Bustin' Down the Door DVD

Bustin' Down the Door, the surfing documentary narrated by EN, will be released on DVD on Jan 13, 2009 (Source: Netflix).

Primal Fear DVD

High-Def Digest reports that a new edition DVD of Primal Fear will be released on March 10 in both the standard DVD and in Blu-Ray DVD formats. They will include new bonus features: audio commentary (by director Greg Hoblit, writer Ann Biderman, executive producers Gary Luchessi and Hawk Koch and casting director Deborah Aquila), a trio of featurettes ("Primal Fear: The Final Verdict," "Primal Fear: Star Witness," "Psychology of Guilt") and the original theatrical trailer. Unfortunately, no commentary by EN on his debut (and Oscar -nominated role).

SAG letter

USA Today reports that EN was one of more than 130 A-list actors that signed a letter opposing a strike-authorization vote. Others include Matt Damon, George Clooney, Eva Longoria Parker, Tobey Maguire,Tom Hanks, Josh Brolin, Cameron Diaz, and Heather Graham

Enterprise article

Fast Company has an article on EN, his role with Enterprise Community Partners, and its new programs. Edward Norton's $9,000,000,000 Housing Project (that's $9 Billion)

Design Awards

Ecorazzi reports that EN was one of the hosts of Global Green's 9th Annual Sustainable Design Awards this past Wednesday night at NYC's Pier Sixty. EN is a Global Green Board member. There is more about the event (as well as pictures) on Global Green's website. The event raised $450,000 "to support Global Green’s work to combat climate change while helping low income families and communities."

io lists The Incredible Hulk as one of the top 20 "DVDs To Give The Person Who's Seen It All" in their Sci-Fi gift guide. It also posted two of the deleted scenes.

EN's matching pledge

This holiday, EN is going above and beyond in the area of charitable giving. "Friends of the High Line Board Member Edward Norton has pledged to match every gift made in December, up to $100,000, with a gift to support the construction of the High Line." The High Line is an elevated railway that runs along the West Side of Manhattan that the Friends of the High Line is helping to turn into a public park. More about the High Line. Make a donation [Thanks to Robin for the info!!!]

Top 25 stars

IMDB.com has released a list of the Top 25 stars of 2008 based on the searches of IMDB.com's visitors. EN comes in at number 22. IMDB.com's STARmeter

Dewars, Blockbuster poll, Pride on Blu-Ray, I'm still here

The newest bit of EN info is actually event on which I have little info. How can this be? The sole account I have of this comes from a press release and accompanying photo. It seems like there was an event called "An Evening with Edward Norton and Friends at Christie's New York". At the event, EN signed a book, he met with some friends, people drank Dewars and then everybody went home. From the date on the pic, it happened on Dec 7. But seriously, The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund is a charity that EN has supported before with the Cartier LOVE bracelet campaign. For more information or to make a donation, go to maasaitrust.org. Here are the details from the press release

Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund and Dewar's Signature Present an Evening with Edward Norton and Friends at Christie's New York

New YORK, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Edward Norton signs the Dewar's Signature Book of Expressions at the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund event at Christie's Auction House in New York. The Dewar's Signature Book of Expressions is currently circulating amongst the Hollywood elite, to which Dewar's Blended Scotch Whiskey has pledged to donate to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund for every signature received.

Blockbuster conducted an online poll of which actors people would like to see as villians in the next Batman film (Source: Marketwatch). Here's the list:
1. Johnny Depp
2. Angelina Jolie
3. Natalie Portman
4. Edward Norton
5. Keira Knightley
6. Daniel Day-Lewis
7. Philip Seymour Hoffman
8. Viggo Mortensen
9. Kevin Spacey
10. Clive Owen

High-Def Digest states that Pride and Glory is headed to DVD on February 20 while The HD Room gives a Jan 27 release date with the only special feature mentioned is a featurette "Source of Glory: The Making of Pride and Glory". Amazon.com has a February 24 release date. I'll let you know when I have more information.

I've been out of commission longer than I intended. Thanks to everyone who have been sending me emails on news and articles. I hope to catch up soon. My daughter Vivienne Avalon ("Vivi") arrived late but was born on my grandmother's birthday. She was 8 lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long, but she was in the "sunny side up" position and I ended up getting a C-section. I've been unconscious during most of my free time. Then I had a major problem with my computer. During this time, my domain name expired and the major route to my site was shut down without my knowledge. But we're back up and running now.

