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Jim Mahoney was one of Hollywood’s go-to guys. He spent 60+ years in public relations, guiding the images of Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Christie Brinkley, Peggy Lee, and hundreds more.

He was on the front lines when Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped, and was at the party at Peter Lawford’s house the night Marilyn Monroe died. He was also there with the Rat Pack in Las Vegas.

Now age 95, Mahoney has captured all of that in a memoir, Get Mahoney!: A Hollywood Insider’s Memoir. “Get Mahoney!” was the phrase often used when stars and their handlers knew trouble was brewing and needed to keep their names out of the press. Mahoney was good at his job, and frequently referred to himself as a better “suppress” agent than press agent.

“It was about ‘taming the lion’ – both the press and the clients themselves,...

Screen Rant is pleased to present an exclusive look at IFC Films' recent release, Bar Fight! From the mind of writer and director Jim Mahoney, Bar Fight! is the story of a couple who have broken up and must decide who gets the right to keep visiting their favorite bar, The Martinez. Lead by Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Luka Jones (Shrill), the cast of characters who will help determine retention rights to The Martinez includes Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Julian Gant (Key and Peele), Vik Sahay (Chuck), Caroline Harris (City on a Hill), Shontae Saldana (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), David Carzell (Stuck in Love.), Patrick Byas (The First Purge), Dino Nicandros (The Infiltrators), and Dot-Marie Jones (Glee). Bar Fight! was released in theaters, AMC+ Streaming, and On Demand on November 11th.

When Nina and Allen (Jones) split up, they carefully divided their possessions. However, they've forgotten one key shared location: their favorite bar,...

A sitcom episode stretched out to snapping point, “Bar Fight!” may have made for a mildly amusing 22 minutes. But you may need a few drinks to get through the full hour and a half.

It certainly doesn’t help that there’s not a single person here worth the hang. The entire concept hinges on abrasive talent agent Nina and blandly hipsterish carpenter Allen, who have just executed the most enlightened breakup since Gwyneth and Chris consciously uncoupled. But when they unexpectedly show up at the same dive bar — the one they happily shared for five years — the gloves come off.

It’s decided that they’ll compete for custody, with one triumphantly “keeping” the bar and the other conceding defeat and moping off to another neighborhood. The staff tosses some suggestions in a Santa hat (it’s December), and the competition begins.

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Melissa Fumero Says There Was...

An unhappy couple settle their rivalry over on a series of inane challenges in a film that mistakes dodgy acting for ambience

This LA-set breakup comedy at least has a nifty hook: when a longstanding couple part ways, who gets drinking rights at their favourite bar? After five years together, flannel-shirted carpenter Allen (Luka Jones) and go-getting talent agent Nina (Melissa Fumero) are undergoing what Los Angelenos now call a “conscious uncoupling”. Having never fought when they were together, their separation proceeds on the same smooth lines – until they set foot in the Martinez Bar & Lounge on the same evening, both on the town as singletons for the first time. Staff allegiances are divided, so they come up with a decider: Allen and Nina have to undergo a best-of-three bar challenge, with the loser “eighty-sixed” for good.

Debut director Jim Mahoney gets a tasty buzz on in the early stages,...

Exclusive: IFC Films has acquired North American rights to the comedy Bar Fight!, starring Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Luka Jones (Shrill) and Julian Gant (Call Me Kat), with plans for a day-and-date release on November 11.

The synopsis for the film written and directed by Klaus scribe Jim Mahoney is as follows: There’s only one way to settle the score after a break-up and for Nina (Fumero) and Allen (Jones) it’s a turf war for their favorite local bar. Lines have been drawn and with the help of Nina’s best friend Chelsea (Bloom), it’s going to be a winner-takes-all affair. The drinks are free flowing, the competition is fierce, and games are out-of-this-world crazy. With the bar on the line, this Bar Fight! is going to become a battle for the ages.

