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Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead Blu-Ray Review

Starring: Allen Maldonado, Lauren May Shafer, Jana Thompson, Gavin Grazer with Courtney Gains and Sid Haig.

Written by Douglas Schulze and Joshua Wagner

Directed by Douglas Schulze

Mimesis, the word meaning ‘mimicry’ or ‘imitation’, is the beginning of what the filmmakers hope to be a series of films in which the premise is that a group of ‘thrill seekers’ set out to recreate classic horror films and play them out their way. The first of these films, Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead, comes to DVD and Blu-Ray Feb 10 from Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Seven complete strangers, whose only common link is a love for classic era horror films and their attendance at the same horror convention, are invited to attend an exclusive “horror fan” party at a remote farm after convention hours. The group wake the next day, apparently drugged,...

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment has just released Mimesis on Blu-ray and DVD, a thriller that puts an entirely different spin on the horror genre, and its fans. The story centers on seven strangers who are invited to a horror-themed party. The next day, they all wake up with different "costumes" on, only to discover that they are actually trapped in a bizarre re-enactment of Night of the Living Dead with real-life zombies. Even though Valentine's Day isn't the most ideal time for a film like this to come out, we're sure there are a few of you lovebirds out there who share the same gory appetite for blood and zombies. We have a contest lined up where fans can take home the Blu-ray, perfect for a night of flesh-eating for anyone. Take a look at how you can win.

Winners Receive:

Mimesis Blu-ray

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan...

*there are spoilers here. Director: Douglas Schulze. Writers: Douglas Schulze and Joshua Wagner. Cast: Allen Maldonado, Sid Haig, Lauren Mae Shafer, Courtney Gains, Taylor Piedmonte, David G.B. Brown, Jana Thompson, and Gavin Grazer. Douglas Schulze's (Hellmaster) latest horror feature is titled Mimesis. Mimesis simply means imitation. In this film, Mimesis is defined as life imitating art. Schulze manages to introduce a social message amongst all of the cannibalism, eye gougings and pitchfork murders. This message involves media and its portrayal of violence and its relation to real life violence. This message is certainly relevant now, but Mimesis is also an entertaining outing. The film is clever and the conflict is well written and well disguised. The film's story initially follows Duane (Allen Maldonado) and Russell (Taylor Piedmonte). These two are friends and they head off to a horror convention. Here, they meet the raccoon eyed Judith (Lauren Mae Shafer), who.

By Michael Juvinall, More Horror.com

A couple of weeks ago, we brought you the first clip from Dead Weight Productions’ Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead, today we have a couple more for you to enjoy. Mimesis streets on Blu-ray/DVD February 12th, 2013 and watch for a giveaway of the film coming up in early February from MoreHorror.com and Anchor Bay Entertainment.

From the Press Release:

Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spines chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: Eventually the story ended because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was...

Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead will be released on Blu-ray/DVD on February 12th and sees seven strangers put into the middle of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. If you’d like to learn more, two new clips have been released and we have them for you to watch.

“Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spins chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: eventually the story ended, because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals,...

Okay, zombie fans, this one is for you. We've dug our flesh-eating claws deep into the interwebs and come up with two new clips for you from Dead Weight Productions' Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead! Have a mouthful!

From the Press Release

Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spines chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: Eventually the story ended because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the next...

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment has provided us with two new clips from Mimesis, director Douglas Schulze's blood-soaked thriller that examines how horror fans would react in a truly terrifying situation. The story centers on seven genre fans who are invited to a party that isn't quite what it seems. The next day, they wake up in different costumes, only to realize they are part of a real-life reenactment of the classic Night of the Living Dead, with real zombies! Take a look at these scenes where Duane (Allen Maldonado) makes a gruesome discovery in the hallway, and another where three young women try to hide from a zombie in the basement, to no avail.

Mimesis - Hallway

Mimesis - Basement

In the film, a group of horror fans find themselves unwilling participants in a living nightmare that pays homage to a classic horror film. Seven complete strangers whose only...

Any horror fan who knows the genre backwards and forwards may even get to the point where they believe they could actually survive a plot ripped straight out of a horror movie. Anchor Bay's Mimesis toys with this notion, centering on a group of random horror fans invited to a party, only to realize they are in the middle of a real-life version of Night of the Living Dead. The studio has released a red band trailer for this new thriller, debuting on Blu-ray and DVD February 12. Check out this blood-soaked footage full of flesh-eating mayhem, and see if you would fare better in this situation.