Leaves photo

MTV Movies Blog has an interview with Leaves of Grass writer, director, actor Tim Blake Nelson (who also costarred with EN in The Incredible Hulk) and features the very first pic from the film.

Tim Blake Nelson Unveils ‘Leaves of Grass,’ Doubles Our Edward Norton Pleasure

Published by Larry Carroll on Friday, November 14, 2008 at 4:03 pm.

They’re two of the most talented and admired artists working today in Hollywood, and both Edward Norton and Tim Blake Nelson have impressed with their ability to write, direct and act while moving effortlessly from big-budget blockbusters to passion projects. Now, mere months after the duo joined forces on “The Incredible Hulk,” they have wrapped production on “Leaves of Grass,” taking their appreciation for duality to a whole new level.

“’Leaves of Grass’ is about an Ivy League classics professor who is lured home to Oklahoma by his eccentric, pot-growing brother to involve him in a scheme to help save the pot-grower’s life,” explained Nelson, who wrote, directed and appears in the film, which recently wrapped principal photography.

“Edward Norton plays identical twins, and the movie pits two philosophies against one another, as depicted by the same actor. One is a rationalist, and one is a hedonist. And the movie explores those two approaches on how to live a life.”

Check out this first-look photo of the “Fight Club” and “Illusionist” star, playing both sides of a very conflicted brotherhood. “It’s a film whose primary purpose is to entertain; so really at the heart of it, you’re watching an extraordinary actor playing these twins. The movie is hopefully funny, unpredictable, and unique,” explained Nelson to us, saying that he heads into the edit bay next week to finish the film that emerged from his own frustration with the inner-workings of Hollywood. “I wrote ‘Leaves of Grass’ in the rubble of some very bad professional stuff happening in my life; I had a movie that fell apart in pre-production.”

That film was called “Seasons of Dust,” and was to have starred Orlando Bloom and Kate Bosworth. “I was almost trying to cheer myself up,” the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” star remembered of that project’s frustrating death. “’Leaves of Grass’ is about a guy whose whole life falls apart; I chose to deal with things comedically rather than tragically.”

Nelson’s film features some heavy-hitters (including Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss and Keri Russell) who were eager to work with the duo - and might also give some people a few ideas for their next vacation destination if Amsterdam is a bit too expensive. “Most of the film takes place in this little area of Oklahoma called Little Dixie; it’s in the southeastern part of the state. It’s like its own state within the state…it’s where pot is grown in Oklahoma, and it’s world-renowned,” he laughed. “There are hunters down there as well, and there’s sort of an old West violence to the place, and for whatever reason crossbows are ubiquitous there.”

But ultimately, the biggest problem for the film may someday be deciding which Norton campaigns for the Best Actor Oscar and which one has to take Best Supporting. “You couldn’t believe that it was the same actor playing the two; it was just breathtaking,” Nelson marveled. “There were technical challenges to be sure…and so we did motion control and split-screen approaches, depending on the needs of the scene, and I think that will work really well…We always had to do both characters in the same day, because the camera was blocked off. It was always one character for the first half of the day, and the other character for the second.”

“It’s very exciting to watch, and very exciting to direct,” he added. “He was incredibly meticulous in his approach, and the result is going to be really jaw-dropping.”

NY Times

Thursday's NY Times has an article on the attention that the Obama documentary is attracting A Documentary About the Obama Campaign Is Drawing Wide Interest.

Obama documentary

The Hollywood Reporter announced that HBO has acquired the Obama documentary that EN is executive producing.

I have been out of commission with the birth of my first baby so I hope to catch up in the next day or so.

EN on Shootout

EN will be on AMC's Shootout this morning (Sunday). AMC has already posted video of the interview

I was surprised that EN was not on this Friday's Early Show. It even had him listed on the official Early Show website the night before.

