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DEADLINE
Brittany Snow & ‘Veep’s Sam Richardson To Topline Indie Film ‘Bailey And Darla’
By Amanda N’Duka
March 8, 2019 10:00am
EXCLUSIVE: Pitch Perfect alum Brittany Snow and Veep actor Sam Richardson have been tapped to lead the cast of Bailey and Darla, an indie film which is being directed by first-time helmer Nico Raineau. Raineau co-wrote the screenplay with Lauren Schacher. Snow will also produce the project alongside Yale Productions’ Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, and Highland Myst’s Jon Keeyes.
The film, which is currently in production, follows Darla (Snow), a cynical reporter whose sex addiction is getting in the way of her sex column, and her evolving relationship with Bailey, a well-meaning sweetheart who’s been dumped by his fiancé and learns he has testicular cancer (again). Together they embark on an impromptu cross country road trip, recreating Darla’s myriad trysts from state to state. She’s looking for a story and he’s looking for a last hurrah; what they find is something neither expected.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to work with such talented actors as Brittany and Sam on my debut feature,” said Raineau. “Their genius comedic gifts are well documented, but it’s their ability to bring heartfelt emotion and pathos to these characters that make them the ideal creative partners for this film.”
Highland Myst’s Matthew Tompkins and Yale Productions’ Russ Posternak will serve as co-producers. Film Mode Entertainment is handling sales.
Snow, who played Chloe in the Pitch Perfect movies, stars in the forthcoming Netflix romantic comedy, Someone Great, written and directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson. She’s repped by Gersh and Principal Entertainment LA.
In addition to Veep, Richardson starred in the Comedy Central’s Detroiters, which he also co-created. Repped by UTA and Artists First, he has also appeared in films like [Mike and] Dave Need Wedding Dates, The House, and Game Over, Man!.
Whats Hot On DEADLINE
Jordana Brewster, Vivica A. Fox, Anna Akana Join Brittany Snow In ‘Bailey and Darla’
By Amanda N’Duka
March 15, 2019 10:00am
EXCLUSIVE: Jordana Brewster (Fast & Furious franchise, Fox’s Lethal Weapon), Vivica A. Fox (Independence Day, Fox’s Empire), and Anna Akana (Youth & Consequences, Netflix’s upcoming Let It Snow film) are set for supporting roles in the indie film Bailey and Darla, which stars Brittany Snow and Sam Richardson. First-time feature helmer Nico Raineau directed the pic from a screenplay he wrote with Lauren Schacher.
The plot centers on Darla (Snow), a cynical reporter whose sex addiction is getting in the way of her sex column, and her evolving relationship with Bailey, a well-meaning sweetheart who’s been dumped by his fiancé Elizabeth (Akana) and learns he has testicular cancer (again). Together they embark on an impromptu cross country road trip, recreating Darla’s myriad trysts from state to state. She’s looking for a story and he’s looking for a last hurrah; what they find is something neither expected.
Brewster plays Tanya, Darla’s no-nonsense boss, while Fox is Cindy, Bailey’s loving but somewhat overbearing mother.
Snow is producing the pic with Yale Productions’ Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman, and Highland Myst’s Jon Keeyes. Executive producers are Michael J. Rothstein, Clay Epstein, Matthew Heldermann, Luke Taylor, Shaun Sanghani, Sabine Stener, Martin Sprock, Ryan Johnson, James Sears Bryant, and Gigi Lacks, while Michael Palkovicz, Jackie Palkovicz, Alan Leibowitz, Jesse Murphy, and Kamar Kalpakciyan serve as co-exec producers.
Film Mode Entertainment is in charge of sales.
THE HARROWING
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Cannes: Film Mode to Make Distribution Debut With Horror Pair ‘The Harrowing’ and ‘Mad Genius’
The world sales outfit will release the two titles in North America.
Clay Epstein’s international sales company Film Mode Entertainment is moving into domestic distribution, acquiring a pair of horror titles, The Harrowing and Mad Genius.
