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Notes
from Austin, Volume 2 #33
Hollywood News
Including Blair Witch updates and recent casting news.
A lot of films are ending up missing theaters and going
straight to cable these days. "CHAIN OF FOOLS" starring STEVE
ZAHN, SALMA HAYEK may be the most prominent of the bunch.
"CHERRY FALLS" which stars CANDY CLARK, JAY MOHR and DJ
QUALLS, who made such a great impression as the nerd in "Road
Trip," is also headed straight to the small screen. This film
has an interesting premise, with a serial killer after virgins
and a local high school full of kids suddenly ready to get
laid. Seems like a ntural indie winner! (BTW - Qualls is in
in Austin shooting "THE NEW GUY" currently).
"THE ST. FRANCISVILLE EXPERIMENT" is a rip-off of "Blair
Witch" where some college kids spend the night in a haunted
house with video camera running. The film tested in a couple
of cities and did so poorly that it will also likely bow on
the small screen.
Finally, the latest sequel to "The Crow," "THE CROW 3: SALVATION"
also tested poorly when released in Spokane, Washington. The
film stars Eric Mabius as the titular superhero this time
around. This also leaves the fate of "THE CROW 4: LAZARUS"
a little hazy. This forth installment is still in development
and slated to star rapper DMX.
It's official: The name of the Jesse James movie that is shooting
outside of Austin is now "American Outlaws." Bland, bland, bland.
Cartoons Abound: THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES
has announced a new Oscar category for feature-length animated
films which will be handed out when eight or more eligible films
(of at least 70 minutes in length) are released in a calendar
year.
"Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows" (or is it the other way around?)
opens on October 27th, just in time for Halloween. I've seen
the trailer in theaters and it does not look to promising. Still,
with thousands of fans on the internet, thepromoters of the
film, presumably Artisan and others, have a webfest hypefest
set up to do it's deed. Scott LaRose, whom made the hilarious
spoof "The Blair Bitch Project," starring Linda Blair, sent
me some info about it. I think you'll be able to see Scott's
short online during the fest.
Artisan Entertainment is gearing up to launch Blair Witch
Webfest, the first major convention that will take place in
a virtual environment at www.blairwitchwebfest.com. The three-day
Webfest, packed with round-the-clock programming and interactive
events, will be available to the public starting on Wednesday,
October 18 at 9 AM Pacific and continuing through 2 AM on
Saturday, October 21.
Rivaling the breadth and scope of other traditional fan
conventions, The Blair Witch Webfest will feature more than
62 hours of non-stop programming dedicated to the mystery
and mythology of the Blair Witch. In addition to Joe Berlinger,
the director of "Book of Shadows," and cast members, the Webfest
will bring together famous sci-fi aficionados, genre specialists,
horror film directors, comic book writers, animators, game
developers, big music acts and the legions of Blair Witch
fans. The interactive programming lineup will consist of panels,
entertainment, auctions, art galleries, parties and, above
all, a sneak peak of never-seen-before footage from "Book
of Shadows." Webfest attendees will be able to immerse themselves
in the online conference via a variety of participatory events,
including virtual 3-D chats, games and auctions.
They have partnered with Yahoo, Amazon, Real, World.com,
Distant Corners and other sci-fi.com's. In addition to having
ads in Rolling Stone Magazine, Fangoria etc...
All guests on the Webfest will be invited to promote their
own projects and interests.
A visitor to the site named Binky let me know that "Times Square,"
one of the coolest new wave films ever made, will be released
on DVD on 11/14 with commentary, trailer, etc... I may have
to get a DVD player, finally. I hope they rerelease the soundtrack
on CD as well.
Hollywood Hubub
Will Harry Knowles get a part in this one too? BRIDGET FONDA,
who co-stars with Brendan Fraser in the upcoming "Monkeybone,"
will star opposite Jet Li in the action thriller "Kiss of
the Dragon."
Remember the Plaster Casters? SUSAN SARANDON and Goldie
Hawn are in talks to play the title roles in Fox Searchlights
"The Banger Sisters," a comedy-drama about the reunion of
two groupies who were best friends in their younger rock 'n'
roll days.
GWYNETH PALTROW is in negotiations to star in Miramax's
"View From the Top," a romantic comedy about a small-town
woman trying to become a flight attendant.
Yes, but can she survive Hollywood backstabbing? COLLEEN
HASKELL, of TV's "Survivor," will play the love interest of
Rob Schneider in the 2001 summer comedy "Animal."
NICOLE KIDMAN, whose "Moulin Rouge" has been moved from
an Xmas release to 2001, is in talks to star with Meryl Streep
in the film adaptation of Michael Cunningham's 1998 Pulitzer
Prize-winning novel "The Hours."
Now that's a title!: SARAH JESSICA PARKER is in talks to
star in the romantic comedy "Life Without Dick," playing a
woman who falls in love with a hitman.
WHOOPI GOLDBERG has joined John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson
in Paramount's Rat Race. Director Jerry Zucker (of Airplane
fame) helms the ensemble comedy. Although it's based on Stanley
Kramer's hilarious "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World," "Rat Race's"
plot seem just removed enough from the original to be worthy
of production.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO has signed to play identical twins in
Johnny Eck, the true story of brothers Robert and Johnny Eck.
Johnny Eck was born without the lower half of his body and
starred in Tod Browning's 1932 cult classic Freaks. His brother
was normal.
Well, at least they got the right star: MICHAEL CAINE will
star with Michael Keaton in Quicksand, an action thriller
about a washed-up film star who becomes involved with a crime
boss in Monaco.
He gets around: CHRIS COOPER, the homophobe from "American
Beauty" will join Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep in the Spike
Jonze directed "Adaptation." Cooper will also join Matt Damon
in "The Bourne Identity."
THE ROCK (Dwayne Johnson) of World Wrestling Federation
fame, has signed to play the title role in Universal's Mummy
2 prequel, "The Scorpion King." Meanwhile, Dwayne has signed
off of "The Rock Movie," leaving Jet Li to step into the lead.
The film is now known as "The One."
DARREN ARONOFSKY, director of "Pi" and the upcoming "Requiem
For A Dream," has signed to direct the fifth installment of
Warners' Batman franchise, "Batman: Year One." Meanwhile,
a "Batman" live action version of the Fox cartoon is also
planned for production.
Tom Cruise's Eyes!: CAMERON CROWE has cast Tom Cruise, Penelope
Cruz and Cameron Diaz in his next directing effort "Vanilla
Sky." The film is an English language adaptation of the 1997
Spanish language romantic-thriller "Open Your Eyes." Surely
the title was unusable because of it's close mental proximity
to "Eyes Wide Shut."
The powers-that-be behind Sundance antifest Slamdunk have updated
the festival's offical Web Site as of 10/1/00 at: WWW.SLAMDUNK.CC
Lodger's
Notes: (New 10-9-00)
I feel like adopting a religious dogma is like subjugating or
surrendering a piece of my individuality. But Buddhism even
negates these feelings by saying that they are simply feelings.
They are not important. It's weird. I want to know more. Can
you be a Buddhist and still critique films? Including
Blair Witch updates and recent casting news.
Austin
Film News: (New 10-9-00) The
latest info on Screenings in the Austin area, Austin films,
actors,and directors, as well as info about Austin's numerous
Film Festivals. Including information
on Cinematexas and AFF
Hollywood
News :
(New 9-29-00) The latest info on Hollywood films, actors,
directors, and studios as well as info about Film Festivals
and on-line screenings!
2000
AFF Film Festival Schedule: October 12th - 19th.
Things
to do this Week - Check the calendar!
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