The Ides of March

lucy wrote:They showed the above pic on TMZ last night with a who would you rather do ??? it's funny most of the men on the show chose George!

haha! That's funny! I'll take both please. I love me some Ryan. He's a good Canadian boy.

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McCreadys lunch with actor Clooney

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ACTOR AND ARTIST — Whitewater artist Ben McCrea­dy last week enjoyed lunch with George Clooney while the actor was filming a movie in Michigan. Shown above are the two after lunch. Below, is the portrait of Clooney painted by McCready.

WHITEWATER - George Clooney invited Ben, Anne and Bo McCready to have lunch with him on his movie set the other day. The Hollywood superstar had been looking forward to meeting Ben for the last few months, ever since Clooney had asked the famous Whitewater artist for permission to use several of Ben's portraits in a movie he was going to be filming.

However, Clooney was even more excited to meet Ben because he had seen a photo of the portrait Ben recently had painted of him, a commission arranged by Clooney's staff and the University of Michigan to be presented to Clooney while filming in Ann Arbor on the University of Michigan campus.

Clooney's movie, "Ides of March," already is generating huge "Oscar-buzz," which should be no surprise given the cast. The film, scheduled for release this December, is directed by Clooney, who also stars in it, along with Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei and Paul Giamatti.

Who else is in the movie? None other than Bo McCready, Ben and Anne's son. Bo was a paid "featured extra" and was selected by Clooney's casting director to spend an entire day of filming - seven hours - within a few feet of Clooney. Also on set that day were Gosling, Hoffman and Wood.

"The casting director said that they choose the best-looking, most photogenic people to be right up front, next to the stars in every scene," said Ben.

Whitewater residents might remember Bo for his starring roles in plays and musicals all four years of high school. Bo is quick to give credit to Anne and Lane Kuske, who directed him and hundreds of others through the years.

On Wednesday, March 16, the actor and the artist got together for lunch. Security, always heavy when Clooney is filming, had more than doubled on that particular day. There had been a couple of security breaches on set earlier that morning and extra security had been called in. By the time Ben, Anne and Bo arrived on set, everything was running behind schedule and their lunch and scheduled meeting with Clooney had been moved to a large, nearby building that had been cleared out and "locked-down" with extra security everywhere.

Everything eventually worked out even better than planned.

"We got our food along with Clooney, cast, and crew, and then we were taken to another room where, after we ate, Clooney could visit privately with us, away from everyone," Ben said.

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I like the eyes. He definitely caught George's spirit on canvas.

There had been a couple of security breaches on set earlier that morning and extra security had been called in

I wonder what happened?

Sandwiches, I totally agree with you tough choice!

Never Lucy!! Always Gee! Ryan's just a little boy!!

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

fluffy wrote:Never Lucy!! Always Gee! Ryan's just a little boy!!

Not that little. He's of age at least.

That's a good painting!

It's a good job we're all different sandwiches, more for me!! (and melbert!).

Good likeness of George, but i"m not that crazy about it. I'm guessing the guy painted it from a photo???? Why give him a photo of his hair so flat on top. I guess the portrait has to "grow" on me.

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George Clooney poses with extras while filming The Ides of March at Power Center in March, 2011. Taken by the man to whom Clooney handed Rose's camera, and submitted with Rose's permission by Dianne Shute--thanks, all!

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Aww sweet!! That photo really ages George.

I think Gee looks rather sweet and not old! I like the woman who's got her hand on Gee's shoulder! Why not I would!!

I forgot to say in [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] they have a picture of Talia Akiva, she's such a sweet looking child, I can see why she got picked as Gee's daughter.

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Lake Orion president hired as Clooney stand-in
Published: Thursday, March 24, 2011

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By MONICA DRAKE
Of The Oakland Press



Click to enlarge
Matt Phillips, president of the Lake Orion Education Foundation, said he doesn’t think he looks like actor George Clooney, but that didn’t stop casting director Ryan Hill from hiring Phillips as Clooney’s stand-in.

“It surprised me when they called me. I said, ‘I look nothing like George Clooney,’” said Phillips. “They said, ‘Well, you’re 5’11’’ to six feet tall, similar build and you have salt and pepper hair. Your skin color is fairly close.’ So that’s what they were looking for in a stand-in.”

Clooney began shooting the movie “The Ides of March” in Ohio and came to Michigan two weeks ago to finish the movie. Phillips is Clooney’s only stand-in while in Michigan. Phillips said he heard from the crew that filming should wrap up on April 8, and Clooney told him the movie should be released in theaters by mid-October.

