We’re back this weekend with another edition of the Indie Spotlight. Today, we bring you the first episode of the zombie webseries The Dead Feed, along with the latest independent horror news sent our way:
When Good Holiday’s Go Bad: Rise of the Fiend: “Halloween, that magical night that compels adults to act like children, children to gorge themselves and a host of creatures and ghouls, those nasty beasties that hide under your bed, in your closet or the deepest recesses of your mind, all come out to play, scaring and frightening their human victims; at least, that’s how it was in the old days.
Welcome to Halloween Hallow, a disturbing land where all the nefarious creatures that wander the world on Halloween night come to dwell during the off season. In this land of strange and weird creatures lives Jack, the only human ever allowed to live amongst them.
When Good Holiday’s Go Bad: Rise of the Fiend: “Halloween, that magical night that compels adults to act like children, children to gorge themselves and a host of creatures and ghouls, those nasty beasties that hide under your bed, in your closet or the deepest recesses of your mind, all come out to play, scaring and frightening their human victims; at least, that’s how it was in the old days.
Welcome to Halloween Hallow, a disturbing land where all the nefarious creatures that wander the world on Halloween night come to dwell during the off season. In this land of strange and weird creatures lives Jack, the only human ever allowed to live amongst them.
- 8/19/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Amber Benson’S “Dust Up” Going Down In 2012 From Breaking Glass Pictures
Domestic distributor Breaking Glass Pictures (5 Star Day, The Fields, Easier With Practice) bought domestic rights to the indie grindhouse comedy Dust Up. The deal was struck last week between CEO Rich Wolff and writer/director/producer Ward Roberts of Drexel Box Productions. Dust Up stars genre favorite Amber Benson (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, Drones), Ezra Buzzington (“Justified”), Jeremiah Birkett, Travis Betz, Aaron Gaffey, Devin… More...
Domestic distributor Breaking Glass Pictures (5 Star Day, The Fields, Easier With Practice) bought domestic rights to the indie grindhouse comedy Dust Up. The deal was struck last week between CEO Rich Wolff and writer/director/producer Ward Roberts of Drexel Box Productions. Dust Up stars genre favorite Amber Benson (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, Drones), Ezra Buzzington (“Justified”), Jeremiah Birkett, Travis Betz, Aaron Gaffey, Devin… More...
- 8/13/2012
- by HorrorNews.net
- Horror News
The spotlight will be on female filmmakers in the horror genre at the upcoming Viscera Film Festival Carpet Ceremony 2012.
The event takes place on July 7, 2012, at the American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
A line-up of the 13 best new short horror films directed by up-and-coming female directors has been judged by a celebrity panel of horror industry veterans.
The panel included Gale Anne Hurd (producer The Walking Dead, Terminator), Mary Harron (director American Psycho), Catherine Hardwicke (director, Twilight, Red Riding Hood), Rachel Talalay (director, Nightmare on Elm Street 6, Tank Girl), Steve Niles (author 30 Days of Night), Elizabeth Stanley (producer Trailers from Hell), Tony Diblasi (director Dread), Amber Benson (Tara Maclay in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, director Drones), Dew Daywalt (director Leprechaun's Revenge), Barbara Peeters (director, Humanoids from the Deep), John Skipp (author Mondo Zombie), Michelle Maxwell McLaren (director The Walking Dead), Mary Lambert (director Pet Semetary) and Emily Hagins (My Sucky Teen Romance...
The event takes place on July 7, 2012, at the American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
A line-up of the 13 best new short horror films directed by up-and-coming female directors has been judged by a celebrity panel of horror industry veterans.
The panel included Gale Anne Hurd (producer The Walking Dead, Terminator), Mary Harron (director American Psycho), Catherine Hardwicke (director, Twilight, Red Riding Hood), Rachel Talalay (director, Nightmare on Elm Street 6, Tank Girl), Steve Niles (author 30 Days of Night), Elizabeth Stanley (producer Trailers from Hell), Tony Diblasi (director Dread), Amber Benson (Tara Maclay in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, director Drones), Dew Daywalt (director Leprechaun's Revenge), Barbara Peeters (director, Humanoids from the Deep), John Skipp (author Mondo Zombie), Michelle Maxwell McLaren (director The Walking Dead), Mary Lambert (director Pet Semetary) and Emily Hagins (My Sucky Teen Romance...
- 6/12/2012
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Screening before the delightful Icelandic movie Summerland at Fantastic Fest this week is a clever short film by actors -- and brothers -- Shiloh and Rider Strong. The Dungeon Master features a nerdtastic performance by Alexander Polinsky of Charles In Charge as a wizard/dungeon master who turns the tables on a group of bullies. Both of the Strong brothers were at the fest on Friday to present their short, and during the Q&A they revealed they have acquired funding to turn the Dungeon Master concept into a full-length feature.
The script was light and funny, relatable to gamer nerds and regular mortals alike. In addition to Polinsky, stars included Adam Busch of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Travis Schuldt of Scrubs and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Jason Marsden. You might recall Busch was at Fantastic Fest last year with the comedy Drones.
The Dungeon Master screens...
The script was light and funny, relatable to gamer nerds and regular mortals alike. In addition to Polinsky, stars included Adam Busch of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Travis Schuldt of Scrubs and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Jason Marsden. You might recall Busch was at Fantastic Fest last year with the comedy Drones.
The Dungeon Master screens...
- 9/26/2011
- by Mike Saulters
- Slackerwood
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
In this episode, I chat with the co-creator/co-writer of the Thrilling Adventure Hour and the independent comedy Drones, Ben Acker, as we name-drop shamelessly, bank endlessly, and make Andy Richter yell.
Hope you enjoy…
Download “A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Ben Acker“:
Subscribe
Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes
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Drop Ken a line Here.
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You can also find more of my interviews at Fred by clicking Here, and my personal interview archive at Tibby’s Bowl by clicking Here.
In this episode, I chat with the co-creator/co-writer of the Thrilling Adventure Hour and the independent comedy Drones, Ben Acker, as we name-drop shamelessly, bank endlessly, and make Andy Richter yell.
Hope you enjoy…
Download “A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Ben Acker“:
Subscribe
Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes
##
Drop Ken a line Here.
##
You can also find more of my interviews at Fred by clicking Here, and my personal interview archive at Tibby’s Bowl by clicking Here.
- 4/24/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
By Christopher Stipp
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
Monsters - Review
First, the raw numbers: this is director and writer Gareth Edwards’ first feature, the movie cost a purported $15,000, internationally speaking the film has grossed over 1.5 million dollars, this is the one film you need to see this fall.
