News Archive for 2005

December 20, 2005

Theaters & Showtimes:

NYC: March 10th @ Sunshine Cinema

L.A.: March 10th @ NuArt Theatre

San Francisco: March 24th @ Castro Theatre

More dates will be posted when they become available.

(source: the_doves_diner livejournal & 'The Heart is Deceitful Above all Things' Myspace group)

It's been rumored that Mike might be up for the role of Herve Joncour in the film adaptation of Alessandro Baricco's bestselling novel Silk starring Keira Knightly...

Well, apparently it's no longer a rumor. I've just been informed by Keiraweb.com (via Mike's manager) that he will in fact be playing the lead role opposite Keira Knightly in Silk.

"Silk is being directed by Francois Girard [The Red Violin] and is set in 19th Century France. The film will tell of a married silkworm smuggler, Herve Joncour who travels to Japan to collect his clandestine cargo. While there he spots a beautiful European woman, the mistress of a local baron, and they fall in love. When Herve’s wife begins to suspect something is up, a black cloud starts to mask the unrequited love. " -moviehole.net

You can read a more detailed synopsis here.

As I stated earlier, filming isn't scheduled until Spring but keep checking back. I'll try to have all the latest news.

(Thanks again Paul!)

December 16, 2005

Saturday January 21st
2:30pm - Racquet Club Theatre

Sunday January 22nd
3:30pm - Sundance Village, Screening Room

Tuesday January 24th
9:15am - Eccles Center
6:45pm - Broadway Cinema V

Wednesday January 25th
8:30am - Library Center Theatre

Thursday January 26th
5:30pm - Racquet Club Theatre

Just a few reminders:

Capri Films will be releasing Rhinoceros Eyes theatrically across Canada on February 24th 2006, followed by the DVD release in June 2006.

Kindred Media Group intends to release Jailbait theatrically in the US in April 2006, with the home video to follow shortly after the film's theatrical run.

November 29, 2005

The festival will run from January 19-29 in Park City, Utah.

For more info, visit the official 2006 Sundance Film Festival website.

November 28, 2005

November 18, 2005

Thanks guys!

October 30, 2005

Tuesday, November 1st @ Pianos
SPIN presents PAGODA featuring Michael Pitt w/ very special guests Magik Markers. The show starts at 7pm and is invite only.

(source: Pianos)

October 29, 2005

PAGODA w/
SPECTRE FLUX Pete Nolan (+ Watersports)

Fat Baby basement
112 Rivington Street
between Ludlow and Essex

Don't miss your last chance to see Pagoda live in 2005. Keep your eyes peeled for more dates in January 2006!

**EDIT**
There has been some confusion about what time Pagoda will actually be playing since it's not listed on Ecstatic Peace or Fat Baby's websites. I took the liberty of calling the club and unfortunately no one there knew for sure. Not only that, they had me call back after making a call to the band, and they didn't even know! The guy I spoke with finally ended up taking a stab in the dark saying 9pm would be a safe time to show up as they would probably go on around 10pm. So that's what I'm relaying to you all.

(source: Ecstatic Peace/Pagoda's management)

In movie news:

Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc. has greenlit production of a new feature, Delirious, starring Steve Buscemi (Fargo), Michael Pitt (Last Days) and Alison Lohman (Big Fish). The project, which starts filming in New York City on November 9, is intended for a U.S. theatrical release in late 2006.

Steve Buscemi stars as "Les Galantine," a small-time celebrity photographer aching to take just one great picture. Les befriends "Toby Grace" (Michael Pitt), a homeless young man with no direction except a vague desire to become an actor. When by chance sparks fly between Toby and Alison Lohman's "K'Harma Leeds," the hottest pop star of the moment, Les grows jealous and plots a darkly comic revenge.

The film was written and will be directed by Tom DiCillo (Living in Oblivion, Box of Moonlight) and produced by Robert Salerno (21 Grams, All the Pretty Horses) through his production company Artina Films. Peace Arch President John Flock and Peace Arch Motion Pictures President Lewin Webb are overseeing production for the Company.

