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Circle

Written & Directed by Aaron Hann & Mario Miscione

USA, 2015

Society loves a good label. After all, labels allow us to judge people without the hassle of actually talking to them. But what if these superficial judgements were a matter of life and death? That’s the question posed by the fascinating new psychological thriller, Circle. Writer-directors Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione mix satire, horror, and science fiction into an irresistible social experiment that puts all of us under the microscope. Relentless and gripping, Circle is a battle royal for “civilized” society.

Fifty strangers awaken to find themselves standing inside a circle.

They cannot move.

They cannot touch each other.

And every two minutes, one of them will die.

These are the rules established by the fiendishly clever Circle. What is administering the seemingly random death beam from the center of the circle is not important. All that matters is that...

Taggart Productions and Votiv Films have commenced principal photography on the genre-bending sci-fi, psychological – thriller Circle, it was announced jointly by Taggart President and CEO Michael Nardelli and Votiv founder and CEO Brent Stiefel.

Circle is the feature film debut from the writer – director team of Mario Miscione and Aaron Hann.

The story concerns fifty strangers who awake imprisoned together within a mysterious chamber. In real time, they must identify their captors and decide who amongst them deserves to survive. Issues of race, gender and politics play out against the terror.

The ensemble cast includes Carter Jenkins (The Following), Julie Benz (Dexter), Allegra Masters (Vine Social Media Star), Daniel Yelsky (Another Happy Day), David Saucedo (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones), Gloria Sandoval (Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones) and Lawrence Kao (The Walking Dead).

Miscione and Hann are the creators of the popular web series The Vault, which has garnered both...

Taggart Productions and Votiv Films have begun principal photography on the sci-fi psychological thriller.

The story from debut feature writer-director team Mario Miscione and Aaron Hann centres on 50 strangers who awaken inside a mysterious chamber.

The real-time story plays out as the captives race to uncover why they are incarcerated and decide among themselves who deserves to survive. Miscione and Hann created web series The Vault.

Taggart president and CEO Michael Nardelli and Votiv founder and CEO Brent Stiefel made the announcement (27). Nardelli, Stiefel and Scott Einbinder are producing.

The ensemble cast includes Carter Jenkins Julie Benz, Allegra Masters, Daniel Yelsky, David Saucedo, Gloria Sandoval and Lawrence Kao.

“Circle is one of the most unique screenplays we’ve read in the last few years,” said Einbinder. “It examines the human condition in a way we’ve never seen before. It’s essentially 12 Angry Men with the mystery and mythology of some of thegreater episodes of The Twilight...

Chicago – “Another Happy Day” is essentially the inverse of “Rachel Getting Married.” Instead of an unstable, self-pitying girl wreaking havoc on an otherwise pleasant wedding, we have a sensitive, otherwise pleasant woman driven mad by her unstable, self-pitying family…at a wedding, no less. I’ve seen war enemies with less animosity than this group of miserable basket cases.

Of course, weddings have routinely been a hotbed of family dysfunction typified by Robert Altman’s flawed yet woefully underrated 1978 satire, “A Wedding.” “Happy Day” is closer in spirit to Noah Baumbach’s caustic and somewhat repellant 2007 effort, “Margot at the Wedding,” albeit without the handheld photography. There’s a lot of talent on display that’s worth admiring, but the film is more depressing and drab than it is funny or insightful.

DVD Rating: 2.5/5.0

It’s the directorial debut of Sam Levinson (son of Barry), and it’s clear that...

ComingSoon.net talked with Ellen Barkin and Demi Moore about Another Happy Day , opening in limited theaters on November 18. Barkin stars in and produced this darkly comic story of the emotional rollercoaster of a family gathering. On the eve of her estranged son's (Michael Nardelli) wedding, Lynn (Barkin), a woman who has always worn her emotions on her sleeve, must deal with her long-simmering feud with her ex-husband (Thomas Hayden Church) and his hot-tempered wife (Moore), the disdain of her cold mother (Ellen Burstyn) and distant father (George Kennedy) and the ridicule of her ever-judgmental sisters. And the fact that she brings along her three deeply troubled children (Ezra Miller, Daniel Yelsky, Kate Bosworth) don't make things any easier for Lynn. You can read our...

