Posted by: Riikka

3 Jul 2007

(3 Comments)

Woody Allen and Barcelona declared their affection for each other at a sweltering press conference on Monday with a phalanx of pols and security guards in attendance.

“I hope I can present Barcelona to the world as I see it, the same way I presented Manhattan to the world as I saw it with my eyes,” said Allen, dressed in a natty fly-fisherman hat, as he unveiled a few more details about his next pic, which shoots in Spain from July 9.

“I want to write a love letter to Barcelona and from Barcelona to the world,” he added, as much perhaps by way of diplomacy as clarification.

That affection is returned by Barcelona and Spain at large.

Standing next to him, Spain’s ebullient Culture Minister Carmen Calvo proved Allen’s closest fan, producing a fuchsia-colored abanico to profusely fan the director, before declaring that Allen “makes philosophy with cinema. He’s a brilliant example of what cinema represents in contemporary culture.”

The little news that emerged from the press conference was that Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn and Chris Messina have joined the cast.

Toplining Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, a shroud of silence surrounds pic’s title and subject — as is usual with Allen’s pics.

The press conference did at least round out the full cast of the film, which is produced by Gravier and Spain’s Mediapro.

Zak Orth (Music and Lyrics) and Pablo Schreiber (Lords of Dogtown) join the already-announced Carrie Preston in secondary roles.

Local thesps scoring parts include Abel Folk, Lluis Homar, Joel Joan, Julio Perillan and Mireia Ros.

Source: Variety

Filed under: 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'