We are listening..

To all of you, and there were quite a few who responded to our call for feedback, we have to say a huge thanks.

Its been noted that many of you can't be bothered signing up for a blogger account to interact with us fully, so bear with us and we'll come up with a solution. Everyone's a winner baby.

YOUR content HERE.. very,very soon.

Thanks again

Sell-out with us

You probably know how much success we've had in the first 10 months of the new style Hardcore Effect.

Especially of note was our anti-advertising attitude and refusal to allow sponsorship to skew our opinions. Well, we've been approached twice now to turn the site into a coloumn or feature in some second rate publications. This is great, so why didn't we?

Is it our integrity? Sadly, not. Its because all these offers did not involve us getting paid, so I'm going to dispel a myth. We do need to eat, so if you require us to write for your magazine on such a scale, please bear in mind that just because we do this for nothing doesn't mean thats totally by choice.

and essentially, we're whores that would eat children for a few grand extra a year.

Dangerous Trips for Boys - The Hardcore Tour 2009

Sure, theres a credit crunch.. and yes, we have no money.. but, damn it! We know how to drink.

As we know, this is all you need to have fun. So keep them peeled for this years dates, and maybe we can all get drunk together? huh?

The Hardcore Effect Meets - The Guild: Robin Thorsen

Hey, what follows is a lovely interview with our favourite side-bang wielding actress ever, the lovely Robin Thorsen.


Robin is a recent graduate of Chapman University in Orange with a BA in Theatre Arts, and an AA from Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes. While at school, she appeared as Julia in Lend Me a Tenor, Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo, Lala in The Last Night at Ballyhoo, Kate in Ladies in Waiting, and the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. She has also appeared in Grease, Brigadoon, Damn Yankees, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Robin was twice awarded an Irene Ryan nomination to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for her comedy performances. Theatre and film have been Robin’s passion for as long as she can remember. She is thrilled to have been chosen to play Clara Beane in The Guild.

First and foremost, huge congrats on winning our "Best Thing On the Internet Award", we hope you are as stoked about getting it as we are about giving it to you. With all that porn out there, who'd have thought it? Anyway, how does it feel to be crowned top dogs? How will you celebrate? Because you so should celebrate.

Thanks for the Award! How awesome is this?!? Of course I'm going to celebrate, in fact, I celebrated a little to much last night so you'll have to excuse me if my answers are whack!

Throughout this interview, we'll be firing some pretty odd questions your way, we figured you'd be tired of the same old questions and so we'll do our best to keep it fresh.. like this; Its a fight to the death, we've all been there. Which cast member would win?

In a fight? It has to go to Sandeep...he has some mean Karate moves...or maybe Amy, she could definitely do some damage!

We're sure you must get a lot of positive feedback, but as we know all too well, the net is also full of morons. How do you deal with negative comments? Do you find heavy criticism a problem?

It's hard not to read the comments. In this business you have to have a crazy thick skin and not worry about those lameos who feel the need to be negative

There are alot of differences between British and American humour, what is it, in your opinion, that bridges that chasm so well?

First of all, I think British humor is gold...I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ricky Gervais, Extras is one of my favorite shows. The thing about British humor is it's alot more dry and awkward (which is more my humor) than American. Did i answer that...meh...

Last Summer, we wrote a guide to being metrosexual. Clearly,we understand the importance of looking "freaky, sexy good" at all times. Who spends the longest sorting their appearance before getting down to work?

Oh, I would say the girls, Amy, Felicia and I ,spend the most time...I'm not a diva or anything, but I'm uber particular about my hair...my side bangs are my money maker!!!

We have discovered that no story involving 14 beers and take-out food has a happy ending. Do you guys ever partake in wild parties and nights around town after shooting?

We have some fun wrap parties! I have to say that Sandeep is my partner in crime, we're always 'in it to win it' when it comes to parties.

We once received a bit of coverage during the BBC's coverage of cricket, sparking a huge debate about baked goods, what is the weirdest thing any of you have had to do in promoting the Guild?

