NAIL IN THE COFFIN: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro

Screening in Limited Theaters
Friday, September 4, 2020

Available on VOD/Digital
Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Nail in the Coffin key art

Directed by: Michael Paszt
Featuring: Professional Wrestler Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro) and Dasha Hodgkinson

Runtime: 1 hr 28 min
Rating:  Not Yet Rated
Genre: Documentary
Country: Canada

Semi-retired professional wrestler Ian Hodgkinson reveals the harsh realities behind the glamour of being in the world of wrestling as the infamous ‘Vampiro’. A Lucha Libre legend, Hodgkinson tells the astonishing story about his meteoric rise to fame in the 90's and how it almost killed him. Yet none of that was as back-breaking as his current life - working behind-the-scenes as the Director of Talent for Lucha Libre AAA in Mexico City and Lucha Underground in Los Angeles, while simultaneously raising his teenage daughter Dasha in remote Northern Canada as a single parent.

Unlike many professional wrestling documentaries before, director Michael Paszt has constructed a fascinating and heartfelt look at a wrestler who has overcome and continues to battle with physical injuries, sexual abuse, and drug addiction. Not to mention the wild stories of working for Milli Vanilli, and wrestling alongside the punk rock band The Misfits - Vampiro’s stories are multi-faceted and completely enthralling.

Told through an engrossing collection of home videos and personal interviews with his closest friends and family, NAIL IN THE COFFIN is an intimate and genuine look into a single father grappling with fame, the pressures of professional and personal responsibilities, and his own mortality.

NAIL IN THE COFFIN celebrated its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2019, coming out with raving reviews. The film will be releasing in limited theaters on Friday, September 4, 2020 and will be available on major VOD/Digital platforms beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

“NAIL IN THE COFFIN: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro is an incredibly inspirational true story that shows us no matter how many times life tries to beat you down and break you apart, you need to rise up and conquer your demons in order to survive,” says Patrick Ewald, CEO of Epic Pictures (U.S. Distribution). “And now, as we are faced with incredible challenges all around us, I can’t think of a more relevant film to remind us of the resiliency and power of the human spirit.”

NAIL IN THE COFFIN is directed by Michael Paszt. Produced by Pasha Patriki and Paszt, associate producer Maye Ornelas and executive produced by Gregor Habsburg, Jacquelyn Frisco, Ian Hodgkinson, Marisela Peña, Dorain Roldån, James Fler, and Andrew Thomas Hunt. Cinematography by Patriki, and edited by Danny Palmer.

NAIL IN THE COFFIN will be available on VOD/Digital Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020:

Indemand | Comcast | Spectrum | Charter | Dish | Sling TV | Vubiquity

iTunes | Google Play | Vudu | Xbox | YouTube | Amazon

Fandango Now | DirecTV | Breaker | Alamo On Demand

Blu-ray pre-order: https://epic-pictures.com/merchandise/nail-in-the-coffin-the-fall-and-rise-of-vampiro-blu-ray

About Epic Pictures

Since the foundation of the company in 2007, CEO Patrick Ewald has grown Epic Pictures into an independent content studio with the mission of delivering the best-in-class genre entertainment “for fans, by fans.” Epic Pictures produces, finances, and distributes approximately twenty-thirty independent genre films a year. In 2013, the company established Epic Pictures Releasing which is its US focused distribution division. In 2017, Epic Pictures acquired the world’s most popular horror website, Dread Central, and launched its unique horror label, Dread, followed by its AVOD channel, DreadTV. In 2019, Epic Pictures started the horror gaming site, DreadXP, with a focus on editorial, reviews, podcasts, and original streaming content. In 2020, DreadXP began a video game publishing division with the launch of The Dread X Collection, an anthology of horror games in collaboration with some of the most innovative developers in the independent gaming space. https://epic-pictures.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blackstone, Hudson $1.65 Billion Hollywood Film Production Deal

Blackstone Property Partners, an investment group, has bought a 49% stake in Sunset Bronson, 5800 Sunset Blvd., Sunset Gower, 1438 N. Gower Street and Sunset Las Palmas, 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, from Hudson Pacific Properties said Chairman-CEO Victor Coleman.

The combined square footage of the three studios is 1.2 million square feet and includes 35 sound stages, all valued at $1.65 billion.

Blackstone looks to expand development at Sunset Gower, Sunset Las Palmas Studios and make additional studio purchases din and around Los Angeles and beyond.

