Keith Calder is known for producing original movies, often with screenwriter Simon Barrett and director Adam Wingard, but his latest project “Blair Witch” is one of his first based on an existing property.
Read More: Tiff Rounds Out Slate With ‘Blair Witch,’ ‘Free Fire,’ ‘The Bad Batch’ and Many More
Calder recently took to Twitter to explain some of the advantages that come with working on an existing IP as opposed to an original property. Here’s what he had to say over several tweets:
“f you want to know why Hollywood keeps doing remakes and sequels and reboots and so on, here is a quick anecdote. I’ve been producing movies for 10 years at a variety of budgets. Almost all original. Most of them were well reviewed and liked by audiences. Blair Witch was made for around the same budget as most of these movies. But the attention on...
Read More: Tiff Rounds Out Slate With ‘Blair Witch,’ ‘Free Fire,’ ‘The Bad Batch’ and Many More
Calder recently took to Twitter to explain some of the advantages that come with working on an existing IP as opposed to an original property. Here’s what he had to say over several tweets:
“f you want to know why Hollywood keeps doing remakes and sequels and reboots and so on, here is a quick anecdote. I’ve been producing movies for 10 years at a variety of budgets. Almost all original. Most of them were well reviewed and liked by audiences. Blair Witch was made for around the same budget as most of these movies. But the attention on...
- 8/26/2016
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
Movie theaters downloading their films from a secure studio-run cloud; inexpensive high-quality cameras at the fingertips of creators; fans as front-end financiers. It may represent 5 short years, but technology and culture are shifting so quickly that the movie world of 2017 has the potential to look radically different than our own. How will studios respond to an influx of independent films? Will a rejection of owning physical discs lead to a ballooning rental business? Will actors and creator be able to earn millions without stepping foot on a studio lot? We’ve asked Tugg CEO and Terrance Malick production partner Nicolas Gonda as well as savvy, forward thinking indie producer Keith Calder (The Wackness, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Thunder Soul) to mentally step into a time machine and report back on what that world might look like. From production to exhibition and everything in between. The only sure thing is that cars will be driving us to...
- 8/16/2012
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards, announced on Sunday the jury and audience award winners for the 2012 Festival at the Awards Brunch, hosted by Chaya Downtown for the third year. Actors Jon Heder and Ari Graynor were on hand to present the awards. The La Film Fest, presented by Film Independent and Host Venue Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14 and presenting media sponsor Los Angeles Times, ran from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 24 in downtown Los Angeles.
“Every single filmmaker in this year’s Festival deserves kudos for their artistry and compelling stories. Our juries had such gems to choose from in each competition and the winners truly represent what we hold dear.diversity and uniqueness of vision,” said Festival Director Stephanie Allain.
The two top juried awards of the Los Angeles Film Festival are the Narrative Award and Documentary Award,...
“Every single filmmaker in this year’s Festival deserves kudos for their artistry and compelling stories. Our juries had such gems to choose from in each competition and the winners truly represent what we hold dear.diversity and uniqueness of vision,” said Festival Director Stephanie Allain.
The two top juried awards of the Los Angeles Film Festival are the Narrative Award and Documentary Award,...
- 6/25/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
HollywoodNews.com: Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Spirit Awards, announced the jury and audience award winners for the 2012 Festival at the Awards Brunch, hosted by Chaya Downtown for the third year. Actors Jon Heder and Ari Graynor were on hand to present the awards. The La Film Fest, presented by Film Independent and Host Venue Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Stadium 14 and presenting media sponsor Los Angeles Times, ran from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 24 in downtown Los Angeles.
“Every single filmmaker in this year’s Festival deserves kudos for their artistry and compelling stories. Our juries had such gems to choose from in each competition and the winners truly represent what we hold dear—diversity and uniqueness of vision,” said Festival Director Stephanie Allain.
The two top juried awards of the Los Angeles Film Festival are the Narrative Award and Documentary Award,...
“Every single filmmaker in this year’s Festival deserves kudos for their artistry and compelling stories. Our juries had such gems to choose from in each competition and the winners truly represent what we hold dear—diversity and uniqueness of vision,” said Festival Director Stephanie Allain.
The two top juried awards of the Los Angeles Film Festival are the Narrative Award and Documentary Award,...
- 6/24/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
Film Independent today announced the jurors for the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival. The Narrative jury will consist of "Natural Selection" actress Rachael Harris (who we interviewed at Laff last year), filmmaker Robert Townsend, and critic Sheri Linden. The Documentary jury is comprised of producers Heather Rae and Karin Chien and filmmaker Mark Landsman ("Thunder Soul"). Film critic and author Ernest Hardy, Spirit Award-nominated cinematographer Nancy Schreiber ("Your Friends And Neighbors," "The Celluloid Closet") and writer/director/editor Javier Fuentes León ("Contracorriente"), who won the Audience Award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival round out the shorts jury. This jury will deliberate on the cash prizes during the festival's run from June 14-24. The competition and audience award winners will be announced at the Awards Brunch held at Chaya Downtown on the last day of the festival. ...
- 6/7/2012
- by Austin Dale
- Indiewire
Wrekin Hill Entertainment Stan Lee
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s latest pop doc, “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope,” follows several fans, two aspiring illustrators, a comic book shop owner and a costume maker through a frantic San Diego Comic-Con International weekend in 2010.
To make the film, Spurlock partnered with filmmaker Joss Whedon (“The Avengers”), film critic Harry Knowles and former Marvel Comics president Stan Lee.
Meeting Lee was a geek dream fulfilled for Spurlock, who grew up reading Spider-Man comics.
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s latest pop doc, “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope,” follows several fans, two aspiring illustrators, a comic book shop owner and a costume maker through a frantic San Diego Comic-Con International weekend in 2010.
