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"My laptop was completely ruined when my office flooded. Even the hard disk was wrecked; but I didn't lose a single document."
 | Colin farrell News - 30-January-2004 |  |
27th January 2004: Production Details
- A staggering 20,000 costumes have been designed. The film's armorers created 9,000 arrows, 3,000 shields, 3,000 swords, 4,000 bows, 200 cavalry lances and 350 axes and club.
- Producer John Kilik says "In Morocco, we had close to 1,000 soldiers provided as extras by the army. We have a crew of about 120 here in London, but in Morocco it was up to about 500. We had 2,000 people, and 120 horses. We'd have two units going, one with five cameras, the other with three, and Oliver going back and forth"
- Farrell speaks on-screen in a softer version of his own strong Irish accent and many of the actors cast as his allies are Irish or English. This was deliberate policy on Stone's part: "These men were Macedonians, not cultivated Greeks, and it seemed to me they occupied a similar position that the Irish and Scots did to the
English in the British Empire"
- Stone says:"One thing that comes out in this film is that the Olympic gods start to lose their hold on man. Mankind goes toward Christianity, that comes 300, 400 years later, but men start to look for personal salvation as opposed to the Olympic gods, who weren't enough. Alexander shows you that man can do it, become the highest reflection of gods".
- One scene shot in London was the entry into Babylon of Alexander and his Macedonian comrades, who are greeted warmly. But a member of the city's ruling family is concerned about how they will be treated by these invaders, and Alexander speaks to her reassuringly. The set is described as "a huge space
with pillars, columns, fountains and real hanging plants, imported from Holland. The costumes of the extras, representing half a dozen nationalities, are so vivid that at first glance it can give one a sense of visual overload".
Source: Los Angeles Times
21st January 2004: Set report from Thailand
"We had our first full day of shooting yesterday and it was hella long, plus the moccasins we wear for our costumes are not Nike Airs so our feet hurt like a motha. It is cool but no joke, we worked 20 hours yesterday."
"We left the hotel at 3:45 am for the set and right before we left Colin [Farrell] rolled in with a few buddies and one of them had a beer bottle in his hand, definitely coming in from the night before." As for Colin's part in the filming; he was spotted with two others riding horseback just coming up to see what was going on but he did not shoot.
As far as what they were shooting we got word that it was four separate scenes. Shooting is taking place in a jungle like setting in the Udon Thani province in Thailand. The ground is covered in leaves and the cast and ground is consistently sprayed down with a fire house to create that "tropical" effect. Also amidst the forest are several fog machines and a drummer some 50 yards away beating a large drum every 5-10 seconds.
The first scene "was of all of us [Alexander's army] lined up in army formation on a hill that was slowly rising up behind us, and our commander was in front and was pacing back and forth and said, 'you will hit them with your left...and then hit them with your right,' in a very deep English accent."
A second scene was very similar to the first but covering the left flank of the formation, and the third scene is a little more intense as it focuses on what are called choppers, which our insider is one of and the head commander yells out, "Bring the assault teams forward!" Then the battle captain yells, "Choppers, prepare your blades. Follow me!"
Our insider reports that, "The choppers are an assault team that attacks elephants. Each elephant has a guard at each leg to keep him from being attacked, so the first four guys in the assault team are to attack these four guys and the second four guys have no shields but have long hooked blade weapons tied to their hamstrings and they gut the elephant."
He described it as "fog everywhere, a creepy battle drum, and a US Marine Corp. captain yelling orders to an army of guys with medieval weapons. No joke, Oliver [Stone] hired a USMC advisor to run the extras and be the military advisor."
The fourth scene they shot "was when our battalion is ordered to lower our spears then a horn sounds signaling our troops that we are being attacked from behind, half the troops steady and half turn to fight."
As for what they are wearing he said, "I am wearing a burlap sac with arm and head holes cut in it along with a burlap pair of undies. I have an arched short sword and a big silver shield. Most of us have to wear hair pieces so that we have locks hanging out our helmets, mostly black but with blonde streaks, they also made us shave our legs."
The piece of land they are shooting on is reportedly 20-30 acres and they will stay there until approximately the 31st when they will move about 5 hours northwest to continue the shoot. The scenes are supposedly the battles that went on in India and so far the only warriors shot have been the Macedonians.
