News

Cracking Up

Showcase Inventory

Created by Mike White

Produced by 20th Century Fox, Brad Grey Television

Aired on Fox March 9, 2004- April 5, 2004

Series ran 6 (of 12) episodes over one season (6 unaired)

Cast

Jason Schwartzman as Ben Baxter

Jake Sandvig as Preston Shackleton

Molly Shannon as Lesley Shackleton

Christopher McDonald as Ted Shackleton

Caitlin Wachs as Chloe Shackleton

David Walton as Liam Connor

Show Premise

Ben Baxter is a psychology major in college, where he takes on a child client as his term project. As part of the assignment, Ben agrees to move in with the child’s family in order to analyze his psychosis, but he quickly discovers that his patient isn’t really the one that he should be studying—it’s the rest of his family that are the real textbook mental cases. Ben becomes intrigued by the family and all their neurosis until he is overwhelmed by the...

Ron doesn't see why Syfy's fun, good-looking sci-fi pilot, High Moon, didn't make it to series. There's plenty here to enjoy...

Once upon a time, you couldn't sneeze in the summer without hitting some sort of made-for-tv movie. Sometimes, they'd be specially made for the purpose of airing. Sometimes, they'd just be unused pilots that happened to be edited into a two-hour block to fill a little airtime. For every The Night Stalker, there was a Steel Magnolias, K-9 And Company, or a Riding With Death (which went on to fame via Mystery Science Theater 3000). In other words, the TV movie pilot doesn't always work out all that well. However, you have to give SyFy credit for trying to make something out of nothing with High Moon, the television pilot version of John Christopher's novel The Lotus Caves.

In the not-too-distant future, the moon has become the new...

A sci-fi saga set in outer space produced by Bryan Fuller, the creator of Hannibal, Pushing Daisies and Wonderfalls? The idea sounded promising when SyFy ordered a 90-minute pilot for High Moon last summer, but alas, the finished product didn’t entice the network to send the show to series. Fuller’s fans and geeks of all stripes can judge for themselves when SyFy airs the pilot as a TV movie on Monday, Sept. 15, at 9 Pm.

Based on the novel The Lotus Caves, High Moon stars Jonathan Tucker, Jake Sandvig, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Charity Wakefield and, according to most log lines,...

When last we talked about High Moon, an adaptation of John Christopher's novel The Lotus Caves by Bryan Fuller ("Hannibal"), it was being called a pilot; but now it seems to be just another in the network's long line of Original Movies.

High Moon, starring Jake Sandvig, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jonathan Tucker, and Charity Wakefield, tells of a group who arrive on the moon and realize they've got company... and they Don't come in peace!

Adam Kane ("Being Human") directed the script penned by co-executive producer Jim Danger Gray ("Pushing Daisies") from a story adaptation written by Fuller and Gray.

The film airs on Monday, September 15th, at 9/8c on Syfy. Check out the trailer and a still below.

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A few years back, "Hannibal" and "Dead Like Me" show runner Bryan Fuller crafted a pilot for Syfy based on John Christopher‘s 1969 sci-fi novel "The Lotus Caves".

Fuller's adaptation never got picked up to series, but now Syfy is slated to show the 90-minute series premiere which has been repurposed as a TV movie that will air later this month. To tease the telemovie, the network has just posted the first five minutes of the pilot-turned-telemovie online at TV Line.

Jonathan Tucker, Jake Sandvig, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Charity Wakefield star in the series which is set on the Earth's moon which is now home to numerous mining colonies. Chaos erupts when a new life form is revealed.

Jim Danger Gray ("Hannibal," "Torchwood") wrote the script and Adam Kane ("Pushing Daisies") directed the work. Funnily enough this marks the second failed pilot of Fuller's to be turned into a telemovie event,...

Ready for something out of this world?

Syfy, which earlier this year passed on Bryan Fuller’s High Moon pilot, is repackaging the 90-minute opener as a TV movie, and we’ve got an exclusive first look at the heart-stopping first four minutes.

Related Fall Preview 2014: Your Handy Calendar of 99 Premieres

An adaptation of John Christopher’s 1969 young adult sci-fi novel The Lotus Caves, the project — penned by Jim Danger Gray (Pushing Daisies) — is set in a future in which the countries of Earth have established colonies to mine the moon’s resources. However, chaos erupts after a new life form is discovered.

