In this week’s International TV Newswire, major Spanish broadcasters get stung for anti-competitive practices, Intaglio preps two new English-language series out of Berlin, A+E Networks Emea’s executive team is announced, Topic picks up a trio of Eccho Rights Scandinavian series and “Finding Joy” gets a second season on RTÉ and Acorn TV.
Cnmc Sanctions Mediaset and Atresmedia for Anticompetitive Practices
Spain’s Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia – Cnmc has levied sanctions totaling €77.1 million ($85 million) – split almost 50/50 – against the country’s two biggest broadcasters, Mediaset and Atresmedia, for the claimed practice of anti-trust policies in the booking of TV advertising. According to the Cnmc, the two developed policies in the sale of TV ads which resulted in a joint market share between their channels exceeding 85% of the entire TV advertising market in Spain, deemed as a higher figure than should exist in a competitive market.
Cnmc Sanctions Mediaset and Atresmedia for Anticompetitive Practices
Spain’s Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia – Cnmc has levied sanctions totaling €77.1 million ($85 million) – split almost 50/50 – against the country’s two biggest broadcasters, Mediaset and Atresmedia, for the claimed practice of anti-trust policies in the booking of TV advertising. According to the Cnmc, the two developed policies in the sale of TV ads which resulted in a joint market share between their channels exceeding 85% of the entire TV advertising market in Spain, deemed as a higher figure than should exist in a competitive market.
- 11/15/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Europa Report, a feature film by Ecuadorian director, Sebastián Cordero, was so impressive. On a personal note (not to brag…), my niece is exploring alien life in the form of starfish at the Stanford Marine Station in Monterey as the subject of her Nasa- funded PhD program, so this movie about exploring alien life in a watery environment touches close to home for me. In addition, I am very interested in Ecuador as a filmmaking country (or a non-filmmaking country) whose revenues from homegrown cinema has grown 300% in 2012, so I did something I rarely undertake, I interviewed the filmmaker.
Sebastián Cordero was in L.A. for ten days after attending Comic-Con and stayed through last night's Kcrw Special L.A. Screening at the Landmark Theater on Pico Blvd. Today he left for NYC. Magnet Releasing will release the film theatrically on August 2 and it is available now on VOD.
Europa Report opens this Friday, August 2, 2013 in Los Angeles at the Sundance Sunset in West Hollywood, D.C. at the E Street Cinema in Washington, and New York at the Cinema Village this Friday and will be followed by a national roll-out. See playdates here.
Attending Comic-Con was a great experience for Sebastián. He says that the L.A. Times coverage describes the experience very well and definitely gave the film a boost in fandom. The panel at Comic-Con's largest venue was unique for Sebastián, an Ecuadorian whose two films, the 2004 Cronicas produced by Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, Isabel Dávalos, and Bertha Navarro, and Rabia have created their own exclusive cult fan clubs. Rabia (Isa:Wild Bunch), a Spanish-Colombian coproduction premiered in 2009 at the Toronto Film Festival. The 2004 film Cronicas caused quite a stir among the acquisitions community and the cognoscenti of genre-art house films. It won the Sundance/ Nhk International Filmmakers Award in 2002, premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard, played Toronto, San Sebastian, Sundance and Rotterdam, sold worldwide and was picked up for U.S. by Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures, thus confirming its cult status. His earlier film Ratas, Ratones, Rateros premiered in Venice in 1999, received over 12 international awards and played in more than 50 film festivals and Pescador, a Colombian-Ecuadorian coproduction won acting and directing awards at the Guadalajara Film Festival in 2012.
The Europa Report team's Comic-Con presentation included scientists from Jpl which lent real-life credentials to the film as they discussed the movie in front of 6,000 interested people who knew very little about the film until then. The mythology of Europa is well known to sci–fi fans from its prominence in Stanley Kubrick's classic 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel 2010: Odyssey Two, but the general public is not aware of it. The movie in fact seems poised somewhere between Nasa and Star Trek.
The dreamy calmness of professionals in an extraordinary mix of talents in the movie itself mirrors the mix of talents that went into the making of this piece of cinema. No wonder it was previewed at Comic-Com. It seemed incongruous to the mega-size this event has become. It would be nice to know that it was the sleeper hit of Comic-Con and of the summer season. We shall see as it opens this week. Even if it proves too intellectual for the masses, its credit to Team Sebastian Cordero will stand the test of time. It takes a filmmaker from Eucador to probe our collective curiosity about life on Europa, the moon of Jupiter most likely to contain life.
