Irish-British writer/director Martin McDonagh has gained cult followings both in the theater world, for plays like The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Cripple of Inishmaan, and among cinephiles, thanks to the Academy-Award-winning short Six Shooter and In Bruges. His work on both stage and screen stands out for its grounded approach to absurd situations, as well as his nuanced treatment of deeply flawed characters.
McDonagh’s newest film is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, featuring Frances McDormand as a woman who goes to war against her small town’s police department over her daughter’s unsolved murder. We sat down with him to speak about the film and his idiosyncratic writing process.
The Film Stage: Your scripts don’t follow the usual conventions of Save the Cat screenwriting. Do you follow a story as it goes along? Do you plan certain things out beforehand?
Martin McDonagh: No.
McDonagh’s newest film is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, featuring Frances McDormand as a woman who goes to war against her small town’s police department over her daughter’s unsolved murder. We sat down with him to speak about the film and his idiosyncratic writing process.
The Film Stage: Your scripts don’t follow the usual conventions of Save the Cat screenwriting. Do you follow a story as it goes along? Do you plan certain things out beforehand?
Martin McDonagh: No.
- 11/9/2017
- by Daniel Schindel
- The Film Stage
When playwright-turned-filmmaker Martin McDonagh first conceived of his dark comedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” in which Frances McDormand plays a woman seeking justice for the rape and murder of her teen daughter, he had no idea the movie would come out in an environment rattled by tales of sexual assault by powerful men. Now, McDormand’s expletive-spewing avenger epitomizes the angry feminist reckoning leading up to its release. “I think it’s a great film to be put out in this climate,” the 47-year-old British-Irish director said over coffee in New York. “But it’s not about just rage and pain. It moves on to a more hopeful, human place.”
See More:‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’: Frances McDormand Asks ‘Why the F–k Not’ In Wild New Video — Watch
The topicality was pure coincidence, but McDonagh will take it. In the weeks following the “Three Billboards” premiere...
See More:‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’: Frances McDormand Asks ‘Why the F–k Not’ In Wild New Video — Watch
The topicality was pure coincidence, but McDonagh will take it. In the weeks following the “Three Billboards” premiere...
- 11/7/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
The Puppet Master horror film franchise has had a long run! Today we have the trailer for the 11th film in the franchise, Puppet Master: Axis Termination, and depending on how you feel about the franchise, this new movie could look good or it could look like a piece of trash.
I actually enjoyed watching the first few movies in the franchise. They were kinda fun, but I stopped watching after Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge. It's not that I didn't like watching the films because I did. I enjoyed the campiness of them. I just stopped keeping up with them and now they are up to eleven movies! There's obviously a market for these films.
Puppet Master: Axis Termination looks exactly like what I would expect from the film. Here's the synopsis:
In this final chapter of the Axis Saga — which began with Puppet Master: Axis of Evil and...
I actually enjoyed watching the first few movies in the franchise. They were kinda fun, but I stopped watching after Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge. It's not that I didn't like watching the films because I did. I enjoyed the campiness of them. I just stopped keeping up with them and now they are up to eleven movies! There's obviously a market for these films.
Puppet Master: Axis Termination looks exactly like what I would expect from the film. Here's the synopsis:
In this final chapter of the Axis Saga — which began with Puppet Master: Axis of Evil and...
- 7/7/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
How McDonagh uses violence as a window into the brokenness of his characters.
Prepare your virgin ears. A new Red Band trailer has just dropped for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, the long awaited new film from Irish writer-director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges). The darkly comic, foulmouthed filmmaker hasn’t made a movie since 2012’s Seven Psychopaths (citing a desire to travel, as well as a production of one of his plays on Broadway), but it’s clear that his return to the big screen will be everything we’ve been waiting for. Three Billboards stars Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes, a hard-charging, crotch-kicking Missouri woman who, when police fail to turn up a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, pastes three billboards with messages indicting the beloved local chief (Woody Harrelson) for his inaction. McDonagh regular Sam Rockwell co-stars as Officer Dixon, the chief’s deputy, leading an impressive ensemble cast that includes Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage...
Prepare your virgin ears. A new Red Band trailer has just dropped for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, the long awaited new film from Irish writer-director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges). The darkly comic, foulmouthed filmmaker hasn’t made a movie since 2012’s Seven Psychopaths (citing a desire to travel, as well as a production of one of his plays on Broadway), but it’s clear that his return to the big screen will be everything we’ve been waiting for. Three Billboards stars Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes, a hard-charging, crotch-kicking Missouri woman who, when police fail to turn up a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, pastes three billboards with messages indicting the beloved local chief (Woody Harrelson) for his inaction. McDonagh regular Sam Rockwell co-stars as Officer Dixon, the chief’s deputy, leading an impressive ensemble cast that includes Lucas Hedges, Peter Dinklage...
- 3/24/2017
- by Jake Orthwein
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Chris here. Provocateur playwright/filmmaker Martin McDonagh has a new movie coming this year, and like some of his plays the title is a mouthful. Get ready for [deep breath] Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, about a woman seeking justice for the local authorities' poor handling of her child's death.
What's most exciting about this round of McDonagh acidity is that the typically male-focused writer-director is giving us a female protagonist. And star Frances McDormand is quite a perfect fit to deliver his tricky balance of dry humor, tragedy, and bitter allegory. Her work looks to be a real showcase. Are you already picturing a bleep-heavy Oscar clip? She's surrounded by a solid ensemble which includes Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, and John Hawkes.
It's strange the film has no release date considering we have a full-length trailer, so maybe this one is Cannes bound before awards season? McDonagh won an Oscar...
What's most exciting about this round of McDonagh acidity is that the typically male-focused writer-director is giving us a female protagonist. And star Frances McDormand is quite a perfect fit to deliver his tricky balance of dry humor, tragedy, and bitter allegory. Her work looks to be a real showcase. Are you already picturing a bleep-heavy Oscar clip? She's surrounded by a solid ensemble which includes Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, and John Hawkes.
It's strange the film has no release date considering we have a full-length trailer, so maybe this one is Cannes bound before awards season? McDonagh won an Oscar...
- 3/24/2017
- by Chris Feil
- FilmExperience
No one can spit scathing profanity better than Frances McDormand. Need proof? Watch the trailer below—but out of range of small children or the faint-hearted. The Oscar-winning actor headlines “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” a new dark comedy from Martin McDonagh about an acid-tongued woman at war with her town following the unsolved murder of her daughter. “My daughter Angela was murdered seven months ago,” McDormand deadpans in the trailer. “It seems to me the police department is too busy torturing black folks to solve actual crime.” She then proceeds to lob expletives like grenades at the town sheriff (Woody Harrelson) and his second-in-command (Sam Rockwell). Shot in Sylva, North Carolina and produced by Film4 Productions, “Three Billboards” will be released later this year by Fox Searchlight Pictures with a likely push for awards season; the distributor’s recent releases, “Jackie” and “The Birth of a Nation,” largely failed...
- 3/23/2017
- backstage.com
This year, John Michael McDonagh’s third feature film will finally receive a release after spending all last year on the festival circuit. His new film “War On Everyone” follows two crooked cops — Terry (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bob (Michael Peña) — who frame and blackmail criminals all over town. Looking for the ultimate pay-off, they try to extort a strip-club manager (Caleb Landry Jones) and his eccentric, junkie boss (Theo James), but get more than they bargained for when their hair-brained scheme uncovers a bigger secret. The film co-stars Malcolm Barrett (“Timeless”), Tessa Thompson (“Dear White People”), David Wilmot (“Six Shooter”), Stephanie Sigman (“Narcos”) and Paul Reiser (“Mad About You”). Watch an exclusive clip from the film below.
Read More: ’War On Everyone’ Trailer: Alexander Skarsgård & Michael Peña Are Bad Cops in John Michael McDonagh’s Dark Comedy – Watch
McDonagh’s other two feature films are “The Guard,” starring Don Cheadle and Brendan Gleeson,...
Read More: ’War On Everyone’ Trailer: Alexander Skarsgård & Michael Peña Are Bad Cops in John Michael McDonagh’s Dark Comedy – Watch
McDonagh’s other two feature films are “The Guard,” starring Don Cheadle and Brendan Gleeson,...
- 1/4/2017
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Writer-director Martin McDonagh is staging a mini Seven Psychopaths reunion for his next creative venture, Three Billboards Outside Of Ebbing, Missouri.
Deadline brings word that Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson have inked a deal to reunite with the filmmaker, joining a preliminary cast that already boasts Frances McDormand. Setting up its stall over at Fox Searchlight and Film4, Three Billboards will revolve around McDormand’s grieving 50-year-old mother who, after experiencing the loss of her daughter to murder, sets sights on the local police force.
In her eyes, the town’s precinct are more preoccupied with torturing the local black community rather than, you know, hunting down real justice. A timely and button-pressing topic for McDonagh to tackle, then, who has more than proven his talents across In Bruges, Six Shooter and London stage play, The Hangman.
Beyond that, no further plot details were released at this point. There is,...
Deadline brings word that Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson have inked a deal to reunite with the filmmaker, joining a preliminary cast that already boasts Frances McDormand. Setting up its stall over at Fox Searchlight and Film4, Three Billboards will revolve around McDormand’s grieving 50-year-old mother who, after experiencing the loss of her daughter to murder, sets sights on the local police force.
In her eyes, the town’s precinct are more preoccupied with torturing the local black community rather than, you know, hunting down real justice. A timely and button-pressing topic for McDonagh to tackle, then, who has more than proven his talents across In Bruges, Six Shooter and London stage play, The Hangman.
Beyond that, no further plot details were released at this point. There is,...
- 3/9/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
It’s rare for any actor to have as big of a year as Irish breakout Domhnall Gleeson had in 2015. The 32-year-old actor, whose father is longtime character actor Brendan Gleeson, had an unprecedented year by any standard, appearing in four Oscar-nominated films last year (Ex Machina, Star Wars: Episode VII, Brooklyn, and The Revenant) two of which are nominated for best picture, Brooklyn and The Revenant.
Until his meteoric rise in 2015, Gleeson was perhaps best known for his small supporting role as the eldest of the Weasley brothers in the Harry Potter series, but now, with supporting roles of varying degrees in two best picture nominated films and a lead credit in Ex Machina, it can safely be said that Gleeson is among the top stars to watch in 2016.
