Updated: Interview with Des Hamilton and Casting "The Eagle of the Ninth"

UPDATE: FILMING IS UNDERWAY IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND TODAY. This is confirmed directly by
Jenna Dewan-Tatum, wife of Channing who tweeted
"Im with Chan as he is filming on top of a mountain in Scotland,20 min muddy hike to get to set,it's freezing and raining..this is true love!"

UPDATE: via the Inverness Courier there is more from Des and on the casting of extras for Eagle who were not at all afraid to have their head shaved for the roles which are being filmed this weekend and beyond in the Highlands of Scotland. Quotage:

"Former Millburn Academy pupil Kevin MacRae (26) was also hoping to be signed up. "I have never done this before," admitted Mr MacRae, of Uist Road, Inverness."I have just got back from Australia, having been away travelling for a year. Unfortunately, there is no work here at the moment and this would be the first chance to do something."So how would he feel about having his head shaved? "No problem," he replied. "I usually have it shaved anyway."Losing his locks was also not a problem for Christie Berg, who not only has a long pony tail but also a beard. "It would not bother me," said Mr Berg, of Carnac Crescent. "I would be prepared to cut it off."Painter and decorator Peter Boyle and his pal, concreter Daniel Craig, both aged 39, were sporting kilts in a bid to be noticed. "We wanted to show them we were prepared to get dressed up for our Scottish heritage," said Mr Boyle, who travelled up from Glasgow to audition."We stayed overnight in a camper van. Inverness is a wonderful place — everyone is really friendly and there is such beautiful countryside round about."

With location filming underway in earnest this week in Scotland for Kevin MacDonald's "The Eagle of the Ninth," there is a new audio interview with casting director (and longtime friend of Sigma Films) Des Hamilton (his pic on the side) on his work for the new movie. Extras continue to be cast (YES PARTS ARE STILL OPEN! GO FOR IT!), and in this audio interview available here via the BBC, we learn yesterday that indeed the 20-40 year old men who are willing to have their head shaved are being cast as "ferral' men, Pics celts that lived north of Hadrians wall. Press and Journal comes through again too with an article on the open casting taking place, as another event was held yesterday. Quotage:

"Some arrived at the four-hour casting session at the Spectrum Centre in Inverness with freshly shaved heads, while others sported impressive beards and donned kilts to prove their credentials as fearsome fighting foes. Des Hamilton, the casting director, said he was looking for 12 to 24 individuals who will take part in filming at Achiltibuie on the Coigach peninsula this weekend.

Asked if the auditions could unearth the next Brad Pitt or George Clooney, Mr Hamilton said: “It might be a little far-fetched, but if someone steps forward and pursues their ambitions, then who knows? Scotland has always been a talented country in the arts.”

Paul Duncan, 33, of Blackthorn Road, Culloden, said: “I’ve done this sort of thing once before and enjoyed it.“I’ve already got a shaved head and it’s something different.”Eagle of the Ninth is set in Roman Britain and charts the journey of a Roman officer along Hadrian’s Wall into Scotland to recover a lost Roman legion. The film is directed by Kevin Macdonald, whose previous films include The Last King of Scotland and Touching the Void.Men who auditioned for roles will be told if they have been successful today."

A tabloid claimed there is a scene due to be filmed today, with an extra on IMDB who wrote: Have got confirmation that extras are required for this movie. The company involved are UniversalExtrasLtd. Filming will take place on Saturday 10th October 2009 around Inverness area. £85 per day. Email to info@universalextras.co.uk

A reminder of course that Jamie Bell (HALLAM FOE) and Channing Tatum star in Eagle, which will be based out of Film City Glasgow in the coming weeks thru the end of production next month.

First Video: Ewan McGregor Films a Scene for David Mackenzie's "The Last Word"

Check it out! Video of yesterday's massive filming on the streets of Glasgow for David Mackenzie's The Last Word. In the video below, we can see star EWAN MCGREGOR filming a scene with his bike. You can see him do several turns with the bike, the PA comes out and gets the extras going-walking about, then at the end you can clearly see director David Mackenzie walk out from behind the monitor, walk along with Ewan then stop to talk to a shop keeper extra as they prepare to do another take GREAT STUFF I LOVE MOVIE MAKING! Also, be sure to check out the second video below which shows the prep work/rehearsal. Thanks ever so much to NEURO for the videos! ALSO: For those who are asking, rest assured EVA GREEN is still in Glasgow filming :) Can't wait for this film!

