ashton kutcher
#INTERVIEW: REESE WITHERSPOON, ASHTON KUTCHER, ALINE BROSH MCKENNA, ZOË CHAO, JESSE WILLIAMS AND WESLEY KIMMEL ON “YOUR PLACE OR MINE”
It’s officially Rom-Com Season! YOUR PLACE OR MINE is the directorial debut of Producer/Writer and now Director Aline Brosh McKenna. The Film coming soon to Netflix, centers on two long-time best friends Debbie (Reese Witherspoon) and Peter (Ashton Kutcher) who live on different coasts, swapping houses for a week, only to realize exactly what’s missing in each of their lives.
So wonderful getting a chance to join a global press conference with the Cast and Creators of YOUR PLACE OR MINE. Joining us were:
- Reese Witherspoon – Debbie
- Ashton Kutcher – Peter
- Zoë Chao – Minka
- Jesse Williams – Theo
- Wesley Kimmel – Jack
- Aline Brosh McKenna (Director / Writer / Producer)
Brosh McKenna who wrote the Screenplay for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, walks us through the inspiration behind the story and how it’s very personal to her.
Brosh McKenna: “I was taken with the story, as it’s based on personal experience. I wanted to do Romantic-Comedy for people who’ve been through something in their lives and accumulated some life experience. If felt very personal to me through the process and it was an idea I had for a long time and when it came to fruition, it felt very personal. And I like to work with unknowns. I’m looking to discover people as you can see from the Cast. Just kidding.”.
Witherspoon’s character Debbie loves books and dreams of becoming an Editor and comments whether the role was tailored to her since she has attachments to the literary world, namely Reese’s Book Club.
Witherspoon: “I never read a book, it’s not on brand at all. I was like, will people know that I like to read and Aline’s like, ‘I think you can do this. I think you can make them believe!’”.
“Aline also sent me 25 books, which I never read. I called her and told her I had three children. But they did look very good on the set.”.
Kutcher talks about taking the role of Peter, who though is a bit of a man-child, is a grown-up.
Kutcher: “I’ve played grown-ups before. But it was very much about the hair. Aline felt he had a particular hairstyle he absolutely had to have and she used the word ‘grown-up’ a lot. ‘I want you to have grown-up hair’. And I was like, this hair is old, it’s 45-years-old. It’s the same age as me! But it was juxtaposition to the allover the place of Debbie. That was fun to play, this person who had this meticulous everything needed to be in its place. The other great thing, I’m not a big Fiction reader, but this character is a novelist, well read in fiction. So I ended-up diving-in. Aline sent me, I think ten books to read prior to the Film. ‘You need to read all of these, without cards in them specifically, what Peter got from them as a Writer. My fave was “Where Breath Becomes Air” and that was devastatingly-wonderful. High Fidelity was very good. I read every single one of them.”.
“The one about the kids catching on fire all the time – Nothing to see Here – that one was fantastic. I actually fell in love with reading Fiction again from this experience. That was fun and refreshing.”.
Witherspoon tells us that she actually didn’t know Kutcher very well until only a little before filming. Much of their scenes are done via split-screen.
Witherspoon: “It was a month before shooting and I had a bit of a panic attack because we didn’t know each other. I think we had fully met once at a party and I thought he was quirky. I don’t know this guy and we’re supposed to be best friends for 20 years, so we started sending each other videos every day.”.
Kutcher: “Every day we’d send videos. How’s your day? What’s going on? What are you afraid of? I you had pancakes, would it be syrup? Who’s your best friend and why?”.
Witherspoon: “It was actually kind of fun. Our kids would get in the videos, our dogs, he met my dog on video!”.
Kutcher: “By the time we shooting it, we were used to communicating this way, so it felt really natural to communicate that way.”.
Witherspoon: “We should put together a compilation of all these videos.”.
Kutcher: “When we’re in a scene together, we’re very improvy but given the way this was done, one side of coverage was done before the other person began to shoot their side of coverage. We were acting against a video and choices they had made. You couldn’t’ make a choice that would dictate the choice they had already made. None of that affecting the other the way the person reacts to the thing you said.”.
