Wednesday 5 December 2007

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.

44 comments:

Christie said...

Oh gosh, WDW, you posted that pic of Ennis and Jack and my heart skipped a beat. Always does when I see that, even now :)

The clothes (and those hats) were really part and parcel of the film, and it is difficult to separate them from the characters.

Liked hearing Jake saying "it gets me off" and "it's a little bit of a tease"! I admire his eagerness to get the film audience to feel a part of it, to feel all the emotions that the film is setting out to express.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Christie - I know what you mean about the picture of Jack and Ennis. I doubt that image will ever lose its power. I often think about the hats when I watch BBM - the colours but also when they choose to wear them or take them off - or knock them off.

I LOVE hearing Jake say these things - definitely a reason for posting the video ;) Jake's emotion for this role is something I really like to see.

Please keep your 2007 Jake moments and Jake film moments coming in :) And I want to know what your favourite pictures are!

twistedlogic said...

Yes, Douglas is definitely a tease, although I'm not sure Jake meant it in the same way;)

Sad news about Marit Allen:( I agree about the clothes being so integral to the film and the characters. Whenever I see any similar clothes,or cowboy hats, I always think of BBM. And the dozy embrace pic makes me all tingly too, even though I see it every day cos I have a similar pic on my keyring:)

Btw, WDW, what's this favourite movie moment? Is that separate to the favourite Jake moment?! Please don't confuse me, you know it doesn't take much! I'm dizzy enough as it is, going through all the pics and old posts trying to narrow my list down:D

Anonymous said...

For Brokeback Mountain she [Marit Allen], 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.

WDW, I was so sorry to read about Marit Allen's passing. Such a beautiful post. The costumes were just one of the many, many things that made Brokeback the superb, unforgettable film it is. A cowboy does say a lot with his hat. This picture always stops my heart too.

I may not have time to always leave a comment, but you know I think you do a fabulous job with this blog, and for Jake. He always says the right thing; I meant to comment about your recent Zodiac posts, when Jake said about the film "there's a lot of life up there", and hoped he'd done justice to Robert Graysmith and the crime victims with the film.

I definitely will have something coming for you about my favorite Jake pics/moments of 2007 - it's just narrowing it down! Well, off to listen to the latest interview! :*

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi TL! Sorry to confuse - no, focus on the favourite Jake moment and pick a picture to go with it.

Jake and Douglas a tease ;) Love to hear Jake say that! I have Jake on a keyring too...

I find it amazing to think that Jack and Ennis' clothes were designed because they are perfectly in tune with every aspect of this incredible film. This is sad news indeed that Marit Allen has died, and that genius like hers can no longer enhance Ang's films. Her work was so good on BBM, you wouldn't know it even took place, just so natural.

Marina - good to hear from you, friend! These moments from Brokeback bring us all together like nothing else, that is true. The hat is crucial, and the symbolism behind Jack's worn black hat grabbed me from the beginning. I'm rally looking forward to hearing your moment and seeing your picture *)

Anonymous said...

still thinking about how to not talk forever about favorite Jake moment(s) -

I have the dozy embrace as wallpaper, have never changed it. Im not surprised the Richard Avedon pictures were studied, Ennis is right out of that book of photographs: although Avedon has no pictures of a buck-toothed Jack Twist as described by Annie P.

I am sorry for the death of Marit Allen. Only recently, with my great interest in Jake's films, have I realized how many brilliant
artists are involved in film making.

As for The Hats of BBMt - yes, they were used beautifully!

Hats were an Item in New Mexico - an expression that amused me was in describing a faux cowboy, "He's all hat. . . "

Iggy said...

It's very sad to hear about Marit Allen, she did a fantastic job with the clothes on BBM.

Thank you for the interveiws too. Narrowing down my picture and moment..just a few thousand to go through now....such hard work...NOT..

