To celebrate the end of another great year in independent film, Film Independent is re-posting some of our favorite blogs of 2023. And here’s a reminder: there’s still time to make a tax-deductible donation to Film Independent in support of all the hard work our community does year-round. Not a Member yet? Become one by January 5 to watch the nominees for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards and vote for the winners. Happy New Year!
If you watched our livestream of the Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 4, then you very well know that this year’s ceremony was about way more than just making fun of the 2008 Will Ferrell vehicle Semi-Pro. The 2023 awards show kicked off a year-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of our Artist Development efforts – known on these streets as #AD30. That’s right, ever since Project Involve debuted in 1993, Film Independent Artist Development has been...
If you watched our livestream of the Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 4, then you very well know that this year’s ceremony was about way more than just making fun of the 2008 Will Ferrell vehicle Semi-Pro. The 2023 awards show kicked off a year-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of our Artist Development efforts – known on these streets as #AD30. That’s right, ever since Project Involve debuted in 1993, Film Independent Artist Development has been...
- 12/29/2023
- by Matt Warren
- Film Independent News & More
Left-Handed-Girl
We believe this under-the-radar project dipped its toe in co-production coin so we aren’t categorizing this shot in Taiwan family drama as American indie while its certainly informed by her films as a producer. Putting on the filmmaker hat, Shih-Ching Tsou (who co-directed Take Out with Sean Baker) shot her solo outing this past July in Taipei. Left-Handed-Girl is co-written along with Baker and has been in development for a good while now. Cinema Inutile produced the film.
Gist: This is a family drama set in Taipei.
Release Date/Prediction: We see this as a possible offering in the Cannes Critics’ Week section.…...
We believe this under-the-radar project dipped its toe in co-production coin so we aren’t categorizing this shot in Taiwan family drama as American indie while its certainly informed by her films as a producer. Putting on the filmmaker hat, Shih-Ching Tsou (who co-directed Take Out with Sean Baker) shot her solo outing this past July in Taipei. Left-Handed-Girl is co-written along with Baker and has been in development for a good while now. Cinema Inutile produced the film.
Gist: This is a family drama set in Taipei.
Release Date/Prediction: We see this as a possible offering in the Cannes Critics’ Week section.…...
- 1/16/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Sean Baker’s debut feature was 2000’s Four Letter Words, but it was his second (following his work on TV’s Greg the Bunny), Take Out, directed with Shih-Ching Tsou, that is the most clear antecedent to the neorealist-inflected work he practices today. When I interviewed Baker in 2012 about his Starlet, we began with his origin story, which included this section on Take Out: I was a bit discouraged. I was seeing these filmmakers I’d gone to school with — Todd Phillips, Marc Forster — start to make waves. Their careers were taking off. I wanted to get back to my […]
The post Trailer Watch: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou’s Take Out first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Trailer Watch: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou’s Take Out first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 10/31/2022
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Sean Baker’s debut feature was 2000’s Four Letter Words, but it was his second (following his work on TV’s Greg the Bunny), Take Out, directed with Shih-Ching Tsou, that is the most clear antecedent to the neorealist-inflected work he practices today. When I interviewed Baker in 2012 about his Starlet, we began with his origin story, which included this section on Take Out: I was a bit discouraged. I was seeing these filmmakers I’d gone to school with — Todd Phillips, Marc Forster — start to make waves. Their careers were taking off. I wanted to get back to my […]
The post Trailer Watch: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou’s Take Out first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Trailer Watch: Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou’s Take Out first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 10/31/2022
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
One of the more important creative forces in filmmaker Sean Baker camp has began lensing on her solo feature debut. Almost two decades after co-directing the micro-budgeted Take Out (with Baker) in 2004, Shih-Ching Tsou finally returns behind the camera (we just found out via her socials). In the backdrop of hustle and bustle of Taipei, Taiwan’s night markets, Left-Handed Girl is a family drama. Le Pacte looks to be one of the production companies involved.
We jumped the gun quite a bit when we projected this as a possible Sundance selection. After Take Out (the film received a Criterion treatment and will be released in September), Shih-Ching Tsou (a former Sundance Trading Cards alumni of ours) served as a producer on Starlet, Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket.…...
We jumped the gun quite a bit when we projected this as a possible Sundance selection. After Take Out (the film received a Criterion treatment and will be released in September), Shih-Ching Tsou (a former Sundance Trading Cards alumni of ours) served as a producer on Starlet, Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket.…...
- 7/11/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The AcademyThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents The Academy Awards, which is popularly known as the Oscars.Tnm StaffA collage of actors Suriya and KajolActors Suriya and Kajol are among the invitees to join The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The organisation has extended an invitation to 397 artists and others to join the organisation in 2022. "Membership selection is based on professional qualifications with an ongoing commitment to representation, inclusion and equity. This year's class of invitees includes 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners. The Academy is the organisation which presents The Academy Awards, popularly known as Oscars. Other Indians who made it to the list include filmmakers Reema Kagti, Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas. Indian documentary Writing With Fire, made by Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas, was recently nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category at the 94th edition of the Academy Awards. The documentary chronicled the rise of Khabar Lahariya,...
- 6/29/2022
- by BNitin
- The News Minute
So as the summer starts does Criterion eye fall, their latest announcement bringing us to September—a month that will finally bring another installment of Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project, the most important work they (or anybody across film) have done in recent years. This edition includes the recently unearthed masterwork Chess of the Wind (Iran), Muna Moto (Cameroon), Sambizanga (Angola), Prisioneros de la tierra (Argentina), André de Toth’s Two Girls on the Street (Hungary), and Kalpana (India). Which alone is more than a month’s share of important work.
But September is arguably their most packed month of 2022. We also get a couple 4Ks—Sound of Metal as part of Criterion’s Amazon deal, and (music to my ears) a reissue of Blow Out—then Sean Baker enters the collection with his early feature Take Out (co-directed by Shih-Ching Tsou), as does Atom Egoyan with Exotica; and for good measure,...
But September is arguably their most packed month of 2022. We also get a couple 4Ks—Sound of Metal as part of Criterion’s Amazon deal, and (music to my ears) a reissue of Blow Out—then Sean Baker enters the collection with his early feature Take Out (co-directed by Shih-Ching Tsou), as does Atom Egoyan with Exotica; and for good measure,...
- 6/15/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
For better or worse, you will hear about Red Rocket. From who? It’s a coin toss between a raving cinephile and a sanctimonious pop culture prognosticator behind a line in the sand. But make no mistake, they’re talking about the same movie.
Provocation has always been on the frontlines in Sean Baker’s work. Seven features deep, the writer, director, producer, editor, and casting director is known for portraying the unsexy realms of America’s working class in full color, earning newfound acclaim with Tangerine and The Florida Project. Diving headfirst into beauty and darkness, he takes an uncensored approach, more interested in the cinematic search for truth than catering to the faint of heart. He tells stories about people on the fringe, bruised characters too complex to simply love. Or––in the case of Mikey Saber––hate.
The bubbly, airheaded ex-porn star (played by an electric Simon Rex...
Provocation has always been on the frontlines in Sean Baker’s work. Seven features deep, the writer, director, producer, editor, and casting director is known for portraying the unsexy realms of America’s working class in full color, earning newfound acclaim with Tangerine and The Florida Project. Diving headfirst into beauty and darkness, he takes an uncensored approach, more interested in the cinematic search for truth than catering to the faint of heart. He tells stories about people on the fringe, bruised characters too complex to simply love. Or––in the case of Mikey Saber––hate.
The bubbly, airheaded ex-porn star (played by an electric Simon Rex...
- 12/10/2021
- by Luke Hicks
- The Film Stage
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies from film awards editor Clayton Davis. Following history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar and Emmy predictions are updated regularly with the current year's list of contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. The eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and is subject to change.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Oscars Collective
Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Oscars Hub
Revisit the prediction archive of the 2021 season The Archive
Link to television awards is atTHE Emmys Hub
2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards Predictions:
Best Performance By A Cast Ensemble
Updated: Nov 25, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: More to come…...
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Oscars Collective
Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Oscars Hub
Revisit the prediction archive of the 2021 season The Archive
Link to television awards is atTHE Emmys Hub
2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards Predictions:
Best Performance By A Cast Ensemble
Updated: Nov 25, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: More to come…...
- 11/25/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Part of Sean Baker’s close-knit regular creative collaborators that also include Chris Bergoch and Radium Cheung, Shih-Ching Tsou was a co-director alongside Sean Baker in 2004’s Take Out. She is now prepping her solo project which was likely filmed (or will film) under the radar. Tsou was an Executive Producer on Starlet, and producer on Tangerine, The Florida Project and this year’s Red Rocket. She was featured among our Sundance Trading Card series.
Gist: Unknown.
Production Co./Producers: Tbd.
Prediction: Next.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. Tbd.
