Designer Spring Preview
There are few traditional "trends" in the upcoming season -- in fact, if we were to tag anything, it would be that each designer is marching to the beat of their own drums, and listening to their own muse. We like that. Rather than compete with each other, the pallet offers a variety of styles, colors, and unlike many other seasons, there's really something for everyone of varying sizes and ages.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
• Burberry Marrick Jacket: Choose fuchsia or black. Drawstring stand collar; front zip. Three-quarter trumpet sleeves. Flap pockets. Drawstring waist. Inverted pleat on back. Polyamide/polyurethane. $495
• Burberry Straight-Leg Pants: Choose white or chino. Straight legs. Extended-tab/zip front; belt loops. Cotton/spandex. $475
•Pringle of Scotland Drop-Shoulder Coat: Silver/gray. Jewel neckline; wrap front. Three-quarter sleeves with inverted pleat detail. Tie waist. Polyester. $1,650
• Pringle of Scotland Pleated Silk Dress: Black/white/gray brushstroke print. V neckline. Sleeveless; pleated shoulders. Side slash pockets. Ruched back. Pure silk. $1,295
And the Ultimate in Luxury....
Carolina Herrera Feather-Detailed Dress
Flight of fancy—a fine-feathered frock.
• Black.
• Floral appliqué, beading, and feather detail on bodice.
• Banded waist with ruched detail.
• Pleated A-line skirt.
• Back zip.
• Pure silk organza.
• Made in USA. $3,990.00
check out the above dresses at Neiman Marcus or neimanmarcus.com
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Smart and Gracious
We were glad to see that our favorite ANTM contestant (OK, our only one) was able to un-wrangle herself (albeit not unscathed) at least legally, from the dramatic unfortunately sad troubles that plagued her earlier this month, during a trip from her native New Mexico (Albuquerque) to Oregon (Portland).
Elyse Sewell, who we believe may be the smartest beautiful woman in the world, has kept a live journal for a couple of years now. The Season One ANTM was a major standout not only in that nascent season, but the series’ entire run.
She came in what could be considered third in the year that My Fair Brady/Surreal Life star Adrienne Curry won.
Well, Sewell showed them, leaving the series without a tear (though they asked her to shed some) and continued on, to an amazing international modeling career, all the while indulging her quirky sense of the absurd through articulate, funny observations through her live journal, and her own keen photographic eye. Despite the fact that Sewell is rail thin (there was some hoopla on ANTM in which she was accused of being anorexic), she has an innate interest in the unique foods she encounters on her various modeling assignment.
The candor in which she details (although not often enough for the legions of fans who regularly leave her messages/comments for her entries) her adventures will hopefully, one day, be turned into a book.
At any rate, it was that very candor that called national attention to the domestic disturbance call at a Sacramento Hotel. Sewell blogged about the horrific incident, prompting it to get picked up in various small newspapers, blogs and her now-ex boyfriend Marty Crandall (of The Shins) hometown paper The Oregonian.
We came into the fray late. We check Sewell’s journal a couple of times a month, maybe, because we are always amused by the images she posts and impressed with her writing. We’re frequently thinking, how can she be so smart and so beautiful? Then, we think, envious much?
But we certainly weren’t when we read about what happened to Sewell that fateful night. The couple had been dating for seven years and Sewell had once candidly admitted that she forgave Crandall for an indiscretion (translate: he cheated on her). What may have surprised fans – and certainly impressed us BeansTalkers – is that Crandall always gave the appearance of a super nice buddy, the proverbial funny and smart, but in a pudgy package.
They were an adorable pair, simply because they were such contrasts physically, and Sewell adored him for him. And that made us like her even more.
She showed her utter graciousness with one of her most recent posts regarding the incident (we won’t get into it here, you can find it in a news search online if you must), posting the following on 8 January:
Gettin' ready for court. I fancy my court appearance to be pretty fly despite puffy eyes and the giant jail boil on my chin that yesterday, in my anxiety, I picked into scabrous oblivion. Better pack some candy in case I end up in jail tonight and regret not grabbing my last chance for an M&M:
Soon I will find out whether I will be prosecuted or the District Attorney will drop the felony charges. Ugh, how distasteful that I even have to think about those boring legal words. Out with "own recognizance." In with "puissance." Out with "remand." In with "undine."
Do not prosecute!
Pray for mojo.
Update: The D.A. has rejected the case against me. I am free. I wish the same outcome for Marty and have no intention of pursuing any further legal action. I would not wish entanglement in the widening gyre of the American legal system upon my worst enemy.
It was incredibly naive of me not to realize that my blog entry about this incident would become tabloid fodder. That was not my intention. I consider the small circle of people who frequent this LJ to be a support group; the much larger world of tabloid readers is certainly not. I will never speak of this again, nor malign Marty in this space. And tomorrow this'll be fishwrap.
Expect few updates to this journal in the next couple of weeks as I will be untangling the web of seven years of cohabitation with my ex-boyfriend, packing up my shit, and thickening up a plot to travel and work in more temperate climes.
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The most recent entry tells readers that she’s heading back to Asia and work. Good for her.
