News

Back in November, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Funny or Die regular Luke Barnett, who co-wrote, acted in, and produced the Christian film industry satire Faith Based, had signed on to star in a thriller called Teacher’s Pet. That project has since made its way through production, and our friends at Bloody Disgusting – along with director Noam Kroll himself – have confirmed that Barnett is joined in the cast by Clayton Royal Johnson (Stranger Things), Kevin Makely (Young Rock), Drew Powell (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Sara Tomko (Resident Alien), Josh Pafchek, genre icon Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator), and newcomers Michelle Torian, Alexe-Anne Godin, and Makenna Ginn.

Kroll wrote a blog entry about the making of the film, complete with behind-the-scenes images, that can be read at This Link. Kroll made his feature directorial debut with the 2012 drama Footsteps and has followed that up with the mystery thriller Shadows on the Road, the thriller Psychosynthesis,...

Horror icon Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, Suitable Flesh) and more join Faith Based actor Luke Barnett in the creepy thriller Teacher’s Pet.

The upcoming thriller centers on “a malevolent new high school teacher with a sinister past who becomes disturbingly fixated on a brilliant female student. As he unveils his true sociopathic nature, the young woman is forced to navigate a treacherous battle of wits to survive high school.”

A perfect recipe for intense, skin-crawling thrills.

Sara Tomko (“Resident Alien”), Drew Powell (“Gotham”), newcomer Michelle Torian, Kevin Makely (“Young Rock”), Clayton Royal Johnson (“Stranger Things”), Alexe-Anne Godin, Richard Handley (The Black String), and Alexis DawTyne have also joined the cast alongside Crampton and Barnett.

Teacher’s Pet is written and directed by Noam Kroll.

The official logline for Teacher’s Pet follows “a gifted high school senior (Torian) whose charismatic new teacher (Barnett) offers an escape from her turbulent life, but as the year progresses,...

Faith Based actor Luke Barnett is set to star in Teacher’s Pet, the fourth feature from writer and director Noam Kroll.

Launch Releasing will finance, produce and distribute the indie set to start production in Los Angeles in early January 2024. The project signed a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement just before the Hollywood actors strike ended.

A Funny or Die regular, Barnett co-wrote, acted in and produced Faith Based, a satire on the Christian film industry, which was toplined by Jason Alexander, Lance Reddick and Margaret Cho. He also produced Your Lucky Day, which starred the late Angus Cloud.

Barnett will appear in the fourth season of AppleTV+’s sci-fi drama For All Mankind and the indies Tapawingo, opposite Jon Heder, and Tonic, with Lori Petty.

Teacher’s Pet is set to portray a malevolent new high school teacher with a sinister past who becomes disturbingly fixated on a brilliant female student.

Launch Releasing, the independent film distribution and production company, has announced its 2023 development slate following last year’s releases, Lionsgate’s “The Black String,” starring Frankie Muniz, and “The Translator,” which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Highlights include the action-comedy “Andy Somebody” and two sequels to the animated franchise “Riki Rhino,” which the company will executive produce.

“At Launch Releasing, our passion and mandate is really simple – we want to find movies that we love and share them with audiences. When we saw ‘Andy Somebody,’ we instantly fell in love with its underdog story and its quirky comedic characters and we’re looking forward to audiences joining us on this really fun ride,” stated Sheldon Brigman, the company’s CEO. “Whether it’s genre titles such as ‘Mr. Sleep’ or captivating human interest films such as ‘The Translator’ where complex characters make life and death decisions in war torn Syria,...

Screenplay Films, Bumilangit Studios plan superhero franchise.

Premiere Entertainment Group has launched talks with Afm buyers on worldwide rights excluding Indonesia to Toronto Midnight Madness selection Gundala.

The Indonesian superhero action film from Screenplay Films and Bumilangit Studios is conceived as the first in a franchise. It charts the central character’s origins as an orphaned boy in Jakarta who gains powers after he is struck by lightning and goes to war against a mob boss.

Abimana Aryasatya, Tara Basro, Bront Palarae, and Ario Bayu star, and Joko Anwar directed from his screenplay. Bismarka Kurniawan and Wicky V. Olindo served as producers,...

In today’s film news roundup, “After the Wedding,” “Premature” and “Encounter” get distribution, Jacqueline Lyanga gets a new gig, Quiver Distribution launches and “The Aeronauts” sets an Imax release.

Acquisitions

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all rights in North America, France, India and several other Asian countries to “After the Wedding,” starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams.

Directed by Bart Freundlich, “After the Wedding” is an adaptation of Susanne Bier’s Academy Award-nominated Danish film of the same name. It premiered as an opening night selection at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

Williams portrays a woman who has dedicated her life to working with the children in an orphanage in Calcutta. She travels to New York to meet her benefactor, played by Moore.

