All The News From Rome! Lindsay Kemp smiles, recalling his singular audition in the role with Martin Scorsese before going, tomorrow evening in the capital, on the invitation of the Roman Philharmonic Academy, on to the stage of the Olimpico with his latest show ''Dream dances''. ''When my dream was about to come true" added the popular English performer, "I went on tour, to Spain, with the company. I am awaiting confirmation from Scorsese, I don't give up on my opportunities. In Cinecittà however I did not waste time. I learnt the roles of the beautiful Leo, of Cameron Diaz and of Daniel Day-Lewis by heart". Quickly to hospital in the night
by GERMANA CONSALVI
Leonardo DiCaprio like in a film: dust of stars, at the Prenestino. It is in the evening, a special car crosses the crowded road in the outskirts at high speed. It doesn't pass unnoticed. And you can easily understand why: inside, there is a movie star. Rather, a superstar: it is him, Leonardo DiCaprio. A secret meeting far away from the paparazzi? A "trip" to the discovery of the Rome (spartanic?) not mentioned in the tourist maps? No, something very different: Leo has hurt his hand and he needs the care of a hospital that, at least in its name, has a "famliar" look for the American actor: it is the Rome American Hospital, which is located in the Via Prenestina, a stonesthrow from the Raccordo Anulare.
This happened Thursday evening, at about 22.30. A few minutes before, the actor, 26 years, hurt his right hand while he was shooting a scene of "Gangs of New York", the new film of Martin Scorsese, who has chosen the set of Cinecittà to reconstruct the New York of the nineteenth century. Followed by the inevitable bodyguards, DiCaprio got into a big Mercedes, directly to the hospital. In the district, the luxurious car has aroused curiosity. And the glances were attracted magnetically when it was revealt that one of the passengers was no less a person than the hero of "Titanic". Who has seen him noticed that DiCaprio was very tensed, perhaps he feared having a serious damage.
In the hospital, the mouths were shut, but the actor looked brightened up when he left the Rome American Hospital: in fact, it was a simple contusion of a finger. Comforted by the reassuring diagnosis, it seems that the beautiful Leo has even said some words in Italian. At the Prenestino, however, the curious people havn't lowered the antennas, and yesterday morning, they were rewarded: DiCaprio returned to the hospital for a control. Just arrived and left again, but worthy of Hollywood. One time not on the Tiber (as you said in the ,,golden epoch" of the Italian cinema), but at the Prenestino.
NY Observer: April 02, 2001
A quote from Weinstein...
At the end of the central avenue, Dante Ferretti has reconstructed an old, poor and grungy underworld Big Apple. But also a imposing, bossy and stately port. And two ships of almost natural size that seem to drift on the water while they are flowing on two steel platforms instead. They are perfect of hull, of stern and of bow, but with the belly of wood completely empty, except for two boxes that serve as a deposit of weapons. The stately boats are side by side , as John Wayne and Dean Martin in ,,A dollar of honor", they appear on the surface of a pool that thanks to the cinematic effects looks like a river. Exactly that sip of the Hudson that licked up Five Points, a district of which not even the ruins have remained and that today is transformed into the triangle of New York among Canal Street, the Chinese district and the bridge of Brooklyn. And from the water also seem to sprout the stores of the port, made of mortar and bricks.
More than one month ago the resumptions begun. And for more than a week, the ships vomit hundreds of extras who disembark on the bench on a great dusty place of earth, punctuated from hovels you give low roofs and from the squeaky doors. And from the fish market, colored of pretenses lobsters mixed to cernie true in bellavista on the stands assaulted by women who wear skirts stazzonate(?), boys with shirts, false gentlemen who hide minds mafioso under the chalked redingotes(?) and the hats. A little more further, there's the district of the saloon, a popular cafè in a New York that doesn't exist any more and of which there's only a handful of photos of ink (?) color.
