Entertainment Insiders

Stephen Wong, stephen@einsiders.com
EInsiders.com's creator and founder, animator, film critic, box office fool and webmaster.
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Stephen started this whole mess back when he was a disgruntled statistic (a.k.a. computer science major) at Georgia Tech. A graduate of the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, Stephen is an animator for Pixar Studios. Previously Stephen worked as an animator for Blue Sky Studios on "Ice Age 2," Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" and Pixar's "Ratatouille" as well as "The Golden Compass" and "The Spiderwick Chronicles." He thinks Aliens is the greatest sci-fi actioner of all-time, Diane Lane is beautiful and Traffic was overrated. He also can't think of a single American movie where the token Chinese guy DIDN'T know Kung-fu.

Though his favorite genre is sci-fi, his favorite films include Fight Club, Ran and Rear Window.

Stephen at IMDB

Jonathan W. Hickman, jonathan@einsiders.com
Editor-in-Chief, columnist, film critic, and deep philosopher

Jonathan W. Hickman, our sometimes austere editor, spends way too much time on the golf course. This causes him to stay up all night with the thesaurus in an effort to sound intelligent. Jonathan is the Misdemeanor Public Defender of Coweta County, Georgia. He lives in a little town right below Atlanta, Georgia, with his Wife, Amna Khan-Hickman and daughter Layla. Jonathan has just had his first novel published. His unique super-hero tale "The Taster" is being published by Reagent Press. Jonathan prefers smart movies over big ones and quiet moments over chatty twenty-something dialogue. His favorite movies include "The Maltese Falcon" and, more recently, "Boogie Nights." Somewhere there is a screenplay in him just waiting to find its way to the screen if only he could just get his handicap into single digits first.

Ken Miyamoto, kmiyamoto@einsiders.com
Columnist, gossip chief, and "resident answer man"

Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly ten years in various positions... from the bottom of the bottom of the totem pole (movie extra, studio security) to more elevated positions in development and screenwriting.

He was a studio liaison for Sony Studios, working with incoming film and television productions, VIP talent, and executives. He then moved into development and worked as a scripter reader/story analyst for Sony Pictures, all while developing his own projects on the side.

In '05, his wife Amy gave birth to their son Jack. The following year proved to be a double blessing as studios finally began to take notice of Ken's screenwriting. After signing with a manager on the recommedation from a Paramount executive who read his script, Ken met with producers and executives in nearly all major studios.

He, his wife, and son Jack then moved back to their homestate of Wisconsin in the summer of '06 (Didn't want to raise a family in LA, wanted to be close to family again, etc.). Irony prevails as Ken finally signs a development deal with Lionsgate Films once settled in the midwest! His script "One Shot, One Kill" is currently being developed by Lionsgate (keep fingers crossed), thus Ken is relieved to FINALLY be a working screenwriter after so many years.

He continues to develop additional projects in the meantime and also teaches various screenwriting courses at the University of Wisconsin.

Ken at IMDB

Rusty White, rusty@einsiders.com
Columnist, film critic, and "resident insomniac"

Rusty is EInsiders' token old guy. The insomniac film critic took over the reigns of "Video Risks" from Jonathan Hickman, and which he passed on to Jon Ted Wynne. Rusty contributes to the DVD and Interview pages. Rusty's pet is the Hollywood Obituaries column. An Attorney with the Public Defender's Office in Memphis, Rusty lives with his wife Teri, son Blair and daughters Christy and Lauren. A frustrated screenwriter, Rusty has written 4 feature length scripts and actually came close to selling a rock music version of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" co-written with 60s new age musician Malachi. A fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood (the 1970s!), Rusty prefers Horror films above all. Favorite films are "Treasure of Sierra Madre," "Aliens," "White Heat," "Once Upon a Time in the West" and just about anything with buxom female vampires. Rusty acted in his first film, a principle role in Jeremy Benson's third feature "The Smallest Oceans." He learned what it was like to have his head cut off with a shovel acting in Jeremy Benson's horror film "Shutter." Rusty recently finished a cameo role (crap...it's on the cutting room floor!) in Jeremy Benson's upcoming thriller "Live Animals."

