Gossip should have no friends

[February 27th, 2008]

» REEL LIFE: Portland movie producer Neil Kopp is now the proud owner of a Film Independent’s Spirit Award . Kopp, who was interviewed in last week’s WW, was honored with the Piaget Producers Award on Saturday, Feb. 23, in Santa Barbara for his work in producing Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy and Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park. The Indie Spirit Awards, which also honored Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There, are a little bit like the Oscars—except they don’t last 18 hours and include 564 montages. “I’m thrilled and humbled,” Kopp said from Hawaii, where he’s running a photo shoot. “Without the support of Portland’s finest crew and facilities, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

»TONYA WATCH: It was a very good night for Tonya Harding. Not only did she get to enjoy a musical tribute to her life at downtown’s World Trade Center last Thursday, Feb. 21, the opening night of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera (see review), the former skater also raked in at least $200 playing our state’s video poker machines . Before and after the show, Harding holed up nearby at Paddy’s Irish Bar , on Southwest 1st Avenue and Yamhill Street, where she longed for a Busch Light (but settled on Coors Light and nachos ) while working the Oregon Lottery’s game of chance in the back of the bar.

»EXCLUSIVE! MILK MEN: In the battle of the gay directors and even gayer projects, score one for Portland’s own Gus Van Sant , who has extended an “olive branch” to Bryan Singer —the X-Men director he beat out for the biopic on San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Singer himself is expected to make a cameo appearance in Gus’ film, Milk, about the life and death of the “Mayor of Castro Street.” When asked to confirm, Van Sant said he had his fingers crossed that Singer will join his cast. “We hope so,” Van Sant told WW in between takes on the San Francisco set. “He said that he will, but scheduling is hard.”

»GARDEN PARTY: There were plenty of surprises at Portland Center Stage’s Monday, Feb. 25, announcement of its 2007-2008 season, but one stands out: The company will produce Grey Gardens, Doug Wright, Scott Frankel and Michael Koire’s 2006 musical adaptation of the 1975 documentary about Edith Bouvier Beale, next May. How did Artistic Director Chris Coleman secure the rights to the multiple award-winning show? After all, most Broadway hits spend at least a year on tour before they’re up for grabs by regional companies. (Hell, 22-year old Les Mis was off limits until just last year). “Persistence and luck,” Coleman told WW. “I just kept after them. Plus, it didn’t hurt that my assistant, Rebecca Felch, used to work for the composer’s agent.” Keep working those connections, Chris.