To make the film, Spurlock partnered with filmmaker Joss Whedon (“The Avengers”), film critic Harry Knowles and former Marvel Comics president Stan Lee.
Meeting Lee was a geek dream fulfilled for Spurlock, who grew up reading Spider-Man comics.
- 4/6/2012
- by Dennis Nishi
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
SXSW 2012 film review
complete coverage of SXSW Film 2012
Charles Bradley: Soul of America
Director: Poull Brien
The incredible late-in-life rise of 62-year-old aspiring soul singer Charles Bradley, whose debut album rocketed him from a hard life in the projects to Rolling Stone magazine’s top 50 albums of 2011.
(World Premiere)
Film Synopsis (from SXSW.com)
Who’S It For? It will help a tremendous amount if you like soul/funk. Otherwise, this is a very touching story of a man trying not to give up hope under difficult circumstances.
Overall
The first thing I wrote down was “James Brown wig.” It was seconds before I found out Bradley is a 62-year-old James Brown impersonator. That’s what he is when the film starts, but that’s not where his hopes lie. His voice, his face and his sweat show the years of effort he has put in. I was worried this documentary would feel staged.
complete coverage of SXSW Film 2012
Charles Bradley: Soul of America
Director: Poull Brien
The incredible late-in-life rise of 62-year-old aspiring soul singer Charles Bradley, whose debut album rocketed him from a hard life in the projects to Rolling Stone magazine’s top 50 albums of 2011.
(World Premiere)
Film Synopsis (from SXSW.com)
Who’S It For? It will help a tremendous amount if you like soul/funk. Otherwise, this is a very touching story of a man trying not to give up hope under difficult circumstances.
Overall
The first thing I wrote down was “James Brown wig.” It was seconds before I found out Bradley is a 62-year-old James Brown impersonator. That’s what he is when the film starts, but that’s not where his hopes lie. His voice, his face and his sweat show the years of effort he has put in. I was worried this documentary would feel staged.
- 3/10/2012
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
Recently I received an email from someone associated with the documentary Thunder Soul thanking me for reviewing the film but urging me to fix a major mistake. Apparently Jamie Foxx does not narrate the doc, in spite of what the IMDb listing claims, and I was guilty of misleading readers and potential viewers. I actually haven’t seen the film -- my write-up on it was not really a review -- so I was just going by information available on that online film reference guide that I and countless others have been using as a primary research tool for years and years. So as far as I figured, it was the fault of the makers of Thunder Soul for not maintaining that the IMDb data is correct (it’s still incorrect, by the way). Since then, I’ve heard that this error...
Read More...
Read More...
- 2/24/2012
- by Christopher Campbell
- Movies.com
"The Help" continued its hot streak during awards season by being the big winner at the 2012 NAACP Image Awards. The DreamWorks movie took home acting trophies for Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, plus Outstanding Motion Picture.
The complete list of winners:
Motion Picture Categories
Outstanding Motion Picture
"Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
"Pariah" (Focus Features)
"The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
"The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
"Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Eddie Murphy - "Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Laurence Fishburne - "Contagion" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Laz Alonso - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Oliver Litondo - "The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
Vin Diesel - "Fast Five" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Adepero Oduye - "Pariah" (Focus Features)
Emma Stone - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Paula Patton - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Viola Davis - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Zoë Saldana -...
The complete list of winners:
Motion Picture Categories
Outstanding Motion Picture
"Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
"Pariah" (Focus Features)
"The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
"The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
"Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Eddie Murphy - "Tower Heist" (Universal Pictures)
Laurence Fishburne - "Contagion" (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Laz Alonso - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Oliver Litondo - "The First Grader" (National Geographic Entertainment)
Vin Diesel - "Fast Five" (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Adepero Oduye - "Pariah" (Focus Features)
Emma Stone - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Paula Patton - "Jumping the Broom" (TriStar Pictures)
Viola Davis - "The Help" (DreamWorks Pictures)
Zoë Saldana -...
- 2/18/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Chicago – Mark Landsman’s “Thunder Soul” is an exceedingly good film about a great man. Conrad O. Johnson Sr. worked for 37 years as a band teacher, and his unconventional educational methods in the classroom led his Houston high school students to unlikely international stardom in the early ’70s. Their success was so extraordinary that one wishes the filmmakers had probed a little further into their story.
The film, which racked up multiple audience awards at festivals such as South by Southwest, is more interested in celebrating the spirit of the Kashmere Stage Band than providing much insight into their innovative technique. What we can glean from the footage is that Johnson taught through empowerment. He told his students that they could play funk like the best professionals in the business as long as they believed in their own abilities. He demanded immense feeling in the their music, and that same...
The film, which racked up multiple audience awards at festivals such as South by Southwest, is more interested in celebrating the spirit of the Kashmere Stage Band than providing much insight into their innovative technique. What we can glean from the footage is that Johnson taught through empowerment. He told his students that they could play funk like the best professionals in the business as long as they believed in their own abilities. He demanded immense feeling in the their music, and that same...
- 2/14/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Films about inspirational teachers driving their students to achieve beyond what they believed themselves capable pour out of Hollywood and independent studios every year. Rightfully so, because teachers deserve that kind of recognition. Such stories become even more powerful when it’s a true story, and that’s exactly how Thunder Soul manages to distinguish itself from the average entry in the genre and become something special. Filmed as a documentary, Thunder Soul follows the students of Houston’s Kashmere High School who were renowned worldwide as a jazz band that turned heads and rivaled the sound of professional groups. Mark Landsman’s documentary checks in with the students of the Kashmere Stage Band 35 years later and gives them the chance to retrospect and try to get the band back together. The story of the Kashmere band is remarkable, the memories of their teacher that opened up their potential are heartwarming,...