The atmosphere on the set is feverish. The assistants of the director Scorsese trudge and they race, while Scorsese has been keeping a seraphic calm instead since the first day on the set. He directs the orchestra sitting in front of ten monitors, the master. Even at the sight of the smallest mistake- the forehead that sparkles, a creaking too much - Mr. Scorsese gives a sign: about ten make-up artists hurry, the scene is repeated. He is the perfectionist of the pedants, and he is great. Like the panels for the lights that are gigantic in some sequences: 12 metres by 12. And since 6:00 in the morning when the sun rises he minds the smallest detail.
He hasn't been able to do anything against the yellow teeth of DiCaprio, but he has demanded that the star was put on diet, and in fact the actor has almost returned to his ideal weight now. So much that his ,,standing hand" (the extra that replaces him in the light tests) is by now more fat than him. His name is Fabio, and his only privileges in comparison to the other extras are that of the assured work for every month of shooting. In fact he gets the following: 130 thousand liras a day and 180 a night. That's as much as any other dignified production habitually pays. However, the workers of The Gangs of New York are very satisfied on this set. You doesn't work in Hollywood every day, even if it has been reconstructed on the Tuscolana.
I will only include tabloid gossip if it has some real news. A special thank you is extended to Pax, Annabelle, Mona_Lisa, Kerstin, Lynlee and Gabi for their hard work delivering this news to us!
For related pictures please visit the Leonardo in Rome page!
The Tales from the Set Pages has excerpts from two diaries depicting behind the scenes at Cinecitta. I decided to separate that diaries from these pages, but I also consider it valuable "news" from Rome.
Mr. Weinstein explained that Miramax's production and distribution slate for the coming year is a much stronger indication of his tastes in film. They include smaller foreign acquisitions, such as the Berlin Film Festival jury prize-winner Italian for Beginners, the American independent film In the Bedroom (which Miramax acquired at Sundance), Bridget Jones' Diary, which opens on April 13, and Mr. Scorsese's Gangs of New York, which, he said, is the largest production in Miramax's history, and for which Miramax has yet to set a release date, but which may be premiered by the end of the year.
DiCaprio and the art in family
The superstar's visit of the Scuderie
the curiosity
FRANCESCA GIULIANI
The superstar, the beautiful arts and the model, chronicle of a Roman afternoon. Scene: yesterday in the Scuderie papali of the Quirinale, about 5:00 in the evening from a small bus with the fumé glasses descended six Americans headed by a tall boy with a blue cap lowered up to the eyes. And very little was enough for the several young hostesses in the rooms of the exhibition «Ninehundred» to recognize Leonardo DiCaprio, followed by mother, grandmother, brother and a couple of friends, evidently free at the end of the day, from his appointments on the set of «Gangs of New York» of Martin Scorsese.
To serve as guide for the five tourists with the star to the very big exhibition taken care of by Maurice Calvesi (Sisal sponsor) arrives after a little while, on order of the direction, Valentina Aulenta, 30 years, historican of the art and model. «With me, DiCaprio has been extremely gallant and he is also very protective with his family. His artistic competence has struck me. He desired to see Fontana, then we have talked about the spatial dimensions(?), the relationships spaziotempo(?), the abstract arts… shortly, if I can say so, things not for everybody. He has been enthusiastic both of the exhibition and of the restauration of the space that he has found very beautiful. It has been a nice visit, informal to the ceremonial of the Scuderie».
Nevertheless, the blond superstar, the throbbing Jack Dawson artist bohémien of the blockbuster with Kate Winslet, has not evoked any enormous shiver in the beautiful Roman: «He is really not my type. But he has been pleasant, he has asked me about other exhibitions to see, he wanted me to accompany him to the collection Giustiniani. When I have mentioned Caravaggio, his eyes lit up». And in the end? «Beh, at the end he wanted… my telephone number. But I don't believe that he will ever call me…».
To talk with the director, that it is turning to Cinecittà?Le gang of New York? and yesterday evening has received the prize? Valentino? Scorsese: d?America mine amarcord " I want to tell the moment in which the nell?800 Country one opened the world"
ROME - Only Rodolfo Valentino is successful nell?impresa. Stanato L?ha,
placed under the reflectors and has given again it the word breaking Hush that a hard one from nearly a year. Martin Scorsese, myth and master of the cinema, than yesterday has received the prestigious entitled prize all? intramontabile Rudy in a evening of gala all? Hilton with to Of Caprio and to Virna Lisi, she has decided of raccontarsi and by now telling ritagli of its set most secret to Cinecittà, become film one risen of metropolitan legend: Gang of New the York.
