Sling Blade has been remastered in 4K and will be available digitally on May 28 exclusively on Red Coral Universe, an AVOD, Ott streaming platform.
Red Coral Universe is a free-to-use global platform available on all phones, tablets, smart TVs, connected devices, and the web, or via the Red Coral Universe App via App Store, iOS , and Google Play.
Red Coral Universe has built an eclectic roster of content ranging from traditional, feature film and television, to music videos and shorts, to rap battles and podcasts. The platform also has local sports featuring the likes of Caleb Williams and Angel Reese in their final high school games.
The catalog now features nearly 7,000 titles from over 600 artists and growing. Red Coral also finances, produces and distributes its own original content and currently has more than a dozen film and television projects in development.
Directed, written by, and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Sling Blade...
Red Coral Universe is a free-to-use global platform available on all phones, tablets, smart TVs, connected devices, and the web, or via the Red Coral Universe App via App Store, iOS , and Google Play.
Red Coral Universe has built an eclectic roster of content ranging from traditional, feature film and television, to music videos and shorts, to rap battles and podcasts. The platform also has local sports featuring the likes of Caleb Williams and Angel Reese in their final high school games.
The catalog now features nearly 7,000 titles from over 600 artists and growing. Red Coral also finances, produces and distributes its own original content and currently has more than a dozen film and television projects in development.
Directed, written by, and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Sling Blade...
- 5/24/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Colombia had three films in the various sections of Cannes this year. And the Colombian producers, Diana Bustamente ♀ and Jorge Forero of Burning Blue, produced two of them along with Thierry Lenouvel’s Cine-Sud. Burning Blue was created by Diana Bustamante, producer of The Wind Journeys (Cannes 2009), and Crab Trap (Berlin 2010), with her friend and artist colleague Jorge Forero. This company is focused on new directors and particulary on the new and artistic proposals which work with the imagen in all its possibilities.
La Sirga
The first and foremost film is the first feature film from Colombian director William Vega, La Sirga, which played in this year's Cannes' Directors Fortnight and was nominated for the Camera d’Or Award, Fipresci Prize. It also won the Cinema in Construction Award & Cine + Award at the Toulouse Film Festival. "Evocative! William Vega’s first feature is the latest in an impressive string of Colombian arthouse films", says Lee Marshall of Screen Daily. It was just picked up for North America by Film Movement. It is their 4th Colombian film.
Film Movement is one of the most successful experiments in alternative modes of distribution which has successfully survived since Larry Meistrich launched it in 2003. He has moved on and it's now run by a great team headed by Adley Gartenstein. Its DVD of the month club for critically acclaimed movies -- both American indies and foreign films -- is the first of its kind. The company also provides films that are screened theatrically at locations in Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities. Recently they have also partnered with YouTube and Hulu to provide online movies, and have received extensive praise from film critics such as Roger Ebert. It will have its New York theatrical opening late 2012, with a limited national roll-out to follow, as well as a day-and-date Cable Video on Demand premiere.
Film Movement acquired it from one of my favorite international sales agents, Pierre Menahem, now of Mpm (Movie Partners in Motion, founded by Marie-Pierre Macia and Juliette Lepoutre) but formerly (when I met him) at Celluloid Dreams. Pierre Menahem says, "We are thrilled to work again with Film Movement on another beautifully directed first feature film from Latin America. After the 20-times-awarded Found Memories (aka Historias) by Julia Murat, we are very excited to team up again with one of the best arthouse films distributors in North America for such an amazing film...Director William Vega is definitely a talent to watch and we are proud to start his international career with sales in the U.S., to Zootrope for France, Ama for Greece and Cineplex in Colombia right after its Cannes launch a week ago.” There is also strong interest in the U.K., Japan, Scandinavia, Benelux and Switzerland.
La Playa
The second film is La Playa by Juan Andrés Arango, his film debut as well. This Brazil-Colombia-France coproduction premiered at Cannes Ff Un Certain Regard. It was picked up for international sales prior to Cannes by Doc & Film. France's Jour2Fete will distribute La Playa in France.
Rodri
And the third Colombian film is in the Short Film Corner, Rodri by director Franco Lolli, depicting a family dealing with unemployment, will appear in the Short Film Corner. The film was inspired by its two main actors, the director's mother and uncle. Lolli will turn toward directing his first full-length film after the festival.
Colombia also had 10 production companies participating in the Producers Network, an important adjunct to the Cannes Marche.
La Sirga
The first and foremost film is the first feature film from Colombian director William Vega, La Sirga, which played in this year's Cannes' Directors Fortnight and was nominated for the Camera d’Or Award, Fipresci Prize. It also won the Cinema in Construction Award & Cine + Award at the Toulouse Film Festival. "Evocative! William Vega’s first feature is the latest in an impressive string of Colombian arthouse films", says Lee Marshall of Screen Daily. It was just picked up for North America by Film Movement. It is their 4th Colombian film.