…...
Gist: Unknown.
Production Co./Producers: Tbd.
Prediction: Next.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. Tbd.
…...
- 11/25/2021
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Kristen Stewart, Jamie Dornan, Mahershala Ali, Kirsten Dunst, Jake Gyllenhaal and Javier Bardem were among the stars who came out Saturday to celebrate the contributions of artisan, craft and technical crew members at the 11th annual Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards.
“We seem to get a lot of the attention and the kudos when movies come out but reality is that it’s guys like Haris who do all the work,” said Dornan of Haris Zambarloukos, who was honored with the Cinematographer award for “Belfast.”
Hosted by Yvonne Orji, the “Insecure” star said the Hamilton kudos are not about actors for a change: this time: “We want you to know that we see you, we appreciate you and tonight we applaud you.”
Denis Villeneuve was honored with the Visionary Award for his directorial work in “Dune,” presented by Bardem at the ceremony held at Avalon Hollywood’s Bardot event space.
“We seem to get a lot of the attention and the kudos when movies come out but reality is that it’s guys like Haris who do all the work,” said Dornan of Haris Zambarloukos, who was honored with the Cinematographer award for “Belfast.”
Hosted by Yvonne Orji, the “Insecure” star said the Hamilton kudos are not about actors for a change: this time: “We want you to know that we see you, we appreciate you and tonight we applaud you.”
Denis Villeneuve was honored with the Visionary Award for his directorial work in “Dune,” presented by Bardem at the ceremony held at Avalon Hollywood’s Bardot event space.
- 11/14/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
A24 has shifted the release date for Sean Baker’s film, Red Rocket, pushing it back a week from the 3rd to the 10th of December.
The dark comedy from the director of The Florida Project and Tangerine was previously set to open against Paul Verhoeven’s Benedetta, Greenwich Entertainment doc Try Harder!, Focus Features’ drama Wolf, Fip’s Tadap, Camille Griffin’s holiday horror pic Silent Night, and Faith Media Distribution’s True to the Game 3.
It’s now set to play against two major awards contenders—Steven Spielberg’s 20th Century Studios remake of West Side Story and Amazon’s Aaron Sorkin pic Being the Ricardos—along with STX Entertainment’s action thriller Violence of Action, starring Chris Pine.
Red Rocket centers on Mikey Saber (Simon Rex), a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown—regardless of the fact that no one wants him back.
The dark comedy from the director of The Florida Project and Tangerine was previously set to open against Paul Verhoeven’s Benedetta, Greenwich Entertainment doc Try Harder!, Focus Features’ drama Wolf, Fip’s Tadap, Camille Griffin’s holiday horror pic Silent Night, and Faith Media Distribution’s True to the Game 3.
It’s now set to play against two major awards contenders—Steven Spielberg’s 20th Century Studios remake of West Side Story and Amazon’s Aaron Sorkin pic Being the Ricardos—along with STX Entertainment’s action thriller Violence of Action, starring Chris Pine.
Red Rocket centers on Mikey Saber (Simon Rex), a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown—regardless of the fact that no one wants him back.
- 11/8/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“Belfast” star Jamie Dornan and “Spencer’s” Kristen Stewart are among the star-studded list of presenters and awardees for the 11th Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards.
Dornan will present the cinematographer award to “Belfast’s” Haris Zambarloukos, with Stewart honoring “Spencer” director Pablo Larraín at the 11th annual award ceremony on Nov. 13 at the Avalon theatre in Hollywood. Hosted by “Insecure’s” Yvonne Orji and presented by Hamilton watches and Los Angeles Confidential magazine, the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards pays tribute to the brilliant behind-the-camera talent of the year’s most acclaimed films, with honorees and presenters selected from projects released during the year or presented at Cannes, Toronto, Venice, and AFI and other prestigious film festivals.
The lineup of films and creatives to be honored include: “Spencer” director Pablo Larraín, presented by Kristen Stewart; “Belfast” cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, presented by Jamie Dornan; breakthrough director Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter...
Dornan will present the cinematographer award to “Belfast’s” Haris Zambarloukos, with Stewart honoring “Spencer” director Pablo Larraín at the 11th annual award ceremony on Nov. 13 at the Avalon theatre in Hollywood. Hosted by “Insecure’s” Yvonne Orji and presented by Hamilton watches and Los Angeles Confidential magazine, the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards pays tribute to the brilliant behind-the-camera talent of the year’s most acclaimed films, with honorees and presenters selected from projects released during the year or presented at Cannes, Toronto, Venice, and AFI and other prestigious film festivals.
The lineup of films and creatives to be honored include: “Spencer” director Pablo Larraín, presented by Kristen Stewart; “Belfast” cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, presented by Jamie Dornan; breakthrough director Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter...
- 11/4/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
With the musical accompaniment of ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye,” A24 has released the first trailer for Sean Baker’s “Red Rocket” with Simon Rex.
Shot in secret during the pandemic, the upcoming dramedy is written by Baker and Chris Bergoch. It stars Rex as Mikey Saber, a porn star who returns to his hometown of Texas City, Texas, after his Los Angeles lifestyle leaves him broke. When he arrives home, claiming to be a reformed man, his ex-wife Lexi (Bree Elrod) and mother-in-law Lil (Brenda Deiss) aren’t happy to see him, and things take another turn when a teen girl named Strawberry catches his eye.
Displaying Mikey’s smooth-talking charm in a turquoise tie-dye shirt, the trailer shows him bike-riding to job interviews, getting into verbal spats and claiming to be able to “100% out-cardio” a guy who gut-punches him outside a drive-thru donut shop. “Red Rocket” premiered...
Shot in secret during the pandemic, the upcoming dramedy is written by Baker and Chris Bergoch. It stars Rex as Mikey Saber, a porn star who returns to his hometown of Texas City, Texas, after his Los Angeles lifestyle leaves him broke. When he arrives home, claiming to be a reformed man, his ex-wife Lexi (Bree Elrod) and mother-in-law Lil (Brenda Deiss) aren’t happy to see him, and things take another turn when a teen girl named Strawberry catches his eye.
Displaying Mikey’s smooth-talking charm in a turquoise tie-dye shirt, the trailer shows him bike-riding to job interviews, getting into verbal spats and claiming to be able to “100% out-cardio” a guy who gut-punches him outside a drive-thru donut shop. “Red Rocket” premiered...
- 10/5/2021
- by Clayton Davis and Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
A24 has released the first official look at Sean Baker’s “Red Rocket” ahead of the film’s world premiere next month in competition at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. “Red Rocket” is Baker’s first Palme d’Or contender, although he’s no stranger to Cannes as his last directorial effort, “The Florida Project,” was one of the most acclaimed breakouts in the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar of the 2017 festival. Baker’s previous efforts screened at festivals such as Sundance (“Tangerine”), SXSW (“Starlet”), and more.
While A24 has not released an official synopsis for “Red Rocket,” here’s how Deadline described the movie when it was first announced last year: “‘Red Rocket’ is a darkly comedic film about Mikey Saber, a 39-year old ‘suitcase pimp.’ That is the kind of pimp who lives off of women in the adult film industry. Finding himself down and out in Los Angeles, Mikey decides...
While A24 has not released an official synopsis for “Red Rocket,” here’s how Deadline described the movie when it was first announced last year: “‘Red Rocket’ is a darkly comedic film about Mikey Saber, a 39-year old ‘suitcase pimp.’ That is the kind of pimp who lives off of women in the adult film industry. Finding himself down and out in Los Angeles, Mikey decides...
- 6/24/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Indie filmmaker Sean Baker has emerged for his first project since 2017’s Academy Award-nominated feature “The Florida Project,” and it’s a dazzling, 1970s-esque, gritty and glamorous throwback on the streets of New York for fashion line Khaite. The short film serves as a showcase for Khaite’s fall/winter collections for 2021. Check it out below.
Shot on the streets of New York and within its subterranean corridors, the short hearkens back to classic New York cinema from the ’70s. The film was produced by Prodject in creative collaboration with Superprime.
“This project has honestly been one of the most creatively cathartic experiences I have worked on. This is our crazy love letter to New York City and I hope audiences have as much fun watching as we had making it,” Baker said.
Baker’s next feature “Red Rocket,” starring Simon Rex as a washed-up porn star returning to his small hometown in Texas,...
Shot on the streets of New York and within its subterranean corridors, the short hearkens back to classic New York cinema from the ’70s. The film was produced by Prodject in creative collaboration with Superprime.
“This project has honestly been one of the most creatively cathartic experiences I have worked on. This is our crazy love letter to New York City and I hope audiences have as much fun watching as we had making it,” Baker said.
Baker’s next feature “Red Rocket,” starring Simon Rex as a washed-up porn star returning to his small hometown in Texas,...
- 3/6/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Focus Features takes majority of territories.
