CalTV presents another interview, this time of the star and director of “Eastern Promises.” Rosa Kim leads the circus. Now, we know Kim personally, and she enthusiastically says “hi” to us on campus. But that’s beside point. We still don’t think CalTV has found the right interviewer or has perfected its talent.

Don’t get us wrong–Kim’s great as a personality, but that personality is too big for the role of interviewer. Watch and you’ll agree with us when we ask “Exactly who is being interviewed here?”

The interview emphasizes Kim with extended shots, especially one solely of her reactions as Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg provide just the voiceover. And although her bubbly personality carries well for a one-woman show, we don’t think the stars can hold a candle to her bouts of giggles. And that’s not a good thing.

Also, if we want to be really picky: WTF was up with the no-sound clapping and the random, jerky jump cut near the end? Jump cuts should be reserved for music videos and the crappy “experimental” film of a struggling art/film practice major.

Please, CalTV, give us a break and start up the show again. Leave the celebs alone.

Eastern Promises [CalTV]

 

 CalTV’s Tim Jaconnette continues his triple espresso-fueled road trip through the wild world of celebrity. This time he turns his guns on Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, and Monica Bellucci, the stars of the upcoming movie “Shoot ‘Em Up.”The Clog thinks he’s improved quite a bit as an interviewer since the last time we checked in, but we might just be distracted by Monica Belllucci (sort of like how she distracted us from how lousy those Matrix sequels were, come to think of it).Some advice from your friends at the Clog, Tim? Less with the “Superbad” guys, more with Bellucci. That’s a life lesson right there.CalTV interviews the “Shoot ‘em Up” cast [CalTV]Earlier: ‘Superbad’ Interview Just Sorta Bad

Continuing on with what seems to be the new “thing,” CalTV features another interview on its site, this time with the stars of “Superbad.”

You’re already well aware how we received the previous interviews. To say the least, we weren’t impressed. Did CalTV change our minds this time?

Hmm … no. Don’t take this the wrong way, but we preferred the Daily Cal’s interview over this one. Despite being in print, the DC interview manages to capture character and humor much more than the camera does for CalTV.

So Tim Jaconnette is an improvement, but the talent still isn’t where it should be. Jaconnette moves around too much, and the camera struggles to keep him in frame without panning at the speed of light. Good energy, but might we suggest maybe one less espresso?

The guys of “Superbad”–Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Michael Cera–are dull and rather boring at the beginning. They seem tired, answering the usual questions about the movie. On a technical note, the lavalier mike for Cera sounds boxy and too far away to capture his voice just right.

It picks up, and the piece ends on a higher note once Jaconnette asks the guys about themselves and how they all get along. The guys are comfortable talking about their friendships.

Had CalTV had more time with the guys to warm them up and had CalTV cut out the first questions, the interview would have been more engaging. Alas, it was not.

We’d like to rectify this problem. You know, CalTV, we had four years experience of video production and two years experience in TV journalism in high school. Care to swap talent? Let’s make a date, and then we’ll hug it out at the end.

SUPERBAD [CalTV]
Interview: Michael Cera, Jonah Hill and Christopher Mintz-Plasse On Their High School Experiences, Inspirations [Daily Cal]
Earlier: Not Enough Andy? CalTV Interviews Samberg & Co.

Last (lazy) Sunday, we showed you what Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Scaffer did before “SNL” and before their first feature film. Now we’re pulling out the big guns.

OK, not really. CalTV interviewed the guys about their new movie “Hot Rod,” and while it’s funny and entertaining, it’s still suffering from the same problem as CalTV’s previous celeb interviews.

First, there was Yaou Dou interviewing Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle of “Reign Over Me.” Both stars were awkward in front of the camera, with no help from Dou’s ill-fitting questions.

Next, there was Moujan with late-night star Conan O’Brien. That Q&A fared better, especially with O’Brien pulling the weight and dishing out the humor for the interview. CalTV, however, stayed in the backseat and failed to guide the conversation.

The second time around, Dou improved with the cast of “Hot Fuzz.” We learned it’s easier to interview comedians. Maybe it’s just easier to interview someone other than Sandler or Cheadle?

Shah’s interview, too, has a problem, but slightly different. She tries to guide the interview too much, like when she calls out the last question:

bq. Yeah, yeah, definitely, like, I think, like, we should, like, head to the last question …

Allowing her “likes” to pepper the entire interview, she’s obviously nervous or anxious to control the conversation. She tries to bring the guys back to the topic, but between her questions she allows the trio to run amok. Granted, she gets some great interactions from allowing them to do so, but we think that wasn’t what she necessarily intended.

Props, though, for better questions. We think CalTV’s improving its game, but it’s still a long way to go. Perhaps the group needs to focus on bettering its own talent before it reaches out to the celebrity talent of Hollywood.

Hot Rod Interview Special [CalTV]

 

 We just want to say that it’s evident that we love masturbating and bears, so it only makes sense we love the Masturbating Bear on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” It’s high-class comedy.And this week, O’Brien is bringing the class to San Francisco. CalTV even got an interview of the interviewer. Oh touche.Is it better than the uncomfortable Q&A with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle? We still have nightmares about that one.First, O’Brien is greater than Sandler and Cheadle combined, so yes, the interview is better. O’Brien’s comfortable in front of the camera, mixing his silly humor with earnest advice for college students. He really carries the interview, a skill earned from years of experience talking to various celebrities on his show.But it’s still not perfect. We don’t know if it’s the height difference between O’Brien, who is 6′4″, and Moujan, but something definitely feels uneasy. Moujan, who normally exudes a strong comedic presence on the CalTV Show, is obviously nervous in front of the star. She doesn’t lead the interview. O’Brien does all the work for her.We mean, that works and it’s certainly better than CalTV’s first interview with celebrities, but it’s not perfect.Sorry, Moujan. We still love you.Either way we look at it, CalTV is still a winner–just look at how far it has gone this past year. It’s getting more traffic and more recognition (hey, we’re even writing about it), and for the most part, CalTV deserves it.Its production officially ended last week and is set to resume in the fall.Unfortunately, Conan O’Brien will not be returning.CalTV Does Conan O’Brien [CalTV]