Well folks, it's been a pretty rough journey for Michael Cimino. Starting with a legitimate great couple of films (Hey, I really love THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT!!!), but after HEAVEN'S GATE... well Hollywood just hasn't smiled to brightly on him. Perhaps this project could do something for him, but the last thing I heard he was doing was THE DREAMING PLACE, which I heard was a metaphysical Indian type a film (of course then Costner should get involved with Oliver Stone producing). Well, this project definately sounds more interesting to me, but it should be considered to exist in the world of rumor right now. Let's see what turns up on it, shall we? Cool... Read on...
First of all, forgive my mistakes in English. I was captured by your wonderful site 14 months ago, after reading an article on Brazilian magazine "SET". In case you post this, you can call me Mr. Ray Amazon. The scoop I´m sending you I got from Brazilian newspapers and talkshows.
The thing is : I don´t know if you have already heard anything about a new project called BRAZIL 1500. It´s a film version of the Discovery of the biggest Latin American country, Brazil, which took place in 1500. According to the information I got, the story will be told by the point-of-view of one of the sailors. Main characters include Portuguese discoverer Pedro Alvares Cabral and officer Pero Vaz de Caminha.
The project is being helmed by American producers Ilya Salkind (from SUPERMAN I, II and III) and his wife Jane Chaplin. The script was re-written 9 times by Brazilian writer Fabio Fonseca and the final draft is almost done. Director Michael Cimino (THE DEER HUNTER and YEAR OF THE DRAGON) was attached to the team.
Filming is planned to start early next year. The locations include Brazil, Portugal, India and studios in Los Angeles. No news about casting yet. However, Cimino and Salkind demonstrated to be interested in British actors (one of the names mentioned was Paul Scofield). The movie will be English-spoken, but will have a dubbed version for Brazilian and Portuguese viewers. Opening date is planned for the second semester of 2000.
I don´t know which studio will be in charge of distributing the movie in North America and worldwide. Anyway, I believe this project will be very interesting despite the fact that most of movie-goers nowadays do not seem to be interested in epic movies (remember "1492", with Gerard Depardieu ?).
I know it won´t be BRAVEHEART, but I just hope the movie is well done (considering the names involved) and captures people´s attention in a very positive way. And, most important of all, I hope the flick convinces North-American audiences that the we, Brazilians, speak PORTUGUESE, NOT SPANISH, for God´s sake !
As soon as I get more info on this baby, I´ll let you know.
FORÇA SEMPRE !
(it appears at the end credits of all Jonathan Demme´s movies - don´t ask me why - and means FORCE -or POWER- FOREVER)
Mr. RAY AMAZON
