Press Releases Archive for June, 2011

NEW FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA FILM CONFIRMED FOR PANEL PRESENTATION AT 2011 COMIC-CON

Iconic filmmaker will make his first trip back to San Diego since 1991 Coppola will show portions of his upcoming film TWIXT and demonstrate the unique way he plans to present it. NEW YORK, NY (June 30, 2011) – Francis Ford Coppola will be presenting portions of his upcoming film TWIXT at a panel discussion…

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SOCIAL NETWORK BIG WINNER AT 12TH ANNUAL GOLDEN TRAILER AWARDS

GTA12 Jury Friends “The Social Network” With Three Wins AND “Best in Show” June 30, 2011 (Los Angeles, CA)—Last night,“The Social Network” came away from the 12th Annual Golden Trailer Awards with three wins in major categories and the coveted top honor, Best in Show. It is the first time a trailer has accomplished this…

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SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES DOCUMENTARY FILMS TO RECEIVE $575,000 IN GRANTS

For Immediate Release June 30, 2011 Grants will Support 29 Documentary Projects, Filmmakers in 9 Countries Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute today announced the 29 feature-length documentary films selected to receive a total of $575,000 in Documentary Film Program (DFP) grants for the Spring 2011 round. The DFP received applications for grants from 650…

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WEINSTEIN COMPANY TO RELEASE MADONNA’S W.E. ON DECEMBER 9, 2011 IN NEW YORK AND L.A.

Love Story Stars Abbie Cornish, Andrea Riseborough, James D’Arcy And Oscar Isaac New York, NY, June 29, 2011 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it will release Madonna’s “W.E.” on December 9, 2011 in New York and Los Angeles. The film will expand to additional markets in December, with wide release anticipated by…

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38th TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2011 GUEST DIRECTOR CAETANO VELOSO

Brazilian musician to curate special program of films for the four-day Festival June 28, 2011 – BERKELEY, CA – Telluride Film Festival (September 2-5, 2011), presented by National Film Preserve LTD., is proud to announce its 2011 Guest Director, Caetano Veloso. The beloved artist has been invited to select a series of films to present at…

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Ron Meyer Signs Thru 2015

Ron Meyer has signed a new contract to continue as President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios. He will remain with the company at least through through 2015 and he will continue to report to Steve Burke.

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AFI-DISCOVERY CHANNEL SILVERDOCS DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

FAMILY INSTINCT, OUR SCHOOL and GUANAPE SUR Receive Festival’s Prestigious Sterling Awards Additional Distinguished Awards Go to THE LOVING STORY and LIFE IN A DAY Competitive Grants Go To THE GREAT INVISIBLE, BLUESPACE and THE TILLMAN STORY INTERACTIVE EDITION Special Jury Mentions to THE BULLY PROJECT, WHEN THE DRUM IS BEATING Winners to receive $76,500…

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4,891 SMURFS FANS SET NEW GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TITLE FOR LARGEST GATHERING OF PEOPLE DRESSED AS SMURFS WITHIN A 24-HOUR PERIOD IN MULTIPLE VENUES ON GLOBAL SMURFS DAY

CULVER CITY, Calif., June 25, 2011 – Today, in honor of Global Smurfs Day, Smurfs fans in 11 cities around the world set a new Guinness World Records title for the Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Smurfs within a 24-hour Period in Multiple Venues, it was announced today by Marc Weinstock, president, Worldwide Marketing…

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MIDNIGHT IN PARIS MARKS WOODY ALLEN’S HIGHEST GROSSING FILM IN NORTH AMERICA IN 25 YEARS

NEW YORK, NY (June 23, 2011) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that MIDNIGHT IN PARIS has become Woody Allen’s highest grossing film in North America in 25 years. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS has grossed $23,330,859 to date. Sony Pictures Classics’ upcoming releases include BEATS, RHYMES & LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST; LIFE,…

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PALADIN TAKES A “FALL”

