Every week, I get several press releases, screening invitations and other notifications from a handful of studio contacts. While I won’t be sharing any information regarding my screening invites, some of the press releases might be of interest to my readers, so I thought I’d start sharing them in toto with all of you. These could include new image galleries for various films or important updates to upcoming releases from various smaller studios and art house production companies.
- Image Gallery: First Image from “The Words”
- Image Gallery: Happy Feet Two
- Press Release: “Sunlight Jr.” Begins Principal Photography
- Press Release: Constellation Announces Documentary Programming
- Press Release: Rights for “Violet & Daisy” Picked Up
- Press Release: “Imperial Palace” Set for Production
- Press Release: Freestyle Digital Media Begins New Digital Distribution Business
- Press Release: Rights for “Liberal Arts” Picked Up
Image Gallery: First Image from “The Words”
Image Gallery: Happy Feet Two
Press Release: “Sunlight Jr.” Begins Principal Photography
Principal Photography Has Begun on ‘Sunlight Jr.’
Starring Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon
Original Media and Freight Yard Films Set to Produce, Empyrean Pictures to finance
NEW YORK, NY – October 31, 2011 – Principal photography has begun on SUNLIGHT JR., it was announced today by Original Media’s Charlie Corwin and Freight Yard Films’ Andrea Roa. Filmed on location in southern Florida, the independent film stars Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon.
SUNLIGHT JR. is written and directed by Laurie Collyer (SHERRYBABY) and produced by Charlie Corwin (HALF NELSON, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE), Andrea Roa (BOOSTER) and Ariel Elia, who will produce on behalf of Empyrean. Joshua Skurla is on board as an Executive Producer, as are Billy Dietrich and Simon Fawcett, who arranged the financing.
The film follows two have-nots who have fallen through the cracks of society. Hard-working convenience store clerk Melissa (Naomi Watts) and her paraplegic boyfriend, Richie (Matt Dillon), are trapped in a generational cycle of poverty and ignorance. They are genuinely excited when they learn that Melissa is pregnant. But when she loses her job and they are evicted from the motel where they live, things go from bad to worse.
Dillon and Watts are both represented by CAA and Untitled. Collyer is represented by Gersh and Principato-Young. Her previous film, SHERRYBABY, earned Maggie Gyllenhaal a Golden Globe nomination for best actress.
ORIGINAL MEDIA
Founded in 2002, Charlie Corwin’s Original Media has built a strong reputation for cutting-edge content and quality production. Original Media produces hundreds of hours of award-winning content across multiple media formats including Academy Award nominated feature films, reality television, scripted television and digital programming and currently has thirteen television series on air. Original Media produced the Academy Award nominated films THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and HALF NELSON. The company, headquartered in New York, is a subsidiary of Endemol USA.
FREIGHT YARD FILMS
Founded in 2010, Freight Yard has two films in production, BOOSTER, which is in post-production and SUNLIGHT JR., which will begin production in October.
EMPYREAN PICTURES
Empyrean Pictures is a recently founded, New York-based, film finance and production company.
Press Release: Constellation Announced Documentary Programming
Constellation announces documentary programming for November 2011
New York, NY – November 1, 2011 – Constellation, a new Virtual Theatrical “VT” Exhibition and online social media platform, is excited to announce the first line-up of documentary programming, for TOP DOCS. TOP DOCS, is a specially curated program where documentary filmmakers discuss their most recent works in live online hosted screenings.
TOP DOCS, launches November 3rd with acclaimed director Albert Maysles hosting a special Q&A and discussion of the groundbreaking documentary Grey Gardens in celebration of his 85th birthday, with proceeds going to the Maysles Institute (www.mayslesinstitute.com). SXSW Documentary Award Winner, Marwencol will be screening on November 4th, with director Jeff Malmberg hosting a live Q&A with audience members about the unique world explored in Marwencol. Other upcoming TOP Docs screenings include director Eric Metzgar hosting screenings of his films Life.Support. Music., and Changes of the World Changing, Director Rob Epstein hosting a screening of his Academy Award winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, and Tia Lessen and Carl Deal hosting a screening of their moving documentary, Trouble the Water.
