Friday, September 17, 2010

It’s Spreading

Contagion: Casting Update

Kevin Jagernauth at ThePlayList Blog reveals additions to the cast, including Jennifer Ehle’s participation reported here two days ago.

From his post: ”According to our sources, Demetri Martin, Jennifer Ehle, Bryan Cranston and Elliott Gould have joined the cast for the film”

and ”Contagion is a taut, thrilling and all-too-plausible and frightening screenplay that is a "Traffic"-like sprawling film about the ramifications of the spread of a global virus. We hear Burns continues to fine-tune the already strong draft we read earlier in the year. No word yet on what roles the new cast members will be playing.”

He adds that the film won't be in 3D (reports earlier this year had it being 3D).

Older “Contagion” entries at that blog cover details on the film discussing the script and who plays who.
and
Casting John Hawkes
and
Jude Law Talks

Mentioned above, the draft is being fine-tuned so it will be interesting to see how it varies from this downloadable version of the script as of January 14th.


A chance to test your supernumerary powers

Extras for the movie are being sought in Chicago soon.

The Tribune Leisureblog says ”Director Steven Soderbergh will film the virus outbreak thriller "Contagion," … in the Chicago area this fall. […] If you're interested in being an extra, Rich King Casting will hold open casting calls for the movie on September 25 at Lincoln Park Cultural Center (10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) and September 26 at The Annoyance Theatre (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.). For more info, call 312-283-1061.”

Chicago casting call details are also available at this open-casting-calls link that reveals
"Shooting on Contagion will run from September 25, 2010 through January 11, 2010". That encompasses the filming dates for all locations, not just Chicago [although I’m pretty sure that should be January 2011!].

According to the article ”They are seeking adult men and women, ages 18 and above, all shapes, sizes, types and ethnicities**. Everyone is welcome. This is a paid gig and meals are included.”

**(Hey, that’s us; we all qualify!!)


An LA Examiner article about the open call for Elmers & Elsies notes ”It is rumored that Contagion won't be a sensationalist sci-fi movie, rather it will be more of a reality type situation”.

[I like that theater name, by the way, “The Annoyance” *smiley face here*]


Final note: I'll try to catch you up on The King's Speech news soon ...

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Contagious! Hazmat Suit Required

NEWS!

Jennifer Ehle will have a part in the film Contagion to be filmed in Chicago, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles; with a scheduled release date of 21 October 2011 (USA)

According to an article at HeyUGuys there's a chance for some travel depending, I suppose, on how small the "small part" is.
"After shooting in Hong Kong, Contagion is also due to film in Minneapolis, Dubai, Japan, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, and Malaysia before its release in October 2011.

She is not yet listed as appearing at imdb but, wow, look at this cast:

Matt Damon
Marion Cotillard
Gwyneth Paltrow
Kate Winslet
Jude Law
Laurence Fishburne
John Hawkes
Josie Ho
Howie Johnson

Per imdb it's "An action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak."

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

While I was Sweeping

Random older stuff found while sweeping the internet

A review of Pride and Prejudice by marisacarpico at Tuna Quest blog from January 24 2010, with some comparison to the 2005 movie version. (Basically, she finds that the 1995 adaptation is ”far more faithful" to the novel.)


More commentary on Pride and Prejudice at JOURNEYS AND DESTINATIONS blog from February 23 2010, (also with some comparison to 2005).
”Ms. Ehle gave life to her character magnificently! She is so charming, beautiful and witty! I really love her face!”

BINGO!


A Mr. and Mrs. Fitch review at Theatre Geekery from March 17 2010, noting that ”Lithgow and Ehle are so funny”
and
”After seeing John Lithgow in his stunning role as the Trinity Killer of this past season of Dexter, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make the transition back to seeing him in comedy, where I am used to seeing him. It took me a couple minutes of convincing myself that he wasn’t going to kill Jennifer Ehle where she stood, but I managed to talk myself out of it. He was charming and funny, and she was wonderful as well. I am less familiar with her, but I am EXCITED (yes, all capitals) to see her as Cat Tully Stark in the Game of Thrones series by HBO. That aside, I have to say they were perfectly wonderful together. They had good chemistry, a natural rhythm in their banter, and I had no trouble seeing them as a married couple.”

Well, we know the Stark casting was later revised, though even now some news/blogs about the series continue to list her in the role. NewsBots, I guess.



Before the Rains was reviewed at Filmwallas' Blog on June 10 2010, noting:
”The white man is a spineless fellow, the white woman a large hearted up-standing woman”
and, especially that,
”Jennifer Ehle is wonderful in a small role as the woman full of empathy.”



Observations on Possession can be found in three entries at The Jer Blog

Possession Obsession posted on June 24 2010.
”… it does Byatt’s novel justice by focusing on the straight-forward aspects of the literary mystery and the romance. The latter should be an awkward business, with dialog culled from letters and poems, but Ehle and Northam pull it off beautifully.”
(That post includes several good photo stills from the film.)

and

what do you fancy? blogged on July 26 2010 (includes trailer video).
”Jeremy and Jennifer Ehle are wonderfully passionate and charismatic as the Victorians”

and

Prepare to be Possessed published on July 29 2010 (with more lovely pictures).



Less Outdated News: The King’s Speech

From 365 Cinema’s Fall/Holiday 2010 Preview
”THE KING’S SPEECH (Weinstein) chronicles the relationship between speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) and King George VI (Colin Firth), whom Logue must help get past a terrible stammer so that he may lead his nation into World War II after the unexpected abdication of his brother Edward. The impressive cast includes Timothy Spall, Guy Pearce, Derek Jacobi and Michael Gambon.”

[my note: evidently there are no women in this version!]


An article at NJ.com reports that The King’s Speech is under consideration for the Arthouse Film Festival that will run for 12 weeks beginning Sept. 20 at two New Jersey theatres: AMC Loews Mountainside and AMC Loews Monmouth Mall.


New Zealand release date reported in “Coming soon” at flicks co nz.
”OPENING IN CINEMAS: 26th Dec 2010 (NZ)
Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Colin Firth, Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Rush, Timothy Spall, Jennifer Ehle, Derek Jacobi”


All astonishment! A rare actual mention of Ms Ehle in the cast! Very reassuring.


Oscar spec at KipMooney blog.

A list of actors/celebrity guests expected to attend the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), September 9-19 at
Toronto Film Net.
Long, but does not include Hers.

Alex Carlson at Film Misery blog reports on the 25 Most Anticipated Films of the Third Trimester and writes,
“One of the most buzzed about films leading up to the Toronto International Film Festival, The King’s Speech has been predicted all year by awards prognosticators to be one of the major Oscar frontrunners.”


And last but not least

According to this at Shootonline, The King’s Speech is one of seven films to be announced for inclusion at the 32nd annual Aspen Filmfest.

”Aspen, CO, August 31, 2010 | SHOOT Publicity Wire | --- This Labor Day weekend, the 32nd annual Aspen Filmfest, a five-day feast of of film and fall color, is announcing seven films that will be screened during Filmfest 2010, held September 29 - October 3, 2010.

Films will be shown at the historic Wheeler Opera House in Aspen and at the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale.”


Granted, it’s no South Park, but good news anyway.