all things james callis

2010-09-23T15:41:00.002+01:00

Just in for all James Callis lovers. The very long-awaited 'Meet Pursuit Delange' has been selected to premiere at the Raindance Film Festival. Check the following info the official website and details. Yaaay! More James!!

Check out Meet Pursuit Delange starring James Callis at www.pursuitdelange.com

Lots of video clips and outtakes and even a casting session.

The official website has gone live and it has been selected to be screened/premiered at the Raindance Film Festival (the UK's leading indie film festival).

2010-03-20T10:15:00.005Z

News just in that James has a pivotal and mysterious (and sexxxyyy!) role in FlashForward.

And, James is going to be a regular cast member of season four's Eureka, playing a sexxxxyy! doctor.

More details to come!

And also, Reuniting the Rubins is set to get it's first official airing at Cannes Film Festival.

Gah! Dizzy from all this James news!

2009-09-18T10:38:00.017+01:00

This little blog has had over 500 visits! So, to celebrate in style...

An Evening with James Callis
Ibis Hotel, Bonn, 12 September 2009
Photos by the wonderful René Kissien of Caprica-City.de

The scarf!.... :)

2009-07-28T00:55:00.011+01:00

screencaps generously donated to the cause by deniselle of the baltarstar blog

2009-07-13T03:42:00.010+01:00

I've decided to breakout of the blog's usual letter box format to include a section for James' convention appearances - and how could I go past this luscious pic of James at the Jules Verne Festival anyway?
Pic used under cc license.

2009-07-04T10:44:00.011+01:00

screencaps by kixxa, except for the alpaca pic, which was graciously donated by M. Thanks for that!

2009-06-28T13:33:00.021+01:00

screencaps by kixxa

2009-06-21T06:19:00.010+01:00

screencaps by kixxa

2009-06-06T11:53:00.021+01:00

Merlin: What doesn't kill you makes a good story.
Galahad: What does kill you makes you legend.

2009-05-16T13:38:00.022+01:00

"Is a coyote insane because it eats your poodle?"

2009-05-09T10:42:00.021+01:00

2009-04-27T05:23:00.013+01:00

2009-04-19T06:39:00.009+01:00

2009-04-07T07:55:00.000+01:00

2009-03-19T10:25:00.001Z

screencaps from hdtv_caps and some by me.

2009-03-17T10:07:00.000Z

2009-03-08T01:46:00.001Z

screencaps from hdtv_caps

2009-02-26T12:25:00.004Z

Huge thanks to 50mm for the screencaps!

2009-02-23T05:59:00.000Z

2009-02-12T10:55:00.000Z

2009-02-08T03:02:00.000Z

2009-02-03T01:26:00.000Z

2009-01-30T13:54:00.000Z

screencaps from hdtv_caps and me.

2009-01-26T10:20:00.000Z

2009-01-26T03:05:00.014Z

James Callis Battlestar Galactica
2003-08 Battlestar Galactica.
Miniseries
Season 1, 2, 3 and 4 (plus small cameo in 'Razor')
James played the brilliant, sexy, multi-faceted and yet weak and narcissistic character, Dr Gaius Baltar, who may or may not have played a part in sending humanity into nuclear oblivion. The charismatic and self-preserving Gaius travels a galactic roller-coaster of faith, belief, guilt and redemption over the course of the five seasons.

Also in the cast are the always excellent Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, Michael Hogan and Aaron Douglas.

Battlestar Galactica...well, it's just brilliant. The most excellent thing. Storytelling at its peak (apart from a few dud eps and the slightly disappointing finale). Despite the very minor flaws, everyone should watch it. It should be frakkin' mandatory!

James Callis 'Helen of Troy'
2003. James takes the role of Prince Menelaus, King Agamemnon's brother in 'Helen of Troy'. Rufus Sewell plays the 'teetering on the edge of madness' Agamemnon, while James plays his wiser, slighter, and ultimately more pragmatic younger brother. Both of these warlike Spartan brothers are in love with Helen, and Menelaus, through a quirk of the Gods, is the one who marries her before losing her to Paris (of Troy).

James Callis 'Dead Cool'
2004. James plays Josh, an immigration rights lawyer and dream of a husband, who is father to two young sons, in the British film ‘Dead Cool’. In a rather strange film that's an uneasy and unsuccessful mix of black comedy and tragedy, Josh gets run down by a bus, has his organs given away by his wife (who, rather strangely, has no understanding of Jewish cultural and religious practices), and gets to haunt his older son, for better or worse...mostly worse.

I don't think this film could make up its mind to be a 'coming of age' story, or a ghost story, or the story of the blending of two dysfunctional families. The real tragedy is, James is so bloody lovely in this film, it's worth tracking it down just for his awesome loveliness -- oh, and also the rather wonderful Liz Smith, who tends to steal every Jamesless scene she appears in, playing a rather stellar granny.

James Callis Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
2004. James reprises his role of Bridget's gay friend Tom in 'Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason'.

