A decade ago, director James Ward Byrkit brought us a surreal, Twilight Zone-ish sci-fi thriller called Coherence (watch it Here), which JoBlo’s own Eric Walkuski gave an 8/10 review you can read at This Link. Now Deadline has revealed that Byrkit and It’s What’s Inside producer Kate Andrews are teaming up to develop a follow-up of some sort to Coherence! As Deadline notes, “Plot details are being kept under lock and key — including whether the new film will be a prequel, sequel, or a different story entirely.”
Byrkit crafted the story for the first film with Alex Manugian, coming up with the following set-up: Eight friends at a dinner party experience a troubling chain of events due to the malevolent influence of a passing comet.
Coherence starred Emily Foxler, who now goes by Emily Baldoni (Five Feet Apart), Maury Sterling (Smokin’ Aces), Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Seeking a Friend for the End of the World...
Byrkit crafted the story for the first film with Alex Manugian, coming up with the following set-up: Eight friends at a dinner party experience a troubling chain of events due to the malevolent influence of a passing comet.
Coherence starred Emily Foxler, who now goes by Emily Baldoni (Five Feet Apart), Maury Sterling (Smokin’ Aces), Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Seeking a Friend for the End of the World...
- 5/31/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
"Coherence" is one of the best sci-fi thrillers there is -- the type of movie that breaks your brain in the best possible way. It's a mind-bending movie that tells a grand scale story in a small scale setting, but without the need for diagrams to explain its plot à la "Primer." In this regard, it's the more accessible version of that cult classic.
In a nutshell, "Coherence" is the kind of low-budget indie genre movie that tells a simple story and leaves an impact, with its filmmakers going on to make bigger-budget movies. It is not, however, the kind of film that seems designed to spawn a franchise. Yet, somehow, more than a decade after its release, it appears director James Ward Byrkit is developing a sequel — and he's recruited producer Kate Andrews from the spectacularly twisted "It's What's Inside" to join the project.
According to Deadline, Byrkit has...
In a nutshell, "Coherence" is the kind of low-budget indie genre movie that tells a simple story and leaves an impact, with its filmmakers going on to make bigger-budget movies. It is not, however, the kind of film that seems designed to spawn a franchise. Yet, somehow, more than a decade after its release, it appears director James Ward Byrkit is developing a sequel — and he's recruited producer Kate Andrews from the spectacularly twisted "It's What's Inside" to join the project.
According to Deadline, Byrkit has...
- 5/28/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Director James Ward Byrkit and producer Kate Andrews (It’s What’s Inside) are developing a feature follow-up to Coherence, the sci-fi thriller co-written, directed and executive produced by Byrkit, which has garnered a cult following since its release to critical acclaim in 2013.
Plot details are being kept under lock and key — including whether the new film will be a prequel, sequel, or a different story entirely. Byrkit will be at the helm as director and will also pen the script with his co-story writing partner Alex Manugian from the original film. Andrews will produce under her Boldly Go Productions following the sale of her first film It’s What’s Inside to Netflix for a festival high $17 million at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, on which we were first to report.
Stephen Belden will exec produce the new film under his Death Wish Entertainment banner.
Starring Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon and more,...
Plot details are being kept under lock and key — including whether the new film will be a prequel, sequel, or a different story entirely. Byrkit will be at the helm as director and will also pen the script with his co-story writing partner Alex Manugian from the original film. Andrews will produce under her Boldly Go Productions following the sale of her first film It’s What’s Inside to Netflix for a festival high $17 million at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, on which we were first to report.
Stephen Belden will exec produce the new film under his Death Wish Entertainment banner.
Starring Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon and more,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: After six years as a manager at More/Medavoy, Stephen Belden is going it alone, having launched his own management and production company, Death Wish Entertainment.
“The dream,” Belden said, “has always been to work with a core group of clients that I absolutely adore as artists and as human beings and to be able to produce projects with and for those clients. With this company I get to focus on exactly that and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Belden explained that the name Death Wish is “a tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that it’s harder than ever to be working in the entertainment industry right now,” underscoring at the same time that he “couldn’t be more optimistic about what the future holds for the up and coming generation of actors, writers, directors, and producers that I work with.”
Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to those at his former company.
“The dream,” Belden said, “has always been to work with a core group of clients that I absolutely adore as artists and as human beings and to be able to produce projects with and for those clients. With this company I get to focus on exactly that and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Belden explained that the name Death Wish is “a tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that it’s harder than ever to be working in the entertainment industry right now,” underscoring at the same time that he “couldn’t be more optimistic about what the future holds for the up and coming generation of actors, writers, directors, and producers that I work with.”
Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to those at his former company.
- 4/10/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
If 2024 is the year American voters will experience a sense of déjà vu at the ballot box, it’s also likely to go down as the year that fans of indie genre cinema will feel it at the box office. From Sundance to SXSW, a surprising number of films have had fun with the concept of time, whether in terms of history literally repeating itself or presenting new angles on the same set of events.
Exec-produced by filmmaker duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, and written-directed by their longtime editor Michael Felker, Things Will Be Different — as its title suggests — has an even more rarefied take, using time as a hiding place, a surreal and ingenious conceit that adds a creepy air of mystery to its otherwise solidly sci-fi scenario.
Exec-produced by filmmaker duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, and written-directed by their longtime editor Michael Felker, Things Will Be Different — as its title suggests — has an even more rarefied take, using time as a hiding place, a surreal and ingenious conceit that adds a creepy air of mystery to its otherwise solidly sci-fi scenario.
- 4/8/2024
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s a familiar arc in movies: The person who doesn’t want the job is the best candidate for it. And so it was with Dan Lin, the producer and founder of Rideback, who this week starts his tenure as Netflix’s film head.
Lin was not looking for a new job, but then came an incoming call in early February from Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria. According to two people familiar with the meeting that followed, Lin was blunt in his assessment of Netflix’s output: The movies were not great and the financials didn’t add up. Bajaria appreciated the honesty and, shortly after, she asked Lin if he would be open to leaving Rideback, the company the producer had spent the better part of two decades building.
Lin had been down this path before, being courted for a top studio post at a division...
Lin was not looking for a new job, but then came an incoming call in early February from Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria. According to two people familiar with the meeting that followed, Lin was blunt in his assessment of Netflix’s output: The movies were not great and the financials didn’t add up. Bajaria appreciated the honesty and, shortly after, she asked Lin if he would be open to leaving Rideback, the company the producer had spent the better part of two decades building.
Lin had been down this path before, being courted for a top studio post at a division...
- 4/1/2024
- by Mia Galuppo and Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We love horror here at /Film, which gives us an excuse to highlight some of the best horror movies of 2024. The year is still young — it's not quite April yet — but there are already a slew of creepy, spooky, and scary titles to pick through and celebrate. We can only hope and assume this list will grow considerably as 2024 continues on, but for now, let's look back at what's already arrived and highlight some titles that might've completely slipped through the cracks for some of you. We've avoided spoilers to keep these films fresh for you. You're welcome. And now, here are the best horror movies of 2024 so far.