 

Lights, Camera, Action! Hollywood Productions Resume June 12, 2020

TCL Grauman's Chinese Theatre
TCL Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Photo: Yevette Renee

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Order of the Health Officer has released the REOPENING SAFER AT WORK AND IN THE COMMUNITY FOR CONTROL OF COVID-19.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has announced that the Music, film and television production can reopen during Stage 3 on Friday, June 12, 2020.  All productions prior to resuming must prepare, implement and post the required Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Reopening Protocol for Music, Film and Television Production.

There are five areas that all productions must address prior to reopening: Workplace policies and practices to protect employee health, Measures to ensure physical distancing, measures to ensure infection control, communication with employees and the public, measures to ensure equitable access to critical service.

Physical Distancing

They suggest any employee that can work from home, should do so. The workplace must provide all personal protective equipment (PPE), all visitors and employees must wear face covering.

All productions and recording sessions are required to have a written protocol before they can start work to ensure six (6) feet or more between people.  With only essential cast and crew on or near the set at any time. If cast and musicians are unable to wear face coverings must be a minimum of 8 feet of social distancing.  Whenever possible, workspaces are to have one directional traffic.  When riding the elevator, the capacity limit is based on the ability to maintain six (6) feet distance. They also suggest easing elevator traffic by opening stairwells for up and down traffic.

All shops shall be by appointment only to prevent lines forming.

Television and film productions are required to give periodic testing to cast and crew, especially those in high-rick scenes requiring close contact without masks.

Infection Control

Ventilation must be increased in all spaces. All contracts, music sheet, scripts and other documents must be distributed digitally or printed and given to everyone. Before and after filming and other sessions, all commonly touched areas must be disinfected at least three times a day. The entire facility must be cleaned daily i.e. sets, production spaces. Minor child actors can be accompanied by up to two adults. Payment portals, props, costumes, set materials, trucks and other vehicles must be disinfected after each use.

All Productions must provide a copy of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protocol to every person that come on-set or enters the production facility.

The movie extra industry will suffer a major impact with productions being told to avoid large crowd scenes.

 

 

Craft services: people will only be able to eat and drink in a designated area. The cast and crew must eat and drink in production set area in staggered schedules.

Food buffets are not allowed as well as no communal food or drink services (no coffee pots). Food must be single serve only. People who bring in their own food cannot share their food.

The date, time and name of the crew currently in session must be recorded to assist in contact tracing when necessary.

Production locations must be completely secure from the public with enough space for everyone stay six (6) to social distance.

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN Film Review

Von Rydingsvard in her Williamsburg studio on South 5th Street, surrounded by the cedar cast of katul katul, 2002.
Von Rydingsvard in her Williamsburg studio on South 5th Street, surrounded by the cedar cast of katul katul, 2002.

Premieres May 29, 2020 at Film Forum in New York

Opens June 5, 2020 in the major cities of Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and more cities to be announced.

Director: Daniel Traub
Feature Documentary

Director Daniel Traub’s gives an in depth look at the life of sculptor Ursula Von Rydingsvard in his new film URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN.

A compelling story of her birth in Germany, the five years she and her family lived in a displaced person camp prior to her parents and four siblings moving to the United States, her marriage to her husband of nine-years, who was institutionalized with schizophrenia and her eventual rise as one of the few women who specialize in monument sculptors.

Ona, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 2013.
Ona, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 2013.

It is fascinating to see how Ursula who grew up during the war and lived in poverty and despair as a displaced person was able to rise to such great heights as an artist. Hearing her speak about being in the 3rd grade and being elected to create posters and other art assignments in school appear to be the spark that ignited her passion for the arts. It is as though the world of art was her calling, her destiny.

One usually thinks of an artist and the creation of their work as an individua effort yet with Ursula, you see her chosen genre of working with large sculptures made out of cedar and eventually working with bronze, requires a team effort. A team she clearly admires and respect. It is a great opportunity for young artist to work and learn from a master of the arts like Ursula. She and her team have lunch together everyday, which gives you a sense of a family unit. That cohesiveness is displayed in the seamlessness of the sculptures that they create together.

Von Rydingsvard drawing cut lines on a 4x4" cedar beam, 2016.
Von Rydingsvard drawing cut lines on a 4x4" cedar beam, 2016.

It was intriguing watching as she traveled to Poland for the first time and see the similarities between of the large, neat stacks of wood used for heating their homes and her large stacks of 4x4 cedar blocks used in her sculptures and other Polish items that had been unknowingly created in her art. It provides an innate connection between her and her family’s homeland.

Composer Simon Taufique original scores provides a great backdrop to Ursula’s life journey from Germany to her new life in the United States.

An enjoyable film about the  humbly beginnings of a woman determined to be an artist. An artist who chose a genre without many woman role models and excelled.