I'm not sure if it's weird but I basically threaten all my friends to watch the show or are relationship is dunzo...yep I just end it if they don't support me and my endeavors.

Picture the scene: You book a short break to Europe, just to take sometime for yourselves, but there's a mistake and you end up in the small industrial town of Delmenhorst, famous for linoleum production. What would you do to amuse yourselves?

I'm not sure if you know this, but I'm like super personable...It's funny, people just gravitate towards me...that said I'm sure I'd meet some cool person who'd want to hang out and we'd probably just get smashed. Let's call a spade a spade what else would you do in a town that is famous for linoleum production?!?!?

Speaking of Europe, we'd love to hear your opinions if you've ever been our way? The Welsh once saved Ravi's life.

I visited London for 3 weeks when I was in college and fell in love with it! The theatre was amazing! I hope to return soon...I just have to start saving!

Ravi, Adam and I recently started a short lived Austro-German Lounge-jazz-funk-fusion ensemble, replete with spangly jackets, keytars, handlebar moustaches and mullets. How much would you each charge, were we to approach you about appearing in a music video? We could offer all the currywurst you can eat.

I would do the video for free...yes free. I mean it's not everyday you get to be in a Austro-German Lounge-jazz-funk-fusion ensemble, replete with spangly jackets, keytars, handlebar moustaches and mullets right?!

We think you rock. Could we tempt you to come stay for a while? It'd be fun, Ravi has Tarot cards.

First of all...heck yes! I'm totally in need of a vacation...I'm super low maintenance...just give me some Kettle One and the occasional meal and I'll be set!! By the way you had me at Tarot Cards!!

Our research shows that real child neglect isn't very funny. Yet we don't feel guilty laughing at your character, how much fun is the role?

Yah...real child neglect doesn't get any laughs...too bad huh?!??! I think the reason people laugh at Clara's antics is because she's just so ditsy and clueless! Playing Clara is so much fun because she's so out there...especially in season 2, You see a totally different side of Clara. She turns into a hot mess!

I know someone very similar to your character. Luckily, she is not yet a mother. How much research did you do for the role?

Well let's hope your friend doesn't procreate!!!!! As far as research goes, I have a huge family so I've always been around kids. I didn't adopt a kid for a month to prepare or anything like that...although I did try.

Whats your most memorable experience fr0m your time on the show?

Memorable...well I would say when we were at Blizzcon. I mean, there was a line, like ,an hour long to meet us...How crazy is that!! Does that count?!?!?

Isn't this just the best interview you've ever had? We won't get all big-headed.. we promise.

I wasn't going to say it, but I have to agree...You guys are pretty amazing...Aren't I like the best person to interview?!?!?(it's ok, I already know it)

I once walked out of a Drama class because I was asked to act as the color orange. Whats the best and worst things you had to do while studying?

The color Orange?!?!? What kind of acting class was that?!? I majored in Theatre so I could go on for days on question...I never had to act like a color but i did have to act like an inanimate object, i chose a chaise lounge and let me tell you...Oscar worthy!!!!

Who have you most enjoyed working with?

I have to choose? This is when I turn really cheesy, ready? I loved working with everybody...we're like one big dysfunctional family!

What would you like to do next?

The obvious one is, Season 3 of the show...I'm super excited to find out what crazy antics Clara gets into! I'd also like to do anything that has to do with film or television...well not anything, I have my standards!

Thanks so much for your time, we hope to be speaking with you again sometime in the future, and wish you all the best with the show.

Thanks you guys for making us "Best Thing on the Internet"!! I'll see you in the office soon...huh huh?!?!?

Kate Nash on "The Street" #5

Pickings have been super thin this week, but after an exhaustive 2 hour search our heroine returns, bringing that "street" vibe with her middle class self.

Here we join Kate as she sets off to a viewing of Banksy vs. Warhol. At firstwe thought that was an art exhibition, turned out to be a dance battle... probably. Enjoy.

