Exclusive: Freestyle Digital Media has nabbed VOD rights to the hybrid fiction/non-fiction coming-of-age drama The Other Kids from writer-director Chris Brown, slating it for release September 19th.
Pic is billed as a raw, intimate look into the struggles of teenagers on the verge of high school graduation, following six as they struggle through their final days of school in the small Gold Rush town of Sonora, California. The cast includes Isaac Sanchez, Torq Stewart, Kai Kellerman, Sienna Lampi, Savannah Bailey, Joe McGee, Natasha Lombardi, and Hunter Gilmore. Darren Dean, Brad Marshland, and Jonathan Sanford served as producers
The deal was negotiated between Freestyle and indie sales rep and distribution consultant, Liz Manashil. View a trailer for The Other Kids below.
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Exclusive: Deadline has a new trailer for Uncharitable, a documentary based on the book and Ted talk by AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer Walk founder Dan Pallotta, which hits theaters September 22nd.
Pic is billed as a raw, intimate look into the struggles of teenagers on the verge of high school graduation, following six as they struggle through their final days of school in the small Gold Rush town of Sonora, California. The cast includes Isaac Sanchez, Torq Stewart, Kai Kellerman, Sienna Lampi, Savannah Bailey, Joe McGee, Natasha Lombardi, and Hunter Gilmore. Darren Dean, Brad Marshland, and Jonathan Sanford served as producers
The deal was negotiated between Freestyle and indie sales rep and distribution consultant, Liz Manashil. View a trailer for The Other Kids below.
***
Exclusive: Deadline has a new trailer for Uncharitable, a documentary based on the book and Ted talk by AIDS Rides and Breast Cancer Walk founder Dan Pallotta, which hits theaters September 22nd.
- 8/18/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Want to relive a Coen Brothers classic with a fresh spin and some new cast members? The Pandemic Players, a troupe of stage and screen actors volunteering their time and talents to help fellow Americans impacted by Covid-19, will host a table read of the 1987 comedy “Raising Arizona” this Wednesday, November 25. The video will launch at 11 a.m. Pt, 2 p.m. Et. All proceeds will benefit Covenant House, founded in 1972 to shelter and care for young people facing homelessness. Below, check out an exclusive trailer for the read.
Troupe members participating in the table read include Zachary Levi (star of “Shazam!”), who will take on the role of Nicolas Cage’s H.I. McDunnough, and Alison Pill (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”), who will play Holly Hunter’s Ed. Joining the pair will be Dean Norris, Clancy Brown, Macon Blair, Ross Partridge, Sarah Clarke, Jeff Dowd, Leila Almas Rose, Jaime Zevallos,...
Troupe members participating in the table read include Zachary Levi (star of “Shazam!”), who will take on the role of Nicolas Cage’s H.I. McDunnough, and Alison Pill (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”), who will play Holly Hunter’s Ed. Joining the pair will be Dean Norris, Clancy Brown, Macon Blair, Ross Partridge, Sarah Clarke, Jeff Dowd, Leila Almas Rose, Jaime Zevallos,...
- 11/22/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Oscilloscope Laboratories docu-thriller The Infiltrators is hitting virtual cinemas today before making its way to on-demand and digital June 2. The virtual release is becoming a staple for many film titles as it allows audiences to purchase film tickets through a theater’s website and, in turn, helps continue support of theaters that have been closed due to Covid-19.
Directed by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, the film made its world premiere last year at the Sundance Film Festival where it the won the Next Section Audience Award. The hybrid pic blends feature filmmaking, re-enactments of real-life events and documentary footage to tell the true story of young undocumented immigrants who are intentionally detained by Border Patrol and thrown into a for-profit detention center.
More from DeadlineWestern Thriller 'True History Of Kelly Gang' And '60s Coming-Of-Age Drama 'To The Stars' Make Debuts - Specialty Streaming PreviewComing-Of-Age Foodie Comedy 'Abe' Fires Up,...
Directed by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, the film made its world premiere last year at the Sundance Film Festival where it the won the Next Section Audience Award. The hybrid pic blends feature filmmaking, re-enactments of real-life events and documentary footage to tell the true story of young undocumented immigrants who are intentionally detained by Border Patrol and thrown into a for-profit detention center.
More from DeadlineWestern Thriller 'True History Of Kelly Gang' And '60s Coming-Of-Age Drama 'To The Stars' Make Debuts - Specialty Streaming PreviewComing-Of-Age Foodie Comedy 'Abe' Fires Up,...
- 5/1/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Tribeca Film Institute announced on Thursday the 43 projects that will participate in this year’s Tfi Network film market, to be held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A traditional Tfi Network three-day event would see emerging filmmakers and creators from across the globe coming together in New York City to embark on a day of pitch prep and industry roundtables, along with two days of individual meetings with professionals during the Tribeca Film Festival, which has also moved some of its programming online. This year, Tfi Network, presented by AT&T, will move online from April 27 through May 1. Prior to Tfi Network, filmmakers will attend “Prep Week” from April 21 through April 23, which includes online pitch training sessions with mentors. This year’s 43 winners include scripted projects, documentaries and interactive projects.
“Tfi remains dedicated to creating opportunities for independent artists without compromising their health or safety,” Tribeca Film Institute executive director...
A traditional Tfi Network three-day event would see emerging filmmakers and creators from across the globe coming together in New York City to embark on a day of pitch prep and industry roundtables, along with two days of individual meetings with professionals during the Tribeca Film Festival, which has also moved some of its programming online. This year, Tfi Network, presented by AT&T, will move online from April 27 through May 1. Prior to Tfi Network, filmmakers will attend “Prep Week” from April 21 through April 23, which includes online pitch training sessions with mentors. This year’s 43 winners include scripted projects, documentaries and interactive projects.
“Tfi remains dedicated to creating opportunities for independent artists without compromising their health or safety,” Tribeca Film Institute executive director...
- 4/16/2020
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Last year’s Tribeca Film Festival winning-title The Short History of the Long Road will be hitting VOD on June 16 via FilmRise. Written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy, the film tells the story of Nola (Sabrina Carpenter), a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her beloved father Clint (Steven Ogg), two nomads against the world. When tragedy strikes, Nola is confronted by the reality that life as an outsider may not be her only choice.
The movie is also hoping to open in theaters on June 12 ahead of its digital release. The Short History of the Long Road won a Special Jury Mention for Best Screenplay at last year’s Tribeca.
More from DeadlineFilmRise Nabs North American Rights To James Schamus-Produced Berlin & Tribeca Title 'Driveways'Lukas Haas Pic 'Browse' Acquired By FilmRiseAlex Wolff: Nickelodeon Boy Band Member Grows Into Indie Auteur With 'The Cat And The Moon...
The movie is also hoping to open in theaters on June 12 ahead of its digital release. The Short History of the Long Road won a Special Jury Mention for Best Screenplay at last year’s Tribeca.
More from DeadlineFilmRise Nabs North American Rights To James Schamus-Produced Berlin & Tribeca Title 'Driveways'Lukas Haas Pic 'Browse' Acquired By FilmRiseAlex Wolff: Nickelodeon Boy Band Member Grows Into Indie Auteur With 'The Cat And The Moon...
- 4/6/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Sabrina Carpenter’s “The Short History of the Long Road” gets a home, comedian Jo Koy’s life will become a movie, “True to the Game” is getting a sequel and Apa promotes Chris Ridenhour.
Acquisition
FilmRise has acquired Sabrina Carpenter’s coming-of-age drama “The Short History of the Long Road” and is planning a May 15 theatrical release.
The film, written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy, won a special jury mention for screenplay at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. “The Short History of the Long Road” also stars Maggie Siff, Steven Ogg and Danny Trejo.
Carpenter portrays a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her beloved father. When tragedy strikes, she is confronted by the reality that life as an outsider may not be her only choice.
The film is produced by Darren Dean, Bettina Kadoorie, Kishori Rajan, Eddie Rubin, Ani Simon-Kennedy,...
Acquisition
FilmRise has acquired Sabrina Carpenter’s coming-of-age drama “The Short History of the Long Road” and is planning a May 15 theatrical release.
The film, written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy, won a special jury mention for screenplay at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. “The Short History of the Long Road” also stars Maggie Siff, Steven Ogg and Danny Trejo.
Carpenter portrays a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her beloved father. When tragedy strikes, she is confronted by the reality that life as an outsider may not be her only choice.
The film is produced by Darren Dean, Bettina Kadoorie, Kishori Rajan, Eddie Rubin, Ani Simon-Kennedy,...
- 2/19/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
FilmRise has acquired the worldwide rights to “The Short History of the Long Road,” featuring singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter in her first lead role in a feature film, TheWrap has learned exclusively.
Danny Trejo, Steven Ogg and Maggie Siff also star in the film that is set for a theatrical release on May 15. Ani Simon-Kennedy wrote and directed the feature. Simon-Kennedy was the winner of the Special Jury Mention Best Screenplay Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
“The Short History of the Long Road” stars Carpenter as Nola, a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her father. When tragedy strikes, she must come to terms with the fact that living life as an outsider might not be her only choice, and she must integrate into a society she’s never known.
Also Read: 'Adventures in Babysitting' Review: Disney Delivers a Fresh and Fun...
