Another 'Chained' review from FFF2012...

VIEWS FROM THE EDGE

Frightfest 2012: Chained

Jennifer Chambers Lynch is no stranger to controversy, in 1993 her debut feature Boxing Helena was received about as well as a plate of sick, between the performances of its cast, and the twisted tale the movie was forced into obscurity. Fast-forward to 2008 and Surveillance, really peeved people off with its ultra-violent and depraved storyline. As if this was not enough, Lynch has some big shoes to follow in, her father is David Lynch. When Chained was first screened in the US, it was greeted with familiar animosity, and some rather unexpected praise. 

Chained opens in the darkest of possible ways, a young boy nicknamed Rabbit (Evan Bird) rushes to open a locked door from inside a boarded up house, he is chained at the ankle. As he opens a door a woman is thrown through the door, and followed by Bob (Vincent D’Onofrio), who drags the woman by her hair into a room, where off camera Rabbit hears her murdered. 

Some years earlier Rabbit was out with his mother Sarah (Julia Ormond), hailing down a cab, they end up in the company of Bob, who takes them home, kills Sarah, and raises Rabbit as his own. While raised as Bob’s son, he is treated like a slave, over a decade passes with Rabbit never seeing daylight, but as he reaches adulthood Bob decides its time for Rabbit to go out, and carry on Bob’s work, picking up women and killing them.

Chained is a prime example of suggestion being as bad at the actual thing, so whereas so many movies show you everything that’s happening (i.e. death, brutal murder), Chained shows you nothing, but is delivered in such a way you think you have seen more than you have. The subject matter of sexual abuse, murder, and forced imprisonment, combined with some excellent direction create a volatile mix, and leave the viewer traumatized from the offset.

As Lynch took to the stage for the UK Premier as part of the Film 4 Frightfest, she apologized stating that the audience was going to spend the next two hours watching her movie, and they will never get that time back. Amazingly her movie passed in a heartbeat, and for the most part the audience loved it.

Chained is an excellent movie, filled with real raw emotion, and an insight into the creation of a real-life monster. The pace is excellent, never once is there time to become distracted, the movie captivates the viewer, pulls it in, and then slaps you round the face because you know that characters like Bob really exist. The performers are incredible from D’onofrio’s killer Bob, to the young Evan Bird, through to Eamon Farren who plays the older Rabbit. Most of all though, Lynch is the one that deserves the praise, she embraces controversy like a security blanket, and delivers her most accomplished piece of work to date. Granted it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you want a slap of dark reality, then Chained is the film for you.

When Lynch took to the stage again at the end of the movie, she implied that the movie was not quite how she wanted to leave it, maybe the production company made some edits, or at least ordered her too. She spoke with passion about a director’s cut that she would like to release at a later date. Whether it was her true vision or not, the movie still works on every level.  

FRIGHTFEST 2012 REVIEW: CHAINED

BLOGOMATIC3000

CHAINED

Stars: Vincent D’onofrio, Eamon Farren, Julia Ormond, Jake Weber, Conor Leslie, Evan Bird | Written by Jennifer Chambers Lynch, Damian O’Donnell | Directed by Jennifer Lynch

L’enfant terrible Jennifer Lynch, whose previous flick Hissss is yet to see the light of day in many territories (at least legally), is back with Chained, a serial-killer flick that looks like something that has stepped off 70s US television, yet plays like the the more sleazier side of the decade as seen in the grindhouse cinema of 42nd Street and movies such as Taxi Driver – with shades of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer thrown in for good measure!

Chained tells the story of Tim, a young boy who following an outing to the cinema with his mother, is abducted by Bob, an unlicensed taxi driver whose cab they hail. Driven out to the wilds of Saskatchewan and to the isolated home in which Bob lives, Tim’s mother (played by a cameo-ing Julia Ormond who also starred in Lynch’s Surveillance) is brutally murdered in front of Tim by the unflinching Bob. Taking Tim under his wing, Bob teaches Tim how to be the obedient slave come son-he-never-had, making him cook and clean and wait on his new “father”, not only that but also clean up after his kills and bury the bodies in the basement. Starting with Tim’s mother. Years pass and Tim, now re-christened “Rabbit” by Bob, remains in non-indentured servitude. However Bob is soon eager to teach the grown Tim the ways of the human body and have him experience a woman – in more ways than one. In short Bob’s looking for an heir to his serial-killing empire, and Rabbit is it.

If you’ve seen Lynch’s Surveillance you may remember her fantastic use of stark, almost empty locales, which gave that film a weird ethereal nature. Well with Chained she does it again, shooting the film in the wilds of Saskatchewan which, whilst contrary to the typical claustrophobic nature of the genre, still manages to make proceedings feel closed-in and isolated despite the vast open landscapes on which the film takes place. The sparse setting is also translated inside Bob’s home, with only enough furniture to make the place liveable whilst remaining a functional “lair” for his serial-killing exploits.

