Lady Grey Short Film
Review
By Mozez Singh:
It was another bitterly cold day in London that started with a fun breakfast at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. As the Dior team and all of Dior's guests huddled together for coffee and croissants, everyone eagerly awaited the screening of the Lady Grey film at this very chic venue.
Lady Grey is the latest incarnation and final chapter in the 'Lady Dior' cinematic campaign inspired by John Galliano. First launched in 1996 under the watchful eye and expertise of Dior's current CEO Sidney Toledano, Lady Dior has since triumphantly stayed rooted to its design philosophy, while simultaneously morphing into a product that evolves with the time. Galliano also infuses this futuristic timelessness in the clothes. Therefore, it was no surprise that the director chosen to direct the Lady Grey film was John Cameron Mitchell.
Mitchell's work is subversive, alternative edgy and always new. He has never shied away from uprooting the norms. From his seminal debut film Hedwig and the Angry Inch, to his outstanding sophomore effort and my favourite, Shortbus, to his latest outing and sure to be an Oscar bait, Rabbit Hole, Mitchell has taken his audience to the edge of heaven where it is the beginning of something dark, only to take them back to the glory of the light. In Lady Grey, he uses the same formula.
Starring the gorgeous Marion Cotillard as Lady Grey, a burlesque artist with magical healing powers, the unshakeable Sir Ian McKellan as her crippled fan and the newbie Brit actor Russell Tovey as the painter who is so inspired by Lady Grey's grace and sensuality that he magically transforms into an artist, the short film had amused its entire audience. Shot in and around London, Lady Grey was a stirring homage to the city and the fourth in the series, after Lady Red in New York, Lady Black in Paris and Lady Blue in Shanghai.
Post-screening, Marion Cotillard was a picture of poise and elegance as she humbly admitted of not knowing much about fashion. She said that working with Galliano and Mitchell wasn't about just fashion, but the transcendence of their creations into an altogether bigger realm of art, and that is what attracted her to the house of Dior in the first place.
She is right, because fashion is an art and Christian Dior is a proof of this utterly delicious pudding, and I was lucky to have savoured it for two wonderful days in London as their guest.
The film will premiere at http://www.ladydior.com/ Dec. 8, and the accompanying print campaign for the Lady Dior handbag — which features Cotillard on the London Eye — will commence simultaneously.
Dior - Lady Grey London
Independent Films
Shot: September 2010
Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, starring Sir Ian McKellen, Marion Cotillard and Russell Tovey.
Tweets of the day!
MatthewCainC4: So Cheryl Cole has signed a £3m deal to judge XFactor in the US. Good on her! But unfortunately I worry the backlash here will start soon.
Tom_In_Oz_: @MatthewCainC4 Simon wins again!
jaybs: @Tom_In_Oz_ Oh Simon will always ensure he comes out of it better than anyone else! no doubt about that!
MatthewCainC4: Just landed in Glasgow and the Starbucks here is selling mugs labelled Edinburgh. Thought for a moment I'd come to the wrong place!
Tom_In_Oz_: @MatthewCainC4 Hope they turned the heating on the day we arrived from Oz we had an hour in non-heated corridors...
jaybs: @MatthewCainC4 Interesting last week how many complained in the US and Vernon Kay, they could not understand his Scot accent ?? so Cheryl??
MatthewCainC4: @jaybs But he isn't Scottish! He's from Bolton, like me!
russelltovey: Good morning you hot smoking Wittys! Belfast awaits exploration today on me day off x
russelltovey: @MatthewCainC4 hot... Love Edinburgh, Glasgow x
MatthewCainC4: @russelltovey Is that all you love?
russelltovey: @MatthewCainC4 chai tea latte with soya milk, extra hot... and my twin?
MatthewCainC4: @russelltovey That's more like it my talented twin. Have a good shoot today!
