Articles from September 2007



Four new Johnny Depp interviews added to the JDZ Interview Archive

The Zone has just added four new selections to the Johnny Depp Zone Interview Archive. Two interviews date from the 1999 SLEEPY HOLLOW promotion. “Snoopy Dances” by Jeffrey Anderson is especially intriguing now that Johnny’s company has bought the rights to DARK SHADOWS, since in this interview Johnny discusses his childhood obsession with Barnabas Collins, while “Heady Times for SLEEPY Star Depp” by Cindy Pearlman includes Johnny’s reflections about new fatherhood, life on and off the A-list, working for Roman Polanski, and the paparazzi.

The second pair of interviews were published in 2002. “Q: The Interview–Johnny Depp” by Saffron Lyons was part of the UK promotion for FROM HELL; it includes some questions about playing Jack the Ripper and other real-life characters, and also features Johnny discussing Lily-Rose’s artistic talent. Paul Fischer’s “From Hell and Back” was conducted during the Los Angeles promotion for FROM HELL, not long after the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States. Unusual and moving, it shows how deeply those events affected Johnny.

To read the new interviews, click on the JDZ ARCHIVES button above, select “Johnny Depp Zone Archives” on the entrance page, and click on “Interview Home.” The SLEEPY HOLLOW-era interviews are under 1999, and the FROM HELL-era interviews are under 2002.

Many thanks to Theresa for tracking these down and adding them to the Interview Archive. They certainly enhance our understanding of Johnny Depp. –Part-Time Poet

Stephen Sondheim calls the Tim Burton film of SWEENEY TODD "Great"

Broadway legend and genius composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, whose diabolical musical SWEENEY TODD took the Great White Way by storm in 1979, has given his stamp of approval to the upcoming Tim Burton film of his masterpiece. During a recent awards program, Sondheim was approached by Fox News entertainment reporter Roger Friedman, who asked if the maestro had seen Burton film. Yes–“and he says he likes it,” reports Friedman. The movie is not a film of the stage play; it has its own essence . . . and, of course, its own time constraints. Explains Sondheim, “It’s not the Broadway show. It’s only an hour and 45 minutes. A lot of the score has been cut. They’ve made it its own thing. You have to go in knowing that. But what they’ve done is great.” We look forward to seeing it, Mr. Sondheim!

The Zone thanks Emma for the Sondheim article; she also reports that the November 2007 issue of EMPIRE features a large SWEENEY TODD poster inside the magazine . . . but unfortunately, no article on SWEENEY TODD as yet. To see the poster, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2rk8cy Note that the EMPIRE poster’s “in theatres” date–January 25–is the UK opening, not the North American release date. You can read both stories on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

"Can a foreigner be a native?" Mira Nair discusses her upcoming film SHANTARAM with Johnny Depp

In a recent interview with NST Online, director Mira Nair shared her perspective on her next project, a $100 million film of Gregory David Roberts’ ambitious novel SHANTARAM, starring Johnny Depp. She feels at home with the novel’s concerns and with the protagonist’s efforts to find a new home and a new identity in India, which are themes which resound through all of her film work. “He is a man who disappears into the fabric of another place,” Ms. Nair said, describing Johnny’s character. “The theme I’m most interested in is, can a foreigner be a native? I’m interested in the seesaw of it, because I’m not sure that in the deepest way that’s possible. Ultimately you have to understand where you came from. Otherwise,” says Ms. Nair, “you’re lost.” She sees her leading man as particularly well-suited to portray a character caught between two worlds: “There’s something about Johnny Depp that embodies the fluidity between East and West,” says Nair.

The Zone thanks shadowydog for the Mira Nair interview; you can read the full article here: http://tinyurl.com/36ytce SHANTARAM is scheduled to begin filming on January 19th. –Part-Time Poet

Hunter S. Thompson featured in October 4th issue of ROLLING STONE

The new issue of ROLLING STONE, dated October 4, 2007, features Hunter S. Thompson on the cover and contains a lengthy excerpt from the upcoming oral biography of Hunter by Jann Wenner and Corey Seymour. Mr. Wenner was Hunter’s editor in the early days at ROLLING STONE and knew him very well. The article is called “Growing Up Gonzo:A Portrait of Hunter S. Thompson as a Young Man.” Among the many pictures included in the article is one of Hunter relaxing on the beach in Puerto Rico during the time he was a reporter for a San Juan newspaper: http://tinyurl.com/2dc2w4 Hunter’s experiences in San Juan provided the inspiration for his novel THE RUM DIARY, which Johnny Depp plans to film with director Bruce Robinson some day soon. For more details on the ROLLING STONE article, see the Zone’s News & Views forum. You can also view a slideshow and excerpts from the article on the ROLLING STONE website here: http://tinyurl.com/326lhd –Part-Time Poet

