A filmmaker we’ve been keeping tabs on since the late naughts when his Slamdance/SXSW preemed 2007’s Murder Party dropped, Jeremy Saulnier played a significant creative role with dp contributions to Baltimore originals in Matthew Porterfield’s Hamilton and Putty Hill and Michael Tully’s Septien (2011).
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- 11/15/2017
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
A.D. Calvo is known in the independent horror community for frightening features like The Midnight Game and House of Dust, but with The Missing Girl, premiering in Toronto’s Vanguard section, he dials down the jump scares in favor of a bittersweet character study that’s still not without a sense of mystery. Robert Longstreet, who has given indelible performances in films like This is Martin Bonner and Septien, plays a sad sack owner of a comic book store who becomes unhinged when his pretty young employee, played by Alexia Rasmussen, disappears. Below, Calvo discusses his change of direction, his interest in […]...
- 9/13/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
A.D. Calvo is known in the independent horror community for frightening features like The Midnight Game and House of Dust, but with The Missing Girl, premiering in Toronto’s Vanguard section, he dials down the jump scares in favor of a bittersweet character study that’s still not without a sense of mystery. Robert Longstreet, who has given indelible performances in films like This is Martin Bonner and Septien, plays a sad sack owner of a comic book store who becomes unhinged when his pretty young employee, played by Alexia Rasmussen, disappears. Below, Calvo discusses his change of direction, his interest in […]...
- 9/13/2015
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Read More: How Jeremy Saulnier Went From Corporate Videos to Premiering 'Blue Ruin' at Cannes When Jeremy Saulnier arrived at the Cannes Film Festival's Directors Fortnight in 2013 to premiere his tense revenge thriller "Blue Ruin," he was at the end of a long road. Having worked for years producing corporate videos while developing his career as a cinematographer on sleeper hits like "Putty Hill" and "Septien," Saulnier had completed just one feature as a director — 2007's Slamdance-winning "Murder Party" — and struggled for years to get another one off the ground. It was worth the wait: "Blue Ruin" scored a lucrative distribution deal with Radius-twc, struck a chord with genre fans around the world, and suddenly turned Saulnier into a in demand director. However, despite the many offers that came his way, Saulnier once again paved his own path. This month, he was back at Cannes with his follow-up,...
- 5/29/2015
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Jeremy Saulnier's second trip to the Quinzaine after "Blue Ruin" will be "Green Room," a crime thriller that reunites the director with star Macon Blair. The rest of the cast includes Patrick Stewart, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Mark Webber, Joe Cole, Eric Edelstein, Callum Turner and Kai Lennox. "Green Room" pits a young punk rock band against a gang of white power skinheads who've trapped them in a secluded venue after the rockers witness a horrific act of violence, and all witnesses must go. First a gifted cinematographer whose credits include "Septien" and "Putty Hill," Saulnier won the Fipresci prize in 2013 for "Blue Ruin," an inventive, backwater-noir revenge movie. RADiUS-twc snapped it up out of Cannes, delivering an indie sleeper on VOD and in theaters. All eyes will be on Saulnier this year as he unveils his third feature film after "Ruin" and 2007 horror-comedy "Murder...
- 4/21/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details and the trailer for Chemical Peel, premiere details for Refuge, Day for Night, and Perfidy, a new Summer of Blood trailer and much more:
Chemical Peel Release Details and Exclusive Comments from Actress Natalie Victoria: Actress Natalie Victoria stars in “Chemical Peel,” a Lionsgate Home Entertainment Release that will be available on October 14th. Here are some comments from Natalie on us why she enjoyed working on this movie:
“I think the best thing about this film is it’s a unique, fun, realistic concept that will scare people, you know? I love films that are set in a real and really raw reality that frighten you to the core. Chemical Peel is a real ‘what would You do?’ kind of film that gets you thinking,...
Chemical Peel Release Details and Exclusive Comments from Actress Natalie Victoria: Actress Natalie Victoria stars in “Chemical Peel,” a Lionsgate Home Entertainment Release that will be available on October 14th. Here are some comments from Natalie on us why she enjoyed working on this movie:
“I think the best thing about this film is it’s a unique, fun, realistic concept that will scare people, you know? I love films that are set in a real and really raw reality that frighten you to the core. Chemical Peel is a real ‘what would You do?’ kind of film that gets you thinking,...
- 10/12/2014
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
A new poster is here for writer/director Onur Tukel’s vampire comedy Summer of Blood, which will be having its premiere in theaters and on VOD on October 17th, and it’s home to some dubious praise. Check it out! Tukel (Septien,… Continue Reading →
The post New Summer of Blood Poster Home to a Total Dick appeared first on Dread Central.
The post New Summer of Blood Poster Home to a Total Dick appeared first on Dread Central.
- 10/2/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
With "Ping Pong Summer," director Michael Tully ("Cocaine Angel," "Septien") gives us a film about the childhood he remembers: summers in Ocean City, Maryland (where the film was shot), cheesy arcade games, pastels, Nike, and hip hop. Caught up in it all, Radford Miracle (Marcello Conte) searches for the confidence that promises adulthood. It’s the 1980s: These are harsh times in bland, touristy coast towns. With an exuberant eye for period details, Tully presents an ode to a time many recall fondly for its flare and schlock alike. Rad’s a ping pong disciple, but he’s no champion. He duels the garage wall and takes breaks for dance interludes. His dedication to these activities makes for an endearing joke, but soon, he’s packed up and dashed off to a vacation in Ocean City — liberated by the twenty dollars with that his mom (Lea Thompson) gifts to him.
- 6/3/2014
- by Kyle Burton
- Indiewire
Out here in Southern California it's been hovering around 90 degrees for the passed few days and that's really gotten summertime on our minds. Mpi is apparently feeling the warmth to as their latest acquisition will see them celebrating a Summer of Blood.
According to Deadline the hipster horror comedy Summer Of Blood, from writer-director Onur Tukel (Richard’s Wedding, Septien), has been acquired by Mpi Media Group after debuting at last month’s Tribeca Film Festival.
Tukel also stars in the indie as Erik Sparrow, a selfish, schlubby NYC hipster whose miserable life turns around when he meets a vampire in Brooklyn and becomes a blood-sucker himself.
Mpi’s Dark Sky Films will debut the pic, described as “Curb Your Enthusiasm meets True Blood,” in a Fall 2014 theatrical run and DVD/VOD release. Summer Of Blood also stars Anna Margaret Hollyman, Dakota Goldhor, Dustin Guy, Melodie Sisk, and Jason Selvig.
According to Deadline the hipster horror comedy Summer Of Blood, from writer-director Onur Tukel (Richard’s Wedding, Septien), has been acquired by Mpi Media Group after debuting at last month’s Tribeca Film Festival.
Tukel also stars in the indie as Erik Sparrow, a selfish, schlubby NYC hipster whose miserable life turns around when he meets a vampire in Brooklyn and becomes a blood-sucker himself.
Mpi’s Dark Sky Films will debut the pic, described as “Curb Your Enthusiasm meets True Blood,” in a Fall 2014 theatrical run and DVD/VOD release. Summer Of Blood also stars Anna Margaret Hollyman, Dakota Goldhor, Dustin Guy, Melodie Sisk, and Jason Selvig.
- 5/1/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
Exclusive: New Europe Film Sales signs the Tribeca Film Festival Viewpoints opening film - vampire comedy Summer of Blood by Onur Tukel.
Polish company New Europe Film Sales has picked up Onur Tukel’s vampire comedy Summer of Blood, the opening film of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival’s Viewpoints section.
