Wesley Snipes stars in Mauro Borrelli's The Recall. This film has been completed and it is slated for theatres, this Summer. The film will release in early June, in Barco Escape’s panoramic theatres. Then, this title will show in regular 2D cinemas, in mid-June. The Recall involves alien abductions and several friends just trying to have a good time. The film's first trailer is hosted here. The trailer shows Snipes as The Hunter. He has turned to hermitude after a traumatizing encounter with aliens. When the aliens return, The Hunter has to protect several friends, who have no idea what they are in store for. The Recall has a decent supporting cast. Rj Mitte (House of Last Things) and Jedidiah Goodacre (Tomorrowland) also star, with Laura Bilgeri and Hannah Rose May. Fans of sci-fi thrillers can find the latest on The Recall, right here! Release Date: June 2nd,...
- 5/2/2017
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
For the final week of November, horror and sci-fi fans have a few things to be thankful for, including some great films they can add to their home entertainment collections. With the holidays just right around the corner, Rlj Entertainment is releasing A Christmas Horror Story and Scream Factory is resurrecting a duo of classic films in HD on Tuesday as well—Ghost Story and Blood and Lace.
Other notable titles being released on November 24th include The Badger Game, The Last House, The Mask 3-D and The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant.
A Christmas Horror Story (Rlj Entertainment, Blu-ray & DVD)
It’s the season of joy, peace, and goodwill… unless you live in Bailey Downs. Last Christmas Eve, two teens came to a grisly end in a school basement. Now, one year later, a new set of horrors has come to town. As three friends explore the site of the massacre,...
Other notable titles being released on November 24th include The Badger Game, The Last House, The Mask 3-D and The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant.
A Christmas Horror Story (Rlj Entertainment, Blu-ray & DVD)
It’s the season of joy, peace, and goodwill… unless you live in Bailey Downs. Last Christmas Eve, two teens came to a grisly end in a school basement. Now, one year later, a new set of horrors has come to town. As three friends explore the site of the massacre,...
- 11/24/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
*Updated with new film and TV show listings.* Happy October, everyone! Our favorite month is finally upon us, which means everyone is getting into the Halloween spirit, especially when it comes to upcoming TV programming over the next 31 days. Trying to keep track of everything that’s playing throughout October can be a hellish affair, so once again Daily Dead is here to help make sure you know about everything Halloween-related hitting cable and network airwaves over the coming weeks.
* All Updated & Additional Listings Are In Bold (all times listed are Et/Pt)*
Thursday, October 1st
9:00am – Halloween Crazier (Travel Channel)
10:00am – Halloween Craziest (Travel Channel)
4:00pm – Firestarter (AMC)
6:00pm – The Last Exorcism (Syfy)
6:30pm – Pet Sematary (AMC)
8:00pm – My Babysitter’s a Vampire (Disney)
8:30pm – Stephen King’s Thinner (AMC)
10:00pm – Dominion Season 3 Finale (Syfy)
10:30 pm – Cujo (AMC)
Friday,...
* All Updated & Additional Listings Are In Bold (all times listed are Et/Pt)*
Thursday, October 1st
9:00am – Halloween Crazier (Travel Channel)
10:00am – Halloween Craziest (Travel Channel)
4:00pm – Firestarter (AMC)
6:00pm – The Last Exorcism (Syfy)
6:30pm – Pet Sematary (AMC)
8:00pm – My Babysitter’s a Vampire (Disney)
8:30pm – Stephen King’s Thinner (AMC)
10:00pm – Dominion Season 3 Finale (Syfy)
10:30 pm – Cujo (AMC)
Friday,...
- 10/20/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
As head of Dimension Films, Bob Weinstein had to convince Wes Craven to direct Kevin Williamson's meta-horror screenplay, originally called 'Scary Movie,' which was released in 1996 as Scream. The movie, which grossed $173 million worldwide, gave birth to three sequels and a series on MTV. Looking back, Weinstein remembers Craven, whose name became synonymous with smart horror movies, as "a student of the art of that genre." I had never met Wes. I knew him from movies only, but I was a big fan of The Last House Left and A Nightmare on Elm Street scared the hell
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- 8/31/2015
- by Bob Weinstein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The man who gave us Freddy Krueger is gone! One of the great, name-above-the title horror maestros of the ‘70s and ‘80s has died. Wes Craven was a huge name in the horror biz – his A Nightmare On Elm Street in ’84 was an influential shocker, spawning many sequels and rip-offs. He followed that up with the first three Scream films. He was such a box-office sure-thing, he was the reigns to a Meryl Streep Oscar-baiter with 1999’s Music Of The Heart. But Craven’s heart was always in horror: The Hills Have Eyes, The Swamp Thing, The Serpent And The Rainbow, and The People Under The Stairs were among his many popular films. My favorite remains his first, The Last House On The Left, a still-terrifying look at sadism and savagery that was decades ahead of its time. Wes Craven was 76 and had suffered from brain cancer.
From The Hollywood Reporter:
“Wes Craven,...
From The Hollywood Reporter:
“Wes Craven,...
- 8/31/2015
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Director Wes Craven died this afternoon in Los Angeles. Craven was 76 and passed away at home surrounded by his family after battling brain cancer. From his first feature film The Last House On The Left as writer, director and editor in 1972, Craven made his mark as a genre-bending, bracingly innovative horror director with a biting sense of humor. Craven also consistently demonstrated that he was a filmmaker with heart. Among the films that followed The Last House On The…...
- 8/31/2015
- Deadline TV
Director Wes Craven died this afternoon in Los Angeles. Craven was 76 and passed away at home surrounded by his family after battling brain cancer. From his first feature film The Last House On The Left as writer, director and editor in 1972, Craven made his mark as a genre-bending, bracingly innovative horror director with a biting sense of humor. Craven also consistently demonstrated that he was a filmmaker with heart. Among the films that followed The Last House On The…...
