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Clockwise from top left: Vera Drew in The People’s Joker, Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again, and Jay Underwood in Fantastic FourPhoto: Altered Innocence, Screenshot: YouTube, YouTube

We live in a world dominated by intellectual property. Save for Oppenheimer and The Sound Of Freedom, last year’s 10 highest-grossing...

There’s a certain type of dystopian sci-fi that turns up in Sundance every few years, a kind of ‘Epcot on acid’ that causes a big ripple then rapidly fades away. Divinity, screening in the Next section, fits the bill exactly, a quirky mad scientist movie that, for all its attempts to be arty, darkly satirical and out-there, ends up as a kind of lo-fi companion piece to Don’t Worry Darling in its not-so-subtle skewering of American consumerism. Shot in grainy black and white, its chief draw is Stephen Dorff as you’ve never seen him before, and will likely never want to see him again.

Taking place in what could easily pass for a Playboy Mansion on the moon, the film begins with footage of a scientist named Sterling Pierce (Quantum Leap icon Scott Bakula) talking to...

Exclusive: The Walking Dead: World Beyond star Annet Mahendru has joined the Mark Wahlberg-Mel Gibson faith-based movie Stu, we hear. She recently wrapped season 2 on the AMC series. She’s also starring in Manifest West, a gritty drama from directors Louie Gibson and Joe Dietsch. Stu is directed and written by Rosalind Ross with Wahlberg producing alongside his partner and manager Stephen Levinson along with Jordan Foss. Miky Lee and Colleen Camp are EPs. Storyline is underwraps. Mahendru, who is repped by Paradigm, Bohemia Group and Nelson Davis, has starred in Amazon’s The Romanoffs, FX’s Tyrant, 2 Broke Girls, The Blacklist, Entourage and the indie move Escape From Tomorrow.

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Eric Ladin (The Right Stuff) is set to play Eric Chastain in Sony’s upcoming film Where the Crawdads Sing. He joins Garrett Dillahunt, David Strathairn, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, Sterling Macer, Jr., Jayson Warner Smith...

Despite being one of our favorite films of the year, The Beach Bum didn’t exactly set the box office on fire. So, while we wait for Harmony Korine to gather the resources for his next film, it’s no surprise he’s directed a major advertising campaign. The actual surprise, however, may be in which company he’s teamed with.

The Trash Humpers and Spring Breakers director was recruited by Disney and Gucci to launch their new collection Year of the Mouse. The one-minute Disneyland-set spot is far from the guerrilla filmmaking on display in The Florida Project or Escape from Tomorrow. Rather as, the house says, “The colorful energetic imagery has the look of holiday postcards, and the eclectic, surreal spirit of today’s Gucci is perfectly at home in the fantasy world of Disneyland.”

Featuring actress Ni Ni, actor Earl Cave, designer, stylist, and poet Zoë Bleu,...

AMC has rounded out the cast for the third The Walking Dead series. Annet Mahendru (Huck) and Aliyah Royale (Iris) join previously announced Alexa Mansour (Hope), Nicolas Cantu (Elton) and Hal Cumpston (Silas) as cast members in the third series of the franchise, which begins production next week in and around Richmond, Va.

AMC announced the casting news today immediately following the original show’s panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

The untitled third series will focus on the first generation to come of age in the apocalypse as we know it. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. In the end, all of them will be changed forever. Grown-up and cemented in their identities, both good and bad. Jordan Vogt-Roberts will direct the series co-created by Scott Gimple and The Walking Dead veteran writer and producer Matt Negrete, who will...

The third “Walking Dead” series officially unveiled its main cast immediately after the flagship show’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday.

In addition to Alexa Mansour, Nicolas Cantu, and Hal Cumpston — whose castings were exclusively reported by Variety earlier in July, the new series has also cast Annet Mahendru and Aliyah Royale in two lead roles. Mahendru’s character is named Huck, while Royale’s character is named Iris.

The new series is said to follow two female protagonists and focus on the first generation to come-of-age in the zombie apocalypse.

Mahendru’s past TV credits include “The Romanoffs,” “The Americans,” and “Tyrant.” On the film side, she has starred in films like “Penguins of Madagascar” and “Escape from Tomorrow.”

Royale most recently starred in the CBS drama “The Red Line.”

Royale is repped by Coast To Coast Talent Group and Dream Talent Management. Mahendru is repped by Paradigm,...

Do you remember the 2013 movie Escape From Tomorrow, which was secretly shot at Disneyland without their approval? That movie was freakin' nuts! Anyway, today we have a trailer for you to watch for another weird movie that was shot on Disney property without their permission. It's called The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head and it was shot in the Orlando area including on location at Walt Disney World. In the notes that came with the trailer it says, "The movie was made without the knowledge or permission of the Walt Disney Company or family."

I don't know why all these movies being shot illegally on Disney property have to be so weird, but this one actually features Walt Disney's frozen talking head as a character. The movie was inspired by the urban legend of how Walt Disney had his head cryogenically frozen. This isn't true, of course, even...

In 2013, a low-budget independent movie called Escape From Tomorrow made headlines as the first feature film to shoot at Walt Disney World without getting the proper approval from Disney beforehand. You can read Peter Sciretta’s full review here, but it’s a trippy, disorienting, disturbing piece of experimental filmmaking, showing a dark side to the “Happiest Place on Earth” […]

The post ‘The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head’: Another Movie Filmed on Disney Property Without Disney Approval appeared first on /Film.

The end of the year is often seen as a time when awards season gains momentum and critics produce their top 10 lists, but for much of the film industry, it’s also the first big preview of 2018 movies. Thanks to the Sundance Film Festival lineup, which in January will include 110 movies from 29 countries, a fresh crop of films to talk about have just been announced, many of which are certain to continue generating conversations throughout the year.

