(Eileen)Ahh, there's nothing like summer, the season when speculation runs rampant... And being a newbie in love, I'm speculating all over the place :-) Can't pick up a book without casting CF in some role!

3. Will Moon see him in Umbria? LOL, Eileen! How about, Will he come to Lake Como? I read that Brad, Jennifer, and George Clooney were just there. It's time he comes to Northern Italy.

I phoned Riverside for tickets for Hamlet today, and the girl on the phone said they're not on sale until 1st August - they were on sale a while ago but then suspended, she said, but I didn't get a chance to ask why cos I was interupted.

Mariel Hemingway just said that Londinium will be on HBO on Sept 2nd! (they will be showing TSM and L back to back)

(Eileen) How much hair is left in back of his head? Gah! I try very hard to NOT think about that one.

Karen, where did Mariel say this? An HBO promo in between shows? Great to finally have a date! I think I'll tune in for only the second half of the Binder-a-thon. Speaking of "thons," is that Labor Day weekend? Poor Jerry's Kids don't stand a chance.;-)

Yup, is Sunday before Labor Day. Mariel was on Larry King Live and they showed a clip. Am going to tape at next repeat in a half an hour. Don't know if I can take another hour of her talking about her sister, grandfather, suicides, etc.

An emailed HOT TIP!! There's a program on MTV called Diary, which is showing a day in the life of Reese Witherspoon. Well, the day filmed is during the shooting of TIOBE and Colin can be glimpsed. The program will be shown again over the next few days: Thursday at 6:30 pm, Friday at 2 pm, Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday at 1 pm (all times Eastern)

There is at least one Emmy nomination for Conspiracy. I saw on E! the category on the screen for Best Actor Miniseries, etc. and Conspiracy was there. No name, but is probably KB

(Karen) Londinium will be on HBO on Sept 2nd! On a Sunday?? Huh. is Sunday before Labor Day That explains it. Wonder if SitC and 6Ft's new episodes will be over by then--otherwise the great Binder marathon will occur during the day and exactly 5 non-Firth fans (those 5 being Binder's family ;-)) will take the time to watch. Conspiracy was there. No name, but is probably KB Grrr. Suppose it would be wishful thinking to have CF nommed over Kenny. Good lord, I hope it's not Stanley! (Kate) I try very hard to NOT think about that one. A little north-of-the-Pulaski-Skyway humor, sweetie. ;-)

Colin's been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries!!!!! Whoo hoo!!!!!!!!!

wheee!!!:oD

Cinematography, editing and direction nominations. Finally have scrolled to Supp Actor category and Tucci was also nommed, along with Alan Alda and Ian Holm.

Plus Best Made for TV movie!! with the Arturo Sandoval Story, Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Wit, 61*

(Jen)Colin's been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries Wishful thinking indeed! *jumping around room, getting funny looks from dog* Tucci was also nommed Fix! Fix! I thought he was OK (as opposed to those of you who didn't care for his performance at all) but it was hardly Emmy-worthy.

But for Colin's nom!!!

Ten nominations, total! Am thrilled!!! Alas, no one at work understands my excited yelping and whooping.

This is soooooooo exciting. He'll have to be there for the show in September. Won't be much publicity here for this category, but still is incredible!! I'd say the British press will turn this into front page material though.

Oh my God!!! T'is true!!!! That new performance of his paid off! Congratulations, Colin! Winter, you must start planning to attend.

(E! piece on noms) Overall, HBO topped the network scorecard with 94 nominations Aha! Is as it should be. Noms are noms, though--let's see how the voting goes. (Jen) no one at work understands my excited yelping and whooping. Take a quick drive up CT to GA and we can yell and whoop together! Wheeee! (Karen) He'll have to be there for the show in September. *fingers and toes are already crossed*

Eileen, was that *you* shooting off those fireworks over the city a few minutes ago? May have to organize an Emmy-watching party--diversions can include: Where's Colin? Why didn't they interview Colin on the Red Carpet? Where's Winter? etc. Office-mate is still giving me strange glances...how can she *not* be excited???

I'd say the British press will turn this into front page material though. Keep your fingers crossed.

Oooh, I knew he could not be so talented for nothing! I'm thinking Colin on the red carpet, I'm thinking Colin and Livia in Armani, I'm thinking Colin being interviewed on live worldwide TV. How many different "red carpet" shows are there? Must plan ahead--do I have enough TV/VCRs in the familiy to catch them all???????

Our resident Hottie is on a roll!! Thrilling!

(Kate F) I'm thinking Colin on the red carpet, I'm thinking Colin and Livia in Armani, I'm thinking Colin being interviewed on live worldwide TV. How many different "red carpet" shows are there? Must plan ahead--do I have enough TV/VCRs in the familiy to catch them all??????? *lol* one must use all means in the struggle for a glimpse of Colin...WE WANT HIM IN THE SPOTLIGHT!!!;oD

*So happy I could spit!* YIPPPEEE! Well done, Colin, and well deserved! Wheeee! The way they have the noms listed on the Emmy site is a bit confusing--so Colin has more competition than we thought; Brian Cox was also nommed for Nuremberg (and he was awesome--*and* used a German accent;-) plus Victor Garber for Life With Judy Garland. Here's how the category reads: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries or Movie: Club Land--Showtime Alan Alda as Willie Walters Conspiracy--HBO--An HBO Films Production Colin Firth as Stuckart Conspiracy--HBO--An HBO Films Production Stanley Tucci as Eichmann The Last of the Blonde Bombshells--HBO--Working Title in association with HBO Films Sir Ian Holm as Patrick Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows--ABC Victor Garber as Sid Luft Nuremberg--TNT Brian Cox as Hermann Wilhelm Goering

Congrats, ladies. I doubt that the news will make the UK front pages - the Emmys are not taken very seriously (by the Press) here. If Tucci was as bad as everyone says, he's the best co-nominee possible, as one of the competition is already virtually eliminated. I saw "Last of the Blonde Bombshells" and I an Holm was acted off the screen by Judi Dench. So that's two down, three to go.

And Colin is still leading by 36% at the Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards!!!Although we have to make sure that Ewan and his clan don't get too close to us! Get your friends, enemies and co-workers to vote! Colin is HOT! HOT! HOT!

