The Weather Man | movie stills

Director(s): Gore Verbinski (in talks)
Screenwriter(s): Steve Conrad
Studio: Sony Pictures
Production: Company Escape Artists

Synopsis
Popular Chicago weatherman, Dave Spritz (Cage), has a shot at the big time when a national morning television show calls him for an audition. Professionally, Dave is on the top of the world, but his personal life is in complete disarray. Dave's painful divorce, his dad's illness and trouble with the kids have poised on the knife's edge between stability and disaster. The harder he tries to control events, the more he finds life, like the weather, is completely unpredictable.

Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage and his wife Alice Kim pose for the camera at the premiere of the film “The Weather Man” at the Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater in New York on Monday.
Source

Nicolas Cage greets fans outside the Late Show with David Letterman studio in New York City on Monday. The new father chatted about his comedy The Weather Man (out Oct. 28) and his 3-week old son's name, Kal-el. Cage confessed he chose Superman's Kryptonian moniker because it stood for something good.

The Weather Man Promo Shots

The Weather Man DVD Gets New Release Date
Director Gore Verbinski Movie The Weather Man

Paramount Home Entertainment has pushed the release date of Director Gore Verbinski's "The Weather Man" from January 31st to Feburary 21st of 2006. The film, which stars Nicolas Cage, will be presented in both Anamorphic Widescreen and Full Screen Editions with Dolby Digital audio tracks. The full list of specs are listed below. Popular Chicago weatherman, Dave Spritz (Nicholas Cage), has a shot at the big time when a national morning television show calls him for an audition.

Professionally, Dave is on the top of the world, but his personal life is in complete disarray. Dave's painful divorce, his dad's illness and trouble with the kids have poised on the knife's edge between stability and disaster. The harder he tries to control events, the more he finds life, like the weather, is completely unpredictable.

Here are the details:

Technical Features

Anamorphic Widescreen and Full Screen Editions
English DD2.0 & DD5.1 Surround
French DD5.1 Surround
English & Spanish Subtitles
Bonus Material

Relative Humidity: The Characters
Trade Winds: The Collaboration
Atmospheric Pressure: The Style and Palette
Extended Outlook: The Script
Theatrical Trailer
Source

How Tom Skilling taught Cage the ropes
By Terry Armour Tribune entertainment reporter
Nicolas Cage, meet the weatherman. It was last winter that Cage huddled with WGN meteorologist Tom Skilling to soak up the nuances of being a weatherman. "It was something to the effect of, `I want to ask you a couple of things,' " Skilling recalled. "Isn't that funny -- Nicolas Cage asking me for advice?" It's not so far-fetched. Cage may know a thing or two about acting, but Skilling happens to know a thing or two about forecasting the weather.

There's a difference between low-flying cumulus and storm clouds. There's a difference between sleet and freezing rain. And somebody had to explain what the heck an "isobar" is -- something to do with a line on a map that connects places of equal barometric pressure. This is why director Gore Verbinski sent the script for "The Weather Man," which opens nationwide Friday, to Skilling for perusal. Verbinksi also huddled with Skilling at WGN's Chicago studios on successive weekends in March 2004, where much of Cage's forecasting scenes were filmed. Skilling showed Cage the correct positioning of his hands in front of the blue screen, how to cock his head in the direction he is pointing, and how to keep his eye on the monitor while moving in front of the blue screen.

"Most people in the weather profession would be excited that Nicolas Cage is representing what we do for a living," Skilling said. "He would look over at me, occasionally to make sure he was doing things correctly. I was there in case he had a question. He's so good, he didn't have many questions." But Cage said it wasn't the technicalities of meteorology that he locked into while shaping the character of Dave Spritz, a Windy City weatherman whose personal life is spiraling out of control. "I just liked Tom's demeanor -- I liked his energy," Cage said when he popped into town last week for the premiere of "The Weather Man" for the close of the Chicago International Film Festival. "He seemed to me to be a very warm, nice man. His personality, that upbeat positive energy, I took to heart for my guy because I wanted Dave Spritz to have that `smile through the pain of weather . . . attitude." There have been other portrayals of weathermen or women. Steve Martin was a forecaster in "L.A. Story" and Nicole Kidman played a competitive, over-the-top "rip and reader," as Skilling calls them, in "To Die For." But the one that sticks out to Skilling is Bill Murray in the comedy "Groundhog Day."