Jake Sandvig (Easy A) has signed for the lead role in the TBS comedy pilot Living The Dream. He will play Connor Logan, a charismatic twentysomething who, along with his best friends, reinvigorates a town on the verge of losing its identity by acquiring and re-opening the local brewery. Sandvig, who toplined last year’s Syfy pilot High Moon, is repped by Innovative Artists and Main Title. Exclusive: Mark Hapka has landed the lead role in Parallels, a sci-fi series from Fox Digital Studio. He plays Ronan Carver, a street-smart underground Mma fighter who has been estranged from his family since he was 16 and suddenly finds himself forced to confront his sister and his past in an adventure through parallel universes. Jessica Rothe, Eric Jungmann, Constance Wu, Yorgo Constantine and Michael Monks also have joined the cast of the series from writer-director Christopher Leone. Laura Harkcom is producing. Steven Hein,...

Bryan Fuller's highly anticipated Syfy project, "High Moon," continues to flesh out the cast for its 90-minute pilot, adding Dana Davis ("Heroes," "Franklin & Bash"), Jonathan Tucker ("The Black Donnellys") and Peter Macon ("Supernatural") in recurring roles, the network announced on Thursday (Aug. 22)

"High Moon," based on John Christopher's novel "The Lotus Caves," is described as "an imaginative, out-of-this-world adventure series exploring what happens when Earth establishes colonies to mine the Moon's resources and discover a new form of life." Fuller and Adam Kane ("Being Human") will executive producer the pilot, which will be written by co-executive producer Jim Danger Gray ("Pushing Daisies").

Macon will play General Gale Lynn Winehart, "a hard-as-nails American Army General able to kick the crap out of just about anybody ... intent on getting to the bottom of the explosion on the moon," while David will play Yama, his daughter, the first and only kid ever born on the moon.

Jonathan Tucker has been cast in Bryan Fuller’s 90-minute Syfy pilot High Moon, which explores what happens when the countries of Earth establish colonies to mine the moon’s resources and discover a new form of life. Charity Wakefield has signed on for a guest-starring role in the pilot, written by Jim Danger Gray based on John Christopher’s novel The Lotus Caves. Tucker, repped by Booh Schut Co, UTA, and attorney Steve Warren, will play Stanislav “Stan” Stavin, a handsome and outgoing miner for the Russians who may be hiding something. He also recurs on Parenthood. Wakefield will play the smart and savvy Eve St. John-Smythe, CEO of the world’s most profitable corporation that is responsible for opening up the moon by providing oxygen to the various countries there. Tucker and Wakefield join previously cast Jake Sandvig, Chris Diamantopoulos, Dana Davis and Peter Macon. The Practice alumna...

We told you back in April that Bryan Fuller‘s pilot for Syfy, High Moon, had gone into production. Four months later they’re announcing lead casting, so I’m trying to not be concerned about the time that’s elapsed, and instead be pleased about this forward momentum.

I love Bryan Fuller‘s work with Our Kind of Shows (Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls and more), so I’d really love to see this one go forward.

Chris Diamantopoulos And Jake Sandvig Sign On For Lead Roles In Syfy’S New Scripted Series Pilot High Moon

New York – August 13, 2013 – Syfy has inked actors Chris Diamantopoulos and Jake Sandvig for starring roles in High Moon, a 90-minute pilot, co-produced by Universal Cable Productions and Lark Productions set to commence shooting August 26 in Vancouver BC. The project is based on the novel “The Lotus Caves” by John Christopher.

High Moon is an imaginative,...

Syfy has announced two new cast members for the sci-fi pilot High Moon.

Syfy has announced the casting of Chris Diamantopoulos and Jake Sandvig in High Moon, a 90-minute pilot, co-produced by Universal Cable Productions and Lark Productions that is set to commence shooting on August 26 in Vancouver. The project is based on the novel “The Lotus Caves” by John Christopher.

High Moon is an imaginative, out-of-this-world adventure series exploring what happens when Earth establishes colonies to mine the Moon’s resources and discover a new form of life. Chaos erupts in a genuinely emotional, humorously thrilling and always unexpected fashion as the colonists of the Moon race to uncover this life form’s powerful secrets.

High Moon is executive produced by Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Adam Kane (Being Human), Cary Granat and Steve Granat for Reel FX, Don Murphy and Susan Montford for Angry Films, and Louise Clark and Andrew Williamson for Lark Productions.

James Franco‘s A-list pals have signed on to roast their friend.

Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live), Jonah Hill (This Is the End), Nick Kroll (The Kroll Show), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program.), Natasha Leggero (Burning Love) and Jeff Ross (The Burn With Jeff Ross) are among those slated to poke fun at the big-screen star/suds vet on his upcoming Comedy Central Roast. As previously announced, Seth Rogen will act as Roastmaster.

