North by Northwest set to tackle Carpenter thriller
North by Northwest’s next movie project will be a thriller titled “The Ward,” directed by John Carpenter, the veteran director famous for “Halloween” and “Escape From New York.”
It’s scheduled to begin shooting in Spokane in late July or August.
It’s the story of young woman in a mental institution. A ghost proceeds to terrorize her, which would be, I think it’s safe to say, not conducive to a person’s mental health.
The movie doesn’t have any stars connected with it yet, but further developments may ensue. It will have a budget of around $7 million, close to average for a North by Northwest production.
A Spokane ‘Red Dawn’
Meanwhile, the planned remake of the 1984 cult classic “Red Dawn” will have a Spokane connection – maybe.
The new script changes the location from fictional Calumet High School in Colorado to “a Spokane high school.”
Does this mean the remake will be shot in Spokane, or at least in Washington? It’s possible.
The producers have been in contact with the state’s film office, but they have not made a final decision. With a little movie magic, they could film the thing in California or Canada and still call it Spokane.
The cast so far includes Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck and Adrianne Palicki. It’s about a group of small town high school football players who resist a Communist attack.
Willie’s son
We have one addition and one deletion to make in the Pig Out in the Park music lineup for Labor Day weekend.
Added: Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real. Lukas is Willie Nelson’s son and he knocked ‘em dead playing with his dad at The Gorge last summer. He’ll play the Clocktower Stage, Sept. 4, 8:15 p.m.
Deleted: Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk. The tour routing didn’t work out.
KHQ on the radio
On Monday, KHQ-6 will begin simulcasting its morning “KHQ Local News Today” show and the evening “KHQ Local News at Five” newscast on KJRB-AM (790) every weekday.
This new partnership will enable listeners to once again hear KHQ’s TV newscasts on the radio.
For decades, the Q-6 audio feed was simulcast on 87.7 FM and was surprisingly popular. But that radio signal went silent in February, a victim of digital conversion.
KHQ will also supply daily local news updates to KJRB and two other Radio Spokane stations, KEYF-FM (Oldies 101.1) and KDRK-FM (Cat 93.7).
Radio Spokane is the Spokane arm of Mapleton Communications.
Dunlop’s back in quartet
The Spokane String Quartet has a new second violinist: Tracy Dunlop, the longtime Spokane Symphony assistant concertmaster.
This will be her second stint with the quartet; she spent a season with them as a violist in 1995-1996.
The quartet opens its new season Sept. 13; season tickets are available at www.spokanestringquartet.org.
Farm Chicks on CBS
The region’s very own Farm Chicks – Serena Thompson and Teri Edwards – will make a national TV appearance on CBS’ “The Early Show” on July 14.
They’ll be doing a live segment. Also, they have already been to New York to tape some footage for use that day.
They began with barn sales in Fairfield, and have established a successful Farm Chicks empire involving antiquing, crafts and baking.
Their cookbook is titled “The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen: Live Well, Laugh Often, Cook Much.”
Viggo-inspired
The Panida Theater in Sandpoint has scheduled a new play titled “Postcards” for July 31-Aug. 8, inspired by the artwork of Viggo Mortensen.
The actor best known as Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings” is a sometimes-resident of the Sandpoint area. He is also a painter and photographer who has published several volumes of his works.
This is part of a new series at the Panida titled “Art as Theatre,” in which local playwrights write plays inspired by the work of local artists.
“Postcards,” by Sandpoint playwright Teresa Pesce, will be a one-act play about a girl trying to get her dementia-afflicted grandmother to talk about her past and her secrets.
Tickets are $12, available at Eve’s Leaves and Stage Right Cellars.