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Weekend Reading: What the Heck Happened to That Brad Pitt Baseball Movie?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:30:28 -0700

Last weekend, the entertainment industry was shocked when Sony pulled the plug on Steven Soderbergh's baseball movie that was going to star Brad Pitt - just days before the movie was supposed to start shooting.

Based on a bestseller by Michael Lewis, Moneyball was going to be a feature-length film about the true story of Oakland Athletics' general manager Billy Beane (Pitt) who put together a successful baseball team based on a new way of measuring a player's skill via stats. It might sound kind of dry, but having read both the book and an early, leaked version of the script, I can vouch for it being a compelling story. So, I'm officially bummed that this project appears to be stuck in development hell and may never hit the big screen.

High-profile projects with big-name stars and directors don't get swiftly killed all that often - so what the heck happened? Two articles this week shed some light on the whole debacle, and they're fascinating reads if you're interested in this project and/or the inner workings of the Hollywood studio system.

First, Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal gives her side of the story in this LA Times piece. Apparently, Soderbergh made some drastic, last-minute changes to the script:

"I've wanted to work with Steven forever, because he's simply a great filmmaker," Pascal told me today. "But the draft he turned in wasn't at all what we'd signed up for. He wanted to make a dramatic reenactment of events with real people playing themselves. I'd still work with Steven in a minute, but in terms of this project, he wanted to do the film in a different way than we did."

For more on what happened with Moneyball, just read more.

Then there's this New York Times article that fills in details on some of Soderbergh's changes, some of which were made to make Major League Baseball happier with the film's accuracy:

What baseball saw as accurate, Sony executives saw as being too much a documentary. Mr. Soderbergh, for instance, planned to film interviews with some of the people who were connected to the film’s story. The executives, who had just seen disappointing results from The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 and Year One, rebelled.

As of now, the film is mostly considered dead, though there's thought that a different director could come in to make a movie out of the version of the script that Sony originally approved. After reading the stories, do you think Soderbergh was in the wrong for making the last-minute changes? Or do you think Sony got too skittish about a movie that still could have been good? And if Moneyball ever does get made, would you go see it?

WireImage and Source

Weekend Reading: Thoughts on Michael Jackson

BuzzSugar — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:30:51 -0700

In the wake of the death of one of the world's most recognizable figures, the media coverage has and will continue to be voluminous. Tributes to Michael Jackson abound, as does speculation about the circumstances surrounding his death. In the midst of all this, I find myself drawn to the more thoughtful and reflective writing online that puts the man, his life, and his musical legacy into perspective. Here are two insightful pieces I've read that add some context to this sad event.

First, a piece by Slate's Stephen Metcalf. He writes about how, in 1982, Michael Jackson and his moonwalk ushered in a very specific American era that is all some of us have ever known. The entire thing is a great (and short) read, but here's a start:

The moment I heard he died I watched the Motown appearance on my iPhone. It is thrilling. It belongs to eternity. But it also belongs to something else. It belongs to 1983, an annus mirabilis, in its way, in American life; a year of economic recovery that, in addition to prosperity and the King of Pop, brought us Madonna, Oprah, Jay McInerney, Tom Cruise, Michael Milken, Vanity Fair, and the resurrection of Andy Warhol, downtown impresario behind the Limelight nightclub. Thus Jackson was a central figure in the re-creation of a viable American mainstream, a mainstream dominated by the larger-than-life, if you're being polite - or credulous. I prefer the noun form of "grotesque."

One more selection, just read more.

This piece in The New York Times explores some interesting questions about the differences between Michael Jackson the superstar and Michael Jackson the recluse:

Which Michael Jackson will be remembered? The unsurpassed entertainer, the gifted and driven song-and-dance man who wielded rhythm, melody, texture and image to create and promote the best-selling album of all time, Thriller? Or the bizarre figure he became after he failed in his stated ambition to outsell Thriller, and after the gleaming fantasy gave way to tabloid revelations, bitter rejoinders and the long public silence he was scheduled to break next month?

