Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 25 august 2017
‘Bridesmaids’ actor switches gears in ‘Get Shorty,’ films

By LYNN ELBER scenario where I would But you only learn by doing
AP Television Writer have once been really ex- it.” He takes a step back
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Those cited about a project film- and offers a broader take
looking to spend qual- ing in Bulgaria, and now on the industry he’s im-
ity time with Chris O’Dowd, I don’t even read it,” he mersed in, using his “Get
who made a splash as the said. “I know that creatively Shorty” character as illus-
endearingly patient cop in it’s not really ideal, but I just tration. “The reason it works
“Bridesmaids,” have plenty don’t care.” out for Miles in the show is
of chances now and later. O’Dowd’s decision to that honesty and straight-
There’s his role as hit man leave steady work in Eng- forwardness goes a long
and aspiring movie pro- land to break into Holly- way in this town, because
ducer Miles Daly in Epix’s wood was made as an un- it’s such a rare commod-
critically acclaimed “Get encumbered single man. ity,” O’Dowd said. “There is
Shorty,” (10 p.m. EDT Sun- He’d enjoyed success on a lot of (bull) as everybody
This image released by Epix shows Chris O’Dowd in “Get Shorty,” day), which gives O’Dowd Irish and then British TV, in- knows, but people are very
airing Sundays on Epix.
Associated Press the chance to be trade- cluding with the nerd com- happy to not be (lied) to.”
mark funny as well as edy “The IT Crowd,” but “Get Shorty,” a new take
tough. It’s already renewed liked American entertain- on the Elmore Leonard tale
for season two.He’s shoot- ment and, besides, was just brought to the big screen
ing the film “Juliet, Naked” off a big breakup. “I felt in 1995 with John Travolta,
with Rose Byrne and Ethan like I needed to leave the pairs O’Dowd with Ray Ro-
Hawke for producer Judd country,” he said, drolly. It mano, another performer
Apatow. O’Dowd’s up- was a move he considered adroit at balancing dark-
coming movies include risk-free and reversible. ness and light.
indies “Love After Love” “What’s the vision of failure “We’ve got two very funny
and “Loving Vincent”; J.J. in that scenario? So low,” actors, (and) part of what is
Abrams’ next chapter in he said, especially if you so wonderful about watch-
the “Cloverfield” franchise; don’t make a fuss about ing them be funny is they
and Aaron Sorkin’s “Molly’s venturing across the pond. bring seriousness under
Game.” “I always roll my eyes when that,” said series creator
In other words, the Irish-born I see people are having Davey Holmes.
actor who’s adopted Los (farewell) parties,” O’Dowd O’Dowd is also a writer (on
Angeles as his home base said. “Talk about tempting the warmly funny 2012-
is in demand and moving in fate. I didn’t tell anyone 15 TV series “Moone Boy,”
impressive creative circles. I was going anywhere. I about an eccentric Irish
But he’s modestly low-key would reply to texts as if I family) and has stage cred,
in a recent conversation was still down the road.” with his Broadway debut
over a smoothie at a cafe That demonstration of com- in “Of Mice and Men” op-
near his home. (In-person mon prompts this query: posite James Franco in
checklist: charming accent What advice can he pass 2014 earning him a Tony
and charmingly tousled on about what did he right, nomination. He’s eyeing
hair, sweet-eyed smile and or wrong, as a Hollywood a London play next year.
lanky frame, all accounted newcomer? O’Dowd mulls The ideal scenario, he said,
for.) O’Dowd also demon- the question, attempting to is three months in England
strates an impressive sense be helpful. and the rest of the year in
of perspective. His family “Even if I wasn’t doing a Los Angeles.
— his wife, journalist Dawn great audition, I felt like I He’s an unabashed fan
O’Porter, a baby and a always did a very good of LA, appreciating the
toddler — get precedence meeting,” he said. “It’s not weather, the neighbor-
over his career. about the job you’re go- hood friends he’s made
“I’m looking for jobs closer ing in for, it’s about the job and the city’s relative lack
to home. It’s definitely a that’s coming after that. of oppressive skyscrapers.q

Star Wars toy launch to unveil

new ‘Last Jedi’ character

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star the 20,000 participating lo-
Wars: The Last Jedi” is still a cations in 30 countries, fans
few months away from hit- can snap photos of the
ting theaters, but BB-8-hap- Find the Force symbol to
py fans are about to get a find old favorites, like Ad-
glimpse at a new charac- miral Ackbar, and discover
ter as a part of a three-day a new character from “The
marketing rollout of toys Last Jedi” too.
and products inspired by “Star Wars has always
the film. championed new technol-
The Walt Disney Company ogy, and we are excited
said Thursday that the glob- that augmented reality will
al event, dubbed Force Fri- allow fans to experience This image released by
day II, will feature an aug- the universe in a whole LucasFilm shows a promotional
mented reality treasure new way,” said Lucasfilm poster for the upcoming “Star
hunt called Find the Force. president Kathleen Kenne- Wars: The Last Jedi,” film to be
Using the Star Wars app in dy in a statement.q released in December.