(source: Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc.)

October 28, 2005

October 21, 2005

October 14, 2005

October 6, 2005

October 3, 2005

It has been revealed that the music video featured on the upcoming Last Days dvd will be for a song called "Happy Song" performed by Pagoda.

Mike may have turned down Prada but he was recently seen modeling for Adam Kimmel.

In Pagoda news, according to Pagoda's Myspace, the band has officially been signed to Ecstatic Peace.

Pagoda also have several acoustic shows coming up this month in New York. They are as follows:

Friday Oct. 7th - Pete's Candy Store - 9pm
Saturday Oct. 15th - Tonic - 11pm ($8)
Saturday Oct. 22nd - The Hook - 10pm
Friday Oct. 28th - The Delancey - 10pm

For avanced tickets to select shows, please contact venue, or you may be able to purchase online through TicketWeb. (1-866-468-7619)

For comments or questions about the shows, you can contact the band's managment directly at officialpagodanewsbklyn @ hotmail.com

(Thanks to Kevin for the info.)

September 19, 2005

September 13, 2005

This is from Seven Days, written prior to the shows:

Vermont's eternally hip matron of eclectic rock, Peg Tassey, is back. Although, like Jay-Z, she went into self-imposed musical exile last year, it seems that she has trouble adjusting to musical retirement.

Tassey's latest group, Louder, features an interesting combination of talents, including Big Apple-based cellist Indigo Ruth-Davis, as well as Five Seconds Expired and Minimus skinsman Gary Williams. Peg contributes powerful, witchy vocals and skeletal guitar.

The group makes its area debut at Nectar's on August 25, following a special acoustic set from the central Vermont chanteuse featuring special guest David Symons of the Black Sea Quartet. But wait, there's more: Tassey's cellist is also in a little band from NYC called Pagoda, whose chief songwriter, Michael Pitt, may or may not be some kind of movie star. Pagoda will headline the show in their first Vermont appearance.

***

I did a little digging and found out that the band also recorded the soundtrack to Gus Van Sant's quasi-biopic Last Days, a film loosely based on the troubled life of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain. I'm not going to tell you who plays the lead role, but it's pretty easy to find out.

Pagoda's demo disc mysteriously appeared on my desk last week, complete with a cryptic post-it note. Ah, the pitfalls of self-promotion. The group's punky, urban rock actually bears some similarity to the aforementioned Seattle trio, but with considerably less pathos. Like the Velvet Underground with a modern-rock edge, Pitt and co. craft spiky, melodic tunes with unconventional hooks and a detached temperament. Pop-culture pedigree aside, Pagoda pack an electrified punch that should be a fine finale to an evening of left-of-center rock 'n' roll.

Louder and Pagoda will give an outdoor performance at Bear Swamp Road in Middlesex the following evening, before heading back to Burlington to invade Radio Bean the night after that. Expect a report next week.

Here is a relevant snippet of their review:

By the time I hopped back downstairs for Pagoda, they were unfortunately wrapping up their set. Still, I was lucky (yes, lucky) enough to catch an extended noise jam, which must've cleared out any jam-rock ghosts lingering in the building. With his focused, somewhat sullen demeanor, front man Michael Pitt seemed as tortured as the dead rock star he recently played on film. After several minutes of ear-rending cacophony, the band segued into a more conventional number before exiting the stage with a curt thank you. And, in case you were wondering, there were no other celebrity appearances.

If anyone else happened to be in the area and catch one (or more) of these shows, e-mail me. I'd love to have more reviews of Pagoda's performances.

Lastly, here is a link to an interview Mike did for Film Focus. I would archive it here on the site, but it's basically the same Q's & A's we've heard in countless interviews. However, he does mention The Hawk is Dying and Delirious... the latter looking like it's a go.

September 8, 2005

September 1, 2005

August 28, 2005

August 27, 2005

Pre-order the Last Days DVD (due for release on 10/25/05) online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or DVD Empire.