The Us film tells the story of egocentric Eric Sparrow, who turns into a sex god after being bitten by a vampire.
The film stars actor-writer-director Tukel in the main role and includes cameos from New York indie film directors Alex Karpovsky and Jonathan Caouette.
Tukel previously acted in Michael Tully’s Septien and Alex Karpovsky’s Red Flag among others. His previous feature was 2012 ensemble comedy Richard’s Wedding.
Summer of Blood will receive its world premiere this month at Tribeca as the opening film of the Viewpoints section. New Europe will handle all rights outside North America, where Xyz is...
Polish company New Europe Film Sales has picked up Onur Tukel’s vampire comedy Summer of Blood, the opening film of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival’s Viewpoints section.
The Us film tells the story of egocentric Eric Sparrow, who turns into a sex god after being bitten by a vampire.
The film stars actor-writer-director Tukel in the main role and includes cameos from New York indie film directors Alex Karpovsky and Jonathan Caouette.
Tukel previously acted in Michael Tully’s Septien and Alex Karpovsky’s Red Flag among others. His previous feature was 2012 ensemble comedy Richard’s Wedding.
Summer of Blood will receive its world premiere this month at Tribeca as the opening film of the Viewpoints section. New Europe will handle all rights outside North America, where Xyz is...
- 4/3/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Ping Pong Summer
Director: Michael Tully
Writer(s): Michael Tully
Producers: George M. Rush, Ryan Zacarias, Brooke Bernard, Billy Peterson, Jeff Allard, Michael Gottwald
U.S. Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Cast: Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet, Marcello Conte
More 1980s than VH1′s own We Are the ’80s, all that is missing in Michel Tully’s latest (besides the look, sound and feel) is the eventual gloriously beat-up VHS box when this film hits home vid/Blu-ray. If Septien was like an uncomfortable hot dog eating contest, the down-right hilarious Ping Pong Summer is a buffet table delight: plenty of choice for the masses to gain a foothold in a coming-of-ager done right.
Gist: Set in 1985, Ping Pong Summer tells the story of 13-year-old Rad Miracle, a shy white kid who is obsessed with two things: ping pong and hip-hop culture. During his family’s...
Director: Michael Tully
Writer(s): Michael Tully
Producers: George M. Rush, Ryan Zacarias, Brooke Bernard, Billy Peterson, Jeff Allard, Michael Gottwald
U.S. Distributor: Gravitas Ventures
Cast: Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet, Marcello Conte
More 1980s than VH1′s own We Are the ’80s, all that is missing in Michel Tully’s latest (besides the look, sound and feel) is the eventual gloriously beat-up VHS box when this film hits home vid/Blu-ray. If Septien was like an uncomfortable hot dog eating contest, the down-right hilarious Ping Pong Summer is a buffet table delight: plenty of choice for the masses to gain a foothold in a coming-of-ager done right.
Gist: Set in 1985, Ping Pong Summer tells the story of 13-year-old Rad Miracle, a shy white kid who is obsessed with two things: ping pong and hip-hop culture. During his family’s...
- 2/6/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Following a warmly received Sundance premiere, writer/director Michael Tully's "Ping Pong Summer" has landed a distribution deal with Gravitas Ventures. Gravitas will take the film out theatrically and digitally early this summer, with a home video release later in 2014.Set in summer 1985 in Ocean City, Maryland, the film centers on 13-year-old Rad Miracle (newcomer Marcello Conte), who aspires to be a master breakdancer, ping pong player and all-around ladies man before the end of summer break. Writer/director and mumblecore pal Tully ("Septien") based the film on his own childhood experiences. It costars Amy Sedaris, Judah Friedlander, Lea Thompson and Susan Sarandon.THR calls "Ping Pong Summer" "a lingering, entertaining glance back at an era that Americans just can't seem to get enough of," while Paste says it hits its "target audience right in its sweet spot."...
- 2/3/2014
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
With “Ping Pong Summer,” director Michael Tully (“Cocaine Angel,” “Septien”) gives us a film about the childhood he remembers: summers in Ocean City, Maryland (where the film was shot), cheesy arcade games, pastels, Nike, and hip hop. Caught up in it all, Radford Miracle (Marcello Conte) searches for the confidence that promises adulthood. It’s the 1980s: These are harsh times in bland, touristy coast towns. With an exuberant eye for period details, Tully presents an ode to a time many recall fondly or its flare and schlock alike. Rad’s a ping pong disciple, but he’s no champion. He duels the garage wall and takes breaks for dance interludes. His dedication to these activities makes for an endearing joke, but soon, he’s packed up and dashed off to a vacation in Ocean City — liberated by the twenty dollars with that his mom (Lea Thompson) gifts to him.
- 1/25/2014
- by Kyle Burton
- Indiewire
Time to take a hilarious trip back to the 80's. Imagine time traveling back to Sundance 1985 and catching the premiere of a coming of age film set around ping pong in Ocean City, Maryland. That's what Ping Pong Summer is like, and they nail the cliches, cheesiness and stereotypes of the 80's, but in the right way. The kind of way that it makes you laugh and smile and feel nostalgic yet also feel kind of happy that we don't live in this time anymore. The story is simple but sweet, and heartfelt but entertaining, the perfect throwback to a time past without iPhones or the internet, but with pixie sticks, foam parties and yes, of course, ping pong. Director Michael Tully (Septien) returns to Sundance with this 80's comedy, focusing on a coming-of-age story about a teen who travels with his family to beach town Ocean City, Maryland and...
- 1/24/2014
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
This is not production designer Bart Mangrum’s first movie at the Sundance Film Festival. He designed Septien (2011, directed by Michael Tully) and I Used To Be Darker (2013, directed by Matt Porterfield), and was both an on-set dresser and extra in Stoker (2012, directed by Chan-wook Park). But this is the first time Mangrum has been at Sundance as the production designer of two feature films screening in the same category. Mangrum was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and still lives there. His father ignited his enthusiasm for art by teaching him how to draw during church around […]...
- 1/20/2014
- by Alexandra Byer
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
This is not production designer Bart Mangrum’s first movie at the Sundance Film Festival. He designed Septien (2011, directed by Michael Tully) and I Used To Be Darker (2013, directed by Matt Porterfield), and was both an on-set dresser and extra in Stoker (2012, directed by Chan-wook Park). But this is the first time Mangrum has been at Sundance as the production designer of two feature films screening in the same category. Mangrum was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and still lives there. His father ignited his enthusiasm for art by teaching him how to draw during church around […]...
- 1/20/2014
- by Alexandra Byer
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
As much a tribute to the films of the 80s as it is a tribute to the 80s themselves, Michael Tully’s Ping Pong Summer is a strangely sweet, knowingly retro coming-of-age story. Set against the unique and colorful backdrop of 1980s Ocean City, Maryland, the film follows the aptly named Radical Miracle (newcomer Marcello Conte) across a summer of old-school arcade games, teen romance, breakdancing, and of course, plenty of ping pong. Weaving the idiosyncratic style of his previous feature Septien (which premiered at Sundance back in 2011) into a warmer, more universal (yet no less distinctive) tapestry, Tully has […]...
- 1/18/2014
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
As much a tribute to the films of the 80s as it is a tribute to the 80s themselves, Michael Tully’s Ping Pong Summer is a strangely sweet, knowingly retro coming-of-age story. Set against the unique and colorful backdrop of 1980s Ocean City, Maryland, the film follows the aptly named Radical Miracle (newcomer Marcello Conte) across a summer of old-school arcade games, teen romance, breakdancing, and of course, plenty of ping pong. Weaving the idiosyncratic style of his previous feature Septien (which premiered at Sundance back in 2011) into a warmer, more universal (yet no less distinctive) tapestry, Tully has […]...
