Abe Sapien Comes Up For Air After A Month

Wow. Over a month of silence form Dougie. Six day work weeks, and a three week visit from Mrs. Laurie has left me unable to sneak to this smelly internet cafe and share the stories that are piling up.

But those stories have to wait for just a moment. I can't even think of telling funny quips until I can release my joys and sorrows regarding one young person who has left a deep impression on me here in Budapest.


IVAN RICCI

It was mid-June, just after the production started filming. Driver Joey was dropping me at my hotel entrance after another long day at the studio. As I was saying goodnight to him, climbing out of the car, a deep voice speaking English but laced with Italian enthusiasm came from behind me on the sidewalk.

"What time will your wake up call be for tomorrow?" he asked.

I whirled around wondering who in tarnashions would be asking me that here on the street. And there stood a tall, smiley, angular, 28 year old Italian fellow wearing a silver choker, t-shirt with jeans that were barely clinging to his little hips, and a white baseball hat. Never saw him in my life before this, so you can feel my curiosity as to why he was asking me this question. So, I told him "3 in the morning, why do you ask?"

"Ah" he said with a big smile, "That is a little better than your 2:15 wake up call from today!"

Not sure who or how, all I could say was, "Yes...... wait ..... how did you know that?"

"I am the hotel night auditor who took your wake up call last night ..... Hello", he replied.

"OH, yes, OK, now I see. Hi, I'm Doug Jones," as I shook his hand.

With grinning pride, he said, "Yes, I know."

Which left another question ..... "Wait ..... How did you know that was me getting out of the car?"

"Simple", he said, not losing an ounce of his posture, "I recognized your voice from the phone."

Amazed by this boy, I had to flashback to the night before: It was around 10:30pm and I called down to the front desk for my insane wake up call. I remembered the receptionist being a very animated and jovial voice I had never talked with before, as I told him that I wasn't kidding, I honestly need to wake up at 2:15am to get outside to my driver by 2:30am. He chuckled with me, and wished me a good few hours of sleep. When 2:15 came, the phone rang with the automated computer voice telling me to have a nice day. Ugh, the drudgery at this hour! I hung up the phone and lied there in the darkness for a couple of dangerous better-not-drift-off-again minutes. That's when the phone rang again. Again? The system never calls twice. When I picked up, I heard that jovial voice from the night before, asking if I got my wake up call, and am I going to be OK. Something no one has ever done at any hotel I have ever stayed at.

Now let's jump ahead to the following night again at the hotel entrance. "Oh! So that was YOU who called me this morning to make sure I was OK! Do you do that for all your wake-up calls?"

"No," he replied, "I just couldn't imagine why anyone would have to get up that early, and I knew the temptation to fall back asleep would be too great, so I had to call." Yes. THIS was Ivan Ricci.

Ivan walked with me up to the door of my suite, and in that short time I learned that he was from Italy, but living and working at this Italian-owned hotel while in Hungary to fulfill a life-long dream of recording his first music CD at a studio here in Budapest. Also in that short walk, he asked all about me, and clutched his heart when he heard that I was here in Budapest as Abe Sapien working on "Hellboy 2". Turns out he was also a huge fan of "Pan's Labyrinth" and couldn't wait for the Silver Surfer, as well. Before he walked away from my door, he informed me that he just lived one floor up, and that if I need anything, or if I have free time when he does, all that.

I have always said that angels come in two forms. The actual wing-flapping kind sent from Heaven who protect us, and the people God places in our lives at the right place and time. Ivan didn't know it, but he was an answer to prayer. I had been quite lonely in my first few weeks here, not knowing where to go, or how to get there, and feeling very out of sorts with the language barrier. And here in a matter of minutes ..... plop .... I'm blessed with a local friend.

Over the next two months, it's hard to recount how much Ivan was in my life. Some snapshot memories would include:

- Ivan grabbing me from the lobby as I limped in from another long day, dragging me behind the front desk, and insisting that I sit with him, David (another night auditor), and Gyorgy (Night Manager) whom I have also grown to know and adore. Ivan would have room service bring me a milkshake right there at the desk, and look up songs on YouTube that we could sing together. If I didn't have to work the next day, this could go on until the sun came up.

-Ivan making me get down on one knee in front of Night Manager Gyorgy and him as they did a comical knighting ceremony and presented me with my very own hotel employee badge with DOUG on it.

- Ivan continued phoning minutes after my wake-up calls any night that he was on duty. One wee-hour morning, he wouldn't hang up until he talked me through all this .... "It's a beautiful day. Sit up now. Smile because you are alive. Put your foot on the floor. Now the other one. Turn on a light. It's going to be a great day on the movie. OK? OK. Now come downstairs and hug us before you go."

- Ivan showing me where to buy tickets for the city trams and metros, then taking me for a test ride to a mall where I needed to buy a tea pot for my room.

- Ivan taking Selma Blair and me to an Italian restaurant for his favorite dish there, Gnocchi with Gorgonzola. Heavenly comfort food. He and I re-visited this place many more times, and always got the same thing. A creature of habit, just like me. We would sit in there and talk for hours about his dreams, his wishes, his passions. A young life with so much potential and creative energy.

- Ivan talking about his parents back home in Milano, and how his one top goal was to make them proud of him by fulfilling their wish for him to own his own house one day. As he spoke, he needed to take a pause as his eyes filled with tears. He told me he hadn't cried in front of anyone in years, but how comfortable he was in front of me. Such an enormous compliment from such an enormous heart.

- Spending an evening with Ivan and his gorgeous Hungarian girlfriend Adrienn. Watching him point out her cute little nose and stunning green eyes was adorable. Later he told me that getting her to smile or laugh is one of life's biggest pleasures. I learned that brightening anyone's day is what that boy lived for.

- Running my lines for a scene with Liz Sherman with the deep-voiced, Italian-accented Ivan. He insisted that we keep going over the scene again and again until he was satisfied that I knew it well enough. I can still hear his charming voice doing Liz's line "Shut up Abe" as "Shut-a Hup Habe".