- 2/11/2012
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
DVD or Blu-ray? Redbox or Netflix? Streaming? And hardest of all: Justin Timberlake or Ryan Gosling? Whatever your poison, here's the breakdown on all the week's new releases. Moviefone's Picks of the Week "Drive" What's It About? Ryan Gosling stars as a stuntman-by-day, getaway-driver-by-night who gets caught up in a violent con-job involving his beautiful neighbor and her young son. See It Because: It's an original idea with good acting performances and unique direction -- which is becoming more and more of a rarity in Hollywood these days. By now you should know this is not the "Fast and Furious" car racing movie some people thought it would be; it's a gritty, stylish crime thriller in the vein of the genre's best output from the 70s and 80s. Also Available on: Redbox DVD & Blu-ray | Amazon Instant Video "In Time" What's It About? Justin Timberlake flexes his action hero muscles in...
- 1/31/2012
- by Eric Larnick
- Moviefone
This week on DVD/Blu-ray: "Drive," arguably the best action film of the year; Ami Canaan Mann's scorching debut "Texas Killing Fields"; the late Anthony Minghella's most beloved film; the Jamie Foxx-approved documentary "Thunder Soul;" and four Italian crime classics from master Fernando Di Leo. 1. Critic’s Pick: “Drive” (DVD and Blu-ray) Sure, “The Tree of Life” was the big winner at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, but the film that got the pulses of the jury racing was “Drive,” Nicolas Winding Refn’s steely cool homage to the best action flicks of the ‘80s. He beat three of the most celebrated living auteurs (Terrence Malick, Pedro Almodovar and Lars von Trier) to walk away with the festival’s directing prize. And for good reason. Upon catching the film on La Croisette, Eric Kohn wrote, “Combing a memorably gritty Ryan Gosling performance with the breakneck tempo...
- 1/31/2012
- Indiewire
Pina
Directed by: Wim Wenders
Cast: Pina Bausch
Running Time: 1 hr 46 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: January 20, 2012
Plot: A 3D documentary that celebrates the unique style of choreographer Pina Bausch, as performed by those who worked with her throughout her life.
Who’S It For?: You don’t have to be a fan of dance to get caught up in Pina. Outsiders are just as welcome, considering the many interpretations each choreography can provide. Those who do have knowledge of dance, or even experience, would be sad to miss seeing this in 3D.
Overall
Boosted by the beautiful work in Scorsese’s Hugo, 3D is given another reason not to be totally hated with Pina. Wenders keeps his camera alive during performances by using a lot of handheld, and makes the 3D image worthwhile by bringing his camera right into the action. Joining artful directors like Scorsese and Werner Herzog,...
Directed by: Wim Wenders
Cast: Pina Bausch
Running Time: 1 hr 46 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: January 20, 2012
Plot: A 3D documentary that celebrates the unique style of choreographer Pina Bausch, as performed by those who worked with her throughout her life.
Who’S It For?: You don’t have to be a fan of dance to get caught up in Pina. Outsiders are just as welcome, considering the many interpretations each choreography can provide. Those who do have knowledge of dance, or even experience, would be sad to miss seeing this in 3D.
Overall
Boosted by the beautiful work in Scorsese’s Hugo, 3D is given another reason not to be totally hated with Pina. Wenders keeps his camera alive during performances by using a lot of handheld, and makes the 3D image worthwhile by bringing his camera right into the action. Joining artful directors like Scorsese and Werner Herzog,...
- 1/20/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Here's the latest Austin film news:
IndieWIRE has kicked off its interview series "Meet the 2012 Sundance Filmmakers" with a pair of Austin filmmakers you might already know: Nathan and David Zellner. The interview has some interesting tidbits about their feature film Kid-Thing, which will premiere at the fest later this month.Local filmmaker/instructor Geoff Marslett's animated movie Mars, which played SXSW in 2010, is now available on Netflix Watch Instantly. Read Jenn's review and her interview with Marslett about the film. Reactions to the movie, now that it's more widely available, inspired a thoughtful blog entry about indie films from Hipstercrite, aka Lauren Modery, Marslett's writing (Loves Her Gun) and romantic partner.SXSW Film Festival is trying a new method for selecting its encore screenings this year: input from you. This Tugg page has a list of past SXSW award winners that the fest may show again this year...
IndieWIRE has kicked off its interview series "Meet the 2012 Sundance Filmmakers" with a pair of Austin filmmakers you might already know: Nathan and David Zellner. The interview has some interesting tidbits about their feature film Kid-Thing, which will premiere at the fest later this month.Local filmmaker/instructor Geoff Marslett's animated movie Mars, which played SXSW in 2010, is now available on Netflix Watch Instantly. Read Jenn's review and her interview with Marslett about the film. Reactions to the movie, now that it's more widely available, inspired a thoughtful blog entry about indie films from Hipstercrite, aka Lauren Modery, Marslett's writing (Loves Her Gun) and romantic partner.SXSW Film Festival is trying a new method for selecting its encore screenings this year: input from you. This Tugg page has a list of past SXSW award winners that the fest may show again this year...
- 1/6/2012
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Every single year come awards season, it's always upsetting to see the blatant misfires on the Academy's short list of films eligible for the Best Documentary Oscar. Just last year [1], the big story wasn't so much that Exit Through the Gift Shop or Restrepo were up for the award, it was that films like Catfish, Best Worst Movie and Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work were snubbed. This year it's more of the same. Much more. Fifteen films have been chosen that will be narrowed down to five to tangle for the Oscar itself and on that list are several exceptional documentaries: Bill Cunningham New York, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory and Project Nim (above) just to name a few. Not on the list, however are Constance Mark's Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey, Steve James’s The Interrupters, Werner Herzog‘s Into the Abyss, Errol Morris' Tabloid, Ian Palmer's Knuckle,...
- 11/19/2011
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
Mark Landsman’s Thunder Soul hits theaters this Friday, so in lieu of a traditional interview we asked him, what five documentary films influenced him as a filmmaker during the creation of Thunder Soul.
