I don't know if this is old or new but I'll copy it anyway.
Interview with Josie Maran
EA recently added another beautiful face to the long list of women to appear in the popular Need for Speed series. Actor and model, Josie Maran is a face you've seen from ad campaigns for Guess, Victoria's Secret, American Eagle Outfitters, Marie Claire and Maybelline to her more recent acting work in such films as The Aviator and Van Helsing. And yeah, just in case you missed it, she was the hottie from the infamous Backstreet Boys video Everybody (just admit that you've seen it).
Upon meeting Josie, she immediately comes across as the girl next door... the really beautiful girl next door. Naturally she was pretty psyched to be part of Need for Speed's history even though she's not a gamer. But she admits, Need for Speed Most Wanted could turn her into a player.
The California native (growing up pretty close to EA's headquarters) has had quite an adventurous life and it's only the beginning. We had a chance to catch up with Josie in New York City to ask her about her views on life, her Need for Speed Most Wanted character, and her strategies for getting out of tickets.
Micheal Mullen: So you were pretty bad ass in Van Helsing and once again you're a bad ass in Need for Speed Most Wanted, do you like playing the bad ass role or is it a part of you that's coming out.
Josie Maran: (Smiles) It's just part of me and I hope that it comes out in every character that I play... forever.
MM: How best would you describe the game to someone who doesn't know it?
JM: It's an amazing game. The point of the game is to become the most notorious street racer and you get to evade cops.
MM: Can you tell us anything about your character in the game?
JM: My character in the game is named, Mia. And Mia is a smart, bad-ass street racer who is excited about finding some lovely player to bring up the blacklist, which is a list of the top 15 racers and to help make the player the top racer in the world.
MM: What types of roles would you like to play in the future?
JM: I would love to play the Femme Fatale or an action role like Trinity in the Matrix or something like that. You know, a part with a lot of costume changes.
MM: You're no newbie to green screen acting. While the worlds of movies and games are quickly becoming the same, were there any experiences that were drastically different when working on NFSMW?
JM: For this game, we shot it just like it as if it was a film so there wasn't that much different from doing a film other than some technical things for the costume that had to be done so they could transfer the footage later and make it look animated. So other than that, it was exactly like shooting a Hollywood film.
MM: Now that you've in a game, do you have any gamer friends or family that can't wait to see you in Need for Speed Most Wanted?
JM: I have many cousins so I get phone calls from them and they're like "do more games". And I have a lot of friends who play video games and they're all pretty excited about it.
MM: Need for Speed Most Wanted is a game about cop evasion, do you have any stories about your car or getting out of tickets?
JM: I have a Volvo S60R and it's a pretty fast car, the R says it all (laughs). It has some nice rims on it and it's great driving through the roads where I live in the Hollywood Hills. I do like to drive fast and I have gotten pulled over in the past. I use my skills to get out of tickets.
MM: How do you get out of getting a ticket?
JM: Well, I think that thanking the officer for pulling you over sort of sets them off a little. And they're like, "What are you talking about, I just pulled..." then they let me off without a ticket. (In a dainty voice) Oh thank you officer, thank you.
MM: You weren't a gamer before. Do you think Need for Speed Most Wanted will get you to start playing?
JM: I think so. This is a pretty great way to get someone to start playing. Having your own character in a video game is pretty cool.
MM: Would you consider doing another game?
JM: Definitely if it was with EA.
Interview with Nick Taylor
The Need for Speed Most Wanted Blacklist Tournament is one of the hottest events of the summer and your first chance to get a look at this upcoming game before it releases on November 16th.
In keeping with the spirit of the event, we caught up with Nick Taylor who is not only the host of the Blacklist Tournament, but also the on-spot reporter who does all the recaps for the official site, to get his thoughts on the event and the low down of what he's seen during his travels.
Jon Long: For the unfortunate few who've not been following the Blacklist Tournament, can you give us an overview about this event? What is it? How do you enter? Why should someone sign up to play?
Nick Taylor: The Need for Speed Most Wanted Blacklist Tournament is designed for racing fans as well as Need For Speed fans. We have strategically placed our tournaments in various racing venues throughout North America to alert gamers and racing fans of the new EA title, Need For Speed Most Wanted, which comes out in November.
