I don't know if you know, dear reader, but I'm something of a Will Smith fan. So I'm excited about this exclusive news from Deadline.
Will Smith will join son Jaden Smith on an untitled futuristic science fiction adventure film that will be directed by M. Night Shyamalan, who gave us The Sixth Sense, but also The Last Airbender. Shymalan wrote the script with Gary Whitta, and the project went under the title "One Thousand A.E." Jada Pinkett Smith will produce the film with Shyamalan. Go to the Deadline posting for more.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Bruce Boxleitner Talks His TRON Legacy, Part Two
In the original TRON, Bruce Boxleitner played two roles, Alan Bradley and the security program named Tron. Boxleitner reprises the roles in TRON: Legacy and plays two new parts. Disney has provided this interview with the actor:
AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE BOXLEITNER FOR TRON: LEGACY
What can you tell us about TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: TRON: Legacy is a father/son story. It’s the sequel to TRON and the story follows a guy called Sam Flynn who is in search of the father he never really knew. Sam feels abandoned by his father, who went missing 15 years ago, so the story has an element of classical mythology to it. Sam learns about himself as he sets out on this journey of discovery. He soon finds himself, as well as his father.
Hoes does it feel to see people excited about the TRON universe again?
BRUCE: It feels great, although I’m amazed because when we shot the original movie, we had no idea that it was going to become a cult classic. We knew we were working on something cutting edge, but the film didn’t have a ton of success when it was first released. However, as the years passed, I kept seeing it pop up on Top 10 lists of fan favorites and cult favorites. I would say that 85 per cent of the autographs I have signed over the years have involved a piece of TRON memorabilia. Even when I worked on the TV show, Babylon 5, I was still signing TRON merchandise – especially overseas. There were always huge lines of people waiting with TRON memorabilia when I visited countries like Australia and the UK, and I was always surprised because I never believed that it would come to that.
What attracted you to the sequel?
BRUCE: The idea of working with Jeff Bridges again was a big plus point for me, but I was also intrigued to find out what had happened to these characters. It’s been 28 years since the first film was released and I wanted to know where they went during that time. When I first read the script, I was thrilled by it because I had no idea that Alan Bradley would become such a lost soul. It was such a great idea that it was a no brainer to sign up for the sequel. I was thrilled to be asked to return.
What do you think of TRON: Legacy cast members Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, who play Sam Flynn and Quorra in the movie?
BRUCE: I’m very proud to say that I started on the movie earlier than everybody else. I was hired to screen test all of the young talent fighting for the roles that were eventually won by Olivia and Garrett. I screen tested all of the Sam Flynns and all of the Quorras – and it was a lot of fun because I got to work with a lot of young, new, talented people. It feels really good that these two made the cut because they were my personal picks. I was really impressed with their work. They are both going to go far in their careers.
In what way did the filmmaking process differ between the original TRON and TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: The two movies are both cutting edge and they’re both years ahead of their time, but they were shot completely differently. On the original movie, we were running around in tights with a Frisbee taped to our backs. We were wearing hockey helmets with motocross shoulder pads and armguards, along with high boots. If you had to go to the bathroom, someone had to unzip you and you’d have to take everything off just to go for a pee. We were promised the movie was going to look good, but we had no idea what was going on when we shot it. We were blown away by the results, though. It looked amazing.
How does today’s filmmaking compare?
BRUCE: Today, filmmaking is still a long process – but everything is much more sophisticated and technologically advanced. There are no tights and no Frisbees. The costumes are incredible and the motion capture used in TRON: Legacy blows me away. The bulk of my time on the set of the movie was spent in the real world, so I didn’t experience the technical side of filming as much as Garrett Hedlund and Jeff Bridges. However, I was extremely impressed with everything I saw.
What do you think of the light suits used in TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: I think they are fantastic. They have lights incorporated into the actual suit, so they’re very different to the tights we wore back in 1982. The new suits are spectacular. There was this wonderful moment on the set of TRON: Legacy where the director would yell, “Light them up.” This happened just before he called “Action” and it was amazing because all of a sudden, all of these people on the sound stage would literally light up. It was amazing to watch.
How do you think the younger generation will react to TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: How will the younger generation react to the movie? Well, we’ve had a lot of positive feedback so far. Personally, I hope that a whole new generation falls in love with the movie and this cutting-edge world we created – and I hope it spurs them on to watch the original TRON movie, too. We have the original film being released on Blu-Ray, so it’s going to be out there for them. However, they don’t need to know anything about the original film to enjoy TRON: Legacy. It’s my character’s job in the movie to reveal the past mythology and to familiarize the audience with the story, so it’s all explained clearly at the start of the sequel. You know what? If kids today don’t like this movie, then I quit! Personally, I think this new generation is going to love it. They are going to be blown away. I can’t wait for them to see it.
TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE BOXLEITNER FOR TRON: LEGACY
What can you tell us about TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: TRON: Legacy is a father/son story. It’s the sequel to TRON and the story follows a guy called Sam Flynn who is in search of the father he never really knew. Sam feels abandoned by his father, who went missing 15 years ago, so the story has an element of classical mythology to it. Sam learns about himself as he sets out on this journey of discovery. He soon finds himself, as well as his father.
Hoes does it feel to see people excited about the TRON universe again?