There is no pain quite like pain shared. Which makes Lynn, as played by Ellen Barkin in “Another Happy Day,” the Mother Teresa of miserablism. She wants you to hurt like she does. It’s the only way she can properly convey her splintered psyche, a personality almost pathologically addicted to failure and shame after a lifetime of ignominy and mistreatment. She is the person who breaks your heart, then nakedly attempts to shatter the pieces for added affect. Divorced mom Lynn is en route to Annapolis at the start of “Another Happy Day,” bringing along two of her problematic sons, Elliot (Ezra Miller) and Ben (Daniel Yelsky). Prepubescent Ben, pudgy and precocious, hides his insecurities behind a filter-less intellectual curiosity that both pleases and startles Lynn. Elliot, now in his upper teens, turns off the outside world by immersing himself in drugs and alcohol, a place he still inhabits...

Every year, the Sundance Film Festival offers more than a few pleasant surprises and in the case of Another Happy Day , the directorial debut by Sam Levinson, it left quite a lasting impression. With an ensemble cast of big stars, one would think the movie would have gotten more attention but it was fairly overlooked, and we only happened to catch it on the last day since we knew someone who worked on it. On the surface, it's a dramedy about a dysfunctional family reunion for a wedding that goes from bad to worse with Ellen Barkin as Lynn, a woman bringing her sons, played by Ezra Miller and Daniel Yelsky, to the Maryland house of her parents (played by Ellen Burstyn and George Kennedy). Everything slowly falls apart as family from Lynn's past show up including her ex-husband...

Another Happy Day, Sundance Film Festival’s winner for Best Screenwriting, is coming to theaters on Nov 18. Check out the trailer below. The film stars Ellen Barkin, Kate Bosworth, Ellen Burstyn, Thomas Hayden Church, George Kennedy, Ezra Miller, and Demi Moore. Another Happy Day is directed by Sam Levinson. Story: Winner of the Sundance Film Festival’s prestigious Screenwriting Award, Another Happy Day is the feature film debut of writer and director Sam Levinson. The film is a powerful, darkly comic story of a woman struggling to find her place in a volatile family dynamic and features an outstanding ensemble cast led by Ellen Barkin who also produced. A family weekend is fraught with emotional landmines for mercurial and sensitive Lynn (Barkin) as she arrives at her parents’ Annapolis estate for the marriage of her estranged eldest son Dylan (Michael Nardelli), accompanied by her three younger children (Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth,...

We've been vocal about our obsession with Ellen Barkin, who is currently taking Twitter by storm with her vulgar 140-character rants, observations, and loving shout-outs. Now, Movieline premieres the new poster from her upcoming film Another Happy Day, in which she plays the exasperated matriarch in a truly dysfunctional family with ex-husband Thomas Haden Church, kids Ezra Miller and Daniel Yelsky, daughter Kate Bosworth, and a step family that includes Demi Moore, Ellen Burstyn, and George Kennedy. Damn!

It looks like Ezra Miller is quickly becoming the go-to guy to play a tortured/confused adolescent character. With his debut Afterschool, City Island, the upcoming We Need to Talk About Kevin and now Another Happy Day, he hasn’t had much of a chance to expand. But hopefully that will come in time. He stars alongside Ellen Barkin, Kate Bosworth, Ellen Burstyn, Thomas Haden Church, George Kennedy, Demi Moore and Diana Scarwid in the film, which picked up the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance this year.

Directed by Sam Levinson (son of Barry), I haven’t heard positive things, but this trailer makes it seem somewhat appealing. And I’d be welcome to more red band trailers like this. There isn’t an overload of sex and violence, just a few added swear words to better represent the film. Check it out below.

Synopsis:

High-strung Lynn (Ellen Barkin...

