Exclusive: Film Independent has set seven filmmakers for the 2023 edition of its Producing Lab, an intensive program designed to help creative, independent producers develop their skills and further their careers. The list includes Camila Grimaldi & Farah Jabir (AmeriGirl), Rob Cristiano (Gone by Morning), Daniel Tantalean (In the Summers), Valeria Contreras (Not My Name), Annalisa Shoemaker (Obsolete), and Fiona Hardingham (Smoke Country).
Film Independent looks to bolster its Fellows by introducing them to film professionals who can advise them on both the craft and business of independent producing. Each is paired with a Creative Advisor, with whom they’ll look to develop a project over the course of the program. Rebecca Green will serve as lead creative advisor for this year’s program, which will also feature an expansive roster of guest speakers: Jason Michael Berman, Apoorva Charan, Marissa Frobes, Nate Kamiya, Kristen Konvitz, Stephen Lee, Alex Lo, Lauren Mann, Jack Pearkes,...
Film Independent looks to bolster its Fellows by introducing them to film professionals who can advise them on both the craft and business of independent producing. Each is paired with a Creative Advisor, with whom they’ll look to develop a project over the course of the program. Rebecca Green will serve as lead creative advisor for this year’s program, which will also feature an expansive roster of guest speakers: Jason Michael Berman, Apoorva Charan, Marissa Frobes, Nate Kamiya, Kristen Konvitz, Stephen Lee, Alex Lo, Lauren Mann, Jack Pearkes,...
- 10/11/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Even amid the concurrent strikes of the past year, there’s been a lot of bonus hand-wringing over the state of the independent producer. Producers, after all, have no SAG or WGA equivalent. Where then does the workaday, blue-collar movie producer find community support? Or work with peers to advance their collective interests?
Well… linking up with a good Artist Development cohort is a great place to star. Which is why we’re thrilled to announce seven new Fellows representing six new projects to kick off the 2023 edition (and 23rd overall!) of the Film Independent Producing Lab.
“We’re delighted to shepherd this group of devoted creative producers through the Lab and give them a dedicated space to further their projects and careers,” says Dea Vazquez, Film Independent’s Associate Director of Fiction Programs.
“We’re thrilled to have feature films in both development and post-production, to support producers at...
Well… linking up with a good Artist Development cohort is a great place to star. Which is why we’re thrilled to announce seven new Fellows representing six new projects to kick off the 2023 edition (and 23rd overall!) of the Film Independent Producing Lab.
“We’re delighted to shepherd this group of devoted creative producers through the Lab and give them a dedicated space to further their projects and careers,” says Dea Vazquez, Film Independent’s Associate Director of Fiction Programs.
“We’re thrilled to have feature films in both development and post-production, to support producers at...
- 10/11/2023
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
Exclusive: Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films has acquired worldwide rights to Breaker Studios’ Down with the King, which had its world premiere in the Acid lineup that runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival and just scored the Grand Prize at the Deauville American Film Festival.
Written and directed by Diego Ongaro (Bob and the Trees), the movie stars 2021 Grammy-nominated rapper and songwriter Freddie Gibbs in his debut feature film role, alongside Jamie Neumann (Lovecraft Country), David Krumholtz (The Deuce), Sharon Washington (Joker) and Bob Tarasuk (Bob and the Trees).
Written by Xabi Molia and Ongaro, the film follows rap star Money Merc (Gibbs), whose disillusionment with the music industry and the pressures of being a celebrity sends him away from the city to re-evaluate his career and finds himself in a small-town farming community.
Rob Cristiano (The Miseducation of Cameron Post), Kim Jackson (Blue Caprice) and Zach LeBeau (Trust Machine:...
Written and directed by Diego Ongaro (Bob and the Trees), the movie stars 2021 Grammy-nominated rapper and songwriter Freddie Gibbs in his debut feature film role, alongside Jamie Neumann (Lovecraft Country), David Krumholtz (The Deuce), Sharon Washington (Joker) and Bob Tarasuk (Bob and the Trees).
Written by Xabi Molia and Ongaro, the film follows rap star Money Merc (Gibbs), whose disillusionment with the music industry and the pressures of being a celebrity sends him away from the city to re-evaluate his career and finds himself in a small-town farming community.
Rob Cristiano (The Miseducation of Cameron Post), Kim Jackson (Blue Caprice) and Zach LeBeau (Trust Machine:...
- 9/13/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Visit Films has acquired worldwide sales rights to Down With The King starring Grammy-nominated rapper Freddie Gibbs.
The film, produced by Breaker Studios, will have its world premiere in the Acid lineup which runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival.