The Harrowing, from director Jon Keeyes (American Nightmare), stars Matthew Tompkins (Sicario) as a vice detective haunted by the ritualistic killing of his best friend, who goes undercover at a forensic hospital to uncover the truth. Arnold Vosloo and Michael Ironside co-star.
Film Mode is selling The Harrowing worldwide and will be screening the title for buyers in Cannes.
Mad Genius, Royce Gorsuch’s directorial debut, is a sci-fi thriller set in the world of bio-hacking. It stars Spencer Locke and Faran Tahir. Film Mode will bow the film on demand and VOD in North America on July 3.
Whats Hot On Deadline Hollywood
Michael Ironside & Arnold Vosloo Board ‘The Harrowing’; Carolyn Hennesy Joins Horror Indie ‘St. Agatha’
Michael Ironside (Total Recall) and Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) are joining Matthew Tompkins (Sicario) and John Hickman in The Harrowing, a horror film written and directed by Jon Keeyes. Said to be in the vein of genre films Jacobs Ladder and Angel Heart, the thriller follows Vice Detective Calhoun (Tompkins), who is accused of the ritualistic murder of his best friend. Bent on finding the truth, he is plunged into Hell when he goes undercover and discovers that demons might be real. The pic also co-stars Morgana Shaw, Damon Carney, and Arianne Martin. Wolfclan Productions and Highland Myst Entertainment are producing with Tompkins, Keeyes, James Cable, Carl Kirshner and John Walpole. Ironside, repped by TalentWorks, plays Carl Logan, a jaded police lieutenant who must decide whether or not his Officer is a killer. Vosloo’s role is Dr. Whitney, who runs a forensic hospital that’s conducting secret experiments on its patients. He’s with APA.
BLOODY DISGUSTING
‘The Harrowing’ Plunges a Detective Into Hell
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment shared with Bloody a first look at their newest thriller The Harrowing, having its World Market Premiere screening and EFM debut in Berlin.
Written and directed by veteran horror director Jon Keeyes (American Nightmare), the film stars the legendary Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Scanners), who among being nominated for almost a dozen awards, has become widely known for his depiction of fearsome villains in this genre.
The horror/thriller follows a Vice Detective (Matthew Tompkins), who is wrongly accused of the ritualistic murder of his best friend. Bent on finding the truth, he is plunged into Hell when he goes undercover and discovers the truth behind a demonic myth.
“We’ve carefully crafted an intelligent, suspenseful, tense thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats while driving them down a road of psychological twists and turns,” explained Keeyes.
Rue Morgue News
Exclusive comments, plus photos and poster: Michael Ironside and Arnold Vosloo join THE HARROWING
Genre veterans Michael Ironside and Arnold Vosloo signed up for The Harrowing, the latest fright feature from writer/director Jon Keeyes (American Nightmare, Nightmare Box). He gave us some exclusive words, and we’ve got pics and the poster for the movie as well.
Shooting in Dallas, Texas, The Harrowing is a hard-boiled horror-thriller that stars Matthew Tompkins (pictured above and in 1st photo below), John Hickman, Morgana Shaw, Damon Carney and Arianne Martin. The synopsis: “The film focuses on vice detective Calhoun [Tompkins], who is accused of the ritualistic murder of his best friend. Bent on finding the truth, he is plunged into Hell when he goes undercover and discovers that demons might be real. Ironside [Scanners, Visiting Hours] plays Carl Logan [2nd and 3rd photos], a jaded police lieutenant who must decide whether or not his Officer is a killer. Vosloo [The Mummy] plays Dr. Whitney [4th photo with Tompkins], who runs a forensic hospital that’s conducting secret experiments on its patients.”