(MarkG)I saw "Last of the Blonde Bombshells" and Ian Holm was acted off the screen by Judi Dench. Hmm, Ian Holm is a pretty good scene-stealer himself. I was worried about him as competition. Dame Judi can act anybody off the screen. OK, ALMOST anybody. Still, it's a good thing she won't be in all of Colin's scenes in TOIBE!!

I didn't see Alda's or Holm's performances so can't judge. I did like Tucci's performance, but wouldn't rank it with Colin's. Cox, as I said , was superb. It's unfortunate that both CF and ST were nommed in the same category as that generally means they'll cancel each other out. But, hell, this is a day to celebrate, and it *is* an honor to be nominated! Conspiracy got the following 10 nominations: Outstanding Made For Televison Movie Lead Actor--Kenneth Branagh Supporting Actor--Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci Direction--Frank Pierson Writing--Loring Mandel Cinematography--Stephen Goldblatt Camera Editing--Peter Zinner Sound Editing Sound Mixing

Here's the AP's list of the nominees in the major categories; supporting actor/movie is second from the bottom. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010712/en/emmys_short_list_3.html

Now, aren't we glad he didn't do Armadillo? ;-)

You are very funny, Karen! Armadillo was *small beer*

Sorry, but Armadillo would have been great, Karen. Has the filming wrapped? He could have done it and it would have been a starring role instead of a supporting role.

I might add that Colin has finally got himself one great US publicist. At last!!!

Moon, if he had done Armadillo (which no one in the US would've seen), he wouldn't have been able to do Conspiracy for a major television station that everyone watches! Get it?? ;-)

I knew what you meant, Karen. I asked if Armadillo had wrapped, is it being filmed at all? He might have been able to do both. Get it? ;-)

My handicapping of the category: Club Land--Showtime: Alan Alda as Willie Walters A snowball would have a better chance. Did anyone see or even hear of this movie? Conspiracy--HBO--An HBO Films Production:Colin Firth as Stuckart He's "very well-known," taller than anybody else in production, stood up to Jabba and was most memorable character. Also looks lovely in tux. Conspiracy--HBO--An HBO Films Production: Stanley Tucci as Eichmann Has won before. Move on... The Last of the Blonde Bombshells--HBO--Working Title: Sir Ian Holm as Patrick Was shown so long ago. Besides, will give award to Judi; therefore, can't have too many old people on stage. Big turnoff to viewer audience when winners are all old enough to be grandparents. Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows--ABC: Victor Garber as Sid Luft Was excellent performance. Very credible competition. Nuremberg--TNT: Brian Cox as Hermann Wilhelm Goering Another fantastic performance, but was shown quite a while ago. Emmy voters may prefer to give award to shorter and more recent Nazi film. (Mark) I doubt that the news will make the UK front pages - the Emmys are not taken very seriously (by the Press) here. Anytime a Brit gets anything in the US, it seems to be magnified beyond belief. That being said, so far, all I can find is the BBC online news with a report, highlighting the Brits nommed in the Best Actor categories (not supporting). Am now operating on theory that press is scouring the hills of Italy looking for Colin in order to get a quote for tomorrow's papers. ;-) [can't possible admit that Mark just may be right] Armadillo was being shot at the same time. So he couldn't do both.

Looks like Britannia will rule the drama Emmy's:-) KB, Emma Thompson, Colin or Brian Cox (big competition!),Brenda Blethyn.

Just when I think it might be safe to go on vacation, its time to celebrate! Yessss! Colin's da bomb! Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!

(Karen)Also looks lovely in tux. Anticipating a red-carpet moment?!?!? So it looks like it's down to one of three really in the running. Garber was excellent, but a celeb bio may not be considered "serious" enough, especially up against two very serious movies. "Conspiracy" is a unique movie (Nurenberg has been done before, after all). Maybe the strength of the production will haunt voters and make them think of Colin just that extra bit. (Karen)Am now operating on theory that press is scouring the hills of Italy looking for Colin in order to get a quote for tomorrow's papers. Poor reporters. He may be hard to catch. Don't forget that Livia drives like a Bond girl. ;-)

(MysteryMan) Armadillo was *small beer* Why do I get this funny feeling here... Who do you think MM wants us to imagine he really is? Tease...? ;-)

(Kate) Garber was excellent, but a celeb bio may not be considered "serious" enough Then you didn't see "Me and My Shadows." It was incredible and Judy Davis has got to be Emma's strongest competition. Garber played Sid Luft; it was a strong role and bound to have ties to Academy voters. (Kate) Poor reporters. He may be hard to catch. Don't forget that Livia drives like a Bond girl. ;-) Especially as she's probably off to look for a dress for the awards show. ;-)

I had forgotten about Garber in my earlier post; he is very strong competition indeed. And that show got tons of noms, even more than Conspiracy. It's a strong field, as are all the film acting categories. Bad for the nominees, but good for the viewers.:-) Whatever, I feel very proud of Colin--this is well-deserved, a wonderful performance of great, substantive material *and* the Emmys are very prestigious. I'd bet he is delighted to be recognized for his dramatic chops and for something other than a Darcy. Karen, thanks for the tip on Reese's MTV Diary show and TIOBE. Colin looks adorable! Very very nice, beautifully outfitted in varying soft beige shades. Lovely hair. And no "gap" that I could see.;-) Nice that Reese mentioned Colin specifically. Did you hear Judi's bellowing of "WHERE IS THAT BABY???" I was hoping for "A HANDBAG," but you can't always get what you want.;-) Seems like they were having a good time on the set; did you notice that little dip (*very* Peter in RV;-) he does while they're all yucking it up?

I'd bet he is delighted to be recognized for his dramatic chops and for something other than a Darcy. I bet he's thrilled...all actors like to be acknowledged. Remember how incensed we all were when he was passed over for SIL Oscar noms...everyone except Colin and the dog got nominated that time. I remember he even mentioned that at the Berlin press conference... he was representing the unnominated contingent or words to that effect. Speaking of Darcy...except for Hornblower,I didn't see a costume period drama in the bunch.