BRUCE: It feels great, although I’m amazed because when we shot the original movie, we had no idea that it was going to become a cult classic. We knew we were working on something cutting edge, but the film didn’t have a ton of success when it was first released. However, as the years passed, I kept seeing it pop up on Top 10 lists of fan favorites and cult favorites. I would say that 85 per cent of the autographs I have signed over the years have involved a piece of TRON memorabilia. Even when I worked on the TV show, Babylon 5, I was still signing TRON merchandise – especially overseas. There were always huge lines of people waiting with TRON memorabilia when I visited countries like Australia and the UK, and I was always surprised because I never believed that it would come to that.
What attracted you to the sequel?
BRUCE: The idea of working with Jeff Bridges again was a big plus point for me, but I was also intrigued to find out what had happened to these characters. It’s been 28 years since the first film was released and I wanted to know where they went during that time. When I first read the script, I was thrilled by it because I had no idea that Alan Bradley would become such a lost soul. It was such a great idea that it was a no brainer to sign up for the sequel. I was thrilled to be asked to return.
What do you think of TRON: Legacy cast members Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, who play Sam Flynn and Quorra in the movie?
BRUCE: I’m very proud to say that I started on the movie earlier than everybody else. I was hired to screen test all of the young talent fighting for the roles that were eventually won by Olivia and Garrett. I screen tested all of the Sam Flynns and all of the Quorras – and it was a lot of fun because I got to work with a lot of young, new, talented people. It feels really good that these two made the cut because they were my personal picks. I was really impressed with their work. They are both going to go far in their careers.
In what way did the filmmaking process differ between the original TRON and TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: The two movies are both cutting edge and they’re both years ahead of their time, but they were shot completely differently. On the original movie, we were running around in tights with a Frisbee taped to our backs. We were wearing hockey helmets with motocross shoulder pads and armguards, along with high boots. If you had to go to the bathroom, someone had to unzip you and you’d have to take everything off just to go for a pee. We were promised the movie was going to look good, but we had no idea what was going on when we shot it. We were blown away by the results, though. It looked amazing.
How does today’s filmmaking compare?
BRUCE: Today, filmmaking is still a long process – but everything is much more sophisticated and technologically advanced. There are no tights and no Frisbees. The costumes are incredible and the motion capture used in TRON: Legacy blows me away. The bulk of my time on the set of the movie was spent in the real world, so I didn’t experience the technical side of filming as much as Garrett Hedlund and Jeff Bridges. However, I was extremely impressed with everything I saw.
What do you think of the light suits used in TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: I think they are fantastic. They have lights incorporated into the actual suit, so they’re very different to the tights we wore back in 1982. The new suits are spectacular. There was this wonderful moment on the set of TRON: Legacy where the director would yell, “Light them up.” This happened just before he called “Action” and it was amazing because all of a sudden, all of these people on the sound stage would literally light up. It was amazing to watch.
How do you think the younger generation will react to TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: How will the younger generation react to the movie? Well, we’ve had a lot of positive feedback so far. Personally, I hope that a whole new generation falls in love with the movie and this cutting-edge world we created – and I hope it spurs them on to watch the original TRON movie, too. We have the original film being released on Blu-Ray, so it’s going to be out there for them. However, they don’t need to know anything about the original film to enjoy TRON: Legacy. It’s my character’s job in the movie to reveal the past mythology and to familiarize the audience with the story, so it’s all explained clearly at the start of the sequel. You know what? If kids today don’t like this movie, then I quit! Personally, I think this new generation is going to love it. They are going to be blown away. I can’t wait for them to see it.
TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
Bruce Boxleitner Talks His TRON Legacy, Part 1
Actor Bruce Boxleitner has one of my favorite last names. He has had a long career and appeared in several television series, including one of my favorite, the Raiders of the Lost Ark-inspired Bring 'Em Back Alive. In the original TRON, Boxleitner played two roles, Alan Bradley and the security program named Tron. Boxleitner reprises the roles in TRON: Legacy and plays two new parts. Disney has provided this interview with the actor:
AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE BOXLEITNER FOR TRON: LEGACY
How would you describe the story of TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: TRON: Legacy is the sequel to TRON. The story of the sequel is set in real time, 28 years after the first movie. We revisit some of the characters from the original movie, including Kevin Flynn and Alan Bradley, and we revisit the world of Encom. We also meet Kevin Flynn’s son, Sam. Ultimately, the story takes us back down into the world of TRON where much of the action was set in the 1982 movie. However, it’s a different world now. It’s a darker, more violent and dangerous world down there.
What can you tell us about your character in the movie?
BRUCE: I return to play Alan Bradley in the sequel. Alan is the storyteller who bridges the past to the present. There’s a lot of history that needs to be told about the world of TRON and not everyone watching the movie knows that story, so Alan does that at the beginning of the sequel. He passes the torch onto Sam Flynn, who is the new hero of the movie. I guess Alan is the Alfred to Sam’s Batman.
What makes you choose that analogy?
BRUCE: Well, Batman always needs Alfred to remind him of who he is and where he came from. Alfred is also Batman’s conscience. Alan is similar because he’s the surrogate father to Sam Flynn. Alan’s best friend and creative partner – Kevin Flynn – has been missing for 15 years, so Alan has looked after Sam and has always kept an eye on him. Both of these guys, Sam and Alan, are wounded people because of the disappearance of Kevin. They’ve had no closure on Kevin’s story. They don’t know where he is; they don’t what happened to him. Is he alive? Is he dead? They have no idea. Both of their lives were altered seriously because of his disappearance.
