Rupert Grint - Rupert's 'Driving Lessons' Movie App.#1~ Come Ride With Rupert!

darcybennett · 04-17-2006, 09:24 PM

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Welcome to Rupert's 'Driving Lessons' Movie Discussion Thread #1

This thread is dedicated to Rupert's soon to be released movie 'Driving Lessons'. He signed on to play the young son of a vicar, named Ben Marshall.

Great News!

The official trailer is finally available to watch!! You can view it HERE!!!

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Official Tartan Films' Driving Lessons Website
Official Sony Pictures Classics' Driving Lessons Website

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The Harry Potter site - TLC has announced a North American release date!

Quote:

Driving Lessons, starring Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley), has been granted a limited release starting October 13 via Sony Pictures Classics. This means it will be in select cities/venues; we'll update with more infor whenever it comes.

Thanks to Amy (baileycat) for bringing it to our attention!

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'Driving Lessons' was released in the U.K. on September 8th!

and in North America on October 13th!

For Canadian fans: Driving Lessons will be released in Canada on November 10th in both Toronto and Vancouver. It will be showed at Canada Square in Toronto and at Fifth Avenue in Vancouver. The canadian distributor is Mongrel Media. Hopefully, there will be other releases in other cities soon.

The home DVD will be released December 26, 2006 in the UK. A distribution deal for the North American market has also now been worked out, stay tuned for details as we learn them.

The DVD sleeve was scanned by The Snitch and you can see it HERE! As well as the information on the special features!!

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Synopsis:

Quote:

The Graduate meets Harold And Maude in this rites of passage comedy with yet another dreary school holiday coming around for the shy and downtrodden Ben (RUPERT GRINT). Seventeen years of living in an absurdly conservative and traditional household with his highly-strung and overbearing mother (LAURA LINNEY) and quiet, mild mannered vicar father have taken its toll on young Ben. While the other kids are out having fun, Ben spends these precious few weeks attending bible classes, having driving lessons with his mother and helping out at a local old people's home.

However, Ben's world is turned upside down when he's employed by an eccentric retired actress Evie (JULIE WALTERS). Vulgar, dignified and childish all at once, she certainly is not the kind of person Ben expected when searching through the job listings in the stuffy parish magazine, "Hello Jesus". Evie enters Ben's life with a cataclysmic force, whisking him away on a series of adventures from camping, to performing Shakespeare in the garden, to attending the Edinburgh festival - where he finally meets a girl much nearer his own age.

Evie's unconventional and often downright bizarre behaviour challenges Ben's beliefs, and forces him to confront the very idea of who he wants to be. Then, when it seems that his new-found freedom is about to be taken away, Ben has to suddenly choose; should he continue to conform, or break out and live his life as his own man?

DRIVING LESSONS is a heartfelt, touching and positively hilarious look at the effect one delightfully eccentric older woman can have on a young man with a lot to learn...

From an interview with Rupert in German's 'ONE' magazine, which mentions briefly in the text 'Driving Lessons':

Quote:

During the filming of his film 'Driving Lessons', Rupert Grint met an old friend. It was actress Julie Walters who plays Ron's mother, Mrs. Weasley, in the Harry Potter saga. In this film, which will hit theatres in spring 2006 , Rupert plays a shy teenager named Ben who gets totally suffocated by his dominant mother (played by Laura Linney, who can be seen in 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose') and all attemts to elude her fail until he meets Evie (Julie Walters), a former actress. Ben's suffering from the strict education of his father, who's a vicar in London and his dominant mother. He's suffocating in the religious family atmosphere, in which prohibitions rule everyday life. When his mother forces him to take part in a play that's organized by the parish, he's angry because he has to play an eucalyptus tree and his classmates are laughing at him.

Things change when the former actress starts to interfere the staging of the play. She's sorry for Ben, who looks bizarre in his costume, and doesn't mince matters to tell off the parish council. Afterwards she goes on the run with Ben to far away Scotland in her old car. Evie gives Ben driving lessons and teaches him about life and freedom.

