PDF File - The Peggy Siegal Company

Fox Searchlight Pictures
and
Cross Creek Pictures
invite you to join
the cast and filmmakers at the premiere of
BLACK SWAN
A FILM BY DARREN ARONOFSKY
*** Official Selection - Toronto International Film Festival, 2010 ***
*** Opening Night Selection – Venice International Film Festival, 2010 ***
Tuesday, November 30th
7:30 pm
Ziegfeld Theater
141 W 54th St.
Btwn 6th & 7th Avenues
9:30pm
ST. Regis Hotel
Second Floor
East 55th Street at 5th Avenue
RSVP to [email protected] or 212- 935-6700
this invitation is non-transferable.
SPONSORED BY
National coverage aired on
Natalie Portman
Vincent Cassell
Emmanuelle Chiriqui
Mila Kunis
Winona Ryder
Barbara Hershey
Darren Aronofsky
Thora Birch
Ellen Barkin
Josh Charles
Giancarlo Esposito
Mary Helen Bowers
Sebastian Stan
Alexa Ray Joel
Jill Flint
Chace Crawford
Paulina Porizkova, Ric Ocasek
Ksenia Solo
Anthony Edwards and son
Bryan Lourd, Sandy Gallin
Jean Reno and wife
Sebastian Stan, Chace Crawford, Will Malmati, Peter Facinelli
Natalie Portman Goes Glam for
'Black Swan' Premiere
By LISA HIRSCH
November 30, 2010
Natalie Portman debuted her new film 'Black Swan,' along with a bold red carpet
look, in New York City on Monday night.
In an off-the-shoulder black gown and bold red lipstick, the actress felt the love
on the red carpet, telling ET, "The most exciting thing is just to have people
respond to the movie so enthusiastically and the audiences leave so entertained
and thrilled."
In the film, Natalie plays a ballerina who slowly goes mad, and director Darren
Aronofsky told ET of her preparation, "Natalie Portman trained for 365 days a
year, eight hours a day to do this performance and I think it shows. I think she
really kicked ass."
Another actress who trained hard in ballet for the film was Natalie's co-star Mila
Kunis. "I trained seven days a week, five hours a day for five months and was on
a 1,200 calorie diet, so I lost 20 pounds in about four months," Mila said of the
grueling regimen.
Winona Ryder also stars, and she said of learning about the intense world of
professional ballet, "I haven't been in that world before, so for me it's just a really
fascinating film."
'Black Swan' will pirouette into theaters on Friday.
Natalie & Mila At The ‗Black Swan,‘ NYC Premiere
November 30, 2010
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis hit the red carpet at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New
York City where they talk with Access about the physical and emotional demands
required in the making of their new film, ―Black Swan.‖ Also, Winona Ryder
discusses the parallels between her character and the pressures in Hollywood.
Blab Blab Blab: No Way! A Cool
Actress Does Exist!
By Ted Casablanca and Taryn Ryder / December 3, 2010
"She's one of my favorite actresses to
work with. She's nice, down to earth,
and hilarious. It's hard to find a
gorgeous girl with sense of humor in
this town!"
—Acquaintance of Mila Kunis, who
worked with her on Black Swan.
We get a lot of questions in our mail
bag asking what Hollywood stars
aren't, well, evil and voila! Happy
Friday, here's one for ya!
Also:
We're fans of Mila's work on the big
and small screen, but she's a total doll
in real life, too.
Here she is earlier this week looking
insanely gorgeous at the premiere
of Black Swan in New York, dressed
to perfection in an Ellie Saab gown
with Fred Leighton jewelry.
The movie is truly stunning, it's a must-see this weekend. Both Kunis and Natalie
Portman are exquisite. Really, no bitching about it, sorry!
A Slipper-Clad Mila Kunis Speaks
By Melena Ryzik / December 3, 2010
And now for our daily ―Black Swan‖ post. At the
party after the New York premiere on Tuesday, the
Bagger spoke with Mila Kunis, who plays Natalie
Portman‘s ballet frenemy, the dancing free spirit to
her prima ballerina.Like Ms. Portman, Ms. Kunis
trained rigorously for the movie, spending months
working with Alexandra Blacker, a member of the
Los Angeles Ballet. (―Blacker!‖ Ms. Kunis called,
when she spotted her at the party; they have
become friends.) On the red carpet, Ms. Portman
wore a black gown and Ms. Kunis a cream one, with
a heavily-shouldered jacket and Christian Louboutin
stilletos. But at the party, she unself-consciously
shuffled around in a pair of black hotel slippers, her
dress puddling around her feet and trailing behind
her. Toe shoes are likely not in her future.
Q.
Everyone has talked about how difficult the movie was to make. How did that
affect you?
A.
In a weird way, kind of…positive. The movie kept getting pushed, because we
kept losing money, so that allowed me to keep practicing longer, so I was like, oh
this is O.K. But it was hard. I mean, we lost our financing two weeks, three weeks
before production. It got to a point where you‘re like, I‘m 95 pounds, I tore a
ligament, I had to get an M.R.I., I‘m hungry… there‘s got to be light at the end of
the tunnel.
Q.
How much did you know about the fantasy sequences and what the movie‘s
aesthetic would be?
A.
Not a clue. I thought we were making a documentary-style movie. The beauty
was, where we shot and what you saw is exactly how it was. So it was one of
those things where we were cold, we were miserable, our atmosphere played
into the film. And then the first time I saw it a couple months ago I was like, oh,
this is a little different than I‘d realized. It‘s much more surreal than I thought it
was going to be.
Q.
Are you prepared for there to be blowback from the raunchier stuff in the movie?
Is the Academy ready for those sex scenes?
A.
If you walked out of the movie and that‘s the only thing you remember…
Q.
You‘re a 12-year-old boy?
A.
Yeah! You said it, not me. But it‘s unfortunate if that‘s the only thing that stays
with you. So hopefully people realize that there‘s a purpose for it, there‘s a
reason for it, it‘s not there for a shock value, it‘s not there for gratuity, it serves a
purpose in the story.
Q.
When you train and change your body so much for a role, do you ever miss it
afterward?
A.