James Callis One Night with the King
2005. ‘One Night with the King’. Yaaaay! James gets to play the psychopath! As you can see from the images, James is very intense in this role. He's all broody and dark, with wild hair and opulent turbans, and there are many gorgeous lingering shots of those wonderful eyes. 'One Night with the King' is the retelling of the biblical 'Story of Esther'. The film explains why Purim is a time of celebration in Jewish households to this day. James plays the role of the courtier, Hamen, whose intrigues and plottings are responsible for placing the Jewish people in peril.

Aside from the wonderful James, ONWTK is a very slow and plodding affair. Where did they find this awful director? Apart from a few interesting camera angles, the direction is very pedestrian. The characters remain two dimensional and the overall story is a bit bland. The dialogue is also disappointing. And, another major peeve is that Peter O'Toole gets top billing for a wobbly two-minute cameo. Good one, Pete!

James Callis Book of Beasts
2009. James is cast as Merlin in the Sci Fi (Sy Fy) television movie, ‘Book of Beasts’. James plays a crusty and very curmudgeonly Merlin, with a growly Welsh accent. He's shy, and grumbly, and very reclusive, but underneath you just know he has a heart of wizardly gold.

'Book of Beasts' is nicely directed (some lovely moving camera shots and imaginative set-ups) and has some lovely cinematography (some visually stunning set pieces in the Vancouver woods). But, ultimately, this is a Sci-Fi TV movie (which is budget tv on a second-hand shoe-string) and no end of prettiness, or growly acting is going to save it. The cast does well with this pedestrian tale which really holds no surprises. The expositionary dialogue takes the viewer from A to B to C in the right order (unfortunately), but the evil Mordred's psychotic motivations are never really explained, or explored, and Merlin's past life is only mentioned in passing. Pity, as this film could've had a lot more intelligence and heart to cover for its lack of budget, but this film remains Merlin-Lite.

And, the plot device of having everyone carried away by giant eagles because you need to get a move on to the finale, well, I won't go there -- (unless a giant eagle carries me).

James Callis Pilot of the proposed 'Meet Pursuit Delange'
James Callis Film? of the proposed 'Meet Pursuit Delange'

James Callis Numb3rs Season Five Finale (S5.23) 'Angels and Devils'
2009. James plays a charismatic and sociopathic cult leader in the Numb3rs season five finale. Mason Duryea is a brilliant, self-educated, and ultimately self-deluded man out to make his social-revolutionary mark in the world (he wants his own t-shirts and he's willing to kill to get them). After leaving prison, he founds a quasi-tribal love-cult, and, surrounded by his beautiful, willing and expedandable ladies, plots his own unique brand of anarchy. A really enjoyable episode of Numb3rs. Well directed, nicely written (Is a coyote insane because it eats your poodle?), and James gets a great showcase to play his psychotic side (mostly via those beautiful eyes of his) with a pretty convincing growly Okhlahoma(n) accent.

James Callis Re-Uniting the Rubins
2009. James has taken the role of Danny Rubin in the British comedy 'Re-uniting the Rubins'. The film is the story of a death-bed wish to re-unite a very dysfunctional, very disparate Jewish family. Also starring are the wonderful Timothy Spall, and the wonderful Honor Blackman.

(This film is now in post-production. *dances*)

all things james callis

2009-01-23T11:04:00.003Z

'all things james callis' was created to provide a pretty comprehensive picture resource for all things james callis

i would like to make it quite beautiful, which is pretty easy where Mr Callis is concerned. i mean, he even looks lovely in Merlin, with the straggly hair and the blood

this blog is an ongoing holistic thing, and is always being updated when real life allows. Mr Callis runs very fast, but i will catch up with him...someday

many thanks go to the lovely 'ufOh' for graciously allowing me to copy not only her banner technique but also her gaius/head six screencap. i love it!! thanks, honey!!

and, after my glowing banner thanks, i'm wondering about changing the blog banner soon. probably will when 'Reuniting the Rubins' comes out to a cinema near me

:D

2009-01-23T10:30:00.000Z

If ever anyone was born to read a book aloud, it's Mr Callis. Lie back and let that wonderful voice wash over you...

First off is 'The Kin' by Peter Dickinson. The story of the children of the Moon Hawk tribe. This small group of children defies convention and taboo, to find a new place in the world for themselves. Interspersed with the story are 12 creation myths which tie in with the main tale in a wonderful way.

Recorded in 2006, the story is unabridged and approx 3hrs and 40mins in duration. Audible Books

Next is the children's book 'Afterdark: The Dream Snatcher', by Annie Dalton.

'Vasco Shine is a threat to every child – he steals their dreams. Only Joe, Kevin and pale, prickly Flora can stop him. They must go into the fantastic kingdom of Afterdark where nothing and no one is what it seems'.

A Chivers Childrens Audio Book (CHCD 688) that is only obtainable through your local library (or at least that's the case here in Australia). Three CDs of bliss!

