Snow and the Seven (2013)

Back in October, there was talk of various film projects for Snow White and it seems that all 3 (that we know of!) are being updated this week. Which one(s) will make it to the screen?
(Attempting to keep track of these competing films here)

IMDb lists Snow and the Seven with release year of 2013?

(Borys Kit) Reuters:

"Oscar-winning "Little Miss Sunshine" scribe Michael Arndt is in negotiations to work on the script for Disney's "Snow and the Seven," one of three rival Snow White projects in the works.

Additionally production designer John Myhre, an Oscar winner for his work on "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Chicago," has been brought on board to begin creating the worlds of the fairy tale, which is set in 19th century China.

Yes, China.

The project, which Disney has been developing since 2002, centres on a 19th century Englishwoman who returns to her Hong Kong home for her father's funeral, only to discover that her stepmother is plotting against her. She escapes to mainland China, finding solace among a rogue band of seven international warriors.

Francis Lawrence has been on board to direct since early on, even as a slew of writers has taken turns at the script. Arndt last week picked up an Oscar nomination for co-writing "Toy Story 3."

With all systems go for "Snow," the big question is Natalie Portman's involvement. She has been circling the project since last year, but her pregnancy could hinder her ability to undertake a physically intense movie that will feature several different fighting styles."

Newsweek video: Oscar Round Table with Firth, Portman, Benning, Franco, Kidman and Williams

NEWSWEEK held its 14th Oscar Roundtable interviewing Oscar nominees: Colin Firth (The King's Speech), Annette Benning (The Kids Are All Right), Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) and James Franco (127 Hours).

This video features Annette Bening talking about being an actor as well as a parent which leads to Colin's analogy of how actors share many traits with toddlers - "Babying Colin"...




In discussing love scenes, Colin Firth commented: "The worst obstacle to acting in love is really being in love with the other person. Because it’s not controllable. There is no way to harness that and turn it into something that’s useful to you."

Photos: Dan Winters, Newsweek

Video: The King's Speech - Ensemble SAG Award

The media interviews the cast of The King's Speech after receiving their award for Ensemble in a Motion Picture at the 17th Screen Actor's Guild Awards.

Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush

More information on The King's Speech...

Video: Orlando Bloom on set of Musketeers

Orlando Bloom is taking on role of the Duke of Buckingham
in upcoming The Three Musketeers.

Geoffrey Rush chats about The King's Speech

Geoffrey Rush interviewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival...

Geoffrey was honoured with the Montecito Award
and cast of King's Speech was honoured with the Ensemble Award

"The Montecito Award was created in recognition of a performer who has given a series of classic and standout performances in his/her career, and has previously been presented to Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Javier Bardem, Naomi Watts and Annette Bening, who was the very first recipient in 2005. Geoffrey Rush stands tall within a rare and genuine class of actors, able to command the screen in each and every one of his roles. Ranging from the comedic to the dramatic, Rush’s vast and eclectic body of work illustrates him as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors."

“I feel like Royalty’s coming to SBIFF,” remarked Durling. “Having been an admirer of everything Geoffrey Rush has done (including his Tony-winning performance in Exit The King), we’re truly blessed to get to celebrate him this year where he once again reminds us in The King’s Speech that he’s one of our greatest actors.”

Geoffrey Rush’s most recent work includes his portrayal of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue in the Tom Hooper film The King’s Speech. In the film, Lionel is recruited to help the man who would become King George VI (Colin Firth) get over his incredible stammer. Like his character in the film, Rush proves to be a true master of his craft, forging an incredible relationship with not only his pupil, but the audience itself."

Source: SBIFF.org

Also at SBIFF, video with Helena Bonham Carter, Colin Firth

PBS to host 25th anniversary concert of Les Mis!

