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Interstellar Draws Stellar Crowd at Brad Grey’s Secret Screening and Dinner

Roger Friedman
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Interstellar Draws Stellar Crowd at Brad Grey’s Secret Screening and Dinner

The “Interstellar” secret screening and dinner at the ’21’ Club drew a stellar crowd Sunday night, I am told by some of the invitees. Lorne Michaels didn’t make it, and Charlie Rose only came for dinner. But everyone else on Peggy Siegal’s guest list for Brad Grey’s event considered the night of Paramount importance. Director Chris Nolan, as well as stars Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway were there, ‘natch.

And the heavy hitters included an eclectic group: Oscar winning directors Steve McQueen and Ang Lee, Oscar winner Susan Sarandon, plus Chris Rock, Michael Shannon, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Alison Williams, Laura Prepon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tony Gilroy, Jon Bon Jovi, Darren Aronofsky, Noah Baumbach, Helena Christensen, Cynthia McFadden, and Robin Roberts.

Did they like it? Yeah, they liked it. What’s not to like? You always get nice ice cream sundaes at ’21’, too.

Taylor Swift’s Big Music Machine Churns Out a Third Anthem Week Before New Album

Roger Friedman
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0
Taylor Swift’s Big Music Machine Churns Out a Third Anthem Week Before New Album

What came first? Taylor Swift or her record label, called Big Machine? Because Swift, who’s still under 25, has become a Big Machine. Her new album, titled “1989” because that’s the year of her birth, comes out on October 27th. She’s already released two pop anthems constructed for mass acceptance.

Now a third one comes tomorrow. “Welcome to New York” is written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic  (with Taylor of course). The lead single, “Shake it Off,” was a Max Martin special and a  big hit. The second one, “Out of the Woods,” not so much, but interesting, written with Jack Antonoff. “1989” is going to be BIG– like 750,000 copies first week.

The Taylor Swift who wrote personal country songs is gone. We are now dealing with product. I’m not criticizing. She is fascinating. And more calculated than Lady Gaga. Taylor is headed to movies and Broadway, and even bigger things like that if they exist.

Here’s the preview, bland but so catchy, like a commercial.

Freddie Mercury-Queen Unauthorized Short Film Project Asks Public for Money on Crowdfunding

Roger Friedman
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0
Freddie Mercury-Queen Unauthorized Short Film Project Asks Public for Money on Crowdfunding

A bunch of people who don’t have music rights or anything else are trying to make a “Bowfinger” type short film about Freddie Mercury and Queen. It’s called “The Show Must Go On” and seems to be based on the story of Mary Austin, Freddie’s long time close friend and beneficiary. Someone named Daniel Keith has been selected to play Freddie. The 30 minute film is set to shoot on November 15th.

This is not the long in the planning Freddie Mercury film that was once supposed to star Sacha Baron Cohen and now might star Ben Whishaw. Archways Pictures US is supposedly the producer. Their website touts films you’ve never heard of, with titles like “Sins of Lambs” and “Texxas Jam” (two x’s, yes).

They’ve announced their whole cast on Facebook.
Freddie Mercury – Daniel Keith
Mary Austin – Sabina Petra
Barbara Valentin – Nadine Van Asbeck
Roger Tayler* – Karl Hemmerle
John Deacon – Max Schloner
Mick Rock – Chris Norton
Reinhold Mack – Eric Baker
Ingrid Mack – Madeleine James
Rudy Dolezal – Michael De Quinzio
Winfield Kirschberger – Michael Leigh Cook

*spelling is their’s

Here’s their fund raising film:

Show Must Go On Fundraising from Archway Pictures on Vimeo.

And here’s Daniel Keith’s reel from YouTube:

The producers had put a notice earlier this month on Craigslist that apparently went unnoticed. It read:

On Saturday, Oct 4 from 12-6pm we are casting people for the upcoming short film about Freddie Mercury. Roles being auditioned for are everything from Mary Austin, David Bowie, Brian May to Freddie’s boyfriend, Jim Hutton. Production begins this November with a sizable cast and crew and period piece of 1970’s Munich. We need a casting person (with experience) to help us run the casting process and provide input and a casting assistant to manage people as they come and go. We’re asking for 6 hours of your time.

Being a short film all money is going into Red cameras, wardrobe, set design, lighting (i.e. production value). All crew members, producers, and director have agreed to donate their time. This is non-paying, however, we are offering IMdb.com credit.

How’s all this going to work? Crazy little thing called filmmaking!

Here’s the posted 1st make up try for Daniel Keith:

daniel keith's first make up test, via Facebook

Hugh Grant’s Possibly Last Movie Has No US Distributor, Flops in the UK

Roger Friedman
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2
Hugh Grant’s Possibly Last Movie Has No US Distributor, Flops in the UK

Everything about “The Rewrite” sounds like it would work– if it had been released in 1998. Hugh Grant plays  a failed screenwriter who takes a college teaching job as a writing instructor in Binghamton, NY. Crusty “Juno”  stars Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons are his kindly superiors. Marisa Tomei, a two time Oscar nominee, is his love interest. Marc Lawrence, capable sitcom movie maker (“Miss Congeniality,” “Words and Music”) is the writer-director. What could go wrong?

