Film School Buzz

Creative team behind Sundance film “Douchebag” keep it real on-set

MakingOf — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:22:55 +0000

Director Drake Doremus made his Sundance debut with the film "Douchebag."

State of Play Screenwriter Hired for Big Screen 24 Movie

orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:18:18 +0000

The producers of Fox’s hit action serial television series 24 have been talking about doing a big screen movie adaptation for years now. I just assumed that it was one of those things that would never happen, and that the made for television movie prequel they did last season was an easy out. Well it looks like star/producer Kiefer Sutherland is serious about bringing Jack Bauer to the big screen, as he has convinced Fox to hire Billy Ray to pen the screenplay adaptation. All we know about the planned story for the feature film is that it will be set in Europe. Sutherland and producers have said that the big screen movie would be “a two-hour representation of a day.”

Ray’s filmography includes State of Play, Flightplan, Suspect Zero, Hart’s War, Volcano and Moon director Duncan Jones’ upcoming much-buzzed about project Source Code. He both wrote and directed Breach and Shattered Glass.

But studio insiders cautioned Variety (who broke the story) that a 24 movie “is still very much in the preliminary stages,” and that there are “a number of factors influencing how quickly it moves ahead, including the fate of the TV show.”

Fox has not yet decided if they want to order a ninth season of the series, although it is expected that this will be the final season. According to EW, 24 is down versus last year by 10% in total viewers (11.9 million versus 13.3 million) and by 15% in adults 18-49 (3.9 versus 4.6). It is hard to imagine that Fox would spend the millions and millions required for a big screen feature if they weren’t impressed with the ratings enough to renew the television series for a tenth season. Stranger things have happened (Arrested Development was canceled and will eventually become a big screen feature).

A big screen movie would probably guarantee that Bauer will survive his ninth crazy day. Since first discovering the series in 2001, I had hoped that Bauer would someday die on screen, in the possible biggest twist the series could possibly pull. I know a lot of fans would hate for that to happen, but I think it would be the ultimate way to conclude the series — with CTU and Jack’s friends having to save the day without him, in his honor. Sutherland and 24 producers have always said that Bauer’s death was an extreme possibility.

It would be nice to see a big screen 24, with a big blockbuster budget. But without the real-time structure, won’t it just another action film, but with the characters we’ve gotten to know from television? I wonder how it could/would be different.

Safdie brothers and Ronald Bronstein

MakingOf — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:06:42 +0000

Directors Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie and lead actor Ronald Bronstein discuss their film "Daddy Longlegs." An official selection of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Douchebag Director & Cast Interview

MakingOf — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:56:51 +0000

Director Drake Doremus talks the making of his independent feature "Douchebag" with cast members Andrew Dickler, Ben York Jones and Marguerite Moreau. "Douchebag" was an official selection of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.

Hollywood Studios Lose Bid For Terminator Franchise Rights

orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:50:01 +0000

The Terminator movie rights went up for auction today, and Sony Pictures and Lionsgate were bidding frantically back and fourth from 3:00pm to 8:00pm tonight. But as the dust cleared, neither movie studio came out the winner. Halcyon accepted a $29.5 million bid from a Santa Barbara-based hedge fund Pacificor, the debtholder which pushed the company into bankruptcy.Of course, this is subject to the approval by the bankruptcy court.

According to Finke’s source, “Sony and Lionsgate dropped out at just under $29.5 million when it became clear that Pacificor was willing to pay almost any amount of money for Terminator.” As part of the deal, Halcyon will keep the revenue streams from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Terminator Salvation, and will receive $5 million for every Terminator movie produced in the future.

What this all means for the future of the Terminator franchise is unclear. The last Terminator film earned $372 million worldwide theatrically. And while Arnold might soon be available for big screen offers, I’m not sure they could afford him. I’m not a money guy, but it seems to me that the smartest thing they could do is make the fifth Termiantor film for about half the estimated budget of Salvation, aiming in the $100-$120 million range.

Tim Robbins Cast in Green Lantern

orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:58:37 +0000

Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River, The Player) has been cast in Martin Campbell’s big screen adaptation of the DC Comics superhero Green Lantern.

According to Heat Vision, Robbins will play Senator Hammond, a former astronaut and the disapproving father of the movie’s villain, Dr. Hector Hammond (played by Peter Sarsgaard). The doctor comes in contact with a meteor and becomes infused with psychic powers, genius level intellect, and telekinetic abilities. As far as I can tell, Robbins’ character was not featured in the comic series, and is a creation for the film adaptation (and from what I understand, nbot a large role in the movie). I’m sure one of our comic experts will weigh in. At very least, the character was not a sizable role in the mythology.

