As an extra in “Nailed,” I was originally cast as a U.S. senator. My role was to be one of about a hundred “senators” seated in the legislative chamber. But when the assistant casting director came up short on “news reporters,” I was moved to a position directly behind Jessica and Jake. My friends from “Leatherheads” have been kidding me about just how that happened. My explanation: “just being in the right place at the right time.”

Director Russell is a “perfectionist.” Some might say he’s “obsessive-compulsive.” Russell reshot one dramatic monologue where Jessica Biel, playing the part of an uninsured receptionist, addresses Congress in support of a bill to fund national health care. Biel faithfully cried on each shoot.

This finally precipitated a Jake Gyllenhaal “temper tantrum.” Jake slammed his fists on his legislative desk, followed by a verbal exchange with the director. This particular legislative desk just happened to be the desk used by former House Speaker Emeritus Sol Blatt. I immediately looked up at Speaker Blatt’s portrait hanging in the chamber, fully expecting the speaker to reprimand Jake for this conduct. Speaker Blatt’s portrait seemed to look down on the proceedings with a scowl.

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Great News!!

Jessica’s film, Easy Virtue, is slated to come out on November 7th, 2008 in the UK! That’s exciting for all the UK fans, but kind of crappy for all of the USA fans haha.. Hopefully she’ll attend the premiere and it will do really well! I’ll keep you all up to date on what’s going on with this film - I’m personally really excited, I was excited for A Woman of No Importance, but, I think this will be even better! Excited!

Yay!

Hey Guys! This is from Jessica’s MySpace:

Hey Myspace,

I just wanted to let all my friends know that I’ve posted the trailer from my production company Iron Ocean Films first short called “Hole in the Paper Sky” up on my profile.

Here’s the quick plot summary:

“Howard Ferp is a brilliant, misanthropic mathematics doctoral candidate. Just as he is about to complete his thesis and win the city-wide chess tournament, his carefully calculated life is turned upside down when he learns that his work study position has been eliminated. Forced to start a new job in the psychology department, Howard encounters two kindred spirits, his supervisor Karen and a doomed laboratory dog. Howard risks everything he thought important to save the animal and, in doing so, discovers his humanity.

“I pulled together a bunch of my friends to make this project and I hope you guys like it. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible.

Enjoy the trailer!!

Jess

Hole in the Paper Sky Trailer

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has picked up U.S. distribution rights for the CG-animated kidpic “Planet 51.”

TriStar Pictures will release the film, which features the voices of Dwayne Johnson and Jessica Biel, on Nov. 20, 2009.

Alien adventure comedy centers on an astronaut who lands on Planet 51 thinking he’s the first to set foot on it. To his surprise, he discovers it’s inhabited by little green people who live in a white picket-fenced world reminiscent of 1950s America. Film is produced by Ilion Animation Studios.

Justin Long, Seann William Scott, Gary Oldman and John Cleese round out the voice cast.

New Line previously bought domestic distribution rights for the $50 million plus-budgeted film and had touted it as it as its first-ever CG-animated feature. After New Line was folded into Warner Bros. in February, “Planet 51″ became the domain of Warners and was set to be released by the studio in summer 2009.

Sources said Warner decided to let the pic go after the producers insisted on a November release, when Warner is releasing its sixth Harry Potter pic.

Ignacio Perez Dolset and Guy Collins are producing “Planet 51.” Peter Graves, Michael Ryan and Jose Rodriguez exec produce.

HandMade Films International is handling worldwide sales on the film. A “Planet 51″ videogame is being developed by Ilion.

“We could not ask for a more ideal partner,” said Guy Collins, chairman of HandMade Films Intl. “Sony is perfectly positioned to maximize the film’s box office potential.”