Jake in space (continued); Gavin screens Rendition in LA tonight

The story of Jake going to the moon seems to have caught the imagination of the movie net world, and the wider press, and appears to have the same air of distinct possibility about it as Brothers did. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is great news. The prospect of two forthcoming films (at least) in quick succession can only be a good thing and I would have thought that Brothers and the Moon Film will provide something for all Jake's fans.


After a few hours of coming to terms with the idea of Jake floating in zero gravity, I've had a look at the people associated with this unnamed Dreamworks project. The director - Doug Liman - is possibly best known as the producer of Matt Damon's highly successful and well regarded Bourne films. More dubiously, he is the director and producer of a forthcoming revival of Knight Rider - blimey. Liman was the director of Mr & Mrs Smith and associate producer of one of my favourites, Kissing Jessica Stein.

Liman was the original co-writer of the script for the Moon film along with John Hamburg who, curiously, penned an entirely different species of movie, which includes Meet the Fockers and Meet the Parents - although he also wrote Zoolander. So kudos for that one. But perhaps the two styles didn't gel after all because Mark Bowden has been called in to rewrite the script. Bowden was responsible for the original book on which Black Hawk Down was based. It is also interesting that one of the producers, Alli Shearmur, was involved with the production of Zodiac.


Having originated in Variety, the story is now everywhere and, even the Guardian has leapt onto this potential role for Jake. Other accounts can be found in, for example, Cinematical and IGN. It's always good to see Jake getting this much interest and, coinciding with the release of, and publicity for, Rendition as well as the news about Brothers, this is a busy and extremely exciting time.

Gavin to visit UCLA tonight for Rendition

For those of you in LA, there's a chance to see Rendition tonight, in the company of Gavin Hood, on the campus of UCLA (Gavin studied at UCLA Extension after leaving South Africa). The screening will be followed by a question and answer session with Gavin, actor Yigal Naor, UCLA Burkle Center Director, Professor Kal Raustiala, and author of Spying Blind: The CIA, the FBI, and the Origins of 9/11, Professor Amy Zegart.


The event is free and you don't need a ticket - it's just first-come first-served. Location: Humanities Building, Room A51, Los Angeles, CA 90095. The movie is on from 4 to 6pm and the discussion from 6 to 7pm.


And finally...

... I had a reminder today that a certain film is shortly to be released. I had a thoroughly enjoyable lunch with Twisted Logic today and, as if by fate, she found this on the streets of London and managed to find a gap in the traffic to take this photo (Thanks for a great time TL!). I had to go and have a look myself - roll on the 19th. How great is it to hae Jake's face looming large and beautiful over the streets of London!


Edited to add: Incidentally, I saw Ryan Philippe filming this evening in London and he made me miss my train - They wouldn't let me walk down the street and it was such a looooong take (Fincher eat your heart out).

Includes pictures from IHJ.