"It was an amusing portrayal," Skilling said. "A lot of these movies portray stereotypes of weather people -- the weatherperson is kind of a lightweight, not real deep. I don't think any movie has really addressed what a serious weather forecaster does. But, quite frankly, I don't think that would be that interesting to people." But Skilling said he was pleasantly surprised with the finished product, and said he'd give it four stars. "It's a movie I'm surprised Hollywood made. We can all identify with the character whether he's a weatherman or not. There's a real complexity to the David Spritz character. It was deeper than I expected."
Source

`Weather Man' brings down curtain on Chicago film fest
October 20, 2005
The Tribune's wrap-up of the Chicago International Film Festival schedule, by Tribune movie critic Michael Wilmington and the movie reviewing staff, appears each day; - indicates a personal appearance by the director or star. The festival ends Thursday. "The Weather Man" (star)(star)(star)1/2 (Gore Verbinski, U.S.). Dave Spritz (Nicolas Cage) is a star local Chicago TV weatherman, whose affable on-screen persona and cute gimmicks have him on the verge of a national network breakthrough. He's also a comical butt to Windy City drive-by critics who hurl fast food on his pricey wardrobe, and he's an utterly dysfunctional family man: a disappointment to his troubled kids, an obnoxious buttinsky to his alienated ex-wife (Hope Davis) and a fumbling disappointment to his gravely ill dad (Michael Caine), a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who represents a much different world than the Media Lite realms where Dave rules.

The Chicago Film Festival closer this year is one of the brighter, less genre-bound recent big studio dramas, with one of Cage's deeper and more challenging performances since his Oscar-winning alcoholic agent in "Leaving Las Vegas." It's a technically spotless movie about the dangers and dissatisfactions of media slickness and success -- written by Steve Conrad ("Wrestling Ernest Hemingway") and directed by Verbinski ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Mexican"), who usually doesn't tackle material of quite this realism, social perceptiveness or human weight. Verbinski, Cage and Conrad are scheduled to be in attendance for the closing-night presentation and premiere screening of "The Weather Man," followed by a grand finale party. 7 p.m. presentation of guests, 7:30 p.m. screening Thu., Harris Theater, Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph. 9:30.-11:30 p.m., grand finale party, Sidney R. Yates Gallery, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.. Main floor tickets for film alone: $20 (CIFF members), $25 (non-members). Tickets (main floor) for film and party: $85 (members) and $100 (non-members). Call 312-683-0121 or visit http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com--M.W .
Source

"The Weather Man" (Oct. 28)
As Chicago weatherman Dave Spirtz (Nicolas Cage) prepares to audition for a national morning television show, he must cope with his father's illness, a painful divorce and trouble with his kids. This dramatic comedy, directed by Gore Verbinski ("The Ring"), has had its release date shuffled repeatedly over the past year and its current release date, less than three weeks away, is still listed on Yahoo.com as "tentative."