August 18, 2005

There is also an article about Last Days in the August 2005 issue of Spin magazine. (Scans in the Articles/Interviews section.)

August 15, 2005

Thursday, Aug. 18th they will be playing at The Delancey @ 9pm (free show)

Thursday, September 8th they will be playing at Northsix w/ Hi Red Center & Dogme 95. Tickets $8 Doors open @ 8pm Show starts @ 9pm.

August 13, 2005

Features include:
Widescreen and Full Screen Presentations
English DD5.1 Surround
French DD2.0 Surround
Deleted Scenes
Music Video
Outtakes

(Source: DVD Times) Thanks to Kevin for the info!

The French DVD release has also been announced and is set for November 16, 2005.

Features include:
English DD5.1 Surround
French DD2.0 Surround
Trailers
The Making Of

There will also be a collectors edition available which will have all of the above features plus the original soundtrack.

You can pre-order your copy from alapage.com.

August 10, 2005

(Source: Vogue UK)

August 4, 2005

Perfect Partner (Everything You Ever Wanted In A Car)-- a film by Kim Gordon, Tony Oursler and Phil Morrison, starring Michael Pitt and Jamie Bochert with a live soundtrack featuring: Tim Barnes, Kim Gordon, Ikue Mori, Jim O’Rourke, DJ Olive.

Perfect Partner is a first time collaboration between Sonic Youth guitarist Kim Gordon, renowned artist Tony Oursler and filmmaker Phil Morrison. In a response to America’s enchantment with car culture, this surreal psychodrama cum road movie starring Michael Pitt (The Dreamers, Dawson’s Creek, Last Days) unfolds to a thundering free rock live soundtrack. Kim Gordon is joined on stage by fellow Sonic Youth member, producer extraordinaire, composer and ‘School Of Rock’ collaborator Jim O’Rourke, percussionist Tim Barnes, ex DNA laptop virtuoso Ikue Mori and turntable whiz DJ Olive.

SYNOPSIS
The narrative is driven by the specially-created film, and is complemented by live music (lyrics are based on car ad copy) and the actions of the two actors on stage. We follow the story of a young man on his way to California in search of his mother. On his travels he falls in love with a woman who agrees to help him. She traffics in lifestyle fantasies. Together they take a test-drive which becomes a road trip, and later develops into a faux-Godardian adventure. The dialogue (which is carried mainly by the film and the music) is quite abstract and much of it is mixed with car ad copy.

THE FILM
The film serves as a backdrop to the live performance and lasts for the duration of the piece. The dialogue (acted and voice-over) is minimal and abstract (reminiscent of Godard’s characters). Images taken from car brochures slowly dissolve and existing car advert footage is appropriated. There will be some simple interaction between an actor on stage and the actor in the video, (they are not the same actors - wardrobe will be used to convey sameness).

MUSIC
The sound world of Perfect Partner is that of textural ambient music breaking into occasional and casual songs that help move the narrative along.

THE STAGE
The 90-minute performance will feature a live band on stage, performing songs to correspond with the actions of the two actors on stage. The simple actions performed by both actors will correspond to the loose narrative in the video. The actors will be using one central prop – a car dashboard with a radio.

Perfect Partner will premiere at the Barbican Centre on Sunday 2 October 2005, 7.30 pm. Tickets can be obtained from the Barbican website. The production will then tour to a number of UK and international venues:

2 Oct - Barbican London
4 Oct - Sage Gateshead
5 Oct – Happy New Ears Festival Kortrijk, Belgium
7 Oct - GAS Festival Gothenberg
9 Oct – Phoenix Exeter
11 Oct - Brighton Dome
12 Oct - Romaeuropa Festival Rome

More info can be found on the Electra Productions site.

For those of you in the UK, Last Days isn't due out until September... However, you can win tickets to an advanced screening on Tuesday, August 30th at 6.30pm at the UGC Haymarket, from Time Out London. Details on their site.

There is an article about Last Days in the August 2005 issue of Uncut Magazine. (Thanks to "PompousCunt" for the info.)