But Chained is not about the landscapes or the locales, it’s all about the characters of Bob and Rabbit; and it’s here where Lynch has once again pulled off somewhat of a coup in her casting choices. With character actor turned TV star Vincent D’onofrio (whose performance as Agent Goren in NBC’s Law & Order: Criminal Intent is one of the television greats) in the lead role as Bob, Lynch has an actor that once again brings his chameleon-like quality to this role. The antithesis of Agent Goren, Bob is a lumbering brute of a man who has a no-nonsense approach to life and to death; and D’onofrio plays the role with an air of pathos, which works to humanise the man even if his deeds are reprehensibly monstrous. However the real revelation is Eamon Farren. Last seen in the less-than-stellar wannabe exploitation flick X: Night of Vengeance, Farren brings a quite, often disarming, calm to his portrayal of Rabbit – this is a teenager teetering on the edge of sanity and he balances fragility and strength (both mental and physical) to perfection. And come the films final act you’re never really sure whether Rabbit has given in to Bob’s indoctrination. It’s credit to Farren that his performance is never lost alongside powerhouse D’onofrio.

Director Jennifer Lynch isn’t afraid to go to some pretty dark places in Chained, there’s an incredible streak of black comedy running throughout – nowhere more so than when Bob and Rabbit play “Go Fish” with the driving licenses of Bob’s dead victims. She also mounts an assault on the ears as well as the eyes, often cutting away from Bob’s actions and leaving the audio to tell the tale; and come the films final denouement it’s sound that continues the story…

A tense, bleak drama about a serial killer and his charge, Chained is for the most part a barn-storming success. It’s just a shame that Lynch chose to throw in a final twist that dampens the effect of all that has proceeded it.

Vincent D'Onofrio photo outtakes from Green Door Mag

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VIDEO: Cameron Diaz and Vincent D'Onofrio at Feeling Minnesota premiere

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Another 'Chained' review from FFF2012...

SF RADIO

FFF criticism: Chained

NO SPOILERS AND STILL NOT MUCH LOVE...

{TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN TO ENGLISH}

Life is too short for a film like Chained . The story about a serial killer who kidnapped a nine year old boy and tried to raise him as his successor, is a lesson in frustration (on the part of the audience) and overestimation (on the part of director).

He starts really good. The first fifteen minutes, the Rabbit, the name, the Bob is the boy who is thrust into this new and terrible world, works very well, but then commits the film a fatal mistake: He jumps ten years into the future and tells the rest of the story from the perspective of the elderly and of course totally disturbed Rabbit. This one is out as viewers of the film, we follow the rest from a long distance, because you can build up to either of the two figures a relationship - except, perhaps, he himself is a serial killer, that would probably help.What Chained to but right Frustration film makes is the brilliant acting performance of his main characters: Vincent D'Onofrio as Bob, Evan Bird and Eamon Farren as younger and older Rabbit. Had these skills embedded in a reasonable production and a good script, a great film would have been possible. Yet in this regard fails Jennifer Chambers Lynch, daughter of David Lynch, unfortunately. Her production drags predictable and tough until the end behämmerten completely gone. There is not one second of humor and only an unexpected turn (see keyword "behämmert"), otherwise stifled the film on his own importance. The director answered a few questions after the film and said, Chained would be cut in the United States only to come "to the movies because it's too intense and feels too real. " It could also be another way: For every minute that you are of Chained not surveying is a good minute.2/5 because of the great acting performance.

''Film4 FrightFest 2012: 'Chained' review''

CINE VUE

NO SPOILERS AND NO LOVE...

★☆☆☆☆

Surveillance (2008) director Jennifer Lynch returns to Film4 FrightFest screens this weekend with serial killer horror Chained (2012), which stars old-hand starring Vincent D'Onofrio and Eamon Farren. The film revolves around Bob (D'Onofrio), a taxi-driving psychopath who captures a young boy (Evan Bird) after murdering and raping his mother. Once chained up in Bob's remote bungalow, the boy is enslaved and descends into a mundane existence of endless cooking and cleaning.

Jumping forward in time, the abducted boy (renamed 'Rabbit') has grown up to become a broken and cowering young man (Farren). Totally indoctrinated by his maniacal captor, he lives in continual fear, responding to the whims of his cruel master who decides that he must now learn the tricks of his trade - or die.Chained's opening scene is shocking and powerful, with the young Rabbit staring on in utter fear as Bob commits this heinous central act. Yet as evocative as this into is, sadly it's the last truly enjoyable moment of an extremely clichéd horror.

Lynch's central characters are all significantly underdeveloped and uninteresting to watch, due mainly to the director's reliance on much over-used devices to justify actions and motives. D'Onofrio struggles to convey himself as anything other than a bumbling, overly-aggressive sicko, whose only justification for exclusively killing women is that they are all 'sluts and whores'.

This leads on to the next problem; each of Bob's female victims are nothing more than screaming faceless non-entities of characters. This treatment of women in certain types of horror cinema - in whichChained finds itself place - is swiftly becoming not only tiresome but incredibly dated. With the exception of Rabbit's late mother, who at least shows some signs of strength, all the featured women are either walk-on roles or dizzy bimbos. Lynch may have wanted to focus purely on the central protagonists; however this means that there is an even greater reliance on the strength of the performances and writing of the two leads, something that both the actors and the writing are unable to live up to. 

