Damn Handy epitomizes the notion that it takes a village to make a film.
The Craft and Flatliners screenwriter Peter Filardi is turning Guilford, the coastal Connecticut town he now calls home, into a microcosm of Hollywood. Upon meeting Roger Clark, best known for portraying Arthur Morgan in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2, at a local dog park during the pandemic, the two knew they had to work together.
The first person they went to was Alec Asten of Connecticut-based production company Firesite Films. Following a successful collaboration on the 2021 short Hazardous — with Filardi writing and directing, Clark acting and producing, and Firesite producing and recruiting crew — the team was eager to reunite.
They’re back with Damn Handy, a horror-comedy short in which a routine plumbing call spirals into a nightmare. Clark stars as the unassuming plumber who reveals “some tricks up his sleeve,” as the actor puts it,...
The Craft and Flatliners screenwriter Peter Filardi is turning Guilford, the coastal Connecticut town he now calls home, into a microcosm of Hollywood. Upon meeting Roger Clark, best known for portraying Arthur Morgan in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2, at a local dog park during the pandemic, the two knew they had to work together.
The first person they went to was Alec Asten of Connecticut-based production company Firesite Films. Following a successful collaboration on the 2021 short Hazardous — with Filardi writing and directing, Clark acting and producing, and Firesite producing and recruiting crew — the team was eager to reunite.
They’re back with Damn Handy, a horror-comedy short in which a routine plumbing call spirals into a nightmare. Clark stars as the unassuming plumber who reveals “some tricks up his sleeve,” as the actor puts it,...
- 11/8/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
"You cannot hesitate." Focus Features has released one final trailer for Cory Finley's devilishly dark comedy Thoroughbreds, opening in select theaters starting March 9th in just a few weeks. Two of the best young actresses today, Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke, play upper-class teen girls in suburban Connecticut who rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. When they get together again, they make plans to take out their stepfather - which they both hate. One of the big quotes on the poster describes this as "American Psycho meets Heathers," which should make you very interested, or not. The full cast includes Paul Sparks, Francie Swift, and Kaili Vernoff. This does look damn good, and it did play at a bunch of festivals, so it may be worth checking out whenever it shows up at an art house theater near you. Watch out. Here's the final official trailer (+ poster) for Cory Finley's Thoroughbreds,...
- 2/27/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Thoroughbreds Final Trailer Cory Finley‘s Thoroughbreds (2017) final movie trailer stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Olivia Cooke, Anton Yelchin, Kaili Vernoff, and Paul Sparks. Thoroughbreds‘ plot synopsis: “Childhood friends Lily and Amanda reconnect in suburban Connecticut after years of growing apart. Lily has turned into a polished, upper-class teenager, with a fancy boarding school on her transcript [...]
Continue reading: Thoroughbreds (2017) Final Movie Trailer: Anya Taylor-Joy Plots to Kill Her Father...
Continue reading: Thoroughbreds (2017) Final Movie Trailer: Anya Taylor-Joy Plots to Kill Her Father...
- 2/27/2018
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"You ever think about just killing him?" Focus Features has debuted the full-length official trailer for the indie dark comedy thriller Thoroughbreds, which first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The film is one of Anton Yelchin's other final films, but really stars two young actresses as the leading ladies: Anya Taylor-Joy & Olivia Cooke. These two ladies seem so badass in this. They play two upper-class teen girls in suburban Connecticut who rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. When they get together again, they make plans to take out their stepfather - which they both hate. The full cast includes Paul Sparks, Francie Swift, and Kaili Vernoff. This actually looks like some very dark, devious fun, all about how they try to get rid of their stepfather. Definitely worth a look, have fun here. Here's the full official trailer (+ poster) for Cory Finley's Thoroughbreds,...
- 11/30/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced the films that will be featured in their New Auteurs and American Independents sections at the upcoming AFI Fest 2017 presented by Audi. Selections include a number of lauded features from around the festival circuit, including Cannes offerings like “I Am Not a Witch,” SXSW favorites like “Gemini” and “Mr. Roosevelt,” the Sundance breakout “Thoroughbreds,” and Joseph Kahn’s Toronto Midnight Madness favorite “Bodied,” among others.
