Giveaway: Win a @MagnoliaPics DVD prize pack + autographed poster of Ceremony, signed by Max Winkler
Max Winkler’s Ceremony was one of the best movies to play last year at the Toronto International Film Festival. What makes it so cool is that it’s Winkler’s feature film debut and it premiered at one of the most prestigious film festivals to date.
Here’s where it gets better: we’ve teamed up with the good folks over at Magnolia Pictures to give our readers a chance to winner a poster of Ceremony signed by Winkler and a DVD prize pack containing these titles: Two Lovers, Life Before Her Eyes, Answer Man, The Burning Plain, Finding Amanda and No End In Sight.
Read more on Giveaway: Win a @MagnoliaPics DVD prize pack + autographed poster of Ceremony, signed by Max Winkler…...
Here’s where it gets better: we’ve teamed up with the good folks over at Magnolia Pictures to give our readers a chance to winner a poster of Ceremony signed by Winkler and a DVD prize pack containing these titles: Two Lovers, Life Before Her Eyes, Answer Man, The Burning Plain, Finding Amanda and No End In Sight.
Read more on Giveaway: Win a @MagnoliaPics DVD prize pack + autographed poster of Ceremony, signed by Max Winkler…...
- 2/10/2011
- by Chase Whale
- GordonandtheWhale
Chicago – In this edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, one lucky winner will clean up with three DVDs from Magnolia Pictures for the movies “The Great Buck Howard,” “What Just Happened” and “Finding Amanda” plus a full-size poster for “The Extra Man” signed by filmmaker Shari Springer Berman and stars Kevin Kline and Paul Dano!
“The Extra Man” stars Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, Katie Holmes and John C. Reilly. “The Great Buck Howard” stars John Malkovich, Tom Hanks, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt and Steve Zahn. “What Just Happened” stars Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Kristen Stewart, Bruce Willis, Catherine Keener, John Turturro, Robin Wright and Stanley Tucci. “Finding Amanda” stars Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney and Steve Coogan.
To win your free DVDs and poster courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer a question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.
“The Extra Man” stars Kevin Kline, Paul Dano, Katie Holmes and John C. Reilly. “The Great Buck Howard” stars John Malkovich, Tom Hanks, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt and Steve Zahn. “What Just Happened” stars Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Kristen Stewart, Bruce Willis, Catherine Keener, John Turturro, Robin Wright and Stanley Tucci. “Finding Amanda” stars Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney and Steve Coogan.
To win your free DVDs and poster courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer a question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.
- 8/18/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
To celebrate the release of The Extra Man, we’ve teamed up with the nice folks over at Magnolia Pictures to give our readers a chance at winning some awesome swag. Here’s what we have: a full-size poster signed by filmmaker Shari Springer Berman and stars Kevin Kline and Paul Danoand; a DVD bundle including the following Magnolia DVD titles: Finding Amanda, What Just Happened and The Great Buck Howard.
Read more on Giveaway: Win an autographed The Extra Man poster and DVDs from @MagnoliaPics…...
Read more on Giveaway: Win an autographed The Extra Man poster and DVDs from @MagnoliaPics…...
- 7/23/2010
- by Chase Whale
- GordonandtheWhale
If you're making a loosely autobiographical film, just how much privacy should the people in your life expect? That's the question about to be answered by a Los Angeles court now that Alix Daily is suing her aunt and uncle, Leslie and Peter Tolan, and Capacity Pictures for the mental and emotional distress she's suffered by being featured as a character in Peter Tolan's film Finding Amanda.
The movie, which was released in 2008 and starred Matthew Broderick and Brittany Snow, loosely chronicles Tolan's trip to Las Vegas to take part in an intervention to help convince his niece, who had become a prostitute, to go to rehab.
Daily alleges that Tolan -- who also directed -- did little to hide the fact that it was based on her life. Court documents claim that "much of the dialogue, facts, and events really happened," and the character of Amanda "looked, dressed,...
The movie, which was released in 2008 and starred Matthew Broderick and Brittany Snow, loosely chronicles Tolan's trip to Las Vegas to take part in an intervention to help convince his niece, who had become a prostitute, to go to rehab.
Daily alleges that Tolan -- who also directed -- did little to hide the fact that it was based on her life. Court documents claim that "much of the dialogue, facts, and events really happened," and the character of Amanda "looked, dressed,...
- 6/4/2010
- by Alison Nastasi
- Cinematical
Ranting standup comedian Denis Leary has found success on the long-running firefighter show Rescue Me. With the final two seasons in the can and season six set to air in June, Leary is going back standup for charity gig. For the second year in a row, Leary will host an 11-city comedy tour with Rescue Me costars Lenny Clarke and Adam Ferrara. Starting May 22 in Atlantic City, a portion of proceeds go to the Leary Firefighters Foundation. It also gives Leary a chance to rail on some of the recent news stories.
“One of the things, obviously, we’ll be talking about is the Catholic Church and Ben Roethlisberger,” Leary said in a conference call with the media. “Just the idea of talking about Ben Roethlisberger, athletes who are criminally involved in illegal pursuits, that alone could probably give me ten minutes of material. I think we can safely say whatever night you come,...
“One of the things, obviously, we’ll be talking about is the Catholic Church and Ben Roethlisberger,” Leary said in a conference call with the media. “Just the idea of talking about Ben Roethlisberger, athletes who are criminally involved in illegal pursuits, that alone could probably give me ten minutes of material. I think we can safely say whatever night you come,...
