Heroes, The Amazing Race and Redbelt
Hmmm, not much exciting happening in the world of entertainment right now. I started sketching the next Girlz 'N' Games last night - which I'm sure you'll get a kick out of when it's ready - but progress is likely to be slow.
Other than that, I've been absolutely LOVING Heroes on SABC 3 (Sorry, Lost, you lost out). I've had access to the series for a while now but just never got past Episode 2. With a weekly screening, I'm actually scheduling it in, and am now eagerly waiting for Episode 5 next week. The show really is outstanding. It manages to realistically capture what it would be like to be a superhero in the real world - characters veer convincingly to the "dark side" of their powers for personal gain very easily.
Also, I've been having a blast with the current season of The Amazing Race (for Internationals, we're watching Season 9, just before All-Stars). My mother and sister are insisting that Paul and I would be like the geek/nerd couple, Dave and Lori. Although I think we're better looking :) And I KNOW that we would be either sulking or at each other's throats very quickly as a result of in-game stress.
Anyway, I found out about an actual Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / Mixed Martial Arts film in development a few weeks back. David Mamet is definitely no directing or writing hack, but I can't help feeling the premise for Redbelt sounds a little too much like 5 dozen other Z-grade martial arts flicks.
And what's with the lead character's concern with "honour"? The nice thing about BJJ is that it's a martial art free of Eastern philosophical theory and concerns.
But who knows? Maybe Redbelt will be a gripping mix of taunt technical action (the unknown lead has been training with the BJJ founding Gracie family), and sly social commentary. The film is currently set for release sometime between June and November 2008.
From ComingSoon.net
Sony and Mamet Reunite for Redbelt
Source: Variety
April 12, 2007
Sony Pictures Classics is reuniting with David Mamet, who will direct his original screenplay Redbelt, which is set in the Jiu-Jitsu fight world of West Los Angeles.
Variety says the studio will fully finance and globally distribute the $10 million actioner, which marks a return to the indie film world -- as well as the theme of con games -- for Mamet, who has lately been shepherding his CBS series "The Unit."
Set to start production in May in L.A., Redbelt is an American samurai film set in an underworld inhabited by bouncers, cage-fighters, cops and special forces operatives.
Redbelt stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as a Jiu-Jitsu master who has eschewed prizefighting tooperate a self-defense studio. When he is conned by a cabal of movie stars and fight promoters, he must enter the ring to fightin order to regain his honor.
Redbelt will be produced by Chrisann Verges (Warm Springs, Mrs. Harris). Ejiofor's credits include Children of Men, Kinky Boots and the upcoming American Gangster.
More casting is in the works; likely members include frequent Mamet collaborator magician Ricky Jay and Mamet's wife, actress Rebecca Pidgeon. Sony Pictures Classics plans a summer 2008 release.
And here's a second article on casting, also from ComingSoon.net.
Allen to Star in Mamet's Redbelt
Source: Variety
May 15, 2007
Tim Allen will star in Redbelt, the mixed martial arts drama David Mamet wrote and will direct for Sony Pictures Classics, reports Variety. Production starts next month in Los Angeles. Chiwetel Ejiofor co-stars.
Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, Joe Mantegna, Rodrigo Santoro, Ricky Jay, David Paymer, Rebecca Pidgeon and Jose Pablo Cantillo will star, along with martial artists and fighters Randy Couture, John Machado, Danny Inosanto, Enson Inoue and Ray Mancini.
Ejiofor, who was the first actor Mamet set, stars as a Jiu-jitsu master whose purity is compromised when he is drawn into the movie business and manipulated into brawling in ultimate fighting matches.
Allen plays a troubled action star with marital problems who meets the master when he is getting pummeled in a street fight.
Ejiofor has been training in London with members of the Gracie family, the renowned Brazilian fighting clan.
Other than that, I've been absolutely LOVING Heroes on SABC 3 (Sorry, Lost, you lost out). I've had access to the series for a while now but just never got past Episode 2. With a weekly screening, I'm actually scheduling it in, and am now eagerly waiting for Episode 5 next week. The show really is outstanding. It manages to realistically capture what it would be like to be a superhero in the real world - characters veer convincingly to the "dark side" of their powers for personal gain very easily.
Also, I've been having a blast with the current season of The Amazing Race (for Internationals, we're watching Season 9, just before All-Stars). My mother and sister are insisting that Paul and I would be like the geek/nerd couple, Dave and Lori. Although I think we're better looking :) And I KNOW that we would be either sulking or at each other's throats very quickly as a result of in-game stress.
Anyway, I found out about an actual Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / Mixed Martial Arts film in development a few weeks back. David Mamet is definitely no directing or writing hack, but I can't help feeling the premise for Redbelt sounds a little too much like 5 dozen other Z-grade martial arts flicks.
And what's with the lead character's concern with "honour"? The nice thing about BJJ is that it's a martial art free of Eastern philosophical theory and concerns.
But who knows? Maybe Redbelt will be a gripping mix of taunt technical action (the unknown lead has been training with the BJJ founding Gracie family), and sly social commentary. The film is currently set for release sometime between June and November 2008.
From ComingSoon.net
Sony and Mamet Reunite for Redbelt
Source: Variety
April 12, 2007
Sony Pictures Classics is reuniting with David Mamet, who will direct his original screenplay Redbelt, which is set in the Jiu-Jitsu fight world of West Los Angeles.
Variety says the studio will fully finance and globally distribute the $10 million actioner, which marks a return to the indie film world -- as well as the theme of con games -- for Mamet, who has lately been shepherding his CBS series "The Unit."
Set to start production in May in L.A., Redbelt is an American samurai film set in an underworld inhabited by bouncers, cage-fighters, cops and special forces operatives.
Redbelt stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as a Jiu-Jitsu master who has eschewed prizefighting tooperate a self-defense studio. When he is conned by a cabal of movie stars and fight promoters, he must enter the ring to fightin order to regain his honor.
Redbelt will be produced by Chrisann Verges (Warm Springs, Mrs. Harris). Ejiofor's credits include Children of Men, Kinky Boots and the upcoming American Gangster.
More casting is in the works; likely members include frequent Mamet collaborator magician Ricky Jay and Mamet's wife, actress Rebecca Pidgeon. Sony Pictures Classics plans a summer 2008 release.
And here's a second article on casting, also from ComingSoon.net.
Allen to Star in Mamet's Redbelt
Source: Variety
May 15, 2007
Tim Allen will star in Redbelt, the mixed martial arts drama David Mamet wrote and will direct for Sony Pictures Classics, reports Variety. Production starts next month in Los Angeles. Chiwetel Ejiofor co-stars.
Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga, Joe Mantegna, Rodrigo Santoro, Ricky Jay, David Paymer, Rebecca Pidgeon and Jose Pablo Cantillo will star, along with martial artists and fighters Randy Couture, John Machado, Danny Inosanto, Enson Inoue and Ray Mancini.
Ejiofor, who was the first actor Mamet set, stars as a Jiu-jitsu master whose purity is compromised when he is drawn into the movie business and manipulated into brawling in ultimate fighting matches.
Allen plays a troubled action star with marital problems who meets the master when he is getting pummeled in a street fight.
Ejiofor has been training in London with members of the Gracie family, the renowned Brazilian fighting clan.
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