Mother’s Day means a lot of things — and for many, it means a chance to grab some wire hangers and rekindle a love for the 1981 camp extravaganza “Mommie Dearest.” Starring Oscar winner Faye Dunaway as Oscar winner Joan Crawford, the movie adaptation of a memory by Crawford’s adopted daughter, Christina, was intended to be a serious drama. An awards-bait biopic. Anne Bancroft was attached, initially!
But things went awry, as they always do in the making of a camp classic. And while we wait for Dunaway to address the movie anew in the upcoming “Faye” documentary about her life and career premiering at Cannes, we have A. Ashley Hoff’s making-of book “With Love, Mommie Dearest: The Making of an Unintentional Camp Classic” to tide us over.
One of the most remarkable things Hoff uncovered in his voluminous research is just how enthralled everyone was by Dunaway’s...
But things went awry, as they always do in the making of a camp classic. And while we wait for Dunaway to address the movie anew in the upcoming “Faye” documentary about her life and career premiering at Cannes, we have A. Ashley Hoff’s making-of book “With Love, Mommie Dearest: The Making of an Unintentional Camp Classic” to tide us over.
One of the most remarkable things Hoff uncovered in his voluminous research is just how enthralled everyone was by Dunaway’s...
- 5/8/2024
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
Ileen Maisel, who served as a studio executive at Paramount, Lorimar and New Line Cinema and as a producer on films including Onegin, Ripley’s Game and The Golden Compass, has died. She was 68.
Maisel died Feb. 16 of cancer in London, her home for the past 34 years, her sister, Hollywood publicist Cheryl Maisel, announced.
Maisel received a BAFTA nomination for best British film for producing Samuel Goldwyn’s Onegin (1999), starring Ralph Fiennes, and was said to be most proud of her work on the Fine Line Features thriller Ripley’s Game (2002), starring John Malkovich.
In addition to the New Line fantasy The Golden Compass (2007), which starred Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig and grossed $372.2 million at the global box office, her other producing credits included Twelfth Night (1996), Inkheart (2008), and Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism (2015).
Born in Los Angeles on April 6, 1955, Ileen Marla Maisel began working for entertainment journalist Rona Barrett...
Maisel died Feb. 16 of cancer in London, her home for the past 34 years, her sister, Hollywood publicist Cheryl Maisel, announced.
Maisel received a BAFTA nomination for best British film for producing Samuel Goldwyn’s Onegin (1999), starring Ralph Fiennes, and was said to be most proud of her work on the Fine Line Features thriller Ripley’s Game (2002), starring John Malkovich.
In addition to the New Line fantasy The Golden Compass (2007), which starred Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig and grossed $372.2 million at the global box office, her other producing credits included Twelfth Night (1996), Inkheart (2008), and Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism (2015).
Born in Los Angeles on April 6, 1955, Ileen Marla Maisel began working for entertainment journalist Rona Barrett...
- 3/26/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Editor’s note: Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age writer Julian Fellowes has written a heartfelt salute to his friend and colleague, the producer Ileen Maisel, who died in London on February 16 aged 68.
Ileen Maisel was born in Los Angeles, California, where she was raised. In fact, her father had moved there from Alabama to work in retail sales, so she had no immediate help with a career in show business, but it was clearly enough that she breathed the same air as the great filmmakers of the past and present. It is no surprise to learn that by the age of 15 she was working for the entertainment journalist Rona Barrett.
From then on, she embraced, bathed in, and generally loved the film industry until the end of her life. There was never much doubt as to where she was headed and she was still young when she entered the industry.
Ileen Maisel was born in Los Angeles, California, where she was raised. In fact, her father had moved there from Alabama to work in retail sales, so she had no immediate help with a career in show business, but it was clearly enough that she breathed the same air as the great filmmakers of the past and present. It is no surprise to learn that by the age of 15 she was working for the entertainment journalist Rona Barrett.
From then on, she embraced, bathed in, and generally loved the film industry until the end of her life. There was never much doubt as to where she was headed and she was still young when she entered the industry.
