NUCLEAR MANGO EXPLODES ON THE SCENE
March 7, 2009
Menon, Keenan launch India-US consultancy Nuclear Mango
Variety votes:Hot on the heels of the Academy Awards and commercial success of Slumdog Millionaire, Bollywood producer Govind Menon and US independent executive William Keenan have launched the Indian-US production consultancy Nuclear Mango.
Mango ripe for biz
Menon, Keenan launch Nuclear
The duo took the sobriquet Nuclear Mango in homage to President Bush’s 2006 comment after the U.S. and India signed a nuclear accord and a trade deal — “The U.S. is looking forward to eating Indian mangoes.”
Some interesting projects coming soon from the Indo-American new wave:
…Mickey Rourke meets Mr. Chopra?
UPDATED
Wall St dumps film deals on Hollywood investors
The next big round of financing for Hollywood will likely come from overseas or via deals that are backed by assets, such as film libraries, to minimize risk, bankers say.
RECIPE FOR MAKING FILMS IN A DEPRESSION
February 6, 2009
HOT OFF THE PRESSES:
A Passage to Hollywood
Hollywood and India join up to create a new genre of movies
And some Un-Announced Announcements:
Along with some partners, I’ve been packaging a project for a Spring shoot. Of course, financing was contingent upon the elements in the package and in this economy — we got real creative with out-of-the-box ideas for production and stunt-casting. We first found a great script (originally written for Jack Black) and used our recipe to attach the following; (bonus points for correct guesses in the comments):
1) A bombshell actress/international star
2) A seasoned-vet American “name” director responsible for some classic films
3) A top global comedian with lots of fans debuting in a lead role
4) A superstar internet sensation whose “name” is a household phrase
…stir & Voila! — We’re making a movie:)
(IMO, stunt-casting works great as long as the talent-in-question can actually do a good job, or preferably, knock it outta the park;)
I’ll blog more about it at a later date, as we haven’t officially announced yet. I wouldn’t want to be accused of scooping myself, ya know.
But I can say this: indie films (in this case a rom-com) need all the help they can get to break free from the clutter in the marketplace as well as be able to tough it out during this economic crisis.
So in packaging this project, which will be considered a “global film,” we chose Above-The-Line players that will get us the most bang for our buck, especially when it comes to press hype and internet buzz on a global level.
These elements, combined with a smart business model, give us a pretty good chance at making a great film with long-term success potential; and in the short term give some jobs to people in the City of Los Angeles. Which reminds me, a project like this could not be done without a genius production manager like the one we have:)
You’re Invited:
If you’re in LA March 15th and wanna hang with me and some of my associates, head on up to Malibu Family Wines for a rollicking good time in the Santa Monica mountains in support of the Indian Los Angeles Film Festival– Hosted by my friend Mallika Sherawat, Bollywood’s Brigitte Bardot. Besides the aforementioned good time, there’ll also be a sneak peek at exclusive clips of Mallika’s new film Hisss.
These days, everyone’s gotta have a Bollywood/Hollywood collaborative project in their slate. This is a great event in which to get your crash-course.
Download the invite: ifflafundraiser.pdf
In other news:
I thought the YouTube deal with the William Morris talent agency was interesting. We’ll see how that works. Nice to see WMA step up to the viral video plate. United Talent Agency’s been in on the viral action for awhile now (the first agency to do so, I believe), but seems to have kept it all in-house.
Lots of different things will be tried with corporates and user-generated content providers, and now, at the very least, it looks like some of these agencies will try to get some exposure (and ad money) for their up ‘n coming players and existing star clients. Before, it was people on the net trying to get agents and gigs. Now, it’s the agencies trying to get their clients famous on the net; round and round it goes til someone figures out how to monetize the web woes…
Producer pursues a digital future
HuffPo:
“He’s creating an environment where he has the maximum opportunity to fulfill his creative vision within the economic boundaries he has,” Wright says.
…
“What all of this does is support the democratization of filming,” says Devlin. “We will see beautiful work coming from unexpected places.”
