July 2007 interview with Pierre Tremblay on FindingBrokeback

[tamarack]

I've been waiting a long time to be able to mention this here but it's finally finished and up on FindingBrokeback. I'm not sure if this ever would have happened if you original Tremblayans hadn't first done your interview in 2006, because I'm not sure that we would have even considered him approachable, but I was very fortunate to have met Pierre last summer on my second trip to Alberta and there is an extensive new interview with him now available.

http://www.findingbrokeback.com/Interviews/Tremblay2/Tremblay1.html

Thank you to all of you who had a part in the first one; thanks for leading the way on this!

(I didn't mean for this to be stickied in front of the original interview. Can someone please move it down? Is that possible?)

[Ellemeno]

Lauren, I can't wait to read this!  You can unsticky it yourself by clicking on the "sticky" button at the bottom of the page, it toggles the sticky/unsticky feature.  But I think it would be great to sticky it for a while, it's big news! 

[Toycoon]

Ha! Is that the Mexican town set in the background? Hilarious!

[tamarack]

Lauren, I can't wait to read this!  You can unsticky it yourself by clicking on the "sticky" button at the bottom of the page, it toggles the sticky/unsticky feature.  But I think it would be great to sticky it for a while, it's big news! 

I think it should be stickied too, but I didn't mean for it to appear in front of the 2006 interview. Maybe in a little while it could be moved down under the first one.

The text under the picture of the cast needs to be changed to say "Jim Bond and Tamarack." I didn't do it by myself, and Jim sure didn't need me there in order to do it! That was a gift!!

[j.U.d.E.]

Thank you! Very nice. 

j. U. d. E.

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

What a wonderful, wonderful interview.

This is what I had hoped for in the orginal DVD--and never found.

Thank you, Pierre Tremblay, and thank you, tamarack.

Beautiful. (And beautiful photos--)

Again, a heartfelt thank you!



“When you go to these small conservative towns,
everybody knows your business.”
Signal Gas Station (deleted scene)   Carseland, AB




“It is easy to find cowboys around here.”
Childress Rodeo   Rockyford, AB




“We did not want it to look like a Hollywood fight.”
Thanksgiving Fight Bar   Blackie, AB




“It was possibly my favorite day on a set, ever.”
Opening Shot   near Longview, AB




Ang Lee accepts 2005 Screen Directors Guild Award for
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film




“This may be the peak. And if that proves to be the case, I accept that.”
Brokeback Cast and Crew Photo   Moose Mountain   AB

[Brown Eyes]

This is just absolutely awesome and fascinating.  Thanks so, so much for posting this.  All the photos and info about the deleted scenes and aspects of production are just the kind of thing I've been so curious about regarding BBM for so long!

Amazing.

[brokeplex]

thank you so much for this!

[Mikaela]

Let me echo John here:

This is what I had hoped for in the orginal DVD--and never found.

What an absolutely wonderful, informative, totally great interview - a fantastic mix of background commentary, anecdotes and filming tidbits, and details on every aspect of how this beautiful movie came into being. I read it with elation. And I loved the images. The last one of the cast and crew up on Brokeback - with Jack and Ennis Jake and Heath side by side with one of the dogs - what a lovely picture!!

Thank you sincerely.


And aaargh! Why oh why isn't there a special DVD or a proper book on the making of the film that contains this kind of info?

[Brown Eyes]

The last one of the cast and crew up on Brokeback - with Jack and Ennis Jake and Heath side by side with one of the dogs - what a lovely picture!!

Thank you sincerely.


And aaargh! Why oh why isn't there a special DVD or a proper book on the making of the film that contains this kind of info?

I love that picture as well.  Gorgeous, and the dog is fantastic!

[Katie77]

Wow......OMG....I have just read the entire interviews and am completely overwhelmed.

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

I hope someone writes the full 'Making of Brokeback' book--



!!

[tamarack]

I knew you'd love this as much as we did! There is just so much information here that we haven't had from any other source. The Making of Brokeback Mountain! What a great idea!