Mimesis - Red Band Trailer

In the film, a group of horror fans find themselves unwilling participants in a living nightmare that pays homage to a classic horror film. Seven complete strangers whose only common link is a love for classic era horror films...

Coming to DVD and Blu-ray February 12 from Anchor Bay Entertainment, Mimesis follows a group of horror fans who accept invitations to a late-night party at a remote farmhouse, and the next morning find themselves under siege by zombies—and realize they’re all dressed like the characters from George A. Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead. Douglas Schulze directed from a script he wrote with Joshua Wagner, and the cast includes Allen Maldonado, Lauren Mae Shafer, Taylor Piedmonte, David G.B. Brown, Jana Thompson and Gavin Grazer, with appearances by horror veterans Sid Haig, Courtney Gains and Night’s cemetery ghoul, the late Bill Hinzman. The discs will include audio commentary by Schulze and Wagner; retail prices are $22.98 for the DVD, $24.99 for the Blu-ray.

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Coming to DVD and Blu-ray February 12 from Anchor Bay Entertainment, Mimesis follows a group of horror fans who accept invitations to a late-night party at a remote farmhouse, and the next morning find themselves under siege by zombies—and realize they’re all dressed like the characters from George A. Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead. Douglas Schulze directed from a script he wrote with Joshua Wagner, and the cast includes Allen Maldonado, Lauren Mae Shafer, Taylor Piedmonte, David G.B. Brown, Jana Thompson and Gavin Grazer, with appearances by horror veterans Sid Haig, Courtney Gains and Night’s cemetery ghoul, the late Bill Hinzman. The discs will include audio commentary by Schulze and Wagner; retail prices are $22.98 for the DVD, $24.99 for the Blu-ray.

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Coming to DVD and Blu-ray February 12 from Anchor Bay Entertainment, Mimesis follows a group of horror fans who accept invitations to a late-night party at a remote farmhouse, and the next morning find themselves under siege by zombies—and realize they’re all dressed like the characters from George A. Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead. Douglas Schulze directed from a script he wrote with Joshua Wagner, and the cast includes Allen Maldonado, Lauren Mae Shafer, Taylor Piedmonte, David G.B. Brown, Jana Thompson and Gavin Grazer, with appearances by horror veterans Sid Haig, Courtney Gains and Night’s cemetery ghoul, the late Bill Hinzman. The discs will include audio commentary by Schulze and Wagner; retail prices are $22.98 for the DVD, $24.99 for the Blu-ray.

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Dead Weight Productions' Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead is getting set to make its Blu-ray and DVD debut courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment, and we finally have a red band trailer to chew on. You know, this idea is so "out there" that it just might work!

From the Press Release

Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spines chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: Eventually the story ended because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals,...

We recently gave you an exclusive first look at Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead and now have the red band trailer for you to watch. Anchor Bay recently acquired Mimesis and will release the movie to Blu-ray/DVD on February 12th.

“Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spins chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: eventually the story ended, because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the next evolutionary...

By Seth Metoyer, MoreHorror.com

A new clip from the upcoming zombie film Mimesis has been released from Anchor Bay. The clip is titled "Zombies Don't Exist" and you can check it out below the official movie details.

From The Press Release:

Why watch a horror film when you can live one?

For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spins chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: eventually the story ended, because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the next evolutionary turn...

Dead Weight Productions' Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead is getting set to make its Blu-ray and DVD debut courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment, and we have the very first clip for you locked and loaded.

From the Press Release

Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spines chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: Eventually the story ended because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the next evolutionary turn in...

Anchor Bay Entertainment recently acquired Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead and announced a Blu-ray/DVD release on February 12th. If you’d like to get an idea of what to expect from the movie, check out our exclusive clip where someone is shown that zombies really do exist:

“Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spins chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: eventually the story ended, because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals,...

Dead Weight Productions' Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead is getting set to make its Blu-ray and DVD debut courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment, and we have a look at the artwork for you right here!

From the Press Release

Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spines chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: Eventually the story ended because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the next evolutionary turn in...

Anchor Bay Entertainment recently acquired Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead and has now announced that it will be released to Blu-ray/DVD on February 12th. Continue reading for the official press release, a list of bonus features, and cover art:

“Beverly Hills, CA – Why watch a horror film when you can live one? For over a century, fans have had their blood curdled and spins chilled by the vicarious thrills of horror films. Whether populated by ghouls, slashers, zombies or vampires, fans flocked to have their pulse quickened and exercise their scream-generating skills. But one thing remained constant: eventually the story ended, because it was only a movie. What if it didn’t have to end? What if the next level of horror was to experience a horror film from the inside?

