Here is a nice little behind-the-scenes interview with Sly and coverage of “The Expendable” by a local news channel. [And they are mercenaries not missionaries, Ms. News Reporter!]
Andrew Charipar’s Cobra
Here’s Andrew Charipar’s take on Stallone as “Cobra” and a humorous story that goes with it. I got this sketch from Andrew at the 2009 FX con. Although I regularly visit Andrew’s blog, I’d never met him. A few weeks before FX, Andrew posted that he’d take requests for sketches to have ready for anyone attending the show. I put in for the Stallone character of his choice. A few days later, Andrew posted the Stallone piece you see here and said I could pick it up at FX.
The weekend of the show arrived and I found Andrew’s table. He had art available for sale, his sketchbook, and comics spread out. A small group of folks were around his table ordering or picking up sketches. I waited my turn, stepped up and said, “Hi. I think you have a Cobra for me.” A puzzled look crossed Andrew’s face and he replied, “I don’t think so.” Now I was the one looking confused. Andrew asked, “Are you sure you requested a Cobra from me?”
Now I know that he’s drawn the piece — I’ve seen it on his website, but I can tell by the look on his face that he has no idea why I would think that he’s drawn me a Cobra sketch. I go on, “My name is Craig Zablo. I requested the sketch through your website and you decided to do Stallone as Cobra.” It’s like a light went on and Andrew replied, “Oh, a Stallone Cobra! My buddy and I were just talking about GI Joe and we thought you were referring to ‘that’ Cobra.” Andrew then proceeded to pull out the piece you see above.
Andrew’s a cool guy with very reasonable prices for his sketchbook and originals. Check out his blog and give him some props.
Dolph Talks A Lot of “Expendables”
On May 28th, Dolph Lundgren sat down with IGN.com for an exclusive interview. Dolph talked about directing, “Direct Contact”, the “Universal Soldier” sequel and more. Here’s some of what he had to say about “The Expendables”:
“It’s the biggest movie I’ve worked on. And I realized the other day that I think it’s the biggest movie that Sly’s worked on, too. I don’t think there’s anybody who’s made more big action movies than he has. He has a lot of experience and he’s great to work with as a director because he knows.”
“There’s one scene toward the end of the film where everybody’s there – Mickey Rourke and Stallone and Jet Li and Jason Statham and Randy Couture and Eric Roberts. You see all those chairs lined up, like in those old pictures at MGM where they’d line up all the stars, and I’m just pleased and honored to be one of the group.”
You can read the whole piece here.
Dolph also spoke with MovieWeb.com and when the talk turned to “The Expendables”, he had this to say:
“…it’s a pleasure working with Stallone again. He’s a very experienced guy. You know, I direct myself, so I appreciate his advice because I can pass it on. Few people have more experience than him, a lead in a big action movie. I mean, how many big movies has he done in his career? Maybe 30? Big studio pictures? That was fun, so now that I get to suck up his advice and it’s really fun for me. It’s a pleasure.”
“It’s a really good character for me too. I’m the outcast-of-the-family sort of thing. I go back and forth between the good family and the bad guys, so there’s a lot of great stuff and certainly a lot of action… I get to play both good and bad. It’s a little crazy. He’s a guy with a heart, and Stallone is no friend of his in the movie. He was my old buddy and we end up parting ways, it gets ugly and there’s sort of a surprise. You’ll see.”
To read the full MovieWeb.com interview, click here.
Dolph also spoke about “The Expendables” to JoBlo.com. Here’s a taste:
“Stallone wanted to do a kind of DIRTY DOZEN type of picture with a bunch of action guys. So he came up with the idea about this group of mercenaries, they all have problems of various sorts. And Stallone is the leader who put it together… I loved the script…”
“You know what I like about it is there was a real feeling of real people and it’s not superheroes and there is nobody flying though buildings. Nobody is out to save the world. You know, it’s quite down to earth.”
“Stallone writes those things very, very well… I think THE EXPENDABLES is one of his better scripts. It’s funny and it’s touching and it’s going to be cool.”
