Director Rod Blackhurst stopped by THE BUZZ to discuss the film, "Blood for Dust." The film, which stars Scoot McNairy and Kit Harrington, follows Cliff (McNairy) being lured back into his former life of crime thanks to Ricky (Harrington) after Cliff has lost his job. We discussed how the movie has been compared to "'Breaking Bad' Meets 'Fargo,'" yet I had another take on it.Blackhurst also talked about the cast, which also include Josh Lucas, and how he was able to secure such a stellar ensemble. One of the best things to talk about was Blackhurst's involvement with the music group, "The Fray." He spoke about how he was along for the journey to stardom."Blood for Dust" premieres in select theaters and digitally on Friday, April 19, 2024.

The BUZZ had a sit down with author Fran Metzman, who wrote the Amazon bestseller, "The Cha-Cha Babes." While we did discuss the latest installment, "The Cha-Cha Babes: Dance with the Devil," we discussed the serious topic of human trafficking.This topic does not get the attention it needs to, and we talked about what we can do as a whole to help prevent sex trafficking.This is one of our more serious topics at THE BUZZ, and we implore you to listen to what we have to say on this important subject. We also hope you take what you hear and pay attention to potential warning signs if you ever notice this happening in your area.

Gene Pope stopped by the podcast to chat about the film, "Queen of Knives." While this is a follow-up to, "King of Knives," this has a more comedic take than the previous where it was more drama-centric. Pope spoke with us about how we can consider this a coming of age film, and how Frank, Pope's character, has to go through new stages in his life.We spoke about the stellar cast in this film, including Mel Harris, who many fans remember from her role as Hope on the ABC drama, "Thirtysomething." Pope gave us some behind the scenes stories that took place and his biggest takeaway from the film."Queen of Knives" is available on Pay-Per-View, VUDU, and Apple TV for viewing.

The BUZZ had the chance to catch up with "Days of our Lives" star, Blake Berris. The actor returned to the soap in a new role, Everett Lynch, and there is still a mystery surrounding him. Who is Everett? Who is Bobby Stein? What connects him to Jada and Stephanie? Berris told us to stay tuned and watch what happens when they, "poke the bear," so to speak.We also spoke with him about how he had the chance to return to "DAYS" in a new role. Fans would remember him from playing the character of Nick Fallon. We were able to see Nick turn from nerdy teen to a semi-villainous man. Berris spoke that the two characters of Nick and Everett are very different. Find out what it has been like to work alongside Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, working on the AMC series, "Breaking Bad," and his thoughts on the Horton House fire. We then shared some wonderful thoughts and memories of the late Bill Hayes, who played Doug Williams. Follow Blake Berris on Instagram at: @blakeberris."Days of our Lives" streams new episodes weekday mornings on Peacock.

The BUZZ had the chance to speak with the showrunner of the Netflix series, "House of Ninjas," Dave Boyle. The show premiered on the streaming network on February 15th, and it follows a family of ninjas that were trying to get accustomed to living a normal life. However, a threat to their family calls them back to action. We spoke with Boyle on how and when the show was created, with the concept coming from Kento Kaku, who plays Haru in the series. Hear our thoughts on the many fight scenes that occur during the series. Also, find out what we had to say on the breakout characters, including Oki, played by Tokio Emoto, and Ayame, played by Bambi Naka.What can happen in a potential season 2? We also quickly spoke about where can this story now lead after the twist that occurred in the season finale."House of Ninjas" is available for streaming now on Netflix.

The BUZZ had the pleasure to sit down with Joel Goldes, a veteran Hollywood dialect coach with over 20 years in the industry. He has worked with tremendous talent including Emmy Award winning actress Viola Davis. Goldes spoke with us about some of the techniques he uses in order to have talent speak in certain different dialects. We also got to talk about his travels across the globe while coaching.Later this year, HULU is set to air, "Washington Black," a miniseries based upon the novel of the same name written by Esi Edugyan. The story follows the 11 year old boy, "Wash," on a Barbados sugar plantation who must flee after a gruesome death threatens to upend his life. Tom Ellis, Rupert Graves, Billy Boyd, and Ernest Kingsley Jr. are set to star in the limited series. Sterling K. Brown not only will star in the series but also serves as executive producer. Goldes spoke with us about the filming of the series, which majority took place in Nova Scotia, and several different themes that will be showcased and taken away from the show. More conversation was had about the documentary, "76 Days," which premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival this month, Goldes volunteer work, and more travel stories.Follow Joel Goldes online at: Website: http://www.thedialectcoach.com Instagram: @JoelTheDialectCoachYouTube: @JoelTheDialectCoach

As the BUZZ continues with its coverage of the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, we got to speak with Rebecca Coley, who directed the documentary, "Point of Change." The story follows two surfers finding the the perfect wave on the island of Nias, but what they discover is far from perfect.We spoke with Coley about how she became involved with the project, and she also told us about her story of being a surfer. We also talked about how this film does not just speak from a surfer's perspective but also showcase many themes and elements that does reach a broader audience.One of the aspects we did get to speak on was how the music composition in the film really brought out the the scenes in the documentary. Coley also shared her thoughts on having the documentary be a part of SBIFF and the fan reaction during the premiere screenings.