The Hardcore Effect meets - The Guild : Felicia Day

Following on from our last interview with Vince Caso, we've been bugging Actress and Producer, Felcia Day to get her views on everything from linoleum production to this dark little corner of the web. Do Enjoy.
Felicia was born in Huntsville, Alabama. She was home-schooled all her life and got her first acting role as Scout in the Huntsville Little Theatre production of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Felicia started college at 16, majoring in violin performance, and then in mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin. She has been on television shows such as “Windfall”, “Strong Medicine”, “Monk”, “Love Inc.”, and most notably had a recurring role as Potential slayer Vi on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She has been in such films as “Bring it on Again”, and the Emmy award-winning “Warm Springs”. She recently played the role of “Penny” in Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”, and filmed a 4 episode arc on the upcoming ABC Family sitcom, “Roommates”.
(IMDB)

First and foremost, huge congrats on winning our "Best Thing On the Internet Award", we hope you are as stoked about getting it as we are about giving it to you. With all that porn out there, who'd have thought it? Anyway, how does it feel to be crowned top dogs? How will you celebrate? Because you so should celebrate.

Well, being at the pinnacle of the web is certainly relative (we're not getting invited to hot parties or getting sent schwag in the mail, hehe) but I love being an underground success, and am very thankful we're not well known enough that I have to comb my hair to go to the coffee shop. That would suck.

Throughout this interview, we'll be firing some pretty odd questions your way, we figured you'd be tired of the same old questions and so we'll do our best to keep it fresh.. like this; Its a fight to the death, we've all been there. Which cast member would win?

Well, Zaboo is really nimble, but Amy is a dancer and is in great shape. I'd put my dollars on her, also it would look awesome if she kicked ass.


We're sure you must get a lot of positive feedback, but as we know all too well, the net is also full of morons. How do you deal with negative comments? Do you find heavy criticism a problem?

I have to chant a mantra "Resist the trolls, resist the trolls" a lot. Of course the worst comments seem to stick out in your head the most, but we're lucky to have fans who defend us for every negative comment posted. Also, getting a swollen head would be really irritating, and the internet saves me from having absolute self-confidence, so I'm thankful for that.
There are alot of differences between British and American humour, what is it, in your opinion, that bridges that chasm so well?

I think British humor is much more self-depricating and less glossy. Less precious. I tend to relate to it more, also because the actors are less perfect looking.


Last Summer, we wrote a guide to being metrosexual. Clearly,we understand the importance of looking "freaky, sexy good" at all times. Who spends the longest sorting their appearance before getting down to work?
I hate to say it, but Robin (Clara) does obsess over the angle of her bangs a lot. And it's a lovely angle, undeniably. (She's gonna kill me)<>

We have discovered that no story involving 14 beers and take-out food has a happy ending. Do you guys ever partake in wild parties and nights around town after shooting?

Uh, Sandeep and Robin know how to party. I am the butt of everyone's joke because I am so uncool. They keep ribbing me and asking me if the wrap party is gonna be a tea party with crumpets and jam. I was forced to take the first shot of my life at the Season 1 wrap party. True story :(


We once received a bit of coverage during the BBC's coverage of cricket, sparking a huge debate about baked goods, what is the weirdest thing any of you have had to do in promoting the Guild?
I signed a Nintendo Power Glove once.

Picture the scene: You book a short break to Europe, just to take sometime for yourselves, but there's a mistake and you end up in the small industrial town of Delmenhorst, famous for linoleum production. What would you do to amuse yourselves?
I would tour the linoleum plant. Talk about educational.


Speaking of Europe, we'd love to hear your opinions if you've ever been our way? The Welsh once saved Ravi's life.

No I haven't but I'd love to travel there. I read a lot of Highland Fantasy, and Knight Errand stuff, I think a tour of the Isles would be quite a journey.


You may not be aware, but you are our first guests to escape the dreaded Dangerwank question. Its on google, but we'd hate to be the source of any accidents, no-one needs another Micheal Hutchence, but less about us, who do you all take most inspiration from?