"Bee Season" and The Weather Man" Bookend 13th Hamptons Fest
9-21-05
The Hamptons International Film Festival announced details of its 13th edition Wednesday evening during an event at the Sony building in Midtown Manhattan. The fest, which will run October 19 – 23 on the east end of Long Island, New York, will include 27 world premieres, 23 U.S. premieres, four North American debuts, 18 east coast and seven New York premieres. The Hamptons fest will also once again hold its signature “Golden Starfish” narrative and documentary competitions, which features one of the richest prizes awarded in the U.S. The east coast debut of Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s “Bee Season” will kick off the event in East Hampton, the hub of the festival, which also hosts screenings in neighboring towns, including an expanded presence this year in the exclusive Southampton enclave. Starring Richard Gere and Juliette Binoche, the "Bee Season" follows the story of a couple whose collapsing marriage is complicated by the father’s obsession with helping his 11 year-old daughter’s quest for a spelling bee triumph. The film is based on a nationally best-selling book by Myla Goldberg. The east coast premiere of director Gore Verbinski’s “The Weather Man” will close the Hamptons. The film, starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and Hope Davis (who is slated to attend), also employs the troubled marriage theme about a Chicago weatherman who questions whether professional and personal success are “mutually exclusive.”

Possible Delay???
2-24-05
Director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring) recently said he's considering delaying the release of his latest film, The Weather Man, which stars Nicolas Cage and includes an Oscar-caliber performance by Michael Caine as a terminally ill dad. If the movie hits screens in April as planned, people may forget Caine and the movie come Oscar time.
Source

August 1, 2004
Earlier in the year, Nicolas Cage and director Gore Verbinski were in town shooting "The Weather Man," and while a majority of the story takes place locally, there are a few New York scenes. Verbinski used Chicago City Hall to double as a Manhattan office building and O'Hare International Airport as an approximation for New York's LaGuardia.
Source

July 1,2004
New Pics In - Filming in NY. These are donated by the photographer and may not be used with out permission. Thanks Ryan. Ryan is sending us the rest of the pictures he took soon to add here, so stop back.

May 24, 2004
New Pics On the filming of The Weather Man
Check out the great pics added to "thezreview"

Source

May 20, 2004
See New pics of Nic filming the Weather Man in New YorkYou can see the pics at the site listed below, you will only beable to see thumbnails but they are still good pics :) I am in coontact with the company to see if I can get a few to show here, check back soon.
Check them out

May 17, 2004
Nic Sighting
ABOUT TOWN: Financial guru/author/TV host Suze Orman was in town and caught a performance of "The Blues Brothers Revival" at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts. ... Actor Nic ("The Weatherman") Cage was seen relaxing at Trader Vic's.
Source

May 17, 2004
Dorrie meets Nic Again :)
HEY!I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE SET AGAIN,DOWNTOWN.I GOT NIC TO SIGN THAT PIC OF ME AND MY FRIENDS AND HIM!!!!!!!!!!!HES SO NICEEEEEE!!!! OH AND IM IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE PARADE, WHEN YOU SEE IT LOOK FOR THE GIRL IN THE PURPLELY HAT(THE ONE IM WEARING IN THE PIC WITH NIC) THATS MEEEEEE OH MAN LOL Love Always, Dorrie

May 16, 2004
Parade time, pic of Nic waving to fans
Thanks Renee for sending the pic in. And Dorrie was there as well in the background with all the folks, man Dorrie you have been able to see Nic alot this month, way to go!!

May 15, 2004
Member had her pic taken with Nic while in town filming "The Weather Man
Way to go Dorrie, Congrats this is a great pic!! Thanks for sharing it with us!!

May 14, 2004
Sent in by a person who was a Fill In
I was a paid extra on "The Weatherman" movie set here in Chicago on Wednesday night- got there about 6:45 PM and was done at 5AM. Fun times! Got to see close-up (not meet darnit) Mr. Nicolas Cage and the same guy that directed Pirates of the Caribbean was the director for this movie (I think his name is Gore Verbisky). I wish I could have taken my camera~ but no cameras and no cell phones allowed in the filming area.

:-( Lots of standing waiting for shots to be filmed (about 8-9 hours worth) but great food and great times were had by all (80) of us extras. I got to see/meet Mr. Cage's stand-in who travels all over the world with him and just stands there while they fix the lights.... what a job huh? "what do YOU do? " "I am a stand-in for Nick Cage..." All in all, it was fun !! It was a terrible day/night to be filming - the temperature was about 85 degrees, the humidity was very high and it would just start down-pouring for no reason... and the movie is set in below freezing weather (in February) in Chicago!! I had a hat, scarf, winter coat and gloves on... and I was hot and soaked!!

