HK AND CULT FILM NEWS: Theater

Showing posts with label Theater. Show all posts

Thursday, June 6, 2024

A GOOD WOMAN -- Movie Review by Porfle

(This review originally appeared online in 2006 and was reposted on 3/4/13.)

When I first saw the trailer, I got the impression this was going to be an utterly serious drama about infidelity. So I was pretty surprised to find that A GOOD WOMAN (2004) is not only studiously droll, but it's based on Oscar Wilde's play "Lady Windermere's Fan."

I like Oscar Wilde because no matter what he wrote, almost every page has several quotable quips that are amusingly clever and insightful, or just amusingly snide. This movie has a good number of such lines, but I only recognized a few of them from the play itself, so scriptwriter Howard Himelstein must've either come up with them on his own or mined other Oscar Wilde works for them, or both.

"Some women bring happiness wherever they go. Others--whenever they go."

The latter is certainly true of Mrs. Erlynne (Helen Hunt), whose livelihood consists of leeching off of well-to-do married men until their wives finally get wise and start closing her bank accounts. Currently finding herself without such support, she hops an ocean liner to Italy in search of greener wallets and soon casts a predatory eye on the husband of young Lady Windermeyer (Scarlett Johansson), or "Meg" when she's at home.

Meg and Robert (Mark Umbers) have been married for only a year and are blissfully happy, which will soon change drastically after Mrs. Erlynne encounters Robert in a shop as he's picking out a gift for Meg's birthday. Mrs. Erlynne persuades him to buy her a fan, which will figure prominently in the plot later on, and then goes about sinking her claws into him.

"Marital bliss is a great burden to place on two people. Sometimes a third person is needed to lighten the load."

Before long, all the wealthy vacationers along the Italian coast are abuzz with gossip about Robert's numerous secret visits to "that wicked woman's" apartment, especially the dotty old Contessa Lucchino (Milena Vukotic). Not only is she Meg's friend, but her brother-in-law Tuppy (Tom Wilkinson, who played Carmine Falcone in BATMAN BEGINS and is very likable here) has fallen under Mrs. Erlynne's spell and is resolved to marry her despite her infamous reputation.

Meanwhile, the amorous and gleefully immoral Lord Darlington (Stephen Campbell Moore) has the hots for Meg and is circling around her seemingly doomed marriage like a vulture. And Meg, of course, eventually discovers what everyone else is already gossiping their heads off about and is devastated.

Up to that point, A GOOD WOMAN seems to be a rather dry attempt at comedy with an overly-realistic tone, and the fact that most of the characters go around spouting impossibly witty, though amusing, one-liners with every breath gives the dialogue an artificial quality. These jaded sophisticates just aren't farcical enough to rattle off epigrams like "sausages and women--if you want to enjoy the experience, never watch the preparation of either" or "I like America...name me another society that's gone from barbarism to decadence without bothering to create a civilization in between" off the top of their heads. That sort of thing plays okay in a broader comedy, especially if it's being performed onstage and set in an earlier era. But against the backdrop of the Italian coast in 1930, with the realistic atmosphere and period detail of a film like THE GREAT GATSBY, it seems almost surreal.

And when Meg happens to look through her husband's checkbook and finds that he's been paying large sums of money to Mrs. Erlynne all along (the final tip-off that he's cheating on her), the movie takes a somewhat jarring turn into the utter seriousness that the trailer seemed to suggest. Director Mike Barker even gives us a shot in which an overhead camera pulls slowly away from Meg as she sits at the desk, heartbroken. Later, on Lord Darlington's yacht after Meg has made the agonizing decision to leave Robert and run away with her foppish admirer, a final showdown between Meg and Mrs. Erlynne is painfully melodramatic, almost soap-operatic. There's even a "you're hurting me!" thrown in for good measure (I thought Frank Drebin was the only person who could still say that with a straight face).

So, curious as to just how far the tone of A GOOD WOMAN had strayed from the play on which it is based, I resolved to actually read "Lady Windermere's Fan." To my surprise, the original play isn't the lighthearted farce I expected it to be. There are a lot of great comedy lines and funny situations, to be sure, but there's also a good deal of straight-faced drama. Although the movie takes enormous liberties with the play, the most important scenes--Meg's birthday party being disrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Erlynne, their confrontation at Lord Darlington's, and the final resolution--are represented well enough to remain more or less true to the tone of the play.

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

The best part of the movie, in fact, is its handling of the play's final act, in which Mrs. Erlynne pays a last, highly-emotional visit to the Windermere home and finds redemption. Earlier on, there's a huge plot twist that I'm not even going to hint to you about, and the way it and everything else is resolved in the end is very satisfying, right up to a final surprise just before the fade-out that actually put a smile on my face. So, while I had mixed feelings about the rest of A GOOD WOMAN, the fact that I felt pretty good about it when it was over compels me to cut it considerable slack.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

My Favorite Scene From My Favorite Episode Of "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

"Where Silence Has Lease" (S2/E2) was written by Gene Roddenberry and "Wrath of Khan" co-writer Jack B. Sowards.

It's one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's darkest and most suspenseful episodes.

This is due in large part to a superb score by Ron Jones...

...and one of the series' most nail-biting countdown endings.

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" owned by Paramount Pictures.

Video by Porfle Popnecker. I neither own nor claim any rights to this material. Just having some fun with it. Thanks for watching!

Monday, January 31, 2022

Liam Neeson in "BLACKLIGHT" In Theatres on February 11 -- Watch The Trailer HERE!

From Briarcliff Entertainment

"BLACKLIGHT"

Coming To Theaters February 11, 2022

Trust, identity, and the danger of unchecked power push a covert operative to the edge in director Mark Williams’ intense action thriller Blacklight.

Travis Block (Neeson) lives and fights in the shadows. A freelance government “fixer,” Block is a dangerous man whose assignments have included extracting agents out of deep-cover situations.

When Block discovers a shadowy program called Operation Unity is striking down ordinary citizens for reasons known only to Block’s boss, FBI chief Robinson (Quinn), he enlists the help of a journalist (Raver-Lampman), but his past and present collide when his daughter and granddaughter are threatened.

Now Block needs to rescue the people he loves and expose the truth for a shot at redemption. Nothing and no one is safe when secrets are hidden in Blacklight.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER HERE:

Directed By: Mark Williams
Written By: Nick May and Mark Williams
Starring: Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Emmy Raver-Lampman
Produced By: Mark Willams, Paul Currie, Myles Nestel, Alevé Loh, Coco Xiaqlu Ma

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Joel Coen’s "THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH" Starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand -- See New Trailer HERE!

“The Tragedy of Macbeth” is now playing in select theaters and will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on January 14, 2022

Today Apple & A24 unveiled the new trailer for the Joel Coen film, “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand star in Joel Coen’s bold and fierce adaptation—a tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning.

Apple Original Films presents an A24 and IAC Films production, “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” based on the play by William Shakespeare and written for the screen and directed by Joel Coen. The film stars Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling and Brendan Gleeson. The producers are Joel Coen, Frances McDormand and Robert Graf. The film features casting by Ellen Chenoweth, music by Carter Burwell, costumes by Mary Zophres, editing by Lucian Johnston and Reginald Jaynes, production design by Stefan Dechant and cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel.