- 5/3/2010
- by Fred Topel
- Hollywoodnews.com
The juror panel at the Tribeca Film Festival is going to look like the red carpet at a major Hollywood premiere.
Several celebrities, including Jessica Alba, Whoopi Goldberg, Aaron Eckhart and Brooke Shields, were asked to serve on the six competitive festival categories. They will announce the winning films, filmmakers and actors in their respective categories at the Tff Awards Night Party, which will be held on April 29. The 2010 Tribeca Festival runs from April 21 to May 2 in New York City.
“This year’s jury features the same impressive range and depth as our films playing in competition. They are distinctive and accomplished storytellers, artists and entrepreneurs from the worlds of film, theater, culture, fashion, television and new media – all of whom share a passion for film, a thirst for discovery and a spirit of independence,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.
Here’s a list of all...
Several celebrities, including Jessica Alba, Whoopi Goldberg, Aaron Eckhart and Brooke Shields, were asked to serve on the six competitive festival categories. They will announce the winning films, filmmakers and actors in their respective categories at the Tff Awards Night Party, which will be held on April 29. The 2010 Tribeca Festival runs from April 21 to May 2 in New York City.
“This year’s jury features the same impressive range and depth as our films playing in competition. They are distinctive and accomplished storytellers, artists and entrepreneurs from the worlds of film, theater, culture, fashion, television and new media – all of whom share a passion for film, a thirst for discovery and a spirit of independence,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival.
Here’s a list of all...
- 4/13/2010
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Tribeca Film Festival announced Tuesday morning the 35 jurors for its six competition categories.
Filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, journalists and media figures such as Aaron Eckhart, Jessica Alba, Cheryl Hines, America Ferrera, Alicia Keys, Zach Braff, Hope Davis, Gary Ross, Whoopi Goldberg and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey will participate on the juries.
"This year's jury features the same impressive range and depth as our films playing in competition," fest co-founder Jane Rosenthal said. "They are distinctive and accomplished storytellers, artists and entrepreneurs from the worlds of film, theater, culture, fashion, television and new media -- all of whom share a passion for film, a thirst for discovery and a spirit of independence."
Winners in the world narrative, world documentary, New York narrative, New York documentary, narrative short and documentary and student short film categories will be announced at the awards night party April 29. Together, the six juries will award $130,000 in cash and prizes,...
Filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, journalists and media figures such as Aaron Eckhart, Jessica Alba, Cheryl Hines, America Ferrera, Alicia Keys, Zach Braff, Hope Davis, Gary Ross, Whoopi Goldberg and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey will participate on the juries.
"This year's jury features the same impressive range and depth as our films playing in competition," fest co-founder Jane Rosenthal said. "They are distinctive and accomplished storytellers, artists and entrepreneurs from the worlds of film, theater, culture, fashion, television and new media -- all of whom share a passion for film, a thirst for discovery and a spirit of independence."
Winners in the world narrative, world documentary, New York narrative, New York documentary, narrative short and documentary and student short film categories will be announced at the awards night party April 29. Together, the six juries will award $130,000 in cash and prizes,...
- 4/13/2010
- by By Jay A. Fernandez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Not long ago, Peter Facinelli went to meet with "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua on a new project. Though Facinelli has been in the business for more than 15 years and has played a wide variety of characters, he is probably best known as Dr. Carlisle Cullen, the adoptive father to a brood of gorgeous vampires in the "Twilight" film series. Carlisle is described as eternally young and so good-looking he practically makes nurses faint in his wake, and it's not hard to see why the actor who got his big break as the hotshot jock in "Can't Hardly Wait" was the perfect choice for the role.But when Facinelli sat down with Fuqua and his producer, he made an offbeat suggestion. "I said, 'You know who I'd really love to play?' " he recalls. "They assumed I was talking about the lead role, for whom they were pursuing huge names.
- 3/24/2010
- backstage.com
HDNet Movies presents a special Sneak Preview of the movie “Wonderful World“, starring Matthew Broderick Wednesday, January 6 at 8:00 p.m. Et.
Critics are raving about “Wonderful World”. The Hollywood Reporter says,
“Matthew Broderick delivers his best screen role in quite a while.”
And, Paul Fischer of Dark Horizons says that,
“Wonderful World is one of the most beautiful movie surprises of the season. A masterful, deeply human and emotive work featuring a stunning performance by Mathew Broderick.”
A bittersweet comedy about families, friends and a frivolous fight against corporate institutions, Matthew Broderick (Finding Amanda, The Producers) plays Ben Singer, a failed children’s folk singer, a newly unemployed proofreader and an every-other-weekend dad to his young daughter (Jodelle Ferland), who prefers pretty much anything to listening to her dad’s pessimistic ramblings.
Matthew Broderick, Wonderful World
Struggling in all aspects of his life, Ben’s only comforts come from...
Critics are raving about “Wonderful World”. The Hollywood Reporter says,
“Matthew Broderick delivers his best screen role in quite a while.”
And, Paul Fischer of Dark Horizons says that,
“Wonderful World is one of the most beautiful movie surprises of the season. A masterful, deeply human and emotive work featuring a stunning performance by Mathew Broderick.”
A bittersweet comedy about families, friends and a frivolous fight against corporate institutions, Matthew Broderick (Finding Amanda, The Producers) plays Ben Singer, a failed children’s folk singer, a newly unemployed proofreader and an every-other-weekend dad to his young daughter (Jodelle Ferland), who prefers pretty much anything to listening to her dad’s pessimistic ramblings.
Matthew Broderick, Wonderful World
Struggling in all aspects of his life, Ben’s only comforts come from...
