I cannot wait for this.

from NewOrderOnline.com:

Control to be shot in early 2006
Today - 4:48:01 AM

(ScreenDaily.com) Rock photographer and music video director Anton Corbijn is preparing for an early 2006 shoot for his first feature film, tentatively titled Control, about the life of the late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.

Producers Orian Williams and Todd Eckert of US-based Claraflora first announced the project in January and Corbijn tells ScreenDaily.com that they are currently nailing down financing and starting the casting process.

Corbijn expects to shoot Control for up to two months in early 2006 in Manchester, Macclesfield, and surrounding areas. Factory Records founder Tony Wilson, himself a mythical figure in the Manchester music scene (as captured in Michael Winterbottom’s 24-Hour Party People), will co-produce as will Ian Curtis’s widow, Deborah Curtis.

Deborah Curtis’s book Touching From a Distance is the basis for the script (by Matt Greenhalgh), but Corbijn adds, “It’s broader than that.” He adds, “It’s not a Joy Division film, it’s a film about Ian as an artist.”

No actors have been confirmed yet, and Corbijn admits that that finding an actor to play such an idolized figure as Curtis is quite a challenge. “A lot of people have expressed interest but we haven’t found the right people yet,” he says. Corbijn reveals that several American actors have expressed interest in playing Curtis, but the director says simply, “that would be wrong.”

Unlike his music video work, Corbijn doesn’t plan to serve as his own cinematographer. He does have concrete ideas about the look of the film already: “It will be shot on film, most likely in black and white,” he reveals. “Most people’s memories of that era are in black and white. Joy Division specifically seems like such a black-and-white band.” (Corbijn used B&W images in his famous 1988 video for Joy Division’s Atmosphere that featured hooded monks carrying a giant photograph of Ian Curtis on a deserted beach.)

As for the sounds of Control (the title was inspired by Joy Division’s classic She’s Lost Control), the film-makers have the rights to Joy Division’s music. The band’s successor New Order is also involved.

The subject is close to Corbijn’s heart: as a young, music-obsessed photographer in 1979, he moved from Holland to England to be closer to Joy Division, his favourite band. Two weeks later he convinced the group to let him do a photo shoot, despite his lack of credentials.

That 1979 photo can be seen on Corbijn’s new Director’s Label DVD, devoted to his career so far. The DVD includes several dozen of his award-winning music videos for artists such as U2, Depeche Mode, Nirvana, Metallica, and Nick Cave, along with commentaries and a 40-minute documentary about Corbijn.”

Corbijn will be doing the keynote discussion at RESFEST London (at the National Film Theatre) on Saturday, October 1.

In related news, the new New Order comp "Singles" is about to come out. I'll be really glad to have this, cuz I'm such a sucker for edits.

Here's what they're saying about it.

NME's review of "Singles" - 9/10
Yesterday - 2:35:16 PM

(New Musical Express) Two discs of NME-approved Godlike Genius

Another 'Best Of'? Are they taking the piss or what? Currently, New Order have 'Substance', 'The Best Of New Order', 'The Rest Of New Order', the four-CD 'Retro' box-set and an American import called 'International' all serving the needs of casual fans with their varying track selections. So with this latest addition, it seems that the Manc legends are not just taking the piss but bottling it up and selling it on as 'salt-fortified' apple juice.

However, this is music that can never leave you feeling ripped off and, given that 'Singles' brings together every New Order 45 to date, it's the only compilation that can claim to be truly comprehensive.

The first disc (covering their halcyon days of 1981-1987) is non-stop brilliance from start to finish. Originally penned by Ian Curtis but re-recorded after his death with a very nervous sounding Bernard Sumner performing his first vocals, 'Ceremony' begins the New Order story by elegantly placing a full-stop at the end of Joy Division's brief but blessed existence. The melancholy, however, is short-lived. The half-a-tab euphoria of tracks like 'Temptation' and 'True Faith' still carries enough power to dilate the pupils of any dancefloor and even the overstatement police could not possibly have any cause for complaint with the claim that these are the songs that invented Goldfrapp, The Bravery and The Killers. Oh yeah, and that 'Blue Monday' wasn't bad either.

