Tom Hanks tinkering with teamsheets as Ranieri, Idris Elba barking orders as captain Morgan, and Tom Hiddleston smashing in the goals … a surefire lineup to get them queuing at the turnstiles
Film producers like nothing more than a chest-burstingly uplifting, against-the-odds, underdog-come-good, overcoming-adversity story, and Leicester City’s tilt at the Premier League title is about as chestburstingly uplifting as they come. So just as football journalists have been sharpening their pens and documentary-makers loading up their editing suites over the past few weeks as the Foxes have been closing in on the championship, film production executives will have begun the unseemly jostle to get Leicester City: The Movie in the works.
But how to go about it? The first issue is where to pitch it. Notoriously, most films about football – about British football, at least – have been pretty bad: hamstrung between the need to appeal to the widest possible only-vaguely-interested audience (ie,...
Film producers like nothing more than a chest-burstingly uplifting, against-the-odds, underdog-come-good, overcoming-adversity story, and Leicester City’s tilt at the Premier League title is about as chestburstingly uplifting as they come. So just as football journalists have been sharpening their pens and documentary-makers loading up their editing suites over the past few weeks as the Foxes have been closing in on the championship, film production executives will have begun the unseemly jostle to get Leicester City: The Movie in the works.
But how to go about it? The first issue is where to pitch it. Notoriously, most films about football – about British football, at least – have been pretty bad: hamstrung between the need to appeal to the widest possible only-vaguely-interested audience (ie,...
- 5/3/2016
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Tom Hanks tinkering with teamsheets as Ranieri, Idris Elba barking orders as captain Morgan, and Tom Hiddleston smashing in the goals … a surefire lineup to get them queuing at the turnstiles
Film producers like nothing more than a chest-burstingly uplifting, against-the-odds, underdog-come-good, overcoming-adversity story, and Leicester City’s tilt at the Premier League title is about as chestburstingly uplifting as they come. So just as football journalists have been sharpening their pens and documentary-makers loading up their editing suites over the past few weeks as the Foxes have been closing in on the championship, film production executives will have begun the unseemly jostle to get Leicester City: The Movie in the works.
But how to go about it? The first issue is where to pitch it. Notoriously, most films about football – about British football, at least – have been pretty bad: hamstrung between the need to appeal to the widest possible only-vaguely-interested audience (ie,...
Film producers like nothing more than a chest-burstingly uplifting, against-the-odds, underdog-come-good, overcoming-adversity story, and Leicester City’s tilt at the Premier League title is about as chestburstingly uplifting as they come. So just as football journalists have been sharpening their pens and documentary-makers loading up their editing suites over the past few weeks as the Foxes have been closing in on the championship, film production executives will have begun the unseemly jostle to get Leicester City: The Movie in the works.
But how to go about it? The first issue is where to pitch it. Notoriously, most films about football – about British football, at least – have been pretty bad: hamstrung between the need to appeal to the widest possible only-vaguely-interested audience (ie,...
- 5/3/2016
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Football documentaries - they're a funny old game. Today's fly-on-the-wall peeks into the lives of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo may have marked a welcome return of the genre - but compared to mud-and-studs docs of old, they're as over-polished and blemish-free as one of David Beckham's Armani suits.
And so ahead of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and co's new BBC documentary series Out of Their League, let's reminisce about some classic football programmes - when the beautiful game felt like less a Nike advert, more like an episode of Bullseye.
1. Graham Taylor gets the sack
After an abysmal 1992 European Championships, England manager needed some positive PR, so the Fa allowed camera crews to follow him round during the entire 1994 World Cup qualification campaign for An Impossible Job.
Whoops: this spectacularly backfired for old Turnip Head, as England were knocked out. But not before Taylor effed and jeffed his way through every single match,...
And so ahead of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and co's new BBC documentary series Out of Their League, let's reminisce about some classic football programmes - when the beautiful game felt like less a Nike advert, more like an episode of Bullseye.
1. Graham Taylor gets the sack
After an abysmal 1992 European Championships, England manager needed some positive PR, so the Fa allowed camera crews to follow him round during the entire 1994 World Cup qualification campaign for An Impossible Job.
Whoops: this spectacularly backfired for old Turnip Head, as England were knocked out. But not before Taylor effed and jeffed his way through every single match,...
- 10/28/2015
- Digital Spy
Altar Identity Studios will co-produce and finance Donna Gigliotti, James Spies and J E Craig’s Big Stone Gap to star Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg.
