Friday, September 9, 2011
Lincoln-Way North senior Brian O'Donnell makes his movie debut today. Find out some of the other Hollywood stars he shares a geographic connection with.
The opening of "Contagion" today marks Lincoln-Way North High School senior Brian O'Donnell's film debut. And what a debut, as he shares screen time with Oscar-winner Matt Damon in the newest movie from director Steven Soderbergh, also an Oscar winner. Could this opportunity lead to big Hollywood career for O'Donnell? Maybe. And then he'd join the company of other famous actors with area ties. Here's a look at five Hollywood performers with connections to Will County. READ: Waiting the Hardest Part of Frankfort Teen's Film Debut Abby Pivaronas: This Disney Channel TV star hails from Frankfort and is a Lincoln-Way East High School grad. She also hasn't forgotten where she grew up. Last year, Pivaronas stopped by Polka Dots and Pigtails to…
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
L-W North senior Brian O'Donnell stars in director Steven Soderbergh's new movie "Contagion" next month. Find out how he went from print ad modeling to sharing the screen with Matt Damon.
It's an old Hollywood saying that filmmaking is all about hurrying up and waiting. Actors are rushed to set, rushed to wardrobe, rushed to makeup, only to have activity come to a halt as they bide their time for a few hours, waiting to perform. It's the waiting that Brian O'Donnell disliked the most when it came to his first movie gig, a role in director Steven Soderbergh's Contagion. "The waiting was unbearable," the Lincoln-Way North High School senior said of the shoot. "I'd go there one day. Do school (on set). Wait. Have lunch. And they'd say, 'We're going to do the scene tomorrow.' That was probably the biggest downside to it." But as much as he might despise it, waiting has paid off for O'Donnell and his showbiz career, a career …
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Frankfort's Brian J. O'Donnell shares the screen with Matt Damon. Not a bad start for an aspiring actor.
Although they're superstars now, George Clooney and Brad Pitt had to cut their teeth on movies with titles such as Return to Horror High and Hunk before getting to work with the likes of director Steven Soderbergh. So what did Lincoln-Way North High School senior Brian J. O'Donnell have to do to work with the Oscar-winning filmmaker? Audition. O'Donnell, a 17-year-old from Frankfort, stars in Soderbergh's latest movie, Contagion, alongside Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, Jude Law, Kate Winslet ... well, the list of A-list Hollywood talent goes on. He plays the boyfriend of Damon's daughter, and he shot his scenes in November and June in Skokie (which doubled for Minnesota), said his mom, Denise. The movie opens Sept. 9. And …
Denise Du Vernay
12:07 am on Sunday, August 21, 2011
Now I'll have to see the movie! Brian sounds like a great person and I wish him all the best. more ›