Itwould seem that 2004, the year of her 18th birthday, will be remembered as pivotal for Emmy Rossum due to her appearance in two very different films, The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and The Phantom of the Opera (2004). Emmy's performance in the latter film gained her a Golden Globe nomination, and should assure that she will be a memorable presence in many films to come.
Being born and raised in New York City provided Emmy with the perfect place to start her professional career. After passing an audition at the Metropolitan Opera when she was 7 years old, she performed in more than 20 operas in six different languages at Lincoln Center, alongside such figures as Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. She was directed by Franco Zeffirelli in "Carmen." She left the opera when she entered her teenage years, as she had grown too tall to perform as a child. Emmy also appeared in a Carnegie Hall presentation of "The Damnation of Faust."
In a change of venue, Emmy created the role of Abigail Williams in the daytime soap opera "As the World Turns" (1956) in 1999 and branched out in performances in the made-for-television movies Genius (1999) (TV) and The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000) (TV), in which she played the title character as a young teenager. Other television work included "Snoops" (1999), "Law & Order" (1990), and "The Practice" (1997).
Emmy made her theatrical feature debut in the indie film Songcatcher (2000), with her good friend Rhoda Griffis, which won the Special Jury Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2000. Rossum received an Independent Spirit Award nomination in the category of Best Debut Performance for her performance as an Appalachian orphan. She played an aspiring songwriter (the title character) in the romantic comedy Nola (2003). Cast as the ill-fated daughter of a small-business owner in Clint Eastwood's Mystic River (2003), she projected an aura of innocence that made her character's tragic death memorable and heartbreaking. This was her first major studio film.
After six months of filming her role as the fresh-faced but highly intelligent teenage damsel in distress The Day After Tomorrow (2004) in Montreal, she returned to New York and screen-tested for the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera (2004) in full costume and makeup, and was finally selected for the part by Andrew Lloyd Webber after singing for him at his home. Although she was surprised to be chosen ahead of many better-known and older actresses considered for the part, the combination of her vulnerable, fragile beauty and fine, classically trained singing voice ultimately proved that she was perfectly cast. In preparation for the role, she took ballet classes for two months and started polishing her singing. Emmy has commented that, in her approach to acting, she draws heavily upon her own experiences, so she visited locations in Paris and conjured up what she terms "past memories" to draw upon in making her performance emotionally realistic. She stood on the roof of the Opéra Garnier, where Christine sings "All I Ask of You," and went underneath the opera house.
In Poseidon (2006), Emmy played as heroine Jennifer Ramsey, daughter of New York City Mayor.
Emmy attended the private Spence School in Manhattan through the seventh grade, then finished high school using tutors and the Internet (through Stanford University). She is now enrolled at Columbia University and has already completed a course in art history, inspired by her study of Degas in Paris.
After The Phantom of the Opera (2004) and Poseidon (2006), she shifts gears, mostly dropped out of the film scene, to go back to her musical roots at the age of 21. Her film career is not over, however, she has been signed on to do four films in 2008.
Jamie Chung was born on April 10, 1983, and originally hails from her hometown of Riverside in California. A daughter of Korean heritage, she was 20 years old during her time on the show. Jamie possessed the qualities of a straightforward young woman who bluntly told things as they were, as well as being no-nonsense and in-your-face when dealing with her peers. This made her seem highly capable, if somewhat brusque and brutally honest. She is best known for being in the fourteenth season of the hit MTV reality television series The Real World, set in San Diego, California.
Chung was brought up in San Francisco by first generation parents who strictly adhered to tradition. Jamie also proved herself to be a hard worker, holding down two jobs in order to pay for her tuition, and studying diligently for her tests in school. But as busy as she kept herself with her responsibilities, she also had a reputation for partying just as hard and enjoying herself. However, her friends have said that her main fault is her taste in men. While she was very selective about the people and guys she hung out with, she still tended to overlook major shortcomings in the men that she did like.
Other credits of the American actress include appearances on shows like Veronica Mars, ER and several episodes of Days of Our Lives. In 2007, she was seen on an episode of CSI: NY, before she landed the lead role of Heaven in the ABC Family series Samurai Girl. She later got a recurring role in the series Greek, in addition to her film credit which is I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry with Adam Sandler and Kevin James. She has also signed on to portray Chi-Chi in the Dragonball movie.
