Chelsea Peretti’s feature directorial debut, First Time Female Director, has landed at Roku in the U.S. The streaming service is planning a 2024 release.
The comedy is set in a local theater in Glendale, California, and sees the Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum star as Sam, who, according to the project’s synopsis, is “a newly minted female director who struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy.”
Amy Poehler produced via her Paper Kite Productions, along with MarVista Entertainment and Fox Entertainment.
Blake Anderson, Kate Berlant, Jak Knight, Megan Mullally, Benito Skinner and Meg Stalter also star in the film, which screened at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Among the talent making appearances is Poehler as a deeply troubled therapist, Max Greenfield as a desperate usher and Andy Richter as the theatre’s sadistic artistic director.
Angie Day, Ani Kevork, Hannah Pillemer,...
The comedy is set in a local theater in Glendale, California, and sees the Brooklyn Nine-Nine alum star as Sam, who, according to the project’s synopsis, is “a newly minted female director who struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy.”
Amy Poehler produced via her Paper Kite Productions, along with MarVista Entertainment and Fox Entertainment.
Blake Anderson, Kate Berlant, Jak Knight, Megan Mullally, Benito Skinner and Meg Stalter also star in the film, which screened at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Among the talent making appearances is Poehler as a deeply troubled therapist, Max Greenfield as a desperate usher and Andy Richter as the theatre’s sadistic artistic director.
Angie Day, Ani Kevork, Hannah Pillemer,...
- 6/12/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku has picked up the U.S. rights to the new comedy film “First Time Female Director,” which is written, directed and produced by Chelsea Peretti. The “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” alum also stars in the film, which follows a woman named Sam (Peretti) who takes over as director at a local theater in Glendale and struggles to fill her male predecessor’s shoes.
Per the synopsis, Sam experiences real-life drama as she struggles to wrangle her unimpressed cast of local actors. With no one to lean on but her deeply troubled therapist, Meg (Amy Poehler) and a desperate usher (Max Greenfield), Sam grasps for guidance from the theatre’s sadistic artistic director, Sheldon (Andy Richter). All the while the company’s ticket-taker Star (Xosha Roquemore) is secretly rising up the ranks behind the scenes.
The film will stream for free exclusively on The Roku Channel in 2024. It will have its world...
Per the synopsis, Sam experiences real-life drama as she struggles to wrangle her unimpressed cast of local actors. With no one to lean on but her deeply troubled therapist, Meg (Amy Poehler) and a desperate usher (Max Greenfield), Sam grasps for guidance from the theatre’s sadistic artistic director, Sheldon (Andy Richter). All the while the company’s ticket-taker Star (Xosha Roquemore) is secretly rising up the ranks behind the scenes.
The film will stream for free exclusively on The Roku Channel in 2024. It will have its world...
- 6/12/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Exclusive: The 2x WGA Award nominee and Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast member has wrapped production on her feature film directorial debut, First Time Female Director, Deadline has learned.
Chelsea Peretti starred, wrote and produced the Fox Entertainment MarVista and Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions movie which is set at a local theater in Glendale, CA, where a newly minted female director (Peretti) struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy.
Co-starring opposite Peretti include Blake Anderson, Kate Berlant (Would It Kill You to Laugh? A League of Their Own), Jak Knight, Emmy Award winner Megan Mullally, Benito Skinner (Queer as Folk) and Megan Stalter.
There’s also appearances by Max Greenfield, Brad Hall (Saturday Night Live), Tim Heidecker (Eastbound & Down), Natasha Leggero, Emmy winner Poehler, Andy Richter and Xosha Roquemore, the movies counts several surprise cameos.
First Time Female Director marks MarVista and Fox Entertainment’s first title to include scenes shot on its studio lot in Los Angeles, where the film’s production offices are based. In addition to Peretti, producers include Poehler, Kate Arend and Jordan Grief for Paper Kite, and Deanna Barillari. The pic is executive-produced by Angie Day, Ani Kevork, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew for MarVista. WME Independent will represent sales for the film.
“This is the project of a lifetime for me — a chance to have my voice embodied by a truly brilliant ensemble of comedic actors,” Peretti tells Deadline. “I am so moved to have a prolific, beloved and sharp comedy collaborator like Amy Poehler as a producer and actor. And grateful for my champions at MarVista, who took this from script to screen. Our dream was to watch a laugh-out-loud comedy film and I cannot wait to share what we have made with audiences as soon as possible! Also, I love my lawyer. She’s great.”
“Paper Kite is thrilled to help support the hilarious Chelsea Peretti and her deeply unique and funny film. We also have loved working with MarVista and are grateful they helped make this all happen,” adds Poehler.
“Hiring ‘first time female directors’ has been a core focus of mine throughout my career,” said Hannah Pillemer, EVP of Creative at MarVista Entertainment. “The chance to support a comedic visionary like Chelsea is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we are honored she chose MarVista to go on this journey with her. Our entire team is thrilled to partner with Paper Kite, and we cannot wait for the world to see this unique and distinctively hilarious film!”
Peretti is an actress, comedian, producer and television writer who starred as Gina Linetti on the hit Fox/NBC comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which notched won 2x Primetime Emmys. Most recently, she was featured in Amazon Prime Video’s second installment of its comedy special, Yearly Departed. The two-time WGA Award nominee received nods on Parks and Recreation and received a SAG ensemble nom for Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Peretti’s writing credits also include Portlandia, Sarah Silverman Program and Kroll Show, as well as Saturday Night Live. She can be heard on hit animated projects, such as Big Mouth, The Simpsons and Sing 2. On the stage, Peretti’s hour-long stand-up special, One of the Greats, was released in 2014 on Netflix, and her half-hour special, Comedy Central Presents, aired in 2011. Most recently, Peretti hosted Variety’s Power of Women celebration in 2021 and the Writers Guild Awards in 2019.
Music for the film is from longtime Peretti collaborator KoOoLkOjAk, who has composed and produced hit songs for Doja Cat, Sean Paul, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Keha and Dmx, as well as having written original songs for box office smashes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lorax, Boss Baby, The Book of Life and The Lego Movie franchise.
Chelsea is repped by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Melissa Fox at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.
Chelsea Peretti starred, wrote and produced the Fox Entertainment MarVista and Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions movie which is set at a local theater in Glendale, CA, where a newly minted female director (Peretti) struggles to fill the shoes of her male predecessor, putting her Southern rural drama in jeopardy.
