Press Releases Archive for April, 2011

SAG National Board of Directors Unanimously Establishes Merger Task Force; Adopts Successor Union Mission Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Guild Task Force to work directly with AFTRA counterparts to develop formal merger plan for approval by National Boards in January 2012. Los Angeles, (April 30, 2011) – The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors today unanimously approved the creation of a Merger Task Force to work with their AFTRA counterparts…

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2011 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES HEINEKEN AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER – GIVE UP TOMORROW

New York, NY [April 30, 2011] – The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by founding sponsor American Express, announced the winner of the Heineken Audience Award – Give Up Tomorrow – tonight at Eye Beam in New York City. The film’s director,…

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SIFF ANNOUNCES GALAS, TRIBUTES, SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 37th SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Seattle, WA – The 37th Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind in the United States today announced the galas, tribute events and special presentations for this year’s Festival. The 25 day event, which runs from May 19 through June 12, will feature 441 films (257 features, 184 shorts)…

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Variance Films announces acquisition of theatrical rights for festival favorites “General Orders No. 9,” “Littlerock,” and “The Weird World of Blowfly”

New York, April 28, 2011 – Variance Films has acquired US theatrical rights for three highly-acclaimed independent films, it was announced today by founder Dylan Marchetti: the thought-provoking Slamdance and River Run award-winning experimental documentary GENERAL ORDERS NO. 9, the Gotham and Independent Spirit Award-winning drama LITTLEROCK, and the SXSW favorite music documentary THE WEIRD…

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2011 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS

SHE MONKEYS, JOURNALS OF MUSAN, BOMBAY BEACH AND LIKE WATER WIN TOP AWARDS IN JURIED WORLD COMPETITIONS * * * FESTIVAL AWARDS MORE THAN $185,000 IN CASH PRIZES [April 28, 2011 – New York, NY] – The 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, and presented by…

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TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES 2011 AWARD WINNERS AND GRANTEES FOR TRIBECA ALL ACCESS PROGRAM, LATIN AMERICA MEDIA ARTS FUND AND THE TFI DOCUMENTARY FUND

Overall TFI Funds for Filmmakers Reach $1,000,000 New York, NY – April 28, 2011 – The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) today announced several program award winners and grantees at the TFI Awards Luncheon at Riverpark NYC during the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. Two winners of the Tribeca All Access (TAA) Creative Promise Awards presented by…

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VARIANCE FILMS TO RELEASE LiTTLEROCK, SPECIAL ORDERS NO. 9 AND THE WEIRD WORLD OF BLOWFLY

New York, April 28, 2011 – Variance Films has acquired U. S. theatrical rights for three highly-acclaimed independent films, founder Dylan Marchett announced today: the thought-provoking Slamdance and River Run award-winning experimental documentary GENERAL ORDERS NO. 9, the Gotham and Independent Spirit Award-winning drama LiTTLEROCK, and SXSW favorite music documentary THE WEIRD WORLD OF BLOWFLY….

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PRESIDENT’S COMMITTEE ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES (PCAH) AND SUNDANCE INSTITUTE TO PRESENT 10 AWARD-WINNING FILMS AT 10 LOCATIONS ON NATIONAL MALL

Winter’s Bone, Last Train Home, La Mission, Son of Babylon, Freedom Riders, A Small Act, Amreeka, Afghan Star, Boy, and Udaan to Be Screened One Night Only May 12 — in Partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services Expected Attendees Include…

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PAUL HAGGIS TO BE HONORED AT 16TH ANNUAL NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL

Disney•Pixar’s Cars 2 and Sundance Selects’ Buck to open; Vera Farmiga’s directorial debut Higher Ground to close. April 28, 2011 (New York, NY) – Today the Nantucket Film Festival (NFF) announces its film lineup for its expanded 16th edition, taking place June 22-26, 2011.  With a sum total of 55 films (and more to be announced…

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FILMS, HOT DOCS AND REALSCREEN UNITE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHER TIM HETHERINGTON WITH SPECIAL ONE-OFF SCREENING OF “RESTREPO”

·         RESTREPO Co-Director Sebastian Junger will attend the event and pay tribute to his friend and collaborator, with Q&A following the screening ·         Proceeds will be donated to a charitable organization to be chosen by the Hetherington family to honor Tim’s life and work ·         Screening will take place Saturday, May 7, during the Hot…

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The Rubber Band Craze Moves from Kid’s Wrists to the Silver Screen with BANDS ON THE RUN, a Bouncy, Full-Length Animated Movie!

