Ecstasy Is Life of Leigh and Cummings' Party  (CANNES, France) —
The illegal drug Ecstasy has gained Hollywood currency lately,
showing up in Groove and Go. But in The Anniversary Party, which
premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and opens in the United
States in June, the drug actually fuels the film's last third.
A behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood types, Party was co-
written, co-produced, and co-directed by co-stars Jennifer Jason
Leigh and Alan Cumming (the villain in the recent hit Spy Kids),
who met when they were in the Broadway revival of Cabaret a few
years back. They filmed on digital video and cast many of their
friends, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Kline, and Jennifer
Beals.  "We wanted the Ecstasy there to loosen inhibitions and
get their characters to say things they wouldn't otherwise say,"
explained Cumming about the filming of the party scene during
which the characters are all supposed to be high on the drug.
"During pre-production, I realized people had the wrong idea,
people who ha