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Ewan News
All the Latest. 24/7
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News Archive
July - December 2004
Robots site updated
The official Robots site
has been updated with wallpapers, a Tetris-like game and
other goodies. Check it out!
Thanks to Mary for the heads up!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, December 28, 2004 // 09:52 p.m.
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Stay U.S. release date
According to Variety (subscription required), Stay is
scheduled to be released in the U.S. on March 11, the same
day as Ewan's Robots.
Thanks to Sandi for the information!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Monday, December 27, 2004 // 09:47 a.m.
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Long Way Round Event
at BMW, London December 13th
The invitation:
This was the first in a series of promotional events in
conjunction with BMW to launch the DVD and CD of the Long
Way Round. It was a LOT different to the Glasgow book
launch, being held at the BMW showroom, in that Ewan was
not there and the audience was very male, mostly biker
enthusiasts.
They showed about 20 minutes of clips from the series,
all of which seemed very familiar. It included lots from
the off-road training (and we were standing next to they
guy who trained them during the screening/Q&A), Mongolia
and Siberian bike stuff and the mosquito bites (well I
guess they couldn't pass by an opportunity to show
Ewan's bum!!!). There was no new footage.
Russ Malkin and a Ewan suited biker!
Russ Malkin, the producer, was there and introduced the
clips and Charley. He said that Ewan couldn't be there
as he’s in LA, but that although he's busy filming,
he's very preoccupied with the trip still, and always
phoning up to ask about his bike (?) and how the book
is selling.
Incidentally he also said they had raised £200,000 for
UNICEF including the £85,000 for Ewan's bike, that
they had to give Charley's bike back to BMW for promotions
etc. but let Claudio keep his.
Charley's bike
We spent quite some time looking at Charley's bike
and noticed the blue ribbon tied onto the pannier box for
good luck in Mongolia, the welding on the frame, the stickers...
I think Charley was quite sad to give it up. Oddly enough
we also came across Charley's suit and helmet which
were just in a cardboard box, looking quite worse for wear.
The helmet had Boorman written on it. A woman from BMW
said we could get the suit out and examine it, but I was
a bit embarrassed. The bike was really massive and heavy
looking. I stood right by it through the Q&A, and worried
if I lent on it, it might fall over!
Linz surrounded by biker lads admiring Charley's
bike
During the Q&A, I asked about plans for his next trip.
He said he is doing the Dakar Rally (not with Ewan), and
their next trip together would be London to Cape Town in
2006. It sounded kind of vague, no more info than that.
There was some mention related to his shoulder (which
he said is fine!) about Claudio parking his bike right
up close next to him when they were in the complete middle
of nowhere in Siberia with "no parking attendant in sight".
I thought his shoulder thing was from trying to get bikes
through those "wetlands" on the Road of Bones.
Advice to anyone going on such a trip - take wet wipes,
and don’t share a tent! He revealed that he only agreed
to go camping on the trip if he could share a tent, because
he had a fear of camping stemming back from a bad experience
as a youngster (something about rain and the torch breaking!)
However they soon realised because of the snoring that
he and Ewan needed separate tents, and so he overcame his
fear of being alone in a tent!
He said that the best thing was meeting people, who are
99.9% nice all over the world, but it's only our stupid
politicians who "f*** it up for the rest of us."
As it was a very male environment, the tone was a bit
laddish. The first question was about what was the most
mind-blowing bit of the trip, "having sex with my wife
at the end". The serious answer was about the Road of Bones,
how they got through that, how they dug it up in places
to get across rivers (it must have been SUCH a sense of
achievement. Ewan looked so thrilled to be on digging team
on the series).
Other biker talk was about what tyres they used (knobbly
ones!), bigging it up for BMW, and rubbishing KTM. He said
that when they got to Magadan, they emailed KTM to say
they made it!
It was asked if they ever ran out of petrol (gas); he
said that you can get fuel just about anywhere, and the
tank capacity was enough for 350 miles so that was not
a problem.
Charley signs for a Ewan lookalike!
The biker suits they wore that made them look like Lego
men, I thought they were specially made, but no - you can
buy them in the shop, and there were a couple of men wearing
them which took me aback, especially because one had on
the grey Ewan one and did look a bit like him from the
back!
Another thing he said that his low point was coming to
the end of the journey and wondering what to do next. His
wife and kids came out to meet him and they had a holiday
in Vermont. During that time they visited the Ben & Jerry's
ice cream factory, and on the daily tour the person who
has come the furthest gets a free ice cream. Of course
he said he had travelled the whole world from London, so
won the prize that day!
Charley and me! Yes that man has a very red face!
Charley and Linz
At the signing, where this time pictures were allowed,
I asked Charley about the Long Way Round theme song
not being on the CD. He said it is going to be on Stereophonics
new album. I thought it was a shame it was not on a CD
which was music for the series after all, I really love
that song!
- Viv
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Wednesday, December 22, 2004 // 01:28 p.m.
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First Picture From Michael Bay's
The Island
Source: DreamWorks Pictures
December 21, 2004
DreamWorks Pictures has provided ComingSoon.net with the
first picture from director Michael Bay's The Island,
the futuristic action thriller starring Ewan McGregor and
Scarlett Johansson. Djimon Hounsou, Steve Buscemi, Michael
Clarke Duncan, and Sean Bean also star in the film opening
July 22nd.
The picture shows Jordan Two-Delta (Johansson) and Lincoln
Six-Echo (McGregor) making a desperate escape from the
facility that once housed them when they learn the real
reason they exist.
Source: Comingsoon.net
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, December 21, 2004 // 10:36 p.m.
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Johansson Takes To The Island
20-DECEMBER-04
Scarlett Johansson told SCI FI Wire that she has a tough
time trying to describe The Island, an SF film that's
in production now with Michael Bay (Armageddon) directing."It's
a science fiction film, I guess, and it's also very
romantic," she said in an interview. "And it's also
an action film."
Johansson (Eight Legged Freaks) added, "Ewan McGregor
and I play commissioned clones living in a 'Ray Bradbury' sterile
environment, and we are completely unaware of what our
purpose is. We escape, and we're chased through downtown
L.A. It's a huge story. There are so many different
places that we go [storywise], and it's kind of crazy,
because we're essentially playing these children,
really. We're very wide-eyed, and it's like playing
a 4-year-old child in some ways."
Johansson described The Island as a project of
tremendous scope. "It is a big, big production that both
DreamWorks and Warner Brothers have joined together to
do," she said. "Going into it and knowing it was a Michael
Bay film, that adds a whole other level of hugeness to
it. ... It is a huge production. I'm terrible at telling
anybody what the film is about, because it's a lot
to take in, to just summarize. If I tell you the whole
thing, what it's really about, it'll take me
like 45 minutes. But I've never done anything like
it before."