EN on Early Show

EN will be on the Early Show tomorrow morning (Fri Oct 17) [Thanks to Erin for the info!!!]. Don't forget to look for coverage of the Pride and Glory premiere on tonight's entertainment news shows and also on tomorrow night's Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Pride and Glory premiere, New Interviews

The NYC Pride and Glory premiere occurred tonight. The big winner in the CharityFolksauction paid $5,500. Don't forget to check tomorrow's Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, E! News for coverage of the premiere. Here are some photos courtesy of Yahoo! News via the AP

New interviews and articles: Movies.ie [Thanks to Robin for the info!!!], Norton and Voight's Irish Pride, Pride' is in simple glory of Norton's work, Ed Norton says his latest flick goes beyond playing cops and robbers, Pride of New York.

TrailerAddict has posted video clips from Pride and Glory

Pride and Glory premiere, TV appearances, Entourage, obscene gestures from the womb

The NY premiere of Pride and Glory will happen on Oct 15. There are two charity auctions offering tickets: Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics which is offering "tickets to the celebrity studded movie premiere of Pride and Glory on October 15th in New York City, plus two nights accommodation in a luxury NYC hotel and two roundtrip airline tickets from anywhere in the United States" (current bid $3,000) and CharityFolks (on behalf of the Maasai Wilderness Conservationist Fund- EN is a supporter) which is offering "MEET ED NORTON with 2 VIP Tickets to the NYC Oct 15th Premiere AND After-Party of 'Pride and Glory'" (current bid $2,500). With CharityFolks, you score a personal meet with EN (who will probably be wishing he could be watching the final presidental debate, but still...). So if you have any money left during the economic crisis, why not spend it all in one night on Edward Norton. [Thanks to Alice, Paula and Adam for the info!!!]

EN will be making some TV appearances to promote P & G: on Thurs 10/16 on Live with Regis and Kelly and on late Fri Oct 17/ early Sat Oct 18 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Please note that TV appearances can change at the last minute and I'll do my best to keep you updated as to what is going on [Thanks to Chris for the info!!!]

EN again was part of this week's Entourage storyline: 411mania summary

Right around the P & G premiere and EN's media appearances, I am due to give birth and unless I run very, very late, I won't be seeing P & G until it hits video. A sonogram on Sep 25 gave an estimate (based on abdominal circumferance, head circumference, and femur length) that the baby weighed approx 6 lbs and 15 oz. Each day, she gets a little bigger. What weight would she be by P & G opening day Oct 24? I'm afraid to find out. I have to get an ultrasound biophysical profile on each of these final weeks due to my advanced maternal age (I'm 35). The baby dislikes the sonograms and last week tried to cover her face with her arm. Tuesday, after being poked awake during her nap, she turned away her face, lifted her arms, and put one finger up. The technician couldn't tell which finger it was, but I think the meaning is clear enough. Her first obscene gesture. Her grandfather would have been so proud.

Entourage

EN again showed up in the storyline in this week's Entourage. Here's a summary of the BuddyTV. Someone at iBored created a poster for the Edward Norton/Vincent Chase movie Smoke Jumper

EN on Fight Club Musical

MTV news talked to EN about the possibility of a musical based on Fight Club

“I doubt it will be me and Brad [Pitt],” “Fight Club” star Ed Norton laughed when asked about the possibility of starring in a Broadway revival of perhaps his most iconic role. “I know Brad can’t sing!”

[Further down in the article]

“It has been floating around for a while,” Norton said. “I’ve seen different notions of it.”

Norton even went so far as to throw his support behind Trent Reznor, who has been long-rumored to be writing the music.

“Reznor would be about right for it,” he said.

Entourage

Although he wasn't there in person, EN was part of the storyline in this week's Entourage. NY Magazine describes the episode (spoilers included), so catch it on HBO or HBO On Demand if you can.

Monday would have been the first day of filming for Leaves of Grass.

Hulk 2, Obama doc

In an interview with MTV, EN states that he doesn't know what his future will be with future Hulk movies. "'The minds of Marvel are sometimes opaque,' Norton told MTV News. ' I won’t say [they're] obtuse, but I don’t have any idea what they want to do.'" He also doesn't know the plans of the Avengers movie. “'They’ve got this notion of collecting the Marvel characters,' said Norton, who appeared a bit skeptical of Marvel’s ambitious plans for the project. 'Who knows where they’ll go?''”

