USA: Steve Martin takes on film screenplay adaptation with Claire Danes starring in "Shopgirl", based on a novella by him

After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, Steve Martin's new film "Shopgirl" came to the Big Apple on Monday evening (October 17, 2005) where it was shown at a special screening. On the red carpet at the New Beekman Theater, stars of "Shopgirl", Claire Danes and Martin shared the spotlight with Martin-fans like actress Marlo Thomas. "Shopgirl" is based on a novella of the same name by Martin, who adapted it for the silver screen version and also plays a role in it. The story involves three people in a love triangle - an emotionally adrift salesgirl Mirabelle played by Danes; elderly, wealthy charmer Ray Porter enacted by Steve Martin, and struggling musician Jeremy portrayed by Jason Schwartzman. Martin, however, thinks that the film is more than just being about the classic older man-younger woman relationship. He said, "A lot of people think it's about an older man and a younger woman. I think that's ostensibly what its about, but its really about two people who are in a relationship and they both have different views of what it is and I think that can happen at any age." Referring to the character of Mirabelle, whom Dane plays, the actress said, "I wouldn't characterize her as a plain Jane. She is receding, she is shy, she is timid, and unsure of herself, she becomes a lot lesser over the course of the story, and I think that that's the point. I mean that's where - that's the growth, that's the conflict that she's working through." For London-raised director Anand Tucker, the filming process was one happy joyride. He said, "It was all fun. I mean you know, first of all you get to work with Steve Martin, who's been a hero of mine and you know - "L.A. Story" is one of my favourite movies of all time. Then you get to work with Claire Danes, of the best actors working in the world. She's a genius I think and you add into that Jason Schwartzman who is a, well, he's Jason and hilarious and wonderful and heartbreaking, all of the same time." For Martin, adapting his best-selling novella into a screenplay for the silver screen, had its share of challenges. Speaking about the adaptation process, Martin said, "The most challenging of course is, one is keeping it very honest you know. I didn't want it to be a Hollywood romance, and also keeping the predator aspect alive with the male characters, so it's trying not to make everyone likeable, although I think they're all likeable but only because they're real human beings." Martin added that another challenge was that while the novella didn't have as much dialogue, the film of course had to have its share of it. Thomas who made a rare red-carpet appearance at the screening insisted that she had shown up mainly because of Martin. She has read Martin's novella. Thomas said, "It (the novella) was just so charming and real too, you know - wasn't, it was a real grown up love story even though she was a younger woman. It was very, I felt, very grown up, very mature." "Shopgirl", which is not always being compared favourably with "Lost in Translation" by some reviewers,

ITN Source | November 10, 2005

Tags:. .hilarious. .alive. .male. .emotionally. .wasnt