With the highly-anticipated horror Death House being released in cinemas on March 2nd, I got a chance to ask director Harrison Smith about how he became involved in the film, working with such an ensemble cast of horror icons, his filmmaking influences and what Really frightens him… In Part One of a two-part, extra juicy, extra-long chat! Check it out:
How did you first get involved with Death House?
It was brought to me by Rick Finkelstein and Steven Chase at Entertainment Factory, they had been working with Michael Eisenstadt, who was Gunnar Hansen’s agent, they came to a screening of Zombie Killers at UCLA and afterwards they said “Oh we have this movie we’d like to pitch to you to see if you might want to direct and possibly write it” and I said “Yeah sure, I like to work. It’s a good thing to eat and get bills paid…...
How did you first get involved with Death House?
It was brought to me by Rick Finkelstein and Steven Chase at Entertainment Factory, they had been working with Michael Eisenstadt, who was Gunnar Hansen’s agent, they came to a screening of Zombie Killers at UCLA and afterwards they said “Oh we have this movie we’d like to pitch to you to see if you might want to direct and possibly write it” and I said “Yeah sure, I like to work. It’s a good thing to eat and get bills paid…...
- 3/2/2018
- by Philip Rogers
- Nerdly
With the highly-anticipated horror Death House being released in cinemas on 23rd February 2018, I got a chance to speak with actor Yan Birch about the legacy of People Under the Stairs (1991), his character in Death House and hanging out with friends on the set.
How did you first get into acting?
My father was in the business in Sweden. Mostly Cabarets and Comedy shows. He was also a musician, so I grew up in a very creative arts environment. I started with music and then moved on to hosting a TV-Show in my teens. Then it continued from there.
You have had various roles over your career, but you are best known for your performance the Stairmaster from People Under the Stairs (1991). Did you think that the character would still be so popular over 25 years later?
I had no idea that anything like this would happen… I did know anything...
How did you first get into acting?
My father was in the business in Sweden. Mostly Cabarets and Comedy shows. He was also a musician, so I grew up in a very creative arts environment. I started with music and then moved on to hosting a TV-Show in my teens. Then it continued from there.
You have had various roles over your career, but you are best known for your performance the Stairmaster from People Under the Stairs (1991). Did you think that the character would still be so popular over 25 years later?
I had no idea that anything like this would happen… I did know anything...
- 2/16/2018
- by Philip Rogers
- Nerdly
With the anticipated horror Death House being released in cinemas on February 23rd 2018, I got a chance to speak with actress Genoveva Rossi about her experience working on the movie, her short film Attack of the Chickens and bringing her experience as a psychic and tarot card reader to the screen.
How did you first get into acting?
I was always interested in acting since childhood. My first play was nursey school and I was always playing dress up with friends. Then I did some plays in high school then short films in college. Then my first horror films began the end of 2011; Jack ‘O’ Slasher and I Spill Yours Guts.
You have had a quite an impact on the horror scene in a relatively short time. Are, you surprise at how quickly you have gained recognition within the horror community?
I feel more blessed than surprised. I do believe...
How did you first get into acting?
I was always interested in acting since childhood. My first play was nursey school and I was always playing dress up with friends. Then I did some plays in high school then short films in college. Then my first horror films began the end of 2011; Jack ‘O’ Slasher and I Spill Yours Guts.
You have had a quite an impact on the horror scene in a relatively short time. Are, you surprise at how quickly you have gained recognition within the horror community?
I feel more blessed than surprised. I do believe...
- 2/12/2018
- by Philip Rogers
- Nerdly
NBC Universal has engineered a major film-package sale to News Corp.'s FX Network that comprises most of the titles on Universal's 2008 slate.
The deal, for the network television window rights, includes about 15 titles from Universal and specialty labels Rogue Pictures and Focus Features, most of which have yet to be released. Among the titles are the Judd Apatow-produced Forgetting Sarah Marshall, George Clooney's Leatherheads and the Angelina Jolie starrer Wanted.
The agreement, estimated to be worth more than $100 million, marks NBC Uni's first slate deal with a basic cable network; it has an output deal with pay channel HBO.
"This deal is a tremendous vote of confidence in Universal Pictures," vice chairman Rick Finkelstein said. "It has been a long time since we have seen a presale of this magnitude."
