News in 2001

"Conspiracy" airs on 19th of May on HBO - the Conspiracy website on HBO has been updated.

"How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog" has won another prize - this time at the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema.

Kenneth Branagh had slipped a disc-"probably a platinum one" which fortunately shouldn't have any consequences for the Shackleton Project. God Bless you, Ken.

Promoting Hamlet Kenneth Branagh described decision-making behind-the-scenes in lively interview with NPR's Susan Stamberg. The tape of it had been released again. You can order it here.

Kenneth Branagh is taken part in the Yahoo-Multiple Sclerosis Society Fundraising Auction. He contributed a clock. You can see it and bid for it here.

"Conspiracy" is screening on HBO soon.
On 24th of march you can watch "Wit" on the same channel. I'm pretty sure "Wit" will be marvouless. It's directed by Mike Nichols and the leading actress is Emma Thompson.

But here are the important news (quotes from Kenneth Branagh):

Branagh about Macbeth:
I have been working on a screenplay for MacBeth.
With MacBeth, I'm trying to develop the screenplay by workshopping the play with live actors. What I hope to do this summer is to have a private workshop on the play with some actors to work on the screen adaptation. And I hope towards the end of next year we will get to film it. Once again, the media seem to have made up my mind for me...reports of my premature retirement are grossly exaggerated.

Branagh about the Shackleton project:
...Ernest Shackleton who I am about to play in a film for Channel 4.
We go to the Arctic to pretend we are in the Antarctic, reasons being the infrastructure to support a film crew is just more developed in the Arctic. If anyone gets sick we can get them out quicker. If I slip on the ice we have a doctor with us. I have been training for it. But it's very hard to imagine quite how cold it will be. Currently, my research is stopping short of actually eating seals and penguins.

Branagh about returning to stage:
I will, I'm sure. There has been no conscious decision not to be acting in the theatre. But I have really enjoyed the opportunity to do the kind that I have been doing over the past 10 years and being able to make it available to a larger audience than a theatre can allow. But I do miss the live experience, but I'm sure when I do go back I'll be extremely nervous.

Branagh about "The Periwig Maker" (The short movie is nominated for an Oscar):
A German brother and sister team worked for 3 years unpaid to complete this fascinating and highly original stop frame animation film of a haunting episode in the life of a periwig maker during the great plague of London. It is tender, and imaginative and I was so impressed by their talent and dedication and am absolutely thrilled to bits that all their hard work has been recognised.