Thompson on Hollywood

LA's Classic Film Series 'Last Remaining Seats' Faces the Digital Steamroller

Features

“Last Remaining Seats” is the title of the Los Angeles Conservancy’s yearly classic film series. This year, as the series begins on Saturday (June 1) with a sold-out screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief,” the title is more than a little ironic.

By Aljean Harmetz
|
May 31, 2013 11:30 AM
|
2 Comments

More:

Digital Distributor Cinedigm and BitTorrent Partner to Promote 'Arthur Newman' Starring Firth and Blunt

News

BitTorrent, the peer-to-peer file-sharing program that has always been a source of discontent and controversy in the film industry, will now be used for the first time as a distribution platform. (Read here how HBO's "Game of Thrones" conquered the BitTorrent piracy record.)

By Ryan Lattanzio
|
April 22, 2013 12:59 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Watch 'Upstream Color,' 'Sleepwalk with Me' and More Via Sundance Institute's Digital Debut Platform

News

The Sundance Institute has announced that 12 independent films will make their digital debuts this spring through a variety of platforms to rent, download or stream, via the Institute's Artist Services Program. Included in the list of titles are Shane Carruth's gorgeous head-scratcher and fest favorite "Upstream Color" (which he is self-releasing to theaters April 5), Mike Birbiglia-starrer "Sleepwalk with Me" (a theatrical hit via IFC) and "Unfinished Spaces," a PBS documentary on the groundbreaking design of the National Arts Schools, which was released as an educational film on DVD.

By Beth Hanna
|
April 3, 2013 2:01 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Netflix Beware: Warner Archive Launches Instant Streaming Service -- Vintage, Obscure and B-Movies Galore

News

Film nerds rejoice! Innovative classic service Warner Archive, the Warner Bros. studio's top-notch repertory wing dedicated to restoring archival gems--via consumer demand-- and making little-seen titles available on DVD, has some exciting news: Warner Archive Instant. Like Netflix, the new service will let you stream films for a monthly fee (in this case, $10) but instead the flicks available are vintage, B-movie, obscure -- all the lost-and-refound greatness you've come to expect from Warner Archive.

By Anne Thompson and Beth Hanna
|
April 3, 2013 1:45 PM
|
2 Comments

More:

Tribeca Film Festival to Stream Seven Official Selections Online, and Host Vine's #6SECFILM Competition

Festivals

The Tribeca Film Festival (April 17-28) announced today that it will stream seven 2013 fest selections -- four of which are premiere titles -- to allow domestic US audiences the chance experience the festival from across the country. Also streaming will be Tribeca's first-ever Vine Competition, #6SECFILM.

By Beth Hanna
|
April 1, 2013 2:00 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Amazon and IMDb Launch X-Ray for TV Feature for Kindle Fire Users

News

Amazon and IMDb are launching a new TV iteration of "X-Ray for Movies." The original feature was released six months ago, and allows users to access corresponding IMDb info with one tap while watching films on their Kindle Fires. The new feature does the same thing, but for television series.

By Beth Hanna
|
March 27, 2013 2:24 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Review Roundup: Tim Sutton's Debut Feature 'Pavilion' is a Lyrical Exploration of Youth

Reviews

Tim Sutton's directorial debut "Pavilion," which premiered at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival, is now available via Factory 25 and Oscilloscope Labs on VOD, iTunes, Amazon and more digital platforms. The film opened theatrically in select cities on March 1st, to critical praise.

By Ryan Lattanzio
|
March 26, 2013 6:41 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

The New Professionalism -- A Flight Toward Quality

Features

Over the last decade, as the tools of filmmaking became less expensive and more generally accessible, there was much excitement about what came to be known as the “democratization” of filmmaking. Suddenly, one didn’t have to be rich or the relative of a studio executive to get a movie made.

By Ira Deutchman
|
March 5, 2013 12:33 PM
|
0 Comments

More:

Robin Wright Hits a Groove, from 'House of Cards' to Upcoming 'Congress' and 'Most Wanted Man'

Television

After three strong supporting roles in 2011 ("Moneyball," "Rampart," "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"), Robin Wright returned with headliner power in Netflix's "House of Cards." Much has been said about how the show (reviews: TOH, Indiewire) heralds the new post-TV era (as of February 12 it was the most-streamed title on Netflix). But for many observers, the big reveal of the series (available in its 13-episode entirety on Netflix) is not the always showy Kevin Spacey, or yet another wily Mara sister, but scene-stealer Wright as Washington powerbroker Claire Underwood.

By Sophia Savage
|
February 19, 2013 6:17 AM
|
2 Comments

More:

Netflix Teams with DreamWorks for First Original Kids' Series 'Turbo: Fast Action Stunt Team'

News

Netflix is teaming up with DreamWorks Animation for their first ever original series for kids. It will be based on DreamWorks' "Turbo," due in theaters this Summer. Netflix's "Turbo: F. A. S. T. (Fast Action Stunt Team)" will then debut in December.