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If I see one more article or one more video talking about Keanu gaining weight, I will boycott those websites!!!
My slogan is Respect = Respect and I don’t agree to post arcticles/pictures/videos where people talk about Mr. Reeves gaining weight instead of talking about his good and hard work. So this is the first and last video from x17online I am posting here …
Feel free to agree, or not, I don’t care!
Keanu went to Cannes to promote his movie Man of Tai Chi and to announce the “official” release date, and it makes me angry that, everywhere on internet, the only thing people do is writing articles on his weight instead of saying great things on his movie.
Special message for Mr. Reeves in case he is visiting MY FANSITE (fingers crossed):
Please don’t read all those silly things people say about your look, only read articles of www.keanulover.wordpress.com here, where your fans don’t care about your look, your private life, your family but only care about your great movies and can’t wait for “Man of Tai Chi”.
This was my today’s 50 cents on this subject …
Cali
PS: many thanks to Vic’s News Desk (LOL) for sending links, pix, vids, news and … so much support to Miss Cali, the new working girl (heeheehee)
‘Man Of Tai Chi,’ Keanu Reeves’ Directorial Debut, Receives Distribution Deal At Cannes
It looks like Keanu Reeves will be able to fulfill his own post-”Matrix” prophecy, as The Weinstein Company’s Radius-TWC has acquired the rights to his directorial debut, “Man of Tai Chi.” The deal was inked at the Cannes Film Festival, where coveted distribution deals are commonplace. Deadline.com reports that the offer involves a “low seven-figure minimum guarantee.”
From Independent.co.uk: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/man-of-tai-chi-keanu-reeves-directorial-debut-a-contemporary-kung-fu-film-snapped-up-at-cannes-8626761.html “As an actor you are concerned with your role, you are concerned with your story,” he told AP. “The director’s side is much more other, it is looking out. … The first day I just didn’t quite have it. It wasn’t pleasurable.” Reeves also stars in the film, which is in both English and Cantonese, and which he describes as “a contemporary Kung Fu film”. The actor/director said he became inspired after working closely with a martial arts specialist called Chen Hu when making The Matrix franchise. “[Chen Hu] is who the story is based around. He has a traditional past, he was a young person, Tai Chi champion, National Chinese champion,” Reeves said. “On the other hand, he is also a stunt man who has worked in Beijing and Hong Kong and Hollywood. He has gone out into the world.”
Radius will release the film in the fourth quarter of 2013. Co-presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego confirmed the deal to Deadline, and issued this statement: “Keanu has done a terrific job with Man Of Tai Chi, which features some of the most kick ass fight scenes we’ve seen in a long time. Tiger Chen, Iko Uwais and a whole ensemble of hard hitting badasses deliver the goods.”
Said Reeves: “I could not hope for a better home than Radius-TWC for Man Of Tai Chi. Their passion, understanding and support of the film is what a filmmaker wishes for in bringing their storytelling to the widest possible audience.” Deal was made by Weinstein Company COO David Glasser and Quinn and Janego, who all negotiated the deal with CAA.
From Independent.co.uk:
“Man of Tai Chi,” which had its trailer debut online last month, is set in modern-day Beijing. The movie depicts the story of a martial-arts aficionado who takes his tai chi skills to an underworld fight club. Reeves plays the villain who forces people to fight to their death.
Michael G. Cooney, whose previous work mostly includes short films and video games, wrote the script for the movie, which Radius-TWC plans to release in the fourth quarter of 2013. “Tai Chi” co-stars Iko Uwais (“The Raid”), Karen Mok (“Around the World in 80 Days”) and Jeremy Marinas, who did stunt work in “The Hunger Games” and “The Expendables.”
Reeves other martial-arts movie, “Ronin 47,” about 18th-century Japanese samurai, will hit theaters on Christmas Day.
