Tommy Lee Jones stops at New Iberia newsroom

Tommy Lee Jones and the movie "In the Electric Mist" spent Friday in the newsroom of The Daily Iberian. Why can't a movie production show up at the offices of The Shreveport Times and make my job easier? Enough petty griping.

Here's a link to the story. Great details. My favorite excerpt follows:

"Pre-production crew members showed up in The Iberian newsroom Friday morning to change out all the fluorescent light bulbs. 'The ones you use, that everyone uses, actually put out a green light that shows up on film,' one of the light-changers explained. The bulbs didn't last long. They were replaced with the old bulbs when production wrapped up around 5 p.m."

Green light? It also strangely appeared on the potato salad I brought to work today. ... Suddenly, I'm not feeling so good.

Is Hollywood nervous about runaway production?

Yup. At least it appears so in this Los Angeles Daily News article by writer Greg Hernandez. FilmLA President Steve MacDonald is quoted at length.

Click here to read the entire article. New York, Louisiana and New Mexico are mentioned. Below are a two intriguing excerpts:

"On-location feature-film production [in Los Angeles] plummeted 22 percent during the first quarter of 2007 — the second-largest year-to-year decline on record, according to figures released Thursday by FilmLA Inc.

"The region continues to lose significant ground to rival states and countries that are luring productions away with significant financial incentives.

"On the surface, a 29.7 percent gain in television production during the quarter — which boosted overall production by 5.7 percent — would seem to cancel out the decline in feature films. But most of the gain is due to reality shows, which are not nearly as big of an economic boost."

...

"'Given the unprecedented growth in feature-film production in other locales, it appears the current drop in Los Angeles is a direct result of financial incentives now offered by more than 30 U.S. states,' MacDonald said. 'With substantial tax credits and rebates, other states have been able to lure big-budget films and the jobs and tax revenues that go with them.'"

'Pardon' me, but I learned more ...

Whoever kept buggin' me about "The Pardon," thankee. Punk. You pushed me to track down the official skinny, which I just reported for The Times. Click here.

"The Pardon" will star Jason Lewis ("Sex and the City") and Jaime King ("Fanboys," TV's "The Class"). It is being produced by the Shreveport-based RiverDream Productions, which also made "At Last" in 2005. "The Pardon" begins filming May 15. (And no, I don't know anything about open casting calls yet.)

The movie is based on the trials of Toni Jo Henry, the last women executed in Louisiana. In 1942, she was electrocuted for killing a tire salesman. She and an accomplice stole the man's car in order to rob a bank. She needed the money to pay for the appeal of her husband Claude "Cowboy" Henry, who was locked up in a Texas prison for killing a cop.

Anyhoo, Lewis plays Cowboy, King plays Toni Jo, and I continue to play catch-up with my readers.

Casting call for 'Debaters' set for Boardwalk

Casting directors for “The Great Debaters” are holding an open casting call for extras and actors Saturday, April 28, at the Louisiana Boardwalk.

The casting call will take place between noon and 4 p.m. in the tenant space between Rue 21 and the Cajun Coffee House.

The movie, which stars Forest Whitaker and Denzel Washington, will begin shooting in northwest Louisiana during mid-May. Washington will also direct.

“The Great Debaters” is being produced by the Weinstein Company and Oprah Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions. The movie tells the story of a 1930s debate team from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.

Applicants are encouraged to bring a photograph of themselves. Casting directors will take a picture if one cannot be provided.

For more information, call the casting hotline at (318) 682-5679.

Photo credit: Forest Whitaker appears in a scene from the FX network television program "The Shield." (Gannett News Service, Prashant Gupta/FX/File)

'The Lives of Others' to screen May 24

Want to see the movie that beat "Pan's Labyrinth" in the foreign language film category for the 2006 Oscars? Since "Pan" was among the best movies I've ever seen -- "Pan" and "Children of Men" got hosed by the Academy -- I'm eager to see why "The Lives of Others" was voted the best.

Haven't seen the German film, and I'm expecting an absolute stunner.

You can see "The Lives of Others" on the big screen May 24 as part of the Robinson Film Center Presents series.

SCREENING

WHAT: "The Lives of Others," Oscar winner for 2006 foreign film.

WHEN: 7 p.m. May 24.

WHERE: Regal Cinemas Louisiana Boardwalk 14, Bossier City. (Auditorium 3.)

COST: $7.50.

INFO & RESERVATIONS: Chris Jay at (318) 424-9090.

Where's poster Chris-Brad when I need him? We're still not done fighting about the Oscars and "Little Miss Sunshine!"

'For Sale' not selling plot points yet

What's "For Sale by Owner" about? Well, the makers wouldn't divulge too many details during my set visit last week. Here's a link to my story for The Times.

I do know it's a supernatural-
mystery-psychological-thriller. (That's a compound of all the descripters I gathered from producers.) It's scary, I take it.

I didn't see any chainsaws, so it's not that type of scary.

"For Sale by Owner" is about John Smith, or Mr. Jamestown, and the home he built way back when. Scott Cooper (pictured, who is also the screenwriter) plays a present day architect who's restoring Smith's home. It was burned down and reconstructed during the 1800s.

My guess is that Coop's restoration doesn't go as planned. (Boo.)

The movie is being shot at the Magnolia Plantation near Cloutierville (20 miles south of Natchitoches). As a setting for a supernatural-mystery-psychological-thriller-expialidocious independent feature film, it seems like a great location. Paint is flaking. Bees are humming. Sweat will soon be pouring. Plants are overgrown. The interior features old chandeliers and drab interior light.

There are three really cool things about this project:

1) It's being financed by a new local production company called Port Pictures. That means three independent feature films, which have been paid for by local financing, will be made in Shreveport during the first half of 2007. The first was Jeffrey Goodman's "The Last Lullaby." The next is "The Pardon," a Louisiana execution story I'm learning more about later today.

2) "For Sale by Owner" is actually going to give the plantation home a fresh coat of paint. Tourism folks in Natchitoches will be happy to hear that.

3) Port Pictures is planning to shoot eight pictures in Louisiana during the next three years. This could be the beginnings of an indigenous film industry for Shreveport.

If we build more, will more come?

An anonymous reader brought up a great point of contention about the recently announced $1.6 billion soundstage complex. It reportedly will be built in East Baton Rouge. (For details, scroll a few posts down or click here.)

The reader wrote: “This proposal is al [sic] ‘vapor’ and will never see the light of day. Studio complexes like this are not needed in Shreveport. Producers are fleeing Hollywood cause [sic] they won’t pay top dollar prices, so why would they want to pay rents on something as overbuilt as this. Shreveport merely needs more experienced crew and it will thrive with the studio space it has.”

The comment begs the following questions.

Are newly constructed soundstage complexes needed in a region that’s already doing pretty well for itself, at least at the present moment?