According to James Marsters, his role of Piccolo is a complex, Shakespearean one: "Thousands of years ago he used to be a force of good, but he was imprisoned for 2000 years, making him very angry, and then he finds a way to escape... The cool thing is anybody who's seen Dragon Ball knows that Lord Piccolo transforms into THE Piccolo, and that is a whole other ball of wax; heroic wouldn't be the wrong term, but it's a long journey."
To attain the quintessence of Dragon Ball, many of the actors were given unique hairstyles to resemble their anime counterparts (Emmy Rossum in particular was given two separate wigs for her role as Bulma, a traditional blue one as well as a never before seen pink one). Justin Chatwin, though, has no such hairdo since James Wong felt his hair resembled Goku's spiky hairstyle close enough without actually being silly.
Directed by: James Wong, Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.
Talented actor Justin Chatwin can most likely be recognized for his work in War of the Worlds who play the role, Robbie. The Chumscrubber, and for his first starring role in The Invisible. He played as Nick Powell is an excellent high-school student that raises money selling homeworks and results of quizzes to his schoolmates. He aims to travel secretly London to have a course of writer. Next up: Dragonball Evolution! Surely, a big break for the actor as he portray the role of Son Goku.The plot revolves around Goku (Chatwin), Earth’s greatest champion, who must defend the planet against an invading race of alien warriors hell-bent on dominating the universe. Wong directs from his own script, with Kung Fu Hustle’s, Stephen Chow producing. Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s, James Marsters as Piccolo.
Goku Goku is the hero of Dragonball. Goku is pure of heart and unusually gifted in martial arts. For more information on the anime version of Goku, click here.
Movie description: 18 years old, Goku is considered uncool and unpopular at school, but he is in fact an extremely talented martial arts fighter who gets rigorous training from his grandfather, Gohan. After the death of his grandfather by the evil Lord Piccolo, Goku finds his destiny in his grandfather’s dying request that he find Master Roshi and gather all seven Dragon Balls (of which he has one) in order to prevent Piccolo from succeeding in his desire to use the dragonballs to take over the world. Trained by Master Roshi, aided by Bulma and Yamcha, friends he meets along the way, Goku proves himself a formidable, almost undefeatable fighter. On many dangerous adventures to find the remaining Dragon Balls and thus save the world, Goku conquers physical and emotional challenges, ultimately saving the world but clearly impelled to spend his life searching for the Dragon Balls with his trusty companions…LEAD
Justin Chatwin is a 25years old Canadian who has starred in “The Invisible,” and “War of the Worlds.” Justin trained with the stunt company 87Eleven for a couple months before filming began.
Bulma Bulma is a blue-haired techno wiz who encounters Goku while searching for the Dragonballs. Though Bulma’s intentions are selfish at first, she slowly becomes an integral part of the series.
Movie description: 20s, female, pretty, with great intelligence behind her gleaming eyes, Bulma is a determined, competitive young woman whose father’s five star Dragon Ball was stolen by Lord Piccolo, and who believes that she can harness their unlimited energy and change the world. Bulma, who hasa DBE (a Dragon Ball locator device), teams up with Goku, and with him meets up with Master Roshi and Yamcha as they attempt to collect the missing Dragon Balls before Piccolo can destroy the world. A resourceful and courageous young woman who’s also a weapons expert, she overcomes many obstacles with her colleagues, only to find the seven Dragon Balls ultimately snatched from their grasp–but it’s clear she’s going to continue searching for them with Goku and Yamcha…
Emmy Rossum is a 22 year old American actor who has starred in “The Phantom of the Opera and “Poseidon.”
Yamcha Yamcha is a desert bandit who later befriends Goku and Bulma. Yamcha also becomes romantically involved with Bulma, though it’s a confusing relationship to say the least.
Movie description: 20s, “the bad boy who has no trouble attracting women,” he taunts Goku, Bulma and Master Yoshi, who are trapped in a sand cave, rather than helping them with his rope ladder. However, after overhearing Master Roshi’s tale of Piccolo once nearly destroyed the Earth and are preparing to do so again, Yamcha has change of heart and not only helps the three in the desert, but becomes a valuable part of the team. An ingenious young man whose utililty truck is the Swiss Army Knife of trucks–every tool and gear imaginable sprouts from its body–Yamcha joins Goku, Bulma (with whom he becomes romantically involved) and Master Yoshi on their quest to find the seven Dragon Balls before Piccolo
Joon Park is an up-and-coming actor who appeared in “Speed Racer” earlier this year. He is 39 years old and a popular Korean singer.
