Steven mentioned in new Bruce Beresford book

fakeshemp

Hard To Kill
I bought a copy of Australian director Bruce Bereford's new book today, called Josh Hartnett Definitely Wants To do This... True Stories From A Life In The Screen Trade. I haven't read the whole thing yet but I was surprised to see Steven Seagal mentioned on at least one page. Beresford recounted being at Steven's house and seeing him being attended to by 'a bevy of beautiful Asian girls who bowed and called him Master', which Beresford assumed was because they believed Seagal was the reincarnation of 'some Tibetan holy man'. He also says that the producer who drove him to see Seagal confided that Steven was so out of shape that doubles were used in his films for shots other than close-ups.

It's surreal reading about Beresford and Seagal being in the same room together. After all, Beresford is a man the man who brought us thoughtful films like Driving Miss Daisy and Black Robe. Still, just goes to show how weird Hollywood is!
 

jhogan

New Member
fakeshemp;177494 said:
I bought a copy of Australian director Bruce Bereford's new book today, called Josh Hartnett Definitely Wants To do This... True Stories From A Life In The Screen Trade.

Let me know how it is - I like him as a director; one of my favorite films was 'Breaker Morant'.

.. He also says that the producer who drove him to see Seagal confided that Steven was so out of shape that doubles were used in his films for shots other than close-ups.
I think that has been proven with his straight to video flicks & all the obvious uses of doubles & all the controversy it has caused here.
 

fakeshemp

Hard To Kill
I've read some more and yes, it's worth getting if you're interested in the machinations of getting a movie off the ground. The Seagal bit was an unexpected bit and there's another part later where Seagal invites Beresford back to his house. It's funny because Beresford thought Seagal might have heard what he said about him, but instead Seagal was trying to talk him into giving him a part in his movie. As Beresford says, this wasn't possible as Seagal's presence in even a minor role would take the viewer right out of the movie as he has typecast himself in action films.

Interestingly, Beresford mentions that Seagal's DTV action films are especially popular in Australia.
 

jhogan

New Member
fakeshemp;177498 said:
I've read some more and yes, it's worth getting if you're interested in the machinations of getting a movie off the ground. The Seagal bit was an unexpected bit and there's another part later where Seagal invites Beresford back to his house. It's funny because Beresford thought Seagal might have heard what he said about him, but instead Seagal was trying to talk him into giving him a part in his movie. As Beresford says, this wasn't possible as Seagal's presence in even a minor role would take the viewer right out of the movie as he has typecast himself in action films.

Interestingly, Beresford mentions that Seagal's DTV action films are especially popular in Australia.

Wonder what movie it was supposed to be for...
 

fakeshemp

Hard To Kill
It was for a part in a movie that Beresford was trying to get made called The Contract. Not far enough into the book to find out if it got made....guess I could use IMDB but I'm tired! I know, I'm lazy lol
 

jhogan

New Member
fakeshemp;177501 said:
It was for a part in a movie that Beresford was trying to get made called The Contract. Not far enough into the book to find out if it got made....guess I could use IMDB but I'm tired! I know, I'm lazy lol

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445946/plotsummary

Yep it was made - straight to video starring John Cusak & Morgan Freeman. Must've been really bad to have these two go straight to vid.

Interesting Beresford said no to Seagal because he thought he was typecast in action, but 'The Contract' seems to have lots of action, according to its trailer....
 

fakeshemp

Hard To Kill
Interesting Beresford said no to Seagal because he thought he was typecast in action, but 'The Contract' seems to have lots of action, according to its trailer....

He believed that Steven is too embedded in the DTV action scene and that if he was to appear in The Contract that his appearance would be too jarring to an audience and unbalance the film. I can see where he's coming from.

It's admirable that Steven looked to someone like Beresford to work with. I sensed from reading that he must have some frustration with the films he makes and wants another crack at quality Hollywood films.
 

ORANGATUANG

Wildfire
Well bugger me ...i have always said that he is very popular in Australia with his movies and for an producer like this guy for Steven to be interested blows me away...hope they both didnt get sloshed when they were talking about possibilities..in other words telling porkies..
 
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