FilmNation has sold out international territories including a large swathe to Focus Features on Sean Baker’s Red Rocket, which immediately became a must-have title for buyers when it was announced earlier this month.
Baker’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated The Florida Project is in post after it filmed under strict Covid protocols during the pandemic.
In a flurry of high-profile deals, Le Pacte has snapped up the film for France, Roadshow Distribution for Australia and New Zealand, Lev Cinemas for Israel.
Focus Features has acquired Red Rocket for the rest of the world excluding North America,...
FilmNation has sold out international territories including a large swathe to Focus Features on Sean Baker’s Red Rocket, which immediately became a must-have title for buyers when it was announced earlier this month.
Baker’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated The Florida Project is in post after it filmed under strict Covid protocols during the pandemic.
In a flurry of high-profile deals, Le Pacte has snapped up the film for France, Roadshow Distribution for Australia and New Zealand, Lev Cinemas for Israel.
Focus Features has acquired Red Rocket for the rest of the world excluding North America,...
- 2/26/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A24 will distribute Sean Baker’s next film “Red Rocket,” a comedic drama about a washed up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown.
“Red Rocket” marks Baker’s first feature since “The Florida Project,” an acclaimed coming-of-age story that was also backed by A24. Though it’s unclear when “Red Rocket” will be released, Baker says the film is expected to debut in theaters.
“I am very excited to be reuniting with the wonderful team at A24 who will once again be bringing my film to U.S. audiences,” Baker said in a statement. “As a champion of the theatrical experience, I am thrilled A24 will give my film a theatrical release with their talent for bold marketing and distribution savvy. My gratitude goes out to FilmNation and the ‘Red Rocket’ cast and crew for helping me bring the film to fruition.”
The film, which stars Simon Rex,...
“Red Rocket” marks Baker’s first feature since “The Florida Project,” an acclaimed coming-of-age story that was also backed by A24. Though it’s unclear when “Red Rocket” will be released, Baker says the film is expected to debut in theaters.
“I am very excited to be reuniting with the wonderful team at A24 who will once again be bringing my film to U.S. audiences,” Baker said in a statement. “As a champion of the theatrical experience, I am thrilled A24 will give my film a theatrical release with their talent for bold marketing and distribution savvy. My gratitude goes out to FilmNation and the ‘Red Rocket’ cast and crew for helping me bring the film to fruition.”
The film, which stars Simon Rex,...
- 2/25/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Drama is currently in post.
A24 has acquired US rights to Sean Baker’s Red Rocket from FilmNation.
The film stars Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son and centres on Mikey Saber, a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown where his estranged wife and mother-in-law live.
A chance encounter with a worker in a local store pulls Mikey back into his former life.
Baker co-wrote the film with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch, and serves as produced with Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, Alex Saks, and Shih-Ching Tsou. Jackie Shenoo is executive producer.
FilmNation holds global rights to Red Rocket,...
A24 has acquired US rights to Sean Baker’s Red Rocket from FilmNation.
The film stars Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son and centres on Mikey Saber, a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown where his estranged wife and mother-in-law live.
A chance encounter with a worker in a local store pulls Mikey back into his former life.
Baker co-wrote the film with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch, and serves as produced with Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, Alex Saks, and Shih-Ching Tsou. Jackie Shenoo is executive producer.
FilmNation holds global rights to Red Rocket,...
- 2/25/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A24 has acquired North American distribution rights to Sean Baker’s Red Rocket. They acquired the rights from FilmNation Entertainment, who owns global rights to the project. This is the first film since Baker’s Oscar-nominated The Florida Project, which A24 also released.
Film stars Simon Rex in an iconic new role alongside discoveries Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son. The film, which is currently in post-production, was written by Baker and frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch. Director of Photography is Drew Daniels .
“I am very excited to be reuniting with the wonderful team at A24 who will once again be bringing my film to US audiences,” Baker said. “As a champion of the theatrical experience, I am thrilled A24 will give my film a theatrical release with their talent for bold marketing and distribution savvy. My gratitude goes out to FilmNation and the Red Rocket cast and crew for helping me bring the film to fruition.
Film stars Simon Rex in an iconic new role alongside discoveries Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son. The film, which is currently in post-production, was written by Baker and frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch. Director of Photography is Drew Daniels .
“I am very excited to be reuniting with the wonderful team at A24 who will once again be bringing my film to US audiences,” Baker said. “As a champion of the theatrical experience, I am thrilled A24 will give my film a theatrical release with their talent for bold marketing and distribution savvy. My gratitude goes out to FilmNation and the Red Rocket cast and crew for helping me bring the film to fruition.
- 2/25/2021
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
A24 has acquired the North American rights to “Red Rocket,” the next film from director Sean Baker.
“Red Rocket” is currently in postproduction and is Baker’s first film since 2017’s “The Florida Project,” which was also released by A24 and went on to score an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Willem Dafoe.
The new film stars Simon Rex (also known as Dirt Nasty) as Mikey Saber, a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, even though no one there really wants him back. Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son also star.
Baker wrote “Red Rocket” with his frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch. The director of photography is Drew Daniels. Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, Alex Saks and Shih-Ching Tsou are the producers on the film, while Jackie Shenoo serves as executive producer.
A24 picked up the rights to “Red Rocket” from FilmNation Entertainment, which holds global rights to the film.
“Red Rocket” is currently in postproduction and is Baker’s first film since 2017’s “The Florida Project,” which was also released by A24 and went on to score an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Willem Dafoe.
The new film stars Simon Rex (also known as Dirt Nasty) as Mikey Saber, a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, even though no one there really wants him back. Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son also star.
Baker wrote “Red Rocket” with his frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch. The director of photography is Drew Daniels. Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, Alex Saks and Shih-Ching Tsou are the producers on the film, while Jackie Shenoo serves as executive producer.
A24 picked up the rights to “Red Rocket” from FilmNation Entertainment, which holds global rights to the film.
- 2/25/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Darkly comedic tale filmed during pandemic.
FilmNation has picked up worldwide sales rights to Red Rocket, Sean Baker’s darkly comedic film that shot during the pandemic and marks the American director’s follow-up to Oscar-nominated The Florida Project.
The film stars Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son and centres on Mikey Saber, a struggling pimp who makes his money from women in the porn industry.
After he leaves Los Angeles and returns to his Texas home town where his estranged wife and mother-in-law live, a chance encounter with a worker in a local store pulls Mikey back into his former life.
FilmNation has picked up worldwide sales rights to Red Rocket, Sean Baker’s darkly comedic film that shot during the pandemic and marks the American director’s follow-up to Oscar-nominated The Florida Project.
The film stars Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son and centres on Mikey Saber, a struggling pimp who makes his money from women in the porn industry.
After he leaves Los Angeles and returns to his Texas home town where his estranged wife and mother-in-law live, a chance encounter with a worker in a local store pulls Mikey back into his former life.
- 2/9/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: FilmNation Entertainment has landed worldwide rights to Red Rocket, the first film that Sean Baker has directed since his Oscar-nominated film The Florida Project. FilmNation will sell the film globally.
Red Rocket was one of the first projects to safely and successfully shoot during the Covid-19 pandemic, using rigorous safety protocols.
Baker wrote the script with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch, and the film stars Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son. Red Rocket is a darkly comedic film about Mikey Saber, a 39-year old “suitcase pimp.” That is the kind of pimp who lives off of women in the adult film industry. Finding himself down and out in Los Angeles, Mikey decides to crawl back to his hometown of Texas City, Texas, where his estranged wife and mother-in-law are living. Just as this dysfunctional family seems to be making things work, Mikey meets a young woman named Strawberry working...
Red Rocket was one of the first projects to safely and successfully shoot during the Covid-19 pandemic, using rigorous safety protocols.
Baker wrote the script with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch, and the film stars Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son. Red Rocket is a darkly comedic film about Mikey Saber, a 39-year old “suitcase pimp.” That is the kind of pimp who lives off of women in the adult film industry. Finding himself down and out in Los Angeles, Mikey decides to crawl back to his hometown of Texas City, Texas, where his estranged wife and mother-in-law are living. Just as this dysfunctional family seems to be making things work, Mikey meets a young woman named Strawberry working...
- 2/9/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Sean Baker is nearing completion on “Red Rocket,” a dark comedy he’s been shooting in secret in Texas. Variety first reported the news, adding that production on “Red Rocket” will finish before the end of the month. Plot details for the movie are being kept under wraps. “Red Rocket” stars “Scary Movie” franchise veteran Simon Rex. Additional cast members are not known at this time. Baker often works with non-actors, so it wouldn’t be surprising to hear the cast is made up largely of unknown talents.
Baker was last in theaters with “The Florida Project,” which debuted to rapturous acclaim in the Directors Fortnight sidebar of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. A24 released “The Florida Project” in the U.S. to a $5.9 million gross. The indie ended its run globally with $11 million. At the Oscars, “The Florida Project” picked up a nomination for Best Supporting Actor thanks to Willem Dafoe’s performance.
