Author => Diane

Interview with Nick Puga

Nick Puga has one of those faces that make you want to smile. Even before you watch any of his guest roles or commercials you know he was put on this earth to entertain people. Nick was also one funny kid growing up. He used his comic gift to win over classmates in school and to amuse his family and friends. Entertaining people came naturally to Nick so there’s no wonder he choose a career in showbiz. NCISLA Magazine had the opportunity to speak with Nick regarding his upcoming guest star role in this week’s episode, Collateral. We found him to be a very engaging guy and a real charmer. Let’s find out more about Nick.

After watching your demo reels, I get the feeling you were a funny kid growing up and perhaps the class clown. Tell us about your background and how you got into the business.

Absolutely correct! I actually won the sixth grade class clown award! Everybody was getting a reward and they were trying to come up with something positive about everyone and the only thing they could come up with me is that I was the class clown. From a very early age around four years old, I wanted to put on shows for my family. I’m Chilean and grew up in Florida and we had a lot of visitors. Our house became like a hotel and part of what became routine is I would perform after dinner while they were eating dessert. I would do shows and imitations of Michael Jackson and Elvis. It was something I just did, I can’t explain it. I was influence by TV and it became a regular thing. I didn’t think it would be a career. But I was a very short kid in grade school and my protection would be to make fun of myself. I could do that better than anyone else around me. So that’s how I started winning friends, and stopped being picked on. It came naturally.

Someone actually convinced me in 10^th grade to take drama lessons and that’s how I got serious and started doing plays. Both my parents weren’t too ecstatic about it and although they encouraged my performances after dinner they didn’t know much about the industry. I went on to a prestigious drama school in Miami that was very strict and maybe a little bit too strict because they wouldn’t let me audition for certain projects so I went to Florida International University in Miami.

I worked in Miami and things were going well but there is only a certain level you can reach, and although there are many shows and movies shot in Miami, the producers are not very open to having a local hire being a guest star and I realized the only way to do that was to move to California and become an LA actor which was in 2001. I had to start from scratch all over again and look for multiple jobs that would pay the rent and rebuild my career. You work for free on graduate projects from USC and to build your resume you try to perform wherever you can. The hardest part is doing multiple jobs at the same time, but I learned a lot.

U Tube was a big deal for me…it opened the door. It’s very difficult for actors and comedians to come up with their own material. I had some not great experiences with my content being used by other people. But when U Tube came out I realized I can create what I want and write and produce it and put it online and now I don’t have to worry about it being stolen because it’s all dated by computers and it offered projection. I was able to put it out worldwide and see what kind of responses you can get. The first thing I did was to make a music video…a hip hop, no-holds-bar assault on the epidemic of text messaging (The Sock Puppets). From there we garnered attention from some MTV execs and they invited us to be part of the MTV comedy showcase. Things started to turn for me at that point.

Besides acting, you are a voice over artist, producer, director and writer. Is there one area you enjoy over the others?

I love acting. It’s something I have to do. As far as directing, I think about it but I’m not ready yet at least until I have a lot more acting under my belt and more experience with great directors, like Kate Woods (NCISLA: Personal, Collateral) who is so great on the job. I feel like the more I can experience working with great directors, the more I can learn. That is my goal down the future is to be a director though. I do shorts now but I would like to do a narrative at some point. Voice over work I love too! That is a really fun job. I just did a pilot for Nickelodeon which I’m excited about. It’s called Cabrito and Chewy where I play Cabrito, the little goat.

You have been in some highly visible commercials. I image it can be very lucrative but how creative can you get and do you enjoy working in this area of the business?

I have been very fortunately to work repeatedly with the most talented commercial directors around. Most recently I got to work with Todd Philips on the Super Bowl commercial with Mathew Broderick. We did a spoof of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off for Honda. It’s a lot of fun and I am fortunate that I have worked as consistently as I have been. There are times they let me do my own thing too which is fun.

Tell us about your time spent on the set of NCIS Los Angles. What was the cast and crew like to work with? Did you enjoy the table read?

My character’s name is Dex Stevenson. He’s socially awkward but bright with computers and works more with a CIA agent in a consulting business that he runs. Working with the cast was super exciting. I’m a big fan of Eric Christian Olsen and he’s great with comedy and during the table read he just killed it. So it was a terrific experience to be a part of that because with table reads you always learn something new. Everyone was super nice from the get-go. They are just such a happy group and they bring you into the family immediately. They thank you for being there and the camaraderie is really great. I didn’t get to work with any of them apart from the table read, but I was really glad to be there.

You mentioned Kate Woods, the director for Collateral, what is she like working with?

