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From the "Biz" Archives:
by Eugene Hernandez and Jeffrey M. Barker/indieWIRE
>> ALERT: IFC Announces Theatrical Distribution Company; Up To a Dozen Films to Fill Annual Pipeline
(indieWIRE/ 9.25.00) -- The Independent Film Channel (IFC) has announced its long-anticipated theatrical distribution company. Distribution veteran Bob Berney is joining the company to head the new division. He will serve as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Distribution.
An announcement today indicated that the distribution arm will release 10 - 12 films per year, culled from in-house productions and acquisitions. [Eugene Hernandez]
[A complete story will be published in the next edition of indieWIRE.]
>> BRIEFLY: Lions Gate Confirms Plans to Release Toronto Films, "Chasing Sleep" and "Bruiser"
(indieWIRE/ 9.25.00) -- According to a report in today's Hollywood Reporter, Lions Gate Films has confirmed its acquisitions of Michael Walker's "Chasing Sleep" and George Romero's "Bruiser." Both films have been in the company's sights since their screenings at the recent Toronto Internatinal Film Festival.
Lions Gate, which is finalizing its acquisition of Trimark and planning for a major executive shift to Los Angeles, closed deals on three other films in Toronto, including Kathryn Bigelow's "The Weight of Water," Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's "Amores Perros" and Bryan Johnson's "Vulgar." [Eugene Hernandez]
>> BRIEFLY: Dennis O'Connor Named VP at New Universal Specialty Division
(indieWIRE/ 9.25.00) -- According to a report in today's Hollywood Reporter, former Trimark executive Denis O'Connor will serve as the VP of distribution at Universal Studios' new specialty arm, Universal Focus.
Next month, the Indiewood company is releasing "Billy Elliot," a film that was popular at the recent Toronto International Film Festival. [Eugene Hernandez]
>> ALWAYSi Repping Strom's Market Film, Aiming At First Full-Fledged Offline Venture
(indieWIRE/ 9.25.00) -- A wide theatrical release is only the first of many
goals ALWAYSi has planned for "On the QT," the Yale Storm-directed feature
it picked up at last week's IFP Market in New York.
The highly-regarded online resource and catalog to the independent film
world will represent "On the QT" as its sales agent. In what is arguably the
company's most visible venture offline, ALWAYSi will seek distribution for
the film, starring James Earl Jones, from video and DVD releases to deals
with cable stations.
"We want to get a theatrical release," said Gary Zeidenstein, ALWAYSi's
co-founder who is now in charge of content and acquisition. "We know it has
potential -- with the cast and content." Zeidenstein said that making moves
into the traditional film world was always in the game plan for ALWAYSi.
Only recently has a film representation division been formalized within the
company. In the few weeks ALWAYSi has been representing films as a sales
agent, it has gotten distribution for seven of them through cable outlets.
What is unique about ALWAYSi's approach to film representation is the
non-exclusive agreement it enters into with filmmakers.
ALWAYSi is not a film's sole decision-maker. Most notably, a filmmaker must
approve a distribution deal before ALWAYSi will agree to it.
Picked up by ALWAYSi at last week's Independent Feature Project Market in
Manhattan, "On the QT" tells the story of a subway-platform violinist
struggling to make his way into the high-caliber music world. The film was
directed by Yale Storm, award-winning director of the documentary-trilogy
"At the Crossroads: The Last Klezmer," and "Carpati: 50 Miles 50 Years." It
was co-written by Storm and Elizabeth Schwartz. [Jeffrey M. Barker]
>> AtomFilms and VW Open Doors For Makers of Online Film...and They Take a Road Trip
(indieWIRE/ 9.25.00) -- Volkswagen of America and AtomFilms will announce today their corporate-sized thumbs up to the online film industry: an
alliance aiming to revamp VW.com and to sponsor several Atom endeavors.
In a vote of confidence for the online film world reaching far past the
simple purchase of a banner ad, Volkswagen will feature 60 short films --
10 different shorts each month for the next six months -- on its site.
Attempting to create a more entertainment-based site, VW will host some of
Atom's lifestyle-based films: "Kung Pao Chicken" and episodes of Aardman
Animationsí "Angry Kid."
