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

Spike stops prod'n on '1000 Ways'

Spike TV has stopped shooting a 4th season of "1000 Methods to Die" after 72 hours of rallies through the Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and also the Intl. Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 399 outdoors the Burbank facilities of Original Prods.The rallies started Monday after producers ignored about 30 crew people who have been trying to unionize. The unions picketed Wednesday in the production offices and corporate headquarters and Teamsters repetition Steve Dayan told Variety that similar protests will most likely occur Thursday.Original stated Wednesday that Spike had made the decision to close the lid on on anymore shooting for that current season but didn't elaborate. Original had stated Monday that it hadn't been needed to identify the unions as negotiating reps together with giving the statement, "Original Productions has always offered competitive wages and ideal working conditions."The union reps have stated that the organization has declined to satisfy together and blasted the organization because of not supplying medical health insurance. "This is the root problem for all of us, since just an ambulance ride will cost you a week's wages," Dayan stated. "1000 Methods to Die" re-enacts the demise of people that have left under bizarre conditions. Original also produces reality shows for example "Ice Road Truck drivers" and "Most harmful Catch" for Discovery. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

WME Agents Phone Compromised By News Corp

EXCLUSIVE: I’ve found that Scotland Yard has informed Hollywood musicagent Julie Colbert that her mobile phone calls were intercepted because she symbolized Welsh pop star Charlotte now Chapel.The WME tenpercenter who works best for music clients in film and tv was backwards and forwards between La and London once the hacking happened, my associates say. That’s because, at that time, Chapel was working carefully using the crossover agent as well as remaining like a guest in Colbert’s home for many several weeks to escape the paparazzi constantly trailing the singing sensation.”Scotland Yard told Julie, ‘Your number emerged among the ones which was compromised,” an insider informs me. I realize that Colbert hasn’t made the decision yet whether or not to file claims due to the hacking. That may provetouchy because her agency William Morris Endeavor Entertainment does lots of business with News Corp subsidiaries like Fox Broadcasting, Twentieth Fox TV, and also the Fox Shot Entertainment Group. No information was provided Colbertexactly who did the hacking: News Corp’s journalists or private detectives.But Bloomberg reported earlier today that Glenn Mulcaire, the previous News Corp private eye who compromised phones for the organization’sNews Of TheWorld, hadan unidentifiedWME agent’snumbersas well as Charlotte now ChurchsNY publicist Kevin Chiaramonte of Paul Freundlich Affiliates among 1000's of pages ofnotes grabbed by police. That agent, I’ve learned, was Colbert. Chapel told an formally United kingdom inquiry into press ethics in November the evidence includes many pages of names, amounts, notes, addresses, pin amounts cheap my mother and that i were each a task. Churchsang atNews Corp ChairmanRupert Murdochs wedding in 1999 when she was 13 years of age. Now 26, she settled a suit now against Murdoch’s companydaysbefore the very first trial over the telephone-hacking scandal was scheduled to begin.Conditions is going to be revealed in a London court hearingnext week. Besides Chapel, lately Jude Law, Steve Coogan, along with other high-profile showbiz figures have settled. News Corp still faces possible claims by a lot more than 800likely sufferers recognized by police. The existence of the U.S. telephone numbers in Mulcaires notes may interest U.S. prosecutors and alsomay complicate News Corpeffortsto contain legal cases towards the United kingdom. Meanwhile, News Corp is starting a brand new Sunday edition from the Sun to exchange this news Around The Globe that was shuttered due to the scandal.

Ryan Reynolds talks Safe House

Safe House is presently sitting near the top of the u . s . states box office, which is making its approach to the Uk soon.In the event you fancy watching videos interview with charming lead Ryan Reynolds, you've come right place.Inside the video below, Reynolds talks about coping with the "living, breathing, walking masterclass in acting" that's Denzel Washington.Swedish director Daniel Espinosa also talks about the film, his first Hollywood feature, talking about hard-to-argue with opinion, "It's my job to prefer to watch Denzel play a badass, y'know?" Perform.[brightcove]1464592272001[/brightcove]Safe House opens inside the Uk on 24 February 2012. Read our Safe House review.

Elizabeth Gabler reups at Fox

GablerFox 2000 Pictures prexy Elizabeth Gabler has restored her cope with Fox. Additonally, Fox 2000 has hired Jessica Goodman as professional Vice president of production and upped Marisa Paiva from creative professional to director of development.One of the movies Gabler has overseen at Fox 2000 are literary adaptations "The Demon Wears Prada," "Marley & Me," "Water For Tigers" and "Diary of the Wimpy Kid," along with the approaching films "Existence of Pi" from Ang Lee, "Guernsey" from Kenneth Branagh and follow up "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Ocean of Monsters," additionally to "Walk the roadInch and also the billion-dollar grossing "Alvin and also the Chipmunks" franchise. Her career at Fox also includes oversight from the hit photos "Cast Away," "Waiting to Exhale" and "Mrs. Doubtfire."Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos mentioned: "Within the last twelve years, Elizabeth's savvy, vision and taste has had Fox 2000 Pictures to an amount of success and accomplishment that exceeded our already high anticipation. We could not be more happy that they continues to guide the division within the years ahead," stated Fox Shot Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman inside a joint statement.Goodman joins Fox 2000 from Warner Bros., where she's labored since 1998, most lately as professional Vice president of production. At WB, Goodman was accountable for managing projects for example "Contagion," "I'm Legend," "Michael Clayton," "The Informant" and also the "Oceans" trilogy."It's with tremendous excitement that people welcome Jessica to Last Century Fox and also to they at Fox 2000 Pictures," stated Gabler. "She's a significant insightful experience and shares our passion and respect for wonderful material and filmmakers. Her fresh perspective and adoration for her work is going to be inspiring to all of us.InchPaiva, who had been the creative executive on "Water For Tigers," it's presently working "Existence of Pi." Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com