Kate Woods is super smart and I was blown away by how many different scenes there are going on at one time and I was really impressed how she could just go from one scene to the next. She has a great sense of humor as well as keeping everybody up and working. Everybody on set seemed to just love their job, loved what they do and they just work hard and passionately.

You just finished shooting a major starring role in a feature film entitled After the Wedding. What’s it about and when can we see it on the big screen?

It’s a romantic dramady and independent film written and directed by the super talented Claudia Cifuentes. This is her first feature and my first in a lead role. It takes place six months into marriage and my character is a newlywed and a writer. For his birthday his wife gives him a trip to Miami to go down and try to finish his latest novel because she is really supportive of his career. While he’s down there he becomes emotionally intimate with a sexy bartender and he decides to reevaluate the state of his marriage. We just wrapped principal photography early September and it looks like it will be ready next summer to submit to Sundance and hopefully out the following year.

What’s next for Nick Puga?

I have a few other projects coming up that I can’t talk about just yet but always looking forward to the next job!

It was a pleasure to get to learn more about Nick and we enjoyed his appearance on NCIS Los Angeles! You can follow Nick on his web site: www.nickpuga.com or on Twitter: @nickpuga and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsnickpuga.

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Skin Deep (4×07) Review by Phillydi

@cbs

Skin Deep (4×07)
Written by: Gil Grant
Directed by: Paul K. Kaufman

Since the pictures on the beach surfaced of Densi surfing together, fans of the will-they-or-won’t-they couple have been biting at the bit hoping for another tantalizing morsel that will move the relationship moving forward one more step. This time the team hits the beach to investigate a surfer, a video and a dead Navy teckie. Gil Grant is behind the pen for the first time since Sans Voir (Part 1) and we have a new comer in the director’s chair too. Paul Kaufman is a great addition to the list of directors and I look forward to his next directorial assignment on the show, especially after the exciting opening sequence.

The dead naval engineer in question is Kevin Stone and he’s been working on a relatively low level, mundane security projects. When a video of his murder is posted, the team sets out to find his killers. Maybe his low-level work is not so low-level after all? The first mystery is why the victim may have had something removed from his abdomen during the stabbing. A major intelligence device you say? Hmmm. So much for working on the mundane. Looks like Stone was headed to London via Istanbul. Was he taking the device to an unknown location as a sell out?

The team is not having any luck coming up with any leads. So it’s time to hit the beach to find the dude that shot the video. Perhaps if they find his surfing mentor, Sonny Amador they will find the skittish surfer. Loving the use of Johnny Rivers’ song, Secret Agent Man as the background music for the opening on the beach. So retro! And Deeks hanging ten! Let the twittering begin! I loved seeing him with the ocean as a backdrop. He looks so much at home on the sand, doesn’t he? The bar fight reminded me of all those old Elvis movies from the sixties too! The Topanga Canyon hippy commune added more treats when Deeks is recognized as the guy from Scooby Doo! Bad karma, Shaggy! I enjoyed Callen trying to gain Lance’s trust talking about his foster placements. He understands why Lance doesn’t trust anyone anymore including the government and gets him to expose Sonny’s get rich scam. Of course, eventually the team is finally able to find the missing the robotic device and send the bad guys packing.

Paul Kaufman chose some interesting camera shots during the show. I especially liked the overhead shot of the team in Ops. From Gil Grant, we get to find out more about Callen’s life in the foster system and we took one more step in a Densi direction. So enjoyed watching Deeks and Kensi surf. Overall a fun episode on and off the beach!

Show Highlights:

– Loved the pizza race to the kitchen. Didn’t think you could see three grown people run so fast, did ya?

– Glad to see Rose back and asking for Nate.

– Kensi and Deeks quoting O’Rourke and Emerson. Nice touch.

– Will somebody please get Sam some curry shrimp!

@cbs

Best Lines from the Show:

Kensi: Deeks loves food. Sam: He also loves Donnie and Marie!

Sam: Maybe they can program the robots to pick a decent food truck. Ha!

Deeks: We’re partners Kensi, you can ask me anything. Kensi: Donnie and Marie? Really?

Deeks: She likes me… just wait for it.

Hetty: Well done, Mr. Deeks. But let’s not blow the whole case budget in the first hour, shall we? Or I’ll have to move the decimal point on your first pay check. Sam: Yeah, those mani/pedis don’t come cheap!

Bromance Moments:

Callen and Sam throwing golfing metaphors around was amusing. It’s a metaphor for life, Sam! You need to stare down your fears. Although Callen may have never played a single game of golf, we all know COD is an avid golfer.