Film Movement is one of the most successful experiments in alternative modes of distribution which has successfully survived since Larry Meistrich launched it in 2003. He has moved on and it's now run by a great team headed by Adley Gartenstein. Its DVD of the month club for critically acclaimed movies -- both American indies and foreign films -- is the first of its kind. The company also provides films that are screened theatrically at locations in Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities. Recently they have also partnered with YouTube and Hulu to provide online movies, and have received extensive praise from film critics such as Roger Ebert. It will have its New York theatrical opening late 2012, with a limited national roll-out to follow, as well as a day-and-date Cable Video on Demand premiere.
Film Movement acquired it from one of my favorite international sales agents, Pierre Menahem, now of Mpm (Movie Partners in Motion, founded by Marie-Pierre Macia and Juliette Lepoutre) but formerly (when I met him) at Celluloid Dreams. Pierre Menahem says, "We are thrilled to work again with Film Movement on another beautifully directed first feature film from Latin America. After the 20-times-awarded Found Memories (aka Historias) by Julia Murat, we are very excited to team up again with one of the best arthouse films distributors in North America for such an amazing film...Director William Vega is definitely a talent to watch and we are proud to start his international career with sales in the U.S., to Zootrope for France, Ama for Greece and Cineplex in Colombia right after its Cannes launch a week ago.” There is also strong interest in the U.K., Japan, Scandinavia, Benelux and Switzerland.
La Playa
The second film is La Playa by Juan Andrés Arango, his film debut as well. This Brazil-Colombia-France coproduction premiered at Cannes Ff Un Certain Regard. It was picked up for international sales prior to Cannes by Doc & Film. France's Jour2Fete will distribute La Playa in France.
Rodri
And the third Colombian film is in the Short Film Corner, Rodri by director Franco Lolli, depicting a family dealing with unemployment, will appear in the Short Film Corner. The film was inspired by its two main actors, the director's mother and uncle. Lolli will turn toward directing his first full-length film after the festival.
Colombia also had 10 production companies participating in the Producers Network, an important adjunct to the Cannes Marche.
- 6/6/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Kim Basinger and Nick Stahl are set to star alongside Freddy Rodriguez in Over The Wall. The dramatic thriller is being written and directed by Christohper Young. The story takes place in the world of professional stock car racing. Jennifer Morrison is currently in talks to join the cast as well. The film will be produced by Young and Larry Meistrich, while Steven Beer and Rodriguez serve as executive producers. Indomina Production begins this summer in Ohio.
Stahl has starred in a number of indie films since Carnivale. I am interested in learning more about the film, even though I am not a fan of stock car racing. What are your thoughts on this news?
...
Stahl has starred in a number of indie films since Carnivale. I am interested in learning more about the film, even though I am not a fan of stock car racing. What are your thoughts on this news?
...
- 5/13/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Earlier this month, we were the first to get wind that Dee Snider was finally prepping to shoot his long mooted sequel to Strangeland in Ohio to take advantage of the Ohio's Film Tax Credit. Now, a casting call has gone out on the Screen Test Biz website right here . Of note, instead of the title Strangeland 2 , it's currently listed as Strangeland: Disciple . Dee Snider and Larry Meistrich are listed as producers with a May 21st, 2010 shooting start date also listed. In the below synopsis, both Dee Snider and Robert Englund are credited as reprising their roles as Captain Howdy and Jackson Roth, respectively. We'll keep you posted on when we hear more concrete info. In the meantime, check out the synopsis below: One year after Carleton Hendricks aka Captain Howdy's...
- 1/12/2010
- shocktillyoudrop.com
A Hollywood filmmaker is looking for a few good men -- and women -- with military backgrounds who want to break into the entertainment industry.
Larry Meistrich, best known for producing the Oscar-winning film "Sling Blade," is soliciting movie and TV pitches from active members of the military, veterans and their family members with the intent to choose at least one project per year to produce and finance.
Beyond pitching, GI Pictures wants the projects to be made entirely by current and retired military personnel and family members, including writing, directing, producing acting and all crew members. Those with potential but no experience, he'll train.
"My management team fits because we all have parents who were in the military," Meistrich said.
"The skills acquired during a military career are very complementary to production," he said. "The way a set runs is similar to a chain of command, but we're obviously not risking our lives.
Larry Meistrich, best known for producing the Oscar-winning film "Sling Blade," is soliciting movie and TV pitches from active members of the military, veterans and their family members with the intent to choose at least one project per year to produce and finance.
Beyond pitching, GI Pictures wants the projects to be made entirely by current and retired military personnel and family members, including writing, directing, producing acting and all crew members. Those with potential but no experience, he'll train.
"My management team fits because we all have parents who were in the military," Meistrich said.
"The skills acquired during a military career are very complementary to production," he said. "The way a set runs is similar to a chain of command, but we're obviously not risking our lives.
- 5/28/2009
- by By Paul Bond
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nehst Studios has acquired film rights from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers to the Matt Christopher sports book series, including "The Kid Who Only Hit Homers" and "The Basket Counts."
Ari Friedman and Larry Meistrich will produce, and Wayne Chesler will write and direct the adaptations.
Christopher's books have sold more than 36 million copies worldwide.
Ari Friedman and Larry Meistrich will produce, and Wayne Chesler will write and direct the adaptations.
Christopher's books have sold more than 36 million copies worldwide.
