Category: Champs

On the Set of Stallone’s “Champs”

Craig / / 2000, Celebs, Champs, Driven

Tibby Borbely a.k.a. Tybor, a STALLONE ZONE “regular” sent us in the following exculsive photos taken on a location shoot for “Champs.” Thanks to Tybor (and Jerry for the technical assist)!

On location with SLY!

Can you spot Renny Harlin, the director of “Champs?”

“Gentlemen, start your engines!”

Sly with Eli Samaha (the producer) of “Champs.”

Another shot of Sly and Eli Samaha.

Once again I would like to thank Tibby Borbely a.k.a. Tybor
for taking the time and caring enough to share his exclusive
photos with all of us here at the STALLONEZONE!

– Craig Zablo (August 13, 2000)

Sly to Reynolds to Newman

Craig / / 2000, Celebs, Champs, Driven

The August 8th issue of Star contains the following item in the STARpeople section:

SYLVESTER STALLONE, 54, and BURT REYNOLDS, 64, are in Toronto filming Champs, a film about aging race-car drivers who go back into the business. They were shooting at the racetrack and throngs of eager women showed up to watch the proceedings. When a reporter remarked to SLY that it was obvious that he’s still popular with the ladies, SLY gallantly remarked, “This time around they’re knocking me over to get to REYNOLDS! In this business, you expect popularity to give way to younger guys – but not to OLDER guys!” Funny thing is, a few minutes later, PAUL NEWMAN, 75, arrived at the track and the female fans pushed EVERYONE aside to get to him!

Burt Reynolds in “Champs”

Craig / / 2000, Celebs, Champs

Archerd: Burt Reynolds disabled
 By Army Archerd, Daily Variety Senior Columnist

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – BURT REYNOLDS is in a wheelchair for his entire role in “Champs” for WB. He plays a racecar-team owner, injured in a race. He says, “I’m the slowest in the fastest sport in the world.”

Director RENNY HARLIN says he has the added challenge of directing two helmers who star in the pic: SYLVESTER STALLONE and REYNOLDS. STALLONE also scripted and is a producer along with HARLIN and ELIE SAMAHA.

HARLIN admits JOHN FRANKENHEIMER’s 1966 ``Grand Prix” was a classic car-racing pic, and he spoke to FRANKENHEIMER for advice before starting.

HARLIN said, “I’m going to try not to embarrass myself. I’m trying to make the ‘Matrix’ of race car movies.”

He says today’s technology will make it possible to convert the film to life like no other. F’rinstance, a periscope camera that sees exactly what the driver sees, from steering wheel onward, and digitally-created car crashes impossible for even the most daring of stunt drivers.

Toronto allowed “Champs” to use its inner city race route; in fact, HARLIN was talking to me between takes from the track, in the middle of the city. Toronto is very happy to cooperate with film companies (especially one budgeted at $70 million). “Champs” is only one of several U.S. companies currently filming up there. HARLIN says hotels and restaurants are filled with Hollywood filmmakers.

HARLIN wants us to know that STALLONE has fine-tuned this script, as he had “Rocky.” For many years, SLY‘s told me of his ambition to make a race car film. And yes, STALLONE drives (180 mph) on camera. But HARLIN claims, just as “Rocky” was not about boxing, “Champs” is not about car racing; it’s a drama about people who are driven (you should pardon the expression).

In addition to STALLONE and REYNOLDS, the ensemble piece stars TIL SCHWEIGER, KIP PARDUE, ROBERT SEAN LEONARD, STACY EDWARDS, GINA GERSHON and CHRISTIAN de la FEUNTE — and young model ESTELLE WARREN who was spotted by HARLIN on GQ‘s May (un)cover, which proclaimed her “The Next Big Thing.” HARLIN agrees.