Bar Fight! was produced by Sarah Gabriel and Marc Goldberg of Signature Films, and James Harris and Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions. Executive producers included Tomás Yankelevich, Peter Bevan and Mariana Sanjurjo from Particular Crowd, and Simon Williams and Jamie Jessop from Ingenious Media. Signature Entertainment is handling international sales.

“I’m so thrilled IFC is distributing our crazy lil’ movie!” said Mahoney. “A huge thank you to Signature Films and Particular Crowd for their endless support, my invaluable crew for their skill and tenacity, and an absolute dream of a cast for truly bringing Bar Fight to life. I can’t wait for the world to see the madness we’ve created.”

Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Other current and upcoming releases include Andrew Seman’s Resurrection, Jeff Baena’s Spin Me Round, Official Competition from Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn, Claire Denis’ Both Sides of the Blade, Andrea Arnold’s first documentary Cow, Jacques Audiard’s Paris, 13th District, and the Venice Golden Lion winner Happening, directed by Audrey Diwan.

Adam Koehler negotiated the deal for Bar Fight! on behalf of IFC Films, with Andrew Nerger of Signature Entertainment on behalf of the production.

Gatlopp is a movie that, unfortunately, will be compared to Jumanji, simply because there are not many movies about board games that take over your life and pit you against certain death. However, that would be doing Gatlopp a disservice - the premise may be similar but the finished product is far more anarchic. Instead of innocent and likeable kids being transported to another world, we are presented with a group of road-weary and cynical ’adults’, who are already playing the game of life, but aren’t doing too well at it. The last thing this group needs is to play a board game that knows more about them than they do themselves.

Paul (Jim Mahoney) is in midst of divorce and must move out of his once martial home. After chastising and insulting potential buyers of his house, he goes to stay with his old friend Cliff (Jon Bass...

Peppy comedy sets four jaded Los Angelenos up with a perilous challenge that could go on for eternity – and certainly has franchise potential

A kindred spirit to Jumanji, this film is centred on a supernatural board game its four protagonists must win before sunrise to avoid being trapped for all eternity playing it. It’s to director Alberto Belli’s credit that his comedy drums up a sizeable proportion of the 1995 film’s fun on a fraction of the budget. Decidedly only for players aged 16 and above, like all great board games Gatlopp gives a vague impression of imparting significant life wisdom, but actually is mostly concerned with making sure everyone has as good a time as possible.

After his wife cheats on him, Los Angeleno Paul (Jim Mahoney) is finalising his divorce and moving into temporary digs chez bestie Cliff (Jon Bass). Wanting to cheer his pal up, Cliff...

Gatlopp On Demand And On Digital: June 16, 2022 Starring: Jim Mahoney, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J. Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John Ales, Amy Davidson Directed by: Alberto Belli Written by: Jim Mahoney Synopsis: A group of old friends reunites for a nostalgic evening of fun and games after a decade apart. After one too many, they …

The post Trailer Now Live! Gatlopp – Available On Demand and On Digital June 16, 2022 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

What begins as a fun evening with a drinking board game transforms into a hellish fight for survival for a group of reunited friends in the official trailer for Gatlopp.

Directed by Alberto Belli from a screenplay by Jim Mahoney, Gatlopp stars Jim Mahoney, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J. Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John Ales, and Amy Davidson. The horror comedy will be released by XYZ Films on VOD and Digital beginning June 16th.

Synopsis: "A group of old friends reunites for a nostalgic evening of fun and games after a decade apart. After one too many, they decide to play a drinking game, but it’s quickly revealed that this game comes with supernatural stakes. Mischief leads to mayhem, and the group realizes that if they can’t come together to win the game by sunrise, they will be forced to play for eternity - in hell."



The post...

