The cast of Napoleon Dynamite reunited at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival!
Believe it or not, the cult classic high school movie starring Jon Heder as the titular character, premiered 20 years ago in 2004.
On Thursday (January 24), Jon got together with costars Jon Gries, Shondrella Avery, Efren Ramirez and Tom Lefler at a special screening of the movie.
Keep reading to find out more…
The cast was joined by producers Jeremy Coon, Sean Covel and Chris Wyatt, art director Curt Jensen and costume director Jerusha Hess. We’ve got pics of all of them in the gallery!
It looks like the group had a great time getting together again, and the event even featured a “Vote for Pedro” pin!
If you haven’t been keeping up, we’ve got all the coverage you need from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. For instance, did you know a popular star brought their parents as dates for their premiere?...
Believe it or not, the cult classic high school movie starring Jon Heder as the titular character, premiered 20 years ago in 2004.
On Thursday (January 24), Jon got together with costars Jon Gries, Shondrella Avery, Efren Ramirez and Tom Lefler at a special screening of the movie.
Keep reading to find out more…
The cast was joined by producers Jeremy Coon, Sean Covel and Chris Wyatt, art director Curt Jensen and costume director Jerusha Hess. We’ve got pics of all of them in the gallery!
It looks like the group had a great time getting together again, and the event even featured a “Vote for Pedro” pin!
If you haven’t been keeping up, we’ve got all the coverage you need from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. For instance, did you know a popular star brought their parents as dates for their premiere?...
- 1/25/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
20th Century Fox wasn’t sure what it had in Star Wars, and apparently, neither did George Lucas. The director was building up his company, Lucasfilm, and unleashed his secret weapon: Charley Lippincott. He whipped people into a previously unknown frenzy by working the fans at science fiction and comics conventions. He saw to it DelRey had the novelization out months before the film, as well as three of the six-issue comics adaptation from Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin at Marvel. These people were lined up for day one, and the word of the month spread so fast that it endured throughout the summer of 1977.
Before the Special came the finale from The Donny and Marie Show, which Donny discusses on the documentary.
As we learn in the wonderfully entertaining A Disturbance in the Force, a 90-minute documentary from directors Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, despite all his statements saying he had everything planned out,...
Before the Special came the finale from The Donny and Marie Show, which Donny discusses on the documentary.
As we learn in the wonderfully entertaining A Disturbance in the Force, a 90-minute documentary from directors Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, despite all his statements saying he had everything planned out,...
- 12/18/2023
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
After Yang (kogonada)
I had the pleasure to speak with filmmaker kogonada about his stirring treatise on mortality, After Yang, and the moment from that conversation I return to most is him saying that “what makes art so invigorating is that you’re pursuing the ineffable.” This is a notion seeded throughout his gentle, transcendent sophomore feature. We can never truly know another person. In some ways, we will never fully know ourselves or our relationship with the world. But the search for it, the mystery, the endless pursuit—that’s the beauty of life. – Mitchell B.
Where to Stream: Prime Video
A Disturbance in the Force (Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak)
The question asked back in the ’80s and ’90s was never,...
After Yang (kogonada)
I had the pleasure to speak with filmmaker kogonada about his stirring treatise on mortality, After Yang, and the moment from that conversation I return to most is him saying that “what makes art so invigorating is that you’re pursuing the ineffable.” This is a notion seeded throughout his gentle, transcendent sophomore feature. We can never truly know another person. In some ways, we will never fully know ourselves or our relationship with the world. But the search for it, the mystery, the endless pursuit—that’s the beauty of life. – Mitchell B.
Where to Stream: Prime Video
A Disturbance in the Force (Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak)
The question asked back in the ’80s and ’90s was never,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Plot: Behind the scenes of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.
Review: Young people today have no idea how hard it was to see the Star Wars Holiday Special in the days before the internet. I remember only being aware of the Holiday Special in the mid-nineties thanks to the occasional mention in Starlog or Sci-Fi Universe. In about 1996, some friends and I attended a Star Wars Convention in Montreal, and the big attraction was that they would be screening the Holiday Special in full on someone’s bootleg tape. My pals and I were so excited, but after all the years of reading about it and dreaming of what it could be like, we walked out after ten minutes. Nine minutes of unsubtitled Wookie was enough to turn us off, and to this day, I don’t think I’ve ever actually sat through the whole thing.
The fact...
Review: Young people today have no idea how hard it was to see the Star Wars Holiday Special in the days before the internet. I remember only being aware of the Holiday Special in the mid-nineties thanks to the occasional mention in Starlog or Sci-Fi Universe. In about 1996, some friends and I attended a Star Wars Convention in Montreal, and the big attraction was that they would be screening the Holiday Special in full on someone’s bootleg tape. My pals and I were so excited, but after all the years of reading about it and dreaming of what it could be like, we walked out after ten minutes. Nine minutes of unsubtitled Wookie was enough to turn us off, and to this day, I don’t think I’ve ever actually sat through the whole thing.
The fact...
- 12/7/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Chicago – A long time ago (1978) in an America far far away, the one and only showing of the “Star Wars Holiday Special” took place on CBS-tv. Infamously miscast and difficult to watch, the history of the show is chronicled in a new doc “A Disturbance in the Force,” co-directed by Jeremy Coon and Steven Kozak.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed. On November 17th, 1978, CBS aired the two-hour “Star Wars Holiday Special” and was watched by 13 million people. It never re-aired and is considered one of the worst shows to ever be broadcast on national TV. “A Disturbance in the Force” co-directors Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak combine celebrity insight – including Seth Green, Donny Osmond and Kevin Smith – archival/participant interviews and broadcast history perspective to understand why this show was created.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed. On November 17th, 1978, CBS aired the two-hour “Star Wars Holiday Special” and was watched by 13 million people. It never re-aired and is considered one of the worst shows to ever be broadcast on national TV. “A Disturbance in the Force” co-directors Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak combine celebrity insight – including Seth Green, Donny Osmond and Kevin Smith – archival/participant interviews and broadcast history perspective to understand why this show was created.