While his father has been appearing in films for nearly three decades, Domhnall’s...
Managing Editor
It’s rare for any actor to have as big of a year as Irish breakout Domhnall Gleeson had in 2015. The 32-year-old actor, whose father is longtime character actor Brendan Gleeson, had an unprecedented year by any standard, appearing in four Oscar-nominated films last year (Ex Machina, Star Wars: Episode VII, Brooklyn, and The Revenant) two of which are nominated for best picture, Brooklyn and The Revenant.
Until his meteoric rise in 2015, Gleeson was perhaps best known for his small supporting role as the eldest of the Weasley brothers in the Harry Potter series, but now, with supporting roles of varying degrees in two best picture nominated films and a lead credit in Ex Machina, it can safely be said that Gleeson is among the top stars to watch in 2016.
While his father has been appearing in films for nearly three decades, Domhnall’s...
- 2/17/2016
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
Playwright Martin McDonagh (The Pillowman, A Behanding in Spokane) actively moved into filmmaking with the short Six Shooter in 2005, and then gave Colin Farrell one of his best roles in the bleak comedy In Bruges. He’s also had the film Seven Psychopaths, and is promoting a new play called Hangman, which gave the writer/director the […]
The post Frances McDormand Leads ‘In Bruges’ Director Martin McDonagh’s New Movie appeared first on /Film.
The post Frances McDormand Leads ‘In Bruges’ Director Martin McDonagh’s New Movie appeared first on /Film.
- 9/14/2015
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Martin McDonagh is one of the most exciting voices to have emerged in film in the last decade or so. A veteran playwright behind the likes of “The Pillowman” and “The Cripple Of Inishmaan,” McDonagh won an Oscar for his short film “Six Shooter,” and followed up with the beloved, soulful crime comedy “In Bruges.” It’s been three years since McDonagh’s second feature “Seven Psychopaths,” but it looks like the writer-director is heading back to the screen in the near future. In an interview with The Guardian to promote his new play “Hangman,” which stars David Morrissey and is about to open in London, McDonagh says that “Fargo” Oscar-winner Frances McDormand is set to star in his next film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” “It’s about a 50-year-old woman,” McDonagh says, “whose daughter is murdered, and she goes to war with the police in her home town...
- 9/14/2015
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
We're less than two weeks away from the start of the Stanley Film Festival and it's been officially announced that Tom Quinn will be the recipient of their Visionary Award. We also have details on the festival's panels and jurors:
April 20, 2014 (Denver, Co) - The Stanley Film Festival (Sff) produced by the Denver Film Society (Dfs) and presented by Chiller, announced today it will honor Tom Quinn, co-president of RADiUS-twc as its 2015 Visionary Award Winner. Quinn is behind this year’s breakout horror title It Follows as well as other genre heavy hitters such as Snowpiercer, Blue Ruin and Only God Forgives. The Visionary award is given to a figure in contemporary horror who is making forward-thinking contributions that elevate the genre and provides a platform for new, innovative artists to create work. Previous recipients include Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller and Elijah Wood, co-founders of SpectreVision (2014) and Eli Roth (2013). Quinn,...
April 20, 2014 (Denver, Co) - The Stanley Film Festival (Sff) produced by the Denver Film Society (Dfs) and presented by Chiller, announced today it will honor Tom Quinn, co-president of RADiUS-twc as its 2015 Visionary Award Winner. Quinn is behind this year’s breakout horror title It Follows as well as other genre heavy hitters such as Snowpiercer, Blue Ruin and Only God Forgives. The Visionary award is given to a figure in contemporary horror who is making forward-thinking contributions that elevate the genre and provides a platform for new, innovative artists to create work. Previous recipients include Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller and Elijah Wood, co-founders of SpectreVision (2014) and Eli Roth (2013). Quinn,...
- 4/20/2015
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Reviewed By Chris Wright, Morehorror.com
Puppet Master X: Axis Rising (2012)
Directed By: Charles Band
Written By: Charles Band & Shane Bitterling
Starring: Kip Canyon (Danny), Jean Louise O’Sullivan (Beth), Oto Benzina (Freuhoffer), Scott King (Moebius), Brad Potts (Seargent Stone), Kurt Sinclair (Major Collins), Stephanie Sanditz (Uschi), Paul Thomas Arnold (General Porter), Terumi Shimazu (Ozu)
Nothing says “Full Moon” like the “Puppet Master” franchise. I am always surprised they come out with a new film and we are already up to the tenth entry! I have had mixed feelings about this franchise and this movie is no different. While it is better than the ninth installment, it is lacking the magic the first films had. Charles Band returns to write and direct this entry.
The movie continues where the previous movie left off. Danny and Beth have discovered that the Nazis have Tunneler and want to extract the serum from him to create super soldiers.
Puppet Master X: Axis Rising (2012)
Directed By: Charles Band
Written By: Charles Band & Shane Bitterling
Starring: Kip Canyon (Danny), Jean Louise O’Sullivan (Beth), Oto Benzina (Freuhoffer), Scott King (Moebius), Brad Potts (Seargent Stone), Kurt Sinclair (Major Collins), Stephanie Sanditz (Uschi), Paul Thomas Arnold (General Porter), Terumi Shimazu (Ozu)
Nothing says “Full Moon” like the “Puppet Master” franchise. I am always surprised they come out with a new film and we are already up to the tenth entry! I have had mixed feelings about this franchise and this movie is no different. While it is better than the ninth installment, it is lacking the magic the first films had. Charles Band returns to write and direct this entry.
The movie continues where the previous movie left off. Danny and Beth have discovered that the Nazis have Tunneler and want to extract the serum from him to create super soldiers.
- 9/23/2014
- by admin
- MoreHorror
The Oscars’ Best Live Action Short category is often dominated by European films, but this year it takes that trend to an extreme: With entries from Spain, France, Denmark, Finland and Great Britain, the field is entirely European, without even the lone American entry that often provides contrast. The two longest entries are deathly serious, though on vastly different topics; one of the others is a tearjerker, the others humor pieces. Judging by the Oscar winners in this category over the last decade, voters have shown that they like dark humor (“Six Shooter,” “The New Tenants,” “Curfew”), ambitious emotional stories (“The.
- 1/31/2014
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Short Starts typically presents a weekly short film from the start of a filmmaker or actor’s career. This week we present short films from the start of Irish cinema. While St. Patrick’s Day is technically specifically a holiday to honor St. Patrick, because he’s the patron saint of Ireland the occasion has become a time for celebrating all things Irish. For many of us, that means wearing green, drinking Guinness and/or Jameson (and/or Harp, Kilkinney, Bulmer’s, Smithwick’s, Bailey’s, Old Bushmills … alcohol in general) and blasting Dropkick Murphys while drunkenly attempting to/mocking stepdance. For a few of us, it’s also a moment to recognize Irish cinema, and by that I don’t just mean Darby O’Gill and a bunch of Ira/”Troubles” dramas (though many of these are great). Maybe it means something by one of the McDonagh brothers (like Martin’s foreign-set In Bruges or John Michael...
- 3/17/2013
- by Christopher Campbell
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
The Sundance Institute and London’s O2 venue announced this week the programme of panels, feature films and short films for the second Sundance London film and music festival which is schduled to run from the 25-28 April. The Sundance Institute, which annually presents the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, U.S.A., selected the film and panel programming, bringing its unique blend of indepedeant cinema and music to the heart of London. The programme continues its 2012 focus on presenting new work by independent filmmakers and exploring the interplay between independent film and music.
The programme announced today includes 18 feature films and nine short films across four sections, including a new UK Spotlight. Twenty-three films will make their international, European or UK premieres at Sundance London. Ten are by female filmmakers and six are by first-time feature filmmakers. The films collectively received 12 awards when they premiered at the...
The programme announced today includes 18 feature films and nine short films across four sections, including a new UK Spotlight. Twenty-three films will make their international, European or UK premieres at Sundance London. Ten are by female filmmakers and six are by first-time feature filmmakers. The films collectively received 12 awards when they premiered at the...
- 3/15/2013
- by John
- SoundOnSight
The Hollywood Reporter says that Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order, Rent) will star as Marvin Gaye in the new Biopic Sexual Healing, replacing Lenny Kravitz.
Martin was originally set to play the singer in 2008, in a version produced by James Gandolfini but the project never happened. Kravitz signed on for the lead role in November but after Gaye’s son Marvin Gaye III voiced objections about the subject matter of the film, which revolved primarily around Gaye’s battle with addiction and depression in the 1980′s, the project shifted. The film will now begin with Gaye’s attempt to get his career back together and a big supporting role seems to be that of music promoter Freddy Cousaert, played by Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges, Harry Potter films).
Martin is an accomplished actor of theatre, musical theatre and film. He has a great voice and he’s a more qualified choice...
Martin was originally set to play the singer in 2008, in a version produced by James Gandolfini but the project never happened. Kravitz signed on for the lead role in November but after Gaye’s son Marvin Gaye III voiced objections about the subject matter of the film, which revolved primarily around Gaye’s battle with addiction and depression in the 1980′s, the project shifted. The film will now begin with Gaye’s attempt to get his career back together and a big supporting role seems to be that of music promoter Freddy Cousaert, played by Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges, Harry Potter films).
Martin is an accomplished actor of theatre, musical theatre and film. He has a great voice and he’s a more qualified choice...
- 3/5/2013
- by Alex Corey
- LRMonline.com
Vol. I Issue 10 February 2013
Join us twice weekly. Send us links to your sizzle reels and film sites.
As this last weekend approached I was faced with marking my Academy Award ballot. This process is always really difficult. How does one sort out the “best” film or accomplishment of five or nine in the case of the Best Picture? For me it has been over 30 years of screenings. Thousand of films. Some really great films and many not so great. I also try to think what it means to be one of the nominees. What was the off-screen story but always more importantly what their contribution was to the work and how the film compares to others. What’s great about short films is that they can be made for almost nothing by a few filmmakers without a large budget, crew or cast.
