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Monday, March 31, 2008

Channing Tatum Pictures of the Week: Fabulous Fan Photo Submission

Each week Channing Tatum Unwrapped will post one or more of our favorite pictures of the uber hot Channing Tatum.

Today's Picture of the Week was submitted by Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan Kelly.

This is a photo from Channing Tatum's 2007 photo shoot with Michael Roberts for VanityFair.com in September of 2007.

Here's what Kelly had to say about her pick for Picture of the Week:

When it comes to Channing Tatum, I have many favorite photos of him but I love this B&W photo from this awesome photo shoot for the Vanity Fair magazine he was in. I think he just looks gorgeous and I love the facial hair he has. Not many guys can pull the facial hair off, but Channing does a very good job wearing it. I also just love him with a head full of hair and you can just stare into his eyes forever in this photo. They look gorgeous, and he looks so soulful just sitting there. Brings his sexiness out more. Its just a gorgeous photo.

Hugs
Kelly
HUGE Fan

Thanks for submitting the great photo, Kelly! In addition to being featured on Vanity Fair's website, Channing was also featured in the September 2007 issue of the magazine. You can CLICK HERE to read the article and see even more gorgeous photos from the shoot.

If you have a favorite picture from this blog, our photo gallery, a picture you have made or a picture that you have found on the net that you would like me to consider, send the picture or a link to the picture to potw@channingtatumunwrapped.com and tell me why you like it. I will post it and your explanation on the blog. If you like or don't like today's picture (for some completely insane reason), let everyone know that too by clicking on the comments link below. :-)

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Sunday, March 30, 2008

NEWS FLASH: 'Battle in Seattle' Screening at AFI Dallas Will Be A Star-Studded Event

Thanks to Leigh over at Michelle Rodriguez's official site we now know that most of the main cast of Channing Tatum's upcoming drama 'Battle in Seattle' is scheduled to attend the screening of the film at the closing night presentation of the 2nd Annual AFI DALLAS International Film Festival.

Although Channing cannot attend because of his filming schedule, fans in the area will have an opportunity to see many other high profile actors from the film. She has confirmed that stars Michelle Rodriguez, Stuart Townsend, Charlize Theron, Martin Henderson, and Woody Harrelson will all be in attendance at the star-studded event.

The film will be shown at 7:30 pm on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at the Northpark 8 theater, and the red carpet will begin around 6:30 pm.

It's a popular film, so tickets are currently on a "Rush Line" status on their website. Screenings where advance tickets are no longer available will be listed as "Rush Line". Rush lines will form approximately one hour prior to scheduled screening time at the venue. Admission will begin five minutes before program start time on a space-available basis. They only accept cash and festival vouchers as ticket payment and admission is not guaranteed, but you will receive a refund if you don't get in.

'Battle in Seattle' is set to have its theatrical release in the US in September 2008.

Thanks again to Leigh for the information!!!

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Saturday, March 29, 2008

Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan Spotlight

In an effort to help CTU readers learn more about each other, once a month I profile one special Channing Tatum fan on the blog and give them the "Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan Spotlight" award.

I am excited to announce that this month's Channing Tatum Unwrapped Fab Fan Spotlight is dedicated to Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan Faith from Miyazaki City, Japan. Here is what you should know about Faith:


Name and CBox Nicknames:
Faith

City:
Miyazaki City, Japan

State:
Miyazaki

Age:

19

Channing Tatum Fan Site:

[STOMP]





Favorite Channing Tatum Picture and Why?:
This picture is probably my all time favorite picture of Chan. This was the very first picture I put it on my cell phone wall. :) I really love how you can see his muscles... who doesn't like looking at Chan's awesome muscles, right?? lol Every time my parents see this picture, they go, "He should pull up his pants." :P They never understand why I am so in love with Chan. :( Oh well, at least y'all know why I love his so much!! I also love his gangster look in this picture. You might not say this is a "gangster look", but that's what I thought. It was super, duper, uper hard to choose only ONE picture of him from all his gorgeous pictures. I really thinks he's hot and cute in every pictures. :)

Favorite Channing Tatum Movie and Why?:
I have only seen two movies of Chan; 'She’s The Man' and 'Step Up', and I love them both like crazy. Well, actually I’ve seen 'Coach Carter' too. Oh and that short film, 'The Trap'. It's so hard to choose one movie, but I will have to say 'She’s The Man' is my favorite, because you get to see a lot of shirt-less Chan. :P lol No, that's not the only reason. I love this movie, because it has comedy and I love funny movies. Also, I loved watching how Amanda Bynes and Chan were joking around and just having fun. Of all the soccer players in the movie, Chan was definitely the hottest!!! I loved his character, Duke Orsino, too, because unlike the other guys, he wasn't only interested in a girl's physical appearance. I want to meet a guy who looks at the inner view of a girl, not just her appearance and Duke was a perfect guy for me. He had humor, he was a little shy and he was a person who could think about people’s feelings. I think Chan is a lot like Duke and Duke must have been a very familiar character to him. I don’t know, I might be wrong, but that’s what I imagine.

'She’s The Man' makes me happy and makes me laugh even though when I’m in a bad mood or depressing mood. This movie makes me want to fall in love with someone and be with someone. It also gives me the feeling of wanting to hang out with my friends and just have fun! So, I’ll have to say that 'She’s The Man' is my favorite movie of all the wonderful movies Chan has been in.