- 12/4/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Los Angeles — November 17, 2023 (Life Day) — September Club and Giant Pictures bring home A Disturbance In The Force on December 5 from a galaxy far far away to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the most infamous story in the history of Star Wars. The acclaimed documentary made its debut at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and chronicles the making of the bizarre (and buried) Star Wars Holiday Special as well as a specific bygone era of 1970s event television. Discover the “hilarious secrets behind Star Wars’ iconically awful Holiday Special” (The Daily Beast) when A Disturbance In The Force arrives on digital platforms, DVD, and Blu-ray on December 5 via Giant Pictures.
From the filmmakers behind Napoleon Dynamite and Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made, comes A Disturbance In The Force, the documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry,...
From the filmmakers behind Napoleon Dynamite and Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made, comes A Disturbance In The Force, the documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry,...
- 11/20/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Why did George Lucas allow the Star Wars Holiday Special to take place? A Disturbance in the Force does a deep dive into the 1978 special watched by millions and then locked away in a vault, never to be screened again.
“After almost 45 years of being the butt of jokes, we had to unlock all the secrets behind the Holiday Special. Its influence on pop culture has only increased over the last two decades and, also, add the fact that it is a part of the Star Wars filmography – and a hidden one at that – only adds to its mystique. Now is finally the time after all these years to get answers about how the Holiday Special happened,” explained co-directors and producers Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak.
A Disturbance in the Force features interviews with Seth Green, Weird Al Yankovic, Paul Scheer, Taran Killam, Patton Oswalt, and Donny Osmond. Plus, Gilbert Gottfried,...
“After almost 45 years of being the butt of jokes, we had to unlock all the secrets behind the Holiday Special. Its influence on pop culture has only increased over the last two decades and, also, add the fact that it is a part of the Star Wars filmography – and a hidden one at that – only adds to its mystique. Now is finally the time after all these years to get answers about how the Holiday Special happened,” explained co-directors and producers Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak.
A Disturbance in the Force features interviews with Seth Green, Weird Al Yankovic, Paul Scheer, Taran Killam, Patton Oswalt, and Donny Osmond. Plus, Gilbert Gottfried,...
- 11/17/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Star Wars fans will truly get to feel A Disturbance in the Force when a documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special — which debuted 45 years ago today, on CBS — is released.
Having premiered back in March at the SXSW Film Festival, A Disturbance in the Force will be released on digital and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Dec. 5, our sister site Variety reports. The 86-minute docu will also play in select theaters across the U.S. ahead of its digital release.
More from TVLineThe Late Ray Stevenson Was Terrific on Disney+'s Ahsoka Series - But Now His Role Should Be...
Having premiered back in March at the SXSW Film Festival, A Disturbance in the Force will be released on digital and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Dec. 5, our sister site Variety reports. The 86-minute docu will also play in select theaters across the U.S. ahead of its digital release.
More from TVLineThe Late Ray Stevenson Was Terrific on Disney+'s Ahsoka Series - But Now His Role Should Be...
- 11/17/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
The question asked back in the ’80s and ’90s was never, “Have you seen The Star Wars Holiday Special?” It was always, “Have you heard of The Star Wars Holiday Special?”
We’re talking about a 1978 air date, after all. Someone must have owned a Vcr, since bootleg copies of the maligned variety show do exist on the Internet (George Lucas has vehemently denounced the project and even Disney has refused to release a “clean” copy beyond putting the animated segment “The Story of the Faithful Wookiee” on Disney+.) But its existence was akin to legend back then. Just knowing was enough to be cool with details being learned rather than experienced.
So it’s shocking that it’s taken until 2023 to finally receive a “definitive” look at its creation and eventual lambasting. Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s A Disturbance in the Force thus seems almost like a miracle...
We’re talking about a 1978 air date, after all. Someone must have owned a Vcr, since bootleg copies of the maligned variety show do exist on the Internet (George Lucas has vehemently denounced the project and even Disney has refused to release a “clean” copy beyond putting the animated segment “The Story of the Faithful Wookiee” on Disney+.) But its existence was akin to legend back then. Just knowing was enough to be cool with details being learned rather than experienced.
So it’s shocking that it’s taken until 2023 to finally receive a “definitive” look at its creation and eventual lambasting. Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s A Disturbance in the Force thus seems almost like a miracle...
- 7/30/2023
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Long, long ago, in a studio far, far away, a group of people whose precise identity remains disputed came up with an idea so devastatingly awful, so manifestly disappointing and overflowing with cringe that it made the destruction of Alderan by the Death Star pale in comparison. This was the Star Wars Holiday Special, broadcast only once, and it would become the stuff of legend. Around 13 million people saw it on that fateful day in November 1978; reportedly, few of them made it to the end. It has since become one of the all time most sought-after bootlegged and pirated productions as fans have become desperate to experience the horror for themselves.
Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s documentary, which screened at South by Southwest and Fantasia 2023, digs into this subject with gusto, looking at the stories behind the special, its unforgettable moments, and the lure of the...
Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s documentary, which screened at South by Southwest and Fantasia 2023, digs into this subject with gusto, looking at the stories behind the special, its unforgettable moments, and the lure of the...
- 7/29/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
It’s July, so you know what that means… Fantasia International Film Festival time! Kicking off our Summer of film festival coverage, Fantasia is Always packed with a vast variety of films, from action to horror, drama to comedy, the festival covers the gamut of genres and offers films that [I think] no other festival does. With that in mind, here are five of my “must-see” picks from this year’s line-up.
Blackout – Genre veteran Larry Fessenden goes back behind the camera for another genre film following the likes of Wendigo, The Last Winter and Beneath. This time around Fessenden brings us the tale of a painter (Alex Hurt) who, convinced he is a werewolf, creates chaos in a small town at each full moon. Suitable Flesh – Director Joe Lynch returns with his first feature after a 4-year absence to helm Suitable Flesh, which not only stars Scream Queen Barbara Crampton but comes from writer Dennis Paoli,...
Blackout – Genre veteran Larry Fessenden goes back behind the camera for another genre film following the likes of Wendigo, The Last Winter and Beneath. This time around Fessenden brings us the tale of a painter (Alex Hurt) who, convinced he is a werewolf, creates chaos in a small town at each full moon. Suitable Flesh – Director Joe Lynch returns with his first feature after a 4-year absence to helm Suitable Flesh, which not only stars Scream Queen Barbara Crampton but comes from writer Dennis Paoli,...
