Legendary movie director Francis Ford Coppola is breathing a sigh of relief today. He and the rest of the cast and crew working on his latest film project are back on the job after a six-day hiatus prompted by a labor complaint from the actors’ union shut down production.
The five-time Oscar winner, who directed “Apocalypse Now” and “The Godfather” trilogy, was reportedly forced to suspend shooting on his new movie “Tetro” on May 22nd because of complaints from the union. The Argentine Association of Actors claimed that Coppola’s production studio had not completed the necessary paperwork for Argentine actors to be involved in the new flick. However, yesterday the union directors told reporters that the problem was solved and shooting had resumed.
According to insiders, “Tetro” follows the struggles of an Italian family in Argentina and is in its ninth week of shooting in Buenos Aires. Crews will reportedly wrap up filming in Argentina next month and move on to Spain. The movie is scheduled for release in spring 2009.
But Coppola is not the only famous moviemaker rejoicing about good news related to a new project.
Award-winning movie producer Harvey Weinstein also has something to cheer about.
The film mogul finally acquired the movie rights to the best-selling novel “The Alchemist.” Weinstein says he plans to turn Paulo Coelho’s popular book, which follows the outlandish adventures of a Spanish shepard into a box office blockbuster. And he might just get his wish since A-list actor Laurence Fishburne has not only agreed to star as the main character in the movie, but the “Five Fingers” star will direct the film as well.
Shooting on “The Alchemist” is scheduled to begin next year and Weinstein says he hopes to have the finished product in theaters by early 2010.
Finally, the funny man who starred in such hilarious hits as “The Waterboy,””The Wedding Singer” and “Happy Gilmore” says he wants to spend more time behind the camera.
Adam Sandler, whose next comedy, “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” opens in theaters on June 6th, says he is looking to branch out in Hollywood. The 41-year-old comedian says he wouldn’t mind spending more time directing and producing big budget flicks rather than just starring in them.