Favorite Channing Tatum Scene and Why?:
This was pretty easy to choose since I already know my favorite scene. My favorite scene is from the movie, 'She’s The Man' , when Duke does his happy/excited dance after Olivia asks him to go out with her for dinner in the gym. He’s absolutely CUTE when he does that dance!!! Oh my gosh, just thinking about the scene makes me smile. :) Awwww!!!! I really love this scene, because he acted so cool (well, he “tried” to act cool) when Olivia talked to him and after she left, he shows Viola (the fake-Sebastian) how he’s excited about her asking him out for dinner. Now THAT was CUTE!!!

Favorite Channing Tatum Movie Quote and Why?:
I really like that one quote of Chan from the movie 'She’s The Man' when he talked to Viola in their room… ummmm… when Viola realized how delicate he was about girls.

Favorite Upcoming Channing Tatum Movie and Why?:
My answer might be really strange for everyone, but I am really desperate to see 'A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints'. I know this movie was released in 2006, but it hasn’t come to Japan yet. I heard that this movie proved how a great actor Chan is and how talented he is. I already know how great he is only by watching 'Step Up' and 'She’s The Man', but as I talk to Chan’s fans, they say that 'A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints' was the one which showed the world how great of an actor he is.

Other than the movie that has already came out except in Japan (and probably few other countries too), I am looking forward to see 'Fighting'. I don’t know why, but 'Fighting' feels very familiar to me right now. Maybe because Q was able to go meet Chan while he was up in NY filming for the movie and finally got to know the real Channing Tatum. Maybe because this movie was the first one I was able to read at CTU how he’s filming, where he is and all kinds of information about the filming of the movie, because before I found CTU I had no idea what was going on with Chan!! So, a big thanks to Q for having CTU and to all the Chanaholics for teaching me about Chan. =)

Have you ever met Channing?:
Yes in my dream…… no, I have never met Chan before. I would LOVE to and I would DIE to see him, but no I haven’t, but hopefully I will sooner or later. :P

Why are you a Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan?:
To tell you the truth, I have no idea why I am a Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan or why I deserve this amazing spotlight…. Am I even a “Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan”? I don’t know, but one thing I can say is that I really love Chan. I love Chan as an actor, as a man, and as a person (wait, was that the same thing?? Lol). He is just so perfect for me and I am so happy that I got to know him better while reading posts at CTU.

'Step Up' was the very first movie I saw of Channing. I have seen 'Coach Carter' before 'Step Up', but never paid attention to Chan and the worse thing is that I didn’t even know that Chan was in that movie! So 'Step Up', is the first one I recognized him (well, who would ever NOT recognize him when he’s starring the movie, right? :P) and I fell in love with him instantly. I loved how he acted his character, I loved his character, Tyler Gage, and I was so amazed and absolutely LOVED his dance skills. I was pretty much stunned by him. Then I saw 'She’s The Man' and I fell in love with him more… and then I found this fabulous website, Channing Tatum Unwrapped, and I fell in love with him even MORE!!!!

People in Japan don't know Chan as well as in other parts of the world. We don’t even have a website for Chan. I wanted to increase more Channing Tatum fans in Japan, so I built up my website, STOMP, as an unofficial fan site of Channing Tatum. Before I knew CTU, I knew nothing about Chan. I only knew that he was an American actor and that he was super hot. :9 To get information about Chan, I googled “Channing Tatum” and I was fortunate enough to find this fabulous website, CTU. This was where I learned more about Chan and where I started to love more about Chan. I was happy how Quishe was such a genius to get the latest updates about Chan and catch the heart of Chan’s fans and what a kind welcome CTU family gave it to me. :)

Why does Channing Tatum Unwrapped think that this fan belongs in the Fab Fan Spotlight?
In addition to being Chan's biggest fan in Japan, Faith has been a huge supporter of Channing Tatum Unwrapped. Because I intimately understand what it takes to create and maintain a fan site, I'm most impressed by her creation of STOMP. I only know English, thus CTU is an English only site. It's really incredible that she has created a site that is primarily in written in Japanese, making Chan more accessible in that part of the world. Recently, she even created an English version of her site, so now she is maintaining two fan site's. This award is my small way of thanking Faith for her efforts, because they are truly appreciated.




Thanks Faith for letting me profile you and for taking the time to share all of your info with the other readers!

As the subject of the Fab Fan Spotlight, Faith is able to pick a custom-made poster of Channing Tatum courtesy of Channing Tatum Unwrapped! Faith's Fab Fan Spotlight prize will be sent to her.

Finally, Faith 's Fab Fan Spotlight profile will be added on the right side of the blog so other Channing Fans can learn about her from any page on the site. Feel free to send your congrats to Faith in the comments on this entry!

Do you want to be in the Fab Fan Spotlight? I will choose and interview readers who have contributed to the Channing Tatum Unwrapped and the Channing Tatum fan community by submitting Pictures of the Week, Videos of the Week, Comments, Graphics, etc. and/or by having groups, profiles, or sites that they made for Channing and his fans. I am currently choosing the next Fab Fan Spotlighter, so be on the lookout for an email from me requesting an interview and the next FFS might just be you!

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Friday, March 28, 2008

CTU NEWS: And the Winner of the Autographed 'Stop-Loss' Poster is...