- 7/14/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
We Are Zombies Photo: Fantasia International Film Festival
The final section of the line-up for the this year's Fantasia International Film Festival was announced today, along with the news that the Rkss Collective's Quebecois ode to the 'living-impaired', We Are Zombies, will have the honour of being the festival's closing film. Based on the popular comic The Zombies That Ate The World, it was created by François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, the team behind cult hit Turbo Kid, and is set in a world where zombies have no desire to eat brains but simply wander the streets aimlessly.
The festival also announced that this year's Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award is to be presented to Nicolas Cage in recognition of his more that four decades spent creating unique and memorable characters, often in genre films.
Further additions to the line-up include Irish comedy Apocalypse Clown, manga adaptation Sand Land,...
The final section of the line-up for the this year's Fantasia International Film Festival was announced today, along with the news that the Rkss Collective's Quebecois ode to the 'living-impaired', We Are Zombies, will have the honour of being the festival's closing film. Based on the popular comic The Zombies That Ate The World, it was created by François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, the team behind cult hit Turbo Kid, and is set in a world where zombies have no desire to eat brains but simply wander the streets aimlessly.
The festival also announced that this year's Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award is to be presented to Nicolas Cage in recognition of his more that four decades spent creating unique and memorable characters, often in genre films.
Further additions to the line-up include Irish comedy Apocalypse Clown, manga adaptation Sand Land,...
- 7/6/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
How in the hell does a small, low-budget independent movie become a massive runaway blockbuster hit and pop-cultural landmark at once? While not an exact science, there are surely several different roads to success for each production. We’ve seen it in the past with My Big Fat Greek Wedding and several others. But what about Jared Hess’ viral cult classic Napoleon Dynamite? How does a first-time filmmaker restricted by a $400,000 budget and just 23 shooting days somehow manage to make a semi-autobiographical movie based on his own experiences and still strike such a major chord among the moviegoing masses?
Seriously, how did such a big-hearted underdog of a movie made on the fly become such a beloved comedic touchstone that spoke to an entire generation? After all, it’s extremely hard to make a bad movie. It’s damn a mini-miracle to make a good movie. Yet, for Napoleon Dynamite,...
Seriously, how did such a big-hearted underdog of a movie made on the fly become such a beloved comedic touchstone that spoke to an entire generation? After all, it’s extremely hard to make a bad movie. It’s damn a mini-miracle to make a good movie. Yet, for Napoleon Dynamite,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Jake Dee
- JoBlo.com
Austin, TX – The best film I saw at SXSW 2023 was “A Disturbance in the Force,” a new documentary about one of the most infamous TV programs in the medium’s history … “The Star Wars Holiday Special.” In a precise narrative with celebrity commentary, the history and mystery of this CBS-TV holiday event is unspooled.
In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed. Movies would never be the same again. A year later, neither would television. In 1978, CBS aired the two-hour “Star Wars Holiday Special” during the week of Thanksgiving and was watched by 13 million people. It never re-aired and is considered one of the worst shows to ever air on TV.
Seth Green in ‘A Disturbance in the Force’
Photo credit: SXSW.com
Capsule Review: Just check out the video below to understand...
In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed. Movies would never be the same again. A year later, neither would television. In 1978, CBS aired the two-hour “Star Wars Holiday Special” during the week of Thanksgiving and was watched by 13 million people. It never re-aired and is considered one of the worst shows to ever air on TV.
Seth Green in ‘A Disturbance in the Force’
Photo credit: SXSW.com
Capsule Review: Just check out the video below to understand...
- 4/6/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was Star Wars… and only Star Wars. Oh, you could buy a novelization of George Lucas’ cosmic saga of good and evil, as well as a Marvel Comics’ adaptation of the film that kept the post-Death Star story going in… some very singular ways. (Pour one out for the giant green space-rabbit Jaxxon T. Tumperakki.) Eventually, there were toys — so, so many toys — as well as soundtrack albums, coffee-table books of concept art, and loads of other merchandise. But...
- 3/12/2023
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
There are few if any pieces of "Star Wars" lore quite as infamous as that of the elusive "Star Wars Holiday Special." The made-for-tv special, produced at the height of the franchise's initial wave of popularity after "A New Hope" hit theaters, was created with the cooperation of George Lucas and aired on CBS. But it aired once and only once, gaining a reputation as notoriously terrible -- so much so that Lucas did his best to wipe its memory from the face of the Earth. Now, a pair of filmmakers have chronicled the journey of the train wreck that is the "Star Wars Holiday Special" in a new documentary titled "A Disturbance in the Force."
The documentary is making its premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas this week after years of development. It features interviews with many, many people involved, as well as noted fans of a galaxy far,...
The documentary is making its premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas this week after years of development. It features interviews with many, many people involved, as well as noted fans of a galaxy far,...
- 3/12/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
"A Disturbance in the Force" is an insightful documentary about a lesser-known part of the success story of George Lucas' "Star Wars." Rather than focusing on its production woes, or how it became the biggest movie ever at that point, it focuses on what happens later. This is the story of a time when having the biggest movie of all time didn't guarantee lasting cultural impact. It's also the story of how the desperation to keep the franchise in the mind of the fans resulted in the first (but certainly not the last) big failure of the franchise far, far away — the "Star Wars Holiday Special."
As popular as "Star Wars" is, this is a franchise with lows as infamous as its highs. For every "Empire Strikes Back," there is a "Rise of Skywalker," but before the prequels, there was another black sheep of the franchise, the one title that...
As popular as "Star Wars" is, this is a franchise with lows as infamous as its highs. For every "Empire Strikes Back," there is a "Rise of Skywalker," but before the prequels, there was another black sheep of the franchise, the one title that...
- 3/12/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
There are times when you look back at pop culture phenomena and can’t resist the urge to ask: Can you believe this actually happened? Tackling a notorious fiasco in one of the galaxy’s most popular franchises, Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s amusing and exhaustive documentary ”A Disturbance in the Force” unpacks 1978’s “Star Wars Holiday Special.”