- Seeing his face as I gave him signed glossies of Abe, The Faun, and Silver Surfer. You would have thought I just gave him 3 gold bricks. Best of all, was knowing that he would have been the same Ivan with me if I was a bus driver.

- Ivan telling me one of the things he loved most about me ..... that even though I could wear any designer label I wanted, I was most comfortable that day in my cut-off jeans, t-shirt with a stain on it, a tourist fanny pack, and a filthy ball cap that I pulled out of my friend's salvage yard in Texas. Yep, he fully "got" me.

- Wherever we would be with piped-in music, Ivan stops everything, points to the ceiling and says, "I love this song", followed by his fearless singing out loud to it. Of course I always joined him.

- Hearing him go on about style, colognes, food, and romance, starting every thought with "Please .... I'm Italian!", which totally justified all his opinions and tastes to the point where I wanted to get a pen and jot down notes.

- Watching him listen intently with a tilted head after he asked me to share why I believe there really is a God.

- Seeing his face so proud of himself when he put one of his numerous pairs of designer sunglasses on me. He stepped back, told me they were better on me than him, and sent me back to my room with them.

- Watching any store clerk or food server's barriers break down as Ivan's charm would get them all to giggle within minutes.

- Having Ivan take me to his music producer's (the delightful Achilla Sparta) radio show on a whim, and ending up staying and chatting on the air with Achilla and Ivan for 2 hours between songs about the Hungarian opening of "F4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer".

- Ivan telling me that when he got a call from the daytime desk manager asking him to cover a day shift right after one of his night shifts, he understandably wanted to cuss. But instead, he said that he heard my voice in his ear, and even affected my sing-songie tone to tell her, "Why yes, I would LOVE to."

- Singing with Ivan, then him looking at me in all sincerity to say, "You should do a song with me on my CD."

- Watching Ivan charm the socks off of Mrs. Laurie the day after she arrived here. Over our usual Gnocchi with Gorgonzola, he told Laurie that he has never known anyone like me, that he never thought he would meet someone 20 years older that would be this much like him, and then playfully pondered the possibilities of moving in with us in Los Angeles. By then, Laurie wanted to know how soon he could get there.

- Ivan telling me that even on his worst days, getting to see me somehow made all his troubles dissolve away, and how talking with me always made him feel that anything was possible. I had no idea.


So many moments to savor with this exuberant young man in the short span of only two months.

It was Sunday morning August 12th, just a couple of weeks ago, when my phone started ringing. I got out of bed to find three missed calls. Upon returning these calls, I spoke with girlfriend Adrienn and Linda, a long time friend of Ivan's family. What they told me left me in a heap on the floor staring at the carpet.

Ivan was in a coma. That Friday night, he and four friends were driving on the highway to the beautiful Lake Balaton. He left his job and living arrangement at the hotel a couple of weeks before this, and told me that he had accomplished more with his song writing and vocal recording in those two weeks than he had in the entire last year that he has lived here. But now without a day job, he wasn't sure if he could afford to stay. Ivan had told Laurie and me how his time at the Lake inspired him and gave him hope to continue his dream of finishing this CD album of his. So it was no surprise that he took his friends up on an offer to return to the lake for this weekend. Little did any of them know what was about to happen. While at top speed on the highway, and attempting to pass another vehicle, the car rolled, throwing Ivan from the back seat, and leaving him with many injuries to his head, neck, stomach, and one lung. Enough so, that the prognosis after surgery was "Hopeless."

Now it was almost two days after the accident, and Ivan's friends and family found my number in his cell phone. I was so humbled to hear friend Linda say that since the first day Ivan met me, every time they spoke, he would spend half the time talking about this Dougie guy. She told me what a huge impact I had on Ivan, and said she simply had to contact me. Again, how very humbling to hear. I don't think any of us will ever fully know what effect we leave on others.

All I could think to tell Linda was to please kiss Ivan on the forehead for me, whisper that Dougie loves him, and that God's angels are all around. Holding him. Holding all of them.

By 10:30 that night, the call came telling me that Ivan had indeed passed away.

I was a mess.

How could a 28 year old with such promise, such energy, such passion for life, such passion for people ..... how could his young life be over? So hard to wrap my head around. At my age, having people in my life for 20, 30, 40 years, how did this boy make it so far into my heart in only 2 months.

Let me share one last snapshot with you.

One morning at around 3am, I was leaving the hotel for work as Ivan was heading back into the hotel after a party night off from work. He figured out what day it was and excitedly said, "I don't have to work tonight either ..... may I come to the set with you?!" So, he got in the Mercedes with Driver Joey and me, and off we went.

Thus began a day that he referred to as a dream come true. Not only had he finally gotten onto the set of a big Hollywood production, but he also got to witness the filming of that scene with Selma that he helped me rehearse, and sat in my make-up trailer watching the whole Abe getting ready process. When our Hungarian assistant Nora stepped out for a cigarette, Ivan joined her, leaving me alone for a minute with my make up artists Thom Floutz and Simon Webber. That's when Thom said, "I can see why you two get along so well ..... he's a younger Italian version of ..... well ... YOU."

Just then Ivan came bursting back into the trailer with a child-like excitement telling us we HAD to come outside to see this!!! So, make-up half done and feet in slippers, I went outside with all of them to witness the most beautiful double rainbow. By now it was around 6am, and the sun was just rising in the east with a gray cloud cover over us that created the most beautifully serene lighting over the sunflower fields that surround Korda Studios out in the country. And that rainbow ..... like I'd never seen. As I stood there taking it all in, Ivan came up behind me, put his arm around my shoulder, and spoke with all the Italian charm he had in him, "See what happens when you bring me to work with you."

I did see.