Baker was last in theaters with “The Florida Project,” which debuted to rapturous acclaim in the Directors Fortnight sidebar of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. A24 released “The Florida Project” in the U.S. to a $5.9 million gross. The indie ended its run globally with $11 million. At the Oscars, “The Florida Project” picked up a nomination for Best Supporting Actor thanks to Willem Dafoe’s performance.
- 11/10/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Sean Baker is close to wrapping “Red Rocket,” a secret film he has been shooting in Texas.
The dark comedy will star Simon Rex of the “Scary Movie” franchise and “Jack & Jill.” Plot details are being kept under wraps, but production should be finished this month. The film was independently financed and will be looking for distribution.
Baker isn’t the only director to take up his camera in secret. Steven Soderbergh applied a similar under-the-radar approach while making his upcoming movie “Let Them All Talk,” which will star Meryl Streep and Gemma Chan.
Work on “Red Rocket” commenced as Hollywood and the independent film community that Baker belongs to are trying to find a way to make movies safely during coronavirus. The film has employed industry standard safety protocols.
“Red Rocket” marks Baker’s first feature since 2017’s “The Florida Project,” which earned rhapsodic reviews, as well as...
The dark comedy will star Simon Rex of the “Scary Movie” franchise and “Jack & Jill.” Plot details are being kept under wraps, but production should be finished this month. The film was independently financed and will be looking for distribution.
Baker isn’t the only director to take up his camera in secret. Steven Soderbergh applied a similar under-the-radar approach while making his upcoming movie “Let Them All Talk,” which will star Meryl Streep and Gemma Chan.
Work on “Red Rocket” commenced as Hollywood and the independent film community that Baker belongs to are trying to find a way to make movies safely during coronavirus. The film has employed industry standard safety protocols.
“Red Rocket” marks Baker’s first feature since 2017’s “The Florida Project,” which earned rhapsodic reviews, as well as...
- 11/10/2020
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Awards were handed out Thursday at the 25th annual Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, with nine films earning honors in the jury, audience and sponsored categories.
The narrative jury prize was awarded to the feminist puppet animation film “Dollhouse: The Eradication of Female Subjectivity in American Popular Culture,” directed by Nicole Brending. Honorable mention was given to “Cat Sticks,” directed by Ronny Sen.
“Dollhouse wasn’t like any other film at the festival or any festival. It was outrageous, bold, hilarious,” read the jury statement from Frédéric Forestier, Shih-Ching Tsou and Jeremiah Zagar. “We’re also giving it the grand prize because we think it really embodies the spirit of the Slamdance. ‘Cat Sticks’ is unbelievably gorgeous and has some of the most incredible poetic moments of any movies we’ve ever seen. We hope it finds a vein in American culture!”
The documentary jury prize was awarded to David Hambridge’s “Kifaru,...
The narrative jury prize was awarded to the feminist puppet animation film “Dollhouse: The Eradication of Female Subjectivity in American Popular Culture,” directed by Nicole Brending. Honorable mention was given to “Cat Sticks,” directed by Ronny Sen.
“Dollhouse wasn’t like any other film at the festival or any festival. It was outrageous, bold, hilarious,” read the jury statement from Frédéric Forestier, Shih-Ching Tsou and Jeremiah Zagar. “We’re also giving it the grand prize because we think it really embodies the spirit of the Slamdance. ‘Cat Sticks’ is unbelievably gorgeous and has some of the most incredible poetic moments of any movies we’ve ever seen. We hope it finds a vein in American culture!”
The documentary jury prize was awarded to David Hambridge’s “Kifaru,...
- 2/1/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The 33rd Independent Spirit Awards took place on Saturday, March 3 in Los Angeles. The full winners list is below.
Best Feature
“Get Out”
Producers: Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele
“Call Me by Your Name”
Producers: Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory, Howard Rosenman
“The Florida Project”
Producers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Francesca Silvestri, Shih-Ching Tsou
“Lady Bird”
Producers: Eli Bush, Evelyn O’Neill, Scott Rudin
“The Rider”
Producers: Mollye Asher, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche, Chloé Zhao
Best Female Lead
Frances McDormand
“Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Salma Hayek
“Beatriz at Dinner”
Margot Robbie
“I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan
“Lady Bird”
Shinobu Terajima
“Oh Lucy!”
Regina Williams
“Life and Nothing More”
Best Male Lead
Timothée Chalamet
“Call Me by Your Name”
Harris Dickinson
“Beach Rats”
James Franco
“The Disaster Artist”
Daniel Kaluuya
“Get Out...
Best Feature
“Get Out”
Producers: Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Sean McKittrick, Jordan Peele
“Call Me by Your Name”
Producers: Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory, Howard Rosenman
“The Florida Project”
Producers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Francesca Silvestri, Shih-Ching Tsou
“Lady Bird”
Producers: Eli Bush, Evelyn O’Neill, Scott Rudin
“The Rider”
Producers: Mollye Asher, Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche, Chloé Zhao
Best Female Lead
Frances McDormand
“Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Salma Hayek
“Beatriz at Dinner”
Margot Robbie
“I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan
“Lady Bird”
Shinobu Terajima
“Oh Lucy!”
Regina Williams
“Life and Nothing More”
Best Male Lead
Timothée Chalamet
“Call Me by Your Name”
Harris Dickinson
“Beach Rats”
James Franco
“The Disaster Artist”
Daniel Kaluuya
“Get Out...
- 3/4/2018
- by William Earl
- Indiewire
“Call Me by Your Name” came out on top at the 16th Annual Gold Derby Film Awards when winners were announced on March 1, 2018. It won Best Picture in a competitive field of 10 films that also included “Baby Driver,” “Blade Runner 2049,” “Dunkirk,” “The Florida Project,” “Get Out,” “I, Tonya,” “Lady Bird,” “The Shape of Water” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” Scroll down for the complete list of winners, which were decided by more than 1,000 Gold Derby users who voted for their favorites in our predictions center. And watch our complete presentation of the winners in the video above.
The win for “Call Me by Your Name” wasn’t necessarily surprising. It wasn’t the most nominated film of the year (that was “Shape of Water” with 14), but with 11 bids the intimate character-driven romance drastically over-performed relative to its showings at previous events including the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards,...
The win for “Call Me by Your Name” wasn’t necessarily surprising. It wasn’t the most nominated film of the year (that was “Shape of Water” with 14), but with 11 bids the intimate character-driven romance drastically over-performed relative to its showings at previous events including the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards,...
- 3/1/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery, Joyce Eng and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
The 2018 Gold Derby Film Awards nominations were announced on Thursday, February 1, and “The Shape of Water” leads the way with 14 bids. That’s probably not a surprise since the Cold War-era fairy tale was also the most nominated film at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, BAFTAs and Oscars. These nominations were determined by more than 2,000 awards-savvy Gold Derby users who entered their choices for the best films of the year. Watch our video announcement of all the nominees above, and scroll down for the complete list.
“The Shape of Water” contends for Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo Del Toro), Best Actress (Sally Hawkins), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Best Original Screenplay and Best Ensemble Cast. It also competes for its cinematography, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, production design, sound, score and visual effects. Missing from our list is Oscar nominated supporting actor Richard Jenkins, but only two...
“The Shape of Water” contends for Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo Del Toro), Best Actress (Sally Hawkins), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Best Original Screenplay and Best Ensemble Cast. It also competes for its cinematography, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, production design, sound, score and visual effects. Missing from our list is Oscar nominated supporting actor Richard Jenkins, but only two...
- 2/1/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery, Marcus James Dixon, Chris Beachum, Paul Sheehan and Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Just a few moments ago, the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations were revealed to the public, continuing on with Phase One of the awards season. This precursor marks another new point in the race, as many of these movies nominated today will be contending for Oscar attention as well. Removed from the Academy Award race though, this is just a great precursor because of what it nominates. The films are small in budget and often need a leg up, so this is a spotlight on what the viewing public should be searching out in theaters and at home on Blu-Ray or VOD. Congrats to the nominees and read on to see who and what they were… You’ll see all of the nominees below, but as you’ll be able to tell, it appears to be a race between Call Me By Your Name, The Florida Project, Get Out, and Lady Bird,...
- 11/21/2017
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Just a few short hours ago, the precursor season kicked off this morning for 2017 with the nominations for the 27th annual Ifp Gotham Independent Film Awards. Yes, we’ve reached that point in the year. Precursors will begin trickling in, starting to establish early frontrunners. Leading off is the Ifp Gotham Independent Film Awards, which will give us an idea of which indies are contenders, as opposed to just pretenders. This won’t be the last word on them, by any stretch, but it is the first word, and that’s something to take note of. Gotham is beginning a run that will ultimately end up at the Academy Awards in March. As you’ll see below, Get Out led the field with four nominations, followed by Call Me By Your Name, Columbus, The Florida Project, and Lady Bird with three apiece. There was also Good Time, I, Tonya, and Mudbound among multiple nominees,...
- 10/19/2017
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Sean Baker’s vivid new film The Florida Project is now playing in New York and Los Angeles and it recently played at the New York Film Festival, fulfilling the director’s long-time dream. While at the festival, he sat down with his producer Chris Bergoch and acting coach Samantha Quan at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center Amphitheater.
The trio took part in Nyff Live, a nightly event held during the festival to go deep into the process of making the films highlighted across every category of the fest. Baker and Bergoch talked about stumbling upon the ‘hidden homeless’ in south Florida that inspired The Florida Project. They also discussed casting breakout star Brooklyn Prince and The Little Rascals influence throughout Baker’s films. Throughout the talk, one gets a taste for Baker’s humanism and how it drives every storytelling decision across his oeuvre. He is gifting American...
The trio took part in Nyff Live, a nightly event held during the festival to go deep into the process of making the films highlighted across every category of the fest. Baker and Bergoch talked about stumbling upon the ‘hidden homeless’ in south Florida that inspired The Florida Project. They also discussed casting breakout star Brooklyn Prince and The Little Rascals influence throughout Baker’s films. Throughout the talk, one gets a taste for Baker’s humanism and how it drives every storytelling decision across his oeuvre. He is gifting American...
- 10/8/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project” has been hailed as his best film, a triumphant followup to his iPhone-shot “Tangerine” set in an Orlando budget motel that has wowed audiences at festivals around the world. Raves have singled out his six-year-old star, Brooklynn Prince, and Willem Dafoe as the hotel manager, both of whom anchor an extraordinary, heartbreaking drama.
But last summer, towards the end of production on “The Florida Project,” Baker confessed he was in hell. He compared his challenges to Francis Ford Coppola’s experiences on “Apocalypse Now” – living in fear that the production was constantly on the verge of collapse and sincerely wondering if the footage he was bringing back to New York to edit could be turned into a movie.
“Like all of my films, there’s still an element of not having control,” said Baker in an interview with IndieWire. For the film, he continued...
But last summer, towards the end of production on “The Florida Project,” Baker confessed he was in hell. He compared his challenges to Francis Ford Coppola’s experiences on “Apocalypse Now” – living in fear that the production was constantly on the verge of collapse and sincerely wondering if the footage he was bringing back to New York to edit could be turned into a movie.
“Like all of my films, there’s still an element of not having control,” said Baker in an interview with IndieWire. For the film, he continued...
- 10/6/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Protagonist Pictures scores French deal on Tangerine director’s next feature.
Le Pacte has picked up French rights to Sean Baker’s forthcoming The Florida Project.
The deal was negotiated between international sales agent Protagonist Pictures’ Jennifer Fattell and Jean Labadie and Thomas Pibarot of Le Pacte.
Willem Dafoe, Bria Vinaite, Caleb Landry Jones and Brooklynn Prince star in the story about a precocious six year-old and her rag-tag group of close friends whose carefree lives contrast with those of their struggling parents.
Currently in post-production, the film is showing on promo at this week’s European Film Market (Efm) in Berlin. Baker co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch.
CAA and ICM are handling domestic sales on the title.
Shot on 35mm film last year in the neighbourhoods around Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida, The Florida project will mark Baker’s sixth film, following on from the critically-lauded Tangerine in 2015.
Producers on the...
Le Pacte has picked up French rights to Sean Baker’s forthcoming The Florida Project.
The deal was negotiated between international sales agent Protagonist Pictures’ Jennifer Fattell and Jean Labadie and Thomas Pibarot of Le Pacte.
Willem Dafoe, Bria Vinaite, Caleb Landry Jones and Brooklynn Prince star in the story about a precocious six year-old and her rag-tag group of close friends whose carefree lives contrast with those of their struggling parents.
Currently in post-production, the film is showing on promo at this week’s European Film Market (Efm) in Berlin. Baker co-wrote the screenplay with frequent collaborator Chris Bergoch.
CAA and ICM are handling domestic sales on the title.
Shot on 35mm film last year in the neighbourhoods around Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida, The Florida project will mark Baker’s sixth film, following on from the critically-lauded Tangerine in 2015.
Producers on the...
- 2/14/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
When "Tangerine" first arrived at Sundance earlier this year, it almost sounded like a cliché: a low-budget, iPhone-shot dramedy set in California. But the film was so much more: a progressive story with transgender character for leads, in the most unlikely Christmas movie ever. And it speaks to how much the film has resonated that nearly a full year later, not only has made many top-10 lists, but it's very much in the awards-season conversation. Read More: Sundance Review: 'Tangerine' Is A Fresh, Funny, And Original Stream of Pure Energy There's a lot to talk about when it comes to "Tangerine," and as part of MoMA Film's Contenders series, writer-director Sean Baker, actress Mya Taylor, and producers Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou, sat down for Q&A moderated by filmmaker Ira Sachs. And it's definitely one to dive into as the discussion explores the genesis of the film...
- 12/30/2015
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The first of the year’s award ceremonies — a full month before 2015 even ends — Gotham Independent Film Awards were held last night. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Tom McCarthy‘s journalism drama Spotlight picked up top honors of Best Feature (as well as Screenplay, and the pre-determined Ensemble award).
While Carol unfortunately came up empty-handed, The Diary of a Teenage Girl‘s Bel Powley surprised with Best Actress and Paul Dano took home Best Actor for Love & Mercy. Also featuring Tangerine‘s Mya Taylor as Best Breakthrough Actor, check out the full list of winners below in red.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)
Heaven Knows What
Josh and Benny Safdie, directors; Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear-McClard,...
While Carol unfortunately came up empty-handed, The Diary of a Teenage Girl‘s Bel Powley surprised with Best Actress and Paul Dano took home Best Actor for Love & Mercy. Also featuring Tangerine‘s Mya Taylor as Best Breakthrough Actor, check out the full list of winners below in red.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey, producers (Sony Pictures Classics)
Heaven Knows What
Josh and Benny Safdie, directors; Oscar Boyson, Sebastian Bear-McClard,...
- 12/1/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.Scroll down for full list of nominations
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...
- 11/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.
Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.
Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.
Magnolia Pictures earned...
- 11/24/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the La Film Festival and Film Independent at Lacma, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations.
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.
“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”
Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...
- 11/24/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Kicking off the onslaught of awards this year, as always, is the Gotham Independent Film Awards, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Usually a strong slate highlighting some of the year’s most overlooked films, 2015 is no different as The Diary of a Teenage Girl leads the pack with four nominations. Close behind is Carol and Tangerine with three each overall.
Other players in the category of Best Feature include Spotlight and Heaven Knows What, while some of my other favorite films of the year, including Listen to Me Marlon, The Mend, James White, Results, and Mistress America, were recognized. With a ceremony set for November 30, check out the full list below thanks to Variety.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey,...
Other players in the category of Best Feature include Spotlight and Heaven Knows What, while some of my other favorite films of the year, including Listen to Me Marlon, The Mend, James White, Results, and Mistress America, were recognized. With a ceremony set for November 30, check out the full list below thanks to Variety.
Best Feature
Carol
Todd Haynes, director; Elizabeth Karlsen, Tessa Ross, Christine Vachon, Stephen Woolley, producers (The Weinstein Company)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Marielle Heller, director; Anne Carey, Bert Hamelinck, Madeline Samit, Miranda Bailey,...
- 10/22/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Glamour, palm trees, and surgically perfected bodies define Los Angeles in the eyes of the world, but beneath that artificial sunshine there are people and places that never find themselves portrayed on screen. People on the bus, on the not-so-pretty streets, in the neighborhoods that no one’s ever hear of, in those places that have stories that are never told. Even Hollywood, as plastic as it’s often depicted, has areas that have not yet been gentrified and in which people outside the norm are also allowed to be beautiful in their own way. It’s here that director Sean Baker found the stars of his riotous and perfectly acted latest film “Tangerine,” and where he shot it.
At the center of it are Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), two transgender sex workers on Santa Monica Boulevard who struggle to get by while dealing with heartbreak, revenge, and their dreams. Their story, which takes place on a sunny California Christmas eve, exists in the real world without embellishments and its driven by their hilarious banter that's always based on uncompromising sincerity. It's in this sort of uncontrollable environment that Sean Baker found beautiful accidents as his camera, or better said his iPhone, recorded the characters interacting with the city.
We had a chance to talk to Sean Baker about the making of one the year’s best film and a standout at the most recent Sundance Film Festival.
Aguilar: "Tangerine" shows us a side of Los Angeles we rarely see in film, far from all the glamour and artificial beauty. I know the streets where Alexandra and Sin-Dee exist. I've taken those buses, those trains, and been to those places. It feels very real and vibrant in an unpretentious way. Why did you want to tell this singular L.A. story?