- 3/26/2024
- by Julian Fellowes
- Deadline Film + TV
“Try to Remember,” the most famous song to have come out of the stage musical “The Fantasticks,” was noted for its autumnal feel, sung by someone reflecting back on youthful days. The happy irony is that Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt wrote that song prior to the show’s original 1960 staging when they were both still relatively young men of about 30, fellows who still had about two-thirds of their lives ahead of them. Schmidt, who wrote the music, died in 2018 at age 88, and Jones, who penned the show’s lyrics and book, died Friday at 95.
Here’s to it having been a heck of a long way from September to December.
When the movie version of the show came out in the fall of 2000, I wrote about it for Entertainment Weekly and said that “for my money, ‘The Fantasticks’ is the best pure live–action movie musical since ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’” Now,...
Here’s to it having been a heck of a long way from September to December.
When the movie version of the show came out in the fall of 2000, I wrote about it for Entertainment Weekly and said that “for my money, ‘The Fantasticks’ is the best pure live–action movie musical since ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’” Now,...
- 8/13/2023
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon Studios has put in development The Star Chamber, a thriller drama inspired by the 1983 Michael Douglas film of the same name, from Sheldon Turner and Jennifer Klein’s Vendetta Productions and Fox 21 Television Studios. The project stems from Vendetta’s deal at 20th Century Fox TV and Fox 21 TV Studios, divisions of Disney TV Studios.
Written by Turner (Up In the Air), The Star Chamber series gives the movie a gender twist. It follows a revered female federal appellate court judge in San Francisco. She leads a shadowy group of judges that decide to right the wrongs of the broken legal system as she struggles to balance her obligations to law, to religion and to her family.
More from DeadlineAmazon Studios Names Christian Davin Global Head Of Movies MarketingCoronavirus: Amazon Studios, Lionsgate Issue Work From Home Recommendation -Update'Master': Zoe Renee, Amber Gray Join Regina Hall In Amazon...
Written by Turner (Up In the Air), The Star Chamber series gives the movie a gender twist. It follows a revered female federal appellate court judge in San Francisco. She leads a shadowy group of judges that decide to right the wrongs of the broken legal system as she struggles to balance her obligations to law, to religion and to her family.
More from DeadlineAmazon Studios Names Christian Davin Global Head Of Movies MarketingCoronavirus: Amazon Studios, Lionsgate Issue Work From Home Recommendation -Update'Master': Zoe Renee, Amber Gray Join Regina Hall In Amazon...
- 4/17/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Producer Cindy Bond (I Can Only Imagine) and former Phoenix Pictures executive Doug McKay (What to Expect When You’re Expecting) are teaming up to launch La film and TV firm Faster Horse Pictures, whose first feature out the gate is a hot one: opioids drama American Pain from The Help and Girl On The Train director Tate Taylor.
Taylor has adapted John Temple’s bestselling book American Pain: How A Young Felon And His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America’s Deadliest Drug Epidemic, and will direct the story about the murky Florida ‘pill mills’. It will hone in on mega-clinic American Pain which became the largest opioids center in the country before being busted by the FBI.
Taylor’s producing partner, John Norris, will produce alongside McKay and Bond. Michael Whalen will executive produce and is set to be a frequent collaborator on Faster Horse projects. Isaiah Smallman...
Taylor has adapted John Temple’s bestselling book American Pain: How A Young Felon And His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America’s Deadliest Drug Epidemic, and will direct the story about the murky Florida ‘pill mills’. It will hone in on mega-clinic American Pain which became the largest opioids center in the country before being busted by the FBI.
Taylor’s producing partner, John Norris, will produce alongside McKay and Bond. Michael Whalen will executive produce and is set to be a frequent collaborator on Faster Horse projects. Isaiah Smallman...
- 9/26/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Kevin Hart, Mike Medavoy and “Princess of the Row” are receiving honors and Atom Tickets expands.
Awards
Kevin Hart will receive this year’s CinemaCon International Star of the Year award at the convention’s awards show on Thursday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.
“With his films continuously earning the top spot at the box office, Kevin Hart has brought some of the most entertaining comedic films to audiences around the world and continues to prove that he is one of the most dynamic and agile actors today,” said Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of CinemaCon.