“It was fantastic getting to work again with both Michael Ironside and Arnold Vosloo,” Keeyes tells RUE MORGUE; he previously directed Ironside in Element (2016) and produced the upcoming Alterscape, in which the actor plays a key role, and guided Vosloo in Living & Dying (2007). “It was particularly fun watching the energy of them going toe-to-toe with Matt Tompkins as Calhoun, the detective descending into his own hell. It was a bit like a family reunion when they arrived, and they’re two of the most professional, respectful and talented actors you could ask for. They each embraced their characters and, as always, brought so much more than you could have asked for. With the twists and unexpected turns of this story, the two of them along with Matt will keep the audience on their toes trying to figure out who is truly evil.”
Tompkins also enjoyed his role and working with his genre-fave co-stars. “The idea of playing a rough-shelled, complex character like Ryan Calhoun, so damaged that reality begins to distort for him to the point that he begins to question his very identify, was fascinating,” he says. “But to have two powerful actors like Michael Ironside and Arnold Vosloo on conflicting sides of the looking glass was thrilling. It kept me on my toes, and I think it will absolutely have the same disturbing effect on the audience.”
DREAD CENTRAL
Ritual Killings Lead to The Harrowing
Like your entertainment on the darker side of the fence? Of course, you do. That’s why you’re here. It’s also why we think you’re gonna dig this next flick called The Harrowing!
From the Press Release:
Legendary character actor Michael Ironside (Total Recall) and Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) are joining Matthew Tompkins (Sicario) and John Hickman (Avengers of Justice) in The Harrowing, written and directed by veteran horror director Jon Keeyes and produced by Wolfclan Productions and Highland Myst Entertainment, filming in Dallas, Texas.
Actor Tompkins and director Keeyes are producing with James Cable, Carl Kirshner, and John Walpole. The film also stars Morgana Shaw (“Salem”), Damon Carney (Hellraiser: Judgement), and Arianne Martin (Drive Angry).
“We’re trying to push horror into some areas that haven’t been explored in a while,” shared director Keeyes. “The Harrowing is an intellectual horror movie that questions reality, explores the psychological and metaphorical meaning of demons, and yet entertains with a lot of great terror.”
Ironside plays Carl Logan, a jaded police lieutenant who must decide whether or not his Officer is a killer. Vosloo plays Dr. Whitney, who runs a forensic hospital that’s conducting secret experiments on its patients. The film focuses on vice detective Calhoun, played by Matthew Tompkins, who is accused of the ritualistic murder of his best friend. Bent on finding the truth, he is plunged into Hell when he goes undercover and discovers that demons might be real. This is a hard-boiled thriller in the vein of genre classics Jacobs Ladder and Angel Heart.
Says Tompkins, “The idea of playing a rough-shelled, complex character like Ryan Calhoun, so damaged that reality begins to distort for him to the point that he begins to question his very identify, was fascinating. But to have two powerful actors like Michael Ironside and Arnold Vosloo on conflicting sides of the looking glass was thrilling… it kept me on my toes, and I think it will absolutely have the same disturbing effect on the audience.”
Wolfclan Productions and Highland Myst are currently releasing the celebrated festival hit Nightmare Box. Most recently released is the dramatic thriller Odd Man Out and the award-winning Mechanical Grave, with several projects currently in development. Jon Keeyes is a longtime horror director; his debut film is the cult classic American Nightmare.
SCREAM HORROR MAGAZINE
Michael Ironside Uncovers Demons in The Harrowing
“We’re trying to push horror into some areas that haven’t been explored in a while,” says Jon Keeyes in the press materials for his latest film, The Harrowing, which he calls “…an intellectual horror movie that questions reality, explores the psychological and metaphorical meaning of demons, and yet entertains with a lot of great terror.”
A hard-boiled horror-thriller said to be in the vein of Jacob’s Ladder and Angel Heart, the film stars Matthew Tompkins (who appeared in Keeyes’ Nightmare Box) as vice detective Ryan Calhoun, who stands accused of the ritualistic murder of his friend. Going undercover to seek out the truth behind the killing, he must face the possibility that demons may be real. The Mummy’s Arnold Vosloo co-stars as the mysterious Dr. Whitney, with bona fide genre legend Michael Ironside (Scanners, Visiting Hours, Total Recall, Turbo Kid) as jaded police Lieutenant Carl Logan, who is investigating Calhoun. The film also stars Morgana Shaw (Salem), Damon Carney (Hellraiser: Judgement), and Arianne Martin (Drive Angry).
