David O. Russell

[I Love a Magician]

is that gay goro

[pete]

gayro

[MacGuffin]

Russell going to D.C. for Gore's 'Hill'
Source: Hollywood Reporter

David O. Russell is adapting and is attached to direct the Washington comedy "Sammy's Hill" for Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon.

The project, based on Kristin Gore's inside-the-Beltway novel, centers on a young woman who tries to balance a job as a congressional aide on Capitol Hill while searching for the right guy. Gore is the daughter of former Vice President Al Gore. Russell is working closely with Kristin Gore, Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein on the screenplay.

Red Wagon's Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing.

"It will do for Washington, D.C., what 'Talladega Nights' did for race car driving," Wick said. "We are going for a bold, subversive comedy, and David O. Russell is one of the most original voices working in comedy."

The book, which at times has been labeled chick lit after it hit shelves in 2004, would seem an unlikely fit for the mercurial director. Nevertheless, the material is rife with satirical elements akin to "Thank You for Smoking" and "Election."

Sony's Matt Tolmach and Rachel O'Connor are overseeing for the studio.

Rachel Shane is shepherding the project for Red Wagon.

Russell has generated industry buzz lately after unauthorized outtakes from the set of 2004's "I (Heart) Huckabees" made the YouTube and Internet rounds, depicting a heated exchange between Russell and Lily Tomlin, one of the film's co-stars.

In addition to "Huckabees," Russell's helming credits include "Three Kings," "Flirting With Disaster" and "Spanking the Monkey."

[matt35mm]

"It will do for Washington, D.C., what 'Talladega Nights' did for race car driving,"

What exactly DID Talladega Nights do for race car driving?

[pete]

made it funny.

[picolas]

filmed it from several different camera angles. made will ferrel appear to be involved in it.

[MacGuffin]

Gyllenhaal in bed with Biel for 'Nailed'
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel are attached to star in the risque political satire "Nailed." David O. Russell is attached to direct and co-write the screenplay with Al Gore's daughter, Kristin Gore.

Biel would play Sammy Joyce, a socially awkward small-town receptionist who has a nail accidentally shot into her head by a clumsy workman, eliciting wild sexual urges.

The uninsured Joyce goes on a crusade to Washington to fight for the rights of the bizarrely injured. She meets an immoral congressman (Gyllenhaal) who takes advantage of her sex drive and capitalizes on her crusade as Joyce heads into her own career in politics.

Red Wagon Entertainment ("Jarhead") and Persistent Entertainment ("Southland Tales") are slated to produce the project. Preproduction is set to begin in two weeks, aiming for a January start date for principal photography.

Neither star has a signed contract for the film, which is being presold by IM Global at the American Film Market. Their commitment could depend on juggling other features: Gyllenhaal recently was set to star in Doug Liman's untitled Moon project for DreamWorks and Jim Sheridan's "Brothers" with Tobey Maguire for Relativity Media. Biel is slated to star in and produce the crime thriller "Die a Little" for United Artists.

Reps for IM Global and CAA, which handles both stars, did not comment.

Russell is no stranger to politics. He started as an 1980s political activist before directing the prescient Gulf War drama "Three Kings."In the spring, he was adapting and attached to direct a feature version of Gore's autobiographical Washington-based novel, "Sammy's Hill," for Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon.

[MacGuffin]

James Caan leaves 'Nailed'
Dispute with director David O. Russell to blame
Source: Hollywood Reporter

NEW YORK -- James Caan has left the political comedy "Nailed" after a dispute with director David O. Russell led him to storm off the set, and it all seems to have centered on a cookie.

The trouble started Wednesday on the first of Caan's two days of shooting the role of a U.S. speaker of the house who chokes to death on a cookie. Russell asked him to cough as he choked, but Caan argued that the character couldn't cough and choke to death at the same time.

Russell suggested that they shoot it both ways, but the actor expressed distrust that his version would be considered and left the South Carolina set. A spokesman for Caan wouldn't confirm or deny the specifics of what happened but said with a laugh that there were creative differences and the departure was amicable.

Producer Douglas Wick said the discussion was "part of an ongoing creative conversation between the actor and director" and that Russell has behaved professionally throughout the shoot.