THIS SPRING, THE WIDESPREAD RUBBER BAND CRAZE IS MOVING FROM AROUND THE NATION’S WRISTS TO DVD WITH ONE BOUNCY, PLAYFUL ANIMATED MOVIE! BANDS ON THE RUN Street Date: May 31, 2011 DVD SRP: $14.98 Over the past several years, has there been any kid’s fad more pervasive than shaped rubber band bracelets? Brands such as…

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MARVEL STUDIOS BEGINS PRODUCTION OF EPIC FEATURE “MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS”

Marvel Super Heroes Assemble To Commence Principal Photography In Preparation for May 4, 2012 Film Release BURBANK, Calif. (April 26, 2011) — Production has commenced today in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated movie “Marvel’s The Avengers,” directed by Joss Whedon (“Serenity”) from a screenplay by Whedon.  The film will continue principal photography…

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GARY BUSEY DIVES INTO PIRANHA 3DD (DOUBLE D)

Gary Busey is on board for PIRANHA 3DD now in production in Wilmington, NC. As more potential fish bait, Busey joins the other cast members announced earlier this week including Danielle Panabaker (THE CRAZIES), Matt Bush (ADVENTURELAND), Chris Zylka (THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN), David Koechner (ANCHORMAN), Meagan Tandy (UNSTOPPABLE) and others. PIRANHA 3DD shows its teeth…

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PIRANHA 3-DOUBLE-D SPLASHES INTO PRODUCTION

New York, NY, April 25, 2011 – After earning rave reviews from top critics and wild cheers from audiences around the country, Dimension Films has started production on the sequel to PIRANHA 3D. Principal photography is now underway in Wilmington, NC on PIRANHA 3DD, being directed by John Gulager (FEAST). There’s something in the water ….

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KEY DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS®

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA, April 26 , 2011 – The 84th Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, Academy President Tom Sherak announced today. The ceremony will again take place at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. …

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IFC MIDNIGHT PICKS UP DICK MAAS’ SAINT FROM XYZ FILMS ON EVE OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERE

New York, NY (April 21, 2011) – IFC Midnight announced today that the company has acquired U.S. distribution rights from sales and production outfit XYZ Films for director Dick Maas’ evil Santa film SAINT. The deal includes a theatrical component and was made prior to the movie’s North American premiere in the Cinemania section at…

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HYDE PARK PICKS UP INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS FOR RICHARD LINKLATER’S ‘BERNIE’

Mandalay Vision and Wind Dancer Films’ Project Stars Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, and Shirley MacLaine Los Angeles, CA (April 21, 2011) – Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park International has come aboard to handle international rights on Richard Linklater’s BERNIE starring Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, and Shirley MacLaine. BERNIE was written by Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth, and produced by Linklater, Ginger…

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RED FLAG RELEASING ACQUIRES SUNDANCE FAVORITE “WE WERE HERE”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “WE WERE HERE” To Open Theatrically in North America September 2011 RED FLAG TO PARTNER WITH FILMMAKERS AND THE FILM  COLLABORATIVE (TFC) IN COMPREHENSIVE RELEASE Los Angeles – April 20, 2011 – Red Flag Releasing announced today that it has acquired “WE WERE HERE,” produced and directed by David Weissman and editor/co-director…

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AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY ON PROTECTING THE MOVIE-GOING EXPERIENCE

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY ON PROTECTING THE MOVIE-GOING EXPERIENCE We are the artists and business professionals who help make the movie business great. We produce and direct movies. We work on the business deals that help get movies made. At the end of the day, we are also simply big movie fans….

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SCOTT SHERR PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT WORLDWIDE MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

CULVER CITY, Calif., April 19, 2011 – Scott Sherr has been promoted to executive vice president, worldwide marketing and distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, it was announced today by Rory Bruer, President of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures Releasing. Sherr will continue to negotiate and help guide Sony’s theatrical digital delivery…

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Press Releases

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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?

So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.

And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.

There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.

I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.

So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.

But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”

My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher

“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.

~ David Simon