We gave the slightest pause to a thread on one of her journal entries in which a reader asked if Sewell meant (based on another entry) that had this incident not become public, she and Crandall would have continued on as a couple, and Sewell responded, yes, that’s what I meant.
Perhaps it took something this significant to brought into the forefront, in the public eye, to motivate her to finally move on from the toxic. But as they say, the only ones who really know a relationship are those who are in it. Let us hope that she finds happiness and joy, continues to post on her journal and travel the world. And, of course, find joy.
We had the pleasure of talking to Luc (her agent) and subsequently interviewing her for our day job, although annoyingly, as is the case with these things, the mag never ran the story. She was very cute about the French keyboard being different from the one she was accustomed to, emailing from some Parisien café. What endeared her to fans on ANTM, as the sarcastic and articulate pre-med student, with the model-ready body and angelic and expressive face, really does come across, even if it was via technology, from Paris to Hollywood.
That’s what’s so darn appealing about Sewell: she has a self-deprecating charm, an always available sense of humor, she's scarily brilliant, and manages to bring personality into her stunning modeling photographs.
Elysesewell.livejournal.com
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
From towleroad.com:
Ledger's Final Portrait
On his last visit to Perth in December, Heath Ledger sat for artist Vincent Fantauzzo. Fantauzzo had planned to submit his portrait for the Archibald Prize this year, but released the image early with the approval of Ledger's family.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports: "The painting depicts the notoriously private actor as three separate images. The central, and largest, image is of Ledger, bare-chested, looking straight ahead, appearing pained and exhausted. The two background images are of Ledger wearing humorous expressions, whispering into the ears of his foreground image. Fantauzzo said he felt privileged to have worked with Ledger. 'Heath was a very private person, which is one of the reasons I was so honoured that he allowed me to paint him,' Fantauzzo told reporters. 'He was so easy and professional to work with. He didn't need any direction, (he was) absolutely focused. Once done, he was back to his usual charismatic self.' Ledger's childhood friend, hip hop artist N'fa, told Channel Ten News the actor couldn't wait to see the finished work. 'He was very excited about it. He was very excited to see the finished product,' N'fa said. N'fa said the picture had captured Ledger perfectly. 'This is the way he always was. He was always a thought ahead.'"
Above image and text from towleroad.com
Monday, January 28, 2008
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD HONORS OUTSTANDING FILM AND TELEVISION PERFORMANCES AT THE 14th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS®
Los Angeles, California - Screen Actors Guild presented its coveted Actor® statuette for the outstanding motion picture and primetime television performances of 2007 at the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® in ceremonies attended by film and television’s leading actors, held Sunday, Jan. 27 at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. The 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® was simulcast by TNT and TBS at 8 p.m., ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and 6 p.m. MT
The honorees were selected by the active Guild membership nationwide.
Charles Durning was presented with Screen Actors Guild’s highest honor, the 44th Annual Life Achievement Award by Burt Reynolds following a filmed tribute introduced by Denis Leary.
Honored with individual awards were Daniel Day-Lewis, Julie Christie, Javier Bardem and Ruby Dee for performances in motion pictures and Kevin Kline, Queen Latifah, James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey for performances in television. Screen Actors Guild originated awards for the outstanding performances by a motion picture cast and by television comedy and drama ensembles. The Actor® for a motion picture cast performance went this year to “No Country for Old Men” and the Actors® for television comedy and drama ensemble performances went this year to “The Office” and “The Sopranos”. Screen Actors Guild’s new honors for outstanding performances by a stunt ensemble in film and television were awarded to “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “24”.
Screen Actors Guild is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee. Blair Underwood introduced the filmed tributes which chronicled key moments in SAG’s 75-year history and celebrated the diverse actors who contributed to the Guild’s emergence as the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors.
PEOPLE magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) hosted the Screen Actors Guild Post-Awards Gala for the twelfth year. This exclusive event honors the philanthropic causes and good works of the members of the Screen Actors Guild. The gala, benefiting the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, immediately followed the SAG Awards on the back lot of the Shrine Exposition Center.
The 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® is a presentation of Jeff Margolis Productions in association with Screen Actors Guild. Jeff Margolis is the executive producer and director. Kathy Connell is the producer. Yale Summers, Daryl Anderson, Shelley Fabares, Paul Napier and JoBeth Williams are producers for SAG. Gloria Fujita O’Brien and Mick McCullough are supervising producers. Stephen Pouliot is the writer. Benn Fleishman is executive in charge of production.
The complete list of recipients of the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® follows.