To me, rainbows have always meant a sign of God's promises. And as I look at the attached picture taken that morning by make-up artist Simon, I feel joy in the midst of all the sorrow. All that hope that Ivan spoke of. So happy that he got to record 5 songs before he left us, that producer Achilla will finish mixing and have available on MySpace soon. So happy that I had the chance to know this remarkable young man, who was an angel to me. So satisfied that even though he never got to show his own house deed to his parents, he did own so much real estate in people's hearts like mine. So happy that he got to see a double rainbow, marking God's promises to him so close to his own going home to Heaven.

Please enjoy this beautiful photo with me.

And if you get the chance, you may click on this link to see Ivan in a music video he made on a shoestring budget here in Budapest about 2 years ago. Goran MC .... That's him.

Click Here --- http://youtube.com/watch?v=n15bE2ekNbA

Thank you for indulging me in this very long catharsis. And I'll check in again soon to continue more stories from "Hellboy 2", I promise.

There's Love!!! --- Dougie

4:32 PM - 41 Comments - 63 Kudos - Add Comment

I think I am still alive......

Budapest Hungary, Written between Wed. July 4 - Sunday July 8, 2007

After a long block of working, I finally have more than one day off in a row, so I checked in with my e-mail accounts, MySpace messages, blog responses, and website guest book entries to find literally HUNDREDS of messages. So much love pouring in, and with so little internet time here, I feel absolutely guilty with my inability to respond to each one personally. Thank you for your patience and forgiveness.

Last week was nothing short of brutal. 18 to 20 hour days with an average of 4 hours of sleep each night. For instance, Thursday was a 21 hour day, followed by 2 1/2 hours sleep, followed by a 19 hour Friday. I finally woke up Saturday at 7pm wondering what my name was.

So with a few days off, I'm out walking about the city like a zombie one afternoon. Catching a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a store window I was shocked at how unkempt I looked and thought to myself, "Thank goodness I'm in a city half way around the globe where no one would ever know me." I kid you not, four minutes later, as I'm approaching the front entrance of my hotel, three Hungarian fan boys point at me on the sidewalk .... "That's HIM". Yes, they had been waiting there for who knows how long, and all three of them whipped out 8x10 glossies and DVD covers from the first HELLBOY, BATMAN RETURNS, PAN'S LABYRINTH, and RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER for me to sign. Anyone who knows me, also knows how much I did not hate this. Adorable.


NEIL GAIMAN

Yes, the famous writer of such books as STARDUST (coming to theaters this summer as a movie!), AMERICAN GODS, THE SANDMAN, and soooo many more, including comic books and the animated film BEOWULF (in theaters November 2007). So why do I mention him here? Because he has been here visiting our set to shadow our director Guillermo del Toro. His amazingly sweet and intelligent 12 year old daughter Maddy is with him and has been taking over his blog while here. She is such an adorably funny young thing. On this blog of theirs, the first images of me as Abe Sapien from HELLBOY 2 were captured in Neil's camera. Have a look at the June 27th entry:

http://neilgaiman.com/journal/

Neil had also been reading my little blog, so when we wrapped filming on Friday, Neil kindly informed me that he and Maddy were going to take me on a walk about the city on Sunday, because he knew if someone didn't make plans for me, I would never leave my room. What a fantastic day Sunday was. Maddy and I giggled a lot together, as though we were BOTH 12 year old girls, and I have decided that Neil Gaiman is the most fascinating human being I have met in the past year. He is a wealth of knowledge with an enormous heart at the same time. I never thought I would be so captured by someone pointing out different tree types, or explaining the rush of air caused by a big fountain, or why a Buzzard was happy with a piece of raw meat covered with flies in it's zoo cage ..... and all with the most eloquent language. He could make a grocery list sound like poetry when he speaks. He also gave me such a calming perspective on balancing fame in a normal lifestyle. From his work, you can tell he is deliciously imaginative, which comes out in his sense of humor as you walk with him. So, by the end of the day, I felt like I had earned another university degree, but also had my hair tossled from the thrill ride that is Neil Gaiman.


JUST A COUPLE MOMENTS ON THE SET

"ROLL CAMERA", and just before Guillermo yelled action, Jeffrey Tambor made a grimacing face, saying, "I have the worst gas .... it's ridiculous", leaving Ron, Selma and me worthless for that take.

Out on the hillside set in heat of 90-some degrees, Ron, James Dodd (the other fellow sharing the role of Johann Kraus with John Alexander), and I were sweltering in our make-ups and suits. That's when my lovely and sarcastic Selma Blair started fanning herself in front of all of us proclaiming, "Ugh! I can't believe how hot I am with this extra tank top on! But I can't expect you guys to understand." As I laughed and told her I don't know HOW she does it, she continued, "These socks are a really thick cotton too, you know that, right?"

Since Jeffrey and Selma are the only two NOT in some layered make-up, they are both so aware of the rest of us, bless their hearts. By the end of last week, Selma tilted her head and asked me, "How are you today, sweetie?" She quickly interrupted herself by saying, "You know what, never mind. I don't even want you to have to go there. Stay in your happy place." Jeffrey simply put his hand on my shoulder and said, "There is a place for you in Heaven."

We had only minutes for lunch one day when filming outdoors because of our failing sunlight. Ron Perlman sat with me, and we had barely put a fork to our plates before they were calling for us to go back to the set.
DOUG: Oh, OK, be right there.
RON: We just got our food. I'll come when Dougie's eaten enough. (Then privately to me) Dougie, you're too nice, you make me look like an ass.
DOUG: I'm sorry. I don't have this movie star thing down yet, do I.
RON: You're the Silver Surfer, man. (which he refuses to let me forget, bless his heart).
But my honor right now is being Brother Blue to my Brother Red. Ronny was telling me one day that he sees our characters kind of as parallels to the real Ron & Doug. He even went so far as to compliment me by wishing there was a place in this movie for Hellboy to look at Abe and say, "I will never know what it's like to be as good as you are." I have no idea where he got such an impression of me, but I adore this man beyond belief.