Weekend Reading: The History of Sundance

BuzzSugar — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:30:05 -0800

This year marks the 25th anniversary for the Sundance Film Festival, which is about as long as some of us have been alive. It's easy to take for granted the fact that this festival held in a snowy little Utah town wasn't always the influential mega-event it is today. Recently the LA Times had an interesting retrospective about the festival's origins and the way it revolutionized independent film.

Some interesting nuggets:

Steven Soderbergh's debut feature film is partly responsible for the festival's success. Director Bryan Singer reminisces, "Sex, Lies, and Videotape made guys like me go, 'If I can get into the Sundance Film Festival, I'll have a shot at a career.'"
Aw, Kevin Smith was working as a convenience store clerk when he brought his little movie Clerks to Sundance. He says of the heady experience, "It was basically me showing up in Utah and the Mormon God saying, 'I am going to grant you every wish you ever had, including some you never thought of.'"
Also, Smith tells the reporter that Clerks was made for $27,575.
Originally the festival was called The Utah/U.S. Film Festival but after Robert Redford's gang took over in 1989, some changes were made. "Organizers began to shift the festival's focus toward contemporary films that took storytelling risks."
The article asserts that "nobody embodies the go-for-broke moviemaking ingenuity now commonly associated with Sundance entries more than. . . Robert Rodriguez." Apparently Rodriquez (director of Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sin City) raised money for one of his movies by "volunteering for experimental clinical drug testing." Hard core.

Photo courtesy of Sundance

Weekend Reading: Representing the Peacock as a Page

BuzzSugar — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0700

Kenneth on 30 Rock might lack common sense, but he must be quite extraordinary if he's nabbed a page job at NBC. The New York Times recently profiled the page program for a story that includes interviews with current pages, famous pages (Regis Philbin, Ted Koppel), and Jack McBrayer, whose 30 Rock character is probably the best-known fictional page of all time.

Among the things I learned from the story:

The page program is 10 times as competitive as admission to Harvard.
Pages get a 75-page handbook full of NBC trivia, most of which they're supposed to memorize, and they have to pass a test at the end of orientation.
About 70 percent of pages end up with jobs at NBC by the end of the program.
Ted Koppel claims that when he was a page, he dated his way through the Rockettes.
The real NBC pages recently got snazzy gray uniforms, which means Kenneth's look might be getting an update as well.

It's a fun story and definitely worth the read. Have you ever dreamed of being an NBC page?

Photo courtesy of NBC

Weekend Reading: How Not to Get Sent Home First

BuzzSugar — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:00:42 -0700

I got a kick this week out of a piece Slate did on the doomed reality show contestants who have been voted or kicked off in the first episode, complete with tips on how to avoid their fate. At first I struggled to remember a single first contestant, but then this piece reminded me of Jerry and Nimma from Bravo's Project Runway and Top Chef.

If you are planning on competing on one of these reality shows, these are some pretty good tips for sticking around for more than one episode. If not, you'll probably find them as fascinating as I do and will watch to see if they hold true for shows like The Amazing Race, which premieres tonight.

Here are some of the tips and excerpts from the article:

Lesson 9: Everyone loves a comeback story: "A bad first episode doesn't mean a contestant can't make a comeback. But if you want a shot at post-reality fame, you first have to make it past Week 1."
Lesson 8: Know your demographic: "VH1 understands the ratings power of the loudmouth; who among the channel's viewers wouldn't want to watch a plus-sized Omarosa gone ghetto?"
Lesson 6: Know your eliminator: "On a reality show, it's almost always good to be memorable. But if your fate is in a single person's hands, you'd better be indelible for the right reasons."

To see some more, just read more!

Lesson 5: Don't clam up: "With so little time to break through the clutter, no one has the luxury of opening-night jitters."
Lesson 3: Don't be chicken: "Sometimes, a reality contestant signs up for adventure but winds up looking sorry she didn't stay home."
Lesson 2: Nice guys finish last. Same with nice ladies: "This was an island of snakes and rats, and Sonja's guileless personality made her seem impossibly weak."

Do you agree with these? Do you remember any reality contestants who went home first?