"This means more money back to the filmmakers," said Carrie Morris, a
spokesperson for AtomFilms. She added that Volkswagen executives are big
fans of Atom's content and see it as appealing to the same audience they
hope to market their cars to.
"This is demonstrating that this space IS legit," Morris said, emphasizing
the large-scale partnership that comes during what many view as a dismal
period for the online film industry.
In addition to featuring Atom content on its site, VW will sponsor 'The
Journey Tour,' a sweep of United States colleges by filmmaker Eric Saperston
and singer/songwriter Edwin McCain.
The tour will promote Saperston's short film, "The Journey," in which he
travels across country in a VW bus, gathering wisdom from the likes of
President Jimmy Carter, the CEO of Coca-Cola, as well as everyday Americans.
Atom picked up the film last year at Sundance.
Eight years of driving and 450 hours of tape have been edited down into the
13-minute short, "The Journey." Several vignettes from the film will be
available exclusively at VW.com. In addition, Atom will develop 12 films
based on "The Journey" to premiere at VW.com.
This partnership, between one of the biggest names in online film and one of
the world's biggest car manufacturers, may open the door to new venues
available to makers of online film. [Jeffrey M. Barker]
>> NEW YORK 2000: On Opening Night, Its All About Björk
(indieWIRE/ 9.25.00) -- All eyes were on Icelandic pop-star turned actress,
Björk, Friday night as she toasted her feature film debut in "Dancer in The Dark" on the opening night of the 38th New York Film Festival.
"Dancer in the Dark," the latest film from acclaimed Danish director Lars
von Trier, had its North American premiere here on Friday and the shy star,
Björk, spent a long evening celebrating in her own way, hitting the dance
floor and also singing impromptu folk songs with her girlfriends.
The night began with tandem screenings at Lincoln Center. The Film Society
of Lincoln Center's Richard Peña introduced opening night recalling a quote by film critic Hugo Munsterberg. "The purpose of film is to capture
emotion," quoted Peña, adding, "I never really understood that text until I
saw 'Dancer in the Dark'," and telling the audience that they would be left
with "a feeling of pure emotion."
On stage, Peña welcomed Björk, co-star Catherine Deneuve, cast members Siobhan Fallon, Joel Grey and David Morse, choreographer Vincent Paterson and executive producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen. Lars von Trier was absent on his big night, abiding by his personal rule of avoiding air travel and large crowds. Audience reaction at the gala opening was clearly mixed, but all seemed to agree that Björk's acting debut was stellar.
Decked out in a stylish blue dress and sporting a large bow on her shoudler,
Björk smiled graciously as she entered the crowded garden of Tavern on the
Green for the late-night post screening party. As she sat at one of the
reserved tables inside, Björk embraced film co-star Catherine Deneuve as the
two sat down to dinner.
Industry-types, society-types, festival organizers and others mixed at the
crowded bash. As the night wore on small "camps" formed as guests talked
about the movie -- some criticized the effort, while defenders (including a
group of indieWIRE editors) touted the movie passionately, damning the
cynics. Things loosened up towards 1 a.m. as the crowd thinned comfortably
and Björk hit the dance floor with her girlfriends. Clapping and raising
her hands with gleeBjörk moved to the center of the floor in front of
the big-band, joyously dancing to "In the Mood" among other classics.
The celebrating didn't end when the party at Tavern wound down after 2 a.m.
Many headed downtown to hot late-night spot, Pastis, for Fine Line's
after-party. Company chief Mark Ordesky welcomed a big crowd to the
restaurant. While Björk hung out with friends in the corner, guests
continued to network until nearly 4 a.m.
"Dancer in the Dark" opened theatrically on Saturday amidst mostly negative
reviews from the daily papers. Reviewing the film in The New York Times,
critic A.O. Scott calls the movie "Both stupefyingly bad and utterly
overpowering," adding, " Come to the theater prepared, with a handkerchief
in one hand and a rotten tomato in the other."
Scott is less mixed about Björk. Comparing her performance to that of Emily
Watson in von Trier's "Breaking the Waves," the critic wrote, "von Trier's
methods elicit a performance from his lead actress that deserves to be
called miraculous." [Eugene Hernandez]
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