Later this month as part Constellation’s full screening line-up, actor Channing Tatum will host two special screenings of Focus Features’ epic adventure The Eagle on Sunday, November 13, 2011 and Thursday, November 17th, 2011 at 8:00 PM EST. Tatum will be live via webcam, taking questions directly from the audience both during and after the movie in the Constellation live theater. Tickets to the show times are $6.99 and are available now at www.constellation.tv/eagle.
HOW TO USE CONSTELLATION:
Constellation is your online movie theater. Go to http://www.constellation.tv, pick a show time for a movie you want to see, buy your ticket, and invite friends to watch together. If you can’t find a show time you can make, just create your own. It gets added to the schedule so others can discover films you like. Many films have special VIP hosts who are LIVE in the theater, discussing their films via webcam with the live audience.
Full TOP DOCS Schedule:
November 3rd, 2011, 7:30 PM Albert Mayles hosts Grey Gardens
Meet Big and Little Edie Beale—high-society dropouts, mother and daughter, reclusive cousins of Jackie O.—thriving together amid the decay and disorder of their ramshackle East Hampton mansion.
November 4th, 2011, 7:30 PM Jeff Malmberg hosts Marwencol
After a vicious attacks leaves him brain-damaged and broke, Mark Hogancamp seeks recovery in “Marwencol”, a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard.
November 7th, 2011, 7;30 PM Eric Metzgar hosts Life.Support.Music.
The story of Jason Crigler, one of New York City’s most sought-after guitarists, and his grueling journey after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage.
November 8th, 2011, 7:30 PM Chris Taylor hosts Food Fight
The story of American food culture in the 20th Century, and how, beginning in the 60’s and early 70’s, anti-war protesters in California gave birth to a vital local-sustainable-organic food movement.
November 9th, 2011, 8:00 PM We Hear Your Voice Founder, Marie Jose Poux and Producer Trace Sheenhan host Grace & Mercy
A beautiful portrait of a brother and sister who have dedicated their lives to rebuilding their country. GRACE & MERCY follows the tireless work of Marie Jose Poux, who runs an orphanage responsible for over 60 children, and her brother, Ben Constant, who is ‘Mayor’ of one of the largest tent cities in Haiti.
November 14th, 2011, 7:30 PM Carole Hart hosts For The Next Seven Generations
The story of 13 Indigenous grandmothers from all four corners, moved by their concern for our planet, coming together at a historic gathering, to form The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers. For the Next 7 Generations follows what happens when women unite.
November 16th 2011, 8:00 PM Rob Epstein hosts The Times of Harvey Milk
A documentary of the successful career and assassination of San Francisco’s first elected gay councilor.
November 22nd, 2011 8:00 PM Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher host October Country
October Country is a beautifully filmed portrait of an American family struggling for stability while haunted by the ghosts of war, teen pregnancy, foster care and child abuse.
November 28th, 2011 8:00 PM Eric Metzgar hosts Chances of the World Changing
An artist abandons his life’s work to build an ark filled with hundreds of endangered animals. A story about time, death, art, love, and turtles.
November 29th, 8:00 PM Tia Lessen and Carl deal host Trouble the Water
A redemptive tale of an aspiring rap artist surviving failed levees and her own troubled past and seizing a chance for a new beginning.
About Constellation
Constellation is your online movie theater. Just like a traditional theater, users purchase tickets to attend scheduled showtimes of films, or create their own show times. Unlike other online platforms, watching movies on Constellation is a social experience. Users can invite friends to showtimes they’re attending, and watch together. Many movies are presented by VIP hosts, such as the films’ directors, actors, or other notables, who appear live in the online theater to answer questions from the audience during and after the film.
Constellation officially launches November 2011 with show times of The Eagle hosted by actor Channing Tatum, Beginners hosted by director Mike Mills, Bombay Beach hosted by director Alma Ha’rel, Grey Gardens hosted by director Al Maysles, Border Radio hosted by directors Allison Anders and Kurt Voss, and many more.
