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A remake of the 1998 sci-fi thriller The Faculty is in the works at Miramax, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Robert Rodriguez, who directed the original horror film written by Kevin Williamson (Scream) that starred Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood and Shawn Hatosy, will produce the remake. Drew Hancock is on board to pen the screenplay for the updated version.

Hancock also wrote and directed Companion, a sci-fi thriller set for a release this weekend by Warner Bros. Pictures. The suspense pic stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid and portrays a weekend getaway that goes violently wrong.

The original The Faculty featured a news editor and film critic played by Wood seeing the murder of a nurse. After she seemingly lives again, he decides to investigate the bizarre happenings.

Rodriguez, a veteran director and showrunner, also produced the original film alongside Elizabeth Avellan. The Alita, Sin City and Desperado filmmaker produced Disney+...

In 2009, nine production companies were operating in the Canary Islands using Zec preferential tax rates for being established here. Flash forward 15 years, there are now 31 companies doing live action. Below, some of the Canary Islands pacemaker production companies, and titles to track:

Anaga Media Productions

The Canary Islands’ newest kid on the block, founded in June 2023 by two U.S.-raised Venezuelans: Gisberg Bermúdez, director of hit chiller “Whistler: the Origins,” and actress-turned-producer Malena González, now based out of Tenerife’s San Cristobal de La Laguna. There it hit the ground offering production services on “Bruha,” which shot in November, directed and co-written by Bermúdez for Elizabeth Avellán. Currently in post, it stars Clara Rosager McCaul Lombardi, Jeff Fahey and González. Now developing “Black Lotus” which will be Anaga’s first production. Interested in both international co-production and offering production services, say González and Bermúdez.

Buendía Estudios Canarias

The biggest...

Exclusive: Vertical has picked up U.S. rights to Deadland, a thriller led by Roberto Urbina (TNT’s Snowpiercer), which world premiered at SXSW 2023. Marking the directorial debut of Lance Larson, the film is slated for a day-and-date release on November 3rd.

Urbina stars as U.S. Border agent Angel Waters, who comes across what would normally be a routine illegal crossing, but quickly spirals into his worst nightmare. In a tragic twist of fate, a detained immigrant is killed while being held at a remote border outpost. Days later, Angel is called back to the river where he is met with a terrifying sight — the same migrant that died is standing at the river’s edge. As strange phenomena begin to overtake his life, he soon learns that on this land, that which dies doesn’t always stay dead.

Starring alongside Urbina are McCaul Lombardi (American Honey), Julieth Restrepo...

Robert Rodriguez is a filmmaker who found a way to work his career on his own terms. It helps that he is practically self-sustaining with his own studio and insists on doing some of the biggest parts of productions himself. The filmmaker recently explored the Hitchcockian thriller world with his mind-bending suspense film, Hypnotic, with Ben Affleck. Rodriguez is also a family-oriented director in every sense. Not only has he had success with the family action series, Spy Kids, but he also involves his own family with his movies. His cousins have been featured in his films, his former wife continues to be a producing partner, and his sons are now joining him behind the camera.

Netflix has just released the new trailer for Spy Kids: Armageddon. The official synopsis reads,

“When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer...

After more than a decade away, Robert Rodriguez is bringing back "Spy Kids." This time, the filmmaker has re-teamed with Netflix following 2020's "We Can Be Heroes" to reboot the once-popular kid-friendly action franchise with "Spy Kids: Armageddon." Today, we got a new look at the film in the form of a trailer, which sets up the series with a new cast for a new generation. 22 years after the original became a big hit, it's time to smack the restart button.

The cast is led by Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin") and Zachary Levi ("Shazam!") as the new parents whose kids discover that they are actually spies. The cast also includes Everly Carganilla ("Yes Day") and Connor Esterson ("Chad") as the kids in question, with Billy Magnussen ("No Time to Die"), and D.J. Cotrona ("Shazam! Fury of the Gods") rounding out the ensemble. What does "Spy Kids" look like in 2023? Let's take a gander.

Netflix has unveiled its complete film slate for this fall, including Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire,” Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” Wes Anderson’s short “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” and much more.

The fall film slate features 28 movies that will be released on the streamer beginning in September. Anderson’s short Roald Dahl adaptation will drop on Netflix Sept. 27 following its limited theatrical release on Sept. 20, while “Maestro” and “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire” premiere in December. Other notable features include “Reptile,” “Rustin,” “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” and Sylvester Stallone’s documentary “Sly.”

Take a look at Netflix’s 2023 fall film slate below.