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 183 wins and 702 awards nominations.

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.

Director And Writer: Joel Coen

Cast: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling, Brendan Gleeson, Kathryn Hunter, Moses Ingram

Producers: Joel Coen, Frances McDormand, Robert Graf

Thursday, December 9, 2021

TCM Big Screen Classics Series -- A Year of Anniversary Screenings Come to Cinemas in 2022

FATHOM EVENTS Presents

A Year of Anniversary Screenings Coming to Cinemas in 2022 With the TCM Big Screen Classics Series

Turner Classic Movies and Fathom Events Bring a Dozen Beloved Films to Movie Theaters Nationwide Monthly

DENVER – December 9, 2021 – Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies are proud to announce the titles for the eighth annual TCM Big Screen Classics series, this year celebrating the anniversaries of 12 of Tinseltown’s most beloved motion pictures. Honoring acclaimed films, from the 40th anniversary of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, to the 80th anniversary of the lauded Casablanca, plus 10 films representing decades in between, the TCM Big Screen Classics series has something for everyone in 2022.

Each film is presented with pristine digital projection and movie-theater-quality sound, and in its original aspect ratio as intended by the filmmakers. The TCM Big Screen Classics series is further enhanced with fascinating pre- and post-feature insights presented by popular TCM hosts, including TCM Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz.

Films in the 2022 TCM Big Screen Classics series include:

    Casablanca 80th Anniversary
    Lady Sings the Blues 50th Anniversary
    The Quiet Man 70th Anniversary
    Singin' In The Rain 70th Anniversary
    Smokey and the Bandit 45th Anniversary
    What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 60th Anniversary
    Cabaret 50th Anniversary
    Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 40th Anniversary
    Poltergeist 40th Anniversary
    In the Heat of the Night 55th Anniversary
    To Kill A Mockingbird 60th Anniversary
    It's A Wonderful Life - Celebrating 75 Years

Since its start in 2015, the TCM Big Screen Classics series has proved to be an annual fan favorite and many events in the series go on to be top performers at the box office.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with TCM to bring some of the greatest films ever made back to the big screen,” said Fathom Events Vice President of Studio Relations, Tom Lucas. “We are excited to announce a line-up of anniversary titles that span five decades and cover all genres of film!”

“There is nothing that matches the joy of seeing a classic in the movie theater, and next year will see a slate of films celebrating anniversaries from every genre that will excite movie lovers of all kinds, in every corner of the country,” said Genevieve McGillicuddy, Vice President of Enterprises and Strategic Partnerships, TCM. “With this series, we hope fans will re-discover films they love and also experience new-to-them films for the first time.”

Tickets for the TCM Big Screen Classics 2022 series are on-sale now at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of events in the series and to purchase tickets, visit the Fathom Events website. Please continue to check the Fathom Events website for updates and to sign up for alerts.

The TCM Big Screen Classics coming soon to select cinemas nationwide are:

Casablanca 80th Anniversary (1942)
DATE: Jan. 23 & 26
CAST: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid
SCREENPLAY BY: Julius J. Epstein, Philip Epstein, and Howard Koch
DIRECTED BY: Michael Curtiz

As time goes by, some movies age – but Casablanca remains timeless. Perhaps no other movie has become as beloved and as synonymous with Hollywood glamour as Casablanca. The film received the Academy Award® for Best Picture and became one of the most classic films of all time.

Lady Sings the Blues 50th Anniversary (1972)
DATE: Feb. 20 & 23
CAST: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, and Scatman Crothers
SCREENPLAY BY: Suzanne de Passe, Chris Clark, and Terence McCloy
DIRECTED BY: Sidney J. Furie

Lady Sings the Blues was nominated for five Academy Awards®, including Diana Ross for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of the legendary Billie Holiday. The film brilliantly captures the essence of one of America’s most loved and memorable blues singers.

The Quiet Man 70th Anniversary (1952)
DATE: Mar. 13 & 17
CAST: John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond, and Victor McLaglen
SCREENPLAY BY: Frank S. Nugent
DIRECTED BY: John Ford

John Wayne stars as an ex-boxer who retires to Ireland and searches for a wife. With this film, John Ford won his fourth Academy Award® for Best Director, a record which still stands today, and Winton Hoch took home the Oscar® for Best Cinematography.


Singin' in the Rain 70th Anniversary (1952)
DATE: Apr. 10 & 13
CAST: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, and Cyd Charisse
SCREENPLAY BY: Adolph Green and Betty Comden
DIRECTED BY: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen

Winner of two Oscars and responsible for people dancing around light posts worldwide, Singin' in the Rain, directed and wonderfully choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, is a humorous portrayal of Hollywood in the late 1920s, as the three stars portray performers caught up in the shift from silent films to "the talkies.”

Smokey and the Bandit 45th Anniversary (1977)
DATE: May 29, Jun. 1 & 2
CAST: Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason, and Paul Williams
SCREENPLAY BY: James Lee Barrett, Charles Shyer, and Alan Mandel
DIRECTED BY: Hal Needham

Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason are in high gear and hot water after a cross-country road challenge results in one of the wildest series of car chases and crashes ever filmed!

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 60th Anniversary (1962)
DATE: Jun. 12 & 15
CAST: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Victor Buono
SCREENPLAY BY: Lukas Heller
DIRECTED BY: Robert Aldrich

A bona fide “cult classic,” What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a psychological thriller that spins a tale of an aging former child star, "Baby Jane" Hudson (Davis), as she torments her wheelchair-bound former movie star sister (Crawford) in an old Hollywood mansion.

Cabaret 50th Anniversary (1972)
DATE: Jul 17 & 20
CAST: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Marisa Berenson, Fritz Wepper, and Joel Grey
SCREENPLAY BY: Jay Presson Allen, John Kander and Fred Ebb
DIRECTED BY: Bob Fosse

A winner of eight Academy Awards®, including Best Director for Bob Fosse, Best Actress for Liza Minnelli, and Best Supporting Actor for Joel Grey, the stylish musical Cabaret, set in 1930’s Weimar Republic era Berlin, has cemented its place among Hollywood’s all-time best-loved films and influential musicals to this day.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 40th Anniversary (1982)
DATE: Sept. 4, 5 & 8
CAST: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Paul Winfield, Kirstie Alley, and Ricardo Montalbán
SCREENPLAY BY: Jack B. Sowards
DIRECTED BY: Nicholas Meyer

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is one of the most celebrated and essential chapters in Star Trek lore. On routine training maneuvers, Admiral James T. Kirk seems resigned that this may be the last space mission of his career. But an adversary from the past has returned with a vengeance.


Poltergeist 40th Anniversary (1982)
DATE: Sept. 25, 26 & 28
CAST: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Heather O'Rourke, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins, and Zelda Rubinstein
SCREENPLAY BY: Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor
DIRECTED BY: Tobe Hooper

“They're here!” exclaims five-year-old Carol Anne in this horror classic as ghosts appear through the static on her family’s television. While the spirits seem friendly at first, using the TV as their portal to enter the home, they kidnap her. “Don’t go into the light, Carol Anne.”


