Friday - August 15, 2008

Category Image A quick Q&A with Kipleigh Brown


Ken Hulsey, Monster Island News:  What first attracted you to the film Yesterday Was a Lie?

Kipleigh:  Well, I have always been drawn to the dark and moody alleyways of noir, as well as the flashing, fluorescently lit corridors of science fantasy. So when I first read the script I was immediately fascinated. Add to that a strong and complex female lead... indeed I was absolutely smitten. Yesterday Was a Lie is such a beautifully crafted piece of work. The metaphysical angle alone has me running thought marathons.

MIN:  Many fans may not know that you have made quite a name for yourself as a sketch comedian, both writing for and performing in "Big News" in Hollywood. Many great comedians have made the transition to dramatic actor almost seamlessly. How does working with comedic material prepare you for dramatic roles?

KB:  Aw shucks, I’m not quite sure that I’ve made a "name" for myself (unless my nickname of "Is-That-Your-Real-Name... No, Seriously?" counts). Otherwise technically speaking, I don't do stand-up comedy with "Big News," since we are an awesome ensemble-driven sketch show, newly written and performed every week at the uber-sheik-Paris-Hilton-vaguely-aware-of iO West on Hollywood Boulevard. As for the transition from comedy to drama, truthfully, I have always done both. I started out with drama, which was when the acting bug bit me (and that was one messed-up looking insect let me tell you). From there, as any good teenager will, I experimented with other things, including comedy. I have been duplicitous ever since. So this really isn't a transition. Instead it is a hopeful melding of everything I have learned thus far.

MIN:  In your portrayal of Hoyle in Yesterday Was a Lie do you get to showcase your comedic talent or are you limited to playing it straight?

KB:  Well, to me, Hoyle is such a complicated role. Playing her is like taming a lion. The minute I think I have her down and get cocky, I'm liable to lose an extremity. So I'm not looking to showcase anything. Rather I want to create a three-dimensional human being, and humor is a fundamental part of us. In Hoyle's case it is a somewhat sly and wry sense of wit, on the opposite end of the spectrum from the more boisterous world of sketch. So I have to trade in my rubber chicken for a subtler, precision-aligned set of comedic tools. Hopefully I will do this incredible script justice, or I may just have to eat my fedora...
Posted at 09:01 PM     Read More  

Monday - January 09, 2006

Category Image Thrill of the Chase


I have just seen some of the edits of the featurettes, and I am quite impressed -- as I was by my fellows at the time of filming. James, John, Sarah, S.K., Andrew... boy, how did we get so lucky? Yesterday Was a Lie is very much unlike any other film ever made. James' vision is profound, complex and passionate. Now don't get me wrong -- profundity is not what makes it unique. From the silent movie days until now, there have been artists creating films that are staggering in their beauty and depth. They are our inspiration. They are our mentors. We would not be here without them.

Nor is complexity unique. Again, our forefathers and mothers have shown us what complexity truly is. We are their students. We would not be here without them.

As for passion… Passion is the fundamental fuel of a movie. If no one believes in the project enough to fight tooth and nail, there is no project. And by that token passion cannot be unique, right? So what is your point, Kipleigh?! Well... in this commercial age, in which films often rely on CGI more than they do plot, it seems to me like passion has been replaced by cold monetary ambition. The heart and soul of cinema has suffered, and audiences are not given enough credit. Yesterday Was a Lie embodies a lot of what I think we have lost. It is much more than words on a page; it is infused with the passion and the hearts and souls of those of us who will bring it to life.

In my first blog, I wrote, "Yesterday Was a Lie has the action, the chase, and the seduction of Noir." Well, we now quite literally have the Chase. Chase Masterson has come on board to play the "Singer." Chase is our missing piece. We auditioned a plethora of talented actresses for the role. But the moment Chase walked through the door and read for us, something almost palpable clicked into place. She has the passion, the heart and the soul so crucial to this project... not to mention the incredible intellect, talent and beauty. She has a unique understanding of Yesterday Was a Lie. I cannot imagine anyone else playing this role. We are honored to have her. Welcome, Chase!

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Tuesday - August 30, 2005

Category Image Hollywood Nocturne


I look at film these days and cannot believe how lucky I am. You don't need me to point out the staggering preponderance of drivel out there. When I first read Yesterday Was a Lie I was knocked out of my malaise. Here was a beacon, a complex, profound and intelligent story. Intelligent -- but not dry. Yesterday Was a Lie has the action, the chase, and the seduction of Noir.

Many months back, when I got the phone call that I was Hoyle, I was over the moon. Well, after this weekend, I am far past the moon and headed for Jupiter. I have never met a more talented and devoted group of people. This teaser has only reaffirmed my complete belief in this project. When you see it, you'll know what I mean.

Posted at 05:37 PM     Read More