Towelhead

MovieHole has caught up with director of 'Towelhead' Alan Ball. Ball talks about reading the book in which 'Towelhead' is based on. After falling in love with the story, Ball shares his journey from there - adapting and transfering the author's vision to the big screen. Ball also raves about the cast, in particular the leading pair Summer Bishil and Aaron Eckhart. 'Towelhead' is out in theaters.

"...Summer is playing a character that's not consciously doing anything wrong, she's just trying to validate and feel good about herself and have someone pay attention to her - which he does. Aaron had  to live in a really uncomfortable place but it's a testament to what a great artist he is. It's incredibly brave to take this role and I just think he's one of the best actors alive..."

Read the full interview here.

MovieHole has caught up with "Towelhead" director Alan Ball. Ball discusses the cast, particularly the casting of Jasira - finding someone who looks 13 but also adult anough so the movie wouldn't traumatize them. He also discusses Aaron Eckhart's magnificent performance, and what he hopes young woman will get out of the film.

"... hope they get out of it that they don't have to be what other people want them to be. That they can - first of all, they can transcend traumatic experience. Our society really likes women to be victims. But they don't have to be victims. That a sort of childlike desire to please people, and to sort of fit the societal expectation of the most important thing for a woman to be is sexually attractive to men - that that's all lies..."

Read the full interview here.

Can Mag has sat down with "Towelhead" star Aaron Eckhart.  Eckhart discusses the emotional and sensitive challenge of his role as Mr. Vuoso, who gets involved with Jasira, his 13 year old next-door neighbor. Having shot the film for months, Eckhart was able to find some insight in his character's motivations, although it is far from a justification, he shares the psychological analysis with Can Mag. Towelhead is now out in theatres.

"...I look at that as a black and white existence, monotone. Jasira is color. She's Fuji Film, Kodak Ektachrome color vibrancy. She awakes in him his inner child, what he used to be, all those feelings and senses, all the five senses, the music and hearing and taste and sound and adventure. He finds a reason to live, a reason to get out of bed..."

Read the full interview here.

Hollywood.com has recently reported Alan Ball's decision to show a bloody tampon in his new film, "Towelhead". Ball's main goal was to translate positive sexual discovery exactly like the novel in which it was based on. That being said, Alan Ball feels it is an important detail to the main character's development as a woman. "Towelhead", which is released September 26th, stars Aaron Eckhart, Summer Bishil and Peter Macdiss.

"...We can make movies like There's something About Mary, using semen as hair gel, and it's a huge hit but to show a bloody tampon is considered shocking. I think that says a lot about our culture's attitude towards women and towards female sexuality..."

Read the full article here.

Justpressplay.com has posted an interview with Alan Ball regarding his latest film "Towelhead". Alan Ball discusses the strong sexual content and racism revolving 13 year old Jasira and her relationship with her married neighbor. Mr. Ball also raves about the novel in which it was based on, Alicia Erian's "Towelhead" and how different it is from most traumatic films.

"Its empowering! Yeah. And I think THAT may be something that's ticking people off a little bit, 'cause it doesn't fit into the victimization mold..."

Read the full interview here.

The Pittsburgh Morning Sun has posted and interview with 'Towelhead' director Alan Ball. Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and Summer Bishil star in the suburban coming of age tale. Ball talks about working with Eckhart, the casting process and reading the novel for the first time.

"...I wasn’t shocked. There’s very little that I find shocking. But it was certainly compelling and horrifying and gut-wrenching. I was really invested in this poor girl’s plight. At the same time I found it really funny. The characters are unintentionally funny because of their fiercely held mistaken beliefs and because most of the adults behave like children..."

Read the full interview here.