Tom_In_Oz_: @Ralphwjbrown It's snowing *. *. * *. * *.*. *. * *. *. * *. * * *. *. * *. * all around here today in Canterbury!
Ralphwjbrown: @Tom_In_Oz_ you're not in Oz. You're in Canterbury. Tom in Canterbury shall be your name. I'm going to dig out the car.
Tom_In_Oz_: @Ralphwjbrown I lost my car in a snow drift at front of motel. Mrs Oz has returned with provisions. Breakfast at last.
Tom_In_Oz_: Headline: @Ralphwjbrown does a snow job! @RUSSELLTOVEY - A STAR IN THE MAKING
Ralphwjbrown: @Tom_In_Oz_ are you Russell Tovey's Uncle Tom? I think we should be told.
Tom_In_Oz_: @Ralphwjbrown LOL Am teacher from Newcastle OZ. No connection to Rusty. I do the blog because I can! James Fleet and you on blog too ya know! Just blogged you again - painful I know tell me when to stop!
Ralphwjbrown: @Tom_In_Oz_ you carry on love
Tom_In_Oz_: @Ralphwjbrown Thank you kind sir, now cough !!! BTW...was going with headline "Ralph Brown calls me an Uncle Tom" but thought better of it!
Ralphwjbrown: @Tom_In_Oz_ good, cos I was gonna point out that it was a question but now I don't need to.
Tom_In_Oz_: @JamesaFleet Jim, Mrs Oz and I are snowbound in Canterbury come and get us please?
JamesaFleet: @Tom_In_Oz_ On my way, bringing toasted sandwiches. Do you want mayonnaise on both. Good luck.
Tom_In_Oz_: @JamesaFleet Oh thanks James. The Little Chef nearby has just closed and sent staff home. We may need help by tonight!
Messages for/by Russell
in snowy Belfast:
Abzicality: @russelltovey have a fabby day off :)
Kazshorty: @russelltovey Take a black taxi tour of the sights!! Taxi drivers are great craic or the John
Wee_Jendo: @russelltovey Make sure you check out the Christmas Market at City Hall! x
russelltovey: @Wee_Jendo done it! X
Wee_Jendo: @russelltovey Well, I'm fresh out of ideas lol How about a Black Taxi Tour?
Checkdigit: @russelltovey if only I didn't have uni to attend I would offer my services as a tour guide.
Distracted in NJ: @russelltovey Good Morning to YOU from the US... Hope you enjoy your day off as I slave away at my desk... Send photos! I need distraction.
3BallG: @russelltovey ..you should head round the back of the castlecourt shopping centre.. Awesome shop called LOKO. well worth a visit!
Legrandeval: @russelltovey head for the botanic gardens & the museum. Then coffee on stranmillis road after. The embankment is fab but prob slippy
Aileach34: @russelltovey didnt u get the memo? today's subject is snow. Only snow. So is it snowing in Belfast for yr day-off??
Elly_Swe: @russelltovey Good morning, Russell...( ugh....i feelt like school teacher when i said that)
Davey_h84: @russelltovey the 'french village bakery' is awesome for grabbing a cake an coffee in. Mmmm!
Lionking1976: @russelltovey mynt bar, lunch for a fiver!! Ill bring my being human dvds for you to sign!! 1.10. Lol x
Rudehamster: @russelltovey Don't you need ski-shoes and a team of cute fluffy huskies for that?
HazelPaterson: @russelltovey make sure you pop into Belfast Malmaison for one of their amazing bloody marys
thomasjhanna: @russelltovey go to MADE in belfast for food, shop in the bureau, do a cringe worthy Mural tour, have several cocktails in the merchant, a drink in the spaniard/duke of York/john hewitt. And finish the night in the kremlin!
Oddstacks: @russelltovey Don't forget to explore the Guinness, far superior to English version!