SUNDANCE OR DIE
January 23, 2009
Aw, man. I begged and pleaded then threatened my friend John Sullivan who was going to Sundance to regularly send me reports from the festival so I could post them here, kind of as a man-on-the-scene blog special. Well, he did his job. I, on the other hand, did not. I was quite caught up working on a new project that is coming together very nicely, which I will announce next week on this blog. Til then, I present to you indie filmmaker John Sullivan’s musings whilst at Sundance in their entirety:
Sundance ‘09
1/15
Whew! Finished revisions of two scripts over the holidays. Feels great to get everything DONE! And hit the road! Driving with Ron, friend from NYU, listening to music (M83, Miles Davis, Neil Young) as our eyes drink in the expansive vistas along route 15. We caught up, Ron (Ceballos) recently opened his own photographer’s representation agency, Bureau Los Angeles. We arrive in Park City at 12:30 AM, meet his photographer Sinisha Nisevic (images on Bureas’s website). We’re guests of Elliot Kotek, editor of Moving Pictures magazine. Sinisha, reminds me of Viggo Mortinson in “Eastern Promises”, gave me his script to read… Might need a rewrite? Awesome!
Moving Pictures has a photo salon set up all week on Main Street and they’re shooting everyone with films in the festival, celebrity highlights include Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Spacey, Lenny Kravitz and Leelee Sobieski, etc…. Sinisha’s book is beautiful.
There was a bit of a problem with the photo assistant Charles, early 20s, studies at The Brooks Institute, shows up without a call-sheet. Ron says, “Always print the call sheet.” We load up and he was supposed to sign the paperwork at Calumet, the camera rental house, and leave LA right after us. We left a little after 10AM. But Charles… Goes home to get his sleeping bag just in case he needs it and ends up taking a F&^ng nap! …For 8 hours! He didn’t leave LA until 8 PM! He had to be put up in Las Vegas for the night, and has since become the butt of many jokes, “I bet his mom told him he had to take the nap…” The fact that he has braces didn’t help. They’re all stressed about the arrival of the equipment and of course the kid is going to be very tired after driving all night; it’s10 hours from LA to Park City! This is not spring break! Everyone’s sure it will all work out, what choice do they have, but… Long story
short, for all you aspiring photographers and/or photo assistants – Sinisha needs a new LA photo assistant.
We stayed up and watched a DVD, “Finding Bliss”, because Elliot has copies of everything in the festival. A few funny lines for sure, but the film suffers from some awkward moments, tone problems, and I’m not sure it’s premise even works… Good cast, Leelee is charming and genuine as the lead and Denise Richards is good to serviceable as the porn star/unknown actor… It’s about a recent film school grad. (Sobieski) trying to “make it” in the legit entertainment business (…I know) and make her own movie that’s NOT a porno. while working a day job at a porn studio (‘Daily Grind’, get it?) as an editor/writer – secretly using their equipment and talent (Richards)! OMG! How Clever! Suffice to say, it’s no “Boogie Nights”. And apparently I’m not suppose to not say porn., “It’s adult entertainment. Porn is passé.” The film tells us. I think “porn.” is fine, more accurate. Basically we suffered too –
through it.
1/15 – 1/16
Charles arrived. Sinisha is happy and setting up the Moving Pictures Magazine salon on Main Street. Everyone is really excited to see how the photos come out, should hear some reports once things get rolling tomorrow.
Moved to my entertainment attorney Jonathan Gray’s house, a massive palace he’s rented for the second year, in over fifteen years coming, nestled in the nape of the mountain. I feel like I’m in a resort! Took pictures of the sunset, incredibly picturesque, can’t wait to enjoy the hot tub! We’re enjoying some grog which I prepared, made mostly with beer and port wine, apple baked with brown sugar; warm, intoxicating, yummy… Lots of folks rolled in late from NY, plane down in the Hudson caused all kinds of delays… We waited up with the grog and the fire making sure everyone arrived safe and sound.
