Reviewerverse Free Press Sits Down With LadySpaz!

A special bonus interview for today!

Mehe: Hello, and welcome to Reviewerverse Free Press! Today, LadySpaz is having a seat in our chair!

LadySpaz: Hey!

Mehe: We always start with asking our interviewee to tell us a little about themselves and their show. Care to share?

LadySpaz: Well, I’m 26 and living in New York. I have a BA in European History from University of Albany and I work at Staples for the time being. I aspire to be in film and/or theatre and that’s worked out well so far. I just helped out Oancitizen with his SAG thesis film. As for my show, it’s called Fool’s Gold: The Mediocrity of the Golden Age of Hollywood and I review all the terrible movies released by Hollywood from the birth of film through 1964. I also review some good things too.

Mehe: What made you focus on the Golden Age rather than taking the route most reviews choose of looking at today’s entertainment?

LadySpaz: I think that “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” also applies to Hollywood. I think that if you don’t take a look at the pioneers of film, you don’t really understand where today’s filmmakers get their influences. I am also a huge Chaplin fan.

Mehe: It’s truly a different approach. What got you into doing video reviews?

LadySpaz: Honestly? I’m a huge fan of Linkara and of The Cinema Snob. A friend of mine actually introduced me to ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com with Nostalgia Critic’s Top 11 Hottest Animated Women. I frequented the site a lot after that and I decided to do something that no one had really done before. I poked around, did some research and saw no one really did Classic Hollywood. There was old vs. new, but it still had today’s entertainment. While I put references from today in my videos, I don’t really talk about today’s entertainment unless it pertains to Hollywood Classics.

Mehe: Could you take us through your process a little? Choosing a movie to review and so on?

LadySpaz: Well, I went through a book that had most Golden Age movies and did the research, made a schedule and so on. I have taken fan suggestions: Seven Doors to Death was one of them. When I choose a movie, it has to be something that intrigues me, whether for better or for worse, then I sit down and I do the research. My editor, Joe, and I sit through the movie and script after that. We usually shoot for 2 days, then editing takes 4-7 days depending on how busy we both are with our day jobs.

Mehe: Where can we find you on the web?

LadySpaz: blip.tv/ladyspaz and foolsgoldenage.blogspot.com as well as Nerdvice.com.

Mehe: How has being a reviewer affected how you look at films from the Golden Age now?

LadySpaz: I’m much more analytical with all the movies I see. I can actually break things down and see where the director was going, even if sometimes it doesn’t translate to screen. I also do that when I see today’s entertainment as well.

Mehe: How does the Golden Age compare to today’s entertainment in your opinion?

LadySpaz: Honestly, it’s apples and oranges. But I will say that for every movie that sucks today, you can find a movie that sucks from then. I think that most of the tropes of today can be traced to Classic Hollywood. Movie stars becoming household names really started with Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin. Child stars started then as well: Jackie Coogan and Shirley Temple. Most of the Golden Age set precedents for today until some of today’s filmmakers shattered some of the classic expectations.

Mehe: You mentioned earlier that you’d worked on Oancitizen’s SAG thesis film What, if anything, can you tell us about that?

LadySpaz: I was originally hired as his script supervisor, but I apparently helped him quite a bit with it. I was promoted to assistant director and was essentially his right hand. I helped find him space, budgeting, SAG, and the like. But what I can tell you is that it’s a political satire involving time travel and that it’s a really fun script. He’s currently editing a rough cut. The actors were a joy to work with and Kyle is probably the second nicest director I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

Mehe: It sounds like it was quite the experience!

LadySpaz: It was. Exhausting to go to set every day and get everything ready to. Plus I got sick halfway through, so I had to drink a lot of tea.

Mehe: I know a lot of people can’t wait to see it.

LadySpaz: So I’ve heard. I’m actually really excited to see what he does with it. We got a lot of footage and everyone on set was spot on. We had a professional, but causal atmosphere.

Mehe: Any advice for up and coming reviewers?

LadySpaz: Just do it. The hardest hurdle is doing it. I know it sounds cliche but it’s true. Also, take risks. You never know what will happen.

