Comic-Con enjoys Doctor Parnassus and Gilliam remembers Heath

While we wait to hear what happened when Jordan Mechner took the Prince of Persia stage at Comic-Con today, there is time to take a breath and remember that PoP is not the only film at Comic-Con this year with which we have a connection. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is also getting a great deal of attention and today Terry Gilliam received an honorary ink pot from Comic-Con before he settled down to discuss his film along with cast member Verne Troyer.


You can read a full account of the panel discussion here. A snippet: 'Early into the audience questions, a fan asked Gilliam and Verne to share their experiences while working with Heath. Verne shared his thoughts first, explaining how although he only worked with Heath for a short time, he felt as though they were old friends. Verne continued to say it was an “honor and a privilege” to work with Heath. An emotional Gilliam added how Heath was “an exceptional actor and human being.” He ended with sharing how he thought Heath displayed a “wisdom beyond his years” and a how he had a playful and fearless approach to his work.'



The video below captures a little of the atmosphere during Gilliam's discussion of his film and of his 'lucky charm' Heath Ledger.



In an interview today, Gilliam said: 'It's hard to know what to say. You've got Heath passing and the other guys coming in, the whole thing is so extraordinary and it's never been done before and not going to probably happen again, where the main actor dies and three actors come in and take over. It's extraordinary. But it does tell you how much they cared about him.'


And what about Jake? Yesterday a twitter spotted Jake Gyllenhaal at the Jim Henson lot in LA, suggesting Jake is intriguingly busy...


Coincidentally, I watched The Dark Knight this evening - what a fine film...

Doctor Parnassus arrives in Cannes

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival is now underway and, although this year there is no Jake Gyllenhaal to shine on that reddest of carpets, you can still find our thoughts and dreams on the Croisette. Heath Ledger's Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus receives its premiere at Cannes, out of competition, next week, and you don't need me to tell you how hard that is or to imagine what we should have seen in Cannes on 22 May but won't.


At the opening of the Festival, amongst a montage of clips from all of the films, a glimpse from Doctor Parnassus was shown, and there is Heath, again in disguise. You can see the clip here, go to about 21:40.


Terry Gilliam has been interviewed in the Times this week and the passion with which he speaks for Heath... this film is almost like a crusade for Gilliam. He is using Doctor Parnassus to win every piece of recognition for Heath he can, every award for Heath he can. On Heath's posthumous Oscar: “But wouldn’t it have been nice if they had noticed before? Even before Brokeback Mountain he was doing brilliant work. Everything he has done has been solid, even the earlier silly things. I first saw him in The Four Feathers and he just takes over the screen. He was what, 21 years old?” The planned release date for Doctor Parnassus is in the autumn. “We want to be in that last third for the Academy Awards! Maybe we’ll get another award for Heath. We’re going to get as many awards as possible for him, long after he’s gone.”'


'“I think there are going to be moments in Parnassus; I’m just waiting to hear what the audience does when they see certain shots. There are lines that we refused to change after Heath died. It’s like the script was prescient. It’s really spooky.”'


The video below, of stills from the film, has Heath talking about what working with Terry Gilliam means to him and also about future plans. But be warned - there is a sting in the tail that will just rip your heart out. I wish I'd have known before I saw it so you might want to leave it be.



Includes pictures from the Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Support Site.

Jake to be in a movie tribute to Heath? And Young Jake

There has been speculation surrounding what will happen to Heath's work-in-progress, Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus, with one rumour suggesting that Johnny Depp may take over Heath's role. However, last night the story emerged that Jake Gyllenhaal, along with Johnny Depp, Sean Penn and Christian Bale, may each play a scene in the film to show a transition to Heath's character whilst also creating a lasting tribute to their friend.


True or not, who knows, but what a 'solution' to a dreadful dilemma facing the producers of the film. Although, the story also says that a main factor for the film perhaps ending here and now is that its cast and crew have lost all heart for it and miss Heath too much.


This is what the story, as originally reported in the Sun but reproduced here, has to say: 'An insider on the film said: “Heath’s character falls into a magic mirror four times during the film. It allows Terry to change the actor easily if he wants to. Jonny, Jake, Sean and Christian were all friends of Heath’s and would love to be involved. The director and other big wigs on the film are mulling over the idea, but it’s likely to go ahead in what would be intended as a tribute to Ledger. One of the main sticking points isn’t so much this, it’s how upset Ledger’s co-stars LILY COLE and CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER are. The rest of the film crew are also deeply upset. Heath was such a lovely guy. Everyone is finding it difficult to continue with the project."'


Thanks to friend Roco for allowing me to share here his lovingly-produced montage of Heath.

Yesterday, we enjoyed truly stunning pictures of action man Jake carrying bikes, cycling, chopping wood and rowing a boat. Today, by contrast, pictures of a young Jake and Maggie from their highschool year book have found their way to the net, revealing that Jake was a member of a disco club - although, having watched Jake's turn on the Ellen karaoke video, I'm not that surprised - and played a dentist from your nightmares in a school play. Here is a picture of Jake in the 9th grade, which would make him - and I had to look this up on Wiki - 14 or 15 years old.



And finally, some photographs

After the comments yesterday following the Interview outtakes, here is 'the jumper' again.



And these two photographs are dedicated to Pia with love.



Includes pictures from IHJ.