Day one of the festival, managed to snag a few tickets at the main box office. Saw “Toe to Toe”, Emily Abt’s apt film about two very different High School senior girls who play lacrosse. Jesse (Louisa Krause) is a rich, spoiled, white girl with issues, and Tosha (Sonequa Martin) is a highly disciplined black girl doing anything and everything she can to get into Princeton. The characters felt real and specific, the story was very moving… One scene in the end when Jess’s workaholic mother leaves her daughter crying out for her in the driveway was absolutely stunning. Noah Bushel’s “The Missing Person” plays like a series of punches in the stomach. It’s an effective portrait of loneliness, I’m still beaten up, about what it is to miss someone and leave someone. Michael Shannon goes deep, utterly naturalistic, playing a private detective who make you laugh and cry with sardonic observations about himself and the world as he
spirals into graceful oblivion.
“PUSH, by Saphire” premiered at Eccles and enjoyed SEVEN standing ovations. Wow. Directed by Lee Daniels, “PUSH” looks to be THE hit of the festival, believe it or not I’ve heard several people already talking about Oscar nominations for the cast; is this Sundance? The party, officially entitled “The Island Def Jam House of Hype late night Ultra Lounge” competing with “The Vitamin Water 50 Cent House” and “Axe/Fix with DJ AM”, lived up to it’s singular name. Cuba Gooding, Russel Simmons, Sundance’s elite were (somewhere) in that House of Hype, but the long space and a three floors made people wander and explore to find them… And the bouncers! Prodded everyone like sheep, a zone defense protecting “vital” walkways. Bad enough getting into these places, but once inside bouncers yelling at folks to “MOVE!” is a buzz kill. House of Hype indeed.
1/17
Went to the NYU Alumni party on main street, actually a good time, saw a lot of familiar faces… B.Ratner was in the house, with a stunning, bored blond; great pout… He was kind enough to tell the lovely director Sabina Vajarace I was talking to I was the most eligible bachelor in the house. Thanks Brett, pot calls the kettle black.
“The Vicious Kind” lives up to it’s name. The film, about a wounded, misogynist (Adam Scott) who despite being a complete bastard almost every second on screen, manages to seduce his young brother’s (Alex Frost) girlfriend (Britanny Snow), was received well by the audience into silence at the start of the Q and A. The film definitely manages to chart the dark corners of these sad, twisted human’s lives, and uncomfortably poses the question of how much of ourselves can we see in its tortured characters.
The first Sundance sale, “Brooklyn’s Finest”, was announced by Indie.wire, but no figures were quoted. We’re all waiting for a big sale/announcement with gigantic numbers, ideally for the festival darling, underdog, no name cast, director nobody’s heard of, etc… Come on Indie. financiers and distributors – we need you! Hope springs eternal, even in this economy.
1/21
What a tremendous day! Celebrations lined Main Street and there was a renewed feeling of optimism and pride everywhere you went and within everyone you talked to. Everyone is so F^%ing happy to see Bush and Cheney (looking like a cross between Dr. Evil and Mr. Potter from “It’s A Wonderful Life”) leave Washington forever and our amazing new leader Barack Obama assume power and the presidency. Simply, a great day to be an American. Amen.
Obama said we faced challenge and were going to have to PUSH to rebuild America, and “PUSH by Safire” screened again at Eccles. What an incredible film. What an incredible film! What a cast! My God! Winning THREE standing ovations, the film expressively and impeccably directed by Lee Daniels “PUSH” deserves to be the hit of the festival and is the must see film to come out of Sundance ’09.
Been hearing all week that Mariah Carey is in town, knew she was in the film… But even though I was staring at her face, I didn’t realize who she was until the end credits. She disappears into her character, totally awesome! Mo’Nique should be nominated for an Oscar (next year) for her role as Harlem’s worst mother, Lenny Kravitz is low key and charming as a male nurse, and Gaboure ‘Gabby Sidibe is perfect in the leading role Clareece “Precious” Jones. Phenomenal!
