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One night, two struggling cartoonists had what turned out to be a billion-dollar idea. What if Frank Miller’s Daredevil had human-sized turtles in it? From that question came the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a quartet of brothers named after Renaissance artists who fought the Shredder and his Foot Clan (a spoof of perpetual Daredevil baddies the Hand). Who could have guessed that the self-published comic Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created would launch a phenomenon, one that survived its first boom in the late ‘80s and crash in the mid-1990s? It has since gone on to become an enduring pop culture franchise which is still going strong after several decades. Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael have leaped out of the sewers and into every type of media, including video games and toys. Nonetheless, the characters are never more exciting than when they hit the big screen.

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Co-created by writer and producer Bernie Su and author Evan Mandery, Artificial made history by winning Twitch its first Emmy. The first scripted series for the live video streaming platform also earned a Peabody Award. With all of its accolades and two seasons under its belt, a third season was underway for the groundbreaking interactive series where viewers drive the story. That said, Su was more than ready for the new season.

“We were already in discussions about it before the pandemic with Twitch and then the pandemic happened,” Su told Deadline. “Then I was asked the question ‘Can you do this as a remote production?'”

After a beat, he answered his own question: “I, of course, said yes.”

The third season of Artificial will be appropriately titled Remote Intelligence. Produced remotely, the 12 livestreamed two-hour episodes will debut May 21 at 6pm Pt/9pm Et on Twitch — and it ups the ante on all fronts.

Who knew that Twitch was game for original scripted programming? The online social video service is a natural destination for gamers who stream live content of their conquests and competitions but now the apparatus (and its live audience) are also being used by a series called Artificial to create meta entertainment of the moment.

The live, bi-weekly sci-fi series (which returns at 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et April 17 for its Season 2 premiere) starts with a scripted storyline but then harnesses audience participation to change that story on the fly and incorporate those changes into the ongoing narrative foundation. But unlike, say, Choose Your Own Adventure stories, Artificial is not an individual experience. The show is tailored to the communal rhytyms of Twitch to become something that both reflects and enlists its reactive audience to collectively influence the story direction via real-time voting polls, submitting questions, and sharing input with...

“We try to build the audience into our show as much as we can,” says “Artificial” creator Bernie Su, “meaning that the audience gets to decide and sway a lot of plot deviations in the story.” Watch our exclusive video interview with Su above.

See Emmys 2019 slugfest: We debate the top limited series and TV movie races [Watch]

“Artificial,” which Su co-created with Evan Mandery, is a scripted and interactive science-fiction series about an A.I. (Tiffany Chu) learning how to be human. Because it is presented live, audiences get to directly influence the story through comments and polls, to often surprising results. It is the first original program on Twitch, which is primarily a gaming platform.

“It’s all participatory narrative,” explains Su. “We like to call this the collective narrative experience.” An at times the audience polls can have “longstanding consequences to the show.” For instance, in a scene where the A.

We’re not going to bother trying to play it cool: This week’s series is downright awesome. Artificial is notable, yes, because it's helmed by Emmy winner Bernie Su (The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) and co-created by prolific author Evan Mandery, but it's extremely notable because it's the first ever show to air on Twitch where the viewing audience can interact directly with characters in real time, as the show is on.

Here's how it works: Episodes air live, with actors in front of the camera in real time, acting and reacting to audience input. Input usually comes in the form of questions and polls, where viewers can mold the outcome of the show by voting. Outcomes of the polls sometimes have relatively small impacts on Artificial’s direction — for instance, in the most recent episode, the main character, artificial intelligence Sophie (Tiffany Chu), asks viewers to help her choose a favorite color.

The twisted world of Dark/Web is slowly approaching. If you’ve ever needed a reason to fear the world the internet, this upcoming series is sure to give you one. With its healthy combination of both serialized and anthological storytelling, Dark/Web seems poised to scratch an itch that a lot of consumers are having.

