"Flying Guillotine"
French cinema
Charlie Chaplin
Shaw Brothers
Directors
Ingmar Bergman, Doris Wishman, John Cassavetes, Stanley Kubrick, Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Akira Kurosawa, Jean Renoir, Jean-Luc Godard, Eric Rohmer, Francois Truffaut, G.W. Pabst, Dario Argento, Carl Dreyer, Preston Sturges, John Frankenheimer, Andrei Tarkovsky, Nagisa Oshima, Robert Altman, Ken Loach, Andrzej Wajda, Bille August, William Wyler, Mario Bava, Michelangelo Antonioni, Mike Leigh, Joel & Ethan Coen, Paolo & Vittorio Taviani, Carol Reed, Theo Angelopoulos, David Lynch, Lindsay Anderson, Emir Kusterica, Nanni Moretti, James Whale, Satyajit Ray, William Rotsler, Mukul S. Anand, Richard Lester, George Romero, Luchino Visconti, Orson Welles, Alan Parker, Abbas Kiarostami, Maurice Pialat, Lars Von Trier, Chen Kaige, Roland Joffe, Rene Clement, Luis Bunuel, Costa Gavras, Vincente Minnelli, Gus Van Sant, Federico Fellini, Claude Lelouch, Joseph Losey, Shohei Imamura, Jacques Demy, Vittorio De Sica, Roman Polanski, Wim Wenders, Volker Schlondorff, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Louis Malle, Bob Fosse, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Chang Cheh, Liu Chia Liang, Lo Wei, Hiroshi Teshigahara, Mario Bava, Donald Glut, Yo Kohatsu, Steve Mudd, Christiane Cegavske, Willard Morgan, Brian O’ Malley, Jay Woelfel, Armen Titizian, Philip Kan Gotanda, Bai Haibin, Dave Reda, Laura Paglin, Nikos Koundouros, Eric Stanze, Fei Mu, Cai Chusheng, Zheng Junli, Weibang Maxu, Tom Tavee, Christine Rose, Ryan Webb, Morton Lewis
Awards
Best Film: MAD COWGIRL Silverlake Film Festival
Best Actress SARAH LASSEZ "Mad Cowgirl" Silverlake Film Festival
Festivals
San Francisco Independent Film Festival
Edmonton Int. Film Festival
Omaha Film Festival
Portland Underground Film Festival
Calgary Underground Film Festival
Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Arizona International Film Festival
About me: Cinema Epoch is a Los Angeles-based international sales, production and distribution company formed by distribution veteran Gregory Hatanaka.
Over the last 14 years, Hatanaka has overseen and/or been affiliated with the distribution of over 200 films including: John Woo's iconic film "The Killer" starring Chow Yun-Fat; The Coen Brothers' "Blood Simple"; "The Stranger," directed by the legendary Academy Award recipient Satyajit Ray; "South of Heaven, West of Hell" directed/starring Dwight Yoakum, Vince Vaughn, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda, "My Favorite Season" starring the legendary Catherine Deneuve and directed by Andre Techine; "Blue Juice" starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ewan McGregor; the films of France's Claude Chabrol; the original "Fever Pitch" starring Colin Firth; "Too Tired To Die" starring Oscar winner Mira Sorvino; "Kiss & Tell" with Heather Graham, Rose McGowan and David Arquette; "Portraits Chinois" starring Helena Bonham-Carter; "Bad Manners" starring Oscar nominee David Strathairn; "A Little Bit of Soul" starring Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, "The Bridge" directed by Gerard Depardieu, "La Separation" starring Isabelle Huppert, Santosh Sivan's "The Terrorist," Abel Ferrara's "R'Xmas," and Leni Riefenstahl's classic "Olympia." Hatanaka also restored and distributed the martial arts milestone film "Master of the Flying Guillotine."
With a distribution slate that includes internationally acclaimed arthouse films, contemporary American films and edgy cult & midnight works, Cinema Epoch has been inspired by the great 1970s film distributors World Northal and New World Pictures, who distributed such classic arthouse works as Nicholas Roeg's 'Bad Timing,' 'Fitzcarraldo,' 'Cries and Whispers,' 'Quadrophenia,' and 'The Tin Drum' alongside such great grindhouse flicks such as 'Shogun Assassin,' 'Death Race 2000,' and the kung fu films of the legendary Shaw Brothers Film Studio.
The titles below we are currently distributing both theatrically and on DVD and Video-On-Demand. For the latest of our upcoming releases, refer to our blogs above.
