Aaron Eckhart is known to audiences worldwide as Harvey “Two Face” Dent, Batman’s acid-faced nemesis in Dark Knight Returns. But Eckhart has a whole other side: He’s a photography obsessive who recently shot a series of pictures for the humanitarian medical aid organization AmeriCares. Here, Eckhart shares his favorite images from a recent tour of medical facilities in the Dominican Republic.

“Like honest acting, there’s nothing better than an honest picture,” says Aaron Eckhart. “And everyone in these photos are all real people and real life—that’s why I cherish these images.”

Eckhart recently took a trip to the Dominican Republic on behalf of AmeriCares, a US-based humanitarian aid organization that specializes in the distribution of medical supplies and quality treatment in disaster areas. “I found out about them through Jennifer Aniston,” Eckhart recalls. “She was doing a fundraiser and I happened to be in the building. They told me what they did and I said, ‘What do you need me to do? I’ll go wherever you send me, and I’ll take pictures and maybe do a show or magazines–maybe make a book someday over the course of the year–whatever you need me to do.”

Eckhart’s Dominican Republic images were all taken in the summer of 2011, over three days in various hospitals and clinics. “We visited cancer units, HIV units, children’s units and old folks homes,” Eckhart says. “These images may look sad or grim to some people, but they’re not. When I was there, I saw happiness and hope. I think these images reflect reality of people’s lives, but what’s captured is all beautiful to me.”

And, apparently, eye-pleasing to fellow photography buffs. Several of these Dominican Republic images were auctioned off to the public by AmeriCares for thousands of dollars apiece. (“Somebody took pity on me,” says Eckhart.)

In the slideshow above, Eckhart takes us through his selection of favorite photographs—and the compelling stories behind them.

Source: Fast Company

I’ve added Aaron’s beautiful photography in the gallery.

AmeriCares Dominican Republic Visit
  

Aaron Eckhart

“I had an epiphany at the Golden Globes – during the last time I went (2009). I was sitting there at the balustrade looking over this beautiful hall – the dining room. Everybody was there… Johnny (Depp) and Brad (Pitt), Angelina (Jolie), all the guys, (Steven) Spielberg… I looked at them and I thought, this will be my family for the next 20, 30 years. It has been my family for the last 10, 15 years. These are the people I’m going to grow old with. I felt like… I’d never had that thought before.”

Source: Inquirer Entertainment

Here’s a great video of Aaron from the Savannah Film Fest talking about his career and what makes a good film.

Thank you to Margarita for sending this in!

[....]

Actor Aaron Eckhart accepted an Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award. “Many have called him an actor’s actor,” said Danny Filson, the festival’s executive director, in presenting the award.

Eckhart said he once worked with Morgan Freeman. “Every word out of his mouth was perfect,” he said. “Take after take, it was flawless.”

When Eckhart asked Freeman how he did it, Freeman simply replied, “Thirty years.”

“I’m halfway there,” Eckhart said. “After 30-plus movies, I continue to ask, ‘How do you do it? How do you reach perfection?’”

Earlier in the day, Eckhart said he will be filming “The Drummer” on Tybee Island next summer. In it he will play Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys.

Like Wilson, Eckhart himself was a surfer, until his family moved to England for his father’s work. While living overseas gave him life experience to draw on in his acting career, it came at an inopportune time.

“I was just going into the eighth grade when we moved to England,” Eckhart said. “I was just getting interested in girls and sports.”

But while there, Eckhart discovered acting when he auditioned for a school play and got the lead role of Charlie Brown.

Eckhart plans to teach a master class at the Savannah College of Art and Design when he returns next summer. He recently spoke to students at Harvard about the film industry.

“It’s helpful for students to hear it coming from a professional,” Eckhart said. “I majored in theater and got the degree. I feel I give them the perfect advice.”

With credits for films as varied as “Erin Brockovich,” “The Company of Men,” “Thank You for Smoking,” “Rabbit Hole,” “The Missing,” “Battle: Los Angeles” and “The Dark Knight,” Eckhart truly is a good source for inside information.

He encourages students to pursue their dreams. Eckhart himself hopes to someday write screenplays and direct.

“I have a love-hate relationship with acting,” Eckhart said. “I’d like to abandon acting altogether and be much more involved in the subject matter.”

[...]

