Indie Film Spotlight

Memo to Weinsteins on "A Single Man" trailer & poster: Are you serious???

With its Oscar-qualifying release just a month away, the new Weinstein-produced trailer for A Single Man has been unveiled along with a poster. However, I refuse to post them here. "How can this be?" you might ask. After all, I chose the film as one of my 3 Top Picks (out of 30 I saw) from the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival.

The fact is I am absolutely appalled at the trailer. I loved the film but am dumbfounded at how they are using the presence of Julianne Moore to fool audiences into thinking her role is much larger than it is.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

The Good Heart, The Misfortunates, Accidents Happen RELEASE NEWS

It's always nice when my favorite festival films are picked up for distribution. It's not just validation of my choices -- it means that the movies I've been championing will be seen by a wider audience than those lucky enough to catch these films on the festival circuit. All too often they languish on the shelf after that and enter the indie ether, never to be seen or heard from again.

The past few days were particularly fertile as two of my Top Picks from the just-concluded Toronto International Film Festival and one from April's Tribeca Film Festival were acquired for US theatrical release.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

"Unrequited" OFFICIAL TRAILER, starring Michael Welch of "Twilight"

I've been following the exploding career of young actor Michael Welch for several years on this blog. In February 2008, PROnetworks was the first online to announce that he had been cast as Mike Newton in Twilight which has now, of course, become a worldwide phenomenon. He reprises that same role in the next two films in the series, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Eclipse.

In June I was pleased to announce that Welch would be starring in Unrequited, the first feature from Jason Epperson, runner-up on the Steven Spielberg-produced Fox reality series On The Lot.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

"Road Train" OFFICIAL TRAILER, starring Xavier Samuel of "Eclipse"

I've been following the career of Australian actor Xavier Samuel for several years. He starred in Newcastle, which was one of my Top Picks from the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. He also appeared in 2:37, one of my favorites from the Santa Barbara Film Festival in January 2007. On July 16th I reported on the casting of Samuel in the forthcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Xavier's filmography continues to grow, and here is the brand new official trailer from his new film Road Train, a supernatural thriller about a group of teenagers menaced by a driver-less triple-trailer truck in the Australian outback.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

Exclusive news on "Rough Hustle," the new film starring Michael Welch (Twilight)

As I first announced here back in October 2008, Michael Welch, currently being seen as Mike Newton in The Twilight Saga, will soon be appearing in a gritty independent film titled Rough Hustle.

Shot on location in Mesquite, Nevada and Las Vegas, Rough Hustle is nearing completion on its way to a 2010 release. Writer/director/producer Delaney Dragon has passed along some exclusive information about the movie's progress.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

Logan Lerman exposes Twitter & MySpace posers

This isn't the kind of item I normally post but there's a personal connection that goes back several years. The genesis of the matter and course of events since then is more confusing than may be worth repeating, so I'll just say that fake MySpaces have been ubiquitous since they began.

For celebrities this may or may not be a challenge depending on their level of interest in exposing posers and/or their fans' misfortune in being taken in by them.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

Pictures from 2009 Vampire Film Festival and New Orleans

I just returned home from the historic city of New Orleans, Louisiana, where I attended the 2009 Vampire Film Festival. The Big Easy could not have been a more perfect location for the macabre events surrounding this extravaganza, which went off without a hitch and was a rousing success.

As usual, I photographed many of the exciting festivities surrounding the festival as well as some of the sights in this colorful city.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

2009 Vampire Film Festival -- On the scene in New Orleans

I've arrived in the historic city of New Orleans, Louisiana for the 2009 Vampire Film Festival. The Big Easy could not be a more perfect location for the macabre events surrounding this extravaganza, as you've hopefully been reading about on this blog for several months.

As is customary for all the film festivals I attend I'll be live blogging as much as possible.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

Pictures from FranKo concert at CMJ 2009 in New York

On Monday night, October 19th I attended a FranKo concert at the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon. Sponsored by Big Machine Media, the record company showcase took place at the Santos Party House on Lafayette Street in New York City.

A household name in the UK, FranKo features Tommy Bastow on lead vocals, Richard Craker on guitar and vocals, Chris Gilbertson on bass and vocals, and Beau Poynys on drums.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...

FranKo at the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival

I have seen the future of rock 'n roll and their name is FranKo. I was fortunate to catch this hot UK band earlier tonight at the CMJ Big Machine Media showcase at Santos Party House in New York.

Much like SXSW in Austin, Texas, New York City's CMJ began as a music festival. In fact, the film component is a relatively recent addition. The CMJ Music Festival was long known as the place for hot young artists to showcase their work. This remains the case today, as what is now technically known as the CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival begins for 2009.

READ MORE at PROnetworks...