Juno

Okay... I'm a really shitty blogger. I'm an absentee blogger. I doubt any one reads this webpage anymore. Why bother. Posting eveyr three months isn't exactly how it's supposed to work. That said, I have gone back over the last few months and created bite sized posts on everything that has happened. All my crazy travels. It's not as detailed as usual, but perhaps that's for the better. If you like, go back to the London post and read your way up to here and you'll be completely caught up.

The most important piece of news is my new movie - "Juno"

It was a hot spec script a year ago when Brad Silberling jumped on board to direct. I’ll be completely honest - At the time, I was really jealous. I loved the script. But, a few weeks ago, he parted ways with the film and I have been given the shot.

The story follows a sixteen year old girl who gets pregnant, but decides not to have an abortion. The movie follows her relationship with the two parents that decide to adopt the unborn child. The dialogue is simply delicious and it’s as good a script as I’ve ever read. Can’t wait to start shooting.

It was written by a woman named Diablo Cody who is quite the blogger (much better than I am). I would name her website, but it’s rather vulgar. In fact, the story goes that the guy who discovered the script stumbled on her website while searching for porn. I’m sure you can google your way there in a few seconds.

Updates as they come in. Hope to be shooting by Fall. Wish me luck.

Comments

[William Goss]

You keep writing, we'll keep reading.

[Thad Jackson]

You are a busy man...I know this. I am a student of finance who ahs fallen in love with "...Smoking" I am determined to hang a poster of Rob Lowe in his Japanese-style robe. Funniest image I have seen in a film in ages. Where can I get something like that?

[Bjarke de Koning]

Hi Jason. I just read an artical about you in a Danish newspaper (yep I'm a Dane ;). I read that you look for documentarists and since I'm working on one, I really want you to know about it. It's about an art project traveling around the world asking people all over the world to paint love as they see it..

www.paintinglove.net

or the direct link to the promo:
http://www.paintinglove.net/clips/dummy.wmv

If you want have a look and I would LOVE to hear your opinion.

All the best
Bjarke de Koning

[ScribeLA]

Hey Jason,
Thanks for the updates. Sounds like quite the journey. And I'm psyched for "Juno." Brad Silberling did such a magnificent job with "Moonlight Mile," so it really is cool that you're kinda stepping into his shoes. Neat. Sometimes we don't pick our projects, our projects pick us.
Scribe

[Karen Lina - Brazil]

Hello Jason!

We still read ur blog!!

Love ya!
Karen Lina from São Paulo, Brasil

[Romi]

Jase, we all read your blog!

[Eldon Tyrell]

Here is someone who used to have a cool blog and now has a very shitty intercourse with a new one he thought could be better.
Anyway, here is Rome, Italy.
Just saw TYFS 2 days ago on the first day and fell in love with it. You are a miracle man, you almost achieved in making Cameron Bright act! Anyway now I was retrieving information about your next project and hope you'll keep this blog as a way to keep us updated. I just subscribed your RSS so I hope you'll give me something to read. Bye from Rome, Italy.

[Chiara]

Hi Jason!

I'm Chiara, from Milan Italy, the blondie, we met in 1991 at the French School in Cap D'Ail, France, remember?
It's funny to get in touch with you this way and after all these years...but it's gorgeous!

Well, first of all lots of compliments for your career. Tonight I'm going to watch your film at the cinema, actually I didn't konw you were the director! Cool! I will post my impressions tomorrow.

Wow, what wonderful trips, Australia was great!Pls watch out with that bear! I love travelling, too, last August I found out a place that's marvellous and I didn't expect it! that's the Canary Islands near Morocco...

I'm happy to hear you're doing fine and I hope to hear news from you very soon!

Kisses
C

[Chiara]

Hi Jason!

..."smoke takes care of its men."

Last Thursday I did go to the cinema and saw your movie. Well, I liked your movie very much!

I think it's positively different from the other movies, I mean in the way you made the script, you really find comic in it! And it portrays the way your mind underlines and stops on particular things.

The thing, though, that you realize watching it is the fact that business overwhelms ethics and morality these days. The one that convinces to smoke tobacco (that damages your health) does it for the motgage, the one that wants to write the article of the year destroing someone's reputation does it for the mortgage...yes these days people don't care about morality and they don't care if doing something damages someone else. You see it every day.

That's really sad. But that's the way it is, so what I understand in the end of your movie is that that's the way it is and it's growing more and more so what are we to do? make the best of it, as always...

So, bravo! You did a great job! I wait to see your next movie.

When are you planning to visit Italy?

Hoping to hear from you soon,

Lots of kisses
Chiara

[Marsha]

I found you site from a link on Heidi's blog. I would have been reading if I had known you were here. :)

[Andreas Climent]

Hey Jason
I saw your short Consent on a website yesterday and really liked it.

Today I took a look at Thank you for smoking. I enjoyed it very much. Well written and funny but with a serious message. Great acting.

Please keep on writing! As a young writer/director I feel really inspired by reading your thoughts.