- 1/18/2014
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Michael Tully wears many hats: In 2006, he debuted his first feature film, Cocaine Angels, at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. For his 2011 feature Septien, a twisted, Southern Gothic family drama, Tully took on directing, writing, and acting duties. And since 2008, the filmmaker has been head writer/editor of the indie-centric film website HammerToNail.com, reviewing and championing films of a similar ilk to his own. What hasn't he done? Directed a long-gestating '80s throwback centered on the sport of ping pong — a bucket list item he'll check off when his latest feature, Ping Pong Summer,
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read more...
- 1/18/2014
- by Matt Patches
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Do we really need another award show? Michael Tully, filmmaker (Ping Pong Summer, Septien) and editor of Hammer to Nail, and Eric Lavallée, founder of Ioncinema, can assure you we do. Tully and Lavallée have partnered to announce the creation of the American Independent Film Awards (AIFAs), a soon-to-be annual celebration of “a distinctive category of micro-budget films.” Says Tully, “There are way too many awards shows as it is, and yet Eric and I have become frustrated with the way truly excellent work is marginalized every year simply because it doesn’t have the money to play with the big boys. We feel […]...
- 1/16/2014
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Do we really need another award show? Michael Tully, filmmaker (Ping Pong Summer, Septien) and editor of Hammer to Nail, and Eric Lavallée, founder of Ioncinema, can assure you we do. Tully and Lavallée have partnered to announce the creation of the American Independent Film Awards (AIFAs), a soon-to-be annual celebration of “a distinctive category of micro-budget films.” Says Tully, “There are way too many awards shows as it is, and yet Eric and I have become frustrated with the way truly excellent work is marginalized every year simply because it doesn’t have the money to play with the big boys. We feel […]...
- 1/16/2014
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
For Immediate Release
January 15, 2014
Michael Tully And Eric LAVALLÉE Announce Their Collaboration On The American Independent Film Awards
Park City, Ut – On the eve of the 30th Sundance Film Festival and 20th Slamdance Film Festival, filmmaker and HammertoNail.com’s Michael Tully and Ioncinema.com’s Eric Lavallée announce their partnership on a new endeavor: the American Independent Film Awards (AIFAs).
Since the rise of the mini-majors in the early 1990s, the proper definition of the term “independent” has been a source of controversy. Informed by this polemic, the AIFAs are intended as an annual celebration of a distinctive category of micro-budget films, which honors and celebrates the artisans who work in front of and behind the camera. In doing so, it aims to forge stronger ties within this community of filmmakers as well as with the viewing public.
“There are way too many awards shows as it is, yet...
January 15, 2014
Michael Tully And Eric LAVALLÉE Announce Their Collaboration On The American Independent Film Awards
Park City, Ut – On the eve of the 30th Sundance Film Festival and 20th Slamdance Film Festival, filmmaker and HammertoNail.com’s Michael Tully and Ioncinema.com’s Eric Lavallée announce their partnership on a new endeavor: the American Independent Film Awards (AIFAs).
Since the rise of the mini-majors in the early 1990s, the proper definition of the term “independent” has been a source of controversy. Informed by this polemic, the AIFAs are intended as an annual celebration of a distinctive category of micro-budget films, which honors and celebrates the artisans who work in front of and behind the camera. In doing so, it aims to forge stronger ties within this community of filmmakers as well as with the viewing public.
“There are way too many awards shows as it is, yet...
- 1/16/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
All this week Paste is bringing you preview interviews with filmmakers who are taking their new films to Sundance. Michael Tully is another repeat Sundance director, having premiered his feature Septien here in 2011. his new film Ping Pong Summer stars Susan Sarandon and Leah Thompson, and it’s set in the 1980s Ocean City, Maryland of Tully’s youth. We spoke with him about the film, old school hip hop, what advice he has for first-time Sundance directors, and much more....
- 1/14/2014
- Pastemagazine.com
Clearly if Michael Tully receives an invite to Sundance this year, it won’t be for a return visit in the Park City at Midnight section. Moving from dramatic in 2006′s Cocaine Angel (Rotterdam, SXSW), to docu Silver Jew (2007 – SXSW), to the Sundance preemed atypical Southern gothic horror Septien (2011), the filmmaker (who runs one of our fave portals for American indie film worshipping – HammerToNail.com) managed to lasso Susan Sarandon, Lea Thompson, John Hannah, Amy Sedaris, Judah Friedlander and Sundance vet Robert Longstreet (makes his second Tully film appearance) along with a cast of pre-teens for another 180° switch from his previous material. In something that should do the summer set coming-of-ager film done right and remind me why I Love The 80s, Ping Pong Summer and received mentorship/coin helping hands from the U.S in Progress and Sffs/Krf Filmmaking Grant and completed filming in late 2012. This is ready for some tournament action.
- 11/20/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Pierogis and paczkis aside, another thing we like about the Polish is the Wroclaw’s Us in Progress initiative, which is already at year three (fifth edition if you include the Paris) and reported by Screen Daily, have selected the lucky six projects (October 23rd-25th) where filmmaker/producing teams will take part in what is essentially: first looks of U.S. indie films for European buyers with a cash prize (post production coin) decided by a jury. Among the noteworthy names we have the likes of Littlerock‘s Mike Ott, Gabi on the Roof in July‘s Lawrence Levine and Onur Tukel (writer on Michael Tully’s Septien, director behind 2012′s Richard’s Wedding). Here is our researched look at the six (of which we can expect a couple of items to end up at Sundance next January).
Happy Baby
Director/Writer: Stephen Elliott
Producer: Jessica Caldwell (Electrick Children...
Happy Baby
Director/Writer: Stephen Elliott
Producer: Jessica Caldwell (Electrick Children...
- 9/27/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
I love Paris! Serving on the jury of U.S. in Progress to judge five American independent films in post production, bonding with filmmakers, organizers and the beautiful city itself, being part of a larger festival which featured films I particularly enjoyed like Nina Simone, Love Sorceress… Forever, It Felt Like Love by Eliza Hittman, Umbrellas of Cherbourg, what’s not to love?
The friendly openness of everyone at the festival made the event special. Sophie Dulac, the festival’s founder (and distributor, producer and exhibitor) whom I interviewed last year and again, almost as old friends again this year (see upcoming blog!), the publicist and programmer, Maxine Leonard, the staff, the Us in Progress organizers – Adeline Monzier (now also Us representative for Unifrance), Ula Śniegowska, Artistic Director of Wroclaw, Poland’s American Film Festival and Mobile New Horizons, my fellow jury members for USinP, and of course, the filmmakers themselves created a fun and inspiring event. What a great international film business we are in!
As I write this, the mailman just delivered a book, entitled Titra Film, A Cinematographic and Family Chronicle, sent to me by my fellow jury-member, Isabelle Frilley, who now, along with her children, owns and operates Titra, now called TitraTVS, the sub-titling company founded by her grandparents in 1933 shortly after talkies made subtitling de riguer . Very involved in the world of cinema, and inspired by her literary tastes, Isabelle has also helped develop multi-lingual subtitling for cinema, subtitling for the hearing impaired, and audio-description for the visually impaired. For many years, Isabelle Frilley has been a member of the juries of “Ciné en Construction” (for Latin-American cinema, in Toulouse), of “Cinéma en Mouvement” (for Mediterranean cinema, in San Sebastian), and of the Caméra d’Or in Cannes. She is only one of the illustrious jury among whom I was honored to count myself. Others included Julie Bergeron who runs Cannes Marche’s Producer Network among other things, Europa Distribution Eve Gabereau of Soda Pictures, a London-based indie distributor, Ciné Cinéma’s Bruno Deloye, Firefly’s Philippe Reinaudo, Commune Image’s Michael Werner, Eaux Vives Production’s Xénia Maingot, and Matthias Lavaux, the cofounder of touscoprod, the French crowdfunding website dedicated to movies, launched in January 2009.
