Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Saturday, October 24, 2015
David Arquette stars in new stage production of Sherlock Holmes
David Arquette might be better known as a TV and film actor from such projects as Scream, but this month he hits a T.O. stage to star as Britain’s most revered sleuth, Sherlock Holmes.
The production runs from Oct. 27 to Nov. 8 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, www.mirvish.com.
How are you feeling about portraying such a well-known character onstage?
I’m very nervous! I’m excited, as well, but he’s just such a loved character, I feel a responsibility.… It’s thrilling! I mean, to be able to sort of make it my own. One thing I have been doing is listening to a lot of the books on tape because you get the accent as well, so you get to listen to some real proper English and sort of learn to speak in that accent.
So, you’re putting the accent on?
Yeah, you have to put the accent on! You don’t wanna show up with an American accent playing Sherlock Holmes! It’s an interesting take on it, but it’s not our take.
What did you think when you were asked to play Sherlock?
Well, they had first approached me to play Watson, and the more I read it, I was, like, I’m more the quirky, kind of crazy Sherlock to be honest.
So you definitely wanted this role.
Yeah, absolutely! I mean, I love Watson. He’s such an incredible role, but I just felt like my kind of idiosyncracy was just matched better with Sherlock.
Sherlock’s character has always had a dry sense of humour, are you planning on putting your own David Arquette spin on things?
Yeah, it certainly feels that way! I mean, the relationship between the two in general, with Watson and Sherlock, is always sort of tense and funny. It’s a real interesting dynamic. Their relationship is definitely comedic. There is a lot of ripping on each other. There is a lot of humour, though, and there’s a lot of humour in him just being a unique person.
We’re used to seeing you on the big screen. How does performing theatre differ for you from film when it’s live and there is no do-over?
Well, those will be some of the funnier moments. That’s when you really need to be comfortable in your acting and you have to be able to think on your toes. Hopefully everyone comes with a good attitude, maybe goes to dinner first and has a couple drinks!
While you’re here in T.O. is there anything in particular you will want to see or do in Toronto?
“There’s always really wonderful restaurants. Every time I go there, I’m amazed by the culture and the different areas you can go to and get traditional food. So I always like seeking those places out. Whenever I travel, wherever I travel, I like to find some of the oldest restaurants in the city. I just like how people continue tradition that way.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
AT HOME WITH ‘HOLMES’: DAVID ARQUETTE
A brooding man clad in a deerstalker cap and Victorian overcoat, with a watch fob, magnifying glass and pipe in hand is hunched over a lifeless body, police detectives hanging on his every deduction. These are the identifying characteristics of Sherlock Holmes, the famous sleuth created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle … but David Arquette? Not so much. The “Scream” actor, 44, has never solved a murder mystery, used forensic science or possessed an innate arrogance in his abilities. But it’s the offbeat qualities beneath Holmes’ cryptic exterior that match Arquette’s, making him the perfect fit to play the elusive Baker Street detective when “Sherlock Holmes” comes to Chicago’s Oriental Theatre next month.
“[Holmes] is working on a frequency that is different than the rest of the characters in the story,” Arquette says. “We share a quirkiness and oddball nature. I definitely look at things from a different perspective, and I think he does, too. I have a pretty good understanding of human behavior.”
As a fourth-generation actor, Arquette who stars in the new western thriller, “Bone Tomahawk,” in theaters now caught the acting bug early, before gaining widespread attention for his roles in ’90s films like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Never Been Kissed” and “Scream.” Last year, he produced the syndicated game show “Celebrity Name Game” with his ex-wife Courteney Cox (the second season premiered last month).
Still, his true passion has always been the stage he’s acted in theater productions of “The Rocky Horror Show” and “The Female of the Species.”
“Being able to entertain the audience right in front of you is really the roots of my family, going back to vaudeville,” Arquette says. “There’s something I really love about being able to have that interaction with an audience, [putting] on a crazy production that is nonstop and wild.”