Already the fan and critical favorite from over 15 notable film festivals, Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the...

Anchor Bay Entertainment has officially announced that they have acquired Us and Canadian distribution rights for Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead. The indie horror film revolves around “a role playing game that emulates classic movies from the genre. In true horror fashion, the game in question takes some gory turns that seem straight out of a George A. Romero splatter-fest.”

Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead was directed by Doug Schulze and stars Courtney Gains, Allen Maldonado, Gavin Grazer, and Sid Haig. According to Blu-ray.com, Anchor Bay will release the film to Blu-ray/DVD early next year and has set a preliminary release date of February 12th.

The Wrap says that Anchor Bay is “planning a series of special exhibitions for the picture”, so we should be looking at a limited theatrical release or some convention stops in January/February. We’ll have more details as...

According to The Wrap, Anchor Bay Entertainment has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead from Dead Weight Productions. Read on for the skinny on what to expect from this latest undead epic.

Directed by Doug Schulze (Dark Fields), Mimesis stars Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects), Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn), Allen Maldonado (Midnight Meat Train, Live Free or Die Hard), and Gavin Grazer (Cowboys and Aliens, Frost/Nixon).

Synopsis

A group of horror fans find themselves unwilling participants in a nightmarish role-playing game that pays homage to the classic horror film Night of the Living Dead.

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Why watch a horror film when you can live one?

A group of horror fans find themselves unwilling participants in a nightmarish role playing game that pays homage to the classic horror film Night of the Living Dead. Mimesis, co-written and directed by Douglas Schulze and starring Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn, The ‘Burbs), Allen Maldonado (Midnight Meat Train, Live Free or Die Hard), Gavin Grazer (Cowboys and Aliens, Frost/Nixon) along with Sid Haig (Devil’s Rejects, Jackie Brown).

The award winning horror film Mimesis features Sid Haig (Devil’s Rejects) and Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn) in a film about extreme horror movies fans who set out to “live” their favoritie cult classic; Night of the Living Dead.

Check out the Red Band Trailer here:

For More Information: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/MimesisMovie...

Attention residents of Port Huran, Michigan: Mark your calendars for October 7th, as that's the date of the U.S. red carpet premiere of Mimesis at the Blue Water Film Festival in your hometown. Confirmed for the event is Sid Haig, one of the film's stars.

From the Press Release:

Mimesis, co-written and directed by Douglas Schulze and starring Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn, The 'Burbs), Allen Maldonado (Midnight Meat Train, Live Free or Die Hard), and Gavin Grazer (Cowboys and Aliens, Frost/Nixon) along with Sid, is the tale of a group of horror fans who find themselves unwilling participants in a nightmarish role playing game.

The premiere extravaganza will be held on October 7th with the film scheduled to begin at 9:30 pm. There will be a red carpet prior to the show as well as an after party. There will also be professionally made-up zombies, dealers of horror memorabilia,...

The Anniversary is an enjoyable and well made first attempt at a feature film. A likable lead, great chemistry between the cast members and a nice dose of heart and truth to go along with the laughs.

Screen Rant’s Ross Miller reviews The Anniversary

The Anniversary marks the first feature film from writer/director John Campea, former founder and editor of The Movie Blog and now Senior Editor of AMC’s Script-To-Screen. After having tested the film-making waters with his interesting and sometimes controversial documentary Prince of Peace, God of War, he’s moved into the realm of film comedy. And for a first time foray into the genre, this is solid work.

The film follows Cid, a down on his luck 30-something who gets dumped by his long-time girlfriend on their 15th anniversary. One year later (exactly one year later as the film comically points out), Cid is...

This review was written for the festival screening of "Slipstream".PARK CITY -- Introducing "Slipstream" at its first screening at Sundance, writer, director, star and composer Anthony Hopkins said of his film, "I did it as a creative joke". That's not a bad description of this playful melange of surreal imagery, Hollywood in-jokes, random archival footage and a space and time jumble.

Hopkins, the Academy Award-winning actor who has directed two feature-length pieces before, doesn't have the experience or, in all probability, the desire to create a truly masterful work of surrealism. He just wants to have fun. It's a bloody joke, mate, so don't get your snobbish knickers in a twist, you can almost hear him say.

Taken that way, "Slipstream" is amusing cinematic buffoonery by a man poking fun at movie conventions and the movie business itself. If you look deeper, you'll find only shallow. The audiences for this are those who will turn out to watch Anthony Hopkins pretending to be an experimental filmmaker. Which is not a large audience for a movie that reportedly cost nearly $10 million. What did he spend it on?