Densi Moments:

– Well we find out that Deeks sleep walks… that could get interesting.

– Deeks, you just love to taunt Kensi, don’t you?

– How’s your beach body? Really Deeks? Like you don’t already know.

– Kensi trying out her surfer lingo and Khaka hand sign was disturbing. I think Deeks is the one who is going to need the luck!

– Kensi: I hope you choke on your liver! (No riding of any wild surf going on here!)

– Ok, we got Deeks to admit the fact he enjoyed touching Kensi. But Kensi is not impressed. One step forward…..one step back. Oh well….

In this week’s interview chair we had a chance to speak with the multi-talented Greg Cipes about working with Kensi and Deeks. Find out what he says about his experience on the set of NCIS Los Angeles and what it’s like to be a successful voice over artist. Next week’s episode, Collateral, co-stars Nick Puga. He will be our featured guest interview next week, so come back and join us again for all the excitement at NCISLA Magazine.

Interview with Greg Cipes

Greg Cipes is one busy Renaissance man… or should I say Renaissance dude? It seems like he can and has done it all! This accomplished professional and one time surfing champ gave one of the most laid back and fun interviews I’ve done in a long time. Whether it’s his numerous appearances on television and commercials, fronting his reggae band Cipes and the People, or lending his voice to Teen Titans’ Beast Boy, Cipes enjoys life and lives it to the fullest. With his many accomplishments, this interview could have gone down many different avenues since Greg has so many diverse talents. But each one has a story to tell. For instance, did you know Greg is one of the best voiceover artists in the industry and that he a dedicated vegan and so are his dogs? Or did you know that he performs and composes reggae/hip-hop music? But it’s his ranking as the # 3 junior US professional surfer in 1998 that will come in handy this week as we watch Greg hit the beaches with our undercover surfers Kensi and Deeks on the latest episode of NCIS Los Angeles, Skin Deep. We began the interview by asking this Florida native how he knew he wanted to break into the entertainment industry.

I was inspired by my parents and my grandparents who were small bit part TV and film actors. My grandfather was in the first Super Boy series and my grandmother was in some Frank Sinatra movies and they inspired me at pretty young age. It was really in my blood and there is nothing I would rather do than be in the entertain world.

You are interested in so many areas of the entertain world from actor, to voiceover artist to director, producer, and musician. What do you enjoy doing the most?

People tell me that you can’t do it all and you got to pick just one but I always held all my interests all on the same level and I only do what I love the most. I work on putting them all in the same project as much as possible, whether it’s music in my voiceover work, or if I’m in a TV show or movie, I try to integrate my music into that. I’m always crossing over because I love everything I do equally. If I didn’t love what I do, I wouldn’t do it.

Growing up in Florida you developed a love of reggae. How do you describe your music because you seem to have a lot of other influences in your music as well?

I’m definitely inspired by reggae music because of the positive vibrations that come from the music. At the age of 2 years old, my parents were bringing me to the Bahamas and I heard reggae music which made me feel good, so naturally I gravitated towards it. There I was at five years old dancing around the room to Bob Marley. My spirit felt good because it was happy music. So reggae music is kind of the core of my music and Jim Morrison and the Grateful Dead inspire me as well but ultimately it was the greats like Bob Marley and Bob Dylan and even Will Smith because I’m working on a version of his Fresh Prince of Bel Air work!

How did you get in the voiceover business?

There’s a cool story here. I have nine brothers and sisters and my dad use to drive us around in an RV and I would sit on his lap and we would talk to other truck drivers on the CB radio and I was doing weird voices and one day my dad said “One day you’re going to do cartoons!” And twenty years later I’m part of the biggest animated show on the planet. My agent, Melissa Berger really gave me the opportunity to hone the craft because she heard my voice one day and said you have a cool voice and you really should be doing voice over. Andrea Romano, the best and most sought after voice director in the world gave me my first break, starring in Teen Titans for Warner Brothers. Now she’s directing Ninja Mutant Turtles which when I grew up with and was my favorite show and now I get to be Mikey. That leads me to NCISLA which means I’m part of the biggest animated show in the world and the biggest live action show in the world!

Speaking of NCIS Los Angeles… Can you tell us a little bit about your time on the show and your character?

It was really cool because on the set I was sitting there and I recognized one of the stunt men who was a pro surfer who I grew up watching and I got to hang out with one of my childhood idols as a surfer and I got to hang out with one of my childhood idols who was a musician… LL Cool J!