One of the spectacular aspects of a movie that is labeled sci-fi even though we only really glimpse the science of the fiction at the very beginning and then near the end which, really, is the crowning achievement of this little film that could, is that this movie exists at all. Actor Scoot McNairy, last seen in the very sweet and gentile film In Search of a Midnight Kiss, and his co-star Whitney Able are essentially starring in a film where...
The Archives, Right Here
Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp
Monsters - Review
First, the raw numbers: this is director and writer Gareth Edwards’ first feature, the movie cost a purported $15,000, internationally speaking the film has grossed over 1.5 million dollars, this is the one film you need to see this fall.
One of the spectacular aspects of a movie that is labeled sci-fi even though we only really glimpse the science of the fiction at the very beginning and then near the end which, really, is the crowning achievement of this little film that could, is that this movie exists at all. Actor Scoot McNairy, last seen in the very sweet and gentile film In Search of a Midnight Kiss, and his co-star Whitney Able are essentially starring in a film where...
- 10/29/2010
- by Christopher Stipp
In a festival filled with brutality and and splatter effects, one might think a straightforward rom-com would get lost in the gore. But Drones was not only a refreshing break, but stands on its own as a witty tale of an office romance with a twist ... aliens.
Yes, aliens. Yet the film contains no CGI, no prosthetics or special cosmetics, just a guy and a gal and impending alien invasions. "Boy meets girl but she's an alien" is not a new plot device, but writers Ben Acker and Ben Blacker capture interpersonal dynamics with dry wit while embedding a science-fiction theme within a very typical office, although with a very unusual copy machine.
Brian (Jonathan M. Woodward, Firefly) is a dedicated worker bee of an office drone, who has a crush on Amy (Angela Bettis, May) across the aisle. Brian's best friend and coworker Clark (Samm Levine, Inglourious Basterds) pushes...
Yes, aliens. Yet the film contains no CGI, no prosthetics or special cosmetics, just a guy and a gal and impending alien invasions. "Boy meets girl but she's an alien" is not a new plot device, but writers Ben Acker and Ben Blacker capture interpersonal dynamics with dry wit while embedding a science-fiction theme within a very typical office, although with a very unusual copy machine.
Brian (Jonathan M. Woodward, Firefly) is a dedicated worker bee of an office drone, who has a crush on Amy (Angela Bettis, May) across the aisle. Brian's best friend and coworker Clark (Samm Levine, Inglourious Basterds) pushes...
- 10/5/2010
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
The new sci fi Drones, directed by Amber Benson (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fame), offers up plenty of laughs but falls short as a sci fi. This low budget gem premiered at Fantastic Fest 2010, a genre film festival held in Austin. With Indy regulars like Jonathan Woodward, Angela Bettis and Samm Levine, this film has the acting chops to pull off a strange script full of light comedy and 3rd Rock from the Sun-style sci fi. Brian (Woodward) spends his day laconically working away in his little cubicle, a drone bee in the hive of his company. Trying to avoid any real work or drama, Brian...
- 10/4/2010
- by Amy Curtis, Austin Movie Examiner
- Examiner Movies Channel
Drones co-directors Amber Benson and Adam Busch were here to support their film, along with star Angela Bettis. It was probably one of the more fun Q&As with jokes and stories from the set, including onset harmony and daycare, and offset arguments over who ate the last sausage (answer: a vegetarian). Being alums of the Whedonverse, lots of fans wanted pictures, and both graciously obliged. Busch may still be in town for the second screening of their fun and snarky tale of aliens in the office, but Benson had to leave. Glad she's working, but I'd love a discussion about independent filmmaking with her next time she's in town. Remember, this is someone who found distribution.
Here's Drones star Angela Bettis with Benson. I love Benson's face in this picture, she clearly enjoyed her time in Austin. It's great Bettis is back, as she's not only a great actress,...
- 9/26/2010
- by Jenn Brown
- Slackerwood
Like, what's the deal, Neil?
Neil isn't a real person.
In the past 5 years I've seen women horror, sci-fi, and fantasy directors representing at least one third of all genre film festival screenings in the United States and in Europe. This year, not so. While there are a few features making the rounds, the same ones appear in all the fests and often they're the Only film directed by a woman in the entire lineup.
Check it out:
Horror/drama After.life, directed Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo, already made a theatrical release in the USA and was recently screened in the United Kingdom at London Frightfest alongside only one other horror film by a woman (Hélène Cattet co-directed the awful giallo Amer with Bruno Forzani) and the violent action flick Isle of Dogs by Tammi Sutton and is now in the official lineup for Sitges, Spain. Unless there are films Sitges has not announced yet,...
Neil isn't a real person.
In the past 5 years I've seen women horror, sci-fi, and fantasy directors representing at least one third of all genre film festival screenings in the United States and in Europe. This year, not so. While there are a few features making the rounds, the same ones appear in all the fests and often they're the Only film directed by a woman in the entire lineup.
Check it out:
Horror/drama After.life, directed Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo, already made a theatrical release in the USA and was recently screened in the United Kingdom at London Frightfest alongside only one other horror film by a woman (Hélène Cattet co-directed the awful giallo Amer with Bruno Forzani) and the violent action flick Isle of Dogs by Tammi Sutton and is now in the official lineup for Sitges, Spain. Unless there are films Sitges has not announced yet,...
- 9/19/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
After the announcement of Matt Reeves Let Me In for opening night, Fantastic Fest has unveiled another slew of exciting premieres and titles for its 2010 line-up.
The festival has added a Gala screening of Buried, a claustrophobic thriller starring Ryan Reynolds, on Thursday, September 23 (a day before its released in select theaters). Reynolds and director Rodrigo Cortés will be in attendance. Fantastic Fest is also adding it to their “Rolling Roadshow” list, which prides itself on an immersive experience for seeing the film (e.g. the classic On the Waterfront projected on a New Jersey pier). The twist — and there’s always a twist with these guys — is that four people will be selected to watch the film while actually buried. (More info here.)
The festival will also host the U.S. premiere of Stone with star Edward Norton in attendance, the vampire sequel 30 Days of Nights: Dark Days, and...
The festival has added a Gala screening of Buried, a claustrophobic thriller starring Ryan Reynolds, on Thursday, September 23 (a day before its released in select theaters). Reynolds and director Rodrigo Cortés will be in attendance. Fantastic Fest is also adding it to their “Rolling Roadshow” list, which prides itself on an immersive experience for seeing the film (e.g. the classic On the Waterfront projected on a New Jersey pier). The twist — and there’s always a twist with these guys — is that four people will be selected to watch the film while actually buried. (More info here.)
The festival will also host the U.S. premiere of Stone with star Edward Norton in attendance, the vampire sequel 30 Days of Nights: Dark Days, and...
- 9/5/2010
- by Jeff Leins
- newsinfilm.com
Start: 09/23/2010 End: 09/30/2010 Start: 09/23/2010 End: 09/30/2010
Director Amber Bensen and star Angela Bettis will be there in person!