Ninety million dollars, one of the more expensive epics of the history of the cinema with a cast from brivido: Leonardo Di Caprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis. For before the time we succeed to break off the barriers of its set blindatissimo...
"I have need of extreme concentration. Draft of a film much difficult one, of a history that asks for being original, fresh, with large surprise. L?ho in mind since the 70's and I would not want to disperse null ". Un?epopea all American who moves in an historically Italian space like Cinecittà.
Why this choice?
"Cinecittà for me has always had a special sapore, is a magical place from which some between your more are escapes celebrates film. And gang of New the York, credetemi, it is been born in me probably already from when I was child in my Little Italy. Therefore I wanted that the film had a po? of Italian blood, even if film is one exquisitely American".
Hour will find difficult to return to work on the road. The studios l? hanno vitiated?
"Here I have all New York in a hand palm, it is true, and it is one only feeling. And? easier to cross Cinecittà that the Great Apple, not c?è doubt. But I indeed had need of a faithful reconstruction of the New York of half the 1800's that does not exist more. Search of the details, scenografica reproposition of documetazioni that I have traced in many you leave of the world".
How it has been found to work with a divo young person like Of Caprio?
" its first films Are a great admirer of Leonardo since, before still that it exploded with the Titanic. And? an instinctive actor that the character of De Niro remembers me, of To the Pacino. With Di Caprio therefore as with Daniel Day-Lewis one has established a feeling of great familiarità, much beautiful one".
Gangs of New the York " it represents one riscoperta of its roots?
"Undoubtedly, why from when I lived to Little Italy I was aware that in that space, many years before, the first community of Irish immigrants had insediata itself that had popolato the city. And the history of the film is carried out just in the quarter in
which it came raised the first catholic cathedral, St. Patrick. This aboriginal community, above all women and children, will have to difendersi from attacks of the new immigrants, from gang of Irishes the protestants who define the true Americans and they do not admit interferences. My film, insomma, fixed l?istante in which, for before the time, l?America opens the doors to the world".
And it arrives just in the moment in which l? America today time page with l?elezione of Bush...
" I do not have idea of as the things with the new administration will go. But it is sure that, cinematographically speaking, the independent cinema by now has become much fort, has created superheroes, the large one fiction of the special effects and sure it will not be stopped. It could be a test bench".
When will finish the resumptions of " Gangs of New the York?
"they will want still six to Us, seven weeks. And? a job much complicating ". It has already in mind new plans? " I am continuing to work to the documentary on the Italian cinema. A part is finished, but there are still many things to add, see again”
According to Scorsese, it is still time of divismo?
"the divi have a great power on the screen, give statement to our feelings. We dream with they and they give us many hopes. But, I recommend myself, ricordatevi that behind the taken machine from always someone exists".
For the gorgeous pictures from this event, go HERE!
But "what you probably don't know is my middle name: Wilhelm," said DiCaprio, tuxedoed for the occasion.
That came from his mother's side, he said, speaking of summers spent with his grandparents in Germany as a child.
Italy regards DiCaprio as something of a wandered-off native son because of his surname, and DiCaprio made clear he shared "the overwhelming pride that we Italians take in who we are."
But DiCaprio emphasized he was proud of the "Wilhelm" in him as well.
So much so, he said, that he resisted agents' recommendation for a more American name at the outset of his career: "Titanic" star "Lenny Williams?"
DiCaprio has been in Rome since fall filming Scorsese's project on 19th-century gangs in New York. The film depicts the clash between the city's Anglo-Protestant poor and the United States' first real wave of immigrants, the Catholic Irish. Filming is at Rome's Cinecitta studios.
Scorsese, who also picked up one of the Valentino awards, told reporters he put DiCaprio with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman in the ranks of "really instinctive actors."