Amy J.
from Yorktown Heights, New York


is the lucky winner of this exclusive 'Stop-Loss' poster signed by the film's director Kimberly Peirce and actor Victor Rasuk especially for CTU readers:



Channing's highly-anticipated film 'Stop-Loss' hits US and Canadian theaters TODAY, March 28, 2008. Below, you can read some new interviews that I found from Channing Tatum and his 'Stop-Loss' castmate Ryan Phillippe:

You should also check out Yahoo Movies, because they recently added clips from 'Stop-Loss' to their website. Make sure to watch clip #11 called "Re-enlisted w/Commentary".

In the video, director Kimberly Peirce discusses the motivations of the characters in a really great scene where Channing's character Steve lets his fiancee (played by Abbie Cornish) know that he just re-enlisted for another tour, postponing their wedding yet again.

Finally, like we did with 'Step Up 2: The Streets', I want to remind everyone about the CTU Viewing Parties where Chan's fans can meet up anywhere in the world and watch his films together. Any fan can decide to organize a viewing party and can even win prizes if you get enough people to come to your party. You can CLICK HERE to learn how to easily have a party in your city.

As usual, I will be having a viewing party TONIGHT in Katy, Texas area to celebrate the release of the film. Here is my viewing party information:



'STOP-LOSS'
CTU Viewing Party

Physical Address of the Public Movie Theater:
Cinemark Katy, TX
1030 West Grand Parkway North
Katy, TX 77449
(281) 371-6000

Area of Theater Lobby Where Fans Should Meet:
Meet In front of the arcade on the right side of the theater lobby.

Meeting Date: Friday, March 28, 2008
Meeting Time: 7:00 PM
Time of Film: 7:50 PM
Party Type: Public
Buy Ticket: CLICK HERE
RSVP HERE: CLICK HERE
Goodies: I will be giving away 'Stop-Loss' posters and stickers to attendees (until I run out) and a autographed photo of Channing Tatum to one viewing party attendee. Please RSVP so I can get an idea of how many people may be coming and to register for the giveaways. The movie is rated 'R', so make sure you bring your ID. If you are not old enough to see an 'R' movie by yourself yet, please remember that you will need to bring an adult with you to the film. Can't wait to see you all there!



Help Chan's film have a successful opening by going to see 'Stop-Loss' TONIGHT with all of your friends!!!

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REMINDER: Channing Tatum's 'Step Up 2: The Streets' Has Successful Run in the UK and Australia and Premieres in Croatia

I just wanted to remind all of the Fabulous Channing Tatum Fans in Croatia that Channing's extremely successful dance movie 'Step Up 2: The Streets' premiered in your country this week.

The film is doing exceptionally well everywhere it premieres. 'Step Up 2' continues to sell out at venues and is currently the #3 movie in the UK and the #1 movie in Australia.

Making over $56 million domestically and $38 million abroad (with even more releases in the works), the movie is a certifiable hit worldwide, which is why we will be seeing 'Step Up 3-D' hit theaters in the not-so-distant future.

And they're not done yet, because 'Step Up 2: The Streets' will next premiere in Slovakia and Hungary on April 3, 2008.

I was also able to track down the Salsa TV interview with the cast and crew of 'Step Up 2: The Streets' that I learned about from the show's producer at the 'Stop-Loss' screening earlier this week. You can CLICK HERE to check out the interview with director Jon Chu and leads Briana Evigan, and Robert Hoffman or you can watch it below. Enjoy!!!




You can CLICK HERE to get all of the current release dates around the world and to check out the movie's trailer. Go see what all of the buzz is about and watch Channing Tatum's 'Step Up 2: The Streets' TODAY!!!

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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Forget March Madness...How About a Little March MAN-ness?

Fabulous Channing Tatum Fan and CTU reader Jan from the great state of Oklahoma contacted me yesterday to let me know about a contest on her local radio station KJ103.

If you're not into the current NCAA March Madness tournament craze that has hit basketball fans across the nation and feel a little left out, don't distress. KJ103 is having their very own March MAN-ness contest to crown the hottest man alive.

Their listeners nominated the top 64 hottest men in the world. Reminiscent of the brackets that are created for March Madness, we all can vote throughout March on their website for the hottest guys in each round. The winners will move on to the next round and take on the next hottie, and so on, and so on, until they crown the hottest man alive.

Can you guess which one of our favorite actors has made the cut? It's no surprise that Chan made it into the top 64, pummeled Amaury Nolasco to get into the Tempting 32, and has easily beat out Taye Diggs to make it into the Sexy 16.

Now we all need to help Chan defeat Orlando Bloom so he can make it into the top 8 in the next round. You have until Monday to vote in the Sexy 16 round, and you can CLICK HERE to vote for Chan. As Jan so eloquently put it, "Vote early and vote OFTEN!!!"

With the amount of Fabulous Channing Tatum fans on CTU everyday and the undeniable hottie factor that Chan possesses, I think he's a shoe in to take this title. So make sure to VOTE and let the world know that Chan is hands down the hottest man alive!!!

Thanks to Jan for letting me know about the contest and thanks in advance for your votes!!!

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Channing Tatum Videos of the Week: NEW 'Stop-Loss' Special, Exclusive Movie Clip, and Interviews

Today's Videos of the Week were submitted by numerous Fabulous Channing Tatum Fans. We have a behind-the-scenes special done for 'Stop-Loss' by Cinema Judge, two interviews, and a new exclusive movie clip I found showing Channing Tatum and Ryan Phillippe's characters as they return home from combat to a hero's welcome. Enjoy!!!