Co-starring opposite Peretti include Blake Anderson, Kate Berlant (Would It Kill You to Laugh? A League of Their Own), Jak Knight, Emmy Award winner Megan Mullally, Benito Skinner (Queer as Folk) and Megan Stalter.
There’s also appearances by Max Greenfield, Brad Hall (Saturday Night Live), Tim Heidecker (Eastbound & Down), Natasha Leggero, Emmy winner Poehler, Andy Richter and Xosha Roquemore, the movies counts several surprise cameos.
First Time Female Director marks MarVista and Fox Entertainment’s first title to include scenes shot on its studio lot in Los Angeles, where the film’s production offices are based. In addition to Peretti, producers include Poehler, Kate Arend and Jordan Grief for Paper Kite, and Deanna Barillari. The pic is executive-produced by Angie Day, Ani Kevork, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew for MarVista. WME Independent will represent sales for the film.
“This is the project of a lifetime for me — a chance to have my voice embodied by a truly brilliant ensemble of comedic actors,” Peretti tells Deadline. “I am so moved to have a prolific, beloved and sharp comedy collaborator like Amy Poehler as a producer and actor. And grateful for my champions at MarVista, who took this from script to screen. Our dream was to watch a laugh-out-loud comedy film and I cannot wait to share what we have made with audiences as soon as possible! Also, I love my lawyer. She’s great.”
“Paper Kite is thrilled to help support the hilarious Chelsea Peretti and her deeply unique and funny film. We also have loved working with MarVista and are grateful they helped make this all happen,” adds Poehler.
“Hiring ‘first time female directors’ has been a core focus of mine throughout my career,” said Hannah Pillemer, EVP of Creative at MarVista Entertainment. “The chance to support a comedic visionary like Chelsea is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we are honored she chose MarVista to go on this journey with her. Our entire team is thrilled to partner with Paper Kite, and we cannot wait for the world to see this unique and distinctively hilarious film!”
Peretti is an actress, comedian, producer and television writer who starred as Gina Linetti on the hit Fox/NBC comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which notched won 2x Primetime Emmys. Most recently, she was featured in Amazon Prime Video’s second installment of its comedy special, Yearly Departed. The two-time WGA Award nominee received nods on Parks and Recreation and received a SAG ensemble nom for Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Peretti’s writing credits also include Portlandia, Sarah Silverman Program and Kroll Show, as well as Saturday Night Live. She can be heard on hit animated projects, such as Big Mouth, The Simpsons and Sing 2. On the stage, Peretti’s hour-long stand-up special, One of the Greats, was released in 2014 on Netflix, and her half-hour special, Comedy Central Presents, aired in 2011. Most recently, Peretti hosted Variety’s Power of Women celebration in 2021 and the Writers Guild Awards in 2019.
Music for the film is from longtime Peretti collaborator KoOoLkOjAk, who has composed and produced hit songs for Doja Cat, Sean Paul, Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Keha and Dmx, as well as having written original songs for box office smashes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Lorax, Boss Baby, The Book of Life and The Lego Movie franchise.
Chelsea is repped by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Melissa Fox at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.
- 7/14/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Finn Wittrock and Zoë Chao in Long Weekend is currently available on Digital and DVD
When down-on-his-luck Bart has a chance encounter with the enigmatic Vienna, the two fall fast and hard. An enchanted weekend courtship leads to unexpected revelations, but the secrets both carry could be their undoing or the chance for a fresh start.
Co-starring Damon Wayans Jr. (New Girl), Casey Wilson (Happy Endings), Jim Rash (Community) and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids). The film is written and directed by Steve Basilone and produced by Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Theodora Dunlap, Sam Bisbee, Audrey Rosenberg, and Jess Jacobs. Franklin Carson, Lance Acord, and Jackie Kelman Bisbee served as executive producers.
Long Weekend is Written by and Directed By: Steve Basilone and stars Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story), Zoë Chao (Love Life), Casey Wilson (Happy Endings), Jim Rash (Community), Damon Wayans Jr. (New Girl), and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids)
The post Finn...
When down-on-his-luck Bart has a chance encounter with the enigmatic Vienna, the two fall fast and hard. An enchanted weekend courtship leads to unexpected revelations, but the secrets both carry could be their undoing or the chance for a fresh start.
Co-starring Damon Wayans Jr. (New Girl), Casey Wilson (Happy Endings), Jim Rash (Community) and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids). The film is written and directed by Steve Basilone and produced by Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Theodora Dunlap, Sam Bisbee, Audrey Rosenberg, and Jess Jacobs. Franklin Carson, Lance Acord, and Jackie Kelman Bisbee served as executive producers.
Long Weekend is Written by and Directed By: Steve Basilone and stars Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story), Zoë Chao (Love Life), Casey Wilson (Happy Endings), Jim Rash (Community), Damon Wayans Jr. (New Girl), and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids)
The post Finn...
- 5/28/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Are you ready for the weekend? Specifically, are you ready for a Long Weekend? Of course, we’re referring to the rom-com from Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions’ Stage 6 Films.
Long Weekend will make its debut in theaters today and marks the feature directorial debut of Steve Basilone, who also wrote the script.
The rom-com stars Finn Wittrock as Bart who has a serendipitous meeting with Vienna played by Zoë Chao. She’s a little bit of a mystery, but the two end up having a connection and they spend a whirlwind weekend together (hence the title of the movie). As the two fall fast and hard for each other, they dont realize that both carry secrets that could be their undoing… or the chance for a fresh start.
The film also features Casey Wilson, Jim Rash and Damon Wayans, Jr. Long Weekend is produced by Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Theodora Dunlap,...
Long Weekend will make its debut in theaters today and marks the feature directorial debut of Steve Basilone, who also wrote the script.
The rom-com stars Finn Wittrock as Bart who has a serendipitous meeting with Vienna played by Zoë Chao. She’s a little bit of a mystery, but the two end up having a connection and they spend a whirlwind weekend together (hence the title of the movie). As the two fall fast and hard for each other, they dont realize that both carry secrets that could be their undoing… or the chance for a fresh start.
The film also features Casey Wilson, Jim Rash and Damon Wayans, Jr. Long Weekend is produced by Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Theodora Dunlap,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Stage 6 Films, a production arm of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, has picked up worldwide distribution rights Long Weekend, a romantic comedy starring Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story) and Zoë Chao (Love Life). The film also stars Happy Endings alums Damon Wayans, Jr. and Casey Wilson as well as Community actor Jim Rash.