Disappointingly, Lynch's deeply exploitative Chained is a vacuous endeavour that attempts to redeem itself in its final throes, throwing at its audience a cheap twist that feels severely bolted-on out of pure desperation. You will have probably (nay, certainly) seen just this type of depraved, brainless movie many times before - and Lynch's attempt at a serial killer horror is neither new, nor interesting.

''Greta Scacchi: Madam Chair''

LA PRESSE

(TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH TO ENGLISH)

The famous actress Italian-English account preside over the jury of the film festival in the world in a democratic way, even putting aside his own feelings if necessary.

Greta Scacchi had just submit his luggage when we met. Its presence in the Montreal World Film Festival (WFF) him back to his memory the previous stays in the metropolitan area.

"I've never had the opportunity to accompany a film film festival in the world, but I turned to you in part two features that are very expensive," she says, insisting speak French, a language she mastered very well. " Salt on Our Skin ( vessels of the heart ), Andrew Birkin, is linked to an intimate part of my life since my playing partner, Vincent D'Onofrio, is also the father of my daughter. This is also the third day of the shoot I learned that I was pregnant. Our daughter is 20 years old now. And she studied drama! Later, there was The Red Violin, a meeting with François Girard beautiful. "

Born in Italy to an English mother and an Italian father, Greta Scacchi has lived in Australia as a teenager. "I feel as Australian than Italian and English, she said. I travel with an Italian passport and Australian! "

Revealed in the early 80s with Heat and Dust ( Heat and Dust ) by James Ivory, the actress quickly found among the most requested comedians on the international level. Mischief White (Michael Radford), A man in love ( Diane Kurys), Good Morning, Babylon(Paolo and Vittorio Taviani), Presumed Innocent (Alan J. Pakula)Jefferson in Paris (James Ivory), The Player (Robert Altman) is required from the flagship titles filmography very rich.

"In hindsight, I think I probably found my biggest film role with James Ivory and Heat and Dust , she says. I've had other great roles later, but I've never had the opportunity to play another character as rich as this one. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala is a writer exception. I've never been separated from her novel during the filming. "

Residing mainly in the English countryside, the actress will take advantage of his stay at the WFF to full international productions, which are often sentenced to a diffusion confidential.

"To see some, I have to go to London, she says. Even then, they are not showing very long.Holding a festival is a great opportunity to remember that artistic success is measured not only at the box office. "

The Presidency, a surprise

The FFM, Greta Scacchi account its role in a democratic president.

"I am honored by the privilege given to me. I also was surprised that the presidency gives me.Over the years, I have had the opportunity to be a member of several juries. The experience always proves rewarding. It is interesting how the allegiances are made and unmade. In 1996, I was fortunate to be a member of the jury of the Cannes Film Festival and I developed an immediate complicity with Atom Egoyan, who was also part. We were inseparable. Then, on the fourth day, a film on which we were not at all agree separated us! Not everything is black and white when it comes to a work of art. This is what fascinates me. "

Thus, the actress will take to model Francis Coppola, the same one who presided over the jury at Cannes in 1996. "Francis took into account all opinions, even those members who supported a film he hated. He respected the choices of others. Believe me, it does not always happen like that! "

The Red Violin François Girard is presented under the stars next Wednesday at 20:30.

''Psst! Wanna See SINISTER First?! Here’s How!''

VERY AWARE

We’ve got exciting news to share with y’all. Were you amongst the people who were super jealous of those who caught SINISTER at a secret screening at South By Southwest? Well, be jealous no more! Now you have the chance to be amongst the few to see the chiller first too! Summit Entertainment’s SINISTER is holding special sneak previews across the country two weeks before release, allowing fans to create their own hometown premieres at their local theater. Be the first to see the year’s most terrifying film by creating your very own hometown premiere in your city through Tugg.com, which allows people to choose the films they want to see at their local theater. For one week only, fans will have the unique opportunity to create their own hometown premiere event for SINISTER ahead of its wide theatrical release on October 5. And how cool is that?!

Join a screening that’s currently live OR request one in your hometown here. Please note that additional screening availability is limited. Summit Entertainment will determine the additional requested screenings and cities. Screenings that reach the attendance threshold will receive a limited edition collectible poster for SINISTER. And the filmmakers will be available for Q&As in select cities (to be announced at a later time)!

So what are you waiting for? Get to requesting as this is a film you’ll want to have bragging rights to.

See 'Sinister' in Atlanta, GA on September 26TH!

HUGE NEWS! 

'The Hollywood Projects is teaming with FilmDispenser.com and IGN to host the Atlanta Premiere of SINISTER, the new horror film that killed at the SXSW film festival and has collected a huge batch of wild rave reviews. 

