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The dark and acerbic new comedy called It's a Disaster may seem like a strange film to be reviewing at a horror site, but after watching the film and deciding it felt like a bizarre mixture of The Last Supper (1996) and Right at Your Door (2007), we felt it was more than suitable for FEARnet readers. The specter of death does hover over this odd comedy of apocalyptic manners, which means it qualifies as horror "enough," but also... I just really liked It's a Disaster and the boss said, "Sure, review it but play up the 'end of the world' angle a bit."

  Yes, that's right. It's a Disaster is an acidic farce about a Sunday brunch that's promptly interrupted by news of a nearby nuclear attack -- which means that a socially-awkward get-together is about to become the last meal this collection of four couples will ever eat. I leave...

Director: Todd Berger Title: It’s A Disaster Starring: Julia Stiles, America Ferrera, David Cross (TV’s ‘Arrested Development’), Rachel Boston (‘The Pill’), Blaise Miller (‘The Scencesters’), Erinn Hayes (TV’s ‘Children’s Hospital’), Jeff Grace (‘Super Zeroes’) and Kevin Brennan (‘The Lake House’) Maintaining the perfect public image, particularly with long-term friends who believe you have the perfect life, is an important goal many people set to maintain. Often times it takes a life altering, catastrophe event that forces people to publicly face the inevitable and admit their mistakes and shortcomings. Struggling to cope with such an sudden and unexpected change is the emotional conflict in the new comedy ‘It’s A Disaster.’ The [ Read More ]

The post It’s A Disaster Movie Review 2 appeared first on Shockya.com.

This is an edited reprint of our interview from the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival. "It's a Disaster" opens on in New York and La on April 12th. It's currently available on VOD.Julia Stiles has had a long and varied career since her breakout role opposite Heath Ledger in "10 Things I Hate About You," the '90s high school adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." Since then she's been a Jason Bourne accomplice, danced with death on TV's "Dexter," delivered David Mamet dialogue on stage, and currently has a spate of new high profile film roles coming up. We caught up with the New Yorker on the phone on the eve of the world premiere of her latest flick, "It's a Disaster." "It's a Disaster" is the creative project of comedy troupe The Vacationeers (director Todd Berger and cast members/producers Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller,...

Sci-fi comedies these days are a tricky thing to pull off. Filmmaking conventions such as story and direction are what truly make any film either a success or a failure. The lackluster indie comedy Super Zeroes tries to be quirky and fun but sadly does not compare to other supernatural comedies of today. It’s just 90 minutes of failed jokes and an uninteresting plot. This lame film has now been released along with its equally lame soundtrack.

Ty (Reece Thompson) and Cody (Blaise Miller) own a Porta Potty business in a small country town. They are considered losers by most of the town and their lives are literally in the crapper. That is until an asteroid crashes into their house one night and they start to develop strange superpowers like turning water into beer. Their dopey friend Teet (Travis Nicholson) is also affected and the three of them must deal...

Like almost all films that depict the end of the world, It’s a Disaster opens on a mundane morning – though this one seems to be more painfully awkward than most.

A newly dating couple are at a brunch when a friend’s painful divorce is announced, only to become trapped there when a series of dirty bombs explodes across the city. And yet this is a comedy.

It’s a Disaster is written and directed by Todd Berger (The Scenesters) and stars David Cross (Arrested Development), Julia Stiles (Silver Linings Playbook), and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty). Frequent Berger collaborators Blaise Miller, Jeff Grace, and Michael Brennan (all of The Scenesters) also make up the principal cast.

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Click to continue reading ‘It’s a Disaster’ Trailer Explores the Funny Side of the Apocalypse...

"Let's go out the way we came in..." The perfect trailer to feature on a day like today, with meteorites and asteroids flying by. Oscilloscope Labs has debuted the trailer for the indie end-of-the-world comedy It's a Disaster, written and directed by Todd Berger, about an awkward couples brunch that gets even worse once they all find out it might be the end of the world. The cast includes small screen names like Rachel Boston, Kevin Brennan, David Cross, Julia Stiles, America Ferrera, Jeff Grace, Erinn Hayes and Blaise Miller. Despite all the quotes, I don't think this looks that great, but some folks might enjoy it. Here's the first trailer for Todd Berger's It's a Disaster, originally found by SlashFilm: Four couples meet for their monthly Sunday brunch only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end. It's a Disaster...