Rusty at IMDB

Jon Ted Wynne, jontedwynne@einsiders.com
Columnist, film critic, showbiz veteran

Jon Ted Wynne is a professional actor with over twenty-five year's experience. In addition to numerous stage credits, he has appeared in over 30 films, including Jeff Skilling in THE CROOKED E and a recurring role on the Canadian television series FALCON BEACH. He and his wife, Rhiannon Benedict, live and perform in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. JTW is a film fan of monstrous proportions. His video collection of over 8000 titles is ample proof of this boast. His five favorite films are ZULU, THE ALAMO, THE DIRTY DOZEN, THE VIKINGS and THE WILD BUNCH. He is particularly drawn to films made between the years 1930 and 1965. Also a writer and film director, he has recently branched into film production with a dramatic short, EVER 7, and several other projects in various stages of development.

Ted at IMDB
Clip of Ted at work in the musical STRIKE!

Scott Mantz, scott@einsiders.com
Film critic, columnist, and frustrated single guy

Scott Mantz may be the only EI writer who doesn�t have plans to write the great American screenplay, and that�s just fine with him�he doesn�t want to make movies; he just likes watching them. After working as the CFO for an entertainment marketing company for 8 years, Scott co-hosted the news-magazine TV show "Sci-Fi Entertainment" for the Sci-Fi Channel in 1998 (and if you didn�t see it, consider yourself lucky�it sucked). In addition to writing film reviews and show-biz commentary on his own website (Scott's Movie Reviews) for the past 5 years, he also works as a Film Segment Producer for "Access Hollywood." His favorite movies are "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Back to the Future," "The King of Comedy," "The Insider," and any late-80�s porn movie with Nikki Randall. (Of course, that list changes every week�)

Scott at IMDB

Warren Curry, warren@einsiders.com
Staff Writer, film critic, micro-brewed root beer aficionado

Originally from the northwest suburbs of Boston, Warren moved to Los Angeles immediately after graduating from college (you've never heard of it) in search of "making it" as a screenwriter. Almost a decade later, he still hasn't made it. But that's okay, as Warren keeps himself busy and somewhat fulfilled cheering for the Boston Red Sox, eating sushi, and drinking the finest beverage of them all, Root 66 Root Beer. Oh yeah, he also watches a lot of movies and has claimed that if it weren't for film festivals, he would see little reason to exist (much to the chagrin of his very understanding girlfriend). Some of his all-time favorite directors are Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog, and Jean-Luc Godard. Warren would also consider giving his first born child to Lukas Moodysson. He remains doggedly determined to make that elusive spec script sale.

Adam Barnick, adam@einsiders.com
Staff Writer, film critic.

Adam Barnick is a New York-based filmmaker and a proud yet social geek. He regularly contributes articles, interviews and film reviews to EI as well as Dread Central and his own self-named website, in addition to developing screenplays on his own and with two other writers. He is currently a script reader for the IFP East as well as a freelance editor/sound designer. His most recent film as a writer/director, Mainstream, was completed in April 2005. After several enthusiastic festival screenings it was picked up for distribution by Koch Vision Entertainment for their DVD release of Fangoria's Blood Drive, a compilation of "America's Best Short Horror Films." It will be available for rental and for sale everywhere on October 4. He is currently prepping his next short film, Eight Phone Calls, for shooting this Fall, as well as several music videos.

visit Adam's great Website Adam Barnick.com

Adam at IMDB

Steve Balderson, steve@einsiders.com
Guest Columnist �Balderson Blvd.�

Steve Balderson is an award-winning film director. He works from Wamego, Kansas, where he also lives. His first feature, Pep Squad, satirized and predicted American school violence prior to the horrific series of real-life school shootings. His second feature film, Firecracker stars Karen Black, Mike Patton, Susan Traylor, and a host of real-life carnival freaks. In 2005, the film received nominations for Best Picture at Raindance and Fantasporto, where Karen Black won the award for Best Actress. Steve is the subject of the acclaimed feature documentary �Wamego: Making Movies Anywhere� which was released in 2004 on DVD. He recently release the very cool art/documentary/visual feast "Phone Sex" on DVD. For more information, visit Steve�s website: www.dikenga.com or search his name on the internet.