And “Sherlock Holmes” which runs November 24-29 is just the kind of eccentric production Arquette desires. Set in the backstreets of London, the story centers on Holmes, who’s tapped by Scotland Yard to resolve the disappearance of Lord Neville St. John. Alongside his friend Dr. John Watson (played by James Maslow of “Big Time Rush”) and St. John’s wife, Lady Irene (played by Renee Olstead of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”), Holmes sets out to crack the case.
For the most part, the play directed by Andrew Shaver and written by Greg Kramer stays true to the original story penned by Doyle in the 19th century. But this modern, steampunk interpretation adds an extra dose of slapstick humor.
“It’s not entirely the right analogy, but it feels like there are elements of ‘Monty Python’ in it; there are elements of ‘Airplane!’ There’s some real outlandish comedy in it, which is fun, because it’s typically something that’s done a lot straighter,” Arquette says. “It’s fun for the Watson and Sherlock relationship they’re at each other’s throats sometimes, but in a very humorous way.”
Though he found the dialogue-driven script and English accent challenging, Arquette’s love of suspense, crime and investigation helped him ease into the role.
“I’m not the kind of person [who] needs all the answers … [but] I do like putting things together,” he says. “[Sherlock’s] obsession tends to be something that our society is a bit obsessed with now ‘CSI,’ profiling, ‘Dateline.’ … I actually love those shows. I’m obsessed with that kind of stuff.”
Before diving into the play, the Virginia native took some time away from the media sphere, going on a hiatus from social media, and subsequently, his fans.
“I originally left because people were just so mean,” he says. “I really take it personally; I couldn’t not obsess on it and write people back. There were rumors and people just talking trash it wasn’t fun for me.”
But last month, he rejoined Twitter with the intention of reconnecting with his longtime followers.
“It’s really necessary in this day and age to connect with your fans and let them know what you’re up to, [because] it really is about the fans. I just try to not focus on the negative,” he says.
It’s this same connection to the audience that he’s most looking forward to in the “Sherlock Holmes” production — not to mention, being able to come back to Chicago; he briefly lived in Evanston growing up.
“I love Chicago. I love the people — they have a really great sense for comedy,” he says. “It’s been a dream of mine to perform in Chicago. … I hope people enjoy our interpretation of this classic story.”
Based on the evidence, it seems likely we will.
"He’s definitely got some of my qualities. He’s a little bit of a rascal already, [and] he likes to have fun. He’s always on the move. —David Arquette on his 1-year-old son, Charlie West Arquette"
David Arquette Starring As Sherlock Holmes In New “Off-The-Wall” Play
David Arquette was in Chicago on Thursday, to promote a new play hitting the Oriental Theatre next month.
Arquette will star as Sherlock Holmes, the latest actor to take on the role of the iconic detective going back to Basil Rathbone.
“It’s quite a loved character, beloved character; so to be able to play him, the one thing you don’t want to do is let down the true Sherlock Holmes fans. So I think we’re true to the story, true to the character, but it is a humorous take on him. There’s some kind of off-the-wall comedy that’s involved with our production, which makes it unique.”
For Arquette, it will be something of a homecoming. He lived two years in Chicago as a young child, the son of improvisational comedian Lewis Arquette and grandson of Cliff Arquette, known to fans of “Hollywood Squares” as Charley Weaver.
“Sherlock Holmes” will play the Oriental Theatre from Nov. 24 to Nov. 29."
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Friday, November 21, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
David Arquette & Jefery Levy exclusive chat about new films The Key & Me
David Arquette & Jefery Levy exclusive chat... por arquettefans
WhatsUpHollywood.com spoke exclusively to David Arquette and Jefery Levy about the films The Key and Me. Arquette chats about his latest role in The Key, from filmmaker Levy, and describes the film about a married couple like “nothing you’ve ever seen on film before.”