14th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS®
RECIPIENTS
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURESRECIPIENTS
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Daniel Plainview – There Will Be Blood (Paramount Vantage)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
JULIE CHRISTIE / Fiona – Away From Her (Lionsgate)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh – No Country For Old Men (Miramax Films)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas – American Gangster (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Miramax Films)
| JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh JOSH BROLIN / Llewelyn Moss GARRET DILLAHUNT / Wendell TESS HARPER / Loretta Bell | WOODY HARRELSON / Carson Wells TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell KELLY MACDONALD / Carla Jean Moss |
PRIMETIME TELEVISION
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – As You Like It (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – Life Support (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – The Sopranos (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – 30 Rock (NBC)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – 30 Rock (NBC)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)
| GREGORY ANTONACCI / Butch DeConcini LORRAINE BRACCO / Dr. Jennifer Melfi EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano DAN GRIMALDI / Patsy Parisi ROBERT ILER / Anthony Soprano, Jr. MICHAEL IMPERIOLI / Christopher Moltisanti ARTHUR NASCARELLA / Carlo Gervasi | STEVEN R. SCHIRRIPA / Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri MATT SERVITTO / Agent Dwight Harris JAMIE-LYNN SIGLER / Meadow Soprano TONY SIRICO / Paulie “Walnuts” Gaultieri AIDA TURTURRO / Janice Soprano STEVEN VAN ZANDT / Silvio Dante FRANK VINCENT / Phil Leotardo |
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE OFFICE (NBC)
| LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson BRIAN BAUMGARTNER / Kevin Malone CREED BRATTON / Creed STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott JENNA FISCHER / Pam Beesly KATE FLANNERY / Meredith Palmer MELORA HARDIN / Jan Levinson ED HELMS / Andrew Bernard | MINDY KALING / Kelly Kapoor ANGELA KINSEY / Angela Martin JOHN KRASINSKI / Jim Halpert PAUL LIEBERSTEIN / Toby Flenderson B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard OSCAR NUÑEZ / Oscar Martinez PHYLLIS SMITH / Phyllis Lapin RAINN WILSON / Dwight Schrute |
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Universal)
| Evangelos Grecos* Jeff Imada* Miguel Pedregosa* Gary Powell* Darrin Prescott* Scott Rogers* My Rachid Abbad Don Abbatiello George Aguilar Brian Keith Allen Guimoar Alonso William Anagnos Roy T. Anderson Scott Armstrong Luis Miguel Arranz Chris Barnes Randy Beckman Said Belaamim Nikki Berwick Michael Bornhütter David Bosch Tim Buchanan Paul Bucossi Peter Bucossi | Mike Burke Bruce Cain Chris Cenatiempo John Cenatiempo Nick Chopping Bob Colletti Chris Colombo George Colucci, Jr. Gil Combs Aris Comninos Ben Cooke Benito Benitez Crespo Eugenio Jimenez Cubillo J. Patrick Daily Juan Carlos Delgado Kelly Dent Jacob Dewitt Miguel Diaz-Aboitiz George R. Doering Iii Levan Doran Norman Douglass Geoffrey Dowell Ben Dimmock Georg Ebina | Rick English Peter Epstein Jonathan Eusebio Roy Farfel Adil Farsi John Favre Victor Fernandez Frank Ferrara Stephanie Finochio Dean Forster Glenn Foster Tanner Foust Marvin Francis Jeremy Fry Tim Gallin David Garrick Andy Godbould Eduardo Gomez Mohamed Gouyd James Grogan Tarik Hadouch R.D. Hansen Eugene Harrison Franklin Henson |
| Adolfo Heredia Rob Herring Cort Hessler Iii Donald J. Hewitt Don Hewitt, Sr. Jery Hewitt Jorge Huergo Jason Hunjan Rob Hunt Rob Inch Rowly Irlam Martin Ivanov Victor Ivanov Keone Kim Adam Kirley Mike Lambert Joanne Lamstein Abdelghani Lasfer Derek Lea Maurice Lee David Leitch Antonio Lemos Samir Machtioui John E. Mack Steve Mack Guillermo Maestre Stephen Mann Paul Marini Erik Martin Boris Martinez Santiago Martinez Anna Mastroianni Darren Maynard | Nick Mckinless Jeffrey Medeiros Erol Mehmet Andy Merchant Milesy (Peter) Miles Lee Millham Gareth Milne Lee Morrison Mark Mottram Dino Muccio Ray Nicholas Brian Sonny Nickels James O’dee Chris O’hara Shawn O’neil Mick O’rourke Oscar Outerino Janet Paparazzo Jesus Silva Pascasio Peter Pedrero David Pope Greg Powell Dominic Preece Susan Purkhiser Eva Raboso Markus Ranglack Buster Reeves John Roney Markos Rounthwaite Allison Ryan Johan Saentz Ignacio Garcia J. Sanchis Lutz Schleisner | Kevin Scott Gordon Seed Terry Serpico Diz Sharpe Matt Sherren Nicola Short Dave Shumbris Keith Siglinger Craig “Frosty” Silva Jorge Silva Tony Van Silva Peter B. Simpson Brian Smyj Mark Southworth Marvin Stewart-Campbell Matt Stirling John Street Gary Tacon Alberto Zapata Tatje Roy Taylor Shawnna Thibodeau Arran Topham Mustapha Touki Greg Tracy Manuel Valle Aaron Vexler Vincent Wang Dave Ware Dean Watt Reg Wayment Ronny Wechselberger Donna C. Williams Jose Zorrilla *Stunt Coordinators |
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24 (FOX)
| Jeff Cadiente* Terri Cadiente Troy Gilbert | Tracy Hite Dustin Meier Erik Stabenau | Justin Sundquist *Stunt Coordinators |
Screen Actors Guild Awards 44th Annual Life Achievement Award
Charles Durning
Alive Expo Green Pavilion It's a wrap!
