"The Private Lives of Pippa Lee."

[CHRIS B]

The private life of Rebecca Miller

Rebecca Miller reckons that it took her more than a decade to "come out of the closet" as a writer. As the daughter of literary giant Arthur Miller, arguably America's greatest playwright, her wariness was perhaps understandable. Dealing with what she calls the "weight and shadow" of her father's reputation as a young writer would have been difficult indeed.

Yet with Arthur Miller and photographer Inge Morath as parents, it was perhaps inevitable that she would become an artist of some sort. After graduating from Yale University in the mid-1980s, she exhibited as a painter, worked as an actress in Holly­wood on films and TV and became a film director, while secretly scribbling away. She says: "I was writing short stories all the time, and I thought I might as well try to get them published and admit that I'm writing.

"I wanted to be independent. Painting, in particular, was something that belonged just to me. In a way, I'm glad I waited. I had experienced a lot and maybe I had time to get better at writing."

Most critics believe she got pretty good; her first book, the short story collection Personal Velocity [Black Swan, 2002] was warmly reviewed. Canongate says it has "high hopes" for ­Miller’s first novel, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, due in April, which it is pushing as a lead spring title.

While out and proud as a writer, Miller continues with her other artistic passion, directing. She directed her first film, the well-received indie feature Angela, in 1995 after cobbling together financing "through bullheadedness, luck and sheer ignorance". She has since adapted her first two books for the screen and will do the same for Pippa Lee. Filming is due to begin in the summer, with Hollywood heavyweights Robin Wright Penn, Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder in lead roles.

Another actor she has directed is her husband, Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis, whom she met in 1995 while Day-Lewis was filming a version of her father's "The Crucible". Miller, intelligent, open and affable, becomes slightly guarded when I ask about Day-Lewis, expertly changing the subject. She does say that she and Day-Lewis live, for the most part, quietly in rural County ­Wicklow, ­Ireland, with their two sons.

In the process of writing Pippa Lee, Miller says she started seeing the story "in double vision". She adds: "By the time I was done with the book I felt I had enough juice to make a film. Most of the time I will be writing books that are books and films that are films. But my curiosity for these characters meant that I wanted to explore them further."

Pippa Lee centres around the ­eponymous title character, who, in her fifties, has settled down in a retirement community with her much older husband, Herb. Bored by the community and frightened by Herb’s encroaching decrepitude, she looks back over her life at her misspent youth, strained relationships with her mother, and the sacrifices she has made for her children.

For Miller, one of the main themes of the book is about identity as a "mutable, ongoing project". She adds: "The idea came when I met a friend after a number of years who was sort of a wild child when I knew her. And there she was, this respectable mother­ and gracious hostess. I just kept thinking: 'How does that happen?'"

After directing the film version of Pippa Lee, Miller will start another book. She is mulling film projects as well, but admits that financing the challenging films she wants to direct is tricky. "But that's OK," she says, "because the wonderful thing about the way my life is working out now is that nobody can take my ­writing away. I’m going to tell stories one way or another

http://www.thebookseller.com/in-depth/trad...cca-miller.html

Also, looks like Daniel Day-Lewis will be working on ‘Pippa Lee.’

This spring, he will return to a movie studio - but instead of acting, he will join the carpentry crew, building the sets on The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee, which is to be directed by his wife Rebecca Miller, author of the book on which the film is based

[CHRIS B]

Here is more "Pippa Lee" info that I moved from the other board:

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE

[from Imdb] Adapted from Miller's novel, the film takes an adventurous trip through Pippa Lee's past and present, as a methamphetamine-addicted mother whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. Pippa indulges in an array of erotic adventures while heading toward a quiet nervous breakdown.

Julianne Moore, Robin Wright Penn and Winona Ryder have already been casted, while there are rumors about Monica Bellucci.

[From Monica-Bellucci.net] According to Intimissimi website, Monica [Bellucci] has been cast for a role in a new movie starring Julianne Moore, Robin Wright Penn and Winona Ryder. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee will be directed by Rebecca Miller, who's also the author of the novel with the same title. It's set to start shooting on April 2008 in Connecticut. General plot: after her husband leaves her for a younger woman, the drug-addled Pippa Lee engages in a series of erotic adventures while heading toward a quiet nervous breakdown.

It's set to start shooting on April 2008 in Connecticut.

Also, here is a website about Pippa Lee:

http://www.pippalee.co.uk/secret1.php

[CHRIS B]

Film deal for Daniel's wife?

Daniel Day-Lewis's wife Rebecca Miller is apparently set to emulate the Golden Globe winner's success when her debut novel is turned into a film.

Rebecca, 45, whose dad is playwright Arthur Miller, will see her book The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee given the Hollywood treatment with an all-star cast including Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder, reports the Daily Express.

