Jonah Lisa Land

Hysteria's North American Premiere

We got the news last week but today, it's official...

HYSTERIA

will premiere at 

The Toronto International Film Festival 

on September 15th!  

This is a very big deal, people.  It's the most prestigious festival in North America and we've landed a primo spot as one of the Gala Premieres.  Red carpet and all.

I'll post details on general release dates as they become known. Remember to follow HYSTERIA's Facebook page to stay up on the current news.  I'm sure there will be lots of tweeting and facebooking from Toronto if you want to enjoy the ride with us.  

We'll be driving the kids down to Texas to stay with my parents while Stephen and I cut loose and enjoy the world premiere of our first film to be produced.  

And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, please visit the My Movie page for more information and links about the film.

Follow the Film!

Here are some links for those wanting more info on the film.  

You can check out our IMDb page to see the full cast list.  They also regularly pick up and post news from other internet and print sources.

And if you want to follow along with the film in a more personal, insider-y kind of way, you can "Like" the Hysteria Movie Facebook page and/or "Follow" the Hysteria Twitter page. 

Enjoy!

Hysterical Halloween

While you're all still sleeping off the sugar high, I had come tell you about our very cool Halloween here in London.  Huck was a red Power Ranger, Jemima was a pink fairy and we went trick or treating with a big crew of friends including... Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard and their sweet daughter Ramona, who went as Shirley Temple.   AHH!

Yes, I'm totally serious.

Yes, it was very fun.

Yes, I kept my cool and didn't act like a dufus.

No, I didn't take any pictures.

I know you're probably all annoyed by that last statement but it just felt too skeevy.  When you have this sort of access in the normal lives of people who are famous, you really hate to betray that trust by posting pictures of them on the internet.  You know?  I'm just not that mercenary.  

We mainly talked Halloween and kids and parenting.  And I will tell you that after a full day of candy and excitement and a late night of walking, their kid melts down just like ours do and they scramble to get home before the unstoppable crying jag takes hold.  Despite the fact that it was oddly exciting, it was also very normal. 

To make up for no Halloween pictures, here's a shot of Maggie working on the film.  

Unfortunately, the whole privileged access thing applies to the film, too.  Turns out it's not really cool for the writer to go around posting behind the scenes photos of the actors on the internet.  DAMN!  This shot was scooped by People Magazine and has already been posted on the internet so it's "safe" to show you. I'm going to try to find some creative ways to get some inside shots for you, so expect a few pictures of Maggie's feet or elbow and the back of Rupert Everett's head along with pictures of ME on set!

Hysteria :: The First Day

As they say, you only have your first time once.  It's a big deal, or at least it should be.  Ours was.

The director and our long-time friend Tanya took this picture on set. The producers gave me a pink Rabbit Pearl (apparently made famous by Sex in the City as the best vibrator on the market) as a shoot gift. 

It was quite surreal (the day, not the vibrator, though it IS rather large!).  All these incredibly talented people coming together to bring to life something that you dreamt up inside your head.  And there it is in living color and you can just reach out and touch it.  It's a bit like walking around inside your own mind.  

The first morning we shot Hugh Dancy, Felicity Jones, Jonathan Pryce, and the wonderful Georgie Glen in two very funny scenes.  Maggie had a scene in the afternoon and was the firecracker she's supposed to be.  She brought Stephen and I a gift of some very nice chocolate.  

I, for my part, knit a hat for her daughter Ramona.  

October 2010 Recap

I wish I could chalk the long absence up to jet lag but that really only covers about 5 days of it.  The last 2 weeks of our LA trip were wonderful.  But I'll catch you up fast and get on with the present.

First things, first, I turned 40!  Stephen and Huck told me they were going to the beach and disappeared.  I was a bit annoyed but more because we had some work to do than my birthday.  

They returned with cake, perfume and beautiful new handbag that I love. Sneaky.

And because the money wasn't flying out of our bank account quite fast enough...

We took the kids to Disneyland.  Got there when they unlocked gates, did the character breakfast, the ears, the whole shebang.  Left as the street sweepers were cleaning up the conteffi from the parade and put the kids in their jammies for the car ride home.  They were asleep before we got out of the parking garage.  A near perfect day.

Then it was on to Texas where we hung out with family, hit Chuck E. Cheese, did a little shopping (thanks Mom!) and repacked all our bags from summer in LA and Texas to fall and winter in New York, London & Luxembourg.  

Then the long overnight flight to London.  Oy!  Huck is the only one who slept a few hours.  I didn't get a wink but did watch Winter's Bone.  The next 2 or 3 days were a bit of a blur but at least it was a good movie.

We've been in London for 2 weeks now, menacing the roads in our wee little car.  We've settled into our apartment, met all the actors, had a read through of the script and yesterday we started filming.  More on that in the next post.  Now you're all caught up and I'll try to keep it that way.  

As the locals say, Cheers!

Studio Tour :: Jim Henson Lot, Pt. 3

It used to be the Charlie Chaplin Studios so there's so much history here. Walking in the footsteps of the gods so to speak.

Studio Tour :: Jim Henson Lot , Pt. 2

This is inside the reception area. Kermie's trophy case.

Studio Tour :: Jim Henson Lot, Pt 1

This is my favorite lot in Hollywood!

It has so much character.

Mmmmmm

Our favorite between meetings lunch spot in LA. They even had one on the Warner's Lot!

Studio Tour :: Warner Brothers

Meeting with the guy who did American Beauty this morning!

Sent from my iPhone