Donald Clarkeon film
Two new domestic film festivals are seeking submissions for their upcoming events. The Kerry International Film Festival, set to run in Dingle from September 6th to 19th, will be presenting cash prizes for best feature, short and new media. The closing date for entries is Friday, June 29th. See www.kerryiff.com for entry requirements.
Further east, the Waterford Film Festival is gearing up for its debut on Friday, November 16th. Awards will be granted in five categories, details of which can be found at www.waterfordfilmfestival.com.
Second chance for Jellybaby
If you missed the screening of Jellybaby, Rob and Ronan Burke's 2005 short, on RTÉ last week, then fear not. The unnerving little film, in which a father seeks to swap his crying baby for a less noisy model, is being screened before Speed Dating, a new Irish feature from Tony Herbert, in cinemas from today (see review page 11). In related news, Herbert's film picked up the Jury Award for best feature at the Malibu Film Festival last week.
Spidey man may make Hobbit
Sam Raimi's eagerly anticipated Spider-Man 3- follow-up to the two best superhero adaptations yet released - premiered in Tokyo last week. The chatter at the posh party focused on the rumour that Raimi was to forgo Spider-Man 4to direct the long-debated adaptation of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit. Over the past year, Peter Jackson, director of Lord of the Rings, has had repeated fallings out with New Line Pictures over the proposed prequel. Raimi, a famously nice bloke, was, however, careful not to say anything that might offend Jackson or Bob Shaye, head of New Line. "First and foremost, those are Peter Jackson and Bob Shaye's films," he said. "If Peter didn't want to do it, and Bob wanted me to do it - and they were both OK with me picking up the reins - that would be great." Cash registers are already jingling with excitement.
Incredible move for Norton
When, some years back, it was announced that Ang Lee, a big posh film-maker, was to direct Hulk, many movie commentators scratched their heads in puzzlement. The notion that Edward Norton, an actor with some sense of his own importance, might appear in a sequel directed by Louis Leterrier, the French martial arts specialist, seems, perhaps, even less likely. But Marvel Studios do indeed seem set on nabbing the star of the upcoming The Painted Veil.
"Edward Norton is a rare talent," Kevin Feige, the company's representative, said. "His ability to transform into a particular role makes him the ideal choice to take on the character of Bruce Banner and the Hulk." Incredible!
Blue day in the divorce courts
Having been involved with such cinematic catastrophes as 1942and The Postman, Steven Spielberg and Kevin Costner both, despite their many successes, know a thing or two about losing money. But, if a recent article in Forbesmagazine is to be believed, their greatest financial meltdowns happened in the divorce court. Costner and Spielberg join Harrison Ford in Forbes's list of the 10 most costly divorce settlements in Hollywood. Though the director of ET handed over something in the region of $100 million to Amy Irving in 1999, both Michael Jordan and Neil Diamond are said to have forked out even greater sums to their former spouses. Mind you, even those settlements look like chicken feed when set beside the wad Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea football club, is said to have put the way of his recently estranged partner.
Prophylactic tactics by Gere
Richard Gere has appalled an entire nation. No, he hasn't disinterred the awful Irish accent he used for The Jackal. The country in question is India and the offence involved the graphic snogging of Shilpa Shetty, nemesis of gabby, racist half-wits everywhere, at an Aids benefit in New Delhi.
Ironically, considering the pious rage that has now spread about the subcontinent, the event was aimed at persuading truckers to wear condoms during sex.
