Wow, first news on Attenborough, now news on Michael Mann. Michael is one of them directors that me and my friends whisper about. He's someone that we reallllly look forward to. And here is some news on his 'tobacco industry' flick. I've heard rumors about the script floating around, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of it. Meanwhile, the Anti-Hillbilly sent in this report. Why is he the Anti-Hillbilly? Read his last paragraph...
A cover story in the Louisville, Kentucky newspaper, The Courier-Journal, talks about preparations in a local affluent neighborhood for filming of the new Michael Mann film about tobacco-company whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand. According to the article, the film will star Russell Crowe as Wigand and Al Pacino as "60 Minutes" producer Lowell Bergman. The article says, "The movie, based on a Vanity Fair story by Marie Brenner, is a psychological drama about Wigand, a former Brown & Williamson executive, and the inside information he gave to '60 Minutes' investigative reporter and producer Lowell Bergman."
A house in the Hurstbourne neighborhood of Louisville is undergoing renovations for use in the film. The article says that filming with "Pacino and company" is expected from May 18-20 and May 26-28. Mentioned in the article is set design coordinator Nancy Haigh (Bugsy, Waterworld, Forrest Gump).
It also mentions that anyone interested in being an extra can bring a recent photo to the Youth Performing Arts School, 1517 S. Second St., between 1 pm and 5 pm Saturday.
Don't know if any of this information is earth-shattering, but I thought I would pass it along. Hollywood doesn't come to Kentucky often. And when they do, it's usually to make us look like uneducated rednecks (as in Steven Seagal's "Fire Down Below"). For the record, everyone I know wears shoes, has indoor plumbing, and knows how to read. I've never met anyone who's eaten roadkill or squirrel brains. And we're damn good at making Bourbon and raising horses.
