Philip Seymour Hoffman Directorial Debut
The Actor Set to Direct and Star in Jack Goes Boating
Jan 22, 2009
In conjunction with Overture Films, Big Beach, and Cooper’s Town Productions, Philip Seymour Hoffman is set to direct his first feature film, starring Amy Ryan, John Ortiz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Hoffman. An unconventional romantic comedy about a stoner limo driver looking for a girlfriend, Jack Goes Boating is adapted from the play written by Bob Glaudini and originally produced by LAByrinth Theater Company. The movie is scheduled to begin principal photography February 9th in New York City, with an anticipated release in 2011.
Hoffman Already Famous in Front of the Camera
Hoffman’s acting career includes a 2005 Best Actor in a Leading Role Academy Award for his portrayal of Truman Capote in Capote. He’s also known for his diverse (and often intense) roles in Doubt, Charlie Wilson’s War, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Mission Impossible III, and for managing to steal a few comedic scenes from Ben Stiller in the lightweight romantic comedy Along Came Polly.
Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) has signed on to star opposite Hoffman, with Rubin-Vega (Broadway’s Rent) and Ortiz reprising their stage roles for the movie. The stage production debuted in 2007 at LABrynth Theater Company in New York City, an Off-Broadway theater company devoted to community theater for which Hoffman and Ortiz serve as co-artistic directors. Ortiz is known for his film work including American Gangster and numerous television appearances (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Touched by an Angel, The Job). The two will executive produce the film.
Overture Films and Big Beach
Overture Films’ CEO Chris McGurk, COO Danny Rosett, and Big Beach’s Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf announced these plans in late January 2009. Overture Films will distribute the film throughout the United States. Other recent Overture projects include Last Chance Harvey and Sunshine Cleaning.
Jack Goes Boating will be co-financed and produced by Big Beach, with Turtletaub and Saraf serving as producers along with independent producer Beth O’Neil and Emily Ziff of Cooper’s Town Productions. Cooper’s Town was founded in 2003 by Hoffman and Ziff to develop and produce entertaining and commercially viable films dealing with familiar human themes through original and compelling narrative storytelling.
Although Jack Goes Boating is an exception, the majority of Cooper’s Town Productions’ planned projects will place Hoffman behind the camera as producer rather than actor. The first production by the company was Capote, which was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Jack Goes Boating is the first of two films that Overture Films and Cooper’s Town Productions will produce together.
To learn more about Philip Seymour Hoffman, visit Internet Movie Database.
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