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Starting with In the Family’s discreetly told story of a family trauma, Wang’s films, seen together, showcase a civically minded vision that demands attention

Fittingly for self-distributed works by a true American independent, Patrick Wang’s four features to date stand tall with a graceful and tenacious outsiderdom. Their handmade quality and occasional rough edges may have made them a hard sell, but this seems unfair. There’s a collectivist spirit, moral conviction and self-taught experimentalism at work here – the latter given increasing room to express itself as Wang has gradually untethered himself from realism – that demands attention.

Especially impressive is Wang’s 2011 debut In the Family (****) – starring Wang himself as Joey Williams, a Texan interior designer whose partner Cody (Trevor St John) is killed in a car accident. Cody’s will, written long before their relationship, states that his sister Eileen (Kelly McAndrew) should act as guardian...

Stars: Laila Robins, Adam Wade McLaughlin, Teri Reeves, Matthew Wilkas, Elaine Landry, Anabel Graetz, Richard Sewell, Stephanie Atkinson, Joanna Clarke, Kelly McAndrew, Thomas Ian Campbell, Anna Gravél, Robin Jones | Written by Tess Gerritsen | Directed by Josh Gerritsen

Not the most imaginative of titles but that hasn’t stopped me watching many a movie and in particular a horror movie… So I was hoping Island Zero: Sea No Evil would be better than its title suggests.

Unsurprisingly Island Zero is set on a remote island. One in which a solitary ferry is the only route on and off of it. So when that ferry fails to turn up for several days in a row, the residents start to worry. And they soon worry even more when they realise something is killing them off.

Despite an opening scene that involves death and blood, this is much more of a slow burn of a horror movie.

Stars: Laila Robins, Adam Wade McLaughlin, Teri Reeves, Matthew Wilkas, Elaine Landry, Anabel Graetz, Richard Sewell, Stephanie Atkinson, Joanna Clarke, Kelly McAndrew, Thomas Ian Campbell, Anna Gravél, Robin Jones | Written by Tess Gerritsen | Directed by Josh Gerritsen

[Note: Island Zero has been re-released to streaming platforms and DVD in a new “directors cut” following feedback from audiences regarding the original cold open. You can read more about the changes on author Tess Geritsen’s blog]

Not the most imaginative of titles but that hasn’t stopped me watching many a movie and in particular a horror movie… So I was hoping Island Zero would be better than its title suggests.

Unsurprisingly Island Zero is set on a remote island. One in which a solitary ferry is the only route on and off of it. So when that ferry fails to turn up for several days in a row, the residents start to worry.

Not long after an initially unheralded premiere in 2011, the Independent Spirit Award nominated debut from Patrick Wang, In the Family, suddenly started getting much deserved attention, which resulted in a wider theatrical release in spring of 2012. The critical response has been nearly unanimous, and Wang stands as one of the most exciting new authorial voices in American indie cinema, not to mention his film’s ability to place an Lgbt themed subject matter into a wider cinematic realm than the niche its ilk is usually relegated, has been an equally regal and transcendent.

Chip (Sebastian Banes), wakes up one morning and bounces into his parents’ bedroom, waking up his dads, Joey (Patrick Wang), and Cody (Trevor St. John). We watch their breakfast ritual, as the three warmly and familiarly converse, all of them going about their respective days, Cody being a teacher and Joey a contractor. They have family friends,...

Atlantic Theater Company presents the world premiere of Rod McLachlan's new play Good Television, directed by Bob Krakower. The cast features Talia Balsam, Jessica Cummings,John Magaro, Kelly McAndrew, Zoe Perry, Luke Robertson, Andrew Stewart-Jones, and Ned Van Zandt. The show opened last night, June 4, at Atlantic Stage 2 330 West 16th Street. Limited engagement through Sunday, June 16, 2013. Check out photos from opening night below...

