Stranger Things and more great series should be one and done.
In the ever-shrinking distinction between movies and television, series like Stranger Things can seem like a very long feature rather than an episodic show. Especially when they’re dumped all at once via Netflix, the individual parts add together to form a whole in our binge-watching minds. I have a favorite episode of Stranger Things — part three, “Holly, Jolly” — but it’s mostly just that because its climax was the point where I decided I had to keep going nonstop with my investment in the series. I recognize that it’s basically just the ending of the first act of a 400-minute movie, the point in the narrative where we’re meant to be fully drawn in.
If the eight-episode first season of Stranger Things is a singular work, like a feature film, then a second season would be like a movie sequel. And...
In the ever-shrinking distinction between movies and television, series like Stranger Things can seem like a very long feature rather than an episodic show. Especially when they’re dumped all at once via Netflix, the individual parts add together to form a whole in our binge-watching minds. I have a favorite episode of Stranger Things — part three, “Holly, Jolly” — but it’s mostly just that because its climax was the point where I decided I had to keep going nonstop with my investment in the series. I recognize that it’s basically just the ending of the first act of a 400-minute movie, the point in the narrative where we’re meant to be fully drawn in.
If the eight-episode first season of Stranger Things is a singular work, like a feature film, then a second season would be like a movie sequel. And...
- 7/20/2016
- by Christopher Campbell
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
It looks like a conventional reality dating show: A gaggle of beautiful girls in ball gowns pull up in limousines — or, if they’re very lucky, a horse-drawn carriage straight outta Cinderella — to a decked-out mansion, ready to meet their "suitor," a dashing British hotel heir who resembles an Irl Prince Charming. (Imagine The Bachelor filtered through a Disney-on-Ice princess extravaganza.) The usual suspects are all there: the pretty one, the funny one, the bitchy one, the cheerleader. You can practically smell the champagne and Shalimar wafting off the screen.
- 6/6/2016
- Rollingstone.com
After shooting a number of well-regarded shorts, including former SXSW selection Sequin Raze and Picturing Barbara Kruger, Ava Berkofsky makes her impressive dramatic feature cinematography debut with one of the most bracing movies on this year’s independent circuit, Free in Deed. The third feature from 2005 Filmmaker 25 New Face Jake Mahaffy, it’s a probing and at times assaultive story inspired by a real-life tragedy: the death of a young boy at the hands of a religious faith healer. Berkofsky’s fluid, expressionistic lensing brings the mental turmoil of the film’s characters — the healer, the boy, and the boy’s distraught, […]...
- 3/13/2016
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Golden Globes are notorious for going their own way and being the first awards show to honor new TV series, which is great news for a critical smash like Lifetime's "UnReal." This fan-favorite drama starring Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer takes place behind the scenes of a "Bachelor"-like reality show and had social media buzzing when it aired last summer. Will it be a hit with Globes voters? -Break- 'Outlander' heartthrob Sam Heughan skyrockets in Golden Globes predictions Created by Marti Noxon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro ("The Bachelor") based on Shapiro's short film "Sequin Raze," the show details the manipulation that goes on in the reality television industry through the guise of a fictional dating show called "Everlasting." Appleby plays the feminist producer who hates what she does but is just so darn good at it, while Zimme...
- 12/2/2015
- Gold Derby
Over the weekend, Jill Soloway brought her articulation and film smarts to the Cinefamily to promote Wifey.tv, a new digital platform for marginalized voices in media-making she co-founded in 2013 with Rebecca Odes. The video website is "a place where you can always go to watch something that's actually compelling. Complicated. Real. Funny. Sexy. Alive. Like you. Welcome," according to Soloway's "Womanfesto." (More on that here.) They partnered with bi-coastal female filmmaking collective Film Fatales to present six short films including Shaz Bennett’s “Alaska is a Drag,” Brooke Sebold’s “The Last Cigarette,” Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s “Sequin Raze," Sian Heder’s “Mother,” Maggie Kiley’s “Some Boys Don’t Leave” and Jennifer Phang’s “Advantageous," which became a Sundance-winning feature now streaming on Netflix. Read More: Female Directors Pick Their Favorite Films Made By Women Soloway kicked off with a moving cry to action for female filmmakers, which.