“The idea of playing a rough-shelled, complex character like Ryan Calhoun, so damaged that reality begins to distort for him to the point that he begins to question his very identify, was fascinating,” says Tompkins. “But to have two powerful actors like Michael Ironside and Arnold Vosloo on conflicting sides of the looking glass was thrilling… it kept me on my toes, and I think it will absolutely have the same disturbing effect on the audience.”
Keeyes also wrote the film, as well as producing alongside Tompkins, James Cable, Carl Kirshner, and John Walpole. Having wrapped filming in Dallas, Texas, The Harrowing is currently in post-production.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
FilmFestivals.com
World Market Premiere screening and EFM debut for Film Mode Entertainment’s Thriller THE HARROWING
World Premiere Screening and EFM Market Debut of New, Mind-bending Horror/Thriller Stars Screen Legend MICHAEL IRONSIDE and is Directed by Horror Legend JON KEEYES
Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment presents the World Market Premiere screening and EFM debut of their newest thriller The Harrowing in Berlin. The world premiere screening will take place on Friday, February 18th at 11:05 AM at dffb-Kino.
Written and directed by veteran horror director Jon Keeyes (American Nightmare, Fall Down Dead), the film stars the legendary Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Scanners), who among being nominated for almost a dozen awards, has become widely known for his depiction of fearsome villains in this genre.
The cast is further bolstered by Matthew Tompkins (Sicario), and Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy, G.I. Joe). The premiere screening in Berlin takes place on February 18th.
“We’re thrilled to screen The Harrowing to distributors and audiences for the very first time in Berlin.” Said Epstein. “Horror and thriller fans are in for the ride of their lives with The Harrowing – a gripping, mind-bending, nail-biter of a film that has a great deal of worldwide commercial appeal with the recent success of the genre.”
Garnering over $733 million in ticket sales in 2017, the biggest box office year ever for horror, The Harrowing is a perfect addition to the marketplace.
The horror/thriller follows a Vice Detective (Tompkins), who is wrongly accused of the ritualistic murder of his best friend. Bent on finding the truth, he is plunged into Hell when he goes undercover and discovers the truth behind a demonic myth.
Jon Keeyes, Director: “As a life-long genre fan, The Harrowing is a movie that is going to get audiences excited across the world. We’ve carefully crafted an intelligent, suspenseful, tense thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats while driving them down a road of psychological twists and turns. Right out of the gate, we pull them in with an explosive opening sequence and then keep them guessing as the mystery unfolds until we blow their minds in the final moments. Being able to construct such an intricate puzzle like this – that is both entertaining and thought-provoking – has been a joy.”
Matthew Tompkins, Producer: “The Harrowing is carefully constructed to be a powerful synergy of elements that make it one of those rare ‘elevated’ genre films with true crossover appeal to a wide variety of hardcore fans…The film is a potent mix of horror and supernatural elements that underpin a very smart, disturbing, and complicated psychological thriller…the idea of being able to drive the narrative utilizing all of these things, to truly pull that off, from both a commercial and artistic perspective, was a fantastic opportunity for us as Filmmakers.”
The world premiere screening will take place on Friday, February 18th at 11:05 AM at dffb-Kino.
Film Mode Entertainment is representing worldwide rights on the film.