So far the only female-directed genre flick at the festival is Drones, but we'll wait and see what the short lineup is like before being too disappointed.
When Brian discovers an improbable secret about his best friend and OmniLink coworker, everything in his world changes and his safe life of workplace detachment is no longer an option. Close encounters of the office kind, like sales or intergalactic war, is an uncertain business.
Fantastic Fest...
Director Amber Bensen and star Angela Bettis will be there in person!
So far the only female-directed genre flick at the festival is Drones, but we'll wait and see what the short lineup is like before being too disappointed.
When Brian discovers an improbable secret about his best friend and OmniLink coworker, everything in his world changes and his safe life of workplace detachment is no longer an option. Close encounters of the office kind, like sales or intergalactic war, is an uncertain business.
Fantastic Fest...
- 8/28/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
Fantastic Fest 2010 Adds New Films To Its Incredible Lineup
Austin, TX---Friday, August 27, 2010--- Fantastic Fest welcomes a bayou-dwelling psycho-killer, a disturbed housemaid, Muay Thai bone-crushers, blood-sucking vampires, undocumented immigrants, cannibal families, and more to its genre-bending lineup of mind blowing films for 2010. The lineup includes a Gala Screening for Stone on Friday, September 24 at The Paramount Theatre with Edward Norton, director John Curran and more in attendance.
Gala
Stone (2010)
Us Premiere, USA, director: John Curran
Director John Curran and Edward Norton live in attendance.
A seasoned corrections official and a volatile inmate find their lives dangerously intertwined in Stone, a thought-provoking drama directed by John Curran and written by Angus MacLachlan. Stone features powerful performances by Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro and Oscar® nominee Edward Norton, and a startlingly raw, breakout performance from Milla Jovovich as the sexy, casually amoral woman they both desire.
As parole officer Jack Mabry...
Austin, TX---Friday, August 27, 2010--- Fantastic Fest welcomes a bayou-dwelling psycho-killer, a disturbed housemaid, Muay Thai bone-crushers, blood-sucking vampires, undocumented immigrants, cannibal families, and more to its genre-bending lineup of mind blowing films for 2010. The lineup includes a Gala Screening for Stone on Friday, September 24 at The Paramount Theatre with Edward Norton, director John Curran and more in attendance.
Gala
Stone (2010)
Us Premiere, USA, director: John Curran
Director John Curran and Edward Norton live in attendance.
A seasoned corrections official and a volatile inmate find their lives dangerously intertwined in Stone, a thought-provoking drama directed by John Curran and written by Angus MacLachlan. Stone features powerful performances by Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro and Oscar® nominee Edward Norton, and a startlingly raw, breakout performance from Milla Jovovich as the sexy, casually amoral woman they both desire.
As parole officer Jack Mabry...
- 8/27/2010
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
The second wave of programming for the sixth edition of Fantastic Fest, happening September 23rd-30th in Austin, Texas, has been announced; and if you were on the fence about attending, well, you just may want to start booking your flight immediately!
Sixteen films are listed in the latest press release for the Fest, and we're including them all here, even if a few aren't strictly horror, just to give you an idea of how truly diverse Fantastic Fest is. For the other films screening that week, click here for all our Fantastic Fest 2010 coverage.
Fantastic Fest welcomes a bayou-dwelling psycho-killer, a disturbed housemaid, Muay Thai bone-crushers, blood-sucking vampires, undocumented immigrants, cannibal families, and more to its genre-bending lineup of mind-blowing films for 2010. The lineup includes a Gala Screening for Stone on Friday, September 24, at The Paramount Theatre with Edward Norton, director John Curran, and more in attendance.
Gala Screening:
Stone (2010)
Us Premiere,...
Sixteen films are listed in the latest press release for the Fest, and we're including them all here, even if a few aren't strictly horror, just to give you an idea of how truly diverse Fantastic Fest is. For the other films screening that week, click here for all our Fantastic Fest 2010 coverage.
Fantastic Fest welcomes a bayou-dwelling psycho-killer, a disturbed housemaid, Muay Thai bone-crushers, blood-sucking vampires, undocumented immigrants, cannibal families, and more to its genre-bending lineup of mind-blowing films for 2010. The lineup includes a Gala Screening for Stone on Friday, September 24, at The Paramount Theatre with Edward Norton, director John Curran, and more in attendance.
Gala Screening:
Stone (2010)
Us Premiere,...
- 8/27/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: We knew about “Buried,” and that “Let Me In” would kick things off. Now organizers of this year’s Fantastic Fest – set to take over Austin, Texas Sept. 23-30 – are unveiling a second wave of anticipated programming, and man, does it look intriguing.
The highlight, from a potential awards standpoint, would be the Gala screening of John Curran’s “Stone,” which stars Robert De Niro as a corrections officer working with a devious inmate (played by Edward Norton).
In addition, Fantastic Fest announced a series of “Featured” screenings, including an early look at that “I Spit On Your Grave” remake and the sequel to “30 Days of Night.”
The full list is below:
30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010)
World Premiere, USA, director: Ben Ketai
Director Ben Ketai, Kiele Sanchez & Steve Niles (co-writer, author) in attendance (schedules permitting).
It’s been almost a year since the...
Hollywoodnews.com: We knew about “Buried,” and that “Let Me In” would kick things off. Now organizers of this year’s Fantastic Fest – set to take over Austin, Texas Sept. 23-30 – are unveiling a second wave of anticipated programming, and man, does it look intriguing.
The highlight, from a potential awards standpoint, would be the Gala screening of John Curran’s “Stone,” which stars Robert De Niro as a corrections officer working with a devious inmate (played by Edward Norton).
In addition, Fantastic Fest announced a series of “Featured” screenings, including an early look at that “I Spit On Your Grave” remake and the sequel to “30 Days of Night.”
The full list is below:
30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010)
World Premiere, USA, director: Ben Ketai
Director Ben Ketai, Kiele Sanchez & Steve Niles (co-writer, author) in attendance (schedules permitting).
It’s been almost a year since the...
- 8/27/2010
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Fantastic Fest welcomes a bayou-dwelling psycho-killer, a disturbed housemaid, Muay Thai bone-crushers, blood-sucking vampires, undocumented immigrants, cannibal families, and more to its genre-bending lineup of mind blowing films for 2010. The lineup includes a Gala Screening for Stone on Friday, September 24 at The Paramount Theatre with Edward Norton, director John Curran and more
Gala
Stone (2010)
Us Premiere, USA, director: John Curran
**Director John Curran and Edward Norton live in attendance.**
A seasoned corrections official and a volatile inmate find their lives dangerously intertwined in Stone, a thought-provoking drama directed by John Curran and written by Angus MacLachlan. Stone features powerful performances by Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro and Oscar® nominee Edward Norton, and a startlingly raw, breakout performance from Milla Jovovich as the sexy, casually amoral woman they both desire.