Source

Weekend Reading: Alec Baldwin's Insecurities

BuzzSugar — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:00:08 -0700

It's funny, isn't it, how and when actors' personal lives begin to sabotage their professional lives? Lindsay Lohan, once a promising young talent, is in the process of rebuilding her career after issues with drugs, alcohol, and bar fights. Then there's Tom Cruise, who has been in career rehab ever since he jumped the couch. Major celebs are more than just talent, they're entire brands, and going off brand is usually career suicide - unless, of course, you're Alec Baldwin.

This guy is known to be, well, a little odd and even a loose cannon. But no matter what terrible, weird thing comes out about his private life, he's such a great addition to any cast (30 Rock is the most recent perfect example) on TV or in movies that I for one tend to ignore that other stuff. I mean, look at him. I can't even type this post without looking at his picture and cracking up.

In this way, he is totally fascinating to me. Which is why I for one will be curling up with this giant, illuminating profile on Baldwin in The New Yorker this weekend. To see some of the tidbits that got me hooked, just read more.

Baldwin's "rhetoric" brings to mind for the reporter a scene where his character on 30 Rock looks at an "equestrian painting" and says, "I wish I were a horse - strong, free, my chestnut haunches glistening in the sun.”
Even though he is enjoying a career rejuvenation right now (a career many actors would kill for), he is still "very conscious of what is lacking in his life - a spouse, for example, and a film career something like Jack Nicholson’s, and the governorship of New York."
Of Tina Fey, he says, "She’s so bright you’re always wondering if you’re boring her" and says that his 30 Rock character, Jack Donaghy, is based on SNL creator Lorne Michaels: "Jack Donaghy is Lorne, first and foremost. 'What am I, a farmer?' That is Lorne. I think he said that. Lorne’s got a tuxedo in the glove compartment of his car. Lorne is a big-ticket A-list New York water buffalo. He’s big on the Serengeti. Lorne is a person who seduces you into thinking that if you take his advice and play your cards right you're going to end up with his life."
And then there's stuff like this:

"In East Hampton, I’m a nudist and I eat meat," Baldwin - a vegetarian - had said before my visit, expanding on the idea that he lived a quite different life on Long Island than he did in New York. "I shoot deer with a bow and arrow. I smoke the deer meat and eat it every morning with my eggs and toast. I am a homosexual. I listen to rock music, loud."

Interesting guy, right? What do you think? Will we ever truly understand the mind of Alec Baldwin?

Source

Guy-Approved! Chick Flicks They'll Actually Watch

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:30:35 -0800

Men have a reputation for not being the biggest fans of Valentine's Day as a holiday - or the mushy-gushy films that often accompany it. But have no fear, because there are a few gems that you can convince him to watch this weekend. How do we know? We polled the guys at Sugar HQ (yes, contrary to popular belief, men actually work here)! Read on to see their secret favorite chick flicks and why their picks are guy-friendly.

View Slideshow ›

Want to Be Featured on BuzzSugar? Share Your Movie Lists!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:30:05 -0800

Pop's been making celebrity lists for years, and it made me remember how much I love making classifications of my own. Sure, every year I bring you my Best Of rundowns, but movies can be separated in far more fun categories than that.

That's why I've created a special group for movie lists in the BuzzSugar Community. It's the perfect place to share your own favorites in any category - no matter how random!

I'll even get you started with a little challenge: in honor of the Super Bowl this weekend (and the continued success of The Blind Side), I invite all of you to compile your top 10 favorite sports movies of all time.

Get creative: you can use photos, explanations, or whatever you fancy. Just click here to find the group and be sure to title your post "My Favorite Sports Movies." I'll be featuring a few of my favorites here on BuzzSugar, so let the games begin!

For more directions on how to post to Buzz's newest group, read more.

Breaking: Conan O'Brien Says He Won't Do The Tonight Show at 12:05

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:35:51 -0800

After making jokes about his options last night, Conan O'Brien has just released a statement saying that he will not move to 12:05 a.m. with The Tonight Show, as proposed by NBC over the weekend at the Winter TCA.

O'Brien insists it's for the good of show, saying, "I sincerely believe that delaying The Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t The Tonight Show."

He also says that he currently has no other offers from other networks, as has been rumored. To read Conan's full statement, just read more.

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.

