Sean Astin to attend Rudy 20th Anniversary Celebration

Sean Astin will be a special guest at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of "Rudy" in Las Vegas October 17, 2013. The event will include red carpet arrivals, a VIP reception with photo ops for the attendees, and a screening of the movie followed by a Q&A with Sean, screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, and the "real" Rudy Ruettiger!

Proceeds from the event go to the Rudy Foundation Scholarship Fund for Education, Sports and the Performing Arts.

For more information, visit the Facebook Events page.

Sean Astin runs the EAS Distance Classic

Not content with just signing autographs, doing photo ops and having a Q&A session with fans during his 30-hour stay in Columbus OH, Sean also signed up for a 10-mile race on Sunday morning. The EAS Distance Classic includes a longer 20-mile race for the ultra-athlete as well as a 5K for the casual Sunday runner. Sean has set his sights on the Chicago Marathon on October 13.

(A more personalized account and additional photos are on the run3rd blog.)

Before the race, Sean posed with some fans who were quite thrilled to see him at their small race.

Sean Astin visits Ohio Comic Con

Sean is having a whirlwind time of it up in Toronto filming Guillermo Del Toro's FX pilot "The Strain." In fact, he's not actually staying put in Toronto! His first weekend, he popped over to the Montreal Comic Con. Then last weekend after filming all Friday night, he dropped down to the Ohio Comic Con October 21-22.

Apparently the usual meeting with fans, signing of autographs, posing for photo ops and Q&Aing wasn't enough to fill his approximately 30 hours in Columbus, so Sean also signed up for a 10-mile race as part of his training of the October 13th Chicago Marathon. But we'll get to that later…

First there was the usual meeting with fans and signing of autographs:

Trailer for "A Monsterous Holiday"

Here's the trailer for the upcoming holiday movie "A Monsterous Holiday."



Sean voices "Spencer" who looks like this:

or this:

one apparently the result of a science experiment gone wrong. It's hard to tell which one!

"A Monsterous Holiday" will be available on DVD at assorted retailers and VOD from cable and satellite providers on October 15.

Sean Astin at Montreal Comic Con

Sean flew into Toronto last week to begin filming the pilot for Guillermo Del Toro's Fox series The Strain. But before he began, he took a side trip to the Montreal Comic Con. Update: 2nd video added.

(Similarly, this weekend he will be at the Ohio Comic Con in Columbus Friday and Saturday!)

Here are some pics from Sean's visit to Montreal, plus a couple of video interviews. First, the best pic of the Montreal Comic Con!

Sean with 9-day old Dean Elessar. Why yes, his parents are LOTR fans!
(Another pic with baby at the end of post!)

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend Pt 6/6: The Half Marathon

Below are many photos from the Disneyland Half Marathon on Sunday September 1. Sean completed the 13.1 mile race in 2:04:31.

Before the 1/2 marathon starts, Sean meets up with the #run3rd team members!

Sean gives a pep talk to the assembled and waiting runners.

Joseph James talks about Sean Astin's role in The Freemason

Joseph James, producer for "The Freemason," gave an interview to the Whence You Came website recently about the movie, which stars Sean Astin as homicide detective Leon Weed. James talks about how Sean's family connection to Freemasonry sparked his interest in the film, how Sean asked for executive producer credit, wrote and directed some of the scenes, added improvised humor, and "turned into a mad scientist on set."

The discussion of Sean's role begins at about 8:23. According to James, the trailer will be "released very soon," and the movie on November 4. Listen here:

Director Sohrab Mirmont with Sean Astin

Sean Astin to narrate "A Long Run"

According to a post on Giraffe Music Productions Facebook page, Sean Astin has recorded the narration for "A Long Run," a documentary about runner Bob Anderson's quest to run 50 races in one year.

Sean first met Bob Anderson at the Double Road Race in Indianapolis last month. They worked together just a few days ago:

Bob Anderson Monday, 9/09, 2013 11:30 pm
Ran three miles with Michael this morning in North Hollywood. Then we met up with Sean Astin, who is going to be in our movie A Long Run and we ran 1.6 miles. Spent 3 hours with Sean. Source

"A Long Run" is a full-length documentary movie in the making.  The story follows Bob Anderson, founder of Runner's World, as he celebrates 50 years of running by racing 50 races in 2012.  His goal is to average under 7 minutes per mile for at least 350 miles.  "The challenge itself is not that amazing.  However, to race 5k to the half marathon each weekend at an average pace of under 7 minutes per mile makes it more of a challenge.  Equally challening is that 64-year-old Bob Anderson works full time as the CEO and chief photographer of the Ujena Swimwear Company he founded in 1984," says director Michael Anderson. Read more at www.alongrun.com

"Rudy": An Oral History

For the 20th anniversary of the release of "Rudy," Sportsnet.ca has published a fascinating and in-depth interview with several of the movie's filmmakers, including director David Anspaugh, screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, producers Robert Fried and Cary Woods, Daniel "Rudy Ruettiger and more.

Portions are excepted below, but do read the entire article here, there are many more fascinating details.

Sean Astin comments on Putin's NYT Op-ed Piece

Sean Astin @SeanAstin
13th September 2013
Source

I think the folks that we can usually count on in the pundit class to give us a little useful insight into these issues, are letting us down a bit now. The President of #Russia Mr. #Putin cleverly took to the #NYTimes to do a bit of propagandizing. He cloaked himself in the tonality of moral superiority. For many who have studied his biography, his policies and his behavior (dating from his reign as head of the KGB) think that it would be laughable if it wasn't so absurd that a guy known for thuggery could present himself as a noble actor on the world stage. But, mark my words, he may become a perfect candidate for the Nobel Prize this year (Think Yasser Arafat).