Danny Trejo, Steven Ogg and Maggie Siff also star in the film that is set for a theatrical release on May 15. Ani Simon-Kennedy wrote and directed the feature. Simon-Kennedy was the winner of the Special Jury Mention Best Screenplay Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
“The Short History of the Long Road” stars Carpenter as Nola, a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her father. When tragedy strikes, she must come to terms with the fact that living life as an outsider might not be her only choice, and she must integrate into a society she’s never known.
Also Read: 'Adventures in Babysitting' Review: Disney Delivers a Fresh and Fun...
- 2/18/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards were handed out Saturday in recognition of the best in indie films from 2019.
Willem Dafoe won the first award, Best Supporting Male, for his role in “The Lighthouse.” “Uncut Gems” won Best Editing, while the Best Documentary award went to “American Factory.” Best Cinematography went to Jarin Blaschke for “The Lighthouse.”
Kelly Reichardt was awarded The Bonnie Award, which recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $500,000, was given to “Give Me Liberty.”
Also Read: Independent Spirit Awards 2020: Aubrey Plaza's Best Jokes (So Far)
“Parasite” won Best International Film. Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Female for her role in “The Farewell.” “Marriage Story” won Best Screenplay. Adam Sandler won Best Male Lead for his performance in “Uncut Gems” and Renée Zellweger received the Best Female Lead for her role in “Judy.
Willem Dafoe won the first award, Best Supporting Male, for his role in “The Lighthouse.” “Uncut Gems” won Best Editing, while the Best Documentary award went to “American Factory.” Best Cinematography went to Jarin Blaschke for “The Lighthouse.”
Kelly Reichardt was awarded The Bonnie Award, which recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $500,000, was given to “Give Me Liberty.”
Also Read: Independent Spirit Awards 2020: Aubrey Plaza's Best Jokes (So Far)
“Parasite” won Best International Film. Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Female for her role in “The Farewell.” “Marriage Story” won Best Screenplay. Adam Sandler won Best Male Lead for his performance in “Uncut Gems” and Renée Zellweger received the Best Female Lead for her role in “Judy.
- 2/8/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Two dark and unruly films released by A24, Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” and the Safdie brothers’ “Uncut Gems,” led all films in nominations for the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Film Independent announced on Thursday.
In the Best Feature category, “Uncut Gems” was joined by Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story.”
“Uncut Gems” was the only film nominated in both the Best Feature and Best Director categories, though “Marriage Story” was nominated in the former category and was also voted the special John Cassavetes Award, which goes to a film’s director, cast and casting director.
Also Read: 'Marriage Story,' 'The Farewell,' 'Uncut Gems' Top Gotham Award Nominations
“Honey Boy” and “Give Me Liberty” received four nominations each, while “Hustlers,” “Clemency” and “Luce” received three.
As usual, the Spirit Awards’ system of...
In the Best Feature category, “Uncut Gems” was joined by Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story.”
“Uncut Gems” was the only film nominated in both the Best Feature and Best Director categories, though “Marriage Story” was nominated in the former category and was also voted the special John Cassavetes Award, which goes to a film’s director, cast and casting director.
Also Read: 'Marriage Story,' 'The Farewell,' 'Uncut Gems' Top Gotham Award Nominations
“Honey Boy” and “Give Me Liberty” received four nominations each, while “Hustlers,” “Clemency” and “Luce” received three.
As usual, the Spirit Awards’ system of...
- 11/21/2019
- by Brian Welk and Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. rights to the critically acclaimed immigration feature The Infiltrators. Directed by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, the film made its world premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival where it went on to won the Audience Award: Next and the Next Innovator Prize. Oscilloscope is set to release the feature in theaters before streaming on digital platforms.
The Infiltrators is a very timely docu-thriller that tells the true story of young immigrants who get detained by Border Patrol, and put in a shadowy for-profit detention center — on purpose. Marco (Maynor Alvarado) and Viri (Vida‘s Chelsea Rendon) are members of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance, a group of radical Dreamers who are on a mission to stop deportations. And the best place to stop deportations, they believe, is in detention. However, when they try to pull off a prison break in reverse,...
The Infiltrators is a very timely docu-thriller that tells the true story of young immigrants who get detained by Border Patrol, and put in a shadowy for-profit detention center — on purpose. Marco (Maynor Alvarado) and Viri (Vida‘s Chelsea Rendon) are members of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance, a group of radical Dreamers who are on a mission to stop deportations. And the best place to stop deportations, they believe, is in detention. However, when they try to pull off a prison break in reverse,...
- 9/5/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, “After the Wedding,” “Premature” and “Encounter” get distribution, Jacqueline Lyanga gets a new gig, Quiver Distribution launches and “The Aeronauts” sets an Imax release.
Acquisitions
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all rights in North America, France, India and several other Asian countries to “After the Wedding,” starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams.
Directed by Bart Freundlich, “After the Wedding” is an adaptation of Susanne Bier’s Academy Award-nominated Danish film of the same name. It premiered as an opening night selection at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Williams portrays a woman who has dedicated her life to working with the children in an orphanage in Calcutta. She travels to New York to meet her benefactor, played by Moore.
Sony Classics is planning an August release. The distributor released “Still Alice,” for which Moore received a best actress Academy Award. The news was first reported by Deadline.
Acquisitions
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all rights in North America, France, India and several other Asian countries to “After the Wedding,” starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams.
Directed by Bart Freundlich, “After the Wedding” is an adaptation of Susanne Bier’s Academy Award-nominated Danish film of the same name. It premiered as an opening night selection at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Williams portrays a woman who has dedicated her life to working with the children in an orphanage in Calcutta. She travels to New York to meet her benefactor, played by Moore.
Sony Classics is planning an August release. The distributor released “Still Alice,” for which Moore received a best actress Academy Award. The news was first reported by Deadline.
- 5/15/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The 18th edition of Tribeca Film Festival will get underway next month, featuring 103 films from 124 filmmakers, with 50% women-directed films in the three competition sections. Highlights include world premieres directed by Abel Ferrara, Werner Herzog, Christoph Waltz, as well as films by Sebastian Schipper, Mary Harron, Peter Strickland, and Andrew Ahn.
Check out the lineup below for the festival taking place April 24 – May 5.
U.S. Narrative Competition
Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition showcases extraordinary work from breakout independent voices and distinguished filmmaking talent. These ten world premieres will vie for the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Last year, the award for Best Narrative Feature went to Kent Jones’ Diane while Jeffrey Wright was awarded Best Actor for his role in O.G. Other previous films from this section include Reed Morano’s Meadowland (2015), Ingrid Jungermann’s Women Who Kill (2016), and...
Check out the lineup below for the festival taking place April 24 – May 5.
U.S. Narrative Competition
Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition showcases extraordinary work from breakout independent voices and distinguished filmmaking talent. These ten world premieres will vie for the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Last year, the award for Best Narrative Feature went to Kent Jones’ Diane while Jeffrey Wright was awarded Best Actor for his role in O.G. Other previous films from this section include Reed Morano’s Meadowland (2015), Ingrid Jungermann’s Women Who Kill (2016), and...
- 3/5/2019
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
The Tribeca Film Festival has set its full feature slate for 2019, selecting 103 titles including world premieres of films by Jared Leto, Christoph Waltz, and Margot Robbie.
The 18th edition of the festival, which runs from April 24 to May 5, will include documentaries from Antoine Fuqua, Werner Herzog, and Abel Ferrara, and music-focused docs highlighting the lead singer of band Inxs (“Mystify: Michael Hutchence”), Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman (“The Quiet One”), and musician Linda Ronstadt (“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice”) with Sheryl Crow performing after the premiere.
Leto’s “A Day in the Life of America” is a crowd-sourced documentary featuring footage from all 50 states on July 4, 2017. Waltz is making his directorial debut with the crime drama “Georgetown,” starring himself, Annette Bening, and Vanessa Redgrave. Robbie stars in and produces “Dreamland,” a Depression-era drama set in the Oklahoma dustbowl.
Other notable titles include “Mad Men” producer Semi Chellas making...
The 18th edition of the festival, which runs from April 24 to May 5, will include documentaries from Antoine Fuqua, Werner Herzog, and Abel Ferrara, and music-focused docs highlighting the lead singer of band Inxs (“Mystify: Michael Hutchence”), Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman (“The Quiet One”), and musician Linda Ronstadt (“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice”) with Sheryl Crow performing after the premiere.
Leto’s “A Day in the Life of America” is a crowd-sourced documentary featuring footage from all 50 states on July 4, 2017. Waltz is making his directorial debut with the crime drama “Georgetown,” starring himself, Annette Bening, and Vanessa Redgrave. Robbie stars in and produces “Dreamland,” a Depression-era drama set in the Oklahoma dustbowl.
Other notable titles include “Mad Men” producer Semi Chellas making...
- 3/5/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon’s big buys at the Sundance Film Festival no longer seem like the clear threat to traditional film distribution that they seemed to be a few years ago — and even the idea that streaming services are dangerous feels dated.
That was the key takeaway from TheWrap’s panel “Innovation in Indie Film: From Content Creation to Discovery,” presented Monday at the Sundance Film Festival by ChooseATL and Thea.
“The streaming services are good and as distributors. It’s fuzzy how you put movies out,” said Van Toffler, CEO of Gunpowder & Sky. He noted that Sundance “is much more diverse this year with the comedies and docs, and it’s more diverse to make content now because there are so many buyers and companies that have their own streaming platforms — it’s a good time to make stuff.”
