Latest news with #FilmstobeBuriedWith
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harvey Weinstein addresses Julia Stiles' remarks about' Down to You' dance scene, says it enhanced film's appeal
Convicted sex offender and former film producer Harvey Weinstein is speaking out after Julia Stiles recently remarked that she felt 'slimy' having to film a pool table dance sequence that he added into her 2000 rom-com, Down to You. 'Julia Stiles is a talented and charismatic actress who naturally connects with audiences. Beyond her acting skills, she's also a fantastic dancer, which was something fans really wanted at the time,' Weinstein said in a statement given to Entertainment Weekly by his spokesperson. 'I included that scene in Down to You to enhance the film's appeal, and her chemistry with Freddie Prinze Jr. made it work seamlessly.' It continued, 'As a filmmaker, I've always sought ways to elevate a project, and when I see an opportunity to make a film better, I take it. That same instinct led David O. Russell and me to cast Julia in Silver Linings Playbook, where she once again delivered a standout performance." Related: Julia Stiles recalls SNL cameo coming together in 1 day: 'I scrambled to get someone to take care of my kids' Stiles, 43, reflected on her and Freddie Prinze Jr.'s romantic comedy on a recent episode of Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein's Films to be Buried With podcast, noting that she considers it to be in contention for one of the worst films ever made. "It was a time when teen rom-coms were really popular, and the director wrote the script. He was a first-time director and he was a very, very intelligent, capable guy. The script was very good," she explained at the time. "And then Harvey Weinstein got his hands on it." The film, which was directed by Kris Isacsson, follows the never-ending trials and tribulations of a young college couple played by Stiles and Prinze Jr. In one scene, Stiles' character dances around a pool table while listening to Al Green's influential hit, 'Let's Stay Together.' The actress claimed on the podcast that the scene was crammed into the film 'because of the success of Save the Last Dance, or the success of 10 Things I Hate About You,' calling it a 'dumb' attempt to 'capitalize on this trend' in her films at the time. 'I felt so slimy doing it the whole time,' Stiles confessed. 'It was annoying. Because I was like, 'Well, this is so cheap, and it's not adding to the story.'' Related: Harvey Weinstein reportedly diagnosed with bone marrow cancer while in prison for sex crimes Stiles previously reflected on Down to You while speaking with Entertainment Weekly in 2019, noting that it 'changed a lot from the development process to the finished product.' She added, 'Kris Isacsson had a vision for it that was a lot darker, so I remember thinking it was really mature. Then Harvey Weinstein and Miramax ended up producing it and turned it into a movie that was much more of a commercial, upbeat romantic comedy, for better or worse.' Weinstein — who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women over the years — was previously convicted of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree and rape in the third degree in a 2020 New York trial. Last year, his conviction was overturned by the New York court of appeals and a retrial was ordered. In addition to his New York case, Weinstein was also found guilty on three counts of rape and sexual assault in a 2022 Los Angeles trial. He is currently being held at the Rikers Island prison. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Harvey Weinstein Responds to Julia Stiles' Claims About On-Set Experience
Harvey Weinstein has addressed Julia Stiles' recent remarks about feeling uncomfortable with an acting direction he gave during the production of Down to You. During an appearance on Brett Goldstein's Films to be Buried With podcast, Stiles, 43, reflected on her experience filming the 2000 romantic comedy alongside Freddie Prinze Jr. The movie, written and directed by Kris Isacsson, was distributed by Miramax, the production company co-founded by Weinstein. Stiles claimed that Weinstein insisted on adding a dance scene to the film, allegedly attempting to replicate her popular dance moments from 10 Things I Hate About You and Save the Last Dance. She criticized the addition as 'cheap' and unnecessary, saying, 'I felt so slimy doing it the whole time.' Weinstein, who is currently serving a prison sentence for multiple convictions of rape and sexual assault, responded from prison in a statement shared with The Daily Beast. He described Stiles as a 'talented and charismatic actress' and defended the scene, arguing that her dancing was something audiences appreciated. He stated the decision was made to 'enhance the film's appeal' and praised her on-screen chemistry with Prinze Jr. He further cited his past decision to cast Stiles in Silver Linings Playbook as an example of how he sought to elevate projects. Weinstein has been incarcerated since 2020 following his conviction in New York. In 2023, he received an additional 16-year sentence in Los Angeles. He is currently awaiting a retrial on further charges.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Julia Stiles says she ‘felt so slimy' after Harvey Weinstein request on film set
Julia Stiles has shared the details of an uncomfortable experience she had working on a film with Harvey Weinstein. The convicted rapist is currently awaiting a retrial for a number of charges including that he forcibly performed oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006 and raped an aspiring actor in 2013. An additional charge was filed last September, which alleges that he forced oral sex on a different woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2006. Weinstein denies the charges. His 2022 conviction still stands. Stiles, 43, worked with Weinstein on the 2000 romantic comedy, Down to You. Written and directed by Kris Isaacson, the film also co-starred Freddie Prinze Jr. But the 10 Things I Hate About You star slammed it for being one of the worst movies ever made and blamed Weinstein. "It was a time when teen romcoms were really popular and the director wrote the script,' she told Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein on the Films to be Buried With podcast. 'He was a first-time director and he was a very, very intelligent, capable guy. The script was very good. And then Harvey Weinstein got his hands on it." She explained: 'Because of the success of Save the Last Dance, or the success of 10 Things I Hate About You, with me dancing on the pool table, he needed to have me dancing in the film." Stiles said Weinstein tried to 'capitalise' on pool table scenes trend and called his attempt to do so 'dumb'. "I felt so slimy doing it the whole time," she said "It was annoying. Because I was like, 'Well, this is so cheap, and it's not adding to the story.'" The former film producer, who suffers from chronic myeloid leukemia, diabetes and heart problems, is currently detained in Rikers Island, awaiting retrial, while also serving a 2022 conviction for raping an actress in 2013. Actor and fashion designer Georgina Chapman filed to divorce Weinstein in October 2017 after the allegations against her husband came to light. The pair had been married for 10 years.