I find it challenging whenever anyone asks me to list a ‘top five’ of anything--especially movies--because I love a lot of them for a lot of different reasons--it’s tough to do a process of elimination. But in thinking about it, in terms of the top five docs that have made the greatest impact on me as a filmmaker and most influenced my current project, Thunder Soul, I think it’d be these. I offer them up knowing that there are many more that live in the brain drive and influence me even when I not realizing it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jet-Ubwk5l8
The Times of Harvey Milk (Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Freidman, 1984)
In...
I find it challenging whenever anyone asks me to list a ‘top five’ of anything--especially movies--because I love a lot of them for a lot of different reasons--it’s tough to do a process of elimination. But in thinking about it, in terms of the top five docs that have made the greatest impact on me as a filmmaker and most influenced my current project, Thunder Soul, I think it’d be these. I offer them up knowing that there are many more that live in the brain drive and influence me even when I not realizing it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jet-Ubwk5l8
The Times of Harvey Milk (Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Freidman, 1984)
In...
- 10/3/2011
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent
Tonight, you can catch a special free screening of Amélie as part of the Whole Foods Sunset Supper Cinema; seating is limited, and starts around 6:30 pm. I'm seriously thinking of going to try some of the food specials, which include a crème brûlée shake.
Then get a triple-shot of filmmaker Ti West, who's been in town for Fantastic Fest. On Saturday he's doing a Moviemaker Dialogue over at the Afs screening room, on Sunday The Roost and The House of the Devil play Alamo Drafthouse Village, followed by an Afs Best of the Fest screening on Monday of The Innkeepers.
On Tuesday, check out the lastest Essential Cinema screening Peking Opera Blues over at Alamo South Lamar. And apparently Afs is kicking of a new "season pass" option -- Season Pass holders get into the Essential Cinema screenings for free.
Now on to the films opening in Austin today,...
Then get a triple-shot of filmmaker Ti West, who's been in town for Fantastic Fest. On Saturday he's doing a Moviemaker Dialogue over at the Afs screening room, on Sunday The Roost and The House of the Devil play Alamo Drafthouse Village, followed by an Afs Best of the Fest screening on Monday of The Innkeepers.
On Tuesday, check out the lastest Essential Cinema screening Peking Opera Blues over at Alamo South Lamar. And apparently Afs is kicking of a new "season pass" option -- Season Pass holders get into the Essential Cinema screenings for free.
Now on to the films opening in Austin today,...
- 9/30/2011
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
Title: Thunder Soul Director: Mark Landsman The glut of studies — seemingly released almost weekly — showing the slippage and relatively poor international ranking of American high school students in core academic subjects like math, science and history is troubling, certainly, and indicative of a need to redouble efforts in those areas. But as anyone who still has a honest connection to their adolescence will admit, the role of extracurriculars and artistic electives is often integral to a teenager’s sense of engagement and self-worth, and certainly the type of well-roundedness that helps produce open-minded individuals who can work well with others. Not everyone has the aptitude to be a professional singer, musician, artist or...
- 9/26/2011
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
The 1960s and 1970s are littered with countless soul and funk bands that are largely forgotten today. Some made genuinely exciting music; others, mediocre tracks with stellar moments, used as source material by hip-hop producers decades later. Only one can lay claim, though, to still being in high school when their greatness was first revealed.
In "Thunder Soul," a new documentary on legendary Texas high school group Kashmere Stage Band, director Mark Landsman gives a history lesson for funk and soul enthusiasts while documenting a touching reunion and tribute for the band’s charismatic leader.
Before Kashmere Stage Band, high school bands primarily looked to jazz standards as the basis for their catalogues. It was safe, anodyne and toothless, but pleasing to the mainly white audience. Under the tutelage of Music Director Conrad "Prof" Johnson, Ksb brought new life to an old format, mixing jazz with funk and soul and adding elaborate,...
In "Thunder Soul," a new documentary on legendary Texas high school group Kashmere Stage Band, director Mark Landsman gives a history lesson for funk and soul enthusiasts while documenting a touching reunion and tribute for the band’s charismatic leader.
Before Kashmere Stage Band, high school bands primarily looked to jazz standards as the basis for their catalogues. It was safe, anodyne and toothless, but pleasing to the mainly white audience. Under the tutelage of Music Director Conrad "Prof" Johnson, Ksb brought new life to an old format, mixing jazz with funk and soul and adding elaborate,...
- 9/23/2011
- by Jason Newman
- NextMovie
Brad Pitt goes head to head with Taylor Lautner this weekend as Moneyball and Abduction both make their debut. Clearly the turnout will be split along age lines, but I'd be pretty surprised if Moneyball didn't knock it out of the park. Other major releases include Killer Elite starring Jason Statham and Robert DeNiro, and the heartwarming Dolphin Tale starring Morgan Freeman. In select theatres we also have Puncture starring Chris Evans, Machine Gun Preacher starring Gerard Butler, and the documentary Thunder Soul. What will you be watching this weekend? Moneyball Abduction Killer Elite Dolphin Tale Thunder Soul (limited) Machine Gun Preacher (limited) Puncture (limited) Limelight (limited) Weekend (limited)
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For More Daily Movie Goodness, Visit Filmjunk.Com!
- 9/23/2011
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Winner of the 2010 Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival, Mark Landsman's “Thunder Soul” follows the alumni of Houston’s Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for their 92-year-old band leader, Conrad "Prof" Johnson. It's a rousing true story that's been generating steam on the festival circuit since its SXSW debut. Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx is ...
- 9/23/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Winner of the 2010 Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival, Mark Landsman's “Thunder Soul” follows the alumni of Houston’s Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for their 92-year-old band leader, Conrad "Prof" Johnson. It's a rousing true story that's been generating steam on the festival circuit since its SXSW debut. Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx is ...
