Word is that a new series of BMW short films is in the works, again with bicoastal Anonymous Content securing feature helmers for the projects, which will run on bmwfilms.com. The initial series of shorts—helmed by Ang Lee, John Frankenheimer, Guy Ritchie, Wong Kar-Wai and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu—has generated significant traffic on the BMW Web site (SHOOT, 5/11, p. 1). Ad agency is Fallon Minneapolis….Speaking of the BMW films, the first short to hit the Internet earlier this year—the Frankenheimer-directed Ambush—entailed extensive shooting on public roads in California. That production tapped into Film California First, the anti-runaway production program which provides reimbursement for certain filming-related costs. According to the California Film Commission, which administers the program, Film California First reimbursed more than $17,000 to the Ambush project. Film California First recently received a state budget allocation of $10 million for its second year (SHOOT, 8/10, p. 1)….Animation director/designer Denis Morella has officially come aboard San Francisco animation studio Wild Brain. His last roost was the former San Francisco office of New York-headquartered Curious Pictures. Prior to that, he had a long tenure at now defunct (Colossal) Pictures….Crew Cuts, with bases of operation in New York and Santa Monica, has reopened its San Francisco office, securing space in the building that houses post/effects house Radium. Christie Cash, who was named executive producer of Crew Cuts/West, Santa Monica, in June, will also assume executive producer duties at Crew Cuts, San Francisco….Fireworks Motion Media, a Miami-based postproduction/visual effects studio, has been purchased from Steve Minor by company staffers Wally Rodriguez and Anabella Sosa. The firm has been renamed Upstairs, with Rodriguez as director of visual effects, and Sosa acting as director of creative services….Editor Grant MacDowell has joined Venice, Calif.-based Brass Knuckles….
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More