[Ellemeno]

I hope someone writes the full 'Making of Brokeback' book--

Y'all ought to check out all the interviews at Finding Brokeback.  That site's no little thing!

http://www.findingbrokeback.com/Interviews/_Interview_Frame.html

[Meryl]

What a stunner of an interview, Lauren and Jim!  Thank you so much for gifting us with it.  You kept mum about it when we were up there, too, you rascals!  Or maybe I just didn't listen in on the right conversations.   

This is a perfect continuation of our original interview--so much more depth and detail.  It will be wonderful to have all these facts in front of us when questions arise about the different scenes.  And it blew me away to finally see a picture of Pierre Tremblay!   

[retropian]

Thank you for this. It's, well, magical. The interview and pic's renew those feelings I had when the film was still in the theaters.

[Brown Eyes]

As many of you know, one major side effect of BBM for me personally is that I've become a bull-riding enthusiast (something that never would have crossed my mind prior to BBM).  So, I just have to say that this pic just makes me so happy!



When I watch bull-riding events I often pick the guys to cheer for based on how much they remind me of Jack Twist (probably no big surprise as a Brokie) and this is just the type of image I have in mind a lot of the time while watching real-life events on TV.

[tamarack]

What a stunner of an interview, Lauren and Jim!  Thank you so much for gifting us with it.  You kept mum about it when we were up there, too, you rascals!  Or maybe I just didn't listen in on the right conversations.   

I'm afraid there wasn't any conversation, Meryl. The only person I ever mentioned this to was MaineWriter when we happened to get together one day, way after the fact, and we talked a little about Alberta. And she was sworn to secrecy!

[Fran]

Thank you, Jim Bond and Tamarack.

I hope someone writes the full 'Making of Brokeback' book....

I agree, John.  And the participation of Ang Lee and some of the main actors (via interviews) would be great but not absolutely essential.  Based on this interview with Pierre Tremblay, I imagine there would be other people more than happy to talk about their experiences in making BBM.  I'd love to hear from every single one of them, so matter how small their involvement.  Can you just imagine all the little details they could share with us....

Of course, a DVD with a director's commentary and deleted scenes and other incredible extra features would be awesome, too.

[Ellemeno]

Thank you, Jim Bond and Tamarack.

I agree, John.  And the participation of Ang Lee and some of the main actors (via interviews) would be great but not absolutely essential.  Based on this interview with Pierre Tremblay, I imagine there would be other people more than happy to talk about their experiences in making BBM.  I'd love to hear from every single one of them, so matter how small their involvement.  Can you just imagine all the little details they could share with us....

Of course, a DVD with a director's commentary and deleted scenes and other incredible extra features would be awesome, too.

What Fran said.  But I sure look forward to a Michael Hausman interview in partickeler.

[tamarack]

What Fran said.  But I sure look forward to a Michael Hausman interview in partickeler.

Duly noted, Clarissa. I'll see if there's anything we can do.   

Why the partickeler interest in M.H.?

[Ellemeno]

Duly noted, Clarissa. I'll see if there's anything we can do.  

Why the partickeler interest in M.H.?

Based on what I keep hearing about him, especially from Pierre Tremblay.  The list of movies he's worked on.  The fact that he teaches at Columbia, and is supposed to be extremely knowledgeable, generous with the knowledge, fair, passionate about quality, and frankly, probably one of the older people involved. 

But he's not the only one - all of em!  Including Scott Ferguson, who apparently Michael Hausman handpicked out of a class he taught at Columbia and Scott was a student.

Here's a list of people I've wanted to know more about and from (it's me copying the cast and crew list from IMDb, and then deleting the ones I haven't realized are also fascinating).  I know Finding Brokeback has already interviewed some of them, and supermuchas gracias for that!