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Pia - just keep going, nothing to stop you :) Who'd have thought that a hat would have meant so much but it does. And I had no idea before Jake brought me into the world of film how all these components complement each other and create a film as perfect as Brokeback Mountain. Ang's Jack Twist is simply beautiful.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

You're doing a good job Rosie - keep going :D I'm starting on mine now. The picture is going to be very difficult although I think I know the one... I love the chance to look through at what we have.

chillinwitgyllen said...

We were just talking about the great clothes from BBM, sad news indeed, I remember her talking on the video of BBM in the trailers. She was brilliant, always to be remembered.

Someone mentioned the Saturday Night skit, I thought that was last year, but still awesome. I get the feeling he was proud of that himself.

WDW let me know if you can download that video I sent to your email.

Anonymous said...

I think it would be difficult to choose favorite "hat moment" but I think it would be encounter between Jack Twist and Alma. powerful!

Anonymous said...

Jake was on SNL early January 2007.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Oh Blogger's being terrible today :(


Hi CWG - I sent you an email. The video doesn't work, it's not a true link, please keep trying :)

SNL was in January this year so definitely in the running. What a great night.

It does seem ironic and tragic about the clothing...

Hey Pia - favourite BBM hat moment? For me, I think it must be when Jack and Ennis are by the camp fire four years on and both have their hats resting on their knees until Ennis has to put his on - speaks a million words.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hey Pia - you beat me to it. Blogger is eating my comments and also not telling me when anybody comments :(

Wet Dark and Wild said...

It's a goodnight from me as Mr WDW is home - bearing tiramisu and vino. See you all later :D

Ruby said...

Hats are very handy for stoic cowboys wanting to duck their heads and hide their feelings. :( The frequently shown... "Are you gonna do this again next summer?" scene is one of my fave hat moments. :D

chillinwitgyllen said...

Those hats, those hats...my fav is the one you just posted WDW, what a tender moment and those rims touching says so much about their relationship back then, how truly magical and real it was.

I will retry that video WDW, it's a good one.

Thanks for clearing up SNL pia and WDW :) See, I'm too new at this.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi Ruby - the hat scenes are incredible in BBM, not just when they're used, but how they're used. It feels good to think about it.

Hey CWG It seems hard to believe SNL was January - so much has happened since. Keep trying with the vid :)

G'night - Hubby is pretty sick so I have to do some wrapping up in cottonwool :\

Anonymous said...

BBMt dvd is on my laptop for quick fixes - just did a quicky of hat talk in first scene. o my!

CWG be glad you are not an 'ol head - sometimes I feel I am in OVER my head, I just keep on lovin' this man of ours, more and more.

lovely music tonight on KUNM - but Ive gotta go watch season Four of The Wire - speaking of brilliant artists working together on film!

g'night, lovelies!

Anonymous said...

p.s. take good care a your guy, WDW!

twistedlogic said...

Loving all the hat talk, it's making me feel all emotional. I watched BBM all the way through at the weekend so the wound's still a bit raw at the moment. My favourite hat moment would have to be SNIT, when Ennis,after wrestling with his fears by the fire, finds the courage to go to Jack waiting in the tent, holding his hat in front of him as if it were a shield to hide and protect him from the feelings he's so scared of giving in to, then Jack gently takes his hat and tosses it away, and shows him they have nothing to fear or hide from each other. Beautiful moment from the most beautiful scene in celluloid history, in my totally biased opinion:)

Hope Mr WDW gets better soon, btw:)

chillinwitgyllen said...

TL, another perfect moment I forgot about, I need to go back and do my research.

Pia thanks for the encouragement, sometimes I feel like I'm not a true fan compared to all of you pros out there. I'm working on it :)

Well wishes to Mr WDW.

Christie said...

Am loving the hat talk too. Not sure what my favourite hat moment is, they are all poignant. Probably TL's favourite, when Ennis enters the tent the second night, hat held for protection until Jack takes it away. *sigh*

I also adore the way Ennis holds on to Jack's jacket in the dozy embrace scene.