In the Heat of the Night 55th Anniversary (1967)
DATE: Oct. 16 & 19
CAST: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, and Lee Grant
SCREENPLAY BY: Stirling Silliphant
DIRECTED BY: Norman Jewison

“They call me Mister Tibbs.” In this five-time Academy Award® winning, including Best Picture, drama, a wealthy industrialist is found murdered in a small Mississippi town and when an African-American man is picked up at the train station with a wallet full of cash, local Police Chief Bill Gillespie immediately assumes he has caught his culprit. He’s soon embarrassed to learn that the man he has arrested is Detective Virgil Tibbs, an experienced police officer from Philadelphia. The unlikely pair are forced to work together to unravel the mystery, leading them on a line of enquiry that will challenge both of their preconceptions.

To Kill A Mockingbird 60th Anniversary (1962)
DATE: Nov. 13 & 16
CAST: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, John Megna, Ruth White, Paul Fix, Brock Peters, and Frank Overton
SCREENPLAY BY: Horton Foote
DIRECTED BY: Robert Mulligan

Gregory Peck won an Academy Award® for his brilliant portrayal of a Southern lawyer who compassionately defends a Black man wrongly accused of rape in this film version of the Harper Lee novel.

It's A Wonderful Life - Celebrating 75 Years (1946)
DATE: Dec. 18 & 21
CAST: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, and Gloria Grahame
SCREENPLAY BY: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Frank Capra
DIRECTED BY: Frank Capra

Take a trip to Bedford Falls to celebrate 75 years of director Frank Capra’s timeless classic It’s A Wonderful Life.   Named the #1 most inspiring film of all time by the American Film Institute, It’s A Wonderful Life has touched generations of viewers with its uplifting and life-affirming message of hope.

"Academy Award®" and/or "Oscar®" is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Level 33 Entertainment Releases "LA FLAMME ROUGE" - Available In Theaters and On Demand 11/5/21

REACH THE FINISH LINE. ESCAPE THE NIGHTMARE.

"LA FLAMME ROUGE"

AVAILABLE IN THEATERS & ON DEMAND 11/5/21

LA FLAMME ROUGE stars an ensemble cast of Twin Peaks alums (Balthazar Getty, Nicole LaLiberté, George Griffith), cult legends Clint Howard (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Todd Lowe (HBO’s True Blood), Josh Martin (Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection) and electric newcomers Colby Coash (Former Nebraska State Senator, It Snows All The Time), Charlie McElveen (12 Midnight), Sebastian Quinn (TV Series Doomsday). Executive Produced by Balthazar Getty (Lord of the Flies) and written & directed by The Maze Brothers Brent & Derek (Cyanide Syndicate: Blueprint, A$AP Lotto: Smooth City).

CAST: Balthazar Getty, Clint Howard, Nicole LaLiberté, Todd Lowe, George Griffith, Charlie McElveen, Sebastian Quinn, Josh Martin, Colby Coash

WATCH THE TRAILER:

LA FLAMME ROUGE | DRAMA - THRILLER - CRIME - HORROR - INDEPENDENT | English | 94 min. | NR TV-14

FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER!

WINNER Audience Award Best Feature — Omaha Film Festival

WINNER Best Original Score — Paris Film Festival

NOMINATED Festival Award Best Drama / Thriller Feature Film — Anatolia International Film Festival

NOMINATED Best Cinematography — ARFF Around International Film Festival

OFFICIAL SELECTION — Golden Harvest Film Festival

OFFICIAL SELECTION — Golden Bridge Istanbul Film Festival

Featuring Award Winning Original Score by NxxxxxS (Nicholas Béghin — Producer / DJ)

The Maze Brothers' Debut Film is a "neon-drenched fever dream."

RATING: NR TV-14

RUN-TIME: 94 Minutes

THEATRICAL RELEASE: November 5, 2021

DIGITAL RELEASE: November 5, 2021

STUDIO/DISTRIBUTOR: Level 33 Entertainment

GENRE: Drama, Thriller, Crime, Horror, Independent

DIRECTOR: Brent Scott Maze, Derek Maze

WRITER: Brent Scott Maze, Derek Maze

PRODUCER: Brent Scott Maze, Derek Maze, Ehren Parks, Dana Altman, Chad Bishoff, Alexandra Surer, Balthazar Getty, Jonathan Groce

LANGUAGE: English

YEAR: 2021

COUNTRY: USA

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10298870/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Level33Entertainment/

TWITTER: @Level33_ent

INSTAGRAM: @level33entertainment

Friday, October 15, 2021

"THE INVISIBLE MAN" and "THE WOLF MAN" Double Feature Coming to Cinemas Halloween Weekend! See Event Trailer HERE!

Fathom Events Presents

"THE INVISIBLE MAN" and "THE WOLF MAN" Double Feature Event

Celebrate Universal Monsters 90th Anniversary in Movie Theaters on October 30

WHAT:

In celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Universal Monsters, the signature adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man starring Claude Rains, and The Wolf Man featuring a heartbreaking performance by Lon Chaney, return to big screens nationwide with the spooky The Invisible Man and The Wolf Man Double Feature.

As part of the anniversary event, fans will be treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Universal Studios lot and see where these fan-favorite monsters made their big screen debut and became legendary.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.fathomevents.com or at participating theater box offices.

WHO:

Presented by Universal Studios and Fathom Events.

WHEN:

Saturday, October 30 at 1:00 p.m. (local time).

WHERE:

A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

WATCH THE EVENT TRAILER:

MORE:

H.G. Wells’ “The Invisible Man” stars Claude Rains as a mysterious scientist who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, the scientist arrives at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery. He soon realizes, however, that the same drug which renders him invisible is slowly driving him insane and capable of committing unspeakable acts of terror. Directed by James Whale, the horror classic features groundbreaking special effects by John P. Fulton that inspired many of the techniques that are still used today.

"Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." In 1941, “The Wolf Man” introduced the world to a new Universal movie monster, and the mythology of the werewolf was redefined forever.

Featuring Lon Chaney Jr. and groundbreaking make-up by Jack Pierce, this story of a cursed man who transforms into a deadly werewolf when the moon is full has not only become a masterpiece of the horror genre but of all time.

Friday, October 1, 2021

MGM To Release SYLVESTER STALLONE’S “ROCKY V. DRAGO: THE ULTIMATE DIRECTOR’S CUT” In Theatres Nationwide For One Night Only Nov. 11 -- Watch Trailer HERE!

MGM TO RELEASE SYLVESTER STALLONE’S ‘ROCKY V. DRAGO: THE ULTIMATE DIRECTOR’S CUT’ IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY NOVEMBER 11th

Exclusive Engagement in Partnership with Fathom Events Features 40 Minutes of Never-Before-Seen Footage and a Special Live Q&A with Sylvester Stallone

PURCHASE TICKETS

Los Angeles, CA, September 30, 2021 – The most triumphant sports-drama franchise in history returns to select theaters nationwide for a one night only exclusive engagement on November 11th with Sylvester Stallone’s ROCKY V. DRAGO: THE ULTIMATE DIRECTOR’S CUT. After more than 35 years, director, writer and star Sylvester Stallone masterfully reshapes ROCKY IV, delivering 40 minutes of never-before-seen footage.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

The fight scenes are more intense, the music is more powerful and the drama is heightened as world heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa (Stallone) must defend his title once again, this time against his most formidable opponent: Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren).