Adriana Trigiani wrote the screenplay and will make her feature directorial debut when production gets underway on October 19.
Big Stone Gap is based on Trigiani’s bestselling novels about a small town romance.
Altar Identity Studios president Wade Bradley and Helen Rosenberg negotiated the deal with Graham Taylor.
Andrea Dorfman has commenced shooting on Heartbeat in her native Halifax. The rom-com is scheduled to shoot until November 6 and stars Tanya Davis, Kristin Langille and Glen Matthews. Bill Niven and Jay Dahl of Northeast Films are producing. Funding comes via Telefilm Canada, Film And Creative Industries Nova Scotia and Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund with additional financing from the Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit and the Canadian Film And Video Production Tax Credit.
Adriana Trigiani wrote the screenplay and will make her feature directorial debut when production gets underway on October 19.
Big Stone Gap is based on Trigiani’s bestselling novels about a small town romance.
Altar Identity Studios president Wade Bradley and Helen Rosenberg negotiated the deal with Graham Taylor.
Andrea Dorfman has commenced shooting on Heartbeat in her native Halifax. The rom-com is scheduled to shoot until November 6 and stars Tanya Davis, Kristin Langille and Glen Matthews. Bill Niven and Jay Dahl of Northeast Films are producing. Funding comes via Telefilm Canada, Film And Creative Industries Nova Scotia and Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund with additional financing from the Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit and the Canadian Film And Video Production Tax Credit.
- 10/15/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Media Image Ltd
So here we go again; the biennial torture that is England football tournament qualifying matches is fast approaching and the average England football fan is no doubt preparing him or herself for what is to come. Finger nails untrimmed ready for biting – check! Lucky underpants on – check! Big brolly in case it rains on the side-lines – well perhaps not. Anyway at the end of the next 2 games against Moldova and Ukraine we should have a clearer picture on whether our plucky boys will be spending the summer of 2014 on business in Rio de Janeiro or on the golf course in the Algarve.
But why does it have to be this way? Surely England have breezed through other World Cup qualifying campaigns without a care, safe in the knowledge that their participation in the forthcoming FIFA jamboree was all but guaranteed with a handful of matches still to be played.
So here we go again; the biennial torture that is England football tournament qualifying matches is fast approaching and the average England football fan is no doubt preparing him or herself for what is to come. Finger nails untrimmed ready for biting – check! Lucky underpants on – check! Big brolly in case it rains on the side-lines – well perhaps not. Anyway at the end of the next 2 games against Moldova and Ukraine we should have a clearer picture on whether our plucky boys will be spending the summer of 2014 on business in Rio de Janeiro or on the golf course in the Algarve.
But why does it have to be this way? Surely England have breezed through other World Cup qualifying campaigns without a care, safe in the knowledge that their participation in the forthcoming FIFA jamboree was all but guaranteed with a handful of matches still to be played.
- 9/6/2013
- by Richard Boyce
- Obsessed with Film
We live in a society where the oldies are taking over. By 2018, older people will outnumber children for the first time. Over the next 30 years the number of over-65s is forecast to almost double, from 506 million in 2008 to 1.3 billion. And if you’ve turned on your TV in the past decade, you’ll have noticed that the ad men having let this fact slip by them.
Magazines, movies and music may still be obsessed with the cult of youth, but increasingly adverts are being aimed at the elderly, and with good reason. As well as creating ads for more products aimed at older customers, advertisers are bucking the youth-oriented trend, and switching the glowing supermodels for wrinkles, and featuring the elderly in their ads.
Usually done with a good dose of humour, it’s had a surprising effect on the way we view old people, challenging the stereotypes, and...
Magazines, movies and music may still be obsessed with the cult of youth, but increasingly adverts are being aimed at the elderly, and with good reason. As well as creating ads for more products aimed at older customers, advertisers are bucking the youth-oriented trend, and switching the glowing supermodels for wrinkles, and featuring the elderly in their ads.
Usually done with a good dose of humour, it’s had a surprising effect on the way we view old people, challenging the stereotypes, and...
- 11/29/2012
- by WhatCulture
- Obsessed with Film
The American Film Market (Afm®) presented the Finance Conference on Friday, November 2, 2012, at the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica. The Conference consisted of 2 panels.