How has Alan Bradley changed since the first movie?
BRUCE: Over the years, Alan has been a very successful man. He is currently the CEO of Encom, but he’s not respected within the company. His colleagues tolerate him in the boardroom, but he has no say because Encom has turned into something that neither Flynn nor Bradley envisioned. It’s a shocking change to where Alan was 28 years ago. He’s now a broken man; he’s a lost soul. He wanders the corridors of Encom wearing nice suits, he drives a great car and he makes a great paycheck. However, he has absolutely nothing to do with the company. That frustrates him. He’s nothing like the nerdy tech you saw in the original film.
What’s your favorite scene in TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: Shooting the seminal scene between Alan and Sam at the beginning of the movie really stands out for me. We filmed that scene in Vancouver and we spent all night outside a really cool freighter container house, which is where Sam lives. I think every young guy is going to want to have a home like that. It was amazing. I love this scene in particular because this is where the human side of the story really comes to light. It’s the human story that makes the movie stand out. TRON: Legacy is not just about special effects and computer wizardry; it’s got a heart.
Was it easy to play the father figure to Garrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn?
BRUCE: It was very easy because Garrett is a wonderful actor. I have three sons myself, so it was very natural to act out those scenes and relive being a father. In fact, I have a Sam Boxleitner. He’s a couple years older than Garrett, but that’s why it felt especially real. It felt like I was talking to my own kid and Garrett looked at me like I was his daffy uncle. That’s the way it struck me anyway.
What was your biggest challenge in working on TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: Portraying Alan Bradley again after 28 years was one of the challenges. What is this man now? What’s happened to him in this interim? I was fascinated by where these wonderful writers had taken these characters. However, I guess my biggest challenge involved the motion capture work on TRON: Legacy.
Can you take us through the motion capture process?
BRUCE: It was very technical. I had hundreds of dots placed over my face and I wore a helmet with cameras pointing at my head. The extras had no idea what was going on, but the dots were used as reference points for the amazing artists on the movie. They created a younger version of my face from 30 years ago. In fact, the same crew who worked on The Strange Case Of Benjamin Button worked on TRON: Legacy and you get to see Jeff Bridges in his 30s again, too. The work they did was amazing.
What else did you have to do for the motion capture process?
BRUCE: After filming finished in Vancouver, I had to go and have my face scanned in Los Angeles. The rig was immense. It was like walking into a UFO. I pulled every kind of facial expression you can possibly think of for the special camera set-up. The cameras captured every angle and every aspect of my face. They captured every aspect of my muscle movement. It was astonishing.
Was it very different to the special effects work on the first movie?
BRUCE: You know what? I look at how far effects have come since we shot the first TRON, but it’s not like we were in the Stone Age back then. We were state of the art at that time. We’re still state of the art with TRON: Legacy. It’s just moved forward a great deal.
What advances in technology did you notice on the set of TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: Well, the suits are much cooler in the new TRON movie. For the first film, I wore tights with magic marker drawings on them, as well as a hockey helmet and motor cross armor. I was also throwing an actual Frisbee. I didn’t have that cool-looking rainbow disk that they throw around in TRON: Legacy. However, I’m sure that the thoughts going through the minds of the cast on both TRON movies was exactly the same, especially when shooting the scenes set on the grid. Everyone has the feeling that they are making something different and something cutting edge. Everyone feels that they are working on something state of the art. That feeling remains unchanged.
TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE BOXLEITNER FOR TRON: LEGACY
How would you describe the story of TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: TRON: Legacy is the sequel to TRON. The story of the sequel is set in real time, 28 years after the first movie. We revisit some of the characters from the original movie, including Kevin Flynn and Alan Bradley, and we revisit the world of Encom. We also meet Kevin Flynn’s son, Sam. Ultimately, the story takes us back down into the world of TRON where much of the action was set in the 1982 movie. However, it’s a different world now. It’s a darker, more violent and dangerous world down there.
What can you tell us about your character in the movie?
BRUCE: I return to play Alan Bradley in the sequel. Alan is the storyteller who bridges the past to the present. There’s a lot of history that needs to be told about the world of TRON and not everyone watching the movie knows that story, so Alan does that at the beginning of the sequel. He passes the torch onto Sam Flynn, who is the new hero of the movie. I guess Alan is the Alfred to Sam’s Batman.
What makes you choose that analogy?
BRUCE: Well, Batman always needs Alfred to remind him of who he is and where he came from. Alfred is also Batman’s conscience. Alan is similar because he’s the surrogate father to Sam Flynn. Alan’s best friend and creative partner – Kevin Flynn – has been missing for 15 years, so Alan has looked after Sam and has always kept an eye on him. Both of these guys, Sam and Alan, are wounded people because of the disappearance of Kevin. They’ve had no closure on Kevin’s story. They don’t know where he is; they don’t what happened to him. Is he alive? Is he dead? They have no idea. Both of their lives were altered seriously because of his disappearance.
How has Alan Bradley changed since the first movie?
BRUCE: Over the years, Alan has been a very successful man. He is currently the CEO of Encom, but he’s not respected within the company. His colleagues tolerate him in the boardroom, but he has no say because Encom has turned into something that neither Flynn nor Bradley envisioned. It’s a shocking change to where Alan was 28 years ago. He’s now a broken man; he’s a lost soul. He wanders the corridors of Encom wearing nice suits, he drives a great car and he makes a great paycheck. However, he has absolutely nothing to do with the company. That frustrates him. He’s nothing like the nerdy tech you saw in the original film.
