_Two Louisiana-shot films have gained major recognition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” which won the Sundance Institute Indian Paintbrush Producers Award, as wells as the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize tells a father-daughter story set in Mississippi. Despite its setting, the film was actually shot in the southernmost parts of Louisiana. Critics are raving about this movie, claiming that it’s multi-genre approach caters to almost every audience. The Atlantic writes,

    “Nothing that played during the first weekend this year wowed critics and audiences (and, reportedly, buyers) quite like “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” From first-time filmmaker Benh Zeitlin, the picture is a wholly original post-Katrina bayou fairytale: an amalgamation of iconic Cajun imagery, end-of-the-world allusions, roving monsters, and family drama”.

    This paper also said that film was a unique combination of “tree of Life” and “Treme”. The scenery and cinematography of the independent movie certainly added a great deal to its charm. At Southern Celebrity Gossip we like to think that it was the Louisiana beauty that helped capture the attention of Sony Pictures and Fox Searchlight, both of which are interested in picking up the movie for mass distribution.

    Locally filmed “Lay the Favorite” also sparked some interest at the Film Festival. This movie, which stars Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta Jones was shot here in New Orleans as well as Las Vegas. In this picture, the characters border on the edges of serious drama, and side-splitting comedy as they gamble their way through New Orleans. Both “Lay the Favorite” and “Beasts of the Southern Wild” well represented the Hollywood South and have given more attention to the incredible filming opportunities here in Louisiana.

For more about these films, and others at the Sundance Film Festival, visit their official website.

_
With the Academy Award Nominees having just be announced, everyone certainly has a lot to gossip about. Why shouldn’t they? With movies like “The Artist”, “The Help” and “The Descendants” up for best picture there are definitely a lot of different opinions. But one category is more clear that others: Best Supporting Actress. Having just won the Golden Globe in the same role, Octavia Spencer is a shoe-in for the Oscar as well.

Spencer is originally from Montgomery Alabama, and got her start in a Mississippi filmed movie, “A Time to Kill”. In this movie the budding actress had the opportunity to work alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock, and Mathew McConoughey. After wrapping this project, Octavia Spencer relocated to Los Angeles were she has been featured in countless projects. But all of this success has managed to bring her back to right where she started! The Jackson, Mississippi set movie “The Help” has put Octavia’s name all over the press… not to mention the film awards. In the film, she plays the supporting character Minny opposite actresses Viola Davis and Emma Stone. The movie deals with racial tensions that existed in the 1960’s in Mississippi. The movie was shot predominantly in the town of Jackson, as well as Alabama and parts of Florida.

Octavia isn’t the only star in “The Help” nominated for an Oscar. Viola Davis has been nominated for best actress, as well as Jessica Chastain who is up against Spencer for best supporting actress. Despite this rivalry, the two cast-mates remain close friends and recently were interviewed by Tribute Movies about their work together. The movie is also nominated for “Best Picture”. “The Help” has shined a light, not only on the rich history here in the south, but also on the incredible talent that is from here. We are all hopeful that Spencer’s performance is recognized at the 2012 Oscars.

For a complete list of nominees visit the Oscar’s official website.

Three of Hollywood’s famed ladies made a courtside appearance at recent Hornets game. Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, and Melanie Griffith enjoyed a girl’s night out as they watched the New Orleans Hornet’s play against the San Antonio Spurs. Actors and comedians, Wanda Sykes and Camryn Manheim were reportedly also in the crowd that night, and the two were seated just below the basket. Manheim’s brother is local resident, who teaches law at Loyola University.


All of the named celebrities were rooting for the NOLA Hornets, and were disappointed by their 2 point loss in the end. One source told this Southern Celebrity Gossiper that Shields visited the uptown spot, Le Bon Temps Roule for a beer following the game. Even if our Hornets didn’t have the best game, they certainly have the best fans!! We previously reported on 50 Cent’s appearance in the Hive, and the court has also hosted Lil’ Wayne.