THE SANDBAG DANCE

Great, it happened again. "CUT" yelled Guillermo, and the entire crew broke out in laughter. Ron, Selma, and I were doing a scene in Hellboy's room at the BPRD, and as often is the case for the partially blind Abe, they had to put a sandbag on the floor to mark my stopping point when I walk out into the room. It takes just a couple of practice runs for me to get my flight pattern down before I can do the move as someone with full vision would. But then there was this one take. As the camera rolled, I hit the sandbag earlier than it should have been, and as I tried to keep the scene going, I felt around with my foot to find that sandbag again to get my end look at the right angle ..... but the bag had disappeared. Leg extension this way. Leg extension that way. Using both feet now. Thank goodness he yelled cut before my Rockettes kick line routine went any further. "Where did my sandbag go!?!?", I chuckled. That's when Selma collected herself enough to tell me that I never hit the sandbag, but I DID kick one of Hellboy's kittens! If you saw the first "Hellboy", you'll remember that Hellboy has a thing for kittens and his room is crawling with cats. About 50 of them to be exact ..... well ..... 49 now, as one has been sent off to therapy.


Alright, I'll let you rest your eyes now. Thank you again for all the love, and I'll be missing you, my cherished family and friends, when I am picked up tomorrow morning at 3:30am to start another 6 day week.

There's Love!! --- Dougie

1:08 PM - 34 Comments - 63 Kudos - Add Comment

MORE PRESS ON DOUG AS THE SILVER SURFER

Please indulge me again.

After a year long adventure with the Silver Surfer, including blissful ups and unreasonable downs, I am so overcome with gratitude to all of the critics who have been so amazingly kind to me in the press.

The following is more love from the press, beginning with a stunning review from Harry Knowles of Aint It Cool News, who is a tough critic that suffers no fools. He left me speechless.

I want to thank all of the angels in the press from the bottom of my heart. You all inspire me to keep devoting my all as I continue with my future rolls.

There's Love!!! ---- Dougie
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NEW REVIEWS!!!!!

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Aintitcoolnews.com, June 15, 2007

Harry Knowles

What's so great about the Surfer? Doug Jones. That man moves like something, not of this Earth. There's a grace and a calm to him – he doesn't ride the board like a surfer, he rides it as though it was simply an extension of his self. There's a reason why he interacts with Doom and the FF… there's something of the powers cosmic about them. They stand out from the other mortals, there's a spark of the infinite in them, now… that's never said, but you see it in the curiosity with which he holds them.

Now – when he's covered in the silver look – He does in fact look unreal, but there's a point where he's separated from his board – and he takes on a tarnished look. Here is where Doug Jones shines so brightly. Spectral Motion's make up on the Surfer is fantastic. Yes, they did do a lot of what you'll see of the Surfer in this movie – no matter what Fox officially says – And the results are spectacular. When he's strapped to that table and being questioned by Sue… I was just so incredibly happy. Just so happy

And Doug Jones?

GOD BLESS YOU FOR EXISTING! Amongst all the cg, all the silliness – you lent the Silver Surfer the poise and the grace that only one who had soared the space ways of the infinite could have. And… if JMS does the job that I hope he will on the SILVER SURFER movie… and if they get a brilliant director. And they get Doug Jones back. That will be a movie, that I can't even fathom the coolness of.
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Mania.com, June 15, 2007

Abbie Bernstein

Jones is eloquently graceful as the alien with the terrible burden.
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Reel.com, June 15, 2007

Pam Grady

One of Guillermo Del Toro's favorite actors, Doug Jones, was psychic fishman Abe Sapien in Hellboy and the titular faun in Pan's Labyrinth. Now, for director Tim Story, he is the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. A definite improvement over 2005's somnolent Fantastic Four, there is still little chance that anyone will mistake this for a great movie, but Story keeps the action hopping and at least he had the good sense to hire Jones. Even completely encased in metal, he still manages to invest his character with the most emotional resonance in the film and he cuts an awesome figure on his color-coordinated surfboard.

As is so often the case with his roles, we never see the real Jones' face and yet he imbues this alien creature with the most humanity of any character in the film. Without him, Rise of the Silver Surfer is just another clumsy comic book adaptation. With him, we feel the weight of the burden he carries, the reluctant destroyer. This is no black and white bad guy, and that ambivalence and the actor that portrays it elevate and enliven the movie. The Fantastic Four, those guys are not so fantastic, but this guy clearly is.
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CHUD.com, June 15, 2007

Russ Fischer

And that voice – you can't tell me that Doug Jones wouldn't cut it as the Surfer, but Julian McMahon does as Doom? You've got Doug Jones in the suit, and all you need do is look to Pan's Labyrinth to see how a living, breathing director can assist Jones in creating something out of nothing.
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411mania.com, June 18, 2007

Chad Webb

Words can't express the feeling when the Silver Surfer graced the screen. I had goosebumps. Doug Jones does his usual extraordinary work in the suit
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BlogCritics.org, June 17, 2007

Chris Beaumont

Doug Jones brings a beautiful otherworldliness to his performance as the Silver Surfer. I am sure that much of what you see is the creation of a computer, but it is Jones who was onset providing the guide to the character. He has been carving out a nice niche playing these types of roles, previously appearing in Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth. He brings a grace and serenity to the screen, despite being forced to assist in the destruction of planet after planet. It is a wonderful character, and I hope they lock him up to be in the proposed Silver Surfer film.
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Comics2Film.com, June 2007

Doug Jones, also, should receive kudos aplenty as his movements make this character so fluid, so cosmic, so … perfect. That Laurence Fishburn plays the voice is sort of inconsequential. So much emphasis was put on the effort to get a "real actor" to voice the surfer, but with few lines it could have been anyone, and should have been Doug Jones. Fishburn didn't make me love the character any more than I did already.
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BoxOfficeProphets.com, June 19, 2007

Shane Jenkins

The Surfer's physical form belongs to Doug Jones, from Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy. Jones, like Andy Serkis, has the ability to infuse his characters with personality, regardless of the special effects that get piled on top of him. It's a great physical performance, and deserving of a better movie.
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London Free Press, June 15, 2007

Kevin Williamson

This is bland, uninspired filmmaking, elevated solely by the all-too-welcome work of performer Doug Jones ...... (He's the reason I'm giving this movie two stars.)
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AND IF YOU'VE MADE IT THIS FAR .... HERE IS ANOTHER CASTMATE, the lovable Chris Evans ('Johnny Storm') in a TV interview where he is so very kind to me. CLICK HERE....

http://movies.go.com/summer/trailer?cid=888863&vid=897040

9:27 AM - 9 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment

Doug Jones and the Silver Surfer Media

"FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER"


Doug Jones ...... Silver Surfer


Now in Cinemas Worldwide




As reported in an interview from the red carpet of the Saturn Awards, May 14th:

Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) will voice the Surfer, for which Jones provided the performance.