"A peek at Johnny Depp in a musical"–Ruben V. Nepales reports from Venice

Longtime entertainment reporter Ruben V. Nepales has published his account of his whirlwind three-week tour of recent film festivals, including Venice, and when searching for the highlights of his travels, what comes to his mind first? You guessed it–Tim Burton’s Golden Lion ceremony in Venice, and the first clip from SWEENEY TODD. “For the first time, footage of Tim’s film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD was shown after he received the award from Johnny himself,” reports Nepales. “When the duo got off the stage and took their seats at the Palazzo del Cinema, the gala audience was treated to the sight and sound of Johnny singing onscreen.” Nepales gives a detailed description of the clip and its “appropriately gray and sinister” look, and confirms that Johnny’s voice “sounded fine.”

Nepales also includes some charming backstage moments before the ceremony began: “Earlier, on the lawn of the famed Cipriani Hotel, before we all boarded boats for the awarding at Lido, Tim told us, ‘I knew Johnny was in a band. I knew he was musical. I know him well enough that he would say, “I can’t do it” if he thought he couldn’t do a singing role.” Adds Nepales, “When Johnny saw Helena, who is pregnant with her second child with Tim (she is due in December), he pointed at her protruding tummy and teased, ‘What happened?’ Helena was quick: ‘We kissed, remember?'”

The Zone thanks Theresa for posting the Nepales article from the Phillipine Daily Inquirer on the News and Views forum; you can read the entire article here: http://tinyurl.com/2ha5o4 –Part-Time Poet

"I think he's amazing in it"–Tim Burton discusses Johnny Depp's performance in SWEENEY TODD

In a recent Q&A with Mike Collett-White of Reuters, director Tim Burton fielded some questions about his upcoming film of Stephen Sondheim’s macabre musical SWEENEY TODD. Thanks to Theresa, you can read the entire interview on the Zone’s News & Views forum (thanks very much, Theresa!), but here are a few excerpts that relate specifically to Johnny Depp’s performance in the title role.

REUTERS: Johnny Depp has been quoted as likening his singing voice to “the mating call of a rutting stag.” [. . . H]aving directed him in a musical, do you agree?

TIM BURTON: That sounds like him! No I don’t. He’s great. When I asked him to do it I had no idea if he could sing or not. I know he’s in a band and all that, but then when he said yes, I knew that he wouldn’t say yes unless he himself knew he could do it. That’s the great thing about him, he’s always up for a challenge and I think he’ll surprise people. I think he sounds amazing.

REUTERS: You regularly work with Depp. Would you have considered making this movie with anyone else in the lead?

TIM BURTON: I was involved with SWEENEY TODD about 10 years ago. It just never happened. He (Depp) would have been too young for it at that point. Things have a weird way of working themselves out. On stage they always portray them (Todd and partner in crime Mrs. Lovett) as old, like in their 50s or whatever. But it just felt more passionate somehow to have them younger than that in the movie, sort of in their 40s. In some ways it’s kind of a luck thing where yeah, I might have made it with somebody else but I’m glad I didn’t, because I think he’s amazing in it.

For the rest of Tim’s remarks, see the News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

Johnny Depp featured on cover of GQ 50th Anniversary Issue

Congratulations to Johnny Depp, who has been named one of GQ’s “50 Most Stylish Men”–even better, he is one of ten iconic figures featured on (separate) covers of GQ’s 5oth Anniversary issue! “We chose 50 men who epitomized style and change,” says GQ’s Jim Nelson, from “godfathers of cool Sean Connery, Paul Newman, and Robert Redford to the present-day Tom Brady and Johnny Depp.” The other style icons honored with covers are Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, John F. Kennedy, Jack Nicholson, and Al Pacino. The cover photo of Johnny, by Anton Corbijn, originally appeared in Studio Magazine in 1995 and has been photoshopped to remove a cigarette–to see the original pic, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2zqy87

