Oregon Movies, A to Z

“It’s kind of a miracle that any movie ever gets made. Every other day, it’s like, “What am I doing? This is insane. I could be off gardening right now.” Madonna, in Interview

On the same day Roger Ebert applauds the high quality of film writing taking place on the web, I learn that one of those high quality film journalists is Gus Van Sant. Not only is Gus Van Sant  a pretty good interviewer, but he gets a scoop — Madonna is in the middle of directing a film that she wrote.

VAN SANT: So it’s set during which period?

MADONNA: It’s set mostly in pre-World War II England-like, 1936 to 1937-and then in New York in 1998. It goes back and forth in time. I use the Sotheby’s auction in 1998 of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s estate as a device to flash backward from.

Ever practical, Madonna keeps an eye on the bottom line.

MADONNA: I didn’t realize it when we were writing the script, but once I started casting and planning and working with my production designer, I went, “Oh, fuck. I wrote a script about a bunch of rich people. That’s going to be great for the budget.”

Wait a minute, this is her SECOND film. She also directed Filth and Wisdom in 2008.  Where have I been? Good thing Gus is staying on top of things.