HK AND CULT FILM NEWS: March 2019

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Want to see Joe Bob in April? Here's Where He'll Be!

“Joe Bob Briggs is the Henri Langlois of exploitation film. He’s already a cinema saint, and if I were you, I’d pray for his guidance." –John Waters

April 1: Joe Bob Briggs Presents: SCARY MOVIE, Yonkers
Tickets for Yonkers

April 6: How Rednecks Saved Hollywood with Joe Bob Briggs, Milwaukee
Tickets for Milwaukee

April 11: How Rednecks Saved Hollywood with Joe Bob Briggs, Chattanooga
Tickets for Chattanooga

April 13: How Rednecks Saved Hollywood with Joe Bob Briggs, Madison, MS
Tickets for Madison

April 20: How Rednecks Saved Hollywood with Joe Bob Briggs, Charlotte
SOLD OUT

April 26-28: Shock Stock Convention, London Ontario
Tickets for London Ontario

And join Joe Bob every Friday at 9pmET/6pmPT for a double feature, streaming on Shudder!

©2019 Joe Bob Briggs | NY, NY

John Wayne's Coolest Scenes #30: Brief Encounter, "In Harm's Way" (1965) (video)

Rock (John Wayne) and Maggie (Patricia Neal) have a budding romance...

...that's about to be interrupted by World War Two.

Is there time enough for one brief night of passion?

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

Saturday, March 30, 2019

How Early Did The Word "Groovy" Appear In Movies? (video)

The word "groovy" was so commonly heard in the 1960s and beyond...

...many think that's when it originated.

But it actually began to appear in movies some years earlier. Such as:

"Miss Annie Rooney" (1942)
"Groovie Movie" (1944)
"Up In Arms" (1945)
"Miracle On 34th Street" Trailer (1947)

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

Friday, March 29, 2019

Alex Wolff to Star in "THE LINE" Alongside John Malkovich, Scott McNairy

ALEX WOLFF TO STAR IN “THE LINE” ALONGSIDE JOHN MALKOVICH, SCOOT MCNAIRY

Lije Sarki to Produce Alongside Valparaiso Pictures’ David Carrico and Adam Paulsen

Los Angeles, CA (March 26, 2019) – An exciting ensemble is coming together with Alex Wolff (Hereditary) set to star in upcoming thriller The Line, with Academy Award Nominee John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons), Scoot McNairy (Argo, Killing Them Softly), Jessica Barden (The Lobster), and Lewis Pullman (Bad Times at the El Royale) rounding out the cast. Ethan Berger and Alex Russek penned the script which Berger will direct, marking his narrative feature debut.

The Line is being described as ‘a coming-of-age thriller at a University that encapsulates both the wild excitement of being young, and the dangers of living without fear of consequences.’

Lije Sarki, who just won the audience award at SXSW for Peanut Butter Falcon, is producing alongside David Carrico and Adam Paulsen of Valparaiso Pictures. Bobby Hoppey is executive producing. The film is eyeing a fall production start.

Says Wolff, “The Line will be a profoundly nuanced portrait of a young man being sucked into this seemingly glamorous, rambunctious and familial unit. Its heartbreak echoes a larger issue with men and their painful need for approval, love, and nurture, letting you peer in on what seems like a utopia-like world for a young man, and how quickly one horrible accident can turn that world into a nightmare.”

Wolff, who won numerous awards for his performance in Ari Aster’s Hereditary, is currently in production on Joey Klein’s Castle in the Ground. He recently wrapped production on Columbia’s Untitled Jumanji sequel, Bad Education in which he stars alongside Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney, and Human Capital opposite Liev Schreiber and Marisa Tomei. Wolff recently wrote, directed, and starred in his first feature film, The Cat and the Moon.

Malkovich was nominated for two Academy Awards for his performances in Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire. He just wrapped production on Charlie Day’s El Tonto. McNairy, who most recently starred in Karyn Kusama’s Destroyer, will next be seen in Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Barden will next be seen in Scott Free’s Jungleland, and Pullman in Hulu’s “Catch-22.” Berger is currently in post on an untitled documentary with Uninterrupted.

Wolff is represented by CAA, Definition Entertainment and Untitled Entertainment, Malkovich by WME, McNairy by WME & The Group's John Pierce. Barden and Pullman are represented by ICM Partners and the latter Anonymous Content as well, and Berger by UTA.

The Ross Sisters: "Jerkin' Back and Forth" (Devo) From the 1944 Film "Broadway Rhythm" (video)

This is the fabulous Ross Sisters and their mind-boggling contortion act...

...from the film BROADWAY RHYTHM (1944)...

...set to the Devo classic "Jerkin' Back and Forth."

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

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Motor and Armory Films Team For "THE DARK AGE" Comic Series

MOTOR AND ARMORY FILMS TEAM FOR “THE DARK AGE” COMIC SERIES

Comic will make its debut during Free Comic Book Day on May 4th

Los Angeles, CA (March 26, 2019) - Armory Films’ Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros (Arctic, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Mudbound) have teamed with Don Handfield (The Founder, Kill the Messenger) and his production company, Motor, on THE DARK AGE, a new comic book penned by Handfield.

With plans to adapt into a television series, Red 5 Comics (AFTERBURN, soon to be seen on the big screen starring Gerard Butler) will publish the comic, following the success of their collaboration on Handfield’s first comic series THE RIFT. The book features art by Leo Rodrigues, colors by Ringo-nominee Dijjo Lima and letters by Eisner-nominee DC Hopkins.

In the near future, every piece of workable metal on earth suddenly turns to worthless piles of rust and dust. With no technology, no guns, no computers, humanity reverts to a violent feudal system with each pocket of civilization ruled by knights of wood & plastic & concrete... This is the new DARK AGE.

The story begins with Ethen Riker, an archeology professor at Cornell, his pregnant wife, Helen and his daughter Jonnie, enjoying a quiet lunch at a campus cafe. When his stirring spoon, then the table, then the metal foundations of the building itself suddenly crumble, Ethen rushes his family outside to witness the world quite literally coming to end. We flash forward thirteen years post-metal as he struggles to protect his family in this new paleo-plastic world and unravel the dark mystery of why metal disappeared.

Handfield said, “THE DARK AGE was inspired by how dependent we as a society are on technology, computers and metal to survive and asking, 'what if' it all disappeared? I wanted to create a post-apocalyptic world that wasn't a radioactive wasteland, but more of a lush “World After People” where as a storyteller I could explore how cultures would crumble and reform based on primitive technologies. All of this of course wrapped inside a strong drama about a family trying to survive.”

Chris Lemole and Tim Zajaros from Armory added: “We could not be more excited for our first foray into the comic universe. We have been talking to Don for a while about doing something in the comic book space. We're very much looking forward to collaborating with him on THE DARK AGE and help build this universe from pen to screen.”

THE DARK AGE was one of a select number of titles chosen to have a preview of the comic given away at stores nationwide during Free Comic Book Day on May 4, 2019. Issue #1 of the actual comic series will launch in July, with both a regular and a variant cover -- just in time for Comic-Con 2019 in San Diego.

Armory Films slate includes: Joe Penna’s Arctic, starring Mads Mikkelsen, which is currently in theatres; The Peanut Butter Falcon, starring Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal, Dakota Johnson and Bruce Dern, which received rave reviews and the Narrative Spotlight Audience Award out of its SXSW premiere earlier this month; Dee Rees’ lauded feature Mudbound, starring Carey Mulligan and Garrett Hedlund; and Charlie Day’s directorial debut El Tonto starring Day, Kate Beckinsale, Jason Sudeikis, which is currently in post-production.