While I do not agree 100% with the review by Carlos Aguilar in Filmophilia today, I find his review the most intelligent of all I have read to date.
Europa Report could be called a Latino film which illustrates the draw Hollywood independent filmmaking holds on filmmakers from our South American continent. Reading the bios of the production team and the bios of the cast further illuminates this luminescent film, put together primarily by men but casting both the main interlocutor and the chief of the mission as women: Embeth Daviitz who plays Dr. Unger, the chief of the mission was the Jewish maid who survives both the abuse and attraction of Ralph Fiennes' sadistic commander 'Goeth' in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and costars with Gabriele Byrne in In Treatment, was in Mad Men and Californication.
How did producer Ben Browning find you after he developed the script?Ben had seen Rabia and Cronicas…both were very different from this, dealing with social issues, told as social realism, but Rabia is 90% told while the protagonist is hiding in a house, where the claustrophobia and tension might be points of reference for this film.
You usually make films about social issues, what was it about this film that attracted you? I am an actor's director. I need a good story and a good script but one major aspect of this film for me was its six characters. It was a challenge to put together a great cast and give them one space in which to act. I liked the story and the real science behind it. There have been no significant manned explorations of space since the Apollo expeditions in the 70s. I did lots of research, and we had great science advisors.
I was an unusual choice, but I felt an immediate connection to the project.
You seem to have gathered an award winning production team for casting, cinematography, production design, music and sound design.I had a great team. It is my first English language film in Hollywood. My cinematographer, Enrique Chediak, and production designer, Eugenio Caballero, have worked with me on three of my films.
The production designer was excited to design a realistic space ship. Enrique liked the found footage idea which was still high tech, it did not have the degraded handheld effect you see in the current run of horror films. I had been unsure of his reactions to such limitations in the project, but he actually liked them. He built a 360 degree set with eight cameras shooting continuously. It was very immersive. The cinematographer also liked the challenge.
(Editor: Production designer, Eugenio Caballero, won the Academy Award for his work on Pan's Labyrinth. Enrique Chediak was named on Daily Variety's "10 Cinemagraphers to Watch" in 1999 and has not disappointed with his credits which include Danny Boyle's 127 Hours.)
What about the cast of international actors?Casting international actors was also exciting. They are not not huge stars but they are the top thespians in their countries.
(Sydney, the blogger here: Wednesday's news that casting directors will get their own branch in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, puts this film's casting director, Avy Kaufman, in line for an Oscar for sure.)
Producer Tod Browning interjects here that casting actors from all over the world was also a key part of the film's financing plan. "Each of these actors brought value in territories we were able to pre-sell based on their involvement. Michael [Nyqvist] and Anamaria [Marinca] are very popular in Europe and Daniel Wu is a major star in Asia which allowed us to secure Chinese distribution up front", Browning says. (The international sales agent is Nick Meyers' Sierra Affinity.)
Back to Sebastian: When Michael Nyqvist (who played Andrei Blok) came on board, that made the project attractive to others. I wanted him, not just because of his work in the Millennium series, but because of his other work with Lukas Moodyson (Together).
Anamaria Marinca (who played Rosa Dasque), the actress from Romania's 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, (which won the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival) was not an obvious choice and I was unsure of what her reaction would be, but she said, Are you kidding? She said she loved having such an offer. No one ever offered her a role in a science fiction film before.
What about you? Do you like the lure of Hollywood? Do you want to make more films here?I am torn between two worlds.
I want to continue in both places. I enjoy Hollywood but I know, during the time of Cronicas there was a moment when I was being offered projects but in the end, nothing happened, and I understand the process now. Here when a project falls apart, all the work you have put into it is for nothing - it might waste six months of intense work. In Ecuador I have confidence that any film I am working on will eventually be made.
But I am also interested in working in the U.S. There are a lot more resources here, but it must be good project. I am looking for projects here, but I generate my own material in Ecuador. Here, when a project falls apart here all the work is for nothing.
I am now working on a film to shoot early next year in Ecuador, Sin muertos, no hay carnaval, which literally means Without the Dead, There is No Carnival. However, its English language working title is Such is Life in the Tropics. It is about property management, and more specifically about a squater as told from many perspectives. Its strong script is written by the actor in Cronicas who is also a producer in another film.
Thank you Sebastian. I wish you great success with this film and with your career. And I thank Ben Browning for undertaking this exciting project and bringing it to life.