- 8/31/2015
- Deadline
Stars: Amanda Adrienne, Tom Ardavany, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Rodney Rowland, Brionne Davis, Ed Fletcher, Jason Gurvitz, Daniel Knight, John Charles Meyer, Kyle Morris, Marc Anthony Samuel | Written and Directed by Micheal S. Ojeda
Travelling across country to be with her fiancé, deaf mute Zoe (Adrienne) stumbles on a horrific crime. Zoe’s brave attempt to intervene seals her fate; she’s brutalized and left for dead. When an Indian shaman finds her clinging to life in a shallow grave he attempts to save her – but in the mystical process the spirit of an ancient Apache warrior enters her corpse hell-bent on revenge. But can she slaughter the men who attacked her in time before her body decomposes completely?
Described as a more horrific take on The Crow, Savaged is actually more a supernatural take on I Spit on Your Grave (or The Last House of the Left) – complete with a tortured heroine,...
Travelling across country to be with her fiancé, deaf mute Zoe (Adrienne) stumbles on a horrific crime. Zoe’s brave attempt to intervene seals her fate; she’s brutalized and left for dead. When an Indian shaman finds her clinging to life in a shallow grave he attempts to save her – but in the mystical process the spirit of an ancient Apache warrior enters her corpse hell-bent on revenge. But can she slaughter the men who attacked her in time before her body decomposes completely?
Described as a more horrific take on The Crow, Savaged is actually more a supernatural take on I Spit on Your Grave (or The Last House of the Left) – complete with a tortured heroine,...
- 11/19/2014
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
We’re approaching the spooky season, and distributors are ramping up their Halloween coverage before fall arrives. Leading the charge is Metro Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Fox Home Entertainment’s 13-film slate of horror classics, set to be reissued on Blu-ray and DVD September 9, 2014. The iconic films will receive a new, limited-edition faceplate by the cult-decor aficionados at Skuzzles. You can purchase the films at major retailers, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy and more for a mere $8 bucks tops. The rereleases include iconic fright flicks such as The Amityville Horror (boasting a great Lalo Schifrin soundtrack), Carrie (full of feminist subtext), the still terrifying Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Wes Craven’s 1972 exploitation staple The Last House on...
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- 9/11/2014
- by Alison Nastasi
- Movies.com
Cannes: Thriller 'House of Last Things' with 'Breaking Bad's' Rj Mitte to be Distributed by Revolver
Earlier this week, Double Dutch International, a company that helps sell films to distributors, negotiated a deal for upcoming thriller 'House of Last Things' to be distributed by Revolver in the U.S and Canada. The film, which marks the directorial debut of Michael Bartlett, looks at the mysterious circumstances that surround a tragedy that took place in a Portland house and how this haunting affects the house's occupants. It stars Lindsey Haun ("True Blood"), Blake Berris ("Days of Our Lives"), and Rj Mitte (Walter White Jr. in "Breaking Bad"). "Double Dutch is excited to announce these territory deals," Double Dutch President Jason Moring said. "'House of Last Things' is a gripping thriller. Revolver, Signature Entertainment and MiG [who will distribute abroad] are the perfect distributors to handle the film.'"...
- 5/20/2014
- by Eric Eidelstein
- Indiewire
Recently during the Cannes Marche du Film, Jason Moring, Double Dutch International president, announced it has sold distribution rights for the feature House of Last Things in the following territories: Us and Canada (Revolver), UK (Signature Entertainment), and Germany (MiG). Double Dutch International is selling remaining territories.
The film marks the Us directorial debut of AFI grad Michael Bartlett (The Little Girl Who Fell From The Tree), who also wrote the film. It stars Lindsey Haun (True Blood, Shrooms), Blake Berris (Days of Our Lives, Meth Head), and Rj Mitte in his feature film debut following his role as Walter White Jr. in the Emmy Award-winning series Breaking Bad.
House of Last Things is a mind-bending thriller set in Portland, Oregon about an unspoken tragedy and its effects on a house, its temporary caretakers and the owners, a classical music critic and his wife on a recuperative trip to Italy.
"Double Dutch is excited to announce these territory deals," says Moring, "House of Last Things is a gripping thriller. Revolver, Signature Entertainment and MiG are the perfect distributors to handle the film.'"
The Revolver deal was negotiated by Ron Moring for Double Dutch and Daniel Brandt for Revolver.
"House of Last Thingsis the type of film that will satisfy arthouse and horror fans alike," says Brandt, "Bartlett's portrayal of the evil lurking in suburbia is reminiscent of David Lynch 's Blue Velvet."
About Double Dutch:
Double Dutch International (Ddi) is a globally recognized sales company, representing high level, cast driven features with strong commercial viability worldwide, across all media platforms. Ddi's brings a fresh look to sales, uniquely blending experience with the flexibility to adapt in today's market reality. We find enthusiastic and creative distribution partners for our producers ensuring maximum exposure and return for each film. ...
The film marks the Us directorial debut of AFI grad Michael Bartlett (The Little Girl Who Fell From The Tree), who also wrote the film. It stars Lindsey Haun (True Blood, Shrooms), Blake Berris (Days of Our Lives, Meth Head), and Rj Mitte in his feature film debut following his role as Walter White Jr. in the Emmy Award-winning series Breaking Bad.
House of Last Things is a mind-bending thriller set in Portland, Oregon about an unspoken tragedy and its effects on a house, its temporary caretakers and the owners, a classical music critic and his wife on a recuperative trip to Italy.
"Double Dutch is excited to announce these territory deals," says Moring, "House of Last Things is a gripping thriller. Revolver, Signature Entertainment and MiG are the perfect distributors to handle the film.'"
The Revolver deal was negotiated by Ron Moring for Double Dutch and Daniel Brandt for Revolver.
"House of Last Thingsis the type of film that will satisfy arthouse and horror fans alike," says Brandt, "Bartlett's portrayal of the evil lurking in suburbia is reminiscent of David Lynch 's Blue Velvet."