Recorded in 2002, this marvellously inventive tale is unabridged and runs for over 3 hours and 40 mins. James portrays so many characters in this story, it's hard to keep count!!

2009-01-19T08:43:00.003Z

James Callis was born on 4 June, 1971 in London, England. After graduating from the London Academy of Music and Art in 1996, James Callis made his professional debut in the Bristol Old Vic and then on to London's West End at the Gielgud Theatre, in a production of Jon Maran's ‘Old Wicked Songs’ with the respected actor Bob Hoskins. For his performance, James took out the Jack Tinker Award for ‘Most Promising Newcomer’.

James Callis 'Murder Most Horrid'
Also in 1996, James landed his first television role in ‘Murder Most Horrid’, Dawn French’s comedy/drama which ran for four seasons and featured a who’s who of top British actors including Jim Broadbent and Hugh Laurie. James plays Mark on a season three episode entitled ‘Confess’.

James Callis 'Soldier, Solider'
Also in 1996, James joined the cast of ‘Soldier, Soldier’, where despite protesting he was much too young, he was cast as Major Tim Forrester. I read in an interview somewhere that he finally gets the girl...

James Callis 'Heat of the Sun' Private Lives
1998. James is cast as Assistant Superintendent Clive Lanyard in the TV series 'Heat of the Sun'. James has a co-starring role in the first episode which is called 'Private Lives'. Set in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1931, Clive assists the new Scotland Yard Superintendent Alan Tyburn (Trevor Eve) in solving a series of burglaries, arson and murders which revolve around the Happy Valley set of British ex-pats.

James Callis 'Going Wrong' Ruth Rendell Mysteries
In 1998, James had the leading role in the Ruth Rendell Mysteries three-part story called ‘Going Wrong’. James plays Guy Curran, a cocky East Londoner who’s love-struck and out of his league with his upper-class girlfriend (and her hideous family). There's a ferocious duelling scene in this, (well a lot of duelling scenes actually, what a fight it is!), that is pretty unreal. How no-one was seriously hurt is a miracle!

James Callis 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' Valenitn Gautier Madame Guillotine
In 1999, James appeared in the second episode of the television movie series, ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ as Henri, a catholic aristocrat turned rebel leader who's fighting a losing battle against the encroaching forces of the Republic. This episode is either called 'Valentin Gautier' or 'Madame Guillotine' depending on where you read it. Richard E Grant is The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Martin Shaw plays the nasty (and very lovely!) Chauvelin.

James Callis 'Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll' The Wolf
Also in 1999, James appeared in the BBC mini ‘Sex, Chips and Rock ‘n’ Roll’ as the dilettante drummer with a kind heart, The Wolf. He's part of a struggling rock group called 'The Ice Cubes. Set in Manchester and London in 1965, James plays a mean drum kit, and looks very stunning with his long hair, and his leather, velvet and lace attire.

James Callis 'Arabian Nights'
2000. Arabian Nights, Hallmark Entertainment. Arabian Nights is a two part miniseries, comprising five stories told within a story, in the tradition of the ‘One Thousand and One Nights’. James appears in a small but pivotal role as Prince Ahmed in the last tale called ‘The Three Princes’. He's part of a trio of bickering brothers whose father sends them on a mission to each bring back a wonder of the world. Prince Ahmed brings back the apple of healing. The series also features Alan Bates as the Prince, Mili Avital as Sheherazade, Rufus Sewell as Ali Baba, Dougray Scott, Andy Serkis, Jason Scott Lee as Aladdin, Vanessa-Mae and Alexei Sayle. Arabian Nights won awards for best casting, and outstanding makeup. The costumes and the Henson special-effects are really amazing, and the whole thing is a total delight.

James Callis 'Bridget Jones's Diary'
In 2001, James made his feature film debut playing Bridget’s gay friend Tom, in Bridget Jones’s Diary. James reprised his role a few years later in the Bridget Jones sequel.

James Callis 'Victoria & Albert'
In 2001, James also had a small role in 'Victoria and Albert' playing Albert's older brother, Ernest. The mini-series focuses on Victoria's early life with her domineering mother, before moving onto her marriage and relationship with Albert. The mini stars Victoria Hamilton, Jonathan Price, Nigel Hawthorne, David Suchet and Dianna Rigg. Peter Ustinov makes a great cameo as William IV (by just being himself really...) :)

James Callis 'Beginner's Luck'
In 2001, James made his feature film co-directorial debut in the independent comedy ‘Beginner’s Luck’ while starring alongside Julie Delpy. James shared the writing and directing credits with Nick Cohen. Firmly rooted in real life experiences, James stars as Mark Feinman, the would-be director/impressario of a motley troupe of amateur actors called ‘The Vagabonds’. The Vagabonds are reaching for the nirvana of ‘the island’ (Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’). Risking starvation, cold, poverty, and all sorts of humiliation for their art, they never quite make it to ‘the island’, but they do get to a strip club in Soho, a curry shop in Edinburgh, and run amok through the streets of Paris, instead.