Scots movie star Gerard Butler meets director over Robert Burns film
Scots movie star Gerard Butler meets director over Robert Burns film
Dec 26 2010 Toby Mcdonald, Sunday Mail
HOLLYWOOD star Gerard Butler has staged a secret New York summit about making the long-awaited Robert Burns movie.
After years of speculation and several doomed efforts to film the Bard’s life, the 300 star met director Vadim Jean at the glitzy Paramount Hotel in Times Square to discuss the project.
Last night, Jean confirmed the pair had been putting the finishing touches to plans for the Burns movie.
He said: “We are great friends and we were meeting up, catching up. Burns is still on and we talked about working together.”
Reports had claimed Jean wanted to sign Paisley-born Butler to a new movie called Limousine co-starring Frasier actor Kelsey Grammer.
But Jean said: “I am doing Limousine with Kelsey Grammer – whoever overhead the conversation got it completely wrong. Gerry isn’t involved in that.
“Maybe they overheard our conversation about Burns and put two and two together and made five.”
Jean, the man behind Leon The Pig Farmer and One More Kiss – in which Butler also starred – said: “Burns’s words are at the heart of this film.
“If you read a poem like Ae Fond Kiss, you understand every word, whether you know Lowland Scots or not.
“The film will obviously use the poems unchanged and the dialogue will feel appropriate to the poetry.
“We want as many people as possible to know about Burns and we obviously can’t change the poetry – but we want a broad audience to understand what is going on. “We don’t want to subtitle it, so it would be madness to write it all, every word, in Lowland Scots. It just wouldn’t be acceptable enough.
“But the language will fit the poems.
“We are not going to be asking our actors to try to do that accent if they can’t, so we want it to be understandable, while preserving the feel and the worth of the poetry.
“Not enough people in the world know about Burns and this is a chance to introduce people to him.”
Described as a Scottish Shakespeare In Love, the film focuses on Rabbie’s lovelife as he is torn between wife Jean Armour and Edinburgh society hostess Agnes McLehose.
The film is being made by 41-year-old Butler’s company Evil Twin and the Mob Film Company.
The Scottish government were to have helped with finance through a fundraising dinner, but that was cancelled. However, Scottish Screen’s successors Creative Scotland will be involved.
Jean added: “Both Gerry and I are totally committed to this film. When the script is right, we know the money is there. People want to finance it.”
Gerard Butler Will Be Washing Dishes for Christmas
Gerard Butler Will Be Washing Dishes for Christmas
By Shruti Dhalwala
Monday November 08, 2010 11:05 AM ES
He may be an international star, but when it comes to the holidays, Gerard Butler will put his best devoted-son foot forward.
“I’m going home to Scotland for Christmas, and I will be washing the dishes for Christmas, that’s for sure,” The Bounty Hunter star, 40, told PEOPLE with a laugh at Friday night’s Artists for Peace and Justice Fundraiser for Haiti at Manhattan’s Millesime.
But Butler, who in the past has been linked to such stars as Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, had little to say about his romantic life, other than to reveal his true love.
“New York’s my favorite city, I love it here,” he said. “I’ve been having fun here. Even just at this party tonight, I’ve run into some friends that I’ve known for years – friends from Australia, from London – who have actually just moved here, and the excitement on their faces when they talk about their New York living experience . . . Nobody loves their city like they do in New York.”
At the fund raising event organized by filmmaker Paul Haggis, to generate funds for APJ’s efforts in building Haiti’s first free secondary school, Butler, who personally aided in the earthquake-relief effort, discussed the importance of being hands-on.
“Interestingly enough, for me, my favorite thing, was loading up the trucks with grain, taking it to the camps and passing out grain to the people,” he said. “Sitting in the meetings, it was interesting to be feeling that you were at the heart of some policy making, but the hands on part was incredible. It felt fantastic.”
Gerry featured in Architecutural Digest, May 2010
Gerard Butler covers the May 2010 issue of Architectural Digest, on newsstands Tuesday, April 6!
“I wanted something elegant and gorgeous and at the same time rather masculine and raw. I guess I would describe the apartment as bohemian old-world rustic chateau with a taste of baroque,” The 40-year-old Scottish stud shared.
