God Knows Where I Am, a new documentary from Juno Films

 

GOD KNOWS WHERE I AMComing to DVD October 23rd from Juno Films

A woman's body was found in an abandoned farmhouse 

along with a diary that documents her mental collapse and death

"Beautiful, evocative, and ultimately heartbreaking"

- The Atlantic

God Knows Where I Am is the story of Linda Bishop, a well-educated New Hampshire mother who suffered from severe bipolar disorder with psychosis, who was intermittently incarcerated and homeless, inevitably being committed for three years to a state psychiatric facility. Successfully fighting her sister's protective attempts to be named her legal guardian, Linda was able to refuse treatment and medication, and eventually procured an early, unconditional release, despite the lack of post release planning.

Upon her release, she wandered ten miles down the road from the hospital, broke into an abandoned farmhouse and lived off of rainwater and apples picked from a nearby orchard for the next four months, through one of the coldest winters on record. Unable to leave the house, she became its prisoner, and remained there, a prisoner of her own mind, eventually starving to death.

Her body was discovered several months later and with it a diary that Linda kept documenting her journey. The diary is poignant, beautiful, funny, spiritual, and deeply disturbing. In tackling the subject matter, the filmmakers began from a social justice perspective but their focus quickly shifted to a more intimate and artistic exploration.

How does one depict the interior landscape of a person who is imprisoned by the mind? How does one build empathy for a person who is no longer alive? The story is told from a variety of perspectives, including her own, through recollection and first person narrative.

God Knows Where I Am is both a study of systemic failure and also a testament to the artistic and independent spirit of Linda Bishop. In a state known for its motto of Live Free or Die, Linda wanted to live free but given her mental illness, this proved to be a fatal decision. The film poses many provocative questions including the issue of civil liberties of the mentally ill--if one's mind is not free, how can one truly exercise free will?


Pre-order at MVDshop.com 


Trailer: https://vimeo.com/153334893


ABOUT:
Juno Films is a boutique film distributor. Its founder Elizabeth Sheldon has over 20 years of experience in the distribution of documentary and feature films for both North American all-rights releases and international sales. Juno Films specializes in the development and execution of bespoke finance, sponsorship and distribution strategies on behalf of producers and filmmakers.

Go Behind-the-Scenes of One of the Country's Most Terrifying Haunted Houses in FAMILY OF FEAR, Exclusively on iTunes on 10/23

THE FAMILY THAT SCARES TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER...

THIS HALLOWEEN, JOIN AN ECLECTIC GROUP OF ARTISTS AND

"SPOOKS," SURVIVORS ALL, AS THE THEY BUILD AND WORK IN 

ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S SCARIEST HAUNTED HOUSES

FAMILY OF FEAR

THIS HAIR-RAISING FEATURE-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FROM 

FORCONE FILMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BIDSLATE® PREMIERES 

EXCLUSIVELY ON iTUNES ON OCTOBER 23, 2018

SYNOPSIS

FAMILY OF FEAR follows an eclectic group of artists and "spooks" as they build and work in one of the country's scariest haunted house attractions - the 50,000 square foot Arx Mortis Haunted Attraction in Killen, Alabama.

Bathed in blood and in search of screams, the members of this "family" don't work at the haunt for money: they work soley for the scares and the support of one another. Their stories are all sadly similar -- many have suffered bullying due to their uniqueness in the small southern towns surrounding Arx Mortis. Others suffer with depression or other challenges, and have no real community or family support system to help.

Coming off a season of family struggles and bad reviews they are determined to make a comeback and rediscover what brings them all together, and why they call themselves a haunt family. After all, the family that scares together, stays together in this feature-length documentary that's surprisingly funny, shockingly scary, and meaningfully poignant.

 FAMILY OF FEAR (2018)

Directed by: Stephen Lackey

Produced by: Stephen Lackey, Zach Martin

Executive Producer: Roland Rojas

Associate Producer: Nick Manning

Director of Photography: Zach Martin

Editor: Stephen Lackey, Zach Martin

RT: 91 minutes

Genre: Documentary

LETHAL AMOUNTS ANNOUNCES SPIRITUAL CRAMP : A DOCUMENTARY ON CHRISTIAN DEATH AND ROZZ WILLIAMS

LETHAL AMOUNTS ANNOUNCES

SPIRITUAL CRAMP

A DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OFCHRISTIAN DEATH AND ROZZ WILLIAMS

SEE MORE ON THE DOCUMENTARY AT PLEDGE MUSIC

Los Angeles gallery and promoter Lethal Amounts is excited to announce the documentary Spiritual Cramp, a film on the life of Rozz Williams, frontman of seminal goth rock band, Christian Death. Lethal Amounts has partnered with Pledge Music to raise funds to further the production of the documentary. Items available through Pledge Music include rare, limited edition merchandise, art pieces and collectors items. To see the full list of items click HERE.