I haven‘t done barre in nine months. You miss the discipline more than you
actually miss the actual pain. It‘s very sadistic to be like, I really miss, you know,
tearing a ligament. The discipline – you know, we‘re all creatures of habit. So it‘s
kind of rewarding in a sense. You feel like when you come home and you have to
take an Epsom salt bath that you did something great that day, like you actually
accomplished something. I miss that.
Q.
What happened to your shoes?
A.
Oh, they‘re under the table. I‘ve been wearing high heels for the past month,
because I‘ve been doing press every single day and every single night. And so
this is it, this is my last day. And I was like, I‘m done. And so my lovely publicist,
Melissa, brought slippers with her. I literally went, after the premiere, I was like, I
would really like to go back to the hotel and put on some flats, I cannot deal with
these heels. And as little angel that she is, she busted out with some slippers. It
was the happiest thing that‘s ever happened to me.
Mila Kunis Jumps from ―70s Show‖ to Oscar Circus
with ―Black Swan‖
By Roger Friedman / December 1, 2010
At last, we had the premiere of Darren
Aronofsky‗s excellent, cutting edge
psychological thriller, ―Black Swan,‖ last
night.
Aronofsky and Natalie Portman are old
pro‘s at this sort of thing. Not so Mila
Kunis, who‘s made the jump from TV
fame on ―That 70s Show‖ to the Oscar
race with a standout performance in
―Black Swan.‖ She‘s a ballet dancer who
may or may not exist, and may or may not
be a friend of Portman‘s character.
On the red carpet at Monday night‘s
Gotham Awards, Kunis looked, well,
frightened. She came into 55 Wall Street
with her eyes crossed. She was also
exhausted. Last night, at the movie‘s
premiere, she cut her red carpet
appearance short.
Later, at the swanky party at the St. Regis
Hotel following the Ziegfeld Theater screening, Mila arrived after a costume
change. She was a little calmer. ―I‘ve done like 50 Q&A‘s since Toronto,‖ she told
me. Luckily, last night she had the help of good friend Emmanuelle Chriqui, of
―Entourage‖ fame, to guide her along.
I think Mila‘s going to do fine, but what happens if she gets some award action?
Yesterday ―Black Swan‖ picked up some Indie Spirit nominations including Best
Feature, Director, and Actress. It‘s all starting.
Meanwhile some other guests at the Black Swan premiere included the movie‘s
costars Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder and Vincent Cassel, as well
as Debra Winger (who brought her 23 year old son — wow–time flies), Eli
Roth (planning his Friars Roast speech for today honoringQuentin Tarantino-‖this speech should be a career-ender,‖ he joked), Robert Wuhl, Dana Ivey,
Giancarlo Esposito, producer Marty Richards, super agent Bryan Lourd,
and Ellen Barkin.
Remember the great Spanish actor (with a French name) Jean Reno from
―Mission Impossible‖? He starred with Natalie Portman when she was 11 in ―The
Professional.‖ That was sixteen years ago! ―I always knew she would be a star,‖
Reno said suavely at dinner. And, he was right!
So this is what I think of Mila Kunis, who is 27, was born in the Ukraine, is Jewish
and was raised in Los Angeles. She‘s on her way. Once audiences see ―Black
Swan,‖ all thoughts of the ―70s Show‖ will be erased.
Darren Aronofsky chats up Ellen Barkin at 'Black
Swan' premiere after-party
December 6, 2010
Newly single and mustachioed
director Darren Aronofsky was trying
his best to work the room at the "Black
Swan" premiere after-party the other
night at the St. Regis. The filmmaker,
who has seemingly bounced back since
his recent split with Rachel Weisz after
a five-year engagement, spent an hour
chatting up Ellen Barkin. Attendees
included cast members Natalie
Portman, Mila Kunis and Winona
Ryder and guests Chace
Crawford, Debra
Winger and Emmanuelle Chriqui, who
chatted about the explicit love scene
between Portman and Kunis and
Aronofsky's new, pencil-thin mustache.
SUNDAY SNAPS
The Beautiful ―Black Swan‖ Swoops in for NYC
Premiere
By Brian Brooks / December 1, 2010
Wow! ―Black Swan!‖ Last night was the NYC premiere for director Darren
Aronofsky‘s latest, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara
Hershey and Winona Ryder. The audience, including some of us at iW, gasped
during some of the scenes. It‘s an intoxicating experience. iPOP says go for it!
Anyway, following the screening at the Ziegfeld Theatre in Midtown, invitees
headed over for the official party at the nearby St. Regis Hotel, which was quite
swank. A life-sized ballerina figure twirling to Swan Lake greeted guests.
Aronofsky joked to iW, ―They spent $70,000 on that…‖ All in all, a great evening
and despite the stormy weather outside, the party was packed with the famous
and beautiful (and those who look the part). Pictured here, Natalie Portman,
Darren Aronofsky and Fox Searchlight co-president, Nancy Utley. Searchlight will
open ―Black Swan‖ beginning in limited release on Friday, December 3rd. Check
it out!
Mila Kunis is 'nervous' at 'Black Swan' premiere
while costar Natalie Portman works the carpet
December 2, 2010
Mila Kunis is still finding her comfort zone when it comes to big-screen stardom.
She and fellow "Black Swan" beauty Natalie Portman might be onscreen
Doppelgangers, but they couldn't have been more different on the red carpet at
Tuesday's Ziegfeld Theatre premiere.
While charming Harvard grad Portman faced the press like a bona fide movie
star, Kunis - still best known for "That '70s Show" and "Forgetting Sarah
Marshall" — was reserved. It seems she's a little "nervous" (says a female pal)
about how her most substantial role yet will be perceived. But by the time she
reached the post-show party at the St. Regis Hotel, Kunis found her footing literally. She had switched heels for slippers, and one insider said she even joked
about wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.
GOTCHA!