Related | The Mindy Project Season 2 Cast — James Franco as Mindy’s Replacement

The Labor Day special airs Monday, Sept. 2 at 10/9c.

Ready for more of today’s TV dish?...

News

Bryan Fuller‘s Syfy pilot High Moon (based on The Lotus Caves) has found its leading men. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Diamantopoulos and Easy A‘s Jake Sandvig will play the brothers dealing with newly-discovered life on the moon.

Chris Diamantopoulos

That Borgias finale movie won’t get made but you will soon be able to buy the script as an e-book.

Freddie Prinze Jr. will appear on Lifetime’s Witches of East End, according to EW. He’ll play an entomologist who falls for Madchen Amick‘s character, even though she may have underhanded motivations.

Matthew Atkinson, who was in ABC Family’s short-lived Jane By Design will be appearing on Parenthood, according to TVLine. He’ll play a man who strikes a friendship with Amber, much to Ryan annoyance.

Matthew Atkinson

Greg Berlanti has sold a pilot to NBC, Deadline reports. The story follows a...

Jake Sandvig (Easy A) and Chris Diamantopoulos are set as the leads of Bryan Fuller’s Syfy pilot High Moon. It explores what happens when the countries of Earth establish colonies to mine the moon’s resources and discover a new form of life. Sandvig, repped by Innovative and Main Title, plays Marty Thurgood, an American astronaut investigated for engaging in possible espionage and sabotage when a giant blast goes off near an area where he was working. Diamantopoulos, repped by Wme and Untitled, will play Marty’s older brother, a chief investigator for the American federal government who he has been dispatched to the moon to figure out who caused the moon explosion. Jim Danger Gray penned the script, with Fuller exec producing and Adam Kane directing for Ucp. Tim Griffin (Prime Suspect) and Charlie Tahan have landed regular roles on the Fox event series Wayward Pines, from M. Night Shyamalan.

Syfy has cast the two leads in its upcoming Bryan Fuller drama pilot High Moon. The Office's Chris Diamantopoulos and Easy A's Jake Sandvig have been tapped to star in the 90-minute pilot from the creator of Pushing Daisies and Hannibal. High Moon centers on a future when the countries of the Earth establish colonies to mine the Moon's resources, only to see chaos erupt when new forms of life are discovered. It's based on John Christopher's novel The Lotus Caves. Story: Syfy Orders 'High Moon' to Pilot From Bryan Fuller Diamantopoulos will play Ian, a chief investigator for the

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Jake Sandvig (Easy A) has been cast as a regular in MTV’s comedy pilot Hot Mess, from Awkward creator/executive producer Lauren Iungerich. It centers on Amanda Marshall (Annabelle Stephenson), who is caught between her current and former boyfriend, and her close circle of friends from college. In a recasting, Sandvig will play Nick, a member of Amanda’s crew who is a veteran womanizer with no problems getting girls to fall in his lap. He replaces Matthew Atkinson, who was originally cast in the role. The pilot starts production today. Sandvig, repped by Main Title Entertainment and Innovative Artists, recurred on Weeds this past season. Kevin Bishop and Kelen Coleman round out the cast of Rebel Wilson’s ABC comedy pilot Super Fun Night. The project, executive produced by Conan O’Brien, was originally developed as a multi-camera sitcom for CBS last season where it went to pilot.

Dramas and comedies shouldn’t require the suspension of disbelief that a science fiction or horror film does, but that’s what the dramedy A Bag of Hammers requires in the end. There are many points you have to concede to the film as it tells the story of two best friends who steal for a living and ultimately become the ersatz parents of a young boy, but it’s undeniably huge heart and the amusing antics and dialogue from actors Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig make that easier to do than it is for many other films. A Bag of Hammers might not be perfect, but it’s just charming enough to push it from being bearable to being modestly enjoyable.

Read more...

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: June 19, 2012

Price: DVD $24.98, Blu-ray $29.98

Studio: Mpi

Two law-breaking goofballs are forced to turn into responsible grownups in the 2011 independent comedy A Bag of Hammers.

Buddies Ben (Jason Ritter, The Dry Land) and Alan (Jake Sandvig, Easy A) are twenty-something L.A. slackers who make money through a valet-parking scam (they park cars at funerals, then steal them) and by leasing their rental house next door. Their new tenant is a stressed-out single mom, Kelsey (Carrie Preston, TV’s True Blood), who’s struggling to pay her bills and support her precocious, street-smart 12-year-old son (Chandler Canterbury, Knowing).

