Hope Davis also joins John Deery’s Israel-Palestine drama.
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Hope Davis (American Crime) and Alan Ritchson (Hunger Games: Catching Fire) have joined Middle East-set drama The Rock Pile.
The film is directed by John Deery (Conspiracy of Silence), written by David McBrayer (Beat the Drum) and produced by Joejack Entertainment, Z Productions LLC and 2-Teams Productions.
It is also being produced with the support of the Jerusalem Film Fund and the Palestinian community.
The producers are in the process of appointing a sales agent. Worldwide rights for the film are currently available.
Executive producers are Charles Moore (Lady In The Van), Penny Wolf, Rick McCallum (A United Kingdom) and Mark Foligno (The King’s Speech).
The Rock Pile follows the story of British journalist Bob Hastings, played by Bonneville, who is relocated to Jerusalem. There he learns the story of three young boys of different faiths who are brought together through football.
“There...
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Hope Davis (American Crime) and Alan Ritchson (Hunger Games: Catching Fire) have joined Middle East-set drama The Rock Pile.
The film is directed by John Deery (Conspiracy of Silence), written by David McBrayer (Beat the Drum) and produced by Joejack Entertainment, Z Productions LLC and 2-Teams Productions.
It is also being produced with the support of the Jerusalem Film Fund and the Palestinian community.
The producers are in the process of appointing a sales agent. Worldwide rights for the film are currently available.
Executive producers are Charles Moore (Lady In The Van), Penny Wolf, Rick McCallum (A United Kingdom) and Mark Foligno (The King’s Speech).
The Rock Pile follows the story of British journalist Bob Hastings, played by Bonneville, who is relocated to Jerusalem. There he learns the story of three young boys of different faiths who are brought together through football.
“There...
- 6/14/2017
- ScreenDaily
Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage resumed for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world (during and after the festival) and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.
Angel Grace Productions is based in Los Angeles, and was created with over night inspiration by Michael Fister, who has 22 years of experience in the film industry. His interest in international film sales and distribution is also influenced by his experience growing up around the world.
The Angel Grace VP of Acquisitions Linda Posivak notes, "One thing that sets Michael apart from many, is that it's not just a job. It's his passion. He knows in his heart that this is where he should be. He feels and breathes it. It's more than just a job to him."
Michael has kicked off the Angel Grace slate with the Nora Ephron prizewinner "Farah Goes Bang" by Meera Menon, and "Conspiracy of Silence" (by John Deery) starring Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot), and Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey). Angel Grace is quickly expanding and will go from acquisitions to productions later this year.
Michael talks about how he started Angel Grace and more about his drive to share meaningful films:
How did you start Angel Grace?
I worked as an executive at ABC and Turner Pictures. I caught the festival and market bug back then, but went on a detour for several years, working on the creative agency side with the studios (doing one sheets and trailers). A few years ago, I realized I was really missing the craziness and excitement of festivals and markets, so I got my toes wet and came back to Cannes. I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing.
I've been doing this work through various ways and means, but it was really just less than a year ago when I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I needed to do this on my own. Then then one day I just said, "I'm going to Berlin!" Within 24 hours, I had both of my films; 24 hours, I'm not kidding! Obviously, I had met the filmmakers prior (and the films were on my radar) but I just picked up the phone, called them and it all fell into place. It's great, and I'm happy to be here.
Please talk about the Angel Grace slate.
I brought two films to Cannes. One is "Farah Goes Bang", which had just won the Nora Ephron prize at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a fun and sweet "girl road comedy". The girls are best friends, and they're on the road campaigning for John Kerry. Two of the girls are also trying to get the third girl to lose her virginity during the road trip. The fact that it won the esteemed Norah Ephron prize says a lot, and you immediately know that it's not tacky or sleazy. Instead, it's witty, funny and very sweet.