Also Read: Sundance Shocker: Big-Money Acquisitions Take Indie Film Market by...
That was the key takeaway from TheWrap’s panel “Innovation in Indie Film: From Content Creation to Discovery,” presented Monday at the Sundance Film Festival by ChooseATL and Thea.
“The streaming services are good and as distributors. It’s fuzzy how you put movies out,” said Van Toffler, CEO of Gunpowder & Sky. He noted that Sundance “is much more diverse this year with the comedies and docs, and it’s more diverse to make content now because there are so many buyers and companies that have their own streaming platforms — it’s a good time to make stuff.”
Also Read: Sundance Shocker: Big-Money Acquisitions Take Indie Film Market by...
- 1/29/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Film is second feature from director Rashaad Ernesto Green.
London-based sales and financing house Film Constellation has picked up international rights to Rashaad Ernesto Green’s second feature, Premature.
The film will premiere in the Next strand of the upcoming Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, Jan 26.
Director Green’s debut was Gun Hill Road, which was at Sundance in 2011.
Premature follows Ayanna - played by Zora Howard, who also co-wrote the script - who is making the most of her last summer in Harlem, New York, before heading to college. When she meets the slightly older Isaiah (Joshua Boone), she...
London-based sales and financing house Film Constellation has picked up international rights to Rashaad Ernesto Green’s second feature, Premature.
The film will premiere in the Next strand of the upcoming Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, Jan 26.
Director Green’s debut was Gun Hill Road, which was at Sundance in 2011.
Premature follows Ayanna - played by Zora Howard, who also co-wrote the script - who is making the most of her last summer in Harlem, New York, before heading to college. When she meets the slightly older Isaiah (Joshua Boone), she...
- 1/21/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
In today’s film news roundup, immigration drama “The Infiltrators” gets financing, Jake Busey is starring in a high-school comedy, and Stuart Ford’s Agc Studios hires two former Im Global executives.
Project Financing
Chicago Media Project Invest/Impact’s Paula Froehle and Steve Cohen have joined the immigration drama “The Infiltrators” as executive producers and financiers, Variety has learned exclusively.
Cmp I/I has invested previously in the Academy Award-winning documentary “Icarus,” “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” and Showtime’s series “The Fourth Estate.”
Directed and produced by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, “The Infiltrators” centers on a small group of young undocumented immigrants who embark on a high-risk mission inside America’s for-profit detention system in order to set people free. The film, which mixes documentary with narrative dramatization, stars Chelsea Rendon, Vik Sahay, Maynor Alvarado, and Manuel Uriza.
Production is currently underway in Southern California. The...
Project Financing
Chicago Media Project Invest/Impact’s Paula Froehle and Steve Cohen have joined the immigration drama “The Infiltrators” as executive producers and financiers, Variety has learned exclusively.
Cmp I/I has invested previously in the Academy Award-winning documentary “Icarus,” “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” and Showtime’s series “The Fourth Estate.”
Directed and produced by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra, “The Infiltrators” centers on a small group of young undocumented immigrants who embark on a high-risk mission inside America’s for-profit detention system in order to set people free. The film, which mixes documentary with narrative dramatization, stars Chelsea Rendon, Vik Sahay, Maynor Alvarado, and Manuel Uriza.
Production is currently underway in Southern California. The...
- 8/31/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Every week, IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit rounds up the latest opportunities that can help those looking to advance projects or get a career started in the film industry. The following grants, labs, fellowships, contests, and other nonprofit opportunities could be a great way to help kickstart your movie and TV dreams.
Read More: Attention, Screenwriters: New Opportunities for Horror, TV and Women Over 40 — Indie Film Resources
Flies Collective Film Grant
Flies Collective, a New York-based production company founded by filmmakers Daniel Patrick Carbone, Zachary Shedd, and Matthew Petock, announced the launch of the inaugural Flies Collective Film Grant. Open to both established filmmakers and emerging talent in the independent space, the 2017 Flies Collective Film Grant will provide funding that allows promising, original projects to start production.
In an interview with IndieWire, Carbone explained that after the members of the collective had a good run of making money in commercial work...
Read More: Attention, Screenwriters: New Opportunities for Horror, TV and Women Over 40 — Indie Film Resources
Flies Collective Film Grant
Flies Collective, a New York-based production company founded by filmmakers Daniel Patrick Carbone, Zachary Shedd, and Matthew Petock, announced the launch of the inaugural Flies Collective Film Grant. Open to both established filmmakers and emerging talent in the independent space, the 2017 Flies Collective Film Grant will provide funding that allows promising, original projects to start production.
In an interview with IndieWire, Carbone explained that after the members of the collective had a good run of making money in commercial work...
- 4/14/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Protagonist Pictures scores French deal on Tangerine director’s next feature.
Le Pacte has picked up French rights to Sean Baker’s forthcoming The Florida Project.
The deal was negotiated between international sales agent Protagonist Pictures’ Jennifer Fattell and Jean Labadie and Thomas Pibarot of Le Pacte.
Willem Dafoe, Bria Vinaite, Caleb Landry Jones and Brooklynn Prince star in the story about a precocious six year-old and her rag-tag group of close friends whose carefree lives contrast with those of their struggling parents.
Currently in post-production, the film is showing on promo at this week’s European Film Market (Efm) in Berlin. Baker co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch.
CAA and ICM are handling domestic sales on the title.
Shot on 35mm film last year in the neighbourhoods around Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida, The Florida project will mark Baker’s sixth film, following on from the critically-lauded Tangerine in 2015.
Producers on the...
Le Pacte has picked up French rights to Sean Baker’s forthcoming The Florida Project.
The deal was negotiated between international sales agent Protagonist Pictures’ Jennifer Fattell and Jean Labadie and Thomas Pibarot of Le Pacte.
Willem Dafoe, Bria Vinaite, Caleb Landry Jones and Brooklynn Prince star in the story about a precocious six year-old and her rag-tag group of close friends whose carefree lives contrast with those of their struggling parents.
Currently in post-production, the film is showing on promo at this week’s European Film Market (Efm) in Berlin. Baker co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch.
CAA and ICM are handling domestic sales on the title.
Shot on 35mm film last year in the neighbourhoods around Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida, The Florida project will mark Baker’s sixth film, following on from the critically-lauded Tangerine in 2015.
Producers on the...
- 2/14/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Yay! My favorite film of 2015 was the big winner at the recently concluded Film Independent Spirit Awards taking home the best feature, director (Tom McCarthy), screenplay, and editing. It was previously announced that the film was the winner of the prestigious Robert Altman Award (ensemble) as well.
Oh and kudos to the Film Independent Spirit Awards for bestowing their Best Supporting Actress Award to Mya Taylor for "Tangerine!" Taylor becomes the first transgender performer to receive major acting award! See her acceptance speech right here.
Let's see if this will continue with tonight's Oscars. See my full Oscar predictions right here.
Here's the complete list of winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"Carol"
*** "Spotlight" (Winner)
"Tangerine"
Best Director
Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Beasts of No Nation"
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, "Anomalisa"
David Robert Mitchell,...
Oh and kudos to the Film Independent Spirit Awards for bestowing their Best Supporting Actress Award to Mya Taylor for "Tangerine!" Taylor becomes the first transgender performer to receive major acting award! See her acceptance speech right here.
Let's see if this will continue with tonight's Oscars. See my full Oscar predictions right here.
Here's the complete list of winners of the Film Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
"Anomalisa"
"Beasts of No Nation"
"Carol"
*** "Spotlight" (Winner)
"Tangerine"
Best Director
Cary Joji Fukunaga, "Beasts of No Nation"
Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson, "Anomalisa"
David Robert Mitchell,...
- 2/28/2016
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
When "Tangerine" first arrived at Sundance earlier this year, it almost sounded like a cliché: a low-budget, iPhone-shot dramedy set in California. But the film was so much more: a progressive story with transgender character for leads, in the most unlikely Christmas movie ever. And it speaks to how much the film has resonated that nearly a full year later, not only has made many top-10 lists, but it's very much in the awards-season conversation. Read More: Sundance Review: 'Tangerine' Is A Fresh, Funny, And Original Stream of Pure Energy There's a lot to talk about when it comes to "Tangerine," and as part of MoMA Film's Contenders series, writer-director Sean Baker, actress Mya Taylor, and producers Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou, sat down for Q&A moderated by filmmaker Ira Sachs. And it's definitely one to dive into as the discussion explores the genesis of the film...
- 12/30/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The first of the year’s award ceremonies — a full month before 2015 even ends — Gotham Independent Film Awards were held last night. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Tom McCarthy‘s journalism drama Spotlight picked up top honors of Best Feature (as well as Screenplay, and the pre-determined Ensemble award).
While Carol unfortunately came up empty-handed, The Diary of a Teenage Girl‘s Bel Powley surprised with Best Actress and Paul Dano took home Best Actor for Love & Mercy. Also featuring Tangerine‘s Mya Taylor as Best Breakthrough Actor, check out the full list of winners below in red.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)
Heaven Knows What
Josh and Benny Safdie, directors; Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear-McClard,...
While Carol unfortunately came up empty-handed, The Diary of a Teenage Girl‘s Bel Powley surprised with Best Actress and Paul Dano took home Best Actor for Love & Mercy. Also featuring Tangerine‘s Mya Taylor as Best Breakthrough Actor, check out the full list of winners below in red.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)
Heaven Knows What
Josh and Benny Safdie, directors; Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear-McClard,...