If you’re unfamiliar with the digital series, here’s the official synopsis:

"When Ethan (Elerding), Sam (McKissack) and James (Nardelli) find themselves the target of cryptic emails from someone posing as their childhood friend Molly (Gonzales), they assume she’s been the victim of an all-too-common hack. After they reach out to alert her, however, they discover that Molly’s been missing for months and no one has any idea what happened to her.As the emails keep coming, each containing a tale written by Molly, her friends realize that this may be...

Coulson and General Talbot are forced to team up and attend a worldwide symposium on Inhumans, where they suspect Malick has an inside man. As the S.H.I.E.L.D. team gets closer to the truth, an unexpected traitor is revealed. Guest starring are Powers Booth as Gideon Malick, Mark Dacascos as Giyera, Adrian Pasdar as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot, Raquel Gardner as Carla Talbot, Brian Patrick Wade as Carl Creel, Ravil Isyanov as Anton Petrov, Melissa Bickerton as Ellen King, Bayo Akinfemi as Nathi Zuma, Alexandra Chun as Xiao Chen, Tohoru Masamune as Haruto Yakimura and Gabriel Salvador as Lucio. "The Inside Man” episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will air Tuesday, March 15 at 9Pm Et on the ABC Television Network.

Coulson and General Talbot are forced to team up and attend a worldwide symposium on Inhumans, where they suspect Malick has an inside man. As the S.H.I.E.L.D. team gets closer to the truth, an unexpected traitor is revealed. Guest starring are Powers Booth as Gideon Malick, Mark Dacascos as Giyera, Adrian Pasdar as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot, Raquel Gardner as Carla Talbot, Brian Patrick Wade as Carl Creel, Ravil Isyanov as Anton Petrov, Melissa Bickerton as Ellen King, Bayo Akinfemi as Nathi Zuma, Alexandra Chun as Xiao Chen, Tohoru Masamune as Haruto Yakimura and Gabriel Salvador as Lucio. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. WonderCon panel will take place Saturday, Marxh 26 at 2 p.m. in Room 408Ab.

Coulson and General Talbot are forced to team up and attend a worldwide symposium on Inhumans, where they suspect Malick has an inside man. As the S.H.I.E.L.D. team gets closer to the truth, an unexpected traitor is revealed. Guest starring are Powers Booth as Gideon Malick, Mark Dacascos as Giyera, Adrian Pasdar as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot, Raquel Gardner as Carla Talbot, Brian Patrick Wade as Carl Creel, Ravil Isyanov as Anton Petrov, Melissa Bickerton as Ellen King, Bayo Akinfemi as Nathi Zuma, Alexandra Chun as Xiao Chen, Tohoru Masamune as Haruto Yakimura and Gabriel Salvador as Lucio. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. WonderCon panel will take place Saturday, Marxh 26 at 2 p.m. in Room 408Ab.

Coulson and General Talbot are forced to team up and attend a worldwide symposium on Inhumans, where they suspect Malick has an inside man. As the S.H.I.E.L.D. team gets closer to the truth, an unexpected traitor is revealed. Guest starring are Powers Booth as Gideon Malick, Mark Dacascos as Giyera, Adrian Pasdar as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot, Raquel Gardner as Carla Talbot, Brian Patrick Wade as Carl Creel, Ravil Isyanov as Anton Petrov, Melissa Bickerton as Ellen King, Bayo Akinfemi as Nathi Zuma, Alexandra Chun as Xiao Chen, Tohoru Masamune as Haruto Yakimura and Gabriel Salvador as Lucio. "The Inside Man” episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will air Tuesday, March 15 at 9Pm Et on the ABC Television Network.

