08-29
News is the press conference (which is only for those with press credentials) for The Italian Job at Deauville will take place September 12th. There also will be 2 screenings of the movie that night at 8pm and 10:30pm. Hope that helps ya go Mark spotting.  ;)

Variety reports: "Italian Job" stole $2.35 million on 259 in Oz with sneaks, $905,000 on 285 in Mexico and a handy $218,000 on 39 in the Philippines. Mark
Wahlberg-Charlize Theron starrer stumbled in its first offshore engagement in Japan in June (released by an indie), scraping up about $4.5 million, and has taken a mediocre $2.4 million in slumbering Italy.

Kazuko spotted some on the set pics from I Huckabee's over at Z Review.  People Magazine (Sept. 8th issue) has 2 pics from the set as well. One of Mark on his bike with Jason Schwartzman and one of Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin. Scan over at MW Italian Tribe.

Mark talks a bit about his music tastes and a tiny tidbit about his character in Huckabee - his character listens to Tibetan music.

Also spotted an article from a gay magazine AXM from June, where it mentions Mark did finally get his GED recently! Don't wander around too much on the site if you're under 18 - the government's watching you know.  lol

08-22
Variety's Michael Fleming reports HBO has finally ordered a pilot for Mark's show, The Entourage.  So looks like it could be on HBO's roster as early as the 2004-05 season if it follows K Street's production time: Payweb just ordered a pilot for "The Entourage," a sitcom about a movie star's support staff that was the brainchild of Mark Wahlberg and his manager, Steve Levinson. That duo will exec produce with creator Doug Ellin and Steve Tompkins, the latter of whom has just been set as showrunner. Tompkins is Emmy nommed for his work on "Bernie Mac." Wahlberg's playing a cameo as will other stars who'll give a level of believability to the show.

"The goal is more 'West Wing' than 'Larry Sanders,' because the focus is the guys who grew up with the star and now take care of every facet of his life," said Ellin, who wrote the pilot. He said the prototype for the star is as much Wahlberg as Leonardo DiCaprio or Tobey Maguire, young actors from modest origins who abruptly became millionaires.

More easily identifiable to the industry will be characters like the star's rep, Ari Jacobs. The name is a meld of Wahlberg's Endeavor agent Ari Emanuel and Ellin's CAA agent Jeff Jacobs, and qualities of both will make up the Armani-suited dealmaker.

"It's based on real things that happened to any number of stars we know," Ellin said. "These guys who come to Hollywood with the star are trustworthy and charismatic but they are also rough around the edges and figure out the game as they go along. And that includes dealing with everything from the star being arrested to paternity suits and unimaginable perks."

The pilot episode will deal with the star's plan to return home for a high school reunion the same week the biggest movie of his career is set to open.

Also Fleming notes Adrian Brody has signed on for The Jacket and it will be under the WIP label - the new indie arm of Warner Brothers.

08-21
News from the Hollywood Reporter & ScreenDaily that The Italian Job will be at the   Deauville Festival of American Cinema next month (September 5-14). They note Mark is expected to appear along with Director Gray, Seth Green and Charlize Theron. Of course this is not confirmed by his management.

An article on Mark from Australia's Daily Telegraph.

UIP has set up a UK site for The Italian Job and looks like there's a slightly different Charlie wallpaper!

The Italian Job opens in Australia and Mexico this week. Made some updates on the international dates. Still pretty spread out, with Germany surprisingly not releasing the film until sometime in November according to German film sites. The Netherlands site has a TV spot to view.

Unconfirmed rumour that another character in I Heart Huckabee's is a 'fiesty' 60-ish woman who speaks her mind. Hmm. Still very mysterious on what this movie is about.

Confirmed is Jason Schwartzman has left Phantom Planet, he was the drummer for the rock band, to pursue acting full time.

08-17
More Int'l mags from the DW.com crew, in Australia, Film Ink's September issue - 3 page article, UK Film Review - September issue.

Now Magazine (UK) has a link to send in questions to Mark. Empire magazine (UK - Sept) has a chance to see TIJ early.

08-16
DVD Times is reporting the TIJ DVD will premiere October 7th instead of the 21st.

Over at MW Italian Tribe reports the Uk edition of the September issue of Esquire has an extensive interview with Mark. Look for it states side next month at Borders.

The Hollywood Reporter/Variety reports The Italian Job will rerelease the film in 1,500-2,000 locations Aug.  29, the beginning of the Labor Day holiday weekend. Currently it is in about 200+ screens.

More drama on the Ward story from the Lowell Sun. The production company, Scout Productions is now alleging he signed not 1 but 2 contracts.

