Saoirse Ronan : On Chesil Beach

On Chesil Beach

Upon the suggestion of Poetswan, here's the start of a separate On Chesil Beach thread because soon it won't be a "new project," it will be the project.
I have nothing new at the moment so I'll just repeat my previous comment.

We're all a little in the dark here. They aren't filming the book. They are filming the screenplay of the book, written by the author of the book. I would Imagine McEwan has thought of everything we are worried about and has crafted a script he thinks is filmable.
He's written screenplays before, but not of his own works. I remember him talking about Atonement and how his friends all thought it would make an excellent movie and he agreed but noted there were a lot of interior things at play in the novel that didn't lend themselves to film treatment, so he is aware of the difficulties.
The next step is finding a copy of the screenplay. I've been searching, but, so far, no luck.

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I am really struggling to think of younger actors who could play Edward. Logan Lerman? He was good in Perks of Being a Wallflower, but could he pull of an accent? Would he be able to bring the depth the character needs? Taron Egerton? Maybe, i don't know... George Mackay? I don't know why I thought of him, he is completely out of question.

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Is that because Mackay and Saoirse have romantic history from their time together 1c84 on How I Live Now?
If you check out the Ian McEwan Facebook page there are some suggestions for actors there amid the hundreds of other comments.
https://www.facebook.com/Ian-McEwan-305499726425/?fref=ts

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Yes, it is, I think it would be awkward and i didn't like his acting that much, but i've only seen him in HILN.
Someone suggested in the comments Stephen Hagan, he is irish too, but I haven't seen anything he has done.

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Ever since she was announced as the lead, I've been thinking about the role of Edward, and what actors could portray him. I thought the most obvious ones like Taron Egerton or Jack O'Connell. When I read the book I pictured Aaron Johnson, but now I think he looks kind of old for her; someone has already mentioned Logan Lerman. I even thought about Harry Treadaway, they have already worked together, but he's also older than her. I have been thinking (a lot) and my favorite now is Nico Mirallegro! They're about the same age, he's quite talented, but I don't think that's going to happen

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I only saw Treadway in city of ember and I haven't seen anything Mirallegro has done, but going just by looks I think Mirallegro could really pass edwards innocence, naiveness 1c84 and young insecurity.

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Jack O´Connell, right?
I´ve been mentioning him here since day one.
It will be fun to see if we can guess here. The actor should be announced anytime soon, I suppose.



"How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world I never knew?" - The Motorcycle Diaries

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This please!

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Dane Dehaan....not really

I just want them to work together
maybe they could play murderous siblings

the ones mentioned on this board my favorite still Nico Mirallegro, then Jack O'Connell

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MacKay? That will be awkward as he's Ronan's ex bf. I'm thinking Jack O'Connell!

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Nicholas Hoult comes to mind.

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I'd thought of him as well, but I haven't seen him in a film on a prestige level where he could show his range and acting chops. I've found him likable and competent, but I wonder how good his skill is given the kind of film we're dealing with here. It's a fine suggestion though.

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Nicholas Hoult is a bloody amazing actor! If you haven't, check his work on Skins where he plays a charismatic, manipulative douchebag as convincingly as he played Hux in Fury Road or the wimpy kid from About a Boy (well, he ain't looking wimpy anymore). This year he'll be in Equals, he steals that trailer.

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You've seen more of him than I have to date. I'll have to watch more.

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Another one to watch is his performances in "a single man" and "Wah-wah"
He is phenomenal.
I actually think he is one of the few who could stand toe to toe with Saoirse. Emory Cohen is one of the first who didn't get lost in scenes with her, and I'd consider Hoult a more experienced, stronger actor.

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Looks like it was Saoirse and her agent who went after this role:http://klou.tt/kbdh5lftg0y5

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Oh my goodness... The picture at the bottom of that page... Sideboob!


Give me the ball.
- Baseball Bat Man, The Raid 2

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Did you read this quote Poetswan?


SW: She has an ethereal presence, which is extraordinary. She is in the top 4 or 5 actresses in the world. You just have her walk into a scene and you immediately want to know who she is and what she’s about.