Associated Press
A derby of cinema. Hollywoodiano, you would say. Not only for the show, the numbers, the exspectation, but also for the superstars that they will be present at the terraces. Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, for example. At Cinecittà to make the new movie of Martin Scorsese, «The gangs of New York», they have asked to be able to assist to the derby. DiCaprio, particularly, is impassioned to football, and he has immediately sympathized for Rome. The Diaz will be introduced instead at the Olimpico with cap and scarf "laziali".
Just as the vamps Italian Ann Falchi and Alessia Marcuzzi (besides companion of Inzaghino), also them in the stages vip Sunday evening. It will be derby of the beauty with Sabrina Ferilli, godmother of the Rome. Another I post has been reserved to the actor Daniel Day Lewis. Anticipated then her usual gangway of political and characters of the show. Possible surprise of the ultim'ora: Gianni Agnelli. It is calculated what around three billion people can assist to the event live: world television coverage. 800 you accredit in demand. Yesterday exhausted the tickets to the ticket office, her stay it chases street Internet: winds Tevere to 160.000 liras on the site www.lastminutetour.com. To avoid problems of order public, the adviser ds Enzo Foschi has asked the direct one on regional RaiTre.
And meanwhile the Lazio returns in anxiety for Veron. After the result comforting of the plates of Tuesday, the frozen shower of yesterday: the Argentinian wakes up with the tendon of the leg left inflamed. Then in the afternoon, to Formello, the few turns of field effected resulted a kind of torture, for him and for the one that looked at him limp while it raced with Left-handed. After few minutes he has reentered in him spogliatoi to devote to the physiotherapy. The doctor Fields him has administered an anti-inflammatory that would owe to allow him to train, this morning. Even if the same physician minimizes: «they are all recoverable ones: Veron, Salas, Baronio, Inzaghi». Among today and tomorrow, Eriksson will appraise with attention the conditions of the Argentinian. And of Mihajlovic, in ballot with Black for a central defender place. Yesterday the Serb is excused for the expulsion he ascertains the defeat of Udine: «I have been wrong. But mine was not a bad gesture towards the arbiter». And on his evident nervousness: «And tied to my physical conditions. Because I don't succeed to to recover to the one hundred percent». For this Black it is in run. Instead the viceVeron is Stankovic. Confirmations on 451, with Lombardo to the right and Crisp only point. Simeone it shakes off square: «You Rome is favored, but we are able to stop it and more appassionantes to make the championship. It is a decisive moment: we have to win. On the bands they are the more strong, but for Sunday on Crepe». Today afternoon the usual embrace was foreseen pre derby among public and square to Formello. But Eriksson has moved the sat to the morning. And the fans have remained badly there.
La Repubblica
GIULIO CARDONE
To Rome it is not spoken of other and the virtual public square is adapted
Chat, walls and news group are intasati: irony and insults
On the Web it goes in line the derby of the tifosi
ROME ( m. v.) - the world Collapsed, this week does not speak itself of other. Not there is argument that holds the step, to Rome and outskirtses it is only spoken about the derby about Sunday. All the derby are important, but like this - all swear - not never it has been. The giallorossi first in classify with the air of who know of being strongest. The Lazio with the badge sewn on the meshes and a lot wants to drive away one more and more worrisome crisis. Bar, places of job, roads and alleys: the brusio he is uniform, the sfottò bounce of mouth in mouth. The same one happens in the virtual public square of Internet: walls several, chat linens and newsgroup are monopolized from the tifosi of the opposite alignments.
Hard and the pure ones, Irreducible of the curve the Latium North, those sadly famous for buu racist and celtiche crosses invent artists for a day and create on a their situated comic strip to topic. The weft is simple: the life parallel of two Roman, the first one grows of faith biancazzurra, the second vien on giallorosso. The tone is to horse between the irony and the insult, with one sure predilizione for this last one. The cousinses - but troubles to chiamarli therefore - romanisti reply with one series of vignette irridenti. Rabbits biancazzurri in motion and bicycle waste themselves: some images tear the risata one, other less. But a lot the important is to take in turn, something will remain.