- 5/13/2009
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Producer Ed Bass is making his directorial debut with "Belle," the story of Belle Gunness, America's most prolific female serial killer, which is being produced and financed by First Line Media.
Working mainly from her farm base in La Porte County, Ind., around the turn of the 20th century, Gunness left a trail of buried bodies as she allegedly killed two husbands and dozens of suitors to whom she wrote love letters and who arrived at her farm with fat wallets. Several of her stepchildren mysteriously disappeared as well.
Bass co-wrote the script with Eva Mayer, whose family purchased the farmland and discovered some of the love letters.
"It's classic theme: a woman looking for love and never quite finding it," Bass said. "And when she finally does find love, it eludes her."
Producing are First Line chairman Hubert Gibbs and Christopher Beatty.
Bjorn Johnson and George Hamilton are set to co-produce,...
Working mainly from her farm base in La Porte County, Ind., around the turn of the 20th century, Gunness left a trail of buried bodies as she allegedly killed two husbands and dozens of suitors to whom she wrote love letters and who arrived at her farm with fat wallets. Several of her stepchildren mysteriously disappeared as well.
Bass co-wrote the script with Eva Mayer, whose family purchased the farmland and discovered some of the love letters.
"It's classic theme: a woman looking for love and never quite finding it," Bass said. "And when she finally does find love, it eludes her."
Producing are First Line chairman Hubert Gibbs and Christopher Beatty.
Bjorn Johnson and George Hamilton are set to co-produce,...
- 5/12/2009
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kevin Grevioux, the co-creative brains behind the “Underworld” franchise, will be making his directorial debut on the adaptation of his graphic novel, “The Pale Horsemen,” which he will also be writing. Larry Meistrich’s Nehst Studios has picked up to produce. “The Pale Horsemen,” out on Grevioux’s DarkStorm Studios imprint, is described as a supernatural-tinted thriller that follows around a motley crew of assassins, forced to work together to find out who killed their old mentor. This is the latest of several projects from Grevioux. The film rights to several of his other graphic novels have also recently been picked up, including “Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction” and “I Frankenstein,” [...]...
- 5/5/2009
- by Costa Koutsoutis
- ShockYa
Underworld franchise co-creator Kevin Grevioux (seen above) will finally be making his directing debut with an adaptation of his own comic, The Pale Horsemen. The yet-to-be-published graphic novel is described as a modern day supernatural thriller that revolves around a gang of Nsa sponsored hitmen who are forced to work together to uncover who killed their mentor. The book will be published through DarkStorm Studios. Grevioux will write the script himself as well and Larry Meistrich's Nehst Studios will produce. No word on when production is set to start, but I can imagine it'll be sometime later this year. I'm not particularly a fan of the Underworld franchise, by any means, however I'm curious to see what Grevioux can do with a modern set franchise about hitmen, and not vampires and werewolves (we have enough of those in theaters nowadays anyway). I don't know much about the story, but...
- 5/3/2009
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"Underworld" franchise co-creator Kevin Grevioux will make his directorial debut on the adaptation of his graphic novel, "The Pale Horsemen. Variety says that Larry Meistrich's Nehst Studios has picked up the property to produce. Grevioux will also write the script. "The Pale Horsemen" is described as a supernatural thriller that revolves around a gang of hit men who are forced to work together to uncover who killed their mentor. The film rights to several of Grevioux's other graphic novels have also recently been picked up, including "Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction," optioned by Benderspink, and "I, Frankenstein," at Death Ray Films.
- 5/3/2009
- Comingsoon.net
Kevin Grevioux is one busy individual these days. The actor/writer/stuntman responsible for co-creating the 'Underworld' franchise is about to add director to his credentials when he helms an adaptation of his graphic novel, "The Pale Horsemen".
According to Variety, Larry Meistrich's Nehst Studios has picked up the property to produce. Grevioux will also write the script.
The Pale Horsemen is described as a supernatural thriller that revolves around a gang of hit men who are forced to work together to uncover who killed their mentor.
The film rights to several of Grevioux's other graphic novels have also recently been picked up, including "Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction," optioned by Benderspink, and "I, Frankenstein," at Death Ray Films.
According to Variety, Larry Meistrich's Nehst Studios has picked up the property to produce. Grevioux will also write the script.
The Pale Horsemen is described as a supernatural thriller that revolves around a gang of hit men who are forced to work together to uncover who killed their mentor.
The film rights to several of Grevioux's other graphic novels have also recently been picked up, including "Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction," optioned by Benderspink, and "I, Frankenstein," at Death Ray Films.
- 5/3/2009
- CinemaSpy
Kevin Grevioux is a very busy guy these days. Along with developing I, Frankenstein at Death Ray Films, the prolific writer will be making his directorial debut with the theatrical adaptation of his graphic novel The Pale Horsemen, which will be produced by Larry Meistrich's Nehst Studios.
Variety describes Horseman as "a supernatural thriller that revolves around a gang of hit men who are forced to work together to uncover who killed their mentor." Grevioux, who co-wrote and appeared in the first Underworld film, will also pen the script.
As we've mentioned previously, a third Grevioux graphic novel, Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction, is still on track for a live action feature with script writing duties on that project going to Outlander and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans scribes Howard McCain and Dirk Blackman.