Highlighting first- and second-time feature film directors, New Auteurs is designed as the festival’s platform for upcoming filmmakers from all over the world to showcase their new films. This year, the section includes 11 films, nine of which come from female directors. Similarly, AFI Fest’s American Independents section aims to represent the best of this year’s independent filmmaking. Pushing boundaries of form and content across narrative and documentary cinema, this section includes 11 films from both fresh...
Highlighting first- and second-time feature film directors, New Auteurs is designed as the festival’s platform for upcoming filmmakers from all over the world to showcase their new films. This year, the section includes 11 films, nine of which come from female directors. Similarly, AFI Fest’s American Independents section aims to represent the best of this year’s independent filmmaking. Pushing boundaries of form and content across narrative and documentary cinema, this section includes 11 films from both fresh...
- 10/16/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
"How did you find me?" Focus Features has launched the teaser trailer for an indie dark comedy thriller called Thoroughbreds, which first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The film is one of Anton Yelchin's other final films, but really stars two young actresses as the leading ladies: Anya Taylor-Joy & Olivia Cooke. They play two upper-class teen girls in suburban Connecticut who rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. When they get together again, they make plans to take out their stepfather - which they both hate. The full cast includes Paul Sparks, Francie Swift, and Kaili Vernoff. I'm curious about this, but it didn't exactly get the best buzz out of Sundance. Check it out below. Here's the first teaser trailer (+ posters) for Cory Finley's Thoroughbreds, direct from YouTube: Childhood friends Lily and Amanda reconnect in suburban Connecticut after years of growing apart.
- 10/11/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
by Peter Belsito
“Thoroughbred” is a two character piece set in an imposing residence where the young women, teenagers, come together for tutoring but it quickly develops beyond that into new — and dangerous — territory.Director Cory Finley with stars Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy
Emotionally challenged Amanda and contemptuous Lily reboot their childhood friendship after years of instability and judgment, thrown back together by standardized-test tutoring.
When Lily’s icy stepdad, Mark, conspires to ship her off to reform school instead of her dream college, Amanda’s nonchalant quips about killing him suddenly seem enticing. Even as Amanda’s sinister tendencies surface and the girls hatch a plan, the mutual manipulation that has always defined their relationship threatens to derail their ambitions.
They have a history which enables them to confide and challenge and manipulate one another.
Part of the attraction of this film is the unstable emotional ground each inhabits...
“Thoroughbred” is a two character piece set in an imposing residence where the young women, teenagers, come together for tutoring but it quickly develops beyond that into new — and dangerous — territory.Director Cory Finley with stars Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy
Emotionally challenged Amanda and contemptuous Lily reboot their childhood friendship after years of instability and judgment, thrown back together by standardized-test tutoring.
When Lily’s icy stepdad, Mark, conspires to ship her off to reform school instead of her dream college, Amanda’s nonchalant quips about killing him suddenly seem enticing. Even as Amanda’s sinister tendencies surface and the girls hatch a plan, the mutual manipulation that has always defined their relationship threatens to derail their ambitions.
They have a history which enables them to confide and challenge and manipulate one another.
Part of the attraction of this film is the unstable emotional ground each inhabits...
- 1/27/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Focus Features is closing in on acquiring the Olivia Cooke indie “Thoroughbred” after some competitive bidding at the Sundance Film Festival, TheWrap has learned. The deal is reportedly in the $5 million range for world rights after the film made its premiere on Saturday at the Library Center Theatre and drew interest from buyers that included The Orchard and Netflix. “Thoroughbred” is written and directed by Cory Finley and stars Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Paul Sparks, Francie Swift, Kaili Vernoff, and features the final onscreen appearance of Anton Yelchin, who died in a tragic accident last year at age 27. Also Read:.
- 1/23/2017
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
It was a horse race, and Focus Features is finishing by a nose to take worldwide rights to Cory Finley's thriller Thoroughbred. A source pegged the deal at $5 million.
The film made its world premiere Saturday at Sundance at the Library Center Theatre in Park City, Utah, and drew immediate interest from a host of buyers including The Orchard and Netflix.
