Jeremy Stein, whose debut film "The Photographer" just won the Kodak Cinematography award at the 2001 New York/Avignon Festival, came to film directing by the most circuitous route yet discussed in this column—he began his career as a theatrical lighting designer! Stein discussed the film, its history, and the distribution deal he just signed via long distance from Martha's Vineyard, where he's currently ensconced, hard at work scripting his next film project. "I never took a film course," Stein admitted readily, "but my favorite directors run the gamut from the classics of Fellini, Kurasawa, and Renoir to Orson Welles and Billy Wilder. My favorite movies range from Roman Polanski's 'Chinatown' to Cameron Crowe's 'Jerry Maguire,' and anything by Martin Scorsese. But I'm no Scorsese; he's the quintessential film school director and I will never be that. I have absolutely no technical background."
A Yale Drama School graduate, Stein began his lighting design career at the top, working with Jennifer Tipton for several dance companies, including Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and Mark Morris, and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his work on Suzan Lori Parks "The America Play," which began as a Yale thesis project before transferring to New York's Public Theater. Three of "The Photographer" 's co-stars—Reg Rogers ("Lobster Alice" and "Runaway Bride"), Rob Campbell ("In the Blood" and "Boys Don't Cry"), and Chris Bauer ("Mojo" and "61*")—were also Yalies. And the cast included cameos by such stalwarts as John Heard, Mary Alice, Anthony Michael Hall, and actor-director Tom Noonan. Rogers (looking like a young Joe Mantegna) plays Max, the photographer, an overnight success who loses his ability to see the great shots. He spends a frantic night searching for a series of lost photos and, in the process, meets up with the oddest bunch of "fellow travelers" since "The Wizard of Oz." The film deals with "sight" on several levels—combining color and black and white techniques with an occasional infusion of magical realism—while capturing the luminosity of New York at night.
"I knew exactly how I wanted the film to look, but I had no idea how to do it. I'm not afraid of the dark on film," he laughs, "and I had to find a director of photography who not only shared my esthetic, but wouldn't try to 'take the film away from me.' I'd heard horror stories from other first time directors." Vanja Cernjul, Stein's award-winning DP, who also shot Adrienne Shelly's "Till There Was You," came to the U.S. from Croatia, where he'd shot a couple of features, and then become a TV news cameraman. "We shot during the coldest four weeks of 1999, for around $500,000," Stein explained, "premiering a year ago, and showing at 14 or 15 festivals." And we just signed our American distribution deal for theatrical release in September, with an HBO TV debut in December 2001." "The Photographer" also had its world premiere screening this week in the Cannes Market, where it's seeking worldwide distribution.
"Making a film is a war of attrition," Stein cautions other young filmmakers, "especially if you didn't go to film school and your dad's not Steven Spielberg. Even two months ago, when we didn't have a deal yet, I started thinking 'maybe it's time to move on.' There's this constant volley of 'no's and rejection and you have to grow a layer of armor, like a gladiator. It was so much easier to please when I was lighting a show. I've had to learn that not everyone shares your vision or likes your script. When you write and direct films, you have to stand tall and tough, believe you're right and just go. We wound up with as good a deal as I could ever have hoped for!"
Currently Filming
(As always, casting directors request all contact be made only by mail. Do not phone or visit their offices unless specifically instructed to do so.)
In keeping with this month's photography theme, the local paparazzi have been working overtime to circulate news pix of the visiting glitterati at work. Among my personal faves are photos of Debra Messing ("Woody Allen Spring Project '01") wearing backless high-heeled mules with ankle weights (please say that's not the latest summer fashion!); Geena Davis in a headscarf chatting with "Stuart Little 2" co-star Hugh Laurie on the Upper East Side; a Central Park wedding shot of "I'm with Lucy" 's Henry Thomas (with really bad hair) and his blushing movie bride, Monica Potter; Tobey Maguire (a.k.a. "Spiderman") and co-star Kirsten Dunst (in stiletto heels) crossing a Soho street; and not one, but two "Royal Tennenbaum" pix—one of Danny Glover sporting a gray mop-top and the other of a brunette Gwyneth Paltrow, decked out in a full length mink. Any amateur shutterbugs eager for a photo credit (no pay involved) may send similar candid location snaps (w/ SASE) to: Backlot Buzz, c/o Back Stage, 770 Broadway, 6th fl., NYC 10003, Attn: Leslie (Hoban) Blake.