July 30, 2005

There has been some talk of Pagoda being signed to Ecstatic Peace but nothing offical... yet.

July 27, 2005

NPR - Van Sant Builds on Cobain's 'Last Days'
FilmStew.com - Strange Days for Pitt
Newsday.com - Sex, drugs and Cocoa Krispies
Review from Ultragrrrl
Review from The Reeler
Mtv.com - Sonic Youth Revisit Their Friend Kurt Cobain In 'Last Days'
The Village Voice - End of the Road
-All This Useless Beauty

July 21, 2005

"Rhinoceros Eyes" will be released theatrically across Canada in the Fall of 2005, followed by the long awaited DVD & home video release in Winter 2006.

The film will be released by Capri Films, and they can be contacted at www.caprifilms.com.

July 20, 2005

Theater showings for Last Days beginning on July, 22nd:
Landmark Sunshine Cinema (New York,NY)
Laemmle Playhouse 7 (Pasadena,CA)
Laemmle Sunset 5 (Los Angeles,CA)
Laemmle Monica 4 (Santa Monica,CA)
California Theatre (Berkeley,CA)
Embarcadero Center Cinemas (San Francisco,CA)
CinéArts at Marin (Sausalito,CA)
Neptune Theatre (Seattle,WA)
Meridian 16 (Seattle,WA)

July 27TH
Facets Cinematheque (Chicago,IL)

Other cities to follow:
Dobie Theatre (Austin,TX)
Main Art Theatre (Detroit,MI)
Lagoon Cinema (Minneapolis,MN)
E Street Cinema (Washington DC)

Other release dates:
USA - July 22, 2005 (limited)
Netherlands - August 25, 2005
Australia - September 1, 2005
UK - September 2, 2005
Germany - October 20, 2005
France - November 2, 2005
Hungary - November 4, 2005
Spain - November 25, 2005
Nicaragua - December 9, 2005

You can view several clips from Last Days at the following links:

Yahoo! Movies
Clip1: "I Need a Jet Heater" - Scott (Scott Green) asks Blake (Michael Pitt) for some necessities.

Mtv.com
Clip1: Blake retreats to play his music, alone.
Clip2: Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon warns of death.
Clip3: Selling to a man in a little black dress.
Clip4: Blake takes a nasty spill.

Mike is in an issue of Nylon Guys magazine. I'm not sure if this is the current issue or an upcoming issue because Nylon doesn't have their "Guys" site up yet but I guess we should just be on the lookout for this cover. (If it's already out, please let me know so I can make the correction.)

And lastly, Daniel Robert Epstein sat down with Mike for an exclusive interview for Suicide Girls .

July 16, 2005

Following on the success of MoMA’s inaugural film and media exhibition Premieres, the Department of Film and Media presents the New York premiere of Gus Van Sant’s Last Days. Also shown on July 20 are Van Sant’s Gerry (2002) and Elephant (2003)—the three films, all photographed by Harris Savides, are formally related. Presented in memory of Stephen Harvey, a MoMA film curator.

(Source: MoMA.org)

Win a limited edition Last Days Fender Mustang, hand painted by Akiko, and movie poster signed by members of the cast from Filter Magazine. Contest runs from 07/15/05 to 8/14/05.

July 15, 2005

SUICIDE IS AIMLESS: MICHAEL PITT
From playing a high school jock in Dawson's Creek to his latest turn as a doomed rock star in Gus Van Sant's Last Days, Michael Pitt's career has always confounded expectation. Now as he focuses on his band Pagoda, the 24-year-old explains why he's so picky.

July 13, 2005

There's a pretty good article from the Village Voice about Last Days.

July 7, 2005

The Last Days giveaway begins today! The contest will run for 3 weeks... from July 7th through July 27th. Click the image above for contest details and to enter.

Not About Cobain But for Cobain

Michael Pitt made an impression yesterday when he introduced his latest film Last Days by the director Gus van Sant at a late-night screening. He admitted to being a little tired due to having discovered the pleasures of absinthe while in the Czech Republic and gave the audience the honour of revealing the tattoo on his belly.