Also part of the agreement are upcoming films The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, with Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello; Hellboy II: The Golden Army, starring Ron Perlman and Selma Blair; Death Race, featuring Jason Statham and Joan Allen; Dennis Quaid starrer The Express; Clint Eastwood's Changeling; Baby Mama, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; and The Strangers, with Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. The pact also includes the recently released films Definitely, Maybe and Doomsday.
The rights to each title will kick in about 28-30 months after its theatrical release, following the pay window, with the first coming available in summer 2010.
The deal, for the network television window rights, includes about 15 titles from Universal and specialty labels Rogue Pictures and Focus Features, most of which have yet to be released. Among the titles are the Judd Apatow-produced Forgetting Sarah Marshall, George Clooney's Leatherheads and the Angelina Jolie starrer Wanted.
The agreement, estimated to be worth more than $100 million, marks NBC Uni's first slate deal with a basic cable network; it has an output deal with pay channel HBO.
"This deal is a tremendous vote of confidence in Universal Pictures," vice chairman Rick Finkelstein said. "It has been a long time since we have seen a presale of this magnitude."
Also part of the agreement are upcoming films The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, with Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello; Hellboy II: The Golden Army, starring Ron Perlman and Selma Blair; Death Race, featuring Jason Statham and Joan Allen; Dennis Quaid starrer The Express; Clint Eastwood's Changeling; Baby Mama, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; and The Strangers, with Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. The pact also includes the recently released films Definitely, Maybe and Doomsday.
The rights to each title will kick in about 28-30 months after its theatrical release, following the pay window, with the first coming available in summer 2010.
- 3/26/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NBC Universal is realigning its digital operations abroad to reflect a greater priority on digital strategy and to position the company for further growth in the burgeoning area.
The latest example of the company's exploits in this arena: The second season of "Heroes" is being made available on the Web to TF1 viewers in France within 24 hours of U.S. broadcast via a VOD streaming or download-to-rent format, all with French subtitles. The Gallic broadcaster and NBC Uni will share in the revenue from the effort.
The revamp was unveiled Tuesday by Universal vice chairman Rick Finkelstein and NBC Universal International president Peter Smith and is part of NBC Uni's ongoing mandate to drive growth across its international businesses.
The reorganization will be structured in two parallel strands: new-media licensing and digital assets.
New-media licensing will be led by Beth Minehart, based in Los Angeles, who has been promoted to executive vp international new media in the NBC Universal International Television Distribution unit.
The latest example of the company's exploits in this arena: The second season of "Heroes" is being made available on the Web to TF1 viewers in France within 24 hours of U.S. broadcast via a VOD streaming or download-to-rent format, all with French subtitles. The Gallic broadcaster and NBC Uni will share in the revenue from the effort.
The revamp was unveiled Tuesday by Universal vice chairman Rick Finkelstein and NBC Universal International president Peter Smith and is part of NBC Uni's ongoing mandate to drive growth across its international businesses.
The reorganization will be structured in two parallel strands: new-media licensing and digital assets.
New-media licensing will be led by Beth Minehart, based in Los Angeles, who has been promoted to executive vp international new media in the NBC Universal International Television Distribution unit.
- 9/26/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Universal Studios Home Entertainment president Craig Kornblau has been given expanded duties and will now be in charge of global digital activities as well as home entertainment.
In a related development, Universal executive vp Michael Joe, who had been overseeing digital activities, has been given operational oversight of the studio's international-based local-language film production activities as well as worldwide acquisitions. He will also also oversee joint initiatives with Focus Features and Rogue Pictures for the studio.
Kornblau, who assumed the presidency of Universal's home entertainment division in March 1999, becomes one of two top executives with both packaged media and digital under their domain. The other is Warner Bros. Entertainment Group president Kevin Tsujihara.
Kornblau adds president of Universal Pictures Digital Platforms to his title. He will oversee worldwide electronic sell-through and HD DVD, domestic VOD, the advanced technology group and the digital entertainment group, which is responsible for wireless, mobile and interactive gaming platforms.
Kornblau, who as president of Universal's home entertainment division oversees domestic home video, worldwide consumer products and direct-to-video productions, will continue to report to Universal Pictures vice chairman Rick Finkelstein and co-chairman David Linde.
In a related development, Universal executive vp Michael Joe, who had been overseeing digital activities, has been given operational oversight of the studio's international-based local-language film production activities as well as worldwide acquisitions. He will also also oversee joint initiatives with Focus Features and Rogue Pictures for the studio.
Kornblau, who assumed the presidency of Universal's home entertainment division in March 1999, becomes one of two top executives with both packaged media and digital under their domain. The other is Warner Bros. Entertainment Group president Kevin Tsujihara.