However, the Sundance program takes its time to gather buzz, and it’s not always obvious which movies deserve the most attention right off the bat. So here’s our annual attempt to take a first crack at some of the surprises and hidden gems in the lineup, with some input from Sundance director John Cooper and director of programming Trevor Groth. We’re as excited as anyone to see Paul Dano’s...

(Welcome to The Disney Discourse, a recurring feature where Josh Spiegel discusses the latest in Disney news. He goes deep on everything from the animated classics to the theme parks to live-action franchises. In this edition: a look at Escape From Tomorrow and the newly released The Florida Project, both of which explore the peripheries of […]

The post ‘The Florida Project,’ ‘Escape From Tomorrow’ and the Agreed-Upon Lie of Disney appeared first on /Film.

“The Little Rascals” meets “The Little Fugitive” in Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project,” a loose, endearing followup to “Tangerine” and another deep dive into impoverished America from the inside out. Baker has staked his filmmaking career on coaching vivid performances from non-traditional actors, and “The Florida Project” features a six-year-old girl in a freeflowing narrative and largely inhabits the limitations of her perspective, with mostly winning results.

Where “Tangerine” took place across the across the busy streets of Los Angeles, “The Florida Project” unfolds almost exclusively within the constraints of a budget motel on the outskirts of Orlando. The purple-hued Magic Castle Motel exists in Disney World’s decrepit backyard, and provides a very different sort of playground for the kids who live in its confines.

See MoreWillem Dafoe Goes to Disney World: Sean Baker Reveals Details and Photos of ‘The Florida Project’ — Exclusive

These include Moonee (Brooklynn Prince...

Even though the first color movies were made over 100 years ago, black & white lived on in Hollywood until the 1960s. The Academy Awards even had a category from 1939 to 1967 under Best Cinematography for black & white films, splitting the section in two. Even now, black & white is still a strong aesthetic / visual choice and some filmmakers use it effectively to tell stories. Some of my favorite recent black & white films are: Frances Ha, Ida, The Artist, Pi, Sin City, The Turin Horse, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, A Field in England, Escape from Tomorrow and Computer Chess. This new video essay from Jack Nugent looks back at film noir in the 40s & 50s to make the case for black and white, even today. It's worth a watch. Thanks to Film School Rejects for the tip on this. Original description from YouTube: "Black and white has a gorgeous look in film.

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)

This week’s question:

Last Friday saw the release of Garth Davis’ “Lion,” the musical score for which is the gorgeous result of a collaboration between two giants of the neo-classical movement, Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka. It’s just the latest indication that we’re living in a fascinating, vibrant time for movie music, and December boasts a number of films that will only add more fuel to that fire. With that in mind, we asked our panel of critics to name their favorite film score of the 21st Century.

Tasha Robinson (@TashaRobinson), The Verge

There are some really striking contenders out there, topped by Susumu Hirasawa’s manic,...

Netflix giveth, and Netflix taketh away.

"Blade Runner: The Theatrical Cut" was just added to Netflix streaming, but now it's facing a harsh expiration date of May 16. (We'll be up on the roof, holding a dove and crying.)

And dude! So bogus: Unless you have a time machine, you only have until May 1st to stream "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989).

Also leaving in May 2016: "Election," "Clerks," and "Black Hawk Dawn" as well as classic Marilyn Monroe movie "Bus Stop."

Here are all the movies and TV series leaving Netflix in May 2016. As always, all titles and dates are subject to change.

Leaving May 1

"The Animatrix" (2003)

"Anna Karenina" (1948)

"Author! Author!" (1982)

"Beware of Mr. Baker" (2012)

"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989)

"Broadway Idiot" (2013)

"Bus Stop" (1956)

"Election" (1999)

"The Good Life" (2012)

"Holiday Engagement" (2011)

"Kiss of Death" (1995)

"Mad Hot Ballroom" (2005)

"Mona Lisa Is Missing" (2012)

"Ralphie May: Austin-tatious" (2008)

"Terms And Conditions May Apply" (2013)

"That's What I Am...

At their annual retreat, the traditional internal kick-off for the big Sundance Film Festival this January, programmer Charlie Reff was able to take some time to talk with me about Next Fest.

My colleague Carlos Aguilar has already written about this big L.A. event here, so I will cover other areas and fill in on the music components of the film program.

Each film is its own event so that audiences will go to one film and not necessarily all films. Though the series package is selling well, the individual ticket sales are significant not only selling out but in bringing in new audiences. Getting L.A. people’s attention is not an easy task, but the pairing of movies and music in the unique way Next is creating, plus the spectacular venue, the Theatre at the Ace Hotel, one of L.A.’s most lavish and historic film venues, downtown at 9th and Broadway, will also bring out new audiences who care about preservation of our art deco landmarks.

This year more than half the films that showed in Sundance came out quickly theatrically this spring and summer followed by their VOD releases. If they did not get released theatrically then they were eligible to be chosen for Next if they were sufficiently “renegade” in the best spirit of indie filmmakers, like past films “Obvious Child”, “Compliance”, “Appropriate Behavior”, “Tangerine” and “Escape from Tomorrow”.

Out of the six films chosen for the unconventional and forward thinking of their narrative styles – including one doc -- there is a full range of experience to be had.

Four films showing in the evening are paired with live musical acts which somehow fit the film in mood or in ideas and are new and next in film and music.

In addition there will be three world premiere music videos and a full-body, mind-blowing virtual reality flight simulator, Birdly which was shown this past Sundance in the New Frontier exhibition. You can experience being a bird from a first-person perspective through a full-body virtual reality set up….it’s free, in the mezzanine of The Theatre of the Ace Hotel and available through an onsite waitlist system.

