Entertainment

Last line of dialogue from 2006 draft of The Rum Diary script!

/ Rory / 6 Comments

Hollywood Elsewhere

Jeffrey Wells on March 3, 2009

Early Bleary Thompson

“‘To live my my life like I want to,’ he said, ‘is the least I can do.’ And that had worked for him. And when it was over, he knew it was over and required no explanation. He had spent half a life blowing his brains out with booze, and the bullet was just a period at the end of no sentence in particular.” — the last line of dialogue in a 2006 draft of Bruce Robinson’s The Rum Diary, an adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s revised version of a novel by the same name which he originally wrote in 1959.

I received the Rum Diary script last weekend, and when I read that final page I said to myself, “Whoa.” I mean, is that Thompson talking about his own life or what? Talk about an epitaph.

The Rum Diary, which Robinson will begin directing in San Juan later this month, will star Johnny Depp as expat journalist Paul Kemp, Amber Heard as the temptressy Chenault, Richard Jenkins as the likable Lotterman and Aaron Eckhart as the adjective-defying Sanderson.

Both the book and the film tell Kemp’s story, a malcontent journo who moves from New York to work for a small newspaper, The Daily News, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If you know Thompson’s stuff, you know what this will be — and that’s okay by me.

source: http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/03/early_bleary_th.php

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Johnny Depp looking for 800 extras for The Rum Diary

/ Rory / 4 Comments

 

Dr. Thompson & Colonel Depp

Dr. Thompson & Colonel Depp

Johnny Depp is looking for more than 800 local extras for the film “The Rum Diary,” which begins filming in Puerto Rico on March 30. Casting directors are seeking people of all ages with different physical characteristics. Auditions will be held next Saturday at the Academy of Modeling Models Factory. Casting takes place between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm Interested individuals must attend the academy, located on the Paseo de la Atena, # 25 (high) in Manatee. For more information, interested parties can call (787) 904-8862 or (787) 452-1158.

The Rum Diary is loosely based on the experiences of writer Hunter S. Thompson as a journalist in Puerto Rico at the end of the 50s. Depp will play the character of Paul Kemp, a reporter working with a diverse team at a newspaper in San Juan. Bruce Robinson, director of the film, arrived on the island this week along with his assistant.

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Hunter S. Thompson: The Conan O’Brien Interview

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In the past week or so Conan O’Brien has revisited some of his more memorable guest interviews as he looks back on his career before he takes over The Tonight Show. One of the clips featured our favourite Doctor drinking some hard liquor and firing some guns with Conan. Here is the Good Doctors second interview where they remember that event and also discuss bomb making, fake shoes and how to shoot bears without hitting your assistant !!  – Ron Mexico

Hunter S. Thompson on Conan O’Brien 2003-02-06

 

 

Bruce Robinson to discuss The Rum Diary on BBC 4 Radio!

/ Rory / 1 Comment

Hey folks,

Just a quick heads up that Bruce Robinson will be on BBC 4 Radio today at 4.30pm GMT. He will be discussing his return to film-making after 17 years. Hopefully he will be able to shed some light on the apparent changes to The Rum Diary. You will need realplayer to listen in and don’t worry if you miss it – you can listen to the show anytime once it airs. I will blog any juicy info. here for those of you that can’t stream the show.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/filmprogramme/filmprogramme.shtml

Thanks to Holly for the heads up, much appreciated!

Yr. Friend,

Ron Mexico (in much pain with a broken toe of all things!)

 

UPDATE:  Bruce Robinson describes the script as very close to Withnail & I in tone. He mentions that Johnny Depp was instrumental in getting The Rum Diary published and he also believes the script to be very funny.

Aaron Eckhart & Richard Jenkins for The Rum Diary !!

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Aaron Eckhart

Aaron Eckhart

Just a heads up that two more actors have been added to the roster of The Rum Diary…..Aaron Eckhart, who is still in negotiations (to play Sanderson) and Richard Jenkins, who has signed on (to play Lotterman).  Both great actors and wonderful additions to the film.