About Double Dutch:
Double Dutch International (Ddi) is a globally recognized sales company, representing high level, cast driven features with strong commercial viability worldwide, across all media platforms. Ddi's brings a fresh look to sales, uniquely blending experience with the flexibility to adapt in today's market reality. We find enthusiastic and creative distribution partners for our producers ensuring maximum exposure and return for each film. ...
- 5/19/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Stars: Lindsey Haun, Blake Berris, Rj Mitte, Diane Dalton, Randy Schulman | Written and Directed by Michael Bartlett
A mind bending supernatural thriller, The Last House follows Kelly (Lindsey Haun) as she is house-sits for an estranged couple who are taking a trip to Italy to escape their troubles and start afresh. But all is not as it seems in this strange tale as Kelly, joined by her brother Tim (R.J. Mitte) and her boyfriend Jesse (Blake Berris), find the house’s dark secret slowly revealed to them in a twisting tale of events which affects them all.
This haunted house film is written and directed by Michael Bartlett. If I had to describe it in three words, I would say ‘Ghosts and Golf’. Luckily for you, I have a few more words than that so I will go into detail. This film follows the stories of both Kelly in...
A mind bending supernatural thriller, The Last House follows Kelly (Lindsey Haun) as she is house-sits for an estranged couple who are taking a trip to Italy to escape their troubles and start afresh. But all is not as it seems in this strange tale as Kelly, joined by her brother Tim (R.J. Mitte) and her boyfriend Jesse (Blake Berris), find the house’s dark secret slowly revealed to them in a twisting tale of events which affects them all.
This haunted house film is written and directed by Michael Bartlett. If I had to describe it in three words, I would say ‘Ghosts and Golf’. Luckily for you, I have a few more words than that so I will go into detail. This film follows the stories of both Kelly in...
- 4/15/2014
- by Richard Axtell
- Nerdly
Stars: Amanda Adrienne, Tom Ardavany, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Rodney Rowland, Brionne Davis, Ed Fletcher, Jason Gurvitz, Daniel Knight, John Charles Meyer, Kyle Morris, Marc Anthony Samuel | Written and Directed by Micheal S. Ojeda
Travelling across country to be with her fiancé, deaf mute Zoe (Adrienne) stumbles on a horrific crime. Zoe’s brave attempt to intervene seals her fate; she’s brutalized and left for dead. When an Indian shaman finds her clinging to life in a shallow grave he attempts to save her – but in the mystical process the spirit of an ancient Apache warrior enters her corpse hell-bent on revenge. But can she slaughter the men who attacked her in time before her body decomposes completely?
Described as a more horrific take on The Crow, Savaged is actually more a supernatural take on I Spit on Your Grave (or The Last House of the Left) – complete with a tortured heroine,...
Travelling across country to be with her fiancé, deaf mute Zoe (Adrienne) stumbles on a horrific crime. Zoe’s brave attempt to intervene seals her fate; she’s brutalized and left for dead. When an Indian shaman finds her clinging to life in a shallow grave he attempts to save her – but in the mystical process the spirit of an ancient Apache warrior enters her corpse hell-bent on revenge. But can she slaughter the men who attacked her in time before her body decomposes completely?
Described as a more horrific take on The Crow, Savaged is actually more a supernatural take on I Spit on Your Grave (or The Last House of the Left) – complete with a tortured heroine,...
- 2/28/2014
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
A small boy clutches a yellow balloon as if it's a security blanket. A young woman cuts open an apple only to find a golf ball inside. Her teenage brother watches in fright as a photo of a loving couple morphs into that of two coffins, side by side.These are just a handful of the fantastic images from Micharl Bartlett's House Of Last Things, a ghost story that behaves far differently from most other recent American fare that have chosen to play in such supernatural realms. Though the film is at times still quite creepy, and always persistently strange, Bartlett's story is refreshingly absent of evil and any real terror, gruesome or otherwise. For as much as it is a ghost story House Of Last...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 11/21/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Exclusive: Double Dutch International has concluded further business at the market with a slew of deals on Detour, Saving Santa and Dorfman In Love, among others.
Teleprog has acquired all Middle East TV and VOD rights to Detour, General Education, Union Square, Saving Santa and Dorfman In Love.
Mig Film Group acquired German and German-speaking Europe to Seance: The Summoning, House Of Last Things and Armistice, while Koch Media took all Benelux rights to Conception.
Sinema TV took Turkey/Cyprus TV and VOD rights to Saving Santa, Detour and Empire Of Dirt, while Dexterity Entertainment picked up Mexico, Central America, South America and Caribbean pay-tv to Dorfman In Love, Union Square, Séance: The Summoning and General Education.
HBO Europe acquired VOD, Svod, pay-tv for Winter Of Discontent in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Poland.
Pyramid Entertainment acquired Indian and non-exclusive North African rights to Cold Blooded. Monterey Media picked...
Teleprog has acquired all Middle East TV and VOD rights to Detour, General Education, Union Square, Saving Santa and Dorfman In Love.
Mig Film Group acquired German and German-speaking Europe to Seance: The Summoning, House Of Last Things and Armistice, while Koch Media took all Benelux rights to Conception.
Sinema TV took Turkey/Cyprus TV and VOD rights to Saving Santa, Detour and Empire Of Dirt, while Dexterity Entertainment picked up Mexico, Central America, South America and Caribbean pay-tv to Dorfman In Love, Union Square, Séance: The Summoning and General Education.
HBO Europe acquired VOD, Svod, pay-tv for Winter Of Discontent in Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Poland.
Pyramid Entertainment acquired Indian and non-exclusive North African rights to Cold Blooded. Monterey Media picked...
- 11/13/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Nov. 26, 2013
Price: Complete Series Blu-ray $299.99, Final Season DVD $55.99, Blu-ray $65.99
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The seven-time Emmy Award-winning Breaking Bad rolled to its end with season five in 2013.
A critical darling, the ground-breaking TV show, which aired on AMC, was hailed for just about every aspect of its production, and although it didn’t win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, Breaking Bad was nominated for the honor every year.