Though he's stated previously that the Obama documentary (he is executive producer) will not be out before the election, the press has finally started to clue in to it. "Norton says,'We're making a historical record and not something to play a role in the election, so we have an agreement that this is something we won't talk a lot about or publicize until the election is over. I can't really comment on our access to Obama because it's part of our arrangement with the campaign, but it's a fascinating thing to be able to be documenting. We'll have an opportunity to talk about that process when it's all unfolded but we kind of have to stay off the record about it until it's all resolved.'" Ed Norton Puts Obama Film On Hold

If I start to seem a little out of focus, please bear with me. With four weeks to go before my due date, I'm running low on energy but not enought to overcome my insomnia, plus a pregnancy side effect I wasn't previously aware of : carpel tunnel syndrome in both hands.

Pride and Glory review, P&G interviews, Acute HIV

Variety has posted a review of Pride and Glory

There have been some articles coming out from the press conference Metro.co.uk: Film makes true observation, Toronto Sun: More than a cop flick, GlobeandMail: A rough yet thoughtful portrait of New York's finest, AFP: Actor Ed Norton breaks police 'blue code of silence', Canadian Press: Ed Norton hopes cop genre film 'Pride and Glory' speaks to America's bigger issues, National Post: Pride and Glory: TIFF press conference diaries.

I stay away from resorting to advertising on this website, however, you will start to notice two links to HIV studies on my webpages. I work at the Johns Hopkins Acute and Early Seroconverter Studies. In conjunction with the Canadian HIV Trials Network, we are trying to recruit people newly infected with HIV for a study. As you may have read a few weeks ago, it was discovered that the rate of new HIV infections is 40% higher than previously estimated (NY Times). I think that we have not been able to effectively get the word out about our study, so I thought I'd mention it here. EarlyHIVStudy.org and Johns Hopkins Acute and Early Seroconverter Studies

Pride and Glory premiere, new P&G poster

EN was on hand for the Pride and Glory world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival as well as a press conference for the film earlier in the day. Photos are up at WireImage.com

RopeofSilcon.com has posted a new poster for Pride and Glory

In addition to a breakfast press conference on Leaves of Grass, they also had a cocktail party the same night

New Leaves cast, Reporter's account, Pics from Toronto

Susan Sarandon and Richard Dreyfuss are joining the cast of Leaves of Grass. Keri Russell is in negotiations. Filming is scheduled to being Sept. 22 in Shreveport, La. The budget will be between $9.5 -$14 million. "Norton is portraying twin brothers, one an Ivy League philosophy professor, the other a small-time and brilliant marijuana grower. The professor is lured back to his Oklahoma hometown for a doomed scheme against a local drug lord (Dreyfuss) that unravels his life. Sarandon plays the brothers' eccentric mother, while Russell will play a love interest." The news was announced at a press conference at the Toronto Film Festival. Hollywood Reporter

Nelson wrote "Grass" with Norton in mind and showed it early last year to the actor, who wasn't looking for a new project and put off reading the script. When Norton finally did read it, he was hooked.

"I called him and said, 'You're right. It's great,' " recalled Norton. "There have been only a couple of times in my career that I've gone, 'That's exactly what I want to do.' It felt very complete."

A CTV news reporter wrote her own account of the press conference My exclusive TIFF breakfast with Edward Norton

Pics of EN and Tim Nelson Blake at the "Leaves of Grass" Breakfast today at the Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel are up at Wireimage.com [Thanks to Robin for the info!]

US short on tough guys

Variety columnist Anne Thompson wrote a column on how filmmakers are having to go with U.K. and Australian actors because U.S. "manly men" are in short supply. "Even comicbook superheroes are boy-men — Brandon Routh as Superman, Edward Norton the Hulk and Tobey Maguire Spider-Man — unless they’re from another country, like Brits Bale (Batman) and “X-Men” stars Ian McKellen (Magneto) and Patrick Stewart (Professor X), or Aussie Hugh Jackman (Wolverine)." I actually think that audiences expect more these days, even in action films. She didn't mention Matt Damon and the Bourne series, which had the complex story and hero adding to the genre. And I don't know if that many actors are that anxious to step into the role of the go-to action hero, stuck doing action movie after action movie. Plus, it does take some imagination on the part of the filmmakers. You can dismiss EN as the boy-man (even at 39) for Bruce Banner (it fits the character), but you can't use that phrase when describing him in American History X. EN could do action movies, but would he really want to go down that road?