“Basically, I do everything George does in the scene to set it up before he’s in the scene. One day, I sat in the back of a car and rolled the window up and down, and they set the camera and the lighting up,” said Phillips.

In the movie, Phillips said Clooney’s character is Mike Morris, a governor running for president. Phillips said one of the bigger scenes was shot in an auditorium at the University of Michigan with about 1,500 extras, including students from the school.

Phillips said his wife Tiffany receives updates from a casting call website, and when she heard Clooney was looking for a stand-in, she told her husband he should try for it.

“I said I would take a chance, out of a million people who were probably submitting. So I sent my picture off to Ryan Hill Casting. He apparently does a lot of the casting for a lot of the big movies that come to town,” said Phillips. “The next day, he gave me a call and said he needed me on Friday morning at the set. Thankfully I have a flexible work schedule, so I went down, and they dressed me up like George Clooney. And away I went.”

Phillips said he has been on set for five days so far, and he will probably be on set for another six or seven days. While working, he said he’s gotten the chance to meet all the actors in the movie.

“(Clooney) is pretty busy because he’s directing the film too, but in between, he jokes with all the extras, laughing and having a good time. When it’s time to work, he all of the sudden gets serious and snaps into his lines. It’s cool to see how professional these guys are and what goes into the making of a movie,” said Phillips. “We’ve talked about sports, local restaurants, the movie incentives and what’s going on with the tax incentives and filming in Michigan. It’s almost surreal that I’m standing next to this guy who’s a mega-famous movie star, and it’s just like hanging out with one of your buddies from work or college.”

Phillips said he doesn’t know what’s going to happen with the tax incentives in Michigan, but he said he’s seen firsthand how many Michigan residents have received jobs because of them.

“Behind the scenes, just talking to all the people that are working on the movie, the sound guys and the lighting guys and the prop people, the majority are from Michigan. What they were telling me is they have only been in this business for a couple years, so they just got their break,” said Phillips. “The people here are trained to a level that they can compete with the folks in Los Angeles and New York, so they’re hiring more people who are local.”

Phillips is executive director of Victory Pharma, Inc. in Lake Orion, a pharmaceutical company.

Ha! George and his harem

LOL Merlin. I wonder how they decided who got to touch him! Bet there was some envy. Looks good though.

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George Clooney poses with extras while filming The Ides of March at Power Center in March, 2011. Taken by the man to whom Clooney handed Rose's camera, and submitted with Rose's permission by Dianne Shute--thanks, all!

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Has to be one of the most relaxed and happy photographs ive seen of George in a long time, and lucky girl to get to put her arm around George, i would be shaking like an idiot

I don't know, I wouldn't mind being the girl (or girls) that he's leaning back into..

he can sit on my lap anyday

I would rather sit in his lap...

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Stars shine on Erie Street

Erie Street's cool factor remains hot, with buzz around George Clooney's visit to Mezzo on Saturday night.

"There was a buzz all down the street that's for sure," a staff member at a cafe nearby said.

"We had employees here who wanted to go over and see for themselves. But we were pretty busy."

Clooney, filming in Detroit, came in for dinner and people gathered for a glimpse, said Filip Rocca, co-owner of Mezzo.

He was in a party of four and they enjoyed themselves dining in a secluded area near the kitchen. He ordered the black squid ink fettuccine with seafood.

Rocca said the party included another film star, Grant Heslov, who was in the 1994 James Cameron film True Lies.

"Heads were spinning," Rocca said of the restaurant reaction and the efforts to provide a measure of privacy. Clooney indulged fan seekers with autographs. But no pictures, please, the table requested.

Rocca said staff tried to keep people from bothering the table. One woman went up to the table three times, Rocca said.

Rocca said he didn't appreciate just how big a star Clooney is until the response the film star generated at the restaurant, on the street that night and in his email's in box, Saturday through Monday.

"My in box blew up with emails," Rocca said.

Clooney wasn't the only celebrity popping by Erie on Saturday night. Apparently, Deena Nicole, the Jersey Shore star in town for an appearance at the Boom Boom Room, stopped in at the popular Erie Street eatery Motor Burger.

Rocca said celebrities such as Chris Noth and three cast members from the Sopranos have all dropped by Mezzo, a popular restaurant and lounge he operates with Chef Michael Barlozzari.