Oh, I *knew* this day had been going too well. Newsflash from Mickie: Anne Rosen can't get on line so she has called me on the phone to send this message to you all ASAP. She just got back from a book signing of Nick Hornby in Wash D.C. She asked him what Colin was up to and he mentioned a few things and Anne said of course he is doing Hamlet and he said no it's been CANCELLED!! Anne asked why and he said too many other Hamlets showing at the same time -Sam West's and Simon Russell Beales. Anne will add all other info when she can get on line tomorrow.

and he said no it's been CANCELLED!! That better be an example of his form of humor. :( (Mari) the Emmys are very prestigious. Absolutely, the coverage for this is probably 100x that of the Tonys. Weren't those shots from TIOBE fun! You really have to slo-mo the whole thing. Is so much better. Then that dippy move at the end. Looks like a rooster-y walk a friend of mine used to do to look silly.

(Mari) Did you hear Judi's bellowing of "WHERE IS THAT BABY???" I heard her say "PRISM, WHERE IS THAT BABY???" Yes, not quite a HANDBAG moment, but we'll take whatever we can get of such great material.

From Page 6 of the Daily Mail by Nadia Cohen British teenager takes on big names of US TV in Emmy awards A British teenager has been nominated for one of America�s top television awards for her moving portrayal of Anne Frank. Hannah Taylor Gordon, 14, is one of five nominees for best actress in a mini-series or a film category in the annual Emmy awards���... ���..Colin Firth, Sir Ian Holm and Brian Cox are all up for best supporting actor���

Hamlet cancelled - confirmed :-(

and he said no it's been CANCELLED!! That better be an example of his form of humor. :( Could be Nick's dry humour...or, possibly things are really, finally happening for CF and he just can't afford to block out offers (which may not be repeated)by being unavailable for several months. I thought that in the interviews CF gave just before starting filming BJD, he sounded rather "down" about his career... "haunting the margins" etc. And he'd had some (undeservedly) bad reviews for MLSF and SLOW. Perhaps at the time the theatre seemed the only way of *proving* that he was a good actor, not a wetshirt. Now, things really seem to be "on the up". The Emmy nomination is great news..and BJD's success is incredible, especially in the UK (NH, SIL can't compare). And I think it's always possible to do good roles in the theatre (although maybe there's an age limit for Hamlet). But maybe Nick *was* joking!

(Karen) That better be an example of his form of humor. :( I'm afraid not. Definitely cancelled. Riverside had confirmation yesterday. Box Office chap read me the statement he had from Colin but was too fast and too long for me to write it down. The gist is that it clashes with filming commitments. Riverside will be writing to everyone who booked by credit card today.

This is the reply to an e-mail I sent. Thank you for the e-mail. Unfortunately due to circumstance beyond our control the production of Hamlet has been cancelled due to Colin Firth's work commitments. This was a decision taken by Concentric Circles and not Riverside Studios. If you have purchased tickets we will be contacting you over the next couple of weeks to arrange a full refund. As you may appreciate we have a lot of people who booked with us in advance so this may take some time. If you have any queries concerning yor refund please contact the Box Office Manager on 020 8237 1027. May I take this opportunity to aplogise on behalf of Riverside Studios for any inconveinience caused. With Regards, Louise Rose Reception