Yours,

Conan

Buzz Interview: Amy Adams on Being Leap Year's Leading Lady

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:00:23 -0800

Amy Adams takes a break from Oscar-nominated roles this weekend to star as the female lead in the romantic comedy Leap Year, about a woman who decides to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day, citing Irish tradition (watch the trailer here). I had a chance to chat with the actress about the movie, her character, and the odd conventions of marriage proposals.

On why she chose this project: I've been looking for a romantic comedy because they're films I always go see, so I wanted to do one. When I read this I just loved the characters, and I loved the idea of playing this character who so thinks they know what they want out of life, and then this roguish man comes along and shows them a new path.
On her character: Anna's a girl - a woman, excuse me - who sort of has her whole life planned out, and really thinks that she knows best and knows everything, and she is a take control kind of person. it's not until she loses control and surrenders to this place and this person that she's really able to get a better understanding of who she is and what she wants.

To see what else Adams had to say, including working with the dreamy Matthew Goode, just read more.

On working with costar Matthew Goode: It was really fun. He's such a good actor, but on top of it, he's really fun in this in the way that he enjoys torturing Anna - or seeing her torture herself really, is kind of how it works out.
On finding chemistry with him: I would say it was easy. We had a very natural banter, and he's very dashing.
On what Anna sees in Declan: I think Declan holds a mirror up to her. I think aside from what she sees in him, which is somebody who's very honest, and someone who will challenge her, and somebody who she has a great attraction to, I think she also sees a little bit of herself in him, someone who's shut themself off from possibility.
On whether she can relate to Anna's personality: I think I used to be more like that. I waited six years for my proposal, so I think I was a little more patient where that's concerned, but I definitely relate to wanting to micromanage your life, which is kind of a joke. There's no real way to do it.
On whether she ever would have proposed to her fiance, Darren Le Gallo: There were definitely times where I considered it, and had I known about this tradition, we might've taken a trip to Ireland! Ultimately, I know he's from Texas so I know he has that traditional thing where he wanted to propose.
On what she thinks about women proposing: I guess it depends on the situation, but in most cases I say [it's] empowering. I would say probably more often empowering.
On filming in Ireland: It was wet! [Laughing] But for all the weather problems we came into, I have to say the people there were awesome - so down to earth and took such good care of me. They just really embrace people.
On whether she's practical, romantic, or a mixture of both, like Anna: I'm a mixture of both - I'm very pragmatic, but I love getting swept up. I think that my pragmatism comes from romantic disappointment. I got this saying from my brother which I love, which is: I'm not a pessimist, I'm a disappointed optimist.
On whether she'd do more romantic comedies: Absolutely, I think it would be a lot of fun. I'm open to anything really.
On her dream leading man: My poor fiance! Because I make lists and then I feel awful.
On liking a balance between working on drama and comedy: I do like that balance. It's important for me as a person to be able to do both. Sometimes doing the more dramatic films weigh on me differently than doing a comedy or doing something that's a little bit lighter. Even with the light roles, I try to bring something that's meaningful to them and I hope that people get that.
On the transition to working on drama The Fighter, her next film: I went into that almost directly after working on Leap Year, so it was a little jarring, but it was a big change. (Director) David O. Russell really challenged me to create a very different character than I've created before, so for me it was a challenge, but it was also so exciting to get to do that sort of 180.
On her role in The Fighter: I play a woman named Charlene who is Mickey Ward's (played by Mark Wahlberg) love interest. It's based on the true story of Mickey Ward, the fighter; he's a boxer and his struggles with his family and rising up through that. She just sort of plays his rock.
On taking a break due to her pregnancy: I've been on a break since I finished The Fighter, and so I just decided to settle in and nest, and reconnect with some friends and family that I've neglected over the past four years. It's a good time to take stock.
On how long the break will be: I'm not sure. I'm excited to go back to work, so knock on wood that everything goes well and everyone's healthy, and then I look forward to going back to work. I think that's what I've learned from Anna, that you just have to let all of your plans go out the window and really just be open to whatever else is going to be.
On her overall experience: It was a really fun and magical experience. It really transported me into this different world that is Ireland, and I hope people go to the film and have that same experience.