Read more: The 50 Scariest Horror Movie Monsters Ranked
Blackout
Larry Fessenden, indie horror auteur, is back — with a werewolf movie. But "Blackout" isn't your typical lycanthrope flick. This is more like a quirky indie character drama that also happens to be about a werewolf.
Read more: The 50 Scariest Horror Movie Monsters Ranked
Blackout
Larry Fessenden, indie horror auteur, is back — with a werewolf movie. But "Blackout" isn't your typical lycanthrope flick. This is more like a quirky indie character drama that also happens to be about a werewolf.
- 3/25/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Level 33 Entertainment has taken domestic on H.P. Mendoza’s The Secret Art of Human Flight, which made its world premiere at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival. A July theatrical release has been set followed by a debut on digital platforms.
Pic written by Jesse Orenshein centers around a children’s book author, Ben Grady (Grant Rosenmeyer), who mourning the loss of his wife stumbles upon a self-help manifesto written by an eccentric guru calling himself “Mealworm” that promises to unlock the power to fly. The book arrives… and so does Mealworm, forcing Ben to navigate his family life, accusations of foul play, and the bizarre rituals laid before him in the hopes of healing and, just maybe, achieving flight. Pic also stars Lucy DeVito (Little Demon), Nican Robinson (Ahsoka), Rosa Arredondo (So Help Me Todd...
Pic written by Jesse Orenshein centers around a children’s book author, Ben Grady (Grant Rosenmeyer), who mourning the loss of his wife stumbles upon a self-help manifesto written by an eccentric guru calling himself “Mealworm” that promises to unlock the power to fly. The book arrives… and so does Mealworm, forcing Ben to navigate his family life, accusations of foul play, and the bizarre rituals laid before him in the hopes of healing and, just maybe, achieving flight. Pic also stars Lucy DeVito (Little Demon), Nican Robinson (Ahsoka), Rosa Arredondo (So Help Me Todd...
- 3/19/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
By Abe Friedtanzer
Games like Mafia or One Night Ultimate Werewolf are fun because they give people the chance to take on roles and to use critical thinking skills to deduce who’s lying and who’s telling the truth. But they also have the potential to create very awkward moments by bringing out real emotions betrayed under the guise of playing a part, and to create divisions in friendships based on harsh truths accidentally revealed. Sundance hit It’s What’s Inside, which was acquired by Netflix ahead of its SXSW premiere, dials that up a few levels in the best possible way…...
Games like Mafia or One Night Ultimate Werewolf are fun because they give people the chance to take on roles and to use critical thinking skills to deduce who’s lying and who’s telling the truth. But they also have the potential to create very awkward moments by bringing out real emotions betrayed under the guise of playing a part, and to create divisions in friendships based on harsh truths accidentally revealed. Sundance hit It’s What’s Inside, which was acquired by Netflix ahead of its SXSW premiere, dials that up a few levels in the best possible way…...
- 3/17/2024
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- FilmExperience
Berlin’s European Film Market was the first big test of the post-strike indie film market. Executives were cautiously optimistic ahead of the EFM, reporting a “flood” of big, star-stocked projects that came together just ahead of the market, including A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (Margot Robbie’s first film post-Barbie), The Materialists (Celine Song’s first film post-Past Lives, which has Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal circling) and action packages featuring box office draws Will Smith, Dave Bautista, Channing Tatum and Bob Odenkirk.
Coming out of Berlin, the mood has shifted from “cautiously” to just plain optimistic.
“It was good, really good,” says Palisades Park CEO Tamara Birkemoe, noting several international sales for The Magic Faraway Tree, an adaptation of the beloved Enid Blyton children’s book by British director Ben Gregor, which Wonka writer Simon Farnaby is adapting for the screen. “I felt people...
Coming out of Berlin, the mood has shifted from “cautiously” to just plain optimistic.
“It was good, really good,” says Palisades Park CEO Tamara Birkemoe, noting several international sales for The Magic Faraway Tree, an adaptation of the beloved Enid Blyton children’s book by British director Ben Gregor, which Wonka writer Simon Farnaby is adapting for the screen. “I felt people...
- 2/26/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Actress Alycia Debnam-Carey (“Fear The Walking Dead”) poses for the February 2024 issue of “Vogue”(Italia) magazine, photographed by Michel Comte:
Debnam-Carey made her film debut in the Australian short “Martha's New Coat” (2003) and her feature debut in the American disaster film “Into the Storm” (2014).
From 2014 to 2016, she portrayed ‘Lexa’ on the dystopian science fiction series “The 100”.
She co-starred as ‘Alicia Clark’ in the horror drama series “Fear the Walking Dead” (2015–2023), and made her directorial debut with the seventh season episode "Ofelia".
In 2023, Debnam-Carey co-starred as ‘Alice Hart’ in the Australian drama Amazon miniseries “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart”.
Debnam-Carey starred as ‘Emily’ in the eight-part Hulu series “Saint X”, a psychological drama told through multiple timelines.
In 2024, Debnam-Carey appeared in the independent sci-thriller “It's What's Inside”, written and directed by Greg Jardin.
She will soon co-star in the limited drama series “Apple Cider Vinegar, created by Samantha Strauss for Netflix…...
Debnam-Carey made her film debut in the Australian short “Martha's New Coat” (2003) and her feature debut in the American disaster film “Into the Storm” (2014).
From 2014 to 2016, she portrayed ‘Lexa’ on the dystopian science fiction series “The 100”.
She co-starred as ‘Alicia Clark’ in the horror drama series “Fear the Walking Dead” (2015–2023), and made her directorial debut with the seventh season episode "Ofelia".
In 2023, Debnam-Carey co-starred as ‘Alice Hart’ in the Australian drama Amazon miniseries “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart”.
Debnam-Carey starred as ‘Emily’ in the eight-part Hulu series “Saint X”, a psychological drama told through multiple timelines.
In 2024, Debnam-Carey appeared in the independent sci-thriller “It's What's Inside”, written and directed by Greg Jardin.
She will soon co-star in the limited drama series “Apple Cider Vinegar, created by Samantha Strauss for Netflix…...
- 2/19/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
One month ago, heading into the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the most anticipated title for buyers was not necessarily the action-adventure anthology with Pedro Pascal (Freaky Tales) or the Kristen Stewart-fronted post-apocalyptic love story (Love Me). It was Dídi, a coming-of-age film about a 13-year-old in the Bay Area from a first-time feature director with no notable U.S. stars. It quickly landed a deal with Focus Features, while films with shinier stars and higher concepts are still in negotiations for deals.
The U.S. has long been known as the great arbiter of “bigger is better.” But being risk-averse, given current economic conditions and industry trends back home (Disney, Paramount Global, Amazon MGM, and others are currently undergoing layoffs), may, says one U.S. buyer, “no longer mean getting a massive star or big director — it means costing less.” Yet, internationally, the mandate seems to be business as usual,...
