Good Fur You, Good Fur Me

I always thought a good look for Robert Downey Jr. was to be covered in hair and wear a sarong, and I'm glad he feels the same way. 

Mary Ellen Mark was selected to shoot publicity photos for the new Diane Arbus movie "Fur". Generally after an actor would shoot a scene, he/she would come over and we would do shots of them while they were still in character.  I recognized several of the actors, but the only ones I knew for sure were Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr.  The first day we shot Robert, he was covered from head to toe in hair (hence the title "Fur").  The next day we had several hours to work with him.  I must admit, he was an excellent subject to work with.  He was also great to talk with and really enjoyed Mary Ellen's 20x24 Polaroids we shot of him.  We also shot characters from Arbus' pictures.  There was quite the menagerie of personalities of people we shot, from sword swallowers to "giants".

I believe that the producers are pushing for a exhibition of the work from the shoot. The pictures are beautiful and I hope it comes to fruition.

Comments

[Judy]

Very interesting post here about Fur. Thankyou. I am a huge fan of Diane Arbus and really looking forward to this movie. I am really wondering what Robert will look like covered in hair! Can you tell it is him? do you see his face very well at all? I guess we will have to wait until the movie comes out to see! I hope the exhibit you mention really happens.

[Amy]

I am also looking forward to Fur but is it true that Kidman is blonde in Fur? I know the synopsis of the movie calls it an imaginary biopic but I would have thought seeing that they are basing it on a real-life person, the physical attributes will reveal that?

[Major Black]

Smells like hype to me.
Would Diane like it?
Did Diane run around with a crew of assistsnants shooting celebrities in costume on a movie set with a 20x24 polaroid camera?
PLEASE put mary e mark in the New York subway at 4AM with some leicas hanging around herself ALONE like diane was.

Nicloe is wearing a wig in the movie, and it is dark brown. She refused to have her hair cut or colored.

RDJ is not recognizable at all. He looks like "beast" from "Beauty and the Beast". I breifly talked to him not knowing it actually was him. I only figured it was him when he posed with his son for a picture.

The director did have a plan to have MEM shoot the characters in the movie and show the pics in the movie as if Diane had shot them. It was interesting how she and her crew spent a lot of time trying to recreate Diane's lighting. In the end I belevie it was scrapped. It was too much effort and not important enough to spend money/time on.

[Amy]

Thanks, Anon 12:12pm :).

[judy]

Thanks so much! I had a feeling Robert would look like the beast! I can picture Nicole in a wig looking like Diane. I wonder if this movie will be too strange for the average movie goer? what do you think? Thanks again!

[Amy]

Judy, it wouldn't surprise me. Kidman called it strange and bold, her agent called it weird, the producers say it isn't a typical biopic so it looks like it will be very out there. I like how they are keeping it very hush hush :).

[Amy]

Major Black, I believe Diane Arbus took pics of celebrities like Jayne Mansfield so I don't think she turned up her nose at them.

[Janie]

What were the Mark shots that were used for the August Vanity Fair? The magazine is not available and I am curious as to what shots were included.
Thanks