Johansson added, "With a film like this, you go into it
and oftentimes you have so many questions. 'I don't
understand why this is. ... How do they figure out how
to clone this adult? How do we get out?' There
are a lot of 'what-ifs.' ... But this script
happened to be so incredibly solid. And I'm working
with Ewan, who is just absolutely delicious and a wonderful,
wonderful co-star. Working with Michael, I've
never met a more focused director in my entire life. The
man walks around with a lens in his pocket all the time.
You'll be talking to him, and all of a sudden he'll
be looking at you through a lens. You're like, 'What?' And
he'll say, 'Move the camera here.' He's
always thinking and in filmmaking mode." The Island,
which also stars Michael Clarke Duncan, Sean Bean and Steve
Buscemi, will be released on July 22, 2005.
Source: Scifi.com
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, December 21, 2004 // 10:08 a.m.
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New picture from Stay
The larger version can be found here (click
on the image there to see the bigger version).
Source: iesb.net
Thanks to Barb for the heads up!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on Saturday, June 30,
2001 // 11:10 p.m.
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Photo Gallery: Christmas show
MARISA DUFFY
December 16 2004
Until Jan 9, daily (except Dec 25 and Jan 1), Second floor,
Princes Square, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, free, 0141 552
4222
A new photo gallery at Princes Square is for Christmas,
but not for life. For five weeks only, the work of a dozen
Scottish photographers will grace the walls of this temporary
space.
Black and white scenes from Wick, including two resting
heather beaters, are by Kelli Abdoney, a picture editor
at The Herald. Neil Davidson has produced stills from the
set of Young Adam which show Ewan McGregor and Peter Mullen
relaxing between takes.
Unusual angles and lighting transform Central Station
in Glasgow in pictures by Ian McLean, Steve Gillies focuses
on less well-known Glasgow scenes, while Robert Burns has
created simple salt-printed images which look more like
still-life paintings.
All pictures are for sale and prices start at £150.
Source: The
Herald
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Thursday, December 16, 2004 // 12:14 a.m.
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Charley Boorman Book Signing
Tonight
14 December 2004
If you want to meet one of the stars from 'The Long Way
Round' TV series, then Charley Boorman is doing a
book signing session at Williams BMW in Manchester this
evening.
The Long Way Round book provides an intimate look into
the personal thoughts of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
during their travels through some of the harshest terrain
in the world.
The photographs in the book were taken by the highly regarded
photographer Julian Broad and include shots of the incredible
landscapes they rode through as well as the different people
they met along the way.
Charley Boorman: “The trip has been incredible in itself
but it’s the people in all the countries that we’ve met
that have made it fantastic.”
To celebrate the launch of the book Charlie will be signing
copies and hold a Q&A session at Williams Motorcycles,
Chester Rd, Old Trafford from 7.30pm on Tuesday 14th December.
A special 30-minute screening of previously unseen
footage will be shown on the night and Charley’s BMW
R1150GS Adventurer that he used for the trip will also
be on display.
Places are limited and tickets will be distributed on
a first come, first served basis.
Tickets cost £2 and are available from Rachelle Johnston
at Williams on 07808 364 039 or e-mail rachelle.johnston@williamsgroup.co.uk
Source: Inside
Bikes
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, December 14, 2004 // 08:33 a.m.
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Long Way Round t-shirts
December 20 update: all the t-shirt sizes have been sold
out. Check with the official site in January when they
will hopefully have more.
The official Long
Way Round site is selling t-shirts like the one Ewan
wore during his motorbike trip around the world.
The t-shirts cost £20, plus postage and handling. Payment
can be made through Paypal only.
Thanks to Patty for the heads up!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Monday, December 13, 2004 // 07:13 p.m.
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DVD Review: Ewan's big
adventure
12 December 2004
A 20,000-mile motorbike trip around the world isn't
something you'd expect film stars to undertake, but
for biker-mad Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman it was
the chance of an adventure of a lifetime.
The Sky One TV series documenting their epic journey is
now available to buy on double DVD along with a companion
CD soundtrack and accompanying book.
Long Way Round, the DVD, follows the pair from their starting
point in London in April, to their New York destination
via Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia,
Alaska and Canada.
Travelling through some of the most remote regions on
the globe, where very few people, let alone motorbikes,
have ventured, Ewan and Charley faced some of the most
exhaustive trials of their lives.
Along the way, the intrepid pair encountered Kalashnikov-toting
locals, frequent stops from suspicious police, extreme
weather conditions, treacherous roads and numerous scrapes
and injuries.
Although both accomplished bikers, the star pair found
the journey a major test of endurance and friendship and
Long Way Round is an action-packed account of the trip
of a lifetime and a true portrait of friendship under pressure.
The brilliant CD soundtrack from EMI Music includes the
Stereophonics title track Long Way Round and tracks by
Coldplay, Radiohead, Massive Attack and Supergrass.
Sunday Life has three copies of the double DVD and three
copies of the soundtrack to give away.
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is,
send your name, address and contact number on a postcard
to: Ewan McGregor Competition, Sunday Life, PO Box 2222,
BT1 1BT.
Remember to state whether you would like to win a CD or
DVD.
Entries must arrive by close of play on Friday (December
17).
Source: Sunday
Life
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Sunday, December 12, 2004 // 09:34 a.m.
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Guys and Dolls confirmed
at the Piccadilly theatre from 20 May 2005
Sat 11 Dec 2004
It has been confirmed that Guys and Dolls will
be at the Piccadilly Theatre previewing from 20 May, opening
in June 2005, booking to 1 Oct 2005.
Public Booking opens 7 Jan 2005.
Ewan McGregor will return to the London stage to make
his West End musical debut as 'Sky Masterson' in
this new production. (Further casting will be announced
shortly.)
The Scottish actor was last on the London stage in 1999
in "Little Malcolm And His Struggle Against The Eunuchs" at
the Comedy Theatre (following a run at the Hampstead Theatre
in 1998). Ewan McGregor's many film credits include "Star
Wars"; "Moulin Rouge!"; Little Voice"; "Trainspotting".
Guys and Dolls has music and lyrics by Frank Loesser,
book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is directed by
Michael Grandage; designed by Christopher Oram; choreography
by Rob Ashford, lighting by Howard Harrison; and sound
by Terry Jardine for Autograph.
The show is produced by Howard Panter for The Ambassador
Theatre Group and David Lan for Clear Channel Entertainment,
in association with the Donmar Warehouse's own production
team.
Brings to life the Broadway of the 1940's, inhabited
by gamblers, nightclub performers and members of the Salvation
Army, in search of sinners to cure. The score includes
numbers as 'Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat', 'Luck
Be A Lady Tonight' and 'Take Back Your Mink'.
Source: London
Theatre Guide
Thanks to Kate for the heads up!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Saturday, December 11, 2004 // 09:39 a.m.
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Long Way Round DVD Extracts
available online
The official Long
Way Round site has added goodies!