Steve Basilone, who has written for shows like Happy Endings, The Goldbergs, and Community, penned the screenplay and is making his film directorial debut. The pic follows Bart, whose chance encounter with the enigmatic Vienna leads to a whirlwind weekend together. The two fall fast and hard, but both carry secrets that could be their undoing or the chance for a fresh start.
Producers are Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Theodora Dunlap, Sam Bisbee, Audrey Rosenberg, and Jess Jacobs. Franklin Carson, Lance Acord, and Jackie Kelman Bisbee served as executive producers.
Steve Basilone, who has written for shows like Happy Endings, The Goldbergs, and Community, penned the screenplay and is making his film directorial debut. The pic follows Bart, whose chance encounter with the enigmatic Vienna leads to a whirlwind weekend together. The two fall fast and hard, but both carry secrets that could be their undoing or the chance for a fresh start.
Producers are Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Theodora Dunlap, Sam Bisbee, Audrey Rosenberg, and Jess Jacobs. Franklin Carson, Lance Acord, and Jackie Kelman Bisbee served as executive producers.
- 2/18/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
IFC Films has acquired the North American rights to “Monday,” a Greek drama and romance that stars “Avengers” star Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough (“Colette”). The indie distributor has set an April 16 release date for the film.
“Monday” is the fourth film by director Argyris Papadimitropoulos and was a selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and the 2020 Toronto Film Festival.
“Monday” is set in Athens and stars Sebastian Stan as a DJ who is introduced by his friend to Chloe (Gough) one hot summer night. The attraction between the pair is immediately palpable — so palpable that before they know it they’re waking up naked on the beach Saturday morning. And so it goes that a one night stand on Friday turns into a whirlwind weekend romance that leads to serious conversations when they face the harsh sunlight on Monday morning.
“Monday” is produced by Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones,...
“Monday” is the fourth film by director Argyris Papadimitropoulos and was a selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and the 2020 Toronto Film Festival.
“Monday” is set in Athens and stars Sebastian Stan as a DJ who is introduced by his friend to Chloe (Gough) one hot summer night. The attraction between the pair is immediately palpable — so palpable that before they know it they’re waking up naked on the beach Saturday morning. And so it goes that a one night stand on Friday turns into a whirlwind weekend romance that leads to serious conversations when they face the harsh sunlight on Monday morning.
“Monday” is produced by Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones,...
- 2/5/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ latest feature Monday, a sizzling romance that stars Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough (Colette).
When Mickey (Stan) is dragged away from his DJ set by a drunken friend and introduced to Chloe (Gough) one hot summer night in Athens, the attraction between the pair is immediately palpable—so palpable that before they know it they’re waking up naked on the beach Saturday morning. And so it goes that a one night stand on Friday turns into a whirlwind weekend romance that leads to serious conversations when they face the harsh sunlight on Monday morning.
Pic is produced by Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Damian Jones, Deanna Barillari, and Papadimitropoulos at Faliro House. Script is co-written by Argyris Papadimitropoulos and Rob Hayes.
Monday is Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ fourth feature, an official selection at the 2020 Tribeca...
When Mickey (Stan) is dragged away from his DJ set by a drunken friend and introduced to Chloe (Gough) one hot summer night in Athens, the attraction between the pair is immediately palpable—so palpable that before they know it they’re waking up naked on the beach Saturday morning. And so it goes that a one night stand on Friday turns into a whirlwind weekend romance that leads to serious conversations when they face the harsh sunlight on Monday morning.
Pic is produced by Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Damian Jones, Deanna Barillari, and Papadimitropoulos at Faliro House. Script is co-written by Argyris Papadimitropoulos and Rob Hayes.
Monday is Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ fourth feature, an official selection at the 2020 Tribeca...
- 2/5/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Not long ago, it would have been difficult for Greek production outfit Heretic to board a project such as “Do Not Hesitate,” an ambitious, Afghanistan-set war drama that is partly being filmed on the island of Crete.
But for Giorgos Karnavas, who is producing “Hesitate” alongside the Netherlands’ Lemming Film, the calculus has changed since Greece introduced a 35% cash rebate last year. “The cash rebate gives us the [ability] to step into projects that we would not be able to otherwise, and is also a tool to attract new projects that appeal to us,” Karnavas says.
The rebate has given a fresh jolt to an industry still recovering from the country’s crippling economic crisis, with a wave of majority and minority co-productions in the cards from Greek producers. The 35% cash rebate on qualifying spend is available to feature films, documentaries, TV drama series, animated films and digital games, with a...
But for Giorgos Karnavas, who is producing “Hesitate” alongside the Netherlands’ Lemming Film, the calculus has changed since Greece introduced a 35% cash rebate last year. “The cash rebate gives us the [ability] to step into projects that we would not be able to otherwise, and is also a tool to attract new projects that appeal to us,” Karnavas says.
The rebate has given a fresh jolt to an industry still recovering from the country’s crippling economic crisis, with a wave of majority and minority co-productions in the cards from Greek producers. The 35% cash rebate on qualifying spend is available to feature films, documentaries, TV drama series, animated films and digital games, with a...
- 10/24/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
“American Horror Story” actor Finn Wittrock and “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” star Zoe Chao are set to star in a love story and comedy titled “Long Weekend,” the film’s production companies announced Thursday.
Wittrock and Chao will star alongside Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jim Rash in a rom-com dashed with some magical realism from writer and director Steve Basilone. Principal photography just wrapped on the project in Los Angeles.
“Long Weekend” is the story of a down on his luck, struggling writer named Bart (Wittrock) and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who suddenly enters his life at the right time. Wayans Jr. and Wilson portray Bart’s always supportive best friends, McLendon-Covey is his pesky landlord, and Rash will play his new boss.
Also Read: Yes, 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace' Confused Finn Wittrock Too (Video)
Fifty Seventh Street Productions and Rebelle Media along with...
Wittrock and Chao will star alongside Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jim Rash in a rom-com dashed with some magical realism from writer and director Steve Basilone. Principal photography just wrapped on the project in Los Angeles.
“Long Weekend” is the story of a down on his luck, struggling writer named Bart (Wittrock) and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who suddenly enters his life at the right time. Wayans Jr. and Wilson portray Bart’s always supportive best friends, McLendon-Covey is his pesky landlord, and Rash will play his new boss.
