The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced a major new musical commission. Based on the spell-binding novel by Anne Rice, Cry to Heaven is a dramatic new musical with music and lyrics by three-time Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Matthew Wilder and a book by Roy Freirich and Debrah Neal. The show will be developed through The 5th Avenue's New Works Program focusing on early stage cultivation of new musicals, one of seven musicals in various stages of development.
- 3/20/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Writer-director Aaron Wilson heads to the Us next week to host Q&A screenings of his debut feature Canopy in New York, Los Angeles and several other cities. North American distributor Monterey Media has booked the Singapore-shot WW2 drama in more than 10 cities. Wilson will attend the August 29 premiere at the Lincoln Centre in New York and screenings at Laemmle.s Music Hall in Beverly Hills on September 10 and 12, with other dates to be confirmed.
Monterey has also booked cinemas in St Louis Missouri, Wilmington Delaware, Lake Park Florida, Amherst New York,. Seattle and Vancouver in. September, with other cities to follow. .Monterey is giving the film an opportunity to grow and reach a wide audience,. Wilson told If. .They are being very supportive.. Co-produced by Katrina Fleming.s Finer Films and Singapore.s Chuan Pictures, the film is set during the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1942. The plot follows...
Monterey has also booked cinemas in St Louis Missouri, Wilmington Delaware, Lake Park Florida, Amherst New York,. Seattle and Vancouver in. September, with other cities to follow. .Monterey is giving the film an opportunity to grow and reach a wide audience,. Wilson told If. .They are being very supportive.. Co-produced by Katrina Fleming.s Finer Films and Singapore.s Chuan Pictures, the film is set during the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1942. The plot follows...
- 8/19/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Writer-director Aaron Wilson is taking the fast track to the Us after his debut feature Canopy played at numerous international festivals and sold to major markets.
Wilson will direct Mercy Road, a character-driven action thriller inspired by real events, which will shoot in the Us and Malaysia next year.
Scripted by Roy Freirich, the plot follows a small town sheriff who loses his daughter to cancer, then discovers she was given counterfeit medication, according to Deadline.com.
Freirich, who wrote Australian director Rowan Woods. 2008 Los Angeles-set drama Winged Creatures, will produce with Cheyenne Enterprises. Arnold Rivkin and Jay Judah. The co-producer is Leon Tan.s Malaysian-based DragonSlate Media. The project was among those pitched to the director via his Us reps Paradigm after Canopy premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.
Produced by Finer Films. Katrina Fleming, Canopy is an almost dialogue-free thriller set during the Japanese invasion...
Wilson will direct Mercy Road, a character-driven action thriller inspired by real events, which will shoot in the Us and Malaysia next year.
Scripted by Roy Freirich, the plot follows a small town sheriff who loses his daughter to cancer, then discovers she was given counterfeit medication, according to Deadline.com.
Freirich, who wrote Australian director Rowan Woods. 2008 Los Angeles-set drama Winged Creatures, will produce with Cheyenne Enterprises. Arnold Rivkin and Jay Judah. The co-producer is Leon Tan.s Malaysian-based DragonSlate Media. The project was among those pitched to the director via his Us reps Paradigm after Canopy premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.
Produced by Finer Films. Katrina Fleming, Canopy is an almost dialogue-free thriller set during the Japanese invasion...
- 7/20/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Horns
The first poster is out for Alexandre Aja's upcoming thriller "Horns" which opens at Halloween. Daniel Radcliffe plays a young man who is the prime suspect in the violent rape and murder of his girlfriend, though he's innocent.
Soon, horns starting to grow from his own head - horns with the ability to make people confess their darkest sins and unspeakable impulses. He uses them on his quest to find the killer and learn the truth.
Brownie Wise
Oscar winner Sandra Bullock will star in Tate Taylor's new film "Brownie Wise" for Sony Pictures. Bullock will play the home marketing pioneer and businesswoman who created the Tupperware home party strategy.
Taylor will write, produce and direct the film based on Bob Kealing’s non-fiction book "Tupperware Unsealed". David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Tom Shelly will also produce. [Source: Screen]
The Devil In The Kitchen
Ridley Scott, Giannina Facio and...
The first poster is out for Alexandre Aja's upcoming thriller "Horns" which opens at Halloween. Daniel Radcliffe plays a young man who is the prime suspect in the violent rape and murder of his girlfriend, though he's innocent.
Soon, horns starting to grow from his own head - horns with the ability to make people confess their darkest sins and unspeakable impulses. He uses them on his quest to find the killer and learn the truth.
Brownie Wise
Oscar winner Sandra Bullock will star in Tate Taylor's new film "Brownie Wise" for Sony Pictures. Bullock will play the home marketing pioneer and businesswoman who created the Tupperware home party strategy.
