New York-based real estate entrepreneur and producer Noam Baram (“Walking to Paris”) has joined forces with Italian film exec Augusto Pelliccia to launch Valiah Entertainment, a new production company that will tap into Italy’s generous film production incentives.
The new outfit, called Valiah Entertainment, has also forged a joint venture with veteran Hollywood producer Mark Lipsky whose Wof Entertainment will help finance the production and handle distribution of Valiah’s multi-picture slate. Lipsky’s production partner in Wof is Robert Agueli.
The first film out of the Valiah gate will be “The Curfew,” a rom-com directed by Australia’s Nadia Tass who is known for directing Australian cult comedies such as “Malcolm,” “The Big Steal” and more recently the doc “Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story.” Writers on the pic are Dennis Loonan and Ann Paly Loonan (“War Dog”) and Nicholas Pisacane.
Shooting on “Curfew” is planned to start this...
The new outfit, called Valiah Entertainment, has also forged a joint venture with veteran Hollywood producer Mark Lipsky whose Wof Entertainment will help finance the production and handle distribution of Valiah’s multi-picture slate. Lipsky’s production partner in Wof is Robert Agueli.
The first film out of the Valiah gate will be “The Curfew,” a rom-com directed by Australia’s Nadia Tass who is known for directing Australian cult comedies such as “Malcolm,” “The Big Steal” and more recently the doc “Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story.” Writers on the pic are Dennis Loonan and Ann Paly Loonan (“War Dog”) and Nicholas Pisacane.
Shooting on “Curfew” is planned to start this...
- 7/20/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
On the eve of Sundance and the Arthouse Convergence, I find myself recalling last year’s sudden passing of Bingham Ray. Mark Lipsky sent me his recollection which gives me a handle on how to deal with it (again!). When I saw Bingham, collapsed in the corner of the hotel lobby, I was paying my bill with my roommate Bernice Baeza, the owner of Larkspur Theaters. Horribly coincidently, she also passed away this past year unexpectedly. As bad luck comes in threes, my mother (of 96 years) also passed on. Accompanying this gloomy message is the wish for a good and healthy 2013 to you! Carpe diem!!
Mark Lipsky recalls:
Bingham Ray
Outside of my immediate family, no one has influenced my life in a more fateful or enduring way than Bingham Ray.
One evening in 1986, Bingham phoned me in Dallas where I was living at the time and told me about a chance meeting he’d just had. Bob Weinstein had accosted him in the back of a darkened movie theater and tried to hire him as Miramax Films’ head of distribution. Bingham said he’d agreed to meet with Bob the following day but that he was going to turn down the position and suggest Bob call me.
What little I knew – or at least had heard – about Bob and his brother Harvey was that they were worth avoiding. Possibly at all cost. Crazy brothers who didn’t really know anything about the independent film business and impossible to deal with. Under the circumstances, I asked Bingham to please take the meeting and find out all he could about the company and the job before throwing my hat in the ring. He said he would. The next morning he phoned and said he’d turned down the job and Bob would be calling momentarily. Bob wasn’t as bad as his rep, he explained, and I should take the call and hear what he had to say.
Bob phoned soon thereafter and I was struck by how normal he seemed. He wanted to meet but wouldn’t fly me in. If I could get to New York, he’d make time.
I’d left New York in early 1982 where I’d worked for Cinema 5 and New Yorker Films. I’d moved to La where I thought I’d break into the bigs and get a studio job. Long story short, my plan didn’t fit the timeframe. The studios were in the throes of their worst downturn in many years and it was just before the release of “Et” changed their fortunes in a big way. I’d retreated to Dallas where my family had relocated and landed a sales job with Paramount Pictures. But Dallas wasn’t La (or NY) and the robotic nature of booking studio films into commercial screens left me feeling, well, like a robot.
I flew to NY where I stayed with Bingham and Nancy during the interview process. I met with Bob and he offered me the job. (Harvey was in La where he was supervising post on the brothers’ co-written, co-produced, co-directed “Playing for Keeps”.) That afternoon and evening I called everyone I knew in the business and nearly all of them suggested running away as fast as I could. Such was the Weinsteins’ reputation at the time and that of Miramax. Bingham, though, along with my brother Jeff, was more philosophical. They knew that I missed both NYC and the independent film business and so why not.
I took the job and the course of my life was changed forever by that call from Bingham and by his confidence in my ability to handle the Weinsteins and strengthen Miramax.