Celebrities in the past such as Harrison Ford have trekked across the border to Windsor for a meal while working in the area.

As for Clooney, apparently he likes Mezzo and Erie Street so much he plans to return. Rocca explained Clooney told him he'll be working in the Detroit area for a while longer.

"He did say he's going to be back " to Mezzo, Rocca said.

I wonder who the other two were in his party?

Me too, melbert. I find it stange George didn't take any photos. He hasn't been camera shy before.

I think I've read before that he doesn't like pictures being taken when he is eating Ladydi ...neither would I!

Sure, I could understand that part, but in the past few stories he's stopped to take photos with fans.

I find it a bit curious...

That would explain why we don't see pictures of him. Since he started filming there are tweets and reports that he had dinner here, there and everywhere, but no pics.

Well, it's an Italian resto, yum, yum, yum !

And on friday he was at a birthdayparty : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ! Chez les Sinatragirls.

Nancy looks good for her age. Girlfriend is still walkin' in those boots!

Atalante wrote:Well, it's an Italian resto, yum, yum, yum !

And on friday he was at a birthdayparty : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ! Chez les Sinatragirls.

I didn't look at all of them, but the few photos before and after the above link all say "added March 24", however no year was added. IMHO, his hair looks shorter in that photo.

If you watch the link as it opens, it jumps from the RC House to Nancy's facebook page. Is there an original link at RC House FB page? How do you know it was a birthday party? Just wondering.

It may have been added March 24th, but I think that picture is old too. He just looks different. Look at the teeth. Those are his old teeth.

I'm thinking this picture is from 2005/2006, when he was promoting Confessions and then Syriana. Somewhere around that time.

I agree - it's an old pic. You can upload pics to FB anytime and they don't have to be new. Looks like Nancy put together an album of family and friends, that's all - and George happens to be in it.

She also has the same photo album with the same pic of George posted elsewhere on the web dated back to Jan 2010.

I think they just used that old picture because it was Mrs Sinatra's 94th birthday and George was in the picture with her...

sisieq wrote:

Atalante wrote:Well, it's an Italian resto, yum, yum, yum !

And on friday he was at a birthdayparty : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ! Chez les Sinatragirls.

I didn't look at all of them, but the few photos before and after the above link all say "added March 24", however no year was added. IMHO, his hair looks shorter in that photo.

If you watch the link as it opens, it jumps from the RC House to Nancy's facebook page. Is there an original link at RC House FB page? How do you know it was a birthday party? Just wondering.

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laetval wrote:

Well he izzzzzzzz playing ball !

Hey George, you want a ... pogostick now ?

Mrs. Sinatra's birthday was Wed, March 23

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03-21-2009, 09:02 AM
Nancy's Avatar
Administrator

Mom's birthday is not until Wednesday but I wanted her page to be up for a few days.

I think RC House facebook page was just giving a shout out to Mrs. S for her birthday. They seem to like to use photos with their posts and found one with George. IMHO

Today in Detroit, hope will get more! Wake up Detroit!!

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I'll vote for him.

Don't you think the poster makes Gee's features look heavy, almost asleep!

....kinda like a hound dog.......

bellybaby wrote:....kinda like a hound dog.......

Speaking of hound dogs - (found by a poster over on CU Forum at FreakingNews.com

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Sorry ladies I have to say Wooooooooooooo cold water please!!! Lurve the package to the centre left!! Why was he doing this?? Charity perhaps? Any movie footage available? Sisieq, just what I needed on a Friday afternoon, I'll sleep tonight albeit lonesome with my wooden heart!

I don't think, well I'm not sure (even after having checking in the forum) if these pics were already posted here anyway I do it though! (Pics posted from the link on fev 26 - Cincinnati)

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In the Elvis picture I think G's head is photo shopped onto the body. Sure do like the body. Who is the blonde in the other photos?

blubelle wrote:In the Elvis picture I think G's head is photo shopped onto the body. Sure do like the body. Who is the blonde in the other photos?

Definitely photoshopped. Damn funny though.

That's actress Evan Rachel Wood.

I guess they're done filming?

Those photos seem to be from the first week filming when George's nephew had his big sceen or the next day (I THINK his parents were there twice). Just "new" finds for Laet.

"Where's Waldo" - LOL - is that him in the fifth photo in the blue baseball cap. (Couldn't resist bringing it up!)

Yes, "Elvis-George" def photoshopped, but fun.