You can read the full JoBlo interview right here.
Sly & Khan
On May 28th, a smaller version of the photo above [director Sabbir Khan and Sly] was posted at StarBoxOffice.com.
Sly Brings the Noise
Mike Scott of The Times-Picayune wrote a piece on “The Expendables” filming in New Orleans. Here’s a taste:
Crews have been shooting in and around town for the past two weeks, including along St. Peters Street, at Fort McComb in eastern New Orleans and at the Louisiana Film Studios facility in Elmwood. This week’s shoot, however, was probably the production’s most high-profile, with members of the New Orleans Police Department on hand to supervise scenes involving gunfire and stuntwork.
“The Expendables,” which is set for a 2010 release, will be shooting at locations throughout the area through the end of June. Other members of the cast are Mickey Rourke, Brittany Murphy, Steve Austin, Dolph Lundgren and Terry Crews.
You can read the full article here.
Sly’s a Dad with Tats
Sondra Santos LaBrie did a piece called “Celebrity Dads with Tattoos” for Examiner.com. Here’s what she had to say about Sly:
SYLVESTER STALLONE – An image of his current wife, Jennifer Flavin, is tattooed on his right shoulder and bicep, along with three roses representing their daughters.
You can check out the entire list by clicking here.
“Rocky II – The Forgotten Rocky”
Christopher Crespo writes a nice piece called “Rocky II – The Forgotten Rocky” for Examiner.com [and I would have said that even if they hadn’t used a StalloneZone photo!]. Here’s a few quotes:
If Rocky was about being the underdog and taking that one in a million shot, then Rocky II is about that underdog finding out what his role is in this game called life.
Much more character based than Rocky III-V, Rocky II shows a predilection for character development and drama arising out of these characters interactions.
Rocky II deserves to be remembered better, and should take its place alongside Rocky and Rocky Balboa as excellent installments about the seminal underdog. Stallone’s direction is fine, and not without a few inspired camera moves and choice moments.
You can read the full article right here.
Sly Cycles
On May 26th, WWL,com posted an article on Sly’s recent purchase of motorcycles to be used in “The Expendables.” Here’s some of what was reported:
The long, sleek custom chopper is shiny green and chrome, painted with warrior skeletons amidst flames. For the past year, it sat in Scoop Daddy’s ice cream parlor, and kids were allowed to sit on it for photo ops.
Stallone, who wrote and is directing and acting in “The Expendables,” bought the custom motorcycle designed by Scoop Daddy’s Tommy Richardson, and built by Richardson and Lee McKenzie.
“It is a beautiful bike. The detail is spectacular. Sly fell in love with it,” said Sheryl Main, publicist for the action thriller about mercenaries trying to overthrow a South American dictator.
It was among at least two rides bought at the show for the movie, in which the seven main characters – also including Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, and Jason Statham – ride out on motorcycles. But Stallone bought Richardson’s for himself, Main said.
Richardson said Stallone invited him to watch filming, too.
“He’s awesome,” said Richardson. “I have total admiration for him. He’s just so down to earth you would have thought he was from Bogalusa. He made us comfortable with him. It’s most impressive.”
You can [and should] read the full report here.
Insignares’ “Expendable”
Miguel Insignares gifted me with this cool shot of Sly from “The Expendables”. Miguel said that once I send him a high-res copy, he’ll color it and add Sly’s tats. Miguel always has several irons in the fire and he’s currently developing a very cool concept for a comic/movie. I can’t say any more about it at this time, but believe me, I’ll keep you posted as it develops.
Big thanks to Miguel for hooking me up!
“First Blood” Makes the List
Beliefnet.com lists “Ten Military Movies to Celebrate Memorial Day” and “First Blood” makes the cut. Here’s what they had to say:
“First Blood” (1982): This movie featured no war footage and, in fact, was set entirely in a little Northwest town. But it told the tale of Vietnam vets after they came home and illustrated the unfairly rough journey so many of them had to face. And Sly Stallone was both believable and restrained as a war hero who won sympathy for a generation of those who lived his on-screen fate.
Click here to see the full list.