David Gordon Green is indeed shooting 'Suspiria'

Um, let's make this clear: I'm not saying the June shoot is Suspiria. I have no confirmation of that. I am saying I don't know that it's not Suspiria. Got it? OK.  Read on...

 

As we told you the other day, new Austin resident David Gordon Green is shooting in Bastrop (about 30 miles from Austin) for three weeks in June. We guessed that it might be his remake of Suspiria, and that may have been a good guess. Green's folks and Crime Scene Pictures have announced that the remake of the famed Dario Argento film is a go for September. Is this time in Bastrop an early shoot for the film or something altogether different? Will it all shoot in the Austin area? Stay tuned.

Oh, and Natalie Portman had been attached to the project in the past, but the similar ballet-world setting of Black Swan may well have changed that. But then Portman is set to star in two films (Knight of Cups and Lawless) from Green mentor and Austin resident Terrence Malick.

It would mark a return to Austin for Portman, who was last here to shoot Where the Heart Is more than a decade ago. That is assuming Malick isn't shooting more scenes of his two films in Austin. Knight of Cups is slated to shoot this summer and Lawless in the fall. Lawless is about the Austin music scene. FYI: Given Malick's ability to keep his projects hushed in the past, some even believe that his two upcoming film projects actually may be one film disguised as two to throw off folks like yours truly.

David Gordon Green shooting mystery project near Austin

UPDATE: Green is indeed shooting Suspiria soon. In Austin? Read more here.

This nugget slipped out during John Pierson's Master Class at the University of Texas: David Gordon Green (Undertow, Pineapple Express), who recently moved to Austin, will have a three-week film shoot in nearby Bastrop this June.

No word on the subject matter, but wouldn't it be great if this were his planned remake of Dario Argento's Suspiria? I'm probably just dreaming, but it does sound like the director is going back to his George Washington indie roots in Austin, where he can hang with old pal and mentor Terrence Malick.

Oh, and I believe a certain director whose name rhymes with Spinklater owns some land out in Bastrop. Coincidence?

Photos from the set of 'When Angels Sing'

Thanks to the lucky person who made it onto the set of When Angels Sing in Bastrop this past week and granted me permission to post these photos. In the photos you can see Willie Nelson, Connie Britton, Turk Pipkin and--if you squint--director Tim McCanlies.

Connie Britton chats with tall guy Turk Pipkin, on whose story the film is based.


Willie talks to the crew.


Willie Nelson peeks out at the set.


Willie strides into the action.


That's Tim McCanlies in the blue shirt and khaki baseball hat in the middle facing the camera.

Teen w/ acne and braces? 'When Angels Sing' wants you now...

This just in (note the date; you have to respond TODAY only):

Third Coast Extras is seeking a teenage male with acne and braces for a featured extra role on When Angels Sing for Tuesday, February 22nd. Pay is $101.5/hr. We are casting for this role today. Please submit photos and contact numbers to thirdcoastextras@gmail.com.

The film has been actively shooting around Austin and Bastrop with Harry Connick Jr. and Connie Britton leading the cast.

Fionnula Flanagan in 'When Angels Sing'

Winner of the award (given out by me) of the sexiest older woman, Fionnula Flanagan is another interesting name to join the cast of Tim McCanlies' directed/Elizabeth Avellan produced When Angels Sing, which is currently filming in Central Austin. The film is based on the book by Turk Pipkin and has a very interesting cast including Harry Connick Jr., Connie Britton, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson (he's been on the set this week), Sara Hickman (singing with her daugther Lili!) and Lyle Lovett. Oh, but unconfirmed reports have that spare Jonas brother out of the film.

See more about the film here. It shoots through March in Austin and Bastrop.

Oh, and for you Connick fans: He will end his film shoot with a show at the Long Center on March 26. Tickets are available here.

Connie Britton starring in 'When Angels Sing'

One name I hadn't heard associated with Tim McCanlies' film adaptation of Turk Pipkin's book When Angels Sing is Friday Night Lights alum Connie Britton. Sounds like an interesting cast, headed by Harry Connick Jr. and featuring such musical actors as Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Sara Hickman and Kris Kristofferson.

You can read more about the film, which is shooting through March, here.

I listened to Britton talk about FNL a while back. You read about that here.

Kids, adults sought for Harry Connick film

More info on When Angels Sing, the adaptation of Turk Pipkin's Christmas story to be directed by Tim McCanlies, produced by Elizabeth Avellan, and starring Harry Connick Jr., Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Sara Hickman and a spare Jonas brother. It's shooting in Austin and Bastrop:

"Seeking homeschooled kids or w/ extremely flexible schedules for Feb. & March for When Angels Sing" Email contact number, photo, ages, height, weight, shirt size, pant size + shoe size to thirdcoastextras@gmail.com. LABEL SUBJECT "HOMESCHOOLED KIDS- WHEN ANGELS SING."

For your older folks:
We are seeking all types for our new project When Angels Sing. Please make sure your file is up to date by emailing your photo, contact number, height and weight to thirdcoastextras@gmail.com or mailing a new registration (download from bethsepkocasting.com) to Third Coast Extras, 501 N. IH-35, Austin, TX 78702. PLEASE INDICATE YOUR AVAILABILITY FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH. Thanks and see you on set!

Good luck out there...

See more about the film here.

Harry Connick, Kris Kristofferson, a Jonas brother and Willie Nelson make a film?

UPDATE: That should be "a" Jonas brother, as in the youngest one. and Sara Hickman and her daughter are also likely to have a role in this very musical cast.

Extras info is here.

I've been hearing rumblings about the film adaptation of Turk Pipkin's story When Angels Sing, and it looks like it's about to start filming in Bastrop.

A casting call from Beth Sepko Casting & Third Coast Extras for photo doubles today asks for:

Adult Male- light-gray hair 5'9 - 5'11 thin to medium build
Adult Male- brown hair 6'2 - 6'7 medium build

The first is likely Kris Kristofferson, the second Lyle Lovett, (or perhaps extra-tall Pipkin, who surely will have a cameo role at the least) who are both set to star with Harry Connick Jr. and Willie Nelson. Hometown hero Tim McCanlies (Secondhand Lions) is directing and Elizabeth Avellan is among the producers. Oh, and the Jonas brothers are somehow in this one, too.

Looks like a February and March shoot.

The story:
Michael was eight years old on the Christmas Day he lost his brother David. The day had started out well-Michael and David opened their presents and, much to their delight, they both received ice skates from Santa. With great excitement they set out to the pond behind their grandparents' house in New Mexico to try them out. But the pond wasn't safe, and David never made it out from its icy cold depths. For Michael, the meaning of Christmas changed forever that day.

Thirty years later Michael (Connick) is the neighborhood Grinch. "To me the only wonder of Christmas is not why that tragedy marked me so," Michael says, "but how the rest of my family can seem so completely unscathed." He scowls at his neighbors' fervent holiday traditions and at his own children, who want nothing more than to string Christmas lights through their front yard. But when another holiday disaster strikes and his own cherished young son loses his spirit to live, Michael searches deep within himself to root out the anger, the fear, and the pain of the past. Can he bear to remember exactly what happened that Christmas day? And will he make peace with this past for the sake of his own children?

Coen brothers looking at Central Texas for 'True Grit'

That's really the big scoop in my latest SHOT IN TEXAS column in the Dallas Morning News. Also, more on the television shows lensing in Dallas nnd the Zapata, Texas, TV pilot that Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are scouting, also in Central Texas.

More specifics not in the column: True Grit is looking at Granger, and Zapata is looking at Bastrop and the new Spiderwood Studios located near there.