Genre: Drama/Romance.
Studio:
Columbia Pictures.
Production Company:
Mirage Enterprises.
Project Phase: Greenlighted.
Who's In It:
Harrison Ford (Dutch Van Den Broeck); Kristin Scott Thomas (Kay Chandler); Peter Coyote; Charles Dutton;
Dennis Haysbert; Bonnie Hunt; Paul Guilfoyle; Richard Jenkins.
Who's Making It:
Sydney Pollack (Director); Kurt Luedtke, David Rayfiel (Screenwriters);
Marykay Powell, Sydney Pollack (Producers); Warren Adler (Executive Producer);
Philippe Rousselot (Cinematographer); Peter Honess (Film Editor);
Barbara Ling (Production Designer); Bernie Pollack (Costume
Designer); Dave Grusin (Musical Score); based on the novel by Warren Adler.
Premise: In the aftermath of one of the worst airplane disaster in Washington DC's history, two unidentified bodies are discovered amid the wreckage in the Potomac River. The tragedy has an even far greater effect when the spouses of two of the deceased passengers, Edward and Vivien, suddently learn that their partners were having an secret affair. As Edward and Vivien struggle to make sense of their churning emotions, an unforseen complication arises: Vivien and Edward start developing romantic feelings for each other.
Release Date: August (or November?) 1999.
Comments: 'Deadpool' comments:
"This role could finally get Harrison Ford that golden statuette he deserves. This is unlike any character he's ever had to play. Ford could catapult himself from an action leading man to a true romantic/dramatic lead. For those skeptical why the book's author wouild adapt his own novel for the big screen, rest assured Mr. Adler is also a playwright.
"Note for Mr Pollack: Please cast Dennis Franz as Sergeant McCarthy. Yes, we know he's always being typecasted as a cop. This role is tailor made for him. As for the unfaithful Orson, Jason Patric would be perfect in that role. For the role of violent brother-in-law Vinnie, Michael Rispoli (While You Were Sleeping) would be the right choice."
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
[Your pilot for today was 'Deadpool'.]
July 1, 1998... In late May the trade magazine Variety reports that director Sydney Pollack will start shooting in Washington D.C. this September. [This air traffic report brought to you by 'Deadpool'; originally appeared in Variety.]
Warren Adler also wrote the novel The War of The Roses, which was later adapted into the film. [Thanks to 'st7i9'.]
[Also, 'st7i9' should be commended for making sure we kept aware of this production by sending us the latest developments and then waiting patiently while we found time to draft the film's page...]
September 15, 1998... Part of the air crash scene was filmed a few days ago in the Patapsco river near the Key Bridge. "It was essentially the tail of an airplane sticking out of the water with some debris around it," our on-the-scene scooper described. "They asked the people on the bridge not to slow down or stop. I'm almost positive Harrison Ford wasn't there. But I did hear that he would be filming a scene in a hangar somewhere nearby on the 10th." ['JeffD202' routed traffic.]
Our next scooper, 'ImBack5000', reported that the airplane crash scenes were photographed August 30 - September 2 near the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. (This new location does seem to clash with what our first scooper told us.) The wreckage was visible from the bridge (which had signs posted "NO STOPPING ON BRIDGE"), and bridge toll takers confirmed that the wreckage was for the movie Random Hearts. [Thanks to 'ImBack5000'.]
Another scooper reports Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas will be filming a small scene up in Virginia sometime in the future for this movie. [Contributed by 'privateryan81'.]
Warren Adler is serving as an executive producer of this movie but not as screenwriter as we earlier reported. Instead, Kurt Luedtke (the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Out of Africa) and David Rayfiel wrote the script. Marykay Powell and Sydney Pollack will produce this movie. On the morning of September 1 the filming of the downed airplane scene scene resulted in 40 people calleing 911 thinking it was a real plane crash. [Steady on, 'st7i9'.]
September 21, 1998...In Alexandria, Virginia, they're making life a little easier for this production. Apparently there's a city ordinance there that doesn't let people land a helicopter within city limits if it's not an emergency. Well, those keen guys in town decided to let it slide just this once so a scene could get filmed. This scooper also asides that Mr. Ford himself was seen at Dulles Airport a few weeks back. [Scoop supplied by 'JT555']
September 24, 1998... Two additional cast members have joined the project. Peter Coyote will play the husband of Kristin Scott Thomas. Charles Dutton will play a cop, Ford's partner. [Thanks to 'st7i9']
September 27, 1998... Another couple of eyewitness accounts: "Random Hearts began shooting in Old Town Alexandria today. Harrison Ford was on the set in the morning, looking over the area, but left soon after. Most of the day has been taken up with preparations for the scenes to be filmed, and a HazMat truck is on site, but I don't know what it might be for. Going down to take a look after lunch." And we never heard from him again. Hmmm. Shouldn't have gotten too close to the HazMat truck, amigo. [APB out for 'lawpatmac,' onsite scooper.]
