This month’s installment of Deep Cuts Rising features a variety of horror movies. Some selections reflect a specific day or event in June, and others were chosen at random.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a Japanese slasher, a dark tale about family, a Scandinavian haunting, a terrifying coming-out story, and an aquatic creature-feature.
The Attic (1980)
Directed by George Edwards and Gary Graver.
Fathers are usually depicted as unkind and cruel in horror, and the one in The Attic is no exception. Carrie Snodgress plays the dutiful Louise who has sacrificed her own happiness for far too long. When she tries to turn her life around and do something about her loneliness, which entails adopting a chimpanzee, her tyrannical father (Ray Milland) is quick to stomp out her ambitions.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a Japanese slasher, a dark tale about family, a Scandinavian haunting, a terrifying coming-out story, and an aquatic creature-feature.
The Attic (1980)
Directed by George Edwards and Gary Graver.
Fathers are usually depicted as unkind and cruel in horror, and the one in The Attic is no exception. Carrie Snodgress plays the dutiful Louise who has sacrificed her own happiness for far too long. When she tries to turn her life around and do something about her loneliness, which entails adopting a chimpanzee, her tyrannical father (Ray Milland) is quick to stomp out her ambitions.
- 6/1/2023
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Typically, when a big director like Robert Rodriguez releases an expensive movie in theaters with an A-list star like Ben Affleck, people tend to notice. That was not the case with "Hypnotic," however. The mind-bending sci-fi flick quietly arrived in wide release in theaters this past weekend, though you'd be forgiven for not noticing. To that end, the movie only pulled in $2.35 million on more than 2,100 screens. No two ways about it, this is instantly one of the most high-profile box office bombs of 2023.
Rodriguez, the director of blockbusters such as "Spy Kids" and "Alita: Battle Angel," was behind the camera for "Hypnotic," which carries a pretty sizable $65 million budget. Given the lackluster opening weekend, it has almost no shot of turning a profit as big movies such as "Fast X" and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" will make it pretty much disappear in the coming weeks. It certainly didn't help...
Rodriguez, the director of blockbusters such as "Spy Kids" and "Alita: Battle Angel," was behind the camera for "Hypnotic," which carries a pretty sizable $65 million budget. Given the lackluster opening weekend, it has almost no shot of turning a profit as big movies such as "Fast X" and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" will make it pretty much disappear in the coming weeks. It certainly didn't help...
- 5/15/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Hypnotic, who?
It’s unusual, to say the least, for a movie directed by the likes of Robert Rodriguez and starring Ben Affleck to barely be a blip on the radar of new movies opening the box office.
This lack of awareness helps explain why Hypnotic opened to a scant $2.4 million from 2,118 theaters over the May 14-16 weekend to mark the worst nationwide opening of any film directed by Rodriguez or starring Affleck. Hypnotic stands to lose tens of millions, after costing a reported $65 million to make, and reinforces what every savvy Hollywood studio executive knows: spending on marketing is essential.
The sci-fi action-thriller suffered several setbacks on the road to the big screen, capped by the implosion of Solstice Studios in late 2021, which had been set to market and release the film.
Solstice, led by indie veteran Mark Gill, had been counting on Hypnotic to forge its future. But...
It’s unusual, to say the least, for a movie directed by the likes of Robert Rodriguez and starring Ben Affleck to barely be a blip on the radar of new movies opening the box office.
This lack of awareness helps explain why Hypnotic opened to a scant $2.4 million from 2,118 theaters over the May 14-16 weekend to mark the worst nationwide opening of any film directed by Rodriguez or starring Affleck. Hypnotic stands to lose tens of millions, after costing a reported $65 million to make, and reinforces what every savvy Hollywood studio executive knows: spending on marketing is essential.
The sci-fi action-thriller suffered several setbacks on the road to the big screen, capped by the implosion of Solstice Studios in late 2021, which had been set to market and release the film.
Solstice, led by indie veteran Mark Gill, had been counting on Hypnotic to forge its future. But...
- 5/15/2023
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Robert Rodriguez’s nonsensical yet charmingly unpretentious film about the power of hypnosis makes for a fast-paced pre-summer throwback
Before the inevitable bloat of summer lands with exhaustingly overextended runtimes and confusingly interconnected universes, there’s some unpretentious fun to be had with Robert Rodriguez’s daft and brief little B-movie Hypnotic, written in 2002 and made as if it was shot soon after. It’s such a curiously dated thriller, from the score to the direction to the casting to the overall vibe, that at times it feels like Rodriguez is in full pastiche mode, as if this was a Far From Heaven-level homage deliberately designed to recall a very specific moment in cinema history.
Maybe he’s trying to feed into our collective desire to see mid-budget genre films that look like real films again, rather than whatever washed-out pieces of content Netflix dumps on our smartphones, and whether intentional or not,...
Before the inevitable bloat of summer lands with exhaustingly overextended runtimes and confusingly interconnected universes, there’s some unpretentious fun to be had with Robert Rodriguez’s daft and brief little B-movie Hypnotic, written in 2002 and made as if it was shot soon after. It’s such a curiously dated thriller, from the score to the direction to the casting to the overall vibe, that at times it feels like Rodriguez is in full pastiche mode, as if this was a Far From Heaven-level homage deliberately designed to recall a very specific moment in cinema history.
Maybe he’s trying to feed into our collective desire to see mid-budget genre films that look like real films again, rather than whatever washed-out pieces of content Netflix dumps on our smartphones, and whether intentional or not,...
- 5/11/2023
- by Benjamin Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
I have an opinion: "Slasher" is better than "American Horror Story."
Maybe that's not so controversial to say in 2023, when the popular horror anthology series created by Ryan Murphy hasn't had a good season in almost five years, and hasn't had a great one in over 10. "AHS" premiered in 2011, the same year that the sci-fi/technology-run-amok anthology series "Black Mirror" premiered. Curiously, though "Black Mirror" was just as popular, and was covered as furiously as "AHS" was in its prime, its influence on subsequent sci-fi visions seems to have jumped mediums to film. One can imagine pressing play on a new season of "Black Mirror" and watching films like "Ex-Machina," "The Circle," and "Vivarium," were a few minutes shaved off each.
"AHS," however, spawned a veritable renaissance in horror anthology series, from HBO's "Room 104," to Hulu's "Castle Rock," to Syfy's "Channel Zero." Before "AHS," you'd have to...
Maybe that's not so controversial to say in 2023, when the popular horror anthology series created by Ryan Murphy hasn't had a good season in almost five years, and hasn't had a great one in over 10. "AHS" premiered in 2011, the same year that the sci-fi/technology-run-amok anthology series "Black Mirror" premiered. Curiously, though "Black Mirror" was just as popular, and was covered as furiously as "AHS" was in its prime, its influence on subsequent sci-fi visions seems to have jumped mediums to film. One can imagine pressing play on a new season of "Black Mirror" and watching films like "Ex-Machina," "The Circle," and "Vivarium," were a few minutes shaved off each.
"AHS," however, spawned a veritable renaissance in horror anthology series, from HBO's "Room 104," to Hulu's "Castle Rock," to Syfy's "Channel Zero." Before "AHS," you'd have to...
- 4/24/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
(Welcome to ...And More, our no-frills, zero B.S. guide to when and where you can watch upcoming movies and shows, and everything else you could possibly stand to know.)
Robert Rodriguez is gearing up to make his return to theaters this summer with a brand new, mind-bending thriller starring none other than Ben Affleck. The somewhat mysterious film, titled "Hypnotic," held an in-progress screening at SXSW this year. You can read our findings right here from the version of the film that was screened, but the rest of you out there will soon have the chance to see the film for yourselves. The movie now has a release date and, unlike Rodriguez's recent venture, "We Can Be Heroes," this one is destined for the big screen.
