As we told you here, the next biggest upcoming movie saga spawned from Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, is New Mexico bound.
“The Host” follows Melanie Stryder in a post-apocalyptic world in which aliens called Souls have body-snatched and are occupying the majority of the human population. Melanie herself is taken over by a Soul named Wanderer. However, Melanie’s strong will to survive have the two consciousnesses fighting for domination and eventually becoming allies as they set out to find Jared, the man Melanie loves, and their small colony of human resistance. When they get there, Melanie meets Ian who forms a connection with Wanderer, and a love quadrangle in three bodies gets underway.
Just named as leading man Jared is Max Irons (Red Riding Hood, currently set to star opposite Neve Campbell in Vivaldi as Antonio himself). Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Lovely Bones) takes up the role of occupied Melanie Stryder and Jake Abel (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, I Am Number Four) rounds out the love quadrangle.
Shooting is set to begin next February in New Mexico and Louisiana, scheduled for a March 2013 release.
It has been announced this week that since premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in Sept., Anchorbay Entertainment has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to the Channing Tatum/Rosario Dawson, New Mexico film, Ten Year.
Produced by Tatum, Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, and Reid Carolin the high-school reunion comedy is the directorial debut for Jamie Linden who also wrote the script.
Ten Year was shot right here in the Albuquerque metro-area last winter and also stars Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Lynn Collins, Brian Geraghty, Ari Graynor, Oscar Issac, Ron Livingston, Justin Long, Anthony Mackie, Kate Mara, Max Minghella, Aubrey Plaza, Scott Porter, Chris Pratt and and many of New Mexico’s own!
Anchorbay is projecting a Spring 2012 domestic release for the film! Yay!
Our favorite part-time New Mexican, beloved meth maker the world over, kick-a** actor and pre-marital counseling advocate, Bryan Cranston will hit the big screen next summer in the movie version of the hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages with Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin and Mary J. Blige.
We know him for his critically acclaimed success on television, his generosity in giving back to the community, local stand-up, of course those Emmy wins and now we’ll see Bryan Cranston in his film singing debut!
As Mayor in the hair band, glam rock world of 1987 Cranston is set to belt out the classic Pat Benatar anthem, Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Here’s a sneak peek at your man Bryan taking a turn at the microphone in a 2010 episode of SNL:
In addition to Rock of Ages, Cranston has completed work on the upcoming films, Total Recall, John Carter, Red Tails and Leave. Currently filming Argo and slated to star in London Fog. But next up >> Cranston and the rest of the good time gang of Breaking Bad are due back in NM for the fifth and (hopefully not) final season shoot!
I like the character of Tonto. I think I have interesting plans for the character, and I think the film itself could be entertaining and very funny. But also I like the idea of having the opportunity to make fun of the idea of the Indian as a sidekick — which has always been [the case] throughout the history of Hollywood, the Native American has always been a second-class, third-class, fourth-class citizen, and I don’t see Tonto that way at all. So it’s an opportunity for me to salute Native Americans.
- Johnny Depp on portraying a Native American character in The Lone Ranger
IN A WORLD where independent art struggles to see the light of day and the plight of many oft goes unheard, until the twain meet…comes the short film, YELLOW
Set and filmed in New Mexico last summer, Albuquerque actress Andrea B. Good stepped into the role of producing to help bring this important true-life story to the screen.
Written and directed by Emmy Pickett, Yellow “is about the beginnings and the transition from poverty to greater prosperity to ease their struggles and earn for themselves and their families”.
Recently featured in *The Santa Fe Reporter Pickett explains “I really see a huge call for Native American stories that are realistic and not stereotyped”.
Good, herself Native American adds, “It brings so much opportunity for the people of New Mexico and the Native American
Community.”
For its strength of story and the importance of making that story heard, the filmmakers are actively seeking to make the short drama into a full length feature.
Stay tuned for the upcoming short film trailer and share this story with film enthusiasts to help pump that life’s blood of independent film, that all important “light of day”.
From the Producer, on how important NM’s economic incentives for filmmakers are in motivating filmmakers to work here:
I have a passion for Acting and for film! I have been Acting since I was 8 yrs old when I did my first school play, from that point on I knew [it was] what I loved and what I wanted to do. Film was to became my Dream. When I was in High School I was asked by my teacher, “By the time you are 30 yrs old what will you have wanted to have done in life?” I said my dream was to be in couple of big movies and i want to have produced or directed a short or a feature film.