As parole officer Jack Mabry (De Niro) counts the days toward a quiet retirement, he is asked to review the...
Gala
Stone (2010)
Us Premiere, USA, director: John Curran
**Director John Curran and Edward Norton live in attendance.**
A seasoned corrections official and a volatile inmate find their lives dangerously intertwined in Stone, a thought-provoking drama directed by John Curran and written by Angus MacLachlan. Stone features powerful performances by Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro and Oscar® nominee Edward Norton, and a startlingly raw, breakout performance from Milla Jovovich as the sexy, casually amoral woman they both desire.
As parole officer Jack Mabry (De Niro) counts the days toward a quiet retirement, he is asked to review the...
- 8/27/2010
- by George Bragdon
- OriginalAlamo.com
Edward Norton and director John Curran will bring the Us premiere of "Stone" to Fantastic Fest on September 24th, the big news in the latest round of programming announcements from the Austin-based genre festival. Norton plays an inmate eligible for early release, whose wife (Milla Jovovich) sets out to help him manipulate his parole officer (Robert De Niro).
Also set for a gala screening -- indie buried alive thriller "Buried," with Ryan Reynolds and director Rodrigo Cortés appearing in person. The line-up also includes Mexican cannibal family drama "We Are What We Are," Hong Kong actioner "Fire of Conscience" and the 1960 original and new remake of Korean thriller "The Housemaid."
The rest of the lineup, descriptions courtesy of the festival:
30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010)
World Premiere, USA, director: Ben Ketai
Director Ben Ketai, Kiele Sanchez & Steve Niles (co-writer, author) in attendance (schedules permitting).
It's been almost a year since...
Also set for a gala screening -- indie buried alive thriller "Buried," with Ryan Reynolds and director Rodrigo Cortés appearing in person. The line-up also includes Mexican cannibal family drama "We Are What We Are," Hong Kong actioner "Fire of Conscience" and the 1960 original and new remake of Korean thriller "The Housemaid."
The rest of the lineup, descriptions courtesy of the festival:
30 Days of Night: Dark Days (2010)
World Premiere, USA, director: Ben Ketai
Director Ben Ketai, Kiele Sanchez & Steve Niles (co-writer, author) in attendance (schedules permitting).
It's been almost a year since...
- 8/27/2010
- by Alison Willmore
- ifc.com
As we end the Summer of 2010, we leave a series of box office bombs behind us, and look forward to an incredible film festival season this fall. With such film festivals as Toronto, New York, and Venice to look forward to, this year may still be saved for the cineastes of the world. One film festival in particular that may not be on your radar, but deserves to be placed alongside those others, is Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, taking place September 23-30.
Last month they announced their first wave of films (listed below), and this morning, they’ve announced their second wave, a total of 16 more films. It is an incredible line up of horror, martial arts, sci-fi, and other genre films. I’ve listed the films announced below, and while I won’t be able to make it to Austin next month to attend, I can tell you that if you are going,...
Last month they announced their first wave of films (listed below), and this morning, they’ve announced their second wave, a total of 16 more films. It is an incredible line up of horror, martial arts, sci-fi, and other genre films. I’ve listed the films announced below, and while I won’t be able to make it to Austin next month to attend, I can tell you that if you are going,...
- 8/27/2010
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
In a previous news story, we reported that Amber Benson's film Drones was eerily similar to the new series Human Relations on SyFy Channel's Fall lineup.
On July 31st on her blog, Amber Benson insinuated that the unlikely similarities between her indie film Drones and the new SyFy Channel series Human Relations was way toooo coinicdnetal, especially since SyFy.com itself had aired the trailer to Drones back in January 2010.
"Human Relations is an original concept that was brought to us by Scott Prendergast, a respected independent filmmaker," Syfy said in a statement issued to the media only in the past few days. "It was in no way inspired by Drones. We pride ourselves in our professional integrity and take suggestions of plagiarism very seriously."
"Our initial concern was if there was any truth to this," SyFy's Mark Stern said to www.airlockalpha.com. "If that were the case,...
On July 31st on her blog, Amber Benson insinuated that the unlikely similarities between her indie film Drones and the new SyFy Channel series Human Relations was way toooo coinicdnetal, especially since SyFy.com itself had aired the trailer to Drones back in January 2010.
"Human Relations is an original concept that was brought to us by Scott Prendergast, a respected independent filmmaker," Syfy said in a statement issued to the media only in the past few days. "It was in no way inspired by Drones. We pride ourselves in our professional integrity and take suggestions of plagiarism very seriously."
"Our initial concern was if there was any truth to this," SyFy's Mark Stern said to www.airlockalpha.com. "If that were the case,...
- 8/23/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
By Theron Neel
Angela Bettis is one of the most interesting actresses on the scene today, and I bet most of you don’t even know who she is. It’s okay. I doubt it would hurt her feelings.
Bettis hasn’t exactly crafted a career that guarantees tabloid coverage or paparazzi abuse. On her journey, there have been stops and starts, hits and misses. But that doesn’t appear to bother Bettis. She has set herself apart from those concerns. Much like her best-known movies, she’s independent. She has acted onstage and onscreen next to some of the biggest names in the industry; she’s directed and produced; she’s even worked as an editor as well as a music supervisor. Bettis seems to make her own destiny, with any formal notion of a career taking a backseat to whatever she’s interested in. But it didn’t necessarily start out that way.
Angela Bettis is one of the most interesting actresses on the scene today, and I bet most of you don’t even know who she is. It’s okay. I doubt it would hurt her feelings.
Bettis hasn’t exactly crafted a career that guarantees tabloid coverage or paparazzi abuse. On her journey, there have been stops and starts, hits and misses. But that doesn’t appear to bother Bettis. She has set herself apart from those concerns. Much like her best-known movies, she’s independent. She has acted onstage and onscreen next to some of the biggest names in the industry; she’s directed and produced; she’s even worked as an editor as well as a music supervisor. Bettis seems to make her own destiny, with any formal notion of a career taking a backseat to whatever she’s interested in. But it didn’t necessarily start out that way.
- 8/13/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
We covered the indie sci-fi film Drones being helmed by Buffy alums Amber Benson and Adam Busch a few months ago when its trailers were released online. Here's the plot summary:
The Office meets The Day The Earth Stood Still...is about a guy who works in an office with a kooky, off-kilter boss/co-workers, who then discovers that he's really working with aliens who are plotting to blow-up the Earth.