Keanu Reeves at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes on May 20th, 2013
MY FAVOURITE PICTURE: no beard, long hair, definitely my favourite look (same as in The Watcher)
Don’t change anything Mr. Reeves, you’re simply the best! You can rest now, stay at home in June. We will promote your movie “Man of Tai Chai” for you so that in July, everybody will go see it and I will surely be the first one in front of the door when it will be released in Belgium.
Lemore Syvan, who worked with Reeves on The Private Lives Of Pippa Lee and Henry’s Crime, said the task of making the movie happen was “daunting.” Despite Reeves’ status, “it was a first-time director and a Chinese movie. We got turned down a lot.” But CFG embraced the filmmakers, Syvan says.
CFG VP Zhang Qiang cancelled his attendance at the press conference today after cutting short his trip in the wake of a robbery that emptied his hotel room last week. Instead, a statement was read off for him. Noting the increase in the market share for local pics, and the decrease in Hollywood’s dominance, he said via proxy, “Audiences are tired of seeing movies that rely only on effects but do not appeal to them on a content level.” He added that CFG “will put everything we have into distributing” Man Of Tai Chi in China. It releases there July 5 and rolls out internationally in the fall with VRPA taking Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and Universal the rest of the world including the U.S.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 20: Director and actor Keanu Reeves attends the photocall for ‘The Man of Tai Chi’ at The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2013 in Cannes, France
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 20: Director and actor Keanu Reeves attends the photocall for ‘The Man of Tai Chi’ at The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 20: Director and actor Keanu Reeves attends the photocall for ‘The Man of Tai Chi’ at The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)
“… China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang had all of his luggage stolen from his rented Cote d’Azur apartment, leading the senior exec to tweet: “This film festival is not worth mentioning!”
China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang canceled plans to preside over a press conference on Monday with Keanu Reeves for the actor’s directorial debut Man of Tai Chi after all of his possessions were stolen from his rented apartment at Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach Residence.
•Cannes Film Festival 2013
The senior executive first exposed the burglary in a post on his official Weibo account (China’s version of Twitter) on May 16, saying that he got back to his apartment after dinner to find his door ajar and all of his luggage gone…”
I already heard at the news that a 100 000 euros neckless has been stolen and now robbers are steeling luggage. Unbeleivable! What’s going on in Cannes??? Come on Cannes Felstival Security, wake up! Don’t you have enough security guards and policemen in France or what ???
“The latest tale of thievery to surface here in Cannes after last week’s $1M jewelry heist, involves China Film Group vice-president Zhang Qiang whose luggage was reportedly stolen from his hotel room. The incident has had the knock on effect of canceling his participation in a press conference scheduled for tomorrow for Keanu Reeves’ directorial effort Man Of Tai Chi. I’m told the Man Of Tai Chi press conference will still be held with Reeves and producer Lemore Syvan in attendance, but that Zhang will not be there. The movie is a co-production between China Film Group, Wanda Media, Village Road Show Pictures, Universal Pictures and Company Films.”
Un cinéaste chinois se fait cambrioler à Cannes, la police française se montre peu efficace
Le 16 mai, jour même de l’ouverture du Festival de Cannes, le vice-président de la China Film Group Corporation Zhang Qiang a fait part sur son microblog de son expérience malheureuse à Cannes : « Je séjournais à la résidence Pierre & Vacances quand hier, à mon retour du dîner, j’ai trouvé la porte de ma chambre forcée et tous mes bagages avaient disparu. L’hôtel se montrait indifférent à tout cela, me disant d’avertir la police moi-même et refusant de venir constater l’infraction dans ma chambre. La direction s’est contentée de me proposer de changer la serrure. Voilà ce que j’ai vécu personnellement à Cannes, dans ce haut lieu du tourisme français. Comment peut-on encore avoir envie de participer à un festival de cinéma organisé dans une ville qui n’assure pas correctement la sécurité publique et qui fait preuve d’une telle arrogance ?! »
À Paris comme à Cannes, les cas de vols et de racket de touristes chinois sont nombreux. Le problème de la sécurité publique est en train de détruire l’image romantique de la France.