Lee was generous, humble and emotional in the Q and A, obviously going deep making this film… Where was Safire? Where was Oprah? Harvey was milling around after the screening and John Sloss from Cinetic looked like he was holding all aces. This is exactly the type of film best served at Sundance, now all we need is a great film to come from some complete unknowns and ’09 will be considered a total success.
But the greater success would be if all these films find an audience. On that theme… Went to a panel discussion yesterday, moderated by Geoff Gilmore, with Michael Barker, James Shamus, Ted Hope, Jonathan Sehring, Marcus Hu and Peter Broderick that was not terribly inspiring, though Broderick tried, fighting the good fight… Sehring laid out some rather depressing statistics and tried to shake the rumors he pays pennies on the dollar for films. Shamus, also fighting the good fight but as the reigning heavyweight, said theatrical was a loss leader and the only reason people see movies in theaters is because when you meet someone and want to have sex, you don’t have to ask them to your dorm room. Hope made a comment about how the only films that get made are made by the rich and the young, who don’t mind blowing their credit (Linklater, etc…) or donating their bodies to science (Rodriguez).
Broderick closed mentioning “The Secret”, the highest grossing DVD in the US last year which sold with no theatrical release thanks to – there’s the name again, Oprah. I mean when you think about it… Obama, “The Secret”, “PUSH by Safire”. Oprah is ubiquitous, really the most powerful woman in the world.
It’s been 5 days and nights of films and a few too many late nights of the grog at the Gray Krauss house. The Moving Pictures photo crew is just about finished, shot Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Madsen, list goes on and on… Looks like Sinisha and I may be working on his film “Stranger at the Palazzo D’Oro by Paul Theroux” and I think I found someone to help develop “Polly Baker Pattern Maker”. Well worth the trip, productive, inspiring, exhausting.
REAL-LIFE SUPERHEROS and more
January 5, 2009
From the “flamboyant accidents waiting to happen” dept:
Real Life Superheroes
Inspired by comic books, ordinary citizens are putting on masks to fight crime
Articles in Rolling Stone and The Sunday Times introduce us to real life superheroes, basically vigilantes in spandex with names like Terrifica, Mr. Invisible, Master Legend, and The Ace. - Boingboing
(One of these guys has GOT to be good-to-go for a kick-ass doc.)
The World Superhero Registry - They are anonymous, they are legion. Hollywood, you’ve created a monster army. They call themselves, “Reals.”
related:
10 People with Incredible Abilities
The End of ALL Top Ten Film Lists:
indieWIRE & Industry Top 10s for 2008
He knows which way the wind is blowing:
Will Smith embraces India
Star aims to marry Hollywood and Bollywood
Hollywood starts ‘09 with little to celebrate
Industry executives contend that the steep downturn will force Hollywood to fundamentally change the way it does business.
Join the new indie revolution:
HOW TO Do Almost Anything With Social Media
Art House Theaters Unite!
Pocket Projector
5 Trends That Will Change Media in ‘09
This is what people are watching instead of your indie filmz:
My Day, Yesterday
The upcoming Norwegian horror film Dead Snow (aka Død Snø) has all the elements - zombies, Nazis, and of course, sexy students - for the makings of a great horror film. - Buzzfeed
Hoverground Vid ‘o the week:
2008 Movies Montage
Best Political Videos Of 2008
One Year In 40 Seconds
Culture Buzz A simple, beautiful time-lapse video of four full seasons from photographer Eirik Solheim. With ambient sounds mixed in and seamless transitions, this quick video captures the ineffable passage of time. -Buzzfeed
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS PRODUCER ANSWERS MY CATCH-ALL QUESTIONS
January 2, 2009
Michael Soares has been an entertainment news producer with NBC’s Access Hollywood over twelve years now. He’s covered premieres and interviewed filmmakers and stars at major fests and awards. He’s also seen every movie ever made, or so I claim. He knows where all the bodies are buried, and where all the minds went lost.
So, Michael. If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could only bring one studio movie…
I’m reminded of what Paul McCartney said when asked, what is your favorite Beatles song? He answered, depends what day it is... or something to that effect. Today I will answer Almost Famous… but my answer can and will change tomorrow.
