Friday Feature: “Rendezvous” Production Blogs 2 & 3

Here are two more behind-the-scenes videos that examine the pre-production process for Austin Madding’s James Bond fan film “Rendezvous”…

Martin Grace (1942-2010)

Bond stuntman and stunt double Martin Grace has passed away at the age of 67. Grace was an accomplished stunt performer and coordinator, and was Roger Moore’s stunt double through most of his Bond films. Grace’s first 007 credit was in Sean Connery’s “You Only Live Twice” in 1967, before becoming Moore’s regular stunt double from “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977) up until his departure from the series in “A View To A Kill” (1985).

Grace’s other major film credits as a stunt performer/coordinator include: “Superman” (1978), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981), “Robin Hood” (1991) and “The Truman Show” (1998). Grace also appeared on screen as an actor, which included working with former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan in “Robinson Crusoe”.

Over his career, Grace worked on 73 motion pictures as well as many popular television programs including “Monk” and “Heroes”. His last big-screen stunt work was on the 2007 Jim Carrey film “The Number 23″.

After suffering a cycling accident in late November 2009, Martin fractured his pelvis and was hospitalized for some weeks. In late January he was taken from his home in Spain to hospital again after developing breathing problems. He died aged 67 on 27th January 2010 after suffering an aneurysm.

Rest in peace.

Bond 23 in 3D?

The Sun conjured up an interesting rumor today. According to the tabloid site, a source said: “The 23rd Bond movie has been put back a few months and that has given them the time to prepare to film it in 3D.” The article goes on about how it’d be great to see explosions and stunts in 3D. The author even goes on to write how it’d be amazing to see a Bond girl in 3D.

Do I believe this? Absolutely not. Would it be cool? Absolutely not.

The 3D movie trend should apply to only certain genres of films; Pixar/animated movies and low-class “horror” flicks, like Final Destination. We never needed to see Sean Connery, Roger Moore, or Timothy Dalton in 3D in order to be entertained by their Bond films. I don’t think we need that now, either.

Mendes isn’t on board… yet

Nikki Fenke of Deadline.com reports that Sam Mendes isn’t on board to direct Bond 23, yet. Instead, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are in final negotiations with Mendes for him to initially join the film crew as a consultant.

According to the trusted news site:

Daniel Craig is ‘insisting’ on Mendes’ hiring because the actor was stung by criticism of the last Bond film [Quantum of Solace]… Once EON hires a director on their Bond films, it triggers a first payment from MGM. Well, given that MGM is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and EON may have the right to take Bond elsewhere, it stands to reason that the producers wouldn’t want to do anything right away that further complicates ownership of Bond #23. ‘The producers are working on a deal to bring Sam on as consultant with an eye to direct,’ said one of the insiders. ‘Once they put him on as the director, something happens to the contract in terms of ownership. But let me emphasize there’s not any deal done.’ Said one insider about the choice of Mendes: ‘Barbara thinks he’s smart, which he is. But you don’t need such a fancy director. You need someone who can do an action movie.

MGM has not confirmed any of these reports and has denied reports that pre-production on Bond 23 is on hold.

Mendes. Sam Mendes…

British director Sam Mendes will take on the 23rd James Bond film, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The site reports that Mendes – the director of “American Beauty”, “Revolutionary Road”, and “Jarhead” -  is currently in negotiations with Eon Productions’ Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to direct Daniel Craig’s third 007 outing.

The site also goes ahead and states, “Production is being fast-tracked and could begin as early as June with an eye toward a 2011 release. Plans for the film are moving forward despite a possible sale of MGM. Sony co-produced and distributed the most recent installment of the 007 series with MGM.”

No official statement has been made by EON Productions, however, so Bond fans will have to wait for verification.

Happy New Year!

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Thanks for reading!

Rendezvous [Fan Film] ::: Production Blogs 1 & 2

Austin Madding, director of Rendezvous – a fresh new James Bond fan film now in production, has released two new production blogs for the film…

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to all!

Thanks for reading Licence To Blog.

Be safe and be merry…

The Afghan James Bond

A group of terrorists have stolen an experimental nuclear device and now they want to blow-up Kabul.

Only one man can stop them … The Afghan James Bond, codenamed: “Nijat”.

Afghanistan’s 007 is played by a man named Qaseem Elmi and doesn’t take on the traditional characteristics of Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007, though. Instead of an Aston Martin or Bentley, “Nijat” drives a used Toyota Camry. There are no love scenes and no martinis in this type of Bond film, either.

The budge for “Nijat” was roughly $2500 ,  which included a cast of non-experienced actors and improvised special effects. To create an effect mimicking a bullet going through a man’s chest, the production team set a firecracker behind a dish of color paint and lit the fuse. This was followed by the actor rolling onto the ground, playing dead, in an exaggerated fashion. These firecracker effects also caused the actors’ clothing to smolder; in that case, the production team simply had all of the henchmen smoke cigarettes.

There’s a motive behind this low-budget, Bond knock-off, though. Afghanistan wants to portray a prosperous and peaceful nation of the future. In the shadows, though, Agent “Najit” lurks, and works to prevent a major disaster. Because of this, he becomes a hero that all Afghans can idolize.

Source:  CNN.com

40th Anniversary ::: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

40 years ago this month, an Australian actor/model by the name of  George Lazenby had stepped into the role of the world’s greatest secret agent – James Bond, after Sean Connery had retired from the part [for the first time] in 1967.

Directed by Peter Hunt (the editor of the earlier Bond films) and written by Richard Maibaum, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service put 007 face-to-face with his arch-nemesis, Ernest Stavro Blofeld, and his plan to use biological warfare to threaten the world. During the mission, Bond meets Tracy di Vicenzo, a countess whose courage and charismatic spirit earns her the title of  Mrs. James Bond.

At its premiere on December 18th, 1969, at the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square in London, UK, the film proved to be  faithful to Ian Fleming’s original novel. With a budget of $7 million, and a run time of 140 minutes, George Lazenby’s first and last James Bond outing ended up grossing around $87 million worldwide.

You can read my review of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service here.