Mauvaise sécurité publique, embouteillages importants et vols ; l’équipe chinoise de tennis de table, venue participer aux Championnats du monde, n’a pas été plus chanceuse à Paris, une ville pourtant connue pour son romantisme.
L’équipe chinoise de tennis de table séjournait dans un hôtel près de la Porte de Bagnolet, dans le nord-est de Paris. Reliant la banlieue nord et la ville de Paris, ce quartier considéré comme à hauts risques est souvent le théâtre de vols et de cambriolages. Certaines sources ont rapporté que le 14 mai, M. Huang Biao, capitaine de l’équipe chinoise de tennis de table, s’est vu dérober son iPhone 5 alors qu’il se rendait avec plusieurs membres de l’équipe vers un restaurant situé à proximité de l’hôtel. Huang a précisé que le voleur était certainement très habile car celui-ci a agit très rapidement et qu’aucune personne du groupe ne s’en est aperçu.
Wang Liqin et Rao Jingwen, les n º1 du double mixte, devaient se rendre pour un match dans le stade principal à 10h, dans la matinée du 15 mai. Or à 9h, alors que leurs adversaires polonais avaient déjà commencé leurs exercices d’échauffement, ont attendait toujours Wang Liqin et Rao Jingwen. Finalement, les deux joueurs sont arrivés dans la précipitation vers 9h30 : à cause des embouteillages, ils ont mis plus d’une heure et demie à faire un trajet qui ne prend qu’un quart d’heure en temps normal.
Dans son microblog, M. Zhang Qiang a averti ses compatriotes chinois qui envisagent de partir pour la France que la sécurité publique était vraiment catastrophique ces derniers temps en France. Le travail de la police française étant peu efficace selon lui, il conseille de faire très attention en marchant dans la rue – en se méfiant particulièrement des personnes issues de minorités ethniques , d’éviter d’utiliser son portable dans la rue et dans le métro, et de fermer sa porte à clef la nuit dans les hôtels. Il conseille même de barrer la porte avec une chaise ou tout autre objet pouvant remplir ce rôle.
Keanu Reeves arriving in Cannes on May 19, 2013
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 19: Actor Keanu Reeves is seen leaving the ‘Odessa’ yacht in the Cannes harbour during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 19: Actor Keanu Reeves is seen leaving the ‘Odessa’ yacht in the Cannes harbour during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2013 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic)
Maybe this is where Mr. Reeves will be: Palais K at 4:00 PM “New Chinese Talents”
“Yet those who come in search of real glitz and style may not be disappointed. Helicopters still lift above the big yachts in the bay, bringing in the rich and famous. There may be a McDonald’s on the quay now, but there are still authentic old men playing boules in front of it.
For the thousands of tourists who arrive to check whether the stars they see on screen really exist, there is a chance of spotting Watson, Mulligan and her co-star Justin Timberlake, or even Nicole Kidman, who sits on Steven Spielberg’s jury panel and was paraded yesterday by producer Harvey Weinstein as the star of his film about the late Queen of the Riviera, Grace of Monaco.
There are intriguing oddities, too. Tomorrow, Keanu Reeves flies in to promote his new martial arts film Man of Tai Chi.”
There is a rumour on internet saying that Keanu Reeves “might be” in Cannes on May 20, 2013 BUT, I checked the whole Festival Program and the Documentary list (just in case of a Side by Side or Generation Um screening) and didn’t find anything on Mr. Reeves nor on his documentary nor on Man of Tai Chi … so … wait and see
Cutting Edge Group and Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road have reached slate financing deal under which CEG will advance funds for Thunder Road to develop upcoming projects. Deal was announced Friday at Cannes. The CEG funds will be secured against Thunder Road’s forthcoming film music slate.