Levy delves deeper into the origins of his film, The Key, which is based on a novel by Junichiro Tanizaki, and then chats about his role in Me, a mockumentary-style film about the current reality culture that also stars Levy as a version of himself.
The Key and Me will premiere during the Real Experimental Film Festival at the Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills, November 21-27, 2014.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
David Arquette Talks Girlfriend Christina McLarty's Pregnancy: "It's All New, But It's All Beautiful"
Proud papa! Actor David Arquette had no problem gushing about his pregnant girlfriend Christina McLarty and their future son at The Art of Elysium's 7th Annual HEAVEN Gala in Los Angeles on Jan. 11.
The 42-year-old welcomed daughter Coco with ex-wife Courteney Cox in June 2004, and could not be more excited for his second child.
"I’ve done it once," he told Us. "It’s all new, but it’s all beautiful."
Arquette says he's excited for, "playing catch, making [his son] laugh, and seeing my girlfriend Christina being a mother for the first time and all the joy and love that it’s going to bring her and me."
McLarty attended the event with Arquette, who says the pregnant TV personality craves eggs benedict "first thing in the morning with extra hollandaise!"
Though he's known for his eccentric tendencies, the Scream 4 actor says his son's name won't be "too quirky."
"I think we will go with something a little more traditional," he revealed.
David Arquette: Having a Second Child Is Less Scary
Becoming a father can be a daunting prospect, but as David Arquette prepares for his baby boy on the way, the actor is not letting the stress get to him.
“I know I’ve done it once so there’s not that fear that a first-time parent has because you just don’t know what to expect,” Arquette, 42, told PEOPLE after the TCAs panel at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday.
“Animals across the world have babies and they know how to take care of them instinctually. Us humans get so in our heads about it all but as soon as the baby comes it is just instinct.”
But Arquette who is already a parent to his daughter Coco, 9, with ex-wife Courteney Cox admits that becoming a father is a life changer and he is making sure to schedule his work with his girlfriend Christina McLarty‘s due date in mind.
“I had to make sure they could get out in time long before my baby would be born,” says Arquette of his four-week shooting schedule on location in Puerto Rico for seasons 2 and 3 of his Crackle show Cleaners.
Arquette is also looking forward to some extra bonding time with Coco during her final months as an only child and plans on having her join him on location in the coming weeks.
“Whenever you get to do that you have to take them out of school for a few days, but it’s such a great bonding experience because she gets to see what we do on the set,” he says. “It’ll be a really good time.”
And when it comes to possible trips with his new bundle of joy, don’t expect Arquette to play things too safe with his newborn.
“You have to have a lot of faith that you will be able to keep them safe and not mess them up too much,” he says.
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Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
David Arquette on How His 'Troublemaker' Past Inspired Him to Teach in 'Dream School'
"It had so much heart. It's different than most unscripted shows out there," Arquette tells The Hollywood Reporter.
The school has certified teachers as well as celebrities who come in to give lectures – all with the goal of getting the students back on track to graduate from high school.
Other notable instructors include Oliver Stone, 50 Cent Swizz Beatz, screenwriter Cliff Dorfman, and journalist Soledad O’Brien.
Arquette says he spent some of his teen years "running around and being a bit of a troublemaker," but was saved by getting involved in his school's drama department.
What did the producers of the show tell you to get you on board?
They told me it was Jamie Oliver. He's a great guy and I love what he's doing with food in schools. They showed me the original show they did in the U.K., and it had so much heart. It's different than most unscripted shows out there. It's about these cool kids who just need a little inspiration to stay on track and get back into their educations. I'm not typically who you think of to help guide your kids, so that meant a lot to me that they had that faith in me.
You talk about on the show how your school's drama department gave you focus as a teen. That was something you wanted to pass forward?