Kornblau adds president of Universal Pictures Digital Platforms to his title. He will oversee worldwide electronic sell-through and HD DVD, domestic VOD, the advanced technology group and the digital entertainment group, which is responsible for wireless, mobile and interactive gaming platforms.
Kornblau, who as president of Universal's home entertainment division oversees domestic home video, worldwide consumer products and direct-to-video productions, will continue to report to Universal Pictures vice chairman Rick Finkelstein and co-chairman David Linde.
Universal Pictures has signed an extension to its output deal with HBO, the companies said Wednesday.
Details of the pact were not disclosed, but it will keep the studio's films on the premium cable service's flagship, multiplex and on-demand channels through about 2015. The deal also covers Universal specialty labels Focus Features and Rogue Pictures. The extension builds on an existing deal that kept Universal product on HBO from 2003-11.
Typically worth hundreds of millions of dollars, output deals are a key component of how studios finance films. However, the value of the 18-month pay TV window has been diminished in recent years with the growth of DVD and VOD.
"This agreement is a very important piece of the financial structure of our films, and we are extremely happy to announce its completion," Universal Pictures vice chairman Rick Finkelstein said.
Universal is just one of the key deals HBO has in place with the major studios, including 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.
Details of the pact were not disclosed, but it will keep the studio's films on the premium cable service's flagship, multiplex and on-demand channels through about 2015. The deal also covers Universal specialty labels Focus Features and Rogue Pictures. The extension builds on an existing deal that kept Universal product on HBO from 2003-11.
Typically worth hundreds of millions of dollars, output deals are a key component of how studios finance films. However, the value of the 18-month pay TV window has been diminished in recent years with the growth of DVD and VOD.
"This agreement is a very important piece of the financial structure of our films, and we are extremely happy to announce its completion," Universal Pictures vice chairman Rick Finkelstein said.
Universal is just one of the key deals HBO has in place with the major studios, including 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.
- 4/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Universal Pictures said Monday that it has upped Eddie Cunningham to president of Universal Pictures International Entertainment, its overseas home entertainment arm, effective Jan. 1.
London-based Cunningham, who will report to Universal Pictures vice chairman Rick Finkelstein and co-chairman David Linde, replaces Peter Smith, who recently was appointed president of NBC Universal International.
Cunningham most recently was chairman of Universal Pictures U.K. and regional managing director of the U.K., Ireland, the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland) and Australia/New Zealand.
UPIE has directly owned operations in 23 territories and licenses product to more than 30 countries. Cunningham said he is tasked with finding new sources of growth for the home entertainment business and pointed toward downloading as a potentially major revenue stream.
"(General Electric) generally looks for double-digit growth from its businesses over the longer period, and it is going to be my responsibility to find as much growth as I can in what is generally a flat market," he said.
London-based Cunningham, who will report to Universal Pictures vice chairman Rick Finkelstein and co-chairman David Linde, replaces Peter Smith, who recently was appointed president of NBC Universal International.
Cunningham most recently was chairman of Universal Pictures U.K. and regional managing director of the U.K., Ireland, the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland) and Australia/New Zealand.
UPIE has directly owned operations in 23 territories and licenses product to more than 30 countries. Cunningham said he is tasked with finding new sources of growth for the home entertainment business and pointed toward downloading as a potentially major revenue stream.
"(General Electric) generally looks for double-digit growth from its businesses over the longer period, and it is going to be my responsibility to find as much growth as I can in what is generally a flat market," he said.
- 11/20/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Frederick Huntsberry is joining Universal Pictures as its interim president and chief operating officer, reporting to Universal Pictures chairman Stacey Snider. Huntsberry, executive vp NBC Universal Television Distribution and chief financial officer of NBC Universal Television Group, is stepping in for Rick Finkelstein, the current president and chief operating officer, who is taking an indefinite leave of absence because of a recent skiing accident. "Our thoughts and support are with Rick and his family, and we wish him a speedy recovery," Snider said in a statement. "We look forward to Rick's return, but in the meantime we are fortunate to be able to tap Frederick's institutional knowledge and skills to help keep our business moving ahead. We also appreciate our colleagues in the NBC Universal Television Group for stepping up to support us by assuming some of Frederick's responsibilities." Huntsberry will continue to oversee NBC Universal's distribution division, reporting jointly to Snider and NBC Universal Television Group president Jeff Zucker.
- 1/19/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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