First project covered under the pact is action-thriller “John Wick”set to shoot this September and starring Keanu Reeves. The slate will also inclue a remake of the French crime film “Gang Story” with Liam Neeson starring, “Safe House” director Daniel Espinosa helming and David Scarpa writing the script.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Chen Hu / / Karen / Yu Hai / Ye Qing / Simon Yam
Genre: Drama / Action / Adventure / Martial Arts
Producer countries / regions: U.S. / China
Language: English / Mandarin
Release date: 2013-06 (China)
Tai Chi Xia Synopsis · · · · · ·
Chen Hu said, “Tai Chi Man,” directed by Keanu Reeves himself, and invited him to star in the male lead in the film. Chen Hu said, “Tai Chi Man” script has been completed, a modern drama, the story will focus on “Tai Chi” expand.
Film industry network open class Special courses: Alai China General Manager - Liu forest and Keanu Reeves talk about the impact of digital cinematography film: online interview! This was filmed on Aprill 22, 2013 during the Beijing International Film Festival.
Mr. Reeves and Mr. Liu had an in-depth discussion on the use of digital photography technology progress and ALEXA camera experience.
The film and television industry network open class also hope to share the contents of this activity to the vast number of film and television practitioners friends ARRI Chinese companies authorized to do so, its essence, made into a special open class for our people! This open class is expected on Wednesday on-line [open class] Channel , so stay tuned !
Side by Side: DVD Review and release date in the U.K. for DVD on May 13
Join American-Canadian actor Keanu Reeves and a host of high profile directors for Christopher Kenneally’s well-reviewed documentary Side by Side (2012), a fascinating, behind-the-scenes tour of the past, present and future of filmmaking and into a masterclass on the magic of the movies. To celebrate the long-awaited DVD release of Kenneally’s must-see doc, we’ve kindly been provided with THREE DVD copies of Side by Side to give away to our valued readers, courtesy of UK distributor Axiom Films. This is an exclusive competition for our Facebook and Twitter fans, so if you haven’t already, ‘Like’ us at facebook.com/CineVueUK or follow us @CineVue before answering the question below. For over 100 years, photo chemical film has been the standard format used to capture, develop, project and store movie images. Now, digital technology is challenging film’s place as the gold standard for quality and longevity. With the aid of some of the some of the world’s most talented filmmakers and technicians including James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh, and many more, Kenneally’s Side by Side dares to pose the ultimate question: is film dead, and if so, what’s the future?
To be in with a chance of winning one of THREE DVD copies of Side by Side, just answer the following simple question: What is the title of Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut?
a) 47 Ronin
b) Bill & Ted 3
c) Man of Tai Chi
To enter, simply fill out the contact form below with your name, email address, subject (‘Side by Side’), answer and postal address.*
*Please note that this is a special competition which only our Facebook and Twitter fans will be eligible to win. If you are not on our Facebook ‘Like’ list, then you can easily join us by following this link: facebook.com/CineVueUK and/or follow us on Twitter @CineVue. Side by Side is available to own on DVD from Monday 13 May, courtesy of Axiom Films.
The competition closes at 6pm on Thursday 16 May, 2013.
The arts, specifically the music and film industries, have perhaps been the most profoundly impacted of all industry by the digital revolution. Canadian superstar Keanu Reeves felt passionately about exploring the impact that digital had on the movie business and so he engaged several of his fellow filmmaker to create the impressive documentary SIDE BY SIDE, which has graced film festival screens around the world.
From the film’s website: “The documentary investigates the history, process and workflow of both digital and photochemical film creation. We show what artists and filmmakers have been able to accomplish with both film and digital and how their needs and innovations have helped push filmmaking in new directions. Interviews with directors, cinematographers, colorists, scientists, engineers and artists reveal their experiences and feelings about working with film and digital — where we are now, how we got here and what the future may bring.” Justin Szlasa co-produced the critically-acclaimed feature documentary with Keanu Reeves. SIDE BY SIDE chronicles the way digital technology has revolutionized how movies are made through interviews with industry leaders like George Lucas, James Cameron, Lars Von Trier, Walter Murch and David Lynch.