Production Company: Itinerant Pictures
Run time: 57 minutes
Director: Daniel Traub
Producers: Daniel Traub, Ken Kobland, Simon Taufique
Executive Producer: Morning Slayter
Editors: Ken Kobland, Melody London
Cinematographer: Daniel Traub
Composer: Simon Taufique

View Trailer Below

We Are One: A Global Film Festival Free On YouTube May 29 – June 7, 2020

We Are One A Global Film Festival

The corona virus COVID-19 has turned the film industry upside down and has caused the cancellations of film productions, screenings, premieres and film festivals around the world.

To bring much needed entertainment through film to the world and help with the desperate needs of humanity during this pandemic, global film festivals have come together to establish We Are One: A Global Film Festival that will be screen exclusively on YouTube May 29 – June 7, 2020.

This free 10-day film festival gives viewers an opportunity to support COVOD-19 relief efforts by donating from the film program pages. The funds will go to WHO (World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNHCE, Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, Leket Israel, Go Foundation, Give2Asia and more organizations.

The Film Festivals participating in the We Are One: A Global Film Festival are Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Films Festival, Guadalajara International Film Festival, International Film Festival and Awards Macao (IFFAM), International Film Festival Rotterdam, Jerusalem Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival.

The films screened are web series, television, feature films, 360 VR, short films with panel discussions and other programs.

There are films for everyone to choose from that include action and adventure, Romance, Drama, animation, comedy, documentaries, music, activism and socialism, fantasy and experimental.

The screening schedule lists the time for the first showing for each film. There will be additional showings as well as most films going to VOD.

View the schedule for We Are One: A Global Film Festival film at  http://www.weareoneglobalfestival.com/schedule

We Are One: A Global Film Festival on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/weareone

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN- In Virtual Theaters Starting June 5

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD INTO HER OWN

 Premieres Friday, May 29, 2020 at Film Forum in New York.

Open June 5, 2020 in the major cities of Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia with more cities to be announced.

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN is an artistic biography of one of the few women in the world working in monumental sculpture. Von Rydingsvard’s work has been featured in the Venice Biennale and is held in the collections of some of the world’s great museums, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. But she may be best-known for her staggering, triumphant body of work in public spaces – imposing pieces painstakingly crafted with complex surfaces including: a series of early installations reminiscent of wings in what became New York’s Battery Park; a monumental yet inviting piece outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and the stunning “Scientia” at M.I.T. which evokes the power of nature and the firing of brain synapses.

In Daniel Traub’s intimate documentary, he goes behind the scenes with von Rydingsvard, as she and her collaborators – cutters, metal-smiths, and others – produce new work, including challenging commissions in copper and bronze. The film also delves into the artist’s personal life, and how it has shaped her work

 

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN
URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN

Born in Poland during the Second World War, she was partly raised in a displaced persons camp and came to the US as a refugee with her nine-person family. Brought up in a blue-collar environment, she became a teacher and then, as a single mother, moved to New York in the 1970s to take up her artistic practice full-time.

Interviews with curators, patrons, family, fellow artists (including luminaries such as artist Sarah Sze and museum director Adam Weinberg), as well as the artist herself, are intertwined with studio visits and behind-the-scenes footage of her mammoth creations being installed. All combine to show how, through sheer talent and determination (and countless planks of cedar), she has become one of the world’s greatest artists (and one of a very few women) working in monumental sculpture.

DANIEL TRAUB is a New York-based filmmaker and photographer. He lived in China from 1998 to 2007, working as cinematographer on documentary films for various networks and production companies, including PBS, German television ZDF and Arte. More recently, Traub directed the feature-length Barefoot Artist about Lily Yeh and her collaborative artworks in war-torn communities and Xu Bing: Phoenix about the condition of Chinese migrant laborers.

Ursula 7

Traub’s photographs have been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at the Catherine Edelman Gallery in Chicago, Slought Foundation in Philadelphia and the Lianzhou Foto Festival in China. His work can be found in public and private collections, such as The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

ABOUT THIS RELEASE
The virtual theatrical release of URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN supports local theaters, museums and arts organizations across the U.S. and Canada. Participating organizations receive a branded page and have no overhead costs in these presentations. The ticket price is $9.99 for a 48-hour streaming period. Of the proceeds, 50% benefits the presenting organization.

ICARUS FILMS
Since 1978, Icarus Films has been a leading distributor of documentary films in North America. Icarus Films meets the needs of activists, educators and service providers, challenging audiences with original creative works.