Steve at IMDB

Tony 'Wearysloth' Sullivan, wearysloth@einsiders.com
DVD critic

Genus: Computerangis Programmerabilis.

Species: Divideemaniacus.

Habitat: Often to be found in darkened cinemas or car repair shops.

Behaviour: Migratory, Essex to Florida (once, hasn't come back yet). Solitary, nomadic, can be identified by it's plaintive mating cry: "Would you like to go to a movie?".

Plumage: Drab.

Diet: Exists solely on Chicken Fajitas (when available). Visits the waterhole to obtain Cider, Tequila Sunrises and the odd Cointreau.

Notes: First spotted attending "The Jungle Book" in 1967 aged 5, this species is particularly attracted to movies from 1982 and the bare necessities of life.

visit Tony's great Website The Actor's Compendium

Rhiannon Benedict, rhiannon@einsiders.com
Actress, author, film critic

Rhiannon Benedict is a professional actress on stage and screen. She is an award-winning short story writer, most often for an audience of pre-teen and early-teen girls. She and her husband, Jon Ted Wynne, live in Winnipeg with their 3 rescued dogs in a house that is much too small for all the rabble-rousing, particularly since one entire room is dedicated to Jon Ted's massive film collection. Although her favourite genres are Suspense and Horror (gotta love those Hammers) her most prized possession is her VHS of ROMAN HOLIDAY, autographed to her by the most handsome leading man in history--the one and only Gregory Peck.

Rhiannon at IMDB

Jeremy & Chris Benson, jeremy@einsiders.com
Film critic, independent filmmaker

Jeremy Benson is an indie filmmaker living in Memphis, TN. with his "Nothing But Flowers" leading lady (and now fellow EI DVD critic!) Chris and their beautiful baby girl Shawn and their recent addition, son Brandon. Jeremy admires the work of Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino. Jeremy and artistic partner Mark Williams are the owners of Centerpoint Films. Jeremy has directed four features. His first two films were the comedy "Friday�s Menu" and its serious follow-up "Nothing But Flowers." Jeremy's third feature "The Smallest Oceans" won Honorable Mention as Best Feature at the 2005 New York Independent Film and Video Festival in Los Angeles. Jeremy's fourth feature is the horror film "Shutter." You can watch the trailer for "Shutter" HERE. Jeremy is currently in post-production on his fifth feature film, the horror thriller "Live Animals." Jeremy contributes to EI�s DVD review page. His wife Chris has joined EI specializing in reviewing children's DVDs.

Jeremy at IMDB
Trailer for Jeremy's horror film SHUTTER

Frank Cifaldi, frank@einsiders.com
DVD critic, autograph collector

Frank Cifaldi is a Memphian by way of Florida. As an autograph collector of movie celebrities, he now has over 3,500 signatures. His favorite movies are a diverse collection...On Borrowed Time, Song of Bernadette, Rudy, Requiem for a Dream, Life as a House, A Fish Called Wanda, Rosemary's Baby and Fahrenheit 9/11 are but a few of his favorites. Frank is also a television fanatic and is currently loving having his favorite shows put on DVD. Shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi and Friends have currently been keeping Frank a shut-in and when they ever release Wings on DVD, he is sure to never leave his house again. Unless it burns down...again!

Janos Gereben, janos@einsiders.com
Film critic, World traveler

Janos Gereben, originally from Budapest, has worked as writer and editor for publications in New York (Herald-Tribune, UPI, Time-Life), Honolulu (Star-Bulletin), San Jose (Mercury-News), and - for the past two decades - in San Francisco (Classical Voice).

He works as arts editor, music and theater critic, technology journalist, but for fun, he writes about movies and travel. Special favorites: London, Berlin, Morocco, and Iceland - where he was pickled, happily, in volcanic, sulphurous Blue Lagoon, shown here. Not visible: the swimsuit immortalized here.

Eric Lurio, eric@einsiders.com
Film critic

Eric Lurio was born in a log cabin somewhere in the heart of Newark, New Jersey around half a century ago. He grew up in New York City and it's suburbs and graduated GWU in Washington, DC in 1979. Then they changed their mind, took back his degree and he had to graduate from Pratt Institute in 1985.

He's written two books, illustrated a few more and was declared to be a "superstar of comics" by the Comic Buyer's Guide sometime in the early 90s. Why they did that is unknown.

