Alan Rickman - Something the Lord Made - Part 2

At a special evening at Massey Hall on May 14, 2012, Leonard Cohen will receive his Glenn Gould Prize and award the City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protégé Prize winner. The evening will now feature speakers writer Michael Ondaatje, actor Alan Rickman, musician Melissa Auf der Maur and musical guest, Anjani Thomas.

From 3 – 13 May, eBay will host an auction of specially created self-portraits by over 40 celebrities and sports legends. Amongst those who have taken part are Adele, Sir Michael Caine, Brian Eno, Brian Ferry, Felicity Kendal, Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Stirling Moss, Jenson Button, Richard E. Grant, Michael Morpurgo, Jamie Oliver, Sir Cliff Richard, Alan Rickman and The Wanted. Proceeds from the auction will support The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts, an educational charity established by HRH The Prince of Wales to enable disadvantaged young people to access and engage with professional arts. The celebrity contributors join over 230,000 children and teenagers across the UK whose self-portraits were projected onto Buckingham Palace for 3 nights from 19th April.

Some disappointing snubs: “Seminar” (I expected Alan Rickman to get a nod, especially since he’s more interesting to watch than John Lithgow in “The Columnist”)...

The first bite as Barnabas Collins.
I felt as though I was biting one of the Village People. When you had the fangs in, you wanted to be a little bit careful that you didn’t actually pierce the jugular, kind of like my experience shaving Alan Rickman, which by the way neither of us want to do again, especially Alan.

Alan Rickman to Play CBGB Founder in Biopic.
Alan Rickman has signed on to play the legendary owner and founder of CBGB in Randall Miller and Jody Savin's project revolving the seminal New York rock club.

Miller will direct the picture from a script he and Savin wrote together. They hope to begin shooting in June.

Rickman will play Hilly Kristal, who in the late 1970s sought to create a venue for country, bluegrass and blues music (the "CBGB" of the name) in New York City. But after acts playing that music were tough to find, Kristal allowed local performers to play. That decision was precipitous, as the club soon became ground zero for rock 'n' roll as well as punk, launching the careers of performers such as The Ramones, Blondie and Patti Smith.

I've been a fan of Alan Rickman ever since Die Hard, but I was honored to be in the room listening to the two of them, each masters in their own spheres. I'm not sure what the final show will end up including, but the conversations Neil had with Alan about roller coasters, flocks of birds and the education system were wonderful.

Joining the younger Cohen on the performance roster were American singer-songwriters Jimmie Dale Gilmore, John Prine, James McMurtry, Canadian rising stars Basia Bulat, Serena Ryder, former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor (who forgot a line to "Famous Blue Raincoat") actor Gordon Pinsent, The Sadies’ Travis Good, sometime Cohen collaborator Anjani Thomas, author Michael Ondaatje, Montreal musician Melissa Auf der Mar, Cowboy Junkies and British actor Alan Rickman.

It was an eclectic group.

For outright performances, the fiery, raspy-voiced Ryder stole the show with her solo acoustic guitar rendition of Sisters of Mercy while Rickman’s dry delivery had everyone beat. He quoted Cohen responding to a female fan at a London concert, suggesting it might be time he changed the Book of Longing to the Book of Fufillment.

“It was perfectly timed pause and then Mr. Cohen said, ‘What’s fufillment got to offer?’” said Rickman to huge laughs.

While Cohen avoided overt sentimentality in his words, an array of speakers from different disciplines happily offered testimony to Cohen’s brilliance... Actor Alan Rickman compared Cohen to the 16th century English poet Thomas Wyatt.

THR has a report that Alan Rickman has been tapped to star in a biopic about CBGB’s founder Hilly Kristal. Why is a movie about a guy who started a punk club newsworthy? Because any time Hans Gruber does anything it’s newsworthy; he’s the greatest actor ever. ”And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.”

Matching Cohen in the voices-from-the-bottom-of-the-sea department was actor Alan Rickman, who delivered the most gorgeous reading of the evening. The bite, the wit and the unflinchingness of Cohen’s poetry was all there in Rickman’s exquisite rendering.

At one point, the English actor Alan Rickman expertly and appropriately read the lyrics to Going Home, from Cohen’s album of this year, Old Ideas. “He wants to write a love song,” recited Rickman, “an anthem of forgiving, a manual for living with defeat.” This was Cohen on Cohen – the night’s best summation of a long-time specialist in longing, loving and losing beautifully.

Both Melissa Auf der Maur and actor Alan Rickman made captivating speeches. . . .

The stately and charismatic Rickman juxtaposed a 16th century poem with Cohen's "This is It," and then read Cohen's "Going Home," which he simply inhabited, as if it were his own composition. "Like most people here tonight, I'd say I know Leonard Cohen, even though I don't know him at all," Rickman said. "But, like you, I've met him on every page and every song." It was touching and beautiful with the perfect hint of drama one might expect from the actor.

