Jennifer Aniston Watch

Judy Greer, star of ABC’s Miss Guided (Arrested Development fans like myself might remember her as the recurring character Kitty Sanchez), costars in Traveling as one of Eloise’s employees. Fans know Judy best as a blonde, but she has recently been seen sporting red hair; as it turns out, this change came about for her Traveling role. On a recent appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman, Judy revealed that producers encouraged her to change her hair color - because they felt that she and Jen looked too similar! From Defamer, where you can also see a clip of Judy’s interview:

In this case, Judy was asked (probably not so politely) by the production team of Traveling to dye her hair red so audiences in Iowa wouldn’t get her character confused with leading lady Jennifer Aniston. As ridiculous as that notion (and request) was, Judy Greer is a trouper and, of course, went for it.

As lovely as both ladies are, I doubt that there are too many people who would mix them up! Anyway, Traveling is now listed by IMDB as being in post-production, and it will be released early next year.

Jen spent her St. Patrick’s Day hard at work on the Miami set of Marley & Me, wearing shorts bearing the logo of Central Michigan University (Jenny Grogan’s alma mater?). PopSugar has more pictures of Jen on the set; I’m particularly fond of this one, as it’s wonderful to see her sharing a laugh with her good friend Chris!

On a side note, here’s something totally random that I noticed: Jen’s next four movies will be released in alphabetical order! Check it out:

He’s Just Not That Into You - August 1, 2008
Management - September 19, 2008
Marley & Me - December 25, 2008
Traveling - early 2009

Clearly I spend entirely too much time geeking out about Jen’s new movies, but I think that it’s understandable when they all look like they’re going to be so good!

While it seems that Jen has moved on to her next project, is it possible that Traveling is still rolling? According to the Seattlest, filming has been going on this week in Seattle on the project; the picture under the link shows trailers set up near Pike Place Market.

While my initial reaction was that this has to be one of Aaron’s non-Jen scenes, I’ve begun to think that that may not necessarily be the case. Seattlest’s article contains a notice that seems to suggest that there are two people involved in the scene; Jen just may be one of the two. While her most recent known whereabouts would seem to make this unlikely, it is not impossible to fly in and out in a short timespan. And given Seattle’s blustery weather, it’s not entirely implausible that Eloise might wear a hat. We shall see . . .

Traveling

Look at that woman in the picture above (and in other on-set pictures at PopSugar); is it even possible that she’s 39 years old? Well, believe it; today, Jen celebrates her 39th birthday! Here’s to a year filled with many things as beautiful as Jen herself, and here’s to many, many more.

Beth of Astrology Explored has the following to say about Aquarians like our birthday girl:

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With the many movies that Jen currently has in production or already in the can, Jen fans can look forward to her making plenty of public appearances later in the year. He’s Just Not That Into You, Management, and Marley & Me are all set to come out this year, with Traveling set for its release early next year, and with that, we can be certain that Jen will be a very busy woman, and that she will look fabulous all the while.

I for one am very interested to see what statements she makes on the red carpet this year. As seen above, she is very fond of the classic little black dress, but there are only so many LBD’s a woman can wear! In the past, she’s branched out by wearing various light neutrals, and even the occasional showstopping red dress. One of my personal favorite looks for Jen is a more ethereal look, like she opted for at the 2004 Emmys. In coming months, there just may be a suitable opportunity for her to make yet another stunning statement like that.

More casual appearances, such as press conferences, call for polish, and in her casual style Jen certainly delivers that, as she has always favored sophisticated basics in her everyday wardrobe. She is also very consistent in her approach to red carpet beauty, and upcoming appearances will likely prove no exception. Whether straight or wavy, she usually wears her hair down for public appearances, although the few updos she’s tried have been lovely as well. And she always opts for a minimal, classy approach with the makeup, letting her natural beauty carry whatever she’s wearing.

So tell me: what do you think she’ll be wearing on the red carpet this year?

Aaron at Sundance 2008

As Traveling films, interest has grown among Jen watchers in her costar Aaron Eckhart, who in the upcoming flick plays a self-help guru. Indeed, this leading man is on a roll lately; not only is he costarring with Jen, but he has two other upcoming projects. He plays Harvey Dent in the upcoming Batman sequel The Dark Knight (set to open on July 18), and Towelheads, which recently premiered at Sundance and is set for release in select cities on August 15.

Any avid moviegoer would recognize Aaron’s diverse taste in film roles throughout his career, and it is clear that he has earned a reputation as a wonderfully versatile actor, with the ability to fully transform into each of his characters. He has appeared in films that span the genres, with equally deft performances in comedy and drama; recent successes have included Thank You For Smoking and No Reservations. He has a long-standing friendship with writer/director Neil LaBute, whom he met during his days as a film major at Brigham Young University. They have had several joint ventures, including In The Company Of Men, Your Friends & Neighbors, Possession, and Nurse Betty.