When brother Jeff phoned me from Sundance the other day to let me know that Bingham had suffered a stroke I was upset but not overly concerned. Bingham was not only one of the community’s most respected, charming and beloved personalities, he was also one of the most irrepressible. I had no doubt that he would survive this inconvenient speedbump.
When word came today that Bingham had passed, I was unprepared for the flood of emotions I felt. We’d not had much contact over the past several years but anytime our paths did cross, the kinship and warmth we’d always had for each other remained undiminished.
We lost a good friend and a very bright light today, but that light lives on in the many he’s touched and influenced over the years and it will live on in my life.
Thanks for everything Bingham. Wherever you go from here, I know you’ll be lighting hopeful and empowering fires for us all.
Mark Lipsky Light a Fire!
Mark Lipsky recalls:
Bingham Ray
Outside of my immediate family, no one has influenced my life in a more fateful or enduring way than Bingham Ray.
One evening in 1986, Bingham phoned me in Dallas where I was living at the time and told me about a chance meeting he’d just had. Bob Weinstein had accosted him in the back of a darkened movie theater and tried to hire him as Miramax Films’ head of distribution. Bingham said he’d agreed to meet with Bob the following day but that he was going to turn down the position and suggest Bob call me.
What little I knew – or at least had heard – about Bob and his brother Harvey was that they were worth avoiding. Possibly at all cost. Crazy brothers who didn’t really know anything about the independent film business and impossible to deal with. Under the circumstances, I asked Bingham to please take the meeting and find out all he could about the company and the job before throwing my hat in the ring. He said he would. The next morning he phoned and said he’d turned down the job and Bob would be calling momentarily. Bob wasn’t as bad as his rep, he explained, and I should take the call and hear what he had to say.
Bob phoned soon thereafter and I was struck by how normal he seemed. He wanted to meet but wouldn’t fly me in. If I could get to New York, he’d make time.
I’d left New York in early 1982 where I’d worked for Cinema 5 and New Yorker Films. I’d moved to La where I thought I’d break into the bigs and get a studio job. Long story short, my plan didn’t fit the timeframe. The studios were in the throes of their worst downturn in many years and it was just before the release of “Et” changed their fortunes in a big way. I’d retreated to Dallas where my family had relocated and landed a sales job with Paramount Pictures. But Dallas wasn’t La (or NY) and the robotic nature of booking studio films into commercial screens left me feeling, well, like a robot.
I flew to NY where I stayed with Bingham and Nancy during the interview process. I met with Bob and he offered me the job. (Harvey was in La where he was supervising post on the brothers’ co-written, co-produced, co-directed “Playing for Keeps”.) That afternoon and evening I called everyone I knew in the business and nearly all of them suggested running away as fast as I could. Such was the Weinsteins’ reputation at the time and that of Miramax. Bingham, though, along with my brother Jeff, was more philosophical. They knew that I missed both NYC and the independent film business and so why not.
I took the job and the course of my life was changed forever by that call from Bingham and by his confidence in my ability to handle the Weinsteins and strengthen Miramax.
When brother Jeff phoned me from Sundance the other day to let me know that Bingham had suffered a stroke I was upset but not overly concerned. Bingham was not only one of the community’s most respected, charming and beloved personalities, he was also one of the most irrepressible. I had no doubt that he would survive this inconvenient speedbump.
When word came today that Bingham had passed, I was unprepared for the flood of emotions I felt. We’d not had much contact over the past several years but anytime our paths did cross, the kinship and warmth we’d always had for each other remained undiminished.
We lost a good friend and a very bright light today, but that light lives on in the many he’s touched and influenced over the years and it will live on in my life.
Thanks for everything Bingham. Wherever you go from here, I know you’ll be lighting hopeful and empowering fires for us all.
Mark Lipsky Light a Fire!
- 1/2/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Yesterday, we republished former Miramax executive Mark Lipsky's post about the parallels between the upcoming TWC release "Bully" and Harvey Weinstein's own behavior. Wrote Lipsky, If Harvey has, in fact, reformed, he needs to come out and say so publicly. He needs to own his past behavior, admit to his addiction – bullying is an addiction, after all, both to power and dominance – and pledge to never bully anyone again. If he’s looking for ink and controversy (and he certainly is) there’s no more honest or powerful way for him and the film to get it. Today, I received this letter from longtime Weinstein exec Meryl Poster, acknowledging that Weinstein has a "history of a bad temper" but "has made more progress on those weaknesses than anyone I know." Writes Poster, "He feels Bully is a step towards his own redemption. He’s made a valiant effort...