Williams talks about his experience having used to be an English Teacher, but playing a Literary Editor here.
Williams: “I am an avid reader and used to read a lot of Fiction, but became obsessed with Non-Fiction for the last 10-15 years, but am returning to that. I love books. Books changed my life, particularly in high school. During this process, Aline got me a vintage signed copy of one of my favourite books, Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Books are a transformative mark in my life at a fork in the road where my life could have gone very differently.”.
He comments whether or not he had to soften his character at all to help make Peter more of a contender to win Debbie’s heart.
Williams: “I don’t think so, because I think early on, I realize it’s not really about Theo, it’s about what’s true for Debbie and that’s one of the lessons – she surrounds herself with people who want what’s best for her to pull her forward.”.
Zhao talks about her character Minka who doesn’t read books, but reads people. Though she’s Debbie’s guide to New York City in the Movie, she confesses in real life she relies on Google Maps.
Zhao: “I fell in love with Minka as soon as I read the Script. Aline had made such a surprising loveable weirdo on page. Sophie De Rakoff (Costume Designer, LEGALLY BLONDE) brought all these amazing clothes and boom, character was there. I love Minka because though you don’t know what she does, there’s a very calculated mystique about her. She’s not a sinister person, she’s actually very positive. And I think the ultimate hypewoman and wingwoman that you need in this life. I love that she’s full of contradictions.”.
Kimmel plays Witherspoon’s son Jack in a breakout role and reveals that his role actually wasn’t a huge stretch, considering how similar his character was to him in real life – especially his love for Hockey. His character spends a lot of time with Kutcher’s Peter who looks after him while Debbie swaps places with Peter.
Kimmel: “It was always a part of the Script. I had started learning how to skate actually on Hockey skates. I never got to play actual games, but I always skated in the summer. I had some lessons leading up to the shoot but it was not super-new.”.
Kutcher: “He’s downplaying it. He goes and looks like he’s been playing full scale Hockey his whole life!”.
Kimmel: “When we were reading sides over in first audition, I looked up to my mom and said ‘This is literally me!’. We had the same issues, qualities and allergies even. And it was easy to be natural in the audition, which is crazy.”.
Netflix Canada release YOUR PLACE OR MINE February 10, 2023.
#FIRSTLOOK: “YOUR PLACE OR MINE” NEW TRAILER
Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher team-up for Rom-Com YOUR PLACE OR MINE. Here’s a first look at the brand-new Trailer!
LOGLINE:
Debbie and Peter are best friends and total opposites. She craves routine with her son in LA; he thrives on change in NY. When they swap houses and lives for a week they discover what they think they want might not be what they really need.
YOUR PLACE OR MINE arrives February 10, 2023 on Netflix.
(Photo credit: Netflix)
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW STILL FROM “VENGEANCE”
B.J. Novak directs, writes and stars in VENGEANCE, coming soon to theatres this Summer!
Story:
VENGEANCE, the directorial debut from writer and star B.J. Novak (“The Office”), is a darkly comic thriller about Ben Manalowitz, a journalist and podcaster who travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with. With an ensemble cast that includes Issa Rae, Ashton Kutcher, Boyd Holbrook, J. Smith-Cameron, and Dove Cameron.
Universal Pictures Canada will release VENGEANCE in theatres on Friday, July 29, 2022.
(Photo credit: Focus Features)
#SPOTTED: MILA KUNIS IN TORONTO FILMING “LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE”
Golden Globe-nominated Actress Mila Kunis is among several stars who have braved the Pandemic in Toronto. The star of successes like That ’70s Show, Black Swan, Bad Moms, Family Guy and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, has been in town with husband Ashton Kutcher and their two children the past month-plus filming upcoming Mystery LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD. Directed by Mike Barker (The Handmaid’s Tale) and adapted from Jessica Knoll‘s New York Times Bestseller, the Film centers on a woman who overcame dark past traumas to reinvent herself. The Film is set for a 2022, just having wrapped its Toronto portion. Production completes in New York City.