In celebration of the new film, MGM is teaming up with Fathom Events for nationwide screenings, offering fans a chance to be among the first to see this all-new version of Stallone’s classic 1985 film. Additionally, an exclusive Q&A with Stallone will be broadcast live in select movie theaters nationwide, and audiences will be treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the recut film.

Tickets for ROCKY V. DRAGO: THE ULTIMATE DIRECTOR’S CUT can be purchased online at www.fathomevents.com or at participating theater box offices today. A complete list of theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

When it was first released in 1985, ROCKY IV became the highest grossing of all the Rocky films, as well as the highest-grossing sports-drama in cinema for nearly a quarter-century. From writer, director and star Sylvester Stallone, ROCKY IV also features Brigitte Nielsen, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Dolph Lundgren, Michael Pataki, Robert Doornick, Stu Nahan, Talia Shire and Tony Burton. Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff produced the original film, with Arthur Chobanian and James D. Brubaker serving as executive producers.

About Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world's deepest libraries of premium film and television content as well as the premium pay television network EPIX, which is available throughout the U.S. via cable, satellite, telco, and digital distributors. In addition, MGM has investments in numerous other television channels, digital platforms, interactive ventures, and is producing premium short-form content for distribution. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

About Fathom Events
Fathom is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal Cinemas, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L)., Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all of the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Starting Sunday, Ron Howard’s “BACKDRAFT” – 30th Anniversary in Movie Theaters Sept. 5 & 8

BACKDRAFT’S INCENDIARY 30TH ANNIVERSARY HEATS UP CINEMAS SEPTEMBER 5TH & 8TH

WHAT: Backdraft is set to heat up cinemas nationwide for the star-studded action-thriller’s 30th anniversary. Directed by Ron Howard and filled with some of the most awe-inspiring fire sequences ever filmed, fans will want to catch this thrilling movie event on big screens nationwide.

Kurt Russell and William Baldwin star as the two feuding McCaffrey brothers carrying on a heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters. When a puzzling series of arson attacks is reported, the McCaffreys are forced to set aside their differences to solve the mystery surrounding these explosive crimes. Scott Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca DeMornay, Donald Sutherland, and Robert DeNiro also star in this acclaimed suspense story.

In addition to Backdraft, attendees will view an exciting featurette, The Explosive Stunts.

WATCH THE EVENT TRAILER:

WHO:
Fathom Events, Universal Pictures, and Imagine Entertainment

WHEN:
Sunday, September 5 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time.
Wednesday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. local time.

WHERE:
Tickets for “Backdraft 30th Anniversary” can be purchased at fathomevents.com or participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in select theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). For showtimes and a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Monday, April 26, 2021

"STAND BY ME" Returns to Cinemas Nationwide May 23 & 26 for 35th Anniversary

"STAND BY ME" Returns to Cinemas Nationwide for 35th Anniversary

Fathom Events to Bring Sony Pictures’ 1986 Coming-of-Age Classic to Big Screens May 23 and 26

LOS ANGELES – April 26, 2021- Fathom Events is set to bring Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Stand By Me to select movie theaters nationwide on Sunday, May 23rd at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Wednesday, May 26th at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (all times local) for the celebrated 1986 coming-of-age classic’s 35th anniversary. Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland and directed by Rob Reiner, and based on the novella "The Body" by Stephen King, with a screenplay by Raynold Gideon and Bruce A. Evans, Stand By Me is a rare and special film about friendship and the indelible experiences of growing up.

This special 35th anniversary event will also include the featurette “Walking the Tracks: The Summer of Stand by Me” with Stephen King as he recalls what led him to write the stories of his childhood, how they impacted the development of the movie, and Rob Reiner as he reminisces about the casting of the four leads.

VIEW THE EVENT TRAILER HERE:

Tickets for the Stand By Me 35th Anniversary are on sale now at www.FathomEvents.com and through participating cinemas’ box offices. For the most updated list of exhibiting movie theaters, visit the Fathom Events website. (Theaters and participants are subject to change).

Filled with humor and suspense, Stand By Me is the tale of four boys on a two-day journey. In a treehouse at the edge of Castle Rock, a small, woodsy Oregon town, a budding 12-year-old writer named Gordie LaChance (Wheaton) is about to begin an extraordinary trek into the heart of the northwestern forest, an experience that will alter the course of his life forever. His best friend Vern (O'Connell) has overheard his older brother and a friend talking about their discovery of a dead body in the woods.

Hoping they can get credit for finding the body, Gordie sets off with insecure, frightened Vern, tough guy Chris (Phoenix), and daredevil Teddy (Feldman) on an adventure that becomes an odyssey of self-discovery. Their journey begins innocently with a dream of becoming town heroes, but before it is over, Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern will be tested in ways they had never imagined.

“Stand By Me on its 35th anniversary is still as touching and as fresh as it was when first released back in 1986,” said Tom Lucas, VP of Studio Relations at Fathom Events. "Whether seeing it for the very first time on the big screen, or revisiting it as a favorite, movie fans will be moved by Stand By Me at their local theater.”

About Fathom Events
Fathom is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal Cinemas, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L)., Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all of the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com

About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies around the world. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Tickets On Sale Now For Premiere of "WRONG TURN" Reboot

Tickets On Sale Now For The Exclusive Event Cinema Premiere of ‘Wrong Turn’ Reboot

WHAT: Fathom Events and Saban Films have teamed up once again to bring horror reboot Wrong Turn from Mike P. Nelson to theaters across the US for a one-night exclusive event on January 26th, 2021.

The premiere will also include bonus features of the film, which stars Charlotte Vega (The Lodgers), Matthew Modine (“Stranger Things”, 47 Meters Down), Damian Maffei (The Strangers: Prey at Night, Haunt), and Bill Sage (“Hap and Leonard”).

Wrong Turn follows a group of friends hiking the Appalachian Trail, who are confronted by 'The Foundation', a community of people who have lived in the mountains for hundreds of years. The franchise reboot was written by Alan B. McElroy, the writer of the original film. Robert Kulzer, Constantin Film, in association with James Harris, Tea Shop Productions, produced.

WHEN: January 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. (local time)

WHO: Fathom Events, Saban Films, and Constantin Film

WHERE: Tickets for this premiere event can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

About Fathom Events

Fathom is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal Cinemas, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L)., Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all of the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

About Saban Films

Saban Films, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group (“SCG”), is a film acquisition and distribution company which acquires high-quality, feature films to distribute in North America. Focusing on commercial, talent driven films, the company looks at projects in all stages of production for release across multiple platforms, including a day and date theatrical/VOD release strategy. Based in Los Angeles, Saban Films was established by Haim Saban, SCG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and is led by Bill Bromiley who serves as President, Shanan Becker, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Ness Saban, Vice President of Business Development.

