Beets, Laundry, & Nerves - Our Interview With The Delightful Miss Anna Gooden

It's not everyday you get the pleasure of a future superstar dropping by your office. But today we at the Bridgeman Creative HQ were busy at work the delightful and always charming Anna Gooden, holder of some of the most memorable roles in Bridgemans history, popped in for a quick chat between running to the gym to muscle up for her new role as Mary Magdalene in the upcoming Production Redemption. Enjoy, and get ready to fall in love all again!US: As one of Bridgeman Coc's Veteran stage stars, how was the audition process for you?
AG: It was a bunch of fun! Seeing everyone up there giving it their best shot and knowing that not only does everyone share a love for acting but a passion to see people's lives changed through the arts was inspiring.
US: Going into a church audition do you rely on your natural talent, or your knowledge of what the director (who happens to be a close friend) wants?
AG: In no way should my friendship with the director be used to my advantage in an audition. And in no way does my doing his laundry or cleaning his house have anything to do with that either.
US: Do nerves play a part for you at all?
AG: All professionals get nervous. Except me, I get excited.
US: You're playing the role of Mary Magdalene, Congratulations on that, what do you think you can bring to her?
AG: First of all, thank you! I've always admired Mary Magdalene, coming from such a shady background to being transformed by the love of Jesus. I think a lot of people today can relate to her story of redemption. I'm excited to see what I can bring to the role.
US: We've been told that to prepare yourself for the role you watched passions of the christ. Is this true, did it help?

AG: Pah! Who told you that? I may have happened to watch passions of the Christ just after I discovered I got the role, but it honestly was a coincidence! Honestly... Come on... Who can blame me for being excited :)
US: You've been lucky enough to read the script, what do you think?
AG: It is one of Mike's finest. I laughed in parts and got goosebumps in others. I think this production is really going to speak to the hearts of people and what they can find through the love and power of Jesus Christ.
US: What do you think people can expect?
AG: A transforming experience. Not to mention superb acting from everyone involved.
US: Mike is known for his use of humour, so naturally there's a little concern of his handling of serious subject matter, how do you think his transition went into the world of Drama?
AG: Naturally Mike's quirkiness made it's way into the script in some parts, however I think people will be surprised at how easy he seems to have made the transition from comedy to drama. Something like the Easter story needs to be done tastefully and I think Mike has really done it justice. 
US: Do you think Luke Normans influence in the script writing process helped the two focus? What do you think it would have been like to have been locked away writing with them?
AG: Those two creative minds in a room locked away together? Why do you think the script is so brilliant?... But no... I would not have liked to have been there. It would have been like staying at Dwight Shrute's beet farm for the weekend- Unnatural, scary and disturbing. (If you've watched the office you know what I mean).
US: How long have you been acting?
AG: Since I was able to walk and sing the Lion King to my parents.
US: What was your first production?
AG: I played a sewer rat in the Pied Piper. But my first main role in a production was Olivia Twist. We changed it from Oliver to Olivia because I'm a girl.
US: Any embarassing stories?
AG: Many. I played a scots man once and forgot kilts tend to fly up over your head when you fall off the stage.
US: If you could have any role in film history who would it have been and why?

AG: Any historical heroine. From cleopatra to Elizabeth Bennet or even Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle.
US: What is a must for you in any green room?
AG: A mirror and water. And a couch and chocolate and a phone with games on it and fresh flowers and an oversized gorilla and a bird that constantly says "good job good job good job". I need positivity in my life.

US: What would you love to see as the next production?
AG: A huge biblical musical. With dancing. I'd love to see some spirit fingers in there.
US: Why should people come & see redemption?
AG: It'll be like nothing you've ever seen at Bridgeman C.O.C, I guarantee it's going to be extraordinary!

Consider yourself charmed! You can catch Anna Gooden and the rest of the cast on the 17th of April at Bridgeman COC for Redemption!

Hope to see you all!

The Story Of The Christmas Story

King Herod & His Wife

So with only 39 sleeps to go until this years BIG production, we at Bridgeman Creative think it's time to release some of what you can expect to find in this years Christmas Spectacle!

