News

In today’s film news roundup, the “Toy Story 4” writer signs for abortion movie “This Is Jane,” Viggo Mortensen-Masershala Ali’s “Green Book” is honored in Denver and the WGA West names its feature access honorees.

Writing Deal

Amazon Studios is moving ahead with its Michelle Williams underground abortion movie “This Is Jane,” and has signed “Toy Story 4” screenwriter Stephany Folsom to write the script, Variety has learned exclusively.

Williams came on board to star in May. “Boys Don’t Cry” director Kimberly Peirce is helming “This Is Jane,” which is backed by John Lesher’s Le Grisbi Productions. Lesher and Peter Heller are producing.

The project is based on Laura Kaplan’s book “The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service,” which follows women who provided abortion services in the years before 1973’s Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. Kaplan, who...

Two minorities, one woman and three writers age 60 and older are this year’s honorees for the WGA West’s Feature Writer Access Project, the guild’s screenwriting program for women, minority, disabled, older and Lgbtq+ writers.

Now in its sixth year, the program seeks to identify outstanding historically underrepresented writers and make their scripts available to entertainment industry decision-makers — including producers, studio executives, agents and managers — to help raise their profiles and generate potential employment opportunities.

This year’s honorees and their screenplays are:

Tara Atashgah – Under the Olive Tree

Bob Bridges – Khuska the Humble

Willie J. Hagan – The Furies

Joanna Philbin – Go Your Own Way

Peter Silverman – Herta Mansbacher

Garret Williams – Lost Dog

As part of the program, the guild hosts a series of workshops covering industry topics such as how to pitch themselves and an evening with screenwriter Michael Golamco (Please Stand By), as well as meet-and-greet mixers with development executives,...

From stoner to alien to all-American hero, Jeff Bridges immerses himself in every role. Here, his friends, co-stars and directors uncover the man behind the movies

Loyd Catlett

Stand-in, stunt double, assistant and/or actor in all Bridges's films since The Last Picture Show (1971)

I met Jeff on The Last Picture Show, which I had a small part in, and we hit it off really well during the rehearsal period and started hanging out together. He was trying to polish his southern accent for the film, so he was taking his cue from mine. I stayed in Los Angeles after we finished looping, and started pursuing an acting career. One day, while talking with Jeff on the phone, I mentioned that there weren't any parts coming my way; he suggested, since he was going to Europe to start a film, perhaps he could help if I was interested in being a stand-in for him.

2010 Best Actor Academy Award-winner Jeff Bridges.

Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Jeff Bridges for finally getting his props with last night's win for "Crazy Heart"! He's now officially lost the title of "Most Underrated Actor of His Generation." In the spirit of Jeff's victory, we at The Interview thought it appropriate to share this article, which originally appeared in the July 1999 issue of Venice Magazine. Enjoy, and well-done, Jeff!

Building Bridges

By

Alex Simon

Jeff Bridges is arguably the most underrated great American actor since the late Robert Ryan. A performer of incredible range, whose myriad of characterizations over the past 30 years leave the filmgoer with a continued sense of awe and admiration, Bridges' refusal to fit a mold on-screen might be the very thing that has kept him from becoming a conventional movie star. It's also the thing that has kept his work so fascinating, and so brilliant.

Born...