Billy Zane News and Articles!!

NYPost 9/21/00

By ROD DREHER I WOKE UP EARLY THE DAY I DIED CONTEMPORARY audiences like Ed Wood movies because they're so awful. But what makes them campy is that Wood, the poor deluded cross-dresser, thought he was making art. Who knows what director Aris Iliopulos thought he was up to when he took on "I Woke Up Early the Day I Died," a Wood screenplay that was never inflicted upon celluloid. It's about a Thief (Billy Zane) who escapes from an insane asylum, commits a robbery, and loses the money while sleeping in a graveyard. There's no dialogue; it plays like a silent film comedy, with Zane wordlessly chewing scenery as he trips over cameo performers like Sandra Bernhard, Christina Ricci, Eartha Kitt, Tippi Hedren and others. Presumably Zane & Co. had a lot more fun filming this inexplicable low-budget indulgence than any sane person will have watching it.

This is a picture of Billy signing autographs in Toronto for the premiere showing of I Woke Up Early the Day I Died!!

NYPost 9/19/00

This picture is of Billy signing autographs for Zaniacs Rachel, Marrena and Dana!!

by Richard Johnson with Paula Froelich and Chris Wilson Elsewhere on the frenetic party circuit, the cocktails flowed a little too freely at Friday's bash at Lotus for Dazed and Confused magazine's "Star Culture" book launch sponsored by Courvoisier cognac. One reveler dropped a cranberry and cognac off the balcony, soaking Russell Simmons, advertising legend Donny Deutsch, Denzel Washington, and Sean "Puffy" Combs. Among the partygoers who managed to stay dry were Milla Jovovich , who danced with Icelandic songbird Bjork, Heidi Klum, Liv Tyler, Billy Zane, China Chow and former Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, who spun records in the deejay booth.

NYPost 9/15/00

by Evelyn Nussenbaum and Jeane MacIntosh Ubiquitous Billy Zane seems to have finally had enough of the limelight. He turned up at John Varvatos yesterday morning but declined a seat, preferring to stand in back instead. "He just wanted to see the show - he's a fan," says a spy, "and didn't want to deal with having his picture taken."

NYPost Nightlife and Entertainment 5/17/00

Nightlife & Entertainment Best Movie Theater (for people watching) Laemmle's Sunset 5 8000 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood 323-848-3500 Okay, we all know the Sunset has the best selection of art house and independent movies in town, but that's only half the entertainment value you get for your $8.50. Hang out in the lobby on any given weekend and watch the drama unfold, as Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, and coffeehouse chic collide. See celebrities like Billy Zane and Marilyn Manson try to act inconspicuous while their outfits scream "Pay attention to me!" See the blue-suited behemoth of a manager lose his patience with the umpteenth customer demanding a refund for Sick and Twisted because she didn't realize it'd be, you know, sick and twisted! See pretentious Eurotrash threaten to beat up the concession stand staff when they discover that there's no salt on the popcorn! And, of course, what people-watching space in L.A. would be complete without a barrage of idiotic show-offs on cell phones? Just don't linger too conspicuously, or you may get noticed by management -- and make someone else's night as part of the ongoing show.

Billy on Rosie O'Donnell 9/11/00  includes pictures and sound clips!!

August 26, 2000 Billy set to do "Don Juan"

San Jose Mercury News Billy Zane back in the saddle From Marilyn Beck, Stacy Jenel Smith and Stephanie DuBois in Hollywood BILLY Zane heads to Spain next month to take on the lead in ``Don Juan,'' a film that'll require much, much more than romancing the ladies. ``The script has incredible action sequences, huge swordplay, a bullfight . . . '' reports the ``Titanic'' co-star. He's not sure whether he'll get the chance to fight a live bull. ``They're talking about wanting to do some CGI (computer generated imagery) stuff -- like the tiger in `Gladiator.' '' But he's more than willing. Zane expects to ``spend a concentrated month'' honing his fencing skills and brushing up on his horseback riding. All that physicality is especially impressive when you realize Zane suffered a broken collarbone lensing Fox's Sept. 13-14 miniseries of Dean Koontz's bestselling ``Sole Survivor'' novel. He was back on the set two days after the injury, but says shooting ``was pretty tricky. I had to pop in and out of a sling for about five weeks.''