September Releases

Scouts Honor: The Secret Files Of The Boy Scouts Of America

Release Date: On Netflix September 6

Genre: Documentary

Director: Brian Knappenberger

Producers: Conor Fetting-Smith, Sabrina Parke, Clive Patterson

Executive Producers: Brian Knappenberger, Orlando von Einsiedel...

Netflix has dropped the first look images and teaser trailer for Spy Kids: Armageddon which introduces Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi’s family. Watch the preview in the video posted above.

Robert Rodriguez, who created the original franchise, is behind the reboot of the new film that introduces the next generation of spies with Everly Carganilla as Patty Torrez and Connor Esterson as Tony Torrez.

The preview shows the kids receiving a message from their mom, played by Gina telling them “something has gone terribly wrong.” Now it’s up to the kids to save their parents from a failed mission.

“When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world,” reads a logline for the film premiering on September 22.

Racer Max...

One thing you can’t fault Robert Rodriguez for — he makes the movies he wants to make. The notorious do-it-yourself director found his way into the studio system by way of cutting down production costs by working a number of positions himself and creatively shooting around normally complicated set-ups. His bets usually paid off when his films would hit and make a profit, thanks to his ingenuity. Ever since, he’s existed with one foot inside as well as one foot outside of Hollywood. After The Book of Boba Fett and the recent thriller Hypnotic, Rodriguez has returned to his unlikely family franchise hit with Spy Kids: Armageddon.

The official synopsis from Netflix reads,

When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.

Zachary Levi and Gina Rodriguez raise the next generation of Spy Kids in new first look images for Netflix's upcoming film, Spy Kids: Armageddon.

People unveiled the first look photos, which show Levi -- who appeared earlier this year in Shazam! Fury of the Gods -- and Rodriguez beside their on-screen children (played by Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla) who are in a high-tech vehicle. The other image shows Esterson and Carganilla's sibling characters striking a superspy pose. Spy Kids: Armageddon is a reboot of Robert Rodriguez's popular family franchise, which launched in 2001.

Related: Alita 2: Robert Rodriguez Confirms Sequel Talks Are Happening

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"When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world," reads the official logline for Spy Kids: Armageddon.

Exclusive: DJ Cotrona, who starred in the TV adaptation of Dusk Till Dawn, is set to reunite with Robert Rodriguez in the Netflix, Skydance and Spyglass Spy Kids sequel. He is set to join Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Billy Magnussen, Everly Carganilla and newcomer Connor Esterson in the latest installment with Rodriguez directing, writing and producing the film.

Racer Max will co-write the pic. The film marks Rodriguez’s second family film with Netflix following the success of the 2020 family action film We Can Be Heroes.

This latest Spy Kids chapter is set after the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful game developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, leading them to become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce for Skydance, which will oversee development and production.

Billy Magnussen is the latest addition to Netflix’s upcoming reboot of the “Spy Kids” film franchise.

The “No Time to Die” and “Game Night” actor joins previously announced cast members Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson. The project will be headed by the original franchise’s creator and director Robert Rodriguez, who is also producing and writing alongside Racer Max. Rodriguez previously worked with Netflix on the 2020 family film “We Can Be Heroes.”

The yet-to-be-titled film will introduce a new family of spies to the four-film franchise that originally starred Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino, with Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara as the kids. After the children of the world’s top secret agents inadvertently help an evil Game Developer gain control of all technology through a computer virus, they must transform into spies themselves to save their parents and the planet.

Also Read:

‘Spy Kids...

Exclusive: Billy Magnussen (No Time to Die) is set to star in Netflix’s upcoming reboot of the popular Spy Kids franchise, Deadline has learned. He joins previously announced cast members Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla, and Connor Esterson.

This latest Spy Kids chapter is set after the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful game developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, leading them to become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.

Franchise creator Robert Rodriguez will write, direct and produce the film; Racer Max will co-write. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger will produce for Skydance, which will oversee development and production. Elizabeth Avellan and Max will also produce. Spyglass’ Gary Barber and Peter Oillataguerre will executive produce. Nick Nesbit will be Netflix’s creative lead on the film.

Magnussen stars alongside Cristin Milioti...

Robert Rodriguez has found his new “Spy Kids” (and their parents). Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and newcomer Connor Esterson have been cast as the franchise’s new family. They take over from Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, who starred in the first three “Spy Kids” movies.

The logline for the new movie is pure “Spy Kids” nuttiness: “When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.” Considering the previous movie’s knack for casting fun actors in the villain role, expect the evil Game Developer to be cast in a similarly delightful way.