Why Watch? It’s not hard to imagine why this short film is going around like free whiskey. It’s shot with an eye for detail and interesting angles while pulling off some difficult scenes in difficult territory. Make no mistake: shooting in water is really, really hard. But as screenwriter John August points out, director Dee Austin Robertson had access to a boat, so she utilized that unique connection/setting in order to break a few rules and create something that looks far more expensive than it actually is. In the movie, Eric (Blaise Miller) sets sail alone on his birthday, ruminating on a relationship gone to pot and drinking liberally. Fortunately, there’s a storm heading his way. Eric Goes West is a success on every level. The script features some simple twists on convention (particular his new friend) with a healthy dose of cynical comedy. It’s not exactly morbid. Not...

When everyone arrives at Emma (Erinn Hayes) and Pete’s (Blaise Miller) house, they have absolutely no idea just how disastrous this Sunday brunch will become. First their cell phone reception goes dead, then the television goes to static. What? No Ut football game? Now the shit gets serious! (Hook ‘em!) Cut off from the rest of the world, the four couples are left with a table covered with food and wine, and good old fashioned conversation; yet, in a captivating tip of the cap to Luis Buñuel, they never quite get to the food... It’s a Disaster is an impeccably-written, dark-as-a-moonless-night satire that hearkens back to the glory days of classic comedy. Existing in the surreal ether somewhere between Preston Sturges and Woody Allen, Berger takes on disaster films as well as the trope of trapping characters in one location; all the while, Berger and cinematographer Nancy Schreiber...

Oscilloscope has picked up "It's A Disaster" for North American distribution, set for early 2013 release. The Todd Berger film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival this Spring, and stars Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, Erinn Hayes, Rachel Boston, Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller. The ensemble comedy is set during a "couples brunch" of eight friends who suddenly move from relationship dramas to an apocalyptic bomb explosion. Oscilloscope's David Laub and Dan Berger are now steering the indie company in the wake of the loss of founder Adam Yauch, who died of cancer in May, as former president David Fenkel starts his new company A24, which will be trawling for pick-ups at Toronto. Laub calls the film "a real gem," adding that "Todd has combined a perceptive, Woody Allen-esque relationship comedy with a unique take on the apocalypse film, and in the process enlivened both genres and created.

Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired North American rights to Todd Berger’s comedy “It’s A Disaster,” which had its premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June. The specialty distributor plans both a theatrical and digital release early next year. Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, Erinn Hayes, Rachel Boston, Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller star in the story of a weekly couples brunch that turns unhinged when a bunch of dirty bombs go off in the city. Jeff Grace, Kevin M. Brennan, Gordon Bijelonic and Datari Turner produced the project, which was made in conjunction with Vacationeer Productions and Cactus Three. Read More: L.A. Film Fest Review: David Cross, Julia Stiles, America Ferrara and More Charm in Todd Berger's Satisfying Apocalyptic Couples Drama 'It's a Disaster' “‘It’s A Disaster’ is a real gem, one of those great discoveries that you don’t come across very.

Todd Berger's It's A Disaster comedy which stars Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, Erinn Hayes, Rachel Boston, Kevin M. Brenna, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller, has been picked up for N. American distribution by Oscilloscope (The Messenger). Pic's produced by Jeff Grace, Kevin M. Brennan, Gordon Bijelonic and Datari Turner, made in conjunction with Cactus Three and Vacationeer Productions. The comedic film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June, and according to Variety, Oscilloscope plans to give the film several festival runs prior to its theatrical and digital platform release early next year.

Todd Berger's It's A Disaster comedy which stars Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, Erinn Hayes, Rachel Boston, Kevin M. Brenna, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller, has been picked up for N. American distribution by Oscilloscope (The Messenger). Pic's produced by Jeff Grace, Kevin M. Brennan, Gordon Bijelonic and Datari Turner, made in conjunction with Cactus Three and Vacationeer Productions. The comedic film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June, and according to Variety, Oscilloscope plans to give the film several festival runs prior to its theatrical and digital platform release early next year.

It’S A Disaster stars Julia Stiles (Dexter), David Cross (Arrested Development), America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Erinn Hayes (Children’S Hospital), Jeff Grace and Rachel Boston.