And with the writers' strike averted at the 11th hour, hopes are high that SAG, too, will reach an agreement before their June 30th deadline, as filming around town remains healthy through May and June. (Of course, the downside of no strike is that several movie and television stars rumored to be planning stage appearances now won't. Although Mike Nichols will certainly direct Kevin Kline and Meryl Streep in "The Seagull" this July in Central Park, and Eric McCormick currently is "The Music Man," we hear that George Clooney's possible Broadway debut and Mike Meyers' side trip to Williamstown probably will not happen.)
SHOOTING INTO JUNE: New films starting in May include Deeds, Columbia/New Line's update of the 1936 Frank Capra-Gary Cooper classic, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, skedded to wrap on June 15. Adam Sandler is the small town bumpkin who comes to New York after inheriting a big business, and Winona Ryder is the tabloid TV reporter who falls for him. Also in the cast are Peter Gallagher as the ruthless villain out to ruin Sandler, and Jared Harris as Ryder's boss, plus indie faves, John Turturro and Steve Buscemi. No further principal casting; background actors: Sylvia Fay (71 Park Ave., NYC 10016).
Attention all fans of the "Upright Citizen's Brigade"! The whole subversive Comedy Central gang—Amy Poehler, Ian and Katie Roberts, and the two Matts, Walsh and Besser—are shooting their first film through June 15, with the aid of "SNL"-ers Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, and Horatio Sanz; "Kids in the Hall" alumnus Dave Foley (now David); and comedians Andy Richter and Janene Garofalo. Titled Martin & Orloff, the absurdist (what else?) comedy is being directed by Lawrence Blume, and, although they're not hiring background actors, principals are being seen by Adrienne Stern (149 Fifth Ave., #730, NYC 10010).
A trio of low budget features includes Ten 13 (formerly Double Play), a police drama marking the directorial debut of William Kelly that wraps on June 8. Written by co-star Carl Stillitano, the film about two cops dealing with the daily frustrations of life on the job also features brother Pat Stillitano, Tony nominee Gordon Joseph Weiss ("Ghetto"), and veteran indie actors Shawn Elliot and Bill Sage. Principals are all cast; background actors: Sylvia Fay (address above).
Another LBF debut is Jeff Oppenheim's romantic comedy, Funny Valentine, about trying to find true love in the big city, shooting through June 25. The highly eclectic cast includes Marcus Chung (The Matrix), Larry Storch (moonlighting from Annie Get Your Gun) and comedy diva Julie Halston (The Man Who Came to Dinner). No further casting at this time.
The producers of Happy Hour, the final new LBF, wrapping on June 2, declined to provide any specific breakdown info. Principals: Eve Battaglia (450 E. 20th St., #9H, NYC 10009); background: Amerifilm Casting (151 First Ave., Ste. 225, NYC 10003).
Director Maira Nair (The Kama Sutra) shoots Hysterical Blindness for HBO until June 19. A departure from her usual exotic locales, the HBO telepic is set in New Jersey circa l987, and co-stars Uma Thurman (who also exec produces) and Juliette Lewis. It also reunites John Cassavetes vets Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara. Principals are all cast; background actors: Kee Casting (234 Fifth Ave., NYC 10001).
Beautiful Mind, the Universal Pix/Imagine Entertainment co-production directed by Ron Howard, has added Judd Hirsch and Christopher Plummer to its all-star line-up, including Oscar-winner Russell Crowe and Pollack co-stars Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly. The true story of controversial Nobel Prize-winning math genius, John Forbes Nash, Jr., continues through June 7. No further principal casting; background actors: Bill Dance Casting (P.O. Box 2295, Radio City Station, NYC 10101-2295).
And Christine Baranski joins Heather Graham and Marisa Tomei in The Guru (formerly The Guru of Sex), directed by Daisy Von Schlerler Mayer (Party Girl). This romantic comedy about an aspiring actor (Jimi Mistery of East is East) who poses as a sex guru is skedded to wrap June 9. Principals: Ali Farrell (225 Lafayette St., #1201, NYC 10012); background actors: Kristine Bulakowski (P.O. Box 616, Prince St. Station, NYC 10012).
"Frasier" executive co-producer Jon (Breathing Room) Sherman's romantic comedy, I'm With Lucy, has changed its wrap date to June 11. Monica Potter's Lucy shares screen time with male co-stars Henry Thomas, John Hannah, and Anthony LaPaglia. Principals: Lauren Rosenthal (225 Lafayette St, #1201, NYC 10012); background actors: Kee Casting (address above).