At the table read I got to find out how cool, fantastic and sweet the whole cast and crew are. Maybe sweeter than any show I’ve ever been on. Everyone greets you with big smiles, it’s authentic and you can tell everyone loves what they are doing. The table read was more like a party and a celebration than a table read. Everybody is having a good time laughing, but the topics are serious and the issues they are exploring are real but yet they are having a good time which is why I like the show so much. These are all such likeable characters.

My character is very much like me, he’s a surfer and he lives in Venice. I had a blast and I loved filming in Venice. I worked with the beautiful Daniela Ruah and the blond, goofy cop, Eric Christian Olsen who I also worked with on Kick Buttowski a couple of times doing voiceover work. And they may want to bring me back so there may be some more NCISLA in my future!

We hear you have a new CD coming out soon?

My album is being mastered right now and is part of my new show and a vehicle to get my new music out. So by the top of the new year my new album will be on its way to be delivered to the people. I have been working on the album every week for the last four year, because you can’t force art and it’s my dream music, the music I always wanted to create.

What’s next for Greg Cipes?

Well, Teen Titans is coming out again next year and a lot of people love that show. We’re also recording the second season now of Teenage Ninja Turtles. I have two more movies coming out in the next month and I’m also doing a show on ABC called The Middle which I have a recurring role in…and my Fresh Prince of Bel Air work. I’m having fun and most importantly I have my dogs with me and they are the best. I wouldn’t want to be alive without them. They are my acting teachers and they are always truthful because that’s what acting is all about…living truthfully in every circumstance. Dogs know that and they have your back. You can’t lie to them. I only want to be part of making the world a better place and making a difference.

A big thank you goes out to Greg Cipes in this week’s interview chair and we look forward to all of Greg’s future projects including his new CD coming out next year. If you get a chance, check out Greg on Roseanne Barr’s reality series Roseanne’s Nuts and the new season of Teenage Ninja Turtles on Nickelodeon. You can follow Greg on Twitter: @gregcipes or on his official web site: www.gregcipes.com.

Layla Crawford Interview

Did you know what you wanted to be at the age of three? Layla Crawford sure did and since then she has been busy perfecting her craft not only in film and television, but in theatre and commercials as well. By the time she was in kindergarten, this talented adolescent knew that the performing arts were calling her name. Since then she hasn’t wasted any time getting out there in front of an audience. NCISLA Magazine had the opportunity to find out more about Layla and her new series regular spot on The First Family and of course her recurrent role in NCIS Los Angeles! Layla told us why acting is so important to her and why she enjoyed working with LL Cool J so much.

When did you realize you wanted to be an actor? Which actors to you admire the most?

I started performing when I was only 3 years old as an “early bird” for Debbie Allen Dance Academy. But I just kinda fell into acting when my best friend and I auditioned for a school play when I was in kindergarten. I enjoyed it so much and had so much fun I wanted to do it all the time! I really like making people smile and laugh! I admire China Anne McClain, star from ANT Farm. She is so talented. She can act and sing and I hope to get a role someday that allows me to do both as well.

Can you tell us about your time spent on the set of NCIS:LA and a little bit about your character? Do you have any stories you can share with us?

I had a great time on the set of NCIS: LA! Everyone was very nice to me. The entire cast and crew were kind. You will have to tune in to see what my character is all about but I can tell you that my character is very important to Sam! I had a chance to work with LL Cool J and Aunjanue Ellis — they were both very nice. This was my second time working with LL Cool J because I appeared briefly with him last season in the episode, “Betrayal.” He is sooo nice and funny!

Layla with her TV dad LL Cool J!

Congratulations on your series regular role on the CW’s First Family. Can you tell us a little bit about your character?

On the show, The First Family, I play the President’s youngest daughter, Olivia Johnson. The show is about the 2^nd African-American President of the US and everything funny surrounding his family. It is an incredible cast (Christopher Duncan, Kellita Smith, Jackee, John Witherspoon, Gladys Knight, and Marla Gibbs). I have so many stories it’s hard to pick one, but my favorite so far is getting a quick singing lesson from the legendary Gladys Knight for an episode.

Any other projects we can look forward to that you are working on?

Beside The First Family, I am also currently co-starring as ‘Katrina Whitaker’ in “Note To Self” that just released. It is a coming-of-age movie with a real life lesson and I work with Christian Keyes, Letoya Luckett, Brely Evans and Brian McKnight.

Layla in the Make up Chair on the NCISLA set.

Layla enjoys a well-rounded life hanging out with her family and friends, listening to music, playing soccer and writing plays and stories. You can watch Layla every week on the CW’s The First Family and we look forward to seeing her again on an upcoming episode of NCIS:LA. You can find out more about Layla on her website: http://laylacrawford.com/ or sign up to follow Layla on Twitter: @thereallaylac and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TheRealLaylaCrawford.

