Thursday, March 18, 2010

Defintely, We'll See, No Way

The Definitely
Jake will be attending the WonderCon convention on April 3 in San Francisco to talk about PoP.


The We'll See

If Jake will be at today's preview of Prince of Persia at ShoWest. ShoWest is the biggest gathering for the motion picture industry. It is a big day for PoP and it's not just for Jake but for director Mike Newell but Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney as well. PoP is Disney's tent pole so there is a lot riding on it. Very few movies are shown at ShoWest, and to close out the convention on the last day. They must be confident not only showing the movie there but letting it be the last impression the attendees take with them. They could have flipped it and had their sure thing Toy Story 3 close it for Disney but didn't, that says a lot.

And the No Way?
Well it came out in today's Ottawa Citizen that Source Code will not be filming at the Ottawa Train Station.
"...the stumbling block that caused the producers to back out appears to be the fee VIA Rail wanted for use of the Ottawa station. The amount is believed to be about $250,000, although neither VIA Rail nor a film company spokeswoman would confirm the amount.

"We will not be coming to Ottawa and we will not comment on the situation," Manon Bougie, the film's production manager said Wednesday.
She said a replacement location has been found in Montreal."


A little more PoP to finish off today.

Film Journal just released an interview with Mike Newell to coincide with today's first official look at the movie, the interview was several weeks ago.
About casting:

FJI: How did you come to cast Jake Gyllenhaal as the titular prince and Gemma Arterton as his love interest, Tamina?Newell: I know Jake's parents, so I've known him since he was a small child and I've watched him grow up to become a really wonderful, subtle, sensitive actor with terrific emotional range. That's what I wanted for this character, but at the same time I had to have an action hero. So I took a bet! Jake's a strong guy and he's immensely hard-working, so I knew that one of the things that would set him on his mettle was actually performing these stunts. A lot of the fighting in the movie is Jake and a fight routine has to be learned to the inch or people get hurt. What you have is this tremendously energetic and youthful man of action who also has a wonderful sensitive side under the surface.


I saw a lot of girls for the female lead; I looked at Iranian actresses, Israeli actresses and was about to go to India to look at Bollywood actresses. But Jerry kept pushing me towards English actresses because he had had such luck with Keira Knightley in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. As soon as Gemma walked in, I fell for her. She's very energetic and very feisty and very intelligent and she's wonderful at being the tough girl who can stand up to Jake's character.

And about difference of opinion and scenes left out.
FJI: Were there any scenes that you were sorry to lose from the final theatrical cut?

Newell: We cut very few actual scenes, but there is one scene that I always loved that involves a prince who gives his father a special gift: the heads of the rebels he's been fighting preserved in great basins of ice. I loved that and Jerry didn't, so we romped and rolled over it a bit and finally—guess what!—it's not in the movie. I also felt at times that we were taking out too many of the great big wide shots, but I think we've massaged those back into it. Overall, there was nothing in the process that was out of the ordinary. Directors always fall in love with certain scenes and shots, sometimes healthily and sometimes unhealthily. It goes back to that wise saying in filmmaking: Always be prepared to kill your darlings.

And about creating the look of PoP

FJI: Were there specific films or works of art that you drew on to craft the look of the film?

Newell: I was very anxious to give it a kind of modern-epic edge, so I knew I had to reference all of those George Lucas and Steven Spielberg films, particularly the Indiana Jones series. But I also hoped to take the audience further than that, further into an ancient world, and to try and make them believe what the people in that ancient world believed. The movie's story depends on that trick. It's all about myth made reality, which is so fascinating in a tale like this. And audiences these days are cynical; they know you can do almost anything with CGI. So you have to make them forget about all that and believe absolutely in the world and the characters that they're seeing onscreen. One of the things Jerry and I always agreed upon was that we wanted to take the audience somewhere they've never been before.



Seems like Mike and Jake were on the same path of Raiders. Jake telling Total Film magazine.

“Look, I know there is a legacy of these films. People who’ve done them and pulled them off and those who haven’t. Indiana Jones is one of my favorite films ever. That’s what I want to challenge, and that was the pressure I felt. It’s me everyday. I’m the guy.”

“The bad guys all had different powers, so I fight them in different ways,” he said. “There’s a great fight where one of them has these whips with blades on the end, then I fight another one with blades for hands, and another one who shoots spikes. And there’s some great chase scenes in the movie, involving sword-fighting and humor, which is the hardest part of action.”

And a page from PoP: The Ultimate Sticker Book. Can you imagine if any of other of Jake's movies had their own sticker book?

34 comments:

WoW said...

Another fun and interesting post today. :)

PoP said...

DisneyPictures: The first part of our fan interview with Jake Gyllenhaal about PRINCE OF PERSIA is now on Facebook! http://ow.ly/1nXKb
5 minutes ago

Special K said...

