Wellllll.... Hmmmmmmm.... Ya know.... Weird.... When reading over this report (which is basically echoed throughout the New York area (seems a flyer... or audition papers hit the street) well... It looks like they're casting up the folks of WHOVILLE... and well... From the report there are changes... and it seems that there is an 'angle' on the story, but ya know... I just don't know. I love DR SEUSS.... I love his books and illustrations.... I love the animated specials.... and I would love to see that stuff rendered in the real world. And from my brief talk with Mr Howard a week or two ago... it seems he wants to really create a world to throw these characters into. Though not owning ILM seems to be a problem he seemed to be hinting at a couple of times. Well... here's the report... let's see what you folks have to think about it...
Once again, I have been lucky enuff to stumble across some audition-related goodies, this time from the Imagine Entertainment live-action production of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.
From the info supplied to actors auditioning...Jimbo Carrey stars....Ron Howard directs...Brian Grazer (of course) produces....Script is by Jeffrey Price (no credits available on the IMDB) and Peter Seaman (The Wild Wild West, Doc Hollywood, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)....Shooting begins in August in Los Angeles....
Film breakdown includes "This will be a live-action film, and will require all actors to wear prosthetic make-up and costumes that will be designed by RICK BAKER. We are particularly looking for performers with strong physical abilities, like dance or pantomime or acrobatics, as movement will be an important aspect of the characters....Think Cirque du Soleil or (Broadway's) The Lion King."
Interesting eh? The prosthetics sound like something better-suited to the Jim Henson effects people than Rick Baker. Not that Mr. Baker isn't fully capable...but I digress...onto the cast listing...
Carrey is the Grinch, obviously, but the Who-Ville residents are listed as follows:
CINDY LOU-WHO: 6-8 years old, going on 30. Cindy is sensitive, smart and serious. She is very happy to have been adopted by such loving and good parents. (Info adds that they are looking for twins, but will consider individual girls. Interesting that they are throwing in the "adopted" gimmick.)
MR. MAY-WHO: Late 30s to early 40s. The CEO of a Who-Ville Company. Wealthy, successful and arrogant.
LOU LOU-WHO: Cindy's loving dad. Mid 30's.
BETTY LOU-WHO: Cindy's mom.
GRAMPS LOU-WHO: 60s to 70s. A too-good-to-be-true who. A Pops Walton type. Cindy's grandpa.
MARTHA WHO-ART MAY-WHO: Mid 30s. Wife of MR. MAY-WHO.
DOCTOR: The Who-Ville doctor.
STU LOU-WHO: 18-20. A callow youth who works at the post office.
DREW LOU-WHO: 15 year old brother of Cindy.
The one-page of script I read took place in the Who-Ville "toy store". A little girl asks Cindy Lou what doll she wants for Christmas, and Cindy Lou answers that she doesnt want any doll, and that "They've been so generous as it is...you know...letting me live with them and all, feeding me..." The two girls walk to the town square where the GIANT PINE TREE is being strung with lights. Cindy then continues "I suppose if they were my real parents...I'd ask them to please make a contribution to a charity in my name...." The little girl says "I don't understand a word you're saying." To which Cindy replies, "How could you? You're not an orphan."
That's all I have....seems very exciting though. Carrey underneath mounds of Rick Baker green-faced prosthetics. Will the Grinch have a smooth or hairy face? How much will the design mimic the Seuss books and the now-legendary animated holiday special. How about Max? Real doggie? Or will the ILM people be called to save the day?!?! And if you're at all familiar with the Cirque du Soleil, then you know how natural that world would fuse with that of Dr. Seuss.
In any case, this could very well be one of the year 2000's most exciting projects.
---WAMO