A new red-band trailer's hit the 'Netz for writer/director Sam Levinson's Sundance baby Another Happy Day, which won the major screenwriting award at the famous Utah festival and has a strong ensemble cast. It stars Ellen Barkin as the nervous mom of three troubled children (Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth, Daniel Yelsky), who starts losing her sh*t at the wedding of her eldest son when confronted with her ex-husband Thomas Haden Church and his second wife Demi Moore. And Ellen Burstyn plays the grandma.

With lines like "I think Grandma's a sociopath" and "You solipsistic f*ck," this sure looks like a dysfunctional family movie for the ages. And everyone knows Ellen Burstyn's got a great track record for feel-good comedies, right? Like Requiem For A Dream!

Can't find a direct embed just yet, but here it is on Deadline.

 

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Phase 4 has released a new red-band trailer for Another Happy Day, the film written and directed by Sam Levinson that won him the Waldo Salt Screenwriting award at Sundance. High-strung Lynn (Ellen Barkin) and her three troubled children (Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth, Daniel Yelsky) are hurled deep into the heart of domestic darkness and primal family dynamics when they attend the wedding of her eldest son. While a long-simmering feud rages with her ex-husband (Thomas Haden Church) and his hot-tempered wife (Demi Moore), Lynn struggles against her cold, disdainful mother (Ellen Burstyn) and her distant father (George Kennedy). With an apathetic husband , (Jeffrey DuMunn) at her side, Lynn is left to wander in a generational emotional minefield. The film opens November 18. Click here to view the embedded video.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

Chicago – Despite the best efforts by Jenna Fischer (“The Office”) playing against type as a smoking, drinking newly-single mother, “A Little Help” is a mess. This dramedy consists of the kind of characters one only sees in a movie theater and usually only in an indie flick that thinks it’s much smarter and has much more to say about the human condition than it actually does.

I can’t stress enough how few of the problems with this deeply-flawed film can be traced back to the lovely Fischer, an actress who never got the credit she deserved for the perfect comic timing she’s displayed on “The Office.” She borders on great here. It’s everything But her with which I have a problem – the two-dimensional supporting characters, the clichéd writing, the non-ending, the leaden direction. Fischer is the one who could have used a little help.

Read...

I think Jenna Fischer is just as cute as a goddamn button. I've never been annoyed with her character on "The Office," and I thought she was terrific in Blades of Glory. As an actor or actress, you worry that you'll get pigeonholed, forced to basically play the same character ad infinitum for the rest of your career. So I can respect what Fischer was going for -- trying to scrape a little Michelle Williams street cred by taking on a gritty role in an indie black comedy. But, boy, was A Little Help not the right move. It's a terribly whiny film about a suburban mom trying to cope with being an adult with real-life responsibilities after her husband suddenly dies. The film is convinced that it's Peter Pan, convincing thirty-somethings that it's Ok to have dreams and ambitions and don't let your free spirit ever die, but in...

A Little Help Directed by: Michael J. Weithorn Written by: Michael J. Weithorn Starring: Jenna Fischer, Rob Benedict, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Daniel Yelsky, Chris O'Donnell and Kim Coates Jenna Fischer stars in this dramedy about an unhappily wed woman who suddenly finds her entire world turned upside down, and has to navigate the choppy waters of her new life. Fischer plays Laura, a Dental Hygienist with a louse of a husband, a resentful son and the family from hell. She copes by smoking and pounding beers every chance she gets. You really can’t blame her. She lives a miserable existence, and serves as a surrogate punching bag for her acerbic mother (Lesley Ann Warren) and sister (Brooke Smith). They are truly awful. Suddenly finding herself a single mom, Laura must contend with lawsuits, her controlling family, and her grieving son who tells his schoolmates that his father...

A far cry from her days as the lovable Pam on The Office, Jenna Fischer proves she has range as both a comedic and dramatic actress, and she can do it all in the same movie.

A Little Help is a dramedy, set in post 9/11 2002, about what it feels like to be at your wits end and realize that everything is life is starting crumble.

