Jamie Bell Comments on Pending Actors Guild Strike, Future Movies on Hold and More

MoviesOnline has posted a new interview with actor Jamie Bell (Mister Hallam Foe). The bulk of the article focuses on his upcoming "Defiance" film (which has some good comments on co-stars Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber) but of interest are comments at the end regarding the looming Screen Actor's guild strike and the impact of the economy plus a possible strike on his future new movies. Quotage as follows:

MoviesOnline: What do you have coming up?

JAMIE BELL: There’s a lot of things that were supposed to go this year, especially early this year and then late this year. And then we all kind of found ourselves in a global economic downturn and now nothing’s being made. Everything is on the runway waiting for the tower to clear it and as usual they’ll all get cleared at the same time and then we’ll end up doing absolutely nothing.

MoviesOnline: What about the possibility of the actors going on strike?

JAMIE BELL: It’s ridiculous.

MoviesOnline: Do you think once that’s resolved the floodgates will open?

JAMIE BELL: I hope so. I really do. I don’t know what my position is on any of that, really. I just know it’s a pretty bad time right now for a lot of people and a lot of people don’t have any jobs and a lot of people are running out of money and people need to get back to work -- across the board, everywhere, all over the world, not just the entertainment industry. But a strike right now seems utter lunacy to me.

Couldnt agree more, but I am uncertain of all the nuances behind the potential strike. I fully realise things are horrible for many, and its only going to get worse before we will turn things around-and they WILL TURN- but in the meantime art will continue to suffer. Many of my friends have seen lay offs galore, the publishing industry is cutting back terribly as well-leisure items the first to suffer and people just dont buy books or go out to cinemas (at 10 a pop no less!) during times like this, so hence the arts and worlds I know are hit hard. Having talked to my friend Helge and the things she has seen around her-I do worry so. Im certain its the same in the UK and Scotland esp-worry very much if David will get to make Stain in the Snow, or Rounding Donkeys will ever see the light of a cinema, or Colin's Luci film will make it too-let alone these good folk will have jobs to support them in the months ahead.

To end on a positive note, Jamie did reference slightly Hallam Foe, and working on accents:

MoviesOnline: You’ve done accent work before, is that something that comes relatively naturally for you at this point?

JAMIE BELL: You have to. Being a Brit, it’s like you have to get rid of the accent quickly. Pretty much everything I’ve ever done there’s always an accent and it becomes the same ritual, just the different sound in the end.

MoviesOnline: Are any easier or harder at this point?

JAMIE BELL: Generic American is like you can just click your brain and you start doing it, it’s pretty good. But I did Scottish recently which was a challenge, a real challenge because – what was it that I wanted to slip into? Oh no, it was this one, I did Scottish and then doing this kind of accent I almost wanted to slip immediately back into Scottish, because there are certain vowel sounds that kind of sound the same for some reason. Liev and Daniel had to learn another language, which is a little different.

Video: Jamie Bell talks Defiance

So the big holiday movie push is on, and there has been a slew of promos/interviews for Defiance. Unfortunately early reviews for the film are not good (my friends at rotten tomatoes have it listed with only 42 percent...eh). Anyway, was surfing about and stumbled over a new video interview on traileraddict.com with Jamie Bell (Sigma Film's Mister Hallam Foe). Always nice to get to watch Jamie, regardless of what film he is in, such a poised young man and always interesting to listen to what he has to say). Bit disappointed in the Defiance official website-theyve made it into some sort of GAME. god almighty. just NO NO NO but I will save that rant for another day

Sizzling Hot Sigma and Sives Sundays

Winter has hit full blast, at least where I am located in the US. Several feet of snow over the past few days, windchills below zero have made this sweetie not so sunny, and longing for warmer places. While that isnt on the agenda at the moment, guess I will have to do with some silliness ..and perhaps some Jamie Sives to heat things up for the moment :D lol lame ass I know, give me a break! lol brain is frozen from the cold!

Right, so first of all, because there is little else at the moment, two sweeties sorta related to Sigma are HOT HOT HOT SCOTS...or according to the Daily Record!
Actress exceptional KATIE DICKIE is on the Daily Record's HOT 100: the women to watch in 2009.

The paper notes:
28 KATE DICKIE
LAST YEAR (13)
Best-known for her role as Jackie in her debut film Red Road, East Kilbride-born Kate Dickie is a five-time awardwinning actress.
SHE'S SIZZLING BECAUSE
she has been praised for her willingness to play provoking scenes.

YES LET'S WATCH HER IN ROUNDING UP DONKEYS which she will kick ass again this year please! Man oh man, I want to hear some news on this film soon! good grief, I feel like the only person out there that cares. eep! Anyway, I keep hoping and praying the film is going to debut screen at Berlinale or someplace awesome again-Sigma always has the best luck in Berlin, heres hoping something breaks good for Sigma soon on this front with DONKEYS!

Also on the list is casting director KAHLEEN CRAWFORD(who has worked quite closely and frequently with Sigma Films over the years, getting a boost from the uber awesome and great role model Gillian Berrie, seriously I admire her!) Daily Record writes of Kahleen :20 KAHLEEN CRAWFORD
LAST YEAR (45)
Kahleen, 29, is a casting director from Glasgow who has worked with directors such as Ken Loach to find the hottest talent.
SHE'S SIZZLING BECAUSE
she casts for shows such as River City. Based at Film City Glasgow, she is now selecting for lots of hot new indie films.

YES INDIE FILMS LIKE RED ROAD SEQUEL/ ADVANCE PARTY FILM: ROUNDING UP DONKEYS!!! *senses broken record rant begging ahead re info for film, decides to shut it for now :p *

Both are women with careers on the rise, (and Im sure many would consider them good looking too!) Over on the Hot Scot Man list: No direct Sigma ties, but there are mentions of those who have worked with Sigma in one form or another including Alex Kapranos, Kevin McKidd, the omni present Gerard Butler who starred in Sigmas wonderful Dear Frankie but GBs fangirls are so so so many and so intense about their Gerry, so I deliberately am avoiding writing too much about Mr Butler cause they will squish me flat lol and well they have it all covered, not much I could add there. Also there is someone on the list at 49 named Sanjeev Kohli where the paper mentions radio and comedy of some sort; there is a person of the same name who is appearing in Sigma Films/Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci, but I have no idea if it is the same man at all-sorry I fail, but I honestly cant be certain so sorry if it is and Im clueless :(
Anyway scores more on that list who have in one form or another worked with someone who worked etc but still NO Jamie Sives- booo! or David or Alastair or Colin. seriously now, wth? oversight city imo. I had intended to make one sunday a month post dedicated just to Jamie, my personal choice for Hot Scot to look for in 2009 ...well hot all the way around, but I digress.

