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UPDATE: It’s been pointed out to me that Fox Searchlight has separate distribution and marketing from “big” Fox. So “12 Years” looks like it’s going to have a big weekend. Stay tuned…
Earlier: You know that Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” is so important, so well made, so good, and one of the top 10 movies of this year or any year. But it’s having a little trouble in its launch. On Tuesday, every other movie in release posted big gains over Monday– Tuesday is typically a big night out for adults at the cinema. But not “12 Years a Slave.” It actually dipped 6%. Tuesday night serious filmgoers should have flocked to this film. Even some of what I’d call the second tier movies did well last night– Rush, Prisoners, even Runner Runner. “Rush” posted a 35% increase over Monday. But the McQueen movie isn’t translating well. Of course, come December there will be a slew of nominations. But Fox– currently overhauling its marketing departments–may have to rethink how it’s presenting “12 Years.” And if you’re reading this, get to a theater pronto. I said it before: this is the “Schindler’s List” of the black experience.
Lady Gaga is up to something. She’s looking for a bunch of real kid musicians who can play her songs on the YouTube Awards (November 3). She sent out a casting call today. Her fee? She’s offering $100 a day including rehearsals and day of show. Plus you can grill a steak off her costume. Right now kids all over the Tri State area are figuring out the chords to “Born this Way.” Casting company is called EJ Casting. I have no info on them.
SEEKING:
[YOUNG MUSICIANS] aged 10– 18 years old, who are proficient at pop/rock to play live onstage.
While we definitely want to cover piano, bass, guitar, drums, we would love horns, strings and
anything very unique like French horn or xylophone. We are hoping you might be able to recommend
young musicians who would be right fit for this. The casting time frame is very tight, we are casting
this week, Wed 10/23, Thurs 10/24, Friday 10/25 in NYC with callbacks either Sat or Sun. Rehearsals
ALL week starting Mon 10/28. (Please note: We are open to Skype and video submissions if an in
person audition is impossible.) Lady Gaga fans a plus.
Please note: For audition, all young musicians must prepare a Lady Gaga song.
MUST HAVE IN NOTES: how long talent has played instrument, what instrument they play, level of
talent (beginner/intermediate/etc), and please send any links or videos
Mariska Hargitay has a lot of reasons to be happy. I ran into her and actor husband Peter Hermann last night as they returned from watching her niece participate in a Boston regatta. “It’s a five hour drive!” Mariska cried. “But it was exciting.” The Hermanns were among the many celebs who wandered into the very exclusive Bar Centrale in New York’s theater district.
We talked about “Law & Order SVU”‘s ratings comeback. Over at tvbythenumbers.com, the experts say the show will definitely be renewed for fall 2014. “We’re on a roll,” Mariska said. “The ratings have been great and so have the reviews.” The season opener was a huge hit on both fronts, and set the tone for a hot season. They’ve already done shows about Paula Deen, Trayvon Martin, and Anthony Weiner.
Meanwhile, Peter has a big role in “Philomena” starring Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. The much acclaimed film opens at the end of November.
Also at Bar Centrale: British superstar Stephen Fry, who’s starring in alternating Shakespeare plays opening soon. And Bill Pullman came in with his wife Tamara. They’d just come from seeing “The Glass Menagerie” with Zachary Quinto and Cherry Jones. Minutes later, Quinto walked in with agent Bryan Lourd. It was that kind of night. Pullman, by the way, is an all star off Broadway production this fall with Ed Harris and Amy Madigan called “The Jacksonian.” And oh yes, Marin Ireland was entertaining her parents after a performance of “Marie Antoinette.”
George Clooney has asked that his “Monuments Men” be delayed until Spring 2014 according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The all star film was supposed to be ready for release at Christmas and was primed for Oscar season. There was an even an extensive plan for international premieres all to be underwritten by art dealer Larry Gagosian.
