By Elina Shatkin, January 30, 2005
Lions Gate Films, the motion picture acquisition, production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment, has acquired two films at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. They picked up the worldwide rights to "Rize," photographer/music video and commercial director David LaChapelle's feature film debut.
"Rize" explores the dance phenomenon krumping that's popular on the streets of South Central, Los Angeles. Taking advantage of unprecedented access, this documentary film brings to first light a revolutionary form of artistic _expression borne from oppression. The aggressive and visually stunning dance modernizes moves indigenous to African tribal rituals and features mind-blowing, athletic movement never before seen in dance. RIZE grew out of LaChapelle's acclaimed short by the same title which played in the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. The feature film made its world premiere on January 21st to a standing room only crowd and received a 10 minute standing ovation at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
The deal was negotiated for Lions Gate by Block, John Hegeman, President of World Wide Marketing, Jason Constantine, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Ortenberg. For David LaChapelle, negotiations were handled by CAA, Irwin Rappaport and Fred Torres of Lucid Shoot Productions
.
"Rize" illuminates a community by focusing on an art form as a movement that the disenfranchised have created and the true stars of the film are the dancers themselves: surrounded by drug addiction, gang activity, and poverty, they have managed to somehow rise above. RIZE offers an intimate, completely fresh portrayal that's dynamic and up lifting as well as being the most exciting musical dance film to come along in a generation.
Lions Gate also acquired the worldwide rights (except U.K., Spain, Australia) for the psychological thriller "Hard Candy." A risky game of cat and mouse between a teenage girl and an older man, where the tables are turned with shocking results "Hard Candy" stars Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page. It is directed by David Slade and written by Brian Nelson. The film is produced by David Higgins, Richard Hutton and Michael Caldwell and executive produced by Jody Patton and Rosanne Korenberg. It is the latest film produced by Vulcan Productions ("Far From Heaven," "Titus") in association with Launchpad Productions.
The deal was negotiated for Lions Gate by Block, Meyer, Jason Constantine, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Ortenberg. For Vulcan Productions, negotiations were handled by Doug Stone and Rosanne Korenberg of Traction Media in association with Cassian Elwes and Rena Ronson of William Morris Independents.
.
|