The world premiere music videos are Superhumanoid’s music video for “Anxious in Venice”, premiering Friday along with Noah Baumbach’s out of the mold “Mistress America” (Fox Searchlight) followed by a live performance by Sky Ferreira.Health’s album trailer for “Death Magic” as part of Saturday evening’s screening of “ Entertainment“ (Magnolia Releasing) starring Michael Cera will be followed by a solo performance by Sharon Van Etten. “Death Magic” is directed by acclaimed graphic designer, title designer, and editor Pablo Ferro, who has worked alongside some of the most respected filmmakers of all time including Stanley Kubrick, Hal Ashby and Tim Burton. An experimental short film by Eddie Alcazar with soundtrack by Flying Lotus, “Fuckkkyouuu”, will premiere Sunday at the “Turbo Kid” (Epic Pictures Releasing) screening with a back-to-back DJ battle between Neon Indian and Toro Y Moi.

Pairing music audiences with movie audiences aims to bring new awareness of new art canvasses to people who do not have a lot of crossover knowledge of film on one hand or of music on the other. Musicians often want to make movies and both they and filmmakers have had the carpets pulled out from under them and are struggling to find their way amidst digitization. It seems self-evident that fimmakers appreciate music since soundtracks and even the most incidental music in a film can make or break it. By pairing “Mistress America” with Sky Ferreira, Charlie is sure Sky’s fans will love “Mistress America” which will result in new discussions and will perhaps begin to define how to make sense of movies to music audiences. The cross-pollination of audiences enriches everyone.

The two daytime films, “Cronies” by Michael Larnell and “Finders Keepers” will be followed by conversations, paired respectively with Robert Townsend, one of the Godfathers of the Independent Film World, actor, writer, director and producer of first of “Hollywood Shuffle” followed by many other films; and Saturday’s “Finders Keepers” directors Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel with Thomas Middletich (“Silicon Valley” ) along with the film’s subject John Wood himself! Speakers were chosen by the filmmakers who were told to ask who was influential them them and who would they want to see their film.

Among the filmmakers, cast and musicians expected to attend Sundance Next Fest are Rick Alverson, Noah Baumbach, Bryan Carberry, Munro Chambers, Greta Gerwig, Health, Tim Heidecker, Lola Kirke, Michael Larnell, François Simard, Superhumanoids, Gregg Turkington, Clay Tweel, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell.

Attendance is expected to be around 10,000 judging by lat year’s numbers. Last year all three film with music event was sold out. The opening screening in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery was huge and the screenings over three days had about 1,000 at each event.

Next is not just a film festival; it is an Event.

Sundance Next Fest is supported by Principal Sponsors – Acura and Adobe; Major Sponsor – Kickstarter; Media Sponsor – Kcrw; and Supporting Sponsors – Beachside Films, Dolby, FilmL.A., Inc., ShopHouse, Shudder, Skullcandy®, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois®, The Theatre at Ace Hotel and the Utah Film Commission. As part of their presence at the festival, Adobe and Kickstarter will host panels open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons;

Below is the full program in detail. Even more details and tickets ($15-25) now on sale can be found at sundance.org/next.

Friday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.

"Anxious in Venice" (Band: Superhumanoids, Director: Taylor Cohen) — It's 4:37 a.m. and someone straps a camera to your chest. Nearby, your hungover bandmate sips gas station coffee and the director yells about missing the sunrise. You hate performance music videos but you're sure this one will be different. Then again, when you've been up all night and are shooting without a permit -- you can't be sure of anything. Welcome to Anxious In Venice. Music Video. World Premiere

"Mistress America" / U.S.A. (Director: Noah Baumbach, Screenwriters: Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig) — Tracy is a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke's alluringly mad schemes. Cast: Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke. Los Angeles Premiere

Sky Ferreira — Sky Ferreira has quickly established herself as one of today’s most exciting new faces in music, film and fashion. She first signed to Capitol Records at the early age of 15 where she eventually wrote & executive produced her critically acclaimed debut album, Night Time, My Time. As an actress, she has worked with many independent filmmakers including Eli Roth, Liza Johnson & Matthew Porterfield. Sky is currently recording her highly anticipated new album, Masochism.

Saturday, August 8, 3:30 p.m.

"Finders Keepers" / U.S.A. (Directors: Bryan Carberry, Clay Tweel) — Recovering addict and amputee John Wood finds himself in a stranger-than-fiction battle to reclaim his mummified leg from Southern entrepreneur Shannon Whisnant, who found it in a grill he bought at an auction and believes it, therefore, to be his rightful property. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between directors Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel, subject John Wood and special guests Aubrey Plaza and Thomas Middleditch.

Saturday, August 8, 8:00 p.m.

"Death Magic" (Band: Health, Director: Pablo Ferro) — The sun slowly sets; its beauty soundtracked by a serene yet melancholy sound. As the last rays of light slip behind the clouds, a violent transformation takes place. The music, ever-changing and explosive, creates the imagery… supergraphic and never seen before! The quick cuts in sync with the music, introduce the emotional range and complexity of Health’S new album Death Magic. Album Trailer. World Premiere

"Entertainment" / U.S.A. (Director: Rick Alverson, Screenwriters: Rick Alverson, Gregg Turkington, Tim Heidecker) — In an attempt to revive his dwindling career and reunite with his estranged daughter, a broken, aging comedian plays a string of dead-end shows in the California desert. Cast: Gregg Turkington, John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, Michael Cera, Amy Seimetz, Lotte Verbeek. Los Angeles Premiere

Sharon Van Etten — Singer/songwriter Sharon Van Etten writes from free-flowing emotional honesty and vulnerability, creating a bond with the listener that few contemporary musicians can match. Following her 2012 break-through Tramp, last year’s follow up Are We There and her new Ep I Don’t Want to Let You Down, Van Etten finds herself in full stride, writing, producing and performing.

