Mr. Brooks

September 1st already?  I'll say it again, where has the year gone?  I'm loving having the long weekend off, and decided it might be time to stay in and watch a movie.  I'm a sucker for a good crime drama, so Mr. Brooks it is.  If you've never seen Mr. Brooks, you might want to make sure you like the whole serial killer, dark drama thing before you watch.  It's one of my favorites...here's some trivia to go along with it.  Have a great Sunday!

--Danielle Panabaker plays the daughter of Mr. Brooks (Kevin Costner) and Mrs. Brooks (Marg Helgenberger). Panabaker's younger sister, Kay Panabaker plays the recurring role of Lindsey Willows, the daughter of Catherine Willows (also played by Marg Helgenberger) on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation for CBS. 

--According to interviews with Kevin Costner, this is supposedly the first movie in a trilogy. 

--The prayer Mr. Brooks repeats throughout the movie is called "Serenity Prayer" written by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. This prayer is in use in Alcoholics Anonymous since the early 1940s. Mr. Brooks visits AA-meetings to curb his morbid addiction. 

--Zach Braff was originally cast as Mr. Smith. 

--Kevin Costner, as Mr. Brooks, is reading a paper in a diner, the newspaper - USA Today - has only the headlines and first few lines written in English, the rest is in Latin. 

--Reportedly William Hurt took the role of Marshall because he loved the idea of someone going to an Addicts Anonymous class as a cure for homicidal actions. 

--Earl Brooks was written with Kevin Costner in mind to play him. 

--Kevin Costner thought the script was one of the most perfect scripts he'd ever read. There are only three other scripts he's read that made him feel that way. The writers took a day off to celebrate after hearing that. 

--Dane Cook only had to read half the script to decide he wanted to play Mr Smith. 

--During the shootout between Detective Atwood, Meeks and Sarah in the darkened hotel hallway, the flashes of light that appear were created by a lighting rig hooked up to an audio trigger, which was programmed to respond to the sound of their gunshots. The actors were essentially directing their own lighting. 

--When Demi Moore's character is up on the parking lot rooftop with Mr. Smith (Dane Cook), she gets him out of his car and says something along the lines of: "Didn't you say you were a potter? One who likes to make ceramic bowls or vases?" Mr. Smith replies: "No I never said anything about making pots or bowls, I said I was an amateur photographer". This seemingly random question only makes sense if you watch the deleted scenes (on the DVD) where, during the crime scene of the couple he kills (the one with the drapes open), they find a small ceramic sample (the type that is used with a kiln) left behind in the carpet fiber. Mr. Brookes had apparently tracked it onto the crime scene from his basement, but the director cut it believing it didn't work because Mr. Brooks is portrayed as too much of a meticulous planner for that to happen.

All photos courtesy of Google

All trivia courtesy of IMDB

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"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." -- Deuteronomy 6:5 

"Gatsby? What Gatsby?"

If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw my photo of my copy of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  It is my favorite book of all time.  I feel so lucky that I get to teach it each year and dread the day I can't.  The novel is a romantic reminder of what true love can be, and what it actually ends up being.  For me, Jay Gatsby represents everything I want in a man...someone who loves me unconditionally is willing to do anything for me.  Is that reality?  Maybe...but the idea of a man being in love with you for his entire life is dreamy.  

My 11th graders probably don't understand my passion for this great work of art.  If you've never read it, please do yourself a favor and read it right away!  You will be sucked in and fall in love more so than something you might have read, like Hunger Games or Twilight.  This is the true classic.  

"He smiled understandingly--much more than understandingly.  It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.  It faced--or seemed to face the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor.  It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself." --Nick Carraway The Great Gatsby Chapter 3

Now do you see why I'm so in love?  Who writes like that? 

What's really exciting is Baz Luhrmann is working on a new version of the film that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.  Yay!!!  In the meantime, here's some fun trivia from the 1974 version starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.  If you haven't seen it, trust me...rent it this weekend.  Robert Redford is an angel.

--Originally, Truman Capote was the screenwriter, and his draft included making Nick a homosexual and Jordan Baker a vindictive lesbian. Capote was fired, and Francis Ford Coppola finished his draft in three weeks. 