The Academy has three nomination categories for films less than 41 minutes in length: short fiction, documentary and animation. Once nominated, there are public screenings and panels to celebrate the nominated films at the Academy in Beverly Hills. A group photograph of all the nominees is taken with a large Oscar in the lobby of the Academy headquarters. It is really a wonderful experience.
It wasn’t always like that. There were no special celebrations for the short or documentary films until the l980s. While the Foreign Language films had their seminar, nothing was done for these films. We tried to remedy that in the 1980s and started the Direct Cinema receptions and screenings with UCLA, USC and, a few years later, the Ida sponsored “Docuday” and the Academy started doing an annual reception for the shorts and documentary filmmakers. Today the Academy’s evening receptions for the short films, animated features (a relatively new Oscar category) and the documentaries are annual sell-out events. The filmmakers and their works are celebrated and it has become a highlight of the Oscar week for the filmmakers and those associated with the films.
When I first became a member of the Academy the short films and animation branch was headed by a number of extraordinary talents: T Hee, Saul Bass and June Forey. These three remarkable artists represented classic Disney animation (T. Hee), fiction and narrative short films (Saul Bass), and the television and theatrical films (June Forey, who voiced hundreds of characters.)
Saul Bass articulated the branch’s membership policy, “We want them to be part of our branch.” This liberal interpretation allowed documentary filmmakers like Ken Burns as well as voice artists and creatives like Stan Friedberg (and June Forey) to be part of a group that included IMAX filmmakers as well as classic character animation directors, colorists, layout artists, producers and other key short film and animation filmmakers. The animation filmmakers represent both the studio animators and the independent animators who work globally doing personal work as well as studio work. Other governors from 1979 to the present have included Hal Elias, who served on the Academy board for 37 years and was a short film publicist for MGM among other things; Bill Littlejohn, who worked on over 90 films as an animator ranging from Charley Brown, Peanuts Christmas Specials to working with the Hubleys’; Bill Scott, who acted and wrote over a hundred animated films, and Carl Bell, who worked on over 35 films at Disney in its animation department.
Unlike most of the other branches, the Short Films branch screens all of the submitted films in 16mm and 35mm and now in Digital Cinema, in an effort to find and nominate the best short films produced in the world. The branch rules allowed films to qualify in an effort to encourage more international entries in the 1990s by taking a first prize at key festivals in addition to the method that all Academy films can use to qualify, a theatrical week long (now three day for shorts) run in a theater in Los Angeles County. Branch screenings were expanded to New York to permit more members to participate in the nomination process in the 1990s. The final short listed screenings are in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over one-third of the branch participates in the voting. The best change took place this year, sending DVD screeners to all Academy members of the short live action and animated nominated films. While this still won’t force members to watch them, members can’t claim they can’t see them. This is not only great for the branch but great for the nominated filmmakers. Who would not want to screen their short film for Academy members?
The process of the branch for selecting Nominees has remained unchanged for years—members screen the films in a theater rather than on DVDs, which is how the Documentary branch is dealing with the flood of feature docs and their unwillingness to trust committees. Nothing beats seeing films projected on a large screen with perfect sound and that is now lost. In a two step process, a committee (self selected from the branch membership) screens the films and the 15 films with the highest scores are short listed. The short listed films are then screened again and members vote.
The current Short Film Branch governors are Jon Bloom (pictured with the 2007 nominees), a 1983 fiction short nominee, filmmaker, editor and producer who chairs the branch, animator and Disney Creative Head and multi-Oscar winner, John Lasseter, and William "Bill" Kroyer,an award-winning director of animation and computer graphics commercials, short films, movie titles and theatrical films and faculty member Chapman College.
One of the challenges for the branch is how to grow live action producing members. With the addition of feature animation to the awards and the large number of feature animation films being released, the branch would like to have the most qualified animators to become members. The number of animators grows at a far faster rate than that of the live action filmmakers since only a few live action filmmakers can qualify for membership. The commercial success of animated features, the long production schedules and the large number of animators who work in qualifying positions allows for six plus individuals per picture to be eligible for membership. With five nominees a year, the number of individuals who can play a key role in two or three features becoming eligible for membership can easily approach 30 plus individuals annually. Add in the short animation nominees and competition for the limited new slots allocated to the branch can be brutal. The talent pool of animators is both astonishingly strong and suggests that Hollywood can easily double production from the 15 or so films made annually to 25 or 30 without having to compromise on talent.
Many of the filmmakers in the branch who make their Oscar nominated or winning live action short have made or are interested in making feature length works. A number of recent nominees or winners have made that transition. The following list looks at all of the live action nominees from 2001 to 2011, using the Internet Movie Database I looked up each nominee and listed what they reported they were doing professionally. Obviously, this is not intended to show everything. In each case, I listed credits or summarized credits shown in the IMDb listing.
Some observations about 11 years of Live Action Short Film Academy Award Nominees:
There were 86 nominations (out of a possible 110) This is because in some years only three films were nominated and in some cases only one filmmaker from a film was eligible for a nomination. Non-us based filmmakers dominate this category. Despite the huge number of short films being made annually in the Us, a majority of the nominated films come from filmmakers based abroad. In part this is due to the government subsidies available, but it is also due to the strong training programs, commercial support for the short films and a rich tradition of theatrical shorts. This year (2012) four of the five films in the live action category are from Us filmmakers. This is an unusual year. Few filmmakers have more than one nomination, only a handful of the nominees have made multiple Academy worthy short films. As one might expect, many of the filmmakers have continued their film work in television, some in features. The European Oscar winners (vs nominees) have done better at snagging features after a win than have their American counterparts. Again, this is likely a function of government support for entry features. Perhaps one of the short films seem to have been turned into a feature (or television) film. Some of the short films are intended to be sizzle reels for features, but it is not clear why so few of the nominated short films have been turned into features. A number of the Oscar winners have not continued working in film. No record of future productions are shown on IMDb. It would be interesting to see what they are doing now. Two of the Oscar winners have written critically award winning screenplays, one received two Academy Award nominations for his screenwriting. None of these nominees have gone on to win Oscars in directing or producing for feature films.
The data is from the Academy and the IMDb databases.
Apologies in advance, if credits were missed or other factual errors were made. In a week we’ll be able to add this year's winner.
2001 (74th)
Short Film (Live Action) (* won Academy Award)
*the accountant -- Ray McKinnon: Two Features: Randy and the Mob 2007 and Crystal 2004 Lisa Blount: Produced these features. Copy Shop -- Virgil Widrich Gregor's Greatest Invention -- Johannes Kiefer A Man Thing (Meska Sprawa) -- Slawomir Fabicki, Two Features: Loving 2012, Retrieval 2006 (Also wrote) Bogumil Godfrejow Has shot multiple features Speed for Thespians -- Kalman Apple, Shameela Bakhsh
2002 (75th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Fait D'Hiver -- Dirk Beliën, Anja Daelemans produced Comrade Kim Goes North I'll Wait for the Next One... (J'Attendrai Le Suivant...) -- Philippe Orreindy, Thomas Gaudin Inja (Dog) -- Steven Pasvolsky Feature, Deck Dogz Joe Weatherstone, produced episodic television. Johnny Flynton -- Lexi Alexander, directed 3 features: Lifted, Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans Alexander Buono as a Dp has shot series and features *This Charming Manon (Der Er En Yndig Mand) -- Martin Strange-Hansen, Mie Andreasen produced both features, series and documentaries.
2003 (76th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket) -- Florian Baxmeyer Multiple television films and series Most (The Bridge) -- Bobby Garabedian, William Zabka Mr. Zabka has appeared as an actor in numerous films and television shows Squash -- Lionel Bailliu Features: Fair Play and Denis (in post) (A) Torzija [(A) Torsion] -- Stefan Arsenijevic Directed: Lost and Found, Love and Other Crimes, and Do Not Forget Me Istanbul *Two Soldiers -- Aaron Schneider,Asc (Cinematographer numerous credits) and feature, Kiss the Girls, Andrew J. Sacks Series The Closer (98 episodes) and Major Crimes.
2004 (77th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Everything in This Country Must -- Gary McKendry Directed Killer Elite, Joseph and the Girl Little Terrorist -- Ashvin Kumar Produced and Directed features (2) and documentaries (2) 7:35 in the Morning (7:35 de la Mañana) -- Nacho Vigalondo Directed and written multiple films, series, shorts Two Cars, One Night -- Taika Waititi, Acted and directed and written multi television and films Ainsley Gardiner Nz based producer of multiple shorts, television and feature films *Wasp -- Andrea Arnold Actor, director and writer of numbers films, television programs
2005 (78th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Ausreisser (The Runaway) -- Ulrike Grote Ms. Grote has acted in over 42 programs, features, television series and films Cashback -- Sean Ellis, Director/Writer Metro Manila, The Broken Lene Bausager Producer, The Broken, Ginger and Rosa The Last Farm -- Rúnar Rúnarsson, Director/Writer Volcano, Thor S. Sigurjónsson Produced multiple features Our Time Is Up -- Rob Pearlstein, Director/Writer multiple television and a feature Pia Clemente Producer, documentaries *Six Shooter -- Martin McDonagh Writer/Director Seven Psychopaths, In Bruges
2006 (79th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea) -- Javier Fesser, no other credits shown Luis Manso Produced multiple features Éramos Pocos (One Too Many) -- Borja Cobeaga Writer, multi films and television series Helmer & Son -- Søren Pilmark no other credits, Kim Magnusso Producer over 100 film, television films (4 Best Short Film Academy Award nominations) Won for Ernst & Lyset The Saviour -- Peter Templeman, no other credits Stuart Parkyn, Producer, multi-short film credits *West Bank Story -- Ari Sandel Director, one short, one documentary
2007 (80th)
Short Film (Live Action)
At Night -- Christian E. Christiansen, Directed, Features and television series Louise Vesth Producer, multi features Il Supplente (The Substitute) -- Andrea Jublin
*Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) -- Philippe Pollet-Villard Actor and director short films, a television film
Tanghi Argentini -- Guido Thys, Director, Multiple television series Anja Daelemans, nominated for 2 Short Film nominations (Gridlock, 2002) Producer/Pm various The Tonto Woman -- Daniel Barber, Directed The Keeping Room, Harry Brown Matthew Brown Produced 2 shorts
2008 (81st)
Short Film (Live Action)
Auf der Strecke (On the Line) -- Reto Caffi Manon on the Asphalt -- Elizabeth Marre, Director, Television series Olivier Pont Director, Television series New Boy -- Steph Green, Director Run and Jump Tamara Anghie Producer Run and Jump The Pig -- Tivi Magnusson, Producer Over 64 titles many short films, Dorte Høgh Writer multiple series, (Directed The Pig) *Spielzeugland (Toyland) -- Jochen Alexander Freydank Producer of multiple television series
2009 (82nd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Door -- Juanita Wilson, Director As If I Am Not There James Flynn Multiple Producer credits for over 50 titles, television and theatrical Instead of Abracadabra -- Patrik Eklund, Director, Television film and feature Mathias Fjellström Kavi -- Gregg Helvey Miracle Fish -- Luke Doolan, Multiple credits as editor Drew Bailey Multiple credits as Assistant Director *The New Tenants -- Joachim Back, no other credits shown as a director, Tivi Magnusson This is Mr. Magnusson’s first Academy Award and second nomination. See 2008.