- 12/29/2009
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
Making for their second "Matthew Broderick" vehicle in as many years, Magnolia have picked up the rights to helmer Josh Goldin's debut film. A Tribeca entry earlier this year, Wonderful World is being pegged for a Vod and then theatrical 2010 release. - Making for their second "Matthew Broderick" vehicle in as many years, Magnolia have picked up the rights to helmer Josh Goldin's debut film. A Tribeca entry earlier this year, Wonderful World is being pegged for a Vod and then theatrical 2010 release. Last year Magnolia bought/released Peter Tolan's Finding Amanda - a feature that was toplined by Broderick. In this sometimes moving dark comedy, Broderick plays Ben—a failed children’s folk singer and less-than-extraordinary weekend dad. Deeply cynical, Ben’s sole pleasure in life is derived from chess games with his Senegalese roommate Ibou. When Ibou is suddenly struck ill and...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game where you provide the answers to questions we never asked! Last week we dabbled in a little bit of wizardry and asked you to provide us with a fantastical caption for a photo from Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince. Congrats to our one grand prize winner for handing us a caption that was too hot for Hogwarts!
1. "Although it was an honest request, Ron decided to leave his helmet on before asking Hermione if she would like to help him find his snitch." -- Lilli H.
See full image and all captions
This week we're searching for answers with Jeff Daniels in The Answer Man (previously titled Arlen Faber, due in theaters on July 24th), which follows a reclusive author of spirituality books who's approached by a single mother/recovering addict seeking answers and a little help from a...
1. "Although it was an honest request, Ron decided to leave his helmet on before asking Hermione if she would like to help him find his snitch." -- Lilli H.
See full image and all captions
This week we're searching for answers with Jeff Daniels in The Answer Man (previously titled Arlen Faber, due in theaters on July 24th), which follows a reclusive author of spirituality books who's approached by a single mother/recovering addict seeking answers and a little help from a...
- 7/17/2009
- by Erik Davis
- Cinematical
Winners of the 2009 Prism Awards have been announced Thursday, April 23, at the Beverly Hills Hotel and "Rachel Getting Married" topped the feature film category, grabbing two kudos presented by the nonprofit Entertainment Industries Council. The Jonathan Demme-directed drama has nabbed Best Film prize as well as Best Performance in a Feature Film for its leading lady, Anne Hathaway.
For the Best Film title, "Rachel" beat out strong contender, award season favorite "The Wrestler", among two other nominees, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" and "Finding Amanda". Meanwhile, Hathaway who has been nominated for Oscar and Golden Globe for this recovering alcoholic role triumphed over Matthew Broderick, Ryan Phillippe, Brittany Snow and even Mickey Rourke.
Honoring film and television projects that depict mental-health and substance abuse issues, Prism Awards also hailed "Stop-Loss" as Best Feature Film - Mental Health. This war drama movie from director Kimberly Peirce overshadowed the three other nominees, "The Black Balloon...
For the Best Film title, "Rachel" beat out strong contender, award season favorite "The Wrestler", among two other nominees, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" and "Finding Amanda". Meanwhile, Hathaway who has been nominated for Oscar and Golden Globe for this recovering alcoholic role triumphed over Matthew Broderick, Ryan Phillippe, Brittany Snow and even Mickey Rourke.
Honoring film and television projects that depict mental-health and substance abuse issues, Prism Awards also hailed "Stop-Loss" as Best Feature Film - Mental Health. This war drama movie from director Kimberly Peirce overshadowed the three other nominees, "The Black Balloon...
- 4/24/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Brittany Snow and Emmanuelle Chriqui in front of the camera? Sounds like a lot of hotness. Snow will star alongside Chriqui as well as RZA, Jessica Szohr and Rumer Willis in Walks.
Brittany Snow for Walks
To be directed by Eric Amadio off a script he wrote, Walk takes place in the world of underground street art, the story centers on a circle of young New Yorkers coming together for the homecoming of a convicted graffiti artist.
Snow has been a busy girl. She recently wrapped Black Water Transit and a Gossip Girl spinoff pilot. She was last seen in the wide releases Prom Night and Finding Amanda. If you were at Sundance, you might have also saw her in The Vicious Kind.
Brittany Snow for Walks
To be directed by Eric Amadio off a script he wrote, Walk takes place in the world of underground street art, the story centers on a circle of young New Yorkers coming together for the homecoming of a convicted graffiti artist.
Snow has been a busy girl. She recently wrapped Black Water Transit and a Gossip Girl spinoff pilot. She was last seen in the wide releases Prom Night and Finding Amanda. If you were at Sundance, you might have also saw her in The Vicious Kind.
- 3/23/2009
- www.canmag.com
Despite her perfect pop princess looks, Brittany Snow has always been willing to take on some varied roles, from the newbie stripper in Finding Amanda to an abused girl in the yet-to-be-released On the Doll. And even though she'll be starring in an upcoming Gossip Girl spinoff, she's not afraid to get down, dirty and indie once again. Snow will star alongside RZA, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jessica Szohr and Rumer Willis in Walks, a drama set in New York's underground world of street art. Variety reports that Eric Amadio will direct his own script for the film. Amadio's previous film was the romantic comedy he made on a shoestring, After Sex, and he grew up in Los Angeles, so it'll be interesting to see his take on the grungy New York art scene. Good thing he's got Snow, who's proving herself again and again to be a pretty fearless actress.
- 3/23/2009
- cinemablend.com
Sony Pictures Classics' relationships drama "Rachel Getting Married" and Paramount's military drama "Stop-Loss" were among films attracting nominations Wednesday from the Prism Awards, which honor noteworthy depictions of substance abuse and mental health issues.
"Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "The Office," "Mad Men" and "Law & Order: Svu" were among TV series nominated.
Winners will be announced April 23 at a ceremony set for the Beverly Hills Hotel. The nonprofit Entertainment Industries Council produces the Prism Awards.
"All one has to do is watch the evening news to see how tough times are affecting the American psyche," Eic chief Brian Dyak said. "Increased risk of substance abuse and mental health concerns is a reality, which dictates that we as an industry must rise to the call to be an industry of character and respect for our viewers."
ABC earned 11 nominations to top companies attracting nominations in an array of TV categories.
A list...
"Desperate Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy," "The Office," "Mad Men" and "Law & Order: Svu" were among TV series nominated.
Winners will be announced April 23 at a ceremony set for the Beverly Hills Hotel. The nonprofit Entertainment Industries Council produces the Prism Awards.
"All one has to do is watch the evening news to see how tough times are affecting the American psyche," Eic chief Brian Dyak said. "Increased risk of substance abuse and mental health concerns is a reality, which dictates that we as an industry must rise to the call to be an industry of character and respect for our viewers."
ABC earned 11 nominations to top companies attracting nominations in an array of TV categories.
A list...
- 2/11/2009
- by By Carl DiOrio
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Finding Amanda is a pleasant little indie by Rescue Me Co-creator and sometimes actor Peter Tolan. Based on his personal experience as a guy that likes to gamble, Finding Amanda follows Taylor Peters (Matthew Broderick), a television writer/producer with a lingering addiction problem as he goes to Vegas to find his niece Amanda played by hottie Brittany Snow, who has apparently fallen into some addiction problems of her own… ok, maybe a little prostitution too. He must then take her home to a swanky Malibu rehab center.
- 11/14/2008
- UGO Movies
DVD Links: Release Dates | New Dvds | Reviews | RSS Feed One quick note since a release date has not yet been announced, Blu-ray.com tells us Fox will release The X-Files: I Want to Believe as its first Blu-ray title with Bd Live features. The feature will be called "The X-Files Dossier" and will allow users to create a special-agent avatar that can browse through Agent Dakota Whitney's case files on clairvoyance and post their own notes and theories. Viewers will also have the ability to help Agent Drummy solve several forensic challenges. These challenges are expected to be posted weekly for first few weeks of release. In addition to the above mentioned Bd-Live and BonusView features, the disc will also include an interactive timeline featuring more than 80 video clip segments from the franchise's archives. Now to today's titles... Blood Simple (Director's Cut) Here it is, the only DVD releasing this...
- 9/16/2008
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
There's a slew of new releases hitting shelves this week. Some are flashy, some are sweet, and some you should be ashamed if you spend your hard-earned money on them. As Peter said last week, we're still working out kinks in the new format, so weigh in below with your thoughts.
MAIN PICKS AND MISSES
Speed Racer (Pick)
Made of Honor (Miss)
The Love Guru (Miss)
The Babysitters (Miss)
INDIES ON DVD
Young@Heart, Finding Amanda, Harold, Snow Angels
BLU-RAY
Speed Racer, Hulk (2003), The Mist
COLLECTOR'S CORNER
High School Flashback Collection, Risky Business Deluxe Edition, and more!Filed under: New Releases, DVD Reviews, New on DVD, Home Entertainment
Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/16
Permalink | Email this | Comments...
MAIN PICKS AND MISSES
Speed Racer (Pick)
Made of Honor (Miss)
The Love Guru (Miss)
The Babysitters (Miss)
INDIES ON DVD
Young@Heart, Finding Amanda, Harold, Snow Angels
BLU-RAY
Speed Racer, Hulk (2003), The Mist
COLLECTOR'S CORNER
High School Flashback Collection, Risky Business Deluxe Edition, and more!Filed under: New Releases, DVD Reviews, New on DVD, Home Entertainment
Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/16
Permalink | Email this | Comments...
- 9/16/2008
- by Monika Bartyzel
- Cinematical
Kimberly Johnson, writer of Benderspink's upcoming woman-in-peril screenplay "Curve," is set to pen another female-led thriller for Capacity Pictures.
Plot details are being kept under wraps for the untitled feature, said to be in the vein of "The Usual Suspects" with a female character at the center. Capacity heads Wayne Rice and Richard Heller are producing.
The project will be the next out of the gate for Capacity. The company produced this summer's Magnolia Pictures release "Finding Amanda," starring Matthew Broderick, and recently completed production on the comedy "Housebroken," starring Danny DeVito.
Johnson, repped by Paradigm and manager Jill McElroy, wrote the Benderspink/Scatter Light Prods. "Curve" script while undergoing successful treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. The project has served as a calling card for the USC film school grad.
Plot details are being kept under wraps for the untitled feature, said to be in the vein of "The Usual Suspects" with a female character at the center. Capacity heads Wayne Rice and Richard Heller are producing.
The project will be the next out of the gate for Capacity. The company produced this summer's Magnolia Pictures release "Finding Amanda," starring Matthew Broderick, and recently completed production on the comedy "Housebroken," starring Danny DeVito.
Johnson, repped by Paradigm and manager Jill McElroy, wrote the Benderspink/Scatter Light Prods. "Curve" script while undergoing successful treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. The project has served as a calling card for the USC film school grad.