Click on the DVD on the top-right and scroll down. You'll
see:
DVD Extracts (requires Windows Media Player or Real
Player):
Interview with Ewan and Charley
Interview with Ewan and Charley (Real 300k)
Interview with Ewan and Charley (Real 34k)
Interview with Ewan and Charley (Windows 300k)
The First Five Days
The First Five Days (Real 300k)
The First Five Days (Real 34k)
The First Five Days (Windows 300k)
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Monday, December 6, 2004 // 08:10 a.m.
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Long Way Round tours
the UK
01/12/04
Charley Boorman from Long Way Round will be appearing
at the following BMW Motorrad dealerships in conjunction
with MCN in December to promote the release of the new Long
Way Round DVD and sound track going on sale as of 6
December.
Each dealership will start at 7:30pm when there will be
a special screening of some Long Way Round footage,
followed by a Q&A session with Charley and then an autograph
session. The Long Way Round book, DVD and sound
track will be on sale in each BMW Motorrad dealership.
At each event money will be raised for various charities
including Macmillan Cancer Relief and CHAS (Children's
Hospice Association of Scotland), David Jefferies fund
and Lord Treloar’s school for disabled children. There
will be raffles, prize draws, food and drinks at various
events. To book your place, call the BMW Motorrad dealerships
closest to you.
Monday 13 December (starts 4:45pm)
Paul Davis
Park Lane
77 Park Lane
London
W1K 7TP
Tel: 0207 409 3355
* raising money for charity
Tuesday 14 December
Rochelle Johnston
Williams Manchester
326 Chester Road
Old Trafford
Manchester
M16 9EZ
Tel: 07808 364039
Wednesay 15 December (starts at 7:00pm)
Louise Jefferies
Allan Jefferies
Otley Road
Shipley
Yorkshire
BD17 7HB
Tel: 01274 776077
* auction, with money going to charity
Thursday 16 December
Steve Hogg
Roy Pidcock Motorcycles
Fields Farm Road
Long Eaton
Nottinghamshire
NG10 3FZ
Tel: 0115 946 2233
* raffle, profits going to charity
Friday 17 December
John Gilbride
SPC
A32
Lower Farringdon
Nr Alton
Hampshire
GU34 3DJ
Tel: 01420 588 691
* buffet, free raffle, money to charities
Source: World
of BMW
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Sunday, December 5, 2004 // 12:35 p.m.
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North American Long Way Round DVD
development
Amazon.com has
a page set up for the Region 1 Long Way Round DVD
(click on the link to visit it).
It reads:
Availability: NOT YET RELEASED: The studio
is currently not producing this title on DVD, but to
be notified when it is available, enter your e-mail address
at right. You'll also be voting for this release;
we'll let the studio know how many customers are
waiting for this title.
Thanks to Georginita for the heads up!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Friday, December 3, 2004 // 07:20 a.m.
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Long Way Round Offer
December 2 2004
In an exclusive (MCN) reader offer, you can order the
double DVD set of the Long Way Round series, including
unseen extras, plus the CD soundtrack for just £26.98.
The double DVD follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
as they put themselves through a 20,000-mile, 113-day,
round-the-world trip. They endured conditions from dirt
tracks to deserts, and sub-zero temperatures to searing
heat as they passed through Western Europe, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia
and North America.
The double DVD retails for £16.99, and includes every
episode, plus plenty of extended scenes and unseen footage.
The CD soundtrack is £12.99 and features music from the
series, including songs by Radiohead and Massive Attack.
* You can get the double DVD on the entire series, plus
the CD soundtrack for just £26.98. To order, simply click
here.
Plus, you can win yourself a BMW R1150 Adventure. To be
in with a chance, visit here.
Source: Motorcycle
News
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Thursday, December 2, 2004 // 07:38 a.m.
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Good news for the North American
DVD of Long Way Round
Bravo in the U.S. is airing a slightly abridged version
of Long Way Round. UK's Sky One is airing seven
episodes whereas Bravo is only airing six. Fans who have
seen both versions have reported numerous missing scenes
in the American version.
It has been confirmed by the official Long Way Round site
that the DVD that will be released in North America will
contain all seven episodes. The only downside is that they
don't know when it will be released in North
America other than "it should be some time in the New Year".
Thanks to Barbara for the info!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 // 01:01 p.m.
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McGregor Finances Mongolian
Orphan
28/11/2004
Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is funding a three-year-old
Mongolian orphan he met during his recent round-the-world
motorcycle ride.
The Star Wars star tried to adopt parentless Jamiyantsetseg,
but was rejected because of complicated Mongolian law.
Instead he will finance the girl's living and schooling
expenses till she is at least 16.
The father of two was moved by her plight during his 16-week
bike adventure with close friend Charley Boorman.
Police doctor Enkhmaa Jamsrangiin, who McGregor first
approached with Jamiyantsetseg, says, "He asked me to find
a good orphanage for the child and said he would be responsible
for the cost.
"He later went to the orphanage and told them he would
pay the bill for this little girl every month.
"He spent a lot of time there playing with the kids and
seemed really sad at their situation.
"He talked about his own kids. He seemed to be really
moved and looked close to tears at one point."
Source: Contact
Music
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Sunday, November 28, 2004 // 11:14 a.m.
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Jedi Star Flies High: May The
Force Be With Doo
By Himaya Quasem
Here's the first glimpse of Scots Star Wars hero
Ewan McGregor flying high in his next epic role.
The 33-year-old provides the voice for a tiny but brave
wood pigeon in the title role of Walt Disney's £27
million epic cartoon Valiant.
Disney have been keeping images of the blockbuster - due
out in spring 2005 (in the UK, 2006 in North America) -
under wraps.
But the Sunday Mail has been able to get a sneak preview,
with pictures of Valiant, his mentor Sarge and best pal
Bugsy.
The story sees the young bird become an RAF hero during
World War II.
It is based on the true story of the pigeon service used
by the British to communicate with the French Resistance.
Plucky pigeon Valiant survives brutal attacks from vicious
German falcons to become a war hero.
The youngster faces a gruelling training schedule to be
a Royal Air Force Homing Pigeon and is knocked into shape
by strict but kind-hearted Sarge.
Ewan, originally from Crieff, Perthshire, will know all
about the stresses of life in the air force - his older
brother Colin is an RAF pilot.
Appearing alongside Ewan - who plays Jedi knight Obi-Wan
Kenobi in Star Wars prequels The Phantom Menace and Attack
Of The Clones - are Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley, Jim Broadbent
and The Office star Ricky Gervais.
Broadbent plays Sarge, while Kingsley provides the voice
of German falcon leader, General Keyserlingk. Gervais will
play Bugsy --Valiant's cheeky best pal.
The film's executive producer Barnaby Thompson said: 'In
a sense, it's a true story, as about 30 pigeons were
given the Dickens medal for bravery in World War Two.
