AP: SAG stakes fight on made-for-Internet content

The Screen Actors Guild on Thursday gave its most detailed explanation yet for its rejection of a final contract offer by Hollywood studios, citing shortfalls in pay and union jurisdiction on made-for-Internet productions. Ryan Nakashima reports. 
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iW NEWS | IFC Films to Play "Ping Pong" in the U.S.

U.S. rights to Jessica Yu's "Ping Pong Playa" have been picked up by IFC Films with a planned theatrical release slated for September 5, the company announced Friday. The film, which marks the fiction feature debut for Yu, will close Asian-American Film Festival July 19th in New York. Arianna Bocco, Vice President of Production and Acquisitions for IFC Films negotiated the deal with ICM and The Firm. The film follows a streetwise suburban man who waxes political on all things Asian American and clings to pro basketball pipe dreams. But when misfortune strikes his family, he must overcome living at home, working a dead-end job and his worldly older brother, to run his Mom's ping pong class and defend the family's athletic dynasty. "When the opportunity came along to work with Jessica again, we could not let it pass," commented Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment in a statement. "Jimmy Tsai gives an unforgettable performance as C-dub, solidifying him as a rising star in Hollywood." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | Woodstock To Honor Wexler

Award-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler is set to receive the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Annual Woodstock Film Festival. "Haskell Wexler's outstanding talent as a cinematographer, his unique voice as a director, and his unwavering passion as a social activist have been an inspiration and a guiding light to the Woodstock Film Festival audience and to the film community at large," Woodstock Film Festival Co-Founder and Executive Director Meira Blaustein said in a statement. The award will be presented to Wexler at the 2008 Woodstock Film Festival Award Ceremony on Saturday, October 4, 2008, by his friends and colleagues John Sayles and Maggie Renzi. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | "Other Man," "Rachel" Added To TIFF Lineup

The Toronto International Film Festival announced the additions of five films to its 2008 lineup, including two Gala Presentations. The World Premiere of Richard Eyre's "The Other Man," starring Liam Neeson and Laura Linney will screen as a Gala, as will the North American Premiere of Jonathan Demme's "Rachel Getting Married," starring Anne Hathaway and Debra Winger. Three Special Presentations were also announced, including the World Premiere of Ed Harris' "Appaloosa, starring Harris, Viggo Mortensen and Renee Zellweger, and the North American Premieres of Anne Fontaine's "La Fille de Monaco" and Philippe Claudel's "I've Loved You So Long." The Festival runs September 4-13, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Carnivalesque Films Unveils Distribution Label

Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms.

Indie filmmakers Ashley Sabin & David Redmon, the duo behind "Kamp Katrina" and "Intimidad," have officially announced plans for a new boutique distribution label, Carnivalesque Films. First up, they will releasing Redmon's "Mardi Gras: Made in China" later this month and are set to distribute Ry Russo-Young's "Orphans" (September 28), Sam Wainwright Douglas and Paul Lovelace's doc "The Holy Modal Rounders: Bound To Lose" (October 30), and Tara Wray's doc "Manhattan, Kansas" (November 16). "Inspired by our predecessors (Albert and David Maysles, Barbara Kopple, Fredrick Wiseman), we decided to forge ahead out of respect and love for visual stories by creating paths to release our films," Sabin and Redmon said in a state on their website, "As filmmakers ourselves, we understand the desire, tenacity and attachment to complete a film and bring it to audiences. We believe we’re in a unique and lucky position to find homes for films as well as facilitate their movement into the marketplace of images in ways that make them stand out." [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | IFC Gets "Weird"