- 7/27/2015
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
UnREAL is America's hottest new TV drama - a surprising and often shocking look at the dark side of reality television.
Shiri Appleby stars as Rachel, a young producer who returns to the set of dating show Everlasting one year after having an epic meltdown. Back on-set, Rachel finds herself forced to resort to ever more extreme measures - all in the name of 'good television'.
Everlasting is The Bachelor in all but name - unsurprising when you learn that UnREAL co-creator Sarah Shapiro was a producer on the ABC series between 2002 and 2004.
Digital Spy spoke to Appleby about UnREAL's dark twists and turns - and why she's surprised the show ever made it to air.
First question - has working on UnREAL ruined reality television for you?
I definitely watch these reality shows in a different way now - I'm more focused on trying to figure out how...
Shiri Appleby stars as Rachel, a young producer who returns to the set of dating show Everlasting one year after having an epic meltdown. Back on-set, Rachel finds herself forced to resort to ever more extreme measures - all in the name of 'good television'.
Everlasting is The Bachelor in all but name - unsurprising when you learn that UnREAL co-creator Sarah Shapiro was a producer on the ABC series between 2002 and 2004.
Digital Spy spoke to Appleby about UnREAL's dark twists and turns - and why she's surprised the show ever made it to air.
First question - has working on UnREAL ruined reality television for you?
I definitely watch these reality shows in a different way now - I'm more focused on trying to figure out how...
- 7/5/2015
- Digital Spy
Three episodes were provided for reviewing purposes prior to broadcast.
At one point during the series premiere of Lifetime’s new drama series UnREAL (cool name, unfortunate stylization), a group of puppet-masters behind the scenes of a The Bachelor-esque style dating show discuss the merits of minorities depicted on their show. A grand total of two black women are in the running to become the wife (winner? publicity stunt?) of English black sheep Adam Cromwell, and though producer Quinn (the marvelous Constance Zimmer) has high hopes for one or both of the ladies to be drama-stirrers, she knows neither are even close to breaking the final four in winning the pure-bread Englishman’s heart (read: allowance). “It’s not my fault that America is racist,” Quinn says with a shrug.
It’s not an earth-shattering revelation by any means, but it feels simultaneously edgy and brave for Lifetime’s largely soporific programming,...
At one point during the series premiere of Lifetime’s new drama series UnREAL (cool name, unfortunate stylization), a group of puppet-masters behind the scenes of a The Bachelor-esque style dating show discuss the merits of minorities depicted on their show. A grand total of two black women are in the running to become the wife (winner? publicity stunt?) of English black sheep Adam Cromwell, and though producer Quinn (the marvelous Constance Zimmer) has high hopes for one or both of the ladies to be drama-stirrers, she knows neither are even close to breaking the final four in winning the pure-bread Englishman’s heart (read: allowance). “It’s not my fault that America is racist,” Quinn says with a shrug.
It’s not an earth-shattering revelation by any means, but it feels simultaneously edgy and brave for Lifetime’s largely soporific programming,...
- 5/31/2015
- by Mitchel Broussard
- We Got This Covered
Sneak Peek footage and images from the new comedy series "Unreal", premiering on Lifetime, June 1, 2015 in a parody of reality TV 'dating' shows like "The Bachelor":
Inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's award winning independent short-film "Sequin Raze", "Unreal" was created by Marti Noxon and Shapiro, starring Shiri Appleby.
"...the new show follows a young staff member on a popular competition reality dating show, whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with the contestants in order to get the vital outrageous footage for the shows demanded by 'Julie' the executive producer..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Unreal"...
Inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's award winning independent short-film "Sequin Raze", "Unreal" was created by Marti Noxon and Shapiro, starring Shiri Appleby.
"...the new show follows a young staff member on a popular competition reality dating show, whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with the contestants in order to get the vital outrageous footage for the shows demanded by 'Julie' the executive producer..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Unreal"...
- 4/16/2015
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in TrainwreckPhoto: Universal Pictures With Sundance just wrapping up and Berlin starting up in a few days, we are now immersed in the year-long barrage of film festivals. One such festival in South By Southwest. A few weeks back they announced the first seven films of their program, including the opening night film Brand: A Second Coming. Today, they have revealed the rest of the features to be shown in March (except for the midnight program), and some of it has me very excited. The bigger titles announced do not do much for me. Paul Feig's Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart starrer Get Hard leave a lot to be desired in terms of anticipation, as does a work in progress cut of Judd Apatow's latest film Trainwreck. I'm guessing an Apatow work in progress is probably around three and a half hours.