Summit Entertainment is offering Hollywood Projects readers a chance to purchase tickets to the premiere of SINISTER in Atlanta on September 26, over a week in advance of its nationwide release. And, yes, this picture is a big, big deal. 

SINISTER stars Ethan Hawke and Vincent D’Onofrio in a story by C. Robert Cargill (Massawyrm from Ain’t it Cool News). The film is directed by the guy who made the very solid THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE and produced by the guy behind INSIDIOUS and the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY films. This movie is no slouch.

Visit this link to purchase tickets and confirm the event. 

Happy (early) Halloween!

Special screening of 'Sinister' for South Florida...

Hey South Florida

Want to see what is being called the scariest film so far this year, by people who attended the SXSW secret screening of SINISTER? We are bringing the new movie SINISTER (from the producer of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY and INSIDIOUS) to Miami, Florida for a special engagement Tugg screening, one week before its theatrical release. Summit Entertaiment has decided to partner with Tugg on SINISTER instead of going the traditional promo screening route in order to make sure only the true horror fans attend.

ShockTillYouDrop.com and Keepitclassic.com is pleased to bring this new Scott Derrickson directed film SINISTER, starring Ethan Hawke and Vincent D’Onofrio to South Florida. Come join host Marc Ferman (who will also be celebrating his birthday just a few hours later) and as a gift, he wants to share SINISTER with you.

The event will include a brief introduction. We want to continue to bring awesome movies to Miami so support the cause. Make sure to purchase your tickets NOW!!!

Tickets can only be purchased through Tugg, not at the theater. Also, when you reserve your tickets, you will not be charged for them until we reach our 61 ticket threshold. I hope to see you there!

Be the first to see SINISTER at this early hometown premiere, one week before its wide release!! If our screening reaches the attendance threshold we will all receive a limited edition collectible poster!!

GRAB YOUR TICKETS HERE!!!

PHOTOS: Vincent D'Onofrio in 'Green Door' Mag...

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THANX, MARIAN!

It's official, Daryl Hannah joins 'A Fall From Grace'

HORROR BUG

Friday August 24th, 2012 by horrorbug

Rumors have been out there for a while and now it is official: Daryl Hannah joins Tim Roth and Vincent D’Onofrio in Jennifer Lynch’s ‘A Fall from Grace’ in the role of Anabelle Lawson.

Famed auteur Jennifer Lynch takes the helm for her fifth effort, both on the page and behind the camera with the modern thriller ‘A Fall from Grace’, starring Academy Award nominated actor Tim Roth. We have the just released teaser trailer for you, narrated by Bill Pullman.

The producers – including Jennifer Lynch and David Michaels, the director and author of ‘Chinatown’ and the TV series ‘Macabre Theatre’ – are angling to start production as early as this fall/winter on location in St. Louis, MO. Oscar-nominated actor Tim Roth will star in the movie’s lead role, alongside Vincent D’Onofrio and Cedric the Entertainer as has been announced today. The remainder of the cast is presently being assembled.

Keep it here on HorrorBug for more news as it comes in…

Left for dead, 'Sister Spirit' is revived...

TIMES UNION

After "difficult journey" of legal, financial issues, most bills paid in region 
By Paul Grondahl Published 8:10 p.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012 

ALBANY — The show will go on for Sister Spirit after a two-year dispute.

The feature-length independent movie shot locally was halted after an investor defaulted and a lawsuit was filed by the production company, Sister Spirit, and hundreds of Capital Region residents received checks that bounced or nothing at all for their work.

Now, most of the bills have been paid, filming was completed and the production has the green light.

The offbeat comedy is described as a chick flick with overtones of "The Hangover." The writers and co-stars are June Raphael and Casey Wilson, a "Saturday Night Live" alumna. The cast includes Alicia Silverstone, Jon Cryer and Vincent D'Onofrio.

The buddy movie is about best friends who go on a cross-country road trip to win a beauty pageant that eluded them as girls. It was shot in and around Albany during more than three weeks of location work in the summer of 2010, including a large dance scene at a North Pearl Street nightclub.

The majority of local vendors and hundreds of extras owed money for their work on the film — its working title is "Ass Backwards" — have been paid, long after some had given up hope of ever receiving compensation.

An angel investor stepped in, paid long-overdue bills and financed the final days of shooting in New York City last month. The film is being edited and will be shown at film festivals in the hope of finding a distributor and reaching theater screens in 2013.

The film was rescued by Dori Sperko, who three years ago sold National Employers Co., a Florida employee leasing company. Sperko agreed to shoulder the remaining costs of the roughly $1 million "Ass Backwards" project as its executive producer.

"It's been a really long, difficult journey that caused a lot of pain for many people," said producer Heather Rae, who produced the Academy Award-winning movie "Frozen River." Another producer, Molly Conners, an Albany native who worked with Rae on "Frozen River," also invested heavily with her own money on the project. Conners lives in Brooklyn and is a daughter of Albany County Comptroller Michael Conners.