With at least three of the greatest songs of all time making up disc one [Steady on now - Ed], it's understandable that disc two might feel like a bit of a let (or should that be 'come') down, but there's still more magic to be enjoyed in New Order's latter years than there is in David Blaine's entire career.

Released after long lay-offs in 1993 and 2001 respectively, 'Regret' and 'Crystal' are two of the best comeback singles you'll ever hear and let's not forget that in the shape of 'World In Motion', New Order have recorded something 100 per cent unique - a football song that is worth listening to even when there isn't a World Cup on.

In a way, it's things like that which underline New Order's greatness the most; we could talk about their pioneering usage of synths until the next NME Awards and make 20-page lists of all the bands that they've influenced but these muso arguments won't ever make the music any more enjoyable than it already is. Leave the theory and method in the library because at its heart, 'Singles' is a peerless and ultimately simple example of how wonderful pop music can be.

Hardeep Phull

Kewl and kewl

There are lots of interviews with Corbijn in a many magazines here in Europe of late. Both Dutch and British.

GooeyTheHamster said:

For some reason, I missed the very important detail that he's directing. That's the best news of all to me!

GangstaFam said:

Hehehe. Sometimes that's the case. I heard this for the first time just after Deborah's book was released and Corbijn was telling in interviews it was in the works.

Now it all going down, interviews with Corbijn pop up in most mags I read. He still in one of those unassuming, down-to-earth people that you trust your life with. I understand why he is the one that has everyone on board, from Deborah, Wilson to New Order.

GooeyTheHamster said:

It's going to be something truly special, I can already tell.

I love his work and JD are my favorite band. A perfect match. I'm sure he'll tell Ian's story with dignity and honesty.

GangstaFam said:

And an insight not many people could give it.

GooeyTheHamster said:

It's not gonna be a pretty picture. But that's what I'd rather see. 24 Hour Party People was great, but too much of a send up.

This will be the real deal.

Maybe not the real deal, but as close as we will ever get, probably.

TRON said:

I thought "24 Hour People" was lame...
I hope this is gonna be good for a change (but it's Anton Corbijn directing so here's hoping it's going to be as gritty as his photographs, "Joy Division"/Ian Curtis deserves that...)

Neversin.

Neversin said:

As a JD story, yeah. As a Tony Wilson story, no. I thought it was perfect for that.

Sounds FANTASTIC!!! Oh, and I'm quite looking forward to the singles comp.

hehe remember that thread about who we would cast as Ian Curtis.

Jude Law?
Tobey Mcguire?

CinisterCee said:

Yeah. That was my suggestion. It seems like they don't want an American actor, but I think at least visually, he'd be a great match.

And again, my obligatory picture posting to prove my point. (that's a lot of p's)




Don'tcha think?

IMDB forums whipser the name of Cillian Murphy.

GooeyTheHamster said:

That'd be okay. I know they want someone British and not a super huge star.

Irish okay too?
Another name is being mentioned. Go have a look on IMDB

GooeyTheHamster said:

I know Jude Law's name was being thrown around for awhile, but it seems he's definitely not part of this project.

GangstaFam said:

Good. We hatessss him. Filthy Law's'sssss

GooeyTheHamster said:

Speak for yourself!

GangstaFam said:

I speak for all the people that dislike nanny-licking hobbitses.

GooeyTheHamster said:

I'm guessing that number is very small.

GangstaFam said:

Smart people have been persecuted throughout history.

Anywaysssss.

Back to topic?

Have you seen the forums on IMDB?

GooeyTheHamster said:

Nope. Why?

GangstaFam said:

Cuz I pointed you there a few posts back. Lots of specualtion about who is going to play Ian Curtis.

And more. People there are as crazy as here. Go, get involved, you'll love it.

GooeyTheHamster said:

Gonna be in Chicago for a few days, but I'll check it when I get home, k? Remind me in an orgnote.

GangstaFam said:

I might...