NEW YORK, NY (June 21, 2011) — ONE FALL, a powerful story about a man who is both blessed and cursed with an unusual power, will be released by Paladin in August, it was announced by company president Mark Urman.  Veteran New York-based indie producers Dean Silvers and Marlen Hecht, who number among their credits…

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JOHN STEINBECK’S THE LOG FROM THE SEA OF CORTEZ TO GRACE THE BIG SCREEN

JUNE 21, 2011 — New York, NY – Robert Kanter announced today that he has acquired the exclusive world-wide documentary film rights to Nobel Prize recipient and celebrated author John Steinbeck’s non-fiction work, The Log from the Sea of Cortez. Through his production shingle, Sardine Boat Pictures, Kanter will recreate and film the six-week voyage Steinbeck…

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WOODY ALLEN ANNOUNCES FULL CAST FOR HIS LATEST FILM, “THE BOP DECAMERON”

For Immediate Release New York (June 20, 2011) – Woody Allen announced today the full cast for “The Bop Decameron,” his latest film in pre-production. Starring, in alphabetical order, are: Woody Allen, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni, Penélope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig and Ellen Page. Co-stars include Antonio Albanese, Fabio Armiliata, Alessandra Mastronardi,…

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SAG and AFTRA Convene Formal Discussions to Create One Union

Silver Spring, Maryland (June 19, 2011) — Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists convened this weekend for the first, formal face-to-face discussions between the AFTRA New Union Committee and the SAG Merger Task Force at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Maryland. The two groups, comprised of members…

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Academy Invites 178 To Membership

June 17, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 178 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.  Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2011 to the…

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WARNER BROS. AND RYAN REYNOLDS JOIN FORCES TO HONOR MILITARY DADS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “Green Lantern” Star Flies by Miramar to Kick Off Father’s Day Weekend with Advance Screening Burbank, CA, June 16, 2011 – Ryan Reynolds, the star of Warner Bros. Pictures’ epic action adventure “Green Lantern,” made a special appearance at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar today to herald the opening of the new…

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SPC Seduced By Cronenberg’s DANGEROUS METHOD

NEW YORK (June 16, 2011) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired U.S. rights to David Cronenberg’s A DANGEROUS METHOD from UK-based Hanway Films. The film, produced by Jeremy Thomas (THE LAST EMPEROR, SEXY BEAST), stars Viggo Mortenson, Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, and Vincent Cassel.  The film is currently in postproduction. Cronenberg…

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Relativity to Release Haywire: Studio Dates Soderbergh Thriller on 1/20/12

(Beverly Hills, CA) June 15, 2011 – Relativity Media announced today that it has retained North American rights to theatrically market and distribute its action-thriller Haywire, directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh (Traffic). The film is set for a January 20, 2012 wide release. Mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar Gina Carano (American Gladiators) makes her feature…

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ACADEMY BUILDS SURPRISE INTO BEST PICTURE RULES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA – The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted on Tuesday (6/14) to add a new twist to the 2011 Best Picture competition, and a new element of surprise to its annual nominations announcement.  The Board voted to institute a system that will now produce…

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2011 AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL TO HONOR JOHN LASSETER WITH EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION TO FILMMAKING AWARD

CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER OF WALT DISNEY AND PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS JOINS DISTINGUISHED SCREENWRITER AWARDEE CAROLINE THOMPSON AND “BONES” CREATOR HART HANSON, OUTSTANDING TELEVISION WRITER AWARDEE AUSTIN, TX (June 14, 2011) – The Austin Film Festival (AFF) is proud to announce that this year’s recipient of the 2011 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award will be John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation…

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Entertainment One Announces Acquisition and U.S. Theatrical Release of “THE FAMILY TREE”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Film starring Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Brittany Robertson and Chi McBride to open in New York City and Los Angeles on August 26 New York – June 14, 2011 – Entertainment One has acquired North American rights to THE FAMILY TREE, a hilarious, touching and offbeat comedy which explores the frailties and complexities of the…

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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