Who I'd like to meet: Cinema Epoch does not accept unsolicited submissions.
If you have a film you would like to submit, please send a message to us to the link above with a brief synopsis of your film. We will request a screener from you thereafter.
UPCOMING THEATRICAL RELEASE
BREAKING POINT (2009)
starring Tom Berenger, Busta Rhymes, Armand Assante, Musetta Vander and Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones
THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2009
BREAKING POINT is a dramatic tale of corruption and self-realization, in which one man has to overcome a deep seeded conspiracy and his own lingering past in order to gain the redemption he desires.
Steven Luisi (Tom Berenger), a once prominent criminal defense attorney is attempting to come back to the profession after a struggle with drug addiction and a family tragedy. Steven stumbles into a complex, high profile murder case. Against his better judgment, he takes on the case that will eventually lead him down a path that brings him face to face with his own demons. While trying to solve the case Steven teams up with an ex-athlete turned gang member, Richard "Beanz" Allen. The two develop a fast friendship
Together they seek to reveal the truth and bring about justice in the court and on the street. Steven and Allen go head to head with the murderous Bowen (Busta Rhymes), a vicious Gang leader and Steven's old drug dealer. With Allen's help, Steven discovers that there are deep connections between Bowen, himself, and a corrupt police department
Throughout his journey, Steven learns more about the truth, and about himself. Allen and Steven discover that their common mission is the pursuit of redemption
**********************************************
COMING SOON TO DVD (AMAZON & NETFLIX):
THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY
DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009
Genre: Drama
Director: Ed Gass-Donnelly
Cast: Aaron Poole, Kristin Booth, Caroline Cave, Noam Jenkins, Stuart Hughes, Kat Germain, Tony Nappo, Jefferson Mappin
Friday night in Toronto’s lower west end. Chatter from a dinner party in Harry and Carol’s nouveau riche condo drifts through an open balcony door, as two freebase cokeheads, Pretty and Johnny, have a party on their own in the alley below. As the dinner guests leave, the hostess is nowhere to be found. Until, a wet thud and a sharp scream rise up to the balcony.
Pretty stares in horror at Carol’s body, splayed on the alley floor, as Harry screams for help from above. The sharp burst of police sirens sends the cokeheads running as Peter, a middle aged police officer, sprints from his cruiser to check Carol’s vitals.
Rocket forward three months and these five disparate lives begin to cataclysmically intersect through weaving multi-narrative story arcs that release spurts and geysers of long-suppressed sexuality and aggression.
Beautiful things can happen when you hit rock bottom.
TRAILER:
**********************************************
THE FOLLOWING FILM TITLES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON DVD (AMAZON & NETFLIX):
PRAY FOR HELL
DVD Release Date: November 10, 2009
Genre: Action/Cult
Director: Todd E. Freeman
Cast: Robert Blanche, Alan Wone, Richard Topping, Diana Hulet
In the bloody tradition of films like Old Boy and Kill Bill comes Pray For Hell, a haunting story of revenge... a movie that attacks with a vengeance from the darkest corners of cinema.
In the wake of mysterious and gruesome murders, two men on separate missions find they're seeking the same answer to who killed their families. Tonka (Alan Wone) unleashes hell's fury, demanding retribution for the savage acts. Bodies mount in his search for justice, leading to the ultimate showdown of vengeance.
A stylistic noir drama about an introverted hit man named Frank who is contracted to carry out an unusual job. When the city's crime boss, known only as "The Man", discovers that he's terminally ill, he enlists Frank to carry out his own assassination.
BREAK features an all-star cast including Frank Krueger, Sarah Thompson, Chad Everett, Michael Madsen, Charles Durning, James Russo, Mackenzie Firgens, Matthew Jones and martial arts master Xin Sarith Wuku and the late David Carradine.
Starring Jeremy London ("7th Heaven," "Party Of Five"), Ryan Hurst ("Sons Of Anarchy"), Heather McComb ("Prison Break"), William Devane ("Jesse Stone," "24," "Knots Landing") Robert Picardo ("Star Trek: Voyager," "Stargate: Atlantis," "China Beach"), Patricia Rae ("Maria Full Of Grace"), Vinny Vella ("The Sopranos") and Howard Nash ("PJ")
'Chasing the Green' is a true story of two brothers, Adam and Ross, who became millionaires while still in their 20's. They were among the first to market electronic terminals for credit card transactions. They were confident, bold, and thus ignored warnings by the government to 'respond' to numerous complaints regarding their practices. Ultimately, they were nearly destroyed by the FTC, who sought to demolish their company at the behest of their competitors in the industry. Adam, the cautious brother, tries to reconcile this with conflicts in his own relationships, making him wonder where his own passions truly lie.
