Exclusive articles:
Magnolia Adds ‘Barry Munday’ to the Family Jewels
Magnolia Pictures have picked one more SXSW offering, this time grabbing the rights to Chris D'Arienzo's directorial debut. A project that was in development since 2005 and had Patrick Wilson in the original lead role (it eventually landed Patrick Wilson), Barry Munday has a varied cast in Judy Greer, Cybill Shepherd, Malcolm McDowell, Chloe Sevigny, Colin Hanks, Billy Dee Williams, Shea Whigham, and Jean Smart. Magnolia releases the pic in its usual one month VOD (August 27th) and then a theatrical release on October 1st.
Ole Bornedal to Helm Epic Battle ‘Slaughterhouse Dybbol’
The "Millennium trilogy" will have been a turning point for Scandi and German region co-productions - after Von Trier's Antichrist and pending Melancholia, it's now fellow countryman Ole Bornedal who'll embark on a project that'll lense in 2012 and will see the European countries of the North co-produce with Denmark’s Miso Film. Slaughterhouse Dybbøl (Slagtebænk Dybbøl) will be split into two films and receive a "Carlos"-like treatment and becomes yet another example of an auteur filmmaker crossing over into miniseries concept.
Scott Ellis Set for Big Screen Debut with ‘Taravella’
American stage director (Off-Broadway and Broadway) and television director (Weeds) Scott Ellis will be receiving his big silver screen break this coming autumn on a project that has been shepherded by some first time producers (in Victoria Wisdom and John Miranda), new kid on the block production co. of Winchester Capital Management, and will constitute a comeback of sorts for Artificial Intelligence: AI and The Chumscrubber producer Bonnie Curtis.
Indie Drama ‘Margin Call’ Invests in Simon Baker and Paul Bettany
Now that casting has been completed (adding Simon Baker and Paul Bettany), if I were a distributor, I'd hedge my bets on the prospectus on this indie drama about the recent financial crisis. To be directed by first timer J.C. Chandor, the pic also has Zachary Quinto and vets Kevin Spacey and Stanley Tucci. Filming begins next week in New York on Margin Call...
Film Movement Grab Cannes winning ‘A Screaming Man’
Film Movement have made their first Cannes purchase - picking up the Jury Prize winning pic Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's A Screaming Man and are setting it up for a first quarter release next year - with what I imagine will be a generous showings in film festivals in North America.
