Tag Archives: Kelly Marcel

Fifty Shades of Grey in the Media – May 2013

  By admin | 2012 Awards & Recognition, Casting, Media Articles
1 Comment

Here’s a listing of what’s new in the Fifty Shades of Grey world for May of 2013.  I’m going to keep casting news on this post this month to keep my own brain organized. As always, whenever bigger or more interesting news comes out we will feature it with its own post.

  • I found a lovely drawing of a woman reading Fifty Shades of Grey, it’s a nice picture with a great setting.
  • IB Times is suggesting Minka Kelly for Anastasia? Haven’t seen her act, but the picture with it shows the right look.
  • Several media outlets are reporting that although the sale of physical books is down, the rise in the sale of e-books in 2012 is keeping the publishing industry afloat.  Of course, Fifty Shades of Grey has a lot to do with that. Thank you E L James!
  • The Rugby Observer is advertising a Fifty Shades of Grey Painting exhibit on May 4.  I have no idea where Rugby is, but I hope some fans from that area see this.
  • Stephen Amell went on Facebook and said he’s not interested in playing Christian Grey.  I guess it’s a good thing he finally read the books before too many people started to get attached. Screen Shot 2013-05-09 at 9.31.21 AM
  • Fifty Shades of Grey is moving up on the pirated books list in China. With the censorship laws in China you can’t get it legally so it’s being pirated. That’s the kind of pirating I like.
  • Ian Somerhalder recently tweeted that he was rehearsing for a film in London. And since E L James lives in London and Miss Marcel was apparently in London… Assumptions have been made that he might be working on Fifty Shades of Grey. I’m doubtful of this. First, there isn’t a director so I don’t think there would be formal auditions at this point, let alone anything that would be called a rehearsal.
  • In other news someone pointed out to me that Dana Brunetti was in New York around the same time and Matt Bomer was also in New York at the same time. Coincidence? Probably. I wouldn’t be shocked to hear that a meeting to find out if Matt was interested happened, but I doubt that is the case.
  • The newest name to come up for Christian Grey is Hannibal’s Hugh Dancy.

Crissy

Fifty Shades of Grey in the Media – April 2013

  By admin | 2013 Awards & Recognition, Director, E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Media Articles
Leave a comment

Here is the media’s Fifty Shades of Grey news.  As always, we will write a full post of the bigger or more interesting news stories.

  • Vote for E L James for the Time 100 Poll, the people that are most influential in the world.  Voteing ends on April 12 and the finalized list will be revealed on April 18.
  • WhatCulture has an article about 10 Moments that wont make the movie. While there are some inaccuracies and some of the points are kinda silly (it goes from spelling out how it wont be porn to proposing a PG-13 rating).  There are a few good points in there too.
  • Betty Ford’s family has said that if she was still alive she would have read Fifty Shades of Grey, I thought that was cute. The question is, would she have commented on it publically?
  • FansShare has an article about how Kelly Marcel is taking too long to write the script for Fifty Shades of Grey.  The article claims that recent reports say that the script is months away. It does not mention what reports they are referring to or who made the claim.  In contrast to this, we have heard from Universal/Focus Features that they have started talking to Directors. This story isn’t adding up to me.
  • The Wrap is reporting that Gus Van Sant has made a video/scene from the Fifty Shades of Grey film with Alex Pettyfer. The scene is of when Christian takes Ana’s virginity.  Gus Van Sant’s name has come up as a possible director a couple times and he has done some films for Focus Features. I wouldn’t rule out this rumor just yet. As for Alex Pettyfer, I don’t see it.

Crissy

E L James Has Left The Country

  By admin | E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Producer, Screenwriter, Team 50
1 Comment

As many of you know, E L James was in Los Angeles last week.  While she did attend an Oscar party it seems the bulk of that trip involved working on the Fifty Shades of Grey movie.  You can read my synopsis of the first half of the trip that I posted last week here, it covers the Oscars and some of the early news.

Here’s what she was working on after Tuesday.  Oh, and in case you are not aware, she’s a TEASE on Twitter, it’s actually kinda amusing in a sick and twisted way.