Taylor will write, produce and direct the film based on Bob Kealing’s non-fiction book "Tupperware Unsealed". David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Tom Shelly will also produce. [Source: Screen]
The Devil In The Kitchen
Ridley Scott, Giannina Facio and...
- 7/19/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Australian filmmaker Aaron Wilson has been set to direct Mercy Road, the Cheyenne Enterprises production that will be co-financed by DragonSlate Media. Headed by Leon Tan and based in Malaysia, DragonSlate Media will also co-produce in its first Hollywood venture. The film will shoot in the U.S. and Malaysia next year. Tan’s Kuala Lumpur-based Tripod Entertainment is expected to provide production, VFX and post services to Mercy Road. Written by Roy Freirich, Mercy Road is a character-driven action thriller inspired by real events. A small town sheriff loses his daughter to cancer, then discovers she was given counterfeit medication. Freirich […]...
- 7/18/2014
- Deadline
Producer Arnold Rifkin (“Live Free or Die Hard”) and his Cheyenne Enterprises have optioned Roy Freirich’s script “Mercy Road,” an action drama set in the world of counterfeit life-saving medication. Jay Judah brought the script to Cheyenne and will co-produce the feature via his Coin Toss Creative banner along with Freirich. See photos: 2014 Movie Preview: 60 Upcoming Winter & Spring Films – From ‘Paranormal’ Sequel to ‘Transcendence’ Freirich’s last produced script “Winged Creatures” (aka “Fragments”) starred Kate Beckinsale and Forest Whitaker and was released in 2009 by Sony Pictures Worldwide. Rifkin has produced several Bruce Willis movies including “Hostage,” “16 Blocks” and “The Whole Ten.
- 1/13/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Fragments, while it does have fleeting glimmers of hope, is a film that never realizes its full potential. The marketing for the film suggests that it bears some similarity to Paul Haggis’ Academy Award winning film Crash. The similarities are merely superficial. An ensemble cast united by a tragic event is about as close as the two films get. Fragments, while making a few inlays into the festival circuit, never found theatrical release and is only available on DVD. The film is also listed under two titles: Winged Creatures (which is the name of the Roy Freirich novel on which the film is based) and Fragments.
I’d keep this one off your queue
Fragments tells the story of various characters who find themselves in a small town diner as a tragic and random event transpires. A lone gunman, for no specified reason, murders patrons before turning the gun on himself.
I’d keep this one off your queue
Fragments tells the story of various characters who find themselves in a small town diner as a tragic and random event transpires. A lone gunman, for no specified reason, murders patrons before turning the gun on himself.
- 8/3/2009
- by NickO
- Atomic Popcorn
Peace Arch Entertainment will release Rowan Woods' "Fragments," starring Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning and Guy Pearce, theatrically in New York on Friday and in L.A. on Aug. 7. The DVD will be released on Tuesday.
The film is directed by Rowan Woods and written by Roy Freirich based on his own novel, "Winged Creatures."...
The film is directed by Rowan Woods and written by Roy Freirich based on his own novel, "Winged Creatures."...
- 7/30/2009
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This week plays host to a release slate so big that when it's finished doing the rounds in theaters we expect it to climb out of the sea and attack Japan.
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"Act of God"
Following "Manufactured Landscapes," her compelling 2006 portrait of photographer Edward Burtynsky and the paradoxical beauty of his images of industry, Canadian documentary filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal turns her attention to one of nature's most dynamic phenomenon. Collecting a multitude of testimony from lightning strike survivors and witnesses, Baichwal explores a host of ideas and explanations for this awe-inspiring experience, from the miraculously divine to the maddeningly random.
Opens in Chicago.
"Adam"
With an actual medical condition taking the place of the now-nearly-obligatory dose of quirk, writer/director Max Mayer's gentle story of boy meets girl -- his first film since 1998's...
Download this in audio form (MP3: 14:50 minutes, 13.6 Mb) Subscribe to the In Theaters podcast: [Xml] [iTunes]
"Act of God"
Following "Manufactured Landscapes," her compelling 2006 portrait of photographer Edward Burtynsky and the paradoxical beauty of his images of industry, Canadian documentary filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal turns her attention to one of nature's most dynamic phenomenon. Collecting a multitude of testimony from lightning strike survivors and witnesses, Baichwal explores a host of ideas and explanations for this awe-inspiring experience, from the miraculously divine to the maddeningly random.
Opens in Chicago.
"Adam"
With an actual medical condition taking the place of the now-nearly-obligatory dose of quirk, writer/director Max Mayer's gentle story of boy meets girl -- his first film since 1998's...