 

Richard Jenkins

Richard Jenkins

Thanks to Holly for the heads-up!! I haven’t had access to the net for the past week due to storm damage so it was nice to get this news when I managed to fix my connection.  

For those of you that are wondering about the character of Yeamon, it appears he is no longer going to be part of the movie version. This is quite common with the book to silver screen transition. Bruce Robinson has taken The Rum Diary novel and reworked it for the big screen. I will try and get more details on this so lets just wait and see how everything pans out before people get upset about this. Personally I am just glad we have a new movie based on Hunters work. A few months ago it appeared that this project was doomed and would never get made. They actors that have been cast so far are all excellent, looking forward to some more developments.

Cheers,

Ron Mexico

Amber Heard lands role of Chenault in The Rum Diary?

/ Rory / 11 Comments

 

Amber Heard

Amber Heard

 

According to various sources Amber Heard is either in negotiations for the role of Chenault or has indeed secured the part. Here is a little report from firstshowing.net :

Amber Heard will play the “unattainable” romantic interest Chenault, whom is the girlfriend of “a slick PR consultant named Sanderson” that becomes entangled in a corrupt hotel development scheme with Kemp. The role of Sanderon hasn’t been cast yet, or at least, they haven’t publicly revealed a name. Heard’s role apparently has quite a bit of nudity, but if you haven’t heard, she’s pretty much nude all throughout The Informers, so this wasn’t a big issue for her. I didn’t see The Informers, so I can’t speak for her acting abilities, but obviously with the roles she’s getting, it’s starting to seem like she’s the next big thing.

That is about it for now folks,

Ron Mexico

Want to star alongside Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary? (UPDATED)

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 UPDATE: Johnny Depp begins filming March 31st in Puerto Rico!

Hunter in San Juan

Hunter in San Juan

 

So fancy rubbing shoulders with Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary? Well now is your opportunity! Casting is now underway, see below for details:

Location: (nationwide)
Category: Feature Film
Types Looking for: Actor
Gender: female,male

Status: Active
Union: No

Description:

Based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson and Directed by Bruce Robinson, The Rum Diary is due to begin production. Johnny will produce and star in the movie. Denise Chamian Primetime Emmy Nominee is the casting director and has been involved in casting movies such as POTC and Hancock. Begun in 1959 by a then-twenty-two-year-old Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary details the life and events of Paul Kemp: He’s a freelance journalist who finds himself at a critical turning point in his life while writing for a run-down newspaper in the Caribbean. Paul is challenged on many levels as he tries to carve out a more secure niche for himself amidst a group of lost souls all bent on self-destruction. Thompson delivers a potent story that pushes the sometimes brutal truth of human relations into your face in such a way that it would be absurd to not laugh.

Female or Male All Ethnicities 18 to 65

To apply click here

 

Good luck 😀

Ron Mexico

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Rumour – Jack Nicholson for The Rum Diary!

/ Rory / 2 Comments
Caribe Hilton San Juan

Caribe Hilton San Juan

 

It looks like Johnny Depp has finally decided the time is right to kick this project into gear. A number of details have emerged in the past month surrounding this project – some pretty interesting rumours too! So here is the lowdown on the developments:

  • As previously reported, casting has begun, with a casting call circulating regarding the role of Chenault. The casting call indicated that production would begin in full in early March. Several websites have speculated that Scarlett Johansson or Keira Knightley have been mentioned for the role. This is pure speculation! The role will most likely go to an unknown actress. Trust me on that one. (For budget reasons alone this is unlikely)
  • Benicio Del Toro has also recently stated that he is no longer attached to this project. He was supposed to direct the movie but that has since fallen to Bruce Robinson – writer and director of Withnail and I and the man behind the screenplay for The Killing Fields. Robinson will also handle the screenplay for The Rum Diary. He supposedly worked on it while staying on Johnny Depp’s Caribbean island, which Johnny affectionately calls “Fuck Off Island”.
  • One of the producers attached to this project is Graham King of The Departed fame. This has led to a very interesting RUMOUR that the character of Lotterman will be played by none other than Jack Nicholson!! Now I have to say I am highly sceptical of this but what a coup that would be if true. Jack was a friend of Hunter’s and really enjoyed the Good Doctor’s birthday presents 😀 Maybe just maybe he would do this but no doubt he would have to take a considerable drop regarding his fee.
  • The production team opened an office in San Juan yesterday and sources indicate that the old office of The San Juan Star will be used for filming. The newspaper closed last August. The team are also scouting for other filming locations in San Juan.