Billed as a supernatural comedy, Gatlopp from XYZ Films is coming to On Demand and Digital on June 16, 2022, and today the official trailer begins the supernatural drinking game. Alberto Belli directed Gatlopp, written by Jim Mahoney. Jim Mahoney, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J. Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John Ales, and Amy Davidson star. “A group of old friends reunites […]

The post ‘Gatlopp’ Trailer Turns a Drinking Game into a Supernatural Comedy appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

"Do me a favor? Roll a 6." XYZ Films has revealed an trailer for an indie horror comedy titled Gatlopp, marking the feature directorial debut of Mexican filmmaker Alberto Belli. "One game. One rule. Don't lie... or you die." That's the tagline here, and the premise for this. A group of friends reunite for an evening after one of their own has a gnarly divorce. As it's been almost a decade since they were last all together, waxing nostalgic, they decide to play a drinking game. But this is no ordinary game; if they don't bond together to confront their past, they'll be forced to play the game for eternity. The cast includes Jim Mahoney (who wrote the script), Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J. Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John Ales, and Amy Davidson. This looks hilarious! A dash of Jumanji with some horror board game madness. I like the bright, colorful...

Billed as a supernatural comedy, XYZ Films recently acquired the film Gatlopp, and they’ve announced today that it’s coming to On Demand and Digital on June 16, 2022. Alberto Belli directed Gatlopp, written by Jim Mahoney. Jim Mahoney, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J. Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John Ales, and Amy Davidson star. “A group […]

The post Supernatural Comedy ‘Gatlopp’ Comes Home This June appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Exclusive: Sugar23 has signed multi-hyphenate Rachel Bloom.

Bloom is an Emmy Award winner best known as the co-creator and star of The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She is currently in production on Steve Levitan’s Hulu comedy series Reboot, and it was most recently announced that she will star in Bar Fight, a comedy from writer/director Jim Mahoney. Bloom’s book, I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are was released by Grand Central Publishing in 2020 and will release via paperback on April 5, 2022.

Bloom is also represented by UTA and Lev Ginsberg.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine alumna Melissa Fumero is set as the female lead opposite Randall Park in Blockbuster, Netflix’s upcoming single-camera workplace comedy.

Blockbuster, from Universal Television, is a 10-episode ensemble comedy that takes place in the last Blockbuster Video store in America. It explores what it takes – and, more specifically, who it takes – for a small business to succeed against all odds.

Fumero will play Eliza, a dedicated mother whose marriage to her high school sweetheart is on the rocks. She left Harvard after one semester to start a family and now works at Blockbuster alongside Timmy (Park) as his trusty Number 2 — and maybe more.

2022 Netflix Pilot & Series Orders

The series is created by Vanessa Ramos, with David Caspe and Jackie Clarke also serving as writers/executive producers. John Davis and John Fox executive produce for Davis Entertainment. Payman Benz will direct and co-executive produce four episodes, including the pilot.

Exclusive: Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Luka Jones (Shrill), and Julian Gant (Call Me Kat) will star in Bar Fight, a comedy from writer/director Jim Mahoney (Klaus), which wrapped production this week in Los Angeles.

Bar Fight follows exes Nina (Fumero) and Allen (Jones), who split everything in their lives 50/50 after their break-up to avoid any drama—everything, that is, except for their favorite local bar. Nina and Allen must compete in a ridiculous, tavern-style custody battle for their prized watering hole, in which lines will be drawn, sides will be chosen, and beers will be drunken.

The film is presented by Particular Crowd and Ingenious Media. Sarah Gabriel and Mark Goldberg of Signature Films produced with James Harris and Mark Lane of Tea Shop Productions. Particular Crowd’s Tomás Yankelevich, Peter Bevan, and Mariana Sanjurjo exec produced, alongside Simon Williams and Jamie Jessop of Ingenious Media.

The 2020 ceremony will be streamed online from Berlin.

The European Film Awards has selected the four animation nominees for its 2020 online edition.

They are Rémy Chayé’s Calamity, A Childhood Of Martha Jane Cannary (Fr-Den); Aurel’s Josep (Fr-Bel-Sp); Sergio Pablos’ Klaus (Sp), and Andrey Khrzhanovsky’s The Nose Or The Conspiracy Of Mavericks (Rus).

