Production Diaries:
June 2004
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HUNDREDS GATHER TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MAKO IWAMATSU IN CAGES!
Wed, 14 Nov 2007
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE SCREENING OF MAKO!
Tue, 16 Oct 2007
Perles Acquires Cages Distribution!
Wed, 01 Aug 2007
"CAGES" RUNS 4TH WEEK IN THEATRES!
Fri, 13 Apr 2007
IT'S MY TURN TO FLY!
Mon, 09 Apr 2007
"CAGES" SURPRISES MANY AS IT ENTERS THIRD WEEKEND IN THEATRES!
Fri, 06 Apr 2007
"CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Tue, 03 Apr 2007
LOYAL FOLLOWING TO THANK, AS "CAGES" ENTERS THIRD WEEK IN THEATRES!
Mon, 02 Apr 2007
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Matt Holland on the Making of Cages: PART THREE - B
09/25/04
Zelda and Jim made polite conversation while I reached over everything and everyone in sight to grab a handful of chocolates. Zelda was saying to Jim that, as an actress, she was always looking for interesting work. In the middle of that conversation, she dropped in my direction, as an aside: "Oh. Martini and chocolates. Very sophisticated."
We chatted some more and Zelda invited Jim and I over to dinner at her place. "I'm a Cordon Bleu trained chef." I immediately accepted for both of us.
When Jim and I had a few moments alone, he was near giddy. "I can't believe I just met Zelda Reubenstein! I'm telling everyone I know. 'Poltergeist' is one of my favorite movies! 'Come into the light children! All are welcome!'" Jim said, doing a line from "Poltergeist,' in a voice slightly higher than his own. I assumed that that was his Zelda impression or that he'd hit his groin climbing over the sofa.
"So can we go to her house for dinner when you're back here?"
"Yes, yes. Absolutely."
Well, no, no, we couldn't and we never went to dinner with Zelda or any other number of plans he initiated, like, say brunch the next day or a commmitment ceremony to which guests had been invited. When he announced the he was ready to leave the party, I quickly said my goodnights. Zelda was still on the sofa, buffetted by a crowd. I pushed through it.
"It was delightful to meet you," I said, elbowing someone who was visiting from Brazil. "And Jim and I would love to have dinner with you."
"The next time I see you, we'll dance." Zelda said conspiratorially.
"I love a tango." I agreed.
Jim went back to New York and talked for several weeks about having met Zelda. Then he was on to something else. And someone else. He has a short attention span.
I was less than thrilled to tell Graham that Jim would be no help in any capacity with respect to "Cages." Graham had previously told me, tactfully, of course, that Jim would be no help with respect to my life. Graham seemed a little deflated about the Jim news, but brightened considerably when I told him we were having dinner with Matthew McConnaughy the following week.
After collecting himself, Graham asked if I would mention his project at dinner. "Perhaps he wants to vary his career with an independent film and be willing to play Mark (now Ethan) for scale."
"But Graham, Mark has about five lines."
"Oh, we can amplify his character."
"I'll do my best."
Mark/Ethan was the first big casting decision. Graham had found Dickson Tan, and had mentioned two Asian actresses who he either wanted or who had agreed to play both Ali and Liz. He wanted an American or maybe a Canadian film or music star for the younger male lead. I mentioned this to one of my actress friends with a sitcom in syndication in the hope that she would spread the word. Her response was that for ninety grand and a short shooting schedule, she would play the boyfriend. I think she was serious, but thought the better of pitching it to Graham. Far be it from me to stray too far afield from his creative vision.
I stalked Nicholas Cage a few days later. Okay, stalked is a strong word, but I did follow him around our local corner market. I was thinking about how I would pitch "Cages." We had been introduced a couple of times and his butler and I were friends. When he stared at me blankly, I realized he had no clue who I was. I was mortified, feared for the imposition of a restraining order together with the loss of my dignity. I excused myself and reached for something behind him which I pretended to need. I think it was paprika. He was all wrong for the part anyway.
To be continued....Thank you to my one website fan (and probable sole reader), Janet Ladd-Ryan, actress, from Los Angeles.
Matt
Los Angeles
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