Sebastian Cordero spent his childhood in Ecuador where he was born, his teenage years in Paris and his college years in Los Angeles, where he studied at USC's Filmic Writing program. He seems to be building a team much the way Clint Eastwood has. And like Clint Eastwood, the lure of Hollywood with its ease of procuring resources and the necessary filmmaking tools is tempered by the continuous lower budgeted filmmaking using international Iberoamerican coproductions to finance the films.
About Wayfare Entertainment:
In May 2013 New York-based Wayfare Entertainment announced its rebranding as Start Motion Pictures. Parent company Start Media LLC is unifying its branding and operations as its portfolio of entertainment and media holdings grows. Wayfare Entertainment was set up five years ago by Ben Browning and Start Media CEO Michael Maher and has produced and fully financed films that have grossed over $130 million worldwide. Wayfare’s past films include Universal’s Sanctum produced with James Cameron, the Focus Features’ drama It's Kind Of A Funny Story, Neil Jordan’s Ondine, and Sebastian Cordero's space thriller Europa Report to be released by Magnolia Pictures in summer 2013 and being sold internationally by Nicolas Meyer's Sierra Affinity.
Upcoming Wayfare projects include an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book for Disney; the recently announced Passengers, to star Keanu Reeves and Reese Witherspoon; and a development slate including Josh Zetumer’s Villain, an adaptation of Matt Westrup’s award winning creature short The Gate and the Princess Diana conspiracy thriller Inquest. With a slate like this, it is no wonder Comic-Con was interested in showcasing Europa Report.
Start Media is a privately held media company with interests in exhibition, publishing, and technology. Start Media is acquiring and building content-driven companies well positioned to capitalize on value dislocations emerging from the rapid evolution of media and media consumption. In late 2012 Start Media partnered with exhibitor Digiplex Destinations, an industry pioneer and champion of digital conversion and alternative cinema content, to aggressively grow the Digiplex footprint to 1000 screens in the top 100 markets. The acquisition of UltraStar Cinemas earlier this year was the first acquisition of the partnership. Wayfare’s staff, upcoming film slate and film library will be folded into Start Motion Pictures, which will continue normal business operations producing and financing feature films. Browning will be the President of Start Motion Pictures.
Sebastián Cordero was in L.A. for ten days after attending Comic-Con and stayed through last night's Kcrw Special L.A. Screening at the Landmark Theater on Pico Blvd. Today he left for NYC. Magnet Releasing will release the film theatrically on August 2 and it is available now on VOD.
Europa Report opens this Friday, August 2, 2013 in Los Angeles at the Sundance Sunset in West Hollywood, D.C. at the E Street Cinema in Washington, and New York at the Cinema Village this Friday and will be followed by a national roll-out. See playdates here.
Attending Comic-Con was a great experience for Sebastián. He says that the L.A. Times coverage describes the experience very well and definitely gave the film a boost in fandom. The panel at Comic-Con's largest venue was unique for Sebastián, an Ecuadorian whose two films, the 2004 Cronicas produced by Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, Isabel Dávalos, and Bertha Navarro, and Rabia have created their own exclusive cult fan clubs. Rabia (Isa:Wild Bunch), a Spanish-Colombian coproduction premiered in 2009 at the Toronto Film Festival. The 2004 film Cronicas caused quite a stir among the acquisitions community and the cognoscenti of genre-art house films. It won the Sundance/ Nhk International Filmmakers Award in 2002, premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard, played Toronto, San Sebastian, Sundance and Rotterdam, sold worldwide and was picked up for U.S. by Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures, thus confirming its cult status. His earlier film Ratas, Ratones, Rateros premiered in Venice in 1999, received over 12 international awards and played in more than 50 film festivals and Pescador, a Colombian-Ecuadorian coproduction won acting and directing awards at the Guadalajara Film Festival in 2012.
The Europa Report team's Comic-Con presentation included scientists from Jpl which lent real-life credentials to the film as they discussed the movie in front of 6,000 interested people who knew very little about the film until then. The mythology of Europa is well known to sci–fi fans from its prominence in Stanley Kubrick's classic 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel 2010: Odyssey Two, but the general public is not aware of it. The movie in fact seems poised somewhere between Nasa and Star Trek.
The dreamy calmness of professionals in an extraordinary mix of talents in the movie itself mirrors the mix of talents that went into the making of this piece of cinema. No wonder it was previewed at Comic-Com. It seemed incongruous to the mega-size this event has become. It would be nice to know that it was the sleeper hit of Comic-Con and of the summer season. We shall see as it opens this week. Even if it proves too intellectual for the masses, its credit to Team Sebastian Cordero will stand the test of time. It takes a filmmaker from Eucador to probe our collective curiosity about life on Europa, the moon of Jupiter most likely to contain life.