Also Read: Yes, 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace' Confused Finn Wittrock Too (Video)
Fifty Seventh Street Productions and Rebelle Media along with...
- 9/26/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Finn Wittrock and Zoe Chao are the leads of Long Weekend, a romantic dramedy penned and directed by Steve Basilone, whose credits included writing for The Goldbergs, Community and Happy Endings. The pic, from Fifty Seventh Street Productions and Rebelle Media along with Park Pictures and Invisible Pictures, just wrapped principal photography in Los Angeles. Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jim Rash co-star.
The plot of the love story infused with magical realism centers Bart (Wittrock), a down-on-his-luck struggling writer, and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who enters his life at the right time. Wayans Jr. and Wilson, who worked with Basilone on Happy Endings, play Bart’s always supportive best friends, McLendon-Covey is his pesky landlord, and Rash as his new boss.
Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Sam Bisbee, Theodora Dunlap, Jess Jacobs and Audrey Rosenberg are producers. Franklin Carson, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord are executive producers.
The plot of the love story infused with magical realism centers Bart (Wittrock), a down-on-his-luck struggling writer, and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who enters his life at the right time. Wayans Jr. and Wilson, who worked with Basilone on Happy Endings, play Bart’s always supportive best friends, McLendon-Covey is his pesky landlord, and Rash as his new boss.
Deanna Barillari, Laura Lewis, Sam Bisbee, Theodora Dunlap, Jess Jacobs and Audrey Rosenberg are producers. Franklin Carson, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord are executive producers.
- 9/26/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Finn Wittrock and Zoe Chao are set to star in the romance feature film Long Weekend, which was written and will be directed by television veteran Steve Basilone.
Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jim Rash will also star in the movie.
The movie is described as being infused with magical realism, and follows a down-on-his-luck struggling writer Bart (Wittrock) and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who suddenly enters his life at the right time.
The film reunites Basilone, Wayans Jr. and Wilson, who previously worked together on beloved ABC series Happy Endings.
Producing is Deanna Barillari ...
Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jim Rash will also star in the movie.
The movie is described as being infused with magical realism, and follows a down-on-his-luck struggling writer Bart (Wittrock) and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who suddenly enters his life at the right time.
The film reunites Basilone, Wayans Jr. and Wilson, who previously worked together on beloved ABC series Happy Endings.
Producing is Deanna Barillari ...
- 9/26/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Finn Wittrock and Zoe Chao are set to star in the romance feature film Long Weekend, which was written and will be directed by television veteran Steve Basilone.
Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jim Rash will also star in the movie.
The movie is described as being infused with magical realism, and follows a down-on-his-luck struggling writer Bart (Wittrock) and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who suddenly enters his life at the right time.
The film reunites Basilone, Wayans Jr. and Wilson, who previously worked together on beloved ABC series Happy Endings.
Producing is Deanna Barillari ...
Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Jim Rash will also star in the movie.
The movie is described as being infused with magical realism, and follows a down-on-his-luck struggling writer Bart (Wittrock) and the enigmatic woman (Chao) who suddenly enters his life at the right time.
The film reunites Basilone, Wayans Jr. and Wilson, who previously worked together on beloved ABC series Happy Endings.
Producing is Deanna Barillari ...
- 9/26/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Precious’ director Lee Daniels is an executive producer.
Los Angeles-based Premiere Entertainment Group (Peg) is kicking off talks with Cannes buyers this week on crime drama Pimp starring Keke Palmer and featuring Lee Daniels as executive producer.
Haley Ramm, Vanessa Morgan, Aunjanue Ellis, Edi Gathegi, and Dmx round out the key cast on the Bronx-set urban love story about a female pimp who learned her trade from her father and struggles to survive after he dies, forced to look after her girlfriend and prostitute mother.
Christine Crokos makes her feature directorial debut from her original screenplay. Alexis Varouxakis produces for 1821 Pictures and Adrenaline Entertainment,...
Los Angeles-based Premiere Entertainment Group (Peg) is kicking off talks with Cannes buyers this week on crime drama Pimp starring Keke Palmer and featuring Lee Daniels as executive producer.
Haley Ramm, Vanessa Morgan, Aunjanue Ellis, Edi Gathegi, and Dmx round out the key cast on the Bronx-set urban love story about a female pimp who learned her trade from her father and struggles to survive after he dies, forced to look after her girlfriend and prostitute mother.
Christine Crokos makes her feature directorial debut from her original screenplay. Alexis Varouxakis produces for 1821 Pictures and Adrenaline Entertainment,...
- 5/14/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Here’s a first look at Sebastian Stan (Captain America: Civil War) and Denise Gough (Colette) in Monday, the next feature by Greek director Argyris Papadimitropoulos (Suntan). Principal photography recently wrapped on the two-hander co-written by Papadimitropoulos and Rob Hayes.
Monday follows the story of Mickey (Stan) and Chloe (Gough), two Americans in their mid-thirties living in Athens, who meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend. When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can stand the reality of the inevitable Monday.
Said Papadimitropoulos, “The story of Mickey and Chloe is an unflinching and fun take on the romantic relationship of two people, who crave each other but are also hindered by the baggage each brings to the table. Sebastian and Denise were perfect for the roles, they...
Monday follows the story of Mickey (Stan) and Chloe (Gough), two Americans in their mid-thirties living in Athens, who meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend. When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can stand the reality of the inevitable Monday.
Said Papadimitropoulos, “The story of Mickey and Chloe is an unflinching and fun take on the romantic relationship of two people, who crave each other but are also hindered by the baggage each brings to the table. Sebastian and Denise were perfect for the roles, they...
- 12/18/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The first-look image from Greek director Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ “Monday,” starring Sebastian Stan – best known for “I, Tonya” and the “Captain America” movies – and “Colette’s” Denise Gough, has been released. Protagonist Pictures will launch international sales on the pic in Berlin.
“Monday” follows the story of Mickey (Stan) and Chloe (Gough), two Americans in their mid-thirties living in Athens, who “meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend,” according to a statement. “When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can stand the reality of the inevitable Monday.”
Principal photography recently wrapped on the film, which was co-written by Papadimitropoulos and Rob Hayes. It is the director’s fourth feature, following “Suntan,” which won best film at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
“The story of Mickey and Chloe is an...
