Some news

Turning Japanese
THE WARNER BROS. LOT GETS A STUNNING MAKEOVER FOR TOM CRUISE’S ”LAST SAMURAI”

For years, a chunk of real estate in the heart of the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank has served as a (cheap) double for New York City in various movies and TV shows. But last fall, this versatile performer tackled one of its most challenging roles yet: Tokyo, 1876. In ”The Last Samurai,” Tom Cruise plays a U.S. cavalry officer who is assigned to help Japan modernize its army, but finds himself drawn to the ways of the ancient samurai. ”Like all the best historical drama,” says director Edward Zwick (”Glory”), ”it’s about a society in transition, and it was very appealing to put a Western character in that context.”

While many of ”Samurai”’s scenes were shot in Japan, ”very little of that period is left there.” Hence, Warner Bros.’ ”New York” streets — 62,200 square feet worth — were transformed with astonishing precision into 19th-century Tokyo, a process that took three months and a team of 150 laborers. Meticulous re-creations of the period architecture — accessorized with antique lanterns and faux-vintage tile — were grafted onto the street’s urban facade. A 40-foot-high replica of the city’s famed gates towered over the set. Not far away, a quaint, Shinto-inspired house was built on a part of the lot that was once the site of ”The Waltons”’ pond.

Alas, like the time itself, the sets are no more; the street is once again a stand-in Gotham, and Zwick and Cruise are in New Zealand shooting cast-of-hundreds samurai battle sequences. The Akira Kurosawa within Zwick is champing at the bit: ”Being a big fan of ‘Ran’ and ‘Kagemusha,’ you can imagine the 12-year-old glee with which I approach this.” (Dec. 5)

This is from Empire Online

Miffed Maori: Not the first name you’d expect to see on a film’s payroll, but Mount Taranaki in New Zealand might well be receiving ‘wages’ for its appearance in Tom Cruise’s latest film, The Last Samurai. Local Maori down under have demanded gifts as recognition of their mountain’s role in the film – in which it will be transformed into Mount Fuji – because of their ‘special relationship’ with the peak, commenting that some gesture, “not necessarily cash,” should be made. Well, you can’t blame them for trying.

And, one more article about Tom helping a local school in NZ:

Tom Cruise aids New Zealand schoolGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Tom Cruise has come to the aid of a small rural school in New Zealand.

Local radio station the “Edge” in New Plymouth offered to pay $2,745 to anyone who could persuade Cruise, who’s been filming in the area, to call in live on the air, local media reported Wednesday.

The 40-year-actor called Tuesday after a night of shooting for “The Last Samurai,” saying he wanted “to do a little negotiating” over the amount. “(I called) to see if I can get you up to $3,600,” said Cruise, adding that he’d match that amount.

He wants the funds to go to local Urenui junior school. “They’ve been trying to raise money for a shelter to go outside,” he said.

Cruise said he had heard about the school by keeping his “ear to the ground” in the community where he’s been on location for four months.

“The Last Samurai,” directed by Edward Zwick, is set in 18th-century Japan. A Japanese village set has been built in the countryside near New Plymouth, a regional city 200 miles from the capital, Wellington

Thanks to Chantal