The U.S. has long been known as the great arbiter of “bigger is better.” But being risk-averse, given current economic conditions and industry trends back home (Disney, Paramount Global, Amazon MGM, and others are currently undergoing layoffs), may, says one U.S. buyer, “no longer mean getting a massive star or big director — it means costing less.” Yet, internationally, the mandate seems to be business as usual,...
- 2/18/2024
- by Scott Roxborough and Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's only February and two of the best horror films of 2024 have already premiered. The first is the Sundance Midnight horror hit It's What's Inside (my review) which many other critics listed as one of the best films from the Sundance Film Festival. The second is the German horror film Cuckoo, which just premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival. This one honestly should've been playing in the usually impressive Sundance Midnight line-up as well, but as a German production from a German filmmaker, it's obvious why the film ended up premiering at Berlinale instead. Cuckoo is another super fresh, wholly original, entirely engaging, suspenseful, highly entertaining, decidedly campy horror creation that is likely to go on to become an iconic film in the horror genre. The confident filmmaking choices, the villain(s), the lead character, the mountain resort setting, all of it is so unique & exciting in this excellent genre creation from filmmaker Tilman Singer.
- 2/17/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The European Film Market is off to a strong start, buoyed by post-strike optimism and a truly impressive lineup of projects on offer in Berlin this year, including available indie movies with the A-list draws of stars such as Margot Robbie, Dave Bautista, Scarlett Johansson, and Will Smith. Coming off a solid Sundance and improving box office figures, both in the U.S. and Europe, hope appears to be slowly returning to an indie film industry that seemed near the brink just six months ago.
But many EFM sellers still see a cloud over the horizon with the unresolved issue of the home entertainment market, particularly the all-important pay-one window. Ancillary revenues have always been the true driver of the indie market, but as streaming comes to dominate post-theatrical exploitation and the biggest platforms are pulling back on how much independent fare they buy, many are questioning how indie movies can make the numbers work.
But many EFM sellers still see a cloud over the horizon with the unresolved issue of the home entertainment market, particularly the all-important pay-one window. Ancillary revenues have always been the true driver of the indie market, but as streaming comes to dominate post-theatrical exploitation and the biggest platforms are pulling back on how much independent fare they buy, many are questioning how indie movies can make the numbers work.
- 2/17/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Over 60 films came into this year’s Sundance Film Festival looking for buyers, but many of the key players on the indie film market already had movies premiering in the festival, with many of those among the most commercial and star-studded movies making their debuts.
Last year’s market was slow, especially for documentaries, but this year’s festival market was nothing but robust in 2024. We’re tracking everything that already has a home and will update this space throughout the month with every sale that comes in.
“Good One”
Section: U.S. Dramatic
Director: India Donaldson
Buyer: Metrograph Pictures
Cast: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy
Release Plans: Theatrical in Summer 2024
Buzz: India Donaldson’s “Good One” will be the first title acquired by Metrograph Pictures, as the company known for its film restorations and SVOD platform is now getting into theatrical distribution. And they picked a good one too.
Last year’s market was slow, especially for documentaries, but this year’s festival market was nothing but robust in 2024. We’re tracking everything that already has a home and will update this space throughout the month with every sale that comes in.
“Good One”
Section: U.S. Dramatic
Director: India Donaldson
Buyer: Metrograph Pictures
Cast: Lily Collias, James Le Gros, Danny McCarthy
Release Plans: Theatrical in Summer 2024
Buzz: India Donaldson’s “Good One” will be the first title acquired by Metrograph Pictures, as the company known for its film restorations and SVOD platform is now getting into theatrical distribution. And they picked a good one too.
- 2/13/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The friends we make in high school and college often aren’t the friends we keep. Good reasons abound as to why friendships don’t carry over 10, 20, or 30 years, but the key one, the “why” or “whys” friendships form tends to fade with time. Remaining fixated on college and college friendships can, as writer-director Greg Jardin points out in his feature-length debut, It’s What’s Inside, can lead to deleterious and in some cases, horrifically inescapable consequences. Sometimes it’s not the friends we made along the way, but the friends we smartly left behind that matter most to our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. A horror-comedy wrapped around an ultra-clever science-fiction-based mystery, It’s What's Inside initially centers...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 2/5/2024
- Screen Anarchy
As quickly as it came, Sundance 2024 is in the books, with it another excellent showcase of the hottest titles in independent cinema. This marked my fifteenth year attending the festival in Park City, Utah, and I ended up reviewing twenty-one movies as part of my coverage. Here are a few takeaways from the festival:
Horror is king at Sundance
The midnight section at Sundance has always been extensive, but in the last few years, thanks to the box office success of breakout acquisitions like Hereditary, The Babadook, and last year’s Talk to Me, it’s become the premiere section for big deals. A24 showed up with one of the most buzzed-about titles of the festival, I Saw the TV Glow (which I disliked – but I was in the minority), while Netflix spent $17 million on It’s What’s Inside, which could be a big horror breakout for them. The section is...
Horror is king at Sundance
The midnight section at Sundance has always been extensive, but in the last few years, thanks to the box office success of breakout acquisitions like Hereditary, The Babadook, and last year’s Talk to Me, it’s become the premiere section for big deals. A24 showed up with one of the most buzzed-about titles of the festival, I Saw the TV Glow (which I disliked – but I was in the minority), while Netflix spent $17 million on It’s What’s Inside, which could be a big horror breakout for them. The section is...
- 2/2/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
“Will & Harper,” a heartfelt and heartbreaking documentary about Will Ferrell’s cross-country road trip with his best friend Harper Steele, who recently came out as transgender, sold to Netflix after its Sundance Film Festival debut. Financial terms of the pact were not disclosed, but “Will & Harper” was drawing interest from several buyers.
The film, directed by “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” filmmaker Josh Greenbaum, was warmly embraced in Park City with two standing ovations after the credits rolled.
“We are thrilled about how audiences received the movie with open arms at Sundance,” the filmmakers said in a statement. “It’s a movie about the power of friendship and acceptance, that we hope can help shift the culture, and so we are excited to have a partner in Netflix that has the ability to reach the largest possible audience worldwide.”
Ferrell and Steele were hired at...
The film, directed by “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” filmmaker Josh Greenbaum, was warmly embraced in Park City with two standing ovations after the credits rolled.
“We are thrilled about how audiences received the movie with open arms at Sundance,” the filmmakers said in a statement. “It’s a movie about the power of friendship and acceptance, that we hope can help shift the culture, and so we are excited to have a partner in Netflix that has the ability to reach the largest possible audience worldwide.”
Ferrell and Steele were hired at...