About Constantin Film

Constantin Film has been synonymous with quality and success for over 40 years. It has played a crucial role in establishing German cinema both nationally and internationally. Between 1977, when Bernd Eichinger established the company, and today, Constantin Film has emerged as the most successful independent production and distribution company in the German media industry. Constantin Film's operations include German and English language motion picture theatrical production, theatrical distribution, home entertainment distribution, licensing and television production.

Constantin Film's diverse slate includes box office hits and award-winning films alike, ranging from comic book to literary adaptations, historical dramas, action and genre, among them THE NEVERENDING STORY, THE FANTASTIC FOUR film franchise, THE NAME OF THE ROSE, NOWHERE IN AFRICA, DOWNFALL, PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER, THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX, POPE JOAN, THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS, FACK JU GOEHTE 1-3, three of the biggest ever German box office hits, the RESIDENT EVIL film franchise and MONSTER HUNTER.

In the ever growing field of TV and streaming platforms, Constantin Film has also been stepping up its television production business, including BLACK BEAUTY for Disney+, global hit series SHADOWHUNTERS and PERFUME, the highly anticipated series adaption of WE CHILDREN FROM BAHNHOF ZOO and numerous other shows for major streaming platforms and broadcasters in Germany and around the world. Constantin Film will also produce a RESIDENT EVIL series for Netflix, which is set to start production soon.

Monday, June 15, 2020

First Movie Theater to Open in LA - 6/19 - Arena Cinelounge Sunset

FIRST PHYSICAL MOVIE THEATER TO OPEN IN LOS ANGELES

ARENA CINELOUNGE SUNSET PROUDLY RE-OPENS JUNE 19 WITH SPECIAL UPGRADES, NEW SIGNATURE GOURMET POPCORN AND CLASSIC & NEW INDIE SCREENING ENGAGEMENTS

LOS ANGELES: JUNE 15TH, 2020 – Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood’s acclaimed home for arthouse, genre, and independent cinema, is proud to be the first physical movie theater in Los Angeles to re-open on Friday, June 19, 2020 with special engagements of classic BAFTA and Independent Spirit Award winner The Unbearable Lightness of Being and the 2020 festival winner Babyteeth starring Ben Mendelsohn.

Arena Cinelounge is re-opening to the public in full compliance with public health protocols, taking important safety precautions such as a new air purification system, seat disinfecting between screenings, socially distanced seating and concessions specially packaged for contactless delivery. Owner Christian Meoli has taken his indie theater business one step further by creating distinctive gourmet popcorn in 9 flavors - each dedicated to the true cinephile including Natural Corn Killers, APOPalypse Now, Popcorn of the Living Dead and Once Upon a Time in Popcorn (full list below).

“As an independent theater owner, I’ve had to be creative about the survival and expansion of my business,” says Meoli. “I’ve taken my love and curation of new films, and directed that energy to a true gourmet cinematic experience with an exemplary signature line of gourmet popcorn blends all non-GMO, Vegan, dairy and nut-free. We’re now even selling the popcorn successfully online.” Featured in Entertainment Weekly, Arena Cinelounge’s signature gourmet popcorn can be purchased online, at the theater, as well as in other boutique markets in Los Angeles including Joan’s on Third.

Meoli originally founded Arena Cinelounge in 2012, when he saw the need for an art house cinema devoted to new indie films in Hollywood, and began exhibiting films in a 99-seat theatre located next to The Egyptian Theatre, previously the former iconic Egyptian Theater 2 & 3 that closed in 1992. Through sheer determination and a love of new filmmakers, Arena Cinelounge quickly became Hollywood’s premiere arthouse film destination for new, truly independent cinema. Now housed in a built out, state-of-the-art new concept cinema at 6464 Sunset Blvd, Arena Cinelounge is an Academy Award qualifying theater that has shown over 2000 new titles with 1-2 premieres a weekend for new titles. Cinelounge works with premier industry institutions such as Amazon, HBO, Google, IFC, Sony, Lionsgate, Participant Media, YouTube, and Conde Nast.

As a response to the innovative but ill-fated MoviePass, Meoli also created the Cinelounge Unlimited app which offers audiences a base monthly subscription service with incredible perks such as free concessions, free parking, and access to private special events and premieres. Cinelounge Unlimited gives audiences the opportunity to experience new content and support great new filmmakers with the convenience of one low price.

Marking its grand re-opening, Arena Cinelounge will bow with two special engagements to welcome audiences back to the theatre:

The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Romance. Beautiful 4K restoration of this cinema classic. Directed by Philip Kaufman. Written by Kaufman and Jean-Claude Carriere. Based on the novel by Milan Kundera. Produced by Saul Zaentz. From Orion Pictures. (Color, 1988, USA, 171 minutes, rated R) Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche, Lena Olin, Erland Josephson, Derek De Lint, Pavel Landovsky. Tomas is a doctor and a lady-killer in 1960s Czechoslovakia, an apolitical man who is struck with love for the bookish country girl Tereza; his more sophisticated sometime lover Sabina eventually accepts their relationship and the two women form an electric friendship. The three are caught up in the events of the Prague Spring; Pingyao (1968), until the Soviet tanks crush the non-violent rebels; their illusions are shattered and their lives change forever. “Richly satisfying…. Absolutely enchanting.” (Variety). Winner of the Film Independent Spirit Award; BAFTA Award; Boston Society of Film Critics Awards; National Society of Film Critics Awards; National Board of Review Award.

Babyteeth. Comedy/Drama. Directed by Shannon Murphy. Written by Rita Kalnejais. Produced by Alex White. From IFC Films. (Color, 2020, Australia, 118 minutes, not rated) Starring Eliza Scanlen, Ben Mendelsohn, Toby Wallace, Essie Davis, Andrea Demetriades, Emily Barclay. When seriously ill teenager Milla falls madly in love with smalltime drug dealer Moses, it's her parents' worst nightmare. But as Milla's first brush with love brings her a new lust for life, things get messy and traditional morals go out the window. Milla soon shows everyone in her orbit - her parents, Moses, a sensitive music teacher, a budding child violinist, and a disarmingly honest pregnant neighbour - how to live like you have nothing to lose. What might have been a disaster for the Finlay family instead leads to letting go and finding grace in the glorious chaos of life. Babyteeth joyously explores how good it is not to be dead yet and how far we will go for love. Winner- Palm Springs International Film Festival; FEST International Film Festival; Luxembourg City Film Festival; Marrakech International Film Festival; Pingyao International Film Festival; Sao Paulo International Film Festival; Venice Film Festival; Zurich Film Festival.

Both special engagements will run June 19- June 25, 2020. At Arena Cinelounge Sunset, 6464 Sunset Blvd., Lobby Level, Hollywood, CA 90028. Contact venue for show times. Admission: $16 each feature-length film. Matinees: $10. Information: (323) 924-1644. Theater reservations are suggested and available online, as seating for each screening is limited, in compliance with current health directives. For new info on our policies, click HERE.