Master Roshi Master Roshi is a turtle hermit, and despite his unusual lifestyle and perverted attitude, he is an extremely gifted martial artist, who once trained Goku’s grandfather, Gohan. For more information on the anime version of Master Roshi, click here.
Movie description: This older man is a good friend of Goku’s grandfather, Gohan, and Goku comes to enlist his help after his grandfather is killed. Although he looks like a beggar, Roshi is one of the world’s most fearsome fighters. Master Roshi begins Goku’s rigorous training to prepare him for the adventure of finding and fighting for the seven Dragon Balls to save the world from Piccolo’s destructive plan. A wise, somewhat wry man who knows as much about human nature as he does about martial arts, Master Roshi is impressed with Goku’s fighting but reminds him of his failings as well. Ultimately, Master Roshi sacrifices his own life in order to destroy Piccolo…LEAD
Chow Yun-Fat is a 53 year old Chinese actor who wowed audiences with movies such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and just recently “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” View his filmography here.
Piccolo Lord Piccolo is the evil half of the god of earth, Kami. Piccolo wants the Dragon Balls to wish for immortality to conquer the planet.
Movie description: An ancient being who despite his humanoid appearance, is from an alien race determined to take over the world. Piccolo is the cursed ruler of a demonic race who nearly destroyed Earth 2000 years ago, and with the coming of the eclipse and the possession of all seven Dragon Balls, he’s prepared to free himself and do the job right this time. Crafty and smart, Piccolo has some disturbing news for Goku, namely that the boy is actually a Saiyan who’s destined to join Piccolo as his right hand in destroying and enslaving the planet.
James Marsters is a 46 year old American actor who starred in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” as the villainous Spike.
Mai In the anime, Mai is one of Pilaf’s henchmen, though in the movie this has been changed. .
Movie description: Late 20s, female, her features exotic, sexy but deadly, dressed in gleaming black, with weapons strapped all over her body, she’s a martial arts expert and Lord Piccolo’s chief enforcer. Crafty and quick thinking, Mai uses her ability to shapeshift near the climax of the movie and takes on the form of Chi Chi, a young martial arts expert who’s romantically involved with Goku and later saves Piccolo from Master Roshi’s curse; once she is revealed she ends up in the fight of her life.
Eriko Tamura is a 35 year old Japanese actress who appears in “Heroes” (TV series) and other Japanese films and TV shows.
Chi-Chi Chi-Chi is Goku’s love interest and the daughter of the Ox King.
Movie description: Goku’s lifelong love interest, Chi Chi is an attractive, tom boy-ish young woman who has grown up with Goku. She has studied martial arts and has always suspected that Goku possesses talents that are unusual and extraordinary. After Goku embarks on his journey to redeem his grandfather’s death, Chi Chi meets up with Goku and his crew at a tournament of champions where their mutual attraction finally heats up during a training session.
Jamie Chung is a 25 year old actress who appeared in “The Real World” and “Days of Our Lives.”
Grandfather Gohan Gohan found Goku in the wilderness by a space pod and raised Goku as his own.
Movie description: Goku’s kindly, wise grandfather, he looks like he’s in his 70s but moves like Jet Li. An accomplished martial artist who trains Goku on the bow staff, he loves his grandson and is happy to prepare a special feast for him on his 18th birthday, as well as a special gift: a 3 star Dragon Ball. Tragically, Gohan is struck down by the high ninjas of the Namek-Jins, and as he dies he sends his grandson out to do face his destiny and do battle against them…
Randull Duk Kim is a 65 year old actor who appeared in “The Matrix: Reloaded” as The Key-Maker, and has recently voiced a character in the animated movie “Kung Fu Panda.”
Unknown Ernie Hudson has been cast in the film as “a sort of altar boy who helps Goku and friends in their journey.”
Ernie recently described his character at London Expo 2008.
I play a monk, who is Chow Yun Fat’s (Master Roshi) character’s master and he creates the jar that is used to contain/trap piccolo.
Movie description:
