With the SXSW World Premiere of THE HAPPY POET only days away, we’re unveiling the film’s first trailer. Check it out! And come see us at SXSW!
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Wonderful news for LOVERS OF HATE as it’s been picked up by IFC Films!
(and it also happens to be good news for a little movie called THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS).
Check out the press release over at indieWIRE… Many many congrats are due to Mr. Bryan Poyser and Ms. Megan Gilbride — the writer/director and producer, respectively.
from one of the press releases:
New York, NY – March 4th, 2010 – IFC Films, the leading foreign and independent film distributor and an innovator in the movies-on-demand alternative film distribution movement, announced today its second annual partnership with Austin’s South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival, one of America’s most vibrant and exciting film festivals, in which three films screening at SXSW will simultaneously be available nationwide via the movies-on-demand platform of major national cable systems. Following last year’s partnership, which helped bring Joe Swanberg’s ALEXANDER THE LAST significant national attention, this year’s program offers simultaneous festival and on demand premieres of three new films: Bryan Poyser’s LOVERS OF HATE, Shane Meadows’ LE DONK & SCOR-ZAY-ZEE and Emmett Malloy’s THE WHITE STRIPES: UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS. Also available exclusively on demand are two acclaimed films from SXSW 2009: Daryl Wein’s BREAKING UPWARDS and John Bryant’s THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS. Beginning March 12th, the films featured in the “Direct From SXSW” partnership will be available for 30 days in a special branded “SXSW” section on the movies-on-demand page the same day each premieres at SXSW, and will be available in approximately 40 million homes on most major cable systems, including Comcast, Cablevision, and Cox.
And to watch an interview (courtesy of Sundance) with Bryan Poyser:
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Make A Stand. I think it’s a great tagline.
Big shout-outs to Jason Wehling and Jonny Mars for doing a lot of the hard work getting this created and finished… The final poster for THE HAPPY POET.
And if you haven’t already, sign up for updates and franchise information over at THE HAPPY POET’S official site. And what the hell… become our friend on facebook too.
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I’ve been working with THE HAPPY POET team as we get ready for the World Premiere — 2 weeks from tomorrow. We’re in that time period that is the amazing onslaught of finalizing everything pretty quickly, but working with Paul, Dave, Jonny, Jason — and now publicist Matt Johnstone — has been a treat and I am really and truly excited to see how the film plays when it’s unleashed to the world. Paul Gordon (as actor/writer/director/producer/editor) has such an amazing/unique comedic film ‘voice’ — that getting to see his film with a crowd — will be really, really intriguing. And the tagline is pretty stellar… MAKE A STAND.
More info coming real soon, but here are some screening times for our 3 screenings at SXSW.
Sunday, March 14th, 2010 – 2:00 p.m. – Alamo Ritz 2
Monday, March 15th, 2010 – 5:00 p.m. – Alamo Ritz 1
Thursday, March 18th, 2010 – 6:15 p.m. – Alamo Ritz 2
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THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS is on the home page of ifcfilms.com — and since I know it won’t stay there for too too long, I went ahead and grabbed a screengrab of it.
Some other different mentions around the web:
IFC.com includes The Overbrook Brothers in its Spring Preview, while The Austin Chronicle has a short article titled Family Programming about the film’s on demand release — and Home Media Magazine sent out a basic press release as well.
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“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt – Paris, Sorbonne 1910
This was one of my father’s favorite quotes. He kept it on single sheet of paper on a bulletin board in his office for as long as I can remember. I stumbled across this quote today and am reminded about how much it means to me as well…
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This one has been in the works for a long, long time… REMEMBERING is one of those projects that’s been 95% complete for longer than I’ll ever admit. With the help of motion designer extraordinaire Mr. David Hobizal — I’ve finally been able to put the cherry on top of this new short film/video art piece. Here’s a peek at a still from the opening title card (which does no justice at all to David’s work). I’ll start sending this one out next month and it’ll be one of the last pieces on my soon-to-be-released collection of short films.
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Sundance was a great experience this year — great to see a lot of old friends and make a bunch of news ones as well. LOVERS OF HATE played well throughout the fest, and I was able to attend 3 of its screenings (at the Library, Eccles and Racquet Club). There have been many, many great things said about the film — here are a couple of them:
indieWIRE
1 of the 10 Best Films at Sundance — “An engaging, well-crafted film made on a minimal budget that is well-acted and cleverly written. Bryan Poyser’s latest showcases a bizarre love triangle with the elements of a stirring thriller.”
