1 2011 American Film Market Press Report: 11-15-2011 - Written By: David L. $Money Train$ Watts, Neil Williams & Howard Hobson – FuTurXTV - Funk Gumbo Radio – Auggie Cavanagh - Cameraman & Still Photographer About the AFM The business of independent motion picture production and distribution – a truly collaborative process – reaches its peak every year at the AFM, when 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, conferences, premieres, networking and parties. Participants come from more than 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world's press and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry. Founded in 1981, the AFM quickly became the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood's decision- makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof. Unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed - on both completed films and those in every stage of development and production - making the AFM the must-attend industry event. The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the trade association representing the world's producers and distributors of independent motion pictures and television programs. More information is online at www.IFTA-online.org. I can easily summarize up this year‟s 2011 AFM with five distinct things: Ron Howard and Rob Reiner were at AFM, China is buying films big time, film sellers are mostly happy at AFM, buyers are mostly happy and everything old is new again in 3D. That is what I immediately took from being at AFM this year. I have to say that I started to feel the crowds and excitement and buzz coming back to AFM that I have not seen for several years. AFM will never really get back to its heyday of being one of the most crowded and coveted Hollywood Industry events like it was in 2005 and 2006. But I can say that this year‟s AFM was well attended during the first week and many of the panels and premiere screenings were still having solid attendance during the second week. MoneyTrain & Fred Williamson Funk Gumbo Radio: http://www.live365.com/stations/sirhobson • @FUNKGUMBO • [email protected]• www.funkgumbo.com
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2011 American Film Market Press Report - David L. Watts, Neil Williams & Howard Hobson - FuTurXTV & Funk Gumbo Radio
I can easily summarize up this year’s 2011 AFM with five distinct things: Ron Howard and Rob Reiner were at AFM, China is buying films big time, film sellers are mostly happy at AFM, buyers are mostly happy and everything old is new again in 3D. That is what I immediately took from being at AFM this year. I have to say that I started to feel the crowds and excitement and buzz coming back to AFM that I have not seen for several years. AFM will never really get back to its heyday of being one of the most crowded and coveted Hollywood Industry events like it was in 2005 and 2006. But I can say that this year’s AFM was well attended during the first week and many of the panels and premiere screenings were still having solid attendance during the second week.
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2011 American Film Market Press Report:
11-15-2011 - Written By: David L. $Money Train$ Watts, Neil Williams & Howard Hobson
– FuTurXTV - Funk Gumbo Radio – Auggie Cavanagh - Cameraman & Still Photographer
About the AFM
The business of independent motion picture production and distribution – a truly collaborative process –
reaches its peak every year at the AFM, when 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days
of deal-making, screenings, conferences, premieres, networking and parties. Participants come from more
than 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors,
distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world's press and all
those who provide services to the motion picture industry.
Founded in 1981, the AFM quickly became the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood's decision-
makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof. Unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where
production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed
- on both completed films and those in every stage of development and production - making the AFM the
must-attend industry event. The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the trade
association representing the world's producers and distributors of independent motion pictures and television
programs. More information is online at www.IFTA-online.org.
I can easily summarize up this year‟s 2011 AFM with five distinct things: Ron Howard and Rob Reiner were at AFM, China is buying films big time, film sellers are mostly happy at AFM, buyers are mostly happy and everything old is new again in 3D. That is what I immediately took from being at AFM this year. I have to say that I started to feel the crowds and excitement and buzz coming back to AFM that I have not seen for several years. AFM will never really get back to its heyday of being one of the most crowded and coveted Hollywood Industry events like it was in 2005 and 2006. But I can say that this year‟s AFM was well attended during the first week and many of the panels and premiere screenings were still having solid attendance during the second week.
And I can say that the 2011 AFM was notable not because I ran into 70‟s Blaxploitation screen legend Fred Williams in the lobby looking for investors for Original Gangsters 2. But rather there were many notable and easily recognizable A-list producers like Ron Howard and Rob Reiner who actually showed up and were promoting their films. For Ron Howard he was at AFM creating hype and hoopla for his new film called Rush. Rob Reiner was at AFM doing interviews for his new film Summer at Dog Dave‟s, starring Morgan Freeman and Virginia Madsen and is being sold by Voltage Pictures. The pictures of Ron at AFM and the press release about him being at AFM are below:
2011 AFM PICTURES – DAY 1:
Producer Ron Howard (2nd-R) with Exclusive Media Group excutives Nigel Sinclair (L)
and Guy East (R), and Cross Creek Brian Oliver attend 2011 American Film Market - Day
1 - Ron Howard attends AFM to meet with buyers for his Epic Formula 1 FILM 'RUSH',
held at Casa Del Mar hotel on November 2, 2011 in Santa Monica, California.