Out of the Past (4X05) Review by Phillydi

Out of the Past @cbs

Out of the Past (4 X 05)

Written by: Frank Military

Directed by: Dennis Smith

Hello NCISLA Familia! Wasn’t too sure I was going to be here this week after surviving a one-two punch from Hurricane Sandy but I am happy to report all is well for my family and friends. Thanks so much for your support and concern during the last two days. Gratefully, we have a new episode to take our minds off natural disasters and if you are a Sam Hanna fan… Frank Military has written a beaut! The first part introduces us to an old friend of Sam’s from the CIA who comes to the agent for help. Unfortunately, Sam finds him dead from an apparent suicide. The team joins their friend in the search for his killer and at first the only clue left behind is a poodle by the name of Chaucer. Sam sends Kensi and Deeks off to find out more about the dog which leads to many of the lighter moments in the show. But more on that later.

We find out from a CIA love interest that that Sam’s former colleague was working on a special project that went back to the cold war. The Sinclair project was established to find Russian sleeper agents with nuclear weapons and disarm the bombs. Turner discovered the project was more than just an urban legend but was soon discredited by the feds. He sends a unique but simple cypher code out to Sam (via his stomach contents!). The team has to find the key but with no electronic records, Eric is like a fish out of water.

Ok, back to the dog. To Deeks dismay, Hetty sends him undercover with Chaucer. (I think Deeks knows Chaucer is way above his station. Give him good ol’ Monty any day!) Along with Kensi, the threesome is on the lookout for another contestant at a dog show that may have had dealings with Turner. (I’m not sure Kensi knows what to make of her partner’s new found dog whispering techniques though.) Under interrogation, Pierce tells them Turner has been stalking him. Callen and Sam determine its Pierce’s parents that could be the Russian sleeper agents Turner was searching for. With fifty rounds fired during the shootout, it looks like we got our suspects!

The Russians were on to Turner which according to Hetty can only mean the Sinclair project must be real and there are more agents out there waiting to set off the hidden nuclear bombs. Sam was Turner’s failsafe all along and he knew Sam would take him seriously. I love the way Sam figures out how to see through Turner’s eyes. You could almost see the wheels turning in his head. With a little help from Eric, the team has figured out who the sleeper agents are but can they get to them before the arms dealer does?!

Show Highlights:

We get to see a member of the team open up the show which is definitely a highlight. Anybody remember the last time that happened?
Looks like there is trouble in paradise with Nell and Eric. Eric is trying his best but Nell is just not taking the bait.
Deeks talking pig Latin to Kensi in front of Chaucer was hysterical.
Hetty and Nell out drinking together? Now wouldn’t you want to be a fly on that wall?

Best Lines from the Show:

Eric: It’s because of stuff like that I don’t leave ops.

Callen: Spider man will protect you.

Sam: Those pajamas come with feet?

Eric: I cut the feet off. I don’t wear footie pajamas…they don’t come in my size.

@cbs

Deeks: Oh, a poodle, no, sorry, I don’t do poodles. Huge attitude, untrainable.

Kensi: Actually they are one of the three most intelligent breeds of dogs.

Deeks: I will have you know that Monty is brilliant and humble.

Kensi: Monty eats sponges.

Deeks: That’s true.

******

Deeks: Poodles are the pit bulls of France.

Kensi: God, my partner’s Dr. Doolittle.

******

Deeks: Paid to have sex in Paris? I should have been born a dog. I walked into that one didn’t I?

******

Deeks: (To Chaucer) If you’re going to walk next to me, no prancing. I don’t want the Doberman’s laughing at us.

Bromance Moments:

Callen: Come on a spy ring when we were kids, you turn it and the letters line up? I love that ring. It was my first piece of spy gear.

Sam: I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so excited.

Callen: It’s a cool ring.

Sam: I know what I’m getting you for Christmas.

@cbs

Densi Moments:

Deeks gets back at Kensi from a previous episode! Deeks: She doesn’t understand you? She’s my partner…welcome to my world!
Oh you must really want the bacon! One grab of Deeks posterior had fanfic writers all over the world in ecstasy.
Pierce: A stud doesn’t have to breed with a bitch. It’s the other way around. Deeks: I hope you’re listening to this (to Kensi). (Tell me you didn’t say that Deeks?!)

I really enjoyed how the team all worked together on this one. More brain than brawn going on here. Stay tuned for part two of Out of the Past in two weeks. What did you enjoy the most about this episode? What do you think is in store for Sam and the team in their search for the Russian agents? Leave us your comments. See you then!