Spiritual Cramp is more than just a music bio about a death-rock band. It examines the life of Rozz Williams - a young artist coming of age during the California punk explosion of the late 70s. At the young age of 16, Rozz Williams and his friends started Christian Death in their garage as a reaction to the growing hyper-masculine, straight male dominated SoCal punk scene. Christian Death ignited a new musical genre and opened the doors to what later became known as the Goth subculture.

The name Christian Death was an act of defiance in itself, especially for Williams. He grew up in an extremely religious household, and was brought up being told that to be gay sent you straight to hell. Christian Death’s music and their existence as a band acted as a rejection of traditional modes of thought and damaging religious beliefs. Their live shows blurred the lines between art and shock. The band gained a cult-like following around the world, influencing generations of outsiders and countless boundary pushing icons such as Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor.

Historically, Christian Death is important to the narrative of California music but what’s more, Williams is an archetype for the tortured artist. People looked up to his bravery as he fearlessly dressed in women’s clothing on and off stage in a time and a scene where that kind of self-expression could lead to arrest or even being killed. His image was not meant to be glamorous but to be feared and avoided. Much like Ian Curtis, Amy Winehouse or Kurt Cobain, Williams shared the same dilemma – trying to strike a balance between art and overcoming personal trauma.

Williams’ lifelong battle with depression eventually defeated him in 1998. He took his own life in a way that some may interpret as a staged, elaborate April Fool’s Day “prank” art tableau.

This documentary has been a longtime dream of Lethal Amounts owner and creative director Danny Fuentes. Fuentes grew up in the violent 90’s punk scene of East Los Angeles, dominated by hypermasculine and oftentimes homophobic attitudes. He often  felt obligated to keep his sexuality to himself in order to fit in. When he became interested in Christian Death he was fascinated and inspired by how bold Rozz Williams was when walking around in “Drag” at a punk show. To Fuentes, Williams was the embodiment of strength and fearlessness.

To honor the life of Rozz Williams, Lethal Amounts opened an exhibit at the gallery space in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday April 1st - marking the 20th anniversary of Williams’ passing. The exhibit includes never before seen Christian Death photos by legendary rock photographer Edward Colver, lyric sheets, set lists, original artwork, and personal artifacts that give an intimate look into his life as an artist. The exhibit will be up through the middle of April.

ABOUT LETHAL AMOUNTS
Lethal Amounts focuses on subversive and counter culture themes throughout history, addressing the social and artistic value of underground movements while highlighting taboo topics. Lethal Amounts showcases the extremes of those individuals who have moved culture forward and live on the edge of and outside of societal norms. Rock ‘n Roll of the past that has crossed over into pop culture fanaticism, street culture influences and cult hero worship.

Lethal Amounts inhabits a physical gallery space in downtown Los Angeles that features three exhibition rooms and over 2,500 sq. ft. In addition to the gallery space Lethal Amounts hosts and produces events throughout Los Angeles, including the monthly Sex Cells party, as well as a clothing line that partners with like-minded musicians and artists to release original licensed shirt designs and more.

What Happens to Art in the Internet Age? Find out in the Provocative Doc #artoffline, Arriving on DVD on 2/13

WHAT HAPPENS TO ART IN THE INTERNET AGE?

INDIEPIX FILMS EXPLORES THE CONTEMPORARY
ART WORLD'S CRISIS IN A TIMELY, REVEALING DOC

#artoffline

Street Date: February 13, 2018

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Are technology and the internet changing the art world forever?

In the timely and revealing documentary, #artoffline - an Official Selection at the Rotterdam International Film Festival - director Manuel Correa documents the crisis facing the contemporary art world.  Can the internet change the way art is controlled in terms of reception, production and distribution?  Leading artists, curators, philosophers and art critics interviewed believe that endless reproduction liberates artwork from a muddled marketplace and an undemocratic exhibition circuit, while wondering whether the urge for physical objects is just a nostalgic fetishism.  During #artoffline, it becomes apparent that despite enormous resistance, digital technologies have  effectively transformed the experience of art forever. Shot in Vancouver and in Berlin during the 8th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art, this provocative documentary takes audiences behind the scenes, and inside the ideas that are already shaping the art of tomorrow.
#   #   #

#artoffline

Running Time: 60 Minutes
Genre:  Art/Documentary
Aspect Ratio: 16 x 9
Audio: Stereo

About IndiePix Films®
Since 2004, New York-based IndiePix Films® has delivered a highly-curated collection of the best independent films from around the world.  Offering a singular catalog of nearly 2,000 films across genres, the IndiePix team selects singular titles from the international festival circuit.  Avenues for distribution include their newly-launched streaming service, IndiePix Unlimited, their dedicated commerce site, IndiePixFilms.com, which offers download-to-own, streaming rental and physical media direct to consumers, and via national retail channels and select theatrical exhibition.  IndiePix also owns Festival Genius, the premier platform for connecting film festivals to audiences through online ticketing, calendars, iphone apps, and more.