- 3/2/2012
- by Dana Harris
- Indiewire
We've read -- and written -- a lot about "Bully" lately. The R rating, followed by the Weinstein protest, followed by a screening for kids, followed by Nato's counterprotest. And all of it has produced the sort of PR bonanza for which the Weinsteins are known. "Bully" has also produced a curious side effect: Irony. Earlier this week, Movieline's S.T. Van Airsdale weighed in with his essay, "Harvey Weinstein's Bully Problem — and Ours:" I privately vowed not to succumb to this most ironic of Weinsteinian pursuits: The most legendary bully of the modern Hollywood era releasing a movie about bullies, and then publicly bullying the MPAA over the last week with his outraged! Campaign! To overturn Bully's R rating for language! For the children! For Mark Lipsky, however, the comparison was less ironic than personal. He was a marketing exec for the early days of the Weinsteins' Miramax Films,...
- 3/1/2012
- by Dana Harris
- Indiewire
By Mark Lipsky
Piracy sucks. It sucks when it’s Somalian pirates commandeering a cargo vessel and holding it hostage for millions in ransom money and it sucks when it’s some a--hole sitting at a computer commandeering someone’s intellectual property and "sharing" it with other a--holes whose capacity to view "sharing" as theft has been diminished to the point of utter disregard for others and a monumentally warped sense of entitlement. Accepting either of these scenarios as a legitimate cost of doing business is wrong and self-defeating. The only difference between the t...
Piracy sucks. It sucks when it’s Somalian pirates commandeering a cargo vessel and holding it hostage for millions in ransom money and it sucks when it’s some a--hole sitting at a computer commandeering someone’s intellectual property and "sharing" it with other a--holes whose capacity to view "sharing" as theft has been diminished to the point of utter disregard for others and a monumentally warped sense of entitlement. Accepting either of these scenarios as a legitimate cost of doing business is wrong and self-defeating. The only difference between the t...
- 6/13/2010
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
At&T has fired the first salvo in its struggle against net neutrality. With the new iPhone’s imminent release, At&T will no longer sell unlimited data plans. Instead, it's lowering the cost for customers that use 200 Mb of data or less per month and they’re going to charge slightly less than the current $30 unlimited plan for customers who use 2 Gb or less per month – but then will charge $10 per each additional Gb used per month. In other words, use more, pay more. On its surface that equation sounds fair. Only problem is that the cost of bandwidth keeps going down ...
At&T has fired the first salvo in its struggle against net neutrality. With the new iPhone’s imminent release, At&T will no longer sell unlimited data plans. Instead, it's lowering the cost for customers that use 200 Mb of data or less per month and they’re going to charge slightly less than the current $30 unlimited plan for customers who use 2 Gb or less per month – but then will charge $10 per each additional Gb used per month. In other words, use more, pay more. On its surface that equation sounds fair. Only problem is that the cost of bandwidth keeps going down ...
- 6/3/2010
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
Phillip Lefesi, fast becoming the leading commenter on my blog and a major pain in the ass, just directed me to the latest post on Ted Hope’s blog and I wish he’d quit it. He’s just doing it to get my goat, and he certainly knows which pasture she grazes in.
I’m delighted to report that it wasn’t Ted who penned this incredible drivel, but the fact that he allowed such stuff to be featured at all is in itself abominable.
The author of the post is a gentleman by the name of John Bradburn who is allegedly a lecturer and faculty member at Staffordshir...
Phillip Lefesi, fast becoming the leading commenter on my blog and a major pain in the ass, just directed me to the latest post on Ted Hope’s blog and I wish he’d quit it. He’s just doing it to get my goat, and he certainly knows which pasture she grazes in.
I’m delighted to report that it wasn’t Ted who penned this incredible drivel, but the fact that he allowed such stuff to be featured at all is in itself abominable.
The author of the post is a gentleman by the name of John Bradburn who is allegedly a lecturer and faculty member at Staffordshir...
- 6/1/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
The FCC’s recent decision to approve the studios’ request to take control of your cable box has opened a hornet’s nest of controversy.
It also has opened a window (no pun intended) into why you should run, not walk, away from theatrical.
