>> INSIDER WIRE —Chanel the company may be suffering, as indicated by recent job cutbacks and the cancellation of the Mobile Art exhibit, but the filming of Coco avant Chanel is still going strong — behold, the first still of Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel at work. [ONTD]
>> We saw the first shot of Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel early last month, but the Nov. 24 edition of Elle France had a new group of images from the set of Coco avant Chanel, which centers around Chanel's early years and modest origins. The movie — currently filming in Paris — will be released in France in May 2009, with international screenings to follow later in the year. Costumer Catherine Leterrier, who is said to have collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld, focused on showing how Chanel "was different from the ladies of her time" — "she was poor, but she had her own style." Those looking for extravagant costumes won't be disappointed, however: the film is supposed to culminate in a runway show of classic Chanel designs.
*image: source
>> INSIDER WIRE —Behold, the first production still from Coco Avant Chanel, with Audrey Tautou starring as the designer in her early years. Filming has been underway since Sept. 15 in Paris and Normandy, and the movie's release date is expected to be late 2009. Hopefully more stills will be out soon, so we can see more of those costumes Karl Lagerfeld is said to be supervising. [The Age]
>> There are plenty of Coco Chanel biopics in the works, and Karl Lagerfeld is now involved in at least two of them.
It was announced last month that he is working with the costumer for Chanel et Stravinsky, and yesterday came the announcement that Coco Avant Chanel, which stars Audrey Tautou as the designer, will feature Chanel dresses (I assume archival) and Karl will be supervising the re-creation of costumes and accessories for the production.
It seems like Coco Avant Chanel has been in pre-production for forever — Audrey's attachment was announced last May — but the 12-week production is finally starting Sept. 15 in Paris. The movie is slated to be released in 2009, and since Warner Bros. is behind the project, expect a full-out, hopefully gratifying, film.
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>> Chanel is really looking to increase their profile through the movie route. Another film based on some portion of Coco Chanel's life has been announced: Chanel et Stravinsky, l'Histoire Secrete.
Last year, three films focusing on Coco Chanel were under way — Coco avant Chanel, starring Audrey Tautou as the designer before she became famous, is now currently filming; Director Daniele Thompson's Chanel biopic is still in the early stages, with a projected 2009 release date; and director William Friedkin's Coco & Igor, focusing on Chanel's love affair with Igor Stravinsky, is still in development.
Marina Hands has been lined up to play Coco opposite Mads Mikkelsen as Stravinsky in Coco & Igor; however, Friedkin is no longer listed as director — which brings us to the fourth, and newest, movie: Chanel et Stravinsky, l'Histoire Secrete. It, like Coco & Igor, is focusing on the relationship between Chanel and Stravinsky, and has Mads Mikkelsen playing the composer, but Anna Mouglalis is set to play Chanel, with Jan Kounen in the director's role. Are these two movies the same movie? Or are two studios just planning to go head to head?
Regardless, Chanel the brand wins in the end with all the publicity. A company spokeswoman confirmed that the house will be opening its doors to Chanel et Stravinsky's costumer, who Karl Lagerfeld will also be meeting with in coming weeks. Plus, it's worth noting that two of the women cast as Chanel have close ties to the house: Audrey Tautou is a face of the brand, and Anna Mouglalis is a muse to Karl.
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Stephen Jones has taken a role in the highly anticipated film, Coco Before Chanel featuring Audrey Tautou. The sought-after milliner, who has designed head pieces for some of the top fashion houses including Mugler, Gaultier, and Christian Dior, will be creating hats for our little French Fabcon in the upcoming biopic.
"She will make a wonderful Chanel, she is equally as petite. We have had to adjust everything. We put a little flower on her head and it looked like a cushion," said Jones. We can't wait to see his millinery madness!
French films have a distinct quirkiness that I crave from time to time. I recently watched, for the hundredth time, Amélie starring cute-as-a-button, French actress, Audrey Tautou. She is a hot ticket slated to play Coco Chanel in an upcoming flick and rumored to be the next face of Chanel No. 5 perfume. Her short banged bob and vintage wardrobe made me want to visit my hairstylist sooner than scheduled, and wear my hemline a little longer.
If Clémence Poésy is France's eccentric child, and Marion Cotillard is the sophisticated sister, then Audrey is the wise, ripe daughter that is utterly comfortable in her skin.
One look at Audrey's clothes and pixie haircut and it's obvious that the girl cares about fashion. When on the red carpet, she's quirky but always polished. Her choice of dresses makes it known that she's not OK with being a fashion sheep. Her off-carpet style usually consists of relaxed jeans, paired with a cool jacket and easy flats. With her petite frame and at-ease style, I get the sense that for Miss Tatou, shopping is an in-and-out experience. I'd love to accompany her one day!
To see more red-carpet and movie pictures of the fabulous Frenchie, read more
Magnifique! WWD reports that French actress Audrey Tautou is rumored to be the next face of Chanel No. 5 perfume. If it's true — and considering WWD's insider reports are almost always right, it probably is — then Audrey will follow icons such as Nicole Kidman and Catherine Deneuve in representing the scent.
Truthfully, I'm surprised that Chanel hasn't signed her before. Audrey Tautou's gamine charm is unmatched, and she's playing Coco Chanel in an upcoming biopic. (She also seems a little more approachable than current spokesmodel Nicole Kidman, but that's just my opinion.) Seems like a perfect fit to me.
Like Audrey Tautou's movie Priceless, I'm completely smitten by the poster and trailer for Love Songs, a movie from French filmmaker Christophe Honore. Everything in the preview screams "French": a love triangle, pretty singing, heartbreak, and the glittering streets of Paris as the backdrop.
The musical, opening in limited release in America on March 21, follows a man and a woman who invite another woman into their relationship to spice things up. As the IFC site for Love Songs explains, the heart of the story comes when tragedy strikes and "these young Parisians are forced to deal with the fragility of life and love."
To get swept away in the preview, read more
Don't you just love this poster, with that Tiffany blue background and the gorgeous main star, Audrey Tautou, front and center? I don't often see movie posters that I would love to have in my home, but this is one I would put up in a heartbeat.
Drawn in by the elegant poster and Tautou's sweet image, I had to watch the trailer for Priceless, a French film coming to America in limited release on March 28. Tautou plays Irene, a "golddigger" who lives in luxury by taking up with rich older men. Yet she soon finds herself engaged in a competition with a bartender-turned-gigolo for wealthy older women. What happens, then, when the golddigger and the gigolo fall in love?
The goofball silliness of the story combined with the brightly colored French Riviera and, of course, the irresistible Tautou makes this a movie I definitely plan to catch in a few weeks.
Can I say it again? She's just so charming and adorable! To watch the preview, read more