Should there be more places to film? If entrepreneurs build more soundstages, will more productions come?

Should entrepreneurs continue to retrofit the buildings and infrastructure already found in northwest Louisiana?

Expo Hall has been converted into StageWorks of Louisiana, and that’s getting business. The old AT&T plant has turned into a soundstage and production office, and that’s working. Other facilities are being used, too.

The wave tank built for “The Guardian” was bought and repurposed as the Louisiana Wave Studio. To my knowledge, it officially opened for business at the end of March but hasn’t announced a client. (If I’m wrong, please tell me.)

Instead of building new production facilities, should the region concentrate on selling itself as a place with versatile locations? Should Shreveport just promote itself as Anywhere, USA, and be happy with the business it gets?

Is it better to concentrate on growing the crew base and using existing facilities?

What say you? Do we need more, or do we have enough?

If you don't want to post your comments for public consumption, email me at akent@gannett.com.

Hollywood Reporter touches on Shreveport's growth

Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit just wrote an interesting article about Shreveport. It suggests that many more movies are coming here.

Presumably speaking to Kit earlier in the year, director Frank Darabont of "The Mist" said, "We're at the tip of the wave of coming here, but I think there are going to be a lot of other folks coming here once they catch wind of what's available."

Director Renny Harlin of "Cleaner" spoke about how his production helped the city catch up on film permits. "(Shreveport) didn't have a permit system, and they would say go ahead (to filming). And we had to educate them that you have to create a permit system because we have to know that if we're on a street corner, nobody else is going to show up right next to us. You need to have a system where you know where everybody is at any given time."

Read the entire article by clicking here.

Baton Rouge plans big, big studio project

Look out, Louisiana. This is one megasized prospect for the state's movie industry. It includes 18 soundstages. The following is an Associated Press story.

BATON ROUGE (AP) - Developer R.W. Day is planning a $1.6 billion mixed-use development -- anchored by a $955 million movie studio -- on a 1,200-acre tract near Interstate 12 in East Baton Rouge.

While RedStick Studio Development is the name of the Day company putting the deal together, the name of the development and the studio won't be announced just yet.

Chuck Bush of F.T.E. Consulting Group, who has been in the movie business for decades, helped put the movie studio end of the deal together. Bush said the studio would actually be on three separate locations, developed over a seven-year period.

The main campus would be on the tract that runs from behind Ochsner Medical Center -- formerly Summit Hospital -- to the Amite River. That part of the studio would take up about a third of the development, with retail and residential on the northern two-thirds. It would have about 18 soundstages, ranging from 18-thousand square feet to 50-thousand square feet.

Also on site would be a $30 million educational facility that would operate as a consortium to work with LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College to train workers in film and video production.

Pictures from the set of 'For Sale by Owner'

I drove down to Cloutierville today to watch the filming of "For Sale by Owner." The low-budget independent film is being billed as a mystery thriller by director Bob Wilson. It stars Scott Cooper, who also wrote the screenplay.

It also marks the first venture for Port Pictures, a Shreveport-based movie production company. They are teaming with Robert Duvall's Butcher's Run Films.

Looks kinda spooky.

A seat reserved for the real Mr. Movies

Tim Greening passed away suddenly Wednesday. He will be dearly missed by everyone who relied on his wit to brighten a morning.

The longtime Times columnist was a legendary movie and TV buff. The Robinson Film Center, a movie art house currently under construction in downtown Shreveport, has decided to dedicate a future seat in his honor.

Here’s a note from RFC’s Chris Jay: “(We) are going to name a seat in the Grand Theater for him. He would always drop us lines of encouragement. When we booked ‘For Your Consideration,’ he worked for like three days trying to get Harry Shearer to come to our screening and very nearly made it happen. I only met him a few times, but we'd been e-mailing for years, and I counted him among my friends. I just wanted to extend my condolences and let you know that we're naming a seat for him, just to say ‘Thanks’ for all of his support and encouragement of my programming.”

Below are just a few choice excerpts from Tim’s columns and writings.

From the column “The best of 2006: Penguins and prejudice with my popcorn,” Dec. 30, 2006
At the box office, penguins have been hotter than the greenhouse gases that threaten their very existence. "March of the Penguins," "Madagascar" and "Happy Feet," all big hits. So it was inevitable Hollywood would try to expand the genre with "The Pursuit of Happyfeetness." Known for comedic roles, Mumble the penguin turns to drama as a single father struggling to raise his chick in New York while going through the pilot training program at United Airlines. Needless to say, this flightless waterfowl teaches us a lesson in learning to fly. At the screening I attended, there was not a dry eye in the house, and considering all the penguins in the audience, very few dry seats.

From the column “It’s literally too hot for television,” July 15, 2006
Greening writes here about the filming of the NBC TV movie, “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” which was shot in Natchitoches in 100-plus degree heat.
And poor John Goodman — did you see the picture of him in The Times the other day, wearing a Santa suit? I'll bet they have to wring that out every half-hour.
I considered showing up to be an extra, but now I'm not so sure. I probably say this every year, but I swear I don't remember it ever being this hot before. How hot is it?
It's so hot even the Tabasco is sweating.
It's so hot U.S. Rep. William Jefferson took all his cash out of the refrigerator to make room in it for himself.
It's so hot people are sitting all the way through Al Gore's global warming documentary not for the information but for the air conditioning.
It's so hot Ted Williams' son tried to freeze himself.
It's so hot farmers are harvesting already-steamed asparagus.
It's so hot Kevin Federline actually got up off the couch to turn up the ceiling fan.
It's so hot kids are begging bullies to give them a swirlie.
It's so hot Ann Coulter scheduled a meeting with
9/11 widows just for the cold reception.
We're talking hot.

From the column “Check Your Brain at the Box Office,” Jan. 15, 2005
"Two tickets to 'Sideways,' please."
"Sorry, sir, that movie's not playing here."
"What? The offbeat comedy about a neurotic bachelor who takes his soon-to-be-married friend on a road trip through California's wine country? But it's won practically every critics award there is. Even the Shreveport Film Critics Society Circle named it Best Picture of 2004, and none of us have even seen it."
"Shreveport has a Film Critics Society Circle?"
"Well, yeah, but it's just me and this guy named Rufus. And he only likes movies about rapping kangaroos."
"I see."
"So, why isn't 'Sideways' playing here?"
"Well, intelligent, highly acclaimed independent films don't play well in this town. If a movie isn't based on a comic book or a video game or if the title doesn't end in and the Bandit, it doesn't make money here."