2010 (83rd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Confession -- Tanel Toom The Crush -- Michael Creagh *God of Love -- Luke Matheny Feature Love Sick and multiple Television series episode Na Wewe -- Ivan Goldschmidt Wish 143 -- Ian Barnes, Multiple directing credits Television Samantha Waite Credits as production coordinator on multiple titles
2011 (84th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost -- Peter McDonald, Credits as actor Eimear O'Kane Credits as Producer on The Shadows and on television programs. Raju -- Max Zähle, Director, Television series Stefan Gieren Producer-Writer credit on feature film, Kunduz: The Incident at Hadji Ghafur *The Shore -- Terry George, Writer Two Oscar nominations for screenplays In the Name of the Father and Hotel Riwanda Producer and director on films and television series Oorlagh George Numerous credits as Assistant on features, documentaries and television shows Time Freak -- Andrew Bowler Writer and actor in a short film Gigi Causey Production manager, producer shorts, series and films
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Credits: Editing by Jessica Just for SydneysBuzz
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Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
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©2013Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
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As this last weekend approached I was faced with marking my Academy Award ballot. This process is always really difficult. How does one sort out the “best” film or accomplishment of five or nine in the case of the Best Picture? For me it has been over 30 years of screenings. Thousand of films. Some really great films and many not so great. I also try to think what it means to be one of the nominees. What was the off-screen story but always more importantly what their contribution was to the work and how the film compares to others. What’s great about short films is that they can be made for almost nothing by a few filmmakers without a large budget, crew or cast.
The Academy has three nomination categories for films less than 41 minutes in length: short fiction, documentary and animation. Once nominated, there are public screenings and panels to celebrate the nominated films at the Academy in Beverly Hills. A group photograph of all the nominees is taken with a large Oscar in the lobby of the Academy headquarters. It is really a wonderful experience.
It wasn’t always like that. There were no special celebrations for the short or documentary films until the l980s. While the Foreign Language films had their seminar, nothing was done for these films. We tried to remedy that in the 1980s and started the Direct Cinema receptions and screenings with UCLA, USC and, a few years later, the Ida sponsored “Docuday” and the Academy started doing an annual reception for the shorts and documentary filmmakers. Today the Academy’s evening receptions for the short films, animated features (a relatively new Oscar category) and the documentaries are annual sell-out events. The filmmakers and their works are celebrated and it has become a highlight of the Oscar week for the filmmakers and those associated with the films.
When I first became a member of the Academy the short films and animation branch was headed by a number of extraordinary talents: T Hee, Saul Bass and June Forey. These three remarkable artists represented classic Disney animation (T. Hee), fiction and narrative short films (Saul Bass), and the television and theatrical films (June Forey, who voiced hundreds of characters.)
Saul Bass articulated the branch’s membership policy, “We want them to be part of our branch.” This liberal interpretation allowed documentary filmmakers like Ken Burns as well as voice artists and creatives like Stan Friedberg (and June Forey) to be part of a group that included IMAX filmmakers as well as classic character animation directors, colorists, layout artists, producers and other key short film and animation filmmakers. The animation filmmakers represent both the studio animators and the independent animators who work globally doing personal work as well as studio work. Other governors from 1979 to the present have included Hal Elias, who served on the Academy board for 37 years and was a short film publicist for MGM among other things; Bill Littlejohn, who worked on over 90 films as an animator ranging from Charley Brown, Peanuts Christmas Specials to working with the Hubleys’; Bill Scott, who acted and wrote over a hundred animated films, and Carl Bell, who worked on over 35 films at Disney in its animation department.
Unlike most of the other branches, the Short Films branch screens all of the submitted films in 16mm and 35mm and now in Digital Cinema, in an effort to find and nominate the best short films produced in the world. The branch rules allowed films to qualify in an effort to encourage more international entries in the 1990s by taking a first prize at key festivals in addition to the method that all Academy films can use to qualify, a theatrical week long (now three day for shorts) run in a theater in Los Angeles County. Branch screenings were expanded to New York to permit more members to participate in the nomination process in the 1990s. The final short listed screenings are in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over one-third of the branch participates in the voting. The best change took place this year, sending DVD screeners to all Academy members of the short live action and animated nominated films. While this still won’t force members to watch them, members can’t claim they can’t see them. This is not only great for the branch but great for the nominated filmmakers. Who would not want to screen their short film for Academy members?
The process of the branch for selecting Nominees has remained unchanged for years—members screen the films in a theater rather than on DVDs, which is how the Documentary branch is dealing with the flood of feature docs and their unwillingness to trust committees. Nothing beats seeing films projected on a large screen with perfect sound and that is now lost. In a two step process, a committee (self selected from the branch membership) screens the films and the 15 films with the highest scores are short listed. The short listed films are then screened again and members vote.
The current Short Film Branch governors are Jon Bloom (pictured with the 2007 nominees), a 1983 fiction short nominee, filmmaker, editor and producer who chairs the branch, animator and Disney Creative Head and multi-Oscar winner, John Lasseter, and William "Bill" Kroyer,an award-winning director of animation and computer graphics commercials, short films, movie titles and theatrical films and faculty member Chapman College.
One of the challenges for the branch is how to grow live action producing members. With the addition of feature animation to the awards and the large number of feature animation films being released, the branch would like to have the most qualified animators to become members. The number of animators grows at a far faster rate than that of the live action filmmakers since only a few live action filmmakers can qualify for membership. The commercial success of animated features, the long production schedules and the large number of animators who work in qualifying positions allows for six plus individuals per picture to be eligible for membership. With five nominees a year, the number of individuals who can play a key role in two or three features becoming eligible for membership can easily approach 30 plus individuals annually. Add in the short animation nominees and competition for the limited new slots allocated to the branch can be brutal. The talent pool of animators is both astonishingly strong and suggests that Hollywood can easily double production from the 15 or so films made annually to 25 or 30 without having to compromise on talent.
Many of the filmmakers in the branch who make their Oscar nominated or winning live action short have made or are interested in making feature length works. A number of recent nominees or winners have made that transition. The following list looks at all of the live action nominees from 2001 to 2011, using the Internet Movie Database I looked up each nominee and listed what they reported they were doing professionally. Obviously, this is not intended to show everything. In each case, I listed credits or summarized credits shown in the IMDb listing.
Some observations about 11 years of Live Action Short Film Academy Award Nominees:
There were 86 nominations (out of a possible 110) This is because in some years only three films were nominated and in some cases only one filmmaker from a film was eligible for a nomination. Non-us based filmmakers dominate this category. Despite the huge number of short films being made annually in the Us, a majority of the nominated films come from filmmakers based abroad. In part this is due to the government subsidies available, but it is also due to the strong training programs, commercial support for the short films and a rich tradition of theatrical shorts. This year (2012) four of the five films in the live action category are from Us filmmakers. This is an unusual year. Few filmmakers have more than one nomination, only a handful of the nominees have made multiple Academy worthy short films. As one might expect, many of the filmmakers have continued their film work in television, some in features. The European Oscar winners (vs nominees) have done better at snagging features after a win than have their American counterparts. Again, this is likely a function of government support for entry features. Perhaps one of the short films seem to have been turned into a feature (or television) film. Some of the short films are intended to be sizzle reels for features, but it is not clear why so few of the nominated short films have been turned into features. A number of the Oscar winners have not continued working in film. No record of future productions are shown on IMDb. It would be interesting to see what they are doing now. Two of the Oscar winners have written critically award winning screenplays, one received two Academy Award nominations for his screenwriting. None of these nominees have gone on to win Oscars in directing or producing for feature films.
The data is from the Academy and the IMDb databases.
Apologies in advance, if credits were missed or other factual errors were made. In a week we’ll be able to add this year's winner.
2001 (74th)
Short Film (Live Action) (* won Academy Award)
*the accountant -- Ray McKinnon: Two Features: Randy and the Mob 2007 and Crystal 2004 Lisa Blount: Produced these features. Copy Shop -- Virgil Widrich Gregor's Greatest Invention -- Johannes Kiefer A Man Thing (Meska Sprawa) -- Slawomir Fabicki, Two Features: Loving 2012, Retrieval 2006 (Also wrote) Bogumil Godfrejow Has shot multiple features Speed for Thespians -- Kalman Apple, Shameela Bakhsh
2002 (75th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Fait D'Hiver -- Dirk Beliën, Anja Daelemans produced Comrade Kim Goes North I'll Wait for the Next One... (J'Attendrai Le Suivant...) -- Philippe Orreindy, Thomas Gaudin Inja (Dog) -- Steven Pasvolsky Feature, Deck Dogz Joe Weatherstone, produced episodic television. Johnny Flynton -- Lexi Alexander, directed 3 features: Lifted, Punisher: War Zone and Green Street Hooligans Alexander Buono as a Dp has shot series and features *This Charming Manon (Der Er En Yndig Mand) -- Martin Strange-Hansen, Mie Andreasen produced both features, series and documentaries.