Handfield, the co-creator of History Channel’s “Knightfall,” sold his first comic series, THE RIFT, to Amblin/Steven Spielberg, which was produced as an episode of the upcoming “Amazing Stories” reboot on Apple. His second comic series THE MALL was just optioned for television by Ivan Reitman’s Montecito Pictures.

Consulting on the book is archeology professor Dr. Bill Schindler; director of the Eastern Shore Food Lab, an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and the co-star of the National Geographic series, “The Great Human Race.” As an experimental archaeologist, primitive technologist, and chef, his research and teaching revolve around a comprehensive understanding of prehistoric and traditional technologies as they relate to food acquisition, processing, storage, and consumption. Also consulting on the project is Jay Handfield, PhD, Dr. John Lucas, MD, and PhD Candidate in Medieval Studies at Cornell University, Patrick Naeve.

Motor and Armory Films plan this as the first in a slate of comic books, to be penned by Handfield as well as additional writers to be announced. Handfield is repped by The Cartel and Dale De La Torre of Jacobson, Russell, Saltz, Nassim & De La Torre.

ABOUT ARMORY:
Founded in 2013 by Christopher Lemole and Tim Zajaros, Armory Films is a film finance and production company that creates, develops, produces, and finances high concept and commercially viable content. With the ability to finance projects from initial creative inception through production and release, Armory has amassed an impressive slate spanning numerous genres and styles, nurturing distinctive stories into groundbreaking films.

Armory recently wrapped production in Los Angeles on Charlie Day’s directorial debut El Tonto starring Day, Kate Beckinsale, Jason Sudeikis, John Malkovich, Edie Falco, Jillian Bell, Ken Jeong, Adrien Brody, Ray Liotta and Travis Fimmel. They produced Joe Penna’s Arctic, starring Mads Mikkelsen which made its world premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival where it was acquired by Bleeker Street for North American distribution. The film released in the US on February 1, 2019.

They also produced and financed Dee Rees’ lauded feature Mudbound, starring Carey Mulligan and Garrett Hedlund, which rose to critical success since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017. After being acquired by Netflix, the film went on to receive a record breaking four Academy Award Nominations, making the film a milestone in Netflix’s history in the awards race.

Additional recent productions include: The Peanut Butter Falcon, starring Shia LaBeouf, Jon Bernthal, Dakota Johnson and Bruce Dern, which received rave reviews when it premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, and Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair’s latest horror/thriller Mom and Dad, which premiered in the midnight madness section at the Toronto International Film Festival.

ABOUT MOTOR
Motor is a content production company focused on Film, TV and the creation of Intellectual Property. On the film side, the company is producing Switched On at Focus with Emma Frost (White Queen) adapting the best-selling memoir by John Elder Robison, as well as the US remake of the #1 grossing horror film in Vietnam The Housemaid being adapted by Academy-Award winner Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious).

CRISWELL ONSCREEN: All His Ed Wood Movie Intros & Outros (video)

Famed fake psychic Criswell played host for three of Ed Wood's most notorious movies...

...appearing at the beginning and end of each.

(In "Orgy of the Dead" he also played a part within the film itself.)

Criswell wrote his own copy which he read from cue cards...

...delivering it with a blustery aplomb befitting the occasion.

(For an in-depth look at Criswell's role in "Orgy of the Dead", click here)

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

Small Town Monsters Heads "ON THE TRAIL OF BIGFOOT" This Friday

Small Town Monsters Releasing "On the Trail of Bigfoot"

Documentary Miniseries Chronicles a Cross-Country Examination of American Folklore
Available on DVD and VOD March 29th

"contains all the magic and wonder of a 'what if' undiscovered link in human evolution, and all the mysteries and mayhem of a creature that can invoke fear in the biggest soldier" -- Horror Society

"informative, serious-minded and compelling...reminiscent of a page-turning novel" -- Canton Repository

Wadsworth, OH -- Small Town Monsters has announced the official debut of their first miniseries, Seth Breedlove's "On the Trail of Bigfoot". Shot throughout 2018, the six episode series was filmed in fourteen U.S. states and features over twenty interviews with witnesses, investigators, historians, and researchers on the American legend. "On the Trail of Bigfoot" walks viewers through the history of the Bigfoot phenomenon, starting with the earliest known reports of apelike creatures in the 1800s and bringing them all the way up to the modern day. "On the Trail of Bigfoot" will premiere Friday, March 29th on Amazon Instant Video, Vimeo OnDemand, and VIDI Space, as well as DVD.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Wearing the many hats of director, writer, producer, narrator and star, Seth Breedlove spent weeks out in the forested regions of the United States with those seeking evidence of Bigfoot and came away convinced that there just might be something to the existence of a long-lost, hairy primate roaming North American forests after all...

During filming of the nearly three hour series, Breedlove experienced numerous unusual incidents, and even managed to capture some mysterious eyeshine watching his camp from a nearby hillside. Along the way, he was joined by skeptics, Bigfoot enthusiasts and those intent on solving the mystery once and for all. Over the course of six episodes, the series examines every aspect of one of America's most enduring legends, from decades of alleged sightings of terrifying monsters in middle America, to the ongoing search to find proof of the creature's existence.

Setting out to document the entire history of the Bigfoot phenomenon as well as the ongoing search to find the creature, the six episodes of "On the Trail of Bigfoot" promises to take audiences deeper into the subject than they've ever gone before. From mysterious reports of ape-like beasts in newspapers in the late 1800s to modern day encounters with the legendary creature, accounts of run-ins with an unknown being in the forests of North America have existed for centuries. But what does the search entail and who are the people looking for the monster?

In "On the Trail of Bigfoot", Seth Breedlove travels from coast to coast, visiting fourteen states, and interviewing two dozen individuals who take part in the hunt for what most people regard as a myth. Along the way, evidence is offered in the form of footprint casts, hair samples, strange recorded sounds and even video of what is purported to be a Bigfoot. From the forests of the Pacific Northwest to the hills of Pennsylvania, to deep southern swamps and the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma, Breedlove joins investigators seeking to prove the creature's existence.

Pre-order on Vimeo
Pre-order on DVD from Small Town Monsters

"On the Trail of Bigfoot": English / USA / 170 min

A follow-up series entitled "On the Trail of UFOs" is in the works from Small Town Monsters featuring investigator Shannon Legro.

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

The Most Emotional Scene In Any Superman Movie: Leaving Home, "Superman" (1978) (video)

Clark Kent (Jeff East) has decided that it's time to leave his home in Smallville...

...and his adoptive mother, Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter)...

...to seek his destiny as Superman.

The scene contains some of composer John Williams' most poignant music...

...and is pictorially splendid.

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

Troma's "VICTOR GOODVIEW" Blu-Ray Release Party at Forbidden Planet!

Victor Goodview Blu-Ray Release Party at Forbidden Planet with Filmmakers in Attendance on Thursday, March 28th from 6 to 8 PM!

New York, NY- March 27, 2019

Greetings from Tromaville!