The Ticket

BILLY ZANE ASSUMES TITLE ROLE IN 'DON JUAN' By MARILYN BECK, CREATORS SYNDICATE Billy Zane heads to Spain next month to take on the lead in "Don Juan," a film that'll require much-much-more than romancing the ladies. "The script has incredible action sequences, huge sword-action sequences, hugh swordplay, a bullfight..." reports the "Titanic" co- star. He's not sure whether he'll get the chance to fight a live bull. "They're talking about wanting to do some CGI (computer generated imagery) stuff-like the tiger in 'Gladiator.'" But he's more than willing. "Why not? I take meetings in Hollywood...and I'm talking about real bull there!" Zane expects to "spend a concentrated month' honing his fencing skills and brushing up on his horseback riding. All that physicality is especially impressive when you realize Zane suffered a broken collarbone lensing Fox's Sept. 13-14 mini-series of Dean Koontz's best-selling "Sole Survivor" novel. He was back on the set two days after the injury, but says shooting "was petty tricky. "I had to pop in and out of a sling for about five weeks. I was running through the woods and waiting to cringe when they'd say 'cut.' It's amazing how you rise to the occasion when the canera's burning." He says he's recovered, but the injury left him an "irregularity in the alignment of my shoulder. There's a procedure to take care of that, but it involves putting in some pins that will always stay...I'm not into having foreign objects in the system."

Updated 8/8/00  Billy Zane Rumors!!  Remember, it's just a rumor.  Excerpt from New York Post

Among those who did show were director Phillip Noyce (the subject of a retrospective) and actors Billy Zane and Sam Neill, who starred along with Kidman in Noyce's 1989 Australian thriller "Dead Calm." Zane - who proved to be the darling of the local paparazzi - was reported to have been smitten by a beautiful Russian model, identified only as Katya, with whom he was spotted numerous times. "Strange irony - I have always had to play bad guys, probably because of my appearance," the casually dressed Zane told reporters here. "Regrettably, people often identify me with the bad guy from 'Titanic,'" added Zane, who played Kate Winslet's sleazy beau. "You know, you can't be loved by everybody. I remember that people who saw 'Titanic' approached me and said: 'Billy, we can't stand DiCaprio. We love you.'" addy: www.nypost.com/entertainment/8695.htm

Hellenic Times 7/28/00

Entertainment Connection By Nick Katsoris July 28, 2000 Zane: Here There And Everywhere Billy Zane has become the king of being seen lately. Last month the paparazzi spotted Zane at the Cannes film festival and at a party hosted by Bjork; then he was noted as a guest at the World Music Awards in Monaco. Added to the appearance list are a Victoria Secret model party at Bowlmer lanes in New York following the premiere of the new film Boys and Girls, dinner at Woo Lae Oak on Mercer Street in Manhattan with model Jaime Rishar and real estate power broker Wilbur Gonzalez and a perfume party hosted by Naomi Campbell to launch her new namesake fragrance. Probably Zane's most spectacular sighting of the summer however was his appearance at an East Hampton party at the home of rapper Sean Puffy Combs. At this Fourth of July weekend shindig Zane managed to even upstage Puffy's girlfriend, singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, as Zane emerged from the swimming pool in a wetsuit, and unzipped it to reveal a white tuxedo.

Fangoria Magazine Excerpt and Pictures from Sole Survivor!! 7/6/00

Hollywood Reporter Excerpt - Billy Zane News!! April 14, 2000

TCM turns 6 with news on Hutton, 'Oz,' Zane   NEW YORK -- Retired actress-singer Betty Hutton, who has not given an interview in more than 20 years, will tape one for Turner Classic Movies' "Private Screenings" later this month, the network announced Thursday. The Hutton announcement was one of several made Thursday, the eve of TCM's sixth anniversary. TCM said "The Wizard of Oz" will be broadcast commercial-free July 3, the first time it has ever aired that way on television. The network also said it has signed actor Billy Zane ("Titanic," "The Phantom") to narrate the TCM original documentary "Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies." It will air June 27.

