Elizabeth Banks goes out on ‘Ledge’ to try action


LOS ANGELES — With her sparkling blue eyes, blond hair and model-like body, it would be easy to dismiss Elizabeth Banks as just another pretty Hollywood actress.

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Matt Sayles/AP

Elizabeth Banks arrives at the premiere of “Man on a Ledge” Monday in Los Angeles. The movie opened in theaters Friday.

It only takes a few seconds of talking about her latest movie, “Man on a Ledge,” to realize she’s a driven, determined and realistic person when it comes to the career she’s selected.

“I just figured out that you don’t get what you don’t ask for. All they can do is say no. If you know that going in, then that’s all right,” Banks says.

That’s why Banks went after action-movie roles when good comedy roles dried up. She landed the serious role of police negotiator Lydia Mercer in “Man on a Ledge,” playing opposite Sam Worthington.

Filming was done on a set 8 feet off the ground and on a real 27th-floor ledge. Banks never balked at doing any of the stunts, including climbing onto the real ledge.

“One of the real fun things about this film was everyone’s commitment for shooting it for real. It was one of the reasons I wanted to do it. I liked the idea of running around with a gun, chasing bad guys and doing my own stunt work,” Banks says.

Banks doesn’t have a fear of heights, but she has what she calls a “fear of human error.” She praises the “Ledge” stunt team, but still checked her harness 15 times.

Banks wasn’t merely motivated by the action. Her character carries personal and professional baggage. “This character felt very authentic to me,” she says. “I also liked (that) the role felt gender-neutral. It didn’t matter she was a woman. I think it added something to it that she’s female and clearly they wanted a little romance.”

Banks, best known for lighter projects like “Scrubs” and “30 Rock,” doesn’t plan to permanently trade laughs for fights and felons. She wishes there were more comedy roles, and she realized after seeing last year’s comedy dry spell that good ones are rare.

She’s trying to create more funny movies through her own production company.

“I have a production company because this is the only job I know and this is the only career I have and the only industry I have worked in. … Why wouldn’t I produce? Great ideas can come from anywhere. I love storytelling. … I believe that’s what actors do,” she says. “But as an actor, you come into the process last. All I get to do in this film is play Lydia Mercer and I don’t even control that because they edit. … As a producer, I get to tell stories that I care about in a way that I want to.”


Elizabeth Banks joins musical cast

 Elizabeth Banks and Paul Reubens have joined the star-studded cast of the upcoming satire “Frank or Francis,” The Hollywood Reporter said.


Banks, who stars in the current release “Man on a Ledge,” and Reubens join Nicholas Cage, Jack Black and Kevin Kline in the story of the battle of wills between an art-house film director named Frank and Francis, a snarky blogger who lives with his parents.


Banks’ role is that of an actress who bombs in a shallow comedy directed by Frank, played by Steve Carell.


Reubens, known best for his television alter-ego Pee Wee Herman, plays a film critic.


The Reporter said in its exclusive story the Charles Kaufman film is being produced by Anthony Bergman.

Elizabeth Banks and Paul Reubens Board Charlie Kaufman’s ‘Frank or Francis’

Posted on Monday, January 30th, 2012 by Angie Han

Starting with Being John Malkovich, Charlie Kaufman‘s scripts have generally attracted top-level talent, and a quick glance at the cast list indicates that Frank or Francis will be no exception. Elizabeth Banks and Paul Reubens have just become the latest additions to Kaufman’s Hollywood-skewering musical satire, joining Steve CarellJack Black, Nicolas Cage, Catherine Keener, and Kevin Kline. Read more after the jump.

Kaufman’s latest revolves around Frank (Carell), a pretentious filmmaker, and Francis (Black), a popular movie blogger/commentor who takes pleasure in viciously ripping apart Frank’s work online but leads a lonely existence living with his mom offline. Banks is set to play a well-liked actress making comedic stinkers and having an affair with Frank. Herman has been cast as an old-fashioned film critic.

As previously reported, Cage will star as an actor/comedian on the decline, while Kline will play dual roles as the director of the world’s top-grossing film as well as the director’s brother-turned-animatronic head. Keener’s role has not been revealed at this time, though for what it’s worth, female roles outlined in an earlier draft of the script included Frank’s wife, Francis’ love interest, and “a Romanian waitress and two talking ghost-like thumbs who have a Romanian political agenda.” Despite the story that circulated last week, The Hollywood Reporter now confirms that Kate Winslet will not be involved with the project.