Caan's part is being recast. The shoot began April 15.
 
"Nailed" stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, Tracy Morgan and Olivia Crocicchia in the tale of a woman who gets a nail lodged in her head and travels to Washington to fight for better health care.

Russell and Caan have reputations for on-set battles. The director had well-documented differences with George Clooney (in which the two came to blows on the set of "Three Kings") and Lily Tomlin (in heated verbal exchanges on the set of "I Heart Huckabees" as seen last year on YouTube).

[MacGuffin]

Production resumes on 'Nailed'
SAG shut down filming due to pay dispute
Source: Variety

When ThinkFilm Intl. pitches its slate at Cannes this week, the indie will confront an added obstacle: its seemingly wobbly financial condition.

ThinkFilm Intl. is part of U.K. sales company Capitol Films, whose owner David Bergstein is a key investor in the indie comedy "Nailed," starring Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal, which was shut down Friday by the Screen Actors Guild due to a lack of funds on deposit to pay its actors. Though the film has since resumed shooting, Bergstein's problems with SAG have sent ominous signals to the creative community. Capitol has been losing staff at a great rate over the past couple of months.

Nick Hill, the co-managing director, ankled a few weeks ago, leaving Peter Naish in charge. Sales director Sofia Neves recently took a new job as director of worldwide sales and distribution at HanWay Films.

In April, development head Ed Clarke left to go to Kudos Pictures in the same role. ThinkFilm Intl. sales topper Eve Shoukroun and Capitol business affairs exec Maya Amsellem have left to start an unnamed new venture.

Lawyer Hannah Leader, survivor of the original Capitol, is expected to leave when her contract expires at year's end. Leader and Naish are en route to Cannes.

Bergstein didn't respond to a request for comment.

ThinkFilm's newly promoted prexy Mark Urman will be in Cannes looking at movies, going to meetings and answering a lot of questions. But it doesn't look like he'll be buying.

American distrib ThinkFilm is known to owe substantial amounts to media outlets, among others. The company was going to announce the acquisition from Senator Entertainment of "White Male Heart" this week, but then canceled its press meetings.

Further problems emerged last week when ThinkFilm execs suddenly discovered there was no money for Friday newspaper ads for Helen Hunt's much-hyped Toronto pickup "Then She Found Me." The following day, SAG pulled the plug on "Nailed," telling members not to work due to the lack of required funds in accounts designated to pay the film's actors.

No shoots had been planned for the weekend and production resumed Monday on the political comedy -- directed by David O. Russell from a script he co-wrote with Kristin Gore -- after SAG received the necessary funds. The DGA also received assurances that its members would be paid for the pic. Financial insecurity has not prevented Russell from continuing to demand as many as 50 takes from his actors.

"Screen Actors Guild has now received adequate financial assurances that its members will be paid their wages for work on the production 'Nailed,' " SAG said Monday. "Our members are free to return to work on this production."

Capitol and ThinkFilm Intl. have a significant presence at Cannes. They've scheduled 10 screenings this week for five pics including romantic drama "The Edge of Love," with Cillian Murphy and Keira Knightley; romantic comedy "The Last Word" with Ray Romano, Wes Bentley and Wynona Ryder; and supernatural thriller "Aparecidos."

Rumors have emerged that Capitol's financial uncertainty may also delay or derail a pair of projects in pre-production including "Mary, Queen of Scots" starring Scarlett Johansson.

The tipping point of Bergstein's current financial problems may have been last month's departure of ThinkFilm president Jeff Sackman along with the shuttering of the company's Toronto office. Sackman ankled because he wasn't getting the support he needed; potential lawsuits have been threatened on both sides.

[MacGuffin]

Jessica Biel, Catherine Keener Praise Director David O. Russell, Decide Not To Punch Him

It's probably fair to say that more people know David O. Russell as the hothead narcissist George Clooney punched, than as the gifted filmmaker who directed George Clooney in "Three Kings." But, then, that's what happens I suppose, when you also a) verbally abuse a beloved actress in your movie to the point of inciting a mental breakdown and b) make a movie without the money to finish it.