From the satire page News for Dumb Guys, Aug. 6, 2004
A peek at the statistics that shape dumb guys' lives
Only a nitwit would give away a movie's ending. So, what's the big secret about 'The Village?'
47% Those scary creatures in the woods? Visa collection agents
33% The Village falls way short of the population requirement to be incorporated as a village
21% The big secret: the movie sucks

From the column “A vacation dose of all the print that's news to fit,” Sept. 7, 2002
Bear with me, I was on vacation for the last third of August, during which I traveled to Los Angeles to compete in Fox television's newest talent competition, 'American Idle: The Search for the Laziest Man in America.'
I won, of course, but I never picked up my trophy. (It was all the way across the room, up on the stage. I just didn't feel like it; there were stairs.)

'A Tale of Two Sisters' will not be filmed here

If you attended the Shreveport film industry job fair a couple months ago, you likely saw a booth for "A Tale of Two Sisters."

I could never confirm the project with solid sources (and I don't report the unconfirmed stuff), but I had heard the project was seriously interested in our area. (Yes, we know, Alex. Hence the booth.)

The Dreamsworks project will not be coming here, according to two sources. It's heading to Vancouver. It is reportedly a remake of a 2003 Korean horror film.

Now hold your horses. This isn't a sign of Louisiana losing competitiveness. It's a sign of competition that has always been there.

Peek at the Robinson Film Center tonight

The Robinson Film Center invites donors and friends to peek at its future space tonight between 5 and 7 p.m.

It's a very low-key deal, but you'll get a chance to check out the rennovation progress. Pop into 615 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport tonight if you're curious.

The nonprofit film education center hopes to open its new digs in late 2007.

Keaton, Holmes and Queen Latifah team with ‘powerhouse’

Katie Holmes, Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Ted Danson are getting set to make “Mad Money” in Shreveport. They are teaming with director and co-screenwriter Callie Khouri, who won an Oscar for writing “Thelma & Louise.”

I interviewed them over the weekend. Click here for a link to The Times story. And below are a few comments that didn’t make it into print.

Holmes looks forward to working with Khouri.

“It’s an added bonus when someone has created such a great movie in the past,” Holmes said. “I feel like someone who has created well the first time can create again and again and again like that.”

“Mad Money” is a heist comedy and thriller. It tells the story of three women who plot to steal soon-to-be-destroyed money from the Federal Reserve Bank.

“I do think that Callie has a very dynamic personality,” Keaton said. “Had she not been the writer, surely she would have been the actress playing my part. There’s no question about it. Oh, my God. Oh, yeah. She’s a powerhouse.”

Keaton added that it was the first time she’s played a criminal mind, and she’s looking forward to having fun with the movie. “In a certain sense, that’s what you really want to experience, because at my age life is, like, short,” Keaton said. “Do you want to have a miserable time? No, I do not. I do want to have fun.”

Queen Latifah and Holmes expressed excitement about working with Keaton.

“She just seems spontaneous and energetic and funny and passionate about acting,” Queen Latifah said. “And I’ve always enjoyed her movies.”

Holmes said she’s been a fan of Keaton’s forever. “You’re amazing,” Holmes said while sitting next to Keaton. “We already started rehearsing and I’ve already learned so much, seriously. I am so looking forward to this. I am so excited.”

“You’re so adorable,” Keaton responded.

Khouri said a popular theme of hers is part of “Mad Money.”

“I think one of the themes of my work keeps emerging,” Khouri said, “which is an average person finding themselves on the other side of the law through a set of extraordinary circumstances, and then just surprising the hell out of themselves.”

“I’m born to play all of them,” Khouri said earlier. “I get to be them all, without having actually to do the work.”

Filming begins Monday.

Kris Kristofferson takes 'For Sale by Owner'

The makers of “For Sale by Owner” have announced their cast.

Kris Kristofferson, Tom Skerritt, Rachel Nichols (“Alias”), Frankie Faison (“The Wire”), Skeet Ulrich (“Jericho”), Scott Cooper (“Broken Trail”), Forrest Sawyer and James Keane will star. The cast also includes Natchitoches resident Joanna Cassidy and Louisiana musician Mark Adam.

The movie will begin shooting April 17 at the Magnolia Plantation near Natchitoches. It is being produced by the Robert Duvall’s Butcher’s Run Films and Shreveport-based Port Pictures.

The movie will be directed by Bob Wilson. He worked as a line producer on “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” which was also shot in Natchitoches.

It is the first project for Port Pictures. Rudy Hines, an executive producer with the company, is thrilled about his stars. “We feel like we got a $10 million cast,” Hines said. ” The script is just unbelievable. It’s a mystery thriller. Everybody’s so excited about this.”

The movie is searching for local people to work as extras. Applicants can attend an extras casting call April 20 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second St. Those who cannot attend can apply and drop off a non-returnable self photograph at the movie’s production office, 331 Lafayette St., in Natchitoches.

For more information, call the production office at (318) 238-4305.

'The Great Debaters' is looking for extras

Denzel Washington’s “The Great Debaters” will begin shooting in northwest Louisiana in mid-May.

Casting directors are holding an open extras casting call for the movie from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Casting directors also are looking for a few actors.

The casting call will be held at the old AT&T plant at 9595 Mansfield Road in Shreveport.

Applicants should bring a non-returnable photograph of themselves or a headshot to the casting call. If applicants don’t have a photograph, one will be taken.

For more information, call the extras casting department at (318) 682-5645.

Applicants who cannot attend the casting call should send a self-photograph and contact information to: The Great Debaters Casting, 9595 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, LA, 71118.

Washington, an Oscar-winning actor, will direct and star in the movie about the true story of Melvin B. Tolson. During the 1930s, Tolson formed a famous debate team at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.

The movie is being produced by the Weinstein Company and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions.

Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to star opposite Washington, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

‘For Sale by Owner’ announces extras casting call, seeking stand-in

The feature film project “For Sale by Owner” is hosting an extras casting call April 20 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second St.

All persons are encouraged to apply. The feature has a specific need for athletically built Native Americans ages 15 to 45. Applicants must be available to work on select dates between April 25 and May 6 in Natchitoches. Applicants should bring a non-returnable photo to the casting call. If a photo is not available, one will be taken at the casting call.

The movie is also looking for a stand-in who is an attractive Caucasian women of average height and weight. Applicants for this position must be able to work from April 17 to May 6, including Saturdays and Sundays but not Mondays.

The movie will be shot primarily in Natchitoches. It is being made by the Shreveport-based Port Pictures and Robert Duvall’s production company, Butcher’s Run Films.

For more information, call the casting department at (318) 238-4305.

Will Logansport native win her own 'Bachelor?'

A Logansport native is vying for the affections of a navy lieutenant on ABC’s “The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman.” Erin Parker is one of 15 women left on the reality game show.

Three cheers for Erin!

On tonight’s episode, Parker will compete with 14 other women during a mini-triathlon in Santa Monica. According to ABC, “Susan and Erin exercise their diva muscle and refuse to get their hair wet.”

Four cheers for Erin!

Parker was born in Logansport and graduated from Logansport High School. She earned a degree from Northwestern State University. She now lives in Dallas and works as a financial analyst.

