48 Hour Film Project – Little Rock Presents DVD of 32 Locally Produced Films
A two-disc DVD set featuring the 32 films produced in this year’s 48 Hour Film Project – Little Rock is now available. The professionally mastered DVD features best quality encoding, full color on-disc printing and full color dual disc packaging.
To order, send your name, address, city, state, zip, email address and $15 per DVD set (plus $1.50 or postage) to Steve Stone, 2522 Frederick Drive, Conway, AR 72034.
The 48 Hour Film Project is the first and largest of the timed film competitions. Over the weekend of June 6th – 8th, teams wrote, shot, edited and scored original films, all within just 48 hours. Little Rock is one of just 60 cities around the world hosting the 48HFP.
48 Hour Film Project Again Set for Little Rock June 6th – 8th
The 48 Hour Film Project, the first and largest of the timed film competitions, will again bring filmmaking teams together in Little Rock to make short films from scratch the weekend of June 6th – 8th. Teams will write, shoot, edit and score original films, all within just 48 hours. This year, Little Rock is one of just 60 cities around the world hosting the 48HFP.
Filmmakers from across Arkansas will compete to see who can make the best five to seven minute short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go on to compete against films from around the world, gaining exposure to hundreds of film industry professionals. Over $1,000 in prize money will be awarded to the nominees for "Best in City."
Register online at www.48hourfilm.com/littlerock. Time and space are limited. For more information, contact Producer Steve Stone.
Teams will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the initial registration is full, teams will be added to a waiting list. If a registered team drops out or if theater space is added, teams on the waiting list will be added to the Project. Each completed film is guaranteed a theatre screening in front of a full audience.
Second Annual Little Rock Film Festival Set for May 15th – 18th
After an overwhelmingly successful inaugural festival in 2007, the 2008 Little Rock Film Festival (LRFF) will once again showcase the very best in independent films from around the world, with several U.S. and Arkansas premieres. From May 15th through the 18th, the second annual festival will also see a dramatic expansion of the LRFF Arkansas Program, which showcases local filmmakers and promotes the growing film industry in Arkansas. The complete festival lineup may be found online at www.littlerockfilmfestival.org.
Opening night, Thursday, May 15th, will feature War Eagle, Arkansas from Producer Vincent Insalaco and Screenwriter Graham Gordy. Filmed in and around Eureka Springs in the Ozark Mountains, War Eagle, Arkansas, is a touching story about extraordinary friendship in a small town.
The 2008 LRFF will feature critically acclaimed films and festival favorites such as The UnGodly, starring Little Rock's Wes Bentley as a documentary filmmaker stalking a serial killer, The Promotion starring Academy Award®-nominated actor John C. Reilly, and The Cake Eaters from director Mary Stuart Masterson. Documentary highlights include the Hamptons Film Festival winner Behind Forgotten Eyes, about Korean comfort women held by the Japanese during World II; Lioness, a film about a female combat unit in Iraq featuring Shannon Morgan from Mena, Arkansas; and Crawford, a film about what happens to a small, rural town when the President of the United States moves in next door.
The popular LRFF Talks series returns in 2008, with panel discussions, workshops and filmmaker interviews. The screenwriting panel brings together some of the best writers working today, all of them either from Arkansas or currently living in Arkansas. Tim Basham from Paste Magazine hosts the all-star panel which includes Jeff Nichols (Shotgun Stories), Graham Gordy (War Eagle, Arkansas, The Love Guru), Ray McKinnon (The Accountant, Chrystal, Randy and the Mob), and Steve Marshall (Growing Pains, Revenge of the Nerds II).
CC Goldwater, daughter of Barry Goldwater, will present and discuss her film Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater at the Clinton School of Public Service. Hampton, Arkansas native and television and film producer, Harry Thomason (Designing Women, Evening Shade), will be the keynote speaker at the LRFF Gala at the Clinton Presidential Library and will host a retrospective of the work of legendary cult filmmaker, Charles B. Pierce. Mr. Pierce, widely considered one of the pioneers of American Independent film, is the creator of such films as The Legend of Boggy Creek, The Town that Dreaded Sundown and The Bootleggers.
Little Rock Film Festival co-founder, Brent Renaud said, "In just our first year, we established ourselves as a major film event in the region. Our submissions quadrupled this past year, and we were embraced by the community and our sponsors in such a huge way that we are excited to make the second edition of the festival even better than the first." Stephens Inc. is the LRFF Founding Sponsor, and the Clinton School of Public Service returns to sponsor the Little Rock Talks Series. The LRFF awards prizes in the following categories: Best Narrative Feature Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Short Film, and the Best of Arkansas.
