Whitford Puts on Pants & Travels to Manhattan

Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Thursday, May 20, 2004

The West Wing star Bradley Whitford will star in two projects during his summer hiatus, says The Hollywood Reporter. The Emmy-winning actor is set to appear in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, an adaptation of the best-selling Ann Brashares book, and in the romantic comedy Little Manhattan.

"Pants" is a coming-of-age story revolving around four friends during the first summer they spend apart. They vow to keep in touch by circulating a magical pair of secondhand jeans that fits each of them perfectly. Whitford plays the father of one of the girls, while Nancy Travis (Becker) has come aboard as his fiancee. The two join the already-cast Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively and Jenna Boyd. TV veteran Ken Kwapis will direct the project for Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment.

"Manhattan," from writer/directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, centers on a love story between two 11-year-olds. Josh Hutcherson (The Polar Express) is cast as the boy. Whitford plays his father. The film, which shoots in New York starting next week, is being fully financed by Regency Enterprises and will be distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Direct link | http://comingsoon.net/news.php?id=4819

Whitford Works on Two

While on break from his Emmy-winning role on The West Wing, Bradley Whitford has lined up two film projects.

By Lisa Johnson
Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Bradley Whitford may get to leave The West Wing for the summer, but he's not going on vacation. He'll be hard at work doing the two films he's lined up.

The Emmy-winning actor will work on Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, an adaptation of the bestselling Ann Brashares novel from Alcon Entertainment. It will be directed by Ken Kwapis from a script adapted by Delia Ephron and Elizabeth Chandler.

Pants is a coming-of-age about four friends during the first summer they spend apart. They vow to keep in touch by circulating a magical pair of secondhand jeans that fits each of them perfectly. Whitford will play the father of one of the girls.

Nancy Travis has also recently joined the cast, which already includes Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively and Jenna Boyd. Denise Di Novi, Debra Martin Chase and Alcon's Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson are producing.

Whitford's other summer project is Little Manhattan, written and directed by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett. It's being financed by Regency, and 20th Century Fox will distribute.

The story is described as being in the spirit of My Girl, centering on a love story between two 11-year-olds. Josh Hutcherson (Polar Express) will the boy, and Whitford will play his father. The film is produced by Gavin Polone.

2004 WGA Awards

Duo Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford co-hosted the West Coast event. Presenters scheduled to attend the event in Los Angeles included Sean Astin, Maria Bello, Djimon Hounsou, Kim Cattrall, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Mariska Hargitay, Bobby Cannavale, James Woods, Amber Tamblyn, Anthony LaPaglia, Beau Bridges, Peter Dinklage, Elisabeth Rohm, and James Cromwell.

Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) hosted the event in New York. WGAE presenters scheduled to attend in New York included Shari Springer Berman, Wren T. Brown, Judah Friedlander, Brian Greene, James Lipton, Robert Pulcini, Dan Rather, Eden Riegel, Andy Rooney, James Schamus, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Donald Westlake, and Jay Wilkison.

Honorary awards were previously announced and presented to the recipients at the Los Angeles ceremony. Special honors include: John Michael Hayes -- Screen Laurel Award; Loring Mandel -- Paddy Chayefsky Laurel for Television; and Jason Horwitch -- Paul Selvin Award.

The Writers Guild of America, East Special Awards were presented to Jules Feiffer (Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Lifetime Achievement), Ellen M. Violett (Richard B. Jablow Award for Distinguished Service to the WGAE), and Senator John McCain (Evelyn F. Burkey Award for "bringing honor and dignity to writers everywhere").

The West Coast program was produced by Spike Jones Jr. and written by Anne Beatts; talent executive was Susan Abramson.

The East Coast program was produced by Sindy Gordon and written by Sindy Gordon and Frank Santopadre.

The Writers Guild of America, East and west represent writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, radio, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. The unions conduct numerous programs, seminars, and events throughout the world on issues of interest to, and on behalf of, writers.