Happy Beginnings and 'Happy Endings' for Zachary Knighton

From being left at the altar to finding out he's one-sixteenth Navajo to becoming addicted to V-neck tees, Dave Rose has dealt with a lot during the past two seasons of ABC's comedy "Happy Endings." Although he sometimes seems like the straight man among zany characters, the actor who plays him, Zachary Knighton, has a different theory that he's a "mash-up" of every character on the show. "He does some dumb things like Alex, he can be controlling and manic like James," says the 33-year old Virginia native. "It makes sense in my own head," Here, Knighton discusses his theories on acting, rejection, and ensemble chemistry. Back Stage: How did you get into acting? Zachary Knighton: I got serious about it when I got accepted into a magnet high school for the performing arts. After high school, I went to VCU and got a BFA in theater. I got to do a bunch of stuff professionally throughout college. I actually got my SAG card in college. I got cast in a PBS movie of the week called "Sally Hemmings: An American Scandal" with Sam Neill as Thomas Jefferson. Virginia's a right to work state, so you don't have to get your SAG card, but I just decided to go for it so I could be prepared when I moved to NY. Oddly enough, going to school in Virginia instead of NY or L.A. helped me way more in getting my career started. Back Stage: Tell me about getting your first sitcom, "Life on a Stick." Knighton: I moved to NY after college and was doing theater and bartending for six years. I got flown out to test [for "Life on a Stick"] and ended up getting the lead role. It was a huge deal, but then I quickly got the taste of failure when it was promptly canceled. But that prepared me for the next eight pilot seasons.Back Stage: What was your experience on "FlashForward" like? Knighton: "FlashForward" was a dream come true. I had auditioned for David Goyer for "Blade: Trinity" and didn't get the part, but I guess he became a fan. I originally went in for John Cho's part in "FlashForward" because my character was supposed to be an old man. David Goyer actually changed the role so I could play [Dr. Bryce Varley], which was awesome. It was the first time I had anybody champion me. It was a great experience, and we all thought we were making something pretty special. Of course, it was really disappointing when it got canceled, but it's all part of Hollywood.Back Stage: And you probably couldn't have gotten the part in "Happy Endings" if "FlashForward" hadn't been canceled, right? Knighton: It was pretty wild. "FlashForward" was on the outs when I was approached with "Happy Endings." I literally got the script on a Friday, and on Saturday morning I met with David Caspe, Jamie Tarses, and the Russo brothers. I took the role on that Saturday and on Monday I was doing a table read. It all happened very fast but it was super exciting. I was the last one on board. Everybody had been cast for months. I shot the pilot in between shooting the last two episodes of "FlashForward."Back Stage: "Happy Endings" is such a great ensemble cast. Was the chemistry there right away at that table read? Knighton: We did have pretty good chemistry. We all liked each other right off the bat. Everybody's so funny and constantly improvising and having fun. The best thing about our set is it's a very safe place for us actors to play. Everyone is supportive and given a chance to shine, so that makes it a great place to work. I think it really reads on camera, when you see the show, that we all really do have a mutual respect and we have fun working with each other. Back Stage: Will you be filming anything over your hiatus? Knighton: I've been working pretty steadily since before "FlashForward," so I feel like I would like to take a little break over the summer. But I also know that in this business you shouldn't take a break, so we'll see. I've been personally working really hard since I finished college, 13 years now. At one point, I was in a place where it didn't feel like it was going to happen and I was feeling pretty down on myself. But I stuck to it, and now I have a hit comedy on my hands. You've got to keep plugging away at it. If you really believe in yourself, you can definitely make it happen.

Christian Bale jumps in 'Out of the Furnace'