You don’t have to be an obsessive “Star Wars” fan to enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at how the special — which premiered Nov. 17, 1978 on CBS, and has never been re-run on any broadcast or cable outlet — came to exist. To be sure, the fans will appreciate it a lot more than casual viewers. But it’s also an irresistible hoot for anyone with fond memories of star-studded 1970s musical/variety TV specials — a specific type of highly popular general audience entertainment that, truth to tell, very often showcased more campy excess...
You don’t have to be an obsessive “Star Wars” fan to enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at how the special — which premiered Nov. 17, 1978 on CBS, and has never been re-run on any broadcast or cable outlet — came to exist. To be sure, the fans will appreciate it a lot more than casual viewers. But it’s also an irresistible hoot for anyone with fond memories of star-studded 1970s musical/variety TV specials — a specific type of highly popular general audience entertainment that, truth to tell, very often showcased more campy excess...
- 3/12/2023
- by Joe Leydon
- Variety Film + TV
“Star Wars” could stand to come off its high horse a little bit. Other than the recent “Andor,” which actually did break new ground, the franchise has become stunningly obsessed with itself, regurgitating obscure lore, planting callbacks and cameos everywhere, and generally living in the past.
One of the bits of “Star Wars” arcana that especially pops up? The “Star Wars Holiday Special,” the 1978 CBS catastrophe that’s the ultimate example of exploiting franchise IP into oblivion. The definitive “so bad it’s good” fetish object, the two-hour special introduced Boba Fett as a character to the saga and continues to influence stories to this day — the prong-like rifle sometimes used by Mando on “The Mandalorian” came from the special — even as George Lucas and Lucasfilm famously suppressed it. Lucasfilm even produced its own “Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” in 2020.
The most shocking thing about Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak...
One of the bits of “Star Wars” arcana that especially pops up? The “Star Wars Holiday Special,” the 1978 CBS catastrophe that’s the ultimate example of exploiting franchise IP into oblivion. The definitive “so bad it’s good” fetish object, the two-hour special introduced Boba Fett as a character to the saga and continues to influence stories to this day — the prong-like rifle sometimes used by Mando on “The Mandalorian” came from the special — even as George Lucas and Lucasfilm famously suppressed it. Lucasfilm even produced its own “Lego Star Wars Holiday Special” in 2020.
The most shocking thing about Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak...
- 3/12/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
If you’re a Gen X or “geriatric” millennial Star Wars fanatic, you probably have a story related to the contortions you had to go through to get your hands on the notorious only-aired-once 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special.
Freshman year. My college roommate Andrew brought back a bootleg tape — there has never been a legitimate release — given to him by a guy who knew a guy at his regular comic shop. We watched with breathless anticipation that turned to quizzical horror — a generational rite of passage.
Today, you can go to YouTube and take your pick from among several Star Wars Holiday Special uploads, at least one of which has remained up for seven years and has 3.6 million views. So much for taboo. So much for resourcefulness. So much for magic.
Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s new documentary A Disturbance in the Force captures a lot of what was...
Freshman year. My college roommate Andrew brought back a bootleg tape — there has never been a legitimate release — given to him by a guy who knew a guy at his regular comic shop. We watched with breathless anticipation that turned to quizzical horror — a generational rite of passage.
Today, you can go to YouTube and take your pick from among several Star Wars Holiday Special uploads, at least one of which has remained up for seven years and has 3.6 million views. So much for taboo. So much for resourcefulness. So much for magic.
Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak’s new documentary A Disturbance in the Force captures a lot of what was...
- 3/12/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On Nov. 17, 1978, Princess Leia sang these lyrics to the melody of John Williams’ Star Wars theme: “We celebrate a day of peace/A day of harmony/A day of joy we can all share/Together joyously.” It’s a rough moment in Star Wars history, and certainly, even the children of 1978 were uneasy about putting words to that iconic music. Chewbacca was wearing a red robe, Luke Skywalker had a haircut that didn’t make him seem like Luke at all, and Han Solo seemed like he wanted to be somewhere else. This was the ending of the Star Wars Holiday Special, a bizarre television event that was aired only once. And, when Star Wars blossomed into a lasting and serious cultural phenomenon, George Lucas tried to make it seem like it had never happened.
“You can’t blame the people who were just doing their jobs,” Jeremy Coon tells Den of Geek.
“You can’t blame the people who were just doing their jobs,” Jeremy Coon tells Den of Geek.
- 3/11/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
It’s the much talked about Christmas special that you’re not allowed to talk about. It’s interesting to think that right after the cinema-changing release of 1977’s Star Wars, the immediate follow-up would be a dud. And I’m not talking about The Empire Strikes Back. In 1978, to capitalize on the success of the smash hit from George Lucas, director of such films as Thx 1138 and American Graffiti, there was a TV Christmas special that brought in all the stars of the movie. That special became the first big misstep of the franchise that was so bad that George Lucas won’t even speak about it.
The Hollywood Reporter has the details on a new documentary that goes behind the scenes of the much-maligned TV program, including a teaser trailer. A Disturbance in the Force is a new film from Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak that is...
The Hollywood Reporter has the details on a new documentary that goes behind the scenes of the much-maligned TV program, including a teaser trailer. A Disturbance in the Force is a new film from Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak that is...
- 3/2/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
It is downright impossible for many of us to imagine a world without "Star Wars," but people who were born before 1977 did, indeed, live in that world. However, there is simply the world before George Lucas changed it with his brilliant sci-fi masterpiece, and the world after. The world after was unbelievably hungry for more, and that resulted in one of the most infamous trainwrecks in history known as "The Star Wars Holiday Special." Now, a new documentary is going to uncover the secrets behind this infamous disaster.
"A Disturbance in the Force" is directed by Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, with the filmmakers doing a deep dive to discover just how this special -- which aired once and only once -- managed to come about in the first place. The doc is set to premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, next week but, for now, we've got a trailer...
"A Disturbance in the Force" is directed by Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, with the filmmakers doing a deep dive to discover just how this special -- which aired once and only once -- managed to come about in the first place. The doc is set to premiere at SXSW in Austin, Texas, next week but, for now, we've got a trailer...
- 3/2/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
There was a disturbance in the Force on Nov. 17, 1978. Eighteen months after Star Wars became a phenomenon, CBS aired the Star Wars Holiday Special, one of the more infamous chapters in the franchise’s lore. Now, a new documentary seeks to explain what really happened.