The important is to win and has a beautiful one to say the protagonists, from Francisco Totti to Fabio Capello passing for Sven Goran Eriksson, than this " it is one left like the others ". Other that " three important points like always ", to Rome this week the mathematics is an opinion. Difficult to support the contrary after that the tickets are disappeared in one to strike of hands, with a lot of kilometric rows to botteghini and risse between tifosi and the police enforcements.
And the hunting to the ticket has been a warm topic of news group the giallorossi of first part of the week. The Rome plays in transfer and to find the magical one cutting for the Olympic one was not sure simple. All do not have the fortune of Leonardo Di Caprio and Cameron the Diaz who will be the star of affollatissima the tribune vip. The common mortals have been forced launch deprived of hope appeals, ready people to all also finding a place for Sunday. To lead a discussion anti also a cross-sectional party touts. Then someone, also not to perdersi the show, will yield to the temptation of the illicit vendors, with good peace of the principle declarations.
Because it will not be one left like the others, there is the badge that turns over the sky of Rome, that it bounces from a side to the other of the Tevere and the important - is well ripeterlo - is alone: " To win ". In order then to laugh until to spring to the shoulders of the hated ones you avail again.
You may have read that DiCaprio has been holed up in his hotel - unable to leave because of the hordes of screaming Italian teenagers blocking the street.
"It makes his world really small, and I totally feel for him," says Diaz, sympathetically. "To have so much and then because of that have so little at the same time. But he's a happy boy."
When questioned if Cameron receives similar adoration, she sighs a thankful, "No."
"I don't understand why people hang outside of his hotel all night. People don't do that to me. I have different kinds of fans. My fans are usually very respectful and just want to say 'hi' and that kind of thing, and that's nice. But when people become fanatical, you can't help but feel that you're responsible for those people in some way. I think that it's very odd and very selfish of those people to keep someone prisoner like that. You know, for a lot of those girls that are out there in front of his hotel, nothing Leonardo does is enough for them. He can't come outside and say hello enough times: he can't do anything enough times. I think it's unfair that he's kept almost like a prisoner because of them."
By Anna Masera, November18, 2000. Thanks Fronny
The 2 sailers with the golden figurehead in the "harbour",the same artificial basin used by Fellini for "E la nave va" and "Casanova" seem real.
All around,two-floors wooden houses,artisticallyaged or burnt down to ashes from supposed ashes,old pavements built with even older railway ties,fishermen nets,dark and poor surroundings,tight alleys just about enlightened by gaslamps,shabby carts,old,typical Western saloons,dust and mud at your will.
We are in Paradise Square,Cinecitta',on the set of "Gangs of New York",directed by M. Scorsese,produced by Miramax;starring Leonardo DiCaprio,Cameron Diaz,Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson,plus 19,000 extras.Official budget $90 millions.
This breathtaking scenography is the newest work by legendary Dante Ferretti,requested to build 1850 New York,particularly the poor and brawling section of the "Five Points",where today the City Hall and Wall Street's skyscrapers stand out.
We're allowed to see GONY's set thanks to Tim Monich,
"speech and dialect coach", who's guiding us.
Michael Ballhaus,director of photography,joins the troupe to watch "dailies",shots taken the previous day,in a small screening room.
The scene features an Irish mercenary saved by his robbery mate,Amsterdam,in a burning house.It lasts a little bit more than 2 minutes,but it's been shot at least 10 times from every angle.
As it gets dark,reharsal begin.
Leonardo DiCaprio (but everyone calls him Leo), proving the gossips that want him to be late lies, is right on time.
He actually looks much fitter than he's been described by papers,and it's not even true that he acts like a spoiled brat:at least on set he's very professional.
The troupe move stealthily,careful not to make any noise. Everyone's in awe of the surly, and much respected Martin Scorsese. The Italian American director is supposed to be a tough man, but under thick eyebrows amused eyes shine.
He jokes for a second with extras, then not wasting anymore time, starts rehearsal with his actors.
Suddenly lights go out;a fuse?
Scorsese doesn't mind;he waits in the darkness.
Busy troupe is working hard to settle everything; it's cold and wet on the waterfront, it really feels like New York.