Source: Savannah Now

Note: Best headline ever!

by Andrea Goto

Sure Aaron Eckhart was brilliant as a tobacco lobbyist in Thank You for Smoking and he provided Batman with his most formidable foe in The Dark Knight. But if anyone’s interested—and I think you should be—Eckhart is born to play the role of Prince Charming.

He is full of charm and ease. Before he even speaks, I want to crawl into his dimples and take a nap. Or tousle his dark blond, freeform hair. But in the name of professionalism I instead welcome him to Savannah and get down to business. Showbiz, that is.

AE: I’m doing a movie here next year so I’ll get to know Savannah better. It’s called The Drummer. It’s a story about Dennis Wilson [of the Beach Boys].

What drew you to Dennis Wilson’s story?

AE: It’s an amazing script. A script that’s full of life—ups and downs—so much emotion. Passion. You know, it’s rock and roll and everyone wants to play a hard drinking, hard partying, rock and roller. And that was Dennis Wilson. He lived life one hundred percent at all times and that ended up killing him. And he produced his own great music in the interim, so it’ll be an interesting movie.

How do you go about choosing your roles?

AE: I have no concept of what I should do. I guess you can boil it all down to when you’re reading a script. Some scripts you read and there’s no feeling—you’re reading words. Some you read and you’re already just seeing yourself in them. Your five senses are just firing. You’re in the role. You see yourself in the role. You hear yourself saying those words. Those are the scripts you’ve got to take. Other scripts you go to because of the quality people you’re working with. You know, if Nicole Kidman calls you up, you probably should do it.

And other [roles] you take for complete selfish reasons, which is: ‘I want to be an action hero. I want to be the drummer. I want to play rock ‘n’ roll and I want to be a cowboy.’ Or let’s say a girl you like is doing [a movie]—a girl you admire. She’s a good actor. You might say, ‘Let’s find something together.’ So there’s no really rhyme or reason.

Read the complete interview in an upcoming issue of South magazine!

Source: South Magazine

On Nov. 5, actor Aaron Eckhart received the Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award at the closing night of the 2011 Savannah Film Festival.

In an interview prior to the event, the actor, who has more than 30 films under his belt, quipped, “Maybe I should go make some movies before [they] honor me.

“I’m happy to be an actor and get jobs,” he said. “I’m happy to be here with people who love movies.”

A successful film is all about the “story, story, story,” he added. Every aspect of a film is there to “enhance, protect and nurture the story.”

Source: Savannah Film Festival

by Carlos Serrano

Just a few minutes before the screening of the last film of the Savannah Film Festival on Nov. 5, Aaron Eckhart was honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Cinema award. When presented with the award, Eckhart’s career was succinctly summarized, “Many have called him an ‘actor’s actor,’ but that doesn’t account for the millions of regular people who enjoy his work.”

In his acceptance speech, Eckhart told the packed theater that what drives him forward is his search for perfection. “How do you reach perfection?” is a question he asks himself and one he asked the audience in attendance.

But at the end of the day, Eckhart said that the one thing he wants to convey through his acting is reality. “All I’ve ever wanted to be is real.”

Source: Savannah Film Festival Coverage

The solid American Film Market produced two clear stars: actor Aaron Eckhart (CAA, Hirsch Wallerstein) and reclusive director Terrence Malick (CAA).

Each was at the center of a trio of high-profile projects being shopped at the annual gathering of foreign buyers in Santa Monica. Eckhart is the lead in horror thriller I, Frankenstein; CIA thriller The Expatriate; and The Drummer, a biopic about the Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys.

“These are an amazing series of roles for him,” says John Fremes of Essential Entertainment, which is selling Expatriate.

Malick’s AFM presence included FilmNation wrapping up sales for his untitled romantic drama, starring Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams, and the launch of two projects, Lawless and Knight of Cups. Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett will star in both films, so Malick plans to shoot them back-to-back next year.

Several insiders who know Malick report that he’s been invigorated by the success of The Tree of Life, which has grossed $41 million at the foreign box office (plus $13 million in the U.S.).

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

A BIG-BUDGET gothic thriller starring Hollywood heartthrob Aaron Eckhart will be filmed in Melbourne.

Innovation, Services and Small Business Minister Louise Asher announced today Victoria had beaten other Australian states to secure the $37 million feature film I, Frankenstein.

Ms Asher said pre-production, filming and post-production for the feature film would be undertaken in Melbourne.