The Hollywood Reporter has the trailer for Disturbance in the Force, ahead of the doc’s debut at South by Southwest on March 11.
The Star Wars Holiday Special, seen by 13 million people, starred the original cast and centered on Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) flying to the Wookiee home planet to celebrate a holiday called Life Day.
The special was so reviled that it never aired again and was denounced by Star Wars creator George Lucas, who was only minimally involved. As he said a year later at an Australian convention, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track...
The Hollywood Reporter has the trailer for Disturbance in the Force, ahead of the doc’s debut at South by Southwest on March 11.
The Star Wars Holiday Special, seen by 13 million people, starred the original cast and centered on Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) flying to the Wookiee home planet to celebrate a holiday called Life Day.
The special was so reviled that it never aired again and was denounced by Star Wars creator George Lucas, who was only minimally involved. As he said a year later at an Australian convention, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track...
- 3/2/2023
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Festival runs March 10-18. Further selections to be announced in early February.
The world premiere of Paramount and eOne’s spring tentpole Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves will open the 30th edition of SXSW in Austin, Texas, on March 10.
The action fantasy quest story stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, and Regé-Jean Page and is directed and co-written by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. It opens in the US on March 31.
SXSW runs March 10-18 as an in-person event only. In addition organisers announced feature and short Competition entries, the Headliners and Midnighters line-ups, and select titles...
The world premiere of Paramount and eOne’s spring tentpole Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves will open the 30th edition of SXSW in Austin, Texas, on March 10.
The action fantasy quest story stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, and Regé-Jean Page and is directed and co-written by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. It opens in the US on March 31.
SXSW runs March 10-18 as an in-person event only. In addition organisers announced feature and short Competition entries, the Headliners and Midnighters line-ups, and select titles...
- 1/11/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away something titled “The Star Wars Holiday Special” aired. It was bad. Thankfully, an upcoming documentary will shed some light on exactly what went wrong with the franchise’s most notorious blunder.
The documentary, titled “A Disturbance in the Force,” and directed by Jeremy Coon (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and Steve Kozak, aims to offer a deep dive into the making-of the special. Coon recently told io9 that he and Kozak interviewed a variety of crew members who worked on the project and aimed to provide greater context to the special beyond just discussing its negative reception.
“Most attention on the ‘Holiday Special’ just focuses on how bad it is and doesn’t go deeper,” Coon told io9. “Our film is not going to be 90 minutes of dumping on it because no one wants to watch that. We’ve gone really deep in the research and,...
The documentary, titled “A Disturbance in the Force,” and directed by Jeremy Coon (“Napoleon Dynamite”) and Steve Kozak, aims to offer a deep dive into the making-of the special. Coon recently told io9 that he and Kozak interviewed a variety of crew members who worked on the project and aimed to provide greater context to the special beyond just discussing its negative reception.
“Most attention on the ‘Holiday Special’ just focuses on how bad it is and doesn’t go deeper,” Coon told io9. “Our film is not going to be 90 minutes of dumping on it because no one wants to watch that. We’ve gone really deep in the research and,...
- 11/19/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
The amazing true story of the greatest fan film ever made is coming home on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital!
Drafthouse Films and Mvd Entertainment have announced the upcoming home video release of Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on August 16th.
After Steven Spielberg's classic Raiders of the Lost Ark was released 35 years ago, three 11-year-old boys from Mississippi set out on what would become a 7-year-long labor of love and tribute to their favorite film: a faithful, shot-for-shot adaptation of the action adventure film, which the New York Times calls "a testament to the transporting power of movie love." They finished every scene...except one; the film's explosive airplane set piece.
Over two decades later, the trio reunited with the original cast members from their childhood in order to complete their masterpiece in what IGN has dubbed "the Boyhood of fan movies.
Drafthouse Films and Mvd Entertainment have announced the upcoming home video release of Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on August 16th.
After Steven Spielberg's classic Raiders of the Lost Ark was released 35 years ago, three 11-year-old boys from Mississippi set out on what would become a 7-year-long labor of love and tribute to their favorite film: a faithful, shot-for-shot adaptation of the action adventure film, which the New York Times calls "a testament to the transporting power of movie love." They finished every scene...except one; the film's explosive airplane set piece.
Over two decades later, the trio reunited with the original cast members from their childhood in order to complete their masterpiece in what IGN has dubbed "the Boyhood of fan movies.
- 7/14/2016
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
There are times where I don't want to write about a film because I know for a fact that publishing my review is going to end up making people I like angry at me, and this is one of those times. But even months after seeing it, I find myself struggling to make sense out of the film Raiders! The Story Of The Greatest Fan Film Ever Made and the enthusiasm people have for it. I think the film is revealing, certainly, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. I also wouldn't call it a celebration of anything. Whether they realize it or not, Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen have given us one of the most searing, ugly portraits of artistic hubris since Overnight. I spent a good portion of my screening at the Drafthouse feeling sick to my stomach, tied in knots by what I was watching instead of elated or moved,...
- 6/21/2016
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Thoroughly hilarious, surprisingly poignant portrait of fandom, friendship, and the filmmaking odyssey that consumed the teenage years of three movie lovers. I’m “biast” (pro): Raiders of the Lost Ark is my most favorite movie ever
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 1982, three friends in Mississippi — Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos, and Jayson Lamb — set out to make a shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. You know, just for fun. They were 11 years old, and it took them seven years before they were done with the project… although they were never able to fully finish: they were missing one key scene. I won’t tell you which scene that is, because you can see them go through the adventure and the torment of finally shooting it now, as adults, in the thoroughly hilarious and surprisingly poignant Raiders!:...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
In 1982, three friends in Mississippi — Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos, and Jayson Lamb — set out to make a shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. You know, just for fun. They were 11 years old, and it took them seven years before they were done with the project… although they were never able to fully finish: they were missing one key scene. I won’t tell you which scene that is, because you can see them go through the adventure and the torment of finally shooting it now, as adults, in the thoroughly hilarious and surprisingly poignant Raiders!:...
- 6/17/2016
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
To help sift through the increasing number of new releases (independent or otherwise), the Weekly Film Guide is here! Below you’ll find basic plot, personnel and cinema information for all of this week’s fresh offerings.