I'm inspired by people who go outside the norms of traditional success, like Kevin Smith, Miranda July, Jonathan Coulton, Lily Taylor etc. People who made their own way and have a clear point of view they don't muddy because they want success so badly.


Ravi, Adam and I recently started a short lived Austro-German Lounge-jazz-funk-fusion ensemble, replete with spangly jackets, keytars, handlebar moustaches and mullets. How much would you each charge, were we to approach you about appearing in a music video? We could offer all the currywurst you can eat.

I would charge cheese curls. Oh, and first-class air fare :D WTF is currywurst!?


The concept and the writing on The Guild are just superb. Please ignore our terrible, bitter envy and tell us, is this the manifestation of your inner nerd? or the product of some very accurate research?

No, absolute inner nerd. The fact that this point of view is the default me, and other people like it, is amazing to me. And means I don't have to work as hard because geek comes naturally to me :)

We've been dying to know, so please indulge us.. what was it you vomited onto the stunt guy? It looked remarkably realistic.
It was crushed pineapple juice and oatmeal. Yummy.


How hard has it been to get The Guild coverage in the media?
Internet media: Relatively easy. Anything outside of that: Impossible. Mainstream media barely covered Dr. Horrible, why would they cover my little show? :) But seriously, slowly they're coming around. The lightning pace of online life is much different from "regular" life. It's hard to remember sometimes when you live in one world more than the other.
Let's talk money, is the show expensive?

No, it's a web show. We're not rolling around in our gold coins with these videos. But, thanks to Microsoft we can actually pay people up front. It might make me a crappy producer, but I love writing our cast and crew checks.

Previously, I said that you would have to hold the business acumen of a mackerel not to see the potential of getting your company behind the show, is funding a problem?

Yes, because money, ultimately comes from advertisers and products, and they are not used to funding content on the web yet. It's getting there, but it's still new ground. I know how much they pay for 30 second traditional spots, and if they put that money towards a season of web content....man I could actually make a living at this :)

You rocked in Buffy, how awesome was being in that show? How hard was the role to secure?
Every audition is torture and total luck. I happened to have a good day, and they liked the way I acted. Thank God. That was the best job I had, aside from my internet work. Such a great group of ppl to work with, and I got to kill people with stakes. Yum.



We also hear you played Scout in "To Kill A Mockingbird", we studied the book back in our school days and it provided welcome relief from Shakespeare.. who is rubbish. How did you find that role?

My aunt did a lot of theatre, and I admired her. She thought of me when the role came up. I was 6 or 7, so I wasn't really on the lookout for jobs then, ha.

Obviously, we are now you're best friends in the UK, so you'll want to name drop us in the show.. and thats just fine bgy the way, but what else is in store for the show? How long do you see it being in production for?

I could go for several more seasons. The actors and characters are so rich. And worst case scenario, I could watch Vork read a phonebook and crack up. Season 8: Vork Reads Phonebook. Catchy.

We've heard a few comparisons floating around between your show, and cult comedy hit Chad Vader. What do you think?

I love Chad Vader and I met those guys, they're great. I like being compared to good material. They live outside LA and get locations for almost nothing, so actually I'm pretty jealous of them, ha.


Thanks so much for your time, we hope to be speaking with you again sometime in the future, and wish you all the best with the show.


So, there you have it kids. Still to come Robin Thorsen and Jeff Lewis, so you'll keep it here if you know whats good for you.

Upgrade complete

Hey, sorry we've been gone, but we've been taking some time to tidy the site a little. This way it'll continue to run super fast for you.

cheers

Still to come..

Well, nothing much today, but the rest of the week pans out pretty damn well.

We've got interviews with Felicia Day, Robin Thorsen and Jeff Lewis from The Guild, plus another surprise guest.

We'll be attempting to catch up with the boys from Mindshock and we'll be making the first draw of our inaugural Crisp World Cup.

Keep it here.

Finally though, please join us in wishing that handsome devil, Ravi, the best of luck in his exams. We all look forward to his return.

cheers

Kate Nash on "The Street" #4

Kate's back with us once again, keeping it real about life on "the street". God, we wish we were that cool...

