LifeDuringWartime Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Is Paris Hilton the Answer to Todd Solondz's Cinematic Woes?
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Casting », War »
Bit by tenuous bit, Todd Solondz's next film is coming together. It started brewing in June of 2007, then stalled due to money issues, and then got cooking again in August with the help of Werc Werk Works. But now, oh now, the film has got its superstar.The Hollywood Reporter posts that Paris Hilton has signed onto the dramatic comedy, along with Allison Janney and Charlotte Rampling. (In addition: "Ciaran Hinds, Shirley Henderson, Renee Taylor, Michael Lerner, Michael Kenneth Williams, Chane't Johnson, Eric Wareheim, and Chris Marquette are among the other actors that Werc Werk Works announced as joining the project. ")
Once called Life During Wartime (there's no title attached to the current news), the film still stars Paul Reubens and focuses on a family during wartime. If nothing has changed, it brings together characters from Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness with different people playing the roles. I first imagined Reubens as Dawn Wiener, but maybe it's Paris?
This could be terrible, and help along Solondz's cinematic decline, but I wonder if this could have House of Yes potential -- in other words, could Paris pull off something Tori Spelling-esque? If anything can make her interesting, I'd think it'd be screen time with PeeWee and Janney. Thoughts?
News Bites: A 'Twilight' Star, Aleister Crowley, and Solondz Finds Funding
Filed under: Drama », Independent », Thrillers », Casting », Deals »
Here are some news bites for our long weekend:- Ashley Greene has had a whirlwind of press lately, once she signed on to play Alice Cullen in Twilight. Now The Hollywood Reporter posts that she's signed onto an indie thriller called Summer. In it, she'll get another horror-themed family, but much less sexy than well-coifed, blood-sucking vampires. See, she plays a girl looking for the "father she's never known." And while that's always a risky adventure -- you never know what you'll find -- this is even more so because her family is a group of serial killers. The film is currently in production in Ottawa.
- Meanwhile, Variety reports that CMG has closed deals for Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson's Chemical Wedding. Starz/Anchor Bay are handing distribution in North America for the film that focuses on "the most evil man in Britain," Aleister Crowley. CMG President Edward Noeltner has noted about the big, Iron Maiden fan base eager to see the film, and I have to say -- I'd go see it for the experience. Forget a woman-filled theater of Sex and the City fans. Can you imagine a theater full of Maiden worshippers?
- And finally, there's some great news for Todd Solondz. As I outlined at the beginning of this year, the indie filmmaker has had some issues funding his work, which was leaving his PeeWee Herman-led Life During Wartime in limbo. But now Variety reports that a new indie production company, Werc Werk Works (yes, that's their name..), will fully finance the part-companion piece to Happiness. On the negative side, it looks like Mr. Reubens might be out of the production. (Variety says he was only rumored.) Whoever ends up starring, it is scheduled to go into production in October.
Update on the New Todd Solondz Movie
Filed under: Comedy », Drama », Independent »
Back in June of last year, Erik Davis blogged about a new project from indie filmmaker Todd Solondz. Said to be a companion piece to Happiness, the film was supposed to begin production in the fall, with the wonderful Paul Reubens/Pee-Wee Herman attached to star. There's been no word since then, and that's because the film slipped into limbo rather than slipping into production. As Erik mentioned -- since Solondz's indie hit Welcome to the Dollhouse, his films have done progressively worse at the box office. So, it's really no surprise to learn that this latest feature, Life During Wartime, is having money issues.Reubens recently talked to MTV about the project and had lots of positive things to say about Solondz while ruing about the film's troubles: "If it gets made, I'm doing it -- but I'm not sure. It's gotten pushed three times. He's had problems with the financing on it. To me, it's such a sad state of events that he can't get that movie made. He's such a talented guy. His movies are so incredible." I imagine the fight for funding will continue for a while, but should the film get made, what will it be like? Well, rumored cast includes Emma Thompson, Demi Moore, and Paul Dano, and Reubens says: "It's characters from Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness whose paths converge. It's all different people playing the same roles. I'm playing a role someone else played in one of those movies." Now... If Pee-Wee was going to take on Dawn Wiener... I really, really hope they get funding because I would pay to see that.
If you've seen the films, what role would you want Reubens to play?
Hart Sharp Combo Meal Off the Menu
Filed under: Documentary », Independent », Newsstand », Cinematical Indie »
John Hart and Jeffrey Sharp have said goodbye to partnership and are moving on to their own film production companies. Hart Sharp Entertainment has been responsible for films such as the Academy Award nominated You Can Count on Me and documentary Super Size Me. They also have numerous films and Broadway plays in production that each partner has decidedly left with.Variety stated that the 10-year-old company's split was eminent and even predicted but the full reason for the split is unknown. Irreconcilable differences? The company has produced numerous successful independent features that have walked away with great honors. Boys Don't Cry for one provided Hilary Swank with her first Best Actress Oscar win.
Who is taking what with the divorce? It's reported that John Hart has created a company named Evamere that will produce Life During Wartime by filmmaker Todd Solondz -- director of Palindromes -- and Revolutionary Road by Justin Haythe. Nothing yet has been announced on what Sharp will depart with.
Thus I say ado to the partnership that has created so many films I love to watch. It's sad to see them go as they were so great at fulfilling their company's mission statement which was "to produce socially relevant works that entertain, engage, and ultimately tell a good story."
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