1982 by Tommy Oliver
USinP’s winner, Tommy Oliver, whose previous film Kinyarwanda was a favorite of mine at Sundance a couple of years ago which Roger Ebert ranked 6 on his top ten films of 2011, is now in post on 1982 and won Us$60,000 worth of post production services.
Tommy’s directorial debut, 1982, starring Hill Harper, Sharon Leal, La La Anthony, Bokeem Woodbine, Wayne Brady and Ruby Dee, tells the story of a black father whose wife succumbs to a crack cocaine addiction and his efforts to shield their 10-year old daughter from the ill effects of having a drug addicted mother while trying to wean her off of her addiction. It's set in 1982 in Philadelphia at the very onset of the crack cocaine epidemic and ultimately, it's a story about a father doing whatever he can to protect his family. It's semi- autobiographical story and inspired by true events.
He also wrote and produced 1982 which also received a prestigious San Francisco Film Society Krf grant .
Tommy himself is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, a Microsoft alum and founder of Seattle-based interactive media firm Viliv Studios as well as La- based production company Confluential Films, which he started with actor/ author/ speaker Hill Harper.
I can confidently predict that this film will be seen on the festival circuit as it brings a humanity to the issue we’ve seen dozens of time – crack in communities – but never like this. We don’t see the ugly community violated by violence. We see a loving family coping with a personal and private disaster. Hill Harper plays a loving, compassionate good man. Comparisons will be made with Fruitvale Station, another African American “issue” film (police brutally killing an innocent family man) which will be released July 12 by The Weinstein Company. We need more such films to create a consistent pipeline for audiences who will pay to see these films. AFor his film 1982, he has devised a super-sophisticated, break-the-record domestic marketing plan. I am eager to watch the trajectory of this one.
The runner-up film, Bfe was supported with great gusto by its director and producer, Shawn Telford and producer, Mark Carr who brought a special energy to the entire event and were full of fun throughout. Shawn charmed his French hosts with his French. Watch for the film and with it, watch for Shawn!
I Believe In Unicorns is the feature debut of director Leah Meyerhoff. It was nominated for a Calvin Klein grant at the 2012 Gotham Independent Film Awards and stars Natalia Dyer, Peter Vack, Toni Meyerhoff, Julia Garner, Joshua Leonard and Amy Seimetz.
As noteworthy as the film is and as talented as Leah is, the producers themselves are also notable and prolific! Allison Anders, Katie Mustard and Heather Rae who also produced the Academy Award nominated film Frozen River, starring Melissa Leo, which won the 2008 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, opened the New York Film Society’s New Directors/New Film series and was acquired by Sony PicturesClassics. She won the 2008 Independent Spirit Award for her production work on Frozen River. Heather also produced Mosquita Y Mari (Sundance 2012), Backroads (Sundance 2000), Trudell (2005 Sundance Film Festival), Ibid (2008 SXSW), The Dry Land (Sundance 2010), Magic Valley (Tribeca 2011), and is currently in post-production on Five Thirteen (with Tom Sizemore), Ass Backwards (with Alicia Silverstone and Vincent D’Onofrio) and Plastic Jesus (with Paul Schneider and Mackenzie Foy). For six years she was a programmer for the Sundance Film Festival and ran the Native Program at the Sundance Institute and recently joined the Sundance Board of Trustees.
Ping Pong Summer
Michael Tully made his directorial debut, Cocaine Angel, world premiered at the 2006 International Film Festival Rotterdam, Michael Tully (Director) was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film. His follow-up, Silver Jew, world premiered at the 2007 South By Southwest Film Festival. In 2011, he wrote, directed, and acted in Septien, which world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by Sundance Selects. He’s currently in post-production on his newest feature, Ping Pong Summer, which he wrote and directed. Since 2008, he has been the head writer/editor of HammerToNail.com, a website devoted to championing ambitious cinema.
Producers: George Rush, Brooke Bernard, Ryan Zacarias, Michael Gottwald, Billy Peterson, Jeff Allard
Main Cast : Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Leah Thompson, Judah Friedlander, Amy Sedaris
Children
Director : Jaffe Zinn Producer : Jaffe Zinn and Sterling Hoch
Aside from the jury, the films were seen by members of Europa Distribution:
Alpha Violet - Keiko Funato & Virgine Devesa - France - Sales agent Bac Films - Crasset Véronique - France - Sales agent & Distributor Bankside - Alice Ramsey - UK Sales Agent Chrysalis - Camille Lopato - France – Distributor Content - Toby Melling - UK - Sales Agent Coproduction Office - Marina Perales & Philippe Bober - France - Sales Agent Distrib Films - François Scippa-Kohn - France - Distributor Equation - Didier Costet - France - Distributor Eurozoom - Manon Galibert - France - Distributor Film Republic Rashid Xavier UK sales agent Films Boutique - Jean-Christophe Simon - Germany - Sales Agent Hanway - Fabien Westerhoff - UK - Sales Agent Happiness - Isabelle Dubar - France - Distributor Heliotrope - Laurent Aléonard & Goldfain Philippe - France - Distributor Imagine - Bral Tinne - Benelux - Distributor Jour 2 Fête - Sarah Chazelle - France - Distributor K5 Intl - Oda Schäfer - Germany - Sales Agent Kmbo - Grégoire Marchal - France - Distributor Le Pacte - Nathalie Jeung - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Level K - Freja Johanne - Denmark - Sales agent Locarno Film Festival - Aurélie Godet - France - Festival Memento Film - Tanja Meissner & Ram Murali - France - Sales Agent & Distributor MK2 - Emmanuelle de Couesbouc / Juliette Shramek - France - Sales Agent Premium Films - Karwan Kasia - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Reel Suspects - Frederic Gentet - France - Sales Agent Rezo - Sebastien Chesneau - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Sacrebleu - Louise Bellicaud - France - Producer Soda Pictures - Eve Gabereau - UK - Distributor Sophie Dulac Distribution - Eric Vicente - France - Distributor The Works - Steve Bestwick - UK - Sales Agent Tribeca Film Festival - Frédéric Boyer - USA - Festival Trust Nordisk - Silje Glimsdal - Denmark - Sales Agent Urban - Claire Charles-Gervais - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Versatile - Violaine Pichon & Pape Boye - France - Sales Agent Wide Management - Loïc Magneron - France – Sales Agent Wild Bunch - Emmanuelle Fellous - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Zed - Martine Scoupe - France - Distributor...
The friendly openness of everyone at the festival made the event special. Sophie Dulac, the festival’s founder (and distributor, producer and exhibitor) whom I interviewed last year and again, almost as old friends again this year (see upcoming blog!), the publicist and programmer, Maxine Leonard, the staff, the Us in Progress organizers – Adeline Monzier (now also Us representative for Unifrance), Ula Śniegowska, Artistic Director of Wroclaw, Poland’s American Film Festival and Mobile New Horizons, my fellow jury members for USinP, and of course, the filmmakers themselves created a fun and inspiring event. What a great international film business we are in!