I take it she didn't study triathleticism. Yet another example of college not preparing young minds for the real world.

Three contestants will be eliminated from “The Bachelor” tonight. The show begins at 8:30 p.m.

'Meet the Robinsons' holding pretty strong

The Easter crowds gave "Meet the Robinsons" some strong legs at the box office. The pic earned $17 million domestically this weekend. It dropped 32 percent from its opening weekend. That's not too shabby given the current economic climate for features. If a mainstream movie retains two-thirds of its business from week to week, it's basically a hit.

In total, "Meet the Robinsons" has earned $52.2 million in the U.S. and $61.7 million in total from screens worldwide.

Unofficially, the movie has until May 4 to make its money. Why? "Spider-Man 3" comes out and will annihilate the hopes of every movie on the planet. Whatever survives will be swallowed whole by that pig "Shrek the Third" on May 18.

Personally I pine for the days when movies had much longer shelf lives. I remember seeing ads in my local newspaper that read, "'The Empire Strikes Back': 37th week!"

I swear I remember seeing "Star Wars": 82nd week," but my memories from age 3 get a little fuzzy.

I'm not stupid enough to forget how the advent of the video store destroyed the longevity of new releases. But I am stubborn enough to believe movies should last longer than a skin cell.

'Grindhouse' is filthy fun

How do I love "Grindhouse?" Let me count the ways:

1) Finally, the car chase is scary again when filmed in broad daylight.

2) Thankfully, zombies are still the funniest movie characters this side of the Gremlins.

3) In technical skill, Rodriguez and Tarantino have few equals.

4) In casting choices, Rodriguez and Tarantino have no equals.

5) Rose McGowan can fly.

6) Freddy Rodriguez never misses.

7) Somewhere between the gun stump and the ship maiden, I forgot it was a three-hour exhibition of macho culture.

8) I left the movie theater for a moment and felt like I missed something.

9) Zöe Bell, Uma's stunt double for "Kill Bill," gets well-deserved feature roll.

10) Kurl Russell looks even cooler than he did for "Big Trouble in Little China." How is that possible?

Here's a link to my review for The Times (only online).

'The Reaping' opens today

A movie made in south Louisiana is getting a jump on Easter weekend. "The Reaping," starring Hilary Swank, opens today. She plays an expert who's good at debunking religious phenomenon.

"The Reaping" has a good chance of grabbing the weekend box office crown, but its competition is pretty fierce. "Meet the Robinsons," "Firehouse Dog" and "Are We Done Yet?" will bring in the family crowd. "The Reaping" will team with "Grindhouse" grab the horror fans.

Just what will win? Not a clue.

I saw "Grindhouse" last night with a theater full of people, by the way, and I'll post a review later today.

3-D makes more cheddar

The makers of "Meet the Robinsons" are probably happy they embraced 3-D.

The Disney movie opened on 3,413 screens nationwide on March 30, taking in a total of $25.1 million. The overall screen average was a so-so $7,361. The weekend's top film, "Blades of Glory," took in $33 million and averaged a stronger $9,790.

But "Meet the Robinsons" outperformed the leader in one aspect. 581 of its screens projected the animated film in Disney Digital 3-D (or Disney's REAL D brand). Those took in an average of $12,220 over the weekend.

Looking at the figures in a different light, 13 percent of the screenings accounted for 28 percent of the movie’s box office.

That's news, according to Variety, which observed: “If only ‘Robinsons’ had been able to hit more 3-D screens, it likely would have been able to open with more moolah, but the technology is still being rolled out. (Manhattan was the only town in which the pic played exclusively in 3-D in all its bows.)”

But is 3-D still a novelty or a true market force? Keep in mind that 3-D movies charge more for admission. To see “Meet the Robinsons,” I paid $8.25 for a matinee screening at the Boardwalk. That’s not chicken change.

Disney's going to test 3-D’s draw again in October with a re-release of the 3-D version of "Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas." Its trailer was shown before "Meet the Robinsons" this weekend, and it looked quite good.

I personally didn't catch the first 3-D release of “Nightmare” during October 2006. Anyone? It made more than $9 million on just 187 screens, according to Variety.

Rereleases are fine and dandy, but I want to sample the sweets of newer eye candy. A new “Beowulf” gets a 3-D release, on 1,200 screens, in November.

If I could legally post a picture of my drool, I would.

Please trip over the 'Meet the Robinsons' façade

If you haven’t checked out the new exhibition “The Art of Disney’s ‘Meet the Robinsons’” at artspace yet, it’s definitely worth it. You’ll get to see a lot of William Joyce’s character and set sketches.

But before you pop into the building, take time to appreciate the building’s newest 3-D façade.

Joyce designed it, SRAC technical director Duane Rousseau figured out how to build it, and Alicia Smith painted it, according Joyce’s office.

Bumps on the road to 'Hollywood South?'

An article published in Baton Rouge's 225 magazine asks pointed questions about the efficiency of Louisiana's tax incentive program for the entertainment industry.

Read it here: "Lights, Camera, Inaction?"

The article focuses on producer John Sweeney's struggle to get Armada Studios built in East Feliciana Parish.

Chuck Hustmyre writes: "He has the investors, the location, and the support from East Feliciana Parish to buy a building there to be turned into movie soundstages and a film school. But the state Film Office and Division of Administration have yet to approve tax credits on the deal. The whole project has tangled in red tape for three months, and some of the projects on his slate are beginning to look at other locations."

This article is well worth the read. Thanks for alerting me, D.A.

'Meet the Robinsons' comes in second

“Meet the Robinsons” will come in second at the domestic box office, according to weekend estimates. Here are the top seven:

1. “Blades of Glory,” $33 million
2. “Meet the Robinsons,” $25.1 million
3. “300,” $11.2 million
4. “TMNT,” $9.2 million
5. “Wild Hogs,” $8.4 million
6. “Shooter,” $8 million
7. “Premonition,” $5.1 ($39.3 million to date)

In March 2005, “Robots” opened with about $36 million. The movie went on to earn $128 million through the domestic box office and $261 million worldwide. Shreveport’s William Joyce served as producer and production designer of “Robots.”

Joyce was executive producer of “Meet the Robinsons.” The movie is based on his picture book “A Day with Wilbur Robinson.”

It will be interesting to see if the movie’s digital 3-D version plays a factor in its lifespan at the box office.

“Premonition” was shot in northwest Louisiana during early 2006.

Source: rounded figures quoted from http://www.boxofficemojo.com/.

Is "Meet the Robinsons" good?

I'm no longer confused by the early reviews for "Meet the Robinsons." I saw the Disney animated movie this morning, wearing those stupidly awesome, totally crooked 3-D glasses. Is the movie good? Yes.

Oh, and by the way, it's great. Click here for my review.