- 9/23/2011
- Indiewire
Winner of the 2010 Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival, Mark Landsman's “Thunder Soul” follows the alumni of Houston’s Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for their 92-year-old band leader, Conrad "Prof" Johnson. It's a rousing true story that's been generating steam on the festival circuit since its SXSW debut. Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx is ...
- 9/23/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Opening This Weekend Thunder Soul (Roadside Attractions) has charmed and energized audiences ever since it debuted at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) last year. “?The best documentaries expose us to things we might not otherwise be aware [of], educate, motivate and entertain, and prove that fact can be wilder than fiction,” wrote Jenn Brown at Slackerwood. “Thunder Soul is both a profile of stage band director and composer Conrad O. Johnson and a celebration of the music he and his students created. Between 1968 and 1977, the Kashmere High School in Houston's 5th Ward had a stage band performing music that put professionals to shame.” The film “?offers a heaping helping of uplift while documenting the past...
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- 9/23/2011
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
Clips from Mark Landsman's Thunder Soul, narrated by Jamie Foxx. Docu on Conrad O. Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band. The Roadside Attractions' documentary opens on September 23rd in limited areas and tells the true story of Conrad O. Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band. It was afros, pleated pants and platform shoes; James Brown, Sly Stone and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary, world-class funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it.
- 9/22/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Clips from Mark Landsman's Thunder Soul, narrated by Jamie Foxx. Docu on Conrad O. Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band. The Roadside Attractions' documentary opens on September 23rd in limited areas and tells the true story of Conrad O. Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band. It was afros, pleated pants and platform shoes; James Brown, Sly Stone and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary, world-class funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it.
- 9/22/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Company Acquires Jennifer Westfeldt.s Directorial Debut
Out Of The Toronto International Film Festival
Stellar Ensemble Cast Includes
Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig,
Maya Rudolph, Chris O.Dowd, Megan Fox and Edward Burns
Santa Monica, CA (September 21, 2011) – Lionsgate today announced the acquisition of Red Granite Pictures. Friends With Kids, directed by Jennifer Westfeldt, following its debut screenings at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. The announcement was made jointly by Steve Beeks, Lionsgate.s President and co-coo, Joe Drake, co-coo and Motion Picture Group President, and Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.
The release will be handled jointly by Lionsgate and partner company Roadside Attractions, similarly to past collaborations such as Everything Must Go, and the upcoming Margin Call, with Roadside Attractions spearheading domestic theatrical distribution and Lionsgate handling all other U.S. rights including home entertainment and television.
Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland.s Red Granite Pictures...
Out Of The Toronto International Film Festival
Stellar Ensemble Cast Includes
Adam Scott, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig,
Maya Rudolph, Chris O.Dowd, Megan Fox and Edward Burns
Santa Monica, CA (September 21, 2011) – Lionsgate today announced the acquisition of Red Granite Pictures. Friends With Kids, directed by Jennifer Westfeldt, following its debut screenings at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. The announcement was made jointly by Steve Beeks, Lionsgate.s President and co-coo, Joe Drake, co-coo and Motion Picture Group President, and Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.
The release will be handled jointly by Lionsgate and partner company Roadside Attractions, similarly to past collaborations such as Everything Must Go, and the upcoming Margin Call, with Roadside Attractions spearheading domestic theatrical distribution and Lionsgate handling all other U.S. rights including home entertainment and television.
Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland.s Red Granite Pictures...
- 9/21/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Company Acquires Adam Wingard’s You’Re Next
Santa Monica, CA (September 21, 2011) – Lionsgate today announced that it has acquired U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to You’Re Next, following its screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival. The announcement was made jointly by Joe Drake, Lionsgate’s co-coo and Motion Picture Group President, and Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.
Directed by Adam Wingard from a script penned by Simon Barrett, You’Re Next is a petrifying horror story starring Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, A.J. Bowen, Nicholas Tucci and Barbara Crampton. Snoot Entertainment’s Keith Calder and Jessica Wu produced the project with Simon Barrett and Kim Sherman. The film reunites the principal cast from Wingard and Barrett’s shocking serial-killer thriller A Horrible Way To Die, which screened at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.
In You’Re Next, during a family reunion getaway, the Davison family comes under a sadistic attack.
Santa Monica, CA (September 21, 2011) – Lionsgate today announced that it has acquired U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to You’Re Next, following its screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival. The announcement was made jointly by Joe Drake, Lionsgate’s co-coo and Motion Picture Group President, and Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.
Directed by Adam Wingard from a script penned by Simon Barrett, You’Re Next is a petrifying horror story starring Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, A.J. Bowen, Nicholas Tucci and Barbara Crampton. Snoot Entertainment’s Keith Calder and Jessica Wu produced the project with Simon Barrett and Kim Sherman. The film reunites the principal cast from Wingard and Barrett’s shocking serial-killer thriller A Horrible Way To Die, which screened at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.
In You’Re Next, during a family reunion getaway, the Davison family comes under a sadistic attack.
- 9/21/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
New trailer and image from the Thunder Soul documentary on Conrad O. Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band. Roadside Attractions' Thunder Soul tells the true story of Conrad O. Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band. It was afros, pleated pants and platform shoes; James Brown, Sly Stone and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary, world-class funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it. The documentary opens September 23rd and is helmed by Mark Landsman.
- 6/30/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New trailer and image from the Thunder Soul documentary on Conrad O. Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band. Roadside Attractions' Thunder Soul tells the true story of Conrad O. Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band. It was afros, pleated pants and platform shoes; James Brown, Sly Stone and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary, world-class funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it. The documentary opens September 23rd and is helmed by Mark Landsman.
- 6/30/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New trailer and image from the Thunder Soul documentary on Conrad O. Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band. Roadside Attractions' Thunder Soul tells the true story of Conrad O. Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band. It was afros, pleated pants and platform shoes; James Brown, Sly Stone and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary, world-class funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it. The documentary opens September 23rd and is helmed by Mark Landsman.