The second film is "Conspiracy of Silence", with Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker, and Hugh Bonneville from Downtown Abbey. It was actually Chris O'Dowd's film debut. It's an older thriller that never got the release it deserved. It partially deals with things that have gone on in the Catholic Church. I had been talking to the director about his newer projects, and then I saw this film as a sample of his work and fell in love with it. It won a National Board of Review Award, and a few nominations at the Irish Film and Television Awards including Best Director. It's a powerful movie that is actually more relevant in today's society than when it was made.
Clearly, I'm not afraid of difficult films!
What do you consider when choosing films for Angel Grace?
I go with my gut feeling when I choose films, and gravitate more toward festival films, which tend to be more director or cast driven. It's really the niche that we'll stay in.
I'm open to most genres; although I'm not interested in things like horror or slasher movies, especially with a name like Angel Grace. I'm open to anything that's good, and I want to put positivity out there through the films that we choose.
Personally and professionally speaking, I tend to lean more towards drama, art house, and poignant films. There are a lot of movies out there at festivals that deserve to be seen. Hopefully, I can help those films that would otherwise get lost in the shuffle--that's when I really feel I’m accomplishing something.
Aside from the business, why do you do this work?
Other than Tribeca, "Farah Goes Bang" has won several other festivals over the past few months. Women in the audience are actually saying they are finding their voice in this movie, and in this character of Farah. That means something, and I think it's important to share films that can impact people's lives like that.
Learn more about the Angel Grace Productions films here.
More about Angel Grace Productions:
Founded in 2013 by veteran film marketing executive Michael Fister, Angel Grace Productions (Agp) acquires and sells all rights with a focus on festival-driven feature films. Our business model is simple: “We only work on films we truly care about.”...
Angel Grace Productions is based in Los Angeles, and was created with over night inspiration by Michael Fister, who has 22 years of experience in the film industry. His interest in international film sales and distribution is also influenced by his experience growing up around the world.
The Angel Grace VP of Acquisitions Linda Posivak notes, "One thing that sets Michael apart from many, is that it's not just a job. It's his passion. He knows in his heart that this is where he should be. He feels and breathes it. It's more than just a job to him."
Michael has kicked off the Angel Grace slate with the Nora Ephron prizewinner "Farah Goes Bang" by Meera Menon, and "Conspiracy of Silence" (by John Deery) starring Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot), and Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey). Angel Grace is quickly expanding and will go from acquisitions to productions later this year.
Michael talks about how he started Angel Grace and more about his drive to share meaningful films:
How did you start Angel Grace?
I worked as an executive at ABC and Turner Pictures. I caught the festival and market bug back then, but went on a detour for several years, working on the creative agency side with the studios (doing one sheets and trailers). A few years ago, I realized I was really missing the craziness and excitement of festivals and markets, so I got my toes wet and came back to Cannes. I knew this was what I was supposed to be doing.
I've been doing this work through various ways and means, but it was really just less than a year ago when I woke up in the middle of the night and realized I needed to do this on my own. Then then one day I just said, "I'm going to Berlin!" Within 24 hours, I had both of my films; 24 hours, I'm not kidding! Obviously, I had met the filmmakers prior (and the films were on my radar) but I just picked up the phone, called them and it all fell into place. It's great, and I'm happy to be here.
Please talk about the Angel Grace slate.
I brought two films to Cannes. One is "Farah Goes Bang", which had just won the Nora Ephron prize at the Tribeca Film Festival. It's a fun and sweet "girl road comedy". The girls are best friends, and they're on the road campaigning for John Kerry. Two of the girls are also trying to get the third girl to lose her virginity during the road trip. The fact that it won the esteemed Norah Ephron prize says a lot, and you immediately know that it's not tacky or sleazy. Instead, it's witty, funny and very sweet.
The second film is "Conspiracy of Silence", with Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker, and Hugh Bonneville from Downtown Abbey. It was actually Chris O'Dowd's film debut. It's an older thriller that never got the release it deserved. It partially deals with things that have gone on in the Catholic Church. I had been talking to the director about his newer projects, and then I saw this film as a sample of his work and fell in love with it. It won a National Board of Review Award, and a few nominations at the Irish Film and Television Awards including Best Director. It's a powerful movie that is actually more relevant in today's society than when it was made.