'We've got Ben Kingsley playing the evil falcon,
as Germans did breed falcons to catch the pigeons.'
The film - the most ambitious cartoon to be made outside
America - is being created at Ealing Studios, London, which
is undergoing a £30 million refit.
Animation Almost half a century after Sir Alec Guinness
and Peter Sellers filmed classic movies such as The Ladykillers
and The Lavender Hill Mob at the west London complex, financing
has been agreed to build a new animation studio.
Ealing is now looking to take on the major American film
studios.
Valiant will be their first project and producers hope
it will prove even more successful than Dreamworks' 2000
hit Chicken Run.
An industry insider said: 'The phenomenal success
of Chicken Run saw everyone at Disney in a flap, so to
speak.
'They were determined to tap into the audiences' love
of cuddly feathered creatures.
'It was a Godsend when they discovered the story
of the World War pigeons.'
Source: Sunday
Mail
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Sunday, November 28, 2004 // 11:06 a.m.
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Lipstick on Your Collar screening
at London's NFT
The tenth anniversary of Dennis Potter's death provides
an opportunity for a celebration and re-appraisal of the
work of the writer largely regarded as the most significant
ever to choose television as his medium. To complement
the forthcoming general DVD releases and television documentaries,
the NFT will screen some of Potter's rare television
work.
 Among
those works shown will be the first episode of Lipstick
on Your Collar, which was Ewan's very first professional
acting role.
Go see a fresh-faced Ewan at the NFT2 Thursday, December
16 at 6:15 pm and Friday, December 17 at 8:40 pm.
You can book tickets online using this link: tickets.bfi.org.uk
Source: National
Film Theatre
Thanks to Violet for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Thursday, November 25, 2004 // 06:09 p.m.
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Valiant trailer online
mymovies.net has
the trailer for Valiant, an animated film featuring
Ewan's voice as the title character.
Thanks to Mary for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Thursday, November 25, 2004 // 02:46 p.m.
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New pictures from The Island
 
 
On the day she turns 20 (November 22nd), Scarlett Johansson
finds herself working on her birthday alongside Ewan McGregor
at a location in downtown Los Angeles on the Sci-fi thriller 'The
Island'. The crew had thoughtfully provided a large
cake to mark the occasion whereupon Scotsman McGregor wasted
no time in devouring a large portion in between takes washed
down with swigs of coffee.
 
Thanks to Georginita for the pics!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, November 23, 2004 // 05:41 p.m.
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 Nat
Gets 'Closer' to Clive, Jude and Ewan
23 November 2004
Natalie Portman enjoyed a dashing escort from three of
Britain's hottest acting talents when she stepped
out in Los Angeles on Monday. The pretty actress was accompanied
by Jude Law, Clive Owen and Ewan McGregor when she took
to the red carpet for the screening of her latest flick.
Jude was his usual stylish self in a brown velvet suit
over an open-necked shirt, while Clive was looking dapper
in a sharply-cut navy ensemble. The two Englishmen star
alongside Natalie in the romantic drama Closer, while Ewan
joins her in the forthcoming Star Wars adventure Revenge
Of The Sith.
Dressed in an elegant purple gown with plunging neckline,
Nat seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the company of her
leading men.
The three performers get the opportunity to show off their
thespian skills in the new movie, which was directed by
renowned filmmaker Mike Nichols. The flick, which also
features Oscar-winner Julia Roberts, tells the story of
two couples whose relationships are under strain. But its
glamorous stars seemed to be getting on just fine when
they set the flashbulbs blazing in Hollywood this week.
Source: Hello
Thanks to Barbara for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, November 23, 2004 // 12:57 p.m.
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IMAX to power up 'Robots'
Anthony Langlois
The folks at Cinescape broke news that IMAX Corporation
is about to announce they made a deal with 20th Century
Fox to release an IMAX DMR version of the upcoming CG comedy
Robots, simultaneously with the theatrical release on March
11, 2005.
The DMR process consist of computer-analyzing 33mm film
to tweak the colour and re-shape the audio in order to
code it for IMAX's 70mm films and six-channel sound
system. The same process was use to convert 'The Matrix
Revolutions" and 'Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of
Azkaban'.
According to Cinescape's source, either Fox or IMAX
should make the announcement soon.
Directed by Chris Wedge (Ice Age), Robots is set in a
world entirely populated by robots. One young Genius known
as Rodney wants to make robots better, but is challenged
a corporate tyrant and many sneaky enemies. Ewan McGregor,
Halle Berry, Greg Kinnear, Mel Brooks and Robin Williams
provide lead voices.
Source: Elites
TV
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, November 23, 2004 // 12:54 p.m.
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Two new videos at Bravo
Bravo has
added two new videos: an episode 4 bonus and an episode
5 preview. Click on the Bravo link to check them out!
Thanks to Patty for the heads up!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Friday, November 19, 2004 // 07:49 a.m.
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'Blubbing' with Ewan
and Charley
By ELIZABETH RENZETTI
UPDATED AT 7:31 AM EST Tuesday, Nov 16, 2004
The movie actors giddily share with ELIZABETH RENZETTI
the thrills of their four-month motorcycle journey through
some of the world's most dangerous countries
LONDON -- All great journeys must start with a single
step, it is said. That's in an ideal world. Some great
journeys start with a 250-kilogram motorcycle, laden with
all the equipment needed to keep a man happy and mobile
over 32,00 kilometres, falling on top of that man. Repeatedly.
It was here, on a street in Shepherd's Bush, London,
that Charley Boorman found himself underneath his BMW as
the world, it seemed, looked on: cameras, family, friends,
and his riding companion and fellow actor, Ewan McGregor.
If you ask Boorman about that rocky start, he looks momentarily
as if he's swallowed a dirty sock.
"Ah, Charley," says McGregor, full of mock sympathy. "It's
not fair that was one of the first questions. I'm
sorry."
But the shame is clearly far enough in the past that Boorman
can view it with equanimity. "It was this huge realization
that I was leaving my wife and children," he says, tipping
his chair back. "Suddenly all the energy drained from my
body and I couldn't ride the bike, I was wobbling
all over the place." His ruddy face breaks into a smile. "So
that's my excuse. It's good, don't you think?"
"It's almost working," McGregor says. "I bought it."
They have a nice patter, these two. Travel with anyone
for long enough, even in the most luxurious circumstances,
and you need to develop heightened social graces and a
bountiful sense of humour. Travel with your combustible
friend over some of the wildest, most pot-holed, dangerous
country in the world, where the final meal of the day will
sometimes be bull-testicle soup, and hey, you'd better
be Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
In fact, McGregor and Boorman often fall about in giggles,
like a couple of oddly hirsute schoolgirls. The actors,
who met in 1997 while making Serpent's Kiss in Ireland,
decided last year that they needed to take their mutual
love of motorcycles on the road. "London to New York --
the long way round," writes McGregor in their newly released
book of those travels, predictably called Long Way Round.