But Clooney says the movie was not yet scored, and that composer Alexander Desplat was just getting under way with an orchestra. Plus, many of the special effects weren’t finished. “Monuments Men” is thus postponed. I wouldn’t be surprised if it opened in Cannes given its global nature. That, or a premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February. (That might be a little awkward as the movie is about finding art stolen by or hidden from the Nazis.)
Sony may be relieved. They’ve got the very solid “Captain Phillips” in Oscar contention now. David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” will also be in the mix. Sony Pictures Classics has a sure thing in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.” Given the company’s calamitous summer, these films are enough. Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher” was also postponed for release until next year, although I am told that one is ready.
This leaves Clooney as “just” the producer of “August: Osage County” and a supporting actor in “Gravity.” I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t an Oscar campaign for his role in the Alfonso Cuaron movie now.
We think of Paul McCartney as ageless, or maybe 25. But he’s 71 years young. He’d be the oldest person in the Top 50 this week if it weren’t for Willie Nelson, who’s 80, and has an album of duets with some female singers called “To All the Girls.” We can say McCartney is the oldest rocker on the charts. And he has a great album in “New” (bad title but what can you do).
“New” sold 66,000 copies and was just behind Miley Cyrus’s “Bangerz” at number 2 and Pearl Jam’s “We’re Still Here Mumbling”– er, “Lightning Bolt” at number 1 with an impressive 170,000 sold. Willie Nelson sold 42,000 and came in at number 8.
The real stunner is Cher, who’s been selling consistently for several week with her “Closer to the Truth” album. She’s at number 10. Her success is a real example of what happens when a label puts some elbow grease and moolah into an album.
Elton John’s “The Diving Board” is hanging in there at number 24 and waiting for some Grammy nominations.
My favorite new album is Gavin DeGraw’s “Make a Move” at number 12. with over 36,000 copies. If Gavin were releasing albums in 1977, he’d be number 1. But he’s not taking his clothes off or sampling anything, or having sex with machinery in videos. He’s just really talented, a Billy Joel for this generation. Check him out.
Carrie off her meds and the show is a little kooky so far. But “Homeland” will be back in 2014 for a fourth season. Showtime just announced that the most emotional terrorist hunters in history will keep looking for double agents and good pharmaceuticals next year. They’re also bringing back “Masters of Sex,” which is a no brainer. Michael Sheen and Lizzie Caplan are great, but really– an excuse to see naked people all humping every week. Come on. Genius! Showtime, all I care about is “Episodes.” It’s the antidote to everything. Even Brody enjoys it from South America.
Meantime. “Homeland” star Damian Lewis is moving into films. Remember what the “Homeland” producers said earlier this year. No one is safe. Could Carrie be tracking and falling in love with another terrorist next season? Absolutely!
Sean Penn gave Julia Roberts a very odd, rambling toast last night at the Hollywood Awards. Penn said:“We’re all humbled to recognize that film is an integrative exercise. Great writing will catch each and every stumble. Julia is poetic. In the words of William Saroyan, ‘She is that who shines and is beyond corruption.’ I could watch her eat for hours on end. Even if the food gets stuck in her teeth. I want her to make a movie in 3D with a virtual toothpick. I’d like to use that to get the pieces out.”
Roberts is never one to shy away from a good retort: “Jesus,” she said, “how can I say anything after that? Fortunately I am a hearty eater. I told my husband on our first date 13 years ago, I just don’t eat salads.”
Carlos de Abreu, The Hollywood Film Festival’s Founder, made sure the event was star studded and quirky. Other stars such as Sandra Bullock, Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey, Harrison Ford, Geoffrey Rush, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey and Bruce Willis were just some of the celebrities making an appearance. The event of course was very industry heavy, each of the studios had tables on the floor of the ballroom. The studios have suddenly seized on the Hollywood Awards and festival as a new marketing tool. Viva Carlos!
Director Steve McQueen and actor Jared Leto got their respective Breakthrough awards, both joked how they have been knocking around for awhile. Matthew McConaughey gave a casual, but detailed explanation od how he let his agents know that he wanted a more serious career change and that, “it’s gonna be dry for awhile. And it was!”