Press Release: Rights for “Violet & Daisy” Picked Up
Wild Bunch Acquires International Rights to Geoffrey Fletcher’s Directorial Debut “Violet & Daisy”
Company plans to introduce the Saoirse Ronan – Alexis Bledel – James Gandolfini starrer this week at the American Film Market
CAA selling North American Rights
New York, NY (November 2, 2011) – Wild Bunch has picked up International rights to Academy-Award winner Geoffrey Fletcher’s directorial debut VIOLET & DAISY. The film had a rapturous response at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival when it screened as a work-in-progress, and Wild Bunch now plans to launch it at AFM to sell international rights. CAA is the domestic sales agent on the project. Fletcher also wrote the original screenplay of the film and produced along with Bonnie Timmermann. The Magic Violet and GreeneStreet Films production was Executive Produced by John Penotti and James Skotchdople, and stars Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan, Alexis Bledel, and James Gandolfini. The film was co-produced by Steve Kempf.
The deal for VIOLET & DAISY was negotiated by Alain De La Mata and Agnes Mentre for Wild Bunch, with CAA on behalf of the filmmakers. Of the deal, Vincent Maraval of Wild Bunch says, “We fell in love with VIOLET & DAISY when it screened as a work-in-progress at Toronto. The film is so unusual and unique and we’re excited to be a part of it.” Of the deal, Fletcher says, “The guys at Wild Bunch are remarkable. They’ve worked with some really fantastic and daring movies over the years. I’m so excited to be teaming up with them.”
VIOLET & DAISY is the whimsical story of a teenager’s surreal and violent journey through New York City. It follows Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan (Hanna, Atonement, The Lovely Bones) as Daisy. With her volatile partner-in-crime Violet, played by Alexis Bledel (Sin City, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Gilmore Girls), the two young assassins face a series of opponents, including one unusually mysterious man (James Gandolfini), in a life-altering encounter. The film, written and directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious), also stars Oscar-nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Danny Trejo.
About Wild Bunch
Wild Bunch is one of the world’s leading players in the field of international sales, its position strengthened by both a wealth of experience recognized by foreign distributors world-wide, and a broad, artistically diverse selection of the best of director-led international cinema.
Currently handling an international sales catalogue of around 300 titles, Wild Bunch has established a reputation for both professionalism and provocation with distributors world-wide. Characterized by its diverse editorial policy, the company offers a constantly renewed and always innovative slate of films from all over the world: director-driven, art-house, genre or commercial; features, documentaries, regularly honored at both European and international festivals. Wild Bunch is also renowned for discovering – and developing ongoing relationships with – new and innovative directorial talent, having to date handled more than fifty first or second-time features.
Press Release: “Imperial Palace” Set for Production
Killer Films and Before the Door Pictures Team on ‘Imperial Palace’
Feature to be Directed by Victor Quinaz
Los Angeles, CA (November 2, 2011)—Killer Films and Before The Door Pictures are teaming up to produce IMPERIAL PALACE, a love-story written and to be directed by Victor Quinaz, as his sophomore effort. Killer Films’ Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler are producing with Before The Door’s Zachary Quinto, Neal Dodson, and Corey Moosa. The project is currently out to talent and is scheduled to start shooting in spring 2012.
IMPERIAL PALACE takes place six hours after Hurricane Katrina hits the gulf, and centers on the jaded manager of a Biloxi casino who must juggle the chaos that arises when FEMA sets up headquarters at his establishment bringing with it an old flame and an ensuing love triangle.
Quinto commented, “Christine Vachon is a mentor to us, and we feel very lucky to work with her and Killer on this project. We’re thrilled to take the momentum of Margin Call and our experience working with Victor on his first film to move into a second feature with him. He’s a truly original talent, and IMPERIAL PALACE is a perfect example of his unique, commercial voice.”
Vachon commented, “Killer is very excited to be working on this great project. It’s a thrill to be in business with Victor, Zachary and Neal. Quinaz has written the rare kind of film that puts its finger directly on the pulse of today’s America. The country experiences these tragedies, be they man-made or (in this case) levied by nature, which bring out both the best in communities and the worst in our government. Imperial Palace is a compelling story about the people who are caught in-between the human response of empathy and the social reaction of bureaucracy in the aftermath of such a tragedy.”
