Title: The Calcium Kid Press Notes
Jesse - February 17, 2008 10:05 PM (GMT)
I've been sent a copy of 'The Calcium Kid' Press Notes. The person who sent it to me has asked not to be named, so many thanks to our anonymous donor for their kindness.
I'm not scanning the entire set of notes, just picking out a few point of interest. ;)
**PLEASE CREDIT IF POSTING THESE NOTES ELSEWHERE. THANKS.**
I'm not scanning the entire set of notes, just picking out a few point of interest. ;)
**PLEASE CREDIT IF POSTING THESE NOTES ELSEWHERE. THANKS.**
| QUOTE |
SHORT SYNOPSIS Jimmy Connelly loves his job as a milkman and his one ambition in life is to become the regional manager for his employers Express Milk Dairies. However, his life take an unexpected turn when he accidentally puts Pete Wright, Britain's contender for the boxing World title, out of action during a sparring match at the local gym. With no time to find a replacement Jimmy is propelled onto the world stage as Britain's boxing hope and is set to fight the current World Champion in a match that promises to be of David and Goliath proportions. INTRODUCTION The Calcium Kid, a WT2 production, is written and directed by first time feature director Alex De Rakoff from an original screenplay by Raymond Friel and Derek Boyle. The film is produced by Natascha Wharton with Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan serving as Executive Producers. CASTING "A few people asked the question 'did you cast Orlando Bloom because he was Orlando Bloom?'" say Wharton. "In fact when we first met him, there was a buzz post Lord Of The Rings, but I wasn't sure he was a name as such." She continues, "Truthfully , the minute we met him he just smiled, and it sounds stupid and a bit corney, but I just thought 'Thats The Calcium Kid!" She goes on, "Orlando just had this sweet innocence about him. It was always going to be a hard thing to get the balance, someone who was a boxer had to reveal a sweetness in the character, and I think Orlando embodies Jimmy, I'm just delighted by him." Bloom was equally as delighted to get the part, "I knew when I read the script that it was a project that I wanted to be involved in. Alex wrote the script too and it's just so quirky and funny and off the wall and the characters are fantastic. I had complete confidence in his ability to direct and knew he would do a stupendously good job and I just really wanted to work with him. Alex has got some great work out of the cast, myself included." He continues, "I also wanted to work in England. I'd been out of drama school for about four years and I hadn't done anything in my hometown so being in South London was great. It was good to be home and have my mates around me." On the character of Jimmy he comments, "One thing that really appealed to me was his innocence and openness. Until it gets complicated, his life is so simple and he is so content and happy, enjoying his milk round and being around his mates. There are points of real beauty, how you see his journey progress, the naivety, vulnerability, I really liked to show that.! THE BOXING 'The Calcium Kid' is set amidst the backdrop of the boxing world and De Rakoff put his lead actor, Orlando Bloom, through a rigorous training schedule to get him into shape to play The Calcium Kid. Says De Rakoff "Because of the nature of the film and his character, I didn't want him to appear to be a fantastic boxer, so we had to build him to just the right physique." Bloom was happy to get in shape, "I've been training quite a bit for myself anyway, but I've also been doing a lot of boxing stuff like skipping, which is actually a really hard skill to master." Actors require a lot of taining, not just physically but mentally too, as Vince Keane (stunt boxing co-ordinator) explains,"Actors are not naturally aggressive, and so they need training to not just perform like a boxer but to think like one also. They can sometimes find the moves hard so you have to spend a little time with them, building their confidence, once they feel confident they can take care of themselves. Many actors are just afraid to let the punches go for fear of hurting a fellow actor." And for someone who'd not boxed before, "Orlando has done brilliantly," says Keane, "he's had to learn to skip, spar and shadow box and all these things have their own little difficulties. He's a good learner, he picks things up really quickly and he really looks the part." SOUTHEAST LONDON The Calcium Kid was shot almost entirely on location in Vauxhall, South East London. The production took over the old disused school, The Beaufoy Institute on Black Prince Road as their production office. The Institute also doubled up as a studio, with Production Designer Joel Collins and his team building many of the interior sets within the old school halls and classrooms. The grounds of the Beaufoy were also used as a permanent unit base for the wealth of local Lambeth locations used by the production in the surrounding area, including the butchers, the pubs and the tower block flats. |
Katt - February 18, 2008 04:59 AM (GMT)
Oh, this is a great read. Thanks for sharing Jesse and Anonymous Donor!
Wicksey - February 18, 2008 05:50 AM (GMT)
Thanks for those highlights Jesse and Anonymous Donor!
I like the part ...say Wharton. "Truthfully , the minute we met him he just smiled, and it sounds stupid and a bit corney, but I just thought 'Thats The Calcium Kid!"
Does not sound stupid or corny to me. That smile's a killer. :D
I like the part ...say Wharton. "Truthfully , the minute we met him he just smiled, and it sounds stupid and a bit corney, but I just thought 'Thats The Calcium Kid!"
Does not sound stupid or corny to me. That smile's a killer. :D
Nenya - February 18, 2008 07:44 AM (GMT)
Thanks for sharing this Jesse and Anonymous Doner!
Jocy - February 18, 2008 10:54 PM (GMT)
Very nice article, thanks a lot from me aswell :D
Jesse - February 19, 2008 09:20 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Wicksey @ Feb 18 2008, 05:50 AM) |
| I like the part ...say Wharton. "Truthfully , the minute we met him he just smiled, and it sounds stupid and a bit corney, but I just thought 'Thats The Calcium Kid!" Does not sound stupid or corny to me. That smile's a killer. :D |
I totally agree Wicksey. Who can resist the cheeky charms of Jimmy 'The Calcium Kid' Connelly...
Click...
Katt - February 20, 2008 03:41 AM (GMT)
Cheeky?
Wicksey - February 20, 2008 08:50 AM (GMT)
More smiles.... Infectious, just infectious. 'I need to sleep. I'm exhausted.' :D
Lissa - February 20, 2008 07:16 PM (GMT)
Thanks, Jesse and anonymous donor for this read. The Sundance Channel showed this movie yesterday afternoon. I absolutely love Orlando in this role. He was quirky and funny. I get a kick out of all his dad's quotes.
Jimmy: I'm a bit confused about everything that's going on at the moment.
Clive Connelly: Does it feel like everyone's trying to pull your pants down, son?
Jimmy: Yeah. Yeah, that's it exactly.
Clive Connelly: My advice to you is... start wearing a belt.
:lmao:
Priceless!
Jimmy: I'm a bit confused about everything that's going on at the moment.
Clive Connelly: Does it feel like everyone's trying to pull your pants down, son?
Jimmy: Yeah. Yeah, that's it exactly.
Clive Connelly: My advice to you is... start wearing a belt.
:lmao:
Priceless!
libra - February 21, 2008 10:26 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Orlando just had this sweet innocence about him. |
He still does, doesn't he? One day I'd love to see this film.