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Yes!

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How about Douglas Booth? I know next to nothing about him but he's quite obviously nuts about Saoirse and is in the new "Loving Vincent" with her.

Smitten:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOvdqSHcnVk&nohtml5=False

More smitten:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish-showbiz/saoirse-ronans-eyes-deserve-oscar-7387125

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We just posted about him on the New Projects thread Jlent, and like you we don't really know much about his works, but looks like he really likes Saoirse, perhaps they could have good chemistry.

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I missed that. As I said, I know nothing about him, just looking for information as to whether he has talent. Seems the answer might be no. He certainly seems like he'd be eager enough.

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He just doesn't have enough serious roles out there to be able to judge if he'd be good for the part. Good writing, direction, and acting partners to play off of can easily show the true ability of an actor.

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he's very similar to Max Irons, ridiculously good-looking, but sort of a wooden actor

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The pupil part made me laugh, nice thing to say. I watched Booth in the recent And Then There Were None adaptation, and at least he does play a brat pretty well. I just started reading the book so can't say much.

Is it me or is it always hard to find/speculate for an male actor opposite for Saoirse's movies? Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised with Emory Cohen so I hope this one brings a surprise too.

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From what I can gather, once again it seems like either Nicholas Hoult or Taron Egerton are the best picks to costar in OCB. Hoult, unlike Booth or Petit-Irons, is a gorgeous bloke with a range and subtlety that, well, is kind of the norm with UK and Irish actors. Taron is also brilliant, yet to be tested, and has charisma-rays in droves.

A major pro in favor of Taron is that a movie like OCB will need as much publicity as it can get. Time to put my cynical film-producer cap on: Saoirse has proven she can prestige-open a movie, provided good distributors (the case with Brooklyn and Hanna, which made more money than they could possibly expect to thanks to having her as an added-value). Adding Taron to the mix, who already led a hit with Kingsmen and opened Eddie the Eagle, and who is quite likely to nab the role of young Han Solo, is going to do wonders for the movie.

And with Nic Hoult (who is the on-and-off ex to a very popular actress about Sersh age), well, lemme get more cynical: Tabloids are bound to make some *beep* up about JLaw being jealous about the two and *beep* Boom, Instant publicity.

Dear god... I should take a break from industry mags. What i just wrote sound more like a leaked e-mail from Harvey Weinstein...

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The language is unclear but it appears BBC Films will distribute On Chesil Beach, if that's what "on board" means.

http://deadline.com/2016/05/bbc-films-sets-morgan-matthews-to-direct-gypsy-boy-boards-on-chesil-beach-and-breathe-cannes-1201756041/

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I think its only finnancing, not distribution.

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I was just about to amend my post. I went looking after I posted that and yes, BBC Films is a producer of films, not a distributor. It's OK, the film has to me made before it can be marketed.

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Thats what i thought, I had never heard of BBC as a distribuitor. I think the budget for this movie will probably be around 20 million, we will probably still hear of other producing companies attached, maybe even IFB.

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I agree. These days you often see four or five productions companies listed at the beginning of opening credits.

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Nice find jlent. I'm pumped about this project as well. I hope Poetswan is correct about the budget.

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jlent, Lost River is on HBOZN (#311 HD down here) at 7:15!

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That's promising, they produced Brooklyn as well (Lionsgate did the distribution iirc)

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BBC Films have a great track record with period pieces. Last year, as well as Brooklyn, they produced The Lady In The Van, Testament Of Youth, Mr Holmes and Far From The Madding Crowd among others.
They make top quality films. On Chesil Beach couldn't be in better hands.

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The role can definitely make or break the film considering almost the entire film is focused on those two characters. Well, besides if they (which they most likely will) bring in the family and school past of both the characters. I feel like that would be in chronological order as well.

I wouldn't mind Taron, but it looks like it depends on when he shoots Robin Hood. I remember Andrew Garfield being floated around as someone Ian wanted, but that was also back when Carey Mulligan was attached.

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Cast an unknown. Cohen did just fine alongside Ronan despite being relatively new to feature films.