As I write this, the mailman just delivered a book, entitled Titra Film, A Cinematographic and Family Chronicle, sent to me by my fellow jury-member, Isabelle Frilley, who now, along with her children, owns and operates Titra, now called TitraTVS, the sub-titling company founded by her grandparents in 1933 shortly after talkies made subtitling de riguer . Very involved in the world of cinema, and inspired by her literary tastes, Isabelle has also helped develop multi-lingual subtitling for cinema, subtitling for the hearing impaired, and audio-description for the visually impaired. For many years, Isabelle Frilley has been a member of the juries of “Ciné en Construction” (for Latin-American cinema, in Toulouse), of “Cinéma en Mouvement” (for Mediterranean cinema, in San Sebastian), and of the Caméra d’Or in Cannes. She is only one of the illustrious jury among whom I was honored to count myself. Others included Julie Bergeron who runs Cannes Marche’s Producer Network among other things, Europa Distribution Eve Gabereau of Soda Pictures, a London-based indie distributor, Ciné Cinéma’s Bruno Deloye, Firefly’s Philippe Reinaudo, Commune Image’s Michael Werner, Eaux Vives Production’s Xénia Maingot, and Matthias Lavaux, the cofounder of touscoprod, the French crowdfunding website dedicated to movies, launched in January 2009.
1982 by Tommy Oliver
USinP’s winner, Tommy Oliver, whose previous film Kinyarwanda was a favorite of mine at Sundance a couple of years ago which Roger Ebert ranked 6 on his top ten films of 2011, is now in post on 1982 and won Us$60,000 worth of post production services.
Tommy’s directorial debut, 1982, starring Hill Harper, Sharon Leal, La La Anthony, Bokeem Woodbine, Wayne Brady and Ruby Dee, tells the story of a black father whose wife succumbs to a crack cocaine addiction and his efforts to shield their 10-year old daughter from the ill effects of having a drug addicted mother while trying to wean her off of her addiction. It's set in 1982 in Philadelphia at the very onset of the crack cocaine epidemic and ultimately, it's a story about a father doing whatever he can to protect his family. It's semi- autobiographical story and inspired by true events.
He also wrote and produced 1982 which also received a prestigious San Francisco Film Society Krf grant .
Tommy himself is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, a Microsoft alum and founder of Seattle-based interactive media firm Viliv Studios as well as La- based production company Confluential Films, which he started with actor/ author/ speaker Hill Harper.
I can confidently predict that this film will be seen on the festival circuit as it brings a humanity to the issue we’ve seen dozens of time – crack in communities – but never like this. We don’t see the ugly community violated by violence. We see a loving family coping with a personal and private disaster. Hill Harper plays a loving, compassionate good man. Comparisons will be made with Fruitvale Station, another African American “issue” film (police brutally killing an innocent family man) which will be released July 12 by The Weinstein Company. We need more such films to create a consistent pipeline for audiences who will pay to see these films. AFor his film 1982, he has devised a super-sophisticated, break-the-record domestic marketing plan. I am eager to watch the trajectory of this one.
The runner-up film, Bfe was supported with great gusto by its director and producer, Shawn Telford and producer, Mark Carr who brought a special energy to the entire event and were full of fun throughout. Shawn charmed his French hosts with his French. Watch for the film and with it, watch for Shawn!
I Believe In Unicorns is the feature debut of director Leah Meyerhoff. It was nominated for a Calvin Klein grant at the 2012 Gotham Independent Film Awards and stars Natalia Dyer, Peter Vack, Toni Meyerhoff, Julia Garner, Joshua Leonard and Amy Seimetz.
As noteworthy as the film is and as talented as Leah is, the producers themselves are also notable and prolific! Allison Anders, Katie Mustard and Heather Rae who also produced the Academy Award nominated film Frozen River, starring Melissa Leo, which won the 2008 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, opened the New York Film Society’s New Directors/New Film series and was acquired by Sony PicturesClassics. She won the 2008 Independent Spirit Award for her production work on Frozen River. Heather also produced Mosquita Y Mari (Sundance 2012), Backroads (Sundance 2000), Trudell (2005 Sundance Film Festival), Ibid (2008 SXSW), The Dry Land (Sundance 2010), Magic Valley (Tribeca 2011), and is currently in post-production on Five Thirteen (with Tom Sizemore), Ass Backwards (with Alicia Silverstone and Vincent D’Onofrio) and Plastic Jesus (with Paul Schneider and Mackenzie Foy). For six years she was a programmer for the Sundance Film Festival and ran the Native Program at the Sundance Institute and recently joined the Sundance Board of Trustees.
Ping Pong Summer
Michael Tully made his directorial debut, Cocaine Angel, world premiered at the 2006 International Film Festival Rotterdam, Michael Tully (Director) was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film. His follow-up, Silver Jew, world premiered at the 2007 South By Southwest Film Festival. In 2011, he wrote, directed, and acted in Septien, which world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for distribution by Sundance Selects. He’s currently in post-production on his newest feature, Ping Pong Summer, which he wrote and directed. Since 2008, he has been the head writer/editor of HammerToNail.com, a website devoted to championing ambitious cinema.
Producers: George Rush, Brooke Bernard, Ryan Zacarias, Michael Gottwald, Billy Peterson, Jeff Allard
Main Cast : Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Leah Thompson, Judah Friedlander, Amy Sedaris
Children
Director : Jaffe Zinn Producer : Jaffe Zinn and Sterling Hoch
Aside from the jury, the films were seen by members of Europa Distribution:
Alpha Violet - Keiko Funato & Virgine Devesa - France - Sales agent Bac Films - Crasset Véronique - France - Sales agent & Distributor Bankside - Alice Ramsey - UK Sales Agent Chrysalis - Camille Lopato - France – Distributor Content - Toby Melling - UK - Sales Agent Coproduction Office - Marina Perales & Philippe Bober - France - Sales Agent Distrib Films - François Scippa-Kohn - France - Distributor Equation - Didier Costet - France - Distributor Eurozoom - Manon Galibert - France - Distributor Film Republic Rashid Xavier UK sales agent Films Boutique - Jean-Christophe Simon - Germany - Sales Agent Hanway - Fabien Westerhoff - UK - Sales Agent Happiness - Isabelle Dubar - France - Distributor Heliotrope - Laurent Aléonard & Goldfain Philippe - France - Distributor Imagine - Bral Tinne - Benelux - Distributor Jour 2 Fête - Sarah Chazelle - France - Distributor K5 Intl - Oda Schäfer - Germany - Sales Agent Kmbo - Grégoire Marchal - France - Distributor Le Pacte - Nathalie Jeung - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Level K - Freja Johanne - Denmark - Sales agent Locarno Film Festival - Aurélie Godet - France - Festival Memento Film - Tanja Meissner & Ram Murali - France - Sales Agent & Distributor MK2 - Emmanuelle de Couesbouc / Juliette Shramek - France - Sales Agent Premium Films - Karwan Kasia - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Reel Suspects - Frederic Gentet - France - Sales Agent Rezo - Sebastien Chesneau - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Sacrebleu - Louise Bellicaud - France - Producer Soda Pictures - Eve Gabereau - UK - Distributor Sophie Dulac Distribution - Eric Vicente - France - Distributor The Works - Steve Bestwick - UK - Sales Agent Tribeca Film Festival - Frédéric Boyer - USA - Festival Trust Nordisk - Silje Glimsdal - Denmark - Sales Agent Urban - Claire Charles-Gervais - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Versatile - Violaine Pichon & Pape Boye - France - Sales Agent Wide Management - Loïc Magneron - France – Sales Agent Wild Bunch - Emmanuelle Fellous - France - Sales Agent & Distributor Zed - Martine Scoupe - France - Distributor...
- 7/12/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Us in Progress initiative to showcase five features by independent Us filmmakers.
