Just over a year ago, shooting was underway on a Katherine Dieckmann project. Just over a year ago, Minnie Driver was pregnant with her first child. Now not only do we have Motherhood hitting theaters but we also have a mini Driver, Henry.

Dieckmann never planned for Driver’s character, struggling mother Eliza’s (Uma Thurman) best pal Sheila, to be pregnant, but since Driver was sporting a baby bump at the time and since the movie was about motherhood, why not? She admits it was extremely difficult trudging around the set during a New York City heat wave, but is thankful that she can look back on Motherhood and remember this monumental time in her life.

Celebrity babies gracing the pages of tabloids may be all the rage, but paparazzi be aware; if you get in Driver’s way she’ll probably just blog about it, but if you get in Henry’s she won’t take that so lightly.

If you could blog about anything what would it be?
Driver: Whoa. Well, I’m actually writing at the moment this thing. Sometimes when you see these pictures, like when you’re followed by paparazzi, I would love people to know really what the history is behind an actual photograph that when they – what was going on, like what actually preceded it, what went before the kind of day you were having to sort of humanize that experience so that people go ‘It’s not just that kind of oh, they shouldn’t whine about being photographed’ but somehow to go, you know, ‘I’d actually had five stitches in my foot that day, my son had fallen over and we were on our way to the pediatrician and I was running and this paparazzi wouldn’t get out of the way.’ Whatever it is, like whatever things that sort of go on I think that, I don’t, I always thought that’d be kind of interesting to blog about just cause it’s an angle that people, you know, you read one of those hellish magazines and you’re sort of like ‘ Oh look, she got kinda fat!’ And that’s sort of it and it’s like, wait a minute, there’s a person in here and a story and a life and a human being and I like the idea of humanizing this rather than cannibalizing celebrity.

Would you do that on a personal website?
Driver: No, I’m going to do it in a book I think which I might publish, you know, electronically, I don’t know. But I certainly – it’s tying in with actually with a, something, sort of a bigger thing but that’s one aspect of it. So, yeah, I think I’d blog about that. I probably end up will be blogging about that quite soon. The this is that seems how books are done these days.

It’s a great way to test the material and see how people respond.
Driver: I think so! Definitely get very immediate, you know, people leave comments, ‘This sucks! I don’t care. What are you wearing to the Oscars?’ [Laughs]

What’s the one thing about parenting that’s thrown you?
Driver: The love. The unquantifiable love. It just takes my breath away. My son’s face in the morning, or if I hear him ‘Mama, Mama, Mama’ and I go and he’s just sitting there in his crib, in the dark cause, you know, often he wakes up early it’s still dark outside. When I turn the lights on he’s like ‘Mama!’ And it’s just, it feels like Christmas. It’s just, you know, the thing of loving something more than you can – it is, it’s sometimes terrifying and I can’t, you can’t really go there. You can’t go there thinking of the absence of that. You know, it’s so, it’s so extraordinary and I, you know, everyone tells you that and everyone says that. You can’t know until you have it. It just blows your mind. Yeah, Henry.

How was it acting in this movie while you were pregnant?

Driver: It was horrible. I don’t recommend it. It was really sort of a great idea. It was me in my previous incarnation thinking ‘Oh! It’ll be fun!’ I’d just been on tour and that had been a bit tough but I was like ‘Oh, it’ll be fine. It’s a small part.’ You forget, like, it was a heat wave in New York. It was 100 degrees. You’re on New York City streets, the stink, I’m in a long sleeve t-shirt with overalls, I was so hot and uncomfortable and waiting around. You should just be at home.

How many months were you?
Driver: I was seven and a half months.

That wasn’t even a very small part. You’re in a lot of the movie.
Driver: Really?

I thought your character had a big impact.
Driver: I’m glad that she had a – that’s good. I think that she had a big impact but I don’t think I did – I hung around more than I worked which is usually fine, if you’re not that’s part and parcel. I rarely noticed it cause I was so pregnant. And we went over a little bit and I had to stay longer than I’d anticipated and I remember I was close to tears one evening and I was on the phone with my mom and I was like ‘I just [gasp] want to go home and iron [gasp] onesies. I just, I just want to do laundry mom.’ She was laughing and she goes ‘You’ll have plenty of time to do laundry, love. Don’t worry. There’s loads coming.’ But I did want to be nesting. I’m glad I did it. I just think, I said before, when you’re – the greater part, in fact, the whole of my adult working life ahs been chronicled on film and this, I didn’t want this part to be an exception. I’m really glad that I made it selfishly just to have him, you k now, for my own history.