LIST OF CITY OPENINGS

JUNE 5, 2020
Berkeley (Pacific Film Archive with Q and A), Los Angeles (Laemmle Theaters), San Francisco (Roxie Theater), San Rafael (Rafael Film Center), Chicago (Gene Siskel Film Center with Q and A), Detroit (Detroit Institute Of Arts), Philadelphia (Lightbox Film Center with Q and A), Camas (Liberty Theater), Port Townsend (Rose Theater) and more.

JUNE 12, 2020
Kansas City (Nelson Atkins Museum), Hudson, NY (Time and Space Limited).

JUNE 17, 2020
Houston (MFA Houston).

View the trailer below:

 

Oscar Temporarily Changes Their 2021 Eligibility Rules

Oscar Marquee Dolby Theater

April 29, 2020

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ (AMPAS) board of governors have voted to change the eligibility rules for the 93rd Oscars due to the significant impact of the corona virus that has to the complete closure of movie theaters and postponement of film releases.

Prior to the Corona virus,, to be eligible, theatrical releases were required to have a continuous 7-day, 3 screening per day release in Los Angeles for Oscar eligibility.

For the 2021 Oscars, films that had a scheduled theatrical release but have gone straight to VOD/Streaming are now eligible for an Academy Award.

The board of governor also voted to consolidated the Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing into a new category Best Sound.

The 93rd Academy Award is schedule for February 28, 2021, at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA.

List of 13 Entertainment Resources for Industry Personnel

I PROMISE a Documentary about Lebron James Public School in Akron

Lebron James

Lebron James new documentary tells the story about his Akron, Ohio school, I Promise.

Dedicated to helping underserved kids. Kids that are dealing with the same challenges Lebron faced as a child.

Lebron James is truly making a difference in the lives kids that live in his hometown of Akron.

View  the trailer below.

Films Coming to the Screen This Weekend: Bloodshot, The Hunt, and more

Vin Diesel Bloodshot

Weekend of March 13, 2020

Bloodshot
Runtime: 1 hr 50 min
Genre: Drama/Fantasay
Rating: PG-13

Marine Ray Garrison (Vin Diesel 'Fast and Furious', 'Guardian of the Galaxy', 'XXX', 'Avengers') and his wife are murdered and he is brought back to life and becomes superhuman.

Directed by David S. F. Wilson. Screenplay by Jeff Wadlow, Eric Heisserer. Story by Jeff Wadlow. Based on Valiant Comics Bloddshot. With Sam Heughan ('Outlander', 'Young Alexander the Great') as Jimmy Dalton, Toby Kebbell ('Dawn of the Planet of the Apes', 'Fantastic Four') as Axe, Lamorne Morris ('New Girl', 'Game Night', 'Sandy Wexler') as Wilfred Wigans.

Produced by Toby Jaffe, Jason Kothari. Music by Steve Jablonsky ('Transformers', 'Deep Water Horizon'). Cinematography by Jacques Jouffret ('The Purge: Election Year', 'Mile 22'). Edited by Jim May ('The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch anfd the Wardrobe'). Production companies: Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Original Film, Valiant Entertainment, One Race Films, The Hideaway Entertainment. Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.

Watch "BLOODSHOT - Official Trailer

The Hunt
Runtime: 1 hr 55 min
Genre: Thriller
Rating: R

Waking up in the forest and not knowing where they are, 12 average strangers soon realize they are the 'hunted game' for a group of wealthy hunters. Coming to the rescue is Crystal (Betty Gilpin) who flips the script and begins to hunt the hunter.

Directed Craig Zobel ('Z for Zachariah', 'Prince Avalanche'). Written by Nick Cuse ('Watchmen', 'Maniac'), Damon Lindelofn ('Watchmen', 'The Lelftovers').
Based on "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. With Ike Berinholtz, Emma Roberts, Hilary Swank.

Produced by Jason Blum ('Get Out', 'BlacKkKlansman'), Damon Lindelof ('Watchmen', 'The Leftovers'). Music by Nathan Barr ('True Blood', 'Flatliners'). Cinematography by Darran Tiernan ('Perry Mason', 'Star Trek: Picard'). Edited by Jane Rizzo ('Leave No Trace', 'Z for Zachariah'). Production companies: Blumhouse Productions, White Rabbit Productions. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Watch "The Hunt - Official Trailer 

The Informer
1 hr 53 min
Genre: Drama, Tragicomedy
Rating: R

A former special operations soldier and convict, Pete Koslow (Joel Kinnaman 'Edge of Winter', 'Suicide Squad') working undercover for dirty FBI reenters the Bale Hill Prison to infiltrate the Polish mob drug trade in New York and is double crossed by one of his handlers Montgomery (Clive Owen 'Closer', 'Gemini Man') and and must turn to Grens, New York Police Organized Crime Division.(Common 'The Hate You Give', 'Girls Trip')

Directed by Andrea Di Stefano ('Life of Pi', 'Eat Pray Love'). Screenplay by Matt Cook ('Before I Go to Sleep', 'Brighton Rock'),
Andrea Di Stefano, Rowan Joffe ('Before I Go to Sleep', 'Brighton Rock'). Based on Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom. With Ana de Armas ('Blade Runner 2049', 'Knives Out') as Sofia Hoffman, Rosamund Pike ('Gone Girl', 'Pride and Prejudice').

