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Casting Cara Delevingne as Notting Hill party girl was ‘simple’ choice, says director

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The team behind Cara Delevingne’s new film said it was a “simple” decision to cast her to play a Bohemian west London party girl.

The model-turned-actress plays one of a pair of sisters whose house becomes home to a crowd of well-heeled young Londoners in Kids In Love which was shot in and around Notting Hill and at celebrity hangout The Box.

Preston Thompson, who co-wrote the script with Sebastian De Souza, said casting Delevingne was part of the “dreamy experience” of making their first film.

He said: “She auditioned and she was the best, it was as simple as that.

“I wasn’t surprised, we had heard so many great things about her so we sent the script to her and she came in and auditioned and was great.”

Soho’s The Box stands in for fictional club The Drambuie, and Thompson added: “We filmed there the morning after a Snoop Dogg gig.”

The pair took their cast and cameras on to the streets of Notting Hill to capture the atmosphere of the carnival.

The film, which also stars Will Poulter and French actress Alma Jodorowsky, is out on August 26.

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Cannes 2016: Antonio Banderas to Play Aging Rocker in Simon West’s ‘Salty’

Antonio Banderas is set to put his swashbuckling skills to the test once more, although perhaps in a rather different manner than the efforts he displayed in The Mask of Zorro, Puss in Boots or, most recently, as Burger Beard in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.

The actor is set to take the lead in action-comedy Salty, directed by Simon West (Con Air,Tomb Raider, The Expendables 2), playing an aging rock star and reformed sex addict married to a supermodel who is abducted by pirates. The film is being sold in the Cannes market by London-based Carnaby.

Billed as “The Hangover-meets-Spinal Tap” and adapted from the novel by Mark Haskell Smith — the story will see Banderas star as Turk Henry, a bassist for a recently split mega-platinum band who takes his pampered wife on an exotic luxury holiday to Chile only for her to be snatched by a group of renegade ship-less buccaneers trying to raise money to buy a boat. Despite having never organized anything more challenging than a club sandwich from room service, Turk embarks on a rescue mission, navigating the back alleys of Santiago through to the jungles of South America.

Principal photography in set to kick off in Chile in June.

Produced by Simon West Productions, Salty is being produced by Jib Polhemus (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Expendables 2, When a Stranger Calls, The Mechanic, Wild Card) and Harry Stourton (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), with Smith having written the screenplay from his own novel alongside Toby Davies (The Mitchell and Webb Look, Yonderland). Exec producers include Rene Besson (The Mechanic, Drive Angry, Homefront), Hannah Leader (Damascus Cover, Lucky Number Slevin, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) and Cassian Elwes (Dallas Buyers Club, Lawless, Blue Valentine).Carnaby’s Sean O’Kelly (Iron Sky, Damascus Cover, Kids in Love) and Andy Loveday (The Wee Man,Rise of the Footsoldier, Rise of the Krays) are also exec producing.

“Finally three of my passions together — cinema, music and humor” Banderas told The Hollywood Reporter.

Added West: “I’m going to shoot Salty in a style that will exude energy, fun and glamor with elaborate and exciting action sequences very much in the vein of my previous films. With Antonio on board, it’s going to be a phenomenal picture.”

Salty broke U.K. records last year when it became largest equity crowdfunded film of all time, inviting members of the British public to own a stake in the film’s profits. It’s the first significant Hollywood film to be funded in this way.

Alongside Salty, West also has The Blob remake — starring Samuel L. Jackson — and Iraqi war actioner Thunder Run on his upcoming slate of projects.

 

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First look at director Simon West scouting some spectacular locations in Chile!

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Pitchfork profile Blood Orange ahead of May 17th U.S. release: Iggy Pop Takes Up Arms

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Iggy Pop is set to star in Blood Orange, a new thriller directed by Tony Tobias. It arrives May 17 via Invincible Pictures. The Stooge plays Bill, a dying rock star who lives with his wife Isabelle (Kacey Barnfield) in the Spanish countryside. One day, her vengeful ex Lucas (Ben Lamb) arrives on their property, demanding an inheritance he claims she stole from him. As his threats escalate, Bill must take up arms and defend his homestead. Watch him roam the countryside, snuggle with his wife, and whack his adversary in the head with the butt of his rifle in the trailer below.