Source: Rope of Sillicon
20th January 2004: Closed Set in Thailand
Oliver Stone has summoned 20 armour-clad elephants and hundreds of actors to central Thailand to shoot scenes for his latest epic, Alexander. But apparently the writer-director doesn't want anyone else around. "It's a closed set," said publicist Michael Singer. "It's to allow the production to go ahead without distractions." With few exceptions, the media has been barred from visiting the set of the film about Alexander the Great, which stars Colin Farrell as the Macedonian conqueror. Furthermore, cast members said they'd been warned not to take their own photographs of a battle scene being filmed this week in Lopburi province, 115 kilometres north of Bangkok. "We've been warned that if Oliver sees us with a camera, he'll storm over, stomp all over the camera and personally escort you off the set," said one actor. The team is shooting scenes in which Alexander confronts an Indian king, Porus, during his invasion of India in 325 BC. More filming is planned in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province in coming weeks.
14th January 2004: Filming in Thailand
Award-winning movie director Oliver Stone will begin shooting scenes for his upcoming historical epic "Alexander" in Thailand this week, a publicist said Wednesday. Hundreds of Thai and foreign cast and crew members will start filming scenes Thursday for the movie about the life of Alexander the Great, starring Colin Farrell as the Macedonian conqueror, publicist Michael Singer said. "Alexander" also features Hollywood heavyweights Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins and Val Kilmer. It was not immediately known which, if any, of the stars will be filmed in Thailand. "It is a large-scale movie. We are shooting large-scale scenes here. We are involving elephants," he told The Associated Press. "We have a lot of participants, both in front of and in back of the camera, who are Thai." Parts of the story that take place in India will actually be shot in Thailand, he said, adding that the shoot will end early February. Singer refused to say exactly where in Thailand the filming would take place, but cast members said on condition of anonymity that the sets for "Alexander" are in the provinces of Saraburi and Ubon Ratchathani. Saraburi is about 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani is about 500 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of the Thai capital, near the border with neighboring Laos. It is the final stop for the "Alexander" production crew, which began shooting in September and has already filmed scenes on location in Morocco and at studios near London, Singer said. Stone wrote the film, which tells the story of the relentless conqueror Alexander, born in 356 B.C., who assembled the largest empire the world had ever seen by the age of 32.
Thanks to Maryp at the Collin Farrel Fansite for this info.
12th December 2003: Farrell accidentally stabs co-star
According to reports, Colin Farrell has accidentally stabbed his co-star Gary Stretch while filming 'Alexander'. He punctured Stretch's protective padding, cutting him in the stomach, during filming for one of the climactic fight scenes. Stretch, a former boxer, was taken to Wexham Park hospital in Slough for treatment, but has since returned to work. Stretch said: "It was a very minor wound. It's one of those movies where these kinds of things happen. We've all had a few bangs and scratches."
12th December 2003: Stone's 'Alexander' sees off Luhrmann
Oliver Stone's version of the story of the great general Alexander is now the only game in town after Baz Luhrmann closed down his version. It seems Luhrmann was unable to raise the money to complete his version of the film, which means that Oliver Stone's film is on its own.
11th December 2003: Vangelis to write music
It would appear that Vangelis "Chariots of Fire" Papathanassiou is to write the musical score the Oliver Stone's "Alexander" movie. Vangelis was quoted as saying "I've always admired Oliver's films. And, of course, Alexander the Great is a story that's a natural part of my heritage. So, to be composing for this film with Oliver Stone directing makes it an especially exciting experience for me".
24th November 2003: Farrell and Jolie NOT an item
Irish actor Colin Farrell has trashed reports he's dating his Alexander co-star Angelina Jolie, even though they were reportedly spotted kissing at a London club on Saturday night. The actor - in Britain's capital for the premiere of new low-budget movie Intermission - insists he went to Elisium and Annabel's with Jolie "as colleagues" rather than lovers, and has laughed off eyewitness reports, which claim they were passionately locking lips and flirting until 3am. He says, "We went out for some drinks, as colleagues. Don't most people go out for a few drinks with the people they work with?" However, he admits Angelina - mother of adopted Cambodian son Maddox - has inspired him to be a good father to his two-month-old son James. He adds, "She is just gorgeous with her son. She is amazing." But Farrell swept aside any romance worries in spectacular style yesterday when he embarked on a 14-hour drinking spree - which eventually ended at 7am this morning at his suite in London's Savoy Hotel.