Absolutely. I was running around and being a bit of a troublemaker. Joining a school play gave me structure. I had to rehearse and stay after school, and then going home to doing my homework. It got me inspired. I did a comedic monologue for this big competition. I grew up with a family in the business – and I'd auditioned for four or five years and just got completely rejected. Then by doing the competition, I came in second place and it gave me another boost of confidence, and led to me getting my first job. I wanted to do something like that for these kids, to express to them that they are the most important people in their worlds. It's up to them to put in the time. If you put in the hard work you can achieve what you set your mind to and put your heart into.
You can probably relate to the kids because of your teenage years, as well.
I can relate them to in my life now. Hollywood is a crazy town. This business is complete rejection. I've been acting professionally for 24 years and it's still tough. And seeing other actors you've grown up with take off and others drop. It's a wild rollercoaster of a ride where you have to stay true to yourself and try to do good work. The last three movies I've been on had ultra low budgets, where it was like $100 a day. That's part of the business now. It's also part of staying active and trying – and even helping other people out, people who are doing their first or second movies, or people who have a vision but don't have much of a budget.
What was the hardest part of being on the show?
The hardest part was not having taught kids before. You have to be firm at points, but I never was a fan of teachers who talked down to kids.
What did drama instruction do for your students?
Mostly it was too build their confidence, and have them be able to stand up straight and talk to people and look people in the eye. Little things like that.
What part of Dream School did you enjoy the most?
The best part was seeing the kids come out of their shells. There was one kid named Eric, who's really smart. He's a DJ and he's really funny. But there was a part of his character that reminded me a lot of mine. He wasn't taking it seriously. I asked him to do a creative writing lesson where you use prose to express yourself. The first draft was all over the place and wasn't taking it seriously. We kind of called him on it. Then he came back, and he wrote one of the greatest poems of them all. It was great to see him step into it.
Ideally, what's next for Dream School? Did it change how you see educational problems in the U.S.?
It's sort of up to the audience to see if they're going to watch it to see if it would warrant a second season so we could help more kids. Or they could spread it out and put it in other states. If it became a truly successful show, you could just do programs that weren't filmed. You'd bring mentors in and pick a group of kids that have a lot of potential and try to steer them in the right direction. In success anything is possible. But we still need people to watch.
The show is more positive than the average unscripted shows. What do you think it says about our culture?
Where are we going to place our importance? People can talk about violence in film and videogames, but those are the films people want to go see. Until we start wanting to see things that are a little more positive – it's up to the audience to want to see things that are a little more positive for the industry to want to support it and fund it.
Dream School airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Sundance Channel.
David Arquette Talks ‘Dream School’: How a Transgender Student Brought Him to Tears
Executive-produced by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and rapper 50 Cent, the series brings actors, journalists, artists and top experts in their field to a diverse class of students who are working for much-needed school credits to get them back on track.“The producers approached me and they showed me Jamie Oliver’s version from the U.K. and it was just so heartfelt. It was such a great idea in general,” actor, producer and “Dream School’s” homeroom and drama teacher, David Arquette, told TheWrap.
“I remember school and I remember having a hard time in school,” he continued. “I remember teachers that helped me a lot and inspired me and it just feels like something fun to do, to work with these kids, see them go through their experience and hopefully have some fun in the process and learn something, teach them something.”
TheWrap spoke with Arquette about participating in the program, his approach to teaching and the experiences that touched him.
TheWrap: What was your approach on teaching drama to the kids?
David Arquette: My thing was more like giving them confidence, being able to stand. One of the girls in the class, she was a rapper, she’d rap like this [speaks in a quiet tone] and I told her she has to have some confidence and command the stage. And when you’re standing up in front of people, really address them and look them in the eye. I would just give them little pointers like that. It was more on that level than actual drama. We didn’t do any scenes or nothing like that.
How’d you see your role as their homeroom teacher?
I kind of played it by ear a bit. Luckily, they had certified teachers on-set that were actually making sure they had a certain curriculum. For me, homeroom was more of a place to get grounded; [I] ask them about how their experience is going so far. We did an exercise where we put up a mirror and asked them to speak to themselves.