– Craig Zablo

“Champs” DVD News

Craig / / 2000, Celebs, Champs

In the June 23, 2000 issue of Entertainment Weekly there is an article about special edition DVDs by SCOTT BROWN entitled, “Isn’t That Special.” The article discusses directors who favor the extra treatment their films can get on DVD as well as some of the extras the discs include. In addition to the mention of the “Cliffhanger” special edition DVD which is now available, the article also quotes RENNY HARLIN about what we can look forward to on the “Champs” DVD! RENNY is “already planning custom photography for the DVD release of his next movie, the SYLVESTER STALLONE car-racing actioner tentatively titled “Champs” – though shooting hasn’t yet begun.” “The audience will be able to choose whether they want to watch the actor driving or look at what the actor is seeing through the windshield,” says HARLIN, who adds that he adores DVD and the creative flexibility it affords him. “I’d say I have about 100 percent creative control (over my special editions)… I’ll take the blame and I’ll take the glory.”

This absolutely is good news!

-Craig Zablo

TWO SLY TIDBITS!

Craig / / 2000, Celebs, Champs, Cliffhanger, FIST
TWO SLY TIDBITS!

In the June 20, 2000 issue of The National Enquirer there is a tidbit about SYLVESTER STALLONE in an article by Alan Smith, titled “Lust and Love in H’wood: Producer Bares All in Tattletale Book.” The article discusses American Rhapsody, the new book, by Joe Eszterhaus. Eszterhaus the well-known screenwriter of movies such as “Basic Instinct,” “Flashdance, and “F.I.S.T.” has written a tell-all account which has “Hollywood… quaking in their boots over the revelations.” According to the article, which provides a peek at some of the celebrities dissed or uh, discussed in the book; after the completion of “F.I.S.T.,” SLY “approached Eszterhaus and said that he wanted to be Jesus Christ in a movie.”
If the Stallone incident is an example of a story that will “bare all and have Hollywood quaking”… I think that the book will go the way of “Showgirls!”
-Craig Zablo
In the June 23, 2000 issue of Entertainment Weekly there is an article about special edition DVDs by Scott Brown entitled, “Isn’t That Special.” The article discusses directors who favor the extra treatment their films can get on DVD as well as some of the extras the discs include. In addition to the mention of the “Cliffhanger” special edition DVD which is now available, the article also quotes Renny Harlin about what we can look forward to on the “Champs” DVD! Renny is “already planning custom photography for the DVD release of his next movie, the Sylvester Stallone car-racing actioner tentatively titled “Champs” – though shooting hasn’t yet begun.” “The audience will be able to choose whether they want to watch the actor driving or look at what the actor is seeing through the windshield,” says Harlin, who adds that he adores DVD and the creative flexibility it affords him. “I’d say I have about 100 percent creative control (over my special editions)… I’ll take the blame and I’ll take the glory.”
This absolutely is good news!
-Craig Zablo

(June 20, 2000)

“Champs” Filming

Craig / / 2000, Champs

GARTH over at Dark Horizons has uncovered more filming locations for “Champs.” This Sunday filming will take place at the Detroit Grand Prix. Several scenes are scheduled to be filmed in front of the expected crowd of 200,000.

Then during the weekend of July 14-16, filming will move to the Molson Indy Track in Toronto. MolsonIndy.com has posted the following:

HOLLYWOOD COMES TO MOLSON INDY 2000 IN TORONTO

“CART’s SLY Strategy”… In an effort to increase public awareness of Champ Car racing, actor SYLVESTER STALLONE has created a feature movie based on the FedEx Championship Series. The film, whose working title is ‘Champs’ will be produced by Franchise Pictures in cooperation with CART, and portions of the film will be shot at the Molson Indy track in Toronto. “CART‘s brand of open-wheel auto racing provides some of the most thrilling, emotionally involving and inspiring racing in the world,” says STALLONE.” It is extremely important to me that we create a film that accurately depicts the true sense of CART – the emotion, excitement, speed, technology and glamour that is Champ Car racing.” Stallone has begun shooting at various tracks on the FedEx Championship Series circuit. Watch for STALLONE and the cast of ‘Champs’ both on and off-track at the Molson Indy in Toronto.

– Craig Zablo (June 16, 2000)