CWG, don't worry about feeling like you are not a true fan, I get that way sometimes too.

WDW, hope hubby is feeling better. Also, hope you got my email.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Good morning everyone! Looking forward to hearing how it is in Santa Fe today Pia, cos it's flippin horrible here :(

Thanks for the well wishes for Mr WDW - I've passed them on. He's much better this morning.

TL - good for you for watching BBM all the way through. It's strange how just talking about the hats can bring up so much emotion. Of course, the anniversary's coming up. At the end of January it'll be two years since seeing BBM and I know, for some of you in the US, it'll be a little earlier.

CWG I love that we found Jake at different times and here you can see that once hooked you're caught :) Thank you for the wonderful email *)

Christie - I love that moment too while Ennis holds Jack's coat and almost strokes it. Thanks for the lovely email *)

Anonymous said...

Six am in the high desert, clear sky, hello moon. Forty degrees, and into mid fifties in the afternoon, clouding up.

Hey, y'all. I dreamed I was wearing a checkered cowboy shirt, last night, with a pretty gold chain around my neck.

Dreamed I was late for work: I am!

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Thanks Pia! Sounds lovely. I had a good dream last night too... Have a good day *)

twistedlogic said...

Love the sound of your dreams Pia and WDW! I dreamt about Victoria Beckham, of all people, last night! I'm still rather traumatised, not to mention confused, as last night's post included three of my favourite Jake pics (Guardian, Purple Shirt in Cannes and Dozy Embrace) AND I watched SNIT about 20 times before going to bed - plenty of material for Jake dreams! Maybe I'll have better luck tonight...;)

Christie said...

Oh that is so weird TL, you dreaming about Victoria Beckham, because I dreamt about Geri Halliwell!!! LOL I was chosen to be her dancer on the Spice Girls tour. If you saw me, you'd know how funny that was. But I couldn't go because I hadn't told my husband where I'd be going.

I wonder if that means anything? ;)

I love the Guardian pics, but think they should have been far bigger. And the best one (IMO) was in the contents page! Whoever planned that was clearly not a Jake fan.

twistedlogic said...

Christie, that's too funny - another Spooky Twin! My dream was that VB accused me of pushing in front of her in the queue in Argos (like she's ever set foot in Argos!) and it got a bit nasty! Btw, I have seen you, I was at the London EnnisJack get together last year - can't believe you don't remember me *cries* ;)

Btw,maybe whoever planned the Guardian spread wasn't a Jake fan but the photographer must have been (that or a mind reader!) cos the amount of chest hair on display in those pics is to die for *drool* :D

Christie said...

Sorry TL, didn't mean to make you cry, I do indeed remember you from London - I sat next to you at the meal and we looked through some BBM stuff I'd brought with me. (that was a year ago this weekend, can you believe it?), and of course I know you as someone else on the BBM forum. My manners are disgraceful, I know, but can I blame Jake? He always makes me distracted and forgetful. ;) Am I forgiven?

Love the details of your dream, TL, and you're so right, I doubt Posh ever stepped foot in Argos in her life. I practically live there, particularly at Christmas. LOL There's always a lot of pushing and shoving at this time of year.

Oh you're right about the chest hair on show in the Guardian pics. Very nice. Like the fact his shirts undone so we can see his neck too. I like the hollow of his neck.

twistedlogic said...

Oh Christie, it's fine- Jake makes me forget my own name sometimes, never mind anyone else's!
Whoever decided that Jake should wear that shirt in the Guardian pics, and have it unbuttoned like that, deserves a knighthood for services to Gyllenhaalism :D

chillinwitgyllen said...

Stop snowing!!!

Good morning everyone :)

Love these dreams, I haven't had a dream in awhile.

WDW, love what you said about how we all found Jake at different times and here we are all together celebrating this one fantastic person.

Thanks Pia for the update:)

Anonymous said...

It's gonna cloud up in Santa Fe this aft., and snow showers tonight. What time of year did you Ski Santa Fe? Didnt pay much attention to ski reports when I was out there, just loved waking up to see snow on the mountaintops.