LAWEEKLY
“Lovers of Hate is a star-free, bare-bones comedy in which three actors talk and walk around a house for 90 minutes. It’s also the most exciting American indie I’ve seen in a while.”
Movie City News
“Bryan Poyser’s Lovers of Hate is the kind of tiny brilliant gem that low-budget indie films ought to be and so seldom are.”
FirstShowing.net
“It’s a charming film with real comedic teeth.”
The Wrap: Covering Hollywood
“Some movies build Sundance buzz; others deserve it. Bryan Poyser’s “Lovers of Hate” falls into the latter category.”
Film School Rejects
“Deeply felt, operatic emotions lie at the heart of Bryan Poyser’s Lovers of Hate. That they’re disguised beneath the exterior of a low-fi indie picture makes for an experience that’s strange, unsettling and wholly unpredictable. Few comparable dramas boast such an offbeat, creepy edge. While largely sticking with one location Poyser lends the central triangular relationship sinister, biblical overtones, producing a three character movie that inspires a mix of sympathy and revulsion for everyone involved.”
Voice Film
“Lovers of Hate puts the sparse means of production and naturalistic feel of mumblecore to the service of a genre film — physical comedy with a gilding of near-horror — fueled by the Swiss-watch comic timing of leads Chris Doubek (his nearly-wordless performance in the film’s second half is silent-horror perfection) and Alex Karpovsky and grounded by the bravery and emotional precision of actress Heather Kafka.”
I’m incredibly happy for the Lovers of Hate team — and couldn’t be happier for Writer/Director Bryan Poyser and Producer Megan Gilbride — both of whom willed this movie into existence and brought it full circle from shooting in Park City, Utah — to 1 year later World Premiering the film at the most prestigious film festival in the country — in Park City, Utah.
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In anticipation of THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS February 17th on-demand world premiere via IFC In Theatres — here’s the trailer that IFC Films created. Very excited for this to go live and help promote our big day — less that 2 weeks away. Also, check out the press release that Cinematical sent out with the film’s trailer debut.
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I’m very, very excited for the LOVERS OF HATE team and the Zellner Brothers’ FIDDLESTIXX screenings at Sundance. I’ll be at most of these, so please come out and support the films. Check out the festival schedule for more information. We hope to see you there.
LOVERS OF HATE
Sunday, January 24th, 5:15 p.m. – Racquet Club, Park City
Tuesday, January 26th, 2:30 p.m. – Library Center Theatre, Park City
Wednesday, January 27th, 10:30 p.m. – Broadway Centre Cinemas IV, Salt Lake City
Thursday, January 28th, 12:15 p.m. – Eccles Theatre, Park City
Saturday, January 30th, 8:30 a.m. – Library Center Theatre, Park City
FIDDLESTIXX
*screens with All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
Tuesday, January 26th, 9:00 p.m. – NEW FRONTIER on Main, Park City
Wednesday, January 27th, 9:00 p.m. – Egyptian Theatre, Park City
Thursday, January 28th, 2:00 p.m. – Holiday Village Cinema II, Park City
Friday, January 29th, 7:30 p.m. – Broadway Centre Cinemas IV, Salt Lake City
Saturday, January 30th, 3:00 p.m. – Yarrow Hotel Theatre, Park City
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Paul Gordon’s new film has an upcoming Narratives-in-Progress on January 27th. (sadly, I won’t be in Austin to attend). Register at austinfilm.org to check it out. Attendance is free, but seating is limited.
The details (from the AFS website)
Wednesday, Jan 27 @ 7 PM
Austin Studios Screening Room (1901 E. 51st St.)
About the film:
THE HAPPY POET follows a one-time poet’s attempt to run a successful vegetarian foodstand despite pressure to sell something easier—hot dogs. Complications with the foodstand jeopardize budding friendships as well as Bill’s sense of self-worth and faith in humanity.
About the Narratives-in-Progress series
Filmmakers screen their “rough cuts” (or “near-fine-cuts”) for a filmmaker-member audience, and receive constructive comments and feedback. The meetings are moderated by experienced Austin film professionals. Participants will be expected to agree to confidentiality regarding the film and the comments received, as the films to be screened have not been finalized. Read more here>>
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I somehow missed this completely… it didn’t get on my radar at all. It looks absolutely amazing – and IFC Films is releasing it in theaters in February 2010. Red Riding is described as, “The search for a killer told through three different points of views.” Wow.
