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How Glee’s Darren Criss transformed for new role as Gianni Versace’s killer

Glee star Darren Criss’ latest role is a world away from the one that made him a TV star. In The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, he plays spree-killer Andrew Cunanan.

In 1997, Andrew gunned down the Italian-born fashion icon outside his home in Miami. He’d killed four others in the three months prior.

The manhunt ended when he turned the gun on himself. Twenty years on, the killer’s motive remains unclear.

It’s a dark role for someone who rose to fame as singing, dancing Blaine Anderson in Glee. But Darren points out his latest character was all too human.

“People think what Andrew did was really far away from what they are capable of being or are,” Darren, 31, tells TV WEEK.

“The truth is, we all have access to the same thoughts and feelings someone like him had.”

The nine-part series also stars Édgar Ramírez as Gianni Versace, Penélope Cruz as Donatella Versace and Ricky Martin as Gianni’s partner, Antonio D’Amico.

Darren admits that between the challenging scenes, he and Ricky would “blow off some steam” by singing together.

“Have I sung Ricky Martin songs with Ricky Martin?” he asks. “Yes I have – and it’s awesome!”

Darren will soon be touring the US with his former Glee co-star Lea Michele. The pair will sing Broadway tunes – and, of course, several songs from the TV show.

Meanwhile, former The Voice Australia coach Ricky Martin put his world tour on hold when he was offered a role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

The singer plays Antonio D’Amico, Gianni Versace’s long-time partner.

“I was living in Miami when Versace was killed,” he says. “I was obsessed with this character and project.”

The series lovingly portrays the 15-year relationship between Versace and D’Amico. It was he who found him on the steps after he’d been shot by Andrew.

Filming in the real Versace mansion, preserved as a boutique hotel, helped Ricky, 46, connect with the grief.

“I was waiting inside while they laid out Edgar on the steps,” he says. “It helped me so much to reach a level of sadness. All I had to do was see him covered in blood and hear ‘Action!’ to let it out.”

How Glee’s Darren Criss transformed for new role as Gianni Versace’s killer

TV Roundup: Alethea Jones to Direct ‘Queen America’ for Facebook Watch

EVENTS

Hollywood Radio and Television Society will host “A Conversation with Ryan Murphy, Moderated by Ronan Farrow” as part of its Newsmaker Luncheon series, on Thursday, July 19, at 11:30 a.m. PT at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Ryan Murphy is an Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody-Award winner, known for creating numerous television shows, including: “Nip/Tuck,” “Glee,” “American Horror Story” and “American Crime Story.” His latest FX series “Pose”  made history by featuring the largest transgender series regular cast and the largest LGBTQ cast ever for a scripted series.

TV Roundup: Alethea Jones to Direct ‘Queen America’ for Facebook Watch

Soundtrack review: The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Mac Quayle – 2018) – Soundtrack dreams

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” is the second season of the FX true crime anthology television series American Crime Story. The season premiered on January 17, 2018, and concluded on March 21, 2018. It consists of a total of 9 episodes, and explores the murder of designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, based on Maureen Orth’s book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History. Mac Quayle, the new composer of choice for Ryan Murphy shows, wrote the score.

The score starts boldly with an almost 8 minute long “Adagio in G Minor” which I imagine serves as a sort of elegy for Gianni Versace and somehow using such a familiar piece to open the score fits with the popularity and elegance of the designer. It’s the kind of deep, sombre orchestral piece hat cannot leave anybody unaffected. Mac Quayle’s original contribution starts with the theme for Donatella and it’s really my kind of cue, deeply ambient, just the kind Mac Quayle knows how to write so well; a mix of tenderness and mystery that always gets to me. It’s almost a Pavlovian like reaction for me to be hypnotized by these sounds. After hearing a little while ago Mack Quayle’s surprising score for “Feud”, so old school orchestral, I didn’t know what to expect from ACS; as an electronic music fan I am more than happy to discover a pure electronic ambient score that just flows and lets me get lost in it, very inviting to reflection. I get Zimmer vibes when I hear a cue like “All of them” (not just because of the title) as this sounds similar to his electronic sound as of late; it goes quite deep.

