AKA gives us a breakdown of the film shooters in Scotland at the moment and what's up with each. Nice report methinks. So, here ya go...
So you probably know that HOUSE OF MIRTH is filming in Glasgow, Scotland for the most part with other Scottish locations in Gosford and Duns before shooting TWO WHOLE DAYS!! in Monte Carlo before wrapping beginning of August. Expected delivery : Jan 2K. The film is based on the Edith "the Age of Innocence" Wharton classic novel (to my mind a bit passe and a basic americanised version of Jane Austen but thats just my opinion) and stars GILLIAN ANDERSON as the female lead of Lily Bart, a New York turn-of-the-century socialite to ERIC STOLTZ's dodgy lawyer Lawrence Selden. DAN AYKROYD pops up too as Gus Trenor and ANTHONY LA PAGLIA (Emire Records, The Client) has a part. Oh, it's mentionable that much has been made in the press here that Ms. Anderson is working for minimum equity wage of £250 per day because she soooo loves the book. Yeah.
In other events . . .
THE LITTLE VAMPIRE has started shooting in Edinburgh. This is a $20m budgetted Warner Bros kiddie flick directed by ULI EDEL (he of Madonna's flop Body Of Evidence, methinks. Very appropriate?). The basic plot is about a young kid played by JONATHAN LIPNICKI (the little bespectacled man of Jerry Maguire fame) who upon moving from the US to Scotland stumbles on a lonely vampire inhabiting his house. Much "hilarity" surely ensues as he attempts to reunite the said Little Vampire with its family. Also starring once- was-good-but-now-sold-out RICHARD E. GRANT.
What else?
July 25 sees the commencement of ROBERT DUVALL's pet project in Glasgow (he's been ranting about it to anyone who'll listen, or more to the point anyone who can get access). Its a movie about a local football (or soccer for my American friends) team who somehow make it to the cup final. Surprisingly good cast for such a boring topic - ROBERT DUVALL, ALEC BALDWIN and (allegedly according a girl I know in production, but that was over a drink or four) MICHELLE PFEIFFER. Its a seven week shoot if you care.
ELIZABETH HURLEY shoots her new movie here in September with the title of THE LAIRD. Details v.sketchy and its been hard to confirm even her involvment, but the daily tabloids ran it anyway. More on that soon from another friend on set.
Other movies . . .
I know nothing but the titles : THERE'S ONLY ONE JIMMY GRIMBLE (possibly a ROBERT "Begbie in Trainspotting" CARLYLE vehicle).
Something called BUM'S RUSH (?).
MARY STUART may eventually get off the ground with GLENN CLOSE and MERYL STREEP in a movie about Mary Queen Of Scots. Shooting at the same time as a different version - MARY QUEEN OF THE SCOTS.
ALAN CUMMING (Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion) has developed and will be starring in a film based on true events in the UK about 4 or 5 years ago when a 30 something year old man convinced everyone he was 16 to go back to school and pass his exams to try and get a job. (Needless to say in real life he was jailed if memory serves me correctly). I'm sorry but as I write this I cant remember 100% the name, but I think it is YOUNGER THAN SPRINGTIME.
There's another couple of way off rumours, but thats all they are just now - I cant even begin to confirm them, so until someone else independently mentions them I'll keep 'em under my hat.
Yours,
A K A