“Monday” follows the story of Mickey (Stan) and Chloe (Gough), two Americans in their mid-thirties living in Athens, who “meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend,” according to a statement. “When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can stand the reality of the inevitable Monday.”
Principal photography recently wrapped on the film, which was co-written by Papadimitropoulos and Rob Hayes. It is the director’s fourth feature, following “Suntan,” which won best film at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
“The story of Mickey and Chloe is an...
- 12/18/2018
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
After having “Burn the Witch” on repeat for the last few days, you can now add another new Radiohead song to your playlist. As rumored thanks to a slip-up, Paul Thomas Anderson has directed a new music video for “Daydreaming,” from the upcoming album set to be released this Sunday, May 8 at 2 p.m. Est.
The six-minute video finds the Inherent Vice director following Thom Yorke through a dreamscape and a variety of locations, from a hospital to a home to a beach to a mountain. Check out the video below and for more on PTA’s filmography, watch a recent, excellent 2.5-hour video series on his entire career, including his Jonny Greenwood collaborations.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Producers: Sara Murphy, Albert Chi, Erica Frauman
Editor: Andy Jurgensen
Production Companies: Ghoulardi Film Company, m ss ng p eces
Assistant Directors: Adam Somner, Trevor Tavares
Gaffer: Michael Bauman
Key Grip: Jim Kwiatkowski...
The six-minute video finds the Inherent Vice director following Thom Yorke through a dreamscape and a variety of locations, from a hospital to a home to a beach to a mountain. Check out the video below and for more on PTA’s filmography, watch a recent, excellent 2.5-hour video series on his entire career, including his Jonny Greenwood collaborations.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Producers: Sara Murphy, Albert Chi, Erica Frauman
Editor: Andy Jurgensen
Production Companies: Ghoulardi Film Company, m ss ng p eces
Assistant Directors: Adam Somner, Trevor Tavares
Gaffer: Michael Bauman
Key Grip: Jim Kwiatkowski...
- 5/6/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Sundance Institute has announced the participants for its weeklong Creative Film Producing Initiative at the Sundance Resort in Utah, July 27 – August 3, including nine feature film and documentary projects for the Creative Producing Labs and more than 50 industry leaders for the Creative Producing Summit.
The Institute’s Creative Producing Initiative encompasses a year-round series of Labs, Fellowships, granting and events focusing on nurturing the next generation of independent producers and renewing the community of veteran producers who sustain the vibrancy and vitality of independent film.
The Feature Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – July 31) identifies emerging producers and, under the guidance of Creative Advisors, allows them to develop their creative instincts and evolve their communicating and problem-solving skills at all stages of their feature film project. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Lindsay Doran ("Sense and Sensibility"), Lynette Howell Taylor (The Place Beyond the Pines), Gina Kwon ("Me You and Everyone We Know"), Paul Mezey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Jay Van Hoy (
"Beginners" ) and director Matthew Ross ("28 Hotel Rooms" ).
The Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – August 1) brings together documentarians with award-winning Advisors to focus on their current projects to explore the wide range of creative approaches to distribution, outreach and impact strategies. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Julie Goldman ( "Best of Enemies"), Bonni Cohen ("3 1/2 Minutes," "10 Bullets"), Ryan Werner (Cinetic), Maxyne Franklin (Britdoc), and Wendy Cohen (Picture Motion).
The Creative Producing Summit takes place immediately following the Labs, July 31 – August 3. More than 50 industry leaders will participate in a series of curated panels, case studies, roundtables, and one-on-one meetings addressing critical issues producers face including financing, distribution, audience engagement, marketing and sustainability. Panelists this year include Len Amato (HBO Films),
Michael Barker (Sony Pictures Classics), Dori Begley (Magnolia Pictures), Josh Braun (Submarine), Dan Cogan (Impact Partners), Victoria S. Cook (Frankfurt Kurnit), Danielle Di Giacomo (The Orchard), Fred Dust (Ideo), Ted Hope (Amazon), Micah Green (CAA), John Hoffman (Discovery Channel), Marcus Hu (Strand Releasing), Charles King (MacRo), Jessica Lacy (ICM Partners), Stephanie Langhoff (Duplass Brothers), David Magdael (Tcdm Associates), Victor Moyers (Broad Green), Annie Roney (ro*co Films), John Sloss (Cinetic Media), Graham Taylor (William Morris Endeavor), and Jay Van Hoy (Parts & Labor).
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Feature Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"50 Miles From Boomtown"
Producing Fellow: Alex Scharfman
After years of saving for her hard-earned dream, the only woman working on the fracking fields of North Dakota can finally quit but unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with the young man she's training to take her place. (writer/director Flo Linus Baumann).
Alex Scharfman is a New York-based producer whose past feature credits include "The Heart Machine" and "Lyle," as well as the short film "Superior," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, and the WGA Award-nominated webseries "F to 7th." He is an executive at Parts & Labor Films where he worked on films including "Keep The Lights On" and "Loitering with Intent." He has also produced content for Vice, Google, the Ford Foundation, and At&T. Alex received his BA from Cornell University, is a former Mfa candidate from Nyu’s Tisch School of the Arts, and received his Mba from Nyu’s Stern School of Business.
"Bexar County"
Mark Silverman Honorees and Producing Fellows: Blake Pickens and Stephen Love Jr.
In sunny San Antonio, Texas, where nothing ever changes, a town is turned on its head when a delusional Texas housewife accidentally poisons her son’s fiancée, learning that killing people is an efficient way to solve her problems. (Co-writer/director Catherine Grieve, co-writer Dylan Slocum)
Blake Pickens is from the south side of Oklahoma City, from a neighborhood known as the Flats. Despite the community’s rampant drug use and gang wars, Blake found his way into storytelling with a writing position at National Lampoon. He later attended the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC where he and his producing partner, Stephen Love Jr., formed their company Bs Pictures. They are currently in pre-production on the Steven Caple Jr.’s film The Land and in development on "The Friendship Nine" with producer Nina Yang Bongiovi. Blake’s aspirations are to tell the stories that make people laugh, cry, and ultimately impact their lives.
Stephen Love Jr. grew up in the rural towns of Filbert and Bennettsville, South Carolina. During his time as a business major at Morehouse College, Love founded the Morehouse Filmmakers' Association, for which Spike Lee is the honorary advisor. He also received his Mfa from USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program and formed Bs Pictures with fellow graduate Blake Pickens. Love’s primary career goal is to produce film and television that gives "a voice to the voiceless" while challenging the confines of the business of filmmaking.