[Pablo]

I haven't seen your movie but a friend of mine did and he like it. But really attracted my attention is the title, thank you for quit smoking, which does get some attention, specially with so many non smoking advocates nowadays.

[Alan]

I really enjoyed your commentary of "Thank You for Smoking". I also enjoyed the movie. Great job all around.

Oh, and get over the cheese thing.

[Ann G]

Hey Jason! It's Ann from that really special photography class we took about a million years ago at 'SC. I haven't gotten around to seeing your *big* movie yet (I've had my head burried in books and didn't realize it was yours), but someone just pointed me at Consent, and I loved it. Seems you've found your place in the business. Congrats.

[Malerie]

Dear Jason- I just rented Thank You For Smoking and it threw me back to my own childhood - as the daughter of The Largest Tobacco Wholesaler on the East Coast. My early life was funded through the addictions of others. My Grandfathter's car even sported a bumper sticker that read; Enjoy Smoking Cigarette Products. Ironic, then, that my father and mother were non-smokers and raised two non-smoking kids. Seems that insiders knew best, even in the 60's and 70's! I laughed through Thank You For Smoking - for reasons other than what you had intended. Thanks for the memories!
Malerie

[Christine]

I actually saw TYFS in the theatre the first week it came out. I LOVED it. I think there are so many parallels between Tobacco and the Pharm. Companies. I have issues with them because I have a 7 year old with autism.

Anyway, I really enjoy reading your blog and thanks for taking the time to write it.

You rock!

Christine in NY

[Remy]

Dearest Jason,
I had been waiting months to watch Thank You For Smoking, and it lived up to it's every expectation. Afterwards, it was purchased and now sits happily on my shelf at home. I had recently quit smoking about a week before I had seen the movie, and my decision stays strong. ~smiles~ I have found myself curious on how to find the script. I find that I cannot wait to see "Juno", I am highly interested in your work and will continue as a die-hard fan.
Travel safe, luv. We are all waiting excitedly for your next big project.

Congratulations on your success,

Remy in Ontario, Canada

[Aditi]

Good luck with Juno!

[Mark L]

Jason,
Loved your film, "Smoking". I have since gone to Atom Films to view your past projects. Thanks for mentioning that on the commentary track by the way. And love your style of filmmaking. Your humour and wit is extraordinary, it's inspiring to me on my path as a filmmaker. So you have just contributed to the education of another filmmaker, thanks. Oh, and your commentary was great. Loved to hear all the anecdotes and techinical elements of filmmaking, that's what I want to hear more of. Please, talk more, even if you have to write it before hand. Great joke, girl at grocery store, laughed my ass off. Much success.

[Nicolás K.]

Hi, I´m from Argentina and yesterday I saw "Thank you for smoking". I loved the fact that gave me more questions than answers, that, I think, it´s a proof that you respect the public. Do you know that the movie was released here the same month that the congress banned smoking in public spaces? That´s some timing!

Good luck with Juno, hope it´s as good as this one.

[Bla, bla.]

Funny. "Thank You For Smoking" comes out and look how many comments you have now. Oh yes. They're startin' to flock. Me? Eh. Fine. You? Ehhh... brilliant. Probably tired as hell. Is there a point to this? Calm your manderins. Shave if you must. It's comin'. I'll get to it when the urge hits me. -winks- For now... parting is a sorrow that I don't hold contempt for. Brings change! That's a good thing. Later. -Rynna

[MaryIndiana]

It's a brilliant film,stop apologizing for everything. For future commentaries please remember this motto 'Don't complain,don't explain.' The people on imdb do NOT deserve to have you addressing their concerns over cheese on pie. Cowboy up Jason!

[Martin]

I not yeat seen your movie, but plan to. I would really like to see someone do a similar film on MSG. MSG is the nicotine of foods and it seems to be food manufacturers are using it more and more. although hiding it under different names. See other names for MSG here.
http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm

I just read this book and it was really scary on the subjet

The Slow Poisoning of America
http://www.spofamerica.com/

More info here
http://www.msgtruth.org/
and
http://www.msgmyth.com

Anyway just as I told Eric Schlosser on his premier of FFN, Thank you for covering such a contriversial topic.

[Martin]

I not yet seen your movie, but plan to soon. I would really like to see someone do a similar film on MSG. MSG is the nicotine of foods and it seems to be food manufacturers are using it more and more although hiding it under different names. See other names for MSG here.
http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm
I just read this book and it was really scary on the subject
The Slow Poisoning of America
http://www.spofamerica.com/
More info here
http://www.msgtruth.org/
and
http://www.msgmyth.com
Anyway just as I told Eric Schlosser on his premier of FFN, Thank you for covering such a controversial topic.

[Dr Zeenatullah]

During the first few weeks of being a non-smoker, you're likely to experience cravings at different times of the day. Remember that these withdrawal symptoms peak within three or four days and then gradually decrease and fade away within three to four weeks. But when you find yourself in one of those tough times, try some of these simple alternatives...