About Arena Cinelounge
Arena Cinelounge is Los Angeles’s premiere destination for all things new independent film, horror and genre cinema! From its celebrated nine flavors of exclusive gourmet blends of popcorn, to the most comfortable seats in town, and the best sound presentation that you won’t find anywhere else. Cinelounge is your spot in Hollywood for a perfect cinematic experience, 7 nights a week. www.arenascreen.com for showtimes and to purchase tickets
NEW! Arena Cinelounge now offer its Subscription App, offering the best deal in Los Angeles for seeing new movies. Go to http://arenacinelounge.com for more information.

Media Contact
Potent PR: Jonah Blechman – Jonah@PotentPR.com or 917-776-4660

Arena Cineloung Gourmet Popcorn

Each bag is non-GMO, Vegan, and dairy and nut-free. 9 mind-bending flavors include:

    Natural Corn Killers – naked with sea salt
    APOPalypse Now - jalapeno
    Popcorn of the Living Dead – cinnamon churro with crushed pretzels
    Once Upon a Time in Popcorn – mesquite smoked cheddar
    Truffaut Truffle – truffle
    Arthouse Gold – curry
    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Popcorn – sweet chili lime eternal
    Popcorn of the Spotless Mind – rosemary salted caramel
    Meoli’s Bliss – bourbon caramel with espresso pretzels

Available for at home delivery via Grubhub and Postmates and for Purchase Online HERE.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Solstice Studios To Debut "UNHINGED" Starring Russell Crowe In Theaters July 1st -- Watch the Trailer HERE!

AMERICA’S MOVIE THEATERS HAVE THEIR FIRST NEW FILM, "UNHINGED" OPENING JULY 1ST

Thriller starring Russell Crowe to open safely in accordance with state public health department safety guidelines

Response to new poll showing 80% of Americans want to go out to the movies in July

LOS ANGELES (May 12, 2020) -- America’s movie theaters will show their first new film on July 1st, Unhinged, a thriller starring Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe.

The move comes in response to a new poll that shows more than 80% of Americans want to go out to the movies in July.

The U.S. release of “Unhinged” will follow or coincide with theater openings in nations around the globe, including Australia, China, The Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan—with a number of additional countries likely to announce openings in late June or July.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Theater plans to open safely across the United States will comply with all state public health department guidelines and are expected to include such measures as socially distant seating (capacities of 25-50%), staggered show times to reduce crowding, and more time between each show to allow for increased cleaning.

“We made this decision after extensive consultation with the National Association of Theater Owners and leading theater chains,” said Mark Gill, President and CEO of Solstice Studios, which produced and will release the film in the U.S. “Those conversations have convinced us there is a way to meet pent up demand for the theatrical experience safely.”

Unhinged is a psychological thriller starring Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe from Carl Ellsworth, the writer of Red Eye and Disturbia and Lisa Ellzey, the producer of Warrior and Kingdom of Heaven. It takes an ordinary, everyday incident to its most terrifying conclusion in telling the story of a mother who leans on her horn at the wrong time, to the wrong guy.

"Road rage" doesn't begin to describe what he's about to do to her and everyone she knows. The film is directed by Derrick Borte (American Dreamer) and also stars Caren Pistorius, Gabriel Bateman, Jimmi Simpson and Austin P. McKenzie.

About Solstice Studios

Solstice Studios is an independent movie company founded in October 2018 in partnership with Ingenious Media. The studio develops, fully finances, produces, sells internationally and distributes feature films in the U.S. on a wide-release basis —generally in the $20-80M budget range.

Solstice is led by President & CEO Mark Gill (former president of Warner Independent Pictures, Miramax Films and Millennium Films who has worked on such films as the Hitman’s Bodyguard and the Olympus Has Fallen series, March of the Penguins, Frida, Pulp Fiction and three Academy Award best picture winners, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago and The English Patient.

The company’s senior team includes Production Head Lisa Ellzey (formerly at Fox, Lionsgate and Scott Free); Co-Head of Production Guy Botham (of Vitality VFX whose recent credits include San Andreas); Marketing/Strategy Head Vincent Bruzzese (formerly at STX, OTX and Marketcast, whose recent credits include Bad Moms and Halloween); Acquisitions & International Head Crystal Bourbeau (formerly of Lionsgate, who sold La La Land and the Hunger Games, Saw, Now You See Me and John Wick series); Physical Production Head Dana Belcastro (formerly of Fox, Alcon and New Line); Business & Legal Affairs Head Karen Barna (formerly of Summit Entertainment and Bold Films); Chief Financial Officer Shaun Williams (formerly of Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Studio 8 and GK Films/FilmDistrict) and Head of US Distribution Shari Hardison (formerly of STX and Overture Films).

Solstice Studios website: www.solstice-studios.com

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Vista Group Partners with ScreenPlus: Partnership Unlocks A Streaming Solution For Cinemas Worldwide Amidst Closures

VISTA GROUP PARTNERS WITH SCREENPLUS

THE PARTNERSHIP UNLOCKS A STREAMING SOLUTION FOR CINEMAS WORLDWIDE AMIDST CLOSURES

7 April, 2020 – Los Angeles: ScreenPlus today announced an exclusive partnership with cinema software company, Vista Group, that will enable cinema exhibitors to launch their own personalized VOD platform and offer films directly to their customers for at-home streaming.

The partnership will launch ScreenPlus’ VOD solution in every major territory from this week, promoted by Vista Group, and offers the potential to unlock a new revenue stream for exhibitors who will be able to activate and customize the platform via their cinema’s website.

It will also combine the world class studio grade piracy protection and digital rights management of ScreenPlus with Vista’s leading cinema operations, management, loyalty and marketing systems. With cinemas currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the solution offers exhibitors the opportunity to build new revenue streams and build a continuing relationship with new and existing customers.

A leading supplier of software and technology solutions to the cinema exhibition and distribution market, Vista Group currently services more than 50% of large cinema chains worldwide including: Regal Theatres (USA), Bow Tie Cinemas (USA), Emagine Entertainment (USA), B&B Theater (USA), Landmark Theatres (USA), Cineplex (Canada), Lumiere Pavilions (China), Cineworld Cinemas (UK), Odeon Cinemas (UK), Curzon Cinemas (UK), Vue Entertainment (UK), Hoyts Cinemas (Australia, New Zealand), Event Cinemas (Australia, New Zealand), Reading Cinemas (Australia, New Zealand), Limelight Cinemas (Australia), Ster-Kinekor (South Africa) and Mars Cinema Group (Turkey).

ScreenPlus Director, John Barnett says: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to announce this partnership with Vista Group. ScreenPlus is a market-leading platform that connects people with their favorite local cinemas, enabling them to watch new releases through the portal of their cinema, but at home. The cinemas have lost out as a result of the current COVID-19 crisis, but this will potentially generate additional revenue and retain the relationships exhibitors have with their customers.”

Vista Group Founder and Chief Product Officer, Murray Holdaway says: “We have been working with [ScreenPlus developers] Shift72 to bring the ScreenPlus solution to our exhibition customers for some time. The outbreak of COVID-19 has seen us accelerate the release of the product to the exhibition market. The templated nature of the solution, which is SaaS based, enables us to stand up customized VOD sites for our customers in very short time frames. Shift72’s technology and delivery are world class, and we are excited to put exhibitors in the driving seat, creating new offerings they can provide to their customers.”