- 2/1/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In the Sundance 2024 Midnight premiere It’s What’s Inside, the feature debut of writer-director Greg Jardin, an uninvited guest with a mysterious suitcase derails a pre-wedding party. Below, Jardin discusses what led him to edit his own film, the balance between long shots and flutter cuts, and more. See all responses to our annual Sundance editor questionnaire here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the editor of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to your being hired for this job? Jardin: I started out directing low-budget music videos, which I more or less […]
The post “Establishing the Idea of Ending Scenes Abruptly…”: Editor Greg Jardin on It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Establishing the Idea of Ending Scenes Abruptly…”: Editor Greg Jardin on It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/1/2024
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
In the Sundance 2024 Midnight premiere It’s What’s Inside, the feature debut of writer-director Greg Jardin, an uninvited guest with a mysterious suitcase derails a pre-wedding party. Below, Jardin discusses what led him to edit his own film, the balance between long shots and flutter cuts, and more. See all responses to our annual Sundance editor questionnaire here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the editor of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to your being hired for this job? Jardin: I started out directing low-budget music videos, which I more or less […]
The post “Establishing the Idea of Ending Scenes Abruptly…”: Editor Greg Jardin on It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Establishing the Idea of Ending Scenes Abruptly…”: Editor Greg Jardin on It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/1/2024
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Films are made of and from places: the locations they are filmed in, the settings they are meant to evoke, the geographies where they are imagined and worked on. What place tells its own story about your film, whether a particularly challenging location that required production ingenuity or a map reference that inspired you personally, politically or creatively? Ninety percent of our film takes place in one location, which makes that the default answer – a giant house in the middle of nowhere. The whole impetus behind the film’s premise was coming up with something that could unfold in a single […]
The post “Ninety Percent of Our Film Takes Place In One Location” | Greg Jardin, It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Ninety Percent of Our Film Takes Place In One Location” | Greg Jardin, It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/1/2024
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Films are made of and from places: the locations they are filmed in, the settings they are meant to evoke, the geographies where they are imagined and worked on. What place tells its own story about your film, whether a particularly challenging location that required production ingenuity or a map reference that inspired you personally, politically or creatively? Ninety percent of our film takes place in one location, which makes that the default answer – a giant house in the middle of nowhere. The whole impetus behind the film’s premise was coming up with something that could unfold in a single […]
The post “Ninety Percent of Our Film Takes Place In One Location” | Greg Jardin, It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Ninety Percent of Our Film Takes Place In One Location” | Greg Jardin, It’s What’s Inside first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/1/2024
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Sundance documentary Daughters has landed at Netflix.
The feature follows four young girls as they prepare for a daddy-daughter dance, which is a chance to reunite with their incarcerated fathers as part of a fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., prison. Daughters took home the audience award in the documentary competition and earned the festival favorite award.
Directors Angela Patton and Natalie Rae are behind the feature. Patton is the CEO of Girls for a Change, a nonprofit that launched the Date With Dad Program, which holds a dance for the daughters of men incarcerated in a D.C. prison. The documentary details a ten-week program the men enter upon in preparation for the dance, as well as the anticipation the girls feel for the big day.
“Daughters peaks an hour in with the father-daughter dance, which is astonishing and as potent as you could hope for. From the preparations for the dance,...
The feature follows four young girls as they prepare for a daddy-daughter dance, which is a chance to reunite with their incarcerated fathers as part of a fatherhood program in a Washington, D.C., prison. Daughters took home the audience award in the documentary competition and earned the festival favorite award.
Directors Angela Patton and Natalie Rae are behind the feature. Patton is the CEO of Girls for a Change, a nonprofit that launched the Date With Dad Program, which holds a dance for the daughters of men incarcerated in a D.C. prison. The documentary details a ten-week program the men enter upon in preparation for the dance, as well as the anticipation the girls feel for the big day.
“Daughters peaks an hour in with the father-daughter dance, which is astonishing and as potent as you could hope for. From the preparations for the dance,...
- 1/31/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix has confirmed its acquisition of Daughters, winner of Sundance’s Festival Favorite and Audience Award: US Documentary awards.
‘Daughters’: Sundance Review
Angela Patton and Natalie Rae co-directed the film, which follows four young girls as they prepare for a Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers as part of a prison fatherhood programme in Washington, D.C.
Lisa Mazzotta, Rae, Justin Benoliel, Mindy Goldberg, Sam Bisbee, Kathryn Everett, Laura Choi Raycroft, and James Cunningham served as producers. Kerry Washington Patton, and Joel Edgerton are among the executive producers.
This marks the third Netflix buy out of Sundance after...
‘Daughters’: Sundance Review
Angela Patton and Natalie Rae co-directed the film, which follows four young girls as they prepare for a Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers as part of a prison fatherhood programme in Washington, D.C.
Lisa Mazzotta, Rae, Justin Benoliel, Mindy Goldberg, Sam Bisbee, Kathryn Everett, Laura Choi Raycroft, and James Cunningham served as producers. Kerry Washington Patton, and Joel Edgerton are among the executive producers.
This marks the third Netflix buy out of Sundance after...
- 1/31/2024
- ScreenDaily
Despite sharing a life and being in the same profession, husband-and-wife duo Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick haven’t starred in a film together in twenty years. Thankfully for us, that’s about to change as they’ll lead the Michael J. Weithorn-directed film Connescence. The project from Weithorn, who created the TV series The King of Queens, starring Kevin James, Leah Remini, and Jerry Stiller, begins principal photography this week with Victoria Hill and Greg Clark’s Fibonacci Films. Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are thrilled to team up for Connescence, and Hollywood is ready to welcome the duo back to the silver screen.
Brittany O’Grady and Judd Hirsch join Bacon and Sedgwick as primary cast members. According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Connescence features Kevin Bacon as Stan Olszewski, “a sharp, funny, but chronically underachieving security guard, who breaks up an attempted robbery at the home of...
Brittany O’Grady and Judd Hirsch join Bacon and Sedgwick as primary cast members. According to Deadline‘s exclusive report, Connescence features Kevin Bacon as Stan Olszewski, “a sharp, funny, but chronically underachieving security guard, who breaks up an attempted robbery at the home of...
- 1/30/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Natalie Rae and Angela Patton’s “Daughters,” an acclaimed documentary about a program that allows young girls to participate in a special dance with their incarcerated fathers, is finalizing a sale to Netflix. If the deal closes, it is expected to be in the seven-figure range. It was a competitive situation with at least three companies circling the picture.
“Daughters” premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in Documentary Competition and was named overall Festival Favorite. The film took eight years to produce.
In a rave review in Variety, Lisa Kennedy praised “Daughters,” writing that the film adds “depth and dimension to stories of incarceration.” Kennedy added: “The film is rife with visually lyrical moments that connect viewers with the young ones’ sorrows, fears, insights and hopes. In the hands of the directors, cinematographer Michael Cambio Fernandez and editors Troy Lewis and Adelina Bichis,...
“Daughters” premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award in Documentary Competition and was named overall Festival Favorite. The film took eight years to produce.