- 8/12/2008
- by By Gregg Goldstein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Peter Tolan has applied his sardonic touch to "The Job" and "Rescue Me," the darkly comic TV shows he co-created with Denis Leary. Now, Tolan has a trio of new projects brewing: the ABC pilot "The Unusuals," which he is executive producing; the Showtime pilot "The End of Steve," which he is co-writing with Matthew Perry; and his semi-autobiographical directorial debut, "Finding Amanda," which hit theaters last Friday.
The Hollywood Reporter: "Finding Amanda" is a movie about a former alcoholic and drug dabbler who burns much of the money he earns as a television writer-producer on the races -- would it be misleading if they re-titled it "The Peter Tolan Story?"
Peter Tolan: [laughs] The original character name was Taylor Peters, and I ended up changing it to Taylor Mendon because I thought, 'I'm being a little obvious here.' I have been known to gamble in my day. I'm not a drinker, and I've never really taken drugs, but I wanted to make myself appear a little sexier.
Thr: What about the nature of the niece character, Amanda, who is making a living in Vegas as a 20-year-old prostitute? Is that pulled from your actual experience?
Tolan: My wife did get a call a couple of years ago from a family friend who had a child who was in trouble in Vegas. And in that moment of my wife saying, "Maybe Peter can go to Vegas and try to help out," I thought, 'Hey great, I get to go to Vegas.' In that moment, I thought, 'You are just a complete sick bastard.' That's how far into my own head I was with the gambling. In the next instant I thought, 'Well, that's a movie -- a guy who's that messed up.'
Thr: In what ways was finally directing your own material a more pleasurable Hollywood experience after all of the hired-hand rewrite jobs you've done?
Tolan: You don't control your studio work. You get rewritten, and you're not there saying, "Boy, I would do it this way... ." Nobody really wants to hear that. As a result, things go out with your name on it, and I think after a while people go, "Oh, he writes that." So I felt like I really had to make a movie and re-establish -- as the kids would say today -- my street cred, in terms of who I was in features. And I was completely energized by it like I hadn't been in years.
Thr: Does it feel as if you're at a turning point in your career?
Tolan: I would like there to be a new stage. I'm actually doing well writing these days. I'm going through a fertile period. And I feel good about my writing -- where I get into situations and I go, 'I know how to fix that.' As a result, I'm five seasons in on "Rescue Me," and this fifth season we're just on fire. The first six episodes are some of the best stuff we've ever done.
Thr: Do you feel like it's trending upward or downward in terms of the mechanics of getting good shows on the air and having control?
Tolan: Well, if you work in cable, it's fantastic. But the networks have gotten a lot more restrictive. And there are much fewer hours available for scripted programming. So the odds of getting on the air and staying there are much worse than they used to be. It's a real battleground.
Thr: Do you think it ultimately balances out?
Tolan: Yeah, cable has taken the mantle of that, especially in drama. Or drama of note. And I guess this is what the networks were meant to be -- they're meant to be all things to all men. Which was a great model that worked when there were three networks. Now it's just not possible anymore, and they're clinging to that idea. So you get very accessible programming that doesn't challenge too much. If you want to be challenged as a writer or as a viewer, you go to cable.
The Hollywood Reporter: "Finding Amanda" is a movie about a former alcoholic and drug dabbler who burns much of the money he earns as a television writer-producer on the races -- would it be misleading if they re-titled it "The Peter Tolan Story?"
Peter Tolan: [laughs] The original character name was Taylor Peters, and I ended up changing it to Taylor Mendon because I thought, 'I'm being a little obvious here.' I have been known to gamble in my day. I'm not a drinker, and I've never really taken drugs, but I wanted to make myself appear a little sexier.
Thr: What about the nature of the niece character, Amanda, who is making a living in Vegas as a 20-year-old prostitute? Is that pulled from your actual experience?
Tolan: My wife did get a call a couple of years ago from a family friend who had a child who was in trouble in Vegas. And in that moment of my wife saying, "Maybe Peter can go to Vegas and try to help out," I thought, 'Hey great, I get to go to Vegas.' In that moment, I thought, 'You are just a complete sick bastard.' That's how far into my own head I was with the gambling. In the next instant I thought, 'Well, that's a movie -- a guy who's that messed up.'
Thr: In what ways was finally directing your own material a more pleasurable Hollywood experience after all of the hired-hand rewrite jobs you've done?
Tolan: You don't control your studio work. You get rewritten, and you're not there saying, "Boy, I would do it this way... ." Nobody really wants to hear that. As a result, things go out with your name on it, and I think after a while people go, "Oh, he writes that." So I felt like I really had to make a movie and re-establish -- as the kids would say today -- my street cred, in terms of who I was in features. And I was completely energized by it like I hadn't been in years.
Thr: Does it feel as if you're at a turning point in your career?
Tolan: I would like there to be a new stage. I'm actually doing well writing these days. I'm going through a fertile period. And I feel good about my writing -- where I get into situations and I go, 'I know how to fix that.' As a result, I'm five seasons in on "Rescue Me," and this fifth season we're just on fire. The first six episodes are some of the best stuff we've ever done.
Thr: Do you feel like it's trending upward or downward in terms of the mechanics of getting good shows on the air and having control?
Tolan: Well, if you work in cable, it's fantastic. But the networks have gotten a lot more restrictive. And there are much fewer hours available for scripted programming. So the odds of getting on the air and staying there are much worse than they used to be. It's a real battleground.
Thr: Do you think it ultimately balances out?
Tolan: Yeah, cable has taken the mantle of that, especially in drama. Or drama of note. And I guess this is what the networks were meant to be -- they're meant to be all things to all men. Which was a great model that worked when there were three networks. Now it's just not possible anymore, and they're clinging to that idea. So you get very accessible programming that doesn't challenge too much. If you want to be challenged as a writer or as a viewer, you go to cable.