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis Discussed
‗Awkward‘ Sex Scenes, But Not Pulling One
Another‘s Hair
December 2, 2010
Natalie Portman helped Mila Kunis get cast
in Black Swan: "When Darren [Aronofsky] asked
me, 'Who do you think could do this part? Who
has sort of a similar height, coloring, physique?' I
was like, 'Oh, Mila, Mila, Mila," the actress told
MTV on Wednesday. But, "I didn't really think
through the fact that I was going to have to have
sex with her in the movie. So, it was pretty
awkward. I almost feel like it would be easier to do it with someone you didn't
know." MTV's Josh Horowitz then casually asked the demure Portman for more
details on simulating sex with Mila Kunis — "Did you talk about it? Did you walk
each other through it?" — for journalism's sake, of course. "We talked about it,"
Portman admitted."The shared experience, the awkwardness of it. But we
weren't plotting it out, like, 'And then, pull my hair.' That didn't happen." Ha, no.
Who was imagining a thing like that?
Party Lines Slideshow:
Mila Kunis, Natalie
Portman, Darren
Aronofsky, and More
at the Black Swan
New York Premiere
Last week, at The Black Swan's New York premiere, Vulture caught up with Mila
Kunis to talk about the hard parts of turning into a ballerina. "I think the
physicality of having your body look a certain way," Kunis told us. "I mean,
actresses are skinny to begin with, but to get en pointe and not break your ankle,
you have to have a certain amount of muscles to sustain your body and no fat
whatsoever. The ballet world, they are fit. They are little rocks. They just have no
fat on them whatsoever. [After the movie] my stomach was a little bit on the rocks
for a time. It was a little hard to go back to eating the way that I normally eat. You
know, human portions and not little bird portions." For more celebrity quotations,
click through our Party Lines slideshow.
New York Premiere of Black Swan
Ziegfeld Theater. November 30, 2010. By Jada Yuan
You didn’t actually hurt Natalie in the scene where you’re
clipping her fingernails? “No. I don‟t hurt actors.” —B A R B A R A
HERSHEY
You trained Natalie Portman. Any advice for dealing with beatup feet? “I‟m a big fan of just drying blisters out as quickly as possible.
Hydrogen peroxide. Leave it open at night. Calluses for a dancer are a good
thing. We‟re very protective of our calluses. Lost toenails happen all the
time. They‟re just part of the job.” —M A R Y H E L E N B O W E R S
Do you feel like the trailers reveal too much? “For me, as the
person who lived with this script for a really long time and thinks that
there are a lot of surprises, it‟s hard to watch and be like, „Hey, why are
they showing that in the trailer?‟ It‟s a balance. I think the challenge was to
make audiences understand that this wasn‟t just a ballet movie.” —M A R K
HEYMAN
You lost twenty pounds for this part. Did you like the way you
looked? “I have never been fitter in my life. I was also the skinniest thing
walking around. I was bones and muscles. It was horrible. It was incredibly
unattractive.” —M I L A
KUNIS
Did you injure your actors with all the dancing and broken
mirrors? “Not from broken mirrors. But people got hurt. We lost a lot
of toenails, had a dislocated rib. Natalie banged her head and had to get
an MRI. We were careful with the glass. That‟s the easy stuff. They use
sugar glass.” —D A R R E N A R O N O F S K Y
What was the hardest ballet costume to make? “The crowns for the
demon and the Black Swan. There needed to be a power in the crown. It‟s
linked to this demonic, kind of menacing idea, so for us using metal was
really important. But it was almost impossible. We finally used lightweight
copper and made it happen.” —K A T E
MULLEAVY
Are ballet dancers sexy? “They‟re very flexible. But they‟re like nuns,
really. They‟re truly dedicated to something where they‟re going to have to
suffer and not get paid very much, more or less.” —V I N C E N T
CASSELL
How are your feet now? “My feet are fine. They recovered.
Amazingly. I don‟t think that‟s common for actual dancers. But mine just
went back to normal.” —N A T A L I E P O R T M A N
How did your feet hold up dancing in this movie? “Do you want
gritty details? A toenail or two was lost that I thought I would never get
back again.” —K S E N I A
—A L E X I S
—J A M E S
RAY JOEL
LIPTON
SOLO
—C H A C E
CRAWFORD
—Y I G A L
AZROUËL
—E L L E N
BARKIN
—E M M A N U E L L E
CHRIQUI
—W I N O N A
RYDER
—P E T E R
FACINELLI
—T H O R A
BIRCH
'Black Swan' New York premiere
November 30, 2010
'Black Swan' New York premiere
( Michael Loccisano / Getty Images / November 30, 2010 )
Natalie Portman arrives for the New York premiere of her film "Black Swan" at
the Ziegfeld Theatre. Portman plays a dancer under immense pressure to
achieve perfection in this psycho-thriller version of "Swan Lake."
Natalie Portman's Look at the NY 'Black Swan'
Premiere
By Meg Hemphill / December 1, 2010
Natalie Portman has never
qualified as an ugly duckling. So
there's no fairytale to her
transformation for theBlack
Swan premiere Tuesday night in
New York City.
The petite beauty looked
ravishing nonetheless. In headto-toe Dior, Portman looked
reminiscent of a floating dancer,
which she plays in her latest title
role.
Makeup artist Jeanine
Lobell created the look, focusing
on the mouth: "I lined her lips
with a nude pencil and filled them
in with a burgundy shade," said
Lobell. "Then I went over the first
layer with a true blue-red in the
center to give the color more
dimension."
She used Rouge Dior Lipcolor in
Zinnia Red layered over Fantastic Plum. The eyes were left simple: Dior Beige
Point eyeshadow, black liquid liner and Diorshow Extase Mascara. The
glamorous, romantic vibe extended to her hair, which was curled from ear level to
the ends and left down and haphazardly parted in the middle.
The finishing touch: Dior jewels.
Natalie Portman & Mila Kunis Bring ‗Black Swan‘
to the Big Apple
December 1, 2010
Natalie Portman attends the New York premiere of "Black Swan" at Ziegfeld
Theatre on Nov. 30 in NYC.
Best Dressed At The 'Black Swan' Premiere: Mila
Kunis, Natalie Portman, And Thora Birch
By Avren Jackson-Cannady / December 1, 2010
Dozens of screen stars (decked out in GORGEOUS dresses) flocked to Ziegfeld
Theatre in New York City last night for the premiere of the ballet-based
flick, Black Swan, which hits theaters nationwide on Dec. 3. The fashion mood
was part dark/part elegant. Hmm, sounds a lot like the mood of the movie (which
we can‘t wait to see, by the way!). Here are our favorite looks of the evening.