On the evening of Monday, May 13, Mr. Szlasa will be on hand to kick off CDMN Canada 3.0 2013 with a screening of the film, followed by a Q&A with sponsor TVO’s commissioning editor, Jane Jankovic.
PBS ANNOUNCES SUMMER SEASON OF CAPTIVATING PROGRAMMING
– Season Highlights Include New Episodes of Popular Series and Specials,
the Return of A Capitol Fourth and Independent Films –
THIS AUGUST ON PBS
Primetime in August spotlights two new MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! productions (one a modern legal drama, the other a new look at a Hitchcock classic) and two independent films from the series POV, along with several new specials. The comprehensive three-part series THE LIFE OF MUHAMMAD traces the often-misunderstood religious leader, and SIDE BY SIDE, with Keanu Reeves, provides an enthralling look at technological advances in the film industry. In addition, PBS will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington with a multi-platform campaign to be announced at a later date.
“SIDE BY SIDE This new special, hosted and co-produced by film star Keanu Reeves, investigates the history, process and workflow of both digital and photochemical film creation. Reeves gets an insider’s perspective on the industry’s most basic delivery system, marveling at what artists have accomplished with emulsion film and digital pixels, and exploring how their needs and innovations have helped push filmmaking in new directions. Friday, August 30, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET”
Google translation: (sorry no time to translate – Cali)
Keanu Reeves directed tube and starring action giant system “Tai Chi Man” is not only Hollywood Wu refers to Chen Hu starring backstage, also attracted Hong Kong star Karen Mok, Simon Yam, Michael Tong, Sam Lee, as well as Asian Lord of the Dance “Yoo Seung Jun effort to join. It is reported that, the all Gangxing Force to the host Crime Unit, led by Keanu Reeves underground black boxing organizations staged a “cat and mouse”, Simon Yam walk “Infernal Affairs”. In addition, Yoo Seung Jun in the film exhibition explosive muscular body type, and will show black boxing brutal war.
Gangster the specialized households Simon Yam walk “Infernal Affairs”
Simon Yam Hong Kong Film Awards winner crown since 1987 filming of the movie works, most often plays the role of “gang Gangster, and some even give him known as the” gang Gangster specialized households “in the title. This time, in Keanu Reeves directed the film “Tai Chi Man”, his dress suit handsome appearance, starred in the Force to the host Crime Unit of the big boss, but the stills is not difficult to see his brow cunning, deceit state . It is reported that this time Simon Yam gorgeous walk in the Tai Chi “Infernal Affairs”, the “underground black boxing organizations the investigation of cases fall into heavy fog. Simon Yam own Keanu Reeves movies sincerity touched, very happy to be able starred in his directorial debut works and their performances make the audience said in an interview.
The critical muscle handsome Seung Jun hanging by a black fist first-line
Korean idol has a “Lord of the Dance” said Yoo Seung Jun muscles is particularly noticeable in the the film side before released stills. In recent years, Yoo Seung Jun gradually shifted from pop music to film development, took part in a “Private Game”, “tough guy 2: fight in the end,” Zodiac “and many other films. In the movie “Tai Chi Man”, the role played by Yoo Seung Jun is a living playing underground black boxing boxer, because can not bear to maim opponents and brutally killed by the boss. Chen Hu laugh like Yoo Seung Jun’s role in the film “Tai Chi” Another brutal ending. According to another film martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping introduction: “Design martial arts Seung Jun, fully integrated with his own body type characteristics, and strive to highlight the muscles, so that each action to show his muscle sense and a sense of power.”