The issue is, in fact, windows. After watching from the sidelines as technology has dramatically changed the way consumers think about and consume media, the studios are finally lumbering onto the field.
The studios have awakened to the fact that more and more consumers are now demanding that filmed entertainment be ...
The FCC’s recent decision to approve the studios’ request to take control of your cable box has opened a hornet’s nest of controversy.
It also has opened a window (no pun intended) into why you should run, not walk, away from theatrical.
The issue is, in fact, windows. After watching from the sidelines as technology has dramatically changed the way consumers think about and consume media, the studios are finally lumbering onto the field.
The studios have awakened to the fact that more and more consumers are now demanding that filmed entertainment be ...
- 5/26/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
It sucks that it’s going to be called Google TV, but the search company’s announcement that its Android mobile phone platform has now been adapted for use in televisions may be the single most important development for independent filmmakers since the birth of John Cassavetes.
Maybe.
Full internet access, including streaming, can already be enjoyed on nearly every TV set via Hdmi. But having such access integrated into the set is a game-changer of mind-blowing proportions. Especially for independent filmmakers.
My only hesitation about Google TV for the mom...
It sucks that it’s going to be called Google TV, but the search company’s announcement that its Android mobile phone platform has now been adapted for use in televisions may be the single most important development for independent filmmakers since the birth of John Cassavetes.
Maybe.
Full internet access, including streaming, can already be enjoyed on nearly every TV set via Hdmi. But having such access integrated into the set is a game-changer of mind-blowing proportions. Especially for independent filmmakers.
My only hesitation about Google TV for the mom...
- 5/22/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
I had coffee with a friend this morning and the issue of net neutrality came up.
We discussed how it’s a lot like the term "broadband" 10 years ago ,when even the cable companies themselves – folks deeply invested in broadband’s development and promotion – couldn’t quite explain to their own personnel exactly what it was and why it was important. (I know, I worked for one and asked the question often.)
Just as broadband changed everything, net neutrality – or the lack of it – is about to change everything again. This tim...
I had coffee with a friend this morning and the issue of net neutrality came up.
We discussed how it’s a lot like the term "broadband" 10 years ago ,when even the cable companies themselves – folks deeply invested in broadband’s development and promotion – couldn’t quite explain to their own personnel exactly what it was and why it was important. (I know, I worked for one and asked the question often.)
Just as broadband changed everything, net neutrality – or the lack of it – is about to change everything again. This tim...
- 5/19/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
When I read, recently, that Dave Matthews was getting into the film distribution business I thought, “Someone of means is finally going to apply lessons learned from the music industry to film distribution.”
How disappointing to discover that even Dave Matthews doesn’t get it. A decade of watching the utter dismemberment of the music business and then its miraculous rebirth as an almost purely digitally delivered medium, and Dave Matthews’ takeaway is that Twitter and Facebook are cool marketing tools.
Dave, it’s not digital marketing but digital ...
When I read, recently, that Dave Matthews was getting into the film distribution business I thought, “Someone of means is finally going to apply lessons learned from the music industry to film distribution.”
How disappointing to discover that even Dave Matthews doesn’t get it. A decade of watching the utter dismemberment of the music business and then its miraculous rebirth as an almost purely digitally delivered medium, and Dave Matthews’ takeaway is that Twitter and Facebook are cool marketing tools.
Dave, it’s not digital marketing but digital ...
- 5/17/2010
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
Earlier this week, Hollyblogger and producer Ted Hope submitted his "38 More Ways the Film Industry Is Failing Today." Here's what I think of his 38:
1. We cannot logically justify any ticket price whatsoever for a non-event film. There are too many better options at too low a price. Simply getting out of the house or watching something somewhere because that is the only place it is currently available does not justify a ticket price enough. We still think of movies as things people will buy. We have to change our thinking about movies to something that enhances other e...
Earlier this week, Hollyblogger and producer Ted Hope submitted his "38 More Ways the Film Industry Is Failing Today." Here's what I think of his 38:
1. We cannot logically justify any ticket price whatsoever for a non-event film. There are too many better options at too low a price. Simply getting out of the house or watching something somewhere because that is the only place it is currently available does not justify a ticket price enough. We still think of movies as things people will buy. We have to change our thinking about movies to something that enhances other e...
- 5/14/2010
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
I’ve lived most of my adult life in Manhattan, where every street corner offers clues to how the film industry can dramatically curtail, if not eliminate, the piracy of motion pictures.