In a rave review in Variety, Lisa Kennedy praised “Daughters,” writing that the film adds “depth and dimension to stories of incarceration.” Kennedy added: “The film is rife with visually lyrical moments that connect viewers with the young ones’ sorrows, fears, insights and hopes. In the hands of the directors, cinematographer Michael Cambio Fernandez and editors Troy Lewis and Adelina Bichis,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Brent Lang and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Hot on the heels of an Academy Award nomination for his starring turn in Netflix’s civil rights drama Rustin, Colman Domingo has been appointed to the Board of Directors of The Gotham Film & Media Institute.
As the newest member, he will work with The Gotham on their mission to celebrate and nurture independent film and media creators by providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to wider recognition.
Domingo joins a board that includes Focus Features Vice Chairman Jason Cassidy and multi-hyphenate Riley Keough, whose additions were announced in November. Other members include Nancy Abraham, Anthony Bregman, Jeb Brody, Gerry Byrne, Alina Cho, Dan Crown, Mark D’Arcy (Director Emeritus), Amy Emmerich, Philipp Engelhorn, Kai Falkenberg, James Janowitz, Franklin Leonard, Stephanie March, Soledad O’Brien, Dee Poku, Hanna Rodriguez-Farrar, John Schmidt, Lisa Taback, Teddy Schwarzman, Drew Wilson, and Celia Winchester.
“As long-time admirers of Colman’s brilliant...
As the newest member, he will work with The Gotham on their mission to celebrate and nurture independent film and media creators by providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to wider recognition.
Domingo joins a board that includes Focus Features Vice Chairman Jason Cassidy and multi-hyphenate Riley Keough, whose additions were announced in November. Other members include Nancy Abraham, Anthony Bregman, Jeb Brody, Gerry Byrne, Alina Cho, Dan Crown, Mark D’Arcy (Director Emeritus), Amy Emmerich, Philipp Engelhorn, Kai Falkenberg, James Janowitz, Franklin Leonard, Stephanie March, Soledad O’Brien, Dee Poku, Hanna Rodriguez-Farrar, John Schmidt, Lisa Taback, Teddy Schwarzman, Drew Wilson, and Celia Winchester.
“As long-time admirers of Colman’s brilliant...
- 1/29/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated throughout with new buys. Despite some initial trepidation, big sales were not in short supply at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, with Netflix spending big on everything from “It’s What’s Inside” to “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” Searchlight Pictures going for “A Real Pain,” Amazon MGM getting in on the “My Old Ass” action, Neon wisely snapping up “Presence,” and Sony Pictures Classics getting down with “Kneecap”, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of superior films still looking for homes.
Of the still-for-sale titles that premiered at this year’s festival, there’s plenty to intrigue all sorts of buyers, from those looking for films with excellent performances that could inspire major awards pushes (like Saoirse Ronan in “The Outrun”), those in search of the next big director, or documentary lovers looking for films with incredible real world impact and fascinating true stories.
And while it’s still early days,...
Of the still-for-sale titles that premiered at this year’s festival, there’s plenty to intrigue all sorts of buyers, from those looking for films with excellent performances that could inspire major awards pushes (like Saoirse Ronan in “The Outrun”), those in search of the next big director, or documentary lovers looking for films with incredible real world impact and fascinating true stories.
And while it’s still early days,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Kate Erbland, David Ehrlich and Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Sundance Film Festival has wrapped in snowy Park City, and Deadline was on the ground to watch all of the key films. Here is a compilation of our reviews from the fest, which include festival award winners like Daughters, the documentary that took the Festival Favorite Award, and A Real Pain, which won the Waldo Salt Screenwriter Award for its writer-director-star Jesse Eisenberg.
Other pics include several that were scooped up by distributors, led by Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence selling to Neon, A Real Pain going to Searchlight, Ghostlight to IFC Films, and Netflix’s smash $17 million deal for It’s What’s Inside.
Check out the reviews below, click on the titles to read them in full, and keep checking back as we add more.
The American Society of Magical Negroes (L-r) Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Section: Premieres
Director-screenwriter: Kobi Libii
Cast: Justice Smith,...
Other pics include several that were scooped up by distributors, led by Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence selling to Neon, A Real Pain going to Searchlight, Ghostlight to IFC Films, and Netflix’s smash $17 million deal for It’s What’s Inside.
Check out the reviews below, click on the titles to read them in full, and keep checking back as we add more.
The American Society of Magical Negroes (L-r) Justice Smith and David Alan Grier in ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes’
Section: Premieres
Director-screenwriter: Kobi Libii
Cast: Justice Smith,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Damon Wise, Valerie Complex and Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Sundance Film Festival ran from January 18-28 and, after a sluggish start, there were deals (click here for the latest), celebrity sightings, and a protest.
Christopher Nolan turned up to collect an honourary award at the festival’s opening night gala fundraiser and called the occasion a “full circle moment” 23 years after premeiring his breakout thriller Memento there back in 2001.
Kristen Stewart also attended the gala and starred in two films this year, while celebrity guests included Robert Downey Jr., Will Ferrell, and Malia Obama, who managed to attend somewhat under the radar with her short film The Heart credited to Malia Ann.
Christopher Nolan turned up to collect an honourary award at the festival’s opening night gala fundraiser and called the occasion a “full circle moment” 23 years after premeiring his breakout thriller Memento there back in 2001.
Kristen Stewart also attended the gala and starred in two films this year, while celebrity guests included Robert Downey Jr., Will Ferrell, and Malia Obama, who managed to attend somewhat under the radar with her short film The Heart credited to Malia Ann.
- 1/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
This year, Sundance saw big deals go down for “A Real Pain”, “It’s What’s Inside”, “Presence” (Neon), and “My Old Ass” as well as smaller acquisitions for “Kneecap” (Sony Pictures Classics), “Ghostlight” (IFC Films), and “Ibelin”(Netflix).
It’s not the same bull market as the old days, but we’ll take it. And while streamers made their presence felt with the two largest acquisitions to date, it’s clear that for most of these films theatrical will be part of their lifecycles. But is that a smart move?
Based on last year’s results, the answer is: Could be. Domestic box office from all Sundance 2023 films was the best for any year since Covid. At around $100 million, it quadrupled the take from 2022 Festival titles (around $25 million). All told, about two thirds of the 2023 films have some sort of domestic distribution, including streaming outlets. Of these, about a dozen films have yet to open.
It’s not the same bull market as the old days, but we’ll take it. And while streamers made their presence felt with the two largest acquisitions to date, it’s clear that for most of these films theatrical will be part of their lifecycles. But is that a smart move?
Based on last year’s results, the answer is: Could be. Domestic box office from all Sundance 2023 films was the best for any year since Covid. At around $100 million, it quadrupled the take from 2022 Festival titles (around $25 million). All told, about two thirds of the 2023 films have some sort of domestic distribution, including streaming outlets. Of these, about a dozen films have yet to open.
- 1/27/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
On a busy Saturday for two of the biggest Sundance documentaries Netflix confirmed it had picked up worldwide rights to Skywalkers: A Love Story, while Warner Bros was in exclusive negotiations for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.