SHADOWMAN, an Acclaimed Doc About the Enigmatic Artist Who Launched the Street Art Movement, Arrives on DVD

THIS JANUARY, JOIN FILM MOVEMENT FOR A "COMPELLING" DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE ENIGMATIC ARTIST WHO LAUNCHED THE STREET ART MOVEMENT SHADOWMAN Street Date: January 2, 2018

SYNOPSIS

Before Banksy, there was Hambleton.  In the 1980s, Richard Hambleton was the Shadowman, a specter in the night who painted hundreds of startling silhouettes on the walls of lower Manhattan and, along with Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, sparked the street art movement. After drug addiction and homelessness sent him spinning out of the art scene for 20 years, Hambleton gets a second chance...but will he take it?  Following its acclaimed theatrical release, SHADOWMAN, a New York Times Critic's Pick from Oscar®-nominated director Oren Jacoby (Sister Rose's Passion, Constantine's Sword), arrives on DVD on January 2, 2018.

SHADOWMAN plunges the viewer into the chaotic life of a forgotten artist, from early fame as a painter and denizen of the Lower East Side, through his struggles with heroin, to his surprising comeback as street art exploded to become one of the most popular and lucrative art movements in the world.   Featuring rare footage of 1980s music and art, which bring to the screen an indelible portrait of New York City from a lost, transformative time, SHADOWMAN is a trip down a rabbit hole into the mystifying, agonizing, exhilarating, and sometimes frightening, world of a brilliant artist in the thrall of creation and addiction.

Earl Douglas of The Interrobang calls SHADOWMAN "a fitting epitaph for an art world giant," Peter Goldberg of Slant Magazine says the doc is [an] art-world fairy tale unafraid to face the bitter details of its hero's tumultuous life," and Culture Sonar calls it "A fascinating (and frankly, heart-wrenching) documentary about this remarkable artist".

BONUS FEATURES
Over 30 minutes of additional footage and deleted scenes
FILM FESTIVALS
Official Selection -- Tribeca Film Festival
Official Selection -- Nantucket Film Festival
Official Selection -- Stockholm Int'l Film Festival
Official Selection -- Nantucket Film Festival
Official Selection - Virginia Film Festival
PROGRAM INFORMATION

Type: DVD
Running Time: 83 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: 5.1 Surround Sound/2.0 Stereo
About Film Movement
Celebrating its 15th year, Film Movement is a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City.  Film Movement has released more than 250 feature films and shorts culled from prestigious film festivals worldwide, and last year it had its first Academy Award-nominated film, Naji Abu Nowar's THEEB. Film Movement's theatrical distribution strategy has evolved to include promising American independent films, documentaries, and an even stronger slate of foreign art house titles.  Its catalog includes titles by directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Maren Ade, Jessica Hausner, Andrei Konchalovsky, Andrzej Wajda, Diane Kurys, Ciro Guerra and Melanie Laurent. In 2015, Film Movement launched its reissue label Film Movement Classics, featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on Blu-ray and DVD, including films by such noted directors as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway, Bille August, Marleen Gorris, Takeshi Kitano, Arturo Ripstein, and Ettore Scola. For more information, please visit www.filmmovement.com.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET Fandom Documentary FREDHEADS Unveils Poster & Teaser

A Nightmare on Elm Street fandom documentary FredHeads unveils poster & teaserCrowdfunding campaign launched: bit.ly/FredHeads

Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street is a global cultural phenomenon that has given eternal life to its legacy and its villain, Freddy Krueger. FredHeads is a documentary that shines a spotlight on the fervent fans within the Elm Street community.

Watch the FredHeads teaser trailer here: https://youtu.be/7n7MjtOPLcA

FredHeads' central theme analyzes how being a fan can change your life. The filmmakers have been traveling the country to speak with enthusiasts of all types: passionate fanatics, lifelong aficionados, cosplayers, creators, artists, filmmakers, kids, and more.

The documentary also features insight from the stars and creatives of the Elm Street franchise, exploring the enduring legacy, cultural impact, and fan community. Interview subjects include Lisa Wilcox, Robert Kurtzman, Tuesday Night, Miko Hughes, Danny Hassel, Andras Jones, Toy Newkirk, Kelly Jo Minter, Ricky Dean Logan, and Mick Strawn, among others.