Panel 1: “Current Issues in Film Finance,” brought leading CEOs, filmmakers, financiers and executives together to explore the state of independent film financing, emerging trends, where the money is and what the future holds. Moderated by P. John Burke, partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Llp, panelists included Nigel Sinclair, Co-chairman and CEO, Exclusive Media, Tom Ortenberg, CEO,Open Road Films, and Graham Taylor, Head, Global Finance and Distribution Group, William Morris Endeavor.
Panel 2: “Building Your Global Film Financing Strategy,”moderated by Joseph Chianese, Evp, Ep Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners, featuredJean-Luc DeFanti, Managing Partner, Hemisphere Capital Management, Micah Green, Co-Head, Film Finance Group, CA, Bahman Naraghi, Independent Film Producer and former COO of Gk Films, David Rubin, Evp, CBS Films, Andy Weltman, Evp, Pinewood Studios Group
Where’s the money and how quickly can you get it? All you need to know about U.S. and international incentives and subsidies and how to monetize them. Plus private equity and additional sources of financing from the Bric countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and other emerging markets.
Below are some key quotes from panel 1 the series.
Tom Ortenberg, CEO,Open Road Films:
"It is not a one size fits all formula for films. Not every title should go out wide theatrically. Some will benefit economically and on an exposure basis by going day and date."
"There is still a viable art house market, but overall the margins are being challenged by increasing media costs, audience fragmentation, increased P & A and shrinking circulations. For an art house film, newspaper reviews are very important. So, the art house theatrical distribution business is as challenged now as it has ever been."
Nigel Sinclair,Co-chairman and CEO, Exclusive Media:
"The difficulties we currently face are the changes in taste, digital disruption, and the decline of sales in certain international territories, but there is still an equity market that is buoyant and vibrant for the right projects."
"Exhibition and distribution must converge. That is the only way to solve the problem."
"If you treat talent as equity contributors it can help bring them on board and make them feel a certain ownership of the film."
"China is a very important, strategic market for us and an important long-term partner."
Graham Taylor, Head, Global Finance and Distribution Group, William Morris Endeavor:
"There are different ways to go about releasing a film. Going to the theaters as a family can be expensive and to have that rush of feeling like you are an early adopter of a movie through a VOD option is attractive to people."
"For art house titles, social media gives me hope as a way of marketing without relying on TV spots or newspaper spots."
"Digital conversions can help level the playing field by avoiding the costs of physical prints and help the art house division."...
Panel 1: “Current Issues in Film Finance,” brought leading CEOs, filmmakers, financiers and executives together to explore the state of independent film financing, emerging trends, where the money is and what the future holds. Moderated by P. John Burke, partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Llp, panelists included Nigel Sinclair, Co-chairman and CEO, Exclusive Media, Tom Ortenberg, CEO,Open Road Films, and Graham Taylor, Head, Global Finance and Distribution Group, William Morris Endeavor.
Panel 2: “Building Your Global Film Financing Strategy,”moderated by Joseph Chianese, Evp, Ep Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners, featuredJean-Luc DeFanti, Managing Partner, Hemisphere Capital Management, Micah Green, Co-Head, Film Finance Group, CA, Bahman Naraghi, Independent Film Producer and former COO of Gk Films, David Rubin, Evp, CBS Films, Andy Weltman, Evp, Pinewood Studios Group
Where’s the money and how quickly can you get it? All you need to know about U.S. and international incentives and subsidies and how to monetize them. Plus private equity and additional sources of financing from the Bric countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and other emerging markets.
Below are some key quotes from panel 1 the series.
Tom Ortenberg, CEO,Open Road Films:
"It is not a one size fits all formula for films. Not every title should go out wide theatrically. Some will benefit economically and on an exposure basis by going day and date."
"There is still a viable art house market, but overall the margins are being challenged by increasing media costs, audience fragmentation, increased P & A and shrinking circulations. For an art house film, newspaper reviews are very important. So, the art house theatrical distribution business is as challenged now as it has ever been."
Nigel Sinclair,Co-chairman and CEO, Exclusive Media:
"The difficulties we currently face are the changes in taste, digital disruption, and the decline of sales in certain international territories, but there is still an equity market that is buoyant and vibrant for the right projects."
"Exhibition and distribution must converge. That is the only way to solve the problem."
"If you treat talent as equity contributors it can help bring them on board and make them feel a certain ownership of the film."
"China is a very important, strategic market for us and an important long-term partner."