This Thursday, March 28th from 6 to 8 PM, Troma fans are encouraged to come down to Forbidden Planet to celebrate the release of Troma's latest home release, 'Victor Goodview' with creators Vincent Turturro and Jerome Rain in attendance, as well as stars Kenny Borland, Tammi Cubilette and Kathleen Morgo!

Fans who can't make it to the Victor Goodview Blu-Ray signing that still want to get an autographed copy can place their order now at FPNYC.com to get a copy signed by all attending guests sent right to their door after the event!

In the Yonkers ghetto - on the outskirts of New York City - aimless-white boy-millennial Victor finds himself without a job and short on the utility bill. To make matters more... uncomfortable, he hasn't had a bowel movement in longer than he can remember.

Victor seeks solace by making friends of dubious character, smoking crack of dubious quality, and pursuing women of dubious intent. As Victor readies himself for his desperately needed dead-end job interview, the consequences of his lifestyle catch up with him...

"What is a low point in life for Victor ends up being a high point for audiences." - Dakota Dahl, Rue Morgue
"Unflinching, disturbing, and refreshingly un-Hollywood. It makes The Florida Project look like a Disney movie." - Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru

LET'S WATCH SOME ART!

Forbidden Planet NYC
832 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
www.fpnyc.com

Established in 1974 by Yale friends Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, Troma Entertainment is arguably the longest-running independent movie studio in North America, and it's one of the very few genuine brand names in the industry. World famous for movie classics like Kaufman's "The Toxic Avenger", Trey Parker's "Cannibal, the Musical", "Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead", "Class of Nuke 'em High", Charles Kaufman's "Mother's Day" and "Tromeo & Juliet", Troma's seminal films are now being remade as big-budget mainstream productions by the likes of Brett Ratner, Richard Saperstein, Akiva Goldsman and Steven Pink. Early work of many of today's luminaries can be found in Troma's library of 1000 films, cartoons, TV shows and shorts. Jenna Fischer, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Costner, Fergie, Vincent D'Onofrio, Samuel L. Jackson, James Gunn and Eli Roth are just a few. Troma's latest in house productions are "Return to Nuke 'Em High: Volumes 1 & 2". Troma's Blu-rays, DVDs, books, t-shirts and movie merchandise can be purchased at Tromashop. Please visit Troma at www.troma.com, www.lloydkaufman.com, www.twitter.com/lloydkaufman, www.facebook.com/troma.entertainment and www.tromapast.tumblr.com.

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Neve Campbell, Tom Cullen, and Keir Gilchrist Join Joey Klein's "CASTLE IN THE GROUND"

NEVE CAMPBELL, TOM CULLEN AND KEIR GILCHRIST JOIN JOEY KLEIN’S

“CASTLE IN THE GROUND”

Crime-Drama Stars Alex Wolff and Imogen Poots

LOS ANGELES (March 26, 2019) – Neve Campbell (Skyscraper, “House of Cards”), Tom Cullen (“Downton Abbey,” “Knightfall”) and Keir Gilchrist (“Atypical,” It Follows) have joined the cast of writer/director Joey Klein’s (The Other Half) Castle in the Ground. The upcoming crime-drama will star Alex Wolff (Hereditary, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) and Imogen Poots (Green Room, Frank & Lola). William Woods under his Woods Entertainment banner and Michael Solomon under Band With Pictures will produce.

Andra Gordon of American Entertainment Investors developed the project with Woods and Solomon and is executive producing alongside Tom Spriggs, Rob McGillivray, Ben Stranahan, George Stranahan, John Hansen, Mark Gingras, and John Laing. The film is financed by Line 200, Ontario Creates, NOHFC and Telefilm.

After the untimely death of his mother (Rebecca), a teenager (Henry) befriends his charismatic but troubled next-door neighbor (Ana), who embroils Henry in a world of addiction and violence just as the opioid epidemic takes hold of their small town.

With roles crossing many genres, Campbell most recently starred in Universal’s Skyscraper alongside Dwayne Johnson. She previously starred in the Golden Globe® Award winning series “House of Cards” and the Golden Globe® Award winning series “Party of Five” and had a recurring role as Sidney Prescott throughout Wes Craven’s Scream franchise.

The SAG® award winning actor, Cullen, currently stars on The History Channel series “Knightfall,’ and is best known for roles on the Golden Globe® Award winning series “Downton Abbey,” the Emmy® Award winning “Black Mirror,” and “Gunpowder” alongside Kit Harington and Liv Tyler. He also starred in Joey Klein’s The Other Half opposite Tatiana Maslany, Mine opposite Armie Hammer, and Andrew Haigh’s award-winning Weekend.

Gilchrist currently stars on Netflix’s “Atypical” alongside Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michael Rapaport. He previously starred in Showtime’s “United States of Tara” opposite Toni Collette and Brie Larson, and in Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s It’s Kind of a Funny Story alongside Emma Roberts and Zach Galifianakis.

Campbell is represented by CAA, Mosaic and Viewpoint. Cullen is represented by UTA, United Agents in the UK and Viewpoint. Gilchrist is represented by ICM Partners, Amanda Rosenthal Talent (ART), Thruline Entertainment, Viewpoint and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman.

ABOUT WOODS ENTERTAINMENT
Woods Entertainment is a Toronto based production company that has a focus on fiction film with both commercial and philosophical merit. The prodco’s second feature, Mean Dreams starring Sophie Nélisse, Josh Wiggins, Colm Feore & Bill Paxton made its premiere in the 2016 edition of the Director’s Fortnight in Cannes and had its North American premiere at TIFF. The company is currently in post-production on three features, Spinster (2019) starring Chelsea Peretti and The Rest of Us (2019) starring Heather Graham, Sophie Nélisse & Jodi Balfour and Hammer starring Mark O’Brien & Will Patton.

Wicked Witch Actress Margaret Hamilton Seriously Burned While Filming "The Wizard Of Oz" (1939) (video)

Margaret Hamilton was memorable as the Wicked Witch of the West.

But the iconic role proved a painful one in this scene.

During her disappearance through a trap door in the floor...

...a burst of flame was ignited too soon.

She received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on her face and hand.

Hamilton returned to work after recuperating for six weeks...

...but staunchly refused to do any more fire-related scenes.

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

Sci-Fi Stunner "The Man with the Magic Box" Coming Out on DVD & VOD April 4

"THE MAN WITH THE MAGIC BOX"

Out on DVD & VOD April 4th

Bodo Kox's Time-Travelling Sci-Fi Thriller Is a Playful, Thought-Provoking Tale

Peppered with references to such classics as Blade Runner, Brazil and even Men in Black, and influenced by such European classics as Godard's Alphaville, Melville's Le Samurai and Tarkovsky's Solaris, The Man With the Magic Box is certain to delight seasoned film lovers as it tells it vivid tale of a young man trapped in the future.

This award-winning Polish tale (with English subtitles) from Bobo Kox will be released on DVD and VOD April 4, 2019.

Synopsis: This Orwellian sci-fi thriller is set in the dystopian future of 2030 Warsaw. A man wakes up without any memory of his previous life. He is assigned an apartment and a job as as a janitor in an office building. But when he finds an old radio from the 1950s, it triggers mysterious visions of another past life. As he tries to piece together his past identity with the help of his beautiful but aloft boss, he runs afoul of a totalitarian government willing to do anything to stop him. A beguiling sci-fi love story that is at turns bleak, absurd, unsettling, and oddly affecting.