Alan, a transgender student, brought you to tears during the mirror exercise, because he reminded you of what your sister Alexis went through as a transgender kid. Were you surprised those feelings came bubbling up?
A little bit. They told me about the exercise and we called the different kids up. Alan was really brave and honest. It touched me. It brought up a lot of feelings of what a lot of kids are going through nowadays. Kids? People in general can be so cruel. It was really a matter of remembering that and it did all bubble up and it did affect me. No matter what I try to do as an actor, as a host, at my club, whatever it is you’re always looking for something real, something tangible, something honest. And that was a moment that was real honest and it was a moment that was very powerful.
Alan sort of saw that as a turning point. He said that he knew that he had at least one ally at the school if the kids didn’t accept him.
The coolest thing was they did. It was a pretty amazing group. As tough as they were, they didn’t really attack each other. For the most part, they felt lucky for being there and they were respectful to each other.
These are headstrong kids. What was your approach when the students broke the rules?
These kids are dealing with a lot at school and also at home, just their whole world is pretty complex. I tried not to punish or be mean in any way. I tried more so to just break it down for them and say, “Well, you can make this decision, but you’re really just hurting yourself by not taking advantage of it.” Some of the kids just didn’t feel comfortable engaging. I’m not sure if it was about taking the whole thing seriously as much as it was too much what they’re going through, what they’re experiencing, all of that. And on top of it, there are cameras in your face. It’s not an easy thing to do. For one, it’s not entirely natural. As much as it disappears throughout the day, it’s still there and people are still in your face and if you’re having a hard time going through something emotional, it’s hard to block them out.
Did you have any bouts with your own self-confidence during the process?
Oh, absolutely the whole time. I kept saying, “Listen, I think they might kick me out of here, too, soon.”
Is there something you did in class that you hope makes it on-screen this season?
Yeah, they wrote their dreams and hopes and we kind of made it a poetry exercise, a performance exercise, so that part was really nice to seem them all sort of come out of their shells and speak their mind. There were certain moments when you can see the kids were playing games with it. When you can get them grounded and honest and get them to look at it in a different sort of honest way, it turns into a growing thing. And I think that happens toward the end of the season.
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Tuesday, October 8, 2013
David Arquette Parade Rewind: His High School Days, Fatherhood, and Filming Dream School
David Arquette stopped by to chat with Parade about his new series, Dream School (premiering Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. on the Sundance Channel), introducing his daughter Coco to the biz, his career highlights, and more.
On the new Sundance Channel series, Dream School.
“Dream School takes 15 high school dropouts and gives them a really incredible educational experience. The idea is to reinvigorate them into learning and going back to school and graduating. They chose me to be the drama teacher and the homeroom teacher, which was interesting for me because although I did get good grades in school, people wouldn’t typically think of me as an authority figure, so it was a great opportunity for me to meet these kids and help inspire them.”
On what he was like in high school.
When I was in high school, I was really interested in breakdancing and graffiti art. It wasn’t a waste of time. It really did get me interested in art. At one point, some girls came up to me and said they were doing a school play and I should try out for it, so I did, and through that process I met an amazing teacher named Ben DeBaldo, who was my high school drama teacher and he really inspired me to take it more seriously. When you do a play, you have to commit to it, you have to stay after school, you have to learn your lines, you have to balance your school work as well and it gives you structure. It gave me confidence as well, and it led me to a career in the dramatic field.”
On relating to his students.
“These kids were dealing with a lot of obstacles. Everything from being bullied to having life circumstances get in the way to just feeling like they didn’t fit in and having problems with authority and getting into fights. I kind of had all of those problems myself, so I could relate to the kids. I know what it’s like to get bullied. My sister [Alexis Arquette], who used to be my brother, I saw her get bullied a lot, so there was a lot of stuff that came up that I could relate to and I could talk to them about and just kind of let them know that it’s a long road and that there’s decisions that they’re making along the way that are important and that their lives are important and it’s important to have a goal.”