- 6/30/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Here is a preview at the upcoming films being distributed by Roadside Attractions this year. They have some pretty fantastic things lined up. Take a peek!
Project Nim
In Theatres June 10th
From the Oscar-winning team behind Man On Wire comes the story of Nim, the chimpanzee who in the 1970s became the focus of a landmark experiment which aimed to show that an ape could learn to communicate with language if raised and nurtured like a human child. Following Nim’s extraordinary journey through human society, and the enduring impact he makes on the people he meets along the way, the film is an unflinching and unsentimental biography of an animal we tried to make human. What we learn about his true nature – and indeed our own . is comic, revealing and profoundly unsettling.
The Future
In Theatres July 29th
The Future tells the story of a thirty-something couple who,...
Project Nim
In Theatres June 10th
From the Oscar-winning team behind Man On Wire comes the story of Nim, the chimpanzee who in the 1970s became the focus of a landmark experiment which aimed to show that an ape could learn to communicate with language if raised and nurtured like a human child. Following Nim’s extraordinary journey through human society, and the enduring impact he makes on the people he meets along the way, the film is an unflinching and unsentimental biography of an animal we tried to make human. What we learn about his true nature – and indeed our own . is comic, revealing and profoundly unsettling.
The Future
In Theatres July 29th
The Future tells the story of a thirty-something couple who,...
- 5/16/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? One Hundred Mornings Trailer You'll have to excuse the tardiness of bringing this gem to light as those living on the Emerald Isle had this...
- 5/13/2011
- by Christopher Stipp
- Slash Film
The U.K team only have one film in the Cannes competition in Takashi's Miike's Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai, but its the more than one item in Hanway Films upcoming slate that has me salivating. They've got Steve McQueen's Shame, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights and David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method all in the oven. If there is a break-in at the Hanway offices this week, I don't want anyone thinking it was me. Here's the full list for ya: A Dangerous Method by David Cronenberg - Completed Hara-kiri: Death Of A Samurai by Takashi Miike - Completed Shame by Steve McQueen - Production 13 Assassins by Takashi Mike - Completed Chico And Rita by Fernando Trueba - Completed Distant Thunder by Mark Deeble - Pre-Production Essential Killing by Jerzy Skolimowski - Completed Girls' Night Out by Michael Hoffman - Pre-Production Kon Tiki by Joachim Roenning - Pre-Production...
- 5/13/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Last year, SXSW Film seemed more frustrating than usual for Austin festgoers with film passes, or people who wanted to buy tickets for a couple of movies. The Interactive conference practically exploded in size, and a lot of those attendees had Gold badges, while others queued up en masse for the screenings that were also open to Interactive badges. The opening-night film filled up before passholders could get in (badgeholder line from Kick-Ass pictured above; what's not pictured is that it completely circled the Paramount block). And I'm still frustrated that I missed Thunder Soul because I could not find any parking within a mile of the Paramount for under $20 that day.
It looks like SXSW Film access will be much better overall this year, and special care has been taken to ensure that Austin filmgoers can see festival movies. For example, this year Interactive-only badgeholders can't use their badges to get into any screenings.
It looks like SXSW Film access will be much better overall this year, and special care has been taken to ensure that Austin filmgoers can see festival movies. For example, this year Interactive-only badgeholders can't use their badges to get into any screenings.
- 3/9/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Watch a new movie clip from Thunder Soul, Roadside Attractions' documentary directed by Mark Landsman. Thunder Soul tells the true story of Conrad O. Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band. It was afros, pleated pants and platform shoes; James Brown, Sly Stone and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary, world-class funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades...
- 2/28/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch a new movie clip from Thunder Soul, Roadside Attractions' documentary directed by Mark Landsman. Thunder Soul tells the true story of Conrad O. Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band. It was afros, pleated pants and platform shoes; James Brown, Sly Stone and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary, world-class funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades...
- 2/28/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Ballet drama "Black Swan" triumphed at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards and won for Best Feature, Best Director for Darren Aronofsky, Best Female Lead for Natalie Portman, and Best Cinematography for Matthew Libatique.
Oscar nominee Natalie Portman added this victory to her impressive collection of awards she took home this season, including a Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award for Best Actress. Best Supporting Female went to Dale Dickey for "Winter's Bone."
15 Facts about Natalie Portman!
Oscar nominee Natalie Portman added this victory to her impressive collection of awards she took home this season, including a Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award for Best Actress. Best Supporting Female went to Dale Dickey for "Winter's Bone."
15 Facts about Natalie Portman!
- 2/27/2011
- Extra
With all the "Black Swan" hoopla, am I the only one who thinks that the film, while well-made, is not deserving of all these hyper-crazed adulations? Portman was good, but I prefer Annette Bening's understated performance in "The Kids Are All Right." Or heck, Jennifer Lawrence's "Winter's Bone" performance could easily outdance Portman's delusional ballerina portrayal any day.
And "Winter's Bone," celebrating its true independent spirit, was virtually snubbed at last night's Independent Spirit Awards. Sure, the excellent supporting cast was honored with Dale Dickey winning Best Supporting Female and John Hawkes for Best Supporting Male, but the engaging and deeply haunting Debra Granik movie (with the most nominations totaling to seven nods) lost out to...you guessed it, Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan." (Check out my "Winter's Bone" movie review right here)
And yes, I do admire Aronofsky, I thought "The Wrestler" was one of his personal...
And "Winter's Bone," celebrating its true independent spirit, was virtually snubbed at last night's Independent Spirit Awards. Sure, the excellent supporting cast was honored with Dale Dickey winning Best Supporting Female and John Hawkes for Best Supporting Male, but the engaging and deeply haunting Debra Granik movie (with the most nominations totaling to seven nods) lost out to...you guessed it, Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan." (Check out my "Winter's Bone" movie review right here)
And yes, I do admire Aronofsky, I thought "The Wrestler" was one of his personal...