For more on this sighting, as well as details about the game, visit the Mirror.

_ Andrew Zimmern gained national attention as a TV food personality on the Travel Channel with an unrefined palate. From spiders to pig’s brains, there really wasn’t anything that Zimmern won’t try. But this celebrity has had enough of the unappetizing cuisine. He has put down the fish heads, and picked up the knife and fork for something truly delicious: American cuisine. His new web series “Appetite for Life with Andrew Zimmern” visits some the most iconic eateries, where he samples some                                                                           of the country’s more renowned foods.

As the James Beard Award-winning celebrity makes his way across the South, he is taking full advantage of the comfort food! Recently he spent time in GA for some barbeque and burgers, before making his way to Chattanooga for some shrimp and grits. In his travels, Zimmern wants to visit places that were affected by natural disasters and see how the communities are coping. What he has found so far is nothing short of inspirational. Areas affected by flood, tornadoes, and soon hurricanes are rebuilding and moving forward. Not mention cooking!

Now it is NOLA’s time to shine! Next Thursday, January 26th, the host will join WWNO’s “Louisiana Eats!” at the Crescent City Farmer’s Market. “Eats!” host, Poppy Tooker will help the Bizarre foodie make some shrimp etouffee for who ever comes out to Mid-City for the occasion. The cooking demonstration is taking place from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 26th. This will be at the Mid-City location of the Crescent City Farmer’s Market which is in the parking lot of the American Can Apartments.

 

 

_     Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are the king and queen when it comes to country music. The two have been married for the past 15 years and have three children between them. Faith Hill, a Mississippi native, has over two dozen music awards under her belt since she first captured the spotlight in 1993. So what does she credit as the inspiration behind most of her success? The singer opened up to People Magazine this month about how her husband is her inspiration “every day in many, many ways”.

McGraw, originally from Start, Louisiana, moved to Nashville when he was in college to pursue his career as a singer/songwriter. Since that time he has earned world-renowned success. Currently, McGraw is releasing his latest album “Emotional Traffic” on January 24th. The original launch was delayed after some legal difficulties with his former record label. But, now things are back on track! (Pardon the pun). The country super-star has also announced that he will begin a 20 city tour along with musician, Kenny Chesney, starting in June of 2012.

With his incredible library of music, as well as this new album which he calls “his best ever”, it is no wonder that his Faith is impressed! But in addition to his professional triumphs, wife Faith Hill also divulged his personal accomplishments as well. She says, “I’m inspired by watching him as a father and husband… He keeps his family first and wants to experience all the phases with his girls.” Despite the recording, performing, and other celebrity appearances, this Louisianian finds time for family, and his equally famous wife.

 For more on this story you can read the article through TasteofCountry.com

_ Angelina Jolie recently made the transition from actress to writer-director. Her first film under her direction, “In the Land of Blood and Honey” was previously reported here in Southern Celebrity Gossip. Since that time, the crew has wrapped production on the picture and movie has been released in select theatres around the US and Europe. The serious content of this movie have caused mixed reviews, and some find the movie difficult to watch. Regardless of the violent subject matter, the movie wasbee nominated for a Golden Globe Award! Even though it did not win for Best Foreign Motion Picture, this is still an incredible feat for the new director. Jolie and actress, Vanessa Glodjo open about this movie in a promotional Q & A.

 
In this video, Jolie goes into detail about what it is like working as a director after years of acting. She also discusses the responsibility of taking this movie on, and the anxiety she felt as a result.  Including her crying as Brad tried to console her. Glodjo, who acts in the film, also provides a unique perspective about her character, she the actress herself is a survivor of the war in Bosnia. This comprehensive interview has us all intrigued and we’re dying to see Jolie’s film on the big screen. So far the movie isn’t playing anywhere locally, but we’re hoping to be included in the upcoming wider release this month. For now we’ll have to settle for just the interview.