While I do not agree 100% with the review by Carlos Aguilar in Filmophilia today, I find his review the most intelligent of all I have read to date.
Europa Report could be called a Latino film which illustrates the draw Hollywood independent filmmaking holds on filmmakers from our South American continent. Reading the bios of the production team and the bios of the cast further illuminates this luminescent film, put together primarily by men but casting both the main interlocutor and the chief of the mission as women: Embeth Daviitz who plays Dr. Unger, the chief of the mission was the Jewish maid who survives both the abuse and attraction of Ralph Fiennes' sadistic commander 'Goeth' in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List and costars with Gabriele Byrne in In Treatment, was in Mad Men and Californication.
How did producer Ben Browning find you after he developed the script?Ben had seen Rabia and Cronicas…both were very different from this, dealing with social issues, told as social realism, but Rabia is 90% told while the protagonist is hiding in a house, where the claustrophobia and tension might be points of reference for this film.
You usually make films about social issues, what was it about this film that attracted you? I am an actor's director. I need a good story and a good script but one major aspect of this film for me was its six characters. It was a challenge to put together a great cast and give them one space in which to act. I liked the story and the real science behind it. There have been no significant manned explorations of space since the Apollo expeditions in the 70s. I did lots of research, and we had great science advisors.
I was an unusual choice, but I felt an immediate connection to the project.
You seem to have gathered an award winning production team for casting, cinematography, production design, music and sound design.I had a great team. It is my first English language film in Hollywood. My cinematographer, Enrique Chediak, and production designer, Eugenio Caballero, have worked with me on three of my films.
The production designer was excited to design a realistic space ship. Enrique liked the found footage idea which was still high tech, it did not have the degraded handheld effect you see in the current run of horror films. I had been unsure of his reactions to such limitations in the project, but he actually liked them. He built a 360 degree set with eight cameras shooting continuously. It was very immersive. The cinematographer also liked the challenge.
(Editor: Production designer, Eugenio Caballero, won the Academy Award for his work on Pan's Labyrinth. Enrique Chediak was named on Daily Variety's "10 Cinemagraphers to Watch" in 1999 and has not disappointed with his credits which include Danny Boyle's 127 Hours.)
What about the cast of international actors?Casting international actors was also exciting. They are not not huge stars but they are the top thespians in their countries.
(Sydney, the blogger here: Wednesday's news that casting directors will get their own branch in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, puts this film's casting director, Avy Kaufman, in line for an Oscar for sure.)
Producer Tod Browning interjects here that casting actors from all over the world was also a key part of the film's financing plan. "Each of these actors brought value in territories we were able to pre-sell based on their involvement. Michael [Nyqvist] and Anamaria [Marinca] are very popular in Europe and Daniel Wu is a major star in Asia which allowed us to secure Chinese distribution up front", Browning says. (The international sales agent is Nick Meyers' Sierra Affinity.)
Back to Sebastian: When Michael Nyqvist (who played Andrei Blok) came on board, that made the project attractive to others. I wanted him, not just because of his work in the Millennium series, but because of his other work with Lukas Moodyson (Together).
Anamaria Marinca (who played Rosa Dasque), the actress from Romania's 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, (which won the Palme d'Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival) was not an obvious choice and I was unsure of what her reaction would be, but she said, Are you kidding? She said she loved having such an offer. No one ever offered her a role in a science fiction film before.
What about you? Do you like the lure of Hollywood? Do you want to make more films here?I am torn between two worlds.
I want to continue in both places. I enjoy Hollywood but I know, during the time of Cronicas there was a moment when I was being offered projects but in the end, nothing happened, and I understand the process now. Here when a project falls apart, all the work you have put into it is for nothing - it might waste six months of intense work. In Ecuador I have confidence that any film I am working on will eventually be made.
But I am also interested in working in the U.S. There are a lot more resources here, but it must be good project. I am looking for projects here, but I generate my own material in Ecuador. Here, when a project falls apart here all the work is for nothing.
I am now working on a film to shoot early next year in Ecuador, Sin muertos, no hay carnaval, which literally means Without the Dead, There is No Carnival. However, its English language working title is Such is Life in the Tropics. It is about property management, and more specifically about a squater as told from many perspectives. Its strong script is written by the actor in Cronicas who is also a producer in another film.
Thank you Sebastian. I wish you great success with this film and with your career. And I thank Ben Browning for undertaking this exciting project and bringing it to life.