StreamSearch Internet Film and Music Festival 2000 Winners Announced at Playboy Mansion Gala Hosted by Garry Marshall Sundance Institute Also Honored

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 4, 2000-- StreamSearch.com, the Remote Control of the Web, announces winners of its first Internet Film and Music Festival tonight at a gala event hosted by Garry Marshall at the Playboy Mansion. The Sundance Institute also receives a special tribute recognizing its support of independent film, and the Institute presents the Cultural Spirit Award to the film ``Short Wait Between Trains.''  The mission of the world's first all-virtual Internet Film and Music Festival is to bring unique product to film and music enthusiasts around the world. Beginning February 20, 2000, the festival has attracted 40,000 media views, with more than 26,000 people registering and voting for favorite films, music videos and bands.  Winners and runners-up in the StreamSearch Internet Film and Music Festival are:  Feature Film:  ``I Woke Up Early the Day I Died,'' directed by Aris Iliopulos, written by Ed D. Wood, produced by Chris Hanley and Billy Zane. UGround is the Internet distributor for the winning film, plus seven other titles in the festival.  ``Dinner and Driving,'' directed by Lawrence Trilling, written by Steven Wolfson and Lawrence Trilling.  Short Film:  ``Next Stop Eternity,'' directed by Yasmine Golchan, produced and written by Yasmine Golchan and Vera Kessed.  ``Kismet,'' directed by Billy Wirth, written by Sheri Sussman, and produced by Stephanie Niznik, Walter Turbitt and Maggie Abbott.  Animation:  ``More,'' directed and written by Mark Osborne; produced by Steven B. Kalafer.  ``Chicken,'' directed and written by Gordon Langley; produced by Christopher O'Hare.  Music:     Silverman "Time is Blade"    Album: Archangel Darin Talbot ``Tweeker Shred Master''  Album: Music Flight Company Press Release

Movieline - April 2000

When unknown actress Leonor Varela starred in last year's television miniseries Cleopatra, she played the last Queen of Egypt more as voluptuous mantrap than canny politician.  Then she bakced up her big breakthrough opportunity with a promotional photo shoot in Los Angeles to which she wore nothing but a snake and a sheet.  (I had this huge, heavy, cold snake on me for a couple of hours and it constantly moved around, she recalls.)  Both the series and the snake seem to have worked, because Varela walked away from Cleopatra with a two-picture deal with Miramax.  Texas Rangers is the first of these pictures, and it sounds like the 26-year-old Chilean actress is going to heat up the screen in this one too.  She plays Perdita, the Mexican tigress who tangles with the Rangers.  I asked for the corset to be a little bit tighter," she reports, and by the time we fixed it, my boobs were almost banging at my throat. To be riding in that on a wagon with horses at full speed was pretty wild.  And which of her costars does she think she had the most chemistry with - James Van Der Beek, Dylan McDermott or Ashton Kutcher?  I think Dylan, she replies.  He was the cutest one of all those.   It's a moot point, though, because Varela is a one-man woman, and she's already taken - by actor Billy Zane.  Billy was up there a lot, and he took care of me.   I don't find other guys attractive because I'm not looking.  I'm not interested, I'm not excited, I'm not curious. She's not going to get curious any time soon, either.  Zane made sure of that recently when he invited her to a rehearsal of his musical play about Jim Morrison.  All of a sudden,  recounts Varela,  the lights go on me and he starts singing these Doors lyrics to me:  'I'm gonnna love you till the stars fall from the sky.'   The whole band is singing behind him.   And I'm like, 'What's going on?'   And he's on his mike, with his beautiful crooner voice, and he gets on his knee and gives me this ring and says, 'Will you marry me?'   I'm like,  Can I say no? It was absolutely great.   That's him. -- Wolf Schneider

