Rex Sikes' Movie Beat

Reed Marin Pt 4 Some of those Reed 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"). 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

Peter Tolan PT 2 is the man behind the successful FX series “Rescue Me” starring Denis Leary. He began his career writing for sitcoms “Carol & Company” & “Wish You Were Here”. He wrote & co-produced the first six episodes of Tim Allen’s “Home Improvement” & then moved to the hit series “Murphy Brown”, starring Candice Bergen. He worked the series for 3 seasons which resulted in a shared Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1992 as co-producer. Also in 1992 he began writing for Gray Shandling’s “The Larry Sanders Show” on HBO. As the co-executive producer of the series he received 3 CableACE Awards for Comedy Series and he got an Emmy for co-writing with Shandling the series finale episode "Flip".He wrote for the series “Ellen”, “Buddies” & he created the sitcoms “The George Wendt Show” & “Style and Substance”. With comedian Denis Leary Tolan co-created the ABC satiric comedy “The Job”, which also starred Leary as a tough NYPD detective. Though it was cancelled after two seasons it was heralded by the critics. He wrote the hit film “Analyze This” directed by Harold Ramis, starring Robert Deniro & Billy Crystal. He also wrote the sequel “Analyze That”, “My Fellow Americans” starred Jack Lemon, James Garner & Dan Akroyd,“ Bedazzled” starred Brendan Fraser & Elizabeth Hurely,“America’s Sweethearts” starred Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, John Cusak, Catherine Zeta-Jones, “Guess Who” starred Bernie Mac & Ashton Kutcher, “Just Like Heaven” starred Reese Witherspoon & Mark Ruffalo. In 2008 Peter made his directorial debut with the semi-autobiographical film “Finding Amanda” which starred Matthew Broderick & Brittany Snow. He co-created “Rescue Me” with show star Denis Leary which debuted in 2004. This series has been well received by both critics and audiences, & both Peter & Denis have received Emmy nominations. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes Movie Beat for other great archived interviews, cast & crew listings, events, festivals, premieres, & more at http://www.rexsikes.com

Jon Reiss author of Think Outside the Box Office is the first nuts-and-bolts guide for filmmakers who want to take control of their own distribution and marketing destiny. Each chapter addresses an essential aspect of a film’s release and gives specific techniques to filmmakers to create success with their films in today’s marketplace. Jon Reiss named one of “10 Digital Directors to Watch” by Daily Variety, Jon Reiss is a critically acclaimed filmmaker who has produced and directed three feature films most recently Bomb It about graffiti and the battle over visual public space throughout the world. Based on his experience releasing Bomb It with a hybrid strategy has just published Think Outside the Box Office: The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution in the Digital Era. He also speaks around the world at film festivals, schools and organizations on this topic.

Jon teaches film the California Institute for the Arts where he created the class “Reel World Survival Skills: Everything I Wish I Had Been Taught in Film School.” This course covers the practical aspects of surviving as an independent writer/producer/director in today’s economy from finding a job, pitching and script development, to financing and new models of distribution.

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

Douglas Day Stewart Pt 2 is best known for his original screenplay “An Officer and a Gentleman,” which was based on his own experiences as a Naval Officer Candidate undergoing rigorous training, while falling in love with a factory girl looking for a “ticket out of nowhere.” In addition to the many accolades and awards garnered by the film, “Officer” was recently listed by the American Film Institute as one of the ten highest grossing love stories in cinema history.

Stewart’s other writing credits include the enduring first “Blue Lagoon” with Brooke Shields, the acclaimed “The Boy In the Plastic Bubble”, (the ABC television movie that launched John Travolta’s career), and “The Scarlet Letter,” Stewart’s much maligned take on Hawthorne’s classic novel, starring Demi Moore. Stewart wrote and directed the cult favorite “Thief of Hearts” (which boasts clubs of women around the country) and the controversial “Listen to Me.”

Stewart has been nominated for an Academy Award, and for an Emmy, and for numerous Writers Guild Awards. His original screenplay “The Accident” (a semi-autobiographical story of a teen tragedy) will go before the cameras in Europe this year. His Musical adaptation of “An Officer and a Gentleman,” will begin production in Australia next year, and will hopefully go to Broadway soon after.

Stewart has recently finished another original screenplay entitled “The Flying Man,” which he describes as “a cross-cultural love story with a unique twist, set against the political conflicts of modern day Burma.” Stewart plans to direct the film next year in Thailand.

Peter Marshall Pt 1 The Director's Series - 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