Clearly, I'm not afraid of difficult films!
What do you consider when choosing films for Angel Grace?
I go with my gut feeling when I choose films, and gravitate more toward festival films, which tend to be more director or cast driven. It's really the niche that we'll stay in.
I'm open to most genres; although I'm not interested in things like horror or slasher movies, especially with a name like Angel Grace. I'm open to anything that's good, and I want to put positivity out there through the films that we choose.
Personally and professionally speaking, I tend to lean more towards drama, art house, and poignant films. There are a lot of movies out there at festivals that deserve to be seen. Hopefully, I can help those films that would otherwise get lost in the shuffle--that's when I really feel I’m accomplishing something.
Aside from the business, why do you do this work?
Other than Tribeca, "Farah Goes Bang" has won several other festivals over the past few months. Women in the audience are actually saying they are finding their voice in this movie, and in this character of Farah. That means something, and I think it's important to share films that can impact people's lives like that.
Learn more about the Angel Grace Productions films here.
More about Angel Grace Productions:
Founded in 2013 by veteran film marketing executive Michael Fister, Angel Grace Productions (Agp) acquires and sells all rights with a focus on festival-driven feature films. Our business model is simple: “We only work on films we truly care about.”...
- 6/6/2014
- by Erin Grover
- Sydney's Buzz
Us-based sales agency arrives with a slate including Meera Menon’s Farah Goes Bang.
Veteran marketing executive Michael Fister [pictured] has launched the Us-based sales agency Angel Grace Productions at the Efm.
Fister, a former Turner Pictures Worldwide and ABC Television network executive, arrives with a slate that includes Meera Menon’s Tribeca 2013 selection Farah Goes Bang.
The film is described as equal parts road movie and buddy comedy, sex farce and ‘chick flick.’ Menon co-wrote the screenplay with Laura Goode and makes her feature directorial debut. Nikohl Boosheri, Kandis Erickson and Kiran Deol star.
John Deery’s 2003 thriller Conspiracy Of Silence stars Brenda Fricker, Hugh Bonneville, Chris O’Dowd and John Lynch.
The drama was developed at the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab and won the National Board Of Review’s Freedom of Expression Award.
Conspiracy Of Silence is inspired by real events concerning the death of a priest in a small town in Ireland that opens a can of...
Veteran marketing executive Michael Fister [pictured] has launched the Us-based sales agency Angel Grace Productions at the Efm.
Fister, a former Turner Pictures Worldwide and ABC Television network executive, arrives with a slate that includes Meera Menon’s Tribeca 2013 selection Farah Goes Bang.
The film is described as equal parts road movie and buddy comedy, sex farce and ‘chick flick.’ Menon co-wrote the screenplay with Laura Goode and makes her feature directorial debut. Nikohl Boosheri, Kandis Erickson and Kiran Deol star.
John Deery’s 2003 thriller Conspiracy Of Silence stars Brenda Fricker, Hugh Bonneville, Chris O’Dowd and John Lynch.
The drama was developed at the Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab and won the National Board Of Review’s Freedom of Expression Award.
Conspiracy Of Silence is inspired by real events concerning the death of a priest in a small town in Ireland that opens a can of...
- 2/6/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Production is underway on Grand Pictures' new comedy/drama series for RTÉ entitled 'Trivia'. The cast includes David Pearse (Happy Ever Afters), Keith McErlean (Swansong: The Story of Occi Byrne), Janice Moran and Olivia Caffrey (Conspiracy of Silence). The series, which will shoot in Celbridge for the next five weeks, is written by Damien Owen's in his TV debut. The show is being directed by 'Wide Open Spaces' helmer Tom Hall and produced by Paul Donovan (The Race). 'Trivia's director of photography is Ivan McCullough (The Eclipse).