Whew! I hope Kevin's getting his rest; I'm exhausted just writing about everything the man has going on!
Variety describes Horseman as "a supernatural thriller that revolves around a gang of hit men who are forced to work together to uncover who killed their mentor." Grevioux, who co-wrote and appeared in the first Underworld film, will also pen the script.
As we've mentioned previously, a third Grevioux graphic novel, Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction, is still on track for a live action feature with script writing duties on that project going to Outlander and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans scribes Howard McCain and Dirk Blackman.
Whew! I hope Kevin's getting his rest; I'm exhausted just writing about everything the man has going on!
- 5/2/2009
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Dee Snider, frontman of legendary heavy metal legend band Twisted Sister and Fangoria Radio host, is finally set to begin production on the long-mooted Strangeland: Disciple this fall. Filming will take place in Ohio on the sequel to Strangeland (pictured), which returns Snider’s body modification guru/serial killer Carleton Hendricks/Captain Howdy to the silver screen over a decade after the singer wrote and starred in the first film.
Best of all, Snider’s partners in the project, Nehst Studios, have put out an open casting call through www.screentest.biz to fill out roles in the film, which will again co-star Robert Englund as Howdy nemesis Jackson Roth. “We are conducting a national casting call to find actors and extras to be in the film with Dee,” explains Nehst chief Larry Meistrich, whose previous company The Shooting Gallery produced Strangeland in 1998. “This is the best way for people to audition.
Best of all, Snider’s partners in the project, Nehst Studios, have put out an open casting call through www.screentest.biz to fill out roles in the film, which will again co-star Robert Englund as Howdy nemesis Jackson Roth. “We are conducting a national casting call to find actors and extras to be in the film with Dee,” explains Nehst chief Larry Meistrich, whose previous company The Shooting Gallery produced Strangeland in 1998. “This is the best way for people to audition.
- 1/29/2009
- Fangoria
Filed under: Independent, Fandom, Contests
All movie fans have experienced the sensation of watching something terrible and thinking, "What is this crap? I could totally come up with something better than this!" Well, now you can put your money where your mouth is, as Details magazine is inviting people to submit movie ideas, the best of which will actually be turned into a movie.
Variety has a variety of details on the Details contest. Larry Meistrich, an indie film producer with more than 30 credits to his name (including You Can Count on Me and Sling Blade), will help Details choose the winner and oversee production of the film. All genres and concepts are welcome, and you can submit anything from a rough plot outline to a finished screenplay. There's a $10 entrance fee, but it costs that much just to watch a movie. Making a movie for 10 bucks is a total bargain!
All movie fans have experienced the sensation of watching something terrible and thinking, "What is this crap? I could totally come up with something better than this!" Well, now you can put your money where your mouth is, as Details magazine is inviting people to submit movie ideas, the best of which will actually be turned into a movie.
Variety has a variety of details on the Details contest. Larry Meistrich, an indie film producer with more than 30 credits to his name (including You Can Count on Me and Sling Blade), will help Details choose the winner and oversee production of the film. All genres and concepts are welcome, and you can submit anything from a rough plot outline to a finished screenplay. There's a $10 entrance fee, but it costs that much just to watch a movie. Making a movie for 10 bucks is a total bargain!
- 10/29/2008
- by Eric D. Snider
- Cinematical
NEW YORK -- Larry Meistrich's new Nehst Studios has unveiled its 2008 lineup, including six indie features and four Web/TV series.
The projects set to reach the starting gate first are Priyanka Kumar's dramatic feature The Flicker's Dance, Wayne Chesler's darkly comic horror film Fright Fest and the Little Rascals-style Web series Dribble Kick Throw.
Other features in the pipeline are Sridhar Reddy's India-based martial arts flick The Killing Moon, writer Rene Ashton's road movie Boy's Name, the gang war actioner Blood Stripe and the mining tragedy drama And One For All.
Planned Web series, which may be developed into TV projects, include the animated superhero serial National Triumph League and the college cooking showcase Cook U.
Most projects were brought to Meistrich through online pitches from its Web site PitchNehst.com, and others were developed from relationships through his years running the indie production outfit Shooting Gallery.
One of the latter projects is Dance, brought to Nehst by Steven C. Beer of GreenbergTraurig.
Nehst's Dana Offenbach will oversee production for the studio.
The projects set to reach the starting gate first are Priyanka Kumar's dramatic feature The Flicker's Dance, Wayne Chesler's darkly comic horror film Fright Fest and the Little Rascals-style Web series Dribble Kick Throw.
Other features in the pipeline are Sridhar Reddy's India-based martial arts flick The Killing Moon, writer Rene Ashton's road movie Boy's Name, the gang war actioner Blood Stripe and the mining tragedy drama And One For All.
Planned Web series, which may be developed into TV projects, include the animated superhero serial National Triumph League and the college cooking showcase Cook U.
Most projects were brought to Meistrich through online pitches from its Web site PitchNehst.com, and others were developed from relationships through his years running the indie production outfit Shooting Gallery.
One of the latter projects is Dance, brought to Nehst by Steven C. Beer of GreenbergTraurig.
