Chris to star in Noel Coward biopic

Buenos wrote:IN Chris defense he was all of , what, 19 when he attempted that accent.   

I think he may have been only 18. I think those were filmed during the winter of 2008/2009. The series premier was May 2009.

bayth wrote:I think he may have been only 18.

OMG, he was a baby.

Oh, yes, I am sure that even with no training or practice at all, he would do better now. The Downton Abbey accent was better, if not perfect. And, as I said, I have a lot of confidence in him.

Georgette888 wrote:Oh, yes, I am sure that even with no training or practice at all, he would do better now. The Downton Abbey accent was better, if not perfect. And, as I said, I have a lot of confidence in him.

I meant to ask you about the Downtown Abbey accent this morning, if it was better than that 2008 snipbit. Glad to hear it was.
OMG, Chris was so young, inexperienced (to being interviewed) and feeling overwhelmed/thrilled back then. That video screams "I'm awkward/nerd".   

With some help, practice and determination I'm sure Chris will improve his accent and the needed typical Noel Coward style of speaking.
The people who hired him for 'Noel' are British too after all: if they had any doubts about him nailing the accent by the time they start filming they wouldn't have given him the role in the first place.  

We have to look at the facts: Chris is American. Outside of Glee he is not very well know, so he is not really bringing star power. His book series is successful but has nothing to do with British television. Yes, he can sing and act, but many British actors are professionally trained and could do very much the same. In general, British actors are currently very much in demand because they are that good!

Long story: Chris convinced the director and producers to hire him. He must have slayed the audition. He must have given very good reason to hire an American for an iconic British role. He must have already worked hard for his British accent, as he is a perfectionist and he will try to respect Noel's legacy. So I really am not concerned at all, because the casting of Chris will most likely create a backlash, and they still decided to chose him. They have valid reason, which only can mean Chris nailed the acting and singing required for the part.

We know Chris is talented. This movie can be the platform to really emerge as an actor that will be respected and admired by critics.  In very best case, this means Cannes and maybe even award season. Of course there is always a chance the movie will be  failure (i.e. how many movies exist that look so great on paper but are a disaster in execution). But even then, I highly doubt the fault will lay with Chris. It is still a risk, because as the lead he will carry immense responsibility. Which is only fair, because the same is true if the movie will be a critical success.

I read somewhere the writer for this biopic is award winning.

It might have been in the Screendaily article.

ColferInspired wrote:I read somewhere the writer for this biopic is award winning.

It might have been in the Screendaily article.

I believe he won an Oscar.

The writer wrote " Bent" which was an award winning play. It created quite a buzz in its days.

Martin Sherman's awards and nominations:

Dramatists Guild
Hull-Warriner Award (1980)
Pulitzer Prize nomination:
• Bent (1980)
Tony Award nominations:
• Bent (1980)
• The Boy from Oz (2003)
Laurence Olivier Award nomination:
• Rose (2000)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Sherman

Georgette888 wrote:Martin Sherman's awards and nominations:

Dramatists Guild
Hull-Warriner Award (1980)
Pulitzer Prize nomination:
• Bent (1980)
Tony Award nominations:
• Bent (1980)
• The Boy from Oz (2003)
Laurence Olivier Award nomination:
• Rose (2000)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Sherman

And the director? I do not even know anything about Chicken, no matter how much I googled    I am not dissing him at all, I just would like to check out his work is all.

He is very new and inexperienced but has been able to gain BFI support and set up his own production company.

Joe Stephenson IMDb

Music video produced for Beardyman

One example of a scene from the Sky Arts 'In Love With...' he produced

His production company site

Movie Scope magazine: First Image from British Micro-Budget Drama Chicken

Chicken supported by BFI money

Description of Chicken

Chicken Facebook page

His twitter

Other production company that is collaborating over chicken gives details of film on their site

etc.

Georgette888 wrote:He is very new and inexperienced but has been able to gain BFI support and set up his own production company.

Joe Stephenson IMDb

Music video produced for Beardyman

One example of a scene from the Sky Arts 'In Love With...' he produced

His production company site

Movie Scope magazine: First Image from British Micro-Budget Drama Chicken

Chicken supported by BFI money

Description of Chicken

Chicken Facebook page

His twitter

Other production company that is collaborating over chicken gives details of film on their site

etc.

Than you for the links! I just really need to check out this guys work, get a tiny bit of the feel of how Noel will turn out. I am so so very anxious.  

I want everything to be perfect and a nice amazing wonderful experience for Chris to have, like I want this to be something Chris is just really enjoying. He deserves a good project that makes him both challenged and happy.   

How does movie productions work in the UK?

I really wouldn't get anxious. Chris, his team and all the other experienced actors connected are more qualified to judge a project than we are. *g*

As for film production in the UK, what do you want to know? Our film industry is much smaller than the US obviously and is subsidised unlike there. Here- BFI: Supporting UK Film

I have heard someone in the industry say though that the behind the scenes crew in the UK are some of the best in the world. Don't ask me for where I read that, but I remember a (US?) actor or director saying it.

