Tom Donahue's Casting By
HBO Docs takes TV rights to Casting By, Strand picks up White Elephant
The TV rights to Tom Donahue's latest documentary Casting By, about the underappreciated role of casting directors in the film industry, was acquired by HBO Documentary Films following the TIFF premiere, according to Indiewire. The documentary includes stories about how Jeff Bridges, Robert Duvall, Clint Eastwood and many more were discovered along with personal stories from Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen. But the heart of the film follows casting director pioneers Marion Dougherty and Lynn Stalmaster, whose influence in Bonnie and Clyde, Midnight Cowboy, The Graduate, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid helped bring about the New Hollywood. Casting By will screen in the Cinema Reflected section of the 50th New York Film Festival on October 12.
Strand Releasing bought U.S. distribution to Pablo Trapero's White Elephant—about two priests (and friends) in the slums of Buenos Aires where drugs and violence abound—after its TIFF screening, according to Indiewire. White Elephant premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section.
Christopher Nolan's Following.
Criterion to release Following, Qatsi Trilogy, Purple Moon and Brazil
Christopher Nolan's 1990 debut Following will be released by Criterion Collection on Blu-ray and DVD in December. The Criterion version includes a new Nolan interview and commentary and a chronological view of the narrative, according to Indiewire.
Before Christmas, Criterion will also release all three films of Godfrey Reggio's Qatsi (Koyaanisqatsi, life out of balance; Powaqqatsi, life in transformation; and Naqoyqatsi, life as war). The trilogy is mostly silent with compositions by Philip Glass and a scratch soundtrack by Allen Ginsberg. The features include interviews with Reggio, Glass, cinematographer Ron Fricke.
Also joining the roster is René Clément's Purple Noon, an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel The Talented Mr. Ripley that features archival footage of actor Alain Delon and Highsmith. Last but not least, Criterion will release a new version of Terry Gilliam's Brazil, which is already available in a 3-disc set. The new version features Blu-ray with a 142-minute director's cut.
Twentieth Century Fox launches streaming brand
DIGITAL HD, Twentieth Century Fox's new streaming technology, allows viewers to stream or download movies on HDTVs, tablets and smartphones, reports Indiewire. The Fox library includes 600 films to watch now including Ridley Scott's Prometheus. The Blu-ray and DVD versions of Prometheus will not be available until October.
“Available in more than 50 countries, DIGITAL HD™ is a brand that will define the convenience and selection that digital ownership brings,” said Fox's Mary Daily.
New posters for The Master & Argo:
New Rorschach-inspired The Master poster.
Ben Affleck's Argo, in theaters October 12.