Graham Taylor, Head, Global Finance and Distribution Group, William Morris Endeavor:
"There are different ways to go about releasing a film. Going to the theaters as a family can be expensive and to have that rush of feeling like you are an early adopter of a movie through a VOD option is attractive to people."
"For art house titles, social media gives me hope as a way of marketing without relying on TV spots or newspaper spots."
"Digital conversions can help level the playing field by avoiding the costs of physical prints and help the art house division."...
- 11/4/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Exclusive: Cassian Elwes, who two years ago transitioned from Wma independent film head to producer and packager of indies, has made a partnership deal with Evolution Entertainment. Elwes and Evolution principal Mark Burg will team for Evolution Independen. While Evolution is best known for genre fare like the Saw franchise and for Two And A Half Men, Burg and Evolution president Mike Menchel will rely on Elwes to find highbrow independent film projects to invest in. Elwes left Wma when that agency merged with Endeavor and Endeavor partner Graham Taylor took the reins of the department. He is still a fixture at film festivals, as a sales agent brokering distribution deals and also on behalf of a high number of films he has been producing. Having ready access to funding strengthens those efforts. Elwes said he continues relationships with financier/producers like Michael Benaroya. “I thought after Wma I might never work again,...
- 2/22/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
This story first appeared in the Feb. 10 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Lots of deals, a wide variety of distributors and reasonable prices. That was the consensus among buyers and sellers returning from the Sundance Film Festival. Star-studded films like the Bruce Willis comedy Lay the Favorite and the Richard Gere thriller Arbitrage that would have cost tens of millions for studios to make were picked up for about $2 million each. "If anything, the state of independent film is getting healthier," says Wme Global's Graham Taylor, who sold Beasts of the Southern Wild, Arbitrage and
read more...
read more...
- 2/2/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez , Daniel Miller
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have together acquired U.S. distribution rights to Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage. The announcement was made jointly by Steve Beeks, President and Co-coo of Lionsgate, and by Roadside Attractions’ Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff. The acquisition was made following the well-received world premiere of the film at the Sundance International Film Festival.
Arbitrage is a taut and alluring suspense thriller about love, loyalty, and high finance starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Laetitia Casta, and Nate Parker. The film was written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki, and is his first narrative feature. It was produced by Laura Bickford (Traffic, Duplicity), Kevin Turen, Justin Nappi, and Robert Salerno (A Single Man), and executive produced by Brian Young, Mohammed Al Turki, Lisa Wilson, Stanislaw Tyczynski, Lauren Versel, Maria Teresa Areda and Ron Curtis.
Arbitrage will be a Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions release, continuing the...
Arbitrage is a taut and alluring suspense thriller about love, loyalty, and high finance starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling, Laetitia Casta, and Nate Parker. The film was written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki, and is his first narrative feature. It was produced by Laura Bickford (Traffic, Duplicity), Kevin Turen, Justin Nappi, and Robert Salerno (A Single Man), and executive produced by Brian Young, Mohammed Al Turki, Lisa Wilson, Stanislaw Tyczynski, Lauren Versel, Maria Teresa Areda and Ron Curtis.
Arbitrage will be a Lionsgate / Roadside Attractions release, continuing the...
- 1/26/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Marius Markevicius' U.S. competition documentary The Other Dream Team will have its world premiere Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Temple Theatre. The film follows the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team's dream for glory at the Games and fledgling independence from Russia. THR here hosts an exclusive clip from the film, which Markevicius wrote and produced with Jon Weinbach. Wme Global's Graham Taylor is repping sales rights at the festival.
- 1/20/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: After almost a decade without an agent, CSI: Miami star David Caruso has signed with Wme. He will be repped by a team led by Wme Global head Graham Taylor, who will work with Caruso’s longtime manager Jason Weinberg and attorney Jamie Mandelbaum. NYPD Blue alum Caruso stars as Lieutenant Horatio Caine on the long-running CBS crime drama CSI: Miami, now in its 10th season. The CSI spinoff is one of the most watched series around the world and has been sold in off-network syndication in the U.S. to A&E and AMC. Caruso’s film credits include Proof Of Life and Jade.
- 1/6/2012
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
It's times like these we don't mind working on the weekend as the latest news coming out of Afm has one of the best films we've seen all year, Eduardo Sanchez's Lovely Molly (review here), finding domestic distribution with Image Entertainment. The deal comes as Content Film sells international territories at Afm, and we couldn't be happier that our Stateside readers at least are assured of seeing this one sooner rather than later.
