EUROPEAN PRODUCERS: LE FRENCH PART UN
After the dearth of British production houses involved with Telluride possible films that we explored in yesterday's post, it's good to see that several of the French houses have a stronger hand. We'll look at a couple of them today beginning with Canal+.
Here's their profile for the past dozen years or so at Telluride:
2003: The Barbarian Invasions, Dogville, Love Me If You Dare, The Tripletts of Belleville
2004: The Weeping Meadow
2005: The Child, Cache, Lemming, Live and Become
2006: Volver, Indigenes, The Page Turner
2007: The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, Terror's Advocate, Jellyfish
2008: With a Little Help From Myself, I've Loved You So Long
2009: Farewell, Coco Before Chanel, A Prophet, The White Ribbon
2010: The Illusionist, Carlos, Of Gods and Men, The Princess of Montpensier
2011: Crazy Horse, Albert Nobbs, Goodbye First Love, The Kid with a Bike, The Artist, Le Havre
2012: Rust and Bone, Superstar, The Attack
2013: Blue is the Warmest Color", Le Maison de la Radio", "The Past"
2014: Two Days One Night, The Price of Fame
And what might be a T-ride play for Canal+ this year?
"Youth"
"Amnesia"
"The Measure of a Man"
"The Lobster"
are the most likely Canal+ supported titles.
Additionally, another French production house to pay attention to is StudioCanal. Here's their recent track record at TFF:
2003: Young Adam, Love Me If You Dare
2005: Cache
2006: Indigines, Catch a Fire
2010: The Princess of Montpensier
2012: Love, Marilyn
2013: Inside Llewyn Davis
No StudioCanal film played Telluride in 2014 and as you can see, their presence is sporadic but there are three films with them aiding in production that could make the TFF #42 lineup:
"A Bigger Splash"
"The Program"
"Mon Roi"
Tomorrow, a look at more French production firms.
"STEVE JOBS" GETS REACTIONS
Michael Fassbender as "Steve Jobs"
Various and sundry of the folks I follow on Twitter revealed that test audiences have seen Danny Boyle's "Steve Jobs" over the past few days. From all accounts, reactions have been good. Jeff Wells/Hollywood Elsewhere posted this story about the screening last night:
http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2015/07/steve-jobs-west-42nd-street/
I have been wary of the film's Telluride possibilities as it is in the hands of Universal which has had a negligible presence at TFF. Still, the fact that its a Danny Boyle film makes you think that it should SHOW and the Wells piece reminded me that Scott Rudin is producing the film and he also has a significant film track record at Telluride. Of course, Rudin produces a ton of films but still, here's his T-ride connection over the past few years:
2006: "Venus"
2007: "There Will Be Blood" (clip), "Margot at the Wedding"
2010: "The Way Back"
2012: "Frances Ha"
2013: "Inside Llewyn Davis"
2014: "Rosewater"
So, perhaps Rudin's involvement tips Steve Jobs" a bit more in Telluride's direction.
"JOY" ERUPTS WITH TRAILER
"Joy" trailer via YouTube
It was hard to miss on the internet yesterday...the above trailer for David O. Russell's "Joy" starring Jennifer Lawrence as the inventor of the Miracle Mop. The film is set to open on Dec. 25 and is being distributed by 20th Century Fox arm, Fox 2000.
Now, David O. Russell has never been to Telluride and Fox 2000 hasn't either (the 20th Century Fox branch that does do T-ride is Fox Searchlight so the chances of this being in the San Juans on Labor Day weekend are pretty small but never say never.
The film is produced, in part, by Annapurna Pictures/Megan Ellison, who brought a film to Telluride for the first time last year ("Foxcatcher"). There's your tiny glimmer of hope.
The reality is that the film will likely do what Russell's "The Fighter" and "American Hustle" did and not play any fest at all.
If it is scheduled for a fest appearance, I'd think that Toronto, New York or AFI would all have a better shot before Telluride (Russell has played Toronto twice with "I Heart Huckabees" and "Silver Linings Playbook").
Still, the trailer looks interesting.
Here are a number of links to stories that covered the drop of the trailer yesterday:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2015/teaser-trailer-for-david-o-russells-joy-starring-jennifer-lawrence/
"DEMOLITION" DEPARTS FOR APRIL
Jake Gyllenhaal in "Demolition"
Late word yesterday that Fox Searchlight has pushed Jean-Marc Vallee's "Demolition" to an April, 2016 release date. That moves the film out of awards season 2015 and probably means no fest exposure whatsoever for the Jake Gyllenhaal starrer.
Fox Searchlight is probably down to three possible films for Telluride: "Youth", "He Names Me Malala" and "A Bigger Splash". "Demolition's" move likely means that the "Malala" documentary is a bit more likely to make the Telluride lineup.
Here are reports regarding "Demolition's " move:
That's all for Thursday...more tomorrow including a brand new "Ten Bets" list.
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