“I knew it was going to take a lot of work to turn the loft into a place where I actually wanted to live. But I didn’t realize it would be four years before I spent the night,” Gerry admitted.
Find out what Gerry plans to do next to complete his home at ArchitecturalDigest.com!
‘How to Train Your Dragon’ slays ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Examiner
March 28, 10:08 AM
The box office report this week has a new champion at the top. Kid friendly animated movie ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ took the number 1 position at the box office this week with a hefty $43.3 Million. The movie has wowed audiences who love the movie, especially in 3D. The movie stars, well voice stars, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson and Jay Baruchel. This movie is also being enjoyed by adults and kids alike so it has a huge audience.
‘Alice in Wonderland’ came in 2nd this week with $17.3 Million. The Tim Burton directed and Disney flick has done extremely well and is well received by most critics. The darker look at ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is a different tale to Lewis Carroll’s beloved book but stars Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Anne Hathaway and more help to make this movie a brilliant success.
‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ came in 3rd place this week with $13.6 Million which is very good for a movie a lot of people hadn’t heard of. I personally thought the trailer was OK but not to my tastes but Jim Dixon, the Capital District Movies Examiner, seemed to enjoy the movie. See his review HERE.
Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston’s, ‘The Bounty Hunter’ stayed steady coming in with $12.4 Million to take the 4th spot at the box office. The romantic comedy has been dissed by critics but I thought it was ok it didn’t sizzle sizzle sizzle, but it was cute.
Rounding out the top 5 is ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ which brought in an even $10 Million. I’ve read the books and saw the movie and thought the movie was well done and kids absolutely adore it. I am sure we will see the next ‘Diary’ books made into movies soon. Way to go Jeff Kinney, the author of the series.
Law Abiding Citizen Lawfully Sweeps the Home Video Charts
Law Abiding Citizen Lawfully Sweeps the Home Video Charts
Movieweb
February 24th, 2010
It took just one week and the powerful combo of Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx to knock last week’s triple-winner off of the home video charts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Law Abiding Citizen debuted atop the national DVD sales charts, rental charts and Blu-ray sales charts, for the week ending February 21.
Law Abiding Citizen knocked last week’s triple-winner Couples Retreat all the way down to fourth place on the DVD sales charts. With no other major theatrical new releases, that made room for Up to jump up to second place from 7th place last week and The Hangover moved up from fifth place to third on the DVD sales charts. On the rental side, Couples Retreat dropped to second place behind Law Abiding Citizen, amassing 56% of Law Abiding Citizen’s rental transactions.
Law Abiding Citizen’s win on the Blu-ray sales charts cemented the sweep while dominating BD sales. Second place on the BD sales charts went to newcomer Halo Legends, although it sold just 23% of the units that Law Abiding Citizen sold. It was also said that a solid 28% of the title’s total sales came in the 1080p format.
Gerard Butler named Scot of the Year 2009
Gerard Butler named Scot of the Year 2009
January 24, 1:29
Ann Lake
Gerard Butler has been voted Scot of the Year 2009 in the annual poll conducted by ScotsCare, a London based charity for first and second generation Scots in need of help.
Taking 66% of the vote, the Paisley-born Butler proved more popular than second-place winner Susan Boyle who only brought in 26% of the votes having made her mark in the British talent competition, Britain’s Got Talent.
Butler has made his mark on Hollywood in films such as 300, The Ugly Truth and Law Abiding Citizen.
In a press release, ScotsCare Chief Executive Willie Docherty said, “Gerard has certainly proved a popular winner amongst the females in our office. We had a great list of contenders that would do any country proud. Burn’s day is a very fitting time to celebrate the great people associated with Scotland.”
The Bounty Hunter poster and trailer
The poster and official trailer for The Bounty Hunter have been released. It looks funny, especially toward the end when she tazers him and also when he tackles her. Looks like there will be a lot of physical comedy. And ladies, once again we have Gerry in a towel! 
Visit the film’s Official Site
A Conversation With Gerard Butler
DIFF09 – Gerard Butler – In Conversation Panel (in two parts). Enjoy! 
Gerard Butler in Conversation – Part 1
Gerard Butler in Conversation – Part 2