Also, "They're filming on 23rd Street in Washington, D.C. today, the 24th of September. Looked like an apartment building Harrison Ford was coming out of... not terribly exciting, so far." What? No interview with the apartment building? Ah, well. ['Bill Watcher' was on the scene.]
September 28, 1998... Yet another report from the trenches on sighting the crew and cast. "Today at the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, MD, Harrison Ford was filming for his next movie. I heard two possible titles for this film, 'Random Hearts' or 'Down with Hearts', where Ford plays a Washington, DC detective whose family is killed in a mid air collision. The Naval base here was used to film sequences with helicopters taking off for search and rescue operations, as well as a sequence where a temporary morgue has been set up in one of the aircraft hangers to house the recovered bodies. A friend of mine, who works for a government contractor on the base, got to meet Ford along with two of his co-workers. He says that Ford didn't say much because he seemed to be 'in a zone', getting ready to begin shooting. Ford signed an autograph for one of my friend's companions, said hello to all of them, and then went on his way to begin shooting. Harrison Ford was in Arlington, VA earlier this week as well, shooting some other scenes for the film." [It was a day like any other day, except 'negative1' was there.]
October 7, 1998... We've gotten the word about Paul Guilfoyle and Richard Jenkins joining the cast, along with some additional crew information. [Thanks to 'st7i9']
October 19, 1998...John Williams has apparently been approached with scoring this film, although his schedule's a busy one, with The Phantom Menace and possibly Dogma on his plate, he may be tied up until third quarter of next year. [Reported by 'C'.]
November 16, 1998... We've received two interesting comments last week surronding the shooting of this one in Washington D.C. "Random Hearts is shooting in Downtown DC this week, a block south of the Treasury Building. Harrison Ford was seen on Wednesday and Thursday as part of several background scenes (walking into buildings, walking out). Not real exciting, but at least they didn't tie up traffic for once. I talked to one of the grips on Thursday who said they'll be filming at various locations around the city till the end of next week, before moving back out to Alexandria for a couple of reshoots (now that the weather is more in line with the story, cloudy days and all). And I've learned my lesson, stay away from the HazMat Trucks..." [Scoop provided by 'LawPatMac'.]
"I am currently directing an independent film (Divine Intervention) that had its principle photography shot in Washington DC last month. We had several run-ins with Paramounts production of Random Hearts (some good, some bad). The first thing that happened was when we went to get our grip package from Washington Source, we discovered that Paramount had scarfed up all of our lights. They of course had the big bucks, and one can't blame the Source for handing it over. Later, we were filming on the Waterfront, and got delayed because of a run in with the Teamsters (turns out we were filming right in front of their headquarters). When we got back on track, we found out that we couldn't get to the Bar on M street we were supposed to film in, becase Random Hearts had the street closed down. I did get a good look at their lights (wow, it was a lot). All in all, it wasn't a bad experience (we did see Harrison Ford going into Georgetown Mall), but we didn't get everything shot. We'll be back there in a few months for pick ups and reshoots." [Thanks to 'Jack Reda' for the play-by-play.]
And it seems that we might have had listed the wrong composer: "Dave Grusin, a frequent Sidney Pollack collaborater, is doing the score for Random Hearts. NOT John Williams, who is very busy with a little project called The Phanton Menace right now." Phantom Menace? What the hell kinda movie is that?? [Scooped by 'Adam'.]
November 20, 1998... Sure, character names are changed all the time while movies are in development; still, the latest drastic name changes to Ford and Thomas' characters make us wonder what the real reason was. In addition to the character name changes, our informer 'Templer' emailed us with some studio corrections:
"About the scoop sent in by Jack Reda (Nov. 16), the studio that is producing RANDOM HEARTS happens to be Columbia Pictures (Sony) not Paramount. Also, Mr. Ford's character's name in the film is no longer Edward Davis, it is now Dutch Van Den Broeck. And Kristen Scott Thomas' character is now named Kay Chandler, no longer Vivien Simpson. Last but not least, Warren Adler - one of the Executive Producers of this film, and also who's novel is the basis for this film - has announced on his website - www.warrenadler.com that RANDOM HEARTS will be released next August." [Scoop provided by 'Templer'.]
January 5, 1999... Did we miss something? "Warren Adler (Random Hearts's author) posted to the Harrison Ford newsgroup that the release date will possibly moved to November in order to get some Oscar attention." [Scoop provided by Thomas.]
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