The crime television series stars Bryan Cranston (Argo) as Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who, after he’s diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, partners with his junkie student Jesse (Aaron Paul, TV’s Big Love) to cook and sell meth. Over the five seasons of the drama, White transforms into a powerful and ruthless drug kingpin, trying to balance his criminal life with his family, including his DEA brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris, TV’s Under the Dome...
Price: Complete Series Blu-ray $299.99, Final Season DVD $55.99, Blu-ray $65.99
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The seven-time Emmy Award-winning Breaking Bad rolled to its end with season five in 2013.
A critical darling, the ground-breaking TV show, which aired on AMC, was hailed for just about every aspect of its production, and although it didn’t win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, Breaking Bad was nominated for the honor every year.
The crime television series stars Bryan Cranston (Argo) as Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who, after he’s diagnosed with stage 3 cancer, partners with his junkie student Jesse (Aaron Paul, TV’s Big Love) to cook and sell meth. Over the five seasons of the drama, White transforms into a powerful and ruthless drug kingpin, trying to balance his criminal life with his family, including his DEA brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris, TV’s Under the Dome...
- 9/11/2013
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
Tika Sumpter has signed with Wme. Appearing in Own’s freshman hit Tyler Perry drama series The Haves And Have Nots, Sumpter also has been on Gossip Girl and in the feature Sparkle. Sumpter has roles in a pair of upcoming films: Perry’s A Madea Christmas and the Kevin Hart-Ice Cube comedy Ride Along. Sumpter continues to be managed by Emily Gerson Saines at Brookside Artist Management. Blake Berris has inked with Paradigm. Previously withICM Partners, he is a Daytime Emmy nominee for NBC’s Days Of Our Lives. Berries has appeared on such primetime series as The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad and The Mentalist. His feature credits include Meth Head and House Of Last Things. He continues to be managed by the Michael Abrams Group and his attorney is Scott Whitehead. Ashley Hinshaw has signed with UTA. She starred opposite Dane DeHaan in Chronicle and toplined About Cherry.
- 7/9/2013
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
More news has come in for the Oregon-based film House of Last Things (review) - the flick has been picked to be a part of the Fantasy Filmfest Germany, playing all the major cities in August. Good on all parties concerned. How about we celebrate with some new images?
Directed by Michael Bartlett, House of Last Things is a mind-bending thriller set in Portland, Oregon, about an unspoken tragedy and its effects on a house, its temporary caretakers, and the owners, a classical music critic and his wife on a recuperative trip to Italy.
For more up-to-the-moment info, visit the official House of Last Things Facebook page. For more on the fest, visit the official Fantasy Filmfest website.
Synopsis
Alan (Randy Schulman) is a successful classical music critic, as reflected in his spacious Portland home. His wife, Sarah (Diane Dalton), is an obsessively grieving woman, struggling with an unspoken tragedy...
Directed by Michael Bartlett, House of Last Things is a mind-bending thriller set in Portland, Oregon, about an unspoken tragedy and its effects on a house, its temporary caretakers, and the owners, a classical music critic and his wife on a recuperative trip to Italy.
For more up-to-the-moment info, visit the official House of Last Things Facebook page. For more on the fest, visit the official Fantasy Filmfest website.
Synopsis
Alan (Randy Schulman) is a successful classical music critic, as reflected in his spacious Portland home. His wife, Sarah (Diane Dalton), is an obsessively grieving woman, struggling with an unspoken tragedy...
- 7/8/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Double Dutch International announced today that it has acquired the worldwide rights to the psychological thriller House of Last Things.
The film - written, directed and produced by Michael Bartlett - stars Rj Mitte (Breaking Bad), Lindsey Haun (True Blood) and Blake Berris. Cinematographer is Ken Kelsch (Bad Lieutenant, Big Night, Desert Flower).
House of Last Things is a thriller set in Portland, Oregon. A classical music critic leaves on an extended vacation to Italy with his grieving wife, leaving their spacious home in the hands of a young female caretaker (Haun). Joined by her boyfriend (Berris) and younger brother (Mitte), the house-- and a young boy-- begin inspiring strange and unexplained behavior, the limits of reality begin to blur.
Read more...
The film - written, directed and produced by Michael Bartlett - stars Rj Mitte (Breaking Bad), Lindsey Haun (True Blood) and Blake Berris. Cinematographer is Ken Kelsch (Bad Lieutenant, Big Night, Desert Flower).
House of Last Things is a thriller set in Portland, Oregon. A classical music critic leaves on an extended vacation to Italy with his grieving wife, leaving their spacious home in the hands of a young female caretaker (Haun). Joined by her boyfriend (Berris) and younger brother (Mitte), the house-- and a young boy-- begin inspiring strange and unexplained behavior, the limits of reality begin to blur.
Read more...
- 8/28/2012
- shocktillyoudrop.com
So begins my interview with Sophie Dulac, President of the Champs Élysées Film Festival, film distributor, exhibitor and producer. The first edition of the Festival, co-presided by actors Lambert Wilson and Michael Madsen reached an audience of 15,000 people in Paris, June 6 – 12, 2012.
"And I work with another real blond and her name is Isabelle” [Svanda, General Manager], she adds.
Champs Elysees Film Festival
We are sitting in the outdoor restaurant of Fouquet’s Barriere Hotel, Paris. Also with us are Astrid de Beauregard who has handled all the 50 industry-ites converging on the festival to view four well curated U.S. indie films for the second edition of U.S. in Progress. Maxine Leonard, the festival's publicist and Matthew Akers, the director and cinematographer of Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present are also present. Little did I know he was going to win the Audience Prize for a feature length film from the U.S.
The Festival ended for me with current French resident, with white hair and beard, Donald Sutherland presenting Klute by Alan J. Pakula and starring Jane Fonda, and then giving a A Hollywood Conversation in his American accented but fluent French in a good humored atmosphere. I could write an entire blog on what that film and all that he and Jane meant to me at the very beginning of my career in the film business, but I won’t do that here. He was subsequently post-film appointed Commandeur des Arts & Lettres by Frédéric Mitterrand.