Venn Pictures and Northgate Pictures have launched an Indiegogo in order to complete production on the ambitious project: http://bit.ly/FredHeads

The crowdfunding campaigns allows fans to pre-order a limited edition DVD of the documentary, ensuring that they will be among the first to see FredHeads. T-shirts, pins, posters, soundtracks, and sunglasses are among the available merchandise. One-of-a-kind perks from Elm Street alumni are also up for grabs, including prop replicas signed by Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund.

FredHeads is directed by Paige Troxell, who credits A Nightmare on Elm Street with saving her life. "In my darkest times I have turned to Elm Street. It is a survival story, it is my best friend, it is my comfort, and it is my home," gushes Troxell. "I knew that there were others out there who saw this film for more than just the typical slasher. It is my goal to bring to life each and every story; to show the world that this community stands together, that we are a support team for each other."

The FredHeads team loves to hear from fellow fans, so be sure to visit http://facebook.com/FredHeadsDoc to find out how you can submit your story.

Lydia Loveless Doc and RSD Vinyl

"Who Is Lydia Loveless"on DVD November 24th 

Proof positive the future of rock & roll is alive and well in a brilliant 5-foot tall spitfire from Columbus, Ohio

Lydia Loveless documentary and limited-edition live vinyl-only EP 

from Color Me Obsessed director Gorman Bechard 

Filmmaker Gorman Bechard, who has chronicled three of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll with documentaries about The Replacements, Archers of Loaf, and Hüsker Dü's Grant Hart is turning his camera towards the future with his new film, Who is Lydia Loveless?

The feature-length documentary follows Lydia Loveless and her band into the studio as they record their album Real. Along with a chaotic super-charged home-town live performance shot specifically for the film and extensive interviews with Loveless and her band, the rock-doc will delve into the realities, financial and otherwise, of a working musician on the brink of major success. It will examine what it's like to be a woman in the mostly sexist rock & roll world, dealing with cellphones in your face as you sing a heartbreaking tune, piracy, streaming services, and of course answer the question: Who Is Lydia Loveless?

"Lydia is the future of rock and roll," director Bechard explains. "She straps you onto an emotional roller coaster of love, lust, drunken mistakes, a little stalking, a lot of heartbreak, an you're left breathless, stunned, happy to have taken the ride."

Music journalists from SPIN to Rolling Stone have likewise raved, with her albums always finding their way onto many year-end Best Album lists.

"I'm excited to work with Gorman," says Loveless. "He's very passionate about music and about the true meaning and spirit of rock and roll."

The vinyl release, Live From the Documentary Who is Lydia Loveless?, is an exclusive Record Store Day release featuring 6 tracks recorded at a hometown performance in Columbus, Ohio.

Bechard's three previous music docs have all won critical praise. Rolling Stone called Color Me Obsessed, A Film About The Replacements one of "The Seven Best New Music Documentaries of the Year."

The Seattle Times raved about the "raw power and mesmerizing hooks" in his Archers of Loaf concert film What Did You Expect? While Every Everything: The Music, Life & Times Of Grant Hart was labeled "beautifully sad" by The Village Voice.

He is currently in post production on documentaries about Wilco's Jay Bennett, as well as newly-signed Bloodshot Records recording artist Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. Bechard is also the filmmaker behind the ASPCA-award-winning animal welfare documentary A Dog Named Gucci.

Who is Lydia Loveless? will be released on an extra-filled DVD and streaming services from MVD Entertainment Group on Friday, November 24th, 2017. Live From the Documentary Who is Lydia Loveless? (which includes a copy of the DVD) will be available as a Record Store Day exclusive on that same day.

For more information please visit: www.WhoIsLydiaLoveless.com

Pre-order the DVD at MVDshop.com or on Amazon

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/149648442 

Finding Joseph I: The HR From Bad Brains Documentary

Shamanistic Frontman HR Of The Bad Brains' Eccentric Life
Revealed In Documentary, " Finding Joseph I"

In Theaters Now and on DVD November 3rd

"By digging through Hudson's triumphant and tumultuous past emerges a story of the life of the man credited with being the driving force of one of the greatest bands of all time."

-OC Weekly

"Explores both the singer's legacy as a dynamic frontman and 

as a quixotic figure possibly struggling with mental illness."

-Rolling Stone

"Seeks to provide a deeper understanding of where HR is coming from, 

what he's gone through and how he's been perceived."