"This is a painful issue for me," Jones said. "For any actor [it] would be. No actor wants to see a portion of their performance taken away."

But, Jones added: "I also want to say that Laurence Fishburne is a fantastic actor. You could do worse. And I'm very honored to be billed alongside of him. That's great. I also think that 20th Century Fox knows how to market a film better than I do. And if this is what it took to get ... people in seats, then God bless 'em and good luck. I have to back away at this point and let them do what they need to do."
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Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four's Invisible Woman) mentions your tall skinny friend in this interview ..... CLICK HERE:

http://iesb.net/index.php?option=com_xevidmegafx&Itemid=139&func=detail&id=828

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Ioann Gruffud (Fantastic Four's Reed Richards) has been a sweetheart beyond words in these following interviews:

Aint It Cool News, Feb. 2007

Interview with Ioan Gruffudd

AICN: What are your thoughts on Doug Jones' interpretation of the
Surfer? Do you remember anything specifically about his performance
that struck you?

Ioan: The character is very, very attractive. There is that quality to
him that you're never sure who he is. He can turn on a six pence; he
can become incredibly angry and violent and quite vicious. And he can
be quite calm and gentle. A lot of that was in Doug's voice; he's got a
lovely voice. I hope they use Doug's voice in the end.

AICN: Even he wasn't sure when I spoke to him, whether they'd use his
voice.

Ioan: Oh, god. I hope they do. The studio was trying to play down the
whole thing. You know, the Silver Surfer isn't really him. If people
got an image of Doug as the Surfer, that wasn't going to be what he
looked like in the end. But Doug has created this character that we are
responding to, and he does such a moving job and he's such a good actor
in that costume, and I hope they use his nuances and what he presented
to us. I know they're going to put the sheen on top of him. But his
voice is wonderful, I don't know what they could get that would be
better
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ComingSoon.net, Feb. 20, 2007

Interview with Ioan Gruffudd

CS: Is Doug Jones actually on set wearing the costume the whole time?
Gruffudd: Yes he is. Yes he does. It's brilliant.
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MoviesOnline.ca, Feb. 21, 2007

Interview with Ioan Gruffudd

Q: That would have gotten out there with or without you.
Ioan: I know, I know. Doug Jones is credited as The Silver Surfer'.
Q: He told us about it.
Ioan: They should be celebrating Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer. He's brought this great character to life.
Q: What was it like working with someone who is so talented?
Ioan: Exactly. I thought he was under-appreciated. No, no, Doug has brought this character to life and they're just manipulating what he did on set; putting that sheen on him. I thought it was wonderful, so majestic. When you meet him, he's like a beanstalk of a guy, isn't he? But, his movement is fantastic, breathtaking. When I saw 'Pan's Labyrinth' I was like 'that's you?' It's beautiful. I just want him to have his credit where credit's due.
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AND THE PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS ARE IN .......
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Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2007

Kenneth Turan

The Surfer ...... has the further good fortune to be played by Doug Jones, a marvelous physical actor who was unforgettable at both Pan and the Pale Man in Guillermo del Toro's 'Pan's Labyrinth.'
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Orange County Weekly, June 7, 2007

Luke Y. Thompson

It's a shame he couldn't get his own movie without all the hangers-on, and even more of a shame that actor Doug Jones is being overdubbed by Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus is cool, but so is Doug).
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Ain't It Cool News, June 9, 2007

However, FF2 wasn't a total failure. The Surfer is phenomenal (with the exception being Laurence Fishburne's distracting voice). His entire body seemed to be in constant motion. I was mesmerized for every moment he was on screen.
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ifmagazine.com, June 15, 2007

Sean Elliot

Doug Jones (HELLBOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH) does a great job as the Silver Surfer and the awesome slightly iridescent on-set practical makeup that Spectral Motion created for the movie can be seen in a large chunk of the flick where the Surfer is somewhat powered down. Why Fox had so many issues with saying that Jones "played" the Surfer I will never know, but Jones still remains the undisputed Lon Cheney of our times. There are damn few actors who can emote and give as great a performance as Jones from under several layers of latex and make-up.
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Film School Rejects, June 11, 2007

Loukas Tsouknidas

Unarguably, the Silver Surfer is a pleasure to watch. Surfing is already one of the coolest things in this ugly world and nickel is another one. Put those two together on one person, make him surf through space and you can't go wrong. Doug Jones specializes in playing people behind heavy make up and cgi so he gets it right once more. That's it.
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Off Screen.it, June 2007

Antonello Sammito

The (Silver Surfer), brought to life thanks to a combination of a make up suit worn by character actor Doug Jones and the visual wizardry of the Weta team, looks astounding and his scenes are probably the best thing about the movie.
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USA TODAY, June 13, 2007

Mike Snider

Jones' delivery as Abe Sapien and the Surfer have some similarities, says Mike Elizalde, president of Glendale, Calif., effects company Spectral Motion. His firm worked with Jones on both characters. "They both possess powers beyond those of mortal humans and they are both elegant and beautiful," Elizalde says.
Jones' background as a mime and his tall, slender body makes him ideal for such challenges.
"He is very conscious of what every joint in his body is doing at any given moment," Elizalde says. "I admire his performance tremendously.
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Hour.ca, June 14, 2007