Ben and Alan strike up a friendship with Kelsey, but Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall, The Town) comes to believe that the boy may be a neglected latchkey kid. Mel’s intervention to remedy that situation sets off a chain of events that leads the guys to invent...

We're just gonna say it: Jason Ritter is the nicest guy ever. Sure, he also happens to be crazy talented, but it's pretty clear that much of the heartfelt depth he gives to his roles comes from his naturally kind disposition -- which might be why he is one of the rare actors who can transition seamlessly from crime mysteries (NBC's short-lived "The Event") to dramedies (the series "Parenthood," also on NBC) to indie films, like his latest, "A Bag of Hammers."

Jason plays Ben, a silk-bathrobe-wearing car thief who has gotten "on the property ladder" early with his Bff and partner in crime, Alan (Jake Sandvig). When they rent their income property to a struggling single mom, however, they end up a wee bit (read: a whole lot) in over their heads. We chatted with Jason about the possibility of fatherhood, what makes Rebecca Hall so posh and why he's a proud Prius owner.

There are ample pleasures of the half-movie. Features of the half-film include a lack of b-plot, a meandering tone, haphazard scenes, and a barely feature-length runtime. The reasons why productions result in half-movies usually come from vastly re-written scripts, overrunning schedules and/or eclipsing an allotted budget, but they tend to fade away into obscurity. “A Bag Of Hammers,” which opens in theaters showing actual whole movies this Friday, features a few likable actors and a strong score from Johnny Flynn, and so it qualifies as a breezy diversion of sorts. But is it a movie?

Ben and Alan are a couple of twentysomething cons who run a series of scams landing somewhere south of sustainable. While they lift cars from the bereaved at funerals and flip them for profit, they somehow manage to keep maintenance on a couple of homes, including providing support to Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall...

You don't have to be a movie genius to know who will rule the box office this weekend. With "The Avengers" wiping the floor with every other blockbuster ever, audiences will likely continue to assemble. However, if you think there's a little too much life in the Joss Whedon opus, its weekend competitor, "Dark Shadows," might be more to your taste. This weekend, Tim Burton's vampiric comedy is the only new release going head-to-head against the action juggernaut. So! Let's take a look at this David vs. Goliath tale, and the box-office predictions, in Moviefone's Weekend Movie Preview. Nationwide Releases "Dark Shadows" What's the story? Based on the 1960s gothic television soap, "Dark Shadows" follows imprisoned vampire, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), who awakens from a 200-year slumber to settle a score with a jealous witch. Box-office prediction: While "Dark Shadows" may not have enough muscle to take out "The Avengers,...

Jason Ritter has had quite a few busy years, from starring on the ill-fated NBC conspiracy thriller "The Event," to becoming part of the "Parenthood" family. Next up for the actor is a role in "A Bag of Hammers," in which he and Jake Sandvig play two misfit friends who become involved with an abandoned child, played by Chandler Canterbury.

Ritter talked to The Huffington Post about his burgeoning career and following in the footsteps of his late father, actor John Ritter.

Were you a misfit in school?

To a certain degree. I can relate to my character in that I had my little solid group of friends and we had our own sort of system going. We didn’t really care what the rest of the world thought of us.

What has been your favorite project to work on so far?

I had an incredible time working on "The Event.

Title: A Bag of Hammers Mpi Media Group Director: Brian Crano Screenwriter: Brian Crano, Jake Sandvig Cast: Jason Ritter, Rebecca Hall, Jake Sandvig, Chandler Canterbury, Carrie Preston Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 4/19/12 Opens: May 11, 2012 This well-meaning but innocuous comedy-drama featuring Brian Crano’s TV-style direction and which is co-written by him and one of the principal performers is a story about redemption and emotional growth. However the pace is sluggish, the situations absurd, and the actors go about their roles mechanically in an underwritten script. Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (Jake Sandvig) have been buddies for years, living in the same California home adjacent to unemployed single mother [ Read More ]...

Mpi Media Group has acquired North American rights to "A Bag of Hammers," an offbeat comedy from first-time director Brian Caro. The film stars Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvig and Rebecca Hall. The company plans to release the film theatrically this August, followed by DVD and VOD. Below find the full release: For Immediate Release Mpi Media Group Acquires ‘A Bag Of Hammers’Starring Jason Ritter And Jake Sandvig Late Summer Theatrical ...

