Hi all!
I got an email from Michael Dean today and he is currently in Prague. As I mentioned in my earlier posts, he is there to promote his film, "HUBERT SELBY JR: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow", at the Deauville Film Festival. Dean recently informed me that some of the footage I filmed for it made it into the final cut. While that's great, I've got to remember to sneak in "must take camera operator to Prague" into the next release I sign. Just kidding ya, Michael. Anyway, it seems he already has pictures up. Click on this link below to see more! Have a blast for me, Michael!
Hubert Selby & Dean Go To Prague
This is the thing I filmed for last December. Michael told me some of my footage will be in it, by the way. This means that when you see a guy talking about translating Selby's work from book to Hollywood film, that's footage I filmed and the guy talking is my dad. :)
Also, my *own* world premiere of my documentary will be in LA the week of my birthday (9/25). I can't make it (plane tickets don't currently fit into my budget of $0 *lol*), but hopefully studio people do. And, hopefully they LOOVVVEEEEE it. LOL again.
Now, without further ado, here is the press release! I will correct the links tomorrow so that you can click on them from here. I need to get some sleep, for now. Congrats again, Michael! You definitely deserve it!
****************************************************
PRESS RELEASE
Los Angeles, Ca. - August 22, 2005
Squitten Pix, announces the WORLD PREMIERE of the documentary feature, "HUBERT SELBY JR: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow" at the 31st Deauville American Film Festival.
"HUBERT SELBY JR: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow", directed by Michael W. Dean, executive produced by Suzanne Selby and Kenneth Shiffrin and narrated by Robert Downey Jr., is a harrowing and engaging exploration into the life and art of the renowned author Hubert Selby Jr., who against all odds, reached international acclaim with his controversial novels. Overcoming tuberculosis, drug addiction and financial ruin, Selby eventually triumphed in his life. His novel "Last Exit to Brooklyn" banned upon release in England went on to become a major motion picture and to gain the literary respect it demanded. "Requiem for a Dream" another of Selby¹s works made into a major film stunned audiences around the world. Selby's canon of work represents seven of the most remarkable and distinctly American books ever written.
The feature length documentary, "HUBERT SELBY JR: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow," is a fascinating look at the writer who described himself as "a scream looking for a mouth," by those who knew him best. Archival footage and new interviews from the legion of artists and friends that shared his passion for literature and love of life drive this insightful film. Sharing their love, appreciation and insight are Lou Reed, Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Darren Aronofsky, Uli Edel, Nicolas Winding Refn, Henry Rollins, Jerry Stahl, Richard Price, Nick Tosches, Amiri Baraka, Gilbert Sorrentino, Anthony Kiedis, James Remar, Michael Silverblatt and others. It also features rare footage of Selby himself reflecting on his life and work. Music by Imperial Crowns, Martyn LeNoble, Steve Munger, Bob Bartosik and others. The film is edited by Ryan Brown.
The recently completed film is available for worldwide distribution.
Contact Squitten Pix in Los Angeles 213 413-5342 or 323 653-6056
At the Festival - Press office of the festival - Diana Badreddina 33 1 41 34 2109
For more info about the film go to http://www.cubbymovie.com
It premieres at the:
31st Deauville American Film Festival - Festival du Cinema Américain
Deauville, France
Screening: Saturday, September 3 and
Sunday, September 4 at the Casino Cinema. (times to be determined)
"HUBERT SELBY JR: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow" is one of ten documentaries selected for the "Uncle Sam's Docs" section of the Deauville American Film Festival. The other documentaries included are: Born Into Brothels, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room, Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate, Grizzly Man, The Outsider: A Film About James Toback, The Protocols Of Zion, Stolen and The Year Of The Yao.
For the first time, Canal+ will reward one of "Uncle Sam's Docs" by giving it a "Favorite Documentary Canal + Award" during the Deauville Festival's closing ceremony on Sunday, September 11.
For more info about the Deauville Film Festival go to http://www.festival-deauville.com
I wanted to take a quick moment to help my friend, Mr. Joe Monks, spread the word about his latest endevours. Not only is Joe talented as hell, but he’s also a great, GREAT guy. I wish you the best of luck with this, Joe!!!
PRESS RELEASE
Joe@sightunseenpictures.com
"The Bunker" Official Web Site Now Live
Blind Director Begins Lensing First Film In Late August
Miami, FL, August 1-- Horror author and comic book creator Joe Monks has
announced that the official web site for his new film, The Bunker, is now up
and running and can be found at:
The site features information about the film, the director, the unique story
behind this venture, cast & crew information, a film blog, and information
on becoming a producer, among other things.
Monks, who is blind, has been working on the film for the better part of a
year, completing the script, purchasing equipment, and finally beginning
pre-production this past June.