Austin, Texas-based filmmaker Michael Tully’s [pictured] coming-of-age-vacation comedy Ping Pong Summer kicks off the latest edition of Us in Progress on Thursday.
The Us in Progress initiative, hosted by the Champs Elysées Film Festival, will showcase five features by independent Us filmmakers over the coming two days to some 30 European buyers.
Set against the Maryland beach resort of Ocean City, Ping Pong Summer combines a cast of unknown adolescent actors with established big screen stars Susan Sarandon and John Hannah.
The picture was among six recipients last year of a $300,000 grant from the San Francisco Film Society and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Other projects in that selection included Fruitvale and Short Term 12.
Tully’s previous films include Cocaine Angel, Silver Jew and Septien.
Also screening on Thursday is New York director Leah Meyerhoff’s I Believe in Unicorns about a teenager who runs...
Austin, Texas-based filmmaker Michael Tully’s [pictured] coming-of-age-vacation comedy Ping Pong Summer kicks off the latest edition of Us in Progress on Thursday.
The Us in Progress initiative, hosted by the Champs Elysées Film Festival, will showcase five features by independent Us filmmakers over the coming two days to some 30 European buyers.
Set against the Maryland beach resort of Ocean City, Ping Pong Summer combines a cast of unknown adolescent actors with established big screen stars Susan Sarandon and John Hannah.
The picture was among six recipients last year of a $300,000 grant from the San Francisco Film Society and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Other projects in that selection included Fruitvale and Short Term 12.
Tully’s previous films include Cocaine Angel, Silver Jew and Septien.
Also screening on Thursday is New York director Leah Meyerhoff’s I Believe in Unicorns about a teenager who runs...
- 6/13/2013
- ScreenDaily
The Us in Progress Paris which promotes about a half dozen American independent film currently in post-production to European buyers in the context of the Champs Elysées Film Festival in Paris (this June) have selected film items from the likes of Michael Tully, Leah Meyerhoff and Jaffe Zinn — projects we are more than likely going to see as early as the fall, Sundance 2014 and beyond. The 2nd edition of the Us in Progress Paris morphed from the already popular American Film Festival in Wroclaw, Poland will invite the following:
Blue Potato
Directed by Gita Pullapilly who first blasted on the scene with the docu The Way We Get By (winner of the Special Jury Award – 09′ SXSW) this Northeastern tale (see pic above) set in Van Buren, telling “the story of 17-year-old Dominic Roy, a headstrong teen working his final potato harvest to earn enough money to escape the pitfalls and...
Blue Potato
Directed by Gita Pullapilly who first blasted on the scene with the docu The Way We Get By (winner of the Special Jury Award – 09′ SXSW) this Northeastern tale (see pic above) set in Van Buren, telling “the story of 17-year-old Dominic Roy, a headstrong teen working his final potato harvest to earn enough money to escape the pitfalls and...
- 4/16/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
When Indiewire's Nigel Smith spoke with Susan Sarandon about her projects coming out this fall ("Arbitrage," "Cloud Atlas"), she also mentioned her upcoming role in Michael Tully's new film "Ping Pong Summer." In the words of the screen goddess and part owner of the chain of ping-pong clubs SPiN, "t’s kind of “The Karate Kid” with ping-pong and I’m Mr. Miyagi." Michael Tully ("Septien," "Cocaine Angel") grew up in Mount Airy, Maryland and would vacation with his family at Ocean City, Maryland. He started writing the script when he was in high school in the 90's, and has been working on it on and off since then. Producer Michael Gottwald told Indiewire, "It's gone through so many iterations and it's finally happening!" "Ping Pong Summer" is set in 1985 at the family beach town where Tully spent his childhood summers. At the......
- 9/25/2012
- by Bryce J. Renninger
- Indiewire
In Richard’s Wedding, which follows a bevy of wedding guests and the soon-to-be-wedded on their way to a small Central Park wedding, director Onur Tukel has crafted a delightfully funny, seemingly real-time ensemble piece. From British blowhard Russell (Darrill Rosen) to the writer/director/editor/star’s Tuna, the characters live on the edge of likability and the film’s narrative deftly frames the torrent of just-this-side-of-racist jokes, downright delusional character asides, and a general decline of civility. The unconventional comedic approach gives proceedings a hard-won warmth and generosity that lesser films skating this kind of textual irony and cutting, ribald humor frequently fail to achieve. Co-starring a number of terrific performers who have begun to make names for themselves as filmmakers (Dustin Guy Defa, Lawrence Michael Levine), the project has an intimacy and freewheeling feel to it that suggests the filmmakers were having as much fun off camera as they were on.
- 5/30/2012
- by Brandon Harris
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
There's little about filmmaker Onur Tukel that is conventional. For anyone familiar with the North Carolina native's past films, which include Ding-a-Ling-Less and The Pigs, Tukel is what most people might refer to as an eccentric. With his shock of unruly hair (both on top of his head as well as that which grows out of his face) and his penchant for wearing ill-sized clothing - the pants are too big, the shirt's too tight - he's someone you don't forget. The thing is, once you do meet the man, you can't help but like him. He has a puppy dog's enthusiasm and desire to be liked. He also has an artist's temperament, which can make him a bit manic at times. No matter what you may think of Tukel, his work speaks for itself. Since appearing last year in Michael Tully's comedy-horror mash-up Septien, Tukel has also launched...
- 5/30/2012
- TribecaFilm.com
Alex Pettyfer, star of failed franchise starter “I Am Number Four,” and Steven Soderbergh's upcoming "Magic Mike," has found a new starring role in the new film from “Heartbreaker” helmer Pascal Chaumeil. “Diamond Dogs” is based on an Alan Watt novel that is described as a crime thriller. Pettyfer will play the son of a Nevada sheriff who makes a life-changing mistake, and his father is forced to cover it up. Casting is currently underway for the father and no start date has been set. [Variety]
Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow is in talks to co-star in the Carlos Saura (“Raise Ravens,” “The Hunt”) directed “Guernica 33 Days.” The film, co-written by Suara with Elias Querejeta, and Louis-Charles Sirjacq, will follow Pablo Picasso’s emotional turmoil as he painted the famous artwork referenced in the title.
Antonio Banderas stars as Picasso, and Paltrow would play his lover, a Spanish-speaking French photographer named Dora Maar.
Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow is in talks to co-star in the Carlos Saura (“Raise Ravens,” “The Hunt”) directed “Guernica 33 Days.” The film, co-written by Suara with Elias Querejeta, and Louis-Charles Sirjacq, will follow Pablo Picasso’s emotional turmoil as he painted the famous artwork referenced in the title.
Antonio Banderas stars as Picasso, and Paltrow would play his lover, a Spanish-speaking French photographer named Dora Maar.
- 5/18/2012
- by Cain Rodriguez
- The Playlist
Steve Collins’ You Hurt My Feelings is the story of emotionally remote and unavailable people, a trio of wounded individuals who fail to connect with one another. Though Collins’ film deals with familiar subject matter, its tale is told with such clever minimalism and discernible sweetness that it goes down rather smoothly. While the characters may not be able to express themselves emotionally, Collins and his director of photography, Jeremy Saulnier (Septien, Putty Hill), find real poetry in the changing of the New England seasons, the passage of time providing an even greater window in the the failed lives on display.
John (John Merriman), a bearded Zach Galifianakis lookalike, has to be paid to spend time caring for his two young children by his eternally angry ex-girlfriend, Courtney (Courtney Davis) while he maintains an often strange kinship with Courtney’s current beau, Macon (Macon Blair), a surly and awkward man...