What’s your favorite scene in TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: Shooting the seminal scene between Alan and Sam at the beginning of the movie really stands out for me. We filmed that scene in Vancouver and we spent all night outside a really cool freighter container house, which is where Sam lives. I think every young guy is going to want to have a home like that. It was amazing. I love this scene in particular because this is where the human side of the story really comes to light. It’s the human story that makes the movie stand out. TRON: Legacy is not just about special effects and computer wizardry; it’s got a heart.
Was it easy to play the father figure to Garrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn?
BRUCE: It was very easy because Garrett is a wonderful actor. I have three sons myself, so it was very natural to act out those scenes and relive being a father. In fact, I have a Sam Boxleitner. He’s a couple years older than Garrett, but that’s why it felt especially real. It felt like I was talking to my own kid and Garrett looked at me like I was his daffy uncle. That’s the way it struck me anyway.
What was your biggest challenge in working on TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: Portraying Alan Bradley again after 28 years was one of the challenges. What is this man now? What’s happened to him in this interim? I was fascinated by where these wonderful writers had taken these characters. However, I guess my biggest challenge involved the motion capture work on TRON: Legacy.
Can you take us through the motion capture process?
BRUCE: It was very technical. I had hundreds of dots placed over my face and I wore a helmet with cameras pointing at my head. The extras had no idea what was going on, but the dots were used as reference points for the amazing artists on the movie. They created a younger version of my face from 30 years ago. In fact, the same crew who worked on The Strange Case Of Benjamin Button worked on TRON: Legacy and you get to see Jeff Bridges in his 30s again, too. The work they did was amazing.
What else did you have to do for the motion capture process?
BRUCE: After filming finished in Vancouver, I had to go and have my face scanned in Los Angeles. The rig was immense. It was like walking into a UFO. I pulled every kind of facial expression you can possibly think of for the special camera set-up. The cameras captured every angle and every aspect of my face. They captured every aspect of my muscle movement. It was astonishing.
Was it very different to the special effects work on the first movie?
BRUCE: You know what? I look at how far effects have come since we shot the first TRON, but it’s not like we were in the Stone Age back then. We were state of the art at that time. We’re still state of the art with TRON: Legacy. It’s just moved forward a great deal.
What advances in technology did you notice on the set of TRON: Legacy?
BRUCE: Well, the suits are much cooler in the new TRON movie. For the first film, I wore tights with magic marker drawings on them, as well as a hockey helmet and motor cross armor. I was also throwing an actual Frisbee. I didn’t have that cool-looking rainbow disk that they throw around in TRON: Legacy. However, I’m sure that the thoughts going through the minds of the cast on both TRON movies was exactly the same, especially when shooting the scenes set on the grid. Everyone has the feeling that they are making something different and something cutting edge. Everyone feels that they are working on something state of the art. That feeling remains unchanged.
TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Lily Collins is Snow White
Lily Collins is the Fairest of Them All
Actress to play title role in Relativity’s Snow White
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Relativity Media has closed a deal with The Blind Side breakthrough actress Lily Collins to play Snow White in its upcoming untitled Snow White feature, based on the Brothers Grimm story, directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell).
Collins will star opposite Armie Hammer (The Social Network) who will play Prince Andrew Alcott and Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts who will play the Queen. Pre-production has begun, and principal photography will start in May. The theatrical release date is set for June 29, 2012.
Relativity's Snow White, a retelling of one of the most beloved fables of all-time, will eschew the traditional story in favor of a more modern tale full of comedy and adventure. After her evil stepmother kills her father and destroys the kingdom, Snow White bands together with a gang of seven quarrelsome dwarfs to reclaim what is rightly hers.
The film's producers are Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Bernie Goldmann (300) and Brett Ratner (Rush Hour franchise). The script was written by Melissa Wallack (Meet Bill) and Jason Keller (Machine Gun Preacher).
Relativity recently had Golden Globe®-winner and seven-time Oscar®-nominee The Fighter in theatres, via Paramount Pictures, starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams as well as Golden Globe®-winner and eight-time Oscar®-nominee The Social Network via its partnership with Sony Pictures. Looking ahead, Relativity will release David Ellis’ Shark Night 3D on September 2, 2011, followed by the highly-anticipated Immortals on November 11th, 2011, starring Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, with John Hurt and Mickey Rourke.
Collins, daughter of Grammy®-winning artist, Phil Collins, and named “The One to Watch” at the 2008 Young Hollywood Awards, will be seen next in Priest, with Paul Bettany releasing May 13, 2011 and will head into production on Screen Gems’ Mortal Instruments, in which she will play the lead role of Clary Fray, after wrapping Snow White. Both films are directed by Scott Charles Stewart. She will also be starring in John Singleton’s Abduction opposite Taylor Lautner, slated to release September 23, 2011.
ABOUT RELATIVITY MEDIA, LLC
Relativity Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company that focuses on creating, financing and distributing entertainment content and intellectual property across multiple platforms, as well as making strategic partnerships with, and opportunistic investments in, media and entertainment-related companies and assets. Relativity owns and operates Rogue, a company that specializes in the production and distribution of films targeted to the 13-25 year old audience. Building upon its foundation of financing and producing films, Relativity has grown to include music, sports and television divisions and the next-generation social network iamrogue.com. Relativity also owns and operates RelativityREAL, Relativity’s television arm, which has become one of the leading suppliers of reality television with more than 20 shows in episodic or pilot.