- 12/1/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.Scroll down for full list of nominations
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...
- 11/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
- 11/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the La Film Festival and Film Independent at Lacma, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations.
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
- 11/24/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Todd Haynes' "Carol" is shaping up to be the movie to beat this awards season. Based on Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt, the romantic drama stars Cate Blanchett as an older, married woman who is developing some strong feelings towards a seasonal shopgirl played by Rooney Mara. And the actresses may have to prepare their acceptance speeches! "Carol" leads the pack of nominees for the 31st Independent Spirit Awards!
I'm also very happy that "Tangerine" by Sean Baker received 4 nods for Best Feature, Director, Female Lead (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), and Supporting Female for Mya Taylor. shot mostly on iPhone, this small-budget wonder is truly what the Independent Spirit is all about!
Some of my few gripes are not a whole lot of love for the fantastic "Room" (just screenplay, female lead for Brie Larson, and editing -- what about the awesome child actor Jason Tremblay?), and that...
I'm also very happy that "Tangerine" by Sean Baker received 4 nods for Best Feature, Director, Female Lead (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), and Supporting Female for Mya Taylor. shot mostly on iPhone, this small-budget wonder is truly what the Independent Spirit is all about!
Some of my few gripes are not a whole lot of love for the fantastic "Room" (just screenplay, female lead for Brie Larson, and editing -- what about the awesome child actor Jason Tremblay?), and that...
- 11/24/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
In its 31st year, the Film Independent Spirt Awards showcase the best that modest (and, occasionally, lower budget) filmmaking has to offer annually. This year, it’s little surprise the the stellar Carol is leading the pack with six nominations, while Spotlight and Beasts of No Nation are close behind with five each. On the actual smaller scale of productions, the iPhone-shot drama Tangerine picked up a heft four nominations, a film that, alongside Anomalisa and the aforementioned titles, rounds out their Best Feature category.
Ahead of a ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 5Pm Est, check out the full list of nominations below, which also recognize It Follows, Bone Tomahawk, The End of the Tour, Room, The Mend, James White, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Heaven Knows What, and more.
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
“Anomalisa”
“Beasts of No Nation”
“Carol”
“Spotlight...
Ahead of a ceremony on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 5Pm Est, check out the full list of nominations below, which also recognize It Follows, Bone Tomahawk, The End of the Tour, Room, The Mend, James White, The Diary of a Teenage Girl, Heaven Knows What, and more.
Best Feature
Award given to the Producer; Executive Producers are not awarded.
“Anomalisa”
“Beasts of No Nation”
“Carol”
“Spotlight...
- 11/24/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Doused in luscious color and comedy, Sean Baker’s Tangerine dares to do a handful of things, but its greatest feat is how unradical its radicalism is. At the heart of the screwball antics of Mya Taylor and Kiki Rodriguez is simplicity: friendship, broken hearts, and aspirations towards comfort, accepted identity, and social mobility.
That it’s filmed on iPhones isn’t some mere gimmick, but crucial to its examination of self-identity in a world where exploration of such is a luxury for the privileged. We talked to Sean Baker about working with his two stars, the American Dream, and self-actualization through selfies.
The Film Stage: One of the things I noticed about Tangerine was that the stars, Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, really seem to dictate where the camera goes. The camera is fascinated by and in adoration of these characters.
Sean Baker: Yeah, when we settled on...
That it’s filmed on iPhones isn’t some mere gimmick, but crucial to its examination of self-identity in a world where exploration of such is a luxury for the privileged. We talked to Sean Baker about working with his two stars, the American Dream, and self-actualization through selfies.
The Film Stage: One of the things I noticed about Tangerine was that the stars, Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, really seem to dictate where the camera goes. The camera is fascinated by and in adoration of these characters.
Sean Baker: Yeah, when we settled on...
- 11/12/2015
- by TFS Staff
- The Film Stage
Kicking off the onslaught of awards this year, as always, is the Gotham Independent Film Awards, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Usually a strong slate highlighting some of the year’s most overlooked films, 2015 is no different as The Diary of a Teenage Girl leads the pack with four nominations. Close behind is Carol and Tangerine with three each overall.
Other players in the category of Best Feature include Spotlight and Heaven Knows What, while some of my other favorite films of the year, including Listen to Me Marlon, The Mend, James White, Results, and Mistress America, were recognized. With a ceremony set for November 30, check out the full list below thanks to Variety.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey,...
Other players in the category of Best Feature include Spotlight and Heaven Knows What, while some of my other favorite films of the year, including Listen to Me Marlon, The Mend, James White, Results, and Mistress America, were recognized. With a ceremony set for November 30, check out the full list below thanks to Variety.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey,...
- 10/22/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Glamour, palm trees, and surgically perfected bodies define Los Angeles in the eyes of the world, but beneath that artificial sunshine there are people and places that never find themselves portrayed on screen. People on the bus, on the not-so-pretty streets, in the neighborhoods that no one’s ever hear of, in those places that have stories that are never told. Even Hollywood, as plastic as it’s often depicted, has areas that have not yet been gentrified and in which people outside the norm are also allowed to be beautiful in their own way. It’s here that director Sean Baker found the stars of his riotous and perfectly acted latest film “Tangerine,” and where he shot it.
At the center of it are Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), two transgender sex workers on Santa Monica Boulevard who struggle to get by while dealing with heartbreak, revenge, and their dreams. Their story, which takes place on a sunny California Christmas eve, exists in the real world without embellishments and its driven by their hilarious banter that's always based on uncompromising sincerity. It's in this sort of uncontrollable environment that Sean Baker found beautiful accidents as his camera, or better said his iPhone, recorded the characters interacting with the city.
We had a chance to talk to Sean Baker about the making of one the year’s best film and a standout at the most recent Sundance Film Festival.
Aguilar: "Tangerine" shows us a side of Los Angeles we rarely see in film, far from all the glamour and artificial beauty. I know the streets where Alexandra and Sin-Dee exist. I've taken those buses, those trains, and been to those places. It feels very real and vibrant in an unpretentious way. Why did you want to tell this singular L.A. story?
Sean Baker: I'm originally from New York and I spent most of my life there, so when I came out to L.A. I was surprised to find that most of L.A. hasn't been shot out. I thought that the studios would have covered L.A. for the last 100 years, but then I realized there is a whole city south of Pico where there are these subcultures or communities that haven't been focused on whatsoever, and also wonderful locations. For example, I told everybody, "I don't want to make this film unless we can lock down Donut Time," because it's such a landmark. Thank god my great producers Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou were able to lock Donut Time. I've fallen on love with Los Angeles and I love to explore it myself. If I'm telling an L.A. story I want to tell a fresh L.A. story and show places that haven't been shown before.
Aguilar: How rough was it to shoot out there in the wilderness of the city? You only have control of your equipment and your actors, everything else is alive and moving without you having power over it.
Sean Baker: I'm kind of used to that because I did it with "Prince of Broadway" and I did it with "Take Out." With those two films I kind of had to accept the fact that there was going to be obstacles, but that those obstacles would lead to happy accidents. If I have a bystander who is stepping into the frame sometimes that would work, as long as we get their permission and get releases everything is fine. I'm open to that. I like the lack of control sometimes. I think that leads to a lot of interesting things, plus I edit my own films, so I almost like to edit from a documentary point of view. It keeps me awake and keeps me surprised in the edit when every take is different and there are new things to be seen on every scene.
Aguilar: You have to two incredible leads in Mya and Kiki, but also two leads who have big personalities. Was it a challenge at first to work with actresses that didn't have much experience or none at all?
Sean Baker: They were as professional as professional could be from day one. I was so incredibly lucky to have found Mya and Kiki. They started impressing me one or two days in. I realized how great they were. I didn't even know they were going to be that great. With a film like this, even though it's scripted and you know where you are going, you kind of still have to find it while you shoot, and then you find it again in the edit. I was going into the shoot knowing that if they weren't good enough I was going to focus on the characters around them or I was going to give them less dialogue. That's how I was going to do it, but then when they started impressing me after the first day I was like, "Why not? They are stealing the show every time, let's roll with it."
Aguilar: Even though the film is a sense dialogue-heavy it feels very vibrant throughout. The only quiet moment is when Kiki sits by the Vermont station to consider her next move. Did you feel like you needed that calm beat before the madness was unleashed?
Sean Baker: In that scene, I didn’t know I was going to be marrying the Beethoven track to it at that moment. I just said, “This is a moment in which I’m going to slow thing down.” It was the quiet before the storm. We already had a shot of adrenaline in the beginning and this was going to be the second shot of adrenaline right after this quiet scene. I basically said, “Look, let’s just take a moment and allow the audience to breathe a little bit.” I told Kiki, “Sorry, you are gonna have to smoke like 10 cigarettes,” because we needed to get every angle possible. I should have gotten even more coverage. I wish I had more coverage.
Aguilar: You weaved in hilarious comedy within this story about two marginalized characters. Was finding that tonal balance difficult? The humor is just so clever. There are lots of quotable material in the film like “You didn’t have to Chris-Brown the bitch”or the whole part about "real fish."