I saw the movie with a crowd full of kids at the Louisiana Boardwalk’s theaters. Their screams for eye-popping effects made all the difference, I think.

This movie was definitely designed with digital 3-D in mind. But just how the effects are rendered will surprise you. They are used subtly and rarely overpower the story. The experience is immersive without being distracting.

The movie is based on Shreveporter William Joyce’s picture book “A Day with Wilbur Robinson,” if you haven’t already heard.

When you see it, tell me what you think!

On another note, what the heck are kids doing at a matinee screening on a weekday? Can you say bogus field trip, boys and girls?

Reviews for 'Meet the Robinsons' trickling in

See updates below.

Disney's "Meet the Robinsons" opens tomorrow and Shreveport has an iron in its fire.

William Joyce, successful children's author and rising moviemaker, is an executive producer. "Meet the Robinsons" is based on his 17-year-old book "A Day with Wilbur Robinson." (Joyce, a Shreveport native, also lives here with his family.)

Joyce's artspace exhibition about the movie opens Saturday. Like the artspace "Robots" exhibition which coincided with the release of that 2005 film, "The Art of Disney's 'Meet the Robinsons'" aims to show us nonanimators how a book gets, well, fully animated.

I review the movie tomorrow.

In the meantime, here are a few early, and mostly pithy, reviews. To keep track of what the critics are saying, keep watching this Metacritic page for "Meet the Robinsons."

LA Weekly's Ella Taylor likes the story and loves the clever animation.

EW's Lisa Schwarzbaum calls the story "unmanageable."

Premiere's Glenn Kerry writes that the movie is "a sometimes fun but mostly frustrating mess."

Empire's Helen OHara judges that "like its main character, it has too many ideas running round in its head to make any of them work."

I'm awaiting the more thorough verdicts by critics at the big guns: The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post.

UPDATE 4:32 p.m.

And now for the wordy reviews. These two watched it in 3D.

Read Ann Hornaday's review in The Post. She is one of the best movie critics writing today. "Stephen J. Anderson not only creates a visually arresting version of the future (picture Rube Goldberg by way of the Jetsons with a dash of David Lynch) but a terrific story as well. (Moral: Get over yourself.)"

Chicago Tribune's Michael Wilmington is impressed. "It's a real technical breakthrough, a cartoon feature done in 3D computer images of unusual depth and plasticity that creates its own crazy world and then dunks you in it."

UPDATE 9:15 p.m.

The New York Times's A.O. Scott hates "Meet the Robinsons." He writes, "This movie has more in common with cobbled-together junk like 'Chicken Little' and 'Treasure Planet' than with the studio’s classics."

The Los Angeles Times's Dennis Lim likes the design but questions the effects. "In other words, the stereoscopic effect, achieved through state-of-the-art digital technology, is used in no more modern a fashion than it was in the golden age of 3-D: the 1950s."

Variety's Todd McCarthy predicts big box office. "Snazzy entry should do strong if not smash biz through the spring, especially in the 600-plus theaters equipped to project it in the superb Disney Digital 3-D process."

Consider me thoroughly confused.

'Prison Break' will shoot (a little) in Louisiana

The FOX series "Prison Break" will be based in Dallas when it begins shooting its third season. But Louisiana will welcome some of its "splinter" unit work, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Click here to read more. I don't know where in Louisiana yet. All I know is that somewhere in Louisiana has to double for Panama.

Perhaps the state is getting closer to landing that all-important TV series. Why is it important? Many reasons. A full TV series takes a longer time to shoot than a feature film, typically. It would employ a crew for a fairly long time. It likely would give one of the state's soundstages some very consistent business.

Slow but steady sometimes wins the race.

Louisiana Film Festival results are in ...

... and non-Shreveporters cleaned house. The awards are listed below.

Though organizers hope to see more representation from north Louisiana next year, the widening participation is a healthy sign.

Pulling entries from out-of-state translates into more street cred, plain and simple. Bigger pool, more prestige.

It shines a brighter light on the festivals' supporters -- including the Robinson Film Center and Centenary College.

Lastly, the more non-local filmmakers show us what they can do, the more local filmmakers learn what they must do.

The following list and synopses were provided by festival co-organizer and RFC staffer Chris Jay. The synopses sum up what the judges had to say.

2007 LOUISIANA FILM FESTIVAL: STUDENT DIVISION AWARDS

The Jefferson Hendricks Achievement in Film Award ($500, top prize)
“The Starmaker” by Holden Brown
New Orleans, La.
“The Starmaker” is a combination of live action and animation that was unanimously selected by all five judges to receive the top prize. This is the first time in the festival’s history that a unanimous vote has ever occurred for the top prize. In the film, a young girl follows a falling star into the woods, where she becomes trapped by a frightening witch.

The Charitable Film Network Special Jury Prize ($150)
“A Game of Pool” by Ryan LeBoeuf
New Orleans, La.
LeBoeuf used experimental cinematography techniques to make it appear as though a man is competing against himself in a game of pool. This award is typically awarded for creativity and originality. LeBoeuf’s use of unusual camera techniques and creative editing made this selection stand out.

Best in Narrative ($100)
“Teenage Blues” by Samantha Smith
Picayune, Miss.
“Teenage Blues” is a silent film set to George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” which follows a student as he faces a school bully and strives to impress Bambi, the head cheerleader, while keeping his grades up. The film was also accepted to Mississippi’s Crossroads Film Festival.

Best in Documentary ($100)
“Schools of Change” by Caitlin Sullivan
New Orleans, La.
“Schools of Change” shows how several New Orleans-area schools have gone through major shifts in demographic make-up since Hurricane Katrina struck. It focuses specifically on Lusher Alternative Elementary School, a K-8 public school in the Orleans Parish School District.

Best in Animation ($100)
“High Speed Deception”
Bellaire, Texas
“High Speed Deception” is a very impressive combination of live action and animation, which centers around a car race between two rival racers. The animation techniques used were highly advanced for a student work.

Earthquake rocks 'The Mist'

Quint from Ain't It Cool News visited the set of "The Mist" for 10 days. He filmed an earthquake scene, which is narrated by director and screenwriter Frank Darabont. Quite fun. Pretty cool.

Click here to see it. I bet it lands on the DVD. (The link should be fixed.)

I also interviewed Darabont and wrote about a death scene for The Times. Click here. It's not as exciting, but I employ some pretty earth-shaking descriptions, I think.

All right, I'll admit it. The video's cooler. But I'm better looking than Quint. OK, fine, I'm just jealous. Satisfied?

Photo credit: Director and screenwriter Frank Darabont sits on the fog-shrouded set of “The Mist.” The Dimension Films production is set in a grocery store where customers are being attacked by killer pterodactyls. (Ralph Nelson/The Weinstein Co.)