TRAILER for The Man with the Magic Box

The Man with the Magic Box will be available April 4th on DVD and Digital HD, including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, In Demand and more.

Order The Man with the Magic Box on Amazon

Title: The man with the Magic Box (original title, Czlowiek z magicznym pudelkiem); Director/Screenwriter: Bodo Kox; Country: Poland; Year: 2017; Running Time: 103 minutes; Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1; Language: Polish with English subtitles; Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1; UPC: 851597006735; SRP: $14.99

Monday, March 25, 2019

Pilgrim Media Group and Lance Bass Productions' YouTube Original Documentary "The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story" Gets NY & LA Theatrical Release

Pilgrim Media Group and Lance Bass Productions' YouTube Original Documentary Feature

“The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story"

Gets Theatrical Release in New York & Los Angeles

Documentary Premieres Wednesday, March 27 at ArcLight Cinema in Sherman Oaks, CA and Friday, March 29 at AMC 34th St. in New York City

Los Angeles – (March 25, 2019) – Coming off its acclaimed world premiere at SXSW earlier this month, Pilgrim Media Group and Lance Bass Productions’ YouTube Original feature documentary The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story is getting a one-week theatrical release in limited theaters in Los Angeles and New York – beginning Wednesday, March 27 in LA (Arclight Sherman Oaks) and Friday, March 29 in New York City (AMC 34th Street). The movie will debut exclusively on YouTube April 3.

Directed by Pilgrim’s Aaron Kunkel, and produced by Pilgrim Media Group CEO Craig Piligian, alongside producer, artist, host and entrepreneur Lance Bass; Pilgrim Media Group’s Nicholas Caprio; and Matthew Charles Ducey, the film tracks the life of boy band impresario Lou Pearlman from his childhood in Queens, New York through discovering mega-bands the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, and chronicles his later life, including his perpetration of one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American history.

Post-screening panels and Q&As – featuring Bass, Kunkel, and other cast members and special guests will take place in both cities.

The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story features deeply personal testimonies told for the first time by the exploited pop celebrities themselves – *NSYNC’s Lance Bass, JC Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick; Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean; Aaron Carter; Nikki Deloach of Pearlman’s girl group Innosense; and O-Town’s Ashley Parker Angel – as well as music manager Johnny Wright; journalist and media personality Dave Holmes; and numerous cheated investors, childhood acquaintances and criminal investigators. It also features archival materials including offstage footage, iconic photos, handwritten fan letters and recorded phone conversations.

The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story is a YouTube Originals presentation of a Pilgrim Media Group and Lance Bass Productions film. It is produced by Craig Piligian, Lance Bass, Nicholas Caprio and Matthew Charles Ducey. Aaron Kunkel directs. Sarba Das, Gretchen Stockdale, Johnny Wright and Sam Korkis are executive producers.

About Pilgrim Media Group:
Pilgrim Media Group produces a diverse slate of unscripted and scripted programming across all platforms. The company's current series and projects include Fast N' Loud, American Chopper, Street Outlaws (and spinoffs Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings and Street Outlaws: Memphis), Misfit Garage, Garage Rehab and Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman for Discovery; Wicked Tuna and Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for National Geographic; My Big Fat Fabulous Life for TLC; Bring It! for Lifetime; Battlefish for Netflix; and Zombie House Flipping for FYI. Among Pilgrim's feature documentaries are the award-winning films Soufra, now streaming on Hulu; Tre Maison Dasan, airing on PBS/Independent Lens in spring 2019; and The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story, produced with Lance Bass for YouTube Originals, which had its worldwide premiere in March 2019 at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX.

ReelAbilities Film Festival Announces Special Guests & Events

REELABILITIES FILM FESTIVAL: NEW YORK 2019

ANNOUNCES SPECIAL EVENTS & SPEAKERS

INCLUDING ACADEMY AWARD WINNER CHRIS COOPER, “SEINFELD” ACTOR DANNY WOODBURN, AND MORE!

Also Reveals Rachel Handler and Crystal Arnette as Winners of the “What's My ReelAbility?” Film Competition, with their film “Authentically Me”

In Partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Media and Entertainment And the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

New York, NY (March 25, 2019) – The 11th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is proud to take the audience beyond its outstanding selection of films with an array of special events and speakers that enhance the weeklong festival. Highlights will include a disability comedy night at Gotham Comedy Club, led by “Seinfeld” actor Danny Woodburn and many esteemed comedians, and a fashion and design event at Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

The festival will also feature industry-related panels such as Writing Disability with Nancy Silberkleit, CEO of Archie Comics, Alexandra Cassel, a writer for the children’s television program “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” and award-winning director Jason DaSilva. Additionally, the festival will open its doors for free daytime screenings for schools and educators. All schools are welcome to take advantage of this special initiative; contact reelabilities@jccmanhattan.org for more details. To learn more about screenings and special events or to purchase tickets, visit reelabilities.org/newyork or call 646.505.5708 or TTY 877.505.6708.

Other standout events include the annual Friday night Shabbat dinner, where ReelAbilities will spotlight activism and honor Lawrence Carter-Long, a founding visionary of the festival and curator/co-host of “The Projected Image: A History of Disability on Film” on Turner Classic Movies, and quality conversations with an incredible slate of filmmakers, experts, actors, and other talent, including Chris Cooper (actor “Intelligent Lives”), Dr. Harold Kaplowitz, The Child Mind Institute, and Kevin Hines (subject and writer, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect”). A full list of speakers and special guests can be found at reelabilities.org/newyork/guests.

ReelAbilities, in partnership with the Mayor's Office for Media and Entertainment and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, is pleased to announce “Authentically Me” by Rachel Handler and Crystal Arnette as the winner of the “What’s Your ReelAbility?” 27-second film competition for films relating to life with disabilities. Handler, an actress and an amputee, shares the authentic parts of her life that make her who she is. The film will screen on Taxi TV and at the festival throughout the week as part of the prize.

“We are thrilled to partner with the ReelAbilities New York Film Festival and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities on ‘What’s Your ReelAbility?’” said Anne del Castillo, acting commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “This festival offers the most diverse showcase of films made for, by, and about people with disabilities, and our office is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in the media and entertainment industry.”

“Every one of our films is captioned and audio described, and all of our conversations are made accessible,” said Isaac Zablocki, director and co-founder of ReelAbilities. “We are setting a new standard of inclusion for people of all abilities and challenge other festivals to do the same.”

SPECIAL EVENTS

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACCESS! 2.0

Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 is proud to collaborate with ReelAbilities to present résumé review, speed interviews, workshops, flash mentoring, and networking designed for aspiring filmmakers and media professionals with disabilities. LCA2.0 addresses underrepresentation of disabilities in media to increase employment, improve authentic disability-inclusive diversity portrayals, and expand accessible media.

Wednesday, April 3, 12:30 p.m. | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

REELABILITIES COMEDY NIGHT

Join us for the second annual ReelAbilities Comedy Night where comedians with disabilities share stories and inspiring experiences at the Gotham Comedy Club. Hosted by the one and only Danny Woodburn, and featuring Pamela Schuller, Tyler Fischer, Nic Novicki, Donnie Sengstack, Nina G, Ryan Haddad, and others to be announced.

