STARRING in a multi-million dollar movie with Keanu Reeves is all in a day's work for a youngster from Warwick.

Pablo is however not an ordinary aspiring actor. He is a 13-month-old Akita dog.

For his silver screen debut he donned armour to play a lead role as an emperor’s loyal pet in 47 Ronin, which will be released in late 2012 and tells the 18th century tale of a band of samurai who set out to avenge the death of their master.

His involvement only came about by chance after a relative of someone involved in the film spotted pictures of Pablo on social networking website Facebook and contacted his owner, Guy's Cliffe Terrace resident Warwick Aldersley Jr.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/film/3747065/UK-dog-lands-Hollywood-role.html?OTC-RSS&ATTR=Film&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

(college term just started for me so I'll be slow on the front-page updates for a while. keep posting!)

"Whoaouf!"

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/film/3747065/UK-dog-lands-Hollywood-role.html

47 Ronin pic without Keanu : http://twitpic.com/64gn79

The samurai must maintain his faith in his beliefs, even as the social or political climate shifts and alters. He must be patient, must act in a manner that may at times seem irrational or illogical, must resist the temptations of instant gratification, and must work towards fulfilling what may seem to be an impossible idea.

As a result, the samurai is often something of an outsider, a rebellious figure because he refuses to conform to the habits of the day.

(Takahiro Kitamura)

(this quote needed to be here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNx6dAaKjL8

Keanu Reeves slates Shepperton
Posted by Becky Middleton on Sep 16, 11 03:49 PM in People

TONNES of slate used in Keanu Reeves' latest film has been donated to the Ash Riverside Park Association to be used as seating.

Executives at Shepperton Studios delivered 24 tonnes of grey slate used to form part of mountain scenes in 47 Ronin, to the park that borders Shepperton Studios' backlot site.

Around a dozen large, permanent seats have been created from slabs of the rock, that has space created beneath it for wildlife such as hedgehogs and frogs to hide in.

Filming of samurai movie 47 Ronin has now come to an end, but its legacy will continue to provide pleasure for walkers and families for generations to come.

Kieran Irwin, chairman of the Ash Riverside Association said: "The seating is permanent, it will be around for centuries rather than weeks. I visited the 47 Ronin set as part of a visit arranged for residents, and asked what would be happening to the slate after filming ended. The studios were kind enough to donate it to us, it may have gone to landfill otherwise. We want to encourage people to bring their youngsters here, and while they are walking, maybe stop and feed the ducks. Hopefully it will inspire the kids to come here for years to come and use them."

Andrew M. Smith, director at Shepperton Studios said: "We were delighted to be able, in conjunction with the production 47 Ronin and Universal, to donate the slate to the Ash Riverside Park Association for hedgehog habitats. This is another example of the film industry demonstrating its commitment to recycling. This slate will enhance the local wildlife for the enjoyment of the community as a whole."

Summer Film Role For Martial Arts Student - University of Derby
22 September 2011

A stunt-man student of the University of Derby Buxton spent his summer doing a holiday job with a difference; filming a new martial arts movie alongside Hollywood star Keanu Reeves.

During a break from studying towards a BA (Hons) degree in Martial Arts Theory and Practice, Eddie Lee, 22, from London, landed a role as a martial arts stunt performer in new film, 47 Ronin, the story of a band of Japanese Samurai who set out to avenge the death of their master.

Eddie was asked to audition for the film after impressing an agent with live martial arts performances on the promotional tour of a new computer game.

To prepare for the film, in which Eddie played a number of roles including an 18th Century Samurai warrior, he spent two weeks learning from experts at an intensive Japanese Sword Fighting boot camp. Some of the training was led by Hollywood actor and stunt performer Roger Yuan, whose films include Shanghai Noon and Blade.

Eddie and the other stunt performers then spent seven weeks at London's famous Shepperton studios performing choreographed fight scenes alongside top stunt men, and actors Keanu Reeves and Hiroyuki Sanada.

Eddie said: "Being part of a martial arts film and learning how action sequences and fight scenes are choreographed and put together was such an interesting experience, but the best bit for me was learning Japanese Sword Fighting from some the finest practitioners of the art - including the Japanese swordsmen who starred in the film 13 Assassins.

"It was great to hone my martial arts skills; learning from and working with some of the very best in the business."

After his taste of fame, Eddie returns to the University of Derby Buxton this September to begin the final year of his degree. 47 Ronin is now in post production and due for release in late 2012.

Eddie added: "I've seen some scenes that were shot in 3D as a bonus preview of the film and it looks great, I'm excited to see how it all looks post production with all the CGI added. I've always considered working in films as an actor or stuntman, and after this experience I'm considering learning each discipline required to join the British Stunt Register."

The University's Sports Programme Leader and Martial Arts expert, Charles Spring, said: "Eddie is a fantastic student and martial arts practitioner and thoroughly deserved this chance to show the world his skills.

"The fact that one of our students spent the summer filming a martial arts movie will certainly impress everyone on the course and across the University, and we hope the film inspires more people to get involved in martial arts."

The University of Derby Buxton runs a number of sports programmes in coaching and development, and psychology. It also has strong links with martial arts through coaching certificates developed for martial arts coaches and practitioners. For more information about these programmes visit www.derby.ac.uk/udb

http://www.derby.ac.uk/news/summer-film-role-for-martial-arts-student#.Tns3ZOfzWA0.twitter

http://www.movieline.com/2011/11/watch-47-ronin-director-carl-erik-rinschs-interactive-google-maps-inspired-car-commercial.php

I am not building any anticipation. nope. not me. no way ;)

... but one year is a long time, dammit... :(