There's a bit of a twatter on twitter at the moment as SyFy announced last week that it was developing a show called "Human Relations." Here's the plot summary of that one:
The Office meets Men In Black in this project featuring an office Temp who slowly discovers that his off-kilter and odd-ball bosses at the strange hi-tech "ad agency" where he works are really aliens working on plan to destroy the Earth.
And you just exploded in righteous...
The Office meets The Day The Earth Stood Still...is about a guy who works in an office with a kooky, off-kilter boss/co-workers, who then discovers that he's really working with aliens who are plotting to blow-up the Earth.
There's a bit of a twatter on twitter at the moment as SyFy announced last week that it was developing a show called "Human Relations." Here's the plot summary of that one:
The Office meets Men In Black in this project featuring an office Temp who slowly discovers that his off-kilter and odd-ball bosses at the strange hi-tech "ad agency" where he works are really aliens working on plan to destroy the Earth.
And you just exploded in righteous...
- 8/9/2010
- by Steven Lloyd Wilson
"Human Relations" is a proposed Syfy series that takes place in an office environment run by aliens. "Drones" is an independent movie co-directed by former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actors Amber Benson and Adam Busch that involves aliens running an office environment. But that's where the similarities end, and Syfy is clearing the air. "'Human Relations' is an original concept that was brought to us by Scott Prendergast, a respected independent filmmaker," Syfy said in a statement issued to the media. "It was in no way inspired by 'Drones.' We pride ourselves in our professional integrity and take suggestions of plagiarism very seriously." The statement is intended to put an end to the controversy surrounding the two projects, started July 31 by Benson on her blog, which pointed ...
- 8/5/2010
- GeekNation.com
After a few blog posts and a firestorm of online media coverage, former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Amber Benson says she's sorry concerns about her independent film being knocked off have been blown out of proportion. But anyone who thinks she has targeted "Human Relations" creator Scott Prendergast through all of this need to think again. "I never brought Scott into this," Benson told Airlock Alpha on Wednesday. "I never felt like he plagiarized anything. He got inserted into this whole story some way." Benson is trying to set the record straight following a blog post she made over the weekend that expressed fear an independent film she directed with former "Buffy" co-star Adam Busch called "Drones" was being ripped off by Syfy when it announced what she described as a similar ...
- 8/4/2010
- GeekNation.com
I had an idea once, but only once. It was simply a name that I decided to put on a website, a name that would become rather well-known. And then a decade later, someone else claimed they came up with the name out of the blue as well, and thought it would be a good name for a network. It wasn't until afterward they realized I had already created the name, even though they had worked directly with my site and that name for years. Yeah, it seems rather unlikely, almost laughable. But according to Syfy, that's the genesis of the name. So when former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" recurring actors Amber Benson and Adam Busch claimed Big Hollywood swooped in and lifted an idea they had produced into an independent film called "Drones," Airlock Alpha was all over it. But a few days later, after ...
- 8/3/2010
- GeekNation.com
Scott Prendergast has denied claims that he plagiarised a movie for his new show Human Relations. Earlier, Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Amber Benson suggested on her blog that the concept of the new Syfy series had been copied from her film Drones. However, Prendergast told Airlock Alpha that he has been working on Human Relationships for some time. "My show has been in development since August of 2008," he said. "It was not developed at Syfy - we brought it to them independently in January of 2010. In fact, my show is based on a script I wrote in 1995, based on a job I had in Chicago in 1995-96." Prendergast also dismissed the similarities between the synopses of Human Relations and Drones, which Benson posted on her blog. "We know where my synopsis came from," he said. "It came from Syfy (more)...
- 8/3/2010
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Amber Benson has suggested that Syfy copied the premise of her upcoming film. Writing on her blog, the Buffy The Vampire Slayer star noted the similarities between the press releases for Drones, the movie she made with Adam Busch, and Human Relations, a new Syfy series. "I can't say that they ripped our film off because we all know that people do think up similar, competing ideas at the same time," she said. "But it just seems rather odd that our trailer premiered exclusively on the Syfy channel's website in January and now, six-ish months later, they're making a TV show with an intriguingly similar plot." Benson posted the show's synopses, which saw Drones described as "The Office meets The Day Stood Still" while Syfy's project was presented as "The Office meets Men (more)...
- 8/3/2010
- by By Catriona Wightman
- Digital Spy
Amber Benson's new comedic sci-fi film Drones is eerily like the new SyFy Channel series Human Relations. Only - Drones came first. Hm.
On her official blog today, and all over twitter, Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) was making fans aware that she feels slighted by SyFy Channel for coming up with a TV series Just like Drones ( which she co-directed with Adam Busch.)
SyFy (formerly the Sci-Fi Channel) released their new slate of 7 upcoming pilots for 2010-2011 yesterday - and one of them was just a little too close to Benson's film to not seem a little fishy.
Quote:
Now I can't say that they ripped our film off because we all know that people do think up similar, competing ideas at the same time (think Volcano vs. Dante's Peak or not...they're both pretty terrible), but it just seems rather odd that our trailer premiered exclusively...
On her official blog today, and all over twitter, Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) was making fans aware that she feels slighted by SyFy Channel for coming up with a TV series Just like Drones ( which she co-directed with Adam Busch.)
SyFy (formerly the Sci-Fi Channel) released their new slate of 7 upcoming pilots for 2010-2011 yesterday - and one of them was just a little too close to Benson's film to not seem a little fishy.
Quote:
Now I can't say that they ripped our film off because we all know that people do think up similar, competing ideas at the same time (think Volcano vs. Dante's Peak or not...they're both pretty terrible), but it just seems rather odd that our trailer premiered exclusively...
- 8/1/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
Among the women who have played gay for pay, Amber Benson is one I dearly wish were also gay for play.
It’s purely selfish, because Benson’s character Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is half of one of the best couples ever to grace the small screen. (The other half, of course, was Alyson Hannigan’s Willow, in case you were born yesterday or something.)
But even though Benson is coupled with Adam Busch, who played Warren on Buffy (and yes, Warren killed Tara, but let’s try to forget that, mm-kay?), she has been a strong supporter of the lesbian fan base she developed during her Tara years — and we love her for it. Besides, she’s gorgeous.
So when I learned that Benson and Busch would be at a free screening of their movie Drones at Dallas’ USA Film Festival, I happily waited in line.
Parking-lot-style...
It’s purely selfish, because Benson’s character Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer is half of one of the best couples ever to grace the small screen. (The other half, of course, was Alyson Hannigan’s Willow, in case you were born yesterday or something.)
But even though Benson is coupled with Adam Busch, who played Warren on Buffy (and yes, Warren killed Tara, but let’s try to forget that, mm-kay?), she has been a strong supporter of the lesbian fan base she developed during her Tara years — and we love her for it. Besides, she’s gorgeous.
So when I learned that Benson and Busch would be at a free screening of their movie Drones at Dallas’ USA Film Festival, I happily waited in line.