Isa Tousignant

That choice of Silver Surfer storyline, and the way the awesome-looking character is played by Doug Jones (who was also behind the haunting Pan and Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth), are what make this Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer infinitely more watchable than its predecessor.
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Stuff.co.nz, June 12, 2007

Special effects producer John Kilkenny said Jones gave a great performance.
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Seatle Post, June 13, 2007

Sean Axmaker

his appearance in the film is the closest that director Tim Story gets to visual awe. Actor Doug Jones (lacquered in CGI quicksilver) and voice artist Laurence Fishburne provide the supersonic skyboarder with the dignity and gravity, if not quite the philosophical depth, of his inspiration.
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The San Francisco Chronicle, June 14, 2007

Mick LaSalle

The Silver Surfer is played in body by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne, and both do beautiful, sensitive work -- it's the performance to take from the movie.
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New York Daily News, June 14, 2007

Jack Mathews

The Silver Surfer - played under metallic effects by Doug Jones - is a cool invention, sort of a cross between the morphing alien robot in "Terminator 2" and Gort, the robot giant in the classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still."
He is also an alien with a heart, vulnerable as Superman sitting on kryptonite. Scary, but you learn to love the big lug.
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The Globe and Mail, June 12, 2007

R.M. VAUGHAN

Doug Jones is the busiest unrecognizable actor in Hollywood.After decades of bit parts on television and in many movies, Jones has finally come into his own as Hollywood's newest (Cousin) It guy - the actor to see when the script calls for a monster or a freak.
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Wired Magazine, June 2007

Tom Russo

A spandex-clad Jessica Alba may be what sells tickets to Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (out June 15), but it's the naked dude on the shortboard that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Creature-actor Doug Jones is riding high as the man behind the film's lustrous, CG-enhanced villain.
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Groucho Reviews.com, June 15, 2007

It is the story of a threatening zero who turns out to be a noble zero. Both move with the grace of Doug Jones.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 15, 2007

Duane Dudek

(Silver Surfer) is a combination of CGI and prosthetics built on a performance by Doug Jones, who played the title character in "Pan's Labyrinth," and who along with Andy Serkis (Gollum in the "Lord of the Rings" films) is one of the pre-eminent synthetic thespians working today.
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AND NOW ..... THIS MOVIE WON'T BE HERE IN HUNGARY UNTIL JULY, SO I'M COUNTING ON YOUR REVIEWS TO TIDE ME OVER!!!!!!

There's Big Love! ----- Your Dougie

7:35 AM - 17 Comments - 29 Kudos - Add Comment

Everyone Is Back!

Dougie writes on Sunday, June 10th:


EVERYONE IS BACK

So great to finally have everyone here. Old buddies Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Selma Blair (Liz Sherman), Jeffrey Tambor (Agent Manning), and Brian Steele (a few of our bad guy creatures) all arrived for a final week of rehearsals, meeting up with us, who were here a tad earlier, Luke Goss (the haunting Prince Nuada), Anna Walton (the enchanting Princess Nuala), John Alexander (Johann Krauss), and myself (that yummy fish filet).


RON PERLMAN

Oh my word, how I love this man! 2 days before filming began, we had an on-camera make-up film test. During filming, we have seperate make-up trailers, but for this day, we were in chairs next to each other. I don't think I can adequately express how it felt to watch Hellboy and Abe come together, piece by piece in the mirrors. It was like finally getting back to that fun summer camp to see all the friends you missed during the year..... only it's been 4 years. Brothers Red and Blue are back, and it just feels right.


THE SNAPSHOT

It is so good to have another actor going through the kind of make-up application that I am. At the end of that make-up test day, with Ron getting pulled out of his 5 hours of demon bits, and me getting pulled out of my 6 hours of fish bits, we were both in our own worlds of clean up. When all our prosthetic rubber bits had been removed and unglued, that's when I hear a deep voice say, "Hey Dougie". I reply, "Yes, Ronny?" I turn to Ron, who is looking at me with glue streaks, sweat, and red smears on his face, as I look at him with glue streaks, sweat, and blue smears on my face. He locks eyes with me dead-pan for a beat. Then in his good-natured sarcasm ..... "There has to be an easier way to make a living." I just smiled at him, knowing he loves being Hellboy. He smiled back, knowing I love being Abe. No words necessary.


SELMA BLAIR

This may sound redundant, but oh my word, how I love this woman! Selma had me doubled over laughing one day as we were being driven to a rehearsal together, telling about the paparazzi guys on bikes that spotted her on the streets of Budapest just that morning. Imagine what YOU might look like while out walking your dog before the day has actually started, and then picture your feelings as 3 different bikes stop with professional cameras snapping at you with zoom lenses.


THE STUDIO PARTY

We are the first film ever to shoot in brand new studio facilities just outside Budapest. So, the Hungarian studio hosted a little welcome party in our honor, a little over a week ago. While taking a big bite of my "typically Hungarian fish stew", a nice local man from the studio asked me how I liked the food. What an unfortunate moment to have a mouth FULL of fish fat. Doing the gentlemanly nodding of the head with my eyebrows up, trying to be gracious, Selma sees into my eyes and said in front of everyone, "You hate it, don't you." Dear me, I love this girl. She says whatever we are all thinking, but would never say out loud.


JEFFREY TAMBOR

Yep, you guessed it ..... oh my word, how I love this man! Jeffrey is possibly the funniest man ever. Everything he says is done with this serious face and such conviction, but when you listen to how ludacris his words are, well, he is just delicious. One day as we were finishing up a rehearsal of the last scene in the movie, Jeffrey has a troubled look on his face, walks over to Ron, Selma, and me, and says, "Ok, so, what are the early signs of depression again?" We all cackle laugh, but without skipping a beat, Ron pulls his sun glasses down, points to his eyes, and says, "this is one."

Then Jeffrey informed us how much he'd love to stay and chat, but he had an audition in 20 minutes for a Hungarian porno flick about a middle aged Jewish fellow.