This video was sponsored by Marie Claire.

_ Kate Beckinsale is no stranger to New Orleans. She has been in and out of our great city during the filming on the new hit movie “Contraband”. If there is one thing that Kate loved about NOLA, it was definitely the food. She raved in a recent interview about the creole cuisine, and of course the trademark beignets! But, while the Hollywood starlet has been indulging in this comfort food, her costume for her upcoming film started to make her less-than-comfortable.

Aside from playing the wife of a good-hearted smuggler in the thriller “Contraband”, Beckinsale also is known for her role as a vampire warrior in the “Underworld” series. For the role of Selene, the dark and powerful hero of the underworld, the actress wears a skin tight leather catsuit. In the past, this wardrobe choice hasn’t given her too much heartache. But after a few month stay in New Orleans, she started to get a little nervous.  The costume hides hardly anything, even that extra bowl of gumbo. She commented,

"It's got the worst kind of 'Underworld' suit food, really. So it was a miracle. I guess having had a lot of training for the first one, thank goodness, it wasn't quite as extensive as that but there were still a lot of complicated fight scenes to learn and stunts I hadn't done before and just the sheer terror of getting back into that suit, which is a bit like a put your bikini on and stand in Times Square kind of feeling”.

After seeing Beckinsale at the Golden Globes… we hardly think she has ANYTHING to worry about!

_ It isn’t everyday that someone gets pulled out of a bar scene because they look like Jesus Christ. But that is exactly what happened to Thibodaux local, Henry Frost. While working as an extra on the set of the new movie, “Dog Fight”, Frost captured the attention of the directors. During shooting, he was pulled off set and into a trailer for an impromptu audition for a speaking role. A speaking role playing Jesus Christ.


According to a staff writer at Houma Today, the figure of Jesus appears in “an over-the-top campaign commercial” as the two politicians rival one another for power in the South. Frost was singled out, auditioned, and immediately cast for this role.

But Frost isn’t exactly new when it comes to acting. Aside from his numerous appearances as an extra, he is also planning to study theatre and film in the coming years. The article indicates that, while currently enrolled at Fletcher, Henry Frost plans to transfer to UNO to pursue his talents as an actor. Well, this Southern Celebrity Gossiper wishes him a world of luck, and is excited to have- yet another- local STAR!

_ Locally shot movie, Contraband, has recently earned over 8.7 million dollars in the box office after its release. This movie, starring Mark Wahlberg, is a remake of an Icelandic film. Wahlberg saw the original and knew that it had to make it to the American screen.

          
This movie was filmed over the past year and features sites such as Canal Street and the Mississippi River bridge in the trailer. Many of the other films shot here in the Crescent City are actually set in areas like New York, or Miami. But Contraband takes place here in New Orleans, and Wahlberg says that the city is also a character. The actor recently opened up to Kelly Ripa during her daytime talk show about his love of New Orleans, specifically the “good food, good people”.

Well, lucky for Mark his love affair with NOLA doesn’t have to end anytime soon. He is currently filming another project alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones in “Broken City”. Rumor has it, that Wahlberg will also be making an appearance on the local radio show “Hollywood South” with host Broadway Ben this evening. The actor is scheduled to be interviewed following an interview with students from the John Robert Powers Performing Arts Academy. Tune in and listen live to see if these rumors are true!

__   Will Ferrell’s latest film, “Dog Fight” has been filming throughout New Orleans and Gretna for the past few weeks, and it has everyone talking! This Southern Celebrity Gossip is happy to report, that a few photos of the movie have leaked and made it to the presses. In these images you can see the iconic New Orleans architecture in the background as a very diplomatic Ferrell presents his speech.

  
Dog Fight is set to premiere in Summer of 2012 and will continue to film throughout January. We will be here for the latest news on this, and all other projects filming in Hollywood South!!!

These images were provided by On Location Vactions.