Aaron also shares a very prestigious distinction with Jen; both were among the 115 film industry insiders invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 2007! It is clear looking at their merits that both of them are talented actors and influential professionals in the industry. There is no doubt that fans have something wonderful to look forward to in their onscreen collaboration.

Aaron Eckhart, career, Traveling

Production on Traveling continues to roll on, as an abundance of photographic evidence proves. Jen looks gorgeous as always, even as she bundles up amid increasingly chilly temperatures. PopSugar has even more set pictures; not the first time she’s made me really want a trench coat!

News has also surfaced regarding additional cast members in the flick, via The Hollywood Reporter. Notably, John Carroll Lynch, whom Jen fans remember as Retail Rodeo manager Jack Field in The Good Girl will appear as a reluctant seminar guest. Dan Fogler and Martin Sheen are slated to play manager and father-in-law, respectively, to Aaron’s self-help guru, while Judy Greer plays an employee and confidante of Eloise. Joe Anderson of Across The Universe fame also appears - as Eloise’s musician boyfriend. The plot thickens . . .

In other news, Jen is slated to cohost the Night Before The Oscars party, as she has in years past. Details about the full list of cohosts can be found here, and I think that it’s safe to say that anything that can be said about that has already been said. So let’s focus on the important stuff - as always, the event benefits the Motion Picture & Television Fund, and it is entirely plausible that a good time will be had by all.

Speaking of a good time . . . here are a few other pics of Jen and Aaron on the set. As the temps drop (they’re positively frigid here in Chicago), just a little something to keep ya warm. Enjoy!

Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Traveling, Joe Anderson, Judy Greer, John Carroll Lynch, Martin Sheen, Dan Fogler, Night Before The Oscars party

Jen continues to film Traveling in Vancouver, and continues to look gorgeous all the while. As you can see in the above picture, her character is named Eloise! As more details continue to surface, I am getting even more excited about this movie. PopSugar has other pics of Jen and Aaron on the set; looks like they’re having fun together on the set, which can only mean good things for the costars’ chemistry. Jen looks particularly joyful lately, and it is wonderful to see.

It can be said that the true definition of a star is one who brings light into other people’s lives, and Jen’s new costar is not the only one who can attest to that. Someone whom Jen has known for far longer has recently revealed just how devoted Jen is to her friends.

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So by now, many celebrity watchers have heard photographer Rik Fedyck’s allegations that in his attempts to take pictures on the Traveling set, he had a run-in with security personnel whom he accuses of using racially-charged language in reference to his companion. Many gossips have also been quick to attach Jen to the occurrence, as it is assumed that the man in question was in her employ, and given her high level of name recognition, any newsworthy occurrence on the set is bound to be reported as an incident on the set of a “Jennifer Aniston movie,” thereby implicating her her by association.

First of all, I’d like to make it clear that even if this man was employed by Jen and not by others associated with the movie, this does not mean that Jen in any way condones such unacceptable behavior. In so many instances, employees show one face to their employers and another when the boss has his or her back turned. So the implication that Jen somehow approves or encourages this is entirely unfair, and makes a bad situation worse. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Secondly, TMZ is now reporting that it was not Jen’s personal security detail that was involved in the incident, but set security, as Jen and her personnel were not present on the set at the time. Furthermore, the report goes on to state that while Fedyck was involved in a confrontation with security at the time that he claims, no racial epithet was used. As this story continues to develop, I do hope that a measure of objectivity can be maintained; while what happened is unfortunate, it would be best for all involved (including media) to focus on the truth of it and not the fact that it just so happened to take place on the set of a Jennifer Aniston movie.

Jennifer Aniston, media bias, Traveling set, photographer, Rik Fedyck

This weekend has brought an assortment of Traveling-related activity; I of course refer both to travel itself and to Jen’s new film. First, Canadian gossip blog Is This Happening reported (most likely separate) sightings of Jen and Aaron Eckhart in Vancouver, where, as we have known for some time now, Traveling has been set to film. In other Canadian news, the blog reports that Jen’s Friends costar Matthew Perry was spotted in Ottawa; given that he spent some of his childhood there, could he have been visiting with family?

Anyway, back to Jen. The blog later got more specific, reporting that Jen was spotted enjoying the fine Italian cuisine at Cioppino’s in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighborhood. Much like she did during her location shoots for Management (Oregon), Derailed (Chicago and London), and The Break-Up (Chicago), she is already avidly sampling local cuisine and culture, setting the stage for an extended stay.

