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The Girl Next
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katienholmes.com
Katie Holmes Is in Kent Filming a Major Movie; Suri Cruise is in Town, Too
Litchfield County Times
By Kathryn Boughton
5/23/12
KENT—Despite the film
company’s attempt to keep things quiet, word got out this week that actress
Katie Holmes is in this tiny, artsy community in western Connecticut, filming a
movie that retells Chekov’s “The Seagull.”
The development puts the town
back on the cinematic landscape. Used as a location for several movies, Kent is
currently hosting the so-far unnamed Christian Carmago production starring Ms.
Holmes, William Hurt and French actor Jean Reno.
The presence in town of
the movie company and the stars was confirmed Wednesday by First Selectman Bruce
Adams, who said he was first approached by the film company two or three months
ago.
“They are now in town filming. I wouldn’t know Katie Holmes if
she walked through my office door, but I am told that [she has been
seen] dining at Doc’s on Maple Street with her daughter Suri,” he said, referring to the
popular Italian trattoria in the center of town.
Other townspeople report having seen Ms. Holmes and the photogenic daughter
she shares with actor Tom Cruise, Suri Cruise, walking on the town’s streets
with their bodyguard.
Ms. Holmes has been a fixture in gossip magazines
since her marriage in 2006 to Mr. Cruise. Dubbed “TomKat” by the press, the
couple has been the focus of intense scrutiny and commentary since their
relationship began, largely because of their adherence to the religion of
Scientology, and because of Mr. Cruise’s over-the-top declaration of love for
the starlet on national television.
The publicity surrounding her
celebrity family seemed for a while to overwhelm her emerging career, which was
fueled by appearances in such arthouse films as “The Ice Storm,” “Wonder Boys”
and “Pieces of April.” In recent years, she has obtained top billing in some
smaller films—she had a role as Jacqueline Kennedy in 2010’s controversial “The
Kennedys”—and has garnered praise for her fashion line, Holmes &
Yang.
“She has rented a house somewhere in Kent,” Mr. Adams said, adding
that the production company has also rented a local place for its work. Some 30
rooms were reportedly booked in neighboring New Milford to house production
staff.
“This is a major movie,” Mr. Adams said, adding that it is the
first major film to use Kent as a location in the four years since he has been
in office.
Kent has been used for several horror films—perhaps because of
the dense woods that shroud its hillsides—and was the location for “The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” released in 2008, which treated
townspeople to a glimpse of America Ferrara.
The new movie is a retelling of Anton Chekov’s “The Seagull,” according to the Web site IMDb, which
said the plot develops as “Reckless desire wreaks havoc over Memorial Day weekend
as a family confronts the volatile and fragile nature of love.” Appropriately
it is set in rural New England. The movie will be released sometime in
2013.
William Hurt and French actor Jean
Reno are also in the movie. The crew has
been filming in several areas around town, including Richards
Road and Kenmont Road, according to Adams.
Mr. Adams said the film company has been keeping a low profile to deflect the paparazzi. "There hasn't been much of a buzz around town," Adams said. Producers were concerned paparazzi might invade the quiet Litchfield County community once word got out that Holmes was shooting a movie there, but so far that hasn't happened, according to Adams.
The crew expected to be shooting for about five weeks, according to Adams.