Dodochicky: @russelltovey Ooh, enjoy m'dear! We'd love to see pics of the sights if you can share them, hun. :D
tripping_daisy: @russelltovey You need to go to the Christmas Market at city hall, if you're really bored you can come round to my work & give us a hand.
nash1961: @russelltovey take a look at the murals on the walls around the city.
NickyRR: @russelltovey hey you, come see @ghamusic and @scientistbros at Spring&Airbrake tonight. I'm flying from London specially.
Tom_In_Oz_: @russelltovey The cold has affected your thinking!
JRGarratt1984: @russelltovey U wana have a word with ur agent if uv gone from top TV/films roles to giving open top bus tours ;-) enjoy
markscottwood: Hope you've got some nipple tape! @russelltovey
HezHoare: @russelltovey YEP
TraceyVK: @russelltovey you are if it’s snowing
QuintinForbes: @russelltovey If you're wearing a flak jacket and crash helmet, you should be fine. Oh, and take an umbrella.
Sashenka_M: @russelltovey hope you're wearing your earmuffs :) just stay warm and enjoy! x
JarodofMo: @russelltovey Yes, you are. That is why we love you!
Bg_evl: @russelltovey I hope you've got your thermals on!
Dodochicky: @russelltovey Aye, you may well be, but in the best possible way. It’s why we love ya. ;)
tunatullulah: @russelltovey You absolute LOON! Do go meet @nickyrr and her muso boys tonight, they're good fun.
Ianthomas74: @russelltovey please stay warm. Take lots of pics for those of us who have never been to Belfast. x
leo_richardson: @russelltovey wrap up. don't die on me. who'll be impressed when i dress up as Lid's otherwise? x
GemzyMcM: @russelltovey No! It's a beautiful city with lots of History. Rudge would be out of his depth with all the history ;) Enjoy!
BabettesBangor: @russelltovey always wanted to do that and I live here...enjoy!
mcwilliamsmk: @russelltovey you will LOVE it! I did it two years ago with a chest infection... I come from Belfast so was interesting for me!
ianthomas74: @russelltovey Did you take photos? Will you share them? x
reech_me: @russelltovey I give DigitalSpy an hour before the 'Russell's topless in Belfast' article...
tripping_daisy: @russelltovey Did you go round all the murals? Thankfully they've painted over some of the scarier ones like the soldier of death!
thomasjhanna: @russelltovey and now to the pub!
partialreporter: @russelltovey Glad you enjoyed! Need some pub recommendations? White's Tavern is a great spot for a pint of the black stuff
abigsavage: @russelltovey see it is a cool city despite what some people say!!
olibasciano: @russelltovey Not a musuem, but Catalyst Arts is the main artist-run space. Don't know the artist showing their at the mo tho. 5 College Ct
OfficeDrudge: @russelltovey Ormeau baths gallery, ormeau av.
RuthyMc163: @russelltovey Generally lots of small places,than one big museum but Ulster Mus is good start,Queen's Uni has small 1 too & ask from there
Nickycafc: @russelltovey Taylor Gallery, 471 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7EZ. Has Andy Warhols apparently...
DazzaField: @russelltovey The Tom Caldwell Gallery - 429 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7EY Tel: +44 (0)28 9066 1890
Gazbelfast: @whatsonni weekend read here he’s doing a film filming in Donegal and Northern Ireland http://russell-tovey.blogspot.com/
Belfast_Belle: I swear to god the people i work with are real thickos they don’t know who Leslie Nielsen is or Russell Tovey or any off the TV
valeriemeachum: Stylin' smock! :-D RT @Tom_In_Oz_ Fans please re-tweet the new vision of Russell Tovey at http://t.co/RczWhmi.
janeymac64: @russelltovey what does a star of stage and screen watch on his own, one wonders...
PeterK111: @russelltovey as long as you are not in t back row and the cinema isn't seedy!!
pacnet75: @russelltovey no snogging in the back row! Oh hang on, how would that work! :-D
gemm82: @russelltovey cinema on your own is at times the best thing no one to compromise with over what to see no worrying you picked a crap film.
pcrecords: @russelltovey it is! What are you watching?