Sunday, August 9, 3:30 p.m.

"Cronies" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael J. Larnell) — Twenty-two-year-old Louis doesn’t know whether his childhood friendship with Jack will last beyond today. Cast: George Sample III, Zurich Buckner, Brian Kowalski. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between director Michael J. Larnell and special guest Robert Townsend.

Sunday, August 9, 8:00 p.m.

"Fuckkkyouuu" (Director: Eddie Alcazar, Music: Flying Lotus) — With the ability to travel in time, a lonely girl finds love and comfort by connecting with her past self. Eventually faced with rejection she struggles with her identity and gender, and as time folds onto itself only one of them can remain. Cast: Jesse Sullivan, Charles Baker. Experimental Short / Music Video. World Premiere

"Turbo Kid" / Canada, New Zealand (Directors and screenwriters: Anouk Whissell, François Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell) — Set in a post apocalyptic year of 1997, this nostalgic tribute to ’80s action-adventure films follows an orphaned teenager who goes on an adventure to save his female-robot companion from the hands of the evil warlord who controls the only water supply. Cast: Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Michael Ironside, Aaron Jeffery, Edwin Wright. Los Angeles Premiere

Neon Indian (DJ set) B2B Toro Y Moi (DJ set) — Neon Indian, the brainchild of Alan Palomo, is defined by a unique electro-mangled sound which has attracted fans and opening slots before acts like Massive Attack, The Flaming Lips, Phoenix and Chromeo. Toro Y Moi, the guise of Chaz Bundick, channels a wide swath of stylistic influences into his electronics-incorporating music and cites Big Star, Talking Heads and Todd Rundgren as some of his inspirations.

It's tough to stand out among the other Super Bowl commercials, but the 30-second trailer for Disney's Tomorrowland turned a few heads - and probably brought back memories of Space Mountain. Yes, it's a movie inspired by Disneyland's futuristic-themed sector, and it's not the first time Disney transformed a ride into a feature film. Considering that some of the theme park's attractions have been beloved to Disney fans for years, it's surprising it took 60 years for Tomorrowland to spawn a movie. (California's Disneyland turns 60 this year, with plenty of celebrations foot.) To mark the World of Tomorrow's transition to the screen,...

Last month I selected the poster for Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank as my favorite poster of 2014. In the article I invited the “as-yet uncredited designer at P+A studio” to “come out from behind the mask and take a bow,” and so I was very pleased when I got an email from Nicolette Vilar a few days later letting me know that she was the P+A designer behind the giant papier-mâché head.

Nicolette, it turns out, was the perfect designer for a film about a fractured rock band, because as well as being a talented artist she is also the on-again, off-again lead singer of the all-female punk pop group Go Betty Go who have recently reunited and have a new Ep out this month. The band formed in 2001, released two CDs and played on the Vans Warped Tour, but Nicolette left in 2005. She recently rejoined the band with...

When faced with starvation, some animals eat their young. When facing death, the wisdom goes, nature rewards parents who protect themselves at the expense of their children as, after all, they can always have more children if they survive. There is also a theory that in times of great stress and danger, instinct can take over our actions and override the conscious brain. This week's release at the Arbor, Force Majeure, explores both of these.

Written and directed by Ruben Östlund, the Swedish submission for Best Foreign Language Film in the next Academy Awards won a jury prize at Cannes and audience praise at Fantastic Fest. Peppered with humor at times so subtle I felt it got lost within the drama, Force Majeure reminded me in some way of Escape From Tomorrow. Both films find dark humor with a family of four on holiday when things begin to go nightmarishly wrong.

Bong Joon-Ho’s Snowpiercer has brought in a combined box office of nearly $11 million from on-demand and theatrical revenues, RADiUS-twc said. The company also updated VOD revenues for Charlie McDowell’s quirky comedy The One I Love, adding more than $200K in on-demand to totals reported two weeks ago.

RADiUS, practically alone among distributors using more-or-less simultaneous theatrical and on-demand releases of their specialty films, has regularly revealed VOD numbers since last fall. The company’s decision to make the numbers routinely available came soon after John Sloss gave VOD numbers for Escape From Tomorrow, then challenged other companies to do the same.

But no other company but RADiUS has responded to Sloss’ call to consistently reveal non-theatrical grosses. In June, RADiUS released to Deadline VOD data on its Oscar-winning 20 Feet From Stardom and The Unknown Known. Two weeks ago, RADiUS included updated VOD numbers when reporting weekend theatrical grosses and did so again today.

Officially Escape from Tomorrow saw limited release in 2013. But it didnt hit major outlets (like Netflix) or see a disc release until April of this year thus Im going to consider this film a 2014 release. Why is that relevant Because it just earned a guaranteed position on my Best of 2014 list. To take in an innovative picture from a mystery filmmaker is a stellar surprise. To understand the overall refinement of the production as a whole leaves me not only in awe but now carrying a tremendous amount of respect for this crew Moore in specific. This is the way you break into the business and its also the way you begin building a diehard following right from the jump. If youre going to take a leap of faith on a film you know...

The rallying cry for transparency in VOD reporting fell on receptive ears Sunday at the 2014 Produced By conference, where Cinetic Media’s John Sloss appealed to the financial interests of the producers in the room regarding the mounting importance of VOD and digital distribution. “The promise of transparency creates the promise of the future of cleaner revenue streams,” said Sloss. “And the efficiency of the future should push more revenue back to you.” Sloss has been indie film’s most vocal proponent of VOD data reporting since he went public with VOD performance numbers on indie Escape from Tomorrow and called […]...