Inside the magazine, there is a one-page feature on Johnny (as one of “The 50 Most Stylish Men”) but no new photos or interview material. “After almost a quarter century in front of the camera, Johnny Depp has shown us everything but himself. Not an easy task when you’ve got those cheekbones, that tousled hair, and an unmitigated youthfulness, which Depp has worked hard to cloak by playing reclusive savants and rock ‘n’roll pirates,” writes GQ. “But we keep searching, trying to nail down his hobo chic–a style that derives from a life spent kicking around the dusty South and the French countryside. ‘I don’t think he’s remotely interested in fashion. He’s a complete instigator of fashion,’ says Penny Rose, the costume designer who collaborated with the actor to create PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN’s Jack Sparrow. ‘His look is always eye-stopping, clever, and completely individual.’ Or, like the last two drags on one of his hand-rolled cigarettes, raw and unapologetically gratifying.”

With their assessment, GQ runs a vintage Herb Ritts photo of Johnny sitting on a stove: http://tinyurl.com/3dpndh Their comment? “A tweak here and there can elevate even the simplest outfits. Notice the rolled-up sleeves, the neckpiece, the beat-up boots instead of sneakers. Small moves like these separate you from the pack.” Yes . . . and talent will separate you even farther from the pack . . . .

Many thanks to Icarus_MalfoySparrow for breaking the news, emma for the GQ story and FANtasticJD for her photo expertise and the original Corbijn photo. For a lively discussion regarding GQ’s editorial choices, see the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

PIRATES 4 a possibility down the road, Geoffrey Rush tells interviewer

Doing promotion for his soon-to-be-released film ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, Geoffrey Rush also fielded inquiries from Edward Douglas of comingsoon.net about the possibility of another PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN film with Johnny Depp–after all, AT WORLD’S END is the top-grossing film of 2007. The Oscar-winning Rush is not at all averse to another turn as the wily Captain Barbossa . . . somewhere down the road. But don’t look for an immediate return to the sea: “I think people will let it sit for a while,” Rush said. “There’s a strange attitude about franchise movies,” he told Douglas. “People look at them as that rather than storytelling.”

Rush, however, holds no prejudice toward “franchise movies,” and points to some legendary examples from Hollywood’s Golden Age. “Back in the old days, how many THIN MAN movies did William Powell end up doing? Probably five or six. How many road movies did Bob and Bing end up doing over 25-year period?” Rush thinks “There could be a point” when another PIRATES film could become a reality, “because Jack Sparrow is probably now to a certain generation more well known as a representative of the Disney imagination than Mickey Mouse himself and Johnny’s performance in that role is such an extraordinary thing . . . that it may pop up.”

Thanks to Gilbert’s Girl for the interview–you can read the excerpt on the Zone’s News & Views forum, and look for the full interview with Geoffrey Rush on comingsoon.net in the near future. –Part-Time Poet

Tim Burton on directing the musical SWEENEY TODD: "Singing is a very vulnerable process"

During his press conference at the Venice Film Festival, director Tim Burton was asked about his upcoming musical film SWEENEY TODD and his choice to cast Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, neither of whom had stage musical experience, in the demanding leading roles. “Can they sing?” the skeptical reporter inquired, point-blank. “Well, yeah,” Burton replied. While acknowledging that not everyone in his cast was a professional singer, he pronounced their performances “really amazing, because it’s not easy music to sing. From what everybody says about this particular musical, it’s quite a demanding one. But to have actors do it just made it really special. That made it very exciting, because every single one of them did it–and what’s great about it, is it’s them as characters.”

Burton added, “We worked very hard not to overproduce it–like certain pop bands, you hear the voice and it’s just generic and it could be anybody.” Not so on SWEENEY TODD. “You really hear the actors come through it, and that’s really amazing.”