As we continue with our coverage of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), we spoke with the crew involved in the documentary, "LUCHA: A Wrestling Tale." The story follows a group of young teenage girls who join the women's wrestling team at Taft High School. As they are competing in championships, they also are facing struggles outside of the wrestling mat.We spoke with the girls about how watching their struggles in the film really hits home. When you have instances of giving up your dream to make ends meet, grades are suffering, and even learning your first English words, the entire film depicts how everyone dealt with their blows but came out of it stronger than ever. We also spoke with one of the girls, Samantha, on her joining the boys' wrestling team. The film made its debut at SBIFF on Friday, February 9th, with an encore screening on Saturday, February 10th, at 12 PM PT.

Our coverage of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) continues with Linsey Stewart and Dane Clark, who wrote and directed the movie, "SUZE." The story follows a mother who has to adjust to empty-nest syndrome, on top of a divorce, and caring for someone she cannot stand. This leads her into a journey of self-discovery and understanding that she never had before.As we spoke with Clark and Stewart, we spoke about how this movie can be also classified as a, "coming of age," film, even though we sometimes relegate that term to younger people. We also dove into how the concept was conceived and the inspiration behind it. Another piece we talked on was how this could relate to many who watch the film who are going through kids not wanting to be around their parents, as well as the standout performance of Charlie Gillespie as Gage. "SUZE" is set to premiere at SBIFF on Saturday, February 10th, with an encore screening on Sunday, February 11th.

The BUZZ sat down with Mike Manning, who stars in the film, "Edge of Everything," which is set to premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF). The film follows a young teenage girl dealing with the loss of her mother and moving in with her father and younger girlfriend. From there, she befriends someone from the wrong side of the tracks and begins exploring many facets in her journey.Manning portrays Zach in the film and spoke with us about how he became involved in the film. We also spoke with him about his time on, "Days of our Lives," as well as his continued involvement with the series, "The Bay.""Edge of Everything" premiered on February 8th and will have a second screening on Monday, February 12th, at 8:10 AM PT in Metro 4 Theatre, Auditorium #2.

Our coverage of this year's Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) continues as we sat down with Matt Ogens and 'Kachi Benson, who directed the documentary, "MADU." The story follows Anthony Madu, who leaves his family in Nigeria to study ballet in England. Young Anthony garnered attention from a 44-second video that went viral in 2020, where he was seen ballet dancing. We spoke with Ogens and Benson on capturing the nuances that viewers could not help but feel what Anthony was going through. We talked about how ballet is not accepted in Nigeria and about finding acceptance. This film will resonate with many if you are trying to achieve your dream(s) but are faced with struggles and obstacles that you never thought could happen. The documentary was the opening night premiere at SBIFF, and will stream on Disney+ starting March 29, 2024.

Continuing with our coverage of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), the BUZZ was joined by director and producer Joe Wein and Fall Out Boy lead singer Patrick Stump to discuss the documentary, "76 Days." The film chronicles the real life story of Steven Callahan, who had to survive 76 days in a raft in the Atlantic Ocean. While Wein produced and directed the film, Stump composed the music that was featured in the documentary, as well as recording his own rendition of, "The Passenger," originally performed by Iggy Pop.We spoke with Wein about taking on the project, which also was chronicled in the bestselling novel, "Adrift: 76 Days at Sea." He spoke about how the scenes were re-created, including using the same type of raft Callahan was in to tell the story. We also dove deeper into how the story was told from Callahan's point of view and seeing the story from his eyes.Stump spoke with us about how he became attached to the project and the process it took to come up with the musical composition for the movie. Find out their reaction to the film being accepted into SBIFF as well. "76 Days" is set to premiere on Thursday, February 8th at 4 PM PT with an encore screening on Monday, February 12th at 8 PM PT.The 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival takes place from February 7-17, 2024.

The BUZZ had the chance to sit down with Kevin Bigley & Kate Cobb, who star in the film, "OKIE." The film is set to premiere at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival on Saturday, February 10th.Bigley and Cobb star as Travis and Lainey in the film respectively, which follows a man returning to his hometown after his father dies. The story itself shows what could happen when bridges are burned when you want to achieve success.We spoke with Cobb on her film directorial debut and how Lainey is perceived as someone who is strong, but still is showing signs of a struggle. Bigley spoke to us about several of the themes depicted in the film, the concept behind the film, and how long it took to shoot the movie.We also gave a big shout out to Bigley's former series, "Sirens," which aired on USA Network.

