Monthly Archives: February 2007

THINK and Killer to Partner From: PRNewswire | Date: February 22, 2007 Photo: Killer Films (Thank you, Cris!) NEW YORK, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Killer Films, one of the leading forces in independent filmmaking for over 12 years, and independent film distributor THINKFilm, today announced an exciting new partnership whereby Killer will develop and produce films that THINKFilm will finance and distribute on a worldwide basis. The deal, which is jointly announced by Killer principals Christine Vachon, Pam Koffler, and Katie Roumel, together with THINKFilm President and CEO Jeff Sackman and Theatrical division Head Mark Urman, is effective immediately, and is consistent with THINKFilm’s new mandate to increase the scope and size of its slate and get involved with select projects from their earliest stages of production. “Since our inception we have aimed to collaborate with people who share our taste and our approach,” says Killer’s Vachon, “and we believe that the THINK team and the Killer family coul dn’t be more like-minded and compatible.” Urman adds, “We are thrilled to formalize this deal with Killer. They have the most amazing track record and depth of experience, yet have managed to retain the joy and enthusiasm of absolute beginners.” Randy Manis, THINKFilm’s Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Affairs, who negotiated the deal with CAA and John Sloss and Dan Steinman of Sloss Law Office, describes the partnership as follows: “We have created a unique construct that allows each company to benefit from the other’s strengths in all areas of film production and distribution, effectively replicating the structure of a studio specialty division. THINKFilm will have the right to finance any or all of Killer’s productions and, where it is not so involved, the company’s International Sales division will play a key role in setting up the films overseas.” Manis concludes that “Killer’s development slate is teeming with compelling, cutting-edge material. With a guarantee of superio r distribution, both here and around the world, these films, and many new ones, will be able to move forward at a rapid pace.” About THINKFilm THINKFilm, a privately held production and distribution company with offices in New York and Toronto, recently ushered in a new era after being bought by film financier and producer David Bergstein, who is now the company’s Chairman. Boasting five Academy Award nominations in as many years, with the recent “Best Actor” nomination for Ryan Gosling in HALF NELSON ( http://www.thinkfilmhighlights.com/), and a win for the documentary BORN INTO BROTHELS in 2005, THINKFilm’s current releases include: AVENUE MONTAIGNE by Daniele Thompson on February 16th; Jake Kasdan’s THE TV SET starring David Duchovny, Sigourney Weaver and Ioan Gruffudd on April 6th; David Wain’s THE TEN starring Paul Rudd, Jessica Alba and Winona Ryder on August 3rd; and the 2007 Sundance prize-winner IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON about the history of the Apollo missions to the moon on September 7th. For more information, please visit http://www.thinkfilmcompany.com. About Killer Films Founded in 1995, Killer Films, run by Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler and Katie Roumel, has had a particularly productive year. In addition to producing four films, the company opened its first Los Angeles office, headed by Jocelyn Hayes Simpson. 2007 also marks the seventh year of collaboration between Killer and John Wells Productions. The company is partially funded through a unique partnership with JWP, and John Wells serves as an executive producer on each Killer film. Current and recent Killer productions include Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There” with Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, and Heath Ledger; Tommy O’Haver’s “An American Crime” with Catherine Keener, Ellen Page, James Franco and Bradley Whitford; Tom Kalin’s “Savage Grace” with Julianne Moore; “Then She Found Me” which is co-written and directed by Helen Hunt, and starring Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick; and Ira Glass’s “This American Life” which is Killer’s first foray into episodic TV and will air on Showtime in March. Prior films on the roster include “Far From Heaven” which received four Academy Award nominations in 2002, Kimberly Peirce’s Academy Award-winning Boys Don’t Cry, John Cameron Mitchell’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,’ and Mark Romanek’s “One Hour Photo” with Robin Williams. For more information, please visit http://www.killerfilms.com. Web site: Killer Films Web site: Think Film Company

Show: American Masters Episode: (#2001) “Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built” Network: (PBS) Public Broadcasting Service Date: Wednesday – May 2, 2007 Time: 9/8c PM Duration: 2 Hours About: American Masters: (#2001) “Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built” Photo: Alan Light Ahmet Ertegun, a young Turk — literally — had a passion for the African-American music he heard in segregated clubs in Washington, DC, in the 1940s. He sent these sounds to England, where they merged with the European sensibility, and he brought this revolutionary new genre back across the ocean. He found Ray Charles, he introduced Eric Clapton to Aretha Franklin, he signed the Rolling Stones. He created talent and taste, he defined careers, he changed lives — Ertegun and his small Atlantic Records label determined the course of what we have listened to for decades. “Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built” follows Ertegun’s remarkable career and its impact on the evolution of the world’s most popular musical genre. The film, produced by Thirteen/WNET New York and Warner Music Group, features rare, private and classic clips, performances and studio sessions of Atlantic recording artists. Includes 1938 Ertegun Family home movies and performance clips from the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival’s Tribute to Atlantic Records and Ahmet Ertegun. Features interviews with James Blunt, Solomon Burke, Chris Blackwell, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, David Geffen, Taylor Hackford, Mick Jagger, Mick Jones, Leiber and Stoller, Kid Rock, Ben E. King, Henry Kissinger, Wynton Marsalis, Sergio Mendes, Bette Midler, Paolo Nutini, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Percy Sledge, Jann Wenner, Jerry Wexler and family members. About: American Masters AMERICAN MASTERS, which pioneered the television biography genre, continues to offer insightful profiles of important figures in America’s artistic and cultural life. PBS SERIES PAGE: American Masters

Luxe Life Robin Leach Feb 22, 2007 Photo: Robin Leach and Bette Midler There maybe one special sweetener in the contract that Bette Midler is currently negotiating with the Caesars Palace executives to take over from Celine Dion when the Canadian songbird winds up her four-year residency this coming December at the Colosseum. And it involves chicken quesadillas! Turns out that she’s a regular at star chef Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill in her downtown Manhattan neighborhood. The Food Network star told me that he happily opened up his Caesars Palace outpost just for Bette to enjoy the spicy chicken quesadillas in quiet and privacy while she’s been visiting Sin City this week. So when Bette begins her run here she now knows that the taste treat will be available to her whenever she wants; in the restaurant or delivered steps away to her dressing room!