- 2/3/2015
- by Mike Shutt
- Rope of Silicon
South by Southwest, the multi-faceted film, music and technology festival held annually in Austin, TX will feature such upcoming films as Paul Feig’s Spy, David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn, Alex Gibney’s documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and Ondi Timoner’s Russell Brand profile Brand: A Second Coming as headliners in this year’s film festival lineup.
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Exclusive: Constance Zimmer (House Of Cards, The Newsroom, Entourage) has been cast as a lead opposite Shiri Appleby in Lifetime’s darkly comedic drama series Un-Real, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos surrounding the production of a competition dating reality series. She will play the dispassionate executive producer of the unscripted show, replacing Magyn Price, who played the role in the pilot. The 10-episodes series, from Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, is inspired by Shapiro’s short film Sequin Raze. It centers on Rachel (Appleby), a young staffer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with and among the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage the program’s executive producer (Zimmer) demands. Un-Real co-stars Freddie Stroma as the dating show’s handsome and intelligent bachelor, Adam; and Josh Kelly as Jeremy, a cameraman who is Rachel’s ex-boyfriend. A+E Studios is producing,...
- 6/3/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Lifetime has ordered Un-Real, a new dark comedy from Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro. The show will be an hour series that revolves around the production of a dating show. The cable channel has ordered 10 episodes.
Here are the details:
Lifetime Orders New Scripted Series Un-real, Marking A+E Studios’ First Wholly-owned Series
Hour-Long Dark Comedy from Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro
Peels Back Curtain on the Making of a Reality Dating Show
Los Angeles, CA (February 6, 2014) – Lifetime has picked up the scripted series Un-Real, ordering 10 episodes, it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lifetime. Produced by A+E Studios and from Marti Noxon (Mad Men, Fright Night) and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (Sequin Raze), the dark comedy gives a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos...
Here are the details:
Lifetime Orders New Scripted Series Un-real, Marking A+E Studios’ First Wholly-owned Series
Hour-Long Dark Comedy from Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro
Peels Back Curtain on the Making of a Reality Dating Show
Los Angeles, CA (February 6, 2014) – Lifetime has picked up the scripted series Un-Real, ordering 10 episodes, it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lifetime. Produced by A+E Studios and from Marti Noxon (Mad Men, Fright Night) and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (Sequin Raze), the dark comedy gives a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos...
- 2/9/2014
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Lifetime has given a series order to "Un-Real," a dramedy that takes place behind the scenes of a reality show and is executive produced by Marti Noxon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Mad Men").
Noxon is executive producing the series alongside her co-writer Sarah Gertrude Shapiro; it's based on Shapiro's short film "Sequin Raze" (whose trailer you can see here).
"Un-Real" stars Shiri Appleby ("Girls," "Life Unexpected") as Rachel, an employee of an "Bachelor"-like dating show whose job is to goad contestants into saying and doing outrageous things that make for compelling TV. Megyn Price ("Rules of Engagement") plays her boss, the show's executive producer.
"'Un-Real' is unlike anything that exists on television today," says Rob Sharenow, Lifetime's executive vice president and general manager. "It's premium and original on every level, and we're thrilled that Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's unique series will be Lifetime's first program produced by A+E Studios.
Noxon is executive producing the series alongside her co-writer Sarah Gertrude Shapiro; it's based on Shapiro's short film "Sequin Raze" (whose trailer you can see here).
"Un-Real" stars Shiri Appleby ("Girls," "Life Unexpected") as Rachel, an employee of an "Bachelor"-like dating show whose job is to goad contestants into saying and doing outrageous things that make for compelling TV. Megyn Price ("Rules of Engagement") plays her boss, the show's executive producer.
"'Un-Real' is unlike anything that exists on television today," says Rob Sharenow, Lifetime's executive vice president and general manager. "It's premium and original on every level, and we're thrilled that Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's unique series will be Lifetime's first program produced by A+E Studios.