Wednesday, April 3, 8 p.m. | Gotham Comedy Club

SHABBAT DINNER | MOVIE | CONVERSATION
CELEBRATING ADVOCACY

Honoring Lawrence Carter-Long

ReelAbilities celebrates advocacy and honors those individuals who lead the way toward greater inclusion and accessibility. Join us for a lively Shabbat dinner and a screening of several short films relating to activism as we honor the inspiring work of one of our founding collaborators, Lawrence Carter-Long.

Friday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Advance registration required.

REELABILITIES R&R COMMUNITY DAY

Bring the whole family to the JCC for hands-on exploration and activities inspired by the festival during its famous R&R Shabbat event. Programs will include Heidi Latsky Dance—On Display, NYC Kids Project Puppet Show, Action Play theater, panel discussions, partner activities and tables, and much more. A full schedule of events will be available online at jccmanhattan.org.

Saturday, April 6, 2-6 p.m. | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

PANEL | WRITING DISABILITY

The visions presented in media help shape our society. From Archie Comics to children’s TV shows, we are witnessing exciting new examples of inclusion in media. Join us for a panel and presentations of creators furthering diversity in multiple forms of media.

In Partnership with WGA-East

Saturday, April 6, 3 p.m. | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

PANEL | FASHION BEYOND FUNCTION: IDEALS OF BEAUTY, DESIGN, AND DISABILITY

Brand ambassadors, designers, and industry pioneers will gather in conversation to explore the development of fashion for people with disabilities, representation, and the business case for engaging with inclusive design. The panel will also discuss the shift in focus from function to self-expression.

Saturday, April 6, 5 p.m. | Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

DISABILITY ON THE SMALL SCREEN

TV and web series have opened up new platforms for accessible presentations of people with disabilities. Enjoy a screening featuring groundbreaking shows, including “On the Spectrum” and “Hot Flash,” which spotlight people with disabilities, followed by a discussion involving the filmmakers and industry experts.

In partnership with SAG-AFTRA.

Sunday, April 7, 2:30 p.m. | Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

“TEARLESS” ART EXHIBIT

Featuring five young adult artists who have Familial Dysautonomia (including Mara Clawson, subject of the film “Living Art”).

Sunday, April 7, 4-7 p.m. | Allouche Gallery

A complete list of special events, program updates, additional information, and ticketing details are available online at reelabilities.org/newyork or by calling 646.505.5708 or TTY 877.505.6708.

Ticket Information

Ticketing policies and prices vary by location. To purchase tickets or register by phone, please contact the appropriate screening venue directly. The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan offers group rates and discounted multi-ticket packs. Tickets can be purchased online at reelabilities.org/newyork.

About ReelAbilities

Presented by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, the 11th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. The festival presents award-winning films in various locations throughout the NY metropolitan area. Discussions and other engaging programs bring the community together to explore, discuss, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience. Learn more at reelabilities.org/newyork.

About the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Together with its community, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan creates opportunities for people to connect, grow, and learn within an ever-changing Jewish landscape.
Located on 76th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, the JCC is a vibrant non-profit community center on the Upper West Side. The cornerstone of progressive programming in Manhattan, the JCC serves over 55,000 people annually through 1,200 programs each season that educate, inspire, and transform participants' minds, bodies, and spirits. Since its inception, the JCC has been committed to serving the community by offering programs, classes, and events that reach beyond neighborhood boundaries, reaching people at all stages of their lives. Learn more at jccmanhattan.org.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

NAZI JUNKIES -- DVD Review by Porfle

In Film Movement's two-part TV documentary DVD, NAZI JUNKIES ("The Hidden History of Drugs in the Third Reich"), we get something which is, for me, much different than the usual rehash of familiar World War II material. Because here, we learn of what a major role performance-enhancing drugs played for not only Nazi soldiers and German civilians, but for Der Fuhrer himself.

Inspired by Norman Ohler's book, "Blitzed: Drugs In The Third Reich", this is a riveting account of an army and its leader fueled to the gills on various substances that kept them wide awake for days, performing at dangerously intense levels, and generally feeling invincible as their Blitzkreig steamrolled over Europe and then recklessly made its way into Russia where some of the most horrific warfare in human history would take place.

We see the main drug of the military, Pervitin, being mass-produced and handed out as part of each soldier's standard kit. It's like something out of a sci-fi yarn about chemically-enhanced super soldiers except that it really happened, as is recounted here in fascinating style with documents, interviews with historians and participants, and, most importantly, a wealth of both photographic and briskly-edited film material that lavishly illustrates the narrative while keeping the "talking heads" stuff to a minimum.

Part One, "Hitler the Junkie", is all about the big "H" himself and how Der Fuhrer's personal "physician", Dr. Theodor Morell, kept him stoked up with a cocktail of intravenous delights that gave him that delusion of grandeur needed to fancy himself a brilliant leader whose every thought was part of some perfect plan for world domination.

With anyone else the story of his gradual mental and physical deterioration might be tragic, but in this case it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. This gives "Hitler the Junkie" its most satisfying quality even as the rest of what we see as a result of this madman's reign of terror is as incomprehensibly horrific as always.

The film puts us right there in Hitler's bunker during those last days and details Ol' Bristle Lip's final descent into drug-addled madness as he and Eva Braun, along with the rest of the remaining "elite", prepare to send themselves on an express elevator to Hell.

Until then, we get a detailed diary of Hitler's daily injections and what they were doing to his mind and body, with speculation by historians as to what extent this perpetual saturation of illicit substances in his bloodstream affected his thought processes and decision-making abilities.

Part Two, "Nazi Junkies", tells of how the Third Reich used drugs on its own soldiers in order to push them to the absolute peak of efficiency and fighting fervor, with millions of tablets of "Pervitin" being distributed to the troops on a daily basis along with whatever else might keep them sufficiently supercharged.

We get a streamlined history of the war, again via a marvelous wealth of historical film and other visuals, but this time we see the invasions of Poland and France and various major battles with the knowledge that the German soldiers are performing in a state of drug-fueled mania.

Later, the disastrous and prolonged invasion of Russia finds them running out of drugs and, as a consequence, trading motivation for despair. One of the most shocking revelations of these final days of the Third Reich is the use of children in midget submarines who were pumped full of drugs and sent on suicide missions against enemy ships in their tiny metal death traps.

Of course, as with any documentary of this nature, there are images of unimaginable atrocities including much concentration camp footage (where drug experiments were carried out upon the helpless prisoners) and the mass extermination of civilians in both Europe and Russia during which the soldiers performing these acts eased their consciences through copious amounts of self-medication.

I had no idea that WWII Germany's fierce fighting machine, its seemingly invincible Aryan supermen in uniform, were a bunch of hopped-up junkies and speed freaks burning the candle at both ends until the wheels fell off (to mix metaphors badly) and that their own Big Cheese himself spent most of the war with a needle sticking out of his fat, pulsating veins. As such, I found NAZI JUNKIES highly enlightening and effortlessly fascinating from start to finish.

Order it from Film Movement

Order it from Amazon.com

TECH SPECS:
Director: Christian Huleu
Format: NTSC
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Film Movement
DVD Release Date: April 2, 2019
Subtitles: None
Run Time: 104 minutes

"TERROR 5" - Argentinian Horror Anthology Comes April 2nd on DVD & VOD

"TERROR 5"

Indie Horror Film Coming to DVD & VOD April 2

Brothers Sebastian and Federico Rotstein Direct This Horror Anthology

Playfully based on urban legends and featuring a group of young people all coming face-to-face with their inner demons, Terror 5 is far from your typical indie horror. First-time directors Sebastian and Federico Rotstein use a local political crisis in Argentina as the backdrop to the five stories that unfold to horrific conclusions. Artsploitation Films will release the film this April 2nd on DVD and on several VOD platforms.