To date, Relativity has committed to, produced and/or financed more than 200 motion pictures. Released films have accumulated more than $15.0 billion in worldwide box office revenue. Relativity’s recent films include Salt, Despicable Me, Grown Ups, Charlie St. Cloud, Dear John, It’s Complicated, Zombieland, Couples Retreat, Get Him to the Greek, Robin Hood, and, most recently, The Fighter, Little Fockers, James Cameron's Sanctum in 3D, Season of the Witch, Take Me Home Tonight, Limitless, and The Social Network. Upcoming films for Relativity include Immortals, Shark Night 3D, Hop, Bridesmaids, and Cowboys & Aliens. 35 of the company’s films have opened at No. 1 at the box office. Relativity films have earned 60 Oscar® nominations, including nods for Nine, A Serious Man, Frost/Nixon, Atonement, American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma, The Wolfman, The Social Network and The Fighter. 53 of Relativity’s films have each generated more than $100 million in worldwide box-office receipts.
Actress to play title role in Relativity’s Snow White
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Relativity Media has closed a deal with The Blind Side breakthrough actress Lily Collins to play Snow White in its upcoming untitled Snow White feature, based on the Brothers Grimm story, directed by Tarsem Singh (Immortals, The Cell).
Collins will star opposite Armie Hammer (The Social Network) who will play Prince Andrew Alcott and Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts who will play the Queen. Pre-production has begun, and principal photography will start in May. The theatrical release date is set for June 29, 2012.
Relativity's Snow White, a retelling of one of the most beloved fables of all-time, will eschew the traditional story in favor of a more modern tale full of comedy and adventure. After her evil stepmother kills her father and destroys the kingdom, Snow White bands together with a gang of seven quarrelsome dwarfs to reclaim what is rightly hers.
The film's producers are Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter), Bernie Goldmann (300) and Brett Ratner (Rush Hour franchise). The script was written by Melissa Wallack (Meet Bill) and Jason Keller (Machine Gun Preacher).
Relativity recently had Golden Globe®-winner and seven-time Oscar®-nominee The Fighter in theatres, via Paramount Pictures, starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams as well as Golden Globe®-winner and eight-time Oscar®-nominee The Social Network via its partnership with Sony Pictures. Looking ahead, Relativity will release David Ellis’ Shark Night 3D on September 2, 2011, followed by the highly-anticipated Immortals on November 11th, 2011, starring Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, with John Hurt and Mickey Rourke.
Collins, daughter of Grammy®-winning artist, Phil Collins, and named “The One to Watch” at the 2008 Young Hollywood Awards, will be seen next in Priest, with Paul Bettany releasing May 13, 2011 and will head into production on Screen Gems’ Mortal Instruments, in which she will play the lead role of Clary Fray, after wrapping Snow White. Both films are directed by Scott Charles Stewart. She will also be starring in John Singleton’s Abduction opposite Taylor Lautner, slated to release September 23, 2011.
ABOUT RELATIVITY MEDIA, LLC
Relativity Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company that focuses on creating, financing and distributing entertainment content and intellectual property across multiple platforms, as well as making strategic partnerships with, and opportunistic investments in, media and entertainment-related companies and assets. Relativity owns and operates Rogue, a company that specializes in the production and distribution of films targeted to the 13-25 year old audience. Building upon its foundation of financing and producing films, Relativity has grown to include music, sports and television divisions and the next-generation social network iamrogue.com. Relativity also owns and operates RelativityREAL, Relativity’s television arm, which has become one of the leading suppliers of reality television with more than 20 shows in episodic or pilot.
To date, Relativity has committed to, produced and/or financed more than 200 motion pictures. Released films have accumulated more than $15.0 billion in worldwide box office revenue. Relativity’s recent films include Salt, Despicable Me, Grown Ups, Charlie St. Cloud, Dear John, It’s Complicated, Zombieland, Couples Retreat, Get Him to the Greek, Robin Hood, and, most recently, The Fighter, Little Fockers, James Cameron's Sanctum in 3D, Season of the Witch, Take Me Home Tonight, Limitless, and The Social Network. Upcoming films for Relativity include Immortals, Shark Night 3D, Hop, Bridesmaids, and Cowboys & Aliens. 35 of the company’s films have opened at No. 1 at the box office. Relativity films have earned 60 Oscar® nominations, including nods for Nine, A Serious Man, Frost/Nixon, Atonement, American Gangster and 3:10 to Yuma, The Wolfman, The Social Network and The Fighter. 53 of Relativity’s films have each generated more than $100 million in worldwide box-office receipts.
Joseph Kosinski Talks TRON: Legacy
Walt Disney provided this interview with Joseph Kosinski, the director of TRON: Legacy:
AN INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPH KOSINSKI FOR TRON: LEGACY
How did you get involved with TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: I had a general meeting with [producer] Sean Bailey a few years ago when he asked me the question, “In the world after The Matrix, how do we go back to the world of TRON?” My initial idea was to embrace everything that Steven Lisberger had done with the first film. I wanted to embrace that aesthetic rather than try to create a new virtual world that felt like our own. When the first image comes on screen, I wanted people to say, “That’s TRON.”