The very busy Banks currently stars in Man on a Ledge, and will next appear in March’s The Hunger Games. She’s got another three films lined up for 2012 beyond that: What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Movie 43, and Alex Kurtzman’s Welcome to People. Reubens was most recently seen in Todd Solondz’ Life During Wartime, and is developing a new Pee-wee Herman movie at Universal with Judd Apatow producing. Frank or Francis marks Kaufman’s second directorial effort, after 2008′s Synecdoche, New York.

Why Was Rumer Willis Hanging Out With Glenn Close?

Annie Starke, Rumer Willis Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Rumer Willis spent a good chunk of the weekend hitting the town with Glenn Close.

But not really in the way she has been known to do with her mom, Demi Moore.

Willis and the Albert Nobbs Oscar nominee not only had dinner together on Saturday night in West Hollywood, but they were also spotted last night at People magazine’s SAG Awards after party and later at Chateau Marmont.

Turns out that…

READ: Demi Moore: “She’s Doing Great,” Says Director Pal

Willis is pals with Close’s daughter, Annie Starke, who was also with them for the festivities.

The two became close last year when they did a month-long run costarring in the Off-Broadway hit, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, in New York City.

Back in October, Starke tweeted that she and Willis “went to the most ridiculous bar ever.”

“It involved flying oompa loompas,” she wrote, referring to the live entertainment of Beacher’s Madhouse at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

A couple of days later, Starke tweeted Willis a photo of a Chihuahua.

Most recently, just a day before Moore was rushed to a hospital, a mutual friend tweeted them, “Dinner soon.”

Starke responded, “I’m in. Name the time and the place lady.”

Dinner and a party or two? Sounds perfect to us.

Especially if you’re hoping to get your mind off of things for a while.

PHOTOS: Famous Families

Demi Moore’s daughter ‘witnessed collapse’

Moore, 49, is thought to have suffered a seizure after inhaling nitrous oxide – commonly known as laughing gas – and “smoking something” while hosting a dinner party at her home in Los Angeles.

Emergency services were called after guests found her barely conscious on the floor, convulsing, shaking and “burning up”.

Demi Moore’s daughter Rumer Willis is now believed to have also been at the house while her mother suffered the episode.

In 911 recordings of the incident, a man can be heard calling: “Hey Rue. What’s the name at the gate so that we can buzz them in from here?”

Any mention of the type of drug or medication was redacted from emergency recordings before its release, but somebody was heard telling the operator: “She smoked something. It’s not marijuana, but it’s similar to incense.”

Miss Willis, who uses the nickname Rue on her Twitter page, has been spending more time with her mother since she separated from Ashton Kutcher last year, following claims of his infidelity.

A friend of the 23 year-old told People magazine: “Rumer’s spent more time with her mum in the last few months that she has in a while.”

Miss Willis was recently photographed outside the Sherman Oaks Hospital in Los Angeles, where her mother is still recovering from what her representatives say is “exhaustion”.

Rumer Willis Steps Out for Dinner and SAG Party in Los Angeles

Rumer Willis Steps Out for Dinner and SAG Party in Los Angeles | Glenn Close, Rumer Willis From left: Rumer Willis, Annie Starke and Glenn Close on Jan. 28

GSI Media

Rumer Willis isn’t letting family drama slow her down.

Following Demi Moore’s hospitalization last week and decision to seek professional treatment for exhaustion, her daughter – and frequent party companion – was in full social mode, enjoying a busy weekend out and about in Los Angeles.


On Saturday night, Willis, 23 – who was apparently on hand when Moore’s friends called 911 after the actress had an apparent seizure – stepped out for dinner at Comme Ça, joined by her friend Annie Starke, Annie’s mother Glenn Close and Close’s husband David Shaw.


Seated at a table in the front of the restaurant, the four ordered cocktails, clinked glasses and chatted. Rumer seemed happy and cheerful at times, but also sometimes looked concerned as though she were telling a serious story. Rumer held on tightly to her phone throughout the entire meal and frequently became engrossed in typing on it.


Rumer seemed “fine” an observer told PEOPLE. “She was sweet.” The party of four “were all very gracious the whole time,” the observer added.


Willis, Starke and Close spent Sunday evening together as well, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards gala at the Shrine Auditorium, where Willis and Starke roamed the party and sipped champagne. They seemed particularly interested in checking out Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, making their way to the couple’s area and watching as they were escorted out of the party.


