Happy Birthday: Walter Murch

Walter MurchDate of Birth 12 July 1943, New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name Walter Scott Murch

Married to:
Aggie Murch (6 August 1965 – present) (2 children)

He believes in editing while standing up.

Murch is a beekeeper and he makes his own honey.

Introduced Hollywood to the idea of editing films on the non-linear Mac based program Final Cut Pro rather than the Avid. Since then, has gone back to Avid Media Composer.

To date, only artist ever to win Oscars for both film editing and sound engineering on a single film (The English Patient (1996)).

[about the opening scene of Apocalypse Now (1979):] “You’re looking at a character whose head is enveloped in flames, and then at slow-motion helicopter blades slicing through his body, superimposed upon a whirling ceiling fan, and strange sounds and music intermingling from different sources; you’re probably aware you’re watching a film, not an imitation of real life. Even dreams, despite their odd surreality, don’t look quite like that. Inevitably, the superimposed images in “Apocalypse Now” betray a self-consciousness because they come at the very beginning and are intended to expose and explore Willard’s inner state of mind. If there had been no resonance between that scene and the film as a whole, the opening would have been a meaningless exercise, empty virtuosity.”

Happy Birthday: Brian Grazer

Brian GrazerDate of Birth 12 July 1951, Los Angeles, California, USA
Birth Name Brian Thomas Grazer
Height 5′ 7″ (1.7 m)

Married to: Veronica A Smiley (20 February 2016 – present)
Gigi Levangie (20 September 1997 – 21 May 2009) (divorced) (2 children)
Corki Grazer (23 May 1982 – 2 June 1992) (divorced) (2 children)
Theresa Mckay-Roberts (16 March 1972 – 6 July 1979) (divorced)

I only make movies that are interesting to me.

I probably should have a brand, but I think you can’t get the best artists to work for you if you’re branded. I get the trade-off, and I really would like to be more famous for my work, get more credit for my achievements. We all want more of that. But on the other hand, if you get too big–like it says in American Gangster (2007)’–success is your enemy.

I like learning stuff. The more information you can get about a person or a subject, the more you can pour into a potential project. I made a decision to do different things. I want to do things that have a better chance of being thought of as original. I do everything I can to disrupt my comfort zone.

[on criticisms that ’24’ made Americans more amenable to torture] I don’t think we made it OK at all. I think that we just stated that it was going on. Ultimately, Jack Bauer was a wish-fulfillment character – the guy we wished we could be when we saw political injustice or terrorism, either in our country or other countries.

Happy Birthday: Jamey Sheridan

Jamey SheridanDate of Birth 12 July 1951, Pasadena, California, USA
Birth Name James Patrick Sheridan
Height 6′ 0½” (1.84 m)

Married to: Colette Kilroy (15 August 1992 – present) (3 children)

Television allows for survival, which is the basic issue for me. You have to decide how much money is enough. You can’t get carried away with the hunt for money. But there are times it shows up, and you need to grab it, and that allows you to hunt for a better script.

Happy Birthday: Anna Friel

Anna FrielDate of Birth 12 July 1976, Rochdale, Lancashire, England, UK
Birth Name Anna Louise Friel
Height 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)

Onstage, there’s no hiding; you either can or can’t act. There’s no second take.

We will spend more time in America, we’re going to get a place in LA as hotels aren’t great for the baby.

As long as she is talented enough and passionate about doing it herself then I will be happy and support her. I think I will be sensible – my parents said I could only do it if I got my education and so I had something to fall back on.

You can see when an actor gets bored: Their eyes go dead. I promised myself I’d never let that happen. If it does, I’ll go and live on a desert island for a year.

Happy Birthday: Phoebe Tonkin

Phoebe TonkinDate of Birth 12 July 1989, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Birth Name Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin
Nickname Phoebs
Height 5′ 7¾” (1.72 m)

From age 12 began completing various courses at the Australian Theatre for Young People; including Shakespeare, Script to Stage, Clowning Around and Musical Theatre.