Well, we might be looking for “The Rewrite” on VOD very shortly. The rom com has no US distributor. It does have some foreign distributors, so it has started rolling out abroad. In the UK it  took in a paltry $500K its first week ending October 10. A few other lucky countries will follow. But in the US, there’s no sign of it.

On Rotten Tomatoes, “The Rewrite” has a decent 71%. From its trailer it looks funny, but also like a great movie of the week. Castle Rock, Rob Reiner’s once-powerhouse company, made it. They’re probably still dealing with the financial disaster of Reiner’s summer flop “And So it Goes” ($30 mil budget, $4 mil box office).

The 90s are really over. Grant has just one more movie in the can, playing Mr. Waverly in the big screen version of “The Man from UNCLE.”  We won’t see that until next year. It was moved from its January release date. Grant says he may be giving up acting. I don’t get it. If he really wanted to revive his career and make good  films, he could. He obviously doesn’t care. As for Marisa Tomei, like George Costanza I support her 100%! She can do no wrong!

Christopher Nolan’s Much Anticipated “Interstellar” Has Secret Sunday Screening

Roger Friedman
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Christopher Nolan’s Much Anticipated “Interstellar” Has Secret Sunday Screening

And so the Oscar season is in full swing. Sunday night, five days before any press sees it, Paramount is screening the space soap “Interstellar” for an A List crowd. They’re hoping to pull off a “Gravity” type success.

Secret invites tout the appearances of director Christopher Nolan as well as producer Emma Thomas (aka Mrs. Nolan), Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Emma Thomas, and others at the AMC Lincoln Square IMAX theater followed by a swanky dinner at the ’21’ Club. No press allowed. In fact, Paramount is hopeful that no one will write, Tweet, or other wise communicate their feelings about “Interstellar” until November 6th– three days after the New York premiere.

The guest list is supposed to be hush hush, too, although paparazzi should be picking off names at both locations.

So what’s the story on “Interstellar”? A source I spoke to last week says it has, of course, “amazing” special effects, even better than “Gravity.” and it’s not even in 3D. Nolan fans who started with the brilliant, backwards-told “Memento” and who were able to figure out “Inception” will be knee deep in long essays by the day it opens.

(Watch the trailer: “Interstellar” sounds a little like what happened to Krypton before it exploded. Everyone has to leave Earth before it explodes. Maybe they wrap a baby up in a Prada blanket and send him into space.)

The 169 minute movie– that’s 2 hours, 49 minutes– also features Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Michael Caine, Ellen Burstyn, and the rarely seen  Wes Bentley. The powers that be are mounting a Best Actor campaign for Matthew McConaughey (who just won, so the likelihood is small), and Jessica Chastain for Best Supporting Actress (where she’ll tangle with the likes of Keira Knightley, Felicity Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts and so on). “It will get all the tech nominations and win them,” my source insists.

“Interstellar” is produced by Linda Obst, author of the Hollywood memoir with the best title ever: “Hello, He Lied.” That title just rings true for everyone if you’re a journalist trying to get a straight answer from anyone about anything in the film business. Obst really had it down, and that was in 1996.

Tom Cruise Wears His Special Gold Badge to the London Scientology Prom

Roger Friedman
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Tom Cruise Wears His Special Gold Badge to the London Scientology Prom

Whatever happened to Tom Cruise and Scientology? Certainly he’s given that up by now, right? Wrong. Cruise was snapped on Instagram yesterday wearing his special solid gold medallion to the annual Church prom in London. A tip of the hat to Tony Ortega of course, who posted on his site after another board found the pic on Instagram. Cruise is posing with a Venezuelan actress whose manager posted the photo. Ruddy Rodgriguez either believes Xenu is waiting for her, or thinks she might be snapped with the world’s most famous Hollywood star one day at a party in London. You guess. TomCruiseLondon

Anyway, Cruise is wearing the same Freedom Medal of Valor award he got 10 years ago right before he met Katie Holmes. This means that nothing that’s happened since then– ridicule over the couch jumping, Katie Holmes, losing his marriage and Suri, etc– has ever sunk in. Not even the Miscavige Clinic for the Criminally Insane on “General Hospital.”

 

Box Office Shocker: Adam Sandler’s Latest Release is DOA, Makes $475K in 21 Days

Roger Friedman
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Box Office Shocker: Adam Sandler’s Latest Release is DOA, Makes $475K in 21 Days

I don’t know if it’s a function of his deal with Netflix, or what is happening. But the latest release starring Adam Sandler is DOA at the box office. Total as of Sunday is $475K in 21 days.

“Juno” director Jason Reitman’s “Men, Women, and Children” made just $99,000 last night in 608 theaters. The social satire about families and their gadgets has been in stealth release since October 1st. Until Friday, in very limited number of theaters, “MWC” had made $154K.