Sean Baker: [Laughs] That was really just because when I was in my research process and I’d be hanging out with them, it was like going to a stand up comedy routine. They were so funny, and they would always finish each other's sentences. They would set up jokes and then deliver a punch line. I realize there is so much humor in that world because the women use that humor to cope. They use it to get by. We all use humor in our lives to get through, but they do so especially because they are sex workers because they have to be. They’ve been so marginalized they don’t have other opportunities. They are faced with discrimination, with danger, and with violence on a regular basis. They have to use humor just to cope and I witnessed this. I thought that if I didn’t inject that humor in the story it would be dishonest.
Aguilar: How did the Armenian driver who lives a very traditional lifestyle at home and finds solace in these transgender girls come about? It certainly adds another layer of complexity to the story.
Sean Baker: The actor, Karren Karagulian, this is my fifth time working with him. I love him. He is great, but he is underrated. This industry hasn’t noticed him yet. He doesn’t even have an agent and yet he’s been the lead of three films now. This is due to the racism of the industry, but I’m hoping that this is the film that finally breaks him in because he is so good. I approached him and said, “Look I’m making a film about two transgender sex workers in Los Angeles, how can we incorporate you? Or how can we find a character for you?” He said, “Look there is a huge Armenian community in L.A, I’ll be a cab driver who is into one of them.” I said, “There we go.” [Laughs]. He is New York-based, so he came out and through his connections I was able to get the stars of Armenia. Alla Tumanian, who plays the mother in law, is a classic actress from Armenia. Arsen Grigoryan, who plays the other cab driver that rats on him, he hosts The Voice over in Armenia. He is our biggest celebrity in the movie. It was really interesting to work with some of the stars of Armenia, such seasoned talent.
Aguilar: Will it ever play in Armenia since you have names that are recognized there? Or is it too non-traditional in terms of its themes to play there?
Sean Baker: Yeah, that’s the thing. We are hoping that it plays at the Golden Apricot, which is their film festival, but we are still not sure.
Aguilar: Out of Sundance most of the talk about the film was related to how it had been shot on an iPhone. Have you gotten to a point where you want to talk about the actual film and not mechanics of how it was made?
Sean Baker: Yeah, I’m sort of sick of it at this point. What started out as a budgetary thing has become sort of a gimmick and it’s not, but it is a selling point at the same time so we can’t dismiss it. Some critics have gone as far as to say that subtextually the fact that we are shooting on this accessible device works with the subject matter about these women who might not have the means to shoot any other way. I’m just happy that it’s accepted and that we were able to find our aesthetic. We were sort of forced into it but I’m happy with the look of the end product. I come from the school of thought that feels that if you can shoot film, you should shoot film. I’m still in that Christopher Nolan, Tarantino thing.
Aguilar: Save film!
Sean Baker: Yeah! If I had the budget I would have shot it on film but then I probably wouldn’t have made the same movie.
Aguilar: Did you ever image that "Tangerine" would go as far as it has or did it catch you by surprise? Despite all the iPhone talk, reviews have been stellar and people seem to really connect with the film and its humor.
Sean Baker: No, I thought that it might have the same acceptance as my last film "Starlet," the critics liked it and it won the Altman Award, but it’s still under the radar and people are still finding it on Netflix. I thought it would be the same, but this one seems to have a bigger impact. I thought it was going to divide critics more and so far it hasn’t really done that. People really seem to accept it, which is a great thing. My hope is that with the trans movement being such a big part of the zeitgeist that Mya and Kiki can really parlay this. That’s the hope.
Aguilar: Do you think it’ll be difficult for them to find more acting jobs after this?
Sean Baker: That’s my fear, but at the same time I’m hoping that with the industry realizing that diversity it so important they may be offered more roles. They are talented enough to play anybody. It doesn’t just have to be a trans role. I’d love to see both of them take on anything. That would be the ultimate success for this film.
Aguilar: They are both amazing, colorful, and brimming with authenticity. How did you find them? I'm sure raw talent like this didn't come from traditional casting.
Sean Baker: You have to put in the time. With “Prince of Broadway,” which is the film I made before ”Starlet,” we spent a year in that district and everybody kept on telling us to find Prince Adu. “Find Prince Adu, he’ll like you. He’ll work with you,” and when we did, it all worked out. He was enthusiastic and he wanted to make the movie with us and everything worked out. In this case I tried to keep that in mind, “If I can just find that one person who is enthusiastic enough.” Then, only two weeks in, we went over to the Lgbt center and there was a courtyard, Mya was about 40 feet away and I saw her and thought, “She has a look. There is something about her. She is the one who stands out in the crowd." We went up to her and introduced ourselves. Next thing you know she was doing what Prince did, she had that enthusiasm. She was like, “I want to make this film with you!” We exchanged information and we started going from there. That’s how it happened and then she brought Kiki to the table. This is also something I haven’t said enough, Mark and Jay Duplass were very supportive. They found us the money to make it. When nobody else was stepping forward they were the only ones that said, “We’ll help you make this film.”
Aguilar: They are like the indie film godfathers.
Sean Baker: Exactly!
Aguilar: I have my own theories about this, but why did you decide to title the film “Tangerine”? Is it the sweet and sour nature of the two leads?
Sean Baker: Yes, you got it [Laughs]. Is that and it's also the color. The sense and the fruit you get from the color of it. I didn’t want to go with a literal title. I’m sick of those. Film is the only art form where we feel we have to title our stuff literally. Musicians don’t have to title their songs literally. It can be more about what’s conjured up when you think of a word. In this case for some reason tangerine just kept sticking and we kept on going back to that.
"Tangerine" is now playing in Los Angeles at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood and in NYC at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema...
At the center of it are Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), two transgender sex workers on Santa Monica Boulevard who struggle to get by while dealing with heartbreak, revenge, and their dreams. Their story, which takes place on a sunny California Christmas eve, exists in the real world without embellishments and its driven by their hilarious banter that's always based on uncompromising sincerity. It's in this sort of uncontrollable environment that Sean Baker found beautiful accidents as his camera, or better said his iPhone, recorded the characters interacting with the city.
We had a chance to talk to Sean Baker about the making of one the year’s best film and a standout at the most recent Sundance Film Festival.
Aguilar: "Tangerine" shows us a side of Los Angeles we rarely see in film, far from all the glamour and artificial beauty. I know the streets where Alexandra and Sin-Dee exist. I've taken those buses, those trains, and been to those places. It feels very real and vibrant in an unpretentious way. Why did you want to tell this singular L.A. story?
Sean Baker: I'm originally from New York and I spent most of my life there, so when I came out to L.A. I was surprised to find that most of L.A. hasn't been shot out. I thought that the studios would have covered L.A. for the last 100 years, but then I realized there is a whole city south of Pico where there are these subcultures or communities that haven't been focused on whatsoever, and also wonderful locations. For example, I told everybody, "I don't want to make this film unless we can lock down Donut Time," because it's such a landmark. Thank god my great producers Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou were able to lock Donut Time. I've fallen on love with Los Angeles and I love to explore it myself. If I'm telling an L.A. story I want to tell a fresh L.A. story and show places that haven't been shown before.
Aguilar: How rough was it to shoot out there in the wilderness of the city? You only have control of your equipment and your actors, everything else is alive and moving without you having power over it.
Sean Baker: I'm kind of used to that because I did it with "Prince of Broadway" and I did it with "Take Out." With those two films I kind of had to accept the fact that there was going to be obstacles, but that those obstacles would lead to happy accidents. If I have a bystander who is stepping into the frame sometimes that would work, as long as we get their permission and get releases everything is fine. I'm open to that. I like the lack of control sometimes. I think that leads to a lot of interesting things, plus I edit my own films, so I almost like to edit from a documentary point of view. It keeps me awake and keeps me surprised in the edit when every take is different and there are new things to be seen on every scene.
Aguilar: You have to two incredible leads in Mya and Kiki, but also two leads who have big personalities. Was it a challenge at first to work with actresses that didn't have much experience or none at all?
Sean Baker: They were as professional as professional could be from day one. I was so incredibly lucky to have found Mya and Kiki. They started impressing me one or two days in. I realized how great they were. I didn't even know they were going to be that great. With a film like this, even though it's scripted and you know where you are going, you kind of still have to find it while you shoot, and then you find it again in the edit. I was going into the shoot knowing that if they weren't good enough I was going to focus on the characters around them or I was going to give them less dialogue. That's how I was going to do it, but then when they started impressing me after the first day I was like, "Why not? They are stealing the show every time, let's roll with it."
Aguilar: Even though the film is a sense dialogue-heavy it feels very vibrant throughout. The only quiet moment is when Kiki sits by the Vermont station to consider her next move. Did you feel like you needed that calm beat before the madness was unleashed?
Sean Baker: In that scene, I didn’t know I was going to be marrying the Beethoven track to it at that moment. I just said, “This is a moment in which I’m going to slow thing down.” It was the quiet before the storm. We already had a shot of adrenaline in the beginning and this was going to be the second shot of adrenaline right after this quiet scene. I basically said, “Look, let’s just take a moment and allow the audience to breathe a little bit.” I told Kiki, “Sorry, you are gonna have to smoke like 10 cigarettes,” because we needed to get every angle possible. I should have gotten even more coverage. I wish I had more coverage.
Aguilar: You weaved in hilarious comedy within this story about two marginalized characters. Was finding that tonal balance difficult? The humor is just so clever. There are lots of quotable material in the film like “You didn’t have to Chris-Brown the bitch”or the whole part about "real fish."