…and one faaaaav indie film:
Without going through the McCartney mumbo-jumbo again I will answer Hedwig And The Angry Inch.
…A book:
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens followed by Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles.
A song…
Honky Tonk Woman by The Rolling Stones
…One quote on a scrap of paper:
“What fresh Hell is this?” - Dorothy Parker
…with a few words of wisdom:
Don’t sweat the small stuff and climb in your time machine, dial back to 1981 and buy lots of Apple stock.
…A personal philosophy to live by:
Don’t ever have regrets.
…A professional philosophy to pass on:
…One interview you did:
Dustin Hoffman, Sundance 2003
…and had to give advice to indie filmmakers:
Please… Keep it under 100 minutes.
GLOBAL EDITION - TOP 10 FILMS of 2008 and more
December 26, 2008
Happy Holidays, ya’ll! Click on headlines for full articles…
Joseph Fahim:
Without a doubt, 2008 has been the year of American films. The new wave of neo-westerns, allegorical epics and corporate thrillers that have miraculously arrived to our shores after taking the US by storm at the backend of last year, have ushered a new age for American film.
All American films included in this list reflect the growing moral uncertainty, not only in the US, but in the world in general. With the election of Barack Obama and the contagious new-found hope taking over the world in such troubled times, critics are wondering if the foreboding ambiance of “No Country for Old Men” and “The Dark Knight” will preside or whether these pictures, like their 70s counterparts, might soon be regarded as period pieces of the Bush era.
Elsewhere, the French continued to dazzle, although fewer productions than usual managed to make it to the capital, Italians reclaimed their neo-realism throne, the Spanish astonished with their eclectic mix of melodrama, comedy and horror, while the Arabs carefully used the blessings of co-funding to churn out their own unique stories.
As for Egyptian movies, none of the mainstream big-productions came close to match the sublimity of one small film that might eventually break the dominance of major autocratic film producers. So, without any further ado, I present Daily News Egypt’s pick of 2008’s 10 best films…
Foreign-language Oscar a magnet for controversy
Kumbaya in the Mid-East:
Hollywood, Bollywood and Arab stars open Dubai film fest
Saudi religious police says some movies possibly OK
Nuclear Mango:
Mumbai crowds flow back to their beloved Bollywood
King of Bollywood listed among the 50 Most Powerful People in the world by Newsweek 
Muslim cast and crew members working for King of Bollywood denied US visas
From the Far(Left) East:
WB shrouds ‘Dark Knight’ from Chinese Commie audiences
Welcome to Nollywood:
The low budget populist success of Nollywood
Kazakhstan and beyond:
Kremlin greenlights patriotic epic 
Like a bad movie: Beautiful films and ugly theaters in Romania
Unregulated capitalism:
Economic slump takes its toll on the entertainment industry
Despite these serious challenges, the global and local entertainment industry is not likely to be hit as hard as other industries, simply because people aren’t going to stop watching films, reading books or listening to music. Choices will be more limited though and numerous novelists and filmmakers might temporarily pull back their works until the crisis ends.
The people responsible for all sectors in the industry will survive the storm if they make the right decisions. Yet, and like the companies that have closed shop this year, the recession could signal the end of an era for some.
What Crisis? Fundraising during an economic meltdown
Hollywood gears up for more tough times in 2009
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The economic crisis and the threat of another labor strike are creating a “perfect storm” for Hollywood as major studios to brace for further layoffs early next year, according to studio executives and analysts.
Spin Magazine’s Top 20 Music Videos Of 2008
Who made the worst movie of the year?
Defamer:
‘It Doesn’t Matter What People Think’: Meet Your Oscar Publicists!
Fun for the whole family:
Worst of the Internet in 2008
Best, but treated worst:
IndieWire’s 2008 Best Undistributed List of 250 Films 
Aimee Mann’s ‘Christmas Carol’
Fake Thundercats Trailer
Jib-Jab Year In Review
THE WEEK THAT WUZ - CHRISTMAS EDITION
December 18, 2008
Click headlines for articles…
More ‘GRRRREAT in ‘08′:
-Top Buzzwords 2008
-The year that broke the rules
Female fare, 3-D made box office gains
Despite the dismal state of the economy, domestic B.O. revenues are running even with last year’s record-breaking pace . Apparently the truism about the movie biz being recession-proof is holding, at least for now.