Before making her exit, Rumer stopped to hug pal Mark Salling and got a kiss on the cheek from the Glee actor. And Willis kept the party going, ending her night at West Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont.

Rumer Willis Attends SAG Awards 2012 Official After Party

Rumer Willis didn’t want to miss out on the SAG 2012 celebrations and so she reportedly snuck into the official after party over the weekend.


According to Us Weekly, the 23-year-old actress was a part of the official after party for the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards that was held in a tent outside the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.


An observer told the celebrity mag that Rumer Willis kept a low profile and that she didn’t want anyone at to see her.


“Rumer was like an apparition — she just slipped in with a friend and then was gone,” a SAG 2012 partygoer told Us Weekly. “She looked like she was walking on eggshells…She was just weaving through the crowd.”


Rumer Willis’ mother Demi Moore was hospitalized last week, after experience seizure-like symptoms and falling semi-unconscious. Reports were that the 49-year-old actress inhaled nitrous oxide or did “whip-its.”


Us Weekly reported that speculations are that Rumer Willis was among those who were present at Moore’s home last Monday when the shocking 911 was made. Moore suffered “convulsions” after she “smoked something,” a female caller told the emergency dispatcher.

Rumer Willis Parties While Mom Demi Moore Seeks Treatment

 

Rumer Willis ended the week on a high note, hitting up Hollywood parties Sunday night, just days after her mother Demi Moore was rushed to the hospital, and RadarOnline.com has the photos of her all glammed up for the night.


With her auburn hair stylishly curled, the 23-year-old daughter of Demi and Bruce Willis, went to the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards after party at the Chateau Marmont in a long black dress and black overcoat.

PHOTOS: Rumer Willis Gets Her Party On


As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Rumer was apparently in the house when her mother had a seizure on January 23 and 9-1-1 was called for an ambulance to help the 49-year-old actress. 


Rumer and her mother were spotted out recently partying in Hollywood, just days before Demi was admitted to the hospital after “smoking something” and “having convulsions.”


PHOTOS: Ashton Catches Bruno Mars Show As Demi’s Rushed To The Hospital


The dutiful daughter looked like she put aside her family drama for the evening and enjoyed a fun night out with friends in Hollywood.


Rumer and her mother are very close and have appeared in two films together, Now and Then and Striptease back in the 90s.


PHOTOS: Demi Moore Scary Skinny


Demi is reportedly seeking treatment for substance abuse and anorexia. Concerned friends have said that she is taking the prescription drug Adderall and isn’t eating.

Rumer Willis Sneaks Into SAGs Party a Week After Mom Demi Moore’s Hospitalization

Rumer Willis definitely didn’t want to be the belle of the ball on Sunday night.

Less than a week after her mom Demi Moore‘s terrifying hospitalization, the actress, 23, snuck into the official after party for the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards held in a tent outside the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

PHOTOS: How Demi got scary skinny as her life unraveled

The star was “keeping a crazy low profile,” an observer confirms to Us Weekly. “She definitely didn’t want anyone to see her.”

No wonder. It’s been widely speculated that Rumer was among those present at her 49-year-old mom’s home last Monday when frantic pals called 911. (At one point during the call, one woman seems to call out Rumer’s nickname “Ru.”) Newly single since her painful split from Ashton Kutcher last November, Moore suffered “convulsions” and after she “smoked something,” a female caller informed a 911 dispatcher on the chilling tape.

AUDIO: Hear the 911 call

“Rumer was like an apparition — she just slipped in with a friend and then was gone,” the SAGs reveler says. “She looked like she was walking on eggshells…She was just weaving through the crowd.”

Rumer (the eldest of three daughters Moore has with ex-husband Bruce Willis) had been her mom’s frequent party pal out and about in Hollywood in the weeks leading up to Moore’s medical — and emotional — crisis.

PHOTOS: Star meltdowns

“Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health,” her rep said last Tuesday.

Rumer Willis — I’m Ready to Party Again

Rumer Willis at the Chateau MarmontRumer Willis returned to the Hollywood party scene last night … slinking into a SAG Awards after-party just 6 days after her mother partied her way into the hospital last week.


Rumer — who was at her mom’s home when Demi went into a semi-conscious, convulsive state last Monday — was seen entering the legendary Chateau Marmont hotel on the Sunset Strip last night … by herself.


As we previously reported, Rumer and Demi had been partying together in Hollywood just 2 weeks before Demi’s medical emergency.


We’re told Demi is still receiving treatment for substance abuse.