Nehst's Dana Offenbach will oversee production for the studio.
NEW YORK -- Production outfit Nehst Studios, Lexicon Filmed Entertainment and Machine Made Media have partnered to share $250 million assembled from private hedge funds to finance features, TV series and Web series.
Nehst chairman Larry Meistrich and president Ari Friedman, Lexicon founder Marina Martins and Machine founder Harrison Kordestani initially will use the fund to finance properties from each of their companies, including Machine's upcoming slate with Warner Home Video and partners George Alexandru and Kevin Cain.
Meistrich, former founder of production outfit the Shooting Gallery, says the identity of the hedge funds involved are private because of confidentiality laws. Projects, he says, will range from $1 million to $50 million.
"We want to work outside the studio system with some productions on the same scale," said Meistrich, whose company also finances and distributes films.
Upcoming projects financed by the fund will include Nehst's mining accident drama And One for All and the youth drama The Flicker's Dance, along with the youth-sports comedy Web series Dribble Kick Throw.
Lexicon, which works with international production partners to co-produce films, plans to finance such projects as La pierde almas, based on the Day of the Dead festival as detailed in a book and paintings by Jonathan Barbieri.
Nehst chairman Larry Meistrich and president Ari Friedman, Lexicon founder Marina Martins and Machine founder Harrison Kordestani initially will use the fund to finance properties from each of their companies, including Machine's upcoming slate with Warner Home Video and partners George Alexandru and Kevin Cain.
Meistrich, former founder of production outfit the Shooting Gallery, says the identity of the hedge funds involved are private because of confidentiality laws. Projects, he says, will range from $1 million to $50 million.
"We want to work outside the studio system with some productions on the same scale," said Meistrich, whose company also finances and distributes films.
Upcoming projects financed by the fund will include Nehst's mining accident drama And One for All and the youth drama The Flicker's Dance, along with the youth-sports comedy Web series Dribble Kick Throw.
Lexicon, which works with international production partners to co-produce films, plans to finance such projects as La pierde almas, based on the Day of the Dead festival as detailed in a book and paintings by Jonathan Barbieri.
- 10/3/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
CANNES -- Shooting Gallery founder Larry Meistrich is launching production, financing and distribution outfit Nehst Media Enterprises, focusing on features, television and direct-to-Web content.
Meistrich will head the company with entrepreneur Ari D. Friedman and will be drumming up new projects at Cannes. The executives lead a team that includes production group president Dana Offenbach, president of production William Keys and Web content and consumer network head Jeff Silverstein Films, USA Films and Artisan Entertainment. Silverstein founded interactive video company Fusion Media, working with such companies as Sony, AT&T and IBM.
Meistrich served as a producer of Sling Blade, You Can Count on Me, Laws of Gravity and Croupier. He also launched and sold the food delivery Web site HomeDelivery.com.
More information about the film fund, launch partners and initial properties will be announced in the next few weeks.
Meistrich will head the company with entrepreneur Ari D. Friedman and will be drumming up new projects at Cannes. The executives lead a team that includes production group president Dana Offenbach, president of production William Keys and Web content and consumer network head Jeff Silverstein Films, USA Films and Artisan Entertainment. Silverstein founded interactive video company Fusion Media, working with such companies as Sony, AT&T and IBM.
Meistrich served as a producer of Sling Blade, You Can Count on Me, Laws of Gravity and Croupier. He also launched and sold the food delivery Web site HomeDelivery.com.
More information about the film fund, launch partners and initial properties will be announced in the next few weeks.
- 5/16/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Indie vet Larry Meistrich's Film Movement banner has acquired North American rights to the Sundance Film Festival entry Chisholm '72 -- Unbought & Unbossed, a documentary about Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for president. The film by Shola Lynch follows Chisholm as a first-term congresswoman from Brooklyn in 1972 and her bid for the White House under the credo, "if you can't support me, get out of my way." Along the way, the humanist Chisholm was physically attacked three times while on the campaign trail.
- 1/27/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Fresh off a win last week for best directorial debut at the IFP/New York's Gotham Awards (HR 9/30), writer-director Eric Eason's Manito has been snapped up by Film Movement, the newly launched distribution outfit from Shooting Gallery founder and former CEO Larry Meistrich. Film Movement is planning a spring release for the film, with a simultaneous theatrical and home video/DVD rollout via the company's subscription service. Film Movement subscribers are offered free admission to the company's theatrical releases. "Film Movement members may choose to view the (films) in (the) theater free of charge or view the film on DVD, while it is still in theaters," Meistrich said. "We are basically shuffling windows. Film consumers across the nation deserve the same access to new releases that cities such as New York and Los Angeles enjoy."...
- 10/2/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Former Shooting Gallery CEO and founder Larry Meistrich has launched a new venture, Film Movement, which will offer first-run films via a subscription home video/DVD service.
The first film to be distributed under the new banner is Achero Manas' "El Bola," which won four Goya Awards in Spain, its country of origin. The Spanish-language film will be available to members beginning in early December.
According to Film Movement, the company will send members an "award-winning American independent, foreign or documentary film on DVD (or VHS)" that will be available exclusively through Film Movement each month.
