Don’t you miss Barbara Billingsley?
Devil Still Wears Prada: Anne Hathaway, Anna Wintour Meet, Don’t Greet, at Private Screening
The screening was called “The True Cost,” and it was about what “fast fashion”– cheap, throwaway clothes made for the likes of Zara, H&M, and Top Shop– do to the world’s ecology.
But the true cost of having made “The Devil Wears Prada” means Oscar winner Anne Hathaway and Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour can still be in a small, windowless room and not cross paths. On purpose.
Such was the case tonight at Lincoln Center’s small Beale Theater and later in the Furman reception room for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Livia Firth, the beguiling and beautiful wife of Oscar winner Colin Firth, helped produce the excellent documentary and wanted to show it to friends.
Some of the friends, maybe like yours or mine, don’t all get along. Case in point: “The Devil Wears Prada” was released in 2006. In 2012, Hathaway was indeed featured on the cover of Vogue. But that’s a savvy Wintour knowing she must connect with a pre-Oscar Hathaway and “Les Miserables.”
The evening was a fashion face-off, too, with Wintour looking very stylish and not even wearing her trademark sunglasses. Hathaway and husband Adam Shulman looked like they’d stepped out of a Vogue spread on how a young, hip couple should look wearing cool summer cream colors. They are also the nicest pair around town.
Meanwhile, Regis and Joy Philbin were overwhelmed by tall, curly haired director Andrew Morgan’s exhaustive effort to explain the consequences of cheap labor producing cheap clothing for the world. Regis, looking especially youthful and fit, told Morgan: “If I were still on TV, I’d be giving you a big plug in the morning.”
Also at the screening were a lot of beautiful models, as well as other beautiful people like Marquesa designer Georgina Chapman, actress Christine Baranski, Tony winning costumer William Ivey Long (also head of the American Theater Wing), and Firth, who continues to impress with her world view projects. (She’s a gem.)
Morgan and crew, by the way, really traveled–from Bangla Desh, where sweat labor is producing your knock off cheapo sweatshirts– to Haiti, where donated clothes from the US are piling up, unused, while sweatshop labor makes disposable t shirts for American companies.
“Once you see this film,” Livia Firth says, “you will change your whole way of living. There are a lot of problems in the world, but two things are always constant– clothes and food.”
“The True Cost” can already be seen on Amazon and iTunes, and debuts on Netflix June 29th. Don’t miss it. You will really be taken aback.
Neil Young Tells Donald Trump He’s Supporting Bernie Sanders
Neil Young didn’t like it Tuesday when he heard Donald Trump use one of his songs to announce his presidential candidacy. He had his manager, Elliot Roberts, issue a statement that put it succinctly:
Donald Trump’s use of “Rockin’ in the Free World” was not authorized. Mr. Young is a longtime supporter of Bernie Sanders.
By the way, all candidates should remember they have to clear usage of pop songs– the writer and the performer–before they use it on the campaign trail.
Back to Neil: His support of Bernie Sanders makes as much sense as anything else. Young is just about to release a new album that mostly attacks corporate America. It’s called “The Monsanto Years.” He takes issue with Monsanto, Starbucks, and Walmart. It’s a given that neither of the latter two retailers will be carrying the album.
But Young has never been shy about his politics. During George W. Bush’s time in office, Neil released a song called “Let’s Impeach the President.”
This past May, Neil posted this message on his website:Â “Contrary to the misleading information coming from Starbucks, the coffee company is in alliance with other Food Giants, including Monsanto, in suing the state of Vermont to overturn the GMO labeling laws voted for by the people.
An alliance is a pact, coalition or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to
secure common interests. Starbucks and Monsanto are members of the Grocery Manufacturers Alliance.
The Grocery Manufacturers Alliance sued the state of Vermont to overturn the people’s will to
mandate GMO labeling in Vermont.
In communications with Starbucks the company was unresponsive to the direct question
on whether Starbuck’s coffee product contained GMOs.”
Neil Young
California
May, 2015 Â Contrary to the misleading information coming from Starbucks, the
Julie Taymor’s Brilliant “Midsummer Night’s Dream” Premiere Brings Out Helen Mirren, Anne Hathaway, 2 Spider Men
Julie Taymor is so beloved by her past actors that pretty much all of them came last night to the DGA to see her film version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I do mean Anne Hathaway, who Taymor just directed at the Public Theater; Helen Mirren, who was her Prospero in “The Tempest”; and not one but two actors who played Spider Man on Broadway– Reeve Carney and Matthew James Thomas. Judd Hirsch, playwright Israel Horovitz, Montego Glover, and ABC’s Deborah Roberts were among those who watched in awe even though they hadn’t worked for Taymor. Famed lyricist Tim Rice, who worked with Taymor on “The Lion King,” stopped by the party afterwards at the Hudson Hotel.
“AMND” will open unusually– on Monday, June 22nd, all around the country. Find it. When Taymor and husband (Oscar winning composer) Elliot Goldenthal staged “AMND” in Brooklyn in 2013, it was a mind blower. The Theater for New Audience– not BAM– built a whole theater for her. Taymor’s production is an ensemble piece produced out of her wildly inventive imagination. There are no stars, per se, but her Puck, played by British actress Kathryn Hunter, is the centerpiece. Her performance is so remarkable that it’s amazing Hunter isn’t a mega star here in the US.
Plenty of the cast was there last night, including Max Casella, who was once Doogie Howser’s pal on TV and also a minor Soprano. He is stunning in this film. So are Tina Benko, David Harewood, Joe Grifasi, and on and on.
Taymor’s costumes, sets, and lighting are, as usual, the most inventive you can see in theater. But what she’s done is shake all these ingredients up and deliver what looks like a 3D film. It was presented in the round, so to speak, in Brooklyn, where action was ceaseless from four corners and above. Somehow, using terrific directors of photography, Taymor has been able to film all of it.