Per Deadline the deal is high six figures, and the plan is to release theatrically next spring. Image acquisitions vice president Mark Ward called the film “a return and evolution to the genre that [Eduardo] created” with Blair Witch. “We look forward to partnering with Haxan and Amber to maximize the truly robust transmedia marketing campaign they’ve put together to make the film a huge success.” (Haxan Films’ Robin Cowie and Gregg Hale produced Lovely Molly...
Per Deadline the deal is high six figures, and the plan is to release theatrically next spring. Image acquisitions vice president Mark Ward called the film “a return and evolution to the genre that [Eduardo] created” with Blair Witch. “We look forward to partnering with Haxan and Amber to maximize the truly robust transmedia marketing campaign they’ve put together to make the film a huge success.” (Haxan Films’ Robin Cowie and Gregg Hale produced Lovely Molly...
- 11/5/2011
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Exclusive: Image Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Lovely Molly, the thriller directed by Blair Witch Project co-director Eduardo Sanchez. The deal is high six figures and the plan is to release theatrically next spring. Lovely Molly made its debut in the Midnight Madness section of the 2011 Toronto Film Festival. Newcomer Gretchen Lodge plays the title character, a newlywed who returns to her long-abandoned family home and is hit with scary reminders of her nightmarish childhood that quickly color her new life. She descends into an evil that is part psychosis and part obsession. Haxan Films’ Robin Cowie and Gregg Hale produced with Amber Entertainment’s Jane Fleming and Mark Ordesky. The deal comes as Content Film sells international territories at Afm. Image acquisitions VP Mark Ward called the film “a return and evolution to the genre that [Eduardo] created” with Blair Witch. “We look forward to partnering with...
- 11/5/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Justin raced from South America to be by Selena's side in Winnipeg, Canada but he managed to make a yummy pitstop! HollywoodLife.com has all the juicy details after speaking with the owner! Justin Bieber, 17, isn't afraid to profess his love for girlfriend Selena Gomez! When stopping by juice bar Booster Juice, owner Graham Taylor tells HollywoodLife.com that Justin posed for pics with three of his female employees and reveals exactly what Justin ordered from the Canadian joint! "Justin ordered a Strawberry Sunshine smoothie," Graham tells us. "He seemed really friendly. He was with his father and a bodyguard. The staff was pretty excited to see him and couldn't believe he posed for pictures with them." We told you that the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Justin said he was in town for "his girlfriend" Selena, 19 -- so sweet! Justin also said he'd only pose for pics with the...
- 10/24/2011
- by William Earl
- HollywoodLife
Content has acquired foreign rights on Lovely Molly, the genre film written and directed by Blair Witch Project‘s Eduardo Sanchez. A domestic distribution deal is coming. Lovely Molly made its debut in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto Film Festival last month. The title character (Gretchen Lodge) is a newlywed who returns to her long abandoned family home and is hit with scary reminders of her nightmarish childhood that quickly color her new life. She snaps, basically, into a descent into an evil that is one part psychosis and another part possession. Wme Global’s Graham Taylor and and Bhdrl’s Stuart Rosenthal made the deal. The film’s produced by Robin Cowie, Gregg Hale, Jane Fleming, and Mark Ordesky. The intention is to employ the same kind of viral marketing that helped turned Blair Witch into such a big hit. “We were shocked by Gretchen Lodge’s extraordinary performance,...
- 10/24/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
No, your eyes do not deceive you – that is indeed Graham Taylor the former England and Watford manager modelling a new revolutionary form of footwear aimed squarely at managers by Football Manager 2012‘s development team Si Games and Sega. The pioneering Sho’ot has been designed by the game makers to help managers stay on their feet on the touchline, adding a safety net for those managers who prefer a more active touchline approach but who fear the mocking of the crowd when their thousand pound loafers leave them on their backside on the turf. And with 70% of football managers currently donning suits on match day, their smart shoes needed a pragmatic makeover to reflect both fashion evolution and functionality.
Taylor, looking resplendent in a grey suit, and all too willing to play up to the camera, including a frankly baffling array of facial expressions gave his own thumbs up...
Taylor, looking resplendent in a grey suit, and all too willing to play up to the camera, including a frankly baffling array of facial expressions gave his own thumbs up...
