Tag: march 2018

Episode 7 “Ascent” Poll results

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Average score: 8.296

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“Nobody gives a shit how hard you work. This is about being what people want” gives us the definitive statement to Andrew Cunanan’s modus operandi. In this episode we see Cunanan rejected for his half-Filipino heritage, but rewarded with wealth, status, and admiration when he glosses over the racial and financial details of his life. Darren Criss shines as we delve deeper into the inner workings of our main character, getting to turn up his trademark charm as Cunanan seduces his way into more accomplished men’s lives. Darren earns this week’s MVP award with 70.4% of your vote.

Updated weekly rankings:

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You can vote in previous polls here or change your score as the season progresses. Any new or edited scores will be reflected in the weekly episode rankings.

Stay tuned for episode 8!

Q&A: Matt Bomer on directing ‘Versace,’ ‘Boys in the Band’ and a ‘White Collar’ reunion

Actor Matt Bomer is central to Wednesday’s penultimate episode of FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (10 ET/PT), but viewers won’t see him. He’s playing a new role: director.

Bomer (White Collar, The Normal Heart), 40, spoke to USA TODAY about his first-time gig directing the episode, “Creator/Destroyer,” which looks at designer Versace and his killer, Andrew Cunanan, as pre-teens; working with his mega-producer friend Ryan Murphy; and the chances for a revival of his USA hit, White Collar.

Question: How did this first-time directing assignment come about?

Bomer: I’d worked with Ryan several times. He knew I always would come into the set with reams of text work and research and he said, ‘You should direct.’ I thought it might be on American Horror Story, but he said Versace. I promptly passed out. When I came to, I said, ‘Yes.’ This was a four-month labor of love for me. I read over 3,000 pages of books. I met with director friends to get insight. I did an intensive with the DGA (Directors Guild of America). I shadowed two other directors of the show. So by the time I got on set, I was at least able to fake it till I made it.

Q: How did you approach Cunanan in this episode, which portrays a future killer and a future fashion icon as youths?

Bomer: “We’re all responsible for the choices we make, but it was a big question of this episode: Can we empathize with a monster when we see the circumstances of his life and the hand he was dealt? What makes one person a creator and one a killer?

Q&A: Matt Bomer on directing ‘Versace,’ ‘Boys in the Band’ and a ‘White Collar’ reunion

Jon Jon Briones, Carlin James, Isa Briones, Zedrick Restauro Join Darren Criss in FX’s ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,’ March 14

Filipino American actors Jon Jon Briones, Carlin James, Isa Briones and Zedrick Restauro join fellow FilAm Darren Criss in a new episode of FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story this Wednesday, March 14 at 10:00pm.

Jon Jon Briones (Miss Saigon) will play Andrew’s father, ‘Modesto Cunanan’ while Carlin James (How to Get Away with Murder, This Is Us, Dear White People) will play Andrew’s brother, ‘Christopher’ and Isa Briones (who was just announced today to play ‘Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds’ in the first national tour of Hamilton) will play his sister, ‘Elena.’  They will also appear in next week’s episode on March 21.

Andrew Cunanan’s murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace put him on the map in the Summer of 1997 — even after killing at least five people including Chicago tycoon Lee Miglin.

Filipinos seem to praise their own whenever anyone hits mainstream celebrity status, but they did not with Cunanan.  Many never spoke his name at the office water cooler gossip while others watched the televised manhunt, in secret.  It’s as if we all felt a great disturbance…

When it was announced that the Andrew Cunanan story will be the 2018 series focus for American Crime Story, I was hesitant to even promote it. But, it was until a colleague friend mentioned to me that the show “tells struggles of a Fil-Am family seldom seen on TV.”

She’s right.

Cunanan developed a reputation as a prolific liar given to telling fantastic tales about his family and personal life.  He was also adept at changing his appearance according to what he felt was most attractive at a given moment.  When he was 19, his father deserted his family to avoid arrest for embezzlement. That same year, his mother learned that Cunanan was gay.  During an ensuing argument, he threw her against a wall, dislocating her shoulder.  Later examination of his behavior from reports indicate that he may have suffered from antisocial personality disorder, a personality disorder characterized by an abnormal lack of empathy (earlier known as psychopathy).

Jon Jon Briones, Carlin James, Isa Briones, Zedrick Restauro Join Darren Criss in FX’s ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,’ March 14