Quote:

The Graduate meets Harold And Maude in this rite of passage comedy. Driving Lessons is a heartfelt, touching and positively hilarious look at the effect one delightfully eccentric older woman can have on a young man with a lot to learn.
Seventeen years of living in an absurdly conservative and traditional household have taken its toll on young Ben (Rupert Grint). While the other kids are out having fun, Ben spends those precious summer weeks attending bible classes, having driving lessons with his mother and helping out at a local old people’s home.
However, Ben’s world is turned upside down when he’s employed by an eccentric retired actress Evie (Julie Walters). Vulgar, dignified and childish all at once, she certainly is not the kind of person Ben expected when searching through the job listings in the stuffy parish magazine, “Hello Jesus”.
Evie’s unconventional and often downright bizarre behaviour challenges Ben’s beliefs, and forces him to confront the very idea of who he wants to be.

Facts:

Rupert filmed this in the summer of 2005, between ‘Goblet of Fire’ and ‘Order of the Phoenix’
Co-stars Academy Award nominated actresses Laura Linney, who plays his domineering mother, and Julie Walters (Evie) who has worked with Rupert before in the ‘Harry Potter’ movie series, as Mrs. Weasley
The drama-comedy is supposedly loosely based on Jeremy Brock’s own life
Filmed entirely on location in London and Edinburgh

Cast:
Rupert Grint............ Ben Marshall
Julie Walters........... Evie Walton
Laura Linney........... Laura Marshall
Nicholas Farrell......... Reverend Marshall
Tamsin Egerton........ Sarah
Michelle Duncan....... Bryony

Original poster

Brand spankin' new poster

A new brand spankin' new poster

Production Information:
Directed and written by: Jeremy Brock, best known for his Oscar nominated screenplay of Mrs. Brown
Full Length Film, 35 mm
Run Time: 94 min.
RubberTreePlant Productions, ContentFilm
Producer: Julia Cashman
Executive Producers: Edward R. Pressman and Alessandro Camon
Co-financed by U.K. Film Council’s Premiere Fund

Pictures:

On set pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

3 new production stills have now surfaced: 1, 2 and 3

One set of 3 new pictures have been released: HERE

Video Preview:

You can find it HERE – it's the last one in list of selections. Unfortunately, RGMS is no longer functional, therefore the link is no longer available. Sorry.

On the Tribeca Film festival's Web site, there is a small clip featuring Rupert. It's a great scene where Ben wants to read Sarah (his crush) the poem he wrote for her. He's wonderful in the scene, so effective as the awkward and shy boy who doesn't really know how to act or behave around girls. It's available to watch at this link.

comingsoon.net has two new clips from the film, you can view them HERE. You'll need Quicktime to view.

Screenings:

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will be taking place this month starting February 17th and running until February 26th in Dublin, Ireland.
Julie Walters will be on hand to talk about Driving Lessons at the festival.

The first screening for the film took place Monday, February 20th at 6:00pm GMT.
For more information, please check out the link, HERE.

The Tribeca Film Festival will be screening it as well, starting April 30th!

After the premiere which took place April 30th, the Festival has added an additional screening for the movie. See below for details.

The schedule is as follows:

Sunday, April 30th, 8:30pm – Pace U Schimmel Center
Monday, May 1st, 10:00pm – Tribeca Cinemas 2
Saturday, May 6th, 9:30pm – AMC Loews Lincoln Sq. 1
Saturday, May 6th, 9:30pm - AMC Loews Lincoln Sq. 3

Here's the movie's summary posted at the festival's Web site:

Quote:

From across the pond comes this heartwarming tale about two unlikely friends. Summer vacation for Ben (Rupert Grint) involves bible study class, work at a convalescent home, and driving lessons from his overbearing and overly religious mother (Laura Linney). It may not be a 17-year-old's dream summer, but with a demanding, vigilant mother and a passive vicar for a father, Ben doesn't have much choice. However, his absurdly straitlaced life begins to unravel when he gets a job assisting Evie (Julie Walters), a former grand dame of the British stage and screen. Dignified, vulgar, and childish all at once, Evie spends most of her time in her garden. Suddenly caught between two worlds, Ben starts to gravitate towards his employer's alien ways, even though it continually gets him in trouble with his mother. One day Evie drags Ben on a camping trip, only to extend their journey by having the unlicensed Ben drive her to the Edinburgh Festival, where she is scheduled to give a poetry reading. Reluctantly, Ben ignores his innate conservativism and jumps behind the wheel. What follows is a journey that very much resembles the two-way road on which Ben and Evie travel, as each helps the other move forward in their radically different lives. Accomplished screenwriter Jeremy Brock loosely based Driving Lessons on his own life. He has adjusted effortlessly to the director's chair, as his personal touches perfectly accentuate this highly enjoyable road movie.

It has now been confirmed that Driving Lessons will be showing at the festival of all film festivals... in Cannes!!!!!

The festival is running from May 17 – 28, 2006. Screening schedule to be determined.

We now have a confirmed screening schedule, 'Driving Lessons' first screening will be on the first official day of the festival - May 17th,

Screening schedule:

Wednesday May 17th, 5:30pm - ARCADES 1
Thursday May 18th, 2:00pm - OLYMPIA 5
Saturday May 20th, 2:00pm - OLYMPIA 5

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June 15, 2006
It has now been confirmed that the movie will be screening at the 28th Annual Moscow International Film Festival, being held in the nation's capital from June 23-July 2, 2006! It will be part of 17 films in "prime competition".

With the movie up for competition, this means that Rupert will also be eligible for a Best Actor award. The films and actors awards will be handed out after the jury makes their selections on the last day of the festival, July 2nd.

Quote:

Sole U.S. entry is Robert Towne's "Ask the Dust." Britain's Jeremy Brock's "Driving Lessons" completes the English-language lineup.

THIS looks to be the festival's official website.

~~No screening schedule has been made available at this time.~~

Screening schedule:
June 30th - 12:00 pm (noon) at the Octyabr Cinema / 1 hall
June 30th - 8:30 pm at the Octyabr Cinema / 1 hall
July 1st - 7:00 pm at the Rolan Cinema.
July 2nd - 6:00 pm at the Octyabr Cinema / 2 hall

As reported before, Driving Lessons was up against 17 other films in the Main Competition category and it won an amazing 4 awards!

1- Russian Guild of Film Critics for the best film in Competition
2- Golden St.George Award - Special Grand Jury Prize
3- Audience Award for Best Film in Main Competition (from exit polls)
4- Silver St.George Award - Best Actress: Julie Walters

Even if he didn't win anything, we must still congratulate Rupert for his part in making Driving Lessons' the wonderful success it is today; we must also congratulate the rest of the cast and the entire crew for their incredible work in the making of this film, and of course, a special nod to Jeremy Brock and Julie Walters!
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July 1, 2006:
It will also be screened at the 23rd Annual Jerusalem Film Festival, running July 6th - 15th, 2006.

Screening schedule:
July 7th - 2:00 pm at the Jerusalem Theater, 20 Marcus Street
July 10th - 2:15 pm at the Jerusalem Cinematheque 1, 11 Hebron Road
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July 9th, 2006:

It was announced today that the film will be screening at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Scotland. No date and time at this time, however a complete programme is scheduled to be announced Wednesday July 13th.

Screening schedule:
Aug. 25 (Fri), 5:30 PM at Cineworld 2, Fountain Park
Aug. 26 (Sat), 4:00 PM at Dominion Morningside

Due to popular demand, an additional screening has been added..
Aug. 27 (Sun), 10:00 AM at Cameo 1

Tickets are available for booking starting on July 14th. Details and information can be found HERE. If you prefer buying tickets in person or by phone, you can find all of that information, HERE.

