USA: Director Terry Gilliam talks about working with the late actor Heath Ledger and finishing "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" after the actor's death
Record ID:
219558
USA: Director Terry Gilliam talks about working with the late actor Heath Ledger and finishing "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" after the actor's death
- Title: USA: Director Terry Gilliam talks about working with the late actor Heath Ledger and finishing "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" after the actor's death
- Date: 4th November 2009
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 02, 2009) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) DIRECTOR TERRY GILLIAM ON THE RED CARPET ACTOR VERNE TROYER ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR TERRY GILLIAM ON FINISHING THE FILM AFTER THE DEATH OF ITS STAR, HEATH LEDGER, SAYING: "Heath was very greatly loved by a lot of people. Everyone involved with this project was determined somehow they we were going to finish it. Thanks to Johnny, Colin and Jude, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, who rode to the rescue, we were able to do it. Luckily, we had a magic mirror, magic mirrors are very important, since they solve some of these extraordinary problems, when the lead actor dies half way through the shoot." ACTOR CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER ON THE RED CARPET ACTRESS LILY COLE ON THE RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR TERRY GILLIAM ON THE COMPLETED FILM, SAYING: "It is a very strange thing, everyone who has seen it says that they can't imagine that it wasn't supposed to be like this. What Colin, Johnny and Jude managed to do was capture different aspects of the character Heath was playing. So, the whole thing is incredibly seamless." CUT AWAY CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER SAYING: "I know Terry, I worked with him before. I think anything he does is fascinating, as everyone knows. It is never dull, whether you like it or not, it is never dull. I thought this was an enchanting script because Parnassus was vintage Gilliam." WIDE SHOT OF THE RED CARPET
- Embargoed: 19th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA5YZXKWE5WIR6JYOJGNOCM2545
- Story Text: Director Terry Gilliam arrived at the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater Monday night for the Hollywood premiere of "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnasssus," a film that Gilliam admits he wasn't sure he was going to finish after the untimely death of its star, Heath Ledger.
"Heath was very greatly loved by a lot of people," Gilliam said, talking about the actor who died of an accidental drug overdose during filming. "Everyone involved with this project was determined somehow they we were going to finish it. Thanks to Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law, who rode to the rescue, we were able to do it. Luckily, we had a magic mirror, magic mirrors are very important, since they solve some of these extraordinary problems, when the lead actor dies half way through the shoot."
Helped by Depp, Law and Farrell, Gilliam was able to complete "Dr. Parnassus" by separating who Ledger's character in three separate dream sequences.
"It is a very strange thing, everyone who has seen it, says that they can't imagine that it wasn't supposed to be like this," Gilliam said. "What Colin, Johnny and Jude managed to do was capture different aspects of the character Heath was playing. So, the whole thing is incredibly seamless."
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" is described as a fantastical morality tale, set in the present-day. It tells the story of Dr. Parnassus and his extraordinary 'Imaginarium', a traveling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom.
The film also stars veteran actor Christopher Plummer and model-turned actress Lily Cole.
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" opens on December 25. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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