There's a map on the wall of their office/garage
in Shepherd's Bush that marks their trip: Western
Europe, Slovakia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Siberia, leap across
the water, Alaska, Canada, across the United States --
in coloured yarn. Their giant BMWs, still covered in decals
and dirt two months after their return, sit in a corner.
McGregor, who's alternating between a bran muffin
and full-strength Marlboros, often leaps up to indicate
a particular adventure on the map.
A television series about their trip is currently airing
on Bravo, although they're almost unrecognizable from
the grimy beasts the camera caught in the wilds. (They
were followed by camera operator Claudio Von Planta, also
on motorcycle.) McGregor is as shiny as a new penny, his
blond hair flopping over one eye, and Boorman (son of director
John Boorman) looks like he's lost about 10 kilograms
since the journey's start.
For McGregor, the trip offered not just an adventure but
a way to escape, if only for four months, the control-freak
atmosphere of moviemaking, even though Von Planta's
camera was trained on them throughout the trip. In one
town, a young man thought he recognized McGregor from films
-- porn films, that is. Another semi-fan, a market vendor
in Ukraine, mentioned one of the actor's personal
favourites, Big Fish. "Not so nice," the Ukrainian said.
One night in Siberia, they returned to their hotel to find
the words "Ewan" and "Charley" scrawled in lipstick on
the pavement, obviously a big thrill for the town's
teenage girls.
"It was like a wee fan club," McGregor says.
"It was lovely," he says, of hiding in the doorway from
fame. "It's not something I feel I need to escape
from, but it's nice to meet people who don't
already have an idea of who you are."
Before McGregor and Boorman set out, they had to persuade
BMW to give them bikes (not difficult) and prepare for
the countless vagaries of man and nature (a little more
challenging). To that end, they took a three-day course
on "hostile environments" from a super-efficient, if enigmatic,
Englishman named Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton. The actors were
convinced that Lowther-Pinkerton, who liked to show his
students photos of horrendous casualties by way of warning,
is a former member of Britain's elite Special Air
Service (SAS).
He taught them at least two valuable lessons. First, always
to approach a border slowly, with respect, and second,
that everywhere in the world people would understand two
English words: a certain Anglo-Saxon expletive, and "Beckham." This
turned out to be good advice, as they ran into a couple
of policemen, or "rozzers," as Boorman calls them, who
shouted "Arsenal! Chelsea!" and then told them recent football
scores.
The survival training came in handy on a couple of occasions.
Igor, a local bigwig in Ukraine, made his money in appliances
(McGregor draws air quotes around the word appliances)
and treated his two guests to a dangerous evening of booze,
guns and song.
The second episode, and perhaps the only time McGregor
came close to losing his life, occurred not in Igor's
madhouse, or on the rickety bridges of Siberia, but on
the highway near Calgary.
Travelling at 100 kph, McGregor was forced to slow suddenly.
Behind him was a teenager in a red Honda who couldn't
hit the brakes quickly enough and hit McGregor's bike
instead, causing him to go out of control,. So the star
of Moulin Rouge almost ended up road kill in Alberta, and
this only a day after Boorman's wallet had been stolen. "God
bless the Canadians," McGregor laughs. "Thieving maniacs!"
Despite of the challenges, they're keen to embark
on a boys' own adventure, part II. They'd like
to perhaps do another trip in Africa, or South America,
and continue the work they began with UNICEF, which saw
them visiting an orphanage for the children of Chernobyl
in Kiev, Shanyrak and homeless kids living in tunnels under
the streets of Ulan Batar. The book concludes with a plea
urging readers to support the charity.
The journey itself ended with McGregor and Boorman being
escorted into Manhattan across the George Washington Bridge
by members of the Orange County Choppers motorcycle club.
The friends, who are each married with two daughters, had
spent months pining for home, and the combination of riding
triumphantly into New York and the prospect of seeing their
families unmanned (although not unseated) both of them.
"We blubbed like babies going over the bridge," McGregor
says. "It was incredibly moving."
"We blubbed a lot going around the world, actually," Boorman
says.
"Blubbing around the world," says the star of Trainspotting,
with a theatrical flourish, "with Charley Boorman and Ewan
McGregor."
Source: The
Globe and Mail
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 // 07:52 a.m.
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Young Adam sweeps board at Scots
BAFTAs
Mon 15 Nov 2004
TIM CORNWELL
ARTS CORRESPONDENT
Key points
- Young Adam wins best film, director, and actor and
actress
- Paula Sage wins best first performance with Afterlife
- Brian Cox wins outstanding achievement in film award
"Scotland should think big and this shows it is thinking
big. It also shows we don’t always have to go to London
to do everything" - Billy Boyd, actor
The film Young Adam swept the field at the BAFTA Scotland
awards last night, as stars of the big and small screens
celebrated the best in Scottish film and television.
Not only was it declared best film, it also won best director
for David MacKenzie, best actor for Ewan McGregor and best
actress for Tilda Swinton.
The awards ceremony, at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Glasgow
before an audience of 550, was pitched to invest new glamour
into the small but thriving world of Scottish film.
[...]
But the undisputed star of the night was Young Adam. Based
on the novel by the cult Scottish writer Alexander Trocchi,
it tells the story of Joe, a rootless young drifter ensnared
in the mystery surrounding a body floating in the Union
Canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
MacKenzie had struggled for years to bring the book to
the screen and was praised for creating a film laden with
atmosphere and sexual energy.
Young Adam was always the clear favourite for best film
- even though it premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in
2003 and went on general release in the UK more than a
year ago, which means that it is unlikely to benefit commercially
from the award.
[...]
The BAFTA event was the biggest in the organisation’s
history and the decision to make it an annual event from
now on is seen as a signal of growing confidence in Scotland’s
film industry. The evening was hosted by GMTV presenter
Lorraine Kelly.
Lord of the Rings actor Billy Boyd, who presented the
best actor award, said: "Scotland should think big and
this shows it is thinking big. It also shows we don’t always
have to go to London to do everything."
Talking up the industry, Texas lead singer, Sharleen Spiteri,
said: "As far as Scottish film making goes we are in an
international arena. Scotland definitely does have talent
with the actors, directors and writers - especially like
Ewan."
The TV presenter Jenny Falconer said: "The BAFTA is such
a wonderful event for the UK. It’s great that there is
a Scottish BAFTA."
In a political aside before the event, the writer and
actor Peter Mullen said the Scottish Executive had to look
at funding for films. "It’s banging the same old drum,
but they have to give us some form of tax incentive.
"We need to get the funding, and subsidy and tax breaks
are the only feasible means for that to happen," he said.
Source: The
Scotsman
Thanks to Barbara for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Sunday, November 14, 2004 // 10:20 p.m.
