Categories Behind the Scenes In Development/ Pre-Production Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood Update – July 24, 2017

First Look at Transforming Hollywood Boulevard Back to the 1960’s

by Chris Nicolas | LA Magazine | July 19, 2018

About one year from today, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will hit theatres. Firm plot details are mostly being kept under wraps right now, but is rumoured to be split into thematic chapters in the style of Pulp Fiction – the story will take place in Los Angeles in the summer of 1969 at the height of hippy Hollywood when the Charles Manson cult was wreaking havoc. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (DiCaprio), former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor Sharon Tate, of the famed Manson Family murders. Even though the movie will deal with Charles Manson and the famed Manson Family murders, it’s been made clear that particular subject matter won’t be the main focus.

Damian has been cast in a small role as Steve McQueen but in what capacity, we do not know. For starters, the inclusion of Bruce Lee and Steve McQueen in the film is connected. Both actors were clients of Jay Sebring, a world-renowned hair stylist who was a major fixture in 1960’s Los Angeles. Sebring was known for bringing European hair techniques to America and he established a name for himself when he popularized the feathering and layering of male hair, which was dubbed the “Sebring Look.” Sebring helped Bruce Lee find work teaching kung fu to Hollywood stars, including Steve McQueen and Roman Polanski.

L to R: McQueen, Tate, Polanski

History states McQueen is said to have been invited by Jay Sebring to Sharon Tate’s (Roman Polanski’s wife) house dinner party, but he no-showed. Preparing to attend the dinner, McQueen ran into a female friend and decided to spend the evening with her instead. That night in 1969 would become one of the most notorious in modern American history: Tate and Sebring, along with two of their friends and Tate’s unborn child, were brutally murdered by the followers of Charles Manson. Spending the evening with his female friend saved McQueen’s life. His close call with death spooked him so bad that he went into a state of paranoia. His then-wife Neile Adams recalled that, after the murders, McQueen “became more paranoid and wouldn’t let me go anywhere without a gun.”

The facade of Jay Sebring’s former salon on Fairfax Ave in West Hollywood is being rebuilt. Sebring (Hirsch) reinvented the men’s haircut and the very image of a hairstylist. He was young and handsome and dated gorgeous actresses, including at one time, Sharon Tate. In the late ’60s, he owned a salon on the corner of Melrose and Fairfax that attracted a long list of celebrity clients, including Steve McQueen and Bruce Lee.  At the time, barbers charged around $1.50 for a haircut, but a session with Sebring could cost up to $25.

Source: Deskgram.org

As we wait for more information about Damian’s role as McQueen, let’s take a peek at additional set photos that are surfacing, as Los Angeles has been transported back in time. Store fronts, bus benches, theater marquee signs, billboards, neon signs and murals along Hollywood Boulevard and other West Hollywood thoroughfares have been gussied up to re-ceate the groovy, psychedelic era of the 60’s.

Continue reading Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood Update – July 24, 2017

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Locations Guide

Billions Location Guide, Season 3 – June 25, 2018

Take the Billions Tour in New York City and Beyond

by Damianista | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | June 25, 2018

Billions is a dream show, not only because our favorite actor Damian Lewis is in it, but also because New York, from its landmarks to its city parks and to its quirky shops, appears as a cast member in the show.  We particularly love it that Billions is taking over New York, the big film studio that it is, shooting all over the place, from Manhattan to Queens to Brooklyn to The Bronx to Long Island and to northern suburbs. So we have put together this Billions Season 3 Location Guide as a loving tribute to our most favorite place on earth and a heartfelt thank you to the show creators for writing a love letter to the city.

Hope you pick and choose and take your own Billions tour in New York City and beyond and give us feedback! In case you missed our Locations Guide for Season 1 and Season 2, you can check them out here and here. And don’t forget about our Dining Guide, Season 3.