So here is a blast from the past... Jamie did some work in some short films, which is always good -look at Sigma's track record, and look how great I Love Luci is going to be for Colin! Thus, via the ever amazing youtube, I dug up this short clip of a younger (and OK HOT LOOKING :P) Jamie in a fun short film called "The Knickerman" (Jamie stars as a traveling salesman who brings colorful knickers and more-oh ho! to a small town in the uk lol) guess what...hes got that goofy beard thing going on here too lolol LOVE YOU JAMIE!

Alastair Mackenzie Touring with Royal Scottish National Orchestra for Snowman Narration

Ho Ho HO! More Holiday treats, this one from the Laird himself. :D
Actor (and Sigma Films' own) Alastair Mackenzie is making some live appearances this week, performing in select places with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Alastair is providing the narration to Raymond Brigg's classic The Snowman with the RSNO this week, making stops throughout Scotland, including Glasgow this weekend. You can see a video promoting this concert event, and Alastair's narration here via the Orchestra website.

Tickets still remain for his appearance on Saturday, December 20 at 7:30pm at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. If you are lucky enough to be in the area, more info and tickets can be purchased via this link. ENJOY!!!!

Press reports on earlier performances this week include this from the Courier, and the Herald who gave good marks to Alastair: The programme also featured a hauntingly poignant performance of The Snowman, beautifully narrated by actor Alastair Mackenzie, with flawless singing by the RSNO Juniors. But among all the Christmas beauties, the nonsense, the hilarity and the sense of fun that characterised the show, there was one real revelation: the sheer quality, enhanced by the Caird Hall's glorious acoustic, of the RSNO Junior Chorus, especially in their performances of Panis Angelicus and Adolphe Adam's O Holy Night.

Edit to add obligatory Archie video from beloved Monarch of the Glen.
Guilty pleasure, my love of the Christmas song by Mariah Carey-and yea totally they play it to death these two songs, but admit it, its catchy bouncy song about wanting love at Christmas which we all have wished for at one point or another oh yes you have!
Anyway, someone set it to a montage of the great Archie/Lexie ship of love that will never sink! :) wheeeeee

January 17 Premiere Date Set at Sundance for David Mackenzie's "Spread" Starring Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche

The Sundance Film Festival has updated their website with the screening dates, including the premiere of David Mackenzie's new film "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche.

The premiere will be Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 9:15 p.m followed the next morning with a screening on January 18, 2009 at 9:15 a.m One final showing will be held January 22 at 9:00 pm.

Tickets go on sale to the public starting January 12

The Running time of the film is listed at 97 minutes long, with a new description of the film as follows:

Los Angeles is often the customary site for mythmaking in the American cultural iconography. It is a place, for instance, where the legend of the sexual exploits of the male gigolo seems perfectly at home in the decadent universe of Hollywood dreams and nightmares. Surely inspired by the classic tradition of American Gigolo and Shampoo, Spread is such a perfectly tuned, contemporary depiction of the trials and tribulations of sleeping your way to wealth and success that, guilty pleasure or not, it’s irresistible. Especially so since it’s driven by the iconic persona of Ashton Kutcher, who plays Nikki and breathes the charged sexuality, fashion and hipness, and sense of entitlement of the sexual grifter as if he were born to it. Stylishly directed by David MacKenzie (Hallam Foe, Young Adam), Spread is a moral tale in a very-modern sense with its characters of a young man and his middle-aged, well-to-do client (played by Anne Heche), his various associates and conquests, and a waitress whom he begins to really care about (unbeknownst to him, she is playing the same game). The world of money, sex, and privilege is an ephemeral one, and the fall can be as sudden as the ascent. Spread is a finely crafted vision of ambition, indulgence, vanity, and self-realization that epitomizes the lifestyle of a fabled Mecca.

Smile! Your Teeth are Missing!

AGGG THE BLOODY ROOSTER HAS RETURNED! NOOOOOOOO!

*ahem* Pardon that temporary rambling LOL as the header of the official Sigma Blog has been taken over by the dread red rooster pic again. lol. And YES, I am sole person I predict that pays attention to completely insignificant things like this but there you go ;P

Right, speaking of pics, I've made it my mission to continue the dialogue on Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci for as long as I can (and it gets to screen at say Cannes or somewhere awesome, which it totally will cause I believe.)

Thus, in effort to do so, there are currently some FABULOUS set photos and making-of pics on the Facebook group for Luci (join join join!) As it's holiday time and there is lots of picture taking afoot, which requires lots of smiling, there is a great photo of the lead actress in Luci, Camilla Rutherford, smiling....and showing her missing teeth. :D

Now as we know Camilla is a lovely beautiful actress in 'real' life, and normally would not look like this naturally. I remember writing earlier this year about teeth lol, after Colin talked about a quest he had for special teeth via his official I Love Luci blog. He did not give too much away then, only mentioning a need for false teeth, plus one of the location scouting photos was of someplace relating to those pearly chompers. Coupled with the summary floating about of the film, Now NOW we can see how all of this has come into play. Smile :D

Btw the current article on the I Love Luci blog is about a possible sorta well not really mention of Luci in the press (well, there entire lack of mention of the name of the film MEH... FAIL TELEGRAPH) This example of inaccuracy on Camilla's role, while not life altering of course, makes me sad again for the blunders my profession can make and does make all the time. My thesis for my Doctorate is about sourcing in journalism and ties into crap reporting like that. alas.

ps I believe the above photo is courtesy of Nicole Stafford who is the makeup artist for the film I think. Man, I need a crew list or should make one here or something! Oohh a light bulb is going off in my dim fangirls head...

First Look: Anne Heche in David Mackenzie/Ashton Kutcher "Spread"

Another holiday treat in store today as we now have our first look at actress Anne Heche in David Mackenzie's Spread, which stars Ashton Kutcher. Courtesy of the kind folks at Katalyst Films, we can see a lovely Anne here:








There are also a few of her poolside, looking glamourous and sexy. Also online are larger photos of Ashton looking good in the film including that great pic of the the
Three Faces of Ashton or in this case his character of NIKKI . I just love David, and when I see pics like this, a glimmer of hope is kindled that this film is not going to be a lame ass punked thing or anysuch nonsense.

Weird thing too, despite my not caring for those suspenders Ashton is sporting in this movie, the colors they chose for all the wardrobes look very very good I have to say...dunno why that matters one whit, but it was something that caught my eye when I was looking at the pics. I've also uploaded them all on my flickr-including others of the cast (everyone in that film is so good looking-unfair lol) and yes of course THE PICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF KATALYST FILMS, but you can check them out here!

New Photos from David Mackenzie's/Ashton Kutcher "Spread"

Following up on the early report about Spread showing at Sundance: Tis Confirmed!
As announced by the Sundance Film Festival, David Mackenzie's new film "Spread" starring Ashton Kutcher will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film festival in mid January, 2009 (non-competition category)

squeedledeedooandwhooohooo!