Fischer stars as Laura Pehlke, a very ordinary wife and mother, who's always enjoyed the wind at her back.  Things aren't quite as easy anymore and her life is sliding quickly downhill.  Her real-estate agent husband, Bob (Chris O'Donnell), has been distant, her relationship with her son is frosty, her mother and sister are constantly putting her down, and she has taken up some unhealthy habits to cope with it all.

Things suddenly take a turn for the worse when her husband Bob (Chris O'Donnell...

Clips from A Little Help starring Jenna Fischer! The Freestyle Releasing drama opens on July 22nd and also stars Chris O’Donnell and Rob Benedict. Also in the cast of the Michael J. Weithorn-directed and written film are Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman, Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Jim Florentine and Dion Dimucci. Set in suburban Long Island in the post-9/11 summer of 2002, A Little Help examines a period of chaotic and rather bizarre upheaval in the life of dental hygienist Laura Pehlke (Jenna Fischer). Up to now Laura has had the wind at her back in life by virtue of her good looks and effortless charisma. But lately things have begun to take some dark and difficult turns. Her marriage to real estate agent Bob Pehlke (Chris O’Donnell) has become tense and loveless – Laura even has suspicions that he’s...

Clips from A Little Help starring Jenna Fischer! The Freestyle Releasing drama opens on July 22nd and also stars Chris O’Donnell and Rob Benedict. Also in the cast of the Michael J. Weithorn-directed and written film are Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman, Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Jim Florentine and Dion Dimucci. Set in suburban Long Island in the post-9/11 summer of 2002, A Little Help examines a period of chaotic and rather bizarre upheaval in the life of dental hygienist Laura Pehlke (Jenna Fischer). Up to now Laura has had the wind at her back in life by virtue of her good looks and effortless charisma. But lately things have begun to take some dark and difficult turns. Her marriage to real estate agent Bob Pehlke (Chris O’Donnell) has become tense and loveless – Laura even has suspicions that he’s...

Clips from A Little Help starring Jenna Fischer! The Freestyle Releasing drama opens on July 22nd and also stars Chris O’Donnell and Rob Benedict. Also in the cast of the Michael J. Weithorn-directed and written film are Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman, Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Jim Florentine and Dion Dimucci. Set in suburban Long Island in the post-9/11 summer of 2002, A Little Help examines a period of chaotic and rather bizarre upheaval in the life of dental hygienist Laura Pehlke (Jenna Fischer). Up to now Laura has had the wind at her back in life by virtue of her good looks and effortless charisma. But lately things have begun to take some dark and difficult turns. Her marriage to real estate agent Bob Pehlke (Chris O’Donnell) has become tense and loveless – Laura even has suspicions that he’s...

Watch a Jack Dylan Music Video "You're No Match" from A Little Help, staring Jenna Fischer, Chris O'Donnell and Rob Benedict. The Michael J. Weithorn-written and directed drama opens July 22nd via Freestyle Releasing and also stars Rob Benedict, Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman, Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Jim Florentine and Dion Dimucci. A Little Help is the story – funny, touching, sad, and real – of an ordinary person, engulfed by ordinary events, making an extraordinary emotional journey.

Watch a Jack Dylan Music Video "You're No Match" from A Little Help, staring Jenna Fischer, Chris O'Donnell and Rob Benedict. The Michael J. Weithorn-written and directed drama opens July 22nd via Freestyle Releasing and also stars Rob Benedict, Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman, Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Jim Florentine and Dion Dimucci. A Little Help is the story – funny, touching, sad, and real – of an ordinary person, engulfed by ordinary events, making an extraordinary emotional journey.

Watch a Jack Dylan Music Video "You're No Match" from A Little Help, staring Jenna Fischer, Chris O'Donnell and Rob Benedict. The Michael J. Weithorn-written and directed drama opens July 22nd via Freestyle Releasing and also stars Rob Benedict, Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman, Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Jim Florentine and Dion Dimucci. A Little Help is the story – funny, touching, sad, and real – of an ordinary person, engulfed by ordinary events, making an extraordinary emotional journey.

That’S What I Am

Stars: Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton | Written and Directed by Mike Pavone

Set in the 60’s, a time when a social revolution was beginning to change the mind sets of society, comes a feel good story about an inspirational teacher, Mr Simon (Ed Harris – The Truman Show, Apollo 13, Nixon, The Way Back) who instils in his pupils, a new way of thinking that will change their lives forever.