On his early acting aspirations.
“I’d always known I wanted to be an actor. We’re fourth generation — our family goes back to Vaudeville as far as acting goes — but I did little plays when I was a kid at the local library and I took a lot of improvisation classes. I auditioned for about six years or seven years and always got rejected. It was really difficult, so I finally went to school and I started doing the school plays and it gave me the confidence to go out there, and then right out of high school I got my first job!”
On being the youngest in the Arquette family.
“I liked being the youngest in my family because my parents had made a lot of the mistakes before they got to me, so I kind of had it a little easier. I also was a bit of the mascot within the family, so I always wanted everyone to get along. I was kind of my mother’s little buddy, and I’d go everywhere with her, so it was fun.”
On his most memorable career moments.
“There’s a lot of moments within my career that stand out. Meeting my ex-wife [Courteney Cox] on the Scream movie and then having a daughter with her — that’s sort of a peak obviously, but there were amazing experiences within Dream School.”
On filming the iconic film, Scream.
“Filming Scream was a real treat. It was just a great group of people, everyone got along, we had a lot of fun. We were young and alive and doing a project that nobody really knew how it was going to turn out, but we all loved the script and Wes Craven is such an amazing director. Kevin Williamson wrote such a great script. It just was fun, we laughed a lot, and we took these long rides to set because some of these sets were far off, and I just remember listening to Van Morrison or the Beatles and seeing the beautiful Northern California landscape go by.”
On his nine-year-old daughter, Coco.
“My daughter Coco is interested in acting and performing and singing and she does plays, but that’s where I want to keep it for now. I don’t want her to move it into the professional realm, although she’s on sets a lot and she does little walk on parts. Courteney just directed her first film, Just Before I Go, and Coco had a little scene in it where she played my daughter and she sprays me with water and it was just so cute to see her act and embrace it and have fun with it. She came up with her own line and she delivered it and it was just adorable.”
On what he’d be if here weren’t an actor.
“If I weren’t an actor and if I could make enough money to maintain a lifestyle, I would want to be an artist. I also love clothing. I’ve had a clothing company for three years. I’ve always been interested in making t-shirts and designing suits.”
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Friday, October 4, 2013
David Arquette: What It Takes to Make a Dream School
David Arquette joined Katie to discuss his new show "Dream School" where 15 high-risk students who have faced various struggles -- bullying, pregnancy, teachers giving up on them -- are placed inside a "dream school" with famous teachers.
So, who are some of the personalities we can expect to see? Teaching finance is none other than Suze Orman. And for debate, expect to see Jesse Jackson. Oliver Stone and Swizz Beatz are also on the dream school faculty. And Arquette makes an awesome homeroom teacher.
“Why did you want to get involved in this project?” Katie asked.
“Well, Jamie Oliver did a series like this in the U.K., and they showed it to me and it was just amazing,” Arquette explained. “I was a bit of a troublemaker in school, bit of a troublemaker still. I thought that I could relate to the kids and I thought it would be an adventure.”
He was also open regarding his addiction to alcohol and his struggles with his recent divorce from actress Courteney Cox. He explained that this show will expose the real David, and not the personality he is often linked to.
Link of the video
Link of the video
Saturday, June 8, 2013
David Arquette Helps Raise Money For Community Center
He does this through the Vintage Hollywood Foundation wine and food fundraiser, being held on June 8 at his home in Beverly Hills. The event is an intimate gathering of some of the top vintners and restaurants from around Los Angeles.
Vintage Hollywood is outdoor event attended by approximately 350 patrons, which showcases an exclusive group of prominent restaurants and wineries.
Celebrity guests in attendance will include Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives), Greg Germann (House of Lies), and Kirsten Nelson (Psych). Andrea Fiuczynski, President of Christie's Los Angeles, will serve as auctioneer for a live auction of unique food, wine and entertainment experiences, and Wheel of Fortune and KNX 1070 News radio afternoon drive host Jim Thornton will be the evening's Emcee.