Attended Queenwood School in Balmoral, known for its excellent drama department, and supplemented her education with private drama classes. Each year she took part in the school’s Shakespeare festival, ultimately winning the 2005 state final in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also took part in all of the school plays including Antigone, White Crane and Venetian Twins.

Began various dance classes at age 4; including classical ballet, tap, hip-hop, and contemporary.

Happy Birthday: Kristen Connolly

Kristen ConnollyDate of Birth 12 July 1980, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Birth Name Kristen Nora Connolly
Height 5′ 7″ (1.7 m)

A lot of auditions are not fun; they’re just a necessary evil, and, if you’re lucky, you have a few moments that are fun.

Everyone has dated or been with a person who is obsessed with their work, and it’s immensely frustrating.

I went to Yale’s drama school for theater, so we did tons of Shakespeare; then, I got out of school and said, ‘OK, it will be Shakespeare,’ and it was like, ‘Or, it will be commercials and soaps.’

Hair and make-up people don’t get enough credit for what they do. It’s not just making people look good. It’s really creating the character.

Happy Birthday: Steve Howey

Steve HoweyDate of Birth 12 July 1977, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Birth Name Steve Michael Robert Howey
Nickname Vodka
Height 6′ 3½” (1.92 m)

The least amount of info actors get, the better. Actors are always like, ‘What is my motivation for this?’ You didn’t write it. Just say the lines.

When I don’t feel like working out, lifting weights or doing serious cardio, the best thing for me to do is just go on the treadmill and walk. I walk and listen to music and 10 minutes will go by, then 15, and then I’ll speed up a bit. Once my blood really starts flowing, I’ll get a second wind and then I want to work out.

Getting into shape helped get me into a better mood, and when I’m in a better mood, I’m funnier. My general attitude is better.

Happy Birthday: Topher Grace

Topher GraceDate of Birth 12 July 1978, New York City, New York, USA
Birth Name Christopher John Grace
Height 5′ 10¾” (1.8 m)

“Some of my favorite films include Out of Sight (1998) and Schizopolis (1996). So, the thing that got me most excited about getting the part was the opportunity to work with Steven Soderbergh”. (when asked why he chose the part in the film Traffic (2000)).

[Talking about his scene with Michael Douglas in Traffic (2000)]: “I threatened Michael Douglas! Oh, man, that guy could beat me over the head with his Oscar!”

[on quitting That ’70s Show (1998)]: “It’s heartbreaking because there’s no funner job in the universe than being one of those six kids. I was in my teens when I started. It’s ridiculous to even try to imagine my life without being able to laugh all day with those five people. I never cry, like ever, but I have a feeling it’s coming.”

Happy Birthday: Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle RodriguezDate of Birth 12 July 1978, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Birth Name Mayte Michelle Rodriguez
Nickname MRod
Height 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)

I think empathy is a beautiful thing. I think that’s the power of film though. We have one of the most powerful, one of the greatest communicative tools known to man. It’s a form of communication and it’s gonna reach you in a way of growth – most of the time.

I don’t want people thinking of me sexually. I don’t want people to be like, “She’s hot-looking,” you know? I want them to listen to me for what I am saying. And I think the best way to do that is to sniff my armpits, and like, sit and burp every now and then. It just completely throws people off. I had a couple of offers to do some hot scenes in the shower with some guy and to make it real hot and sexy. The next thing you know, I’d be the next J.Lo or something. But that’s easy. I want [success] the hard way.

My favorite part of my body is my brain. I think no matter what my body looks like, I won’t be satisfied unless I know how to use it.

I don’t think it’s narcissistic at all to love yourself and believe in yourself. I think some people are really scared to do that. I have to. If I don’t, I would not succeed in what I do.

No matter what, people are so narrow minded that it won’t ever be Michelle Rodriguez the actress, it will always be Michelle Rodriguez the Latin actress. And it’s just something that I have to live with, because of the fact that people need labels to understand things. I can’t even get into this ignorance that I’m dealing with. So I just ignore it, you know? Ignore the ignorance.