"Chasing the Green" is a film about young ambition; it is also about two independent, intensely driven men unready to accept the importance of working in an interdependent world. They learn, late in the game, that when we refuse to acknowledge the demands of others more powerful, we do so at our peril.
OFFICIAL SITE: http://www.chasingthegreen.com/
CLICK BELOW FOR TEASER TRAILER:
**********************************************
THE BUTTERFLY TATTOO
Director: Phil Hawkins (of "On The Lot")
Cast: Duncan Stuart, Jessica Blake, Aidan Magrath, Dan Morgan and Christopher Dane
Based on the novel by bestselling author Philip Pullman ("The Golden Compass")
A teenage romance thriller in the tradition of "Twilight"
From the moment they first met, secrets from a hidden past would tear them apart....
Chris and Jenny are teenage lovers from the gritty side of modern Oxford, England in this adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Philip Pullman (author of The Golden Compass). Chris, a naive lad, suspended between school and college, and Jenny, a free spirit fleeing a traumatized childhood. They are caught in the crossfire, as Carson, a gangster gunman with a grudge, comes looking for Chris's boss, to avenge events from long ago.
In echoes of Romeo and Juliet, heady romance gives away to growing suspense when as Carson closes in until, in a final eruption of violence, the star-crossed lovers are sundered forever.
"The Butterfly Tattoo" introduces a fresh young cast, a soundtrack of unsigned bands from Oxford's vibrant music scene, and a score by veteran renowned composer Ludovico Einaudi to tell a truly heartbreaking story of love and death.
CLICK BELOW FOR TEASER TRAILER:
**********************************************
CHEKOV & MARIA
Drama
Director: Eric Till
Cast: Ron Bottitta, Gillian Brashear
Russian playwright Anton Chekhov is ill with tuberculosis and is cared for by his sister Maria with whom he lives in Yalta. He is desperately struggling to complete his play ..The Cherry Orchard... With Maria's help, he is able to continue writing, but when Maria discovers that he has secretly married the Moscow Art Theatre actress, Olga Knipper, she feels betrayed and schemes to prevent him from returning to Moscow. When Chekhov discovers how manipulative Maria has been, the stage is set for a major confrontation.
FILM TRAILER:
**********************************************
CHAIN LINK
Drama / Thriller
Director: Dylan Reynolds
Cast: Mark Irvingsen, Jim Storm, Luciano Rosso, Lelia Goldoni
CHAIN LINK is a film about a man searching for love and redemption. Recently released from prison- he takes steps towards a better life - and have the family he's always desired. But circumstances compel him to resort back to a life of crime- affecting the one's he loves- this time he may not have a second chance.
A character driven drama from first time writer/ director Dylan Reynolds deals with a world where there is no simple right and wrong- good or evil; where people are faced with regrets, moral choices, immoral certainties, and ultimately fate.
CHAIN LINK'S solid ensemble cast includes Emmy nominated Mark Irvingsen, Jim Storm (TV's "Dark Shadows", "Bold & Beautiful", and "Heroes"), Luciano Rauso (Disturbia), Yassmin Alers (Broadway's "RENT," "Across the Universe"), Jody Jaress ("Hollywoodland", "Charlie Wilson's War"), Peter Looney ("Outbreak"), David Kallaway ("People Vs. Larry Flynt"), Jim Round (TVs "The Unit"), & two-time BAFTA nominee Lelia Goldoni (Cassavetes' "Shadows," Scorsese's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore").
FILM TRAILER:
**********************************************
GROWING OUT
Comedy / Horror
The DVD has over an hour of Bonus material, including deleted scenes, behind the scenes, teaser trailer, and the original short film.
Cast: Michael Hampton, Ryan Sterling, Chase Hemphill, Devon Iott
To a troubled songwriter like Tom (Michael Hampton), cleaning an old house in exchange for free room and board seems like a great deal. But Tom's about to get way more than he bargained for...
There's something strange growing in the basement floor. Something dark. Something disturbing. Something...human. Join Tom as he delves deep into the twisted world of "Growing Out."