Also Read:

‘The Old Guard 2’ Adds Uma Thurman and Henry Golding Opposite Charlize Theron

Rodriguez, who created the franchise and directed all previous installments,...

Exclusive: It looks like Spy Kids creator Robert Rodriguez has found his new spy family for his family adventure franchise. Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and newcomer Connor Esterson are set to star in the upcoming film from Netflix, Skydance and Spyglass.

Rodriguez will write, direct and produce the next film, which will introduce the world to a new family of spies. Racer Max will co-write the pic. The film marks Rodriguez’s second family film with Netflix following the success of the 2020 family action film We Can Be Heroes.

This latest Spy Kids chapter is set after the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful game developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, leading them to become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.

David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce for Skydance, which will oversee development and production.

It’s not just the Cortez family who are international spies.

Over two decades since the original 2001 film’s release, “Spy Kids” is set to be reimagined by Netflix in partnership with Skydance and Spyglass. Creator Robert Rodriguez returns to write, direct, and produce the film. Cast and production details have not yet been set.

The “Spy Kids” reboot will “introduce the world to a new family of spies,” per an official press release. This will mark Rodriguez’s second family film with Netflix, following the success of 2020’s “We Can Be Heroes.”

David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger will produce for Skydance, which will oversee development and production. Elizabeth Avellan and Racer Max will also produce. Spyglass owns the Spy Kids franchise. Spyglass’ Gary Barber and Peter Oillataguerre will executive produce.

Rodriguez launched “Spy Kids” with the original film in 2001, followed by “Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams...

Carmen and Juni Cortez, welcome to Netflix.

The streamer has closed a deal to reboot “Spy Kids,” the early 2000s action-adventure franchise about a family of super-secret agents. Skydance Media had recently optioned the rights to “Spy Kids” with the intention to reimagine the franchise for today’s audiences, but the film has newly landed at Netflix. The still-untitled movie will premiere on a yet-to-be-determined date.

Spyglass Media owns the “Spy Kids” franchise and remains on board. Robert Rodriguez, who created the original series, has returned for the upcoming reboot, which he will write and direct. Plot details have not been revealed, but the next generation of “Spy Kids” will revolve around the activities of a multicultural family.

The original “Spy Kids” movie centered on Carmen and Juni Cortez (Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara), two young kids unaware that their parents (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) work for the Organization of Super Spies.

Netflix has closed a deal with Skydance to produce a reimagining of the Spy Kids franchise, alongside Spyglass Media, LLC and filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, who created the film series and directed all past installments.

The next film in the franchise, introducing the world to a new family of spies, will also be written and directed by Rodriguez. It will mark his second family film for Netflix, on the heels of the 2020 actioner We Can Be Heroes. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce for Skydance, which is overseeing development and production, with Elizabeth Avellan and Racer Max also producing. Gary Barber and Peter Oillataguerre will executive produce for Spyglass, which owns the Spy Kids franchise.

Rodriguez’s original Spy Kids film, centered on kids saving their spy parents from an evil, high-tech enemy, was released 21 years ago today, with sequels Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams...

Robert Rodriguez to direct family reboot.

Netflix has closed a deal with Skydance and Spyglass to reimagine the Spy Kids franchise and has set original creator and director Robert Rodriguez to reprise his role.

Rodriguez will write, direct and produce the next film, which will introduce a new family of spies. The project marks his second family film with Netflix following 2020 action film We Can Be Heroes.

David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce for Skydance, which will oversee development and production. Elizabeth Avellan and Racer Max will also produce.

Gary Barber of Spyglass, which owns the Spy Kids franchise,...

Netflix has closed a deal with Skydance to produce a reimagining of the successful 2001 “Spy Kids” franchise alongside Spyglass Media and creator and director Robert Rodriguez, the companies announced on Wednesday.

Rodriguez will write and direct the new film, and like the original series, the new “Spy Kids” movie will focus on a multicultural family of international spies.

The film will mark Rodriguez’s second family film with Netflix, following the 2020 family action film “We Can Be Heroes.” The original “Spy Kids” was released 21 years ago Wednesday, to the day.

Spyglass owns the “Spy Kids” franchise. Skydance will serve as the lead studio and oversee development and production. David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger will produce for Skydance. Elizabeth Avellan and Racer Max will also produce. Spyglass’ Gary Barber and Peter Oillataguerre will executive produce.

The original film from 2001 was a critical and box office success, grossing $147.9 million worldwide...

