Newswise — Tulane University students got a first look at the major motion picture "All The King's Men," which opens in theatres across the country this weekend. The movie was filmed in Louisiana prior to Hurricane Katrina and Tulane's McAlister Auditorium proved to be the perfect setting for the star-studded event. Sean Penn, James Gandolfini, Jude Law, Patricia Clarkson, Mark Ruffalo and Kate Winslet were just some of the Hollywood luminaries who walked the red carpet at the premiere to the delight of Tulane students and fans.
The film, a remake of the 1949 classic based on Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, tells the story of Governor Willie Stark. Based loosely on Louisiana's Governor Huey Long, the story centers on Stark's conflict between his "man of the people" philosophies amidst a culture of corruption and heavy-handed politics. The movie's stars were impressed with Tulane University's recovery since the 2005 storm, which forced cancellation of the fall semester and displaced all of Tulane's 13,000 students. Actress Kathy Baker told media how impressed she was with the uptown neighborhood where the campus is located, calling it "gorgeous"¦St. Charles [Avenue] and the Garden District are just beautiful." Jude Law was impressed with what he saw at Tulane, calling it an "extraordinary university in a very special city, not just in the state but in the world." Kate Winslet said "I think there is a God and God's not planning anything major for New Orleans anytime soon. I highly recommend it." Actors Patricia Clarkson, Kate Winslet and Mark Ruffalo answered the screams of students and fans and ventured over to sign autographs before strolling down the red carpet. Clarkson, a New Orleans native, knows Tulane from her very early days. Her parents lived in the married student dorms on the university's campus when she was an infant.
Over 600 Tulane students majoring in political science, theatre and film studies were invited to the premiere at McAlister Auditorium. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco opened the event with a welcome and a pitch for more movie-making in Louisiana. "All The King's Men" was shot in Louisiana, which has a booming film industry with $700 million in projects scheduled for this year alone. Director Steven Zaillian introduced the cast and thanked the many studio executives from Sony, Columbia Pictures and Phoenix films in attendance.
Afterwards, VIPs attended a star-studded party steps away on Tulane's quad while a second showing took place for hundreds more Tulane students in McAlister Auditorium. Tulane University offers a film minor and several film courses. Recently, students produced a full-length feature film, "NOLA," as part of a film course co-taught by actor Harold Sylvester. Sylvester graduated from Tulane in 1972 and is best known for his role in "An Officer and a Gentleman" and television's "Married With Children."
Video of the event is available at: mms://PowerHost.PowerStream.NET/002/00350/Red_Carpet.wmv
Publication quality images available on request.
RSS