Finally, switching topics briefly, I understand that filming on Water for Elephants (with Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson and Christoph Waltz) has just wrapped. Are you happy with the result?
Very happy. The studio consulted me more than they contractually obligated to do, and the screenwriter did a brilliant job in compressing the novel into a two-hour film by combining a few characters and incidents in ways I couldnât have begun to.
Sara Gruen gets a star turn in the film version of her novel Water for Elephants, now in post-production.
She got to meet stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. Just as thrilling was being lifted into the air by Tai the elephant, who depicts circus elephant Rosie in the movie, due April 15.
“Her trainer told me to hug her trunk,” says Gruen, “so I did, and suddenly I was 7 feet in the air. She gave me many kisses, probably because I always carry mints for my horses, so I was slipping her candy every time I got a chance.”
Gruen, her husband and three sons were cast as extras in a scene in which the circus performers and animals parade down the streets in Weehawken, N.J.
“We retook that scene I think 18 times,” Gruen recalls. “I’m the one Rob Pattinson (who plays veterinarian Jacob Jankowski) elbows past and says, ‘Excuse me, ma’am’ to.”
As for Christoph Waltz, who plays an abusive animal trainer, Gruen says: “I watched a scene being filmed when he was ‘beating’ Rosie. From the side of the road, it was very obvious that he wasn’t going anywhere near her, but from behind the bank of monitors, it was extremely convincing.”
Cody Wood talks Robert Pattinson, Rosie the elephant, Christoph and more in his experience as a Water for Elephants extra.
In unison everyone watching gasped. The noise of our breath was loud and visibly startled the lion back to the darkness. The cage rolled on making room for the star of the parade: Rosie. Wearing a shimmering headband she lumbered down the street. Her trunk swayed back and forth, back and forth. Children laughed with excitement and pointed from the window of the candy store. A man next to me lit a hand-rolled cigarette. I gave a big holler to Rosie and clapped my hands. Back and forth, and back and forth, she lumbered. I rested my right leg on the bumper of an old two-door Ford – a relic from an era passed.
âGreat job ladies and gentlemen!â âBack to the top!â The AD had the megaphone again – and for good reason. All of the cages, carts, clowns, and circus animals turned around and walked back to their starting positions. Christoph and Rob slipped into the parade without fanfare. On the next take the two actors walked near each other but not too near. There was a visible tension between them, especially now that Marlena sat atop her prized Rosie. She looked stunning in her silver shimmering costume and waved at the crowd. She looked my direction and I waved back. Who knows, maybe she was looking at me?
The lucky winner of our Water for Elephants book giveaway is Brenda! Congrats! We used Random.org to generate a number out of 300. Â Please contact us by sending us an e-mail at thinkingofrob@hotmail.com.
Picture of Robert Pattinson featured in Veronica magazine.
TRANSLATION: we know rob as the sexy vampire from the Twilight saga but the pale Brit is broadening his horizon. For his new movie Water for Elephants he’s going for the gentleman-look. What you’d call a star-role
Robert Pattinson
c/o Curtis Brown Group Ltd.
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Robert Pattinson
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