So here I am, I’m 38 and I have done a lot. It is really hard when you first start out, because you see I am full Blooded Native American, I am Navajo, Apache and Zia and there [are] lots of sacrifices, when you go on every audition you’re thinking positive, this is the one it well make me. So when Hollywood started coming here it was a blessing for many many many people just like me who can’t move away to Hollywood or New York. It opened the doors wide open for so many people like me who have a real talent and passion for Film.
Having the New Mexico Film incentive is very important it has brought a lot of business to New Mexico. I can’t even count how many different business get used for the films that come here to New Mexico, from clothing stores to trading posts, schools to food stores to people’s homes. It all brings money to my home town. But the best part is that it makes the Dream of a person like me come true.
It brings so much opportunity for the people of New Mexico and the Native American Community . And working on this project with Emmy is one I will hold dear to my heart. This is why I love film because you can create something so beautiful, and you meet and work with wonderful people like Emmy Pickett. – Andrea B Good
*The lead actress named in the SFR article has been replaced.
The most trusted website on the internets (not really) is reporting that Johnny Depp will take a big pay cut to film “The Lone Ranger”.
Walt Disney Pictures has come to financial terms with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Gore Verbinski, Johnny Depp, and other key members of the cast and crew of “The Lone Ranger”. Changes include a reduction in the budget from $250 million to approximately $200 million. Filming will still take place in New Mexico, with some additional filming in Utah instead of Texas as originally planned. The film’s remaining supporting cast are still being cast in Los Angeles, and smaller speaking roles, extras, stand-ins, and photo-doubles for the film’s stars are being cast in New Mexico and Utah.
There had been a huge extras casting call scheduled in Silver City, New Mexico on August 21, 2011. Disney pulled the plug just one week before the call was to take place. The studio claimed that the budget was just too high. Director Gore Verbinski had already finalized the shooting script and signed on his lead actors, Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp – both of which would have to be paid whether the project went further or not. The Screen Actors Guild never removed “The Lone Ranger” from it’s (sic) production list, leading to speculation that this delay has been nothing more that a ploy by the studio to get the budget reduced by $50 million.
In addition to cast and crew changes, other cuts include reducing the amount of CGI effects, and vendors working on the film such as special effects houses and even hotels have agreed to accept reduced guaranteed fees in order to assure that the costs of the production remain acceptable to the studio. There was also several pricey steam locomotive train sequences that were to be in the film, but have now been cancelled to further cut costs.
Thanks to an anonymous ;) tip this Pretty New Mexican has recently been brought to our attention!
Striking what is rapidly becoming my favorite pose – NM’s Own Nick Wechsler is the male lead in ABC’s new drama series Revenge.
For his Harlequinesque factor alone this native New Mexican’s return to television is causing a buzz, and a blip on the “radar” of tvline.com where he’s been named a highly anticipated “Fresh Face of Fall”!
The Albuquerque born & raised, Highland H.S. graduate will begin heating-up the primetime lineup when Revenge premieres Wednesday September 21.
Iowa raised, Q born Annabeth Gish can be seen in 5 episodes of the ABC Family drama Pretty Little Liars which spawned the spin-off The Lying Game now filming…
Two more natives can be seen on a couple of little shows you may have heard of:
Neil Patrick Harris stars in his seventh season of How I Met Your Mother on CBS and again on ABC Albuquerque’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson returns in the #1 comedy on TV, Modern Family!
Footnote: ABC’s parent company is Disney – WE LOVE YOU MICKEY!
From NM to NC – These two New Mexikids who were cast mates in the locally filmed Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Beyond the Blackboard are hitting the books big screen style!
Both New Mexico actors were cast in two critically acclaimed, highly anticipated novels turned films due out next year.
Odd Thomas starring Fright Night’s Anton Yelchin and Addison Timlin, currently in post production – shot right here in NM and features OHI fave Jack Justice.
The Hunger Games filming in North Carolina boasts one of New Mexico’s Own in up & comer, Willow Shields who created a buzz for landing the coveted role of Primrose Everdeen in the film as a relative unknown alongside bigger hitters like Liam Hemsworth (brother of Thor, boyfriend to Miley) Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) and Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right).
Look for both films and these rising New Mexico stars in 2012.
As we told you here back in May the “Governator” had his acting comeback sights set on us, the state where he made Twins in our capital city and surrounding back in the 1980s (a simpler, less scandalous time).
First on the itinerary for Schwarzenegger’s return to film was a movie titled Cry Macho, a drama with a plot eerily similar to the escándalo recently surrounding the actor turned politician, turned paternally-outed philanderer, scheduled to shoot here before a big fat pause was put on any thespian ambitions the retiring Governor had his eyes on.