DEAR GODS OF FILM, PLEASE LET DAVID ATTEND THIS EVENT
kthanx,
fan who is so hoping tickets will be available and affordable to this!
*crosses fingers*
not able to get press creds this year for it, so I would be journeying there solo, and thats a pricey/sorta scary thing, but would so be worth it just to see this at the premiere and hopefully see David!

Speaking of this film, IONCINEMA.com has been lucky enough to get some new pics of Ashton from "Spread." Wearing those dreadful suspenders we saw via production pics earlier this spring, I have to say he looks kinda good but still eh eh uummm no to those suspenders.

The article has that new poster I mentioned last week, now only in a larger size (and ANNA- that poster still has that crappola teaser line boooo!)
As for the photos, I quite liked the three shades of Ashton K pic as he looks in a tri fold mirror. NICE SHOT DAVID! and/or set photographer!

No word what the exact screening date will be, and Im not paying to get tickets early on my own lol but will post on all of that when I can. Its going to be a great start to a new year, and hopefully a great one for David and Sigma Films~

Mister Hallam Foe, A National Board of Review Top Independent Film

Back from yet another whirling (yet very festive) weekend in New York, and dreadfully behind on just about everything...yet again. More great news awaited, and this one in particular is very satisfying:

The National Board of Review has released their annual awards, along with their top ten lists. A Sigma Films production and directed by David Mackenzie, Mister Foe is listed as one of the Top Independent Films of the Year!

BRAVO!! CONGRATULATIONS DAVID AND ALL AT MISTER FOE/SIGMA FILMS!
Quite the compliment I should think, not mention the fine (and in some cases very fine) films on the list, which is follows (per Awards Daily):

• FROZEN RIVER
• IN BRUGES
• IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS
• MR. FOE
• RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
• SNOW ANGELS
• SON OF RAMBOW
• WENDY AND LUCY
• VICKY CRISTINA BARCELON
• THE VISITOR

Now, there were no other nominations or individual recognition for Mr. Foe for the main awards (generally one of the harbingers of the increasingly long Oscars warm up season). Still I find this to be just terrific news, for this does have a bit of weight I think, or at least some casual film goers will think heh heh ok good stuff...which of course it is. I firmly believe David will be accepting a Best Picture/Best Director Oscar one day! In the meantime, it surely is a heartwarming and satisfying or more importantly hopeful and reassuring that hope is not lost in Hollywood, to know that the various film bodies, such as this group of film historians and teachers/student, are willing to take the time and effort to view these smaller quality pieces, and acknowledge them publicly...So yea this is great stuff and hell yea, GO HALLAM GO

Short and Sweet Sigma News

Hodgepodge (yet cool) bits of Sigma Films related notes and news today...
....Johnny Barrington, director of a Sigma Film short "Terra Firma" got a nice mention regarding recent screening of film at the Inverness Film Festival:It is always exciting to see ongoing creative development in short filmmaking, and Johnny Barrington’s Terra Firma represents a distillation in terms of style, narrative and emotional depth. The progression from previous films such as Shell, Trawler and Trout is clearly visible, and movement to feature films seems inevitable.............

.........LoL Crawley, DoP on Sigma's upcoming Rounding up Donkeys got a nomination at the Independent Spirit Awards last night. Mr. Crawley is previous winner at Sundance for his work on Ballast (nice comments from the director of B on Mr. Crawley here via Indie Wire)......................

............Luci has moved into the editing phase. Colin Kennedy updated his official blog on his new short for Sigma, I Love Luci, noting that he and producer Brian Coffey have called in old friend Jake Roberts to cut his film. Mr. Roberts worked on Sigmas Sommersault, The Last Great Wilderness, worked with David Mackenzie on Asylum as well. Bonus news that yes indeed work is being done at Film City Glasgow, with Savalas, one of the Trifecta of S to handle work for the sound...............

.........not really Sigma related, but cool news anyway cause I cant bloody well wait: Pre-orders now available for FRANZ FERDINAND's new CD via iTunes. New Single also available Ulysses. As I seem to be the only one who cares much, its worth repeating yet again this new disc was recorded at Film City Glasgow and am very grateful for the band and certain fans for uploading video of this earlier in the year! Speaking of Franz on Youtube, good footage of secret gig on the 1st in London at a place called Durr. Fffing great stuff here and here. LOVE THEM SO MUCH!(Snow Patrol and Sons and Daughters are equally made of AWESOME too)

Reminder: David Mackenzie to hold Q & A on Hallam Foe at Cromarty Film Festival This Weekend

A quick reminder/update for those lucky enough to be in the UK and have a chance to attend the Cromarty Film Festival this weekend. According to the schedule, Sigma Films' own David Mackenzie will be introducing the screening of his wonderful Hallam Foe film, with a Q & A scheduled to follow as part of the event on Friday, December 5 (19:00 Resolis Memorial Hall). Then on Saturday, December 6, David will be introducing the film he selected which is the Nicholson classic "The Last Detail" (16:30 Cromarty Old Brewery).

A word on the venues: In the description of Resolis Hall it reads the following about David: esolis Hall
About ten minutes drive from Cromarty, Resolis Hall is a well-known location for art performances and enjoys a lively and supportive community. This year, Resolis Hall will play host to 2 well-known film directors, Michael Caton-Jones and David MacKenzie, who have been especially invited to come and talk about their work, their films and their influences.

Sounds great! Hoping its a good event (and forever hoping some kind soul will have some pity and write a report/pics with a mention of David. Man oh man I am still so crushed I did not know about the screening q & A of Mister foe in LA-would have make travel arrangements and organized a fan group showing or something. anyway whats that cliche-hope springs eternal and hoping I get to attend something like this with my fave director in person just once in my life! Plus I swear I will do everything in my power to go if Colin ever holds one of these events for his film (s)!)

A Look at Luci: From Stills to Screen

Holiday treats abound for sure, as there is a new update that filming is complete on Luci! CONGRATULATIONS COLIN AND CO!
Bonus tho is word there are some great new stills from the production of Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci online today! Colin started an I Love Luci group on the ever awesome Facebook (it's open to all, dont be shy, I joined lol shock i know, so check it out!) There, you can see the first photos from the shoot!


Yay! I was really happy to see that today,
including this wonderful photo of Colin directing his stars, as well as
the one from DoP Derrick Peters
who shot a very cool pic of Colin and crew with a closeup-LOVE
LOVE LOVE THESE! :)))))

As such (Please dont be pissed at me Colin oy! BUT I HAVE TO WRITE ABOUT THIS) there is something very cool that caught my eye.