Although visibly tired yesterday afternoon too, he was more than willing to share his thoughts on the film and its inspiration: “It’s not a film about Kurt Cobain but a film for Kurt Cobain. I’m a fan and I know how sacred that is. A lot of the time in the film I didn’t know what the hell I was doing because it was based on him but not based on facts. I didn’t really realise what Gus was trying to do until I saw the film and I realised that in not making it exactly about him or about times or dates that aren’t ever creditable, or about the music, he’s allowed the audience to look at a human being who is in that situation. Which is more respectful.” In Gus van Sant the actor had obviously found a director whose methods he greatly admired and who allowed him a lot of creative input: “There was basically no script for the film. It consisted of about 12 pages. It was more like a map and everything else was improvised. For me it was a dream. I’ve never really worked that way before, to that extent. But generally with every film that I’ve worked on, whether it be loosely scripted or scripted like a play, where you don’t change anything, the best things that come about in it are the accidents, the things that are made up that day. Gus created an environment for accidents to happen from beginning to end. Gus would orchestrate everyone’s ideas to make sure his vision was happening. He did it in such a Zen way that for me it was a little eerie. It’s an amazing risk for a director but to me it’s a really pure way of making film.”

Though only a young teenager when Kurt Cobain committed suicide, Pitt, like a whole generation who can pinpoint where they were when they heard the news, could feel the significance of the event: “I was only 12 or 13 at the time but I remember going into school and seeing all the kids in black and I went up to a friend of mine who primarily listened to rap music and didn’t seem like a fan of that (Nirvana) type of music or that lifestyle and I asked him what had happened and he said that Kurt Cobain had died that day. That struck me. That someone who was not a fan still related to what had happened.”

(Source: KV IFF)

Here's the link to the press conference video. (windows media)

July 5, 2005

Beautifully Scarred will be hosting a Last Days contest/giveaway in the coming weeks. Prizes include t-shirts, guitar picks and posters. Keep your eye out for more details.

June 24, 2005

June 13, 2005

CineVegas Film Festival
Wed., June 15, 7:00pm

June 8, 2005

The 2005 Los Angeles Film Festival (June 16-26)
-Will be shown Friday June 24, 7:30pm @ Laemmle Sunset 2

The Provincetown International Film Festival (June 15-19)
-Will be shown Wednesday June 15, 6:00PM @ Town Hall
Saturday June 18, 1:45PM @ New Arts Cinemas Screen 1

(Thanks to Katey for the info.)

Also... Don't forget, Pagoda is playing the 2nd show of their 'Wednesday night Residency' at Pianos in NYC tonight.

June 2, 2005

June 1, 2005

This is one of my favorite bands yet to be well-known yet for my money the most earnest and bright-eyed trio since Nirvana for real:

THE ALOKE RESIDENCY BEGINS...
The first 4 Wednesdays this month in June ALOKE will be performing with special guest PAGODA (Michael Pitt) at PIANOS at 9PM...Each week will feature new songs, different sets, a tap dancer, an incredible bucket player, and a master guest guitarist.

For those of you who still haven't seen ALOKE live, now is your chance. Michael Pitt stars as a pseudo-Kurt Cobain in Gus Van Sant's new movie THE LAST DAYS.

Truly hope to see you out.

ALOKE
JUNE 1, 8, 15, 22. 9pm. Pianos
http://www./alokemusic.com

If anyone is planning on going and happens to get some pictures, it'd be great if you could send them to me. Thanks!

May 28, 2005

May 25, 2005

May 18, 2005

I've noticed a lot of press photo sites are saying that the dark-haired girl (who resembles a young Patti Smith) pictured with Mike in various Cannes related photos, is "his gilrfriend, Eva Green." That is not Eva... it doesn't look anything like her! Just wanted to clear that up.

May 17, 2005

Poster Mk2.com is offering as part of a "limited edition collectors special."