From Stacy Broff: January 18th-20th Park City, UT..."Great green" was the buzz about town from everyone who visited Alive Expo Green Pavilion at Treasure Mountain Inn. One of the first suites on the scene and by far the "greenest," celebrities, film makers and eco-friendly supporters stop by to check out the latest beauty, fashion, health and wellness green goods!
Tim Daly, Bill Pullman and Elle Fanning, part of the PHOBE IN WONDERLAND cast, took a few minutes to make some handprints for Olympic Paints. They were happy to dip into a little non toxic paint for a good cause. Olympic Paint-Forbo Floorings "Hands Of Fame" collected famous prints to auction off at Alive Expo Green Pavilion Oscar event in February. The proceeds go toward World Peace One, Global Peace concert.
Reggie Bush gave his autograph for Alaska Wilderness League; I'm Organic "We Add Up":t-shirts. Each t-shirt signifies a different way to help save the environment and is number to track donations. Reggie's girlfriend/alleged fiance, Kim Kardashian, picked up a few beauty products and she headed out of the hotel for a busy day on the Sundance scene. Aubrey Organics had great travel size products for the ladies and gents. Miss America 2007, Rachel Smith picked up a smoking dress from Pop Rock, vintage t-shirts turned into fashion, accessories and pieces for your pooch, aka Pup Rock and some cool cufflinks from CuffWear. Sienna Miller was spotted wearing a pair of double dangle earrings made from by Smart Glass. Other celebrity guests such as Lin Shaye, Patricia Clarkson, Cassandra Hepburn, Rex Lee, Donovan Lietch, John Jean Louis ( Heroes), Jeremy Glazer, John Eckhouse, Brandon Molale, John Newton and Mo Gallini (seen here with BeansTalk friend Stacy Broff. Btw, trivia note: years ago we were acquainted with "Mo" way [way] back when we were still BFFs with his sister, he still used his original name, had lots of curly hair and came fresh from Miami to be with his family) , enjoyed Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps, Pure & Basic; Head Organics, ridding of some toxics with Detox America, health diagnostic screenings. After all that browsing everyone snacked on RiceWorks, very delicious chips for the health concious, Goyin, antioxidant drinks and just in case anyone needed a little coifing, celebrity stylist Richie Arpino was on hand for a touch up!
Alive Expo Green Pavilion makes its next stop at The Sofitel, February 22nd & 23rd to support Oscar with a little green. For information please visit www.aliveExpoGreenPavilion.com or www.AliveExpo.com
Friday, January 25, 2008
Vintage Icons, Yummy Lip Balms
New cosmetics company on10 announces the launch of its first collection, introducing sophisticated and scrumptious lip balms inspired by the scents, flavors and vintage artwork of classic candy and beverage icons The Hershey Company, Dr Pepper and Schweppes Ginger Ale. Part beauty aid, part stylish accessory, the collection satisfies a craving for a pampered pout while evoking a chic sense of nostalgia. on10 has entered into a retail agreement with Sephora, the leading specialty beauty retailer in the U.S., to exclusively carry the brand for two years.
For the ultimate indulgence with none of the calories, on10’s debut includes a tantalizing selection of mouthwatering lip balms. Sample from luscious Hershey’s Almond in a classic round tin, Dr Pepper Berries & Cream in an antique apothecary tube, creamy Hershey’s Sweet Milk Chocolate in an elegant sliding tin, and citrus-kissed Schweppes Sparkling Pink Grapefruit or Dr Pepper, both available in sleek, purse-friendly compacts. Tempting tin trios offer a refreshing cocktail of Schweppes Sparkling Pink Grapefruit, Schweppes Lime and Schweppes Tonic Water, or the sinfully rich taste of Hershey’s Vanilla Cream, Hershey’s Sweet Milk Chocolate and Hershey’s Almond. The unmistakable scents and flavors are so authentic, lips and hips will be thankful.
Packaging is equally genuine, showcasing exclusive artwork and iconic images ranging from the turn of the century through the stylistic 1920’s, straight from the archives of Dr Pepper, Schweppes Ginger Ale and The Hershey Company. Luxurious extras like decorative paper sleeves, vintage wallpaper-inspired patterns and wax seals add a refined sensibility to the lineup.
Lips will also benefit from a beauty-boosting formulation that softens and conditions with every application. A blend of organic extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, rosemary and vitamin e keep lips nurtured and moisturized, while spf 15 protects lips from environmental damage.
The collection will retail exclusively at Sephora stores nationwide and online beginning February 2008, with retail prices ranging from $9.00 to $16.00.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Muskett Scores Miss Austen Regrets
We are in heaven. We've been DVR'ing the Masterpiece Classic Jane Austen films -- even though we have them on DVD, they're amazon.co.uk purchases and were to be played on a multi-region DVD player, which as subsequently, irrevocably, broken down. We must admit we've watched the newest Persuasion (our favorite Austen story) four times already.
So, we're quite excited about the film to air on 3 February on PBS, Miss Austen Regrets, which examines the final years of our all-time favorite author. BTW, star Olivia Williams is no stranger to Austen tales. She starred as Jane Fairfax in the 1996 version of Emma (the one with Kate Beckinsale, not the Gwynth Paltrow version).