There are two easy ways to join our tournament. You can go to needforspeed.com and sign up online, or you can sign up on-site at the tournament. The prizes that we give away in the tournament are phenomenal. The winner of each venue gets a ride-along drift with Tarzan, the legendary street drifter. We also give the winner an Xbox®, a Need For Speed video game, and an all-expense paid trip for 2 to Las Vegas to see the World Launch of Need For Speed Most Wanted.
JL: That's some booty! You're what many have come to know you as the on-site superstar at each of the Blacklist Tournament. How did you come to be the MC of this summer's hottest game event?
NT: I received a phone call from Trey Geiger at Electronic Arts. Trey and I were both in the EA College Representative program at our universities and I am totally amazed and thankful that he thought of me when this opportunity arose. He asked if this project sounded like something I would be interested in and then referred me to Raquel Mateo. Raquel gave me a phone interview and she like what she heard so here I am.
JL: Bless that Racquel. She's a dynamo. So given that you get to travel to each tournament location, what are some of the strangest, craziest things you've seen from city-to-city?
NT: The craziest thing I have seen at our event is this guy who couldn't take a loss. Our tournament in Houston, Texas ended at 7:30 p.m. and he followed us around until 9:30 p.m. pleading his case. During his crazed tantrum he tried to take an Xbox®, various posters, and even tried to tip over an Xbox® kiosk and take that with him. This guy couldn't believe he had lost and even worse he couldn't believe that we didn't know that he was God's gift to video games. He was a total loon.
JL: Well it sounds like this tournament isn't for the weak at heart. But I'm sure you get time to get your groove on when the event is over. Do you have a favorite hot spot that you've found on the tour?
NT: My favorite spot, hands down, has to be northern California. The people, weather, and landscape are amazing.
JL: Home sweet home! It definitely has a wide appeal. For those who are interested in taking part of the Blacklist Tournament, what should a person expect?
NT: The Blacklist tournament is not for the weak. We do a lot of trash talking and the game play is non-stop. This is a real video gamer's paradise. The only advantage that a non-gamer has is the fact that Need For Speed Most Wanted isn't in stores yet so no one has been practicing on this game and everyone has a fair chance to win in our tournaments.
JL: You've done a great job with the event making contestants both laugh and cry and have even made "I can't wait to send you home" the latest catchphrase. . Where did you come up with such a line?
NT: This phrase started in Houston, Texas and was first used on one of the eliminated contestants. He kept saying "I can't believe you guys kicked me out the tournament" and so I kept telling him, "I can't believe you haven't gone home yet." It's an easy phrase that rolls off the tongue well so I decided to keep using it.
JL: Many may not also know that you're the man responsible for the awesome recaps that get posted on the NFSMW official site? How does it feel to not only be the host of the Blacklist Tournament, but also the on-the-spot reporter as well?
NT: The reason I enjoy writing the recaps is because it makes me feel like I am still in the middle of the event. This also makes my services more marketable because it also shows that I can do more than crack jokes on a microphone.
JL: So what's next on the plate for you? According to the Blacklist Tournament schedule, you're headed down to Atlanta on September 17th for the NOPI Nationals. Do you have any expectations coming from this event?
NT: I am expecting BIG things to happen in the southeast. This region has a long extensive history of wild fans and competitors, so if everything goes as planned this will be a very unique event.
JL: Thanks for your time, Nick. Do you have anyone you'd like to make a shout out to? Any special "Angel's" you want to recognize?
NT: I want to thank Trey Geiger for choosing me to be on this tour, as well as Raquel Mateo who hired me and has become a wonderful friend and mentor to me. Another person who needs to be recognized is Jon Long for his great words of wisdom as well as his creative, positive critiques on my event recaps. Hey I can't forget Ashley Hamilton, Elizabeth Bainbridge, and Dharma Barsetti at Bill Graham Special Events. These three people have really shown me how to throw an event for a massive crowd from start to finish.
The last person who deserves recognition beyond belief is Gaylene Nagel. She helped me redefine my skills as a campus representative for Electronic Arts and installed the mind set of "no excuses just make it happen." I am truly grateful to be surrounded by these extraordinary leaders of the video game industry.
JL: Thanks, Nick. Now I get to send you home![img][/img]
Here is the supra, not to bad IMO. I'd race in it!
Seems like this website is a ghost town. No longer worth a visit or anyone's time.