The Cinema Judge - Stop-Loss Interviews/Scenes
Interviews with Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Rob Brown and director Kimberly Pierce. We show you scenes from the movie and take you on the set of " Stop-Loss".



Gino Salomone Sits Down With Stars Of 'Stop-Loss'
WISN 12 Movie Critic Gino Salomone sat down with Ryan Phillippe and Channing Tatum.



IGN - Interview with Channing Tatum and Ryan Phillippe for 'Stop-Loss'
IGN.com talks to Ryan Phillipe and Channing Tatum. Tatum talks a little bout G.I. Joe.



Idol Chatter - Exclusive 'Stop-Loss' Coming Home Scene
Scene where Ryan Phillipe and Channing Tatum arrive home and the town of Brazos gives them and their fellow soldiers a parade.

I also found a really great review of the film at the Orlando Sentinel. You can read snippets of the review below, but you can CLICK HERE to read the entire review.
'Stop-Loss' is Brilliantly Observed and Vividly Shot
Roger Moore, Sentinel Movie Critic
Stop Loss (4 stars out of 5)


"Stop-Loss is one of the best of the many Iraq War/War on Terror dramas because it is the most personal. Brilliantly observed and vividly shot, built on a career-making performance by Ryan Phillippe, its an Iraq War movie for Americans whove been avoiding Iraq movies, even the good ones such as In the Valley of Elah.

Like that film, this one is mainly about disconnection and disillusionment on the home front. Co-writer and director Kimberly Peirce brings her Boys Dont Cry grasp of violence and rural American machismo to a story of young Army Rangers from Texas. Theyve done their duty and come home to find that their government has "stop-lossed" them, re-enlisted them against their will for another tour of duty in what amounts to a de facto draft....

....If Vietnam was "the television war" then Iraq is "the camcorder war," and Peirce makes just enough use of home movies to give the film an authentic texture. Her firefight rivals anything in Blackhawk Down or The Kingdom.

Peirce is at her best in creating a rural Texas reality of boys raised around patriotism, fighting and guns. Every character introduced in the early combat scenes has his moment to make a point...

Many Americans have been as reluctant to re-examine this conflict as the young men in uniform here are, and Stop-Loss isnt going to change their minds. What this film does best is change the nature of the argument, from assigning blame and repeating old positions to taking a look at an injustice slapped on those who eagerly did their part. The unspoken question lingering as the credits roll is blunt: What business do we have asking more of them when we wont match their sacrifice?"
'Stop-Loss' releases in theaters this Friday, March 28, 2008.

If you have a favorite video that you would like me to consider, send a link to the video to votw@channingtatumunwrapped.com and tell me why you like it. I will post it and your explanation on the blog.

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Channing Tatum Unwrapped Goes to 'Stop-Loss' Screening and Brings Back Even More FREE Passes and A Rare Video

Here's a photo of some of Channing Tatum's Fabulous fans from last night's private screening in Houston, Texas of his highly-anticipated movie 'Stop-Loss'. Sorry for the blurriness. I realized afterwards that I had my camera on the wrong setting, but with the huge poster behind us, I figured you would get the gist.

We all had a really great time, and I would like to thank everyone for coming out to watch the film. I also want to thank Paramount and the promotional team at Levenson and Hill for the red carpet treatment at the event.

It was great to see the movie again, and I have now chosen my two favorite scenes. I love the scene where Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt shoot up Joe's character's wedding gifts with their friends, specifically when Chan's hung over character Steve shows us his sharpshooting skills. The scene is funny and sad and sexy all at the same time, and there's just something about a man that handle a gun like that.

ANYWAY...my other favorite is the final scene of the movie. After watching the film for a second time, I realized that this particular scene had no dialogue, but was extremely powerful. The cast had to make you understand what they were going through with only their facial expressions and gestures. For me, it was impossible to not be affected by their circumstances, and I think that's one of the major components of a good movie. 'Stop-Loss' is one of those films that stays with you long after you leave the theater.

When I was at the screening, I met the executive producer from a local TV show called Salsa TV, and Robert was nice enough to give me some more free screening passes for 'Stop-Loss'. Here's all of the information for tomorrow's early, FREE screening of the movie in Houston:

'Stop-Loss' FREE Screening
(Houston, Texas)

  • Movie Screening Date: Thursday, March 27, 2008

  • Send Ticket Request to Channing Tatum Unwrapped: CLICK HERE
He actually gave me the passes, because Channing was interviewed by their show when he was promoting 'Step Up' back in 2006 and made a really good impression on Robert. To my surprise, he mentioned he had a video of Chan giving a shout out to their show and that he would re-post it on their website for me. True to his word, Robert had the video added to the homepage of their website today.

Below you can check out Chan trying his best to give a shout out to the Salsa TV show in Spanish. (Flashback to the Casper Martinez video from the wrap party of his upcoming film 'Fighting' where Chan tried to speak Spanish.) He may not have totally pulled it off, but like in Casper 's video, Chan's attempt is truly adorable. You'll find his shout out to Salsa TV in seconds 23 - 35 of the video:





Robert also said their show did some interviews with the 'Step Up 2:The Streets' cast and crew last month, so I'll be posting those videos soon too. Big thanks to Robert for reposting the video and for the free passes!!!