Chayé’s Calamity, A Childhood Of Martha Jane Cannary depicts a young girl in the American Wild West in 1863 who is forced to grow up quickly and take care of her family. The film won the Cristal for best feature at Annecy Animation Festival in June.

Netflix steps into the squared circle next month with the new WWE Films movie The Main Event, and the official trailer has been made available online by the popular streaming service. From director Jay Karas and screenwriters Larry Postel, Zach Lewis, Jim Mahoney, and Peter Hoare, the family-friendly movie stars Seth Carr, Tichina Arnold, Adam Pally, and Ken Marino. Of course, multiple WWE Superstars will be featured in the movie as well, including former WWE Champions Kofi Kingston, The Miz, and Sheamus the Celtic Warrior. Richard Lowell produces with Susan Levison and Maggie Malina executive producing.

The Main Event feels a bit like the Jim Carrey classic The Mask with a modern pro wrestling spin on the story. Its plot follows 11-year-old aspiring wrestler Leo Thompson (Carr), who finds a "magical wrestling mask that grants him super strength," which he then uses to enter himself into a WWE competition. With...

The Main Event may be a family film set to arrive on Netflix, but its content might make you think it’s something streaming on the WWE Network, since the wrestling-themed family film is packed with the wrestling company’s stars.

Indeed, what we have here is a fantastical wish-fulfillment offering in which an 11-year-old, played by Seth Carr finds a magical luchador mask that enhanced abilities that he uses for a crucial competition to become a WWE superstar.

Jay Karas directed the film, bringing television experience notably from tenures on sitcoms such as Superstore, Splitting Up Together, Teachers and Workaholics. He worked here off a screenplay credited to Peter Hoare, Zach Lewis, Larry Postel and Jim Mahoney.

The Main Event Netflix Trailer

The trailer for Netflix’s The Main Event is here. The clip showcases the uplifting tale of a bullied kid, who—magic mask notwithstanding—is buoyed in...

Barcelona — “Klaus,” “Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians” and “Uncle Thomas Accounting for the Days” are among the finalists at the 3rd Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards, to be held in the Spanish Canary Islands city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on April 18.

Produced by Spain’s Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine for Netflix, “Klaus” delivers a singular Santa Claus origin story written by first-timer director Sergio Pablos, as well as Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney. Carlos Martínez López co-directs this high-profile title, the first 2D movie by a major U.S. studio in many years, which snagged an Academy Award nomination and prizes at the Bafta and and Annie Awards.

Brazilian CG-animated hit “Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardians” is lead-produced by Marcela Baptista at Sincrocine in co-production with Hype Animation and Nickelodeon and directed by Andrè Forni (“Dino Aventuras”). A spin-off from a feature film trilogy, the ecology-themed 52-part...

Filled with humor and emotion in equal parts, Netflix’s first animated feature, Sergio Pablos’ hand-drawn, feel-good family holiday movie “Klaus,” checks off all the right boxes. The “Despicable Me” creator included something for everyone in this clever Santa Claus origin tale wrapped in the idea that one simple act of kindness always sparks another.

Oscar watchers will be keeping a close eye on “Klaus,” which boasts a stellar voice cast led by Jason Schwartzman as hapless postman Jesper, alongside J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Norm Macdonald, Will Sasso and Joan Cusack.

The story follows the spoiled Jesper, who’s reluctantly sent away and stationed on the fictional Arctic island of Smeerensburg. He comes up with an idea for children to write a letter to Klaus. In exchange for a letter, the kids receive a toy. Once there, he forms an unlikely alliance with a mysterious toymaker, helping to end an...

In a field dominated by CGI-animated studio sequels, Netflix has turned a spotlight this awards season on traditional hand-drawn animation with two very different movies.