Emmy Award winning director/producer Jeff Margolis visited the BUZZ to chat about his new memoir, "LIVE in 5!" The book, which includes a forward by Billy Crystal, includes stories from Margolis' history in the television industry. From producing variety hour programs to directing the Academy Awards eight times, Jeff Margolis has done it all and then some!The BUZZ was fortunate to speak with Margolis about getting his start in the television industry, thanks to a famous game show host. We then discussed where his persistence and determination would take him. We also talked about what goes into producing and directing award shows. We then finally talked on the concert special that did not happen, "Michael Jackson: One Night Only." Margolis shared some insight into that special, what went into it, and why it was canceled.

This week's BUZZCast Flashback features our interview with the late Diahann Carroll. The beloved actress was a Tony and Golden Globe winner, and she was also nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, as well as an Academy Award. Carroll played the title role in the sitcom, "Julia," the first African-American to be featured in a non-stereotypical role. This episode with Carroll featured us talking about her appearance on the USA series, "White Collar," which starred Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay. The episode entitled, "Countermeasures," also featured Billy Dee Williams, and Carroll's character along with Bomer had a singing number. We then talked about another noteworthy television role, Dominique Devereaux, on the ABC primetime soap, "DYNASTY."I was so honored to have had the chance to speak with Diahann, and her longevity in the television and movie landscape. We sadly lost the actress on October 4, 2019, but her-story will live on for decades to come.

The BUZZCast had the pleasure of welcoming J. Eddie Peck to the show. The actor recently returned to the role of Cole Howard on CBS Daytime, “The Young and the Restless.” We spoke with Peck on if coming back to a role that he has not played for 24 years was difficult or easily able to step right back in.We also celebrated his 30th anniversary of debuting as Cole on “Y&R,” which began in February 1993. Hear us talk about some of our favorite Cole Howard moments from the show. Also, hear what he has to say about the current storyline and working alongside daytime veteran Colleen Zenk, who many will remember from the role of Barbara Ryan on, “As The World Turns.”Peck also took us on a deep dive with his previous roles, including Hawk on, “Days of our Lives,” and his time on “Dynasty” and “DALLAS,” where he appeared simultaneously in major storylines.Watch him weekdays on “The Young and the Restless” on CBS and Paramount+.

The Buzz had the chance to attend its first Comic Con in San Diego this July, and what a cultural phenomenon! From the cosplay to the exhibits, it was a thrill to have the opportunity to connect with so many people that share similar tastes in comics, television, and more! We had the chance to attend some off sites, activation events, and parties that allowed us to interview those in attendance.We continue with part two of our interviews with Derrick Baca and Liz DeSilva, SVPs of Creative, Innovation and Vision for Loungefly. After my excitement over seeing Baca's style, we talked about what exclusives they had at their booth. We also talked about how Loungefly expanded from backpacks to shirts and even more! One such article of clothing was a shirt that was designed from the STAR WARS movie poster. We dove into that as well!Next, we hit up Mad Cave Studios booth to speak with Amit Tishler, who talked about his latest series, "Edenfrost." While this is a fiction series, this depicts eras of history that happened, and also continuing to happen. The story follows two teenage siblings trying to survive a war-torn Ukraine during the Russian Civil War. In also a hilarious twist, we spoke with Tishler about his trek to come to Comic Con on the train!We end out the interviews at the Margaritaville Hotel, where we attended the National Geographic party. We spoke with Bertie Gregory, host of, "Animals Close Up." We discussed him getting into exploration at such a young age, and how he received the title of, "Youth Outdoor Photographer of the Year." He also spoke about his favorite place that he ever explored, and getting to experience this event at Comic Con.

The Buzz had the chance to attend its first Comic Con in San Diego this July, and what a cultural phenomenon! From the cosplay to the exhibits, it was a thrill to have the opportunity to connect with so many people that share similar tastes in comics, television, and more! We had the chance to attend some off sites, activation events, and parties that allowed us to interview those in attendance.We kick the first part of our interviews with Chuck Blevins, Director of Marketing, for Funko Games. The Buzz chatted with Blevins at the Rooftop Tabletop Party about Funko Games exclusives, including, "Star Wars: Rivals," and the Indiana Jones game which honors the very first movie of the franchise. We also reveal a new Funko Game set to arrive later this year!Next, we have Deirdre Cross, Head of Funko Games, to speak about the SCREAM Funko Game. Yes, I got to play this one, and it is AMAZING! Roger Jackson, the voice of Ghostface, also is the voice of him in the game. We also spoke about the premise of, "Star Wars: Rivals," and about how each Funko Game is different from one another.Finally, we made our way to the MONDO booth, and spoke with Hector Arce, the spokesman for Vinyls, and Peter Santa-Maria, the spokeman for collectibles and posters. We definitely fanboyed a bit as the exclusive they revealed was Prince Adam from, "Masters of the Universe," and we talked more about the franchise as a whole! You will find out who our favorite characters are!Stay tuned for Part 2...