23rd November 2003: Farrell and Jolie an item
Angelina Jolie and Colin Farrell are the newest and hottest couple in showbiz. The Irish bad boy worked his charms on the Tomb Raider beauty as they partied in London until 4am yesterday. Colin Farrell was determined to pull Angelina from the start of the evening and his persistence eventually paid off. By the early hours he was bumping and grinding with the actress on the dancefloor of London hotspot Elysium. The pair had agreed to meet at Annabelle’s for drinks with their director pal Oliver Stone. Colin was turned away because he was in jeans so he raced back to his Covent Garden hotel to change into black trousers. He was let in and stayed just half an hour — long enough for his Irish charms to work. Colin told lush-lipped Angelina he was off to Elysium and said she would make his night if she joined him. Minutes later she followed in a cab. Of course, he was waiting with champagne on ice. After a few glasses they hit the dancefloor, leaving onlookers in no doubt as to their intentions. One said: “They were all over each other. Colin couldn’t keep his hands to himself. They looked very intimate. The chemistry was unmistakable.”
22nd November 2003: Yet another Alexander film
Ilya Salkind, a producer of the first three "Superman" films, and Jeffrey Taylor, (2000's "What's Cooking?") plan to produce "Macedonia's Alexander the Great" as the first in a trilogy of films on the life and times of Hollywood's favorite conqueror. The film will be written by Dan Skinner and will be directed by Jalal Merhi, whose previous credits include direct-to-video actioners "The Circuit" and "Sometimes a Hero." This latest film, of course, should not to be confused with Oliver Stone's "Alexander," now in production, or with Baz Luhrmann's "Untitled Alexander the Great Project." Aris Papadimitriou will depict Alexander's best friend, Hephaestion (a role portrayed by Jared Leto in "Alexander") and Egypt's Hala Sedki will play his mother, Queen Olympias (Angelina Jolie has the part in Stone's film). Production is scheduled to begin on February 7th in Greece and Egypt. And although no distribution is in place, an October release is intended for "Macedonia's." Warner Bros. Pictures intends to release Stone's film Nov. 5.
5th November 2003: Surfer Boy?
Actor Colin Farrell is enjoying playing legendary conqueror Alexander in his epic new film but the hairdo isn't Great. Farrell, 27, who donned gold armour for the role, claims his newly blond locks make him look like an "effeminate surfer boy''.
22th October 2003: Angelina confused
It would appear that Angelina Jolie is a little confused about the time lines in her new movie Alexander. Jolie is playing Alexander The Great’s mother, Olympias, in the forthcoming Oliver Stone epic. But Jolie thinks the Greek conqueror, played by Colin Farrell, died aged 19; he was actually 33. But the 28-year-old actress, responding to criticism that she is too young to play the mother of 27-year-old Farrell, said: "I play Alexander's mother when he's seven and I age through the movie, though he was quite young when he died, about 19. So it's not like his mother was that old by the end. She's mid-30s."
20th October 2003: Blondes don't have all the fun
Movie wildman Colin Farrell is fed up with his new blonde hairdo - because women seem to disapprove. The actor has had his hair dyed for new movie Alexander, and can't wait to get his original colour back. A source says, "Colin can't wait to get rid of the blonde hair because he thinks it makes him look like an effeminate surfer boy. He says he gets more attention from gay men than women, and has taken to going out with a hat on."
14th October 2003: Angelina quits hotel over flashing Farrell
Angelina Jolie has stormed out of a hotel, apparently disgusted at the debauched antics of wildman Colin Farrell. The Hollywood actress was fed up with her hard-drinking co-star after he repeatedly dropped his trousers during binges. A film insider was quoted as saying: "He was always getting his bits out when he'd had a few, so we nicknamed him C*** out Colin. We thought it was hilarious but Angelina didn't." The stunning actress checked out of the Le Meridien hotel in Marrakesh, Morocco, taking her adopted Vietnamese son Maddox with her. Soon afterwards Farrell upset hotel staff by stubbing out cigarettes on the furniture. He has now also moved to another hotel.
7th October 2003: Ian Beattie to play Antiginous
Ian Beattie ( Caught red Handed, Observe the Sons of Ulster) has been cast by Oliver Stone as Antiginous, Alexander's friend.
7th October 2003: Stone gives Alexander progress report
Oliver Stone and Colin Farrell provoked a media scrum Monday night as they arrived at the Marrakech International Film Festival to talk up the Alexander the Great epic, which Stone is shooting just outside the city. Stone said he was happy with progress so far on the shoot of "Alexander," with Irishman Farrell in the title role as the Macedonian king. "Knock on wood, it's going very well," he said. "We're on schedule and on budget. The weather's been a little tricky, with sandstorms and rain that surprised us. But we're pushing on." The director said Morocco was the key location for "Alexander," which will later move to Thailand for scenes involving elephants and England for studio sequences.
6th October 2003: Producer Thomas Schuhly has been talking about Alexander
German producer Thomas Schuhly has been talking about Alexander. He says that two weeks have been completed. "We're shooting for 87 days, which must be some kind of record. We've built huge sets, and we had literally trains full of props," the producer said, promising some of the biggest battle scenes ever seen on the big screen.
