Merchant Ivory Seeking New 'Heights' of Success
Hollywood Reporter
- Oct. 31st - By Ian Mohr
NEW YORK - "Heights," directed by the twentysomething Chris
Terrio, centers on a photojournalist -- played by "Seabiscuit's"
Elizabeth Banks, who also is appearing in the upcoming "Spider-Man
2" -- forced to come to terms with a complicated relationship
in her life. James Marsden (of the "X-Men" films), Jesse
Bradford ("Swimfan") and Matt Davis ("Blue Crush")
also star along with Glenn Close.
"We are supporting the young people," Merchant says as he
surveys the "Heights" crew setting up shop for the day at
the Bryant Park hotel, one of a long list of quintessential Manhattan
locations the producers have wrangled. "We want to open the doors
for people. We've gotten to move in the direction of people who have
hopes."
Although Merchant calls "Heights" an example of the "younger"
Merchant Ivory, he also is quick to point out that his company has
always worked with young talent. For example, Merchant Ivory produced
the big-screen adaptation of the 1980s postmodern boho tome "Slaves
of New York," by Tama Janowitz. "If it's a good story and
good characters, the film can be set now or in 1800," he said.
"If the story is there, you jump into it."
The Merchant Ivory brand name has put the unit in the company of Woody
Allen, John Sayles and a handful of other respected filmmakers who
can attract talent seeking legitimacy. Merchant adds that the company's
reputation also has helped with budgets as locations and vendors are
more than eager to lend their name to such a class act. The next location
for the "Heights" crew was the Vanity Fair offices, where
Merchant had arranged for Mia Farrow to take on a cameo as an editor.
Merchant and Ivory aren't abandoning their traditional niche, though.
After "Heights," they head back to more typical terrain
with "The White Countess," Kazuo Ishiguro's screenplay set
in 1930s China, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's adaptation of Peter Cameron's
"City of Your Final Destination," about an intellectual
in Uruguay.
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