One of the people who’s made long-form television drama arguably more interesting as a whole than its mainstream big-screen equivalent in recent years, Alan Ball has underlined his superior comfort with that format in the few theatrical features he’s made to date. His screenplay for “American Beauty,” which Sam Mendes directed, was brilliant but glib; as writer-director of 2007’s “Towelhead,” he couldn’t quite make the complicated agenda of Alicia Erian’s novel gel in two-hour form.
His first such enterprise since, the somewhat autobiographically inspired “Uncle Frank,” hits a more successful balance between ensemble seriocomedy, Big Issues and a somewhat pressure-cooked plot. Set in the early ’70s, it casts the reliably deft Paul Bettany as a gay man forced to confront the Southern family to whom he’s stayed closeted — though they’ve managed to communicate tacit disapproval of his being “different” anyhow. Well-cast and gracefully handled,...
His first such enterprise since, the somewhat autobiographically inspired “Uncle Frank,” hits a more successful balance between ensemble seriocomedy, Big Issues and a somewhat pressure-cooked plot. Set in the early ’70s, it casts the reliably deft Paul Bettany as a gay man forced to confront the Southern family to whom he’s stayed closeted — though they’ve managed to communicate tacit disapproval of his being “different” anyhow. Well-cast and gracefully handled,...
- 1/26/2020
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: True Blood creator Alan Ball is in the center of a pitch deal that just went down at Paramount. Ball will direct and produce an untitled project that will be written by Elan Mastai. The project, which Ball will produce solo through his HBO-based Your Face Goes Here Entertainment shingle, is a dark comedy with a twist, insiders say. Ball hatched the idea and fleshed it out with Mastai. Paramount acquired it in a bidding situation. Ball created HBO's True Blood and Six Feet Under and on the feature front, Ball made his directorial debut on Towelhead, also writing and producing the adaptation of the Alicia Erian novel. He won an Oscar for his feature scripting debut on American Beauty. Mastai wrote The F-Word, a project that made the Black List and is gearing up for a production start at Fox Searchlight with Alex Holdridge directing and Casey Affleck reportedly going to star.
- 11/1/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
There was a bit of an uproar back in the fall of 2008 when the Toronto Film Festival hit Nothing Is Private got its theatrical release, for its title had been changed after its festival appearance. It was now called Towelhead, which is kinda like calling a movie Nigger... or it would be, if more Americans understood that towelhead is considered derogatory among Arab-Americans, people who are mistaken for Arab by the kind of ignorant bigots who would call someone towelhead (such as Sikhs, who are Indian), and anyone who decries ignorance and bigotry no matter what their ethnicity, religion, or skin color is. Oh, are you shocked by my use of the word nigger? Then you understand how some people felt about the title of this film. And, indeed, the only extras on the new Region 1 DVD release of the movie are two roundtable discussions that include, in various combinations,...
- 1/8/2009
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Chicago – The time has come for another round-up, a collection of DVD and Blu-Ray titles that may have missed the front page in the Best Buy circular but that might be worth your attention. The DVD Round-Up is back (check out the first edition here and a few Blu-Ray Round-Ups here and here) with drama, comedy, TV, action, and even Hitler.
Nicolas Cage plays a killer in “Bangkok Dangerous,” Derek Luke a football player in “Friday Night Lights,” Aaron Eckhart a suburbanite in “Towelhead,” and Carmen Electra essentially herself in “Disaster Movie”. There’s something for everyone in the DVD Round-Up.
All of these titles were released on January 6th, 2009, unless otherwise noted.
“Bangkok Dangerous”
“The Hitman Has Become the Target.” Nicolas Cage stars in the remake of The Pang Brothers’ “Bangkok Dangerous,” a messy action film about Joe, a hired assassin caught in the middle of a hitman’s nightmare.
Nicolas Cage plays a killer in “Bangkok Dangerous,” Derek Luke a football player in “Friday Night Lights,” Aaron Eckhart a suburbanite in “Towelhead,” and Carmen Electra essentially herself in “Disaster Movie”. There’s something for everyone in the DVD Round-Up.
All of these titles were released on January 6th, 2009, unless otherwise noted.
“Bangkok Dangerous”
“The Hitman Has Become the Target.” Nicolas Cage stars in the remake of The Pang Brothers’ “Bangkok Dangerous,” a messy action film about Joe, a hired assassin caught in the middle of a hitman’s nightmare.
- 1/7/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Review: Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Alicia Erian, written for the screen and directed by Alan Ball (Oscar® winning writer of American Beauty and creator of Six Feet Under), Towelhead is the disturbing type with a touch of dark dramatic/comedy that is not far from reality. Once again Alan Ball has taken another suburban life story exposing many issues of today’s society. This time around the issues don’t revolve around a dysfunctional family like in “American Beauty”. In his directorial debut Ball has just created a film that will be sensitive for many and a cruel awake [...]...
