Many might remember the newsin 2010 of a possible film project for Meryl Streep and Tina Fey, directed by Stanley Tucci. “It seems to have fallen apart for now,” says Fey in this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly:

It was this thing at Sony called Mommy & Me and the script went through a lot of permutations and almost got made, and then didn’t… It was [about] a woman who loses her job and has to move home with her mother… The script didn’t really come together.

More quotes on the film as well as on Tina Fey’s cover story can be read here.

According to this article by The Wrap, Meryl Streep is attached to Tommy Lee Jones’ next effort as a director. With the American Film Market just around the corner, a number of pre-sales projects have begun to circulate among buyers, including “The Homesman” with Streep and Swank part of the package, TheWrap has learned. In May it was announced that Jones would write, direct, produce and star in the period piece, which follows a pioneer, played by Jones, and a frontier woman as they escort three insane women across the American prairie. No additional cast was announced at that time. Now an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap that buyers are being presented with a pre-AFM package that includes the two A -list actresses. Swank will play the frontier woman, but it was not clear which role Streep would play. Streep also starred with Jones this year in “Hope Springs.” The complete article can be read here. Thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.

Since Meryl has attended the Charlie Foundation Benefit yesterday to raise awareness in the Ketogenic Diet, what better film to spotlight than “First Do No Harm”. The 1997 television film is based on director Jim Abrahams’ experiences with the disease after his son has been diagnosed with epilepsy. New DVD screencaptures as well as four new clips have been added. Production notes and review after the cut. To learn more about Meryl’s involvement with the organization, be sure to check the charity page on The Charlie Foundation and watch her 1994 PSA An Introduction to the Ketogenic Diet. Again, many thanks to Katrin for guiding the film to me. As always, please share your toughts on “First Do No Harm” in the comments.

ABC News today writes a bit on the Charlie Foundation Gala to honor Meryl Streep. Streep was in Bloomingdale (Friday) to help raise money and awareness at the Charlie Foundation’s Inaugural Gala. That charity raises money to help find a cure for pediatric epilepsy. Streep starred in a 1997 film called First Do No Harm, which centered on a boy with severe epilepsy. “I’m really proud to be associated with the foundation to have played some small part in getting the word out the ketogenic diet and all the protocols that are associated with it,” Streep said. The ketogenic diet that Streep refers to has been beneficial to more than half of the children who’ve tried it. For now, there are only a few pictures from yesterday’s event. My thanks to Joan for sending them in. Edit: HQ pictures from the event have been added.

More than 350 guests flocked to Bloomingdale on Friday for a fundraiser staring Meryl Streep. She touted the ketogenic diet, which supporters like Streep say can treat the disease, making symptoms drastically improve or disappear. “That people aren’t being told about this, I find that really unconscionable,” Streep said. On the left are two more pictures by loyal visitor Pam, who has attended the benefit.

According to the New York Daily News, the casting for “August: Osage County” has been finished with the latest addition of Julianne Nicholson as Ivy Weston, as the film is about to start shooting next week. Tracy Letts’ sprawling family saga “August: Osage County” starts filming on Monday. Asked how he whittled down his 3 1/2 hour play for the big-screen, he told me: “I was doing rewrites a couple nights ago.” Asked about his role in picking the cast in the film directed by “ER” alum John Wells, Letts admitted it was minimal. “I don’t know how much they listen to me,” he said, adding that he’s pleased with the cast headed by Meryl Streep as Violet, the mad matriarch. Julia Roberts plays her eldest daughter, Barbara. “The ironic thing is that the more successful a play is the more likely it is that actors will be shunted aside for movie stars. That’s the way it is.” Playing Roberts’ sisters are Juliette Lewis as Karen, and Julianne Nicholson as Ivy, Letts told me. Letts was in Oklahoma on Monday for the first table read. “It is the only day in the entire process I’m able to be there. They asked lots of smart questions.”

Three new clips have been added to the video archive. The first is 1991 report to promote the theatrical release of “Postcards from the Edge”, featuring interviews with Meryl and Shirley MacLaine. The second clip is a profile on Meryl’s career by CBS Sunday Morning and the releases of “One True Thing” and “Dancing at Lughnasa” (including footage from the Telluride Film Festival as well). In the third video interview, Meryl talks about “Music of the Heart”, her preparation and the making of the film. Enjoy.

Here’s a great addition to the archives. Over 50 images of Meryl’s early stage performances have been added to the image library. The update includes pictures from the highschool productions of “Li’l Abner” and “Oklahoma” in 1966, Meryl’s years at the Yale Drama School and the Vassar Drama Department (including “Miss Julie” and “The Miser“). Then, there are additions to the Yale Repertory Theatre galleries, including “The Possessed“, “The Idiots Karamazov” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and various pictures from her plays with the Public Theater. Also, promotional posters for “Measure for Measure“, “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Alice in Concert” have been posted. By clicking below’s previews, you can launch all last added pictures. Enjoy!

Additional information by the Daily Herald on Meryl’s appearance at the Charlie Foundation fundraiser this Friday. When Meryl Streep comes to Bloomingdale on Friday, it won’t be for a movie shoot or film promotion. Instead, it will be for something even closer to her heart. The star will come to Hilton Indian Lakes Resort to speak at a charity gala for The Charlie Foundation to Cure Pediatric Epilepsy. The foundation advocates for education about the ketogenic diet, which supporters say can be used to treat epilepsy in children. The high-fat, adequate-protein and low-carbohydrate diet mimics aspects of fasting by forcing the body to burn fats and ketone bodies rather than carbohydrates. The ketones then pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source, and these elevated ketone levels reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures. The complete article can be read here. Many thanks to Glenn for the heads-up.

This Sunday’s spotlight is “Defending Your Life”, Albert Brook’s 1991 afterlife comedy. New DVD screencaptures have been added to the gallery. Three new clips can be found in the video archive. Production notes and review after the cut. As always, please share your thoughts on “Defending Your Life” in the comments. My most sincere thanks to the wonderful Katrin for sharing the film with me so it can be reviewed as Movie of the Week. Thanks!

According to Deadline, Ewan McGregor has been cast alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts in August: Osage County, the movie adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer- and Tony-winning play that begins production September 24. The Weinstein Company made the announcement today. McGregor will play Bill Fordham, the estranged husband of Barbara (Roberts) and son-in-law of pill-popping matriarch Violet Weston (Streep). A college professor, he left his wife for one of his students but wants to be there for his family. His marriage is disintegrating and his patience is running thin. And according to Variety, Misty Upham has joined the cast as well. Upham will play a college student who comes to work for Streep’s character.