September 19, 2002
Miramax finds Dust Bowl writer!
Miramax Films has enlisted scribe Charlie Mitchell to adapt The Children of the Dust Bowl, the nonfiction tome penned by social historian Jerry Stanley.
Variety says the project, to star Jim Carrey, centers on a schoolteacher in 1939 in Bakersfield, Calif., and a group of "Okie" immigrant children who were barred from the California school system as being undesirable to educate. The teacher and the children walked into the desert and built their own school, using whatever materials they could find.
September 19, 2002
Carrey on "Snicket" ticket
Jim Carrey is in talks to star in the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed "Lemony Snicket," which Paramount Pictures hopes will be its ticket to a Harry Potteresque franchise. The picture, which the studio is developing with Nickelodeon Films, is an adaptation of the Daniel Handler children's book series "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events." The wildly popular Snicket series has grown to eight books since Handler hatched the series in 1999. The saga revolves around a trio of orphans who are passed around to a series of quirky people. The first of those is the mysterious Count Olaf, who is counting on separating the children from their inheritance. The series has the kind of kid-appropriate edge evident in J.K. Rowling's "Potter" series, and that prompted the studio to bring in both producer Scott Rudin and Sonnenfeld, who showed a flair for black comedy in the Rudin-produced "The Addams Family" and its sequel. The script has been written by Handler. Rudin and Carrey previously collaborated on "The Truman Show."
Sources said that Carrey has sparked to the Count role, and the talks going on right now are aimed at sorting out Carrey's busy dance card. He's filming the Tom Shadyac-directed comedy "Bruce Almighty" at Universal with Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman, and Carrey expects to start work early next year on "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," a Focus-based film written by "Being John Malkovich" scribe Charlie Kaufman. "Snicket" would likely follow that film. Carrey is also poised to play Howard Hughes in a Castle Rock-based film that is being scripted and will be directed by "Insomnia" helmer Chris Nolan.
September 19, 2002
Winslet focused on "Mind"
Kate Winslet is negotiating to join Jim Carrey in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," an eclectic drama greenlit late Tuesday by Universal Focus. "Eternal" was penned by Charlie Kaufman, who received an Oscar nomination for his 1999 film "Being John Malkovich." Like "Malkovich," Kaufman's newest project is set partly in the human mind -- specifically, in the mind of a man trying to put memories of a particularly steamy relationship with his ex-mate behind him.
A spokeswoman for the Universal specialty label, however, declined to comment on the "Eternal" developments, citing a policy of not commenting on pending negotiations. Nonetheless, sources say the picture is to go before cameras in January. Winslet next appears opposite Kevin Spacey in "The Life of David Gale" -- also a Universal release. She's attached to "Neverland," Marc Forster's follow-up to "Monster's Ball," starring opposite Johnny Depp. Kaufman's other unreleased opus, "Adaptation," is due to hit theaters in December via Columbia. That pic's a wild comedy about a frustrated screenwriter's quest for love and subsequent emotional meltdown during a vexingly difficult adaptation of Susan Orlean's book "The Orchid Thief."
July 16, 2002
Carrey And Shandling Sign for Animated Feature film!
DreamWorks has signed Jim Carrey and Garry Shandling to key voice talent roles in the 2005-skedded feature toon "Over the Hedge," based on a popular comicstrip of the same name by Michael Fry and T Lewis. Carrey, in his animation debut, will voice the mischievous raccoon and con artist R.J. Pic will be a feature animation debut for Shandling, who will provide the voice for Verne, a sensitive turtle and another of strip's main characters.
The pair deal with encroaching suburban development and become friends as they figure out how to co-exist with their human neighbors and exploit their proximity.
"Over the Hedge" will be the second to be created at DreamWorks' Glendale facility, following completion of 2004 comedy "Sharkslayer." Pic will be produced by Bonnie Arnold ("Toy Story," "Tarzan") and directed by Tim Johnson, co-director of DreamWorks/PDI hit "Antz" and director of 2003 toon "Sinbad." Screenplay is being adapted for the bigscreen by veteran scripter Len Blum ("Stripes," "Meatballs") in his first animation effort.
