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October 10 TIME Latin America Special Issue

TIME magazine published a special edition titled "The New Mexico" showing Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo on its cover. The edition includes texts by Vicente Fox, Enrique Krauze, Carlos Monsiváis, Federico Estévez, Guillermo Gómez Rock, Salma Hayek and others. If you have this issue we'd appreciate your help with a transcript of the Salma Hayek text. Please contact us if you want to help. Thanks.
September 26 'Frida' Premiere Magazine / European release dates

The October issue of Premiere Magazine features a short article on 'Frida' plus several new promotional photos: 'A Brush With Greatness'. The Irish Times has another article on the movie called 'Fighting for Frida'. Edward Norton was asked about his relationship to Salma and the movie by The Times responding very fondly: "It's a labour of love for her and it's really a testament to her because she produced it. All the people in it came because of their affection for her." Furthermore the IMDB reports European release dates for the movie. So far these countries have been mentioned: The Netherlands April 4 | Belgium April 17 | Czech Republic May 23
July 24 Elliot Goldenthal conducts 'Frida'
Elliot Goldenthal who scored such movies as 'Titus', 'Michael Collins' and 'Interview with the Vampire' will contribute the musical score to Julie Taymor's 'Frida'. Goldenthal was nominated for an Academy Award twice. The songs in the movie will be in Spanish. One song is for a moment in which Frida and Diego travel through Xochimilco. It contains the lyrics "Viva la Vida". The other song is a tango with an erotic touch which is played when Frida and Tina Modotti dance together.
July 18 Frida Kahlo stamp released in US
Information taken from the official press release (07/16): "Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, was honored today with a U.S. postage stamp at a ceremony held at Phoenix Art Museum. This is the first Hispanic woman to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp. The 34-cent Frida Kahlo stamp will be available at Phoenix post offices today and at post offices across the country beginning tomorrow. "The Postal Service has a proud tradition of honoring those special people who have had a significant influence on American history, art and culture," said Benjamin P. Ocasio, Vice President, Diversity Development, for the Postal Service, who dedicated the stamp." Thanks to Brenda Alvarez!
July 7 Miramax Cannes 2001 'Frida' Brochure
Miramax gave out a promotional brochure at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It features a stunning promotional shot of Salma Hayek posing as Frida Kahlo, as well as some photos of Alfred Molina and Antonio Banderas. Official information on the production comes along with these photos. A very special thanks to Susan from the Unofficial Edward Norton Information Page for sending in the scans.
June 23 'Frida' filming completed
After 11 weeks filming of 'Frida' was completed some days ago. The team went on location in Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Mexico City and Teotihuacán. Post-production on 'Frida' will last about 6-7 months. Salma Hayek is expected to join the cast of 'Once upon a time in Mexico' on set in San Miguel De Allende next week.
June 21 Entertainment Tonight feature on 'Frida'
Finally ET aired the segment on 'Frida' last night. HayekHeaven.net provides you with exclusive audio footage from the show, thanks to our friend Bill Austin. I made a transcript and you can also listen to the feature in this mp3. More HayekHeaven.net ET Coverage: [videoclip] | [screenshots]
June 7 Banderas and Judd film 'Frida'
Antonio Banderas was filming his three scenes for 'Frida' on Tuesday in Xochimilco. As this was the only day Banderas could film 'Frida' the cameras rolled for more than 12 hours. One of the filmed scenes is about an argument between David Alfaro Siqueiros and Diego Rivera. Banderas was joined on the set by Ashley Judd, who plays Tina Modotti in the movie. Check out exclusive photos from the set!
June 6 'Frida' sneak peek and interview on ET
Entertainment Tonight features a segment with a sneak peek at 'Frida'. ET's website provides two exclusive videoclips that are NOT to be missed! Check out ET tonight for even more exciting 'Frida' behind-the-scenes moments! Note as of June 7: Even though ET promoted the feature on Frida it was cut out of the show! :(
May 30 Geoffrey Rush at the pyramides of Teotihuacán
Geoffrey Rush has been shooting his scenes for the movie 'Frida' since last Friday. Shooting is expected to be finished in two weeks and is currently on location at the pyramides of Teotihuacán. Rush resembles Trotsky perfectly as this stunning first photo gives proof to.
More new photos in our on-set gallery.
May 4 'Frida' moves to San Luis Potosí
Filming of 'Frida' has moved to San Luis Potosí, where one of the most important scenes will be shot: Frida's accident. The production will be kept under wraps. As soon as filming is completed there will be a news conference in Mexico City providing the press with further details.