Subscriptions are sold for $189 per year, which can be billed in installments of $19.95 per month or paid upfront. Members will additionally receive access to films through a theatrical film series, private event screenings and participating film festivals.
Film Movement said it will target movies for acquisition that have won awards at top festivals, and the company will aim to acquire all rights to its projects.
The first film to be distributed under the new banner is Achero Manas' "El Bola," which won four Goya Awards in Spain, its country of origin. The Spanish-language film will be available to members beginning in early December.
According to Film Movement, the company will send members an "award-winning American independent, foreign or documentary film on DVD (or VHS)" that will be available exclusively through Film Movement each month.
Subscriptions are sold for $189 per year, which can be billed in installments of $19.95 per month or paid upfront. Members will additionally receive access to films through a theatrical film series, private event screenings and participating film festivals.
Film Movement said it will target movies for acquisition that have won awards at top festivals, and the company will aim to acquire all rights to its projects.
- 8/27/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Laurence Fishburne's vanity production "Once in the Life" serves only to demonstrate that Fishburne, a talented, inventive actor, is, unfortunately, not ready to write and direct motion pictures. His characters are cliches, and his directorial hand is heavy indeed. Beyond the curiosity factor, there doesn't appear to be much of an audience for this turgid drama about criminal misfits who occupy the dregs of the New York social strata.
The material started out as a play titled "Riff Raff" that Fishburne wrote. While it's hard to tell without having seen the stage show, it appears Fishburne made several crucial mistakes in adapting the play to the screen.
Much of the focus is on a three-way confrontation among petty crooks in an abandoned Manhattan building. While static and uninvolving, this encounter presumably contained a few surprise twists and revelations about these men and their relationships as performed on stage.
But in Fishburne's film version, these secrets get revealed in the early sections of the movie, rendering the final two-thirds of the film a dramatic gun that shoots only blanks.
Fishburne plays 20/20 Mike, a two-bit street hoodlum whose nickname indicates he possesses an instinct for foresight and self-preservation. Titus Welliver is Torch, Mike's unlikely white half-brother, who is an unreliable junkie -- only 20/20 fails to notice this obvious fact. A heist of heroin goes bad because of Torch's itchy trigger finger, forcing the two brothers into hiding from a local crime boss (Paul Calderon).
20/20 telephones an old pal, Tony the Tiger (Eamonn Walker), to help him out of this jam. What 20/20 doesn't realize is that Tony works for the mob boss they're hiding from. (Perhaps 20/20 should change his nickname to Myopic Mike.)
As we wait for Tony To kill the two brothers -- a foregone conclusion once his wife (Anabella Sciorra) and baby girl get kidnapped by the mob boss -- the cons occasionally burst into overwrought poetry, which in this instance makes about as much sense as introducing a dog that can growl Shakespeare.
One subplot does contain a faintly funny bit of sicko humor. A character named Freddie Nine Lives (Dominic Chianese Jr.) gets caught by two of the crime lord's henchmen (Gregory Hines and Michael Paul Chan). The two torture Nine Lives for information and then continue the torture for sheer fun.
Poor old Nine Lives, in Scheherazade fashion, must tell racist jokes to the two sadists to distract them from the task of torturing him to death. He dies -- but not before telling some really bad jokes.
Technical credits are perfunctory. And while it's not production designer Charley Beal's fault, staring at that bedraggled eyesore of a set in an abandoned building grows extremely tiresome
ONCE IN THE LIFE
Lions Gate Releasing
Shooting Gallery Pictures
in association with Cinema Gypsy Prods.
Producers: David Bushell, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland
Screenwriter-director: Laurence Fishburne
Based on the play "Riff Raff" by:
Laurence Fishburne
Executive producers: Larry Meistrich,
Stephen Carlis
Director of photography: Richard Turner
Production designer: Charley Beal
Music: Branford Marsalis
Costume designer: Darryle Johnson
Editor: Bill Pankow
Color/stereo
Cast:
20/20 Mike: Laurence Fishburne
Torch: Titus Welliver
Tony: Eamonn Walker
Ruffhous: Gregory Hines
Buddha: Michael Paul Chan
Freddie Nine Lives: Dominic Chianese Jr.
Maxine: Annabella Sciorra
Manny Rivera: Paul Calderon
Running time - 110 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
The material started out as a play titled "Riff Raff" that Fishburne wrote. While it's hard to tell without having seen the stage show, it appears Fishburne made several crucial mistakes in adapting the play to the screen.
Much of the focus is on a three-way confrontation among petty crooks in an abandoned Manhattan building. While static and uninvolving, this encounter presumably contained a few surprise twists and revelations about these men and their relationships as performed on stage.
But in Fishburne's film version, these secrets get revealed in the early sections of the movie, rendering the final two-thirds of the film a dramatic gun that shoots only blanks.
Fishburne plays 20/20 Mike, a two-bit street hoodlum whose nickname indicates he possesses an instinct for foresight and self-preservation. Titus Welliver is Torch, Mike's unlikely white half-brother, who is an unreliable junkie -- only 20/20 fails to notice this obvious fact. A heist of heroin goes bad because of Torch's itchy trigger finger, forcing the two brothers into hiding from a local crime boss (Paul Calderon).