For those who enjoy the "Alita: Battle Angel" and "From Dusk Till Dawn" filmmaker's work, we're here to give you all of...
Robert Rodriguez is gearing up to make his return to theaters this summer with a brand new, mind-bending thriller starring none other than Ben Affleck. The somewhat mysterious film, titled "Hypnotic," held an in-progress screening at SXSW this year. You can read our findings right here from the version of the film that was screened, but the rest of you out there will soon have the chance to see the film for yourselves. The movie now has a release date and, unlike Rodriguez's recent venture, "We Can Be Heroes," this one is destined for the big screen.
For those who enjoy the "Alita: Battle Angel" and "From Dusk Till Dawn" filmmaker's work, we're here to give you all of...
- 4/1/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Director Robert Rodriguez‘s action thriller Hypnotic, which stars Ben Affleck, was screened at the SXSW film festival last weekend, and Rodriguez cautioned the audience that the movie was still a “work in progress”. But he’s going to need to wrap up the work very soon, because Deadline reports that Hypnotic is set to receive a 2000+ screen release in the United States on May 12th, courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment.
Scripted by Rodriguez (Machete) and Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island), Hypnotic sees Affleck taking on the role of a detective who finds himself spiralling down a rabbit hole while investigating a series of reality-bending crimes mysteriously connected to his missing daughter. Aided by a gifted psychic, he is pursued by a lethal specter who he believes holds the key to finding his daughter. But more rabbit holes await..
Affleck is joined in the cast by Alice Braga, Jd Pardo, Hala Finley,...
Scripted by Rodriguez (Machete) and Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island), Hypnotic sees Affleck taking on the role of a detective who finds himself spiralling down a rabbit hole while investigating a series of reality-bending crimes mysteriously connected to his missing daughter. Aided by a gifted psychic, he is pursued by a lethal specter who he believes holds the key to finding his daughter. But more rabbit holes await..
Affleck is joined in the cast by Alice Braga, Jd Pardo, Hala Finley,...
- 3/17/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Fresh off a surprise “work in progress” screening at SXSW, Robert Rodriguez’s action-thriller Hypnotic, starring Ben Affleck, has been set for a May 12 U.S. release.
As we revealed last month, Ketchup Entertainment will be launching the movie on more than 2,000 screens.
The looming release for a movie that remains unfinished is yet another talking point in the project’s tumultuous journey to screen.
Little has been straight-forward for Hypnotic but the warm reception it received on Sunday night was a welcome respite for its creatives and financiers. It’s unusual for a big budget film to get a public “work in progress” screening at a festival but Austin was a smart choice given the home crowd’s reverence for Texas-native Rodriguez.
The director said today: “I’ve been working on this film for many years now, and to see the reaction from my home town audience at SXSW was humbling and validating.
As we revealed last month, Ketchup Entertainment will be launching the movie on more than 2,000 screens.
The looming release for a movie that remains unfinished is yet another talking point in the project’s tumultuous journey to screen.
Little has been straight-forward for Hypnotic but the warm reception it received on Sunday night was a welcome respite for its creatives and financiers. It’s unusual for a big budget film to get a public “work in progress” screening at a festival but Austin was a smart choice given the home crowd’s reverence for Texas-native Rodriguez.
The director said today: “I’ve been working on this film for many years now, and to see the reaction from my home town audience at SXSW was humbling and validating.
- 3/17/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Director Robert Rodriguez‘s action thriller Hypnotic, which stars Ben Affleck, will be screening for potential international distributors at the European Film Market at the end of this week, but a few days before that screening is held Deadline reports that the movie has secured a U.S. distribution deal… and the plan is for Hypnotic to get a theatrical release sometime this summer.
Hypnotic has had a bumpy ride on its way to this distribution deal. When the 65 million movie was heading into production in late 2021, it was the flagship project for mini-studio Solstice, which was the main financier and was going to be the U.S. distributor. But when Hypnotic finally got rolling after waiting through multiple delays, Solstice imploded and the movie was left without a U.S. distributor. Quite a blow for the international investors who had been promised Hypnotic would get a 2000 screen theatrical release in the U.
Hypnotic has had a bumpy ride on its way to this distribution deal. When the 65 million movie was heading into production in late 2021, it was the flagship project for mini-studio Solstice, which was the main financier and was going to be the U.S. distributor. But when Hypnotic finally got rolling after waiting through multiple delays, Solstice imploded and the movie was left without a U.S. distributor. Quite a blow for the international investors who had been promised Hypnotic would get a 2000 screen theatrical release in the U.
- 2/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Coming into this week’s EFM, Ben Affleck action-thriller Hypnotic was barely on anyone’s radar. However, the movie was quietly one of the market’s X-factors. It’s rare, after all, for a big-budget, finished film with A-list talent and director to still be without a U.S. distributor.
But the Robert Rodriguez-directed project, which wrapped shoot back in 2021, has had one of the more curious and challenging journeys for a big-budget independent film package in recent years.
First announced back at AFM 2019, the 65M project was the flagship package for Mark Gill’s ambitious new mini-studio Solstice, which was due to handle the domestic release. Oscar winner Affleck would play a detective investigating a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program. Pedigree also came from former Warner Bros exec Jeff Robinov who was aboard as producer.
Sin City and Alita: Battle Angel director...
But the Robert Rodriguez-directed project, which wrapped shoot back in 2021, has had one of the more curious and challenging journeys for a big-budget independent film package in recent years.
First announced back at AFM 2019, the 65M project was the flagship package for Mark Gill’s ambitious new mini-studio Solstice, which was due to handle the domestic release. Oscar winner Affleck would play a detective investigating a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program. Pedigree also came from former Warner Bros exec Jeff Robinov who was aboard as producer.
Sin City and Alita: Battle Angel director...
- 2/14/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
There are times when it’s hard to go back and play even the best Nes games. There are times when it’s hard to look at even some of the best-looking Nes games. There has never been a time when it’s difficult to listen to the best Nes soundtracks.
There’s a timeless quality to the best songs of the chiptune era. Granted, some Nes songs simply sound better when they’re played by a live orchestra or are being reimagined in some remastered way, but that’s honestly a testament to the longevity of those tunes. Even if you’re not a fan of that classic chiptune style, the best Nes soundtracks still featured legitimately great compositions that shine bright in various forms.
As always, though, let’s take a look at some of our selection criteria for this list before we dive into the picks:
There...
There’s a timeless quality to the best songs of the chiptune era. Granted, some Nes songs simply sound better when they’re played by a live orchestra or are being reimagined in some remastered way, but that’s honestly a testament to the longevity of those tunes. Even if you’re not a fan of that classic chiptune style, the best Nes soundtracks still featured legitimately great compositions that shine bright in various forms.
As always, though, let’s take a look at some of our selection criteria for this list before we dive into the picks:
There...
- 5/21/2022
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: It’s officially a hot project palooza this AFM. We can reveal that Daisy Ridley (Star Wars) is set to star in futuristic thriller Mind Fall with Mathieu Kassovitz (La Haine) attached to direct the script from Graham Moore (The Imitation Game).
Wild Bunch International is launching sales on the hot prospect, which heralds from Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8 (Hypnotic). John Graham is also producing for Studio 8.
Mind Fall takes place in near-future London, where the most sought-after drug on the black market is memories, physically removed from one person’s brain and implanted into another’s using a new illegal technology. Top trafficker, Ardis Varnado (Ridley) removes reminiscences from those looking for a quick buck, and then resells them to “clients,” who pay top dollar for these “mems” that bind to their subconscious, effectively becoming indistinguishable from their natural memories. Meanwhile, she battles her own addiction to the mems,...
Wild Bunch International is launching sales on the hot prospect, which heralds from Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8 (Hypnotic). John Graham is also producing for Studio 8.