John (John Merriman), a bearded Zach Galifianakis lookalike, has to be paid to spend time caring for his two young children by his eternally angry ex-girlfriend, Courtney (Courtney Davis) while he maintains an often strange kinship with Courtney’s current beau, Macon (Macon Blair), a surly and awkward man...
- 5/2/2012
- by Brandon Harris
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Chicago – There is such a unique array of DVD titles this week that we couldn’t just let them get buried on our desk like so many minor titles do over the year. At least one of these has to be of interest to you. Maybe even the Dane Cook movie.
All four titles were released on February 28th, 2012
“Answers to Nothing”
Answers to Nothing
Photo credit: Lionsgate
Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Benz, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Barbara Hershey
Running Time: 123 minutes
Synopsis:
When an 11-year-old girl goes missing in Los Angeles, a chain of events is unleashed that will affect several strangers all struggling to find their own paths to redemption. Starring Dane Cook, Barbara Hershey and Julie Benz, these lost souls will together find the Answers To Nothing.
Special Features:
o Audio Commentary With Gillian Vigman (Writer), Matthew Leuwyler (Writer/Director), Amanda Marshall (Producer), Sim Sarna (Producer) and David Robert Jones...
All four titles were released on February 28th, 2012
“Answers to Nothing”
Answers to Nothing
Photo credit: Lionsgate
Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Benz, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Barbara Hershey
Running Time: 123 minutes
Synopsis:
When an 11-year-old girl goes missing in Los Angeles, a chain of events is unleashed that will affect several strangers all struggling to find their own paths to redemption. Starring Dane Cook, Barbara Hershey and Julie Benz, these lost souls will together find the Answers To Nothing.
Special Features:
o Audio Commentary With Gillian Vigman (Writer), Matthew Leuwyler (Writer/Director), Amanda Marshall (Producer), Sim Sarna (Producer) and David Robert Jones...
- 2/28/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The Berlinale's announced today that its 62nd edition will open on February 9 with the world premiere of Benoît Jacquot's Les Adieux à la reine (Farewell, My Queen). "All the debauchery, betrayal, power and tragedy of Marie Antoinette's court in its last days witnessed by one of her readers," promises distributor Elle Driver, where you'll find a full synopsis and a few words from Jacquot. His film, set in Versailles at the dawn of the French Revolution, features Diane Kruger as the Queen and Léa Seydoux as one of her ladies-in-waiting and is based on Chantal Thomas's award-winning novel. France Télévisions has a two-minute report from the set.
In other news. Ioncinema has begun counting down its "Top 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2012," starting with #100: Léos Carax's Holly Motors.
BAFTA will award its annual Fellowship to Martin Scorsese on February 12.
"Film actress Salma Hayek has been awarded one of...
In other news. Ioncinema has begun counting down its "Top 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2012," starting with #100: Léos Carax's Holly Motors.
BAFTA will award its annual Fellowship to Martin Scorsese on February 12.
"Film actress Salma Hayek has been awarded one of...
- 1/4/2012
- MUBI
#99. When The World’s On Fire Director/Writer: James ClauerProducers: Brent Stewart, Ryan Zacarias and Brooke Bernard (from Septien) with John Maringouin (Big River Man)Distributor: Rights Available The Gist: Javier, a Guatemalan immigrant, finds himself homeless and living on the fringes of society in a hardscrabble Southern town. With a loyal dog for a companion, Javier encounters a revolving cast of characters each more colorful than the last, rugged souls who are fighting to break free from their suffocating predicaments, and hoping to catch some faint glimmer of the American dream...(more) Cast: James Cooke and Leo Kling List Worthy Reasons...: Six years since his breakout short film debut "The Aluminum Fowl," hit the festival circuit (Sundance, Rotterdam, Cannes), James Clauer's feature length debut in glorious 35mm is finally upon us and should make the immigrant experience samples as Sin Nombre feel like a Disney film. Backed by the Nomadic Independence clan,...
- 1/4/2012
- IONCINEMA.com
#76. When the World's on Fire - James Clauer His unforgettable, unclassifiable and somewhat off-putting (the animal cruelty aspect) 13-minute short (The Aluminum Fowl) travelled from Park City to Rotterdam and made a splash on the Croisette back in 2006. I'm looking forward to what kind of world James Clauer (see pic above) is looking to explore and the visual treatment of his text with his feature debut, which is backed by those who produced by the same folk who backed Michael Tully's Septien (Sundance - 2011). What we do know is that we think that this might have been based on a 2007 short film and besides that --- nada. Look for When the World's on Fire to be a strong contender for the New Frontier sidebar. Gist: Coming soon. Producers: Brent Stewart, Ryan Zacarias and Brooke Bernard (all on Septien) with John Maringouin (Big River Man)(Ioncinema.com Preview Page // IMDb...
- 11/14/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Writer-director Todd Rohal’s new film The Catechism Cataclysm may well be the year’s strangest movie — but to elaborate further on on its weirdness would be to spoil the fun of watching it. Let’s just say that, for most of its length, the film concerns a short canoe trip taken by an inept priest named Father Billy (Steve Little from Eastbound & Down) and an old acquaintance named Robbie (Robert Longstreet, who is also the movie’s executive producer). But that none of the film’s first 50 minutes prepares you in any way for what occurs in the concluding,...
- 10/21/2011
- by Clark Collis
- EW - Inside Movies
Crowdfunded Cinema is a column at The Film Stage that focuses on filmmakers seeking funding for projects via crowdfunding platforms, offering new ways for independent artists and audiences to connect. With each article, we will focus on a single project that we find particularly interesting and inspiring.
After debuting the short film Sophie at SXSW, filmmaker Sean Rourke Meehan is settling out to create a new film, A Pale Shadow. Aiming for a removed, western feel, the story is a retrospective one, using a character to explore the dark cycles and destructive habits of human nature.
The main character, Jesse (to be played by Kentucker Audley), is working on a project, aspiring to be a carpenter in his hopes of breaking out of his own consuming darkness. However, Jesse’s brother Ed (to be played by Robert Longstreet) is a continuously bad influence, due to chronic alcoholism, causing destruction to all around him,...
After debuting the short film Sophie at SXSW, filmmaker Sean Rourke Meehan is settling out to create a new film, A Pale Shadow. Aiming for a removed, western feel, the story is a retrospective one, using a character to explore the dark cycles and destructive habits of human nature.
The main character, Jesse (to be played by Kentucker Audley), is working on a project, aspiring to be a carpenter in his hopes of breaking out of his own consuming darkness. However, Jesse’s brother Ed (to be played by Robert Longstreet) is a continuously bad influence, due to chronic alcoholism, causing destruction to all around him,...
- 9/21/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
As one of roughly a dozen full time staffers at Ifp, I’ve been working the past six months to help launch the 33rd annual Independent Film Week. It’s our first year at Lincoln Center’s new Elinor Bunin Film Center, and more than a thousand indie filmmakers and industry professionals are in town for the festivities.
In commemoration, I’ve dug up my long neglected digital camera, and I’ll be sharing photo highlights from Ifw all week long. Here are some snapshots from Day 1:
The team behind the upcoming Detroit Unleaded (editor Nathanial Sherfield, director Rola Nashef, producers Marwan Nashef and Leon Toomey) explore the Lincoln Center area.
During the Filmmaker Conference, producers Ted Hope (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Mynette Louie (Children of Invention) debate whether filmmaking is a career or a hobby. Hope argues that it’s nearly impossible to pursue a career in...