- 1/3/2009
- by The Critic
- SmartCine.com
Towelhead Directed by: Marc Abraham Cast: Summer Bishil, Maria Bello, Aaron Eckhart, Peter Macdissi Time: 1 hr 56 mins Rating: R Plot: A tale a troubled Arab girl who forges through the tumultuous tweens amidst amplified adversity. Along with reaching her sexual awakening, young Jasira learns the yings and yangs of bigotry and racism without much help from her anti-role model parents. Who’s It For? This is film based on the novel written by Alicia Erian. It’s interesting to see how successful books are morphed into feature films. Also, anyone interested in witnessing what could be the most provocative coming age story about a thirteen-year-old girl. Yes, I’ve seen Thirteen. Expectations: Those of you expecting the rumored controversy this film with initiate should ready yourself. It’s difficult to fully assert how far this film goes with the material. Far past previously set standards for what’s expectable, especially...
- 10/3/2008
- The Scorecard Review
Exploring themes of racism, teenage sexuality, and abuse, Alan Ball’s new film, Towelhead, (http://wip.warnerbros.com/towelhead/ ) (based on Alicia Erian’s novel of the same name) has been inciting controversy for well over a year. - - - Its incendiary title would be a lightning rod on its own. At first considered too controversial, Towelhead (http://wip.warnerbros.com/towelhead/ )made its debut at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival as Nothing is Private, but was changed after “audiences universally complained that [the title] was pointless.” (1) (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2008/09/how-towelhead-g.html) The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations recently protested, calling on Warner Bros. to change the title yet again, but Warner Bros. isn’t budging……a decision the book’s author applauds: As an Arab-American woman, I am of course aware that the title of my book is an ethnic slur. Indeed, I...
- 9/13/2008
- The Movie Fanatic
Filed under: Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Foreign Language, Independent, New Releases, Columns, Cinematical Indie, Indie Spotlight
Do I smell like Toronto? That's because I just got back from the film festival they have up there, and the scent of independent film still lingers. (It smells like Patricia Clarkson.) So I am very much in the mood for this week's edition of the Indie Spotlight, which is all about what's opening beyond the multiplexes this weekend!
Six flicks hit the big screen today: Flow: For Love of Water, Forgiveness, Greetings from the Shore, Moving Midway, Proud American, and Towelhead. Here's the scoop on each of them.
Towelhead
What it is: A dark comedy from Six Feet Under creator (and American Beauty writer) Alan Ball, based on Alicia Erian's novel about an adolescent Arab-American girl living in Texas during the first Gulf War.
What they're saying: Cinematical liked it when it premiered...
Do I smell like Toronto? That's because I just got back from the film festival they have up there, and the scent of independent film still lingers. (It smells like Patricia Clarkson.) So I am very much in the mood for this week's edition of the Indie Spotlight, which is all about what's opening beyond the multiplexes this weekend!
Six flicks hit the big screen today: Flow: For Love of Water, Forgiveness, Greetings from the Shore, Moving Midway, Proud American, and Towelhead. Here's the scoop on each of them.
Towelhead
What it is: A dark comedy from Six Feet Under creator (and American Beauty writer) Alan Ball, based on Alicia Erian's novel about an adolescent Arab-American girl living in Texas during the first Gulf War.
What they're saying: Cinematical liked it when it premiered...
- 9/12/2008
- by Eric D. Snider
- Cinematical
By Neil Pedley
Some might be quick to dismiss this week as part of the post-summer lull, but others might see it as a week of films that have been years in the making . it's been 13 since the now re-paired Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were last on screen together, while Diane English's remake of "The Women" took 12 to make it to the big screen, and the Flaming Lips' "Christmas on Mars" spent a mere seven years in the offing. As for fans of the Coen brothers, it only seems like forever since "No Country for Old Men."
"Able Danger"
Another week, another 9/11 conspiracy film, this one actually getting released on the seventh anniversary of the tragedy. Loosely inspired by "The Maltese Falcon," this Dv noir offers something of a date movie for far-left conspiracy theorists who take issue with perceived abuse of power on the part of our government.
Some might be quick to dismiss this week as part of the post-summer lull, but others might see it as a week of films that have been years in the making . it's been 13 since the now re-paired Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were last on screen together, while Diane English's remake of "The Women" took 12 to make it to the big screen, and the Flaming Lips' "Christmas on Mars" spent a mere seven years in the offing. As for fans of the Coen brothers, it only seems like forever since "No Country for Old Men."
"Able Danger"
Another week, another 9/11 conspiracy film, this one actually getting released on the seventh anniversary of the tragedy. Loosely inspired by "The Maltese Falcon," this Dv noir offers something of a date movie for far-left conspiracy theorists who take issue with perceived abuse of power on the part of our government.