The writer and director is quoted as saying: "By the time I was done with the book, I felt I had enough juice to make a film."

Rebecca, who has previously adapted her short stories for the big screen, added: "Most of the time I will be writing books that are books and films that are films. But my curiosity for these characters meant that I wanted to explore them further."

She said the idea for the novel, which is due to be published in April, came from meeting a wild child friend again after a number of years, whose identity had changed.

"There she was, this respectable mother and gracious hostess. I just kept thinking, 'How does that happen?'"

http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displ...&pNodeId=191800

[CHRIS B]

[lainy]

Cool!

[CHRIS B]

http://www.lumina-films.com/Pippa%20Lee/pippa%20lee_.html

[CHRIS B]

Looks like these actors will be joining Winona in "Pippa Lee!"



http://www.productioncharts.com/charts/2008/02/the-private-liv.html

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE
STATUS - April 15 - June 2008
LOCATION - Connecticut
PRODUCER: Lemore Syvan - DeDe Gardner   
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Rebecca Miller 
CAST:  Robin Wright Penn - Julianne Moore - Wynona Ryder - Alan Arkin - Maggie Gyllenhaal - Keanu Reeves - Monica Belluci An adventurous trip through Pippa Lee's past and present, as a methamphetamine-addicted mother whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. Pippa indulges in an array of erotic adventures while heading toward a quiet nervous breakdown.

[Gary]

Alan Arkin is great. Looks like a really good cast.

[CHRIS B]

Alan Arkin is great. Looks like a really good cast.

Yeah, I'm really excited for this cast...except for maybe Keanu again!! I mean, really is that the best they could do? Thank god Alan Arkin and the others makes up for that casting!

[CHRIS B]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ib49e391136ffdec82a9196c609b17595

Four more booked for 'Pippa Lee'
By Borys Kit

Feb 7, 2008

Complete Berlinale coverage

BERLIN -- Keanu Reeves, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Alan Arkin and Monica Bellucci have joined the all-star cast of "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee," from writer-director Rebecca Miller.

Adapted by Miller -- the daughter of playwright Arthur Miller and wife of Daniel Day-Lewis -- from her forthcoming novel, the dramedy "centers on a dutiful 50-year-old wife whose husband falls for a younger woman, freeing her to explore her buried sensuality and leading to a very quiet nervous breakdown."

Robin Wright Penn already is on board as the title character, as are Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder.

Arkin is the husband who leaves Wright Penn for Ryder. Bellucci will play his first wife.
 

Reeves will play Wright Penn's younger lover, while Gyllenhaal plays Wright Penn's diet pill-addicted mother in flashback sequences. Moore is a lesbian novelist.

Elevation Filmworks, which produced Miller's three previous efforts, is producing along with Plan B Entertainment.

London-based Lumina Films is executive producing the film and handling worldwide sales, with CAA partnering on the sale of domestic distribution rights. Jean-Luc De Fanti and Winchester Capital Partners are on board to finance the film as executive producers.

Lumina is presenting the film to international buyers this week in Berlin at the European Film Market. The film is scheduled to begin principal photography in April in Connecticut

[Gary]

Arkin is the husband who leaves Wright Penn for Ryder. Bellucci will play his first wife.

Wow he's quiet the lady's man.

[CHRIS B]

Arkin is the husband who leaves Wright Penn for Ryder. Bellucci will play his first wife.

Wow he's quiet the lady's man.

I had a little chuckle when I thought about Arkin playing Winona's father in "Edward Scissorhands," and now he will be playing her lover!!

[CHRIS B]

Pippa Lee Nabs Bellucci, Arkin, Gyllenhaal and Then Keanu, For Some Reason

One of these things just doesn't belong.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is already starring Robin Wright Penn (or is she un-Penned now that they're splitting? Much like Rebecca Romijn is un-Stamosed, you see), Winona Ryder and Julianne Moore. Four more people just joined the cast, but they don't all quite fit. We've got three good actresses, so let's add Maggie Gyllenhaal and Monica Bellucci, sure, that works. Then Alan Arkin as the spurning husband, bonus, yes, he's fantastic all the time. So who, then, should fill this other slot, of the younger man that the freshly betrayed Pippa Lee will go for?

Put yourself in Rebecca Miller's shoes - you're the writer, you're adapting your own novel, and you've directed the great film The Ballad of Jack and Rose, not to mention the fact that you're married to Daniel Day-Lewis and thus you should have a good sense of what quality acting entails. The rest of the cast of your film so far proves that much. So how the hell does Keanu Reeves fit into this?

The man makes interesting project choices and I'm sure he's a cool guy to hang around with, but why hasn't everyone snapped out of his blank-eyed hypno-toad spell by now and realized that the man is a black hole of acting.? He hasn't had a believable facial expression since Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, for the love o' pete! What is wrong with you people?