Sebastian Cordero spent his childhood in Ecuador where he was born, his teenage years in Paris and his college years in Los Angeles, where he studied at USC's Filmic Writing program. He seems to be building a team much the way Clint Eastwood has. And like Clint Eastwood, the lure of Hollywood with its ease of procuring resources and the necessary filmmaking tools is tempered by the continuous lower budgeted filmmaking using international Iberoamerican coproductions to finance the films.
About Wayfare Entertainment:
In May 2013 New York-based Wayfare Entertainment announced its rebranding as Start Motion Pictures. Parent company Start Media LLC is unifying its branding and operations as its portfolio of entertainment and media holdings grows. Wayfare Entertainment was set up five years ago by Ben Browning and Start Media CEO Michael Maher and has produced and fully financed films that have grossed over $130 million worldwide. Wayfare’s past films include Universal’s Sanctum produced with James Cameron, the Focus Features’ drama It's Kind Of A Funny Story, Neil Jordan’s Ondine, and Sebastian Cordero's space thriller Europa Report to be released by Magnolia Pictures in summer 2013 and being sold internationally by Nicolas Meyer's Sierra Affinity.
Upcoming Wayfare projects include an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book for Disney; the recently announced Passengers, to star Keanu Reeves and Reese Witherspoon; and a development slate including Josh Zetumer’s Villain, an adaptation of Matt Westrup’s award winning creature short The Gate and the Princess Diana conspiracy thriller Inquest. With a slate like this, it is no wonder Comic-Con was interested in showcasing Europa Report.
Start Media is a privately held media company with interests in exhibition, publishing, and technology. Start Media is acquiring and building content-driven companies well positioned to capitalize on value dislocations emerging from the rapid evolution of media and media consumption. In late 2012 Start Media partnered with exhibitor Digiplex Destinations, an industry pioneer and champion of digital conversion and alternative cinema content, to aggressively grow the Digiplex footprint to 1000 screens in the top 100 markets. The acquisition of UltraStar Cinemas earlier this year was the first acquisition of the partnership. Wayfare’s staff, upcoming film slate and film library will be folded into Start Motion Pictures, which will continue normal business operations producing and financing feature films. Browning will be the President of Start Motion Pictures.
- 7/31/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Exclusive: New York-based Wayfare Entertainment is being re-branded Start Motion Pictures, as part of an ongoing effort of parent company Start Media LLC to unify the branding and operations of it’s growing portfolio of entertainment and media holdings. Set up five years ago by Ben Browning and Start Media CEO Michael Maher, Wayfare Entertainment has produced and fully financed films that have grossed over $130 million worldwide. Wayfare’s past films include Universal’s Sanctum produced with James Cameron, the Focus Features’ drama Its Kind Of A Funny Story, Neil Jordan’s Ondine, and the upcoming Sebastian Cordero-directed space thriller Europa Report to be released by Magnolia Pictures in summer 2013. Upcoming Wayfare projects include an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book for Disney; the recently announced Passengers, which will star Keanu Reeves and Reese Witherspoon; and a development slate including Josh Zetumer’s Villain, an adaptation of Matt Westrup...
- 5/10/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
1.) Hot off the heels of Brad's A+ reviewed Silver Linings Playbook David O. Russell and Bradley Cooper are already looking to get back at it. Twice. The first project is currently untitled, but was once known as American Bullsh*t. The crime drama co-stars Jeremy Renner as an FBI agent forced to seek the help of a con-man (Cooper) to set up a sting operation to root out corruption. Amy Adams is also on board as Cooper's mistress and partner in crime. Russell says the film will shoot in February on the East Coast. The second project they've discussed is American Sniper, which we know a lot less about. But Cooper has acquired the rights, and he and Russell seem to be crushing on each other pretty hard right now. "He is like an athlete who wants to burst out of the blocks and wants to stretch in all these new ways,...
- 9/11/2012
- by Kevin Blumeyer
- Rope of Silicon
If you haven't seen Matt Westrup's short film The Gate, you truly have been missing out. Don't worry, though; we'll fix that situation right now and, in addition to that, report on the very good news that a writer has been found to bring the flick to the big screen.
THR reports that Wayfare Entertainment has tapped Mitchell Akselrad to adapt the acclaimed short The Gate into a feature length film. The New York-based company is financing and producing the project.
Matt Westrup, who directed the original short, is producing alongside Spencer Friend. Wayfare’s Ben Browning and Sarah Shepard also are producing. Michael Maher will executive produce.