Outsider Pictures, with Strand Releasing, has acquired North American rights to Sabrina McCormick’s “Sequestrada,” starring Tim Blake Nelson and Gretchen Mol.

The deal was struck by Paul Hudson, president of Outsider Pictures, and Miguel Govea, along with Brett Walker, of Alief, as world sales consultants for the filmmakers.

Outsider and Strand will give “Sequestrada” a theatrical run in select cities starting with Los Angeles and New York on Nov. 15. A VOD and DVD release follows on Dec. 17.

“Sequestrada” marks the debut feature of McCormick, a climate change expert and producer who credits include segments of the Emmy-winning Showtime series “The Year of Living Dangerously.” She co-directs and co-writes with Soopum Sohn (“Island to Island”).

It introduces Kamodjara Xipaia as the 13-year-old daughter of an Arara chieftain who is captured by sex traffickers. Her only hope of rescue is the American banker (Blake Nelson) behind the construction of the massive...

“Spy Kids” and “Predators” producer Elizabeth Avellan has acquired remake rights to supernatural thriller “The Whistler,” pacting with production-distribution Alief which is world premiering “Zana” at Toronto.

Gisberg Bermúdez, who co-wrote, directed, co-produced and edited the original movie, will now helm the English-language adaptation.

Aiming to launch an English-language franchise, Avellán will produce the remake through her company Eya Productions; Bermudez’s La Rue Films and Alief co-produce.

“The Whistler” is set to open in U.S. theaters on Sept. 6 via Dark Star Productions. This will be followed by a VOD release via Uncork’d Entertainment. The original feature is described by Alief as “‘The Conjuring’ meets ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’” in an “elliptical” retelling of the myth. It was inspired by a Venezuelan/Colombian folklore bogeyman whose presence is announced by his whistling. In Bermúdez’s Spanish-language original, a father seeks to unearth the origin of the Whistler...

It's been more than two months since the tidal wave of sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein started surfacing, and now another famous actress has come forward with her story, Oscar nominated actress Salma Hayek. In a gripping first-person account published by The New York Times, the actress reveals how she was asked by reporters to come forward and share her story with others, including her friend Ashley Judd, but the actress revealed she didn't want to share her story then because she was, "trying to save myself the challenge of explaining several things to my loved ones," and since so many others had come forward with their tales of sexual misconduct against the producer, she didn't think anyone would care about her pain.

The actress revealed that she first started working with Harvey Weinstein when she was trying to get her passion project, a biopic of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo off the ground,...

Here's the latest Austin film news. 

The New York Times profiled the Austin film scene in Sunday's edition and interviewed locally based industry heavy hitters like Richard Linklater, Elizabeth Avellan, Bryan Poyser (Elizabeth's interview) and Andrew Bujalski (Jordan's interview), among others. Worth a look for the photos alone.Speaking of Linklater, he has now filed suit against his insurance company, alleging breach of contract, The Austin Chronicle reports. His Paige, Texas property, near Bastrop, which housed scripts, production materials, publicity information, among other movie memorabilia, was damaged in 2011's wildfires. More more Linklater: Filmmaker Gabe Klinger has created a Kickstarter campaign for his documentary about the Austin filmmaker and director James Benning, according to Filmmaker Magazine. The project will only be funded if at least $25,000 is pledged by June 8. More than $8,000 has been raised so far. More than 65 research fellowships have been awarded by The University of Texas Harry Ransom...

Lionsgate has announced two new horror flicks are making their way to DVD soon: the UK take on Night of the Living Dead entitled Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection and the long awaited release of Curandero: Dawn of the Demon.

When the sun goes down, the terror begins as Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection arrives on DVD, Digital Download and Video on Demand April 30 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Directed by James Plumb (Silent Night, Bloody Night: The Homecoming), this post-apocalyptic sci-fi/horror film is a whole new take on the original classic Night of the Living Dead.

Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection is set in 2012, when the deceased have risen from their graves once again with the instinct to feed on the living. As academics speculate on the scientific cause of this phenomenon, theologians point to the Armageddon foretold in the Book of Revelation. As the...

Fango got the exclusive word that Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Miramax will release Curandero: Dawn Of The Demon on DVD (with Ultraviolet digital copy) and video-on-demand March 12. Written by Robert Rodriguez, who also served as an executive producer with Elizabeth Avellan, the film was directed by Eduardo Rodriguez (no relation, and currently set to helm Sony Pictures’ direct-to-video Fright Night 2) and stars El Mariachi’s Carlos Gallardo in the title role. He’s a Mexican faith healer who is called upon to purify a police station, and winds up in conflict with a ruthless killer named Casteneda (Gabriel Pingarron). Originally completed way back in 2005 and screened at Screamfest that year, the film was orphaned when Miramax founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein split from then-parent company Disney. The DVD will present Curandero in 16x9-enhanced 1.78:1 widescreen, with English and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 audio; no special features are announced.

