Lionsgate acquires "Train", rated NC-17

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Bloody Disgusting is reporting that one of our films has been picked up.  From their website'

"... Lionsgate has acquired Gideon Raff's TRAIN, the quasi-remake of the Jamie Lee Curtis starrer from 1980 TERROR TRAIN. No word yet on if the film will hit theaters or go direct-to-DVD/Blu-ray, but what we did learn is that the MPAA awarded the film with an NC-17. Raff, who also penned the film, will be heading back into the editing bay to trim the film for an R-rating. I guess we can expect an awesome unrated DVD release in the future?"

No telling when the film will be released.  We'll keep you posted.

Finding Rin Tin Tin

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This one slipped by me. "Finding Rin Tin Tin" is a film we worked on a couple of years ago. It got a small theatrical run in France and then... nothing. Well, word has just gotten to me that this movie was just released on DVD in the States on Sept 16. Our shot count for the movie - 72

To spice things up a bit, the owner of the dog lineage has decided to sue First Look, the distributing studio.  They have even set up a protest page to organize their efforts.  Only 250 people have visited the page.  Personally, I don't think they have a case, but then, I'm not a lawyer.  Anyway, this review likes the film, so check it out if you can.

100 year anniversary of Bulgarian Independence

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Today marks the century point since the declaration of Bulgarian independence in 1908.  Obviously it is a holiday here, but with the usual low-key Bulgarian outlook. From Focus - "Bulgaria celebrates the 100th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence today. Exactly a century ago, on 22 September 1908, the independence of the country was declared at the Church of the 40 Martyrs in the old Bulgarian capital of Veliko Turnovo."

And it starts to come home...

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Finally, some mainstream press is begining to catch onto one of the most under-reported trends in film of the last couple of years, the return of Hollywood production to America.  USA today has a story on the rise of production in unlikely places, including our own Shreveport Louisiana. Written by  Alexandyr Kent, "Hooray for locations outside Hollywood" in USA TODAY succinctly describes the various tax schemes and financial incentives used to attract film productions.  It's a good read, I recommend checking it out.

Tax Credits and rebates were all that was needed to take production out of America in the first place.  Other countries put up hard cash to attract film production, and we came.  Now the states have figured out that they can attract the same producers with the same tactics, and guess what, it works.  Most of the returning productions are not going to California, but to other states, but at least its a start.

More and more, I am needing to send vfx people from Bulgaria to America, and now I am actually able to hire Americans again to work.  Whatever you may think about the financial constructs used, this is good.

The entire world declared war on Hollywood years ago and the industry has been far too slow to react.  But the mix of dollar devaluation, recession, European economic slowdown, and a newly flexible industry have begun to change things.  The other states are fighting fire with fire and are able to bring the work to their own backyard.  The next battleground will be between the states as they start to compete with each other for the same films.

Richard Wright - RIP

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Showing my age today.  I am breaking from my tradition of only posting vfx or comics related things to comment on the passing of a legend today.  Richard Wright was a founding member of Pink Floyd.

From the BBC

"Wright appeared on the group's first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967 alongside lead guitarist Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason.

Dave Gilmour joined the band at the start of 1968 while Barrett left the group shortly after wards.

Gilmour said: "No-one can replace Richard Wright - he was my musical partner and my friend."

Writing on his website, he added: "In the welter of arguments about who or what was Pink Floyd, Rick's enormous input was frequently forgotten."

Wright's spokesman said in a statement: "The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.

"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time."

He did not say what form of cancer the self-taught keyboard player and pianist had."

Needless to say, his absence will be greatly felt, and he leaves a vast legacy in music.  God Bless Rick.  He has gone on to the great gig in the sky.  Send our regards to Syd.

Seagalogy

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I'm currently reading "Seagalogy - A study of the ass-kicking films of Steven Seagal" by Vern.  Finally, someone writes about the subject with the love and affection Seagal's films deserve.  Vern is there to provide insightful commentary on one the most amazing careers in film today.  As someone who has worked on five (5) Steve Seagal movies, I am reading with page turning earnest.   Vern contributes regularly to AICN, and is pretty much the best thing there.  Vern's website is here.

By all means, pick up this book.  It's hilarious and tragic, and makes the best case for why I still love my job, and why its still the best job in the world.

Major Movie Star trailer

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For some reason, trailers are coming out, even if the movies aren't.  Another one showed up in my inbox today, "Major Movie Star".  This film stars Jessica Simpson and is directed by our sometime collaborator Steve Miner. The plot revolves around a hollywood star joining the army.  Old idea, but fun.  86 was our shot count for this one. A lot of the work was wire removals, but we did have one challenging sequence where we had to change the make and model of a car after it was shot...........while it was moving. Uggh.

Gene Generation heats up

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I haven't really been posting about this, because the work was completed so long ago.  But it looks like one of our favorite projects will finally see the light of day!  Lionsgate has picked up "The Gene Generation" for distribution.  Here is the new red band trailer:

We have a ton of additional stuff on our youtube channel, and I will try to keep an eye out for new material as it surfaces.

It's Alive screened in Germany

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"It's Alive" screened at the Hamburg Fantasy Filmfest and a review is in.  Here's a translation from Google, I'm not sure if it's a good or bad review.. "Director: Josef Rusnak Screenplay: Larry Cohen, Paul Sopocy, James Porto Reading Writer: Larry Cohen, more ...

with Bijou Phillips, Skye Bennett, James Murray, Raphaël Coleman, Ty Glaser, more ...

The Lenore lands pregnant with strong labor in the district hall. Your child is only six months already and will be fully developed by Notoperation born. When she wakes up from the anesthesia, like the circle room of a chamber of "Hellraiser": the walls are wallpapered massacred by the medical profession. But a lucky, the baby slumbers peacefully in Lenores poor. Together digest she and her husband Frank the shock at home, finally, Schnulleralarm and their attention is devoted to the putzigen infant. Fiese flashbacks to the murders OP-baked fresh squeezed the mother skillfully and certainly that their offspring unusually early (Reiss) gets teeth - and powerful appetite for meat. So it stacks animals in the dustbin, until suddenly aufkreuzt visit. Also good, then they are piling corpses."

I don't know...you tell me.

We completed 61 shots on "It's Alive", and until the film is officially released, here is a trailer: