HollywoodChicago.com

First Five Minutes For ‘The Golden Compass’ Surface on Yahoo! in HD

2007-12-04T12:05:00.000-06:00

The first five minutes to “The Golden Compass” just surfaced on Yahoo! in HD. The film opens nationwide on Dec. 8.

Watch the first five minutes of “The Golden Compass”!

Nicole Kidman in “The Golden Compass”.
Photo credit: IMDb

New WhySoSerious.com Page: /steprightup; ‘The Dark Knight’ Prologue Revealed

2007-12-03T18:40:00.000-06:00

Moments ago, I received via e-mail from humanresources@whysoserious.com a new WhySoSerious.com message and code for “The Dark Knight” viral marketing.

Heads up, clown! Tomorrow means that there's one last shifty step left in the interview process: Arwoeufgryo

By moving each letter one to the right on a QWERTY keyboard, the word “steprightup” is spelled.

This led to a new WhySoSerious.com page at the URL www.whysoserious.com/steprightup with a countdown to 12 p.m. EST on Dec. 4 along with a stuffed monkey with an exposed stomach.

If you set your system clock to noon on Tuesday (as was the answer to the /mausoleum riddle), the countdown changes to zero and nothing happens.

In other news, Wizard revealed the first six minutes of “The Dark Knight” from a screening shown in New York City. Warning: Spoilers follow.

Kicking off with a sweeping shot of downtown Gotham, the camera zooms in above a few buildings before focusing in on a single, traditional skyscraper covered in windows.

Suddenly, one window in the skyscraper explodes outward [and exposes] two criminals inside.

Donning clown masks and standing with a rifle, the two criminals shoot a grappling hook across a busy street below to the next building: the Gotham National Bank.

The two then slide across using a zip line.

On the street below, a man stands [with] his face unseen as the shot creeps up from behind [and] a clown mask slung in his grip. A van suddenly screeches up before he climbs inside and the van hauls off again.

Inside, there are now three men all wearing clown masks. They begin negatively discussing their boss and how he’s sitting out the heist.

“The guy thinks he can sit out and get a cut?,” laughs one man. “Must be why they call him the Joker!”

Back on the bank’s roof, the two men we first saw now shimmy into the bank’s security wiring while also discussing the boss.

“Why do you think they call him Joker?,” asks one. “I hear it’s [because] he wears make-up,” answers the other. “Like war paint.”

Suddenly – below – the three men blast into the bank. [They demand] money and [command] everybody to the floor.

Back on the roof, the two criminals intercept the outgoing emergency alarm set off by an employee. After they cancel its signal, one of the men shoots the other and heads inside for the vault.

Back inside, the clown gunmen hand all the hostages live grenades. “We wouldn’t want your hands free, would we?,” asks one with a laugh.

Continue reading the prologue description here.

‘Star Wars’ Producer George Lucas to Speak in Chicago on Monday

2007-12-03T11:53:00.000-06:00

Legendary writer, director, editor and producer George Lucas (“Star Wars”) will speak in Chicago on Monday night before a business crowd at the Economic Club of Chicago. Lucas will be joined by Ariel Capital Management President Mellody Hobson.

Samuel L. Jackson (left) and George Lucas on the set
of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”.
Photo credit: IMDb
Though Lucas and Hobson decline to speak about their romance, they no doubt have been seen together at events for more than a year and are furthering the trend of making stops in Chicago, according to news on Monday from ChicagoBusiness.com.

Christian Bale in Negotiations to Star in ‘Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins’

2007-12-03T00:06:00.000-06:00

After earlier rumors along the same line, Hollywood Reporter and Variety on Sunday are both reporting that Christian Bale is in talks to star in “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins”.

Christian Bale.
Photo credit: WireImage.com
The film is the fourth in the series. McG is still in negotiations to direct the Warner Bros. film, which focuses on John Connor in his 30s as he leads what’s left of the human race against the machines.

Six Promotional Photos Surface Featuring Batman, Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’

2007-12-02T22:50:00.000-06:00

Six promotional images surfaced on Sunday featuring Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”. These are from the Italian Web site Uruloki.

3:23 p.m. update on 12/3/07: These images have been pulled from Uruloki and AICN at the request of Warner Bros. Though I haven’t yet been contacted by Warner Bros., I’ve pulled them as well.

Teaser Trailers Coming For ‘The Dark Knight,’ New ‘Indiana Jones,’ New ‘Star Trek’

2007-12-02T19:12:00.000-06:00

ComingSoon.net on Sunday published new details about when we should expect teaser trailers from “The Dark Knight,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and the new “Star Trek” film.

ComingSoon.net has learned new details about the upcoming teaser trailers for three of [2008’s] highly anticipated movies.

Keep in mind ... the online debuts for these trailers will probably be earlier in the week of release for the movie it is attached to and ... the trailer may not be shown with every print of the film.

First up, the first trailer for Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is now planned for a debut in [Feb. 2008].

Harrison Ford (left) and Shia LaBeouf in “Indiana Jones
and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”.
Photo credit: IMDb
While we don’t know for sure with which movie it will show, Paramount’s biggest film that month is “The Spiderwick Chronicles”. Keep your eye on that one.

Of course, it’s possible Paramount will decide to debut footage earlier during the Super Bowl, but we’re not sure.

In just two weeks on Dec. 14, Warner Bros. will release the teaser trailer for ... “The Dark Knight” in standard theaters with “I Am Legend”.

Christian Bale as Batman in “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: IMDb
As was previously announced, the studio will be showing the seven-minute opening scene of “The Dark Knight” before the screenings of “I Am Legend” in IMAX.

“Star Trek” fans won’t have to wait long for the first teaser for the J.J. Abrams-directed film.

“Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979.
Photo credit: Mel Traxel, MPTV.net
Paramount is planning a debut with the Abrams-produced monster movie “Cloverfield,” [which is opening] on Jan. 18, 2008.

I am screening “I Am Legend” in IMAX two days earler – on Dec. 12 – so stay tuned for information on “The Dark Knight” teaser trailer.

New WhySoSerious.com Page Emerges For ‘The Dark Knight’: /outoftime

2007-12-01T10:54:00.001-06:00

While the rest of us were sleeping, Paul over at “The Dark Knight” Movie Chronicles sent us the full details of what’s happened next with “The Dark Knight” in viral land.

As we turn the corner into the cold and bitter December, the night was once again a flurry of “The Dark Knight” viral puzzles.

Given the combined map of Gotham from all the viral Web sites and using a connect-the-dots method, a message stating “Out of Time” was spelled out across the map.

This led to the new WhySoSerious.com page, which is located at www.whysoserious.com/outoftime. The Joker revealed this message:

“My kind of clown! You’re obviously center-ring material unlike some poor goons who can’t complete one simple task. Watch the funny papers in a few days for your final step in the process.”

The name on the tag is Alder Frederick. The date of death is Nov. 30 caused by asphyxia.

An e-mail address was also discovered at that spewed out some interesting responses to queries about document LC6551. As a result, a GPD login form was discovered using the name BreitupKarl and the password 21485.

Logging in and doing a file search for LC6551 yeilds the document LC6551, which is titled “Upswing in Extortions & Chechen Gang Activity”. Here are some of the e-mail responses:

Glenn wrote: “With all due respect like I’ve told your friends, I just can’t discuss LC6551 or IA8214299 for that matter. I don’t know who’s leaking these, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m just not at liberty to discuss sensitive information.”

“[Karl Breitup] will meet someone at Betty’s Pie Shop tomorrow. I can give you more information, but you will need to cooperate with me for that.”

To access the second-referenced document, you need a login with higher authority. This is Glenn Barhyte’s account. The name is BarhyteGlenn and the password is tevredenheid.

This word is satisfaction in Dutch given via the clues for his favorite song by the Rolling Stones in combination with the file stating he lived in Utrecht for nine years, according to The Gotham Times.

IA8214299 is a clearance request that discusses the surveillance of Betty’s House of Pies: six officers, no uniforms, a listening van and equipment for recording.

Further details of this stakeout can be found in a memo. Using Glenn’s login details, a live feed will be played here at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

I-Am-Immune.com Phase Two For ‘I Am Legend’ Begins on Dec. 1; Phase Three on Dec. 8

2007-11-30T22:02:00.000-06:00

Following phase one, phase two for “I Am Legend” viral marketing through I-Am-Immune.com begins on Dec. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. Phase two must be completed by 12:14 p.m. PST on Dec. 4.

Here are the new street challenge locations:

Chicago
Chick Evans Golf Course
6145 N. Golf Rd.
Morton Grove, IL 60053

Los Angeles
Griffith Park Golf Course
4730 Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Dallas
North Texas Golf Center
2101 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75229

New York
A. Shaw Office
242 Wythe Ave., Studio 4
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Atlanta
Jim Hearn Golf Center
4445 Buford Highway
Chamblee, GA 30341

Miami
Bay Shore Par 3 Golf Course (empty lot)
2795 Prairie Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33141

Phoenix
Continental Golf Course
7920 E. Osborn Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Detroit
Royal Oak Golf Center
3500 Edgar Road
Royal Oak, MI 48073

Boston
Leeder Board Golf
150 Federal Street, First Floor
Boston, MA 02110

Seattle
Interbay Golf Center
2501 15th Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119

Denver
Denver City Park Golf Course
2500 York Street
Denver, CO 80205

Philadelphia
Paxon Hollow Country Club
850 Paxon Hollow Road
Marple Township, PA 19063

San Diego
Sail Ho Golf Course
19 Sellers Plaza
San Diego, CA 92106

San Francisco
Harding Park Golf Course
99 Harding Rd.
San Francisco, CA 94132

For phase two, you are charged to you or your recruit are charged to journey to one of the locations listed above between 2 and 5 p.m. to retrieve the phase two street challenge item. I-Am-Immune.com crew members will be on location.

The item you receive will have a jumbled word printed on it. Once deciphered, it will be the code you need to finish the challenge.

Enter that code at the bottom of this page to find out what you have been entered to win and to move on to the next street challenge. Here’s the clue: 40°30'N, 45°1'N, 71°51'W, 79°46'W

Phase three, which is the final street challenge, will take place on Dec. 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. within the same 15 cities listed for phase one and two. An updated location list will be announced shortly.

Starring Will Smith, “I Am Legend” opens in theaters on Dec. 14.

‘The Golden Compass’ to Release National Sneak One Week Early on Dec. 1

2007-11-30T21:32:00.001-06:00

I just learned that “The Golden Compass,” which opens nationwide on Dec. 8, will have a national sneak in approximatley 800 theaters across the U.S. on Dec. 1.

Nicole Kidman in “The Golden Compass”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The high-profile film stars Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Freddie Highmore, Kristin Scott Thomas and Kathy Bates. To check if “The Golden Compass” is showing on Dec. 1 in a theater near you, click this link.

International Trailer Released For 2007 Smash Hit ‘Juno’

2007-11-29T19:07:00.000-06:00

Fox Searchlight released a second “Juno” trailer on Thursday.

While the international trailer takes a different direction than the first, it still features front and center the talent in Diablo Cody’s script. I have uploaded the new trailer to YouTube and embedded it below.

The first trailer, which was released in Sept. 2007, can be seen below.

Part one of my interview with “Juno” star Ellen Page and Chicago-native screenwriter Diablo Cody can be read here. I posted on Sept. 14 that “Juno” would be one of the year’s best.

“Juno” screenwriter Diablo Cody.
Photo credit: WireImage.com
Indeed, it’s proving to be one of the year’s best and certainly one of the year’s top surprises. The film opens on Dec. 5 in limited theaters.

Ellen Page.
Photo credit: IMDb

‘I Am Legend’ to Hit Streets Today With First I-Am-Immune.com Viral Challenge

2007-11-28T11:09:00.000-06:00

As we’ve been reporting, “I Am Legend” will hit the streets this afternoon for its first I-Am-Immune.com viral challenge.

I’ve already doled out hundreds of immunity bracelets, which are used to gain access into the site and its challenges. While I’m now completely out of bracelets, you can still e-mail me for the site’s current access code.

Phase one begins today from 2 to 5 p.m. in a city near you or near someone you know. The challenges will reward various prizes along with a chance to win a trip for two to the New York City premiere.

Click this link for specific street-challenge locations.

You will have until 12:14 p.m. PST on Friday, Nov. 30 to complete phase one. I am told “the code is the key”. The fewer people with the code, the better chances you have to win.

Phase two will take place on Dec. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. within the same 15 cities listed for phase one. Stay tuned for an updated list of locations and clues for phase two in the coming days.

New WhySoSerious.com Page Emerges For ‘The Dark Knight’ Viral Marketing: /mausoleum

2007-11-27T16:16:00.001-06:00

At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, a new code emerged from WhySoSerious.com and the viral folks at “The Dark Knight”. I received this code via e-mail from humanresources@whysoserious.com:

If you’ve finished my quiz, then it’s time for the next step in the interview process – something to test your aptitude. Spaces count:

* Eighth
* Sixth
* Eighth
* Ninth
* Ninth
* Second
* Fourth
* Second
* Third

Next, the URL http://www.whysoserious.com/mausoleum was discovered from the end of the WhySoSerious.com personality profile. The letters “M-A-U-S-O-L-E-U-M” can be found in your final grade.

I have outlined the letters in blue and created the image below.

Next, we must crack the code on a “precinct 12 evidence vault”.

First, we click on the dial and it zooms in so we can turn it and submit our guesses using the lever.

Once you zoom into the vault dial, a note with a clue is revealed by clicking it in the upper-left corner of your screen.

In the note, there are blood-stained letters. When added together, they spell “T-I-M-E | F-O-R | T-A-F-F-Y”. According to The Gotham Times, Johnny “Taffyface” Linata died at 7:38 a.m.

I have created a zoomed-in image and outlined in blue on page one of the newspaper where this was learned.

The text reads: “The butcher’s bill started at 7:38 a.m. when Maroni lieutenant Johnny ‘Taffyface’ Linata was killed by a...”

Answer: Change your computer’s system clock to 7:38 a.m. The safe will automatically open. Then, the following note is revealed.

When you click the new note, the following montage is revealed.

From there, we learn about another new site – the Gotham Unified School District – at GothamUSD.net.

Stay tuned “in a few days” for “another little job”. In other news, yet another new site surfaced today: GothamCab.com.

Also, AcmeSecuritySystems.com just surfaced and is related.

Story of HollywoodChicago.com’s Evolution Published by the Movie-Fanatic

2007-11-27T10:54:00.000-06:00

The story of HollywoodChicago.com’s evolution is now online in an interview by the Movie-Fanatic, which is an independent publication maintained by a global group of film enthusiasts.

Click here to read the full interview!

Free Advance-Screening Passes For ‘The Golden Compass,’ ‘Sweeney Todd,’ ‘I Am Legend’

2007-11-26T23:15:00.000-06:00

Free advance-screening movie passes. No catch.

Just click the link and RSVP. This week, we have passes for “The Golden Compass,” “Sweeney Todd,” “P.S. I Love You,” “I Am Legend,” “Atonement” and “The Bucket List”.

Nicole Kidman in “The Golden Compass”.
Photo credit: IMDb
Snag your “The Golden Compass” pass!
Nov. 27 in New York
Nov. 29 in Los Angeles
Dec. 3 in Denver
Dec. 3 in Salt Lake City
Dec. 3 in Novi, Mich.
Dec. 4 in Los Angeles
Dec. 5 in Los Angeles
Dec. 5 in Orange, Calif.
Snag your “Sweeny Todd” pass!
Dec. 6 in South Miami
Dec. 6 in Orlando
Dec. 6 in Tampa
Snag your “P.S. I Love You” pass!
Nov. 28 in Washington, D.C.
Nov. 28 in Baltimore
Nov. 29 in Novi, Mich.

Snag your “I Am Legend” pass!
Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Mich.
Snag your “The Bucket List” pass!
Dec. 4 in Chicago
Snag your “Atonement” pass!
Nov. 28 in Denver

Empire Online Launches ‘He is Coming’ Joker Campaign to Pump ‘The Dark Knight’

2007-11-26T13:06:00.000-06:00

This time, it isn’t Warner Bros. doing its own viral marketing. Taking a card from “The Dark Knight,” Empire Online has launched its own “he is coming” campaign to pump the film and spike its own traffic.

Credit goes to the operator of this Batman site for first informing me of the Empire Online campaign, which can be found here.

In this campaign, the Joker is being revealed one card at a time. From the time of this post, Empire Online says three days remain until its surprise is fully revealed.

Slew of Sites Launch: TheGothamTimes.com, TheHaHaHaTimes.com, WeAreTheAnswer.org, GothamPolice.com, GothamNationalBank.com

2007-11-23T09:31:00.000-06:00

As promised, TheGothamTimes.com on Friday launched its first newspaper edition of The Gotham Times for “The Dark Knight”. It’s currently four pages.

Also, the phone number 866-237-6480 was released on the site “for subscription information”. The recorded message says new subscriptions have been suspended and directs you back to the site.

Also, TheHaHaHaTimes.com has launched to mock The Gotham Times newspaper at TheGothamTimes.com. It’s the same paper but with the Joker’s artistic expression.

TheHaHaHaTimes.com is discovered by clicking a tear in the upper-left part of the paper at TheGothamTimes.com.

Also, WeAreTheAnswer.org just launched as a tip-submission page for communication with the Gotham Police Department.

Also, GothamPolice.com just launched to apply for police work.

Also, GothamNationalBank.com launched for Gotham’s banking needs.

Also, RemberingGina.org just launched. It doesn’t initially appear related to the new sites, but upon reading page four of The Gotham Times, you learn that this woman dies. The site is her memorial.

Also, a 14-question personality profile has launched at WhySoSerious.com.

Also, GothamCityRail.com has launched to mirror Chicago’s rail construction. The e-mail feedback@gothamcityrail.com is listed. This find comes courtesy of reader Roy Enjambre Jr.

Also, stay tuned for GothamCityHall.com. It’s currently under construction. On GothamPolice.com, this is mentioned: “Applications for the exam are available at city hall.”

‘The Dark Knight’ Releases Behind-the-Scenes IMAX Featurette

2007-11-23T09:02:00.000-06:00

Just in time to give thanks for Thanksgiving, “The Dark Knight” just released a new IMAX featurette that reveals fresh behind-the-scenes imagery.

Director Chris Nolan and director of photography Wally Pfister discuss why they decided to use IMAX cameras in select sequences.

They speak on the grandeur not only of the filming format but also of the heaviness of the camera itself and having to craft custom-built rigs to support them.

I’ve uploaded the IMAX featurette to YouTube and embedded it below.

In Next Viral Caper, ‘The Dark Knight’ to Activate TheGothamTimes.com

2007-11-22T22:07:00.000-06:00

Following WhySoSerious.com, RorysDeathKiss.com and others in the film’s viral sequence, “The Dark Knight” on Nov. 23 plans to activate its next site: TheGothamTimes.com.

As a reward to triumphant fans who successfully sported quality Joker attire and submitted photos of said getups online, a Gotham Times newspaper was dispatched to them via snail mail.

The following photos of the paper are credited to this site.

To continue what’s evolving into one of the most elaborate and effective viral campaigns for a film to date, the paper announced TheGothamTimes.com. The new Web site currently says “the first online edition launches on Friday, Nov. 23”.

The newspaper also announced the site WeAreTheAnswer.org, which isn’t currently online. Finally, the paper mentioned the e-mail address humanresources@whysoserious.com. When e-mailed, the following auto-reply message is returned:

See you found my little message. So, do you think you have what it takes to be a part of my circle of friends?

Are you a backstabbing, self-promoting, ambitious clown who will do anything to prove yourself to me?

If so, the first step of your application process awaits ... if you know where to look.

Stay tuned for more coverage on the new campaign.

Phase One of I-Am-Immune.com Street Challenge Released For ‘I Am Legend’

2007-11-21T15:46:00.000-06:00

Phase one of the “I Am Legend” viral marketing game at I-Am-Immune.com was officially released this afternoon. Details follow.

You or someone you recruit must must arrive at one of several U.S. locations between 2 and 5 p.m. on Nov. 28 to retrieve a street challenge item.

You will see I-Am-Immune.com crew members once you arrive at the location.

The item you receive will have a jumbled word printed on it that – once deciphered – will be the code you need to finish the challenge.

Enter that code at I-Am-Immune.com to find out what you have been entered to win and move on to the next street challenge. The jumbled code will spell out a very common girl’s name.

The first letter of the alphabet should be the first letter of her name. The code is more important than the item (though the item may come into play later in the game).

Here are the street challenge locations:

Chicago
McCarthy Ford
11400 S. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, IL 60655

Los Angeles
Galpin Ford
15505 Roscoe Blvd.
North Hill, CA 91343

Dallas
Rodeo Ford
8630 E. R.L. Thorton Frwy.
Dallas, TX 75228

New York
Manhattan Ford Lincoln Mercury
787 11th Ave.
New York, NY 10004

Atlanta
Information coming soon!

Miami
Ford Deel Ford
4811 S. Le Jeune Rd.
Miami, FL 33146

Las Vegas
Friendly Ford (c/o The Gary Company)
3136 E. Russell Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89120

Phoenix
Earnardt Ford
E. Baseline Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85283

Detroit
Hines Park Dealership
40604 Ann Arbor Road
Plymouth, MI 48170

Boston
Herb Chambers Ford
75 Granite Street, Route 37
Braintree, MA 02184

Seattle
Bill Pierre Ford
11525 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125

Salt Lake City
Larry H. Miller Ford Superstore
1340 S. 500 W.
Salt Lake City, UT 84115

Denver
Lakewood Fordland
11000 W. Colfax Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80215

Conshohocken, Pa.
John Kennedy Ford
1403 West Ridge Pike
Conshohocken, PA 19428

Free Advance-Screening Passes For ‘The Golden Compass,’ ‘I Am Legend,’ ‘P.S. I Love You’

2007-11-20T19:51:00.000-06:00

Free advance-screening movie passes. No catch. Just click the link and RSVP. This week, we have passes for “The Golden Compass,” “P.S. I Love You,” “I Am Legend” and “How to Cook Your Life”.

Nicole Kidman in “The Golden Compass”.
Photo credit: IMDb
Snag your “The Golden Compass” pass!
Nov. 29 in Los Angeles
Dec. 4 in Los Angeles (coming Nov. 26)
Dec. 5 in Los Angeles (coming Nov. 26)
Dec. 5 in Orange, Calif. (coming Nov. 26)
Snag your “P.S. I Love You” pass!
Nov. 28 in Washington, D.C.
Nov. 28 in Baltimore
Snag your “How to Cook Your Life” pass!
Nov. 26 in Washington, D.C.
Snag your “I Am Legend” pass!
Dec. 12 in Birmingham, Mich. (coming Dec. 7)

HollywoodChicago.com to Distribute 125 I-Am-Immune.com Viral Bracelets For ‘I Am Legend’

2007-11-20T12:11:00.000-06:00

I’ve already received dozens of e-mails about this and haven’t even yet announced it. Viral word really does infect the Internet quickly, eh?

In any event, it’s true: We have received from Warner Bros. and will be divvying out 125 bracelets for access into I-Am-Immune.com, which is the new viral marketing site for the Will Smith film “I Am Legend”.

Fans of the “The Dark Knight” will feel some similarity to I-Am-Immune.com’s upcoming street challenges in cities across the U.S. You must have a bracelet to gain access to the site.

I have been informed that e-mails to “patients” will be sent on Saturday, Nov. 24 directing those with bracelets to visit the “street challenges” section of the site.

There, the rules of the challenges will be explained and a secret location within 14 different U.S. cities will be revealed to snag a swag item.

Each item will have a relationship with the film and can be used to earn autographed posters, novels, gear and get you one step closer to winning tickets and a hotel stay in New York for the premiere of the film on Dec. 11.

Will Smith in “I Am Legend”.
Image credit: IMDb
Now, this hasn’t yet been announced:

There’s a separate street team distributing the bracelets as well. HollwoodChicago.com has received a quantity of those and will be giving them to you and your friends.

I can confirm there will be three street-challenge locations in Chicago: a video store, a car dealership and a golf range.

In order to get these bracelets into your hands with such quick turnaround without having to head to the post office again and again, I have arranged for my team to be in Chicago on Tuesday.

We value your time and assure you we’ll be there with the bracelets. See below for the time, date and venue.

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 20
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
Venue: Dollop Coffee Co.
Address: 4181 N. Clarendon Ave., Chicago

For those of you who aren’t in Chicago or can’t make this pickup, e-mail adam [at] hollywoodchicago.com. I have a method to get a bracelet to you quickly as well.

Changes on Horizon For Chicago-Native Conan O’Brien Writer Kevin Dorff

2007-11-19T10:25:00.000-06:00

CHICAGO – Kevin Dorff spent his Sunday in Chicago kicking back and watching the Bears game.

Jim Zulevic and Kevin Dorff (on right) at Second City.
Photo credit: Second City
A Chicago native and Emmy Award-winning writer for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” for seven years, the current WGA strike has shut down production and provided him something of a forced vacation.

For nearly a week, he has been back in the city that started his career when he first began taking classes in the early 1990s at what was then called Improv Olympic (now iO).

Within a few years, he was performing on Second City’s main stage.

On Tuesday night, Dorff will be performing alongside Horatio Sanz, Matt Walsh, Ed Furman and others at the Lakeshore Theater for “Horatio Sanz and the Kings of Improv,” which is presented by the Upright Citizens Brigade.

“These guys just love to play,” Dorff said – speaking of the ensemble – in an interview with HollywoodChicago.com.

He has performed with them all many times in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago over the last decade. Dorff added: “Matt and Horatio would just upend some milk cartons and perform on them. That might be a new show we’re working on. I don’t know.”

All of the performers have a connection to Chicago and originally were seen on the stages of Second City, iO, the Annoyance and other comedy clubs around town. In New York, the players can be seen regularly at the UCB Theatre as part of Sunday night’s ASSSSCAT Improv show.

Horatio Sanz.
Photo credit: iO West
Tuesday’s show will closely follow the Armando Diaz Experience format for improvisation made popular at iO.

Originally created by Adam McKay, David Koechner, Dorff and the namesake Armando Diaz, the “experience” is an improvised long-form show based on a performer’s personal monologues. Who will be doing the monologues on Tuesday has yet to be decided.

“It’s not very structured,” Dorff said. “We’re really good at working together. We’ll rely on what we’re feeling at the time. We might do a shared monologue experience and bring a lot of order out of that.”

He bases everything on what he learned training with iO founders Charna Halpern and Del Close. Dorff finds himself working with a lot of the same people again and again.

When Tina Fey was casting the pilot episode for the hit show “30 Rock,” she called on Dorff for a role in the cold opening. Robert Smigel knew Dorff from working together on Conan O’Brien’s show and cast him in an episode of “TV Funhouse”.

Even some of the other writers on “Late Night” were on Dorff’s first improv team in Chicago. Other work comes the old-fashioned way: auditioning. Last summer, Dorff called in to meet with famed comedy casting director Allison Jones for this season of “The Office”.

The result was a role as an ex-client of Dunder Mifflin who was unimpressed with character Michael Scott’s gift basket. Writing for “Late Night,” however, takes up 50 to 60 hours a week and the majority of Dorff’s time. He’s not complaining.

Frank Caeti (MADtv, on left), Armando Diaz and Kevin Dorff (on right).
Photo credit: ImprovMatchGame.com
“We love what we do. We’re happy to go in early and stay late. We’re happy to sleep on couches in our offices,” explains Dorff of his life before the writer’s strike, which began on Nov. 5.

He admits to only having an anthill view of the complex currently between the WGA and the major studios.

Dorff added: “What some people forget is that nothing going on. Nothing is being made and it’s affecting everyone down to the PAs and interns who are trying to learn about what it’s like to work in this business.”

Of the more than 10,000 members of both branches of the writer’s guild, only a few hundred are comedy writers.

“It’s weird how serious these [comedy writers] are taking this,” Dorff said as he became more dynamic on the subject. He says the frustration comes from not being able to do what you love.

“It has been a long time since the contract has been updated,” Dorff said. “It’s based on a VHS-rental model. They need to bring it in line with the current generation of media. I can’t even find a Blockbuster [any more]. Can you? I hope [the strike is] as short as however it can be.”

WGA negotiations are set to resume on Nov. 26. Beyond that, there are changes on the horizon for Dorff’s career at “Late Night”.

Matt Besser and Amy Poehler.
Photo credit: iO West
Ever since it was announced that Conan O’Brien would be taking the reigns of the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” when Leno steps down in 2009, it has spawned questions about changes in everything from the content and location.

“You’d have to ask [NBC Universal President] Jeff Zucker about that,” Dorff said while explaining that all the decisions are to be worked out with the producers of the show. The writers are only more concerned with the day to day.

Dorff added: “We do shows five nights a week. When we go in on Monday, we have no idea what’s happening on Thursday much less in 2009.”

Dorff instead puts his faith in Conan O’Brien. He added: “Conan’s instincts are great,” Dorff said as he described his admiration of the host and executive producer as a comedy writer. “His work ethic is infectious. He makes people motivated.”

Right now, though, he is more concerned with being back in his hometown and performing with old friends. Last week, Dorff, Rachel Dratch and Tim Meadows sat in on an improv set at Second City after doing a panel at the Chicago History Museum.

When the rest of the kings of improv are in town and they meet up for dinner, they might decide to make an impromptu appearance at iO. After all, these are people who just love to play.

“That’s the best thing about being in Chicago,” Dorff said. “People just pull up their sleeves and get to work.”

Kevin Dorff will be performing with “Horatio Sanz and the Kings of Improv” on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at the Lakeshore Theater in Chicago. Tickets are available here or by calling 773-472-3492.
By Dustin Levell
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

© 2007 Dustin Levell, HollywoodChicago.com

‘The Dark Knight’ to Snail Mail Thanks to Fans From RorysDeathKiss.com

2007-11-19T10:06:00.000-06:00

RorysDeathKiss.com has been updated below the scroll in the latest round of “The Dark Knight” viral marketing. The new text says in response to fans who dressed up and photographed themselves as the Joker:

What a crime scene! The clock’s struck 12 and I’m sending something special for each and every one of you clowns who made my list by the deadline.

The fun-filled times should roll in shortly after the bird’s been carved! Don’t you just love the taste of envelope glue?

Fans should be checking their mailboxes around Thanksgiving. As many fans – especially those who had their photos rejected – have been disappointed as of late, hopefully this reward will help to calm the nerves.

McG to Direct Fourth ‘Terminator’; New Script-Submitting Web Site Launches

2007-11-18T16:14:00.000-06:00

On Friday, I received a tip from a new source stating that McG (born Joseph McGinty Nichol) will direct the fourth “Terminator” film, which is currently titled “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins”.

We’ve since seen this confirmed with other news outlets and I’m now comfortably conveying it as true. See below for my source’s full note.

“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”
Photo credit: ILM

McG officially signed on to direct “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins” on [Thursday] night.

Warner Bros. recently gave the film a green light and is looking to get filming in “early 2008” for a summer 2009 release.

The script by John Brancato and Michael Ferris (“Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”) was locked in October due to the writer’s strike.

The fourth film is described as being as big in size and scale as “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” but with a smaller budget now that Arnold Schwarzenegger is no longer part of the production.

Claire Danes and Nick Stahl will not be returning as well.

On an interesting side note, Michael Ferris [editor’s note: a different Michael Ferris from the “Terminator” screenwriter] just opened a Web site where you can submit scripts and short films to him and he helps you get them to [all of] his agents and managers.

That URL is http://www.your-insider.com. While I don’t know if the opening of the Web site was meant to coincide with the news, they both happened at the same time.

This could mean big news for script and film competitions since he’s making himself a direct conduit for the average filmmaker to agents and managers in Hollywood.

7:24 p.m. update on 11/20/07: I have received a note from Michael Ferris of Your-Insider.com.

To prevent confusion, I have edited this post and am notifying you here that the Michael Ferris who runs that site is a different Michael Ferris than the “Terminator” screenwriter.

Scene Spoiler: Reader Submits Full ‘Eagle Eye’ Report For Nov. 15 Filming in Chicago

2007-11-16T14:21:00.000-06:00

As we’ve been reporting here, “Eagle Eye” – a DreamWorks picture staring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton – has been filming at various locations across Chicago over the past two weeks.

What follows is a very specific report from a reader that fleshes out Chicago filming details for Thursday, Nov. 15 and heading into the wee hours of Friday, Nov. 16.

I can validate this source as accurate and verifiable based on prior submissions. Warning: Spoiler information follows.

Michelle Monaghan (left) and Rosario Dawson.
Photo credit: IMDb

Thursday’s filming, which is [said to be] the second to last day of shooting, was a shoot in the evening in the Uptown neighborhood [of Chicago] at Wilson and Broadway.

The shoot began with Shia and Michelle parked in their Porsche Cayenne Turbo in an alley next to the El [train] station on Wilson. Michelle sat on the driver’s side.

Shia began the scene by running up to the car in a panic. He jumped into the passenger’s seat where he and Michelle began to argue. All of a sudden, the rear driver’s side window would shatter.

They were simulating Shia and Michelle being shot at.

Chicago Police [Department] officers were running out of the El stop with guns drawn. [They were] shooting at the car as Shia frantically began screaming at Michelle to “Go! Go! Go!”

Numerous takes and angles were shot as the car sat idled.

Around 12:30 a.m., the crew began setting up for a high-speed car chase scene where the Porsche would barrel out of the alley heading east on Wilson. [It would] fly around the corner and turn left on Broadway.

Chicago police had Wilson and Broadway closed in all directions as rehearsals began between 1 and 1:30 a.m. Michelle and Shia’s stunt doubles were in the car with Michelle’s stunt double driving.

Shia LaBeouf (left) and Billy Bob Thornton.
Photo credit: IMDb
There were five or six regular cars being driven by stunt drivers and three Chicago police vehicles with stunt drivers. All the streets were sprayed down with water.

One of the Chicago police vehicles would be heading north on Broadway.

As the Porsche fishtailed through the middle of the intersection, the police vehicle would do a [180-degree turn] in the middle of Wilson and Broadway to chase the Porsche. [The] other police vehicles would chase from other directions.

The chase scene was very well choreographed and rehearsed numerous times.

It was amazing to see all the stunt drivers carry out their assignments with perfect precision take after take at high speed with numerous cars spinning and fishtailing in the middle of the intersection.

Numerous takes were done with the stunt doubles from different angles. This was shot with multiple cameras. Around 4 a.m., Shia returned to the vehicle for interior filming with Michelle’s stunt double still behind the wheel.

The camera was placed inside the vehicle with the camera operator in the back seat filming Shia as the Porsche went through the same route (this time, however, at a slower speed).

After a couple takes, Shia was done for the evening.

It was now Michelle’s turn behind the wheel with Shia’s stunt double in the passenger seat. She did a couple rehearsals and a couple takes. Filming was done at approximately 5:30 a.m.

Seth Rogen to Play Lead in ‘Zack & Miri Make a Porno’

2007-11-16T10:35:00.000-06:00

I just received official word from the Weinstein Company and Dimension Films that Seth Rogen (“Knocked Up,” “Superbad”) will play the lead in “Zack & Miri Make a Porno” from writer/director Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier.

Seth Rogen
Photo credit: WireImage.com
Elizabeth Banks (“40 Year Old Virgin,” “Invincible”) will star opposite Rogen as Miri. The film will begin shooting in Jan. 2008 in Pittsburgh. The announcement was made on Friday by Weinstein Company and Dimension Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein.

“Getting Seth in this flick is like suddenly growing an extra six inches in the crotch,” Smith said on the announcement. “As if that wasn’t awesome enough, we scored the comedically and aesthetically gifted Elizabeth, too. Cast-wise, I’m now extremely well-hung.”

He added: “I wrote the part expressly for Rogen because he’s a funny as [f***] comedy god and we’re insanely lucky he said ‘yes’. Dude, coming on board is a total mitzvah. In order to show my appreciation [and] fit in better with Seth, Harvey and Bob, Scott and I will be converting to Judaism. Bar Mitzvah invites are in the mail.”

In the film, Zack and Miri are two lifelong platonic friends who are heavy with debt. They seek the help of their friends to make a porno for some fast cash.

As everyone starts “doing” everyone, though, Zack and Miri realize they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.

“Once again, Kevin has written a daring and entertaining screenplay that has attracted some of the most talented comedic actors working today,” Bob and Harvey Weinstein said on the announcement.

The studios say additional cast will be announced soon.

‘I Am Legend’ Unveils Viral Site I-Am-Immune.com

2007-11-16T09:57:00.001-06:00

The power of the talking mouth is the best and cheapest form of PR there is. Films are increasingly cashing in on the viral wave using Web sites to spur conversation and create an evocative attachment.

We’ve been deluged with masterful viral work from “The Dark Knight” using Web sites including WhySoSerious.com, RorysDeathKiss.com and IBelieveInHarveyDent.com. Moments ago, the Will Smith film “I Am Legend” went public with one if its own.

I-Am-Immune.com has launched to play a literal viral game.

The site, which is the official “community” for the film, will offer original and behind-the-scenes information about the film, a chance for fans to speak up, online and street challenges (“The Dark Knight” fans know these all too well), “free swag” and “insane prizing”.

I am told the site is also boldly promising the opportunity to “see the biggest movie stars of the year at the largest movie premiere of the century”.

As a member of I-Am-Immune.com, your objective is to stay active and stay immune. Members will be tasked with weekly online challenges along with three offline challenges.

Will Smith in “I Am Legend”.
Image credit: IMDb
A VIP trip for two to New York City will be dished out for the world premiere of “I Am Legend” at Madison Square Garden. The plane ticket and hotel stay are covered.

In terms of street challenges, members of the viral site will visit a section of the site (called “street challenges”) where they will be tasked with going to a specific location on a specific day and time within their city (one of 14 markets) to snag a swag item.

It’ll contain a code that must be entered into the “street challenges” section of the site. Once the code is entered, members will be eligible to win prizes and gain access to the next street challenge.

“I Am Legend” and “The Dark Knight” are both from Warner Bros.

Following Wrap in Hong Kong, ‘The Dark Knight’ Begins Post-Production Work

2007-11-15T08:57:00.000-06:00

Now that Hong Kong filming is a wrap for “The Dark Knight,” post-production work has officially begun, according to a very informative article in Screen Magazine that names the players involved.

As we know, the article states that “The Dark Knight” is the “largest studio picture ever to film” in Chicago.

It continued: “With a week of shooting in April and three recently completed months of summer shooting, the film brought $50 million to the [Chicago] economy and employed some 350 crew members.”

Dixon Galvez-Searle writes that the film is now beginning its amalgamation on the west coast by the hands of Hollywood equipment rental firm Digital Vortechs, which has been involved with “The Dark Knight” from the get go.

The article also points to the involvement of equipment facility Salon, which was brought in for “Batman Begins,” and says Digital Vortechs kept Roscor Corp. in Mt. Prospect, Ill. on retainer for tech support.

There’s a clear message in the story that using past players again is key as “studio productions are often wary of incorporating new partners into the mix”. This, of course, translates into new bidders having a competitive disadvantage.

Chicago-based Filmworkers/Astro Lab was named for film processing.

Finally, the story says “The Dark Knight” is being edited by Lee Smith of the Beverly Hills-based Gersh Agency. Audio post-production work is handed to Richard King along with Warner Bros. Post Production Services.

DreamWorks Sets Milestone, Inks Four-Picture Deal With IMAX 3D

2007-11-14T22:39:00.000-06:00

The man means business. On July 12, 2007, I published an interview with IMAX Filmed President Greg Foster in Time Out Chicago where he promised “the vast majority will be in 3D” down the road.

I just received word that IMAX announced its first multiple 3D picture deal with a Hollywood studio. DreamWorks is blazing a path as the innovator on the heels of Friday’s high-profile release of “Beowulf” in IMAX 3D.

The IMAX 3D releases will include “Monsters vs. Aliens” in March 2009, “How to Train Your Dragon” in Nov. 2009 and “Shrek Goes Forth” in May 2010. “Kung Fu Panda” will be released in IMAX 2D in June 2008.

“DreamWorks Animation envisions 3D as the future of CGI animation,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler in a statement.

The IMAX 3D titles are slated to be among the first shown with IMAX’s digital 3D projection system, which is scheduled to appear in June 2008. Paramount will be the exclusive distributor of the pictures.

“DreamWorks Animation’s creative spirit is well suited for IMAX 3D,” Foster said on the announcement.

‘The Mist’ Interview Transcript With Frank Darabont, Marcia Gay Harden, Thomas Jane, Chris Owen

2007-11-14T11:49:00.000-06:00

On Nov. 6, I joined a conference call on “The Mist” with director Frank Darabont (“The Green Mile,” “The Shawshank Redemption”), Marcia Gay Harden (“Rails & Ties”), Thomas Jane (“The Punisher”) and Chris Owen (“American Pie”).

Download the 51-page “The Mist” transcript here.
The first question posed started off without romance by going straight to the throat. The journalist asked Darabont about his “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” script involvement.

Refusing to be derailed, Darabont said: “That really is another conversation. Let’s stay on the subject. Do you have anything on ‘The Mist’?”

Forging on, Darabont delved into his being a “writer for hire”. Initially a “screenwriter first and a director on occassion,” he discussed why only recently he decided to “reverse that equation”.

The Mist
Photo credit: IMDb
At 48 years old, Darabont said: “I’m not getting any younger. I feel like I have more movies to make.”

As for Gay Harden’s involvement, she commented on how “it’s all about character” for her and quality opportunities don’t come along often. Interestingly, she said she hasn’t been one of the many die-hard Stephen King fans.

The film is based on King’s novella. Starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Frances Sternhagen and Jeffrey DeMunn, “The Mist” opens on Nov. 21.

On ‘The Mist’: The Best Stephen King Quote Ever?

2007-11-13T15:52:00.000-06:00

In what could be the best Stephen King quote ever, I heard word Tuesday morning that he said the following at a press conference on Monday about “The Mist,” which is based on his novella:

(Director) Frank (Darabont) (“The Green Mile,” “The Shawshank Redemption”) wrote a new ending [I love]. It is the most shocking ending ever.

There should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last five minutes of this film should be hung from their neck until dead.

The statement is designed to both be a blessing of the film adaptation as well as a chilling message to anyone who dares to give away the film’s ending.

Starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Frances Sternhagen and Jeffrey DeMunn, “The Mist” opens on Nov. 21.

Free Advance-Screening Passes For ‘August Rush,’ ‘Beowulf,’ ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’

2007-11-13T11:33:00.000-06:00

Free advance-screening movie passes. No catch. Just click the link and RSVP for a pass in your city. These are courtesy of FilmMetro.com. “August Rush” has especially wide availability across the U.S.

Snag your “August Rush” pass!
States: AK, CA, DC, GA, ID, IL, MA, MD, ME, MI,
NC, NJ, NH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, WA, VA
Snag your “Beowulf” pass!
States: CA, FL, IL, PA
Snag your “Love in the Time of Cholera” pass!
States: CA, UT
Snag your “The Kite Runner” pass!
State: CA
Snag your “Stop Loss” pass!
State: WI

News You Need: Aronofsky and Rourke to ‘Wrestle,’ ‘Star Trek’ Explained, Verhoeven to Direct Remake Sequel

2007-11-12T01:13:00.000-06:00

Harley Davidson in a Wrestling Picture: Mickey Rourke is set to play Randy “The Ram” Robinson in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler,” Variety reports.

Mickey Rourke
Photo credit: Steve Granitz, WireImage.com
The role was previously reported as being played by Nicolas Cage. It had been previously unclear as to whether Aronofsky would direct. The film is set to shoot beginning in Jan. 2008.

Aronofsky has been denying association with numerous projects since the release of “The Fountain” this time in 2006.

These include a fast-tracked thriller set in the world ballet (“Black Swan”), a biopic on boxer Mickey Ward (“The Fighter”) and a Noah’s Ark epic (which Aronofsky himself is writing). The shoot date fits with recent comments Aronofsky made on his blog.

“[N]othing you’ve seen online or anywhere is accurate,” Aronofsky wrote on Oct. 1. He added that the real and then-unannounced project would shoot in Jan. 2008.

“The Fighter” seemed most likely next as it was set to star Mark Wahlberg and Brad Pitt. The film was originally to reunite Wahlberg with his “Departed” co-star Matt Damon until Pitt replaced Damon.

This was viewed odd at the time of the announcement since Pitt dropping out of “The Fountain” in 2002 led to a production delay of three years.

Rourke, whose career has been recently revived since “Sin City,” spent the early 1990s returning to his teenage career of boxing. Did you know, according to Wikipedia, he was originally offered Bruce Willis’ role in “Pulp Fiction” and was edited out of “The Thin Red Line”?

Space... A Confusing Frontier: Just when we asked for more clarification on J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot, IESB has published a lengthy, spoiler-filled rumor to answer the question.

“Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979.
Photo credit: Mel Traxel, MPTV.net
While the report emphasizes spoilers, it’s relatively tame information that will probably be featured in a first full-length trailer. (I don’t mean the other rumored teaser, which will allegedly show the Enterprise being built.)

The rumors do sound interesting. Read on to see how and if the 11th “Star Trek” connects to the greats of the series, from the best movie (“The Wrath of Khan”) to the best Original Series episode (“The City on the Edge of Forever”).

Update: AICN has an angry email response from “City’s” teleplay author, Harlan Ellison.

‘Thomas Crown 2’ Now to Feature Boobs, Jesus Imagery: Paul Verhoeven told a Dutch radio program he will direct a sequel to John McTiernan’s “The Thomas Crown Affair,” which itself is a remake of Norman Jewison’s 1968 version.

Paul Verhoeven
Photo credit: Columbia Pictures
According to this translation, “The Topkapi Affair” will combine elements of Eric Ambler’s novel (“The Light of Day”) and its earlier film adaptation. The almost confirmed casting has Angelina Jolie co-starring.

While the original remake was fine, this is sad considering Verhoeven’s recent pledge to get out of Hollywood filmmaking.

He was supposed to shoot another Dutch film (“Kneeling on a Bed of Violets”) in 2007. His last film (“Black Book”) is still in my top five of films released in 2007. It’d be nice if McTiernan himself would direct this if he weren’t so tied up going to jail.

By Shane Hazen
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Top 10 RorysDeathKiss.com Joker Photos For ‘The Dark Knight’ Viral Marketing

2007-11-11T22:15:00.001-06:00

The photos are flooding in for “The Dark Knight” viral marketing campaign as directed by RorysDeathKiss.com, which lit up on Oct. 31.

Fans are charged with sporting their best Joker attire in front of their city’s most famous landmark. The main page of Rory’s Death Kiss now features a wide array of fan submissions along with various top picks.

On Nov. 1, I published a montage of photos displaying fans putting their mirror to the Joker for Halloween. I promised to do so again once groups started organizing in front of their city landmarks.

I’ve sorted through shots sent directly to me along with photos from the viral marketing site to create the top 10 Joker photos.

Theater: Joyce Piven’s ‘What Dreams May Come’ a Mitzvah Lost in Adaptation

2007-11-11T16:52:00.000-06:00

CHICAGO – Before you’re served this meal, you’re treated to a backstory of four integral ingredients that are three parts encouragement and one part concern.

The Piven Theatre, which is co-founded by Joyce Piven (the mother of Chicago film star Jeremy Piven), is kicking off its upcoming theater season by revisiting an acclaimed format that sold out shows throughout its run two years ago.

For more delectable buildup, a personal note from director Joyce Piven on this year’s “What Dreams May Come: American Visions Through Jewish Eyes” perfectly puts you in the storytelling mood.

The tale of her credulous and selfless grandfather, Jake, is one you’re inspired by and proud to tell about an elder you love and respect. Jake Piven ran a small grocery store off Roosevelt Road where he had a “credit record” of all things purchased to be paid without interest when the person could afford it.

For even more fodder to this looming feast, you learn its three stories are penned by one Pulitzer Prize-winning Jewish author (Bernard Malamud) and another Nobel Prize-winning Jewish writer (Isaac Bashevis Singer).

Once you’re primed with encouragement of 2005’s success coupled with the vivid details of her grandfather and what must decisively be superlative writing, though, you dive into the performance with open-minded apprehension after reading the relatively lacking cast credits.

The three back-to-back stories all impart decidedly different lessons without any connection to one other. The first – wrapped in a woman’s dream of her parents – feels lost in its own melodrama.

You warm up to the second – on the thought-provoking concept of buying a miracle on faith for your terminally ill father – and especially the third, which centers around life and if you’d know you’re dead all wrapped in the paramount question of who a person should spend a life loving.

Once you’ve eaten the trio, you’re hesitant to feel entirely awed ultimately because of one overarching theme: you get the feeling brilliance is here but it’s partially lost in its adaptation and direction.

On opening night, Joyce emerged from the crowd with lukewarm and deservedly earned feedback. While changes were necessary and gaps needed filling, her good-deeded mitzvah is the gift of thought and discussion.

“What Dreams May Come: American Visions Through Jewish Eyes” runs through Dec. 16 at the Piven Theatre in Evanston. 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $23-$25.

By Adam Fendelman
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com

© 2007 Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com

Debut Film ‘Killer Bean Forever’ Coming From ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ Animator Jeff Lew

2007-11-11T01:25:00.000-06:00

Jeff Lew, the lead animator for “The Matrix Reloaded” and an animator for “X-Men,” is taking special effects into his own hands in his feature-length directorial debut of “Killer Bean Forever”.

Lew says on his Web site: “For the past four years, I’ve been working at my computer 14 hours a day, seven days a week. I’ve spent my entire life savings and maxed out credit cards.” Here’s the trailer.

His list of software used includes Maya, Final Render, Vegas, Photoshop, Syntheyes, Acid Pro, Audition, Particle Illusion, Vue, Renderpal and Seamless Texture Generator. Here’s some trivia:

The current length of the movie is 85 minutes.

The screenplay was written over a 1.5-year period.

Pre-visualization took nine months.

Modeling and texturing took about six months.

Animation took about 2.5 years.

Final renders are in high definition.

Rendering final shots started well over a year ago and still continues.

There are more than 1,000 shots.

The longest shot is a continuous 76 seconds.

The shortest shot is eight frames long.

The renderfarm started with three dual-core computers. They have now been replaced with four quad-core computers.

Each rendering computer is equipped with two gigabytes of memory.

The maximum amount of polygons rendered for a single shot is 1.9 million.

Every shot is rendered using a simulated physical camera using true depth of field.

Lew hasn’t yet announced when the film will release. He says the following on the difficulties posed in its creation:

The hardest part about making a feature-length movie is getting through the massive number of shots.

I set up a pipeline/method that allowed me to animate easily. Pretty much all the lighting in the movie uses similar setups (just different colors and intensities).

The difficult part was when it came time to render the shot. Some shots just had too many polygons to render and I was limited by using 32-bit software.

Some of those shots took about one to four hours of work just to get it to render. Multiply that by 1,000 shots and that’s a lot of time and headache.

Other than that, the action scenes have been really tough mostly because the amount of shots per minute becomes a lot higher than normal scenes.

There were times where I would work all day and only come out with four seconds.

Confirmed List, Dates of Every Film Scheduled to Open Now Through End of 2007

2007-11-10T13:05:00.000-06:00

Here is a helpful list of every film scheduled to open between now and the end of 2007 with Web site links. The dates are confirmed from our Chicago Film Critics Association publicists and current as of this moment.

Nov. 16
“Beowulf”
“Love in the Time of Cholera”
“Naked Boys Singing!”
“O Jerusalem”
“Redacted”
“Southland Tales”
“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”

Nov. 21
“Enchanted”
“August Rush”
“Hitman”
“I’m Not There”
“Margot at the Wedding”
“Stephen King’s The Mist”
“This Christmas”
“Christmas in Wonderland”

Nov. 23
“Milarepa”
“Sing-Along Grease”

Nov. 28
“The Savages”

Nov. 30
“Awake”
“For the Bible Tells Me So”
“It’s Fine! Everything is Fine.”
“What Would Jesus Buy?”

Dec. 1
“Metropolis”

Dec. 7
“Atonement”
“Protagonist”
“Romance & Cigarettes”
“The Walker”
“The Golden Compass”

Dec. 12
“The Perfect Holiday”

Dec. 14
“Grace is Gone”
“I Am Legend
”“Juno”
“The Kite Runner”
“Starting Out in the Evening”
“Alvin & The Chipmunks”

Dec. 21
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
“National Treasure: Book of Secrets”
“P.S. I Love You”
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”
“Youth Without Youth”
“Man in the Chair”

Dec. 25
“Alien vs. Predator: Requiem”
“Charlie Wilson’s War”
“The Great Debaters”
“The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep”

Morgan Spurlock From ‘Super Size Me’ Asks ‘What Would Jesus Buy?’

2007-11-10T12:05:00.000-06:00

Morgan Spurlock, who you’ll remember from gaining 25 pounds eating nothing but McDonald’s in the game-changing documentary “Super Size Me,” is back as the producer of “What Would Jesus Buy?”.

I have downloaded the following still images of the documentary from a press FTP server. The first six images display the good reverend in action and the last is director Rob VanAlkemade.

Here’s the storyline:

The charismatic reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir take us on a cross-country crusade to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse.

Their mission begins on Black Friday when families bloated from their Thanksgiving turkeys spend the night freezing in mile-long lines to trample each other at early bird sales.

Reverend Billy is here to invade the parking lots and temples of commerce to liberate consumers from their corporate trances.

From preaching at the Mall of America to exorcising the demons from Wal-Mart headquarters, Billy takes his gospel to the promised land.

In Chicago, the documentary opens on Nov. 30 at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema. The film will also open in Austin, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco.

VanAlkemade said this in his director’s statement on the documentary:

The plan was simple.

In six weeks, we would assemble a very specific plan and synopsis, a substantial budget from producers and philanthropists compelled to help slow down our shopping, a brave and gifted crew and two vintage bio-diesel buses able to transport 40 tireless performance activists [across the country].

With all of that support behind us, we knew we just had to get out there and save Christmas from the Shopocalypse.

After this successful tour, my story editor and I quickly traveled the country interviewing specialists. Our total tape count (to the delight of our editors) was nearly 900 hours.

We were all inspired by the idea of spreading the good gospel to the skeptical and strived for the same while crafting the edit.

I’m sure many who may not be entirely receptive to performance activism in their everyday lives can easily connect with some of our themes.

The story behind the product on the shelf matters. Our own time is more valuable than any object. The holiday season is an opportunity to reflect on what means the most to us and to act accordingly.

Our intention is to start a conversation and to encourage some change starting perhaps in our own personal routines.

[As] it’s also a holiday film, we do need to enjoy ourselves even as we’re facing the end of the world from shopping.

Spy Photos Surface From ‘The Dark Knight’ Filming in Hong Kong

2007-11-10T10:54:00.000-06:00

As we know, “The Dark Knight” has moved its filming crew from Chicago to the hectic Hong Kong. On Friday afternoon, Ain’t It Cool News released a montage of grainy yet sufficient photos to capture the scene chaos.

In these 10 photos, we see Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and director Chris Nolan. Notice the particularly interesting photo with Bale as Wayne photographing someone himself.

Audio: 36-Minute Interview With First-Time Director Alison Eastwood on ‘Rails & Ties’

2007-11-09T12:29:00.000-06:00

I am publishing my full, 36-minute audio interview with first-time director Alison Eastwood on “Rails & Ties” in unedited form from Oct. 8, 2007 in Chicago. Alison is the daughter of Clint Eastwood.

Click here for the Alison Eastwood interview.

“Rails & Ties” director Alison Eastwood in Chicago on Oct. 8, 2007.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
“Rails & Ties,” which stars Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden, opened in Chicago on Nov. 9 at Landmark’s Renaissance Place Cinema in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.

Scoop: Stacy Keach From ‘American History X,’ ‘Prison Break’ Joins ‘Chicago Overcoat’

2007-11-09T12:06:00.000-06:00

I just received a detail-packed casting update about “Chicago Overcoat,” which has been and continues to film in Chicago. This information comes from casting director Chris Charles.

Hello, Adam. We are on day 35 of 50 for “Chicago Overcoat” and the production is running smoothly.

I just thought I’d send you an update on the film. I am very pleased to report that veteran actor Stacy Keach (“American History X,” “Prison Break”) recently joined the cast of “Chicago Overcoat”.

Stacy Keach
Photo credit: Jemal Countess, WireImage.com
Keach was in town last week to play retired Chicago detective Ray Berkowski: a character who provides crucial information that propels the plot forward.

Keach, who has performed for years at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, will share screen time with his old friend, Danny Goldring, who plays detective Ralph Maloney in the film.

Goldring was Keach’s understudy for the Goodman’s 2004 production of Arthur Miller’s “Finishing the Picture”. Three years later, they are acting side by side in “Chicago Overcoat”.

Robert Redford to Walk ‘Green Carpet’ Tonight in Chicago For ‘Lions For Lambs’

2007-11-08T13:28:00.000-06:00

I just learned moments ago that Robert Redford will be in Chicago tonight at AMC River East 21 to walk an environmental “green carpet” to promote “Lions For Lambs”. The event is a private benefit.

Robert Redford in “Lions For Lambs”.
Photo credit: IMDb
Redford directs and stars in the film along with Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. “Lions For Lambs” opens wide on Nov. 9.

Spoiler: Latino Review Reveals Joker Introduction in ‘The Dark Knight’

2007-11-07T11:18:00.000-06:00

Latino Review’s Kellvin Chavez posted a brief report on Nov. 6 revealing new plot details about the introduction of Heath Ledger as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”. If you don't want to know, don’t read below.

Heath Ledger (left) as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
The Latino Review post, which is labeled as an exclusive, is citing an anonymous “executive high up on the Warner Bros. food chain” following a dinner in New York city. Spoiler information is below.

“The Dark Knight” begins with the Joker robbing a huge bank (we’ve seen photos of this everywhere). The bank is where the mob and all the gangs in Gotham keep all their money.

The Joker takes this money and holds it “ransom”. The Joker then says to the mob and the gangs of Gotham: “If you help me take down Batman, you’ll get your money back. If not, I’m going to burn it all.”

This is how the Joker assembles his army to take down Batman.

Trailer For Oscar Hopeful ‘The Great Debaters’ Goes Online

2007-11-06T14:40:00.001-06:00

The trailer for the Denzel Washington-directed film “The Great Debaters” just went online at Yahoo! Movies.

Click here for “The Great Debaters” trailer.

Denzel Washington in “The Great Debaters”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The film, which is produced by Oprah Winfrey, stars Washington and 2006’s best-actor Oscar winner Forrest Whitaker. It’s set for release on Christmas Day and is expected to be the Weinstein Company’s big entry for this year’s Oscars.

Confirmed: ‘Eagle Eye’ Filming in Chicago From Nov. 6 to 16

2007-11-06T12:52:00.000-06:00

Since actor Shia LaBeouf popped up on the Chicago grid this weekend and was arrested following an incident at a Walgreens on the Magnificent Mile, we questioned which film he was in town to film.

Michelle Monaghan (left) and Rosario Dawson.
Photo credit: IMDb
IMDb lists LaBeouf as only having two projects in the works: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Eagle Eye”. We know the new Indiana Jones didn’t film in Chicago and we logically assumed “Eagle Eye” would be it.

I can now confirm that LaBeouf is in Chicago for “Eagle Eye” filming.

Rich Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, told me on Tuesday: “‘Eagle Eye’ is currently scheduled to be filming in Chicago and the surrounding area from Nov. 6 to 16.”

Shia LaBeouf (left) and Billy Bob Thornton.
Photo credit: IMDb
Directed by D.J. Caruso (“Disturbia,” “Taking Lives”), the film stars Shia LaBeouf (“Transformers,” “Disturbia”), Michelle Monaghan (“Gone Baby Gone”), Rosario Dawson and Billy Bob Thornton (“The Astronaut Farmer”).

In “Eagle Eye,” IMDb says “a young slacker and a single mom get tangled up in a terrorist cell plotting a political assassination”.

Jack Nicholson Talks to MTV About Possible Third ‘Chinatown’

2007-11-05T16:30:00.000-06:00

In an interview with MTV News, Josh Horowitz talks to Jack Nicholson about the new DVD releases of his directed films and the heretofore unheard-of plot details for a prospective third “Chinatown”.

Jack Nicholson in “Chinatown” in 1974.
Photo credit: MPTV.net

MTV: Was the third film in the “Chinatown” trilogy ever scripted?

Nicholson: No. I would imagine Robert [Towne] has some kind of outline. I can tell you it was meant to be set in 1968 when no-fault divorce went into effect in California.

The title was to be “Gittes vs. Gittes”. It was to be about Gittes’ divorce. The secrecy of Meg Tilly’s character was ... to involve the most private person in California: Howard Hughes.

That is where the air element would have come into the picture.

MTV: Would you consider doing the film still? I would think if you and Towne said “we want to do this,” Paramount would say: “Go for it.”

Nicholson: I certainly would consider it.

I would imagine Bob would as well. [But the second film’s behind-the-scenes problems] left a few bruises. I don’t know how Paramount would be. The timing is about right.

In the introduction to the book “The Whole Equation,” critic and historian David Thomson describes Towne’s original ideas for a proposed trilogy of “Chinatown” movies.

Especially in view of current Hollywood events, Thomson ironically used Towne as an example to illustrate screenwriters’ willing helplessness. Towne’s proposed trilogy was based on the original “Chinatown” happy ending.

Towne’s original third movie had to do with dismantling Los Angeles’ town car system. Thomson pointed out the same plot was used in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, which itself loosely parodied “Chinatown.”

(11/7 Update: It’s rumored that Towne himself was picketing, even though he allegedly has trouble walking. He was, according to AICN’s Moriarty, “sitting in a lawn chair on the line at Sony.”)

Director Steven Soderbergh recently called “Chinatown” “a classic that – in my opinion – is even better than we all think”.

One of my most distinctive film experiences involved watching “Chinatown” in an auditorium of college kids who had no idea what they were getting into. You could feel the room get palpably more disturbed.

Jack Nicholson.
Photo credit: ViewImages.com
Nicholson goes on to speak about changes made for “The Two Jakes” DVD, which is an underrated misfire that – for my money – has as equally haunting a last line as the original “Chinatown”.

No mention was made of Nicholson’s widely respected but largely unseen directorial debut entitled “Drive, He Said”.

By Shane Hazen
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

‘Transformers’ Star Shia LaBeouf Arrested in Chicago, Charged With Criminal Trespassing

2007-11-05T12:39:00.000-06:00

When “Transformers” star Shia LaBeouf was in Chicago this weekend, his trip went awry and he spent some time with Chicago police.

Shia LaBeouf
Photo credit: CBS 2 Chicago
The 21-year-old actor was reluctantly handled by security guards at a downtown Walgreens at 757 N. Michigan Ave. Around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Chicago police arrested him due to his unwillingness to leave the store.

Chicago police said a security guard excessively told LaBeouf he wasn’t welcome and had to leave because he appeared to be drunk. LaBeouf refused and a guard called the cops.

Once the cuffs went on, police said LaBeouf was “very courteous and polite”. Police said he posted bond before 7 a.m. on Sunday. He is a resident of Glendale, Calif.

LaBeouf, who was charged with a misdemeanor for criminal trespassing, is slated to appear in court in on Nov. 28 at 9 a.m.

He was in Chicago to film a movie. IMDb only lists him as having two projects in the works: “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “Eagle Eye”.

8:16 a.m. update on 11/6/07: Shia LaBeouf’s official mugshot from this Chicago arrest has surfaced online.

Shia LaBeouf’s Chicago mugshot.
Photo credit: The Smoking Gun

International ‘Iron Man’ Teaser Surfaces at YouTube

2007-11-05T12:11:00.000-06:00

The new, international “Iron Man” teaser is now online at YouTube. The 59-second spot showcases a little more Gwenyth Paltrow. She at least gets one line.

Click here for the international “Iron Man” teaser.
The film, which is directed by Jon Favreau (“Elf,” “Zathura”) and stars Robert Downey Jr., Paltrow, Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges, is set for release on May 2, 2008.

Robert Downey Jr. in “Iron Man”.
Photo credit: IMDb

News You Need: WGA Says Pencils Down, ‘Nailed’ Being Fashioned, Stallone’s Comeback

2007-11-05T02:25:00.000-06:00

Pencils Down: The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike went official at 12:01 a.m. EST on Monday.

Eleventh-hour talks ended when the WGA, which has been fighting the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers) primarily for more residuals in DVD and extra media sales, refused to delay the strike past the start date set last Friday.

Variety has the rundown. Ultimately, movies will not have an immediate effect and most scripted television shows have a backlog of five episodes.

However, daily talk shows like “The Tonight Show” and “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” will go into re-runs. “The Daily Show” and host and executive producer Jon Stewart is reportedly showing a sign of solidarity by paying his picketing writing staff two weeks’ salary from his own pocket.

The WGA is expecting high-profile picketing. Some high-status writers including John August (“Big Fish,” “Go”) and Jane Espenson (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Battlestar Galactica”) have posted on their blogs where they’re picketing on Monday.

Members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) are expected to join the picket lines since their contract along with the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) expires in June. Both SAG and the DGA’s prominent bargaining points are identical to the WGA’s.

In Chicago, ReelChicago.com says one casualty of the strike will be Lifetime’s planned series “Family Practice”.

Meanwhile, Greencine Daily has posted an interesting link to mark the occasion: a 1945 Atlantic Monthly essay on screenwriting by classic noir novelist Raymond Chandler (“The Big Sleep”). Chandler wrote:

To me, the interesting point about Hollywood’s writers ... is not how few or how many they are but how little of worth their talent is allowed to achieve.

For among the best reporting on the strike, check out Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily. An immediate settlement is not expected.

8:19 a.m. update on 11/6/07: Illinois Sen. Barack Obama had this to say in reaction to the WGA strike:

I stand with the writers.

The guild’s demand is a test of whether media corporations are going to give writers a fair share of the wealth their work creates or continue concentrating profits in the hands of their executives.

I urge the producers to work with the writers so everyone can get back to work.

I Heart Political Satire: The great Class of ’99 member David O. Russell is in negotiations to co-write and direct “Nailed”. He’s making a noble effort to have more projects in the works than Steven Spielberg.

David O. Russell (on right).
Photo credit: Lester Cohen, WireImage.com
“Nailed,” which will star Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel, is about a bizarrely injured woman who crusades to Washington. It’s being co-written by Kristen Gore (the daughter of Al Gore and a former “Futurama” writer).

There’s currently no word on Russell’s proposed adaptation of Kristen Gore’s autobiographical novel “Sammy’s Hill,” the “The H-Man Commeth” (which is set to star Vince Vaughan as a radio host) or his proposed White Queen “X-Men” spin-off.

Let’s not waste an opportunity to link to Russell’s most recent bout with fame. That link, by the way, contains adult language.

Sylvester Stallone’s 468th Comeback: Stallone is in negotiations to direct and star in a remake of “Death Wish” probably because he ran out of old franchises to give a one-off revitalization.

Sylvester Stallone (on left).
Photo credit: Eric Charbonneau, WireImage.com
This “Death Wish” is not to be confused with the other recent unintentional “Death Wish” remake known as “The Brave One”.

By Shane Hazen
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Audio: 33-Minute Interview With ‘Michael Clayton’ Director Tony Gilroy

2007-11-04T18:22:00.000-06:00

I am publishing my full, 33-minute audio interview with “Michael Clayton” writer and director Tony Gilroy in unedited form from Oct. 9, 2007 in Chicago.

Click here for the Tony Gilroy interview.

“Michael Clayton” director Tony Gilroy in Chicago on Oct. 9, 2007.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/HollywoodChicago.com
“Michael Clayton” was Gilroy’s directorial debut. He also wrote “The Bourne Ultimatum, “The Bourne Supremacy, “The Bourne Identity,” “Armageddon,” “The Devil’s Advocate” and “The Cutting Edge”.

Listen to Gilroy as he describes in my interview his 10-year effort that is “Michael Clayton”. My full review of “Michael Clayton” can be found here.

Rory’s Death Kiss Reveals Submission Page, Nov. 17 Deadline For ‘The Dark Knight’

2007-11-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

Prompted by “The Dark Knight” viral marketing wizards, the mass organization and real-life clown mayhem has officially begun.

Let’s recap. Moments before midnight Chicago time on Oct. 30 (I know because I was clicking refresh on WhySoSerious.com throughout the 11 o’clock hour), WhySoSerious.com revealed its Halloween game.

The challenge had fans gallivanting around the streets of the U.S. capturing photos of letters based on clues. Pictures were submitted online, and when they were correct, they began forming a sentence.

In the end, this was revealed: “The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules.” Enthusiasts were rewarded with a new photo of the Joker, but ultimately, they crave more for their work.

A follow-up challenge ensued from a new domain name: RorysDeathKiss.com. It asked fans to organize in large numbers at the “most famous landmark in your city” dressed up like the Joker.

Fans are to photograph these gatherings, but initially, weren’t informed how to submit them. Now they can. At the bottom of the Rory’s Death Kiss note, the word “Smile” has become an active link.

I have made a screenshot of the page below and outlined in a red box where to click. To make it easy on you, here’s the direct link to the submission page, too.

Upon clicking the “Smile,” a new page loads. It’s the submission page for fans to send in their photos of landmark clown chaos. See the screenshot below.

Notice the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Nov. 17 for photo submissions. Also, notice the new privacy policy from Warner Bros.

On Nov. 1, I published more than 20 photos submitted to me and posted to threads of fans costumed as the Joker on Halloween. The same offer stands for these group photos. Send them here.

10:45 a.m. update: HollywoodChicago.com cohort Peter Sciretta at /Film recently published a scanned filming notice alerting Hong Kong residents of “The Dark Knight” aerial filming to “introduce Hong Kong in the film” using high-tech IMAX cameras.

Vince Vaughn to Walk Chicago Red Carpet on Nov. 5 For ‘Fred Claus’

2007-11-01T16:57:00.000-05:00

I have just learned that Vince Vaughn is confirmed to walk a Chicago red carpet on Nov. 5 for “Fred Claus”. Red-carpet arrivals start at 5 p.m. that day on the second floor of AMC River East 21 at 322 E. Illinois St.

Paul Giamatti (left) and Vince Vaughn in “Fred Claus”.
Photo credit: IMDb
The event is presented by Warner Bros. and American Eagle Outfitters. Directed by David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”), the film features Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Spacey, Kathy Bates, Elizabeth Banks and Ludacris.

“Fred Claus” was filmed in Chicago and parts of England. The story centers around Fred Claus – Santa’s bitter, older brother – who is forced to move to the North Pole. The red-carpet event is open to the public.

What Do ‘The Dark Knight’ Fans Look Like as the Joker?

2007-11-01T13:15:00.000-05:00

The viral marketing power of “The Dark Knight” has been throttled into overdrive this week as buzz-building site WhySoSerious.com has influenced fans across the U.S. to play along and dress up as the Joker.

At the conclusion of this week’s WhySoSerious.com challenge, which had enthusiasts roaming the streets of their cities to snap photos based on clues, a new viral marketing site was born: Rory’s Death Kiss.

As a reminder, Rory is the name of director Chris Nolan’s son and he has been using “Rory’s First Kiss” as the working title for the film.

RorysDeathKiss.com is asking people to dress up like the Joker and organize at the “most famous landmark in your city” (without getting arrested).

In the meantime, the Joker is either emerging as one of the most popular Halloween costumes or this specialized niche just can’t wait to replicate his evil ways.

I’ve cropped and am publishing below some of the best Joker costumes submitted to me and posted on various threads.

Teddy Moore in Chicago.
Name used with permission.

For fun, here’s someone dressed up as Poison Ivy.

Following ‘Broken Flowers,’ Director Jim Jarmusch to Helm ‘The Limits of Control’

2007-10-31T19:02:00.000-05:00

Focus Features on Wednesday announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch’s new film, which is tentatively titled “The Limits of Control”.

Jim Jarmusch
Photo credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
Jarmusch wrote and directed “Broken Flowers” and “Coffee and Cigarettes”. He acted in “Sling Blade” in 1996. “Broken Flowers” is his top-grossing feature.

“Jarmusch defines what it means to be an independent filmmaker for audiences all over the world,” Focus CEO James Schamus said in a statement. “We’re delighted to rejoin with him following our success with ‘Broken Flowers’.”

Jarmusch is slated to begin shooting the new film in Spain in Feb 2008. Focus Features International will initiate overseas sales for the movie this week at the American Film Market.

The film is the story of a mysterious loner whose activities remain carefully outside the law. He is in the process of completing a job while trusting no one.

Stacey Smith, who has worked with Jarmusch for a decade, and Gretchen McGowan, who co-produced “Coffee and Cigarettes,” will produce.

Cinematographer Christopher Doyle (“In the Mood for Love”) will be the film’s director of photography. Eugenio Caballero (“Pan’s Labryinth”) will be the film’s production designer.

Longtime collaborator Jay Rabinowitz will edit the film. Jon Kilik (“Babel”) will executive produce.

Jarmusch and his company, PointBlank Films, were represented by Bart Walker of Cinetic Media in negotiating the agreement.

‘Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium’ Vying to Break Guinness World Toy Record

2007-10-31T18:24:00.000-05:00

I was informed on Wednesday that Walden Media and Fox Walden are vying to break the Guiness World Record for the largest toy drive. They intend to amass 12,000 pounds of toys from Nov. 6 to 12.

The Guiness World Record is calculated based on the most toys collected within a week as valued by total weight. The film companies are working with Toys for Tots to reach the goal.

The buzz-building excercise is timed to the holiday release of “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” which is written and directed by Zach Helm. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman and Zach Mills.

“What an incredibly special way to bring some of the magic from this movie off the screen and into the lives of children this holiday season,” Portman said in a statement.

“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”
Photo credit: IMDb
“Toy chests” will be placed in movie theatres, schools, libraries, community centers and businesses throughout New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Each market has a goal to collect at least 1,200 pounds of toys. Fox Walden will also conduct an online campaign that allows people across the country to build a toy online.

The film, which is a Walden Media and Mandate Pictures co-production, opens on Nov. 16.

Official Theatrical Trailer to ‘Wanted’ Surfaces Online in Advance of ‘American Gangster’

2007-10-30T22:05:00.000-05:00

The official theatrical trailer to “Wanted,” which stars Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman and was filmed in part in Chicago, just surfaced online. I’ve added it to YouTube and embedded it below.

On Oct. 29, the official stills surfaced. On Oct. 27, it was announced that the trailer you now see in this post will appear in preview to “American Gangster,” which opens on Nov. 2.

Jolie plays an assassin named Fox. Speaking of having a trigger finger, why have the film sites plug that the trailer will be shown in preview to “American Gangster” but then release it online a few days prior?

Also, you’ll notice in this trailer that every official still photograph that graced our eyes not but one day ago can be seen in fast action in this trailer.

Michigan Filmmaker David Meiklejohn Using Internet as Director For Documentary

2007-10-30T20:39:00.000-05:00

We recently learned about filmmakers David Meiklejohn and Davy Rothbart and their project “My Heart is an Idiot”. It’s a documentary in progress that’s partially using the Internet as its director.

Meiklejohn, who’s actually directing, is publishing video chunks weekly at the film’s Web site for feedback, criticism and the submission of “great ideas we can steal and make millions from,” he jests.

The film’s Web site is here. The film’s MySpace is here. I have embedded the first video chunk below.

“My Heart is an Idiot” is about love through the lens of a 32-year-old man who doesn’t know what he wants in a relationship. The filmmakers hope the experience will help viewers learn to “love better”.

The film is currently in post-production, which means Meiklejohn “spends more time in front of a computer than out in sunlight with normal people”.

He’s soliciting the online community because he says “working for 12 hours a day in a basement by myself gets … a little … lonely. Just kidding. Mostly.” He edits from his home basement in Ann Arbor, Mich.

First-Look Stills Surface For ‘This Christmas,’ ‘First Sunday’

2007-10-30T12:41:00.000-05:00

I have been sent from my Chicago agency contacts FTP access to first-look stills for “This Christmas” and “First Sunday”. These currently don’t appear on IMDb.

Starring Mekhi Phifer, Regina King and Chris Brown, “This Christmas” is a Christmas drama centered around a family’s first holiday together in four years. The film will open on Nov. 21. Its official stills follow.

“First Sunday,” which stars Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan, opens on Jan. 11, 2008. In the comedy, Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan are best friends and bumbling petty criminals.

When told they have one week to pay a $17,000 debt or Ice Cube’s character will lose his son, they come up with a desperate scheme to rob their neighborhood church. Its official stills follow.

Radio Show Sound of Young America Goes Public in Chicago on Oct. 31

2007-10-30T11:46:00.000-05:00

The Sound of Young America – a public radio show syndicated through Public Radio International and a Time Magazine “Pick of the Podcasts” in 2006 – will be hosting a live Chicago show and taping on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. at the Second City e.t.c. stage.

The show is free. Hosted by Jesse Thorn (“America’s radio sweetheart”), the program will feature an interview with legendary music engineer Steve Albini.

Ablini is best known for working with artists such as The Stooges, Nirvana, Bush, Screeching Weasel, Superchunk and the Pixies along with being the frontman for the band Shellac.

Always controversial, Albini has long been a pundit of indie and mainstream music. Chicago comic favorites Hannibal Buress, Team Submarine, Schadenfreude and Second City comics will also perform that evening.

Stephen Colbert (left) and Jesse Thorn.
Photo courtesy of the Sound of Young America
Comedians comprise about a third of the show. The balance features the full arts and entertainment spectrum including authors, TV personalities, musicians and bands. Thorn started the show when he was in college.

He has interviewed personalities including Stephen Colbert, Art Spiegelman and Ira Glass. Something of comedian himself, Thorn is committed to promoting independent and “alternative” comedy.

By Dustin Levell
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

© 2007 Dustin Levell, HollywoodChicago.com

Universal Releases First-Look Images For ‘Wanted’ With Jolie, Freeman

2007-10-29T15:28:00.001-05:00

Universal on Monday released first-look images for “Wanted,” which stars Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman and was filmed in part in Chicago. These were first published here.

Notice the second official photo above with Jolie (who plays an assassin) in the red Dodge Viper. We have been publishing the following photo by James Devaney of Getty Images, which was shot on set.

Rotting WhySoSerious.com Pumpkin Showing Two-Face Personality

2007-10-28T23:45:00.000-05:00

As the clock counts down to Halloween and countless enthusiasts wait to see what the rotting pumpkin on WhySoSerious.com reveals for “The Dark Knight,” one pattern has clearly emerged:

The pumpkin is only rotting on one side.
You could say it has a split personality. You could say it has – yes – two faces. While it’s premature to confirm the presence of Two-Face (an enemy of Batman), stay tuned in the coming days for the answer.

Moments ago, I created a new screenshot of the current face of WhySoSerious.com. It’s directly below and on the left. The right image is from Oct. 26.

The screenshot below and on the left I created on Oct. 18 before the rotting began. The screenshot on the right is from Oct. 22.

News You Need: ‘Awake’ Trailer, ‘Blade Runner’ in Chicago, Sexiest Funny Girls in Hollywood

2007-10-28T16:07:00.001-05:00

Every year, one out of 700 patients – or an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 of the 21 million patients – experience “anesthetic awareness,” according to a Nov. 23, 2004 Washington Post article by Sandra Boodman.

This event happens “when surgical patients can recall their surroundings or an event – sometimes even pain – related to their surgery while they are under general anesthesia,” according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

On Nov. 30, the film “Awake” will debut in theaters nationwide to expose the surgical event. “Awake” stars Jessica Alba, Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker in the newer “Star Wars” films) and Terrence Howard.

“This film will do to surgery what ‘Jaws’ did to swimming in the ocean,” said Deutsch/Open City Films co-founder and producer Joana Vicente.

“As a victim of [this], I dedicated the last nine years to educating the public to help them understand the scope, sheer terror and trauma involved when awareness occurs,” said Anesthesia Awareness Campaign, Inc. founder Carol Weihrer.

She added: “There is no way to accurately describe to someone how it feels to be ‘entombed in a corpse’ as I was.” I have embedded the trailer for “Awake” below. (Source: Press release via e-mail)

Men’s entertainment site DoubleViking.com on Oct. 26 published what it views to be the “five sexiest funny girls in Hollywood”. Visuals follow. (Source: DoubleViking.com)

Anna Faris

Sarah Silverman

Kristen Wiig

Elizabeth Banks

Isla Fisher
The Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 25 announced its three Audience Choice Award winners for 2007 based on ballots over the 14-day festival.

The awards went to “Control” (United Kingdom) from director Anton Corbijn, “Lovesickness” (Puerto Rico) and “Spirit of the Marathon” (U.S.) from director Jon Dunham on the Chicago Marathon. (Source: Press release via e-mail)

“Blade Runner: The Final Cut” has a a limited-run theatrical engagement in select cities through the fall and holiday season in conjunction with the anticipated DVD release.

The film opens in Chicago on Nov. 2 at the Music Box Theatre in honor of the 25th anniversary of Ridley Scott’s science-fiction masterpiece.

The film has been restored with new and improved special effects. It also includes never-before-seen added and extended scenes that Scott created specifically for the new edition. (Source: Press release via e-mail)

1982’s “Blade Runner,” which stars Harrison Ford.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has awarded $450,000 to 20 U.S. film festivals for the 2008 calendar year.

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the Virginia Film Festival will each receive a total of $75,000 over a three-year period.

The Los Angeles Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival will each receive $50,000 in 2007 as part of multi-year grants. The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival will receive $30,000.