Developed by parent company Shift72 Ltd, ScreenPlus has created a reputation for delivering the platforms that host many of the world’s leading festivals and markets. The company most recently worked with SXSW, offering a secure platform for press and industry to view this year’s entries, as well as the CPH:DOX Festival which went virtual last month using the ScreenPlus technology. Shift72 has also powered top markets for several years including Cannes Marché du Film, SXSW Film Festival and the AFM.

About ScreenPlus:
Launched in 2019 and available worldwide, ScreenPlus is a premium video on demand (PVOD) solution that enables exhibitors to quickly deploy their own cinema or festival on demand service and begin selling new release films directly to consumers at home. In an ever-evolving multiscreen world, ScreenPlus unlocks a new in-home revenue stream for cinema clients and future-proofs to ensure exhibitors are not cut out by other platforms and during disruptions to cinema-going.

ScreenPlus is an industry-controlled solution from which both the distributor and exhibitor benefit and content is secured with studio grade piracy protection. Developed for various clientele from exhibitors and entertainment brands to studios, production companies, film festivals, markets and award shows, the application can be individually customized to match each client’s needs.

ScreenPlus was developed by parent company Shift72 Ltd, who most recently worked with: SXSW Film Festival, Cannes Marché du Film, CPH:DOX, Lonely Planet and the AFM.

For more information on ScreenPlus, visit: https://www.screenplus.com/

About Vista Group:
Vista Group is the leading supplier of software and technology solutions to the cinema exhibition and distribution market, Vista Group currently services more than 50% of large cinema chains worldwide. Through its subsidiary Movio, Vista Group is also a supplier of marketing software and data solutions to studios and distributors around the world.

For more information on Vista Group, visit: https://www.vistagroup.co/

Monday, April 6, 2020

Sight & Sound Theatres® ‘JESUS’ debuts on TBN April 10-12

EPIC STAGE PRODUCTION ‘JESUS’ AVAILABLE IN FREE EASTER WEEKEND BROADCAST AND STREAMING DEBUT ON TBN

Seen by more than one million people live on stage, Sight & Sound Theatres® brings their original stage production, JESUS, to living rooms worldwide in its first ever broadcast and digital debut – exclusively on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) for three days only: April 10-12.

JesusEvent.com

LANCASTER, Pa. – April, 6, 2020 – With movie theaters closed, the greatest rescue story of all time comes to life in a special Easter weekend television broadcast.

More than one million people have experienced the live performance of JESUS at Sight & Sound’s theater in Lancaster, Pa. Now, with a planned cinema event canceled due to theater closures from COVID-19, audiences from around the world will have the opportunity to witness this awe-inspiring spectacle – exclusively on TBN, or watch it on demand anytime through the TBN app, April 10-12 only.

“With people not being able to gather together to celebrate Easter, our hope is that by making this show available, we might all feel a sense of community and connection as we watch the greatest rescue story of all time come to life in this unique way,” said Sight & Sound Chief Creative Officer Josh Enck.

Synopsis
From the bustling streets of Jerusalem to the raging Sea of Galilee, JESUS is the musical stage adventure that has been seen by more than one million people.

Filmed in front of a live audience, Sight & Sound’s spectacular original production is now coming to television and streaming devices everywhere. Witness some of the most awe-inspiring, miraculous events as Jesus sets sail with fishermen, challenges the Pharisees and heals the hurting.

Experience JESUS in this free special Easter event, only available on TBN.

Where to watch JESUS:*

Saturday, April 11: 1pm ET/10am PT on TBN
Friday, April 10 - Sunday, April 12: Anytime on the TBN app or website:

https://watch.tbn.org/sight-sound-theatres-presents-jesus

*Check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.

This premiere television broadcast and digital event follows other Sight & Sound productions that made the journey from stage to screen, including NOAH in 2019, MOSES in 2018 and JONAH in 2017.

About Sight & Sound Theatres
Sight & Sound Theatres began more than 40 years ago in rural Pennsylvania, where a dairy farmer went from producing milk to producing live entertainment with a purpose. Today that vision has expanded to two state-of-the art theaters in Lancaster, PA, and Branson, MO, where stories from the Bible come to life on stage. Each production features Sight & Sound’s signature massive sets, special effects and live animals. Still family-owned, Sight & Sound's 675 staff members write, produce, design and build the original shows, drawing nearly 1.5 million audience members from around the world each year.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Bong Joon Ho's Oscar Nominated "PARASITE" To Be Screened At The Theater At Ace Hotel With Live Film Score Performance

BONG JOON HO’S ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED FILM, PARASITE, WILL BE SCREENED AT THE THEATER AT THE ACE HOTEL ALONGSIDE A LIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE FILM’S SCORE

PARASITE’S COMPOSER, JUNG JAEIL WILL CONDUCT THE HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Los Angeles, January 21, 2020 – NEON is proud to present Bong Joon Ho’s six-time Oscar nominated film, PARASITE, to audiences in a one of a kind experience on Sunday, January 26th at The Theater at the Ace Hotel.

PARASITE’s composer, Jung Jaeil will conduct the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra as they play the film’s score alongside a screening of the film. Bong Joon Ho will introduce the film, which most recently earned a historic win at the SAG awards, becoming the first foreign language film to ever collect the Ensemble honor.

Bong Joon Ho’s PARASITE has been breaking records since it launched in May, most notably earning six Oscar nominations, three Golden Globe nominations and one win, and winning SAG Ensemble this past Sunday. The film also won the ACE Editing Award in addition to being nominated for PGA, WGA and DGA.

PARASITE recently expanded to over 800 theaters bringing in an additional 2.2mm, bringing its US cumulative box office to over 28mm.

Information about the Live Score Event and for ticketing information, please visit: https://www.axs.com/events/390840/parasite-live-to-picture-event-tickets

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

NEON Re-Releases Todd Douglas Miller's "APOLLO 11" In Theaters July 20th, In Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing

IN HONOR OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOON LANDING NEON WILL

RE-RELEASE TODD DOUGLAS MILLER’S ‘APOLLO 11’ IN THEATERS ON JULY 20TH

THE STUNNING CINEMATIC EVENT PASSES $9MM AT THE BOX OFFICE AS THE TOP GROSSING DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR

New York, NY (July 16, 2019) – To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, NEON will re-release Todd Douglas Miller’s critically acclaimed film, APOLLO 11, in theaters on July 20th. The run will include weeklong engagements and special one-off showings in over 100 theaters across top markets including New York, Los Angeles, DC, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Miami.

Todd Douglas Miller’s APOLLO 11 is a cinematic event fifty years in the making, crafted from a newly discovered trove of 65mm footage and more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio recordings. The film takes us straight to the heart of NASA’s most celebrated mission.

APOLLO 11 premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where it won the editing prize. The film, which opened in theaters on March 1st, 2019, will cross $9 million after this weekend’s anniversary re-launch and remains the top grossing documentary of the year. APOLLO 11 made a strong debut internationally this summer, being the top grossing documentary in the UK with over $1mm box office to date.

