Sundance Deal-a-Rama: Nanking, Dedication, How She Move
Filed under: Documentary, Independent, Deals, Sundance, Paramount, Distribution, The Weinstein Co., Cinematical Indie
I went to a meeting tonight and returned home to discover that the industry wheeling and dealing at Sundance had produced a number of distribution deals. An LA Times article refers to the latest round of deals as "a spending spree reminiscent of drunken sailors on shore leave." I can't top that description. Here's the scoop, as well as some updates on previous deals in progress:- Fortissimo Films has bought the worldwide (except China) distribution rights to Nanking for an as-yet undisclosed price. Nanking is about the Japanese invasion during WWII of Nanking, China. At first, I thought Nanking was a feature because well-known actors are listed on the film's IMDb page, and some controversy has occurred about writing credits, but apparently it's a documentary that contains a filmed stage reading of pertinent letters and documents. Look for a review of Nanking by Kim Voynar later this week.
- Paramount Vantage picked up near-worldwide distribution rights to How She Move (pictured at right), a Canadian feature about urban step dancing. Is this the same as stepping, which was featured in Stomp the Yard? If so (or if buyers are similarly confused), Stomp the Yard's box office success might explain the estimated $3-4 million sale for this film. The plot of How She Move also sounds Save the Last Dance-ish.
- Paramount Vantage also confirmed that it bought worldwide distribution rights to Son of Rambow, as we reported earlier, with a price tag now estimated at $7 million. It's still the biggest deal reported from this year's festival (so far).
- The Weinstein Company has partnered with First Look Films to buy worldwide distribution rights to Dedication, which premiered at Sundance on Monday, for an as-yet undisclosed price. TWC will distribute the film in the U.S. and First Look will handle distribution in other countries. Dedication is the directiorial debut for actor Justin Theroux, and is a romantic comedy starring Mandy Moore and Billy Crudup. The supporting cast catches my interest: Bob Balaban, Dianne Wiest, Amy Sedaris, Martin Freeman ... is this really an independent film?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-24-2007 @ 3:08AM
Paul said...
Yeah, Nanking's a documentary. I actually helped out with the voice-over for the tech use. I did about 8 hours of VO last March for their editor to use to cut the thing. It was an incredible amount of interviews and footage they went through. It was pretty insane. I only did half of the male interviewees from Nanking. They also did extensive interviews with the Japanese too. I think it should be a good film. They tried to be balance and really did extensive research and stuff. Look forward to it. It's about time someone came up with something substantial about this subject here in the US.
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1-24-2007 @ 9:39AM
Steven said...
"How She Move"
Can we not make a movie that uses proper English in the title? What's next? "I Wrote Dat"?
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1-25-2007 @ 11:35PM
TAMAGAWABOAT said...
Film "Nanking" is Documentary or Propaganda?
I believe the essence of documentary film is the journalistic mind. The journalistic mind appears the attitude to search for the truth. To pursue the truth to the greatest extent possible is the achievement of the documentary film. The finest documentary filmshave been evaluated from viewpoint of achievement level how they approached the truth. Do you agree with my opinion?I proposed Mr. Ted Leonsis to insert the following descriptions to the photos and films in film "nanking",
1) When was the photo taken?
2) Who took the photo?
3) Where was the photo taken?
Please pay attention to the description of photos and films in this film "Nanking". Because all 143 photos that China offered asevidence of Nanking Massacre turned out fake and fabricated by the study of Japanese historian groups. There is not photo to proveNanking Massacre at all in the fact. Unless films and photos in "Nanking" have the above descriptions, it must be China's propaganda film.
And yet, it is the fact that nobody witnessed murders. I can prove it easily. If you doubt me, please check on the records of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trial: 1946-1948). This Military Tribunal summoned 4 Westerners weremembers of Nanking Safety Zone. At this Tribunal, These 4 Westerners testified, "We did not witness any murder at all. We reported just things that we heard from someone." In short,” Nanking Incident" was made of "HEARSAY". These testimonies remains’ even now both in United States National Archives and Records Administration and Japan National Diet Library. As you know, the modern courts don't adopt "HEARSAY" as evidence.
And, at the end, I suppose...the scene that some Japanese soldiers testified as if Nanking Massacre took place actually will appear in film "Nanking", However, please watch the scene with considering the following points,
Even if some Japanese soldiers testified the existence of Nanking Incident, most Japanese soldiers testified, "We did not know it at all." They can not say, "Nanking Massacre did not take place at all." Because they did not witness it actually. Therefore, they cannot both affirm and deny "Nanking Incident". It would be strange if they deny Nanking Incident though they did not witness it. They were only surprised to hear that "Nanking Massacre took place". Therefore, nobody could deny Nanking Incident. They are honest and have common sense.
Even if some Japanese soldiers testified the existence of Nanking Incident, how many people do you think only some Japanese soldiers could kill? 100? 10,000? 100,000? No way!! It is obvious that only some Japanese soldiers could not kill more than10,000 people without atomic bombs. It is obvious that only some Japanese soldiers could not hide more than 10,000 dead bodies without magic. Why nobody took any photos of this killing field though more than 120 press persons were there?
Please watch film "nanking" with having the above questions. You will understand which film “Nanking” belongs to, Documentary
or Propaganda…
TAMAGAWABOAT
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1-26-2007 @ 2:04AM
Liz said...
In response to the earlier posting on the film title "How She Move", I would clarify to the writer of said post that the title is not a reflection of American Ebonics but rather a reflection of the West Indian dialect which is representative of the Canadian/Jamaican characters in this film. I can say this with confidence because my dear friend is the writer of said film. She is bright, educated and articulate, and yes...she wrote that.
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1-27-2007 @ 2:00AM
johnnywas said...
I totall disagree with TAMAGAWABOAT with regard to the number of people that the Japanese soldiers were capable of killing. He wrote that even killing 10,000 were difficult for them. However, there were 120,000 Japanese soldiers in Nanking area at that time. If one Japanese soldier killed three Chinese, the total number would have been already more that 300,000.
I do not think that it was such a difficult task for Japanese soldiers to kill 3 people.
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4-08-2007 @ 5:42PM
nancy said...
tamaboat is just trying to spread hate and lies- he admitted on youtube that he's a racist and not ashamed of it
for those non-believers
there are evidence: nankingmassacres.blogspot.com
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