****
“Princess of the Row” topped “Windows on the World” for audience award at the Method Fest, based on tallies of votes taken as the audience exited screenings of premieres.
“Princess of the Row” also won the festival’s breakout acting award for Edi Gathegi’s work as a homeless father.
Awards
Kevin Hart will receive this year’s CinemaCon International Star of the Year award at the convention’s awards show on Thursday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nev.
“With his films continuously earning the top spot at the box office, Kevin Hart has brought some of the most entertaining comedic films to audiences around the world and continues to prove that he is one of the most dynamic and agile actors today,” said Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of CinemaCon.
****
“Princess of the Row” topped “Windows on the World” for audience award at the Method Fest, based on tallies of votes taken as the audience exited screenings of premieres.
“Princess of the Row” also won the festival’s breakout acting award for Edi Gathegi’s work as a homeless father.
- 4/2/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
As several excellent books and articles are reminding us, 1968 was a year of tumult. Regimes were collapsing on this date 50 years ago, protesters jammed the streets, and the worlds of music and film were being re-imagined. Even the tightly regimented Cannes Film Festival exploded in a noisy chaos of demonstrations.
The convulsions of five decades ago, to be sure, did not have the enduring impact that many had imagined. Game-changing ideas crashed and burned, taking promising careers down with them. Indeed, it became cool in the ’60s to carefully study the rituals of survival rather than the keys to success.
Given this realization, I decided to seek out three proud ’60s survivors who not only defied the fates but actually managed to build on the frenzy of the times: Francis Coppola, Billy Friedkin and Peter Bogdanovich. Their careers were just starting to burgeon in 1968. Today, they seem as passionate as...
The convulsions of five decades ago, to be sure, did not have the enduring impact that many had imagined. Game-changing ideas crashed and burned, taking promising careers down with them. Indeed, it became cool in the ’60s to carefully study the rituals of survival rather than the keys to success.
Given this realization, I decided to seek out three proud ’60s survivors who not only defied the fates but actually managed to build on the frenzy of the times: Francis Coppola, Billy Friedkin and Peter Bogdanovich. Their careers were just starting to burgeon in 1968. Today, they seem as passionate as...
- 5/10/2018
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Director and documentarian Mark Hartley scores both a film history and comedy success with this ‘wild, untold’ account of the 1980s film studio that was both revered and despised by everyone who had contact with it. The ‘cast list’ of interviewees is encyclopedic, everybody has a strong opinion, and some of them don’t need four-letter words to describe their experience!
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
On a double bill with
Machete Maidens Unleashed!
Blu-ray
Umbrella Entertainment (Au, all-region
2014 / Color / 1:77 widescreen / 106 min. / Street Date April 4, 2017 / Available from Umbrella Entertainment / 34.99
Starring: Menahem Golan, Yoram Globus, Al Ruban, Alain Jakubowicz, Albert Pyun, Alex Winter, Allen DeBevoise, Avi Lerner, Barbet Schroeder, Bo Derek, Boaz Davidson, Cassandra Peterson, Catherine Mary Stewart, Charles Matthau, Christopher C. Dewey, Christopher Pearce, Cynthia Hargrave, Dan Wolman, Daniel Loewenthal, David Del Valle, David Paulsen, David Sheehan, David Womark, Diane Franklin, Dolph Lundgren, Edward R. Pressman,...
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films
On a double bill with
Machete Maidens Unleashed!
Blu-ray
Umbrella Entertainment (Au, all-region
2014 / Color / 1:77 widescreen / 106 min. / Street Date April 4, 2017 / Available from Umbrella Entertainment / 34.99
Starring: Menahem Golan, Yoram Globus, Al Ruban, Alain Jakubowicz, Albert Pyun, Alex Winter, Allen DeBevoise, Avi Lerner, Barbet Schroeder, Bo Derek, Boaz Davidson, Cassandra Peterson, Catherine Mary Stewart, Charles Matthau, Christopher C. Dewey, Christopher Pearce, Cynthia Hargrave, Dan Wolman, Daniel Loewenthal, David Del Valle, David Paulsen, David Sheehan, David Womark, Diane Franklin, Dolph Lundgren, Edward R. Pressman,...