Multiple award-winning composer Jennie Muskett departs from her action and dramatic scores for “Spooks MI-5” and “The State Within” to set a romantic yet dramatic tone to “Miss Austen Regrets,” based on Jane Austen’s own letters and diaries. “Miss Austen Regrets” will be presented by PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre on February 3rd. The feature is a co-production of BBC and WGBH. The critically acclaimed mini-series “The State Within,” also featuring Muskett’s score, is currently nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. The score albums for both “The State Within” and “Miss Austen Regrets” will be released by Nicabella Records in February.
Based on the life and letters of Jane Austen, “Miss Austen Regrets” tells the story of the novelist's final years. The drama provides an insight into Austen's own romantic life, examining why, despite setting the standard for romantic fiction, she died having never married or met her own Mr Darcy. Jennie Musket incorporated a full London orchestra to perform her score.
Widely recognized for her musical contributions, Muskett’s score for the hit BBC series “Spooks (MI-5)” earned her two BAFTA nominations. Her trademark theme for “Spooks (MI-5)” clearly identifies this popular program. In addition, Muskett has scored projects for Miramax, Paramount, Disney, Discovery, IMAX, and the BBC. Over the past two years the British composer has made her mark in Hollywood with scores for “Material Girls,” starring Hilary Duff and Anjelica Huston and “The Prince and Me,” directed by Martha Coolidge. “Her music was literally a revelation,” said Coolidge.
Jennie Muskett studied at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London followed by a career as a cellist, playing for notable UK orchestras. Her composing career began when she was invited to write the music for a natural history documentary which spurred further commissions. Muskett’s passion for the environment and the natural world inspires a unique and diverse ethnicity in her scores. Inevitably, Muskett’s documentary work has received worldwide praise, winning her two Emmy’s for “Best Outstanding Original Score” and five Emmy nominations. Muskett’s film credits include “Material Girls,” “The Prince and Me,” “Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe,” “Mr. In-Between,” “Boxed,” and “The Secrets of Life on Earth.”
On Miss Austen Regrets
Olivia Williams, Greta Scacchi and Hugh Bonneville lead an all-star cast in BBC One’s feature-length period drama Miss Austen Regrets.
Based on the life and letters of Jane Austen, Miss Austen Regrets imagines the story of the novelist’s final years.
Written by Gwyneth Hughes (Five Days) the drama provides an insight into Austen’s own romantic life, examining why, despite setting the standard for romantic fiction, she died having never married or met her own Mr Darcy.
Displaying all the wit which one would expect from Austen herself, Gwyneth feels that she cannot claim sole credit for the drama, commenting: “The script is very tightly based on Austen’s surviving letters to her sister and to her young niece, Fanny. So I must share the credit for quite a lot of the dialogue with Miss Austen herself!
“And I must say, it’s been a strange and humbling experience to feel this genius of English literature peering critically over my shoulder as I write. But I have loved every moment in her company.”
Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense) plays Jane, who, approaching her 40th birthday, appears happily unmarried displaying all the assured wit and charm of her novels’ young heroines.
Yet when asked by her young niece Fanny, played by rising star Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later), to help her vet potential husbands, Jane’s confident composure is threatened as she finds herself looking back on her own potential suitors and the choices she has made.
A chance meeting with former acquaintance Rev Brook Bridges (Hugh Bonneville – Five Days, Tipping The Velvet) sees her reflect on a marriage that never was, while when her family faces financial ruin it is revealed that it all could have been very different had she only accepted a marriage proposal from a wealthy landowner.
And when her brother Henry (Adrian Edmondson – Bottom, Holby City) is taken ill Jane’s passions are ignited by his handsome young physician, Mr Charles Haden – played by the up-and-coming actor Jack Huston (Factory Girl).
Greta Scacchi (Daniel Deronda, Tom’s Midnight Garden) plays Cassandra Austen, Jane’s older sister, companion and confidante.
Speaking about her reasons for wanting to write about Austen’s life, Gwyneth Hughes says:
“Everyone knows Jane Austen never married. For her millions of fans this can only be a relief, because it’s hard to see how a 19th century wife and mother could have found time to write her six wonderful novels! All the same, you do wonder whether she minded – how this spinster lady felt about the absence of a real Mr Darcy in her life.”
“And then I read the most extraordinary fact. Jane Austen did receive a proposal of marriage from a wealthy young neighbour. And she accepted! She actually said yes to him – till after a long night of discussion with her sister Cassandra, she changed her mind. This intriguing decision inspired the story of Miss Austen Regrets.”
Additional cast members include: Phyllida Law (Mrs Austen), Pip Torrens (Edward Austen-Knight), Sylvie Herbert (Madame Bigeon), Tom Hiddleston (John Plumptre), Sally Tatum (Anna Lefroy) and Jason Watkins (Rev Clarke).
Commissioned by Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Fiction, Miss Austen Regrets will be co-produced by WGBH.
The Show Must Go On: BAFTAs on BBC America
BBC America has the exclusive pass to the UK’s biggest and most star-studded awards show, The British Academy Film Awards, Sunday, February 10, at 8:00 p.m. EST, with encore presentations at 10:00 p.m. and midnight EST.