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It's been a little too quiet around here. I know we're in sort of a waiting period with no news concerning The Crucible as it heads to the July 17 finish line and still at le b68 ast a month from any new film work.
So I'll just throw this out. On Chesil Beach begins filming sometime in October, I think.
Saoirse's character in it is an accomplished young career violinist. If her previous experience is any indication (learning a Beethoven Sonata for Byzantium) Saoirse will put her heart into learning how to play the violin to the point she looks natural at it.
I think she can do it, though, as someone who tried to learn both, the violin is harder to fake, let alone master. The only thing that's looks worse than a non-pianist actor playing piano for a film is a non-violinist trying to look natural playing the violin. Benedict Cumberbatch is OK as Sherlock Holmes playing it, but that's because he's usually filmed from behind. When it is full-frontal violining it's a pretty sorry sight.
So that will be another goal for Saoirse, if she's called on to do it at all. She may not have to; the film is about the couple's wedding night. There's no real need to show her playing, though it would be useful for the flashbacks.

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I agree, I used to play the viola and there's nothing more grating than people trying to fake play a string instrument. Mostly happens with over-exaggerated bow movements as well as vibrato. I'm sure they will touch on it at least once, it's not only indicative of her character (how she acts within her group) but also her status to an extent.

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The fact that she plays the violin has me really excited about the score, i hope it will be a really dramatic score 😁 I think Dario Mariannelli ( the same from atonement) or maybe Johan Johansson, would be great choices to do it.

I am really curious about how will they do the sex scene, so much happens only in the characters mind and I think for it to be good, it has to left the viewers feeling as uncomfortable and embarassed as Florence and Edward are feeling, it has to be a hard to watch scene in my opinion.

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Hard but not impossible. We have to be riveted. Florence has to be believable being grossed out and Edward has to be convincing being embarrassed in what could look wrongly comic here in 2016. No doubt Saoirse will be able to pull it off, but we still don't know who will play opposite her. Let's get cracking.
Are they waiting until The Crucible is over so they can test men for chemistry compatibility? I could understand that.

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Nice find Poetswan. I've about twenty to thirty pages until I finish the novel. I'll have some thoughts about the approach they may take to translate this novel into a feature film.

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Semi Coincidence, I've just read the novel today, and have many doubts, it would be nice to read your thoughts about it.

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2000
l Beach

I had to fly just recently, so I decided to read it and nearly finished the novel save about thirty pages. I completed it tonight.

As for the novel itself, McEwan is just a remarkable writer. Is there one unnecessary or misplaced word in the entire novel? The prose is so efficient and powerful in its impact that I was waiting-and not disappointed-to have my heart ripped out near the end. The last sentence on page 198 and the first paragraph on 199 does the trick, but he finishes the job when we learn about Edward's thoughts/feelings at the very end.

Florence will be an extremely difficult character for a modern audience to fully understand for obvious reasons, and the producers therefore are very lucky to have such a gifted and sublime actress to play the critical role. The male lead hopefully will have the required skill, but the audience should be able to relate and understand the character much more easily than Saoirse's part.

I was writing the post and received what turned out to be a long phone call resulting in the loss of my train of thought, but suffice to say my strong feeling is the film will rely on flashbacks for exposition and understanding of each character, but moreover, I'm convinced Saoirse's character especially must have sufficient voiceover because there is no way for us to get into her mind and skin with just dialogue.

I'll perhaps have more thoughts soon, but I honestly feel she selected this role due to its difficulties and challenges. She'll need all her skill to ace it.

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As to your last question, we'll know sometime next year. The man's a tremendous writer, so let's hope he comes up with dynamite script.

I can visualize the ending: Florence looks to the specific row and seat while playing, and regardless of whether a man or woman is sitting in that particular spot, suddenly she looks up again and sees Edward. Florence has a loving but sadly regretful look about her as they pan into her face.

With Edward, while he's walking near the Stonor Valley where she was eating her orange some forty years ago, he visualizes her as the young and lovely woman he fell deeply in love with.

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But can you imagine a lot of voiceover in a period movie, scast? This will be extremely tricky.
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