Nearly every month, Netflix adds new films and TV shows while its licensing deals for others lapse. We recently listed all of the movies coming to Netflix this month, but here's a curated look at select indies that are new to the streaming service -- including the Sundance hit "Escape from Tomorrow" and the animated Noam Chomsky documentary "Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy?" They're listed below in alphabetical order, along with their average Criticwire rating. Perfect weekend viewing! "The Art of the Steal" (Dir: Don Argott) Average Criticwire Rating: B+ "Beware of Mr. Baker" (Dir: Jay Bulger) Average Criticwire Rating: B+ "Escape from Tomorrow" (Dir: Randy Moore) Average Criticwire Rating: B- "Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy?" (Dir: Michel Gondry) Average Criticwire Rating: A- "The Triplets of Belleville" (Dir: Sylvain Chomet) Average Criticwire Rating: N/A "These Birds Walk" (Dir: Omar Mullick, Bassam Tariq) Average Criticwire Rating:...

Last year, John Sloss volunteered the closely guarded VOD and digital returns on Escape From Tomorrow, daring his competitors to do the same for their release catalogues. Unfortunately, not much came of this Multi-Screen Gross transparency crusade, but Vhx, the digital distribution platform, has now launched “Stats,” a regularly updated infographic that details revenues and transactions. “We’re big believers in transparency and knowledge-sharing,” reads the announcement, “and it’s time to put our money revenue stats where our mouth is.” An aggregate in the truest sense as it provides no insight into individual titles, “Stats” nonetheless offers an idea of how to best reach your audience. The page breaks […]...

Last year, John Sloss volunteered the closely guarded VOD and digital returns on Escape From Tomorrow, daring his competitors to do the same for their release catalogues. Unfortunately, not much came of this Multi-Screen Gross transparency crusade, but Vhx, the digital distribution platform, has now launched “Stats,” a regularly updated infographic that details revenues and transactions. “We’re big believers in transparency and knowledge-sharing,” reads the announcement, “and it’s time to put our money revenue stats where our mouth is.” An aggregate in the truest sense as it provides no insight into individual titles, “Stats” nonetheless offers an idea of how to best reach your audience. The...

Usually June is associated with the first real month of summer -- a time to go out and frolic through the wilderness like a snowman that doesn't know any better. But it also gets really, really hot, which has people retreating to their local multiplex or, even better, their luxuriously air-conditioned living rooms. With that in mind, take a look at the television shows and movies that will be available on Netflix's steaming service come June (via Vulture).

Thought the snail-who-dreamed-of-being-a-racecar saga ended with last summer's DreamWorks Animated joint "Turbo?" Think again. Apparently there's a television spin-off. And you can watch it on Netflix. We also have to give it up for a pair of wonderful sequels that are going to be on in June: the obviously-shot-in-Canada-even-though-it's-set-in-New York robo-epic "Short Circuit 2" (a favorite since childhood) and the far darker and more sinister "Wolf Creek 2," a sequel to the...

Haven't checked out Escape from Tomorrow (review) yet? You should! Recently we had a chance to sit down with director Randy Moore and talk with him about making an undercover horror movie at both the happiest and scariest place on Earth... Disneyland!

DC: Do you feel like the circumstance of shooting Escape from Tomorrow on the sly as you did has stolen the thunder from other aspects of the film? I mean, it’s a neat and unusual feat, but is that all critics and audience talk about?

Randy Moore: Yeah, it took away from the story, but it’s also a double-edged sword. There's just so many films out there now that without the “gimmick” you probably wouldn’t even be interviewing me. So I always knew it would be an issue to deal with, but I told everyone, cast and crew, on our very first day of...

In this monthly column we spotlight new Blu-ray/DVD releases by interviewing directors about the scenes that stood out most for them while making their movies. This month, we talk to Randy Moore about his black-and-white guerilla-made thriller set in Walt Disney parks, Escape from Tomorrow (out now on DVD/Blu-ray). Struggling to get his scripts noticed in Hollywood, Randy Moore came up with a radical idea while vacationing with his family at Disney World: making a movie in the Disney parks. Moore’s love-hate relationship with the parks fueled him to write and direct Escape from Tomorrow, about a father (Roy Abramsohn) with loose morals who goes on a strange, fever dream-like adventure through Disney World. Filmed on location at Disney World and Disneyland, Moore’s...

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On this week's episode of The Golden Briefcase, Tim and Jeremy are joined by guest Liam O'Donnell of Hydraulx Entertainment to talk about the recent Star Wars casting news, go through their latest picks of the week, the newest DVD & Blu-ray releases and more. For the main topic the guys preview the upcoming (or on-going) Summer 2014 Movie Season! The guys go through the upcoming months of the summer and highlight some of the films they're most looking forward to! They also take wagers on box office winners and what box office really means to some of the properties hitting the silver screen in the next few months. Download #194 or Listen Now: [audio href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/firstshowing/EP194.mp3" title="Before the Summer Storm (Guest: Liam O'Donnell)"]The Golden Briefcase #194/audio] Subscribe via: RSS or iTunes Previous Episode: The Role of Cinematographer (Guest: Dp Laurie Rose) Our Guest: Liam O'Donnell: @LiamODin Picks of the Week: Jeremy: Draft Day Liam: Milius Doc Tim: Afflicted DVD/Blu-Rays...

One of the most talked about films from last year was Randy Moore's nightmarish Escape from Tomorrow (review), is available now on DVD and Blu-ray and we have your chance to score a signed poster and a DVD!

To enter for your chance to win, just send us an email at contests@dreadcentral.com including your Full Name And Mailing Address. We’ll take care of the rest.