Sean Baker: I'm originally from New York and I spent most of my life there, so when I came out to L.A. I was surprised to find that most of L.A. hasn't been shot out. I thought that the studios would have covered L.A. for the last 100 years, but then I realized there is a whole city south of Pico where there are these subcultures or communities that haven't been focused on whatsoever, and also wonderful locations. For example, I told everybody, "I don't want to make this film unless we can lock down Donut Time," because it's such a landmark. Thank god my great producers Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou were able to lock Donut Time. I've fallen on love with Los Angeles and I love to explore it myself. If I'm telling an L.A. story I want to tell a fresh L.A. story and show places that haven't been shown before.
Aguilar: How rough was it to shoot out there in the wilderness of the city? You only have control of your equipment and your actors, everything else is alive and moving without you having power over it.
Sean Baker: I'm kind of used to that because I did it with "Prince of Broadway" and I did it with "Take Out." With those two films I kind of had to accept the fact that there was going to be obstacles, but that those obstacles would lead to happy accidents. If I have a bystander who is stepping into the frame sometimes that would work, as long as we get their permission and get releases everything is fine. I'm open to that. I like the lack of control sometimes. I think that leads to a lot of interesting things, plus I edit my own films, so I almost like to edit from a documentary point of view. It keeps me awake and keeps me surprised in the edit when every take is different and there are new things to be seen on every scene.
Aguilar: You have to two incredible leads in Mya and Kiki, but also two leads who have big personalities. Was it a challenge at first to work with actresses that didn't have much experience or none at all?
Sean Baker: They were as professional as professional could be from day one. I was so incredibly lucky to have found Mya and Kiki. They started impressing me one or two days in. I realized how great they were. I didn't even know they were going to be that great. With a film like this, even though it's scripted and you know where you are going, you kind of still have to find it while you shoot, and then you find it again in the edit. I was going into the shoot knowing that if they weren't good enough I was going to focus on the characters around them or I was going to give them less dialogue. That's how I was going to do it, but then when they started impressing me after the first day I was like, "Why not? They are stealing the show every time, let's roll with it."
Aguilar: Even though the film is a sense dialogue-heavy it feels very vibrant throughout. The only quiet moment is when Kiki sits by the Vermont station to consider her next move. Did you feel like you needed that calm beat before the madness was unleashed?
Sean Baker: In that scene, I didn’t know I was going to be marrying the Beethoven track to it at that moment. I just said, “This is a moment in which I’m going to slow thing down.” It was the quiet before the storm. We already had a shot of adrenaline in the beginning and this was going to be the second shot of adrenaline right after this quiet scene. I basically said, “Look, let’s just take a moment and allow the audience to breathe a little bit.” I told Kiki, “Sorry, you are gonna have to smoke like 10 cigarettes,” because we needed to get every angle possible. I should have gotten even more coverage. I wish I had more coverage.
Aguilar: You weaved in hilarious comedy within this story about two marginalized characters. Was finding that tonal balance difficult? The humor is just so clever. There are lots of quotable material in the film like “You didn’t have to Chris-Brown the bitch”or the whole part about "real fish."
Sean Baker: [Laughs] That was really just because when I was in my research process and I’d be hanging out with them, it was like going to a stand up comedy routine. They were so funny, and they would always finish each other's sentences. They would set up jokes and then deliver a punch line. I realize there is so much humor in that world because the women use that humor to cope. They use it to get by. We all use humor in our lives to get through, but they do so especially because they are sex workers because they have to be. They’ve been so marginalized they don’t have other opportunities. They are faced with discrimination, with danger, and with violence on a regular basis. They have to use humor just to cope and I witnessed this. I thought that if I didn’t inject that humor in the story it would be dishonest.
Aguilar: How did the Armenian driver who lives a very traditional lifestyle at home and finds solace in these transgender girls come about? It certainly adds another layer of complexity to the story.
Sean Baker: The actor, Karren Karagulian, this is my fifth time working with him. I love him. He is great, but he is underrated. This industry hasn’t noticed him yet. He doesn’t even have an agent and yet he’s been the lead of three films now. This is due to the racism of the industry, but I’m hoping that this is the film that finally breaks him in because he is so good. I approached him and said, “Look I’m making a film about two transgender sex workers in Los Angeles, how can we incorporate you? Or how can we find a character for you?” He said, “Look there is a huge Armenian community in L.A, I’ll be a cab driver who is into one of them.” I said, “There we go.” [Laughs]. He is New York-based, so he came out and through his connections I was able to get the stars of Armenia. Alla Tumanian, who plays the mother in law, is a classic actress from Armenia. Arsen Grigoryan, who plays the other cab driver that rats on him, he hosts The Voice over in Armenia. He is our biggest celebrity in the movie. It was really interesting to work with some of the stars of Armenia, such seasoned talent.
Aguilar: Will it ever play in Armenia since you have names that are recognized there? Or is it too non-traditional in terms of its themes to play there?
Sean Baker: Yeah, that’s the thing. We are hoping that it plays at the Golden Apricot, which is their film festival, but we are still not sure.
Aguilar: Out of Sundance most of the talk about the film was related to how it had been shot on an iPhone. Have you gotten to a point where you want to talk about the actual film and not mechanics of how it was made?
Sean Baker: Yeah, I’m sort of sick of it at this point. What started out as a budgetary thing has become sort of a gimmick and it’s not, but it is a selling point at the same time so we can’t dismiss it. Some critics have gone as far as to say that subtextually the fact that we are shooting on this accessible device works with the subject matter about these women who might not have the means to shoot any other way. I’m just happy that it’s accepted and that we were able to find our aesthetic. We were sort of forced into it but I’m happy with the look of the end product. I come from the school of thought that feels that if you can shoot film, you should shoot film. I’m still in that Christopher Nolan, Tarantino thing.
Aguilar: Save film!
Sean Baker: Yeah! If I had the budget I would have shot it on film but then I probably wouldn’t have made the same movie.
Aguilar: Did you ever image that "Tangerine" would go as far as it has or did it catch you by surprise? Despite all the iPhone talk, reviews have been stellar and people seem to really connect with the film and its humor.
Sean Baker: No, I thought that it might have the same acceptance as my last film "Starlet," the critics liked it and it won the Altman Award, but it’s still under the radar and people are still finding it on Netflix. I thought it would be the same, but this one seems to have a bigger impact. I thought it was going to divide critics more and so far it hasn’t really done that. People really seem to accept it, which is a great thing. My hope is that with the trans movement being such a big part of the zeitgeist that Mya and Kiki can really parlay this. That’s the hope.
Aguilar: Do you think it’ll be difficult for them to find more acting jobs after this?
Sean Baker: That’s my fear, but at the same time I’m hoping that with the industry realizing that diversity it so important they may be offered more roles. They are talented enough to play anybody. It doesn’t just have to be a trans role. I’d love to see both of them take on anything. That would be the ultimate success for this film.
Aguilar: They are both amazing, colorful, and brimming with authenticity. How did you find them? I'm sure raw talent like this didn't come from traditional casting.
Sean Baker: You have to put in the time. With “Prince of Broadway,” which is the film I made before ”Starlet,” we spent a year in that district and everybody kept on telling us to find Prince Adu. “Find Prince Adu, he’ll like you. He’ll work with you,” and when we did, it all worked out. He was enthusiastic and he wanted to make the movie with us and everything worked out. In this case I tried to keep that in mind, “If I can just find that one person who is enthusiastic enough.” Then, only two weeks in, we went over to the Lgbt center and there was a courtyard, Mya was about 40 feet away and I saw her and thought, “She has a look. There is something about her. She is the one who stands out in the crowd." We went up to her and introduced ourselves. Next thing you know she was doing what Prince did, she had that enthusiasm. She was like, “I want to make this film with you!” We exchanged information and we started going from there. That’s how it happened and then she brought Kiki to the table. This is also something I haven’t said enough, Mark and Jay Duplass were very supportive. They found us the money to make it. When nobody else was stepping forward they were the only ones that said, “We’ll help you make this film.”
Aguilar: They are like the indie film godfathers.
Sean Baker: Exactly!
Aguilar: I have my own theories about this, but why did you decide to title the film “Tangerine”? Is it the sweet and sour nature of the two leads?
Sean Baker: Yes, you got it [Laughs]. Is that and it's also the color. The sense and the fruit you get from the color of it. I didn’t want to go with a literal title. I’m sick of those. Film is the only art form where we feel we have to title our stuff literally. Musicians don’t have to title their songs literally. It can be more about what’s conjured up when you think of a word. In this case for some reason tangerine just kept sticking and we kept on going back to that.
"Tangerine" is now playing in Los Angeles at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood and in NYC at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema...