- 7/28/2009
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
‘Winged Creatures’ is a new ensemble drama from Aussie director Rowan Woods (Little Fish, The Boys) based on the novel by Roy Freirich. The story follows a group of strangers that are connected to one another through a tragic shooting inside a diner in Los Angeles. Each of them are deeply effected by the experience and the film explores the varied reactions of the different characters.
Let’s talk Dakota Fanning for a moment. Now, I know this is going to sound harsh, speaking of a “child” actress, but I’m simply not impressed with her work. Believe me, I wish her the best and hope she improves with age… like wine or cheese, but Anna Paquin and Natalie Portman were both far more talented as child actors and they remained talented as adults. With that said, ‘Winged Creatures’ still looks fascinating due to the promising performances from veteran actors surrounding her in the film.
Let’s talk Dakota Fanning for a moment. Now, I know this is going to sound harsh, speaking of a “child” actress, but I’m simply not impressed with her work. Believe me, I wish her the best and hope she improves with age… like wine or cheese, but Anna Paquin and Natalie Portman were both far more talented as child actors and they remained talented as adults. With that said, ‘Winged Creatures’ still looks fascinating due to the promising performances from veteran actors surrounding her in the film.
- 7/13/2009
- by Travis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I can't quite tell if Winged Creatures is going to be a coincidence style film in the way Crash was or just a story centered on one singular tragic moment that focuses on the aftermath of said event throughout. The just released trailer for the feature shows serious promise it touts a huge ensemble cast including Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Forest Whitaker, Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Hudson, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Embeth Davidtz. Rowan Woods directed the film, but his cred is limited to some "Farscape" episodes and this is screenwriter Roy Freirich's first time out. All of this tells me this is a trailer with an idea, but on a script level there must be some reason it didn't end up at one of the larger indie houses. The film centers on the witnesses to a brutal murder suicide in a fast food restaurant as...
- 8/4/2008
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
By Stephen Saito
It's hard to say whether it's been the stifling heat or former Warner Independent chief Mark Gill's much-talked about "the sky really is falling" speech (published in full at indieWire here) that gave attendees of this year's Los Angeles Film Festival a sense of their own mortality. Then again, it could just be the way in which the effects of life-altering events have been examined in several of the festival's films, particularly in the narrative section.
When Gill, now heading up the indie shingle The Film Department, spoke at the adjoining film financing conference on the first Saturday of the festival, he decried the indie film marketplace as standing on the brink of oblivion, saying, "if you decide to make a movie budgeted under $10 million on your own tomorrow, you have a 99.9% chance of failure." On that basis, it's possible that "Winged Creatures," an ensemble drama...
It's hard to say whether it's been the stifling heat or former Warner Independent chief Mark Gill's much-talked about "the sky really is falling" speech (published in full at indieWire here) that gave attendees of this year's Los Angeles Film Festival a sense of their own mortality. Then again, it could just be the way in which the effects of life-altering events have been examined in several of the festival's films, particularly in the narrative section.
When Gill, now heading up the indie shingle The Film Department, spoke at the adjoining film financing conference on the first Saturday of the festival, he decried the indie film marketplace as standing on the brink of oblivion, saying, "if you decide to make a movie budgeted under $10 million on your own tomorrow, you have a 99.9% chance of failure." On that basis, it's possible that "Winged Creatures," an ensemble drama...
- 6/30/2008
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Los Angeles Film Festival
Rowan Woods' "Winged Creatures" is earnest as all get-out, but the underlying artistic purpose of the dirge-like melodrama is terribly muddled. A nut job shoots up a Los Angeles-area coffee shop, killing himself once he feels he has accomplished his purpose, and the survivors are left to cope with their feelings of fear, bereavement and guilt. It's not a new theme, nor does writer Roy Freirich bring anything new to the table. The 94-minute film has the look and feel of a television drama but without the heat and intelligence the best TV movies possess.
Lots of luck to Sony in trying to figure out how to market a film that has no easily identifiable audience. Sony Worldwide Releasing has domestic rights to the film, though the company has not yet determined which of its units will release the film, nor when it will be released. The best thing to do with the film, which was a surprise premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival, is to let it ride the festival circuit, then get it quickly into home entertainment, where an unusually high quotient of name actors will attract viewers.
As with all ensemble pieces, the film jumps episodically among the various story lines. However, few of these subplots by themselves make much sense. That shellshocked characters act irrationally is understandable. But the story lines shouldn't lack rationality. Plus, many characters seem to have what insurance companies like to call pre-existing conditions.
Forest Whitaker's character, apparently recovered from a gambling addiction, reverts to form following his near brush with death. Oh, by the way, the filmmakers give him cancer, too, which presumably underscores his turn into self-destructiveness.
Guy Pearce's doctor, who left the cafe moments before the slaughter, starts slipping his unsuspecting wife increasingly dangerous drugs to counter her chronic headaches. Dakota Fanning's little girl turns into a born-again Christian, who extols the bravery of her dad, who died at the scene.