Los Angeles, CA (November 1st, 2011) – Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard
attends the American Film Market to meet with buyers and talk about his vision for his
new film RUSH on behalf of Exclusive Media Group (―Exclusive‖). Alongside Exclusive co-
chairmen Nigel Sinclair, and Guy East and Cross Creek’s Brian Oliver, Howard
participated in a number of intimate round table meetings about the epic Formula 1
feature film and highlighted how he’d become such a fan of the sport. RUSH is co-
produced and co-financed by Exclusive with Cross Creek Pictures. This marks the third
collaboration between Exclusive and Cross Creek, who are also co-producing the picture
with Imagine Entertainment, Working Title and Revolution Films. Howard, Brian Oliver,
Brian Grazer, Eric Fellner, Peter Morgan and Andrew Eaton are all named as producers.
Exclusive’s co-chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East executive produce RUSH with
Exclusive’s Head of Production Tobin Armbrust. Imagine’s Todd Hallowell will also
Executive Produce. Chris Hemsworth (THOR) and Daniel Brühl (INGLORIOUS
BASTERDS) star in the film penned by Peter Morgan (FROST/NIXON). Alex Walton,
President of Exclusive Films International, is debuting RUSH to buyers at AFM. Currently
in production, RUSH is being released by Universal Pictures in the US in 2012.
The 2011 AFM Seller that impressed me the most this year was The Little Film Company. You can read a detailed press release about their new AFM 2011 films:
LOS ANGELES (November 4, 2011) – Clay Epstein, VP of Sales and Acquisitions for The Little Film
Company announces the UK sale of the new action film, WAR OF THE DEAD to Momentum Films/Alliance
Pictures.
―We’ve had an incredible response to WAR OF THE DEAD and are thrilled to have found the perfect
distribution team for such a great film with Momentum/Alliance,‖ Epstein said.
WAR OF THE DEAD is directed by Marko Makilaakso and stars Andrew Tiernan as Captain Martin Stone
who leads a specially trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers who attack an enemy bunker.
Underestimating their enemy’s strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As the platoon tries to
regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers whom they’d just killed minutes earlier. Forced to
flee deeper into Russian territory, they discover one of war’s most terrifying secrets and realize they have
woken up a far more deadly enemy.
"We're excited to be in business with the Little Film Company on what promises to be a real treat for fans of
full-blooded action." Said Henry Beattie, Worldwide Acquisitions Manager for Momentum Pictures/Alliance
Films.
With the current fad of Zombie films taking center stage on the global film market, WAR OF THE
DEAD stands out with its high production value and non-stop action.
The Little Film Company is selling the European coproduction at AFM along with an impressive slate
including Dario Argento’s DRACULA 3D, THE EYE OF THE STORM with Geoffrey Rush and
Charlotte Rampling, BENEATH THE DARKNESS with Dennis Quaid and SPUD with John Cleese.
And I did make sure I went and spoke with one of the few- if not only-African-American AFM Buyer/Sellers named Phil Roberson with Wonderphil Productions. You can see
many brothas and sistas down in the Loews Hotel lobby or by the pool and all over the Market. But it is extremely rare to actually see anyone Black in the AFM suites. And it is even rare to meet a president of company like Phil at AFM. We did not chat long at Wonderphil‟s suite, but Phil told me his plate was full in regards to producing any new films. Phil said they were not acquiring new projects until they sold all of their films first.
I did get a chance to see a few films as well at AFM and I was greatly impressed with Telepool‟s Color of the Ocean which really examines the issue of immigration from multiple sides to produce a highly engaging and memorable film. And I especially liked the lead performances of Houbert Kounde who plays Zola, the African father from Senegal, Alex Gonzalez the hardened Spanish border patrolman and the sympathetic and caring German tourist played excellently by Sabine Timoteo. She really stands out. Synopsis: "On a Gran Canarias’s beach, a German tourist witnesses the arrival of a precarious
boat with African refugees on board. In order to help, she gives money to an African father and his son, both escaped from the reception centre. That decision will influence strongly their lives while the officer investigating the case will severely try to deport both Africans." “A muscular, moving thriller with a three-sided perspective on the moral complexities of immigration, "Color of the Ocean" would be a terrific promo for Canary Islands tourism given its sun-drenched beaches, except for the dead and dehydrated boat people scattered along them. Two of these are at the heart of writer-director Maggie Peren's well-told story, whose deft handling and universal issues could find a helping hand in the specialty market”…John Anderson…Variety…September
The film I wanted to see the most was Seven Below which is a supernatural/horror thriller that was directed and co-written by my good friend Kevin Carraway. I have known about Seven Below for a few years now and know all the ups and downs of what it took Kevin to get his film funded, made and then bought by Vision Films, Inc. But when I went by Vision‟s AFM suite they did not have any screeners available. So I am going to put off doing my very extensive film review of Seven Below until I see the film.