Blood Orange isn’t the only upcoming film featuring the Stooges frontman. This summer, he’ll also star in Gutterdämmerung, Björn Tagemose’s “loudest silent movie on Earth” that also stars Grace Jones, Henry Rollins, Josh Homme, Jesse Hughes, Justice, Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, Slash, and more. Pop’s latest album, Post Pop Depression, is out now.

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Variety’s First Look: Aneurin Barnard Plays Mozart in ‘Interlude in Prague’

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Variety has been given exclusive access to the first-look images for “Interlude in Prague,” which is shooting in the Czech capital. The film, which portrays a few turbulent months in the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, stars Aneurin Barnard, James Purefoy and Samantha Barks.

Barnard, whose credits include “The White Queen” and “War & Peace,” plays the composer at a time when has been brought to Prague by the vain and self-obsessed Baron Saloka. The evil aristocrat is played by Purefoy, who was serial killer Joe Carroll in Fox’s “The Following,” and is a slave owner in the “Roots” reboot.

Rising star Morfydd Clark, who appeared recently in Whit Stillman’s “Love and Friendship,” plays the beautiful soprano Zuzanna Luptak, who is betrothed to Saloka but falls in love with Mozart. Saloka, a psychopath, sexual predator and serial rapist, develops an overwhelming hatred that results in callous brutality and murder. Samantha Barks, whose credits include “Les Miserables,” is Josefa.

At the start of the shoot, director John Stephenson said: “A love story and a tragedy of epic proportions, the characters, the passions, heartbreak and awful outcome could just as easily exist in a contemporary story. I intend to shoot this with fast-moving camera and use modern post-production techniques to capture the energy and atmosphere of a modern thriller. The result will be a glorious heart-in-mouth solar plexus knockout.”

The film is produced by Productive International’s Huw Penallt Jones and Hannah Leader, and production design is by Luciana Arrighi.

London-based Carnaby Intl. is handling worldwide sales rights for the film, and will be taking it to market at next month’s Cannes Film Festival.

 

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‘Interlude in Prague’ round-up! Social media highlights as production continues

As the upcoming Mozart drama Interlude in Prague continues production in the Golden City, check out some highlights from Social-savvy cast & crew:

 

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‘Interlude In Prague’ starts shoot, adds cast

Morfydd Clark, Ade Edmundson and Charlotte Peters have all joined the biographical drama about Mozart.

Interlude In Prague, which stars Aneurin Barnard as Mozart, has commenced a six-week shoot in the eponymous Czech capital.

Joining a cast that already includes James Purefoy(Solomon Kane) and Samantha Banks (Les Miserables) is Morfydd Clark (Love & Friendship), Ade Edmundson (War & Peace) and Charlotte Peters (Pound Of Flesh).

The story follows Mozart as he composes his operatic masterpiece Don Giovanni. While visiting Prague, the composer becomes embroiled in a turbulent narrative of lust and murder.

John Stephenson (Animal Farm) is directing from a script by debutant Brian Ashby. Huw Penallt Jones is producing for UK-based Productive International alongside Hannah Leader.

London-based Carnaby International are handling worldwide rights and, having introduced the title at EFM, will be commencing sales at Cannes in May.

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‘Vikings’ renewed for fifth season as Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers joins cast

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History has commissioned a fifth season of Irish co-produced drama series ‘Vikings’ with Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers joining the cast in an unspecified role.

Production of the new 20 episode season is expected to begin in the summer, with the series premiering in 2017. Rhys Meyers has previously starred in ‘The Tudors’ – another acclaimed period drama which was shot in Ireland and created by Michael Hirst. That series ran from 2007-2010 with Rhys Meyers garnering Golden Globe and IFTA nominations for his role on the show, winning the IFTA in 2008. Rhys Meyers has recently completed work on thriller ‘Damascus Cover’ as well as an upcoming ‘Roots’ remake.

‘Vikings’ has been a critical and commercial hit since premiering in 2013. It is now the number one telecast on Thursday nights on cable in all key demos in Live +3, drawing in 4.2 million total viewers. It has also just been nominated for five IFTA Awards, including Best Drama.