In his feature debut, Gibbs plays Mercury Maxwell aka “Money Merc,” a famous rapper who has been sent by his manager to a rural house in the Berkshires to focus on his next album. Unbeknownst to his manager, however, Mercury has neither the desire nor the intention to record any music. Disenchanted with his rap career and the 24/7 upkeep that such fame entails, Mercury spends his time on his neighbor’s farm and pours his energy into learning about farming and country living. After Mercury abruptly announces his retirement over social media and his decision to focus on farming, his manager tries everything he can to lure his most...
The film, produced by Breaker Studios, will have its world premiere in the Acid lineup which runs parallel to the Cannes Film Festival.
In his feature debut, Gibbs plays Mercury Maxwell aka “Money Merc,” a famous rapper who has been sent by his manager to a rural house in the Berkshires to focus on his next album. Unbeknownst to his manager, however, Mercury has neither the desire nor the intention to record any music. Disenchanted with his rap career and the 24/7 upkeep that such fame entails, Mercury spends his time on his neighbor’s farm and pours his energy into learning about farming and country living. After Mercury abruptly announces his retirement over social media and his decision to focus on farming, his manager tries everything he can to lure his most...
- 7/2/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Disney announces key promotions in film marketing, Film Independent announces more than two dozen grants and Alamo Drafthouse will celebrate the VHS format.
Marketing Promotions
Walt Disney Studios has promoted Ryan Stankevich and Martha Morrison to the posts of senior vice president of marketing.
Studio marketing president Asad Ayaz made the announcement Tuesday. Stankevich will focus on titles from Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, while Morrison will oversee titles from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.
They will also handle Disney’s other live action film projects and lead global campaigns and strategy for Disney’s entire theatrical slate.
“This is a truly amazing team and I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together over the past several years,” said Ayaz in a statement. “Martha and Ryan are talented and fearless leaders who will set a bold course for our film campaigns,...
Marketing Promotions
Walt Disney Studios has promoted Ryan Stankevich and Martha Morrison to the posts of senior vice president of marketing.
Studio marketing president Asad Ayaz made the announcement Tuesday. Stankevich will focus on titles from Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, while Morrison will oversee titles from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.
They will also handle Disney’s other live action film projects and lead global campaigns and strategy for Disney’s entire theatrical slate.
“This is a truly amazing team and I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together over the past several years,” said Ayaz in a statement. “Martha and Ryan are talented and fearless leaders who will set a bold course for our film campaigns,...
- 9/19/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Eric Lavallee: Name me three of your favorite “2014 discoveries”…
Rob Cristiano: 1. I’m new to the work of Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, so when I saw ‘Birdman‘ I was completely floored. 2. Jake Gyllenhaal, he deserves a lot of credit for his incredible work in ‘Enemy‘ and ‘Nightcrawler.’ 3. Director Luigi Campi, see his short film ‘Escape for Planet Tar,’ is one of the best shorts ever made.
Lavallee: Congrats on having your very first feature film producing credit be a “Sundance” accepted film. How did you join the project, what is it about the film itself (narrative, themes, ideas) and the filmmaker that made you a believer?
Cristiano: Thank you! It’s a great honor to be included with the incredible group of filmmakers and artists that come together at Sundance every year. Dp Chris Teague and I worked together on a film called ‘The Mend,’ and Chris shot Diego’s ‘Bob and the Trees‘ short.
Rob Cristiano: 1. I’m new to the work of Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, so when I saw ‘Birdman‘ I was completely floored. 2. Jake Gyllenhaal, he deserves a lot of credit for his incredible work in ‘Enemy‘ and ‘Nightcrawler.’ 3. Director Luigi Campi, see his short film ‘Escape for Planet Tar,’ is one of the best shorts ever made.
Lavallee: Congrats on having your very first feature film producing credit be a “Sundance” accepted film. How did you join the project, what is it about the film itself (narrative, themes, ideas) and the filmmaker that made you a believer?
Cristiano: Thank you! It’s a great honor to be included with the incredible group of filmmakers and artists that come together at Sundance every year. Dp Chris Teague and I worked together on a film called ‘The Mend,’ and Chris shot Diego’s ‘Bob and the Trees‘ short.
- 1/26/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
On the heels of the 39th edition of the Toronto Int. Film Festival (Sept 4-14), Ifp’s Independent Film Week is where a plethora of fiction, non-fiction and new this year, web-based series from the likes of Desiree Akhavan and Calvin Reeder find future coin. Sectioned off as projects at the very beginning of financing to those that are nearing completion, there happens to be tons of Sundance alumni in the names below. Among those that caught our attention we have Medicine for Melancholy‘s Barry Jenkins’ sophomore feature, produced by Bad Milo!‘s Adele Romanski, Moonlight is about “two Miami boys navigate the temptations of the drug trade and their burgeoning sexuality in this triptych drama about black queer youth”. Concussion‘s Stacie Passon digs into the thriller genre with Strange Things Started Happening. Produced by vet Mary Jane Skalski (Mysterious Skin), this is about “a woman who has...
- 7/24/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
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