Me and Orson Welles

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Me and Orson Welles
Directed by Richard Linklater
Produced by Ann Carli
Richard Linklater
Marc Samuelson
Written by Novel:
Robert Kaplow
Screenplay:
Holly Gent Palmo
Vincent Palmo Jr.
Starring Zac Efron
Christian McKay
Claire Danes
Music by Jools Holland
Cinematography Dick Pope
Editing by Sandra Adair
Release date(s) 2009
Country United Kingdom
United States
Language English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Me and Orson Welles is an upcoming period-drama film directed by Richard Linklater and starring Zac Efron, Christian McKay and Claire Danes. Based on Robert Kaplow's novel of the same name, the story, set in 1937 New York, tells of a teenager hired to star in Orson Welles' production of Julius Caesar, where he becomes attracted to a career-driven production assistant. The film was shot in the Isle of Man, London and New York over February, March and April 2008, and is slated for release in 2009.

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[edit] Plot

In New York in 1937, seventeen year-old Richard Samuels meets theatre director Orson Welles, whom he convinces to give him the role of Lucius in Julius Caesar, Broadway's first Shakespearean production. Welles, who is having an extramarital affair with the leading actress while his wife is pregnant, couples Richard with production assistant Sonja Jones to rehearse. Welles decides the entire production crew would benefit from a coupling game, and Richard cheats to ensure he is paired with Sonja. After a night together, Richard declares his love for her but she later informs him that she is to spend the following night with Welles. He discovers that, to further her career, she had sex with Welles, who promised to introduce her to a theatre producer. Richard argues with Welles over the incident and is fired, only for Welles to apologise later and re-hire him. After a successful opening night, Richard learns that Welles' apology was only to ensure a successful night and that a new actor has been found to replace him. Richard tells his family that he quit because of poor pay; he returns to school and decides to pursue a career in writing rather than acting.[1]

[edit] Cast

[edit] Production

"We went in at the deep end by taking Richard Linklater's Me and Orson Welles out of New York to shoot on the Isle of Man and at Pinewood. With the dollar rate fairly consistent at 2 to 1 against us, we really did show that we could put together a competitive financing and producing package."
— CinemaNX chairman Steve Christian[7]

Holly Gent Palmo and Vincent Palmo Jr. adapted the film's screenplay from Robert Kaplow's novel of the same name, about a teenager involved in the founding of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre.[4] After receiving funding from CinemaNX, a production company backed by the Isle of Man film fund, and an offer from Framestore Features to co-finance the film, Richard Linklater came on board to direct Me and Orson Welles.[4] Zac Efron signed on as the lead in early-January 2008,[2] claiming he decided to take the role of Richard Samuels because "It's a completely different project than I've ever done before,"[8] while Claire Danes joined the cast as the protagonist's love interest Sonja Jones in late January.[4] Me and Orson Welles underwent filming in the Isle of Man, Pinewood Studios, London and New York from February to April 2008.[9] Filming in London commenced first in mid-February,[8] before scenes in the Isle of Man were shot on a schedule from February 24 to March 14, 2008, where filming locations included Gaiety Theatre and various other parts of Douglas.[1] During filming in Douglas, Efron and Danes believe they sighted a ghost, or "supernatural" being, outside a window on set at Gaiety Theatre.[10] Filming in England commenced in early April, with locations including Crystal Palace Park, where a facade of New York's Mercury Theatre was set up for a scene.[11]

[edit] Release

Me and Orson Welles premiered, unfinished,[12] at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival where production company and sales agency Cinetic Media were looking to sell the film to a distributor.[13] Although—before its Cannes premiere—The Hollywood Reporter predicted that the film would attract distributors with Linklater's résumé and Efron's teen "heartthrob" status to appeal to a younger demographic,[14] Me and Orson Welles failed to secure any American acquisitions.[12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Me and Orson Welles. Government of the Isle of Man (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  2. ^ a b Zac Efron in 'Me and Orson Welles'. Entertainment Weekly (2008-01-18). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  3. ^ a b Finn, Natalie (2008). Zac Efron Gets Schooled by Orson Welles. E!. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  4. ^ a b c d Dawtrey, Adam (2008-01-31). Claire Danes joins Linklater film. Variety. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  5. ^ Actor James Tupper to sample Isle of Man scenery. Isle of Man Today (2008-03-10). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  6. ^ a b c Efron's Me & Orson Welles to Start Filming. ComingSoon.net (2008-02-05). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  7. ^ Dawtrey, Adam (2008-05-18). CinemaNX boards trio. Variety. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  8. ^ a b Adler, Shawn (2008-02-07). Zac Efron Gets Serious For ‘Orson Welles And Me’. MTV. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  9. ^ Richards, Olly (2008-02-01). Claire Danes, Me And Orson Welles. Empire. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  10. ^ Fletcher, Alex (2008-03-13). Efron scared by ghost on 'Orson Welles'. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  11. ^ Lee, Cara (2008-04-04). Film makers find Crystal Palace Park to be the perfect setting. Croydon Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  12. ^ a b Kaufman, Anthony (2008-05-27). Weak U.S. Market Reflected at Cannes. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  13. ^ Thompson, Anne (2008-05-20). Buyers proceed with caution at Cannes. Variety. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  14. ^ Goldstein, Gregg; Zeitchik, Steven (2008-05-16). Tasty titles tempt Cannes buyers. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.

[edit] External links