Yesterday – as the twang talkin’, gun slingin’ youth Jimmy Blevins, Lucas Black was but a child actor in his turn alongside former child star Henry Thomas (ET) and a fresh faced Matt Damon in NM’s Own All the Pretty Horses back in 2000.
Today – Black is a repeat offender all growed-up in the creepy NM thriller Legion. Both flicks are now available on DVD.
Mañana – Damon will be seen in the upcoming Coen Bros release of True Grit with yet another NM repeat, the one and only Jeff Bridges, who took home the best actor Oscar for his role in the NM film Crazy Heart earlier this year.
Tomorrow the Turner Classic Movie network will dedicate its primetime and overnight line-up to the films of the late Dennis Hopper. The schedule per TV by the Numbers is as follows:
“Tuesday, June 8
8 p.m. (ET) The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) – Dennis Hopper co-stars with John Wayne and Dean Martin in this rowdy Western about the sons of a frontier woman determined to learn why their mother died penniless.
10:15 p.m. True Grit (1969) – Hopper found himself in the presence of “The Duke” once again with this Western about an aged marshal who helps a girl find her father’s killer. John Wayne earned an Oscar® for his performance.
12:30 a.m. Rebel Without a Cause (1955) – Hopper made his film debut as one of the rebellious youngsters in Nicholas Ray’s searing portrait of teen angst. James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo star.
2:30 a.m. Easy Rider (1969) – Hopper became one of the most iconic figures of his generation with this groundbreaking film about a trio of societal dropouts heading to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Not only did he direct and star in the film, he also earned an Oscar nomination for his work on the screenplay with co-star Peter Fonda and Terry Southern. Jack Nicholson and Karen Black co-star.
4:15 a.m. Night Tide (1963) – Hopper stars as a lonely sailor who falls in love with a mysterious woman who plays a mermaid on the Santa Monica pier. Linda Lawson co-stars in this unique, dreamy drama written and directed by Curtis Harrington.” – TV by the Numbers
Dennis Hopper: Photographs 1961-1967 is currently available (click here to leaf through the book), a biography by American writer Tom Folsom titled, Hopper: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream was announced before his passing, and a showing of his work at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles is scheduled for July – September.
The final movie starring Dennis Hopper titled The Last Film Festival, a comedy is pending a release date.
Hopper had also recently voiced a character in the upcoming animated film, Alpha and Omega:
Like winter itself the NM portion of the Coen Bros production of True Grit has gone. But the cotton batting that served as the snowy back-drop for the film during some of its time here is available and useful.
“GPR exists to supply knowledge, products and equipment to lessen the impact of film and event production on the planet.”
To learn more about what they do and what you can do to reuse existing production materials or repurpose your own please contact
Holly via email at: holly@greenproductionresource.net
In the mean time there are “miles of smiles” worth of True Grit faux “snow” available for reuse.
Check the NM Film Office web site for more green film making resources.
According to Talent Hunter dot com the following specific roles are NOW being cast for the New Mexico shoot of True Grit in addition to a general kids/teen/adult male casting call:
“DO NOT submit to this unless you MATCH THE ROLES LISTED BELOW. The casting director is being inundated with emails and submissions from people randomly submitting and contacting them!!
The New Mexico casting director for the Paramount Pictures feature film “True Grit” is currently holding auditions for new roles in the film. These are all speaking principal actor roles in the film, and the pay is SAG rate.
Here is what she is looking for:
● Skinny 10-14 year old male Native American youths
● Native American man, must be thin, 55-70 years old and can ride a horse
Academy Award winning actor Jeff Bridges has been hard at work in New Mexico filming The Men Who Stare at Goats with George Clooney and Ewan McGregor in ’08, his Oscar winning turn in Crazy Heart in ’09, and currently starring alongside Matt Damon and Josh Brolin in the latest Coen Brothers NM film True Grit.
Bridges will perform with his band in a first ever live show at the Lensic in Santa Fe on April 18 at 3:00 p.m.