- 9/8/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
Many theatre actors have performed his plays, including Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, at one time or another. He won an Oscar for scripting American Beauty, and he created the seminal HBO series Six Feet Under. Now Alan Ball makes his feature directorial debut with Towelhead, a film about a 13-year-old half-Lebanese girl's coming of age.
Back Stage: When Towelhead premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, it raised considerable controversy. Fox News' Roger Friedman called it "odious" and "unacceptable." Were you surprised by the reaction?
Alan Ball: No. And I wasn't surprised someone working for Fox didn't care for it. What did surprise me was how many facts he got wrong. I'm fine with people not liking the movie. I know this is not a film for everyone. Back Stage: The film is based on the book Towelhead, by Alicia Erian. But at Toronto, it had...
Back Stage: When Towelhead premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, it raised considerable controversy. Fox News' Roger Friedman called it "odious" and "unacceptable." Were you surprised by the reaction?
Alan Ball: No. And I wasn't surprised someone working for Fox didn't care for it. What did surprise me was how many facts he got wrong. I'm fine with people not liking the movie. I know this is not a film for everyone. Back Stage: The film is based on the book Towelhead, by Alicia Erian. But at Toronto, it had...
- 9/5/2008
- by Jenelle Riley
- backstage.com
Aaron Eckhart says he's "living in a cocoon." How else to explain how he's managed to avoid the controversy surrounding his latest movie, Towelhead? Adapted from the autobiographical novel by Alicia Erian and written and directed by Oscar-winning American Beauty screenwriter Alan Ball, the film explores the sexual awakening of 13-year-old Jasira (newcomer Summer Bishil), who is sent to live with her Lebanese father (Peter Macdissi) in Houston in the early 1990s. Eckhart takes a supporting role as Mr. Vuoso, the flag-flying Army reservist neighbor who develops a sexual relationship with Jasira. The film is an unflinching — and frequently hilarious — look at infidelity, racism, and sexuality.And not everyone is a fan. After the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, Fox News ran the headline "Kiddie Porn Movie Rocks Toronto as 'Feel-Awful' Film of the Year" and reviewer Roger Fridman went on to label the movie "odious" and "unacceptable.
- 9/5/2008
- by Jenelle Riley
- backstage.com
As Eric wrote yesterday, the upcoming dark comedy Towelhead is facing a protest from an Islamic group because of its title, which is perceived as derogatory and a racial slur. Not only is the film's distributor, Warner Independent, sticking by the title, but they have issued a press release containing lengthy, candid, and sometimes even moving responses to the controversy from: 1) Alicia Erian, the author of the original novel; 2) Alan Ball, the director of the film; 3) Warner Independent itself; and 4) a group of theologians.
Erian makes pretty much the same argument as Eric did in yesterday's post: that the title serves to highlight the racism its protagonist must contend with. She notes that her novel has been in print for three years and this is the first protest she has received. She also makes the excellent point that "[r]ealistically speaking . . . [people who are likely to use terms like "towelhead" to refer to Muslims] are neither the audience for my book, nor for the film.
Erian makes pretty much the same argument as Eric did in yesterday's post: that the title serves to highlight the racism its protagonist must contend with. She notes that her novel has been in print for three years and this is the first protest she has received. She also makes the excellent point that "[r]ealistically speaking . . . [people who are likely to use terms like "towelhead" to refer to Muslims] are neither the audience for my book, nor for the film.
- 8/28/2008
- by Eugene Novikov
- Cinematical
Unbeknownst to us, the Council on American-Islam Relations (aka Cair) has been arguing with Warner Brothers to change the name of the upcoming indie film Towelhead. Thankfully they resisted and in turn have asked that the author of the book and writer/director Alan Ball provide some explanations behind the name. In an effort to support some indie films ourselves, I've decided to feature some of their statements. While I haven't seen Towelhead yet, I've heard great things and it was one of the films that everyone in Warner Independent Studios supported before it was disbanded and combined with Warner Brothers. If there is one person who can justify the title more than anyone, it's Alicia Erian, who wrote the book that the movie is based on and titled it "Towelhead" despite she is an Arab-American herself. Here is her statement on the title, which I think wonderfully explains why...
- 8/28/2008
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
TowelHead has generated an uproar over the title of the movie based on the novel. The author of the book Alicia Erian a Mulsim herself has provided us with the following statement in response to the uproar. Towelhead follows the dark, bold and shockingly funny life of Jasira, a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and her own sexual awakening. When Jasira's mother sends her to Houston to live with her strict Lebanese father, she quickly learns that her new neighbors find her and her father a curiosity. Worse, her budding womanhood ...
- 8/28/2008
- MoviesOnline.ca
So the council on American-Islam Relations (Cair) has requested that Warner Bros. and Wip (Warner Independent Pictures) alter the name of their upcoming film "Towelhead" to something else. Personally, I don't understand why everyone these days is so fragile. Warner Bros. has chosen not to change its title, and, as such, we are in full agreement with the distributor. "Towelhead," also known as "Nothing is Private," is directed by Atlanta, Ga born TV director Alan Ball who pens the screenplay based on the novel written by Alicia Erian, Arab-American woman. We have a user review for this where, one can see the content was disturbing but, at the same time "brilliantly created." It is the time we live in - a world filled with chaos, change and disruption all at once. Another states"I have to Thank director Alan Ball for having the guts to make this Wonderful emotionally thematically...