-Billboard

Paul "HR" Hudson is the voice of punk/hardcore pioneers and Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame nominees Bad Brains, one of the most influential bands to rise out of the 1980's. With Bad Brains, HR harnessed the fiery potential of melding punk rock, reggae, dub, jazz-fusion, metal, and funk into a kaleidoscopic art form centered around his faith in Rasta. HR's uplifting ethos - P.MA. (Positive Mental Attitude) - has cast a light amidst dark defiance, and inspired everyone. From the start, HR shined with charisma and positivity. His vocals were soulful and tribal, hitting us deep in our spiritual core. In performance he gave it all, from stage diving off monitors to his signature back flip. He is a punk prophet, and his legacy resonates today as it was nearly four decades ago. Finding Joseph I, The HR From Bad Brains Documentary chronicles the life, career and struggles of this iconic living legend.

This is a complex picture of a complex man. It shares his explosive artistry as well as his uphill battle with ailing mental health. In this revealing documentary, HR's peers and fellow musicians share their stories and firsthand experiences with the tumultuous singer. HR's own interviews find him digging deep to discuss his life, philosophies, and career. Directed By James Lathos and produced by Small Axe Films with Executive Producer Jay Mohr, Finding Joseph I features never-before- seen archival footage, photography, and exclusive interviews with HR, Earl Hudson (Bad Brains/Brother), Ras Michael, Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat/Fugazi), members of Sublime, Deftones, Fishbone, Cro-Mags, The Wailers, Living Colour and more. It also features original music from Miguel Happoldt (Sublime / Long Beach Dub All Stars) and Aaron Owens (Hepcat).

SCREENINGS

10/12 & 14 - Seattle @ Grand Illusion

10/17 & 18 - New Orleans @ Zeitgeist Arts Center

10/28 - Los Angeles @ Regent Theater ***HR and Lathos in attendance***

10/18 - London @ Komedia Picturehouse Brighton

10/19 - London @ Tramshed Cinema - Cardiff 

10/21 & 22 - Switzerland @ Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival 2017

10/22 - Washington D.C. @ Lincoln Theater 

10/26 - Chicago @ Brew View

10/27 - Barcelona @ IN-EDIT Festival

11/25 - Philadelphia @ PhilaMOCA

TBD - Brooklyn @ Nitehawk Cinema

Pre-order the DVD at MVDshop.com or on Amazon

ABOUT THE FILM MAKER

James Lathos is a film maker and author living in Florida. He makes his documentary debut with Finding Joseph I: The HR From Bad Brains Documentary. Previously, he wrote the definitive tome, Finding Joseph I: An Oral History of H.R. From Bad Brains with co-author Howie Abrams (Lesser Gods). This oral history is the first fully authorized biography of the enigmatic front man.

truTV- THE PROBLEM WITH APU- Comedic documentary to premiere November 19

truTV Sets Premiere Date for Comedic Documentary The Problem with Apu

Comedian Hari Kondabolu Confronts His Cartoon Nemesis – and Minority Media Representation – in Hour-Long Feature Debuting November 19

It’s peak TV season – your inbox is not your friend. So here are the highlights:
Tackling the hot-button issue of minority media representation,comedic documentary The Problem with Apuwill premiere on truTV Sunday, November 19 at 10PM ET/PT;
In his sharp, cultural exposé, creator and star Hari Kondabolu addresses his long-standing conflict with Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Indian convenience store owner from The Simpsons;
Featuring interviews with Aziz Ansari, Kal Penn, Whoopi Goldberg, W. Kamau Bell, Aasif Mandvi, Hasan Minhaj, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Aparna Nancherla and more, The Problem with Apu explores the lasting impact of Hollywood stereotypes;

And for you visual folks, here’s a link to the doc’s official trailer: https://youtu.be/zGzvEqBvkP8.

Turner’s truTV today announced the premiere date for its highly-anticipated comedic documentary
The Problem with Apu as Sunday, November 19 at 10PM ET/PT. In the hour-long film, creator and star Hari Kondabolu, a South Asian-American comedian, confronts his long-standing “nemesis” Apu Nahasapeemapetilon – better known as the Indian convenience store owner on The Simpsons. Kondabolu discusses how this controversial caricature was created, burrowed its way into the hearts and minds of Americans, and continues to exist – intact – nearly three decades later.
In this highly-personal, insightful and timely exploration of minority media representation, Kondabolu speaks with prominent South Asian actors about the damaging legacy of Apu – an animated character voiced by a white actor with a heavily exaggerated, stereotypical Indian accent. Aziz Ansari, Kal Penn, Aasif Mandvi, Hasan Minjaj, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Aparna Nancherla, Russell Peters, Sakina Jaffrey and Maulik Pancholy share poignant stories about their own experiences with Apu and the broader questions about the comedy and representation he evokes. With additional interviews with EGOT-winner Whoopi Goldberg, W. Kamau Bell, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Mallika Rao, and many more, The Problem with Apu takes a humorous look at how even a beloved television series can have a blind spot.