Along with our first look at the leads Camilla Rutherford and Colin Harris and Wilson/Luci in action lol, the part that honestly appealled to me was how you can compare the prep work to a scene in production for the film. In addition to writing a screenplay, the part that truly fascinates me the most is locations used in films, and I'm honest to god thinking of chucking all this news stuff to the retirement bin and looking into this part of the film industry and learn more about it. Anyway, Colin had posted up on flickr some great early location scouting pics of locales he was thinking of using for this short film, I Love Luci. So here is what is cool-we can now see how they've taken these and are filming there. Witness:
Fight scene scouting pic from Colin Kennedy:
To the production stills by Pete Murphy for the I Love Luci group photos with Colin Harris, Camilla Rutherford filming a scene under the direction of Colin.
Now to a dorkette like me I think this is hugely cool, and yea totally I realise that this type of posting is purely twee fangirl drivel, but frankly too, tis a good example of how a location can work within a scene. I do a lot of archaeology as a hobby, and my favorite part is the reconstruction-what did the inhabitants do think act. I like this part of location- what can you do with a scene,how will it work as a backdrop, will it enhance help convey the proper environment attitude emotion of the moment. So too do I wonder what is going on here- look at the urgency on their faces, what is amiss etc? I LOVE THIS type of stuff! yes!

So right, be sure to follow the getyourpeople/iloveluci blog for more pics including some cool ones of Sigmas own Brian Coffey (producer on Luci), updates from Colin and more, and while you are at it, check out the facebook groups for Friends of Sigma Films and now I love luci, plus I think FilmCityGlasgow pretty cool too!
Rock on Luci! :))

David Mackenzie's "Spread" Starring Ashton Kutcher to Premiere at Sundance?

Later this week, the fabled Sundance Film Festival is set to unveil some of the many movies that will be screening at their event at the end of January 2009. Naturally a few reports have surfaced online about a few of said films, including ones from Reuters and slashFilm, both which had a nugget that really caught my attention: "Spread" the new film starring Ashton Kutcher and directed by Sigma Films own great David Mackenzie is apparently due to have a premiere at the festival.

IF TRUE WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Yes! I am so going there I cant even believe my good luck! This would be such great news if true, just have to wait to see if its officially reported later this week. The Reuters/Hollywood reporter article states that "some potential Sundance entries already are beginning to generate talk ahead of next week's slate announcement. Ashton Kutcher's raunch comedy "Spread," Endgame Entertainment's '60s coming-of-age story "An Education," Shana Feste's lost-child drama "The Greatest" and Antoine Fuqua's cop tale "Brooklyn's Finest" are setting tongues wagging"

Slash film elaborates on that hideous dumb ass phrase "raunchy comedy" bleh with the following:

David Mackenzie’s (Mister Foe) raunchy sex comedy about a serial womanizer and his jilted lover. Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche star (Jennifer Jason Leigh was originally attached). Early word is that Heche has some sort of nude scene.

I absolutely refuse REFUSE to believe that David is putting his name on a film that is blatantly 'raunchy'. Sure David does sex scenes, well done and often uncomfortable true enough, but raunchy? ...sigh Besides this may be sorta predictable, but Ashton has given earlier interviews and I got the impression (perhaps just hope on my part) that this was going to be an honest reflection sorta of his past player life in Hollywood, yet step above for him..Regardless the r word is one I am refusing to believe for the time being /stubborn fangirl rant.

Anyway, over at Voltage pictures it seems a new poster has surfaced, this of Ashton soaking in the pool with the less than stellar tagline 'it's a business doing pleasure.'
Eh eh can we try again with that maybe please?
Also there is a new photo of Ashton walking by the pool- Im almost certain I posted some of the pics from the omnipresent paps pics taken during filming during or around these scenes, I'm going ot go look that up. But in the meantime SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS of a sort as there is a new and longer synopsis of the film now available.

Freeloading, perennial womanizer Jason (Ashton Kutcher) is at a trendy L.A. nightclub looking for his next target. His usual targets? Older, successful women looking for company … or sex. On this night, his eyes lock on Samantha, an attractive, successful attorney. He approaches her and feeds her his usual lines. With a little prodding, the two are soon on their way to her place.
At her stylish home, Jason heads into the next phase of his seduction and they quickly jump into bed. In the morning, Samantha (Anne Heche) heads off to work at her law firm, while Jason, on the other hand, spends the day lounging by Samantha's pool. When Samantha returns home, she is surprised to find Jason still there but before she can kick him out, Jason surprises her with a romantic dinner. She succumbs to his charms and weeks later, Jason is still living at Samantha's. But after Samantha catches Jason in a compromising position with a wildly attractive brunette, Samantha tells him to cut the act and they soon clear the air about their relationship. They are simply "friends with benefits.” Samantha is fine with the situation and Jason can stay.
In the following weeks, Jason’s role as Samantha’s gigolo continues … until Jason meets Heather, a sexy and intelligent waitress at a coffee shop. Jason is instantly smitten, especially when his usual moves don’t work. Eventually, posing as a high-powered lawyer, Jason charms her into a date and they get along famously. But Heather is a woman after Jason’s own heart. She is also sleeping with a wealthy restaurateur for his money, in addition to having a boyfriend, Will, who is an heir living in New York.
Finally getting a taste of his own medicine, Jason becomes fixated with Heather. But when Heather leaves for New York to figure out her relationship with Will, Jason must choose between his cushy life with Samantha or give up his philandering ways and take a chance on a life with a woman who challenges him. Even if Jason chooses Heather, can she accept who he really is? Or will she choose the safer path with Will?

I am going to try and get some some info/press pics etc out of Ashtons company, perhaps they will be cooler to bloggers and nontraditional media (read wont piss in my face like Magnolia did and Independent Film sales who never answered :(((

Feel the Love People, Production Begins on I Love Luci!

Great news this week, as filming has officially begun on Colin Kennedy's short film I Love Luci! This is great news!

Quick background: Colin Kennedy, a filmmaker with Sigma Films of Glasgow, Scotland, served as the main author for what I call the real tales of Hallam Foe, seen via the GetYourPeople blog. Colin has made other films, music videos and the like, and has now embarked on a short film that has a been a labor of love. Its called I Love Luci, and the synopsis (relatively spoiler free) is:

I Love Luci is a comedy of missing teeth, an inappropriate paramour and one dog's ability to shape the fortunes of a couple destined never to be together.

Today is the last day Tommy has to win Marjory's heart before her man returns from another stint in the clink. But things aren't looking good. Marjory is totally pre-occupied by the fact she's lost her teeth, and it's about to get a whole lot worse.

I've been lucky enough to hear from Colin, who in many shades of awesomeness and kindness and class, patiently endures all my goofy mails full of !!!! and :))) and woots and yays! Word is things are going well on the shoot, great crew and cast at hand, and he's been very busy at the helm of this new film from Sigma. THANK YOU COLIN! I also noted too that on the FilmCityGlasgow Facebook group, that Luci is using that lovely facility as their production base,which is very cool as well.

Bonus news: Casting List for I LOVE LUCI! Check it out!