Although her recent roles haven’t exactly been the most sophisticated, Brittany Snow is ready to hit a new direction. After gaining some onscreen experience in “John Tucker Must Die,” “Hairspray” and “Prom Night,” the actress is now stepping into the lead role of Peter Tolan’s new film “Finding Amanda.”
In the movie, Matthew Broderick plays a television producer who tries to win back the affection of his wife by convincing his troubled niece Amanda (Snow) to enter rehab.
Comingsoon.net’s Edward Douglas recently caught up with Snow and talked to her about her latest flick, the character she portrays, and her career in general. If you’re a fan of Brittany Snow I highly suggest you check it out, because she’s got some interesting stuff to say. Here’s a tiny excerpt from the interview:
“Well, I played a prostitute now three times (laughter)… it's a...
In the movie, Matthew Broderick plays a television producer who tries to win back the affection of his wife by convincing his troubled niece Amanda (Snow) to enter rehab.
Comingsoon.net’s Edward Douglas recently caught up with Snow and talked to her about her latest flick, the character she portrays, and her career in general. If you’re a fan of Brittany Snow I highly suggest you check it out, because she’s got some interesting stuff to say. Here’s a tiny excerpt from the interview:
“Well, I played a prostitute now three times (laughter)… it's a...
- 6/29/2008
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
Snow Paid For Research Lapdances
Pretty Hairspray star Brittany Snow had to pay for lapdances so she could research her new role as a stripper and prostitute.
The actress is set to shock fans with back to back roles as hookers and exotic dancers in Finding Amanda and Black Water Transit, and her research took her to seedy strip clubs.
Snow reveals the ladies of the nightclubs she visited refused to talk to her and help craft her character - until she paid them for their services.
She explains, "I was at home in Florida for Christmas vacation and so I spent probably about two to three hours a night talking to these girls at strip clubs.
"It was probably the most expensive conversation I've ever had because it was basically getting lap dances while talking to them."
And she was left shocked by some of the stories she was told while strippers gyrated their bodies in front of her: "This one girl described how this guy left bruises all over her arms because he grabbed her so forcefully off the stage and dragged her around and out of the club.
"She was describing it in such a nonchalant, happy way that it made me feel really uncomfortable."
By the time Snow came to play her hooker characters on screen, she had a totally different view of women who sell sex or show off their bodies in stripclubs.
She adds, "I learned a lot about where they were from and their mindset and how they went about getting to that profession.
"I don't agree with it but I think, after talking with these girls, there's definitely a connection that I have to these girls and what they're all about."...
The actress is set to shock fans with back to back roles as hookers and exotic dancers in Finding Amanda and Black Water Transit, and her research took her to seedy strip clubs.
Snow reveals the ladies of the nightclubs she visited refused to talk to her and help craft her character - until she paid them for their services.
She explains, "I was at home in Florida for Christmas vacation and so I spent probably about two to three hours a night talking to these girls at strip clubs.
"It was probably the most expensive conversation I've ever had because it was basically getting lap dances while talking to them."
And she was left shocked by some of the stories she was told while strippers gyrated their bodies in front of her: "This one girl described how this guy left bruises all over her arms because he grabbed her so forcefully off the stage and dragged her around and out of the club.
"She was describing it in such a nonchalant, happy way that it made me feel really uncomfortable."
By the time Snow came to play her hooker characters on screen, she had a totally different view of women who sell sex or show off their bodies in stripclubs.
She adds, "I learned a lot about where they were from and their mindset and how they went about getting to that profession.
"I don't agree with it but I think, after talking with these girls, there's definitely a connection that I have to these girls and what they're all about."...
- 6/27/2008
- WENN
Matthew Broderick made his name playing the ultimate cool kid in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, only to find a niche playing putzes, losers, and sad sacks. In the black comedy Finding Amanda, directed by veteran television writer Peter Tolan (Rescue Me, The Larry Sanders Show), Broderick once again plays an anti-Ferris—a jittery, tightly wound television writer who swapped alcoholism and drugs for a slightly more socially sanctioned gambling addiction. Over the course of the film, Broderick is emasculated, mocked, fired, threatened, humiliated, and beaten up. It's enough to drive a man to drink, and drink Broderick does, backsliding blearily into his bad old habits. Amanda's gimmicky plot sends Broderick's depressed, anxious hack upriver to the bubbling cesspool of sin that is Las Vegas to convince niece Brittany Snow to check into rehab after descending into prostitution and club drugs. Upon touching down in a city rife with temptation,...
- 6/26/2008
- by Nathan Rabin
- avclub.com
Isn't it remarkable how little Matthew Broderick has changed over the years? I mean, yes, he's considerably heavier than he was when he made Ferris Bueller, but give him a break: He was already 23! He shouldn't have had the build of a 17-year-old anymore.
Fast forward a dozen years and there's Broderick in Godzilla, a little puffier but definitely not nearing 40. Ditto Election, although he was supposed to look a little older in that, because his character is so worn-down. Jump to the here and now and Broderick, who's 46 years old now, still has a very boyish, almost Jerry Mathers-like quality.
To counter that, he's taken roles that paint him in a negative light, like Election, like his recent turn as a completely selfish manchild in Helen Hunt's Then She Found Me, and his upcoming work in Finding Amanda and Diminished Capacity.
In the first, Broderick plays...