Before The Door Pictures’ financial thriller MARGIN CALL was released by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate this past weekend to rave reviews by nearly every major film critic. The film, which was directed by JC Chandor, stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Penn Badgley, Simon Baker, Demi Moore, and Stanley Tucci. It premiered at Sundance, played the Berlinale, and opened New Directors/New Films at MoMA this past spring.
BTD recently collaborated with Quinaz on his debut feature: an UNTITLED ENSEMBLE COMEDY that Quinaz directed and co-wrote with Anne Martemucci and Philip Quinaz. Anonymous Content’s Steve Golin and Richard Brown produced with BTD. They are currently in post-production on the project and plan for a festival premiere in 2012.
Quinaz is represented by Chad Hamilton/Anonymous Content.
ABOUT KILLER FILMS
The indie powerhouse, Killer Films, was founded by American movie producers, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler in 1995. The company has produced a number of the most acclaimed American independent films over the past two decades including FAR FROM HEAVEN (nominated for four Academy Awards), BOYS DON’T CRY (Academy Award winner), ONE HOUR PHOTO, KIDS, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, HAPPINESS, VELVET GOLDMINE, SAFE, I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, CAMP, SWOON and I’M NOT THERE (Academy Award nominated) Most recently, Killer Films executive produced Todd Haynes’ five episode HBO mini-series “Mildred Pierce,” starting Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce and have just wrapped production on Ramin Bahrani’s new film starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron.
Killer’s movies have received multiple awards and nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Emmy Awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Independent Spirit Awards On the occasion of Killer’s 10th anniversary in 2005, the company was feted with a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. For her work on FAR FROM HEAVEN, Vachon was honored by the New York Film Critics Circle, and received the Producer of the Year Award from the National Board of Review.
ABOUT BTD
Before The Door Pictures was founded by Carnegie Mellon alumni and old friends Zachary Quinto, Neal Dodson, and Corey Moosa. The company recently completed principal photography on the company’s psychological thriller THE BANSHEE CHAPTER starring Ted Levine (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS), Katia Winter (ARENA, LEVEL PLAYING FIELD), and Michael McMillian (TRUE BLOOD). Interactive and transmedia director Blair Erickson wrote the screenplay and made his feature directorial debut on the project. In addition to MARGIN CALL, Quinto is also in theatres in WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER with Anna Faris. He is currently shooting Ryan Murphy’s AMERICAN HORROR STORY on FX, and is preparing to shoot the sequel to J.J. Abrams’ STAR TREK, starting in January. Dodson has an hour-long scripted series in development at TNT starring Kimberly Williams-Paisley and created by Shaun Cassidy. BTD’s graphic novels published with Archaia, LUCID and MR. MURDER IS DEAD, were released at San Diego Comic-Con, and are both widely available. BTD is also prepping a larger follow-up feature film with Chandor for the winter. There are additional projects in their television, film, comic book, and new media slate awaiting announcement later in 2011.
Press Release: Frestyle Digital Media Begins New Digital Distribution Business
Freestyle Digital Media LLC Launches New Digital Distrubtion, Cable and Service Provider VOD Business
New Company to Focus on Distribution through Digital and Service Providers VOD, DVD Rental (both Retail and Kiosks) and Subscription Services.
Los Angeles, CA (November 3, 2011) – Freestyle Digital Media LLC (FDM) launches its new digital distribution, cable and service provider VOD platform at AFM 2011. FDM’s new digital VOD platform increases independent filmmaker revenues through improved marketing efficiencies of day and date theatrical, and optimizes returns from direct-to-video releases to all major channels thru VOD/EST on all connected devices and services.
Susan Jackson, Co-founder of Freestyle Releasing, one of the industry’s premier independent theatrical distribution companies, founded FDM and will oversee day-to-day operations of the new company. In addition to the digital VOD platform, the company is offering distribution of DVDs in retail rentals, kiosks and by-mail, subscription streaming services, Pay-TV and specialty markets (airlines, hotels, cruise).