New York City has a wealth of entertainment choices and some of the most stimulating are right out there in the open and free to enjoy. One of my favorites is standing on the sidewalk watching traffic. (Incessant horn blowing, ambulance sirens and car alarms notwithstanding.) Here’s how it works. You watch intently as the knot of cars, trucks and taxis (the more taxis the better) adva...
I’ve lived most of my adult life in Manhattan, where every street corner offers clues to how the film industry can dramatically curtail, if not eliminate, the piracy of motion pictures.
New York City has a wealth of entertainment choices and some of the most stimulating are right out there in the open and free to enjoy. One of my favorites is standing on the sidewalk watching traffic. (Incessant horn blowing, ambulance sirens and car alarms notwithstanding.) Here’s how it works. You watch intently as the knot of cars, trucks and taxis (the more taxis the better) adva...
- 5/11/2010
- by Lew Harris
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
The extreme and intensely wonderful Diy case for making your narrative film is embodied by Zachary Oberzan and his incredible "Flooding With Love for the Kid."
On the documentary end of the spectrum, I’d like to introduce you to Alexia Anastasio. Don’t let that image on her home page fool you. Alexia is as animated (no pun intended) and upbeat as could be and devoted to making art. She considers acting and film just two of her mediums.
While a freshman at Suny Purchase, Alexia cleverly maneuvered herself into the film world by volunteering at industry eve...
The extreme and intensely wonderful Diy case for making your narrative film is embodied by Zachary Oberzan and his incredible "Flooding With Love for the Kid."
On the documentary end of the spectrum, I’d like to introduce you to Alexia Anastasio. Don’t let that image on her home page fool you. Alexia is as animated (no pun intended) and upbeat as could be and devoted to making art. She considers acting and film just two of her mediums.
While a freshman at Suny Purchase, Alexia cleverly maneuvered herself into the film world by volunteering at industry eve...
- 5/6/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
Exactly a month ago, in this blog’s very first post, I made the offer to all comers that I’d help them ease out of the dependent/co-dependent quicksand they’d almost certainly become mired in. Here, in part, is what I wrote:
“Haven’t been to film school? No problem. Can’t afford to shoot film? Good, film is dead. (Sorry Jeff.) Don’t own a pro camera? Ok, how about a Sony handicam? Can’t edit in HD yet? That’s alright, your shooting with a Sony handicam. Can’t afford to attend one of the above-mentioned panels? Don’t bo...
Exactly a month ago, in this blog’s very first post, I made the offer to all comers that I’d help them ease out of the dependent/co-dependent quicksand they’d almost certainly become mired in. Here, in part, is what I wrote:
“Haven’t been to film school? No problem. Can’t afford to shoot film? Good, film is dead. (Sorry Jeff.) Don’t own a pro camera? Ok, how about a Sony handicam? Can’t edit in HD yet? That’s alright, your shooting with a Sony handicam. Can’t afford to attend one of the above-mentioned panels? Don’t bo...
- 5/5/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
As the Cannes Film Festival approaches once again, this AP story about the looming collapse of cable TV reminded me of a panel I was on last year at Cannes sponsored by the American Pavilion.
I was representing Gigantic Releasing, a new distribution company I’d launched on behalf of my friends Brian and Brooke Devine.
I’d just unveiled an innovative digital delivery platform called Gigantic Digital with “Must Read After My Death,” an amazing documentary from first-time director Morgan Dews.
I’d developed Gigantic Digital as a way to dramati...
As the Cannes Film Festival approaches once again, this AP story about the looming collapse of cable TV reminded me of a panel I was on last year at Cannes sponsored by the American Pavilion.
I was representing Gigantic Releasing, a new distribution company I’d launched on behalf of my friends Brian and Brooke Devine.
I’d just unveiled an innovative digital delivery platform called Gigantic Digital with “Must Read After My Death,” an amazing documentary from first-time director Morgan Dews.
I’d developed Gigantic Digital as a way to dramati...
- 5/3/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
So I log onto Twitter this morning and I notice that Ted Hope has posted the following, innocent-looking <130 characters:
"Marc Rosenbush will answer filmmakers' questions about online marketing again Tonight from 6-7:30"
I'd never heard of Marc Rosenbush, but I hadn't heard of Zachary Oberzan or the film "Oxhide" until recently, so I supposed I could have missed a fellow traveler who was sharing wisdom with deserving filmmakers.