Mehe: If someone were looking to start watching your reviews, where would you recommend they start?

LadySpaz: My review of Bride of the Gorilla is actually a pretty good place to start.

Mehe: And which would you term your best?

LadySpaz: Murder By Television is probably the best one I’ve put out so far.

Mehe: Other than movie reviews, what do you enjoy doing?

LadySpaz: Oh, I love to play video games! I’m also a huge Pathfinder gamer. I am currently in a really geeky Pathfinder game that fuses Pokemon and Pathfinder together. It’s really fun. I am also a huge professional wrestling fan. I love AJ Lee and I can’t stop talking about her on Twitter.

Mehe: AJ is adorable!

LadySpaz: Right? I would love to meet her in real life. My favorite wrestlers are AJ, CM Punk, Kane, the Undertaker, and Damien Sandow at the moment.

Mehe: Would you call AJ your favorite wrestler? Or someone else?

LadySpaz: AJ is my favorite Diva by far. Sorry, Trish Stratus. And she’s also my favorite current wrestler. But my favorite wrestlers of all time are tied. Undertaker and Edge. I cried when Edge retired. I was in England, studying abroad when it was announced.

Mehe: What’s been your best experience as a reviewer?

LadySpaz: MAGFest for the first time. It was an amazing experience

Mehe: MAGFest has been called Reviewer Christmas.

LadySpaz: I can see why.

Mehe: So, as we wind this interview to a close, any final thoughts or parting words?

LadySpaz: I think that everyone should at least do what they love, rather than be in it for the money. I don’t do it for the money or the recognition, though it is nice, I do it because it’s fun.

Mehe: Truer words are hard to find. We thank you so much for taking some time out of your day to speak with us!

Reviewerverse Free Press Wrestles Matty Jay To The Mat

Reviewerverse Free Press grabbed hold of Matty Jay and got him to talk to us!  As always, Mehe checks in with her results!

 

Mehe:  Hello and welcome to Reviewerverse Free Press!  Today, we’re welcoming Matty Jay of RVTentertainment.com to sit down with us!

Matty:  Hello! Glad to be here!

Mehe:  And we’re glad to have you!  Tell us a little about yourself, Matty!

Matty:  Well, in a few words, I’m a podcaster, wrestling analyst, and geek of all trades.  I’ve been podcasting for three years, and with RVT for two years.  I have to admit, it’s kind of weird describing myself.  I’ve always been kind of shy in that respect.

Mehe:  This coming from a guy with a sworn legion of fan-girls?

Matty:  I’m STILL flattered by that, by the way.  When I started the Wrestle-Cast, I really wanted to join Channel Awesome at the time, but i didn’t expect much.  So I was just happy with the little audience the show had garnered, and I was happy with the experience.  I didn’t think I would get the ladies squeeing.

Mehe:  How did you get involved with all this, anyway?

Matty:  Well, I just so happen to have a College Diploma in Media Arts, and, having just graduated from college, i was burnt out and thought “I don’t need to go to University to talk on the Radio!”  So I set out to try to find a job in radio. It didn’t pan out at all, so a year out of college and recently unemployed, I watched a few TGWTG videos, particularly HopeWithinChaos’ Epic Fail and Still Gaming, would make references to wrestling, and Spoony and Linkara had just reviewed Warrior #1.  I saw that and I was surprised there were no wrestling-centric shows on that site.  So in August, I went to the (then) blogs section of the site, got together with Zmikesner and DiamondIce56, and off to the races we went.

Mehe:  Where’d your love for wrestling start?

Matty:  I had knee surgery as a teen, and I saw a late December 2000 RAW while recovering, and back from the hospital, we just got TSN (WWE’s Canadian broadcaster at the time) so i just started watching.  The “Invasion” angle started and when the (then) WWF won at Survivor Series, that such a high, I never missed a RAW since.

Mehe:  You came in at one of the best times!  Who is your favorite wrestler?

Matty:  Hoo boy, do you want a list?

Mehe:  Give us your shortlist.