*Camilla Rutherford (if I have this right, she was in the superb Gosford Park, and I think the Edge of Love with Sigma co-founder and ace actor Alastair Mackenzie, plus Rome which of course starred Kevin McKidd and Ciaran Hinds- learn this for your future Six degrees of Sigma Films separation games ;) .... anyway, I think this is a great coup!)
*Colin Harris
*Sanjeev Kohli
*Jimmy Chisholm: This dude has been in some great films and UK shows, but gets bonus points cause he was in One Last Chance with my fave Jamie Sives...just sayin :)
*Marty Docherty
*Leo Horsefield
and of course WILSON AKA LUCI!

Note: no idea if all the dread imdb links are right, could be way the hell off, but I am trying. Will see if I can dig up some pics soon..
Currently am in New Orleans for the Thanksgiving holiday, and there's family time to spend, loads of rum to be drunk, turkey to be deep fried, oyster stuffing to be made and all sorts of indulgent,utterly non productive behavior at hand, plus 2 days of driving back-can I just say I am getting too old to drive that far anymore by myself bleh.

I Love Luci is a new short film by Colin Kennedy of Sigma Films
I believe that Gillian Berrie is serving as Exec Producer along with Brian Coffey as producer too. Not sure about the whole crew yet, but I have great faith there is an excellent team at hand working to make all of this to be another quality film from Sigma!

Dawn Steele Nominated for Theatre Award

Not quite Sigma film related per se, but there is some good news relating to the all kinds of fab Dawn Steele , who of course is well known for her role in Monarch of the Glen with Alastair Mackenzie.

Dawn has been nominated as Best Actress in a Visiting Production at the Manchester Evening News for her turn in Blackbird at the Lowry. Congratulations on the nomination!

I think this is aces, so nice to hear something on Dawn, she really is wonderful. I know we are all looking forward to seeing her next year for her appearance on the ITV show, but this is good she is getting recognition for her theatre work.

These awards are due to be presented on Dec 2. While on the WhatsonStage.com site (really a weekly must read for theater fans) its worth a re-visit to the older 20 questions feature with Dawn from earlier this year.

Finally, Mister Foe DVD is Here

Sorry for the long delay in posting, life continues to interrupt my blogging fun- curses :P

Well one glorious week ago, my long awaited MISTER FOE DVD arrived promptly in the am from Amazon. I've watched the film several times now enjoying it more and more, luxuriating in the ability to watch a scene at my choosing, thinking back on some of the scenes Colin blogged about via GetYourPeople while filming and being able to pause it at that moment, marveling again at David's astonishing eye, demand and command of detail revealed with Giles superb cinematography-I MUST GO TO EDINBURGH SOOOON; all in all reveling in countless fangirl moments becoming enchanted with the movie all over again.

Super joyful moment: TWO OF Colin Kennedy's WONDERFUL podcasts/behind the scenes features made it to the disc! woot! Sure I have them already on my iPod, but still its a thrill to see them playing up on my Sony Bravia high def TV! woot! Not sure why Magnolia couldnt suck it up and put all of it on there- such a wonderful look and behind the scenes look at the making- surely the Jamie Bell fans alone would have reveled in it! whatever, at least there was this and I was glad to have that at least.

Also a couple deleted scenes- some in particular lovely camera movements following Hallam through the house, showing his relationship more with both his sister and his father. Not sure why these were deleted, would love to hear David's thoughts on why this was cut.

UBER WHINEY SELFISH MOMENT: NO DIRECTORS COMMENTARY- boooooooo! Stab stab stab through the heart again, I am deprived yet again of the opportunity to hear the thoughts of my favorite director on his work. What the hell? *slaps hand on head* Dear Magnolia, why why was this not included? WHY????? You just hate me right? :P Seriously though, when the filmgoing audience has the opportunity to hear someone of the high calibre and true visionary outlook that David has, why on earth was this not included. Man oh man, the UK DVD has more than this. baaaah.
I guess I will have to go buy the UK version just to hear it but it will be worth it-still a final piss on you move from Mag I guess heh.

Positive notes: Not sure how well the sales are going but the reviews seem to be mostly positive so far. Even Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+ which considering they didnt like the movie lol, this is good. Also the other day I happened to stumble over an older but nice review from Jeffery Lyons at Reel talk and they were very enthusiastic about the movie, worth a look if you are into watching these types of reviews.

New Pics of Jamie Bell at "Defiance" Premiere

Jamie Bell drives in Style :) Or so the marketing/photo ops went for a red-carpet event in Hollywood





The fansites are awash in new Jamie Bell photos of late, especially since the premiere of Defiance, starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell, was held last night in Los Angeles, California. (Be sure to click that link to the Defiance website that has some additional background and testimonies about the story the film is based on as well as a nice bio of Jamie that mentions Hallam Foe). Online today, there is a brief interview with Jamie in one of the UK papers where he says:

"It feels like LA is so far away from there," added the 22-year-old. "It's unfortunate my family couldn't be here tonight but that's always going to be home for me for sure."

Jamie stars alongside 007 actor Daniel Craig in the movie, which is about Jewish brothers who join Russian resistance fighters to fight the Nazis in the Second World War. Despite Daniel being one of the biggest names in the movie world right now, Jamie insists there were no diva antics during filming in Lithuania."None of us went back to our trailers, we were in the woods and we'd all sort of hang out and drink coffee and be together, we really felt like we were part of a family," he said.

I have a few wire pics, be sure to check out this link to WireImage for loads more!

New: Mister Foe DVD Back and Front Cover, Disc photos

As we know Mister (Hallam) Foe is coming out on DVD here in the US, just weeks after its limited theatrical release (and still continues to play in theaters for the remainder of the month plus one engagement next year.) Tonight, Huge Thanks going to CDcovers who originally posted this, we can now see the entire front and back cover art for Mister Foe, plus the disc. Woot! I can not wait to get mine Tuesday! :)))

Mister Foe is a Sigma Films Production, and is directed by David Mackenzie. The film stars Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles, Ciaran Hinds, Claire Forlani, Jamie Sives, Ewan Bremner. You can read more about the filming and journey of Hallam Foe via the original GetYourPeople blog written by Colin Kennedy and co. Check it out!

David Mackenzie Contributes, will be Guest at Cromarty Film Festival

Director David Mackenzie will be a guest at the Cromarty Film Festival, due to be held next month December 5-7 in Scotland. According to the Press and Journal, the festival "theme will be “My Favourite Film” and will feature movies picked out by 10 guests including broadcaster Kirsty Wark, BBC DJ Janice Forsyth, and David Mackenzie, a director of Hallam Foe and Young Adam.

Films including Finding Nemo and Whale Rider will be screened for children at the lighthouse field station.

Tony Farquhar-Smith, one of the animators from Corpse Bride, will also bring along some of the puppets used in the film, and will give a demonstration and talk on the ups and downs of animation."

One fun event is due to be held later this month in advance of the film festival where "the ferry that regularly crosses the Cromarty Firth during the summer will host a tiny, floating drive-in cinema. It will launch the second Cromarty Film Festival and organisers believe it will be the world’s smallest drive-in picture house. They have picked cult 1950s Scottish film, The Maggie, to show on the ferry, which travels between Cromarty and Nigg, after ruling out any disaster-at-sea movie.

