Sunday, October 24, 2010

Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman, Stars talk about new film, and Shreveport.


By Donecia Pea • doneciapea@gannett.com • October 24, 2010
Ben Mendelsohn (L), Nicole Kidman (Ctr), and Nicolas Cage (R) in a scene from Joel Schumacher's TRESPASS. (Alan Markfield/Nu Image Inc./Millennium Films)






Scenes of a brutal home invasion and violent hostage situation contrast sharply against the quiet, relaxed pace of the Shreveport-Bossier City area.
However, Hollywood heavyweights Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman, along with the rest of the cast and crew, have danced between those worlds for more than nine weeks while filming the new thriller "Trespass."
The Nu Image Inc./Millennium Films production, directed by the legendary Joel Schumacher, has been filming in Shreveport since late August and wraps up this weekend.
Much of the film was shot on a set inside the Shreveport Convention Center and in the Cross Lake area.
The film is produced by Oscar winner Irwin Winkler and David Winkler, of Winkler Films, along with Ron Besson, with Avi Lerner as executive producer.
"Trespass" is the harrowing story of a wealthy husband and wife, portrayed by Cage and Kidman, who are suddenly taken hostage by four brutal perpetrators. However, complications arise and unravel a story of betrayal and deception.
"I think that's probably most of our fears. That, in the middle of the night, you're going to wake up and there's somebody in your house or apartment. And we've seen it in all the news stories," Schumacher said. "And it's a question of why are these people breaking in on this night and how did they know to do this at this time. Then, there are secrets that lie in Nic and Nicole's marriage and the daughter has a secret life as well. And there are many secret lives among the criminal family, plus there are cross connections between both families. So it becomes a psychological thriller."
The whole story takes place over the course of a day, but the subject matter is so heavy at times that even an Oscar-winning actress like Kidman can have a hard time turning it off.
"I came downstairs the other night, and I was crying, and my husband was like 'Why are you crying?' and I realized it's getting to me. The violence and abuse that I'm shooting on camera must have somehow permeated into my mind off the set," Kidman said. "And he just held me, which was really sweet. I thought I had it delineated, like that's my work and this is my home life, but I guess it kind of got to me."
Fortunately for both Kidman and Cage, real life hasn't been nearly as scary, just maybe a little hot.
"It's very hot here in the summer, though," Kidman said. "I live in Nashville and it's pretty hot in Nashville, but not as hot as it is here. However, right now, it's beautiful."
The "Moulin Rouge" star has been living here off and on with her family, which includes her country music star hubby Keith Urban, and their baby daughter, as well as two children from her previous marriage to actor Tom Cruise. "Trespass" marks the second film in Shreveport for Cage who filmed "Drive Angry" earlier this year.
Stars collide
"Trespass" pairs Kidman and Cage together for the first time, an experience they've both enjoyed.
"Nicole is someone I've admired. I think she's a very mysterious and memorable actor and I wanted to work with her," Cage said. "The chemistry has been great."
Kidman is equally as fond of Cage. "He's just been a delight. He's very charming and I find him lovely to be around and I really think I've bonded with him. I really like him and I'd like to do something else with him," she said.
Besides the two Oscar-winning actors, the film also showcases a cast of fresh talent, including 15-year-old Liana Liberato, who stars in "Trust," which is the second film by "Friends" actor-turned-director David Schwimmer and recently received a lot of buzz at the Toronto Film Festival. In "Trespass" Liberato plays the role of Kidman and Cage's daughter.
