News

In today’s film news roundup, Rob Schneider wins a SAG-AFTRA board seat; “Badland,” “Sorry We Missed You” and “Extracurricular” find homes; and “The Shawshank Redemption” gets a re-release.

SAG-aftra

Rob Schneider has won a SAG-aftra national board seat as a member of presidential candidate Matthew Modine’s progressive Membership First slate.

Schneider won a four-year term as representative of the union’s San Francisco branch. He ran on a campaign platform of increased compensation from streaming services and garnered 402 votes, topping incumbent Kathryn Howell and three other candidates.

Schneider is a former cast member on “Saturday Night Live” with movie credits on “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Hot Chick,” “The Benchwarmers,” and “Grown Ups” in addition to the two-season Netflix series “Real Rob.” It’s the first time he has run for a SAG-aftra post.

Results in the closely watched presidential contest will be tabulated on August...

Here’s your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress, as presented by the creators themselves. At the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite.

In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.

The Benefits of Gusbandry

Logline: One woman, One man, a lot of weed, a little crying, and no sexual attraction whatsoever. Love is so gay.

Elevator Pitch:

Inspired by creator Alicia J. Rose’s real-life relationships with her own “gusbands” (a.k.a: gay best friends), “The Benefits of Gusbandry” follows serial relationship-killer Jackie Rosenblum and charming yet single River Manning as they navigate the modern world and find a new kind of significant otherness that unfolds over a seven-episode first season that covers dating, babies, parents and a few pot cookies, earning recognition from Best of Portland (Winner,...

"Would you like to play a game?" Two new clips for Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw, featuring the creators/cast members of the Saw franchise, are below. Also: Shut In screening details, Bound to Vengeance on Blu-ray / DVD info, and a Q&A with Mike Medaglia from Deep Dark.

Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw: "The film that redefined the horror genre, Saw: Unrated, is making audiences shriek all over again. Generations of movie fans have been thrilled and terrified by Saw’s blood-curdling story of a serial killer who traps his victims in a sadistic game of survival. For true horror fans who want a peek behind the scenes of the creation and development of the most successful horror franchise in history, the iTunes digital release of Saw: Unrated and Saw: The Complete Collection now includes a brand-new 3-part, 77-minute retrospective,...

The Portland Film Festival has partnered with the local chapter of Women in Film and the global event #directedbyWomen, the 15-day worldwide film viewing party highlighting female directors and their work from September 1-15. The third annual Portland Film Festival, which runs from September 1-7, showcased some of the films from #directedbywomen, including Heather de Michele's "As Good As You," Dana Nachman's "Batkid Begins," Lauren Shaw's "Angkor's Children" and Gabrielle Demeestere's "Yosemite." Local Portland producer Lara Cuddy has three films in the festival, including opening night film "Birds of Neptune," directed by Steven Richter. Cuddy was represented on the Women in Film panel at the festival, which also included veteran screenwriter Leslie Dixon ("Freaky Friday," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Limitless"), director Megan Griffiths ("Lucky Them," "Eden," "The Off...

New projects from Larry Fessenden, Rkss and John McNaughton among line-up at sixth edition, taking place July 23-26 in Montreal.

Having announced a first wave during Cannes, Frontières International Co-Production Market has unveiled the full line-up for its upcoming sixth edition.

Among the additional projects announced are The Designer from Glass Eye Pix (Larry Fessenden, Peter Phok, Graham Reznick), Todd E. Freeman’s The Beautiful, Enric Folch’s Duel documentary The Devil on Wheels and Huan Vu’s H.P. Lovecraft’s adaptation The Dreamlands.

They join the already announced projects from the likes of John McNaughton (Carny Kill), Turbo Kid film-makers Rkss (Elora) and Srdjan Spasojevic (Whereout).

Frontières will run July 23-26 at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, following its second European edition at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifff) in April.

The expanded project line-up for the upcoming edition will see more projects participating in live pitch sessions.

Established in 2012 at...

It's so rare that a movie comes along with a totally original premise, and when one does, we take big time note here on Dread. Such is the case with Deep Dark, which looks and sounds absolutely wild. Read all about it, and check out the creepy first teaser!

From the Press Release

Vitamin M and Polluted Pictures are proud to premiere the teaser trailer for their feature film production Deep Dark, which features the voice of Denise Poirier (who voiced Æon Flux from the television show of the same name) as the voice of the “The Hole.”

Denise says of the project, which is written and directed by Michael Medaglia, "I've always loved voice work, and working on the Deep Dark was especially challenging but also incredibly fun. I mean - how does one put together a character description for a sinister voice in the wall? With the Deep Dark team at the helm,...

They say a picture speaks a 1,000 words. When it comes to Love Sick starring Francisco Barreiro (Here Comes the Devil) and Tristan Risk (American Mary), that couldn't be more true. Check out the delightfully nasty first promo image!

From the Press Release

Polluted Pictures is proud to share the first promotional image featuring Tristan Risk (American Mary) and Francisco Barreiro (Here Comes the Devil) in their roles as the pained couple in the feature film “Love Sick.”

“Love Sick” is the story of Rebecca and Marcus who “have been together for 10 years and after much deliberation have decided to part ways. After separating and being with others, they quickly realize how hard it is to disconnect from one another. The pain, lies, and betrayal all begin to manifest physically within the both of them as well as infect the others who have become involved with intimately. They love each other so much that it hurts.

FRONTIÈRES International Co-Production Market has announced it’s official selection for it’s return to this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival. Frontieres is the first and only co-production market to connect North America and Europe in an environment focused specifically on genre film production. The initiative began in 2012 with 14 projects selected including works by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson (Resolution), Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator) and Bruce McDonald (Pontypool). This fourth edition will bring together 12 projects hailing from Canada, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, the UK and the United-States.