--Mia Farrow was pregnant during filming and the director filmed around that by including close up shots of Farrow, and having her wear a lot of flowing costumes. 

--The rights for the novel were purchased by producer Robert Evans in 1971 so that his wife at the time, Ali MacGraw, could play the part of Daisy. A shooting script wasn't ready yet, and MacGraw agreed to star in The Getaway as filler. During the production of The Getaway MacGraw fell in love with co-star Steve McQueen and left Evans for him. Mia Farrow was then picked to play Daisy. 

--Many of the male extras in the party scenes were recruited from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island because military officers already wore the clean-cut hairstyles that were worn by men in the period of the film. 

--According to Robert Evans in his memoirs Warren Beatty was approached to play Gatsby but wanted to direct the film and suggested Evans play the role himself. Jack Nicholson was offered but rejected the role because he didn't believe Ali MacGraw to be appropriate casting for Daisy (she was later replaced with Mia Farrow) and Steve McQueen was also considered and rejected for the role. 

--Supposedly Natalie Wood was an early contender for the role of Daisy but she allegedly became furious when the producers insisted on a screen test since the actress hadn't been in a movie for over 5 years. She balked and negotiations ended. 

--Mia Farrow writes that the main reason she was unable to create on-screen chemistry with co-star Robert Redford was because of Redford's total absorption in the Watergate scandals that were rocking Washington, D.C. at the time of filming. Farrow says Redford spent all his free time locked in his trailer, watching the political scandal unfold on television. 

And here are some photos of the upcoming film with Leo:

All photos courtesy of Pinterest

All trivia courtesy of IMDB

Don't forget to get your Fashion Friday posts ready!  The link will be up later this evening!  xoxo

My Newest Obsession

Ok, for some reason, I have rediscovered "Friends" again.  I watched the show in the past, but definitely not every single episode.  I find myself cracking up and seriously relating to the show lately, maybe because of where I am in my life?  I don't know.  I found some really fun trivia about the show and thought I'd share with you...do you love the show as much as I do?  I'm curious, what's your favorite episode and why?

--Courteney Cox was originally asked to play Rachel, but she asked to play Monica instead after reading the parts.

--Jon Favreau was offered the role of Chandler Bing. He later returned as a guest star during the 1997 season as Pete Becker, Monica's millionaire boyfriend. 

--The golden frame around the peephole was originally a mirror which one of the crew accidentally smashed. But because it still looked good they decided to leave it there. 

--Because of a bet between Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis on the set of The Whole Nine Yards (which Perry won), Willis appeared in his two-episode guest role for free.

--When Matt LeBlanc auditioned for the role he only had $11 dollars to his name. When the cast got their paychecks, the first thing that Courteney Cox bought was a car. Matt LeBlanc bought a hot dinner. 

--Lisa Kudrow was terrified of the duck that showed up in Season 3.

--Is filmed on the same soundstage that was used for the filming of the sitcom Full Houseduring the last two seasons (1993-1995) of it's eight year run (1987-1995). The pilot of "F·r·i·e·n·d·s" was shot on stage 33 (the same stage as Living Single) at the Warner Ranch, and the first season was shot is Warner Bros Stage 5, now the home ofEverybody Loves Raymond) from 1987-1995.

--When Tom Selleck made his initial on-set appearances, he received standing ovations. These would render his entrances unusable, prompting the need for later re-shoots without the audience. 

--No Friend ever made more money doing the show than any others. They started out making $22,500 per episode and ended up making $1,000,000 per episode. All negotiations were done in unison. Kudrow said, "The six of us are far stronger than just one person." 

--Courteney Cox is the only regular cast member to not receive an Emmy nomination for their work on the show. 

--The artwork in Central Perk is changed every three episodes. 

--Joey's statue of a white dog was originally given to Jennifer Aniston as a good luck present from her best friend when she started acting. She offered to lend it to the show for the episode where Joey became rich and bought a lot of stuff. After that episode, the producers decided to keep it. 

--The orange couch used in Central Perk was found in the basement of the Warner Bros. studio. 

--Lisa Kudrow based her hippie character Phoebe on her co-star Jennifer Aniston - because of the actress' interest in "spiritual" subjects.