If you've already seen this, just ignore completely. And apologies if it's already posted. Some interesting points.. Production and Post on HBO's 'Conspiracy' By Bob Fisher May 23 2001 04:44:00:000PM How do you tell a story about the most horrific crime of the century, and maybe of the ages? What do you do to grab and hold the attention of the audience and leave them with a memorable impression? How do you do justice to that story within the confines of a television screen? Those questions must have been rolling through Stephen Goldblatt's ASC, BSC mind when he was asked to shoot "Conspiracy." "Conspiracy" is a Home Box Office (HBO) special (now airing check HBO schedule) that zeroes in on a meeting held on January 20, 1942, when 15 Nazi bureaucrats gathered at an ornate mansion in Wannsee on the outskirts of Berlin. They were there to plan the Holocaust. Those at the meeting included Reinhard Heydrich (Kenneth Branagh), SS major Adolf Eichmann (Stanley Tucci), Friedrich Kritzinger (David Threlfall) and Dr. Wilhelm Stuckart (Colin Firth). They arrived in limousines and were greeted by butlers and aides who served a sumptuous buffet and attended to their needs. The bureaucrats sat around a conference table where they discussed and argued about the details of the "final solution" to Germany's Jewish "problem." The exercise resulted in horrific executions of some six million men, women and children. You couldn't make this up. The film is faithful to the meticulous minutes of the Wannsee Protocol preserved in the archives of the German Foreign Office. "Conspiracy" was directed by Frank Pierson, who won an Oscar for his "Dog Day Afternoon" screenplay, as well as nominations for scripting "Cool Hand Luke" and "Cat Ballou." He has directed such memorable features as "A Star is Born" and many telefilms, including HBO's "Citizen Cohn" and "Truman," which earned an Emmy for the director. Pierson shared executive producer credits with Peter Zinner ("The Winds of Wars," "War and Remembrance" and "The Enemy Within") and Frank Doelger, who won Emmys for "A Child Betrayed: The Calvin Mire Story" and "Dead Drunk." They chose Goldblatt to photograph the story. At the beginning of his career, Goldblatt was a news and rock 'n roll photographer in London. He subsequently segued into shooting documentaries, commercials and ultimately narrative films. Goldblatt's distinguished body of work includes Oscar nominations for "Batman Forever" and "The Prince of Tides." His other notable credits include "The Cotton Club," "The Hunger," "Young Sherlock Holmes," "Lethal Weapon" and "The Pelican Brief." The cinematographer considered the possibility of shooting in digital HD format, but the cameras were too big and cumbersome and he didn't want to be tethered to cables. Neither did he wish to abandon the look of film. HBO was planning to release "Conspiracy" in HD and standard video formats, but also as a 35mm film that would premiere at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. "We'd have to convert the video to film anyhow, so I didn't even see a cost advantage," Goldblatt says. "If you make a film like this, you don't want to compromise." Goldblatt ASC, BSC (photo by Douglas Kirkland) Goldblatt had only three weeks to prepare and 23 days to shoot a 120-page script. He envisioned recording the story almost like a theatrical play and structuring the shooting schedule with as much continuity as possible. Goldblatt had shot "a million feet" of 16mm and Super 16 film during his days as a documentary cameraman. "I wanted to bring that feeling to 'Conspiracy.' I did not want the film to have a Hollywood gloss," he explains. He planned to shoot 10 to 12 pages at a time with the camera providing a subjective perspective. Goldblatt recalls that his concept was music to Pierson and the actors' ears. He shot with two handheld Aaton cameras with 35mm Zeiss prime lenses. The Super 16 format allowed him to expose 10 minutes of film with each camera without stopping to change magazines and that in itself only took a few seconds. He shot some make-up and costume tests and also checked the lenses for color matching and the bodies for steadiness. Goldblatt explains that there's no room for error with 16mm and Super 16 film. "We had a fright when a lab in Denmark reported steadiness and sharpness problems," he says. "It gave me sleepless nights until we found the problem was with the gate in the (Philips) Spirit (DataCine). My experience is that the thing you don't check because you're lazy or exhausted is the thing that goes wrong. I can't allow myself to take shortcuts." The main set was built at Shepperton Studios near London. There are big windows in the meeting room set that motivates natural daylight. The exterior is a painted backdrop. Goldblatt used part of his prep time shooting tests to see how far the backdrop should be from the window for a natural look. "We shot the interior at T2.8 and the backing between 4.0 and 5.6," he says. "We had a little smoke outside the windows, artificial snow falling, some artificial frost on the panes and some breeze on the trees. It's incremental. All these things help. We didn't do anything less because it was Super 16. We used excellent lenses and stayed on the best part of the glass. This was a creative choice for this project and we did what was necessary for it to work." A considerable effort was made to create a feeling of authenticity. "The set is historically accurate except it's a little longer and wider than the room where the Nazis met to accommodate sound, lighting and the camera," Goldblatt explains. "It was very chilling reading the script and understanding that real people actually participated in this meeting. I wanted to get into their minds because it is important to understand that ordinary people can do incredibly evil things. "I looked at some old German newsreels just to get a sense of their look and feel, including film of Heydrich and various other people who were at the conference," he says. "It is remarkable how glamorous Heydrich seemed. Frank Pierson and I were very clear that we didn't want to make these people look evil. During staging, I asked that we always had Heydrich facing the windows, so he's not seen in sidelight. I wanted him to always have soft frontlight on his face." Goldblatt emphasizes that the techniques he employed were dependent on the talent of the actors who were capable of handling 10 to 15 pages or more at a time. "It comes from the story and the actors," he says. "Their performances draw the audience into the story. There was terrific communication. The place was electric with their intelligence. The piece just drove itself and we went with it." Branagh was carefully positioned before windows Goldblatt worked at keeping precise eyelines between characters engaged in discussions. In one scene, Dr. Stuckart gets into an angry confrontation with another character who is seated at the table. There is a tense discussion. Goldblatt had a camera looking straight into each character's eyes. The dialogue snaps back and forth and you can feel the adrenaline flowing. It's like seeing each character through the other one's eyes. Goldblatt observed that it was an intensely personal experience for the actors. In favored shots looking down the side of the table, he notes that you can see that all the actors are in full character all the time whether they have lines or not. When Pierson called a halt to shooting at the end of each day, the cast and crew were exhausted from the experience. While "Conspiracy" is reality-based, filmmaking is still an interpretive art. Goldblatt consistently orchestrated lighting in seamless ways to amplify moods and dialogue. At a particularly tense moment, for example, he assumed that a passing cloud had temporarily blocked the sun and the light bouncing off the snow outside became slightly dimmer. It's almost imperceptible, but it gives a darker texture to the angry words. Initially, Goldblatt planned to make 35mm prints for the Holocaust and other museums from an optical blow-up. However, HBO encouraged him to explore the emerging possibility of creating a digital master from the original Super 16mm negative (not from an intermediate positive) as a universal format for television releases and for recording out to 35mm film. "Finishing in a digital suite allowed us to manipulate colors and grain," Goldblatt explains. "We didn't want this to feel like a bunch of actors in old time uniforms doing a historical piece. We wanted a slightly washed-out look, as if it were a color film from that period. We conducted tests (at digital facilities) in various European countries and Los Angeles before we settled on Cinesite in Hollywood." The entire film was converted to a digital file at 2K resolution with a Philips Spirit DataCine. Goldblatt was able to manipulate colors, contrast and other image characteristics in parts of individual frames in an interactive environment with colorist Mike Bellamy. He color-timed the processed file to create video masters for high and standard definition television display. The same digital data file was converted to 35mm Eastman EXR color intermediate film with a laser-based Kodak Lightning recorder at Cinesite. The final step involved color timing the release prints with Steve Sheridan at Deluxe Labs in Los Angeles. "I used to be a handheld 16mm cameraman doing ethnographic documentaries," Goldblatt reminisces. "It's wonderful in those situations because you can really get the bit between your teeth. "Conspiracy" was one of the most intense experiences I've ever had making a film and it was about two-thirds shorter in shooting than just about every other film I've worked on." To be precise, it's not a totally handheld film. Sometimes the camera was held on the conference table with sandbags. Often it was on a dolly. However Goldblatt didn't generally worry about using a head on the dolly. Instead, the operator (Trevor Coop) would just sit on it holding the camera. They would roll from parquet to wood floors and then carpet. Trevor's body absorbed most bumps and Goldblatt didn't worry about the rest. "I just cared about the energy," he says. "I wanted it to feel like the Nazi SS had allowed a documentary crew to be present at the conference. It's a different grammar." He estimates that about 70 percent of the story takes place in the conference room and the characters are almost always seated. Other footage consists of characters coming and going, or in other parts of the mansion. "I watched Frank rehearse with the actors," Goldblatt says, "but the shot list wasn't locked down. The rehearsals gave us some ideas, but I don't like to predict how the actors will perform. I like to fly by the seat of my pants based on what they do and not on what I think is going to be an interesting camera move." He used soft, direct light mainly from about ten Dinos, diffused and placed high above the big windows, about 35 feet away. There were also Space lights scattered throughout the set in niches in the ceiling and a few little floor units for fill. "Once in a while, I'd bounce a little light off some cloth or the stage floor covered in artificial snow onto someone's face," he says. "It feels like ambient light from the window." Since the Aaton camera bodies are only a couple inches wide, Goldblatt was able to place the two cameras side-by-side, so that the eyelines remain consistent. One camera was usually on a medium or close-up shot, and the other one recorded a wider angle. "Often I used profile shots," he says, "because you can see the backgrounds and expressions on the secondary characters faces." Goldblatt composed the frames in 16:9 format, which provided a larger image area very close to 1.85 format used for the 35mm prints. The film will air on HBO in both HD and standard format with a 4:3 composition extracted for the latter under Goldblatt's supervision. He tested several camera films before deciding to shoot the entire movie with Kodak Vision 200-speed stock. Goldblatt says he would have preferred a faster film and more depth of field, but he wanted to avoid grain down because of the 35mm prints. He had video taps on both cameras that delivered images to a monitor kept in another room where Pierson could watch the shoot away from the actors. Cinesite colorist Mike Bellamy (photo by Tory Kooyman) "There wasn't a safe place on the set," he says. "The cameras are always prying. That also helped to keep the actors focused. The fact that we didn't pull walls or ceilings meant that the break between set-ups was usually no more than ten minutes." "We also shot exteriors outside the actual house near Berlin and footage of them arriving and leaving the mansion. Heydrich makes a grandiose entrance. "You can't see his face until we cut away to a beautiful close-up. He looks like a movie star." There is one helicopter scene that provides an overview of the house. Goldblatt recorded that shot on 35mm film because he knew they were going to add digital snow to the scene, so he gave the effects facility a bigger frame to work with. Speaking about his experience with Bellamy in the digital suite, Goldblatt observes, "You can change the balance of colors in very subtle ways, and you can even alter the dynamics of a scene by manipulating colors and contrast without being obvious. You can use the process creatively and also to fix problems." Bellamy explains, "It's almost a process of elimination. If we went in the wrong direction he'd say, 'No, that's too warm,' and then I'd know not to go there again. It's a constant searching for ways to make it right. It's almost a quantifying. When he says, 'Yes, that's right,' I tried to do it again the next time we had a similar situation. I tried to concentrate on seeing things as Stephen did, so I could accommodate him. My suggestions were intended to help him solve problems." Bellamy notes that during original cinematography, Goldblatt frequently had mid-scene changes as a form of visual expression for amplifying dramatic moments. He says some tracking shots had three or four light changes. "In one scene, Kenneth Branagh is next to the window and there's a red rose in the shot," he says. "Stephen wanted the rose redder, so we added saturation to the hue of the red without affecting flesh tones or the gray and black tones in his uniform." Goldblatt sees digital mastering as a potentially powerful extension of the role of the cinematographer into post-production. "It is totally interactive," he explains. "You sit in a suite, look at an image on a monitor and tell the colorist, 'make it a little lighter, less contrast, now make it a bit darker and as we move through the shot let's bring it up. That guy is too magenta.' The colorist is responding and you are seeing the changes. It's got to be a collaborative process because the colorist doesn't know the context or emotional meaning. "I believe that as this technology evolves, we are going to have to re-think the role of the cinematographer," Goldblatt observes. "We are going to have to be there to control or we will lose control of our images. It's not something you can do in just a few days. You go through every shot in each scene." Goldblatt lauds HBO for it's pioneering use of digital film mastering technology without interfering with the creative process. "They have been models of discretion," he says. "They encouraged me to explore all possibilities for making this a better program without interference. We were very fortunate to be working with an enlightened company."