Fango got the exclusive word that Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Miramax will release Curandero: Dawn Of The Demon on DVD (with Ultraviolet digital copy) and video-on-demand March 12. Written by Robert Rodriguez, who also served as an executive producer with Elizabeth Avellan, the film was directed by Eduardo Rodriguez (no relation, and currently set to helm Sony Pictures’ direct-to-video Fright Night 2) and stars El Mariachi’s Carlos Gallardo in the title role. He’s a Mexican faith healer who is called upon to purify a police station, and winds up in conflict with a ruthless killer named Casteneda (Gabriel Pingarron). Originally completed way back in 2005 and screened at Screamfest that year, the film was orphaned when Miramax founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein split from then-parent company Disney. The DVD will present Curandero in 16x9-enhanced 1.78:1 widescreen, with English and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 audio; no special features are announced.

The feature-film selections for the 2013 SXSW Film Festival were announced last week and boy, are there a lot of movies with Austin connections on the program -- so many that we had to split this article in two! We'll start with the narrative feature films, and the second half will highlight the documentaries and "festival favorites." These lists don't include the short films or the midnight movies, which will be announced later today.

Headliners:

When Angels Sing -- Austin director Tim McCanlies' new film is based on a novel by Turk Pipkin (who also appears in the movie), wherein the main character has a troubled relationship with Christmas. Sometimes-Austinite Connie Britton stars as the wife, and the cast also includes Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Heather Kafka (who appears in four SXSW feature films this year), and the Red Headed Stranger himself! Elizabeth Avellan of Troublemaker Studios is one of the producers on this film,...

It's been such a busy week for Austin film that we needed a second news roundup. Here are the highlights:

Fantastic Fest announced the first films in its lineup on Monday. The headline news is a red-carpet premiere of Dredd 3D, although no news yet who will be on the red carpet. The film's star, Karl Urban, was at Fantastic Fest in 2010 for the movie Red (my best photo here). Will he return? In addition, 17 other films were announced, including Wrong, the latest film from Rubber director Quentin Dupieux. No Austin or Texas films yet, but I've got my fingers crossed (coughBoneboyscough).The part of the Fantastic Fest announcement that pleased me most is a sidebar series programmed by Kier-La Janisse, one of the original Fantastic Fest programmers before she returned to Canada to program genre fests there. The "House of Psychotic Women" films tie into Janisse's new book of the same name,...

By Gabriela A. Treviño

On Sunday, July 22, the Austin Film Festival hosted "A Conversation in Film with Elizabeth Avellán: Producing your Independent Feature Film" at the Harry Ransom Center on Ut's campus. The event drew a large crowd of students, aspiring film industry professionals and those curious-minded folk who yearned for some insight into what exactly a movie producer does. With experience in producing both independent and blockbuster films such as Sin City, Grindhouse and Predators, Elizabeth Avellán was able to share her experiences from working in the biz and offer her advice to the crowd with wit and honesty.

Just about everyone has an idea about what screenwriters, directors, and editors do ... but what about producers? The ever-elusive role of a producer is difficult to understand, and there are quite a few items on a producer's to-do list other than raising funds for a film. Everything from casting to...

Gary R. Benz (President & CEO) of long established TV company Grb Entertainment announced today the official launch of the company.s international feature film division which will be selling rights to two films at this year.s Marche du Film. Grb.s expansion into feature theatrical films began last year when Benz set up the feature division and brought Todd Olsson on board. The company has been looking for high quality commercially viable features that are a cut above the usual fare.

.We.ve been working hard to find the right films to get off to a great start, and both of these films are extraordinary,. said Benz.

The company will bring Queen Freak, which stars Matthew Modine, Kristin Chenoweth, Joey King, Shirley Jones, and a relatively new-comer in the lead, Olesya Rulin. It.s a wickedly sharp tale about a dysfunctional family, where the kids take matters into their...

Moviemaker Robert Rodriguez had to bail Josh Hartnett out of jail when the actor was filming his 1998 horror The Faculty.

Hartnett reveals he was busted on suspicion of grand theft auto during a drive in Texas, so Rodriguez and his then-wife Elizabeth Avellan went to help him.