:-D We would shoot each scene about 10 times and then move on to another shot- most of the time the same place but a different view. I was "cold person walking in front of the restaurant", "cold person walking in to the "L" (train) stop", "cold person walking down the street", etc...you get the general idea... Nicolas is shorter than I thought he was-- but very cute in real life.... His hair line seems different for this movie- I wonder if they have a hair piece on him? He seems very nice an joked around with people on the set. I did see his personal assistant run for Pellegrino bottled water for Mr. Cage a few times- she looked like she had been running all night!! They are finished filming her in Chicago at the end of this week-- probably Sunday afternoon/night.
Thank so much Andrea and I am glad for you - it sounds like you had fun!!!

May 6, 2004
Here's a picture of Nicolas
filming just a couple of weeks ago at a skating rink in downtown Chicago.
Thanks Lori!!
Thanks for the second pic Lori!!
My word Lori these are great thanks for the third set of pics, I really like the one with Nicolas's name on his chair!!! 5-12-04

April 21, 2004
Nic Sighting
Yum! Actor Nicolas Cage was spotted at Love's Yogurt & Salads at Old Orchard scarfing down -- what else -- yogurt and salad, while filming "The Weather Man" on Wednesday.

April 2, 2004
Real Close to homeCrew workers blast snow on the corner of Lincoln Street and Lincolnwood Drive in Evanston on Thursday afternoon. They were filming a scene for the motion picture "The Weatherman" starring Nicholas Cage and Michael Caine. (Casey Shea/The Daily Northwestern)

Source

March 30, 2004
Nic on Wacker Drive
Here is a pic of Nic walking on Wacker Drive today

Thanks Chicago Sun Times

March 30, 2004
Another great pic of Nic and Cain

Source

March 29, 2004
Part of Upper Wacker to close Monday for film
THE LOOP -- A stretch of Upper Wacker Drive downtown will be closed again Monday for filming of "The Weatherman." Motorists negotiated the partial closing of Wacker Drive from West Madison to West Washington Streets Sunday without much trouble, police said. The northbound lanes were closed, and the southbound lanes were closed intermittently between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. The closings will resume during the same times Monday. Passersby and those standing in line at the Lyric Opera of Chicago looked on Sunday afternoon as film crews worked on the set of the Paramount Pictures production starring Nicolas Cage. Filming in Chicago began in February and is scheduled to run through May.
Source

March 28, 2004
The Weatherman'' will continue in the Chicago area until the end of May
A former Cicero resident played a major role when Hollywood used his business in scenes for a movie starring Nicolas Cage. Filming for ``The Weatherman'' will continue in the Chicago area until the end of May. The movie is expected to be released in 2005. But for more than two weeks, southwest suburban Plainfield was part of movie magic as crews worked around the clock to prepare for a scene featuring Cage. ``They are bringing in a weather-making machine to make snow,'' marveled Walter ``Sonny'' Glisson, owner of the Glisson Archery Range on Route 126 near I-55 on March 4. He formerly lived in Cicero.

Although he could not wait to see the actors scheduled to arrive after midnight March 5, Glisson considered the work of the grip and set-decorating crews as the real stars of the Paramount Pictures film. ``All of these people are the heroes,'' Glisson said. ``Without them, there wouldn't be a movie.'' Worker Dennis de la Mata said most people forget about the important role the grip team plays in movies. ``Think about a military operation (when filming a movie),'' said the Chicago resident, who has worked on more than 30 feature films. He was busy March 4 working on color treatments for a window that was to be part of a scene.