The process itself was a revelation. “There is something very strange about singing–it’s a very vulnerable process, in a way,” said Burton. “There’s something about people just coming from within their soul that’s very . . . exposing, so I was very appreciative of that . . . seeing them open up like that.” –Part-Time Poet

Johnny Depp featured in September 24th entertainment magazines

Photo collectors will want to check their local newsstand for the September 24, 2007 issues of OK! WEEKLY, STAR MAGAZINE, and LIFE & STYLE. Each magazine features a picture (sadly, virtually the same picture) of Johnny Depp arriving in Venice for the film festival on September 5th. The largest photo appears on page 25 of OK! WEEKLY, which has a head-to-toe shot of Johnny, in white peacoat and dark pinstriped pants, tipping his hat to the Venice crowd. The caption reads, “Hats off to Johnny! Stylish Johnny Depp, 44, arrives at the airport in Venice, Italy on Sept. 5. Johnny presented director pal Tim Burton with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice International Film Festival later that night.” To see the OK! photo, click here: http://tinyurl.com/36ovr3

This week’s STAR MAGAZINE uses a very similar photo, cropped at the waist, in their “Star Shots” section on page 8. The caption reads “Dandy Depp . . . . Dapper dresser Johnny Depp tipped his hat to fans at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 5. The PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN star made the scene at the fest to present his ‘favorite director and friend’ Tim Burton with the Golden Lion lifetime achievement award!” LIFE & STYLE features a smaller version of the photo on page 17. Full-size scans are available on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

PEOPLE Magazine names Johnny Depp one of its "Best Dressed" men

The new issue of PEOPLE Magazine (cover date September 24, 2007) features its annual list of the “Best and Worst Dressed” celebrities, and although the issue’s focus is mostly on the ladies, it does name Johnny Depp one of the five Best Dressed Men. (The other sartorially splendid guys? David Beckham, Terrence Howard, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.) While we salute PEOPLE’s selection, we can’t help chuckling as we recall the other years when Johnny landed in their “Worst Dressed” section–too fashion-forward for his own good, I guess. Deppheads probably won’t want to part with $3.99 for this issue, though, as the gentlemen get short shrift: all five of the “Best Men” are photoshopped together into a single photograph on page 160 of the magazine. To see the photo, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2syj66 There is a full-size scan on the News & Views forum. Thanks to Sleepy for breaking the news. –Part-Time Poet

Congratulations to Vanessa Paradis–her CD DIVINIDYLLE is #1 in France!

Congratulations to Vanessa Paradis–her much-anticipated CD DIVINIDYLLE topped the French charts in its first week of release. The CD is available from Amazon.com (under the title DIVINE IDYLLE) : http://tinyurl.com/2vc5gs Vanessa has made many promotional appearances on French television in September; to see videoclips and read English translations of her interviews, please visit Vanessa Paradis in Translation, Donna B.’s excellent fansite, at www.vanessaparadis.info The DIVINIDYLLE cover portrait of Vanessa was painted by Johnny Depp; to see a larger version, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2d863u –Part-Time Poet

"Doing their own singing, and most impressively"–Jason Solomons reports on SWEENEY TODD

In a report on the Venice Film Festival, The Observer’s Jason Solomons gave a big thumbs-up to the sneak peek of SWEENEY TODD footage shown at Tim Burton’s Golden Lion ceremony. “The exclusive clip [. . . ] featured Depp’s Todd duetting with Helena Bonham Carter’s panda- eyed Mrs Lovett,” reports Solomons. “Both were doing their own singing, and most impressively, as they powered through a dark ode to a cut-throat razor. In the brief dialogue, it seemed that Depp might just have finally got a decent cockney accent, and he held the gleaming object up like Edward reunited with his Scissorhands. At the end, the camera flew out of the window to reveal Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop and an intricate, beautiful shot over the sky line of Dickensian London. This awesome set has been designed, at Pinewood, by the legendary Cinecitta team of Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo.”

Thanks to emma for The Observer story; you can read it in full on the Zone’s News & Views forum. AICN has a similarly glowing report from one of their members, Mastidon, who attended the Golden Lion ceremony and saw the SWEENEY TODD clip. To read his account of the Venice presentation, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2pjwwg Thanks to jdpes for the AICN news. Our photo comes from Carasun–thanks, Carasun!–and you can see a larger version here: http://tinyurl.com/2pnlbc –Part-Time Poet

A start date for SHANTARAM? Mira Nair says January 19th!