Below, we have the exclusive synopsis, director’s statement, a few promotional photos of star Erinn Hayes, a still from the film, and a Q&A with director Mitch Berger.

Synopsis

In this doomsday comedy, four couples meet for Sunday brunch and find themselves stranded in a house together as the world may be about to end. When Tracy Scott (Julia Stiles) decides to introduce her new beau Glenn (David Cross) to her three friends Hedy (America Ferrera), Emma, and Lexi and their significant others, her biggest fear is whether or not her friends will approve of her new relationship, little does she realize that’s the least of her worries. Before long the couples find themselves in the midst of an apocalyptic disaster,...

Todd Berger's new film, It's A Disaster premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival last week. It stars and ensemble cast that includes Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, Rachel Boston, Erinn Hayes, Kevin Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller. I hesitate to write anything more than a vague review because this is the type of film that is best seen without knowing anything about it. It begins with Tracy (Julia Stiles), and Glenn (David Cross) arriving at Emma and Pete Mandrake's (Erinn Hayes and Blaise Miller, respectively) house for a couple's brunch. Tracy and Glenn have only recently started seeing each other, which is immediately apparent. However, the three other couples have been friends for a long time. This sets up a fantastic...

Real time, one-setting films are a tricky feat to pull off, stumping even the most accomplished directors (have you seen “Carnage”?), but director Todd Berger does it with panache in his sophomore feature, a clever take on the apocalypse film, “It’s A Disaster.” Assembling a cast of eight actors in one house for a film that’s part relationship dramedy and part end-of-the-world movie, Berger keeps the setting fresh and the pace moving in a story that takes a humorous look at the problems, both epic and trivial, that threaten to ruin lives. Based on the rapturous response from packed houses at the Los Angeles Film Festival this week, Berger and co. have succeeded in spades.

Tracy (Julia Stiles) and Glenn (David Cross) are on their third date, at a couples brunch with her friends, when not one, but two disasters strike the party. One, their hosts Emma (Erinn Hayes...

The jokes write themselves – It’s a Disaster is, in fact, not a disaster at all (though a brief glitch during the film’s final screening at this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival did result in half of the audience tittering “it’s a disaster!” to a temporarily blank screen). Todd Berger‘s film takes some familiar ingredients – an end-of-the-world plot, a cast of characters who are stuck with each other, suburban brunch at its absolute worst – and mixes them up into one heck of a funny and acutely realized comedy stew (quiche?). Amusingly acted, incredibly well-written, and surprisingly adept at mixing and mingling disparate tones, It’s a Disaster is the exact kind of fresh comedy that audiences hope to find at film festivals. The film centers on a Sunday brunch that is already going to get a bit weird – hosts Pete (Blaise Miller) and Emma (Erinn Hayes) have an ulterior motive for bringing together...

Todd Berger's comedy drama about four couples spending their last night on earth together deserves a wide audience

At the after-party for the Los Angeles film festival's premiere of Todd Berger's comedy drama, It's a Disaster, at the Hotel Figeuroa, the blue drinks tickets are being handed over at the bar faster than you can say "not another apocalyptic couples brunch movie". Around the pool, actor David Cross, is being asked for possibly the 100th time if there's going to an Arrested Development film. "We were supposed to shoot in the next few days," he'd told the audience at the post-screening Q&A. "But I have yet to see a script or a contract." So that's that sorted. For now.

It's a Disaster is an absolute gem of a doomsday movie, about four couples who meet for brunch and find themselves in the middle of a chemical warfare attack,...

Julia Stiles has had a long and varied career since her breakout role opposite Heath Ledger in "10 Things I Hate About You," the '90s high school adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." Since then she's been a Jason Bourne accomplice, danced with death on TV's "Dexter," delivered David Mamet dialogue on stage, and currently has a spate of new high profile film roles coming up. We caught up with the New Yorker on the phone on the eve of the world premiere of her latest flick, "It's a Disaster," an apocalyptic dramedy that will debut next week at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

"It's a Disaster" is the creative project of comedy troupe The Vacationeers (director Todd Berger and cast members/producers Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller, whose previous efforts include many web videos and the feature film "The Scenesters"). Stiles appeared in the...

The lineup of the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival was announced today, and while there are a lot of impressive entries heading to the West Coast, not many of them are horror films. But there are a few that caught our eye so read on for the details.