Sony Classics is planning an August release. The distributor released “Still Alice,” for which Moore received a best actress Academy Award. The news was first reported by Deadline.

Exclusive: Vega, Baby!, the feature film finance and production company that debuted last fall at Afm, has added a boutique North American acquisitions and distribution arm to its La-based operation. Vega, Baby! Releasing will be headed by CEO and Co-President Sheldon Brigman and Everly producer Adam Ripp, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer and Co-President. The company will release up to ten films a year across multiple platforms starting with docu The Magic Of Heineken. The non-fiction feature about the 150-year history of the beer giant made with the official sanction of the Heineken family will hit Hulu tomorrow in an exclusive 30-day digital release before opening in a 10-city theatrical run and on premium VOD October 7.

Brigman and Ripp aim to build an eclectic lineup of curated films spanning multiple genres and specialty content, including comedy specials, documentaries, and concert films. They’ll work closely with filmmakers and,...

We’ve gotten lots of Christmas slasher films (Christmas Evil, Silent Night, Deadly Night), but never Christmas and zombies. Sounds like a winning combination to me!

A new Christmas-themed and grindhouse-inspired zombie comedy called A Cadaver Christmas will be released on DVD, VOD, and all digital platforms on October 9th, complete with artificial film grain and print scratches.

From the Press Release:

Level 33 Entertainment announced today that is has acquired the exclusive North American distribution rights to the holiday zombie comedy “A Cadaver Christmas.”

Level 33 Entertainment plans to release “A Cadaver Christmas” simultaneously on all home entertainment platforms on October 9, 2012.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring audiences the hilarious and original zombie comedy, “A Cadaver Christmas,” said Sheldon Brigman, Evp of Acquisitions for Level 33 Entertainment. He added, “With its winning combination of gags and gore, the movie has all the makings of a future cult classic.

This holiday season, grab your loved ones and hold them close. They don't even have to be alive! The dead need some cuddling too what with the whole room temperature body thing. Just deal with the smell and stop complaining!

From the Press Release

Level 33 Entertainment announced today that is has acquired the exclusive North American distribution rights to the holiday zombie comedy “A Cadaver Christmas.”

Level 33 Entertainment plans to release “A Cadaver Christmas” simultaneously on all home entertainment platforms on October 9, 2012.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring audiences the hilarious and original zombie comedy, “A Cadaver Christmas,” said Sheldon Brigman, Evp of Acquisitions for Level 33 Entertainment. He added, “With its winning combination of gags and gore, the movie has all the makings of a future cult classic.”

This “Grindhouse” inspired film centers on an unlikely group of misfits united by terrifying and bizarre circumstances.

A new Encino-based indie plans to acquire and distribute a dozen home entertainment titles during the next 12 months.

Level 33 Entertainment plans to offer "great profits to filmmakers and film investors than typically realized by traditional distribution arrangements for independent motion pictures," the company said Thursday.

"We see a tremendous opportunity in the entertainment-distribution marketplace to supply original content across all home and digital platforms," said Level 33 executive vp Sheldon Brigman, formerly of Ventura Distribution and Spy Filmz.

Key to its marketing will be creating "fan communities," the indie said.

The company has acquired the horror pic "Aaah! Zombies!!," starring Matthew Davis (the CW's "The Vamprie Diaries"), and the crime thriller "Blues," starring Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Death Proof"), for home entertainment release in August and September, respectively.

"Level 33 is committed to creating awareness for the films we distribute by engaging with existing and potential fans in unique and compelling ways,...

Beacon Pictures has tapped Adam Ripp and Steven Wolfson to write the screenplay for Serial for producers Charlie Lyons of Beacon and Arnold Rifkin of Cheyenne Entertainment for a low-six figure. Ripp also will direct the film, which is described as a psychological horror thriller. The project was brought to Elsie Choi at Cheyenne by James Choi of Karma Entertainment. Lyons and Rifkin will produce, with Sheldon Brigman, Bill Vergos and James Choi serving as co-producers. Ripp and Wolfson wrote Gang Tapes for Lions Gate, which Ripp helmed. They also created, wrote and executive produced the drama pilot Hollywood Vice for Fox 21 and Fox Broadcasting, which Ripp directed.

Beacon Pictures has tapped Adam Ripp and Steven Wolfson to write the screenplay for Serial for producers Charlie Lyons of Beacon and Arnold Rifkin of Cheyenne Entertainment for a low-six figure. Ripp also will direct the film, which is described as a psychological horror thriller. The project was brought to Elsie Choi at Cheyenne by James Choi of Karma Entertainment. Lyons and Rifkin will produce, with Sheldon Brigman, Bill Vergos and James Choi serving as co-producers. Ripp and Wolfson wrote Gang Tapes for Lions Gate, which Ripp helmed. They also created, wrote and executive produced the drama pilot Hollywood Vice for Fox 21 and Fox Broadcasting, which Ripp directed.