One kid, whose outlook on life takes on a whole new meaning, is 12 year old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison – Tooth Fairy). A bright student, Andy is put to the test when his English teacher Mr. Simon pairs him up on a project with the school’s biggest outcast, Stanley, also affectionately known as Big G because of his large frame, facial features and ginger hair.

On July 22nd, you have the chance to see a film that has been getting a lot of great press, has been a smash hit at several film festivals, and has probably escaped your attention. A Little Help features Jenna Fischer in a role that has had more people talk it up to me than anything in at least the last three or four years, and if nothing else, has the best trailer I've seen in quite a while.

Check out the long synopsis below, and don't miss the trailer. For more info - http://alittlehelpthemovie.com/

It’s a movie for everyone whose life has been thrown off-course, out of whack, or simply not turned out the way they planned it. In other words, it’s a movie for everyone, period.

Set in suburban Long Island in the summer of 2002, with the psychic wounds of 9/11 still fresh, A Little Help...

Here is the trailer for the indie comedy, A Little Help. The film was directed by Michael J. Weithorn and stars Jenna Fischer, Chris O'Donnell, Rob Benedict, Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman , Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Michelle Hurst, and more.

Synopsis:

A Little Help is the story - funny, touching, sad, and real - of an ordinary person, engulfed by ordinary events, making an extraordinary emotional journey.

I am a huge fan of The Office and think Jenna Fischer is a great actress. I look forward to seeing her as a leading lady in more films. This movie looks like a perfect fit for her comedic timing. Check out the trailer below and share your thouhts!

A Little Help opens in theaters on June 24th.

Source: Watch the trailer in HD at Apple (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/alittlehelp/)...

In 2009 The King of Queens and Ned and Stacey exec producer Michael J. Weithorn wrote and directed his first feature, called A Little Help. He scored in a couple ways with the cast, which features Jenna Fischer along with Kim Coates, Lesley Ann Warren, Aida Turturro and Chris O'Donnell. But the film turned out as a classically middle of the road indie drama  that played at a couple festivals (starting with the Seattle Ff in May 2010) and then sat around waiting for a distributor to throw it some love. Now Freestyle Releasing and Secret Handshake are finally getting the film into theaters this June, but a quick look at the new trailer will clue you in on what has taken so long. This might be one of the most difficult types of films to get right. This trailer isn't terrible, but there's also nothing in it to suggest the movie is very good.

Apple have debited the first trailer and poster for new indie movie from Freestyle Releasing/ Secret Handshake. It’s called A Little Help and from the trailer looks like it could have some potential. It’s directed by Michael J. Weithorn and stars Jenna Fischer, Chris O’Donnell, Rob Benedict, Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman , Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Michelle Hurst , Michael J. Weithorn, Dena Hysell and Joe Gressis.

Synopsis: A Little Help is the story – funny, touching, sad, and real – of an ordinary person, engulfed by ordinary events, making an extraordinary emotional journey.

No Us or UK release dates as yet but we’ll keep you posted.

"Can you just tell me if I'm broke or not?" Another charming new trailer for a quirky indie comedy. Apple has debuted the official theatrical trailer for Michael J. Weithorn's A Little Help, an indie comedy starring Jenna Fischer. The cast also includes Chris O'Donnell, Rob Benedict, Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren and Ron Leibman. This just seems like another one of those throw-a-goofball-family-together indies, but it apparently its been winning numerous fest awards and it looks funny enough. You can check out the official trailer for A Little Help below. Let us know if you think this looks good at all? Watch the official trailer for Michael J. Weithorn's A Little Help: You can watch the A Little Help trailer in High Definition on Apple A woman gets entangled in a series of bizarre lies in order to take care of herself and her 12 year old son.