FILM TRAILER:
**********************************************
THE PINK CONSPIRACY
Genre: Comedy
Directors: Brian Scott Miller/Marc Clebanoff
Cast: Mercedes McNab, Bradley Snedeker, Sarah Thompson, Mackenzie Firgens James Russo
Starring: Mercedes McNab (Buffy, Angel), Sarah Thompson (Angel, 7th Heaven, Boston Public), Mackenzie Firgens (Groove, Rent, The Hamiltons), Bradley Snedeker, Frank Krueger (Break), Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister (Friday, The Fifth Element), Chad Everett (Mulholland Drive), Tricia O’Kelley (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Dayton Callie (Deadwood) and James Russo (Donnie Brasco, The Ninth Gate, Extremities).
FILM TRAILER:
**********************************************
"ASIAN STORIES"
Genre: Comedy
Directors: Ronald Oda, Chris Chin
Cast: James Kyson Lee (TV's 'Heroes'), Kirt Kishita, Kathy Uyen
AUDIENCE AWARD, 2006 LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
Jim is a young closefisted Chinese American living in LA who desperately finds himself with a stack of white flower themed disposable cameras, fleur-de-lis invitations, a number of champagne bottles, and a ten-thousand dollar engagement ring bill. The only thing missing is a bride. In financial debt and miserable for having his fiancé leave two weeks prior to Valentine's day, Jim tries to resurface his dignity and wash away his wretchedness by asking his best friend, a Japanese hitman whose passion for cooking fancy entrees extends far beyond his kitchen, to kill him just in time to miss the Hallmark holiday.
With less than four days to live, Jim, while wearing his wedding tuxedo the entire time, treks to the mountains to find his fate, meet a pizza delivery boy with lucky charms, the funeral spot of his choice, and a girl. Stars James Kyson Lee of the hit horror film 'Shutter' and regular on TV's 'Heroes'.
FILM TRAILER:
**********************************************
"FADE"
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Director: Anthony Stagliano
Cast: David Connolly, Sarah Lassez, Michael T. Weiss
A dark drama set in a world without sleep, FADE is a chilling exploration of what happens if our bodies refuse to shut down -- and the resulting effect on those closest to us. Arthur Dichter (David Connolly, 13 Conversations about One Thing), is suffering from a rare genetic disorder called fatal familial insomnia, which typically manifests itself in adulthood, and causes increasing insomnia, panic attacks, phobias, hallucinations, and ultimately, dementia and death.
Tormented by wakefulness, Arthur wanders the streets, finding new ways to keep his body moving, even self-mutilation. He's lost the ability to communicate, keeping a journal to express his private thoughts with no intention of sharing it with his wife Anna (Sarah Lassez, The Blackout, Mad Cowgirl). His doctors wonder if he's suicidal. Anna denies it, knowing he is in a waking nightmare where delusions and reality become more and more indistinguishable. As his disease gives way to despair, loneliness and alienation, he and Anna hang on to their last shred of hope until the bitter end. Writer-director Anthony Stagliano’s film examines issues of identity and marriage in the face of impending doom.
FADE was written and directed Anthony Stagliano and also features performances from Michael T. Weiss (The Pretender) and special guests Devon Odessa (My So-Called Life; Mad Cowgirl) and Anthony Drazan (director and screenwriter of Hurlyburly). The film also features music from improvisational legends AMM, Art Bears, Ginnungagap, and original music by Cameron Presley (Upsilon Acrux) and Hollis Lee (Midnight Sun).
FILM TRAILER:
FADE is David Connolly’s final performance; Mr. Connolly passed away tragically in the fall of 2006.
**********************************************
"THE MAN YOU HAD IN MIND"
DVD available now
Genre: Gay/Lesbian
Director: James Tuchschmidt
Country: U.S.
The story typically goes: you fall head over heals in love, have lots of sex, make a commitment, move in together, start sharing your dreams and goals, buy a house, maybe raise a child or two, care for each other when times are tough and eventually grow old together. This is the American dream and what most of us strive for - to share our lives with someone special.
The documentary explores the intimate lives of five gay male couples; the forces that bring them together, the journeys they face, and the culture in which they survive and thrive. Each of the couples have been selected because they embody the unique characteristics of a distinct period along a continuum in the life of a gay couple and have interesting stories to tell. Ben & Tyler, one year; Frank & Lee, seven years; Bill & David, 10 years; Todd & Bill, 15 years; Eric & Eugene, 51 years.
