R Mitchell's Comments
Comment on: Zach Braff turns to Kickstarter
Based on the update here at top of page it looks like a lot withdrew as it's currently at $1.4m, but even if not raised as fast as Veronica Mars it's clearly going to get there (a huge amount of crowdfunding happens in the last 48 hours, especially if full amount not raised) and he's 70% there with 29 days to go. Braff's got more than a million followers on twitter. Even if half pledged just $2 he'd be halfway to his target. This is a sure fire way to raise money if you've got a low budget and an established director and/or cast involved. It's also a smart use of the video message, especially the Jim Parsons bit, reach out to those legion of Big Bang fans too.
Comment on: WestEnd takes Kwanten leap
Best headline ever. Love it!
Comment on: Wendy Mitchell appointed as Editor of Screen International
It simply had to be. I've been telling everyone this would happen since Mike's announcement two weeks back. Right person for the job, Screen is in great hands. Congratulations Wendy.
Comment on: Mike Goodridge appointed CEO of Protagonist Pictures
Congratulations Mike, you kept that well under your hat. Exciting times
Comment on: Aldamisa to commence Cannes pre-sales on Sin City 2
Finally
Comment on: Emily Watson, Anna Friel join The Poisoners
This sounds like a comedy version of The Land Girls, which also starred Friel if memory serves!
Comment on: Gary Ross drops out of Hunger Games sequel
Ross did a great job on Hunger Games, it was that rare thing: a really well made blockbuster, but i don't think this is a bad thing. A new director brings new ideas and style. Just look at Alien. I imagine if the internet had existed when it was announced there would be a sequel to Alien without Ridley Scott the vitriole would have been incredible, and yet we got the very different but equally thrilling Aliens from James Cameron. Not as successfully as the first 2 but Fincher & Jeunet also brought great style and new thinking to the later sequels as well. I say congratulations to Ross for making an immensely entertaining film and now let's give whoever they pick for Catching Fire a chance to prove themselves. I just hope Lionsgate goes for someone interesting.
Comment on: Updated: Sky announces multi-million pound investment in British TV films
This should be good news, especially for documentary filmmakers with so many extraordinary docs being made each year an easier path to funding could allow filmmakers more time to focus on their projects. It worries me though the comment to come with bold ideas about what will Sky think is a bold idea? Will they be looking to docu-tainment films like those of Michael Moore and Morgan Spurlock and contrived set-up docs like American Teen, which seem more in line with the sorts of programming shown on Sky Atlantic (including of course Spurlock's new series). Will Sky be "bold" enough to support films like Tabloid, Waste Land, Crazy Horse, Into The Abyss, Food Inc, Pina, Calvet, Jig, Fire In Babylon, Knuckle, The Boy Mir, Moonbug, Holy Rollers, How To Start A Revolution, Heaven + Earth + Joe Davis, Page One, Music From The Big House, Countdown To Zero, Bobby Fischer Against The World, Project Nim, Client-9, Donor Unknown? And perhaps more importantly will they do as BBC Films and Channel 4 Films and allow for theatrical releases. All the brilliant and varied docs listed above I was able to see theatrically in the past year or so. I hope Sky's funding doesn't limit filmmakers to only having a small-screen platform.
Comment on: Ben Roberts named Director of BFI Film Fund
A strong choice, used to deal with Ben back in his Metrodome days and he's gone from strength to strength ever since. A refreshingly forward-thinking choice.