April 29, 2002
The Majestic Coming To VHS and DVD on June 18!
Warner Bros has announced it's date for the release of The Majestic on Video and DVD it will be released on June 18th. The video will be for sale at a price of $19.99 on Amazon.com and the DVD will also be on sale at a price at $20.23 and will include special features like:
You can now per-order for a copy of The Majestic on either VHS or DVD on Amazon.com so order your copy today!
April 28, 2002
Eternal Sunshine and Howard Hughes both move forward!
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is moving forward nicely with word that production will start this November 2002 on the movie, with a 2003 release date planned.
I also found a note from director Michel Gondry explaining more of the plot it states "Spotless Mind", according to Gondry, "it’s also from a script that Charlie [Kaufman] wrote, and it’s again very geometrical. It’s about a guy who wants to erase his girlfriend from his memory. You get to see their relationship erased scene by scene, and then in the middle of the process, he changes his mind and decides to save her. So he takes her out of the memories she belongs in, and puts her in memories she doesn't belong in, to try and hide her. It’s very symmetrical, but very romantic as well."
Writer/Director Christopher Nolan who just finished his chores on his next movie Insomnia says he will next devote himself completely to his planned biography of eccentric millionaire Howard Hughes.
He is tailoring the role for Jim Carrey.
"Jim is already involved. His input is invaluable. Just knowing who is going to play the part is most helpful for me at this conceptual stage, and will be even more so during the writing," says Nolan.
"Jim was born to play Hughes. He has this amazing gift to channel real people. I'm convinced his Howard Hughes will be every bit as astonishing as his Andy Kaufman was in Man on the Moon."
Nolan says one reason previous attempts to make a Howard Hughes bio-movie failed was because "Hughes is an astounding figure. There are so many aspects to his character.
"The extremes of his life are the stuff of movies, but you need someone like Jim Carrey to make it all credible. When I met Jim and heard his take on Hughes, I knew we could make this movie work."
March 28, 2002
Jim Carrey signs on for new project, Eternal Sunshine a-go!
Jim Carrey is set to star in Bruce Almighty, a Universal Pictures comedy that reteams him with Ace Ventura, Pet Detective director Tom Shadyac. Shooting will start in July. Carrey, Shadyac, and scribe Steve Oedekerk began working together on the film in earnest last month, when Carrey became available after the Gary Ross-directed comedy Dog Years screeched to a halt. At that time, Universal executives were eager to get Carrey into another film following their success with Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Liar Liar.
Carrey and Oedekerk wrote together on In Living Color, and Oedekerk also directed the Ace Ventura sequel.
Bruce Almighty is a whiny guy who questions once too often why God gives him so much grief. He is suddenly given almighty power for 24 hours to teach him how difficult it is to run the world. Comedy ensues as the guy misuses and then tries to harness his awesome power.
Universal originally bought the project as a spec script by Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe. Carrey and Shadyac have been working with Oedekerk to rewrite the script, a three-man formula they employed during Ace.
Carrey will follow up by starring in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the USA Films picture reteaming Human Nature writer Charlie Kaufman and helmer Michel Gondry.
December 18, 2001
Castle Rock Entertainment Nabs Rights to Hughes Book!
Castle Rock Entertainment has nabbed the rights to the Howard Hughes book Richard Hack's Hughes: The Private Diaries, Letters and Memos for Jim Carrey who will star as Howard Hughes and for Christopher Nolan who will direct the project and will write the script. Castle Rock has been eager to work with Jim again after the Majestic and they nabbed the book rights of Hughes story for use of the biopic to come. The film will feature intimate and refreshing details on the late industrial and movie business tycoon who wooed movies stars before going into a self-induced seclusion. Still to be worked out is production dates and release dates.
December 4, 2001
Jim Carrey in talks for another movie and plans yet another!
Jim Carrey is in talks to star in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind a comedy film that takes place partly in the recesses of the brain, showing what happens to a man when he tries to forget about a particularly steamy relationship he had with his ex-mate. The movie was written by Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich"). Michel Gondry ("Human Nature") will direct the movie that will be distributed by USA Films.
But still to be worked out is a production date and a release date for the film.