After winning the Golden Globeâ for Best Motion Picture, Drama, and with seven Oscarâ nominations, Atonement leads the pack with fourteen BAFTA nominations, including Best Film, Director for Joe Wright, Adapted Screenplay, Leading Actress for Keira Knightley, Leading Actor for James McAvoy, and Supporting Actress for Saoirse Ronan.
Other BAFTA front-runners include No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood, with nine nominations each. For their performances in No Country for Old Men, Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones are nominated for Supporting Actor, and Kelly Macdonald is nominated for Supporting Actress. No Country for Old Men has a nomination for Best Film plus a Director nomination for the Coen brothers. Daniel Day-Lewis is nominated for Leading Actor for his performance in There Will Be Blood, with a Supporting Actor nomination going to Paul Dano. There Will Be Blood also received nominations for Best Film and Director for Paul Thomas Anderson.
Hosted by Jonathan Ross, the BAFTAs are often a good indication of who will walk away with the industry’s most coveted golden statue, the Oscarâ. Last year, Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker, and Jennifer Hudson won BAFTAs for Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress — and two weeks later, won Oscars for their performances.
The winner of the BAFTA Orange Rising Star Award, which celebrates a young star in the making, is chosen by the British public. They picked a winner with James McAvoy, the recipient of the very first Rising Star Award in 2006. Nominees this year include Shia LaBeouf (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Sienna Miller (Factory Girl), Ellen Page (Juno), Sam Riley (Control), and Tang Wei (Lust, Caution).
The BAFTAs are awarded by the British Academy of Film & Arts. The ceremony, held at the Royal Opera House in London, is sponsored by Orange and will air exclusively on BBC America. For more information about the British Academy of Film and Television Arts or the BAFTA Awards, visit www.bafta.org
For up-to-the-minute information on BBC AMERICA, forthcoming U.S. premieres, artwork and news from the channel, log on to www.press.bbcamerica.com.
BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring razor-sharp comedies, groundbreaking movies, provocative dramas, and news with a uniquely global perspective. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. BBC AMERICA is distributed by Discovery Networks. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV.
THE NOMINATIONS
The nominations were announced Wednesday, January 16, 2008. They are:
BEST FILM
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Brian Grazer/Ridley Scott
ATONEMENT – Tim Bevan/Eric Fellner/Paul Webster
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Quirin Berg/Max Wiedemann
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Scott Rudin/Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – JoAnne Sellar/Paul Thomas Anderson/Daniel Lupi
BEST BRITISH FILM
ATONEMENT – Tim Bevan/Eric Fellner/Paul Webster/Joe Wright/Christopher Hampton
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Frank Marshall/Patrick Crowley/Paul L Sandberg/Paul Greengrass/Tony Gilroy/Scott Z Burns/George Nolfi
CONTROL – Orian Williams/ Todd Eckert/Anton Corbijn/Matt Greenhalgh
EASTERN PROMISES – Paul Webster/Robert Lantos/David Cronenberg/Steve Knight
THIS IS ENGLAND – Mark Herbert/Shane Meadows
THE CARL FOREMAN AWARD for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer for their First Feature Film
CHRIS ATKINS (Director/Writer) – Taking Liberties
MIA BAYS (Producer) – Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
SARAH GAVRON (Director) – Brick Lane
MATT GREENHALGH (Writer) – Control
ANDREW PIDDINGTON (Director/Writer) – The Killing of John Lennon
DIRECTOR
ATONEMENT – Joe Wright
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Paul Greengrass
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Paul Thomas Anderson
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Steven Zaillian
JUNO – Diablo Cody
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
MICHAEL CLAYTON – Tony Gilroy
THIS IS ENGLAND – Shane Meadows
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ATONEMENT – Christopher Hampton
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – Ronald Harwood
THE KITE RUNNER – David Benioff
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Joel Coen/Ethan Coen
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Paul Thomas Anderson
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – Kathleen Kennedy/Jon Kilik/Julian Schnabel
THE KITE RUNNER – William Horberg/Walter Parkes/Rebecca Yeldham/Marc Foster
THE LIVES OF OTHERS – Quirin Berg/Max Wiedemann/Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
LUST, CAUTION – Bill Kong/James Schamus/Ang Lee
LA VIE EN ROSE – Alain Goldman/Olivier Dahan
ANIMATED FILM
RATATOUILLE – Brad Bird
SHREK THE THIRD – Chris Miller
THE SIMPSONS MOVIE – Matt Groening/James L Brooks
LEADING ACTOR
GEORGE CLOONEY – Michael Clayton
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS – There Will Be Blood
JAMES McAVOY – Atonement
VIGGO MORTENSEN – Eastern Promises
ULRICH MÜHE – The Lives of Others
LEADING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT – Elizabeth: The Golden Age
JULIE CHRISTIE – Away From Her
MARION COTILLARD – La Vie en Rose
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY – Atonement
ELLEN PAGE – Juno
SUPPORTING ACTOR
JAVIER BARDEM – No Country for Old Men
PAUL DANO – There Will Be Blood
TOMMY LEE JONES – No Country for Old Men