Aimed at adult audiences, director Jérémy Clapin’s debut feature “I Lost My Body,” an adaptation of the 2010 novel “Happy Hand” by “Amélie” screenwriter Guillaume Laurant, is a gritty story immersed in the details of everyday life told from the point of view of a severed hand. And Sergio Pablos’ family feature “Klaus” is a clever, tightly knit Santa Claus origin story that pushes 2D animation to new heights.

Produced by Jinko Gotoh, “Klaus” is based on an original story by Pablos, who shares screenwriting credits with Jim Mahoney and Zach Lewis. Pablos and producing partner Marisa Roman founded the Spa Studios in Madrid to bring “Klaus” to the screen, assembling a team of world-class 2D animators to develop custom-built shading and lighting tools...

It’s ironic that Netflix’s first original animated feature is a throwback to the glory days of Disney’s hand-drawn masterpieces, but the streaming giant has a knack for making the kinds of movies that other studios have deemed obsolete. And if nothing else, Sergio Pablos’ “Klaus” is a convincing argument that we shouldn’t let the old ways die (which is not a terribly difficult case to make considering that even the best CGI animation still has all the soul of an algorithm).

Of course, Pablos might be trying to atone for his own sins, as the Spanish filmmaker — who spent the ’90s working on more classical projects like “A Goofy Movie” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” — eventually left the Mouse House to create the “Despicable Me” franchise, an eyesore so influential that it’s grown into a sty on the cinema itself.

But “Klaus” is so...

Finalists have been revealed for the 2020 Humanitas Prize, which honors film and television writers whose work inspires compassion, hope, and understanding in the human family. Titles include awards-season heavies Bombshell, It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and The Farewell on the film side and When They See Us, Pose, This Is Us and The Handmaid’s Tale on the small-screen side.

It’s the 45th year for the honors that hands out awards in 10 categories — two new categories, Limited Series, TV Movie or Special and Short Film, are newcomers this year.

Winners will be announced at the 45th annual Humanitas Prize ceremony January 24, 2020 at the Beverly Hilton.

Here are this year’s finalists:

Drama Feature Film

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster; inspired by the article “Can You Say… Hero?” by Tom Junod

A Hidden Life

Written and directed by Terrence Malick...

If I’ve learned anything as a Christmas-movie historian, it’s that it’s very easy to get Santa Claus origin stories wrong. Lean too hard into the explanations, and you strip away the wonder. Focus too much on whether or not people should believe in Santa, and you paint yourself into a quasi-theological corner.

The animated “Klaus” — opening in theaters before its upcoming Netflix debut — skillfully avoids both of these traps, crafting a how-it-all-began saga with storybook visuals and genuine bursts of real feeling. It’s far more successful with holiday magic than it is with character-based comedy, but that’s not enough of a flaw to keep young audiences (and their parents) from potentially turning this feature into a cherished annual tradition.

Despite the title, “Klaus” isn’t based on the popular graphic novel by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora — although with a postman and a schoolteacher among its principal characters,...

When I’d first heard about the upcoming Netflix feature Klaus, I was a bit skeptical. After all, I’m a bit cynical when it comes to animated holiday movies. However, I’m happy to say that this charming little tale written by Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney with a story by Sergio Pablos - who also directed the film - is far more engaging than I’d ever imagined. This entertaining fable exploring the tradition of sending Santa a letter is funny and heartfelt…...

Have you ever wondered how it all began, the arrangement by which a jolly old toymaker based somewhere near the North Pole makes the rounds each Christmas to bring presents to all the good little boys and girls? Personally, I remember having plenty of questions for my parents about Santa, but somehow never thought to ask the most basic one: “Why does he do it?” Maybe that’s because I sensed the instant you start to peer into Santa’s origin story, the whole thing begins to unravel — at least, that’s what happens when Sergio Pablos tries to reverse-engineer the meaning of Christmas with “Klaus,” by focusing, of all things, on a scheme to save snail mail.

