Wednesday
27Aug2008
Ang Lee Goes to 'Woodstock'
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 1:26AM 
It would be inaccurate to say that
Ang Lee has ever been a lazy filmmaker. One of
the very few successful directors to genuinely roll the dice every time he makes
a movie, Lee is now set to take on one of the seminal moments in American pop
culture history.
It was 39 years ago that Woodstock forever changed the
course of rock n' roll, at once the apotheosis of 1960s counter culture and
effectively the end of it. But for three days in August of that year, hippies
and music lovers congregated on a farm in upstate New York by the hundreds of
thousands to hear performances by The Who, CCR, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix,
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Sha-Na-Na (?), The Grateful Dead, and more.
Lee will dramatize the events leading up to that fateful
weekend in his next film, and his longtime collaborator
James Schamus recently outlined the production
to
Rolling Stone. "It's an amazing bunch of
people. You look around and I can't believe we're getting away this," said
Schamus of his "insanely fresh" cast:
Liev Schreiber,
Paul Dano,
Emile Hirsch, comedian
Demetri Martin, and
Eugene Levy.
Levy will play Max Yasgur, who offered his farm as a
performance grounds, and Martin will portray interior designer Elliot Tiber, who
let concert organizers use his family's hotel in the Catskills as a
headquarters.
So if you'll take out your Ang Lee scorecards, that's
Crouching Tiger, Hulk, Brokeback Mountain, Lust, Caution, and now the
offbeat
Taking Woodstock, which probably will be more
comedy than drama.
There is, naturally, the question of music in the film,
but Schamus downplays the possibility that this will be a living soundtrack.
“Ang and I are score-oriented,” Schamus said. “It’s in the early stages, but I
can tell you it’s not going to the be the usual collection of obvious needle
drops. It will be of the time, and of the spirit of the time. It’s whatever
works dramatically.”
We don't have any real plot specifics, but Schamus, who
also runs a little studio called Focus Features, did give us a glimpse into
Martin's character, who never quite makes it into the festival. “Put it this
way,” said the Oscar-nominated producer. “He gets waylaid by an acid trip and a
three-way.”
Colin Boyd | Permalink | in Ang Lee, Taking Woodstock | Print Article | Email Article | 5 Comments | Share Article
Reader Comments (5)
I have been to the filming site on US 20, Columbia County in Lebanon NY. They are very busy getting the film started with the motel scenes jumping into the can. They have many area extras, who look like the participants at Woodstock. I was in Bethel in 1969. The period clothing, cars, trucks and although, not exact, the reasonable facsimile of the motel is great. I wish them much success with this endeavour.
The location on U.S. Route 20 is a wonderful small town at the northern part of Columbia County called New Lebanon NY. It's not just a marker on a highway. The town has been very involved in the film as purveyors of services and the home of lots of movie extras.
We're looking forward to seeing the film and would like to invite more film people up to this picturesque part of the state.
My car & I were used as extras in New Lebanon and Stephen Town on several days of shooting. It was a fantastic experience! The staff, actors and crew were just great! They took care of your every whim and fed you deliciously, enormous meals. The towns people were very accommodating and friendly. Can't wait to see the movie! It's something I will never forget being a part of!
i too got to be an extra for a day and it was a blast.and like the other comment,all was great.people awesome food,behind the sceene hanging and watching.i really felt like i went baxk in time to 1959. thanks to every one there.i didnt want to leave.a fun and great experience with stories from the producers on thier life experience in film making and working with diff acters over the years. and getting paid to be there as well very cool!!!!!!!!
1969 type o (sorry)