Press Releases Archive for February, 2012

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL® TO PRESENT EXCLUSIVE ONE-TIME-ONLY PERFORMANCE AT THE 84TH ACADEMY AWARDS

Troupe Will Pay Tribute to Hollywood’s Biggest Night with Its Largest Ensemble Cast Ever Assembled in One Act February 17, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA – Oscar® telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer have invited Cirque du Soleil to present a wholly unique and exclusive performance for the 84th Academy Awards, it…

Read the full article »

WOLFGANG PUCK TO CREATE 2012 GOVERNORS BALL MENU

February 16, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA – For the 18th consecutive year, master chef Wolfgang Puck has been selected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create the menu for the Governors Ball, the celebration immediately following the 84th Academy Awards® presentation on Oscar® Sunday, February 26, 2012. “We…

Read the full article »

JULIA ROBERTS AND MERYL STREEP ARE ATTACHED TO AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

JOHN WELLS TO DIRECT ADAPTATION OF TRACY LETTS’ PULITZER PRIZE AND TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAY PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY SLATED FOR FALL 2012 NEW YORK – February 15, 2012 – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that Academy Award®-winning actresses Julia Roberts (EAT PRAY LOVE) and Meryl Streep (THE IRON LADY) are attached to AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, based…

Read the full article »

HOLLYWOOD STREET CLOSURES FOR 2012 OSCAR® WEEK

February 14, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA – To ensure public safety, support security strategies and facilitate the production of the 84th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the City of Los Angeles have finalized street closure plans around the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in…

Read the full article »

THE OSCAR® NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2012 BEATS BOX OFFICE RECORD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Los Angeles, CA, February 14, 2012 – An early Valentine’s Day present was received by The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012, which opened on 120 screens across the United States and Canada last Friday, February 10, 2012 when the release beat expectations and broke its previous record from the year before.  Ever since…

Read the full article »

“LECCIONES PARA UN BESO” BECOMES THE FIRST COLOMBIAN MOVIE AVAILABLE TO RENT ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK BEGINNING TODAY: FEBRUARY 14, 2012

“LECCIONES PARA UN BESO” (Lessons On How To Kiss) BECOMES THE FIRST COLOMBIAN MOVIE AVAILABLE TO RENT ONLINE VIA FACEBOOK BEGINNING TODAY: FEBRUARY 14, 2012 Los Angeles, February 14, 2012 — Striving to become pioneers in the online movie rental via Facebook, the Latin American independent studio Talleres Uchawi partnered with Facebook to distribute “Lecciones…

Read the full article »

Fair Labor Association Begins Inspections of Foxconn

CUPERTINO, California—February 13, 2012—Apple® today announced that the Fair Labor Association will conduct special voluntary audits of Apple’s final assembly suppliers, including Foxconn factories in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China, at Apple’s request. A team of labor rights experts led by FLA president Auret van Heerden began the first inspections Monday morning at the facility in…

Read the full article »

TRIBECA FILM TAKES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO SIDE BY SIDE, Keanu Reeves-Produced Documentary on the Digital Revolution and its Impact on Traditional Filmmaking

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Keanu Reeves-Produced Documentary on the Digital Revolution and its Impact on Traditional Filmmaking Features Interviews with James Cameron, David Fincher, George Lucas, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh and Other Notable Filmmakers Berlin/New York, NY – February 13, 2012 – Tribeca Film announced today that it has acquired North American…

Read the full article »

2012 BAFTA Winners

WINNERS ANNOUNCED The Artist wins seven BAFTAs including Best Film, Leading Actor for Jean Dujardin and Director and Original Screenplay for Michel Hazanavicius Meryl Streep wins Leading Actress Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hugo, The Iron Lady and Senna win two BAFTAs each The Artist was named Best Film at tonight’s Orange British Academy Film Awards hosted…

Read the full article »

OSCAR NIGHT AMERICA 2012 TO BENEFIT CHARITIES NATIONWIDE

February 10, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Beverly Hills, CA – On Sunday, February 26, charities in 49 cities will host official Oscar® viewing parties during the 84th Academy Awards® ceremony as part of Oscar Night America (ONA), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ grassroots outreach program. The Academy sanctions charities across the country…

Read the full article »

KENNETH BRANAGH TO PRESENT AT OSCAR WILDE EVENT

For Immediate Release February 10, 2012 – Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh will present screenwriter John Logan with his award at the US-Ireland Alliance’s seventh annual Oscar Wilde:  Honoring the Irish in Film.  The event will be held on 23 February at Bad Robot, J.J. Abrams’ Santa Monica production company. Trina Vargo, president of the non-profit…

Read the full article »