Film director Don Coutts, who lives at Cromarty and helps run the festival, said: “We wanted a sea-themed film but decided against Titanic or The Poseidon Adventure. No need to frighten the audience.”

Up to 10 film fans will be able to watch from the warmth of their own cars but another 10 foot passengers will have to brave the weather to see the screening."

LOL! No word if David will be among those sailing the seas to see the film :)
I had no idea where Cromarty is located, but after looking it up (here via one of my fave sites: Undiscovered Scotland), learned it is up near Inverness, which surely looks to be a beautiful and I would very much like to visit there one day. Visiting the Highlands is definitely high on the wishlist/agenda , and this Cromarty does look so lovely but burrrrr I bet its plenty (read hella too cold) in the winter. According to the festival site the city "has only 720 residents, no through road, a wonderful pizza restaurant, a great bakery, two pubs, two museums and more artists and musicians than you can shake a stick at." Rock on! very cool that David helped contribute to this festival, hope they post some pics!

Katie Dickie Attends Scottish Baftas

The always wonderful Katie Dickie made an appearance at the Scottish Baftas held tonight in Glasgow, Scotland. This fantastic actress was looking fab at the award ceremony, where a film that she appeared in earlier this year, Summer, directed by Kenneth Glanaan was a winner at the event as well. More pics available via Getty. Can't wait till next year when I completely think Katie will be a winner for
Sigma Film's upcoming Rounding up Donkeys
(and I love Luci is a winner too! :) )

Snapshot: A moment of sheer and sweet Sigma joy

Have you ever had one of those unexpected moments, when things before that have been taking a turn for the bad, when you feel like walls are closing in, you cant breathe, and there is nothing but dark and gloom surrounding you. Then suddenly there is a thing, an event, a moment where it all seems to turn on a dime, how one perhaps tiny gesture can make such a HUGE difference, that it leaves you smiling like crazy, leaping with joy, and speechless at the wonder of it all.

If you've ever gotten a gift or had a moment like that, then you will full well understand what it was like for me the other night when I checked my email and saw a photo. Taken in one moment of time, one photo can say so much and mean so much to someone else, its really true. One single photo with lovely beautiful handsome faces, ones who I would ordinarily never know of or meet and would probably walk right by me without ever speaking to, ones with stories and pasts and thoughts and life journeys far different from mine, and yet in this photo are people I genuinely respect admire (and in some cases flat out adore) Such are the people below, those of Sigma Films.


Tiernan Kelly who runs Film City Glasgow, Anna Duffield, Gillian Berrie, Alastair Mackenzie, David Mackenize, Colin Kennedy and Brian Coffey

Dear people of Sigma films,
It's like the best birthday, best holiday, best present in the world getting this photo, I just cherish this. I am so so thrilled, so happy to know about your work, so happy to share my thoughts on all your excellence via this blog, just plain...happy. That you would think of goofy me, take the time out to snap this pic and send this is just above and beyond, freaking cool lol, and frankly a hell of a very nice nice thing. Class acts all around, and I love this so very much!

I LOVE YOU SIGMA, and these talented cool interesting and fantastic people,with their lovely smiling faces (and woot note the HEART AND THE DOG in the background, MUCH LOVE AND ADMIRATION FOR YOU!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
CHEERS!!!
Sue

Alastair Mackenzie, Claire Forlani, Dougray Scott Attend New Town Killers Premiere

JOY AND HAPPINESS

UPDATE: I HAVE NICE PICS OF
ALASTAIR, Claire Forlani, Dougray Scott and James Anthony Pearson at premiere of
New Town Killers up on my FLICKR HERE

WENN has the first pics of Alastair Mackenzie, Claire Forlani (Mister Hallam Foe) and her husband Dougray Scott at the premiere of New Town Killers at the London Film Festival.




LINK TO WENN PICS HERE

GETTY IMAGES -WITH CLAIRE, DOUGRAY AND RICHARD JOBSON (plus a closeup of her shoes and bag of all things but no Al wtf?)

REX FEATURES -again none of all, just the trio above



New Town Killers stars Alastair Mackenzie, Dougray Scott, James Anthony Pearson and is directed by Richard Jobson.

Personal note: I had intended to go, but unfortunately several weeks ago my father was diagnosed with cancer and I've been under a great deal of strain with that (my mother is quite ill and in a wheelchair so its double the work) as well as work this election -VOTE PLEASE and such. I greatly am saddened I am unable to attend the premiere of this film after following it and dedicating time and love to the process of the film (and all things Sigma for that matter) but truly truly my heart, good thoughts and support is with them all tonight.
More pics when I find them!

Hallam Foe is Looking for Helge!

ATTENTION HELGE-
be on the lookout for a handsome but odd young man wearing a dead badger on his head! No its not some crazy tea fortune, HALLAM FOE IS HEADED YOUR WAY!

HALLAM FOE our beloved film IS PLAYING IN MOSCOW at the New British Film Festival in a few days
October 29 (Same day as Stone of Destiny!) Tickets available now!

:)))

ps-the schedule said Hallam screened there back in April, was this right? did you get to see it then?

pps- check Colin's blog- GREAT ENTRY on Sound and he mentions you!

Double bonus-Part of the Trifecta of S, Savalas Sound will apparently being doing
post production work on Luci, which makes sense of course, and is way cool too. The Savalas update says they did some work on the new BBC series PA as well as that Scotland's History which I want to watch, dunno if I will ever get to see either but both look good! I think Film City Glasgow is serving as a base or did for production on PA, hope the show is good too!

Casting Complete on I Love Luci? (Updated-Its Really gone to the Dogs!)

Woo!, there's been some good news on the progress of Colin Kennedy's I Love Luci short film. Because I am a doof, I was reading the comments on an older post, and he noted very recently this week that "The casting has gone very well. I'm not sure how much I am allowed to say about it, but all the parts have been cast and I am absolutely over the moon with the actors involved - they are all genuinely fantastic."

YES, THIS IS GREAT NEWS! I hope we will learn more in the next few weeks on who has been cast in the parts (and lol did he cast a DOG lol, and how exactly does one go about that process :D) I remember him writing on the official Sigma Films blog about the process of Hallam Foe, noting how tricky and involved the casting can be for a major film like Hallam was and what a huge step it is to have that complete; am anxious to hear a bit more on this front (think Kahleen Crawford handled it for this film but not certain)

UPDATE: COLIN HAS INDEED CAST his Lead, LUCI the Dog
LOL Dude, I honestly do heart you soooo much for the update via Luciblog as it seems that Luci, will be portrayed by this friendly looking fellow, Wilson. awww Love it! :)))
No word on if the salary is in bones or dog treats are in his rider teehee ;)

Oh yea, Anyone with artistic skills-SEE THE LUCI BLOG cause there's been a call for a Tattoo Artist to create something for the leading female to sport in the film. I have zero artist skills, let alone would have no idea on what to do for a tattoo, but I am certain with all the amazing and talented people working over there around Sigma this will turn out cool. Been pondering getting a tattoo for years, never been brave enough to try it alas but they are cool enough. I think Jamie S has a couple too, or maybe those were just for the films?