This year's Los Angeles Film Festival runs from June 14th-24th; click here for ticket info. Below are the horror and horror-ish sounding films on the fest's slate; visit the official La Film Festival website for the full list.

Vampira and Me – (Director/Producer R. H. Greene) – Before Elvira there was Vampira, the playfully ghoulish host of a local L.A. late night horror movie show who became a national celebrity, then disappeared. This loving, personal portrait reveals the remarkable woman behind the chalk-white mask. ★ World Premiere

P-047 – Thailand (Director/Writer Kongdej Jaturanrasamee Producers Soros Sukhum, Kongdej Jaturanrasamee Cast Parinya Kwamwongwan, Aphichai Trakulphadejkrai) – Part meditation,...

Slamdance A scene from ‘Holiday Road’

Named after the Lindsey Buckingham song featured in “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Holiday Road” brings 13 varied directors together to create a dark- humored 72-minute feature film about national holidays.

The film opens and ends with a New Year’s Eve party countdown and in between, segments range from a band shooting a sex-fueled Labor Day music video to a Christmas Eve crime drama starring Wendi McLendon-Covey of “Bridesmaids” fame.

The only rules for the...

*this poster has been removed because the owners of the film have threatened legal action against this Blog. And no thanks was received for being the only site to promote this silly looking film. So, please feel free to boycott It's a Disaster when the film is finally released as this is the course of action this film fan and free promoter for It's a Disaster will be taking.

A few details are coming in about a new comedy thriller called It's a Disaster. In this post-apocalyptic adventure, four couples meet only to find their relationships devolve into panic as the world comes to an end. An early concept poster for the film is seen left and Maya Entertainment has acquired distribution rights for this title. A release date is coming soon. For now, have a gander at the early cast details which include Julia Stiles (The Omen), David Cross ("Arrested Development") and America Ferrera.

[1] If you happened to catch a screening of Attack the Block this summer, you probably walked away thinking the same thing we did: this John Boyega kid is going to be a huge star. Well, Boyega's now landed his first part since Attack the Block opened, and it sounds like a great one. He'll play the lead, Donnie, in HBO's series Da Brick, a fictionalized telling of the earliest days of Mike Tyson's boxing career. Spike Lee is set to direct the pilot episode from a script by John Ridley (Three Kings), and will also executive produce along with Tyson, Ridley, Jim Lefkowitz, and Entourage creator Doug Ellin. Da Brick centers around a young man in modern-day Newark, NJ who gets released from juvenile detention on his 18th birthday. The series will aim to deal with larger issues like "what it means to be a young, black man in...

Rachel Boston ("In Plain Sight") is joining Julia Stiles and America Ferrera in Todd Berger's new indie comedy "It's A Disaster" reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The comedy will revolve around four couples who meet for Sunday brunch, only to find themselves stranded in a house together as the world may be about to end.

Boston will play the role of a whip-smart wildcard named Lexi Kivel. Kevin Brennan, Jeff Grace, and Blaise Miller also star and shooting begins next month in Los Angeles.

Rachel Boston (In Plain Sight) is performing alongside Julia Stiles and America Ferrera in the new indie comedy It's A Disaster. Todd Berger is set to write and direct the project.

The comedy will revolve around four couples who meet for Sunday brunch, only to find themselves stranded in a house together as the world may be about to end. Rachel Boston will play the role of a whip-smart wildcard named Lexi Kivel.

The cast also features Kevin Brennan, Jeff Grace, and Blaise Miller.

The Vacationeers' project begins filming next month in Los Angeles.

Rachel Boston has signed up to ensemble indie comedy It's a Disaster. The actress will be joining Ugly Betty star America Ferrera, Laura Adkin, Todd Berger, Blaise Miller, Julia Stiles and Jeff Grace, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It's a Disaster centres on a Sunday brunch organised by four couples, who find themselves stranded together when it appears that the world may be about to end. Boston will take on the role of Lexi Kivel, who is a "whip-smart wildcard". Parks and Recreation actor Berger (more)...

