USA: Cast and crew of "The Social Network," a story about the young founders of "Facebook" hit the red carpet for its world premiere

Record ID: 218696

  • Title: USA: Cast and crew of "The Social Network," a story about the young founders of "Facebook" hit the red carpet for its world premiere
  • Date: 26th September 2010
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 24, 2010) (REUTERS) ARNIE HAMMER, ACTOR IN "THE SOCIAL NETWORK," TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARNIE HAMMER, ACTOR IN "THE SOCIAL NETWORK," SAYING: "We rowed for about eight months prior to actually shooting the final regatta scene, which was the big final scene at the end, so it was great."
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2010 13:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAAAO1NHWJA4XSD4G168AHB3M6P
  • Story Text: Cast and crew of "The Social Network" --the story about the world's youngest billionaire-- hit the red carpet for its world premiere on Friday (September 24).
    The film tells how Mark Zuckerberg and his friend Eduardo Saverin created "Facebook" in their Harvard dorm room, and how it grew to be one of the most revolutionary phenomena of the 21st century.
    The people on which the movie characters are based are still in their twenties, and actors said that they had to resist the urge to meet their "real" counterparts.
    Justin Timberlake, who takes on the role of "Napster" founder 'Sean Parker" in the movie, said that in the end, everybody wanted to portray their own versions of the characters.
    "We wanted to do work as actors, all of us, and I don't think any of us wanted to mimic," Timberlake told Reuters. " It's very easy to find footage of "Sean Parker" and I did see some of it but I don't think it affected what I was doing, one way or the other. I think I was creating a character, and I also think it is a more respectful thing to do," he said.
    The movie is directed by academy award nominated director David Fincher, whose list of work includes "Se7en," "Fight Club," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." The writer credit goes to Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the screenplay for "A Few Good Men," and "The American President."
    Kevin Spacey took on the role of executive producer, and said that the more he researched the story, the more he was intrigued.
    "How did this remarkable social network begin? Who is responsible for it?" he said. "And in the case of what the story is about how interesting and how bizarre it is that these two great friends created something that then pulled them apart," he added.
    One night in 2003, Mark Zuckerberg --then a Harvard undergraduate-- gets drunk, after breaking up with his girlfriend. He decides to hack the university's computer system and with the help of his friend Eduardo, creates a site that forms a database of all the women on campus, asking visitors to rank who is "hotter." The framework of "Facebook" was born. Shortly after Mark launches "thefacebook.com," which spreads like a wildfire across schools in the U.S., and then to the rest of the world.
    In the process there is also conflict that divides friends and spurs legal battles.
    Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Mark Zuckerberg in the movie, said that ultimately his character was a writer's creation.
    "Aaron (Sorkin) created an incredibly interesting character," Eisenberg said. "The character I play of "Mark Zuckerberg," is both enigmatic and reserved as well as totally understandable. He acts in a way that may be hurtful to other characters in the movie but he is also in his own way very sympathetic."
    Andrew Garfield, who plays Eduardo Saverin in the movie, said that "The Social Network," is an age-old story set in the 21st century.
    "While I was reading the script, it was just this wonderful story of what it is to be alive and all these old universal themes about what it is to be a human being -- betrayal, loyalty, and friendship and brotherhood and love and power and greed," he said.
    For some of the cast members, portraying a Harvard student meant physical training as well.
    Arnie Hammer, who plays one of the Winkelvoss brothers who claimed Zuckerberg stole their idea, had to go to the gym to train in competitive rowing. The Winkelvoss brothers were in real life identical-twin Olympic rowers.
    "We rowed for about eight months prior to actually shooting the final regatta scene, which was the big final scene at the end," Hammer said.
    "The Social Media" opens October 1 in theaters in the United States.
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