andPOP » Brokeback Mountain

Jake Gyllenhaal Reflects Upon Playing ‘Prince Of Persia’ As A Kid

Jeremy Singer — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:30:32 +0000

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We already knew that Jake Gyllenhaal is playing the lead role of the acclaimed video game franchise-turned-movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. What we didn’t know is that the Brokeback Mountain actor was actually a legitimate fan of the Prince of Persia series as a child.

“I played their original side-scrolling version of the game when I was a kid,” said the 29-year-old actor laughing, in an interview with MTV News.

Directed by Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), the movie tells the story about the origins of young Persian Prince Dastan, and his quest to rescue the Sands of Time, a gift from the gods that controls time, from an evil nobleman.

Gyllenhaal joins stars Gemma Arterton (Clash of the Titans) as Princess Tamina, and Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island) as the villainous Nizam. The actor reflected upon how crazy it is to be bringing his video game character to the big screen- as his film drops May 28.

“Who knew when I was playing it — after I closed out ‘Oregon Trail’ and went over to my ‘Prince of Persia’ game when I was I don’t know how old, maybe 8 or something — who knew I would be playing the Prince of Persia? It’s kind of awesome.”

According to Entertainment Tonight, Gyllenhaal also gained a solid five pounds of muscle for the role, and trained for months before the arduous Moroccan desert shoot.

“I over-prepared myself because I never knew how much they were going to ask me to do, so I just made sure I’d be hopefully able to do anything.

“There’s a lot acrobatics in the movie — a lot of running up walls, and jumping on things and Parkour, so it requires muscularity, but it requires a lot of aerobic ability too.”

Paramount Announce New Division

andPOP Staff — Fri, 19 May 2006 13:21:22 +0000

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Paramount Pictures has announced a new division of its company which would focus on releasing lower budget films to capture audiences in the independent film area.

The new division will be called Paramount Vintage and plans to release eight to 10 films per year of all genres.

Movie industry experts say it is important for specialty studios to invest in lower budget movies, because if successful (like ?Brokeback Mountain? was) they can reap huge benefits for an industry which is currently seeing the lowest box office receipt numbers in years.

Films to be released by the new Paramount Vantage label in 2007 include Joel and Ethan Coen’s “No Country for Old Men” and Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood.”

Willie Nelson Releases Gay Cowboy Song

andPOP Staff — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 12:51:41 +0000

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Willie Nelson released a different kind of country love song this Valentine’s.

On the heels of the much talked about gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, Nelson has released a gay cowboy song that was written more than 20 years ago.

“Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)” will be available exclusively through iTunes and was premiered Tuesday on the Howard Stern Show.

“The song’s been in the closet for 20 years. The timing’s right for it to come out,” said Nelson.

The song features Tex-Mex style guitar runs, says ABC News, over which Nelson sings lines like, “What did you think all them saddles and boots was about?” and “Inside every cowboy there’s a lady who’d love to slip out.”

It was written in 1981 by by Texas-born singer-songwriter Ned Sublette.

Nelson’s own manager, David Anderson, came out of the closet two years ago.

“This song obviously has special meaning to me in more ways than one,” said Anderson.

“I want people to know more than anything – gay, straight, whatever – just how cool Willie is and … his way of thinking, his tolerance, everything about him.”