"I was obsessed with The Simpsons growing up and it has greatly influenced my comedy. However, as my mother proves, you can criticize something you love because you expect more from it,” said Kondabolu. “For the longest time, Apu was the most prominent representation of South Asian Americans – and despite how much our society has changed in the last three decades – the character persists today. I made this film to not only talk about the origin of Apu and highlight the impact of such images in media, but also to celebrate the diversity and complexity of my community."
Hailed as “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today” by The New York Times, Brooklyn-based comedian Kondaboluis the host of the popular podcast “Politically Re-Active” alongside W. Kamau Bell.

The Problem with Apu is executive produced by Kondabolu, Marobru, Inc.’s Michele Armour and Avalon Television’s Isaac Horne, David Martin, Richard Allen-Turner and Jon Thoday. Michael Melamedoff serves as director. The film will be made available on all platforms following its linear premiere on November 19.

Connect with the documentary on social:
https://twitter.com/truTV
www.instagram.com/truTV
http://www.facebook.com/truTV
#TheProblemWithApu

Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille-a Hollywood mystery, coming 10/3!!

“Part Detective Story, Part ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’…”

THE LOST CITYOF CECIL B. DEMILLE

In 1982 He Heard About an Ancient Egyptian City Buried in the California Desert…
For 30 Years He’s Been Fighting to Dig it Up!

The Mystery Debuts on Digital & VOD – October 3, 2017!

Leading independent cinema distributor Random Media and Lost City Productions debut a Hollywood detective story that will thrill any fan of movies and history -- THE LOST CITY OF CECIL B. DEMILLE on Digital and Video-on-Demand on October 3, 2017!   A fascinating documentary that pays tribute to Cecil B. DeMille, one of Hollywood’s most innovative and commercially successful filmmakers, it is the story of a more than 30 year quest to unearth from the sandy coast of Central California, the remains of one of De Mille’s most monumental undertakings: the Egyptian city constructed for his first spectacle, 1923’s The Ten Commandments. 

Trailer:   

https://vimeo.com/151446135

THE LOST CITY OF CECIL B. DEMILLE follows the decades long quest of Peter Brosnan, who first heard rumors of the burial of DeMille’s City of the Pharaoh, a huge set encompassing 20 sphinxes and four 35-ton statues of Ramses, in 1982.  Too daunting to be constructed inside a 1920’s-era studio soundstage, DeMille and his production staff found their “faux-Egypt” on the beaches of Santa Barbara County.  When they finished shooting, rather than leave the sets to be repurposed by second-rate hacks hoping to steal a little of his thunder, DeMille had the sets buried in the sand, counting on time and coastal elements to eventually destroy them. 

Fascinated by this bit of movie lore about “the last of the great sets” and optimistic that much of the set may have survived, Brosnan and film-school friends Bruce Cardozo and Richard Eberhardt set out to arrange for an excavation and make a documentary.  What followed was decades of on-again, off-again excavation efforts, as the project faced seemingly insurmountable funding stumbles and bureaucratic obstacles. 

“What an extraordinary story… a rare combination of film and cultural history."

--  Leonard Maltin

THE LOST CITY OF CECIL B. DEMILLE documentary is the story behind the excavation, highlighting Brosnan’s multiple agonizing years of starts and stops, as funding, red tape and weather halted the well-publicized story that wouldn’t die, even when Brosnan was ready to walk away, over and over again.  It concurrently interweaves the history of famed director DeMille with fascinating firsthand accounts from dozens of people who were involved in the groundbreaking 1923 production, including studio executives, extras, spectators and the filmmaker’s granddaughter Cecilia DeMille Presley. 

Synopsis
Have you seen “The Ten Commandments” with Charlton Heston?  Did you know that in 1923 Cecil B. DeMille made a silent version of the movie?   Because Egypt was far away from the studio and estimated to be much too costly, DeMille shot the film in Santa Barbara County, California, about 150 miles north of Hollywood, and built an enormous ‘City of the Pharaoh’ set, literally taking over the economy of the surrounding community and creating a fantastic spectacle.  Designed by Paul Iribe, the “father of Art Deco,” it was the largest set in motion picture history. 

When filming wrapped, the city mysteriously vanished.

In 1982, Peter Brosnan was sitting in a bar when someone told him that there were ancient Egyptian Sphinxes buried somewhere in the California Dunes.  It sparked his imagination and he embarked on what turned out to be a thirty year battle to prove the existence of these Sphinxes and the discovery of the Lost City.