- 5/13/2010
- IFTN
Clap if you believe in movie awards! This year's awards season got underway today with the National Board of Review's announcement of Finding Neverland as their choice for Best Film. However, it was the only award that the J.M. Barrie biopic picked up, as the erstwhile awards group, made up of film historians, students and educators, spread the wealth around generously, giving just one award to all movies except Sideways, which nabbed the Adapted Screenplay award and a Supporting Actor nod for Thomas Haden Church. Oscar shoo-in Jamie Foxx won Best Actor for Ray (the first of many such awards, no doubt), while Annette Bening was named Best Actress for Being Julia; Supporting Actress honors went to Laura Linney (Kinsey), and Closer won the group's ensemble acting award. In the directing categories, Michael Mann was named Best Director for Collateral, and Zach Braff won the Directorial Debut award for Garden State; the very original Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind picked up the Original Screenplay award. Other winners included The Sea Inside (Foreign Film), Born Into Brothels (Documentary), and The Incredibles (Animated Film). Interestingly, two of the year's most polarizing movies, The Passion of the Christ and Fahrenheit 9/11, both received the awkwardly-worded honor of "Special Recognition of Films that Reflect the Freedom of Expression," along with Conspiracy of Silence.
In addition to their year-end awards, the National Board of Review also names a top ten list for the year, led by their winner for Best Film. This year's list is (in order): Finding Neverland, The Aviator, Closer, Million Dollar Baby, Sideways, Kinsey, Vera Drake, Ray, Collateral, and Hotel Rwanda.
The full list of the 2004 National Board of Review awards:
Best Film: Finding Neverland
Best Foreign Language Film : The Sea Inside
Best Documentary : Born into Brothels
Best Animated Feature: The Incredibles
Best Actor: Jamie Foxx, Ray
Best Actress : Annette Bening, Being Julia
Best Supporting Actor : Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Best Supporting Actress : Laura Linney, Kinsey
Best Acting by an Ensemble : Closer
Breakthrough Performance Actor : Topher Grace, In Good Company and P.S.
Breakthrough Performance Actress : Emmy Rossum, The Phantom of the Opera
Best Director : Michael Mann, Collateral
Best Directorial Debut : Zach Braff, Garden State
Best Adapted Screenplay : Sideways , Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Best Original Screenplay: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Charlie Kaufman
Outstanding Production Design : House of Flying Daggers
Career Achievement : Jeff Bridges
Special Filmmaking Achievement: Clint Eastwood, for producing, directing, acting, and composing the score of Million Dollar Baby
William K. Everson Award for Film History : Richard Schickel
Producers Award: Jerry Bruckheimer
Special Recognition of Films that Reflect the Freedom of Expression : Fahrenheit 9/11, The Passion of the Christ, Conspiracy of Silence...
In addition to their year-end awards, the National Board of Review also names a top ten list for the year, led by their winner for Best Film. This year's list is (in order): Finding Neverland, The Aviator, Closer, Million Dollar Baby, Sideways, Kinsey, Vera Drake, Ray, Collateral, and Hotel Rwanda.
The full list of the 2004 National Board of Review awards:
Best Film: Finding Neverland
Best Foreign Language Film : The Sea Inside
Best Documentary : Born into Brothels
Best Animated Feature: The Incredibles
Best Actor: Jamie Foxx, Ray
Best Actress : Annette Bening, Being Julia
Best Supporting Actor : Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Best Supporting Actress : Laura Linney, Kinsey
Best Acting by an Ensemble : Closer
Breakthrough Performance Actor : Topher Grace, In Good Company and P.S.
Breakthrough Performance Actress : Emmy Rossum, The Phantom of the Opera
Best Director : Michael Mann, Collateral
Best Directorial Debut : Zach Braff, Garden State
Best Adapted Screenplay : Sideways , Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor
Best Original Screenplay: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Charlie Kaufman
Outstanding Production Design : House of Flying Daggers
Career Achievement : Jeff Bridges
Special Filmmaking Achievement: Clint Eastwood, for producing, directing, acting, and composing the score of Million Dollar Baby
William K. Everson Award for Film History : Richard Schickel
Producers Award: Jerry Bruckheimer
Special Recognition of Films that Reflect the Freedom of Expression : Fahrenheit 9/11, The Passion of the Christ, Conspiracy of Silence...
- 12/1/2004
- IMDb News
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