Kim Jee-Woon's Asian Western, "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" has been acquired by IFC Films, in a deal for North American rights. Inspired by Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," the film debuted this year in Cannes and is on tap as a Gala at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. It will hit IFC's day-and-date theatrical/VOD windows next year. "Kim Jee-Woon has taken the action-western to a new level," said Jonathan Sehring, IFC Entertainment president, in a statement "It is a film that both in size and scope looks and feels like Hollywood studio production; a tremendous achievement in filmmaking that solidifies Kim's status as a major international talent. "The Good, the Bad, the Weird will thrill American audiences and will become and instant classic." Arianna Bocco, IFC Films' VP of production and acquisitions and Jeff Deutchman, manager of production and acquisitionsnegotiated the deal with CJ Entertainment. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ]

iW NEWS | IFC Takes "Brilliance"

IFC Entertainment announced its acquisition of the worldwide rights to writer-director Lynn Shelton's "My Effortless Brilliance." The film, which had its world premiere at this year's SXSW Film Festival, will also screen as part of Rooftop Films in New York City on August 1. The film follows a novelist who decides to take a detour from his latest book tour to reconnect with his ex-best friend. IFC will release the film on Festival Direct in August 2008. "Films like 'My Effortless Brilliance' are why Festival Direct was created," said Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment, in a statement. "With the shifting marketplace, a film as nuanced and beautifully directed might not have the opportunity to find its audience. We are giving audiences the opportunity to discover this wonderful and sometimes mysterious film about friendship and introducing them to an important new voice in American independent cinema, Lynn Shelton." Jeff Deutchman, Manager of Acquisitions and Production for IFC Films negotiated the acquisition with Lynn Shelton. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Lincoln Center Appoints Manus

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced that Mara Manus has been appointed Executive Director. She joins the organization after six years as Executive Director of The Public Theater in New York. "We are thrilled to welcome Mara Manus to the Film Society," said Daniel Stern, president of the Board, in a statement. "She will be a great leader for our organization and will take the Film Society to new heights." Manus' appointment is effective September 15, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

iW NEWS | TIFF Sets Canadian Programming

The 33rd Toronto International Film Festival announced a slew of Canadian films to be featured during the September fest at a press conference in Toronto Tuesday. The titles include Michael McGowan's "One Week," starring Joshua Jackson, Liane Balaban and Campbell Scott and Kari Skogland's "Fifty Dead Men Walking, starring Jim Sturgess, Sir Ben Kingsley and Rose McGowan, both of which will be Gala Presentations. The Special Presentations program will screen Deepa Mehta's "Heaven on Earth," Fernando Meirelles's "Blindness" and Philippe Falardeau's "C'est pas moi, je le jure!," while the Vanguard program will include Bruce McDonald's "Pontypool" and Rafael Ouellet's "Derriere moi." Three docs are set for the Real to Reel program, including Malcolm Rogge's "Under Rich Earth," Astra Taylor's "Examined Life" and Luc Bourdon's "La Memoire des anges," and Contemporary World Cinema titles include Rodrigue Jean's "Lost Song," Lea Pool's "Maman est chez le coiffeur," Carl Bessai's "Mothers&Daughters," Francis Leclerc's "Un Ete sans point ni coup sur" and "Toronto Stories" from filmmakers Sook-Yin Lee, Sudz Sutherland, David Weaver and Aaron Woodley. The Festival runs September 4-13, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Sundance Composers Lab Announces Fellows

The Sundance Institute announced six musicians that have been selected for the 2008 Sundance Institute Composers Lab. This year's Composers Lab Fellows are Matt Cartsonis, T. Griffin, iZLER, JJ Lee, Vivek Maddala and Nicholas Pavkovic. During the two-week lab, the fellows will "participate in workshops and creative exercises under the guidance of the industry's leading film composers and film music professionals." The Lab runs from July 22-August 7 in Sundance, Utah. [Peter Knegt]  
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indieWIRE Presents: The Duplass Brothers @ Apple Store SoHo

Join Jay and Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair) at the Apple Store as they discuss the making of their latest film, "Baghead," with two of its stars, Greta Gerwig and Ross Partridge. "Baghead" combines "mumblecore" verite aesthetics with genre elements in new and surprising ways, and establishes the Duplass Brothers at the forefront of next generation filmmaking. The discussion will be moderated by Matt Dentler, head of programming and marketing at Cinetic Rights Management. Sony Pictures Classics will release "Baghead" in NYC theaters on July 25.