On Wednesday she was back at Kelly Marcel’s, and I think it’s safe to assume they were working on the script.

But Thursday Erika went to Focus and did some sort of photo or video shoot:

Screen Shot 2013-03-02 at 12.11.24 PM

Screen Shot 2013-03-02 at 12.11.11 PM

I wonder what that’s for and when we’ll see it?  I’m happy to hear some of your theories.

But her day didn’t end there, she was also spending time with Kelly and then a team dinner.  Team50?  I hope so!

Screen Shot 2013-03-02 at 7.00.41 PM

On Friday it was tea and and burning the evidence.  As in burning their drafts of the script…

Screen Shot 2013-03-02 at 12.10.24 PM

How do I know it’s the script?  Well, I don’t, but E L James wants us to think it is and that’s enough for me.  But apparently one page has survived the week:

Screen Shot 2013-03-02 at 12.09.20 PM

Gahhhh!

Sadly, she headed home on Saturday.  But at least we know things are moving along! I wonder when she’s coming back?  I mean, I hope she had a safe trip home and some quality time with the family after her busy week.

Crissy

What is E L James up to in LA?

  By admin | Casting, Director, E L James, E L James Events, E L James Interview, Producer, Screenwriter, Team 50
1 Comment

With E L James in Los Angeles since this weekend there has been a lot of buzz about what she’s been doing. Most of it is speculation regarding what she’s been tweeting.  Here is a review:

Erika came in to LA on Friday and didn’t waste any time seeing Kelly Marcel (screenwriter) and perhaps picking up some interesting reading material.  She’s also been out with the producers Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, even got to ride is Dana’s Tesla!

Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 3.12.55 AM

 

Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 3.14.09 AM

Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 3.14.44 AM

 

So, the band is back together, what fabulous news.  But the question is what are they discussing.  The only thing tweeted about her seeing Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca has been regarding social events.  While I’m sure Fifty probably came up, I doubt they were discussing the script, actors or directors in public.  Dana Brunetti also flew out of LA over the weekend and hasn’t said he’s back.  But he did tweet about meeting Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.  Hmm, maybe he’s working on the soundtrack.  JOKING!

Back to EL James, on Tuesday she spent he day with Kelly Marcel and burned the evidence.

Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 3.16.48 AM

I guess the script isn’t done yet, but it’s getting there… While the timing of this trip may have been about the Oscars, this is definitely a working trip too.

As for the Oscars, apparently Erika was chatty at the Vanity Faire party.  As Mags mentioned on Tuesday, she said her next book will be less raunchy and she’ll be using a pseudonym.  WHAT? That’s just crazy!  But she also said that she has a few actors in mind (old news) and that she thinks we’ll be surprised by her choices.

Hmmm, does that mean we should give up on Matt Bomer, Ian Somerhalder or whoever the “favorite” is each day?  I’m not going that far, but I’m sticking with my idea of not getting too attached to anyone.  But several months ago I did predict that Ryan Gosling would get the role and his name has not come up as a “favorite” in a while…  As for Ana, I think it will be a relatively unknown.  Now that would be a surprise name to everyone.

Now that I’ve laid my predictions regarding Christian and Ana onto the internet, we still need the director to be named before we find out who will play Christian and Ana.  We know that Universal/Team50 has been talking with some directors, so it’s likely we’re not looking at a long list anymore, but how short is the list?  At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if they announced the director as E L James gets on a plane back home.  But I think another month or two is more realistic.

Finally Erika ended her day with some Twilight:

Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 7.21.41 AM

Crissy

NC-17 vs R Rating

  By admin | Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Producer, Screenwriter, Team 50
1 Comment

This morning Mags and I got into a discussion about what the rating of the Fifty Shades of Grey film will be.   It was prompted by all this talk that Kelly Marcel said (and she denies saying) that the film will be NC-17.

Back in May when Mags and I did our first interview with MTV the topic of the film rating came up.  NC-17 or R.  At the time I commented that the film would likely be rated R, but that the DVD would have some great deleted scenes.