- 4/8/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Ryan Lambie Jun 9, 2019
It was a camp classic in 1995, but did you know Congo was once going to be made in the early '80s with a real gorilla and Sean Connery?
"Congo is a dead project that will never be made" - Michael Crichton, 1983
Just about everywhere you looked in the summer of 1995, a pair of simian eyes stared back at you from the poster of Congo. Based on the best-selling Michael Crichton novel, Congo was billed as that year’s equivalent of Jurassic Park - another exciting creature feature with cutting-edge special effects and maybe just a tiny dash of horror.
“It’s a little like Alien at the beginning,” enthused director Frank Marshall, “in that it’s based in science fact, and like Indiana Jones at the end, with the lost city of Zinj.”
Determined to push Congo as a must-see summer film capable of competing with...
It was a camp classic in 1995, but did you know Congo was once going to be made in the early '80s with a real gorilla and Sean Connery?
"Congo is a dead project that will never be made" - Michael Crichton, 1983
Just about everywhere you looked in the summer of 1995, a pair of simian eyes stared back at you from the poster of Congo. Based on the best-selling Michael Crichton novel, Congo was billed as that year’s equivalent of Jurassic Park - another exciting creature feature with cutting-edge special effects and maybe just a tiny dash of horror.
“It’s a little like Alien at the beginning,” enthused director Frank Marshall, “in that it’s based in science fact, and like Indiana Jones at the end, with the lost city of Zinj.”
Determined to push Congo as a must-see summer film capable of competing with...
- 9/12/2016
- Den of Geek
Ryan Lambie Sep 12, 2016
It was a camp classic in 1995, but did you know Congo was once going to be made in the early 80s with a real gorilla and Sean Connery?
"Congo is a dead project that will never be made" - Michael Crichton, 1983
Just about everywhere you looked in the summer of 1995, a pair of simian eyes stared back at you from the poster of Congo. Based on the best-selling Michael Crichton novel, Congo was billed as that year’s equivalent of Jurassic Park - another exciting creature feature with cutting-edge special effects and maybe just a tiny dash of horror.
“It’s a little like Alien at the beginning,” enthused director Frank Marshall, “in that it’s based in science fact, and like Indiana Jones at the end, with the lost city of Zinj.”
Determined to push Congo as a must-see summer film capable of competing with such...
It was a camp classic in 1995, but did you know Congo was once going to be made in the early 80s with a real gorilla and Sean Connery?
"Congo is a dead project that will never be made" - Michael Crichton, 1983
Just about everywhere you looked in the summer of 1995, a pair of simian eyes stared back at you from the poster of Congo. Based on the best-selling Michael Crichton novel, Congo was billed as that year’s equivalent of Jurassic Park - another exciting creature feature with cutting-edge special effects and maybe just a tiny dash of horror.
“It’s a little like Alien at the beginning,” enthused director Frank Marshall, “in that it’s based in science fact, and like Indiana Jones at the end, with the lost city of Zinj.”
Determined to push Congo as a must-see summer film capable of competing with such...
- 9/9/2016
- Den of Geek
All the winners from Sunday’s 87th Academy Awards.
Show host Harris signs off with a chirpy, “Buenos noches!”
Sean Penn walks on. It’s time for the big one. Best film. Will it be Birdman or Boyhood? It’s Birdman! The movie ends the night tied with The Grand Budapest Hotel on four Oscars. Inarritu, referring to his pal Alfonso Cuaron who enjoyed success with Gravity at last year’s show, says, “Two Mexicans in a row. That’s suspicious, I guess.” Slightly more seriously, Agi also calls on his fellow Mexicans to help build a strong future for his beloved country. Wow, a good night for Birdman and a surprisingly barren one for Boyhood. Pirates indeed, Ethan Hawke, but glorious pirates.
And now Matthew McConaughey saunters on stage to announce best actress. Julianne Moore, five times a nominee at the Oscars is the favourite. Will she get it this time for Still Alice? Yes she’s got...
Show host Harris signs off with a chirpy, “Buenos noches!”