Film Mode Entertainment is a leading worldwide sales agent, production entity, and distribution company, focusing on commercially driven feature films of all genres and budget sizes. Film Mode represents projects at all stages of the filmmaking process, often as Executive Producer, with the aim of helping producers and distributors achieve maximum exposure for their films. Film Mode’s recent successes include Sugar Mountain starring Jason Momoa, The Good Neighbor starring Academy Award nominee, James Caan and Gangster Land starring Sean Faris, Milo Gibson, Jason Patric, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Peter Facinelli. Upcoming releases include The Escape Of Prisoner 614starring Golden Globe winner Ron Pearlman and Viking Destiny starring Academy Award nominee Terence Stamp. Additional titles include TIFF official selection Human Traces with Mark Mitchinson and Sophie Henderson and The Girl Who Invented Kissing, starring Luke Wilson, Abbie Cornish, and Suki Waterhouse. DocMode, Film Mode’s Documentary label was launched to focus on award-winning Documentaries that impact the world. Ballerina, the first film under the label will have its American debut in 2018.
Film Mode is based in Beverly Hills, California.
Welcome to Willits
FLICKERING MYTH
Dolph Lundgren and ex-WWE star Shad Gaspard to fight aliens in sci-fi horror Welcome to Willits
We don’t just cover movies on Flickering Myth. We also write extensively about professional wrestling. That particular Venn diagram has been crossing over more frequently in the last decade, with John Cena falling in with Judd Apatow’s comedy gang, Dave Bautista playing Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, and, of course, Rock ‘The Dwayne’ Johnson frequently topping the highest grossing actors in the world lists.
Fresh off his real-life role of ‘breaking up an armed robbery at a Florida gas station,’ former WWE wrestler Shad Gaspard – who formed the tag-team Cryme Tyme with partner JTG – is starring, quite aptly, as Dolph Lundgren’s police captain in the “psychological sci-fi horror” Welcome to Willits.
Former WWE pro wrestler, and recent real-life hero, Shad Gaspard, will be starring inWelcome To Willits alongside Bill Sage (American Psycho) and Dolph Lundgren (Rocky, Expendables). Directed by Trevor Ryan, this psychological sci-fi horror will be released later this spring. Gaspard will be portraying Lundgren’s no-nonsense police captain, who keeps him in line through the film.
Adapted from the SXSW 2015 short Welcome to Willits: After Sundown, the feature takes place in the deep northern California woods, where locals struggle to fight off repeated attacks from mysterious invaders. When local farmer Brock (Sage) is caught up with a wayward group of campers, the situation quickly escalates into total carnage. Together with a ragtag crew, Brock struggles to maintain his sanity while defending his family from perceived supernatural threats.
This will be another production from Jordan Yale Levine, Scott Levenson, Jon Keeyes and Shaun Sanghani, who will produce the film with Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Joe Listhaus, Michael Rothstein, Brandon Baker, and Serge Levin serving as executive producers.
BLOODY DISGUSTING
‘Welcome to Willits’ Lands All-Star Indie Cast
We Are What We Are and American Psycho‘s Bill Sage, The Expendables‘ Dolph Lundgren, “Z Nation’s” Anastasia Baranova and “Entourage’s” Sabina Gadecki will lead the cast of Welcome to Willits, Bloody Disgusting can report.
Scream 4‘s Rory Culkin and A Nightmare on Elm Street‘s Thomas Dekker round out the cast in supporting roles with Chris Zylka, Garrett Clayton, Karrueche Tran and Keelin Woodell.
The feature directorial debut of Trevor Ryan, written by his brother Tim Ryan, the film is adapted from their acclaimed 2015 SXSW Midnight Short “Welcome to Willits: After Sundown.”
Combining elements of horror, sci-fi, and comedy, Welcome to the Willits takes place deep in the Northern California woods, where residents struggle to fight off repeated attacks from mysterious creatures.