Uptown Billy Zane makes a directorial debut in this romantic comedy about a man who starts a theater company for the mentally ill.   No word on whether Zane will be also among the cast.  The film is presently in development. Back Talk - Mar. 2, 2000

Hellenic Times - Feb.28, 2000

Sister Act  She's still singing, but she's acting again too. Lisa Zane, the wide-eyed sister of Billy, recently appeared in the CBS television/Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Missing Pieces.  In the film, Zane plays the ex-girlfriend of Paul Kersey. Oscar Winner James Coburn plays Kersey's father and is searching for his son after his presumed death.  The film was shot last March amidst unusually cold weather in Santa Barbara, California.  "I despise the cold," says Zane, "and I was the one who suffered the most because I had these skimpy little dresses on."  Her co-star Coburn calls Lisa "a groovy chick."   Lisa has starred in numerous films including 1991's Freddy's Dead, Bad Influence and Nurse. She also appeared on ER, LA Law and the Fox series,  Profit and Roar, and recently in another television movie Stolen From the Heart with Tracey Gold.  Since 1997, the Grecian beauty has been moonlighting as a lounge singer at the Hollywood hot spot Les Deux, as well as several New York clubs like The Bubble Lounge, where her parents Bill and Thalia Zane flew in from Chicago to see her.   Even brother Billy frequents her gigs.  "When we were little," says the Titanic star, "she was always singing preposterously sophisticated songs for a 12-year-old."  Lisa will next appear in the film Monkeybone, a comedy due next fall, which has her playing the mythical Medusa. Her serpentine tresses required five puppeteers, plus a guy, she says, "who lifted the cables for me so my neck wouldn't break."   As a result, she had to visit the chiropractor twice a week.   Meanwhile, brother Billy plans to make his directorial debut with Uptown, which is described as a philanthropic love story about a guy who starts a theater company for the mentally ill.   At the launch of Christian Dior's new fragrance J'Adore, Zane told reporters that he's working with the Shooting Gallery to line up funding for the project, which was penned by Steve Pink of Grosse Point Blank fame.

Will Mr. Mojo Rise Onstage? San Diego Repertory Theatre has the casting headache of a lifetime:  finding someone to play rock star Jim Morrison. Titanic villian Billy Zane played the role in last year's workshop of the show titled Celebration of the Lizard but reportedly has a conflict for the May 26 - July 2 production.  The show features all or part of 50 songs by The Doors (performed live), has the blessings of ex-Door's keyboardist Ray Manzarek and also stars Grace Jones as the Lizard Woman.  (The central character is never called Jim Morrison -- only the Lizard King.)  Where's Val Kilmer when you need him? David Patrick Stearns - USAToday 2/25/00

Zane ICM exit:  Paradigm Shift Billy Zane, best known as the heavy in the megablockbuster Titantic, has left ICM to sign with Sam Gores of Paradigm.  Zane, who recently played Marc Antony in the Emmy-nominated ABC miniseries Cleopatra  for Hallmark Entertainment, has also enlisted a new manager, Eric Gold of Gold/Miller.  In addition to that little boat movie, Zane starred in Dead Calm and Memphis Belle. Thom Geier - New York

Float On Clubbing is all the fashion.  It happened during fashion week in Paris, at Les Bains-Douche where New York's Float nightclub hosted a party with Flaunt Magazine, Diesel Jeans and actor Billy Zane.  Among the crowd were John Galliano, Patrick Demarchelier, Roman Polanski, Elizabeth Saltzman, Victor Hugo, David LaChapelle, and Amanda Lapore.  Now they can't stop.  Float's millennium plans include a live satellite feed with the Atlantic Club in Milan, Les Bains-Douche in Paris and Float in London, New York and Miami.   Fashion videos will be feeding these newly-global e-crowds. --Fashion Planet

Details Magazine March 1998

Genre Magazine - June 1996

ABC Chat Transcript - Cleopatra

Don't know where it went, but I will have it back very soon.  Sorry, London 12/13/00

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