Jackson has partnered in FDM with Steve Harnsberger and Mark Borde. Harnsberger is FDM’s Executive Vice President of Business Development and was formerly VP of Sonic Solutions, and an independent Digital Media Market Specialist and Over-the-Top (OTT) Video expert who executed the company’s VOD partnership deals with industry leaders for both traditional and digital distribution. Borde is FDM’s EVP of Theatrical Distribution. He is Co-Founder of Freestyle Releasing and heads up Freestyle and FDM’s theatrical distribution.
Jackson said, “We felt it was imperative to be able to offer our content partners a direct channel to the expanding multi-screen ecosystem to enable the growth of their digital distribution business by optimizing revenues from every IP VOD channel plus include rental kiosks, streaming subscriptions and the DVD market.” She continued, “We are thrilled to be able to release films day and date in theaters on the same day as they launch on the iTunes store, on Amazon Instant Video, on Dish Networks, the YouTube Movie Store and Android mobile devices, and all other cable and internet VOD services. We are growing our new release and content library by actively signing multiple new deals to enable more than a dozen new direct VOD distribution channels we’re delivering to.”
Freestyle Digital Media will launch with a full slate that includes: ‘THE NUTCRACKER IN 3D’, the $90M budget family adventure film based on the beloved Christmas story starring Elle Fanning, Nathan Lane and John Turturro (Nov. 1);‘NATIVITY!’, the critically acclaimed family Christmas film from the UK starring The Hobbit’s Martin Freeman and Ugly Betty’s Ashley Jensen, (Nov. 1, 2011); ‘IN MY SLEEP’ (Nov. 8, 2011) a suspense thriller starring Philip Winchester of Cinemax’s Strike Back and Lacey Chabert; ‘SARAH PALIN: YOU BETCHA!’ from award-winning documentarian, Nick Broomfield, who gives us the unauthorized story behind Sarah Palin (Nov. 8th). The company will be announcing additional titles for its slate which include a variety of high-quality specialty fare and big-budget, commercially broad films.
Freestyle Digital Media will supply quality commercial film and TV content directly to all US VOD/SVOD rental DVD/Kiosks and theaters using the latest cloud-based technologies to automate digital workflow. Freestyle’s goal is to provide fresh, well-marketed product and stay on the cutting edge of the ever-compressing windows to ensure that their partners benefit from a platform that delivers an anytime-anywhere capability in the medium of their choice and a positive digital viewing experience on any device in any location.
Press Release: Rights for “Liberal Arts” Picked Up
Hyde Park International Picks Up Josh Radnor’s ‘Liberal Arts’
Los Angeles, CA (November 5, 2011) – Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park International has picked up international rights to Josh Radnor’s LIBERAL ARTS. Radnor wrote, directed and stars in this light-hearted drama with an ensemble cast that includes Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney and Zac Efron. HPI’s president Ruzanna Kegeyan will be spearheading sales on the project at the upcoming American Film Market.
The film centers on Jesse Fisher (Radnor) who, after returning to his alma mater for a professor’s retirement dinner, discovers that life is passing him by. He falls for a 19-year-old coed (Olsen), and is faced with the powerful attraction that springs up between them.
Radnor produced along with Claude Dal Farra, Brice Dal Farra and Lauren Munsch of BCDF Pictures (HIGHER GROUND, PEACE, LOVE AND MISUNDERSTANDING), and Jesse Hara (HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE).
Hyde Park International has become one of the most important foreign sales companies in the world and is a permanent fixture at Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and the American Film Market. The company is focused on representing commercial fare as well as award-winning films that serve the global marketplace. The company’s slate includes GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE 3D in partnership with Sony and starring Nic Cage which opens worldwide day-and-date on February 17, 2012; the spy thriller THE DOUBLE starring Richard Gere, Topher Grace, Stephen Moyer, Stana Katic and Martin Sheen which opens nationwide in the US on October 28; as well as indie favorites such as Richard Linklater’s BERNIE starring Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, and Shirley Maclaine; the award-winning BLUE VALENTINE starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams; and the Paul Rudd comedy OUR IDIOT BROTHER.
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