“Terror 5 demands repeated viewings to fully grasp the scope and genius of the film, which is thought-provoking and confounding at times, but entirely enticing and compelling.” – WeAreIndieHorror

Synopsis: While most of the residents of a small Argentinian town attend a funeral procession following a tragic building collapse, the few who do not will face terrors of their own in this mashup of urban legends from brothers-filmmakers Sebastián and Federico Rotstein. Think bondage, torture, zombies…and governmental corruption. Hernán and Gabriela, are going to a motel without realizing that inside the room, behind the mirror, there is something waiting for them. Lucio and Paulo have a plan to swap girlfriends without realizing what will really happen. A group of friends are watching a snuff movie ignoring that the real terror is sitting next to them. Juan attends a date with Sonia thinking he is going to get laid, when he realizes that she has bigger plans for him.

As their primal urges distract them all, local officials are judged innocent of the neglect that caused the building collapse—and then the horror really begins.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Order Terror 5 on Amazon

Terror 5 will be available April 2nd on DVD and Digital HD, including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Google Play, In Demand and more.

Title: Terror 5; Directors: Sebastián Rotstein, Federico Rotstein; Country: Argentina; Year: 2016; Running Time: 78 minutes; Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1; Language: Spanish with English subtitles; Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1; UPC: 851597006742; SRP: $14.99

Copyright © 2019 Artsploitation Films, All rights reserved.

Man Changes Into Wolf Man In Jail Cell With Witnesses ("House Of Dracula", 1945) (video)

Larry Talbot, in desperation, has himself locked up...

...knowing that the rising of the full moon will transform him into the Wolf Man.

Dr. Edelmann and his nurse Militza try to convince him otherwise.

But they're the ones who are convinced when the transformation occurs.

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

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present "LITTLE" Coming April 12th

Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present

"LITTLE"

Coming April 12th

Girls Trip's Regina Hall and Black-ish's Marsai Martin both star as Jordan Sanders — Hall as the take-no-prisoners tech mogul adult version of Jordan and Martin as the 13-year-old version of her who wakes up in her adult self's penthouse just before a do-or-die presentation.

Insecure's Issa Rae plays Jordan's long-suffering assistant April, the only one in on the secret that her daily tormentor is now trapped in an awkward tween body just as everything is on the line. Little is an irreverent new comedy about the price of success, the power of sisterhood and having a second chance to grow up — and glow up — right.

Will Packer, blockbuster producer of Girls Trip, the Ride Along franchise, and ten movies that have opened No. 1 at the U.S. box office, including Night School, No Good Deed and Think Like a Man, brings an all-new perspective to the body-swap comedy.

Little is directed by Tina Gordon (writer, Drumline) with a story by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) and a screenplay by Oliver and Gordon, based on an idea by teen actress Martin. The film is produced by Packer and his producing partner James Lopez and by Kenya Barris (Girls Trip, Black-ish), and is executive produced by Preston Holmes (Night School), Hall, Marsai Martin and Josh Martin.

Genre: Comedy

Cast: Regina Hall, Issa Rae, and introducing Marsai Martin

Director: Tina Gordon

Story: Tracy Oliver

Screenplay: Tracy Oliver and Tina Gordon

Producers: Will Packer, Kenya Barris, James Lopez

Executive Producers: Marsai Martin, Josh Martin, Regina Hall, Preston Holmes

Does Paul Mouth A Dirty Word In "A Hard Day's Night"? (1964) (video)

The Beatles' first film does get a tad risque' at times.

In the nightclub scene, the Beatles break away from their manager...

...for an evening of unsupervised fun.

At one point, Paul points at his date and mouths a few words.

To me, it looks like he mouths the words: "I'll ____ this bird."

Am I right or wrong? What do you think he says?

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

It's Still Halloween To Us...Unearthing Artifacts and Winning Prizes!

IT'S STILL HALLOWEEN TO US!

Collection Complete Unearths Screen-used Artifacts from Halloween ’78 and Halloween II

Unearthed by the docu-series Collection Complete (which takes an in-depth look into the lives of artists and the collections that fuel their work, as presented by Gemr, an app for collectors worldwide), the show’s latest episode takes a look at extremely rare screen-used artifacts from the Halloween film franchise, which currently reside within the remarkable collection of Horror’s Hallowed Grounds host Sean Clark.

A deep dive into his life-long fascination with horror, the latest episode (co-directed by Dread Central’s Sean Decker, who created Collection Complete along with series producer Carlee Baker) focuses on not only Clark’s acquisition of Mrs. Elrod’s cutting board from 1981’s Halloween II and Nick Castle’s very own shooting script from John Carpenter’s ground-breaking film Halloween, but also Clark’s own original show, the popular film location docu-series Horror’s Hallowed Grounds.

The series’ thirteenth episode (future installments are set to shocase the collections of Los Angeles-based designer and filmmaker Micheline Pitt, as well as a behind-the-scenes peek into 1/6 scale artist Ones Customs), past episodes of Collection Complete have ventured into the personal collections of filmmakers Mike Mendez of Tales of Halloween fame and The Hills Run Red producer Robert Meyer Burnett.

What’s more, for the next two weeks, those who create a free account at Gemr.com’s horror club will have a chance to win a ’Collection Complete Halloween 6 Giveaway’ Prize Pack, which contains one (1) copy of Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers Unrated Producers Cut on Blu ray signed by the film’s writer Daniel Farrands, one (1) officially licensed Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers T-Shirt from Fright-Rags, and one (1) officially licensed Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers mask from Trick or Treat Studios!

Already have a Gemr account? Just click through the link and you’ll be instantly entered!

ABOUT GEMR
Gemr is the leading platform for collectors to discover, display, discuss and buy & sell collectibles. With over 75 million collectors worldwide, Gemr offers a vertically integrated platform for all levels of collecting. Gemr currently has over 540,000 users and 537 unique clubs covering anime, gaming, horror, sci-fi, sports and more. Visit Gemr at www.gemr.com or download the app to join the Gemr world.

Collection Complete Episode 2.5:

Contest signup at Gemr: https://landing.gemr.com/Halloween6Giveaway

Collection Complete Official Sites and Social Media

Landing page: https://landing.gemr.com/collectioncomplete
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollectionComplete
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collectioncomplete
Twitter: https://twitter.com/collectioncomp

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

John Wayne's Coolest Scenes #29: Gavabutu, "In Harm's Way" (1965) (video)

Admiral Rock Torrey (John Wayne) has been sent to a remote Pacific military base in WWII...

...to straighten out the mess caused by cowardly, indecisive Admiral Broderick (Dana Andrews).

As Broderick is busy strutting and preening for the visiting press...

...building up the situation as practically unresolvable...

...Torrey hits him with the sobering truth.

Then, mercifully, Torrey helps the flustered admiral save face.

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

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Elvis Presley's Western Fantasy ("Tickle Me", 1965) (video)

Elvis Presley visits a ghost town saloon with lovely Jocelyn Lane...

...and imagines himself as a heroic gunslinger, the Panhandle Kid.

Jack Mullaney is the bartender and Ed Faulkner plays a lecherous card shark.

Elvis outdraws the bad guy, gets the girl, and drinks his milk.