Coulson and General Talbot are forced to team up and attend a worldwide symposium on Inhumans, where they suspect Malick has an inside man. As the S.H.I.E.L.D. team gets closer to the truth, an unexpected traitor is revealed. Guest starring are Powers Booth as Gideon Malick, Mark Dacascos as Giyera, Adrian Pasdar as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot, Raquel Gardner as Carla Talbot, Brian Patrick Wade as Carl Creel, Ravil Isyanov as Anton Petrov, Melissa Bickerton as Ellen King, Bayo Akinfemi as Nathi Zuma, Alexandra Chun as Xiao Chen, Tohoru Masamune as Haruto Yakimura and Gabriel Salvador as Lucio. "The Inside Man” episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will air Tuesday, March 15 at 9Pm Et on the ABC Television Network.

View post on imgur.com Coulson and General Talbot are forced to team up and attend a worldwide symposium on Inhumans, where they suspect Malick has an inside man. As the S.H.I.E.L.D. team gets closer to the truth, an unexpected traitor is revealed. Guest starring are Powers Booth as Gideon Malick, Mark Dacascos as Giyera, Adrian Pasdar as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot, Raquel Gardner as Carla Talbot, Brian Patrick Wade as Carl Creel, Ravil Isyanov as Anton Petrov, Melissa Bickerton as Ellen King, Bayo Akinfemi as Nathi Zuma, Alexandra Chun as Xiao Chen, Tohoru Masamune as Haruto Yakimura and Gabriel Salvador as Lucio. "The Inside Man” episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will air Tuesday, March 15 at 9Pm Et on the ABC Television Network.

The first wave of films to be shown at this year's Shriekfest International Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival all look like they are going to be a bloody good time! Also: The Cleansing Hour's Kickstarter campaign and Ballet of Blood premiere details.

Shriekfest 2015: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA - Shriekfest International Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival is thrilled to announce its first surge of films for the Fifteenth annual festival! Shriekfest brings you the Best in independent horror and sci-fi! "We are so excited for our 15th year and this slate of films!" says festival director Denise Gossett. Shriekfest is Oct 1-4. www.shriekfest.com

Granny Of The Dead: Directed by Tudley James. In a small town unknowing and free from betrayal, an evil is looming to rewrite their tale. From deep within hell a curse rises up, to strike down the old and never give up. The elderly dead...

With Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 in full swing of production, new photos have been appearing steadily. Last time, we got our first look at Arrow's Stephen Amell as Casey Jones and now we have looks at Brian Tee as Shredder and Brittany Ishibashi as Karai. Both Shredder and Karai appeared in Jonathan Liebesman's first film, played by Tohoru Masamune and Minae Noji, respectively. One would assume the recasting... Read More...

Introducing your brand new Casey Jones! Producer Michael Bay just unveiled the first official photo of Stephen Amell as the masked vigilante on the set of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2." While we saw the "Arrow" star on the NY set earlier this week, hockey stick in hand, we hadn't seen his character sporting his trademark mask.  So ... what do you think? It's definitely a darker, grittier take on the look, but it's also kinda large for his head, isn't it? Jones -- a turtle ally and love interest for April O'Neil -- has also traditionally sported longer locks in the past, but it looks like Amell will be playing him with his regular buzzed 'do instead. The mutated turtles themselves and Megan Fox have also been spotted on set this week, with Fox seen wearing a short blonde wig. Could April be going undercover? It's been a big week for the film.

Megan Fox looks ... different.  The actress was spotted on the set of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" at Grand Central Station on Tuesday in New York City, where she looked nearly unrecognizable sporting a short blonde wig. Fox completed her look with a black pencil skirt, white blouse, black jacket and black leggings -- maybe April O'Neil has to go incognito in the sequel?  Earlier this week, the 28-year-old's costar Stephen Amell (Casey Jones) was also spotted on set sporting a buzzed 'do and a hockey stick in his hand.  There was also another exciting casting announcement made on Monday -- Brian Tee will take over the role of Shredder, who was previously played by Tohoru Masamune in the first flick.  Tyler Perry likewise joins the film as Baxter Stockman, Alessandra Ambrosio is reportedly playing a new love interest for Will Arnett's character Vernon Fenwick and mutants Bebop and...