- 2/27/2011
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Well, every year the Independent Spirit Awards are handed out the night before the Oscars, and every year, it seems that they are honouring a completely different set of films, despite having a number of overlapping nominees. At this point, it almost seems like you don't want to win a Spirit Award because if you do, it means you won't end up winning the Oscar. Assuming history repeats itself, James Franco's chances of winning Best Actor for 127 Hours just got a little worse (not that he really had a shot in the first place), and Natalie Portman might not be the lock that everyone thinks she is. Black Swan also ended up taking home Best Feature, Best Director, and Best Cinematography, while John Hawkes and Dale Dickey took home Supporting Actor and Actress awards for Winter's Bone. The Kids Are All Right ended up getting Best Screenplay, while Exit Through the Gift Shop...
- 2/27/2011
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
While the Oscars can often times take the air out of the bag with overproduced pieces, cut off speeches and the Academy’s general inability to laugh at itself, the IFC’s Independent Spirit Awards are a contrasting gas. Slightly more casual and more daring fashion risks are welcome–so are jeans–as are uncensored acceptance speeches, the Spirit Awards honor those films embodying independence and original filmmaking. Joel McHale hosted the event, which was a cold night in Los Angeles (for southern California anyway) with many men wrapped in scarves, while the women wore raincoats over their dresses.
Black Swan was the big winner taking home honors for Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Feature. John Hawkes and Dale Dickey each won for their Supporting roles in Winter’s Bone and graffiti artist Banksy won for his documentary, Exit Through The Gift Shop. The King’s Speech...
Black Swan was the big winner taking home honors for Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Feature. John Hawkes and Dale Dickey each won for their Supporting roles in Winter’s Bone and graffiti artist Banksy won for his documentary, Exit Through The Gift Shop. The King’s Speech...
- 2/27/2011
- by Ernie Estrella
- BuzzFocus.com
The debate rages on as to whether the doomed Nina really did dance a "perfect" performance of "Swan Lake" in "Black Swan."
But the Independent Spirit Awards have certainly acknowledged that the movie itself came pretty close to perfection.
"Black Swan" swept the Spirit Awards with wins for Best Feature, Best Female Lead, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Darren Aronofsky's operatic tale of fear, loathing and madness at the New York City Ballet won in every category for which it was nominated.
While Natalie Portman may have beaten Jennifer Lawrence in the Best Female Lead category, "Winter's Bone" did take home awards for the performances of two of its supporting players, Dale Dickey and Jack Hawkes.
Meanwhile, the co-host of this year's Oscars, James Franco, won for his lead performance in "127 Hours." The newly PG-13-rated "The King's Speech" won Best Foreign Film and "Exit Through the Gift Shop" won Best Documentary,...
But the Independent Spirit Awards have certainly acknowledged that the movie itself came pretty close to perfection.
"Black Swan" swept the Spirit Awards with wins for Best Feature, Best Female Lead, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Darren Aronofsky's operatic tale of fear, loathing and madness at the New York City Ballet won in every category for which it was nominated.
While Natalie Portman may have beaten Jennifer Lawrence in the Best Female Lead category, "Winter's Bone" did take home awards for the performances of two of its supporting players, Dale Dickey and Jack Hawkes.
Meanwhile, the co-host of this year's Oscars, James Franco, won for his lead performance in "127 Hours." The newly PG-13-rated "The King's Speech" won Best Foreign Film and "Exit Through the Gift Shop" won Best Documentary,...
- 2/27/2011
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
I went 10/13 with my predictions of the Indie Spirits today -- my misfires came in the Best Picture and Best Actress categories thinking that Winter's Bone had the edge over Black Swan. Not that Winter's Bone didn't have a good night (it won in the Best Supporting categories - I thought that Bill Murray had the edge over John Hawkes is where I flubbed as well) but it was indeed a Black Swan event -- with additional wins for Directing (Darren Aronofsky) and Cinematography (Matthew Libatique). You can find the winners in bold below. Best Feature 127 Hours Black Swan Greenberg The Kids Are All Right Winter's Bone Best Director Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan Danny Boyle, 127 Hours Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right Debra Granik, Winter's Bone John Cameron Mitchell, Rabbit Hole Best Screenplay Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini, Winter's Bone Nicole Holofcener,...
- 2/27/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
The 2011 Independent Spirit Awards were handed out a few hours ago and Black Swan won in all four categories it was nominated in including Best Picture, Best Director (Darren Aronofsky), Best Actress (Natalie Portman) and Best Cinematography (Matthew Libatique). Winter's Bone earned the most nominations at seven and dominated the supporting categories with wins for both Dale Dickey and John Hawkes, of the two only Hawkes earned an Oscar nomination, but he'll be facing off against both Christian Bale and Geoffrey Rush tomorrow night so I'm not counting on two awards in two days, though his performance in that film is one to remember.
Elsewhere, James Franco won Best Actor for 127 Hours, though he wasn't facing the stiffest of competition when it comes to most talked about performances of the year as he is the only one of the five nominees to also be nominated for an Oscar. Exit Through the Gift Shop...
Elsewhere, James Franco won Best Actor for 127 Hours, though he wasn't facing the stiffest of competition when it comes to most talked about performances of the year as he is the only one of the five nominees to also be nominated for an Oscar. Exit Through the Gift Shop...
- 2/27/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The cool kids of Hollywood are braving the blistering wind to attend the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, and the afternoon's winners may have you wanting to tweak your Oscar picks.
Yes, the awards don't share a voting body -- or even a lot of the same nominees -- but it's fun to see some familiar faces making acceptance speeches after being stuck in their seats for much of award season.
