Entertainment | Film & Cinema
Easy-going
After a long absence from the director's chair Stephan Elliot is back with Easy Virtue, featuring his hand-picked, star-studded cast
- By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:32 October 15, 2008
After a long absence from the director's chair Stephan Elliot is back with Easy Virtue, featuring his hand-picked, star-studded cast
Up-and-coming actor Ben Barnes didn't get his start in TV commercials at age five, but for come-back director Stephen Elliot it's a different story. "I was in a Vegemite commercial as a youngster and I'm pretty sure it gave me my big break,'' laughed the Elliot, who, unsurprisingly, is Australian.
Attending the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) to promote Elliot's latest film, Easy Virtue, an adaptation of Noel Coward's witty social comedy, the pair were like a well-rehearsed double act.
Written and set in the roaring '20s, and adapted by Elliott and co-writer Sheridan Jobbins, the film revolves around a most enjoyable culture clash between crusty landed English aristocrats and a bohemian American.
Elliot, who wrote the screenplay for The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, is returning to directing after 10 years away from the cameras. He said he was determined to retain the period setting of the play but also give it a distinctly modern feel.
Hand-picked
Every actor in the film was hand-picked and selected by Elliot who knew what he wanted from the outset.
"It took me nine attempts to wear down Colin Firth and almost two years to get Kristin Scott Thomas on board. It was hard work but I knew who I wanted and I wasn't willing to compromise. I understand they were hesitant as they were being asked to play 50-year-old characters for the first time in their lives, and that must be hard for actors and actresses. It's like watching yourself grow old before your time.
"Kristin was really quite difficult in the beginning which really put a strain on me. She was standing with grey hair in a cardigan and was struggling to get on board. But she found her sense of humour and went for it and it changed the whole atmosphere. We all started having a laugh and the film slowly became what it was, almost by accident. It just got funnier and funnier.''
"I was just a pushover,'' admitted actor Barnes, who said he jumped at the opportunity to work on such a great film. Starting out in musical theatre, Barnes also appeared in Stardust which is how Elliot first discovered him.
"I read the script and thought it sounded interesting and just went for it. But to be honest, a few days in I still wasn't really sure what we were trying to make I'm just glad it all came good in the end. Although my character basically just grins for most of the movie.''
Having the opportunity to work alongside a movie great like Colin Firth, Elliot said Barnes and Firth had a spark in front of the camera like he'd never seen before.
"I only had two very small scenes with Colin Firth but I really enjoyed them,'' said Barnes, who's now appearing in another film with Firth. "We've just finished filming a new spin on the classic story of Dorian Gray for Ealing Studios.''
Pigeon-holed
With previous roles including Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia, Barnes admitted to being concerned about all the period dramas and wanted to avoid being pigeon-holed.
"I always thought I would be an actor who picked the script over the genre but I have to say I am aware I am doing period dramas. Maybe I need to look at other options too. But saying that, I do believe the only important thing about a film is the script. People ask me if Hollywood is calling and I really don't know. There would have to be a good enough script to get me there.
"I had quite a surreal moment on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles once when I realised a giant poster of me was up next to people like Harrison Ford and Robert Downey Jr. But at 27, I am trying to keep my feet firmly on the ground.''
With no rehearsals due to a tight schedule, Colin, Kristin, Ben and Jessica were thrown in at the deep end and the cameras started filming immediately.
"Jessica is amazing, in fact, sensational,'' says Elliot. "But she has a weight around her neck, which we call Justin Timberlake. It's such a shame because she is a fantastic actress and yet for the past few years she seems to have only been known as Justin's girlfriend.''
Having not directed for 10 years, after an accident which left him with a broken back, Elliot finally decided it was time to get back on the horse and take on the challenge of Easy Virtue.
"People think when you have a life-threatening accident that you will wake up and be a happy, smiling person, full of thanks you cheated death. But that is rubbish. I woke up angrier than ever before and just wanted to give up. It wasn't helped by the fact I also got into bed with criminals on my last movie who, half way through filming, ran off with all the money. I lost everything including my car, house and the shirt off my back.
"So for the past 10 years I have been ghost writing, which is ok but quite depressing as most of the scripts never get used. Writers send me a script and I will tidy it up, change bits and add anything I think it's missing. But nine times out of 10 they are never made into anything."The good news is that it gave me a chance to steal all the great bits from various scripts and keep them for myself.
"The joke in Easy Virtue about the woman sitting on a Chihauhua has been in three scripts before. I have tried to slip it in but it has never made it. "So I finally got it in. It's a true story too. It actually happened to a girlfriend of mine who went round to her boyfriend's parents house and sat on the family dog and killed it. There's nothing like drawing on personal experiences.''
Deneuvian depth
More than 600 arrived at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi to catch a glimpse of acclaimed French actress Catherine Deneuve on Tuesday night.
Deneuve took an active role in a debate called Spotlight on Lebanon, a joint venture between Cinema Verite and the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF).
The event also featured representatives from the United Nations Human Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Joel Soler, Founding President of the Cinéma Vérité Institute.
Having recently finished filming Je Veux Voir (What Do You See) directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige in the war torn country, Deneuve spoke of her experiences on the road.
"I don't think I ever really thought I was in any kind of danger although I don't think my mother would agree.
"When I look back I suppose I should have realised. Filming was delayed because of violence and 10 days after we finished bombs were going off again in Beirut.''
The debate was mainly about humanitarian concerns in Lebanon but other topics covered included the exhaustive process of landmine and cluster bomb removal and refugees in Lebanon today.
The conference debate took place in English apart from the odd question asked and answered in Deneuve's mother tongue of French.
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