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New pictures from The Island
Thanks to SFGrl and Patty for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Saturday, November 13, 2004 // 12:23 p.m.
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Another Ewan meeting!
I met Ewan McGregor! He was so nice, he said he liked
my shirt. It is a close up of Obi-Wan when he is talking
to Jango in Jango's apartment. Ewan had his picture
taken with me. He put his arm around my shoulders. As he
put his arm around me he said, "All right, here we are
darling."
[Minor spoilers for The Island] They were filming
in Detroit for eight days. Now the long story, five of
us watched filming in the morning. One scene where Ewan
falls off the hood of the car after his stunt double gets
hit, which they filmed first. Then Scarlett helps Ewan
up and they run. Later they filmed the running scene where
they run all the way up the block. They were filming in
the street so we were only separated by the window of the
building we were in and the sidewalk. A little farther
back when we were on the sidewalk on the side of the building,
but they ran right past us.
When they stopped filming, we moved to the sidewalk between
the trailers and the set. After seeing Ewan and not being
able to say a word, the other girls, not me, had this idea
to make signs that said "Ewan" "We think you are gorgeous".
I think it was "But we are tongue-tied" "And a bit pathetic." We
thought he would at least get a good laugh, but when he
walked right by us with the director on the same sidewalk
we were sitting and standing on not a word from any of
us and no one even thought to hold up their sign.
Now we are telling everybody we meet who works on the
film, well at least a couple of guys who work on the film
and a security guard, our sad tale and they all said Ewan
was super nice and talks to everyone, the crew and the
security guards. We knew that, but when I was that close
to the one person in the whole world that I would most
like to meet, I could only sit there with my mouth open
and stare. So my son went up to Ewan about a half a block
before Ewan got to us and said, "Would you say hello to
my mother, she watches Star Wars all the time." Michael
said Ewan was really nice and shook his hand. Ewan came
over and had his picture taken with everyone, and signed
everything we wanted signed. I am so happy. There are no
words.
Thank you Barbara!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Thursday, November 11, 2004 // 09:28 a.m.
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Three more lucky fans meet Ewan!
November 6, 2004
Today was a day full of misses, and near-misses. This
morning Dawn called me at 9:00am saying she would be free
to get together earlier than I thought. So I raced out
of bed, ate breakfast, got dressed and was out the door
and to her house by around 12:30pm. We left immediately
for downtown Detroit, and arrived just as the cast and
crew were breaking for lunch. We saw people milling around
the streets where filming had been taking place, eating
and chatting and getting set up for the post-lunch filming.
Dawn and I noticed that filming was taking place directly
down the street from where all of the trailers were. We
decided to hang around that area for a bit when we ran
into our friend Dave that we had first met on Tuesday evening
at the Central Depot. He was one of the crew for the movie,
and the nicest guy we had met over the past week. He had
told us where to go to see Ewan on Wednesday (when I got
my Ewan wave!) and was determined to help us meet Ewan
today. He told us Ewan was in his trailer right now, and
would be walking past us to get to the area they were filming
at. He told us that eventhough Ewan had the choice to be
driven to set and back, he preferred to walk by himself.
Dave also told us that Ewan was so incredibly down to earth
and nice to everyone. He would ride from his hotel to set
in the van that drove the extras back and forth, and he
would sit down and eat with them as well, eventhough the
main cast had their own eating area. Yay Ewan! He's
such a sweetie. Ewan!
Dawn and I met a very nice couple named Lisa and Andy,
who were also waiting to see Ewan. (Well, Lisa was the
big fan and her husband was being a good sport, lol.) Lisa
had the gray and blue Pringle scarf on, and that's
how I began talking to her in the first place--it's
a really gorgeous scarf!
So we're waiting, and lunch is ending. We waited
for over an hour, and then Dave called us over across the
street telling us he had talked to security and they would
allow us to watch filming as close as the extras, crew,
and security would go. This was very nice of him since
no "regular" people were allowed near the street they were
filming on. So Dawn, Lisa, Andy and I all followed Dave
to the street where filming was going on. We stood there
for awhile wondering if Ewan had already been driven up
after all, and tried to spot him in the crowd of people
getting ready for the first post-lunch shot. We saw his
two doubles over and over again (which kept giving me a
heart attack because from the back they looked JUST like
Ewan!) but we couldn't find Ewan himself. (Scarlett
was on set though, and someone had brought her little dog
up to keep her company in between takes. It's this
hyper tiny "Taco Bell"-type dog, lol.)
So Andy and Lisa had to leave, and I had to answer the
call of nature so Dawn and I decided to risk not seeing
Ewan and find a bathroom. Dave had told us we could use
the bathroom in the building where the cast and crew ate
lunch, so we walked inside the building (which was right
near the street by the trailers) and found a bathroom.
This is where our first "miss" of the day happened. While
we were walking to the bathroom, we met up with Barb and
Fiasco, and three other people (I think three) that I can't
remember or didn't know. Barb told us that Ewan had
walked RIGHT by them on the way to set. He had walked by
them just as we had left to watch filming!!! I couldn't
believe we had missed Ewan!!!
Anyways, after walking back outside a few minutes later,
our "near-miss", yet ultimately wonderful moment occured.
I stepped outside and started walking back to the set to
watch filming again when...I saw him! It was Ewan, just
crossing the street and disappearing down the road to his
trailer. I freaked, thinking I was going to miss him yet
AGAIN and turned back to Dawn yelling, "No! Dawn, it's
him! Oh no!!!!" She yelled at me to run and catch up with
him, and even though I was worried I would look like a
stalker running after him, I took off and raced across
the street, my heart pounding.
Thank God Barb and Fiasco and everyone had stopped him.
When Dawn and I turned the corner we saw him signing someone's
LWR book, and beginning to take pictures with them.
I didn't even know what to think. I just looked at
him in awe thinking, "OMG. It's Ewan. OMG stay calm.
He's right there." I was shaking, and I lost the ability
to form complete sentences. I took my camera out, and waited
until it was time for me to take my picture with him. Then
I remember him looking around wondering who was next and
I piped up, "Ewan, can I have a picture?" He said, "Sure!" and
went to put his arm around me. I remember trying to hand
Dawn my camera, but Fiasco was telling me to use her camera,
and that she'd send me the picture. I was overwhelmed
and didn't know what to do so I handed Dawn my camera
anyways, and turned to Fiasco. She mentioned that her hands
were shaking, and Ewan laughed a bit. I remember feeling
the leather of his jacket with my hand, and feeling his
arm around my waist. I just couldn't believe it--I
was right up against him! And I had so much I wanted to
say to him, but I couldn't think!