Director: Brian Crano Writers: Brian Crano, Jake Sandvig Starring: Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvig, Chandler Canterbury, Rebecca Hall, Carrie Preston Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (Jake Sandvig) are a pair of slacker-cum-grifters whose signature con is posing as valets in order to steal cars from cemeteries during funeral services. They have been best friends forever, spending almost every moment of their lives within spitting distance (figuratively speaking, of course) of each other. Ben and Alan own a house and a rental house -- and this is where Lynette (Carrie Preston) and her son Kelsey (Chandler Canterbury) blow into the picture. Lynette and Kelsey have evacuated Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, and they move into Ben and Alan's rental house. Lynette does not have a job -- she is determined to get an office job, but is not qualified (the job interviews we witness are excruciatingly painful). She is never home (presumably earning...

Brian Crano's first feature A Bag Of Hammers premiered just a few weeks ago in Austin at the SXSW Film Festival, where I saw it and instantly fell in love (with the film, not Crano - sorry, dude, that just might be too creepy). A Bag Of Hammers follows two misfit best friends, Ben and Allan (played by Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig, respectively), who get by doing no good. They're thrown a bag of hammers when they take a mother and fatherless boy under their wings.

Read more on SXSW 2011 Interview: A Bag Of Hammers co-writer/director Brian Crano...

Brian Cano, the filmmaker behind the SXSW-selected A Bag of Hammers describes his two leading men Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (co-writer Jake Sandvig) as ‘the last people you would want to leave your car with, much less your kid.’ Alas, while stealing cars through their fake valet service, Ben and Alan end up caring for Kelsey (Chandler Canterbury), a young boy with a negligent, if well-meaning mother (Carrie Preston). Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall) provides the only voice of reason in this world of impulsive men.Cano noted that ‘their (Ben and Alan’s) whole lifestyle is about suppressing anything that’s difficult or real. (…) It’s really about people repressing until they can’t anymore.’ Cano uses the archetype of the stunted male but subverts it by giving them a conscience, agency and compassion. This film had its world premiere at SXSW in Austin where I met...

I think I can safely say IFC covered the crap out of South by Southwest 2011. Stephen Saito and I reviewed over fifteen films and interviewed over forty filmmakers during our ten days in Austin. That's way more films covered than hours either of us slept. Here now is a complete archive of everything we did: reviews, video interviews, and print interviews. At the bottom, you'll also find mine and Stephen's picks for the five best films at this year's SXSW. Enjoy. I know we did.

Reviews

"Attack the Block," directed by Joe Cornish

"The Beaver," directed by Jodie Foster

"Bellflower," directed by Evan Glodell

"Bridesmaids," directed by Paul Feig

"Convento," directed by Jarred Alterman

"The Fp," directed by The Brothers Trost

"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," directed by Morgan Spurlock

"Insidious," directed by James Wan

"Last Days Here," directed by Don Argott and Demian Fenton

"The Other F Word," directed by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins

"Paul,...

I love an actor like Jake Sandvig. He’s a working actor (Easy A, series regular in Twenty Good Years and Cracking Up) but instead of sitting around and waiting for an audition, he chose to do something about it.

He and his friend, Brian Crano, made a film.

Directed by Crano and co-written by both he and Sandvig, the film is a comedy about two immature friends whose lives are completely changed when an abandoned child enters their lives. Starring Sandvig, Jason Ritter, Rebecca Hall and Carrie Preston, it’s a great indie comedy that you should definitely check out when you get a chance.

I talked to Jake at SXSW about writing his first script, casting the movie and nightmare audition stories.

You’re wrote this movie?

Jake Sandvig: Yeah, I co-wrote with the director Brian Crano, good buddy of mine.

How did that happen? Have you ever written a script before?...

Rating: 4/5

Director: Brian Crano

Writers: Brian Crano, Jake Sandvig

Cast: Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvig, Chandler Canterbur, Rebecca Hall, Carrie Preston, Carrie Preston, Amanda Seyfried

Alan and Ben are a pair of slackers who pay rent by working valet at funerals. No, wait, wait that’s very incorrect. Alan and Ben are a pair of slackers who pay rent by boosting cars while posing as valet employees at funerals. Sounds morbid and cruel, but A Bag Of Hammers is actually a bag of charm.

Read more on SXSW 2011 Review: A Bag Of Hammers…...

A Bag of Hammers has a good heart, containing funny and sweet moments, but when I walked out, I found myself disliking it. A lot. It’s one of those quirky indie dramedies that you would find at Sundance, filled with quirky people doing quirky things in a quirky situation. Sometimes, there’s a good balance struck and then sometimes it can get unbearable. A Bag of Hammers falls in the latter part of this category, especially the final act.

Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig (who also co-wrote the movie) star as best friends Ben and Alan, who make their living posing as a valet service and stealing the cars of the bereaved for profit. Alan’s sister Mel (Rebecca Hall) chastises them for this, as she herself works a real job at a breakfast diner where she has to do a little dance every time she greets a customer.

A Bag of Hammers opens with two awkwardly dressed slackery yutzes quipping about the fighting skills of Ultimate Warrior. Oh, dear me, is this another wanna be Ghost World or Napoleon Dynamite?  Thankfully, no.  It takes a few scenes, but A Bag of Hammers finds its own voice, and when it does it is funny and heartfelt with an emotional payoff even if you can see it coming a mile away.

Our two lead dinguses are co-writer Jake Sandvig and Jason (fils-de John) Ritter.  They pose as valet parking attendants outside a cemetery and steal cars from grieving family members.  Never once does the movie suggest a hit of remorse.  Punk rock.

They live in a dude den in Burbank and rent out the other house on their property.  In moves a harried Katrina victim and her young son.  He's cute, smart and moppety as kids tend to be in movies.

South by Southwest is still going strong down in Austin, Texas and if you're following along on Twitter, there are a ton of movies that should have hit your radar. Films like Kill List, The Fp, Bridesmaids and Attack the Block just to name a few. Another one that seems to have people talking is A Bag of Hammers, one of those classic, festival ready indie comedies starring co-writer Jake Sandvig, Jason Ritter and Rebecca Hall. Directed and co-written by Brian Crano, the film is about two immature friends whose lives are changed when an abandoned child enters their lives. Check out the trailer and more after the break. Thanks to The Film Stage [1] for the heads up. There's more info over on the official site [2]. Does this seem like something you'd like to see? [1] http://thefilmstage.com/2011/03/16/bag-of-hammers-trailer-featuring-rebecca-hall/ [2] http://abagofhammers.com...

A film festival without a quirky indie comedy is like a day without sunshine. Helping to fulfill this inevitability for SXSW is Bag of Hammers, from feature debut director Brian Crano. Starring co-writer Jake Sandvig, Jason Ritter and the lovely Rebecca Hall, who’s worked with Crano on two previous shorts, Rubberheart and Official Selection. As it stands, reviews seem a tad mixed; Jonathan Sullivan saw it and wasn’t too keen on it, although Jack Giroux happened to enjoy the film.

The trailer has premiered on the official site, and the plot is as follows:

“A comedy about two misfit best friends incapable of growing up, whose direction is tested by an abandoned child, worn beyond his years; together they invent the family they’ve always needed.”

It’s not a bad trailer, either. While I can maybe see where some problems would come in (the production values look kind of low,...

Submarine Entertainment have released the debut trailer for indie-drama A Bag of Hammers.

Directed by Brian Crano (Rubberheart), A Bag of Hammers premiered at SXSW festival earlier this week to warm reviews from critics.

The film stars Jason Ritter (Swimfan), Jake Sandvig (Easy A), Rebecca Hall (Please Give), Chandler Canterbury (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ), Carrie Preston (Doubt) and Todd Louiso (High Fidelity).

Synopsis: A comedy about two misfit best friends incapable of growing up, whose direction is tested by an abandoned child, worn beyond his years; together they invent the family they’ve always needed.

A Bag of Hammers does not yet have a distributor but, thanks to the positive reviews, it could be one of the festival’s next pick ups.

Check out the trailer below:

Iframe Embed for Youtube

Source: The Playlist...

There's a peculiar inconsistency in the tone of A Bag Of Hammers. It starts out as a snide, whimsical buddy comedy, lulling audiences into a false sense of alt-bromance cleverness, before abruptly dropping the bottom out and letting the dirty real world force its way in. In some ways, it's refreshing and keeps you on your toes. On the other hand, the shift are so total and, at times, harsh, that it makes their incongruity stick out a little too much.

Let's start at the beginning. A Bag Of Hammers, directed by Brian Crano in his first full-length film, is about two winsome slackers and small-time con artists -- Ben (Jason Ritter) and Alan (Jake Sandvig). They're good-natured, generally sweet guys who spend their days posing as valets at funerals, and the stealing the cars. The rest of their time is spent hanging out with their reprobate friend who fences the cars for them,...

"I wrote this part for you."

I'm fascinated by the phenomenon of writers writing parts for specific actors. It makes sense: a character needs a voice when you're writing it, so you imagine it being someone's specific voice. But that also seems like a potentially insulting situation. "Hey, I wrote this part for you in my movie: it's about this junkie who beats up homeless people for kicks. You'd basically just be playing yourself! You have to do it!"