^What a difference this experience will be for Chris after Glee, with all the long hours and rehearsals and last minute changes and recordings, aka chaos.
And when he filmed 'Struck By Lightning' they had to rush too, getting everything done in less than 4 weeks.

Not that British movie makers don't work hard or have long hours in comparison to what Chris is used to, on the contrary I believe, but I bet the filming and production of 'Noel' will be better organized and paced, preferring quality over quantity.   


Though I get the concerns for the director (Joe) of 'Noel' still being young, it's a bit funny to see that mentioned here when Chris is still so young too but has accomplished so much already.
Plus the movie will cover Noel Cowards teen and adult life, in which he managed to get to lasting success and create a firm basis for himself and his creativity at about the same age that Chris and Joe are now.    

i trust UK film makers more than hollywood folks. even BBC productions are better than most of the hollywood high budget crap.

Short directed by Joe Stephenson.  I love his eye for cinematography - it's beautiful:



source

^ i like his artistic vision a lot, but i didn't get the story. is the young actor in Game of Thrones? - the one and his sister accompanied Bran to the North and sometimes got seisures?

Thomas has been in a few films love actually and nanny mcfee are the most memorable

Alchemists were thought to be searching for the elixir of life (as well as the ability to change lead into gold) that would rejuvenate or keep the possessor youthful. Think the Philosopher's Stone. Well, with a title like The Alchemistic Suitcase and that ending...

Georgette888 wrote:Alchemists were thought to be searching for the elixir of life (as well as the ability to change lead into gold) that would rejuvenate or keep the possessor youthful. Think the Philosopher's Stone. Well, with a title like The Alchemistic Suitcase and that ending...

I already like his style and his idea's.

That video had a bit of a Alfred Hitchcock look to it.

This man, just even from that short video is extremely talented and knows his craft.

ColferInspired wrote:

I know some Chris fans are worried because Chris and his people aren't talking about the Noel Coward biopic, but the thing is they have to remember Chris is an American actor who will be playing one of Britain's most iconic figures.

If this was American then yes, they would be talking about it.

Chris just posting the pic on instagram with just Noel was tasteful and not overdone.

And this is the directors project, not Chris's.

Plus, they haven't started filming yet.

Iphenate only tweeted because they did SBL, and as Joe praised it by his tweet to Brian The Cat, they then tweeted linking the article. Then Brian The Cat tweeted as well.

And I think this is why none of Chris's friends are tweeting about it. Chris probably told them not to.

Chris is a small actor compared to this project and the stars that could be attached.

Any promotion should be with the ones making it.

Maybe later Chris will be allowed to talk about it with the media.

This I suspect will be with the British media.

I am confused. Why are people worried? Inphenate tweeted because Glenn Rigberg manages Chris and that is what management companies do- promote the projects of their clients. They have done it with the announcement of every Chris project.

Are they expecting Chris to bound around announcing stuff and giving inside information? This isn't his film. He is hired. He is behaving like a professional and allowing the process to be dictated by the film company. The announcement of and flow of information from projects that are not wholly Chris will always be managed by the film / TV / stage companies.

Georgette888 wrote:

ColferInspired wrote:

I know some Chris fans are worried because Chris and his people aren't talking about the Noel Coward biopic, but the thing is they have to remember Chris is an American actor who will be playing one of Britain's most iconic figures.

If this was American then yes, they would be talking about it.

Chris just posting the pic on instagram with just Noel was tasteful and not overdone.

And this is the directors project, not Chris's.

Plus, they haven't started filming yet.

Iphenate only tweeted because they did SBL, and as Joe praised it by his tweet to Brian The Cat, they then tweeted linking the article. Then Brian The Cat tweeted as well.

And I think this is why none of Chris's friends are tweeting about it. Chris probably told them not to.

Chris is a small actor compared to this project and the stars that could be attached.

Any promotion should be with the ones making it.

Maybe later Chris will be allowed to talk about it with the media.

This I suspect will be with the British media.

I am confused. Why are people worried? Inphenate tweeted because Glenn Rigberg manages Chris and that is what management companies do- promote the projects of their clients. They have done it with the announcement of every Chris project.

Are they expecting Chris to bound around announcing stuff and giving inside information? This isn't his film. He is hired. He is behaving like a professional and allowing the process to be dictated by the film company. The announcement of and flow of information from projects that are not wholly Chris will always be managed by the film / TV / stage companies.

I think they are just getting impatient and just don't understand why Chris's people aren't making a big fuss about it.

I forgot Glenn Rigberg was a part of Inphenate.

We should know more from the studio in a few months.

^ why? The movie is in pre-production. There is no need to market it. Chris tweet was sufficient enough for now.

From all the glee actors, Chris has the most projects lined up. I sincerley dont get why everyone should worry.

Lottie2303 wrote:^ why? The movie is in pre-production. There is no need to market it. Chris tweet was sufficient enough for now.

From all the glee actors, Chris has the most projects lined up. I sincerley dont get why everyone should worry.

Same.

It is just a few though.

Wonder if Chris is practicing his British accent tonight?