I concur, Peter Bart!:
Hollywood Needs its own Car Czar
Another one bites the dust:
Yari distribution unit forced into bankruptcy
Yari blamed the tightening credit markets and the earlier bankruptcy of payroll company Axium, which according to Yari swept millions of dollars from its payroll accounts, as a “perfect storm” that sunk the company financially.
Here comes the big musical number:
Hugh Jackman Hosts the Oscars
Hugh Jackman will host this year’s Oscars. Apparently the Academy has decided sexiness is the most important quality in a host. - Buzzfeed
Harvey Scissorhands will not be stopped:
Harvey Weinstein’s back in the hunt 
Weinstein Co. Gets 8 Golden Globe Nominations
Golden Globes Noms Announced… FULL LIST
One of the reasons why he’s the biggest star in the world:
Will Smith: It’s all about helping others
“It’s cool to have the goal of being the biggest movie star in the world. But why? It’s been revealed to me that the question is: Whose life is better because you woke up today?”
A few reasons why he’s the epitome of ‘indie cool’:
Philip Seymour Hoffman On “The Daily Show”: His Kids, The Golden Globes And The Catholic Church
Everyone’s a critic:
Young reviewers put passion over profit
Even as the professional ranks implode, young writers are expressing their passion by any means necessary.
Eastward, Ho!:
DISPATCH FROM DUBAI | Puttin’ on the Ritz: 5th DIFF Dazzles and Spotlights the Downtrodden
Q&A: Shivani Pandya
The managing director of the Dubai International Film Festival discusses the logistics involved in the planning and operation of such a huge event in the Dubai calendar.
More Indie from the Wire (ok, from Indiewire):
HONOR ROLL ‘08 | “Make The Film For The World You Want To Live In”
What general advice would you impart to emerging filmmakers? Umm… Make the film for the world you want to live in - try to think of who is going to flake out on you before shooting, and if you are really honest with yourself you will see, then get rid of them, they’ll just slow you down and do their best to cripple you later. Keep the drama on screen.
Fest Organizers Look to Online Options and Each Other While Anticipating Recession’s Effects
The three-day event drew festival organizers from all over the U.S., as well as a few international colleagues as a professional forum to discuss a wide range of issues relevant to this small but specialized subset of the film industry, from practical considerations of sponsorship, marketing, ticketing, board development, and programming, to more far-reaching philosophical explorations of the role of film festivals for audiences and for the film industry as a whole.
The best thing the French have done for the US since that liberty statue?:
France approves international tax rebates
Submit to the music of Serge Gainsbourg!:
Lucy Gordon boards Gainsbourg pic
From the “my friends in high places” dept:
‘Deadgirl’ duo to update Danish thriller
Consider this a last hurrah:
Economy shouldn’t dampen Sundance
Indian-givers?:
Is DreamWorks’ deal stalling?
Madoff “made-off” with all his Jewish friends manna:
Jewish blog tracks Madoff news
Another sign of the Apocalypse:
Las Vegas Snow Sets Record At 3.6 Inches
Hoverground Vidz:
1930s Parkour
Amazing stunts from back in the day. This guy looks like he is just having so much fun almost dying all the time. - Buzzfeed
OBAMA’S YOUTUBE BOOB ADDRESS
INDIE FILM CONVENTIONAL WISDOM Vol.1
December 15, 2008
The Business of Film. Running a Limited Liability Company (LLC), dealmaking, attaching talent, getting funding, foreign pre-sales, chain-of-title, etc, etc, on and on up to number 661 on the production checklist. I have a copy if you want it. All for the low, low recession-era price of $14.95. But wait, there’s more: Get that extra edge over the other guy or gal who really knows how-to bullshit and/or sell ice to an eskimo… PayPal and Google Checkout accepted. Free Bonus Features with Purchase now:
Don’t be boring.