WHEN: Friday, July 18, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Apple Store, SoHo, 103 Prince Street, NYC
COST: Free, No RSVP required. Seats are first come, first serve. Seating is limited. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Stodel Named EVP at Paramount Vantage

New Line Cinema exec Guy Stodel has been appointed executive vice president of production and acquisitions for Paramount Vantage, Paramount Film Group president, John Lesher and Paramount Vantage president, Nick Meyer. Stodel, who will report to Meyer, replaces Amy Israel, who has served in the position since its creation. While at New Line, Stodel served as SVP of acquisitions and co-productions overseeing operations in New York, Los Angeles and London in addition to managing acquisition and development activity including a remake of "Friday the 13th" and Michel Gondry's "Be Kind Rewind." [Brian Brooks]  
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iW BOT UPDATE | "Tell No One" Tops Chart

Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical

Guillaume Canet's "Tell No One" from Music Box Films is atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published this afternoon. The film $248,674 in its sophomore weekend from 19 runs. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Box Office ]

Sony Classics Gets "O'Horten"

North American rights to Bent Hamer's "O'Horten" have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Described as "a bittersweet tale of train engineer Odd Horten, retiring after 40 years of traveling a very stable rail and now, uneasily, having to adapt to his new life as a pensioner," the film debuted in the Un Certain Regard section in Cannes and will have its North American premiere at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival, with an early '09 release on tap. Michael Weber from The Match Factory made the deal with Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Dylan Leiner from Sony Pictures Classics. "We are excited to be working on "O'Horten" and with Bent Hamer, a filmmaker we have long watched and have been eager to forge a relationship with," said Sony Pictures Classics, in a statement. "Bent has a wonderfully skewed view of the human condition and, "O'Horten" gives us that somewhat absurdist vision with great warmth, a little melancholy and universal understanding." [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ]

AP | Paramount drops $450 million movie financing deal

Deutsche Bank had no comment on the deal but acknowledged its film financing team had left the bank several weeks ago as the bank scaled back activity in the sector. AP reports. 
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AP | Paramount drops $450 million movie financing deal

Deutsche Bank had no comment on the deal but acknowledged its film financing team had left the bank several weeks ago as the bank scaled back activity in the sector. AP reports. 
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iW NEWS | Jaman Makes Online Distribution Deal with Paramount

Online entertainment group Jaman.com has entered a distribution deal with Paramount Digital Entertainment allowing Paramount titles to be available for rental or purchase from Jaman's site, the company announced Monday. Titles available via Jaman are "Into the Wild," "Mean Girls," "Bloody Sunday," "The Virgin Suicides," "There Will Be Blood" and "Vanilla Sky" among others. "Jaman is proud to deliver the latest hits and classics from Paramount Pictures," said Gaurav Dhillon, founder and CEO of Jaman. "The addition of these wonderful Paramount titles is a big stride towards our goal of making Jaman the biggest online destination for quality film." [Brian Brooks] 
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iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "Tell No One" Tops

Guillaume Canet's "Tell No One" led the specialty-focused iW BOT over the weekend, according to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak this afternoon. The Music Box Films release grossed an impressive $240,858 from 18 locations in its second weekend for a $13,381 average. Last week's leader, Jonathan Levine's "The Wackness," expanded from 6 to 31 screens for Sony Pictures Classics and enjoyed a $224,715 gross and a $7,249 average, decent numbers but a considerable drop from last weekend's average. Openers included First Look release "August," which averaged $6,505 on 1 screen, ThinkFilm's anticipated "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired," which averaged $5,505 on 1 screen, and City Lights Pictures Releasing's "Harold," which averaged $3,448 on 3 screens. indieWIRE will publish its weekly box office column Monday night and final weekend numbers for specialty and limited release films on Tuesday. Get the latest in the indieWIRE Box Office section. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]