Rex Sikes' Movie Beat

Reed Martin Pt 5 interviewed for his book are independent film icons Kim Peirce, Terry Zwigoff, Werner Herzog, Doug Liman, Harmony Korine, Atom Egoyan, documentary flimmakers Barbara Kopple, Ken Burns, Ric Burns, and 'Pulp Fiction' producer Lawrence Bender, 'Juno' producer Lianne Halfon, and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' producer Anthony Bregman, among others. Among the directors that talked with Martin were recent Oscar winner Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire"), Kenneth Lonergan ("You Can Count on Me"), Seth Gordon ("The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters") and Harmony Korine ("Kids"). Since 2001, Reed Martin has taught "Film Marketing, Distribution, and Exhibition," a course he created at Columbia Business School and later developed at NYU's Stern School of Business. The course seeks to teach students how to apply effective film industry marketing and brand-building techniques to the launching and brand-building of traditional consumer products. Reed started work on "The Reel Truth" in 2001 after attending the Sundance Film Festival in 2001 and hearing that many of the biggest names in the independent film world had encountered the very same roadblocks and pitfalls on the road to getting their projects completed. After that he set about compiling a list of production and post-production landmines that aspiring filmmakers should look out for, since nearly all of them would have been avoidable had someone tapped them on the shoulder just five minutes before calling "action" or "cut." After attending Sundance again in 2003 and 2005, Reed had finally compiled enough interviews with filmmakers to compile their advice and best-practices into a 540-page book, complete with three working indie film production budgets and a sample representation contract to help protect aspiring screenwriters. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Julie Richardson (PT 2) producer and Managing Member of Imaginarium Entertainment Group. She is best known for finding, developing, and producing the box office sensation COLLATERAL, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox, which received two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations and received the Critics Choice Award, along with twenty three other nationally or internationally sponsored honors. As of November 2008, Ms. Richardson is in post-production on the THE MIDNIGHT MAN for Dimension, the first in a 3 film horror franchise, and is producing the comedy pilot NICE GIRLS DON’T GET THE CORNER OFFICE for ABC, along with her partners at Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Television (24, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS). Ms. Richardson is also in negotiations with J2 Productions (BLONDE AMBITION) on her teen comedy COVER GIRL, fielding offers on her period cop drama HOLLOW-POINT, and out to directors on INSIDERS, a French comic which is a starring vehicle for Jessica Alba. Ms. Richardson’s strong relationships span the entire entertainment industry. She has worked or is working with such renowned filmmakers as Frank Darabont (GREEN MILE, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION), Michael Mann (HEAT, MIAMI VICE), Peter Medak (RULING CLASS, ROMEO IS BLEEDING), and Randall Wallace (BRAVEHEART, WE WERE SOLDIERS), as well as best-selling authors John Farris and Dr. Lois Frankel. Having developed a vast slate of premiere film and television properties, Ms. Richardson sold A RHINESTONE ALIBI to Paramount. Her current development slate includes FACT CHECKER, with Natalie Marciano and Michelle Chydik’s 26 Films (STARTER FOR 10, THE WEDDING DATE), SNOW JOB, by John Robert Marlow. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast & crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, & more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Ian Agard is a 34 year-old screenwriter/film producer/director started his filmmaking journey in 2000 after watching Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Watching the movie changed my life forever” said Ian. In 2004, he studied acting at HB Studio in New York City and later that year he landed a principal role in the off off Broadway play Fiorello and a supporting role in the short film, The Diploma.

Early 2005, Ian moved back to Toronto where he continued studying acting at Seneca College. Throughout 2006 he appeared in a TV commercial for Falls Views Casino and a 1-800-got-junk commercial which aired on a T.B.S. network show of one of the world’s funniest TV commercials for 2006. The year 2007 he had roles in two student films, Nothing to Die For and Arthur Moore and the Lone Wolf.

In 2008, Ian shifted his talents towards writing, directing and producing movies through his own film production company, Agardfilm. He produce two short films. Karma (2008) which aired on television in the U.S. and later acquired by the film distribution company Ouat Media. Alnd Give (2009) which was both produced and directed by Ian. In late 2008, he was selected into the one year Canadian government funded Independent Television Producer’s Program through Centennial College which educates and assists individuals towards becoming successful Canadian film/tv producers and entrepreneurs.