How has the world of TRON changed since we last saw it?
KOSINSKI: The world has evolved and it looks more realistic, but I wanted people to realize straight away that we were back in that world. The idea for the setting of our film to be this server sitting undisturbed for 20 years was one of the initial directions I was interested in – and it all stemmed from there.
What happened after your first meeting with Sean Bailey?
KOSINSKI: I come from a background in commercials and the technique I use to pitch ideas within that field is to propose a two or three minute short film that allows me to show people the look and feel of a project. That’s what I did with TRON: Legacy. I created a short that highlighted the tone and vibe of the world, as well as a hint of the narrative. I built the short in a way that it could be used as a trailer. This was before we even had a script, but Disney agreed to give us a little bit of funding to create that short piece and we showed it at Comic-Con a few years ago. Once we showed the short there, the response from the fans gave us that extra push that we needed to get the movie into production.
What were your inspirations behind TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: My inspirations are a combination of all my favorite films growing up, including the original TRON. When I first sat down with Steven Lisberger, he took me through some of the early sketches and concepts by [concept artist] Syd Mead. We looked at all of the concepts that they weren’t able to use in 1982, when the first film was released, so it was fun to find all this fresh material to draw inspiration from.
What else inspired you?
KOSINSKI: Just like every other kid of my generation, I was a huge Star Wars fan. I was also a big fan of Stanley Kubrick, so that influenced me greatly. I think the overall style of TRON: Legacy is a combination of a lot of different influences of mine. Personally, I studied engineering, architecture, industrial design and music, so all of these things have certainly what influenced me in my life. I was even going to be a jazz saxophonist at one point, so there’s a little of that in me as well.
How did your background in architecture help with the movie-making process of TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: Beyond wanting to build beautiful sets, I think the way that I was taught to think in architecture school was a really interesting preparation for filming. You learn how to be self-critical, you learn how to critique your work and you learn how to take critique on your work. Having the awareness of what’s going on out there in the world of design and architecture – and being able to pull an amazing art department together – was a lot of fun. My background in architecture certainly helped that process.
How would you describe the story of TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: The relationship between Sam Flynn and his father, Kevin Flynn, is what drives the entire film. That’s the core of the film and, believe it or not, that’s what we spent most of our time working on. We spent much more time on the story and the characters rather than on the visuals and the design of the film. To me, that is the most important aspect of the movie that everything else supports.
Can you talk about the casting of Sam Flynn, played by Garrett Hedlund?
KOSINSKI: The casting of Sam Flynn was an incredibly tough challenge. It was hard to find an actor that embodies all of those amazing qualities that Kevin Flynn’s character has and that Jeff Bridges brings as an actor. Jeff’s got that combination of brilliance and humor and looks – and a very laid-back style. Those are all really unique characteristics.
How many actors auditioned for the role of Sam Flynn?
KOSINSKI: We looked at hundreds of candidates for the role of Sam Flynn. It was a long process with lots of screen tests. We rang Bruce Boxleitner [who plays Alan Bradley in both TRON movies] and had him test with a lot of guys, but we finally settled with Garrett Hedlund and we’re extremely happy with the choice. He had the impossible task of carrying a movie like this on his shoulders and he’s only 25 years old. He had to play scenes with Jeff Bridges, Michael Sheen and all of these incredible actors, but he did an incredible job. I am really excited about his career. In fact, I think it’s just about to take off in a big way.
Was your work on the movie everything you expected it to be?
KOSINSKI: That’s a tough question. I worked on this project for a number of years and during that time I had a son, which made the father-son theme of the movie resonate in a very different way. I had a blast working on TRON: Legacy. I think one of the best things I’ve done in the movie is assemble such a great team. Everybody that worked on the film was incredibly passionate about the project and very excited to take part, even though it was a tremendous amount of work. We got an incredible amount of support from the studio and Disney – and it was a real pleasure to work with all of these incredible people. As much as I was looking forward to finishing the movie, I knew that when it was all over, it was going to be tough to return to life after TRON.
Can you talk about the theme of technology in TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: I think that technology is definitely an overarching theme of the film. Technology is so pervasive in our world today, but what’s good about it? What’s bad about it? What’s important? I think it’s important to pay attention to the human connections that you have and not get lost in the digital world. I wanted that idea to be part of our movie.
How did technology assist in the making of the movie?
KOSINSKI: A film like this is all about collaboration and human connection – and technology helped us all the way through the process of making the film. You couldn’t make a movie like this by yourself. There were literally thousands of people working on the movie all over the world, including artists in places like India, Mexico City and Vancouver. I worked with a lot of the people through a purely digital connection over a conference call or cell phone connection or a video phone connection. Even though it’s a very high-tech film, my day to day work was all about communication with the people around me. I had to make sure everyone was working together and I had to keep the boat pointed in the right direction.
What new technologies or techniques were created to make the film?
KOSINSKI: We created cutting-edge suits, digital characters and we had the use of advanced 3D cameras for the making of the movie. We took three leading-edge technologies and combined them in one film in order to serve this story. When everything works together, you can make stunning images. It was a very challenging shoot, but I think it was worth it. I think we made the right choices to push the boundaries. I’m proud of everything we’ve done.
TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
AN INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPH KOSINSKI FOR TRON: LEGACY
How did you get involved with TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: I had a general meeting with [producer] Sean Bailey a few years ago when he asked me the question, “In the world after The Matrix, how do we go back to the world of TRON?” My initial idea was to embrace everything that Steven Lisberger had done with the first film. I wanted to embrace that aesthetic rather than try to create a new virtual world that felt like our own. When the first image comes on screen, I wanted people to say, “That’s TRON.”
How has the world of TRON changed since we last saw it?
KOSINSKI: The world has evolved and it looks more realistic, but I wanted people to realize straight away that we were back in that world. The idea for the setting of our film to be this server sitting undisturbed for 20 years was one of the initial directions I was interested in – and it all stemmed from there.
What happened after your first meeting with Sean Bailey?
KOSINSKI: I come from a background in commercials and the technique I use to pitch ideas within that field is to propose a two or three minute short film that allows me to show people the look and feel of a project. That’s what I did with TRON: Legacy. I created a short that highlighted the tone and vibe of the world, as well as a hint of the narrative. I built the short in a way that it could be used as a trailer. This was before we even had a script, but Disney agreed to give us a little bit of funding to create that short piece and we showed it at Comic-Con a few years ago. Once we showed the short there, the response from the fans gave us that extra push that we needed to get the movie into production.
What were your inspirations behind TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: My inspirations are a combination of all my favorite films growing up, including the original TRON. When I first sat down with Steven Lisberger, he took me through some of the early sketches and concepts by [concept artist] Syd Mead. We looked at all of the concepts that they weren’t able to use in 1982, when the first film was released, so it was fun to find all this fresh material to draw inspiration from.
What else inspired you?
KOSINSKI: Just like every other kid of my generation, I was a huge Star Wars fan. I was also a big fan of Stanley Kubrick, so that influenced me greatly. I think the overall style of TRON: Legacy is a combination of a lot of different influences of mine. Personally, I studied engineering, architecture, industrial design and music, so all of these things have certainly what influenced me in my life. I was even going to be a jazz saxophonist at one point, so there’s a little of that in me as well.
How did your background in architecture help with the movie-making process of TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: Beyond wanting to build beautiful sets, I think the way that I was taught to think in architecture school was a really interesting preparation for filming. You learn how to be self-critical, you learn how to critique your work and you learn how to take critique on your work. Having the awareness of what’s going on out there in the world of design and architecture – and being able to pull an amazing art department together – was a lot of fun. My background in architecture certainly helped that process.
How would you describe the story of TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: The relationship between Sam Flynn and his father, Kevin Flynn, is what drives the entire film. That’s the core of the film and, believe it or not, that’s what we spent most of our time working on. We spent much more time on the story and the characters rather than on the visuals and the design of the film. To me, that is the most important aspect of the movie that everything else supports.
Can you talk about the casting of Sam Flynn, played by Garrett Hedlund?
KOSINSKI: The casting of Sam Flynn was an incredibly tough challenge. It was hard to find an actor that embodies all of those amazing qualities that Kevin Flynn’s character has and that Jeff Bridges brings as an actor. Jeff’s got that combination of brilliance and humor and looks – and a very laid-back style. Those are all really unique characteristics.
How many actors auditioned for the role of Sam Flynn?
KOSINSKI: We looked at hundreds of candidates for the role of Sam Flynn. It was a long process with lots of screen tests. We rang Bruce Boxleitner [who plays Alan Bradley in both TRON movies] and had him test with a lot of guys, but we finally settled with Garrett Hedlund and we’re extremely happy with the choice. He had the impossible task of carrying a movie like this on his shoulders and he’s only 25 years old. He had to play scenes with Jeff Bridges, Michael Sheen and all of these incredible actors, but he did an incredible job. I am really excited about his career. In fact, I think it’s just about to take off in a big way.
Was your work on the movie everything you expected it to be?
KOSINSKI: That’s a tough question. I worked on this project for a number of years and during that time I had a son, which made the father-son theme of the movie resonate in a very different way. I had a blast working on TRON: Legacy. I think one of the best things I’ve done in the movie is assemble such a great team. Everybody that worked on the film was incredibly passionate about the project and very excited to take part, even though it was a tremendous amount of work. We got an incredible amount of support from the studio and Disney – and it was a real pleasure to work with all of these incredible people. As much as I was looking forward to finishing the movie, I knew that when it was all over, it was going to be tough to return to life after TRON.
Can you talk about the theme of technology in TRON: Legacy?
KOSINSKI: I think that technology is definitely an overarching theme of the film. Technology is so pervasive in our world today, but what’s good about it? What’s bad about it? What’s important? I think it’s important to pay attention to the human connections that you have and not get lost in the digital world. I wanted that idea to be part of our movie.
How did technology assist in the making of the movie?
KOSINSKI: A film like this is all about collaboration and human connection – and technology helped us all the way through the process of making the film. You couldn’t make a movie like this by yourself. There were literally thousands of people working on the movie all over the world, including artists in places like India, Mexico City and Vancouver. I worked with a lot of the people through a purely digital connection over a conference call or cell phone connection or a video phone connection. Even though it’s a very high-tech film, my day to day work was all about communication with the people around me. I had to make sure everyone was working together and I had to keep the boat pointed in the right direction.
What new technologies or techniques were created to make the film?