2003 (76th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket) -- Florian Baxmeyer Multiple television films and series Most (The Bridge) -- Bobby Garabedian, William Zabka Mr. Zabka has appeared as an actor in numerous films and television shows Squash -- Lionel Bailliu Features: Fair Play and Denis (in post) (A) Torzija [(A) Torsion] -- Stefan Arsenijevic Directed: Lost and Found, Love and Other Crimes, and Do Not Forget Me Istanbul *Two Soldiers -- Aaron Schneider,Asc (Cinematographer numerous credits) and feature, Kiss the Girls, Andrew J. Sacks Series The Closer (98 episodes) and Major Crimes.
2004 (77th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Everything in This Country Must -- Gary McKendry Directed Killer Elite, Joseph and the Girl Little Terrorist -- Ashvin Kumar Produced and Directed features (2) and documentaries (2) 7:35 in the Morning (7:35 de la Mañana) -- Nacho Vigalondo Directed and written multiple films, series, shorts Two Cars, One Night -- Taika Waititi, Acted and directed and written multi television and films Ainsley Gardiner Nz based producer of multiple shorts, television and feature films *Wasp -- Andrea Arnold Actor, director and writer of numbers films, television programs
2005 (78th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Ausreisser (The Runaway) -- Ulrike Grote Ms. Grote has acted in over 42 programs, features, television series and films Cashback -- Sean Ellis, Director/Writer Metro Manila, The Broken Lene Bausager Producer, The Broken, Ginger and Rosa The Last Farm -- Rúnar Rúnarsson, Director/Writer Volcano, Thor S. Sigurjónsson Produced multiple features Our Time Is Up -- Rob Pearlstein, Director/Writer multiple television and a feature Pia Clemente Producer, documentaries *Six Shooter -- Martin McDonagh Writer/Director Seven Psychopaths, In Bruges
2006 (79th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea) -- Javier Fesser, no other credits shown Luis Manso Produced multiple features Éramos Pocos (One Too Many) -- Borja Cobeaga Writer, multi films and television series Helmer & Son -- Søren Pilmark no other credits, Kim Magnusso Producer over 100 film, television films (4 Best Short Film Academy Award nominations) Won for Ernst & Lyset The Saviour -- Peter Templeman, no other credits Stuart Parkyn, Producer, multi-short film credits *West Bank Story -- Ari Sandel Director, one short, one documentary
2007 (80th)
Short Film (Live Action)
At Night -- Christian E. Christiansen, Directed, Features and television series Louise Vesth Producer, multi features Il Supplente (The Substitute) -- Andrea Jublin
*Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets) -- Philippe Pollet-Villard Actor and director short films, a television film
Tanghi Argentini -- Guido Thys, Director, Multiple television series Anja Daelemans, nominated for 2 Short Film nominations (Gridlock, 2002) Producer/Pm various The Tonto Woman -- Daniel Barber, Directed The Keeping Room, Harry Brown Matthew Brown Produced 2 shorts
2008 (81st)
Short Film (Live Action)
Auf der Strecke (On the Line) -- Reto Caffi Manon on the Asphalt -- Elizabeth Marre, Director, Television series Olivier Pont Director, Television series New Boy -- Steph Green, Director Run and Jump Tamara Anghie Producer Run and Jump The Pig -- Tivi Magnusson, Producer Over 64 titles many short films, Dorte Høgh Writer multiple series, (Directed The Pig) *Spielzeugland (Toyland) -- Jochen Alexander Freydank Producer of multiple television series
2009 (82nd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Door -- Juanita Wilson, Director As If I Am Not There James Flynn Multiple Producer credits for over 50 titles, television and theatrical Instead of Abracadabra -- Patrik Eklund, Director, Television film and feature Mathias Fjellström Kavi -- Gregg Helvey Miracle Fish -- Luke Doolan, Multiple credits as editor Drew Bailey Multiple credits as Assistant Director *The New Tenants -- Joachim Back, no other credits shown as a director, Tivi Magnusson This is Mr. Magnusson’s first Academy Award and second nomination. See 2008.
2010 (83rd)
Short Film (Live Action)
The Confession -- Tanel Toom The Crush -- Michael Creagh *God of Love -- Luke Matheny Feature Love Sick and multiple Television series episode Na Wewe -- Ivan Goldschmidt Wish 143 -- Ian Barnes, Multiple directing credits Television Samantha Waite Credits as production coordinator on multiple titles
2011 (84th)
Short Film (Live Action)
Pentecost -- Peter McDonald, Credits as actor Eimear O'Kane Credits as Producer on The Shadows and on television programs. Raju -- Max Zähle, Director, Television series Stefan Gieren Producer-Writer credit on feature film, Kunduz: The Incident at Hadji Ghafur *The Shore -- Terry George, Writer Two Oscar nominations for screenplays In the Name of the Father and Hotel Riwanda Producer and director on films and television series Oorlagh George Numerous credits as Assistant on features, documentaries and television shows Time Freak -- Andrew Bowler Writer and actor in a short film Gigi Causey Production manager, producer shorts, series and films
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Credits: Editing by Jessica Just for SydneysBuzz
__________________________________________________________________________________
Mitchell Block specializes in conceiving, producing, marketing & distributing independent features & consulting. He is an expert in placing both completed works into distribution & working with producers to make projects fundable. He conducts regular workshops in film producing in Los Angeles and most recently in Maine, Russia and in Myanmar (Burma).
Poster Girl, produced by Block was nominated for a Documentary Academy Award and selected by the Ida as the Best Doc Short 2011. It was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and aired on HBO. He is an executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Carrier, a 10-hour series that he conceived & co-created. Block is a graduate of Tisch School and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Television Academy, a founding member of BAFTA-la and has been teaching at USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1979. Currently Block teaches a required class in the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.
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©2013Mwb All Rights Reserved All Rights Reserved. All information and designs on the Sites are copyrighted material owned by Block. Reproduction, dissemination, or transmission of any part of the material here without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.All other product names and marks on Block Direct, whether trademarks, service marks, or other type, and whether registered or unregistered, is the property of Block.
- 2/28/2013
- by Mitchell Block
- Sydney's Buzz
After establishing his reputation as a playwright, Martin McDonagh made a remarkably confident movie debut in 2004 directing the Oscar-winning, half-hour Six Shooter, set on a train in his native Ireland, where grieving widower Brendan Gleeson is confronted by a gun-toting psychopath. He followed it up in 2008 with his first feature, the dazzling, accomplished In Bruges, a conscious cross between Hemingway's The Killers and Beckett's Waiting for Godot in which Gleeson and Colin Farrell play Irish hitmen waiting for their psychopathic British boss to dictate their next assignment. Now McDonagh has moved to the States, where his hero, Colin Farrell, is Marty, an incipient alcoholic Irish playwright working on a Hollywood film, and the number of psychopaths involved has exponentially advanced to seven.
At the opening of the startling and funny Seven Psychopaths the camera pans across the hills above Los Angeles, taking in the iconic sign that has loomed over...
At the opening of the startling and funny Seven Psychopaths the camera pans across the hills above Los Angeles, taking in the iconic sign that has loomed over...
- 12/9/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
A screenwriter scams his way through In Bruges director Martin McDonagh's Tarantinoesque new film – but it quickly runs out of spark
Seven Psychopaths is one of those titles, like 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag, or 9 Dead Gay Guys, which is trying that bit too hard. And what is strange is that this disappointing movie is written and directed by Martin McDonagh, the brilliant and prize-garlanded author of stage and screen who made it look like he didn't need to try at all. After a string of superb stage plays, and his Oscar-winning short film Six Shooter in 2004, McDonagh wrote and directed In Bruges, a sparklingly scripted and utterly distinctive black comedy about a couple of hitmen forced to lay low in a European city they find oppressively boring. It was a treat from beginning to end, and so expectations could hardly be higher for his first Hollywood movie, which...
Seven Psychopaths is one of those titles, like 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag, or 9 Dead Gay Guys, which is trying that bit too hard. And what is strange is that this disappointing movie is written and directed by Martin McDonagh, the brilliant and prize-garlanded author of stage and screen who made it look like he didn't need to try at all. After a string of superb stage plays, and his Oscar-winning short film Six Shooter in 2004, McDonagh wrote and directed In Bruges, a sparklingly scripted and utterly distinctive black comedy about a couple of hitmen forced to lay low in a European city they find oppressively boring. It was a treat from beginning to end, and so expectations could hardly be higher for his first Hollywood movie, which...
- 12/7/2012
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
One of the most controversial and acclaimed playwrights of the 1990s, Martin McDonagh -- the man behind stage hits like "The Beauty Queen Of Leenane," "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" and "The Pillowman" -- found equal success when he moved into the movies. He won an Oscar for his first short film, "Six Shooter," and a few years later wrote and directed the hilarious, soulful black comedy "In Bruges," which became a serious hit on the festival circuit and earned him an Oscar nomination for the screenplay. This year, he returned to screens with the follow-up, "Seven Psychopaths," a giddy, glorious mess of storytelling involving Hollywood screenwriters, dognappers, murderous gangsters, vengeful Quakers, killers on the run, and much, much more. The film opened in the U.S. back in October, but arrives on U.K. screens this week. We got to speak to McDonagh at the BFI London Film Festival in October,...
- 12/6/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
The new comedy thriller from In Bruges director Martin McDonagh saw him locked in an unusual battle with the studio (fortunately, the dog was spared)
A lot of people die in Seven Psychopaths. It is brutal and it is bloody and it revels in its own excess: throats are slashed, people are burned alive, women are shot in the stomach, men get blown to pieces. CBS, which funded the film, was delighted when it read the screenplay, director Martin McDonagh's follow-up to the much-loved In Bruges. Delighted, except for the bit where someone kills a dog. Hollywood doesn't like dog-killing, and the studio suggested it would be prudent for him to remove that bit. Not a word about the women who die horribly and slowly, but a dog? You can't kill a dog. "Of course," says McDonagh. "It's rule number one."
Martin McDonagh is not in the business of taking notes from financiers.
A lot of people die in Seven Psychopaths. It is brutal and it is bloody and it revels in its own excess: throats are slashed, people are burned alive, women are shot in the stomach, men get blown to pieces. CBS, which funded the film, was delighted when it read the screenplay, director Martin McDonagh's follow-up to the much-loved In Bruges. Delighted, except for the bit where someone kills a dog. Hollywood doesn't like dog-killing, and the studio suggested it would be prudent for him to remove that bit. Not a word about the women who die horribly and slowly, but a dog? You can't kill a dog. "Of course," says McDonagh. "It's rule number one."