Front & Back

Inside

(Images from TotalNirvana.net)

Track Listing
01 - PAGODA > Death to Birth
02 - VELVET UNDERGROUND > Venus in Furs
03 - MICHAEL PITT > That Day
04 - THE HERMITT > A Pointless Ride (Studio Version)
05 - PAGODA > Fetus
06 - MICHAEL PITT > Death to Birth
07 - THE HERMITT > Seen as None
08 - MIRROR/DASH > Electric Pen
09 - LUKAS HAAS > untitled
10 - JACK GIBSON > Believe
11 - THE KING SINGERS > La Guerre
12 - HILDERGARD WESTERKAMP > Tueren Der Wahrnehumng (Doors Of Perception)

May 16, 2005

Below is a snippet of an article about Thurson Moore where he talks about Mike's music:

On the other hand, the musician did not take part in the development of the song written and interpreted by Michael Pitt. "Michael is a true musician. The first time that I met him, it was with Gus which said: "You want Michael to play you something?" It is a terribly awkward situation. Finally he played this song very rock'n'roll. I am now supposed to help them to produce their first album, him and his group."

(Original article found on www.lemonde.fr)

Pagoda's debut album will be called House of Worship.

A bit of a late report but you might want to keep an eye out for the UK magazine Dazed and Confused.

In Cannes: C’N’C Costume National Holds Exclusive Party For ‘Last Days’

MILAN, May 11, 2005/ FW/ – C’N’C Costume National will hold an exclusive party and concert for the premiere of the film ‘Last Days’ directed by Gus Van Sant this Friday, May 13 at the new luxurious hotel 3.14, Canne on the Cost Azzur. The film distributor MK2 in collaboration with C’N’C and English print magazine Dazed and Confused has organised the party that will be the perfect synergy between Gus Van Sant and C’N’C through imagery, style and philosophy with lead actor Michael Pitt performing live with his band Pagoda.

VIP guests to the likes of Costume National and C’N’C designer Ennio Capasa, the ‘Last Days’ cast including actress Asia Argento and Michael Pitt among others along with director Gus Van Sant have all confirmed their attendance to the event.

(Source: Fashion Windows)

May 14, 2005

(Source: indieWIRE Photo by Brian Brooks)

There's another video stream up in the Video section from Cannes. It's a 15 minute bit of never before seen movie clips and Cannes highlights.

ATTN: NYC residents! Pagoda has shows coming up at Pianos (158 Ludlow St NYC, NY 10002) starting Wednesday June 1st. They will also be playing on the 8th, 15th & 22nd @ 9:30pm each night. I've added an "upcoming shows" section on the Music page as a reminder. Don't miss 'em!

French site France2.fr has a video report from Cannes featuring interview clips with Mike and Gus Van Sant. View it on their site or in the Video section here. I've also put up a few screen captures from it in the Photo Gallery.

May 13, 2005

http://www.bimfilm.com/lastdays/

It has a few new hi-res pictures you can download. I've got them all up in the Photo Gallery.

There are also links to the video clips of the Cannes interview/photo call, press conference and the "steps" for Last Days in the Video section.

This is what Mike had to say about his character "Blake" and how he chose to play the role:

"I played it as though he was remembering his death, probably for a lot of his life. The way I played it was just about like the events that were happening in front of him, that were leading to it. He kind of always knew that was going to happen....I changed my diet because the character was a junkie. So I just ate lettuce and fruit and the whole time I was shooting, my stomach was in pain, which was really good. ...I feel basically that if I were going along in the wrong direction, Gus would tell me. I don't know that much about filmmaking."

May 12, 2005

RECORD EXECUTIVE
Hey you.

BLAKE
Hey.

RECORD EXECUTIVE
Are you free?

BLAKE
Huh-mm. Sorta.

RECORD EXECUTIVE
Free enough to play that guitar?

BLAKE
Mm. Yeah.
I haven't been playing very much.

RECORD EXECUTIVE
Have you uh, talked to your daughter? Hmm.

BLAKE
Hmm. Yeah I've been talking to her on the phone.

RECORD EXECUTIVE
What do you say to her?