Don’t be desperate.
Don’t lie. (Hollywood hates liars.)
Don’t get excited. (At least until the deal is done.)
Always be nice to assistants… (…Without faking it. They’ll be agents someday. Shirley MacLaine once said to me, “If they weren’t agents, they’d be mobsters.”)
Always return calls and emails. (Karma.)
Know your ABCs. (Always Be Cool.)
If you can’t get a good, living mentor — settle for a good, dead role model. (Preferably, one who had a happy ending:)
…and if ya reeeeally wanna be able to navigate the shark-infested waters of the biz and make some super-duper new friends while you’re at it, refer to:
The 10 Paradoxical Commandments
TEOTWAWKI & ATTACK OF THE YEAR-END ‘BEST-OF’ LISTS
December 11, 2008
Eye Spy: Filmmaker Plans to Install Camera in His Eye Socket
Click on headlines to read full stories…
What you get when you mix gambling, Hollywood and a bad economy:
HOLLYWOOD STOCK EXCHANGE parent eyes real-world trading
WORST IDEA EVER? Wall Street Plans Futures Exchange Tied To Box Office
With the weight of all Tinseltown on his shoulders:
Relativity financier Ryan Kavanaugh arrested again
Relativity, Atlas pact on film six pack
The insurgents continue to terrorize:
Slamdance unveils lineup
In Praise Of Hollywood’s PoetKnowIt
It’s the economy again, stupid:
No Depression in Beverly Hills?
Tribune Company Files For Bankruptcy Protection
Sony to cut $1.1 billion from costs
Thousands of workers to be pinkslipped
The End of Year As We Know It:
2008: A Year Of Has-Beens Turned Hot
The Best Viral Videos of 2008
The top 10 political films of ‘08
THE BLACK LIST 2008: Top Screenplays
Other fun stuff:
Awards Season Snubs
Google’s Top Search Terms 2008
Credit Crunch Casting
Sexting
‘Erotic Man’ attracts funding
YouTube Videos Pull In Real Money
And from the personal propaganda dept:
Every so often I get “back on the boards” to perform my special brand of performance-art stunt-comedy. Satsang Lounge is a monthly event produced by a fellow NYC ex-pat. C’mon down to Theater/Theatre this Tuesday night and see some Lower East Side-style entertainment, if you dare:)
THE END OF WEEK AS WE KNOW IT
December 4, 2008
”I’ve been getting indie movies made for 20 years,” he said. “But I take a good look around and what I see is a barren, barren place — in terms of the financial community, in terms of audiences, in terms of distribution. It’s cold out there.” - Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, American Gigolo)
Some headlines below, in case ya missed’em; (click’em for full articles)
From the “They Love To Hate Us Department“:
World Falls for American Media, Even as It Sours on America
From our newly nominated “Secretary of Outsourcing“:
Paul Schrader: Bollywood, here I come
Bollywood worries about attack impact
Will Smith tackles Mideast mission
Robert De Niro Launches Tribecca Film Festival in Qatar
“Hong Kong Film: New Action” project launched (With photo)
From the “They Are Absolutely Insane To Go On Strike Right Now” wire service:
SAG Vs. Studios Getting Nearly As Ugly As Waxman Vs. Finke
From the You Can Dance If You Want To RSS feed:
It’s nervous-making time at Sundance
Sundance competition lineup unveiled
From the “Inbox” (is “Full“):
IndieVest Attracts Indie-Film Investors With Reduced-Risk Model
From the Popular Kids side of the classroom:
Three-way tie at top of Spirit Award noms
From the “Here They Go Again” desk:
Studios ogle future of 3-D
From the “Gotcha Journalism” pap-on-the-scene:
Time to Call Bullshit on Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Retirement’
Hoverground Vidz of the Veek:
Once You Go Bat
Nick Swardson’s Hollywood
And finally, the I Dare You to Click Here and Wait For iiiiiiit… link.
Curb Your Crash