Parking-lot-style...
- 5/3/2010
- by thelinster
- AfterEllen.com
It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like a little something extra, I know all of us at Gatw do. So we thought it would be fun to bring you guys something extra and fun, and we made it happen. For this little surprise, we thought it would be fun to have a talk with actor Samm Levine (Freaks and Geeks, Inglourious Basterds) and co-director Amber Benson about their new film Drones, which was just shown at the USA Film Festival in Dallas, Texas.
Read more on Gatw Podcast Ep. 6.5: DRONEScast with guests Actor Samm Levine and Co-Director Amber Benson…...
Read more on Gatw Podcast Ep. 6.5: DRONEScast with guests Actor Samm Levine and Co-Director Amber Benson…...
- 4/30/2010
- by John Mulhern
- GordonandtheWhale
Most of you probably know Amber Benson as Tara Maclay from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but in recent years, while Benson has continued to rack up acting gigs, she's also parlayed her clout into a thriving indie film career. Her newest film, Drones, premiered at Slamdance and is currently making the film festival circuit. It recently screened at the Independent Film Festival of Boston. I had a chance to sit chat briefly with Benson on the morning before her film screened. We spoke about her love for directing, the importance of planning when you're making an indie film, and what it's like to be a female director in a man's world. Apologies for the terrible lighting conditions of this interview, and for the fact that there is loud coffee-making going on in the background; Benson was a real sport for sticking through it! You can learn more about Drones, including upcoming screenings,...
- 4/26/2010
- by David Chen
- Slash Film
Amber Benson and Adam Busch are true multihyphenates. Both boast a long list of acting credits, including stints on the TV cult classic "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Both channel their creative energy into other mediums: He's part of the successful folk-rock trio Common Rotation; she's the author of popular urban fantasy series "Death's Daughter." In addition, both are as comfortable behind the camera as they are in front of it, producing and directing their own work. Recently, the real-life couple teamed up to co-helm "Drones," a screwball sci-fi comedy set in a seemingly mundane cubicle farm. The film, which bowed at Slamdance earlier this year, stars such diverse talents as horror queen Angela Bettis ("May," "Girl, Interrupted"), Obie winner and cartoon superstar James Urbaniak ("The Venture Bros.," "American Splendor"), and "Freaks and Geeks" alum Samm Levine ("Inglourious Basterds").Back Stage: How did this project come together?Adam Busch:...
- 4/7/2010
- backstage.com
Start: 04/13/2010 Start: 04/13/2010
Check out this awesome for-charity screening of director/actress Amber Benson's new romantic science fiction comedy movie Drones in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010. Non-profit writing/tutoring center 826La will benefit, to provide free creative writing programs for Los Angeles students ages 6-18. The exclusive screening will be followed by a Q&A with cast and crew, including Benson and Bettis, and an afterparty. Drones was written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, directed by Amber Benson and Adam Busch, and stars Angela Bettis, Marc Evan Jackson, Paul F. Tompkins, Samm Levine, James Urbaniak and Dave (Gruber) Allen.
Brian Dilks is an Office Drone. He spends his days at OmniLink in comforting monotony: facilitating the movement of product around the country, faxing, copying, joking with his best friend, Clark, and harmlessly flirting with fellow cubicle-mate, Amy. But how well does anyone really know the people they work with?...
Check out this awesome for-charity screening of director/actress Amber Benson's new romantic science fiction comedy movie Drones in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010. Non-profit writing/tutoring center 826La will benefit, to provide free creative writing programs for Los Angeles students ages 6-18. The exclusive screening will be followed by a Q&A with cast and crew, including Benson and Bettis, and an afterparty. Drones was written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, directed by Amber Benson and Adam Busch, and stars Angela Bettis, Marc Evan Jackson, Paul F. Tompkins, Samm Levine, James Urbaniak and Dave (Gruber) Allen.
Brian Dilks is an Office Drone. He spends his days at OmniLink in comforting monotony: facilitating the movement of product around the country, faxing, copying, joking with his best friend, Clark, and harmlessly flirting with fellow cubicle-mate, Amy. But how well does anyone really know the people they work with?...
- 4/6/2010
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
Yes we announced the partial lineup a ittle while back, and now we have the exclusive full lineup to share, and boy, is it a doozy. The festival runs April 28th to May 3rd so get your tickets now!
Opening night film: Splice by Vincenzo Natali.
Cosing night film: Cargo (which we loved, review)
TiMER (UK Premier)
Hunter Prey (International Premier) (teaser)
2033 (UK Premier) (Another film we loved, review)
1 The Stanislaw Lem adaptation (UK Premier) (Yes, we loved this too review)
Transmission (A Ballardian telecom malfunction, UK Premier) (review)
Drones
Eraser Children (International Premier, finally I get to see this tonight!) (trailer)
Radio Free Albemuth (Sneak Preview of this Philip K. Dick adaptation! We should have a trailer soon)
Earthling (International Premier) (review)
Depositarios (International Premier, more Mexican scifi) (teaser)
Plug & Pray (UK Premier, documentary)
8th Wonderland (UK Premier)
and much more! You can head over to the festival website for more details and tickets,...
Opening night film: Splice by Vincenzo Natali.
Cosing night film: Cargo (which we loved, review)
TiMER (UK Premier)
Hunter Prey (International Premier) (teaser)
2033 (UK Premier) (Another film we loved, review)
1 The Stanislaw Lem adaptation (UK Premier) (Yes, we loved this too review)
Transmission (A Ballardian telecom malfunction, UK Premier) (review)
Drones
Eraser Children (International Premier, finally I get to see this tonight!) (trailer)
Radio Free Albemuth (Sneak Preview of this Philip K. Dick adaptation! We should have a trailer soon)
Earthling (International Premier) (review)
Depositarios (International Premier, more Mexican scifi) (teaser)
Plug & Pray (UK Premier, documentary)
8th Wonderland (UK Premier)
and much more! You can head over to the festival website for more details and tickets,...
- 3/26/2010
- QuietEarth.us
Tasha Smith is 39 today; she can next be seen in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too? on April 2nd.
Tangi Miller is 40 today. She can next be seen in a film called Drones, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival this year, but is without a distributor. Trailer follows below…
And lastly, Rae Dawn Chong is 49 years old today; you can catch Ms Chong in Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer, which is scheduled for release some time this year. Likely a straight-to-dvd title. Trailer follows below…
Trailer for Drones:
Trailer for Cyrus: Mind Of A Serial Killer:...
Tangi Miller is 40 today. She can next be seen in a film called Drones, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival this year, but is without a distributor. Trailer follows below…
And lastly, Rae Dawn Chong is 49 years old today; you can catch Ms Chong in Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer, which is scheduled for release some time this year. Likely a straight-to-dvd title. Trailer follows below…
Trailer for Drones:
Trailer for Cyrus: Mind Of A Serial Killer:...