In many ways this years production can be looked at very much as a "best of" writer and director Mike Kalinowski, told us. "I've taken the best bits from the last three years and rolled them into one jam packed show."

But don't worry Christmas fans, the story is staying true to the heart of the message, and isn't all just entirely a copy of the previous years. Mike has infact assured us, that the story is new with quite a nice twist, A bunch of favorite charcters have returned, along with what he thinks is a host of new zany characters to flesh out the world.

But none of what is going to happen would have been possible without the wealth of talent acting in the show this year. The strongest cast ever, makes certain that this production is not to be missed! So the story???

Without giving too much away, we can reveal that King Herod (Returning this year, and played once again by Mike) Has enlisted the help of his most loyal subject Quintus (Chris Micklewright) in gathering together all of the prophecies found in the Torah (Old Testament) About Jesus' birth, in order to get a head start in plotting the future kings downfall.

But as is befitting possibly the maddest king in all of history, nothing goes quite to plan, and when an argument with his wife Mrs Herod (Anna Gooden) goes sour, it is decided that a troop of actor's under the world renowned Pandercott (Beck Davies) will act out the story of the christmas story to Herod and his court.

Complete with Mary, Joseph, talking donkey, wise men, shepherds and angels, King Herod's throne room is thrown into all sorts of crazy. From wandering sheep, to an angel that sings all her lines from christmas carols (Rosie Henselin) the cast of the play within a play, take on King Herod to protect their soon to be Born king of the Jews, and saviour of the world.

But not all is fine and dandy, as Mrs Herod starts to get a bit suspicious about the activities, leaving the ending as unpredictable and intense as we have ever seen.

So truley this year is a year to invite the friends and family, and experience together a whole lot of laughs, a whole lot of fun, and the bold message of Jesus Christ the saviour of the world unashamedly proclaimed from the stage!

THE CAST!!
King Herod - Mike Kalinowski
Mrs Herod - Anna Gooden
Steven - Zac Vains
Quintus - Chris Micklewright
Attendant - Alison Bakker
Narrator - Robyn
Cornelius - Fred Porter
Amos - Roxanne Gusterson
Theodore - Caleb Sheppard
Mark - Josh Russell
David - Jos Wilson
John - Ethan Graham
Ruth - Maddy Szymanski
Pandercott - Beck Davies
Angel - Rosie Henselin
Mary - Hannah Lucas
Joseph - Jeremy Cake
Donkey - Paul Chadwick
Pilate - Jackson Canuto

So be a sport and leave them some comments, and some well wishes as they tirelessly work to put on the biggest and best show ever seen at Bridgeman Downs!

Oh and 'Be Prepared' for King Herod... if you know what we mean.

OUT!!!

Interview With A Talking Donkey

After a long flight to southern europe, I finally stepped out of the plain and onto the firm ground that was Macedonia. Why you may ask was in Macedonia, well the answer you see was to speak to the most amazing, elusive creature of all... The talking donkey.

After making his acting debut in Bridgeman COC's highly acclaimed "JESUS" christmas production in 2009, the donkey also know as "Aloysius the Great" (His insistance, not my own) just fell off the face of the earth.

After much late night google searching, and dot matrix printing I finally managed to track him down to a small seaside town called Stip, a harbour city in Macedonia. So off I went to speak to him on his thoughts of being allegedly left out of Bridgeman COC's Christmas Production "The Story of The Christmas Story"

After a ride in the back of a goat powered rickshaw, I finally arrived at a small whitewashed sand stone building with a blue Barn door at the front. I knocked and was greeted by Aloysius, wearing dark 80's style Ray Bans, and an incredibly beautiful donkey fur tan. He smiled a million dollar smile (He had obviously had heaps of dental work) and welcomed to his humble abode all the while offering me a carrot juice (which I turned down)

He sat opposite me and waited patiently for me to begin asking my questions. I noticed that his forehead was quite smooth, consist with someone using botox. I decided not to ask him about that. So I began.

"Thank you for meeting up with me and agrreing to the interview" I said.
He nodded and acknowledged the fact that he wouldn't be where he was today without his many fans.

ME: "So whats been happening in your life since your acting debut"

DON: "It's been an incredible whirlwind. I've just gone from one job to the next, building my career like crazy."