Mind Fall takes place in near-future London, where the most sought-after drug on the black market is memories, physically removed from one person’s brain and implanted into another’s using a new illegal technology. Top trafficker, Ardis Varnado (Ridley) removes reminiscences from those looking for a quick buck, and then resells them to “clients,” who pay top dollar for these “mems” that bind to their subconscious, effectively becoming indistinguishable from their natural memories. Meanwhile, she battles her own addiction to the mems,...
- 10/29/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
AGC Studios has hired Solstice Studios executive Crystal Bourbeau as its new president of worldwide sales and distribution.
Bourbeau will oversee the domestic and international sales and distribution activity of the company’s film and television slate, including sales to domestic studios, international distributors, broadcasters and global and regional streaming platforms. She will report into CEO Stuart Ford, who set up the independent producer-financier and sales studio in 2018.
At AGC, she will also be involved in the studio’s acquisitions activities, and work closely with AGC’s head of film Linda McDonough, head of television Lourdes Diaz, head of marketing and publicity Bonnie Voland, and COO Miguel Palos.
Bourbeau most recently served as head of acquisitions and international at Solstice Studios, where she was part of the senior management team that helped to build the company from launch. Bourbeau handled sales and also served as an executive producer for Robert Rodriguez...
Bourbeau will oversee the domestic and international sales and distribution activity of the company’s film and television slate, including sales to domestic studios, international distributors, broadcasters and global and regional streaming platforms. She will report into CEO Stuart Ford, who set up the independent producer-financier and sales studio in 2018.
At AGC, she will also be involved in the studio’s acquisitions activities, and work closely with AGC’s head of film Linda McDonough, head of television Lourdes Diaz, head of marketing and publicity Bonnie Voland, and COO Miguel Palos.
Bourbeau most recently served as head of acquisitions and international at Solstice Studios, where she was part of the senior management team that helped to build the company from launch. Bourbeau handled sales and also served as an executive producer for Robert Rodriguez...
- 10/7/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Industry veteran handled sales at Lionsgate on Hunger Games, Saw franchises, La La Land.
Former Lionsgate and Solstice Studios top executive Crystal Bourbeau has joined AGC Studios as president of worldwide sales and distribution.
The highly respected industry veteran arrives after it emerged this week that she and others from the Solstice executive suite including founder and CEO Mark Gill had left the ailing company.
Bourbeau reports to AGC Studios founder and CEO Stuart Ford and will oversee sales and distribution on the film and TV slate as well as playing a significant role in acquisitions. She will also work...
Former Lionsgate and Solstice Studios top executive Crystal Bourbeau has joined AGC Studios as president of worldwide sales and distribution.
The highly respected industry veteran arrives after it emerged this week that she and others from the Solstice executive suite including founder and CEO Mark Gill had left the ailing company.
Bourbeau reports to AGC Studios founder and CEO Stuart Ford and will oversee sales and distribution on the film and TV slate as well as playing a significant role in acquisitions. She will also work...
- 10/7/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Company released one film since launching three years ago.
Solstice Studios founder and CEO Mark Gill and his senior executive suite are on the way out in a major blow to the independent film supply chain as insiders told Screen the LA-based company appeared destined to become the first casualty of the pandemic.
It is understood that besides Gill – the former Warner Independent Pictures head and a top executive at Miramax and Millennium Films who launched the production, finance, distribution and sales company almost three years ago to the day on October 3 2018 – departing key executives are international sales head Crystal Bourbeau,...
Solstice Studios founder and CEO Mark Gill and his senior executive suite are on the way out in a major blow to the independent film supply chain as insiders told Screen the LA-based company appeared destined to become the first casualty of the pandemic.
It is understood that besides Gill – the former Warner Independent Pictures head and a top executive at Miramax and Millennium Films who launched the production, finance, distribution and sales company almost three years ago to the day on October 3 2018 – departing key executives are international sales head Crystal Bourbeau,...
- 10/4/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Company released one film since launching three years ago.
Solstice Studios founder and CEO Mark Gill and his senior executive suite are on the way out in a major blow to the independent film supply chain as insiders told Screen the LA-based company appeared destined to become the first casualty of the pandemic.
It is understood that besides Gill – the former Warner Independent Pictures head and a top executive at Miramax and Millennium Films who launched the production, finance, distribution and sales company almost three years ago to the day on October 3 2018 – other key executives on the way out are international sales head Crystal Bourbeau,...
Solstice Studios founder and CEO Mark Gill and his senior executive suite are on the way out in a major blow to the independent film supply chain as insiders told Screen the LA-based company appeared destined to become the first casualty of the pandemic.
It is understood that besides Gill – the former Warner Independent Pictures head and a top executive at Miramax and Millennium Films who launched the production, finance, distribution and sales company almost three years ago to the day on October 3 2018 – other key executives on the way out are international sales head Crystal Bourbeau,...
- 10/4/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Company released one film since launching three years ago.
Solstice Studios founder and CEO Mark Gill and his senior executive suite are on the way out in a major blow to the independent film supply chain as insiders told Screen the LA-based company appeared destined to become the first casualty of the pandemic.
It is understood that besides Gill – the former Warner Independent Pictures head and a top executive at Miramax and Millennium Films who launched the producer, distributor and sales agent almost three years ago to the day on October 3 2018 – other key executives on the way out are international sales head Crystal Bourbeau,...
Solstice Studios founder and CEO Mark Gill and his senior executive suite are on the way out in a major blow to the independent film supply chain as insiders told Screen the LA-based company appeared destined to become the first casualty of the pandemic.
It is understood that besides Gill – the former Warner Independent Pictures head and a top executive at Miramax and Millennium Films who launched the producer, distributor and sales agent almost three years ago to the day on October 3 2018 – other key executives on the way out are international sales head Crystal Bourbeau,...
- 10/4/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Solstice Studios is terminating most of its key executives, a move that was announced to staff Monday morning. Deadline hears that among those who are out are founding CEO Mark Gill, production president Lisa Ellzey, founding marketing chief Vincent Bruzzese, distribution head Shari Hardison and international sales topper Crystal Bourbeau. This follows a round of layoffs last December of about 20 people.
The company will continue with just 10 staffers left, and they will oversee the completion of Hypnotic, which is now in production with Robert Rodriguez directing and Ben Affleck and Alice Braga starring. Those staffers are expected to stay on through fall 2022. I’m told the company will be shuttered after that.
“Solstice is not closing,” a company spokesperson said this morning. “It is being streamlined and will focus entirely on getting ‘Hypnotic’ produced and released. To that end, there will still be 10 people working at the company going forward.
The company will continue with just 10 staffers left, and they will oversee the completion of Hypnotic, which is now in production with Robert Rodriguez directing and Ben Affleck and Alice Braga starring. Those staffers are expected to stay on through fall 2022. I’m told the company will be shuttered after that.
“Solstice is not closing,” a company spokesperson said this morning. “It is being streamlined and will focus entirely on getting ‘Hypnotic’ produced and released. To that end, there will still be 10 people working at the company going forward.
- 10/4/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Solstice of Heroes has arrived yet again for Destiny 2 fans, and this time it’s brought back even more seasonal cosmetics for you to purchase, including new armor ornaments, Ghost Shells, Sparrows, Ships, emotes, finishers, and everyone’s favorite: Ghost Projections! Obvious sarcasm is obvious, because I don’t know a single person that actually uses any Ghost Projections in the game. That being said, if you are one of the few Guardians that actually does, then you’ve got some more options now. So, what do we have available in the Destiny 2 Eververse store
Every Solstice of Heroes Cosmetic Currently in Destiny 2...
Every Solstice of Heroes Cosmetic Currently in Destiny 2...
- 7/13/2021
- by Ben Hestad
- TVovermind.com
Action-adventure feature stars Luke MacFarlane and D.J. “Shangela” Pierce.