KOSINSKI: We created cutting-edge suits, digital characters and we had the use of advanced 3D cameras for the making of the movie. We took three leading-edge technologies and combined them in one film in order to serve this story. When everything works together, you can make stunning images. It was a very challenging shoot, but I think it was worth it. I think we made the right choices to push the boundaries. I’m proud of everything we’ve done.
TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!
First Official Trailer for "TRON: Legacy"
Here is the first official trailer for Walt Disney Pictures' "TRON: Legacy""
Monday, April 4, 2011
2011 Kansas City FilmFest Begins Wednesday, April 6th
A Five-Day Feast of Films Kicks off at the AMC Theatres® Kansas City FilmFest
AMC Mainstreet 6 Hosts the 15th Annual Film Festival from April 6-10
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AMC Theatres (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company headquartered in Kansas City, and the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee proudly announce the details about the AMC Theatres Kansas City FilmFest, where you can see 135 diverse short and feature films by both local international filmmakers from 33 countries, including 13 feature-length films, all at AMC Mainstreet 6 from April 6-10.
Opening Night Double Feature: (Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. for $20 at AMC Mainstreet 6)
HAPPY NEW YEAR – Stars Michael Cuomo and showed at South by Southwest® Film Conference and Festival
THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE – Latest from Director Lee Tamahori, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival
Special Outdoor Benefit Screening: (Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. for $5 at the Kansas City Power & Light District)
COST OF A SOUL – Winner of the Big Break Movie Contest sponsored by AMC independent™ and Relativity Media’s Rogue, with Director Sean Kirkpatrick in attendance and the $5 ticket price benefiting Variety – The Children’s Charity of Kansas City
Special Benefit Screening: (Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. for $20 at AMC Mainstreet 6)
THE RIDE – Documentary of Phil Keoghan’s cross-continent bicycle trek to raise awareness of and funds for multiple sclerosis; half of the proceeds from the screening will benefit multiple sclerosis
Celebrities in Attendance:
Michael Biehn – Actor in THE TERMINATOR, THE VICTIM
Jennifer Blanc Biehn – Producer/Actress in THE VICTIM
Michael Cuomo – Producer/Actor in HAPPY NEW YEAR
Lorrel Manning – Writer/Director of HAPPY NEW YEAR
Phil Keoghan – Director of THE RIDE and Creator of “The Amazing Race”
Andy Anderson – Writer/Director of DETENTION
Michael Almereyda – Writer/Director of HAMLET and PARADISE
Film Journalists in Attendance:
Elvis Mitchell – Film Critic for Movieline.com and host of “The Treatment”
Jeff Goldsmith – Producer of “The Q&A” and former Senior Editor at Creative Screenwriting
Mark Bell – Owner/Publisher of FilmThreat
The AMC Theatres Kansas City FilmFest also offers a variety of educational seminars, each with a $5 admission charge, so that aspiring filmmakers can learn from the experts about how to finance, produce and exhibit their films. Tickets and schedules for the festival are available at http://www.kcfilmfest.org/. Individual tickets are $10 and festival-long passes are $60.
AMC Mainstreet 6 Hosts the 15th Annual Film Festival from April 6-10
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AMC Theatres (AMC), a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company headquartered in Kansas City, and the Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee proudly announce the details about the AMC Theatres Kansas City FilmFest, where you can see 135 diverse short and feature films by both local international filmmakers from 33 countries, including 13 feature-length films, all at AMC Mainstreet 6 from April 6-10.
Opening Night Double Feature: (Wednesday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. for $20 at AMC Mainstreet 6)
HAPPY NEW YEAR – Stars Michael Cuomo and showed at South by Southwest® Film Conference and Festival
THE DEVIL'S DOUBLE – Latest from Director Lee Tamahori, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival
Special Outdoor Benefit Screening: (Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m. for $5 at the Kansas City Power & Light District)
COST OF A SOUL – Winner of the Big Break Movie Contest sponsored by AMC independent™ and Relativity Media’s Rogue, with Director Sean Kirkpatrick in attendance and the $5 ticket price benefiting Variety – The Children’s Charity of Kansas City
Special Benefit Screening: (Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. for $20 at AMC Mainstreet 6)
THE RIDE – Documentary of Phil Keoghan’s cross-continent bicycle trek to raise awareness of and funds for multiple sclerosis; half of the proceeds from the screening will benefit multiple sclerosis
Celebrities in Attendance:
Michael Biehn – Actor in THE TERMINATOR, THE VICTIM
Jennifer Blanc Biehn – Producer/Actress in THE VICTIM
Michael Cuomo – Producer/Actor in HAPPY NEW YEAR
Lorrel Manning – Writer/Director of HAPPY NEW YEAR
Phil Keoghan – Director of THE RIDE and Creator of “The Amazing Race”
Andy Anderson – Writer/Director of DETENTION
Michael Almereyda – Writer/Director of HAMLET and PARADISE
Film Journalists in Attendance:
Elvis Mitchell – Film Critic for Movieline.com and host of “The Treatment”
Jeff Goldsmith – Producer of “The Q&A” and former Senior Editor at Creative Screenwriting
Mark Bell – Owner/Publisher of FilmThreat
The AMC Theatres Kansas City FilmFest also offers a variety of educational seminars, each with a $5 admission charge, so that aspiring filmmakers can learn from the experts about how to finance, produce and exhibit their films. Tickets and schedules for the festival are available at http://www.kcfilmfest.org/. Individual tickets are $10 and festival-long passes are $60.
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