New Location Photos: Ewan McGregor On Set for "Last Word" in Glasgow

Great news this morning as location filming continues in Glasgow, Scotland for David Mackenzie's upcoming "The Last Word" Huge thanks to Scott Graham on Flickr, we can see new photos of star Ewan McGregor w/David M on set this chilly morning, as well as some fantastic shots of the streets of destruction in this
post-apocalyptic love story.


Ps Here is Colin Kennedy on set :))

Family Matters in David Mackenzie's "The Last Word" with Ewan McGregor

Sigma Films' "The Last Word" currently in production in Glasgow, Scotland is turning in to something of a family movie...well NOT really, but on the heels of the news that Alastair Mackenzie has a small part in the Last Word under the director of his brother David, come news of another family of sorts, Ewan McGregor and Denis Lawson. The Daily Record reports "uncle and nephew Denis Lawson and Ewan McGregor have finally achieved their ambition of acting opposite each other. The Scottish Hollywood stars are filming The Last Word, a movie about a pandemic which leaves humans without any senses. It's the first time since Ewan broke through in the 1990s that he's managed to team up with Denis. He was the man who inspired him to become an actor after watching him in Star Wars as a kid."

Noting that star Ewan McGregor was onboard early on for the film, we learn a few new nuggets about the piece which will finish soon in Glasgow. Quotage:

"We have quite a lot of scenes together because our characters not only work together, but they're friends out of work too. So it really is a big deal for us. The pair play a chef and restaurant owner, with filming taking place in Glasgow's west end.

Despite the subject matter, Denis insists The Last Word has a soft heart. He said: "People lose their sense of smell, taste and so on, right across the world. But it's a love story, with two people trying to cope with it and everything around them."

The film, which also stars Bond girl Eva Green, is directed by David Mackenzie, who worked with Ewan on Scots flick Young Adam. Denis insists there's no awkwardness working together with his nephew. He said: "People ask if there's any family tension with that sort of arrangement, but that couldn't be further from the truth."We don't operate like that. It's all very relaxed. We approach each other very much on a level playing field. We work together pretty seamlessly, with the same sort of energy and humour.

"We've been out a few times after filming, and it's nice to spend time in Glasgow again. "Ewan was on board with this film first. I've no idea whether the director always had me in mind for it, but I didn't need persuading."

Both men have had important roles in the Star Wars films. Lawson played X Wing pilot Wedge Antilles in the original three movies, with McGregor taking the part of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the more recent films."

(Updated) Big News! Alastair Mackenzie Reunited with Director Brother for The Last Word

The boys are back! What am I on about? Something really cool as Alastair Mackenzie is reuniting on film with his director brother David Mackenzie for The Last Word. I can confirm this big news is true, marking the reuniting of the two who worked together on the cult classic "The Last Great Wilderness" . It is described as a small part, but still how thrilling!

SO SO HAPPY!!! While this film is totally a different animal than LGW, this bodes even better for what is shaping up to be another wonderful film from David Mackenzie and Sigma Films of Glasgow! Yay! Alastair is of course preparing for his return to the British stage in a few months in the production of The Priory (previews November 19, opens November 26 thru January 9th, 2010). More when I get it!
UPDATE: Filming is STILL ONGOING on The Last Word, with this photo of Ewan McGregor filming outside Guitarguitar in Glasgow, Scotland taken today. Thanks ever so much to Frubes (Christina!)

Master List of Last Word

Apparently there is a very brief listing online of David Mackenzie's The Last Word currently filming in Glasgow, Scotland. However from what I understand, the info is woefully lacking, and so I thought I would make this post a masterlist with updates to come as I can. For example the fabulous Giles Nuttgens is serving as Director of Cinematography, and Tom Sayer is Production Designer, but neither are on that page. Also missing are cast such as Stephen Dillane and Connie Nielsen. UPDATE: More are coming in; thank you lurking powers that be :))))

Here's what we have so far :

THE LAST WORD (working title)
Director: David Mackenzie
Screenplay: Kim Fupz Anderson