BLAKE
Hmm-mm. I do the voices she likes. I don't know. I tell her I miss her.

RECORD EXECUTIVE
Do you say, "I'm sorry, that I'm a Rock and Roll cliché?"

Last Days is set to premiere tomorrow. Here is the schedule:

Friday 13 Grand Théâtre Lumière 11:30
Saturday 14 Salle Bazin 13:00

It is also rumoured that Sonic Youth will play at the after-party for the film.

May 9, 2005

Click on an image to view the full size.

May 8, 2005

May 4, 2005

The US release date for Last Days has been bumped up to July 22nd.

It looks like the West Memphis Three project is a no-go. In addition to being removed from Mike's filmography on the IMDB, the co-producer has been posting the following message at various wm3 groups and forums:

I am the co-producer for this film and have not been informed on its status, updated on its progress nor the business structure in any way since fall 2004. I have spoken to other cast members that have not received any correspondence as well even though Curt Johnson claims the project begins shooting March 2005. I have now been removed from the IMBD site as the co-producer.

Since I have made a substantial investment in this project (via my time, research, cash and other resources IE: providing the writer of this project room/board/cash over a 15 month period), I am officially making notice here and on various other WM3 related sites that I am actively and aggressively seeking compensation and acknowledgement for my role in the West Memphis Three film project. This is a film which needs to be made.

Sincerely,
David Burrows

What a shame.

May 3, 2005

The song "Before the War" features Gus Van Sant on guitar and lead vocals with Mike on drums and backing vocals. It's said to have been recorded in a run down hotel room.

You can hear a 25 second clip of the song at the Live From Nowhere Near You website. The CD itself can be purchased nationally at various music stores or on the web at Amazon and Tower Records.

For more information about Outside In visit their website at www.outsidein.org

April 26, 2005

The May 2005 issues of GQ magazine has a photo spread of Mike modeling various designer clothing. (Photos are in the gallery.) There is a short blurb regarding his work that I have typed up and put in the Articles section.

(Thanks to "ikkinikky" for the info.)

April 23, 2005

This months issue of Les Inrockuptibles has a cover story about Last Days. Thanks to Marie-Dominique for the scans!

Also, you can now pre-order the Last Days soundtrack at the Mk2 site. (Available May 9th)

April 14, 2005

Download the trailer from me here in the Video section or on the French Mk2 site for Last Days

In addition to the trailer, the French site also has a full synopsis, bio's, soundtrack info (where you can hear one of Mike's songs called "Death to Birth") and more production stills.

The two original songs by Mike on the soundtrack are: Death to Birth and That Day.

April 10, 2005

We here at Beautifully Scarred would like to take a moment to wish Mike a very special Happy Birthday. Cheers!

April 7, 2005

In the February issue of Interview Magazine there is an article with Ryan Donowho (drummer of Pagoda) in which it is stated: "In addition to contributing to the Imaginary Heroes score and wrapping up a debut album with Pagoda, his band with actor Michael Pitt..."

April 4, 2005

The following are release dates for Last Days:

France - May 13th 2005
Italy - May 20th 2005
Belgium - June 15th 2005
Netherlands - July 28th 2005
UK - September 2nd 2005
USA - October 21st 2005

March 26, 2005

Here is an official synopsis of the film Last Days:

LAST DAYS is filmmaker Gus Van Sant's meditation on the inner turmoil that engulfs a brilliant, but troubled, musician in the final hours of his life. Michael Pitt (THE DREAMERS, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH) stars as Blake, an introspective artist who is buckling under the weight of fame, professional obligations, and a mounting feeling of isolation.

LAST DAYS follows Blake through a handful of hours he spends in and near his wooded home, a fugitive from his own life. It is a period of random moments and fractured consciousness, fused by spontaneous bursts of rock & roll.

Expanding on the elliptical style forged in his two previous films, GERRY and the Palme d'Or-winning ELEPHANT, Van Sant layers images and sounds to articulate an emotional landscape, creating a dynamic work about a soul in transition.