This contest will end on at 12:01 Am Pt on May 8th.

From the Press Release

Featured in IndieWire’s top 5 first features of 2013, and called “a cult classic in the making” (Salon), Escape from Tomorrow comes to DVD and Blu-Ray April 29 from Cinedigm.

Unlike any film ever made, the most buzzed about debut at Sundance 2013 enraptured audiences with the fearless methods used by its writer/director Randy Moore along with its compelling take on childhood fantasy gone awry. Secretly shot at two world-famous theme parks,...

Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week

"Escape from Tomorrow"

What's It About? A trip to the House of Mouse becomes a surreal nightmare for a father of two.

Why We're In: Filmed secretly on location at Disney World and Disneyland, "Escape from Tomorrow" is creepier than "It's a Small World."

Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week

"Il Sorpasso" (Criterion)

What's It About? A wild bachelor and an uptight law student go on a road trip for the ages in this adored Italian comedy.

Why We're In: It's been spiffed up and digitally restored, and even the subtitles got a makeover. Plus, there are all the Criterion bells and whistles we know and love.

New on DVD and Blu-ray

"Bad Country"

What's It About? Willem Dafoe and Matt Dillon star as a cop and a criminal who are forced to work together to bring down an even bigger baddie. Neal McDonough,...

Escape from Tomorrow Shot guerrilla style at Disneyland, I haven't seen Escape from Tomorrow, but it seems to have gained most of its attention based on the way it was made more than based on what was made. Nevertheless, this film seems as if it's destined to be a curiosity for a long time coming.

The Legend of Hercules I received a review copy of this and I can't imagine being bored enough to ever watch what will probably one of the films looked back on at the end of the year as one of the biggest flops of 2014.

Devil's Due The 18% at RottenTomatoes says Devil's Due is "derivative and mostly uninspired", but that doesn't mean as a rental it wouldn't satisfy. Then again, I don't really plan on finding out. Youc

Gimme Shelter Yet another release hitting shelves this week that I have not yet seen. This one features...

Welcome back to This Week In Discs! If you see something you like, click on the title to buy it from Amazon. Hill Street Blues: The Complete Collection Capt. Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) heads up an inner city police precinct with smarts, heart and determination, but even with the best officers at his command the job can be a constant struggle. Of course not all of his cops are quite at that level, and the various dramas they endure and sometimes cause keep the station constantly in flux. One of the most acclaimed TV series of the ’80s, this Steven Bochco-created cop show is the clear precursor to ones like NYPD Blue in its mix of police dramas and personal story lines. Its epic ensemble allows for season-long arcs across multiple characters, and the show does a fantastic job of ensuring that each of the characters get their own moments and episodes to shine...

Have you ever taken LSD and went to a theme park? Well, I have, and it is most certainly a wild ride. Granted, I haven’t been to Disney since I was around ten years old, so I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing that(firsthand) yet, but after Escape From Tomorrow, I’m convinced that the experience is in my future. If you don’t know anything about Escape From Tomorrow, the film is a great example of modern day guerrilla film-making. The idea was, to “heist” a film. Considering that the script takes place at Disney, there is absolutely no chance in hell that Big Mouse would ever let them shoot on-location. So, they did the next best thing. They barged into the park during regular business, and took what they needed. According to the behind-the-scenes featurette on the disc, they got almost everything they needed doing it that way,...

One of the craziest movie stories of 2013 was Escape From Tomorrow. The film quietly premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and, overnight, became the talk of the industry. People were amazed that this psychological thriller about a man on vacation with his family at Disneyland covertly shot at the theme park without permission from […]

The post ‘Escape From Tomorrow:’ Exclusive Behind the Scenes Blu-Ray Clip appeared first on /Film.

One of the most surprising films to be released in 2013 was not a massive blockbuster. Instead, it was Escape from Tomorrow, an independent film effort, much of which was shot in the Walt Disney parks without permission from the company. Even though it was meant as a parody of the “Happiest Place on Earth,” lots of people thought that Escape from Tomorrow would never get released. However, after being championed by clearance counsel Michael Donaldson, the film was released. Ignored by the Disney company so as to not give additional attention to the movie with the Streisand Effect, Escape from Tomorrow was eventually released to a certain degree of success in theaters and video on demand. Writer/director Randy Moore sat down with his cinematographer Lucas Lee Graham in January of 2014 to record the commentary of the film they had shot in the fall of 2010 (with pick-ups in the spring of 2011), which is included on the DVD...

You may have heard about Escape From Tomorrow when it premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival; it’s the black and white psychological horror movie shot at Disneyland without approval. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it, and am very much looking forward to checking it out:

Trailer: Escape From Tomorrow

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Most Talked About Film Of 2013 Escape From Tomorrow Arrives On DVD And Blu-ray April 29 Following Its Smash Debut At Sundance 2013, Groundbreaking Feature From Writer/Director Randy Moore Pushes The Limits Of Filmmaking With Thrilling Horror Set In The Happiest Place On Earth

“A one-of-a-kind piece of subversive surrealism”

– The Hollywood Reporter

“A Remarkable Piece of Filmmaking”

– Film.Com

“The GQ Punch List: 22 Things You Should’ve Watched, Listened To, and Read This Year”

Featured in IndieWire’s top 5 first features of 2013, and called “a cult classic in the making...