Jeff Zimbalist’s Skywalkers tells of a pair of Russian “rooftoppers” who attempt to perform an acrobatic stunt atop the Merdeka 118 super skyscraper under construction in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in a bid to save their relationship and their careers.
The US Documentary Competition selection took seven years to make and Zimablist and his team accompanied Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus on their mission for much of the ride,...
Jeff Zimbalist’s Skywalkers tells of a pair of Russian “rooftoppers” who attempt to perform an acrobatic stunt atop the Merdeka 118 super skyscraper under construction in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in a bid to save their relationship and their careers.
The US Documentary Competition selection took seven years to make and Zimablist and his team accompanied Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus on their mission for much of the ride,...
- 1/27/2024
- ScreenDaily
Movies are a hot discussion topic on TikTok, and the app is reminding film executives that its community holds sway over pop culture trends. Several stars from #FilmTok are in attendance at the Sundance Film Festival after TikTok invited its silver screen tastemakers to join its contingent at the annual Park City, Utah event.
The creators who are present at Sundance include Joe Aragon (a.k.a. Cinema Joe) and Maddi Koch (a.k.a. Maddi Moo). According to The Hollywood Reporter, the follower counts of the #FilmTok representatives cover a wide range; Spencer Cook‘s 200,000 followers put him on the low end, while The Nobodys top the list with nearly ten million followers.
TikTok’s film community may not get as much attention as the trendsetter readers of #BookTok, but the #FilmTok hashtag has accumulated nearly 46 billion hits to date. The TikTok film discourse often focuses on the sleeper...
The creators who are present at Sundance include Joe Aragon (a.k.a. Cinema Joe) and Maddi Koch (a.k.a. Maddi Moo). According to The Hollywood Reporter, the follower counts of the #FilmTok representatives cover a wide range; Spencer Cook‘s 200,000 followers put him on the low end, while The Nobodys top the list with nearly ten million followers.
TikTok’s film community may not get as much attention as the trendsetter readers of #BookTok, but the #FilmTok hashtag has accumulated nearly 46 billion hits to date. The TikTok film discourse often focuses on the sleeper...
- 1/26/2024
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
As social media has taken over all of our lives, there’s a lot of room for new and unique insecurities to develop. Why don’t I look perfect when I’m exercising? Why can’t I get my hair to do that? How can I compete when my boyfriend is lusting after Instagram girls? And the most mortifying of them all: How do I get more followers? The beautiful but unconfident Shelby (Brittany O’Grady) has all of these concerns and couldn’t hide it if she tried. Her boyfriend Cyrus (James Morosini) seems bored with her. They aren’t having sex anymore and Shelby secretly wonders if it’s because he’s still into his college crush, the blonde Instagram influencer Nikki (Alycia Debnam-Carey).
In the early moments of the film, Shelby hides in the bathroom placing a straight haired wig over her long black kinky curls. Though it’s never overtly addressed,...
In the early moments of the film, Shelby hides in the bathroom placing a straight haired wig over her long black kinky curls. Though it’s never overtly addressed,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Jourdain Searles
- Indiewire
The sun is setting on the 2024 installment of the Sundance Film Festival, closing out a milestone 40th edition and leaving many headlines in its wake. Those included a whopping $17 million Netflix acquisition for a buzzy directorial debut, a pro-Palestine protest that shut down Main Street, a Sundance debut for a former first daughter, and the rise of standing ovations across Park City. If you weren’t able to make it out to the mountain, The Hollywood Reporter has rounded up what you missed.
Drawn Out or Dud Dealmaking?
Making an appearance as the moderator for the opening day press conference, Jason Blum, a festival veteran, offered an earnest plea for buyers: “The release schedule for the first half of the year is decimated, and I hope, particularly for theatrical distributors, that the market should be very, very healthy.” Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen. As with the past few years,...
Drawn Out or Dud Dealmaking?
Making an appearance as the moderator for the opening day press conference, Jason Blum, a festival veteran, offered an earnest plea for buyers: “The release schedule for the first half of the year is decimated, and I hope, particularly for theatrical distributors, that the market should be very, very healthy.” Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen. As with the past few years,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Chris Gardner and Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fresh off an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, Colman Domingo is set to star in two more biopics. In addition to playing Joe Jackson in an upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Domingo will direct and star in a movie about another legendary singer, Nat King Cole.
Domingo will play the Jackson family patriarch in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film Michael, which will also feature Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar playing the late King of Pop.
“I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon,” Domingo said in a statement about the role. “Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex, and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation.
Domingo will play the Jackson family patriarch in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film Michael, which will also feature Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar playing the late King of Pop.
“I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon,” Domingo said in a statement about the role. “Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex, and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation.
- 1/26/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
Fresh off an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, Colman Domingo is set to star in two more biopics. In addition to playing Joe Jackson in an upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Domingo will direct and star in a movie about another legendary singer, Nat King Cole.
Domingo will play the Jackson family patriarch in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film Michael, which will also feature Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar playing the late King of Pop.
“I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon,” Domingo said in a statement about the role. “Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex, and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation.
Domingo will play the Jackson family patriarch in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film Michael, which will also feature Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar playing the late King of Pop.
“I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon,” Domingo said in a statement about the role. “Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex, and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation.
- 1/26/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Megan Park’s sophomore feature My Old Ass is in final negotiations to land at Amazon MGM, with a planned wide theatrical release in North America.
The deal is pegged in the $15 million range. After a theatrical window, the movie will move to streaming on Prime Video.
My Old Ass stars Maisy Stella as Elliot, a teen in a small Canadian town who is in her final month of summer before college when her and her friends imbibe in some ill-begotten shrooms. During her trip, Elliot comes face-to-face with her older self, played by Aubrey Plaza, who gives her words of wisdom and a warning: don’t fall in love with a boy named Chad.
“Not since Toy Story 3 wielded its power to reduce grown-ass adults to puddles of tears has a movie been so in touch with the tender feelings associated with leaving home and saying a definitive goodbye to childhood,...
The deal is pegged in the $15 million range. After a theatrical window, the movie will move to streaming on Prime Video.
My Old Ass stars Maisy Stella as Elliot, a teen in a small Canadian town who is in her final month of summer before college when her and her friends imbibe in some ill-begotten shrooms. During her trip, Elliot comes face-to-face with her older self, played by Aubrey Plaza, who gives her words of wisdom and a warning: don’t fall in love with a boy named Chad.
“Not since Toy Story 3 wielded its power to reduce grown-ass adults to puddles of tears has a movie been so in touch with the tender feelings associated with leaving home and saying a definitive goodbye to childhood,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sundance Buzz Title ‘My Old Ass’ Selling To Amazon MGM For $15M+ WW; Wide Theatrical Release Planned
Exclusive: In another big Sundance deal upwards of $15 million, Amazon MGM is in final negotiations to acquire the Sundance buzz title My Old Ass. This was a hotly contested deal that today had several suitors in the mix for a crowd-pleasing coming-of-age film that has garnered strong reviews and reaction since it launched in the Premieres category on January 20 at the Eccles Theatre.