THE CAMERAS ROLLED, FRIDAY, JUNE 8TH

Well, a new personal record has been set. My pick up time at the hotel for our first filming day was (drum roll) ..... 1:15am!!!!! That really isn't even today yet...... that's still yesterday, right??? My last record early call time was 2am. What job was that on, you ask? Why "Hellboy 1", of course.

What an exciting day for all. Guillermo del Toro was his usual little boy self, with the film set seeming like his big sand box full of toys that he had invited us all to play in. Truly a gifted man with a knack for growing the ultimate creative environment. The gifted Guillermo Navarro is also back as our Director of Photography with his talented team of usual suspects ..... yep, the dream team that brought you the Best Cinematography Oscar for "Pan's Labyrinth". I'm not sure if we are making a movie here or having a lovely family reunion. Both, I'd say.

The first set-ups were all in the hallways of the BPRD Headquarters, our home. Jeffrey and I started the day with a very long walk & talk down a long hallway, negotiating 3 turns and 4 steps..... and yes, I'm partially blind. Came off without a hitch, thankfully, and we moved on to a more complicated set-up with 40 BPRD agents running around the hallways, and Ron, Selma, and I had to round a corner, come up those 4 steps, and end up on certain marks. That's when it happened. I now have the honor of "Hellboy 2's" first blooper. Right on Selmas heels, my feet got tangled in hers, I missed one of those 4 steps, and performed a most uncoordinated ker-plunk to the floor..... yeah, something like a fish flopping around on the dock just after being pulled from the water. So here's my question: Is it really a compliment when the DVD editiors come up to you smiling to congratulate you on being the first piece of footage for the bonus features?

Another highlight of the day was sitting in my set chair between scenes. I had my eyes closed, finding my happy place, when I heard Jeffrey's voice. He knows what a day like this is on me, so as I open my eyes and come to, I see his hand in my face with a wet, white wad on his fingers. In his distinctively dry humored voice, he asks, "There you are. Would you hold my gum?"

By the time I had wrapped for the day, been cleaned up, and driven back to the hotel, it was now over 19 hours later. Delerious, but happily content from the day, and knowing I didn't have anything to do until the next night's party, I closed the blackout curtains in my room, put the Do Not Disturb sign on my door, and fell into the most satisfying slumber at 9pm ...... and when did I finally wake up? At the crack of 1pm the next day .... 16 hours later!! "Oh Dear Me," thinks Dougie, "This could be one long shoot."


THE KICK OFF PARTY, SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH

Our entire production company took over a swanky restaurant and courtyard for a wonderful night of frolick. Dougie ate lots of odd food, drank some cola and orange juice (not together, silly), and danced until glistening...... that sounds better than a sweaty mess, right? It was on the dance floor that a lovely British woman from our production office approached me and said, "Please forgive me, but I have to do this"..... oh dear, what on earth was this woman about to do? Something unseemly? Then I became very complimented as she incorporated a "Pale Man" pose from "Pan's Labyrinth" into her dance, open palms on forehead and all. "I'm so sorry, but I just loved you in that movie," she continued. And now I love her too.

Two other highlights from the night include the on-set sound mixer, Mac Ruth, coming up to me and telling the very insecure Dougie how much he likes my voice as Abe already. A sweetheart of a guy who did not have to say that, as it's his job to listen to voices ...... and I dedicate this blog installment to the two lovely fellows from our visual effects company, Double Negative, who took turns asking, "So when are you going to update your blog?"


Well ..... tomorrow's pick up time is 3:15am (yeah, still feels like tonight, doesn't it), so Dougie is off ..... but just a little! (That joke never gets old, I tell ya).

There's Love!!!! ---- Dougie

5:31 PM - 18 Comments - 36 Kudos - Add Comment

Doug in Budapest, Hungary for more

FOOD IN HUNGARY

I'm loving the #3 Combo at the Burger King across the street. Yes, unfortunately I AM that American who goes to a foreign culture and jumps for joy when he sees a KFC. Of course I experience the local cuisine and fine dining, which is lovely, but when the bill comes, and I'm a cheap-ass miser, well, that #3 Combo doesn't sound so bad now, does it. My per Diem (daily cash allowance for expenses) has always been a little game for me. How much can I actually bring home with me at the end. And being a hermit who has barely seen any of this city yet, I am off to a smashing start. I think my goal is to be Old Man Jones one day who lives in that run down mansion on the hill outside of town, who never comes out, and just counts his money while cackling to himself. Meanwhile, thunder roles outside anytime the town folk speak my name. A boy can dream, can't he?


ON HERMITAGE

Since cameras don't role until June 8th, I have SO enjoyed the couple hours here and there rehearsal schedule so far that affords me all this much-needed down time. I finally pulled out my maps and travel guides yesterday, after being here almost 2 weeks, saying, "Hmm...... so ........ Budapest ........... hmmm ..... " What's the hurry, I have until early November, right?


THE PRINCESS

I have been rehearsing scenes with Guillermo and the lovely Anna Walton, who plays Princess Nuala. Without giving anything away, I will simply tell you that this is one fantastic actress, and her highness may bring out a side of Abe Sapien that you've never seen before. Anna is just delightful, and is here in Budapest with her 4 week old baby!!!!! I shall never complain about stress ever again for as long as I live (said Dougie, as he pictured 3am feedings before a work day).

One day on the way out of the production office with director Guillermo and lovely Anna, I put my hands in my jean pockets and found my fingers swirling around in star-shaped confetti. Ah ..... yes ..... and old tradition that Mrs. Laurie started long ago. Every time I leave for a location shoot, she sprinkles metallic confetti throughout my luggage when I'm not looking. Then when I land in my temporary home on the other end, I find myself picking this crap out of every fold and pocket of my clothes ..... for weeks. Annoying, but Mrs. Laurie finds it amusing as she sits at home chuckling to herself, while sipping tea and wearing an outfit that she didn't have to shake out first. This time, it is in the shape of stars with little pointy tips all around. After hearing my explanation of this, Guillermo said, "Well THAT could hurt in the wrong garment" I assured him he was correct. And Mrs. Laurie chuckles once more.