Written and directed by Finley, the film stars Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, the late Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks, Francie Swift and Kaili Vernoff.
The story revolves around two teenage girls (Cooke and Taylor-Joy) in suburban Connecticut who...
The film made its world premiere Saturday at Sundance at the Library Center Theatre in Park City, Utah, and drew immediate interest from a host of buyers including The Orchard and Netflix.
Written and directed by Finley, the film stars Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, the late Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks, Francie Swift and Kaili Vernoff.
The story revolves around two teenage girls (Cooke and Taylor-Joy) in suburban Connecticut who...
- 1/22/2017
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Welcome to the second installment of VOD Vault, where we take a look at another bunch of direct-to-market releases, many of which hit iTunes and the supermarket shelves without fanfare, walking you – our readers – down the fine line between spending your money wisely, or throwing it away on another slice of Dtv dross. Up this week are Ratter, and Hazard Jack …
Ratter
Stars: Ashley Benson, Matt McGorry, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Alex Cranmer, Michael William Freeman, Kaili Vernoff | Directed by Branden Kramer
Starring Ashley Benson and Matt McGorry, Ratter is the latest in an ever-increasing list of techno-horrors focusing on modern technology being used a tool for evil… The film tells the story of New York graduate Emma (Benson), who is excited about finally getting her own place in the city despite her parents expressing their worry about her living on her own. However when Emma starts receiving weird text messages from an unknown number,...
Ratter
Stars: Ashley Benson, Matt McGorry, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Alex Cranmer, Michael William Freeman, Kaili Vernoff | Directed by Branden Kramer
Starring Ashley Benson and Matt McGorry, Ratter is the latest in an ever-increasing list of techno-horrors focusing on modern technology being used a tool for evil… The film tells the story of New York graduate Emma (Benson), who is excited about finally getting her own place in the city despite her parents expressing their worry about her living on her own. However when Emma starts receiving weird text messages from an unknown number,...
- 3/26/2016
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Kaili Vernoff has been tapped for a recurring role opposite Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan in the Hulu original drama series The Way from Jason Katims' True Jack Prods. Created by Jessica Goldberg, The Way examines a couple, Eddie (Paul) and Sarah Cleary (Monaghan) at the center of a controversial movement struggling with relationships, marriage and power, with each episode taking an in-depth look at what it means to choose between the life we live and the life we want…...
- 9/4/2015
- Deadline TV
While the Sundance Film Festival is the better known film festival located in Utah that runs in January, it is not the only one, as the Slamdance Film Festival has been running in the same place during the same month for over 20 years. The unique aspect of the Slamdance Film Festival, however, is its Narrative Features and Documentary Features program, which restricts its selection to films that are directorial debuts, made for under $1 million, and don’t have Us distribution. The 2015 incarnation of the festival is set to run from January 23rd to the 29th, and ahead of the festival’s premiere next month, organisers have unveiled the lineup for the aforementioned categories. The lineup is as follows.
Narrative Features Program:
Across The Sea (Turkey/USA), making its North American Premiere
Written and Directed by Nisan Dağ and Esra Saydam
Starring Damla Sönmez, Jacob Fishel, Ahmet Rıfat Şungar, Hakan Karsak,...
Narrative Features Program:
Across The Sea (Turkey/USA), making its North American Premiere
Written and Directed by Nisan Dağ and Esra Saydam
Starring Damla Sönmez, Jacob Fishel, Ahmet Rıfat Şungar, Hakan Karsak,...
- 12/2/2014
- by Deepayan Sengupta
- SoundOnSight
Festival top brass announced the 19 films that will screen at the Slamdance Film Festival, set to run in Park City, Utah, from January 23-29.
The 11 narrative and eight documentary selections include 13 world premieres. All competition films are feature directorial debuts budgeted below $1m without Us distribution.
“It’s very exciting to bring this dynamic lineup to audiences in Park City,” said festival director Anna Germanidi. “We are proud to help launch these filmmakers’ careers and celebrate the success we all believe these films deserve.”