The movie stars Sandler, Jennifer Garner, hot newcomer Ansel Elgort from “Fault in our Stars” and Dean Norris from “Breaking Bad.” Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a very low ranking of 29%.

The poster for “MWC”  doesn’t help– it has no pictures of stars or their names. It’s just an illustrated crowd scene with the name of the movie buried in the mess.

The film played at the Toronto Film Festival. But even I didn’t realize it had opened on October 1st. Reitman also directed the much loved “Up in the Air” with George Clooney and is considered a hot director. His last release, though, was not (thanks to a sharp reader)  “Young Adult,” with Charlize Theron, fell short of the mark. Reitman’s more recent film was “Labor Day,” with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, making three  disappointments in a row.

Sandler just signed a huge deal with Netflix for four films that won’t be released to theaters, just online to Netflix subscribers. I said then that his box office was way off, and that this was the best thing to do for him. It does seem like “MWC” will be his lowest grossing movie ever.

Meantime, Brad Pitt in “Fury” did an ok $8.8 mil Friday night for a $22mil weekend. Not a blockbuster by any means…

 

Exclusive Premiere: Aretha Franklin’s Gorgeous Version of “Teach Me Tonight”

Roger Friedman
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0
Exclusive Premiere: Aretha Franklin’s Gorgeous Version of “Teach Me Tonight”

Dinah Washington made Sammy Cahn’s “Teach Me Tonight” (lyrics by Gene dePaul) a hit in 1954. Twenty years later, Phoebe Snow did likewise. Now Aretha Franklin does a gorgeous job of it on her new “Songs of the Great Divas” collection that hits iTunes, amazon, and stores on Tuesday. Here is Aretha’s version, and it swings:

Exclusive: Regina Hall, (Maybe) Taye Diggs Lining Up for Thriller “The Surrogate”

Roger Friedman
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0
Exclusive: Regina Hall, (Maybe) Taye Diggs Lining Up for Thriller “The Surrogate”

Regina Hall is hot hot hot. Having starred in “Think Like a Man” and its sequel, “Think Like a Man Too,” Hall is getting an even bigger break. I’m told she’s signed to play one of the three leads in Jon Cassar’s “The Surrogate,” a thriller that should start production this fall or early winter. Unique Features’ Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, the pair who made New Line Cinema a household name, are the top producers.

I’m also told that Taye Diggs, who has co-starred with Hall before, may join her as her husband. The story is about a couple who hire a surrogate to carry their baby, and she wrecks havoc in their lives. It’s a little like  “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.” Still not cast is the surrogate herself. (How about Sanaa Lathan?) Diggs is all but set, insiders say, although Michael Ealy may also be in the running. Stay tuned…

Cassar, a long time producer-director of “24,” just finished filming “Forsaken” with Kiefer Sutherland and his legendary dad Donald Sutherland, as well as the not- seen-enough Demi Moore…

Misty Upham, Lovely Actress from “Frozen River” and “August:Osage County,” Dead at 33

Roger Friedman
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0
Misty Upham, Lovely Actress from “Frozen River” and “August:Osage County,” Dead at 33

You’ve no doubt read that Misty Upham, a lovely actress who had big roles in “Frozen River” and “August: Osage County,” had been missing for days. Her family thought she might have considered  suicide. Misty apparently suffered from depression. She was found yesterday. I met Misty a few times, especially during the “AOC” publicity. She was soft spoken and funny. In a casual social environment you wouldn’t have known she was suffering.

Reports say the Upham family feels the police weren’t helpful when they sounded an alarm to find her. It doesn’t really matter. A family friend told Variety: “We just want to make it clear that the Auburn police had nothing to do with looking for her or finding her,” she said. “It was friends and family that led the search and rescue teams that found Misty.”

I once made some comment to Misty, not thinking, actually because I thought she was from Canada or upstate New York because her work in “Frozen River” seemed so real. She laughed and said, “Why should I know that? I’m from the West Coast!”

Rest in peace, Misty.

Frozen River sample scene from Chip Hourihan on Vimeo.

from the Facebook page of Auburn, Washington police:

It took nearly five hours for the Auburn Police Department and the Valley Regional Fire Authority crews to recover the body of a deceased person from a wooded area near the White River in Auburn. The body was discovered near Forest Ridge Dr. and has now been turned over the King County Medical Examiner for positive identification and a determination of cause of death.

Because a purse containing identification of Misty Upham was at the scene the body is presumed to be that of Upham. The Auburn Police Department states that there is no initial evidence or information to indicate foul play; however the Medical Examiner will make the final determination.

The body was discovered by a person related to a search party that had been assembled by the Upham family that was in the area searching for her at about 1 p.m. this afternoon.

The Auburn Police Department found the body approximately 150 feet down a steep embankment near the river heavily covered in brush. It took a 10-person crew to recover the body from the steep and wooded area.

The medical examiner is expected to release their findings in the next few days.

Upham was reported missing by her family on Oct. 6 and the Auburn Police Department had been investigating her disappearance.

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