The star made headlines recently when it was revealed she and husband Kutcher only bathe their children when absolutely required. Okay, even I admit I thought that was unusual! This sparked Kutcher and Kunis to post this funny video in response to the talk.
We’ve always loved Kunis and the personable warmth she brings into her roles. No matter who she is playing, she somehow makes her characters feel lived-in and like people I know.
beanie and I were so fortunate to get a Selfie with Kunis wrapping in the City after having been spotted filming in the downtown core, all the way out to Cobourg. When we met her, she was filming a scene at Indigo Bookstore in Bloor, looking a vision. Author Knoll who adapted to Screenplay for the Film also was seen on-set where Crew were treated to Tiny Tom Doughnuts and a fancy Coffee Truck overnight!
Respecting social distancing, Kunis was more than kind to look back for a Selfie before heading off. We’re so happy!
Cannot wait to see LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE, which will stream on Netflix!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: SETH MACFARLANE, MILA KUNIS, ASHTON KUTCHER, ALEX BORSETIN & SETH GREEN IN TORONTO FOR “FAMILY GUY LIVE” AT THE JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL
Timed together with the Premiere of its celebrated twelfth Season tonight, FOX‘s Family Guy came direct to Toronto today as part of the Just For Laughs Festival. Toronto Fans got not one, but full two servings of Peter, Lois, Chris and Meg Griffin as Stars Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green and Mila Kunis flew-in from Los Angeles for back-to-back Live Performances of their beloved Animated-Comedy Series. A 40-piece Orchestra accompanied the Cast even.
By surprise, Attendees witnessed seeing Kunis’ Partner Ashton Kutcher enjoying the Show together in the Audience with them. The Couple flew in this afternoon as Fans and Paparazzi stared in awe as they quietly exited the Terminal and right into their SUV. Repeated pleas of “Ashton, please can I get a Photo with you?” came and dissipated into thin air as the City received an encore serving of major Starpower. TIFF ’13-Goers will remember that Kunis was just here a couple weeks back for Paul Haggis’ Third Person.
Audiences were treated to two-plus hours of Entertainment from the Stars of Family Guy and even got a chance to interact with them afterwards, in a rapidfire Q&A at both Shows. Some Fans successfully were able to get MacFarlane to role down his Window upon exiting the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts as generously he signed Autographs from his Vehicle. Kunis and Kutcher however were quick to exit, opting for privacy. The Cast head over to Barberians Steakhouse for two hours of post-Show Celebrations.
I was one of the few who were lucky enough to get up-close and personal with MacFarlane and he was amazingly nice, stopping to take a Snap despite clearly having had a long day. “It’s only a couple of you. Why not?”, he said to me and another. I couldn’t resist bringing my own TED Doll (the famous foul-mouthed Teddy Bear whom he voiced/created in the 2012 Blockbuster) out and he was happy to pose with us! His Castmates Green and Borstein (a ’90s Icon in her own right as recurring Character Ms. Swan on FOX‘s In Living Colour) also were amazingly nice. “Oh, how nice! A real Camera instead of a Cell Phone for once!”, she said to me after our Snap.
Family Guy Season Twelve premieres on FOX at 9:00 PM EST tonight!
More Snaps below:
#SPOTTED: MARIO LOPEZ IN TORONTO FOR “BLISS BALL”
Quickly becoming an important annual fixture in the City, the Bliss Ball took place Midtown at The Estates of Sunnybrook tonight. Now in its second year and put-on by The Dilawri Foundation, proceeds from the Ball go to The Patient Amenities Fund at SickKids Hospital, aiding those Families requiring Financial Aid.
Among the amazing Talent here in support of the Event this year were the likes of Carly Rose Sinclair of The Voice, Katharine McPhee, Chris Noth, David Blaine and the Headliner, Nicole Scherzinger, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls. Popular Television Personality Mario Lopez hosted the Event which saw Sex & the City Star Noth auction off a stay in his Apartment, in addition to a private Dinner with Mr. Big himself.
