Wednesday, January 31, 2001
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Strike while the iron is hot -- it's the topic on everyone's lips on every set, agency office and on every phone conversation.
It was particularly evident to me as I visited the set of Irwin Winkler's ``Life as a House'' Tuesday morning atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific at Palos Verdes. Winkler, producer partner Rob Cowan and company are hurrying to wind the film Feb. 23 for the producers' March start of ``Enough,'' directed
by Michael Apted and starring Jennifer Lopez (whatta cover and spread in Feb.15 Rolling Stone!). Lopez reportedly gets $9 million for ``Enough,'' a highly dramatic and physical role as she's the victim of a wife beater.
Also to start for Winkler-Cowan in March is ``Shipping News'' in
Newfoundland, with Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore to costar for director Lasse Hallstrom. Winkler and Cowan were particularly happy Tuesday as they got word that ``Chocolat'' costar and past Oscar winner Judi Dench has agreed to costar in ``Shipping News,'' playing Spacey's aunt. This marks her return to work since bedsiding her cancer-stricken husband of 30 years, actor
Michael Williams, who died Jan. 11.
During a filming break on ``Life as a House'' Tuesday, stars Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas joined in the conversation about the pressure for them to quickly wind current roles and jump into new pix before possible actors' and writers' strikes this summer.
Kline has not worked for two years, having turned down everything and living up to his agent's name for him: ``Kevin Decline.'' He noted the obvious ill effects of a strike but opined that the threat of the oncoming work stoppage had a strange positive point: It has forced projects into production,
breathing life into good pix that might otherwise have lingered in development hell and disappeared into never-never production land.
Kline hops right into ``Palace Thief''; although he was once to also direct,the time pressure has limited him to solely act. Michael Hoffman (''Soapdish'') will direct the Beacon pic for Universal; Andy Karsch produces.
Immediately thereafter, Kline returns to the Gotham stage in Chekhov's ``The Seagull,'' with Mike Nichols directing a cast also starring Meryl Streep,Natalie Portman, Christopher Walken, John Goodman, etc. Kline is excited about the play, admitting he likes Chekhov ``even more than Shakespeare.''
``Life as a House'' Oscar-winning (''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'') cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond also emphasized that below-the-line filmmakers are being sought to get behind the cameras immediately. Since he's using as many as three cameras and two tall cranes on this opus, he would welcome a rest (not necessarily strike-founded, however).
His revelations about behind-the-scenes creators were echoed by production designer Dennis Washington, who has converted this location, the former site of Marineland, into a residential neighborhood.
Although Kline and Hayden Christensen, who plays his son, build Kline's dream house, this film, scripted by Mark Andrus (Oscar-nominated for ``As Good As It Gets'') has no resemblance to ``Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House.'' Both Kline and Christensen trained (although briefly) in carpentering skills
for their roles. But Kline, between scenes in which he was wielding a (working!)
power saw, admitted to me he is totally inept when it comes to any kind of house repair.
Amazingly, Kristin Scott Thomas revealed that she and her husband, a gynecologist, totally rebuilt their house outside Paris -- including plumbing (no jokes, pliz) and electrical. Thomas segues from ``House'' to England to star in Robert Altman's period pic, ``Gosford Park'' with Helen Mirren and
Michael Gambon.
Young (19) Christensen returns to work for George Lucas on more scenes for ``Star Wars: Episode II'' when ``House'' winds; he also has further scenes as Anakin Skywalker to complete in November. In 2003, he becomes Darth Vader in the next ``Star Wars.'' Christensen says Lucas has been most hospitable to
him and his family, even invited them all (from their Vancouver home) to Lucas' Marin ranch for the Christmas holidays.
In ``House,'' the handsome Hayden's blonde hair is dyed black, with a purple streak for his role as a rebellious son who reteams with Kline, his cancer-stricken father. It is a highly dramatic role; one scene calling for Christensen to play a hooker. He is most appreciative of seasoned thesp Kline working with him before and after scenes, promoting ad libs. His romantic
scenes are with Jena Malone (''Stepmom'').
Christensen and his older brother Tove (29) are planning to produce pix -- in which Hayden would star, natch.
Mary Steenburgen, who costars in ``House,'' has returned to the company after making appearances for ``Nobody's Baby'' at Sundance.
As I noted here, Nov. 22 at the film's start, this location set (a completely created neighborhood) cost $1 million. It equals the entire cost of Winkler's ``Rocky.'' Winkler Tuesday admitted that he and partner Bob Chartoff also put up their own money -- more than $25,000 -- when UA wouldn't pay to shoot a new ending for the first ``Rocky.'' Winkler had no problem getting funding
for ``Life as a House'' when it went into turnaround at Columbia: New Line gave it new life.
It's back to work for Mickey Rooney, who phoned to say he and wife Jan record a CD Wednesday. ``I feel like a million dollar bill,'' he said -- ``all green and wrinkled.'' The duo hits the road with their act Feb. 15 in Texas, heading on to Phoenix. ``We're booked up to May,'' said Rooney, who underwent
heart surgery Dec. 20.
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