Ian wrote, directed and produced his first feature film Bend & Break(2009). His ebook “Stop Waiting and Make Your Movie” offers emerging filmmakers sound advice on how to raise money to make their filmmaking dreams a reality.

Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Peter Marshall The Director's Series PT 4 - We continue tip[s for being a better director & the nuts & bolts of directing film and television with Peter Marshall. Peter has had a 35-year career & has worked as a PA, dolly grip, electrician, assistant cameraman, commercial production manager, first assistant director, TV series creative consultant, television producer & director. He has worked on industrial films, documentaries; television commercials, music videos; Emmy Award nominated TV series & features. Peter has directed over 30 TV episodes& written, directed or produced over 50 hours of documentary/educational programs. His works have won, or been nominated for 14 International awards. He's worked for directors such as Zack Snyder, John Woo, Ed Wick, Phillip Noyce, John Balham, Roger Adam, Anne Wheeler, Bobby Roth & Kim Manners. He has worked with actors including Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman, John Travolta, Mel Gibson, Kathy Bates, Adam Sandler and Peter O'Toole. He was 1st Assistant Director on Steven J. Cannel's “Stingray” in 1986 after having been the 1st AD on a Canadian TV series called “Hamilton’s Quest”. Thereafter” he worked on several more TV series with Cannell and became 1st AD’s on “Wiseguy.” which he worked for two years. He got his directing break on this series & directed a couple of episodes. “The Fly 2.” was his move into feature films as a 1st AD. Other credits include “Happy Gilmore”, "Dawn of the Dead", "The Butterfly effect", "Lizzie McGuire Movie", "Legends of the Fall" "Look Who's Talking Now", "Bird on a Wire", scores of television series as 1st Ad & as a director.Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Sam Witwer, actor, has worked as a regular on the series Battlestar Galactica and Smallville. Among his numerous television appearances are Bones, Dexter, Csi, Jag, NCIS, Cold Case, Angel, Dark Angel, ER and many more. He’s has appeared in movies as well, recently in No God No Master directed by friend of Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat Terry Green and The Return of Joe Rich directed by friend of RSMB Sam Auster.

Samuel Witwer, was raised in Glenview, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois and attended Glenbrook South High School where he was active in theater and drama.

He dropped out of Juliard in New York and moved to California to pursue acting as a profession. He appeared in several TV series and eventually landed the role of Lieutenant Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo on Battlestar Galactica.

For three episodes Sam played Neil Perry, the “supposed” Ice Truck Killer, of Showtime's Dexter in 2006 and Officer Casella in two episodes of CSI. He went on to play Doomsday, the new rival of Superman in the 8th Season Smallville's 8th after Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor, left the show.

He starred with David Strathairn in No God No Master and with Armand Assante and Talia Shire in The Return of Joe Rich.

Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Chris Power & Nathan Hynes - co-producers, co-directors, co-screenwriting team. Chris grew up in Toronto. After studying at the Ontario College of Art (now Art and Design) Chris worked for years in the DGC as an Art Director while producing short films, music videos, documentaries and television on the side. Most recently, Chris has sold a number of scripts and has been working in pre-production as a writer and director on “The French Touch” while gearing up for the official release of his first feature film – “Long Pigs”. As well as writing and directing, Chris is also a freelance editor, CGI and storyboard artist.

Nathan Hynes: Newfoundland, Canada, birthplace of Nathan Hynes and his horror inspirations. As a teenager, Nathan moved west to Toronto to attend film school at Ryerson University. From there he began making his own work and honing his craft on low budget shorts and music videos. But Newfoundland summoned him back to work on a documentary that would change the direction of his storytelling. Spending time with a ritual killer in a prison yard, Nathan found a passion for troubled individuals. Long Pigs, his first feature film was born. The film is set for theatrical release in mid-2010. Today, Nathan can be found at one of his gourmet pubs in downtown Toronto and working on his next disturbing script.

Long Pigs Awards to date:

Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast and crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, and more at http://www.rexsikes.com