Hamlet cancelled - obviously that's why the girl told me ticket sales were suspended when I called on Wednesday *sigh*

If there is a bright side to Hamlet being cancelled, it must mean there ARE film commitments. This will mean more opportunity to see CF on screen. Especially nice for those of us who don't get out much ;-)

It's disappointing, but he can *always* work in British theatre, at any time of his choosing, and probably in any lead role (and maybe "cancelled" is "postponed"). Those opportunities don't disappear. It would be more disappointing, I think, to read that he had been offered a terrific Oscar-potential screen leading role, and turned it down. I'm just hoping that the phone is finally buzzing for him ("Hi, Spielberg here"!) Anyway, here's hoping those "work commitments" mean that something very good is in the offing (Crowe says no to Henry) :-)

Hamlet cancelled - confirmed :-(

Riverside had confirmation yesterday. And Nick, who has been in the US for days, knew all about it. This was sent to another lady, who gave me permission to post it here: Dear Ms X, I am very sorry to confirm that the production of Hamlet with Colin Firth in Feb/Mar 2002 has been cancelled. Please find enclosed the official cancellation letter, which you will receive shortly through the post. Yours sincerely, Christine Eriksen Assistant Box Office Manager HAMLET - RIVERSIDE STUDIOS - SPRING 2002 We are very sorry to inform you that the production of HAMLET at Riverside Studios has been cancelled due to a change in the film commitments of Colin Firth. This disappointing development is wholly beyond the control of both Riverside Studios and the company presenting the project, Concentric Circles. "My worst fears were fulfilled when my filming schedule for early next year changed meaning that I would have to withdraw from Concentric Circles production of HAMLET. We are now exploring other possibilities of working together in the future." Colin Firth At present there is no definite plan to revive the project so we feel that the simplest course of action is, to refund your tickets. The amount that you paid will be refunded directly to your credit card over the next couple of months and we will write to you again with confirmation of the refund. We apologise for any inconvenience and the undoubted disappointment that this cancellation may have caused. Concentric Circles will now present its planned production of PHEDRE with Sheila Gish during Spring 2002. Yours sincerely William Burdett-Coutts Artistic Director Riverside Studios

Wow, talk about wide-ranging emotions. Was elated yesterday, am crushed today. I guess there's some kind of cosmic balance, but it's still a cruel way to start my Friday. Must break the news to my recently converted friend...

Just to rub it in ;-). Sorry for the double posting. I thought the repost on "refresh" was a Netscape feature but obviously isn't.

