Film News
Richard Linklater casts a boy wonder for an Isle of Man shoot in March
By Joe O'Connell, Fri., Feb. 8, 2008
Linklater and 'Orson Welles,' on an island
Richard Linklater is slated to begin shooting his next film, Me and Orson Welles, on the Isle of Man in March with Zac Efron (of High School Musical fame) in the lead and Claire Danes and Ben Chaplin also starring. The script was written by Holly Gent Palmo, the production coordinator on Linklater's Dazed and Confused, and Vince Palmo, first assistant director for many of Linklater's films, including Fast Food Nation and A Scanner Darkly. The coming-of-age story is based on Robert Kaplow's novel about a high school student in 1937 who happens upon the Mercury Theatre in New York City, where he meets a 22-year-old Welles and gets a bit part in Julius Caesar. Christian McKay will portray Welles. According to Isle of Man Today, the film is being produced entirely in-house by CinemaNX, the Isle of Man's new production and financing entity, and is expected to shoot for about five weeks, primarily at the Gaiety Theatre there. The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea.
'Cassidy Kids' headed to IFC
The Cassidy Kids will go to the Independent Film Channel as part of the Choice Indies joint program of IFC and B-Side Entertainment. B-Side will promote the Burnt Orange Productions film through video-on-demand and DVD sales. As we told you recently, the film from Jacob Vaughan and Bryan Poyser isn't likely to see a theatrical release. This month, Austin filmmaker Andrew Shapter's Before the Music Dies is showing on IFC as part of the Choice Indies program. It takes an inside and sly look at the corporate music business.
And the rest ...
Want to hang with Lisa Kudrow (Friends), Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Scott Porter (NBC's Friday Night Lights), Aly Michalka of singing sisters Aly and A.J., and Liam Aiken (Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events)? Third Coast Extras need extras for Will, Walden Media's teen battle-of-the-bands film. Particularly needed are "high school looks" ages 16 to 25. Show up at Austin Film Society offices (1901 E. 51st) from 10am to 4pm on Saturday with a nonreturnable photo. More info at www.bethsepkocasting.com... Finally, SXSW Film has announced its lineup. Check out 2008.sxsw.com/film/festival/films/ for more.
*Oops! The following correction ran in the February 15, 2008 issue: "Film News" inaccurately reported in last week's issue that Andrew Shapter's documentary Happiness Is will be screening at the South by Southwest Film Festival; it will not. The Chronicle regrets the error.
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