- 10/19/2011
- by Simon Gallagher
- Obsessed with Film
This very diverting film gives us a quasi-telepathic access to the tense, internal world of a group of football refs during Euro 2008
They have a strange tendency to run backwards. Why? This documentary on international football referees doesn't say. But it is very diverting nonetheless. They are the sport's lawmen, subject to all the pressure experienced by the stars, but with none of the cash or adulation, and increasingly considered fair game for abuse by internet bile-spewers and even motormouth coaches for whom vilifying the ref – once unthinkable – is now an accepted mind-game technique.
The film follows a group of refs, including Britain's Howard Webb, during the Euro 2008 championship. It shows how these very human and fallible officials nervously await Uefa's judgment on their performance. As in a reality show, only a select few will be invited back to preside over the final knockout matches after the group phase.
There...
They have a strange tendency to run backwards. Why? This documentary on international football referees doesn't say. But it is very diverting nonetheless. They are the sport's lawmen, subject to all the pressure experienced by the stars, but with none of the cash or adulation, and increasingly considered fair game for abuse by internet bile-spewers and even motormouth coaches for whom vilifying the ref – once unthinkable – is now an accepted mind-game technique.
The film follows a group of refs, including Britain's Howard Webb, during the Euro 2008 championship. It shows how these very human and fallible officials nervously await Uefa's judgment on their performance. As in a reality show, only a select few will be invited back to preside over the final knockout matches after the group phase.
There...
- 8/4/2011
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: A deal is near for Millennium Entertainment to acquire U.S. distribution rights to the Los Angeles Film Festival opening-night pic Bernie. I'm told that it will be the first significant grab for former Film Department co-head Mark Gill since he took the reins of Avi Lerner's company (Update: reps for the company claim Gill was not involved, though he released Linklater's Before Sunrise while running Warner Independent, and those reps said the deal was made by Millennium Entertainment's Bill Lee and Vincent Scordino). The minimum guarantee will be around $2 million with a P&A commitment of around $1 million and the deal should be done by Monday. Inspired by a true story, the film stars Jack Black as the title character, an amiable funeral director who kills a rich widow (Shirley MacLaine) and creates a ruse that she's still alive. Matthew McConaughey also stars in a film that's directed by Richard Linklater.
- 7/15/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
In Graham Taylor's rousing cry for more entrepreneurialism in the film biz (aka Laiff Keynote), he stated: "my 1st important lesson in Hwood: the most dangerous thing in this biz is apathy & cynicism" . That got me wondering. I tweeted: "What's the best first lesson you learned about the film business?" I got a lot of good responses. These are some of those: AlexanderBaack Alexander Baack That it's called "breaking in" for a reason. wvfilmmaker Jason Brown whether you believe you can or you believe you can't - you're right. The people you need to support you can tell…...
- 6/25/2011
- Hope for Film
Today’s morning read is Wme Global head Graham Taylor’s keynote speech at the Los Angeles Film Festival, a smart and entertaining walk through not only his own career but the trajectory of independent film’s past and future. Since his speech references Hollywood blockbusters, perhaps it’s appropriate that it starts with Taylor’s own origin story, beginning in Portland, Oregon, where he grew up with an economist father and artist mother — two influences that will intertwine throughout his career. Another part of that origin story: Reservoir Dogs, the film that blew him away and made him want to be involved in this business.
While I’m sure most blog reports will focus on Taylor’s talk about the current state of independent film, his dubbing of it “entrepreneurial film,” and his proscription to work at creating work that audiences can actively engage with, I also was inspired...
While I’m sure most blog reports will focus on Taylor’s talk about the current state of independent film, his dubbing of it “entrepreneurial film,” and his proscription to work at creating work that audiences can actively engage with, I also was inspired...
- 6/19/2011
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Thank you Graham for an inspiring keynote speech at the Laiff yesterday. Very tweet-worthy. And a welcome reminder of what matters and how to keep going. With flair and style no less. Wish I could've been there. You definitely made a list for folks to put up on their wall by their desk (reproduced below for easy clipping). Graham Taylor's Brief To-Do list To Improve Indie Film Ecosystem: • We have to encourage young people. • We can’t be an agist business where we cast off older filmmakers. • It’s important to have a strong point of view. • It’s…...