New video from OTH in Park City.

Austin Sophia and Lee taking pictures

When the cast is taken pictures it makes it look they now it's the end of the show. Of course maybe Sophia just wants to post these somewhere.

hangover said...

5 hours and 3 comments. Looks like all the Godot people are Irish.

stu said...

Am I missing a tooth?

We're not going to leave a baby in the room. There's a fucking tiger in the bathroom.

phil said...

Whose baby is that?

alan said...

Check its collar or something.

prairiegirl said...

LOL - That video from Utah is interesting.

Austin looks like he could care less and I've seen more life in a railroad crossing arm than his arm while they were waiting for that guy to snap.

prairiegirl said...

Like all the pictures with today's post. I haven't read it yet but I enjoyed the pictures so far.

Special K said...

Austin looks more excited when he has his picture take with fans, than he does with Sophia.

WoW said...

Vegas is quite the place - we visited after visiting relatives on the West Coast, and drove across the Mojave, which was beautiful with all the Joshua Trees, but reeeally dryyyyy. I felt like if I didn't have water I'd dry up like a leaf and blow away! But to see it coming up in the distance is a treat. It was Luxor for me, but I loved walking around at Mandalay Bay with all the awwwesome restaurants, and of cource Bellagio and the Venetian. Great shops. I did a lot of walking, especially in the evening. :)

WoW said...

^^That didn't sound very good - I walked around in the cool of the early evening when the sky turned pink. :) Vegas has the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It's an environmentalist's nightmare tho - wheeere to they get all the water for the hotels, fountains, etc.? It's still a treat tho.


Wow, how can anybody look that good - Jake looks great in that video. I love the background too.

Video, Photos, Report - Lt. Dan Choi and Cpt. Jim Pietrangelo Arrested said...

Developing...

Lt. Dan Choi, Captain Jim Pietrangelo, and activist Robin McGehee of GetEQUAL were arrested earlier today following a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rally thrown by the Human Rights Campaign which featured Kathy Griffin.

While different versions of events are being offered (see bottom of post), Lt. Choi spoke at the rally and asked participants to join him on a march to the White House. Choi led hundreds of people from the rally to the White House where he and Cpt. Pietrangelo cuffed themselves to the fence while the crowd rallied around them. Shortly thereafter Choi and Pietrangelo were cut from the fence and arrested by police. During the minutes leading up to their arrest, activist Robin McGehee of GetEQUAL was also arrested.

Kerry eleveld of the Advocate reports, in a Tweet, that Choi and Pietrangelo are being held in jail overnight and will appear tomorrow in court: "Police Spokes says Choi/Pietrangelo will be held overnight and appear tomorrow in DC superior court."

Towleroad

WoW said...

^^Good luck to them.

hoopla said...

Whatever happened to the CA Prop 8 court case?!

Florida Tom said...

I so hope DADT is history by 2011.

I hear ya hoopla. I havent heard anything about the prop 8 court case. Doesnt matter it will be dealt with in the US Supreme Court which scares me.

WoW said...

Best wishes to Lt. Choi and Cpt. Pietrangelo - I have so much admiration for them for standing up for what they believe in, whatever it takes. Once DADT is history, that will go along way towards opening doors to other civil rights, like marriage, and then Prop 8 will be history too. :)

destiny said...

I think Lt. Choi is is one of the heroes of the gay civil rights movement.

The judge in the Prop. 8 trial asked for briefs summarizing all of the evidence, which I believe were submitted a few weeks ago. After he's had a chance to read them, he will then schedule the closing arguments.

Jake said...

That's all it'll take? My briefs? I'll send them asap!


P.S. is he cute?

Jake said...

Wait....does he want briefs with my evidence or everybody's?

destiny said...

I was googling around about Bomer and Simon Halls. Halls represents, among others, Ang Lee, Tom Ford, Nathan Lane and Zachary Quinto.

Simon Halls joins Slate PR

Special K said...

Backlash over Via Rail losing the Source Code shoot in Ottawa. Trying to win production back to shoot there.

Via Rail in Hot Seat Over Lost Film Deal

gifted said...

The plan went off the rails when negotiations bogged down this week between Via Rail and the film’s producers over the fee for use of the train station.

The disagreement was about the potential cost of replacing all of the plants and trees at the train station after Jake brings Atticus to the set.

LOL said...

(((Atticus)))

Prince of Persia First Reactions – ShoWest 2010 said...

The reactions are pouring in from the first screening of Disney’s Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. The movie premiered at ShoWest and plenty of people are blazing the world of Twitter with their instant reactions to the film. Fans of the video game have thrown in their two cents as well as people who wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. Well, it’s time for Prince of Persia to be put on the chopping block so here it is…

For the most part, it sounds like people had high expectations for this film, which I believe was their first mistake. The majority of these tweets are comments of frustration and disappointment. This begs the question, did we all see the same trailers that have been gracing the internet for the past few months? Prince of Persia doesn’t look like the savior of the video game genre, hell it looks borderline campy!

