OK, it looks as though another movie is filming in Ann Arbor. I just received the following Pencil Paparazzi contribution from a reader named Alicia, who happened to be crossing the University of Michigan campus this afternoon when she saw a film crew. She asked a man blocking foot traffic what was going on and he said they were shooting an independent feature called “Trivial Pursuits.” He then pointed down the sidewalk at a man, and said, “That’s the star.” Alicia had no idea who it was, but, being a good member of the MM.com community, she dutifully took out her pencil and paper, and began to sketch. Here’s what she saw… Oh, she also said that the fellow looked like a young Josh Harnett. Hopefully that will mean something to some of you, but the reference is completely lost on me.
Here’s Alicia’s accompanying note:
One is the wide angle shot of the filming process (umbrellas because it apparently was supposed to be raining on this gorgeous, sunny, July day); the other is a close-up of Mr. Star. He was wearing a mist-bottle-dampened gray hoodie. Both were rendered on the back of business cards that happened to be in my purse with a pencil lead that broke loose from the pencil when I pressed too hard in my enthusiasm to catch the nuances of Mr. Star.
Well, I did some searching around, and “Mr. Star” seems to be a fellow named Christopher Gorham. According to the blog kept by the producers of the film, he has the distinction of being one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People.
Oh, and the movie is apparently about people who play “pub trivia.” You know, that bar game that the beautiful people play.
Here’s how the plot is capsulized on the site.
Paul Tarson stared at his adversary, his muscles tensed, fists clenched, eyes gleaming. His entire body aching for battle. Finally, he pounced.
“What perfume ingredient comes from the intestine of the sperm whale?”
James Koogly took a long, slow sip of his beer and grinned.
“Please,” he said. “Ambergris.”
“Damnit!” Paul said, throwing down the game card. “That was for a pie slice!”
***
Paul Tarson likes to play trivia. A lot.
Paul is not a nerd—he’s a graduate student. He lives in Ann Arbor, the same town he was born in. He studies at the University of Michigan, the only college he’s ever known. And he works for his father, Professor Elliot Tarson, who’s protected him his entire life. Paul’s existence is very safe and very pleasant. There’s just one problem: Paul is finally going to graduate. And he has absolutely no idea what to do.
So Paul does what any normal, average person does when faced with a huge, life-changing decision—he plays his favorite game.
And in a whole new way:
The biggest, the best, the geekiest. The first-annual Ann Arbor Pub Trivia Tournament.
I know some of you out there will be thrilled hear that a beautiful, bottle-dampened man is here, shooting a film about the exciting world of pub trivia, but, personally, I liked it better when Robert DeNiro was living across the street in a trailer and Milla Jovovich was having sex in the alley behind the Tap Room.
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I thought ambergris was found in the cranium of the spermacetti. That was where Queequeg got stuck and sank until the black fellow saved him. Or maybe that is backwards. I’ll have to check that one out.
And Mr. Star’s sketch looks a lot like Tatsuya Nakadai. I could get excited about a visit from him.
And Josh Hartnett is young. Alicia, are you by any chance in middle school?
Looks like they’re about to throw a net over him.
It’s all relative. This guy looked younger than Josh Harnett. How’s that? (Have I ever seen Josh Harnett? With a misted hoodie, no less? No. But isn’t he early 30s?). For the record I was in middle school 1980-1983, which probably disqualifies me to discuss anyone younger than Tom Cruise.
p.s. Thankfully for the movie makers, he doesn’t look a thing like Mark’s freaky table.
No offense – this is lovely stuff – but I want real stars for my tax dollars.
And how sucky does this movie sound?
I guess it could be good – like Breaking Away, only with older people, and with a game of pub trivia instead of a big bike race – but I think it’s a long shot.
Which bar or bars are they shooting in?
Henry from Ugly Betty, quite young, and quite cute, too.
Alicia wrote, “which probably disqualifies me to discuss anyone younger than Tom Cruise.”
Oh, don’t get me started on him.
I was wrong about the white whale too. Tashtego was in the whale’s ass or whatever when the whale broke loose and started to sink. Queequeg jumped into the whale and dragged out Tashtego. What a great macho, bad ass scene.
Could you imagine being stuck in a sinking whale’s ass?
I saw the crew for this film on friday – they had most of the street near the State blocked off and were building a dolly track. And yea, it’s kinda’ impossible to compete with Milla Jovovich having sex in the alley :P