From The Independent: Teenager takes on Hollywood greats at Emmys A TEENAGER will go head to head with Emma Thompson and Dame Judi Dench for one of the year's most prestigious acting awards. Hannah Taylor Gordon, 14, from London, was last night nominated for an Emmy award for her leading role in the American mini-series Anne Frank, in which she played the Jewish girl forced into hiding with her family by the Nazis.... Anne Frank, a two-part drama, which has not been shown in Britain, drew critical acclaim in the US when it was screened earlier this year and Hannah Taylor Gordon was praised for her performance. Emma Thompson was nominated for her part in mini-series Wit, while Dame Judi received the nomination for her part in Last of the Blonde Bombshells. The mini-series category was dominated by British actors, with Kenneth Branagh and Gandhi star Ben Kingsley in contention for the best actor awards and Colin Firth, Brian Cox and Sir Ian Holm all nominated in the best supporting actor section. Kingsley's nomination is for his role as Otto Frank, Anne's father, in the drama, while Branagh was honoured for playing the lead part in mini-series Conspiracy. The British 18th-century naval drama Hornblower, which stars Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, received a series of nominations, including best mini-series, art direction, costume, make-up and special effects. Veteran stage actor Sir Derek Jacobi was nominated for best guest appearance in a comedy for a part in Frasier when he played a washed-up Shakespearian actor in the hit American sitcom. The BBC's Walking With Dinosaurs is almost certain to win one Emmy at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles on 16 September, as it is the only nominee for outstanding animation lasting more than one hour. [Then, four sentences about The Sopranos] ;-)

(Evelyn) Remember how incensed we all were when he was passed over for SIL Oscar noms Ah...we were? I don't remember that, but I do recall grumbling [read: bitching and moaning] quite a bit when CF was passed over for his 3DOR work at BAFTA time. Ooh, so disappointing to read the unfortunate Hamlet news. I wasn't planning to see it but I know how so many of you were looking forward to it. *But* IMO Nick hit the nail on the head. Here a Hamlet, there a Hamlet, everywhere a Hamlet Hamlet... (Meredith) If there is a bright side to Hamlet being cancelled, it must mean there ARE film commitments. Yes, we must focus on this. Since Riverside sold so many advance tickets (Rachael, selling had been suspended for months before you called), production clearly wasn't cancelled due to lack of sales as a side effect of Hamlet market saturation. I'd love to know what he's got going that's been 'schedule changed.' Yew hew, Mari! Time to call his wonderful agent! (Wanna bet he says 'nothing is confirmed at this time'?) :-/

You know, maybe this means that Colin is working on a sequel to BJD next year???

Riverside had confirmation yesterday. And Nick, who has been in the US for days, knew all about it. *But* IMO Nick hit the nail on the head. Here a Hamlet, there a Hamlet, everywhere a Hamlet Hamlet... I agree! Colin knew he was coming in on the heels of "the greatest Hamlet" Beale recently. Why change his mind now, Angelina Jolie? ;-) Will someone please call his Agent and get info. on the "film commitment"? It sounds like an excuse to me. But I will happily be contradicted. I'm leaving for Italy tomorrow and wish everyone a happy summer. Buone vacanze a tutti! I will as always keep my eyes out for ODB. :-D

(Moon) Colin knew he was coming in on the heels of "the greatest Hamlet" Beale recently. However, when it was first announced, there weren't plans to bring SRB's back to the National as is now happening. IMO, no film commitment caused the cancellation. Will someone please call his Agent and get info. on the "film commitment"? Complete waste of time.

SRB is only back for ten performances or so. Also Sam West's production didn't get particularly good reviews. And CF must have known about the "opposition" when he first agreed to go ahead. And he wanted to do it. Nothing has changed. Why back out now? Also, critics like to see different interpretations of "Hamlet"....there's no restriction on the number of productions. The problem might lie with the paying public, but CF's "Hamlet" was guaranteed a sell-out (no fear of unsold tickets) at the Riverside. And when I rang both Malvern and the Oxford Playhouse, I was told there was tremendous excitement at the prospect of CF playing Hamlet...both would have been sell-out performances. And the original news announcement at Ananova said that the producers had been discussing this project with CF for some time, but it had been difficult so far because of his other commitments (I'm paraphrasing!)

(Karen) Complete waste of time. Spoilsport. ;-P Heck, we've got nothing to lose (except cost of call). Arrivaderci, Ms. Moon! Have a wonderful time.

GAH!!!! How can he do this to us?!? I had second row seats!! And no matter how close you sit to the TV or movie screen, it isn't the same as Colin LIVE. I just hope that he cancelled Hamlet to do something wonderful. If it is a sequel to BJD, there would be pressure to get that moving quickly so that it could come out in time to ride the wave of interest in BJD. Come to think of it, won't his son be teething by next winter? Perhaps he's just saving his energy for walking the floors at night?

I had FRONT row seats. And I've never seen Colin live before :(

This is too depressing. Time to break out the Chardonnay, Milk Tray, and P&P videos.

This is truly a black Friday for Firthfans everywhere... I think that Angelina J. and brother must have been the straw that broke the camel's back and ODB has thrown a wobbly... Btw, has everyone seen the message on the Darcy thread?

(Kate)This is too depressing. Time to break out the Chardonnay, Milk Tray, and P&P videos. And Chakka Khan. What do I care about all the Hamlets...(read #%^&),this guy spoiled my trip. (Not feeling v. altruistic...and don't want anybody to raise my spirits..so don't even try..)

We'll just commiserate with you. It's a bummer for sure!

sorry, Evelyn, I already did try on #148...but maybe ODB really does "have a plan" ;-)!

There isn't much to say that will lessen the intense disappointment of those who were Riverside-bound, but I have to think (yes, *me*, the eternal cynic) something good will come out of this film-wise. Who knows? Bond? Batman? MLSF II--The Postwar Years? ;-D

BATMAN?????????????????? I'm thinking Colin in spandex... (Or is the batsuit made of vinyl or rubber?) At least the mask wouldn't hide his dimples!

