E-mail a friendMarch 31, 2004
Kevin Spacey, Ryan Gosling and Matthew Ryan Hoge discuss their upcoming film, which looks at the ripple effect of violence on a community, family and friends. David Milch talks about reviving the "western" genre on TV.
Matthew Ryan Hoge
Matthew Ryan Hoge wrote The United States of Leland after spending two years teaching in the Los Angeles juvenile hall system. Judged the best film of Sundance in 2003, the psychological drama about the after effects of a brutal murder is Hoge's first big-studio release. He previously wrote, directed and produced the indie comedy Self Storage, about two friends forced to live in a storage unit.
Ryan Gosling
Canadian born actor Ryan Gosling began his career as a singer. At age 12, he beat out 17,000 others to land a role on The Mickey Mouse Club, where he sang beside cast mates Britney Spears, Keri Russell and Justin Timberlake. His controversial role in the film, The Believer, was a breakthrough performance that garnered industry attention. Gosling has the title role in the feature, The United States of Leland.
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
A school counselor suggested drama as an alternative to Kevin Spacey's hellion conduct. Two Oscars and a Tony have since secured his place on Hollywood's A-list. He's won acclaim for his TV performances and, since '03, has been artistic director of London's Old Vic Theatre Company, where he occasionally performs and directs. He also launched Triggerstreet.com, which helps people get their ideas to Hollywood decision-makers. Spacey is the recipient of the '09 National Pell Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts.
David Milch
David Milch
Emmy-winning writer David Milch's TV success marked the end of his academic career. For nine years, he was a lecturer at Yale. He also co-authored several college textbooks on literature. A script Milch wrote for Hill Street Blues began a long writing association with Steven Bochco, with whom he co-created NYPD Blue. Milch exec produced HBO's Western drama series, Deadwood, and his latest series, also on HBO, is John from Cincinnati, described by some as "the show that could replace The Sopranos."