- 2/7/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Lifetime has ordered 10 episodes of a brand-new series called Un-Real. Produced by Marti Noxon (Mad Men, Fright Night) and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (Sequin Raze), Un-Real will give a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program.
Starring Shiri Appleby (Girls), Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement), and Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter, Pitch Perfect), the dark comedy marks the first scripted series that will be fully financed and controlled by A+E Studios.
The show will follow a young staffer (Appleby) working on a hit dating competition show whose sole job is to manipulate relationships with contestants...
Starring Shiri Appleby (Girls), Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement), and Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter, Pitch Perfect), the dark comedy marks the first scripted series that will be fully financed and controlled by A+E Studios.
The show will follow a young staffer (Appleby) working on a hit dating competition show whose sole job is to manipulate relationships with contestants...
- 2/7/2014
- by Pamela Gocobachi
- EW - Inside TV
Lifetime has ordered a scripted series from Marti Noxon (“Mad Men,” “Fright Night”) and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (“Sequin Raze”) called “Un-Real.” Currently, it has ordered 10 episodes of the dark comedy, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program. Noxon will executive produce while Shapiro will serve as producer. Sally DeSipio (“Do Over”) and Bill Davenport will executive produce for Wieden+Kennedy Entertainment. Also read: Heather Graham, Ellen Burstyn Returning for Lifetime’s ‘Flowers in the Attic’ Sequel “Life Unexpected” and “Roswell” actress Shiri Appleby stars young staffer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with and.
- 2/7/2014
- by Jethro Nededog
- The Wrap
Lifetime has picked up Marti Noxon's scripted drama Un-Real to series, marking A+E Studios' first wholly owned series. The 10-episode drama goes behind the scenes of a hit competition dating series to follow the experiences of a young staffer (Life Unexpected's Appleby) whose lone job is to manipulate the relationships with (and among) the contestants in order to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage producers demand. Photos: Midseason TV Preview Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mad Men) and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro penned the pilot, which is based on the latter's short, Sequin Raze. Noxon will exec produce, with Shapiro producing. Sally
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- 2/6/2014
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lifetime has given a series order to Un-Real, its hourlong pilot starring Shiri Appleby and co-written/executive produced by Marti Noxon. I hear another Lifetime pilot, dystopian-future drama The Lottery, is in negotiations for a series pickup. Meanwhile, the network’s third traditional pilot, Hr, is not going forward, with the project starring Alicia Silverstone currently being shopped to other networks. (Lifetime also has movie/backdoor pilot Deliverance Creek, which is yet to air.) Lifetime has picked up 10 episodes of Un-Real, which will be produced by A+E Studios, making it the first scripted series fully owned by the recently launched in-house production arm of Lifetime parent A+E Networks. The dark comedy, inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s award-winning independent short Sequin Raze, was written by Shapiro and Noxon and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the chaos surrounding the production of a dating competition program. “Un-Real is unlike anything that exists on television today,...
- 2/6/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Josh Kelly is set to co-star opposite Shiri Appleby in Lifetime’s drama pilot Unreal, inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s award-winning independent short Sequin Raze. Marti Noxon and Shapiro wrote Unreal, which goes behind the scenes of a hit competition dating show to follow the experiences of Rachel (Appleby), a young staffer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with (and among) the contestants to heighten the drama. Kelly, repped by Talentworks and Thruline, will play Jeremy, a cameraman on the dating show who also is Rachel’s ex-boyfriend. He previously did an arc on Lifetime’s Army Wives and just wrapped Universal’s Recon. Grainger Hines (AMC’s Hell On Wheels) has been cast in Cinemax‘s 10-part series The Knick, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Clive Owen. Set in downtown New York in 1900, The Knick centers on Knickerbocker Hospital and the groundbreaking surgeons, nurses and...
- 10/1/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Shiri Appleby is set as the lead in Lifetime’s drama pilot Unreal, inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s award-winning independent short Sequin Raze. Marti Noxon and Shapiro wrote Unreal, which goes behind the scenes of a hit competition dating show to follow the experiences of a young staffer (Appleby) whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with (and among) the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage the program’s producers demand. What ensues is a humorous yet vexing look at what happens in the world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious and producing it is a whole other reality. Appleby, repped by Gersh and manager John Carrabino, has recurring roles on HBO comedy Girls and NBC drama Chicago Fire. Related: Lifetime Orders Marti Noxon Drama Pilot Based On ‘Sequin Raze’...