My interview with Sophie is the summit of my experience so far as a "blogger". After all I am not a journalist, nor do I pal around with the glitterati or the “elite” folks in the film business. I knew I was entering a rare atmosphere strolling everyday along the Rue de Montaigne to the Champs Elysees. And now, I was going to talk to the granddaughter of one of France's most illustrious citizens. (and no slouch herself! What a truly lovely, amazing woman!!)
U.S. in Progress
The night before, we, the jury of 9, presented the winners of the 2nd edition of U.S. in Progress with their prizes of post production services. First Prize went to a film worthy of a Cannes slot in Un Certain Regard or Fortnight or Critics Week, A Teacher by Hannah Fidell ♀, whose about-to-turn-thirty protagonist is forced to acknowledge her sin of having an affair with a student. The film's affect upon us women was overwhelmingly cathartic. Receiving an Honorable Mention, I Am I, a Sundance-worthy film, well executed very interesting story, well acted by the extremely professional first-time director Joceyln Towne ♀ with additional casting by Ronnie Yeskel ♀, one of the top indie film casting agents. Julie Bergeron, one of the nine-member jury loved Desert Cathedral, a man's quest for peace after an increasing estrangement from his life. She liked its combination of documentary depiction of the desert and the fictional story about a contemporary and universal dilemma faced by too many people today. I want to see more of the three actors, Lee Tergesen is a young and handsome William Macy type and Chaske Spencer, a charismatic First Nation descendant of Lakota (Sioux) Nation, and Petra Wright. The fourth film Michael Bartlett's House Of Last Things is Bonnie Darko meets Twin Peaks, a paean to the Maestro, David Lynch. More than 50 distributors and sales agent watched these films with us.
As part of the selection, the winner of U.S. in Progress from the 1st edition in Wroclaw, Poland last November, Not Waving But Drowning directed by Devyn Waitt and produced by Nicole Emanuele was also showing and Nicole was accompanied by the star, her boyfriend Steven Farneth from Cinetic, the godmother of the movie and other "family" members. Nicole is now working with Google and YouTube in Content Partnerships, Film/ TV while contemplating her next moves in the business.
Created by Sophie Dulac, the Festival programmed some 50 films enabling Parisian audiences to discover the variety of productions available from France and the United States, in the 5 cinema theaters of the Champs Elysees, the most beautiful avenue in the world: the normally rival cinemas Le Balzac and Le Lincoln, the rivals Gaumont Champs-Elysées and Ugc George V, and the Publicis Cinéma.
This success was thanks to an inquiring public which appreciated the simplicity of organization, the fact that projections started on time, and also the quality of programming, with a special heartfelt interest for the 10 independent films from the U.S. in the official selection.
What Makes Sophie Run?
One night at an extraordinary dinner at the Renault Restaurant on the Champs Elysees, where we sat with Julie Bergeron (of Cannes Marche prominence), Pascal Diot (former Paris based sales agent and now organizer in chief of both Venice and Dubai Ff’s Markets), Adeline Monzier (founder of U.S. in Progress and Europa Distribution), and Producer Christophe Bruncher (whose latest film, If We All Lived Together stars Jane Fonda), I learned about Sophie’s grandfather, Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet,who founded Publicis in 1926 and in effect, invented modern advertising in much the same way that Lucien Barriere invented the resort and the casino. Today Publicis is a French multinational advertising and communications company, headquartered in Paris, France and one of the world's three largest advertising holding companies holding among others, Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett Worldwide. The company conducts its operations in over 200 cities in 104 countries and has a strategic alliance with Dentsu, Inc. He began it as a young man and the Nazis confiscated it as Jewish property. He fled and fought with The Free French...and worked in the Resistance under the name of Blanchet. When he returned to France, he got back his advertising agency and continued doing the sort of pioneering work he loved the best. He also added Blanchet onto his surname. Publicis' current president is Maurice Lévy who was just in the news for having called for higher taxes on the wealthy and now objecting to France’s new President's pledging that he would tax the rich 75% of their income. Read more about the company here.
One more boast about this family: One of Bleustein-Blanchet’s daughters was a legislator and is responsible for abolishing capital punishment in France.
Aside from being totally impressed by all I was hearing, I was beginning to see what informed the personality of the festival and of Sophie herself who was there and everywhere, meeting and mixing with us all. As Maxine said, in effect, Sophie is a mensch. She is the real thing, feet planted firmly on the ground and real. And yet she seems so idealistic in the choices she makes. To this remark of mine, she responded, that in fact, she is very pragmatic, but one must take pleasure in life.
Her grandfather and grandmother raised her and her brother and half brother after their 27 year old mother died in an automobile accident. Sophie was eight years old at the time.
Her grandfather told her that when he began Publicis as a teenager, he never thought about the money he might make. He did it for pleasure. He thought of how best to do what he loved to do the most. For her too, life is about innovation and being happy. She hopes that in ten years the festival and her film business will continue to inspire and motivate her.
Sophie has three children and she tells them to do whatever they want as she would advise everyone: Do what is inside of you, even if it is not what you end up doing. It will make you a better person. Her first son, whom she had when she was 17 and who is now 24, lived one year in Australia and another year in Canada. He is now working with her at the festival. Her 22 year old daughter whom she had when she was 19, lives in London, and the 19 year old, following in his brother’s footsteps, is spending a year in Australia, alone and exploring on his own.
If she succeeds in the movie business, it is because she was not born into films. She has been in the business of Arthouse film production, distribution and exhibition for ten years. Before that she was a practicing psycho graphologist, counseling people from 16 to 60 years old, male and female. You can know a person totally through the handwriting she says. She also did a stint in PR which she hated, before going into film. Her father was a writer and told her to read and so she can talk of many things, not only of business. At the end of the day, she closes her door and business does not exist (unless of course there is a problem at one of her theaters which she does drop in on on Sundays when she is not expected.) She has no scripts at home and does not watch movies for work at home. She has a well rounded education and is proud not to be 100% business.
Today she is also a sort of guardian of Israeli films in France as well. She even wears a small gold Jewish star.