Kate Beckinsale's single-mom waitress suddenly hungers after male companionship, eyeing virtually every man she sees, including the married doctor. Meanwhile, she obsesses about the fact her cell phone failed her during the rampage.
None of these subplots really adds up to much. Nor do the continual flashbacks to the crime scene -- as characters fixate on and recall the event -- shed any revelatory light on the incident or the characters' reactions.
The characters remain remote, out of touch, not only from family and friends but from viewers. You never see why the killings provoke these particular oddball quirks. The problem is that the film has little if any backstory for its people: You can't imagine what any of these people were like before the tragic incident.
The movie thoroughly wastes those playing family members and friends, including Jennifer Hudson, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Embeth Davidtz. Tech credits are satisfactory, though unexceptional, because visual artistry is certainly not Woods' strong suit.
Production: Artina Production in association with Peace Arch Entertainment and RGM Entertainment. Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Forest Whitaker, Embeth Davidtz, Troy Garity, Jackie Earle Haley, Jennifer Hudson, Josh Hutcherson, Jeanne Tripplehorn. Director: Rowan Woods. Screenwriter: Roy Freirich. Producers: John J. Kelly, Robert Salerno. Executive Producers: Naomi Despres, Devesh Chetty, Robyn Gardiner, John Flock, Lewin Webb, Gilbert Alloul. Director of Photography: Eric Alan Edwards. Production designer: Max Biscoe. Music: Marcelo Zarvos. Costume Designer: Mary Claire Hannan. Editor: Meg Reticker. Rated R, 94 minutes.
Rowan Woods' "Winged Creatures" is earnest as all get-out, but the underlying artistic purpose of the dirge-like melodrama is terribly muddled. A nut job shoots up a Los Angeles-area coffee shop, killing himself once he feels he has accomplished his purpose, and the survivors are left to cope with their feelings of fear, bereavement and guilt. It's not a new theme, nor does writer Roy Freirich bring anything new to the table. The 94-minute film has the look and feel of a television drama but without the heat and intelligence the best TV movies possess.
Lots of luck to Sony in trying to figure out how to market a film that has no easily identifiable audience. Sony Worldwide Releasing has domestic rights to the film, though the company has not yet determined which of its units will release the film, nor when it will be released. The best thing to do with the film, which was a surprise premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival, is to let it ride the festival circuit, then get it quickly into home entertainment, where an unusually high quotient of name actors will attract viewers.
As with all ensemble pieces, the film jumps episodically among the various story lines. However, few of these subplots by themselves make much sense. That shellshocked characters act irrationally is understandable. But the story lines shouldn't lack rationality. Plus, many characters seem to have what insurance companies like to call pre-existing conditions.
Forest Whitaker's character, apparently recovered from a gambling addiction, reverts to form following his near brush with death. Oh, by the way, the filmmakers give him cancer, too, which presumably underscores his turn into self-destructiveness.
Guy Pearce's doctor, who left the cafe moments before the slaughter, starts slipping his unsuspecting wife increasingly dangerous drugs to counter her chronic headaches. Dakota Fanning's little girl turns into a born-again Christian, who extols the bravery of her dad, who died at the scene.
Kate Beckinsale's single-mom waitress suddenly hungers after male companionship, eyeing virtually every man she sees, including the married doctor. Meanwhile, she obsesses about the fact her cell phone failed her during the rampage.
None of these subplots really adds up to much. Nor do the continual flashbacks to the crime scene -- as characters fixate on and recall the event -- shed any revelatory light on the incident or the characters' reactions.
The characters remain remote, out of touch, not only from family and friends but from viewers. You never see why the killings provoke these particular oddball quirks. The problem is that the film has little if any backstory for its people: You can't imagine what any of these people were like before the tragic incident.
The movie thoroughly wastes those playing family members and friends, including Jennifer Hudson, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Embeth Davidtz. Tech credits are satisfactory, though unexceptional, because visual artistry is certainly not Woods' strong suit.
Production: Artina Production in association with Peace Arch Entertainment and RGM Entertainment. Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Forest Whitaker, Embeth Davidtz, Troy Garity, Jackie Earle Haley, Jennifer Hudson, Josh Hutcherson, Jeanne Tripplehorn. Director: Rowan Woods. Screenwriter: Roy Freirich. Producers: John J. Kelly, Robert Salerno. Executive Producers: Naomi Despres, Devesh Chetty, Robyn Gardiner, John Flock, Lewin Webb, Gilbert Alloul. Director of Photography: Eric Alan Edwards. Production designer: Max Biscoe. Music: Marcelo Zarvos. Costume Designer: Mary Claire Hannan. Editor: Meg Reticker. Rated R, 94 minutes.
- 6/26/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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