MILA KUNIS
Mila Kunis, who costars in Black Swan, glowed in a
off-white Elie Saab short-sleeve deep V-neck gown,
which she wore with gold accessories—drop
earrings, a bracelet trio and AMAZING Christian
Louboutin pumps.
NATALIE PORTMAN
Black Swan star Natalie Portman walked the carpet
in an off-the-shoulder black Dior gown. She teamed
the stunning dress with blood red lips and
an Olympia Le-Tan book clutch of the novelLolita.
Our only complaint about Natalie‘s look? Her
somber smirk…smile, girl!
THORA BIRCH
Thora Birch (remember her from the
movie American Beauty?) wore a simple silk blouse,
black skirt and deep red pumps that looked more
glam when teamed with her clipped back hair and
wine-colored pout.
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis Swan About NYC
Together
By Lauren Turner / December 1, 2010
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis premiered their much-anticipated ballet
film, Black Swan, in NYC last night. Natalie wore a dark Dior gown and dramatic
red lips, while Mila went with a lighter look in Elie Saab. It was the costars'
second evening in a row of sharing the red carpet after stepping out for the
Gotham Independent Film Awards on Monday to support director Darren
Aronofsky. The ladies were also on the West Coast earlier this month for
a premiere in LA, where they talked about the many challenges, like extreme
weight loss, that their roles required. All of their hard work is already paying off,
as the film received multiple Independent Spirit Award nominations ahead of its
Friday release.
ON THE RED CARPET WITH THE CAST
OF BLACK SWAN
December 1, 2010
The stars of Black Swan have been all over the world promoting the film — and
have worn some incredible looks along the way. There was lots of Rodarte (the
Mulleavy sisters co-designed the ethereal costumes for the ballet-centric film),
with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis leading the stylish pack.
Natalie Portman: 'Black Swan' New York Premiere!
November 30, 2010
Natalie Portman hits the
red carpet at the premiere of her new
film Black Swan held at the Ziegfeld
Theatre in New York on Tuesday
(November 30).
The 29-year-old actress chose
a Dior dress, Dior jewelry, and
an Olympia Le Tan clutch that
looked like the book ―Lolita‖. ―It‘s the
greatest book in the English
language!‖ Nat shared.
The night before, Natalie attended
the Gotham Independent Film
Awards, where her Black
Swan director Darren
Aronofsky received an honorary award.
FYI: Natalie was just nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in the Best
Female Lead category for her work in Black Swan!
Get Natalie Portman's Dark Glamour Look
December 2, 2010
Switching from a parade of bright
makeup looks at Black
Swan premieres, Natalie
Portman debuted a darker side at
Monday's NYC premiere with a rich
burgundy lip color and tousled waves.
Snag the star's sexy look with tips
from her makeup and hair pros:
MAKEUP
The trick behind the actress' striking
lip hue? "I layered two shades of lip
color," celeb makeup artist Jeanine
Lobell tells UsMagazine.com.
Lobell first lined Portman's pout with
Dior Lipliner Pencil in Earth
($28, dior.com) and followed up with
Rouge Dior Lipcolor in Zinnia Red
($30).
Next, she finished with Rouge Dior
Lipcolor in Fantastic Plum ($30). "The
second layer added more dimension,"
Lobell explains.
For eyes, Lobell kept it simple and dusted on Dior 1-Colour Eyeshadow in Beige
Point ($28). She added a touch of drama by lining Portman's lids with Dior Liquid
Eyeliner in black ($32).
"The full-bodied waves balanced perfectly with her Dior gown," celeb hair stylist
John D tells Us.
To prevent frizz, he prepped Portman's mane with Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling
Creme ($32,moroccanoil.com) and blow dried it straight using a round brush.
Next, he curled her hair using a one-inch iron and spritzed Morrocaanoil
Luminous Hairspray ($21) for extra hold.
After the hair cooled, he used a paddle brush to gently separate the curls and
finished the look with a light mist of Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray ($26).
Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder at the Black
Swan premiere in New York
December 1, 2010
Meanwhile across the pond, a glowing Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder
shared a cuddle on the red carpet of the Black Swan premiere in New York. The
movie, a dramatic thriller about a ballet dancer struggling to compete against her
rivals, is out in cinemas across the UK this Friday and we can't wait to see it!
Five Best Dressed Babes From Last Night! Taylor
Swift, Mila Kunis, Blake Lively & More!
By Katrina Mitzeliotis / December 1, 2010
From sparkling sequins to glam gowns, these gals had the best looks from
last night! Who do you think was best dressed?
With a slew of events, our favorite stylish a-listers turned up on red carpets
everywhere! The most formal looks from the night, Nov. 30, were at the Black
Swan premiere in NYC, where stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis turned up
in breathtaking gowns. The face of Christian Dior, (Natalie), looked stunning in
an off the shoulder gown from the resort 2011 collection. While the runway
version was in turquoise and had an embellished bodice, Natalie kept her look
simple — although the intricate detailing on the bodice isn‘t as noticeable in black
against the black backdrop.
Her co-star Mila looked both sexy and chic in a plunging Elie Saab, complete
with a slit. The star paired her frock with Chrisitan Louboutin shoes and
Fred Leighton jewels.
While the Black Swan beauties wowed in more formal frocks, Blake
Lively went for her go-to get-up, a sexy mini, at the 24th Annual Footwear
News Achievement Awards at The Museum of Modern Art in NYC.
The Gossip Girl opted for a green draped dress, complete with belt and
voluminous sleeves, by designer Prabal Gurung. She paired her get-up
with a ponytail, large hoop earrings, and a gorgeous pair of Christian
Louboutin sheer glitter booties.
At the CMT Artists of the Year event in Tennessee, Carrie
Underwood and Taylor Swiftalso turned up in minis by one of my fave
designers, Jenny Packham — although I loved Taylor‘s dress way better.
With Natalie being my overall fave from the night, who did you think was
best dressed?
―This Week In Movies‖ – ―Black Swan,‖ ―The
King‘s Speech‖
By: Pete Hammond / December 6, 2010
HollywoodNews.com: Do movie going weekends get any slower than this?
Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving is among the slowest, if not the slowest
of the year and this one did nothing to alter than perception. With only one new
film even attempting a semi-wide release, Relativity Media‘s ninja western, ―The
Warriors Way‖ (a disastrous 9th place start on 1600 screens), it really was a
period where specialty releases like the fantastic 18 screen debut of ―Black
Swan‖ or the second limited weekend of ―The King‘s Speech‖ could really strut
their stuff. The mainstream masses may have had other things on their mind like
tree trimming, shopping, parties or Chunakah but the art house crowd was out in
force.
―Black Swan‖ director Darren Aronofsky was ebullient when I caught up with him
earlier this week. He had just come to L.A. from the New York premiere of ‗Swan‘
and said it was an overwhelming experience for him right down to the smeared
pink lipstick decorations at the post party. He‘s really obsessed with the sound
quality of the film and said NY‘s Ziegfeld theatre where the premiere took place
was beyond reproach. When ‗Swan‘ premiered at AFI Fest at the Chinese earlier
in November he had real problems with the audio although I thought it sounded
great. It‘s important because Clint Mansell‘s booming musical soundtrack is a big
part of the thrill factor of this twisted and dark film about a mentally unbalanced
prima ballerina (Natalie Portman) who gets the lead role in a Lincoln Center
production of Swan Lake and spirals into a near-nervous breakdown. My advice
to perfectionist Aronofsky is if he thinks the Chinese was dicey, stay out of the
malls. The sound and picture presentation of films in many run-of-the-mill multiplexes can be really depressing for directors who put their all into the making of
these films. You are lucky if they are in focus half the time. At any rate Balletthemed movies aren‘t usually the stuff of box office blockbusters but with a
$77,000 estimated per screen average on 18 screens the movie did about $1.3
million , very impressive and better than Fox Searchlight‘s other hot titles of years
past like ―Little Miss Sunshine,‖ ―Sideways,‖ ―Juno‖ and ―Slumdog Millionaire‖
when they started out.
Continuing on the specialty front ―The King‘s Speech‖ had the best second week
hold of any limited release this year with a British sterling $54,000 per and just
over $800,000 on only 6 screens so far. Starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in
the story of the friendship that develops between the stuttering King George VI
and his Australian speech therapist, this could become a word-of-mouth smash
for The Weinstein Company which really needs this kind of hit. On the surface it
would seem to be a stuffy British period piece but it‘s actually nothing remotely
close, instead a winning story of two disparate people brought together through
unexpected circumstances. Screenwriter David Seidler was a stutterer himself as
a child and made it a lifelong passion to tell the King George story. It only took
him about 40 years though to finally put all the pieces together that resulted
finally in the film version. Actually he wrote it as a play as a writing exercise but it
never got produced. Rush got hold of it and suggested it would be good film
material and it went from there. Now ironically Seider tells me it looks like it finally
WILL become a stage piece with a hoped-for London West End production in
2011. I seriously doubt though Firth or Rush will be headlining.
The fact is both ―Black Swan‖ and ―The King‘s Speech‖ are projects that almost
didn‘t get made except for the passion of a few who pushed them through.
‗Swan‘ was ten years in development and the plug was nearly pulled as little as
four weeks before production began until an angel investor came through with
the needed cash at the last minute. Another ―specialty‖ item that opened this
week, Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor‘s ―I Love You, Philip Morris‖ has been in
limbo for nearly two years, in and out of courts with distributors who dropped the
ball and threatened with the real prospect of going straight to DVD in America, an
astounding prospect for a Carrey film. This gay-themed comedy about a con man
in love with a fellow prisoner finally got a company, Roadside Attractions, to put
up money for prints and advertising and was released on six screens to a very
good average of nearly $19,000. That‘s good news because the movie which
started life at Sundance 2009 is really funny and a quite amazing true story of a
flamboyant guy named Steven Russell who outwits the system at every
opportunity , embarrassing prison officials in Texas with his numerous escapes
and schemes. Now he is in solitary confinement with no way out. He pushed it
too far and the then-George W. Bush administration was red faced about his
antics. If anything it would be nice if this film could help spring him. The guy‘s an
absolute genius and the movie is a fitting tribute in many ways.
Hopefully all these films that have taken the long road to theatres will get wide
distribution and a healthy run nationally, if only to encourage others to stick with
their passion and keep the fires burning for smart cinema.
Beauty Look of the Week: Natalie Portman
at Black Swan's NYC Premiere
By Tanzy Alfred / December 3, 2010
WHO: Natalie Portman
WHERE: Black Swan's NYC Premiere
THE LOOK: Natalie makes a dramatic
departure from her everyday red carpet Look
(luminous but natural makeup) with statementmaking red lips. I can't help but love her
perfectly applied rich burgundy lip, which she
complemented with lashings of mascara and
gorgeous curls!
GET THE LOOK: Recreate this look with tips
from her makeup and hair pros:
Makeup artist Jeanine Lobell created the
dynamic lip color by layering two shades of
Rouge Dior Lipcolor in Zinnia Red #743 and
Fantastic Plum #874. "I lined her lips with a
nude pencil (Dior Lipliner Pencil in Earth #433)
and filled them in with more of a burgundy shade. Then, I went over the first layer
with a true blue red in the center to give the color more dimension," said Lobell.
Stylist John D. created a gorgeous full-bodied look to complement Natalie's
dramatic Dior gown. "The hair was beautiful, and helped balance the total look,"
said John, "especially since the bottom of the dress was so full. I started with
argan oil-infused Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream then blow dried the hair
smooth using a round brush to give it 'oomph' at the root. I used Moroccanoil
Hydrating Styling Cream for its soft hold and hydration. Natalie has naturally curly
hair and it needs extra moisture to look its best, since it can easily dry out.
Hydrating Styling Cream helps protect her hair, adds moisture, and smoothes the
cuticle. It also gets rid of any frizz and static. I then used a 1" curling iron, and
starting at the back of her head, I curled round sections all over her head to set
the volume in, curling back from the face in the front. I finished her hair with
Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray to give it extra hold that looked soft. After her
hair cooled, I used one of my tricks: I sprayed a paddle brush with hairspray and
used it to separate and loosen the hair. This also tames the curls at the same
time. I completed the look with a touch of hairspray to give it extra hold. Finally, I
gave used a light mist of Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray to finish."