While in Toronto for the film festival, director Mira Nair spoke to Wendy Mitchell of Screen Daily about her next project, the ambitious SHANTARAM, starring Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachchan in Eric Roth’s adaptation of the novel by Gregory David Roberts. Mitchell reports that Ms. Nair was leaving Toronto and flying to Mumbai to prepare SHANTARAM: “The $100 million project [. . . ] starts shooting January 19 for what she estimates will be at least 75-80 days.” Adds Mitchell, “The book is set in Australia, India and Afghanistan, and Nair says that India is the only confirmed location so far.” Says Mira Nair, “In America I have to orchestrate the chaos, in India I just film it. It’s so visceral and lively.”

Rumors that Amitabh Bachchan would be going bald for his role are false, however. The very handsome and equally modest actor told Bollywood reporter Tanya Palta, “It’s completely untrue. When I heard about this, I spoke to Mira and she rubbished it. She hasn’t even envisaged me as bald for SHANTARAM, let alone share it with the media, which is so busy imagining me bald through morphed pictures on the net, etc. But sorry, I’m not obliging,” says Bachchan. “My face is ugly enough.” As for his feelings about the project, Bachchan told the Hindustan Times, “It’s an honour to be a part of a Hollywood film, which is going to be directed by an Indian woman.”

The Zone thanks emma for the SHANTARAM news; there are several stories on the News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

HELLO Magazine loves Johnny's Venice red carpet look

Although Johnny Depp has taken his share of criticism from the fashion police in the past, HELLO Magazine had nothing but praise for his red carpet style in Venice this week. “Ditching his usual skull and crossbones gear for a film fest-worthy look, Johnny Depp pulled out all the stops in Venice with a dapper appearance in a white tux and bow tie,” notes HELLO. “The PIRATES star had left behind the high seas to present his cult director friend Tim Burton with the Golden Lion statuette for lifetime achievement. While there remained one reflection of his boho tastes– an assortment of chunky rings visible on both hands–in every other respect the American actor resembled a Hollywood hotshot, right down to his snazzy cream shoes.” To see Johnny’s snazzy cream shoes dressing up the red carpet, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2avbk4 Thanks to bonnie and AnaMaria for the photo.

Incidentally, HELLO Magazine was not alone in its sartorial assessment; Jason Solomons of the UK’s Guardian Unlimited, in his personal set of Venice 2007 awards, named Johnny Depp as “Best Dressed.”–Part-Time Poet

Tim Burton discusses Johnny Depp: "I like actors that like to become characters"

During his press conference in Venice on Wednesday, director Tim Burton was asked to explain why there is “a special connection” between him and actor Johnny Depp, who has played the leading role in six Tim Burton films: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, ED WOOD, SLEEPY HOLLOW, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, THE CORPSE BRIDE, and Burton’s latest feature, the musical SWEENEY TODD. “It’s enjoyable working with him,” Burton replied. “I like actors that like to become characters. Some actors make a career out of being themselves in a movie,” the director explained, “and I’ve always enjoyed those real character actors that just like to become different creatures–and he’s that way.”

Burton went on to offer some examples from their films. “In SCISSORHANDS, he didn’t speak; in ED WOOD, he didn’t shut up . . . he’s always trying something different on every movie. And in this movie,” Burton finished triumphantly, referring to SWEENEY TODD, “he sings! It’s always kind of new territory with him, and that makes it a lot of fun, and a very creative process to see somebody willing to try all those kinds of things.” Thanks to bonnie and AnaMaria for the photo of Tim and Johnny on the red carpet in Venice; to see a larger version, click here: http://tinyurl.com/3bth5d –Part-Time Poet

Videos of Johnny Depp at the Venice Film Festival

For all of us who weren’t lucky enough to be in Venice on Wednesday, when Johnny Depp presented Tim Burton with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival, the Zone’s newshounds have rounded up some video clips of the event from entertainment news sources. Here’s a two-minute video (in English) from Associated Press, with lots of comments from Tim Burton: http://tinyurl.com/2gjrfv And from EuroNews, here’s a video which combines red carpet footage and press conference remarks with actual footage of the Golden Lion award ceremony. You can hear Johnny’s speech and see the presentation on this one: http://tinyurl.com/yuhmcs Many thanks to Emma for both videos. RumLover sends along a brief clip which ran on E!News: http://tinyurl.com/22atx3