I couldn’t help thinking how she managed to select the right pieces to keep this whirling Dervish of a play moving, moving, moving, all the time, while maintaining consistency. You’re watching the audience watch the play, while at the same time you– us– are in the center of the action. Shakespeare, wherever he is, must be thrilled. “AMND” just glows under Taymor’s attention. And it’s very contemporary. Take teens if they don’t want to see it. This is a landmark event.
Songwriters Hall of Fame Name Gamble & Huff, Sued Often for Royalties, Co-Chairmen
Well, you can only laugh. The Songwriters Hall of Fame has now made Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff co-chairmen of their group.
Gamble and Huff were great great songwriters. But they were bad bad businessmen. In 2002, they lost a jury trial to singer Billy Paul over royalties from “Me and Mrs. Jones.” The jury awarded Paul $500,000 going back to 1994. A statute of limitations precluded him from getting money all the way back to 1974, when he first recorded the classic hit.
In 2008, the O’Jays– who’d been with Gamble and Huff since the early 70s– also sued for unpaid royalties. Their hits include “Backstabbers,” “For the Love of Money,” and “I Love Music.” Their suit emanated from one filed by former member Sammy Strain, who alleged he hadn’t been paid royalties in years.
Archie Bell, of “Tighten Up” fame, sued the pair in 2011.
I remember years ago when I asked the Emotions if they’d ever been paid for their played-around-the-clock hit “Best of My Love.” The answer was no.
Gamble, of course, was indicted in 1975 in the massive radio payola scandal of the day.
No one’s saying that Gamble and Huff shouldn’t be celebrated for all the great records they wrote and produced. But co-chairmen of the Songwriters Hall of Fame? Oy vey. Too bad. The Songwriters Hall of Fame has become as bad as the Rock Hall. Sad.
Steve Martin-Edie Brickell Musical Headed to Kennedy Center for Broadway Tryout
Good news. “Bright Star,” the Steve Martin-Edie Brickell musical is headed for a run this winter at the Kennedy Center. The musical is set for December 2nd- January 10, 2016. If the show hits, Broadway will be the next logical move for Tony season.
Walter Bobbie, a Broadway favorite, will direct the show. “Bright Star” had a great run in San Diego last year, with Peter Asher producing the music. Steve, of course, everyone knows very well. Edie is also Mrs. Paul Simon. But before that successful run, Brickell was an estimable pop star with her own hits and great albums.
“Bright Star” is a totally original show, much like Sting’s “Last Ship” was this season. Casting hasn’t been announced yet for “Bright Star” but my guess is that producer Joey Parnes will have to bring in a star to make the show work. That’s what’s driving sales for “Finding Neverland” right now. A great score alone won’t work.
Watch the Full Trailer from Will Ferrell-Kristin Wiig Lifetime Movie
Is it a parody? Is it real? I guess we’ll find out on Saturday night when Lifetime airs “A Deadly Adoption” starring Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig. Here’s the full trailer. You’re not sure whether to laugh or cry. The premise is that Will and Kristin are adopting a baby, and they’ve invited the nubile birth mother to live with them. You know, she seduces Will, goes crazy and there’s gunplay. It’s too bad there’s no promotion or publicity. It would be a hoot.
“Jurassic World” Revised: Number 1 All Time Opening, Sunday Was Bigger than Expected
Revised: “Jurassic World” is the number 1 all time opening weekend movie. New numbers show Sunday was bigger than expected. Total in the US was $209 million, with $524 million total worldwide. Beats “Avengers” and everything else. It’s a resounding triumph for Universal Pictures, which is on a roll right now. Steven Spielberg really gets the kudos because his original idea has stood up so well. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, et al must be getting huge gifts today.
Kirk Kerkorian Armenian Genocide Movie Update: Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac to Star
update tuesday 1:53pm: Sad to report Mr. Kerkorian has passed away at age 98. Ironic timing of the movie news. stay tuned…
I told you in February that billionaire Kirk Kerkorian was funding an epic about the Armenian genocide. I said an Oscar nominated director and screenwriter were already attached to the project. I couldn’t tell you then that Terry George, of “Hotel Rwanda” fame, would direct. He asked me not to at the time because the politics were sensitive. He did tell me, “I think the best way to describe it is a WW1 love story, in the style of Dr. Zhivago and Reds, Â set against the backdrop of the Armenian genocide.”
The movie will be shot in Spain.
Today I can tell you that Terry is the director, and Robin Swicord is the writer. In addition, Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac will co-star in the film, called “The Promise.” Mike Medavoy will be lead producer. Bale and Isaac will be part of a romantic triangle with a yet- to-be announced actress.
When I wrote the original story on February 26, the response I got– and the story got– was overwhelming. This could be a big epic hit. I expect with this updated news, a studio will become involved shortly.
Grey’s Anatomy News: There’s a New McDreamy 2.0 Cast to Take Patrick Dempsey’s Place
Here comes McDreamy 2.0.
“Grey’s Anatomy” will add New Zealand born actor Martin Henderson to its medical staff this fall, replacing Patrick Dempsey.
TV Line is reporting that no one knows the character’s name or what his story is, but you can guess the scenario: Dr X and Meredith meet cute, hate each other, fight, he does something nice for her kids (maybe saves one of them on the operating table), they flirt, fall into bed, and marry by the end of the season.
Henderson resembles Dempsey, so the transition won’t be too obvious to whoever’s left among Grey’s fans after the debacle of this past spring. He also has three movies coming out next year, which hedges his bet if the show ends or the audience hates him.
Shonda Rhimes cracks me up. This is the old trick from daytime soaps– recast with someone similar and move on. Actors are interchangeable. Rock on!