The rest of the announced cast thus far includes Ryan Reynolds as the title character, Green Lantern, and Blake Lively as his love interest, Carol Ferris. Green Lantern is set to begin shooting in New Orleans this March, with the film scheduled to hi theaters on June 17th 2011.

Jesus! Now I have to compete with Julienne Moore too?

KEN LEVINE — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:30:00 +0000

Last week I talked about how hard it is to land a pilot if you’re starting from the bottom (and again, best of luck to you hearty souls). Today I want to focus on the other extreme – those actors who view pilots as a come-down. In other words, movie stars, or to be more precise -- former movie stars.

Networks are completely enamored by movie stars. On the food chain of entertainment it goes like this: Movies, Television, Street Performing, Radio. Movies look down at television. Television looks up at movies with awe. Forget that more money is made in television; the movie parties are cooler, the vacation spots more European, and no one blames you for SO YOU WANT TO BE IN A JAPANESE GAME SHOW.

But for movie stars, television is an admission that you’re no longer hot. Poor Candace Bergen, she had to do a series. Meanwhile, Candace Bergen got crazy rich, was seen and loved by millions of people weekly, and got to perform better material than what was out there for her in features. It’s a dirty little secret but in success, television is the best! Never do you have to spend ten grueling months on location making SAHARA.

My partner and I used to have a saying when we were toiling in TV: “They’ll all come to us eventually.” Whoopi, Faye Dunaway, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Charlie Sheen, James Woods, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee, Elizabeth Perkins, Kiefer Sutherland, Don Sutherland, Glenn Close, the Little Mermaid – the list is endless. Then there’s the roll call of former TV stars who left the little box for movies and then returned. David Caruso, everyone from FRIENDS but Jennifer, Mary Tyler Moore, Chevy and every third SNL alum.

I understand the attraction from the networks’ perspective. Movie stars (even those now relegated to Jonas Brothers movies) bring recognition, a ready-made fan base, and many are truly great actors. They achieved their big screen success for a reason.

And you always want the girl who says “no”.

We TV producers would receive confidential lists every year of the (former) movie stars who might be ready to surrender to riches and greater fame than they’ve ever had. Next to their names would be comments. “Still a year away”, “Will consider if show is built around her,” “Must have a series commitment”, “Must have firm offer”, “Needs January off to ski”. My favorite was a C-list actress at best – this woman never starred in a movie in her heyday, who said she “Would meet with A-list writers ONLY.” Two years later she was reading for parts.

But every year a new crop of movie stars succumbs. And we’re delighted to have them (unless they’re monsters but that’s another story). This year we welcome Julianne Moore, Laura Linney, and Matthew Broderick. And we welcome back Thomas Hayden Church. Their names attached to projects automatically give them a big leg up. And that’s fine if you – working actor – happen to get cast in one of their pilots. It’s not so fine if you’re in the pilot competing against Matthew Broderick’s.

But here’s an interesting dynamic that I’ve observed. Let’s say you’re a (former) movie star. The networks will romance you like crazy. They’ll wine and dine you, invite you to fly on the company jet, give you front row tickets to the Super Bowl or World Series or (only if you’ve won an Oscar) Lakers tickets. They’ll treat you like royalty – y’know, the way you used to be treated. They’ll fawn all over you during the making of the pilot. You’ll get muffin baskets just for scratching your ass. You’ll be saying, why didn’t I do this before I spent the last three years making AMERICAN PIE 6, 7, and 8?

But once the pilot is made and in the can, all bets are off. If they like it, great. You’re on the air. More muffins. But if they don’t, suddenly your (former) movie star power disappears. The project and you are quickly discarded. You’re saying, “Hey, wait a minute. You said I would be the face of the network. You said you would build your whole fall campaign around me. There’d be a billboard in Times Square. I could host the Rose Parade. I could sing a duet with Garth Brooks at the launch party. And now you’re saying I have to be out of the hotel by noon and pay for my own flight home?”

Yep.

But fear not because there are four networks, four company jets, and numerous cable outlets. Sooner or later you will get on television. Hopefully sooner because Kate Hudson, Jack Black, the Rock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sean William Scott, Vin Diesel, Ashley Judd, Greg Kinnear, Hillary Duff, Anna Paquin, Aaron Eckhart, Nicole Kidman, Mike Myers, and the current governor of California can’t be too far behind.