"Dolores"
Producing Fellow: Drew Houpt
A restless teenager becomes obsessed with a mysterious Colombian woman who exploits his desire and lures him into her plot for revenge. (Writer/director Mary Angélica Molina)
Drew Houpt is an independent producer based in Brooklyn. For over ten years he was the head of operations at Mike Zoss Productions, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Tribeca-based production company. During that time he worked on the Academy Award-winning "No Country For Old Men" and the Academy Award-nominated "A Serious Man" and "True Grit." He served as Associate Producer on the Coens’ Grand Prix-winning "Inside Llewyn Davis" and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Academy Award-winning film "Birdman: or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance." This past year he co-produced Maris Curran’s directorial-debut "Five Nights in Maine" and produced "Every Day,' a short documentary for Espn’s 30 for 30 Shorts series that had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. He has also produced music videos for the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and an experimental documentary, "When A Priest Marries A Witch," by Suzanne Bocanegra.
"Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist"
Producing Fellow: Deanna Barillari
When Iranian-born Rita Mahtoubian sets out to change her life from ordinary to extraordinary, she accidentally captures the attention of a homeland security agent in this satirical comedy about romance, terrorism and trying to be a better person. (Co-writers/directors Roja Gashtili & Julia Lerman)
Upon graduating Nyu Tisch, Deanna Barillari co-founded a non-profit theater company producing Off-Off-Broadway plays, including the NYC premiere of Leslye Headland's "Cinephilia" (2008), which funded in-school arts initiatives in the NYC Public School system. She then went on to work in TV on NBC's "Mercy" (2009), CBS’ "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (2010), ABC’s "Pan Am," 86th Oscars (Ellen DeGeneres; 2014) and in Drama Development at Universal Television. Recently, she collaborated with AFI Dww Fellows Roja Gashtili and Julia Lerman, producing their web-series K(ID) starring Caterina Scorsone ("Grey's Anatomy") and their short "Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist" starring Patrick Fugit ("Almost Famous") which made its World Premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. She also produces for the La based Ovation Award-winning Iama Theatre Company.
"The Space Between"
Producing Fellow: Angela C. Lee
A female body builder devotes her life to turning ‘pro’ when she unexpectedly falls in love, forcing her to confront her fractured past with her dying father. (Writer/director Philiane Phang)
Angela C. Lee is a Los Angeles based independent producer. She produced "Songs My Brothers Taught Me," which premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and recently screened in the Directors’ Fortnight program at the Cannes Film Festival. Angela is also the Artist Development Manager at Film Independent, where she oversees the selection process and curriculum for the Filmmaker Labs program, including Screenwriting, Directing, Producing, and Documentary Labs, the Fast Track Finance Market and the Fox Writers Intensive, managed in conjunction with Fox Audience Strategy. Previously, Angela served as Director of Creative Affairs at New York based Vox3 Films. Prior to her career in film, Angela was an Associate at Goldman Sachs. A native Chicagoan, Angela graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics and is on the Board of Directors for the University of Chicago National Arts Alumni Network.
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"Brick"
Co-Directors/Producers: Jessica Dimmock & Christopher Lamarca
"Brick" reveals the raw emotional and physical experience of being a middle aged to senior transgender woman coming out for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. The film follows three intersecting stories of individuals who have lived their whole lives as men and decided this burdensome secret is one they can no longer keep.
Jessica Dimmock is the recipient of the 2013 World Press Photo Multimedia Contest as the director and cinematographer of the online feature, "Too Young to Wed." In 2010, Dimmock won Kodak's Best Cinematography Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival for "Without." The film premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, received an Independent Spirit Award, and was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award. Dimmock contributed two short films to Doctors Without Borders' Emmy-nominated campaign, “Starved for Attention.” Her first photojournalism project, “The Ninth Floor” was published as a monograph. Most recently, she worked as photographer and videographer for Emmy-nominated HBO series, "The Weight of the Nation." She is represented by VII agency.
Christopher Lamarca is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker and based in Portland, Oregon. Lamarca has recently entered post-production on his first feature length film, "Boone." In 2012, it was chosen as one of eight films for Film Independent's Documentary Film lab. Lamarca's monograph, “Forest Defenders: The Confrontational American Landscape ” was published by PowerHouse Books in 2008. He was chosen to participate in the International Center of Photography’s triennial exhibition (2007), New York Photo festival (2009) and Lishui photo festival in China (2010). He reported on environmental and energy issues for magazines such as Rolling Stone, GQ, Fortune, and Newsweek.
"The Island and the Whales" (working title)
Directore/Producer: Mike Day
The pilot whale hunters of the Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local professor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, and the seabirds populations collapse, environmental changes threaten to change the community and their way of life forever.
Mike Day is a Scottish director and producer. Formerly a lawyer in London and the Middle East he founded Intrepid Cinema in 2009 before heading out into the North Atlantic to make his previous film. His debut documentary "The Guga Hunters of Ness" broadcast on the BBC in 2011 and screened at festivals internationally to critical acclaim. It was while at sea in the Atlantic that he met a group of Faroese sailors, leading to his next film. Mike was listed as one of '10 Filmmakers to Watch' by Filmmaker Magazine, he was one of Edn's ’12 for the Future 2012’, and is supported by the Scottish Documentary Institute's Docscene programme. Intrepid Cinema also has two other feature documentaries in development.
"The Road From Hainan"
Director/Producer: Nanfu Wang
State surveillance. Harassment. Imprisonment. Human rights activist Ye Haiyan, Aka Sparrow, knew she faced these risks when she went to Hainan Province to seek justice for six elementary school girls who were sexually abused by their principal. But the scale and intensity of the government's reaction surprised even the most seasoned activists across China.
"The Road From Hainan" follows Sparrow as she was chased from town to town by local governments, national secret police, and even her own neighbors. Nanfu Wang is a documentary filmmaker based in New York. Originally from a remote village in China, Wang overcame poverty and lack of access to formal secondary education and went on to earn graduate degrees in communications and documentary film from universities in China and the United States. Her work often features the stories of marginalized or mistreated people, from Chinese blood donors stricken with HIV after being issued used needles by the government to the left-behind children of migrant laborers. During the production of her first full-length documentary, Wang lived on the streets of Miami with a homeless former drug dealer who relied on the kindness of strangers for his survival. Wang’s short films have been distributed on many platforms and translated into several languages, and she continues to seek out and tell the stories of people who have been ignored by their societies.