And they’re rolling! Pictures have begun to surface of Jen looking free-spirited and gorgeous in the role of the florist whom Aaron Eckhart’s protagonist meets in his travels as a self-help guru. So far, pics can be found at Just Jared (whose collection is particularly extensive), Flynet, and Faded Youth. The cast and crew were spotted filming at the Hyatt on Sunday - check out that van! From the sounds of it, this film will provide Jen with the opportunity to really tap into her intuitive nature and give a performance that is above all deeply human. I look forward to watching this production progress.

Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Vancouver, sightings, Traveling, Matthew Perry, Cioppino’s, Italian cuisine

Prior to the start of 2007, Jen had said that she would take some downtime. Well, I don’t know about you, but my downtime doesn’t look like this! This year, our girl made some smart business decisions and won praise for her work both in front of and behind the camera. Furthermore, she has set herself up for a very exciting 2008, with two movies in the can and at least two more lined up. Here’s a rundown of what Jen’s been up to in the past 365 days:

People’s Choice! Jen started the year on a high note, winning the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Female Movie Star. She gave a gracious speech with just the right amount of good humor and showed why she is the people’s favorite.

Room 10 makes the rounds Jen’s directorial debut, filmed in the summer of 2006 for Glamour’s Reel Moments series, made its way around the festival circuit, earning a great deal of praise along the way. The film showed at venues that included SBIFF, Aspen Shortsfest, CineVegas (where it won the Short Film Jury Prize), and Palm Springs. This will without a doubt open up many behind-the-camera opportunities for Jen, should she choose to pursue them.

A Smart Move Early in the year, Jen watchers noticed that in many candids, Jen was seen carrying a bottle of Glaceau’s smartwater. In June, we found out that Jen was turning her passion into profit, appearing in billboards and magazine ads for the drink. Jen also invested in the company just before its sale to Coca-Cola, a move that landed Jen on the Forbes list of 2007’s savviest businesswomen.

GLAAD to be Dirty In March, Jen appeared on Courteney’s show Dirt in the Season 1 finale, titled Ita Missa Est. Jen played Tina Harrod, a rival magazine editor with whom Lucy had once had a “four-time thing.” This portrayal, along with Jen’s long history of participation in projects that challenge heteronormative convention, earned her this year’s GLAAD Vanguard Award.

Back On The Set The second half of the year brought a flurry of activity, film-wise. She joined the star-studded cast of He’s Just Not That Into You, and filmed her part in September. She then made her way to Oregon to film a very quirky part in the comedy Management. She has also signed on the dotted to star in Traveling with Aaron Eckhart and Marley & Me with Owen Wilson. Both are set to begin production in early 2008.

With that, I’d like to wish my readers a happy and healthy new year. See you in 2008!

Jennifer Aniston, year in review, films

It’s been a quiet couple of weeks for Jen watchers, as Jen’s managed to fly under the radar while enjoying her downtime between projects (Traveling is set to begin production in January). However, the eagle eyes at People spotted her enjoying some fine cuisine - and greeting the chef. From Caught In The Act:

Jennifer Aniston, offering a personal greeting to chef Nancy Silverton while dining at Hollywood’s Osteria Mozza with a female friend. The actress approached the counter – where Silverton was prepping – and waved ‘hello.’ The chef reciprocated with a “virtual wave” since her hand was covered with flour.

Not only that, but X17 has pictures of her leaving the restaurant that night, keeping warm for the quick dash to the car. And didn’t People say that she was with a female friend? I’m pretty sure that I see Chris in the background of one of the shots. There’s a joke in there somewhere that I’ll just skip. Maybe she was with both him and a female friend. Anyway, see the snaps here.

Jennifer Aniston, sightings, candids, Mozza

Jen continues her work on He’s Just Not That Into You; on Monday she arrived on the set in an OmniPeace shirt, then changed into something a little more bridesmaid-like.

Also, Variety brings us the announcement that Jen has signed on for yet another film. As many have speculated, she is slated to costar with Aaron Eckhart in the drama Traveling. From Variety:

Aniston will play a floral designer who works in a Seattle hotel where a charismatic self-help guru is conducting a weekend seminar on coping with grief. As they get to know each other, she factors heavily into the guru’s realization that he practices none of the principles he teaches.

Stuber/Parent’s Scott Stuber and Mary Parent will produce with Thompson. Shooting begins early next year.

Looks like Jen will be keeping very busy in the months to come!

Jennifer Aniston, He’s Just Not That Into You, Traveling, Aaron Eckhart