August Is Hot: Proud Moments

"Do you want me to pitch your script for you?"

 

 

AUGUST IS HOT

 

Theme: It's Not About Me

Post: Proud Moments

I should not be talking about this, but I have proud moments whenever I discover 'the actor' stepped up his game. Those moments of insight occur after I connect the dots and can see the whole picture.

Script changes

Proud moment: whenever Mr. A asks for a script change. Not uncommon among actors, but his interviews show that whenever he found it was necessary to make a shout-out in an attempt to steer the character's walk of life, then boy it was needed. Poor man has to take into consideration that any afterburn of his acting in reviews is hard to hose. :) Prime examples: 1) how Marian's death deed was execuded by Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood tv series - as in: preferably not, but if it had to be, then with remorse; 2) how Lucas North/John Bateman's relation to his former girlfriend Maya softened - from a lustful connexion on the kitchen table as the director intended (as I understood from a Layla Rouass interview), to a lovable rekindling. More recently, concerning the many late night script changes for the Battle of the Five Armies scenes (as mentioned by the man himself), I have no doubt Mr. A has put his boots in as much as possible for his character Thorin Oakenshield. I hear you: don't rule out The Oaken Shield addition and the Dwarf Calendar! Erm, the Calendar is another story.

Now that we are talking script, what is the story on the latest developments of the Richard III script Richard Armitage was pitching in Hollywood - and I assume, also in the UK?

RA looks and vibes Richard III  - Spooks ep. 8.2

Pitching Richard III

Proud moment: when I found out he was pitching the script of Philippa Langley in Hollywood, after his many times expressed ambition to play Richard III one day. At the moment it is not certain that he is still involved in the project, yet he has voiced he really wants it to come to fruition.

Proud moment: when I found out that her King Richard III script is titled 'Blood Royal'. By now it may be changed into 'Royal Blood' (verification needed) on IMDb Pro, as there was already one older film listed by that title.

Real proud moment: when I read that she herself writes "it is been optioned and in development" in a testimonial (verification needed) posted on the site of Philip Shelley, script consultant. The official mention that she "is now working to secure a development deal for her film script that tells the real story of King Richard III" can be found on the Richard III Society blog. Read more on option and an article called Ten Things To Think About optioning.

Super proud moment: when I connect dots by assuming Todd Garner could be one of the people who gave RA some advice on pitching the Richard III script. Yesterday, I was flicking through my writing magazines to discover I was the proud owner of one Script Magazine and it contains an article written by Todd Garner, the producer of the upcoming Black Sky film in which RA stars.

Click to enlarge, or copy/paste.




Script Magazine, July/August 2010, www.scriptmag.com

Proud moment: when passing on these finds to verify, I got an invitation to write a post for the

 

King RichardArmitage Week 2013 (21st - 28th of August, 2013)

 

on the King Richard Armitage Blog.

 

 

 

Please, send me your corrections, if you found any hoaxes.

 

 

Top image: TraceyNearmy (find it on RANet), modified by TFB

Do I Want To Be In This?

"Where have you been? We should be acting right now."

If it is Mr. A's quest to bring the true story of Richard III to screen, then I can vouch that I also have a quest to do something with comedy, such as a skit, a sitcom or a film. I like the fast delivery, the look-who's-saying-it subtext and the colours of the characters. Furthermore I share my birthday with Lucille Ball and I sure can act funny in front of the mirror. But, that is still in the back of my mind.

If you read my previous posts, I have mentioned that I chance visited some sets. At the moment I can´t get it out of my head that it would be great to be visiting an international set. Even playing along, in the background, why not? I know, I`m way too shy, prudish and insecure, so I`ll do my best, despite the nerves. So to get out of my comfort zone, next to doing improv acting and following workshops, like physical acting and standup, I had a chance to be an extra in a comedy pilot (which hasn´t aired yet) Vrienden*dienst (2012). Also I got an audition and writing experience amongst 300+ fellow writers, and others for the first dutch user*generated film Steek*spel (T*ricked) (2012). This was a heavy marketed project, fronted by dutch Hollywood director, Paul Ver*hoeven. He later said he not only liked working with young enthusiastic film makers, but he preferred that to filming in Hollywood where he had trouble getting a couple of movies financed.

Just after I had talks with my improv group about my progression, the news that the Richard III TV serial plus film plans are in the next phase, felt like a sign. Answering the question ´Do I want to be in this?´ with a ´Yes´, became very appealing. However I recall some British institution (forgot which one) saying it will never allow foreign actors acting on UK TV, unless it is filmed abroad like in Belgium and Hungary, then they´re ´fit to be extras´.

Thankfully, films are made internationally (okay, it depends). The Richard III film is getting plugged by Mr. A himself in Hollywood and there´s a major distributor on board, but it´s early days. I have no doubt his passion for his interest in the true story of  Richard III will open doors. But who to ask who can also say: ´Do I want to be in this?´. Like The Hobbit´s director Peter Jackson said (on casting Barry Humphries) (paraphrased): ´It is always a bit scary to ask the person you admire, to work with you. The person you admire, can be disappointing, so then you have to lower your level of admiration.´ At least RA can ask ´Mr. Wellywood´ about the pitfalls of Hollywood.

Best to leave the fourth wall alone, but boy, would I like a part (as extra) in Richard III ! Maybe I could ask The Universe for a lot more. I have a hunch that paths cross in mysterious ways, sometimes in synchronicity. Say, with an actor who takes the effort to understand the unspoken.  

 

Let me smile ´Thank You´ for this little interaction.

A nose rub to my favourite screen kiss. (Spooks S9.3)

A thought for Valentine's Day:  

Was this kiss filmed in the 'extra time' RA asked for 'to experiment'?

*****

Top image: screen cap from trailer of short film Staged (1999).