Rachel Boston (In Plain Sight) will fill the final slot in the ensemble cast of the indie comedy It's a Disaster.  The story centers on "four couples who meet for Sunday brunch, only to find themselves stranded in a house together as the world may be about to end." Julia Stiles, America Ferrera, Laura Adkin, Todd Berger, Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller play the other seven members of the group.  According to THR, Boston will play "a whip-smart wildcard named Lexi Kivel."  That's a pretty great character name---combine that with the gleefully surrealist premise, and I'm hooked. In addition to his starring role, Berger wrote the script, and will direct the production next month in Los Angeles.

[1] Last season, FX's boxing drama Lights Out entered the canon of brilliant-but-cancelled television series, when piss-poor ratings brought about its demise despite plenty of critical love. Thankfully, things seem to be working out better for the series' acclaimed star, Holt McCallany, than they did for the show. The actor is now in talks for Gangster Squad, Ruben Fleischer's highly anticipated (well, by us) period cop drama. McCallany would be joining an absolutely top-notch cast which already includes Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Anthony Mackie, Michael Peña, and Giovanni Ribisi, with Bryan Cranston in negotiations [2]. How can you not get excited with a cast like that? Based on a series of articles by Paul Lieberman, Gangster Squad tells the story of an Lapd task force which was formed to fight organized crime and corruption in 1940s Los Angeles. Gosling, Brolin, Mackie, and Cranston will be on the Lapd side...

By Sean O’Connell

Hollywoodnews.com: When does breakfast turn into potential Armageddon? We’re going to have to check out “It’s a Disaster” to find out.

The literal-titled comedy just added Julia Stiles and America Ferrera in a movie about “four couples who meet for Sunday Brunch only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end,” according to a release. Todd Berger will direct from his own script, and will feature members of the comedy troupe The Vacationeers, including Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller, and Berger, himself.

“It’s a crazy story and I was convinced Julia and America would think I’m crazy too, but I’m thrilled they get my sense of humor. I’m excited to have them on board,” said Berger.

From the release:

Julia Stiles’ most recent project is Showtime’s critically acclaimed series Dexter,...

Julia Stiles and America Ferrera have signed on to star in the disaster comedy aptly titled “It’s a Disaster.” The premise of the film is rather inventive and intriguing: “‘It’s a Disaster’ [is] a comedy about four couples who meet for Sunday Brunch only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end.” The film will be written and directed by Todd Berger and Berger, Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller of comedy troupe The Vacationeers will also star in the film. “It’s a crazy story and I was convinced Julia and America would think I’m crazy too, but I’m...

Filmmaker and actor Todd Berger moved forward with his independent comedy It’s a Disaster casting leads Julia Stiles and America Ferrera in the film. Berger, a member of the comedy troupe The Vacationeers, wrote the comedy about four couples who gather for a Sunday brunch only to learn that the world is coming to an end and that they’re stuck with each other. Stiles and Ferrera joined cast members Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller, all members of the comedy troupe The Vacationeers, as well as Berger. “It’s a crazy story and I was convinced Julia and America would think I’m crazy too, but I’m thrilled they get my sense of humor,” Berger said in a release. “I’m excited to have them on board.”...

Filmmaker and actor Todd Berger moved forward with his independent comedy It’s a Disaster casting leads Julia Stiles and America Ferrera in the film. Berger, a member of the comedy troupe The Vacationeers, wrote the comedy about four couples who gather for a Sunday brunch only to learn that the world is coming to an end and that they’re stuck with each other. Stiles and Ferrera joined cast members Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller, all members of the comedy troupe The Vacationeers, as well as Berger. “It’s a crazy story and I was convinced Julia and America would think I’m crazy too, but I’m thrilled they get my sense of humor,” Berger said in a release. “I’m excited to have them on board.”...

We’ve got a couple of casting stories regarding some indie films for you this evening. First up, Julia Stiles and America Ferrera have signed on to star in Todd Berger’s (Scenesters) comedy It’s a Disaster. Deadline reports that the film centers around four couples who meet up for Sunday brunch when they’re suddenly stranded in a house as the world may be coming to an end. Berger himself and fellow The Vacationeers comedy troupe-mates Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller will also star. Berger wrote and will direct the pic, which starts filming this fall. Additionally, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ivan Sergei (Crossing Jordan) are set to star in the film adaptation of the book and stageplay Jewtopia. The story centers on two childhood best friends who reunite as adults when one needs the other to help him pretend to be Jewish in order to woo a woman.

