Legacy Books turns into A Real Bookstore

A Real Bookstore is indeed the name of the new place set to open in North Texas this fall. It's good news for writers and readers who bemoaned the loss of the Dallas area's major indie bookstore Legacy Books, which closes today.

Malick's next film in Oklahoma?

Reports are surfacing that Terrence Malick will shoot a "romantic drama" in Oklahoma starting in October, but he may already be shooting in Bartlesville, the town where he grew up (he went to high school in Austin).

Thewrap.com sez Ben Affleck and Rachel Weisz have joined the cast, which is also said to include Christian Bale, Javier Bardem, Rachel McAdams and Olga Kurylenko (though Affleck may be replacing Bale in the picture). Affleck has been spotted in the area and talked about playing a fisherman.

Talk of the film first began at the Berlin Film Festival in February.

Just like the cloud of secrecy that surrounded Smithville-shot Tree of Life (no one would talk for the full year of rumors and casting), this one is getting the big denials in Okie-land.

As for Tree of Life's future, it's as weirdly up in the air (no, don't look for it at the Toronto International Film Festival) as any Malick release, but word of the Oklahoma activity does hint that Malick is finally close to an end of tinkering with the very personal film. The folks at ThePlaylist.com have a nice rundown of a 2007 script of the film.

My latest SHOT IN TEXAS column

Most of this has been covered in my blog, but here's my latest Dallas Morning News SHOT IN TEXAS column for your reading pleasure.

Andie MacDowell joins 'Lone Star' cast

Interesting news out of the Dallas TV series mecca: Andie MacDowell has joined the cast of Lone Star.

Here's the description of her character:

MacDowell plays Alex, a 40ish-to-50ish art appraiser with an unpredictable streak who catches the eye of Clint Thatcher, Jon Voight's character. In reality, she will prove to be more dangerous than anyone realizes.

Also just joining the cast is Rosa Blasi (Strong Medicine).

Oh, and if you want to be an extra on the show, send an email to Kina Bale at lonestarextras@gmail.com.

Linklater finally confirms 'Bernie'

The real-life Marjorie and Bernie

When filmmakers wants to officially announce a new project, they traditionally toss a press release to Variety or The Hollywood Reporter. That's what Richard Linklater finally did in making official Bernie, his upcoming project about convicted murderer and small-town Carthage, Texas, dandy Bernie Tiede with Jack Black (a dead ringer for Tiede) in the lead role.

As we told you back in June (with the first hints in April), Linklater has described this East Texas tale as his Fargo, with multiple characters and a bit of a murder mystery involving Tiede's odd relationship with the much older (and later much dead) Marjorie Nugent.

What's the new info? It is indeed based on Skip Hollandsworth's Texas Monthly story, Shirley MacLaine will play Nugent and the whole thing will get going in East Texas (and partially in Austin, of course) in October.


And here's the film's official casting notice:

Character Breakdowns:

Townspeople – Linklater plans to hire Texans who are not necessarily professional actors. “I’m trying to make as authentic a portrayal of small town East Texas life as possible, so I’m looking for the real deal – funny and interesting folks. There are a lot of small parts in the movie, mostly for people over 40,” says Linklater.

OPEN CASTING CALL FOR RICHARD LINKLATER'S FILM
HOPKINS ICEHOUSE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010 (11am-5pm)
301 East 3rd Street
Texarkana, AR 71854
Please bring a non-returnable photo to get on file.

Meals/Transportation Provided: Meals, Beverages

PHONE:
CONTACT: Sheila Steele at Beth Sepko Casting (512) 472-5385 Ex.1

Legacy Books in Plano closes shop

It was open less that two years, but the largest independent bookstore in North Texas couldn't make it. Legacy Books in Plano will close later this month. Some blame the location. Others the prices. It's also no secret it's hard for an indie to thrive in the days of Amazon.com.

K.J. Choi moves to 'Utopia'

Seven Days in Utopia, the inspirational golf flick shooting in Fredericksburg (that's Texas, y'all)has added a pro golfer to the cast. Here's the official press release:

Korean pro golfer K.J. Choi has joined the cast of Seven Days in Utopia, the feature film adaptation of Dr. David L. Cook’s best-selling book, Golf’s Sacred Journey: Seven Days at the Links of Utopia. Directed by Matthew Dean Russell, Seven Days in Utopia stars Lucas Black and Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall.

Filming on location in Fredericksburg and Utopia, Texas, Seven Days in Utopia follows the story of Luke Chisolm (played by Lucas Black), a talented young golfer set on making the pro tour. When his first big shot turns out to be a very public disaster, Luke escapes the pressures of the game and finds himself unexpectedly stranded in Utopia, Texas, home to eccentric rancher Johnny Crawford (played by Robert Duvall). But Johnny’s more than meets the eye, and his profound ways of looking at life force Luke to question not only his past choices, but his direction for the future. The cast also includes Deborah Ann Woll (HBO’s True Blood), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker) and Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo (Frozen River). The feature adaptation was written by Russell, Cook and Rob Levine.

Since joining the PGA Tour in 2000, Choi has quickly gained notable success, finishing in the top 30 money winners in each of the last three years with over two million dollars in earnings in 2004. The first Korean born player to have secured a PGA card and won on the PGA tour, Choi is one of only two Asian born players with multiple wins on the PGA Tour and is only the fourth Asian born player with a PGA Tour victory.

Choi plays ‘Tae Kwon Oh’, one of the chief and most intimidating competitors that Black’s ‘Chisolm’ character must face during his attempt to succeed on the PGA tour. Of taking on his first role in a feature film, Choi said, “I was inspired by Dr. Cook’s book. Acting in a feature film is a new challenge, and one I am enjoying undertaking.”

“Having a genuine star of the PGA tour onboard to play this role automatically raises the game so-to-speak,” said producer Mark G. Mathis. “K.J. Choi’s presence adds another level of legitimacy and authenticity to a project that has already soared beyond any of our expectations.“

Seven Days in Utopia is being produced by Mark G. Mathis (Brick, Precious) and Jason M. Berman (The Dry Land). Executive Producers are Ken Herfurht, Phil Myers, Robert Carliner and Lucas Black. The film was cast by Mary Vernieu and Lindsay Graham.