But while the fate of that movie, "Nailed," may be called into question, the behavior of Russell can't be, stars of the flick told MTV News, painting a very different picture of the director than what's appeared in most recent stories.

"He's wonderful," Catherine Keener said.

"I love him," co-star Jessica Biel echoed. "He pulled such a bizarre cool interesting performance out of everyone. It was quite an interesting experience. David was amazing."

What'll be equally interesting, no doubt, is how the final film, a political satire Keener called "a screwball comedy" about the adventures of a brain damaged waitress in Washington D.C winds up, given the massive delays and stoppages in production.

"That was the only really sh–ty part. The shutdowns were killing us," Biel said.

But if there's a silver lining, it's that the stoppages have inspired an attitude of perseverance in the cast, Keener insisted.

"This felt like it was happening despite all of the obstacles," she said. "It felt like us against the man. We were like — you cannot shut us down!"

[MacGuffin]

'Grackle' has director circling
David O. Russell eyes Matthew McConaughey's comedy
Source: Hollywood Reporter

David O. Russell is in negotiations to helm "The Grackle," Matthew McConaughey's Southern-fried comedy that's set up at New Line.

The New Orleans-set comedy centers on a barroom fighter who helps clients settle legal disputes with his fists.

"The Grackle" was a spec-script sensation for former lawyers Mike Arnold and Chris Poole several years ago and attracted studio interest before selling in a bidding war to New Line for an amount said to be in the seven figures.

After the initial frenzy in the summer of 2006, some thought a director would quickly follow, but news on the project leveled off before firing up again earlier this year.

Gus and Mark Gustawes are producing "Grackle" along with McConaughey.

The project represents one of the first New Line titles to move ahead after the studio was folded into Warner Bros. earlier this year.

Russell is known more for quirky comedies such as "Three Kings" and "Flirting With Disaster." His latest project is "Nailed," The Capitol Films take about a small-town waitress in Washington, D.C. which recently wrapped.

McConaughey stars in New Line's upcoming "The Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past," starring opposite Jennifer Garner in the tale of a bachelor haunted by past loves.

[MacGuffin]

David O. Russell finds 'Silver Linings'
Weinstein Co. taps director for adaptation
Source: Variety

HOLLYWOOD -- David O. Russell is attached to direct "The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel" for the Weinstein Co.

The "Three Kings" helmer is also adapting the screenplay, which is based on Matthew Quick's debut novel.

Story centers on a down-on-his-luck former high school teacher who has just been released from a mental institution and placed in the care of his mother.

Tome was published in September by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Project marks the first time Russell has worked with Harvey and Bob Weinstein since 1996's "Flirting With Disaster," which was released by the brothers' former label, Miramax.

Russell most recently directed the Jessica Biel-Jake Gyllenhaal starrer "Nailed," which endured a troubled production due to money problems with the film's financier Capitol Films.

[MacGuffin]

David O. Russell to direct 'Aaron'
Fox 2000 taps helmer for romantic comedy
Source: Variety

David O. Russell has signed on to direct the romantic comedy "Aaron and Sarah" for Fox 2000.

"Milk" producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen have come on to produce.

Story centers on a nerdy guy and a popular girl who meet as freshmen and, over four years of high school, four proms and one funeral, become friends and eventually fall in love. Husband-wife team Chad Gomez Creasey and Dara Resnik Creasey penned the screenplay.

Project had been in development at Rogue under its previous title, "B.F.F.," but Fox 2000 picked it up in turnaround last year.

Beau Bauman and Jesse Israel are producing.

Film, which is described as in a similar vein to John Hughes' teen comedies, is a departure for Russell, who typically deals with modern existential angst ("I Heart Huckabees," "Flirting With Disaster") and politics ("Three Kings," the upcoming "Nailed"). Last month, Russell attached himself to helm "The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel" for the Weinstein Co. He is also adapting the screenplay, which is based on Matthew Quick's debut novel.

[polkablues]

All of the sudden, David O Russell is collecting upcoming projects at a Guillermo Del Toro-esque rate. Is he actually planning on directing all these movies?

[blackmirror]

I admire his dabbling into existentialism in I ♥ Huckabees.