DawnMDuval: @russelltovey seeing a film without mates or any other audience?
Tom_In_Oz_: @russelltovey Strangely, I like being at the cinema with my wife so we can talk about the movie later as a shared experience....
kinkyclawz: @russelltovey Ooh what are you watching? Aww, what a shame you're alone but glad you're feeling liberated! Take care and enjoy, hun!
caitlinismyname: @russelltovey what cinema r u at? I live in Belfast :)
Danny_Smyth: @russelltovey If it's the Odeon in VS I've always had the movie ruined by rowdy 'kids' ... #showingmyage
pcrecords: @russelltovey it is! What are you watching?
karenband3lmted: @russelltovey aww make sure you turn your mobile off tho lol. And what are you watching
TopCatTC69: @russelltovey Yeah, I find that too. I never really understand going on a first date, at the flicks. It never really works for me. What film?
escott1006: @russelltovey lol sat in a cafe on my own for the first time last week, felt v proud! Is that sad? I'm 37.
mrchrissullivan: @russelltovey have fun Jug ears X
bg_evl: @russelltovey I always go early when It's empty to avoid awkwardness! :-)
garethni: @russelltovey I like comedies in English-language cinemas abroad on my own. Sometimes you are the only one who gets the best jokes & laughs!
ClaireOrbo: @russelltovey Hey, saw you in Starbucks today, boyfriend tried to tell me it wasn't you. Big fans of Him & Her, was going to shout Morse!
sherricannard: @russelltovey guaranteed riveting company that way.
daveyk85: @russelltovey Awww... No hot date?
jameshobart: @russelltovey Couldn't you find any nice Belfast boy to accompany you ? If you're doing nothing tomorrow night then head for Crescent Arts
sparkx: @russelltovey I tried going to the cinema on my own once, couldn’t do it!
stephjgibbs: @russelltovey Yeah I’ve done that a couple of times. I did time it to get there as the adverts started so i wouldn't get pitied too much lol
MatthewCainC4: Stuck at Glasgow airport waiting for a flight back to London. Two hours delayed already and still no sign of any movement. Aaaaaaargh!
Tom_In_Oz_: @MatthewCainC4 Sounds normal for Glasgow!
SineadKeenan: @russelltovey I'd ask for your money back!!
Tom_In_Oz_: @russelltovey @SineadKeenan The reason Russell went alone was so he didn't have 2 suffer insults of others. Agree with U though!
Maguire_LFC: @russelltovey Thats not the only wonderful thing he has..x
nickbassett1981: @russelltovey I have seen a video of him where he also has a wonderful...erm...
SparklyB: @russelltovey I quite fancied that film, are you saying that you didn't like it? Is it more a dvd watch? :-/ x
goldstargirlie: @russelltovey Haha!! If that's what you were noticing, doesn't say much about the movie!! X
BeaStewart: @russelltovey I love that you offer a kiss after each statement. Don't ever write a novel though, it'll look like a cross stitch sampler.
GemmaOfficial: @russelltovey Colin really does have wonderful eyebrows ;-) ...I'm really glad u enjoyed them..I always do lol X #browlove
marellie: @russelltovey I haven't gone to the pix for £3 since about 1978 when I took a bag of rhubarb & custard to The Tatton and saw Grease 3 times!
bazmcstay: @russelltovey It's a little known fact that us Irish spent all our money on getting excellent eyebrows...that's where the trouble started.
Neopolitandrea: @russelltovey hahaha excellent review!
pirate_mouse: @russelltovey Colin Farrell's Eyebrows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWZeav40Ro4 :) x
RangerDeon: @russelltovey I knoooooooooow! He really does.
Boingokky: @russelltovey Now imagine him playing the vampire in the remake of "Fright Night" that is being made!!!!!!!!!!