2nd October 2003: Kilmer looking forward to working with Angelina Jolie
Actor Val Kilmer is thoroughly excited about going to Morocco to shoot scenes for the epic Alexander - mainly because Angelina Jolie is his co-star. Despite the May 2003 bombings in Casablanca which killed 44 people and drastically reduced the number of film productions taking place in the North African country, Kilmer is undeterred about starring in the epic alongside Collin Farrell. He says, "I'm not worried about going there at all. I'm really excited. Angelina Jolie is playing my wife, and I really think that she's such a genius." Kilmer is due to arrive in Morocco this month (October) for filming which is scheduled to conclude at the beginning of next year.
26th September 2003: Val Kilmer concentrates on Alexander
Val Kilmer, who was to have played a leading role in director Michael Mann 's Tom Cruise thriller "Collateral" has left the project in favour of Oliver Stone 's "Alexander". Although Kilmer had been in negotiations to star for Mann, his role in Intermedia's Alexander the Great project, which is filming, left him unable to do both projects at the same time. The role he was to have played in "Collateral" is open.
22nd September 2003: Shooting to begin
Variety reports that shooting begins tomorrow on Oliver Stone's ancient epic, starting with a re-enactment of the Battle of Guagamela in 331 BC which marked Alexander's troops ending the rule of Persia. "I figured that killing somebody right away is a good way to break the ice," Stone says. The fate of Intermedia now rests on this film, the production company spending between $150-200 million on the project making it the largest independent European production ever attempted. Shooting will continue in Morocco through until early November, then will move to London's Pinewood Studios for two months, followed by a short stint in Thailand in January where it will wrap. Of the competing Luhrmann project, which won't turn a first draft in for a few weeks yet, Intermedia man Moritz Borman says "I'm long past caring about them. If Leo wants to play Alexander the Second Great, that's fine, and if somebody figures it is wise to spend $170 million or so to do another picture on Alexander before seeing ours, they should. I've seen stupider decisions". In regards to the bisexual aspect Stone says "We won't overplay his sexuality or underplay it. But it is an important part of Alexander, a part of his life" whilst Borman hints at nothing controversial - "It is a minor aspect. I told Warner Bros., 'There's nothing you wouldn't see on 'Will & Grace'". The two are also happy that "Troy" next Summer will serve as a precursor of sorts to their film when it opens on Thanksgiving.
9th September 2003: Val Kilmer to play King Philip
Variety reports that Val Kilmer is set to reteam with Oliver Stone for this biopic, playing Macedonian King Philip - father to Alexander (Colin Farrell). Shooting begins November 10th in Morocco and will wrap in January in Thailand.
1st August 2003: Angelina Jolie and Colin Farrell only share one scene
Angelina Jolie and Colin Farrell will only appear in one scene together. "It's kind of a cruel twist of fate," Farrell says of the casting. "I'm getting to work with Angelina, and she's playing my mother. I've only got one scene with her where I'm 18, so I've got to make sure I get a good night of sleep so I have no bags". Angelina is 28 and Colin is 27 so being his mother when he is older is not a realistic possibility.
30th July 2003: Colin Farrell sore from riding
Preparation for his current film role has left Hollywood badboy Colin Farrell with severe pain in his pants. The Irish star was getting into character for his role as historical legend Alexander The Great, and injured his groin while honing his bareback horse-riding skills. Colin groans, "I had to ride bareback, which is something I haven't done before. It's a pain in the b*****ks, literally a pain in the balls. "I have a really sore scrotum. They had nothing in those days so we have had to do the same. And that means no saddles or stirrups."
30th July 2003: Jared Leto to play Alexander's lover Hephaestion
Jared Leto, who starred in Panic Room, has joined the cast of Oliver Stone's Alexander. Leto will play Hephaestion, Alexander's top general and his lifelong companion. The role was originally offered to Brad Pitt but apparently wife Jennifer Aniston made him turn it down as she didn’t think it would be good for his image.
28th July 2003: Rosario Dawson to play Roxane
Rosario Dawson, who appeared alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men In Black II, has signed on to join the cast of Alexander. Dawson will play Roxanne, who was Alexander the Great's first wife.
22nd July 2003: Angelina Jolie joins the cast
Variety reports that Angelina Jolie has signed on to join Colin Farrell in Alexander. In the film, which will be directed by Oliver Stone, Jolie will play Olympias, Alexander's mother from his childhood through his reign as the king.
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