The brand new the new sony Classics Takes Worldwide Rights to West Of Memphis

The top-profile documentary directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) first demonstrated within the recent Sundance Film Festival. Fran Walsh and Healing For Healing For Peter Jackson producedthe filmwith first-time producers Damien Echols (a subject in the film) and Lorri Davis. West Of Memphis concentrates on the completely new analysis all over the the 1993 killings of three 8-year-old boys within glasgow- West Memphis, Ark., that ultimately broke the problem open and introduced for the relieve the so-calledWest Memphis 3 — Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Junior. The film examines the problematic police analysis and unveils personal knowledge of Echols fight in order to save their very own existence from Dying Row. SPC talked about the sale with Jackson and Walsh’s manager, Ken Kamins, who also may serve as the film’s executive producer. The brand new the new sony Pictures Classics has formerly labored with Kamins on John Boorman’s The General.

Swedish helmer produced 'Safe' haven

Denzel Washington and director Daniel Espinosa around the group of Safe House. If director Daniel Espinosa had his way, Hollywood's studio culture would embrace a kinder, gentler method of filmmaking. Universal's "Safe House," the Swedish helmer's first American feature, which required in $40 million locally over the past weekend, had its share of bumps and snags throughout production, but Espinosa opposed pressure to deal with the issues by eliminating people. Reservations & Signings "I saw that many Americans' first knee-jerk response to conflict would be to fire somebody," he stated. "I do not do this. I do not fire people, and that i do not let individuals to get fired on my small sets." Espinosa originates from the ecu school, where most photos burn through much less gold coin compared to reported $80 million allocated to "Safe House," using its roster of title stars, brought by Denzel Washington. "In Sweden, when we fired somebody we wouldn't have the cash to employ anybody else," states the Chilean-born director. "Whenever you focus on more compact budgets, you need to get on. I attempt to produce much more of a household structure (around the set). Firing people leads to a very anxious place of work, which is not great for creativeness." By safeguarding his crew, Espinosa stated he could build the type of loyalty that saw "Safe House" through some pretty rough patches. "It's nice when you are shooting and also the producer states we have to shut lower now because we haven't any more income with this day, as well as your d.p. as well as your crew say, 'We'll get it done free of charge.A You already know you've won on them.Inch "Safe House" went through drastic changes before shooting. The film, where the capture of the rogue agent (Washington) sparks a series of internecine destruction inside the CIA, is placed and was shot in Cape Town -- but was initially scripted for Rio p Janeiro. "Four several weeks before we would start shooting in Rio, they'd uprisings and riots within the favelas," stated Espinosa. It had been nov 2010 and "we did not understand how much security we'd need therefore we could not visit.Inch The helmer and the team scouted other locations, including Hong Kong and Australia. They needed a location "with similar socioeconomic structure as Rio, with inadequate towns living across the street from the center and upper classes, a town that is one character within the movie." Shooting on the soundstage or using greenscreen wasn't a choice, Espinosa stated. "I said excitedly when we aren't able to find (shantytowns such as the) favelas, I'd rather not shoot there. I needed the town to affect my figures, which can't happen if you are inside a studio." Cape Town, using its teeming townships, demonstrated the perfect location. They used 35mm film for that 75-day shoot. Espinosa hopes to create more U.S. studio pictures, but younger crowd expects to carry on safeguarding his deck hands in the vagaries of producers. "I'll get fired before anybody else," he stated. "I actually do this because I really like the job and also the people Sometimes with. Worst-situation scenario: I'll return to Sweden and spend time with my pals." WME signed d.p. Guillaume Schiffman ("The Artist"), co-repping him with Salite Cymbler of France's Cinelite agency. WME also hired agent Carol Jeter, who leads to board d.p. John Bailey ("Large Miracle"), production designer Lilly Kilvert ("Grey Guy") and producer Ginger root Sledge ("Bernie"). Montana Artists signed first AD Serta "Laz" Lazarovits ("The Frozen Ground"), production designer Alan Bainee ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona"), d.p. Cameron Duncan ("Southland") and costume designer Kim Wilcox ("Nobody Walks"). Agency reserved co-producer Darren Demetre on Sofia Coppola's "The Jewelry Ring," UPM Buddy Enright on Mikael Hafstrom's "The Tomb," d.p. John Rutland on Eduardo Sanchez's "Is available," production designer Ough Eyres on Kazuaki Kiriya's "The Final Dark night," and editors Michelle Tesoro on HBO's "Luck" and Jonathan Schwartz on Showtime's "The Large C." Contact Peter Caranicas at peter.caranicas@variety.com