``You need to have a support team for the movie,'' he said. ``We support the lighting and camera guys.'' Some of the movies on which de la Mata has worked include ``The Blues Brothers,'' ``Groundhog Day,'' ``Thief'' and ``Backdraft,'' films all or partially filmed in Chicago. De la Mata said Chicago has continued to attract Hollywood filmmakers, despite losing many big-budget productions to Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, where filming is cheaper. Set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg of Los Angeles said ``The Weatherman'' will definitely showcase Oscar winner Nicholas Cage's acting talents. ``(Cage's character) is at a crossroad in his life,'' Brandenburg said. ``The movie is very much a character piece.'' Cage won an Academy Award for best actor for his role as an alcoholic in ``Leaving Las Vegas.'' He also starred in the romantic drama ``City of Angels,'' portraying an angel who decided to become a human after discovering love. Glisson, who also has allowed ESPN to film hunting segments at his archery range, said he was surprised upon learning of Hollywood's interest in his property.

``The Weatherman'' is about a man, portrayed by Cage, who tries to repair a broken relationship with his children, Glisson said. ``As the seasons change, the relationship between the father and his children evolve as well,'' Glisson said. The pivotal scene at the range shows the father and daughter bonding while learning archery. ``Sonny's place definitely is a great place for inspiration,'' Brandenburg said. The movie also stars Michael Caine and Hope Davis.
Source

March 26, 2004
Snow business ...
During a stroll down the hallway at University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center on Saturday morning, it was impossible to tell the difference between real patients, visitors, medical personnel -- and the movie extras on hand for the filming of "The Weather Man." A glance at the "Dan Clancy" name tag on his white doctor's coat made Ed Lomasney of Chicago laugh. "No, I think that's a real guy who works here, but that's not me. I'm just an extra. ... This is my first time doing something like this, but I'm a pharmacist in real life, so I guess it's not too much of a stretch." But making it all seem real is why director Gore Verbinski, producer Todd Black, stars Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and Hope Davis and a crew of hundreds are spending 55 days in Chicago filming this Steve Conrad-scripted story. It's a story that needs our city on film in order to make "The Weather Man" work. "It was written for Chicago and about Chicago. The whole Chicago feeling and vibe -- which is a very busy, intelligent vibe" -- are important elements to Black, who chats about the filming while closely eyeballing a monitor, focused on Cage (in character) berating his ex-wife on a pay phone.
Source

March 18, 2004
MORE MORE MORE LOL
WEATHER Man' stars spread sunshine Chicago Sun Times - Chicago,IL,USA Michael Caine and Nicolas Cage made a bunch of new friends while filming "The Weather Man" at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago this week.
Source

March 17th, 2004
This is great!

On a trip to Chicago we saw the filming of "The Weather Man". We were walking to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner when we noticed that a man was working on the lights. We asked him what he was doing and he said he was getting the street lights ready for a movie. Down the street we could see some filming infront of a Walgreens. When we finished dinner they were at the corner infront of the Rain Forest Cafe. We stayed for about 45 mins. and watched them make a fake winter wonderland. We also saw the director who was supposidly the lady who filmed Pirates of the Caribbean. Also the sister of the girl who plays Joan from Joan of Arcadia was there too. It was awesome to see them making the movie! The fake snow was so real! A few little kids were even trying to eat them.
Thanks Dara!!

March 15, 2004
Filming in Chicago

New pics today of Nicolas Cage filming The Weather Man in Chicago, this is great all these people sending in goodies!! Thanks everyone!!
To see them click Source.
Source

March 8, 2004
Updates/Info from people who right in to cagefactor.com...
Our office was downtown yesterday at the Westin across for the Hancock, caught a glimpse of Nicolas Cage as he entered the Grill restaurant in the Westin where they were filming. I tried to get a picture but must have missed out!
Thanks Michele!!!

March 1, 2004
Update
Filming on 3/1 is at Sheffield and Fletcher.
Thanks Adam!!