Film Career
She began her film career in 2003 producing a documentary DÉCryptage which examined the French media coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflictand concludes that the media's presentation of the Arab–Israeli conflict in France is consistently skewed against Israel and may be responsible for exacerbating anti-semitism. That documentary was very successful in France, drawing some 300,000 viewers and it caught the attention of Israeli filmmakers.
Famed Israeli actress Ronit Elkabetz, ♀a friend of hers, suggested she help her produce a film she wrote and wanted to direct and she agreed to make Rendre Femme (aka To Take A Wife ♀ produced by Marek Rozenbaum. When Ronit asked her to produce The Band’S Visit, she did not know what to make of the script. But when she saw the footage, she recognized its great potential and stepped in as producer. Unfortunately it could not qualify for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film because it was filmed in Hebrew, Egyptian and English. She went on to produce My Father My Lord an implicit critique of ultra-Orthodox dogma by a filmmaker who grew up in a Hasidic community but abandoned it when he was 25 to study film.
Sophie produces other world films, including her second American film Benny And The Kids (Go Get Some Rosemary), Argentina’s Little Sky and The Camera Obscura both by Maria Victoria Menis ♀ and others including French films like the upcoming film by Jacques Douvenne.
In Cannes this year, she acquired Room 514 (Isa: Docs & Film) de Sharon Bar-Ziv ♀ which played in l'Acid in Cannes and Les Voisins De Dieu (God’S Neighbors) (Isa: Rezo) de Meni Yaesh which played in La Semaine de la Critique in Cannes as well as Directors’ Fortnight entry Le Repenti and Bence Fliegauf’s Berlin competition entry Just The Wind.
She sees festivals as a place where people can discover new films. Theaters need new ideas, directors, and distributors can take risks only if they own theaters. The triangle of festivals, distributors and exhibitors are complimentary and she finds that having all three allows her to keep selected films longer in theaters or allows for changing theaters (she owns 5 theaters including the famous St. Germain arthouse Harlequin). She recognizes that France has so many subsidies for production and distribution – 12 to 15 new films are released every week – and that gives her films more of a chance to succeed as well.
France also has, after 3 years of discussion, finally, in one year made all its theaters digital. The cost to convert is 1 million Euros. 30% of that is paid by Cnc, the government fund made up of a percentage of box office receipts. The digital norm is 2K and the Vpf (Virtual Print Fee is 5,000 Euros. All distributors must pay this first the first time showing for 4 weeks and then, there are not more VPFs.
When she asks Americans for DCPs, she is surprised to learn that they don’t have them. Even Harvey Weinstein who had a retrospective at the Festival did not have digital prints and he said that to use Blu-Ray or HD was all right with him.
Why Harvey?
Everyone loves a good Harvey story. We had heard that he did not want to travel and I was curious how she had such good luck to get him to Paris. Apparently he flew in, appeared, and flew out again.
“The opening night, with the tribute paid to American producer Harvey Weinstein who accepted, with modesty and as a film enthusiast, a trophy was presented by Sophie Dulac, in the presence of VIP guests: Virginie Ledoyen, Deborah François, Audrey Dana, Thomas Langmann, Olivier Nackache and Eric Toledan.”
What he said at this opening event was that Sophie’s brother is the godfather of his son. And when the Godfather makes a request, he cannot refuse to honor it.
So ended my interview with Sophie. As we all struck out to continue the day, Matthew Akers of Marina Abramovic said, “See you in Sarajevo”. And Sophie responded, “How chic!”...
"And I work with another real blond and her name is Isabelle” [Svanda, General Manager], she adds.
Champs Elysees Film Festival
We are sitting in the outdoor restaurant of Fouquet’s Barriere Hotel, Paris. Also with us are Astrid de Beauregard who has handled all the 50 industry-ites converging on the festival to view four well curated U.S. indie films for the second edition of U.S. in Progress. Maxine Leonard, the festival's publicist and Matthew Akers, the director and cinematographer of Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present are also present. Little did I know he was going to win the Audience Prize for a feature length film from the U.S.
The Festival ended for me with current French resident, with white hair and beard, Donald Sutherland presenting Klute by Alan J. Pakula and starring Jane Fonda, and then giving a A Hollywood Conversation in his American accented but fluent French in a good humored atmosphere. I could write an entire blog on what that film and all that he and Jane meant to me at the very beginning of my career in the film business, but I won’t do that here. He was subsequently post-film appointed Commandeur des Arts & Lettres by Frédéric Mitterrand.
My interview with Sophie is the summit of my experience so far as a "blogger". After all I am not a journalist, nor do I pal around with the glitterati or the “elite” folks in the film business. I knew I was entering a rare atmosphere strolling everyday along the Rue de Montaigne to the Champs Elysees. And now, I was going to talk to the granddaughter of one of France's most illustrious citizens. (and no slouch herself! What a truly lovely, amazing woman!!)
U.S. in Progress
The night before, we, the jury of 9, presented the winners of the 2nd edition of U.S. in Progress with their prizes of post production services. First Prize went to a film worthy of a Cannes slot in Un Certain Regard or Fortnight or Critics Week, A Teacher by Hannah Fidell ♀, whose about-to-turn-thirty protagonist is forced to acknowledge her sin of having an affair with a student. The film's affect upon us women was overwhelmingly cathartic. Receiving an Honorable Mention, I Am I, a Sundance-worthy film, well executed very interesting story, well acted by the extremely professional first-time director Joceyln Towne ♀ with additional casting by Ronnie Yeskel ♀, one of the top indie film casting agents. Julie Bergeron, one of the nine-member jury loved Desert Cathedral, a man's quest for peace after an increasing estrangement from his life. She liked its combination of documentary depiction of the desert and the fictional story about a contemporary and universal dilemma faced by too many people today. I want to see more of the three actors, Lee Tergesen is a young and handsome William Macy type and Chaske Spencer, a charismatic First Nation descendant of Lakota (Sioux) Nation, and Petra Wright. The fourth film Michael Bartlett's House Of Last Things is Bonnie Darko meets Twin Peaks, a paean to the Maestro, David Lynch. More than 50 distributors and sales agent watched these films with us.
