Lyn Twyman Joins "Miranda" Team

We are pleased and excited to welcome Producer and domestic violence Advocate Lyn Twyman to our Miranda team. Lyn will be stepping in as an Associate Producer on our film about Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA), as well as act as our Domestic Violence Consultant.

A survivor of domestic violence, Lyn founded Courage Network, an online community and resource center for those dealing with domestic violence, of all types, and to promote the gathering of current information from advocates and organizations Worldwide.

Courage Network promotes profiles, news, blogs, pictures, video and inspirational stories from the domestic violence community in an effort to reach those needing help for themselves or for a loved one. Courage Network provides resources and inspiration for victims, families, friends and those dealing with domestic violence in their personal lives.

Lyn is also the Director of Operations for the International Domestic Violence Memorial, a non-profit cultural art endeavor that will feature a commemorative giant lantern consisting of four glass mural mosaic art pieces from 240 artists from all across the globe. The lantern will serve as the memorial in a garden that will be strategically cultivated and dedicated to homicide victims and survivors of domestic violence. This massive artistic collaboration will be the first international memorial dedicated to domestic violence.

Additionally, Lyn is a State Action Leader for Mothers and Dads for Education to Stop Teen Dating Abuse (MADE), an entertainment producer, and the owner and manager of a virtual consulting company that specializes in virtual assisting, business development, start-ups, non-profits and entertainment consultation.

With such a rich resume representing a wide range of experience and advocacy, we are wonderfully gratefully to have Lyn join our team. Welcome aboard, Lyn!

To learn more about Miranda, or to offer a tax deductible donation, go to www.indiegogo.com/Miranda

To learn more about Courage Network, visit Lyn at http://www.couragenetwork.com/

HurlyBurly

This film, based on a play by the same title and author, features probably the best Sean Penn performance of all time, an incredible ensemble cast, sharp writing, and efficient, effective direction. Throwback Sundays this week remembers HurlyBurly.


Watch Hurlyburly (1998) in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

www.netflix.com

Tom Reviews "The Losers"

Tom's Corner:

The Losers
(2010, Sylvain White, director)

I will be the first to admit, I have never read the comic this movie was based on. Does this shock you? Me too. I usually like anything done by either Andy Diggle or Jock (two GREAT porn names, by the way), so I'm not sure why. I've gotta say, if the comic is even a tenth of what the film is, it will satisfy your action movie lust.

So now, a quick cast rundown: Clay (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who at a casual glance looks like Robert Downey Jr. in this) is the leader, Aisha (Zoe Saldana) is the mysterious chick, Jensen (Chris Evans) is the loudmouth hacker, Roque (Idris Elba) is the scary guy with knives, Pooch (Columbus Short) is Pooch, the driver, Cougar (Oscar Jaenada) is the sniper, and Max (Jason Patric) is the villain.

The movie follows a basic plot: 5 guys are thought to be dead after they disobey orders during a black ops mission on moral grounds. They meet a mysterious woman who will help them clear their names and get even. Everybody got that? Wait, does it sound familiar? You've seen it before, but not with these guys. The actors all play their parts well, and this is a fun movie, even if, like me, you've never read the comic.

Bonus Mini-Review:

Last Play At Shea

(2010, Jon Small and Paul Crowder, directors)

I also attended a wonderful documentary Saturday night (thanks to my aunt and uncle) about Billy Joel, Shea Stadium, and a little of what it means to be a Mets fan. There was a capacity crowd, and they came expecting...a lot more concert footage. Instead, they got a history of Shea (with cool animation) as well as a biography of Billy Joel. Also, we get a “greatest hits and misses” reel of the Mets. I recommend it.

- Tom

Tom Reviews "Kick Ass"

Tom's Corner:

Kick-Ass
(2010 Matthew Vaughn – dir.)

I sometimes ask myself why I continue to see comic book movies, especially those based on characters I particularly take to heart. For every triumph like Christopher Nolan's pair of Batman films, there's an abject failure like Mark Steven Johnson's Daredevil. Y'know why fans didn't like Daredevil (besides the inclusion of useless so-called “actor” Ben Affleck...is Kevin Smith the only one who can get half watchable work out of this dickbag? Comment if you have an answer)? Because, simply put, Daredevil violated the sacred principle of changing too much. In the movie, he kills (yeah I'm aware of recent events but that was then and this is now), and uses his powers to flirt with Jennifer Garner in broad daylight. Also, too much story was crammed in.

What does this happen to have to do with Kick-Ass, which is based on an 8 issue Marvel Comics limited series? Well, much like its douchebag headlined predecessor, this fails to be faithful, and in fact skews a little south of a little place I like to call reality. But, I hear you thinking, or perhaps yelling at your monitor, why should a superhero movie be realistic? Well, look at the special feature interviews with Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., the creators of the characters. Millar and Romita both say that the comic was meant to be what would realistically happen if some crazy fanboy decided to dress up and actually play superhero. In this humble writer's opinion, they wildly succeeded in doing this on the printed page. The movie...well, that's another story.

