Hey folks, Harry here subbing for Father Geek, who usually reports in with the Oz-man... but he´s resting his twinkling toes... and eyes... as they´ve beheld many a wonder in the Prado and Madrid today... Speaking of Madrid, I was lucky enough to drop in for some of the shoot on Guillermo Del Toro´s THE DEVIL´S BACKBONE, but due to my uncultured American ass not knowing Spanish... all I could discern is that there is a orphanage, a bloody guy, a dead body and a shotgun, a Tor Johnson look alike, a pair of runts, a dead model T pickup truck, a big fucking bomb, and all sorts of really tasty sandwiches and latex... Well, enough from me... on to the Oz-man
Guys,
My man Delboy has a pointer to a story in today's Irish Independent:
Seaside village counts film blessings
By SARAH MURPHY
AN IRISH seaside hideaway is to be the location for a multi-million-pound remake of The Count of Monte Cristo. Duncannon, Co Wexford, will be the ideal destination for star-spotters next week when cast and crew members of the movie arrive in the village to shoot a number of scenes at Duncannon Fort.
Big names appearing in the movie include Guy Pearce of LA Confidential and Kerry Ann Mills, who co-starred alongside Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. It is also rumoured that veteran actor Richard Harris will join the cast.
Efforts by the Wexford Film Commission, Wexford Co Council and Duncannon Fort Trust saw them beat off stiff competition from Kinsale, Co Cork, to bring the movie to the area.
Excitement is growing among locals as a construction crew from Chateau d'Is Productions is already working on building a number of sets at the old military base and visitors' centre.
``All the locals and visitors to Duncannon are interested in what is happening up at the fort,'' said local man Peter Wilmet. ``There are rumours buzzing about the place as to who will turn up when filming begins. ``There are a number of people from the area helping out with the shooting and, of course, everyone here hopes it will bring visitors to the place. Even now, before filming begins, a lot of people are turning up for tours around the fort,'' Mr Wilmet said.
``But the beauty of the village is how quiet and relaxed it is, and hopefully that will add to the movie, but it would be a shame to see any of it change once filming is finished.''
The majority of the movie is being shot in Malta, but the production company, Spyglass Entertainment, and US promoters, Walt Disney, are to spend £60 million while filming in Duncannon and Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow. The movie is to be directed by Kevin Reynolds, who has previously worked on Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Waterworld.
Wexford is already a popular choice with filmmakers, as scenes from Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan were filmed in the county that boasts 75 miles of sandy beaches.
Ireland is popular with film producers because of the financial incentives on offer including tax deductions on investments for film production companies, and a 10pc tax rate on profits
All the best,
Delboy.
And our friends at showbizireland.com have the inside track on the remake (shudder....) of The Magnificent Ambersons:
Stone is replaced by Stowe...
Hollywood siren Sharon Stone has been replaced. The Basic Instinct actress has failed to sign for the remake of the classic Orson Wells movie The Magnificent Ambersons which is been filmed in Ireland. But, she has been replaced by her fellow Hollywood star Madeline Stowe. Star of Stakeout and The Last of the Mohicans has signed to the two part mini series.
Stowe will start filming in Ireland within the next three weeks. Probably around the 18th of August in the Grangegorman part of Dublin where pre-production is already going taking place.
Stowe will star alongside actress Jennifer Tilly according to her LA publicist Chuck Binder. Speaking to ShowBizIireland.com Binder said, "Jennifer is signed to The Magnificent Ambersons and will start shooting in the middle of August. As far as I know Sharon Stone has pulled out and Madeline Stowe has replaced her."
Stone in the meantime has agreed to do a follow up movie to Basic Instinct. The film that made her a Hollywood heavyweight with Michael Douglas.
L8r,
Ozymandias
