Phase 4 Films snags rights to 'Bindlestiffs'

Berry Meyerowitz's Phase 4 Films has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to Andrew Edison's raunchy teen comedy "Bindlestiffs" and will release the pic through its new "Kevin Smith's SModcast Pictures Presents" banner. Pic made its world premiere in January at the Slamdance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best Feature Narrative. Edison wrote the script with Luke Loftin, and the duo produced the high school laffer with Mike Akel and Matt Patterson. Edison and Loftin star alongside John Karna. Trio play smart-mouthed virgins who flee to the inner city to live out the plot of "The Catcher in the Rye" after being suspended from school on a graffiti charge. Phase 4 will release the film in June as part of a theatrical tour that will features Q&A's with Smith and the filmmakers. This weekend, Meyerowitz and the Phase 4 team will be on the ground with Smith and his SModcast Pictures team at SXSW looking to acquire other films for the label. "'Bindlestiffs' is the perfect first film for us to release under our new partnership with Kevin Smith," said Meyerowitz. "It is raunchy, outrageous and shockingly funny, and showcases the immense talents of Andrew Edison and Luke Loftin. The support that we and Kevin will bring to the film will expose it to millions of fans and help turn it into a classic." "SModcast Pictures Presents is ecstatic about our first feature, a ballsy high school comedy that was conceived by real, live high schoolers (who are actually way funnier than the 20-something adults who usually play teens in movies)," said Smith. "This mind-bendingly original and gut-bustingly hysterical first film is so confidently made and one-of-a-kind, I cannot wait to stand on a stage beside the 'Bindlestiffs' boys and smell the room after the audience has pissed themselves laughing at their debut film." "We are beyond stoked to have Kevin Smith present 'Bindlestiffs,'" said Edison and Loftin. "If he didn't already pave the way with 'Clerks' for films like ours to find an audience, he is definitely doing that now in his partnership with Phase 4. For us, this is truly a dream come true." Phase 4 and SModcast Pictures' distribution partnership, which was announced in early 2012, will allow Phase 4 to acquire exclusive rights to exhibit and distribute up to 12 films per year under Smith's banner. Phase 4 will release four of these films theatrically each year, and these will include a live tour with Smith. The deal for 'Bindlestiffs' was negotiated by Phase 4's Larry Greenberg and Katharyn Howe with William Morris Global and Caliber Media on behalf of the filmmakers. Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

Reality competition focuses on Ford Escape

Ford is joining with NBC and Telemundo's mun2 cabler for that reality skein "Escape Routes," that will reveal the 2013 Ford Escape.This program airs on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. beginning March 31 on NBC. It will likewise air at 11 p.m. on mun2, which targets youthful, bilingual Latino auds.Within the series, six groups of two will compete inside a road-trip challenge while using new vehicle, which may also be incorporated within the grand prize. The car maker earlier used social networking to show the Fiesta and Explorer. Even though series focuses on Ford, this program will feature advertising using their company sponsors and isn't a period-buy deal."Escape Routes" is created by Elise Doganieri, longtime professional producer of CBS' "The Astonishing Race." The six hourlong episodes is going to be located by Rossi Morreale, who located ABC's "Dating at nighttime.Inch Participants will visit metropolitan areas including L.A., NY, Atlanta, Miami, Bay Area and Vegas.Challenges will stream survive Escaperoutes.com, and fans will have the ability to modify the results of the overall game."This is actually the very first time an car maker has utilized prime-time television to produce a brand new vehicle," stated Jim Farley, Ford group veep for global marketing, sales and repair. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Community Back With Animated Webisodes, "Confident" About Season 4 Renewal

She attracted on into her Disney roots to host Saturday Evening Love the next time. Inside The Real Regular folks of Disney, Lohan carried out Rapunzel, who's ready to come reduced the tower and the center of attention. Such as the relaxation from the Real Regular folks, there's an acceptable share of money troubles (Jasmine and her husband consumed each of their wishes), marital problems ("never marry a man who likes shoes," Cinderella alerts, after we meet her effete Prince Charming) together with a terrible Auto-Up-to-date dance track, because of Belle... Discover More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Saturday Evening LiveJimmy FallonKenan ThompsonLindsay LohanJon HammKristen WiigNicole 'Snooki' Polizzi