The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and its Little Rock Film Commission will again serve as a sponsor, screening venue and panel location for the festival. The Chamber will host the festival headquarters, filmmakers lounge and be the center for all things Arkansas throughout the weekend.
Festival Passes are $25, which includes free priority entry to all films, screenings, and panels at this year's festival, and may be purchased online at www.littlerockfilmfestival.org. Purchased passes may be picked up at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce the week of the festival. For more information about the LRFF, email info@littlerockfilmfestival.org.
Local Production Seeks Cast
Rock Productions will hold an open casting call for its upcoming feature film,
Step Away from the Stone. Auditions will be held Tuesday, April 1st, from 5:30 – 8:00 pm at the
Windsong Performing Arts Center,
7318 Windsong Drive in North Little Rock.
The production, which has 34 speaking roles, anticipates an eight-week, Central Arkansas shoot beginning in June. They seek male and female actors of all races, ages 30 to 70, with one role for a 16-year old cheerleader.
For more information, visit www.rockproductions.net/cast.
Disclaimer: The Little Rock Film Commission only reports submitted information and is not responsible for the claims of the producers.
Arkansas Times to Present Premiere of Shotgun Stories at Market Street Cinema
Shotgun Stories, the award-winning feature film debut from Little Rock native Jeff Nichols, will premier in Little Rock on Friday, December 14, at 7:00 pm, at Market Street Cinema. The screening will be followed by an after-party at Sticky Fingerz with performances by Ben Nichols and Smoke Up Johnny.
Tickets, which run $20 and cover both the screening and the after-party, are available at the Arkansas Times, Sticky Fingerz and Market Street Cinema.
Shot in 2005 in Lonoke and Pulaski counties, the film tracks an ever-escalating feud between two sets of half-brothers that erupts after the death of their father. The cast includes Michael Shannon (Bug, Eight Mile, World Trade Center) and Natalie Canerday (Sling Blade, Walk the Line).
Shotgun Stories made its international debut in February at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival and its domestic premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, where New York magazine critic David Edelstein called it one of “the ten films not to miss.” In the last eight months, the film has screened in dozens of festivals across the globe, winning prizes at in Venice, Seattle and Austin and garnering heaps of critical acclaim. Roger Ebert called it “the great discovery” of the Chicago Film Festival, and last month Shotgun Stories was nominated for the Cassavetes Prize at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Ben Nichols is the lead singer of the critically acclaimed rock band Lucero (he’s also Jeff’s brother.) Smoke Up Johnny is a local rock band that just released a well-regarded self-titled debut.
Little Rock-Based Producer Books Deal with Universal
Variety has reported that “Universal has booked bigscreen rights to the children's tome The Night Tourist in a high six-figure deal. Chris Meledandri's new animation and family banner will develop the adaptation for the studio,” while Little Rock’s Courtney Pledger will produce with Meledandri and John Cohen.
According to Variety, “Katherine Marsh's young adult tome, published by Hyperion Children's last month, revolves around a ninth-grade classics prodigy who discovers Gotham's underworld with the help of a girl he meets at Grand Central Station. He discovers many secrets about his pal while searching for a glimpse of his late mother in this secret world.”
Pledger was born in Little Rock, but grew up mostly in Jackson, Mississippi. Her parents, Arkansas natives, returned to Little Rock when she was enrolled at Millsaps College. In August of 2004, Pledger relocated with her three children back to Little Rock from London.
While in the UK, Pledger partnered with British producer Sarah Radclyffe, a founding partner of Working Title, in London-based Jigsaw Films for five years. Initially, the duo had a first look producing deal with Miramax and a slate including:
Cirque du Freak – In preproduction at Universal; partnered with Lauren Shuler-Donner (Producer, X-Men movies, Upcoming Wolverine), with Paul Weitz directing (About A Boy, American Pie) a script by Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland, based on the 12-book bestselling series The Saga of Darren Shan.
Toad Rage – CGI animation with Phil Knight's Laika Entertainment (Upcoming Neil Gaiman's Coraline), run by Tim Burton protégé Henry Selick (Nightmare Before Christmas). Currently in script development, animators are beginning work on the creature designs. Australian author Morris Gleitzman's anarchic trilogy is written from the point of view of Cane Toads in Queensland.
Cry of the Icemark – Fox 2000 script by Michael Hirst (Elizabeth, The Golden Age, The Tudors), based on the fantasy series, The Icemark Chronicles. A teenaged princess becomes warrior queen overnight and must join together the warring tribes that surround her in order to save her kingdom – but these tribes are not human. They're King Grishmak's Werewolves, The King and Queen of the Vampire's minions, and terrifying reptilian Thars.