February 27, 2004
Another update
I just received a call from my neighbor. She was downtown today and ran smack dab into an area where they were filming scenes for the movie. She said there was lots of fake snow and such strewn around but no Nic to be had! The area of filming was in an alleyway between South Water and Lake Street...behind the Hard Rock Hotel.
Thanks Bonnie!!!

February 27, 2004
Cage in Chicago!!!
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that Mr. Cage is filming The Weatherman at Lake and Michigan in Chicago today. They are also using Lower Wacker Drive. They have a ton of fake snow and a bus in the shot, and the street is buzzing with people wanting to see what is up.

I am in Chicago- but not a member of the fan club. I just did a search regarding Mr. Cage and the movie and found your informative website. I thought his true fans would like an update on where he was in Chicago during filming. Filming near 70 E Lake Street, right off of Michigan Ave. They are still there right now, and every few minutes we here "Action!!" or "I need more snow!!" from the director. It is fun to hear it! No sightings of him though. Many are standing around wondering if they will get a peek at him though :) I am a fan of his movies,
Thanks Andrea!!!!

February 23, 2004
CAGE-Y IDEA:
Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage, in town prepping to film "The Weatherman," has been hanging with the dean of Our Town's weather gurus, Tom Skilling to pick up tips for the role. Cage and company will spend a few days filming at WGN-TV's North Side studio for the picture, which also stars Michael Caine.
Source
Thanks Renee!

February 19, 2004
MORE SIGHTS:
NICOLAS CAGE, who will start filming "The Weatherman" in Chicago on Feb. 23 for three months with the Helene Curtis warehouse as one of the locations, lunched the other day with pals at The Grill on the Alley
Source

February 17, 2004
Shoot to start in Chicago
9:am
Nicolas Cage starts filming The Weatherman today in my building. The paramount crew is here and they are setting up headquarters in a building that my friend works at, she will keep us updated daily and will try and get some pics on set. They will be set up on the 11th floor for 6 months on North Dearborn in Chicago, IL
I have shared the news with The Z Review - hope to see it listed soon
Thanks Belinda!!!

February 7, 2004
'The Weather Man' Casting Call
Casting Call Venue
1401 N. Cicero Ave.
Audition to be an extra in Paramount Pictures' new drama starring Nicolas Cage, directed by Gore Verbinski ("Pirates of the Caribbean"). The film is on location in Chicago from Feb. 23 to May. Participants should bring a recent photo of themselves, their car (if applicable) and their pets (cats and dogs specifically). Interested parties who cannot attend the casting call may submit information by mail: Thomas Gustafson 559 W. Diversey Pkwy. #328 Chicago IL, 60614 Submissions are accepted through April and should include current photos, height, weight, life experience, skills and contact information. About the film: A Chicago weather man must overcome family problems when he is given an opportunity to move to New York. Feb. 7: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Price: free. Additional information: www.weathermancasting.com
Source

Febraury 5, 2004
WGN
I just heard Cage is preparing for his new movie role as a weather man at WGN Chicago news with famed weatherman Tom Skilling.
Thanks Jeff!

February 2, 2004
Casting!! Open Casting Call:
Saturday, Feb 7th
drop in from 11am - 5pm
1401 N. Cicero
One block north of Division.
Enter on SW corner of large warehouse.
Lots of parking, near Division bus
More Details!!

February 1, 2004
Michael Caine will be in "The Weather Man"

According to Variety, Oscar winner Caine has joined the cast of The Weather Man, a drama that currently stars Nicolas Cage and Hope Davis. Cage plays a TV weather man who leaves his Chicago gig for a spot in the big time in New York City. Before he skips town, he tries to put his personal life in order, which includes repairing his relationship with his wife (Hope Davis). Caine will play Cage's character's father, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Gore Verbinski is on board to direct the film, from a screenplay written by Steve Conrad. Filming is expected to begin Feb. 23 in Chicago.
Source & Source 2

February 1, 2004
Movie Extras
CHICAGO -- Sources in the Chicago film industry say the new Nicolas Cage movie--"The Weather Man"--is opening a production office in Chicago this week and will begin searching for local actors soon after that. Illinois politicians from the mayor to the governor have been eagerly promoting Chicago as a setting for Hollywood movies, offering tax breaks to lure movie crews here in hopes of generating jobs and millions of dollars' worth of business for Chicago production companies. Filming is set to begin Feb. 17 in Chicago, then New York. For information about landing a background role in the movie, check out www.geocities.com/weathermancasting.
Thanks Bonnie!