Sean Penn walks on. It’s time for the big one. Best film. Will it be Birdman or Boyhood? It’s Birdman! The movie ends the night tied with The Grand Budapest Hotel on four Oscars. Inarritu, referring to his pal Alfonso Cuaron who enjoyed success with Gravity at last year’s show, says, “Two Mexicans in a row. That’s suspicious, I guess.” Slightly more seriously, Agi also calls on his fellow Mexicans to help build a strong future for his beloved country. Wow, a good night for Birdman and a surprisingly barren one for Boyhood. Pirates indeed, Ethan Hawke, but glorious pirates.
And now Matthew McConaughey saunters on stage to announce best actress. Julianne Moore, five times a nominee at the Oscars is the favourite. Will she get it this time for Still Alice? Yes she’s got...
- 2/22/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
This story first appeared in the Dec. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. There have been many colorful studio presidents, but Frank Yablans — who died at age 79 on Nov. 27 in his L.A. home — practically was a peacock. "He was outrageous, aggressive, opinionated, sardonic in the extreme," says Al Ruddy, who produced The Godfather for Paramount when Yablans oversaw the studio. "But Frank was always the smartest guy in the room." Yablans, whose son is ICM agent Eddy Yablans, started in sales at Paramount; he was named president after his marketing of Love Story helped
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- 12/3/2014
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Frank Yablans was president of Paramount during some of the studio’s most golden years from 1971 to 1975. Working under notorious owner Charlie Bludhorn, Yablans’ tenure included such Oscar winners and nominees as The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Serpico, Paper Moon, Chinatown and Murder On The Orient Express. He died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes this morning, his son, ICM Partners’ Eddy Yablans, told Deadline.
Frank Yablans worked in his early years for Warner Bros, The Walt Disney Company and Filmways and joined Paramount in the late 60s where he spearheaded marketing for Arthur Hiller’s Ryan O’Neal/Ali MacGraw tearjerker Love Story before ascending to the presidency. After leaving Paramount, he went on to a successful career as a producer/exec producer on such films as Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder comedy Silver Streak and Brian De Palma’s The Fury. He also wrote and produced such...
Frank Yablans worked in his early years for Warner Bros, The Walt Disney Company and Filmways and joined Paramount in the late 60s where he spearheaded marketing for Arthur Hiller’s Ryan O’Neal/Ali MacGraw tearjerker Love Story before ascending to the presidency. After leaving Paramount, he went on to a successful career as a producer/exec producer on such films as Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder comedy Silver Streak and Brian De Palma’s The Fury. He also wrote and produced such...
- 11/27/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
Former Paramount Pictures president Frank Yablans has died, his son, ICM Partners agent Eddy Yablans, told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 79. He died peacefully at his Los Angeles home of natural causes on Thanksgiving Day, his son said. Read more Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films During his tenure at Paramount, Yablans worked with production chief Robert Evans, and the studio released Oscar best-picture winner The Godfather (1972) and its first sequel, as well as Serpico (1973), Paper Moon (1973), Chinatown (1974) and Murder on the Orient Express (1974). Later, Yablans served as vice chairman and COO of MGM/United Artists under Kirk Kerkorian. Yablans produced and contributed
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- 11/27/2014
- by Hilary Lewis, Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The rise and fall of Cannon Films is told in Mark Hartley's wildly entertaining documentary, Electric Boogaloo. Here's Ryan's review...
Producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus were famous (or infamous) for many things, but a stringent approach to quality filmmaking was hardly one of them. At the height of their success in the 1980s, the Israeli cousins, and their company Cannon Films, were synonymous with cheap B-movies of just about every kind: Chuck Norris action flicks, sex comedies, ninja martial arts epics, dance movies and tawdry slasher horrors.
Their films frequently horrified critics, but became a staple of video rental stores: with Cannon Films cranking out as many as 50 or so pictures a year at its peak, the company's distinctive logo and self-explanatory film titles (New Year's Evil, Avenging Force, Enter The Ninja) were ubiquitous throughout the 80s and early 90s. The company was eventually brought down by its fast-and-loose approach to film production,...
Producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus were famous (or infamous) for many things, but a stringent approach to quality filmmaking was hardly one of them. At the height of their success in the 1980s, the Israeli cousins, and their company Cannon Films, were synonymous with cheap B-movies of just about every kind: Chuck Norris action flicks, sex comedies, ninja martial arts epics, dance movies and tawdry slasher horrors.