- 2/28/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Last week Dread Central's own Heather Wixson (aka The Horror Chick) and Brian Dreads packed up and headed off to the snow-covered hills of Park City, Utah for both the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals.
On Saturday night Slamdance held its press event at the Treasure Mountain Inn, and the red carpet was packed with up and coming filmmakers and actors as well as some veterans to the genre.
While at the Slamdance event, Dread Central had the opportunity to talk with the cast and crew of the horror comedy The Scenesters, which focuses on a serial killer stalking hipsters in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood.
Also, we took some time to talk with the creators and cast of The Last Lovecraft, a cool new flick centered around the last descendant of the legendary H.P Lovecraft.
The geek out moment for yours truly came when it was time to...
On Saturday night Slamdance held its press event at the Treasure Mountain Inn, and the red carpet was packed with up and coming filmmakers and actors as well as some veterans to the genre.
While at the Slamdance event, Dread Central had the opportunity to talk with the cast and crew of the horror comedy The Scenesters, which focuses on a serial killer stalking hipsters in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood.
Also, we took some time to talk with the creators and cast of The Last Lovecraft, a cool new flick centered around the last descendant of the legendary H.P Lovecraft.
The geek out moment for yours truly came when it was time to...
- 2/3/2010
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I've been recording audio blogs pretty frequently while i've been attending Sundance. Here's some insight into how these work: I'll strike up a conversation with random people next to me on the bus, or with an actor/director that I recognize, then request their permission for a brief interview. These are completely impromptu, unprepared, off-the-cuff, and raw, but they are, at the very least, conversations with people I think are interesting. After the break, I speak with Inglorious Basterd Samm Levine, who has a new film called Drones out at Slamdance this year. Also, I chat with David Mazjlin, who composed the music for Sins of My Father, a documentary about drug lord Pablo Escobar. Finally, a conversation with the host of The Sound of Young America, Jesse Thorn, about how he got started in radio. First up, I chat with...
- 1/26/2010
- by David Chen
- Slash Film
In case you were wondering what Tangi Miller has been up to…
Most will probably remember her as Elena Tyler on the popular late 90s/early 00s television drama Felicity – a series that was created by… drumroll… J.J. Abrams, who’s now quite the Hollywood hotshot. Matt Reeves was co-creator of the series. Reeves wrote and directed the 2008 monster hit, Cloverfield.
But back to Tangi Miller… she hasn’t done much. Her role in Felicity was supposed to be her star-making turn, but, once the series ended, she kind of faded… despite being named one of TV Guide’s “Sexiest Faces,” and Ebony magazine’s “Hollywood Hot Starlets.” The 35-year old has since appeared alongside Mekhi Phifer, in the independent film, The Other Brother (2002), Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood and Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion.
Not exactly choice work there, but I’m sure the checks helped pay some bills.
Most will probably remember her as Elena Tyler on the popular late 90s/early 00s television drama Felicity – a series that was created by… drumroll… J.J. Abrams, who’s now quite the Hollywood hotshot. Matt Reeves was co-creator of the series. Reeves wrote and directed the 2008 monster hit, Cloverfield.
But back to Tangi Miller… she hasn’t done much. Her role in Felicity was supposed to be her star-making turn, but, once the series ended, she kind of faded… despite being named one of TV Guide’s “Sexiest Faces,” and Ebony magazine’s “Hollywood Hot Starlets.” The 35-year old has since appeared alongside Mekhi Phifer, in the independent film, The Other Brother (2002), Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood and Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion.
Not exactly choice work there, but I’m sure the checks helped pay some bills.
- 1/19/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Amber Benson and Adam Busch (Tara and Warren, respectively, of "Buffy" fame) have teamed up to co-direct a film called "Drones," which appears to be a cross-pollination of the office slacker comedy and the aliens infiltrating and invading science fiction flicks, the love child of "V" and "Office Space." It's an independent film but landed a fairly impressive second tier cast with Samm Levine, Angela Bettis, Jonathan Woodward, and Dave Allen. Although she's the co-director, Amber Benson unfortunately doesn't pull a Shyamalan and give herself a role, probably because her SAG contract forbids her from appearing on screen unless making out with Alyson Hannigan.
Two trailers have gone up online over the last month, showing very different angles of the film. First they released this one:
Then this one:
I think what happened is that the first trailer is just a little too indie cutesy romance with the sci-fi element...
Two trailers have gone up online over the last month, showing very different angles of the film. First they released this one:
Then this one:
I think what happened is that the first trailer is just a little too indie cutesy romance with the sci-fi element...
- 1/19/2010
- by Steven Lloyd Wilson
At first I thought this was a TV show and I got really excited. It's got a few faces from television that many of you will probably recognize and it plays a lot like a show. However, it's not. Drones is actually a new indie scifi feature from ex Buffy the Vampire Slayer stars Amber Benson and Adam Busch. It debuts at the Slamdance Film Festival next week.
Synopsis:
Star-crossed lovers Amy and Brian, played by Angela Bettis (May, Girl Interrupted) and Jonathan Woodward (Firefly, Buffy, Angel, Wit) embark on a unique interoffice romance which sparks repercussions far outside the copy room. Also staring are Paul F. Tompkins (Best Week Every, Mr. Show) and James Urbaniak (The Venture Brothers, American Splendor). The film features original songs from singer/songwriter, Dan Bern (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story).
ScifiWire scored the exclusive new trailer, but I've embedded it after the break.
Synopsis:
Star-crossed lovers Amy and Brian, played by Angela Bettis (May, Girl Interrupted) and Jonathan Woodward (Firefly, Buffy, Angel, Wit) embark on a unique interoffice romance which sparks repercussions far outside the copy room. Also staring are Paul F. Tompkins (Best Week Every, Mr. Show) and James Urbaniak (The Venture Brothers, American Splendor). The film features original songs from singer/songwriter, Dan Bern (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story).
ScifiWire scored the exclusive new trailer, but I've embedded it after the break.
- 1/15/2010
- QuietEarth.us
Drones, the new comedic (sci-fi?) film co-directed by Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Adam Busch is screening at Slamdance Film Festival 2010!
Synopsis reads only A man discovers a universal threat to his life, job and the planet. The awesome Angela Bettis and Jonathan M. Woodward star. It has a definite Office Space appeal to it, but with sci-fi hints in the plotline. Watch the trailer...
Synopsis reads only A man discovers a universal threat to his life, job and the planet. The awesome Angela Bettis and Jonathan M. Woodward star. It has a definite Office Space appeal to it, but with sci-fi hints in the plotline. Watch the trailer...