At the center of it are Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), two transgender sex workers on Santa Monica Boulevard who struggle to get by while dealing with heartbreak, revenge, and their dreams. Their story, which takes place on a sunny California Christmas eve, exists in the real world without embellishments and its driven by their hilarious banter that's always based on uncompromising sincerity. It's in this sort of uncontrollable environment that Sean Baker found beautiful accidents as his camera, or better said his iPhone, recorded the characters interacting with the city.
We had a chance to talk to Sean Baker about the making of one the year’s best film and a standout at the most recent Sundance Film Festival.
Aguilar: "Tangerine" shows us a side of Los Angeles we rarely see in film, far from all the glamour and artificial beauty. I know the streets where Alexandra and Sin-Dee exist. I've taken those buses, those trains, and been to those places. It feels very real and vibrant in an unpretentious way. Why did you want to tell this singular L.A. story?
Sean Baker: I'm originally from New York and I spent most of my life there, so when I came out to L.A. I was surprised to find that most of L.A. hasn't been shot out. I thought that the studios would have covered L.A. for the last 100 years, but then I realized there is a whole city south of Pico where there are these subcultures or communities that haven't been focused on whatsoever, and also wonderful locations. For example, I told everybody, "I don't want to make this film unless we can lock down Donut Time," because it's such a landmark. Thank god my great producers Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou were able to lock Donut Time. I've fallen on love with Los Angeles and I love to explore it myself. If I'm telling an L.A. story I want to tell a fresh L.A. story and show places that haven't been shown before.
Aguilar: How rough was it to shoot out there in the wilderness of the city? You only have control of your equipment and your actors, everything else is alive and moving without you having power over it.
Sean Baker: I'm kind of used to that because I did it with "Prince of Broadway" and I did it with "Take Out." With those two films I kind of had to accept the fact that there was going to be obstacles, but that those obstacles would lead to happy accidents. If I have a bystander who is stepping into the frame sometimes that would work, as long as we get their permission and get releases everything is fine. I'm open to that. I like the lack of control sometimes. I think that leads to a lot of interesting things, plus I edit my own films, so I almost like to edit from a documentary point of view. It keeps me awake and keeps me surprised in the edit when every take is different and there are new things to be seen on every scene.
Aguilar: You have to two incredible leads in Mya and Kiki, but also two leads who have big personalities. Was it a challenge at first to work with actresses that didn't have much experience or none at all?
Sean Baker: They were as professional as professional could be from day one. I was so incredibly lucky to have found Mya and Kiki. They started impressing me one or two days in. I realized how great they were. I didn't even know they were going to be that great. With a film like this, even though it's scripted and you know where you are going, you kind of still have to find it while you shoot, and then you find it again in the edit. I was going into the shoot knowing that if they weren't good enough I was going to focus on the characters around them or I was going to give them less dialogue. That's how I was going to do it, but then when they started impressing me after the first day I was like, "Why not? They are stealing the show every time, let's roll with it."
Aguilar: Even though the film is a sense dialogue-heavy it feels very vibrant throughout. The only quiet moment is when Kiki sits by the Vermont station to consider her next move. Did you feel like you needed that calm beat before the madness was unleashed?
Sean Baker: In that scene, I didn’t know I was going to be marrying the Beethoven track to it at that moment. I just said, “This is a moment in which I’m going to slow thing down.” It was the quiet before the storm. We already had a shot of adrenaline in the beginning and this was going to be the second shot of adrenaline right after this quiet scene. I basically said, “Look, let’s just take a moment and allow the audience to breathe a little bit.” I told Kiki, “Sorry, you are gonna have to smoke like 10 cigarettes,” because we needed to get every angle possible. I should have gotten even more coverage. I wish I had more coverage.
Aguilar: You weaved in hilarious comedy within this story about two marginalized characters. Was finding that tonal balance difficult? The humor is just so clever. There are lots of quotable material in the film like “You didn’t have to Chris-Brown the bitch”or the whole part about "real fish."
Sean Baker: [Laughs] That was really just because when I was in my research process and I’d be hanging out with them, it was like going to a stand up comedy routine. They were so funny, and they would always finish each other's sentences. They would set up jokes and then deliver a punch line. I realize there is so much humor in that world because the women use that humor to cope. They use it to get by. We all use humor in our lives to get through, but they do so especially because they are sex workers because they have to be. They’ve been so marginalized they don’t have other opportunities. They are faced with discrimination, with danger, and with violence on a regular basis. They have to use humor just to cope and I witnessed this. I thought that if I didn’t inject that humor in the story it would be dishonest.
Aguilar: How did the Armenian driver who lives a very traditional lifestyle at home and finds solace in these transgender girls come about? It certainly adds another layer of complexity to the story.
Sean Baker: The actor, Karren Karagulian, this is my fifth time working with him. I love him. He is great, but he is underrated. This industry hasn’t noticed him yet. He doesn’t even have an agent and yet he’s been the lead of three films now. This is due to the racism of the industry, but I’m hoping that this is the film that finally breaks him in because he is so good. I approached him and said, “Look I’m making a film about two transgender sex workers in Los Angeles, how can we incorporate you? Or how can we find a character for you?” He said, “Look there is a huge Armenian community in L.A, I’ll be a cab driver who is into one of them.” I said, “There we go.” [Laughs]. He is New York-based, so he came out and through his connections I was able to get the stars of Armenia. Alla Tumanian, who plays the mother in law, is a classic actress from Armenia. Arsen Grigoryan, who plays the other cab driver that rats on him, he hosts The Voice over in Armenia. He is our biggest celebrity in the movie. It was really interesting to work with some of the stars of Armenia, such seasoned talent.
Aguilar: Will it ever play in Armenia since you have names that are recognized there? Or is it too non-traditional in terms of its themes to play there?
Sean Baker: Yeah, that’s the thing. We are hoping that it plays at the Golden Apricot, which is their film festival, but we are still not sure.
Aguilar: Out of Sundance most of the talk about the film was related to how it had been shot on an iPhone. Have you gotten to a point where you want to talk about the actual film and not mechanics of how it was made?
Sean Baker: Yeah, I’m sort of sick of it at this point. What started out as a budgetary thing has become sort of a gimmick and it’s not, but it is a selling point at the same time so we can’t dismiss it. Some critics have gone as far as to say that subtextually the fact that we are shooting on this accessible device works with the subject matter about these women who might not have the means to shoot any other way. I’m just happy that it’s accepted and that we were able to find our aesthetic. We were sort of forced into it but I’m happy with the look of the end product. I come from the school of thought that feels that if you can shoot film, you should shoot film. I’m still in that Christopher Nolan, Tarantino thing.
Aguilar: Save film!
Sean Baker: Yeah! If I had the budget I would have shot it on film but then I probably wouldn’t have made the same movie.
Aguilar: Did you ever image that "Tangerine" would go as far as it has or did it catch you by surprise? Despite all the iPhone talk, reviews have been stellar and people seem to really connect with the film and its humor.
Sean Baker: No, I thought that it might have the same acceptance as my last film "Starlet," the critics liked it and it won the Altman Award, but it’s still under the radar and people are still finding it on Netflix. I thought it would be the same, but this one seems to have a bigger impact. I thought it was going to divide critics more and so far it hasn’t really done that. People really seem to accept it, which is a great thing. My hope is that with the trans movement being such a big part of the zeitgeist that Mya and Kiki can really parlay this. That’s the hope.
Aguilar: Do you think it’ll be difficult for them to find more acting jobs after this?
Sean Baker: That’s my fear, but at the same time I’m hoping that with the industry realizing that diversity it so important they may be offered more roles. They are talented enough to play anybody. It doesn’t just have to be a trans role. I’d love to see both of them take on anything. That would be the ultimate success for this film.
Aguilar: They are both amazing, colorful, and brimming with authenticity. How did you find them? I'm sure raw talent like this didn't come from traditional casting.
Sean Baker: You have to put in the time. With “Prince of Broadway,” which is the film I made before ”Starlet,” we spent a year in that district and everybody kept on telling us to find Prince Adu. “Find Prince Adu, he’ll like you. He’ll work with you,” and when we did, it all worked out. He was enthusiastic and he wanted to make the movie with us and everything worked out. In this case I tried to keep that in mind, “If I can just find that one person who is enthusiastic enough.” Then, only two weeks in, we went over to the Lgbt center and there was a courtyard, Mya was about 40 feet away and I saw her and thought, “She has a look. There is something about her. She is the one who stands out in the crowd." We went up to her and introduced ourselves. Next thing you know she was doing what Prince did, she had that enthusiasm. She was like, “I want to make this film with you!” We exchanged information and we started going from there. That’s how it happened and then she brought Kiki to the table. This is also something I haven’t said enough, Mark and Jay Duplass were very supportive. They found us the money to make it. When nobody else was stepping forward they were the only ones that said, “We’ll help you make this film.”