One week after I mention it might be on Mark's plate is word from theHR that Mark's HBO show The Entourage is in development and is waiting in the wings over at the cable network. Of course development is a very vague term in Hollywood. Clooney & Soderbergh's K Street will premiere on HBO this fall, after less than 6 months of time from contract to filming. While Mark's was back in March of 2002.

Following up on Mark's co-workers political veins, some interesting comments from David O. Russell on the lame recall we're having in California from the Washington Post.  Left-wing writer-director David O. Russell ("Three Kings"), who often has political gatherings at his home, referred to Schwarzenegger as "a mediocre Republican celebrity" who is gliding by without having to express a political opinion. "I'd sure prefer it if people saw the issues and thought about those," he said.

Given the comments of many people who signed the recall, very few know our state  allows little wiggle room when it comes to spending. It's easy to lay the blame, but where's the plan to pay the $8 billion deficit for next year's budget without raising taxes or making cuts to even more areas most needed by the poor? Davis is far from perfect, he's too cautious to be a true liberal. But do they really believe the legislature will roll over and pass any conservative plans they may have? Democrats are not sheep.

If it's one interesting thing about Arnold is the fact he seems very liberal in democratic issues, issues the Conservative Republicans HATE with a passion. Seeing Republicans say they hate Davis so much they would compromise their beliefs and vote for a man who does not pass their litmus test is so hypocritical. They picked Bill Simon over Richard Riordan the first time round, because he was pro choice and got money from Democrats! Republicans wouldn't vote for him, not even when Bush said he supported Riordan. Now they're jumping thru hoops for Arnold who seemingly supports not only gun control, gay rights, a woman's right to choose and LIKES paying taxes! That's everything the National GOP platform is against! Where's those precious values now? As Terminator says, hasta la vista to the right wingers - eat crow.

Oh and by the way all political view expressed are not Mark's. Just mine alone and quoted ones in italics belong to David. ;)

08-09
Geez when news comes it just comes like rain eh? Seems another boxing movie is down the tubes for Mark. Think fate is telling him something? lol According to the Boston Globe, seems Mark wanted to do a movie based on this man's life story, but the man - Mickey Ward evidently was fooled into selling his story for $1000 by his half brother.  When he started negotiating with Mark & HBO, they received cease & desist letters from the company his half brother got him to sign over his right s to. Moral of the story, get a lawyer before signing any contracts!!!

There's been a whole lot in the gossip columns reporting Mark pulled out of The Jacket because Section Eight couldn't find a suitable female lead. I haven't been able to find any accurate sources with some citing Variety - which didn't say that - it was only Brad Pitt who cited that reason and WENN - which isn't the most accurate wire service.  Given the early script review of the original script, it didn't sound like a female lead was a very big part of the film if at all. It's more of a one character film. But it is a bit odd they hadn't cast anyone at all outside of Mark and the director. 

Unless Mark signs up for another movie, he has a hole for the Fall/winter until Huckabee is released sometime next year. Mark has several projects up in the air that could potentially fill in: The Adventures of Wyatt McHenry movie; the HBO series, The Entourage; Worcester Cold Storage (on hold as families do not want it made); Born to Steal (according to the book jacket WB optioned it for Mark to star in); POTA 2; TIJ 2 and future films with James Gray and PT Anderson.

OT: I read the movie Camp has one of the character's -Vlad - doing a monologue from Boogie Nights and he sings Wild Horses (originally by the Stones, but also was featured in Fear). PT Anderson also has said he would help on the commentary of the DVD of the movie as well. He's friend's with the director. How's that for Mark connections?!

08-07
As TIJ starts opening in Oceania/SE Asia, press starts up once again. The Phillipines ABS-CBN has a new article/interview with Mark.

The Hollywood Reporter also reports that The Jacket may be part of the new Independant film arm of WB: Warner Independent Pictures, which was announced today. Warner Bros.' Section Eight and John Wells Prods. are expected to be major suppliers for the specialty label, with such titles as Section Eight's "Eros," "Criminal," which is in production with John C. Reilly, Diego Luna and Maggie Gyllenhaal starring, and "The Jacket," with Adrien Brody likely starring for director John Maybury as possibilities.

Took them long enough to figure out independent films is a growing and important part of the movie business.  I'm all for more indie films! Warners production president Jeff Robinov: "We want to create a home for director-driven films that don't fit into, or are simply not suited for, the distribution patterns, marketing budgets and commercial pressures that are inherent to mainstream studio films. We want to be the place where filmmakers want to do all of their films, from their first to their last, from the smallest to the biggest."