Come March, University students may have more to look forward to than simply summer: Russell Crowe and Ed Harris will be visitors on campus during the filming of Ron Howard's latest cinematic project, "A Beautiful Mind."
The drama — which will focus on the life of John Forbes Nash GS '50 — will include scenes filmed in Princeton and New York City. And both Crowe and Harris have signed onto the cast.
University Director of the Center for Visitors and Conference Services Eric Hamblin said the film, to be produced by Imagine Entertainment, was first brought to his attention in September.
Hamblin said he worked closely with Howard's location scout so possible filming sites in Princeton could be approved and the project begun.
But Hamblin — who works in conjunction with the University's communications office — said he approved the project only after receiving a formal inquiry and a copy of the script.
"A Beautiful Life" will primarily be a biography of Nash — a diagnosed paranoid-schizophrenic whose mathematical work led to the game theory of economics and earned him the Nobel Prize.
The script is based on Sylvia Nasar's "A Beautiful Mind: A Biography of John Forbes Nash, Jr."
Hamblin said when he accompanied Howard on a tour of locations on and off campus, the director seemed especially interested in Jones Hall. "That was one of the number one locations they wanted to look at," he said.
Nash worked in Jones Hall, which is adjacent to the Frist Campus Center. Hamblin said that when Nash was at Princeton in the early 1950s, Jones Hall was called Fine Hall and was the center for mathematics.
Hamblin said Howard also asked to be shown several other classrooms and lecture halls, including McCosh 50 and McCosh 26.
"We try to accommodate these projects so they don't affect the comings and goings of the institution," Hamblin said. "If they want to use McCosh 50 and there is a class in there, we wouldn't move the class for the filming of a movie."
Because Howard said Nash lived near, but not in, Princeton, his actual house likely will not be used in the movie.
According to Imagine Entertainment, Crowe will portray Nash and Harris will play an intelligence officer. Harris last worked with Imagine Entertainment during the filming of "Apollo 13" — a role for which he received an Oscar nomination.
Imagine Entertainment has not yet announced the film's other cast members.
Hamblin said Howard and his crew have plans to return to campus before full-scale filming begins, and may film shots of the University in the snow.
Hamblin added that he believed Crowe intended to visit campus before filming to research his character, but the actor has not confirmed any definite plans.
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