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Tuesday, March 25, 2008

IN THE PRESS: Check Out Tons of NEW Channing Tatum Interviews for 'Stop-Loss'

This is a photo (taken by Pink is the New Blog's webmaster Trent) of Channing Tatum giving interviews at last week's 'Stop-Loss' premiere. You can CLICK HERE to check out more of Trent's photos in the CTU photo gallery.

Chan has done a lot of interviews both on an off the red carpet in the past few weeks, and you will find links to some of the recent articles below.

  • About.com - Channing Tatum Discusses 'Stop-Loss' - Get an update on Channing's upcoming movies 'G.I. Joe' and 'Parkour' and even get a little dish on his cameo in 'Step Up 2: The Streets'.

  • EdgeBoston.com - Enlisted Man Channing Tatum - This article explains an interesting misinterpretation of a very important scene in 'Stop-Loss' between Channing's character Steve Shriver and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character Tommy Burgess.

  • Birmingham News - Alabama-born Actor Channing Tatum Starring in New Film 'Stop-Loss' - This article does a really good job of covering Channing Tatum's entire career, and we even learn about Chan's desire to do an epic love story. For those fans who are really looking forward to Chan playing John Tyree in Nicholas Sparks' 'Dear John', you will enjoy the update that he provides towards the end of the article.

  • Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Patricia Sheridan's Breakfast With ... Channing Tatum - In this article, we get to learn the origins of Channing's name, his feelings on going to war if he was drafted, and which of his parents he's surprisingly most like.

  • MSN.com - Tatum Salutes the Troops - If you've been reading some of the interviews I've posted and looking at the photos from the 'Stop-Loss' premiere, then you know that Chan talks about how he was recently on the losing end of a head-butting contest with a soldier and military consultant from the film. In this article, we get to learn the actual name of the soldier that accidentally added even more character to Chan's chiseled brow.
In addition to the articles above, you can also listen to an audio interview that Trent from Pink is the New Blog recorded on the 'Stop-Loss' premiere red carpet.

Although Trent didn't get to ask any questions, he was able to record the brief interview that Channing gave to the French media outlet who was stationed next to him. You can CLICK HERE or on the player below to hear the short interview:


Finally, you can CLICK HERE to watch a ReelzChannel.com red carpet interview with the 'Stop-Loss' cast or you can watch it below. Enjoy!!!


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Monday, March 24, 2008

IN THE PRESS: Channing Tatum and the Hunks of 'Stop-Loss' in This Week's US Weekly

It will probably be no surprise to CTU regulars that I'm a big fan of MTV's reality show "The Hills". It's guilty pleasure #2 behind US Weekly.

Although I was happy to see a full spread in this week's mag promoting tonight's premiere, I was even more excited to see Channing Tatum, Ryan Phillippe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Timothy Olyphant featured in an article called "The Hunks of 'Stop-Loss'", just in time for the movie's March 28, 2008 theatrical release this Friday.

In the article, Chan mentions that working with Ryan (who he didn't know prior to doing this movie, but who is now a good friend) has taught him more than he has ever learned from any acting class and that (like many of us) Chan's girlfriend Jenna Dewan really liked seeing the pictures of him in his uniform.

You can click on the image at the top of this post to read the article, and you can find the March 31, 2008 issue of US Weekly on newsstands right now.

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Sunday, March 23, 2008

Channing Tatum Videos of the Week: NEW Channing Tatum & Joseph Gordon-Levitt Trailer and Ryan Phillippe Interview for 'Stop-Loss'

Today's Videos of the Week were submitted by Fabulous Channing Tatum Fans Naz and Gus. Naz's video is a new trailer created by Channing Tatum and his 'Stop-Loss' co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Gus's video is an interview Channing Tatum and Ryan Phillippe recently did with Talking Pictures host Tony Toscano to promote the March 28, 2008 release of their film 'Stop-Loss'. You can CLICK HERE and HERE to check out the videos or you can watch them below. Enjoy!!!




If you have a favorite video that you would like me to consider, send a link to the video to votw@channingtatumunwrapped.com and tell me why you like it. I will post it and your explanation on the blog.

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IN THE PRESS: Channing Tatum and Ryan Phillippe's 'Stop-Loss' Interview from Collider and Teen Hollywood

Channing Tatum and his friend and 'Stop-Loss' castmate Ryan Phillippe recently did a press junket in Los Angeles, California to promote their film that hits theaters March 28, 2008.

Both Collider.com and TeenHollywood.com attended the same interview with Chan and Ryan, so we now have an audio of the entire interview from Collider.com and the complete transcript thanks to TeenHollywood.com.

In the information-packed interview, we not only get to learn about the actors' experiences with 'Stop-Loss', we also get an update on 'G.I. Joe' and 'Public Enemies'.

You can CLICK HERE to listen to Channing and Ryan in the Collider.com interview, and you can read the entire TeenHollywood.com transcript below. Enjoy!!!

teenhollywood.com-logo
Best Buds Ryan Phillippe & Channing Tatum

Mar 20, 2008 - Lynn Barker
Ryan Phillippe (left) and Channing Tatum in Stop Loss
Credit: Paramount

We are sitting across from two sizzlin' hot hunks! Channing Tatum made our hearts beat faster in She's the Man and Step Up. He recently threw some bangin' flip moves in the sequel Step Up 2 the Streets. Ryan Phillippe's blue-eyed blondness blew us away in teen classics I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions and he was impressive as a WWII sailor used by the government for publicity in Flags of Our Fathers.