20/20 telephones an old pal, Tony the Tiger (Eamonn Walker), to help him out of this jam. What 20/20 doesn't realize is that Tony works for the mob boss they're hiding from. (Perhaps 20/20 should change his nickname to Myopic Mike.)
As we wait for Tony To kill the two brothers -- a foregone conclusion once his wife (Anabella Sciorra) and baby girl get kidnapped by the mob boss -- the cons occasionally burst into overwrought poetry, which in this instance makes about as much sense as introducing a dog that can growl Shakespeare.
One subplot does contain a faintly funny bit of sicko humor. A character named Freddie Nine Lives (Dominic Chianese Jr.) gets caught by two of the crime lord's henchmen (Gregory Hines and Michael Paul Chan). The two torture Nine Lives for information and then continue the torture for sheer fun.
Poor old Nine Lives, in Scheherazade fashion, must tell racist jokes to the two sadists to distract them from the task of torturing him to death. He dies -- but not before telling some really bad jokes.
Technical credits are perfunctory. And while it's not production designer Charley Beal's fault, staring at that bedraggled eyesore of a set in an abandoned building grows extremely tiresome
ONCE IN THE LIFE
Lions Gate Releasing
Shooting Gallery Pictures
in association with Cinema Gypsy Prods.
Producers: David Bushell, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland
Screenwriter-director: Laurence Fishburne
Based on the play "Riff Raff" by:
Laurence Fishburne
Executive producers: Larry Meistrich,
Stephen Carlis
Director of photography: Richard Turner
Production designer: Charley Beal
Music: Branford Marsalis
Costume designer: Darryle Johnson
Editor: Bill Pankow
Color/stereo
Cast:
20/20 Mike: Laurence Fishburne
Torch: Titus Welliver
Tony: Eamonn Walker
Ruffhous: Gregory Hines
Buddha: Michael Paul Chan
Freddie Nine Lives: Dominic Chianese Jr.
Maxine: Annabella Sciorra
Manny Rivera: Paul Calderon
Running time - 110 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 10/30/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARK CITY, Utah -- "The 24-Hour Woman" needs a rest in this contemporary satire of the frazzling of modern women sucked into believing they can do and have it all with little or no downside. Featuring Rosie Perez, this well-intentioned comedy is unfortunately packed with so many loose threads, instantaneous shifts of plot and motivation that it more resembles a network sitcom pilot than a feature film.
That is not to say this Sundance Film Festival selection, which premieres at the fest tonight, is not without its dramatic and comic charms -- overall, it makes some solid points about how child-raising is denigrated in this smugly enlightened, careerist age.
In this Shooting Gallery presentation, Perez stars as a frenzied TV producer of a morning show geared toward the distaff demographic. Grace is clearly on the way up in her career and new marriage to one of the show's hosts, aspiring action hero Eddie (Diego Serrano).
When it's learned that Grace is pregnant, the show's piranha-like executive producer (Patti Lupone) decides to milk the pregnancy for ratings hay: The show goes into a deep-pregnancy mode in which all facets of Grace's changing condition are explored, poked and put up for public view -- glamorizing pregnancy while propagandizing for the ability of the career woman to do it all.
Not surprisingly, pregnancy itself is not all happy talk and fun times: Grace's weight gain and the emotional drain of having her life put on public display begin to fray at her pretensions of being a superwoman.
One part "Network", two pinches of "Mr. Mom" and a dose of satire on "Oprah/Rosie/Roseanne"-ish talk shows," "The 24-Hour Woman", like the film's heroine, often tries to juggle too many divergent tasks. It never settles into a comfortable narrative rhythm, gyrating with tonal swings and often repeating itself with redundant comic scenes.
Still, its central theme -- that pregnancy and child-rearing is underappreciated in this society -- is smartly detailed as Grace endures the slings and arrows of snide careerist women, as well as the callow smugness of her "supportive" husband. Particularly touching is a subplot involving Grace's assistant, Madeline (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a mother of three returning to the workplace whose truculent husband Roy (Wendell Price) is none too happy to emasculate his manhood by being a househusband. The exhausting balancing act that Madeline must maintain between family and work is perhaps the film's most powerful thread.
The players deserve praise for their adroit performances. In particular, Perez is engaging as the woman who feels pressured into doing it all. Jean-Baptiste's measured performance as the working mother of three brims with smart detail, while Price is well-cast as the feisty, old-time male provider. Serrano is appropriately charismatic and callow as Grace's immature husband, while Lupone is industry-perfect as a callous, cold-hearted careerist.
Despite the sometimes scattered nature of the storytelling, screenwriters Nancy Savoca and Richard Guay have created credible, sympathetic characters and cleverly shown the incredible demands and talents it takes to raise children. Under director Nancy Savoca's empathetic guidance, the story, even when it fails to jell, rings true.
Unfortunately, the sometimes scattered scripting and the film's laggardly pacing often sink it into the doldrums. Technically, Bob Shaw's production design is first-rate, telling and funny, while Kathleen Mobley's costumes captures the frenzy of the workplace as well as the insecurities of people who try to balance too much and, ironically, become out of balance themselves.
