Matthew Weiner, creator of the lauded Mad Men series and writer/executive producer of The Sopranos, is set to make his feature film directorial debut with You Are Here for Gilbert Films. The movie, which was written by Weiner, is scheduled to start production in May in North Carolina.
You Are Here sports a cast that includes Owen Wilson and Zack Galifianakis. Discussions are underway for Amy Poehler to co-star. Weiner will be making his big screen debut after having directed numerous episodes of Mad Men through its five years of production. Gary Gilbert, Scott Hornbacher, and Jordan Horowitz will produce. Lionsgate is handling international sales.
You Are Here centers on local weatherman and freewheeling bachelor Steve Dallas (Wilson) and bi-polar man-child Ben (Galafinakis), childhood best friends who embark on a road trip home after Ben discovers that his estranged father has passed away. Once there, Ben is shocked to learn that his eccentric father had big plans for him and he’s inherited a whole lot more than his father’s money. As Ben struggles with his new responsibilities, his friendship with Steve is tested by the complications of his inheritance, his sister Terry’s ambition, and Steve’s desire to be with his father’s beautiful young widow Angela.
“This movie has been my passion for eight years and to see it come together with Owen and Zach and Amy is a dream come true,” said Weiner. “I can’t wait to get started because the movie is about everything I care about and I’m tired of reading it out loud to my friends.”
Gilbert Films is a Los Angeles-based production company dedicated to producing and financing both independent and studio films. Founder and CEO Gary Gilbert, along with Gilbert Films’ Jordan Horowitz, produced the Oscar®- nominated film The Kids Are All Right, earning recognition from the PGA, Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Awards with nominations for Best Picture. The film won Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best Actress (Comedy or Musical) and was nominated for four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. Gilbert’s first feature, writer/director Zach Braff’s Garden State, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was honored with the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Actor Steve Guttenberg Returns To L.A. Neighborhood Now Charred By Devastating Wildfire
Steve Guttenberg awoke Thursday morning to a grim reality: The treacherous wildfire that tore through the Pacific Palisades had left his once-lush neighborhood charred and unrecognizable.
With homes smoldered, streets emptied and friends scattered by evacuation orders, Guttenberg counted himself among the fortunate. His property was miraculously spared. But the actor-producer still struggled to reconcile his relief with the haunting sight of his ravaged, once lavish community.
"Just this morning, I woke up and I was really conscious of my mental state and my mental health, because the last three days, I've seen so much tragedy," said Guttenberg, pacing through the ruins of his neighborhood. He said his home has electricity but no running water.
Guttenberg thanked God that his block was safe, but he said about 20 homes were burned "pretty bad" in his 80-home community after wind-whipped fires tore across Los Angeles, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. He said the fires are the worst he's ever seen in his 66-years.
The wildfires have burned the homes of several celebrities including Billy Crystal, Carey Elwes and Paris Hilton.
Guttenberg said he never expected all of this to happen.
"It's like when someone dies suddenly," he said. "It's like when someone gets hit by a car. You never expect that to happen. That's how shocking it was."
During Guttenberg's stroll, it was an eerie scene with scorched palm trees, homes reduced to ash and rubble, and the daytime skies casted an ominous twilight over the devastation.
"I've seen people scared, people in wheelchairs, mothers and fathers trying to find their kids, people having anxiety and panic... Read More