Laura Poitras makes films to question power

Documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras spoke to Centenary College students today during a convocation. She will be the guest at this weekend’s Louisiana Film Festival, which begins Friday (March 23).

Poitras shared some compelling remarks. It’s not often that students (or me, for that matter) get to hear from an Oscar nominee.

Poitras’s “My Country, My Country” was nominated in the 2006 best documentary category. It focuses on one Iraqi doctor’s role in Iraq’s election process. It was shot in 2004 and 2005.

At the convocation, she screened her short film “If I Die Here,” which shows the doctor trying to get information about prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison. At the time of her filming -- just three months after news of the prisoner abuse scandal broke -- 2,300 prisoners were being detained without charge, she said.

“I don’t consider myself a war photographer,” Poitras said. “I don’t want to go to conflict zones and make films about people who have suffered.”

She talked about cinéma vérité, a style of documentary filmmaking that follows news, stories or conflicts as they unfold. (In other words, none of those annoying dramatic recreations of past events.)

“We’ve been trying to understand human nature and the choices we’ve made for centuries,” Poitras said. Her Iraq films look at people pressed to make decision during extraordinary circumstances.

She said she works “to make films that ask us to question power.”

She referenced images of the Holocaust and how important those became to our understanding of the scope of WWII. “If we didn’t have those images after Auschwitz, I don’t think we as a society would have struggled as much with what happened,” Poitras said.

I highly recommend “My Country, My Country,” and I hope to see her “Flag Wars.” The latter will be screened 7 p.m. Friday (March 23) in Kilpatrick Auditorium.

LOUISIANA FILM FESTIVAL: STUDENT DIVISION
WHEN: Friday-Saturday (March 23-24).
WHERE: Centenary College's Kilpatrick Auditorium, Woodlawn Avenue and Kings Highway, Shreveport.
COST: free.

Friday
2:30 p.m.: festival check-in and registration.
3 p.m.: screening session 1 (narrative).
5 p.m.: screening session 2 (documentary).
6 p.m.: dinner break.
7 p.m.: "Flag Wars" screening with guest filmmaker Laura Poitras.

Saturday
9:30 a.m.: festival check-in and registration.
10 a.m.: screening session 3 (animation and experimental).
11 a.m.: workshop with guest filmmaker Laura Poitras.
12:30 p.m.: lunch break.
1:30 p.m.: screening session 4 (regional showcase).
2:45 p.m.: screening session 5 (narrative).
4 p.m.: awards ceremony.

It pays to say ...

Dave Shaffer got much more than he bargained for when he agreed to work on “Premonition.”

The real-life nurse was hired to play an extra when the thriller filmed a scene at a closed hospital facility in Bossier City.

The easy gig didn't last long. When Shaffer’s real job became on-set knowledge, the extras casting director stepped in to promote him.

“You want to play a nurse?” the casting director asked.

“Am I being typecast?” Shaffer joked. “I was just supposed to be background decoration.”

He became something more. When Bullock rushed in to check on her daughter, Shaffer delivered his pricy line: “Are you the parent?”

With just four words, his pay jumped from $75 to more than $900.

More than $200 per word?! When I worked as a freelance writer, $200 meant seven stories!

I’m in the wrong business.

Shaffer now works as a post-op nurse in Bossier City.

P.S. Here's a little behind-the-scenes movie trivia from Dave: "Little known fact. When Sandra gets the injection on screen, it is not Hollywood Magic. She really gets a tetanus shot."

Local actor gets his schmooze on ...

John F. Daniel had a busy week. The local stage actor has been doing quite a bit of extra work since the movie industry suddenly arrived in northwest Louisiana.

Evidently, he's also put in some time at the local wrap parties. The top is Daniel with Renny Harlin, director of "Cleaner." Daniel attended the party with a friend named Jennifer. Finland-born Harlin made her smile with the following request: "You watch my movie, 'The Long Kiss Good Night.' It is about a strong kickass woman. You watch it and you think of me and I will be thinking of you." Easy, Renny! Down boy!

Also, here are pics of Daniel with a Samuel L. Jackson ("Cleaner") and John Cho ("Harold & Kumar 2").

Thanks, JFD. You're having much better success than me in getting camera time!

'Premonition' is not long for the big screens

So I reviewed "Premonition" today. Sorry to report it's a complete disaster of a mystery. It has more red herrings in it than my Uncle Herb's bloody live well. Superbly shot but horribly told.

Click here for my thoughts.

Meanwhile, if you disagree, tell me. Tell the readers. Tell the world. Post your own review to the comments box.

Critics just don't understand ...

Chris Jay's account of "The Tiger and the Snow" screening:

By all accounts, our co-presentation of Roberto Benigni's "The Tiger & The Snow" was far more successful than organizers had expected. Around 100 turned out for the film (sorry for the dark pic, it was snapped during the credits) and it seemed to be universally loved by the crowd. For a film that's currently got a 17% on Rottentomatoes.com, the audience tonight had a wonderful time.

-- Chris Jay works for the Robinson Film Center.

'Premonition' review forthcoming

On a related note, I'll be reviewing "Premonition" today. You'll see me, my computer and one hand pulling my receding hair at the 11:25 a.m. Boardwalk screening. Here are the words critics have written so far. Again, ouch. (Please don't throw tomatoes at me on the off chance I don't approve. I prefer apples.) "Premonition" was shot in northwest Louisiana.

See Roberto Benigni's "The Tiger and the Snow" tonight

SPECIAL SCREENING
WHAT: Roberto Benigni’s “The Tiger and the Snow.”
WHEN: 7 p.m. today (March 15).
WHERE: Regal Cinemas Louisiana Boardwalk 14, Bossier City.
COST: $7.50 at the door, or call Robinson Film Center at (318) 424-9090 to book in advance.
PRESENTED BY: Robinson Film Center and the Sons of Italy Heritage Club.

Read the reviews at Metacritic.com. (Ouch.)

Bullock's 'Premonition' opens Friday

Sandra Bullock's "Premonition" opens this weekend, and I'm just as curious as you to see if our region can serve as a good backdrop for a great thriller.

I didn't get to visit the set -- not for lack of trying -- but I do know it was filmed all over the place. (Quite the scoop, huh?)

They were keeping their secrets secret. And if memory serves me right, it just happened to be around the time when the potential of Bullock's "Infamous" -- the other "In Cold Blood" movie -- was getting buried by success of "Capote." Coincidence? Hmm.

Anyway.

Pop Matters has a decent piece on Bullock getting in trouble for saying she was a "romantic-comicalic in need of an intervention."

MSNBC has a funnier piece on her being a cable TV goddess.

Meanwhile, do you have a premonition about "Premonition?" Will it be good? Bad? So-so? A total stinker? I'll review it Friday morning.

I'm ready for the best- and worst-case scenarios, I assure you. I'm armed with references to "Lake House." Supernatural romance? Supernatural thriller? Where, oh, where is the career of Ms. Bullock headed?