Alan Rickman may have made a career of playing the bad guy in movies like the Harry Potter series, Love Actually and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, but we know he is really just a nice guy! Rickman returned to Broadway this year as Leonard, the tough-as-nails writing instructor in Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar and just earned the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a Play for his performance. While Rickman was unable to attend the starry ceremony on May 13, he was still thrilled to hear the big news.

“Thank you so much Broadway.com and the voters for a happy reminder of very good times in a brave new play, with wonderful audiences,” Rickman said.

The 80th birthday of South African playwright Athol Fugard will be marked with a special documentary on Sky Arts.

Falls the Shadow: The Life and Times of Athol Fugard is a film by Tony Palmer and explores the playwright’s past and his influences

It features interviews with Nelson Mandela, Alan Rickman, James Earl Jones, Ben Kingsley and Antony Sher.

Alan Rickman is, as we're sure you're aware at this point, one of our finest actors. From "Die Hard" and "Truly Madly Deeply" to the 'Harry Potter' series, he's consistently stolen the show in the finest tradition of British character actors. Now that the Potter franchise has wrapped up, Rickman's got a bit more time on his hands, and after wrapping "Gambit" with Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz, has just signed on, according to the Hollywood Reporter, to "CBGB," a biopic of Hilly Krystal, who founded the seminal New York City punk club, for writer/directors Randall Miller and Jody Savin, with whom Rickman worked previously on "Bottle Shock."

That film will get before cameras next month, but in the meantime, there's another project starring Rickman that's caught our attention: a collaboration with artist David Michalek in the form of a viral video where Rickman makes tea in super-slow motion, only to become enraged by the presence of the camera and trash the room. Oh, and it's all scored by Hans Zimmer's music from "Inception." It's an odd little clip, but a weirdly hypnotic one, and it made us laugh. So that's your lunch-time watching sorted. "CBGB" will presumably make it to theaters sometime in 2012.

Additional fun Rickman fact: we once saw him in a restaurant in London dining with Rutger Hauer. Oh, to be a fly on that wall...

But apparently if we had to put Alan Rickman in charge of any missile launch codes, well, the world would be able to sleep very safely.

Highjinks in 'appy 'Ackney
Date: 21 May 2012

There was a festival atmosphere along Mare Street and around the Hackney Empire on Saturday as the Isango Ensemble from Cape Town performed all three of their new productions in one day, starting at 10.30 in the morning. Such an epic sounds like a long haul, but in fact each production - Aesop's Fables, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists and La boheme - is only around two hours long, including an interval. And what else would you be doing on a Saturday, anyway, towards the end of May - apart, that is, from going shopping, clearing up the garden or watching the Test Match at Lord's?

If Stephen Daldry could spare the whole day from his Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies producing duties, so could we. Daldry is a huge fan of Isango, as are other notables who joined the very lively and appreciative local audience: director Sean Mathias (a member of Isango's international council), playwrights Martin Sherman and Lee Hall (who's preparing a version of Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle for the company), actors Alan Rickman, Josie Lawrence and Selina Cadell, and producers Jenny Topper and Roger Chapman.

Just to warn you all ahead of time, there will be a terrible Harry Potter joke at the end of this.

Now that that is out of the way, let’s get to the news. Variety reports that Rupert Grint and Alan Rickman will be co-starring in a new film together that has nothing to do with owls or magical worlds. Boo Hiss! Based on the once-famed club with the same name, CBGB tells the story of Hilly Kristal—the bar’s owner—as well as the early history of the club itself. Snape Rickman will be playing the role of Hilly, and Grint that of Cheetah Chrome; early punk rock guitarist of the band The Dead Boys. It’s rumored producers really wanted to see Grint in a dog collar and leopard leggings (no they didn’t), and that’s why he got the role (no it isn’t).

The movie itself sounds as though it has potential. The early days of CBGBs were filled with the fledgling acts that became music and generational icons—including Blondie and The Ramones. The Dead Boys were a regular fixture at the club during the time, and part of the musical revolution that took place there. It’s a good thing the place has been properly respected and revered by history by being turned into…a John Varvatos store!

The biggest takeaway is, of course, that Rupert Grint is attempting to become a real human adult actor person! By taking on bolder roles, he’s attempting to gain credibility. Weening himself off the wand. Rickman, who already had a formidable and impressive career prior to his Potter days, will no doubt be used to a set beyond the walls of Hogwarts, but will our favorite ginger wizard? Does he know that no one will die when they scream avada kedavra (well, they will. Just from embarrassment)? That the Room of Requirement is actually a nickname for the bathroom? That, while Rickman won’t be able to brood quite as well without those fancy wizard robes, he will still be terrifying (in a good way)?

No one will talk to rats unless they are very, very drunk. Pictures don’t move unless you’re on hallucinogens. Emma Watson won’t do everything for you and Maggie Smith will not be around to be generally awesome (though we truly wish she was). If you run into a wall, you won’t go anywhere magical—unless you think emergency rooms are magical. We’re only looking out for you!

Something tells us Grint might still get a few smacks on the head from Mr. Rickman, though. Some things really do never change. Ten points from Gryffindor!

