‘Dog..’ uh… ‘Bearclaw’! Starring Brad and Chris

Posted by Kevin at proxy-157.iap.bryant.webtv.net on April 22, 1998 at 00:36:21:

That’s right – your fave NewsAskew-hounds did a little thesping today. Expect to read about their three-picture deal in the trades this week.

Also on tap today – Team Askew’s own Brian Quinn, Bill Woods, and occassional-Askewer Nick Giovanetti.

Oh – and Ben and Matt.

We shot the airport out today, and considering we were dealing with almost two hundred extras and the constant thunder of the FAA-regulated p.a. system, it went pretty damn well. It’s actually a very funny scene now, considering the amount of exposition it contains, and sports my two favorite lines of the week (“…that says, that says “I’ll… I’ll fucking spank you! ” and “WHO CARES WHO SENT THE PAPER?!?!”, both of which I’m not doing justice here), not to mention Affleck’s funniest delivery of the moment (“A killing spree is not going to make things better for us!”). Following the shoot, Ben was whisked off to the NY ‘Sliding Doors’ premiere, and I caught some much-needed zzzz’s, before heading out to catch Vincent‘s Q&A at CMU (a whole lotta abreviations in the above thought; we’re a lazy people with a lazy language, aren’t we?).

Tomorrow, we start a complicated two-day sequence with more set-ups planned than my tiny mind can possibly grasp (trying to expand my craft here, folks). If it goes as well as today did, I think we may just have a decent picture on our hands.

Ben AFFLECK

TV work includes: Against the Grain (1993-1994)

Major movies: “Chasing Amy”, “Good Will Hunting”The Oscar-winning screenwriter (for “Good Will Hunting”) played the reluctant star quarterback in a small Texas town in this drama (above). But NBC executives took a while to warm up to the idea of Affleck in a lead role. “They really didn’t want him,” recalls cocreator Dave Alan Johnson, even though Affleck had already appeared in the film “School Ties” and, from 8 to 14, had hosted the PBS documentary series The Voyage of the Mimi. Originally, Johnson says Affleck tried out for the part of a prima donna player. “We were sold on the idea that this guy is a jerk, but he turned around and could play this hero that everyone loved,” Johnson says. “He was so convincing in both roles, yet they were polar opposites.”

In the world of independent movies, where taking risks is the norm, Object‘s treatment of homosexuality would not seem so unusual. In fact, one of last year’s most critically acclaimed films was the low-budget ChasingAmy, in which a straight man falls in love with a lesbian.

But Chasing Amy cost $200,000; The Object of My Affectioncost $30 million. Since the financial stakes are much larger, Hollywood movies must appeal to a massive audience to make a profit. Producers play it safe and rely on stereotypes, assuming that if the gay characters behave as general audiences think they behave, no one will be offended.

Just spoke with Ben – Casey‘s on set in NYC doing Ridley Scott‘s direction.

Just spoke with Ben – Casey‘s on set in NYC doing ‘200 Cigarettes’. Since he’s shooting this evening, it’s a safe assumption that he’s not shuffled loose the mortal coil.

Folks, you might want to verify shit like that before you throw it into cyberspace. It just about gave Affleck cardiac arrest. Please – a little more responsibility in the future.

Short of that, there’s nothing much new to report. Same old, same old – shot some great stuff, captured some amazing performances, watched some great dailies.

Like anything else in life, it all becomes somewhat commonplace after the first few weeks. Unlike much else in life, the moment we start shooting a new scene, it’ll all take on that spring feeling of crisp, fresh renewal.

Good God – I’m starting to sound like smalls.

Anyhoo, I saw some pix of our ‘God’ in her costume. Quite nice. Abigail (the costume designer) has outdone herself yet again – no easy feat, that, as all the wardrobe in the flick’s been quite keen thus far.

Today, the Miramax folks held a photo session for the poster shoot. One by one, they’re snapping portraits of the cast, for what we’re all sure is going to be another exemplary Miramax campaign on this flick when it nears release. Jay and I won’t be shooting ours until after we wrap Pittsburgh, but mostly everyone else will be done by then.

Tomorrow, we finish what we affectionately refer to as ‘the train sequence’. After that, it’s a day down on the Lord’s day (only fitting on this picture), and back at it Monday morn.

We’re almost at the halfway mark for the shoot, folks. And while the end’s not in sight just yet, I can see a time when I’ll be able to kick back at the Stash and not worry about a 7:00am call time…

Which is what I’m doing now. G’night.