We spotted Lopez flying-in from Los Angeles earlier today on the same flight as Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, who were in-town for the Just for Laughs Festival‘s presentation of The Family Guy Live. The Host of Popular Entertainment Staple EXTRA Tweeted, “Taking off to Toronto.. Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis sitting next to me.. Cool couple.. Ashton tackled me on the plane. Both wrestlers..”. Although Fans had to ask a few times, Lopez finally agreed to take Photos and was nice about as he awaited his Vehicle’s delayed arrival.
Learn more about the Bliss Ball here.
See my Snap with Lopez below:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SUNDANCE: “FRUITVALE” WINS U.S. DRAMA AUDIENCE AWARD
Several Films are coming out of Sundance Film Festival in Park City this year with Oscar potential/buzz and winning the Audience Award, U.S. Drama is The Weinstein Co.’s Fruitvale, produced by Forrest Whitaker’s Significant Productions and OG Project. The Film from first-time Director Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale centers around Oscar Grant, who was shot to death on January 1, 2009 after Police responded to fight which took place aboard a Train in the Bay Area. Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand and Chad Michael Murray star in what is looking possibly like a TIFF 2013 Title. The Sessions which won the same Award last year also en route to premiering at TIFF 2012, while Helen Hunt who starred in the Film went on to receive an Oscar nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her work.
The Weinstein Co. also is gaining a fair amount of buzz with Lovelace, the Biopic about Pornstar Linda Lovelace starring Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Juno Temple, James Franco and Wes Bentley. The Hollywood Reporter already is calling it, “smartly done”. Variety however has a more mixed reaction, but still feel the Film “goes down smooth”, despite its’ “Movie of the Week Melodrama”.
Watch this Clip below:
CBS Films also acquired Toy’s House, which on paper is reminiscent of Stand By Me, about three teenage Boys who try to make a life in the Wilderness. The Comedy stars Breakout Stars Nick Offerman, Allison Bride, Moises Arias and Nick Robinson.
Kill Your Darlings perhaps is the Beat Generation Film which those disappointed by On the Road, are waiting for. The Film centers around a Murder investigation surrounding three Icons of the era, Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), William S. Burroughs (Ben Foster) and Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). Variety praises the Drama, but admits “the Picture’s Pansexual content and intellectual focus will limit its specialty-market reach, but it should court a small, discerning audience.“. The Hollywood Reporter raves about Up-and-Comer DeHaan most, stating that he is a “febrile, magnetic presence, making no mystery of why Ginsberg, Kammerer and Kerouac would be so drawn to fickle Carr.”. Strong possibility we might see this one a TIFF 2013.
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints has gained lots of praise, the Drama starring Casey Affleck as an Outlaw who escapes prison to find his Wife (Rooney Mara) and Daughter, whom he has yet to meet. Variety feels that the Film is “too lyrical for mainstream expectations… but a powerful Indie Player”. Likewise, The Hollywood Reporter says “this is an out-and-out Art Film”. IFC Films releases in the U.S.
jOBS possibly is the most hotly-buzzed Flick to screen at Sundance this year and although reviews still are scarce for the Biopic of Apple Founder Steve Jobs starring Ashton Kutcher, The Hollywood Reporter states, “Regardless of his outsized stature, their ability to keep the movie frequently engaging is an indication of their studious dedication to the Project.”. Open Road Films releases in the U.S. on April 13, 2013, commemorating Apple‘s 37th Anniversary. (UPDATE 3/16/13: It has been confirmed that this date is now postponed to allow for a proper promotional strategy).
Watch the Teaser Trailer below:
Last year’s Sundance Film Festival spawned Beasts of the Southern Wild, which currently is nominated for four Oscars including Best Actress, Best Directing, Best Writing and Best Picture.
(Photo credit: The Weinstein Co.)
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