The general consensus here is that the movie is mediocre, and that sounds like an accurate assessment. Just because Jake Gyllenhaal is doing backflips in the desert in the middle of a Jerry Bruckheimer film doesn’t mean it’s the be all, end all of action movies.

Here’s what we’re hearing through the grapevine so far…

■ SvenRump: Prince of Persia: a rollicking good time. Swords & Sandals 2010 Bruckheimer Style
■ Slashfilm: Feeling let down by Prince of Persia. The production design, cinematography, costume design all amazing. But the plot, characters and casting is kind of a mess.
■ FirstShowing: Prince of Persia was good, not great, pretty much exactly what I expected. It moved VERY quickly but was still long. Not enough parkour. I like the plot, but there’s so much going on it was confusing at times, felt a little rushed and messy, but wasn’t bad. Just good I guess.
■ Schofizzy: No surprise that PRINCE OF PERSIA: SANDS OF TIME looks cool and that’s about it.
■ mattign: Just saw Prince of Persia. Fun movie.
■ bitmobshoe: Prince of Persia movie is a lot of mindless, summer blockbuster fun. The expected cliches were out in full force though.
■ entoncesmn: Prince of Persia is big and loud and and action-filled but all that didn’t make the story better.

It sounds like a typical, middle of the road summer movie to me. I’ll probably still go see it because I never put it up on a pedestal to begin with. My expectations for it have been pretty low since day one.

link

tweet said...

@MaryBurberry Prince of Persia will do $100million+ and spawn two sequels. That's how it was.
about 3 hours ago via web in reply to MaryBurberry

BenHeckenkamp

tweet said...

Prince of Persia was actually pretty good! I'd watch it again- and that's says a lot. I don't usually rewarch epics.
about 4 hours ago via Echofon
KirklandMovies

tweet said...

Today I will mostly be working on Jake Gyllenhaal. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it...
about 3 hours ago via web
AnnaBosworth

Ted said...

Dear Ted:
Has Jeremy Renner ever been a Blind Vice? I feel like he's too new to the spotlight to have one, but I would kinda love to be wrong. You're my fave gossip keep up the good work!
—Laura

Dear Too Bad:
Nope, the Oscar nommed noobie hasn't made his Blind Vice debut yet—though I'm sure he feels like he has these days.


Dear Ted:
I think a majority of your readers (as well as other gossip devourers) have correctly determined the identity of Toothy Tile. If he knew how many people nationwide have a strong suspicion/conviction of his real identity, do you think his mind would change about staying in the closet? I know—there are still so many closed-minded people out there, including the big suits in Hollywood.
—J

Dear Mass Appeal:
I think the whole country could actually know who T.T. was and he still wouldn't publicly come out—not yet, at least.


Dear Ted:
Some of the comments to your outing Morning Piss made a point that I have always dismissed, but am now rethinking. Most gossip writers would think nothing about "outing" an unfaithful spouse or a heterosexual celebrity couple, but there is a strong taboo against outing a homosexual celebrity. I understand why: to come out of the closet is very difficult, and to force someone out before they are ready can harm the person and those that they care about. However, does this taboo serve to reinforce the same cultural bigotry that puts people in the closet in the first place?
—Em

Dear Privacy Problem:
Yes. But, what's the solution? Out people just to help out society?


Dear Ted:
You well know that a lot of actors in Hollywood (who aren't gay) have played gay on the screen. It's almost a rite of passage in their pursuit of fame and glory. Russell Crowe, Jake Gyllenhaal, Will Smith, Robert Downey, Jr., Leonardo DiCaprio, and Al Pacino all come to mind. What about Nevis Divine? Does he have his gay cinema bona fides (and I'm talking about on the screen, not in the trailer with his co-stars)? Or is it still too early in his career?
—Mike

Dear Going Gay:
While Nevis has never been to Brokeback Mountain, he's explored the more...complicated side of sexuality.

Bitch-Back! Say It Ain't So, Sandy

Ted said...

Dear Ted:
Has Jeremy Renner ever been a Blind Vice? I feel like he's too new to the spotlight to have one, but I would kinda love to be wrong. You're my fave gossip keep up the good work!
—Laura

Dear Too Bad:
Nope, the Oscar nommed noobie hasn't made his Blind Vice debut yet—though I'm sure he feels like he has these days.


Dear Ted:
I think a majority of your readers (as well as other gossip devourers) have correctly determined the identity of Toothy Tile. If he knew how many people nationwide have a strong suspicion/conviction of his real identity, do you think his mind would change about staying in the closet? I know—there are still so many closed-minded people out there, including the big suits in Hollywood.
—J

Dear Mass Appeal:
I think the whole country could actually know who T.T. was and he still wouldn't publicly come out—not yet, at least.