The Austin Film Festival will receive $30,000. The Chicago Latino Film Festival and the St. Louis International Film Festival will each receive $20,000. (Source: Press release via e-mail)

News You Need: ‘Wanted’ Trailer Imminent, ‘Angels & Demons’ OKed, Third ‘Underworld’

2007-10-27T03:20:00.001-05:00

It was revealed on Oct. 26 that the first trailer from Universal Pictures for “Wanted,” which filmed in part in Chicago, will debut in theaters in preview to “American Gangster,” which opens on Nov. 2.

“Wanted,” which stars Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy, is slated to release on March 28, 2008. (Source: Superhero! Hype)

Angelina Jolie filming “Wanted” in Chicago.
Photo credit: James Devaney of Getty Images
Following up on our Oct. 25 report on Ron Howard’s “Angels & Demons,” which is the highly anticipated prequel story to “The Da Vinci Code,” Rome on Oct. 25 approved required permits for the project to begin filming.

Shooting for “Angels & Demons” is set to begin on Feb. 18 mostly in Rome. The release for the film is currently slated for Dec. 2008. (Source: Hollywood Reporter)

A first-look photo of the Predalien – an alien and predator hybrid – was published on Oct. 26 from “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem,” which will hit theaters on Christmas. More first-look photos are here. (Source: USA TODAY)

The Predalien in “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem”.
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox
Filming began on Oct. 24 for “The Punisher” sequel “The Punisher: War Zone,” which stars Ray Stevenson. (Source: The Gazette)

New Line has plucked “Drafted,” which is a comic-book adaptation that will be produced by Benderspink. In the book, aliens converge on Earth to warn humans of an imminent invasion from another alien species. (Source: Hollywood Reporter)

Following “Underworld” in 2003 and “Underworld: Evolution” in 2006, Lakeshore Entertainment and Screen Gems are teaming to bring a third: “Underworld 3: The Rise of the Lycans”.

Patrick Tatopoulos, who created the creatures for the first two films, will helm the third with Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy and Rhona Mitra signed on to star. (Source: Variety)

Kate Beckinsale in 2006’s “Underworld: Evolution”.
Photo credit: IMDb
John Travolta has climbed aboard “The Taking of Pelham 123” in the Tony Scott-directed remake. He will star as the leader of a quartet that hijacks a Gotham subway train and threatens to kill the passengers unless a ransom is paid. (Source: Variety)

Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain”) will star with Gael Garcia Bernal in “Mammoth,” which is Swedish director Lukas Moodysson’s first English-language film.

The story centers around a successful New York couple whose lives take a dramatic turn after their father heads to the Philippines. (Source: Hollywood Reporter)

Peter Hedges, whose “Dan in Real Life” opened on Oct. 26, will direct “Everything Changes”. The film will be adapted from a book about a man on the verge of marrying the perfect girl when he undergoes a life crisis. (Source: Hollywood Reporter)

Phase Two: WhySoSerious.com Pumpkin For ‘The Dark Knight’ Now Rotting

2007-10-26T10:13:00.000-05:00

Now that the candle has burned down and only a flickering flame remains, “The Dark Knight” WhySoSerious.com pumpkin has launched into phase two: rotting. Here’s what it looks like as of this post:

To illustrate its transition, the screenshot below and on the left I created on Oct. 18. The screenshot on the right is from Oct. 22.

Stay tuned for... something.

‘Juno’ Due Date Moves Up, Free Advance-Screening Passes Available Across U.S.

2007-10-25T23:06:00.000-05:00

“Juno,” which has tied for our highest-rated 2007 film, is being delivered to theaters nine days earlier to ride its buzz wave.

Ellen Page (left) and Olivia Thirlby in “Juno”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
The release date has moved from Dec. 14 to Dec 5 in New York and Los Angeles. The film will expand on a platform release in the weeks thereafter.

To harnass the power of word-of-mouth marketing, Fox Searchlight is even dishing out a bevy of free, advance-screening passes to theaters across the country.

The Chicago screening is on Oct. 29. Click here to RSVP for free screenings. As of the time of this report’s publication, here is the full list of U.S. screenings:

Monday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m., AMC Village 7, New York
Monday, Oct. 29, 8:00 p.m., AMC River East, Chicago
Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., AMC Fashion Valley, San Diego
Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Regal Oakwood 18, Holl
Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., Uptown Palladium, Birmigham
Tuesday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., Regal Hollywood 24, Atlanta
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m., Bellevue Galleria, Bellevue
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m., Regal Fenway, Boston
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., AMC Georgetown, Washington
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., Embarcadero, San Francisco
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., Ritz East, Philadelphia
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., Angelika Dallas, Dallas
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., AMC Studio 30, Houston
Thursday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., Mann Chinese 6, Los Angeles
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m., Cumberland, Toronto
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., AMC Star Southfield, Southfield
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., Angelika Dallas, Dallas
Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., Landmark E Street, Washington
Thursday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m., AMC West 34th Street 14, New York
Thursday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Hollywood Blvd. Theatre, Woodridge
Thursday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m., UltraStar Hazard Center, San Diego
Thursday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Park Theatre, Vancouver
Thursday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m., AMC Boston Common, Boston
Thursday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m., The Bridge, Philadelphia
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., AMC Owings Mills, Owings Mills
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m., Arnold Cine, Arnold
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m., AMC Harvard Sq., Cambridge
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m., Cedar Lee Theatre, Cleveland Heights
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., Landmark La Jolla Village, La Jolla
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., Landmark Mayan, Denver
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Drexel East Theatre, Columbus
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., AMC Village 7, New York
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Sheppard Grande, Toronto
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., AMC Greenwood, Indianapolis
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Empire Granville, Vancouver
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m., Angelika Plano, Plano
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m., AMC Forum, Sterling Heights
Thursday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m., Bryn Mawr Film Institute, Bryn Mawr
Monday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., AMC Easton, Columbus
Monday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., UA Circle Centre, Indianapolis
Monday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., Emagine Canton, Canton
Monday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., Ritz Five, Philadelphia
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m., AMC Empire 25, New York
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m., Kenrick Cine, St. Louis
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., Solon Theater, Solon
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., Regal Hunt Valley, Hunt Valley
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., Angelika Dallas, Dallas
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m., Landmark Chez Artiste, Denver
Thursday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m., Silvercity Yonge/Eglinton, Toronto
Thursday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m., Cinemark Tinseltown, Vancouver
Monday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m., Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 7 p.m., Varsity, Toronto
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m., AMC Towson Commons, Towson
Thursday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., AMC Lowes College Park, Indianapolis
Thursday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., AMC West Olive Theatre, St. Louis
Thursday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., MARCUS CROSSWOODS, Columbus
Thursday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., UA Pavilions, Denver
Thursday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m., Regal Gallery Place, Washington
Thursday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m., Landmark Magnolia, Dallas
Monday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., CC Cherry Creek, Denver
Monday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., Broadway Centre, Salt Lake City
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., AMC Columbia 14, Columbia
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Regal Fenway, Boston
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Showcase Warwick Mall, Warwick
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m., Landmark Maple Art, Bloomfield Hills
Thursday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., AMC Harvard Sq., Cambridge
Thursday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Drexel Gateway, Columbus
Thursday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Regal Village Park, Carmel
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., Showcase Seekonk Rt. 6, Seekonk
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7 p.m., AMC Boston Common, Boston
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m., Landmark Main Art, Royal Oak
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., Landmark Kendall Sq., Cambridge
Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., CC Olde Towne, Arvada
Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Keystone Art Cinema, Indianapolis
Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Arena Grand Theatre, Columbus
Thursday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., Trolley Square, Salt Lake City
Monday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., Bow Tie Palace, West Hartford
Monday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., Showcase Providence Place, Providence
Monday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m., Birmingham 8, Birmingham
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m., Gateway Megaplex, Salt Lake City
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., Landmark Esquire, Denver
Thursday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m., Drexel Grandview, Columbus
Thursday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m., Keystone Art Cinema, Indianapolis

News You Need: ‘Frankie Machine,’ ‘The Love Guru,’ ‘The Da Vinci Code’ Sequel, ‘Untitled’

2007-10-25T11:11:00.000-05:00

Michael Mann has inked a deal with Paramount Pictures to develop “Frankie Machine” as a star vehicle for Robert De Niro.

The drama is an adaptation of the Don Winslow novel “The Winter of Frankie Machine” and De Niro will play a mob hitman who has retired to run a bait shop.

The first photo has been released for “The Love Guru,” which stars Mike Myers and Jessica Alba. Myers plays an American who was left at the gates of an ashram in India as a child and raised by gurus.

Mike Myers and Jessica Alba in “The Love Guru”.
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Columbia has made official a Feb. 2007 fast-tracked European start to “Angels & Demons,” which is Ron Howard’s sequel to “The Da Vinci Code”. The film is slated for release in Dec. 2008.

Jamie Foxx has signed on for “The Zebra Murders: A Season of Killing, Racial Madness and Civil Rights” for DreamWorks.

Based on a 2006 book, the story chronicles the series of racially motivated, black-on-white serial killings from 1973 to 1974 in San Francisco.

Celtic Rose Entertainment has optioned the rights to young-adult fantasy book series “Leven Thumps” by Obert Skye.

As a 14-year-old boy, the fate by Leven Thumps is to save the ailing Foo, which is a world that allows mankind to dream and imagine.

Adam Goldberg (from “2 Days in Paris” with Julie Delpy; our Delpy interview on that film can be found here) and Marley Shelton will star in the indie feature “Untitled”.

The film is centered around a tortured musician at odds with his successful brother.

Adam Goldberg
Photo by Jeff Vespa, WireImage.com
Paramount Pictures has begun casting for a G.I. Joe film and plans to begin filming in the middle of Feb. 2008 in Prague and Los Angeles.

Stephen Sommers (“Van Helsing,” “The Mummy Returns,” “The Mummy”) will direct the film from a script by Stuart Beattie. Paramount is currently calling the film the “Untitled Stephen Sommers Project”.

Jim Caviezel (Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ”) and Claudia Karvan will star in the suspense thriller “Long Weekend” for Arclight Films.

The Everett de Roche story centers around a young couple on a camping trip who remorselessly disregard the local environment by shooting guns and wounding wildlife. The animals fight back.

The 11-year-old Kodi Smit-McPhee will play young Logan in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” from 20th Century Fox. Smit-McPhee, who starred in “Romulus, My Father,” will start filming for the “X-Men” spin-off in Dec. 2007.

Kodi Smit-McPhee
Photo courtesy of Superhero! Hype
Freestyle Releasing has scored domestic theatrical rights to Rick Yune’s (“Die Another Day”) martial arts film “The Fifth Commandment” with plans to launch it into 1,000 U.S. theaters in March 2007.

Yune stars as a trained assassin who declines an assignment to off a pop singer because her bodyguard is his half brother.

Reeling 2007: 26th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival Coming Nov. 8 to 18

2007-10-25T10:24:00.000-05:00

With the Chicago International Film Festival concluded (Oct. 4 to 17) and the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema wrapping up (Oct. 18 to 28), Reeling 2007: The 26th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival is nearly upon the Windy City.

Running from Nov. 8 to 18 and presented by Showtime, Comcast and “The L Word,” Reeling is the “second-oldest lesbian and gay film festival in the world and a premiere cultural event for Chicago’s LGBT community and film-appreciating audiences”.

Reeling will include about 70 programs. Tickets are on sale now. This year’s festival is said to be more global than in previous years with work from 28 countries and in genres ranging from romantic comedy to esoteric experimental.

Screenings will be held at the Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark St.), Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.), Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash Ave.), Center on Halsted (3656 N. Halsted St.), Lakeshore Theater (3175 N. Broadway St.), Leather Archives & Museum (6418 N. Greenview Ave.) and Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark St.).

Rather than rolling out red carpets, the festival will be rolling out a series of pink carpets beginning with an opening-night event for “Shelter” on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum.

Closing night on Nov. 18 will feature an event for “The Curiosity of Chance” beginning at 6 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum.

Is Visa in Cahoots With ‘Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium’ or Sheer Coincidence?

2007-10-24T20:46:00.000-05:00

This is either a case of subliminal product placement, sheer coincidence or unadulterated thievery.

“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”
Photo courtesy of IMDb
What does the “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” film trailer have in common with Visa’s new, happy-go-lucky “juggling” commerical?

1) They use Danny Elfman’s “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” theme.
2) They’re both set in similiar toy stores.

Visa’s currently running “juggling” advertisement.
Screenshot created by Adam Fendelman from Visa’s TV spot
It’s possible that creative folks from two starkly different groups imagined up similiar campaigns using precisely the same song. It’s possible they were designed to go public at the same time completely unacquainted with what was in the works at the other camp.

Of course, it’s also certainly possible this isn’t a coincidence at all. Time will tell. See the movie trailer here. See the Visa ad here (scroll down to the “View ‘Juggling’ TV Commercial” link).

The Walden Media and Mandate Pictures co-production starring Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman and written and directed by Zach Helm opens on Nov. 6.

MySpace Film Begins, Biel in ‘Die a Little,’ Leslie Mann in ‘17,’ Costner in ‘The New Daughter’

2007-10-24T09:42:00.000-05:00

A MySpace movie, which is being labeled the world’s first user-generated movie, begins shooting this week, backers announced on Tuesday.

The film, which is being titled “Faintheart,” is being launched by MySpace, Film4 and Vertigo Films with backing from the U.K. Film Council and Screen WM.

Jessica Biel will star in the crime thriller “Die a Little” for United Artists.

Directed by Burr Steers (“Big Love,” “Weeds,” “The L Word”), Leslie Mann (“Knocked Up,” “The 40 Year Old Virgin”) will star opposite Zac Efron in New Line’s teen comedy “17”.

The story, which centers on a grown man who finds himself as a 17-year-old trying to navigate high school, is being compared to the character by Tom Hanks in the 1988 film “Big”.

Billy Ray Cyrus and “High School Musical” star Olesya Rulin will star in Jim Amatulli’s drama “Flying By”.

Kevin Costner will star as a father in the Gold Circle thriller “The New Daughter,” which is being helmed by first-time director Luiso Berdejo.

Benderspink has hired Steven C. Miller to direct “Area 52,” which is a sci-fi action film based on the Image Comics series by Brian Haberlin.

While it recently made news that Mark Millar was serious about pitching a story for the “Superman Returns” sequel, he’s now saying Warner Bros. has already thrown out the idea.

‘Hotel Chevalier’ Short to Join ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ Feature in Theaters on Oct. 26

2007-10-23T20:23:00.000-05:00

While “Hotel Chevalier” (Wes Anderson’s short film) so far has only been available online and hasn’t shown as part of “The Darjeeling Limited,” Fox Searchlight Pictures announced on Tuesday that the two will be joined in theaters starting on Oct. 26.

“Hotel Chevalier” features Jason Schwartzman along with Natalie Portman’s first big-screen derrière time.

“The Darjeeling Limited” mainly features Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody with cameos by Portman and Bill Murray. Anjelica Huston plays the mother of the trio. The film was written by Anderson and Roman Coppola. Anderson directs.

“[Anderson] has crafted a brilliant companion piece to ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ [that adds] to an already engaging and funny film,” said Fox Searchlight Pictures President Peter Rice in the Tuesday statement.

He added: “After generating enormous buzz from festivals worldwide, we are thrilled to be showing these two films together in theaters for the first time.”

The short has been a popular download on iTunes during its monthlong availability, which ends on Oct. 23. The film together with the short will expand into approximately 650 theaters.

“The Darjeeling Limited” had its premiere as the opening-night film of the New York Film Festival on Sept. 28. To date, it has grossed about $3.9 million on just 200 screens.

“Hotel Chevalier” was shot on location at the Hotel Raphaël in Paris about one year before “The Darjeeling Limited” feature. Our full review of “The Darjeeling Limited” can be found here.

Director Chris Nolan, Producer Charles Roven Reveal New ‘The Dark Knight’ Nuggets

2007-10-23T18:07:00.000-05:00

Several people have alerted me to various reports stemming from the non-English site Kino.de, which has recently published new information following an interview with “The Dark Knight” director Chris Nolan and producer Charles Roven.

The interview has been translated and published here in nugget form:

As we already know, Batman (Christian Bale) travels to Hong Kong. Producer Chuck Roven confirmed [the] Asian trip but would not reveal why Batman goes there. “Gangster hunting” was mentioned.

The new Batman suit will be equipped with “lenses” (some sort of bat sonar equipment).

The prologue that will be shown in IMAX in December is the first five minutes of the film.

Here’s a translated quote from Chris Nolan: “[The Dark Knight] is not ‘The Joker Begins’. We did not want to tell how the Joker became what he is.

“In those five minutes [of the prologue], we show how the Joker goes from being a small-time crook to Gotham’s greatest villain. It’s like ‘The Rise of the Joker’.”