Their films frequently horrified critics, but became a staple of video rental stores: with Cannon Films cranking out as many as 50 or so pictures a year at its peak, the company's distinctive logo and self-explanatory film titles (New Year's Evil, Avenging Force, Enter The Ninja) were ubiquitous throughout the 80s and early 90s. The company was eventually brought down by its fast-and-loose approach to film production,...
- 9/29/2014
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
The wizards at Arrow Video have been focusing their brain waves on bringing another cult treasure to hi-def life in the UK, and the result is a brand new restoration of Brian De Palma's The Fury, hitting shelves on October 28th. Don't stare too long...
From the Press Release:
Marking the film’s UK Blu-ray premiere in style, Arrow’s team of restorers have breathed new life into this telekinetic masterpiece – it’s crystal clear, incredibly vibrant and has been newly graded, all the while keeping true to Richard H. Kline’s brilliant original cinematography. 2013 year marks The Fury’s 35th birthday... it’s never looked better.
Restoration Supervisor James White says of the project – "It's been a great honour to restore The Fury, a truly fantastic film by one of my favourite directors. Its combination of sci-fi, horror and post-Watergate paranoia thriller makes it one of the key...
From the Press Release:
Marking the film’s UK Blu-ray premiere in style, Arrow’s team of restorers have breathed new life into this telekinetic masterpiece – it’s crystal clear, incredibly vibrant and has been newly graded, all the while keeping true to Richard H. Kline’s brilliant original cinematography. 2013 year marks The Fury’s 35th birthday... it’s never looked better.
Restoration Supervisor James White says of the project – "It's been a great honour to restore The Fury, a truly fantastic film by one of my favourite directors. Its combination of sci-fi, horror and post-Watergate paranoia thriller makes it one of the key...
- 10/9/2013
- by Pestilence
- DreadCentral.com
Jonathan Mossek's "As Good As Dead," starring Andie MacDowell and Cary Elwes, will kick off the 10th annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 14 at the Clarity Theater in Beverly Hills.
It will be preceded earlier that evening by the premiere of "Jesse's Story," Mark Jacobs' documentary about surfer Jesse Billauer, as well as the North American premiere of the Brazilian documentary "Sequestro" (Kidnapping), directed by Jorge W. Atalla.
Producer Frank Yablans will be the third annual recipient of the Legends Award, which will be presented at the closing night awards ceremony April 18 at the Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills Hotel.
Bhff founder Nino Simone will be presented with the Parajanov-Vartanov Award for his commitment to independent cinema and for his support of filmmakers Sergei Parajanov and Mikhail Vartanov.
It will be preceded earlier that evening by the premiere of "Jesse's Story," Mark Jacobs' documentary about surfer Jesse Billauer, as well as the North American premiere of the Brazilian documentary "Sequestro" (Kidnapping), directed by Jorge W. Atalla.
Producer Frank Yablans will be the third annual recipient of the Legends Award, which will be presented at the closing night awards ceremony April 18 at the Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills Hotel.
Bhff founder Nino Simone will be presented with the Parajanov-Vartanov Award for his commitment to independent cinema and for his support of filmmakers Sergei Parajanov and Mikhail Vartanov.
- 3/30/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Screenwriter and filmmaker Robert Towne.
Forget It Bob, It’S Chinatown
Robert Towne looks back on Chinatown’s 35th anniversary
By
Alex Simon
The haunting trumpet wailing plaintively over the closing credits. The bandage covering star Jack Nicholson’s nose. The best last line of a movie, ever: “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown"; all elements of a film now regarded by scholars, critics and cinefiles alike as one of the greatest pieces of American celluloid ever made. Chinatown was a collaboration between a who’s-who of ‘70s film icons. Directed by Roman Polanski, produced by Robert Evans, written by Robert Towne, starring Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, shot by John Alonso, and scored by Jerry Goldsmith, Chinatown was nominated for 11 Academy Awards in 1974, but brought home only one: for its writer. Robert Towne was barely 40, and Chinatown his first produced original screenplay, his previous efforts having been literary adaptations, such as 1973’s The Last Detail.