After searching in the California desert, Brosnan located what he believed was the site of the 1923 filming. Over 33 years in the making, “The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille” is an extraordinary tribute to a director whose innovative and fearless style continues to inspire modern day filmmakers, almost 60 years after his death. 

THE LOST CITY OF CECIL B. DEMILLE explores the spirit of a man, Peter Brosnan, who walked away from this project three times in frustration, only to be called back a fourth time. The result is an iconic tale of a reluctant hero, who finally surrenders to his destiny and accepts that he was chosen to follow this quest and tell this story.

Specifications:
Director: Peter Brosnan
Screenwriter: Peter Brosnan
Producers: Peter Brosnan, Daniel J. Coplan
Executive producer: Francesca Judge Silva
Presented by:  Cecelia DeMille Presley
Co-producers: Bruce Cardozo, Richard Eberhardt
Director of photography: Alessandro Gentile
Editor: George Artope
Still Photography: Kelvin Jones
Time Lapse Photography: Michael DeLavallade
Composer: Steve Bauman
Running Time: 88 minutes
Produced by: Lost City Productions
Distributed by: Random Media

About Random Media:
Random Media is a content company that acquires and distributes films on a worldwide basis through movie theatres, conventional brick and mortar retailers, digital platforms, cable and satellite companies and television networks.  Random Media's library includes such acclaimed films as Escape From Tomorrow, The Visit, Meth Head, Desert Cathedral and Killswitch: The Battle To Control The Internet.

PATSY CLINE’S INIMITABLE LIFE AND LEGACY EXAMINED IN NEW DVD, WHEN PATSY CLINE WAS … CRAZY

PATSY CLINE’S INIMITABLE LIFE AND LEGACY EXAMINED IN NEW DVD, WHEN PATSY CLINE WAS … CRAZY, FEATURING ACCLAIMED AMERICAN MASTERS DOCUMENTARY AND EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL

NARRATED BY ROSANNE CASH, DOC FEATURES EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVAL MATERIAL, RARE PERFORMANCES, AND NEW INTERVIEWS WITH REBA MCENTIRE, LEANN RIMES, KACEY MUSGRAVES, RHIANNON GIDDENS, BEVERLY D’ANGELO AND OTHERS 

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 6 VIA UMe

COUNTRY LEGEND WOULD HAVE TURNED 85 TODAY

Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential singers of all time, Patsy Cline, in her brief but extraordinary career, made a colossal impact on country and pop music. Born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester, Va., Cline was a trailblazer who defined modern country music, and broke down barriers of gender, class and genre. In her music and her life, she set a standard of authenticity towards which artists still strive. After years of hard work to overcome industry biases and her own personal hardships, she achieved enormous success, only to have it punctured by uncanny premonitions and her untimely death at age 30 in 1963.

Today, on what would have been her 85th birthday, UMe is proud to announce that Cline’s remarkable life and enduring legacy will be honored in When Patsy Cline Was… Crazy, a new DVD, available October 6, that collects the acclaimed PBS documentary, Patsy Cline: American Masters, and a wealth of exclusive bonus material comprised of themed additional interview footage and rare vintage performances. Pre-order When Patsy Cline Was… Crazy now: https://UMe.lnk.to/PatsyDoc

With exclusive access to the Cline estate, the film, hailed by Yahoo! as “a beautifully assembled salute to one of the most important singers in country-music history” and “a work of fresh scholarship that’s also highly entertaining,” features rare performances of such Cline classics as “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray,” “Come On In,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” “You Made Me Love You” and more, alongside exclusive archival interviews with Cline’s contemporaries, and new interviews with a wide range of artists who have been influenced by Cline: Reba McEntire, Wanda Jackson, LeeAnn Rimes, Kacey Musgraves, Beverly D’Angelo, Bill Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens, Callie Khouri, Mickey Guyton, Terri Clark, and more. The bonus material contains nearly an hour of additional interviews as well as Willie Nelson performing his original version of “Crazy” and Clark, unplugged in her living room, playing a verse of “Walkin’ After Midnight.” An accompanying booklet includes classic photos of Cline and an essay by noted author Robert K. Oermann.

“It’s been such a privilege to tell the story of Patsy Cline,” said Emmy-nominated director and producer Barbara J. Hall (Song by Song, Titanic: Band of Courage). “For me, her story exceeds her musical accomplishments. She is in a rare class of women who simply set out to achieve their dreams and through those efforts left an indelible mark.”

Narrated by Rosanne Cash and produced by TH Entertainment LLC., When Patsy Cline Was… Crazy examines the roots of Cline’s impact in both personal and cultural terms to illuminate how she arrived at a pivotal moment in the evolution of American culture and, with Decca Records producer Owen Bradley, synthesized country, pop and rock in a new way to create the Nashville Sound.