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four"
Director/Producer: Deborah Esquenazi
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four" excavates the nightmarish persecution of Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez — four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted of allegedly gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio, Texas. The film also unravels the sinister interplay of mythology, homophobia and prosecutorial fervor which led to this modern day witch hunt during the 'Satanic Sexual Abuse Panic' of the late-80's and early-90's in the United States.
Deborah S. Esquenazi is an Austin, Texas-based documentary film and radio producer, instructor, and journalist. Her in-progress documentary feature, "Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four," has received international attention for its investigation into this controversial criminal case, and has been mentioned in Forbes Magazine, New York Times, Texas Observer, Vice Magazine, among others. Her film and radio documentaries have been funded by Chicken & Egg Pictures, Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Initiative, Humanities Texas, Astraea Global Arts Fund, and many others.
The Institute’s Creative Producing Initiative encompasses a year-round series of Labs, Fellowships, granting and events focusing on nurturing the next generation of independent producers and renewing the community of veteran producers who sustain the vibrancy and vitality of independent film.
The Feature Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – July 31) identifies emerging producers and, under the guidance of Creative Advisors, allows them to develop their creative instincts and evolve their communicating and problem-solving skills at all stages of their feature film project. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Lindsay Doran ("Sense and Sensibility"), Lynette Howell Taylor (The Place Beyond the Pines), Gina Kwon ("Me You and Everyone We Know"), Paul Mezey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Jay Van Hoy (
"Beginners" ) and director Matthew Ross ("28 Hotel Rooms" ).
The Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab (July 27 – August 1) brings together documentarians with award-winning Advisors to focus on their current projects to explore the wide range of creative approaches to distribution, outreach and impact strategies. This year’s Creative Advisors include producers Julie Goldman ( "Best of Enemies"), Bonni Cohen ("3 1/2 Minutes," "10 Bullets"), Ryan Werner (Cinetic), Maxyne Franklin (Britdoc), and Wendy Cohen (Picture Motion).
The Creative Producing Summit takes place immediately following the Labs, July 31 – August 3. More than 50 industry leaders will participate in a series of curated panels, case studies, roundtables, and one-on-one meetings addressing critical issues producers face including financing, distribution, audience engagement, marketing and sustainability. Panelists this year include Len Amato (HBO Films),
Michael Barker (Sony Pictures Classics), Dori Begley (Magnolia Pictures), Josh Braun (Submarine), Dan Cogan (Impact Partners), Victoria S. Cook (Frankfurt Kurnit), Danielle Di Giacomo (The Orchard), Fred Dust (Ideo), Ted Hope (Amazon), Micah Green (CAA), John Hoffman (Discovery Channel), Marcus Hu (Strand Releasing), Charles King (MacRo), Jessica Lacy (ICM Partners), Stephanie Langhoff (Duplass Brothers), David Magdael (Tcdm Associates), Victor Moyers (Broad Green), Annie Roney (ro*co Films), John Sloss (Cinetic Media), Graham Taylor (William Morris Endeavor), and Jay Van Hoy (Parts & Labor).
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Feature Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"50 Miles From Boomtown"
Producing Fellow: Alex Scharfman
After years of saving for her hard-earned dream, the only woman working on the fracking fields of North Dakota can finally quit but unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with the young man she's training to take her place. (writer/director Flo Linus Baumann).
Alex Scharfman is a New York-based producer whose past feature credits include "The Heart Machine" and "Lyle," as well as the short film "Superior," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, and the WGA Award-nominated webseries "F to 7th." He is an executive at Parts & Labor Films where he worked on films including "Keep The Lights On" and "Loitering with Intent." He has also produced content for Vice, Google, the Ford Foundation, and At&T. Alex received his BA from Cornell University, is a former Mfa candidate from Nyu’s Tisch School of the Arts, and received his Mba from Nyu’s Stern School of Business.
"Bexar County"
Mark Silverman Honorees and Producing Fellows: Blake Pickens and Stephen Love Jr.
In sunny San Antonio, Texas, where nothing ever changes, a town is turned on its head when a delusional Texas housewife accidentally poisons her son’s fiancée, learning that killing people is an efficient way to solve her problems. (Co-writer/director Catherine Grieve, co-writer Dylan Slocum)
Blake Pickens is from the south side of Oklahoma City, from a neighborhood known as the Flats. Despite the community’s rampant drug use and gang wars, Blake found his way into storytelling with a writing position at National Lampoon. He later attended the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC where he and his producing partner, Stephen Love Jr., formed their company Bs Pictures. They are currently in pre-production on the Steven Caple Jr.’s film The Land and in development on "The Friendship Nine" with producer Nina Yang Bongiovi. Blake’s aspirations are to tell the stories that make people laugh, cry, and ultimately impact their lives.
Stephen Love Jr. grew up in the rural towns of Filbert and Bennettsville, South Carolina. During his time as a business major at Morehouse College, Love founded the Morehouse Filmmakers' Association, for which Spike Lee is the honorary advisor. He also received his Mfa from USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program and formed Bs Pictures with fellow graduate Blake Pickens. Love’s primary career goal is to produce film and television that gives "a voice to the voiceless" while challenging the confines of the business of filmmaking.
"Dolores"
Producing Fellow: Drew Houpt
A restless teenager becomes obsessed with a mysterious Colombian woman who exploits his desire and lures him into her plot for revenge. (Writer/director Mary Angélica Molina)
Drew Houpt is an independent producer based in Brooklyn. For over ten years he was the head of operations at Mike Zoss Productions, Joel and Ethan Coen’s Tribeca-based production company. During that time he worked on the Academy Award-winning "No Country For Old Men" and the Academy Award-nominated "A Serious Man" and "True Grit." He served as Associate Producer on the Coens’ Grand Prix-winning "Inside Llewyn Davis" and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Academy Award-winning film "Birdman: or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance." This past year he co-produced Maris Curran’s directorial-debut "Five Nights in Maine" and produced "Every Day,' a short documentary for Espn’s 30 for 30 Shorts series that had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015. He has also produced music videos for the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and an experimental documentary, "When A Priest Marries A Witch," by Suzanne Bocanegra.
"Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist"
Producing Fellow: Deanna Barillari
When Iranian-born Rita Mahtoubian sets out to change her life from ordinary to extraordinary, she accidentally captures the attention of a homeland security agent in this satirical comedy about romance, terrorism and trying to be a better person. (Co-writers/directors Roja Gashtili & Julia Lerman)
Upon graduating Nyu Tisch, Deanna Barillari co-founded a non-profit theater company producing Off-Off-Broadway plays, including the NYC premiere of Leslye Headland's "Cinephilia" (2008), which funded in-school arts initiatives in the NYC Public School system. She then went on to work in TV on NBC's "Mercy" (2009), CBS’ "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" (2010), ABC’s "Pan Am," 86th Oscars (Ellen DeGeneres; 2014) and in Drama Development at Universal Television. Recently, she collaborated with AFI Dww Fellows Roja Gashtili and Julia Lerman, producing their web-series K(ID) starring Caterina Scorsone ("Grey's Anatomy") and their short "Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist" starring Patrick Fugit ("Almost Famous") which made its World Premiere at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. She also produces for the La based Ovation Award-winning Iama Theatre Company.
"The Space Between"
Producing Fellow: Angela C. Lee
A female body builder devotes her life to turning ‘pro’ when she unexpectedly falls in love, forcing her to confront her fractured past with her dying father. (Writer/director Philiane Phang)
Angela C. Lee is a Los Angeles based independent producer. She produced "Songs My Brothers Taught Me," which premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and recently screened in the Directors’ Fortnight program at the Cannes Film Festival. Angela is also the Artist Development Manager at Film Independent, where she oversees the selection process and curriculum for the Filmmaker Labs program, including Screenwriting, Directing, Producing, and Documentary Labs, the Fast Track Finance Market and the Fox Writers Intensive, managed in conjunction with Fox Audience Strategy. Previously, Angela served as Director of Creative Affairs at New York based Vox3 Films. Prior to her career in film, Angela was an Associate at Goldman Sachs. A native Chicagoan, Angela graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics and is on the Board of Directors for the University of Chicago National Arts Alumni Network.
The Fellows and projects selected for the 2015 Documentary Film Creative Producing Lab are:
"Brick"
Co-Directors/Producers: Jessica Dimmock & Christopher Lamarca
"Brick" reveals the raw emotional and physical experience of being a middle aged to senior transgender woman coming out for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. The film follows three intersecting stories of individuals who have lived their whole lives as men and decided this burdensome secret is one they can no longer keep.
Jessica Dimmock is the recipient of the 2013 World Press Photo Multimedia Contest as the director and cinematographer of the online feature, "Too Young to Wed." In 2010, Dimmock won Kodak's Best Cinematography Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival for "Without." The film premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, received an Independent Spirit Award, and was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award. Dimmock contributed two short films to Doctors Without Borders' Emmy-nominated campaign, “Starved for Attention.” Her first photojournalism project, “The Ninth Floor” was published as a monograph. Most recently, she worked as photographer and videographer for Emmy-nominated HBO series, "The Weight of the Nation." She is represented by VII agency.
Christopher Lamarca is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker and based in Portland, Oregon. Lamarca has recently entered post-production on his first feature length film, "Boone." In 2012, it was chosen as one of eight films for Film Independent's Documentary Film lab. Lamarca's monograph, “Forest Defenders: The Confrontational American Landscape ” was published by PowerHouse Books in 2008. He was chosen to participate in the International Center of Photography’s triennial exhibition (2007), New York Photo festival (2009) and Lishui photo festival in China (2010). He reported on environmental and energy issues for magazines such as Rolling Stone, GQ, Fortune, and Newsweek.
"The Island and the Whales" (working title)
Directore/Producer: Mike Day
The pilot whale hunters of the Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local professor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, and the seabirds populations collapse, environmental changes threaten to change the community and their way of life forever.
Mike Day is a Scottish director and producer. Formerly a lawyer in London and the Middle East he founded Intrepid Cinema in 2009 before heading out into the North Atlantic to make his previous film. His debut documentary "The Guga Hunters of Ness" broadcast on the BBC in 2011 and screened at festivals internationally to critical acclaim. It was while at sea in the Atlantic that he met a group of Faroese sailors, leading to his next film. Mike was listed as one of '10 Filmmakers to Watch' by Filmmaker Magazine, he was one of Edn's ’12 for the Future 2012’, and is supported by the Scottish Documentary Institute's Docscene programme. Intrepid Cinema also has two other feature documentaries in development.
"The Road From Hainan"
Director/Producer: Nanfu Wang
State surveillance. Harassment. Imprisonment. Human rights activist Ye Haiyan, Aka Sparrow, knew she faced these risks when she went to Hainan Province to seek justice for six elementary school girls who were sexually abused by their principal. But the scale and intensity of the government's reaction surprised even the most seasoned activists across China.
"The Road From Hainan" follows Sparrow as she was chased from town to town by local governments, national secret police, and even her own neighbors. Nanfu Wang is a documentary filmmaker based in New York. Originally from a remote village in China, Wang overcame poverty and lack of access to formal secondary education and went on to earn graduate degrees in communications and documentary film from universities in China and the United States. Her work often features the stories of marginalized or mistreated people, from Chinese blood donors stricken with HIV after being issued used needles by the government to the left-behind children of migrant laborers. During the production of her first full-length documentary, Wang lived on the streets of Miami with a homeless former drug dealer who relied on the kindness of strangers for his survival. Wang’s short films have been distributed on many platforms and translated into several languages, and she continues to seek out and tell the stories of people who have been ignored by their societies.
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four"
Director/Producer: Deborah Esquenazi
"Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four" excavates the nightmarish persecution of Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassandra Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez — four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted of allegedly gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio, Texas. The film also unravels the sinister interplay of mythology, homophobia and prosecutorial fervor which led to this modern day witch hunt during the 'Satanic Sexual Abuse Panic' of the late-80's and early-90's in the United States.
Deborah S. Esquenazi is an Austin, Texas-based documentary film and radio producer, instructor, and journalist. Her in-progress documentary feature, "Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four," has received international attention for its investigation into this controversial criminal case, and has been mentioned in Forbes Magazine, New York Times, Texas Observer, Vice Magazine, among others. Her film and radio documentaries have been funded by Chicken & Egg Pictures, Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Initiative, Humanities Texas, Astraea Global Arts Fund, and many others.
- 7/20/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
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