The BUZZ had the chance to attend the 50th anniversary celebration for CBS Daytime’s, “The Young and the Restless.” Cast members, current/new/alumni, walked down the red carpet at the Vibiana and relived some of their fondest memories of the show. The final part of interviews take place with these stars:Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) talked about running into Aretha Franklin, and what happened when she saw, "The Queen of Soul," again at the Daytime Emmy Awards years later.Robert Parucha (Matt Miller) spoke with us about working alongside Eric Braeden, and filming the intense fight scene in the barn.Lily Brooks O'Briant (Lucy Romalotti) talked with us about her experience working alongside Michael Graziadei, Vail Bloom, and Michelle Stafford. She also expressed her thoughts about being a part of the #1 soap in daytime.Brytni Sarpy (Elena Dawson) celebrated the anniversary of, "General Hospital," and now is celebrating 50 years of, "Y&R." She spoke with us about her favorite scenes she filmed.Jordi Vilasuso (Rey Rosales) spoke how he was a part of the 50th for, "Guiding Light," and shared his excitement for being a part of "Y&R's" 50th celebration! We also spoke about being a part of the daytime community for over 20 years. Tricia Cast (Nina Webster) talked with us seeing old friends again, what to look forward to with her return to the show, and her guest appearance on, "Married with Children."RC Cates gave us some insight on the process of coming up with music scores for specific scenes and episodes. He also spoke with us on what are some of his favorite music cue themes.Judith Chapman (Gloria Fisher Bardwell) spoke about the late Jerry Douglas, and some behind the scenes stories with the Abbott Patriarch. We also ask where Gloria is today, and if she will be back in Genoa City.Bryton James (Devon Hamilton) spoke about how the pairing of Devon and Abby came to light, as well as keeping the memories alive with Kristoff St. John and Jeanne Cooper.Christian Le Blanc and Tracey Bregman (Michael and Lauren Fenmore Baldwin) talked with us about their infamous Genoa City moments. From Lauren being buried alive, trapped in a cage with Brad Carlton, and even giving Brad a heart attack, Bregman discussed how Lauren went from mean girl to successful businesswoman. From Michael's evil ways when he snuck into Cricket Blair's room through a wall and shot in the bottom by Paul Williams, Le Blanc talked about Michael's redemption when he returned to the show in 1997.Sean Kanan (Deacon Sharpe) talked about bringing his, "Bold and the Beautiful," character to Genoa City, and being involved with Nikki Newman. We also spoke about what he enjoyed on "B&B" so far, and how everyone was in tune with Deacon's relationship with Sheila Carter.Congratulations to the cast and crew of, "The Young and the Restless," for celebrating 50 spectacular years on CBS Daytime. Here's to 50 more years of life and love in Genoa City!

The BUZZ had the chance to attend the 50th anniversary celebration for CBS Daytime’s, “The Young and the Restless.” Cast members, current/new/alumni, walked down the red carpet at the Vibiana and relived some of their fondest memories of the show. Part 2 of our interviews continue with this round of stars:Melissa Ordway (Abby Chancellor) spoke about the shocking Abby/Devon twist, and celebrating the show's 50th anniversary.Jennifer Gareis (Grace Turner) talked about her close friendship with Sharon Case, Lauren Woodland, and Tamara Clatterbuck.Tamara Clatterbuck (Alice Johnson) spoke about how could Alice return to the Genoa City canvas, as well as working alongside Gareis and Case.Loren Lott (Ana Hamilton) gave us an update on what projects she has coming up, including a movie entitled, "Praise This." She also spoke about how the fans still ask for Ana, and her thoughts on being a part of the black storylines.Kate Linder (Esther Valentine) spoke about her celebrating 40 years at the show herself, as well as running into former cast members before the anniversary celebration. She also has a special message to the fans.Lauren Woodland (Brittany Hodges) spoke about her favorite storylines on the show. We also talked about the, "Glo by Jabot," era, as well as the story triangle of Brittany/Billy/Mackenzie.Susan Walters and Linden Ashby (Diane Jenkins and Cameron Kirsten) spoke about how they shared a brief scene when they worked on the show, as well as first meeting on another daytime drama, "Loving." We also spoke with Susan about being brought back to the show as Diane. Michael Damian (Danny Romalotti) spoke with us about his favorite moments on the show, as well as relived his guest appearances on the NBC sitcom, "The Facts of Life." Also, we did touch on who Cricket's true love is... Paul or Danny. The third and final part will be uploaded this week. "The Young and the Restless" 50th Anniversary interviews will continue...