Information on the venues can be found HERE

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July 11th, 2006:

'Driving Lessons' is going back to Ireland, it will now be screening at Galway Film Fleadh with a special screening Wednesday July 12th, 2006 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall Main Theater.

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August 3rd, 2006:

'Driving Lessons' will be screening at the 15th Seaward Chichester Film Festival, it will be closing out the festival at its 'Closing Gala'.

Screening Schedule:
September 9th @ 11:00 am
September 9th @ 8:30 pm

The second showing will be preceded by food and wine being served at 7:30 pm, with Jeremy Brock expected to be in attendance, to introduce the film.

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September 25th, 2006
The film screened at the Breckenridge Film Festival in Colorado, on September 8th @ 6:00 pm at the Speakeasy Movie Theater.
It will next screen at the Aspen Film Fest again in Colorado, on September 27th @ 5:30 pm at the Wheeler Opera House.
Driving Lessons will have its theatrical release in Australia on December 26th!!
Crown Theaters in Maryland, as well as in Connecticut. No release dates for those locations have been made available.
Festival Do Rio 2006 will be screening the movie:

Screenings
Sunday, October 1st @ midnight in the Space Unibanco de Botafogo 2
Tuesday, October 3rd @ 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm in the Art Fashion Mall 3
Thursday, October 5th @ 4:30 pm & 9:30 pm in the Sao Luiz 3
The 17th Dinard British Film Festival taking place between October 5th & 8th. No screening times are available at this time.
Copenhagen Film Festival:

Screenings:
September 27th @ 7:00 pm at CinemaxX
September 29th @ 9:30 pm at Dagmar

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October 3, 2006:
Roma Film Fest:

Screenings:
October 19th @ 10:00 am ~ Petrassi Cinema
October 20th @ 10:30 am ~ Politeama Cinema

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October 18, 2006:
The 10th Annual Canberra International Film Festival

According to their, Driving Lessons Page, the screening schedule is:
October 28th @ 6:00 pm ~ Electric Shadows Cinema
Fort Lauderdale International Film Fest weekend of October 21-22, 2006.

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October 30, 2006

Gijón International Film Festival

Screening:
November 29th @ 9:30 am - Teatro Jovellanos

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It was reported on the ContentFilm Web site that Tartan Films had acquired all UK and Ireland rights to the distribution of the movie, which is apparently scheduled for release at the end of the year. It has also been reported that DL will be getting an American distributor once it shows at Tribeca.

darcybennett · 04-20-2006, 05:35 PM

Rupert, recently gave an interview to Alloy, where he talks a little bit about the movie...

Quote:

Driving Lessons is your first big gig since starring in the Harry Potter flicks. How does it feel?
Rupert Grint: It's a bit nerve-wracking because it's [totally] different than anything I've ever done before.

Was it weird to film without Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson?
RG: It was quite weird because on Harry Potter, the main bit of the cast is all kids. There weren't many kids on this one.

Why did you decide to do a different type of movie now?
RG: The Harry Potter movies are so long, and as good as they are, it's nice to do something different. This came up, and I figured it would be a nice change. It's a much more grown up film -- there's a bit of swearing in it. Also, I was looking forward to the driving bit.

Spoiler:

You had your first onscreen kiss in this flick. How was it?
RG: That was a bit different. It wasn't as bad as I thought.

In the Harry Potter movies, you did a lot of acting with a blue screen, where special effects were added in later. How did it feel to just do straight acting in a natural setting?
RG: It was different. [With] every Harry Potter, [there's] been blue screens -- we've had to act with nothing. It was much easier not having to do that this time. There are no special effects with this one; it's more straightforward, which made it more appealing to do because of the contrast.

Who do you relate to more -- Ron Weasley or Ben?
RG: Ron. Ben's sort of shy and really sort of quiet and a bit complicated. I think I'm more laid back.

**ellie** · 04-21-2006, 04:18 AM

This brings back memories. I really want to see it again!

When is it being show in the Film Festival in New York again?

I think it's New York, right??

darcybennett · 04-21-2006, 06:27 PM

Yes, it'll soon be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival held in and around Manhattan, New York City.