Continue reading Billions Location Guide, Season 3 – June 25, 2018

Categories Behind the Scenes Broadcast Media Guest Appearances Video

Damian’s Guest Appearance on The Late Late Show – June 20, 2018

Late Late London

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 20, 2018

Source: Twitter @latelateshow

Damian appeared on the Late Late Show with James Corden on Wednesday, June 20 as part of the #LateLateLondon special week in England, along with co-guest Ruth Wilson from Showtime’s The Affair.  Wilson reminisced about meeting Damian while she, along with Dominic West, were at a New York cabaret nightclub called The Box where Damian was shoved onstage among scantily clad ladies in what Damian described as, “terrifying…five women twirling nipple tassels in different directions.” Damian quickly ran off stage, only to find a ladder as a means of escape in which he climbed straight up to the lighting rig above. Here is a video clip:

Corden points out that Damian is one of the most famous redheads which has been cemented by gracing the cover of the coloring book Colour Me Good Ginger. Corden jokes it must be the highest honor of his career to date. Damian responds, “This book comes with one coloring pen-it’s orange. I give this to my Godchildren as Christmas presents for a joke and I just repeat it, year after year.” Damian then entices Corden to put on a red wig, to which Corden obliges for several laughs.

In speaking of Billions, Damian described Bobby Axelrod as a gangster-bankster and while Axe and his arch nemesis (Paul Giamatti) have seemingly come around to a partnership in season three, fans will have to wait and see what happens in season four. Damian goes on to say that his character Axe is viewed differently in the UK versus the US. Damian explains, “I think there’s a slightly different, sort of moral climate in each country and it works in microcosm when people stop me in the street, you really notice it. In America they go, ‘Axe, you’re the man! Love you man, love you man!’ But in England people say, ‘I really love your show. I love it so much. You’re such an asshole.'”

Corden gives Damian a good jabbing over his current role as ex-Mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, in the upcoming film Run This Town and the use of “phenomenal prosthetics,” stating he had issues with this since Damian is “a devilishly handsome, wonderful actor for whom there are endless parts.” He continues, “Me [James Corden], Jim Gaffigan, Jack Black, occasionally Jonah Hill, Josh Gad…we’re getting together to start a group to say we feel this is unacceptable. You’re essentially just stealing our jobs.” Damian quips, “You’re looking very trim” to which Corden replies, “No this is bullshit. Fat lives matter Damian, okay? Fat lives matter!” Watch that hilarious exchange in this video:

BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS:

Continue reading Damian’s Guest Appearance on The Late Late Show – June 20, 2018

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Dining Guide Food/Dining

Billions Dining Guide, Season 3 – June 10, 2018

What the Fork?

by Damianista | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | June 10, 2018

Source: Showtime

It is no secret that one of my favorite things about my favorite show is how it showcases the New York dining scene from hole-in-the-walls and neighborhood gems, to Michelin-starred restaurants. In case you missed previous season Dining Guides, here is the information about restaurants appearing on the show for Season 1 and Season 2. Continue reading Billions Dining Guide, Season 3 – June 10, 2018

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Print Media

Catching Up with Damian on the Set of Billions – April 10, 2018

Behind the Scenes of Billions Season 3 Episode 3 – A Generation Too Late

by Damianista | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | April 10, 2018

As I mentioned a billion times before, Billions is my dream show! And not only because my favorite actor is in it, but also New York, from its landmarks to city parks to its distinct neighborhoods, appears as a cast member! As someone who feels the only home she has in the world is the city that never sleeps, I love it that the show is taking over New York, the big film studio that it is, and shooting all over the place, from Manhattan to Queens to Brooklyn to The Bronx to Long Island and to northern suburbs. I cannot thank enough to the show creators and show runners Brian Koppelman and David Levien for giving us a love letter to the city in Billions.