First Official ‘Rambo’ Trailer Surfaces Online

2007-10-23T16:50:00.000-05:00

The first official “Rambo” trailer surfaced online on Tuesday. The film, which is slated for release on Jan. 25, 2008, again stars Sylvester Stallone and is also directed by him. The trailer is below.

Fox Atomic Plucks ‘Juno’ Writer Diablo Cody, Megan Fox For ‘Jennifer’s Body’

2007-10-23T11:46:00.000-05:00

Diablo Cody, the comedic writer behind “Juno,” and “Transformers” siren Megan Fox have both been plucked by Fox Atomic for a comedic supernatural thriller by the name of “Jennifer’s Body”.

Megan Fox (left) and Diablo Cody.
Fox photo courtesy of IMDb; Cody photo courtesy of Scott Walker
Fox Atomic bought the Cody piece last week with Fox in negotiations to star in the film. Chicago-native “Juno” producer Mason Novick, who is credited with discovering Cody, is on board to produce the film.

“Jennifer’s Body,” by the way, is a reference to a song by the band Hole. Cody’s a fan of that band. On Tuesday, Cody wrote the following on her blog in reaction to the news:

This is going to be fun. I wrote this script last summer and have been (bleep) obsessed with getting it made ever since.

Incidentally, Megan Fox is hotter than the Earth’s core. Now – Hollywood’s tiresome profusion of “girlfriend roles” be (bleep) – she’s going to literally get out there and destroy some (bleep) boys.

Scripts are a nice way to exorcise personal demons, I’d say.

Novick, who grew up in the Highland Park area of Chicago, has lived in Los Angeles for the past decade.

Cody, who is also originally from Chicago, moved early in 2007 from Minnesota to Los Angeles with her husband, Jonny Hunt, who she met on the Internet, according to an e-mail I received from him on Tuesday.

As for “Jennifer’s Body,” Hollywood Reporter adds some detail about the project.

The story, which is similar in tone to “Heathers” and “Beetlejuice,” follows a cheerleader with a perfect life. She becomes the girl from hell when she gets possessed and begins killing boys in a small town.

Her best friend must then find a way to stop her.

Fox Atomic is aiming to make the project before a possible writer’s strike. Peter Rice, who oversees both Fox Searchlight and Fox Atomic, brought [in] the project.

“Juno” is being released on Dec. 14 by Fox Searchlight. The division has high hopes for the movie.

“[Cody’s] upcoming film from our sister division, her relationship with Rice and the synergy we have with his team have given Fox Atomic a unique opportunity,” said Fox Atomic president of production Debbie Liebling, who will oversee with Jeff Arkuss.

2:42 p.m. update: I’ve corrected it above and also wanted to point it out to you here.

Shortly after this report went live, I received an e-mail from Cody’s husband, Jonny Hunt, stating that they now live in Los Angeles rather than Minnesota.

WhySoSerious.com Pumpkin a Mirror Image of Christian Bale Favorite ‘The Long Halloween’

2007-10-22T11:46:00.000-05:00

Those of you who have been following the slow-burning Halloween candle on WhySoSerious.com know something’s coming soon from the “The Dark Knight” viral marketing department.

On Oct. 18, I took a screenshot of the pumpkin at the time. I’ve created a screenshot today so you can see the candle’s burning progression. The left image is from Oct. 18 and the right image is from minutes ago.

News recently surfaced connecting the pumpkin image on WhySoSerious.com to “Batman: The Long Halloween,” which was a 13-issue comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb with art by Tim Sale. Notice the similarity:

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer today made yet another connection: “Batman: The Long Halloween” is one of Christian Bale’s favorites, according to a UGO interview. Notice this line from Bale:

DC sent me a box full of graphic novels, which I had in the trailer all the time with me. The two that I liked particularly were “Dark Victory” and “The Long Halloween”.

They just had some really fantastic imagery in there of the severity of Batman. I would kind of imitate those positions.

Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe Walk Red Carpet For ‘American Gangster’ Premiere

2007-10-22T10:55:00.000-05:00

“American Gangster” brought out the big guns on Oct. 19 at New York City’s Apollo Theater to premiere the Ridley Scott-directed film, which opens on Nov. 2. The following red-carpet photos are courtesy of WireImage.

Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding Jr., Diane Lane, Jay-Z, P. Diddy, Common, CoCo, Ice-T, Brian Grazer, Barbara Walters, Josh Brolin, Edward James Olmos, Evan Ross and Armand Assante were all in attendance.

Report: Producer David Kirschner Says More Terrifying ‘Child’s Play’ Remake in Works

2007-10-21T15:38:00.000-05:00

HollywoodChicago.com cohort Alex Billington at FirstShowing.net reports that “while talking with producer David Kirschner this weekend [about] the upcoming John Cusack film ‘Martian Child,’” he revealed that a remake of the first ‘Child’s Play’ is in the works”.

Kirschner says this is not a sequel. Instead, it’s a complete remake of the original. While the project hasn’t yet been given the greenlight and a director isn’t yet attached, Kirschner says it’s being written now by “Child’s Play” screenwriter Don Mancini.

Kirschner, who is the producer behind all five of the currently released “Child’s Play” films, promises a much “more terrifying” movie this time around. Read more about this report here.

New, Bloodier ‘Sweeny Todd’ Trailer Hits Internet

2007-10-20T20:43:00.001-05:00

A second trailer for “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” has found its way online. To target a different demographic, Paramount is featuring with this peak less singing and more gore.

Directed by Tim Burton, the film stars Johnny Depp, Alan Rickman and Sacha Baron Cohen. The film will open on Dec. 21 in limited theaters. The first trailer can be found here.

Film Short: ‘Hollywood Jerome’ Premieres in Chicago Tonight

2007-10-20T13:45:00.000-05:00

I just received a note stating that the short film “Hollywood Jerome,” which I mentioned back on June 14, is premiering on Oct. 20 in Chicago at 1104 S. Wabash at 7 p.m. as part of the IFP/Chicago Flyover Zone Short Film Festival.

The short film, which addresses urban themes and still isn’t listed on IMDb, is credited to Frey Hoffman (director, cinematographer and producer) and Malik Yusef (actor, writer, narrator and producer).

The film won a $100,000 grant from the IFP/Chicago Production Fund. Hoffman was the director of photography on Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks”. Yusef is a Chicago wordsmith and a veteran of HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam”.

‘The Dark Knight’ Wishes Watchers Happy Halloween on WhySoSerious.com

2007-10-18T12:11:00.001-05:00

WhySoSerious.com, which was used for “The Dark Knight” viral marketing in July 2007, is back this week to wish us a happy Halloween.

As the buzz for “The Dark Knight” has been off the charts and its marketing lends to great skepticism and grand analysis, fans are already digging beneath the surface to find clandestine messaging. Stay tuned.

TVI Actors Studio in Chicago to Offer Intensive Cold-Reading Course This Weekend

2007-10-18T10:23:00.000-05:00

Lincoln Center Theater casting director Camille Hickman (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Sex and the City”) and Henderson-Hogan talent agent Peter Kaiser will conduct an auditioning for theater intensive course on Oct. 20 and 21 at the TVI Actors Studio in Chicago.

The studio is located at 116 W. Illinois St. (suite 3E). The day will include cold readings with critique, a mock call back and a one-on-one agent interview to highlight what it takes to book the job and get an agent.

For more information, e-mail here or call 312-828-0053 and ask for either Michelle or Marc.

Laura Linney, Director Tamara Jenkins Walk Chicago Red Carpet For ‘The Savages’ Premiere

2007-10-17T20:59:00.001-05:00

Laura Linney and writer/director Tamara Jenkins walked a Chicago red carpet at the Harris Theater on Thursday for the Chicago International Film Festival premiere of “The Savages”. The event was the festival’s final act for 2007.

Linney, who said she had never been to the Chicago International Film Festival before, was proactive about looking right into press photographers even without them having to prompt her. Hence, this reporter shot her head on below.

Laura Linney on Oct. 17, 2007 at the Chicago
International Film Festival premiere of “The Savages”.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Director Tamara Jenkins (left) and Laura Linney in Chicago.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com
Linney co-stars in the film with Philip Seymour Hoffman. The two play a brother and a siter who face the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father.

10:10 p.m. update: Chicago photographer Joe Arce – a true surgeon with his camera – just submitted to me his up-close-and-personal photo of Linney from the evening. If you haven’t noticed by now, that’s his style. I am publishing it below with permission.

Laura Linney on Oct. 17, 2007 in the Chicago
Photo by Joe Arce for HollywoodChicago.com

Chicago International Film Festival Announces 2007 Award Winners

2007-10-16T17:53:00.000-05:00

The Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 14 announced its 2007 award winners.

Mexico, China, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United States took top honors in the festival’s 43rd iteration.

Chicago audiences selected from 102 feature films, 14 documentaries and 33 shorts and student films spanning 43 countries. Films showcased both well-known and promising new filmmakers.

The festival’s highest honor is the Gold Hugo, which was coined after the mythological god of discovery. When perusing the awardees below, notice “Chicago 10” and “America the Beautiful,” which I mentioned back on Sept. 19.

Feature Film Competition

The Gold Hugo went to “Silent Light” (Mexico).
The Silver Hugo jury prize went to “Tuya’s Marriage” (China).
The Silver Hugo for direction went to Roy Anderson for “You, The Living” (Sweden).
The Silver Hugo for best actor went to Sam Riley for “Control” (U.K.).
The Silver Hugo for best actress went to Yu Nan for “Tuya’s Marriage” (China).
The Silver Hugo for best screenplay went to Matt Greenhalgh for “Control” (U.K).
The silver plaque went to Chico Teixeira for “Alice’s House” (Brazil).

The main feature-film jury included Rudi Dolezal (Austria), Mike Goodridge (Great Britain), Udo Kier (Germany), Juri Menzel (Czech Republic), Claude Nouchi (France) and Maryse Sistach (Mexico).

New Director’s Competition

The Gold Hugo went to “In Memory of Myself” (Italy).
The Silver Hugo went to “Not By Chance” (Brazil).

The new director’s jury included Bill Stamets (U.S.), Elizabeth Donius (U.S.), Phillip Bergson (U.K.) and Ron Falzone (U.S.).

Documentary Competition

The Gold Hugo for best documentary went to “Taxi to the Dark Side” (U.S.).
The Silver Hugo went to “Chicago 10” (U.S.).
The gold plaque in direction went to “America the Beautiful” (U.S.).
The gold plaque in photography went to “4 Elements” (Netherlands).
The silver plaque special jury prize went to “Operation Filmmaker” (U.S.) and “A Walk Into the Sea” (U.S.).

The documentary jury included Clayton Brown (Northwestern University; Evanston, Ill.), Peter Gilbert (Kartemquin Films, Chicago) and Lisa Nesselson (Variety, Paris).

Short Film Competition

The Gold Hugo for best short film went to “Hesitation” (France/U.K.).

Narrative Short Film Competition

The Silver Hugo went to “Partus” (Denmark).
The gold plaque went to “27,000 Days” (U.S.).
The silver plaque went to “Train Town” (U.S.).

Animated Short Film Competition

The Silver Hugo went to “Everything Will Be Ok” (U.S.).
The gold plaque went to “Yours Truly” (U.K.).
The silver plaque went to “Sleeping Betty” (Canada).

Experimental Short Film Competition

The gold plaque went to “The Delaware Project” (Canada).

Documentary Short Film Competition

The gold plaque went to “The Ladies” (U.S.).

The short film jury included Steve Prokopy (Ain’t It Cool News, Chicago), Justine Nagan (Kartemquin Films, Chicago) and Mike Gibisser (filmmaker, Chicago).

The Chicago Award

The festival says:

As part of the Chicago International Film Festival’s special section on local filmmakers, the Chicago Award is presented to a Chicago or Illinois artist for the best feature film, short film or documentary.

The award applauds and celebrates the tireless efforts of regional talents who are devotees to the art of cinema and for their contributions to the medium.

This year’s Chicago Award went to “Terra Incognita” (U.S.).

The jury included Mike McNamara (executive director, Midwest Independent Film Festival, Chicago); Malik Bader (filmmaker; 2006 Chicago Award winner for “Street Thief”); and Annie Porter (associate producer, “At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper,” Chicago).

Audience Choice Award

This award will be announced immediately following the completion of the festival after Oct. 17.

Special Tributes

On Oct. 4, 2007, Roger Ebert was presented with a Gold Hugo lifetime achievement award. The entire 2007 festival was dedicated to the legendary film critic.

On Oct. 12, 2007, John Cusack was presented with a career achievement award preceding the Chicago premiere of his “Grace is Gone” film.

On Oct. 13, 2007, Jeffrey Wright was presented with a career achievement award during the festival’s 11th black perspectives tribute.

The 2007 festival concludes on Oct. 17. The 2008 festival will be held one week later from Oct. 9 to 22, 2008.

Laura Linney to Walk Red Carpet on Wednesday, Tomer Heymann Coming on Oct. 21

2007-10-16T13:12:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, Laura Linney will walk a Chicago red carpet with director Tamara Jenkins for the Chicago premiere of “The Savages” and the closing of the Chicago International Film Festival.

The red carpet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Harris Theater at 205 E. Randolph.

Director Tomer Heymann will be in Chicago for two screenings of his documentary “Paper Dolls” as part of the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema.

On Oct. 21, the film will show at 9 p.m. at Piper’s Alley (1608 N. Wells). On Oct. 22, the film will show at 8:30 p.m. at the Wilmette Theatre (1122 Central Ave. in Wilmette).

Malcolm McDowell Walks Chicago Red Carpet For ‘Never Apologize’ Premiere

2007-10-15T20:03:00.000-05:00

Malcolm McDowell on Monday walked a Chicago red carpet at AMC River East 21 for the Chicago International Film Festival premiere of “Never Apologize,” which is a documentary by director Mike Kaplan.

Once again, Chicago photographer Joe Arce nailed the red-carpet shot, which is being published below with permission.

Malcolm McDowell on Oct. 15, 2007 at the Chicago
International Film Festival premiere of “Never Apologize”.
Photo by Joe Arce for HollywoodChicago.com
Like Anthony Hopkins lauded Chicago on Oct. 14, McDowell also said he loves Chicago. When asked of the difference between filming in England and the U.S., he cited food and the weather as the two primary differentiators.

Malcolm McDowell on Oct. 15, 2007 in Chicago.
Photo by Dustin Levell of HollywoodChicago.com
McDowell, who perhaps is best remembered for his 1971 work in “A Clockwork Orange,” filmed exclusively in Chicago with director Robert Altman for the 2003 film “The Company”.

Malcolm McDowell on Oct. 15, 2007 in Chicago.
Photo by Dustin Levell of HollywoodChicago.com

Chicago Agency Releases 2007 Fall, Holiday Film Schedule

2007-10-15T11:35:00.000-05:00

The following information on fall and holiday 2007 film releases has been provided to me as of Oct. 12. As there are two Chicago agencies, please note this only comprises a portion of all upcoming films.

Warner Bros. Pictures:
“Blade Runner” (Nov. 2 exclusively at the Music Box Theatre)
“Fred Claus” (Nov. 9)
“August Rush” (Nov. 21)
“I Am Legend” (Dec. 14)
“P.S., I Love You” (Dec. 21)

Paramount Pictures:
“Things We Lost in the Fire” (Oct. 19)
“Bee Movie” (Nov. 2)
“Beowulf” (Nov. 16)
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (Dec. 21)

MGM Films:
“Music Within” (Oct. 26)
“Lions For Lambs” (Nov. 9)

Warner Independent:
“Darfur” (Nov. 9)

Focus/Rogue Pictures:
“Reservation Road” (Oct. 19)
“Atonement” (Dec. 7)

Roadside Attractions:
“Bella” (Oct. 26)
“Starting Out in the Evening” (TBD in November)
“Caramel” (TBD in Jan. 2008)

Newmarket:
“Wristcutters: A Love Story” (Nov. 2)

Outsider Pictures:
“The Man in the Chair” (Dec. 7)

Anthony Hopkins Walks Red Carpet, Calls Chicago ‘Best-Kept Secret in America’

2007-10-14T19:43:00.000-05:00

Sir Anthony Hopkins walked the Music Box Theatre red carpet in Chicago on Sunday for the premiere of “Slipstream,” which at the age of 70 he directed, wrote and scored.

As with the photo from the John Cusack red carpet on Oct. 12, Chicago photographer Joe Arce again captured the bull’s-eye Hopkins shot and has granted me permission to publish it.