Anyway, here's how THR describes the assorted roles:
Arkin is the husband who leaves Wright Penn for Ryder. Bellucci will play his first wife. Reeves will play Wright Penn's younger lover, while Gyllenhaal plays Wright Penn's diet pill-addicted mother in flashback sequences.

Moore is a lesbian novelist.
Moore is a lesbian novelist who never had time for a wife
And she's talkin' with Davy, who's still in the Navy, and probably will be for life...

[vulcannonibird]

Arkin is the husband who leaves Wright Penn for Ryder

LoL

Logical thing to do...

[CHRIS B]

Anyone want to be in a Winona film?  I say some of us here should try and do it!!! I always wanted to try to be in a film. If only you guys knew how many times I had a chance to be an extra in a Winona film or really how many chances I had to see Winona - but didn't do it!! Plus, what do we have to loose by trying?

(Connecticut) - Send photographs & resumes ASAP to: Details Are only Available By Subscription.. Title: THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE, Feature Film. CAST, Robin Wright Penn, Julianne Moore, Wynona Ryder, Alan Arkin, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Keanu Reeves, Monica Belluci; PROD, Lemore Syvan, DeDe Gardner; DIR/SCR, Rebecca Miller. Contract: SAG. Shoot Dates: April 15-June, 2008 (in Connecticut).

Sam Shapiro: Late 40s-50s. A New York intellectual Jew who is a successful novelist. Articulate and witty, at times he can be sarcastic and edgy. A bit awkward, loud and obnoxious, however he does have a good heart;

Ben Lee: 20s. Pippa and Herb's son, Grace's twin. A young and eager lawyer with a big heart and solid principles. Protective of his mother, he is loving, generous, playful, and appealing;

Grace Lee: 20s. Pippa and Herb's daughter, Ben's twin. A photojournalist, she is tough, sophisticated and intelligent. Closer to her father than her mother, she is Daddy's little girl, however a bit cold and at times hostile towards Pippa;

Dot: 60s-80. Pippa's new neighbor in the retirement community. She is a well put together older woman. Pert and well kempt she is a bit of a worrywart and at times is extremely emotional and overwrought, especially when it comes to her son. Looks to Pippa for advice and comfort;

Johnny Nadeau: 60s-80. Dot's husband. Short, bullish, with a stiff, bowlegged walk. Gruff and blunt, but cares for his wife;

Max Kessler: 50s. A Jewish novelist who argues with Herb;

Phyllis: 50s-60s. A dinner guest at Pippa and Herb;

Don Sexton: 50s-60s. A dinner guest at Pippa and Herb's;

Mrs. Mankievitz: 60s-80. A bohemian pottery teacher in the retirement community. She takes her class very seriously;

Des Sarkissian: 30s, Armenian. Pippa's father and Suky's husband. A Reverend, he is extremely patient and reasonable. Kind, articulate, and forgiving, he loves his wife and family;

Aunt Trish: Late 30s-40s. Pippa's lesbian aunt, she is comfortable with herself, who she is, and her relationship with Kat. Kind, generous, caring and smart, she loves Pippa very much;

Shelly: 30s. A friend of Kat's, she is loud, funny and a bit naughty. Having no inhibitions, it would be no surprise if it turned out she were a porn star;

Jed: 20s. A young, heavy set artist, who hangs out with Young Pippa. . . part Native American with long black hair a plus;

Calvin: 20s. An ornery young painter who is an up and comer, he is not impressed by anyone or anything;

Craig: 20s. Young Pippa's short-lived boyfriend, he is tall, lean and deadpan. Permanently has the solemn expression of an undertaker on his face;

Terry: A young female artist. She is friends with Young Pippa. A bit of a wreck, she is Jewish, sexy and always seems pissed off;

Alphonsa: 40s-60. Spanish. Gigi's maid, she is small and a bit round. English is her 2nd language;

Doctor: 30s-50s. A kind doctor who helps deliver baby Pippa;

Nurse: Sedates a hysterical Suky;

Chester: 6-9 to play 6. A bit of a smart aleck. He is Pippa's older brother;

Chester: 16-20 to play 18. Pippa's older brother, smart. He is still a bit of a smart aleck;

Elderly Man: 60s-70s. Man in a car accident that injures a dog;

Aspca Man: Mid 20s-50. Attends to a dog killed in a car accident;

Waiter: 20s. A young male waiter with whom Sandra flirts during a lunch date with Pippa;

Dr. Schultz: 30s, attractive, athletic build. The picture of good health;
Woman: 40s. A party guest at Gigi's house;

Male Jogger: 30s. Runs on the beach;

Female Night Nurse: A gentle presence. A kind looking, stocky woman who wears teddy bears on her scrubs.
(Posted: February 5, 2008)