As part of the selection, the winner of U.S. in Progress from the 1st edition in Wroclaw, Poland last November, Not Waving But Drowning directed by Devyn Waitt and produced by Nicole Emanuele was also showing and Nicole was accompanied by the star, her boyfriend Steven Farneth from Cinetic, the godmother of the movie and other "family" members. Nicole is now working with Google and YouTube in Content Partnerships, Film/ TV while contemplating her next moves in the business.
Created by Sophie Dulac, the Festival programmed some 50 films enabling Parisian audiences to discover the variety of productions available from France and the United States, in the 5 cinema theaters of the Champs Elysees, the most beautiful avenue in the world: the normally rival cinemas Le Balzac and Le Lincoln, the rivals Gaumont Champs-Elysées and Ugc George V, and the Publicis Cinéma.
This success was thanks to an inquiring public which appreciated the simplicity of organization, the fact that projections started on time, and also the quality of programming, with a special heartfelt interest for the 10 independent films from the U.S. in the official selection.
What Makes Sophie Run?
One night at an extraordinary dinner at the Renault Restaurant on the Champs Elysees, where we sat with Julie Bergeron (of Cannes Marche prominence), Pascal Diot (former Paris based sales agent and now organizer in chief of both Venice and Dubai Ff’s Markets), Adeline Monzier (founder of U.S. in Progress and Europa Distribution), and Producer Christophe Bruncher (whose latest film, If We All Lived Together stars Jane Fonda), I learned about Sophie’s grandfather, Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet,who founded Publicis in 1926 and in effect, invented modern advertising in much the same way that Lucien Barriere invented the resort and the casino. Today Publicis is a French multinational advertising and communications company, headquartered in Paris, France and one of the world's three largest advertising holding companies holding among others, Saatchi & Saatchi and Leo Burnett Worldwide. The company conducts its operations in over 200 cities in 104 countries and has a strategic alliance with Dentsu, Inc. He began it as a young man and the Nazis confiscated it as Jewish property. He fled and fought with The Free French...and worked in the Resistance under the name of Blanchet. When he returned to France, he got back his advertising agency and continued doing the sort of pioneering work he loved the best. He also added Blanchet onto his surname. Publicis' current president is Maurice Lévy who was just in the news for having called for higher taxes on the wealthy and now objecting to France’s new President's pledging that he would tax the rich 75% of their income. Read more about the company here.
One more boast about this family: One of Bleustein-Blanchet’s daughters was a legislator and is responsible for abolishing capital punishment in France.
Aside from being totally impressed by all I was hearing, I was beginning to see what informed the personality of the festival and of Sophie herself who was there and everywhere, meeting and mixing with us all. As Maxine said, in effect, Sophie is a mensch. She is the real thing, feet planted firmly on the ground and real. And yet she seems so idealistic in the choices she makes. To this remark of mine, she responded, that in fact, she is very pragmatic, but one must take pleasure in life.
Her grandfather and grandmother raised her and her brother and half brother after their 27 year old mother died in an automobile accident. Sophie was eight years old at the time.
Her grandfather told her that when he began Publicis as a teenager, he never thought about the money he might make. He did it for pleasure. He thought of how best to do what he loved to do the most. For her too, life is about innovation and being happy. She hopes that in ten years the festival and her film business will continue to inspire and motivate her.
Sophie has three children and she tells them to do whatever they want as she would advise everyone: Do what is inside of you, even if it is not what you end up doing. It will make you a better person. Her first son, whom she had when she was 17 and who is now 24, lived one year in Australia and another year in Canada. He is now working with her at the festival. Her 22 year old daughter whom she had when she was 19, lives in London, and the 19 year old, following in his brother’s footsteps, is spending a year in Australia, alone and exploring on his own.
If she succeeds in the movie business, it is because she was not born into films. She has been in the business of Arthouse film production, distribution and exhibition for ten years. Before that she was a practicing psycho graphologist, counseling people from 16 to 60 years old, male and female. You can know a person totally through the handwriting she says. She also did a stint in PR which she hated, before going into film. Her father was a writer and told her to read and so she can talk of many things, not only of business. At the end of the day, she closes her door and business does not exist (unless of course there is a problem at one of her theaters which she does drop in on on Sundays when she is not expected.) She has no scripts at home and does not watch movies for work at home. She has a well rounded education and is proud not to be 100% business.
Today she is also a sort of guardian of Israeli films in France as well. She even wears a small gold Jewish star.
Film Career
She began her film career in 2003 producing a documentary DÉCryptage which examined the French media coverage of the Arab–Israeli conflictand concludes that the media's presentation of the Arab–Israeli conflict in France is consistently skewed against Israel and may be responsible for exacerbating anti-semitism. That documentary was very successful in France, drawing some 300,000 viewers and it caught the attention of Israeli filmmakers.
Famed Israeli actress Ronit Elkabetz, ♀a friend of hers, suggested she help her produce a film she wrote and wanted to direct and she agreed to make Rendre Femme (aka To Take A Wife ♀ produced by Marek Rozenbaum. When Ronit asked her to produce The Band’S Visit, she did not know what to make of the script. But when she saw the footage, she recognized its great potential and stepped in as producer. Unfortunately it could not qualify for the Academy Award Nomination for Best Foreign Language Film because it was filmed in Hebrew, Egyptian and English. She went on to produce My Father My Lord an implicit critique of ultra-Orthodox dogma by a filmmaker who grew up in a Hasidic community but abandoned it when he was 25 to study film.
Sophie produces other world films, including her second American film Benny And The Kids (Go Get Some Rosemary), Argentina’s Little Sky and The Camera Obscura both by Maria Victoria Menis ♀ and others including French films like the upcoming film by Jacques Douvenne.