FILM TRAILER:
**********************************************
RECENT THEATRICAL RELEASES
BOB FUNK (2009)
Director: Craig Carlisle
Starring Michael Leydon Campbell, Rachael Leigh Cook ("She's All That," "Antitrust," "Josie and the Pussycats") , Amy Ryan ("Capote," "Gone Baby Gone," "Dan in Real Life"), Grace Zabriskie {"Twin Peaks," "Fried Green Tomatoes ," "The Waterdance"), Eddie Jemison ("Bruce Almighty," "Ocean's Eleven," "Waitress"), Nadia Dajani ("Ned and Stacey"), Alex Désert ("Becker") and Stephen Root ("Office Space," "Newsradio," "Bicentennial Man," "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ")
FILM TRAILER:
**********************************************
THE PERFECT SLEEP
Director : Jeremy Alter BR>
Cast :
- Roselyn Sanchez ("Rush Hour 2," "Chasing Papi," TV's "Without A Trace")
- Patrick Bauchau (upcoming "2012," "Panic Room," "Secretary," TV's "The Pretender")
- Anton Pardoe
- Peter J. Lucas ("Inland Empire," "Cradle 2 The Grave")
- Michael Paré ("Streets of Fire," "Eddie & The Cruisers," "The Philadelphia Experiment," "The Virgin Suicides," TV's "Greatest American Hero")
- Tony Amendola ("The Legend of Zorro," "Megiddo: The Omega Code 2," TV's "CSI," "Stargate SG-1," "Dexter")
- John Fleck (TV's "Carnivàle," "Enterprise," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", etc)
- Cameron Daddo ("Big Momma's House 2, TV's "24"")
Directed by Gregory Hatanaka Produced by Edwin A. Santos CAST: Sarah Lassez, Walter Koenig, Devon Odessa, Vic Chao, James Duval, Linton Semage, Luke Y. Thompson, Douglas Dunning
Patrick Culliton and David invited me privately to the Magic Castle on May 2, 2009 the day after after the industry screening of Break in Beverly Hills after they found out I was an amateur child magician and had never been to the Magic Castle.
It was a happy fun time for all of us that evening.
Attached is a private photo from the evening.
David generouslly bought me two rounds of drinks and took me aside to give me one on one advice as a fellow actor in hollywood and life in general.
David was a strong wise happy, talented, decent and charismatic man and my friend.
What a great injustice to lose him so prematurely.
Philip Pullman's 'THE BUTTERFLY TATTOO' is coming to L.A. theaters on Friday, April 17th for the start of its theatrical release!
Details are as follows:
LOS ANGELES Laemmle's Grande 4-plex 345 S. Figueroa St. Downtown LA, 90071 213-617-0268
Showings on.... Fri 17th April - at 5.10pm and 9.30pm Sat 18th April - at 1.00pm 5.10pm 9.30pm Sun 19th April - at 1.00pm 5.10pm 9.30pm Mon 20th April - at 5.10pm Tues 21st April - at 5.10pm weds 22nd April - at 5.10pm Thurs 23rd April - at 5.10pm
P.S. Call for Entries for the 9th Edition of VisionFest is now OPEN!! Hello Filmmakers and VF fans,
VisionFest '08 was a huge success and now it's time for us to gear up for our 9th edition, which will run for five evenings in June 2009.
To submit your new project or to enter our Feature Screenwriting Competition, please check out our SUBMIT option on our Web site at: http://domanivision. org/submit/
Support AA Films with Philip Kan Gotanda's LIFE TASTES GOOD
If you would like to impact the visibility of Asian Pacific Americans in film and media, buy the DVD of "LIFE TASTES GOOD. "
If you would like to see more AA films produced and stories told from an APA perspective, buy the DVD of LIFE TASTES GOOD.
When a film can gain a share of the market, it helps to support the need for more AA films, so buy the DVD of "LIFE TASTES GOOD. "
What are you thinking? Yes, that's right, BUY THE DVD OF "LIFE TASTES GOOD!"
DVD now available on Amazon, Netflix, Blockbuster and many other locations and sites.
An official Sundance entry, "LIFE TASTES GOOD" is a quirky tale of love, poison mushrooms and a mysterious woman that reveals the ephemeral beauty of life and the unforgiving nature of death. It's the story of a rogue mobster who finds love in the darkest days of his life. "LIFE TASTES GOOD" is the feature film debut of director Philip Kan Gotanda
"A cross between 'Blue Velvet' and 'Tampopo!' " - SF Asian American Film Festival