For a full list of theaters, and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.apollo11movie.com/

NEON recently premiered Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite at Cannes, where it went on to win the Palme d’Or. At the festival, the company also acquired Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which won the Best Screenplay Award. Upcoming titles also include: Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska’s documentary Honeyland; Chinonye Chukwu’s Clemency, starring Academy Award® Nominee Alfre Woodard; Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala's horror film The Lodge; Abe Forsythe’s Little Monsters; and Julius Onah’s Luce. Recent titles include: Tom Harper’s critics’ darling Wild Rose starring Jessie Buckley; John Chester’s The Biggest Little Farm; the electrifying documentary about Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace; and Border, Sweden‘s entry for best foreign language film which garnered an Academy Award® nomination.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

The H Collective Adds Rakuten as Investment Partner On "BRIGHTBURN" and "xXx 4"

THE H COLLECTIVE ADDS RAKUTEN AS INVESTMENT PARTNER ON “BRIGHTBURN” AND “XXX 4”

Companies to Join Forces on Japanese Distribution Company and Partner to Release xXx 4 in Japan

CANNES/LOS ANGELES/TOKYO, May 14, 2019 – The H Collective, a global film finance, production, marketing and distribution company, announced today that it has secured investment funding from Rakuten, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Tokyo, for its upcoming motion picture titles Brightburn and xXx 4.

Under the investment agreement, Rakuten has provided financing to Brightburn, The H Collective’s first globally released feature film starring Elizabeth Banks and produced by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy). Sony is releasing Brightburn on May 24 to coincide with Memorial Day Weekend in the US. Rakuten will also provide financing for the fourth installment of the xXx franchise, directed by D.J. Caruso starring Vin Diesel who will reprise his role of Xander Cage.

The H Collective and Rakuten will also establish a joint venture to distribute motion pictures in Japan. The joint venture will support the release of Brightburn and distribute xXx 4 as well as the animated film, Spycies, in Japan. Directed by Guillaume Ivernel (Dragon Hunters), The H Collective invested in Spycies, which was produced by Chinese entertainment giant and frequent collaborator, iQiyi.

The H Collective CEO, Nic Crawley said: “I couldn’t be happier to be strengthening our relationships in Asia by partnering with Rakuten – which is one of the most exciting companies in the world. Having them invest in Brightburn, our first global release and xXx 4, is a sign of their commitment to film investments. Japan is a fantastic market, ripe with distribution opportunities given the rising quantity of cinema admissions. These are just the first steps in our new business relationship.”

"This is the next step for Rakuten to empower the entertainment industry through strategic investment," said Mickey Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten. "I'm very excited to collaborate with The H Collective and look forward to growing our partnership to invest in international cinema and bring more great international films to Japan."

ABOUT THE H COLLECTIVE

Launched in 2017, and with offices in Los Angeles, The H Collective is a global film finance, production, marketing and distribution company that is producing and financing a diversified slate of high-quality films with strong Franchise IP potential. The slate includes Brightburn starring Elizabeth Banks which Sony will release on May 24th and Christopher Cantwell’s thriller The Parts You Lose starring Aaron Paul. The H Collective acquired the rights to Aaron W. Sala’s horror thriller spec The Beast which will be directed by Christine Crokos and The H Collective/Xtreme Pictures will produce the fourth installment of the xXx franchise starring Vin Diesel. For further information, visit: www.thehcollectivefilms.com.

ABOUT RAKUTEN, INC
Rakuten, Inc is a global leader in internet services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Founded in Tokyo, 1997 as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded to offer services in e-commerce, fintech, digital content and communications to more than 1.3 billion members around the world. The Rakuten Group has more than 17,000 employees and operations in 30 countries and regions. For further information, visit: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/

Saturday, April 13, 2019

“MENAGERIE” - New Film From LI Director/Producer Sarah Martin Premiering at Bellmore Movies May 3rd

“MENAGERIE”

New Film From Long Island Director/Producer Sarah Martin

To Premiere at The Bellmore Movies
Friday, May 3rd

New Independent Horror Feature Will Make It’s Big Screen Debut From One of Long Island’s Own

April, 2019 (Bellmore, NY) -- This May, budding film Director/Producer Sarah Martin and Silent Envy Productions will premiere their brand new feature “Menagerie” at the historic Bellmore Movies (222 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710)! The 90-minute film will debut Friday, May 3rd at 9:30PM followed by a full Hollywood treatment experience with a film backdrop and red carpet, raffle baskets valuing over $1000 in prizes, film t-shirts, and an after-party right next door.

Synopsis:

MENAGERIE!

The story unfolds as 5 kids (Tyler Williamson, Eitan Yehoshua, Jaycie Zelaska, Chloe Williamson, & Alexandria Zelaska) enter a shop of oddities (wild bills nostalgia center) and uncover the secret life of the eyeball killer (based on true events). Two detectives (Frank DeCillis & Frank Basile) take on the case and lead us on a whirlwind of events to discover the truth behind the mask. Who will be next?

Also starring: Nic Marrone, Rafe Soule, Robyn Babina, Avery Zangri, John Picciano, Ana Capella, & Kirk H. Andersen.

WATCH: MENAGERIE OFFICIAL TRAILER 2019

Sarah Martin is a long island filmmaker who is best known for (Nefarious 2017-starring Jamie Ragusa, Avery Zangri, & Honor Amongst Men 2018-starring Joan Jett, Ed Asner, and Chuck Zito). Her love for creating pushed her to start her own film company, Silent Envy Productions, back in 2016. She is dedicated, hardworking, and driven through her entire project(s) from start to finish.

Now, as she’s set to debut her brand new feature “Menagerie” at The Bellmore Movies on Friday, May 3rd, you won’t want to miss out on this thrill ride based on true events!

For Tickets to the “Menagerie” Premiere at The Bellmore Movies, VISIT: https://bit.ly/2D6jFsi

For More On Sarah Martin and Silent Envy Productions, VISIT:

www.SilentEnvyProductions.com
Facebook.com/SilentEnvyProductions
Twitter: @Strawb3rryLady
Instagram: @Strawb3rryLady

Friday, March 22, 2019

Created From Neanderthal DNA: "WILLIAM" -- Director Tim Disney’s Feature Hits Theaters April 12

"WILLIAM"

In Theaters April 12

Star academics, Doctors Julian Reed and Barbara Sullivan, fall in love with each other and with the idea of cloning a Neanderthal from ancient DNA. Against the express directive of University administrators they follow through on this audacious idea.

The result is William: the first Neanderthal to walk the earth for some 35,000 years. William tries his best to fit into the world around him. But his distinctive physical features and his unique way of thinking--his “otherness”--set him apart and provoke fear.

William’s story is powerful and unique, but his struggle to find love and assert his own identity in a hostile world is universal--and timeless.

DIRECTOR: Tim Disney

STARRING Will Brittain, Waleed Zuaiter, Maria Dizzia, and Beth Grant

SCREENPLAY: Tim Disney, J.T. Allen

PRODUCERS: Amar Balaggan, Jonathan DuBois.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bill Haney, Peter Newman

HK and Cult Film News's Fan Box