Starting this month, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list here, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.
See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for June 2016
Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, June 17. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.
Wide
Central Intelligence
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Aaron Paul, Amy Ryan, Danielle Nicolet, Ryan Hansen, Bobby Brown, Megan Park, Timothy John Smith
Synopsis: “After he reunites with an old pal through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.
Starting this month, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list here, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.
See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for June 2016
Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, June 17. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.
Wide
Central Intelligence
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Aaron Paul, Amy Ryan, Danielle Nicolet, Ryan Hansen, Bobby Brown, Megan Park, Timothy John Smith
Synopsis: “After he reunites with an old pal through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.
- 6/16/2016
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
While other 11-year-olds in Biloxi, Mississippi might have spent their 1980s summer vacations playing endless hours of Space Invaders at the local arcade or tricking dimwits into painting picket fences, Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala, the subjects of the new documentary Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (opening June 17th), were busy lighting each other on fire.
The two boys first saw Raiders of the Lost Ark in the summer of 1981, and like any right-minded latchkey kids in search of adventure (and father figures), they instantly fell in love.
The two boys first saw Raiders of the Lost Ark in the summer of 1981, and like any right-minded latchkey kids in search of adventure (and father figures), they instantly fell in love.
- 6/16/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Chicago – When it comes to movie fandom, there are acolytes and obsessives, but few stories are better than three fanboys in 1982, who loved a certain film so much they decided to do a shot-by-shot remake. This is chronicled in the new documentary, “Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made.”
Chris Strompolos was one of those boys – he portrayed Indiana Jones in the remake – and he was joined by his childhood friends Eric Zala and Jayson Lamb. They were 11 years old when they started their project, and came back to it in the next seven summers (yes, they aged to teenagers during the process). In 1989, they finally showed the results of their efforts in a local hometown premiere, and promptly left behind their childhood obsession. The 1980s video quality film then went into the underground cult world, until emerging in 2002 at the “Butt-Numb-a-Thon” film festival sponsored by the...
Chris Strompolos was one of those boys – he portrayed Indiana Jones in the remake – and he was joined by his childhood friends Eric Zala and Jayson Lamb. They were 11 years old when they started their project, and came back to it in the next seven summers (yes, they aged to teenagers during the process). In 1989, they finally showed the results of their efforts in a local hometown premiere, and promptly left behind their childhood obsession. The 1980s video quality film then went into the underground cult world, until emerging in 2002 at the “Butt-Numb-a-Thon” film festival sponsored by the...
- 6/15/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made is one of the most purely entertaining documentaries you will see this year, a tribute to the joys of cinema and the agonies of childhood. Directors Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen tell the story of Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala, two childhood friends who set […]
The post A Conversation With the Subjects of ‘Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made’ appeared first on /Film.
The post A Conversation With the Subjects of ‘Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made’ appeared first on /Film.
- 6/15/2016
- by Jacob Hall
- Slash Film
Created by CoolProps, the life-size heads of both the Brown and Blue Alien Warrior as well as the newborn Alien from Alien: Resurrection are now available to pre-order from Sideshow Collectibles. Also: Funko and Previews’ San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Swamp Thing Pop! vinyl figure, a new poster and teaser for the short film Lion, and, lastly, a trailer and theatrical / VOD rollout details for Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made.
CoolProps’ Life-Size Alien Heads Photos and Release Details: Alien Warrior (Brown) Life-Size Head: “Sideshow and CoolProps are pleased to present the Alien Warrior Life-Size Head Prop Replica. The “Alien Warrior” was part of dozens of aliens that were propagated from the alien queen in the 1986 movie Aliens. Alien Warriors appeared many times in the movie, but only a few suits were made for shooting.
CoolProps has produced this piece based on the original mold, which is without lips,...
CoolProps’ Life-Size Alien Heads Photos and Release Details: Alien Warrior (Brown) Life-Size Head: “Sideshow and CoolProps are pleased to present the Alien Warrior Life-Size Head Prop Replica. The “Alien Warrior” was part of dozens of aliens that were propagated from the alien queen in the 1986 movie Aliens. Alien Warriors appeared many times in the movie, but only a few suits were made for shooting.
CoolProps has produced this piece based on the original mold, which is without lips,...
- 5/30/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
In 1982, best friends Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos set out to remake Steven Spielberg's action/adventure classic, "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Seven years later, after an odyssey that tested their relationship as well as their filmmaking acumen, the result was a remarkable shot-for-shot replica—except for the airplane fight sequence in the North African desert. (Last year, Vice's series "American Obsessions," which unearths stories of the strange cultural phenomena that capture the public imagination, featured an 11-minute short about Zala and Strompolos, including the campaign, thirty years after "Raiders" first appeared in theaters, to shoot the airplane scene. Watch the video below.) Now, Drafthouse Films has acquired the worldwide rights to Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen’s "Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made," a documentary about their lifelong journey—joined by another friend, Jayson...
- 1/6/2016
- by Matt Brennan
- Thompson on Hollywood
Drafthouse Films has acquired worldwide rights to Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen’s “Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made,” a documentary about two friends’ lifelong journey to complete their passion project: a shot-for-shot remake of Steven Spielberg‘s first Indiana Jones movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” An inspiring testament to creative passion and the powerful role of cinema, “Raiders!” has been a hit on the festival circuit, screening at such festivals as SXSW, Doc NYC, Fantasia International Film Festival and more. After Spielberg’s classic film was released almost 35 years ago, three 11-year-old boys from Mississippi set out.
- 1/6/2016
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Plus: to Bobby Moresco to write Lamborghini – The Legend for Ambi; Uwe Boll prepares final film… for a while; and more…
Andrew Rodgers has been appointed executive director of the Denver Film Society after serving since 2005 as executive director of the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Rodgers holds an Mba and a degree in journalism. He worked for the Chicago Tribune before serving as a publicist for the Sundance Film Festival and Chicago International Film Festival.
During his tenure at RiverRun he grew the event’s annual income by nearly 200% and secured support from Fortune 500 companies.
Bob Clasen, chair of the search committee for Denver Film Society and chair-elect of the Society’s board of directors, said: “Andrew was far and above the most outstanding candidate we reviewed and interviewed.