Rae said she invested her family's life savings of $200,000 in the project, had her car repossessed and lost her Boise, Idaho home to foreclosure after financing for the low-budget indie movie fell apart. She and her husband relocated to Los Angeles.

Rae filed a lawsuit in state Supreme Court in November 2010 against former IBM executive David M. Thomas, who lives in the Boston area, for defaulting on a contract for a $1 million line of credit with which he agreed to bankroll the production.

Rae's attorneys, who worked pro bono, won a judgment against a limited liability corporation, Better Late Than Never, that Thomas created for the film. It has no assets and Rae is doubtful she will ever recover monetary damages. Thomas could not be reached for comment.

"The good news is that it's a good movie and very funny," Rae said. "At the end of the day, everybody who had a part in it is going to be proud of this film."

"It had been so long, we had written it off," said James Pentaudi, who booked more than 100 local people as extras through his management firm, Albany Talent. "Now that people have been paid, it has a happy ending."

Non-union extras were owed $40 a day and members of the Screen Actors Guild were set to be paid the union minimum of $139 per day as extras. Pentaudi was supposed to receive a 10 percent commission from the extras, but those payments have only begun to trickle in.

"I've seen bankruptcies in this business and it's rare when they actually recover and make payments," Pentaudi said.

"The girls did the best they possibly could and made sure people got paid," said casting agent Rita Powers, based in New York City, who cast more than 200 extras. "They lost a lot of money themselves and it was a very rough ride."

The producers were able to negotiate a lower payment with most creditors. Not everyone was happy with those arrangements.

"I'm not going to take pennies on the dollar," said Steven Feldman, owner of Birch Hill Catering in Schodack, who is owed nearly $9,000 for feeding 150 members of the cast and crew during shooting. He also wants interest.

"I'm not going to write it off. I expect full payment before they show that movie," he said."

Jennie Glasser, of Tremont Rentals in Averill Park, said her firm has not been paid the $900 it was owed for tent rentals. "We gave up sending out invoices, but we'll re-send it now that we might get paid," she said.

Rae said about 95 percent of the people owed money negotiated a lower payment "because they understood the distressed nature of our business."

It was the first time in 20 movies she produced that Rae was burned. "We did the same procedure we normally do to make sure an investor is legitimate and we'd never faced this problem before," Rae said. "I learned a hard lesson. From now on, I make sure an investor funds every single dollar up front."

Rae hopes that once-disgruntled local folks have forgiven Sister Spirit now that most of its bills have been repaid.

"This was a very humbling experience, but if the Albany community wants us to come back, we'd do a premiere there," Rae said. "We appreciate Albany, it's Molly's hometown and we'd be thrilled to come back to show everyone the great movie they helped us make."

''VINCENT D’ONOFRIO & THE 13TH ANNUAL WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL''

GREENDOOR MAG
Published In: Fall 2012 - Vol 2 No 3
Written By: Akira Ohiso
Photography: Chris Zedano

Vincent D’Onofrio wants you to spend Fall at the Woodstock Film Festival. Meira Blaustein, co-founder and executive director of the Woodstock Film Festival, has fond memories of the first film festival twelve years ago. On a shoestring budget, community centers and art galleries around Woodstock were retrofitted to screen films. Blaustein remembers Barbara Kopple’s My Generation, a film documenting the three Woodstock music festivals, as a highlight. The first year also celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of Stop Making Sense, the Talking Heads concert movie directed by Jonathan Demme. It was screened at the legendary Bearsville Theater in Woodstock where organizers removed the seats to create a dance floor. Confused audience members, not knowing what to do, chose to dance.

This embodies the magic of the festival where passion, spontaneity and creativity thrive. The festival is known for its exciting panel series where one can see some of the top professionals in their respective fields and get a serious crash course on the various topics being presented. Each year, Academy Award nominated animator, Bill Plympton, co-curates the world-class animation program. Originally conceived as part of the 1999 Woodstock Music Festival, the film festival continues to pay homage to its musical roots with live concerts that are tied to the movies being shown. Past performers include Levon Helm, Bela Fleck, Arlo Guthrie and Donovan.

Actor Vincent D’Onofrio, a strong supporter of the festival, says, “You meet the most interesting filmmakers; every time I go I end up having a two or three hour conversation with people in a room somewhere, impromptu conversations with filmmakers from all over the world.” Diverse programming showcases film professionals from Russia to Mexico to right here in our own backyard.

Now in its thirteenth year, the festival has become a premiere regional event where actors and filmmakers abound. You may run into celebrities at local restaurants, coffee shops, panel discussions and, yes, movies. Past attendees include Steve Buscemi, Melissa Leo, Ethan Hawke and Mark Ruffalo. The festival recently moved its operations to the new Film Center on Rock City Road. “We spent an enormous amount of time, energy, and a ton of money scrambling to find and renovate space each year to fulfill our needs, so the new Film Center offers us the opportunity to consolidate and grow to continue providing extraordinary programming and economic benefit to the region,” says Blaustein.