- 8/27/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
So the council on American-Islam Relations (Cair) has requested that Warner Bros. and Wip (Warner Independent Pictures) alter the name of their upcoming film "Towelhead" to something else. Personally, I don't understand why everyone these days is so fragile. Warner Bros. has chosen not to change its title, and, as such, we are in full agreement with the distributor. "Towelhead," also known as "Nothing is Private," is directed by Atlanta, Ga born TV director Alan Ball who pens the screenplay based on the novel written by Alicia Erian, Arab-American woman. We have a user review for this where, one can see the content was disturbing but, at the same time "brilliantly created." It is the time we live in - a world filled with chaos, change and disruption all at once. Another states"I have to Thank director Alan Ball for having the guts to make this Wonderful emotionally thematically...
- 8/27/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
So the council on American-Islam Relations (Cair) has requested that Warner Bros. and Wip (Warner Independent Pictures) alter the name of their upcoming film "Towelhead" to something else. Personally, I don't understand why everyone these days is so fragile. Warner Bros. has chosen not to change its title, and, as such, we are in full agreement with the distributor. "Towelhead," also known as "Nothing is Private," is directed by Atlanta, Ga born TV director Alan Ball who pens the screenplay based on the novel written by Alicia Erian, Arab-American woman. We have a user review for this where, one can see the content was disturbing but, at the same time "brilliantly created." It is the time we live in - a world filled with chaos, change and disruption all at once. Another states"I have to Thank director Alan Ball for having the guts to make this Wonderful emotionally thematically...
- 8/27/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
So the council on American-Islam Relations (Cair) has requested that Warner Bros. and Wip (Warner Independent Pictures) alter the name of their upcoming film "Towelhead" to something else. Personally, I don't understand why everyone these days is so fragile. Warner Bros. has chosen not to change its title, and, as such, we are in full agreement with the distributor. "Towelhead," also known as "Nothing is Private," is directed by Atlanta, Ga born TV director Alan Ball who pens the screenplay based on the novel written by Alicia Erian, Arab-American woman. We have a user review for this where, one can see the content was disturbing but, at the same time "brilliantly created." It is the time we live in - a world filled with chaos, change and disruption all at once. Another states"I have to Thank director Alan Ball for having the guts to make this Wonderful emotionally thematically...
- 8/27/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Amidst Muslim leaders' demand of the retitling of "Towelhead", the Warner Independent Pictures' controversial drama stays firm with its chosen title. Rejecting the idea to make some changes in the naming of the film, its director/producer/writer Alan Ball reasoned that the title is important for the movie to be true to its original concept.
Insisting that the title will be kept, Ball shared his point of view on the matter. "As a gay man, I know how it feels to be called hateful names simply because of who I am," he explained. "Therefore, I felt it was important to retain the title of Alicia Erian's novel, in which she so effectively dramatizes the pain inflicted by such language, something many people of non-minority descent never have to face."
"I believe one of the unintended consequences of forbidding such words to be spoken is imbuing those words with...
Insisting that the title will be kept, Ball shared his point of view on the matter. "As a gay man, I know how it feels to be called hateful names simply because of who I am," he explained. "Therefore, I felt it was important to retain the title of Alicia Erian's novel, in which she so effectively dramatizes the pain inflicted by such language, something many people of non-minority descent never have to face."
"I believe one of the unintended consequences of forbidding such words to be spoken is imbuing those words with...
- 8/27/2008
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
The director of controversial movie Towelhead has hit back at calls to retitle the film, insisting it is "important" to stay true to the original concept.
Muslim leaders have urged movie executives at Warner Bros. to rename the flick because the word is "offensive and exploitative" to American Muslims and Arab-Americans.
But Alan Ball, who directs the film adaptation of the Alicia Erian novel, insists he will keep the title as it was intended.
He says, "As a gay man, I know how it feels to be called hateful names simply because of who I am. Therefore, I felt it was important to retain the title of Alicia Erian's novel, in which she so effectively dramatises the pain inflicted by such language, something many people of non-minority descent never have to face.
"I believe one of the unintended consequences of forbidding such words to be spoken is imbuing those words with more power than they should ever have, and helping create the illusion that the bigotry and racism expressed by such cruel epithets is less prevalent than it actually is, which we all know is sadly not the case."
The film, starring Aaron Eckhart, Summer Bishil and Toni Collette, is about a young Arab-American girl's struggles with life and sexual obsession. The heroine of Erian's story is dubbed 'Towelhead' by her enemies.
