Paris a pro as the lead in new romantic comedy

By Manuela Noble

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 2/2/08 — Aside from the paparazzi hanging in the trees hoping to catch Paris Hilton walk by in an eensy bikini, and people with walkie-talkies controlling foot traffic, business seems as usual on the Santa Monica Pier on this chilly winter’s day in Southern California.

Upon closer inspection, there is a crowd in summer clothes mingling in one area despite the inclement weather on the day Hollywood Today visited the set. The crew breaks out into a chorus of laughter before first time director, Tom Putman, can even call cut. Clearly everyone is having a good time filming the romantic comedy “Hottie and the Nottie,” where the sizzling beauty in town insists on finding her ugly duckling pal a boyfriend before she will date again.

“This thing is so funny even our jaded crew is constantly cracking up!” says producer Victoria Nevinny (“Phoenix”), removing her headphones after having watched the take on her monitor. “And at all the right places”, adds Neal Ramer (“Riding the Bullet”), Nevinny’s producing partner. Ramer tells Hollywood Today that he knew the spec script was hilarious when it was first submitted to him by author Heidi Ferrer (“Wasteland,” “Dawson’s Creek”), “but seeing it come to life like this is a real thrill. And its interesting, the only significant change that has been made to the script is that we moved the story from Boston to Los Angeles.”

Paris Hilton jumps into her furry booties and throws on her pink parka over her sexy little beach outfit as the crew set-up for the next shot. “Paris has been perfect”, praises Nevinny, “She’s always on time, always knows her lines and always hits her marks. She’s a real pro”.

Hilton enjoys it too. “It’s a lot of fun. I love being able to play different characters, I love being on set, I love being on camera. I love this story. It has a great message: that it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside. My character doesn’t see what the rest of the world sees in her (June), she’s sees the real her. It’s a sweet message.”

To prepare for her role Hilton studied with acting coach Ivana Chubbuck and watched Marilyn Monroe movies, “Some Like It Hot” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blonds.” Future film and television work includes Hilton singing in horror musical “Repo! The Genetic Opera” and an appearance in “The L Word”. She is being written into an episode once the writers strike is over.

Clear of all her highly-publicized legal entanglements, Hilton is following in her grandfather’s footsteps, planning her own line of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and stores. She says she is not quite sure if they will carry her name.

No wonder she’s been off the club scene and tabloid pages for a while. She is also happily launching a new line of hair extensions called “Dream Catchers” through Sally Beauty Supply, a brand she says she has loved since she was a little girl.

She is keen on building her brand under the Paris Hilton Entertainment banner and considers her movies and other public appearances to be a means of promoting all of her ventures.

The film is about Cristabelle Abbott (Hilton) and her unattractive best friend June Phigg (Christine Lakin). Nate Cooper (Joel David Moore) has been in love with Cristabelle since grade school, but when he tracks her down years later, June stands in the way. Cristabelle feels so sorry for June that she has sworn she will not date another guy until June has a man in her life. Nate has his work cut out for him.

Lakin (“The Game Plan,” “Georgia Rule”) is a shocking sight as June. Between the patchy baldness, bad teeth and moles, she is definitely a fright. “Randy Westgate and Dugg Kirkpatrick have done a sensational job with her make-up” says Nevinny. “Not only does it look authentic, they’ve made her slow transition completely believable.”

“Joel David Moore (“Wieners,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”) really shone in the “call back” and was the clear choice for Nate. We didn’t want a GQ type guy”, says Ramer. “Joel is an ideal combination of the boy next door and your all American, and of course, he’s a wonderful actor. He also stars in Jim Cameron’s widely anticipated 3-D film ‘Avatar’.”

It’s been four years since Nevinny/Ramer embarked on the long and winding development road for “Hottie And The Nottie.” And five years since Nevinny first met director Tom Putnam on a plane bound for the Sundance Film Festival. “He had a good short in his pocket, we kept in touch and I optioned one of his scripts. A couple of Sundances later I introduced him to his future manager Brad Mendelson, then to his agent, and we worked it from there. It wasn’t easy but we finally pushed him through because he had a clear vision. He wanted to ground the story in reality and not make it slap sticky, which was the perfect take”.

The first financing entity on board was Modi Wiczyk of MRC, who was also influential in bringing Patrick Wachsberger’s, Summit Entertainment to the table, who began pre-selling the picture internationally during the Cannes Film Festival before shooting ever began. The film was in pre-production when Peter Schlessel bought the “straight to video” rights for Sony. Paul Colichman of Regent stepped in and said that they wanted to release the film theatrically in the U.S., so Sony sold it back to them for domestic distribution.

The first assistant director shouts “Everybody standby!” The stilt walker in the procession scene is up and ready to cross frame, extras in their summer clothes are handed ice cream cones (made of mashed potatoes) and the cast and crew are ready for more action. It’s cold and the incoming dark clouds are daunting, but nothing is going to rain on the “Hottie And The Nottie’s” parade.

“Hottie And The Nottie” is rated PG-13 by the MPAA and opens nationwide on February 8, 2008.