Watch "THE INFORMER Official Trailer

My Spy
Runtime: 1 hr 42min
Genre: Action, Adventure
Rating: PG-13

After being demoted, CIA operative JJ (Dave Bautista 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2', 'Avengers: Infinity War') is assigned to surveil the Vail family and ends up at the mercy of their 9-year old daughter Sophie (Chloe Coleman 'Big Little Lies').

Directed by Peter Segal ('Hidden Hills', 'Tommy Boy', 'Grudge Match'). Written by Erich Hoeber ('RED', 'The Meg'), Jon Hoeber ('RED', 'The Meg'). With Kristen Schaal ('The Last Man on Earth', 'Despicable Me 2'), Ken Jeong ('Pineapple Express', 'Hangover I, II, III')
Produced by Dave Bautista ('Blade Runner'), Chris Bender ('American I, II', We're the Millers', 'Hangover I, II, III') , Peter Segal ('Get Smart', 'Grudge Match'), Jake Weiner ('Under the Silver Lake', 'Criminal'), Robert Simonds (STX Entertainment), Jake Weiner ('Under the Silver Lake', 'Criminal'), Gigi Pritzker ('Drive'), Jonathan Meisner ('Avengers: Infinity War', Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2')

Produced by Chris Pender, Peter Segal, Robert Simonds. Music by Dominic Lewis ('How to Train Your Dragon', 'X-Men: First Class'). Cinematography by Larry Blanford ('X-Men, 'Iron Man 3'). Edited by Jason Gourson ('Second Act', 'Blaze'). Production companies: MWM Studios, Good Fear, Dream Boys Entertainment. Distributed by STXfilms.

Watch "My Spy Trailer"

Lost Girls
Runtime: 1 hr 35 min
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Rating: R

With a single focus on finding her missing daughter Shannon Gilbert (Sarah Wisser 'Cabbie'), Mari Gilbert (Amy Ryan 'Escape Plan', 'Gone Baby Gone') begins her own investigation and the results forces the police and media to take action.

Directed by Liz Garbus ('Love, Marilyn', 'What Happened, Miss Simone'). Written by Michael Werwie ('Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile'). Based on Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker. With Thomasin McKenzie ('Leave No Trace', 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies') as Sherre Gilbert, Gabriel Byrne ('Heredity', 'Mad to be Normal') as Commissioner Doman,
Oona Laurence ('Peter's Dragon', 'Bad Moms') as Sarra Gilbert, Reed Birney ('The Humans') as Dr. Peter Hackett.

Produced by Anne Carey ('The Diary of a Teenage Girl', '20th Century Women'), Kevin McCormick ('Gangster Squad', 'Arthur'). Music by Anne Nikitin ('The Imposter', 'American Animals'). Cinemetagraphy by Igor Martinovic ('The Night Of', 'House of Cards'). Edited by Camilla Toniolo ('Write When You Get Work'). Production companies: Archer Gray, Langley Park Productions. Distributed by Netflix.

Watch "LOST GIRLS Trailer"

Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always
Runtime: 1 hr 41
Genre:   Drama
Rating: PG-13

After an unwanted pregnancy, Autumn (Sidney Flanigan ' ') and her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder 'Broadway Kids Against Bullying: I Have a Voice') travel from their home in rural Pennsylvania to New York to end her pregnancy.

Directed and written by Eliza Hittman ('Beach Rats', 'It Felt Like Love'). With Theodore Pellerin, Ryan Eggold, Sharon Van Etten. Produced by Adele Romanski ('Moonlight', 'If Beale Street Could Talk'), Sara Murphy ('If Beale Street Could Talk', 'The Mountain').

Produced by Lia Buman, Rose Garnett, Tim Headington. Music by Julia Holter ('Bleed for This', 'Own Worst Enemy'). Cinematography by Helene Louvart ('The Invisible Life', 'Happy as Lazzato). Edited by Scott Cummings ('Adversary', 'Buffalo Juggalos'). Production companies: Tango Entertainment, BBC Films, Mutressa Movies, Pastel Productions. Distributed by Focus Features.

Watch "NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS" - Official Trailer