When local pot farmer Brock (Bill Sage) is caught up with a wayward group of campers, the situation quickly escalates into total carnage. Together with a ragtag crew including his wife Peggy (Sabina Gadecki), niece Courtney (Anastasia Baranova), scruffy drifter Possum (Rory Culkin), wannabe singer/songwriter Zack (Garrett Clayton), resourceful good old boy Jeremiah (Chris Zylka), unemployed stoner Klaus (Thomas Dekker), Klaus’ naïve girlfriend Besh (Karrueche Tran) and ditsy sorority girl Cassie (Keelin Woodell), Brock struggles to maintain his sanity while defending his family from perceived supernatural threats. Dolph Lundgren portrays Derek, a weathered police officer from Brock’s past who comes back to haunt him.“
“Using old-school special effects techniques, augmented with digital finishing touches, Welcome to Willits will be a throwback to great horror and sci-fi films of the past, while also offering a fresh take on the genre,” commented director Trevor Ryan. “The film offers a more complex anti-hero in Brock, a sympathetic figure reminiscent of everyone’s favorite uncle who has a little too much to drink at the family reunion, and who you just wish would get a handle on himself before it’s too late.”
The film is produced by Jordan Yale Levine/Yale Productions, Scott Levenson, Jon Keeyes and Shaun Sanghani/SSS Entertainment. Executive Producers include Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Joe Listhaus, Michael Rothstein and Brandon Baker. Event Film Distribution is handling worldwide sales.
Crypto
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Alexis Bledel, Kurt Russell, Beau Knapp to Star in Money Laundering Thriller ‘Crypto’ (Exclusive)
Luke Hemsworth, Jeremie Harris and Vincent Kartheiser round out the cast of the John Stalberg-helmed indie.
Beau Knapp, the star of Netflix’s recently canceled series Seven Seconds, will star alongside Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale, Gilmore Girls), Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight), Luke Hemsworth (Westworld), Jeremie Harris (Legion) and Vincent Kartheiser (Mad Men) in the money laundering thriller Crypto.
Directed by John Stalberg Jr., the indie film is written by Carlyle Eubank and David Frigerio based on an original story by Jeffrey Ingber and produced by Yale Prods.’ Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman alongside David Frigerio.
Dubbed a thriller in the vein of The Firm and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Crypto centers on a young anti-money laundering agent (Knapp) tasked with investigating a tangled web of corruption and fraud in his remote New York hometown, where his father (Russell) and brother (Hemsworth) are struggling to maintain their family farm in a changing economic landscape. The agent quickly finds himself enmeshed in a dangerous underworld populated by a mysterious art dealer (Bledel), a crypto-currency enthusiast turned cyber-sleuth (Harris) and a corrupt accountant doing the bidding of ruthless clients (Kartheiser).
The film marks the sophomore feature for director Stalberg — whose debut, High School, starring Adrien Brody and Colin Hanks, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and quickly gained a cult following upon its theatrical release. Eubank and Frigerio previously collaborated as co-writers of the sci-fi thriller The Signal, in which Knapp starred. That film premiered at Sundance and was distributed by Focus Features.
“I am overjoyed to be working with such an incredible cast to bring this timely, thrilling story to life,” said Stalberg. “Beau is incredibly talented, and seeing him bring this character to life opposite talent like Alexis, Kurt, Luke, Jeremie and Vincent has been a dream come true.”
Added Levine: “Cryptocurrency has captured the attention and imagination of consumers and entrepreneurs all over the world but has never been explored in film in such a nuanced and exciting way.”
Film Mode Entertainment is representing worldwide rights for Crypto.
Michael J. Rothstein and Siena Oberman of Yale Prods. are executive producing alongside Clay Epstein, Joseph Siprut, Shaun Sanghani and Zac Weinstein. Yale Prods.’ Jon Keeyes, Russ Posternak and Jesse Korman are serving as co-producers.
Crypto is currently shooting in New York.
Knapp also is known for his role in The Nice Guys. He is repped by CAA and Luber Roklin.
Bledel, who won an Emmy for playing Ofglen in Handmaid’s Tale, is handled by CAA, Industry Entertainment, and Jackoway, Tyerman. Crypto marks a reteaming for her and her real-life husband, Kartheiser (They met on the set of Mad Men). He is represented by Paradigm and Untitled.
Russell, who next will shoot Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, is repped by CAA.
Hemsworth is handled by UTA and Fourward. And Harris is repped by CAA.