Press Releases Archive for February, 2012

SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DOCUMENTARY WEST OF MEMPHIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW YORK (February 29, 2012) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights to Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Amy Berg’s (DELIVER US FROM EVIL) high profile documentary WEST OF MEMPHIS. The film debuted at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in the Documentary Premiere Section to great critical acclaim….

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Cinemark and Paramount Pictures Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of “The Godfather” with Exclusive Cinemark XD Events at Theatres Across the US

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Plano, TX, February 29, 2012 – Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), a leading motion picture exhibitor, is proud to partner with Paramount Pictures to offer movie-goers the opportunity to see Francis Ford Coppola’s restored version of his Academy Award®-winning “The Godfather,” on 55 Cinemark XD auditoriums across the country, on Thursday, March…

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2012 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL TO OPEN WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES’ THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT

For Immediate Release Comedy from Forgetting Sarah Marshall Creative Team Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller and Producer Judd Apatow to Kick Off 11th Edition of TFF on April 18 New York, NY (February 29, 2012)—The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) and Universal Pictures today announced that The Five-Year Engagement will open the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival,…

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THEATRE OWNERS THREATENS NC-17 RATING STATUS FOR BULLY

THREAT COMES AFTER THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY’S MPAA APPEAL TO LOWER R RATING IN AN EFFORT TO USE FILM AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR CHILDREN New York, NY – February 28, 2012 – National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) President & CEO John Fithian sent Harvey Weinstein a letter dated February 24 on behalf of NATO…

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Actor Michael Fassbender joins YouTube’s Your Film Festival as Juror and Co-Executive Producer

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** Acclaimed international talent and Sir Ridley Scott help choose the Grand Prize Winner at the Venice Film Festival Winner receives a $500,000 YouTube Original Production Grant to work with Scott Free LOS ANGELES, CA (FEBRUARY 28, 2012):  Acclaimed actor Michael Fassbender (SHAME, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS) has joined the YOUR FILM FESTIVAL team to…

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“TITANIC” IN 3D SNEAK PREVIEW MOVIE EVENTS SET FOR APRIL

For Immediate Release PARAMOUNT OFFERS FANS A CHANCE TO SEE THE NEWLY RE-MASTERED MOVIE EARLY, WHILE ALSO RECEIVING A LIMITED EDITION MOVIE PACK WITH PURCHASE OF TICKET ADVANCE EVENT TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW HOLLYWOOD, CA (February 26, 2012) – Moviegoers across the U.S. and Canada will be among the first audiences anywhere to experience TITANIC in…

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The 2012 Spirits Winners

Oh, there’s this little film called The Artist?

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WILDE IRISH NIGHT AT BAD ROBOT

John Logan, Melissa McCarthy and Michelle Williams Honored FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   February 23, 2012 Oscar Wilde once said:  “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking…

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BULLY LOSES MPAA APPEAL BY ONE VOTE, RETAINS R RATING

TWC Considers Leave Of Absence From MPAA Los Angeles, CA, February 23, 2012 – Following a hearing this morning, The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced that it has lost an appeal of the R rating given to its forthcoming documentary BULLY by the Motion Picture Association of America.  The MPAA’s Classification and Rating Administration originally bestowed…

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Official Dictator Stunt Announcement

ADMIRAL GENERAL ALADEEN WILL DELIVER A FORMAL RESPONSE TOMORROW MORNING TO BEING BANNED FROM THE OSCARS BY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES ARTS AND ZIONISTS.

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The Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Museum of Modern Art Announce Lineup for the 41st Annual New Directors/New Films March 21–April 1

Nadine Labaki’s WHERE DO WE GO NOW? is the Opening Night presentation with a Surprise Screening slated for the Closing Night slot New York, NY, February 22, 2011—The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art announced the full lineup today for the 41st edition of New Directors/New Films (March 21 –…

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INDOMINA ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO A&E INDIEFILMS’ THE IMPOSTER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Documentary meets Film Noir; Was Critical Hit at Sundance and Will Be at SXSW Beverly Hills, CA (February 22, 2012) — It was announced today that The Indomina Group, the fast-growing producer and distributor of film, TV and trans-media content, has acquired North American Rights to The Imposter, from A&E IndieFilms. Bart…

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Screen Actors Guild Statement Regarding Legal Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Screen Actors Guild released the following statement: Los Angeles (February 22, 2012) – “We believe that this suit is completely without merit and we will vigorously defend all claims in court. We are confident that our actions are appropriate and consistent with the law and our own rules of procedure. “Any suggestion…

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“OZ” RUBY SLIPPERS FIND THEIR WAY HOME: MAJOR ACQUISITION FOR ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES

February 22, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Leonardo DiCaprio spearheads effort with help from Steven Spielberg, Terry Semel Beverly Hills, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has acquired a pair of the iconic ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio led a…

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Legendary Academy Award®-Winning Motion Picture Director/Producer Steven Spielberg Presents The Critically Acclaimed Epic Adventure WAR HORSE

On Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand, April 3, 2012 BURBANK, Calif., February 21, 2012 – Legendary Academy Award®-winning motion picture director/producer Steven Spielberg presents the critically acclaimed and multi Academy Award®-nominated epic adventure “War Horse” on Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand, April 3. This newest home entertainment release not only enthralls viewers once again with…

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SUNDANCE SELECTS TAKES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO ALISON KLAYMAN’S AWARD-WINNING SUNDANCE DOCUMENTARY “AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Summer Theatrical Release Planned To Coincide With Weiwei’s First Trip Outside China Since Detainment New York, NY (February 21, 2012) – Sundance Selects announced today that the company is acquiring North American rights to director Alison Klayman’s AI WEIWEI:  NEVER SORRY which just screened as an Official Selection in the Berlinale Special at…

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THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY TO APPEAL MPAA RATING OF BULLY

TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein And One Of Film’s Bullied Subjects Will Personally Appeal MPAA’s Decision To Give Anti-Bullying Documentary An “R” Rating Restricted Rating Will Keep Film Out Of Schools Where America’s Bullying Epidemic Rages New York, NY, February 21, 2012 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today plans to appeal the MPAA’s decision to assign…

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THE MUSIC BOX THEATRE TO “OUTGUESS EBERT”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Chicago, IL, 2/20/12 — Last Friday the Music Box Theatre, via its social networks, threw down the gauntlet and challenged Roger Ebert, one of the greatest living film critics, to a battle of Oscar guesses.  After a period of what we can only assume was deep and thoughtful consideration, Mr. Ebert publicly accepted…

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SUNDANCE SELECTS TAKES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO CRISTIAN MUNGIU’S BEYOND THE HILLS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New York, NY (February 17, 2012) – Sundance Selects announced today that the company is acquiring North American rights to director Cristian Mungiu’s BEYOND THE HILLS. Mungiu, who also penned the script for the picture, produced along with Pascal Cauchteaux and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. The film stars Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Dana Tapalaga,…

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HOLLYWOOD’S “IT” COUPLE – KERMIT THE FROG AND MISS PIGGY – TO PRESENT AT THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS® ON OSCAR® SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 ON ABC

February 17, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA – Hollywood icons Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will present at the 84th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. This is the Muppets fifth appearance at the Academy Awards. They are fresh off their triumphant critical and box office…

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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