Mike Mendes Posts First Skyfall Blog

Opening notes on Bond 23Following Peter Jackson's fine Hobbit good good examples, Mike Mendes has chosen to write periodic video blogs as Skyfall all fits in place. The initial of those just turned up at official site 007.com.Except blogging is less than what is happening here: rather than Jackson's method of showing to-camera, this really seems being footage from the Mendes interview, very possibly being develop for just about any DVD documentary. The director talks about his personal link to Jason Bourne, the love in the films maturing and the way impressed he was with Casino Royale, with Daniel Craig's Bond particularly. He highlights that, despite like a British director, Skyfall is his first British movie, since the previous half dozen happen to be shot on American soil.Considerably, there's practically no Skyfall footage inside the brief 90-second clip, although there's a look at Craig coming around along with his Walther, as already noticed in the still released a few days ago. Otherwise it's Mendes within the monitors, Mendes getting a sizable camera lens, Mendes within an airport terminal terminal (shooting having a baggage slide slide carousel! Exclusive!) and Mendes outdoors Westminster Tube Station.But this can be clearly intended since the to start several "updates", plus an opening chapter only at that. So there has to be plenty more later on as Skyfallplummets towards its October 26 release date. Watch, as they say, this space.

ABC's Mandy Moore Pilot and 'White Van Man' Land Casting Company company directors

Two more ABC comedy aircraft aircraft pilots have signed on casting company company directors, Back Stage has confirmed.Wendy O'Brien will cast "White-colored Van Guy," from ABC Art galleries. With various BBC show, the pilot follows a man whose imagine opening a coffee shop or restaurant is determined on hold when his father leaves him accountable for your family handy-guy business, as well as the attendant van. The pilot was put together by Bob Bowman, which has written several cases of hit Fox comedy "Raising Hope." Kyle Bornheimer is attached since the titular guy, while J.K. Simmons may have his retiring father. Shooting is scheduled to begin later.Furthermore to "White-colored Van Guy," O'Brien may also be casting Fox pilot "Little Brother" and NBC pilot "Next Caller Please," both comedies.O'Brien casts several current series, like the Foreign exchange series "Sons of Anarchy" and "It Definitely Is Sunny in Philadelphia" and MTV's "Teen Wolf," together with the arrival Nickelodeon comedy "Zach Stone is Likely To Be Famous" starring Youtube sensation Bo Burnham.Another pilot also involves anyone who has a fantasy to start a coffee shop or restaurant, only this time around around there's no retiring father to manage in their way. Mandy Moore will star inside an untitled comedy of a lady who opens an elegant new restaurant in their hometown along with her husband. The pilot, from 20th TV, will probably be cast by Leslie Litt. It'll shoot in mid March.Litt also casts Fox comedy "Breaking In" and CBS comedy "Rules of Engagement."

Blauvelt: Pays tribute to '70s cinema with 'Walks'

Christopher Blauvelt'Nobody Walks'Role model: Shane MacGowan. "Shane's music inspires me for its realistic grit, sorrowful moods as well as romanticism. It makes me feel like I'm in the stories he sings about and there's always a connection into films and visuals for me."Camera and film preferred: "I love all film cameras from Arri to Panavision. I have a Bolex that is very special to me as well as my grandfather's Graflex 4x5 still camera. With digital I've had some good success with Red, and I love the Arri Alexa."Favorite tool: "The sun and natural light."Representation: Rebecca Fayyad and Gregg Dallesandro at Sheldon Prosnit AgencyChristopher Blauvelt, whose first feature credit as a director of photography was Kelly Reichardt's "Meek's Cutoff," is a third-generation filmmaker. His father taught him about f-stops at the dinner table, but Blauvelt blossomed creatively working on the camera crew of Harris Savides on films for Gus Van Sant, Noah Baumbach and David Fincher.In "Meek's Cutoff," a period piece set on the Oregon Trail, the film's contemplative, yet tense pacing is augmented by Blauvelt's subdued imagery. "Kelly wanted to focus on the mundane details and hardships of the journey, as opposed to accentuating the landscape and the beautiful vistas typical of classic Hollywood westerns," says Blauvelt. "The decision to shoot in a more square, 1.33:1 aspect ratio was in tune. You end up getting more sky and earth in the frame, but less horizon, which anchors them in the immediate environment. We also tried to see the story from the perspective of the female characters."This year will see the release of "Nobody Walks," which Blauvelt photographed for director Ry-Russo Young. "For the overall aesthetic, we referred to Robert Altman's 'The Long Goodbye,' and Paul Mazursky's 'Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice,'" he says. "I felt right at home going for a look that had some grit and a soft color palette. The grain and texture of Super 16 film makes it feel like a memory."Trailer: "Meek's Cutoff"Return to 10 Cinematographers to Watch Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Film Movement nabs 'Off Whitened Lies'

Film Movement has acquired United States distribution privileges to Israeli comedy "Off Whitened Lies," with plans for any year-finish national platform release. "Whitened Lies," from debut director Maya Kenig, is loosely according to news tales and family occasions felt by Kenig like a youthful mother throughout the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon. The film will screen competing in the Berlin Film Festival's Generation program early in a few days. Film Movement intends to kick-start the film's Stateside theatrical run in NY throughout the 3rd quarter. That's designed to coincide having a day-and-date VOD rollout. Deal was discussed by Film Movement veep of purchases and distribution Rebeca Conget, together with Virginie Devesa and Keiko Funato in the recently created French sales company Alpha Purple. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com