MISS PIGGY TO TAKE TO THE BAFTA RED CARPET WEARING LOUIS VUITTON AS THE HOST OF ORANGE’S RED CARPET COVERAGE

February 10th 2012 It was announced today that world renowned fashion house Louis Vuitton is to dress star of the big screen Miss Piggy when she hosts ‘The Orange BAFTA Red Carpet Show’ this Sunday 12 February. On the opening weekend of her new film release Disney’s ‘The Muppets’, Miss Piggy will take centre stage in her glamorous…

Read the full article »

TRIBECA FILM ACQUIRES THE GIANT MECHANICAL MAN TRIBECA FILM ACQUIRES THE GIANT MECHANICAL MAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE U.S. Release Across Multiple Platforms Planned for Romantic Comedy Cast Includes Jenna Fischer, Chris Messina, Topher Grace, Malin Akerman, Rich Sommer, Lucy Punch and Bob Odenkirk Berlin/New York – February 10, 2012 – Tribeca Film announced today that it has acquired U.S. rights to The Giant Mechanical Man, a character-driven, romantic comedy…

Read the full article »

CHICKEN & EGG PICTURES ANNOUNCES NEW GRANTEES, PLUS MILESTONE OF $2 MILLION IN GRANTS AND 4,000 MENTORSHIP HOURS FOR WOMEN FILMMAKERS CHICKEN & EGG PICTURES ANNOUNCES NEW GRANTEES,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1st Grantees From New Mother Wit Human Rights Film Fund 1st Grants to Fund International Film Projects 1st Award Creative Producing Award: Nekisa Cooper New York (February 9, 2012) – Chicken & Egg Pictures, the award-winning hybrid film fund and non-profit production company dedicated to supporting women filmmakers, today announced more than…

Read the full article »

PHASE 4 FILMS ACQUIRES U.S. AND CANADIAN RIGHTS TO FAMILY COMEDY HORRID HENRY: THE MOVIE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Los Angeles, CA (February 9, 2012) – Berry Meyerowitz, President & CEO of Phase 4 Films, announced today that the company has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to director Nick Moore’s family comedy HORRID HENRY: THE MOVIE from U.K. sales agent Protagonist Pictures. The film is based on Francesca Simon’s popular children’s…

Read the full article »

MONUMENTAL Cinematic Event Celebrates America’s Story of Faith and Freedom with Host Kirk Cameron Live in Theaters Nationwide

NCM Fathom and Kirk Cameron Present Inspirational One-Night Event with Special Guests and Live Musical Performances in Select Movie Theaters on Tuesday, March 27 Centennial, Colo. – Feb. 9, 2012 – This spring, audiences across the country will unite to celebrate America’s story of faith and freedom with MONUMENTAL: In Search of America’s National Treasure Live,…

Read the full article » 1 Comment »

FOCUS FEATURES TO BE HONORED BY POINT FOUNDATION FOR RESPECT AND INCLUSION OF LGBT COMMUNITY IN ITS AWARD-WINNING FILMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -Company Heads Will Receive Award at Gala April 16 Event in NYC – NEW YORK, February 9, 2012 ‐ Point Foundation (Point), the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students of merit, will honor global film company Focus Features on Monday, April 16 at this year’s Point Honors New…

Read the full article »

First Run Features to Release New Feature Documentary, Pink Ribbons, Inc.

About the Ubiquitous Pink Ribbon Campaign & Susan G. Komen for the Cure® In the wake of the controversy surrounding Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Planned Parenthood, First Run Features announces today that it will release recent Toronto Film Festival acquisition Pink Ribbons, Inc. in U.S. theaters in Spring 2012. The exact opening date and…

Read the full article »

EXCLUSIVE MEDIA’S HAMMER PRODUCTION LABEL ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO BLACKLIST SCREENPLAY ‘GASLIGHT’

HAMMER TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE THE HORROR FEATURE FILM Los Angeles, CA (February 8, 2012) –  Iconic production company Hammer, an Exclusive Media company, has acquired the rights to GASLIGHT, an original screenplay written by newcomer Ian Fried, it was announced today by Simon Oakes, Vice-Chairman of Exclusive Media and President & CEO of Hammer, and Guy…

Read the full article »

Fandango Adds 3,000 Movie Screens to its Network in a Newly Expanded Partnership With AMC Theatres

Fandango Consumers and AMC Theatres Guests to Benefit from Greater Convenience and Broader Selection LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2012 — Fandango and AMC Theatres® announced today they have expanded and extended their online ticketing relationship. The enhanced multi-year partnership improves the online ticketing experience for all AMC guests and enables Fandango to offer its state-of-the-art…

Read the full article »

Press Releases

Quote Unquotesee all »

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