I can say that one of the best meetings I had at AFM was when I stopped by the suite of
Dongyu Club & Inc. and Pictures Department. Last year I was really bummed that a few
times I stopped by their suite they were either out or they had already left. So it was not
to anyone‟s surprise that I had a really great time talking to Pictures‟ President Yuko
Shiomaki, to my left in the picture below, because I knew a lot about their Japanese
Hip-Hop films from their talented director Yu Irie. I can say as a big Hip-Hop film fan that
I greatly enjoyed watching Yu's 8000 Miles and its sequel 8000 Miles 2: Girl Rapper. I
was not blown away by 8000 Miles because the pacing was very slow for an urban/Hip-
Hop drama. But it did have lots of entertaining characters. I can also honestly say that
Yu‟s 8000 Miles 2: Girl Rapper is right behind Brazil's Antonia as another well acted
and well directed indie film breaking down the Hip-Hop lifestyle and culture from a
uniquely female perspective. I would put 8000 Miles 2 in my Top 10 of indie Hip-Hop
films. And I look forward to seeing Yu Irie‟s third 8000 Miles film that he just finished.
The 2011 AFM Vendor that caught my eye this year was The White Rabbit Animation Inc.‟s booth on the 8th Floor. I was very impressed with TWR because they offered a very simple and cost effective way for many AFM producers to convert their 2D films into new and more marketable 3D films. The 2D to 3D conversion process basically costs $800,000 to $1Million for a standard two hour film. This seems quite reasonable now and I am sure as the 3D theatrical market and 3D TV market expands than those costs will probably go down by a 1/3 or even half by next year‟s AFM. But surely if you have a lot of action or horror films than this is the way to contact TWR and make greatly increase the value of those films because they can be now remarketed to new and younger audiences that most likely never even heard about them in first place.
TWR animation Inc. is a cutting-edge animation studio, established by Dr. Charles Chao-Hua Lee whose
work was focused on Character Animation and Stereoscopy. By gathering up a group of passionate elite
researchers and animation industry experts, we are committed to bringing you various technical solutions to
suit your needs as well as producing innovative animations. Our R&D team works closely with the best
multimedia labs, including Cambridge University, USC, and NTU CSIE department to develop advanced
technologies. Not only develop graphics and pipeline tools to optimize production efficiency, we are proud to
be one of the first facilities in Asia to provide high quality 2D to 3D stereo conversion services.
In closing I can say that the 2011 American Film Market was a success for many sellers and buyers because China and India are the emerging film markets that were actively looking and purchasing many film and TV properties. China especially is flush with cash and billions of consumers that have a large appetite for Western and European styled films. I can also say that the great economic collapse of 2008 is still lingering in the backs of any smart sellers or buyers minds, but there was clearly more optimism and enthusiasm for the future of content creators and distributors. And as more global tech consumers buy iPads, Tablets and smartphones, then the future of AFM is very bright.
About Content Film, a division of Content Media Corporation plc
Content Film is the worldwide film and library sales arm of Content Media Corporation plc. Content specializes in
high quality and commercial feature films, and is able to assist film producers in securing finance. Content handles
worldwide sales, marketing, and publicity on all titles. The Feature Film Library arm also manages international sales
on over 200 titles.
Content titles which premiered at the latest Toronto Film Festival include HICK starring Chloe Moretz, Blake Lively,
Eddie Redmayne, Alec Baldwin and Juliette Lewis, Nick Broomfield‟s latest documentary SARAH PALIN – YOU
BETCHA! and post-apocalyptic war action thriller THE DAY.