Late last year, producer John Sloss called upon other distributors to release their VOD numbers. Unfortunately, aside from Sloss' own companies (FilmBuff and Pda) releasing numbers for "Spark: A Burning Man Story" (in conjunction with Paladin) and "Escape from Tomorrow" and Radius-twc providing some data related to "Man of Tai Chi," no other distributors shared information with the new statistic, which Sloss dubbed "Multi-Screen Gross." Yesterday on a panel at SXSW, Sloss once again called on distributors to release the numbers, and also urged filmmakers to demand them. "If you have the leverage, you can put it in your contract," Sloss, Founder of Cinetic, LawCo, and FilmBuff told Indiewire. "Just say 'you have to tell me on Monday morning what the VOD numbers are because you have them,' but most people don't prioritize that or have that leverage." Unlike theatrical box office reporting, film distributors, cable companies and other video viewing platforms don't.

One of the most talked about films from last year was Randy Moore's nightmarish Escape from Tomorrow (review), which was covertly filmed at Disney World. Next month you'll finally be able to see it for yourself. Read on for complete details!

From the Press Release

Featured in IndieWire’s top 5 first features of 2013, and called “a cult classic in the making” (Salon), Escape from Tomorrow comes to DVD and Blu-Ray April 29 from Cinedigm.

Unlike any film ever made, the most buzzed about debut at Sundance 2013 enraptured audiences with the fearless methods used by its writer/director Randy Moore along with its compelling take on childhood fantasy gone awry. Secretly shot at two world-famous theme parks, Escape from Tomorrow uses covert techniques that take guerrilla filming to another level, placing it amongst one of the most revolutionary films in history.

Celebrated by ScreenCrush as one of the best movies of...

After all the buzz surrounding Escape From Tomorrow during its festival screenings, it has been announced that the movie secretly shot at Disney will be given a Blu-ray and DVD release this April:

“Featured in IndieWire’s top 5 first features of 2013, and called “a cult classic in the making” (Salon), Escape From Tomorrow comes to DVD and Blu-Ray April 29 from Cinedigm. Unlike any film ever made, the most buzzed about debut at Sundance 2013 enraptured audiences with the fearless methods used by its writer/director Randy Moore, along with its compelling take on childhood fantasy gone awry. Secretly shot at two world-famous theme parks, Escape From Tomorrow uses covert techniques that take guerilla filming to another level, placing it amongst one of the most revolutionary films in history.

Celebrated by ScreenCrush as one of the best movies of the year, and called a “sneakily subversive exercise in low-budget surrealism and anti-corporate...

You might remember last year a film about a Disney vacation gone wrong called Escape From Tomorrow. Filmed inside the theme park, Escape From Tomorrow is a decent into a suburban dad’s mid-life crisis turning his vacation with his family into a bit of a nightmare. You can read my full review Here.

Cinedigm is releasing the film April 29 on DVD and Blu-Ray. Read the press release below for the full details. Of note, Amazon only has the DVD to pre-order but judging by the press release below, this will be a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo.

From the Press Release

Featured in IndieWire’s top 5 first features of 2013, and called “a cult classic in the making” (Salon), Escape From Tomorrow comes to DVD and Blu-Ray April 29 from Cinedigm. Unlike any film ever made, the most buzzed about debut at Sundance 2013 enraptured audiences with the fearless methods used by its writer/director Randy Moore,...

We Are Movie Geeks attended the screening Escape From Tomorrow over the weekend and was blown away by this unique and creepy head-trip of a film.Moore Auditorium was packed so the powers that be at Webster U Film Series have decided to add two more screenings. They are Tonight (Tuesday Jan 21st) and Wednesday (January 23rd) at 7:30pm.

What happens when you sneak your camcorder into Disneyworld and stealthily film a feature-length neo-noir sci-fi fantasy comedy horror thriller narrative? Find out when the critically-acclaimed Escape From Tomorrow screens at Webster University .

Escape From Tomorrow tells of Jim (Roy Abramsohn) and his wife Emily (Elena Schuber) who take their kids Sara (Katelynn Rodriguez) and Elliot (Jack Dalton) to Disney World. As they are about to go to the park for another day, Jim receives a phone call informing him that he has lost his job. Shocked from that body blow,...

What happens when you sneak your camcorder into Disneyworld and stealthily film a feature-length neo-noir sci-fi fantasy comedy horror thriller narrative? Find out this weekend when the critically-acclaimed Escape From Tomorrow screens at Webster University Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at 7:30pm.

Escape From Tomorrow tells of Jim (Roy Abramsohn) and his wife Emily (Elena Schuber) who take their kids Sara (Katelynn Rodriguez) and Elliot (Jack Dalton) to Disney World. As they are about to go to the park for another day, Jim receives a phone call informing him that he has lost his job. Shocked from that body blow, he must pretend to be the diligent father at Disney World, which is a brutally idiotic place to be when facing such a personal disaster. Jim grows increasingly obsessed with two vivacious teenage girls, clandestinely following them around the park while experiencing an acute break from reality, and keeping...

Before the deal making gets underway at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, here is a review of how the films from last year’s festival fared at the box office. VOD receipts aren’t part of this, and I will add those I get. But you can see that buyers might not want to let the thin air here get the best of them. Sundance 2013 Acquisitions and Box Office Title Distributor-Buyer Rights Type Acquisition (or M.G.) * Domestic B.O. * Don Jon+ Relativity U.S. 4 24.5 The Way, Way Back Fox Searchlight Domestic, some territories 10 21.5 Jobs+ Open Road service deal – 16.1 Fruitvale Station Weinstein English Speaking 2+ 16.1 Before Midnight Sony Classics Domestic and U.K. mid seven figures 8.1 The Spectacular Now A24 Domestic – 6.9 20 Feet From Stardom Radius TWC Domestic low seven figures 4.8 In a World… Roadside Attractions/Sony Wwide U.S../Intl. – 3.0 The Kings of Summer (aka Toy’s House) CBS/Qed domestic/Intl.