Perhaps on people, as the talent behind and in front of the camera is impressive. Press notes brag that cast and crew have accumulated over 70 major awards and over 200 nominations altogether. But you assume these people turned out because Tony flattered them with a personal plea, not for the payday.

At that, they did have hard work, as much of the film takes place in California's Mojave Desert during killer heat on a decaying film set built 25 years ago for a Dennis Hopper movie.

The movie takes place in the mind of a screenwriter (Hopkins) of a murder mystery that has apparently fallen apart during production. The director (Gavin Grazer) and star (Christian Slater) have lost their marbles, so he is rushed to the set for rewrites. Only the characters in his script begin to appear in his life ... or perhaps he is appearing in his own script.

This does produce a few funny bits, such as when Michael Clark Duncan appears before him with a bullet hole in his head to demand to know why his character was killed off earlier than he was scheduled to die according to the shooting script. Or when the film's producer (John Turturro) somehow appears in the hard drive of the writer's computer and through the monitor watches his writer snooze.

As Hopkins flutters back and forth in time and space, it's as if he is searching among the various alternative unrealities to see which he likes best. For the most part, the movie follows a dream-like logic where people, objects and events connect in a haphazard pattern. Scenes repeat themselves. A car changes colors in mid-scene. Veteran actor Kevin McCarthy turns up when someone mentions his most famous film, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Then there are nonsensical intrusions -- random shots of Hitler, Nixon and FDR.

The ending is a letdown only if you've taken any of the film seriously. Indeed most viewers will beat Hopkins to the punch by anticipating the film's rather prosaic "explanation."

Technical credits are outstanding as cinematographer Dante Spinoti, editor Michael R. Miller and costume designer Julie Weiss seem to enjoy following Sir Anthony's lead into this wonderland of nonsense.

SLIPSTREAM

Samson Films

Credits:

Screenwriter-director-music: Anthony Hopkins

Producers: Stella Arroyave, Robert Katz

Director of photography: Dante Spinotti

Production designer: Ismael Cardenas

Costume designer: Julie Weiss

Editor: Michael R. Miller

Cast:

Felix Bonhoffer: Anthony Hopkins

Harvey Brickman: John Turturro

Ray/Matt Dobbs: Christian Slater

Gina: Stella Arroyave

Barbara: Camryn Manheim

Tracy/ nurse: Lisa Pepper

Gavin/ambulance driver: Gavin Grazer

Big Mickey: Michael Lerner

Betty: Fionnula Flanagan

Running time -- 110 minutes

No MPAA rating...

PARK CITY -- Introducing Slipstream at its first screening at Sundance, writer, director, star and composer Anthony Hopkins said of his film, I did it as a creative joke. That's not a bad description of this playful melange of surreal imagery, Hollywood in-jokes, random archival footage and a space and time jumble.

Hopkins, the Academy Award-winning actor who has directed two feature-length pieces before, doesn't have the experience or, in all probability, the desire to create a truly masterful work of surrealism. He just wants to have fun. It's a bloody joke, mate, so don't get your snobbish knickers in a twist, you can almost hear him say.

Taken that way, Slipstream is amusing cinematic buffoonery by a man poking fun at movie conventions and the movie business itself. If you look deeper, you'll find only shallow. The audiences for this are those who will turn out to watch Anthony Hopkins pretending to be an experimental filmmaker. Which is not a large audience for a movie that reportedly cost nearly $10 million. What did he spend it on?

Perhaps on people, as the talent behind and in front of the camera is impressive. Press notes brag that cast and crew have accumulated over 70 major awards and over 200 nominations altogether. But you assume these people turned out because Tony flattered them with a personal plea, not for the payday.

At that, they did have hard work, as much of the film takes place in California's Mojave Desert during killer heat on a decaying film set built 25 years ago for a Dennis Hopper movie.

The movie takes place in the mind of a screenwriter (Hopkins) of a murder mystery that has apparently fallen apart during production. The director (Gavin Grazer) and star (Christian Slater) have lost their marbles, so he is rushed to the set for rewrites. Only the characters in his script begin to appear in his life ... or perhaps he is appearing in his own script.

This does produce a few funny bits, such as when Michael Clark Duncan appears before him with a bullet hole in his head to demand to know why his character was killed off earlier than he was scheduled to die according to the shooting script. Or when the film's producer (John Turturro) somehow appears in the hard drive of the writer's computer and through the monitor watches his writer snooze.