The Box of Delights – Developing with 50 Cannon Entertainment for Director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco, Love in the Time of Cholera), based on the children's classic by 1930's British Poet Laureate John Masefield.
Cherub – Hanway/UK, based on the book series of the same name, topsellers in the UK. Director Chris Smith (Severance) is attached, with John Hodge (The Seeker: The Dark is Rising) writing the screenplay with Smith. It’s scheduled to shoot late summer in the UK.
Kensuke's Kingdom – Anand Tucker (Hilary and Jackie, And When Did You Last See Your Father, Shopgirl) attached to direct a script by Frank Cotrell Boyce (Millions, Next Stop Wonderland, new untitled Dreamworks animation project).
Pure Dead Magic – Script by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park, Young Victoria), developed at Universal.
While Radclyffe and Pledger continue to share a slate of films, Pledger began a second slate of her own. In addition to The Night Tourist, her projects include:
TIM: Defender of the Earth – Just acquired UK book in manuscript with Illumination/Universal. TIM is a T-Rex Improved Model, raised underneath London's Trafalgar Square as a secret government project and accidentally released into Central London. At first perceived as a catastrophe of Kong proportions, TIM's real destiny is to save our planet from an all pervasive technological villain.
Untitled Comedy – Illumination/Universal.
The Thing That Came From Jason's Nose – Scheduled for next Halloween on Cartoon Network, based on the kids' graphic novel by Tony Bradman, with Savage Steve Holland (Better Off Dead and many Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network shows) directing a script by Phil Hughes (Thunderpants).
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Chamber, Clinton School Host Premiere from Little Rock-based Oscar ® Winners
On Tuesday, October 2nd, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service hosted a premiere and after-party celebrating the release of the latest feature comedy from Academy Award®-winning Little Rock-based filmmakers Ray McKinnon and Lisa Blount.
Following a Sunbelt Convention Services Corp. and Searchlights Little Rock red carpet arrival, an audience of 268 was welcomed to United Artists Breckenridge Stadium 12 by McKinnon and Blount. A second theatre was added because of an overflow crowd.
The Trio’s-catered After-Party followed at the Clinton Presidential Center and was attended by 226. Other partner sponsors included Party Time Rental & Events and Twin City Printing.
An opening night bouquet by Tipton & Hurst, Inc. was presented to Blount by Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Jay Chesshir, while McKinnon received matted and framed premiere invitations and tickets.
Tickets for the screening and party were $50, and proceeds benefited the film and content development efforts of the Little Rock Film Commission.
Blount and Georgia-native McKinnon relocated to Little Rock from Los Angeles in 2006. This coming Fall, McKinnon will reprise his role as “Long Bill Coleman” in the CBS/Larry McMurtry mini-series Comanche Moon.
“The Clinton School is pleased to join with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce in hosting this event,” said Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford. “We've sponsored the Little Rock Film Festival, supported Movies in the Park and screened documentaries at our school, so this is a natural for us."
“The key to all successful economic development is the retention and expansion of existing business,” said Jay Chesshir, President and CEO of the Chamber. “That principle is especially important in our creative economy. With Ray and Lisa, we have Oscar®-winning filmmakers who have chosen to make Little Rock their home and base of operations. Upon their commitment, along with other burgeoning Central Arkansas filmmakers, we can build a film and content development industry in the region which will retain, grow and attract our creative class and add to the quality of life of all our residents.”
Starring McKinnon (Deadwood), Walton Goggins (The Shield), and Arkansas-native and Golden Globe®-nominee Blount (Officer and a Gentleman, Great Balls of Fire), the film is written and directed by McKinnon and produced by Blount, Goggins and David Koplan. Blount, Goggins and McKinnon are partners in Ginny Mule Pictures and won the Academy Award® for Best Live Action Short Film in 2002 for The Accountant.
Their first feature was the critically acclaimed Chrystal, starring Blount (Best Actress, Stockholm Film Festival) and Billy Bob Thornton, which was shot on location in Eureka Springs.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2007 Nashville Film Festival, Randy and the Mob was shot on location in and around Atlanta. The film will be rated PG and opens in Arkansas Friday, October 5th at the Market Street Cinema in Little Rock and the AMC Fiesta Square in Fayetteville.
The Little Rock Film Commission is an initiative of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and member of the Association of Film Commissioners International. For more information, contact Gary Newton.
Click here to view the Randy and the Mob Trailer.