Other Content titles include the action thriller THE NUMBERS STATION starring John Cusack and Malin Akerman;
NOTHING TO FEAR - first of a slate of horror films produced by Slash, THE DALLAS BUYERS CLUB starring
Matthew McConaughey and Hillary Swank, Nicholas McCarthy‟s terrifying ghost story THE PACT starring Caity Lotz
and Casper Van Dien, LOVELY MOLLY from Sanchez (director of „The Blair Witch Project‟), the cult genre sequel
OUTPOST: BLACK SUN, THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD by Super Size Me‟s director Morgan Spurlock, the
Sundance selected bare Knuckle Fight Doc. KNUCKLE; the violent medieval action IRONCLAD starring James
Purefoy and Paul Giamatti; SXSW Winner 96 MINUTES starring Brittany Snow, and Xavier Gens‟ post apocalyptic
action thriller THE DIVIDE.
Content attends all major markets and festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, AFM, Sundance and Berlin.
Content Film is being managed in an executive capacity by Jamie Carmichael, President - Film Division.
Press Contact Information for CONTENT
London Office Los Angeles Office 19 Heddon Street 225 Arizona Ave, Suite 250 W1B 4BG London, ENGLAND Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA t: 44 20 7851 6500 t: 1 310 576 1059 f: 44 20 7851 6506 f: 1 310 576 1859 www.contentmediacorp.com [email protected]
HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET TO SCREEN DURING AFM
FOR FIRST TIME TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
Both Films Virtually Sold Out for International Territories
(Los Angeles, CA) November 3, 2011 – FilmNation Entertainment is screening their first two productions THE RAVEN and HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET during the American Film Market (AFM) for the first time to international buyers. FilmNation has secured sales for both titles in almost all international territories. In the US, Relativity Media will release the James McTeigue directed THE RAVEN which stars John Cusack and Luke Evans on March 9, 2012. Relativity Media also holds US rights to director Mark Tonderai‟s HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET starring Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, and Elisabeth Shue and will release on April 20, 2012. THE RAVEN has been sold to the following international distributors: Canada to VVS; UK, Spain, Benelux, Australia, NZ to NBC Universal; South Africa to Ster Kinekor; Germany to Square One Entertainment; Switzerland to Ascot-Elite; Italy to Eagle Pictures; Scandinavia to Nordisk; Greece to Odeon; Portugal to Lusomundo Audiovisuals; CIS to Top Film Distribution; Bulgaria, Czech/Slovak, Ex-Yugoslavia, Hungary, Poland, Romania to SPI; Iceland to Sam Films; Israel to LEV Cinemas; Middle East to Italia Film International; Turkey to TMC, Latin America to Sun Distribution Group; China to HGC; India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore to Multivision; Indonesia to PT Amero; South Korea to Noori Pictures; Taiwan to Studio Solution Group and Thailand to Sahamongkol Film International. HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET has been sold to the following international distributors: UK to Momentum Pictures; Australia to Roadshow Films; South Africa to Ster Kinekor; France to SND; Germany to Square One Entertainment; Switzerland to Ascot Elite; Italy to Eagle Pictures; Greece to Odeon; Portugal to Lusomundo Audiovisuals; Scandinavia to Nordisk; Benelux to Paradiso Film Entertainment; Iceland to Sam Films; Turkey to R Film; Ex-Yugoslavia to Cinemania; Eastern Europe to Eastern European Acquisition Pool; Middle East to Italia Film International; Latin America to Sun Distribution Group; China to HGC; Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Singapore to WEG Entertainment; Indonesia to PT Amero; Japan to Pony Canyon; Malaysia and Philippines to Multivision; South Korea to Thomas Enterprise; Taiwan to Studio Solution Group and Thailand to HBO Pacific Partners. Glen Basner, CEO of FilmNation Entertainment remarked: “It‟s very encouraging to have domestic and international distributors in place on our first two productions. THE RAVEN andHOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET are well positioned with 2012 release dates which helps pave the way for our diverse production slate to follow.” In THE RAVEN, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) to hunt down a mad serial killer who‟s using Poe‟s own works as inspiration for a string of brutal murders. In HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET Oscar® nominees Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: First Class, Winter's Bone, The Hunger Games) and Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas, Piranha 3D) star in this edge-of-your seat thriller about a teenage girl and her divorced mom who move to a new town hoping for a fresh start. When they discover the house next door is the site of a grisly double murder and the daughter befriends the sole survivor of the massacre (Max Theriot, My Soul to Take) it becomes all too clear the story of the house's dark past is far from over.