April 19 'Frida' release in December 2001
Miramax and Ventanarosa spokesperson Jean Marie Murphy-Burke confirms that 'Frida' is scheduled for a theatrical release in December 2001.
April 18 Banderas expected in June
According to Jean Marie Murphy-Burke Antonio Banderas is still in talks to star as David Siqueiros. He is occupied with filming another movie but hopes to find the time to travel to Mexico in June. Antonio might only stay 3 to 4 days in order to complete the shooting of his scenes. Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton and Ashley Judd are expected to arrive on the set in the middle of May.
April 15 Second week of 'Frida' shooting
After 6 days in Puebla City the production has moved to the historical center of Mexico City. Filming is scheduled to stay in the Distrito Federal for two weeks. Afterwards the crew will move to locations in San Luis Potosí and Teotihuacán. In the meantime Valeria Golino joined the cast as Lupe Marín. The make-up artists Judy Chin, John Jackson and Raul Sarmiento are in charge of turning Salma Hayek into Frida Kahlo. The costumes are designed by Julie Weiss. For more details check out FridaMovie.com's Frida Diary.
April 8 Frida Kahlo on location
Filming of 'Frida' has started this Saturday in the historical center of Puebla. About 600 people are expected to participate as extras. Shooting in the zone of San Francisco and Puebla will last six days. We are very proud to present the first photos taken on the set.
April 6 Full coverage of press conference
Yesterday the press conference for 'Frida' was held in the Churubusco Studios in Mexico. Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Mia Maestro, Patricia Reyes Spíndola, Roger Rees, Diego Luna, Margarita Sanz and producer Sarah Green attended as well as the monkey Fulan-Chang. Filming of the movie will start this Saturday in Mexico City, Puebla and San Luis Potosi. Diego Luna will play Alejandro Gonzalez Arias and Margarita Sanz has been cast as Natalie Trotsky. Antonio Banderas' participation has not been confirmed while Puerto Rican singer Chavela Vargas is in talks to star and sing in the movie. Salma Hayek prepared for her role by taking painting classes in which she discovered a new talent. Ms. Hayek said she would tell the press about her experiences after the shooting, which will last about 12 weeks.
Don't miss our exclusive coverage with photos, videoclips and quotes.
April 4 'Frida' press conference
More details on the production of 'Frida' will be given in a press conference held this Thursday. Salma Hayek, Mia Maestro, Geoffrey Rush and director Julie Taymor will attend. Filming of the movie starts this Saturday and ends June 10th.
Salma recently stated that Antonio Banderas' participation is not sure. Diego Luna ('Before night falls') is said to star as well as Tiaré Scanda who is still in talks.
April 3 Lopez ditches Frida project
Variety reports today: "Jennifer Lopez has dropped her plans to portray Mexican artist Frida Kahlo on the big screen and is instead negotiating to star as an FBI agent for director Tony Scott in a Warner Bros. crime thriller, "Taking Lives." Talks have commenced between the studio and Lopez's agents toward a deal that would pay her in excess of $10 million to make the drama her next film. The projected start date for the project would be the fall or once the threatened actors strike is either averted or settled. Lopez won't go forward with previously announced plans to play Kahlo in a film that was being prepped at United Artists for Luis Valdez to direct and Francis Ford Coppola to produce. The biopic about the Mexican painter was effectively knocked on the canvas when a rival film, starring Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Edward Norton and Ashley Judd, was greenlit first at Miramax, with director Julie Taymor at its helm."
March 30 'Frida' filming to start April 7
Jean Marie Murphy-Burke, Salma Hayek's publicist, recently gave details on the production of 'Frida'. Salma Hayek is already in Mexico City with the cast and director Julia Taymor. The movie is produced by Salma Hayek and Sarah Green, who worked on 'Girlfight'. Filming will start April 7 on locations like the pyramides of Teotihuacán, the university of Chapingo, San Luis Potosí, popular marketplaces of the capital and the Estudios Churubusco. As the media is highly interested in 'Frida' a press conference is considered for the next week.
March 29 Rush talks Trotsky
Geoffrey Rush recently told the New York Daily News about his role as Leon Trotsky in 'Frida': "Rivera roughed her up a little. Trotsky was a refuge. He moved into Kahlo-Rivera household — seriously moved in." Rush says he's now preparing for his big scene, though he adds mischievously, "You can't rehearse putting an ice pick through your head." This statement gives proof to the fact that he will be part of the cast when the movie goes on location in Mexico City next week.