Martin McDonagh is not in the business of taking notes from financiers.
- 12/1/2012
- by Alex Godfrey
- The Guardian - Film News
Short films are an often underappreciated art form. The ability to tell an effective story within “40 minutes or less”, as defined by the Academy, is certainly a talent, and can often be a medium for aspiring filmmakers to prove their chops and transition into feature length productions. The same principle holds true for aspiring actors as well, with many big screen stars honing their craft on smaller movies. Thus, every sunday, we will highlight one such film, to give our readers a look at how directors, writers, and actors perform with time limitations.
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Today’s film is the 2004 short Six Shooter. Written and directed by British filmmaker Martin McDonagh, this short won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2005. Brendan Gleeson leads the ensemble cast for the short, McDonagh’s first foray into filmmaking. His second feature film, Seven Psychopaths, is currently playing in American theatres.
The...
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Today’s film is the 2004 short Six Shooter. Written and directed by British filmmaker Martin McDonagh, this short won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2005. Brendan Gleeson leads the ensemble cast for the short, McDonagh’s first foray into filmmaking. His second feature film, Seven Psychopaths, is currently playing in American theatres.
The...
- 11/3/2012
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
On Tuesday, October 23, the tenth entry in the long-running Puppet Master franchise will drop on Redbox from Full Moon Features along with the latest Killjoy flick, Killjoy Goes to Hell! But wait! There's more! Amid all this fun, Full Moon is also launching their big Halloween sale.
From the Press Release
On Friday, Oct 26th at noon Pst, Full Moon Features opens the doors on their Halloween sale. Check out the sales going on below and be sure to visit the Full Moon Store
* All DVDs only $6.66! (except Puppet Master X, Killjoy Goes to Hell, Evil Clergyman)
* All Blu-Rays only $13.13! (except Pm X)
* All box sets are 50% off.
* A special offer on Retro Puppet Master replicas (Cyclops, Dr. Death, and Drill Sergeant) are only $120 each
* And a special offer on three classic puppets from the series...Get the Replica 3 Pack (Red Blade, Stealth Six Shooter, Stealth Pinhead) for only $500.00 total!
From the Press Release
On Friday, Oct 26th at noon Pst, Full Moon Features opens the doors on their Halloween sale. Check out the sales going on below and be sure to visit the Full Moon Store
* All DVDs only $6.66! (except Puppet Master X, Killjoy Goes to Hell, Evil Clergyman)
* All Blu-Rays only $13.13! (except Pm X)
* All box sets are 50% off.
* A special offer on Retro Puppet Master replicas (Cyclops, Dr. Death, and Drill Sergeant) are only $120 each
* And a special offer on three classic puppets from the series...Get the Replica 3 Pack (Red Blade, Stealth Six Shooter, Stealth Pinhead) for only $500.00 total!
- 10/23/2012
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
Seven Psychopaths is Martin McDonagh’s first America-based film, and appropriately, it displays his love for American cinema, principally that of Sam Peckinpah and Martin Scorsese. Blended with his black, wry comedy, the picture follows a truly unique journey. Marty (Colin Farrell), an Irish screenwriter working in Los Angeles, becomes entangled in a bizarre and threatening situation, when friend Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell) accidentally(?) kidnaps the shih Tzu of Charlie (Woody Harrelson), an Italian mobster.
Anyone familiar with writer-director Martin McDonagh’s work can look forward to Seven Psychopaths, for more of his irreverent, dark humor. However, the tone of his latest flick largely differs from his previous productions. Though his plays cause much raucous laughter, they address bleak themes and usually include subdued action. His first two pictures In Bruges (2008) and the 2004 short Six Shooter are arguably more somber, particularly the latter. A few scenes betray McDonagh’s interest in grittier,...
Anyone familiar with writer-director Martin McDonagh’s work can look forward to Seven Psychopaths, for more of his irreverent, dark humor. However, the tone of his latest flick largely differs from his previous productions. Though his plays cause much raucous laughter, they address bleak themes and usually include subdued action. His first two pictures In Bruges (2008) and the 2004 short Six Shooter are arguably more somber, particularly the latter. A few scenes betray McDonagh’s interest in grittier,...
- 10/12/2012
- by Steven M. Paquin
- JustPressPlay.net
After winning an Academy Award for his short film Six Shooter, playwright Martin McDonagh made his move to the world of features with the movie In Bruges. While the title failed to get any real traction domestically at the time of its theatrical release, it garnered a great deal of critical praise, earned a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award nomination, won Colin Farrell a Golden Globe and has since taken on a cult following. It.s been a long for years for fans who have awaited McDonagh.s return to the silver screen, but finally that time comes to an end this weekend. Last week I had the opportunity to take part in a press day for Seven Psychopaths where a group of journalists and myself had the chance to talk to McDonagh about his latest film. Check out the extended interview with the writer/director below in which he...
- 10/10/2012
- cinemablend.com
This may blow some people's minds, but did you know that it's possible to have two talented filmmakers born into the same family? It's not only possible, it happened to the McDonaghs, whose Martin and John Michael are two of the more interesting filmmakers working today. Martin started as a playwright but debuted his filmmaking skills with the Academy Award-winning short "Six Shooter" before moving on to the 2008 dark comedy "In Bruges" and the upcoming "Seven Psychopaths." John Michael, meanwhile, is starting production on "Calvary," the follow-up to his 2011 black comedy "The Guard." Once again teaming with actor Brendan Gleeson (who also appeared in Martin's "In Bruges"), "Calvary" follows a good priest (Gleeson) who is tormented by his community. Last year, McDonagh described the film as being "in the same darkly comedic vein as 'The Guard,' but with a much more serious...
- 10/3/2012
- by Ryan Gowland
- The Playlist
Dark Sky Films has been involved with such films as The Innkeepers and Stake Land. They recently signed a new three-picture deal with Fantastic Films and the first project has been announced:
Leading producer-distributor Mpi’s Dark Sky Films today announced it has signed a three-picture deal with Ireland’s Fantastic Films, bringing together two strong independent companies to create and distribute thrilling genre movies to audiences around the world.
The deal was negotiated by Greg Newman, executive vice president of Mpi Media Group, and Fantastic Films’ Brendan McCarthy and John McDonnell. The three-picture arrangement will cover a two-year span, with the first film, The Cherry Tree, to begin principal photography at the end of 2012.
The deal continues a successful relationship between the two companies. The Oscar-winning Fantastic Films’ Stitches was produced in partnership with Mpi in 2012, while the pair also successfully released Wake Wood here in the Us. Wake Wood’s director,...
Leading producer-distributor Mpi’s Dark Sky Films today announced it has signed a three-picture deal with Ireland’s Fantastic Films, bringing together two strong independent companies to create and distribute thrilling genre movies to audiences around the world.
The deal was negotiated by Greg Newman, executive vice president of Mpi Media Group, and Fantastic Films’ Brendan McCarthy and John McDonnell. The three-picture arrangement will cover a two-year span, with the first film, The Cherry Tree, to begin principal photography at the end of 2012.
The deal continues a successful relationship between the two companies. The Oscar-winning Fantastic Films’ Stitches was produced in partnership with Mpi in 2012, while the pair also successfully released Wake Wood here in the Us. Wake Wood’s director,...
- 9/12/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths will be debuting in a matter of days at Tiff, and the anticipation is naturally high. The writer-director has an Oscar to his name for his short film, Six Shooter, and his debut feature, In Bruges, saw him earn another nomination.
McDonagh reteams with Colin Farrell for his second film, and after catching a brilliant first green-band trailer earlier in the month, and seven character posters, we’ve now got the red-band trailer to follow it up with – this is an R-rated movie, after all, and we’ve been looking forward to the R-rated trailer to match it.
Farrell leads the all-star cast, joined by Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, and Olga Kurylenko.
“An alcoholic screenwriter (Colin Farrell) struggling to write a serial-killer script gets more real-life inspiration than he can handle when a dognapping scheme gone awry brings a...
McDonagh reteams with Colin Farrell for his second film, and after catching a brilliant first green-band trailer earlier in the month, and seven character posters, we’ve now got the red-band trailer to follow it up with – this is an R-rated movie, after all, and we’ve been looking forward to the R-rated trailer to match it.
Farrell leads the all-star cast, joined by Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, and Olga Kurylenko.
“An alcoholic screenwriter (Colin Farrell) struggling to write a serial-killer script gets more real-life inspiration than he can handle when a dognapping scheme gone awry brings a...
- 8/31/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Though I must admit his theater work is a total blind spot for me, I’m a huge fan of what Martin McDonagh does as a writer/director in film. I loved the wildly funny Six Shooter, the violent and subversive short that won McDonagh an Academy Award, and his debut feature, In Bruges, was a darkly comic addition to the hit man movie subgenre that showed he could work skilfully on a larger cinematic canvas. For his new film, Seven Psychopaths, McDonagh seems to be ratcheting up the silliness factor — although I’m sure there’s some very black moments in the movie that were destined never to appear in a (green band) trailer. Psychopaths, which world premieres at Toronto and comes out in November through CBS Films, is about dog kidnapping and almost looks like a parody of those mid-90s crime thrillers with star-studded ensemble casts, such...
- 8/14/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Martin McDonagh is not yet a household name, but with only two films under his belt and an Oscar nomination for each, the writer-director has a better track record than most filmmakers who are. His first short film, Six Shooter, won the Oscar in 2006 for Best Live-Action Short Film. From there he moved up to features, with his debut film In Bruges earning him another Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. And now he's got a third film under his belt, Seven Psychopaths. Will it earn him yet a third Oscar nomination? It's hard to tell based off of a single trailer, but considering the cast includes Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, Gabourey Sidibe and Abbie Cornish, we're going to guess he's got a decent...
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- 8/14/2012
- by Peter Hall
- Movies.com
Martin McDonagh has had an incredible career despite having only made one short film (Six Shooter) and two feature films. His short won an Oscar while his first film, In Bruges, received excellent reviews. Personally, In Bruges is one of my favorite comedies of the last several years, which makes me excited for his next project.