The actor tells Bullett magazine, "The cops who pulled me over typed in the vehicle identification number wrong, so they arrested me for stealing a car. Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellan came down to bail me out of the Austin county jail in the middle of the night, so that I could work the next morning."

The actor failed to show up to court to fight the "ridiculous" charge and now has a criminal record.

He adds, "They put a strike on my record (and) if I get arrested twice more, or get convicted of anything twice more in Texas, I'm getting the electric chair, or whatever they do now - lethal injection."...

The studio system is long gone and as the Hollywood powerhouses reign supreme over the box office, smaller production companies fall by the way side. Yet innovative filmmakers are currently redefining the industry and creating powerful companies of their own, ones which could change cinema for the better as well as possibly competing with these Hollywood heavyweights in the future.

Due to Pixar’s success as a family orientated studio from the mid 90’s onwards, others are catching on to this ultra collaborative notion. Pixar has a large but focused family of filmmakers which work together to produce perfect movies. We’ve all seen glimpses inside the studio with its fuss ball tables and arcade games; they promote creativity and work together for the greater good. There are no egos at Pixar just a unit pushing forward as a team.

Here’s a look at some promising and quite successful...

What an exhausting but rewarding time I had at Austin Film Festival on Sunday. The Hair of the Dog Brunch always provides a wonderful opportunity to meet and mingle with filmmakers as well as cast and crew of short and feature films screening at Aff -- check back later for a photo essay from the brunch.

I met several filmmakers involved with the Texas Monthly's "Where I'm From" film contest, including I Heart Sa filmmakers Robert B. Gonzales and Sarah Fisch (seen above with Elizabeth Avellan and Mariella Sonam Perez), who also writes as Chupacabrona for the Texas visual art website Glass Tire. A discussion about disparities between males and females that I've observed in online journalism and filmmaking led Sarah to introduce me to Mariella Sonam Perez (Going to Grandma's) who is one of the founders of the nonprofit organization South Texas Underground Film (Stuf). Stuf engages and inspires...

Here's the latest Austin and Central Texas film news, as well as some special screening information.

Austin-based director Michael Dolan will be present at two area screenings of his 2010 feature film Dance With The One, as part of a tour sponsored by the Texas Independent Film Network. The San Marcos premiere of the movie will take place on 7 pm this Wednesday, Oct. 12, in room 206 of the Texas State University-San Marcos Department of Theatre and Dance. In addition, Dolan and actress Dana Wheeler-Nicholson will be at the Austin Film Society screening room on Friday, Oct. 14 to show the film. Dance with the One (Debbie's review) is about a small-time Texas pot dealer who gets in over his head when the million dollars' worth of hash his boss has given him suddenly goes missing. The movie stars Austinite Gabriel Luna and is the first film made by the University of Texas Film Institute,...

The Long Center was transformed into a carnival setting and red carpet on Saturday, August 13, for the gala premiere of the Austin-shot movie Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D. Austin Film Society hosted this benefit screening for the Dell Children's Medical Center and the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund.

The attendees for the event included not only a lot of very happy kids but also filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, producer Elizabeth Avellan, new Spy Kids Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook, and the original Spy Kids, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, who are also in this fourth installment in the series. I was out of town and missed the whole thing, sadly, but fortunately Afs has published a lot of great photos from the event, some of which I'm happy to share here.

Why the Long Center? I found out when I saw Spy Kids 4 this weekend (my review). In the movie,...

See the new trailer for Spy Kids: All the Time in the World! The Weinstein Co release opens Spy Kids 4 on August 19th with Robert Rodriguez directing from his own script. Elizabeth Avellan produces the latest Spy Kids installment, starring Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale, Rickey Gervais, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara. On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don’t want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn’t know a spy if he lived with one which is exactly the case - Marissa’s a retired secret agent.

See the new trailer for Spy Kids: All the Time in the World! The Weinstein Co release opens Spy Kids 4 on August 19th with Robert Rodriguez directing from his own script. Elizabeth Avellan produces the latest Spy Kids installment, starring Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale, Rickey Gervais, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara. On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don’t want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn’t know a spy if he lived with one which is exactly the case - Marissa’s a retired secret agent.

See the new trailer for Spy Kids: All the Time in the World! The Weinstein Co release opens Spy Kids 4 on August 19th with Robert Rodriguez directing from his own script. Elizabeth Avellan produces the latest Spy Kids installment, starring Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale, Rickey Gervais, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara. On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don’t want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn’t know a spy if he lived with one which is exactly the case - Marissa’s a retired secret agent.