FilmNation Entertainment is handling international sales for the following titles at AFM: The Comedian starring Robert De Niro and Kristen Wiig and to be directed by Sean Penn; Terrence Malick‟s recently announced next two projects, Lawless starring Ryan Gosling with a supporting cast that includes Academy Award winners Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett, plus Rooney and Haley Bennett, and Knight of Cups starring Christian Bale with Cate Blanchett and Isabel Lucas; Relativity Media‟s untitled Snow White project with Lily Collins and Julia Roberts; Oren Peli‟s untitled project; Zhang Yimou‟s epic The Flowers of War starring Christian Bale; Steven Soderbergh‟s Magic Mike starring Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer; Wettest County starring Shia LaBeouf; Looper starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Terrence Malick‟s untitled love story starring Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Rachel McAdams; Under the Skin with Scarlett Johannson; Crush starring Lucas Till and Midnight’s Children directed by Deepa Mehta and based on the novel by Salman Rushdie. About FilmNation Entertainment One of the leading independent international sales & distribution and production companies in the world, FilmNation Entertainment was founded in 2008 by veteran international sales executive Glen Basner. FilmNation handled international sales on Academy Award Best Picture winner The King’s Speech and is currently in production and fully financing the Untitled Oren Peli project; in production on Jeff Nichols‟ Mud starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon; in development on James McTeigue‟s Message from the King from writers Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell; F*cking Engaged which will star Jessica Biel; The Faces to be directed by Paul Solet; The Amateur American directed by Ross Katz; and Guy Hibbert's screenplay Eye in the Sky with Oliver Hirschbiegel attached to direct. FilmNation has delivered on its philosophy of providing an unrivaled level of “added value” for its clients across all aspects of its business and serves as the exclusive international sales agent for Relativity Media, Media Rights Capital (MRC), Samuels Media Group, GreeneStreet Films and a non-exclusive multi-picture deal with Endgame Entertainment. For more information please go to: www.wearefilmnation.com or follow FilmNation on twitter http://twitter.com/wearefilmnation.
WILD BUNCH ACQUIRES INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS TO GEOFFREY FLETCHER’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT VIOLET & DAISY
Company plans to introduce the Saoirse Ronan – Alexis Bledel - James Gandolfini starrer this week at
the American Film Market
CAA selling North American Rights
New York, NY (November 2, 2011) – Wild Bunch has picked up International rights to Academy-Award winner Geoffrey Fletcher ’s directorial debut VIOLET & DAISY. The film had a rapturous response at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival when it screened as a work-in-progress, and Wild Bunch now plans to launch it at AFM to sell international rights. CAA is the domestic sales agent on the project. Fletcher also wrote the original screenplay of the film and produced along with Bonnie Timmermann. The Magic Violet and GreeneStreet Films production was Executive Produced by John Penotti and James Skotchdople, and stars Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan, Alexis Bledel, and James Gandolfini. The film was co-produced by Steve Kempf. The deal for VIOLET & DAISY was negotiated by Alain De La Mata and Agnes Mentre for Wild Bunch, with CAA on behalf of the filmmakers. Of the deal, Vincent Maraval of Wild Bunch says, “We fell in love with VIOLET & DAISY when it screened as a work-in-progress at Toronto . The film is so unusual and unique and we’re excited to be a part of it.” Of the deal, Fletcher says, “The guys at Wild Bunch are remarkable. They've worked with some really fantastic and daring movies over the years. I'm so excited to be teaming up with them."
VIOLET & DAISY is the whimsical story of a teenager's surreal and violent journey through New York City . It follows Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan (Hanna, Atonement, The Lovely Bones) as Daisy. With her volatile partner-in-crime Violet, played by Alexis Bledel (Sin City, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Gilmore Girls), the two young assassins face a series of opponents, including one unusually mysterious man (James Gandolfini), in a life-altering encounter. The film, written and directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious), also stars Oscar-nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Danny Trejo. About Wild Bunch
Wild Bunch is one of the world’s leading players in the field of international sales, its position strengthened by both a wealth of experience recognized by foreign distributors world-wide, and a broad, artistically diverse selection of the best of director-led international cinema. Currently handling an international sales catalogue of around 300 titles, Wild Bunch has established a reputation for both professionalism and provocation with distributors world-wide. Characterized by its diverse editorial policy, the company offers a constantly renewed and always innovative slate of films from all over the world: director-driven, art-house, genre or commercial; features, documentaries, regularly honored at both European and international festivals. Wild Bunch is also renowned for discovering - and developing ongoing relationships with - new and innovative directorial talent, having to date handled more than fifty first or second-time features.