Forget It Bob, It’S Chinatown
Robert Towne looks back on Chinatown’s 35th anniversary
By
Alex Simon
The haunting trumpet wailing plaintively over the closing credits. The bandage covering star Jack Nicholson’s nose. The best last line of a movie, ever: “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown"; all elements of a film now regarded by scholars, critics and cinefiles alike as one of the greatest pieces of American celluloid ever made. Chinatown was a collaboration between a who’s-who of ‘70s film icons. Directed by Roman Polanski, produced by Robert Evans, written by Robert Towne, starring Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, shot by John Alonso, and scored by Jerry Goldsmith, Chinatown was nominated for 11 Academy Awards in 1974, but brought home only one: for its writer. Robert Towne was barely 40, and Chinatown his first produced original screenplay, his previous efforts having been literary adaptations, such as 1973’s The Last Detail.
- 11/4/2009
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Fango heard from William Butler and Gage Munster, writer/director and FX artist respectively of Demonic Toys 2: Personal Demons, who just returned from the shoot in Italy and sent the exclusive photos seen below. The movie was lensed in Charles Band’s personal castle (also the site of such memorable flicks as Castle Freak and The Pit And The Pendulum), where the spooky atmosphere was both a blessing and a bit of a “curse.”
“The shoot went amazing,” Butler tells Fango. “This was the first time I had shot in Italy since back when I was an effects supervisor on old Empire films like Robot Jox, Arena, Dolls and Troll. I had remarkable experiences working on those with Irwin and Frank Yablans, Stuart Gordon, Yvonne DeCarlo, Viggo Mortensen, Lance Henriksen—and of course, who could forget Sonny Bono?” It seems he can add Demonic Toys to his list of fond memories.
“The shoot went amazing,” Butler tells Fango. “This was the first time I had shot in Italy since back when I was an effects supervisor on old Empire films like Robot Jox, Arena, Dolls and Troll. I had remarkable experiences working on those with Irwin and Frank Yablans, Stuart Gordon, Yvonne DeCarlo, Viggo Mortensen, Lance Henriksen—and of course, who could forget Sonny Bono?” It seems he can add Demonic Toys to his list of fond memories.
- 5/21/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Samuel Zimmerman)
- Fangoria
Promenade Pictures, the production company founded four years ago by former studio head Frank Yablans with a focus on family entertainment, said Thursday that it will enter U.S. theatrical distribution Oct. 26 by releasing the 3-D CGI-animated feature The Ten Commandments.
The film is the first in a 12-picture series billed as Epic Stories From the Bible, which Promenade is producing with New Zealand-based Huhu Studios and Singapore-based iVL Animation as partners. Promenade will market and distribute all of the films theatrically in the U.S. while retaining worldwide rights. Upcoming films in the franchise will be announced in the coming months.
Promenade president and COO Cindy Bond said the company will distribute four to six films a year, a mix of wide releases as well as niche platform titles. It will distribute its own slate of features as well as acquisitions from indie filmmakers working in the $5 million-$20 million range.
The Ten Commandments, directed by Bill Boyce and John Stronach from a screenplay by Ed Naha, includes the voice talents of Ben Kingsley, who serves as narrator, Christian Slater (Moses), Alfred Molina (Ramses) and Elliott Gould (God).
The film is the first in a 12-picture series billed as Epic Stories From the Bible, which Promenade is producing with New Zealand-based Huhu Studios and Singapore-based iVL Animation as partners. Promenade will market and distribute all of the films theatrically in the U.S. while retaining worldwide rights. Upcoming films in the franchise will be announced in the coming months.
Promenade president and COO Cindy Bond said the company will distribute four to six films a year, a mix of wide releases as well as niche platform titles. It will distribute its own slate of features as well as acquisitions from indie filmmakers working in the $5 million-$20 million range.
The Ten Commandments, directed by Bill Boyce and John Stronach from a screenplay by Ed Naha, includes the voice talents of Ben Kingsley, who serves as narrator, Christian Slater (Moses), Alfred Molina (Ramses) and Elliott Gould (God).
- 8/24/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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