March 25 Dolores Olmedo supports 'Frida'
The art collector Dolores Olmedo confirmed that she has been working closely with Salma Hayek on the writing of the script for 'Frida'. Olmedo stated that the story will be based on the letters that she exchanged with Frida Kahlo herself and the ones between Frida and Maria Felix. Source: Notimex Thanks to Jonathan Luna!
March 18 Norton does rewrite on 'Frida' script
The April issue of Premiere magazine had this surprise to offer: "Salma Hayek sure knows how to delegate. While prepping her passion project, a historical drama on artist Frida Kahlo, she asked brainy boyfriend Edward Norton to take a shot at the script. Over a weekend, while filming 'Death to Smoochy', Norton squeezed in a rewrite that delighted everyone - especially his producer-star-sweetie."
Thanks to Susan (Edward Norton Information Page) and Joanne!
March 16 'Frida' preparations in Mexico
Just a few weeks before the shooting of 'Frida' will start Salma Hayek is back in Mexico. Yesterday she visited the president of the National Council for Culture and Arts Ms. Sari Bermúdez with the script for the movie. Salma was accompanied by the director of the Mexican Institute of Cinematography Mr. Alfredo Joscowicz. For several days technicians have been building and decorating a replica of the Estudios Churubusco, the house in which Diego Rivera lived. Source: Reforma Thanks to Jonathan Luna for the information!
March 16 Patricia Reyes Spíndola as Matilde Kahlo
Patricia Reyes Spíndola will play Frida Kahlo's mother Matilde. She already starred with Salma Hayek in 'Teresa' and 'No one writes to the colonel'. The role of Matilde Kahlo will only be a small part. Ms. Spindo revealed that shooting her scenes will consist of seven calls starting in the first week of April. The last call will be in June.
March 14 'Frida' locations I Rush as Trotsky
The production team for 'Frida' is travelling through natural scenarios in San Luis Potosí searching for locations said the tourism state coordinator Alejandro Morones Ochoa. Places in question are the Plaza de Armas, the ex penitenciary of the state, a health clinic and a bar ubicated in Reforma street, besides some scenarios from different towns around Real de Catorce. Source: El Norte Moreover Variety reports that Geoffrey Rush is in "final negotiations" to star as Leon Trotsky.
March 5 Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
Dark Horizons reports that Rodrigo Prieto will be in charge of the cinematography for 'Frida' instead of Emmanuel Lubezki. Prieto worked on movies like 'Amores perros' and 'Original Sin'.
February 21 Rees is Frida's father
Despite all rumors Variety reports that Frida Kahlo will go before cameras in April on location in Mexico City. Roger Rees (Cheers, The West Wing) has been cast as Guillermo Kahlo, Frida's father.
January 26 Frida postponed - Figgis ahead
Striking news from Mexico: Salma Hayek will stay in Europe for the next 2 months to star in a movie (title and plot are still unknown) directed by Mike Figgis ("Time Code"). The filming of Frida Kahlo that was scheduled to start in March will be postponed again as a publicist confirms: "The stage of preproduction is very long, thus filming will not begin right now, but perhaps within four or five months."
Source: Reforma
January 19 Mia Maestro is Cristina Kahlo
Mia Maestro has been added to the cast of Miramax Films' biopic "Frida Kahlo". Maestro will play Kahlo's younger sister Cristina who had an affair with her husband Diego Rivera. She made her screen debut in the Academy Award-nominated film "Tango" and co-starred with Salma Hayek in "Time Code" and "In the time of the butterflies". Source: AOL News (Thanks to Joanne!)
January 13 Salma gives details on Frida plot
"Frida Kahlo" will focus on the relationship between Frida and Diego Rivera. Recently Salma Hayek stated that "it was impossible to tell the complexity of Frida's life in two hours. That's why we decided to focus on just one aspect, the story of love with Diego Rivera." The soul of Kahlo's paintings, her relation to politics and her humanity will be expressed in this love story. Source: La República Read the full article here!
January 6 Frida Kahlo Production Status
Emmanuel Lubezki who has earned two Oscar nominations as director of photography for "Sleepy Hollow" and "A Little Princess" will be in charge of the cinematography. Filming locations include Mexico City, New York City and Paris. The movie is produced by Salma Hayek and Lizz Speed with production companies Miramax Films, Trimark Pictures and Ventanarosa Productions involved.