From Secret Handshake Productions, Sneak Peek the new poster supporting the comedy drama "A Little Help", written and directed by Michael J. Weithorn, starring Jenna Fischer, Chris O'Donnell, Kim Coates, Rob Benedict, Arden Myrin, Daniel Yelsky, Jim Florentine

and Joy Suprano :

"...'A Little Help' follows the experiences of a dental hygienist following her unfaithful husband's sudden death..."

Click the image to enlarge and Sneak Peek "A Little Help"...

Although we all know her from The Office, Jenna Fischer and dipped her toe into the film world with supporting roles in such films as Blades of Glory, Walk Hard, and most recently, Hall Pass. Her next film, in wihch she has a lead role, actually did a festival run in 2010 and will now see a limited release. From The King of Queens executive producer and writer Michael J. Weithorn comes A Little Help. It looks like a perfectly harmless, if predicable, light comedy. I don’t trust any recommendation from Pete Hammond, but I may eventually check this out.

Fischer stars next to Chris O’Donnell, Rob Benedict, Daniel Yelsky, Kim Coates, Brooke Smith, Lesley Ann Warren, Ron Leibman , Zach Page, Arden Myrin, Aida Turturro, Michelle Hurst , Michael J. Weithorn, Dena Hysell, and Joe Gressis. Check out the trailer and poster below via Apple.

Synopsis:

A Little Help is the story – funny,...

Usually when I want my Jenna Fischer fix, I just watch The Office. When Fischer does a feature, she generally does not star, aside from the indie film Lollilove. In A Little Help, Fischer gets to take the lead as a mother who has recently been widowed. Instead of telling everyone the truth about how his father (Chris O'Donnell) died, Dennis (Daniel Yelsky) says he was killed during 9/11 because "it's cooler". The trailer is charming in my opinion. Fischer really needed a film and...

Director: Sam Levinson Writer: Sam Levinson Starring: Ellen Barkin, Demi Moore, Kate Bosworth, Ellen Burstyn, Thomas Haden Church, Ezra Miller Jeez, I really do not know where to begin with this crazed, convoluted narrative about a crazed, convoluted family... Let's see... Lynn (Ellen Barkin) is the stressed out, neurotic mother of Elliot (Ezra Miller) -- one of those perpetually mopey teens who wears black on the outside because black is how he feels on the inside -- and his younger brother, Ben (Daniel Yelsky), who totes around a video camera and documents everything for no apparent reason. Lynn's estranged eldest son, Dylan (Michael Nardelli), is getting married to Heather (Laura Coover). Before I proceed, there is some necessary backstory to discuss: 20 years ago, when Lynn and her then husband Paul (Thomas Haden Church) divorced, Paul took Dylan and Lynn kept their daughter, Alice (Kate Bosworth). That one decision seems to...

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From PopEater: 'Office' fans, rejoice! Jenna Fischer takes on a different kind of humor in 'A Little Help,' a dark comedy set in post-9/11 suburban Long Island, opening in limited release on June 24 ... and our buddies at PopEater have an exclusive first look at the film's poster!

Laura Pehlke (played by Fischer) is a dental hygienist used to cascading through life effortlessly thanks to her good looks and charm. But when her marriage to real estate agent Bob (Chris O'Donnell) begins to crumble, Laura's relationship with her son (Daniel Yelsky) also suffers. Laura turns to drinking and smoking in excess to cope with her family crisis.

The debut of 'A Little Help' comes fresh on the heels of Fischer announcing her pregnancy with husband Lee Kirk. Check out the poster after the jump.

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Title: That’s What I Am Director: Mike Pavone Starring: Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton, Amy Madigan The fact that actual personal experience informs a movie’s narrative flavor doesn’t, of course, guarantee its quality in any way, shape or form — a fact reaffirmed by writer-director Mike Pavone’s “That’s What I Am”, an awkward mish-mash of observational coming-of-age cliches and half-baked moralizing that feels like a bloated, not particularly well sketched episode of “The Wonder Years”. Set in California during the 1960s, the film centers on 12-year-old Andy (Chase Ellison), a bright but small eighth-grade kid whose favorite teacher, Mr. Simon...