“Our success in showcasing emerging artists is most obviously linked with American talent, but increasingly at Slamdance, we want to also support new international talent,” said co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
All synopses below provided by Slamdance.
Narrative Features
Across The Sea (Turkey-usa)
Dirs Nisan Dağ, Esra Saydam
Young, beautiful and pregnant, Damla has to confront her first love in a Turkish summer town before she can fully embrace her new life in...
The 11 narrative and eight documentary selections include 13 world premieres. All competition films are feature directorial debuts budgeted below $1m without Us distribution.
“It’s very exciting to bring this dynamic lineup to audiences in Park City,” said festival director Anna Germanidi. “We are proud to help launch these filmmakers’ careers and celebrate the success we all believe these films deserve.”
“Our success in showcasing emerging artists is most obviously linked with American talent, but increasingly at Slamdance, we want to also support new international talent,” said co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
All synopses below provided by Slamdance.
Narrative Features
Across The Sea (Turkey-usa)
Dirs Nisan Dağ, Esra Saydam
Young, beautiful and pregnant, Damla has to confront her first love in a Turkish summer town before she can fully embrace her new life in...
- 12/1/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Sundance Film Festival dominates Park City in late January, but there is also the upstart Slamdance Film Festival. We’ve not really highlighted that fest or its program, but I always stay at Treasure Mountain Inn where Slamdance is headquartered and they’ve kind of grown on me. Last year they brought Christopher Nolan to speak (the fest had the good sense to program his first film) and Joe Mangianello came to vamp his male stripper docu. This year, there’s every chance of seeing Dennis Rodman, the flamboyant former rebounding machine and Bff of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, for the docu Dennis Rodman’s Big Bang In Pyongyang. So let’s all root for an international incident! Here are the films they’ll be playing from January 23-29:
Narrative Features Program
Across the Sea – Directors & Screenwriters: Nisan Dağ, Esra Saydam. (Turkey/USA) North American Premiere.
Narrative Features Program
Across the Sea – Directors & Screenwriters: Nisan Dağ, Esra Saydam. (Turkey/USA) North American Premiere.
- 12/1/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
Slamdance, running from January 23 through 29, has announced its lineups for the narrative and documentary competitions of the 21st edition. From reports Variety's Dave McNary: "Notable titles include Branden Kramer’s Ratter, starring Ashley Benson, Matt McGorry, Rebecca Naomi Jones, John Anderson and Kaili Vernoff in the story of a young woman watched by a stalker who has hacked into all of her personal technology; and Dennis Rodman’s Big Bang in Pyongyang, directed by Colin Offland in an intimate behind the scenes look at Dennis Rodman’s unlikely friendship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and the staging of the most controversial game of basketball the world has never seen."...
- 12/1/2014
- Keyframe
Slamdance, running from January 23 through 29, has announced its lineups for the narrative and documentary competitions of the 21st edition. From reports Variety's Dave McNary: "Notable titles include Branden Kramer’s Ratter, starring Ashley Benson, Matt McGorry, Rebecca Naomi Jones, John Anderson and Kaili Vernoff in the story of a young woman watched by a stalker who has hacked into all of her personal technology; and Dennis Rodman’s Big Bang in Pyongyang, directed by Colin Offland in an intimate behind the scenes look at Dennis Rodman’s unlikely friendship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and the staging of the most controversial game of basketball the world has never seen."...
- 12/1/2014
- Fandor: Keyframe
Show the results of your latest headshot session to two of your closest friends and you'll often get two diametrically opposed reactions. When it comes to headshots, everyone seems to have a strong opinion. But it's the opinion of the industry that counts. So Back Stage recently asked an agent, a manager, and three casting directors to comment on two photos from their files — headshots that "popped" and made these insiders want to learn more about the people behind the portraits. It's All in the Smile New York casting director Laura Verbeke was looking for an edgy young man for the HBO series The Flight of the Conchords and came upon Carl K. Li's headshot. It had the precise vibe she was seeking. "I think he's looking confident in the photo," she says, "but I also see a sense of quirkiness." Even his decision to wear a shade of red...
- 10/9/2008
- by Mark Dundas Wood
- backstage.com
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