Check out this link, wanna be in the movie > Click Here
Here is the application > Sign Up

January 16, 2004
Nicolas Cage blows into town...
next month to play a TV meteorologist. And he wants to shadow a local forecaster to prepare for his role.

That's the latest buzz on "The Weather Man," an upcoming comedy about a Chicago newsie eager to make peace with his family before decamping for the Big Apple. The cast includes Hope Davis as Cage's ticked-off mate. The stars and film crew will be here Feb. 23 through May. Helming the $22 million project is Gore Verbinski, who made a huge splash last year with "Pirates of the Caribbean." Lakeview resident Steven Conrad wrote the screenplay.

Cage hoped to land a specific weather whiz as mentor, but ran into red tape involving network policies. So producers are trying to cut a deal -- and line up Chicago anchors to make cameos as well.
~Source~

January 12, 2004
inSCRIPTions Screenplay Review: “The Weather Man”
Written 01-12-2004 by DarwinMayflower This draft, written by Steve Conrad, is dated October 5, 2003. There are some really great ideas in Steve Conrad’s "The Weather Man." There are also some really old ideas in it. The fresh material and the clichés battle like gladiators. In the end, neither wins completely, but the fresh material has a lot more scars.

"The Weather Man," which will star Nic Cage, Michael Caine and Hope Davis, and be directed by Gore Verbinski, is the story of sad sack, stuck-in-the-fog-of-disappointment Dave Spritz (né Dave Spritzel). He has nominal success -- a well-paying, easy job as the local news station’s weatherman -- but he has just arrived at a point in his life where he’s looking around and seeing that he’s failed at everything that matters to him: he’s laid waste to the relationships in his life. To his ex-wife, who is now dating another man; to his two children; and to his novelist father. On the eve of what could be a huge career move, he fights to mend all the broken bonds.
~Source~ Read Full Story

January 08, 2004
NICOLAS CAGE will be arriving in Chi Town
Feb. 23 to begin filming "The Weatherman" with director Gore Verbinski.
~Source - Chicago Sun Times~

January 02, 2004
Michael Caine is in negotiations to join The Weather Man

penned by Steve Conrad, stars Cage as an on-air Chicago meteorologist who is offered the job of his dreams in New York. Before leaving for the Big Apple, however, he must make things right with his estranged wife and kids. Caine would join the cast as Cage's character's father, who is suffering from a life-threatening illness. Hope Davis is also set to star. Filming on Weather Man is set to begin on February 17th in Chicago and then New York.

~Source~

December 18, 2003
In the script of "The Weather Man
There is a scene in the script of "The Weather Man," an upcoming Nicholas Cage production, that really got me thinking. Cage's character needs 25 cents to purchase a newspaper. He has no change. So, he enters a McDonald's and asks the clerk to make change for a dollar. An apathetic cashier responds that he cannot give Cage change unless he buys something. So, Cage's character looks at the big board menu hanging overhead and selects the cheapest item for 72 cents. But, the item doesn't really cost 72 cents. When the cashier rings it up, the total is 80 cents- leaving Cage still lacking the 25 cents needed to buy a newspaper.
By: Jeff Borgardt ~Source~ *Thanks Renee*

December 03,2003
Femme in forecast for 'Weather Man'

