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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 09 > Entry
Role of racist forces actor Christian Slater to stretch out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It took a day and a half for “Bobby” actors Christian Slater, Martin Sheen, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy, Elijah Wood, Lindsay Lohan and Freddy Rodríguez to film the blood-splattered final moments of Robert F. Kennedy’s life in a California hotel kitchen.
Shaking his head during lunch at the Capital Grille in Buckhead Thursday, Slater reflected: “It was a heavy, heavy emotional vibe. On one level, you’re actors so you do your job, but in another way, we knew we had the responsibility of chronicling a moment in history.”
The Emilio Estevez-directed and penned docudrama focuses on life inside the Ambassador Hotel, the site of Kennedy’s assassination, on the day of and the moments after the presidential candidate had won the all-important California primary in June 1968.
Estevez’s all-star ensemble cast, including Anthony Hopkins, Harry Belafonte, Laurence Fishburne, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Nick Cannon and Heather Graham, comprise 22 fictional characters woven into the very real tragedy.
Slater plays Timmons, the hotel’s racist food and beverage manager.
Tucking into his tenderloin Caesar salad, Slater said playing the role was a challenge. “[Timmons] represents a very real part of the population,” he said. “I’m just glad there was an opportunity to present some of his humanity. But it was fun to sink my teeth into this guy and give Freddy Rodríguez a hard time.”
Like the rest of the cast, Slater is out doing promotion for the buzzed-about film that opens here on Thanksgiving Day.
Slater thinks the film serves a purpose as a teaching tool as well. “Just exposing younger people to Bobby Kennedy’s speeches that spoke of peace and unification and inclusion, it’s important. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this film.”
A jazzy jump on the season
While most households still have residual Halloween candy hanging about, fans of Atlanta jazz trumpeter and singer Joe Gransden were prepping for the holidays in a big way Thursday. About 900 copies of the musician’s brand-new seasonal CD, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” flew off his Web site Thursday, rendering the album out of stock from his online supplier, indiemerchstore.com.
“It was just incredible,” Gransden told us when we rang him for confirmation. “I guess my little fan base has grown in the past year.”
Naturally, having high profile fans like jazz lover Clint Eastwood doesn’t hurt. Gransden, who has performed numerous times in Carmel, Calif., for the former mayor there says that friends of the “Flag of Our Fathers” director have already booked two holiday shows on the left coast with the trumpeter.
“I wish the Christmas season lasted six months,” Gransden said. “I’d be a wealthy guy.”
“Home” should be back in stock today. Local fans can catch Gransden and his trio at Spivey Hall on Nov. 17 and a big band Christmas show is booked at the Variety Playhouse Dec. 5. Info: www.joegransden.com.
A ‘Man at His Best’
Atlanta Falcon and philanthropist Warrick Dunn is one of five notable public figures that will be profiled on Sunday night’s “Esquire: Man at His Best” documentary on Fine Living at 8 p.m. Dunn is recognized for his Warrick Dunn Foundation, which pairs single mothers in need with a new place to live. The special, which cribs from the popular mantra of the mens magazine, also features former Microsoft exec John Wood, actor Denis Leary, former college hockey player Travis Roy and NBA star Alonzo Mourning, all of whom, like Dunn, have all transformed their celebrity into charitable causes.
Fed-ex update
We were feeling slightly soiled reporting on the Kevin Federline/Britney Spears split Thursday until we discovered that the ever-reputable Associated Press even sent one of its TV reporters to cover the fledgling rapper’s Chicago show Wednesday night. The priceless piece (you can access it on the video section at ajc.com) reports that scores of free tickets were given away to the House of Blues show. Said concert-goer Lily Mueller: “It was the worst show I’ve ever seen.” Added fellow Federline rubber-necker Dan Truesell: “We were just waiting for the meltdown.”
During the show, K-Fed alluded to his soon-to-be-former-spouse just once, announcing from the stage: “I’m seeing a lot of fine ladies here tonight, and you know who’s about to be a free man!”
That’s spelled: C-L-A-S-S-Y.
COUPLING
NASCAR champ Jeff Gordon took a break from the Nextel Cup championship to get married again.
The four-time NASCAR champion wed Belgian model Ingrid Vandebosch on Tuesday in a private ceremony in Mexico, Jon Edwards, Gordon’s publicist, confirms. The wedding was first reported by Us Weekly.
The 35-year-old Gordon and Vandebosch have been together since 2004. They began dating about a year after Gordon’s much-publicized and expensive divorce from Brooke Sealy, his wife of seven years. Gordon recently surpassed $80 million in career winnings.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The only person George loves is George. He’s like a nightmare ex-wife.” — Culture Club drummer and Boy George’s ex Jon Moss to the AP. The 1980s pop act is organizing a tour without its “Karma Chameleon” charismatic former front, er, man. The singer and his ex-bandmates have been exchanging barbs in the press.
Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Russell Johnson (“Gilligan’s Island”) is 82. Actor Roy Scheider is 74. Lyricist Tim Rice is 62. Singer-guitarist Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 59. Actor-comedian Sinbad is 50. Comedian Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”) is 38. Actress Ellen Pompeo (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 37. Actress Brittany Murphy (“8 Mile,” “Girl, Interrupted”) is 29. Rapper Eve is 28. Actor Josh Peck (“Drake and Josh”) is 20.
Contributing: News services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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