Ash_derby: @russelltovey Is that a sneaky way of saying the film was shit lol?
Darren_Fewins: @russelltovey You wasted £3 then Russell, ah well, ;-)
Tommyboy_82: Dear Santa, For Xmas I would like to marry @russelltovey Kind Regards. P.S a tin of roses with just the orange sweets in would also be nice
Tom_In_Oz_: @russelltovey Boyd Hilton said: "London Boulevard was embargoed even after paid previews in public cinemas"
MatthewCainC4: Just boarded the plane home - finally! Hope tomorrow's report on the new Burns museum is worth all this...
Tron = norT
Boydhilton: I've learned a valuable lesson tonight: never sit in the second row for a film screening in IMAX 3D
Tom_In_Oz_: @boydhilton We saw Harry Potter in imax at Cardiff is that what you saw?
Boydhilton: @Tom_In_Oz_ no, Tron Legacy
Tom_In_Oz_: @boydhilton So by your silence I can assume it was better than paint drying but not as nice as sunshine and rainbows....my words not yours. LOL
Snowbiz!
At the suggestion of Ralph Brown for this week I'm now "Tom in Canterbury," reporting from my snug motel room. Above, this was the view from my room at 9am 30-11-2010. The county of Kent UK is covered in snow. Luckily, yesterday Mrs Oz and I got to various Sussex schools to present a talk on life in Oz but the snow started moving in about 3pm and my lecture on Lifeboats in Hastings was cancelled due to poor weather. I grew up in Oz in an alpine region where it snowed in Winter but Mrs Oz has always lived in the subtropics so for her it is a wonderful experience. Oh well, that's snowbiz!
Below: iPhone vision of my surroundings in Canterbury Kent at Midday 30-11-2010. The snow was becoming an issue as staff from nearby places were sent home.
Press play:
Grabbers update
Russell Tovey is currently working in Belfast Northern Ireland, on the movie “Grabbers” which you can read about further over on this blog – or type into the search facility at top left corner of this page. The crew were snowbound yesterday so they had to move filming schedules around to do indoor scenes. They posted a picture to show what the scene was like outside. The catering van at the back of shot was still open for business.
Kate Meyers who is working on the movie tweeted this yesterday…
29-11-2010 Forward_Films: day 1 is over. fantastic footage, dog tired crew & cast, no one lost anything to frostbite. yet.
(NB. New Zealand is a little behind the rest of the world and they are just about to broadcast series two of Being Human starring Russell Tovey. The following article is current in New Zealand),
Being Human:
Our Werewolves, Ourselves?
By: Craig Young
30th November2010
http://gaynz.com
As Being Human enters its second series on Prime Television, what better time to profile Russell Tovey, the out gay actor who plays George Sands, the series resident werewolf?
Russell was born in Essex, in 1981. If his face looks familiar, it’s because he was Rudge, a supporting character in Alan Bennett’s multimedia hit, The History Boys, about a group of incipient Oxford entrants at a British grammar school. He’s also liable to pop up in series like Ultimate Force, Ashes to Ashes and Dr Who, where he played Midshipman Alonso Frame, last seen flirting with Captain Jack Harkness in an off world pub. There’s a backstory there, given that Russell T. Davies, Doctor Who’s former executive producer fancies his namesake, who responds with coy references to George’s fan base as ‘middle aged gay men’ in interviews. Tease.
Not that this much worries Russell Tovey, as he’s out to the world, albeit a blokey gay man- which may explain why he keeps getting cast as younger straight guys…which brings us to George Sands, in Being Human, his hit series.
Now, I have no idea whether Being Human was originally written with the idea that George’s existential plight should so closely resemble our own. However, think about it. He has a secret, whose disclosure could have damaging consequences. He’s estranged from his faith of origin because of his newly discovered attribute (albeit lycanthropy and Judaism in George’s case). His sense of shame and self-hatred hampers his relationship. He’s obviously a highly intelligent man, but keeping the wolf contained means that he has had to make sacrifices. At the end of the first series, though, George has apparently integrated his two lives and ‘come out’ to Nina, his girlfriend.