Muslim leaders have urged movie executives at Warner Bros. to rename the flick because the word is "offensive and exploitative" to American Muslims and Arab-Americans.
But Alan Ball, who directs the film adaptation of the Alicia Erian novel, insists he will keep the title as it was intended.
He says, "As a gay man, I know how it feels to be called hateful names simply because of who I am. Therefore, I felt it was important to retain the title of Alicia Erian's novel, in which she so effectively dramatises the pain inflicted by such language, something many people of non-minority descent never have to face.
"I believe one of the unintended consequences of forbidding such words to be spoken is imbuing those words with more power than they should ever have, and helping create the illusion that the bigotry and racism expressed by such cruel epithets is less prevalent than it actually is, which we all know is sadly not the case."
The film, starring Aaron Eckhart, Summer Bishil and Toni Collette, is about a young Arab-American girl's struggles with life and sexual obsession. The heroine of Erian's story is dubbed 'Towelhead' by her enemies.
- 8/26/2008
- WENN
Muslim leaders are urging movie executives at Warner Bros. to retitle their new movie Towelhead because the word is "offensive and exploitative".
Los Angeles members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) insist the derogatory term is offensive to American Muslims and Arab-Americans. They go so far as to state the term 'towelhead' as "a racial and religious slur".
In a letter sent to studio executives, the Islamic civil rights and advocacy group has asked that the film, directed by Alan Ball, be called Nothing is Private - a title previously used in some markets.
CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush writes, "The word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin... We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any film you wish. However, I ask you to take the above concerns into consideration and examine the social implications of releasing the film under its current title.
"It is unfortunate that a major film studio would choose to exploit an ethnic slur as a sensational promotion for a movie. Mainstreaming a bigoted term in this manner will only serve to legitimize and normalize anti-Muslim prejudice in our society."
The film, starring Aaron Eckhart, Summer Bishil and Toni Collette, is adapted from Alicia Erian's novel about a young Arab-American girl's struggles with life and sexual obsession. The heroine of Erian's story is dubbed 'Towelhead' by some ignorant and bigoted Americans.
Los Angeles members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) insist the derogatory term is offensive to American Muslims and Arab-Americans. They go so far as to state the term 'towelhead' as "a racial and religious slur".
In a letter sent to studio executives, the Islamic civil rights and advocacy group has asked that the film, directed by Alan Ball, be called Nothing is Private - a title previously used in some markets.
CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush writes, "The word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin... We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any film you wish. However, I ask you to take the above concerns into consideration and examine the social implications of releasing the film under its current title.
"It is unfortunate that a major film studio would choose to exploit an ethnic slur as a sensational promotion for a movie. Mainstreaming a bigoted term in this manner will only serve to legitimize and normalize anti-Muslim prejudice in our society."
The film, starring Aaron Eckhart, Summer Bishil and Toni Collette, is adapted from Alicia Erian's novel about a young Arab-American girl's struggles with life and sexual obsession. The heroine of Erian's story is dubbed 'Towelhead' by some ignorant and bigoted Americans.
- 8/26/2008
- WENN
An Islamic civil rights and advocacy group has asked Warner Bros. to change the title of its upcoming film "Towelhead," saying "the word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin."
The studio said it plans to keep things as it is and stand by the filmmakers, who chose the title to point out racial stereotypes, though it added, "We apologize for any offense that is caused by the title."
"Towelhead," directed by Alan Ball and adapted for the screen by Alicia Erian from her novel of the same name, looks at the life of a 13-year-old Lebanese-American girl in the early '90s. A Warner Independent specialty title now being handled by Warners, it is scheduled to open in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on Sept. 12.
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations...
The studio said it plans to keep things as it is and stand by the filmmakers, who chose the title to point out racial stereotypes, though it added, "We apologize for any offense that is caused by the title."
"Towelhead," directed by Alan Ball and adapted for the screen by Alicia Erian from her novel of the same name, looks at the life of a 13-year-old Lebanese-American girl in the early '90s. A Warner Independent specialty title now being handled by Warners, it is scheduled to open in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on Sept. 12.
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations...
- 8/25/2008
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warner Independent released a brand new movie trailer for the upcoming film “Towelhead” by director Alan Ball (Six Feet Under) and starring Summer Bishil, Aaron Eckhart, Peter Macdissi, Toni Collette and Maria Bello. Plot: A young Arab-American girl struggles with her sexual obsession, a bigoted Army reservist and her strict father during the Gulf War. Based on Alicia Erian’s novel “Towelhead”.