Synopsis
95% of the human genome is composed of redundant gene sequences. They appear to have no known biological function. Could a chance event reactivate them? Genetic freaks wander the streets courtesy of irresponsible pharmaceutical companies.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news?...
THR reports that Wayfare Entertainment has tapped Mitchell Akselrad to adapt the acclaimed short The Gate into a feature length film. The New York-based company is financing and producing the project.
Matt Westrup, who directed the original short, is producing alongside Spencer Friend. Wayfare’s Ben Browning and Sarah Shepard also are producing. Michael Maher will executive produce.
Synopsis
95% of the human genome is composed of redundant gene sequences. They appear to have no known biological function. Could a chance event reactivate them? Genetic freaks wander the streets courtesy of irresponsible pharmaceutical companies.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news?...
- 9/10/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Mitchell Akselrad will pen a feature adaptation of the "Splice"-esque short film "The Gate" for Wayfare Entertainment reports the trades.
The London-set story is framed around a Government hearing and deals with redundant genes suddenly reactivating in people after they took medication they had bought from an unregulated online source. The gene changes lead to drastic mutations, essentially turning them into monsters.
Matt Westrup, who helmed the original, is returning to direct and will produce alongside Spencer Friend, Ben Browning and Sarah Shepard. A slightly cut down version of the original short film can be watched below:...
The London-set story is framed around a Government hearing and deals with redundant genes suddenly reactivating in people after they took medication they had bought from an unregulated online source. The gene changes lead to drastic mutations, essentially turning them into monsters.
Matt Westrup, who helmed the original, is returning to direct and will produce alongside Spencer Friend, Ben Browning and Sarah Shepard. A slightly cut down version of the original short film can be watched below:...
- 9/10/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
According to The Hollywood Reporter, fledgling Mitchell Akselrad will script The Gate for Wayfare Entertainment.
No, this is not a remake of the '80s film. Instead, it's the feature film adaptation of Matt Westrup's short film of the same name, a sci-fi thriller that garnered a lot of heat.
Westrup will produce the feature with Spencer Friend.
The synopsis for the short went like this: 95% of the human genome is composed of redundant gene sequences. They appear to have no known biological function. Could a chance event reactivate them? Genetic freaks wander the streets courtesy of irresponsible pharmaceutical companies.
Read more...
No, this is not a remake of the '80s film. Instead, it's the feature film adaptation of Matt Westrup's short film of the same name, a sci-fi thriller that garnered a lot of heat.
Westrup will produce the feature with Spencer Friend.
The synopsis for the short went like this: 95% of the human genome is composed of redundant gene sequences. They appear to have no known biological function. Could a chance event reactivate them? Genetic freaks wander the streets courtesy of irresponsible pharmaceutical companies.
Read more...
- 9/10/2012
- shocktillyoudrop.com
I don’t know how this short film slipped beneath my radar but I’m happy to say I’ve finally caught it and posted it below. Written and directed by Matt Westrup, The Gate is a fantastic short film that takes place in the not-too-distant future and follows a corporate review board as they examine three “incidents” that were triggered by the use of unregulated pharmaceuticals. The short film makes terrific use of CGI effects and solid camera work to illustrate some of the genetic horrors that unfold when individuals begin to mutate to a primeval state after using these unregulated drugs.
The short is currently being submitted to film festivals, which leaves us to show the “cutdown” version to show below.
via [Joyrider Films]...
The short is currently being submitted to film festivals, which leaves us to show the “cutdown” version to show below.
via [Joyrider Films]...
- 8/16/2012
- by Adam B.
- GeekRest
Why Watch? There are few things as creepy as British people talking about science, which is just one small reason why Matt Westrup‘s The Gate is so damned chilling. It features some gruesome creature design and some solid CGI – especially for an independent outfit. Plus, it’s based on reality. That’s right. Our own DNA is a mysterious, messed-up jungle of unused genes that are waiting to mutate and strike. Enjoy your weekend! It was announced last week that Wayfare Entertainment would be financing a feature version, and after checking it out, it’s easy to see why. What will it cost? Only 8 minutes. Skip Work. You’ve Got Time For More Short Films...
- 6/22/2012
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
The Gate Short Film. Matt Westrup‘s The Gate (2011) short film stars John Mawson, Elle Lewis, Robert Rowe, Tryphena Russel, and Jonathan Andrews. The Gate‘s plot synopsis: “A new virulent strain of rabies is thought to be responsible for a number of horrible deaths in the city of London. It soon becomes clear that the cause of [...]