The first screening is scheduled for April 30th.

ETA

We've just gotten some really terrific news... Tao of rupert-grint.us just confirmed it on her site...

Rupert is scheduled to be in New York City at the Tribeca for the North American Premiere of 'Driving Lessons'!!!

Mark your calendars... April 30th!!

If he's coming to NY... he may very well appear in Cannes too... at the end of May... How awesome would that be?!

**baileycat** · 04-22-2006, 05:31 AM

That's fantastic news for any New York fans. Maybe Melissa from TLC could possibly snag an interview with Rupert since he'll be in town. That would be cool.

ordinaryday · 04-22-2006, 06:15 AM

Thanks for the news Darcy I really can't wait to see it!

**ellie** · 04-23-2006, 07:41 AM

I'm squealing as I type!!

That means photos!!!!!!!!!!! (hopefully

)

Oº°‘¨Laura¨‘°ºO · 04-23-2006, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by **ellie**

I'm squealing as I type!!

That means photos!!!!!!!!!!! (hopefully

)

well then let's all squee together ....*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*

althought they did get Ruperts character name wrong, it's still exciting to hear such great and positive things about DL!!

» 'Driving Lessons' Future Oscar Contender?
With the Tribeca Film Festival starting this week, The LA Times today has published a great piece talking about Driving Lessons and it's chances of going all the way to the Oscars.

The writer says:
I've already seen "Driving Lessons" and can tell you: it's a helluva ride and it's obvious Oscar bait based on its setup. Two-time past Oscar nominee Julie Walters ("Billy Elliott," "Educating Rita") is a flamboyant, booze-swilling, over-the-hill actress who plays a theatrically outsize Maude (without any icky stuff with the kid) to Rupert Grint's (Ron Weasley in the "Harry Potter" flicks) awestruck Harold. She's an eccentric old British bird who lives alone...in desperate need of a young helper around the joint and that's where Grint comes in, arriving as a shy lad eager to escape his restrictive God-fearing home.

you can find the whole article here

darcybennett · 04-23-2006, 06:20 PM

I just saw that, Laura... and whoa... that's a really encouraging and awesomely positive thing...

Thanks for bringing it over for us!

Let's not get ahead of ourselves but man... Can you imagine if it does get nominated?

We'll be going even nuttier than we are now!!

**baileycat** · 04-24-2006, 04:35 AM

Comingsoon.net has 2 more clips of the film. And they are fantastic!

darcybennett · 04-24-2006, 06:54 AM

Thanks for the heads up, Amy!

I'm off to watch them now...

Sorry to borrow this from you Laura but... oh... my... bob!!!

Those two scenes are indeed fantastic... My gosh! Rupert is superb... but Julie and Laura aren't bad either!!

The acting in those two scenes is wonderful... especially between Rupert and Laura... whoa... The hurt, pain, anger he conveys just through his eyes!

He has wonderful chemistry with both actresses. Julie is perfect in this role, they really couldn't have found a better actress for the role.

You can view them at this LINK. You'll need Quicktime to view.

comingsoon.net also conducted an interview with him which you can read HERE.

Quote:

ComingSoon.net: "Driving Lessons" is playing for the first time in the U.S. at the Tribeca Film Festival. It hasn't been released in the UK yet, but has it done any festivals over there?
Rupert Grint: I think it's done one in Dublin, Ireland, but that's it, really.

CS: Have you had a chance to see it with an audience yet?
Grint: No, not yet. Just with my family.

CS: How did you find time to make this movie?
Grint: Well, just in between the fourth one and the fifth one. It was only a six-week shoot filmed down in London, so it was quite easy to fit in, really.