Now, you should know something crucial about “Klaus” going in: There’s only one way to see it, and that’s from Netflix, which commissioned the feature-length cartoon from former Disney talent...

Joseph Baxter Oct 7, 2019

Netflix’s first original animated film, Klaus, showcases retro style animation, telling the story of Santa Claus’s first Christmas ride.

Klaus is one of Netflix’s Christmas season offerings this year, manifesting as – hard as it may be to believe – the streaming giant’s first original animated feature. However, don’t expect some conventional CGI assault on the senses, with Klaus showcases an animated style of yesteryear – two-dimensional and hand-drawn, albeit enhanced via modern means.

The origin story of Santa Claus is showcased in Klaus, with the animated comedy depicting an arctic-stationed postman (Jason Schwartzman) whose meeting with a stoic shut-in carpenter and toy-maker named Klaus (J.K. Simmons) leads to a fateful arrangement regarding the delivering of his hand-made toys to children. The voice cast also consists of names like Rashida Jones, Joan Cusack, Norm Macdonald and Will Sasso.

Klaus Trailer

The trailer for Klaus has arrived!

Netflix has a new animated holiday classic coming our way this November. Meet Jesper, the world's worst mailman, as he sets sail for the Arctic Circle only to come face-to-face with a Christmas legend in Klaus. Today, we have a first look at this comedy adventure, which features a voice cast lead by Jason Jason Schwartzman and J.K. Simmons. The trailer was unveiled by the streaming giant alongside the first poster.

When Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) distinguishes himself as the postal academy's worst student, he is stationed on a frozen island above the Arctic Circle, where the feuding locals hardly exchange words let alone letters. Jesper is about to give up when he finds an ally in local teacher Alva (Rashida Jones), and discovers Klaus (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons), a mysterious carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys.

These unlikely friendships return laughter to Smeerensburg, forging...

Netflix has acquired exclusive global rights to the animated family film Klaus, which marks the directorial debut for Sergio Pablos, who wrote the story and is the co-creator of Despicable Me. The voice cast is a good one with Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, J.K. Simmons and Joan Cusack. The film is in production in Madrid, and Netflix plans to roll it out for Christmas 2019. The Christmas family comedy will tell the story of a desperate postman who inadvertently brings…...

Update, 12:25 Pm: HBO CEO Richard Plepler says he thought the video spoof by scribes Jim Mahoney and Zach Lewis “was funny” and “a nice compliment”. Speaking to Huffington Post while in Paris this week, Plepler said “If you’re on Saturday Night Live or parodied on Facebook you know you’re part of the cultural landscape” and the video indicates that HBO is “part of the global conversation”. “The guys who did this did great work. I laughed. I take it in the same manner in which it was intended, with a lot of humor,” Plepler said. (Watch the short after the jump.) Previous Exclusive: When you are a new writing team trying to sell a spec, your priority is 1) to get noticed, and 2) don’t alienate anyone powerful. Well, Jim Mahoney & Zach Lewis have at least accomplished the first part. Their Apa agents and Luber Roklin are out...

Zach Lewis and Jim Mahoney have this cool little web series called Etiquette Ninjas that I was recently introduced to. We took some time to talk about their cool little project and how this come about and their inspirations for getting into filmmaking. Go watch Etiquette Ninjas on the net and check out my latest “Versus” with Zach and Jim.

Brian S- First off, how'd you guys get into filmmaking?

Zach & Jim- Pure Necessity. We See Ourselves Primarily As Actors. But, We Aren’T 18 Year Old Models, Famous, Or Well-connected. So, We Realized That If We Wanted To Be Successful In This Business, We Needed To Make Our Own Content. We Made Our First Short Film 3 Years Called “I Wanna Bang Your Sister” (It’S Not Porn) Which Got Over 600,000 Hits On The Internet. We Have Been Writing And Producing Our Own Content Ever Since. We Figure If The Big...