Well from married to divorced and from drama to western, it turns out Schwarzenegger WILL BE BACK in front of the camera here in NM. Production on The Last Stand is scheduled to begin as early as next month. This time out Arnold will take the reins of his movie comeback down Valencia County way!
A studio executive says of the film, “It’s an old-fashioned Western specifically designed for a 63-year-old broken-down guy with a moral decision whether Arnold decides to stand up for his town.” via WMAL
All the world is a forgiving stage and as sure as life does go on, film will continue to ROLL. So by all means roll on into NM!
The Valencia County News-Bulletin today released their full report on the production including more plot details and most importantly the fiscal impact the production can lend to the shooting locale – read their full story here.
Any cast/crew info. on this project will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
As vampire movies go, Fright Night is a pretty good one. – Roger Ebert, Chronicle Herald
Better still, in Roger’s review he inadvertently gives NM high praise as not only a believable Las Vegas locale but describes the setting as at least somewhat integral to the plot ;)
UPDATE 8/31/11: EXCLUSIVE – BANSHEE CHAPTER CASTING:
Background for Thursday 9/1 and Friday 9/2 click here.
German producer Christian Arnole-Beutel (Penelope, Battle in Seattle, Razor) and New York based Sunchaser Entertainment (The Standbys, Break Free) have officially partnered with Zachary Quinto‘s production company, Before the Door Pictures for The Banchee Chapter.
The movie centers on a young, female journalist who follows the mysterious trail of a missing friend who had been experimenting with mind-altering chemicals developed in secret government drug tests. According to Before the Door, the project is based on real documents, actual test subject testimony and uncovered secrets about programs run by the CIA.
“We are excited to branch out in our storytelling…We’ve produced a movie about the financial crash and an innovative, grounded romantic comedy. ‘The Banshe Chapter’ is an opportunity for us to tackle another film with its roots in reality, but through the lens of horror.”
- Zachary Quinto, Executive Producer
Banshee writer Blair Erickson will make his directorial debut with the film which is scheduled to begin filming in New Mexico within weeks.
Sunchaser’s Stephanie Riggs and Before the Door’s Corey Moosa will produce. Quinto will executive produce with Arnold-Beutel, Neal Dodson and Sean Akers.
Erickson is creative director of the interactive marketing agency “Millions of Us,” where, acording to Behind the Door, he “created breakthrough interactive stories, transmedia experiences and live action stories in virtual worlds, short films and online communities.” [Reuters]
His work includes an online thriller for the “Terminator” franchise, several 3D projects for Sony’s PlayStation Home, among others.
Further information and casting details to follow as soon as they become available!
UPDATE 10/3/11: Tarantino and Co. have chosen Louisiana over New Mexico for Unchained. Production begins this November.
May film tizzies lend to July speculations…after the hand scrawled cover of what is presumed to be the final draft of Quentin Tarantino’s latest script began circulating all over the www this spring more details have been slow to follow about Django Unchained…
Of particular interest here is that the Natural Born Killers director who shot part of that film aqui with Woody Harrelson, whose HBO film Game Change just left NM and current/temporary res. Samuel L. Jackson all tie-in nicely to the web of movie past, present and future of which N. Mex is intrinsically a part!
Harrelson may or may not be a part of this particular film but the list of big names who are is rapidly growing…from Leonardo DiCaprio to Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. himself and Jamie Foxx…
New Mexico too is rumored to star…
More on what has so far been confirmed about the film as reported by The Daily Mail back in May after the jump >> » Read the full post
Open Road Films has announced that the film based on the 2008 best selling novel, The Host by Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, is set for release on March 23, 2013.
Of course before film hits reel production will get underway next winter in both Louisiana and right here in New Mexico!
The sci-fi thriller will center around a “lone human holdout trying to survive after a species of mysterious entities invades Earth and takes over the minds of their human hosts…”
Gattaca director Andrew Niccol will craft the movie expected to star Academy Award® nominee Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Lovely Bones).
“Studios have been looking for another big-time franchise to replace the Harry Potter and Stephenie Meyer’s own Twilight Saga franchises. The former will come to a close this year; the latter ends in summer 2012.”
- Zac Gille, Alt Film Guide
Thanks Chris
UPDATE: Your Abuelas and maids appear to be safe for now NM.
“Governor Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or timelines. This includes Cry Macho, The Terminator franchise and other projects under consideration. We will resume discussions when Governor Schwarzenegger decides.” – Representative Statement
Termin-NO New Mexico…more from the category of politics colliding with art, colliding with scandal, landing in New Mexico.
Remember back in the day when Schwarzenegger was so lovably stupid and oafish shooting Twins with Danny DeVito in Santa Fe? I bet he’d like us to.