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

A Horror Fan's "Nightmare" Come True -- A Chance To Win A One Of A Kind Nightmarionette!

GEMR OFFERS NIGHTMARE FANS
A ONE OF A KIND GIVEAWAY

One Lucky Winner Can Own The Nightmarionette Created Exclusively for Gemr By One Customs

LOS ANGELES -- Gemr, the world’s #1 destination for collectors to discover, display and connect, is offering horror fans a “One of a Kind” giveaway as part of its partnership with Ones Customs. A lucky winner will add The Nightmarionette to their collection and bragging rights on Gemr.

Based on a reinterpretation of the puppet from 1987’s Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Nightmarionette is a custom sixth scale action figure by Ones Customs. It stands 12 inches tall and includes weathered paint effects, real metal claws, a cross bar with marionettist twine, and comes with a stand as well as a certificate of authenticity.

“What horror fan wouldn’t want this in their collection?” said Gemr’s CEO Tom Bennett. “Hell, I want one too but it would probably give me nightmares having it in the house. One Customs has got to be one of the best custom figure makers we’ve ever seen and I think our ‘cool’ factor went up a few notches because of this partnership.”

Fans can enter by signing up for the Gemr platform or app and joining the horror club. Additional entries can be gained by adding their own horror collection photos to their page. Deadline to enter is April 4, 2019.

ABOUT GEMR
Gemr is the leading platform for collectors to discover, display, discuss and buy & sell collectibles. With over 75 million collectors worldwide, Gemr offers a vertically integrated platform for all levels of collecting. Gemr currently has over 540,000 users and 537 unique clubs covering anime, gaming, horror, sci-fi, sports and more. Visit Gemr at www.gemr.com or download the app to join the Gemr world.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Academy Award Winner Alexander Dinelaris Pens Adaptation of Internationally-Acclaimed Broadway Musical "JEKYLL & HYDE"

ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER ALEXANDER DINELARIS PENS ADAPTATION OF INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED BROADWAY MUSICAL
JEKYLL & HYDE

Feature Film will Mark the first project under Dinelaris’ Development Banner Lexicon
Inks First-Look deal with Richard Saperstein’s Bluestone Entertainment

LOS ANGELES / NEW YORK (March 19, 2019) - Two-time Academy Award® winner Leslie Bricusse and Emmy®, Grammy® and Tony® nominated composer Frank Wildhorn’s acclaimed Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde is being reimagined for the big screen by Academy Award® winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), The Revenant).

Dinelaris has penned the script and will produce under his New York based development company, Lexicon. Jekyll & Hyde marks the first production under the Lexicon banner, which was created alongside partner Rob Quadrino as a home for exceptional writers, which supports, mentors and protects their stories, from conception through production in film, TV or stage.

Lexicon has inked a first-look deal with Richard Saperstein’s Bluestone Entertainment. This first project under the deal which will see Bluestone’s Saperstein producing Jekyll and Hyde alongside Lexicon’s Dinelaris and Quadrino, and Fezziwig Studios’ Dan Angel, Brian Gott, and Marc Iannarino. Phil Kim and David Segel will serve as executive producers.

Jekyll and Hyde debuted on Broadway in 1997 and spent the next 20 years playing across four continents, in 28 countries, and grossing close to a billion dollars. The acclaimed musical follows the journey of Dr. Jekyll as he wrestles with his alter ego, Mr. Hyde, in an epic battle between good and evil.

Dinelaris said, “Bringing the gritty potential of Leslie and Frank’s stirring gothic musical to the big screen made Jekyll & Hyde the perfect project to launch Lexicon, which is focused on character driven, muscular storytelling.”

In a joint statement, Bricusse and Wildhorn commented: “After 30 years of our stage productions playing successfully in almost every major country in the world, we are absolutely thrilled to see our musical version of Jekyll and Hyde becoming a major motion picture.”

Dinelaris and Wildhorn will also be hosting an exclusive evening launching the stage-to-screen adaptation of Jekyll & Hyde on March 21st in New York, featuring performances by Broadway powerhouses: Deborah Cox, Laura Osnes, Matthew James Thomas and Bonnie Milligan.

Dinelaris previously won an Academy Award® for Best Original Screenplay and the Golden Globe® for Best Screenplay,Motion Picture for his film Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) starring Michael Keaton. He also co-produced the three-time Academy Award® winning film The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio and wrote the Tony® nominated hit Broadway musical On Your Feet! based on the life and music of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Dinelaris is represented by CAA.

ABOUT LEXICON
Lexicon is a New York based development company founded by Academy Award® winning screenwriter Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), The Revenant) and Rob Quadrino, focused on the screenwriter and the power of the script. Lexicon’s mission is to create a home for exceptional writers – from first timers to award winners - supporting, mentoring and protecting their stories, from conception through production. The company’s Script First approach champions skilled narrative storytelling across all genres and content platforms.

www.LexiconNewYork.com

"TRICK" -- Omar Epps Takes on Patrick Lussier's Halloween-Themed Thriller

"TRICK"

Patrick Lussier's Halloween-Themed Thriller Starts Production in NY

Omar Epps Takes On Horror Lead

Los Angeles, CA - Principal production has begun on the horror thriller, Trick. The Patrick Lussier-helmed feature is now shooting with Omar Epps stepping into the main role of Detective Mike Denver, a man obsessed with a killer that has eluded him.

Epps has starred in over 20 films in a career spanning two decades. Most recently, he starred on USA Network's "Shooter" and 2018's hit film Traffik alongside Paula Patton.

Trick also stars Ellen Adair (Showtime's "Homeland" and "Billions," USA's "The Sinner") as Sheriff Lisa Jayne, the sheriff in the small town of Benton who has always considered Detective Denver as her mentor. Cheryl Winston, the only survivor of the latest round of killings in her small town, will be played by Kristina Reyes ("Blindspot," "Shades of Blue"). Talbott is played by frequent George A. Romero collaborator Tom Atkins and Jamie Kennedy (Scream 1-3, Malibu's Most Wanted, Romeo + Juliet) will play Dr. Steven.

Principal photography for the film is taking place in New York.

Producer Ellen Wander, (Misconduct, Spinning Man, Misconduct, Marshall) stated, "We are thrilled to get into production with Omar and Patrick and can't wait to have this film be seen by audiences everywhere."

The story centers on an elusive serial killer, who descends upon a small town annually. He is responsible for gruesome murders year after year, each seemingly unrelated. No one believes this could be the same killer. Detective Denver has faced Trick once before, having -shot and killed him. Or so everyone keeps telling him. However, Denver knows Trick is still out there, and he's coming back for revenge.

Lussier's lengthy list of horror credentials began while working alongside Wes Craven in some of the genre's biggest hits including the ground-breaking Scream franchise, Red Eye, New Nightmare and Vampire in Brooklyn. Lussier directed and co-wrote My Bloody Valentine, Drive Angry and was a writer and producer on Terminator Genisys.

Writer Todd Farmer has a long history in the horror genre including Jason X, and The Messengers and has worked previously alongside Lussier co-writing My Bloody Valentine and Drive Angry.
Film Bridge International will handle worldwide sales for the film. In addition, Film Bridge International has partnered with Chimney's Fredrik Zander to handle post-production.

Omar Epps is repped by CAA and Anonymous Content. Patrick Lussier is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency.

Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin Meet Aunt Bee ("The Stooge", 1952) (video)

Before she went to Mayberry to live with Andy and Opie...

...Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) was Jerry Lewis' mother.

As we see here, they're much alike...

...both of them just a little "off."

Click here to read "Porfle vs. Aunt Bee"

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

Nicolas Cage To Star In The Highly Anticipated Martial Arts Feature "JIU JITSU" From Dimitri Logothetis

NICOLAS CAGE TO STAR IN THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MARTIAL ARTS FEATURE ‘JIU JITSU’ FROM DIMITRI LOGOTHETIS

Alain Moussi also stars; Highland Film Group Handling Worldwide Sales

LOS ANGELES (March 19, 2019) –Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner Nicolas Cage (National Treasure, Between Worlds, Snowden) has signed on to star in writer-producer and director Dimitri Logothetis’ martial arts action saga Jiu Jitsu. The cast will also include Alain Moussi (Kickboxer: Retaliation). Based on the comic book of the same name, which Logothetis also penned along with Jim McGrath, Jiu Jitsu will be produced by Logothetis, and Martin Barab (State and Main, USS Indianapolis, Love & Sex, Medieval), with Highland Film Group handling worldwide sales, which are currently underway at Hong Kong Filmart 2019.

Every six years, an ancient order of expert Jiu Jitsu fighters faces a fearsome alien invader in a battle for Earth. For thousands of years, the fighters that protect Earth have played by the rules...until now. When Jake Barnes (Alain Moussi), a celebrated war hero and master Jiu Jitsu fighter, refuses to face Brax, the indomitable leader of the invaders, the future of humanity hangs in the balance. Injured and suffering from severe amnesia, Jake is captured by a military squad unequipped to fight the merciless intruder who have descended upon the planet. After a brutal alien attack on the military squad, Jake is rescued by Wylie (Nicolas Cage), and a team of fellow Jiu Jitsu fighters who must help him recover his memory and regain his strength in order to band together and defeat Brax in an epic battle that will once again determine the fate of mankind.

Dimitri Logothetis’ shares that “After we successfully reintroduced the Kickboxer franchise to a new generation of martial arts fans with the sixth and seventh entries in the series, we set out to up the ante with a Sci Fi Martial Arts franchise that could bring the same kind of intensity and longevity to a new arena. Jiu Jitsu is guaranteed to satisfy the millions of martial arts and science fiction lovers across the globe with world class martial artists, stunt men go-to expert Alain Moussi joining superstar Nicolas Cage for some formidable, no holds barred fight sequences set in exotic Burma.”

Cage recently appeared in critically beloved psychedelic action horror film Mandy, along with the Academy Award® winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and starred in York Alec Shackleton’s 211. He can next be seen in Jason Cabell’s Running with the Devil alongside Laurence Fishburne and Leslie Bibb, Primal alongside Famke Janssen and Grand Isle with Luke Benward and Kelsey Grammer.

Moussi recently starred in films such as the Kickboxer Trilogy Franchise, Street Fighter: Resurrection, Wolves, Kill Order, and has been an active stunt performer and coordinator in such projects as Dark Phoenix, Shazam!, Starz Network’s “American Gods,” Suicide Squad, and Warcraft: The Beginning.

Logothetis returns to direct for the big screen following the successful reboot of the Kickboxer franchise with Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018), which earned a 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the upcoming Kickboxer: Armageddon.

Cage is represented by WME and Stride Management. Moussi is represented by The Characters Talent Agency and Peter Meyer Management. Logothetis is represented by Peter Meyer Management.

HFG’s diversified production and sales slate includes: Joe Carnahan’s Boss Level starring Frank Grillo, Naomi Watts and Mel Gibson; Michael Cristofer’s The Night Clerk starring Tye Sheridan, Ana de Armas and Helen Hunt; Marc Meyer’s thriller We Summon the Darkness starring Alexandra Daddario; Shawn Ku’s action thriller A Score to Settle starring Nicolas Cage; Vaughn Stein’s Terminal starring Margot Robbie, which released earlier this year; the star-studded Berlin, I Love You with Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Jim Sturgess, Mickey Rourke, Diego Luna, and Jenna Dewan Tatum; Lin Oeding’s thriller Braven starring Jason Momoa; and Steven C. Miller’s action thriller Escape Plan 2: Hades starring Sylvester Stallone and Dave Bautista.

About Highland Film Group
Led by founding partners Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier, Highland Film Group (HFG) is an independent worldwide sales, production and film financing company. Launched in 2010, HFG has had success across a wide range of film genres and platforms, building a reputation for handling high-octane films in the action/horror/thriller space, focusing on cast, director, film maker driven content.

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

HOSTAGE -- DVD Review by Porfle

IndiePix's "Retro Afrika" series does it again with another long-neglected, now rescued and restored South African apartheid-era film made for black audiences denied access to mainstream theaters.

HOSTAGE (1986) is one of the more serious offerings in the series, being the story of an aspiring crime boss who kidnaps a successful businessman's wife in order to force the man to give him access to his warehouse for storing drugs.

The would-be drug lord, Bra Jack, is played by South African cinema's ubiquitous handsome leading man Innocent "Popo" Gamede, the most competent actor in the cast. His cohorts, Jabu and Thabi, specialize in setting up rich married men (Thabi seduces and drugs them, then Jabu takes pics of them in bed together) for blackmail.

But Bra Jack wants to expand into the drug business, hence his attempt to secure the cooperation of warehouse owner Jackson. When he refuses, Jack kidnaps Jackson's wife Thuli and holds her for ransom.

But Jackson has an ace up his sleeve--stocky tough-guy friend Michael, who takes charge of the situation and proves a formidable threat to the bad guys' scheme.

Being the sole IMDb credit for director Michele Hartslief, HOSTAGE is nevertheless one of the better films of this kind I've seen, although this assessment is purely relative.

It's still a makeshift, no-budget affair that's strictly amateurish on every level, yet it's just this quality that makes it so much fun to watch. It's like the cinematic equivalent of primitive art, aesthetically pleasing on its own unique terms despite its imperfections.

Acting by most of the leads is unpolished but engaging, with each member of the cast making the most of their parts. One glaring omission is my favorite "Retro Afrika" regular Hector Mathanda of such films as FISHY STONES, THE COMEDIANS, UMBANGO, and ISIBOSHWA.

The story is simple enough, with a plot that would make the typical Hardy Boys mystery seem complex. Thuli gets kidnapped, escapes, is recaptured, and then there's a tense showdown between the two factions that ends in gunplay.

Scenes play out mostly in long master shots with lots of dialogue to pad things out. Camerawork is mostly of the home movie variety, but like every other element of the film, this only adds to its charm. A sprightly disco/techno score is another plus.

My usual disclaimer in regards to these "Retro Afrika" films still applies: if you require polished technical and artistic values in your film fare, chances are this one will prove less than watchable.

But if you, like me, thoroughly enjoy watching a film effort lovingly devised by unpolished yet enthusiastic filmmakers yearning to entertain, then HOSTAGE should prove a uniquely pleasing and perhaps even delightful viewing experience.

Buy it at Indiepix

Buy it at Amazon

TECH SPECS:
Actors: Pepsi Mabizela, Innocent Gumede
Format: Color, NTSC
Subtitles: English
Number of discs: 1
Not Rated
Studio: Indiepix Films
Extras: Trailer
DVD Release Date: March 12, 2019

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