The Hardcore Effect Meets - The Guild: Day 3 Vincent Caso

We know.. put simply, we're too good to you. You lucky bastards.

Today, we get the lowdown from actor and card trick maestro Vincent Caso, who kicks ass all over your screens as Bladezz. Sexual vulgarity has never sounded so poignant.

Vince was born in Massachusetts and raised in Los Angeles. He attended a school for the Arts and, with his training in front and behind the camera, he decided at the age of 13 to pursue acting. Within a year he booked a lead in his first feature film, “American Fork” from the producer of “Napoleon Dynamite”. Vincent is also an accomplished sleight of hand artist and playing card handler, he is never without a deck of cards, practicing and creating new tricks as he prepares to become a junior member of the Magic Castle. Check out his IMDB.

First and foremost, huge congrats on winning our "Best Thing On the Internet Award", we hope you are as stoked about getting it as we are about giving it to you. With all that porn out there, who'd have thought it? Anyway, how does it feel to be crowned top dogs? How will you celebrate? Because you so should celebrate.

It feels awesome. When we all got into this, I didn't have any idea that it would have the success it did. To see people get behind it as they have, and to see it do as well as it has been doing, it feels like a real accomplishment, especially considering the humble beginnings we started from, heh.

Throughout this interview, we'll be firing some pretty odd questions your way, we figured you'd be tired of the same old questions and so we'll do our best to keep it fresh.. like this; Its a fight to the death, we've all been there. Which cast member would win?

Well, Sandeep has some super-Indian-mustard-bottle powers he's been saving up. And Felicia can brandish a violin like it's nobody's business. But hey, I study martial arts (Karate and Krav Maga included!), so you know it would be a pretty epic battle!

We're sure you must get a lot of positive feedback, but as we know all too well, the net is also full of morons. How do you deal with negative comments? Do you find heavy criticism a problem?

I don't check Youtube comments often, which I assume is where most of the negativity would be posted. Either way, I don't really mind. It's all part and parcel to the business we're in. Unless it's a pretty well-founded criticism, I usually let it go from one ear out the other.

There are alot of differences between British and American humour, what is it, in your opinion, that bridges that chasm so well?

I think there are a number of core things that allow comedy to be pretty universal. But, of course, comedy being what it is, it's pretty hard to define. Once you have to explain a joke, it's dead. I just think people enjoy, in part, what they can relate to. And our subject matter includes situations that a lot of people (mostly gamers, yeah) can sorta put themselves into. But is that what does it? Hell, I don't know. Hah.

Last Summer, we wrote a guide to being metrosexual. Clearly,we understand the importance of looking "freaky, sexy good" at all times. Who spends the longest sorting their appearance before getting down to work?

Well, it's probably one of the girls. That's just sort of the way it usually goes. But out of the guys, it MIGHT just be me... I know, wouldn't have guessed that, huh? I mean, I don't spend too much time doing my hair or anything. But when it's this length, it takes a little maintenance.

We have discovered that no story involving 14 beers and take-out food has a happy ending. Do you guys ever partake in wild parties and nights around town after shooting?

Actually, no. I mean, we go out and have some fun when we're at a convention or something like that, but usually our shooting season is pretty chill.

We once received a bit of coverage during the BBC's coverage of cricket, sparking a huge debate about baked goods, what is the weirdest thing any of you have had to do in promoting the Guild?

I may not have done anything bizarre, but I've come close. I've had marriage proposals over IMDB, rape threats over Myspace, and people stalking me most other places. If one of those things actually happened, it would be some pretty good publicity, right? Right...?

Picture the scene: You book a short break to Europe, just to take sometime for yourselves, but there's a mistake and you end up in the small industrial town of Delmenhorst, famous for linoleum production. What would you do to amuse yourselves?

I would probably go undercover in a linoleum factory, get close to the foreman, work my way up the command chain, and eventually find myself working directly beneath the very top dog himself, from there I will uncover a vast corruption and fraud scheme, save Europe, and be home in time for the next episode of The Guild to air! Or maybe just call a cab or something.