Altitude Film Sales has boarded upcoming action-adventure film Lone Star Bull, which marks the feature debut of UK director David Stoddart and stars Luke MacFarlane and D.J. “Shangela” Pierce.
The London-based sales agent will handle worldwide rights to the film and is expected to launch sales later this year at the American Film Market (AFM).
A two-month shoot wraps in Savannah, Georgia today (July 9) on the feature, which is produced by Maggie Monteith through her US banner Southern Stories alongside Christopher Simon for the UK’s New Sparta Films and Seth Michaels.
Altitude Film Sales has boarded upcoming action-adventure film Lone Star Bull, which marks the feature debut of UK director David Stoddart and stars Luke MacFarlane and D.J. “Shangela” Pierce.
The London-based sales agent will handle worldwide rights to the film and is expected to launch sales later this year at the American Film Market (AFM).
A two-month shoot wraps in Savannah, Georgia today (July 9) on the feature, which is produced by Maggie Monteith through her US banner Southern Stories alongside Christopher Simon for the UK’s New Sparta Films and Seth Michaels.
- 7/9/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Solstice of Heroes is back, baby! Time for a brand new activity, a ton of new weapons, and….I’m getting reports that we aren’t actually getting any of that. Nope, it’s the same old Solstice of Heroes that we’ve been doing for the last few years, albeit with a pretty sweet new set of awesome armor and a new Shotgun. There’s also been a couple of changes within the European Aerial Zone (Eaz) like these weird, kind of useless jump pads that doesn’t really help mobility in any way, and now we can see every single chest for the whole duration of
How to Upgrade All of Your Solstice of Heroes 2021 Armor in Destiny 2...
How to Upgrade All of Your Solstice of Heroes 2021 Armor in Destiny 2...
- 7/8/2021
- by Ben Hestad
- TVovermind.com
Solstice of Heroes is set to return to Destiny 2 next week, which means that players will have the chance to chase a brand new set of Solstice Armor, a brand new Legendary Shotgun, and a ton of other unique cosmetics throughout the month of July. While seasonal events in Destiny 2 have been more of a pain than really fun grinding, there’s always hope that each event will improve upon the last. Unfortunately, if you were looking for a bit of a shake-up with this year’s Solstice of Heroes event, you’re probably going to be out of luck, since
Everything You Need to Know About Destiny 2’s Solstice of Heroes 2021...
Everything You Need to Know About Destiny 2’s Solstice of Heroes 2021...
- 7/5/2021
- by Ben Hestad
- TVovermind.com
Exclusive: Robert Rodriguez’s Ben Affleck thriller Hypnotic is gearing back up to start production in September, with Alice Braga (Queen Of The South) joining the cast.
Cameras are due to roll from September 20, in Austin, Texas, after the film’s original start date in April 2020 was delayed due to the pandemic and then insurance issues.
The action thriller will follow a detective who becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program while investigating a string of high-end crimes.
Pic is written by Sin City and Alita: Battle Angel filmmaker Rodriguez and Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island). Rodriguez, Studio 8 CEO Jeff Robinov and Studio8’s Guy Danella and John Graham are producing with Solstice.
Solstice has already sold the film well into international markets and is due to release in the U.S. We hear the Covid insurance issues have been resolved.
Braga...
Cameras are due to roll from September 20, in Austin, Texas, after the film’s original start date in April 2020 was delayed due to the pandemic and then insurance issues.
The action thriller will follow a detective who becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program while investigating a string of high-end crimes.
Pic is written by Sin City and Alita: Battle Angel filmmaker Rodriguez and Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island). Rodriguez, Studio 8 CEO Jeff Robinov and Studio8’s Guy Danella and John Graham are producing with Solstice.
Solstice has already sold the film well into international markets and is due to release in the U.S. We hear the Covid insurance issues have been resolved.
Braga...
- 6/1/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Lionsgate has re-acquired rights to distribute Gerard Butler action thriller The Plane in North America, Latin America, the UK and India.
As we revealed last year, Solstice Studios had boarded worldwide rights to The Plane after Lionsgate initially hit Covid-related insurance issues on the project, which was one of the hot packages at last year’s American Film Market. But the final points on the Solstice deal couldn’t be agreed on and the movie is now heading back to Lionsgate in a case of high-profile Hollywood volleyball.
With much of the world re-opening after the ravages of the pandemic, the studio now feels better about taking on the risk and we understand production is due to begin this summer in Puerto Rico.
The Plane — which was pitched with a budget of around $50 million at last year’s AFM — follows commercial pilot Ray Torrance (Butler) who, after a heroic...
As we revealed last year, Solstice Studios had boarded worldwide rights to The Plane after Lionsgate initially hit Covid-related insurance issues on the project, which was one of the hot packages at last year’s American Film Market. But the final points on the Solstice deal couldn’t be agreed on and the movie is now heading back to Lionsgate in a case of high-profile Hollywood volleyball.
With much of the world re-opening after the ravages of the pandemic, the studio now feels better about taking on the risk and we understand production is due to begin this summer in Puerto Rico.
The Plane — which was pitched with a budget of around $50 million at last year’s AFM — follows commercial pilot Ray Torrance (Butler) who, after a heroic...
- 5/24/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Joe Bell, the drama that stars Mark Wahlberg as a father who walks across America to honor his bullied gay son, is doing some more traveling. The film has been acquired for theatrical release by Roadside Attractions, with Vertical Entertainment aboard for a post-theatrical digital release. It opens July 23.
Joe Bell made its world premiere at virtual Toronto 2020, at which time it was acquired by Solstice Studios in a $20 million worldwide rights deal. I’d heard that Solstice might exit, and it has. That company, which released its first film in the Russell Crowe-directed Unhinged, is constructed to do theatrical releases of 2,000 screens and up. The pandemic, and the film’s subject matter, seem better served with a slower rollout, and Joe Bell now will begin on about 750 screens and build upward from there. The deal was negotiated by Roadside’s Howard Cohen, Vertical’s Peter Jarowey and Endeavor Content.
Joe Bell made its world premiere at virtual Toronto 2020, at which time it was acquired by Solstice Studios in a $20 million worldwide rights deal. I’d heard that Solstice might exit, and it has. That company, which released its first film in the Russell Crowe-directed Unhinged, is constructed to do theatrical releases of 2,000 screens and up. The pandemic, and the film’s subject matter, seem better served with a slower rollout, and Joe Bell now will begin on about 750 screens and build upward from there. The deal was negotiated by Roadside’s Howard Cohen, Vertical’s Peter Jarowey and Endeavor Content.
- 5/21/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Russell Crowe has committed to next star in Poker Face, a Gary Fleder-directed thriller that is set to begin shooting late next month in Sydney, Australia.
The film is scripted by Stephen M. Coates, and Crowe plays Jake, a tech billionaire who gathers his childhood friends to his Miami estate for what turns into a high stakes game of poker. Those friends have a love hate relationship with the host, a master game-player/planner, and he has concocted an elaborate scheme designed to bring a certain justice to all of them. However, Jake finds himself re-thinking his strategy when his Miami mansion is overtaken by a dangerous home invader whose previous jobs have all ended in murder and arson.
Arclight Films is financing and producing. The producers are Gary Hamilton, Addam Bramich, Ryan Hamilton, Jeanette Volturno, Jason Clark and Keith Rodger.
Crowe, who last starred in the Solstice road rage thriller Unhinged,...
The film is scripted by Stephen M. Coates, and Crowe plays Jake, a tech billionaire who gathers his childhood friends to his Miami estate for what turns into a high stakes game of poker. Those friends have a love hate relationship with the host, a master game-player/planner, and he has concocted an elaborate scheme designed to bring a certain justice to all of them. However, Jake finds himself re-thinking his strategy when his Miami mansion is overtaken by a dangerous home invader whose previous jobs have all ended in murder and arson.