Aguilar: They are like the indie film godfathers.
Sean Baker: Exactly!
Aguilar: I have my own theories about this, but why did you decide to title the film “Tangerine”? Is it the sweet and sour nature of the two leads?
Sean Baker: Yes, you got it [Laughs]. Is that and it's also the color. The sense and the fruit you get from the color of it. I didn’t want to go with a literal title. I’m sick of those. Film is the only art form where we feel we have to title our stuff literally. Musicians don’t have to title their songs literally. It can be more about what’s conjured up when you think of a word. In this case for some reason tangerine just kept sticking and we kept on going back to that.
"Tangerine" is now playing in Los Angeles at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood and in NYC at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema...
- 7/11/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
The films of Sean Baker are each guided foremost by person and place, finding the intersection between both that defines lives. In 2004’s Take Out, co-directed by Shih-Ching Tsou, the film follows as Ming Ding (Charles Jang), a Chinese food delivery worker, tries to pay off an $800 debt by running as many orders as possible in a single day. Ming is an ill-adjusted immigrant: quiet, timid and intimidated by the claustrophobic surroundings of the fragmented stretch of New York he navigates uneasily on his bicycle between the restaurant and his destinations. Shot mostly in tight on faces—by Sean Baker himself, who was also cinematographer on the follow-up Prince of Broadway>> - Adam Cook...
- 6/28/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
The films of Sean Baker are each guided foremost by person and place, finding the intersection between both that defines lives. In 2004’s Take Out, co-directed by Shih-Ching Tsou, the film follows as Ming Ding (Charles Jang), a Chinese food delivery worker, tries to pay off an $800 debt by running as many orders as possible in a single day. Ming is an ill-adjusted immigrant: quiet, timid and intimidated by the claustrophobic surroundings of the fragmented stretch of New York he navigates uneasily on his bicycle between the restaurant and his destinations. Shot mostly in tight on faces—by Sean Baker himself, who was also cinematographer on the follow-up Prince of Broadway>> - Adam Cook...
- 6/28/2015
- Keyframe
Neil Armfield.s Holding the Man, Simon Stone.s The Daughter, Jeremy Sims. Last Cab to Darwin and Jen Peedom.s feature doc Sherpa will have their world premieres at the Sydney Film Festival.
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
- 5/6/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Eric Lavallee: Name me three of your favorite “2014 discoveries”…
Shih-Ching Tsou: I was secretly searching for the best french toast in New York city. In the end of 2014, I finally found the best french toast in town. And I never knew that a piece of french toast could make me so happy.
Lavallee: Was wondering since you’ve been a creative partner sharing co-directing duties on Take Out and also producing Take Out, Starlet and now Tangerine, first how would you first describe you working/creative relationship with Sean and secondly, what do you like best about his intimate, naturalistic approach to storylines and characters?
Tsou: Sean and I worked on three features together, and it has been a blast. Sean is a very talented filmmaker, working with him is always inspiring and fun. We both enjoyed Dogme 95 films, and deeply influenced by them. Sean’s work is inspired by people in real life.
Shih-Ching Tsou: I was secretly searching for the best french toast in New York city. In the end of 2014, I finally found the best french toast in town. And I never knew that a piece of french toast could make me so happy.
Lavallee: Was wondering since you’ve been a creative partner sharing co-directing duties on Take Out and also producing Take Out, Starlet and now Tangerine, first how would you first describe you working/creative relationship with Sean and secondly, what do you like best about his intimate, naturalistic approach to storylines and characters?
Tsou: Sean and I worked on three features together, and it has been a blast. Sean is a very talented filmmaker, working with him is always inspiring and fun. We both enjoyed Dogme 95 films, and deeply influenced by them. Sean’s work is inspired by people in real life.
- 2/5/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
A banner year in Park City continued to deliver the goods as Magnolia Pictures acquired world rights to Sean Baker’s comedy. Separately, Fox Searchlight closed a major deal for Brooklyn, while Alchemy, Spc and Lionsgate confirmed previously reported buys on Strangerland, The Diary Of A Teenage Girl and Knock Knock.
Fox Searchlight was expected to confirm its deal on Wednesday for most of the world excluding pre-sold UK, Australia and Canada for John Crowley’s Brooklyn in what reports said was a $9m deal.
Magnolia brokered the deal for Next selection Tangerine (pictured) with ICM Partners and Submarine and plans a theatrical release later this year.
Baker directed and co-wrote Tangerine with Chris Bergoch. Mark and Jay Duplass, who last week announced a four-film deal with Netflix, served as executive producers alongside Through Films.
Trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez make their debuts as working girls in search of a wayward pimp on Christmas...
Fox Searchlight was expected to confirm its deal on Wednesday for most of the world excluding pre-sold UK, Australia and Canada for John Crowley’s Brooklyn in what reports said was a $9m deal.
Magnolia brokered the deal for Next selection Tangerine (pictured) with ICM Partners and Submarine and plans a theatrical release later this year.
Baker directed and co-wrote Tangerine with Chris Bergoch. Mark and Jay Duplass, who last week announced a four-film deal with Netflix, served as executive producers alongside Through Films.
Trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez make their debuts as working girls in search of a wayward pimp on Christmas...
- 1/27/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the well-received Sean Baker film “Tangerine,” which just premiered in the Next section of the Sundance Film Festival. "Tangerine" stars Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, two trans actresses making their feature film debuts. The official synopsis, courtesy of Magnolia, describes them as: "two working girls in search of a wayward pimp on a fateful Christmas Eve in Hollywood." Frequent Baker thespians James Ransone and Karren Karagulian also star. "Tangerine" was executive produced by the Duplass Brothers and produced by Through Films and Baker's longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou. The film was lensed by Radium Cheung. Baker said of the acquisition, "The 'Tangerine' team is overjoyed to find a home at Magnolia Pictures and are humbled to be a part of their roster of prestigious, bold and forward-thinking films.Audiences will have the chance to...
- 1/27/2015
- by David Canfield
- Indiewire
Sean Baker's hotly buzzed Sundance Next entry "Tangerine" has sold worldwide rights to Magnolia Pictures, which will distribute nationwide in theaters later this year. Baker's followup to 2012 fest darling "Starlet," "Tangerine" follows trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as two working girls looking for a pimp on Christmas Eve in Hollywood. Co-written by Baker and Chris Bergoch, the film was executive produced by Sundance MVPs Mark and Jay Duplass, and produced by Through Films and Baker's longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou. Shot entirely on an iPhone 5s by Radium Cheung, this marks Magnolia's second acquisition of the fest after Andrew Bujalski's "Results." Reviews have been stellar for "Tangerine," with Indiewire noting that Baker "manages to match underrepresented faces in American cinema with material that lets their personalities shine."...
- 1/27/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Sean Baker directed the film, which was executive produced by the Duplass brothers
Magnolia Pictures is acquiring worldwide distribution rights to director Sean Baker’s “Tangerine,” which stars trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as two working girls in search of a wayward pimp on a fateful Christmas Eve in Hollywood.
The Duplass brothers executive produced the film, which was produced by Through Films and Baker’s longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou.
Magnolia will grant a traditional theatrical release nationwide later this year. The film premiered in the Next section at Sundance on Friday and has been well-reviewed.
Magnolia Pictures is acquiring worldwide distribution rights to director Sean Baker’s “Tangerine,” which stars trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez as two working girls in search of a wayward pimp on a fateful Christmas Eve in Hollywood.
The Duplass brothers executive produced the film, which was produced by Through Films and Baker’s longtime collaborators Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou.
Magnolia will grant a traditional theatrical release nationwide later this year. The film premiered in the Next section at Sundance on Friday and has been well-reviewed.
- 1/27/2015
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
The scrooge in me doesn’t care much for Xmas themed films. But worry not, this Christmas without snow will surely bring out the yuletide spirit. Following Four Letter Words, Take Out, Prince of Broadway and Starlet, on paper, Sean Baker’s fifth feature film promises more of the same: an immersive experience with characters you’d never thought you had a rapport with in a scape you probably didn’t know existed. Think street National Geographic style d examinations of the human condition. A featured Ioncinephile filmmaker, Baker began filming Tangerine very early in the year, and as usual, we find a mix of non-actors (stars newbies Kiki Lee Key and Mya Taylor) with a seasoned pro in James Ransone.
Gist: Co-scripted with Chris Bergoch, this is a rip-roaring journey through various subcultures of Tinseltown on Christmas Eve.
Production Co./Producers: Sean Baker, Through Films’ Marcus and Karrie Cox,...
Gist: Co-scripted with Chris Bergoch, this is a rip-roaring journey through various subcultures of Tinseltown on Christmas Eve.
Production Co./Producers: Sean Baker, Through Films’ Marcus and Karrie Cox,...
- 11/14/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
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