―Black Swan‖ Has Its New York Premiere; I Finally
Meet Winona Ryder
December 1, 2010
Below is a clip of Darren Aronofsky introducing ―Black Swan‖ and its cast
members at the film‘s New York premiere last night. Natalie Portman, Mila
Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and, yes, Winona Ryder were all in tow,
and they all showed face at the film‘s swanky St. Regis Hotel after party.
Thanks to some quick moves care of my colleague and friend Anne Thompson
(who I am forever indebted to now), I finally achieved my boyhood dream of
meeting Ryder herself at the party. I‘d come this close at the Gotham Awards
the night before but chickened out, but after basically following Ryder around the
party for an hour, Anne took matters into her own hands and made it happen.
It was sadly underwhelming. I wish I had some amazing story or a photo of us
embracing, but it basically went something this (though I‘ll admit it‘s all a bit of a
blur):
Anne: I‘d like you to meet my colleague, Peter Knegt, who works for indieWIRE
Winona: Hi, Peter. Nice Meet You.
Peter: [Stares awkwardly in Winona‘s eyes, wondering if she‘d noticed him
stalking her for the past hour, and struggles to come up with anything to say and
then finally just goes with a squeaky noise].
Winona: I wouldn‘t know indieWIRE I don‘t use the internet.
Peter: Never?
Winona: Never. I read a lot.
Someone else: What have you been reading?
Winona: I really love Philip Roth, I was just re-reading American Pastoral.
Peter: [Realizing he‘s read American Pastoral tries to come up with something
clever to say but instead just mumbles something incoherently.]
Winona: I also just read Patti Smith‘s memoir about her relationship with the late
photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
Peter: [Wishes he‘d actually read the book, which was on his nightstand for two
months after he borrowed it from a friend]. I‘ve heard it‘s amazing.
Winona: You should read it. [Her handlers or friends then motion that its time to
move through the room, then Winona‘s bulging eyes suggest to me our
conversation is done].
Peter: Well…. it was very nice to meet you.
[We cheers glasses, she takes off, I immediately think of 10,000 better things I
could have said]
At least now the ice has been broken for our next meeting‘s certain evolution into
a lifelong friendship. And here‘s the clip of Aronofsky introducing the film:
Natalie Portman's 'Lolita' clutch
By Carolyn Kellogg / December 4, 2010
Natalie Portman showed up at
the New York premiere of
"Black Swan" with a long
black Dior gown, immaculate
Dior makeup, and a purse
made out of a copy of "Lolita"
by Vladimir Nabokov.
The purse is by French
designer Olympia Le-Tan. Her
book bags feature a handstitched version of the books'
covers, usually of titles or
editions from the mid-20th
century.
"Catcher in the Rye" by J.D.
Salinger,
"A Streetcar Named Desire"
by Tennessee Williams,
"Strip-Tease" by Georges
Simenon, "Moby Dick" by
Herman Melville, "Nineteen
Eighty-Four" by George
Orwell, "Dracula" by Bram
Stoker and "Letters to a
Young Poet" by Rainer Maria
Rilke are among the purses in
her two first lines.
The British newspaper the
Telegraph has a slideshow of
Olympia Le-Tan's clutches, with a peek inside "Lolita" (it's a snazzy purple-andgreen print).
Each comes in a very limited edition of 16 purses. And according to her website,
Olympia Le-Tan clutches are available in the U.S. in only two New York stores.
Le-Tan's purses may be one of the hottest things on the red carpet right now -another one went to the Harry Potter premiere in the hands of French actress
Clemence Poesy -- but for most of us, the cost is out of reach. A Le-Tan purse
costs about $1,250.
Of course, book-style purses are nothing new. Last year we found books-turnedpurses for sale on Etsy. And for the truly crafty, we also linked to a video guide
for making your own.
Just one thing: if you're going to rip all the pages out of a classic like "Lolita,"
don't cheat yourself: read it first.
Photos From Around New York: November 30,
2010
December 1, 2010
Not only was traffic bad, there was also major event "gridlock" last night. Midtown
was packed with holiday revelers celebrating the lighting of the Rockefeller
Center Christmas tree and across town celebrities and New York socialites were
at various parties getting into the spirit of the season.
Natalie Portman looked gorgeous at The Black Swan premiere (shocker)
and Blake Lively got a chance to chat with Christian Louboutin about her
recent sample sale purchases at the 24th Annual Footwear News
Achievement Awards at the MOMA.
Elsewhere, 90s musician odd-couple Ben Folds and Mark Hoppus from Blink
182 performed holiday favorites at the Fuse studio while Ben Harper, Dhani
Harrison and Joseph Arthur attended the 2010 UNICEF Snowflake Ball.
‘Black Swan’ premiere: Natalie Portman & Mila Kunis transform
pain into beauty
December 1st, 2010
By Matt Semino, NY Pop Culture
New York‘s legendary Ziegfeld Theater is traditionally the stomping ground for
Hollywood‘s multimillion-dollar blockbusters. On Tuesday night though, it hosted
the premiere of a different kind of powerhouse film. A Fox Searchlight release,
Black Swan is a texturally opulent and darkly evocative tour de force by director
Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Pi and Requiem for a Dream). Opening in
theaters on Friday, this masterful film is marching into awards season with Oscar
written all over it.
Sponsored by Dior Beauty, the New York premiere drew a glamorous set from
the worlds of film and fashion as the two mediums are lusciously interfused
throughout the movie.
Gracing the red carpet was the film‘s stellar cast, including the sizzling star
actresses Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, Vincent Cassell,
Barbara Hershey, Ksenia Solo, Sebastian Stan, director Darren Aronofsky,
the film‘s costume designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, producers
Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Ms. Portman‘s ballet trainer Mary Helen
Bowers and screenwriter Mark Heyman. Chace Crawford, Ellen Barkin, Zac
Posen, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jill Flint, Jean Reno, James Lipton, Julia
Restoin Roitfeld, Yigal Azrouël, Peter Facinelli, Rick Ocasek, Paulina
Porizkova, Alexa Ray Joel and Thora Birch also came out to catch this year‘s
hottest ticket on the silver screen.