Ang Lee
Annie Proulx (short story)
Larry McMurtry (screenplay)
Diana Ossana (screenplay)
Lachlan Mackintosh    ...   Chilean Sheepherder #2
Mary Liboiron    ...   Fayette Newsome
Ken Zilka    ...   Roughneck #1
Michael Costigan    ....   executive producer
Scott Ferguson    ....   co-producer
Michael Hausman    ....   executive producer
Larry McMurtry    ....   executive producer
Diana Ossana    ....   producer
William Pohlad    ....   executive producer
James Schamus    ....   producer
Gustavo Santaolalla       
Rodrigo Prieto           
Dylan Tichenor       
Judy Becker       
Marit Allen       
Tom Benz    ....   unit production manager
Scott Ferguson    ....   unit production manager
Sara Ossana    ....   assistant to production designer
Ken Wills    ....   property master
Kirk Jarrett    ....   stunt coordinator
Peter Wunstorf    ....   director of photography: second unit  (now that you've introduced me to his existence!)
Marcelo Zarvos    ....   composer: additional music
Karen Bédard    ....   script supervisor
Neil Bell    ....   assistant: Mr. Ledger
T.J. Bews    ....   wrangler coordinator
Joy Ellison    ....   dialect coach
Ross L. Kulma    ....   medical advisor
Darryl Solly    ....   location manager
James Tyce    ....   stand-in: Heath Ledger (as Scott Urquhart)

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

Here's a list of people I've wanted to know more about and from (it's me copying the cast and crew list from IMDb, and then deleting the ones I haven't realized are also fascinating). 

.....
Marit Allen   
.....
   

Sadly, Marit Allen died last November in Sydney....



From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marit_Allen

Marit Allen (September 17, 1941 – November 26, 2007) was an English fashion journalist and costume designer who specialized in costumes for films. She designed the costumes for several successful Hollywood films, including Mrs. Doubtfire, Eyes Wide Shut, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Brokeback Mountain and La Vie en Rose (nominated posthumously for an Oscar, and won BAFTA and César Awards). Her career as a film costume designer last over 33 years.[1]

From The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/arts/13allen.html

Marit Allen, Costume Designer for Movies, Dies at 66

"Marit Allen, a British fashion writer and editor in the miniskirted 1960s who went on to design costumes for film characters as varied as the frumpy cross-dresser in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” the cowboys of Brokeback Mountain and the purple stretch-panted creature in “Hulk,” died on Nov. 26 in Australia. She was 66 and lived in London.

The cause was complications of a brain aneurysm, which Ms. Allen suffered while working on a film, her agent, Sara Pritchard, said.

With a flair for style that ranged from flowery period piece to sultry gown to slim-fit western wear, Ms. Allen designed costumes for 41 films in as many years. This year her work was seen in “La Vie en Rose,” the biopic of Édith Piaf, and in “Love in the Time of Cholera,” based on Gabriel García Márquez’s novel about a man’s enduring passion for a woman from the late 1800s into the 1930s.

Not all of Ms. Allen’s costuming was ornate. In 1973 she worked on Nicholas Roeg’s “Don’t Look Now,” in which Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland portrayed a couple haunted by the spirit of their recently drowned daughter. Last week Mr. Roeg told the online version of The Telegraph of London that Mr. Sutherland found his character only after Ms. Allen provided him with a large pair of woolly gloves, which he wore throughout the shoot.

(....)

While preparing for Brokeback Mountain Ms. Allen and the film’s director, Ang Lee, studied Richard Avedon’s photographs of the American West. Two of the snap-front shirts that she tailored for the movie’s ill-starred lovers — one a muted plaid, the other denim — sold on eBay last year for a total of $101,100. "




Sad, yes. I hope someone is seriously thinking about making this book ("The Making of Brokeback Mountain") happen soon so the principal players can be interviewed now.

[Artiste]

May I agree with you !

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

http://wetdarkandwild.blogspot.com/2007/12/jake-its-little-bit-of-tease.html

A tribute to Brokeback costume designer Marit Allen

The Daily Telegraph has published an obituary of British costume designer Marit Allen who died on November 26. Among other projects, Marit was the designer of the iconic wardrobes of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1571515/Marit-Allen.html

'Marit Allen was the only costume designer to have worked on more than one of Ang Lee's films. She worked with him on Ride with the Devil, Hulk and, in 2005, Brokeback Mountain. For Brokeback Mountain she, Lee and the cinematographer, Rodrigo Preito, studied Richard Avedon's book Photographs of the American West. Marit Allen said: "Heath was deeply involved with his character. He worked with his clothes, using everything he wears to convey Ennis' repression - the jackets, done up; the cowboy hats, to hide behind. Between him and Jake the hats became an integral part of what they were doing."'

