2007.08.12: August 12, 2007: Headlines: COS - Micronesia: Writing - Micronesia: Movies: Film History: Malaysia Sun: Eric Lax writes "Conversations With Woody Allen"
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Micronesia:
Peace Corps Micronesia :
Peace Corps Micronesia: Newest Stories:
2007.08.12: August 12, 2007: Headlines: COS - Micronesia: Writing - Micronesia: Movies: Film History: Malaysia Sun: Eric Lax writes "Conversations With Woody Allen"
Eric Lax writes "Conversations With Woody Allen"
'Conversations With Woody Allen', scheduled for a release in October from Knopf, has been authored by Eric Lax. The tome features personal account of the three-time Oscar winner as to what prevented Downey and Ryder's inclusion in the casting for the 2002 flick. Film Historian and writer Eric Lax served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia in the 1960's.
Eric Lax writes "Conversations With Woody Allen"
When Woody Allen couldn't cast Winona, Downey Jr due to lack of insurance
Malaysia Sun
Sunday 12th August, 2007
(ANI)
New York, Aug. 12 : Film director Woody Allen was desperate to cast Robert Downey Jr. and Winona Ryder in his film 'Melinda and Melinda', but had to jettison both the stars after failing to get insurance on them, says a book.
'Conversations With Woody Allen', scheduled for a release in October from Knopf, has been authored by Eric Lax.
The tome features personal account of the three-time Oscar winner as to what prevented Downey and Ryder's inclusion in the casting for the 2002 flick.
"I couldn't get insurance on them . . . We couldn't get bonded. The completion bonding companies would not bond the picture unless we could insure them," the New York Post quoted the director as telling the author.
The book further reveals Allen as telling, that Downey was recovering from years of drug addiction at that time, and till that time he had experienced several arrests and jail time.
Ryder, on the other hand, was on the mend from her conviction on felony grand theft for shoplifting from a Beverly Hills store in 2001, says Allen.
"The insurance companies are very prissy and sticky and gave us a hard time," Allen recalls.
"We were heartbroken because I had worked with Winona before [on "Celebrity"] and thought she was perfect for this and wanted to work with her again. And I had always wanted to work with Bob Downey and always thought he was a huge talent," he adds.
Upon their rejection, the two actors got upset with Allen as though he was the one who took the decision of not casting them, says the book.
"The actors got upset with us, like we're the ones who made the decision. But I felt we're the ones getting screwed every bit as much as them," Allen states.
Eventually, the film was made with Will Ferrell and Radha Mitchell, and it opened to mixed reviews.
Downey finally won back Hollywood's trust after he stayed sober and has starred in hit movies like 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and 'Zodiac'.
Ryder also overcame her issues, and has starred in just-released 'The Ten' and 'Sex and Death 101', which releases in October.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: August, 2007; Peace Corps Micronesia; Directory of Micronesia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Micronesia RPCVs; Writing - Micronesia; Movies
When this story was posted in August 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
 | Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings
Read PCOL's executive summary of Senator Chris Dodd's hearings on July 25 on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act and why Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter does not believe the bill would contribute to an improved Peace Corps while four other RPCV witnesses do. Highlights of the hearings included Dodd's questioning of Tschetter on political meetings at Peace Corps Headquarters and the Inspector General's testimony on the re-opening of the Walter Poirier III investigation. |
 | Dodd issues call for National Service
Standing on the steps of the Nashua City Hall where JFK kicked off his campaign in 1960, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd issued a call for National Service. "Like thousands of others, I heard President Kennedy's words and a short time later joined the Peace Corps." Dodd said his goal is to see 40 million people volunteering in some form or another by 2020. "We have an appetite for service. We like to be asked to roll up our sleeves and make a contribution," he said. "We haven't been asked in a long time." |
 | Public diplomacy rests on sound public policy
When President Kennedy spoke of "a long twilight struggle," and challenged the country to "ask not," he signaled that the Cold War was the challenge and framework defining US foreign policy. The current challenge is not a struggle against a totalitarian foe. It is not a battle against an enemy called "Islamofascism." From these false assumptions flow false choices, including the false choice between law enforcement and war. Instead, law enforcement and military force both must be essential instruments, along with diplomacy, including public diplomacy. But public diplomacy rests on policy, and to begin with, the policy must be sound. Read more. |
 | Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director
A post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania. |
 | Peace Corps Funnies
A PCV writing home? Our editor hard at work? Take a look at our Peace Corps Funnies and Peace Corps Cartoons and see why Peace Corps Volunteers say that sometimes a touch of levity can be one of the best ways of dealing with frustrations in the field. Read what RPCVs say about the lighter side of life in the Peace Corps and see why irreverent observations can often contain more than a grain of truth. We'll supply the photos. You supply the captions. |
 | PCOL serves half million
PCOL's readership for April exceeded 525,000 visitors - a 50% increase over last year. This year also saw the advent of a new web site: Peace Corps News that together with the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps serve 17,000 RPCVs, Staff, and Friends of the Peace Corps every day. Thanks for making PCOL your source of news for the Peace Corps community. Read more. |
 | Suspect confesses in murder of PCV
Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences . |
 | Warren Wiggins: Architect of the Peace Corps
Warren Wiggins, who died at 84 on April 13, became one of the architects of the Peace Corps in 1961 when his paper, "A Towering Task," landed in the lap of Sargent Shriver, just as Shriver was trying to figure out how to turn the Peace Corps into a working federal department. Shriver was electrified by the treatise, which urged the agency to act boldly. Read Mr. Wiggins' obituary and biography, take an opportunity to read the original document that shaped the Peace Corps' mission, and read John Coyne's special issue commemorating "A Towering Task." |
 | Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps
Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments. |
 | He served with honor
One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Malaysia Sun
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Micronesia; Writing - Micronesia; Movies; Film History
PCOL38729
07