It is hard for me to be objective and clear minded when I listen to a score like this because this is the sound that’s closest to me, I can’t help it. Electronic ambient, with subtle nuances of suspense and sadness that break the mood every now and then; I don’t even care or notice where one cue ends and another one begins because it’s all just an ambient feast for me. I do notice “Idea to kill” because this is one of those cues where the craft of a composer really shines, because in keeping his sound and atmosphere he manages to evoke completely different and raw feelings, aggressive,violent, full dark.

Fans of Mac Quayle and fans of ambient electronic music will love this score for sure. I can’t wait to listen to it in context as well and see how it fits with the story, the investigation. Until then, Mac Quayle cements his place as one of the best electronic music composers right now.

Cue rating: 82 / 100

Highlights:
Adagio in G Minor
Donatella
All of Them
Autopsy
David Murdered
Interviews 
This Is Not for You
Calling Modesto
Another Stage

Soundtrack review: The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Mac Quayle – 2018) – Soundtrack dreams

Conversations with Penélope Cruz of THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY

Q&A with Penélope Cruz of THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY. Moderated by Kristen Baldwin, Entertainment Weekly. 

Inspired by actual events, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is the second installment of FX’s award-winning limited series, American Crime Story. 

 Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, Alexis Martin Woodall, Dan Minahan, Tom Rob Smith, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski are Executive Producers of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. It is written by Tom Rob Smith, and Ryan Murphy directed the premiere episode of the series, which stars Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, Penélope Cruz and Ricky Martin.  The series is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Last Year’s Winner: Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: FX and HBO have both earned nominations in this category since 2012 (and HBO’s streak dates back to 2003).
Fun Fact: For the first time since “Downton Abbey” made the jump from limited series to drama series in 2013, not a single anthology series (or other franchise) that was nominated the year prior is in contention this year.

It’s the movie stars vs. the TV favorites in a surprisingly competitive Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie race. Penelope Cruz (“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”) and Nicole Kidman (“Top of the Lake: China Girl”) are looking to crack in for respected turns in prestige projects; Cruz as the sister of a fashion icon who became a star, Donatella Versace, and Kidman as an Australian mother, Julia, whose story dovetails with Elisabeth Moss’ detective.

Meanwhile, Angela Lansbury — a three-time Oscar nominee and 18-time Emmy nominee — aims for her first statue from the TV Academy for her role in “Little Women.” (No, Jessica Fletcher was never rewarded for “Murder She Wrote.”) Last year’s winner Laura Dern — who has a pair of Oscar nominations herself — is back in the race for “Twin Peaks: The Return.” She’ll be competing against another former Emmy winner Merritt Wever, who took home the trophy in 2013 for “Nurse Jackie” (and hasn’t been back in the race since).

But even with these big names in play, there are plenty more heavyweights vying for slots. Ellen Burstyn hit all the right notes in a tricky performance for “The Tale” (as did Elizabeth Debicki, whose haunting turn leaves a lasting mark) and Jennifer Jason Leigh played a complicated victim over decades of narrative in the Showtime drama, “Patrick Melrose.” Naomi Watts is hoping voters look fondly on David Lynch’s Dougie storyline, and Judith Light hopes members are taken with “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” enough to nominate her and Cruz.

Throw in Julia Ormond (“Howards End”), Anna Paquin (“Alias Grace”), and Sharon Stone (“Mosaic”) — who would be locks in other years — and this competition is looking mighty fierce. Much like the rest of the Emmys, the final tally could come down to which shows are seen, remembered, and beloved; two (or more) nominees from one show aren’t out of the realm of possibility.

Below are IndieWire TV Critic Ben Travers’ predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie (listed in alphabetical order), which will be updated throughout the season. Make sure to keep checking IndieWire for all the latest buzz and highlights from the 2018 race, and read predictions for the rest of the categories, as well.

Predicted Nominees:

  1. Ellen Burstyn, “The Tale”
  2. Penelope Cruz, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”
  3. Laura Dern, “Twin Peaks: The Return”
  4. Nicole Kidman, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
  5. Jennifer Jason Leigh, “Patrick Melrose”
  6. Merritt Wever, “Godless”

Spoilers: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Tale”; Angela Lansbury, “Little Women”; Judith Light, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”; Anna Paquin, “Alias Grace”; Naomi Watts, “Twin Peaks: The Return”

In a Perfect World: Julia Ormond, “Howards End”; Julia Garner, “Waco”

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie