Jared Leto joins New Orleans, um, 'Dallas Buyers Club'

"Is Dallas a suburb of New Orleans?"

Jared Leto has joined the cast of Dallas Buyers Club, which will, naturally, begin filming in New Orleans next week. I'm sure they'll at least wander past the actual Dallas long enough to get a skyline shot. Or maybe they can use file footage. Besides, the po boys are better in N'awlins and so are the filming incentives.

Leto plays a cross-dresser in the true story of Ron Woodruff-- to be portrayed by Matthew McConaughey--who was given six months to live from AIDS and then began  smuggling alternative drugs into the U.S. to help himself and others. Jennifer Garner is also in the cast as Dr. Eve Saks.

Mira Sorvino comes to Austin for TNT's 'Trooper' pilot

If it seems like Austin is heating up as a shooting locale all of a sudden, you're right. First we've got Terrence Malick running around town with a string of big-time actors including Natalie Portman and Ryan Gosling for the music-industry-set film formerly known as Lawless, and David Gordon Green is supposed to start filming Joe with Nicolas Cage any minute now. Now add to the mix a TNT television pilot called Trooper starring Mira Sorvino and Jay Hernandez.

Extras calls are out amid talk of a quick shoot Nov. 6-13. TNT's official description of the show is: "Trooper centers on a recently divorced female state trooper who is as unconventional at work as she is at home raising her three kids. Her partner on the job is a widowed father who has a much more by-the-book approach to policing." A pilot was shot last year for CBS, but they declined, so this is actually a second series pilot. No word on whether Austin would have a chance to host the filming if it goes to series. But with ABC Family's The Lying Game just closing shop on its second season here, word is clearly getting out to the TV community about Austin.

Oh, did I mention that Robert Rodriguez is doing a little Sin City 2 shooting right now, this minute (through Nov. 8) in Austin, too? It's percolating in the Austin film/TV biz, bub.

'Evacuation Plan' is now an e-book!

First off, I'll be signing my novel-in stories Evacuation Plan during the Texas Book Festival from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday outside the Texas Capitol. Stop by and say "Howdy."

Just as important, Evacuation Plan lives a new life as an e-book is all of the various formats. Thanks to Sisterhood Publications for adding me to their stable of fine writers. You can look in the column on the right for more info on this award-winning tome. The new cover includes a photo I took a million years ago. 


Want to read it for free? Here's how:

Sisterhood Publications is so excited to announce our newest release, the award-winning EVACUATION PLAN: A NOVEL FROM THE HOSPICE by Joe M. O'Connell.

We want YOU to help us spread the word, so we are making it worth your while. There's a free copy of the book, a free DVD where Joe talks about the book and a $25 gift certificate to Amazon to the first person who spreads the word in ten different places on the Web.

Rules:

1. You cannot write "Buy Joe's Book 10 Times on your FB profile.
2. You cannot write "Buy Joe's Book 10 Times on your friends profiles. If you write it on your profile on Facebook, that counts for one time.
3. You must take a screen shot of your comment. For information on how to take a screen shot please visit https://www.facebook.com/SisterhoodPublications for exact details.
4. Once you have visited 10 different Internet locations and posted about Joe's book, please send your screen shots, your name, snail mail address to draneydesign@gmail.com.
5. Example of what to post. "Make sure you check out Joe O'Connell's new book, EVACUATION PLAN. I'm in a contest to win a copy plus a $25 gift certificate" or something like that.
6. Examples of places where you can post: FB (once). Twitter (Once), Tumblr (1), Reddit (1), Google + (1), Pinterest (1), Your website (1), Your Blog (1), etc. See? Not so hard, kind of fun, and you can win a book, a CD and a $25 giftcard to buy MORE books. So let's play.

Natalie Portman hangs out with 100,000 in Austin, TX

Actually Natalie Portman has apparently arrived in Austin for her role in Terrence Malick's film formerly known as Lawless. Filming occurred during the University of Texas' 56-50 victory over the Baylor Bears at DKR-Memorial Stadium.

Over at Daily Beast they report the all-important news that Portman has gone blonde for her next film. Hint, hint--this is it.

The announcers weren't clued in that the guy standing next to Portman was her costar, Irish actor Michael Fassbender.

First Rooney Mara and Ryan Gosling shoot scenes for the Malick film for the second straight year at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, now the director shoots at one of the largest football stadiums anywhere. Isn't he supposed to be a recluse?

The other Janis Joplin film revives duel

It seems like I've been writing about the Janis Joplin movie duel forever--actually about 10 years. Now word is that Lee Daniels is, perhaps, maybe, possibly, going to direct one currently untitled version as early as next year. I'll believe it when I see it. But Amy Adams is attached to star as a much-prettier-than-Joplin Joplin.

The other version has also talked about filming soon with Martha Marcy May Marlene director Sean Durkin helming and Nina Arianda starring as Joplin.

As I recall, the two films have rights to different Joplin songs.

Will either film in Texas? Probably at least in part since she was raised in Port Arthur and later lived in Austin.

Terrence Malick filming again at Austin City Limits fest

We've got confirmation that Terrence Malick's untitled film formerly known as Lawless--which has been lensing around Austin of late--has already been spotting filming at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, which just kicked off. And, yes, Ryan Gosling, was in front of--and in this case behind--the camera. See more pix here.

And somewhere in this video, actress Rooney Mara is supposed to be on stage dancing as the Black Keys perform.

Friday Night Lights' Peter Berg says, 'Quit it, Mitt'

Peter Berg, creator of the Austin-shot TV series Friday Night Lights says I know Coach Taylor,  Coach Taylor is a friend of mine. You, Mitt Romney, are no Coach Taylor.

In other words, quit using the coach's slogan: "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose" that Berg wrote.

Berg was behind both the Friday Night Lights film and TV show, but they are both based on Buzz Bissinger's book of the same name. Bissinger, who has long bashed Romney, now suddenly has come out in support of him. He's also shown himself to be a bit of a crank, if not a total nut. Bissinger and Berg are cousins, making it even more interesting.

Now word from actor Kyle Chandler, who is wisely keeping out of the fray.