I'm tinkering with my links

Folks:

I'm remapping the links and info on the righthand side of my blog (scroll down). If you see anything I'm missing -- like links to movie organizations or more production resources -- please email me at akent@gannett.com.

You'll be noticing a few more changes in the coming days. Whatever I do, I want this blog to serve as a stronger resource for what's going on.

Alexandyr

Robinson Film Center: Construction begins

Construction Worker Walks Through Building
Originally uploaded by Robinson Film Center.

The Robinson Film Center began building its new movie theaters and film education center on Monday. Boggs and Poole Contracting Group of Bossier City is handling the renovation.

RFC plans to offer daily screenings of independent, international and classic film.

If construction stays on track -- they want to open Nov. 12 or late 2007 -- RFC's theaters may open in time for the next round of Oscar contenders. Methinks that timing would let loose a major revenue stream for the nonprofit.

Two new opps for indie filmmakers

Entries sought for Moviesauce

Organizers of the Moviesauce Film Festival are seeking entries for their features, shorts and Louisiana categories.

Last year’s festival was held at the LSUS University Center and featured about two dozen films from the United States and other countries.

Organizers Evan Falbaum and Hunter Carter are hoping to feature more local work through the Louisiana category. It is open to all styles of work from narrative, documentary, experiment to short. Filmmakers of all ages can submit work for consideration.

Moviesauce will be accepting submissions through mid-August. The festival is scheduled to take place in Shreveport on Dec. 28-29. This year's festival will likely take place and the newly constructed Robinson Film Center.

For more information, log on to www.moviesauce.org and click on the withoutabox.com submissions link. Falbaum can be reached at (318) 458-8980.

Short filmmakers need cast and crew

Two independent student filmmakers are working to fill a variety of cast and crew positions for their short film, "Plummet."

They are casting for two male roles ages 18 to 23. They also seek a make-up artist (with experience), wardrobe supervisor and production assistant, among other crew positions. As many as 80 extras will be needed.

Students from northwest Louisiana are encouraged to apply.

Contact filmmakers Chris Lyon and Luke Lee at plummet@perennialmedia.com or (318) 294-1143 to discussion compensation and get more information.

Press those clothes!

The Robinson Film Center's Chris Jay filed this great audio story for Red River Radio this morning. He discusses the 24-minute documentary "I Always Do My Collars First." As Jay explains, the women in the doc take their ironing very seriously. One of the doc's makers is Bossier City native Allison Bohl.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: screening of "I Always Do My Collars First" followed by a filmmakers' Q&A session.
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 10.
WHERE: Kilpatrick Auditorium at Centenary College, 2911 Centenary Blvd. in Shreveport.
ADMISSION: free.

Samuel L. Jackson talks to kids ...

... and all I took was this lousy photograph.

Well, that's not entirely true. I also covered the event for The Times. Our photographer Shane Bevel handled the visuals. (Phew.) You'll find his stellar efforts online and in Saturday's Times.

Jackson was obviously overwhelmed by the size of the crowd and all the cameras and camera phones pointed his way. In addition to a few hundred kids, their were a few hundred parents, Head Start administrators and politicians standing in the wings and crowding the stage.

Jackson was gracious and managed to give a good pep talk to the tykes.

"Education is the key to getting you to go where you want to go," he said simply. He also spoke about helping to build a school in KwaZulu-Natal, a South African province.

"They go to a school that we built and support. They are kids like you who are looking for a better life," Jackson said. He encouraged people to do what they can to support education. "We will have a better place to live, and the world will be a better place."

Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah: Meet your 'Mad Money' ... costars?

In a bizarrely appropriate move to shake more movie extras out of the rafters, "Mad Money" casting directors will be hosting an extras casting call at the Mudbugs game on Saturday.

Hmm, I didn't know Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes and Diane Keaton liked hockey.

Here are just a few of the Mudbug fans who might apply to share some screen time with TomKat's better half. (Sorry, Tom. We're still friends.)

If they cast Mudbugs captain Dan Wildfong, it will confirm my suspicions: "Mad Money" is a slasher film. (Thank you, thank you, ladies and gentleman. I just flew in from Albuquerque and, boy, are my arms tired.)

EXTRAS CASTING CALL

FOR: "Mad Money." Begins shooting April 19 (tentative).

WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 10. It will take place during the Mudbug's game against the Okla. City Blazers (7:05 p.m. faceoff).

WHERE: CenturyTel Center, Bossier City.

DETAILS: to apply in person during the game, you must have a ticket to the game. BAM Casting will set up a table in CTC's concourse.

WHAT TO BRING: a headshot. If you don't have one, casting director will snap one.

SEEKING: persons looking like casino workers, bank tellers, airline workers, forklift drivers, mafia-style criminals, FBI agents, police and blues band members. They also need persons to work as stand-ins for the stars. (Clawed doesn't look anything like Katie Holmes, so forget it.)

COST TO APPLY: free, or a pound of crawfish.

CAN'T MAKE THE GAME?: call BAM Casting at (318) 525-1468 or email the office at info@bamcastingla.com. Its website, www.bamcastingla.com, isn't live yet, but they're working on it.

NEED TICKETS TO THE GAME?: www.mudbugshockey.com or www.centurytelcenter.com.

Photo 1: Mudbugs mascot Clawed (background) with three loyal fans. Lavern "Chicken Lady" Kethley, Tim "Tequilla Tim" Harms and Gail "Mama Puckhead" Fleetwood. (Jim Hudelson/The Times 10.12.05)

Photo 2: The Mudbugs' Dan Wildfong shakes hands with fans before the game against the Lubbock Cotton Kings Friday night at the Centurytel Center.(Curt Youngblood/The Times 12.01.06)

Photo 3: Dennis Mercon from Shreveport, Chad Crank from Bossier, and Jeff Maddox from Homer all cheer on the Shreveport Mudbugs during their game against the Centeral Texas Stampede from their seats behind the Mudbugs bench. (Jim Hudelson/The Times 10.21.97)

TomKat is coming ...

The New York Post’s Page Six reports that Tom Cruise will be accompanying Katie Holmes on the set of “Mad Money” every day. The Millennium Films movie will begin production in April in Shreveport and also will star Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton.

Page Six’s Richard Johnson quotes an unnamed inside source as saying, “Tom has called producers and told them he will be on set every day. He wants to observe what's going on and will probably help Katie out."

“Mad Money” producer Jim Acheson told Page Six, "I don't know if that's the case, so I can't confirm. We are happy to have both Katie and Tom on set."

To read Page Six’s full story, click here.