From PBS: No one could have guessed on October 8, 1985, when Les Misérables opened in London at the Barbican Theatre that it would become a worldwide phenomenon, but audiences embraced it from the start, creating a “people’s musical” that has played in 42 countries and has been seen by nearly 60 million people. In 2010, the legendary musical celebrated its 25th birthday, and to mark the occasion, producer Cameron Mackintosh staged an extraordinary concert at the O2 Arena in London.

Alfie Boe, Colm Wilkinson, Ramin Karimloo, Nick Jonas

LES MISÉRABLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AT THE O2
will be seen in the U.S. for the first time
Sunday, March 6, 2011, 7:00-11:00 p.m. ET
(check local listings) on PBS.

“PBS offers every American a front-row seat to great arts and culture programming, and the Les Miz 25th anniversary concert allows viewers across the country the chance to experience some of the best-loved music of all time. PBS is proud to present the U.S. broadcast premiere of this remarkable production,” said PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger.

With more than 500 actors and musicians — including Alfie Boe, Jenny Galloway, Katie Hall, Nick Jonas, Ramin Karimloo, Norm Lewis, Matt Lucas, Lea Salonga and Colm Wilkinson — LES MISÉRABLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AT THE O2 includes the October 2010 cast of the long-running Original Production at London’s Queen’s Theatre and members of the original 1985 London cast. This concert was also shown in cinemas worldwide.

Heading the cast is Alfie Boe (Jean Valjean), one of Britain’s leading tenors and best-selling recording artists, who shot to fame while starring in Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his performance. Matt Lucas (Thénardier), one of Britain’s most successful comic actors and writers, was seen as Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Jenny Galloway is regarded as a legendary Madame Thénardier and has played the part many times, including the 10th Anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga (Fantine) flew in from Manilla to reprise her role. No stranger to Les Miz, Salonga has played Eponine in London and Fantine on Broadway. She became an international star by creating the role of Kim in the original production of Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and subsequently on Broadway. Salonga joined her former Les Miz co-star Norm Lewis, who played Javert in the Broadway production, and who received rave reviews for Sondheim on Sondheim at Studio 54 in New York.

Nick Jonas (Marius), one third of the phenomenally successful pop music artists the Jonas Brothers, played the part of Gavroche for the final nine months of the show’s original Broadway run. Singer Katie Hall is Cosette, a role she performed in London’s West End production as well as the sell-out 25th Anniversary UK Tour and at the Barbican.

Based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same name and set in early 19th-century France, Les Misérables features the stories individuals struggling for redemption and revolution. The magnificent score includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” “Master of the House” and many more.

Here's a preview of the concert that was held October 3, 2010
(Camilla Kerslake, due to illness, was replaced by Katie Hall in role of Cosette)

When Les Misérables celebrated its 21st London birthday on October 8, 2006, it became the world’s longest-running musical, surpassing the record previously held by Cats in London’s West End. In January 2010, the West End production broke another record by celebrating a historic 10,000 performances.

Les Misérables is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals, with new productions continually opening around the globe and seven more currently scheduled. The acclaimed 25th Anniversary Production is now on a U.S. tour.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Les Misérables is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. The original London 1985 production of Les Misérables was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

Quoted from PBS Press Release

More on Les Miserables

Edwardian Fashion - Image Gallery 2

Like a kid in a candy store, I'm delighting in discovering more great examples of the fashion found in the Edwardian era! Just discovered the treasure trove found on Abiti Antichi, a wardrobe collected by Camilla Columbo which would be the absolute envy of those of us who are fans of period fashion! Thank you so much Camilla for sharing your collection with us!

These images can be found on Camilla's site: 1901-1908, 1909-1914

See also: Edwardian Fashion - Image gallery #1

Can you choose a favourite?

Love the detail on this one.
Reminds me of this one that I love on Dame Maggie in Downton Abbey.















When I think of Edwardian, I think of ecru...




















On left: dress made using fabric taken from skirt of earlier era (original bodice shown).

Gallery of dresses shown in order of year (1901-1914). Last 2 shown are dressing gowns...