Arclight Films is financing and producing. The producers are Gary Hamilton, Addam Bramich, Ryan Hamilton, Jeanette Volturno, Jason Clark and Keith Rodger.
Crowe, who last starred in the Solstice road rage thriller Unhinged,...
- 5/14/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Solstice Studios has optioned feature film rights to Reeves Wiedeman’s New York Magazine article “The Big Hack,” which depicts what experts describe as a plausible doomsday disaster scenario caused by a wide-scale cyberattack on New York City. The recent Colonial pipeline hack purportedly executed by a Russian ransomware group that is spiking gas prices on the East Coast makes the cautionary tale timely.
The article paints a scenario where hackers gain control of everything from the ignition and steering wheels of cars to hospital computers, subways and electricity, plunging the city into total chaos. All of these and other systems are subject to black hat hackers that simply sent Usb sticks to engineers that operate power facilities, promising explanation of benefits. When some of those engineers plugged in the Usb sticks at work, hackers had control. The article appears in the June 13 issue of the mag.
Mark Townend...
The article paints a scenario where hackers gain control of everything from the ignition and steering wheels of cars to hospital computers, subways and electricity, plunging the city into total chaos. All of these and other systems are subject to black hat hackers that simply sent Usb sticks to engineers that operate power facilities, promising explanation of benefits. When some of those engineers plugged in the Usb sticks at work, hackers had control. The article appears in the June 13 issue of the mag.
Mark Townend...
- 5/11/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Solstice Studios is temporarily taking their Mark Wahlberg drama Joe Bell off the calendar in plans for a theatrical release later this year.
The decision, I hear, comes due to the continued depressed state of the domestic box office during the pandemic; this despite this morning’s great news that No. 1 movie chain AMC is warding off bankruptcy with additional funding.
The Reinaldo Marcus Green-directed movie, which Deadline first told you Solstice picked up at TIFF for $20M, was originally planned for a Feb. 19 release in consideration for the 2020-21 awards season. Back in August, before Warner Bros. Tenet opened, Solstice was there for those movie theaters which were reopening with the Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged. That movie grossed $20.8M stateside, $42.8M worldwide.
Joe Bell is based on the true story of a small-town, working-class father (Wahlberg) who embarks on a solo walk across the U.S. to...
The decision, I hear, comes due to the continued depressed state of the domestic box office during the pandemic; this despite this morning’s great news that No. 1 movie chain AMC is warding off bankruptcy with additional funding.
The Reinaldo Marcus Green-directed movie, which Deadline first told you Solstice picked up at TIFF for $20M, was originally planned for a Feb. 19 release in consideration for the 2020-21 awards season. Back in August, before Warner Bros. Tenet opened, Solstice was there for those movie theaters which were reopening with the Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged. That movie grossed $20.8M stateside, $42.8M worldwide.
Joe Bell is based on the true story of a small-town, working-class father (Wahlberg) who embarks on a solo walk across the U.S. to...
- 1/25/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
On January 11, Dr. Anthony Fauci said theaters and music venues could safely reopen by this fall — some 18 months or more after Covid-19 forced their closure. As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, his federal role is advisory but his timetable carries major weight in determining public attitudes toward when it’s safe to rejoin the masses in closed spaces. For theaters — and in turn, the studios — the bottom line is this: Not Summer.
This comes as reports circulate that “No Time to Die” could delay its rescheduled April 2 release. The newest James Bond film, with a reported budget of over $200 million, was the first title to shift in early March 2020. Unverified reports suggest it could be pushed back to September or later. (IndieWire has learned any decision to delay will not be made this week).
This raises a slew of questions and issues. Let’s parse...
This comes as reports circulate that “No Time to Die” could delay its rescheduled April 2 release. The newest James Bond film, with a reported budget of over $200 million, was the first title to shift in early March 2020. Unverified reports suggest it could be pushed back to September or later. (IndieWire has learned any decision to delay will not be made this week).
This raises a slew of questions and issues. Let’s parse...
- 1/14/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
“Tenet,” which topped Premium VOD charts at $19.99, is seeing a second round of success with its price reduced to $5.99. It took top spot at both Apple TV and Google Play (both of which rank by transactions), and as #4 on FandangoNow, which lists by total revenue paid. The thriller “Fatale” with Hilary Swank also saw strong results as a PVOD, three weeks after it opened in theaters. It took #2 at FandangoNow, and #4 at Apple TV as well as Google Play.
Three other titles placed on all four charts we follow. (The weekly Spectrum chart has delayed results and “Fatale” is too recent a release; it did not offer “Tenet” on PVOD.) The best overall showing comes from “The Croods: A New Age,” #1 at FandangoNow, and charting in the top five at both Apple and Google. “The War With Grandpa” and “Honest Thief,” both of which are available at standard price, placed...
Three other titles placed on all four charts we follow. (The weekly Spectrum chart has delayed results and “Fatale” is too recent a release; it did not offer “Tenet” on PVOD.) The best overall showing comes from “The Croods: A New Age,” #1 at FandangoNow, and charting in the top five at both Apple and Google. “The War With Grandpa” and “Honest Thief,” both of which are available at standard price, placed...
- 1/11/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
High-priced titles dominated the charts on New Year’s week with “The Croods: The New Age” leading the way. Sharing the glory was Liam Neeson: “Honest Thief,” a former theatrical/PVOD title, now thrives at $4.99, while Neeson’s 2011 Warner Bros. thriller “Unknown” is currently #1 at Netflix.
The thriving home-viewing market also includes “Soul” (Disney+ only) and “Wonder Woman 1984” (also in theaters). Neither studio reported specific results, though Warners claims “WW84” viewings by “millions” of subscribers. What constitutes a “view” remains undefined.
What stands out is the public is spending money on multiple high-price offerings. FandangoNow, which ranks by money spent, has a record nine PVOD titles in the top 10. (Only “Honest Thief” is standard priced at #4.) AmazonTV and GooglePlay also place PVOD entries in four of their five top slots.
Apart from “Croods,” the leading premium hits are “Tenet,” “Greenland,” and “The War With Grandpa.” At $14.99, “Grandpa” is less expensive,...
The thriving home-viewing market also includes “Soul” (Disney+ only) and “Wonder Woman 1984” (also in theaters). Neither studio reported specific results, though Warners claims “WW84” viewings by “millions” of subscribers. What constitutes a “view” remains undefined.
What stands out is the public is spending money on multiple high-price offerings. FandangoNow, which ranks by money spent, has a record nine PVOD titles in the top 10. (Only “Honest Thief” is standard priced at #4.) AmazonTV and GooglePlay also place PVOD entries in four of their five top slots.
Apart from “Croods,” the leading premium hits are “Tenet,” “Greenland,” and “The War With Grandpa.” At $14.99, “Grandpa” is less expensive,...
- 1/4/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Chicago – If you’re itching for some safe holiday cheer outside the confines of home for an evening, a drive-in Christmas film double feature is just the ticket. The filmed-in-Chicago classic, “Solstice: A Christmas Story” – written and directed by Jerry Vasilatos – will screen with “Home Alone” (starting at 8pm) on Sunday, December 20th, 2020, at the Chi-Town Movies Drive-In in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. For more information and tickets, click here.
’Solstice,’ Screening on December 20th, 2020
Photo credit: SolsticeMovie.com
The simple story of “Solstice,” that of a lonely professional man at the Christmas holidays, is remarkable for many reasons … including a stellar performance by lead actor Michael Kelley. But also it is a glimpse into a pre-gentrified Chicago, where Northside neighborhoods were warm enclaves for discovery, not speculative property. The light of the story takes place in that distant early 1990s era, and if anybody you know lived in Chicago at that time,...