ME: "What type of jobs?"

DON: "All acting. I just recently finished shooting my own side story of the BABE franchise. You know the talking pig?"

ME: "I do."

DON: "You know he doesn't actually talk?"

ME: "Yeah he's just a pig."

DON: "Exactly. Now if he were a donkey that would be a totally different story. Anyway I got that movie out of the way. It's going to be a laugh a minute. It's the story of a young donkey bought up by a group of humans who get taken hostage by a trigger finger happy terrorist, and it falls to the donkey, Me, to save them. It's like Rambo meet's die hard, meets Babe, meets racing stripes."

ME: "sounds great!"

DON: "Yeah we filmed it in Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistani. Don't know if it'll get an english release."

ME: "That's a disappointment. You know how we're big fan's of yours."

DON: "Yeah, but you'll get to see my other stuff. I've filmed a Bollywood dance movie about a donkey who enters the matrix called "Donk Matrix", I've done education videos on how to safely eat grass when grazing, and a video on the finer points of being stubborn."

ME: "So why the move to Macedonia?"

DON: "Well, and I don't want to sound like I'm boasting, but 97% of the population are my fans. That's a large percentage of my entire fan base. It just made sense really."

ME: "right. So what's your status on Bridgeman's upcoming christmas production. There has been a bit of speculation about whether or not you are going to be in it or not. Can you put any of those rumours to bed?"

DON: Long Pause "This is a painful issue to talk about. Because as much as I wanted to make an appearance this year, Mike hasn't actually offered me a part. I initially tried out for Joseph, and he thought I was better suited as being the donkey."

ME: "So there is a talking donkey in this years production."

DON: "From what I know, Yes, but it won't be me."

ME: "Why not? That's like who you are."

DON: "I know right? Basically after the auditions I had to have a think about whether or not I wanted the role of the Donkey. I was pretty bummed I didn't get the part of Joseph, but getting offered the Donkey still gave me a good chance at being in the production."

ME: "So what did you do?"

DON: "The only sensible thing. I called Mike and I said, listen, I'll play your stupid talking, totally unrealistic talking donkey, but I'm going to expect a six figure paycheck come the end of the production."

ME: "and?"

DON: "Well he said he found someone, two people, actually who would do it for nothing, and who were infact better actors than myself."

ME: "Two people?"

DON: "Yeah as in not me, but two human beings. He's getting two people to play a talking donkey. It's just stupid. Who is going to believe that?"

ME: "I can see your point. Did you make a lower counter offer?"

DON: "No! You don't make a profitable career by offering your services for nothing."

ME: "No, you make Uzbekistani movies about a gun totting donkey?"

DON: "Your point?"

ME: "Just sounds like a bit of a career killer to me. That's all"

DON: "I can clearly tell, cause my donkey sense is tingling, that you're jealous of me."

ME: "Yeah! Sure. Who does a donkey dance anyway?"

DON: "Much like Batman from the 1970's TV series."

ME: "And you did that in India, for a movie?"

DON: "Yeah. Donk Matrix."

ME: "Right. Sounds lame."

DON: "What?

ME: "Nothing. So what else is in the works?"

DON: "Just between you and me, I'm waiting to hear back from Peter Jackson about the Hobbit, and a couple of, dare I say, big name studios, about roles in Die Hard Five, Superman, the reboot of Spider man, and a starring role in the last Twilight."

ME: "Sounds promising."

DON: "I've been waiting for a while now. I suppose I'll just wait a little longer until they get back to me. I could really do with the money."

And that's where I left the incredible actor, in his house to wallow in his own sadness and failed career. Sad really, but as Mike said "It is his own fault, the decisions he made since "JESUS" have ruined him. I had hoped and dearly looked forward to working with him again, he is such a talented actor. But it doesn't look like it will be. I had hoped to be able to help out his career as well. But alas. I can't be everything to everyone!"

We say well said by the writer/director/producer Mike Kalinowski, and look forward to the next exclusive he throws us in the lead up to "The Story of The Christmas Story" Coming December 12 2010, at Bridgeman COC.

Until next time, hopefully not from Macedonia
Bridgeman Creative Insider.