channel is an expert on reptiles. He will be telling tales and showing pictures of his up-close-and-personal meetings with crocodiles, alligators, lizards, and snakes in a fascinating speaking engagement.
“Shatner’s World: We Just Live In It” on January 19th at 8PM in the Christopher Cohan Center
Welcome to the world of William Shatner. Of Captain Kirk. Denny Crane. The Shat. In the 100-minute one-man show that flits between self and self-parody, the TV icon talks about life, love, and loss with honest exploration and elaborations, supported by a wealth of photos and video clips. What won’t you see? “They’re not going to see me naked,” quips Shatner. “Now that will disappoint about three people.”
“MET Live in HD: Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda” on January 19th at 9:55AM in the Christopher Cohan Center
Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, one of the world’s most exciting singers, takes on the virtuosic bel canto role of the doomed Mary, Queen of Scots. Director David McVicar turns to the second opera of Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy, which explores regal characters at fateful moments of their lives. Elza van den Heever sings Elizabeth I, and Maurizio Benini conducts.
Clark Center for the Performing Arts:
www.clarkcenter.org
“Late Nite Catechism” Presented by the Clark Center Association on January 19 at 8PM
Late Nite Catechism is a boisterous and extremely funny interactive comedy that takes the audience back to their youth. The irrepressible Sister teaches “class” to a roomful of “students”, making the show part catechism class, part stand-up routine. Throughout the course of the class, the benevolent instructor rewards the students for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and other nifty prizes. naughty students may well find themselves on stage sitting in a corner reflecting their actions. However, even the most reluctant students will be clamoring to et into this Sister’s class, that is also one of the longest running shows in U.S. history.
Comedy Night at The Ranch:
With Monique Flores on January 16th at 8PM at The Ranch in San Miguel
Monique Flores is a stand-up comic in bloom. Since age 7, Monique has called L.A. home, where as a young girl, she fantasized about someday being a stand-up comic. After graduating college Monique started a career in Real Estate. After the housing bubble popped, Monique decided to pursue her childhood dream and took comedy on full time. Now Monique entertains audiences all across California performing at comedy clubs like; The Ice House, Laugh Factory, Punch Line & Improv. Much of Monique’s humor is drawn from her family life, as well as her own daily experiences. Coming from a huge family, Monique characterizes many of them in her on-stage tales. Monique is both energetic and physical, crafting comical cracks and observations.
Live Music
Tickets are on sale for the Pozo Stampede 2013! Pozo Stampede 2013 takes place on Saturday, April 27th, 2013. This years lineup includes Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, and the recently reunited band Lonestar. Head on over to www.pozosaloon.com to get your tickets before this great show sells out!
Thursday, January 17th:
The Highway Poets at Frog & Peach at 8PM
Friday, January 18th:
The Belmores at Paso Robles Inn at 9:30PM
Saturday, January 19th:
The Belmores at Paso Robles Inn at 9:30PM
Kat Devlin, Kevin Fisher, and Steve Key at Laetitia Winery from 1:00PM-4:00PM
Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers Band at SLO Brew at 7:30PM
Sunday, January 20th:
Water Tower at Sculpterra Winery in Paso Robles from 1:00PM-4:00PM
Tumbleweed Wanderers at SLO Brew at 7:30PM
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