Since 2001, Vintage Hollywood has raised over a million dollars to benefit our community. Proceeds from Vintage Hollywood go to the non-profit Vintage Hollywood Foundation, which promotes and supports charitable organizations that work to improve the health and well being of Southern California's diverse community. Previous beneficiaries have included JDRF, Save the Children, United Friends of the Children, and Children's Action Network. Advisory board members include Mark Beringer - Winemaker; Suzanne Goin - Chef/Owner of AOC, Lucques, Tavern; Cary Tamura, Proprietor, Diogenes Wines; and Suzanne Tracht - Chef/Owner of Jar.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Creative Coalition inaugural ball is rockin' good time
Actors from film, television and the stage arrived at the Harman Center for the Arts in Chinatown to fete President Obama at a bash hosted by the Creative Coalition, a non-profit for the arts started by actor Ron Silver in 1989. The party took place in a space that is, appropriately, part of the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Coalition members like David Arquette, Marlon Wayans and Evan Handler mingled inside the ball with a number of politicos, including Jesse Jackson.
"I still geek out when I come here," said Arquette, of his travels to Washington. "Seeing the pageantry and the celebration of America was really interesting. I love the talk about equality. It's about time that was mentioned by the president."
Monday, January 21, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Interview Magazine - For Atwood and Arquette, Heaven is a Place on Earth
When asked to describe her idea of what heaven might look like, award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood, fresh off an Oscar nomination for her work on Snow White and the Huntsman, summed it up with a rhyme: "Where the sea meets the sky in the mist of the eye." That vision came to life on Saturday, January 13 at the Art of Elysium's Sixth Annual Gala. Atwood, as the 2013 Visionary, was honored alongside actor David Arquette, the recipient of the "Spirit of Elysium" Award. The celebrity-based nonprofit, founded by Jennifer Howell, brings together famous artists, actors, and musicians, who voluntarily donate their time and talents to children battling serious medical conditions.
While the skies didn't part, divine intervention came from the production team, who finagled closing down an important traffic tunnel for the occasion. From the giant custom-crafted eye which beamed down at the star-studded guests to a midnight performance by John Legend, the experience was quite celestial—at least according to Atwood, Arquette and Howell, with whom Interview debriefed post-event.
JENNIFER HOWELL: Hello, everybody! David, I love you, thank you very much for those beautiful flowers.
DAVID ARQUETTE: Oh, you're sweet, thank you.
INTERVIEW: Colleen, you were chosen to design the Art of Elysium gala this year, featuring your interpretation of the concept of heaven. Where did your vision come from?
COLLEEN ATWOOD: Well, it's based on the theme of the charity—what heaven is to different people. I kept thinking about all these long drives I have all the time and how happy I am, always, when I hit the ocean and I can see the water and the sea together. The idea for the venue moved around a little bit, because originally we were thinking, "Oh, wow, it could be on the ocean, it could be really cool"—then we realized it's January and it's night, and you can't see anything anyway. Then I came up with the tunnel idea, so Rick Heinrichs, who's an incredible production designer friend of mine, I said, "Rick can you figure this out?" We knew what we wanted it to look like, but he really helped figure it out for me, and he did a tremendous job.
ARQUETTE: So powerful—the eye looking down with the light shining through it was so beautiful.
HOWELL: You killed it, Colleen.
ATWOOD: David, I loved when [your daughter] Coco tidied up your hair at the end. [laughs]
INTERVIEW: David, how do you think of heaven?
ARQUETTE: My vision for heaven would involve laughter and love. I think those are my two favorite emotions or expressions, and when people have joy in their heart and in their soul, it just makes for such a fun experience. And I really enjoy life, and the lighter side of life, and having fun, and having friends around, and laughing, and music.




