CS: I know Jeremy's written a lot of great movies, but what was it about this movie that made you want to make it only your second non-Potter movie?
Grint: I was in the middle of the fourth "Harry Potter" film, and I got sent this script. I just really liked it. I thought it would be a good thing to do. Then, I met Jeremy, and everyone there were just really nice people, so it just happened like that, really. It was just something so different from Harry Potter, that was quite an appealing part of it, because it was just no special effects, sort of lower budget, and a lot of driving, which sort of appealed to me quite a lot, as well. I'm actually learning now to drive in real life. It just worked really well, because there was a little gap between the two "Harry Potter" films, and it slotted in nicely.

CS: Any idea why Jeremy picked you for this role?
Grint: I dunno, really. (laughs)

CS: Had Julie Walters and Laura Linney already signed on to do the movie when you decided to come on board?
Grint: I've heard rumors that Julie Walters wanted to do it, because she was Mrs. Weasley, my mum, in the "Harry Potter" films, so it was quite good to work with her again.

CS: We're used to see you doing more comedy, but in this, you're more of the straight man to Julie. Was it hard to play down your instincts for humor?
Grint: Sure. That was another difference that I quite liked as well, cause [Ben]'s a lot different than Ron, obviously.

CS: Did the fact that you've worked with her before help the dynamic between the two of you for this movie?
Grint: It's quite a nerve-wracking thing, because I've not really done any other films, apart from the Harry Potters. Because that crew is so tight, a whole sort of family atmosphere up there, it's quite daunting going into a whole new thing, and I didn't know anyone. It really helped to have someone I actually knew.

I'll add all of this info to the News Thread.

ETA

newyorkmetro.com has a small review of DL and Rupert's performance.

Quote:

By Logan Hill

17

The age of terrific young actor Rupert Grint, the redheaded sidekick who finally steps out of Harry Potter’s shadow and shambles his way into a breakout performance in Driving Lessons. Fifty-six is the age of his lovely co-star, Julie Walters, a grande dame of the British telly who plays Maude to Grint’s Harold (Laura Linney plays his mother). Despite the unavoidable comparisons to its predecessor, this film warms the screen with genuine affection.

I'll add this one to his Appreciation Thread.

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ETA 2

ICM has confirmed that the film's first screening at Cannes will be May 17th!!

Screening schedule:

Wednesday May 17th, 5:30pm - ARCADES 1
Thursday May 18th, 2:00pm - OLYMPIA 5
Saturday May 20th, 2:00pm - OLYMPIA 5

More dates and times are most likely going to be added... so stay tuned...

Oº°‘¨Laura¨‘°ºO · 04-24-2006, 09:25 AM

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*faints*...................oh.....my.....bob........................*faints again*

Oº°‘¨Laura¨‘°ºO · 04-24-2006, 03:07 PM

yet another Rupert interview!!!!!!

where he talks more about Driving lessons and a bit about OoTP!!!

new Rupert interview!

Quote:

While Grint's character Ron had some experience behind the wheel — albeit in a flying Ford Anglia — his latest character, Ben, had no such track record. Neither did Rupert himself, which made for a few dangerous situations on set.

"I'm learning to drive in real life," Grint said, "so part of the reason I signed up for this film was that I was really looking forward to driving a car. I was only 16 when I was doing it, so it was against the law [in England], and we had to shoot mostly on private roads. But there was one little hill where I was supposed to drive up and stop, and I forgot to put on the hand brake, and it started to roll toward the camera."

rest of the interview here

i can already see one of those crewmember go like "Rupert,dude, you forgot to put on the handbrake!!!"

now all go squeeeeeee!!!

darcybennett · 04-25-2006, 07:47 AM

Rupert, menace behind the wheel!!

Thanks for posting that, Laura!

I love all of these articles that are now coming out!!

He's getting more and more exposure which is nothing but a good and positive thing. I'm off to read the rest of the article.

Just one thing I must remind you of though, please be careful about posting sequentially (i.e. posting back to back), I don't know if you're aware but it's against the rules. When you have something to add to a post you've just posted, please click on 'edit message' at the bottom of your post and edit in what you wanted to add. Thanks.

**ellie** · 04-25-2006, 02:29 PM

*squealing as I type!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm all giddy now!

I NEED TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!! (again).