The post The Gate (2011) Short Film: Matt Westrup, John Mawson, Elle Lewis appeared first on Film-Book.com.
Continue reading: The Gate (2011) Short Film: Matt Westrup, John Mawson, Elle Lewis...
The post The Gate (2011) Short Film: Matt Westrup, John Mawson, Elle Lewis appeared first on Film-Book.com.
Continue reading: The Gate (2011) Short Film: Matt Westrup, John Mawson, Elle Lewis...
- 6/17/2012
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Deadline reports that the little-known company Wayfare Entertainment, responsible for the upcoming Sharlto Copley sci-fi thriller Europa, is financing and producing a feature length film adaptation of Matt Westrup's short film The Gate (which Venkman wrote about here last year).
The short has been compared to Alive in Joburg, Neill Blomkamp's mini-movie that spurred the Academy Award-nominated District 9. I can definitely see why the two are mentioned in the same breath, as The Gate works as a possible "what if" scenario involving misuse of pharmaceutical drugs, while Joburg was an allegory for apartheid in South Africa. Wayfare is still searching for a screenwriter for The Gate, and director Westrup is returning behind the camera for the feature.
"Our plan for The Gate was to always expand and build upon the world that I conceived for the 11 minute short,” Westrup said. “Wayfare Entertainment shares our vision in taking those themes and ideas,...
The short has been compared to Alive in Joburg, Neill Blomkamp's mini-movie that spurred the Academy Award-nominated District 9. I can definitely see why the two are mentioned in the same breath, as The Gate works as a possible "what if" scenario involving misuse of pharmaceutical drugs, while Joburg was an allegory for apartheid in South Africa. Wayfare is still searching for a screenwriter for The Gate, and director Westrup is returning behind the camera for the feature.
"Our plan for The Gate was to always expand and build upon the world that I conceived for the 11 minute short,” Westrup said. “Wayfare Entertainment shares our vision in taking those themes and ideas,...
- 6/14/2012
- by benp
- GeekTyrant
Any expectations created by comparisons to Alive in Joburg — a piece Neill Blomkamp later expanded into a little film entitled District 9 — notwithstanding, I think The Gate could lead to something of real value. Deadline has news of the short-turned-feature, which its original director, Matt Westrup, will make his official debut on; Wayfare Entertainment are backing the picture, and a screenwriter is being sought to balloon the work into a film.
The Gate‘s focus is twofold: a series of genetic mutants who attack London citizens, and the actions of a shady pharmaceutical company that engaged in experiments which led to their creation. It’s no surprise, then, that an 8-minute affair with such big ambitions was something Westrup always intended to “expand and build upon” with more time and a bigger budget; with both of those at his disposal, the helmer hopes to make The Gate “a sci-fi thriller...
The Gate‘s focus is twofold: a series of genetic mutants who attack London citizens, and the actions of a shady pharmaceutical company that engaged in experiments which led to their creation. It’s no surprise, then, that an 8-minute affair with such big ambitions was something Westrup always intended to “expand and build upon” with more time and a bigger budget; with both of those at his disposal, the helmer hopes to make The Gate “a sci-fi thriller...
- 6/14/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
No, we're not talking about the long talked about remake of the cool monster flick The Gate. What we have here is a completely different beast. Read on for the latest creature feature getting locked and loaded.
According to Deadline, Wayfare Entertainment has acquired the rights to produce and finance a feature-length version of the short thriller The Gate from its director Matt Westrup and producer Spencer Friend. Westrup will direct the feature version, while Friend will produce with Wayfare’s Browning and Sarah Shepard. They will soon hire a screenwriter to expand the film to feature length. The Gate is a cool mutant tale that was named one of Viewfinder’s 10 best short films of 2011 and has drawn comparisons to Alive in Joburg, the short that was expanded into District 9.
“Our plan for The Gate was to always expand and build upon the world that I conceived for the 11-minute short,...
According to Deadline, Wayfare Entertainment has acquired the rights to produce and finance a feature-length version of the short thriller The Gate from its director Matt Westrup and producer Spencer Friend. Westrup will direct the feature version, while Friend will produce with Wayfare’s Browning and Sarah Shepard. They will soon hire a screenwriter to expand the film to feature length. The Gate is a cool mutant tale that was named one of Viewfinder’s 10 best short films of 2011 and has drawn comparisons to Alive in Joburg, the short that was expanded into District 9.
“Our plan for The Gate was to always expand and build upon the world that I conceived for the 11-minute short,...