*UPDATE
“Red Riding” Roadshow (from indieWIRE)
Coming February 5th, for one week only, IFC FIlms will present “Red Riding: Special Roadshow Edition,” screening the entire 305 minute trilogy at their New York IFC Center. The films will be broken up by a pair of intermissions at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. showings. There will be only be fourteen performances, according to an IFC announcement today.
The three separate “Red Riding” films, which screened last fall at the Telluride Film Festival, were directed by Julian Jarrold, James Marsh and Anand Tucker and written by Tony Grisoni, based on the novels by David Peace. The films will open with separate admissions on February 12th at IFC Center and will alos screen separately at Landmark’s Nuart in Los Angeles. [Eugene Hernandez]
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So… THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS Video On Demand Premiere is one month from today, February 17th, 2010. To check availability with your cable provider, check out IFCFILMS.COM and look half way down the right hand-side for the “Watch IFC Films On Demand” box and enter your zip code.
We’ll have more info very soon, including a NEW TRAILER and dates/times for some UPCOMING SCREENINGS.
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LOVERS OF HATE has its WORLD PREMIERE in one week — next Sunday, January 24th at 5:15PM at the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.
I’ll be updating, when I can, from the festival. So stay tuned here for more news. And just this week, the LOVERS OF HATE poster landed. Check it out! Another great design from the incredibly talented Yen Tan.
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Some long-in-the-works news that Mr. John Bryant and I can now finally officially share; IFC has acquired THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS. We’ll be premiering on Video On Demand platforms nationwide in February of 2010. We’re very, very excited to get the film out to a whole new audience. I’ll continue to share information as our page on the IFC website goes live, as well as where and when you can see the film on VOD.
Check out the official press release on indieWIRE.
When I stop and think about the last two-plus years of actually getting the film made and seen, it feels like a lifetime. Some interesting dates in the film’s evolution (and you can see our ever-changing potential title).
The 1st Draft of the Script (”Hearts on Fire”) that John sent me to read:
Sunday, August 5th, 2007
The 1st Meeting with our future Production Company/Partner, Sixth Street Films:
Monday, November 18th, 2007
The 1st Day of Official Pre-Production (with a production office open in Austin, Texas):
Monday, January 28th, 2008
The 1st Day of Principal Photography (”Brotherly Love”) in Fort Collins, Colorado:
Monday, March 17th, 2008
The 1st Public Screening/World Premiere (”The Overbrook Brothers”) at SXSW 2009:
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
The 1st International Screening at the 17th Raindance Film Festival 2009 (UK):
Monday, October 5th, 2009
The 1st Available Video-On-Demand Date:
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
From the release:
THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS will be released via IFC Films’ movies-on-demand platform, available nationwide in 50 million homes on virtually all major cable systems, including Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Cablevision and Brighthouse. Slated to premiere on February 17th, THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS will be available on VOD for three months.
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LOVERS OF HATE – Official Screening Times at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
There are 5 chances to see LOVERS OF HATE at Sundance in January, with one of the screenings at the enormous (1000-plus capacity) Eccles Theater on January 28th.
Sunday, January 24th, 5:15 p.m. – Racquet Club, Park City
Tuesday, January 26th, 2:30 p.m. – Library Center Theatre, Park City
Wednesday, January 27th, 10:30 p.m. – Broadway Centre Cinemas IV, Salt Lake City
Thursday, January 28th, 12:15 p.m. – Eccles Theatre, Park City
Saturday, January 30th, 8:30 a.m. – Library Center Theatre, Park City
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I don’t know if this qualifies as any sort of real post, but Jean-Luc Godard is 79 years old as of 12/3/2009. His new film, Socialisme, will be out in 2010.
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Fiddlestixx is about a monkey. A very special monkey.
Fiddlestixx was created by The Zellner Brothers.
Fiddlestixx will screen as 1 of 35 short films in the U.S. Dramatic Shorts category.
Fiddlestixx also tweets from time to time… if you’re interested, check him out on twitter.
Enough said.
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The folks at Range Life, who I had a chance to hang out with for a short bit last week, are doing something really special, in my opinion. An indie film tour — taking movies across the country and bringing them to a theater near you. The company’s model utilizes social networking and grassroots campaigning to reach people all across the country. They’ve been written about — and blogged about — and it’s not new news — but I love that they are diving in and taking movies TO people and creating a traveling movie festival.
from their site:
Range Life Entertainment takes awesome movies, adds awesome parties, plus awesome filmmakers, and then tours them across America. Why? Because we can. And because we like movies. And because we like America. But mostly because we like you. That’s right, even though we don’t know you, we got a good feeling about it. So come check out a screening, stay for an after-party, and meet your new best friends. Cause we’re eating all your pizza and sleeping on your couch anyways.
Their 2009 Fall Tour is winding down, but they’ll be on tour again in 2010 – and I urge you to follow them online, attend their screenings, do what you can to help support a company that needs the support in any way, shape, or form — that you can give it. And at the end of the day, they’re really good guys too.
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Very, very exciting news that we’ve had to sit on for a bit. But now that the cat is (officially) out of the bag, LOVERS OF HATE will be World Premiering at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival! The film will be playing in competition alongside a handful of other films in January. Check out the official press release over at indieWIRE. Lots more info to come, and please check back regularly for all sorts of news about screenings and the goings-on in Park City. Congrats to the whole LOVERS OF HATE team!!!
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2009 is winding down… But I am happy to say, that many of the film projects in the pipeline, whether in post-production or finishing or prepping for distribution, will have lots of news to share in the coming weeks and months. This will be my first place to post it – and one of my ‘new year’s’ sorts of tasks is to be a better disseminator of good news. Stay tuned. Exciting times ahead.
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This is another of my previous short works that I am finally making available online. This is one of my stranger short films, but it also happens to be one of the most well seen. The film, CLOCK PAINT EYEBALL screened at numerous places around the world (including some microcinema screenings in Seattle, San Francisco, Paris and Houston). Mike Nicholson did some great design work on the look and feel of the piece – and I cut it along with my longtime collaborator Aaron Vega. Check it out.
Clock Paint Eyeball from Chris Ohlson on Vimeo.
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Lance Hammer’s BALLAST is now available on BLU-RAY and DVD. An amazing film that has had a well documented festival run and DIY distribution approach – now’s your chance to own it on DVD.
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We’ve got a couple of different DVD projects in the works and with that, we’re developing some additional materials (AKA ‘Extras’) for these DVDs. Now that said, these projects don’t have huge resources or sprawling “making of” kind of featurettes – but they do have a few other things at their disposal.
Now, I’m aware of CLERKS 2 and the wonderful commentary track with Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier that’s named the “technical track.” It’s a blow by blow of how the film was made… SCHIZOPOLIS has a Soderbergh-the-reporter interviewing Soderbergh-the-director – and it’s hilarious. INSOMNIA has a great track with Christopher Nolan. My absolute favorite ‘extra’ is the commentary track on THE LIMEY, with screenwriter Lem Dobbs and director Steven Soderbergh getting into a heated discussion. These discs are all great, but all lean towards commentaries. Are there other additional materials you’ve come across that were simply done and made the film a richer experience? Let us know.
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This is a short film I finished in 2006 (and part of the get all my short works online project I am ever so slowly working on). Originally this was a poem entitled Letter to City of Austin, Attention: Customer Rep Susan that I saw performed in Austin, Texas at La Zona Rosa, by the enormously talented Jacob Rakovan. And the actor in the film, Jeffery Mills, was someone I was trying to find the right part for, because I was dying to work with him… That’s how this marriage came to be.
My Electric Bill screened at handful of film festivals and screening series around the country — and I still find Jeffery Mills’ performance really, really strong and hope to find a way to work with him again in the future. Feel free to comment below and let me know what you think about our film.
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Last week in Bend, Oregon, THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS had a huge weekend, winning 3 different awards at the 2009 BendFilm Festival. They include:
Best Actor – (Mark Reeb) The Overbrook Brothers
Best Screenplay – (John Bryant & Jason Foxworth) The Overbrook Brothers
Best of Show – The Overbrook Brothers
Here’s a blurb from Morgan Salvo (The Source Weekly) that I really like:
The Overbrook Brothers (Directed by John Bryant) This movie swept up three completely deserved awards: Best of Show, Best Screenplay and Best Actor (Mark Reeb). A hilarious and realistic comedy, it features the road trip of two brothers on a mission to discover their heritage and their escalating rivalry. Reeb delivers a performance that is a cross between Josh Brolin and John Malkovich.
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The Overbrook Brothers will be screening in Philadelphia as part of the 18 1/2 Philadelphia Film Festival: 5 Days of World Class Cinema. We’re not sure that anyone from Team Overbrook can be there, but please, if you’re in Philadelphia, come out and see the film!