There is an ongoing capital campaign in conjunction with the Hudson Valley Film Commission to complete the center. The Film Center will host filmmakers, film- related workshops, classes, special events and serve as a hub for the film festival and film commission events such as casting calls, screenings and board meetings.

The festival is a non-profit organization with zero commercial drive other than showcasing worthy independent films and filmmakers. It relies on grants, sponsorships, philanthropic efforts and the residents of the surrounding Hudson Valley communities for support. "The Film Center will enhance our ability to continue creating, assisting and promoting sustainable, clean, economic development by bringing jobs, educational opportunities and revenue to the community via film, video and media production," says Hudson Valley Film Commission Director Laurent Rejto. The festival now receives about two thousand film submissions a year. Only one hundred and twenty-five films are selected. Blaustein also attends movie festivals around the world cherry picking film for possible inclusion. She likes filmmakers who may not have reached their peak but show promise. The selection process is highly competitive so Blaustein turns to the advisory panel and established filmmakers for their expertise.

Last year, for the first time, the festival expanded its reach by screening movies outside of Woodstock at the Rosendale Theater in Rosendale and Upstate Films in Rhinebeck. Festival organizers want to correct a misnomer that the Woodstock Film Festival is only for Woodstock. The festival is an artistic and economic generator for the entire Hudson Valley that highlights a region rich in location and talent. The festival works with the Hudson Valley Film Commission to foster and support the film industry in the Hudson Valley.

There is no doubt that the festival has grown, but, even so, Blaustein has not wavered in the festival’s mission. “We have a specific personality that has to do with fiercely independent films, singular vision, subject matter that is of value and groundbreaking styles.”

Blaustein understands that there is a balance and getting too big would undermine the character of the festival. “Intimacy is one of its strengths.” Blaustein has mixed feelings about recent trends in filmmaking such as the propagation of digital filmmaking. “Now anyone can readily make a movie, which democratizes filmmaking but also saturates the landscape with mediocre films and makes it harder for truly worthwhile films to stand out,” says Blaustein. “I think we’re in a transitional period with digital,” added D’Onofrio. “The bigger budget films are all shooting digital, everybody is shooting digital and everybody is using the economy as an excuse to pay people less.”

With less pay and tighter movie budgets, the delineation between independents and blockbusters has become blurred. “It will be interesting in five years when the economy gets better", says D’Onofrio. “The only true independent films that are made right now are made for $100, 000 or less and are shot in someone’s backyard.”

Regardless, Blaustein reminds us of what’s most important. “Storytelling hasn’t changed. In order to make a good movie you have to tell a good story.”

D’Onofrio started attending the festival as a fan and now wouldn’t miss it. He is impressed with the genuineness and artistic integrity of the festival. “Actors don’t need to be nervous about going to the Woodstock Film Festival because nothing is ever asked of you that’s in any way exploitive.” He is a member of the advisory board along with other actors like Ethan Hawke and he does anything he can to help promote the festival. A couple of years back, his movie Don’t Go Into The Woods was screened at the festival. It’s a horror/musical shot on his farm (backyard) in the Kingston area. Screened at an outdoor venue, the mix of Woodstockian night, gore and musical numbers made for pleased, if terrified, moviegoers. 

D’Onofrio continues to work as an actor with five new films in post-production, but now devotes time to developing films from the ground up. He has several of his own projects in the early stages of development. “I think everything I make will be shown at Woodstock,” says D’Onofrio.

This year’s festival runs October 10th to 14th and tickets go on sale mid-September. Tickets will be available earlier at the Woodstock box office so make sure you check the website regularly for festival lineups, musical performers, ticket info and travel accommodations. There are a limited number of tickets available to the public for The Opening Night Party, The Friday Night Filmmaker Party and The Maverick Awards Ceremony and Gala. Merchants in Woodstock, Rhinebeck and Rosendale will have special offers for ticket holders and there are special lodging packages for weekenders up from the city.

SUBSCRIBE TO GREEN DOOR HERE

FOR MORE INFO:
www.woodstockfilmfestival.com

Fantasy and Fright...

FANTASY FILMFEST

Fantasy FilmFest starts today.  It jumps around in various cities and can get confusing.  Here is the schedule:

FESTIVAL DATES

BERLIN 21. – 29. AUG  'CHAINED' AUGUST 23RD, DIRECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT
HAMBURG 22. – 29. AUG 'CHAINED' AUGUST 26TH, DIRECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT
MUNICH 28. AUG – 05. SEPT 'CHAINED' SEPTEMBER 3RD, DIRECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT
STUTTGART 29. AUG – 05. SEPT 'CHAINED' AUGUST 31ST, DIRECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT
FRANKFURT 05. – 12. SEPT 'CHAINED' SEPTEMBER 8TH AND 12TH, DRTR'S SPOTLIGHT
COLOGNE 06. – 13. SEPT 'CHAINED' SEPTEMBER 9TH, DIRECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT
NUREMBERG 06. – 13. SEPT 'CHAINED' SEPTEMBER 8TH, DIRECTOR'S SPOTLIGHT