- 6/19/2011
- Hope for Film
Update: Graham Taylor, one of the top dealmakers in packaging and brokering distribution deals for independent films, gave a lively keynote speech at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Taylor gave Martin Scorsese a run for his money in terms of the music cues he employed in his speech to make his points about the improving indie film marketplace: Money Talks And Art Matters, Graham Taylor, Laff 2011 Keynote [Music cue: We Will Rock You by Queen] Never in the history of the movie business has there been a better time for the Independents to be entrepreneurial. The balance of power between Studios, Indies and Consumers is changing. Whether you are a filmmaker, producer, financier, distributer, or executive, now is the time to embrace the change. We are after all in the middle of a revolution, and nobody puts baby in the corner. I asked my friend Bill Pullman to say a few words on the state of the independent...
- 6/19/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Wme's Graham Taylor is a pivotal player on the indie financing/packaging/selling scene. He moved from Endeavor to take over Wme's Global unit after the agency merger. Here's some of his speech from the Laff's "Money Talks & Art Matters" panel series: the full length version is here. Never in the history of the movie business has there been a better time for the Independents to be entrepreneurial. The balance of power between Studios, Indies and Consumers is changing. Whether you are a filmmaker, producer, financier, distributer, or executive, now is the time to embrace the change. We are after all in the middle of a revolution, and nobody puts baby in the corner..The convergence of film, art and commerce... This is a subject I am ...
- 6/18/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Wme Global head Graham Taylor delivered the keynote speech at the Los Angeles Film Festival's "Money Talks & Art Matters" series of panels, which began today at the Downtown Independent. Formerly the head of Endeavor's independent department before it merged with William Morris in 2006, Taylor has recently overseen sales for festival hits such as "Another Earth" and "Drive." indieWIRE is publishing the full speech below, courtesy of Laff. [music ...
- 6/18/2011
- Indiewire
Studio Scores Highly Sought Action Film for 2012
(Beverly Hills, CA) June 2011 – Relativity Media has announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to market and distribute Bandito Brothers. Act of Valor. The groundbreaking film is an intense action-thriller which showcases an elite group of active duty Navy SEALs and co-stars Roselyn Sanchez (Rush Hour 2) and Emilio Rivera (Traffic). The studio is targeting a 2012 release date.
The film is directed by ex-stuntmen and documentary filmmakers/commercial directors Mike .Mouse. McCoy (Dust to Glory) and Scott Waugh (Step Into Liquid) and written by Kurt Johnstad (300).
Act of Valor follows a Navy Seal squad on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent, and in the process takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs. The filmmakers had unprecedented Naval access resulting in high-octane combat sequences and never-before-seen military operation scenes which are composited from...
(Beverly Hills, CA) June 2011 – Relativity Media has announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to market and distribute Bandito Brothers. Act of Valor. The groundbreaking film is an intense action-thriller which showcases an elite group of active duty Navy SEALs and co-stars Roselyn Sanchez (Rush Hour 2) and Emilio Rivera (Traffic). The studio is targeting a 2012 release date.
The film is directed by ex-stuntmen and documentary filmmakers/commercial directors Mike .Mouse. McCoy (Dust to Glory) and Scott Waugh (Step Into Liquid) and written by Kurt Johnstad (300).
Act of Valor follows a Navy Seal squad on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent, and in the process takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs. The filmmakers had unprecedented Naval access resulting in high-octane combat sequences and never-before-seen military operation scenes which are composited from...
- 6/13/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A new Navy Seal action-thriller called Act of Valor just landed a distribution deal with Relativity Media who bought it for $13 million dollars. This is a huge chunk of money for a film with a group of no name actors. In fact, the actors in the film are actual badass Navy SEALs. The Navy was even involved with the films production.
The film was written by 300 screenwriter Kurt Johnstad and directed by Mike "Mouse" McCoy and Scott Waugh (Step into Liquid). What may look like a recruitment film is actually a story that follows a group of SEALs charged with the mission of recovering a kidnapped CIA agent, "and in the process takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs." This will be the first Navy Seal film to come out since Seal Team 6 took out Osama bin Laden. Even though the movie doesn't revolve around that,...
The film was written by 300 screenwriter Kurt Johnstad and directed by Mike "Mouse" McCoy and Scott Waugh (Step into Liquid). What may look like a recruitment film is actually a story that follows a group of SEALs charged with the mission of recovering a kidnapped CIA agent, "and in the process takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs." This will be the first Navy Seal film to come out since Seal Team 6 took out Osama bin Laden. Even though the movie doesn't revolve around that,...
- 6/13/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
HollywoodNews.com: Relativity Media announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to market and distribute Bandito Brothers’ Act of Valor. The groundbreaking film is an intense action-thriller which showcases an elite group of active duty Navy SEALs and co-stars Roselyn Sanchez (Rush Hour 2) and Emilio Rivera (Traffic). The studio is targeting a 2012 release date.