Here's some of the changes that get me, and one of them is a problem I have had with MANY Hollywood adaptations of comics, books, video games, and board games. Why does EVERY FUCKING STORY HAVE TO HAVE A LOVE INTEREST?!?!?!?!?! In the comic, Dave Lizewski (AKA Kick-Ass, played by Aaron Johnson) finally gets to talk to the girl of his dreams, Katie Deauxma (played by Lyndsy Fonseca) and have her talk back to him: it's because she thinks he's gay. When he finally tells her he's not gay and he's loved her and wanted to get close to her, she screams 'Fuck You!' and a guy friend beats Dave's ass. In the movie, Dave shows up in costume, and she fucks him. Which is more realistic? Support your answer and show your work.

The changes to Big Daddy's back story and motivations left me cold as well. In the comic, he's an accountant and comic fan who hated his life and his wife and only claims he's an ex-cop whose wife was killed by the mob (slightly different in the movie, except he IS an ex-cop who was framed by the mob). In my opinion, the comic version is a better take, more realistic, and since it WORKS, they should have STUCK with it.

Also, Red Mist, secretly Chris Genovese (D'Amico in the movie, played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse), son of the mob boss John Genovese (Frank D'Amico, played by Mark Strong) was much more of an asshole and a planner. Having him go from screaming 'Kick-Ass I'm sorry' to wanting to beat the hell out of his “hero” just plain don't work.

In the end, I'd advise that you read the comic for yourself and see which you end up liking better. If it's not the comic, well then, you and I have a difference of opinion, but I'm right.

- Tom

New Cast Member Added to "Miranda": Danny Doherty

We are excited to announce that we have just added a new cast member to Kent Sutton's upcoming feature film Miranda!



Hailing from Yonkers, NY, Danny Doherty is an artist and a professional actor whose been paying his dues in the business for a few years now. He's been in several off broadway plays and several parts in motion pictures, and TV. His hard work is all paying off now, and for that he feels blessed. His credits include Power and Pride, The Grasslands, Cookies & Cream, Fox's Fringe, and many more. He is managed by Envy Management Group in LA, repped by Holly Daniels.

Danny will play one of the professional bosses of Arthur, Miranda's significant other. Congrats Danny and thanks for coming aboard!

Check out Danny's IMDB Page.

To share with us the experience of making our next film visit HERE. Please help us spread the word!!!

Jace Nicole and Princeton Holt Highlighted in The Examiner

In a cool little piece in The Examiner, writer Corey Williams focuses on the relationship between director/actor duos, and Cookies & Cream collaborators Jace Nicole and Princeton Holt are highlighted. Check out some of it after the jump:



"A director must be on the same page as his lead actors. Filmmaker Princeton Holt lives by this very rule. That's why when Princeton cast Baltimore actress Jace Nicole in his independent film Cookies and Cream, he knew his film would succeed. Director / Actor duo's are common - Burton / Depp, Hitchcock / Grant, Carpenter / Russell, etc.

The film Cookies & Cream centers on Carmen (Jace Nicole), a single mother who accepts an online adult entertainment job to support herself and her daughter."

Read the full piece HERE.

Do You Really Need Release Forms?

Release forms: in general terms, they are written confirmation that an actor or other talent has agreed to let you use his/her image and/or likeness in a film, video, album cover or some other commercial endeavor.

You might be best friends with someone or believe a family member doesn't need to sign a release form. Many people also shy away from asking for written documentation of releases since it seems impersonal, unprofessional, cold or invasive.

As a lawyer, I can tell you that having a detailed, signed release is vital to protecting your creative works as well as keeping you from dealing with unnecessary headaches. Here are three reasons why you want signed releases from anyone you work with.

1. Litigation: Consider this lawsuit now being brought by a former model who claims the band Vampire Weekend used her photograph on their album cover without permission

Apparently a photographer somehow got a picture of this former model, allegedly a snapshot taken by her family that may have been given to charity by her mother. Tod Brody claims to have taken the picture personally in 1983. Regardless of who's telling the truth, do you really want to take these types of risks? Lawsuits can happen even if you aren't as well known as Vampire Weekend.

2. Record Keeping: One of the most important aspects of the entertainment industry is keeping good records. You need to be able to find contracts and release forms if a distributor asks for them. A major studio and others who might advance a creative work might ask to see these as well.

Major players in the industry are not going to trust that your cousin won't sue if they release your film using his/her likeness and you don't have a signed release; they MUST see that release form or your film is not going anywhere with them. After all, a lawsuit could cost them millions of dollars and aggrieved parties always pick big pocket defendants i.e. that major studio or distributor. You could also end up getting sued by a studio or distributor for breach of contract.

3. Changed Circumstances: Unless you have psychic powers, there's no way to predict who will be on good terms with you in the future. What if you have a falling out with a family member, actor or someone else who appeared in a film? Let's say sometime after the falling out, a distributor contacts you.

How are you going to get a signed release from someone you are no longer on speaking terms with? That person could be a lead actor in the film and force you to either re-shoot the whole thing or completely scrap the project due to the likelihood of getting sued.

So put aside feelings of discomfort or concerns with formality and remember that release forms are for everyone's protection. The actor will also be protected from a filmmaker engaging in unreasonable uses of his/her image & likeness. All parties should have an attorney read over release forms and make sure necessary provisions are included.

- Monica

Contact Monica for legal representation/advice at Monica@1wayoranother.net

Follow Monica's personal blog HERE.
Follow Monica on Twitter HERE.

(Monica C. Trombley is the legal administrator/project manager at her company One Way or Another Productions. She is a licensed attorney in both NY and CT.)