While all of that is going on, Film4 FrightFest jumps in over in London. Scheduled in this film festival are 'Sinister' and 'Chained'. Here is that schedule:

AUGUST 26TH 'SINISTER'
AUGUST 27TH 'CHAINED'

2012 FRIGHTFEST GOODIE BAG. Film4 FrightFest is delighted to reveal the 2012 goodie bag. This year sponsored by Momentum Pictures and their release SINISTER, which is screening on Sunday, 26 August at 9 PM. SINISTER hits UK cinemas on 5 October 2012. This year as well as being given to Festival pass holders the bag will also go to FrightFesters who have bought all five day passes for the event. As usual in the bag will be packed with DVDs, books, magazines and heaps of other interesting stuff. Details on how you can get your hands on your goodie bag will be announced from the stage at the festival. Our thanks go to Momentum for sponsoring this year's bag and all the other companies who have so generously supported us this year. We could not continue to do with out you.

 

Stay tuned for reactions from the folks overseas!

Happy 51ST, Bobby Goren...

'Heroes Behind The Badge'

I received this nice email from one of the producers of 'Heroes Behind The Badge' and here is a teaser trailer of what is to come..

From: Drew Goldsack

Sent: August 13, 2012 11:08 PM

To: vincentdonofrionews@hotmail.com

Subject: Vincent and Heroes Project

Hello, just wanted to thank you for supporting Vincent D’Onofrio and Heroes Behind The Badge! It’s great to see that you have a link to our pre-order page at the top of your page too!

I am a producer for the film and we are very excited to have him on board with this powerful and moving documentary film. In case you haven’t seen it, please check out our trailer here:

http://youtu.be/TMJCOEOGYggAs well as our official Facebook release including a photo with Vincent D’Onofrio: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=400239286705673&set=a.276844999045103.66756.269650873097849&type=1&relevant_count=1

Thanks for your support!

-Drew Goldsack

Heroes Behind The Badge

Modern City Entertainment

Published on Jun 11, 2012 by HeroesBehindTheBadge 

Heroes Behind The Badge is a new documentary film honoring the brave men and women of Law Enforcement. You can help support these heroes and this film project by clicking 'like' on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/heroesbehindthebadge and by following us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/heroesbtb. If you'd like to be put on the pre-order list for the film, please visit the NLEOMF page: http://www.nleomf.org/officers/heroes-behind-the-badge/ Thank You! 

A documentary film featuring some of the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line and survived, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This inspiring documentary will change the way we look at the men and women of law enforcement and highlight the unselfish acts of bravery they commit each day in the line of duty. 50% of all proceeds from the film will go to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. 

To be released fall 2012.

http://www.heroesbehindthebadge.com

Heroes Behind The Badge

We're excited to announce that Emmy® Award-nominated actor, and star of Law & Order, Vincent D’Onofrio has signed on to narrate Heroes Behind The Badge!

D’Onofrio, (pictured second from right) poses with the Executive Director of the Police Unity Tour, Harry Phillips, (right) Craig Floyd, (left) Chairman and CEO of NLEOMF and Officer Ryan Williams of Fond du Lac, WI. PD, (second from left) as he receives the Officer of the Month award. Officer Williams' heroic story will be featured in our upcoming documentary film.

POLICEONE.COM

Washington, DC — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and Modern City Entertainment are pleased to announce that Emmy® Award-nominated feature-film actor and National Law Enforcement Museum National Spokesperson, Vincent D’Onofrio, has signed on to narrate Heroes Behind the Badge, a moving and gripping documentary about the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers serving across America.

Directed by two-time British Academy Award winner Wayne Derrick and set for release in fall 2012, Heroes Behind the Badge aims to change the way the public perceives the men and women of law enforcement. The film will highlight some of the unselfish acts of bravery law enforcement professionals commit each day in the line of duty.

Though many are familiar with Vincent D’Onofrio’s work as an actor, they might not know about his dedication to the law enforcement community and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. His work with Heroes Behind the Badge joins a long list of ways D’Onofrio has continually shown his support for law enforcement.

“We are thrilled to have Vincent D’Onofrio working with us,” said Heroes Behind the Badge Director Wayne Derrick. “I could not think of a more fitting person to narrate this inspiring film,” he said. Filmed throughout the U.S., Heroes Behind the Badge will highlight the lives of four fallen officers and the enormous impact their passing has had on their family members, colleagues, and community. The film will also feature the stories of three officers who narrowly escaped their assailants. These living legends will share their personal insights about how their near-fatal encounters have affected their lives. Produced in partnership with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Heroes Behind the Badge will also highlight the National Police Week events held in Washington, DC, including the annual May 13th Candlelight Vigil—where the names of fallen officers added to the Memorial each year are read aloud and formally dedicated—and the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Day service held at the U.S. Capitol on May 15. “Vincent D’Onofrio has been a long-time supporter and friend of law enforcement,” said Craig W. Floyd, Chairman & CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “He is an excellent addition to Heroes Behind the Badge and we are privileged to work with him on this project,” Mr. Floyd added.