As Hopkins flutters back and forth in time and space, it's as if he is searching among the various alternative unrealities to see which he likes best. For the most part, the movie follows a dream-like logic where people, objects and events connect in a haphazard pattern. Scenes repeat themselves. A car changes colors in mid-scene. Veteran actor Kevin McCarthy turns up when someone mentions his most famous film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Then there are nonsensical intrusions -- random shots of Hitler, Nixon and FDR.

The ending is a letdown only if you've taken any of the film seriously. Indeed most viewers will beat Hopkins to the punch by anticipating the film's rather prosaic "explanation."

Technical credits are outstanding as cinematographer Dante Spinoti, editor Michael R. Miller and costume designer Julie Weiss seem to enjoy following Sir Anthony's lead into this wonderland of nonsense.

Slipstream

Samson Films

Credits: Writer/director/music: Anthony Hopkins; Producer: Stella Arroyave,

Robert Katz; Director of photography: Dante Spinotti; Production designer:

Ismael Cardenas; Costume designer: Julie Weiss; Editor: Michael R. Miller.

Cast: Felix Bonhoffer: Anthony Hopkins; Harvey Brickman: John Turturro;

Ray/Matt Dobbs: Christian Slater; Gina: Stella Arroyave; Barbara: Camryn

Manhelm; Tracy/ nurse: Lisa Pepper; Gavin/ambulance driver: Gavin Grazer;

Big Mickey: Michael Lerner; Betty: Lionnula Flanagan.

No MPAA rating, running time 110 minutes.

• Quick Links  Complete Film Listing: Premieres Dramatic Comp:  Docu Comp: World Dramatic Comp: World Docu Comp: Spectrum: Park City at Midnight: Short Film Programs January 18 to 28, 2007 Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('January 18, 2007'); Artist Spotlight: Pierre Huyghe a collection of short films by the French multimedia artist rarely seen outside of museum or art gallery contexts.The Last Dining Table (South Korea), directed and written by Gyeong-Tae Roh, an evocation of the issues of environmental pollution and family values decay in a minimalist/surrealist style. Offscreen (Denmark), directed by Christoffer Boe and written by Boe and Knud Romer Jorgensen, about an actor making an intensely private home movie about himself. World premiere.Phantom Love (U.S.), directed by Nina Menkes, a surreal tale about the personal liberation of a woman trapped in a family. Shot in Los Angeles and Rishikesh, India. World premiere. Slipstream (U.S.), directed and written by Anthony Hopkins,

...

John Turturro, Camryn Manheim, Jeffrey Tambor, S. Epatha Merkerson, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Lawford and Michael Clarke Duncan have joined the ensemble cast of the Anthony Hopkins-helmed indie Slipstream. Hopkins, Christian Slater, Stella Arroyave, Lisa Pepper, Kevin McCarthy, Gavin Grazer, Aaron Tucker and Lana Antonova already have joined the cast. Penned by Hopkins, Slipstream is a noir comedy about an actor and would-be screenwriter who, at the very moment of his meeting with fate, comes to discover that life is random and fortune is sightless as he is thrown into a vortex where time, dreams and reality collide in an increasingly whirling slipstream. The story is described as a complex, surreal and dreamlike tale of one man's journey.

NEW YORK -- Independent film company Co. Op has optioned rights to Gigi Levangie Grazer's Teacher, Teacher. The film will be produced by Co. Op chairs Bob Kravitz, Bob Jason and founding partner and chairman Jeffrey Tambor. Gavin Grazer is slated to helm. According to Kravitz, the original screenplay had been in development at Columbia Pictures, where it had gone through a rewrite, but he said Co. Op was interested in its original draft. "We're going back to scratch," he said. "Gigi's original version was phenomenal." Teacher, Teacher is a dark comedy about students who take revenge on one of their teachers. Kravitz acknowledged the similarity in subject matter to 1999's Teaching Mrs. Tingle but noted that Teacher "is much more of a comedy -- it's high jinks. That film was more teen thriller-ish."...

Variety reports that Jon Favreau, currently making waves on the arthouse circuit with Made, has signed on with Imagine Entertainment to rewrite and possibly direct Porn Star. The romantic comedy, about an ordinary Joe who innocently falls in love with an adult film star, was written by Gigi Levangie and Gavin Grazer, the wife and brother (respectively) of Imagine head Brian Grazer. Grazer got Universal to buy the spec script for Imagine to produce back in 1999 at a reported cost of $400,000 up front against $1 million if it got produced.