- 7/1/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
- Best Adapted Screenplay Eric Roth for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount Pictures) Justin Haythe for "Revolutionary Road" (Paramount Vantage) David Hare for "The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) John Patrick Shanley for "Doubt" (Miramax Films) Peter Morgan for "Frost/Nixon" (Universal Pictures) Comments: Three book adaptations and 2 stage to film projects make up the category for . The Brad Pitt starrer is an adaptation a 1922 short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Eric Roth (winner for Best Adapted Screenplay for Forrest Gump and the person who penned Mann's The Insider (1999) and Spielberg's Munich should be among the finalists. Another older novel coming to the big screen is the first novel of author Richard Yates - Justin Haythe adapts Revolutionary Road for Sam Mendes and the experts are saying that this is perhaps the lead picture of the category. David Hare adapts the award-winning novel from German law prof and judge Bernhard Schlink.
- 4/3/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
- #31. Towelhead Director/Writer: Alan BallProducers: Ted Hope and Alan Ball Distributor: Warner Independent Pictures The Gist: Formerly titled Nothing Is Private, this is based on the Alicia Erian's novel, this is set during the Gulf War, and is a coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl who must navigate a sexual obsession with a bigoted Army reservist under the oppressive eye of her Lebanese father.... Fact: Ball wrote American Beauty and the television show Six Feet Under. See It: Along with Juno, this was my favorite film from Tiff. Politically incorrect film features great performances and keep your eyes peeled on newcomer Summer Bishil - she shines! Release Date/Status?: Was showcased and bought at Tiff and was displayed at Sundance. Coming out August 15th. ...
- 1/31/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
One film sure to make waves at Sundance this year will be American Beauty scribe Alan Ball's directorial debut Towelhead. Screened already at the Toronto International Film Festival under the title "Nothing is Private," this adaptation of Alicia Erian's novel depicts an Army reservist (Thank Your for Smoking's Aaron Eckhart) sexually abusing a 13-year-old Arab-American girl during the first Gulf War. Some reviewers found the film's explictness so odious, there...
- 1/17/2008
- AMC News: Film Festivals
NEW YORK -- The Sundance Institute will workshop 13 projects at its January Screenwriters Lab, steered by a who's who of indie writers, including artistic director Scott Frank, Paul Attanasio, Kasi Lemmons, Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal and Doug Wright.
Towelhead author Alicia Erian, whose novel was adapted for Alan Ball's upcoming Nothing Is Private, is developing a script about an American who faces repercussions after helping a Salvadoran immigrant in Hammer and Anvil.
The other projects include Liu Hao's Beijing romance Addicted to Love; John Magary's family drama "Blood Abundance, or the Half-Life of Antoinette"; Ryan Knighton's autobiographical blindness drama Cockeyed; and Hadar Friedlich's Israeli profile Hannah M.
Patrick Vala-Haynes' father-son drama The Henchman; Moon Molson's crime drama Meadowlandz; Daniel Casey's Polish-American boxing story Poletown; and Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa and Karen Sztajnberg's Brazilian coming-of-age drama Quotas also made the cut.
Rounding out the list are Liza Johnson's portrait of a military mother, Return; Hicham Ayouch's Moroccan Muslim drama Samba Do Maazouuz; Frank Budgen's adult U.K. fairy tale, Shockheaded Peter; and Darrell Dennis' study of a Native American woman in Canada, Tales of an Urban Indian.
Other Screenwriters Lab advisers include Rodrigo Garcia, Dan Kleinman, Fernando Leon de Aranoa, Malia Scotch Marmo, Christopher McQuarrie, Walter Mosley, Tom Rickman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zachary Sklar, Dana Stevens, Thomas Vinterberg and Tyger Williams.
Towelhead author Alicia Erian, whose novel was adapted for Alan Ball's upcoming Nothing Is Private, is developing a script about an American who faces repercussions after helping a Salvadoran immigrant in Hammer and Anvil.
The other projects include Liu Hao's Beijing romance Addicted to Love; John Magary's family drama "Blood Abundance, or the Half-Life of Antoinette"; Ryan Knighton's autobiographical blindness drama Cockeyed; and Hadar Friedlich's Israeli profile Hannah M.
Patrick Vala-Haynes' father-son drama The Henchman; Moon Molson's crime drama Meadowlandz; Daniel Casey's Polish-American boxing story Poletown; and Fellipe Gamarano Barbosa and Karen Sztajnberg's Brazilian coming-of-age drama Quotas also made the cut.
Rounding out the list are Liza Johnson's portrait of a military mother, Return; Hicham Ayouch's Moroccan Muslim drama Samba Do Maazouuz; Frank Budgen's adult U.K. fairy tale, Shockheaded Peter; and Darrell Dennis' study of a Native American woman in Canada, Tales of an Urban Indian.
Other Screenwriters Lab advisers include Rodrigo Garcia, Dan Kleinman, Fernando Leon de Aranoa, Malia Scotch Marmo, Christopher McQuarrie, Walter Mosley, Tom Rickman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zachary Sklar, Dana Stevens, Thomas Vinterberg and Tyger Williams.