Crash screenwriter producer Bobby Moresco will write the screenplay for Ambi’s biopic Lamborghini – The Legend based on the Life of Ferruccio Lamborghini. Principal...
Andrew Rodgers has been appointed executive director of the Denver Film Society after serving since 2005 as executive director of the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Rodgers holds an Mba and a degree in journalism. He worked for the Chicago Tribune before serving as a publicist for the Sundance Film Festival and Chicago International Film Festival.
During his tenure at RiverRun he grew the event’s annual income by nearly 200% and secured support from Fortune 500 companies.
Bob Clasen, chair of the search committee for Denver Film Society and chair-elect of the Society’s board of directors, said: “Andrew was far and above the most outstanding candidate we reviewed and interviewed.
Crash screenwriter producer Bobby Moresco will write the screenplay for Ambi’s biopic Lamborghini – The Legend based on the Life of Ferruccio Lamborghini. Principal...
- 1/6/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The story of the Raiders Of The Lost Ark fan film is brought brilliantly to life in this new documentary...
I love fan films. I remember the very first fan film I ever saw: Hardware Wars (a Star Wars spoof). I’ve been hooked ever since. They’ve come a long way since then, some of them nowadays boasting a production value that almost rivals Hollywood productions. When I watch, for example, the Piano Guys’ Cello Wars (which in essence, is still a fan film), I’m amazed how much fan films have evolved, but my favorites remain the older ones, like Closet Cases Of The Nerd Kind (who can forget those singing mailboxes?).
But while some fan films of that era were happy to simply parody blockbuster movies, in 1982, two kids from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Chris Strompolos (11 years old) and Eric Zala (12 years old) set our to produce a...
I love fan films. I remember the very first fan film I ever saw: Hardware Wars (a Star Wars spoof). I’ve been hooked ever since. They’ve come a long way since then, some of them nowadays boasting a production value that almost rivals Hollywood productions. When I watch, for example, the Piano Guys’ Cello Wars (which in essence, is still a fan film), I’m amazed how much fan films have evolved, but my favorites remain the older ones, like Closet Cases Of The Nerd Kind (who can forget those singing mailboxes?).
But while some fan films of that era were happy to simply parody blockbuster movies, in 1982, two kids from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Chris Strompolos (11 years old) and Eric Zala (12 years old) set our to produce a...
- 7/31/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Montreal’s genre film festival to showcase 135 features and almost 300 shorts across its three-week run from July 14-Aug 4.Scroll down for line-up
Fantasia International Film Festival has unveiled its full line-up for its upcoming 19th edition which kicks off next Tuesday [July 14].
Over its three-week run, the Montreal-based genre film festival will showcase 135 features, including 22 world, 13 international premieres and 21 North American premieres, and almost 300 short films.
Shinji Higuchi’s Attack on Titan will receive its Canadian premiere as the closing film of this year’s edition on Aug 4. The live-action film is based on Hajime Isyama’s steampunk fantasy war opera manga series.
Additional highlights of the final wave of titles include the world premieres of Malik Bader’s thriller Cash Only and Ken Ochiai’s Ninja the Monster, as well as the Canadian premiere of Jonathan Milott & Cary Murnion’s horror comedy Cooties starring Elijah Wood.
A trio of Sion Sono films will also be shown at this...
Fantasia International Film Festival has unveiled its full line-up for its upcoming 19th edition which kicks off next Tuesday [July 14].
Over its three-week run, the Montreal-based genre film festival will showcase 135 features, including 22 world, 13 international premieres and 21 North American premieres, and almost 300 short films.
Shinji Higuchi’s Attack on Titan will receive its Canadian premiere as the closing film of this year’s edition on Aug 4. The live-action film is based on Hajime Isyama’s steampunk fantasy war opera manga series.
Additional highlights of the final wave of titles include the world premieres of Malik Bader’s thriller Cash Only and Ken Ochiai’s Ninja the Monster, as well as the Canadian premiere of Jonathan Milott & Cary Murnion’s horror comedy Cooties starring Elijah Wood.
A trio of Sion Sono films will also be shown at this...
- 7/7/2015
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
The 19th Annual Fantasia Film Festival is only a week away, beginning July 14 and running through August 4. And as promised for today, they’ve revealed their full line-up of films screening at 2015’s festival in Montreal.
This year’s line-up boasts 22 World Premieres, 13 International Premieres, and 21 North American Premieres. Both Marvel’s Ant-Man and the animated Miss Hokusai were previously announced, but now they’ve added the much anticipated Attack on Titan movie as their closing night film. Other highlights include the Sundance darlings Cooties, starring Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson, Cop Car, starring Kevin Bacon and directed by the upcoming Spider-man director Jon Watts, and a trio of films from horror auteur Sion Sono.
See the full line-up announcement of films below via Fantasia’s Facebook page, and be sure to check out their website at fantasiafestival.com for additional information.
****
Fantasia 2015:
36 Countries, 135 Features, and Nearly 300 Short Films
- Including 22 World Premieres,...
This year’s line-up boasts 22 World Premieres, 13 International Premieres, and 21 North American Premieres. Both Marvel’s Ant-Man and the animated Miss Hokusai were previously announced, but now they’ve added the much anticipated Attack on Titan movie as their closing night film. Other highlights include the Sundance darlings Cooties, starring Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson, Cop Car, starring Kevin Bacon and directed by the upcoming Spider-man director Jon Watts, and a trio of films from horror auteur Sion Sono.
See the full line-up announcement of films below via Fantasia’s Facebook page, and be sure to check out their website at fantasiafestival.com for additional information.
****
Fantasia 2015:
36 Countries, 135 Features, and Nearly 300 Short Films
- Including 22 World Premieres,...
- 7/7/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
I don't believe that they are "just" movies. I mean, sure, there are plenty of movies that I would consider inconsequential, and many of those are even movies that I like. But the entire culture of films, the idea of these shared narratives that make up something that unites people from around the world, is something that I think people dismiss too easily sometimes. Films are transformative. Films can force you to see things in a new ways. They can build or destroy communities. They can be powerful forces for social change, and they can shine a spotlight on things in a way that is undeniable and immediate. And, in their best moments, they can save lives. Right now, "The Wolfpack" is making its way into theaters, a documentary about a family of young men, all raised by a domineering father who intentionally cut them off from the outside world.