The film is directed by ex-stuntmen and documentary filmmakers/commercial directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy (Dust to Glory) and Scott Waugh (Step Into Liquid) and written by Kurt Johnstad (300).
Act of Valor follows a Navy Seal squad on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent, and in the process takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs. The filmmakers had unprecedented Naval access resulting in high-octane combat sequences and never-before-seen military operation scenes which are composited from actual events in the lives of the men appearing...
The film is directed by ex-stuntmen and documentary filmmakers/commercial directors Mike “Mouse” McCoy (Dust to Glory) and Scott Waugh (Step Into Liquid) and written by Kurt Johnstad (300).
Act of Valor follows a Navy Seal squad on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent, and in the process takes down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all costs. The filmmakers had unprecedented Naval access resulting in high-octane combat sequences and never-before-seen military operation scenes which are composited from actual events in the lives of the men appearing...
- 6/13/2011
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
Update: Since posting, Relativity has officially acquired the film and they plan a 2012 release. After the write-up, check out the press release, which includes the first plot synopsis, at the bottom.
A few weeks ago I got an invite to see a NYC test screening with just the information of Aov and it involving someone who worked on 300. Due to not normally attending these types of screenings and having absolutely zero interest upon further examination, I turned it down. A new report on Deadline and a wealth of new details are making me rethink that decision.
The film, a “mission movie involving Navy Seals,” is titled Act of Valour (or Act of Valor on IMDb) and stars actual, active duty members of United States Navy’s sea, air and land teams, while also being backed by the military. Written by 300‘s Kurt Johnstad (300) and directed by Mike “Mouse” McCoy and...
A few weeks ago I got an invite to see a NYC test screening with just the information of Aov and it involving someone who worked on 300. Due to not normally attending these types of screenings and having absolutely zero interest upon further examination, I turned it down. A new report on Deadline and a wealth of new details are making me rethink that decision.
The film, a “mission movie involving Navy Seals,” is titled Act of Valour (or Act of Valor on IMDb) and stars actual, active duty members of United States Navy’s sea, air and land teams, while also being backed by the military. Written by 300‘s Kurt Johnstad (300) and directed by Mike “Mouse” McCoy and...
- 6/13/2011
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The world premiere of Richard Linklater's "Bernie" will kick off the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 16, it was announced today. Written by Skip Hollandsworth and Linklater, the film stars Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey. Black plays Bernie, the beloved mortician in a small Texas town. The film is available for distribution in the United States/Canada, with Graham Taylor of Wme and John Sloss of Cinetic Media ...
- 5/23/2011
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Conan the Barbarian helmer Marcus Nispel will next direct Backmask, a $10 million film that will begin shooting this summer. It's based on an idea by Nispel, whose recent films include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th. Kirsten Elms is writing the script. Nispel is keeping the plot close to his vest, allowing only that it involves paranoia, possession and the paranormal. The film will be produced by Steven Schneider, one of the architects behind the Paranormal Activity films as well as the haunted kid hit Insidious and the upcoming Barry Levinson-directed eco-thriller The Bay. Voltage Pictures' Nicolas Chartier will unveil the title at Cannes this week, where he'll broker international territories, while Wme Global's Graham Taylor will handle North American sales. The film is being funded by 1821's Paris Latsis and Terry Dougas, who'll produce with Schneider and Nispel. The filmmaker is repped by Wme,...
- 5/9/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Exclusive: A pre-Cannes domestic distribution deal was closed last night by Image Entertainment for The Double, the Hyde Park/Imagenation thriller that marked the directing debut of Michael Brandt. Brand wrote the script with Derek Haas, his writing partner on such films as Wanted and 3:10 To Yuma. The film was expected to be auctioned during the Cannes Film Festival, but Wme Global's Graham Taylor and Hyde Park's Ashok Amritraj snuck the picture for domestic distributors Friday night. They went with Image, the recapitalized distributor that is emerging as a player in the revived independent film sector. The deal was over $2 million minimum guarantee and a P&A commitment for an October rollout. Haas produced it with Amritraj, Patrick Aiello and Andrew Deane. Image released the Peter Weir-directed The Way Back and the Hilary Swank-starrer The Resident. The Double stars Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Martin Sheen. A...
- 5/7/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.