- 12/14/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Warner Independent Pictures have picked up a “hate it or love it” type of title – perhaps the most controverisal film at Toronto – and one of my faves so far. The indie co. paid just a little bit over a million along with Netflix's Red Envelope, paid $1.2 million for Nothing Is Private. The R-rated title is Alan Ball's directing debut offers a nasty Aaron Eckhart (think retro In the Company of Men type of meaness) and gives uneasy depictions of rape and pedophilia. Many elements that made American Beauty so provocative and visually imaginative are found in this picture as well.Based on the Alicia Erian's novel Towelhead, this is set during the Gulf War, and is a coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl who must navigate a sexual obsession with a bigoted Army reservist under the oppressive eye of her Lebanese father. The film tells the story of Jasira,
- 9/12/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
TORONTO -- After a modest day, the relatively dead Toronto market rose to life late Tuesday as North American rights, including Mexico, for George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead went to the Weinstein Co. for $2 million-$2.5 million.
Earlier in the day, North American rights for Tom McCarthy's The Visitor went to Overture Films, and Alan Ball's Nothing Is Private went to Warner Independent Pictures and Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment for more than $1 million each.
And Sidney Kimmel Entertainment completed a three-picture distribution deal with Canada's Equinoxe Films that encompassed the warmly received Toronto premiere Lars and the Real Girl, starring Ryan Gosling.
WIP and REE jointly acquired Ball's adaptation of Alicia Erian's novel Towelhead, the most controversial film of the fest, for $1 million-$1.5 million. WIP, which also took an Eastern European territory, is eyeing a mid-2008 domestic release.
The story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl's adolescent awakening, Nothing stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and newcomer Summer Bishil and also features graphic scenes involving menstruation, rape, racist language and an all too May-December romance. It received many good reviews, but provoked equally passionate positive and negative reactions from buyers and audiences, making it a brave choice for its distributors.
Nothing already has received an R rating, but according to a source close to the deal, will be cut solely for length from its current 134-minute running time.
"Alan's film is provocative, warm-hearted and is sure to create a lot of discussion as his past work on 'American Beauty' and 'Six Feet Under' has," WIP head Polly Cohen said.
In one of the fest's most lingering and anticipated sales, new indie distributor Overture picked up all North American rights to writer-director Thomas McCarthy's quiet character portrait and immigration drama The Visitor early Tuesday morning for more than $1 million, plus boxoffice and ancillary bonuses for the filmmakers.
Earlier in the day, North American rights for Tom McCarthy's The Visitor went to Overture Films, and Alan Ball's Nothing Is Private went to Warner Independent Pictures and Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment for more than $1 million each.
And Sidney Kimmel Entertainment completed a three-picture distribution deal with Canada's Equinoxe Films that encompassed the warmly received Toronto premiere Lars and the Real Girl, starring Ryan Gosling.
WIP and REE jointly acquired Ball's adaptation of Alicia Erian's novel Towelhead, the most controversial film of the fest, for $1 million-$1.5 million. WIP, which also took an Eastern European territory, is eyeing a mid-2008 domestic release.
The story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl's adolescent awakening, Nothing stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and newcomer Summer Bishil and also features graphic scenes involving menstruation, rape, racist language and an all too May-December romance. It received many good reviews, but provoked equally passionate positive and negative reactions from buyers and audiences, making it a brave choice for its distributors.
Nothing already has received an R rating, but according to a source close to the deal, will be cut solely for length from its current 134-minute running time.
"Alan's film is provocative, warm-hearted and is sure to create a lot of discussion as his past work on 'American Beauty' and 'Six Feet Under' has," WIP head Polly Cohen said.
In one of the fest's most lingering and anticipated sales, new indie distributor Overture picked up all North American rights to writer-director Thomas McCarthy's quiet character portrait and immigration drama The Visitor early Tuesday morning for more than $1 million, plus boxoffice and ancillary bonuses for the filmmakers.
- 9/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- As evening fell in Toronto on Tuesday, Warner Independent Pictures acquired and Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment was finalizing the joint acquisition of all North American rights to the most controversial film of the fest, writer/director Alan Ball's Nothing is Private, for around $1.25 million. The deal also included an Eastern European territory for WIP, which is eyeing a mid-2008 domestic release.
The story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl's adolescent awakening includes graphic scenes involving menstruation, rape, racist language and pedophilia. It has received many good reviews but equally passionate positive and negative reactions from buyers and audiences, making it a brave choice by WIP. The film, which has already received an R rating, will be cut solely for length reasons from its current unfinished 134-minute running time.
Based on Alicia Erian's controversial novel Towelhead, the This is That/Indian Paintbrush production stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and newcomer Summer Bishil in the lead role.
The story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl's adolescent awakening includes graphic scenes involving menstruation, rape, racist language and pedophilia. It has received many good reviews but equally passionate positive and negative reactions from buyers and audiences, making it a brave choice by WIP. The film, which has already received an R rating, will be cut solely for length reasons from its current unfinished 134-minute running time.