Today, thanks to The Playlist, we have for you the first trailer for his second feature entitled Seven Psychopaths, which stars Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Olga Kurylenko, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Abbie Cornish, Tom Waits, and Gabourey Sidibe.
In case you’re not familiar with the film, here’s the synopsis:
From Oscar-winning writer and director Martin McDonagh comes a star-studded, blood-drenched, black comedy. Marty (Colin Farrell) is a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay Seven Psychopaths. All he needs is a little focus and inspiration. Billy (Sam Rockwell) is Marty’s best friend,...
Today, thanks to The Playlist, we have for you the first trailer for his second feature entitled Seven Psychopaths, which stars Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Olga Kurylenko, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Abbie Cornish, Tom Waits, and Gabourey Sidibe.
In case you’re not familiar with the film, here’s the synopsis:
From Oscar-winning writer and director Martin McDonagh comes a star-studded, blood-drenched, black comedy. Marty (Colin Farrell) is a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay Seven Psychopaths. All he needs is a little focus and inspiration. Billy (Sam Rockwell) is Marty’s best friend,...
- 8/14/2012
- by Jeff Beck
- We Got This Covered
With plays like The Pillowman and The Behanding in Spokane, playwright Martin McDonagh built a heralded reputation in theater for blending a pitch black sense of humor with tales of incredible and gut-churning violence. (Seriously, when you first see his works staged, you'll be shocked at your own delight and laughter at its incredibly brutal proceedings.) In 2004, he tried his hand at filmmaking, writing and directing the truly twisted comedy short Six Shooter, which starred Brendan Gleeson and went on to win the Oscar for Best Live-Action Short. This spurred McDonagh to and Gleeson to reteam for the former's first full-length feature In Bruges, a quirky caper about two hitmen hiding out in a lovely Belgium town. Despite co-starring cocksure heartthrob Colin Farrell, the film only made a ripple at the box office, but it did score critics' notice as well as earning McDonagh a screenwriting Oscar nod. This was...
- 7/31/2012
- cinemablend.com
Last week, we took a look at the relative dearth of leading men in Hollywood: why Tom Cruise, Will Smith, et al. remain at the top of the tree and why so few serious competitors have emerged since. But one of the most exciting things about our job is getting to watch the new names that emerge, breakouts who have the potential to join the A-listers, or at the very least, deliver a host of hugely exciting performances for decades to come.
So we've decided to kick off our On The Rise selection for 2012 by looking at some of the actors who we're tipping for big things in the next few years. Last time we made these kinds of picks and predictions we did pretty well, listing the likes of Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Jason Sudeikis, Adam Scott, Jake Johnson and David Oyelowo who have all gone on to become much-sought-after names,...
So we've decided to kick off our On The Rise selection for 2012 by looking at some of the actors who we're tipping for big things in the next few years. Last time we made these kinds of picks and predictions we did pretty well, listing the likes of Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Jason Sudeikis, Adam Scott, Jake Johnson and David Oyelowo who have all gone on to become much-sought-after names,...
- 3/29/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
The Shore, Terry George’s short drama comedy from Northern Ireland scooped the Best Short Film, Live Action Oscar at the ceremony in L.A last night. George picked up the award with his daughter, Oorlagh (not a typo). The film tells the story of two men, Joe and Paddy, whose childhood friendship is shattered by the troubles in Northern Ireland. Twenty five years later they are reunited. With the exception of a few members, including Ciarán Hinds, the entire cast and crew came from the rural Co. Down village of Killough. The Shore follows in the footsteps of previous Irish winner “Six Shooter”, written and directed by Martin McDonagh, which picked up the same award in 2005. Another Irish film, Pentecost, was also nominated in a relatively good night for the Irish film industry. Still raging that Michael Fassbender was not nominated though.
- 2/27/2012
- by noreply@blogger.com (Rob)
- www.themoviebit.com
Best Live-Action Short Over the past few years the nominees in this category have become almost comically predictable. That’s not to say they aren’t good films, and a work of brilliance has now and again snuck in (2006’s Six Shooter comes to mind). Rather, it’s the overall trends that get me laughing. Since the 79th Academy Awards in 2007 there have been five Northern European comedies, three consecutive smart New York City flicks, and sixteen films featuring kids. That’s more than 50%. They’re always cute and usually either British or stricken by some horrible circumstance (third-world poverty, Chernobyl, the Holocaust, etc.) So forgive me if I’m mildly cynical about this award. That being said, this year’s crop of nominees is...
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- 2/23/2012
- by Daniel Walber
- Movies.com
A Socialite Life This is not Kate Winslet (to your left). This is Kate Winslet's new wax figure at Madame Tussauds. They went so recent what with the choice of that Emmy dress.
Vulture Stephen Dorff always gives great interview. He's mouthing off about chest hair and nipples on the set of Immortals. He said no to man-breasts for his workout regimen.
Imp Awards as predicted Carnage couldn't keep that brilliantly loud and colorful French poster look. Instead it had to go completely generic and dullsville for American audiences. Do Not let your movie look like a unique experience; no one will buy tickets!
The Wrap Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, and Woody Harrelson and Tom Fucking Waits (!) will star in Martin McDonagh's new action comedy Seven Psychopaths. Eeep, love the cast, love McDonagh (Six Shooter, In Bruges). Make it be good! Please make it be good.
Vulture Stephen Dorff always gives great interview. He's mouthing off about chest hair and nipples on the set of Immortals. He said no to man-breasts for his workout regimen.
Imp Awards as predicted Carnage couldn't keep that brilliantly loud and colorful French poster look. Instead it had to go completely generic and dullsville for American audiences. Do Not let your movie look like a unique experience; no one will buy tickets!
The Wrap Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, and Woody Harrelson and Tom Fucking Waits (!) will star in Martin McDonagh's new action comedy Seven Psychopaths. Eeep, love the cast, love McDonagh (Six Shooter, In Bruges). Make it be good! Please make it be good.
- 11/10/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Martin McDonagh is an award-winning playwright and filmmaker whose first short film, Six Shooter, won him an Oscar and whose first feature, In Bruges, got him a Best Original Screenplay nomination. But if you ask Mickey Rourke, McDonagh is nothing but "a jerk-off" who "wanted a whole lot for nothing" and who "can go play with himself. Yes, it's apparently a battle of the words between former Oscar nominees, as Rourke mouthed off to Moviefone when asked about what was supposed to be his next role, in McDonagh's new film Seven Psychopaths. Last month we reported that Rourke had turned down a role in The Expendables 2 in order to take part in Psychopaths, which also includes Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell in the cast. It's hard to know exactly what happened to cause that bad blood between Rourke and McDonagh, or if Rourke even made it to the...
- 11/8/2011
- cinemablend.com
HollywoodNews.com: The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that Tom Quinn and Jason Janego have joined forces with TWC Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein to create a new TWC label to bring new films and other specialty entertainment to audiences simultaneously across multiple digital and traditional platforms. Quinn and Janego will serve as Co-Presidents of the yet-to-be named label, which will be based in New York. The announcement was made by TWC COO David Glasser.
Quinn and Janego were among the first in the film industry to explore the potential of emerging digital platforms and were in the vanguard of developing new strategies for alternative distribution during their tenures at Magnolia Pictures, where they were Senior Vice President and Head of Legal & Business Affairs, respectively. In 2005, Magnolia became one of the first distributors to implement the day/date releasing, premiering Steven Soderbergh’s Bubble and Alex Gibney’s Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room...
Quinn and Janego were among the first in the film industry to explore the potential of emerging digital platforms and were in the vanguard of developing new strategies for alternative distribution during their tenures at Magnolia Pictures, where they were Senior Vice President and Head of Legal & Business Affairs, respectively. In 2005, Magnolia became one of the first distributors to implement the day/date releasing, premiering Steven Soderbergh’s Bubble and Alex Gibney’s Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room...
- 9/6/2011
- by Anastasia Alvarado
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Weinstein Company officially announced their plans to launch a VOD label. Deadline reports that TWC have hired Tom Quinn and Jason Janego to run it. This makes sense to me as VOD continues to grow as a way to make money for studios on films that are not a good choice for a wide theatrical release.
Here is the official press release:
New York (September 6, 2011) – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that Tom Quinn and Jason Janego have joined forces with TWC Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein to create a new TWC label to bring new films and other specialty entertainment to audiences simultaneously across multiple digital and traditional platforms. Quinn and Janego will serve as Co-Presidents of the yet-to-be named label, which will be based in New York. The announcement was made by TWC COO David Glasser.
Quinn and Janego were among the first in the film industry...
Here is the official press release:
New York (September 6, 2011) – The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that Tom Quinn and Jason Janego have joined forces with TWC Co-Chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein to create a new TWC label to bring new films and other specialty entertainment to audiences simultaneously across multiple digital and traditional platforms. Quinn and Janego will serve as Co-Presidents of the yet-to-be named label, which will be based in New York. The announcement was made by TWC COO David Glasser.
Quinn and Janego were among the first in the film industry...
- 9/6/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
(Our Berlin Film Festival review re-posted as The Guard is playing in UK Cinemas now)
Who else saw the poster for the excellent In Bruges in 2008 and, in ignorance, thought it looked like a turkey? I’ll admit that film passed me by until just about everyone I know told me to watch it. Still sceptical, it wasn’t until the Academy Award nomination, coupled with the film’s position on some critics’ end of year polls, that I sought it out. I’m glad I did, because In Bruges turned out to be one of the funniest films in recent memory, with a quality of dialogue and use of language to rival the Coen Brothers.
Martin McDonagh, the Irish playwright responsible for the film (and who won an Academy Award in 2006 for his equally brilliant short Six Shooter), is yet to make second feature. But...
(Our Berlin Film Festival review re-posted as The Guard is playing in UK Cinemas now)
Who else saw the poster for the excellent In Bruges in 2008 and, in ignorance, thought it looked like a turkey? I’ll admit that film passed me by until just about everyone I know told me to watch it. Still sceptical, it wasn’t until the Academy Award nomination, coupled with the film’s position on some critics’ end of year polls, that I sought it out. I’m glad I did, because In Bruges turned out to be one of the funniest films in recent memory, with a quality of dialogue and use of language to rival the Coen Brothers.