Finally, weather appears to be playing a role in getting production started on the short film. Gah. I am sure this must be a very stressful time with Colin, Gillian Brian and all in trying to decide when to shoot this. I remember reading how the horrid conditions that randomly popped up n the spring (HAIL one time ) so I can only imagine that weather in Scotland is a huge consideration esp if the film is having outdoor scenes and light just isnt there. blurg. FINGERS TOES AND ALL CROSSED you can get a schedule sorted and things can work out to shoot this year Colin!

Helge did you have to deal with stuff like this on your last film? I think I remember hearing about having to shoot something in those less that lovely winters you have there in Russia :)

Richard Jobson, Man of Style (updated)

Followup: WINNER!
New Town Killer director Richard Jobson is Scottish Man of Style. Nabs win over his
star in NTK, Dougray Scott. My vote of course would have gone to Alastair Mackenzie who wasnt nominated or Jamie Sives, but perhaps Im a bit biased on that front :D Anyway, congrats lol :)

News articles from the BBC, Herald, Scottish Daily Record, and scant few photos.

*warning rant ahead: One I know Mr Jobson was in Aberfeldy screening New Town Killers but according to the film festival site, it said he was taking part in the Style Awards event too, so where the hell are the pics from this event?( and no not the festival thing which I doubt I will ever see a pic from *woe* Im talking this award show. They wonder why the heck there isnt more awareness of things happening in scotland...let's think.... oh how about- SERIOUS LACK OF PHOTOS on the major wire is one big reason. It is so so hard to come by ANY photos of any number from most events held in Scotland, it truly astounds me given the day in age, the sheer amount of technology available that there isnt more available. Anyone can put stuff out there for all, yes even in Scotland, and Im not on about random events held in tiny Highland villages, but Info and PHOTOS from major events held in major and modern cities like Glasgow-come on folks! Sad truth is that unless reuters/ap/getty/wireimage/even the freaking tabs dont get access/coverage events in Scotland, scottish news, films, happenings etc do NOT get the coverage it deserves. Sure an ap wire/press release is all well and fine, but we live in a visual world now folks, time to get the lead out and get more stills/videos out there.
/end rant.

UPDATE: WELL WELL WELL -Guess what showed up almost 3 days after the fact- WIREIMAGE PHOTOS of the event, good grief. Still better than never, but honestly now....

IGN Mentions Mister (Hallam) Foe DVD

IGN, one of the big game/movie/dvd sites out there (and one of the most reliable) has a small mention of the upcoming Mister Foe DVD that is due to be released finally here in the US on November 11. The uber brief mention just summarizes the plot and notes the DVD "will contain bonus materials and extra features, such as deleted scenes and feature commentary."

Hopefully it will contain director David Mackenzie's commentary, but I remain dubious any of the features/extras will be anything new ie not hopeful there will be new interviews conducted for the disc, but I do remain hopeful that there will be some of the fantastic stuff that 4C Slater/All things uploaded via their Youtube channel.

Most of all, I had really really wanted a hard copy of Colin Kennedy's fantastic documentary/behind the scenes features he worked on. I know that many are looking for info new clips here in the US and if you have not yet had the chance, or just want to watch again and dont have them on your iPod or MP3 player anymore, please go to iTunes and watch the Hallam Foe podcasts HERE. You can see-FOR FREE-many behind the scenes glimpses especially of Jamie and Sophia. I know many of their fansites also (and hte Ciaran Hinds folks do as well) have these uploaded as well as screencaps, so please go check them out! You can read more about the filming of Mister Hallam Foe via the well done GET YOUR PEOPLE BLOG here.

It should be noted that on the Magnolia Website it reads DVD release date Nov 4, but maybe that is the NetFlix date or who the heck knows. I pre-ordered mine from Amazon and Im getting it the 11th of November - a red letter day to say the least! (I think I will call it the Mister Foe Marathon day, when I watch the movie over and over along with all the various clips/interviews I can find!) The film also continues to screen in a very few theaters now and esp thru the entire month of Nov here in the States.

Mister Foe stars Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles, Ciaran Hinds, Claire Forlani, Jamie Sives, Ewan Bremner and was directed by David Mackenzie. Mister Hallam Foe is a SIGMA FILMS PRODUCTION

Refn Talks Valhalla Rising, Mads and says Jamie Sives is a "great actor"

Earlier this month Nicholas Winding Refn gave a lengthy new interview to Twitchfilm.net where the director spoke about working on "Valhalla Rising," filming in Scotland, and his main star Mads Mikkelsen. Mr. Refn also spoke a bit about Jamie Sives (Sigma films Hallam Foe, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself) and had some really positive things to say about my favorite actor. Quotage about the two lead actors in the film from Refn:

TB: When you cast Jamie Sives for Valhalla … first of all, I was really, really happy to see him show up in a film again because it’s been way too long.

NWR: He’s a great actor.

TB: He’s fantastic. Did the fact that he and Mads had worked together before factor into that some?

NWR: What’s strange is that I actually met Jamie when I was casting Bronson. We looked at him not to play Charles Bronson but one of the other major characters in the movie. Bronson just didn’t work out with him but I kept him in mind and when we went on to do Valhalla, because I basically had to hire the same casting director to do Valhalla and Bronson so that I could cast the two movies at the same time, we just naturally went towards Jamie. Who I think is just a fucking brilliant actor. He looks like a movie star. I’m quite amazed that nobody’s picked up on him so far ... He’s very photogenic, which is important, and he’s just a really good actor.

TB: He’s incredible in Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself.

NWR: Yeah. And he’s a very pleasant guy, which is not always the case. And that’s the thing with Mads, too, he’s such a nice guy. And there’s no bullshit with Mads.

FUCKING BRILLIANT ACTOR. LETS REPEAT THAT LAST PART

BRILLIANT ACTOR

BRILLIANT ACTOR

BRILLIANT ACTOR

yep ! (and err yea I totally agree with how photogenic, movie star good FREAKING HANDSOME HE IS part, just just ...*swoonage city*)

Anyway, back to reality, the interview likened Valhalla Rising to a type of prehistoric Pusher movie lol, and Nicholas Refn went on to discuss this and the process of filming in the highlands of Scotland.

