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| October, 2004 |
| Linda Bloodworth Thomason finishes debut novel (Article added October 10, 2004) Producer and writer Linda Bloodworth Thomason, creator of the hit television series "Designing Women" and Mary Kay Place teleplay writing partner for "M*A*S*H" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", is traveling the country promoting her first novel Liberating Paris. Bloodworth thanks Mary Kay Place in her acknowledgements pages for being a continuing source of inspiration and encouragement to write. The book takes place in the mythical small town of Paris, Ark. "I liked the idea of using the name of Paris as a small town," said Bloodworth Thomason, adding "the book is not about Poplar Bluff" [her hometown] and even though some of the characters share the names of Poplar Bluffians she is not writing about anyone in particular. "I wanted to write about every small town that has had its heart cut out by a Wal-Mart super store." Calling the passing of downtown a "great loss," Bloodworth Thomason said, "I wanted to write about that loss and what we might do to replace it. It matters to me." As a child, Bloodworth Thomason says she grew up sort of like Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird riding her bike downtown where she "found out a lot about myself on Main Street." Recalling that her childhood was "both exhilarating and instructive" on Main Street, she describes it as "our street to do anything we wanted." She "wanted to write about the goodness and sense of community" of the small town that has been diminished and perhaps challenge people "to figure out what is going to replace it." She said kids "today have to go to strip malls or in the Internet." Bloodworth Thomason's book centers about a man, Woodrow McIlmore, who throws his life away and tries to get it back. Other principal characters are his wife, Milan; a girlfriend from the past, Duff; and friends, Earl Brundidge, Mavis Pinkerton and quadriplegic Carl Jeter. Among the other characters are McIlmore's parents, Dr. Mac and Slim. Bloodworth Thomason describes her characters as having good basic values, but not the religious right-wing interpretations. She says no character in the book is "purely based on any one person." Fragments and pieces of small town life are woven into the characters. Bloodworth Thomason already has plans to turn her book into a feature film that so far has gathered a cast including Dwight Yoakam as Jeter, Billy BobThornton as Brundidge and Michelle Pfeiffer as Milan. But first, she has written and will direct her first movie Southern Comfort based on the documentary of the same name that won at the Sundance Film Festival. It will star Sissy Spacek, Demi Moore, Melissa Etheridge, Alan Cummings, Henry Thomas (who played the little boy in E.T.) and Mary Kay Place. The Indianapolis Star Stars will be out at Heartland (Article Added October 7, 2004) By Bonnie Britton Several high-profile guests have been added to the Heartland Film Festival lineup Oct. 21-29, including Jeff Daniels, who stars in the opening night film Because of Winn-Dixie. Mary Kay Place will serve as master of ceremonies for the Oct. 23 gala at Conseco Fieldhouse. She's also one of the stars of Killer Diller. Other guests include Jonathan Lipnicki (Stuart Little movies), star of When Zachary Beaver Came to Town; Adam Garcia (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen), from Love's Brother; and William Lee Scott (The Butterfly Effect), who stars in Killer Diller. Anna Sophia Robb, the star of Because of Winn-Dixie, and the pooch that plays Winn-Dixie also will attend. For tickets and event information, call (866) 433-1010 or go to www.heartlandfilmfestival.org. Details of the event: CRYSTAL HEART AWARDS GALA /GALLERY SEATING 10/23/2004 Conseco Fieldhouse Saturday, October 23,2004 Ticket Price - $35 Doors Open 7:30pm Ceremony 8:15pm Afterglow Party 10:00pm General Admission Gallery Seating Heartland invites you to celebrate and honor the 2004 Crystal Heart Award winners. Filmmakers and guests from around the world will gather and honor the visionaries behind the films screened at this year �s Festival. In addition, special recognition will be awarded to Mike Rich (Screenwriter, Finding Forrester, The Rookie, and Radio) for his pioneering spirit in supporting Heartland �s mission and to Academy Award �-winning songwriters Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman for their contribution to musicals (Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Heartland will also honor its Truly Moving Pictures Award of Excellence recipients: America �s Heart and Soul, Bobby Jones �Stroke of Genius, Finding Neverland, Miracle, and Two Brothers. Mary Kay Place ("Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," Being John Malkovich, Sweet Home Alabama) will emcee the formal awards ceremony. After the awards program, mingle with filmmakers and stars during the Afterglow Party while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and live music by The Carl Storie Band. Black tie optional. Reservations are also available for the Crystal Heart Awards Gala Dinner (includes cocktail reception, dinner, ceremony and Afterglow Party) by calling 317-464-9405. Ticket price $150. Gala dinner is a black tie event. |
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