Jim Carrey wants to play Howard Hughes so he is going to team up with director Chris Nolan on the project. Though there are details yet to be released on the project what is know it will be a biopic on Howard Hughes life as a billionare and movie star mogul that he was. Still to be worked is where the movie's story is going as both Jim and Nolan are tring to secure the book rights to one of Hughes book's to adapt in the movie. Jim will also produce under his new production company Pit Bull Productions banner.
November 16, 2001
Jim Carrey signs up for Another Movie!
Jim Carrey will be producing and starring in Miramax's bigscreen adaptation of nonfiction tome "The Children of the Dust Bowl" by social historian Jerry Stanley. The true tale is set at the Arvin Federal Camp, the emergency farm-labor tent city depicted in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath."
Stanley's book follows the plight of migrant laborers and their children who fled Oklahoma for California in 1939 to escape the dust storms of the Midwest. As refugees, the homeless kids went without schooling until a caring high school superintendent named Leo Hart to be played by (Jim Carrey) undertook the daunting venture of building them a schoolhouse in a field known as Weedpatch Camp.
Stanley is a former professor of history at California State Bakersfield and an expert on the American West particularly on American Indians and California history. "Children" was first published by Crown in 1992, and garnered the Library of Congress Book of the Year award.
Like many pivotal events, "Children's" genesis was due in part to chance: Stanley first met Hart in 1975 as an assistant professor at Cal State Bakersfield after his dean ordered him to interview Hart for the library's oral history archives.
"I didn't want to be known as an oral historian," said Stanley, "because they don't get to write. But the dean was getting so angry that I kept putting it off that he threatened to fire me so I interviewed Leo with a shotgun at the back of my head."
The interview lead to a 1986 article for American West magazine that would become the basis for "Children of the Dust Bowl" a book Hart wouldn't live to see published; he died in 1989.
Stanley describes the story as "quintessentially American story, if just a little slice of it."
Rob Cohen, a former exec at Maury Povich's production company, MOPO, acquired the rights to the book from Povich, who'd previously optioned it. Cohen then attracted Carrey, who will produce, alongside Jersey Films co-chairs Stacey Sher, Michael Shamberg and Danny DeVito. That trio produced Carrey's other passion project, "Man on the Moon."
"Children" will likely be distribbed by Miramax Films, which is in final negotiations on the pic. According to sources, Miramax topper Harvey Weinstein will personally oversee the pic's development.
Carrey will next appear in an untitled comedy for Universal and Jersey that was written by and will be directed by Gary Ross ("Pleasantville"). That pic is skedded to begin production in Gotham in March for a Christmas 2002 release, and after that film is done then he will move on to this project, but the film does not yet have a director.
November 1, 2001
Jim Carrey signs up for Next Movie!
Jim Carrey has signed up to star next movie that will star be an untitled comedy for Universal Pictures and Jersey Films. The movie was written and will be directed by Gary Ross ("Pleasantville"). The film will begin production in March and will be released for Christmas 2002. It will be set in New York, where it will be partially shot.
Carrey, who has been a good-luck charm for Universal with the Imagine-produced films such as "Liar Liar" and "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," has been intrigued for months with Ross' first original script since "Pleasantville," and chose it over several other contenders early this week.
In the movie he will play a widower whose wife returns to haunt him when he falls for a much younger woman. Her posthumous reappearance forces him to confront the "ghosts" in their relationship. The film is a co-production between Jersey Films and Ross' Larger Than Life Prods.
This is what Ross said about the movie "It's a rich, lush romantic comedy about renewal and rebirth, and setting it in New York and getting to shoot it there was important to us, for obvious reasons," said Ross. "I don't usually write projects for specific actors, but now that we've gotten close with Jim, I can honestly say I couldn't imagine anybody else for the part. He's as brilliant a comedian as he is a gifted actor. This comedy is tonally similar to other films I've written, and the hope is to be both funny and poignant. Jim's depth makes all that possible."