Philadelphia Film Festival – October 15th thru October 19th, 2009
Screening Date/Time: Friday, October 16th at 9:45 pm – Ritz Bourse A
Screening Date/Time: Saturday, October 17th at 2:45 pm – Ritz Bourse C
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In my “works-in-progress” kind of news, we have a finecut of my first feature film. Seeing the film, from end to end, is enthralling, scary, calming and humbling all at the same time. Of course it needs many, many more man hours of work and there are things that work and don’t quite work in the film, but getting to see it all in one fell swoop, “like a real movie” has definitely moved the film to its next stop on the train tracks of its life. I’m excited to show the film to a few carefully selected folks who can articulate what they think about it in its current form… I’m headed back into the editing room, but I can’t ever go back from where the film is now in its life… and that feels really good.
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The Overbrook Brothers will be screening in Bend, Oregon as part of the 6th Annual BendFilm: A Celebration of Independent Cinema.
BendFilm – October 8th thru October 11th, 2009
Screening Date/Time: Friday, October 9th at 8:00 pm – Regal 5
Screening Date/Time: Saturday, October 10th at 10:00 am – Sisters Movie House
Screening Date/Time: Saturday, October 10th at 8:00 pm – McMenamins 1
And on a very different note – a blog/information free-for-all/website that I’ve found absolutely wonderful and thought provoking in these tumultuous indie film times is Truly Free Film – written by producer Ted Hope. It’s not as much a call to action as it a bevy of ideas, information and solutions to nurturing and expanding our film culture. In my opinion, it’s a must read if you’re a media-maker.
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In the slowly putting some of my works online project, here is a short film from 2004 called CREMAINS. Narrated by actor Steve Shearer and friend Marilyn Rodriguez, this short film sprouted from a much lengthier piece (never produced) called The Painted Ones that I had developed with good friend Aaron Vega. The Painted Ones never saw the light of day, but CREMAINS came to life and it’s a short film I am very proud of — and it’s done very well screening around the world. Music by the most prolific musician on the planet, Graham Reynolds.
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The Overbrook Brothers will be screening in London, England as part of the 17th Raindance Film Festival. The lineup is a great one, including Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience, Ry Russo-Young’s You Won’t Miss Me – and many, many more. If you happen to be in London on Monday, October 5th – please come out and support the film! It’s one that I am incredibly proud of and it’s great to see in an audience setting (because it’s damn funny).
17th Annual Raindance Film Festival (London) – September 30th thru October 11th, 2009
Screening Date/Time: Monday, October 5th at 7:30PM – Apollo Cinema
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I’ve been hesitant to post some of my shorter films online in the past. Part of me was being old-fashioned and another part of me simply liked the idea that these kinds of works had to be seen in festivals or microcinemas or DVD compilations. That said, over the course of the next few months, I am going to start uploading some of my shorter works – and see where that gets me.
So, first up is TRAUMA, a short film I made a few years ago with a lot of help in post-production from the wonderful designer Mike Nicholson and the talented sound man extraordinaire, Mr. Bob Kellough.
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The film I produced this past year, THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS, has a handful of upcoming screenings in the next two months. We’ve had a pretty good festival run in 2009 so far and I’m excited we’re going to continue on with many, many more screenings over the course of the fall. Here are some of our screenings in September and October:
2009 Woodstock Film Festival (Woodstock, NY) – September 30th thru October 4th, 2009
Screening Date/Time: Friday, October 2nd at 1PM – Upstate Film I
Screening Date/Time: Sunday, October 4th at 1:30PM – Tinker Street Cinema
(director John Bryant and lead actor Nathan Harlan in attendance)
17th Annual Raindance Film Festival (London) – September 30th thru October 11th, 2009
Screening Date/Time: Monday, October 5th at 7:30PM – Apollo Cinema
2009 Chesapeake Film Festival (Chesapeake, MD) – September 18th thru September 20th, 2009
Screening Date/Time: Saturday, September 19th at 8:30PM – The Avalon Theatre
(director John Bryant in attendance)
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My short film, EXPECTING (2007, 17 mins), will screen in NYC on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th, as part of ROOFTOP FILMS 2009 SUMMER SERIES. The event will take place on the amazing roof at Open Road Rooftop, at Grand and Essex on the Lower East Side. Doors open at 8:00 PM, live music at 8:30, and films start at 9:00 PM. There’s an open bar after-party after the film’s screening.
About THE ROOFTOP FILMS 2009 SUMMER SERIES:
The festival started May 15th and runs until September 20th, in a variety of outdoor venues (mostly rooftops, but also parks and piers) throughout New York City.
This summer, Rooftop Films is partnering with Cinereach, New York Magazine, IndieWire, IndiePix and others, and is expecting 25,000 people in attendance overall.
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