Unfaithful, Adrian Lyne's latest erotic thriller, will keep co-stars Richard Gere, Diane Lane, and French heartthrob Olivier Martinez (Before Night Falls) in town right up to June 30. Principals: Hopkins, Barden, Smith (451 Greenwich St., Ste. #502, NYC 10013); background actors: Navaro/Bertoni Casting (101 W. 31st St., Ste. #1707, NYC 10001).
Cliff Robertson did a lunchtime reading of his one act play, "The V.I.P.," at the National Arts Club during the filming of Sam Raimi's Spiderman, co-starring Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, and Rosemary Harris. (Would that be considered daylighting?) The film shoots here through June 1 with no further principal casting; background actors: Grant Wilfley Casting (60 Madison Ave., #1027, NYC 10010).
And finally, no further principal casting on Richard Benjamin's Marci X, co-starring Lisa Kudrow and Sydney Pollack, but background actors for the comedy set in the rap/hip-hop music world are still needed through June 13: Sylvia Fay (address above).
Upcoming Films
Hart Sharp Entertainment's The Women's Maintenance Club, by playwright Charles Randolph-Wright (whose autobiographical play, Blue, opens in June at the Roundabout). Rich Gaiti is the writer/director of The Big Empty, a mystery about a Native American from Arizona who comes to N.Y. in search of a past he can't remember. Dennis Hopper will direct a crime flick, The Night Job, starring Val Kilmer, in town late this summer. And Wes (The Royal Tennenbaums) Anderson is skedded to produce Noah (Mr. Jealousy) Baumbach's new offbeat comedy, The Squid and the Whale, about a pair of teen brothers. Still to come: Sony's Men in Black 2 and Dreamwork's Catch Me if You Can. (No casting information is currently available on these films.)
May Wraps
Kate and Leopold, James Mangold's romantic time-travel comedy featuring Meg Ryan, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, and Natasha Lyonne, wrapped May 18, the same day that Wes Anderson finished his The Royal Tennenbaums, co-starring Gene Hackman, Danny Glover, Ben Stiller, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Luke Owen, and Andrew Wilson.
Although principal photography on Stuart Little II, starring Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, and Jonathan Lipnicki, finished up in early May, they'll be shooting some pick ups until mid-May, but no further casting.
Michael Hoffman's The Palace Thief, based on Ethan Canin's novel, is skedded to finish May 25, freeing co-stars Kevin Kline, Rob Morrow, Embeth Davitz, and Roger Rees for new projects. Principals: Walken and Jaffe Casting (110 Leroy St., 9th Fl., NYC 10014); background actors: Grant Wilfley (60 Madison Ave., #1027, NYC 10010).
Woody Allen's Spring Project '01, featuring Tea Leoni, Debra Messing, and Broadway's Treat Williams, also shoots until May 25, at which time the Woodman may star in a non-Allen film called Trouble with Jerry, in which he'd play a look-alike for a difficult movie star. (The Woodster as a difficult movie star? Now there's a stretch!) Principals: Juliet Taylor (c/o Sweetheart Productions, 41 W. 56th St., NYC 10019); background actors: Kee Casting (234 Fifth Ave., NYC 10001).
TV Series
Many thanks to actor Reginald James ("Medal of Honor Rag") for explaining that the phrase "on the bubble"—used to describe floundering TV shows—is a steal from the sports world, where teams are pronounced "on the bubble during championship playoff/tournaments, where one team has to lose so the other can win." As usual, both pilots and series shoots are slowing down as the weather warms up—all except for the various "Law & Order" spin-offs—is that another sports term?
NBC: Law & Order wraps June 30. Principals: Lynn Kressel (Pier 62, Room #304, W. 23rd St. & Hudson River, NYC 10011); background: Sylvia Fay (address above).
Law & Order: SVU shoots through June 29. Principals: Lynn Kressel; background: Grant Wilfley Casting (addresses above).
Law & Order: Criminal Intent shoots until June 21. Principals: Lynn Kressel; background: Grant Wilfley Casting (addresses above).
FOX: When I Grow Up shoots through June 30. Principals: (Ms.) Mikie Heilbrun (159 W. 25th St., Ste. #319, NYC 10016); background: Sylvia Fay (address above).