"A Bag of Hammers" writers Brian Crano (also director) and Jake Sandvig (also co-star) wrote Rebecca Hall's part in the film specifically for her -- no, she's not a homeless abusing junkie -- which led to a fun conversation about that very topic. We also spoke about the film, its complex mix of tones, and how that can make it tough to talk about with the press. Oh and hats made out of waffles.

By Elliot V. Kotek

(March 2011)

That the SXSW Film Conference and Festival (or “South by,” as preferred by insiders), which runs March 11-19 in Austin, Texas, has changed over the past 10 years is self-evident. Once solely a haven for music lovers, the program is now also bursting with interactive new media events, prominent national sponsors and a film slate so solid that distributors have started coming here with an eye to acquisitions.

With truly original and interesting programming across sections named Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Headliners, Spotlight Premieres, Emerging Visions, 24 Beats per Second, Festival Favorites, Lone Star States, Sx Global and Special Events, there’s too much in store to provide the perfect playbook, but be sure to keep an eye out for the following baker’s dozen:

Gourdough’s: It’s not a film; it’s a food truck — and one of the many that will keep you well-oiled during the festival.

By Elliot V. Kotek

(March 2011)

That the SXSW Film Conference and Festival (or “South by,” as preferred by insiders), which runs March 11-19 in Austin, Texas, has changed over the past 10 years is self-evident. Once solely a haven for music lovers, the program is now also bursting with interactive new media events, prominent national sponsors and a film slate so solid that distributors have started coming here with an eye to acquisitions.

With truly original and interesting programming across sections named Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition, Headliners, Spotlight Premieres, Emerging Visions, 24 Beats per Second, Festival Favorites, Lone Star States, Sx Global and Special Events, there’s too much in store to provide the perfect playbook, but be sure to keep an eye out for the following baker’s dozen:

Gourdough’s: It’s not a film; it’s a food truck — and one of the many that will keep you well-oiled during the festival.

...Or we should say "Cheat Sheets" since this year's SXSW Film Festival boasts over 140 films, requiring more than just one page to cover every single one of the narrative and documentary features that will be playing in Austin from March 11th through 19th. While the festival has already provided a very helpful schedule to flip through and Pdf of the screening grid online, consider this your quick hit guide to all the features at the festival - every title leads to its corresponding festival page in addition to links to trailers, official sites, filmmakers' Facebook pages and Twitter accounts so you can follow the action from the festival or from home.

Meanwhile, there will be plenty of action during these next two weeks on IFC.com where, in addition to our live video page, Matt Singer (@mattsinger) and I (@mfrushmore) will be filing reviews and interviews throughout the film festival.

The South by Southwest Film Festival announced its feature film line-up Wednesday, piling heaps of cinematic goodness on an already stellar program that includes Jodie Foster’s The Beaver, Duncan Jones’ Source Code, Ti West’s The Innkeepers, Conan O’Brien’s tour documentary, and the latest Simon Pegg-Nick Frost comedy, Paul, with Seth Rogen.

Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) returns to the festival with her latest film, Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, after the writer-director spoke on a screenwriting panel in 2009.

Plus a few favorites from the Sundance Film Festival last month, like Tom McCarthy’s Win Win, Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, and Max Winkler’s Ceremony.

I’m extremely excited, even if I’m already having flashbacks to intense sleep deprivation. Like the last two years, I’ll be on the ground covering as much of the festival as I can within the packed 9 days of screenings,...

‘Tapping into the cultural zeitgeist,’ at SXSW 2011

Austin, Texas – The SXSW 2011 Feature Film Lineup was unveiled Wednesday afternoon. The festival lineup will consist of 130 features, in nine full days of programming, promising to deliver a film-going experience unlike previous years.

With a reputation for taking chances on relatively unknown filmmakers, the SXSW panel of judges carefully picked 130 films from 1,792 feature-length film submissions, (1,323 U.S. and 469 international). The program consists of 60 World Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres.

The main competition categories return with eight Narrative Features, and eight Documentary Features, both competing for their respective Grand Jury Prize. New for films in competition this year, are awards for screenplay, editing, cinematography, music, and acting.

(The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week.)

Here are a few of the Features to be screened, among many others.

Narratives:

The Beaver (World Premiere)

Dir.

Readers of Sound On Sight can be sure that we will indeed be covering the SXSW Film Festival once again. As previously reported, Duncan Jones’ latest film Source Code is opening the festival and there will also be premieres for the documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Greg Mottola’s Paul, and Jodie Foster’s The Beaver. Now the full line-up has been announced it is incredible.

Hit the jump to check out the line-up, and be sure to visit our site during the event.