Ties That Bind: Wang’s Debut a Cinematic Knockout

Every so often, unpredictably, a film comes out of nowhere, with no pomp or circumstance, heralding a brilliant new cinematic talent. Quietly debuting at the tail end of 2011, Patrick Wang’s In the Family, received a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award, which set off a slow but steady trickle of theatrical releases for this quiet gem across the country. Skillfully avoiding stereotypes, clichés, and any manner of manipulative techniques in order to generate emotional discourse, Wang has created what sounds like a hot topic potboiler on paper and made a film that’s as hopefully humanistic as it is melancholically realistic.

Chip (Sebastian Banes), wakes up one morning and bounces into his parents’ bedroom, waking up his dads, Joey (Patrick Wang), and Cody (Trevor St. John). We watch their breakfast ritual, as the three warmly and familiarly converse, all...

Director: Patrick Wang Starring: Patrick Wang, Sebastian Brodziak, Trevor St. John, Lisa Altomare, Susan Kellermann, Brian Murray Cody's (Trevor St. John) wife died while giving birth to their son, Chip. Soon thereafter, Cody fell in love with Joey (Patrick Wang); for the next five years or so, they raised Chip (Sebastian Banes) together. ("What is it they say? Chip has two daddies.") From all accounts, they are a very happy family. But then, tragedy strikes. Chip is six-years-old when Cody dies in a car accident. Joey continues to live in Cody's home and raise Chip, that is until Cody's Last Will and Testament is found in a safe deposit box. Cody's Will -- which predates when he met Joey -- names his sister Eileen (Kelly McAndrew) as the executor of his estate and parental guardian for Chip.

McC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) presents the world premiere of Alexander Dinelaris' Still Life, directed by Will Frears. The cast will feature Dominic Chianese, Halley Feiffer, Ian Kahn, Adriane Lenox, Kelly McAndrew, Sarah Paulson, Matthew Rauch and Frederick Weller. Performances began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 16 and continue through November 1, 2009.

There was no sign of resolution in the carriage-fee dispute between Viacom and Time Warner Cable as midnight approached on New Year's Eve.

The two companies continued talks today over their dust-up that could result in 19 channels -- from MTV and Comedy Central to Nickelodeon and TV Land -- being yanked from more than 13 million homes by midnight tonight, but there was little sign of progress.

While Twc had proposed an increase in what it pays for Viacom's channels, Viacom spokeswoman Kelly McAndrew said the offer was rejected as "a pittance."

On Wednesday, Time Warner chief Glenn Britt in a statement called Viacom's demand for a 12% increase in fees -- amounting to an extra $39 million on top of the estimated $300 million it pays Viacom every year -- outrageous in light of the poor economy.

"We sympathize with the fact that Viacom's advertising business is suffering and that their networks' ratings have largely been declining,...

Actress Ashley Judd has been force to leave the cast of Broadway show Cat On A Hot Tin Roof to have surgery on her injured foot. Judd tore a ligament after an awkward landing during a February 17 performance. The screen beauty, 35, briefly returned to work last week but doctors now say she must stay off the foot. Her last performance was on Sunday. Understudy Kelly McAndrew will continue the role until the show's 14 March closing.

Actress Ashley Judd has defiantly opted to throw herself straight back into her New York play, despite being on crutches since injuring her foot during a performance on Tuesday. The actress suffered a bad fall partway through her Broadway performance in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at New York's Music Box Theater and had to be replaced by understudy Kelly McAndrew. But Judd, who suffered a mid-foot sprain with torn ligaments, has refused to let the injury get the better of her. She has her foot regularly taped and iced and is using the help of physicians who specialize in working with dancers who perform through injury. She says, "I've been told not to put weight on it for six weeks or I'll have a lifetime of chronic pain, but I don't believe that stuff! The show must go on!" Judd's run in the show ends on March 14.

Actress Ashley Judd has been forced to take a break from her role in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof on Broadway, after injuring her foot during a show on Tuesday. The actress had to limp offstage halfway through the evening show at New York's Music Box Theater - to be replaced by understudy Kelly McAndrew. Judd's rep confirmed she had suffered "a mid foot sprain with torn ligaments" after "landing funny" during the second act - but rejected the suggestion McAndrew would take over the role until it closes next month: "She plans on returning but she doesn't know when."...