- 9/21/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Veteran TV writer and producer Marti Noxon is taking on reality TV as her next subject.
Noxon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") will co-write and executive produce a drama pilot for Lifetime called "Unreal," about the backstage manipulations on a hit dating show a la "The Bachelor," Deadline reports. It's based on a short film called "Sequin Raze" by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, who will pen the pilot with Noxon.
"Sequin Raze" focuses on a psychological battle between a reality-show producer (Ashley Williams) and a jilted contestant (Anna Camp) over the course of one night of filming. "Unreal" will still center on the producer but will also look at the other contestants and crew members involved in the show, and the forms of manipulation in which they all engage. (Shapiro has said in interviews that she worked on a reality show in the past.)
Noxon's most recent TV work was as a...
Noxon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") will co-write and executive produce a drama pilot for Lifetime called "Unreal," about the backstage manipulations on a hit dating show a la "The Bachelor," Deadline reports. It's based on a short film called "Sequin Raze" by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, who will pen the pilot with Noxon.
"Sequin Raze" focuses on a psychological battle between a reality-show producer (Ashley Williams) and a jilted contestant (Anna Camp) over the course of one night of filming. "Unreal" will still center on the producer but will also look at the other contestants and crew members involved in the show, and the forms of manipulation in which they all engage. (Shapiro has said in interviews that she worked on a reality show in the past.)
Noxon's most recent TV work was as a...
- 7/31/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Sarah Gertrude Shapiro's short film "Sequin Raze" premiered at SXSW earlier this year before screening at New Directors/New Films -- and now it's headed to television, in a reworked form. Shapiro and former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" showrunner Marti Noxon wrote "Unreal," a pilot based on the short that's set behind the scenes of a "Bachelor"-style dating competition show, focusing on a staffer whose job is to manipulate the contestants to get the best on-air drama. According to Deadline, Lifetime's now ordered a pilot for "Unreal," with Sharpiro to produce and Noxon to executive produce alongside Sally DeSipio and Bill Davenport at Wieden+Kennedy Entertainment. The short "Sequin Raze" stars Anna Camp ("True Blood") as a dismissed dating show contestant who ends up in psychological combat with "Goldberg" (Ashley Williams, "How I Met Your Mother"), a once-feminist producer who's come to specialize in sparking on-camera meltdowns. Shapiro...
- 7/31/2013
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
Lifetime has ordered a pilot set behind the scenes at a Bachelor-esque TV show, Deadline reports. Unreal is based on the short film Sequin Raze, which was written and directed by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro; megawriter Marti Noxon wrote the TV version with Shapiro. The series will focus on the young producer whose job it is to cajole contestants into saying and doing outlandish and often humiliating things, but the film has a really dark sense of humor and borderline despair (watch the trailer below). Lifetime isn't exactly known for its black comedies, but let's choose to lead our lives in a hopeful manner.
- 7/31/2013
- by Margaret Lyons
- Vulture
Exclusive: Lifetime has greenlighted to pilot Unreal, a drama series project inspired by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s award-winning independent short film Sequin Raze, which starred Ashley Williams, Anna Camp and Frances Conroy (check out that trailer below). Marti Noxon (Mad Men, Fright Night) and Shapiro wrote Unreal, which goes behind-the-scenes of a hit competition dating show to follow the experiences of a young staffer whose sole job is to manipulate her relationships with (and among) the contestants to get the vital dramatic and outrageous footage the program’s producers demand. What ensues is a humorous, yet vexing, look at what happens in the world of unscripted television, where being a contestant can be vicious and producing it is a whole other reality. Sequin Raze, which premiered at this year’s SXSW, sparked interest from multiple networks before landing at Lifetime, which brought in Noxon. She will executive produce, with Shapiro serving as producer.
