The Global Film Village

Last Station Opens Palm Springs Film Festival 2010 Interviews

// January 8th, 2010 // Comments Off // Film Festivals

by Marla Lewin

Left to Right: Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren Photo taken by Stephan Rabold, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

I am at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and got to spend opening night interviewing the creative team responsible for this year’s opening night film. I had already seen The Last Station back in November in Los Angeles for the Tribute to Christopher Plummer so this was a wonderful opportunity to meet with these talented people. My first interview was with Bonnie Arnold the producer who secured the book that launched the project originally and assembled the team.

Marla: You may remember we met at the AFI screening in Los Angeles after the tribute to Christopher Plummer. We wrote about the film at that time and said that Helen would get a nomination for her performance. That was before the Golden Globes and now both she and Christopher Plummer were  nominated. (more…)

Canadian born and one of the world’s great actors, Christopher Plummer

// November 5th, 2009 // Comments Off // People

by Marla Lewin

Christopher Plummer as Doctor Parnassus Photo taken by Liam Daniel, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Christopher Plummer not only stars as a mystic who sells his soul to the devil in Terry GIlliam’s Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, but he plays Leo Tolstoy in the Last Station by Michael Hoffman.  He has also just finished his memoirs called “In Spite of Himself”.

Scott Foundas from the LA weekly, had just read the book, and was prepared to question the actor for the tribute. Plummer quiped the book was longer than Tolstoy’s War and Peace. The first question was what else could he have been, other than an actor?  Plummer replied, “A classical or jazz pianist. But to be successful in those professions. He decided one would have to like to work very hard, and that is a very lonely life, traveling all the time. He had a cousin who did that and it turned out to be a very lonely experience.” (more…)

Only From The Imagination of Terry Gilliam

// November 3rd, 2009 // Comments Off // Industry Event

by Marla Lewin

Heath Ledger and Verne Troyer Photo by Liam Daniel, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

The Los Angeles AFI premiere of the latest Terry Gilliam movie,was a spectacle to behold. The Chinese Theatre red carpet blends with the decor, and the rush line produced many fans anxious to see this film. At the gate, I met the producer Sam Hadida, who was anxiously looking for his tickets.

The President of the AFI, Robert Gazzale took the stage and told the history of the opening night of the theatre. Regaling us with stories of the King of Kings premiere and the introduction of Guamont and Christ being presented in that order. On that night at 8:30, the producer of Ben Hur gave a speech, and then DW Griffith, and then Will Hayes, and Mary Pickford pushed a giant green jade button and the Glory of the Scriptures were read. That film began at 11pm.

We were assured that tonight we were not to hear long speeches, and shortly there would appear the man,Terry Gilliam whom wrote, directed and produced the film we were about to see THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS. (more…)