Sean Baker: [Laughs] That was really just because when I was in my research process and I’d be hanging out with them, it was like going to a stand up comedy routine. They were so funny, and they would always finish each other's sentences. They would set up jokes and then deliver a punch line. I realize there is so much humor in that world because the women use that humor to cope. They use it to get by. We all use humor in our lives to get through, but they do so especially because they are sex workers because they have to be. They’ve been so marginalized they don’t have other opportunities. They are faced with discrimination, with danger, and with violence on a regular basis. They have to use humor just to cope and I witnessed this. I thought that if I didn’t inject that humor in the story it would be dishonest.
Aguilar: How did the Armenian driver who lives a very traditional lifestyle at home and finds solace in these transgender girls come about? It certainly adds another layer of complexity to the story.
Sean Baker: The actor, Karren Karagulian, this is my fifth time working with him. I love him. He is great, but he is underrated. This industry hasn’t noticed him yet. He doesn’t even have an agent and yet he’s been the lead of three films now. This is due to the racism of the industry, but I’m hoping that this is the film that finally breaks him in because he is so good. I approached him and said, “Look I’m making a film about two transgender sex workers in Los Angeles, how can we incorporate you? Or how can we find a character for you?” He said, “Look there is a huge Armenian community in L.A, I’ll be a cab driver who is into one of them.” I said, “There we go.” [Laughs]. He is New York-based, so he came out and through his connections I was able to get the stars of Armenia. Alla Tumanian, who plays the mother in law, is a classic actress from Armenia. Arsen Grigoryan, who plays the other cab driver that rats on him, he hosts The Voice over in Armenia. He is our biggest celebrity in the movie. It was really interesting to work with some of the stars of Armenia, such seasoned talent.
Aguilar: Will it ever play in Armenia since you have names that are recognized there? Or is it too non-traditional in terms of its themes to play there?
Sean Baker: Yeah, that’s the thing. We are hoping that it plays at the Golden Apricot, which is their film festival, but we are still not sure.
Aguilar: Out of Sundance most of the talk about the film was related to how it had been shot on an iPhone. Have you gotten to a point where you want to talk about the actual film and not mechanics of how it was made?
Sean Baker: Yeah, I’m sort of sick of it at this point. What started out as a budgetary thing has become sort of a gimmick and it’s not, but it is a selling point at the same time so we can’t dismiss it. Some critics have gone as far as to say that subtextually the fact that we are shooting on this accessible device works with the subject matter about these women who might not have the means to shoot any other way. I’m just happy that it’s accepted and that we were able to find our aesthetic. We were sort of forced into it but I’m happy with the look of the end product. I come from the school of thought that feels that if you can shoot film, you should shoot film. I’m still in that Christopher Nolan, Tarantino thing.
Aguilar: Save film!
Sean Baker: Yeah! If I had the budget I would have shot it on film but then I probably wouldn’t have made the same movie.
Aguilar: Did you ever image that "Tangerine" would go as far as it has or did it catch you by surprise? Despite all the iPhone talk, reviews have been stellar and people seem to really connect with the film and its humor.
Sean Baker: No, I thought that it might have the same acceptance as my last film "Starlet," the critics liked it and it won the Altman Award, but it’s still under the radar and people are still finding it on Netflix. I thought it would be the same, but this one seems to have a bigger impact. I thought it was going to divide critics more and so far it hasn’t really done that. People really seem to accept it, which is a great thing. My hope is that with the trans movement being such a big part of the zeitgeist that Mya and Kiki can really parlay this. That’s the hope.
Aguilar: Do you think it’ll be difficult for them to find more acting jobs after this?
Sean Baker: That’s my fear, but at the same time I’m hoping that with the industry realizing that diversity it so important they may be offered more roles. They are talented enough to play anybody. It doesn’t just have to be a trans role. I’d love to see both of them take on anything. That would be the ultimate success for this film.
Aguilar: They are both amazing, colorful, and brimming with authenticity. How did you find them? I'm sure raw talent like this didn't come from traditional casting.
Sean Baker: You have to put in the time. With “Prince of Broadway,” which is the film I made before ”Starlet,” we spent a year in that district and everybody kept on telling us to find Prince Adu. “Find Prince Adu, he’ll like you. He’ll work with you,” and when we did, it all worked out. He was enthusiastic and he wanted to make the movie with us and everything worked out. In this case I tried to keep that in mind, “If I can just find that one person who is enthusiastic enough.” Then, only two weeks in, we went over to the Lgbt center and there was a courtyard, Mya was about 40 feet away and I saw her and thought, “She has a look. There is something about her. She is the one who stands out in the crowd." We went up to her and introduced ourselves. Next thing you know she was doing what Prince did, she had that enthusiasm. She was like, “I want to make this film with you!” We exchanged information and we started going from there. That’s how it happened and then she brought Kiki to the table. This is also something I haven’t said enough, Mark and Jay Duplass were very supportive. They found us the money to make it. When nobody else was stepping forward they were the only ones that said, “We’ll help you make this film.”
Aguilar: They are like the indie film godfathers.
Sean Baker: Exactly!
Aguilar: I have my own theories about this, but why did you decide to title the film “Tangerine”? Is it the sweet and sour nature of the two leads?
Sean Baker: Yes, you got it [Laughs]. Is that and it's also the color. The sense and the fruit you get from the color of it. I didn’t want to go with a literal title. I’m sick of those. Film is the only art form where we feel we have to title our stuff literally. Musicians don’t have to title their songs literally. It can be more about what’s conjured up when you think of a word. In this case for some reason tangerine just kept sticking and we kept on going back to that.
"Tangerine" is now playing in Los Angeles at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood and in NYC at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema...
- 7/11/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Neil Armfield.s Holding the Man, Simon Stone.s The Daughter, Jeremy Sims. Last Cab to Darwin and Jen Peedom.s feature doc Sherpa will have their world premieres at the Sydney Film Festival.
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
- 5/6/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
A banner year in Park City continued to deliver the goods as Magnolia Pictures acquired world rights to Sean Baker’s comedy. Separately, Fox Searchlight closed a major deal for Brooklyn, while Alchemy, Spc and Lionsgate confirmed previously reported buys on Strangerland, The Diary Of A Teenage Girl and Knock Knock.
Fox Searchlight was expected to confirm its deal on Wednesday for most of the world excluding pre-sold UK, Australia and Canada for John Crowley’s Brooklyn in what reports said was a $9m deal.
Magnolia brokered the deal for Next selection Tangerine (pictured) with ICM Partners and Submarine and plans a theatrical release later this year.
Baker directed and co-wrote Tangerine with Chris Bergoch. Mark and Jay Duplass, who last week announced a four-film deal with Netflix, served as executive producers alongside Through Films.
Trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez make their debuts as working girls in search of a wayward pimp on Christmas...
Fox Searchlight was expected to confirm its deal on Wednesday for most of the world excluding pre-sold UK, Australia and Canada for John Crowley’s Brooklyn in what reports said was a $9m deal.
Magnolia brokered the deal for Next selection Tangerine (pictured) with ICM Partners and Submarine and plans a theatrical release later this year.
Baker directed and co-wrote Tangerine with Chris Bergoch. Mark and Jay Duplass, who last week announced a four-film deal with Netflix, served as executive producers alongside Through Films.
Trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez make their debuts as working girls in search of a wayward pimp on Christmas...
- 1/27/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the well-received Sean Baker film “Tangerine,” which just premiered in the Next section of the Sundance Film Festival. "Tangerine" stars Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, two trans actresses making their feature film debuts. The official synopsis, courtesy of Magnolia, describes them as: "two working girls in search of a wayward pimp on a fateful Christmas Eve in Hollywood." Frequent Baker thespians James Ransone and Karren Karagulian also star. "Tangerine" was executive produced by the Duplass Brothers and produced by Through Films and Baker's longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou. The film was lensed by Radium Cheung. Baker said of the acquisition, "The 'Tangerine' team is overjoyed to find a home at Magnolia Pictures and are humbled to be a part of their roster of prestigious, bold and forward-thinking films.Audiences will have the chance to...
- 1/27/2015
- by David Canfield
- Indiewire
Sean Baker's hotly buzzed Sundance Next entry "Tangerine" has sold worldwide rights to Magnolia Pictures, which will distribute nationwide in theaters later this year. Baker's followup to 2012 fest darling "Starlet," "Tangerine" follows trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as two working girls looking for a pimp on Christmas Eve in Hollywood. Co-written by Baker and Chris Bergoch, the film was executive produced by Sundance MVPs Mark and Jay Duplass, and produced by Through Films and Baker's longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou. Shot entirely on an iPhone 5s by Radium Cheung, this marks Magnolia's second acquisition of the fest after Andrew Bujalski's "Results." Reviews have been stellar for "Tangerine," with Indiewire noting that Baker "manages to match underrepresented faces in American cinema with material that lets their personalities shine."...
- 1/27/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Sean Baker directed the film, which was executive produced by the Duplass brothers
Magnolia Pictures is acquiring worldwide distribution rights to director Sean Baker’s “Tangerine,” which stars trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as two working girls in search of a wayward pimp on a fateful Christmas Eve in Hollywood.
The Duplass brothers executive produced the film, which was produced by Through Films and Baker’s longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou.
Magnolia will grant a traditional theatrical release nationwide later this year. The film premiered in the Next section at Sundance on Friday and has been well-reviewed.
