Jake - 'It's a little bit of a tease'

Yesterday I posted a link to an interview Jake recorded for Capital Radio during his flying (swimming) visit to the UK in October. In it, Jake mentioned that he was an active member of the American Civil Liberties Union. One way that Jake is guaranteed to raise funds for a cause that he believes in, as well as create a moment to treasure for the lucky winner, is to auction his time on set during Brothers and to share a lunch. One such auction is over and now another one is beginning.


'Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has generously decided to auction a second chance to visit the set of one of his upcoming movies AND have lunch with him, with proceeds benefiting the ACLU of Southern California! The winning bidder may bring one guest to share in this experience! The winner of this auction lot will visit Gyllenhaal on the set of Brothers, filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico through mid-January 2008.' The auction ends 14 December.

Today the auction begins for the kites we mentioned a few days ago, which are being sold for the Afghanistan Relief Organization. Originally we thought that these would be designed by the stars, including Jake and Reese, but it looks like they're just signed. However, it's definitely kite flying season and, if you want to fly a kite, you may as well fly one with Jake's name on it - but, whatever you do, don't let go. The auction ends 15 December.


Rendition interviews

Here is another video interview with Jake talking about Rendition, this time with Heather Newgen for Coming Soon. Of interest in this interview - aside from the good looking fella in the blue shirt - is when Heather asks Jake if it had been challenging for him as an actor to play a character, Douglas, for whom there is no escape whatsoever. Jake responds 'I think that being in the middle of the action without much to say or to do, just to observe, is what I... it kind of gets me off - I like that struggle and that's why I liked the role... It's a little bit of a tease.'


To provide another perspective, here is an audio interview with Peter Sarsgaard, in which Peter discusses his experiences of working with such great actors as Meryl Streep: "Listen, I get excited to work with actors who are good... I'm more nervous trying to act with someone who's not gonna, you know, hit the ball back."


A tribute to Brokeback costume designer Marit Allen

The Daily Telegraph has published an obituary of British costume designer Marit Allen who died on November 26. Among other projects, Marit was the designer of the iconic wardrobes of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist. 'Marit Allen was the only costume designer to have worked on more than one of Ang Lee's films. She worked with him on Ride with the Devil, Hulk and, in 2005, Brokeback Mountain. For Brokeback Mountain she, Lee and the cinematographer, Rodrigo Preito, studied Richard Avedon's book Photographs of the American West. Marit Allen said: "Heath (Ledger) was deeply involved with his character. He worked with his clothes, using everything he wears to convey Ennis' repression - the jackets, done up; the cowboy hats, to hide behind. Between him and Jake (Gyllenhaal) the hats became an integral part of what they were doing."' It's difficult to imagine how the clothes worn by Jack and Ennis in Brokeback Mountain could have been more evocative of time, place or character, or how any actor could have used the clothing - especially the hats - with any more feeling for their characters' questions and struggles than Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger.


And finally

Thanks to those of you have sent in or who are working on your Jake highlights of the year, and photographs - keep them coming to wetdarkandwild@googlemail.com, so that we can show Jake what a fabulous 2007 he's given us.

Includes pictures from IHJ and InStyle.