Is there anything more amusing than the end of the world? Improv comedy troupe The Vacationeers believe not, making it the hook for their second feature It's a Disaster, set to star Julia Stiles and America Ferrera.The film sounds a bit like Couples Retreat with an armageddon-y twist. The premise is that four couples meet for a nice quiet Sunday lunch, but end up stuck in the house indefinitely as the apocalypse apparently looms outside. "It's a crazy story and I was convinced Julia and America would think I'm crazy too, but I'm thrilled they get my sense of humour. I'm excited to have them on board," says Vacationeer Todd Berger. Stiles has just been working with Neil Labute; she probably needed a laugh.The Vacationeers are Berger, Kevin Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller. They've been performing together since 2006, but are all reasonably successful under their own steam too.

Julia Stiles and America Ferrera have signed on for the film It's a Disaster from Vacationeer Productions.

The film follows four couples who meet for Sunday Brunch only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world is about to end.

The film was written and directed by Todd Berger.  Berger as well as Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller of comedy troupe The Vacationeers will also star in the film.

It is set to start shooiting in Los Angeles in early fall.

"It's a crazy story and I was convinced Julia and America would think I'm crazy too, but I'm thrilled they get my sense of humor. I'm excited to have them on board," said Berger in a statement.

Berger also write the Lionsgate/Jim Henson Co. film Happytime Murders.

Two former teen queens have just signed on to star in an edgy indie flick.

Julia Stiles, who recently received her first Emmy nomination for her guest-starring role in "Dexter" (but who you remember from "10 Things I Hate About You"), and America Ferrera, of "Ugly Betty" fame, have signed on to play the leading ladies in "It's a Disaster."

They join a cast made of up the members of the comedy troupe The Vacationeers, which includes Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller and Todd Berger (who also happens to be writing and directing this round).

The comedy tells the story of four couples who meet for your typical Sunday brunch—only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end.

This high-concept romp is slated to shoot in Los Angeles in the early fall, The Hollywood Reporter reveals.

With talent like Stiles and Ferrera on board,...

Julia Stiles and America Ferrera are set to star in It's a Disaster , a comedy about four couples who meet for Sunday Brunch only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end. A film by Vacationeer Productions, It's a Disaster will be directed by Todd Berger, who also wrote the script. Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller, and Todd Berger of comedy troupe The Vacationeers will also star in the film, which will shoot in Los Angeles in early fall and is currently in pre-production. Todd Berger is the writer behind the Lionsgate/Jim Henson Co. film Happytime Murders and also wrote and directed The Vacationeers' first feature film, The Scenesters . The Scenesters won the "Rosebud Award" at the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival,...

To promote the new indie comedy/whodunit The Scenesters, Collider has been provided a pretty cool swag bag to give away to one of our readers. The prize pack includes: the DVD of the film, a T-shirt, a hat, and a button. The movie stars Sherilyn Finn (Twin Peaks), Blaise Miller (Lapse), Suzanne May (Gentlemen Broncos), Jeff Grace (Mad Men) Kevin Brennan (The Lake House), Todd Berger (Southland Tales) and Monika Jolly (Entourage) and centers on a team of wannabe filmmakers in L.A. who are taking advantage of a series of murders in the area targeting hipsters. The flick has been making the festival rounds, and recently won Most Interesting Film at Slamdance. Hit the jump to find out how you can win the prize pack, and to check out the synopsis, trailer, and a couple of clips from the film. First up, here’s the synopsis of The Scenesters...

Since 2009, crowd funding site Kickstarter has funneled a total of $60 million to over 24,000 projects high on creativity but low on cash. Since 2008, crowd funding site Indiegogo has helped raise awareness and millions of dollars to over 24,000 campaigns in 159 countries. With thousands seeking funding and thousands of thousands of dollars exchanging hands in exchange for credits, cameos, and signed copies of DVDs of upcoming projects, it’s time for some savvy comedy troupe to spoof the whole crowd funding phenomena. And the The Vactioneers recently did just that. You may know the crew comprised of Todd Berger, Kevin Brennan, Jeff Grace, and Blaise Miller from their work on the original web series The Googling (where the search, cloud computing, and internet technology giant actually does do some evil), their indie flick The Scenesters, or that time when they rejected Julia Stiles’ autograph. Related News:Crowd Funding for an Audience, Not Cash...

Monterey Media will release the indie dark comedy The Scenesters on DVD on May 24.