Check out the new trailer and clip for That's What I Am, starring Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker and Daniel Roebuck. That's What I am is a comedy directed and written by Michael Pavone, writer of Anthony Lapaglia and Kevin Pollak starrer Chameleon, who's mostly known for TV credits including The Client, High Incident and Prison Break. Also in the cast are Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton and Amy Madigan. Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That’s What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers...

Check out the new trailer and clip for That's What I Am, starring Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker and Daniel Roebuck. That's What I am is a comedy directed and written by Michael Pavone, writer of Anthony Lapaglia and Kevin Pollak starrer Chameleon, who's mostly known for TV credits including The Client, High Incident and Prison Break. Also in the cast are Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton and Amy Madigan. Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That’s What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers...

Check out the new trailer and clip for That's What I Am, starring Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker and Daniel Roebuck. That's What I am is a comedy directed and written by Michael Pavone, writer of Anthony Lapaglia and Kevin Pollak starrer Chameleon, who's mostly known for TV credits including The Client, High Incident and Prison Break. Also in the cast are Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton and Amy Madigan. Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That’s What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers...

Check out the new trailer and clip for That's What I Am, starring Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker and Daniel Roebuck. That's What I am is a comedy directed and written by Michael Pavone, writer of Anthony Lapaglia and Kevin Pollak starrer Chameleon, who's mostly known for TV credits including The Client, High Incident and Prison Break. Also in the cast are Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton and Amy Madigan. Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That’s What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers...

ComingSoon.net has your exclusive first look at a new clip from That's What I Am , opening in limited theaters on April 29th. Written and directed by Michael Pavone, the drama stars Ed Harris, Chase Ellison, Molly Parker, Daniel Roebuck, Randy Orton, Daniel Yelsky, Alexander Walters, Mia Rose Frampton and Amy Madigan. Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, the film is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers. Everyone's favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Harris), pairs Andy with the school's biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley aka "Big G" (Walters),...

By Christopher Stipp

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Highlights from the 11th Annual Phoenix Film Festival Part Deux By Ray Schillaci

As mentioned before, there were so many good films to choose from at the Phoenix Film Festival, dubbed the friendliest film festival to independent filmmakers, that it was extremely hard to catch them all. There are four specific films I will attempt to get screeners of and give a review later next week. From what I’ve heard, you’ll want to hear about them.

Unfortunately, I missed the much talked about documentaries, “Thespians” and “Wild Horse, Wild Ride”. “Thespians” is an involving tale of four acting troupes competing in the largest high school competition in the world and I heard that it did bring some grown men to tears.

Watch the official trailer for Meet Monica Velour, starring Kim Catrall, Dustin Ingram, Brian Dennehy and Keith David. Keith Bearden directs from his own script while Gary Gilbert and Jordan Horowitz produce. Also in the cast of the Anchor Bay Films release are Young Han Jee, Daniel Yelsky, Jamie Tisdale and Jay Malack. Meet Monica Velour Synopsis: In this irreverent comedy, awkward teenager Tobe (Dustin Ingram) sets off on a road trip to meet Monica Velour (Kim Cattrall), his favorite '80s porn star, at a rare live appearance hundreds of miles away. Instead of the glamorous sexpot portrayed on film, he finds a 49-year-old single mom living in a trailer in rural Indiana, performing at seedy strip clubs to make ends meet. A starry-eyed Tobe, still captivated by his crush, befriends Monica, further complicating her difficult life. Kim Cattrall gives a career-defining performance in this offbeat love story that...

Watch the official trailer for Meet Monica Velour, starring Kim Catrall, Dustin Ingram, Brian Dennehy and Keith David. Keith Bearden directs from his own script while Gary Gilbert and Jordan Horowitz produce. Also in the cast of the Anchor Bay Films release are Young Han Jee, Daniel Yelsky, Jamie Tisdale and Jay Malack. Meet Monica Velour Synopsis: In this irreverent comedy, awkward teenager Tobe (Dustin Ingram) sets off on a road trip to meet Monica Velour (Kim Cattrall), his favorite '80s porn star, at a rare live appearance hundreds of miles away. Instead of the glamorous sexpot portrayed on film, he finds a 49-year-old single mom living in a trailer in rural Indiana, performing at seedy strip clubs to make ends meet. A starry-eyed Tobe, still captivated by his crush, befriends Monica, further complicating her difficult life. Kim Cattrall gives a career-defining performance in this offbeat love story that...