’Solstice,’ Screening on December 20th, 2020
Photo credit: SolsticeMovie.com
The simple story of “Solstice,” that of a lonely professional man at the Christmas holidays, is remarkable for many reasons … including a stellar performance by lead actor Michael Kelley. But also it is a glimpse into a pre-gentrified Chicago, where Northside neighborhoods were warm enclaves for discovery, not speculative property. The light of the story takes place in that distant early 1990s era, and if anybody you know lived in Chicago at that time,...
- 12/19/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Exclusive: Deadline has learned that layoffs started at Solstice Studios today, impacting all divisions at the company.
We hear that for those existing employees remaining, management and executives will take between 25% to 30% deferral in pay. Still awaiting word as to exactly which executives might be impacted.
Let’s face it, it’s been a very hard year during the pandemic for the motion picture industry. Solstice was the first distributor to release a feature theatrical film as the major circuit movie theaters were reopening during late August. That movie being Unhinged starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe. Unhinged has grossed $20.8 million at the domestic B.O. and $42.8M WW. It was a movie that respected the full theatrical window, a distribution plan that the major studios are currently fooling around with during the pandemic as exhibitors are struggling to survive.
Solstice isn’t giving up. Next up for them is the Mark Wahlberg movie Joe Bell,...
We hear that for those existing employees remaining, management and executives will take between 25% to 30% deferral in pay. Still awaiting word as to exactly which executives might be impacted.
Let’s face it, it’s been a very hard year during the pandemic for the motion picture industry. Solstice was the first distributor to release a feature theatrical film as the major circuit movie theaters were reopening during late August. That movie being Unhinged starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe. Unhinged has grossed $20.8 million at the domestic B.O. and $42.8M WW. It was a movie that respected the full theatrical window, a distribution plan that the major studios are currently fooling around with during the pandemic as exhibitors are struggling to survive.
Solstice isn’t giving up. Next up for them is the Mark Wahlberg movie Joe Bell,...
- 12/17/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Even as Covid-19 reduces travel, the public is in a holiday mood. Along with anecdotal reports of near-record Christmas tree sales and an increase of home-lighting displays, we say 11 Christmas-related films flourish this week on VOD and streaming charts. This includes some overlap between home viewing and theaters, as well as some oddball trends that suggest the platforms increasingly bleed into one another.
Our four charts each have a different film at #1; another two titles made all four charts. Apple TV has “The Grinch” on top even after weeks of Netflix play. GooglePlay still ranks “The New Mutants” as #1. Premium VOD entry “Let Him Go” leads at Spectrum, which counts by transactions; with a $19.99 price, that’s impressive. Revenue-based FandangoNow leads with “Honest Thief,” one of the top theatrical releases this fall. It has a mid-level PVOD price of $14.99, but as a new release this week it outpaced three more-expensive films.
Our four charts each have a different film at #1; another two titles made all four charts. Apple TV has “The Grinch” on top even after weeks of Netflix play. GooglePlay still ranks “The New Mutants” as #1. Premium VOD entry “Let Him Go” leads at Spectrum, which counts by transactions; with a $19.99 price, that’s impressive. Revenue-based FandangoNow leads with “Honest Thief,” one of the top theatrical releases this fall. It has a mid-level PVOD price of $14.99, but as a new release this week it outpaced three more-expensive films.
- 12/15/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The first week of December saw a lot of people watching holiday films at home. Makes sense; ’tis the season, even in this dreadful year. There’s also little in the way of new titles as competition — and the one major film to debut, timed to the awards season, failed to gain traction.
“Mank,” David Fincher’s Netflix biopic of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, is considered a leading Oscar contender but debuted to very little initial response. Available on Friday, it showed up at #10 Saturday (the first day it could chart), and has not reappeared since. The black-and-white film starring Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried didn’t gain the attention of other high-profile originals like “Da 5 Bloods,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Hillbilly Elegy,” all of which debuted at first or second. Bumping “Mank” from 10th place was the 2000 Adam Sandler comedy “Little Nicky.”
On the four VOD charts we track,...
“Mank,” David Fincher’s Netflix biopic of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz, is considered a leading Oscar contender but debuted to very little initial response. Available on Friday, it showed up at #10 Saturday (the first day it could chart), and has not reappeared since. The black-and-white film starring Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried didn’t gain the attention of other high-profile originals like “Da 5 Bloods,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Hillbilly Elegy,” all of which debuted at first or second. Bumping “Mank” from 10th place was the 2000 Adam Sandler comedy “Little Nicky.”
On the four VOD charts we track,...
- 12/8/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
There was lively discussion on the state of the film and TV industry during a panel at the Winston Baker UK Summit today which included Dan Steinman, Co-President and COO of 30West; Solstice Studios President & CEO Mark Gill; See-Saw Films COO Simon Gillis and Twickenham Studios Managing Director Cara Sheppard.
Among the topics addressed were “fake packaging,” a term Steinman sort of regretted using but also elaborated upon; the future of theatrical windowing; and the “minefield” that the pandemic era has created for agents and producers.
On the subject of “fake packaging” — think movies that are brought to markets, perhaps with a director or talent attached, but then never see the light of day — Steinman told moderator Sara Curran of Tricycle Talent and Tricycle Media, “It has been my experience that at times these packages come together with people involved in them not really thinking that they will get made.
Among the topics addressed were “fake packaging,” a term Steinman sort of regretted using but also elaborated upon; the future of theatrical windowing; and the “minefield” that the pandemic era has created for agents and producers.
On the subject of “fake packaging” — think movies that are brought to markets, perhaps with a director or talent attached, but then never see the light of day — Steinman told moderator Sara Curran of Tricycle Talent and Tricycle Media, “It has been my experience that at times these packages come together with people involved in them not really thinking that they will get made.
- 12/3/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Two recent films shared top honors this week on leading VOD charts. Of top significance is the early success of “Let Him Go” (Focus), one of several current releases from Universal and its specialty unit that is available for $19.99 only three weeks after its theatrical debut. “The New Mutants” (Disney), which was released in August and has a lower $5.99 cost placed #1 on two charts.
“Let Him Go,” a contemporary Western starring Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, soared on FandangoNow and Apple TV, two charts that provide the most immediate response. The former ranks by dollars paid; the latter lists by number of transactions. Placing ahead of films with much lower prices suggests very strong interest and hints that the Universal/Focus strategy could be working. The film also placed #6 at Google Play. With an earlier deadline, Spectrum usually lags behind the others; expect it to show up next week.
Also scoring well this week,...
“Let Him Go,” a contemporary Western starring Kevin Costner and Diane Lane, soared on FandangoNow and Apple TV, two charts that provide the most immediate response. The former ranks by dollars paid; the latter lists by number of transactions. Placing ahead of films with much lower prices suggests very strong interest and hints that the Universal/Focus strategy could be working. The film also placed #6 at Google Play. With an earlier deadline, Spectrum usually lags behind the others; expect it to show up next week.
Also scoring well this week,...
- 12/1/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The erratic world of VOD consumption saw a lift this week with debuts of “The New Mutants” (Disney) and “Unhinged” (Solstice), films that were the first wide releases when theaters began to reopen in August. Ninety days later, normal windows dictate that it’s time for non-premium availability. (They each rent for $5.99.)
Disney’s Marvel spin-off took the top spot at Apple TV and FandangoNow, while Russell Crowe’s stalker thriller is #1 at Google Play. Two items of note: “Mutants” shows its strength by taking the top spot at Fandango, which ranks by revenue, not transactions; that’s impressive for a standard-price title. Unlike “Mutants,” “Unhinged” had a PVOD release and now sees a revival at its lower price.
These two titles were the only ones to place on three charts. (Spectrum’s weekly chart lags behind and will likely show them next week.) “Unhinged” placed #2 and #3 elsewhere, while “Mutants” was #5 on Google.