Hong Kong movie star gathered in the Force to the host Crime Unit staged a “cat and mouse”
It is reported that the film “Tai Chi Man,” in addition to the effort to join the invited Yoo Seung Jun, Simon Yam, also attracted Michael Tong, Sam Lee, many viewers are familiar with Hong Kong actor participating in the exercise. Their role in the film is the same as the Hong Kong Police, but unique personal characteristics, the Force to the host of the Regional Crime Unit and led by Keanu Reeves the underground black boxing tissue match wits, into a “cat mouse game, often in the upcoming hunt is successful because of the behind from the obstruction of a deadlock. Keanu Reeves on the performances of the stars, film director also praised Canada, he said: “Everyone worked very hard and pay a lot,” Tai Chi Man “film, every actor would like to thank the film performances. “
the Canadian Digital Media Network (CDMN) announced the largest ever international contingent attending Canada 3.0. The annual conference brings together business and government leaders from the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Norway, and across Canada.
‘SIDE BY SIDE’ FILM SCREENING CDMN has also opened free public registration for the Canadian premiere of SIDE by SIDE, a film produced by Keanu Reeves that documents the science, art and impact of digital cinema through interviews with Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh, George Lucas and more. The screening will be held on the evening of Monday, May 13 at the Scotiabank Theatre and acts as a kick-off to CDMN’s Canada 3.0 2013. Sponsored by TVO, the film will be followed by a live Q&A with the film’s co-producer Justin Szlasa. You do not have to be registered for Canada 3.0 to attend the screening. Seating is limited, so those interested are encouraged to register today.
Keanu Reeves (‘47 Ronin,’ ‘The Matrix’) has been set as the lead in the revenge action flick ‘John Wick,’ according to Screen Daily.
Penned by Derek Kolstad, the plot centres on “a former hitman whose killer instincts are reawakened after a thug steals his 1969 Ford Mustang and in the process kills the dog given to him by his late wife. Wick tracks the man to New York, where the thug’s father, a crime boss, puts a bounty on his head.”
Second unit directors/stunt coordinators David Leitch and Chad Stahelski are attached to make their directorial debut with Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk producing.
Reeves is currently putting the finishing touches on his directorial debut ‘Man of Tai Chi,’ a martial arts-styled action drama starring Tiger Hu Chen (‘Kung Fu Man,’ ‘House of Fury’) and Iko Uwais (‘The Raid’).
Exclusive Media has picked up international rights to “Passengers”, the sci-fi romance starring Keanu Reeves and now Reese Witherspoon that Game Of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire director Brian Kirk is directing in his major feature film debut. Wayfare Entertainment is financing and producing the pic from a script by Prometheus scribe Jon Spaihts. The story follows a spacecraft transporting thousands of people to a distant colony planet that has a malfunction in one of its sleep chambers. As a result, a single passenger (Reeves) is awakened 90 years before anyone else. Faced with the prospect of growing old and dying alone, he eventually decides to wake up a second passenger (Witherspoon), marking the beginning of what becomes a unique love story. The script was developed by Stephen Hamel and Reeves at their production shingle Company Films. Hamel will produce the pic with Wayfare CEO Ben Browning. Start Media’s Michael Maher and Lynwood Spinks will executive produce. CAA is repping domestic rights to the pic.
The long-gestating Keanu Reeves sci-fi project has resurfaced at Exclusive Media with the additional star wattage of Reese Witherspoon. President of international sales and distribution Alex Walton will introduce in Cannes.
Wayfare Entertainment is financing the sci-fi romance and will produce with Company Films. Production is scheduled for January 2014 after Exclusive Media’s president of worldwide production and acquisitions Tobin Armbrust brought in the project. Brian Kirk will direct the story of a man on board a colony-bound craft who awakens from his cryogenic sleep long before he is supposed to and wakes up a second passenger for company. Prometheus screenwriter Jon Spaihts wrote the screenplay, which made the 2007 Black List. James Robinson’s Morgan Creek brought Passengers to the Cannes market several years ago as a $90m epic and it subsequently fell through. Stephen Hamel and Wayfare CEO Ben Browning are producing. Hamel and Reeves developed the project through their production house Company Films. Michael Maher and Lynwood Spinks of Wayfare parent company Start Media will serve as executive producers.