- 7/31/2013
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
The American Film Institute will introduce eight new female filmmakers at its Directing Workshop for Women on May 6, where new short films by each director will screen. The keynote address comes from "Middle of Nowhere" director Ava DuVernay, who won Best Director at Sundance in 2012 and recently nabbed a prize at Tribeca. Her new documentary "Venus Vs" premieres at Laff this June. The list of directors honored at the AFI Directing Workshop for Women Class, and their respective short films, below. Read more about the films on AFI's website here. Shaz Bennett, "Alaska is a Drag" Catherine Dent, "Silk" Antoneta Kastrati, "She Comes in Spring" Lauren Ludwig, "Burn Brightly" Stephanie Martin, "Wild Horses" Juliana Penaranda-Loftus, "Learning to Fly" Lisanne Sartor, "Six Letter Word" Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, "Sequin Raze"...
- 5/2/2013
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Thompson on Hollywood
Two of the best performances we saw at SXSW this year came in a narrative short. Sarah Gertrude Shapiro’s Sequin Raze does more in twenty minutes than most features do in nearly two hours. Anna Camp (The Help, Pitch Perfect, True Blood) and Ashley Williams (How I Met Your Mother, Margin Call) sat down with Paste to talk about dropping pizza, drinking tequila, and accidentally sleeping together....
- 3/27/2013
- Pastemagazine.com
There's never a short supply of well known actors at SXSW Film Festival promoting their feature-length movies, but it's not often that you'll find stars representing short films. However, this year one short film stood out for its female-driven story supported by strong performances from familiar faces Anna Camp and Ashley Williams -- Sequin Raze, directed by former reality television producer and writer/director Sarah Gertrude Shapiro. The film won an Honorable Mention jury award for narrative shorts at SXSW.
Sequin Raze takes viewers behind the scene of a hit reality TV show as jilted contestant Rebecca (Camp) attempts to leave with her dignity while battling producer Rebecca Goldberg (Williams), who must get the "money shot" for ratings. The pair engage in a psychological battle from which only one woman can emerge victorious -- but at what price? This riveting film made such an impact on me that I'll never...
Sequin Raze takes viewers behind the scene of a hit reality TV show as jilted contestant Rebecca (Camp) attempts to leave with her dignity while battling producer Rebecca Goldberg (Williams), who must get the "money shot" for ratings. The pair engage in a psychological battle from which only one woman can emerge victorious -- but at what price? This riveting film made such an impact on me that I'll never...
- 3/26/2013
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Now, make sure that when you start squealing with excitement on pitch, everyone: The "Pitch Perfect" cast will have an on-stage reunion at the MTV Movie Awards, star Anna Camp told The Huffington Post.
"We're trying to get a little thing going," Camp said, doing press for the short film "Sequin Raze" at the SXSW Festival in Austin. "We're trying to perform."
Rebel Wilson, who will emcee the festivities on April 14, previously brought up the idea of a reunion on her Twitter.
"I've been talking to the Pitch Perfect cast about reuniting for a number at MTV Movie Awards..aca-let's Crush It x" she tweeted.
The reunion isn't the only plan Camp shared regarding the awards show. The actress is nominated for the MTV Movie Awards Wtf Award, for memorable, eyebrow-raising moments in movies. Those who saw Camp's character's geyser of vomit in the opening minutes of "Pitch Perfect" would certainly agree that it's Wtf-worthy.
"We're trying to get a little thing going," Camp said, doing press for the short film "Sequin Raze" at the SXSW Festival in Austin. "We're trying to perform."
Rebel Wilson, who will emcee the festivities on April 14, previously brought up the idea of a reunion on her Twitter.
"I've been talking to the Pitch Perfect cast about reuniting for a number at MTV Movie Awards..aca-let's Crush It x" she tweeted.
The reunion isn't the only plan Camp shared regarding the awards show. The actress is nominated for the MTV Movie Awards Wtf Award, for memorable, eyebrow-raising moments in movies. Those who saw Camp's character's geyser of vomit in the opening minutes of "Pitch Perfect" would certainly agree that it's Wtf-worthy.
- 3/11/2013
- by Kase Wickman
- NextMovie
On the surface, "Sequin Raze" might seem like just another short film playing at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. What separates the project from the pack, however, is its pedigree (the film was produced through the American Film Institute Directing Workshop for Women) and cast: actresses Anna Camp, Frances Conroy and Ashley Williams all star.