When I hit the accompanying link, it was like clicking into hell. As it turns out, Marc Rosenbush is the Antichrist and...
So I log onto Twitter this morning and I notice that Ted Hope has posted the following, innocent-looking <130 characters:
"Marc Rosenbush will answer filmmakers' questions about online marketing again Tonight from 6-7:30"
I'd never heard of Marc Rosenbush, but I hadn't heard of Zachary Oberzan or the film "Oxhide" until recently, so I supposed I could have missed a fellow traveler who was sharing wisdom with deserving filmmakers.
When I hit the accompanying link, it was like clicking into hell. As it turns out, Marc Rosenbush is the Antichrist and...
- 4/29/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Mark Lipsky
In the three and a half weeks that have passed since I launched my blog, your comments, the many offline conversations I've had with folks and my own internal dialogue have inspired and enabled me to sharpen my focus and better define for myself and for you what I hope to accomplish.
I'm going to set out a short list of my objectives below, but first I wanted to try and clarify one point. I've written more than once that commerce has no role -- or at least should be the absolute last thought rather than the first, second or 10th -- in the independent filmmaking process. And ever...
In the three and a half weeks that have passed since I launched my blog, your comments, the many offline conversations I've had with folks and my own internal dialogue have inspired and enabled me to sharpen my focus and better define for myself and for you what I hope to accomplish.
I'm going to set out a short list of my objectives below, but first I wanted to try and clarify one point. I've written more than once that commerce has no role -- or at least should be the absolute last thought rather than the first, second or 10th -- in the independent filmmaking process. And ever...
- 4/29/2010
- by Lisa Horowitz
- The Wrap
By Brent Lang
Mark Lipsky is stepping down as president of the New York-based Gigantic Digital Cinema. He will focus his attentions on launching a consulting firm, Insight Cinema, according to a release from Lipsky's new company.
Insight will offer distributors, producers and filmmakers advice on digital strategies and audience development
Lipsky also announced that he will be introducing a sister company in the coming months, Incite Cinema, which the executive said will help studios s...
Mark Lipsky is stepping down as president of the New York-based Gigantic Digital Cinema. He will focus his attentions on launching a consulting firm, Insight Cinema, according to a release from Lipsky's new company.
Insight will offer distributors, producers and filmmakers advice on digital strategies and audience development
Lipsky also announced that he will be introducing a sister company in the coming months, Incite Cinema, which the executive said will help studios s...
- 12/17/2009
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
Ok, we all know
1) we're in the midst of an economic crisis,
2) digitilization is changing the world in a shift only comparable (maybe) to that of the industrial revolution,
3) movie distribution patterns for the new generation of filmmakers are shifting to hybrid Diy with professional backup of the mature generation of former indie specialty distribution pioneers.
Before moving on, here are the words of one of these star veterans:
"Social networking is absolutely more and more influential. I personally think that retaking the indie film label from the usurpers and reeducating both the media and public about what independent film really is is our most critical challenge right now. Just confirmed that I’m going to be on a Digital Hollywood panel mid to late October..."
Mark Lipsky [mark@giganticdigital.com], President, Gigantic Digital 212-219-3039.
One recent filmmaker comment to the constantly repeated litany of "the other veterans", that is, those who...
1) we're in the midst of an economic crisis,
2) digitilization is changing the world in a shift only comparable (maybe) to that of the industrial revolution,
3) movie distribution patterns for the new generation of filmmakers are shifting to hybrid Diy with professional backup of the mature generation of former indie specialty distribution pioneers.
Before moving on, here are the words of one of these star veterans:
"Social networking is absolutely more and more influential. I personally think that retaking the indie film label from the usurpers and reeducating both the media and public about what independent film really is is our most critical challenge right now. Just confirmed that I’m going to be on a Digital Hollywood panel mid to late October..."
Mark Lipsky [mark@giganticdigital.com], President, Gigantic Digital 212-219-3039.
One recent filmmaker comment to the constantly repeated litany of "the other veterans", that is, those who...
- 9/23/2009
- by Sydney@SydneysBuzz.com (Sydney)
- Sydney's Buzz
Film London News Reports:
London UK Film Focus, which attracted more than 100 international buyers to the capital, drew to a close last week. Despite the recession, the event did not experience the fall out of buyers anticipated and was an upbeat affair, with industry premieres including Nick Love's The Firm and Julian Fellowes' From Time To Time. Approximately $3m (£1.8m) in sales is expected.