Anthony Hopkins on Oct. 14, 2007 at the Chicago
International Film Festival premiere of “Slipstream”.
Photo by Joe Arce for HollywoodChicago.com
Hopkins is also the star of the film along with Christian Slater. Though the scene lacked security and he only interviewed with press for about two minutes, the question of how he felt about Chicago did register.

Hopkins responded: “It’s a beautiful city. It’s the best-kept secret in America.”

Click here for the Anthony Hopkins audio clip.

Anthony Hopkins on Oct. 14, 2007 at the Chicago
International Film Festival premiere of “Slipstream”.
Photo by Dustin Levell of HollywoodChicago.com

The Music Box Theatre on Oct. 14, 2007 in Chicago.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Anthony Hopkins on Oct. 14, 2007 in Chicago.
Photo by Dustin Levell of HollywoodChicago.com

Anthony Hopkins on Oct. 14, 2007 in Chicago.
Photo by Dustin Levell of HollywoodChicago.com

Malcolm McDowell to Walk Chicago Red Carpet For ‘Never Apologize’ on Oct. 14

2007-10-14T15:33:00.000-05:00

Screen legend Malcolm McDowell will walk a Chicago red carpet on Oct. 15 at AMC River East 21 for the Chicago International Film Festival premiere of “Never Apologize,” which is his one-man show.

McDowell will also conduct a Q&A session after the film screening. The red carpet is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the showing slated for 6:45 p.m.

McDowell, who is remembered for his work in “A Clockwork Orange,” works with director Mike Kaplan on “Never Apologize” to evoke memories of influential essayist, director and critic Lindsay Anderson.

Jeffrey Wright, Mos Def Walk Chicago Red Carpet on Oct. 13, 2007

2007-10-14T01:12:00.000-05:00

On Saturday at the unusual setting of the Chase Auditorium in downtown Chicago, I was on location to cover the Chicago International Film Festival “black perspectives tribute” featuring Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def.

Jeffrey Wright on Oct. 13, 2007 at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com
Wright (“Lackawanna Blues,” “Angels in America,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Syriana,” “Casino Royale”) received from the festival a silver Hugo award for career achievement. He was joined by wife Carmen Ejogo.

I recorded seven minutes of an interview with Wright and have it linked below.

Click here for the Jeffrey Wright interview.

Mos Def on Oct. 13, 2007 at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Jeffrey Wright and wife Carmen Ejogo.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Jeffrey Wright and wife Carmen Ejogo.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Kim Coles from “Living Single”.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Tonya Lee Williams from “The Young and the Restless”.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Theater: ‘Suddenly, Last Summer’ a Liberating Lesson in Hot-Blooded Grieving

2007-10-13T14:25:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO – In my lifetime, Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride” has been one of the definitive films servicing the timeless romance and undying adventure in us all.

I haven’t felt actor Cary Elwes – and his indelible line “aaaas yoooou wiiiish” while tumbling down a hillside – in quite some time.

Catherine (Allison Batty) enjoys a rare afternoon of freedome under the
watchful eye of Sister Felicity (Tasha Ann James) in the Shattered Globe
Theatre’s production of “Suddenly, Last Summer” by Tennessee Williams.
Photo courtesy of the Shattered Globe Theatre
The character recently spoke to me again in an intimate, impeccably transformed Chicago playhouse amid Tennessee Williams’ “Suddenly, Last Summer”.

The 1958 gothic drama is Shattered Globe artistic director Brian Pudil’s last company presentation and features ensemble member Brian McCaskill as the good doctor.

While the case could be made that McCaskill is the show’s weakest link because you can vibe his non-theater side (principal roles in “Prison Break” and “Fred Claus”) and because the women tower in presence over him, his mannerisms and stylization most decidedly take you back to Cary Elwes in 1987.

Mrs. Venable (Linda Reiter) is confronted by her
greedy nephew, George (David Dastmalchian).
Photo courtesy of the Shattered Globe Theatre
Thomas Lanier Williams III, who died just four years earlier from that time and is better known by the pseudonym Tennessee Williams, was renowned for his southern gothic panache.

“Suddenly, Last Summer” is the story of one New Orleans family delving deep into the enigmatic circumstances encasing the death of one of their brethren.

Allison Batty (“The Constant Wife,” “Romeo & Juliet,” “Macbeth,” “Henry V”) throws her whole self into the institutionalized and quite literally “batty” role of Catharine. She delivers one of the more masterful ending monologues I’ve been handed in some time.

Mrs. Venable (Linda Reiter) mourns the tragic loss of her beloved son.
Photo courtesy of the Shattered Globe Theatre
Linda Reiter as Mrs. Venable nails her older character in her quest for truth, denial, vindication and digging up long-dead secrets.

The wildly overgrown garden set and ambiance is simultaneously ominous and inviting. Various supporting and less memorable roles are cast to set the stage for just a few showstoppers.

With only 75 minutes to transmit its mournful message, you’re invited to knock back a truth serum of your own in the way we deal live, die and grieve today.

“Suddenly Last Summer” runs through Oct. 27 at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater. 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $27-$35.

By Adam Fendelman
Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com

© 2007 Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com

MovieTickets.com Polls 2,000 Moviegoers For Most Anticipated Upcoming Films

2007-10-11T21:53:00.000-05:00

MovieTickets.com has polled 2,000 moviegoers to reveal the 20 most anticipated upcoming films. As for No. 1, survey says...

“The Dark Knight” comes in loudly at No. 2. Surprisingly, “Iron Man” doesn’t come in until No. 6, “Beowulf” is No. 12 and “The Incredible Hulk” is way down at No. 15. Here’s the full list:

1) “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
2) “The Dark Knight”
3) “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”
4) “American Gangster”
5) “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
6) “Iron Man”
7) “I Am Legend”
8) “Get Smart”
9) “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”
10) “Charlie Wilson’s War”
11) “Hancock”
12) “Beowulf”
13) “His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass”
14) “Mamma Mia!”
15) “The Incredible Hulk”
16) “Speed Racer”
17) “Step Brothers”
18) “Bee Movie”
19) “Mr. Magnorium’s Wonder Emporium”
20) “Starship Dave”

Jeffrey Wright, Mos Def to Walk Red Carpet For Black Perspectives Tribute on Oct. 13

2007-10-11T17:33:00.000-05:00

Emmy-, Golden Globe- and Tony-winning artist Jeffrey Wright along with special guest artist Mos Def will walk the red carpet as part of a black perspectives tribute within the Chicago International Film Festival.

Mos Def (left) and Jeffrey Wright.
Photos courtesy of IMDb
The event will take place at the Chase Auditorium at 10 S. Dearborn in Chicago on Oct. 13 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wright will be honored with a Gold Hugo for career achievement.

Academy Award-Winning Director István Szabó to Speak on Friday in Chicago

2007-10-11T17:21:00.000-05:00

Around the same time as the John Cusack red-carpet event on Friday, the Chicago International Film Festival will have an evening with Academy Award-winning director István Szabó at 6:45 p.m. at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema.

He will speak on the intimacy and insight that can be achieved with the use of the close-up in film.

Szabó says film has “one singular quality that no other art form can supply. The moving picture is capable of showing us a living human face in close-up. This ability is the source of its special energy.”

Szabó uses close-ups to convey what he has called “life’s beautiful changes: the constant movements of the human expression in the most intimate moment – in the moment of its birth.”

Szabó received an Academy Award for best foreign-language film for “Mephisto,” which is one in a trilogy that includes “Colonel Redl” and “Hanussen”. Other directorial credits include “Sunshine” and “Being Julia”.

Warner Bros. Denies Nikki Finke’s ‘No Women in the Lead’ Report

2007-10-10T10:15:00.000-05:00

Of course, there’s no way any respectable movie house would let a report go unanswered about it not wanting women to take the lead in its films. As expected, Warner Bros. has fired back and says it is still committed to women.

On Oct. 5, Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily reported that Warner Bros. president of production Jeff Robinov said the company is “no longer doing movies with women in the lead”. On Oct. 9, Variety reported:

Warner production prexy Jeff Robinov insists he is moving forward with several movies with women in the lead. Indeed, he is offended by rumors of his cinematic misogyny.

[While] action features starring women remain a hard sell for many moviegoers, Robinov [says] he is still willing to put a femme star into an action role.

“Like any other movie, it has to be the right movie with the right actor and the right filmmaker at the right time,” he said.

The optimistic read from Karina Longworth of Spout.com is that “Warner Bros. is taking a conscious step away from producing movies like ‘The Invasion’ and ‘The Reaping’ that bleed money, misuse high-caliber talent, embarrass just about everyone and please almost no one.” While Finke hasn’t yet responded, you know she will.

10:08 p.m. update: Alas, here is that expected response. It’s a good read of what happened behind the scenes.

First-Time Director Tony Gilroy to Take Director’s Seat Again Following ‘Michael Clayton’

2007-10-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned for a detail-packed report stemming from my 30-minute interview on Tuesday with Tony Gilroy on his directorial debut film “Michael Clayton,” which stars George Clooney, Sydney Pollack, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton.

The film, which is produced by Clooney, Pollack and Steven Soderbergh, marks Gilroy’s first shot in the director’s chair. Going forward, we’ll be seeing more of him from that vantage point but likely only in films he also writes.

Gilroy has written a slew of films including “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” “The Bourne Identity,” “Armageddon,” “The Devil’s Advocate” and “The Cutting Edge”. His father, Frank Gilroy, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, director and screenwriter.

Despite an all-star cast in his first Hollywood go, Tony Gilroy said “Michael Clayton” was shot on a “very low budget” equatable overall just to Clooney’s typical bounty. Stay tuned for my full report on the interview.

Admirers Should Heed Caution on ‘Lust, Caution’ From Award-Winning Director Ang Lee

2007-10-09T00:57:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO – After screening “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” and the assassination-motivated “Lust, Caution” this past week, I’m convinced assassinating someone would be a painfully slow and awkward process to actually carry out.

Tony Leung Chiu Wai in “Lust, Caution”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Unlike “Jesse James,” which resonated with beauty and emotion, the worth of “Lust, Caution” doesn’t seem apparent until the last act of the 157-minute film, which is filled with more love than lust and much more caution than action.

“Lust, Caution” is based on a short story by Eileen Chang. There have been claims that some of the events in the plot might have actually occurred.

Director Ang Lee in “Lust, Caution”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Moved by the political climate in World War II-era Shanghai, a group of college theater students feel empowered to rededicate their lives as gorilla spies and try to off a powerful collaborator to the Japanese.

Young and naïve, things gradually become more complex as the nubile Wang Jiazhi (Wei Tang) falls in love while playing the mistress of Mr. Yee (Tony Leung Chiu Wai). He is the man they are trying to kill.

Wei Tang in “Lust, Caution”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
While the picture is visually beautiful and effectively recreates 1940s China, the biggest problem that University of Illinois alum Ang Lee faced was in his pacing.

There are long periods of heavy discourse and little to no action taking place over Mahjong games, conspiracy planning and discussion of earlier Mahjong games. Reading the English subtitles to the Mandarin-based dialogue sometimes felt like little more than studying for a class in 20th century Asian political systems.

The film was released in the U.S. with an “NC-17” rating due to about nine minutes of on-screen intercourse that looks like an aggressive version of what you see on late-night Cinemax. Surprisingly, despite the wartime backdrop, there is very little bloodshed actually shown.

Lee-Hom Wang in “Lust, Caution”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
If Lee was trying to make a film of romance and patriotism, he greatly missed the mark.

The characters feel cold. You don’t feel particularly attached to the student’s cause and you don’t entirely feel the love in the affair. Fans of the Academy Award-winning director should take caution. This picture lacks the vision of his previous work.

By Dustin Levell
Senior Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

© 2007 Dustin Levell, HollywoodChicago.com

‘Slipstream’ Trailer Surfaces; Anthony Hopkins Coming to Chicago on Oct. 14

2007-10-09T00:08:00.000-05:00

The official trailer to “Slipstream” is here. The film stars Anthony Hopkins and Christian Slater and is written/directed by Hopkins.

Immerse yourself in small.
Immerse yourself in medium.
Immerse yourself in big.
Immerse yourself in bigger.

From left to right, Stella Arroyave, Anthony Hopkins,
Lisa Pepper and Camryn Manheim in “Slipstream”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
“Slipstream” will show as part of the Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Music Box Theatre. Hopkins will walk the red carpet. I’ll be there and will be bringing you full coverage. Stay tuned. In the meantime, here’s the plot description:

Aging screenwriter Felix Bonhoeffer has lived his life in two states of existence: in reality and his own interior world.

While working on a murder-mystery script and unaware that his brain is on the verge of implosion, Felix is baffled when his characters start to appear in his life and vice versa.

Shot in Chicago, ‘Grace is Gone’ Tour Blowing Into Windy City on Oct. 12

2007-10-08T17:25:00.000-05:00

In screening the independent film “Grace is Gone” today, I learned that it was shot in Chicago and the Chicago suburb of Itasca, Ill. The film, which stars John Cusack, has been through the Sundance Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival.

John Cusack in “Grace is Gone”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
“Grace is Gone,” which is scheduled to be released in limited theaters on Dec. 7, is sending writer/director James Strouse to Chicago on Oct. 12 for a press day.

Cusack may be attending as well. Young actress Gracie Bednarczyk (from River Grove, Ill.) and Shelan O’Keefe (from northwest Chicago) will also be in attendance. Both Bednarczyk and O’Keefe have their debut performances in this film.

Cusack plays a father who – upon hearing his wife was killed in the Iraq war – takes his two daughters on a road trip.

7:14 p.m. update: I was just informed that “Grace is Gone” writer/director James Strouse is no longer joining this press junket.

‘Rails & Ties’ Director Alison Eastwood to Primarily Shift From Acting to Directing

2007-10-08T14:12:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned for a detail-packed report stemming from my 30-minute interview on Monday with Alison Eastwood – the daughter of the legendary Clint Eastwood – on the topic of her directorial debut film “Rails & Ties”.

As a teaser to the report, she said her foray into directing feels much more gratifying than acting as a “hired gun” and she’ll be spending most of her time going forward on that side of the camera.

Her father, of course, came up often in the interview.

We also spoke about a fatal train accident that occurred in the California area prior to shooting. The real-life incident caused various fatalities unrelated to the film. The suicidal gentleman “pussed out,” Eastwood said, and went unscathed.

The film stars Kevin Bacon and Marcia Gay Harden.

Hollywood Suicide? Warner Bros. Decrees: ‘No Longer Doing Movies With Women in the Lead’

2007-10-08T08:05:00.000-05:00

Looking purely at dollar signs and apparently not thinking logically, Warner Bros. president of production Jeff Robinov has apparently made himself a new favorite executive for people to love to hate.

That’s because, according to Deadline Hollywood Daily, he has decreed that Warner Bros. is “no longer doing movies with women in the lead”.

The bold statement comes on the heels of weak box-office performances from Jodie Foster’s “The Brave One,” Nicole Kidman’s “The Invasion,” Emma Roberts’ “Nancy Drew” and Hilary Swank’s “The Reaping”.

The statement sounds like one of those someone might privately think somewhere but never have the nerve to say aloud let alone actually put into practice. This will not bode well for Warner Bros.

Here’s just one response already from noted women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred. She calls for a Warner Bros. boycott:

“When movies with men as the lead fail, no one says we’ll stop making movies with men in the lead. This is an insult to all moviegoers and particularly women.

It is truly unfortunate that women get blamed for decisions [that] are made by men.

Instead of taking responsibility for their own lack of judgment about which scripts to make, directors to hire and budgets to OK, some men in the movie industry find it easier to place blame for their lack of success on women leads.

[They will] exclude talented female actors from top employment opportunities in Hollywood in favor of macho males.

If that studio confirms that their policy is to now exclude women as leads, then my policy would be to boycott films made by Warner Bros.”

10:43 a.m. update on 10/10/07: As expected, Warner Bros. has fired back and denied this report.

Teaser to ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ Surfaces Prior to Oct. 9 Trailer Release

2007-10-07T15:57:00.000-05:00

The official trailer to “Charlie Wilson’s War” is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, Oct. 9. To tease it, scene snippets have surfaced online in advance. The film stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Immerse yourself.

Here’s the plot description: “The film is based on the true story of how Charlie Wilson – an alcoholic womanizer and Texas Congressman – persuaded the CIA to train and arm resistance fighters in Afghanistan to fend off the Soviet Union.”

“Charlie Wilson’s War” is scheduled to be released on Dec. 25, 2007.