I caught up with director Aaron Burns this past weekend as he packed up to drive back to Los Angeles from Austin, Texas, where his first feature film blacktino got great reception at the SXSW festival.

What would await him in Los Angeles were meetings with distributors, and future projects already in the works. The excitement of what’s to come couldn’t quite be masked in Aaron’s even and thoughtful tone. I’m sure anyone who has met Aaron, and fallen into a conversation about movies, was been mesmerized by his infectious and nostalgic enthusiasm for cinema.

In this interview, the twenty-six year old writer/director talks about youth and racing against his own clock, his primary inspirations, making what he calls “post-race films”, and what lies ahead for his promising career.

The Jurassic Period

Aaron Burns describes his first acquaintance with the idea of becoming a director as a serendipitous occurrence.

Battle: Los Angeles co-star Michelle Rodriguez confirmed in a recent interview that she will have a role in the upcoming Robert Rodriguez produced horror film, The Home. The movie was written by Eric Vespe (aka Quint from AICN).

The story follows a young man who is "nearly killed during a horrible accident that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. He is taken to a secluded nursing home to recuperate, where the elderly residents appear to be suffering from crazy delusions. But after witnessing a violent attack, he soon realizes that the screams behind the walls are caused by more than hallucinations, and the residents are being preyed upon by twisted, monstrous nightmares that lurk within the home itself."

This sounds like it's going to be an awesome horror movie!

Rodriguez will join a great cast of actors previously cast in the films which includes Brian Cox (X-Men), Cloris Leachman (Young Frankenstein...

Blacktino is a quirky dark comedy about a half black and latino theater geek named Stefan Daily and is the directorial debut of Austin filmmaker Aaron Burns.

The Set-up

Stefan Daily is raised by his grandmother since being abandoned by his movie producer father and drug addicted mother. Uncomfortable and unsure of himself his only refuge is in the theater department of his high school and his best friend Laura (Devyn Ray). As he deals with trying to be accepted by the other students and the trials of his family life he finds hope in his passion for theatre.

The Good

The movie is sprinkled with humorous beats that hit the mark and is also supported by the performance of Stefan’s best friend Laura (Ray). She delivers as his trusty sidekick/ love interest throughout the film even as he repeatedly makes poor choices and seeks the approval from a...

South by Southwest has a whole section of the festival devoted to local films and filmmakers called Lone Star States. Its lineup this year includes "Five Time Champion" starring Betty Buckley, "My Sucky Teen Romance" from 18-year-old filmmaker (and subject of past SXSW doc "Zombie Girl") Emily Hagins, and "Blacktino" from Austin native Aaron Burns. It's the story of a half-black, half-Latino high school nerd (played by Austin Marshall and inspired in part by Burns' own life as a half-black, half-Latino high school nerd himself) and it was all shot here in Austin. The film also features cameos and supporting performances from a few Austin locals and favorites you might recognize like Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, and Danny Trejo. If you're wondering how Burns got such an amazing cast, he did have a bit of help: his executive producer (and real-life mother) is Elizabeth Avellan from Troublemaker Studios.

Here's our chat with Burns,...

I mentioned the production of When Angels Sing a few weeks ago: Tim McCanlies (Secondhand Lions) is directing this adaptation of a Turk Pipkin story, and it's produced by Elizabeth Avellan. The cast includes many familiar faces from the music industry: Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Sara Hickman and Harry Connick, Jr., plus Connie Britton.

When Angels Sing was recently shooting over in Northwest Park by Shoal Creek Blvd. in the Allandale neighborhood. I found some photos on Flickr from the shoot. Jim Lallen, who lives in Allandale, graciously gave me permission to publish some of his photos here. He was only able to take a few before someone on the production shooed him away.

In the above photo ("Action"), you can see Kris Kristofferson preparing to shoot a scene with a younger actor, barely visible -- I am wondering if this is Houston actor Chandler Canterbury, credited on...

SXSW Film Festival has just announced its 2011 lineup. We'll post a complete (we hope) list of all the Austin and Texas connections very soon, but in the meantime, you can read the full announcement here. The short films, midnight movies and SXFantastic films will be revealed next week, and the full panel/conference lineup on Feb. 15. SXSW Film Festival takes place from March 11-19 this year.

Immediately obvious Austin films: Heather Courtney's Where Soldiers Come From, in the documentary competition; Aaron Burns' blacktino, produced by Elizabeth Avellan and with a cast including Danny Trejo and Jeff Fahey; Turk Pipkin's latest film Building Hope; Steve Mims' documentary Incendiary: The Willingham Case; and hey! Emily Hagins' My Sucky Teen Romance. Quite pleased to see Clay Liford's feature Wuss included too, since Jenn Brown just interviewed him; look for us to publish that very soon.