HBO: OZ wraps June 30. Principals: Alexa Fogel (450 W. 15th St., Ste. 602, NYC 10011): background: Sylvia Fay (address above).
Sex and the City shoots through Aug 5. Principals: Jennifer McNamara (c/o Silvercup Studios, "Sex and the City", 42-22 22nd St., LIC, NY 11101); background: Amerifilm (151 First Ave., Ste. #225, NYC 10003).
Local Film Fests and Screenings
May 31 to June 10—13th Annual New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival kicks off opening night with John Cameron Mitchell's award-winning "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," and co-presents a number of films with both the Human Rights Watch International and the N.Y. International Latino Film Fests. For full schedule and ticket info, call (212) 254-7228 or go to www.newfestival.org.
June 6-10—Second Annual Lake Placid Film Forum, at the upstate resort village, opens with Ed Burns' Sidewalks Of New York, followed by John Cameron Mitchell's Hedwig and the Angry Inch. LPFF promises over 32 assorted new films, including Eric Valli's Himalaya, Raoul Peck's Lumumba, Mira Nair's The Laughing Club of India, and Allison Anders' digital Things Behind the Sun. Guests at various panels and discussions include Kimberly Peirce, Allison Anders, John Irving, and Alison Maclean. Plus Master classes in "Producing" with Ben Barenholtz and Ezra Swerdlow; "Directing" with Robert Downey, Sr. and Albert Maysles; an "Adaptation" seminar with Russell Banks and Stephen Schiff; and "Pitching Tactics" with Eamonn Bowles. For complete information, call (877) 609-3456, or visit www.lakeplacidfilmforum.com. (Burns, Anders, Maclean, and Bowles are all previous subjects of "Backlot Buzz" columns.)
June 6—Free AVID Digital Media Showcase invites filmmakers to view their latest technologies and win valuable prizes. To RSVP, call (800) 949-AVID (#9), or go online at www.avid.com/seeit.
June 8-Aug. 12—The Sounds of Silents at The Museum of Television and Radio presents 10 silent films restored with full orchestrations, including the original Ben-Hur, Nosferatu, and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. For complete schedule, call (212) 621-6800 or go to www.mtr.org.
June 12—Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures, introduced by filmmaker Jan Harlan, can be seen on the big screen at the Walter Reade prior to its release as part of a new DVD set. Call (212) 465-8200 or visit www.filmlinc.com.
June 14—Independents Night at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater welcomes back New York filmmaker Sharon Graytak for the third time. Her latest film, Losing It, directed from her motorized wheelchair, is a cross-cultural world tour revealing the aspirations and realities of people living with physical disabilities. Free or low-price tix are available for Independent Feature Project members. Call (212) 465-8200 or visit www.filmlinc.com.
Festival and Conference Deadlines
(Back Stage is in no way involved with/or responsible for any Festival's fees or practices.)
May 31—The Mill Valley Film Festival (October) is currently accepting features, especially world premieres. Late deadline: June 30. For more information, please go to www.mvff.com.
June 1—Fifth Urbanworld Film Festival (Aug. 1-5) is accepting submissions of African-American-, Latino-, and Asian-themed features, shorts, documentaries, and screenplays. For more information, please visit www.urbanworld.com.
June 1—Fourth Annual Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (Oct. 10-14) seeks gay-themed films and video—late deadline, July 15. For more information, visit www.CHOLI.org.
June 1—Fifth Annual Gordon Parks Independent Film Awards announces two $10,000 prizes (one for screenwriter of a script and one for director of a film or video) to be awarded for outstanding achievement by emerging black independent filmmakers. Screenplays, works-in-progress, and finished films—any length and genre—will be considered. For application: fax (212) 465-8525 or download at www.ifp.org.
June 15—Third Annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival of Birmingham, Ala. (Sept. 28-30) seeks new films for a new audience—prizes for all genres including student films. Call (205) 871-2927 or visit www.sidewalkfest.com.
June 15—The Hamptons International Film Festival (Oct. 17-21) seeks features and docs (shorts deadline is May 18). For information and submission forms, please visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.
June 29—P.O.V., the Public TV series featuring independent non-fiction film and video from a wide-range of perspectives, subjects, lengths, and styles, is accepting entries only through the end of June. (Note: Original deadline was July 31.) Unfinished work may also be eligible for completion funding. For more information, call (800) 756-3300 ext. 318 or go to www.pbs.org/pov.
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