Even though Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 has been confirmed to bring back Megan Fox as April O'Neil, Will Arnett as Vernon Fenwick and William Fichtner as Eric Saks, it looks like one part of the original cast won't be back. Variety has learned that Paramount is hiring The Wolverine star Brian Tee to play the villain Shredder instead of bringing back Tohoru Masamune, who played the villain in the first film. Considering Shredder was more of an action presence than a defined character in the first film, it makes sense that producers would get someone who has some more experience with acting and action this time. The new casting likely means that Shredder will get some more screentime in the sequel, though there's plenty of other characters entering the mix with Stephen Amell as Casey Jones and Tyler Perry as Baxter Stockman. There's also been rumblings of mutant henchman...

April O'Neil is back in action ... and she's got a new sidekick. Megan Fox was spotted on the set of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" in NYC on Monday night, running around the city in a pair of skin-tight skinny jeans, suede booties, white tank top and a tan jacket.  She was seen holding onto a silver canister with something glowing inside, most likely the "mutagen" that transformed a few sewer turtles into hulking, pizza-loving ninjas in the first film.  Little is known about the plot of the sequel to 2014's successful reboot, but we do know the flick will feature some brand new faces. Stephen Amell is trading his "Arrow" bow for a hockey stick, as he joins the cast as fan favorite Casey Jones. The actor was photographed, stick in hand, on set last night -- giving us our first look at the character's 2015 makeover. Long gone are his signature long locks,...

The cast for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" continues to take shape, with actor Brian Tee joining the ensemble as legendary "Tmnt" villain Shredder.

Variety reports that Tee -- known for action flicks like "The Wolverine," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Mortal Kombat: Legacy," and the upcoming "Jurassic World" -- will take over the role from Tohoru Masamune, who played Shredder in the 2014 reboot of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise. Tee joins returning actors Megan Fox and Will Arnett, as well as the recently-cast Tyler Perry and Stephen Amell.

No word yet on when production will start, though much of the same production team will return, including Michael Bay. David Green is directing the sequel.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" is slated to hit theaters on June 3, 2016.

[via: Variety]

Photo credit: Ari Perilstein via Getty Images...

The cast for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" continues to take shape, with actor Brian Tee joining the ensemble as legendary "Tmnt" villain Shredder.

Variety reports that Tee -- known for action flicks like "The Wolverine," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Mortal Kombat: Legacy," and the upcoming "Jurassic World" -- will take over the role from Tohoru Masamune, who played Shredder in the 2014 reboot of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise. Tee joins returning actors Megan Fox and Will Arnett, as well as the recently-cast Tyler Perry and Stephen Amell.

No word yet on when production will start, though much of the same production team will return, including Michael Bay. David Green is directing the sequel.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" is slated to hit theaters on June 3, 2016.

[via: Variety]

Photo credit: Ari Perilstein via Getty Images...

The role of the Shredder in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot always seemed to me something the creators of the movie couldn't get right (a lot of people will say it's not the only thing, and they wouldn't entirely be without justification), with William Ficthner obviously cast as the villain when he was first announced, with fan backlash more than likely the reason he was bumped down to henchman Eric Saks and given nothing to do. Equally without nothing to do was his replacement Tohoru Masamune, with most of his work carried out by a gigantic special effect. Now, it seems it's a case of hoping third time's the charm with Variety reporting that Brian Tee (The Wolverine, the Mortal Kombat: Legacy series, and potential dino fodder in the upcoming Jurassic World) signing on as the villain. At the very least, he should be given a lot more time outside the armour.

Paramount Pictures has chosen Brian Tee to play the villainous Shredder in its upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sequel.

Tee is taking over from Tohoru Masamune, who held the part in the 2014 blockbuster.

He'll appear as the leader of the Foot Clan alongside Megan Fox (April O'Neil), Will Arnett (Vern Fenwick), Stephen Amell (Casey Jones) and Tyler Perry (Baxter Stockman).