These guys couldn't be more different; Ryan's driving force is his children (with actress Reese Witherspoon) and being a dad is at the forefront of his decisions. Channing is just now achieving very hot bachelor status and lovin' it. In the very involving and important drama Stop Loss, about Iraq soldiers being forced back into combat after serving their tour, the two play best high school buddies from Texas who serve in Iraq only to become adversaries when one goes AWOL.

To emphasize their differences, the two friends (they bonded during boot camp for the movie) were dressed very differently for our interview; Ryan in white tee that revealed a tattoo on his lower arm, cute hat, lots of silver bracelets and black pants and Channing in crisp, dressy black shirt and black suit pants. We were sitting close enough to Channing to notice a small gash in one of his eyebrows....

Channing Tatum at the Los Angeles premiere of Stop-Loss
Credit: Paramount

TeenHollywood: Do you have a little boo boo there [we point to his forehead]?

Channing: [laughs] Interesting story. [He looks around] Make sure my publicist isn't in here. He'll kill me. I got into a head-butting contest with one of the soldiers last night.

TeenHollywood: Oh, one of the real Army guys you met?

Channing: Yeah. I lost!

TeenHollywood: So you haven't left your role behind yet then?

Channing: It's not totally gone.

TeenHollywood: How did both of you come to be in the film? Did [writer/director] Kimberly Peirce pick you?

Channing: I chose Kimberly on this one. I totally read the script. I heard that Kim was doing a movie. I loved her first film [Boys Don't Cry]. I read the script and had no idea about [the] stop-loss [rule]. I fell in love with [the story]. I fell in love with Steve [his character]. The idea of playing a soldier was always in my mind. I thought that Steve embodied someone that I've always wanted to be. I just never really had the balls to go and join the military, you know? Then I did a really extensive audition process, long, back and forth to New York and stuff like that and eventually came on the movie.

Ryan: I had read the script. I had just finished working and I was worn out and I went to meet with her and we had a decent meeting and she didn't want me [we laugh] and the studio kind of did.

The two play best friends in the film
Credit: Paramount

Channing: I didn't know that.

Ryan: Yeah. I spent more time with her and then at that point I wasn't sure whether or not it was right for me either. I felt like she was a filmmaker and she'd have me forced upon her and then I guess she changed her mind. We started spending time together and developed a great working relationship and I decided it was a great opportunity to work with her and to play this character. There was so much range and all of the emotion with this guy. As we started shooting I was so happy that it all worked out because I loved the experience and everyone I was working with so much.

TeenHollywood: So how do you see your character Brandon King [the guy who goes AWOL after being "stop lossed"]?

Ryan: I see him as a guy who has always known what is right and lived that way through most of his life. I think he is a very straightforward, decent, honest guy and through the events of this movie finds himself having to reconsider all those things about himself. I think that crisis of conscience and that soul-searching over what is duty and honor and weighing what is most important to you... I think his whole life everything was kind of black and white to him. There's a right way to do things and a wrong way.

TeenHollywood: You guys play best friends. I wondered if you had to get together separately to get that dynamic before you shot.

Linda Emond, Ryan Phillippe and Ciaran Hinds
Credit: Paramount

Channing: Well, I had never met Ryan before and we kinda just got thrown into boot camp together- Hollywood boot camp, you know? Six days out in the 106-degree heat of Austin, which was bonding in itself. When you camp there's no TV. There's no nothing and you just have to sit and talk to each other and Ryan came on and was just the leader immediately. I took to that and we all just sort of fell into our roles. It was a learning experience. It was camp. It was like summer camp for kids and you got to shoot guns and learn urban combat and stuff.

Ryan: You'd be surprised how close you can get over the course of like six days around the clock with a group of guys and it was one of the best things Kim did for us and for the film because it was genuine and I think you see it and feel it in the movie.

Channing: Absolutely.

Ryan: I think even that boot camp laid the groundwork for where we are all at today, like the way we are all still hanging out and stay in touch because it was real and we all genuinely like each other and it is a pretty diverse group in terms of age and background.

TeenHollywood: So you still hang with the actors you met on this movie?

Channing: We all get together. I mean, Ryan's got kids so he's a little more locked down, you know, but we all spent New Year's out in the country together. We're a family like that. A lot of people say that on movies, 'Yeah, we're all family', but this is really real. I love these guys!

Ryan: Plus this movie was started a year and a half ago.

TeenHollywood: Once you heard of the policy of 'stop-loss', how important was that in your decision-making process to take these roles?

Ryan: I never had a political agenda. I didn't want to feel like the movie did. [This film] is strictly from the soldier's perspective. It is strictly telling the soldier's story it's not about a leftist, anti-war [belief]. The fact that the character gets stop-lossed, that is the crux of what he goes through in the film, but that to me wasn't an overriding reason like, 'Oh people have got to know about this'. I think it's good that people know about it and I think it has kind of been put in the background. It is important to have an awareness of it.

TeenHollywood: Do you have an opinion about stop-loss yourselves?

