_ 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!

_ The promotional materials are OUT for two, new local films! The Paperboy, starring Zac Effron, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack and Nicole Kidman was filmed here in Louisiana late this summer. We previously gossiped on this film back in August. We’re happy to report that the first poster from this movie has just be released featuring this all star cast! Among these big names is that of local actress, Nicole Barre’. Nicole can currently be seen in the HBO series, “TREME”,
and is also an instructor at the John Robert Powers Performing Arts Academy.

Another film, The Baytown Disco, was shot earlier last year in Slidell. This movie picture, featuring stars Billy Bob Thorton and Eva Longoria, has also hit the streets to help promote the film’s 2012 release. You can read more about these upcoming films on imdb.com, or just wait for their releases in a theatre near you!

      The 2009 flick, “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” made the news a while back for Nick Cage’s wild performance in the movie. His character Lieutenant Terrence McDonagh is a drug and gambling addicted, corrupt cop in a post-Katrina New Orleans. Cage’s extravagant performance in this role earned the film an 87% Rotten Tomatoes’ rating, and added a whole new level to his portfolio.

But not all the press about this picture is positive. It appears that the producers are receiving some harsh accusations from the movie’s investors. According to sources, the producers of this film have been “siphoning” off the proceeds, and failing to pay back those who put up money to help make this film. The investors have gone as far as to file a lawsuit against Nu Image and First Look Studios, trying to recover what they consider to be their fair share or profits. The Hollywood Reporter writes, “investors in the 2009 Nicolas Cage film Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call—New Orleans… say that the defendants failed to properly set up the collection account [and have been] improperly deducting expenses, failing to disburse proceeds, and not accurately and truthfully accounting for all of the money.”

   At this time there is no comment from Nu Image or First Look Studios, but this case will move to trial if a settlement can not be reached.

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