The Bunker is the story of Julia Jennings, the daughter of a New York State
congressman, who has run away in the wake of his announcing his bid for
reelection. The hardnosed New York politico has dealt with this once before,
but this time if word leaks out it is certain to mean scandal--the kind of
scandal that could bring down his reelection bid. The congressman decides to
go outside the law, hiring some shady private help in looking for his
daughter. Jennings is willing to pay people to find the missing teenager,
hiring the kind of men used to finding people. People who don't want to be
found. But unbeknownst to those seeking the 16 year old runaway, Julia has been snatched off the street by a sadistic kidnapper and serial murderer.
The maniac has secreted Julia away in an underground bunker, setting the
countdown to the girl's slaughter in motion. Julia knows exactly when her
final hour will arrive, but what tortures await her in the meantime?
Monks, whose story "Chance Meeting" was optioned for the screen by Japanese publishing powerhouses Bunkasha in tandem with DK Publishing for the first installment of the Flowers on the Razorwire DVD series, steps behind the camera this time out, to direct the piece, from his own original screenplay. While he understands that being blind is a significant hurdle, it is not the only one he has to overcome.
"This isn't about being a blind guy who happens to be making a film," Monks
told The Hacker's Source. "This is about making a movie despite being blind.
Every director has hurdles to overcome. I happen to have a unique one most don't have to consider. The bottom line is, though, can I make a good film, and can I bring my vision to the screen, regardless of whether or not I can see it?"
Monks has lined up some seasoned help in bringing his characters to life.
Terry M. West (Flesh For The Beast) portrays the menacing, child-abducting
madman, and producer/director Ted A. Bohus (Return of the Aliens Deadly
Spawn, Nightbeast, Hell On Earth) stars as the savvy congressman who will do anything to be reelected. Debuting as Julia is Miami theatre actress Saskia Gonzalez, who Monks believes is going to be an instant hit with the horror crowd.
"Saskia has a scream that shook the tripod," Monks told Robert Able of indy
film site In The Meatgrinder. "She's got instant scream queen written all
over her, and she can definitely go beyond that in future roles. She isn't
just a one-dimensional victim witha great set of lungs, she can deliver a
line, hit her cues and she's believable. I think fans are going to love her
from the minute she appears on screen."
The Bunker, which will be the second installment of the Flowers on the
Razorwire film series, is expected to wrap second unit photography in
October. Principal photography begins August 19th in Miami, with location
shooting in both New York and Los Angeles before the end of the year. Monks expects the film to be ready by the beginning of 2006, with an eye on the 2006 film festival season to showcase it.
"We have already had inquiries about showing it at certain festivals and we
haven't shot a frame," the blind director said in a statement. "I know we're
a curiosity, but that's still a pretty good upside, particularly if my team
delivers the kind of product I believe they can."
Monks has engineered a low-priced buy-in program to those interested in
supporting the project, with info available on both the official Joe Monks.com
web site and the newly launched Sight Unseen Pictures web site.
Those buying certain items from Monks' vast catalog of prior work will get to see their names roll in the credits as supporting producers, helping finance the film, and keeping Monks from having to rely on producers or investors who often want a say in how the filmmaking process goes.
"I only get one shot at doing this my way," says Monks. "Next time around,
who knows? But for my first film, I want control over everything...even the
stuff I can't see. If this is going to be my vision, then I want final say
in the decisionmaking, not somebody telling me I can't shoot something or
interfering because they wrote a check."
I just came across this article about Sunday's episode of Six Feet Under. Given Nate, David, and Rico's recent business conversation, it will be interesting to see if they bury Nate in the ecologically-friendly way he was suggesting for the business.
Like my last entry, don't read this if you are not current with the most recent episodes of Six Feet Under.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I am starting to think that the writers of Six Feet Under have secretly installed video cameras in the homes of everyone they know watches the show just so they can see us sitting there with a stunned stare and our jaws dropped open. Jesus! Last week you leave us thinking Nate is dead, this week you have us thinking he’s alright only to kill him off in the final moments?!?! My god, what an ending!
I thought the completely silent credits were the perfect choice. It allowed us to sit there and soak in what we’d just seen. And, given how well it was done, I know that I personally needed that. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to handle his funeral next week given the last two episodes. I don’t cry when I watch things. I never have. However, I’ll confess to coming close to tears after last night and part of the reason was just the brief clips of Nate’s funeral, especially the bit with Rico losing it while speaking about Nate.
I do have to give the writers props for their choice to do this to Nate. I’ve watched this show since the first episode and his death makes perfect sense. We began the show with Nate coming home for his father’s funeral. This is how we met Claire, David, Keith, Brenda, Rico and Ruth. Now, we will leave them as Nate leaves them. It’s a very unwelcome goodbye, albeit, a very well written one.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to lessen the shock by envisioning a comical episode in which Brenda’s mom crashes the funeral and, well . . . acts like Brenda's mom. ;) Kudos, by the way, to whoever made that casting decision. That was brilliant!