All images courtesy of Pinterest, all trivia courtesy of IMDB

Murder By Numbers

Happy Sunday friends!  What are your plans today?  I might watch a movie or two! One of my favorite films is Murder By Numbers starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Gosling.  I don't know why I can watch this film over and over again, but I can.  I found some great trivia on the film and thought I'd share.  Have you seen it?  What did you think?

--Henry Bean, who also directed Ryan Gosling in The Believer, did several uncredited re-writes on this film.


--In one scene, the camera pans briefly across a cinema that is showing The Bitter Tea of General Yen.  That film was directed by Frank Capra, whose grandson, Frank Capra III is the first assistant director of this film.

--The characters Richard Haywood and Justin Pendleton are loosely based on real life murderers Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold.

--The old lodge on the bluff was constructed especially for the film and was torn down after filming was completed.  The interior shots were filmed on set.

--Richard's car, a mustang, is the same type of car driven by Steve McQueen in Bullitt.  Ryan Gosling suggested that the car be used, as he is a fan of McQueen.

--The scene near the end of the film where Gosling licks Sandra Bullock's face was not scripted.  After a few takes, Gosling asked Bullock if it would be okay if he added it in to prove his character's sick nature.

--Ryan Gosling threw up as he filmed the murder scenes.

--The high school scenes were supposed to be filmed at San Luis Obispo High, but the Superintendent wouldn't allow them to film after reading the script.

**All photos courtesy of Yahoo Images

**All trivia courtesy of IMDB.com

Film Series...Day 4

Today's film is "The Blair Witch Project." This film from 1999 was a controversial one, kind of like last year's "Paranormal Activity." Although it was thought of as "ridiculous" or "fake," it still scared the crap out of many as we watched it. We couldn't wait to actually see the witch. What are your thoughts on the film? Here is some fun trivia about it. Enjoy!

--The three principal actors, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams, shot nearly all of the completed film.

--The actors were requested to interview the townspeople, who often, unbeknownst to the actors, were planted by the directors. As a result, the expressions on the actors' faces were unrehearsed.

--The actors were given no more than a 35-page outline of the mythology behind the plot before shooting began. All lines were improvised and nearly all the events in the film were unknown to the three actors beforehand, and were often on-camera surprises to them all.

--Some theatergoers experienced nausea from the handheld camera movements and actually had to leave to vomit. In some Toronto theatres, ushers asked patrons who where prone to motion sickness to sit in the aisle seat and to try not to "throw up on other people."

--The house that Heather is in during the opening shot is owned by Lonnie Glerum, the film's key production assistant. He is also operating the camera during the opening shot.

--When promoting the film, the producers claimed it was real footage. Some people still believe it.

--This film was in the Guinness Book Of World Records for "Top Budget:Box Office Ratio" (for a mainstream feature film). The film cost $22,000 to make and made back $240.5 million, a ratio of $1 spent for every $10,931 made.

--The sign for Burkittsville at the beginning of the movie has been stolen three times, and was stolen opening night of the movie.

--The three leads believed the Blair Witch was a real legend during filming, though of course they knew the film was going to be fake. Only after the film's release did they discover that the entire mythology was made up by the film's creators.

--The filmmakers placed flyers around Cannes for the film festival that were "Missing" posters, stating that the cast was missing. All the flyers were taken down by the next day. It turns out that a television executive had been kidnapped just prior, and they were taken down out of respect. The executive was since recovered safely.

--It took a mere 8 days to shoot this film.

--Apparently, Heather Donahue brought a knife into the forest while filming was taking place because she didn't like the idea of sleeping with two guys.

--To promote discord between actors, the directors deliberately gave them less food each day of shooting.

--The 1999-2000 hunting season suffered badly due to this film. The movie was so popular that fans all over the country were hiking into the wilderness to shoot their own Blair Witch-style documentaries. As a result they kept most of the wildlife scared away from hunting areas.

-- Before the film was released, the three main actors were listed as "missing, presumed dead" on the IMDb.

--Heather Donahue's discovery of Joshua Leonard's (presumed) tongue and teeth wrapped in his handkerchief bears a striking similarity to Washington Irving's story "The Devil and Tom Walker". Tom's wife goes to find the devil in the swamp, and never returns home. When Tom goes to find her, he discovers her apron with her heart and liver inside.