The long,silent wait is unbearable,then lights flash back,and shoot goes on.
There's no casualty here; even breaks are organized, with a pub, a cafeteria, and you can even relax in your room, easily driving on caddies.
DiCaprio,like a kid playing with a new toy, has a lot of fun driving his caddy and taking everyone for a ride through Cinecitta's sections.
His makeup artist is ready to make Leo ugly; because at the movie's time boys weren't precisely dandies, with rotten teeth and greasy hair.
Wearing jeans and a black T-shirt, Leo pulls back his long hair with both hands, while listening to Scorsese and his dialect coach's advice.
Combing his hair this way is a tic, but the only one. He's concentrated to the max.
His fellow actors are concentrating like primary school
students; in no way presumptuous, they're perfectionists.
"We shoot until the final result is perfect" explains Monich.
In fact, lights, makeup, stuntmen reharsals and reshootings (all at once, electricity, lights and sound go off) do lengthen cinema times.
No worries; organization's perfect, a call sheet provides every inconvenience.
Everybody's in their place, through complete silence a voice echoes.."Rolling..followed by an imperious "Action!!": the voice is unmistakably Scorsese's. Welcome to the cinema.
By Micaela Urbano
ROME --Monday, November 23th.
The superstar mixes with the extras like any young guy. The blonde hair messy and stuck of sweat on the forehead, the body layed on a heap of empty jute sacks, a bit of flesh is visable above his belt. He sleeps the ,,sleep of the just one", Leonardo DiCaprio. After six hours of resumptions, after 27 ciaks (?) beaten on the port of New York of 1860. The set, armored and forbidden to press, paparazzi and curious people, is that of Gangs of New York, the latest colossal production of Martin Scorsese. A great director who officially says that he works in Cinecittà with hommage to Fellini, Visconti and to the whole Italian cinema, but who in reality has chosen the studios on the street Tuscolana because they are cheaper. In America, instead of 220 billion, it would cost at least a third more: good professionals, the Italians. Above all cheap. And also good "spies" who tell what happens during the film most talked about at the moment and even being able to steal photos.
By Salvatore Talverna(Thanks Chris)
Making a grand entrance with big cars aiming at the boys and girls single life. Four body guards get out of the 3 cars protecting the Hollywood stars. "Leo you are great", shouts a blond haired woman in high heels and a red mini skirt. "Cameron we are crazy for you", calls a little dark skinned boy. When they went out on the Roman evening, Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio have never gone out together: always seperated, one is over here, the other over there.
Saturday evening, for the first time since they arrived in Rome, for the shooting of Gangs of New York, directed by Martin Scorsesse, the cinematic couple is attacked by Gilda. The 4 guardian angels caretaker of Executive Pallazi, had a hard time to enter the frenzy crowd. In an instant, the voices cry out, "Its Leo, its Cameron". Circulating the VIP: Angelo Nizzo, local cook?, went near the beautiful organizer Mirella Jovine. to play an english joke and wants to photograph with her camera, the Hollywood stars. Dear Fatso, jokingly I want to speak to Leo." The character with the long hair on your head, its you". Clerverly, takes the camera to immortalize. Fatso, you don't understand, DiCaprio didn't care, whispers a waitress. He understands you were trying to take his picture. Leonardo, took turns in holding the camera with strategy and laughs at him. Ah, how clever the little king of Titanic.
Dance, dance,dancer...Cameron meanwhile dove into the crowd, went crazy for awhile until dawn. As a matter of fact, she continues to hip hop with Carramba Boys says Rafalla. Leonardo follows for a few minutes, then leaves and goes to the VIP lounge. All is in agreement with the drinks, magnum champagne for the four blonds, friends of Cameron arrives from Los Angeles to find her close friend. "They are pretty boys in your city", truthfully and jokingly says the diva. In the night they toast, autographs, photos taken from afar, applauses. But Leo in the early morning looses his boots, waves goodbye with his hands and goes toward the hotel. Meanwhile Cameron continues to play and hop.
Pictures of Leo's night out with Cameron are on my Rome Pictures Page 2