Disney’s Marvel spin-off took the top spot at Apple TV and FandangoNow, while Russell Crowe’s stalker thriller is #1 at Google Play. Two items of note: “Mutants” shows its strength by taking the top spot at Fandango, which ranks by revenue, not transactions; that’s impressive for a standard-price title. Unlike “Mutants,” “Unhinged” had a PVOD release and now sees a revival at its lower price.
These two titles were the only ones to place on three charts. (Spectrum’s weekly chart lags behind and will likely show them next week.) “Unhinged” placed #2 and #3 elsewhere, while “Mutants” was #5 on Google.
- 11/24/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Four VOD titles reached #1 in a week with scattershot results across the board. “Mortal” (Saban), a contemporary action film with Nordic mythology roots, took first place at Apple TV. Meanwhile, the PVOD prison drama “The Informer” (Vertical) repeated at #1 at FandangoNow, Paramount’s horror entry “Spell” is first at Spectrum, and romance “After We Collided” from Briarcliff bested at Google Play. “Mortal” is a standard price entry, while “The Informer” is at $19.99 premium, with “Spell” at $9.99 finding a middle ground.
But the highest showing for a new release is #2 at Apple TV for Woody Allen’s “A Rainy Day in New York” (MPI). Its VOD showing comes three weeks after a token theatrical run, more than a year after it opened in most of the world, and after his latest, “Rifkin’s Festival,” premiered overseas.
Right now is something of an intermission period before a slew of studio releases, including several...
But the highest showing for a new release is #2 at Apple TV for Woody Allen’s “A Rainy Day in New York” (MPI). Its VOD showing comes three weeks after a token theatrical run, more than a year after it opened in most of the world, and after his latest, “Rifkin’s Festival,” premiered overseas.
Right now is something of an intermission period before a slew of studio releases, including several...
- 11/17/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Solstice Studios has acquired worldwide rights to The Plane, an elevated action thriller that stars Gerard Butler. The film is currently booked for takeoff on June 28, 2021, shooting in Southeast Asia.
Deadline revealed earlier this week that Lionsgate exited the film because the production could not get Covid insurance and the risk became too great for the indie studio on the $50 million budget film. The picture was the hottest package at 2019 AFM that sold out every territory, and it was originally supposed to be shooting now in Malaysia but stalled because of a Covid spike there. Same thing happened when an attempt was made to move production to the Dominican Republic and then the U.S. The Plane illustrates the troubles facing any indie distributors and producer/financiers trying to mount pictures because insurance companies aren’t writing Covid policies now or are doing it for Covid and “civil authority” clauses at prohibitively high rates.
Deadline revealed earlier this week that Lionsgate exited the film because the production could not get Covid insurance and the risk became too great for the indie studio on the $50 million budget film. The picture was the hottest package at 2019 AFM that sold out every territory, and it was originally supposed to be shooting now in Malaysia but stalled because of a Covid spike there. Same thing happened when an attempt was made to move production to the Dominican Republic and then the U.S. The Plane illustrates the troubles facing any indie distributors and producer/financiers trying to mount pictures because insurance companies aren’t writing Covid policies now or are doing it for Covid and “civil authority” clauses at prohibitively high rates.
- 11/13/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Solstice Studios will release a new cut of Mark Wahlberg’s latest film under the new title Joe Bell on February 19, 2021, timed to the delayed 2020-21 awards season. Solstice, as Deadline first told you, picked up the movie at the Toronto Film Festival for $20 million. The movie was previously titled Good Joe Bell.
The pic has a timely message about tolerance, unity and embracing our differences. Joe Bell is based on the true story of a small-town, working-class father (Wahlberg) who embarks on a solo walk across the U.S. to crusade against bullying after his gay teenage son, Jadin (Reid Miller), is tormented in high school. Joe makes his way along the breathtaking expanse heading from Oregon to New York City, delivering a simple message of tolerance from a father’s perspective, hoping to reach those who may be open to hearing it from someone like themselves. Confronting many hardships,...
The pic has a timely message about tolerance, unity and embracing our differences. Joe Bell is based on the true story of a small-town, working-class father (Wahlberg) who embarks on a solo walk across the U.S. to crusade against bullying after his gay teenage son, Jadin (Reid Miller), is tormented in high school. Joe makes his way along the breathtaking expanse heading from Oregon to New York City, delivering a simple message of tolerance from a father’s perspective, hoping to reach those who may be open to hearing it from someone like themselves. Confronting many hardships,...
- 11/12/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Every year, movie-preview pieces herald the holidays’ arrival; in 2020, the headlines are a little different. As USA Today proclaimed, “10 Must-See Movies to Stream Over the Holiday Season.” They include “Soul,” “Mank,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Let Them All Talk,” and “Small Axe” — major awards contenders, many of which would have have been theatrical releases. However, they all belong to streamers, not VOD.
Meanwhile, on Friday Vertical Entertainment dropped an action film, “The Informer,” which stars Joel Kinnaman as an ex-con who returns to prison undercover to expose a Polish drug cartel. Shot in 2017 and released in most of the world in 2019, this title from the director of “Escobar: Paradise Lost” is unlikely to show up on anyone’s awards-season list. However, even at $19.99 to rent, it topped two major VOD charts this weekend.
“The Informer” has a strong ensemble cast that includes Rosamund Pike, Common, Clive Owen, and Ana de Armas...
Meanwhile, on Friday Vertical Entertainment dropped an action film, “The Informer,” which stars Joel Kinnaman as an ex-con who returns to prison undercover to expose a Polish drug cartel. Shot in 2017 and released in most of the world in 2019, this title from the director of “Escobar: Paradise Lost” is unlikely to show up on anyone’s awards-season list. However, even at $19.99 to rent, it topped two major VOD charts this weekend.
“The Informer” has a strong ensemble cast that includes Rosamund Pike, Common, Clive Owen, and Ana de Armas...
- 11/10/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The top distribution executive at Neon, which handled best picture winner “Parasite,” has expressed guarded optimism that audiences will return when the Covid-19 crisis begins abating.
“People truly want to get out of the house,” said distribution president Elissa Federoff during Monday’s Future of Film Conference at the start of the virtual American Film Market.
She was interviewed by Brent Lang, executive editor of film and media for Variety, a few hours after pharmaceutical company Pfizer said early data from its coronavirus vaccine shows it is more than 90% effective. The news jolted the stock market with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining more than 800 points.
“We know that audiences will come back to movie theaters, that the theatrical landscape will be vibrant again,” Federoff said. “This is very exciting news about the vaccine because potentially it makes the span of time a little shorter.”
“We’ve always projected we...
“People truly want to get out of the house,” said distribution president Elissa Federoff during Monday’s Future of Film Conference at the start of the virtual American Film Market.
She was interviewed by Brent Lang, executive editor of film and media for Variety, a few hours after pharmaceutical company Pfizer said early data from its coronavirus vaccine shows it is more than 90% effective. The news jolted the stock market with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining more than 800 points.
“We know that audiences will come back to movie theaters, that the theatrical landscape will be vibrant again,” Federoff said. “This is very exciting news about the vaccine because potentially it makes the span of time a little shorter.”
“We’ve always projected we...
- 11/9/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
AFM keynotes hear from Neon distribution head Elissa Federoff, Solstice Studios head Mark Gill.
Neon will release Francis Lee’s awards contender Ammonite theatrically on Friday (November 13) in the US followed by the company’s first PVoD release on December 4.
“This is our first PVoD release that we’ve done and we’re really excited about it,” said Neon president of distribution Elissa Federoff during a keynote conversation on opening day of AFM 2020 Online.
“Inside this pandemic and inside this award season, this is a highly strategic way that we are releasing this film. LA is not open, New York is not open,...