BaleChristian Bale has finally found his follow-up to "The Dark Knight Rises," as he's in talks to star in Relativity Media's "Out of the Furnace," which is heating up with "Crazy Heart" helmer Scott Cooper writing and directing.Pic is one of the five projects Variety first reported Bale was circling, as Variety first reported August 24."Furnace" is based on Brad Ingelsby's story "The Low Dweller," and is envisioned as a gritty throwback to pics of the 1970's. Plot follows an ex-con bent on avenging the death of his younger brother as soon as he's released from prison.Cooper is targeting Viggo Mortensen to play the villain, while Casey Affleck, Garrett Hedlund, Taylor Kitsch and Channing Tatum are among the actors circling the part of Bale's brother. Robert Duvall, who is related to Cooper, has long been rumored to play the protag's uncle, who helps him on his quest for vengeance.It's no surprise that so many top actors have expressed interest in the project, considering its high pedigree; In addition to Relativity, producers include Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way and Ridley and Tony Scott's banner Scott Free, as well as Energy Entertainment.Relativity cautions that no deals are in place and that additional casting will depend on whether Bale signs on to the project. Thesp was offered the lead role last summer but it was unclear whether he'd be available, as he planned on doing two Terrence Malick films back-to-back. Current plan calls for Bale to shoot the first Malick film until the end of May and have him jump into "Furnace" sometime in June before filming the second Malick project in September. Bale is repped by WME. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com

'Werewolves' prowls Germany, Japan

Japan's Shochiku and Germany's Senator allow us all Japanese and German rights correspondingly to Juan Martinez Moreno's "Lobos p arga" (Wager on Werewolves), produced by Spain's Telespan 2000 and Vaca Films.Vertice Sales began discussions within the American Film Market, where Spain's Vertice 360 started sales.The Senator deal was carried out the ecu Film Market, mentioned Vertice Sales controlling director Gonzalo Sagardia.A genre spoof starring Spain's Gorka Otxoa and Carlos Areces, "Werewolves" triggers a aspirant author who returns for the remote The the spanish language language village where he was produced searching for inspiration. The village, however, suffers a unique curse."Werewolves" world-preemed at October's Sitges Festival."It is really an adventure and fantasy picture with shocks, but concentrating on family audiences," Sagardia referred to."Werewolves" has furthermore been licensed to Indonesia and Malaysia via Visicom as well as the Middle East's Gulf Films."Werewolves" may also be near to closing the U.S. and East Europe getting a prominent pay TV outlet. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Kasulke: ).g. draws attention from peers.

Kasulke'The Off Hours'Role model: Ellen Kuras. "Once I saw what she did on 'Personal Velocity,' it absolutely was very liberating. It absolutely was shot on one gear together with exactly the same means I used to be using, nevertheless it made an appearance as though an authentic movie. She's a very holistic idea of just what a director of photography does. She produces very diverse projects, and he or she broke to the boys' club. She's certainly the hero.In . Camera and film preferred: "I like Super 8. I'd proceed and take Canon 1014 XL-S camera getting a roll of vintage Kodachrome. As speaking digital, I really like the Arri Alexa having a couple of vintage Baltar contacts. For everyday shooting, I like the Aaton XTR."Favorite tool: "A correctly-filled kitchen. Cooking is centering. It's social, rather than as self-centered as making movies. Making and talking about foods is an extremely good emotional and spiritual recharge within the finish from the shooting day."Representation: UTA's Erich Aguillon for features too for television and ads, Ryan TraceyBenjamin Kasulke's cinematography in "Safety Not Guaranteed" and "Your Sister's Sister" was seen by packed houses at Sundance this year, where "Safety" created alluring buzz.Nevertheless it was his d.p. concentrate on the micro-allotted "The Off Several hours," which acquired Kasulke an unbiased Spirit Award nomination for 2011, that caught the eye of two-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt."Depending situated around the lowly Canon 5Dmk11, Kasulke balances the evening inside for the coming beginning getting an excellent control," Goldblatt notifies Variety. "His shots are pretty easy and eloquent, as well as the camera brings amazing performances to existence."Frequently inhabiting the nether world between day and evening," Goldblatt continues, "the 'ordinary' can be a character alone which is more captivating in comparison with a exotic locales of several other productions."Kasulke examined cinema at Ithaca College, did a stint just like a taxi driver and spent four years used in publish-production before becoming a busy schedule-to shooter for Seattle's modern dance films. His link with the area arts scene introduced towards the opportunity to shoot "Guy Maddin's Brand Upon your brain!InchBecause then he has put in his feature resume "My Easy Brilliance," "Humpday," "Keyhole," "The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye" and "The Lie."Kasulke is presently planning another project with Maddin that will involve shooting 100 short films in 100 days at various art museums around the globe.InchMan is reimagining 100 classic quiet films that have been lost using the development of appear," states Kasulke.Trailer: "The Off Several hours"Return to 10 Cinematographers to check out Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com