It’s possible to overdo this metaphor, though. In the Being Human universe, werewolves are rarer than vampires, who are not above acts of interspecies violence, like anti-lycanthrope hate crimes. At one point, a trio of vampire hooligans beat George up, probably between full moons.
George is an ethical werewolf. He transforms either in containment chambers or in isolated woodland areas and practices safe lycanthropy, given that his condition appears to be viral in origin. Transformation is also quite painful, rather like living with HIV and the side-effects of some meds. To avoid excessive clothing bills, George has to strip naked before each transformation occurs…much to the pleasure of Russell’s many gay male and straight female fans!
There are other drawcards to this series- Aidan Turner plays Mitchell, an equally ethical vampire, who refuses to consume human blood, let alone kill humans, or deliberately turn others to vampires, alienating him from his community. Annie Sawyer (Lenora Critchlow) is a feminist ghost, whose steady empowerment takes her from being an abuse survivor in the early days of her afterlife to an empowered and visible figure. If George is meant to signify a metaphor for homosexuality, perhaps Annie is meant to similarly connote abuse survival, empowerment and recovery.
But how much of the series appeals to LGBT viewers because George’s lycanthropic life hassles so closely resemble ours?
Being Human: Wednesdays, Prime Television NZ, 9.30 p.m.
The following video is Russell Tovey discussing his werewolf transformation scenes in Being Human.
--------------------------------
NB. The following article incorrectly names Russell as Rupert Tovey
- someone forgot to do their homework -
heads will roll!
Dior unveils film for 'Lady Grey' handbag.
BY HILARY ALEXANDER
26 NOVEMBER 2010
Marion Cotillard wears Dior to a screening of 'Les Petits Mouchoirs', in Paris Photo: REX
The medium IS the message - and in this case the medium is film, or, to be more precise, the 'filmatorial'. We've had Audrey Tatou and Chanel No.5, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Tod's. Now the latest screen-style entrant is 'Lady Grey', for Dior, directed by James Cameron Mitchell, the American writer, actor and director ('Hedwig & The Angry Inch';'Rabbit Hole', with Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, due for release early next year), and starring the Oscar-winning French actress, Marion Cotillard, the award-winning Sir Ian McKellen, and the up-and-coming Rupert Tovey.
It was 'premiered' in London this morning, at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, with its star, Marion Cotillard, making what I believe is known in the trade as 'a cameo appearance', at the conclusion of the screening, in a classic grey and white Prince of Wales check Dior suit, by the British designer, John Galliano, creative director of the house.
The film is actually the fourth and final chapter in the 'Lady Dior' cinematic campaign, inspired by Galliano, and previously premiered in Paris (Lady Noire), New York (Lady Rouge) and Shanghai (Lady Blue), with a different-coloured handbag for each city. And there is a reason the final episode has landed in London: because, in Galliano's words: "London is where I began." Also, the title 'Lady Grey' reflects the iconic shade associated with the 'maison', as well as referencing London skies - particularly apt today as the capital looks as if it is covered with the kind of grey blanket which is one of the key props in the film.
It is a mysterious little feature-ette, filmed in various London locations including the Brixton Academy and The Rivington Club (and the London Eye, to mirror the advertising campaign shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott), while David Essex's 1973 hit single, 'Rock On', adds a further London dimension. The film is also pulsating with erotic tension. Cotillard is unveiled in a life-sized glass phial of red sand; McKellen is rugged-up in a wheel-chair until Cotillard whips away his rug and tenderly rolls up his trousers to reveal his socks and sock-suspenders and then ...
But I don't want to spoil it for you. It will be able to be viewed on line from December 8th.
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