Colin in moulded latex costume .... Peeling moulded latex off sweaty Colin... Oh dear! :)

I haven't posted in a dog's age, and I apologize for that. Too busy with RC and OW, but I have been keeing up with Colin news, and am SO happy for the Emmy nom and so sorry for those who planned to see his Hamlet. Anne R has further news at Firthden on Nick Hornby's statements re Colin. **************************** Okay, now I have some good news. Colin may indeed be working on a new film next year. Hornby told me that he recently read a new novel called New Cardiff by Charles Webb, the man who, back in the Sixties, wrote The Graduate. He really liked it and recommended it to Colin as a good read. Colin read it and liked it, too, and said that he'd really like to play the leading character (who, coincidentally, is named Colin) if it ever got filmed. Well, completely independently of this, the novel was optioned for the movies, and the people who bought the rights offered Colin the part. Naturally, he accepted. That's all Hornby said about this project, but when I first asked him what Colin was doing, he said that he has absolutely nothing coming up. I'm interpreting this to mean that the film project is still in the very early, nebulous phase, which means that it might be filmed next year or three years from now or never. Putting a film together is a very iffy business--for one thing, they have to raise the money, and Colin is not the kind of star who is considered "bankable," and this is Webb's first novel in 25 years (The Graduate may have been a big hit, but that was in 1967). So I would not regard this as definite by any means. But it's nice to know that it's a possibility. Hornby also mentioned that Colin is in Italy now ("at Livia's house" is what he said, and I assume that means her parents' retreat in Umbria). TIOBE has finished filming. He was upset by the paparazzi pictures of Colin and Luca--very intrusive. I was rather sheepish when I asked him about Colin's activities, but he didn't laugh at me or even grin; he said, oh, he lives very close to me and we know each other quite well. But the woman standing next to him laughed, and I suspect that she's heard that question from a few other people before. ;-) In the Q&A session following Hornby's reading from his new novel How To Be Good, someone asked how much he had edited the stories in SWTA. He said very little, but that "the author who needed the most hand-holding was--understandably--Colin Firth." He went on to say that Colin had always wanted to write, but his story as originally submitted was too long--it would have been the longest story in the book if it had been published as it was. Obviously that wouldn't have been good, since the other contributors were all professional writers, many of them well known. He didn't say anything about the actual editing process, however. When he mentioned Colin's name, there was a little flutter among the 400 or so people present; you could tell that they recognized the name and were excited about hearing it mentioned. As Mickie said to me last night, that wouldn't have happened a few years ago! In fact, while I was waiting on line to get to Hornby to have him sign my books and chat, I heard several young people (mostly male) talking about Colin and mentioning his movies. So, he's definitely getting better known in the U.S. That's all he said about Colin. I'll post again on the non-Colin part of the evening. ******************** Finally for a needed laugh. I am starting to read the new Mitchem bio by Lee Server, and was looking through the photos first. Here is what I found:

The film companies appear to be Fragile and Buena Vista.

and they bought the rights a year ago, so it may be coming together now as BV financed the sale.

(Hornby)"the author who needed the most hand-holding was--understandably--Colin Firth." As Hornby said, this is understandable. It's hard to write to a predetermined length, and it's very difficult to cut your own stuff (or even to watch someone else cut it). If the story has a personal meaning to you (which I think this did for Colin, what with his grandparents dying), cutting it down to fit can be a painful task. Plus, Colin probably knew who the other writers would be, and was aware that he was the only previously unpublished writer. Add to that the fact that he was doing this for a friend's special cause (remember the interview in which he said that writing this was a "gentleman's agreement"?). No wonder he was nervous. It shows he took the committment seriously.

The film companies appear to be Fragile and Buena Vista. Fragile produced TIOBE, didn't they? "New Cardiff" was published a couple of months ago in the UK, to very good reviews - a gently satirical romantic comedy. Sounds very filmable. A talkie movie. It's about an English artist who decides to move to a new life in New England, after a failed love affair (sort of Henry James in reverse). The film rights were sold for a substantial sum. Well, if CF does this, he'll have to spend a couple of months in the US!

Yet another romantic comedy??? Give me strength. *** Mitchum DROOLETTES - very good! So we aren't very original, then. (Btw, love the wallpaper. ;-))

I went to see Nick Hornby tonight and "Being Not So Good," I feigned ignorance about Hamlet and asked what Colin was doing before that. Nick answered that "he thought" that Hamlet was canceled. Looking suitably shocked (put my name forward for an Evvy, thank you very much), I managed to utter "what? why?" to which he said the bit about too many Hamlets. So I countered, "so he backed off because of Angelina Jolie?" He said that there was Sam West...and I interrupted and said, "yes, all those were out there before while Colin was still *doing* Hamlet but that just a day or so ago, news came out that Angelina Jolie might going to be doing another production in the West End." He looked very surprised. So I asked if there was anything else, and he offered up the info about New Cardiff that Colin was *interested* in doing. "Was this going to take the place of Hamlet?" "no, he didn't think it was far enough along for that." So that's that. The latest and virtually worthless Colin update. Except that he volunteered that Mark Herman was working on the New Cardiff project. I've looked Mark Herman up in the IMDB and he was the writer/director of Brassed Off and Little Voice. Not too bad. BTW, when I approached the table, I came out of the closet and announced myself as a Colin Firth fan. [One step down. Eleven to go.] His asst laughed and said, 'isn't everyone?' And I said, any right-minded person would be. Nick volunteered the same info about Colin's being in Italy, Colin had just finished TIOBE (to which I said that I liked the Earnest line in his book and his eyes twinkled), yadda yadda. Had tons of other questions...Will relate other, non-Colin related stuff on O&E. Oh yes, he said that Mark Herman was working on the New Cardiff project and I've just looked

From Screen Daily: Film Council hands development sums to UK six-pack The Film Council�s development fund has announced slate development deals with six UK production companies, worth $1,767m (�1.262m) from its annual coffers of $7m (�5m). Long term deals have been struck with Fragile Films, Archer Street Tiger Lily, Kuhn & Co, Autonomous, Dragon Pictures and The Jim Henson Company. [...] Fragile Films, headed up by producer Barnaby Thompson, was awarded $280,000 (�200,000). The company will this summer release UK comedies Lucky Break and High Heels And Low Lifes, and is currently in post production on The Importance Of Being Earnest. [...] The formation of a cash-rich development fund was well-received in the UK, which has an oft-criticised dearth of development culture. "The gap in the industry for providing development funding for bigger budget projects has been an historic problem in the UK," said Michael Kuhn, "and it is really important for companies with ambitions in this direction to get an eye in early on a project, to secure big cast names, etc. This type of funding aims to give companies that ability." ~~~~~~ $280,000? That wouldn't even cover a catering budget.

