Lowering the Boom
Kevin Spacey's new movie The Big Kahuna features one big mistake. In an early scene with Spacey's fellow salesman Peter Facinelli, a boom mic bobs down onto the screen, nearly brushing his head. ''I was pretty horrified,'' Facinelli said at the film's recent L.A. premiere. How does such a flub make it into a major release? Lions Gate declined to comment, but industry folks say several parties may share the blame — from the director to the theater projectionist who frames the image. Studios usually find ways to lift a sagging mic, including digital removal (for about $7,000). But The American Cinematographer's Stephen Pizzello says there's a cheaper solution: ''Find a boom man with better biceps.''
— Caryn Ganz and William Keck
That's the Ticket
Hel-lo! And welcome to Moviefone's newest feature: voice recognition. The film-ticketing service recently started allowing New York customers to simply say the name of the movie instead of punching it in on their keypads. But just how good is Mr. Moviefone's hearing? EW took the service for a spin.
We said: ''Elían González'' Mr. Moviefone replied: ''You have selected Valley of the Dolls.''
We said: ''Marisleysis González'' Moviefone: Eyes Wide Shut
We said: ''Whassuuuppp!'' Moviefone: [concert documentary] Wattstax
We said: ''Entertainment Weekly'' Moviefone: Center Stage
We said: ''Damn!'' Moviefone: Hamlet
We said: ''Who should replace Kathie Lee Gifford?'' Moviefone: The Specialist
We said: ''John Travolta'' Moviefone: Being John Malkovich
We said: ''Scientology'' Moviefone: High Fidelity
We said: ''Wu-Tang Clan'' Moviefone: Black and White
We said: ''777-FILM'' Moviefone: The End of the Affair
The Freebie-Jeebies
The gross-out trend just will not die. This summer, studios are
hyping their films' vulgar charms with stomach-churning
promotional graft. Here's the low, lowdown.
Me, Myself & Irene — which features Jim Carrey battling a split personality — gave out a bottle of white jelly-bean ''pills'' that supposedly cure schizophrenia. Side effects, it warns, include ''genital elephantiasis.'' Gross-o-meter: 3 Yecchs
Road Trip — boasting Tom Green and a memorable sperm- bank scene — mailed a rubber glove, K-Y jelly, a specimen cup, and a dirty photo. 5 Yecchs
Big Momma's House — with Martin Lawrence in plus-size drag — sent giant panties and a bra. We're talking 50 DDDD. 4 Yecchs
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