Screenwriters Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec have returned to pen the script, while Dave Green is directing.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 is scheduled for release on June 3, 2016.

Watch a trailer for the first film below:...

The Shredder has been the main adversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for decades, and it was no different in their 2014 film. Although William Fichtner.s Eric Sacks was originally reported to be the film.s Shredder, viewers soon discovered that it was another individual who held the identity. Tohoru Masamune played the villain in the reboot, but when the Turtles and their supporting cast return in 2016.s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, a new actor will be wearing the gigantic metal samurai armor. Variety is reporting that actor Brian Tee will succeed Masamune as Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2. Tee will appear alongside the film.s returning cast and new actors like Stephen Amell (who is playing Casey Jones) and Tyler Perry (who is playing Baxter Stockman). It.s unclear whether Tee.s Shredder will be the primary villain in the sequel or more of a...

Variety has learned that Paramount's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 has cast Brian Tee (Jurassic World; The Wolverine) as the new Shredder. He takes over the part from Tohoru Masamune (Inception), who portrayed the iconic Tmnt villain in the hit 2014 film. He joins a cast that already features Alan Ritchson (Blue Mountain State), Noel Fisher (Shameless), Pete Ploszek (Parks & Recreation), Jeremy Howard (Accepted), Megan Fox (Transformers), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Stephen Amell (Arrow), Tyler Perry (Gone Girl), and Alessandra Ambrósio (Casino Royale). Michael Bay (Bad Boys) is back on as producer with Dave Green (Earth To Echo) on board as director.  Before he heads off to fight the Turtles, you can catch Tee in Universal's Jurassic World. A few of his other recent projects include The Wolverine, Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D., Grimm, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.  What do you guys think of the casting? Sound off with your thoughts below!

While a lot of the cast from last year’s franchise starter are returning to their roles, the team behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 have apparently decided to go in a new direction for the villainous Shredder. Brian Tee will be the man in the lethal armour for the new movie.Though the plot is still mostly unknown, the sequel will see the turtles – performance captured and voiced by Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Pete Ploszek and Jeremy Howard – tackling threats new and old in New York City. Megan Fox and Will Arnett are back as April O’Neill and scuzzy cameraman Vernon Fenwick (respectively), with Danny Woodburn once more providing the performance work for mutant rat mentor Splinter. Stephen Amell is playing Casey Jones, while David Green takes over directorial duties and writers Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec return to provide the script.While the IMDb still lists the...

Brian Tee ("The Wolverine," "Jurassic World") has been cast as the iconic villain Shredder in Paramount's upcoming "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" sequel which has just begun filming.

Tohoru Masamune played the character in the 2014 reboot, but it was only a minor one. The character's presence is expected to be more beefed up in the sequel.

Tee joins a cast that includes Megan Fox (April O'Neil), Will Arnett (Vern Fenwick), Stephen Amell (Casey Jones) and Tyler Perry (Baxter Stockman).

Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form will produce while David Green is set to direct from a script by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec. The film opens next June.

Source: Variety...

The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick to save the city and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles features: Director: Jonathan Liebesman Pete Ploszek/Johnny Knoxville as Leonardo Alan Ritchson as Raphael Noel Fisher as Michelangelo Jeremy Howard as Donatello Megan Fox as April O'Neil William Fichtner as Eric Sacks Danny Woodburn/Tony Shalhoub as Splinter Will Arnett as Vernon Fenwick Minae Noji as Karai Whoopi Goldberg as Bernadette Thompson Abby Elliott as Taylor Tohoru Masamune as Oroku Saki/Shredder Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hits Blu-ray/DVD December...