The big winners so far? Oscar host James Franco took home best actor for his role in "127 Hours," "Black Swan" has best picture, director and actress and "Winters' Bone" has swept the supporting categories, with nods going to both Dale Dickey and John Hawkes.
All of the nominees, including winners in bold, are right here:
Best Feature
"127 Hours"
"Black Swan"
"Greenberg"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"Winter's Bone"
Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
Danny Boyle,...
Yes, the awards don't share a voting body -- or even a lot of the same nominees -- but it's fun to see some familiar faces making acceptance speeches after being stuck in their seats for much of award season.
The big winners so far? Oscar host James Franco took home best actor for his role in "127 Hours," "Black Swan" has best picture, director and actress and "Winters' Bone" has swept the supporting categories, with nods going to both Dale Dickey and John Hawkes.
All of the nominees, including winners in bold, are right here:
Best Feature
"127 Hours"
"Black Swan"
"Greenberg"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"Winter's Bone"
Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
Danny Boyle,...
- 2/26/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: The day before the annual Academy Awards ceremony belongs to the Spirit Awards, when Hollywood’s independent film community – which currently reflects the Oscar community thanks to double-dipping films like “Black Swan,” “Winter’s Bone” and “The Kids Are All Right” – takes to the sands in Santa Monica for what host Joel McHale calls “the coolest awards show, because it’s casual, in a tent on a beach, and people are drinking, and vomiting.”
Let’s hope there isn’t as much throw up as McHale predicts. We wouldn’t want 2011 Spirit Awards nominees Annette Bening, Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, James Franco, Ben Stiller or John C. Reilly slipping in someone else’s vomit on the way to the stage.
All kidding aside, the Spirit Awards are a laid-back affair, a lighter appetizer to the glamorous Oscars. The ceremony will be televised in IFC beginning at 10 p.
Hollywoodnews.com: The day before the annual Academy Awards ceremony belongs to the Spirit Awards, when Hollywood’s independent film community – which currently reflects the Oscar community thanks to double-dipping films like “Black Swan,” “Winter’s Bone” and “The Kids Are All Right” – takes to the sands in Santa Monica for what host Joel McHale calls “the coolest awards show, because it’s casual, in a tent on a beach, and people are drinking, and vomiting.”
Let’s hope there isn’t as much throw up as McHale predicts. We wouldn’t want 2011 Spirit Awards nominees Annette Bening, Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, James Franco, Ben Stiller or John C. Reilly slipping in someone else’s vomit on the way to the stage.
All kidding aside, the Spirit Awards are a laid-back affair, a lighter appetizer to the glamorous Oscars. The ceremony will be televised in IFC beginning at 10 p.
- 2/26/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
With all the emerging talent on display at this year's Spirit Awards, it's easy to get caught up in what's new and next in terms of the films we'll be seeing in the future, but what's often overlooked is the surfeit of new places and experiences that has been on display in independent cinema over the course of the past year. Actors routinely take audiences into emotional terrain where they haven't been before, but in 2010, it was often the surroundings that shared the spotlight.
In "Winter's Bone," director Debra Granik showed off a side of America that's rarely seen onscreen with the poverty-stricken rural community that exists as its own insular world in the mountains of Missouri and Best First Feature nominee "Get Low" showed the majesty of Tennessee during the '30s. "The Kids Are All Right" and "Greenberg" reveled in both sides of Los Angeles, demonstrating the way...
In "Winter's Bone," director Debra Granik showed off a side of America that's rarely seen onscreen with the poverty-stricken rural community that exists as its own insular world in the mountains of Missouri and Best First Feature nominee "Get Low" showed the majesty of Tennessee during the '30s. "The Kids Are All Right" and "Greenberg" reveled in both sides of Los Angeles, demonstrating the way...
- 2/25/2011
- by IFC
- ifc.com
We're just about a day away from the Spirit Awards (airing on some channel whose name escapes me at 10 pm eastern and pacific). If you're watching the show and want to hear more about the individual nominees and the year and indie film in general, you should surf over to IFC.com's 2011 Spirit Awards Watch & Chat which I'll be hosting with my friend and film critic supreme James Rocchi. James and I will be debating this year's crop of Spirit Award nominees, who got overlooked and overpraised, and commenting on the show as well. Plus, we'll fighting to see who can predict more of the winners, a fight I am almost sure to lose because I am legendarily terrible at this sort of thing. Our chat runs the same time as the Spirit Awards 10pm - 1am eastern (no pacific, sorry, otherwise we'd have to talk for 6 hours straight).
Speaking of those predictions,...
Speaking of those predictions,...
- 2/25/2011
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
121 films later… another installment of the Pan African Film Festival (Paff) in Los Angeles, CA, came to a close on Wednesday, the 23rd, with the announcement of its filmmaker awards.
Prizes were handed out for the following categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best First Feature Film, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Audience Favorite awards.
I was extremely pleased to see João Daniel Tikhomiroff’s Besouro win the Best Narrative Feature prize. It’s a film we’ve touted on this blog for the last 2 years, since initially hearing about it. The film is still without North American distribution, as far as I know, and it needs all the press and push it can get. I hope it’s eventually picked up – even if it’s a straight-to-dvd release.
Ava DuVernay’s I Will Follow received the well-deserved Best First Feature Film award.
And the Jamie Foxx-executive produced Thunder Soul,...
Prizes were handed out for the following categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best First Feature Film, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Audience Favorite awards.
I was extremely pleased to see João Daniel Tikhomiroff’s Besouro win the Best Narrative Feature prize. It’s a film we’ve touted on this blog for the last 2 years, since initially hearing about it. The film is still without North American distribution, as far as I know, and it needs all the press and push it can get. I hope it’s eventually picked up – even if it’s a straight-to-dvd release.
Ava DuVernay’s I Will Follow received the well-deserved Best First Feature Film award.
And the Jamie Foxx-executive produced Thunder Soul,...
- 2/25/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
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