Hailed at Toronto and Venice, Black Swan just received a slew of Independent
Spirit Award nominations, including Best Feature, Best Director, Best
Cinematography and Best Actress for Natalie Portman‘s career-defining
performance. The critical acclaim and road to Ziegfeld have been no small feat
for a project that for over ten years moved slowly through various stages of
development and nearly lost its financing.
When asked about all the Oscar buzz surrounding the film, an elated but
refreshingly humble Aronofsky responded that it ―just helps a small film like this.
It‘s true, we don‘t get the budgets that allow us to get the ads, so people just
talking about the film is exciting.‖ On the topic of his leading lady‘s chance at the
Academy Award for Best Actress, he said with pride, ―365 days, eight hours a
day, she unleashed, she becomes a woman onscreen, Natalie Portman.‖
A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, Black Swan stars
Ms. Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of
competitive intrigue with savvy newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis). Sheltered by an
overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), Nina‘s seemingly perfect world consists
entirely of dance. As a classic case of arrested development, Nina‘s closest
companions are the ballerina music box and the stuffed animals that fill her pink,
childlike bedroom. When the ballet company‘s manipulative artistic director
(Vincent Cassel) announces plans to stage a new production of Swan Lake, he
knows that the virginal Nina is perfect for the role of the White Swan and as the
replacement for aging star Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder). Brutally, he also
vocalizes his doubts in Nina‘s ability to transform herself into the fiercely
seductive Black Swan, leading the sexual Lily to be named as her understudy.
Deeply fragile, paranoid and replete with self-doubt, Nina transcends into a
terrifying yet immensely cathartic psychological journey upon hearing this news.
As Black Swan purrs toward its heart-stopping climax, Nina and Lily become
more physically and mentally intertwined and indistinguishable. Tremendous
media attention has been paid to the erotic sex sequence in the film between
Portman and Kunis as well as the painstaking ballet training and diet regimens
that each actress underwent in order to prepare for their arduous roles. The
intense chemistry and physical transformation presented onscreen by Portman
and Kunis reflects the brave dedication that each actress gave not only to the film
but to their craft. Both trained eight hours a day for months on end, with Portman
sustaining a dislocated rib in the process. While titillating and shocking, to focus
exclusively on these dramatic aspects of Portman‘s and Kunis‘ character
development overlooks the centrality of their symbiotic relationship to the film.
The dramatic manifestation of that relationship between the two dancers,
whether painfully real or perceived, is what truly drives the beauty and thematic
force of Black Swan.
As Nina's alter-ego, Lily pushes and pulls the perfect ballerina through an inner
world of temptation, desire, fear and psychosexual exploration. By delving into
the sanctums of self that are forbidden by her assigned societal persona and
construct, Nina emerges triumphantly into a part and a role as a woman for which
she is frighteningly perfect. For Nina, pain belies ecstasy as she morphs into the
fully realized person who has yearned for expression but for so long has been
repressed by the world she inhabits.
At the premiere, a breathtakingly beautiful Portman was dressed in a sensual,
black off the shoulder Dior gown. Facing the cameras with her dramatic red lips
and a clutch in the form of the novel ―Lolita,‖ Portman stylistically made an
intellectual nod to her character‘s complex, female duality. When asked how she
felt about becoming Nina for the film, Portman responded, ―I think she is really
searching for how to step out of pleasing other people. That was something I
could really understand being a certain child actress where you are always just
trying to please your director. Going toward something where you are really
trying to find your own pleasure, that is her transition. It was really exciting to get
to explore that.‖
The extremes of Ms. Portman‘s character, embodied in the allegory of a White
and a Black Swan, is reflected visually through the intricate, couture creations for
each of Nina‘s roles. Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the genius duo behind fashion
label Rodarte, designed the film‘s costumes and shared with Examiner.com
some of the sources that inspired their aesthetic approach. ―We really looked to
artists like Eva Hesse and just the combination of texture within her work. The
dual roles that she was constantly playing with really ended up being a way that
we could talk about creating a White and a Black Swan. We were constantly
having to show two sides of a character,‖ explained Laura.
To view Black Swan only as a ballet film or a macabre, art-house thriller is overly
simplistic. Through Portman‘s and Kunis‘ characters and by brilliantly utilizing the
technical world of ballet as metaphor, Director Darren Aronofsky forces us to
explore what can be a terrifying psychological journey. The process of
deconstructing and then redefining our understanding of self outside the confines
of societal imposed expectations can be dangerous. Like Nina, are we fooling
ourselves to believe that we can really be the perfect wife, the perfect husband,
the perfect mother, the perfect father, the perfect child, the perfect person? Could
we potentially achieve greater self-actualization and enlightenment through
experiences that push us beyond the realm of our defined psychological, sexual
and emotional boundaries? Through Black Swan, Aronofsky is answering "yes"
to both questions.
Just as the curtain was about rise at the Ziegfeld, actress Barbara Hershey
shared her thoughts on the idea of perfection, a concept that is raised by her
controlling character Erica and a thread that weaves itself throughout the film.
She said confidently, ―I think it is an impossibility, perfection, and I think it is a
very subjective term. Maybe a healthier version of that is becoming the best that
you can be and the bar of that can raise according to your own evolution.
Perfection is not part of being human. There is a zone where it is an exciting
place. If you are not mentally stable it can be destructive and if you are mentally
stable it can be incredibly creative. I think we are all trying to go there but not with
the repercussions that Nina has.‖
Photo Coverage: Black Swan New York Premiere Arrivals
November 30, 2010
Natalie Portman
Wynona Ryder
Mila Kunis
Actresses Natalie Portman, Wynona Ryder and Mila Kunis attend the New York
Premiere of Black Swan at Ziegfeld Theatre on November 30, 2010 in New York
City.
Winona Ryder Opts for a Pant Suit on the Red
Carpet
December 1, 2010
Winona Ryder dons a menswear style on the red carpet. Here she wears a boxy
tuxedo jacket with slim pants and a leather clutch.