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – Charlie Wilson’s War
TOM WILKINSON – Michael Clayton
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CATE BLANCHETT – I’m Not There
KELLY MACDONALD – No Country for Old Men
SAMANTHA MORTON – Control
SAOIRSE RONAN – Atonement
TILDA SWINTON – Michael Clayton
MUSIC
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Marc Streitenfeld
ATONEMENT – Dario Marianelli
THE KITE RUNNER – Alberto Iglesias
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Jonny Greenwood
LA VIE EN ROSE – Christopher Gunning
CINEMATOGRAPHY
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Harris Savides
ATONEMENT – Seamus McGarvey
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Oliver Wood
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Roger Deakins
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Robert Elswit
EDITING
AMERICAN GANGSTER – Pietro Scalia
ATONEMENT – Paul Tothill
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Christopher Rouse
MICHAEL CLAYTON – John Gilroy
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Roderick Jaynes
PRODUCTION DESIGN
ATONEMENT – Sarah Greenwood/Katie Spencer
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Guy Hendrix Dyas/Richard Roberts
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX – Stuart Craig/Stephenie McMillan
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Jack Fisk/Jim Erickson
LA VIE EN ROSE – Olivier Raoux
COSTUME DESIGN
ATONEMENT – Jacqueline Durran
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Alexandra Byrne
LUST, CAUTION – Pan Lai
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET – Colleen Atwood
LA VIE EN ROSE – Marit Allen
SOUND
ATONEMENT – Danny Hambrook/Paul Hamblin/Catherine Hodgson
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Kirk Francis/Scott Millan/Dave Parker/Karen Baker Landers/Per Hallberg
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN – Peter Kurland/Skip Lievsay/Craig Berkey/Greg Orloff
THERE WILL BE BLOOD – Christopher Scarabosio/Matthew Wood/John Pritchett/Michael Semanick/Tom Johnson
LA VIE EN ROSE – Laurent Zeilig/Pascal Villard/Jean-Paul Hurier/Marc Doisne
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM – Peter Chiang/Charlie Noble/Mattias Lindahl/Joss Williams
THE GOLDEN COMPASS – Michael Fink/Bill Westenhofer/Ben Morris/Trevor Woods
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX – Tim Burke/John Richardson/Emma Norton/Chris Shaw
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END – John Knoll/Charles Gibson/Hal Hickel/John Frazier
SPIDER-MAN 3 – Scott Stokdyk/Peter Nofz/Kee-Suk Ken Hahn/Spencer Cook
MAKE UP & HAIR
ATONEMENT – Ivana Primorac
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE – Jenny Shircore
HAIRSPRAY – Nominees TBC
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET – Ivana Primorac
LA VIE EN ROSE – Jan Archibald/Didier Lavergne
SHORT ANIMATION
THE PEARCE SISTERS – Jo Allen/Luis Cook
HEAD OVER HEELS – Osbert Parker/Fiona Pitkin/Ian Gouldstone
THE CRUMBLEGIANT – Pearse Moore/John McCloskey
SHORT FILM
DOG ALTOGETHER – Diarmid Scrimshaw/Paddy Considine
HESITATION – Julien Berlan/Michelle Eastwood/Virginia Gilbert
THE ONE AND ONLY HERB MCGWYER PLAYS WALLIS ISLAND – Charlie Henderson/James Griffiths/Tim Key/Tom Basden
SOFT – Jane Hooks/Simon Ellis
THE STRONGER – Dan McCulloch/Lia Williams/Frank McGuinness
THE ORANGE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
SHIA LABEOUF
SIENNA MILLER
ELLEN PAGE
SAM RILEY
TANG WEI
Photos above from nominees Atonement and Eastern Promises
Pretty in Pearls
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker arrives at the premiere of 'Smart People' during the Sundance Film Festival, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, in Park City, Utah. Parker wore jewelry by Mikimoto, a 30” 9mm Akoya cultured pearl necklace. Parker recently finished shooting the much-hyped, much-anticipated "Sex and the City" feature film. Parker has been promoting Smart People. Page Six reported that at a dinner for the film in Park City at the Phoenix Gallery, TV's "Carrie Bradshaw" "reeked of her perfume, Covet." (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
FROM AP
Ledger had 6 types of prescription drugs
By TOM HAYS and KAREN MATTHEWS, Associated Press Writer
Six different types of prescription drugs were found in Heath Ledger's apartment — including anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills — though the cause of his death won't be known for several days after a preliminary autopsy Wednesday was inconclusive, authorities said.
A rolled-up $20 bill was also found on the floor near the Australian actor's bed, but lab tests detected no traces of drug residue. Police also said no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.
Among the prescription medications found were pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, and an antihistamine, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe, the sources said.
The $20 bill was found on the floor near Ledger's bed, and New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said lab tests found nothing to indicate it had been used to snort drugs.
The Australian-born actor was found dead Tuesday by his housekeeper and a massage therapist — lying naked and face-down on his bed, police said. The pills were found in bottles in Ledger's bedroom and bathroom, and police said the death was caused by a possible drug overdose and appeared to be accidental.
Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said the autopsy on the 28-year-old actor was inconclusive and that more would be known in about 10 days, when more tests were completed.