Before I knew it, Dawn was getting her picture and then
we were all saying "thank you!" as he smiled, waved, and
started walking back to the trailer. I stood by Dawn and
saw Dave had come back. He smiled at me and said, "Did
you finally get a picture?" I told him, "Yes! OMG I
can't believe it!" Then he saw I was still holding
my Ewan Sisterhood t-shirt that I had wanted Ewan to sign,
and he asked "Did you get your shirt signed?" I told
him no, and said there hadn't been enough time and
Dave said, "Well Ewan is still there, go ask him." I looked,
and sure enough we could still see Ewan walking away, and
no fans were by him. I hesitated, not wanting to bother
him again since he had looked and sounded a bit tired--it
had been a looong morning of shooting for him (and a 6:00am
call time)--but with Dave and Dawn encouraging me to go,
I found myself running toward him for the second time that
day.
"Ewan!" I called out, running into the trailer area. He
didn't turn around. OMG I'm bothering him I thought.
But I tried again, "Ewan!" He turned around. This was my
chance. (By the way, the conversation is as close to what
I can remember as possible. I was not eloquent or anything,
but oh well.)
Me: I don't mean to bother you again, but I was wondering
if you could sign my shirt.
Ewan: Oh yeah sure! (I handed him the shirt, and he unfolded
it and spread it out over the back of a wooden back to
a trailer while I fished around in my pocket for my Sharpie
marker.)
Me: I got this shirt because every year a group of Ewan
fans that I belong to donate money to CHAS for your birthday.
And last year I got this shirt as a thank you for donating.
Ewan: Yeah I've heard about that before. That's
really lovely.
Me: I'm so happy to finally meet you; I've been
here all week. (He starts trying to sign my shirt with
a pen.) Oh wait here--I have a better pen. (I hand him
the Sharpie.)
Ewan: (laughs a bit) Oh really? All week?
Me: Oh well, not really all week but I was here all day
Tuesday. But I couldn't stay all week because I had
to go back to classes.
Ewan: Oh, do you go to university here?
Me: Yeah, I go to [name of school].
Ewan: That's great! (Finishes signing shirt, and
then stands up smiling at me, handing me my shirt and pen.)
Me: Well thank you so much for everything. I admire you
so much, and you're so kind to your fans, so thank
you so much. (I was saying thank you on repeat, lol!)
Ewan: Well thank you. (Smiling at me, he held out his
hand. I broke out into an even bigger smile, and took his
hand. He squeezed my hand softly, and then let go and started
walking away.)
I think I may have yelled thank you again, but I don't
remember! It's weird--I didn't act at all how
I thought I would. As he was signing my shirt, you'd
think I'd be looking at him since he was SO close
to me, but I didn't. I kept staring at his hands as
he signed my shirt. And even when he shook my hand and
said goodbye, I looked up at him but was so in shock that
I didn't really see him...does that make any sense? I
was just floating, but in a dream! Also, for those of you
who like details, I just have to say I loved it when he
held my hand. His hand was warm and slightly dry because
of the wind and being outside, yet still soft. (Hard to
describe, but lovely. Plus I remember he was smiling at
me then as well. Very lovely moment.)
Of course, when I walked back to Dawn and Dave and was
showing them my shirt, Dawn asked me if I had given Ewan
the letter I had spent a LONG time writing. I had included
pictures and everything, and spent a very long time trying
to figure out exactly what I wanted to tell him. I had
had the PERFECT opportunity to give it to him--he had been
walking right to his trailer, and it was just him and me
talking--but I blanked. I'm really sad I forgot to
give that to him, but I DID get a picture and my shirt
signed, so I suppose I'll just send my letter and
hope he reads it someday soon.
After meeting Ewan, the rest of the day is just a blur.
We talked to Dave a bit more, and a few minutes after that,
Ewan walked by again. And I just didn't want to bother
him, so I didn't say anything. He was walking with
Scarlett and as we all watched him walk up the street,
she put her arm around his shoulders...gaaah to be her!!!
Then Dawn and I got some lunch at Subway. A few hours later,
after filming wrapped for the day, we saw Ewan walk back
to his trailer yet again, but he looked like he was in
a hurry and wasn't looking in my direction at all,
so I just stared and didn't say anything. (Another
chance to give him my letter! AAAH!)
We eventually went back to Dawn's house and I ended
up leaving to go back home pretty late.
It's still sinking in. I still can't believe
it.
Today was crazy, but today was amazing. I hope Ewan knows
how much he means to me, even without the letter. Hopefully
someday I'll get the chance to tell him, but for now
I'm SOOO happy.
-Alissa :+}
Thank you Alissa and Dawn!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 // 07:39 p.m.
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Long Way Round official
site updated
The official Long
Way Round site has been updated with a new
main picture and a new picture in the Image Gallery
of Ewan, Charley, Russ and David.
In addition, the "press" section has been revamped, removing
the menu (since the book/TV details had been moved to the
top-right of the screen). Several new articles were also
added!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 // 08:00 a.m.
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Another lucky fan meets Ewan!
Lisa sends us her story of meeting Ewan:
I think I'm the luckiest person alive! I got to
meet Ewan twice!
Saturday, after spending about 4 hours waiting around
the set of "The Island" in Detroit, I finally met Ewan!!
When I first arrived downtown, I met a man who worked
on set and he got me and two other girls on the closed
set. I could see Ewan and Scarlett, but they were too
far away for me to really be satisfied. Anyway, after
waiting and waiting, I finally decided to leave. My husband
and I walked back to our car and saw a bunch of people
watching the filming on the opposite side of where we
had been all day. We decided to join them.
Ewan and Scarlett started walking away from the action
and my husband thought they were going back to their
trailer, so, on a whim, we raced back to the trailers
and lo and behold, across the street from me was Ewan.
He looked right at me and smiled. I said, "Ewan!" and
he stopped. I walked across the street and asked him
if I could get a picture with him. He said, "sure".
He put his arm around my shoulder and I told him I was
wearing my Pringle scarf. He said, "That's great"
Then my husband took the picture and I asked Ewan if
we could take another and he said it was fine.
Then Ewan said, "I can feel your heart beating through
your shoulder!"
I said (like an idiot), "Im so nervous!" and he said, "It's
okay."
Then he shook our hands.
As I walked away he yelled, "Thanks for buying the scarf!"
Unfortunately, my eyes were closed in both pictures,
so I was determined to try and meet him again, and my
son Drew, who is 11 and a huge Star Wars fan wanted an
autograph.
So, on Monday I took my son down to the trailers so
he could get an autograph. Someone in the crew talked
to us for awhile and then left.
When he returned he said to my son, "I talked to Obi-Wan
and told him you were out here. He told me to tell you
that if you wait here he'll sign your card for you."
Two hours later Ewan came out and walked across the
lot over to us. He signed my son's Obi-Wan postcard
and let us take a couple pictures.
Thank you, Lisa!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Tuesday, November 9, 2004 // 07:14 p.m.
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McGregor to star in musical
John Ezard
Tuesday November 9, 2004
Ewan McGregor is to play the romantic lead in a musical
revival of Guys and Dolls in London in the late spring,
it was announced yesterday.