Channing: I don't like to get political, but the only thing I have to say about that is that I feel like if there was a regular draft, you know like Vietnam, I don't think there would be a war still. I think it would effect different families, you know, richer families and I do not think we would be at war.

Ryan: I don't like the term a lot of people are throwing around, you know, "The backdoor draft" because a lot of soldiers know about stop-loss. They know about the clause. I think some of it is brushed under the rug and sort of breezed over and not brought to attention, but this is the only war it's been used (in) really.

Channing in Step Up
Credit: Touchstone

Channing: Yeah, and I think the soldiers now are slightly more aware now because we're four or five years in. It's happened to a lot of people they know. I think, when they signed up, it wasn't something they were told up front. It's not a big selling point when you are trying to get someone to sign up.

Ryan: I'd hate to have it happen to me. I can understand the frustration. I think if someone signs up and dedicates and survives the length of what their contract was meant to be... these soldiers have been in Iraq and it is boring. It's a desert and they sit and think about every day, 'I'm gonna get out. I'm gonna give my mother a hug. I'm gonna have a baby. I'm gonna get this job'. That's what gets them through their time over there so I can't imagine having that all taken away from you at the eleventh hour and I think it speaks to really how unpopular this war is and how people do want it to end to kind of have to force people back into combat. That's what it says to me.

TeenHollywood: How did you guys become such convincing Texans? Did you just go and talk to a lot of people there in Austin or did you have friends?

Channing: Being there helped. It's so atmospheric. Everyone talks funny.

Ryan: Yeah, and I know I put on the jeans and the cowboy hat the whole time I was there and I listened to all the country music.

Channing: I'm from Alabama and I love Country, but I didn't listen to it as much as you. (Laughter) I actually love country music, but you listened to it like a maniac! I was just like, 'Aaargh'!

Ryan: [laughing] Hey, I had further to go because I am East coast, Northeast coast, so I had to-

Channing: Overcompensate? [Laughter]

Ryan: Yeah.

TeenHollywood: There is some good food in Texas. You were in the barbeque capitol. Did you love that?

Channing: Woooo. I was 205 [pounds] when I got off that movie. I was a big, ole boy when I got off that movie. I've been 215 in my life, but that was when I was working out and (a) muscle head. [This time], it was just bar-be-que and beer!

TeenHollywood: Are you trying to say that Austin has a party life? [Laughter].

Channing: Nah [Sarcastically]. I think there's a little college there, a little one. I think they do a little drinking and a little partying.

TeenHollywood: What's that actually like, being a big movie in Austin? It's a very film-centric town. What's that experience like?

Channing: It's cool. You know, they embraced us. The more we went out, the managers in the bars were like, 'Yeah, come on back', that sort of thing. It was fun. It was a good time. We lived right on 6th St. so you couldn't walk out of your house without running into some drunk person so you are just like, 'Oh, alright, y'all wanna get a drink?'

John "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe) in Flags of Our Fathers
Credit: DreamWorks

TeenHollywood: Ryan, you've done two military films about men returning from war; one in Flags of our Fathers, one in this film. Besides different wars, how do they differ?

Ryan: That war [WW II] was absolutely necessary and I just would have given my life for. That generation kept a lot more to themselves. That displacement the soldier feels coming home and the notion of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), those things weren't really an aspect of World War II soldiers' reality. I think everyone came home and kept it to themselves. I know my grandfather didn't talk about it. The guys today, I found, that we talked to that have served over in Iraq are much more forthcoming and there's a lot more acceptance of them dealing with what they have experienced. The other aspect that I think is incredibly different is the modern soldier. In World War II a kid was plucked from a neighborhood and put on a battlefield within the space of a month. Now you go through extensive training and you're a machine. You're a professional soldier now and that's certainly not how it was in World War II.

TeenHollywood: Did it surprise you to find out that Americans are in hiding; that people that served our country are having to live under the radar now [if they are avoiding being stop lossed back to Iraq]?

Ryan: It did, but I guess I would draw that same parallel to the ex-pats who are up in Canada or went off to Mexico. That was choice they were faced with when the draft was instituted and now there is no draft. I think is sort of a similar notion. I know it's surprising and hopefully that will change.

TeenHollywood: A lot of these guys, like your character, are feeling that they are on the thin edge of losing it and they shouldn't be sent back when they are in that state.

Ryan: It's a dangerous thing for the soldiers. It's a dangerous thing for the civilians on foreign soil. There's also this thing to me that is really disturbing. The army now will accept people that have legitimate injuries and legitimate deficiencies and put that back into (combat) because they can't get enough people over there. I know people who are in the National Guard in their 60s, they'll take them to Iraq. They may put them in a desk job, but back in the old days if you had a strain or a bad back you couldn't even get in the army. Now you can be blind in one eye and be put on the battlefield. That disturbs me.

TeenHollywood: Yes. Have either of you gone over there? I know a lot of actors have gone with the U. S. O. or whatever.

Ryan: No. I haven't.

Ryan Phillippe at the Los Angeles premiere of Stop-Loss
Credit: Wenn

Channing: I haven't. I plan to though. Me and Joe [fellow actor Joseph Gordon Levitt] and a few other guys are planning on doing some sort of documentary. I just want to know what they [the soldiers] think about all these war films coming out? I want to give them the camera and let them ask me questions. Do they think Hollywood is doing a good job? I know we can't get it right. That's impossible. We can get it close and we can try our hardest, but we are never gonna know what it's like to be in war. All we can do is create a real person and try to be a real soldier.