That said, one little problem I had until last October was, while they shot Billions all over Manhattan, they did not shoot a scene showcasing not only my but also Mr. Koppelman’s neighborhood, the Upper West Side, or as Lewisto and I love to call it, the Upper Best Side. Continue reading Catching Up with Damian on the Set of Billions – April 10, 2018

Categories Behind the Scenes Interviews Media The Goat or Who is Sylvia? Video

Video: Damian’s Most Challenging Role in The Goat Play – April 9, 2018

Talking With Giants of the Stage

by Charlie Gray Photography | British GQ | April 9, 2018

From Bryan Cranston’s night-by-night breakdown in Network to Damian Lewis falling in love with a goat, British theatre walked tall on the world stage last year. We talked to some of the giants of the stage ahead of the Olivier Awards. Damian’s portion is at 3:23 into the video.

Source: British GQ YouTube Channel
Secondary Source: Twitter @JeremyIronsNet

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Gallery on set Video

Take a Tour of Bobby Axelrod’s Apartment – March 30, 2018

Inside Axe’s Swanky Manhattan Crib

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 30, 2018

We know the REAL New York crib that Axe lives in on Billions is a $45 million-dollar Sky Loft penthouse located at 145 Hudson Street in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, fit for a king and perfect as a billionaire’s lair. With 7,500 square feet, it features four bedrooms, four and half bathrooms, three wood-burning fireplaces, and two sculptural staircases. And it wouldn’t be complete without a chef’s kitchen, polished concrete and teak floors, and the added bonus of a 4,500 square foot terrace with a view of the New York City skyline. Instead of windows, there are glass walls – the scale is phenomenal.

Continue reading Take a Tour of Bobby Axelrod’s Apartment – March 30, 2018

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Video

How Many Extras Does it Take to Shoot a Scene in Billions? – March 28, 2018

Go Beyond the Scenes with Sheraton Hotels and Showtime

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 28, 2018

There’s nothing quite like shooting a scene from the SHOWTIME Original Series Billions in New York City! We took a moment to chat with the show’s First Assistant Director, Matt McLoota, to learn how he goes beyond in his role on the show. From exploring the glass walls of Axe Capital to working with over 100 extras on set, see how this assistant director certainly has his work cut out for him.

Source: Sheraton Hotels and Resorts YouTube Channel

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Fashion and Style Video

On the Set with Billions – March 28, 2018

Go Beyond the Scenes with Sheraton Hotels and Showtime

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 28, 2018

Learn how the team behind the SHOWTIME Original Series Billions goes beyond to create an authentic look and feel for the show, from Axe Capital’s modern offices to Axe’s jeans and t-shirts. Going beyond on the Billions set is all about extreme attention to detail.

Source: Sheraton Hotels and Resorts YouTube Channel

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Video

How Locations Make ‘Billions’ Look Like a Billion Bucks – March 28, 2018

Go Beyond the Scenes with Sheraton Hotels and Showtime

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 28, 2018

New York City is a playground for luxury clubs and exclusive restaurants that make for ideal places to film the SHOWTIME Original Series Billions. See how locations manager, Aidan Sleeper, goes beyond to discover filming locations, from places to stage a car crash to the best pizza in Queens.

Source: Sheraton Hotels and Resorts YouTube Channel

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions Broadcast Media

Beyond the Scenes with Billions – March 25, 2018

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Showtime Launch New Digital Content Series ‘Beyond the Scenes’

by Guru Focus | PR Newswire | November 6, 2017

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc., announced the launch of a new content series called Sheraton Hotels Presents Beyond the Scenes with Showtime, which gives viewers an exclusive and unique look behind the scenes of the Showtime original series Shameless, Billions and Homeland. The content includes actors and actresses from the three hit shows. The nine-episode series launched November 6, 2017 on Sheraton’s YouTube Channel with Shameless first, then Homeland and now Billions

Read the rest of the original article at Guru Focus

Categories Behind the Scenes Billions

Billions Season 3 Axe Capital Office – March 21, 2018

3-D Model and Rendering of Axe Capital

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 21, 2018

A guide to help you familiarize yourself with the architectural visualization of Axel Capital set design in Billions, Season 3.

Reception Area – Stephen Cowles Scenic Design

Trading Floor – Stephen Cowles Scenic Design

Continue reading Billions Season 3 Axe Capital Office – March 21, 2018