Police said Ledger probably died Tuesday between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. At 1 p.m., the housekeeper went into his bedroom to change a light bulb, saw him sleeping and heard him snoring.
At 2:45 p.m., the massage therapist showed up for Ledger's appointment, knocked on his door and got no answer. She later noticed Ledger was unconscious and called Mary-Kate Olsen, whose number was programmed into Ledger's cell phone, to seek advice.
Olsen said she would send over her private security. In the ensuing moments, the massage therapist realized that Ledger might be dead, and called 911. Paramedics — and Olsen's security people — arrived minutes later.
News of the death stunned family, fans and colleagues.
"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life," said Ang Lee, who directed Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain." "He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined — a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking."
Lee Daniels, who produced the critically acclaimed "Monster's Ball" in which Ledger starred, strongly disputed any notion that Ledger had a drug problem.
"The definition of substance abuse is really up to one's perspective," Daniels said. "I didn't see him as a drug addict. I saw him as someone who enjoyed life. I know drug addicts, he was not a drug addict."
He said he saw Ledger a couple months ago and that he was in great spirits. "He was in a good mood, he was in a great place ... he was excited about living in New York."
Before moving to Manhattan, Ledger lived in Brooklyn with then-girlfriend Michelle Williams in a four-story, sage-green brownstone with a black wrought-iron fence. Yellow tulips with red stripes were among the bouquets left by well-wishers Wednesday.
At the Brawta Caribbean Cafe two blocks from the residence, owner Jennifer Ewers said Ledger was a frequent guest who always ordered jerk chicken, rice and beans, and sorrel.
"He was a perfect gentleman. He comes in here with his hoodie on, reads a book, and gives you a peace sign," she said. "He was always with his daughter, playing hide-and-seek among the plants, or on his skateboard, peeking his head in."
Speaking in Australia, Ledger's father called the death "tragic, untimely and accidental."
"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life," Kim Ledger said. "Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."
Fans left flowers and candles Wednesday outside Ledger's apartment in the tony SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan on Wednesday. Khaled Ali, 41, a stage manager for a Broadway show, dropped off a candle on his way to work, saying he and fellow cast members were devastated.
"I felt a connection with him as an actor, as a fellow in the theater community," he said. "With `Brokeback Mountain' he touched me personally in telling the story of my community. It was very touching."
Ledger was known for grueling, intense roles that became his trademark after he got his start in teen movies like "10 Things I Hate About You." Thereafter, he avoided the easy path in favor of roles that forced him to bury his Australian accent and downplay his leading-man looks: the tormented gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain"; a drug addict in "Candy"; an incarnation of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There."
Playing the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie "The Dark Knight," may be his final finished performance.
Ledger split last year with Williams, who played his wife in "Brokeback." The two had a daughter, the now 2-year-old Matilda. Early Wednesday, Williams and Matilda left Trollhattan, Sweden, where the 27-year-old actress had been shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Mammoth," said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for film production company Memfis Film.
"She received the news at her hotel late last night," Stromberg said, adding he had not spoken to the actress after she learned of Ledger's death.
The actor's personal strife was accompanied by professional anxiety. He said in a November interview that "Dark Knight" and "I'm Not There" took a toll.
"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger told The New York Times. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going." He said he took two Ambien pills, which only worked for an hour.
A day after Ledger's death, at least six TV satellite trucks were parked on the block or around the corner from his Manhattan apartment, with a stream of TV reporters doing their standups. There were bouquets, letters and candles piled in front of the building.
A handwritten letter on plain white paper anchored by votive candles read:
"Heath, how could anyone hate 10 things about you. We couldn't find one bad thing about you. God bless your soul, you're in our prayers."
___
Associated Press writers Nekesa Mumbi Moody and Clare Trapasso contributed to this report.
Oops They Did It Again
Once when BeansTalk and two associates had to go to the NY office of the raggy magazine we were working for, one of the low-riding jean-wearing editors was fully exposing her thong, replete with bow at back. We won’t name her, but her initials are AF. At any rate, after we left the office, we all couldn’t get over it.
“I almost said, ‘nice thong, A****,” said TG. “Me too,” we chimed in. “Not super professional, no?” said KB.
She could’ve used these: JAKs
Here’s the 411: Is there anything better than staring at someone’s “crack”…their “coin slot”, their “butt cleavage” while dining at you favorite restaurant? Well the days of exposing butt-crack and muffin tops are over, thanks to Miss Oops. The newest development in this line of beauty-saving, problem-solving products is JAKs—a form-fitting band that fits over low-rise pants and under tee-shirts and other tops.
JAKs appears to be a camisole or tank layered underneath a top. Actually, JAKs is
the latest fashionable secret weapon to covering up exposed bottoms and “love-handles” without wearing multiple layers of clothing.
Sit down, bend over, squat down in low rise jeans with confidence. Simply pull on a pair of JAK (the name is a combination of “jeans” and “crack”) and wear your favorite low r ise pants with confidence!
JAKs, made of nylon and spandex, also helps hold in the stomach while reducing the appearance of “muffin tops.”
Price: $38.00 Colors: Black lace or White lace
Available at www.missoops.com and boutiques nationwide.