Speaking of Europe, we'd love to hear your opinions if you've ever been our way? The Welsh once saved Ravi's life.

Unfortunately I've never been. Though it's definitely on the top of my list of places to go.

You may not be aware, but you are our first guests to escape the dreaded Dangerwank question. Its on google, but we'd hate to be the source of any accidents, no-one needs another Micheal Hutchence, but less about us, who do you all take most inspiration from?

For me, it's mostly from the other cast members, and the crew, too. We have a rather talented and hilarious pool of people working on this show, and it never fails to give me some inspiration or spark some ideas of my own.

Ravi, Adam and I recently started a short lived Austro-German Lounge-jazz-funk-fusion ensemble, replete with spangly jackets, keytars, handlebar moustaches and mullets. How much would you each charge, were we to approach you about appearing in a music video? We could offer all the currywurst you can eat.

Unless the shoot spanned a number of days, or was out of the country, I'd probably do it for free. Otherwise, I'm not sure, I'd probably just ask if you could cover my food/board. Heh.

We hear you're pretty handy with a deck of cards. We have a set of Tarot Cards that Ravi once used to predict soccer results. He was shit and his results were useless. Instead of us getting rid of them, how quickly could we pick up some slick deck-shuffling moves to impress ladies?

Some of the more basic moves you could have pretty well down in just a week or two, those being one-handed cuts such as the Charlier, Thumb cut, and Knuckle cut. Even a basic two-handed fan doesn't take too long to get down pretty well. You can usually find tutorials on YouTube, but the great majority of those are crap. Maybe I'll have to do up some tutorials of my own?

Frankly, your role in The Guild was perfect casting. Are you stoked to be playing Bladezz?

Definitely! I love the character. And, funny fact, I really wasn't what Felicia had pictured for the role. But when I came in to audition, it just sorta worked, so I got it. But he's a blast to play.

Are you a big gamer away from the show?

Used to be, but not anymore. I played WoW, big Starcraft/Diablo fan, lots of console, too. But more recently I've just become busy with other things, and I really don't get any satisfaction out of playing video games. I guess I'm just one of those "high on life!" types.

A girl I know has been having a lot of fantasies about you, can we give her your number? Do you get a lot of fan mail from equally obsessed young women?

While it's quite flattering, I'm afraid I cannot give my number out. Say hi to her for me, though. I get quite a lot of fan mail, largely over networking sites like Facebook or Myspace. Marriage offers, rape threats, stalkers, you name it, I've gotten it.

Whats next for you? Any big plans?

Not much going on as of yet, but keep your eyes peeled! That's sort of a gross expression.

Every year we make our Celebrity death predictions for the year, who is your money on to kick the bucket in the next 12 months?

Hmm, good question. One could say someone like Larry King, but I think he's one of those kinds of guys who will still be alive when my grandchildren have children. Who knows what the future may hold? I just hope it isn't like an idol of mine or anything, that's always a little fear in the back of your mind.

Which cast member do you get along best with? or is it generally a one-big-happy-family scenario?

It's pretty much a big happy family, cast and crew all inclusive. But since shooting schedules differ, I usually end up hanging out most with Sandeep and Jeff. God, I just do not stop laughing when I'm with those guys.

Well, we hope you have all enjoyed speaking with us, we have tried to break from the norm and keep it fun, it has been a total pleasure for us. Any last messages to our readers? You're probably super busy, but, what are the chances of a video message for us?

A video message sounds great! I've got a webcam (just bought a new iMac), so maybe I'll shoot a little somethin' and put it on YouTube.

Thanks so much for your time, we hope to be speaking with you again sometime in the future, and wish you all the best with the show

My pleasure! I really appreciate the opportunity to do the interview, I can't wait to see everyone else's answers!


What a nice chap eh? Vince, if you read this you're welcome by anytime for currywurst and beer. We'll even read your tarot.

Catch us tomorrow, we still have more interviews to fire your way.