Dear Ted:
Some of the comments to your outing Morning Piss made a point that I have always dismissed, but am now rethinking. Most gossip writers would think nothing about "outing" an unfaithful spouse or a heterosexual celebrity couple, but there is a strong taboo against outing a homosexual celebrity. I understand why: to come out of the closet is very difficult, and to force someone out before they are ready can harm the person and those that they care about. However, does this taboo serve to reinforce the same cultural bigotry that puts people in the closet in the first place?
—Em

Dear Privacy Problem:
Yes. But, what's the solution? Out people just to help out society?


Dear Ted:
You well know that a lot of actors in Hollywood (who aren't gay) have played gay on the screen. It's almost a rite of passage in their pursuit of fame and glory. Russell Crowe, Jake Gyllenhaal, Will Smith, Robert Downey, Jr., Leonardo DiCaprio, and Al Pacino all come to mind. What about Nevis Divine? Does he have his gay cinema bona fides (and I'm talking about on the screen, not in the trailer with his co-stars)? Or is it still too early in his career?
—Mike

Dear Going Gay:
While Nevis has never been to Brokeback Mountain, he's explored the more...complicated side of sexuality.

Bitch-Back! Say It Ain't So, Sandy

prairiegirl said...

Nice to take a break and weigh in on several topics today, several of them OT, but what else is new, anyway?

Well, too bad Jakey obviously wasn't in Vegas. Guess the teach wouldn't let him out of class. Oh well, in another month, we'll have that guy coming out of our ears until I'm certain I'll be sick of him, lol. I have to say I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie. I know that's not going to win me any brownie points with you, Tom-Man, but oh well.

As a few of you know, I've got my flight booked and Lord willing, I'll be seeing Prince of Persia in the Beantown with our own Mz. Special!! We're going to rip that theatre a new one.

Huh. Just had a snarky comment come to mind. Wonder how Jake would like it if some of us started texting during the movie??? Hmmmmm?? How rude would that be? Can you believe some people do that? Oh, you say he and Reese once....."o" mouth!! Why, I didn't know...er, excuse me.

prairiegirl said...

lol.

Aw, I can't text during the movie anyway. I don't have that on my plan. YET. I know, Tom, I'm working on that, though!

Something on a more serious note, these both being OT, what is going on.

I read some of these alleged text messages that Tiger Woods' former mistress says she received (even put them up on a website) and man! Who would've thought...the thing is, another former mistress says that she had text messages from him with similar "wish lists". What a scavenger hunt list of desires, too. The choking, slapping around, etc, though, - that stuff was scary.

As these text messages become more widely known (and these things, I guarantee you, are going to be plastered everywhere and going to be prime Leno, Letterman, etc material), I can see this guy's public apology maybe going right out the window and him losing more accounts. The violence against women coalitions are going to see to that.

prairiegirl said...

The other thing that bugged me was opening up People.com and seeing Sandra Bullock's husband issuing his apology to his wife and kids, using People magazine to do it with. That just blows my mind. What PR-contrived, meaningless drivel. I'd tell him he could just talk to the hand. Forget it, buddy, and give me a break.

Is there anything in HW that's real? That's admirable? That's honest??? Are there some real, honest & true relationships out there? Someone lift me up here.

You know, my mom & dad were never famous (although my dad was once Citizen of the Year - does that count? LOLLL! He got to ride in the back of a convertible in the Fair Parade one summer), didn't earn big bucks, weren't ever on magazine covers and all that stuff.

But they were married together for 54 years and they loved each other. They even enjoyed going to the grocery store together and my dad snored but he wouldn't even let my mom go sleep in another room sometimes because he couldn't stand for her to be away for even one night. And Mom was there til the very end, through sickness & in health. There are couples all around me, you guys included I'm sure, that I know who have done this very thing.

Why is it so different in Hollywood? I don't get it. I do not get it. It's so sad.

prairiegirl said...

Quadruple post!! C'mon, you guys, don't make me talk to myself, that's not any fun. :(

Aw, I need to get back to work anyways. Popcorn for lunch. The driest of the driest Pop Weaver Light & Buttery microwave Popcorn. Talk about cheap!! lol. Geesh. This stuff could fly across the prairie like tumbleweeds, it's so dry. Come on, Wal Mart!! I know it's cheap, but gee whizz.

We're so busy at work. It's awful. We're loading tomorrow and I'm supposed to come in and work a bit but we're supposed to get 4-6 inches of snow. What in the heck!! It's almost April. Oops, our intern's back here, waiting on me. Gotta go! You are hereby relieved of my mouth.