Unfortunately, the production is marred by some dreadful sound work, with the dialogue sometimes nearly inaudible, particularly when the background score and noise kick in with action-movie gusto.
THE 24-HOUR WOMAN
Artisan Entertainment
The Shooting Gallery presents
a Redeemable Features/Exile Films production
in association with Dirt Road Prods.
Producers: Richard Guay, Larry Meistrich, Peter Newman
Director: Nancy Savoca
Screenwriters: Nancy Savoca, Richard Guay
Executive producers: Steve Carlis, Donald C. Carter, Daniel J. Victor
Director of photography: Teresa Medina
Co-producer: Rosie Perez
Editor: Camilla Toniolo
Production designer: Bob Shaw
Music: Louie Vega, Kenny Gonzalez
Music supervisors: Barry Cole, Christopher Covert
Casting: Sheila Jaffe, Georgianne Walken
Line producer: Diana Schmidt
Color/stereo
Cast:
Grace Santos: Rosie Perez
Madeline Labelle: Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Joan Marshall: Patti Lupone
Margo Lynn: Karen Duffy
Eddie Diaz: Diego Serrano
Roy Labelle: Wendell Price
Dr. Suzanne Pincus: Melissa Leo
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
That is not to say this Sundance Film Festival selection, which premieres at the fest tonight, is not without its dramatic and comic charms -- overall, it makes some solid points about how child-raising is denigrated in this smugly enlightened, careerist age.
In this Shooting Gallery presentation, Perez stars as a frenzied TV producer of a morning show geared toward the distaff demographic. Grace is clearly on the way up in her career and new marriage to one of the show's hosts, aspiring action hero Eddie (Diego Serrano).
When it's learned that Grace is pregnant, the show's piranha-like executive producer (Patti Lupone) decides to milk the pregnancy for ratings hay: The show goes into a deep-pregnancy mode in which all facets of Grace's changing condition are explored, poked and put up for public view -- glamorizing pregnancy while propagandizing for the ability of the career woman to do it all.
Not surprisingly, pregnancy itself is not all happy talk and fun times: Grace's weight gain and the emotional drain of having her life put on public display begin to fray at her pretensions of being a superwoman.
One part "Network", two pinches of "Mr. Mom" and a dose of satire on "Oprah/Rosie/Roseanne"-ish talk shows," "The 24-Hour Woman", like the film's heroine, often tries to juggle too many divergent tasks. It never settles into a comfortable narrative rhythm, gyrating with tonal swings and often repeating itself with redundant comic scenes.
Still, its central theme -- that pregnancy and child-rearing is underappreciated in this society -- is smartly detailed as Grace endures the slings and arrows of snide careerist women, as well as the callow smugness of her "supportive" husband. Particularly touching is a subplot involving Grace's assistant, Madeline (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a mother of three returning to the workplace whose truculent husband Roy (Wendell Price) is none too happy to emasculate his manhood by being a househusband. The exhausting balancing act that Madeline must maintain between family and work is perhaps the film's most powerful thread.
The players deserve praise for their adroit performances. In particular, Perez is engaging as the woman who feels pressured into doing it all. Jean-Baptiste's measured performance as the working mother of three brims with smart detail, while Price is well-cast as the feisty, old-time male provider. Serrano is appropriately charismatic and callow as Grace's immature husband, while Lupone is industry-perfect as a callous, cold-hearted careerist.
Despite the sometimes scattered nature of the storytelling, screenwriters Nancy Savoca and Richard Guay have created credible, sympathetic characters and cleverly shown the incredible demands and talents it takes to raise children. Under director Nancy Savoca's empathetic guidance, the story, even when it fails to jell, rings true.
Unfortunately, the sometimes scattered scripting and the film's laggardly pacing often sink it into the doldrums. Technically, Bob Shaw's production design is first-rate, telling and funny, while Kathleen Mobley's costumes captures the frenzy of the workplace as well as the insecurities of people who try to balance too much and, ironically, become out of balance themselves.
Unfortunately, the production is marred by some dreadful sound work, with the dialogue sometimes nearly inaudible, particularly when the background score and noise kick in with action-movie gusto.
THE 24-HOUR WOMAN
Artisan Entertainment
The Shooting Gallery presents
a Redeemable Features/Exile Films production
in association with Dirt Road Prods.
Producers: Richard Guay, Larry Meistrich, Peter Newman
Director: Nancy Savoca
Screenwriters: Nancy Savoca, Richard Guay
Executive producers: Steve Carlis, Donald C. Carter, Daniel J. Victor
Director of photography: Teresa Medina
Co-producer: Rosie Perez
Editor: Camilla Toniolo
Production designer: Bob Shaw
Music: Louie Vega, Kenny Gonzalez
Music supervisors: Barry Cole, Christopher Covert
Casting: Sheila Jaffe, Georgianne Walken
Line producer: Diana Schmidt
Color/stereo
Cast:
Grace Santos: Rosie Perez
Madeline Labelle: Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Joan Marshall: Patti Lupone
Margo Lynn: Karen Duffy
Eddie Diaz: Diego Serrano
Roy Labelle: Wendell Price
Dr. Suzanne Pincus: Melissa Leo
Running time -- 96 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 1/22/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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