Magnolia Pictures is acquiring worldwide distribution rights to director Sean Baker’s “Tangerine,” which stars trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as two working girls in search of a wayward pimp on a fateful Christmas Eve in Hollywood.
The Duplass brothers executive produced the film, which was produced by Through Films and Baker’s longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou.
Magnolia will grant a traditional theatrical release nationwide later this year. The film premiered in the Next section at Sundance on Friday and has been well-reviewed.
- 1/27/2015
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
The scrooge in me doesn’t care much for Xmas themed films. But worry not, this Christmas without snow will surely bring out the yuletide spirit. Following Four Letter Words, Take Out, Prince of Broadway and Starlet, on paper, Sean Baker’s fifth feature film promises more of the same: an immersive experience with characters you’d never thought you had a rapport with in a scape you probably didn’t know existed. Think street National Geographic style d examinations of the human condition. A featured Ioncinephile filmmaker, Baker began filming Tangerine very early in the year, and as usual, we find a mix of non-actors (stars newbies Kiki Lee Key and Mya Taylor) with a seasoned pro in James Ransone.
Gist: Co-scripted with Chris Bergoch, this is a rip-roaring journey through various subcultures of Tinseltown on Christmas Eve.
Production Co./Producers: Sean Baker, Through Films’ Marcus and Karrie Cox,...
Gist: Co-scripted with Chris Bergoch, this is a rip-roaring journey through various subcultures of Tinseltown on Christmas Eve.
Production Co./Producers: Sean Baker, Through Films’ Marcus and Karrie Cox,...
- 11/14/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Moving from unlikely friendships in Starlet, to perhaps the likeliest of neighbors, Sean Baker appears to have found a cosmos that is inspiring to him in the rarely depicted Los Angeles backdrop. While still mum on plot details, Deadline has learned that Tangerine will include the filmmaker’s preferred mix of first timers and old-timers. Newbie thesps Kiki Lee Key and Mya Taylor are supported by Mickey O’Hagan and Karren Karagulian – both appeared in Baker’s films (including Prince of Broadway and Starlet) and oft used Spike Lee character actor in James Ransone.
Production on his fifth feature began earlier this year with Mark and Jay Duplass once again proving their love for American indie as exec producers alongside hubby & wife team Marcus and Karrie Cox’s Through Films. Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou (who co-directed Take Out with Baker) are producing as well, while Freestyle Productions’ Kevin Chinoy...
Production on his fifth feature began earlier this year with Mark and Jay Duplass once again proving their love for American indie as exec producers alongside hubby & wife team Marcus and Karrie Cox’s Through Films. Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou (who co-directed Take Out with Baker) are producing as well, while Freestyle Productions’ Kevin Chinoy...
- 6/20/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Chicago – As a graduate of the University of Illinois, I can tell you there is one time of the year that is very close to my heart, and many others in the Champaign-Urbana community. That is the last weekend of April every year which brings us Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (aka Ebertfest). And tonight, the lineup for the 14th Annual Ebertfest was announced and includes some very exciting guests.
Returning to the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Il, Ebertfest 2012 will feature 14 different films with special guests and panel discussions after each screening. The past few years have featured Ang Lee, Charlie Kaufman, Bill Nighy, Tim Blake Nelson, Tilda Swinton, and many more, and this year features some exciting guests as well, including Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, and Jacob Wysocki.
Oswalt will be appearing at the festival for his film “Big Fan,” and he will also be on hand to introduce...
Returning to the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Il, Ebertfest 2012 will feature 14 different films with special guests and panel discussions after each screening. The past few years have featured Ang Lee, Charlie Kaufman, Bill Nighy, Tim Blake Nelson, Tilda Swinton, and many more, and this year features some exciting guests as well, including Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, and Jacob Wysocki.
Oswalt will be appearing at the festival for his film “Big Fan,” and he will also be on hand to introduce...
- 3/21/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
SnagFilms has acquired digital rights to "Kinyarwanda," winner of the World Cinema Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film is nominated for three NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Independent Motion Picture, Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing for a Motion Picture. "Kinyarwanda" will make its digital debut via SnagFilms’ transactional partners, including Comcast Xfinity, FiOS, Directv, iTunes, Amazon and Vudu. Directed and written by Alrick Brown, produced by Darren Dean and Tommy Oliver, and co-produced by Deatra Harris and Joshua Rodd, "Kinyarwanda" is based on true accounts of the Rwandan genocide, interweaving six perspectives to tell the complex story of human resilience and life during the genocide. The story was written by executive producer Ishmael Ntihabose. Roger Ebert selected the film as no. 6 in his Top 20 Films of 2011. The film opened in theaters via...
- 2/1/2012
- Indiewire
SnagFilms has acquired exclusive digital rights to Kinyarwanda, which won the world cinema dramatic audience award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, where it had its premiere. The film will debut via SnagFilms partners such as Comcast Xfinity, FiOS, Directv, iTunes, Amazon and Vudu. Photos: The Scene at Sundance Film Festival 2012 Alrick Brown wrote and directed the fact-based film, which follows six different storylines of people struggling through the Rwandan genocide. Darren Dean and Tommy Oliver produced; Ishmael Ntihabose is an executive producer. “SnagFilms is pleased to bring Kinyarwanda to digital audiences in the comfort of their homes,” said SnagFilms COO Stephanie
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- 1/30/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Filmmakers Sean Baker and Darren Dean chatted with the Los Angeles Film Festival's Doug Jones about their film Prince of Broadway.
Sean Baker's Prince of Broadway never stops moving. Shot in a lively, off-the-cuff manner that energizes the screen, the film follows Lucky, a street hustler and illegal immigrant from Ghana pushing knock-off handbags in New York's wholesale fashion district. His pursuit of the American Dream takes an unexpected detour when an ex-girlfriend drops a toddler she claims is their son in his lap. After making its world premiere at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival and subsequently winning the Festival's Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative, Prince of Broadway has gone on to delight audiences around the world, receiving over a dozen top prizes from festivals around the world. Now, two years after its festival premiere, Prince of Broadway is beginning its theatrical run, thanks to distributor Elephant Eye Films...
Sean Baker's Prince of Broadway never stops moving. Shot in a lively, off-the-cuff manner that energizes the screen, the film follows Lucky, a street hustler and illegal immigrant from Ghana pushing knock-off handbags in New York's wholesale fashion district. His pursuit of the American Dream takes an unexpected detour when an ex-girlfriend drops a toddler she claims is their son in his lap. After making its world premiere at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival and subsequently winning the Festival's Target Filmmaker Award for Best Narrative, Prince of Broadway has gone on to delight audiences around the world, receiving over a dozen top prizes from festivals around the world. Now, two years after its festival premiere, Prince of Broadway is beginning its theatrical run, thanks to distributor Elephant Eye Films...
- 9/21/2010
- by maint
- Film Independent
CinemaSpy has received the official trailer for the independently made comedy-drama Prince of Broadway. You can view it by clicking on the Trailer tab above.
Prince of Broadway is described as being filmed in a 'fast-paced guerilla style that is akin to the hustler lifestyle.' It is currently showing in only select theaters but has already enjoyed success on the film festival network. It won the Best Narrative Feature Award at the Los Angeles and Woodstock Film Festivals, the Grand Jury Prize at the Canary Islands, Florida, Sacramento and Pan African L.A. Film Festivals, the Jury Award at the Torino Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Belfort International Film Festival and Best American Feature at the Cleveland Film Festival. In addition it won the Best New Filmmaker award at the Boulder Film Festival and was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Sean Baker...
Prince of Broadway is described as being filmed in a 'fast-paced guerilla style that is akin to the hustler lifestyle.' It is currently showing in only select theaters but has already enjoyed success on the film festival network. It won the Best Narrative Feature Award at the Los Angeles and Woodstock Film Festivals, the Grand Jury Prize at the Canary Islands, Florida, Sacramento and Pan African L.A. Film Festivals, the Jury Award at the Torino Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Belfort International Film Festival and Best American Feature at the Cleveland Film Festival. In addition it won the Best New Filmmaker award at the Boulder Film Festival and was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Sean Baker...
- 8/18/2010
- CinemaSpy
Getting a little less attention than glossier fare like "The Avengers" and "Cowboys & Aliens" in the four-day firestorm of Comic-Con unveilings the past weekend was the announcement that "A Contract With God" was headed to the big screen, indie-style.
Will Eisner's masterpiece, which consists of four semi-autobiographical short stories set in the Bronx and its environs in the 1930s, is considered a landmark of the form. It's one of the main texts, along with "Watchmen" and "Maus," that gets brought up by people making the case for the potential of comic books and graphic novels as art forms.
Each of the four parts of "A Contract With God" will be handled, anthology-style, by one of four up-and-coming indie filmmakers. The dream team and the segments they'll each handle:
Sean Baker: "Cookalien"
One of the creators of the "Greg the Bunny" franchise, formerly of IFC, then Fox, then IFC again,...
Will Eisner's masterpiece, which consists of four semi-autobiographical short stories set in the Bronx and its environs in the 1930s, is considered a landmark of the form. It's one of the main texts, along with "Watchmen" and "Maus," that gets brought up by people making the case for the potential of comic books and graphic novels as art forms.
Each of the four parts of "A Contract With God" will be handled, anthology-style, by one of four up-and-coming indie filmmakers. The dream team and the segments they'll each handle:
Sean Baker: "Cookalien"
One of the creators of the "Greg the Bunny" franchise, formerly of IFC, then Fox, then IFC again,...