TeenHollywood: Director Kim Peirce has a brother who was a soldier over there. You guys met him?

Ryan: Yeah. He's really close friends with Channing.

Channing: I know he was in for four years. I don't know how long he was over there.

Ryan: He was one of the ones that signed up after 9/11 with the intent of getting back at the people who aggressed against us. Kim would I. M. him when he was in Fallujah. His closest friend over there was a guy who served as the inspiration, the guy who was stop-lossed. His life was put on hold so everything began there for Kim. She started to go around the country researching. She'd go to actual homecomings and did extensive interviews and it kind of all built. Brett [her brother] was around [for] quite a bit of the movie and really helped out in the beginning and we had soldiers that we spent our free time with, and I think it really enhanced the truth.

Channing: Brett got out because his shoulder was all messed up and when he got out, the guy that replaced him died. He died, actually, during the filming. He was the leader of a team; of a sniper unit and they ran into an L-shaped ambush. He was going back in to be a sniper.

TeenHollywood: Ryan are you writing again?

Ryan: I'm writing right now. It is something I'm hoping to direct this Fall, a small, kinda dark comedy based on a true-crime story, probably set in Texas.

Channing: The kid should write. He should direct. I wanna work with him too. I want him to direct me one day.

TeenHollywood: Channing, what is with the little facial hair there? Is that for a role or...

Channing: Yeah, I'm doing G. I. Joe right now.

TeenHollywood: In the last few years your career has definitely exploded. You are doing G. I. Joe and you are also gonna be in Public Enemies. Can you talk a little bit about what attracted you to G. I. Joe and what the experience has been like and also are you looking forward to working with Christian Bale and Johnny Depp?

See Stop Loss in theaters Mar. 21st
Credit: Paramount

Channing: I've been a huge fan of both those guys and Michael Mann. You know, G. I. Joe, I was originally opposed to it. Especially coming off of Stop-Loss, playing a soldier about a really sensitive topic. I had no interest in going to play a fake soldier in a hyper-real kind of fantasy war. I was just like, 'Nope. No thanks', and then I read the script finally and the script was great. It actually has nothing to do with war, nothing to do at all. It's (like) X-Men, Mission Impossible, (and) Star Wars. I got kind of excited about it and jumped on. Joe's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in it so that was kind of more of an incentive. I love him. He's one of my best friends and to get a chance to work with him for a long time is really fun.

TeenHollywood: And Public Enemies?

Channing: I get to play Pretty Boy Floyd in the Michael Mann thing and Christian Bale gets to shoot me! [laughter] I never died in a movie. I'm a little nervous. I am like, 'Oh god!'" That's a tall order, you know?

TeenHollywood: Ryan, what's Franklyn? That's a film you're doing?

Ryan: Yeah, that's something I've finished. It's a strange movie. It's hard to describe. It's essentially four different characters whose lives intersect in London. It's with Eva Green and Sam Riley who's really great. It's like Batman meets Magnolia.

TeenHollywood: Weird. It's a futuristic film?

Ryan: I play two characters and the majority of it takes place in a sort of alternate reality, but the whole movie isn't set in the future.

TeenHollywood: Do you have something coming up in the next few months?

Ryan: No. Nothing I'm starting on right now. I'm writing.

Channing: He's taking care of his babies.

Ryan: Yeah, my kids. Just hanging out.

***

Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.

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Saturday, March 22, 2008

REMINDER: Channing Tatum's Movie 'Step Up 2: The Streets' Premieres in Australia, the UK, and Romania

I just wanted to remind all of the Fabulous Channing Tatum Fans in Australia, the UK, and Romania that Channing Tatum's movie 'Step Up 2: The Streets' has finally premiered in your countries.

All of my Aussie readers can get more information on the movie on their official Australian MySpace page. I also found this awesome contest where 'Step Up 2' fans in Australia can get a ton of cool prizes from Girlfriend.com.au. Here's what Girlfriend.com.au says you can win in the contest:

  • $1000 worth of dance classes
  • A cute new outfit to bust the move in, you’ll get: a hoodie, hotpants, sweatband and ring
  • The awesome new STEP UP 2 THE STREETS soundtrack
  • PLUS the all new special edition of the original Step Up on DVD
  • You’ll also get a fully catered private theatrette screening of STEP UP 2 THE STREETS for you and 20 of your best friends. As well as STEP UP TO THE STREETS merchandise for each of you!
The Girlfriend.com.au contest ends April 2, 2008, so you still have time to enter. You can CLICK HERE to learn more about the contest's terms and conditions, and you can CLICK HERE to enter. Good luck!!!

In addition to Australia, 'Step Up 2: The Streets' also debuted in the UK and in Romania this week. You can get more information about show times in the UK on the site Screen Rush.

You can also download the Romanian poster for 'Step Up 2' (aka Dansul Dragostei 2) to the right.

Finally, if you want a really good laugh, check out the hilarious SU2-inspired video that director Jon Chu recently posted on his MySpace blog. It's a really funny rendition of Step Up 2' done completely with sock puppets. CLICK HERE to check it out!!!

'Step Up 2: The Streets' will next premiere in Croatia on March 27, 2008. You can CLICK HERE to get all of the current release dates around the world and to check out the movie's trailer.

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