According to Santa Fe dot com: “In addition to the live performance, there will be a screening of ‘Crazy Heart’, a silent auction of movie memorabilia and a raffle. This charitable event is being staged to raise money for New Mexico Film Makers Give Back, a program of IATSE Local 480, which raised over $100,000 last year to fund local charities…
The Lensic is located at 211 West San Francisco Street. The Box office can be contacted at 505-988-1234 or www.ticketssantafe.org”
From Acting Auditions dot org, the Austin Texas based casting director of the NM/TX production, True Grit is urgently seeking the following roles for the TEXAS shoot:
“FRANK JAMES – Late 60′s – 80′s. Must be able to portray a menacing look through his eyes!! Beady-eyed bastard. Very mean looking! Thug. Son-of-a-gun. Not a nice guy!
GRANDMA TURNER – Late 60′s – 80′s. Must be able to portray a a mean woman – decrepit & pruney [sic] looking (great wrinkles/facial lines). She snores loudly! 2 options: Old crone (mean old lady) OR a very large woman (too big to share a bed w/Mattie).
GENERAL WOMEN – Frontier, hard bitten types of WOMEN. Must have interesting faces (facial lines, crooked teeth, larger noses, weathered skin type, hard features). Preferably longer hair w/no artificial color. They need rough frontier types – NOT modern looking. No makeup!
Filming will take place in Austin area, Granger, and Blanco for 3 months.
Interested [qualifying] applicants should call casting office asap! 512-637-6775″
C-lister Donald Faison spits on the Q in some whiney remarks he made on his Twit page. Didn’t anyone teach a boy, “if you ain’t got nothin’ nice to say…”. Hasn’t bro seen all the news headlines re: These Tough Economic Times?
Criminy, if only we had a buck for every time that tired ol’ phrase was used in the past calendar year we’d be back in the black and then some. The actor should stick to the script whilst he’s still got one in hand.
Shiz, Oscar winning NM Actor Jeff Bridges pimped for Hyndai and is currently hard at work in NM on True Grit. Now that’s how you do.
We’ll go ahead and put out another “Open Call”: Stars ask plenty from the public in the way of support for their work, their industry and for personal and global causes. I’m sure a donation of Faison’s time or funds would be greatly appreciated by any number of deserving and much in need Community Service Organizations. Cast and crew of NM productions that regularly give back shine as fine examples for any and all who wish to get started on their giving way…
Faison is in town shooting the CBS television pilot The Odds.
NM’s Own Resident Fish Wrangler Extraordinaire TJ Trout
The awesomeness sure to come from the latest Coen Brother’s/New Mexico Film Industry teaming, True Grit will be filming on location at Monestary Lake through Friday.
Fisherpersons wishing to lay line are encouraged to “take advantage of other area trout fishing opportunities, including the Pecos River, which is now clear of ice below Terrero.” – NM Game & Fish
Yesterday – Thor hath commeth. Star Natalie Portman in Santa Fe as filming began on Disney/Marvel’s epic comicbook saga THOR on Monday – OLV.
The otro día – NM’s Own Jeff Bridges on Oprah preparing for the NM shoot of the Coen Bro’s True Grit just days after his Oscar win for NM film Craz-zazy Heart. Bridges & fellow Oscar nabbers sign the great O’s No Phone Zone pledge…p.s. Hands free in full effect in the Q et al.
Today – Steven Soderbergh’s KNOCKOUT is filming in the Los Alamos area through thursday via our friends OLV in NYC – covering the beat coast to coast.
Mañana – The forthcoming I-Ron Man deux, starring NM film alums; Due Date leading man RDJ and Passion Play‘s Micky Rourke is shot in part at Garson Studios, and on location in Santa Fe & vicinity.
Our locally televised post-Oscar coverage decided to tell us which 4 Oscar winners since 1902 have eventually come to live in or visit NM.
We’ll give you the scoop on present day New Mexico connections:
Right out of the gate NM’s Own NPH high-kicked-off the show. As predicted Jeff Bridges and Ryan Bingham each picked-up an Oscar for their contributions to NM film Crazy Heart.