Cline boldly bucked female conventions of the 1950s with her fashion sense, her decision to divorce, her support of fellow female artists, and her assertive ambition to get opportunities equal to those of her male Nashville peers, such as the same kind of headliner billing and radio airplay, particularly after breaking free of her unfavorable contract with Four Star Records. Six years after her national breakthrough on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts (CBS, 1957), she died in a plane crash returning home from a benefit performance. In 1973, ten years after her death, she became the first female solo artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her many posthumous honors include a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a U.S. postage stamp. She was also portrayed in the Oscar-winning feature film Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980) by D’Angelo and in Sweet Dreams (1985) by Jessica Lange.

Embark on a Musical Pilgramage to the Deep South to Visit with America's Last Generation of Blues Devils in the Acclaimed Doc I AM THE BLUES, on DVD/Digital HD on 8/8

"An engaging, must-see documentary." 

-- Melinda Newman, Billboard

"Heartache never sounded so good." 

-- Chris Knight, National Post

EMBARK ON A MUSICAL PILGRIMAGE TO THE DEEP SOUTH

AND VISIT AMERICA'S LAST GENERATION OF BLUES DEVILS

IN THE ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY

I AM THE BLUES

Directly following its national theatrical release, this feature-length doc - which captured the "Best Feature-Length Documentary" and "Best Cinematography" honors at the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards -- 

Will Arrive on DVD and Digital HD on August 8, 2017

This August, hit the road with Film Movement for a vibrant, reverential, and nostalgic musical tour of the juke joints, back roads, and church halls of the Mississippi Delta with Daniel Cross' feature-length documentary, I AM THE BLUES.  Diving deep into America's last generation of blues devils, the film takes the audience on an enthralling journey through the swamps of the Louisiana Bayou, the juke joints of the Mississippi Delta, and moonshine-soaked BBQs in North Mississippi Hill Country to visit with many unsung living legends of blues, including 83-year old Bobby Rush - whose latest recording, "Porcupine Meat," won him his first GRAMMY Award for Traditional Blues Album in February. 

 

Following its national theatrical release, I AM THE BLUES, an official selection of Hot Docs International Film Festival and South by Southwest, will be available to documentary and music aficionados on DVD and Digital HD on all leading platforms. The DVD features 30 minutes of deleted scenes, including interviews and performance footage.

 

Crisscrossing unseen byways and back roads, I AM THE BLUES highlights a generation of veteran blues musicians rooted from the genre's heyday, many of whom are now in their 80s, still living in the American deep south and touring the Chitlin' Circuit, including Barbara Lynn, Little Freddie King, Lazy Lester, Henry Gray, Carol Fran, Bilbo Walker, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, RL Boyce, LC Ulmer and Lil' Buck Sinegal.  I AM THE BLUES is directed by award-winning writer-director Daniel Cross, a multi-disciplined filmmaker who also produced the award-winning Canadian films UP THE YANGTZE and LAST TRAIN HOME.

 

Daniel Eagan of Film Journal International calls I AM THE BLUES "pure magic" and says, "For blues fans, these are irreplaceable moments." And Barry Kerzner of American Blues Scene says, "This movie should not be missed. It is a gift on so many levels....this is an invaluable glimpse into the past, and a living record of the blues as it was, and as these greats lived it." 

 

CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER | Theatrical Doc starring Tom Hanks & John Mayer In Theaters Beginning Aug 18th

CALIFORNIA TYPEWRITER is a documentary portrait of artists, writers, and collectors who remain steadfastly loyal to the typewriter as a tool and muse, featuring Tom Hanks, John Mayer, David McCullough, Sam Shepard, and others.It also movingly documents the struggles of California Typewriter, one of the last standing repair shops in America dedicated to keeping the aging machines clicking.In the process, the film delivers a thought-provoking meditation on the changing dynamic between humans and machines, and encourages us to consider our own relationship with technology, old and new, as the digital age’s emphasis on speed and convenience redefines who’s serving whom, human or machine?

Those who haven’t adjusted ecstatically to all the wonders of modern technology will revel in the unorthodox and delightful documentary California Typewriter, one of the major discoveries at this year’s Telluride Film Festival...a loving valentine to all the iconoclasts who resist what the rest of the world defines as progress.” - Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter

“If California Typewriter doesn’t make you cry, laugh or experience an unexpected desire to bear hug actor Tom Hanks, call the police: Someone has stolen your heart and ability to recognize genuine soulfulness.”  - Lou Fancher, Oakland Tribune 

“Pure Typewriter Heaven”  - Don DeLillo