The Dana Brunetti and Kelly Marcel have said that the MPAA chooses the film ratings, not them.  That’s partly true.  Yes, the MPAA does watch the movie and decide on the rating; but, Team50 will be writing, directing and creating the film they want and they know what is likely to make it as an R rating and what will not.  Also, if the MPAA came back with an NC-17 rating then the film could still be adjusted to make it rated R, if they want. Here’s a list of films that were rated NC-17, many were edited to R ratings.

As for our theories.  Mags is pretty confident it will be rated R, the loss of money from the NC-17 rating she thinks is too big a gamble.

I think the film will be written without too much stress on the rating. Filming and editing will be done with the aim being for an R rating.  If the MPAA comes back with NC-17 and and the only way to get it an R rating is to pull out a scene that is integral to the story, then I think they will go with the NC-17.  I think R is the goal, but NC-17 isn’t off the table either.

Mags and I both agree that there will be DVD options of the R rated theater version and an unrated version.

What do you think they will make and which would you rather see?

Crissy

There’s Going To Be A Lot of Sex In the Film

  By admin | Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Media Articles, Screenwriter, Team 50, Themes in Fifty Shades of Grey
1 Comment

It seems Kelly Marcel has done an interview and is quoted all over the place in an article by The Telegraph.  It’s a very interesting interview that gives some insight into what Team 50 has planned for the film and I think you’ll all like it!

Here are a few exerpts:

“Regardless of what you may think of the writing, this is a modern love story, involving two complex characters, and that’s what I’m interested in,” she told Style magazine.

“Well, there is going to be a lot of sex in the film,” she said. “It will be NC-17 [the equivalent of a British 18 certificate]. It’s going to be raunchy.

“We did go through and decide which are our favourites and which are not. Most of them are in there, but I can’t say more than that.”

Wow, this is exactly what I’ve been hoping for, she likes the characters and the sex. Because without Christian and Ana’s love story it would be porn/erotica, but with them, it’s so much more.  Ok, I’m giddy with excitement now.

UPDATE:  Over Twitter Kelly Marcel has said that she did not use the word “raunchy.” I’m glad to hear that, it didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of what she was saying. She also did not say it would be an NC-17 rating.

Crissy

Fifty Shades of Grey in the Media – YEA for EL James Edition

  By admin | 2012 Awards & Recognition, E L James, Producer, Screenwriter, Team 50
Leave a comment

As I’ve returned from vacation and am recovering from a nasty cold and I thought I would do a round up of the news, they’ll be more to come as I continue to catch up.

Publisher’s Weekly has named E L James their person of the year.  Here’s what they had to say about choosing her, “The level of the success of the 50 Shades trilogy, the speed with which it achieved that success, and the fact that it was launched in an untraditional manner, led us to select its author as the most significant player on the publishing stage this year.”

Dana Brunetti tweeted a picture of Kelly Marcel’s copy of Fifty Shades of Grey – it looks like she’s doing her research.

Goodreads has announced it’s winners for it’s Goodreads Choice Awards.  Congratulations to Erika and Fifty Shades Freed for winning in the romance category!

Crissy

Find us on Twitter: @50Latersbaby

Who is Kelly Marcel?

  By admin | E L James, Fifty Shades of Grey Movie, Screenwriter, Team 50
Leave a comment

Kelly Marcel was chosen at the screenwriter for Fifty Shades of Grey earlier this week.  This sent me on a hunt to learn a bit more about the woman who has a light resume on IMDB.

Kelly is a British born writer who is currently splitting her time between LA and London.  She started out her career with a bit of acting in the 1990′s before giving it up to be a writer.  Since then she has split her time between theater, TV and movies in the roles of writer and executive producer.

One of the more interesting things she’s worked on was Debbie Does Dallas The Musical as the book and lyric writer.  She also started a theater company with Tom Hardy.  Some are speculating that it might fast track Tom Hardy to the role of Christian Grey.  In my uneducated opinion, I would guess this would only be good enough to get him an audition, if he’s even interested.