As they say, the show must go on and apparently this holds true of the circus that has become Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life, which will be traveling our way soon. Information about the his next movie is being churned out as public consumption of everything Arnold is at a premium.
How do you say, blah in German? Well in my unspoken language of español I suppose this would warrant an ay yay yay…Annnd español is a language the ex-governator of California may favor or at least be well versed in.
The news is that the disgustinator, cojerk the barebackian Schwarzenegger will be attempting to exercise the language of thespianism again, after his long hiatus from film when the letch’s many interests turned more political than theatrical (at least publicly).
A movie that otherwise may have rolled tape without much ado is already being closely watched thanks to the star’s familial disgrace and betrayal now being made public. Reports are that Schwarzenegger will get to take a New Hollywood turn aquí en Nuevo México.
Umm, can we vote on this?
The Motion Picture Association of New Mexico has posted the New York Times article detailing the plot and history of the forthcoming dramatic film titled Cry Macho.
Kris Connor/Getty, HBO, Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage via Yahoo!TV
Sessy Ed Harris is New Mexico bound!
The HBO movie Game Change is due south by southwest and will be bringing its production to New Mexico – home of the Latina gag Sarah Palin!
The cable giant film is based on the bestselling book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin about the failed McCain/Palin run against the current presidential administration and the political race that made it all so.
Blockbuster casting agency On Location Casting nabs the task of employing paid extras and background for the political drama aquí en Nuevo México. Click here for the specs on types they’re looking for.
If you haven’t yet, despite the fourteen-million times I’ve tol’ you to already, GET IN the On Location Casting Database here. And keep-up with thier Fb casting notices here.
Filming begins and ends here in June. If only certain administrations would have such a brief run.
Anybittermuch, Woody Harrelson was the most recent cast announcement, slated to play McCain campaign manager Palin wrangler, Steve Schmidt.
p.s. what came first the casting or the chin? The role of Bristol Palin cast back in April…
Friday May 27, 2011 6 p.m.
St. Francis Auditorium, in the New Mexico Museum of Art
On the Plaza, Santa Fe, NM
Enter the future of entertainment with the cast and crew of CYPHERS and be a part of this cultural shift in entertainment.
Featuring Bee Shaman McKelvey Dryden and singer songwriter Sean Healen, Panel Discussion with award-winning Director Peter Kershaw and the cast, moderated by Mary Charlotte – Radio Cafe/KSFR.
In conjunction with the New Mexico Museum of Art show Earth NOW, CYPHERS reaches across the globe from the iconic St. Francis Auditorium. Coining a new phrase in entertainment, calling itself an “eco – drama,” CYPHERS cuts an innovative path involving the audience in the exciting technology of internet entertainment. This event invites the audience to be “the first to socialize the story right from their seats in the St. Francis Auditorium and watch as CYPHERS goes live.”
CYPHERS is a web series that reveals the danger that lies just beneath the surface of an average New Mexican town, where serenity and blissful innocence mask a sinister reality. Based on true life controversial corporate stories, CYPHERS reveals a diverse group of conflicted, predominately female characters. All the characters are drawn together by a series of inexplicable phenomena, and must struggle to decipher and expose a dark corporate conspiracy that reaches far beyond their town. The one certainty is that their lives will never be the same again.
Shot as a series of short episodes and broadcast on the World Wide Web, CYPHERS weaves a mystery in the style of “Lost”, “Damages”, and “Twin Peaks” — but with an ecological twist. Each episode reveals another piece of the puzzle with the intent to engage the audience in not only solving the mystery, but to influence and change the way they interact with our food, water and environment. The action takes place in New Mexico, a land rich in mysticism and seemingly far from the clutches of corporate America.
UPDATE 06/11/11: If you haven’t done so yet get listed here for New Mexico casting of this production – heading to NM in late June!
Just released – First image of Cameron Diaz and Colin Firth in Gambit via Metro UK
Michael Hoffman, the man who brought the world Soapdish is directing a new comedy based on the 1966 film Gambit. This update stars Oscar winner Colin Firth and proud Latina Cameron Diaz.
Penning the reboot are none other than habitual New Mexico film makers, Oscar winning writers/directors, brothers Joel and Ehthan Coen. Some of our favorite local actors are already working on booking roles in the remake. (break legs big fella plus! {wink})
The stars are stepping into leads originally filled by some big shoes, one by fellow Brit and legend Michael Caine and the other by fellow legend and New Mexico Res. Shirley MacLaine!
The film is currently in production in London and will be heading to New Mexico forthwith…cherrio!