McGregor, one of Britain's biggest international
film stars, has committed himself for six months in the
part of Sky Masterson, a gangster playboy in the show based
on Damon Runyon's tales of the New York underworld.
He has not sung on stage professionally before, though
he sang and danced in Baz Luhrmann's film Moulin
Rouge.
The show - a new production by Michael Grandage's
company based at the Donmar Warehouse, London - is planned
with full orchestra in a theatre not yet chosen.
Source: The
Guardian
Thanks to ParisRouge for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Monday, November 8, 2004 // 10:03 p.m.
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Pictures from Friday's
filming in Detroit
Jeff, who works in Detroit in a building right where filming
is happening in front of it snapped more pictures from
Friday's filming and posted them on the atdetroit.net message
board.
Thanks to ParisRouge for the heads up!
Beatty sees stars - briefly
November 5, 2004
By RICHARD STEPHENS, PVT
Hollywood came to Beatty last weekend for filming of DreamWorks
and Warner Brothers' science-fiction and action feature, "The
Island," starring Ewan McGregor "Star Wars: Episodes I
and II," and "Moulin Rouge," "Big Fish" and Scarlett Johansson "Lost
in Translation," and "Girl With a Pearl Earring," under
the direction of Michael Bay "Armageddon," and "Bad Boys
I and II."
The story is set about 20 years in the future. Lincoln
Six-Echo (McGregor) and Jordan Two-Delta (Johansson) are
residents of a controlled-environment facility hoping to
be chosen to go to "The Island," supposedly the only uncontaminated
spot left on earth.
Then he discovers the truth, that they and the other residents
are clones awaiting "harvesting" to be used for spare body
parts.
The two of them escape, and are pursued by the forces
behind the institute that created them. Djimon Hounsou "In
America," and "Gladiator" is the head of the team sent
to hunt them down. Steve Buscemi "Ghost World," "Armageddon," "Big
Fish," "Fargo," and "The Usual Suspect" is an institute
employee who befriends them, and Michael Clarke Duncan "The
Green Mile," and "Armageddon" is a fellow clone who is
selected to go to "The Island."
Filming began Oct. 25 at Eagle Mountain, near Palm Desert,
Calif. While in Beatty, the crew of approximately 125-150
helped fill every available motel and hotel room in town.
They filmed in Death Valley, at Rhyolite, at the Cind-r-Lite
mine near Lathrop Wells, and on Farm Road in Amargosa Valley.
After leaving Beatty, filming was scheduled to move to
downtown Detroit.
Access to the closed-set production was tightly controlled,
and visitors to Rhyolite were turned away during filming.
While at Rhyolite, the crew used the Barrick Bullfrog site
as its base camp.
Those familiar with the Cook Bank Building, the tallest
of the ruins in Rhyolite, will notice a change in its facade.
Wood and plaster trim and metal railings that were added
for another movie "The Reward" back in 1964 were removed
for the DreamWorks production, returning the windows to
their original appearance.
Caretakers had worried for years that the window dressings
might fall and injure or kill a visitor. Oddly enough,
when they were removed, the one that looked most likely
to fall was found to be firmly anchored, and the one that
looked secure practically fell into the workman's
arms when touched.
The Beatty area, Rhyolite, and the Amargosa Valley have
been used by many movie crews over the years, among them
(with years they were released) "Air Mail" (1925), "Rough
Riders Round-Up" (1939), "The Reward" (1964), "The Hitcher" (1986), "The
Arrogant" (1987), "Cherry 2000," "Midnight Run," and "Homer
and Eddie" (1988), "Never Leave Nevada" (1990), "Delusion" (1991), "Ultraviolet," "Painted
Desert" and "Ramona!" (1992), "Tall Tale" (1995) and "Strip
Show" (1996).
There have also been a number of student films, TV commercials,
documentaries, and other productions shot in the area,
including an HBO comedy special with Steven Wright.
Source: Pahrump
Valley Times
Thanks to ParisRouge for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Saturday, November 6, 2004 // 10:14 a.m.
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Minnesa meets Ewan
Minnesa managed to take a great picture of Ewan yesterday
(scroll down past a few articles to see it). Today she
returned to the streets of Detroit in the hopes of meeting
Ewan a second time.
She wrote:
Hello Ewan McGregor fans!! Can you belive my
luck? I went back down today to see if I could get
another Picture of him, (with my friend Julie ) And God
love him I yelled to him sign my shirt, and he waved us
over!!!!!!!!!! My shirt has a picture of him on it that
says "Love is Ewan McGregor" He asked me where did you
get that shirt?, Did you make it? I said no, I
got it on the Internet, and I have another one look. I
pulled it out of my bag, He said that's great and
showed his friend standing by him. Anyway, here are those
pictures enjoy!!!!!!!!! (I'm the one with the glasses).
Ewan and Minnesa:
Ewan and Julie:
Holding the shirt:
Signing the shirt:
Minnesa, Julie and Ewan:
Thank you, Minnesa!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Friday, November 5, 2004 // 06:44 p.m.
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Ewan signed for Guys And
Dolls
November 5, 2004
BAZ BAMIGBOYE
[...]
FURTHER to my story last week about Megan Mullally's
desire to be in Guys And Dolls in London next year, I can
tell you that Ewan McGregor has now officially signed on
to play Sky Masterson in the musical that Michael Grandage
will direct in the West End late next spring.
This will mark Ewan's London stage musical debut,
re-creating the role Marlon Brando played in the film version.
Producers Howard Panter and David Ian are hoping other
star names will join the show, and I'm hearing of
a very interesting name who has been approached to play
Nathan Detroit.
The show is being seen as a Donmar production (where Grandage
is artistic director) but it will be staged in a big West
End theatre.
[...]
Source: DAILY MAIL (London) via Lexis-Nexis
Thanks to neemers for the find!
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Posted by Best of Ewan McGregor on
Friday, November 5, 2004 // 06:20 p.m.
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Stars Put Their Sparkle on Charity
Christmas Cards
Thu 4 Nov 2004
By Sherna Noah, Showbusiness Correspondent, PA News
 Ewan
McGregor, Sir Ian McKellen and Jamie Oliver are among the
stars who have created these Christmas cards for charity.
Hulk star Eric Bana has drawn a Christmas scene more familiar
in his Australian homeland than in the UK – a figure sunbathing
on a hot beach.
Humorist Stephen Fry has sketched a Santa Claus with a
sackfull of goodies, while ballet dancer Darcy Bussell
has simply depicted a Christmas hat.
EastEnders star Pam St Clement, who plays Pat, has depicted
a large pair of lips and earrings, a look seen on her soap
character.
Novelist Jilly Cooper has drawn a Robin with the word
Noel in a speech bubble.
Actor Michael Gambon has sketched a grumpy looking Santa
Claus with the words Father Christmas After Paying the
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As
reported on the