- 12/12/2009
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
Sundance isn't the only festival in Park City, Utah that brings in the audiences every January. There's also Slamdance, the small fest "by the filmmakers, for the filmmakers," for first-time feature directors making the most of limited budgets. It's full of a lot of fun indie entertainment, and some great documentaries like 2008's Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father. As Variety reports, this year there are ten narrative and eight documentary features, which will run from January 21-28.
This year has the usual new filmmakers, plus an added bonus of premiering Steven Soderbergh's And Everything Is Going Fine. On top of that, the director will participate in their new Filmmaker Summit inviting "all filmmakers, both in Park City and virtually, to collectively craft a new charter for filmmaking, storytelling and content distribution, with and by the global filmmaking community."
But the big news is the list of films.
This year has the usual new filmmakers, plus an added bonus of premiering Steven Soderbergh's And Everything Is Going Fine. On top of that, the director will participate in their new Filmmaker Summit inviting "all filmmakers, both in Park City and virtually, to collectively craft a new charter for filmmaking, storytelling and content distribution, with and by the global filmmaking community."
But the big news is the list of films.
- 12/10/2009
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Slamdance, which runs concurrently with Park City’s Sundance Film Festival, has announced its 2010 line-up, and there are several choices that look to make genre fans sit up and take notice.
Variety provided the names of the ten narrative and eight documentary feature films that are, in the spirit of the fest’s motto, “by filmmakers, for filmmakers.” Although not all of them are horror related, in the interest of keeping you guys fully informed on all the latest indie happenings (and because some of the docs just sound so damn interesting with topics like William Burroughs and Bolivian women wrestlers!), the full list follows:
Narrative Competition:
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) - Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) - A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
Variety provided the names of the ten narrative and eight documentary feature films that are, in the spirit of the fest’s motto, “by filmmakers, for filmmakers.” Although not all of them are horror related, in the interest of keeping you guys fully informed on all the latest indie happenings (and because some of the docs just sound so damn interesting with topics like William Burroughs and Bolivian women wrestlers!), the full list follows:
Narrative Competition:
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) - Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) - A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
- 12/10/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
What's that? You can't wait to hear about the Irish post apocalyptic film One Hundred Mornings? Well you don't have to because we already have a review of it right here! Our own Alan Maxwell called it an "uncomfortably realistic vision of the breakdown of society." Yeah, it's good.
So continuing, part of the Slamdance lineup has been announced and it's got quite a few films we've featured.
Want something horrible in the forest? How about YellowBrickRoad?
Or maybe some William Burroughs? How about William S Burroughs: A Man Within?
Yup, the lineup for one of my favorite festivals is looking mighty fine as usual, and we'll be bringing you more shortly.
Partial lineup after the break!
Narrative Competition
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson...
So continuing, part of the Slamdance lineup has been announced and it's got quite a few films we've featured.
Want something horrible in the forest? How about YellowBrickRoad?
Or maybe some William Burroughs? How about William S Burroughs: A Man Within?
Yup, the lineup for one of my favorite festivals is looking mighty fine as usual, and we'll be bringing you more shortly.
Partial lineup after the break!
Narrative Competition
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson...
- 12/10/2009
- QuietEarth.us
The competitive lineup for the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival (of which Fangoria is a media sponsor) has been revealed via an announcement on Variety. "As in years past, competing films are by first-time feature directors working with limited budgets and without domestic theatrical distribution in place. Among the 18 titles, 11 are world premieres." the trade reports.
Fright fans may recall that Oren Peli's recent hit Paranormal Activity played the fest in 2008. As always, Slamdance will run side-by-side with the Sundance Film Fest in Park City Utah, January 21-28, 2010. While there's plenty of genre fare to be seen, we've got the entire list of films for you to browse below.
Narrative Competition
“Cummings Farm” (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman. “Drones” (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
Fright fans may recall that Oren Peli's recent hit Paranormal Activity played the fest in 2008. As always, Slamdance will run side-by-side with the Sundance Film Fest in Park City Utah, January 21-28, 2010. While there's plenty of genre fare to be seen, we've got the entire list of films for you to browse below.
Narrative Competition
“Cummings Farm” (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman. “Drones” (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
- 12/10/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (James Zahn)
- Fangoria
Amber Nicole Benson was born on January 8, 1977, to Edward and Diane Benson, and today is an actress, screenwriter, producer, director, playwright, and author who's most famous for her role as Tara Maclay on the long-running television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV). Benson was both born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and it was there that she first discovered her interest in the arts, as she studied dance, music, and acting. "When I was a little kid I saw The Nutcracker Suite and desperately wanted to get on the stage," Benson told AfterEllen.com. "That was the beginning of the end for me." A family move to Orlando, Florida led to several opportunities, but work and success followed yet another move, this time to Los Angeles. Benson was still in her teens when her acting career started to take off. She played Nicole Reed in several made-for-tv Jack Reed movies starring Brian Dennehy,...
- 11/30/2009
- by ianspelling@corp.popstar.com (Ian Spelling)
- PopStar
Samm Levine plays Pfc Gerold Hirschberg in Quentin Tarantino's newest cinematic coolness, Inglourious Basterds. (And the curly-haired mural painter in Hitler's war room. Uncredited. I'm hooking you up with some friend-impressing trivia here.) And, as every cool kid knows, Levine starred in the awesome, but canceled far to early, Freaks And Geeks. I got a chance to hang with Levine and get the scoop on his role, working with Tarantino and Drones, his upcoming sci-fi film with Buffy The...
- 8/21/2009
- by Jenna Busch
- JoBlo.com
Interview by Nic Brown
It is easy for an actress to become stereotyped into one sort of role. This can be especially true when the actress in question is best known for her role in show with a cult following as strong as Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But actress Amber Benson who played Tara Maclay, a fan favorite and part of one of the first openly gay couples on mainstream television, is no ordinary actress. In fact, just calling her an actress is selling her talents short. While still working on Buffy, Amber wrote and directed her first feature film: Chance. She hasn’t limited herself to film and television either. Amber has also co-written the Ghosts of Albion series as well as a number of graphic novels with writer Chris Golden and she’s just released her first solo novel Death’s Daughter...
read more...
It is easy for an actress to become stereotyped into one sort of role. This can be especially true when the actress in question is best known for her role in show with a cult following as strong as Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But actress Amber Benson who played Tara Maclay, a fan favorite and part of one of the first openly gay couples on mainstream television, is no ordinary actress. In fact, just calling her an actress is selling her talents short. While still working on Buffy, Amber wrote and directed her first feature film: Chance. She hasn’t limited herself to film and television either. Amber has also co-written the Ghosts of Albion series as well as a number of graphic novels with writer Chris Golden and she’s just released her first solo novel Death’s Daughter...
read more...
- 4/14/2009
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
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