Amazon MGM is targeting a wide theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada, and they’re working out the strategy for international. Pic will then move to Prime Video to stream globally. It is the biggest Sundance deal for a theatrical release; Netflix paid $17 million for the genre thriller It’s What’s Inside, but that film is headed for a big streamer rollout.
Directed and scripted by Megan Park, the film stars Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Maddie Ziegler and Percy Hynes White. The summer before college, bright-yet-irreverent...
Amazon MGM is targeting a wide theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada, and they’re working out the strategy for international. Pic will then move to Prime Video to stream globally. It is the biggest Sundance deal for a theatrical release; Netflix paid $17 million for the genre thriller It’s What’s Inside, but that film is headed for a big streamer rollout.
Directed and scripted by Megan Park, the film stars Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Maddie Ziegler and Percy Hynes White. The summer before college, bright-yet-irreverent...
- 1/26/2024
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon MGM Studios is in final negotiations for Sundance comedy hit My Old Ass starring Maddie Ziegler and Aubrey Plaza for a reported $15m.
The studio is targeting a wide North American theatrical release, with international territories to be determined. The film will end up on Prime Video.
My Old Ass marks the latest deal to trickle out of Sundance, where Netflix paid $17m for It’s What’s Inside, Neon acquired Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, and Searchlight Pictures paid $10m for Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain.
Documentaries Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and Skywalkers: A Love Story, as well as action comedy Thelma,...
The studio is targeting a wide North American theatrical release, with international territories to be determined. The film will end up on Prime Video.
My Old Ass marks the latest deal to trickle out of Sundance, where Netflix paid $17m for It’s What’s Inside, Neon acquired Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, and Searchlight Pictures paid $10m for Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain.
Documentaries Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and Skywalkers: A Love Story, as well as action comedy Thelma,...
- 1/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
Super/Man, which charts the life of Christopher Reeve, has reportedly sparked a bidding war at what has been a pretty quiet Sundance so far.
Whilst some talented actors have tried, with some even making a pretty good fist of it, nobody has ever embodied the role of Superman like Christopher Reeve.
The beloved actor is the subject of an upcoming documentary called Super/Man that certainly sparked our interest when we first heard about it last month. Unsurprisingly, it looks like we weren’t alone in thinking that such a project could be a fascinating watch: the film has reportedly sparked a bidding frenzy, with bids currently reaching up to $10m.
Whilst Sundance is renowned for bringing brilliant documentaries to the attention of the world, that’s still a sum which is somewhat surprising. To put that number into context, at this year’s festival, we’ve seen the...
Whilst some talented actors have tried, with some even making a pretty good fist of it, nobody has ever embodied the role of Superman like Christopher Reeve.
The beloved actor is the subject of an upcoming documentary called Super/Man that certainly sparked our interest when we first heard about it last month. Unsurprisingly, it looks like we weren’t alone in thinking that such a project could be a fascinating watch: the film has reportedly sparked a bidding frenzy, with bids currently reaching up to $10m.
Whilst Sundance is renowned for bringing brilliant documentaries to the attention of the world, that’s still a sum which is somewhat surprising. To put that number into context, at this year’s festival, we’ve seen the...
- 1/26/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
Colman Domingo is already unforgettable, but now he’ll tackle the role to prove it.
Domingo will be starring as the legendary singer Nat King Cole in a movie musical from a script he co-wrote, Variety has learned exclusively. He will also be making his feature directing debut on the project.
“I’ve been working on it quietly for a few years,” he says during a Variety Awards Circuit Podcast episode. “It’s something I’m looking forward to putting together with some great partners.”
It’s not yet known which period Domingo’s film will focus on. One of the most notable moments of his life was on April 10, 1956: while performing before an all-white audience in Birmingham, Ala., a group of four white men attacked him while performing. After the authorities apprehended the men, the singer returned to the stage, with the remaining audience members giving him a 10-minute standing ovation.
Domingo will be starring as the legendary singer Nat King Cole in a movie musical from a script he co-wrote, Variety has learned exclusively. He will also be making his feature directing debut on the project.
“I’ve been working on it quietly for a few years,” he says during a Variety Awards Circuit Podcast episode. “It’s something I’m looking forward to putting together with some great partners.”
It’s not yet known which period Domingo’s film will focus on. One of the most notable moments of his life was on April 10, 1956: while performing before an all-white audience in Birmingham, Ala., a group of four white men attacked him while performing. After the authorities apprehended the men, the singer returned to the stage, with the remaining audience members giving him a 10-minute standing ovation.
- 1/25/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Sundance film festival: Netflix forked out $17m for the low-budget, high-concept mystery but while there’s some fun to be had, there’s something missing
With this year’s festival entering its dying days, market news remains unusually slight, a surprise given how strike-impacted buyers were reportedly foaming for schedule-fillers. Big sales so far haven’t been all that big – Jesse Eisenberg comedy A Real Pain at Searchlight, Steven Soderbergh ghost story Presence at Neon – and so there are questions that still need answering going into the last weekend.
But earlier this week, as others umm-ed and ahh-ed, Netflix made a bullish statement with a $17m purchase of low-budget mind-bender It’s What’s Inside, an unusually high number for a genre film without any stars attached. While it may well be trumped over the next week or so given how other, more commercial titles remain unsold, it’s currently stamped with this year’s biggest-of-fest tag.
With this year’s festival entering its dying days, market news remains unusually slight, a surprise given how strike-impacted buyers were reportedly foaming for schedule-fillers. Big sales so far haven’t been all that big – Jesse Eisenberg comedy A Real Pain at Searchlight, Steven Soderbergh ghost story Presence at Neon – and so there are questions that still need answering going into the last weekend.
But earlier this week, as others umm-ed and ahh-ed, Netflix made a bullish statement with a $17m purchase of low-budget mind-bender It’s What’s Inside, an unusually high number for a genre film without any stars attached. While it may well be trumped over the next week or so given how other, more commercial titles remain unsold, it’s currently stamped with this year’s biggest-of-fest tag.
- 1/25/2024
- by Benjamin Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
Fresh off receiving his first Oscar nomination, Colman Domingo has been cast as Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson, in the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic “Michael.”
The casting announcement comes after the news Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar would portray the King of Pop, with 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi tackling the singer during his early days.
“It’s exciting to do it with Jaafar,” Domingo tells Variety exclusively during an upcoming episode of the Awards Circuit Podcast. “Jermaine Jackson’s son is playing Michael, and he is breathtaking, and I think Graham King, the producer, has assembled an incredible cast.”
He adds in a statement: “I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon. Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex...
The casting announcement comes after the news Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar would portray the King of Pop, with 9-year-old Juliano Krue Valdi tackling the singer during his early days.