Fast forward a dozen years and there's Broderick in Godzilla, a little puffier but definitely not nearing 40. Ditto Election, although he was supposed to look a little older in that, because his character is so worn-down. Jump to the here and now and Broderick, who's 46 years old now, still has a very boyish, almost Jerry Mathers-like quality.
To counter that, he's taken roles that paint him in a negative light, like Election, like his recent turn as a completely selfish manchild in Helen Hunt's Then She Found Me, and his upcoming work in Finding Amanda and Diminished Capacity.
In the first, Broderick plays...
- 6/26/2008
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
Brittany Snow has revealed that she interviewed strippers to help learn about her new movie role. The actress plays a prostitute in Finding Amanda and wanted to immerse herself in the character. "It was really eye-opening," she told the New York Daily News. "I probably ended up talking to one girl for three hours. I felt like I knew her at the end of it. "She looked exactly like me. She was so sweet and was so articulate and had so much to say." When asked whether she would ever (more)...
- 6/23/2008
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
By Neil Pedley
As the temperature rises, romance blooms amongst the geriatric set, "Mary Poppins" goes Bollywood, and parents will get their first chance to lay eyes on that which will likely have them driving to Toys "R" Us all summer long.
"Elsa and Fred"
Seeing anyone under 30 fall in love on screen is elusive these days, and so director Marcos Carnevale's gentle and endearing tale of romance between a couple with a real-life combined age of 176 is quite the breath of fresh air. In a role that nabbed several awards in his native Spain, Manuel Alexandre stars as Fred, an embittered widower whose chance encounter with Elsa (China Zorilla), a mischievous Fellini fanatic, leads the pair to Italy to fulfill her dream of reenacting the famous Trevi Fountain scene from Fellini's "La Dolce Vita." In Spanish with subtitles.
Opens in limited release.
"Finding Amanda"
Fans of the small...
As the temperature rises, romance blooms amongst the geriatric set, "Mary Poppins" goes Bollywood, and parents will get their first chance to lay eyes on that which will likely have them driving to Toys "R" Us all summer long.
"Elsa and Fred"
Seeing anyone under 30 fall in love on screen is elusive these days, and so director Marcos Carnevale's gentle and endearing tale of romance between a couple with a real-life combined age of 176 is quite the breath of fresh air. In a role that nabbed several awards in his native Spain, Manuel Alexandre stars as Fred, an embittered widower whose chance encounter with Elsa (China Zorilla), a mischievous Fellini fanatic, leads the pair to Italy to fulfill her dream of reenacting the famous Trevi Fountain scene from Fellini's "La Dolce Vita." In Spanish with subtitles.
Opens in limited release.
"Finding Amanda"
Fans of the small...
- 6/23/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
Hookers Impress Snow
Hairspray star Brittany Snow has a new-found respect for hookers after studying the ladies of the night for two back to back film roles.
The cute blonde plays prostitutes in new films Finding Amanda and Black Water Transit and her research left her convinced that most hookers are sweethearts.
She says, "I learned a lot about where they were from and their mindset and how they went about getting to that profession.
"I don't agree with it but I think, after talking with these girls, there's definitely a connection that I have to these girls and what they're all about.
"That stigma that people have is really interesting. There's definitely a notion that the girls come from broken families and they're all messed up and on drugs and crazy.
"That was not the case at all for the girls that I talked to, thankfully. I felt like I was talking to a friend of mine. They were very articulate; they went to high school. Some of them went to college and have kids.
"Some of them looked exactly like me."...
The cute blonde plays prostitutes in new films Finding Amanda and Black Water Transit and her research left her convinced that most hookers are sweethearts.
She says, "I learned a lot about where they were from and their mindset and how they went about getting to that profession.
"I don't agree with it but I think, after talking with these girls, there's definitely a connection that I have to these girls and what they're all about.
"That stigma that people have is really interesting. There's definitely a notion that the girls come from broken families and they're all messed up and on drugs and crazy.
"That was not the case at all for the girls that I talked to, thankfully. I felt like I was talking to a friend of mine. They were very articulate; they went to high school. Some of them went to college and have kids.
"Some of them looked exactly like me."...
- 6/22/2008
- WENN
Snow Turns Into The Hulk Hooker After Spitting Scene
Hairspray star Brittany Snow released her inner rage on one unfortunate co-star in new film Finding Amanda - and left him black and blue.
The whiter-than-white actress showed there's more to her than her petite frame and cute looks suggest when she laid into her unsuspecting castmate - and even padding couldn't prevent injury.
Snow, who plays a Las Vegas hooker in the film, was told to get physical in a scene where her unfortunate co-star spits in her face - but she really let it rip when the scene had to be shot over and over again.
She tells WENN, "Luckily it was not real spit. It was actually like jelly and (writer/director) Peter (Tolan) had it on a spoon and flicked it at my face in front of the camera.
"He kept on missing and it kept going all over the place, in my hair and on my shoulder. Finally it landed right on my face, which is disgusting, and I flipped.
"I really liked that scene because I got to beat up a guy, which doesn't happen very often in my films and probably won't happen very many times.
"The guy was covered in pads, so I could really do whatever I wanted, but there was one time I clocked him just right and he had to walk around the casino to shake it off, because he was wounded.
"He was a really big guy and I actually did scratch him at one point as well. I just got into it."...
The whiter-than-white actress showed there's more to her than her petite frame and cute looks suggest when she laid into her unsuspecting castmate - and even padding couldn't prevent injury.
Snow, who plays a Las Vegas hooker in the film, was told to get physical in a scene where her unfortunate co-star spits in her face - but she really let it rip when the scene had to be shot over and over again.