Kelly wrote the pilot and sold the TV show Terra Nova to Steven Spielberg.  Her biggest name project so far though is the film Saving Mr. Banks. This film is about Walt Disney’s 20 year pursuit of making Mary Poppins into a film, it stars Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson and Colin Farrell.  Judging from the accolades of the script and the level of stars in it, this could very well be a big film in 2013.  Sadly, we’ll have to wait until then to find out how well this script was written as it’s only filming right now.  From what I’ve read about the film, it sounds like it has some complex characters dealing with some complex issues.

According to Indiwire, Kelly Marcel has a lot more work going on that’s not included on IMDB: Westerbridge, for Showtime it’s a death row drama.
Trans Alice and Amazing Grace for Channel 4
Valerio is about a legendary Italian Bank Robber
She’s executive producing an HBO show, The Madonnas of Echo Park
She’s writing a secret script of a dark comedy for Ben Stiller

While at first glance Kelly Marcel’s experience seems a bit limited, the more you look the more there is to her.  While we don’t have much to go on, in terms of products that are out for our viewing right now, there is a good mix of work she is involved in.  She’s also been identified as having talent by some big name studios, directors and producers.  A script can make or break a film, right now I have no reason to doubt that Kelly has the ability to do a great job with it, especially with the support of E L James, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca.

Crissy

Find us on Twitter: @50Latersbaby

Screenwriter Kelly Marcel

  By admin | Casting, E L James, Media Articles, Screenwriter, Team 50
Leave a comment

Today, Universal and Focus Features announced the screenwriter for Fifty Shades of Grey movie!  Kelly Marcel:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/fifty-shades-of-grey-the-movie/kelly-marcel-to-write-the-screenplay-to-film-adaptation-of-fifty-shades-of-grey/279946478788697

From the Press Release:

Marcel wrote the 2011 Black List script, Saving Mr. Banks, the story of Walt Disney’s twenty-year pursuit of the film rights to author P.L. Travers’ novel, “Mary Poppins,” and the rocky relationship that formed between the two.  The film is currently in production at Walt Disney Studios starring Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson and Colin Farrell with John Lee Hancock directing.  Marcel served as the co-creator and executive producer of the Amblin/FOX-TV series Terra Nova, for which she wrote the series’ pilot episode.  She will also produce The Madonnas Of Echo Park for HBO.

“Kelly’s work demonstrates her flawless structural technique and passionate commitment to emotion, humor and depth of character which is particularly visible in the celebrated screenplay for the upcoming Saving Mr. Banks,” said De Luca.  “We were all taken with the depth and passion of Kelley’s engagement with the characters and world E L James has created and we knew she was the right person to augment our Fifty Shades family,” added Brunetti.
We’ll be working on this in the coming days and see if we can find out a bit more about Kelly Marcel and the type of work she had done, but so far we know she’s worked on Terra Nova.

Yea!

Crissy

Find us on Twitter: @50Latersbaby

Who will write the screenplay???

  By admin | Screenwriter
Leave a comment

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that there is a short list for the Fifty Shades of Grey writer:

Karen Croner - Best known for writing the script of One True Thing. Her other work includes 2 TV movies and movies that are in post-production.  I have not seen any of the movies she has writen, but One True Thing is a drama with an all-star cast of Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger, and William Hurt.

Dan Fogelman - Best know for movies like Cars, Bolt and Tangled.  He has done some other writing that is not childrens stuff.  This seems like an odd choice as most of his experience is in the childrens genre.

Veena Sud - She has a wide variety of experience, doing some producing and directing too.  But she has written a few epidosdes of Cold Case and The Killing.

Kelly Marcel - Best known for her work writting episodes of Terra Nova.  But her career started in theatre with ”Debbie Does Dallas, the musical,” in the UK.  She currently lives in London, awful close to EL James.

Looking at this group the only one that seems odd is Dan Fogelman, due to most of his screen writing experience being with childrens films.  He’s also the only man on the list, which could be a factor.  I’m at a bit of a loss on who might be the front runner, but the sooner someone is chosen the sooner we have a script for actors to look it.
Crissy

Find us on Twitter: @50Latersbaby