"Rudy" 20th Anniversary Celebration

The Rudy Foundation is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of "Rudy" in Las Vegas on October 17, 2013. The event will include red carpet arrivals, a VIP reception with photo ops, movie screening and Q&A with cast and crew. Confirmed guests include Angelo Pizzo (writer), David Anspaugh (director), Rob Fried (producer), and Rudy Ruettiger, with more planned. Tickets are available at showtix4u.com.

The Rudy Ruettiger Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the support and recognition of those who aspire to fulfill their dreams through character, courage, contribution and commitment. More information here.

Sean Astin to attend Montreal Comic Con

Sean will be a guest at the Montreal Comic Con this weekend, appearing Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15. Show hours are 10am - 7pm on Saturday, and 10am - 5pm on Sunday.

Update: Sean's Q&A will be 5pm Sunday. Photo ops will be Saturday at 1:45pm and Sunday at 12:15pm, $40CAD

Sean begins filming of The Strain on Monday, September 16 in Toronto.

Sean Astin to voice Shazam in Justice League: War

Sean Astin will voice superhero Shazam (formerly known as Captain Marvel) in the animated movie "Justice League: War," which released for home video in February 4, 2014. Other voices include Jason O'Mara as Batman, Alan Tudyk as Superman.

The world is under attack by alien species led by Darkseid. Batman and Green Lantern must gather a group of superheroes and form the Justice League to defend Earth. Source

You can here a bit of Sean's voice at 5:30 in the video here.

Update: There will be a red carpet premiere in NYC on January 21, 2014.

Sean gets some encouragement from voice director Andrea Romano!

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend Pt 5/6: Videos

Sean talked about Inspiration to several audiences. Here he addresses the runDisney Meetup attendees, talking about beginning running with his middle daughter Elizabeth, and what inspired her.



On Saturday, Sean gave his Inspiration talk for the second time. He confided there were "big improvements" over his previous day. Here is Saturday's talk in four parts. Thank you Kris and Mindy Przeor!

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend Pt 4/6: 5K and 10K

Sean Astin ran both the 5K and 10K Disneyland races on Saturday August 31. It was not easy logistically! No sooner did he finish one race than he had to hustle back over to the Start line for the second. His time for the 5K (self-timed) was 28:17, 9:06 miles/minute pace, and his official time for the 10K was 57:55, 9:19 pace.

But first, the best photo of the weekend!
Sean leaps for joy on leaving Sleeping Beauty's Castle during the 10K.

Another holiday movie coming up for Sean Astin!

This one is for Halloween!

Andy is a young scientist who can't keep from blowing things up. When his dad sticks him on the football team to keep him out of trouble, he's soon miserable… and sore. Determined to win the science fair, which is the same day as the Halloween football game, he ditches practice and ends up at the house of Doctor Frankenstein. There he encounters Frankenstein's monster, who is young, strong, and green. He prefers the name "Frank" and loves football. Frank and Andy come up with a scheme, Frank will trade places with Andy on the team, while Andy uses the doctor's lab under Frank's guidance. The only problem is that Andy ends up creating a real monster that threatens to destroy the town. It's up to Frank and Andy to work together and save the day! "A Monsterous Holiday" comes to DVD and VOD October 15. 

There is currently no information on what role Sean voices.

Update September 13: The 45 minute feature has been picked up by the Cartoon Network, and an image has been released. Source

Source | Preorder on Amazon

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend Pt 3/6: ESPN Zone

On Friday evening, Sean Astin hung out at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney for a meet and greet with fans, including some #run3rd captains!

Sean Astin signs #run3d patches for captains Dawnley and Tracy Burwell.

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend Pt 2/6: Expo

On both Friday and Saturday afternoon, Sean gave a talk at the Disneyland Half Marathon Expo on "Inspiration." The full video of Friday's talk is at the below. (Thank you Leah Gutierrez!)

Sean is weighed down by all his runDisney medals!

The stage was flanked by banners, one for a documentary Sean is planning, and one for his #run3rd Twitter campaign.

Disneyland 1/2 Marathon Weekend Pt 1/6: Meetup

Sean Astin spent most of Labor Day weekend at Disneyland, participating in a plethora of events, including: a Friday morning runDisney meetup with 2 mile run, a talk on Inspiration at the Expo Friday and Saturday afternoon, a meet and greet at ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney Friday evening, both a 5K and 10K on Saturday, and the Half Marathon on Sunday. Plus he spent some time enjoying the rides and restaurants of Disneyland!

Here are many pics from Friday's runDisney meetup, which included a 2 mile run through the park, brief talks by the notables, and breakfast.

Sean with the White Rabbit, Alice, Mad Hatter and other friends. Click for larger version.

Sean, Tara Gidus (Diet Diva), Ali Vincent and Joey Fatone (N'Sync)

Sean Astin in "The Santa Switch" this Thanksgiving

Sean Astin stars as an elf in a business suit in the upcoming Hallmark Channel holiday movie "The Santa Switch." The movie also stars Ethan Erickson, Ann Dudek and Annie Thurman.

Christmas has never been good for Dan and this year is especially rough, his business has gone under and his divorce will become final in the New Year. But, when a mysterious man named Kris gives Dan the gift of being Santa this year, he finds himself with new powers which he tries to use to win his family back. 

The movie premieres Saturday, December 7, 8pm ET/PT.


Sources: here and here and the IMDB listing here.