Keanu Reeves attends the GenArt Presents ‘Generation Um…’ Powered By CIROC Vodka at ArcLight Hollywood on May 2, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/WireImage)
How did you get involved with this film? We haven’t seen you in awhile.
“I found out about this script when I was making Henry’s Crime. The producer, Alison [Palmer], was working on that picture and she showed me a script and I was like, ‘This is amazing.’ After that, I’ve been away a couple of years working on another movie. So that’s why I haven’t been around. I also did a documentary called Side by Side, that took some time, and I was working on 47 Ronin, which hasn’t come out yet. And I was directing a film called Man of Tai Chi.”
What does the title, Generation Um… mean?
“It’s not just a decade generation or something like that. It’s X, it’s Y, it’s now, it’s the past. If anything, it’s all about the moment. And in this moment there’s an ellipsis, there’s an ‘um’ and there’s the word ‘generation.’ And I think it’s asking a question. It’s asking for interpretation, which is a kind of connection. And I think the characters in the film are seeking to connect but are damaged and have circumstance.”
What was it like to play a director, and be one at the same time?
“John gets to ask a couple of questions, but he’s dealing with some pretty wild lions in these two ladies. I think that’s one of the problems, he has one intention and the character, Violet, says, ‘Let’s make this a show! It’s my show!’ And John says, ‘Okay, so what is your show? What is friendship?’ He goes on an expedition investigating their apartment. As we were acting a scene, another part of me was like, ‘Okay, this is a really important line for this character, so make sure the headroom’s okay.’”
He has that line about being a failure. You’ve had so much success, how do you relate to a line like that?
“Oh, well we all feel our disappointments, don’t we, somewhere at some point? Life is full of strife. No, I could completely relate to some of that.”
How important is music to you in a film? And what are you listening to lately?
“Haven’t been listening to much music recently, but there have been moments in the past where I’ve listened to particular music going into a scene, in preparation or for inspiration. On this particular project, I didn’t. But there are rhythms and I don’t know if it’s necessarily — certainly it could be connected to musicality, dialogue, the rhythms of a scene. We make a determination if the rhythm is right or wrong or if it feels good or bad.”
You turn 49 in September. What was the best birthday gift you ever received?
“The best birthday gift I ever received? Well, my friends threw me a wonderful thirty party, a surprise birthday party when I turned thirty.”
What did that aspect of the character mean to you?
He’s explained to this other character how he’s felt trapped in his life, he’s always dealing with locks and directions. And when he’s watching these people do this improvisational dance, he sees an opportunity in the camera they have nearby for something he’s interested in. It’s one of the times he steps out of himself and takes it.
John’s a guy of very few words. What’s the challenge about portraying emotion without talking?
It was a wonderful opportunity. The scariest scene was where John and Violet come together [Reeves and Navakovic share a very tense, awkward embrace] because I had no idea how that could actually happen. How could this person feel so vulnerable and insular and want to reach out have so many questions?
Because there wasn’t a lot of dialogue, was there a lot of improvisation?
There was no improvisation in any of the scenes with dialogue, but we really had to figure out how to do those scenes. Mark {Mann, writer/director] was really collaborative and shared his perspective and then it was about your perspective on your character.
How was the dynamic between the four of you putting the film together?
There was a real camaraderie between us. Mark asked me to go out on the street and take some pictures, then Adelaide and I went to a bar and took pictures that are on the fridge in the movie. So there was a lot of life in our coming together and when you’re making a film that’s one of the coolest things. It’s great when artists of like mind come together about the work and Mark really fostered that.
How would you characterise John, Violet [Navakovic) and Mia [Clemens]?