Auction memorabilia for the 'Harold & Kumar 2' party

Meet cast and crew
WHAT: “Harold & Kumar 2” fundraising party.
WHY: Cast and crew hope to raise money for Carol Trevino’s children. The producer’s assistant worked on the movie and was killed in a car accident south of Shreveport on Feb. 13.
WHEN: 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10.
WHERE: artspace, 710 Texas St., Shreveport.
COST: $10 suggested donation will be requested at the door.
LIVE AUCTION: additional money will also be raised through a live auction, which will include autographed memorobilia from “Harold & Kumar” stars like Kal Penn, John Cho and Neil Patrick Harris, plus other Hollywood celebrities like Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, Jane Fonda, Jon Heder, Bret Easton Ellis, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Raimi, Frank Darabont and Andre Braugher. Mandate Pictures and New Line Cinema, the companies making “Harold & Kumar 2,” will each match all monies raised up to $10,000.

And more memorabilia for the 'HK2' party ...

‘Harold & Kumar 2’ cast, crew to host public fundraising party for Carol Trevino

The makers of “Harold & Kumar 2” will host a fundraising party on Saturday, March 10, at artspace.

Money raised through the event will be donated to the children of Carol Trevino. The Ohio native worked on “Harold & Kumar 2” as an assistant to the producers. She was killed in a car accident south of Shreveport on Feb. 13.

The party will take place between 5 and 7 p.m. and will be open to the public. A $10 donation will be requested at the door.

Inside artspace’s galleries, partygoers will be able to bid on a variety of movie memorabilia donated to a live auction. Items will include autographed photos, posters, DVD, scripts, storyboards and sheet music.

Some items will be signed by the stars of “Harold & Kumar 2” like Kal Penn, John Cho and Neil Patrick Harris. Other items will be signed by a variety of celebrities, including Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, Jane Fonda, Jon Heder, Bret Easton Ellis, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Raimi, Frank Darabont and Andre Braugher.

Partygoers will also be able to bid on a visit to the set of “Harold & Kumar 2,” which finishes filming in northwest Louisiana on March 14.

Artspace is located at 710 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport.

Cast and filmmakers will be present at the party.

I’ll dish more details as they become available.

Halle Berry is coming! (To New Orleans.)

Are you tired of movie news yet? I'm not. (Job security.)

Denzel is scouting. ... Samuel L. Jackson was on Letterman. ... Millennium Films is making a billion new movies here (slight exaggeration), and Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes (Mrs. TomKat) and Diane Keaton are coming. ... Martin Lawrence is about start filming. ... Ain't It Cool News is all over "The Mist," a Stephen King-Frank Darabont movie shooting inside StageWorks of Louisiana.

So when a reader notified me that another big name was coming to Louisiana -- Halle Berry! -- I pulled the toothpicks from my eyelids (slight exaggeration), picked up my cell and started workin' my sources. And a smarter guy on the copy desk reading the Advocate's business wire beat me to the punch!

Alas, fair Shreveporters, fair Bossier Citians, fair Mindenites, fair northwest Louisianans ... the Oscar-winner is apparently not coming to our fair parts.

Berry will begin filming "Tulia" in May. It's being made by Element Pictures and LIFT Productions and released by Lionsgate. It will be shot in and around New Orleans, according to the wire story.

Now come on, Halle. I've been working hard this week! Can't you make a movie reporter's day a little more exciting? A little more busy?

If you (not you, Halle) find movie tips or rumors during your daily surfings, email me. Please! I like this job security thing.

Photo: Actress Halle Berry poses as she arrives at the 2006 British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles Cunard Britannia Awards, Thursday night, Nov. 2, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

BTW students abuzz about Denzel

The Robinson Film Center's Chris Jay got caught up in a little Denzel madness this morning while teaching at Booker T. Washington High School. Here's a report from Chris:

According to students in The Robinson Film Center’s “Lights, Camera, Learning!” introductory digital filmmaking class at Booker T. Washington High School, Denzel also dropped by Fair Park High School to check out their auditoriums and classrooms.

This kind of report – especially from a student – is the very definition of “unreliable,” so a BTW faculty member and I called Fair Park and they confirmed it.

The staff member that we spoke to described the visit as a complete surprise – a van pulled up, the hallways were cleared, and Denzel and his crew inspected the areas they were interested in.

As more and more stars sign on to shoot films in Shreveport, student interest in filmmaking has gone through the roof. Just the fact that Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence, Queen Latifah, and Denzel Washington have laid foot on Shreveport soil (or will soon) has been enough to convince even the most cynical of my students that this is an actual career possibility for them.

It’s a wonderful side effect of the industry’s arrival in town.

BTW’s Telecommunications Magnet students are currently involved in creating a wonderful film of their own, entitled “All Things Come to Light,” which will premiere at the Louisiana Film Festival – Student Division March 24 at Centenary College.

So, Denzel, if you’re reading, I know some very talented young cinematographers, script supervisors, directors, and propmasters! Anyone (Academy Award-winner or otherwise) who’d like to learn more about our introductory filmmaking classes at BTW can read more and see photos of the filming process at our Flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinsonfilmcenter

Thanks, Chris.

And don't forget Denzel ...

Times reporter Vickie Welborn filed this report for today's paper. Hope you didn't miss it:

Denzel Washington visits Central School

GRAND CANE -- Staff and students of Central School in Grand Cane got an unexpected surprise Wednesday morning when movie star Denzel Washington and five members of his production team stopped by to check out the school's auditorium and classrooms for possible use in an upcoming movie, "The Great Debaters."

Principal Greg Womack said he had a little advance notice that Washington would stop by. He was pleased that Washington, who when word of his presence on campus quickly spread throughout the small student body, took time to visit classrooms, talk to students and teachers and pose for photographs.

"You can tell the man loves children," Womack said. "And they certainly enjoyed the time he spent with them."

Womack said it's not etched in stone that the school will be used, but he got an indication from the production crew that it's a possibility. If so, filming would begin in late May.

Washington also was in Mansfield touring the DeSoto Parish Courthouse.

Washington is the director of "The Great Debaters," a drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas, who in 1936 inspired students from the school's first debate team that went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.

Photo: Denzel Washington starred in "Deja Vu," which was shot in New Orleans. (Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Scott Free Productions.)

More Millennium movies, Katie Holmes on the way

We just posted the following to www.shreveporttimes.com:

Michael Flannigan, an executive producer with Millennium Films, confirmed three more movie projects may be coming to Shreveport soon.

After the company wraps production on “Cleaner” in the next two weeks, it will likely begin production on “Mad Money,” starring Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton.

“It’s not officially green lit yet, but it’s very close,” Flannigan said.

Flannigan said the movie may begin production in mid April. He also confirmed the movie productions “My Beautiful Mistake,” a comedy which could begin production as early as the end of April, and a project called “The Poison Rose,” which may be coming later in the year.

Photo: Star of the film Katie Holmes arrives for the European premiere of Batman Begins, at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London Sunday June 12, 2005. (AP Photo / Lindsay Parnaby/PA)