So that is it as of now. Thanks to the good folks over at JohnnyDeppReads for translating some spanish articles regarding the production.

Ok for now,

Ron Mexico

PS: We have some regular visitors from San Juan, why not drop us a note or some photos if you see anything regarding filming!

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Hunter S. Thompson – Gonzo

/ Rory / 1 Comment

gonzo

 

Check this cool little gadget today where you can make your own Obama style poster:

http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

There is a gallery where you can browse other users creations – my favourite so far is a poster of Dubya with the words FAIL 😀

Cheers,

Ron Mexico

London Gonzo Fans:Missing Hunter S. Thompson Fax!

/ Rory / 3 Comments

 

 

THE famous illustrator of Hunter S Thompson’s work had a precious personal letter from the gonzo journalist stolen when he gave a talk to fans in north London.

Ralph Steadman, 72, spoke at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn about the late American writer, after a screening of the new film on his life Gonzo: The Life And Works Of Dr Hunter S Thompson.

While Mr Steadman talked to fans and signed books afterwards, someone stole an original fax which was among the artist’s possessions.

Mr Steadman, who illustrated Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas as well as much more of Thompson’s work, said: “It was a fax he sent me on Christmas day in 1988. It started Merry Christmas! HO! HO! HO! And was handwritten – six pages long.

“I took it along to read out and I just never thought to make a copy of it. I left it on stage while I talked to people and while I was doing that someone just lifted it.

“It is a rotten thing to do. A dirty little trick. I would have been happy to make a copy for the person who took it and I would have signed it for them, done a drawing – anything they wanted.

“I didn’t think that someone would steal it. That is not gonzo it’s bad gonzo – it’s bonzo.”

Mr Steadman is known for his work on Punch, Private Eye and New Statesman, as well as being the long established partner in crime to the writer.

The pair met in Kentucky when Mr Steadman was sent to cover a race meeting for a magazine.

After a week’s drinking they became friends for more than 35 years and started the partnership which is now world-famous.

Mr Steadman was the man who organised the funeral Thompson had been planning for years, after he shot himself in 2005. His ashes were launched into the air with a cannon.

“I’ve got lots of stuff but that’s not the point,” Mr Steadman continued.

“It is part of the gonzo collection. It was a letter in what he would have called his gibberish. It was about an animal he killed – some kind of dog – because it was threatening his peacocks.

“I don’t steal things from people so why should they steal from me?

“I don’t know why people have to be like that but I think that’s the way we are now – we’ve gone down that terrible road of meanness.

“I don’t think people were ever as mean as they are now.”

Mr Steadman travelled from his home in Kent for the talk and has offered to send a signed copy to anyone who returns the original letter.

The theatre is calling on anyone with information to come forward. Tricycle artistic director Nicolas Kent said: “Ralph very generously gave up his time to come and do the Q&A at the Tricycle. I’m very sad that somebody came and took away his treasured possession.

“Maybe they thought it was not important, but I know that it is and I know that he would like it back.

Ok somebody out there knows where this is so please come forward if you have any information. Feel free to email us at totallygonzo@gmail.com and we will pass on any helpful details to Ralph. Nobody is interested in getting anyone in trouble, it was probably unintentional, so just help get this fax back to Ralph where it belongs.

Cheers,

Ron Mexico