Frontieres will take place from July 24th to 27th. This group of filmmakers in particular presents a high volume of fresh filmmakers, many of whom will be presenting their debut feature length films. This is rounded off by a handful of internationally known filmmakers.

The official Frontières selection of Frontières @ Fantasia 2014 consists of the following projects:

Dead Noon (Luxembourg)

Director/Writer: Jeff Desom...

Montreal's Fantasia International Film Festival, widely acclaimed as one of the largest and most influential genre film festivals in the world, has just announced the official selections of the fourth edition of its Frontières International Co-Production Market.

Read on for a complete listing of all the titles being pitched at the event!

From the Press Release

Montreal, Thursday May 15, 2014 – Just over a month after its first European edition in Brussels, the Frontières International Co-Production Market has selected the official line-up of Frontières projects for its 4th edition.

For its return to Montreal's Fantasia International Film Festival, from July 24 to 27, 12 Frontières projects have been selected, hailing from Canada, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, the UK and the United-States.

This project selection boasts a higher-than-usual concentration of fresh talents, many of them presenting first feature film projects after many award-winning shorts, or second features following debuts that traveled extensively on the festival circuit.

Fantasia’s co-production markets announces projects for its fourth edition, running July 24-27.

Frontières International Co-Production Market has unveiled the official lineup of its fourth edition.

Returning to Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival following its first European edition in Brussels, Frontières has selected 12 projects hailing from Canada, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, the UK and Us.

Among the projects are new works from established film-makers Gabriel Pelletier, George Mihalka and Simon Rumley, but the selection also includes a strong concentration of new talents presenting their first or second features.

Ahead of this edition, Lindsay Peters has been promoted to market managing director, while Stephanie Trepanier [pictured] will focus on market creative director duties.

Trepanier commented: “It’s a particular pleasure to be able to present a new line-up of film projects just a month after the new Frontières in Brussels took place. It was also a challenge, the load of submissions having more than doubled over the...

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes casting details on The Chair, Camp of the Damned, and Love Sick, trailers for Chimeres and Phantasmagoria, production and distribution news on Australian film, The Pack, and much more:

Exclusive Casting News for The Chair: We’ve been told that Travis Love (Shumpert from The Walking Dead) has been added to the cast of the upcoming horror/thriller, The Chair. Love will play the Commanding Officer in a flashback scene that features Jimmy (Jacob Banser) and Sullivan (Brian Thompson).

Synopsis: “Based off of the Alterna Comics graphic novel of the same name, The Chair follows the story of Richard Sullivan, an innocent man struggling to escape execution on death row. Witnessing the torture and murder of his fellow inmates at the hands of the prison’s sadistic and psychotic Warden,...

by Seth Metoyer, MoreHorror.com

If you aren't a fan of Tristan Risk yet, trust me, you will be. Miss Risk took the genre by storm with her amazing portrayal of Beatress Johnson in American Mary, and now she's landed head over heals as the lead role of Rebecca in the upcoming feature film Love Sick.

You can check out a peek inside the world of Love Sick below the official details.

From The Press Release

Polluted Pictures is proud to announce that Tristan Risk (American Mary) has signed on as the lead role of Rebecca in their feature film production, “Love Sick.”

“Love Sick” is the story of Rebecca and Marcus who “have been together for 10 years and after much deliberation have decided to part ways. After separating and being with others, they quickly realize how hard it is to disconnect from one another. The pain, lies, and betrayal...

Reviewed by Colleen Wanglund, MoreHorror.com

Directed by Todd Freeman

Runtime 4 minutes

Written and directed by Todd Freeman, M is for Marriage (formerly titled Love Sick) is a short film currently in the running for a spot in the upcoming anthology horror film ABCs of Death 2.

Starring Natalie Victoria, Jeffree Newman, and Michael Draper, the film tells the story of a couple attending marriage counselling. The counselor uses a very unusual technique—having his patients visually manifest their pain. The couple is separated for this, but things don't go well for this particular couple.

M is for Marriage is a unique short film that I found to be quite compelling. The acting is well done, especially by Natalie Victoria who expertly conveys the deep hurt and anger she feels toward her husband. It is simply but effectively shot and edited, and the Special Effects are amazing. I think the other...

We recently heard from the fine folks behind the indie thriller Deep Dark, who have provided us with two exclusive stills to share. Check 'em out now! The voices coming from that dark hole in your room demand it!

In the film directed by Michael Medaglia, Sean McGrath (Cell Count) stars as Herman, a failed sculptor who finds his muse in the most unexpected of places, and their relationship leads to some pretty strange and violent stuff. Deep Dark is described as “a modern cocktail of several genres that serves up equal parts psychological horror and romance because, after all, love can be a little scary.”

Deep Dark was also written by Medaglia and is being produced by Lara Cuddy, Todd E. Freeman, Jason Freeman, Thomas Ethan Harris, and David Woods. Look for more on the film soon!

Synopsis:

A failed sculptor finds a strange, talking hole in the wall.

We’re back with the latest edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details for Zombie Squash with George Romero, the announcement of a Reaper cast reunion special, release details for Bad Kids Go to Hell, and much more:

Zombie Squash Release Details: “Acw Games released their new game Zombie Squash (Free) today at Amazon as well as on GooglePlay this weekend. The free game stars George A. Romero, the godfather of all zombies and the iconic director of ‘Night of the Living Dead’ who provides the voice of Dr. B.E. Vil. The free game is compatible with over 2,400 Android devices. An HD version for the iPad was recently released on iTunes. The iPhone version is expected to be available on iTunes May 1st, 2013.

Zombie Squash is a world where plants and vegetables like turban squash and...