This new report is in line with the June 16 Posting as seen below. The question remains: Who Bought What?
The London UK Film Focus (June 29-July 2) is showcasing UK films to a captive audience of international buyers. For those smaller UK sales agents trying to stay afloat, this year’s Luff, run by Film London, has assumed a new importance.
Around 120 international buyers will be in town for four days to see UK films such as Ealing Studios’ "From Time To Time" and Carnaby...
London UK Film Focus, which attracted more than 100 international buyers to the capital, drew to a close last week. Despite the recession, the event did not experience the fall out of buyers anticipated and was an upbeat affair, with industry premieres including Nick Love's The Firm and Julian Fellowes' From Time To Time. Approximately $3m (£1.8m) in sales is expected.
This new report is in line with the June 16 Posting as seen below. The question remains: Who Bought What?
The London UK Film Focus (June 29-July 2) is showcasing UK films to a captive audience of international buyers. For those smaller UK sales agents trying to stay afloat, this year’s Luff, run by Film London, has assumed a new importance.
Around 120 international buyers will be in town for four days to see UK films such as Ealing Studios’ "From Time To Time" and Carnaby...
- 7/8/2009
- by Sydney@SydneysBuzz.com (Sydney)
- Sydney's Buzz
Mike Jones has been named programming director for the American Pavilion at the Festival de Cannes and will oversee the AmPav's panels and discussions.
Jones has held staff positions at Variety, indieWIRE and Filmmaker Magazine and currently blogs on the film festival beat at The Circuit, blogs.indiewire.com/mikejones.
To kick off its "In Conversation" series, AmPav will feature Francis Ford Coppola, discussing his new film "Tetro," with La Weekly Critic Scott Foundas on May 15.
The current lineup includes:
May 15: "American Directors in Cannes" - 2:00-3:30pm - Hosted by indieWIRE, panelists Tba, moderator: Eugene Hernandez.
"In Conversation: Francis Ford Coppola" with Scott Foundas (La Weekly) - 5:30pm.
May 17: "Meet the New Sundance" - 3:00-4:30pm - Panelists include: John Cooper (Sundance Film Festival Director); Trevor Groth (Sundance Program Director) - Moderator: Sharon Swart (Variety).
"Fan Nation" - 5:00-6:30pm...
Jones has held staff positions at Variety, indieWIRE and Filmmaker Magazine and currently blogs on the film festival beat at The Circuit, blogs.indiewire.com/mikejones.
To kick off its "In Conversation" series, AmPav will feature Francis Ford Coppola, discussing his new film "Tetro," with La Weekly Critic Scott Foundas on May 15.
The current lineup includes:
May 15: "American Directors in Cannes" - 2:00-3:30pm - Hosted by indieWIRE, panelists Tba, moderator: Eugene Hernandez.
"In Conversation: Francis Ford Coppola" with Scott Foundas (La Weekly) - 5:30pm.
May 17: "Meet the New Sundance" - 3:00-4:30pm - Panelists include: John Cooper (Sundance Film Festival Director); Trevor Groth (Sundance Program Director) - Moderator: Sharon Swart (Variety).
"Fan Nation" - 5:00-6:30pm...
- 5/5/2009
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With great sadness we report that Dan Talbot's 43 year old company New Yorker Films is ceasing operations. Rumor during the Spirit Awards was that he was asking Palm Pictures, where Bob Berney is nesting currently with Jeannie Bernie, recently of New York Film Society, to take over his collection. No solid news however has hit the press yet. Dan Talbot and New Yorker are legendary and loved. His theater, Lincoln Plaza Cinema is said to be intact. To repeat IndieWire's list of film community members who have worked at New Yorker, are Bingham Ray, Jeff Lipsky, John Vanco, Susan Wrubel, Mary Ann Hult, Mark Lipsky, Sasha Berman, Suzanne Fedak, Rebecca Conget and Harris Dew. Personally, when head of acquisitions at Republic Pictures, he called me and offered me a straight video distribution deal (no advance, no mg) to Juzo Itami's Tampopo and The Funeral from him at at time when he never paid more than $5,000 for U.S. rights to foreign language films. Tampopo was an evergreen seller for us and in fact, it's still showing theatrically in U.S. and it's being offered by Amazon on DVD. And Juzo Itami himself was a national treasure of Japan.
- 2/24/2009
- Sydney's Buzz
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