Results tagged “chriscolumbus”

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 67.

Sunday night, the SF International screened the world premiere of the film at the Castro Theater. There were shades of Sundance as many of the films featured filmmakers and actors, including George Lucas and Robin Williams, casually red carpeted-their way to the theater, complete with flashbulbs and film cameras documenting the night.

Gothamist, our sister site for people who don't know how to leave Manhattan, had previously secured assurances from Revolution Studios that all of the exteriors would be filmed in NYC's East Village, which is so OK with us we don't even care. No word yet on what made them change their mind, or why the film version of the play (which takes place during Christmas) would require footage of a leafy, summery park.

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The ongoing landlord-tenant dispute known as the Rent movie negotiations flared up once again, with Chris Columbus's production team claiming they were promised free use of the facilities on Treasure Island, and the City claiming they needed to fork over a security deposit and other niceties. Please do note the irony of squatting in a film studio to film Rent -- okay, thanks. Please also note the irony of Tony Hall claiming that Rent is misusing city funds when he's having the city pay for a new SUV and his Christmas party. (obligatory libel CYA: those may actually be legitimate city expenditures.) Thanks again. So after tears, recriminations, and threats to move back to New York, Rent will be coughing up $12,500/month for studio space, plus utilities, and the rent goes up in July to $20,000. And you thought $1800 for a one-bedroom was too high. Local filming is scheduled to start soon, though it's unclear whether star Idina Menzel's Wicked injury will affect the schedule.

First we had to deal with the drama of New Yorkers whining over Rent interiors being filmed on Treasure Island, prompting Revolution Studios to assure Gothamist that exteriors would be shot in NYC. Now we have to deal with former Supervisor and current Treasure Island Development Association director Tony Hall whining over Rent interiors being filmed on Treasure Island. No, Tony isn't nostalgic for the East Village of the early nineties -- he's more worried about the production, well, paying the rent.

We're just blamelessly living our idyllic lives out here: blue skies, a Democratic mayor, a modern art museum that doesn't cost $20 to get into, a panda bear coming to Oakland..... when suddenly, out of the blue -- this! A fresh cuppa New York hate because they're filming part of Rent out here!

The crew will be filming in the city through the 23rd. Nancy Hayes is casting the local extras, although casting seems to be complete for now. We wonder where Reese and Mark will be staying -- picket lines better not be crossed or we'll call our friends in the film unions! SFist figures it will be the Clift, but the production could also have rented a house or two for the paparazzi-shy stars. Needless to say, principal photography for this story based in San Francisco will be filmed on sets in Los Angeles. The San Francisco Film Commission is expected to announce that local schlock jock Chris Columbus will be shooting the full production of Rent -- starring one of SFist's favorite Hollywood hotties, Rosario Dawson. The announcement should come in the next week, and bodes well for future big-budget shoots by the Bay.