The menswear style has been making a comeback at Hollywood events.
Leighton Meester was just spotted rocking her own take on the androgynous
look.
We've spotted other celebrities with a similar look, including Rihanna, Ann Lopez,
and Carla Gugino. Check out all 28 pictures in the Pantsuit Lookbook.
Elegance At The Black Swan Premiere In New
York
It was an elegant affair at the New York premiere of Black Swan. The balletbased flick seems to have imbued it's stars with some dancer's grace of their
own, as Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder and Ellen Barkin all seemed
to glide down the red carpet in these incredibly chic ensembles. Natalie wore a
darkly romantic, off the shoulder gown by Dior, whilst Mila Kunis kept things on
the lighter side in a pale pink, but equally pretty floor sweeping number.
Winona did a 180 on the feminine silhouetteshe rocked yesterday by donning
a chic man-style, black evening suit. Seems the suit really IS the next big
thing on the red carpet! Take a flick through to see more elegant oufits from this
oh-so-polished premiere.
Black Swan NYC Premiere!
December 1, 2010
Director Darren Aronofsky's latest movie, ―Black Swan,‖ stars Natalie Portman,
Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis and Winona Ryder. The psychological thriller is set
backstage at the New York City Ballet.
It opens in major cities Friday, Dec. 3
Alexa Joel
Wynona Ryder
Thora Birch
Barbara Hershey
Ksenia Solo
Mila Kunis
Vincent Cassell
Natalie Portman
Emmanuelle Chriqui
Sebastian Stan
Chace Crawford
Peter Facinelli
Natalie Portman & Wynona Ryder
Natalie Portman Premieres ‗Black Swan‘ in NYC
November 30, 2010
Spending the evening on the red carpet, Natalie Portman was front and center at
the New York premiere of "Black Swan" on Tuesday (November 30).
Held at Ziegfeld Theatre, the lovely actress was clad in a stylish black gown while
joined by co-stars Mila Kunis and Winona Ryder.
For the movie, Natalie recently spoke about undergoing extreme ballet, crosstraining and swimming a year before shooting began, as she told Us magazine, "I
think it was just the physicality of it all that was the most extreme. I mean, I had
never gotten that much training - to be doing five-to-eight hours a day of [it] was
really a challenge."
"I think the most important thing is coming to work as prepared as you can be
every day and working as hard as you can every day," she added. "If you do that,
you can always ensure that you have an amazing experience."
"Black Swan" makes its way into theaters this Friday, December 3rd.
'Black Swan' New York Premiere
(Natalie Portman)
'Black Swan' New York Premiere
In This Photo: Natalie Portman
Celebrities attending the premiere of "Black Swan" at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City,
NY.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
NYC Premiere of "Black Swan" Pics
Spend the night on the red carpet was Natalie Portman front and
center in the New York premiere of "Black Swan" on Tuesday
November 30. Held at Ziegfeld Theatre, the beautiful actress was
dressed in an elegant black dress, while being followed by co stars
Mila Kunis and Wiona Ryder.
For the film, recently talked about Natalie in extreme ballet, cross
training and swimming for a year before shooting began when she told
Us magazine, I think it was just the physicality of it all it was the most
extreme. I mean, I had never received so much training to do 7:55 hours
on the day of it was really a challenge.
Black Swan NYC Premiere
December 1st, 2010 Glendy
Last night was the New York premiere of Black Swan, if you haven’t heard about the
film or have missed the trailer, you’re in for a surprise! The movie looks like an amazing
thriller and according to the latest buzz it might be an Oscar contender. Black Swan
reminds me of my favorite anime film, A Perferct Blue and in fact Darren Aronofsky,
bought the rights to the film and it is rumored, he used the anime as reference for Black
Swan. Check out the pics of a fab and uncomfortable looking? Natalie Portman and her
drool worthy Lolita clutch, Mila Kunis looked amazing in her simple neutral gown and
party crasher, Winona Ryder showed up in a menswear inspired suit.
Natalie Portman in Dior
Olympia Le Tan’s Lolita book clutch at a mere $1,330.00 at Opening Ceremony
Mila Kunis in Ellie Saab (photo credits: Photo Agency/America)
Mila Kunis Dazzles in Fred Leighton Gold Dangle Earrings
Mila Kunis at the New York premiere
of the ballet movie "Black Swan",
held at the Ziegfeld Theatre. The
thriller focuses on the relationship
between a veteran ballet dancer and
her rival.
Mila Kunis Gold Dangle Earrings
Mila Kunis finished off her elegant
updo with Fred Leighton 19th
Century gold pendant earrings. They
were the perfect complement to her
classic French Twist and face
framing bangs.
The actress may be best known for
her role on That '70s Show, but she
also is ranked among Maxim
magazine's Hot 100 list. Look for the
actress in the upcoming movie, Friends with Benefits staring Justin Timberlake.
We've spotted other celebrities with a similar look, including Catherine Zeta
Jones, Lauren Bush, and Michelle Trachtenberg. Check out all 128 pictures in
the Gold Dangle Earrings Lookbook.
Peter Facinelli and Chace Crawford preview Black Swan
Hollywood hotties Peter Facinelli and Chace Crawford may not be starring in the
new Darren Aronofsky directed film but that didn‘t stop them from hitting the red
carpet premiere! The duo was photographed at the New York Premiere of ―Black
Swan‖ at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 in New York
City.
Also at the star studded event were the stars of the movie Natalie Portman, Mila
Kunis, Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey, Vincent Cassel, and of course Mr.
Aronofsky himself.
The psychological drama that zeros in on the relationship between a veteran
ballet dancer and a rival.
―Black Swan‖ opens in theaters this Friday.
Emmanuelle Chriqui Rocks The Red Carpet In Skintight
Leather Pants
Emmanuelle Chriqui attended the "Black Swan" New York City
Premiere yesterday looking hot in leather pants, biker boots and a
loose white blouse.
The actress stars in the upcoming film "5 Days in August," a drama centered
around the war between Russia and Georgia and focused on an American
journalist, his cameraman, and a Georgian native who become caught in the
crossfire.
She also appears in the upcoming "Elektra Luxx.‖