Is there anything happening with the Riches?
Driver: Oh yeah, it was totally eighty sixed; 100%. Yeah, it was devastating. Really sad. Really, really awful. It’s just terrible when a, you know, a great show is canceled. But I’ve made a couple of really beautiful films this year. Really amazing, I just finished one, that’ll be great.

Can you tell us more about that?
Driver: Yeah! I just finished this movie in Montreal with Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and, which will be I truly believe kind of epic and wonderful. And then the one before that was with Hilary Swank and she was absolutely incredible and Sam Rockwell and Juliette Lewis, just beyond amazing actors. And Peter Gallagher and that’s going to be great.

Do you have anything coming up?
Driver: I’m just about to make another record. No, I’ve worked back to back and had a baby. [Laughs] I’ve got to have break! Hold on! I don’t actually but stuff usually comes up but there – I need to do the record. I need to do this cause it needs to be done before I think next year it’s going to be busy.

What would you say if Henry wants to be an actor when he grows up?
Driver: I would say good luck! [Laughs] Good luck and I’ll always cook for you when you’re totally broke.

Minnie Driver has been seen kissing a mystery man in Santa Monica, California on thursday afternoon (Oct. 8).

The “Good Will Hunting” actress kissed her gentleman caller goodbye and hopped into her car shortly after she realized that there were shutterbugs nearby.

CHICAGO — Chicago International Film Festival founder Michael Kutza wants his event to take the city’s mind off last week’s loss of the 2016 Summer Olympics to Rio de Janeiro.

The 45th edition of the Windy City festival kicks off Thursday with Katherine Dieckmann’s high-energy comedy “Motherhood,” starring Uma Thurman, Anthony Edwards and Minnie Driver.

Kutza is hoping Dieckmann’s film, as well as Lars von Trier’s “Antichrist,” Russian director Valery Todorovsky’s “Hipsters,” Lee Daniels’ “Precious,” Ken Loach’s “Looking for Eric” and local favorite Brian Caunter’s “Chicago Overcoat,” fill seats and garner attention.

“We’ve searched out first- and second-time filmmakers for the past 45 years,” Kutza said. “We’re always looking for that brand-new director.”

Kutza is keen on Todorovsky’s musical “Hipsters,” which travels to 1955 Soviet Russia to glimpse young Russians getting a taste of American hype and greed. He wants it to be this year’s “Slumdog Millionaire.” He also points to Romania’s Corneliu Porumboiu-directed “Police, Adjective,” which carried home trophies from Cannes, along with John Woo’s “Red Cliff” and Daniels’ “Precious” as the top films he has secured.

The founder started the event in the mid-’60s — making it one of the oldest ongoing U.S. fests — with “Who’s That Knocking at My Door,” which helped launch the career of Martin Scorsese. The CIFF has since brought new films from Werner Fassbinder, Wim Wenders, Quentin Tarantino and Andy Davis, among others. Kutza also championed “Slumdog” last year, and the CIFF had a U.S. premiere of Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” this summer.

This year, all 112 films will unspool at one of the Loews Complex downtown theaters, which Kutza said is something the audience wants.

Kutza also responded to criticism from Sony Pictures Classics co-partner Tom Bernard that the fest was not that aggressive in soliciting films from that company for inclusion.

“Chicago wasn’t banging on our door a lot,” Bernard told the Chicago Tribune.

Fest coordinator Mimi Plauche said she discussed taking several SPC titles, including “Broken Embraces,” which is closing the New York Film Festival, but the logistics didn’t work out.

Screen captures from all episodes of Will & Grace featuring Minnie as Lorraine Finster has been added to the gallery and now the promotional stills are there as well. Most of them are in high quality. Enjoy!