He began writing film reviews for several publications starting in 1992 and did it full time on the web starting 1997.

Cam Williams, cam@einsiders.com
Radio Producer, film critic, Rock-N-Roll trombone player

Originally from Metropolis, Illinois then moving to Grand Rivers, Ky,(was a volunteer fire fighter for a few years) Cam moved to Memphis, Tn immediately after graduating from Murray State University (the ivy league school of the south, as far as you know) in search of being a "big time radio mogul". After ten years, let's just say he found other things to do. But that's cool, as Cam keeps himself occupied and amused by being a Memphis Grizzlies fan, (dead last, last year) eating BBQ, and playing and singing in a rock band with his friends. Oh yeah, he loves movies and has been an extra in a couple of them and did some voice work for other projects including animation features. Some of his all-time favorite films involve the Marx Brothers, Star Trek (any cast, he is not that picky), and most Robert Altman movies. Cam also likes to sing in the choir and basically likes to entertain. He remains committed to the notion of experiencing or performing in as many forms of the entertainment spectrum as possible.

Cam at IMDB

Tammy Ruggles, tammy@einsiders.com
Columnist, children's author

Tammy writes entertainment, social topics, and general interest articles for numerous consumer and trade magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is also the author of nine children's books, and hopes to have her teen suicide prevention book out soon. For more info. on Tammy and her writing visit her web page at:

Tammy Ruggles: Freelance Writer

Michaek Dziura, mziura@einsiders.com
DVD & film critic

Michael has an MFA in Stage Direction, but came to the theatre through a love of all things cinematic. In fact, this love has gotten him in trouble with professors, theatrical purists, and his wife, Susan. Problem is, there's no Methadone equivalent for DVD addiction (except possibly VHS). Michael lives in Massachusetts, where he is trying to rebuild his theatre company after a 1200 mile move from Memphis. Although he grew up loving the films of Cronenberg, Carpenter, and Romero, he has grown up and his tastes have evolved. Now he loves the films of Cronenberg, Carpenter, Romero, P.T. Anderson and Wes Anderson. His favorite film from Wednesday through Monday is Magnolia. On Tuesdays it's Escape From New York. He is happy to note that he found out this week that at least two other people besides his editors, friends, and family have actually read his reviews. With hard work, he thinks he can maybe get that up to three or four.

Aaron Hoag, aaron@einsiders.com
Hong Kong movie FREAK, film critic, box office buff, and all-around movie fan.

Despite being an avid movie watcher since he was old enough to stop using diapers, this self-described world traveler did not really get crazy about movies until after spending an insane 2 � years in Hong Kong and discovering the world of Hong Kong Cinema. Aaron is strangely proud of the fact that he was into movies with people like John Woo, Chow Yun Fat, and Jet Li more than 10 years ago � back when his family and friends scratched their heads and wondered exactly what the hell kind of movies he was watching on his VCR.

Currently Aaron lives in the SF/Bay Area, travels to Asia whenever he can, and tries to watch as many movies as possible in his free time. While he tends to focus on Hong Kong / Asian Cinema, he also spends a great deal of time expressing his opinions on the current box office gross, and also writing DVD reviews. Aaron�s newfound interests include Korean and Thai movies, which he feels are the 2 developing movie markets to keep an eye on. His ultimate dream is to live and work in Hong Kong as the token White-Guy-Who-Speaks-Chinese bit parts found in many a Hong Kong movie.

Chuck Boring, chuck@einsiders.com
Columnist, film critic, and resident "jack-ass"

Chuck, an assistant district attorney for Coweta County, Georgia, was lured into the reviewing business by the afore-mentioned Hickman. Formerly an aspiring Hunter S. Thompson wanna-be, Chuck shuttered at the thought of swimming amongst the vile lot that is beat journalists and chose a different path. He now swims amongst those charged with the most heinous of crimes, finding them much more pleasant than the self-righteous members of the press. Chuck continues, however, to subscribe to the belief that he will be the next F. Scott Fitzgerald should he ever find the will to put pen to paper. His credentials for thoughtful criticism in the realm of the film industry rise and fall solely on the precept that he is always right, nay-sayers be damned.