"I've worked with some pretty big actors, but they've been in a lot of films that I haven't been able to watch because I'm so young. So, they're like normal people to me and since I've know them for so long, they're like my family," Liberato said.
The cast is rounded out by "My Boys" actress Jordana Spiro, "Twilight" and "Burlesque" star Cam Gigandet, and veteran Aussie star of "Animal Kingdom" Ben Mendelsohn.
"We have some supporting characters in the movie that are new and the bar was set very high with Nicole and Nic there, but our cast stepped up to it," Schumacher said.
Both Cage and Kidman said the chance to work with Schumacher is what brought them on board. They each share friendships with him that span more than a decade.
"I wanted to work with (Schumacher) and I just thought ('Trespass') was almost operatic in its style. It's a home invasion movie, but it takes a lot of twists and turns," said Kidman, who worked with Schumacher on the popular "Batman Forever" film in 1995.
Cage last worked with Schumacher in the 1999 film "8mm."
"I was very happy with what we achieved in that film and the results of that movie became something of an international cult film, which appeals to my taste," he said.
For Schumacher, it was a chance to work with friends again.
"They're both extraordinary professionals. They're never late, totally prepared and they never flub a line "» Nic is a consummate gentlemen and he doesn't gossip and Nicole and I have been friends a long time and know about each other personally as well," said. "So I was working with friends, which was wonderful and then they're very talented."
Home away from home
Kidman said she's enjoyed making Shreveport home during her time here.
"I've been to see the movies a lot at the (Louisiana Boardwalk) because I love to see movies. And I've being staying at (Cross Lake) and it's so pretty out here," she said.
Cage has gotten comfortable as well.
"It's a nice place to make a movie, especially if you have family. It seems to be very kid-friendly. Good schools and nice parks and places to go," Cage said. "The science museum is wonderful. So we've had two very good experiences here, my family and I."
Schumacher, who filmed both "The Client" and "A Time to Kill" in the South, said he always has a good time in the South and Shreveport was no different.
"I love the manners. My friends call and say 'How is it down there?' and I tell them, they have the most beautiful manners in the world. You hold the door open and they say 'Thank you.' People tell you to 'Have a nice day' and they mean it!"
Both Schumacher and Cage especially have enjoyed the food. Cage named the local restaurants among some of his favorite spots in town. "I've really enjoyed Ernest's and I've enjoyed Bella Fresca and Chianti and Wine Bistro. And Athena is nice. There's a Japanese restaurant here that we go to very often, also," Cage said.
Schumacher named Ristorante Giuseppe, Chianti, Superior Steakhouse and a few other places among his favorites. "(The Village Grille) wow, it's quite an elegant place, which is not my style usually, but they sure put on a good meal and it's a beautiful place. And Imperial Cathay, now that's really good Chinese food. It doesn't feel like it's been sitting in a pot for a week. When I work in the South, I try not to gain 15 pounds because everything is so tempting," Schumacher said with a laugh.
Kidman said she's especially impressed with the burgeoning film industry.
"I've been in New Orleans, but I hadn't been here. "» Yeah, I'd like to do another film here. I had no idea so many films were made in Shreveport. I'm just shocked. There's a coffee shop at the Hilton that I always go to and on the wall there are all of these photos of so many actors who have been here. I saw Hugh Jackman's picture on the wall and I called him the other night and was like "I didn't know you'd been here!'" Kidman left the coffee shop with a parting gift. "I gave them a photo so now I'm on the wall too."
"We've had a good time and I just want to say thank you to the people of Shreveport for being so welcoming," she said.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Filming Louisiana for October 18,2010