VOTD: The Mirror Scare

orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:00:28 +0000

If you happen to use the bathroom while being stalked by a serial killer or a ghost/monster, watch out, because they’re right behind you. Last year we posted a video compilation showing the many moments from horror movies where the protagonist is trapped with bad cell phone reception. Today we’ve found another horror video compilation, this time focused on the dreaded and overused horror cliche - the mirror scare. Watch the four minute compilation, embedded after the jump.

via: Filmdrunk

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Geek Deal: 25% Off Skywalker Ranch Wine

orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:00:57 +0000

Francis Ford Coppola Winery is offering a 25% off coupon code for a couple of the Skywalker Ranch Wines: 2006 Merlot and 2006 Chardonay. The coupon Code is “THEFORCE” and is valid until February 15th 2010. For those unfamiliar with the origins of this wine, Viandante del Cielo is made by the winemaking team at Rubicon Estate for filmmaker and friend George Lucas from fruit (ie grapes) grown at Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. More information after the jump.

Inland from the northern Pacific coastline and nestled between a small range of hills lies Lucas Valley and the vineyards of Skywalker Ranch. It is an area renowned for having exceptionally long, cool growing conditions, which contribute to mature fruit, profuse aromas, and complex flavors - perfect conditions for this style of Chardonnay.

The Marin County AVA is very special, made up of only 86 acres of vineyards. It is bordered on three sides by the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. In this colder climate, Pinot Noir makes up the bulk of the planting, so a Marin Merlot is a rare treat.

Skywalker Ranch is located on Lucas Valley Road in Marin County. According to wikipedia, the $100 million ranch contains “a barn with animals, vineyards, a garden with fruits and vegetables used in the on-site restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and fitness center with racquetball courts, the man-made “Lake Ewok”, a hilltop observatory, a 300-seat theater called “The Stag” as well as multiple theater screening rooms, and parking that is mostly concealed underground to preserve the natural landscape. Skywalker Sound was moved onto the ranch in 1987, now occupying the Technical Building. The Main House has a company research library under a stained-glass dome. Skywalker Ranch has its own fire station, which is part of the Marin County Mutual Aid system, and is often called on to assist firefighters in nearby Marinwood.”

via: RebelScum

First Look: Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox in Passion Play

orfilms@gmail.com (slashfilm.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:53:20 +0000

We haven’t done much coverage on the film Passion Play, which stars Mickey Rourke and Megan Fox. The first big piece we ran on the film was prompted by Toby Kebbell dropping out and Bill Murray stepping into his role. Now we’ve got the first image from the movie, above, and a few quotes from Rourke about the production.

In true Rourke fashion, some of his comments are sure to piss a few people off. When an actor has worked with some of the people he has teamed with, saying that Megan Fox is “probably the best young actress I’ve ever worked with” is sure to get attention. Read on after the jump.

EW talked to the actor and ran the image you see above. Before I get to Rourke’s comments about Megan Fox, let’s cover what the film is about. We originally ran the following logline:

An angel under the thumb of a ruthless gangster is saved by a trumpet player down on his luck.

Fox is the angel, Rourke is the trumpet player and Murray is the gangster. I’m curious to what extent Fox’s character really is an angel. EW describes the film as being a “romance about a troubled trumpet player and a winged beauty who rescue each other from dire circumstances.” Rourke says, “she has wings, so she was sort of an oddity trapped in a carnival act. She’s been a prisoner her whole life, and she has no understanding of trust. She’s very vulnerable and delicate.”

The film is written and directed by Mitch Glazer, who wrote Scrooged and The Recruit. Rourke and Glazer went to high school together, and the director told Rourke about this story idea over a decade ago. So this one is a long time coming. Based on the description, I’m wildly curious to see the final product. EW says the film has just wrapped, so it’s possible we’ll see it this year if a buyer steps up.

So, about the more gossipy quotes from Rourke…basically he seems to dismiss the chops of Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei. I’m sure Darren Aronofsky would have something to say about the following quote. But maybe it’s just Rourke being Rourke. We love him because he’s nuts…right? As he says of his big comeback movie, “Well, The Wrestler was quite tough. There wasn’t much chemistry there. Uh, that’s a whole other conversation. With Megan and I, there’s a lot of chemistry and a lot of respect.”