- 6/14/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Exclusive: Wayfare Entertainment has acquired the rights to produce and finance a feature-length version of the short thriller The Gate from its director Matt Westrup and producer Spencer Friend. Westrup will direct the feature version, while Friend will produce with Wayfare’s Browning and Sarah Shepard. Michael Maher will be exec producer. They will soon hire a screenwriter to expand the film to feature length. The Gate is a cool mutant tale that was named one of Viewfinder’s 10 best short films of 2011 and has drawn comparisons to Alive In Joburg, the short that was expanded into District 9. “Our plan for The Gate was to always expand and build upon the world that I conceived for the 11 minute short,” Westrup said. “Wayfare Entertainment shares our vision in taking those themes and ideas, and adapting them into a sci-fi thriller that is driven by a grounded, sophisticated plot and intriguing character arcs.
- 6/13/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
[1] Last year saw the debut of The Viewfinder List [2], which aims to do for aspiring filmmakers what The Black List does for screenwriters. Compiled from a poll of "studio executives, producers, and creatives," The Viewfinder List reflects the most-liked shorts, commercials, and/or music videos of the year. The inaugural list in 2010 included such up-and-comers as Patrick Jean, whose Pixels is due out in 2013, 47 Ronin director Carl Erik Rinsch, and, um, Alejandro González Iñárritu. This year's list has Dan Trachtenberg's Portal: No Escape on top, along with a few other videos you may recognize if you've been paying attention to /Film for the past year. Or even if you haven't -- that adorable Super Bowl Volkswagen ad with the little Darth Vader kid also made the cut, as did Chris Marrs Piliero's video for The Black Keys. Check out the full 2011 Viewfinder List -- with video! -- after the jump.
- 12/13/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Here’s the new Viewfinder List, the entertainment industry survey which polls studio executives, producers and creatives for their top 10 short films, commercials and/or music videos. Much like The Black List, the Viewfinder List recognizes short form video content and the up and coming helmers responsible for it. Several helmers on last year’s list got feature jobs; how will this year’s helmers fare? The list was created by Jeff Schroeder (Brillstein Entertainment Partners), Aaron Schmidt (Langley Park Pictures) and Patrick Chu (The Montecito Picture Company). Here is the website for the full list: http://www.viewfinderframes.com/category/viewfinder-list-2011/ 24 Votes: Portal by Dan Trachtenberg (Short) Agents: Harley Copen, Emile Gladstone, Marc Helwig, George Ruiz / ICM. Managers: Ben Rowe / Oasis 17 Votes: Bubble Boy by Kealan O’Rourke (Short) Agents: Chris Smith Trevor Astbury / Paradigm; Manager: Jairo Alvarado / 3 Arts 13 Votes: Rosa by Jesus Orellana (Short) Agent: Bryan Besser...
- 12/9/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
You've got to check out this incredibly impressive sci-fi short film called The Gate, which deals with DNA mutation. The story, directing, creature designs and CGI animation in this film are pretty amazing, especially when you take into account that the movie was made for only $10 dollars. The Gate was written and directed by Matt Westrup and produced by Spencer Friend. This short is awesome, and there's know doubt that Westrup will find himself directing a feature film in the near future.
Here's a little note about the film giving you some insight on the story...
95% of the human genome is composed of redundant gene sequences. They appear to have no known biological function. Could a chance event reactivate them?
Watch the sci-fi short below and tell us what you think! I think you're going to be very surprised at what you are about to see. I hope you like it!
Here's a little note about the film giving you some insight on the story...
95% of the human genome is composed of redundant gene sequences. They appear to have no known biological function. Could a chance event reactivate them?
Watch the sci-fi short below and tell us what you think! I think you're going to be very surprised at what you are about to see. I hope you like it!
- 11/14/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Almost daily, we're hit with e-mails pointing us to various short films. Some are good. Some are bad. The Horror Short Stop will point you only to the cream of the crop. And today, two floated our way that we thought were worth sharing. First, Quiet Earth premiered The Gate by Matt Westrup. No introduction, just watch it . Trust us, you'll probably dig it. Night of the Little Dead is a hammy lil' horror-comedy by director Frank Ippolito and Ezekiel Zabrowski. Set in a quiet Midwestern fishing town at Sadie's Grub 'n Grub, the local watering hole and baitshop, the mood changes once a couple of tourists run in covered in blood. Not easily spooked, the locals set out to find whatever caused this horrific accident, only to find themselves caught up in a terrifying lil'...
- 11/14/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
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