Escape from Tomorrow: Tom Cruise prepares for battle, along with costar Emily Blunt, in a new image from Doug Liman's Escape from Tomorrow. Heading to theaters on June 6, the movie features Cruise as a soldier who keeps repeating the same day, over and over again, during a war against invading aliens. Stuck in a time loop, he slowly becomes a better soldier. [EW.com] Black Mass: Last year, Johnny Depp dropped out of the lead role in Black Mass, the film version of the life of Boston gangster-turned-informant Whitey Bulger that was to be directed by Barry Levinson. Now Levinson is out, but Scott Cooper (Out of the Furance) is in negotiations to rewrite the script and direct -- and Depp might return to the project. [Deadline] Noah: Director Darren Aronofsky is putting the...

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Exclusive: Cinetic Media has hired longtime indie film marketing and publicity exec Ryan Werner, giving him the title of Senior Executive. Werner takes the post after working New York and building campaigns for indie films for the past 17 years. The move was confirmed by Cinetic founder John Sloss. He said that this doesn’t presage a further move into distribution by Pda, which does multi-platform releasing of a film per year (last year was the unauthorized Disney theme park-shot Escape From Tomorrow). Rather, Werner comes aboard to provide an extra set of services in a company designed to find ways for its clients and films to exploit a changing marketplace. Marketing savvy is just one part of that. “Ryan is one of the most inspired and innovative marketing minds we have encountered,” Sloss said. “The distribution marketplace is mutating on a daily basis and increasingly allowing those making content to...

With this year's edition of the Sundance Film Festival about to kick off, it's the perfect time to watch (or re-watch) last year's crop of films. Here's where you can find 20 of the films which screened in competition at last year's Sundance Film Festival online.  Also, keep in mind that "The Square" will be available on Netflix beginning Friday, January 17. Click the title of the film to go to the site where you can watch it. Films are listed below in alphabetical order.  Ain't Them Bodies Saints (iTunes) A Teacher (iTunes) Blackfish (Netflix) Blue Caprice (iTunes) C.O.G. (Netflix) Computer Chess (Netlix) Concussion (iTunes) Crystal Fairy (Netflix) Read More: 6 Oscar Shortlisted Features Docs Now Online Cutie and the Boxer (Netflix) Dirty Wars (Netflix) Escape From Tomorrow (iTunes) Fruitvale Station (iTunes) Inequality for All (iTunes) Mother of George (iTunes) Newlyweeds (iTunes) The Spectacular Now (iTunes) This is Martin Bonner (Netflix) Touchy Feely.

Another year has come to an end, which means it's time for the Dread Central staff to weigh in with their picks of the best and worst of 2013's horror offerings. We're giving you a full dozen lists this time, and per usual they come in a variety of formats, each reflecting the unique styles of our writers.

We've also compiled them to come up with the year's overall winners and losers. We averaged out the top and bottom five vote getters on everyone's lists, and here are the results:

Best: Maniac

Runners-up: The Conjuring, Evil Dead

Worst: Texas Chainsaw 3D

Runners-up: The Purge, The Last Exorcism Part II

Check out the Dread Central staff's Best of and Worst of lists for 2013 by following the links below!

[Andrew Kasch]

[Anthony Arrigo]

[Brad McHargue]

[Buz "Danger" Wallick]

[Debi "The Woman in Black" Moore]

[The Foywonder]

[Gareth "Pestilence" Jones]

[Jinx]

[MattFini]

[Scott "Doctor Gash" Hallam]

[Staci Layne Wilson]

[Uncle Creepy]

Andrew Kasch's Picks

Stoker: Chan-wook Park delivered some next-level filmmaking and his best film since Oldboy with his U.

Today, we shine the spotlight not on movies but rather on the poster art that was attached to them in 2013. This past year saw some truly awesome poster art make its way onto the internet and our walls, to the point that it was no easy task to cut the list down to only ten. In fact, it was downright painful to be forced to exclude such memorable imagery as a devil baby rocking out in the womb (Hell Baby), Sheri Moon Zombie staring us down in creepy skeletal makeup (The Lords of Salem) and a scary-looking tree standing in front of a scary-looking house (The Conjuring) - which is why I simply couldn’t bring myself to make any further cuts than those.

So instead of the planned ten, let’s instead take a look at my personal picks for the top 13 coolest horror posters of 2013!

Bad Milo

I...

Chicago – The year caught up with me. 2013 was characterized by a soft start and a strong finish, but overall there were impressive contenders throughout the year and some fine examples of great storytelling and filmmaking. Risks were taken, some truth emerged and even in more “mainstream” films, there were flashes of promise.

This is the second set of top ten 2013 films on HollywoodChicago.com, as offered by film critic Patrick McDonald. Please also sample my colleague Brian Tallerico’s Top Ten. The following films are a testament to the experiences they gave me, what they made me think about afterward and how they fulfilled that feeling – for me – of what makes a movie great.

For every film in those ten spots, there are a number of other films coming in tied at number 11 – Joe Swanberg’s sublime “Drinking Buddies” and the anarchy of “Escape From Tomorrow”; the gutsy honesty of...

It has been another extraordinary year for motion pictures. We recently posted our staff list of the 30 best films released in 2013, and with 40 writers who participated, 160 films received at least one vote. Every year we also post an article listing the best movie scores, only this this time I decided to do something a little different. Instead of writing a lengthy, time-consuming article (which to be honest, wouldn’t give the music justice since you can’t hear any of the tracks), I instead decided to make a mix tape for our listeners. Included are 20 tracks from my 16 favourite original movie scores released this year.

Film scores were once exclusive to classically trained musicians, but over time, more and more filmmakers have hired rock, soul, electronic and hip-hop artists to create the original sound of their movies. This year alone, we’ve seen scores composed by M83’s Anthony Gonzalez...