Neon will release Francis Lee’s awards contender Ammonite theatrically on Friday (November 13) in the US followed by the company’s first PVoD release on December 4.
“This is our first PVoD release that we’ve done and we’re really excited about it,” said Neon president of distribution Elissa Federoff during a keynote conversation on opening day of AFM 2020 Online.
“Inside this pandemic and inside this award season, this is a highly strategic way that we are releasing this film. LA is not open, New York is not open,...
- 11/9/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
AFM keynotes hear from Neon distribution head Elissa Federoff, Solstice Studios head Mark Gill.
Neon will release Francis Lee’s awards contender Ammonite theatrically on Friday (November 13) in the US followed by the company’s first PVoD release on December 4.
“This is our first PVoD release that we’ve done and we’re really excited about it,” said Neon president of distribution Elissa Federoff during a keynote conversation on opening day of AFM 2020 Online.
“Inside this pandemic and inside this award season, this is a highly strategic way that we are releasing this film. LA is not open, New York is not open,...
Neon will release Francis Lee’s awards contender Ammonite theatrically on Friday (November 13) in the US followed by the company’s first PVoD release on December 4.
“This is our first PVoD release that we’ve done and we’re really excited about it,” said Neon president of distribution Elissa Federoff during a keynote conversation on opening day of AFM 2020 Online.
“Inside this pandemic and inside this award season, this is a highly strategic way that we are releasing this film. LA is not open, New York is not open,...
- 11/9/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Despite the plethora of horror and other genre releases that glutted home platforms this week, romance “After We Collided” placed best on VOD charts this weekend. It ranked #1 at both Apple TV and Google Play, both of which rank by transactions.
“Unhinged” is #1 at FandangoNow, which is based on revenue and gives an edge to Premium VOD titles like this $19.99 entry. Cable giant Spectrum still shows the Alec Baldwin-starring mystery “An Imperfect Murder,” which has little action elsewhere, atop its chart.
Surging late on the charts, “The Craft: Legacy” from Blumhouse Prods. and indie director Zoe Lister-Jones performed strongly at $19.99. It likely missed the top spot at FandangoNow because its full-week chart covered four days prior to its Friday release, but still took the #2 spot there. It is #3 at Apple TV and Google Play, despite its higher cost.
As the evolving strategies surrounding VOD releases emerge, the placements this...
“Unhinged” is #1 at FandangoNow, which is based on revenue and gives an edge to Premium VOD titles like this $19.99 entry. Cable giant Spectrum still shows the Alec Baldwin-starring mystery “An Imperfect Murder,” which has little action elsewhere, atop its chart.
Surging late on the charts, “The Craft: Legacy” from Blumhouse Prods. and indie director Zoe Lister-Jones performed strongly at $19.99. It likely missed the top spot at FandangoNow because its full-week chart covered four days prior to its Friday release, but still took the #2 spot there. It is #3 at Apple TV and Google Play, despite its higher cost.
As the evolving strategies surrounding VOD releases emerge, the placements this...
- 11/2/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
“After We Collided” is the big winner this week. It is #1 at both Apple TV and Google Play, and #2 at FandangoNow (where its $6.99 price on the revenue-based chart put it at a disadvantage). Its Friday debut precluded Spectrum.
This is the sequel to 2019 college romance “After,” which grossed $12 million domestic and $57 million overseas. “After We Collided” also had a theatrical release this weekend, but earned only $420,000 at theaters willing to play day and date. This opened weeks ago in international theaters (including Canada), where it’s earned over $46 million. It’s a sign of how foreign results are dwarfing domestic ones (albeit with minimal competition).
Briarcliff opted to go at a non-premium VOD price and this clicked right away. “After” cost $14 million; figure this is more. It’s recouped a nice share of its cost overseas, and now can collect 70 percent of its domestic VOD from what appears to be a strong response.
This is the sequel to 2019 college romance “After,” which grossed $12 million domestic and $57 million overseas. “After We Collided” also had a theatrical release this weekend, but earned only $420,000 at theaters willing to play day and date. This opened weeks ago in international theaters (including Canada), where it’s earned over $46 million. It’s a sign of how foreign results are dwarfing domestic ones (albeit with minimal competition).
Briarcliff opted to go at a non-premium VOD price and this clicked right away. “After” cost $14 million; figure this is more. It’s recouped a nice share of its cost overseas, and now can collect 70 percent of its domestic VOD from what appears to be a strong response.
- 10/26/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
More than anything, domestic theaters want to know that Warner Bros. will keep its December 25 release of “Wonder Woman 1984.” Diana Prince is a beacon of hope as exhibition continues to be battered by decisions and policies beyond its control, but sources say Warners’ final call comes down to opening theaters in Los Angeles and New York. Current events suggest there is no guarantee that both will be fully open.
After a surge of reported Covid-19 cases, two California counties saw their restrictions elevated to the highest level. That means theater closures in Riverside County. (2.4 million people) just to the east of Los Angeles, as well as the far north Shasta County (major city Redding).
The state’s order, which goes into effect Friday, will last at least three weeks; it could suggest other states may follow suit if they see cases increase. This is also true outside the U.
After a surge of reported Covid-19 cases, two California counties saw their restrictions elevated to the highest level. That means theater closures in Riverside County. (2.4 million people) just to the east of Los Angeles, as well as the far north Shasta County (major city Redding).
The state’s order, which goes into effect Friday, will last at least three weeks; it could suggest other states may follow suit if they see cases increase. This is also true outside the U.
- 10/21/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Post-“Tenet,” when major studios have all but abandoned theaters, it’s the indies that shine a little light. They have their pick of the screens and an ability to hold them not seen since… well, ever. (“Unhinged”: nine weeks and counting in the U.S.) It’s not enough to make up the difference of a Covid-impacted marketplace, but it’s enough for Open Road’s Liam Neeson vehicle “Honest Thief” to take no. 1 with $3.7 million
Overall grosses continued a slow uptick, with this weekend’s Top Ten total of $11.8 million the best since the second weekend of “Tenet” in the U.S. The full total looks to be around $14 million, again an improvement. (The same weekend in 2019 was $138 million.)
Regal, the second-largest chain, remains all but closed. New York state and Seattle are now open; New York City, Los Angeles County, and San Francisco remain closed. Those missing theaters impacted “Honest Thief,...
Overall grosses continued a slow uptick, with this weekend’s Top Ten total of $11.8 million the best since the second weekend of “Tenet” in the U.S. The full total looks to be around $14 million, again an improvement. (The same weekend in 2019 was $138 million.)
Regal, the second-largest chain, remains all but closed. New York state and Seattle are now open; New York City, Los Angeles County, and San Francisco remain closed. Those missing theaters impacted “Honest Thief,...
- 10/18/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Despite the loss of more than 500 Regal Theaters, total grosses went up this weekend. Led by newcomer “The War with Grandpa,” the top 10 grossed about $9.7 million. That’s up from $8.5 million last weekend. With so many library titles adding to the pot, the full take might reach $13 million. By comparison. 2019 saw $141 million on Columbus Day weekend.
To be fair, with most of Regal gone and with New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle still closed, that might have reduced the potential gross by as much as half. Had Regal been open, the total would have been over $15 million. If all markets and theaters were open, the total might have been $26 million. The lack of product is a major factor, but this depressed level of business continues suggest that audiences have not restored their appetites for theaters.
After “Tenet” spent five weeks in the top spot, “The War with Grandpa” took no.
To be fair, with most of Regal gone and with New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle still closed, that might have reduced the potential gross by as much as half. Had Regal been open, the total would have been over $15 million. If all markets and theaters were open, the total might have been $26 million. The lack of product is a major factor, but this depressed level of business continues suggest that audiences have not restored their appetites for theaters.
After “Tenet” spent five weeks in the top spot, “The War with Grandpa” took no.
- 10/11/2020
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
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