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Payne, Clooney are talking, but no deal yet
Alexander Payne and George Clooney: a cinematic match made in heaven?
Well, maybe. A report in Variety last week said A-list leading man Clooney was “circling the lead” for Omaha director-screenwriter Payne's next movie, “The Descendants,” which is slated to begin shooting in Hawaii in February.
Asked if the Variety report was accurate, Payne responded to The World-Herald by e-mail that “circling the lead means I want him, and he wants to be in it, but the deal has not been made.”
Well, that's what we thought. But it's nice to dream, anyway.
“The Descendants” centers on a wealthy landowner who takes his two daughters on a search for his dying wife's lover, in hopes of keeping his family together. The screenplay is based on a novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings.
Clooney's latest film, “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” opened Friday. He does voice work in next weekend's animated release “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”
Variety said he is currently shooting a thriller, “The American,” directed by Anton Corbijn. A movie Clooney partially filmed in Omaha last spring, director Jason Reitman's “Up in the Air,” is slated to open Christmas Day.
Homelessness topic of screening, discussion
The Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless and the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Service will screen the movie “The Soloist,” followed by a discussion about issues affecting the homeless.
The free screening will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Collaborating Commons of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service building, southwest of the Milo Bail Student Center, 6001 Dodge St. After the screening, Douglas County Board member Mary Ann Borgeson will lead a panel discussion.
“The Soloist,” based on a true story, stars Robert Downey Jr. as a reporter and Jamie Foxx as a mentally ill cellist who is homeless.
Chanticleer awarded $5,000 grant
The Chanticleer Community Theater in Council Bluffs is one of 16 nationwide winners of Nourish Our Community Awards from ConAgra Foods Foundation.
Chanticleer received a $5,000 grant for its children's theater and workshop after being nominated by Jeff Koontz, senior systems administrator at ConAgra Foods. The workshop teaches children ages 8 to 15 about all aspects of theater during production of a musical. This fall, the musical was “Annie Warbucks.”
Horror flick shot in Lincoln to premiere
“Wake the Witch,” a feature-length horror movie shot in Lincoln, will have its premiere at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center in Lincoln at 7 p.m. Thursday. The event is free.
“Wake the Witch” tells the story of three friends who unwittingly release an evil spirit buried in the woods. The movie was shot in fall 2008 at Wilderness Park and in downtown Lincoln.
Dorothy Booraem wrote and directed the movie, with cinematography by Chad Haufschild.
2 College of St. Mary choruses going to NYC
The College of St. Mary Chorus and Musica Sacra, the college's community chorus, have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of a festival chorus on Nov. 30.
The concert, “Christmastime in the City,” is presented by the Continuo Arts Foundation and will feature the world premiere of “A Carol Fantasy” by Stephen James Edwards. Candace Wicke will conduct. Both College of St. Mary choral groups are led by Marty Wheeler Burnett, director of fine arts.
This is the second time the choirs have been invited to perform at the prestigious venue. Their first performance at the hall was in 2006.
Film fest open house open to input, ideas
The Omaha Film Festival will hold an open house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at its new offices.
The festival now has space at North Sea Films, 2626 Harney St., and is reaching out to the local filmmaking community for input about the fifth annual festival, which will run March 6-14.
The open house will include a discussion about how other festivals pick their films, said Marc Longbrake, program director of the Omaha Film Festival.
Art council directory deadline now Dec. 1
The new deadline for applications to the Nebraska Arts Council's artist directory is Dec. 1.
The directory includes both the Artists in Schools/Communities program and the Nebraska Touring Program/Exhibits Nebraska.
Artists interested in applying for the schools program should contact Anne Alston at anne. alston@nebraska.gov. Artists interested in the touring roster should contact Mike Markey at mike.markey@nebraska.gov.
Artists may also call 595-2122.
Auditions
“Barefoot in the Park,” Chanticleer Theater, 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16 at the theater, 830 Franklin Ave. in Council Bluffs. Show runs Jan. 15-31. Information: 712-323-9955.
“Death of a Salesman,” Omaha Community Playhouse, 7 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17 at the playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Use west stage-entrance door. Show runs Feb. 19-March 21. Information: 553-4890, ext. 110.
“Cheaper by the Dozen,” Omaha Community Playhouse, 1 p.m. Nov. 22 for children, 7 p.m. Nov. 23 for adults and teens at the playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Use west stage-door entrance. Show runs Jan. 22-Feb. 14. Information: 553-4890, ext. 110.
“Noises Off,” Bellevue Little Theatre, 6 p.m. Nov. 15 and 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the theater, 203 W. Mission Ave. in Bellevue. Show runs Jan. 22-Feb. 7. Information: 731-0610.
— Compiled by Bob Fischbach and John Pitcher
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