'''Law & Order: SVU' books 'Criminal Intent' star Kathryn Erbe''

ZAP 2 IT

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" may be no more, but its characters -- or one of them, at least -- are still kicking.

Kathryn Erbe, who starred on "Criminal Intent" for nine of its 10 seasons, will guest-star on an episode of "Law & Order: SVU" in the fall, TVLine reports. She'll reprise her role as Detective Alexandra Eames, who's now working with a joint NYPD/Homeland Security task force.

Erbe's episode will have the SVU team investigating a sex-trafficking case that may have ties to terrorists, hence the Homeland Security angle.

When we last saw Eames, she was picking up Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) from a final therapy session in the somewhat underwhelming "Criminal Intent" series finale. The character has apparently moved on to a new job within the NYPD, so a surprise cameo from Goren doesn't seem in the offing.

Erbe is set for just a single episode of "SVU" so far, TVLine says, but she could return later in the season as well.

''D'Onofrio is blistering'' Review: 'Chained'

Chained | Review
JASON WIDGINGTON
AUGUST 14, 2012

MILD SPOILERS

ION CINEMA 

A Jennifer Lynch film never fails to polarize audiences. 1993′s Boxing Helena was widely panned by critics and avoided by filmgoers, but a small cult audience – including a few cinema scholars – found much to like about the story of a man and his quadruple-amputee hostage. Surveillance, Lynch’s 2008 followup, was even more divisive. This dark and violent film about differing points of view of a highway slaughter in a small town was either loathed or adored by critics and audiences alike, although the divide was a little more even than in 1993. Lynch’s films will never receive middle of the road reactions, and her latest, Chained is likely to follow along the same response.

Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket) plays Bob, a taxi driver who happens to also be a serial killer, luring his fares out to his rural home to rape and murder them. One day, Bob picks up a woman (Julia Ormond, Surveillance) and her young son outside a theater and proceeds to take them to his house, murder the mother, and tell the boy that he now belongs to him and will cook his food and clean his house and not ask any questions, and that his new name is Rabbit. Obviously this is no normal father-son relationship, as Bob is evidently grooming Rabbit to take over the family business. As the years go by and the young Rabbit (Evan Bird of AMC’s The Killing) grows into the teenaged Rabbit (relative newcomer Eamon Farren), we are treated to a series of vignettes showing this ‘odd couple’ in action: here’s Rabbit trying to escape; here’s Bob teaching Rabbit some valuable life lessons; here’s Rabbit digging a grave for Bob’s latest victim; here are both of them playing a deranged game of cards using Bob’s victims’ IDs; here’s Bob slamming a high school yearbook down on the table and demanding that the horrified Rabbit pick his own first victim, etc. 

This all leads up to the third act and its twist ending, which some will see as needlessly contrived. Yet while the plot itself is simple enough, Lynch’s films are never really about story, are they? Like Boxing Helena and Surveillance before it, Chained is, first and foremost, a character study – one which is driven by the stellar performances of the two main actors. D’Onofrio is blistering in his portrayal of Bob, a tortured soul haunted by his past and determined to pay that torture forward. He owns the screen whenever he’s on it, with his (purposely) unplaceable accent and stooped posture evoking pathos even while evil courses through his veins. And Farren portrays Rabbit with aplomb, displaying the dread of and resignation to his fate in equal amounts and with complete believability. Which is to say nothing of the camera work and editing. With shots that linger for what seems like minutes without dialogue, Lynch and her crew seem perfectly happy – and rightfully so – to just let D’Onofrio and Farren do their thing.

Depending on how you look at Chained once the final credits roll and you’ve had time to absorb it, you can come away with the notion that it’s a rather ham-fisted diatribe against child abuse whose main purpose is to shock, or you can just revel in what are two of the finest performances in genre cinema this year or any year. In actuality, it’s a little bit of both, and perhaps that was Jennifer Lynch’s plan all along.

Reviewed at the 2012 Fantasia Int. Film Festival – 105 Mins.

''A Fall From Grace'' invites investors...

ST. LOUIS TODAY

The producers of the upcoming thriller "A Fall from Grace" have added more names to the list of stars who may be coming to St. Louis this fall. Vincent D'Onofrio (of the TV series "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" and the movie "Full-Metal Jacket") is slated to play the father of a kidnap victim. Daryl Hannah ("Kill Bill") is in talks to play victim's mother.

The role of the cop who pursues the kidnapper/killer is already set. Tim Roth ("Reservoir Dogs") got the ball rolling for director/co-writer Jennifer Lynch ("Boxing Helena") when he agreed to play the St. Louis detective. He was soon joined by hometowner Cedric the Entertainer as the city coroner.

Now that there's a director, a script, some stars and a very photogenic river city, all that's missing is the money. But they're working on it, discussing tax credits with the states of Missouri and Illinois and inviting investors to pitch in.

Keep watching this space for updates. Or if you've got money to burn, contact Apothecary Films for your piece of the action.

EMAIL:  info@apothecaryfilms.net