Nominated film A Single Man has New Mexico roots behind the lens as director Tom Ford is a current resident. Precious‘ NM connection too is through it’s nominated director. Lee Daniels shot his 2008 film Tenessee in part here.
Oscar contender A Serious Man was the most recent Coen Bros release. It was just two years ago that the Bros won Best Picture with New Mexico’s No Country for Old Men. Joel and Ethan are currently at work on their adaptation of the Carles Portis Novel True Grit shooting right here with last night’s nom Matt Damon and other veteran NM actors.
The Academy’s beloved George Clooney didn’t take home a new statue and his NM film, Goats did not get any mentions nor did Crazy Heart’s Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bro. Jake & company’s Oscar worthy turn in NM’s Brothers was snubbed all together.
This year’s Best Picture winner didn’t make to New Mexico as recollected and jeered about between co-star Anthony Mackie and his interviewer here.
We’ll likely catch Bigelow and Mackie (if he’s lucky) shooting in our neck of the woods on the flip side…
p.s. KOAT did air a noteworthy look at NM’s Avatar connection though it’s ill~accessible on their website.
Casting is finally focused in the Southwest – New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado for the still open, “star making” role of Mattie Ross in the upcoming Coen brothers True Grit film.
New Mexico ladies ages 12-17 strongly encouraged to apply!
So far the casting agents for the NM/TX shoot of the Oscar winning Coen Bros. upcoming film have visited Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and are now heading to Oklahoma and Mississippi…
P, p, p, please get your grit on and submit your audition. Full instructions here. Deadline is January 9, high-noon PST.
DON’T act. Spit-fire w/sass required, experience is NOT.
Tip: The film is set to be based on the original novel not necessarily a remake of the 1969 movie.
That is not a type-o above, let’s lock this star making role down with NM talent!
UPDATE: January 13, 2010
Casting agent Jo Edna Boldin, CSA
castmattieross@yahoo.com
is currently scouting New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado for the still open, “star making” role of Cassie in the upcoming Coen brothers True Grit film.
Online auditions have been extended through January 20. This role is just WAITING for NM talent…
New Mexico ladies ages 12-17 strongly encouraged to apply!
So far the casting agents for the NM/TX shoot of the Oscar winning Coen Bros. upcoming film have visited Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and are now heading to Oklahoma and Mississippi…
P, p, p, please get your grit on and submit your audition. Full instructions here. Deadline is January 9, high-noon PST.
DON’T act. Spit-fire w/sass required, experience is NOT.
Tip: The film is set to be based on the original novel not necessarily a remake of the 1969 movie.
That is not a type-o above, let’s lock this star making role down with NM talent!
As we told you here, the incomparable Coen brothers are getting set to produce and direct a new film based on the Charles Portis novel, True Grit.
Casting calls have already been held all over Texas where the film will shoot in addition to aqui in Nuevo México beginning in the Spring of 2010.
Rachel Tenner of Chicago based casting agents TP&R is currently in Memphis, TN attempting to cast a newcomer/unknown in the principal role of Mattie Ross. The agents, who also cast Coen films A Serious Man, Burn After Reading and No Country for Old Men, state they are seeking “a 12- 16-year-old Caucasian girl who is tough, strong and tells it like it is. They are open to all looks, so come give it a try. No acting experience is necessary.”
There is an open call in Memphis this Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the East Memphis Hilton at 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. From there Tenner and associates move on to Nashville TN, Little Rock AR, Jackson MS and Oklahoma…heh, hmm – Hello, New Mexico?
Roger Deakins, no stranger to New Mexico – working as the Director of Photography on both No Country for Old Men and In the Valley of Elah, is once again scouting the region.
The acclaimed Cinematographer has over 60 film credits including 10 with iconic film makers Joel and Ethan Coen. The trio will be working together next on the Coen’s adaption of the Charles Portis’ novel True Grit.
John Wayne took home the Oscar for his lead role in the 1969 movie. Along with New Mexico, Matt Damon (All the Pretty Horses), Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men), and Kurt Russell are in talks for starring roles in the 2011 release.
image via Greg Solano
NM’s Own Resident Fish Wrangler Extraordinaire 
image via metro.co.uk
image via 
