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November 8, 2003

- Merchant of Venice news:

Arclight Films is the production company for The Merchant of Venice, and they have the film listed on their website as being in pre-production. However, there seems to be a change in the cast. According to their cast list, Ian McKellen would have been replaced by Jeremy Irons

Shakespeare's story of lovers who make hasty commitments and come to understand that life is not so simple. It is also a story of vengeance and betrayal, of two enemies who try to exact horrific punishments from each other, but most of all, a story of two communities who simply do not understand one another.

A modern approach to a timelessly relevant epic which brings to the screen for the first time one of the world's most iconic courtroom confrontations. Directed and adapted for the screen by Academy Award Nominee Michael Radford (IL POSTINO).

Additional cast to be announced soon.
Cast: Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes Director: Michael Radford
Producer: Cary Brokaw (THE PLAYER), Michael Cowan, Jason Piette

A poster of the movie can be found here. You can view it with Acrobat Reader. No Joe on the pic though.

It's Remembrance Time in the UK (more information on www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance and the BBC are honouring this with a lot of programmes, giving us Joe's wonderful voice twice in two radio programmes, as follows:

Sunday, 9 November
4.30 – 5.00 pm
BBC Radio 4

Unicorns, Almost

Joseph Fiennes is the voice of second world war poet Keith Douglas in this dramatised feature, presented by poet Owen Sheers.

Tuesday, 11 November
2.15 - 3.00 pm
BBC Radio 4

The Afternoon Play:
A Well Remembered Voice & Barbara's Wedding
by JM Barrie

A double bill of two short plays, both dealing with love, loss and memory, specifically in the aftermath of the Great War.

In 'A Well-Remembered Voice', Mr & Mrs Don have lost their son, Dick, in the trenches. Each comes to terms with his death in a different way. The young man's mother tries to speak to him through a séance, and his father, a sceptic, simply reminisces, by himself. And yet in the process it is Mr Don, and not his wife, who is finally able to talk to their son, and in a way he never could when the boy was alive.

JM Barrie – Bill Paterson
Mrs Armitage – Julia McKenzie
Mrs Don – Barbara Leigh-Hunt
Mr Don – Jim Broadbent
Laura – Fiona Carew
Dick – Joseph Fiennes

Barbara's Wedding:
'Barbara's Wedding' also deals with loss, but in a very different way. The Colonel is in his dotage, and as his memory fades, past and present become intertwined. He is visited by his beloved grandson and the young man's fiancé, Barbara. But are they really there? And who is it exactly that Barbara is marrying?

These beautiful, moving plays have been brought to life by a cast of some of Britain's finest actors, and have been adapted and directed for radio by Julia McKenzie.

More information about the Remembrance programmes on BBC4 can be found here. You can also listen to the programmes online.

- Watch the Dust trailer.

- Dust DVD release

According to Amazon.com and other online stores, the US Dust DVD will be released on the 11th of November. It can already be pre-ordered here.

- FM DVD release

According to Amazon.co.uk, the FM DVD is being released in the UK on 9 February, 2004, and can already be pre-ordered here.

- 'Dirty Pretty Things' sweeps the board at film awards

The Independent
By Louise Jury, Arts Correspondent
05 November 2003

Stephen Frears' powerful thriller set among the illegal immigrant community, Dirty Pretty Things, won four prizes at the British Independent Film Awards last night, including best film and best director.

The awards, the only honours devoted solely to British movies, proved serious in tone with more honours going to a second film on illegal immigration and a debut feature about alcoholism. The ceremony at the Hammersmith Palais, west London, boasted appearances from stars including Joseph Fiennes, Jake Gyllenhaal, Orlando Bloom and Samantha Morton.

- Joe in Asprey catalogue

The Asprey advertising campaign begins in American publications in November issues and will feature in W, Vogue and Vanity Fair. Images with Joseph Fiennes will run in GQ in December issues.

Asprey also have a catalogue available from later October which will include these images. To acquire a catalogue, go to www.asprey.com, click on the A and go to mailing list, put in your information, and a catalogue will be sent to you.

- Martha keeps it in the family

The Telegraph

Who said nepotism was dead? Certainly not Martha Fiennes, the director of the new Ferrero Rocher television ad campaign.

First, Martha (sister of actors Ralph and Joseph) employed her third brother, Magnus, to arrange an ironic soundtrack for the "ambassador's party". Then she hired her husband, Old Etonian novelist George Tiffin, to record the line: "Aah... ambassador, you are really spoiling us."

"It's embarrassing," says Martha. "But the classic Ferrero Rocher ad was a huge family favourite when we were all younger. I suppose I must admit it's also helpful for paying the bills."

- Young Vic gets £1m boost

This is London
By Luke Leitch, Arts Reporter
11 September 2003

A campaign spearheaded by stars including Jude Law to build a new Young Vic theatre received an astonishing boost when a single donor handed over a cheque for £1 million.

Patrick McKenna, a former chief executive of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group, made the unprecedented donation after a private gala performance last night of Peter Brooks's Le Costume.

David Lan, the theatre's artistic director, said: "We are so thrilled, delighted and grateful. It is a great surprise and a great endorsement of the Young Vic."

In February Mr Lan will formally announce plans to raise £ 12 million and radically rebuild the theatre. Its 1970 breezeblock exterior, which is beset by structural problems and leaks, will be replaced with a new shell. Only the original auditorium will remain.

Jude Law, who is filming the remake of Alfie in Manchester, could not be at last night's gala but the audience included Zoe Wanamaker, Joseph Fiennes, Stephen Daldry, agent Tor Belfrage, Greg Dyke, South Bank supremo Michael Lynch, Corin Redgrave and Philip Pullman.

- The IMDB now has a page for Michael Radford's production of The Merchant of Venice here.

- Lynn Collins Cast as Lead in Radford's Merchant

The Hollywood Reporter
Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Newcomer Lynn Collins has landed the leading role of Portia in Michael Radford's adaptation of The Merchant of Venice. The film already stars Ian McKellen, Al Pacino and Joseph Fiennes as Antonio, Shylock and Bassanio, respectively.

"Merchant" is scheduled to go before cameras in late fall, and will be shot in Luxembourg and Venice, Italy.

William Shakespeare's classic tale tells the story of Portia, a wealthy heiress whose suitor, Bassanio, has a major cash flow problem, complicating their courtship and imperiling the life of his friend, who's underwriting his romantic entreaties.

- Robinson buys into role in 'Merchant'

The Hollywood Reporter
September 08, 2003

Zuleikha Robinson is set to star opposite Al Pacino in Arclight Films' adaptation of William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice." Principal photography begins late fall in Venice, Italy, and Luxembourg with Michael Radford directing from his own screenplay, which is set in 16th century Venice. Robinson will play Jessica, daughter of Shylock (Pacino). Ian McKellan and Joseph Fiennes also star. "Merchant" is being produced by Avenue CEO Cary Brokaw, Spice Factory co-managing director Michael Cowan, Barry Navidi and Jason Piette. Robinson next stars opposite Viggo Mortensen in the Walt Disney Co.'s $90 million epic "Hidalgo," which is slated for a March release. Additional credits include Mike Figgis' "Time Code" and Chris Carter's Fox drama series "The Lone Gunmen." She is represented by the Gersh Agency. (Zorianna Kit)

November 1, 2003

- Luther calendar

Look for pictures of Joe in last month's Lutheran magazine and Thrivent Financial's magazine (a Lutheran organization). Even better, check out the calendar put out by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (www.thrivent.com) with pictures from the movie Luther. Joe is in 10 out of 12 pics plus on the cover of the calendar.