Not in English: Of the 10
top-grossing foreign-language films of 2011, four are in the French language, led by
Sarah’s Key ($7.7 million), starring
Kristin Scott Thomas. Spanish-language
Biutiful ($5.1 million) finished in the #2 spot, followed by
Of Gods and Men ($3.9 million),
The Skin I Live In ($2.99 million), and
Incendies ($2.0 million). (
Indiewire)
Indie Distributor Returns: A coming-of-age sex comedy from Norway will be the first release of 2012 for
New Yorker Films, the legendary art-house distributor which dimmed its lights in 2009 before returning to business last year.
Turn Me On, Dammit!, which revolves around a 13-year-old girl and has received good buzz on the festival circuit, is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 30. (
Thompson on Hollywood)
French Sex Scandal or Just Politics?: Two days ago, we
passed on a report that director
Abel Ferrara was working on a script for a project about sexual addiction that might include elements inspired by the sex scandal that enveloped the former head of the International Monetary Fund, Frenchman
Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Now Wild Bunch, the production company involved, says the script is more about politics than sex, even though a representative says: “There will be, without a doubt, a little bit of Clinton, a little bit of Berlusconi and a little bit of DSK in the script.” Frankly, that sounds a lot like the same thing that was
originally reported. (
The Hollywood Reporter)
New York Alleys May Be Endangered: The
stereotypical dirty, dark, graffiti-decorated New York City alley is in short supply, and new condominiums are threatening the survival of prized filming locations. Privately-owned alleys can cost up to $10,000 per day of filming, and two alleys that were featured in many familiar TV and movie shoots have been “upgraded” to a more modern, less “seedy” look. (
Wall Street Journal)