Originally I sold it as that, that I was going to use that sort of approach. But then once I got to the first day of shooting – it was a nine week shoot, we had no money but that forces you to think creatively – I had found a mountain that took three hours to get to the top of. It was minus ten. It was freezing, freezing, freezing. I was standing up there thinking, “What the fuck have I got myself into?” And that’s when I said “This is not Pusher. I may have sold it as that, but this is something else.” It became a combination of a lot of things: the mythological heroes that I grew up fascinated with, having a family that was very much into the fine arts and cinema, growing up with American television and badly dubbed samurai movies and spaghetti westerns. Escape From New York was the biggest thing in my life when I was younger. It suddenly gravitated towards that. And because I shoot my films in chronological order they’re able to take on a life of their own and that’s what happened on Valhalla. It began to dictate its own approach to things, how it wanted to be told. And visually, you honestly can’t just shoot the way you would in an urban environment when you’re out in the middle of nowhere in the mountains because it just screams for something else. I always believe that if it feels right, go for it, and that just became the approach."

Excellent!! and props to Todd Brown of Twitch for asking about Jamie especially!

One related Valhalla Music note: It would seem that Magwai is NOT doing a piece for the score/soundtrack of VH. Scotland on Sunday ran a feature on the band recently and they mentioned their works for films. Quotage:

At the moment, touring has quelled the potential for anything else, he admits. "There have been vague things mentioned. There's a film being made in Scotland, I can't even remember the name, about Vikings (it's called Valhalla Rising, and stars Mads Mikkelsen] and we were in talks about that; it sounded pretty cool but we just aren't here at the right time." In the long term, though, he does admit he would love to work with David Lynch or Lars von Trier."

According to the Danish film Institute, VH has a release date of 14/08/2009

View to a Stylish New (Town) Killing

New Town Killers, starring Sigma's Alastair Mackenzie is not just a film full of handsome men, nope, it's also a showdown between two stylish men....co-star Dougray Scott and director Richard Jobson.

In what can only be described as a loopy sort of style off, both Mr. Scott and Mr. Jobson are nominated this year as "Most Stylish Male" in this year's Scottish Style Awards. The awards are due to be presented later this week, and no word on who has that killin edge going into this hard fought contest, but I wonder if another music dynamo might sneak off a surprise victory (David Bryne of the fabulous Talking Heads) but LOL how cool I thought-only they overlooked Alastair, and Jamie Sives, and David, and Jamie and Colin and and ...ok I'll stop now :))))

BESIDES MR. JOBSON wont be there, for as noted earlier, he is screening New Town Killers THIS FRIDAY!! For the lucky folks who are going to Aberfeldy, you can see the film early before its world premiere at the London Film Festival (opening night- SOLD OUT). The Herald reminds us that at Aberfeldy:

"a fiver buys you a sneak preview of the film, a talk by Jobson and a glass of wine as well. Jobson will be talking about his work, with particular emphasis on the use of Edinburgh as a location. Last week, however, he was holed up in an editing suite, battling to get New Town Killers finished in time for the Aberfeldy and London events.

Jobson, a Fifer who found fame in the pop group The Skids in the 1970s, said: "It's a story based around two hedge-fund managers who are out of control and get their kicks from hunting people rather than animals."

Dougray Scott, recently seen in American drama series Desperate Housewives, and Monarch Of The Glen star Alastair Mackenzie play two financiers who target a young man, played by James Anthony Pearson, who played Bernard Sumner in last year's Joy Division film Control. They plan the hunt months in advance, entrapping their target financially and forcing him into a deadly 12-hour game of hide and seek.

"The hunt is all over the city," said Jobson. "I'm using everything from the Innocent Tunnel to the canal, various back streets and alleyways, bars from the port of Leith to a whole array of different restaurants and clubs."

Mr. Jobson will also be a guest on the Radio 4 programme Loose Ends shortly after (next day I think). NTK is getting some good coverage, SKY has a photo and article here, where he is quoted as saying:"In my head now, I'm still 17 years old and my movie still feels like a gig to me and playing here in Leicester Square, during the London Film Festival and having a really nice slot, it's a fantastic experience and the tingle factor is still there," he said.

Edinburgh Guide also has this preview of the New Town Killers online.

Footnote: Mr. Jobson, and Andrew Orr of "Independent Film Sales were speakers at a recent UK Film Finance Summit; not sure if progress was made toward getting more funding towards independent and esp to the film industry in Scotland or what they said.

Trout Fishing and Other Belated News

Egads but have I been dreadfully overwhelmed of late, and pitifully behind on things from the sweet world of Sigma, so here is what I've missed of late.....

It's no fish tale this bit of news, no, it's Trout, the short film directed by Johnny Barrington and produced by Anna Duffield of Sigma. Trout has been screening over the past few weeks as part of Scottish Digital Shorts 2009; the last showing this month was yesterday of course, but fear not, lucky people in Inverness can see it next month on November 3 at Eden Court, then on November 13 folks in Dundee can see it at the Contemporary Arts center there. No word if Mr. Barrington or Anna D was there but blurg I hate this ocean that gets in my way from enjoying all this stuff!

Congratulations go to Jamie Bell for a win as Best Actor at the Tunisia Film Festival for his role as Hallam Foe!

The ever awesome KATIE DICKIE presented the nominations for the Scottish Bafta Awards. One film she is in even got a nom (the lovely Summer which Ive now seen and really liked, just a lovely film). The Herald had a short mention of Katie and her own BAFTA she rightly won for her flat out brilliant performance in Red Road. The piece noted Katie has to store this on a shelf high out the reach of wee hands, those belonging to her young four year old daughter who "thinks the Bafta face-mask is a dressing-up head, and Kate usually found it festooned with necklaces and earrings when her back was turned."

LOL my twin nieces do the same thing, only its with a freaky Bratz/Barbie head that I got them last Christmas. Anyway, the Herald blurb also said Katie wants to smile more in roles (People think I'm a miserable cow," she admits) WELL WHAT ABOUT IN ROUNDING UP DONKEYS???? I thought this was supposed to be much more comedic, right people Sigma- HINT NUDGE HINT FOR MORE INFO ON THIS MOVIE PLEASE .... :))) No word if Katie will be presenting this year, but I can hope, along with another appearance from Alastair Mackenzie or Kahleen Crawford or any of the gang from Sigma-I dearly hope Colin will be going and post something just because I especially enjoyed all his drunken hilarious and strangely well written post party posts, like for the Baftas and at all the festivals...ah the good old days!

Anyway, here is a pic of Katie, who I think has a great smile!

New Trailer Online for Jamie Bell's "Defiance"

Quick update: Been down with a horrible cold, went to NYC-FRANZ FERDINAND I LOVE YOU! more on that shortly, and just saw via Empire via Variety lol, the new full length trailer for "Defiance" is now online.
The film of course stars Daniel Craig who is getting huge amounts of press these days bleh, as well as Jamie Bell (Mister Hallam Foe). I have to say this new trailer seems to be a bit too bondish for me, but Craig is actually a fine actor (as is Mr. Bell and Liev Schreiber), and I remain hopeful the film will actually be better than this.

New "Defiance" trailer