Dwarfed by towering trees, Blake slowly makes his way through dense woods. He scrambles down an embankment to a fresh spring, and undresses for a short swim. The next morning, he returns to his house, an elegant, if neglected, stone mansion. Many people are looking for Blake - his friends, his managers and record label, even a private detective - but he does not want to be found. In the haze of his final hours, Blake will spend most of his time by himself. He avoids the people who are living in his house, who approach him only when they want something, be it money or help with a song. He hides from one concerned friend, and turns away another. He visits politely with a stranger from the Yellow Pages sales department, and he ducks into an underground rock club. He wanders through the woods, and he plays a new song, one last rock & roll blow out. Finally, alone in the greenhouse, Blake will look and listen - and seek release.

Although this film is inspired by the last days of Kurt Cobain, it is a work of fiction and none of the characters or events portrayed in the film are real.

HBO Films, in association with Fine Line Features, presents A Meno Film Company Production LAST DAYS. Michael Pitt, Lukas Haas, Asia Argento, Scott Green, Nicole Vicius, Ricky Jay, Ryan Orion, Harmony Korine, Kim Gordon, Adam Friberg, Andy Friberg, and Thadeus A. Thomas. Editor Gus Van Sant. Director of Photography Harris Savides, ASC. Produced by Dany Wolf. Written and Directed by Gus Van Sant.

It's slated for release this summer.

Feb 22, 2005

Last Days will be presented at the 58th Cannes Film Festival, May 11-22. I believe the exact date is May 18th.

Feb 11, 2005

Filming is now completed on The Hawk Is Dying. Next up: The West Memphis Three will begin filming in March.

January 10, 2005

As you may or may not know, Mike is currently filming The Hawk Is Dying in Florida. He plays the role of Fred, George's(Paul Giamatti) autistic nephew. Here is a full synopsis of the film:

George Gattling is a man out of place in the world and out of place in his own skin.

He is the owner of the University Custom Auto Shop and the disgruntled patriarch of his family – his divorced sister Precious, and her twenty-year old autistic son, Fred. He’s also the unwitting case study of a ‘life-gone-wrong’ for Betty, a young psychology student who works at his shop.

George seeks salvation in hawks. He dreams of capturing and training the noble birds of prey. It is an ancient art that requires precision – you only have a few days to succeed – and extremes – only through practically killing yourself and the bird are you brought together. It is the obsession he shares with Fred. In the quiet pre-dawn tracking of the birds, George Gattling feels like a man temporarily freed from the absurdity of civilized life.

After several years of failed attempts, George and Fred capture the most magnificent bird they have ever seen – the red-tailed hawk. That night, Fred dies in a freak accident. Grief stricken, George sees his only chance to survive tied together with this bird. He becomes determined to tame her – and to do that he will not eat or sleep, nor will she, until it’s all over. At his weakest moment, he locks himself into a battle of wills with the only creature on earth that would rather die than succumb.

To the rest of the world, it appears George has gone mad; the closer he gets to achieving success, the crazier his family thinks he’s become. Betty is the only one who realizes that George must take himself to the bottom to truly be saved. She watches as George is released into a world where the senses are awakened and emotions are unchecked… a world where one can see and feel the “blood of things.”

The Hawk Is Dying is based on the book by Harry Crews, one of America’s great contemporary authors. In The Hawk Is Dying and his other books such as Celebration, A Feast of Snakes, and The Knockout Artist, Crews’ unique voice elevates the peculiarities and grit of the Southern spirit without being afraid to bare its seedier aspects.

(Source: Antidote Films)

January 4, 2005

According to the IMDB Mike was in a film short called Even Housewives in Minnesota Have Those Daydreams back in 1999. There's not much info on it but it was written and directed by Jonathan Michals and co-starred Gina Martino.

It's about a baseball player who hangs out with a girl after he's humiliated on the field. They knock back a few beers and smoke joints while talking about how things could have turned out differently but not necessarily better.

It was awarded Best Narrative Short Film in the Philadelphia Film Festival of Independents.

(Source: http://www.brainerddispatch.com/)