A Little Help – directed by Michael J. Weithorn Festival screening times – 3/9 @ 12pm Laura (Jenna Fischer) is a dental hygienist who likes her daily alcoholic beverages almost as much as she dislikes the thought that her workaholic husband (Chris O’Donnell) is cheating on her with his new receptionist. Making matters worse is a family that’s far from the source of inspiration and support she needs. Her sister and mother (Brooke Smith and Lesley Ann Warren) judge with every breath and her father (Ron Leibman) prefers to look the other way and reminisce about the good old days. It’s not an ideal life, but she manages to trudge through it without help from anyone else. And then her husband dies while on the receiving end of a particularly enjoyable sex act. “I used to purposefully hit the ball over the fence and go ‘a little help!’” Laura’s mother and sister wait a whole two days...

Reviewed by Jeremy Mathews

(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)

Directed/written by: Sam Levinson

Starring: Ellen Barkin, Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Thomas Haden Church, George Kennedy, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Nardelli, Daniel Yelsky and Eamon O’Rourke

The characters in “Another Happy Day” have more hang-ups than a 500-foot coatrack could handle. The film is every ensemble tale of familial issues you’ve ever seen on steroids, speed and meth. If you thought it was bad the time your Uncle Henry gave that drunken toast to the bride at your cousin’s wedding, wait until you see two sets of parents and their families go out of their way to make each other feel awful for two hours.

The ever-so-cute film brings up ever-so-important issues with a skilled cast that could have used a more focused, less scattered story. Take a deep breath and see if you can count...

Reviewed by Jeremy Mathews

(from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival)

Directed/written by: Sam Levinson

Starring: Ellen Barkin, Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Thomas Haden Church, George Kennedy, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Nardelli, Daniel Yelsky and Eamon O’Rourke

The characters in “Another Happy Day” have more hang-ups than a 500-foot coatrack could handle. The film is every ensemble tale of familial issues you’ve ever seen on steroids, speed and meth. If you thought it was bad the time your Uncle Henry gave that drunken toast to the bride at your cousin’s wedding, wait until you see two sets of parents and their families go out of their way to make each other feel awful for two hours.

The ever-so-cute film brings up ever-so-important issues with a skilled cast that could have used a more focused, less scattered story. Take a deep breath and see if you can count...

Hi all… Melissa, your beloved geek here. I just had the privilege of talking with Jenna Fischer, star of the upcoming indie film A Little Help, and Hall Pass. (Do I need to mention that she plays the role of Pam on The Office). She was extremely nice, and very sweet. I thank her much for her time. So, naturally I have to share it with my fellow geeks!!! Enjoy!!

Your character is very relatable and real. How did you prepare for such an intense role?

The character that I play is so unlike me. At the same time it was fun playing such a misfit. I actually had to learn to smoke for this role, because I don’t smoke. I am not a beer drinker either. For most big budget movies, they will make cans with fake beer in them, but for an indie film, they just don’t have the budget.

Meet Monica Velour (Kim Cattrall). She was the best of the best in the world of adult entertainment back in the 80s. She headlined the raunchiest dirty movies, won awards for her performances and amassed an enormous fan base of loyal followers. About three decades later, Monica is left with just one devotee and, oddly enough, he hadn.t even hit his teen years during the height of her fame. Just out of high school with only an old hot dog truck to his name, Tobe Hulbert (Dustin Ingram) is stuck in Washington living with his grandfather (Brian Dennehy). With a dreary summer selling hotdogs and hanging out with his 12-year-old neighbor (Daniel Yelsky) ahead of him, Tobe contemplates driving down to Indiana to sell the hot dog mobile to an interested buyer (Keith David). It just so happens, that deal would need to be made in Pinhook, the same...