Crimes are committed in The Scenesters.

In The Scenesters, a serial killer starts picking off beautiful young hipsters on the East side of Los Angeles, prompting a group of crime scene videographers to hatch a plan to catch him. While the bloody trail is cold for the detectives, Charlie (Blaise Miller), a crime scene cleaner, begins finding some unusual clues. Problem is, nobody is really sure that Charlie isn’t the serial killer! Meanwhile, the dead hipsters are piling up like pancakes in thrift-store flannel…

Written and directed by Todd Berger, the 2009 film also stars Sherilyn Fenn (TV’s Twin Peaks), Jeff Grace, Suzanne May and John Landis as Judge Paxton B. Johnson.

Monterey is currently taking The Scenesters on a theatrical tour across the country, playing it in over 50 cities in theaters and on college campuses.

Slamdance, which runs concurrently with Park City’s Sundance Film Festival, has announced its 2010 line-up, and there are several choices that look to make genre fans sit up and take notice.

Variety provided the names of the ten narrative and eight documentary feature films that are, in the spirit of the fest’s motto, “by filmmakers, for filmmakers.” Although not all of them are horror related, in the interest of keeping you guys fully informed on all the latest indie happenings (and because some of the docs just sound so damn interesting with topics like William Burroughs and Bolivian women wrestlers!), the full list follows:

Narrative Competition:

Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) - Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.

Drones (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) - A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...

What's that? You can't wait to hear about the Irish post apocalyptic film One Hundred Mornings? Well you don't have to because we already have a review of it right here! Our own Alan Maxwell called it an "uncomfortably realistic vision of the breakdown of society." Yeah, it's good.

So continuing, part of the Slamdance lineup has been announced and it's got quite a few films we've featured.

Want something horrible in the forest? How about YellowBrickRoad?

Or maybe some William Burroughs? How about William S Burroughs: A Man Within?

Yup, the lineup for one of my favorite festivals is looking mighty fine as usual, and we'll be bringing you more shortly.

Partial lineup after the break!

Narrative Competition

Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.

Drones (Amber Benson...

Slamdance, Sundance’s indie little brother, has announced the 18 films that will be playing in competition next month. While the economy might be slowing down, there was no shortage of submissions, as Slamdance reports they had 5,000 films vying for a spot in the Festival. Of the 18 films in competition, ten are narrative, eight are documentaries, and eleven are world premieres.

“The quality of indie filmmaking is getting higher while productions costs are getting lower,” said Slamdance prexy and co-founder Peter Baxter. “Far apart from the apparent industry downturn, there appears a great sense of what is possible rather than impossible with our submissions.”

Of course this year will be very interesting at Slamdance after the success Paranormal Activity. If you didn’t know, Activity screened at the 2008 Festival and has since made over $100 million at the domestic box office. It wouldn’t surprise me to see a few more buyers looking for a repeat performance.

The competitive lineup for the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival (of which Fangoria is a media sponsor) has been revealed via an announcement on Variety. "As in years past, competing films are by first-time feature directors working with limited budgets and without domestic theatrical distribution in place. Among the 18 titles, 11 are world premieres." the trade reports.

Fright fans may recall that Oren Peli's recent hit Paranormal Activity played the fest in 2008. As always, Slamdance will run side-by-side with the Sundance Film Fest in Park City Utah, January 21-28, 2010. While there's plenty of genre fare to be seen, we've got the entire list of films for you to browse below.

Narrative Competition

“Cummings Farm” (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman. “Drones” (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...

I knew Todd Berger as a filmmaker who'd grown up in New Orleans and made the 2007 documentary Don't Eat the Baby about post-Katrina Mardi Gras, a movie that I quite liked. But since that was the only film of his I'd seen, I always thought of him as a documentary kind of guy. I didn't know that he's a member of comedy troupe The Vacationeers -- I would never have imagined that he would write and direct a noir-mumblecore-l.A. homage comedy, The Scenesters.

The Scenesters opens with a fake trailer that spoofs "mumblecore" films mercilessly, then shifts to a jury trial, then flashes back to tell the main story of the film. The filmmakers behind the mumblecore movie are having financial troubles, and director Wallace Cotten (Todd Berger) is forced to take a job filming crime scenes for the Lapd. However, Wallace and his producer Roger (Jeff Grace) can't settle for straightforward work,...