A highlight for the jaded crowd was Coldplay’s Chris Martin performing ‘Atlas,’ from the upcoming ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.’ Harvey Weinstein was referred to through much of the night, thanked by many and even being pressed to employ Sandra Bullock who said, “Harvey why don’t you hire me? I even wore your wife’s dress!”
Jerry Weintraub told a funny story about how his award-receiving career started. “Frank Sinatra got it all started. He arranged for me to receive a B’nai Brith and an NAACP award in one night.” He went on to explain that, “I got all these awards in my house. They are all going on eBay when I die. In my 30s I already had awards and in my 40s they called me an icon. Now in my 70s, they want to call me a legend.” The next stop is Hillside Cemetery’.”
Brian Hegeland, ’42’s’ writer/director, presented the final award to a subdued and probably tired at this point, but grateful Harrison Ford. Since this is the kick off to awards season, Carlos pulled it off with great aplomb.
….The San Francisco Film Society will honor four films at its first ever Fall Gala on November 14th. One of them is close to their hearts since the amazing “Fruitvale Station” takes place in Oakland. I have no sense of how “Fruitvale” has played in the Bay area, but the transit police should have a real sense of shame about the unprovoked murder of Oscar Grant. The other films film are “Nebraska,” “Her,” and “The Square.” All the main players for the films will be on hand including Alexander Payne and Spike Jonze. The event is co-hosted by Sid Ganis and director Chris Columbus…
…Before Comic Con last week, “X Files” star David Duchovny was out at the Hamptons Film Festival for the premiere of “Louder Than Words.” The Anthony Fabian directed feature film which also stars Hope Davis and Timothy Hutton, tells the true story of Maria Fareri, who died in 1995 at age 13 from rabies. Her family, rather than wallow in grief, mobilized and started a children’s hospital at Westchester Medical Center in her memory.
Duchovny told our REGINA WEINREICH: “When I got the script, I knew it was based on true events, thought it was an amazing thing to have happened in real life, not even thinking of it as fiction or documentary, or somewhere in between, not that that’s what the movie is, I thought if the family has the courage or the balls to make this film I can have the same. Everybody is always looking for something that is emotionally true. Most actors are looking for a script like this.”
Duchovny was on his way to Comic Con, where rabid fans are still hoping to find the truth out there. “It’s nice that people still want to talk about The X-Files,” he said.
…Oh yes: Kanye West popped the question last night to whatsername. I always like it when parents of a child or children decide to get married. It’s such a surprise! Will they actually tie the knot? How many days before the tabloids say it’s over? And how long will it last? Just the saga will give us all something to live for…
Of course, this news throws all the Oscar prognosticators for a loop. What to do? They’ve already called the March 2, 2014 awards, presented the odds, etc. Everything is now pitched to whether it will an Oscar. Think of all the great movies that didn’t win Oscars or weren’t nominated. Quick– tell me right now who won all the major awards in February 2013, just nine months ago. Can you do it?
Was it “The Artist”?
With “Wolf” opening, Matthew McConnaughey will be eligible from three different movies– “Mud,” Wolf,” and “Dallas Buyers Club.” Will Leonardo DiCaprio be able to sneak in where seven or eight guys already have staked claims? That’s Forest Whitaker, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Idris Elba, Oscar Isaac, Michael B. Jordan, and Bruce Dern.
Kanye West, in regular standard mode and not looking for an argument or a fight, surprised “12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen this evening. He flew in from San Francisco to give McQueen a special honor at the Hollywood Awards in the ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. Kanye joked that he was “reading from the TelePrompter” lest anything go awry. But he said some heartfelt things about McQueen and the movie, which was very nice.
Our LEAH SYDNEY is reporting from the BHH ballroom, where she’s run into Jane Fonda and Richard Perry, actor Geoffrey Rush, and a clutch of other stars. Also in attendance are Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Julia Roberts with producer Jerry Weintraub, Jake Gyllenhaal, Olivia Munn, Kenny Babyface Edmonds, Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy…