It's difficult to imagine how the clothes worn by Jack and Ennis in Brokeback Mountain could have been more evocative of time, place or character, or how any actor could have used the clothing - especially the hats - with any more feeling for their characters' questions and struggles than Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger.




RIP, Marit Allen.

[BlissC]

I have to admit, though I've got Finding Brokeback bookmarked, it's not something I've ever investigated in any great depth, but after reading that interview and having a look round there I can see I've got a lot of reading to do - I'll cancel everything else for the next 6 months! 

[Ellemeno]

I have to admit, though I've got Finding Brokeback bookmarked, it's not something I've ever investigated in any great depth, but after reading that interview and having a look round there I can see I've got a lot of reading to do - I'll cancel everything else for the next 6 months! 

That's what happened to me too, a few months ago.  They have worked really hard and there is a bounty of info over there.  I know that the more organized types who went on the Alberta Pilgrimage used Finding Brokeback as a main source of guidance.

[Aloysius J. Gleek]

del Mar Wedding Photo



Wow. That's all I have to say. Wow.

[Front-Ranger]

What an incredible interview! Thank you so much, Lauren!!

Here's a little quote from the interview:

"It would count as one of the best films in the history of American cinema. At its heart it is a romantic tragedy, but it explores a situation that has never been addressed before. So whether it won Best Picture, or not, does not really matter. In the end, it is—will always be—an important and unique film, a story superbly told."

and

"This may be the peak [of my career]. And if that proves to be the case, I accept that, because Brokeback Mountain will be very difficult to top. Not just because of the material, although it is a rare thing when you have the opportunity to work on a film that is so important, of such quality, a great story, and with a team of gifted professionals."

[tamarack]

You're very welcome, Lee! Did you just notice that this interview existed? What a huge amount of information he gave us.

(I'm starting to plan a trip to Wyoming for next summer, and I'm considering whether I will drive to AB from there or go back to Denver and fly. I really hope that we can get together at some point. The very short time that we spent talking in Canmore just isn't sufficient. I have no definite plans yet, other than ending up out there at some point in July or August, but I'll start zeroing in on some things pretty soon.) 

[Front-Ranger]

Yes, I was under the mistaken impression that the interview was the original one, but this one is so much more detailed!!

I would love to see you in Denver and/or Wyoming and take you to some of my favourite hangouts. However, I will be in Canmore early June for the BBQ and plan to spend July 4 onward for as long as I can get away with it in Wyoming. In August, I plan to go to Scotland. Also, there's a shindig in San Francisco in July that I hope to attend.

[tamarack]

Well, I won't be in AB in June again, and I doubt that I'll ever be in Scotland, sadly, but Wyoming or Denver will do nicely!

[Brown Eyes]

I was just revisiting this thread in preparation for the upcoming day honoring Heath... looking for interesting Heath/Ennis images.  And, I wanted to just comment again about how wonderful I think this thread is.  Phenomenal.

[tamarack]

I'll pass your comments on to my colleagues. We totally agree with you that the information we received was phenomenal.

[Penthesilea]

Giving this thread a *bump*

Yesterday, I spent some lovely hours over at findingbrokeback.com .
I do this from time to time, check out what's new or reread some stuff. And I always marvel at the pictures and even more at the dedication of the findingbrokeback-team. They're doing a terrific job! Their site is such an incredible source of information.

As always, a big thank you to them .

[Monika]

Giving this thread a *bump*

Yesterday, I spent some lovely hours over at findingbrokeback.com .
I do this from time to time, check out what's new or reread some stuff. And I always marvel at the pictures and even more at the dedication of the findingbrokeback-team. They're doing a terrific job! Their site is such an incredible source of information.

As always, a big thank you to them .

I just want to second what Chrissie wrote. Without the FB team many of the trips other Brokies have done to filming locations in Alberta would not have been possible. My first trip to Alberta I didn´t do as part of a Brokie meet-up and without the FB site I would not have had a clue how to find things properly. Without it I´d probably still be wandering around in the woods somewhere

And I love watching the section with pictures of Brokies visiting various filming locations. So precious.