- 7/30/2010
- by Alison Willmore
- ifc.com
We are becoming familiar with the idea that filming graphic novels rarely works out the way we might hope. Alan Moore disinherits most adaptations of his work, big-budget Watchmen drastically changed the story (managing only marginal artistic success, and mixed reactions), and Will Eisner‘s The Spirit quickly became a laughing stock.
There is something very different going on in graphic novels, a subject about which Will Eisner had much to say. Born in 1917, and considered by most the father, grandfather, or otherwise supreme chief of the graphic novel format (or sequential art), Eisner’s work not only led the way for the form to become what it is today, but like many forerunners, is better than anything that followed to boot.
We’re giving it another shot now, with his treasure, A Contract with God. Set to film as distinct(ish) segments directed by Tze Chun, Alex Rivera, Barry Jenkins and Sean Baker,...
There is something very different going on in graphic novels, a subject about which Will Eisner had much to say. Born in 1917, and considered by most the father, grandfather, or otherwise supreme chief of the graphic novel format (or sequential art), Eisner’s work not only led the way for the form to become what it is today, but like many forerunners, is better than anything that followed to boot.
We’re giving it another shot now, with his treasure, A Contract with God. Set to film as distinct(ish) segments directed by Tze Chun, Alex Rivera, Barry Jenkins and Sean Baker,...
- 7/29/2010
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
Hollywood is powering through the existing comic-book proerties on shelves, working their way from the obvious Spideys and Batmans and onto more obscuro works of graphic storytelling like The Green Hornet and Ant Man. So it is only right that it's time to now revisit one of the most heralded comic creators, Will Eisner.
While the most recent Eisner adaptation, The Spirit, wasn't too much of a success, producers are hoping to make a better go of his short-story collection A Contract With God, often misconstrued as the first ever graphic novel.
A merry band of screenwriters will team up to adapt one story each, under the watchful eye of producer Darren Dean. Writer/ Directors include Alex Rivera, (Sleep Dealer); Tze Chun (Children of Invention); Barry Jenkins, (Medicine for Melancholy); and Sean Baker (Prince of Broadway).
It's unclear which scribe will take which story just yet, but Eisner's semi-autobiographical book...
While the most recent Eisner adaptation, The Spirit, wasn't too much of a success, producers are hoping to make a better go of his short-story collection A Contract With God, often misconstrued as the first ever graphic novel.
A merry band of screenwriters will team up to adapt one story each, under the watchful eye of producer Darren Dean. Writer/ Directors include Alex Rivera, (Sleep Dealer); Tze Chun (Children of Invention); Barry Jenkins, (Medicine for Melancholy); and Sean Baker (Prince of Broadway).
It's unclear which scribe will take which story just yet, but Eisner's semi-autobiographical book...
- 7/29/2010
- Screenrush
Will Eisner’s graphic novel A Contract With God is being adapted into a live-action feature, and producer Darren Dean will be in charge for the adaptation.
This definitely looks good, since four screenwriters will be behind the short stories that makes up the novel: Alex Rivera, Tze Chun, Barry Jenkins and Sean Baker. But, we guess that this kind of story deserves the best team…
Here’s a description: “The work consists of four short stories – A Contract With God, The Super, The Street Singer, and Cookalein – all set in a Bronx tenement in the 1930s, with the last story also taking place at a summer getaway for Jews. The stories are semi-autobiographical, with Eisner drawing heavily on his own childhood experiences as well as those of his contemporaries.
Utilizing his talents for expressive lettering and cartoonish figures, he links the narratives by the common setting and the common...
This definitely looks good, since four screenwriters will be behind the short stories that makes up the novel: Alex Rivera, Tze Chun, Barry Jenkins and Sean Baker. But, we guess that this kind of story deserves the best team…
Here’s a description: “The work consists of four short stories – A Contract With God, The Super, The Street Singer, and Cookalein – all set in a Bronx tenement in the 1930s, with the last story also taking place at a summer getaway for Jews. The stories are semi-autobiographical, with Eisner drawing heavily on his own childhood experiences as well as those of his contemporaries.
Utilizing his talents for expressive lettering and cartoonish figures, he links the narratives by the common setting and the common...
- 7/29/2010
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Will Eisner's classic graphic novel A Contract With God is going to be adapted into a live-action feature film by writer/producer Darren Dean. Dean hasn't really done much, but this graphic novel he is about to adapt better be done right. The comic is a collection of short stories that shows you just how great of a storyteller Eisner was.
The screenplay for the film is being written by four different screenwriters. Each screenwriter will take one of the short stories from the novel and adapt it. These screenwriters include Alex Rivera (Sleep Dealer) Tze Chun, (Children of Invention) Barry Jenkins (Medicine for Melancholy) and Sean Baker (Prince of Broadway). Darren Dean will also take a crack at one of the stories, he also co-wrote Price of Broadway.
It should be really interesting to see how this graphic novel translates to the big screen.
Heres a little synopsis...
The screenplay for the film is being written by four different screenwriters. Each screenwriter will take one of the short stories from the novel and adapt it. These screenwriters include Alex Rivera (Sleep Dealer) Tze Chun, (Children of Invention) Barry Jenkins (Medicine for Melancholy) and Sean Baker (Prince of Broadway). Darren Dean will also take a crack at one of the stories, he also co-wrote Price of Broadway.
It should be really interesting to see how this graphic novel translates to the big screen.
Heres a little synopsis...
- 7/28/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
One of the enduring examples of the graphic novel as a form is Will Eisner's A Contract With God, a collection of short stories that is often called the first graphic novel. It isn't that, but it is a wonderful book, and a great example of why Eisner is considered a master of comic book storytelling. Now, and this was probably inevitable, there is a film version in development. THR says that producer Darren Dean is behind the adaptation, which is being written by four screenwriters, each of whom will take resposibility for one of the short stories that makes up the novel. They are: Alex Rivera, who wrote and directed Sleep Dealer; Tze Chun, who wrote and directed Children of Invention; Barry Jenkins, who wrote and directed Medicine for Melancholy; and Sean Baker, who directed and co-wrote (with Darren Dean) Prince of Broadway. That's an interesting lineup -- all are writer/directors,...
- 7/28/2010
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
A live-action feature film adaptation of Will Eisner's graphic novel "A Contract With God" is in the works says The Hollywood Reporter.
Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer"), Tze Chun ("Children of Invention"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy") and Sean Baker ("Prince of Broadway") will direct parts of the anthology feature which recounts Eisner's memories of growing up in a New York City tenement.
Darren Dean is slated to produce.
Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer"), Tze Chun ("Children of Invention"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy") and Sean Baker ("Prince of Broadway") will direct parts of the anthology feature which recounts Eisner's memories of growing up in a New York City tenement.
Darren Dean is slated to produce.
- 7/27/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Legendary comic book master Will Eisner’s groundbreaking graphic novel “A Contract with God” is being adapted into a live action feature film, it was announced on Saturday at Comic- Con International 2010 by the film’s producers. In what is considered by many to be one of the most influential graphic novels ever written, in “A Contract with God” Eisner utilizes the comic book format in an innovative and pioneering way to explore stories and memories from his childhood growing up in a New York City tenement. Each tale captures the brutality, fragility, and tenderness that exists among people living in close quarters in challenging economic times.
A quartet of acclaimed independent directors are attached to direct each of the graphic novel’s four adjoining chapters: Alex Rivera (“Sleep Dealer”); Tze Chun (“Children of Invention”); Barry Jenkins (“Medicine for Melancholy”); and Sean Baker (“Prince of Broadway,” MTV’s “Warren the...
A quartet of acclaimed independent directors are attached to direct each of the graphic novel’s four adjoining chapters: Alex Rivera (“Sleep Dealer”); Tze Chun (“Children of Invention”); Barry Jenkins (“Medicine for Melancholy”); and Sean Baker (“Prince of Broadway,” MTV’s “Warren the...
- 7/26/2010
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
Will Eisner's graphic novel "A Contract With God" is being adapted into a live-action feature by writer-producer Darren Dean.
"God" recounts Eisner's memories of growing up in a New York City tenement, and four directors, who will each helm one chapter of the tale, have lined up to bring it to the screen.
The quartet consists of Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer"), Tze Chun ("Children of Invention"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy") and Sean Baker ("Prince of Broadway").
Dean -- who also co-wrote and produced "Prince of Broadway," which will be released by Elephant Eye Films in the fall -- will produce the adaptation under the auspices of the Eisner estate. Bob Schreck and Michael Ruggiero will serve as co-executive producers, with Tommy Oliver as co-producer and Mark Rabinowitz as associate producer.
The project was announced at Comic-Con at the 22nd annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, honoring achievement in American comic books.
"God" recounts Eisner's memories of growing up in a New York City tenement, and four directors, who will each helm one chapter of the tale, have lined up to bring it to the screen.
The quartet consists of Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer"), Tze Chun ("Children of Invention"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy") and Sean Baker ("Prince of Broadway").
Dean -- who also co-wrote and produced "Prince of Broadway," which will be released by Elephant Eye Films in the fall -- will produce the adaptation under the auspices of the Eisner estate. Bob Schreck and Michael Ruggiero will serve as co-executive producers, with Tommy Oliver as co-producer and Mark Rabinowitz as associate producer.
The project was announced at Comic-Con at the 22nd annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, honoring achievement in American comic books.
- 7/25/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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