The city needs heroes. Darkness has settled over New York City as Shredder and his evil Foot Clan have an iron grip on everything from the police to the politicians. The future is grim until four unlikely outcast brothers rise from the sewers and discover their destiny as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Turtles must work with fearless reporter April and her wise-cracking cameraman Vern Fenwick to save the city and unravel Shredder’s diabolical plan. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles features: Director: Jonathan Liebesman Pete Ploszek/Johnny Knoxville as Leonardo Alan Ritchson as Raphael Noel Fisher as Michelangelo Jeremy Howard as Donatello Megan Fox as April O'Neil William Fichtner as Eric Sacks Danny Woodburn/Tony Shalhoub as Splinter Will Arnett as Vernon Fenwick Minae Noji as Karai Whoopi Goldberg as Bernadette Thompson Abby Elliott as Taylor Tohoru Masamune as Oroku Saki/Shredder Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hits Blu-ray/DVD December...

Teenagers, even non-ninjas and non-turtles, have been eating up this cinematic waste product for weeks now. In one way, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a triumph for producer Michael Bay in that it is equally as godawful as his Transformers: Age of Extinction and a hit nonetheless. Pardon my cynicism. But it's hard to stomach the Bay contempt for youth audiences that says: You kids will lap up any crap I market with a big enough budget, even this worthless, brainless, needless reboot of the Ninja Turtle franchise. Director Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles,...

Just who is Shredder? In the lead up to the release of the reboot of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" this week, the idea that was generally being pushed was that actor William Fichtner and his Eric Sachs character would become the great adversary of the turtles, not Oroku Saki like in the comics, cartoons and previous live action films.

Then a trailer came out in which Sachs is seen talking to an Asian man in the shadows about upgrading his armor. It was a quick hint only though, and led to some confusion - was Fichtner originally Shredder and then someone else brought in during reshoots as reaction to the fan backlash?

With the film in cinemas, it has now been revealed that Japanese actor Tohoru Masamune is the person playing Shredder in the film. In fact, right from the start this fact is made clear and there is no...

Mutant turtles living in New York City sewers and fighting crime isn't exactly what you'd call a "realistic" premise, and really, the inherent goofiness has always been part of the charm for a property that's spawned three animated series, multiple movies, and countless toy lines. But for some reason, the new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie, produced by Michael Bay and directed by Jonathan Liebesman, still spends an inordinately large amount of runtime pointing out that, yes, they know how ridiculous this all must sound.

The basic plot of the new reboot, as laid out in a comic book-style prologue, sees New York in the grips of a major crime wave thanks to the Foot Clan, now a paramilitary force led by Shredder (Tohoru Masamune). And the only ones who can stop them are our teenage heroes, who've been preparing for years to assume their rightful place as the city's...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Written by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Evan Daugherty

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman

USA, 2014

There’s a brief period of time when you think, “You know, this isn’t really that bad.” You let your guard down. Those Clark Kent-looking 3D glasses fall to the end of your nose and you settle back into your squeaky seat. But about 15 minutes into Jonathan Liebesman’s new incarnation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles you hear it… something subtle yet unpleasant. A quick scan of the screen finds Megan Fox standing there, mouth agape, with a look of incomprehension on her face. The sound you are hearing, quite literally, is her breathing. This movie is so dumb, so bereft of interesting ideas, that its star has been reduced to a wobbly mouth-breather. The bad news is… you’re next.

The Turtles began as a comic book in the mid-80′s,...

by Terry Keefe

Inception kicks off with Leonardo DiCaprio's Dom Cobb washed up on a desolate beach, and ultimately discovered by an acolyte of Ken Watanabe's Saito character, played by actor Tohoru Masamune, who brings him to Saito in one of the film's most memorable scenes. After deciding to become an actor after receiving a degree in chemical engineering from MIT, Masamune's career is currently on a roll, with his next appearance slated to be in director Charlie Matthau's Baby-o.

We spoke with Masamune recently about the creation of the opening of one of last year's biggest films, and working with director Christopher Nolan.

What was Nolan’s directing style like?

Tohoru Masamune: Definitely an intense guy, but he obviously did have a lot on his mind [laughs]. His style felt very organic. The story was so complicated, that I think it was important to keep everything organic.