Hollywood’s Newest Olsen Makes Sundance Debut

The younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen is breaking into showbiz with two buzzed-about films at the Sundance Film Festival.

Elizabeth Olsen, 21, stars in “Silent House,” directed by the filmmakers who made the 2004 indy hit “Open Water.” When it debuted at Sundance, it was sold to Lionsgate for more than $2 million.

Based on a film from Uruguay called “La Casa Muda,” '‘Silent House” is one continuous take as Olsen’s character begins to suspect her summer house may be haunted. Olsen compares shooting the film to theater, which she started doing as a child.

“When I was auditioning, I was like, ‘Just so you know I’m used to the medium of theater, so like I can stand on my feet for this long,’” she laughs.

Olsen’s other film at Sundance is “Martha Macy May Marlene,” where she plays a young women trying to readjust to life after escaping from a cult.

“It’s hard for independent films when they want to get money,” said Olsen. “And to have a lead be an unknown — it’s kind of a risk for people to take. And so the fact that they took that risk was like made my year, my life, I don’t know! It was really exciting.”

The actress may be enthusiastic about her career but turns serious when it comes to the idea of being a tabloid target like her big sisters, now 24, who are chased constantly by paparazzi. The Olsen twins have been in the spotlight since they were hired as infants to share a role in the TV comedy “Full House.”

“When I would go shopping with my sisters when I was younger, it would be dangerous. People would almost get us into car accidents. I just think it’s crazy in general but I want to be an actor — and I have since I was a little girl — and if that happens, then you figure out how to deal with it where it doesn’t completely infringe upon your life,” said Olsen. “I haven’t experienced that personally yet. Hopefully I don’t have to but I think it’s a really weird part of this business.”

James Franco’s Newest Role: Crazed Serial Killer

He’s played a hiker who amputates his own arm, a mover and shaker of the Beat generation, and now, James Franco is slated to play an evil serial killer.

Page Six says that Franco will also direct the movie version of Phillip Carlo’s “The Night Stalker” during a hiatus from earning his doctorate at Yale (among his many other pursuits). The screenplay was co-produced by Chris Cornell and Nicolas Constantine of the band Soundgarden, in turn based off a book by Phillip Carlo. The band members have also proved to be multi-talented; Constantine penned the screenplay.

The story is about a Southern California man named Richard Ramirez who, in 1985, went on a murderous rampage. Ramirez was later convicted to 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, and eleven counts of sexual assault.

“Phil Carlo painted such an amazing portrait of Richard Ramirez,” Constantine said. “Sure, Ramirez was a monster—but Phil investigated how he became that monster, and that’s what this film is about.”

But Constantine wasn't confident that the ubiquitous Franco would want to direct a film like this, as the subject matter is so sinister.

“I had no idea if he would it it, though, since it’s pretty dark subject matter.” After seeing three short films that Franco directed, Constantine had a better understanding of Franco’s work.

“[The films] confirmed James definitely had this dark side, and it definitely sealed the deal for us.”