Here’s a clip of the red carpet from Progetto Italia–there is so much screaming from the fans on this one that it really feels like you’re there: http://tinyurl.com/2ad498 Thanks to Emma again for sharing the video. And finally, from YouTube, here’s an audience-shot video (you knew there had to be one) of the entire Golden Lion ceremony: http://tinyurl.com/yw5uoz The sound quality here is poor–the audience is very loud and the speeches are very quiet–but it does let you see Johnny present the award, and Tim accept it. The Zone thanks Theresa for sharing the You Tube video. –Part-Time Poet

Venice audience wowed by 8-minute SWEENEY TODD preview–and Johnny Depp's singing

One highlight of the Golden Lion presentation to Tim Burton at the Venice Film Festival was the first public showing of a clip from his upcoming film of Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical SWEENEY TODD. The eight-minute segment of SWEENEY TODD has already generated plenty of positive buzz . . . and immediately laid to rest those persistent questions about whether Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, neither of whom has previous screen musical experience, could sing the demanding Sondheim roles. According to Variety’s Nick Vivarelli, “The clips, in sharp desaturated color, consisted largely of a key scene in the Stephen Sondheim musical in which Todd, played by Johnny Depp, is handed a razor case by Mrs. Lovett, played by Helena Bonham Carter. Singing ‘My Friends,’ Depp proved he can carry a tune, dueting delightfully with Bonham Carter [. . .].

“A white streak in his hair, a mad twinkle in his eye, Depp– in his sixth Burton pic — seemed in fine form in the quick sneak, which, while entertainingly eerie, displayed no violence,” writes Variety. At a press conference earlier in the day, Burton elaborated on his vision for SWEENEY TODD: “I am just trying to make an old-fashioned horror movie with music in it.”

Burton explained that he found his inspiration in vintage films: “I always wanted to make a movie that went back to the way people like Boris Karloff or Lon Chaney or Peter Lorre looked.” Burton sees his film as entering “uncharted territory” because “I don’t think there are that many horror movie musicals out there these days,” the director said. “It will be interesting to see what happens with it.” Based on the reaction in Venice, the director will need to look for more laudatory adjectives.

Thanks to emma for the Variety article; you can read it on the News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

Bravissimo! Tim Burton receives Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement from Venice Film Festival

Tim Burton Day at the Venice Film Festival was a triumph for the director–clips from his upcoming SWEENEY TODD received a rapturous reception, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS was shown in 3-D, and Burton himself was honored with a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, presented by his friend (and six-time leading man) Johnny Depp. “Tim is a rare breed in today’s cinema: he is a true original, a true artist, a true auteur,” Johnny told the crowd. “He’s my favorite director and friend. So . . . let’s give him the thing, man.” Accepting the Golden Lion, Burton said it was “the best honor I’ve ever received.” Earlier in the day, at a press conference, Burton spoke at some length about the warm reception his films have received at previous Venice festivals and the place Venice holds in his heart: “This city is like cinema itself,” he said. “It’s very, very special.” And to receive its Golden Lion “means a lot to me.” Alluding briefly to the fact that he is several decades younger than the typical recipient of a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, Burton quipped, “I’m older than I look.”

The Zone thanks everyone who has posted news, pictures, and video from Venice on the site today. To see a larger version of the photo of Johnny and Tim, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2kwnq7 and to see a different photo from the Golden Lion ceremony, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2pbqxe Thanks to Carasun and AnaMaria for those pictures, and emma for the Variety article. You can read that in full on the Zone’s News & Views forum. –Part-Time Poet

BREAKING NEWS–Johnny Depp arrives at Venice airport for Tim Burton Day!

The photo at left shows a dapper Johnny Depp as he arrived at the Venice airport today; later tonight he will present his longtime friend and collaborator, director Tim Burton, with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. Johnny arrived wearing a white shirt, navy pinstripe pants, a grey vest, and a white double-breasted jacket with a long dark green scarf at the neckline. He was also wearing a taupe fedora and his familiar blue sunglasses. Many, many thanks to AnaMaria for the airport photos–to see a larger version of the photo at left, click here: http://tinyurl.com/2olk65 Johnny has recently cut his hair, as you can see in this photo from the airport: http://tinyurl.com/34dsp5 Other revelations will have to wait for later this evening and the Golden Lion presentation, as (contrary to previous rumors) Johnny did not attend the press conference. Zone members can hear Tim Burton’s press conference on our Video Clips forum–many thanks to Susanne and Theresa for posting the videos. –Part-Time Poet