Amy Sinatra fans here?

When I waa twenty six
It was a very good year
it was a very good year for guys and girls
who screamed and stared
and loved my hair
and watched all my flics
when I was twenty six. . . .

etcetcetc. have been going through posts and pictures of the past year - what a glorious Jake year it's been!

chillinwitgyllen said...

Pia, I was there end of Decemeber last year, the skiing was zen-like.
I would go back just for the skiing:)

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi everyone - I love these memories coming out here. And ues, I'm a bit of a Sinatra fan on the quiet ;)

Rushing off now but I'll be back later - it'll be late because I'm on a mission - I'll report back tonight :D

chillinwitgyllen said...

WDW is up to something :)

Anonymous said...

Seems like I have mountain of "Jake posts" to catch up on!

Favourte 2007 Jake moments... mmmmm... i have to say, when i woke up one day in gloomy wet and cold london weather, and there in my inbox, was that picture of "Jake in Cannes", he's on the "boat" with sunglasses on, a small smile and Chole standing next to him.

That pic just brought sunshine into my house - literally!

I also love the SNL he did of course - for the first time - even my hubby said (who wouldn't let me hang up a Jake calendar in our house! lol), "he got balls" :P

Anonymous said...

"I also love the SNL he did of course - for the first time - even my hubby said (who wouldn't let me hang up a Jake calendar in our house! lol), "he got balls" :P'

Balls and biceps! :) :)

Anonymous said...

woof woof woof. WDW's on a mission. is it dangerous?

smilesalot said...

Hello WDW land!

There seems to be a pattern developing here. I disappear for a bit and then return after I post a chapter. WDW is my reward, you see, for being a good girl. Or bad girl, depending how you see it, I suppose.

Love the words "gets me off" and "tease" coming out of Jake's mouth. Which doesn't really amount to much considering the words " Starburst" and "Okay" have the same response. lol.

I guess it won't be a surprise what my favourite Jake moment will be. A very annoyed person actually commented on my TIFF video that I should stop SCREAMING Jake's name. lmao. lol. For reals? Jake is in front of you and you're not screaming? The mind boggles! Maybe the commenter was more annoyed at the PITCH I managed to reach! lol.

Lastly, loved the discussion here about the BBM clothes and especially the hats. Of course, the SNIT scene is a stand out. One of my favourites, as well, is during the Reunion scene and Ennis knocks Jack's hat off. OMFG. I got goosebumps every time. I really loved how the costumes fleshed out the characters, right down to the colour choices. I am a very visual person so colours are a constant theme in my writing. I can't imagine what BBM would have been like without the excellent work of the late Marit Allen.

Glad to hear Mr. WDW is feeling better. Hella snow here but we're managing to function again.

xx Em

chillinwitgyllen said...

I think WDW secretly flew over to be with Jake, that's her surprise :)

sass said...

Hi WDW and everyone,
It has been a great Jake year for us and for him. His journey to Cannes Toronto and Rome, his appearances at SNL with and without Samburg, his special contributions to the ACLU, his attention to his career and to his personal life, leave me happy and thrilled to be his fan.
I have to watch myself, so as to not have apoplexy...again...when someone says something negative or insinuates anything negative about him, because I want to remain here, and enjoy his career, as his fan forever.

Wet Dark and Wild said...

Hi everyone :) Just got in - very late here - after 1am - having completed my mission. Too late to post now but I'll be at home tomorrow and so I can tell you what I've been up to, in the morning, in the proper way :D

Thanks for all your comments - amazing that TL and Christie are old Jakin buddies.

Welcome back Winterbird and Smilesalot :D

And thank you everyone for the emails and gorgeous Jake pics - keep them coming. I can catch up with my replies tomorrow.

See you in the morning - Happy days :D

Anonymous said...

i wonder if I was at the same secret mission - was it in Marylebone by any chance?