I’d say they’re in a state of shock. These characters are shocked and in transformation, in trying to change, to reach out to have a kind of intimacy, to have a kind of connection. It’s low and communal. It’s personal and inherited. It’s conflict and collaboration.
What did you appreciate or take away from the movie the most?
There are so many pleasures Mark’s story offered me as an actor that was to my taste. I loved this idea of hope for these trapped characters. I also love the way he was trying to tell the story in a non-traditional way, not reinventing the wheel but painting homage to a lot of levels cinematically and contextually that also respected the audience. It was great to let the characters play and let me shoot scenes and be creative.
When I read it, it had quite an emotional wallop. The film seems like this quest for intimacy, or this quest for knowing. It doesn’t have an exerted emotion—except when John and Violet try to come together—but at the end of the film, it’s surprisingly moving. That’s one reason why I really liked it, the way that Mark [Mann], the writer/director, played with structure. There’s a bit of mystery to it, and then, when you discover what is happening, you feel something.
On his character John’s role in the trio:
He’s a kind of witness; he’s of service.
On why people meet in broken places:
Seeking to share. Seeking for help. Seeking for comfort. Seeking to help someone. Seeking to comfort someone. It makes for good dramas. [But] we also meet in great places too. In celebration, right?
On directing a movie within Generation Um…:
It was my first time [shooting]. When I heard that I was going to be able to shoot [the footage he shoots is actually in the film] instead of a cinematographer, it sounded really interesting and it was something I was really enthusiastic about. If was fun. You get to learn the character. You see what John sees. You see what John’s interested in. He was kind of like an archeologist in a way, as he goes into [the girls'] apartment. [He] deals with Violet, who wants to be on a talk show. [He] deals with Mia who’s doing whatever she’s doing—power, confession, seduction, non-seduction. I love that moment when John sneaks into Mia’s room and she’s on the chair. And she’s just like a lion, [projecting] “This isn’t on my terms. F— off.” It’s one of my favorite shots.
On aging (or, conversely, not aging at all):
How do I confront aging? With a wonder and a terror. Yeah, I’ll say that. Wonder and terror. Mortality is a bitch, but life is great.
On misunderstood gender lines:
[Men] are vulnerable and emotional creatures.
On reality TV and celebrity gossip:
There’s different context. How much time and attention are you paying to it? What is it doing? Is it a kind of entertainment? It can go from there to absolute weirdness. But there’s also just wanting to know how the other is. What is someone else’s life like? [You can find out by reading] a biography or [watching] a gossip channel. It just depends on what you are looking for. I think there’s fantasy involved. Association.
On rumors that there is a Point Break remake in the works:
I think it’s exciting. [On Bill and Ted’s Third Excellent Adventures] They’re writing a script. That’s all I know. They show us stuff every once in awhile.
“He asked me to videotape the actresses that came in to meet on the project. It happened with both Bojana and Addy that there was a nice simpatico between us and we got along right away. They were interesting and loved the material. As me moved forward in rehearsal and just hanging out, everyone seemed to be on the same page.” – Keanu Reeves
Parimal M. Rohit: Is it tough for you as an actor because there is a camera on you that you’re not supposed to be aware of, but at the same time you are playing a filmmaker?
Keanu Reeves: Yes. It was really tough. For me, it was really a great opportunity. When I was going into the project I didn’t know I’d be filming, literally, the sequences. It was a cool opportunity; I was real excited by that. In keeping with Mark (Mann)’s vision of the film, it was us learning about John through what he looks at, and also about the other characters through what he (John) looks at, and then having the characters deal with the camera. It also plays into the idea of structure … (and) perspectives. Who are we? Who do we think we are? Also, Mark was playing with the idea of a nontraditional film story form. It starts off as a mystery, which gets resolved by the end of the picture. That was one of the things, when I first read the script it had an emotional impact (with me). When I watched the movie, I was moved.
Awwww thank you Mr. Reeves you just brought back a big smile on my face. 