>From the Rough, New Orleans, fromtheroughproductions@gmail.com
The Lucky One, New Orleans, theluckyoneresumes@gmail.com
Thicker, Louisiana
From the Rough, New Orleans
Carjacked, Baton Rouge
The Summoning, Baton Rouge
Dragon Eyes, Baton Rouge
Carmilla, The Home Coming
The Boys Club

Unraveled, Baton Rouge,
Dead Serious, New Orleans
Six Little Indians, Baton Rouge
Moments of Life, New Orleans
Killer Joe, New Orleans, killerjoeresumes@gmail.com
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, Baton Rouge
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2,
Baton Rouge
Power of Few, New Orleans, prod@steelyardpictures.com
Battleship, Baton Rouge, hopperBR@gmail.com
Shark Night, Shreveport, chumproductionsllc@gmail.com
Columbiana New Orleans, colombianaus@gmail.com
Tresspass Shreveport, tpproductionsllc@gmail.com
Cold to the Touch, more soon
Looper, new orleans
Office Parinormal, Louisiana
Book of Life, New Orleans
Dead Serious, New Orleans
The Town that Dreaded Sundown, Baton Rouge
The Blind Bastard Club, New Orleans
The Body Escort, Louisiana
Storm Bringer, Lafayette, 337.706.8971
The Grief Tourist, New Orleans, tgt.productions@gmail.com
Chasing the Hawk New Orleans wwenolallc@gmail.com
Selma, New Orleans selmafilms1965@gmail.com
Imagination Movers Season 3, New Orleans, imaginationmovers1@earthlink.net
The Chaperone, New Orleans, wwenolallc@gmail.com
Billy the Exterminator, Season 3, Shreveport, bpecasting@gmail.com
The Black Ghost, New Orleans thefirsthurd@yahoo.com
Ghostbreakers Tv Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans production@slowchildrenonline.net
Fury, Baton Rouge furyresume@gmail.com fax 225-906-0466
The Fields New Orleans, gideonproductions2010@gmail.com
Brawler New Orleans, office@brawlerthemovie.com
The Big Valley, Baton Rouge, sanford2hampton@aol.com
Shark Night 3D, Shreveport, info@afterdarkfilms.com
Dead Mans Gold, Louisiana
The Boys Club, Folsum Louisiana info@gravityfilms.com
The Courier, Baton Rouge info@filmsinmotion.com
The Leaving, New Orleans
The Americans, Shreveport, Attention James Gerrick cygnetfilm@yahoo.com
Frightland, Baton Rouge brandon@saintsinnerent.com
Pray for Light, info@firesatmidnightfilms.com
Living with Leroy TV Baton Rouge Sound only k2.miket@gmail.com
Court 13, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Houma LA Murder through the eyes of a child, New Orleanscresent.city.film@gmail.com
The Coffin, info@glassasylumprods.com
Scratching the Surface, New Orleans sts.nola.crew@gmail.com
Unraveled, Baton Rouge
Mysterious Island, Baton Rouge
Transit, Baton Rouge
Silver Cord, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, silvercordcv@aol.com
Seconds Apart, Hammond
Moma's Little Baby, Louisiana
Swamp Shark, Lafayette, jobs.bulletfilms@gmail.com
The 13th Gate, Louisiana
Change of Heart, Shreveport more to come
Victim 34, Baton Rouge
Verdigris, New Orleans
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, New Orleans
I wanna dance, New Orleans floyd@imi-world.com
Two Wolves, Baton Rouge info@rememberdreaming.com
The Gatekeeper, New Orleans, info@lightwaveent.com
Kane and Lynch, Louisiana
The Night Can be Measured
Remnants New Orleans
10,000 doors, October in New Orleans
Troll, Baton Rouge
A War Within
Hallow Point, Baton Rouge
Playing with the Enemy, Shreveport
The Work, in Meterie
Without Fear, New Orleans
Difficult Death, New Orleans
The Ledge, Baton Rouge

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

FilmingLouisiana Magazine and Phoenix Underground Host Film Mixer.



Friday October 8th, join Filming Louisiana Magazine for a night of Networking and fun presented by the Phoenix Underground. The Party starts at 9:00PM with an open bar till 10PM complimentary h'orderves and a tasting provided by Chambord Flavored Vodka and Gentelmen Jack Tennessee Whiskey. This is a great chance to mingle with other film professionals. Don't forget your business cards either. We also will be giving away a full page ad in the Upcoming Filming Louisiana Magazine 2011 winter issue which is a $1500.00 value.

Christopher Moore
FilmingLouisiana Magazine
Phoenix Underground


All you will need to do is show up at 9pm and we promise a good time. Meet your local friends who work in the Louisiana Film Industry and network with people you may not know. There will be food, drinks and prizes to win so have fun and we hope to see you there.

FilmingLouisiana Magazine

www.filminglouisiana.com


The Phoenix Underground
www.thephoenixunderground.com