Martin McDonagh, the Irish playwright responsible for the film (and who won an Academy Award in 2006 for his equally brilliant short Six Shooter), is yet to make second feature. But...
- 8/21/2011
- by Robert Beames
- Obsessed with Film
It’s a comedy, gangster picture, moody drama, and a masterpiece of filmmaking. Paul looks back at Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges...
Ken: You know, I'm not sure it's really his thing.
Harry: What do you mean it's not really his thing? What's that supposed to mean? It's not really his thing. What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Ken: Nothing, Harry.
Harry: It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's fucking thing?
One of the most noticeable sea changes in movies over the years has been the ever-narrowing time span between a cult film’s initially underwhelming reception and the eventual reappraisal it receives from a dedicated fan following.
An increased emphasis on the box office numbers provided on an opening weekend means that it takes less than a week for a film to be adjudged as a success or a failure. This, coupled...
Ken: You know, I'm not sure it's really his thing.
Harry: What do you mean it's not really his thing? What's that supposed to mean? It's not really his thing. What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Ken: Nothing, Harry.
Harry: It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's fucking thing?
One of the most noticeable sea changes in movies over the years has been the ever-narrowing time span between a cult film’s initially underwhelming reception and the eventual reappraisal it receives from a dedicated fan following.
An increased emphasis on the box office numbers provided on an opening weekend means that it takes less than a week for a film to be adjudged as a success or a failure. This, coupled...
- 8/15/2011
- Den of Geek
There's a long cinematic tradition of buddy cop movies and an even longer convention of fish-out-of-water comedies. But something is very fresh and unique about the black comedy "The Guard," in which Don Cheadle plays strait-laced American FBI Agent Wendell Everett, who follows a case to Galway, Ireland, and finds himself working with bigoted local cop Sgt. Gerry Boyle, played by Brendan Gleeson. Boyle doesn't mince words: He tells Everett flat-out that he has no interest in seeing photos of Everett's children and enjoys provoking him with inappropriate remarks. The barbed dialogue comes courtesy of the film's writer-director, John Michael McDonagh, who happens to be the elder brother of playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh, who directed Gleeson in the short film "Six Shooter" and the action comedy "In Bruges" and serves as a producer on "The Guard."Though the two actors are hilariously combative onscreen, in real life they share an.
- 7/13/2011
- by help@backstage.com (Jenelle Riley)
- backstage.com
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone! Instead of putting together a post about the “Greatest Irish Movies” or something like “The 10 Best Movies about Green Things,” I think it’d be more rewarding to take a closer look at my favorite Irish filmmaker. Martin McDonagh, primarily a playwright, has only made two films to date, the Oscar-winning short “Six Shooter” and 2008’s Oscar-nominated feature “In Bruges” but they’re both fantastic. His mastery of the dark comedy is unequaled in contemporary cinema, and watching his work is a hilarious and disturbing experience. “Six Shooter” is how I discovered him, thanks to the…...
- 3/17/2011
- Spout
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Who else saw the poster for the excellent In Bruges in 2008 and, in ignorance, thought it looked like a turkey? I’ll admit that film passed me by until just about everyone I know told me to watch it. Still sceptical, it wasn’t until the Academy Award nomination, coupled with the film’s position on some critics’ end of year polls, that I sought it out. I’m glad I did, because In Bruges turned out to be one of the funniest films in recent memory, with a quality of dialogue and use of language to rival the Coen Brothers.
Martin McDonagh, the Irish playwright responsible for the film (and who won an Academy Award in 2006 for his equally brilliant short Six Shooter), is yet to make second feature. But you may be pleased to learn that his brother John Michael McDonagh has written and...
Who else saw the poster for the excellent In Bruges in 2008 and, in ignorance, thought it looked like a turkey? I’ll admit that film passed me by until just about everyone I know told me to watch it. Still sceptical, it wasn’t until the Academy Award nomination, coupled with the film’s position on some critics’ end of year polls, that I sought it out. I’m glad I did, because In Bruges turned out to be one of the funniest films in recent memory, with a quality of dialogue and use of language to rival the Coen Brothers.
Martin McDonagh, the Irish playwright responsible for the film (and who won an Academy Award in 2006 for his equally brilliant short Six Shooter), is yet to make second feature. But you may be pleased to learn that his brother John Michael McDonagh has written and...
- 2/19/2011
- by Robert Beames
- Obsessed with Film
Britain's Andrea Riseborough and Ireland's Domhnall Gleeson, who starred together in Never Let Me Go, are amongst the 10 European newcomers to be honoured with a Shooting Star award at the Berlin Film Festival next year.
A former member of the National Youth Theatre, Newcastle-born Andrea graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (Rada) in 2005. She won the 2006 Ian Charleson Award, which recognises exceptional classical stage work from actors under 30, for her performances in "Miss Julie" and "Measure For Measure".
In 2009, Andrea was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for her portrayal of the young Margaret Thatcher in the TV drama "The Long Walk To Finchley". That year also saw her being hailed by The Sunday Times Magazine as one of Britain's finest Rising Stars.
29 year old Andrea (represented by Independent Talent Group) was recognised by the Shooting Stars Jury for her upcoming film Brighton Rock, and her roles in Madonna's directorial debut film,...
A former member of the National Youth Theatre, Newcastle-born Andrea graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (Rada) in 2005. She won the 2006 Ian Charleson Award, which recognises exceptional classical stage work from actors under 30, for her performances in "Miss Julie" and "Measure For Measure".
In 2009, Andrea was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for her portrayal of the young Margaret Thatcher in the TV drama "The Long Walk To Finchley". That year also saw her being hailed by The Sunday Times Magazine as one of Britain's finest Rising Stars.
29 year old Andrea (represented by Independent Talent Group) was recognised by the Shooting Stars Jury for her upcoming film Brighton Rock, and her roles in Madonna's directorial debut film,...
- 12/16/2010
- by noreply@blogger.com (ScreenTerrier)
- ScreenTerrier
With half-a-dozen films in the pipeline, it's just a shame this actor didn't make it onto the Guardian's top 10 of new British talent
Who is he?
A 27-year-old Irish actor with half-a-dozen potentially starmaking films in the pipeline. First up is the new Harry Potter, in which he plays a Weasley. Then Never Let Me Go, with Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan and others on the Guardian's recent top 10 of hot British film talent.
Why wasn't Gleeson on the list?
There is a clue in "27-year-old Irish actor". He is also in the Coen brothers' tasty-looking western remake True Grit.
What has he done before?
Theatre, some Irish TV and a few film roles. He was in the Broadway run of Martin McDonagh's play Lieutenant of Inishmore and his first film was McDonagh's short Six Shooter.
He shares a surname with a notable Irish actor. Coincidence?
Nope.
Who is he?
A 27-year-old Irish actor with half-a-dozen potentially starmaking films in the pipeline. First up is the new Harry Potter, in which he plays a Weasley. Then Never Let Me Go, with Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield and Carey Mulligan and others on the Guardian's recent top 10 of hot British film talent.
Why wasn't Gleeson on the list?
There is a clue in "27-year-old Irish actor". He is also in the Coen brothers' tasty-looking western remake True Grit.
What has he done before?
Theatre, some Irish TV and a few film roles. He was in the Broadway run of Martin McDonagh's play Lieutenant of Inishmore and his first film was McDonagh's short Six Shooter.
He shares a surname with a notable Irish actor. Coincidence?
Nope.
- 10/21/2010
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
By Christopher Stipp
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
Centurion Blu-Ray Six Shooter Giveaway!
What I love about modern film distribution is that first-run films are sometimes available to see in your house before you’re able to see them in the theater. Such is the case with Neil Marshall and Michael Fassbender’s newest film, Centurion, which is currently available on VOD, Xbox, Vudu and Amazon.com. Now, Centurion also opens in theaters August 27, 2010 if you care to see it with a bunch of other like minded individuals but I am thrilled to see that the models of getting movies to people how they want, when they want, are evolving.
In honor of Centurion’s recent premiere on VOD, Xbox, Playstation, Vudu and Amazon, I want to offer one of...
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
Centurion Blu-Ray Six Shooter Giveaway!
What I love about modern film distribution is that first-run films are sometimes available to see in your house before you’re able to see them in the theater. Such is the case with Neil Marshall and Michael Fassbender’s newest film, Centurion, which is currently available on VOD, Xbox, Vudu and Amazon.com. Now, Centurion also opens in theaters August 27, 2010 if you care to see it with a bunch of other like minded individuals but I am thrilled to see that the models of getting movies to people how they want, when they want, are evolving.
In honor of Centurion’s recent premiere on VOD, Xbox, Playstation, Vudu and Amazon, I want to offer one of...
- 8/13/2010
- by Christopher Stipp
In honor of Centurion.s recent premiere on VOD, Xbox, Playstation, Vudu and Amazon, M&C is giving away a Six Shooter Blu-Ray prize pack which features some of this year.s best international action releases Ong-Bak 2, Red Cliff, and Bronson! Synopsis: Centurion Ad 117. The Roman Empire stretches from Egypt to Spain, and East as far as the Black Sea. But in northern Britain, the relentless onslaught of conquest has ground to a halt in face of the guerrilla tactics of an elusive enemy: the savage and terrifying tribes known as the Picts. Quintus, sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, marches north with General Virilus. legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the...
- 8/11/2010
- by Patrick Luce
- Monsters and Critics
This is a pretty sweet contest that demands very little effort on the part of our readers. In honor of Centurion’s recent premiere on VOD, Xbox, Playstation, Vudu and Amazon, Magnet Releasing and Ioncinema.com would like to offer the top bidder a Six Shooter Blu-Ray prize pack which includes: Ong-bak 2, Red Cliff And Bronson! Centurion has hit the film festival circuit (including a stop at the Fantasia Int. Film Festival) and before hitting theaters on August 27, 2010, you can watch it on VOD. For more info on Neil Marshall's Centurion – visit the facebook page. For more info on the contest: you can visit our contest page – where you can either create a new account or bid tokens from your already existing account.
- 8/10/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
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