Re: My Wall Street 2 Story

Wrote this for the February issue of AVENUE Magazine. Thought it would amuse you. Tell me what you think of it.

xoxo Peggy

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HD: Wall Street, Take Two

DEK: In the upcoming sequel to Oliver Stone's groundbreaking film, Gordon Gekko gets out ofjail and back to business. Peggy Siegal takes us behind the scents where she got herself on camera along with a few of her famous friends. Nice work if you can get it.

In 1987, right after director Oliver Stone won the Academy Award for "Platoon," he immediately turned to a domestic arena and began working on "Wall Street" in New York City where his father had been a stockbroker. Although the film was widely seen as a scathing critique of the culture of Wall Street, Stone has said that part of the film is a defense ofcapitalism, his father's vision of finance (as seen through the Hal Holbrook character) and an homage to his father.

At the time Oliver was also fascinated with the connection between the psyche ofLatino Miami drug dealers from his earlier "Searface" script and the American-born 28- to 35-year-old, white collar stockbrokers. Both groups had an animalistic need to obtain big and fast money. They shared an obsession with corruption and greed.

Oliver sent his actors to Bear Steams for research, including then-newcomer Charlie Sheen, who played Bud Fox. a kid from nowhere. When he learns to cold call, and lands one big client. Gordon Gckko. Fox is thrust into the fast lane with a rock star financial mentor who teaches him corruption.

Oliver needed an old-fashioned villain to create drama, and he cast Michael Douglas as Gekko against type. Michael was not known as a heavy at the time, but as a charming, handsome, sensitive leading man. Oliver also saw the anger, confidence, salesmanship and style that Michael brought to the role. Michael's Gckko looked a bit like Lakces coach Pat Riley with his slicked back hair and well-cut suits, and it became Michael's most important role, winning him the Academy Award for the villain no one could ever forget.

When Gekko delivers his speech, "Greed, for lack ofa better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works," cinematic history was made.

"Wall Street" was set in 1985, a time before ten financial news networks broadcasting 2417 existed. The entire financial services industry was largely unknown and Oliver Stone nailed it.

Four years ago, Wall Street's producer Ed Pressman decided it was time for a sequel and met with Fox Film Entertainment co-chainnen Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos. Michael Douglas was immediately on-board pending script approval. Steven Schiff wrote the first script before the global economic crash of 2008 rendered it obsolete.

terrific. i want to hear more about the trip

Will call you later. I am sick as a dog with a cold. I am supposed to go to Dr. Magnani this morning for a cleaning. If you get a cleaning with a cold does it make it worse ofjust infect the dental hygenist?

Had a great lunch for Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster for "The Messenger" at Monkey Bar yesterday and hung with Clooney at the New York Film Critics Awards last night. Tonight is the National Board of Review and I am thinking of staying in bed till show time. Have a party for Clooney Wednesday nigh Graydon is hosting at Monkey Bar that we arc working on.

I have to fly to LA Jan. 14 and I am worried...I have emailed three doctors this morning!

Will call later...Mattie keeps saying she is going to show me how to email photos- will try to do today and call.

I think I got sick in economy class from Lanni, Nairobi. Amsterdan, Newark from all those wanna be terrorists breathing on me in the planes.

Did you see "Avator". I do not have a dvd because it's 3D.

The white American marines arc wiped out by black people painted bluc....it's going to be highest grossing film in the world is an few weeks beating out "Titanic" and will win the Oscar for "Best Picture." xoxo Peg

softy you are sick, go slow.. no cleaning. stay in bed.. sony..

Dr. Timothy Dutta sending me a Z Pak antibiotic this morning and said I can go to dentist. Will see how sick I feel...probably stay in bed. Need all my energy for Clooney tonight. More to come. xoxo Peg