- 6/29/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
There was a fairly famous commentary in Wired a couple of years ago by Patton Oswalt that essentially came down to the comedian telling today’s movie geeks that they have it too easy. Back in the day, there was no internet to follow the development of a film blow-by-blow, there was no Internet Movie Database to learn who all the primary people behind the film were, and a home video was months, if not years, after the initial theatrical run, rather than weeks. In essence, the technology has taken the effort out of it, and truthfully, the same can be said about the art of filmmaking as well. Digital cameras, Photshop, Final Cut, it all means you can make a movie at home look like a top-notch professional effort.
All this has probably also leant to the rise of the fan film, an easy way for people who love...
All this has probably also leant to the rise of the fan film, an easy way for people who love...
- 5/5/2015
- by Adam A. Donaldson
- We Got This Covered
It was a story that, in film nerd circles, gradually took on the glimmer of legend: in 1981, a group of kids in smalltown Mississippi set out to recreate, shot-for-shot, Steven Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark." It would gradually consume every summer of their childhood and gain some big name appreciators in the form of horror filmmaker Eli Roth and nerdy movie blogger Harry Knowles. The recreation was something that had to be seen to be believed, a pop culture artifact as lovingly crafted as the film it so astutely mimicked. What makes "Raiders!," a documentary by Jeremy Coon and Tim Skousen, so compelling, is that it chronicles not only the phenomenon but the attempts by the original filmmakers Eric Zala, Chris Strompolos, and Jayson Lamb, to finish the one shot that never got completed. The resulting film is exhilarating, most notably for its ability to be awesomely triumphant...
- 3/15/2015
- by Drew Taylor
- The Playlist
The documentary film "Raiders!" is a curious exercise in meta-narrative; it's a film about a film that is a remake of another film. Co-directed by Jeremy Coon (producer and editor on "Napoleon Dynamite") and Tim Skousen, "Raiders!" tells the story of two Indiana Jones fanboys who embark on an adventure that rivals the legendary explorer's onscreen exploits. Here's the official synopsis: "In 1982, two 11 year-olds in Mississippi set out to remake their favorite film: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It took seven turbulent years that tested the limits of their friendship and nearly burned down their mother's house. By the end, they had completed every scene except one... the explosive airplane scene. Thirty years later, they attempt to finally realize their childhood dream by building a replica of the 75-foot "Flying Wing" plane from Raiders in a mud pit in the backwoods of Mississippi... and then blow it up! This is the story behind the.
- 3/3/2015
- by Shipra Gupta
- Indiewire
We've talked about the awesome shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark that was attempted by a group of 12-year old kids back in 1982 before. The film became a cult sensation when it was screened in Austin, Texas, and now the story of how the film came to be is coming to the big screen with a documentary called Raiders! premiering at SXSW next month. In addition to looking back at the making of the film with childhood friends Eric Zala and Chris Strompolos, it also chronicles their attempt to shoot the final scene they could never pull off: the infamous Flying Wing scene where the shirtless Nazi strongman is cut up by the circling plane's propeller while fighting Indy. This looks like one hell of a cool story. Watch now! Here's the first trailer for Jeremy Coon & Tim Skousen's Raiders! from the film's YouTube: Check out the...
- 2/26/2015
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in TrainwreckPhoto: Universal Pictures With Sundance just wrapping up and Berlin starting up in a few days, we are now immersed in the year-long barrage of film festivals. One such festival in South By Southwest. A few weeks back they announced the first seven films of their program, including the opening night film Brand: A Second Coming. Today, they have revealed the rest of the features to be shown in March (except for the midnight program), and some of it has me very excited. The bigger titles announced do not do much for me. Paul Feig's Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart starrer Get Hard leave a lot to be desired in terms of anticipation, as does a work in progress cut of Judd Apatow's latest film Trainwreck. I'm guessing an Apatow work in progress is probably around three and a half hours.
- 2/3/2015
- by Mike Shutt
- Rope of Silicon
South by Southwest, the multi-faceted film, music and technology festival held annually in Austin, TX will feature such upcoming films as Paul Feig’s Spy, David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn, Alex Gibney’s documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and Ondi Timoner’s Russell Brand profile Brand: A Second Coming as headliners in this year’s film festival lineup.
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
What a difference a year makes. In 2003, Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, and Jon Heder — students at Brigham Young University's film school — were just another trio of independent filmmakers working the festival circuit in Park City. Their short film "Peluca," about a fanny pack-wearing teen named Seth, was selected to screen at the Slamdance Film Festival. If the protagonist sounds slightly familiar, it's because he was the prototype for the titular geek hero of Napoleon Dynamite, the micro-budget indie that would become the toast of that city's other film fest — Sundance...
- 8/28/2014
- Rollingstone.com
There's already a book on shelves and a documentary adaptation in the works about Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala, two kids who decided to put together a homemade adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark when they were kids. The film has been shown at some special screenings around the country, but catching it has been pretty damn hard. However, the film has never been 100% completed because it's missing the infamous airplane scene featuring Indiana Jones facing off with a tough, bald Nazi mechanic before meeting a bloody end. But now Strompolos and Zala are trying to finish it, and they've asked Kickstarter for help. If you're not aware of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation, here's the Kickstarter video to explain: And as for why they've decided to shoot this scene now, well the page explains: As a solo project, and also as a driving set piece for Jeremy Coon’s documentary,...
- 2/12/2014
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
When they were 11, Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala set out to make a shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. They finished it just in time to celebrate with a legally bought pack of cigarettes or an “I Voted” sticker. Their efforts have become something of a cult phenomenon, and now, according to Deadline Hollywood, Napoleon Dynamite producer Jeremy Coon has optioned the book that was written about the childhood friends and their fan film with the intention of making a documentary and a fictional feature. Naturally, he’ll have to work out an arrangement with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, but if they give him their (legal) blessing, it could also be a big boon for the legitimacy of his projects. A tacit thumbs up from two titans. A documentary sounds excellent. It’s easy to imagine that there’s a lot of worth in hearing the full story of how and why they did...
- 10/15/2013
- by Scott Beggs
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
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