DAVE McNARY (Variety) Paramount Pictures has tapped Hope Davis (news) to topline opposite Nicolas Cage (news) in the Chicago-based drama "The Weather Man." Davis received an Independent Spirit Award supporting actress nomination Wednesday for Manhattan Pictures' "The Secret Lives of Dentists." In "The Weather Man," she will portray the estranged wife of a successful TV weathercaster who's about to leave Chicago for Gotham. With his personal life in disarray, he attempts to reconcile with his spouse and kids. Pic, to be directed by Gore Verbinski (news) and produced by Escape Artists, is due to start lensing Feb. 17 in Chicago. Escape Artists principals Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch and David Alper are producers. Davis, who's repped by UTA and managed by Perri Kipperman at LMRK, also received strong notices for her recent turns in "About Schmidt" and HBO/Fine Line's "American Splendor," which received five IFP noms. She just completed work on Miramax's adaptation of prize-winning Broadway play "Proof" along with Gwyneth Paltrow (news), Anthony Hopkins (news) and Jake Gyllenhaal (news), and will also be seen next year in Warner Bros.' African adventure-drama "Shadows."
~Source~

November 25, 2003
Forecast looks brighter for Cage's 'Weatherman'
The clouds have cleared on a scoop you read here first. Nicolas Cage's upcoming film ''The Weatherman'' is now back on track with Paramount Pictures -- which has picked up the film after it was dropped by Sony. Daily Variety now says production should begin in Chicago Feb. 17 on the drama about a divorced TV weatherman who is about to leave Our Town for New York in an attempt to reconcile with his wife and children. ''The Weatherman'' still will be directed by Gore Verbinski -- prior to him tackling ''Pirates of the Caribbean 2.'' Cage currently is wrapping up ''National Treasure,'' an action-adventure directed by Jon Turteltaub.
~Chicago Sun Time~

November 24, 2003
Big Change in 'Weather' for Cage
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Budget and salary disagreements over a new Nicolas Cage (news) movie have forced its producer to take the project to a new studio. Reuters Photo "The Weather Man" had been set up at Sony's Columbia Pictures, where producer Escape Artists has a first-look deal. But sources said the two firms were unable agree on a budget for "Weather Man," said to be in the $20 million-$30 million range, or profit deals for Cage and director Gore Verbinski (news).

The drama is now set up at Paramount Pictures, which has acquired worldwide rights. Shooting is scheduled to start lensing Feb. 17 in Chicago; Cage is currently working on Disney's "National Treasure" for producer Jerry Bruckheimer. "Weather Man" is described as being in the vein of "About Schmidt" and "American Beauty." It's about a divorced Chicago weatherman who is up for a new job on a network morning show in New York. As he is preparing to leave for the Big Apple, he must make peace with his ex-wife and kids. Nov. 24, 2003

Cage Pic Weathers Studio Shift
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) — Budget and salary disagreements over a new Nicolas Cage movie have forced its producer to take the project to a new studio. The Weather Man had been set up at Sony's Columbia Pictures, where producer Escape Artists has a first-look deal. But sources said the two firms were unable agree on a budget for Weather Man, said to be in the $20 million-$30 million range, or profit deals for Cage and director Gore Verbinski.

The drama is now set up at Paramount Pictures, which has acquired worldwide rights. Shooting is scheduled to start Feb. 17 in Chicago; Cage is currently working on Disney's National Treasure for producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Weather Man is described as being in the vein of About Schmidt and American Beauty. It's about a divorced Chicago weatherman who is up for a new job on a network morning show in New York. As he is preparing to leave for the Big Apple, he must make peace with his ex-wife and kids.
~Source~

The Weather Man
Hooray! As a result of that fruitful trip, Sexton received a confirmation from producer Todd Black of Escape Artists Studios that his new Nicolas Cage movie "The Weather Man," written by former Chicagoan Steve Conrad, will definitely film in Chicago for about 40 days starting next February. This shoot can bring at least $15 million to $20 million in revenue to our town.
~Source~