“It’s exciting to do it with Jaafar,” Domingo tells Variety exclusively during an upcoming episode of the Awards Circuit Podcast. “Jermaine Jackson’s son is playing Michael, and he is breathtaking, and I think Graham King, the producer, has assembled an incredible cast.”
He adds in a statement: “I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon. Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex...
- 1/25/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
There were a smattering of big sales and buzzy premieres, but as the 40th edition of Sundance ends, it’s impossible to ignore that the indie film business it champions is suffering from an identity crisis. The box office for art-house movies has yet to regain its pre-covid stride. Streaming services once inflated the prices for movies that debuted at the festival because they were desperate for content. Now they’re more conservative in their spending. In this era of economizing, the all-night bidding wars that made Sundance sizzle have become a thing of the past. That’s good for agents and filmmakers looking to get more shut-eye, but it’s not a great sign of the financial health of the industry.
Yet there was still plenty to celebrate. Movies like “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper” received emotional standing ovations, while “A Real Pain” and “It’s What’s Inside...
Yet there was still plenty to celebrate. Movies like “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” and “Will & Harper” received emotional standing ovations, while “A Real Pain” and “It’s What’s Inside...
- 1/25/2024
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
The concept of identity is a strange one these days. Everybody has at least two separate personas: online and in-person. Beyond that, each individual's identity fractures even further, as there's one persona for work, one for friends, one for relationships and/or lovers, one for strangers, and so on. This isn't a new issue by any means, as concepts like code-switching, modulating one's attitude for different people and situations, have existed nearly since advanced socialization began. The latest problem is one of perception, and thanks to the mountain of evidence known as a social media account can be called up by anyone at any time, your identity isn't fully under your own control anymore: context can be manipulated, details obscured, tone obliterated.
Greg Jardin, the writer and director of "It's What's Inside," a fantastic new thriller that premiered at Sundance this past week, is already attempting to control his own movie's identity.
Greg Jardin, the writer and director of "It's What's Inside," a fantastic new thriller that premiered at Sundance this past week, is already attempting to control his own movie's identity.
- 1/25/2024
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
In the latest high-profile acquisition at Sundance Neon is understood to have acquired worldwide rights to Steven Soderbergh’s ghost story Presence starring Lucy Liu.
The Premieres selection debuted last Friday and plays again this upcoming weekend. David Koepp wrote the screenplay.
Shot in one location, Presence follows a family that moves into a suburban home inhabited by a ghost. The cast includes Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Julia Fox, Eddy Maday, and West Mulholland.
Julie M. Anderson and Ken Meyer served as producers and Koepp and Corey Bayes are executive producers. Michael Sugar of Sugar23 brokered the deal with attorney Jamie Feldman and Meyer.
The Premieres selection debuted last Friday and plays again this upcoming weekend. David Koepp wrote the screenplay.
Shot in one location, Presence follows a family that moves into a suburban home inhabited by a ghost. The cast includes Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Julia Fox, Eddy Maday, and West Mulholland.
Julie M. Anderson and Ken Meyer served as producers and Koepp and Corey Bayes are executive producers. Michael Sugar of Sugar23 brokered the deal with attorney Jamie Feldman and Meyer.
- 1/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Every year, the Sundance Film Festival brings together a collection of some of the most talented and innovative minds in genre-filmmaking and throws them all together in a chaotic hodgepodge of violence and absurdity that they call the Midnight film section.
Choosing a film from the Midnight section of the programming guide is gambling of the highest stakes. It is a two-hour, anything-goes type of bet that could either leave you trapped in an esoteric k-hole of emotional distress, or could give you euphoric double shot cocktail of adrenaline and dopamine that comes from seeing your favorite film of the year, and months ahead of all of your friends.
Greg Jardin’s debut It’s What’s Inside is one of the latter. The film is part Agatha Christie mystery, part gothic thriller with a little bit of Talk to Me sprinkled on top for flavor. The story revolves around...
Choosing a film from the Midnight section of the programming guide is gambling of the highest stakes. It is a two-hour, anything-goes type of bet that could either leave you trapped in an esoteric k-hole of emotional distress, or could give you euphoric double shot cocktail of adrenaline and dopamine that comes from seeing your favorite film of the year, and months ahead of all of your friends.
Greg Jardin’s debut It’s What’s Inside is one of the latter. The film is part Agatha Christie mystery, part gothic thriller with a little bit of Talk to Me sprinkled on top for flavor. The story revolves around...
- 1/24/2024
- by Ty Cooper
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
“Presence,” a twisty new thriller that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, has sold to Neon.
The movie, which is directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh, puts an inventive spin on the haunted house genre. It unfolds from the perspective of the spectral entity and is primarily interested in dramatizing the issues of the people living in the home, who seem to be grappling with a lot of interpersonal problems.
“I wanted to find a different way to tell the story,” Soderbergh told Variety in a recent profile. “Everything is revealed through the glimpses of this family that this presence sees. And the whole ghost genre element is a Trojan horse to show a group of people in danger of falling apart.”
The market at Sundance has been slower than usual, with deals taking longer to hammer out — that’s a sign of how challenging the box office has become for indie pictures.
The movie, which is directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh, puts an inventive spin on the haunted house genre. It unfolds from the perspective of the spectral entity and is primarily interested in dramatizing the issues of the people living in the home, who seem to be grappling with a lot of interpersonal problems.
“I wanted to find a different way to tell the story,” Soderbergh told Variety in a recent profile. “Everything is revealed through the glimpses of this family that this presence sees. And the whole ghost genre element is a Trojan horse to show a group of people in danger of falling apart.”
The market at Sundance has been slower than usual, with deals taking longer to hammer out — that’s a sign of how challenging the box office has become for indie pictures.
- 1/24/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix added 13.1m global paid subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2023 to reach 260.3m, way ahead of analysts’ expectations.
The streamer reported revenue of $8.8bn grew 12.5% year-on-year, delivering slightly above Wall Street expectations.
Net income of $938m and earnings per share of $2.11 dipped below forecasts, yet still outshone the year-ago equivalents of $55.3m and 12 cents per share.
Wall Street had forecast revenues of $8.7bn and $2.22 earnings per share, according to Lseg, the financial data service formerly known as Refinitiv. Free cash flow in 2023 ended at $6.9bn.
Speaking to analysts, co-ceo Ted Sarandos said Monday’s surprise news that chairman of...
The streamer reported revenue of $8.8bn grew 12.5% year-on-year, delivering slightly above Wall Street expectations.
Net income of $938m and earnings per share of $2.11 dipped below forecasts, yet still outshone the year-ago equivalents of $55.3m and 12 cents per share.
Wall Street had forecast revenues of $8.7bn and $2.22 earnings per share, according to Lseg, the financial data service formerly known as Refinitiv. Free cash flow in 2023 ended at $6.9bn.
Speaking to analysts, co-ceo Ted Sarandos said Monday’s surprise news that chairman of...
- 1/23/2024
- ScreenDaily
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