Based on Alicia Erian's controversial novel Towelhead, the This is That/Indian Paintbrush production stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and newcomer Summer Bishil in the lead role.
- 9/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- After a modest day, the relatively dead Toronto market rose to life late Tuesday as North American rights, including Mexico, for "George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead" went to the Weinstein Co. for $2 million-$2.5 million.
Earlier in the day, North American rights for Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" went to Overture Films, and Alan Ball's "Nothing Is Private" went to Warner Independent Pictures and Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment for more than $1 million each.
And Sidney Kimmel Entertainment completed a three-picture distribution deal with Canada's Equinoxe Films that encompassed the warmly received Toronto premiere "Lars and the Real Girl", starring Ryan Gosling.
WIP and REE jointly acquired Ball's adaptation of Alicia Erian's novel "Towelhead", the most controversial film of the fest, for $1 million-$1.5 million. WIP, which also took an Eastern European territory, is eyeing a mid-2008 domestic release.
The story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl's adolescent awakening, "Nothing" stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and newcomer Summer Bishil and also features graphic scenes involving menstruation, rape, racist language and an all too May-December romance. It received many good reviews, but provoked equally passionate positive and negative reactions from buyers and audiences, making it a brave choice for its distributors.
"Nothing" already has received an R rating, but according to a source close to the deal, will be cut solely for length from its current 134-minute running time.
"Alan's film is provocative, warm-hearted and is sure to create a lot of discussion as his past work on 'American Beauty' and 'Six Feet Under' has," WIP head Polly Cohen said.
In one of the fest's most lingering and anticipated sales, new indie distributor Overture picked up all North American rights to writer-director Thomas McCarthy's quiet character portrait and immigration drama "The Visitor" early Tuesday morning for more than $1 million, plus boxoffice and ancillary bonuses for the filmmakers.
Earlier in the day, North American rights for Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" went to Overture Films, and Alan Ball's "Nothing Is Private" went to Warner Independent Pictures and Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment for more than $1 million each.
And Sidney Kimmel Entertainment completed a three-picture distribution deal with Canada's Equinoxe Films that encompassed the warmly received Toronto premiere "Lars and the Real Girl", starring Ryan Gosling.
WIP and REE jointly acquired Ball's adaptation of Alicia Erian's novel "Towelhead", the most controversial film of the fest, for $1 million-$1.5 million. WIP, which also took an Eastern European territory, is eyeing a mid-2008 domestic release.
The story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl's adolescent awakening, "Nothing" stars Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello and newcomer Summer Bishil and also features graphic scenes involving menstruation, rape, racist language and an all too May-December romance. It received many good reviews, but provoked equally passionate positive and negative reactions from buyers and audiences, making it a brave choice for its distributors.
"Nothing" already has received an R rating, but according to a source close to the deal, will be cut solely for length from its current 134-minute running time.
"Alan's film is provocative, warm-hearted and is sure to create a lot of discussion as his past work on 'American Beauty' and 'Six Feet Under' has," WIP head Polly Cohen said.
In one of the fest's most lingering and anticipated sales, new indie distributor Overture picked up all North American rights to writer-director Thomas McCarthy's quiet character portrait and immigration drama "The Visitor" early Tuesday morning for more than $1 million, plus boxoffice and ancillary bonuses for the filmmakers.
- 9/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- If photographers still used flashbulbs, then Tiff’s latest announcements would generate much bulb waste. The fest announced 8 more selections yesterday adding more titles to the Gala and Special Presentations spots. The titles are comprised of studio films release dates within weeks of the festival, hold the distinction of being mostly book to screen adaptations and have payrolls bigger than some third world nations’ GDPs. Among the announced films, Nothing Is Private will be hot title for sale. Alan Ball's directorial debut is based on the Alicia Erian's novel Towelhead, set during the Gulf War, this is a coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old Arab-American girl who must navigate a sexual obsession with a bigoted Army reservist under the oppressive eye of her Lebanese father. The film tells the story of Jasira, who struggles with identity and sexual issues as the daughter of a Lebanese-American father and an
- 7/11/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
- Quick Links > Towelhead > Maria Bello > Toni Collette > Aaron Eckhart > American Beauty Alan Ball , the Oscar-winning screenwriter of American Beauty and the Emmy-winning Six Feet Under, will finally make his much anticipated big screen directorial debut with Towelhead, based on the novel by Alicia Erian. Officially its an untitled project, but the script, which has been shelved since being optioned in 2004 while Ball wrapped up Six Feet Under, has found financing in the guise of Steven M. Rales, who will produce with Ball and Ted Hope. Scott Rudin, Peggy Rajski, and Anne Carey are the executive producers. The film, about a young Arab-American girl named Jasira who struggles with sexual obsession in Texas during the Gulf War, will feature Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine), and Maria Bello (A History of Violence). In the lead role, Summer Bishil will make her film debut as the confused Jesira,
- 8/8/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
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