In commemoration, I’ve dug up my long neglected digital camera, and I’ll be sharing photo highlights from Ifw all week long. Here are some snapshots from Day 1:
The team behind the upcoming Detroit Unleaded (editor Nathanial Sherfield, director Rola Nashef, producers Marwan Nashef and Leon Toomey) explore the Lincoln Center area.
During the Filmmaker Conference, producers Ted Hope (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Mynette Louie (Children of Invention) debate whether filmmaking is a career or a hobby. Hope argues that it’s nearly impossible to pursue a career in...
- 9/19/2011
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Ifp announced today the slate for this year’s Project Forum, which will take place during the 33rd edition of Independent Film Week on Sept. 18-22 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center.
The centerpiece of Independent Film Week, Project Forum is designed specifically as a place for industry to meet with new talent, as well as discover fresh projects from emerging and veteran filmmakers.
Read the complete press release and full list of titles in this year’s Project Forum.
All 150 projects showcased in the Project Forum this year are narrative and documentary features ranging from films in development, or the early stages of production, to those nearing completion.
Some of the notable directors in this year’s Project Forum include: Bruce La Bruce (Otto: Or, Up With Dead People), Alrick Brown (Kinyrwanda), Adam Bowers (New Low), David Lowery (St. Nick), David Robert Mitchell...
The centerpiece of Independent Film Week, Project Forum is designed specifically as a place for industry to meet with new talent, as well as discover fresh projects from emerging and veteran filmmakers.
Read the complete press release and full list of titles in this year’s Project Forum.
All 150 projects showcased in the Project Forum this year are narrative and documentary features ranging from films in development, or the early stages of production, to those nearing completion.
Some of the notable directors in this year’s Project Forum include: Bruce La Bruce (Otto: Or, Up With Dead People), Alrick Brown (Kinyrwanda), Adam Bowers (New Low), David Lowery (St. Nick), David Robert Mitchell...
- 8/11/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
A few movies we haven't yet said much about. In the interest of saying something -- more will definitely follow in the case of The Help and The Rise of the Planet of the Apes both of which I suspect we'll be talking about thru Oscar season -- here's two handfuls of words for each.
2011... the year of the put upon maid?
The Housemaid (Im Sang-Soo)
in which a nanny/maid contemplates her own Fatal Attraction
10Wr: South Korea continues its Actressy roll. Classy/Trashy, expertly shaped. B+
The Help (Tate Taylor)
Maids in the South tell their provoactive stories to a feisty young writer
10Wr: Ungainly in telling yet super compelling. Well seasoned cornpone acting. B
Transformers Dark of the Moon (Michael Bay)
giant fucking robots return so that visual f/x may occur and billions may be made
10Wr: Surprisingly coherent explosiveness. But debris clears immediately (i.e.
2011... the year of the put upon maid?
The Housemaid (Im Sang-Soo)
in which a nanny/maid contemplates her own Fatal Attraction
10Wr: South Korea continues its Actressy roll. Classy/Trashy, expertly shaped. B+
The Help (Tate Taylor)
Maids in the South tell their provoactive stories to a feisty young writer
10Wr: Ungainly in telling yet super compelling. Well seasoned cornpone acting. B
Transformers Dark of the Moon (Michael Bay)
giant fucking robots return so that visual f/x may occur and billions may be made
10Wr: Surprisingly coherent explosiveness. But debris clears immediately (i.e.
- 8/8/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Title: Septien Writer-director: Michael Tully Starring: Robert Longstreet, Onur Tukel, Michael Tully, Mark Darby Robinson, Rachel Korine, Jim Willingham A unique slice of Southern Gothic that premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, Septien is sort of the embodiment of what more American indie film should be doing and trying – which is to say identifying universal themes or feelings worthwhile of exploration for the creators, and then coming at them in a roundabout or subversive manner. An off-kilter dramatic mystery that trades in low-level mischievousness, and a kind of quietly comedic snapshot of deep-fried familial dysfunction, Septien is the ultimate chameleonic cinematic experience — it is chiefly what one wishes it to be,...
- 7/16/2011
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
This week on indieWIRE Oscar-winner James Marsh talked "Project Nim," we asked the independent film community what they thought of film schools, Stanley Kubrick reached out from the dead and much more. News This week, we have good news and bad news. The bad news: New York’s weekend weather looks lousy. The good news: NYC’s Pix 11 Morning News recruited “Septien” director Michael Tully as its new weatherman. Liddell Entertainment ...
- 7/8/2011
- Indiewire
Today, we have good news and bad news. The bad news: New York's weekend weather looks lousy. The good news: NYC's Pix 11 Morning News recruited "Septien" director Michael Tully as its new weatherman. What begins as a clever PR bump quickly turns into one of those awkward moments morning news has plenty of. Dunkin' Donuts was sponsoring the broadcast, but it doesn't look like the guests got free coffee, ...
- 7/8/2011
- Indiewire
Michael Tully has been a regular fixture in the independent film scene since the beginning of the last decade, supporting David Gordon Green in the making of George Washington. In that time, he's directed three features of his own, including the utterly strange Septien, which he co-wrote, directed, and stars in. Tully plays Cornelius, a star athlete who disappears from the family home for 18 years only to return to his wildly eccentric brothers just as mysteriously as he left. Here's the official synopsis: Eighteen years after disappearing without a trace, Cornelius Rawlings returns to his family's farm. While his parents are long deceased, Cornelius's brothers continue to live in isolation on this forgotten piece of land. Ezra is a freak for two things: cleanliness...
- 7/8/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Today on indieWIRE, we shared Stanley Kubrick's fanmail, spoke with "Project Nim" director James Marsh and "Weekend" actor Tom Cullen and more: Michael Tully Shares a Scene from “Septien” Actor and filmmaker Michael Tully spoke extensively about a scene from his film "Septien," which played at Sundance earlier this year and will be released by IFC Films this Friday. Our Project of the Day: Detroit’s Illegal Halloween Masquerade, Theater Bizarre ...
- 7/7/2011
- Indiewire
Filed under: 'Fone Finds
Today on indieWIRE, we shared Stanley Kubrick's fanmail, spoke with 'Project Nim' director James Marsh and 'Weekend' actor Tom Cullen, and more:
Actor and filmmaker Michael Tully spoke extensively about a scene from his film 'Septien,' which played at Sundance earlier this year and will be released by IFC Films this Friday.
Continue Reading...
Today on indieWIRE, we shared Stanley Kubrick's fanmail, spoke with 'Project Nim' director James Marsh and 'Weekend' actor Tom Cullen, and more:
Actor and filmmaker Michael Tully spoke extensively about a scene from his film 'Septien,' which played at Sundance earlier this year and will be released by IFC Films this Friday.
Continue Reading...
- 7/7/2011
- by The Editors at IndieWire
- Moviefone
Below actor/writer/director Michael Tully ("Cocaine Angel") shares an exclusive scene from his Sundance contender "Septien," which opens at New York's IFC Center this Friday and is currently available on demand. What It's About: "Septien" follows Cornelius Rawlings who returns to his family’s farm eighteen years after disappearing without a trace. While his parents are long deceased, Cornelius’s brothers continue to live in isolation on this forgotten piece of land. Ezra ...
- 7/7/2011
- Indiewire
Below actor/writer/director Michael Tully ("Cocaine Angel") shares an exclusive scene from his Sundance contender "Septien," which opens at New York's IFC Center this Friday and is currently available on demand. What It's About: "Septien" follows Cornelius Rawlings who returns to his family’s farm eighteen years after disappearing without a trace. While his parents are long deceased, Cornelius’s brothers continue to live in isolation on this forgotten piece of land. Ezra ...
- 7/7/2011
- indieWIRE - People
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