December 26 Miramax confirms Frida casting
Finally Miramax has officially confirmed the casting of Alfred Molina, Ashley Judd and Edward Norton. Filming is scheduled to start March 12th, 2001. Source: DarkHorizons.com
December 20 Lopez project faces problems
Variety reports that MGM and Coppola are a few million apart on the final budget of their project while Miramax is in negotiations with several foreign sales companies, including Gaylord Entertainment, to co-finance the picture. Moreover time is running out for the production as Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild strikes loom this spring and summer, and Lopez has committed to topline "Enough" at Columbia Pictures before shooting Coppola's picture.
What a shame ;) Read the full article here.
December 18 Benicio is no Diego
Salma Hayek offered the role of Diego Rivera to Benicio Del Toro. Unfortunately he refused saying that he already had to gain a lot of weight for "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and that he didn't want to go through the same again. Alfred Molina is still not confirmed for the role as he is bound to his contract for the TV series "Ladies Man". It looks like Frida is still searching for her Diego.. Source: Clarín Espectáculos
November 28 'Frida Kahlo' in the lead?
The New York Post reports that Salma Hayek's 'Frida Kahlo' will have an earlier release date than Jennifer Lopez' 'The Two Fridas' as filming will already start in March. Salma Hayek assured that she doesn't fear any comparison with the other project and that portraying Frida Kahlo is a dream come true. The cast members of 'The Two Fridas' have not been announced yet but there are rumors Leonardo DiCaprio, Richard Gere and even Madonna might be among them.
November 22 Diego and Kahlo Art Exhibit in Dallas
A new exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art spans two love affairs - that of the tumultuous relationship between Mexican masters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and that of Jacques and Natasha Gelman, whose passion for collecting art cultivated many careers. This is a great oppurtunity to see Kahlo's work. Read the full article here!
November 18 Geoffrey Rush as Leon Trotsky?
According to Entertainment Weekly director Julie Taymor is courting Geoffrey Rush (Shine, Quills) for the role of Trotsky in Miramax's Frida Kahlo biopic starring Salma Hayek and Edward Norton. Thanks to Carlos Adair for the info!
October 22 Penelope as Frida´s sister?
Penelope Cruz might join the cast of Frida as the role of Cristina, Frida´s sister, has been offered to her lately. Although Penelope always wanted to work with her close friend she might not have the time to film the movie. If Penelope can´t commit to the project Michelle Rodigruez (Girlfight) is in talks to play Cristina.
Sept. 19 Frida News
Miramax has offered the direction of "Frida" to Julie Taymor who is best known for her Broadway staging of "The Lion King". Antonio Banderas, Ashley Judd and Edward Norton joined the cast of Frida. Banderas will play David Siqueiros while Judd will portray Tina Modotti. Norton will do a cameo as Nelson Rockefeller. Read full article!
August 22 TV Guide Poll
On Monday TV Guide Online´s Poll of the Day raised the question: Jennifer Lopez or Salma Hayek — who should portray artist Frida Kahlo? More than 2000 people voted online and the results couldn´t be better for Salma. 80% think "Native Mexican Salma Hayek will have a special feel for the role — this is her chance to break out of the schlock and show us what she's got!" while only 20% are in favor of Jennifer Lopez.
August 15 Two Fridas???
While Salma Hayek has been fighting for a Frida Kahlo project for years Jennifer Lopez is now circling a Kahlo biopic produced by Francis Ford Coppola. Salma has been obsessed by the making of the movie for one simple reason: she admires Kahlo and wants to tell her country´s history. Now that her dream is finally becoming real producers had the "great" idea to cast Lopez in a similar movie. Lopez hasn´t signed yet but will possibly join the competition. ::Read article:: Source: Variety.
July 26 Salma is Frida
The Book Los Angeles features an in-depth portrait of Frida Kahlo fosusing on the production of the movie. Salma says about the Mexican icon: "In a way Frida was like Mexico--her body was broken, but she had a strong spirit." Find out about her obsession for the project in the article. Check out the first pictures of Salma as Frida. Thanks to Patrick Kahn for the info!
April 07 Almodovar to direct Frida?
Waiting for Frida might come to an end as Pedro Almodovar shows interest in the movie. The Spanish director just received an Oscar for best foreign language film ("All about my mother"). Salma Hayek will portray the Mexican legend Frida Kahlo alongside Alfred Molina in Miramax´s production. Filming might start in spring! For detailed info click here!
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