More quick...

Here's the latest Austin movie news:

Freestyle Releasing has announced that the SXSW 2010 movie Skateland will hit theaters in Austin, Houston and Dallas on April 1. The movie is set in a small Texas town in the 1980s, and although shot in Louisiana, the director, writers and producer all have Austin ties. Read Debbie's SXSW review or check out her photos from the fest of the movie's star, Ashley Greene.Joe O'Connell has news about an adaptation of Turk Pipkin's story When Angels Sing, which will start filming in Bastrop shortly. The movie is being directed by Tim McCanlies with Elizabeth Avellan producing, and stars a variety of local and national well-known faces -- nearly all musicians, it seems. It looks like it could be one of those warm-hearted holiday films, but hopefully the excellent local production team will steer it away from potential treacle and sap.The Long Center...

In New Orleans, January 6 is the first day you can buy a king cake before Mardi Gras ... it's the Feast of Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day. So all I can think about today is cake. Fortunately, I'm distracting myself with a lot of local film news, some of which is really good.

My favorite news this week: Local filmmaker Kristoffer Aaron Morgan's upcoming film production The Home has been picked up by Dimension Films (the Weinsteins' horror-movie company). Morgan and Eric Vespe wrote the script for this horror movie. Morgan is someone I always see at Alamo Drafthouse movies and film fests (I took the photo of him at right at Fantastic Fest 2009), and lots of you probably know Vespe under his pen name of Quint at Ain't It Cool News. The Home will be shooting in Austin soon, and will star Cloris Leachman, Louise Fletcher, Brian Cox and Ed Asner.

I've watched Eric Vespe grow up as a film fan, and my second home in Austin is with my friend Aaron Morgan and his lovely wife, so suffice it to say I'm a wee bit on the excited side to be able to confirm that "The Home," co-written by Vespe and Morgan and set to be directed by Morgan, has been acquired by Dimension Films. Makes sense.  After all, Elizabeth Avellan is one of their producers, and her relationship with Dimension Films has been a long and successful one as the producer of the films of her ex-husband, Robert Rodriguez.  Elizabeth...

It's being reported by our friends over at /Film that Kristoffer Aaron Morgan‘s horror film The Home has been picked up by Dimension Films for distribution.

The Home is an original horror film written by Morgan and Eric Vespe who most of you may know as Quint from Ain’t It Cool News. It also has a great cast of actors which includes Brian Cox (X-Men), Cloris Leachman (Young Frankenstein), Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), Louis Gossett Jr. (The Invaders), Ed Asner (Up, The Mod Squad), and Fionnula Flanagan (Lost).

The story follows a young man who is "nearly killed during a horrible accident that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. He is taken to a secluded nursing home to recuperate, where the elderly residents appear to be suffering from crazy delusions. But after witnessing a violent attack, he soon realizes that the screams behind...

It's another win for original horror films as Dimension Films puts the upcoming feature "The Home" under their distribution wing. The film will be directed by Kristoffer Aaron Morgan and was written by himself along with Ain't It Cool News writer Eric Vespe. Principal photography on the horror thriller will begin in Austin, Texas soon. The cast for "The Home" includes Brian Cox, Louise Fletcher, Fionnula Flanagan, Cloris Leachman, Ed Asner and Louis Gossett Jr. "Machete" producer Elizabeth Avellan is on board the production with co-producer Elijah Wood. Man, talk about being wonderfully star-studded in front of and behind the camera."The Home" tells the story of a firefighter who is nearly killed during a failed rescue that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. To recuperate, he is taken to a secluded nursing home where the elderly residents appear to be suffering from delusions. But after witnessing a violent attack,...

[1] I have just heard that Bob Weinstein and Dimension Films have acquired Kristoffer Aaron Morgan's H.P. Lovecraftian horror film The Home. I'm happy to hear that Dimension Films wants to release an original movie again. The Home seems like a film they would have invested in back in the mid-1990's. It seems like now-a-days, they're concentrating mostly on sequels, remakes and un-funny parody movies. No word on if Dimension will be releasing the film theatrically or just home video. I'm sure, at very least, The Home will have a film festival run. Penned by Morgan alongside Eric Vespe (better known to film geeks at Quint from Ain't It Cool News), the story has been described as a "character driven, atmospheric, twisted creature flick". The Home tells the story of a firefighter who "is nearly killed during a failed rescue that leaves him physically and emotionally scarred. To recuperate,...