(Karen)$280,000? That wouldn't even cover a catering budget. Might pay for Colin's salad lunches?

Might pay for Colin's salad lunches? Oooooh! Salad lunches=love scenes! That definitely sounds like "funding for the arts"! Tried to find "New Cardiff" in the U.S. Naturally it isn't available here yet. It sounds like a great book that would transfer well to film. Nick Hornby's review quoted at Amazon.UK makes it sound like just the thing for ODB: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0316856991/reviews//202-0284655-3683043 I hate that movies take so long to go from book/concept to completed product. Here I am ready to see the film and I can't even rush over to Barnes & Noble to buy the book yet. Sigh... I'd certainly be willing to buy shares in the film production if it would help to speed things up. BTW, CF, RZ and BJD are losing ground to the Moulin Rouge crowd over at ETonline. They're only ahead by 10% now. If you want to go over and support the cause, here's the place: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0316856991/reviews//202-0284655-3683043 http://etonline.com/html/page_meter/hff2001/index.htm

Sorry. Don't know how that link got in there twice.

Quote from review of New Cardiff--"charming, uncloyingly romantic and witty" Now who does that remind you of??? No wonder they thought of CF for the part.

Yet another romantic comedy??? Give me strength. Those are my words.... Louise's review is better..."Witty and uncloyingly romantic". And it's satirical! The latest and virtually worthless Colin update. Thanks for trying, Karen! "New Cardiff" apart, I'm sure that CF must have other irons in the fire...he never seems to sign until the last minute. And information about his projects s never seems to be available (from his agent etc) until he actually starts work, or the day before! I would think Nick was willing to talk about "New Cardif" because he had mentioned it to CF in the first place. Probably even he doesn't know what CF is going to do next. As for "Hamlet", Perhaps the most disappointing (and mismanaged) aspect is that tickets went on sale so early, raising false hopes and expectations. I'm sure CF wanted to do it, but I'm wondering if he could actually afford to do it *now*? (working for �200 a week/turning down other work) He must be "hot" at the moment in terms of work offers ....but the moment may not last forever. There's always time for stagework, and he's obviously still considering it. I'm sure there'll be ample opportunities to see him live! The point about "too many Hamlets"...I'm not sure about this. I remember reading that actors are often reluctant to commit to theatre, because they're always waiting for other projects to be greenlighted and can't plan ahead.

A Colin mention in the SF Chronicle (Ruthe Stein's column) yesterday:In London, where I just was, the Brits are in a dither over Reese Witherspoon arriving on their shores to play one of them in a screen adaptation of "The Importance of Being Earnest." Wait a minute. What about the slew of British actors impersonating Americans in Hollywood movies? My pounds are on Witherspoon to sound every bit as upper crust as co-stars Rupert Everett and Colin Firth.

I love Karen's Importance of Being Earnest page. Weren't they in a similar dither over Rene Zellwegger? She sure showed them! This play has a special place in my heart and it must be that way for many others; it was one of the best plays we had at my high school in St. Louis and one of my girlfriends, Helen, played in one of the lead roles. I am really looking forward to seeing this, can't wait!

Karen, ole buddie, I share the Evvy Award with you....Proud of you. Did you write your script first;-) "New Cardiff" sound like a fantastic project.Great writers, tremendous budge. Shorter hours,better pay, like you say Bethan,no touring, no fencing or having to face those hordes of fans nightly. Yuck, those seedy dressing rooms at the Riverside. Absolutely , hands-down,no- doubt -about -it, better than Hamlet. And no doubt he didn't "shake hands" with the director, like he did with NH before he signed on...don't you think?

I feigned ignorance about Hamlet and asked what Colin was doing before that. . . ."Was this going to take the place of Hamlet?" "no, he didn't think it was far enough along for that." Good job, Karen, definitely Evvy-worthy.:-) Re, the above, might I suggest that if anyone plans to call ICM in the near future that you inquire about exactly what these "film commitments" are. If they are using that as the official reason for Hamlet cancellation, then they should be prepared to respond. No doubt you'd get the "nothing firm yet" line, and my question would be, if nothing is firm, then how could that be used as the reason for him being otherwise occupied during those months? Bethan, I was also wondering about the way-in-advance ticket sales. My take is that they were going to use the advance sales to fund the production. Normally, funding would come first, then they'd hope to at least recoup their expenditure, and then some, via subsequent ticket sales. Also, I'm hearing that there's a Riverside press release quoting Fettes and that it sounds as though Concentric Circles (the producer) and Fettes/Firth are one and the same. Anyone have the full release they can share here?

it sounds as though Concentric Circles (the producer) and Fettes/Firth are one and the same It's very likely. I wouldn't be surprised - in fact I myself suspected something like that. And the abrupt way in which the ticket sales were halted must have marked the point at which something didn't add up for them.

And the abrupt way in which the ticket sales were halted must have marked the point at which something didn't add up for them. I may be talking through my hat here, as I really don't know much (anything)about this, but most British theatre is heavily subsidised (The National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare etc) and smaller theatres like the Donmar rely heavily on fundraising. Maybe "Concentic Circles" found that they couldn't actually afford to mount the production, and the "too many Hamlets" might refer to a failure to secure any kind of Arts Council grant. (Wot, another Hamlet?) Perhaps CF needs some angels. The RSC were suppposed to be giving well-known actors the opportunities for short contracts, but I should think it's a closed shop. Am I talking rubbish?

The RSC are completely restructuring the way they put together production runs, where they do them and how they offer contracts, partly as a way of getting in better known actors - since the current contract arrangement precludes many actors from signing up - the commitment required by the RSC has been longer than many are prepared to give so the new proposals should, in theory at least, enable high profile actors to work for the RSC for shorter periods of time. They have been criticised for this, in terms of "star gazing" ie re-organising purely in order to get the big names in. So, I don't think it is a closed shop as such, although whether this new way of working for the RSC actually works out in practice will be interesting to see.