GALLERY LINKS:

- Will & Grace: Promotional Stills

Enjoying the success of their new business venture, entrepreneurs Will and Grace help their apartment buyers Jack and Stuart settle into their new life under one roof. However, when Grace receives a higher offer on the apartment, the “friendly flippers” attempt to break up the happy couple by encouraging Jack’s cold feet as they see a chance to make a quick buck. Meanwhile, Karen demands that Lyle finally discipline his unruly daughter Lorraine, nearly shattering the couple’s budding romance.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Will & Grace: Episode 6.16

Dynamic enterprisers Will and Grace begin a new business venture as they buy old apartments to refurbish and re-sell for a tidy profit. When budding “student nurse” Jack bumps into his former acting mentor Zandra, the pair of entrepreneurs finds their first project apartment. Meanwhile, Karen renews her romance with Lyle Finster, but the couple’s bliss is interrupted by an unfortunate houseguest when Lorraine moves in.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Will & Grace: Episode 6.15

Leading members of the film industry are speaking out against the group that opposes the Toronto International Film Festival’s spotlight on Tel Aviv. Judging films, they say, by their country of origin rather than the quality of the artistic product, is censorship.

“Empowered groups of people, deciding whose stories can, and cannot be told, does nothing but remind us of oppression that has no place in film-making.” Minnie Driver, Actor.

Source.

Rounder Records celebrates 40 years of making music with a special event to benefit NARAS’ Grammy in the Schools Programs. Grammy winning Rounder artists Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bela Fleck and Irma Thomas will join in this momentous celebration along with musical host, Minnie Driver and special guests (yet to be announced) on October 12 at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN. “I am excited and honored to be a part of this stellar line-up and historic event that celebrates 40 years of great music while supporting a worthy cause” said Driver.

The show, which will include performances by Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Minnie Driver, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bela Fleck, Irma Thomas and special guests will be filmed by High Five Entertainment for a PBS television special that will begin airing on the network in March 2010. A portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to NARAS’ Grammy® in the Schools Programs to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Grammy® Foundation influences the lives of young people by opening the windows of opportunity that music can provide for their futures.

Rounder Records was founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy and Bill Nowlin. With only their passionate enthusiasm for American roots music lighting the way, the three Boston area college students cast their lot into the perilous music industry. “Before founding Rounder, we were basically music fans,” says Rounder Records co-founder Ken Irwin. “None of us,” echoes co-conspirator Bill Nowlin, “had any record industry experience whatsoever.”

“I doubt that ‘industry experience’ is a term we would have comprehended at the time we started Rounder!” interjects the third member of the Rounder triumvirate, Marian Leighton.

This untested trio have gone the distance: from humble beginnings 40 years ago, to winning Album of the Year for Raising Sand at the 2009 Grammy® Awards. Rounder is now considered one of America’s premier independent record labels, and has emerged as the preeminent source for vital, uncompromised music of all genres.

“Rounder Records 40th Anniversary Celebration” Ticket Information:
Tickets go on sale August 28 at 10:00AM CT at all Ticketmaster locations, The Grand Ole Opry Box Office, The Ryman Auditorium Box Office, the Attractions Desk at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and by phone at 1-800-733-6779 (Ticketmaster charge by phone – 1-800-745-3000). The show is being produced in conjunction with AC Entertainment.

The official trailer for Motherhood is here and I have added it to the video archive.

Jodie Foster is playing Sarah Jessica Parker in Uma Thurman‘s new movie.

Sorta.

Katherine Dieckmann, director of Thurman’s upcoming comedy Motherhood, tells me that a cameo by Foster in the flick was inspired by the Sex and the City star. In the scene, the double Oscar winner is being hounded in a New York City playground by overzealous paparazzi.

“I would go to that playground all the time and poor Sarah Jessica Parker would come with her son and she would be harassed!” Dieckmann said. “She literally could not push her kid on the swing set without a picture being taken. I just saw a picture of [pregnant] Heidi Klum…at that park. They come here and stalk people.”

And it was no different when Dieckmann was shooting in the same neighborhood with Thurman and her costar Minnie Driver, who was pregnant at the time.

How’d they get the pesky shutterbugs off their backs? Read on to find out…

“One day, Minnie was queasy, it was hot out and these guys would not leave her alone,” Dieckmann said. “She was so hormonal and started screaming at them and then they starting snapping her. I stepped between her and the paparazzi and go, ‘She’s pregnant!…Like f–king be a human being for one second. They all left except for one guy, who was like, ‘I just have to get my shot, man!’ ”

So Dieckmann struck a deal with him: “We actually let him be in that scene with Foster to leave Uma and Minnie alone.”

It worked.

“And then the night before [Foster's shoot], Jodie says to me, ‘You know, if you want to write me a line, you can write me a line,’ ” Dieckmann remembered with a laugh. “I was like, ‘OK, I will write you a line.’ So I wrote her, ‘Go work in a soup kitchen, you f–king parasites!’ “