She tells WENN, "Luckily it was not real spit. It was actually like jelly and (writer/director) Peter (Tolan) had it on a spoon and flicked it at my face in front of the camera.
"He kept on missing and it kept going all over the place, in my hair and on my shoulder. Finally it landed right on my face, which is disgusting, and I flipped.
"I really liked that scene because I got to beat up a guy, which doesn't happen very often in my films and probably won't happen very many times.
"The guy was covered in pads, so I could really do whatever I wanted, but there was one time I clocked him just right and he had to walk around the casino to shake it off, because he was wounded.
"He was a really big guy and I actually did scratch him at one point as well. I just got into it."...
- 6/19/2008
- WENN
•Variety's Winter Miller reports that Magnolia Pictures has acquired the rights to Finding Amanda, Peter Tolan's semi-autobiographical dark comedy starring Matthew Broderick. •John Anderson reviews Milosevic on Trial for Variety, saying that while covering basic Balkan history, the documentary stirringly recaps one of the most repugnant title subjects in movie history. •Tom McCarthy says Tribeca's closer, Speed Racer, is like cotton candy -- entirely non-nutritious, but too sweet to resist.
- 5/1/2008
- AMC News: Film Festivals
- Peter Tolan feature directorial debut Finding Amanda has found a home, distribution-wise, with Magnolia Pictures, an enterprise of Mark Cuban's HDNet. The highly buzzed-about film had its world premiere at New York's Tribeca Film Festival this week. Matthew Broderick stars, with a cast rounded out by Maura Tierney ("ER") and Brittany Snow ("Prom Night") in this extremely dark comedy about Taylor Peters, a gambling alcoholic TV producer who, at his estranged wife's insistence, moseys to Las Vegas to rein in his (exotic) dancing niece and ship her off to rehab (the Cirque Lodge, no doubt). This downtrodden character seems a misstep for Broderick, mostly known for happy-go-lucky portrayals of innocent but charming know-it-alls like Ferris Bueller and Leo Bloom. Broderick's got range, but not much. His addiction-addled character struggles in Las Vegas, the town with every addiction, and tries to be a knight in shining armor to his wild niece.
- 5/1/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
Snow a 'Vicious' lead
Brittany Snow will star in the indie feature Vicious Kind.
Snow will play a woman targeted by the obsessed older brother of her boyfriend after he brings her home for Thanksgiving.
Adam Scott will play Caleb, the obsessive older brother. The role of Emma's boyfriend has not been cast.
The film, to begin filming in Connecticut on March 1, is written and being directed by Lee Toland Krieger. Tim Harms and Neil LaBute are producing.
Snow (Hairspray) is set to appear in the indie feature Finding Amanda and the crime drama Black Water Transit. She is repped by ICM and attorney P.J. Shapiro.
Scott, who will next be seen in Columbia's Step Brothers as well as the indie drama Lovely Still, is repped by the Gersh Agency, Untitled Entertainment and attorney P.J. Shapiro.
Snow will play a woman targeted by the obsessed older brother of her boyfriend after he brings her home for Thanksgiving.
Adam Scott will play Caleb, the obsessive older brother. The role of Emma's boyfriend has not been cast.
The film, to begin filming in Connecticut on March 1, is written and being directed by Lee Toland Krieger. Tim Harms and Neil LaBute are producing.
Snow (Hairspray) is set to appear in the indie feature Finding Amanda and the crime drama Black Water Transit. She is repped by ICM and attorney P.J. Shapiro.
Scott, who will next be seen in Columbia's Step Brothers as well as the indie drama Lovely Still, is repped by the Gersh Agency, Untitled Entertainment and attorney P.J. Shapiro.
- 2/8/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kinnear, Tierney make 'Baby'
Greg Kinnear and Maura Tierney have joined the cast of Universal Pictures' Baby Mama, written and directed by Michael McCullers.
The duo join Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver and Dax Shepard in the comedy, which centers on a single woman (Fey) whose desire to have a child and keep her career leads her to hire a surrogate (Poehler).
Kinnear will play the male lead, a proprietor of a local fresh juice shop who becomes close with Fey's character as she begins her pursuit of a surrogate.
Tierney will play Fey's confident, conventional sister who is the mother of two but supports her sister's choice.
Lorne Michaels and John Goldwyn are producing. Jill Messick executive produces.
Holly Bario is overseeing for Universal.
Kinnear, who most recently starred in Little Miss Sunshine and Fast Food Nation, is prepping to star in the DreamWorks romantic comedy Ghost Town opposite Ricky Gervais.
Tierney recently finished shooting Semi-Pro with Will Ferrell and appears in upcoming films The Go-Getter, which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, and Finding Amanda, with Matthew Broderick.
The duo join Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver and Dax Shepard in the comedy, which centers on a single woman (Fey) whose desire to have a child and keep her career leads her to hire a surrogate (Poehler).
Kinnear will play the male lead, a proprietor of a local fresh juice shop who becomes close with Fey's character as she begins her pursuit of a surrogate.
Tierney will play Fey's confident, conventional sister who is the mother of two but supports her sister's choice.
Lorne Michaels and John Goldwyn are producing. Jill Messick executive produces.
Holly Bario is overseeing for Universal.
Kinnear, who most recently starred in Little Miss Sunshine and Fast Food Nation, is prepping to star in the DreamWorks romantic comedy Ghost Town opposite Ricky Gervais.
Tierney recently finished shooting Semi-Pro with Will Ferrell and appears in upcoming films The Go-Getter, which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, and Finding Amanda, with Matthew Broderick.
- 6/13/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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