OOH -- Here is a video interview I did at a sci-fi convention in Burbank, CA just a couple of weeks before coming here. A few minutes of candid chat that will give you more insight into Dougie's world of late. Thanks to the good folks at IESB.com.......

CLICK ON THIS:
http://iesb.net/index.php?option=com_xevidmegafx&Itemid=139&func=detail&id=477


OK then (Dougie looks at his watch), looks like dinner time, and I hear a #3 Combo calling my name.

There's Love!! --- Your Dougie

7:32 AM - 15 Comments - 26 Kudos - Add Comment

A Fish Out Of Water?

SO IT BEGINS:

Here I sit in an odiferous internet cafe in downtown Budapest, Hungary .... that smell of cologne and body odor .... mmmmm

I arrived here Thursday May 17th to begin my 6 month stay for the production of "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army". I am very excited to be reprising one of my favorite characters, Abe Sapien the blue fishman. Along with him, I am also tackling a couple of other heavily made-up characters: The Chamberlain, a doorkeeper for the King of the alternate world, and The Angel Of Death, kind of self explanatory, but not to be feared, as she (yes, she) is SUCH a cool moment in the film that will leave you wondering when you might see her again in films to come.

So far, all we are doing for a couple of weeks is fittings and light rehearsals. So the rest of my time has been spent walking about the city like a zombie, watching fountains with music playing in my walkman like a zombie, a little reading with a cafe latte in front of me, sleeping more than should be allowed, and basically drooling on myself while staring at my hotel room walls..... like a zombie. Heaven I tell you, especially after the non-stop press and events schedule over the last 5 months.


LANGUAGE BARRIER:

This is one of those rare moments when I don't mind telling you what a great mime I am. I wish you could have seen my performance as I acted out becoming a regular at this net cafe to get the cheaper hourly rate. Arms a flappin', face a goin', acting like I was coming in the door again on different days, dear me I was good. And yes, I got my pre-paid 10 hour card, bless that little confused lady's heart.


TECHNO BARRIER:

They've put me up at possibly the swankiest hotel I've ever been in ever, The Boscolo New York Palace Hotel. Anything with "Palace" in the title should give you a clue. And my junior suite is where the prince might stay .... absolutely lovely, gold swirly things, chandelier things, and a bathroom I could bowl in (yeah, that's how a classy fellow would describe it). So something as simple as a TV remote shouldn't have thrown me, right? Wanting to get a jump on my Euro-MTV, and all kinds of shows dubbed in Hungarian, I sat there pressing the power button. Nothing. Again. Nothing. This went on for around 6 minutes until I called the front desk, telling them I had a defective remote. When the nice little maintenence man showed up with his tool box, he took the remote, pressed something and the TV came on immediately. What? Apparently, ANY button turns it on EXCEPT the power button .... no no, THAT is reserved for turning the power OFF. So had I ventured out and pressed, say, ANY other button on the remote, the TV would have turned on ..... without standing in front of a man with a tool box and a mocking grin on his face. Next, I'll be calling the front desk because I can't wipe myself.


I'll be in touch when I can, and you can always keep tabs on me at my official website run by the lovely Webmaster Helen in Scotland:

http://thedougjonesexperience.com/

ALSO!! "PAN'S LABYRINTH" NOW ON DVD EVERYWHERE!!!!!

There's Hungarian Love!!!! ---- Your Dougie

8:02 AM - 21 Comments - 30 Kudos - Add Comment

Hellboy Animated VO Work

Hellboy: Sword of Storms premiered last night, and I was shocked when my web master Helen sent me these quotes from fans posted on the web.

Thank you all very much for your kind words and support!
Doug


"First off. Doug Jones has officially impressed me. I went in thinking Ron Perlman would be the usual standout voice actor on this, and he was, but Doug just owns the floor every time he speaks"


"And I was also impressed by Doug Jones...I REALLY liked DHP as Abes voice in the movie and was doubtful I would enjoy hearing it "recast"(even if Doug was the original choice for Abe) but he did a damn fine job"


"And yes, Dougie is PERFECT as Abe. Seriously, he just... IS"


"Ah man... I was nervious to hear Doug all day and man... he rocks!!! dude sounds perfect for Abe"


"Doug was perfect"


"Ron Pearlman and Doug Jones were absolutely fantastic (why the heck did GTD dubb Doug in the first movie?)"


"I was amazed by Doug Jone's performance, and I'm not some fan kissing his ass, either. I like him better than David Hyde Pierce"


"And Doug...damn! He was incredible. DHP's voice in the movie always bothered me because I found it distracting to the character. I really wish they had used Doug's voice in the movie. Having finally heard him voice Abe I really don't know what Guillermo was thinking"


Doug Jones may have only played Abe Sapien in body in the movie, but his voice delivery is excellent in the feature. Rumor has it he may not only reprise his role as Sapien, but take over the voice talents as well - which after seeing ..Sword of Storms.., I have no problem with.

1:00 AM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Pan's Labyrinth Oscar Nom

Pan's Labyrinth has just been selected to be Mexico's Best Foreign Film submission! I could not be happier for Guillermo! He sure deserves it! I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful film. The film will be out on December 29th, please be sure to see it and support Guillermo.

The Official Pan's Labyrinth Site

From The Hollywood Reporter
Mexico puts 'Labyrinth' on path to Oscar



By John Hecht

MEXICO CITY -- Guillermo del Toro's dark fantasy "Pan's Labyrinth" has been selected as Mexico's foreign-language submission for the 79th Annual Academy Awards, giving the film industry here a strong Oscar contender.

Written, directed and produced by del Toro, "Pan's Labyrinth" will hit U.S. theaters Dec. 29. Tequila Gang, del Toro's Mexican production company, co-produced the picture with Spain's Estudios Picasso.

1:00 AM - 10 Comments - 18 Kudos - Add Comment