For Jersey Film this will be their second produced Carrey movie the first was Man On The Moon. Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher, who partner with Danny DeVito in Jersey Films were eager to work with Jim again. This is what one of them said "Gary's written a comedy with all the great stuff he brought to 'Big,' 'Dave' and 'Pleasantville,' and it will take full advantage of Jim's talent," said Shamberg. "The three of us couldn't be more excited."
October 14, 2001
Jim Carrey joins The Concert for New York special
Because of he success of "America - A Tribute To Heroes" TV telethon which raised over $150 million from viewers' donations worldwide, VH1 and Miramax are teaming up for the next big show that is called "The Concert for New York" a 4-hour commercial-free concert to help raise money to the Twin Towers victims and rescuers of Septmeber 11th terrorist Attacks. The concert will air October 20 on VH1 at 7pm ET live from Madison Square Garden in New York. The list of performers donating their time is definitely an impressive one, among those taking part in the event are Paul McCartney, The Who, Bon Jovi, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge, India Arie, Billy Joel, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, and Marc Anthony. Other celebrities scheduled to perform are Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Cusack and members of all of New York's sports teams have already been confirmed to attend. Meg Ryan, Susan Sarandon, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, David Spade, Julia Stiles, Denis Leary, Michael J. Fox, Jimmy Fallon, Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. Members of New York sports teams will also be in attendance. McCartney also invited the surviving members of Led Zeppelin to reunite for the show, but no word yet on whether Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones have RSVP'd. Meanwhile, organizers announced Tuesday that the Backstreet Boys were postponing a show in San Diego to perform at the concert. Members of the New York Fire, Police and Rescue crews and their families have been invited to the four-hour show. AOL will webcast the event, adding several interactive elements of information to it. A memorabilia auction for charity and all merchandise sales have been announced to further support fund raising efforts. The money made at the event will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, established by the Robin Hood Foundation, with funds to be distributed to the Twin Towers Fund created by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and other charities and is said to aid victims and their families 100 %. James Dolan, President and CEO of Cablevision, John Sykes, President of VH1, and Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of Miramax published in a joint statement: "This is an evening where all of us who either live in New York or love this great city can show our appreciation and thanks to the thousands of workers who risked their lives to save others. It also will pay tribute to the incredible pride and resilience of New York City. The initial response from the artist and entertainment community to this tribute has been nothing short of incredible." The event will also be simulcast on radio stations worldwide and online at AOL.
September 19, 2001
Jim Carrey set for Superstar Tv telethon!
The recent terrorist attack on America's World Trade Center's and Pentagon has gotten most of Hollywood industry shacking. That is why on Friday Septmeber 21, 2001 at 9-11pm, ET NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox have come together with the industries A-listers of talent for a 2-hour commercial-free television telethon called America: A Tribute to Heroes to support victims from the WTC and Pentagon terrorist Attacks. Among those entertainers who will provide their time and resources efforts include Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, Amy Brenneman, George Clooney, Sheryl Crow, Cameron Diaz, the Dixie Chicks, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Calista Flockhart, Dennis Franz, Kelsey Grammer, Faith Hill, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Conan O'Brien, Ray Romano, Julia Roberts, Paul Simon, Will Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Sela Ward, Robin Williams, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young, with more likely to be added in coming days. Not too much is said about what the event will be consist of, but it is expected a chorus will be put together for at least one song that of "God Bless America". The event is to raise funds and raise the spirits of all who have been touched by the horrific tragedy that has struck America," according to a joint press release Tuesday from the four networks. The event will be also be Billed as "an unforgettable and uplifting evening filled with music, memories, hope and inspiration," (it will be tape-delayed in Mountain and Pacific time zones). In addition, the feed is being made available to all other broadcast and cable networks and radio stations, with the WB, UPN, E!, MTV and VH1 among those planning to carry the telethon. E! Entertainment is also planning a one-hour preshow airing at 8 p.m. ET/PT that will heighten awareness of the telethon and provide a preview of what has gone into making the event happen. "America: A Tribute to Heroes will seek to unite a shaken world with words and music while paying tribute to the indomitable spirit, unfaltering fortitude and courage that truly makes America 'the land of the free and the home of the brave,' " the press release reads. All funds raised by America: A Tribute to Heroes will be earmarked for the postattack relief effort.
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