In Cannes this year, she acquired Room 514 (Isa: Docs & Film) de Sharon Bar-Ziv ♀ which played in l'Acid in Cannes and Les Voisins De Dieu (God’S Neighbors) (Isa: Rezo) de Meni Yaesh which played in La Semaine de la Critique in Cannes as well as Directors’ Fortnight entry Le Repenti and Bence Fliegauf’s Berlin competition entry Just The Wind.
She sees festivals as a place where people can discover new films. Theaters need new ideas, directors, and distributors can take risks only if they own theaters. The triangle of festivals, distributors and exhibitors are complimentary and she finds that having all three allows her to keep selected films longer in theaters or allows for changing theaters (she owns 5 theaters including the famous St. Germain arthouse Harlequin). She recognizes that France has so many subsidies for production and distribution – 12 to 15 new films are released every week – and that gives her films more of a chance to succeed as well.
France also has, after 3 years of discussion, finally, in one year made all its theaters digital. The cost to convert is 1 million Euros. 30% of that is paid by Cnc, the government fund made up of a percentage of box office receipts. The digital norm is 2K and the Vpf (Virtual Print Fee is 5,000 Euros. All distributors must pay this first the first time showing for 4 weeks and then, there are not more VPFs.
When she asks Americans for DCPs, she is surprised to learn that they don’t have them. Even Harvey Weinstein who had a retrospective at the Festival did not have digital prints and he said that to use Blu-Ray or HD was all right with him.
Why Harvey?
Everyone loves a good Harvey story. We had heard that he did not want to travel and I was curious how she had such good luck to get him to Paris. Apparently he flew in, appeared, and flew out again.
“The opening night, with the tribute paid to American producer Harvey Weinstein who accepted, with modesty and as a film enthusiast, a trophy was presented by Sophie Dulac, in the presence of VIP guests: Virginie Ledoyen, Deborah François, Audrey Dana, Thomas Langmann, Olivier Nackache and Eric Toledan.”
What he said at this opening event was that Sophie’s brother is the godfather of his son. And when the Godfather makes a request, he cannot refuse to honor it.
So ended my interview with Sophie. As we all struck out to continue the day, Matthew Akers of Marina Abramovic said, “See you in Sarajevo”. And Sophie responded, “How chic!”...
- 6/19/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
For a film looking to get its name out there for distro there is nothing more important than screening in front of the people who can get that done. The Oregon-based film House of Last Things recently became one of just four Us films to be selected to screen in front of 30 European distributors.
Directed by Michael Bartlett, House of Last Things will screen in June in Paris, being selected for the Us in Progress division of the Inaugural Champs-Elysees Film Festival. The film is a mind-bending thriller set in Portland, Oregon about an unspoken tragedy and its effects on a house, its temporary caretakers and the owners, a classical music critic and his wife on a recuperative trip to Italy.
Check out the trailer below and for more, up-to-the-moment info, viddy the official House of Last Things Facebook page .
Synopsis
Alan (Randy Schulman) is a successful classical music critic...
Directed by Michael Bartlett, House of Last Things will screen in June in Paris, being selected for the Us in Progress division of the Inaugural Champs-Elysees Film Festival. The film is a mind-bending thriller set in Portland, Oregon about an unspoken tragedy and its effects on a house, its temporary caretakers and the owners, a classical music critic and his wife on a recuperative trip to Italy.
Check out the trailer below and for more, up-to-the-moment info, viddy the official House of Last Things Facebook page .
Synopsis
Alan (Randy Schulman) is a successful classical music critic...
- 4/29/2012
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
It's been a couple of years since last we reported on director Michael Bartlett's new film, House of Last Things, but with the passage of time has come a Facebook page, dozens of stills, and even a teaser. Check it out!
Lindsey Haun, Blake Berris, Rj Mitte, Randy Schulman, Diane Dalton, Micah Nelson, Michele Mariana and Moreen Littrell star.
Click on the image below to see the rest of the stills via the flick's Facebook page and click here for the teaser on IMDb.
Synopsis
The film features an estranged couple, Alan and Sarah (played by Schulman and Dalton) whose personal tragedy looms mysteriously over them, their home, and their temporary housesitters Tim, Kelly and Jesse (played by Rj Mitte, Lindsey Haun and Blake Berris).
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Play house in the comments section below...
Lindsey Haun, Blake Berris, Rj Mitte, Randy Schulman, Diane Dalton, Micah Nelson, Michele Mariana and Moreen Littrell star.
Click on the image below to see the rest of the stills via the flick's Facebook page and click here for the teaser on IMDb.
Synopsis
The film features an estranged couple, Alan and Sarah (played by Schulman and Dalton) whose personal tragedy looms mysteriously over them, their home, and their temporary housesitters Tim, Kelly and Jesse (played by Rj Mitte, Lindsey Haun and Blake Berris).
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Play house in the comments section below...
- 4/11/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Coming from writer/director Michael Bartlett (not to be confused with the Michael Bartlett who brought us The Zombie Diaries) comes a new chiller in the vein of The Shining to keep us thoroughly frightened by those wicked things that go bump in the night.
While there's not much out there about House of Last Things just yet, sit tight because we're sure it's coming. In the interim check out the extended synopsis and artwork below. For more visit the official House of Last Things website here.
Synopsis
"Before our very eyes an ancient forest becomes a manicured golf course. A WWII soldier hits a golf ball heavenward, nothing coming back. Like magic, the golf course becomes…
A suburban housing development. A golf ball comes down out of nowhere, smashing a window – Alan Dunne's window. It is the golf ball of fifty years earlier.
So begins Michael Bartlett's...
While there's not much out there about House of Last Things just yet, sit tight because we're sure it's coming. In the interim check out the extended synopsis and artwork below. For more visit the official House of Last Things website here.
Synopsis
"Before our very eyes an ancient forest becomes a manicured golf course. A WWII soldier hits a golf ball heavenward, nothing coming back. Like magic, the golf course becomes…
A suburban housing development. A golf ball comes down out of nowhere, smashing a window – Alan Dunne's window. It is the golf ball of fifty years earlier.
So begins Michael Bartlett's...
- 6/9/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
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