Hollywood heartthrob spends the night at Dunnville bed and breakfast
By DOREEN HOOVER
May 28, 2008

Karen Waltham thinks Richard Gere is charismatic and as handsome as ever.

The Dunnville business woman should know because the American actor was a guest at her bed and
breakfast on Monday night. Gere was making a quick stop in town to work on the motion picture
Amelia being shot at the Dunnville Airport this week.

"What a nice man he is and you remember how handsome he looked in Pretty Woman--well he's still
that handsome," Waltham told The Chronicle yesterday. "He also has charisma because I felt like a
16-year-old."

Waltham found out Gere would be staying at her bed and breakfast, Waltham's Way, late on Saturday
after being contacted by representatives from the film's production company. He was booked for two
nights, Monday and Tuesday, and took all three upstairs rooms.

As soon as Waltham knew Gere was coming to her Alder Street East home she decided to keep the
news to herself.

"When they called me they said to use my discretion," she said. "Eight hundred people showed up
when they were looking for extras so I figured if they knew Richard Gere was going to be here that
my yard would be peppered with people. No thank you."

Waltham said she expected Gere to arrive in Dunnville on Monday around 8:30 p.m., but he was held
up in New York and didn't arrive until 11 p.m.

"He came in and went upstairs and I showed him where everything is," Waltham said. "I asked what
he wanted for breakfast and he didn't want anything to eat--just a pot of tea. He was just wearing blue
jeans and runners and travelled by himself except for his driver. He seems to be a very independent
person."

Later while Waltham was sitting in her family room Gere came down and asked her for a battery for
his clock.

"He's so nice," she said. "I'll be 67 years old this year, but I could hardly fall asleep because I had
Richard Gere in my house. It was fun."

Since Waltham thought Gere would be returning to her bed and breakfast on Tuesday evening she
didn't get a photo of him on Monday. That's something that's a disappointment to her now because
after he left for the set at 6 a.m. on Tuesday she found out he would only be working on the film that
day and would then be heading to Toronto.


"It's disappointing that I didn't get a picture, but I thought I would get it the next day on his way
home," she said. "He tricked me, but I won't hold it against him. This has all been so exciting." "It was
all very brief, but he makes an impression--he did on me anyway," Waltham added. "This has been the
thrill for the rest of my life."
Richard Gere and Hilary Swank coming to Dunnville to film scenes for "Amelia"

May 4, 2008
Dunnville will be among the Toronto, Halifax and South African locations used in Amelia, a movie about the
life of pilot Amelia Earhart.
At the end of May, Richard Gere, who plays Amelia's husband, will spend a day in the area and Hilary
Swank, who plays Amelia, will be in Dunnville a bit longer.
About 300 people may have an opportunity to work with these actors because extras will be needed for the
scene sequence that will span May 26 to 28 if filming is on schedule.
Males and females of any age are invited to answer the call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 21 at the
Dunnville recreation centre in the arena. Extras will receive $10.25 an hour and a typical day can be eight to
16 hours.
People,who are available on those dates, are invited to fill out an application and will have their pictures
taken.
While film publicist Joe Everett would not confirm it, the Dunnville airport is likely the location for
shooting.
He told the The Chronicle that filming will involve a significant scene sequence of an aerial race featuring a
series of vintage planes flown in by the production company. The public will not be able to enter the area
because it will be a closed set, he added.
This week filming was under way in a Toronto neighbourhood. After shooting wraps up in Dunnville, the
crew will return to Toronto and will finish mid-June. Then the cast and crew will move to Halifax and use
the Newfoundland coast line for other scenes. Then they move on to South Africa.
Everett said the filming company will bring in trucks and trailers but will make every effort to not disrupt
Dunnville. With experience working in cities and small towns, he realized what kind of excitement will be
stirred up when actors and camera crews arrive.
"It's like the big circus coming to town," he said.
Other notable cast members are Ewan McGregor, who plays Gore Vidal's father, and Virginia Madsen,
who plays the ex-wife of Gere's character. Neither actor will be working in Dunnville.
RECENT NEWS PAGE V
Counter
Photos of the filming "Amelia" on April 27, 2008
Updated June 1, 2008
May 11, 2008
Filming Amelia in
Toronto, Canada
Dear Friend,

As a supporter of Tibet and ICT, I’m sure you have been following the recent events in Tibet and the media’s ongoing coverage of the
Tibetan struggle.

We’re facing a truly defining moment in Tibet’s history, which is why I write today.

In the wake of the Chinese government’s brutal crackdown on protestors inside of Tibet and with the approaching 2008 Beijing
Olympics, Tibetans throughout the world are in desperate need of your help to get the message out about human rights abuses inside
of Tibet.



Now is the time to be as active as possible in your support of Tibet and the Tibetan people.

We must take this vital opportunity not only to reach out to those who have always defended human rights in Tibet, but also to reconcile
with our brothers and sisters inside of China, who are blinded by their government’s pursuit to undermine the integrity of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama.



I have been the Chair of ICT’s Board of Directors for many years because I believe it is one of the most effective organizations at
comprehensively addressing the Tibet issue. With the recent events affecting Tibetans around the globe, ICT has been at the forefront
of the struggle, providing research, advocacy and political action to bring about a negotiated solution.

As an ICT supporter myself, I urge you to make the most generous contribution you can to ICT today so we can continue to build on
our momentum.



Please also visit savetibet.org to read the latest updates from Tibet, register for email alerts and take action during this critical juncture
for Tibet.

As you know, this issue is very close to my heart, and I am grateful to each and every one of you for your honesty, your compassion and
your support.

The critical moment for Tibet is now, and with your help we can shape Tibet’s future. Thank you.

Sincerely,







Richard Gere
ICT Board Chair
A Letter From Richard Gere May 28, 2008
Nights In Rondanthe Movie Trailer out October 2008
Posted May 29, 2008



Richard Gere with Yuko Hunt at the Japan Society of Boston dinner. (Dominic miguel costa)

May 30, 2008
UMass grad Richard Gere was the man of the hour at the Japan
Society of Boston's annual dinner the other night. The actor, whose
new film "Hachiko: A Dog's Story" is based on the true tale of Japan's
most famous canine, spoke at length about his love of all things
Eastern, including religion. We're told that Gere, a Buddhist who's
good buddies with the Dalai Lama, came close to tears during his talk.
(The guy's obviously got some emotional range: As the 2006 Hasty
Pudding Man of the Year, Gere donned a blond wig and a bra.) In
"Hachiko," by the way, the actor plays a professor who takes in an
abandoned do, and the pair form an unbreakable bond.
Japan's best friend - May 30, 2008
Continued Recent News Page VI
HERE