Matty:  If you ask me “Of all time?”:  Triple H, the guy has a had some great matches, always knew what to do to the crowd invested, and with his first quadriceps tear, I kind of had a personal connection when he came back.  If you ask “To watch now?”:  CM Punk.  Great in the ring, and the promos.  OH GOD, THE PROMOS.  Also, I’ll add my favorite indy wrestler, Kevin Steen.  Same as Punk, and again, THE PROMOS!  Guy is fun to watch live, too.

Mehe:  Punk is certainly one of the best on the microphone and in the ring today.  Care to make a call on Punk vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania?

Matty:  Wow.  To me, it’s a tougher call then people want to admit.  Bill Moody‘s death did add a level of intrigue into the match that’s getting people to go “‘TAKER WINS!”  But I don’t want to make that call.  Personally, I’m still split!  Undertaker doesn’t have too many matches left, and if he wanted to retire undefeated at WrestleMania, he would’ve stopped after last year’s End of an Era” Match with HHH.  If you we’re to corner me and ask me “PICK ONE, NOW!” I’d go with Punk.  Something about this year is different.  Knowing Vince, everyone expects ‘Taker to win after the last couple of weeks, and Punk could use a BIG boost after losing twice to The Rock.

Mehe:  It’s going to be a match for the record books, that’s for sure.  I don’t think I’ve been this invested in a Taker Streak match for a few years.  As a wrestling fan, if there were anything you could change about the business, what would it be?

Matty:  Personally, I’d change how the business gets its women wrestlers.  A LOT of talented, beautiful women are toiling in the indy circuit, and the major companies are going for models.  Minor nit pick for me, but a lot of what’s wrong with WWE in particular, HHH is trying to fix. However, we’re still going with no talent STICKS who really don’t care for wrestling other that the spotlight it gives them.

Mehe:  Let’s get back to you, because I know we could go on about wrestling all day long.  How did Wrestle-Cast come into being and where can readers find it?

Matty:  Well as I said earlier, it started with ZMikesner, DiamondIce56 and myself on the Community Section of TGWTG, but the show is now hosted by myself and TWK, and we can be found at RVTentertainment.com.  Like i said, it started as an ill-fated attempt to get into the fold at Channel Awesome.  After that, it was just a way to talk about wrestling and for me to stay sharp as an editor.

Mehe:  What else do you do besides Wrestle-Cast?

Matty:  Well, I do a stream on Wednesdays (which as of the time we’re talking, is on hiatus because a technical problems).  I also co-host RVT’s Ranger Recap with The Shades and EZ Rider, where we talk about Power Rangers Megaforce.

Mehe:  Ah, yes, Power Rangers!  Tell us a little about how your love for that got started!

Matty:  I was seven when it started!  I was in the demographic for it!  It was just awesome, and Canadian TV had to have it removed.  When I first got to watch it again, it was “In Space” and that was awesome too. I don’t know what it was about it that I liked, but i liked it!

Mehe:  Canadian TV had it removed?

Matty:  Yeah, someone complained to the CRTC.  It’s a long story, and most of it is on Wikipedia.  It cut off just after the second season ended.

Mehe:  Do you enjoy the other Sentai based shows such as Big Bad Beetleborgs or is it Power Rangers or nothing?

Matty:  I liked BeetleBorgs, I only watched a bit of VR Troopers but I did like what I saw, Mystic Knights for me was fun to watch as well.

Mehe:  What’s been your best experience as a member of the Reviewerverse?

Matty:  It’s tough to say.  I’ve had a lot of fun just being around a great group of people.  This alone makes it a great moment.  I always have a good time when I join in on Game Night, or Monday Night Riffs.  At the end of the day, to me, all I want to do is laugh and make others laugh.

Mehe:  You do a great job with that!

Matty:  Thank you!  I just have fun with it.  To me, if I make any money off of any of this, great, but I’ve gotten a lot more out of this than I thought I would and success wise, it’s been great!

Mehe:  Any words for your loyal fans, followers, and fan-girls?

Matty:  THANK YOU! ….THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! It wouldn’t be be half as fun or rewarding without you! … Did i mention THANK YOU?

Mehe:  I think you might have mentioned it… Once or twice! We’re going to let you out of the chair now, and we hope to catch up to you again soon!