Exact locations are still being finalised, but the production will be based at Docklands Studios and shoot at several locations around Melbourne.

Pre-production commences soon and filming is scheduled to begin in February 2012.

I, Frankenstein is written and directed by Australian Stuart Beattie (Tomorrow, When the War Began, Australia, Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) and will be produced by Hopscotch Features.

The film stars Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, Thank You for Smoking) in the title role.

”Securing an Australian production with such a high international profile is a real testament to the strength of the Victorian screen industry and the calibre of the crews, talent, facilities and services available here,” Ms Asher said.

“I, Frankenstein will spend up to $37 million in Victoria and employ around 500 local cast and crew.”

One of the film’s producers, Andrew Mason, said Film Victoria’s production services, location support and advice also played a major role in their decision to film in Melbourne.

“Victoria has an incredible diversity of locations and specialised local crew, and Film Victoria’s services and support are really outstanding. We decided Melbourne was the perfect home for this project,” Mr Mason said.

Film Victoria CEO Jenni Tosi said she was thrilled Melbourne had secured I, Frankenstein.

“Attracting a production of this calibre is great news for the industry. It gives local practitioners a chance to further develop their skills and experience, and builds on our already solid relationship with Australian and US production houses,” Ms Tosi said.

“Our crews, facilities, incentives, film-friendly councils and our film commission services continue to make Melbourne an attractive production destination.”

I, Frankenstein is adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Kevin Grevioux, co- creator of the Underworld film franchise.

Described as a modern-day gothic thriller, the film tells the tale of Dr. Frankenstein’s creature Adam, who centuries after his birth finds himself in a gothic city, caught in a war between two immortal clans.

Source: Herald Sun

The star of “The Dark Night” and “Thank You for Smoking” chats with us about Johnny Depp, his knack for making bad guys appealing and his scheduled return to the Coastal Empire in 2012. By Summer Teal Simpson.

Savannah Magazine: You are being honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award at the Savannah Film Festival. What does that mean to you given the company of a fellow honoree such as Lily Tomlin.
Aaron Eckhart: Well, I am not in her category. I’m honored to be here. It’s nice to be asked. I feel like I have a long way to go to deserve an honor such as this. That’s pretty good company.

SM: With the work you have done in films like “Towelhead” and “Thank You for Smoking,” how is it that you are drawn to these complex, sometimes unappealing characters?

Eckhart: Well, it all comes from the script. The reason why you do movies where you may not come out in the best light is because the writing is good, the directors are good and your fellow actors are good. You feel a connection with the material. People ask you to do those types of roles because they know that you are going to give your all, that you are going to make an accomplished character and you are going to play into the hero and not the villain. I don’t know how many people offer me roles where they say, “You’re the only guy who can make this guy appealing. Make him human.” That’s a compliment, but if I ever get married or have a girlfriend, I can’t keep on playing those roles. It’s tough sometimes.

SM: I know that you have an upcoming role in “The Drummer,” which is about Dennis Wilson, the drummer of The Beach Boys.

Eckhart: Yes, and it is going to be filmed here.

SM: Really?

Eckhart: I think it is going to be filmed right around here. Next summer, I think.

SM: We’ll be glad to have you back. I read that you started out with an interest in songwriting. Can you tell us about the musical demands of that role?

Eckhart: Well, they’re pretty big. I get a little scared when thinking about it. You know I have to learn how to play drums, piano and harmonica. I have a lot of songs to know. That’s what I am doing right now. I have either drum or piano lessons everyday, but I am also doing a movie before that where I play the monster Frankenstein, so I’ve got that to do. I feel I have a big responsibility with “The Drummer” because of Dennis Wilson. This was his passion, his life. It is what ultimately killed him. He was a very complex dude.

SM: The film version of Hunter S. Thompson’s “The Rum Diary” has recently been released, which you star in with Johnny Depp. What was that experience like?

Eckhart: It was great. I really enjoyed working with Johnny. He is so good to the people he works with. He treats you like family. And he is so passionate about Hunter. Hunter’s chair was always mixed in with ours, always with a script on it. And every day they would dip their fingers in whiskey and put it behind their ears in tribute to him. It’s nice to be able to work on projects like that because it wasn’t a job for Johnny. He was carrying on Hunter’s legacy.

Source: Savannah Magazine