The first four series of ‘Vikings’ were shot in Co. Wicklow with production in Luggala and Ashford Studios. There were approximately 400 Irish people involved in the production of the series. A number of key Irish professionals involved included director Ciarán Donnelly, costume designer Joan Bergin, production designer Tom Conroy and cinematographer PJ Dillon. A total of 8000 extras were sought for the fourth season of the show.

Irish Executive Producer Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 Entertainment said: “I am thrilled that Vikings is once again a success in the United States and across the world. A big thank you to the History Channel and MGM for their huge support and congratulations to the many hundreds of people in Ireland and Canada who work tirelessly on the show to make it a success.”

From creator and sole writer Michael Hirst, ‘Vikings’ is inspired by the sagas of Icelandic Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of England and France.

Hirst serves as executive producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000, Sheila Hockin, John Weber of Take 5 Productions, Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer and James Flynn.

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Stage Stars Samantha Barks and Morfydd Clark Join ‘Interlude in Prague’

Stage stars Samantha Barks and Morfydd Clark are headed to Prague!

The Daily Mail writes that the pair of leading ladies will appear in the upcoming Mozart film INTERLUDE IN PRAGUE, opposite previously announced James Purefoy and Aneurin Barnard.

No word on Barks’s role, but Clark will play ‘Zuzanna’, described as “an opera singer who meets and ‘engages’ with the composer (Barnard).”

Directed by John Stephenson with a screenplay by Brian Ashby, INTERLUDE IN PRAGUE is based on true-life events and is set in the city in 1787. Variety describes the project as “an intense and emotional narrative of love, lust and murder” that “follows the story of a few turbulent months in the short life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that influenced the creation of the opera ‘Don Giovanni.'”

Filming begins in Prague next month.

Barks will next be seen in the films BITTER HARVEST, NEW AMSTERDAM and CHOCOLATE CAKE. She recently led the Berkeley Rep premiere of the musical adaptation of AMÉLIE. Her theatre credits include CHICAGO at The Hollywood Bowl, OLIVER! and CABARET on tour in the UK, and the West End’s LES MISERABLES (as well as its 25th anniversary show at the O2). She also starred as ‘Eponine’ in Tom Hooper’s film version LES MIS.

Clark recently appeared on in the BBC movie A POET IN NEW YORK and on the big screen in THE FALLING, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES. A stage vet, the actress recently starred in Gary Owen’s new play VIOLENCE AND SON at the Royal Court upstairs, in ROMEO AND JULIET at the Crucible, and in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Donmar Warehouse.

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Glasgow Film Festival 2016: Winter Review

THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FILMANDTVNOW.COM FEBRUARY 2016 (Credit, Rebecca Ryan)

WINTER follows a man (TOMMY FLANAGAN) left devastated after the murder of his wife. After the initial trauma, he develops serious mental health issues which affect his relationship with his two children.

Mental health is not an easy thing to discuss or portray in films, many demonise people who suffer from them, and others make the topic too lighthearted. Winter finds a way to discuss this delicate subject in a mature and fair way. A successful artist’s life is changed forever after his wife is brutally murdered. He slowly breaks down, hearing voices, hallucinating, and drinking heavily to make these effects disappear. His behaviour takes a serious toll on his family, with his youngest son being taken into care and his oldest son trying desperately to keep the family together.

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Tommy Flanagan gives a fantastic performance here as Woods. It’s very difficult to portray someone with mental health issues without going over-the-top or being offensive, but he manages to give a very realistic and sensible performance. Tom Payne also gives a great performance.

Films like Winter will strike a nerve with many people. A lot of people are affected by mental illness in one way or another and Winter does pack an emotional punch. It highlights how mental illness can happen to anyone at any time in their lives, and briefly hints at how ineffective the mental healthcare system can be.

Overall, Winter is an excellent film and will hopefully get distribution after its successful screening at the Glasgow Film Festival. Tommy Flanagan gives a fantastic lead performance and should be considered for lead roles more often. It is not an easy film to watch, but it is well made, well structured, and director Heidi Greensmith has done an excellent job here.

Verdict

☆☆☆☆☆