Bulgari Hotel dedicates screening theater to Attenborough

Pledges 10% of its revs from industry bookings to Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund
By ADAM DAWTREY

LONDON -- The new Bulgari Hotel and Residences in London's Knightsbridge district has dedicated its screening theater to Richard Attenborough, and pledged 10% of its revenues from industry bookings to the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.

The cinema was formally opened by Attenborough's son, theater director Michael Attenborough, on Tuesday evening. The event was hosted by David Puttnam and attended by some of the most important players in the U.K. film industry.

The guest list included British Film Institute CEO Amanda Nevill, Warner U.K. managing director Josh Berger, multihyphenate Alan Parker, thesp Alan Rickman, producers Duncan Kenworthy, Sandy Lieberson, David Parfitt and Jeremy Thomas, BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry and National Film and Television School topper Nik Powell.

Savannah muggles beware this summer — Ron Weasley is joining Professor Snape for a Hostess City Hogwarts reunion.

Actor Rupert Grint, who plays Harry Potter’s best friend in the blockbuster adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s wizardly novels, has signed on to the cast of rock flick-in-the-making “CBGB,” its producers confirmed Tuesday morning. Alan Rickman, who played the mysterious Snape in the Potter films, already was slated to star as CBGB founder Hilly Kristal.

“We love Rupert and, of course, we adore Alan,” said Nadine Jolson, director of publicity for Unclaimed Freight Productions, which was here last year for the movie “Savannah” starring Jim Caviezel.

but the man gets better looking as he ages...even better than fine wine

A sure-bet to scoring Oscar gold has been a role as a real-life figure – just ask recent winners Meryl Streep and Colin Firth. Now Alan Rickman, a respected fan favorite who has never been invited to the Academy’s party, is throwing a gauntlet down with two upcoming parts. He’s set to play President Ronald Reagan in Lee Daniels‘s upcoming film The Butler, which tells the true story of a White House butler who serves several presidents. Meanwhile, he has also recently signed on to play Hilly Kristal, late founder of legendary New York punk club CBGB’s, in a new biopic.

Rickman has played historical figures before, but after his Oscar snub for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, fans have been beating the drums to lock him into a vehicle that could nab him some hardware. And these parts could have the heft to do it.

The open casting call is from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. June 12 at the studio, 2315 Louisville Road. Specifically, they're looking for music lovers, musicians, motorcyclists, '70s car owners and people with a '70s "look."

Getting the vibe
He may be known for his glum demeanour on screen, but Alan Rickman tells me he’s getting into the party mood for his new film about the notorious New York punk-rock club, CBGB.
The 66 year-old, who will play the club’s founder Hilly Kristal, says he missed out on frequenting the joint in his youth.
“Sadly I never got to go to the club when it was around, but they’re reconstructing it as we speak in a studio in Savannah so I’ll have my second youth there,” the Harry Potter star declares.
“I’ll get what might be called the vibe when I go there in three weeks, I’ll be vibing.”

Just yesterday Alan Rickman spent a sunny hour and half touring around the building and chatting through our plans. It was delightful to chat with him and gain his valuable insight into things from technical theatre placememts to fundraising (if one has Harry Potter's wand, one should put it on Ebay not a private auction).

Sitting on a girder with all the steel workers at the end of the afternoon, Alan demonstrated that he was happy to get stuck in. He may often play the villain, but he's charming in real life. If only we'd had some extra tools he might still be here. He'll be back soon, though, keen to see the progress - and we have much more to discuss...

TODD, a 60-something loner with a twitch, follows young JESSICA (7) and her MUM home from school. He waits until nightfall before breaking into their house and creeps into Jessica’s room. Lifting the helpless, sleeping child off her pillow, he locates… a tooth! In a fit of compulsion, Todd crushes the tooth and snorts it from Jessica’s bedside table. Wings burst out of his back and he leaps from her window, freed for another short while... until his tooth fairy addiction hits again. The next day after school, Jessica heads towards an ice cream van, a gleaming new coin in her hand...

Original Alan Rickman BBC Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet Renaissance costume Tybalt 1978 (Rickman's first ever TV screen acting role!)

A bit of acting history, this - the original jacket worn by Alan Rickman in his first BBC TV role as Tybalt in the BBC's 1978 TV Romeo and Juliet. It's a Renaissance-style jacket in dusty pink and cream velvet. You can see this version of Romeo and Juliet - and edited 'highlights' showing just Alan Rickman's scenes - on Youtube, and this is the jacket he's wearing, including in the death scene (yes, he plays a villain!). I bought this at a BBC warehouse auction at Bonhams Knightsbridge branch in about 1990 or 1991 - the BBC were selling off a lot of stuff from their warehouse near BBC Tv centre (Wood Lane? Scrubs Lane?) including whole rails of BBC Shakespeare and other costume drama/sci fi costumes from the 70s and 80s. There is youtube footage of the viewing day of one of these auctions (there were a series of them) on line. The only part of the costume sold was the jacket - I presume the shirt would have been reused for something else, and the tights are probably too flimsy to have survived. It is Renaissance style, in segments joined by laces to allow the baggy shirt to puff out between the joints. Alan Rickman's name is on the label inside.