"It's an uphill battle," director Sarah Gertrude Shapiro said in an interview with HuffPost Entertainment. "It's like, 'Why would anyone do a short? Why were they in my short? What's a short?'"
In this case, it's a compact drama focusing on the losing contestant on a reality dating show (Camp) and the producer (Williams) trying to break her spirit. Shapiro, who had directed a short film before, was once a producer herself on a reality dating show.
"It was very much based on the moment that I sort of decided that I couldn't take it anymore,...
"It's an uphill battle," director Sarah Gertrude Shapiro said in an interview with HuffPost Entertainment. "It's like, 'Why would anyone do a short? Why were they in my short? What's a short?'"
In this case, it's a compact drama focusing on the losing contestant on a reality dating show (Camp) and the producer (Williams) trying to break her spirit. Shapiro, who had directed a short film before, was once a producer herself on a reality dating show.
"It was very much based on the moment that I sort of decided that I couldn't take it anymore,...
- 3/11/2013
- by Christopher Rosen
- Huffington Post
Rebel Wilson made Barden Bellas fans lose their pitch when the actress tweeted that a "Pitch Perfect" reunion could be in the offing at the MTV Movie Awards on April 14.
"I've been talking to the 'Pitch Perfect' cast about reuniting for a number at MTV Movie Awards," Wilson, who is acting as host of the awards show, wrote on Twitter. "Aca-let's Crush It."
According to "Pitch Perfect" co-star Anna Camp, plans are still in motion.
"We're trying to get a little thing going," Camp, who stars in the short film "Sequin Raze," which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, told HuffPost Entertainment. "We're trying to perform."
"Pitch Perfect" was a surprise success after its release last fall. The film earned $110 million around the world and helped make Wilson into a major comedy star. "Pitch Perfect" received four MTV Movie Award nominations, including two for Wilson...
"I've been talking to the 'Pitch Perfect' cast about reuniting for a number at MTV Movie Awards," Wilson, who is acting as host of the awards show, wrote on Twitter. "Aca-let's Crush It."
According to "Pitch Perfect" co-star Anna Camp, plans are still in motion.
"We're trying to get a little thing going," Camp, who stars in the short film "Sequin Raze," which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, told HuffPost Entertainment. "We're trying to perform."
"Pitch Perfect" was a surprise success after its release last fall. The film earned $110 million around the world and helped make Wilson into a major comedy star. "Pitch Perfect" received four MTV Movie Award nominations, including two for Wilson...
- 3/11/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Any discussion entitled "Changing Rules for Women and Sex on TV" was bound to include mentions of a certain HBO comedy series. The always provocative "Girls" was certainly a central topic at Saturday's SXSW panel, which was moderated by ThinkProgress' Alyssa Rosenberg and populated by fellow journalists Noreen Malone (of The New Republic) and David Haglund (of Slate), as well as Sarah Shapiro, the writer/director of "Sequin Raze," a short making its world premiere at the festival, and Anna Camp ("The Mindy Project," "True Blood"), the film's lead. The group dug into Lena Dunham's young career and the portrayals of sex, relationships and nudity in her show, along with the power dynamics of the intimacies of "House of Cards" and what constitutes a good sex scene. While the panel covered a lot of interesting ground, some familiar to anyone who follows the work of the writers on it,...
- 3/10/2013
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
Giant alien spiders attacking Los Angeles, mysterious strangers, supernatural phenomena, and a vampire who falls for a screenwriter are just some of the strange and fascinating SXSW picks for their popular Midnighters program.
“We work year-round searching for films that will wow our audiences at Midnight. This year we scoured the globe and brought back a batch that we knew would truly satisfy the gore hounds of SXSW,” said SXSW Senior Programmer & Operations Manager Jarod Neece in a press release announcing the lineup, Wednesday. “Full of scares, sex, madness, laughs, chills and major mind f—-, we hope there’s a little something for everyone.
“We work year-round searching for films that will wow our audiences at Midnight. This year we scoured the globe and brought back a batch that we knew would truly satisfy the gore hounds of SXSW,” said SXSW Senior Programmer & Operations Manager Jarod Neece in a press release announcing the lineup, Wednesday. “Full of scares, sex, madness, laughs, chills and major mind f—-, we hope there’s a little something for everyone.
- 2/6/2013
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
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