The 2011 SXSW Film Festival runs from March 11 – 19th in Austin, Texas.

SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup

Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers.

"Win Win," starring Paul Giamatti, left, and Alex Shaffer, will screen at SXSW

Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”

The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.

Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”

Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos

Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.

"Win Win," starring Paul Giamatti, left, and Alex Shaffer, will screen at SXSW

Aimée Lagos’ thriller “96 Minutes,” starring Brittany Snow; Chris Eyre’s “A Year in Mooring” and “American Animal” from writer-director Matt D’Elia are among the films that will screen in competition at next month’s South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

These films will be joined in the Headliners section by Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan in Tom McCarthy’s “Win Win,” Takashi Miike’s “13 Assassins,” Rainn Wilson in “Super” and others previously announced including Jodie Foster’s “The Beaver,” Greg Mottola’s “Paul,” the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” from director Rodman Flender, and the opening-night world premiere of Duncan Jones’ “Source Code.”

The following are highlights from the lineup announced Wednesday, with descriptions provided by the festival.

Narrative Feature Competition “96 Minutes”

Director, Writer: Aimée Lagos

Four young lives. One night. One terrifying event.

The South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival announced this year's features lineup. The festival takes place March 11-19 in Austin, Texas.

There are a total of 130 features screening this year including 60 world premieres, 12 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres! This year the a total of 1,792 feature-length films were submitted, which is the most ever.

There are going to be some amazing films shown this yea. Opening night kicks off with Duncan Jones' Source Code (Moon). The fest rolls on with Jodie Foster‘s The Beaver, Greg Mottola‘s Paul, Sundance Grand Prize doc winner How to Die in Oregon, Errol Morris‘ Tabloid, Victoria Mahoney‘s Yelling to the Sky, Azazel Jacob‘s Terri. There will also be a special screening of Catherine Hardwicke‘s Red Riding Hood.

The Midnight and SXFantastic sections will be announced with the shorts program next week.

See the complete lineup below via...

The South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) just announced their entire 2011 feature film lineup, and there’s isn’t a lot of note, with regards to this blog’s focus.

Titles you should be aware of – all of which we’ve previously profiled on Shadow And Act – include, Victoria Mahoney’s feature film debut, Yelling To The Sky (which will actually make its world debut at the Berlin Film Festival later this month); plus Blacktino, the first feature film from writer/director Aaron Burns, a self-described “blacktino nerd from Austin, Texas,” who got his start at Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios doing visual effects; Benda Bilili, a documentary about a band of homeless, disabled Congolese; and last, but not least, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey, a documentary about the black man that happens to be the man behind the puppet (which also played at Sundance).

There might be...

The South by Southwest Film Festival has announced their features lineup for the 2011’s Festival, which will take place March 11th to the 19th in Austin Texas. Read the full press release after the jump. SXSW Film Announces 2011 Features Lineup Austin, Texas – February 2, 2011 – The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival is thrilled to announce the features lineup for this year’s Festival, March 11 – 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 lineup continues the SXSW tradition of tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, highlighting emerging talent and breakthrough performances and supporting first-time filmmakers. The Midnighters and SXFantastic feature sections, along with the short film program, will be announced next week. “This is the most exciting moment for us. After a fantastic festival of discovery in 2010, we can finally unveil the line up for this year’s event,” says Film Conference and Festival Producer Janet Pierson. “SXSW prides itself on taking chances, sifting for...

New clip from Will Gluck’s “Easy A” starring Emma Stone. Yes, his name is Will Gluck. With a name like that, you just knew the dude was destined to direct teenage comedies about a cute as all heck girl pretending to be a slut to earn a few bucks in high school. More power to ya, Gluckster. Via Moviefone. After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl name Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne’s in “The Scarlet Letter,” which she is currently studying in school – until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. Starring Emma Stone, Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Penn Badgley, Patricia Clarkson, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Alyson Michalka, Johanna Braddy, Jake Sandvig, Mahaley Hessam and directed by Will Gluck.

In “Easy A”, Emma Stone plays a high school teen who pretends to have sex with her fellow nerdy classmates in order to increase their social status. In return, she gets paid by the geeks. What? Like your kids aren’t doing it right now. Recognize. After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl name Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne’s in “The Scarlet Letter,” which she is currently studying in school – until she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. Starring Emma Stone, Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Penn Badgley, Patricia Clarkson, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Alyson Michalka, Johanna Braddy, Jake Sandvig, Mahaley Hessam, and directed by Will Gluck. Get an easy A September 17, 2010. Get more images and videos at our “Easy A” preview page.