Cast:
-Ewan McGregor (Michael)
-Eva Green (Susan)
-Ewen Bremner (James)
-Stephen Dillane (Samuel)
-Alastair Mackenzie (Colin)
-Connie Neilsen (Jenny)
-Des Hamilton (Frank)
-Malcolm Sheilds (Patient)
-Denis Lawson (Detective)
-Caroline Paterson (Patient's wife)
-Shabana Akhtar Bakhsh (Nurse)
-Adam Smith (Virology Technician)
-James Watson (Bus Driver)
-Richard Mack (Michael's apprentice)

Producers:
-Gillian Berrie (Sigma Films)
Line Producer
Julia Valentine

- Malte Grunert
Co-Producers:
-Sisse Graum Jorgensen
-Tristan Orpen Lync

Exec. Producers:
-Peter Aalbaek Jensen
-Peter Garde
-Carole Sheridan
- Simon Perry
- Jamie Laurenson

Cinematography
-Giles Nuttgens

Production Design
-Tom Sayer

Film Editor
-Jake Roberts

Director's Assistant
-Amy Jackson

Producer's Assistant
-Brian Coffey

Casting
-Shaheen Baig

Makeup
-Donald McInnes

Art Direction
-Andy Thompson

Art Dept.
-Tony Sheridan (Props Master)
-Paul Lambie (Standby props)
-Philip Barratt (graphics)
-Zoe Wright (Standby art director)

Camera
-COLIN KENNEDY (2nd Unit Director)
-Catherine Dunne (2nd assistand Director)
-Barrie McCulloch (1st assistant director)
-Simon Baker (a-camera/steadicam operator)
-Wayne King (gaffer)
-Derrick Peters (1st Assistant Camera)
-Zoe Laing (3rd assistant director)
-Iain Johnstone (grip)
-Luke Coulter (2nd assistant camera)

Sound Department
-Barry O'Sullivan (production sound mixer)
-Colin Gregory (boom operator)

Special Effects
-Perry Costello (armourer)

Costume Design
-Trisha Biggar

Costume and Wardrobe
-Anna Lau (costume supervisor)
-Harriet Edmonds (standby supervisor)

Researcher
-Stephen Little

Editorial Department
Lorene Dewett

Other Crew
-Layla Mall (Production Coordinator)
Claire L Kenney (assistant accountant)


Filming end of August till mid/end of October.
Budget: £4.5 million (€4.89 million)
Post Production: Windmill Lane, Dublin, Ireland
Serious Facilities/Savalas Sound Film City Glasgow, Scotland


BBC Films, Scottish Screen, Irish Film Board, Zentropa, Papkassen, Danish Film Institute and Filmivast.

Stayin' Alive with Jamie Sives

Did you ever have one of those things you stumble over and you go nooo no way , but at same time you going hell yes and are laughing and cant wait for it actually to be real/see it/know it to be fact? Such is the case for me last week when I was watching an interview with one of the stars of Gurinder Chadha's upcoming It's a Wonderful Afterlife, when Sendhil made some new comments about the credits of the movie and what the cast-which includes the ever fabulous Jamie Sives as Detective Hughes- that make me just coo in delight at the prospect.. witness:

That director loves music on her films. Did she make you sing?Sendhil Ramamurthy: "No singing. I did do some dancing. She likes to do the credits so it's actually going to be a Bollywood-style version of 'Staying Alive.' It's 'Staying Alive' but they did a Bollywood version of it."

And do you do the John Travolta pose? Sendhil Ramamurthy: "I'm afraid I do. I do."How long did it take her to convince you to do that?Sendhil Ramamurthy: "A disturbingly little time, but I now regret it thoroughly."

HAHAHAH YES YES YES! Omg dancing with Jamie would be heaven sent as it is lol (sing, dance, talk to, be in same area together, breathe same air lol), but but but ajkljaklj ajkh wheee! ... I am so hoping we get to see this on screen. We are roughly the same age, so I know he and well frankly all of us know the Bee Gees so this is just toooo funny, cant wait! Right now tis scheduled to open end of March, 2010.

One quick other update that I tweeted about last week: Danis Tanovic's Triage starring Jamie Sives and Colin Farrell will be opening the Rome Film Festival on October 15. It will screen at 19:30, then again on the 16th and 17th at 20:00. Tickets go on sale this week (28th)